In the Storm

i'm thankful for...

I’m thankful for…

I’m thankful for a small group that desires to above all study the word of God

I’m thankful for the opportunity to lead a bible study even if only one lady attends; we’re having great conversations on Nehemiah.

I’m thankful for our homeschool cooperative and the ladies that I can fellowship with between work assignments

I’m thankful for our new challenge: first to reach 1000 points of swimming, running, walking, and biking - wins.

I’m thankful for my boys who love my cooking

I’m thankful for the opportunity to teach meteorology

I’m thankful for my part time job and the funds it provides just in time.

I’m thankful for creative outlets

I’m thankful for indoor swimming pools.

I’m thankful for approaching fall.

I’m thankful for French vanilla creamer.

I’m thankful for all the laughter, tears, and cheers I’ve experienced from J.D. Robb’s In Death series.

I’m thankful for a husband who works hard, serves our church and neighborhood, and loves the Lord.

on my nightstand

figuratively anyways. because i don't read in bed.

but, i have three books on the stand next to the chair i sit in in the living room.

figuratively anyways. because two are on bookshelves and one is in a tote bag.

three books i want to read. albeit slowly. because they intrigue me mostly. i want to see what all the fuss is about.

The first is Daring Greatly! by Brené Brown.  Her book “encourages us to dare greatly: to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives, “ she says, “Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable, or to dare greatly. Whether the arena is a new relationship, an important meeting, our creative process, or a difficult family conversation, we must find the courage to walk into vulnerability and engage with our whole hearts.”

I read so few non-fiction books. Somehow I have this idea that unless it’s a Christian book I can’t learn anything. Or it can’t be ‘good’ for me. Obviously, this is bogus. I walk in those very shoes that Brené shares above. I need to dare greatly! i figure just reading the book would be daring greatly.

The second is the Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp. The book description is “All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. Whether you are a painter, musician, businessperson, or simply an individual yearning to put your creativity to use…”

I am sitting on the precipice of my creativity. I want that habit. I see my favorite life artists creative – regularly. I need that too.

The third is Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst. “Longing for a deeper connection between what she knew in her head and her everyday reality, she wanted to personally experience God's presence.”

I picked this one up from the women’s ministry library at my church. I went in the little library while I was waiting for my bible study class to begin. I do so many bible studies the title of this book was heart-stopping.

challenge winner + new challenge

more than a year ago our little family began a 500-mile run, walk, swim challenge. we drew out a 'track', made four lanes, one for each of us, and began our challenge. at the beginning of this year we got serious. then somewhere along the way i didn't walk so much. i'm in a major slump. prayers are needed.

the other day we had a winner.

jarrod reached 500 miles. early on in the challenge jarrod walked almost an additional 50 miles over john and john never caught up. thus jarrod hit 500 miles first even though for the past 8 months the boys haven't really done any moving without the other.

winner would get to pick a prize of a pretty nice chunk of change.

jarrod picked a lego set.

it came in the mail this past weekend.

i decided we needed another challenge. jeff came up with the idea. 1000 point challenge.

swimming 1 mile = 3 points

running 1 mile = 2 points

walking 1 mile = 1 point

biking 1 mile = 1/2 point

obviously this is heavily biased toward my swimmer husband, and the only runner in the family. but i'll give it a go.

so please Lord heal my knee so i can walk. move my body to the pool so i can swim. pull my bike out and fix it up so i can get back on it. running...hoosier man can have you...ok, secretly i'd really like to complete a mini- ironman competition (for fun); just to say i did it!

that would mean running again.

and biking again.

and swimming regularly again.

so we had our winner. we have a new challenge. and maybe a secret challenge for myself. now if only i had some accountability.

146 seconds with God

sometimes we have such a hard time with this whole happiness thing. but it really is simple. how do you see God in every situation? this defines your happiness. am i saying i should be grateful in the diffiuclties, in the trials, in the pain? Yep! absolutely! it's that whole, "consider it pure joy when faced with trials..." thing from James 1 in the Bible. most of the time we just can't find the joy, the happiness in the middle of those situations. but that is when we need to find them, see them, because that is when we'll see God for who He really is. and we'll be grateful. that is when we'll know for certain we'll get through it. we'll have the perseverance to persevere.

have you ever been grateful in a trial? thanked the Lord for the difficulty? praised the Lord for the tribulation? if you have, i'll bet the situation didn't seem so bad. you had God on your side.

but, then you began walling in your situation again. the worries began. you lost your joy, your happiness.

hello.

you left God out - again.

then you were reminded somehow to be grateful, thankful, and you praised the Lord.

what happened?

you found joy. you found joy and happiness in your circumstances.

boy scouts l camp out

(all photos were taken by the troop photographer, jim)

all the weather hadn't turned cool yet as it is now, it was a nice night for a fire. john was the firestarter and marshall. the boy scouts were at camp low, just a twenty minute drive and a girl scout camp. it seems to be an well-constructed campsite, with a really large, defined firepit.

there's john, sitting by the fire. this is john's first camp out as an assistant senior patrol leader - number two/three in the troop. jarrod is the other assistant senior patrol leader. jarrod is hoping to make senior patrol leader next elections.

some of the boys, including jarrod (at top in the middle), slept in these facilities. other boys needed the requirement of setting up a tent and sleeping in it for part of rank advancement. jarrod's (and john's ) rank advancement requirements are a bit more difficult right now - seeing as how their next rank is eagle scout.

jeff has had the boys split wood enough that it is a 'normal' activity for them. it's a skill they are getting comfortable with.

large and in charge and at the center of attention. jarrod and john on either side of their friend, hunter who is the senior patrol leader.

jeff was 'tasked' by scout master to be in charge of the adult leaders meals. what that actually meant was, 'your the cook.' the scouts fixed hot dogs and stew friday night after getting settled into camp. jeff grilled the adults' hot dogs and doctored the stew with seasonings. not sure what the boys ate for breakfast but jeff fixed the adults french toast and get this, western omelets with ham, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and cheese. dinner saturday night was grilled chicken breasts seasoned with lemon pepper, green beans with leftover ham and onions from breakfast and scalloped potatoes.

let's just say, the adults ate well.

a picture worth a thousand words. that's jeff in the middle. with his 15-year old sons on either side of him.

guess who is taller?

pick the shortest?

guess who would be the winner in a floor fight?

guess who would be the winner in a 2-mile run?

guess who could work the longest?

guess who weighs the most?

good camp out. only a few hangups. a few discussions that needed discussing. a couple of assistant senior patrol leaders needed taken to task. but all in all a good first camp out of the fall season.

and finally (or last but not least), i made a page for their boy scout book.

date night l six pence pub

date night over a week ago. we decided it was time after 20 years in savannah to find some new restaurants we've never been to. the first one we picked was downtown at the six pence pub. we hit a winner! the food was real good. we split an appetizer of the infamous bangers and mash and then each had the special for the night which turned out to be prime rib - oh, yeah baby. it was good. we strolled downtown after dinner and would have walked farther and seen more but my legs and hips were screamin' at me. We decided to head back into town to Barnes and Noble. A new J.D. Robb book was on the shelves, Jeff picked up the novel based on the Seal's mission capturing Bin Laden, and i got Brene Brown's new 'self-help', Daring Greatly. Lovely evening.

photo walk l number 2

short walk after a recent date night and dinner downtown at six pence pub. took the opportunity to record the early evening date. we enjoyed an amazing meal. great conversation. the idea of finding restaurants in our fair city to eat at that we have never tried was a decidedly good idea. we'll be doing this again. we walked a bit dinner to try and work off our bangers and mash appetizer, and our prime rib entree, and hoosier man's pecan pie.

interesting finds on this walk, especially the woolworths in front of a place that is no longer a woolworths and remembering - well - woolworths. do you remember woolworths? had no idea you can't ride your bike in the squares downtown! noticed how the side walks downtown, as we walked, changed so many times; so many varieties of stones, everywhere. interesting.

hello monday l finding fall

his photos are exquisite

hello monday.

hello fall temperatures. you have arrived. even temporarily.

hello window opened and air conditioner off and cheaper electric bill

hello no homeschool co-op this week. yippee!

hello no boy scouts this week. yippee!

hello endochronologist appointment and chiropractor appointments

hello creative endeavors

hello blog. we'll be visiting every day this week and planning for next week.

hello new season of NCIS and Blue Bloods

hello reading list; looking forward to digging into some good reads

hello Nehemiah I'm having a wonderful time learning from you. Ezekiel you are amazing. Acts: we're off to a wonderful beginning.

hello fun times with boys this week with some surprises

hello date night

hello pool. i'm visiting you no matter what!!!!

hello monday. you are the beginning to an awesome week.

i'm linking with lisa.

from the digital archives

so i'm mildly obsessed with clouds and cloud pictures. i was perusing my digital photos this past week and i found many pictures of clouds tucked within folders of other photos. some folders had only cloud photos. since my folders are sorted by date that means that i might have taken photos on those days but all i took photos of were of clouds.

photos of an excursion over a year ago to the sea turtle center on jekyll island with ash and the boys. it's been funny re-visiting older photos.

closer up of left side

and right side.

i slept wonderful

i can gage how i'm handling various situations by how i sleep. rough sleep (aside from painful sleeps) and i'm worrying, or stressed, or worked up about something. have a good nights sleep (aside from painful sleeps) and i'm not worrying, i'm not stressed, and i'm not worked up about a situation.

i've simply let go.

and let God.

we are living right this very moment with uncertainty and

i slept wonderful.

it is an uncertainty that, in the meantime, i can do nothing about. we have no idea of the outcome. it could be frustrating. it could be worrisome. it could cloud my thoughts. it could make me nasty to my kids. because i get that way when something has my stomach turning. but none of that.

i slept wonderful.