So soon! Philippines!

I stole most of this from Chris' blog because... well why type it again when he did :o)

We are leaving Sunday at 3pm for the Philippines. That is only 4 days away!! We will drive 8 1/2 hours to San Francisco, stay the night at Chris' Aunt and Uncle's house (Kathy and Gary- Thank you!!)  Spend Monday resting and exploring San Francisco before our flight at 9:05pm. The flight will be 16 hours long to Manilla, Philippines then we have a 6 hour layover followed by a short flight to Cagayan de Oro and the fun begins! We will be visiting many churches each day encouraging and ministering along with them, doing a couple dedication services at the churches we funded last year, doing many crusades where we will feed children, present the gospel tell bible stories, make balloon animals and just love on people... we will also be taking a small boat across to a little island and walking through the jungle to visit and minister to a village for a day.

I am so excited however the reality is my heart is already breaking for the Filapino people and I know that it will just break more as I am there. I know that this will be a life changing experience for me and am excited for what God is and will be doing in me and through me. I can't say thank you enough to those of you that are supporting our trip financially and prayerfully. Words cannot express :o) 

What?

Isaac went to his first full day of school today. (Cool cats and his regular Kindy class..) anyway he was walking past me this evening and just seemed like such an older kid... When did my baby grow into this boy... he's a kid now... not baby... not toddler... not even preschooler... kid. I guess time flies when your having fun huh?

Discipline

Can I just say that I have the best life in the entire world. I mean I could absolutely not be happier. Now I'm not saying that if you chose to give me a couple grand it wouldn't make my day or if the kids decided for some reason to just not make any messes anymore that would be great BUT I am fully aware I have more then I need and I'm blessed beyond measure. I have an amazing husband, two wonderful kids, and I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing. How awesome is it to love your "work". (Sorry, that was just a rant) 

So today Allie was showing her true toddler colors and I had to discipline her. (not that it's abnormal) but there is always this transition when they go from being these precious little babies to toddlers and it's my job as a parent to guide and train her. When she was younger and I disciplined her she just shrugged it off and picked something else to do. Now... when disciplined she tears up, pouts and sometimes is downright devastated and to be completely honest there are definitely times I just want to let her off the hook BUT because I love her (uncontrollably) I choose to guide and shape her to the best of my ability because I care about her future and I see the potential in her to be amazing.  I think God sees the same potential in us (since He is all knowing and such) and He uses trials and consequences from our choices to shape and discipline us to make us great. So I look at hard times in joy because I know they will shape me to be all the more extraordinary. I desperately want to be the best I can be. 

Youth Convention

It seems like it came and went in a flash but the effects will be eternal. Youth Convention was amazing as always. Everything was amazingly orchestrated by God to convey the same message. God is an Extraordinary God! We are Extraordinary, and we can do Extraordinary things! I was there more to serve at the event then receive and even though I wasn't in very much of the services God still fine tuned things in me through worship and the parts of the messages I did hear. It's amazing how peaceful life is when it is given completely to God even in times of trouble.  I am finding how much I truly and completely love people and care about them to the point of tears. I love them so much at times it hurts... and to think there is someone who loves more than that, who's heart breaks harder than mine. Do you know my God?

stuff

Just some random info you were dying to know about my life :o) 

-was able to spend some great time with our senior pastors last week and loved it! We are so blessed to work with some of our best friends and I am so excited to be in ministry with them. (an added plus, we picked out the carpet and paint for the new building!! Very exciting)

-I think I forgot to mention that Allie was potty trained by her 2nd birthday. To my surprise it only took 2 days and she is a potty pro. Wow!

-slowly prepping rooms to paint... I think it may be a long process but soon my kitchen, bedroom, and the kid's room will be painted.

-was suddenly struck by flu like symptoms Saturday night and all of Sunday but today feeling much better, with minor head cold symptoms :o)

-this coming Thursday starts our annual Youth Convention. I'm so excited and expecting God to do amazing things in the lives of everyone who attends. 

-and last but not least, I read this on Konan Stephens' blog this morning and liked it so a little food for thought. "Reactions reveal who we really are." .... think on that for awhile :o) and have a Happy Monday! 

Cool Cats!

Today Isaac and I went to meet his new Cool Cats teacher! Cool Cats is a kindergarten language class basically like a half day speech therapy kindergarten class. I am so excited that Isaac was eligible for it. So starting the 13th Isaac will ride a bus to one school, eat breakfast, go to Cool Cats, eat lunch, ride a bus to his actual kindergarten class where we will pick him up after school. Full day!

Smile?

I was having a conversation with some friends last night and the idea of how we affect others in our day to day lives came up. Do you ever see someone at the grocery store that just seems extra cheery... or grumpy? and it totally changes your mood? We will never know how a split second reaction to someone could effect their lives and the lives of others around them... I want what I do to affect people in a positive way...