What is Contentment?

Contentment is not a passive, punching bag mentality. It's a vigorous, strong, active, conscious choice to surrender my will to His will, His sovereignty, and His plan.

Paul says "I have learned to be content". I can say "I'm learning to be content". That is not a shameful thing.

"Hang in There"

I've heard this a lot over the deployment and past few months. People see me as fairly strong...which is a HOOT! Those closest to me know that I'm a wimp. I've said before, and I must say again: if you see any strength in me, it's His amazing, awe-inspiring, strengthening, holding grace that you see, not me. He's amazing. I'm human.

I've been thinking about the above phrase lately. Sometimes we simply feel like we're at the end of our strength and we can't hang on one minute longer...to God, to hope, to faith, to joy....

I believe I've had a revelation. I don't have to hang on. God is sovereign. God is big. God is big enough to lovingly encase my humanness. God will HANG ON! I will rest. I'll rest in Him and trust that He is quite big enough to hold on to me...to keep me safe in His presence until I feel strong enough to hold on a bit longer. Or maybe....and I've not discussed this with the resident theologian or even really filtered it through my own theology filters....but just maybe I'm not meant to hold on - maybe I'm meant to rest and He will hold on. Hmmm....OK - not talking salvation here and all.....I'm aware of TULIP and plan on being a persevering saint. ::snort::

No worries - just a few thoughts that have been brought home in the midst of my living my life lately.

Thursday

No rain, thunder, hail, or wind today....lots of sun! ::snort::

School is going so GREAT now - we've hit some sort of stride. I think, maybe, because I've not felt like going anywhere the last couple of weeks and so we are staying home and working and playing. LOL

Took Jamin and Jared to their last club day at the local ministry to children where they volunteer. THEN the younger 4 and I ran all over town trying to find table skirts, table clothes, confetti, display boards etc so that we can work on Josiah's graduation table this weekend.

We also stopped by the library so that I could pick up book 4 in The Yada Yada series. I am LOVING this series, but it is sooooo making me miss my group of ladies in AK - where we HAD intimacy...ah well. Seasons and all.

The week has been slower than usual as I don't have produce co-op tomorrow. I'm glad. ::snort::

We picked Josiah up at work, picked the boys up at HoF, met Mike at the ole' standby - Burger King-, scarfed down kids' meals, dropped Jared off at Civil Air Patrol and headed home with 6 of the children. Mike will work late tonight and bring Jared home with him at 9:30......

Book Review: YADA YADA Prayer Group...

*The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real* by Neta Jackson

I don't want to share spoilers and realize that several of you are reading this series so I'll be very careful what I say. Jodi prays that 2003 will be "dull and boring" - a prayer that God doesn't seem to answer.

This book centers on the wonderful theme of redemption! Great stuff. Lots of surprises.

I think I enjoy this series because it provides such a diverse look into Protestantism....AND it shows how Christians from various backgrounds CAN worship together, share together and support one another. We've seen the same in the Air Force chaplaincy. It's been fun to read Neta's descriptions of the various forms of worship services. I think she does a great job with accurate descriptions. I've been in most the types of services mentioned and found her descriptions to be accurate....even down to the "phrases" that are common to hear in various churches. ::snort::

I was greatly encouraged last night while reading about Yada Yada's visit to the Paul and Silas Apostolic Baptist church....the hymn she mentions is one we sung every week in our gospel service at Elmendorf. I've been singing it all night and a.m. Great memories of Rev. Harvey and a timeless message.

"We've come this far by faith
Leaning on the Lord
Trusting in His holy word
He's NEVER FAILED US YET... we're singing
ohoooooooo oho oooooo
Can't turn around
We've come this far by faith"

The INCREDIBLES! and the FANTASTIC FOUR

Ah - the fun of having BIG brothers! I always stock up on costumes after Halloween because the children really like to play lots of imaginative games. There most recent have centered around super-heroes......

"Mom, come see baby Jack Jack! Come see!"

STORMS

Last night was to be our last study of the year. I began getting calls an hour before the study and we ended up cancelling. We had some amazing storms again last night. We didn't get hail this time (lots on Sunday) but we did have wind, rain, and lots of thunder. I was looking forward to concluding our Bible Study season last night....not that I don't love the group....but I am in a "closure" stage right now....school ending, graduation, Bible Study....seems the thing to do.

I let the younger ones go out and play in the rain. We used to do the sames in the dorms in the Philippines. BTW, she has a rubber snake...not a real one! ::snort::

The storm blew several eggs out of our tree. The kids called me to take photos, I took one and then cried. The little bird was perfectly formed and I'm sure it was a great homeschool science lesson but it made me very sad.

We ended the night reading some hilarious stories from a compilation of outdoor writers. We read one Patrick McManus, our all time favorite, and I can't remember who the other guy was but it was a great story. We laughed, prayed, and went to bed. A great night - but I still wish we could have finished up Bible Study. LOL

GRADUATION PREPARATION

I've been working on announcements. I need to get address labels to print tonight or give up and finish writing them all by hand. LOL

We need to decorate a table for the reception. Ideas anyone? We're pretty average around here. We've not done book "things". I figure I can turn his slide show into a photo album for the table. We have a few little league plaques type things. I could display his Chick Fil A uniform. LOL Hmmm....I could blow up a photo of last summer's mission trip. What else should I do? I do have some of his old tonka trucks...wonder if the littles would be upset if "their" toys end up at the reception????

Ideas?????