One of those days...just rambling

At a little before 8:00 last night...yeah, just about bedtime for the children...we loaded into the mini-van my swagger wagon and headed north  for one of our favorite summer treats...snow cones.

Have you seen the swagger wagon video? It is hil.ar.i.ous! And, for me, it never gets old.
I have an Odyssey, but I've got to give props to Toyota on this one. Check it.

You're laughing, aren't you? And you can relate, huh? 

I know. Me too.

Back to the snow cones...

But first a quick plug here...Firehouse Snow Cones just off the square in Celina, TX has the very best snow cones in the whole wide world. My recommendation? The Jack Jack. It's three flavors of sugary delight...cotton candy topped with wedding cake topped with strawberry.  Yumyumyumyumyum.

So we're on our way to cups full of empty calories and sugar highs when I realize that I have no cash. This is no surprise because I never ever ever have cash in my wallet. I don't even remember how I functioned before the invention of the debit card. My poor kids think anything and everything can be purchased with "that card thingy". Ugghhh...Dave Ramsey would be so disappointed in me.

Anyway...you know what else? We're always low on milk at our house...which was again the case last night. No matter how many gallons I buy...I feel like I'm always saying, "Better stop at the store. We need milk for the kids' breakfast." I'm telling you...these kids of mine go through it!

So lucky for us...CVS came to our town a couple of years ago. Which is so convenient because with the swipe of a debit card you can get grossly overpriced milk and up to thirty dollars cash back!

Which is exactly what I did.

About half an hour after we first left, we were finally on our way. At one point during the drive, I ran my  tongue over my teeth. Felt a little fuzzy. And I thought...Did I brush my teeth today? Sheesh! What had me so busy that I completely skipped basic oral hygiene? 

And for the life of me I couldn't remember.

So it was one of those days.
Not a bad one. Just the kind that leaves you with fuzzy teeth and not a single memory of what happened throughout the day.

{Evan wearing his Spiderman t-shirt while eating a Spiderman flavored snow cone. Which makes him look like he's either been punched in the mouth or a very young member of the Cullen family.}

{Olivia enjoying a Barbie flavored snow cone while perfecting her eye roll. Give me strength.}

I have no picture of Joshua eating his Sour Apple snow cone because there were older kids around and he was having one of those "I'm-too-cool-to-let-my-mom-take-a-picture-of-me" kind of days. Whatever.

{And here it is...my swagger wagon's empty seat. Every time I get in the driver's seat, I look back at it and imagine another pink car seat, an Ethiopian princess and sweet sisters giggling as we drive along.}

On film...Father's Day 2011

When it was time for Kyle to open his Father's Day gift and cards yesterday, I pulled out the Flip. So glad I did. Kyle and I watched the video late last night. We laughed.until.we.cried.

It's just a family video. But Hollywood has nothing on this group.

Kyle is the handsome leading man

...and he goes all "Jim Halpert" with his funny glances toward the camera.

Olivia plays the part of the Drama Queen...any surprise there?

Joshua plays the part of the Peacekeeper when he gives in to the drama queen.

Mommy provides the sound effects...that snorting sound is me trying to hold in laughter!

Buster plays the part of the cute but unnecessary dog.

Evan is that heart-warming character that finds the strength and determination to get through a difficult situation...in this case opening an envelope.

There's scandal and awkward humor...Mommy gave Daddy a card that says "You're pretty hot for being a dad."

Joshua provides more sound effects...screaming "Happy Father's Day!"

And since no Hollywood film seems to be complete without a little violence...Joshua and Evan provide a kick to the gut and a solid punch at the very end.

Jesus Speaks to the Rich Young Man...and me.

In four weeks, I will be on my way to Ethiopia. Just the thought of that overwhelms me. Why?

Because a couple of years ago, I sat at a kitchen table with two of my friends discussing missions and said...I'm just not called to that.

Around the same time, Kyle and I had dinner with friends. After the meal, they told us about their sister and brother-in-law who were moving their young family to Africa to serve as missionaries. I listened in disbelief and said...Wow! That is crazy! And in my heart I said...I would never do that.

In those moments, I essentially said no to God.

How could a mother leave her children to go on a mission trip?

How could a couple take their children from their life here to serve in a third world country?

I couldn't fathom it.

I love Jesus. And I loved Him back then. I just didn't understand how He wants me to love Him.

Our family went to church each Sunday...listened to beautiful praise and worship and heard powerful sermons straight from God's word. Kyle and I served in the children's ministry. I enjoyed women's Bible studies and the fellowship of my church friends.

Still...I started to feel as if something was missing. I felt restless. Blessed, but unsatisfied. I lacked... something.

Last summer, I read Radical by David Platt which led me to Matthew 19:16-22. It says...

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Now these are verses that I've read before.  But this time, I wept. This time I realized that I was the rich young man.

I was willing to follow Jesus on my terms. I was obedient, but not past the boundaries of my comfort. I would not obey Him unconditionally. My worship, my love was not sacrificial. And I was sad.

God used this passage and the book Radical to open my eyes...and my heart. He showed me that the Great Commission is not for a select few, but for every believer. He showed me that the fulfillment I so desired would only come when I was willing to let go of all the things I gripped so tightly.

It wrecked me. I prayed and I cried. I confessed and I repented. I begged God to help me live my life sold-out for Him.

And I said to Him...I am done saying no to you, Lord. Whatever you ask of me, I will do.

And what do you know?

Within weeks, He called us to adopt from Ethiopia. 

Over the next few months, He opened our eyes to orphan crisis. He broke our hearts for fatherless children in third world countries.

And in March, He called us to go. To serve. To love. To be His hands and His feet. 

I could no longer say...I'm just not called to that.
So I just said yes.

And as much as I want to obey Him. To live according to His plan and His purpose. It still isn't easy.

I don't want to leave my husband and my kids for 11 days.
I get anxious just thinking about 13 hours in a plane...flying across the ocean!
I'm afraid that my heart can't handle what my eyes will soon see.
And I'm flat out scared of what God may call us to next.

But more than any of that, I don't want to be the rich young man. He loved his riches and could not let go of them to follow Jesus. If I can't let go of the things I hold dear...time with my family or my comfort or my plans...I am no different.

So I will tearfully kiss my family goodbye. I will read and sleep and do whatever it takes to get through that flight. I will see orphans and poverty and my heart will be broken. And I will pray that He prepares me for whatever He has planned for our family next. Why?

Because I love Him.

And because I'd rather be
uncomfortable and obedient
than
comfortable and disobedient.


If you love me, you will obey what I command
John 14:15

Boy becomes Fish!

School is out, but we've got some serious learning going on!

Yesterday afternoon Evan decided he was done "floating"...he wanted to swim like his big brother. So my mom (who is awesome when it comes to lessons like "how to blow a bubble", "how to tie your shoes" and "how to swim") gave him a quick lesson. And that was it! Within a matter of minutes, he was swimming the entire width of the pool.

Way to go, Evan! Your family is so proud of you!

Summer

Joshua has been out of school since June 3rd. That means we have had 11 full days of summer and let me tell you...we have enjoyed every minute of it!

There have been late nights and quiet, sleepy mornings.  Three trips to the movies (Summer Movie Club at a local theater makes this possible...50 cents a ticket!). Long afternoons swimming at Grandma and Peepaw's pool. Snow Cones. Family games of kickball in our cul-de-sac and fun with sidewalk chalk. A get-every-book-you-want trip to the library. And many nights (6 to be precise) bleedin' blue, cheering on our Dallas Mavericks!

Oh, summer time...how I love you!

{My bathing beauty...enjoying a snack poolside}

{My little Mavs maniacs...off to church on Sunday morning}

{An evening swim...why bathe them when you can chlorinate them?}

And this mama's been doing some reading too.

I read this book...

And now I'm reading this book...

Not exactly your typical summer reads. But challenging. Convicting. Inspiring. And, in my opinion, two books that every follower of Christ should read. But before you read Radical Together, you must read Radical by the same author-David Platt. Okay, so not two but three books every believer should read!

Over the next month, I'm going to enjoy more summer fun. And, thanks to grandparents, hubby and I are going to enjoy some date nights. Oooooo la la! 

And then...I'm going to Ethiopia. No, this trip is not related to the adoption. But it has everything to do with what God started in our lives one year ago this month. He stirred our hearts and created in us a desire to care for orphans...specifically those in Ethiopia. Funny thing is...even as we surrendered to God's plan to adopt, Kyle and I made some of our own. We thought we'd adopt and then do missions someday. But our ways are not His ways (Isaiah 55:8) and here I go! I can't wait to share more as I prepare for the trip and then after I'm home.

And one more thing on the agenda for this summer...blogging. I keep neglecting this little blog of mine and hubby is not happy about it! Apparently he really enjoys signing on and reading about this life of ours. So in an effort to keep my biggest fan happy and maintain my role of submissive wife...I will get back to blogging!

So how about you? Whatcha been doin'? Whatcha been reading? Got big plans for the summer? Do tell.