The Simple Things In Life

It is Saturday morning. The kids get up...they get us up...they want "bekfas", according to Titus. So, here I go on the journey to decide on what to have for breakfast. After going through all of the options we decide on pancakes. And not just any pancakes, they want Mickey Mouse Pancakes like Grandaddy makes. So, this is how our day started. The four of us enjoying pancakes, bacon, and eggs together.

After clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen I got a quick run in before we had to get dressed to go to Jordan's last soccer game of the season. This is our second season of soccer with him and OH MY GOODNESS!!!! How he has improved!!!! He made two goals today...two! We were down 3-2 and Jordan was going in for his last quarter of the game. As I was tucking in his shirt, I say to him, (in "non-competitive" soccer), "Son, we are down right now. This is your last chance to score. This is the last game. Now, go out there and kick that ball in!" "Okay Mom!"--with a quick thumbs up and great big smile. He starts for the middle of the field to join his teammates on the line. The next thing I know Jordan is scoring the tying goal and then the final goal of the game---giving us a last game win of 7-3. (Tim is proud to say we won 9 out of 10 games in his soccer coaching debut season!)

They say the simple things in life are the things you cherish most. I agree. Nothing could satisfy my boys this morning like Mickey Mouse pancakes. Nothing is more rewarding than watching your children start something, like soccer, and only improve at it as they go. When he kicked those goals in, (every mother that is reading this knows what I am talking about), it was as if he had just won the gold medal at the Olympics...pride swelled up in me as I leapt to my feet with excitement! Jordan's eyes scanning the sidelines to cross sight with me...to make sure I saw it...to make sure I knew how proud he was...and to find affirmation in me.

The blessings God gives us in the simple things in life. What a reward.

The Morning After Core

There it was. Evidence that something incredible had taken place over the weekend. Sunday morning, which just happens to be my favorite time of the week, was proof that the men of GM had experienced something intangible at the 2006 Men's Retreat -- CORE. The place was abuzz with electricity from the moment you walked in the door. The stage set with all men - on instruments and vocals - some for the very first time. The freedom I felt, that flooded the room, the inhibitive factors seemingly gone...liberating. It was as if all of us were one on one with the One to whom we were focused. The shackles of religion, the chains of embarrassment...no longer present.

This "fire" did not stop when the music stopped. As Tim got up to speak, this fervor continued. The passion with which his points were made, the involved story-telling, the way he fought back tears (he would not admit this, but we all saw it!), this was evidence that they all experienced what they hoped they would, what the creative team had prayed they would.

As the service came to a close and I stood at the back waiting to greet anyone who was there for the first time...I was in speechless awe at the sights I beheld. Here at the end of the service, with more music, the passion felt in worship was more powerful than it had been 30 minutes earlier. Hands in the air, voices belting out in unison..I could not speak or sing...for my heart was bursting with gratitude that I was able to witness this. That I was brought out of the comfort and chains of religion to a place where I and so many others experience God and our relationship with Him on a personal, intimate, liberating level. What an honor it is to be here....I can't imagine what is in store for us as a church and as individuals.....

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20

5 Weird Things About Me

Okay...I saw this idea and it looks fun...

I am going to tell you 5 weird things about me and whoever wants to join in and list your own, feel free...

1. I am obsessive about how my dishwasher is loaded. I just can't stand it. On the top: drinking glasses on the left, plastic cups on the right. Bowls in the middle-lined up neatly; everything else stacked around it in a tidy manner. The bottom: on the left: glass plates lined up by size toward the back, plastic plates lined up by size toward the front. On the right: pots and pans, glass pyrex lined up neatly. Weird! I am not even an organizational freak sort of person....

2. I don't like candy. Only chocolate. Some would consider that a candy. I consider it another food group.

3. Towels are put away in a certain manner at my house - rough side facing inward so that all you see are the neatly tri-folded stacks.

4. When I "lay out" in the hot weather, I must balance the sides. EXACTLY 20 minutes on the front, EXACTLY 20 minutes on the back.

5. I LOVE surprises...if Tim tells me way in advance about a gift he is thinking of or getting for me, it just makes me irritated...I would rather wait for the surprise! I could stare at a gift from October to December and not open it until Christmas Day...the anticipation just gives me a rush!

So, there you have it...my list...I can't wait to hear some of your weirdness!!!!

Easter

Hi all! So, I am a couple of days late on the Easter pics....sorry! My parents will enjoy this even if it is late!!

Easter this year was great. A monumental day in the life of GM...two services, which were successful. Several people commented on their communication cards that they accepted Christ during the service...now that is what it is all about! The worship was incredible, as always. The sermon, well, Tim shared the gospel in an easy-to-understand way that touched the heart of the crowd....and God added to our number...

Lunch with family....I totally felt like my Mom that morning...got up at 5:30, finished up the ironing for the day, put a pie in the oven, fixed Easter baskets, got dressed, got the kids dressed, put the ham in to cook while we were away at church, set the yeast rolls out to rise....WOW! I really am an adult!

The 2nd Annual GM Easter Egg Hunt (this is the 1st one outside, last year, we got rained out!). The kids loved it! The Easter Bunny came and took pictures with everyone. Some of the little ones were scared of him, but he was great! Jordan really got into the hunt, as you can see, I could only get a picture of the back of him because he couldn't stop to take a picture. He rejoiced as he counted out all of his candy when he was finished. Titus...well, he didn't really care about the egg hunt, and he sure didn't want any of that candy! He was highly irritated that anyone was trying to give him extra candy. Great photo ops, though...

Also, as I am forgetting, Sunday was my 30th birthday....it was a bit of a whirlwind, but it was just fine! Tim and I decided we would celebrate my birthday with his next month since it is just too busy around here right now. It seems crazy to me that I have reached this age. I sure don't feel like it....

Love to all and from our family to yours, we hope you had a wonderful Easter!

Friends

Okay, so I have got some great friends! There are so many Proverbs that speak to friendship. There is so much to be cherished. Friendship is a gift. We connect with different people in different ways. Certain personalities just fit. And that is where you find the best of friends.

Recently, I have experienced, once again, having a friend move away. I have been through this many times being the daughter of a preacher, and then the wife of one. You learn to live with it. People come and go. You come and go. But, it has been a long time, I guess 4 years now, since I have really dealt with this. You get close to someone. You become a part of their lives and them yours. You spend time together. You cook together. You shop together. You laugh together. You cry together. You watch movies. You feed husbands. You dress children. You deliver babies. You obsess over body fat. You work out. You eat. You eat some more. You work out some more. There are so many memories....the list just keeps going. And after the dust settles, that is what you have - the memories. These little nuggets that you hang onto and cherish as if a fragile slice of something that you guard so that no one can take it away. Friends who are separated is a hard situation in life. There is nothing fun about it. Except the memories. When we are left alone with our thoughts - this is when we start to enjoy our memories.

I have many friends who live here, who are a part of my daily life. I have friends who live far away, who may not be a part of my daily life, but are a part of me in other ways-blogs, text messaging, emails, phone calls. I count myself rich with blessing that I have been given the gift of friendship. So, thank you to God for the supporters in my life - the connections - the strength - the laughter - the memories - that I share with my friends. What a great life I have been given!

Titus' 3rd Birthday

Okay...so I have taken a little hiatus from writing this week. It has just been busy and writing has not been a priority. Anyway....Titus turned 3 last weekend and we had a Star Wars party for him. I went totally simple this year...trying to keep from outdoing myelf for every single birthday...good grief...they are still 5 and under, I can't keep killing myself every single time! So, anyway, simple--presents, cake & ice cream, play outside. They loved it. That's really all they care about anyway. He was overjoyed with all of the little toys he got. He is into everything that Jordan is into. No more Dora, Blue's Clue's, Sesame Street...no, no...we are on to Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, Fantastic 4, and, of course, Star Wars. Tim's Dad came in and got to go to Jordan's soccer game and to the party...the boys loved seeing him. We had a great time celebrating Titus with our friends and family....Titus you are so blessed to have so many people who love you. I am so thankful for the network of supporters in our lives...here's to Titus and his wonderful little life!

Don't Have a Title

Okay, so as I re-read this last post, I thought it sounded a bit materialistic. Let me re-word some of this. I do love shopping. In every store I look for the very best bargains I can find. Something inside of me does love to buy. Why is that? I think different personalities get a kick out of spending money. My husband, Tim, just loathes spending money. So, here we are two different worlds colliding. Yes, I love the mall. Yes, I love Target. Yes, I love Hobby Lobby. I love to get out and see the newest thing, the best deals, the cool home decor. But, when I go overboard, and I usually know when that point is, that is when I cross the line. So, here is my semi-confessional...just wanted to clear a little bit of that up!!!

A Day At The Mall

Don't you just love a day at the mall? I mean, nothing can lift my spirits and put me in a great mood like spending a day at the mall. Even with my two boys in tow, I had a wonderful time. Yesterday was playgroup...that means we started out at Barnes & Noble for storytime, then went up to ride the carousel and get some lunch, then started out on the real fun. Two other Moms were with us, both with their children, but this did not slow us down for one minute. This is the test of a real shopper--through running, screaming, wild-acting children--will continue on their course unwavered! You hope that the kids meal you bought them 30 minutes ago had a cool toy included, but if it did not, then you buy a toy, buy a snack for them, anything to prolong the experience and get in just one more store! You see, as we entered one store, the Mom who was new at shopping with us said, "You guys don't understand. I am a shopper! Don't come crying to me when you are broke and your husband is asking you why!!!" I thought this was great...just think of what could happen without the children present! Yesterday was fun, even at times chaotic. But, of course we true shoppers persevered....thank goodness for Stonebriar Centre...don't you just love it here?

Things God Hates

Yes, God hates. In Proverbs 6, there is a list of things that God hates. Want to know what they are? These are found in verses 16-19---seven things God hates:
1)proud (arrogant) eyes,
2) a lying tongue,
3)murderers,
4)hearts that plot deceitful schemes,
5)feet that run quickly to trouble,
6)false witness who pours out lies,
7)man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Now, some of these we would consider worse than the others. But, Proverbs tells us that God hates them all. The lying tongue, the false witness who pours out lies-like a faucet, the man who stirs up trouble--these are things that most of us struggle with from time to time. As I was reading this morning, I read in Proverbs and Ephesians. Cross these scriptures from Proverbs with Ephesians 4:29-32
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Proverbs tells us that God hates a liar, one who runs to tell lies and He hates one who stirs up trouble. Look at Ephesians. Whatever is in our hearts come right out of our mouths. Any ugliness in there cannot stay in. Bitterness, rage and anger, slander...these come crawling out of our mouths in the form of unwholesome talk. YUCK!!! Ephesians also tells us that this grieves the Holy Spirit. They fall into the category of things God hates. When we are tearing others down, this is a form of pride (proud eyes)---when we are being untruthful even in the smallest way, this is lying, being a false witness---when unwholeome talk comes out of our mouths, this certainly does not build up, but tears down and causes dissension.

May I be one who pleases the Lord, may I not fit into the category of things God hates. Instead of ugliness, may I be kind and compassionate, quick to forgive, may I build others up and exude the love Christ has given me, not the ugliness that comes from my human nature.

I love what I do!

So, here is why I love being at home with the boys. This......we can all stay in our pajamas all day if we so choose. Oh, to be this carefree forever. Nothing better than sipping on a drinkable yogurt on your basketball beanbag watching your favorite TV show in your PJ's! The boys are doing great this week. We are getting ready for Titus' 3rd Birthday coming up this weekend. I cannot believe he is 3!!! Time has flown. My Dad was just telling me this weekend that he just cannot believe he has daughters that are in their and approaching their 30's. He was saying that you basically go through life and then look up, and your kids are grown and you have grandkids. Your mind still tells you that you are young, but your age does not reflect that. Anyway, I wish they could stay little forever, but that is not possible. As Jordan just told me 5 minutes ago, "I will be turning 6! I am not staying 5!"

My Boys

I can hardly believe that in two weeks Titus will be 3 and Jordan is currently 5-1/2. I can hardly wrap my mind around this. In so many ways you both seem like babies to me and in other ways, I see how much you are growing, and I am just blown away. You both amaze me in ways that only children can do. You are full-fledged brothers - sworn enemies one minute and best friends the next. What a special relationship this is. I never had brothers. I have two sisters. I have always said that if I had a girl, I would want to have two so they could know what it is like to have a sister, because the relationship is so special. But, as I watch the two of you, I see how unique this relationship is also. You are already taking up for each other when you think there is something to fight for. I can only imagine what this will look like when you are older. It's funny, too, how Titus always wants to do whatever Jordan is doing. If Jordan is playing soccer, Titus wants to play. If Jordan is doing schoolwork at the table, Titus wants to do it, too. If Jordan is getting a spanking, Titus asks, "How bout my fanking?"

Titus has been telling me, "Mommy, you de bes Mommy in the whole word." This of course melts me in a million pieces. And both of you ask me all the time about getting married. (Titus only does this because Jordan does.) So, after considering this subject over and over, they have both made the decision that they are not getting married, that they want to stay with us forever. Titus' version of this is, "Us not get maweed nevo evo!" (My sister Tami just loves when I do Titus impersonations!)

So, this is why I started this blog. To talk about my kids and our family life, to keep long-distance family up to date on the goings on with them. I feel like the most blessed Mom in the world to have these boys in my life. I also feel blessed to be able to see everything that they do. I am so glad I am called to be a stay-at-home Mom.

Jordan's First Goal

Well, it finally happened! Yesterday was a perfect day! The weather was absolutely beautiful, church was great yesterday morning, lunch with a wonderful group of friends, and then a soccer game with our 5 year old Jordan. We have been waiting on this for two seasons now. Yesterday at Jordan's afternoon soccer game, he finally made his first goal! We went crazy with excitement! Jordan was jumping up and down screaming "Yes! Yes! Yes!" The sideline went nuts! Our friends Ty & Kelly were there, along with my sister Danyelle and her kids, Caleb and Alyssa, who Jordan just adores! I was so proud of him...we have been practicing and practicing....talking and talking about it. So, finally he got it! His very first goal! This is what I love about being a Mom...sharing in all of his experiences, all of his firsts! Way to go, Jordan!

Purpose

Our church is going through the study by Rick Warren, "40 Days of Purpose". Simply stated, this has been an incredible study. I have just soaked up the book that we are all reading along with it, "The Purpose Driven Life." Rick has a way of putting things very simply, to the point, and easily applicable. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it is one that I will read over and over again.

Along with this study, every Sunday throughout the 40 Days, we have been given a sermon which corresponds with the week we are on. I have to say, even though I am biased and I am married to this guy, our Pastor, Tim, has done a great job of becoming God's vessel and bringing it every week! I would pretty much like to hear him above anyone else! Yesterday was the last sermon on the actual purposes....Evangelism. I was touched to the core about this subject...which so happens to be the heartbeat of God. One of the most powerful points in the sermon was this: 'The purposes produce evangelism.' Acts 2:42-47 outlines the 5 purposes for us--worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. As a result of the first 4 being present and abundant in our lives, the 5th and most important one, evangelism, is the outcropping. It was't something that was scheduled, executed, and done with. It just naturally happened...these believers in Acts just oozed with evangelism...because everything else in their lives was in order.

So, what is my purpose? My purpose should be God's purpose: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. May I never forget this. May I be continually reminded of what my life is to truly be about.

God Says Hello

Last night the boys and I went to run some errands. We have a full Saturday planned today--a birthday party, a baby shower, and a soccer game. Life is in full swing! So, we went out to get everything we needed for this very busy day. As we were walking into the last store on the list, it started to rain. All bundled up in his little rain coat and huddling under the umbrella, Jordan shouts, "God is saying HELLO!" This was immediately followed with, "You know, Mom, if God wants it to stop raining He just says, 'STOP!' " This was a great moment for me. I thought it was just the cutest thing in the world to hear Jordan talk about God like this. And, then, to know that he is soaking it all in. Sunday school lessons, reading his bible at night, worship tunes playing in the car--at 5 years old he has a concept of the power of God. My prayer as a mother of two boys is that they will find God in their lives, accept Him as their Savior, and learn to live a life closely in tune with Him. I am sure my parents prayed the same prayers. I thank God for the generations of believers in our family who left this legacy.

Freedom

I'd like to introduce a new song I just learned---I Lay Me Down. We sang it Sunday at church and it was great! It starts out slow and builds and builds until it just explodes at the end.

I lay me down, Oh, I lay me down.
A pleasing sacrifice to you.
And freedom is now the song of my heart.
Oh, freedom is now the song of my heart.

Freedom in Christ is an amazing thing. It is something that doesn't just come to you the day you become a believer. What I mean by that is this--obviously it is available, but we usually do not tap into the fullness of the freedom, the fullness of Christ, until later in the walk. It is there for the taking, but we must seek it out. Once we find it and experience it, there is nothing in the world like it. I have been in church all of my life, I have been a believer for 10 years, but I have just recently come face to face with the freedom that is promised mine as a child of God. I will never let it go. I will fight to keep opening new doors of freedom, to keep the experience alive, to feel the authenticity of knowing where my place is in Him. My relationship with Him has been deepened and my views have a new perspective.

I am so blessed to have come to this point in my Christian walk. Sunday morning worship is the highlight of my week. I have seen people experience this and have longed for it myself---now I know how amazing and precious it truly is! The best thing about this place I have found---I don't have to wait until Sunday, I can have any time I want in the privacy of my own home.

Thank you God for leading me to this place. Thank you for breaking down the walls of religion. Thank you for showing me the reality of your love and grace. Thank you for this life. I love it.

Jordan and Titus

My kids crack me up! As I am sure everyone's kids crack them up....mine just make me laugh so much! (Or as my 2-1/2 year old says, "sho mush!")

Jordan is just like his Daddy...he could talk his way out of a paper sack. He is already honing in on this skill. He tries to talk us out of discipline and tries to talk us into things he wants. We will have to work extra hard to focus this skill to be used for good and not evil. Jordan is also very smart...he will definitely be going to college on an academic scholarship! He amazes me with the way he picks up concepts so easily...he will be one of those kids who does not have to study very hard. He is my cuddle bug...and he loves spending time with me. I love that! When Jordan was just learning how to talk, he would wake up and find me and say,"I wan hode you." Now that he is 5 he wakes up and finds me and says, "I want you to hold me." Precious!!

Titus is the aggressive one. He doesn't mind telling you what he thinks. He doesn't mind showing you what he thinks. He doesn't mind acting on what he thinks. He is certainly my little strong willed child. When he is angry, you know it. When he is grumpy, you know it. When he is sad, you know it. When he is silly, you know it. When he is happy, you know it. He is just the kind of person who says, "this is who I am...take it or leave it." He says the most hilarious things, as most two year olds do. When he really likes something he says, "I like it bewy sho mush!" (TRANSLATION: I like it very so much!)

He and his brother fight like crazy. But, they are finally starting to play together a little more peacefully. Tim and I monitor this pretty closely. We try to let them work it out, but they haven't quite grasped that concept. I love my boys..they teach me so much about myself.

Thanks for letting me go on and on about them. How could I have a blog that doesn't have something to say about my kiddos? They are my pride!

9 years

So, Tim and I celebrated our 9th anniversary last week. We sat at the table over a plate of Chicken Fettucini Alfredo, (I brought it back...it used to be one of Tim's favorite dishes...I made it so much that we both got sick of it!), and reminisced about the events of these 9 glorious (what else am I supposed to say?!) years. We started out at 22 and 20 in a tiny little seminary apartment with next to nothing. I remember feeling like I was living in a little dream world. Most people would wonder how that life could make anyone happy, but we were. It was a carefree time....just school and the little jobs we held to stay afloat back then. There were no real responsibilities or pressures....just the bliss that those first few months of marriage bring. Of course, along with the bliss came the tumultuous arguments that only those first few months can also bring. (Tim and I have always been the couple who gets along beautifully with a good balance of disagreements.)

And I digress...I am writing about what these first 9 years have brought us. We moved a lot in our first year. Tim held his first pastorate position in our first year. We moved out to that small East Texas town and learned a lot to say the least. After Tim's first pastorate ended, we moved back to seminary housing, then quickly moved to a small town in Arkansas where Tim stepped into youth ministry for the second time. Through all of these moves, Tim continued seminary until he finished....a lot of commuting. It was nothing for us to go several days without seeing each other....I guess we just knew that finishing school was important and we were both determined to see it through.

The beginning of our third year promised a new era in our history. We found out we were pregnant and were both graduating with our bachelor degrees. That summer we moved to Austin where Jordan was born a few months later. We were only there for a few months before moving back to Arkansas to the same church where Tim would now Pastor. This move would prove life-changing for us.

This is when we met our dear friends, Kyle and Erika Sears. After only a year of friendship and serving on staff side-by-side, the 4 of us knew what we were destined to do together. The burning passion inside these men, shared by their wives, could not be contained in a traditional church setting. God had given us a "dream"--and had created us to follow where that path lead. So, we blindly followed and made our last big move to Frisco, Texas in the summer of 2002.

After being here only a month, we found out we were pregnant with our second son, Titus. During my pregnancy Tim and I worked loooooooong hours. We were weary with fatigue, disappointed that the move had not been as easy as we had hoped, but still determined to follow God's leading. Maybe He was testing us to see how bad we wanted it. We knew there was no going back. We were consumed with "the dream"-the idea that a church could be created where people were real, flexible, and passionate and we could experience that on Sunday in corporate worship and individually throughout our days and weeks. We bought a house and moved in a couple of months before Titus was born.

We began having preview (practice) services for GM that summer along with Home Bible Studies. A year later we held our first public service; 9 months later we officially launched. Here we are now, still chasing "the dream"...enjoying the fruits already and learning all along the way as we go. There is nothing on this earth I would rather be doing. I love where we are. I love what we are doing. I love how much I have learned and how far I have come as a child of God. I love that I am still learning and experiencing new things in Christ.

To the next 9 years, I say, "LET'S GO!!"

I wonder what Genesis Metro will look like by then. I can only pray that God will bless us in ways that I cannot even imagine. And by that I mean that GM will be used to transform people's lives beyond what I can comprehend.

I wonder whay my kids will look like by then. They will be 14 and 12.....that seems CRAZY to me!!!!!

Funny, I don't really wonder what Tim and I will look like. I am pretty sure it will be much like we look today. A little older and wiser perhaps; still happy, content, trying to make our marriage better--still disagreeing on the little things where our personalities differ. I am so glad (WARNING: cliche moment coming) we were paired for this journey together. I cannot imagine my life any other way.

the introduction

Well...here I am. I have entered the blogging community. Some of my friends have blogs and they have been asking me why I have not jumped on this bandwagon. So, here I am today having climbed aboard this cyber world where my words go out into the wild blue yonder for the whole world to view if they so choose. Strange! As I sit here to try and figure out what in the world I will write about I keep telling myself that no one will care about the day-to-day affairs of my life. But, as I have been told, blogging is more for yourself than for anyone else. It is a way to get my thoughts out there--sort of a cathardic measure. So, to the lights of my life--my husband and two boys--you will now be kissing your privacy goodbye! The goings-on of the Bourne household will now be shared with the masses...