Whew!

I have been busy! Let me tell you I have been busy!!!! I was in Orlando, Florida for 5 days last Wednesday - Sunday... and it was great, OK worshipping with Matt Redman who I already have told you is my absolute favorite christian artist in the world! he was FABULOUS pair that with 5,000+ women and how can you go wrong! OK it was a little hot, who am I kidding it was VERY hot, so stinking hot and it was so humid it took your breath away. but fun none the less, and I learned so much it is amazing how much you can learn when you have no interruptions. did I mention we went to the cracker barrel, oh my that place is heaven to me talk about great sweet tea, us Californians do not get sweet tea at our local establishments, so seriously that is my favorite part about eating in other states. and lastly thank you all who were praying because really i didn't really miss the kids very much, I did miss John a lot, but the kids were all good when I got home and actually acted like I had never left they were like "Hi Mom" and went back to playing, oh they did stop for second to see what I bought them LOL!

we also had our seconds MOPS meeting Monday it went very well. I love MOPS this year, not that I don't every year but this year I really feel so good about the things God is doing in our groups. we have so many cool women.

OK so then after the long weekend and MOPS we took the kids to fair last night! have I mentioned before I really don't like the fair? it is so expensive people $75 just to ride the rides! John was with me and he was like just do it, so we did and they had a great time. and there was hardly any lines, it was fabulous! the kids had fun, oh and I had a funnel cake and the world was great! so now I need to get back to blogging.

oh oh oh did I mention I got a iPod? OK I Love it! I got it yesterday too late for my trip but I will enjoy it all the same. I ordered it on eBay so I got a great deal!!!!
OK for real BYE!

Why is it......

when we think that we have God all figured out, he challenges us deeper in our walk with him. yesterday I had called a lady who wants to get involved mops so I had one spot left so I assign her to a table and call her to let her know she is in. she wasn't there so she called back and I make small talk tell her what MOPS is and all the info she needs to know. she seems very nice, I kept hearing a phone ringing and I say do you work, she said yes in the afternoons for her husband I say oh what does he do, she pauses and hesitates then she tells me anyway I immediately felt guilty for asking but it was a honest question how was I supposed to know who she was. anyway I told her I was so excited she was coming to mops and that I couldn't wait to meet her, I truly meant that. you see we all deserve to come freely to a church, ministry, or gathering with other believers and not feel condemned or judged. I want her to truly fill that, I want her to know no matter what she is going through although can seem like a place where there is no hope there is and there are others wanting to help her and want to know her for her. that is my prayer for this coming MOPS year, that I will be sensitive to the moms in my group and that God will use me to minister to them and love them where they are, that he cares about every detail in our lives and nothing is too big for him!

We have 62 moms coming to our group this year, and I cant wait to meet all of them, many are new and I hope they love it!

Lord God please direct my mouth when I speak to these women on Monday, use me as a vessel for your ministry. although we get together for fun and to get to know one another, allow our new moms to feel a immediate connection to the ladies around them. we are all moms and we struggle with many things sometimes small and sometimes huge, teach us how to love one another for where we are at, not where we have been, or where we will be in the future, but for where we are at this very moment. may these ladies feel your presence when they walk through the doors, and may they feel that when they leave. allow us as leaders to be sensitive to your spirit, to know which moms need a hug, or a pat on the back, or a "you are doing a great job" , allow us not to be cliquey, or too busy we can not sit and chat with a mom who needs it, use us lord....use us for your glory not our own... use us to impact the lives of moms, which will impact there families, communities, churches, friends let us not take too lightly the road you have mapped out for us, but also allow us to come and be real and show that we are not perfect that we fall short everyday that we have to get up wipe ourselves off and start over again all the time. may we glorify and uplift your name always - AMEN!

Did I tell you all....

I am going to Florida in 3 weeks! oh yeah sisters that is right I am going to the annual MOPS convention it is going to be so fun!!!! We were planning on going back in April but airfare was ridiculous, so in July when it still had not come down we decided never mind. well when I just happened to check last week before my leaders meeting the prices on air had dropped over a $100 a ticket, so we are going! so last minute, the hotel where the convention is was sold out but I called and begged and prayed, and guess what they gave me a room! God Is GOOD!!! now I just need to get everything else booked.... oh and did I mention my FAVORITE christian artist Matt Redman will be leading worship, can you imagine 7000 women worshipping together with Matt Redman?! oh and where we are staying is 5 minutes from Disney World, not that I like Disneyland so I doubt I would like Disney world but hey if I want to go I will be close. Can you tel I am a LITTLE excited?
The only thing that worries me is being stuck there because of a hurricane, whose idea was it to have a convention in Florida in the middle of Hurricane season, HELLO!!!!!!! oh well I am still going. I am also nervous to leave Jake, I haven't left him for 5 hours let alone 5 days, but John says to go and have fun everyone will be fine. Don't you love my hubby.... I do :)
Just thought I would rub it in let you know how extremely blessed I am!

Florida here I come think I should bring boards for my Windows, and extra water? Just in case??? I'm just saying.................

M.O.P.S

(Picture is of Matthew and I about a week before he passed away)

OK I was reading Amanda's blog tonight and I realized something, I have never written a post on M.O.P.S. now you can look on their site and find out all about MOPS but I will tell you my experience. I have been attending MOPS since Liz (now 9) was a baby, I was 18, newly married, and had no friends with babies... well probably because 18 year old's should be in college not having babies right? well, whatever Gods grace is awesome, and I wouldn't change it! OK... rambling that has been a problem for me lately :) anyway I went to MOPS not knowing anyone but the one lady who invited me and I didn't even get to sit with her, but I loved it, everything about it, the ladies were nice didn't judge (you know I was just 18 at the time) and I liked the crafts! so I went there for a year, then tried one closer to my house, then another with a Friend I had met. by this time I was having my 2ND baby and was 22 now. 6 months after having my son David I found out I was having twins!!! twins! I had a good pregnancy and when I had those boys Johnathan and Matthew my very own church was starting a group. of course I joined and was on steer team and a table leader(I was a pro at this whole mom thing now ya know!).we were set to start in November, well October 23rd the most horrible thing happened our little Matthew passed away at 10 weeks old, he was a healthy baby and I went to get him up from a nap and he wasn't breathing, needless to say we were devastated but amongst everything that happened this awesome group of ladies who hardly knew me other than the few meetings we had rallied around me and gave me support, they brought us meals for weeks, babysat for us when we needed to make funeral arrangements, or I needed a minute to breath. They prayed for me, let me cry and said nothing when I needed to talk (you know when someone is grieving sometimes it is better to say nothing) anyway I had a new respect for MOPS and my group at that point I always loved it but now I needed it.

Fast forward about 4 years, I just had a baby and some of those same ladies, and some new ones are there for me again , bringing us meals, support, and friendship. I am the coordinator of my group now and I know God has used the experiences I have been through with Matthews passing for me to be able to minister to the moms of our group, to able to love them and be a little more understanding (because I tend to be very black and white, right and wrong) well when your a mom there is a lot of gray, all moms do things differently and that's OK! I love this ministry, God has changed me from a 18 year old wife/and first time mom, who thought I knew everything but was so afraid at the same time to a 27 year old wife/and 5Th time mom, who realizes I know some things but I have a lot to learn but I also have a lot to share with other women. God is good! he never gives us anything we cant handle, he is there with us in the hard times and carries us when we are weak, and loves us amongst all of our faults.

OK done rambling... I tend to do light posts but today I had this on my heart and I needed to share. so if you re struggling with anything today, give it to the Lord! to make it a even longer post here are the words to my favorite worship song, I love the part at the end (highlighted in orange) because even when God gave us something huge to go through, we knew we would still chose to put our faith in the Lord and worship him, even when it was hard!!! you know it is easy to love God when we are getting things, but what about when things are taken away will we chose to say "blessed be your name"...

Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
album: Where Angels Fear To Tread (2002)
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name