1. Let your life shine {in color}-

You only get one chance to live your life. Don’t be afraid to live it out loud.

2. Open your arms wide to the unknown-

Don’t be afraid to step into uncertainty. Leaving room for Him to show up is called faith.

3. Chase what matters-

The pull to live like everyone else is strong. Go after what’s really important-

you’ll never regret it.

4. Test your wings and try something new-

You never know, you just might love it!

5. Follow the winding paths, even the ones that lead to valleys-

It’s in the low places that we learn the lessons that  carry us to the mountain.

7.  Capture the beauty of the desert places-

Often we rush through the rough patches and long for tomorrow. Enjoy today. It’s all we truly have.

[On our long, long journey from the bottom of Texas to the Top this week, we stopped to dance in the 51 mile per hour wind!]

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was peaceful, simple and good. Oh, and it was vegan.

I don’t kid about meat, people.

It’s a long story, but the short of it: my hubby is a new diabetic. He was diagnosed a month ago. I cried. For days, I could only think about his sweet sister, my dear friend and her terrible, current journey as a diabetic.

We’ve devoured books and tried to understand the complicated world of diabetes. He was determined to try and control his blood sugar by controlling his food intake instead of taking four medications. One way to do this? Going vegan: no animal products (that would mean no meat and no dairy). His doctor gave him 90 days to see if it would work.

Um, yeah. You might recall my inlaws run a cow operation and I sort of have a special relationship with butter and consider myself a Chick Fil A employee.

We are on day 20. He’s lost 15 pounds and has controlled his blood
sugar!! I’ve lost a few, too and have recurring dreams about chicken. But I’m seeking counseling.

So. Christmas dinner was different. But supporting my husband is on
my what matters most list. And sweet tea is totally vegan!

We had planned on spending New Years at the farm with my hubby’s family, but a phone call on Christmas Day changed our plans.

My dear sister-in-love was admitted to ICU with kidney failure, due to diabetes. It’s in those minutes that you’re reminded of what matters most. We packed up the car and stopped by the farm overnight and will go on to visit my sister-in-law tomorrow, now that she’s stable.

I’ve got a lot to be thankful for and every day God reminds me of what matters most.

And apparently, it’s not meat at the moment.

P.S. Works for Me Wednesday will go up at 10 pm CST. If you don’t already have a tip, I thought it would be fun for everyone to link up the ONE post from 2010 that you really wanted to be read!

I’m taking a few days off, but I’ll be back next week for WFMW!

Merry Christmas!

P.S. The crescendo is a gift for you.

I closed my eyes as the song wrapped around me. It was Sunday, the week before Christmas and I was at peace.

My hand tugged: My daughter happily gesturing at the holiday song being sung-the one she was learning to play on her flute.

Then I understood the unspoken completeness in my soul, my children were lined up in a row…

worshiping God with us.

Just as they had for the last 8 Sundays, notebook and Bible in hand.

I spent the first ten years of my marriage as a Children’s Pastor.

I loved it.

But once my children turn a certain age (it’s different for each one-our youngest is still in classes at 4), I find myself longing to experience worship along side them.

Eight Sundays ago, we made a family decision to attend worship services together.

A scripture was read and instantly I recognized it as a verse that we recently learned as a family. We added crazy hand motions to help us remember and with a side glance to my kids, I saw them doing the small gestures. It was all we could do not to laugh and burst into spontaneous made-up sign language!

But inside? I was marveling.

The glimpse into my children’s hearts as they listened and learned and loved: it was good. It was like unwrapping The Gift of Christmas together.

I know there is a need in their spirits to learn and grow with kids their own age. So, yes to that.

But I want my children to see my eyes brim with tears when God comes near.

I want them to learn to worship by example.

I want to experience God with them…

P.S. when the fidgeting starts-tic tacs help

Yesterday was my birthday.

I turned 38. Since 40 is the new black, I feel okay about that.

My hubby got me these.

I got myself a new heating pad.

Par-tay.

I started thinking about all the lessons I’ve learned through the years of birthdays:

• I’ve learned you can’t hide vitamins up your nose because they melt and cause your parents to FREAK out (age 4)
• I’ve learned that even your dog won’t eat the fried liver from your plate (Dad’s favorite meal growing up) (age   8
• I’ve learned when your Mom requests prayer for your sick dog, the pastor might laugh. This is a problem. (age 10)
• I’ve learned that when your best friend sneaks Dirty Dancing (the movie) to you at church, you will accidentally leave it at the sign in table and have to go in front of the entire youth group to claim it (age 14)
• I’ve learned that just because you can drive, doesn’t mean you have a car and just because you can date, doesn’t mean you will be asked out (age 16)
• I’ve learned that the first boy you meet on the first day of college could actually be THE ONE. (age 18)
• I’ve learned that not discovering above lesson could cause you to date the wrong people. (age 21)
• I’ve learned to balance my checkbook or call home for a loan. (age 23)
• I’ve learned not to participate in public speaking events when I’m on a fertility drug (age 27)
• I’ve learned that all those rejection letters from book publishers really do develop character (age 29)
• I’ve learned that being a mom is the hardest and greatest job I’ve ever had (age 30)
• I’ve learned that it can happen to you (age 33)
• I’ve learned that pregnancy after 35 is WOW. Oh, the droopage. (age 35)
• I’ve learned to turn around and walk away from my tween’s messy bedroom (yesterday)

My big birthday lesson this year: My plans aren’t nearly as good as God’s and they are called LAUGH LINES not crow’s feet. thankyouverymuch.

What have you learned this year?

But what I’m really asking is HOW OLD ARE YOU??

*Updated with Winner* Congrats to reader Sara (findinghisjoy@gmail.com)!

You march to the beat of your own {pink} boots:

I started this blog when you were 8 months old.  Since then…

• you’ve been baptized by your sister
• you’ve been a Courtney Love look-alike
• you’ve survived the terrible two’s
• you’ve super-glued your lips closed
• you’ve taught your Momma how to live

Oh and you don’t mind getting your way:

Today, you are 4. You are ours.

(And yes, you still have to take naps, but not today).

Happy Birthday, *Pocket Change!

*nickname given to her by her Daddy the night she was born, 8 weeks too early and just the size of pocket change. You can read her birth story, Her Name is Grace Because He is Amazing.

To celebrate, I’m giving this lovely DaySpring piece away today:

You can read about this lovely item here. $65 value

** we also call her the dog’s name…sometimes

To enter, just wish E. Grace a happy birthday!

It’s a colorful book, with bright pictures and engaging stories.

It’s a children’s Bible for ages 4-7.

And I can’t put it down.

I brought it home for my little girl to hold close to her heart. But the words in the The Jesus Storybook Bible have made their way into mine. I am captured.

Every story, from Adam and Eve to Saul, from Noah to the prodigal son, whispers the name of Jesus. The author follows The Author’s lead and every story points back or ties in the work of Jesus Christ. I have learned so much and it’s opened the Word of God up to me.

I cried when I read it the first time. I use it for devotions. I trade gummy bears with my little girl to borrow it.

“The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far counry to win back his lost reasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne–everything–to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is –it’s true.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle–the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.”

For me, this is more than a book about The Bible. It’s a reminder that my life, each chapter, every day that creates my story, should whisper His name. When my life is read, I want the pages to point people in the direction of The One who matters most.

Can you hear it? The whispering….

I survived 48 hours in a hotel room with four girls, five including myself- quite an achievement for this introvert.

It was like a high school sleepover, only we’re our mother’s age, plus there was some snoring going on. I slept with a girl I met on the Internet (if you would have predicted that ten years ago, I would have laughed my head off), but we did line fluffy pillows between us…to prevent any nocturnal spooning or leg crossover.

It was fun and I am tired. I also have no voice. A bonus for my kids. It was good to have a break from my spinning plate routine-juggling The Mercy House, my family of five and looming Christmas. I came home with a lighter burden.

In other news, my tree spins. We decided to simplify our Christmas decorations this year. I invited a couple of newly married girls over to dig thru my SEVEN boxes of decor. I now have two. Lighter. Better.

But since I haven’t reached perfection. I bought a rotating Christmas tree stand. I was really excited to decorate the tree.

Which means I had to decorate the back of my tree. Which means I had to use ALL the ornaments from the last 16 years of marriage. Which means there are a lot of paper handprints on my tree. Which also means we used all my hubby’s childhood ornaments. Which means that he read the date on the bottom of each one. Which made my kids want to touch said special ornaments. Which means three were broken the first day. Which means I may be calling my newly married friends to get some of those Christmas ornaments back.

My kids wanted to decorate it while it was rotating-I had my doubts about the wisdom of this decision…it went pretty well, except for the few times my kids were trying to hang an ornament on a moving branch they ended up stuck behind the tree. That can really frighten a kid.

[Riveting 23 second video] Our Christmas Tree 2010

After thirty minutes, the tree wasn’t the only thing spinning.

I love Christmas, especially with an illuminated oscillating timber.

I am weak.

And that’s just the way God likes me.

I try too hard to do things on my own. I work and work and work. And then I pray.

I’m learning that praying and praying and praying. And then working, is much more effective.

But still I struggle.

God likes me weak. Because He is made strong in my weakness.

“God delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face to face with their need for him in the process he powerfully demonstrates his ability to provide everything his people need in ways they never could have mustered or imagined. In the end, he makes much if his name.” -David Platt, Radical

During this process of wild adventure, I am learning so much. Late at night, we whisper the husband and wife song of the unknown. It’s in these profound moments, revelation happens, a deeper understanding of God and His Word:

One day on my knees is more effective than 30 working around the clock on my own.

“The future of our lives, the Mercy House, etc, isn’t depended up me or my efforts. If it is, than it will be for my glory. If it is done in His power and prayer – his glory will be so blinding – that it is all anyone will see and instead of people being drawn to me, they will be drawn to Him.” – Terrell Welch (my smart husband).

I’m giving up. I can’t do it on my own. I’m giving it to Him.

I’m learning that when I take my hands off, back up and let God work…

He does.

What do you need to give up on today?

Let it go. Let Him.