this world is not our home

it is amazing how easy it is to become consumed with the busyness of everyday life. it is amazing how easy it is to obsess over and desire things that have no eternal value.

and it is amazing how easily i become consumed with myself. my desires. my problems.

i have decided that when i have children, i will force them to repeat this line every single day..."other people are more important than myself."

relationships are the stuff of life. other people are more important than i am. and ultimately, the relationships i have are the only things of eternal value on this earth.

tonight i drove down the dark, rainy, empty interstate, and i couldn't help but ponder melancholy thoughts that were circling through my head as i sped along. and i always come to the same conclusion in moments like that: i am SO thankful that this world is not my home. All of creation is crying out for redemption, and I am right in the middle of it. i am thankful that someday this world will be beautiful and perfect, and in absolute union with the Creator.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

life after turkey

thanksgiving break was over in about 2 seconds, full of long car rides and dog food and rain storms. and cowgirl boots.

we spent a few days in fairhope with the fam, experiencing our first thanksgiving in the new house. the best part of the house are the brick floors in the dining room....i don't have a picture so if anyone wants to see they will have to come visit. :) 

we also got to experience a full fledged fairhope style turkey trot, complete with a trotting turkey and all. puff thoroughly enjoyed herself. she ran a mile in 7(ish) minutes! (she could have run faster, but I was slowing her down.)

then we headed up to birmingham for a few days, and of course we got to enjoy watching the crimson tide beat up on auburn, roll tide roll.

the turkey is gone, and now it is time to break out the christmas decorations. its the most wonderful time of the year!

high five for first kiss

a daily fight

life in pictures

                                                  does it get any cuter than that face?

 

 if that little girl doesn't win the cutest child ever award then i don't know who will. my favorite Lainey!

Its a rainy wednesday, my car wont start because it needs a new alternator, i've been sick as a dog the past 3 days, im drowning in schoolwork, there are a lot of activities this week with the youth kids, and i basically need to get a grip. and on top of that, i have this ridiculously unhealthy fear of tornados ever since this little incident a few months ago....

its a daily fight and struggle to not give in to fear and anxiety and a generally hopeless feeling of overwhelmedness. (i know, thats not a word.) today is not the day for a super spiritual post full of inspiring and thought provoking theological concepts. today its just a fight to keep functioning.

and why couldn't we just beat LSU? i mean losing in overtime by a field goal? seriously? another complaint to add to my list of problems.

you know how St. Francis of Assisi says to preach the gospel to yourself everyday, and if necessary use words? well today I need words, because the feeling of grace and love for the gospel is definitely not oozing out of everything i think and do.

so i will use words. these words:

My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!