Hey, It's Ok

I'm linking up for Hey, It's Ok where you list a bunch of things to be okay about.

Hey, it's ok

to be sick of the Chick-Fil-A mess. Shut up, already! If you don't want to eat there, go somewhere else. Personally, I think it's freakin' delicious. Some people don't shop at JCPenney's because of them choosing Ellen as a spokesperson. Once again. Don't shop there, but shut up! Personally, I still love Penney's.

to be frustrated with the stupid rule that's like 5 million years old that kept Jordyn Wieber from competing for the all-around title.

to LOATHE summer! So ready for fall. Good riddance stupid heat!

to exercise and still hate every, single second. At least I'm doing it!

to do NOTHING every now and then...I'm planning a 'book reading day' later this week.

to have a shoe and bag problem - it doesn't matter what size you are, they always fit! :-)

A New Week

Last week, I met my exercise goal of intentional exercise 4 days. The last 2 days I walked 2 miles each day.

This week, I'm going to set a distance goal - 10 miles. Over a week's period of time that doesn't seem like a lot, but that will double my walking distance from last week. I did a 45 minute program one day, walked one mile, the next day, and then did 2 miles on the last two days.

This weekend was pretty good. Friday evening, we went out with a couple of friends for dinner. Saturday we went to Weathervane Theater to see a production of Annie. It is one of their Youth Series (typically a youth only cast) productions and it was fabulous! We went to eat dinner right after (the show began at 3:30) and I received a text from a friend inviting us a to piano concert. I am so glad we went.

The pianist is a professor of jazz studies at Eastman School of Music. His name is Bill Dobbins. He played Gershwin. AH-MAAA-ZING! However, it was 5,000 degrees in the church and there was this:

Exactly what do you think the average age of their congregation is?

Sound Check - July 29, 2012

Welcome to Sound Check. Each week I post fairly new worship tunes for you to check out. I give you the YouTube video to listen to. If you like the song, click the album cover that follows the videao to buy the song on iTunes. Enjoy!

Song: We Are
Album: Kari Jobe-The Acoustic Sessions
Kari Jobe has a new acoustic album. LOVE. HER. The entire album is only $4.99 on iTunes. The link is for the entire album. If you want the song only, go to iTunes and search for We Are.

Song: Your Presence is Heaven to Me

Album: Israel & New Breed (single)

This video is from Lakewood Church. The song starts at 1'51"

God Will Take Care of You

This may be the cutest thing I have EVER seen!


Adorable 2 year old Sings God Will Take Care of You from emmabelle on GodTube.

Walking in a Dense Fog

Today I am feeling frustrated. I don't want to use this space to whine and complain, but my sis-in-law and I talked about the importance of keeping it real. That's what I intend to do. At this present moment, what's real is that I'm frustrated and a bit of an emotional mess. Each day I put on a happy face, but some days that is more difficult than others. Still, I keep moving forward. Do I have any other options?

Right now I feel like I don't know what in the world I'm doing, what I'm supposed to be doing, or how to figure it out. I can't see. I can barely breathe. It's really dark - like walking through a dense fog. I feel like God keeps me in a constant state of not knowing what in the world is going on. If I ever get to a point of almost figuring something out, I think God is like, ok, moving on..." It's so flippin' frustrating right now!

I keep reminding myself of in the middle of the fog:
-God is with me. He didn't leave me here alone.
-I am blessed - no really. Even in the middle of the fog, I AM blessed and I know it!
-God is still providing (it may not be all I want, but it is apparently all I need).

I am trying to be faithful and obedient while putting one foot in front of the other. Mostly because that's all I know to do right now, but some days I feel overwhelmed by the fog. Today is one of those days.

Anyone else feeling like you're walking in a fog right now and are ready for the fog to lift?

If you're stopping by from Welcome Wednesday....WELCOME! Come back anytime.

Vera and Me

So, while I was in Illinois, eating dinner at Quatro's, thinking life couldn't get much better at that moment (other than hubby being there with me), I was given this:

I KNOW!!!!! My mom-in-law and sis-in-law blessed me with a lovely surprise. This is a new style and pattern from Vera Bradley. It's the Mailbag in Indigo Pop and I L.O.V.E. it! It has a ton of pockets and it's beautiful! Did I mention that I love it?!?!

AND THEN...

I finally got home on Saturday.

I walked in the door of our apartment.

A glorious smell hit me.

It was the smell of....

FRESHLY BAKED BANANA NUT BREAD!

Be jealous. It's delicious and my hubby rocks!

Driving Mr. and Mrs. Daisy

This past week, I went home to help out my mom and dad while they got back on their feet after surgery. It's nice to be needed and to have something to do. It's good to have a reason to get up. I called it my time of 'driving Mr. & Mrs. Daisy'. I think I may start a new service in NE Ohio called Driving Ms. Daisy and just drive 'old people' around to appointments and such! *wink*

It was nice to be back and see everyone. I saw my cousins and their kiddos, saw Kate, ate at Quatro's, Cool Spoons and Lynda's, made a new friend (Miss Clo-Clo), spent time with my mom & dad, my lil bro and his new wife, my in-laws (mom, dad, sis, bro, aunt, uncle, cousin), and I learned a new way to get there and back (no, it isn't any quicker, but a little more scenic!). While I was there I discovered that there are some things that I miss and a few that I don't. Here goes...

I miss...
-spending time with my family and Ronnie's family (Blake, that includes you!)
-date nights with Crys x 2
-Quatro's
-Lynda's Family Diner (people and food)

I DON'T miss:
-driving 5 million miles to get anywhere
-Southern IL humidity (bleh!)

Things you should know:
-I gained 5 lbs this week! Nope, not kidding.
-I'm jumping on the Lose It! wagon with my sis-in-law (and my mother-in-law, but she cheats!). After much discussion with Crys, a 5 lb weight gain (too much good food), and realizing that I need to just be consistent with movement (that's where I'm starting), I am committing to an exercise program of sorts. Week 1 (starts today): I am committing to at least 4 days of intentional exercise. I'll report back later.

Sound Check - July 22, 2012

I have decided that this will be my Sunday post until further notice. I will give you the YouTube video to listen to. If you like the song, click the album cover that follows the video to buy the song on iTunes.

Come to Me sang by Jenn Johnson
Bethel Music from the album The Loft Sessions

Sovereign Over Us by Aaron Keyes

from the album Dwell

Sound Check - New Worship Tunes

I thought I would start trying to post a few new worship tunes for you to listen. I'm still trying to figure out how to just give you audio links, but for now YouTube will be our method of sharing.

I will also provide a link for you to download the song on iTunes - just in case you can't live without it.

This week's selection:

Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise) from Hillsong LIVE's newest album, Cornerstone. If you like the song after listening, click on the album cover to download it on iTunes.

...and the thunder rolls

Have you ever felt as though the will of man cheated you out of God's will for you? Believe me, I hadn't really given it much thought until the end of last week and now it just keeps circling in my thoughts.

I have refrained from sharing anything about this story on my blog. It was a roller coaster I really didn't want to re-ride day after day, but I am hoping this will help me process. Perhaps it will resonate with someone else, but it's mostly for me. Before I even go into the details of the past couple of months, know that I, in no way, believe that this story is over. "The End" has not yet been written, but I HATE roller coasters. They make me wanna throw up!

Right now? I'm exhausted and I want off of this ride!

On April 18th, our worship leader announced to the worship team that he would be leaving in July. I have only been with this team since January, but they've become great friends - a family to me. Our worship leader is an amazing man of God and the thought of he and his family being ripped out of my life left me feeling lost and upset. I weeped for days! Funny thing is - they're moving to Illinois! (God thinks he's funny!)

During the 10 days that followed, an ugly scene unfolded. It was most certainly a time of God making Himself known. Those 10 days were nothing short of a wrestling match with God. This 'stubborn child' phase, (or as I refer to it - my 'kid in the cereal aisle fit') ALWAYS comes when God has something He desires for me to do and I'm trying to convince Him that He doesn't (often because I realize that it's going to require a LOT from me AND it's going to push me WAY beyond the point of being comfortable!). I can name multiple occasions where this has happened. (not proud of the fit-pitching and I'm working on being joyfully obedient the instant He speaks, but I'm not there yet!).

I have been praying about what God would have me do since before we moved in October. God provides, but He did not call me to Ohio to be a housewife or a stay-at-home mom (no offense ladies, but it takes a special person and God didn't build me like that!). Full-time worship leader wasn't even on my radar, but I feel as though God made it incredibly clear that He had just opened the door. The season of being still and waiting was because the position wasn't ready.

I will spare you the bloody details, but know that every, single day during that 10 day period, God provided conformation of His will. I laid out my 'fleece' on the 6th day. The 7th day God answered my prayer. He didn't just stop there, though. The conformations continued (because God likes to out-do Himself).On the 10th day, He provided an AMAZING devotion on discerning your calling. I turned in my application the following day. (#youcanrunbutyoucan'thide - for you Crys)

After 2 rounds of interviews in June, where I was one of 2 final candidates, they're hiring the other guy. (Let me be clear here - I'm certain that he is wonderful and my issues are NOT with him. I will continue to serve under his leadership because God called hubby and I to this particular body of believers and He led me to be on this worship team. Period.) The last several days have been nothings short of emotionally exhausting, though. I'm not going to lay out all of my frustration on here -that's not my purpose. Just know that my frustrations revolve around the way things were handled, the reason I was given for the decision that was made, and that I felt I had a clear answer from God regarding my calling. God clearly opened a door. It has now been slammed shut and I feel as though it was the will of man that slammed it - not God.

So, here's my request: Pray that God will clearly reveal Himself and His perfect will. Pray that if His will HAS been done, that I would have peace and know that the past couple of months were simply an exercise in my being obedient. However, if His will has yet to be accomplished, that He WOULD have His way (and as hubby put it, that it wouldn't take 40 years of us wandering in a desert for it to happen). Someone (or possibly more than one someone) in this situation lacked discernment. I want to draw closer to God through all of this so that if I was the one lacking, in the future I will most certainly not be.