80’s music!

I love 80’s music!  I guess it’s because it is fun, and it reminds me of high school and college.  I had the chance to see Chicago in concert a few years ago.  They are timeless.  Journey.  Def Leppard.  REO Speedwagon.  A few of my favorites.  What about you?  Do you have some favorite 80’s groups?

 

Conference in Texas

Brian spoke at a Leadership Network conference in Dallas, TX this week, and I was able to go with him!  It was a great conference, and I was inspired.  Speakers were actually on a timer–it was all quality and to the point, which goes along well with my short attention span!   While we were there, we enjoyed some Texas brisket and experienced the worst ice storm that Dallas has had in six years!  

On the way home I read a book that we purchased at the conference.  It is called Nice Girls Don’t Change The World, by Lynn Hybels.  What a great book.  It too was a quick read–I think I read it in 20 minutes, but it really impacted me concerning the way many Christian girls grow up.  Because we sometimes have an inaccurate view of God, we can miss being all that He created US to be! This is a freeing book for those of us who feel like we can never attain to all that we are supposed to do!

Now I am glad to be home!  I can certainly appreciate more of what Brian experiences when he speaks out of town!  Extreme exhaustion!  And, of course, meeting wonderful people who add to what we are doing in life!  It is a blessing to visualize how God is working in so many places all over the world.

 

Friday–my favorite day of the week!

I love Fridays!  It is Brian’s day off–and he actually TAKES the day off!  So, it is my day off too.  We hang out all day until Zach gets off the bus.  We often get coffee, go out for lunch, shop, exercise or go to a movie.  We wash his truck.  We talk and laugh.  He doesn’t shave.  Fridays keep me going for the long run.  God took a day off too–and He wasn’t even tired!  What a great idea!

 

The Girl I Used To Be

(This is a poem I love.  The author is unknown.)

She came tonight as I sat alone

The Girl I used to be

And she gazed at me with her earnest eye

And questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans 

And hopes I had for you:

The great career, the splendid fame,

All the wonderful things too

Where is the mansion of stately height

With all its gardens rare?

The silken robes that I dreamed for you

And the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad 

For I wanted her pleased with me…

This slender girl from the shadowy past

The girl that I used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand

And guided her up the stairs

Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay

Innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems,

And precious they are to me;

That silken robes is my motherhood

Of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love,

And the only career I know

Is serving each day in these sheltered walls

For the dear ones who come and go

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,

She smiled through her tears at me.

And I saw the woman that I am now

Pleased the girl I used to be.

 

Oak Leaf Staff Wives!

I had dinner tonight with the Oak Leaf Church staff wives!  They are awesome, and God is doing amazing things at their church in Cartersville!  It is fun to hear about what God is doing in different places.  Anytime you get with other church planters’ wives, you instantly have a lot in common. Fun night.

 

Holiday Wrap Up!

What a great Christmas we had with family this year!  We did Christmas with Brian’s family on Christmas Eve.  We opened presents with the boys on Christmas morning and then drove 9 hours to Virginia to be with my family.  We ate and ate and shopped and went ice skating!  Did I say we ate?! On the way home we took the boys skiing in Boone, NC.  The New Year’s Eve ceremonial Bloye family fondue was a highlight; and finishing up the holiday was the journey group feast at the Barfields!  We feel blessed and ready to face a new year.  (And clean out that basement!!)

 

 

The Shack

I hoped no one would notice the tears in my eyes as I finally finished  reading the end of The Shack on the plane this weekend!!  The Shack is one of those books that you really like or really do not like.  I happened to really like it!  First of all, it is NOT a theology book.  It does not claim to be perfectly accurate in all of its descriptions of the unknown, but I have to ask myself a question.  “Am I better off having read it?”  And the answer is definately YES.  OK, I do not view God as a large African American woman, but I think that the way most people view God in inaccurate.  The Shack is full of truths that I have not considered before, and it challenged my thinking.  I think that one of Satan’s FAVORITE lies is that God is usually disappointed with us and somewhat angry at us.  How sad!  God is so loving –He is the best parent anyone could ever have.  He wants to be our friend, and that was so portrayed in The Shack.  He is not only interested in our soul–He is interested in US!  And I bet Heaven is full of all the things we like to do the best–and Jesus has to be the coolest guy we’ve ever met!  I’m interested.  Have you read The Shack–and what did you think about it?

 

Cool New Christmas Song

Have you heard Faith Hill’s new Christmas CD?  We bought it this week.  The last song is one I have never heard, and I really liked it!  It is called “A Baby Changes Everything.”  It is about Baby Jesus and how He changed Mary’s teenage life.  Then it becomes about Him changing everything by being the Savior of the world.  At the very end, it is about being lost and now found–Jesus changing a person’s life.   Cool new song.

 

Christmas Crazy

We are in the middle of all the holiday crazy busyness!  I love Christmas and all the fun things that go with it!  Many wonderful events!  I started thinking.  Have you ever missed a party, not RSVPing because you actually thought you could squeeze it in your schedule–then you missed it and felt terrible because you didn’t RSVP?  I sortof feel that way about Jesus’ birthday this year!  Oh no!  Jesus, I was so busy with the things ABOUT your party that I actually MISSED your party!  In all of our fun and busyness, I don’t want to miss the real party–the being still and realizing that Jesus actually was born to be the Savior of MY WORLD.

 

Thanksgiving weekend

We were so blessed to have family at our house for Thanksgiving!  Brian’s family and my parents, and our friend Steve, all came over and shared Thanksgiving lunch!  We were blessed to have Mom and Dad stay several days.  Brian requested his mom’s cole slaw.  I requested my mom’s coconut cake.  You know those dishes that are family favorites!  We all have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for my boys and for the uniqueness with which God made them–we never have a dull moment!  And for Brian–the man I waited for, and love more and more all the time.  I am thankful for good health and I am reminded all the more this year through our church’s involvement in Africa, that we Americans are seriously blessed with more than we can imagine.  Mostly, I am thankful for God, His Son, Jesus, and the salvation He has brought to my life.  I do not know what my life would be like without His constant goodness and mercy.  I hope that this holiday season is a peaceful one for you and those you love!