Volunteer Excellence

Wow, what a day. I had a great group of High Capacity volunteers show up to help take our Under the Sea children's wing from a blah environment to a hurrah environment. It's nice to have a team that gets the vision. Being able to lay out the resources in front of a team of people and for everyone to work together to accomplish the same goal is awesome. No one was trying to assert their own creative desires, it was an actual team effort. I love when I can put my selfish, prideful self to the side. My old self would have ordered how to do things and I would've been watching every move each person made. However, this group of volunteers know what the vision is and with freedom to use their gifts and talents, they accomplished greatness. I can't wait to see the faces of the families as they walk in the doors of Under the Sea.

Special thanks to: Heather Vaughan, Nancy Challis, Brandi Edwards, Chelsea Key, Kathryn Dennis, Kina Allen, Laura Weaver, Aunt Nancy Duprez (for watchin little Liam), and Liam O'Connor (his patience with his momma) for their hard work.

Here's a sneak peek, you'll have to stop by in person to see the finished product:

Getting Back on Track

As I sit here and work through an asmtha attack, which I haven't had in a long time. I can't help but think that my creator is trying to get my attention. I sit and write because during these times I often sleep in a way that keeps my wonderful husband up. So, he's taken a head start this evening in getting to bed. My prayer is that when I finally do hit the sack, my breathing will be at peace and not bring about sleep disruption.

So my thoughts are: 1) Am I making wise choices in the things that I eat and drink? 2) Am I getting a good nights sleep? 3) Since my asmtha is usually stress or emotionally induced: are there stressers or emotions going on to contribute to the dilinquencey of air in my lungs? 4) How am I honoring God in the life that I live? 5) What immediate actions can I take today to make a change? 6) What I do, who do I do it for? 7) What do I see others as having more value than myself? 8) Can I focus upward instead of outward? 9) Who is the center of my life? 10) Am I willing to make the changes necessary to get back on track? And who can I ask to be my accountability partner?

Lord, I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I pray that I allow that to resonate in my heart and not just my head. Lord, my desire is to make you happy in the way that I live and lead my life. I pray that I may be the light that you've called me to be. I pray that I receive wisdom in doing the things that challenge me. I pray that I be able to embrace change and create change in all areas of my life. Change is good. As the leaves fall and winter takes its entrance. The earth begins its preparation for renewal, rebirth, and resurrection. These areas where we feel dead are great because just as Christ died, so have I and I have been reborn into his family.

Embrace change, it's inevitable.

Lessons through a child

There are so many things that I've wanted to write about but being a busy mom has kept me from the computer. So I'll share the little lesson that I received through my son today.

I was up at the church tonight working on our new First Time Family check in station. Liam was on the floor playing. He was playing with his new toy from Tupper Ware, you know that red and blue ball with the shapes....yep...he likes it. He was picking up the shapes and putting each one in his mouth. Since he's still working on his dexterity some of the shapes were getting away from him. One would fly and he would scoot to chase after it. Well, while chasing a shape a bottle of water caught his eye....his new goal, the bottle of water. So he set off to get this bottle; scooting/Crawling (military style) eagerly trying to reach what he wanted. In his path was a small changing bag, so he started making his way over this bag, which got him in a pickle because now his body was at a higher level (like he was body surfing) and he wasn't able to figure it out. Anyway, he began to reach and stretch and strain to get this bottle of water. Slowly but surely, he got his fingers on the bottle. He worked and worked and he could see his prize almost in his complete grasp. With determination and focus, he finally got that bottle of water. In his little mind he had succeeded!! Then out of nowhere, his prize was pulled from his grasp.

The lesson I got from this was:
There are many things that we try to reach for or that we want, a job, a new car, a new toy, a new relationship, or even a new life. We reach and stretch and try to push through the obstacles, sometimes with success, sometimes without success. But we push and strive for what we want. Then when we get it we are excited and feel like we have a huge victory. But then that prize is pulled out of our grasp.There are things in my life that I've pushed for and wanted and have succeeded in getting. Then God out of nowhere comes in and removes that prize. It wasn't meant for me. It's not what he wanted for me and in some cases it was not the best for me.

That was my lesson. Stop reaching for the things that I want and start focusing on the things that God has in store for me. Stop putting all my time and effort on what I want and wait for God to open the door for me.