I’m Tired!!

Yeap… it’s Monday afternoon and I’m exhausted already! haha You would think after such a nice-relaxing weekend on a houseboat that I would be ready to face the week… but instead I’m postponing the gym until tomorrow, debating about picking up dinner so I don’t have to make anything, climbing in my pjs, and going to bed super early! That’s ridiculous!!!

Back to the houseboat… aaah the houseboat! Too much fun… we had SUCH a good time except for Daniel getting sunburned so bad that he could barely move! Other than that… it was so nice to get away, play in the water and sun, and just hang out with Daniel, Crystal and Brian. We relaxed and did NOTHING! We grilled out, hung out at night around the citronella candles playing cards, laughed more than I can remember doing in a long time, and just got some much-needed time away from everything. It was SOOO difficult to come back and I know ALL of us were trying to figure out how to call in for a week or two and stay there! I think we all decided that we’re going to have to figure out how to borrow that houseboat more often!

Lion Chaser, 11

“Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God”

WOW! I think we all get hung up on all of our imperfections and how in the world God can use us screwed up people who mess up all of the time! But this kinda reminds me of a camp moment One of our students for some weird reason decided to start reading through the New Testament while all of us girls were hanging out in my room. So she stopped after a minute or so and asked why the heck that was important. FYI – first chapter of Matthew is Christ’s geneology which is just a bunch of “so in so begot so in so” kinda stuff. So I got a cool opportunity to point out all of the screwed up people who were related to Jesus, SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!!! So all that to say God can use us screwed up people with all of our imperfections who mess up all the time. He just wants us to be willing to be used!

Lion Chaser, 10

“Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can”

I’m thinking this sounds a lot like what I talked about yesterday. Think I’ll just preach that to myself again!

“Live like today is the first day and last day of your life”

Errr… but I’m always waiting for the weekend. That would be easier to live up to on say a Saturday, but Monday’s coming soon and then back to the craziness again! You know… not to go all redneck on you, but this reminds me of that Tim McGraw song “Live like you were dying” haha!

Let’s see… what would I do if it was the last day of my life? That is just a sucky thing to think about. Gosh!!! There’s just so many things that ran through my mind and yes skydiving was one of them. Thanks Tim McGraw, ya’ll know you’re singing the song in your head right now too. I think I’d skip the rocky mountain climbing, maybe have a helicopter drop me off at the top so I can skip the climbing stuff! haha

Just curious… what would you do if this was your last day?

Lion Chaser, 9

“Consider the lilies” 

I’m pretty sure he’s referencing the verse that talks about how if God dresses the lilies so well, how much better will he treat us, his children? Pretty cool to think about. Makes you wonder why in the world we worry so much about stuff when he’s promised to take care of us. Now I know that doesn’t mean we’ll never experience pain or hurt in our lives, but it’s still nice to know!

“Enjoy the journey”

I do have to say that I love the journey… well once it gets to the weekend! haha All kidding aside, I do want to work on this in my life. I feel like there’s so many incredible things that happen to me on a daily basis that I need to stop and celebrate all of them or at least more of them. Just being able to wake up in the morning (5 AM AGGHHH) next to a man who loves Jesus and me more than anything should be more than enough to keep me smiling all day. Having a car to drive (cracked windshield and all and takes $80 to fill up) to my job (that stresses me out) but brings home money to keep my lights on and food on the table (that usually Daniel makes) I really have nothing to complain about… just need to realize that more often.

Lion Chaser, 8

“Expand your horizons” and “Accumulate experiences”

Again I think these two kind of go together. Sometimes I try to give myself an out on these because OBVIOUSLY it costs money to expand your horizons and accumulate experiences, right? WRONG! I think I can do that from my own little hometown. I don’t have to travel all over the world to accumulate experiences or stretch my brain. I think I just need to be a little bit more perceptive of what’s going on around me so I can soak up opportunities when they pop up or maybe just recognize them a little more.

Lion Chaser, 7

“Stop playing it safe and start taking risks.”

You know this one reminds me of the first quote “Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.” But I like to play it safe. It’s well… safe! This reminds me also of the quote about Jesus being a rebel. He refused to play it safe. He didn’t come to earth and stay away from any controvery. He got right in there and stirred the pot! So guess I should follow his example, not that I want to be a rebel and stir the pot, but then again maybe I should!

YAY

I just realized that life’s good! hahaha I’ve kinda known that all long, but it’s especially good since we’re getting to go hang out on a houseboat this weekend with Brian and Crystal (that none of us have to pay for – BIG yay) AND we leave next week for FLORIDA!!!

I booked our hotel yesterday in Melbourne (on our way down to meet my family) and the hotel looks incredible (been compared to the “W” hotel. Not sure how I got such a good deal on July 3rd/4th! But supposedly the pictures live up to the hotel and that should mean no cockroaches! haha

Daniel and I will get a day to hang out at the beach together in Melbourne and then drive down a few miles to some of the most remote, beautiful beaches in Florida! Supposedly it’s sea turtle nesting season too and it’s not uncommon to see sea turtles wandering the beach to lay their eggs on this stretch of the coast! YAY

Then my family will be arriving later that evening and we’ll check into the condo with them to hang out for a few days! We’re also getting boats compliments of the condo owners! YAY So I’m sure we’ll spend a good bit of time on the water or the sand AND I’ve made everybody promise that we’re going to get a good seafood meal in while we’re down there.

So life’s good!

Lion Chaser, 6

“Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution.”

Errr… wow! I think I tend to err more on the pointing out problems side than the part of the solution side. Does anyone else struggle with this? I don’t really feel I’m a negative person, but maybe the good old Quality Management training has taught me to seek out and identify potential problems. Guess I need to concentrate more on the solutions

“Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.”

I like to think I don’t have a problem with this, but think again I do! haha It’s hard when you’re a type A anal control freak to quit repeating the past. I know I drive Daniel nuts sometimes with my little routines and “proper” way of doing things. So I’m going to preach to myself to lighten up and concentrate more on having an open mind, even when I obviously KNOW you’re supposed to clean your counters before you clean your floor Daniel! hhahaah

You know I’m pretty sure that’s not even what Mark Batterson was talking about!

Lion Chaser, 5

“Keep asking questions” and “Keep making mistakes” and “Keep seeking God”

I put these together because they seemed like they should go together. I think the first one is not really aimed at being annoyingly inquisitive but maybe always being on a quest to learn. I like this one because as weird as it may sound I do like to learn all kinds of new stuff and am usually looking for something to stretch my mind. Poor Daniel I know he hates this about me sometimes because I will drag him to Books a Million for hours on end so I can read some weird book about something completely random. But they say if you don’t use those brain cells, they die! Nice thought, huh?

“Keep making mistakes” and “Keep seeking God” – I think these two work hand in hand. I don’t think he’s implying you should make random stupid mistakes over and over again. But maybe that if you’re seeking after God you need to do it boldly and be willing to make some mistakes along the way and learn from them. Better to have tried and failed then to do nothing at all.

Toofers

You know I LOVE it that my husband has all of his teeth, doesn’t say “ya’ll” every other sentence, doesn’t know all of the words to Sweet Home Alabama, doesn’t own a shotgun, and only owns one pair of camouflage shorts. He’s about as Yankee as they come but his redneck status was definitely threatened last week.

Poor guy – he broke off the corner of a very prominent tooth and had to suffer through two days looking like one of those guys you see the news interview every time a tornado comes through Georgia. As much as I love him and think he really is the hottest man in the world, I REALLY like it when all of his teeth are intact! And I think he does too!