You never stop learning...

I 've always wanted to be a mommy one day. I really do love children. However, it wasn't until recently that I have a deep desire to have a family in the future. What a privilege it would be...to raise children for God's glory!

This is why I am thankful for the opportunities I've had to baby-sit/ nanny over the years. Baby-sitting has allowed me to learn how to discipline and love as Christ would. I am far from knowing what it means to be a mom. However, my mom graciously reminded me the other day that you never stop learning as a parent. When you stop learning, you stop being affective and humble before the Lord.

What made me realize that parenting is a difficult task? Well, it was through a sweet boy, Matthew that I baby-sit (or as he would like to say "kid-sit") twice a week. Matthew loves baseball and he is good! Needless to say, Matthew loves to be outside and active.

The other day, Matthew was begging for me to pitch to him. Lets face it...I've never been Miss Athlete. As much as I try, God just didn't make me that way. However, I was willing to play a little ball with Matthew. So, we head outside and I began to pitch to him. It started out pretty well. I was actually decent at pitching to him and he was making some great hits. Then, the tables turned.

The ball we were using was a little too light. So, I suggested we get a harder ball. He hesitated but then said okay. He picked up a tennis ball and I began to pitch to him using the tennis ball instead. Next thing you know, he slams the ball and where does it go? Yep, it hits me right in the nose. All I can say is this boy knows how to hit a home run!

Now Matthew had no intention of hurting me so I was trying my best to not make it a big deal. However, the blood started coming and I knew I wouldn't be able to hide how much it hurt. Matthew was so sweet as he rushed in to get me paper towels and make sure I was okay.

I am happy to report that my nose fine and I lived to tell the tale!:) Looking back, it was a comical experience. God has a sense of humor! I am doomed if I have all boys. Nonetheless, thanks to my mom, she reminded me that I will never stop learning and God will give me the strength that I need (or I will toughen up in the process)! Here are a couple pictures of Matthew and Megan. They are great kids and I enjoy kid-sitting them!

Life from Above

After deliberating for a couple of weeks, I decided that I am going to keep the blog going. Originally, I was just going to have it for my time at Focus. However, I do love to write and decided that I would keep it up. I also have to give credit to Jordan, Hannah and my mom for encouraging me to keep writing.:)

I've been doing a devotional by Kay Arthur and David Arthur called Lord, Teach Me to Grow Stronger in 28 days. One of the days was particularly convicting to me. David gave an analogy that was so profound and thought provoking. He began the day with the question, "is your life more like a train of a hot-air balloon?". Then, he proceeded to explain the differences:

"A train? Well, it's a series of connected cars, constructed of hard steel, moving in a linear direction and inescapably bound to a rigid track. And maybe, in a similar fashion, you find yourself headed om a certain direction, not necessarily by choice but perhaps by circumstances of life has dealt you. Perhaps you see yourself as an indivdual who has bent, hardened and shaped by life that you have simply lost the freedom to chose the path ahead. Have you lost your ability to be flexible? To adapt to changing environment? Have your patterns become hardened into habits that are nearly impossible to change ?" 

Phew. If I am being honest, I have to say that I had become a train. I was letting my circumstances shape me. It is something I constantly battle and know that on this side of earth, I will continue to battle until I see Jesus face to face. But here is the good news, the challenge that David gave:

"Or maybe you 're more like one of those huge, marvelous hot-air balloons we occasionally see drifting majestically  over the sky: soft in form, flexible in shape, easily changed in direction and letting the wind take you where it may. You have no control over your path each day; you are simply taken where the wind currents decide you should go. You're light, free and you owe no obligation to the rigid tracks far below you."

I want to be a hot-air balloon. Sensitive to the Holy Spirits leading. I want to respond to His current, His nudges and His moving. I want to live an adventure each day- of not necessarily knowing where I'll go or where I'll end up. I want to be flexible rather than rigid. I want God to shape me and to fully cooperate with that shaping process.

It is only through God's grace that I will live life like a hot-air balloon. But, I hope you will join me in the process. As I wake up each day with the goal to live life from above. :)