Filed under: Family | Tags: D.C., Great Falls, National Park, vacation, Virginia, Washington
So, Jason and I had planned to go into D.C. yesterday and catch a Nationals game…had the tickets and everything. After sleeping in a tiny bit, we realized that still being a weekday, there was no way we would find a parking space at the Metro park-and-ride, and we weren’t about to drive into the city either. So, we scrapped those plans. Instead we had a nice brunch and spent the afternoon shopping (isn’t my husband great!). After a little nap at the hotel, we enjoyed a nice dinner and movie! We are leaving D.C. sight seeing for tomorrow after church.
Today we headed over to Great Falls National Park. While our hotel isn’t really around a whole lot, it is a short drive to quite a bit. This was absolutely gorgeous! We did some hiking and just enjoyed taking in all of the creation around us.
This vacation has been so relaxing! I’m so grateful to spend a few days with my best friend and love of my life!!!
Jason and I made it to the D.C. area last night, after 10 hours of driving. Although it was a long trip, it was a beautiful drive…sometimes I forget how truly flat it is in the midwest!
Today was our conference day…we spent the day at Whiteboard. It did not disappoint!!! This was by far the best conference I’ve ever been a part of. Eight speakers that had 30 minutes to share one big idea. My mind is so full right now. God spoke to me so much today…sometimes smacking me upside the head! I’ll probably post some of my thoughts as I let it all sink in a bit. I am so grateful to have my best friend here to digest all of this with. I am truly blessed!
Jason and I went our separate ways for lunch…he attended the bloggers lunch at Uno’s, and I headed to the Women’s lunch at Paulo’s Ristarante. I was excited to get to meet and spend some time with other wives. Ainsley did such a great job putting it all together, down to the smallest detail. I was really grateful to get to hear Jen speak to all of us about her journey as a ‘pastor’s wife’. God is using her in amazing ways!
Tonight Jason and I headed out to dinner at Sweetwater Tavern, upon the recommendation of Ainsley (thank you!). The food was INCREDIBLE! I enjoyed wonderful jumbo crab cake and filet mignon. Tomorrow we’ll head into the city to do a little sight seeing and catch a ball game. After sleeping in of course!!!!
Sometimes I wonder what God is thinking when he looks down at us all. This morning, I was reading in Genesis and in John…
When God instructed Noah to build an ark, it was because he was so fed up with the evil in the world that he was going wipe out everything and start over again with one family that loved Him. Wiping out every living thing on earth? Drastic action.
When Jesus walked into the temple and saw it filled with loan sharks and people selling livestock, he stormed in, knocked their tables over, yelled at them, chased them out. Why…because of what they had turned God’s house into. Drastic action. And it made people look and question.
So…I wonder what God thinks when he looks down on us. And not just “us” meaning the world, but “us” meaning His church. We can see evil at every turn in this world…violence, injustice, hurt. What does He see when he looks at His church? Jesus walked into temple and said–Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall! What would he say if he walked into your church…our church? Stop turning my Father’s house into a (fill-in-the-blank)…a shopping mall? a social club? an elite group? a checkbox on your weekly to-do list?
I don’t think many people would argue that evil has permeated the world…but after the flood, God promised that never again would he wipe out every living thing and start over…even though He knew that the world would become a sinful, evil place. Instead he sent Jesus. He developed a community of people who walked with Him, and who reached out to those who did not know Him no matter what the cost.
So what are we doing with the charge Jesus left us with? When God looks at “us” what does He think? It is my prayer that He would say–keep up the good work, my good and faithful servant…because we are living with Him and following His call in our life. But if that wouldn’t be his response, what is he calling us to? Drastic action?
Most of us shy away from drastic action, don’t we? We don’t like confrontation…we don’t want to ‘rock the boat’…we don’t like change…it’s easier to be comfortable. I know I certainly have fit into that mold a time or two! But what is God’s answer to the evil of this world? HIM…And how is the world supposed to know who He is and what He can do in their lives…US. He uses us, but we have to be willing to be used by Him.
What drastic action could God be calling you to?
Filed under: Family
This is my latest scrapbooking project…a baby book for my brother and sister-in-law’s new addition coming in July. I’m finally getting it posted. I tried to show a glimpse of each page. The last page will ultimately say “Notes to: BABY’S NAME”, but that hasn’t been revealed yet! This was a lot of fun to do!
Filed under: Family
This was the weekend Abbie had been waiting for. Instead of having a big party for her birthday, she chose to have her first sleepover with a couple of her girlfriends. Here’s some pics of the event…the girls on the trampoline, at the zoo with one of the mini ponies, and at the park. They stayed up way too late…had a blast…and I’m sure had a nice nap on Saturday afternoon!!!
Filed under: Family
I have had to tweak my weekly workout schedule to take into account for the shift in schedule (see the previous post). I’m actually writing it down for all the world to see…hopefully as an accountability measure, because I haven’t been so faithful in the past. I am also going to try and go walking about 20 minutes over my lunch hour each day. It always helps give me a pick-me-up in the middle of the day!
Mondays- Cardio (running/elliptical work at home), and my abs class.
Tuesdays- My strength training class, and evening yoga.
Wednesdays- My cardio blast class and abs class.
Thursdays- Strength training class, and evening yoga.
Fridays- Cardio (running/elliptical work at home).
There is my ambitious goal. We’ll see how things are going in a week or two!
Filed under: Healthy Lifestyle
Okay, well…not really goodbye, but I’m hoping we’ll be stopping by the gas station to fill up MUCH less often. With the rise in gas prices, Jason and I have been talking about ways we can be better stewards of our money, and of the resources we are blessed with.
So today was my first day riding the city bus to work. As a Purdue employee, I can ride the bus for free. I had tossed around the possiblity several times before, but from looking at their maps and schedules, it looked like I was going to have to leave an hour earlier and get home an hour later than I normally would. My family time was worth the extra gas I was using.
Then I thought–Hey…why don’t I acutally talk to someone at CityBus and see how I should do this. And guess what? After talking to Pam, I found out that I can simply cross the road by my house, and they will pick me up (even though I’m not by a bus stop), and I can ride the same bus all the way to work…dropping me off right by the building! I leave 5 minutes earlier than I normally do, and get home about 15 minutes later. VERY DO-ABLE!
Today was really great, actually. I realized that I am actually giving myself 40 minutes of extra time to myself…I can read! I met a woman that works in the building next to me, and she brought her Bible and journal to write in on the way. Brilliant!
I am going to be riding 3 days a week, and I’m kind of psyched! Lower gas bills, better for the environment, and more time to spend on important things!
PS. Watch for more posts tonight. I have pictures of some scrap projects…finally!
