Entertainment last night...

Neela was in a hyper/goofy mood last night. I LOVE when she is like this, it's so fun. We were singing "I like to eat eat eat apples and bananas" and she went a little goofy. Hilarious!

Love my home entertainment.

Family Pic!

Yay! This is our first professional, in the studio, family picture. I love pictures and am thankful for this keepsake for years to come. I am a bit obsessed with pictures, it runs in my family. :) On my bucket list is to someday own a really nice, fancy camera. These past years have flown by and I know life is not going to slow down anytime soon. I want to cherish these memories.

Enjoy!

The One You Need

This song is from the new Shane and Shane cd. Yes, it is the song everyone has been so excited about. :) We bought the cd last week and totally love it.

When I was telling Tim how much I love this song, he put his arm around me, leaned his head on my shoulder and said, "You are such a cheese ball." :) All in sweet fun. And yes, he is right. I am a little on the sentimental side of life, but we both agree this song is the prayer of our heart for Neela.

So often we try to be her everything, her rescuer when she is sick or hurt, her provider when she is in need, or even her safe place of love. Yes, tangibly we get to be this in her life because God has entrusted her to us for this time. Man, but we know we are not her ultimate place for these things, it's in God.

I love how the words say He is our Hero and He can be her Hero too.

Sweet moment tonight: I always ask her if she wants to pray or if she wants me to pray. She wanted to pray tonight. She said, "Thank you Jesus for loving ME" Yes this is what I say when I pray with her, but it's so sweet to hear her say this. I pray someday she will know the significance of those words.

Extra info: My favorite phrase this week: "Mommy, I want to hold you."

5th Wedding Anniverary

August 12th, 2011 marks 5 years of marriage. Wow, where has the time gone!!

The statement, "I am more in love with you now" rings so true in my life. I loved Tim the day we were married, but man, I love him so much more today. I didn't think that was possible.

I have enjoyed seeing his raw heart in joys and trials.

I am thankful for our ability to be vulnerable and goofy regardless of the situation or topic.

I am thankful for my best friend to share openly our thoughts and feelings and to seek God's will in all areas of lives.

Excited for what this year holds for us. I am a lucky girl!

Becoming a Woman of Influence

This week North Village Church finished our summer ladies study. We went through the book Becoming a Woman of Influence by Carol Kent. This was my 3rd time to read this book and I loved it so much more this time around. I have read it in different seasons of my life (single just out of college, married and about to start a church, and now 2 years into planting a church) and the truths have impacted me in each season in different ways.

This book is a really simple read with straight forward truths from scripture. We can influence others around us, anytime of the day and in any circumstance because of God's presence in our lives. So often we don't see ourselves as women of influence because we are not on a stage in front of a lot of people or we don't have a dynamic personality. God created you and gave you specific gifts to glorify Him and to love others as He loves us.

Each chapter is a different "principle" to influence others around us. I have been challenged to see every opportunity with others to share what God is doing in my life. It can be the praises of joys in your life, it can be wrestling through truths and circumstances in your life, or a flat out hard season of life. Regardless of the season, God is moving. He is using you for His Name sake. He is sweetly speaking to your heart.

I struggle to believe this truth at times. I am not witty, smart, eloquent with my words but God is not asking me to do this in my own strength, I need to rest in Him. I desire to abide in His love (John 15). I know I was dead in my sins, a child of wrath (Ephesians 1:1-3), BUT God. (Ephesians 2:4-10) But God, who is rich in mercy and love saved me. He save me by His grace. He gave me life everlasting. Nothing of my doing so I may not boast. I get to be his workmanship. Wow. I get to be a part of what He is doing in the lives of people around me.

His ultimate vision for my life is a relationship with Him. This truth is the foundation of all relationship and situations in my life.
What is God's vision for my marriage? (Ephesians 5)
What is God's vision for being a parent? (Psalm 127) (Ephesians 6)
What is God's vision for me as a friend? (Ephesians 4)
and so on...

Praying for my heart to grow in this area of my life.