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If I would've had time to post this past week, here's what I would've shared...

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1Peter 4:8

My Man Monday
Every time we go camping, it rains. It just does. And 9 times out of 10, it rains on Friday when we have to set everything up. (Side Bar: Because of this pattern, we traded in our tent for a pop-up camper 2 years ago. After last weekend, my husband is now looking for a regular camper - one that doesn't require a crank to set it up!) Our latest camping trip was no exception, only this time there was a major thunderstorm with a heavy downpour on Friday night. FUN! FUN! FUN!

But my husband, who had already waited VERY patiently for the children and I to get ourselves ready to go, wasn't about to let a lot of thunder, lightening, and rain stop him! No, sir.

When we arrived at our campsite in the dark and pouring rain, my generous husband gave me the umbrella. Then, guess what God did??!!! He sent us some helpers! The folks staying beside us asked if they could help. The first thing they did was park their car where its headlights were shining on our site so we could see what we were doing!!! Then, they helped my husband set up our camper in the rain! WOW!!! What a tremendous blessing!

Once the camper was ready, the rain really got heavy. So, my husband sent me and the children inside the camper while he unloaded EVERYTHING out of the truck - all by himself. He got soaked! But he did not complain. Nor did he remind me that if we had left earlier (like he had planned,) we would have avoided setting up in the rain all together. THANKS HONEY!!! You're my knight in soaking wet shining armor!

Here's a picture taken Saturday morning on our walk - no signs of the storm from the night before. *It was too wet to unpack my new camera and take pictures in the rain Friday night - SORRY!*

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T-Man Tuesday

He's growing up!!! And he's practicing his driving skills! Today it's a lawn mower, but before you know it, it will be a car - YIKES! (I foresee my prayer life reaching a whole new level when that happens!)

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Wrennie Wednesday

She really enjoys being outside. And just because the fish aren't biting doesn't stop her from fishing. There's always hope - and persistence.

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And The Truth Is...

Tanner loves his little sister very much! Why else would he aggravate her every chance he gets share his 12 years of wisdom with her??!!!!!

Faith Wrenn loves her big brother very much! Why else would she blame him for everything encourage him and cheer him on??!!!

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1Peter 4:8

And God Speaks Through Christian Fiction

Over the (Easter) weekend, my family and I went camping. Our relaxing trip allowed me to finally read "The Debt" by Angela Hunt. My mom told me months ago to read this book. I did check it out from our church library but didn't have time to read it. So, I returned it. But, a few weeks ago, I found myself checking it out again.

I now know why I wasn't able to read the book before this weekend... God's perfect timing! I needed to hear from God at the semi-silent retreat (last weekend) before I read the book (this weekend.)

Without giving anything away, I'll just say this book deals a lot with Christian "comfort zones" and what we miss if we choose to stay in them. SOUND FAMILIAR??!!! (If not, read previous post.) Yeah, God has really been showing me how my own comfort zone is hindering my walk with Him and the future He has planned for me.

Isn't God amazing??!!!

Please pray for me as I take the necessary steps to get out of my comfort zone. Pray that I will trust God enough to be uncomfortable for His will - NO MATTER WHAT HIS WILL IS AND NO MATTER WHERE IT MAY LEAD!

God Speaks Through Trail Mix and Hair Brushes...

This past weekend, I participated in a semi-silent retreat with 13 other ladies. We went to a conference center where we each had our own private room. We only met together (briefly) to be encouraged, share, sing, pray, and eat. The majority of the time, we were alone with God.

Have you ever tried to quiet your spirit and totally clear your mind? I'm talking about completely clearing your mind and only focusing on ONE thing - God.

On Friday night as I began to try to do this, the only thing that was clear to me was that my mind was ADHD and in serious need of spiritual Ritalin!!! My thoughts were jumping around like a competitive ping pong match.

Fortunately, our retreat leader Ruth gave us some material to help us focus. So I decided to read over what she gave us. One thing I read was a list of ways to focus on God from the book "Practicing the Presence of God." What caught my attention was the suggestion "to hum a hymn or chorus --- inaudibly." I was intrigued because I am NOT a music person - I cannot sing (maybe that's why it said to hum!!!LOL)

Anyway, God brought a song to my mind right then, and I kept hearing it play over and over again. Then, the next thing I read was directly related to the song playing in my head!!! God was speaking to me through the song and confirming it with written words! How powerful!

This continued all weekend. God would give me a new song and then show me something in His Word or in the focus material I was reading that was directly related to the song!!! I'm so glad that I journaled all of this because I do not ever want to forget the specifics of my time with God.

God also spoke in some other tangible ways. On Friday night, we each were given a goody bag filled with lots of treats. The first thing I ate was a bag of trail mix. I ate everything except the raisins - I do not like them.

As my time alone with God continued, I started going through a devotion book that Ruth gave us. The very first devotion was entitled "Help me to say yes... to any request ." A few things came to mind immediately that I knew God wanted me to do, but I hadn't done yet. So, I wrote them down. Then my eyes glanced at the bag of raisins. That's when God spoke to my spirit and said...

"That bag of raisins represents your obedience to Me lately. You have been picking and choosing what you want to do instead of doing EVERYTHING I have asked you to do. (OUCH!!!) I need you to trust Me with all your heart and surrender your will to Mine - completely."

Partial obedience is still disobedience. I've been doing only the things that were easy or that I liked. But, God has been calling me to do so much more. He wants me out of my comfort zone, completely dependent on Him, so He gets the glory instead of me.

On Saturday morning while getting ready for breakfast, I'm not even sure where this came from God brought to mind my hair brushes and other "utensils" I use to fix my hair. All 5 of them!That's right, count 'em 1,2,3,4,5!

Here's how the conversation with God went...

GOD: "Can you please explain why you use 5 "brushes" to fix your short hair?"

Me: "Aaaah.....Hmmm......well......I've never even thought about it. Let me think. Aaaah, because I have been doing it this way since high school. It's a habit I started back when I had really long hair, and I've just continued it."

GOD: "It's time for some new habits. And I'm not just talking about how you fix your hair!"

Me: "It's that comfort zone thing again, isn't it Lord?"

GOD: "Yes it is. You need to trust me with every single detail of your life so we can move forward - together. It's time for a new thing!"

WOW! The quality time God and I spent together sure made me feel loved. It also gave new meaning to "Be still and know that I am God."

I highly recommend spending some time alone with God today. If you listen, He will speak.

Wordless Wrennie Wednesday

T-Man Tuesday

*UPDATE* Wednesday, 4/8/09

This morning I went to work and look what my aunt gave me!!!!! This is sooooo GOD and HIS PERFECT TIMING! WOW!!!

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"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity..." Ephesians 5:15-16

Some Quality Time Together

On Monday afternoons, Faith Wrenn has started taking piano lessons after school. Usually, Tanner likes for me to drop him off at the house so he does not have to go with us.

This week when I asked Tanner if he wanted to stay at home, he said, "No, I'll go with you. Hey Mom, can you and I play soccer while we wait?"

And play soccer we did! I snapped a few pictures and then put the camera away so I could give Tanner and soccer my undivided attention.






We had fun and did not let the roaring wind, frigid air, or the neighbor's vicious-looking dog stop us from playing!

This time with Tanner was extra special because of what God revealed to me on Sunday morning. I was up early cutting strawberries and and talking to God. My thoughts took me back to my childhood and God gave me another piece of the puzzle to my life.

God revealed to me that certain relationships in my life are somewhat distance today because of the foundation that was laid when I was young. The reason...my love language (what makes me feel loved) is quality time, and growing up there wasn't much quality one-on-one time with some folks in my family. We did spend a lot of time together, but looking back now I realize that we were usually in a group. There were always other people around. But, what I really needed to feel loved was some undivided, one-on-one time. (Hind sight is 20/20!)

God did not show me this so I could place blame or have a pity party. He showed me this so I could be reminded that He's given me 2 children who need quality time with me RIGHT NOW!!! So, when Tanner wanted to go to piano and play soccer with me, I knew this opportunity was from the Lord. That's just the kind of God I serve!!!

Is there someone in your life who needs some undivided, one-on-one quality time with you? Make the effort. Take the time. Connect with them. Enjoy them. They are worth it. And so are you.

My Man Monday

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind and with all your strength....Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31

It seems that the past few Mondays have been quite challenging and blogging about my husband has drawn the short end of the stick every time. But, I did not want to neglect bragging on SS again for yet another week, so I'm forfeiting sleep to do it tonight.

SS has been asking God to love other people through him, and God has been answering!!! He has been giving SS lots of opportunities to reach out to others. Here's just a few examples.....

While heading home after working 12 hours, SS saw someone's car on fire. He recognized the man as a customer from Chick-fil-A and offered to help. SS ended up taking the man and his family to the local high school to pick up another child. Then, he took all of them home - their home was not in the same direction as our home.

Our Sunday School teacher asked SS to share with the class what God is doing in his life. SS spoke like I've never heard him speak before. His topic - LOVE. He allowed himself to be vulnerable. It was very touching.

Last Wednesday, I kept my 11 month old niece Grace. She actually spent the night with us. When I asked SS if he wanted to take Tanner to church or to keep Grace while I took Tanner, SS said he would keep Grace. It's been 7 years since he's taken care of a baby, and I was gone for over 2 hours. You see, I meet with a friend on Wednesday nights to chat and pray while Tanner is in youth group. SS said he didn't want me to miss that! I definitely felt loved!

One of SS's co-workers has been asking SS to reach out to her husband. SS has arranged for their entire family to come over for dinner next week!

The air conditioner in my van stopped working. SS made arrangements for our mechanic to work on it last week. We got my van back on Friday, but the air conditioner started having some new problems - the compressor would cut off and the cold air would turn warm. SS was on it immediately. I've got proof.

You might be a redneck wonderful husband if you have to pop the hood of your wife's van every few miles,

and jiggle the blue wire to turn her air conditioner back on!
(SS has arranged for the mechanic to work on my van again in the morning!) My hero!!!

I could go on and on about SS. But, I won't. I am just so grateful for what God is doing in SS's heart and life. And for SS who is choosing to love God and love people just like Mark 12:30-31 says. God is transforming my husband which is transforming our marriage. And I'm in awe.