Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Wow! Amazing!!

I have had a very rough start to this new school year. I was beginning to think that this kindergarten teacher is getting too old! I have a very difficult group of children. They are great kids but some of them are 'high maintenance' and several boys that are easily excited and a bit immature. Six days into the school year I had a severe kidney stone attack and missed the next 5 days of school! I went back for 1 day and thought I was going to lose my mind!!! Thankfully, it was the only day before a 4 day weekend for Labor Day. And

I had the best Labor Day weekend EVER!!!

Friday I boarded a flight and headed to Dallas, Texas to spend 4 days with my life long friend fro high school. Tina and I have been friends for . . . well, let's just say, since 7th grade! We have been through everything together! Dating, mistakes, good times, bad times, our weddings, and unfortunately, our divorces, babies, a miscarriage, soldier sons - one of which has done 2 tours in Iraq and is now in Afghanistan, some fantastic trips, loss of loved ones, and soooo much more! Anyway, she is my BEST friend and she has been here for me through so many things! So when she called me and said I need you to come down, my response was "I'm on it!"

The flight down was quite interesting. I was all comfy in my seat (haha - who can be comfy on an airplane?) with my book open and ready to read some more of Staci Eldridge's, Captivating when someone needed to sit next to me. So I scooted over still thinking I was going spend some time with God and learn all about how He loves me! But . . . I guess God had a different plan because for the next hour and a half I had a very interesting conversation with a man named "Joe". I learned that "Joe" is an educator, has 2 kids, is turning 40 this year, loves to travel, is in an unhappy marriage, and was raised in a dogmatic church that preached legalism. Near the end of the flight he asked me "Do you go to church? Do you believe in God?" I told him I did and asked if he did. He said, "No" and it was soon VERY clear that "Joe" had NO understanding of the gospel. He believes "there are many ways to heaven and we just all have to be good and do our best. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all sister religions anyway. So it's just about trying to do the right thing." WOW! Lord, I could have just kept reading my book about how much you love me and I would have been just fine. But my Father had a different idea for my plane ride. I tried to point him to Jesus and tried to explain that God is not about rules - that He is about grace and love. And then our plane landed.

As I got off the plane I prayed for "Joe". I asked God to send his children into "Joe's" life and for him to find Jesus and experience God's grace.

Next . . . Tina picks me up and we begin our Friend Weekend!! We always like to shop and eat. So naturally we began with the eating of some fine italian cuisine. One issue that my sweet friend was having was her need for a new vehicle. So, naturally, I decided we were going to take care of that issue ASAP! And after many hours at the car dealer we had a 2010 Acura tl to drive!


We had so much fun driving around in it! Navigating Nancy talked with us all the time (haha)


Saturday we were pampered with pedicures and did a little shopping. Then we returned to the car dealer to seal the deal. That proved to be a bit more difficult than we anticipated . . . But we finally, after 4 hours, left with a new car for my BFF!

We continued on with our weekend with some more shopping, eating, and some yummy new drinks!

I discovered that Margarita Swirls are quite refreshing!


I also tried a Lemon Drop Martini - my very first martini - and it was yummy!

Sunday was an AWESOME day! We started the day in her Sunday School class. Tina has a wonderful teacher and the lesson was from Max Lucado's book, Facing Your Giants, and it was on unspeakable grief. Well, who can't relate to that. Grief comes after us in so many forms and we have to go through it or it will eat us up. Next, we went on to church for a great message from the book of James about faith vs. works. It had been an emotional morning with all the grief talk and the message and then the ending song came. I have never heard such a beautiful song!!! It has become my new favorite and it is "The More I Seek You". You can check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3GijrnfStk. But just in case you don't, please read the words:

The More I seek You

The More I find you

the more I find you

The more I love you


I want to sit at you feet

drink from the cup in your hands

lay back against you and breath

feel your heartbeat

this love is so deep

it's more than I can stand

I melt in your peace

it's overwhelming

Can you imagine anything more wonderful than leaning back against Jesus and feeling His heartbeat! I tear up just thinking about it! It is overwhelming!!!

After church I had a great visit with my Dad! I don't get to see him often enough. Before I knew it Monday came and I had to head home. It is always hard to say good-bye to my dear friend. So I am at the airport trying to get everything checked and get myself to the right place and, guess what . . . I missed my flight!!! They put me on stand by for the next flight - 2 hours later. So now I am in tears and freaking out!!! I called my other BFF from Farmington - she was picking me up at the airport and I am in a state of panic and crying and my friend, Gay Ann, says in her sweet voice, "It's OK - no big deal - this is only a dot. I will be there to pick you up when your flight comes in." Isn't that GREAT!!! I was fine after that.

My God is awesome!!! I so needed time away and everything about the weekend was perfect. I didn't have to do any work, no laundry, no cooking, no dishes - I didn't even think about school. I just relaxed and had fun and in the midst of it all God overwhelmed me with His love. He ministered to me in so many ways - from "Joe" on the flight there to Gay Ann picking me up at the airport. And I now have a new favorite song! I love having a new favorite song!

The More I seek You

The More I find you

the more I find you

The more I love you


I want to sit at you feet

drink from the cup in your hands

lay back against you and breath

feel your heartbeat

this love is so deep

it's more than I can stand

I melt in your peace

it's overwhelming


May you be overwhelmed by His love!