A quick thought

When I said I was dusting off this blog, I really meant it. I have spent some time this evening reading through some old posts (while my family is watching a football movie) and found myself pleasantly surprised that I had written certain things down.

My three favorite categories (or labels) so far are Marriage, Family, and Parenting. I found myself listening to my own thoughts. It was kind of fun to look back, kind of like looking at old photos and remembering things I had almost forgotten.

Maybe I should consider it time well spent.

Dusting it Off

I have let it just sit here for almost a year. Like one of my favorite books, I am picking it up off the shelf, dusting the top, flipping the pages to refresh my memory of why I have kept it for so long and setting it on my desk so that I pick it up and begin again.

I set my blog and even the reading of blogs on the shelf. I felt the need to focus on other things. Recently, I have had the desire to share my thoughts here again.

Some things have changed just like the tattered edges of a favorite book. I am older and it is good! My kids are another year older, three teenagers, one nine year old and one very sweet five year old. My home feels like a revolving door. My kitchen table seems tiny and there is never enough room for everyone. (It once seemed huge) I have had to re figure some of my favorite recipes so that there is enough food. We often have one, two, or several more here who are hungry. I have learned to keep the freezer stocked, so that when four hungry fourteen year old girls show up, I have something they will eat when no one else is around. (I have learned they love pizza snacks) I have kids that stay up later than I do. This has been a hard one for me.

I still love to read! I have always liked to take photos! My husband surprised me at Christmas with a new camera. And I still journal on the Word of God in my Life Journal. I am trying to memorize scripture with greater discipline. I haven't tried any new recipes in a long time. I started walking and It makes me happy. I get to pray with some amazing women who I do not deserve. We started a Life Group in our home for college students. It has brought back memories!

And finally, I am glad Valentines Day is coming up....because I love roses and conversation heart candies!

Looking Back...

My poor blog. I think those ladies are about to get up from the table leaving nothing but an empty cup. Hopefully, this will give them something to talk about.

Lisa tagged me several weeks ago with an archive meme where I must choose five posts from my archives in the following categories: family, friends, me, something I love, and anything I like, so that you can revisit some posts or perhaps read some posts you've never read.


Family: Yesterday as I pulled up to my usual spot at the crosswalk to pick up Hunter (1st grade) from school. He was busily talking to the other kids and showing them some long strip of paper he had received at school. The teacher who is there everyday raising the "stop" sign so that the children can safely cross the street had to go over to Hunter to get his attention. He turned around and with great shock, (as if I don't come to this same spot every. single. day.) he quickly ran across the street to enter our vehicle. The teacher/crossing guard walked over to my car and said, "I hope you are enjoying this age", I assured her I was. As I drove off I thought about this post written just over a year ago. It was a day I watched my then Kindergarten son do some Puddle Jumping.


Friends: Without even looking back, I know already that I don't post much or at all about my friends. Mostly because who wants to wake up one morning and open up their Bloglines and find a new post at Come to the Table about them unless we had first discussed it of course. So, instead of linking up to one of my old posts, I will send you here to read what God is doing in the life of one of my long time blogging friends.


Me: I still struggle with this, I should re-write this and elaborate more since I know I am not alone here either. And yes, I did this at the same time.


Something I love: I love (in no particular order) this one, this one, this one, these two, and this one.


Anything I want: Just this morning I prayed with a women and said these words again, "He Has Not Forgotten".

If you would like to be tagged consider yourself "it".

The reason I haven't been here...

Definition:
re·al·i·ty
Pronunciation:
\rē-ˈa-lə-tē\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural re·al·i·ties
Date: 1550

1: the quality or state of being real
2: a real event, entity, or state of affairs
3: the totality of real things and events

Sometimes the reality of things keeps you away, but I do miss it.

Who are those women?

Thanks to each of you who left such sweet and fun comments about my new blog design.

I wanted a graphic of women sitting around a table. Who are these women you ask? They are you and me (well, not really). They are anyone who needs to come and talk and share with another about motherhood, being a wife, living a Godly life etc. etc. Unfortunately, there were no graphics of women sitting in their jeans or sweatpants. I couldn't find one with a women rocking a little one on her lap, or someone with a tear or two or even a bible spread open before them, because that is who I am.

And so this was the best we could find. So it left me to imagine myself all dressed up sitting in a cute coffee shop with a few of my favorite people, looking all sophisticated, while we sip on our chai tea.

But I guarantee you that most days when I sit here to talk with you, I am either in my warm and cozy pajamas or at best my favorite pair of sweats.

A New Design!

A big huge thank you to Jo-Lynne at DCR Design for the wonderful job she did on re-designing my blog. She was absolutely fabulous! She was quick and efficient and very pleasant to work with. She took my thoughts and words and ramblings about what I was looking for and listened!

If you are looking for a new blog makeover, I highly recommend you go visit her. Thank you, Thank you so much Jo-Lynne!

He Has Not Forgotten

Early in January before my father passed away and before the many trials and struggles that the last few months would hold, I was contacted by the National Women's Ministries Department of the Assemblies of God asking permission to reprint one of my devotions written for CWO back in November for their March issue of WTOnline.

Little did I know how my own words would come back to minister to my heart. I needed them again today, just as much as I did back in November 2007, when I first wrote this post.

So, would you bless my heart and go here to read the article, He Has Not Forgotten and while you are there, take a few moments and look around. Their theme for the month of March is "Waiting for a Miracle" and there are many encouraging articles.

And the winner is.....

The winner of the book Feminine Appeal is Sarah at Life in the Parsonage. (I used a free download of Random Number Generator and number 1 was chosen)



One of my favorite quotes in the book is this one from Charles Spurgeon:

He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it. (Charles Spurgeon)

When we see our husbands as sinners like ourselves-sinners in need of God's grace and mercy-it strips away any intolerant, critical, or demanding attitude we may be tempted to have.

pg. 39

Congratulations Sarah. I hope you enjoy the book. Email me your address at cometothetable@msn.com and I will get the book to you right away.

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to the Ultimate Blogging Party.

Thank you to 5 Minutes4Mom for making this party possible.

There are some really cool prizes to be won! My favorites are #1, #24, & #70.

I am glad you are here!

Don't you love it when someone shows up at your door for a visit?

I do!

Especially if it is planned. Unexpected visitors beware...who knows what you may find.

If you are an old friend, come on in, take your shoes off, and make yourself at home. If this is your first time, Welcome! Go ahead and look around and please introduce yourself. And of course if you have questions for me, go ahead and ask.


I hope to be a wonderful hostess over the next week and meet up with some old friends and make a few new ones. It should be fun!




And because I appreciate your visit, I am going to give away a copy of one of my favorite books, Feminine Appeal Seven Virtures of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney.




Just leave me a comment to this post and let me know if you would like to be in on the giveaway and on Friday the 14th I'll choose one winner. (I will ship to the US and Canada residents only)

Thanks for stopping by!

The Ultimate Blog Party!

I am ready for a party!

I really want to host a party at my home with a few friends, a pot of freshly made coffee, some of our favorite goodies and encouraging conversation.

But in the meantime, you're invited to join me here tomorrow and all next week for some blogging party fun. Bring along a cup of something warm and hopefully I'll have something fun or encouraging to post.

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting The Ultimate Blog Party!

She Speaks '08

Today Lysa TerKeurst announced on her blog that she is providing an opportunity for someone to win a scholarship that would cover the cost of registration to the She Speaks Conference June 20-22 in Concord, North Carolina.

This is so exciting and interesting because just yesterday, one of the ladies who works very closely with me, and I were discussing our desire to attend some type of leadership training conference this year. She had sent me a link or two over the past couple of months and just yesterday she mentioned this conference. I told her that of all the things I had looked at this seemed to be the most relevant for where we were at and what we desire God to do in us and through us and the best part was that I had already been reading Lysa's blog and several others on the team.

Proverbs 31 Ministries has put together a wonderful weekend which includes something for every woman who desires to be more effective for the body of Christ.

Whether you speak regularly already and are looking to increase your opportunity to be used in this area or sense the Lord leading you to begin teaching a Bible Study for a group of ladies in your church, learning how to effectively put together a message and deliver it so that your audience not only hears your heart but can walk away changed through the power of God's Word is something that is developed and trained. I know that every time I speak in front of the ladies in our church or just pray in front of a group, I first and foremost want to do it all for Glory of God, but I also want to be effective in what I am doing. She Speaks will provide the tools to strengthen or just develop those skills as well as show you how to increase your sphere of influence through speaking.


If you are an aspiring writer, She Speaks offers an amazing opportunity to sit and listen to Christian publishers share how to get started with the publication process. There is also a place for bloggers to hear from three very popular and widely read bloggers to share how to "more effectively connect with your readers and increase the impact of your blog." Recently, I was contacted for permission by an organization to publish a blog post I had written. I was completely humbled, but more importantly I recognized that the post they had selected was one that was written from the depths of my heart. I would love to continue to sharpen my ability to reach within and write with honesty and vulnerability. I have a long ways to go.


If you lead a women's ministry in your church you give out and serve the ladies continually. But often times we forget that we too need to be encouraged (especially if you are a Pastor's wife) and be on the receiving end. They have provided for this as well as a time to learn and grow in your effectiveness as a leader.


And finally they have something for The Next Generation which is for girls in middle school and high school who have a desire to speak or write and be a leader for Christ to their generation. I have both and would love for my (almost) 13 year old and 16 year old daughters to attend. WOW!


Just writing this post and reading through the She Speaks site today has not only confirmed my desire to attend but now it is my prayer.


Throughout the past six months I have sought the Lord and asked "What's next?" with regards to ministering to the women in our church and community. We currently have regular weekly bible studies, but I have been praying, seeking, and asking the Lord what He would have us to do. I know how to put together programs which would be well attended, look really pretty and even be fun and effective, but I have sensed that I can no longer do just that. (nothing wrong with programs) And not only that, but I see a new generation of young women who are hungry themselves for someone to be willing to stand up and teach the truths of God's Word as it relates to their roles as wives, mothers, and women and to do it with honest passion. They desire someone to be real!! They desire someone they can relate to!! They need to know I love Jesus and have sticky dirty floors and smudges on my walls and the unending laundry pile. As a Pastor's wife I have sensed the image that we either have created for ourselves or have let others create for us will no longer carry us in reaching the women God has placed before us.

I have a strong desire to effectively communicate biblical truths through speaking and writing. But more than that, I desire to serve the ladies of our church and community with greater purpose and clear direction from the Lord. It has been several years since I have attended a leadership conference for women. I am hungry for greater tools, a fresh perspective for leadership, an opportunity to hear what God would speak to my own heart with regards to writing and speaking.

Thank you Lysa for this opportunity to share my heart. I would love to attend She Speaks and hopefully bring a few friends too!!


And a weekend away from kids, cooking, and laundry and spent with sisters all seeking and desiring to be used of God may cause me to just drool...just a little!

The 2007 "Come to the Table" Highlights

Here is one of my favorite posts from each month in 2007. It was good to look back over the past year and read what I had been thinking and experiencing. I am so thankful to the Lord for His goodness and grace in my life.

January Too often I find myself relating to the mother in this cute yet smelly story:...

February I have felt a bit weepy this past week. It is both a physical weariness and a heaviness I have on my heart over many things. Some of the heaviness is for others and what they are facing and the rest is my mother's heart...

March As a young bride at twenty two, married to the man who had prayed for me at the tender age of fifteen, I had a very limited understanding of what God's design for marriage was. I knew I was to "leave" and "cleave" and that we were "one flesh", but beyond this, I began a life hoping to find joy and fulfilment only to discover that I struggled deeply within myself....

April As I gaze at my husband’s face, I see the reflection of my mother in law in his life, her gentle touch, her warm embrace and her love for God and His word. But I also see the smile of another woman who laid her hands on her belly and thanked God for her unborn child...

May As a newly married twenty two year old young woman never did I imagine those two things happening at the same time in my life or better yet on the same day. Never!...


June It was a wonderfully overcast Southern California June morning in 1986 when we took our vows to love and cherish each other....


July A dear friend sent me an email yesterday and this was the final paragraph. It was like she was standing in my home watching. Her words described the scene so well....


August The first day of school is slowly ticking away and I am trying real hard to think about what our new routine will look like since I admitted that I was sooo ready for one. But even though, I must say that first day of school good-byes always leave a lump in my throat. They did eleven years ago when my oldest started school and this morning was no different....


September I give thanks to the Lord when life is a bit uneventful. Today in the midst of my laundry folding, dust bunny chasing, and bathroom scrubbing, I pause to praise God for redemption....


October For six or seven years, this was entirely true of me. Then one day, when I found myself on the couch in the middle of the day (for the second week in a row) and I wasn't sick, just exhausted, it was time to take inventory...


November This morning I woke up early. Earlier than I would have liked. I couldn't sleep any longer....


December We have lots of snow!! It makes this Christmas season so sweet. This is a picture taken from my back door. The kids have been out playing in it almost everyday after school. My favorite is the untouched snow. I did not grow up with snow, so it is still very fun for me....


Happy New Year!