One Week to Go

By this time next week we'll be down one child in our house.  Em is moving away to university and we'll have an empty bedroom.  She's hoping it stays that way - empty - while her younger brother is vying for his own room (finally!).  Em would prefer we keep it just as it is.  Joe would like an office and I would love a craft room.  I'm not sure how all of that is going to pan out yet, but time will tell.  This "mom" thing is hard when the first baby leaves the nest.  In fact, it sucks.  There, I said it.  I don't like my baby leaving and not needing me anymore.  Ok, well, maybe she needs me still, but it's not the same.   And, I know I need to allow her the space to spread her wings and fly....blah, blah, blah....just give me a moment here to lament and then I'll be OK.  It will all work out.  She'll be fine.  We've taught her well.  She won't be that far away...it's only Chicago.  Yeah....ok...............   breathing.....talk to me next week....now we're off to wally world for the umpteeth time to buy more stuff for the dorm room.  I think Mr. Walton will be very happy to see me today.  ugh!

Timeless and Relevant: A 35+ Worship Leader's Dilemma

Timeless and Relevant: A 35+ Worship Leader's Dilemma

AMEN AND AMEN!

7 Reasons There Are No Women Speaking at Your Conference

7 Reasons There Are No Women Speaking at Your Conference: Author Rachel Held Evans explains why speaker lineups at Christian conferences often lack diversity.

This was an interesting perspective and one that I need to chew on for a while. Thoughts?

Little Passports

www.LittlePassportsIllinois.com

In September, Little Passports launched it's home-based business division and I joined on as an inaugural Agent.  This award-winning geography program (ages 5+) is a great way for kids to learn all about the world around them through the travels of our characters, Sam and Sophia.  

Sarah has been receiving Little Passports in the mail since February 2011 and loves learning all about new countries each month.  Just yesterday, she received her China kit in the mail, which contained authentic chop sticks and a dim-sum eraser.  She was so excited to know that she gets to use "real" chopsticks ("not the wooden ones, Mom!") and she loved placing her map marker on her map.  

Little Passports also offers online access to a kid-safe area (The Boarding Zone) that gives children another opportunity to learn about each country through games, printables, trivia, photos, and more. 

If you have a little world traveler in your home, would you consider a subscription plan to Little Passports?  Check out my website or facebook page for more information, or give me a call/email to order!  

The Heart of a Worshipper

Courtesy of Deviant Art

Fear

Struggle

Despair

Anger

Frustration

Adoration

Thanksgiving

Joy

Peace

Knowing 

King David went through all of these emotions throughout the discourse of his life, yet he had the heart of a worshiper and was one who was after God's own heart.  

I have been involved in the business of worship, to some degree, since the 6th grade when I was told that I sang first soprano in the school choir and that I was much needed to hit those high notes that the other girls couldn't hit.  I didn't think my four months of piano lessons and no vocal training at that point of my life would lead to anything else.  

Then in high school I took choir as an elective.  Little did I realize then, that it would lead to other things in my life.  For me, at the time, it was a way to not take other classes that my adviser was pushing me to take.  Choir led to show choir, which led to school productions and musicals, which led to singing on worship teams at a local churches (are you seeing God's hand move here?).  All the while, I was tinkering on the piano and working out chords and melodies that I had no business playing with at that time.  To this day I still don't read music too well, but give me a fake sheet and some lyrics and I'm pretty good to go (if I know the tune).  

So, I share all of that history to say this:  I am finally wrapping my head around the gifts and callings of my life.  I have been told countless times that I have "a beautiful voice" and that I should record an album (that would mp3 for you yungen's) and I've always desired to do so.  But, I've never been brave enough to go about doing something so huge an endeavor.  I have spent years squashing that idea because of fear, anger, frustration, struggle, and despair over my inabilities and lack of training. I've led worship at our church for the past nine years and I know with all that I am that I'm called to preach.... but sing? Record? Lead Worship?  I can't even put a band together at church, for goodness sake!  

But wouldn't it be just like God to use someone just like me?  He did it with David.  That dude was a giant-killer, a murder, an adulterer, and a mighty king.  But he always told the Lord how he felt in song.  I can do that.....errr...right?  Can a girl who preaches also write music and sing and lead worship?  Would that fall under the category of "Singing Preacher?" ;) Oh dear....

Someone at the church has given me their songs to "tweak" since I'm a "Levite" in their eyes.  I don't know about the Levite part, and I'm not so sure about the tweak part, but I'm giving it a whirl.  I don't want this person to get offended if I change things, and I don't know what will happen with those songs, but I am feeling pulled back to my piano and back to creating again.  I stopped creating about two years ago during a huge time of trial and testing in our lives, but I think it's time to hop back onto that horse and see what God wants to do.  Pray for me!

I'm feeling a shift in my atmosphere, as far as what I am doing and where we are going.  I hate being stagnant and I want to do whatever God is calling me to do.  I want to be clay in His hands, spare change in His pocket.  I think that means that I have to get over myself and just do it. (Nike would be proud!)  I can't fear the warfare anymore and I can't fear people's opinions.  All that should really matter is what my God thinks.  I want to be a woman after God's own heart.  

Wow...that's huge!