Rocketman, Take Me Away!

Even though our U.P. trip was well over a month ago I thought I'd post a few pics today. This is my way of trying to curb my overwhelming desire to hit the open road today instead of doing all the things I need to be doing. Like cleaning the kitchen, sweeping (wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to vacuum your pets instead of the floors all the time?), laundry, going to the bank, grocery store and post office, picking up Hannah after school, taking Hannah back to school for band practice before the game, coming back home to wait for the game to start, going to the game, leaving the game after half-time show, going back home to wait for the band to finish cleaning the stadium in preperation for the Otsego band competition tomorrow, then going back to school to pick her up when they're done picking up.

All that plus the fact that it seemed like every tree I saw yesterday was making a conscious effort to burst forth into glorious autumn colors is making me want to play hookie in the worst way. Alas, these pictures of days gone by will have to suffice! :)

I won't bore you with all the details of our trip except to say that the pictures are in the reverse order of our route. The way Blogger loads pics makes me a little crazy.

Bond Falls was beautiful. We arrived early and were the only two people there.



This was at the beach by the Porcupine Mountains. The rocks were pink!

Our God is so creative!

This was also taken in the Porcupine Mountains.

Lake of the Clouds, indeed.

Ok, I loooooved this little place. It's owned and operated by monks and there is a sign on the wall when you walk in that says, "All honor and glory be to the praise of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." If that's not the exact wording, it's close. A real, live monk rang up my order and the caramel cashew squares were divine! I wanted to stay all day and ask tons of questions but Mark has a hard time staying in one place for very long. :)

This was my favorite spot. Gorgeous.

This area made me feel like I was on the East Coast even though I've never been to the East Coast!

Thanks for letting me share, I feel better now! Enjoy the weekend, girls, we're supposed to have highs in the 50's on Monday and Tuesday.

Love ya bunches,

Who Are You Believing?

This past Sunday our message came out of chapter 6 in Nehemiah and there is one thing God
out of these verses that the Lord has kept repeating to me ever since.

Nehemiah 6:1-9
6 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I (Nehemiah) had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it — though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono."

But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?" 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

5 Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter 6 in which was written:

"It is reported among the nations — and Geshem says it is true — that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king 7 and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together."

8 I sent him this reply: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head."

9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed."

[But I prayed,] "Now strengthen my hands."
NIV

The open letter Sanballat sent accusing Nehemiah was an obvious lie and the fact that he used Geshem to validate his accusations was ridiculous. This is what the Lord keeps pressing on my heart:

DON'T TAKE THE ENEMY'S WORD ON ANYTHING!

We know in our heads that satan never speaks the truth, after all he is the father of lies, and yet I'm convinced that far too often we buy into the lies he speaks about us.

If you feel unwanted, rejected, full of shame, ugly, unforgiven, lacking, excluded, unloved... then you have taken the enemy's word over the Truth of God.

According to Ephesians chapter one, in Christ we are blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen, adopted, holy, blameless, graced, redeemed, forgiven, filled with wisdom and understanding, included and loved. That's the truth about us whether we believe and accept it or not!

I pray that today we'll stop taking satan's word on anything, kick those lies to the curb for once and for all, and start walking in the fullness of who we truly are in Jesus. After all, the truth of our lives is that Christ came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Let's take Him up on His offer!

Have a blessed day,

The Deleted Post

Kerri, one of the 3 people who still read this pitiful excuse of a blog, wondered where a post titled "I've Got A Secret" went. I wrote it Sunday night and then deleted it. I had just found out that a certain someone I thought I knew very well was voted wildest girl her senior year in high school. I was going to give everyone (yes, all 3 of you) the opportunity to guess who that might be.

Then I deleted the post because I was afraid the former wild child might not appreciate me revealing this tidbit from her past. But, I told her about the whole thing yesterday and she laughed which I took as permission to go ahead and spill the beans. The fact that she's out of town for the day seemed like added confirmation. ;)

So, you ask, who is this mystery woman? None other than the pumpkin pie spice latte chugging Barb! The least wild woman I know. The whole thing rocked my world for just a moment. This is after all the person who when shocked by something says with all seriousness, "Well, I'll be double-dipped." As hard as I try, I can't even begin to imagine what an untamed version of her would look like.

As I told Barb, this is surely proof positive that the Lord can redeem anyone! :D

P.S. I love you, Barb! This also begs the question, was anyone else voted "most _____________" in high school???

My New Happy Place

Seriously. Today I died and went to pumpkin heaven. I was lured into the Dairy Freeze today by the sign that announced that Pumpkin Pie Flurries were back. Oh, do they live up to their name. It's like a whole piece of pie in every cup - yum!

Mark's in his happy place now that Caramel Apple Cider has returned to the Mill. And don't even get Barb started on their Pumpkin Pie Spice Lattes. I'm sure she must be orange on the inside. :)

So what's your favorite Fall treat?

Seventeen Down, Two To Go!

Before the alarm clock went off way too early for my liking, I laid in bed this morning calculating how many first days of school we've lived through. The grand total? Seventeen! Seventeen down and only two to go before Baby Girl graduates high school and our years at OPS come to an end. At this point I feel like we're on the home stretch.

Mark and Hannah had a good trip together. They've told me repeatedly that they wish I would have signed them up for a two hour tour of Mammoth Cave instead of the 4.5 hour, 4 mile, 674 step tour. Evidently everything started to look the same half-way through. Oops.

But the highlight of their time away was their stay at Ginny and Bill's house. Hannah loves their new daughter Amy and I wish more than ever that we didn't live 8 hours apart. I'm sure we'll have all of eternity to make up for this since I'm convinced our mansions will all be on the same cul-de-sac. That's my dream and I'm stickin' to it!

Whether you're homeschooling or have just sent your kids out the door with backpacks stuffed with brand new school supplies, I pray our children have a wonderful, safe year.

Have a great day everybody,

Home Alone

Just call me Macauleigh Culkin. Hannah and Rocketman headed down to Kentucky early yesterday morning on their first daddy/daughter motorcycle trip. They toured Mammoth Cave today and are now en route to Aunt Ginny and Bill's house. Hannah can't wait to meet they're new daughter, Amy - I so wish I could be there too!

Nathan will be home later tonight and I must say it's been interesting to have the house to myself for this long. I think last night might have even been the first time I spent the night here without anyone else. I've come to the conclusion that it's good that I usually don't have this much time alone since dinner yesterday and today has been chips, salsa, and guacamole - the supper of champions for sure! :/

Well, I'm off to do some studying. Have a great evening, everybody.

Love you,

Expectations Exceeded

I went to the Beth Moore simulcast Friday night chock-full of expectation and left the last session on Saturday feeling like God had pulled up a chair right in front of me and diagnosed me as being anemic in the delight department. It was as evident as the nose on my face (just read the post below this one) but sometimes it's hard for us to recognize what might be causing us to ail spiritually. Thankfully, that's where the Holy Spirit comes in, if we'll let Him.

I took tons of notes that I read through again this morning and I am overwhelmed afresh by God's ability and desire to speak life into my very human heart.

Instead of giving you a recap of the conference that wouldn't begin to do it justice, I want to encourage you to go to the Lord for your own word today. Go to God expecting Him to hear your voice, knowing He sees your present condition. Then wait, expecting to hear His voice in response to your cry, knowing you will see Him work all things together for good in your life.

Zephaniah 3:17
17 The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
NIV