Recent Thoughts

There has been a lot on my mind lately. Sometimes I feel like I am on autopilot and God is just easily leading me down this road and that road. Other times I feel like I am driving an old pick up truck with manual steering thinking that God is directing me one way but finding it really hard to turn.

I don't know about you but this summer has been crazy busy for us. It happens every summer and even though we started blocking off a few weekend here and there during the summer to just do fun family adventure stuff, it still ends up just all being busy. August hit and when I looked at my calendar I literally had three days the whole month that didn't have anything going on. Some people can handle that but I really need a couple days each week to just be home. So I looked at my September calendar and quickly put a line through the first week and the third week. No play dates, no doctor appointments, no friends over for dinner, etc... And while the thought of a couple weeks of dedicated home time helped me get through the rest of the summer business, it didn't give me what I really wanted. PEACE and REST.

Matthew 11:28-30 tells us that Jesus told his followers this, " Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My load is light."

I have read these words multiple times during my life as a disciple of Jesus. Actually I have read them multiple times this past month as our church (Mission Fellowship) has been studying the book of Matthew. Ever read something so many times that you just speed read right over a lesson God is trying hard to show you? Well that was me until this past week.

Being busy in itself isn't a bad thing. I just need to be busy doing the right things. As a woman who loves God and desires to do His will it is really important that I get this whole busy thing right. Proverbs 31:13 tells us that a woman is to work with her hands in delight. Am I delighting in what I am doing? Am I joyful when folding my laundry or fixing my family a meal? Verse 20 tells me to extend my hand to the poor and stretch out my hand to the needy. Am I actively seeking ways in which to bless those with less then me or reaching out to someone going through a hard time? Do I look for someone in need and try to fulfill that need whatever it may be? The whole section from verse 10-31 is a challenge to me to step up my game as a daughter of Christ.

My challenge comes in filtering through the good, better, best that comes with so many choices in life. I don't want to be saying yes to lots of "good" things when God wants me to say yes to just a few
"best" things. I think the best way to discern between the two is by prayer and time spend in God's Word. When I am consistently seeking the Lords direction and searching my heart for my motives behind my actions I find that life just seems to fall into place. Yes it might be busy, but being busy doing the things of the Lord is never tiring if that makes sense.

I am so thankful that my God sees me and knows me intimately. He knows what I need and what I can handle. When He asks me to step out of my comfort zone to do something, HE gives me the ability to follow through with it. So glad to know that He loves me where I am but loves me enough to grow me to be more and more like Him! Peace and rest can only be found in one place- at the feet of Jesus.

Eight!

Sometimes it is really hard for me to believe that Matthew and I have been married 8 years now. August 25, 2006 was the big day and it was one of the best days of my life!!!

We have made it a tradition to trade off planning our anniversary weekend trip each year. The first 6 years we had a tradition to stay at a B&B somewhere either fun or relaxing. We really enjoy Bed and Breakfast's and love the unique vibe each one has. Last year we broke tradition for a couple reasons. The first being that Austin was due any time and I didn't want to travel outside Portland. The second reason was that you have to give any place you stay at least a couple days notice if you have to cancel your reservation and that just wasn't a possibility when having a baby :-). We dropped Isaac off for a fun weekend with Nana and Papa Gault and then proceeded to have fun time around the city of Portland.

This year Matthew planned our weekend. We like to joke with each other that one of the reasons we were attracted to each other in the first place was that we both loved to backpack. Well guess how many times we have backpacked TOGETHER since getting married? A mere 2 times. Pretty sad actually. So we both thought that a weekend backpacking trip would be a fun way to spend our anniversary this year. 

We drove to Opal Creek and enjoyed a nice weekend spent with each other and in nature! Here are some pictures from our anniversary weekend. Enjoy!