So, I was reading my devotional this week when it struck me that I vividly remember reading this last summer. I even blogged about it. I wanted to put a link to that post, but can't figure out how? It's July 28 of 2008. SO COOL! God is in control of everything. That is true and comforting.
Last summer all I could do was praise God for His blessings, even though I had no idea what in the world He was doing with our family.
This summer, all I can do is PRAISE GOD FOR HIS BLESSINGS! I seriously can't even begin to list the HUGE blessings he has showered on us. Next weekend we settle into our new apartment in Brooklyn. Much later than we had thought, and IN GOD'S ABSOLUTE PERFECT TIMING!!!!
I've been reading through the psalms because I feel so blessed beyond my ability to even communicate. I love reading along with the praises that were spoken and sung thousands of years ago. Even in confusion, anger, and fear, the psalmists find a place for praise!
We had an amazing june and July. Fun in Georgia, North Carolina, West Viriginia, and Ohio. Spending three days doing Cedar Point and Soak City. Oh my! What a fun family vacation!!!!
This weekend I am so excited to head way up to the tip of the UP to celebrate my cousin's wedding!! My entire family is going. YAY!
Seriously, God' timing is so perfect, I can't even stand it. Why He has chosen to bless my family SO MUCh I will never know. But, I thank Him constantly and give all praise to Him. And, every day I surrender myself to His will and pray that He will shine through me in all that I do and say.
I hesitate sometimes to share how blessed I feel. I know the hardships so many are facing in their lives, and I feel unworthy of such blessings. And, it's so confusing and frustrating for those who do not understand why they are in such a dark place. I don't understand it either, but can only lift them up in prayer. But, I hope that by sharing, I can be encouraging to others. Believe me, I am unworthy and I know it. I hope I never boast or have pride about these blessings, I hope that I can always just give praises to the one who deserves it!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
high on chocolate
Seriously. Have you ever been high on chocolate? Wow.
Our friends recommended a place to us called "The Chocolate Room". They explained the banana split and how they sprinkle sugar on top of it and fire it to form a glaze on top. OK, must try this!
So, we went there last night and enjoyed every last drop of this heavenly creation. Contemplated licking the serving bowl clean. When we tasted the hot fudge, we entered a new realm of reality here on earth. Never tasted no chocolate like that before.
After we left, we walked around a bit and I swear, I was a giddy, stumbling, giggling goofball, high on good chocolate. OK, it might have something to do with the company I was in too :)
We were already trying to figure out the next occassion that may be worthy of a trip back to this place to try the brownie fudge sundae. We might HAVE to find a way for this to be in our budget at least on some sort of a regular basis.
Tonight we meet Communitas in Central Park for FUN night. Tomorow we get in the van and drive drive drive down to GA. Looking forward to seeing my beautiful girls and hugging them up!
Our friends recommended a place to us called "The Chocolate Room". They explained the banana split and how they sprinkle sugar on top of it and fire it to form a glaze on top. OK, must try this!
So, we went there last night and enjoyed every last drop of this heavenly creation. Contemplated licking the serving bowl clean. When we tasted the hot fudge, we entered a new realm of reality here on earth. Never tasted no chocolate like that before.
After we left, we walked around a bit and I swear, I was a giddy, stumbling, giggling goofball, high on good chocolate. OK, it might have something to do with the company I was in too :)
We were already trying to figure out the next occassion that may be worthy of a trip back to this place to try the brownie fudge sundae. We might HAVE to find a way for this to be in our budget at least on some sort of a regular basis.
Tonight we meet Communitas in Central Park for FUN night. Tomorow we get in the van and drive drive drive down to GA. Looking forward to seeing my beautiful girls and hugging them up!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
seven fiddy
Good thing I'm in vacation mode and money feels different. Budget is relaxed as we enjoy some meals out and things we don't normaly indulge on. So, when I learned that the cost of getting the van back is $750 (seven fiddy), what can I do? Just be glad that, thanks to Dave Ramsey, and God blessing us financially, we have that tucked away in savings for just this very possiblity, right? That's the beauty of owning a used vehicle with 125,000 miles on it. No car payment, just a monthly line in the budget that gets tucked away for repairs.
Missing my girlies a bit. And, family too.
BUT, we went to the most AWESOME concert last night. SO STINKIN FUN! I've been to a lot of concerts, but I can honestly say that I've never seen anyone quite like Los Amigos Invisibles. They are described as "A Venezuelan party band that combines a love of disco and funk with their reverence for old-fashined dances like mambo and bossanova." They just JAMMED. And, it would have been imposible to even consider sitting down. THey compel you to DANCE.
Oh, and did I mention it was a perfectly gorgeous night and we just walked over to the park and saw the concert for free, with just a $3 suggested donation? And, the opening band was great too. More mellow and folky, but excellent! They were from COlumbia and called "Aterciopelados" Don't ask me how to pronounce that.
Gotta go.
Meeting the ladies from Communitas for prayer and bible study and reflection in Central Park. On a Sat morning, it will take me a while to get there. SO looking forward to seeing them and connecting together with my sister's in Christ and our Heavenly Father!
Missing my girlies a bit. And, family too.
BUT, we went to the most AWESOME concert last night. SO STINKIN FUN! I've been to a lot of concerts, but I can honestly say that I've never seen anyone quite like Los Amigos Invisibles. They are described as "A Venezuelan party band that combines a love of disco and funk with their reverence for old-fashined dances like mambo and bossanova." They just JAMMED. And, it would have been imposible to even consider sitting down. THey compel you to DANCE.
Oh, and did I mention it was a perfectly gorgeous night and we just walked over to the park and saw the concert for free, with just a $3 suggested donation? And, the opening band was great too. More mellow and folky, but excellent! They were from COlumbia and called "Aterciopelados" Don't ask me how to pronounce that.
Gotta go.
Meeting the ladies from Communitas for prayer and bible study and reflection in Central Park. On a Sat morning, it will take me a while to get there. SO looking forward to seeing them and connecting together with my sister's in Christ and our Heavenly Father!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Check engine soon
So, what does one do when one is in Brooklyn attempting to navigate the new neighborhood before heading out on the road for a trip that will put more than 1500 miles on the van...and the "check engine soon" light comes on??
I'll tell you what one does. One calls a trusted family member from MI who gives out the number for the mechanic who worked on the van since the peice of poo was constructed and sold in 2002.
Then awesome man of the house calls old faithful mechanic and asks advice. Then, we use navigation system on phone to locate nearest autozone, they diagnose a problem with cylinder #5. Great. Now what? "Can you point us in the direction of a mechanic nice Mr. autozone guy who hasn't made eye contact with us yet or uttered a word?" His response "I dunno, you can try that guy" and he shrugs a shoulder in any random direction down the street and saunters off.
Anywho.....awesome man of the house who always takes great care of the family attempts one place (which erupts in a fight between the two workers there, so we take off) then he finds a second place. They can have it fixed (hopefully) by tomorrow.
Cool. Let's walk home.
On the way, stop at a local market for an apple to munch on and happen upon a cereal blow out sale. Kashi and Smart start and the like for 99cents a box. COME ON?! We're in New york city buying cereal for 99cents? No way.
So, let's see if Mr. auto mechanic who sounds like he knows what he's talking about is able to have the Kelly mobile ready for take off for departure......
Always an adventure.
I'll tell you what one does. One calls a trusted family member from MI who gives out the number for the mechanic who worked on the van since the peice of poo was constructed and sold in 2002.
Then awesome man of the house calls old faithful mechanic and asks advice. Then, we use navigation system on phone to locate nearest autozone, they diagnose a problem with cylinder #5. Great. Now what? "Can you point us in the direction of a mechanic nice Mr. autozone guy who hasn't made eye contact with us yet or uttered a word?" His response "I dunno, you can try that guy" and he shrugs a shoulder in any random direction down the street and saunters off.
Anywho.....awesome man of the house who always takes great care of the family attempts one place (which erupts in a fight between the two workers there, so we take off) then he finds a second place. They can have it fixed (hopefully) by tomorrow.
Cool. Let's walk home.
On the way, stop at a local market for an apple to munch on and happen upon a cereal blow out sale. Kashi and Smart start and the like for 99cents a box. COME ON?! We're in New york city buying cereal for 99cents? No way.
So, let's see if Mr. auto mechanic who sounds like he knows what he's talking about is able to have the Kelly mobile ready for take off for departure......
Always an adventure.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
mmmm, vacation
It's way too hard to recap all the great things that have taken place in the last few weeks.
But, I must at least shout out....
THANK YOU to my awesome family for throwing a great party for us! We felt so loved, it's overwhelming. I am still not up to date on downloading photos, so I can't attach any. But, we had a splendidly beautiful day to spend with family and friends on July 5th.
And now, we are in vacation mode! (I know, I guess I've been in vacation mode for weeks!) Alli and Liv are having the time of their lives with their cousins in Florida. Soon, they will return to Georgia, where we will meet up with them. In the meantime, we are in NY. We have been shopping and setting things up in the apartment, and spending some QT in the City. Meals out, going to the movies, going to Coney Island and checking out the beach, spending time with some friends and enjoying a perfect lunch (weather, food and atmosphere). Getting to know our way around the neighborhood. Translation: Firsat morning here without the girls and Char goes out for a jog and gets lost, whileTimm moves the van to avoid a parking ticket only to forget what day it is and move it to another no parking zone. Oops. We got our first NY parking ticket.
People keep asking me to frequently update my blog....here is the major update...I seriously feel like God has proclaimed for us the "year of jubilee". He is showering us with so many blessings that praising and thanking him feels as natural as breathing! Joy overflows. I only hope that I can contain some of that joy and use it as fuel to sustain me as I adjust to our new life. I pray for God to give me opportunities to serve...as I go along. Right now I feel a little indulgent and self serving with all of this vacationing mindset going on. But, we all need to renew, and that's what we are doing. I feel renewed and refreshed and ready to roll up my sleeves and take on whatever assignments God lays in my path. I long to serve Him by serving and loving His people.
What a very strange summer. I'm not worthy of such a stretch of blessings and time to enjoy...but I will take it. And I will praise God for being so good to me.
But, I must at least shout out....
THANK YOU to my awesome family for throwing a great party for us! We felt so loved, it's overwhelming. I am still not up to date on downloading photos, so I can't attach any. But, we had a splendidly beautiful day to spend with family and friends on July 5th.
And now, we are in vacation mode! (I know, I guess I've been in vacation mode for weeks!) Alli and Liv are having the time of their lives with their cousins in Florida. Soon, they will return to Georgia, where we will meet up with them. In the meantime, we are in NY. We have been shopping and setting things up in the apartment, and spending some QT in the City. Meals out, going to the movies, going to Coney Island and checking out the beach, spending time with some friends and enjoying a perfect lunch (weather, food and atmosphere). Getting to know our way around the neighborhood. Translation: Firsat morning here without the girls and Char goes out for a jog and gets lost, whileTimm moves the van to avoid a parking ticket only to forget what day it is and move it to another no parking zone. Oops. We got our first NY parking ticket.
People keep asking me to frequently update my blog....here is the major update...I seriously feel like God has proclaimed for us the "year of jubilee". He is showering us with so many blessings that praising and thanking him feels as natural as breathing! Joy overflows. I only hope that I can contain some of that joy and use it as fuel to sustain me as I adjust to our new life. I pray for God to give me opportunities to serve...as I go along. Right now I feel a little indulgent and self serving with all of this vacationing mindset going on. But, we all need to renew, and that's what we are doing. I feel renewed and refreshed and ready to roll up my sleeves and take on whatever assignments God lays in my path. I long to serve Him by serving and loving His people.
What a very strange summer. I'm not worthy of such a stretch of blessings and time to enjoy...but I will take it. And I will praise God for being so good to me.
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