Long time, no post!

Geez, time can get away from you! I haven't posted in a really long time, mainly because I don't have the access I'd like. As of right now, blogspot isn't blocked on my work computer, so hopefully I'll get a chance to write a little on my breaks.

I just started back to school last week. In previous years, I have really dreaded going back, but for whatever reason it wasn't quite so bad this time. I've absolutely loved being home with my girlies all summer, but going back to having some regular adult conversation has been pretty sweet.

There's not really much new and excited going on, just life. I think sometimes it's nice just to be "living life" though. No drama, no craziness, just calm. We haven't had a lot of that in our 5 1/2 years of marriage, so this is cool. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts, because most likely, it won't last for long! :0)

A new baby!!!!!!!!!!!

And no, it's not me!!!!!!!!!! On Wednesday evening (like LATE Wednesday evening after I'd already been in bed for an hour) my brother, Jason, and his wife, Jamie (who happens to be my husband's sister for those who don't know) are going to have a baby! We're so excited for them. The baby will be due in October.

This is such a big deal. They've been trying to get pregnant for a year and a half. Jamie found out she has diabetes and polycystic ovaries, so she's had some health issues that were making it difficult for her to concieve. The doctor assured her she would be able to get pregnant at some point, but after a year and a half, you know her mind had to be swimming with doubt. Our whole family is so pumped and Jason and Jamie are like little kids in a candy store. They're so funny.

Emma, my oldest, is so excited about the baby. She's a little confused about the details, though. When Jamie told her they were getting a baby she immediately stated that it was going to be her brother. When she told the babysitter, she said, "Aunt Jamie is having a baby and it's going to be a brother and he's coming to live at my house." I tried to explain to her that this was Uncle Jas and Aunt Jamie's baby and it would be living at their house with them. She puckered up and cried hysterically! She never would calm down and kept insisting that the baby was ours! I had to leave her with the babysitter and hope that she could console her. Hopefully before the next nine months are over she'll figure it out!!!

The King of Glory rescued me.......

I'm serving as Experience Director this weekend at church. As ED, I listen to the music set our team is doing all week long so I can be familiar with all the words, parts, etc. I've listened to our music all week long and not really paid much attention to more than the info I needed to do my job over the weekend. In rehearsal this afternoon, God spoke to me about the song I'd listened to, but ignored all week long. The third song in our set is "Beautiful the Blood." If you're not familiar with the song, here's the lyrics:

Beautiful the Blood

I never knew death could be so sweet
I never knew surrender could feel so free
I've never seen such meekness and majesty
That the blood of Jesus was bled for me

Now I'll sing freedom for all my days
It's ONLY by the power of the cross I'm raised
The KING OF GLORY RESCUED ME (my favorite line!!!!!!!)

How beautiful the blood flow
How merciful the love shown
The King of Glory poured out
Victorious are we now

Never knew these nails would love unfold
Never knew these wounds would heal my soul
Never seen such beauty and sorrow meet
That the blood of Jesus was bled for me

Now I'll sing freedom for all my days
It's ONLY by the power of the cross I'm raised
The KING OF GLORY RESCUED ME

How beautiful the blood flow
How merciful the love shown
The King of Glory poured out
Victorious are we now

How beautiful You are
How merciful You are
How glorious You are
Christ our Savior

Wow.

God gently got my attention and said, "It doesn't matter where you've been, what you've done, what mistakes you've made. I shed my blood for you. It wasn't easy, but it was what I wanted to do. Not only that, but it's free!"

Aside: It's funny how God talks to you at wierd times. I didn't hear Him during the service or anything profound like that. This little whisper hit me during vocal rehearsal when our vocalists on the team were in the back green room, gathered around a crappy keyboard, ROUGHLY going over the parts for the day. No other instruments, no congregation, no pomp and circumstance. Wierd, huh?

Anyway, so as God was gently nudging me during the rehearsal of the verse, I listened a little more intently to the prechorus. "Now I'll sing freedom for all of my days.....It's ONLY by the power of the cross I'm raised....." The KING OF GLORY RESCUED ME............" That's my favorite line in the whole song, by the way. I don't have to worry because the KING OF GLORY RESCUED ME. THE KING OF GLORY, ALL CREATION, SUPREME BEING OVER ALL. GAVE HIS LIFE. FOR ME. ME. Why me? It doesn't matter! He did and that's all I need to know!

So, now the tears are welling up in my eyes, and I tune in closely to the chorus. "How beautiful the blood flow.... How merciful the love shown.....The King of Glory poured out.....Victorious are we now...." Not only did He rescue me, but I'm free!!!! I owe Him nothing in return except my life. I can be victorious because He loves me. Wow, again. As I sit here and write this, I can't hardly contain the joy in my heart at the reminder from God that He loves me. He loves me regardless. He loves me, no strings attached, no "but" at the end of the statement.

Wow.