inprogress

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if your life was being turned into a full length feature movie…who would play you and what would it be called?

ok. i wasn’t even thought of in the 60’s. SHUSH MANDY! but when i yearbooked myself the other night, this year made me laugh the most. i look so…jolly!

go aheaad…yearbook yourself too!

this morning while i was getting ready for church, i had some music softly playing in the background. i was humming, singing along, warming up my voice while doing my hair. mindless activities. i was pondering my last few posts and the amazing comments and support i’ve received from you all. my emotions were starting to roller coaster on me. i didn’t want to go there…and apparently God didn’t want me to either.

right as my eyes were beginning to leak… God had a word with me.

God – tam? why are you taking all the focus off of Me in this situation?

me – well…

God – why are you fearful? when have i ever put you in harms way?

me – uh…

God - you are on the cusp of something big..and you’re ruining it with wallowing.

me -

God – embrace the journey! have fun in the mystery! this is an exciting time for you and the family! there is no need for you to lessen the beauty of it with self-doubt…or doubt in Me. so get it together and work with Me here!

me - God?

yah. so. have you ever had those times when you know that you know that you know you’ve just been set straight by God and His words fell heavy on you? this morning….my mind was not in this form of thinking. these were not my thoughts. He spoke to me. and i heard Him loud and clear!

oh yes! i’m listening now!

we’re singing this song this weekend. i barely got through rehearsal without weeping during this tune. when we got to the actual service tonight (saturday evening) i wept again.

so powerful. so beautiful

[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=36V7ByKaGvg]

i had a good cry last night. a real good good cry.

ever since brent, the kids and i went before God declaring to Him we’d go where He sends us – shake us up – get us out of our mediocrity…it has been a whirlwind. in our lives here, in relationships, in our thoughts, our hearts.

i thought last night, what if God moves us away? this town is all our kiddos know. new schools. new friends. i’ve always heard nightmare stories of kids rebelling in these moments. the thought of Him moving us scares the bad word right out of me.

what if we get everything all wrong? what if He lays several different opportunities before us and we pick the wrong one? then i remember reading something Rick Warren wrote…”God’s not as concerned with your geographical location as much as He is in how you serve Him wherever you are at.” (something to that effect)

i know now…where we are now…i am comfortable. BUT, i’ve become very uncomfortable in that comfort. it has turned into a bit of complacency.

that is what has lead brent and me to this place. knowing we have gotten too comfortable. and in that, we’re getting lazy, not doing all that we know we can and should do.

but, we don’t make a change once He moves…we make that change now. if we can’t grow here – we won’t grow anywhere.

i need to stop thinking about the “what ifs” – and start looking at the “what now”. He’s preparing us now. all i, we, have is now.

“whatever You’re doing inside of me…it feels like chaos but somehow there’s peace…” - Sanctus Real

do you ever feel like this is the road you’re on?

what are the top 3 things you would tackle?

fill in friday

creating a story – one comment at a time

1-FIF will now have a 300 comment limit. not that there will be that many. but this will help keep the video at an acceptable length of time

2-the last commenter will be asked to start out the next weeks fill in friday story. of course you can decline. but please don’t

3-each comment should be no less than 3 words and no more than 5 words

4-dont forget to refresh the page before you submit your comment just in case someone has beat you to it

that’s not so bad. easy rules to follow, eh?

some of the other brain work behind FIF “a community story”… the Princess pretty much started this “story” idea a while back. yah. she’s pretty incredible!

lets get started!

sure! that makes sense, but…

[video will be up later tonight. i have not been feeling well this week so i didnt get to it.]

here’s my 2nd attempt at answering your questions from last week…

1 – OCD-ism asked – how old am i and are my kids in their teens?

i am 37. my b-day is in november. i am NOT a fan of getting older. it ticks me off my sweet daughter, kassidi, is 14 years old and is starting high school next week my crazy son, kota, will be 12 in october and he starts jr. high next week this is why we shouldn’t blink people. time goes by way. too. fast!

2- emily rowe asked – where do i live and what do i do for a living?

i live in southern oregon. we’ve lived here since 1993. although it is breath takingly beautiful here – my heart is in southern california. i love the beach. i miss the beach terribly! everything about the beach…the sound of the waves, the force in which they crash onto the shore, the smell of the air, the touch of the sun on my nose & shoulders, the feeling of the soft sand on my bare feet, the taste of the salty water, the sounds of the birds singing in the air, running like a mad woman under the pier so said birds don’t poop on me! everything. i LOVE it!

i am a stay at home mom who doesnt get paid for blogging.

3 – judi free asked – do i sing? (in the shower?)

yes. i sing. i am on the worship team and am fortunate enough to serve there each week along side my husband. i absolutely love to sing. i also write music. most of my songs are born out of my prayer time.

funny thing is…i do not sing in the shower. im actually embarrassed my family might hear me. i know. there is no logic in that. i frequently have pickles for lunch. no logic there either.

4 – cindy beall asked – how do i stay so cool and hip?

seriously. this one made me laugh. i didnt know i was! my kids tell me i am. but… that mostly comes from my son who wears the same shorts 4 days in a row. how credible can he be??? but, cindy, if you say im cool…i will totally take it! i mean, wow!