So Long Insecurity

I'm a little late on the bandwagon but this book was so good and helpful! It struck a chord in me on issues that I'd either become very good at ignoring or had just accepted as part of my personality and nothing I could do anything about.

I would highly recommend every woman read this book! I checked it out at the library after putting it on hold a few weeks before. Most of that you can do online, so it's really convenient!

The biggest thing I walked away with was a renewed sense of God's love (which seems to be a theme lately in my life!) And how ridiculous it is to put any value or strength (by way of insecurity) in our shortcomings, or what other people think of us. Also the realization that we can be free from the chains of insecurity that limit us in life, that is something God wants for us and He can and will help me find my security and worth in Him alone.

Still Here!

Why is it so hard to be productive during the summer? Maybe it's the years of summer breaks during childhood. Can I blame it on that?

Well, we're still here! Youth group is going well. It could be going better and it could be going worse so I just figure it's right where it needs to be at the moment. The biggest need regarding that is just wisdom in HOW to reach out to the kids in the community and opportunities to do so. We're taking a few to a Rockies game next week & I promise to return with pictures!

Parker's been in swimming lessons for a couple weeks. We missed last week because he was sick, but we were back Tuesday and today. He even went under the water 3 times today! His face when he comes up is hilarious! I wish Brent could be there to snap a picture for me!

Mostly he just whines and tries to get away from me though. He likes the swim part, just not the lesson part. Hmm a child who doesn't want any help or direction, just wants to do everything on their own....NO IDEA where he gets that! :)

The next few weeks will be CA-RAZY but fun! We've got a wedding this weekend, CA, baby shower, and a wedding in like 2 weeks, then another wedding a few weeks after that. There will be no shortage of things to post about, maybe just a little short on time to do them!

Water Night!

Last Wednesday we had water night with the teens. We had 3 kids plus the other youth volunteers, and we had a blast! I didn't get too many pictures because I had Parker with me and he was desperately trying to help and participate at every opportunity! :0)

We played the "Ummm" game where you sit in a circle and if the topic is Colors everyone has to go around and say a color if you say "umm" (or pause or repeat) then you get a water balloon popped over your head. And the water was COLD!

Then we played a few games on the slippery tarp which was entertaining to watch & hard to do! There was lots of sabotage going on, and everyone got pretty creative when it came to being competitive. Brent closed with a lesson and we cleaned up our giant mess in the park. In a few weeks we'll do Food Fight Night....can you say MEH-SSEE?!

Please keep praying that God will bless and grow our group!

Amazing Love - Part 2

I Can Do It Myself!
Not only do I see a picture of God's love in my love as a mom, but I also see myself as the defiant stubborn child more often than I'd care to admit. So many times Parker struggles and works himself into a frenzy by trying to do something he can't do alone. He doesn't quite know how to ask for help yet other than to be upset, but even if he did, I'm not sure he always would.
I can be such a frustrated "toddler" sometimes! Instead of coming to my Heavenly Father, who can and wants to help me, I flounder in my own feeble attempts. All the while, a willing helping hand is just a whisper away! God desires that we come to Him with all our cares and problems, and he knows what we need before we even ask.

Daniel 3:17

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand O king.

Forgetfulness & Impatience.
Any parent can identify with this: it's mealtime and kiddo is hungry NOW. You're cutting off crusts or peeling that last piece of orange...lunch is just moments away. Is kiddo waiting patiently, trusting you to feed them? Remembering all the times you've fed them before, how they've never gone a day starving? Um, no. They are standing at your feet, red in the face, tears streaming, whining, fussing, crying, begging....you get the picture.
As mom or dad you see the big picture. You know they aren't going to starve, and that the solution to their stress and worry is just around the corner. They have no real reason to be so worried, but still they are. How often are we this way with God? For me, it's alot. The words "Just trust in God, have faith" are so easy to say...to someone else. They are much harder to say, and mean when you're in that total meltdown moment. Outside of God's help we can't do it. Our flesh and our nature is to worry and doubt, and that's why it's so important to ask God for His strength to wait in His timing and trust that He will come through. Just like He always has & always will.

Psalms 86:15

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

I'm so thankful for lessons I've learned as a mom. And there's more to be learned just about every day! When I think about God's endless love, patience, and forgiveness for me, it challenges me to love in that way. And I'm amazed to think that in spite of how incredibly much I love Parker, God's love for him is even greater! God tells us in our imperfect and sin tainted love, if we love are children and want good things for them, how much MORE in God's ability of PERFECT love does He love and want good things for His children?!

Luke 11:13

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.