Today I met with my worship pastor, Tim. I've been on the worship team since last spring and have enjoyed it tremendously. It's allowed me to be "me" - not "Mommy" for a few moments. I love being Mommy, she just gets pretty tired sometimes.
He told me something kinda funny, but very true. He said I have these "two voices" that he's noticed. One is a little too pretty, full of vibrato and such. The other is bit more rough and tough -- that's the one he wants, the one that fits our style and the songs we're doing. It just made me laugh a little bit, cause I guess I've got two "singers" inside me. There's the girl that's had all the chorale and techniques drilled into her head, and then the girl who has dreams about being a rock star diva (a conservative diva, that is...)
I love singing so much and I have always struggled with the whole "am-I-really-singing-for-God's-glory?" question. But I've heard this quote time and again about Eric Lidell - (is that his name?) the runner from the Chariots of Fire movie who says, "When I run, I feel God's pleasure." That is how I feel when I sing. I don't think I ever feel closer to God than when I close my eyes and send it on up. I'm convinced that God knows my dreams, He knows my heart, and even if I don't get to live out my dreams here on earth, He has an exciting and better way to let me belt it out in Heaven.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Home Sweet Home
I don't know if I've ever been so glad to see our little house - no damage, no nuthin. Praise the Lord!
After we left the Johnstones, we decided to see if there were any hotel rooms in Waco (we were unsure if we'd have power at home yet...plus didn't want to drive 5 hrs. straight with the kiddos...) so we found a room and crashed for the night. The boys loved swimming in the pool and being silly with Daddy. I enjoyed being able to eat dinner at Fazoli's for the first time in about a year! There are no Fazoli's in Houston!! Ah...the breadsticks..
We left Waco this morning after breakfast and had no traffic the whole way back home. Delightful. God is good. It's amazing how much you miss the casual routine of your life when you are forced out of it for a moment.
Aaron enjoyed driving through some of the backroads of Texas and seeing more of this huge state. We live in such an urban area, it was good to see the countryside a bit. I was really amazed by Aaron's patience and cool head through this whole thing. He drove for 11 hours straight all night Wednesday and kept our family from freaking out. He stayed calm and made such wise decisions, with the Lord's guidance. When we were around 30 minutes from Waco Wednesday morning, I was watching his eyes in the rearview mirror and noticed that they were closed more than they were open. "REID!!!" I kept shouting to wake him up until he finally pulled over to let me drive. I think my poor mother came close to a cardiac arrest at that point. (Mama safely boarded a flight in Dallas and made it home to Ohio on Friday. I don't know if I'll ever get her to come back to Texas...)
I would like to have a very normal week now. Normal is good. I missed normal.
After we left the Johnstones, we decided to see if there were any hotel rooms in Waco (we were unsure if we'd have power at home yet...plus didn't want to drive 5 hrs. straight with the kiddos...) so we found a room and crashed for the night. The boys loved swimming in the pool and being silly with Daddy. I enjoyed being able to eat dinner at Fazoli's for the first time in about a year! There are no Fazoli's in Houston!! Ah...the breadsticks..
We left Waco this morning after breakfast and had no traffic the whole way back home. Delightful. God is good. It's amazing how much you miss the casual routine of your life when you are forced out of it for a moment.
Aaron enjoyed driving through some of the backroads of Texas and seeing more of this huge state. We live in such an urban area, it was good to see the countryside a bit. I was really amazed by Aaron's patience and cool head through this whole thing. He drove for 11 hours straight all night Wednesday and kept our family from freaking out. He stayed calm and made such wise decisions, with the Lord's guidance. When we were around 30 minutes from Waco Wednesday morning, I was watching his eyes in the rearview mirror and noticed that they were closed more than they were open. "REID!!!" I kept shouting to wake him up until he finally pulled over to let me drive. I think my poor mother came close to a cardiac arrest at that point. (Mama safely boarded a flight in Dallas and made it home to Ohio on Friday. I don't know if I'll ever get her to come back to Texas...)
I would like to have a very normal week now. Normal is good. I missed normal.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Going Home 9/24/05
We are breathing a bit easier this morning as we see the minimal effects of Rita. We are feeling very thankful that the eye of the storm didn't go right through Houston. This morning we've been packing up and plan to head out as soon as possible, since we have no idea what traffic will be like going back.
I'm assuming we have no power because I can't get through to our home phone, but there is power throughout much of the city, so hopefully it won't be out for long. This may be my last post for awhile, so again, thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Thank you Johnstones! It was so fun to be here! (Bob makes a mean pancake.)
I'm assuming we have no power because I can't get through to our home phone, but there is power throughout much of the city, so hopefully it won't be out for long. This may be my last post for awhile, so again, thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Thank you Johnstones! It was so fun to be here! (Bob makes a mean pancake.)
Friday, September 23, 2005
Running from Rita 9/23/05
I am here in Dallas, Texas - Flower Mound, to be exact. Aaron's cousin, Bob Johstone and his family have lived here for 8 years. Little did we know we'd be getting together under these kinds of circumstances, but we're glad they have been so welcoming. He and Kelly have three children, Matthew (9), Rebecca (7) and Melissa (6).
Our trip was really as best as it could've been now that I've been seeing the coverage on TV. God is taking care of us and we'll just wait until it's safe to go back.
I'll write soon when I have more time.
Our trip was really as best as it could've been now that I've been seeing the coverage on TV. God is taking care of us and we'll just wait until it's safe to go back.
I'll write soon when I have more time.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
What I've Been Reading
I always have my radar on when it comes to books - I love to get my hands on the new stuff and then grab a pen or highlighter, and underline or make notes to my heart's delight. I have to mention a few books that have lately been too good to keep to myself.
Grace-Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel
A good friend in the trenches of parenting recommended this book. I initially thought the title sounded a bit soft, but as I've been reading, I realized I have a skewed view of grace to begin with. What I mean by that is I gladly welcome the grace given to ME, but have a hard time giving it out. Dr. Kimmel writes, "Grace does not exclude obedience, respect, boundaries, or discipline, but it does determine the climate in which these important parts of parenting are carried out." This book was a breath of fresh air and written in a relaxed, conversational tone.
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
If you've never read any of Alcorn's Christian fiction, I must encourage you to read those also! Deadline, Dominion, and Edge of Eternity are some of my favorites. His fictional (but based on scripture) accounts of Heaven were so amazing, that I was thrilled when his non-fiction book about Heaven came out. In the preface, Alcorn says, "The truth is, in our seminaries, churches, and families, we have given amazingly little attention to the place where we will live forever with Christ and his people - the New Earth, in the new universe. This eternal Heaven is the central subject of this book. It's a subject I've found to be fascinating, thrilling, and life-changing." There is no topic, question, or detail Alcorn does not thoroughly discuss when it comes to Heaven. It's like a huge textbook on Heaven, but much more fun to read because it will expand and improve your current vision of what you think Heaven will be like. It's also a great evangelical tool, explaining at the beginning how to GET to Heaven in the first place. It'd be a great shame to read this book and not get there!
Grace-Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel
A good friend in the trenches of parenting recommended this book. I initially thought the title sounded a bit soft, but as I've been reading, I realized I have a skewed view of grace to begin with. What I mean by that is I gladly welcome the grace given to ME, but have a hard time giving it out. Dr. Kimmel writes, "Grace does not exclude obedience, respect, boundaries, or discipline, but it does determine the climate in which these important parts of parenting are carried out." This book was a breath of fresh air and written in a relaxed, conversational tone.
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
If you've never read any of Alcorn's Christian fiction, I must encourage you to read those also! Deadline, Dominion, and Edge of Eternity are some of my favorites. His fictional (but based on scripture) accounts of Heaven were so amazing, that I was thrilled when his non-fiction book about Heaven came out. In the preface, Alcorn says, "The truth is, in our seminaries, churches, and families, we have given amazingly little attention to the place where we will live forever with Christ and his people - the New Earth, in the new universe. This eternal Heaven is the central subject of this book. It's a subject I've found to be fascinating, thrilling, and life-changing." There is no topic, question, or detail Alcorn does not thoroughly discuss when it comes to Heaven. It's like a huge textbook on Heaven, but much more fun to read because it will expand and improve your current vision of what you think Heaven will be like. It's also a great evangelical tool, explaining at the beginning how to GET to Heaven in the first place. It'd be a great shame to read this book and not get there!
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