Living Water

Do you ever hear someone speak so rightly about God that it resonates with your soul? This interview did that for me. The two pastors are David Platt (the pastor from Birmingham that I told you about) and John Piper. Amazing interview. I am shocked at how young Platt is.

It's such a great reminder...makes me think about what the Lord could do with my life. I could live a middle-class American lifestyle and I could be the soccer mom and spend all of my days dreaming about how to re-decorate my house. I PRAY that I do not only spend my life on these things. I pray that at the end of my life I will have invested it in lives for eternity. I so much want to live my life in a way that shows my treasure is in heaven and not here on earth. I want people to look at the way I live and know that I believe in an eternity with my Lord...I don't want them to think that this is it. It is so hard to live like this is not the end...our culture screams at us to milk our lives for everything they are worth and look for every comfort imaginable because this is the end. I want my life to look different. Lord, give me the strength for it to be different.

So take a look at the interview if you're interested. These men love the Word of God. It's inspiring and challenging.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/john-piper-interviews-david-platt

Summer Reading

This was an awesome summer for reading...I've really tried to read more because it restores me. Here are some of my pics in no particular order:

This book is by Kathryn Stockett and is a must read. I highly recommend it. It is eye-opening, set in the 1960s Mississippi, and forces us to face the reality of what happened then and is still happening today. Pick it up. You won't be able to put it down.
I know, random, right? Well, I am not ashamed. I read Shania Twain's autobiography...let me explain why. I saw her on the Today Show and she was saying that she wrote the book in an attempt to move past the grief over the loss of her marriage. She said that as she stepped back she realized that her life was not defined by that one moment. I respect her for that. And I am struggling to write out my own story- a different one-but a story nonetheless. So, for me, it was a great read. She is brutally honest about her past, her family's struggles with extreme poverty, her fame, and the loss of her marriage. It was great for me to see her write from a very honest perspective...SO...if you are interested, read it. It was a good read for me.

This is an ah-mazing book. It is written by a pastor from Birmingham, AL and he basically is talking about the church and the 'americanized' dream we have created for the church. He is talking about what it would look like to live 'Radical' lives for Christ. It is challenging and thought provoking. I loved it.

This one is a book that I bit off in little chunks. It is very full and very thought/heart provoking. Its premise is about the 'counterfeit gods' or idols of our heart. Wow. Each one I thought wouldn't be about me and they all managed to touch a piece of my heart. And you can't beat a Tim Keller book.

This is my last read for the summer. I am still reading, but I am really enjoying it so far. She also writes from an honest place and it is about living a life of thankfulness. I know I need that.

So, there you go! What have you been reading? I soooo love to read new books. There were a few on my list that I didn't get to. I am a part of a book club and we re-convene in the fall, so any ideas of books we should read?

Needs 'Watuh'

Here's how the conversation went tonight as we were coming in the front door:
Micah: "Need 'watuh' (water)". Pointing to the plant by the front door.
Hudson: "No, Micah. It doesn't need water 'til it looks like this:


Bahah. Dang. Guess I'm setting a bad example in the plant watering department.

'Fweet Boy'

We kept a friend's little girl a couple of months ago...she was sooo sweet. Barely made a peep. Micah-doo loved her...he looked at her, held her face and said, "Hey, fweet boy...". I think that's hilarious. We don't know about anything but boys at our house, so Micah didn't know anything else to say that would be endearing...too funny.

I love this Man

Matt painted this picture a few months ago for a friend of ours and I think it's so awesome. It was the first time he had painted with only black/white...I love it. I love this man. You would never believe he has an artistic side unless you really know him. He just took a new job at a middle school here. He resigned from his coaching position and pursued a job in a community that he felt the Lord was calling him to. His decision wasn't motivated by money or status...it was purely based on where he thought he could have the greatest impact. I admire him for that and I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for our family as we build relationships in that community.

This Little Man

hasn't gotten enough face time lately...I need to give you an update on him. He turned two way back in April and we had a party celebrating him at my mom's house over Easter weekend. I love this little man. He is sooooooo sweet. He calls for ME every morning. I love it. He's a snuggler and would still be content to sit on my hip. I let him most of the time. He is totally enthralled by his "bubba" and follows him around almost all day. He's talking up a storm and expects us to totally understand everything he says. I love, love, love this little man. He is built so differently from Hudson...it really cracks me up. Hudson is a skinny minny and Micah is all butt and thighs...it's so cute. They are very different in personality also. Micah is a very laid back child. He is mostly content, but he knows how to fight with the best of them for what he wants sometimes.

30 Days of Blogging

Whaaaat? Yes, I am going to attempt 30 days of blogging! Why, you ask? Umm, because I can't get my stuff together and put the things on here that I want to remember. I'm overwhelmed by the entire summer's worth of material that I have not documented for my family. Soooo, here goes to 30 days of catching up, I mean, blogging. I know you are all super excited to hear from me so often : ) And, why you ask, would I start blogging for 30 days on the 27th of the month? That's the way I roll. Random like that.

This pic typifies our summer....the boys are LOVING having daddy home. Who am I kidding? We are ALL loving having daddy home. I'm afraid the little men are gonna have a harsh reality in a couple of weeks...they will be devastated. We're all trying not to think about it : ) Well, I'm not gonna waste all my words on the first day! So, we'll see you tomorrow.