Lessons From the Summer

I don't normally spend a lot of time writing my posts. I normally just share some cute pictures and a few words explaining them, but I have felt compelled lately to share some of my thoughts about this summer. I normally don't like to share a lot of personal details about my life - mainly because I can't imagine anyone would be all that interested. However, I do feel that it is important to say out loud things the Lord has shown me so that's what I'm going to attempt to do here. It has been one of the best summers I can remember in a long time for many different reasons.

Ben and I have grown in our relationship in new ways I think. We have had another major life change together with building and moving into the house. With every major life change, I think we learn more about each other, but also come together more as one. I'm still suprised by the blessing God has given me in my husband sometimes - that I could find someone who suits me so well and who loves me in such sweet and exciting ways! Not that either of us are perfect, but that there is someone who wants me to be happy and who is intimately concerned with me - how I feel, what I want, who I really am. I feel blessed, of course, but also really special that God created a person who has no blood relation to me, but could come together with me and have it just fit and feel right!! It's really incredible how God equips us to be a part of a union like that, ya know? I recently read some verses in Ecclesiastes that I don't remember reading before:
Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed. Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 (The Message)
I'm not exactly sure what Solomon is saying here and I'm not crazy about the death part (although it is a reality for us all), but I like the part about living large and enjoying the life God gave us to the fullest! "Relish life with the spouse you love" - that's really good. Sometimes I think we let ourselves get into a rut in our marriage b/c there are so many obligations that come along with a family, but God is all about taking pleasure in our pleasure. I want to glorify Him with my marriage and I think taking pleasure in my husband and helping him to be the man that God has called him to be is glorifying to God! This summer has been full of special times for us and I'm thrilled that I've gotten to experience more with Ben.

Also, Jack has been at an age this summer where it is just FUN, FUN, FUN!! Last summer was all a blur b/c nobody in our house was sleeping and there was lots of crying, but this summer, we got to enjoy so much more with him! It's been so great to be able to watch his personality grow and become more aware of everything around him. I've learned so much through him: the names of every train on the Island of Sodor; that sheetrock can look good as new no matter how big the hole if you have somebody who knows what they're doing; that sand can get stuck in EVERY orifice of a little boy's body after a day on the beach; that a sippy cup that has been perfectly acceptable 100 times before can suddenly become completely unacceptable to drink out of; that some children do NOT enjoy group games, songs, and activities and no amount of cajoling and threatening can make them participate; that running in place makes tv much more exciting; etc, etc. etc. Some of those lessons he's taught me were more fun than others, but it has all made me grow as a person and as a mom. More than that, I believe that God is teaching me more about His love through my relationship with my child than ever before. I know how much I love Jack - so much that sometimes I become fearful for no good reason. How much more does the Father love me? With a love more perfect than any I could ever conjure up for my child. I'm am amazed and captivated by this love!
This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John3:16 (NCV)
Jesus is showing me more and more about his love through my love for my child. I'm so thankful that God is using the job of parenting that I love so much to teach me more about his perfect and sacrifical love for me!

I've also been able to spend time with our family and friends this summer and grow some new and special friendships! There just seems to have been time to cultivate some strong bonds with the people that I love. We were able to go on vacation with my parents and there have been countless trips with other friends. We've been able to reach out to people that go to our church that we didn't know that well and have been able to make some real connections there that have made life better and fuller. This summer has just seemed to have opportunities for me to spend more time with friends and to build something more than just superficial relationships. I believe I will be eternally grateful for Godly friendships and I know that God is using these people as tools in my life to draw me closer to Him.
Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Romans 12:10 (The Message)
I have learned that God can only use my friendships for good in my life if they are real and I put some effort into them. I've also learned that I get a lot of joy out of them when I work at them.

These are just a few of the areas that have made this season so speical to me. See what a fun summer it's been! So much going on and I'm sad to see it go. At the same time, I'm excited for a new season - full of great things that God has in store for me and my family (we're pretty excited for Alabama football around here too:)!

For some reason this summer, amidst all the good things, I have been more aware of a growing disinterest in the Lord from our culture as a whole and disbelief in Jesus and who He is and what He did for us all. Some of that has been through friends with different beliefs than me, but a lot of it just comes from the culture that we live in today. I have a lot of arguments that point to the exsistence of God and to the fact that Jesus was God and man, lived a sinless life, had a bodily resurrection, and through Him comes our salvation... I believe there are historical facts to back that up, and the Bible clearly maps that out for us, but I'm not a great scholar of religion by any means. There are many things that great scholars have said that make me say "YES! That's what it is!!" For instance,
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C.S. Lewis

"I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most profitable explanation is that I was made for another world." C.S. Lewis

"There are some things that can be learned by the head, but... Christ crucified can only be learned by the heart." Charles Spurgeon

"We trust not because a god exists, but because this God exists." C.S. Lewis

"It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and a wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their soul. They have overcome the world. These people...are Christians... and I am one of them." St. Cyprian

I don't have a great quote of my own and I don't always have the answers to all the questions about God, but this is my best arguement: He is doing these things that I've written about in my life TODAY!! He is real to me today and He's working in my life to bring me good things and to make my life have a higher calling and purpose. It doesn't mean my life is always easy, but it does mean that God is with me and is a trustworthy Friend, a strong Tower, a Place of refuge, a loving Father, a great Provider and that He will supply all my needs. Even on bad days, I can have peace, joy, and hope because of who He is and what He has done for me! That's why the other arguments will never be able to do away with true followers of Jesus: we're not living on what someone else says or what some professor told us. This is something that is happening TO US in the present day and you can't convince someone that something's not real when they've experienced it for themselves! "A good question for an athiest is to serve him a fine dinner, & then ask if he believes there is a cook." for the benefit of clergy as seen in The Anglican Digest True followers of Jesus have tasted His fine feast and you can't tell us that He wasn't there to prepare it for us! I'm so thankful that nobody and nothing of this earth can seperate me from what I've found with God.

I just wanted to share what God's doing in my life right now and what he has done over the last few months. I'm just continually amazed that He wants to be my friend and that He calls me to a life that is full and exciting and more than I could ever ask or imagine!! I hope Christ has revealed something new and exciting to each of you as well!

I've been reading a lot of C.S. Lewis lately (as you have probably already deducted) and I read this recently and have decided to make it my motto for the fall.
How little people know that think holiness is dull... When one meets the real thing, it's irresistible.
I pray that the love of Christ will bring holiness into my life that will make Him irresistible to those I meet!

A Little More Summer Fun!

Saturday afternoon after Caroline's fantastic birthday party, our Sunday School and Discipleship Training classes from church all got together at Blue Lake for one last hoorah this summer! We had sooo much fun! Here are a few pictures from our day.


My two men


Yep, still playing with his trains... He stayed there forever doing that. He would have been fine if all the rest of us had just gone home. He played by himself most of the day:)


Daddy was rescuing his sweet girl, but I'm not really sure what the problem was here. I think maybe she was swimming and got a little more than she bargained for for a second, but daddy was right there! Don't we all wish we were this cute when we are upset?


Jamey and Shonna




Christian and...


Gabe - can you tell these two are brothers??

Bro.Barry throwing Gabe - human cannon ball

Any great preacher knows how to throw a human cannon ball - or maybe that's a great dad that can do that?! Either way, Bro. Barry's got both wrapped up. He threw kids ALL DAY LONG!! Tired yet??

Jason, Brooke, Brooks and Mandy

The Clark bunch - Justin, Dawson and Caylee

Hannah Grace who has recently become a top notch swimmer!!

Joel was having tons of fun with his boogie board!



Conner

Jack, Uncle Jay Jay and Aunt Dee Dee

Jaidyn and Caroline - such cute girls!

Beverly (the other photographer) and Lynne

Mandy and Misty got to enjoy the day more than all of us. They got to Blue Lake at the appointed time, but the rest of us were at home waiting out the storm. I say their dedication to be there should be commended! (or it could have been Christian and Gabe's excitement that got them in the vehicle in the storm too:)

When Wade wasn't helping Bro. Barry throw children into the air, he was throwing the football AT people - me in particular!! Not very nice, right?!

Sweet C and Jack B decided to take a little reading break.

Serious cuteness all worn out!

It was a great day and we can't wait to get together again!!

Azland and Jack

We were so excited that Jack's ...cousin, great aunt, aunt... (we couldn't really decide but I'm going with cousin) got to come and play with him the other night.






How adorable is she?! She's a lot of fun too. She just came right in and started playing... We were really glad that this little beauty and her parents got to come over for a play date, but we want a whole day next time!! Ben's grandparents were also able to come and we got to have a sweet time visiting with everyone. Thanks, Azland, for all the Thomas goodies!! Jack hasn't stopped watching the DVDs since you left! We had a great time and can't wait to see you all again.

White Water Rafting

Ben and I had a lot of fun with this!! We're ready to go back and get a little tougher ride next time!

Nantahala Village

We have just returned from Nantahala, North Carolina - a place I had never heard of until just a few months ago. It is actually right outside of Bryson City, NC and in the middle of the Smoky Mountains. Thomas the Train was going to be at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and we decided to just take our family vacation there this year. We would be able to see and ride Thomas with Jack and there would be lots of other things the rest of us could enjoy. Fortunately, my mom and dad went with us for a few days and then they headed back a little earlier.

We stayed at the Nantahala Village Resort in a cabin in the mountains. We felt like we were really roughing it b/c we were pretty deserted up there. We were seriously IN THE MOUNTAINS!! This isn't the same as staying in Gatlinburg (which is about an hour away and we were able to make a day trip there). We were in the middle of the mountain which was an adjustment, but breathtaking as well. We thought we would really enjoy that a lot more than being in the big city, so off we went... Let's just say, it was off the beaten track enough that Ben was listening for banjo music at night:)

We were able to do lots of fun things. Thanks to my parents, Ben and I were able to go whitewater rafting (fun!) and Ben was able to play some mountain golf during the trip. I have lots of pictures from all the other fun stuff we did...

These first two pictures were the view from the front porch of our cabin. Beautiful!

Day Out With Thomas

Thomas the Train was at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in Byson City, NC (about 10 mintures from our cabin). We were able to get there early and play all the Thomas games, get our picture with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt and all sorts of fun stuff. We also went to the train museum and Jack loved that. The bad part was it was POURING down rain and it stayed like that ALL DAY! We were running from tent to tent, but other than that it was fun. (Note to Moms: The tickets are only $18 but you barely get your money's worth. The activities are fun and Jack really enjoyed them but the train ride was nothing special. It's worth it, but don't travel a long way unless you have a whole vacation planned.)

When it was finally time to ride Thomas, we had been in the rain all day and were worn out. Jack was under the impression that we were going to get into the actual Thomas car. We explained to him that we were going to ride Clarabel (the car that Thomas pulls) instead and this was the look we got...

In his defense, the train ride was a big bummer... It was REALLY slow and there wasn't even a lot of good scenery. I wouldn't drive a long way for "A Day Out With Thomas" unless you're going somewhere like the mountains to make it worth the trip. The train ride actually just rocked Jack to sleep. We tried to keep him awake...

... but finally just gave up!

Nothing like driving 7 hours for a 25 minute train ride that your child sleeps through - ha ha!!

Santa's Land

This was a theme park and zoo in Cherokee, NC geared towards young children. Jack really enjoyed it a lot and it was totally worth the trip.


How many places do you just get to see Santa walking around?! He was actually riding the rides with some of the older children.


The one and only picture my mother let me take of her the entire vacation!! We were so glad they got to go with us. We enjoyed it with them there soooo much!

A Little of This and That...

This was my greatest discovery on the trip...

It's called a "Pink Lady." I found it at a coffee shop called "Shot in the Dark" in Dillsboro. I never drink flavored coffee - just straight up iced non-fat lattes for me. But I got this for my dad to be funny and I went nuts over it. I would think of reasons the whole trip to go the 30 minutes to this town to get one all the time. I got addicted!!

There was lots more actually... I'll try to post pictures from the sky lift, paddle boats, whitewater rafting, go cart rides, and everything else later, but I'm tired right now...

Outside the cabin

Outside the lodge at Nantahala Resort. Our cabin was actually about a mile straight up the mountain from the lodge.

Great trip, but it's good to be home!!