An Amazing Couple of Months and an Amazing Life

I haven't posted in forever and now so much has happened and I don't even know where to start.  I'll get my excuse out of the way up front for why I haven't posted and it's not even a good one.  If it was a good one I would have said reason, but I don't have a reason for not posting, all I have is an excuse.  I've been busy.  See, told you it was just an excuse.  But, I honestly have been busy and since this blogging is more like journaling for me, it takes me awhile to write all my thoughts down and have them come across like I want them to.  And I honestly just haven't had the time to take over an hour in the mornings to do that.  So here I am on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the kids outside playing, so I have a quiet house and am going to try to do some justice to the last couple of months in my life.

I flew for the very first time!  Yep!  That's right!  Something I didn't think I'd ever do. Yet, I always say you should never say never because sometimes, ok for me a lot of times, God pushes you to that never.  There was a church planting conference in Georgia.  I really, really wanted to go but I really, really didn't want to fly.  I finally came to the conclusion that I know God has BIG plans for SCC and since a huge group of us was going, including most of the leadership team and our pastor, the plane probably wouldn't crash.  I know that sounds terrible, but it's honestly what finally convinced me to take the plunge and just do it.  I am so glad I did.  So much good came from the conference.  Not only did I learn a ton, but God showed me what SCC is going to be like.  I saw the people worshipping.  I saw flashes of the faces of people's lives that are going to be transformed.  It was unlike anything I've ever experienced.  The other thing that happened, and probably even bigger than the vision God gave me, was that Doug & I had almost a break through in our relationship.  We have a good marriage, a very good marriage.  You might even say we have a great marriage, but now we are on the road to a fantastic marriage.  It's just so amazing how God is working in us and as we are getting closer to Him, we are getting closer to each other.  I am so, so thankful the man of God my husband is.  I am beyond blessed to be on this journey with him.

The next thing Doug and I did was go to Leadership Advance.  Basically, it was our leadership team getting together over a few days and talking about our church.  Where we've been, where we're going, what's been good, what needs to change.  It was just such a privilege to be there.  I've never been a part of something like that before and it was basically awesome.  We had some amazing prayer times, some amazing conversations, God was there.  Like I said, it was awesome!

I was driving the other day and literally asked myself if I was dreaming.  That's what I feel like, like this is one big dream.  I'm living the dream.  Now, it might not seem like that from worldly standards, but from my view, it's definitely what it feels like.  I guess living the dream when you're a Christ follower is being in the center of His will.  I have no doubt that is exactly where Doug and I are.  Things aren't always easy.  Things are not perfect.  But we're right where God wants us to be and there is no where else I want to be.

The last big thing that has happened is God has really changed my attitude with Jazzy Girl.  About a  month ago, Pastor Dan preached on rest.  I prayed that if God wanted me to quit Jazzy Girl so I would have more time for other things I would.  You see, I don't want to work.  I want to be a mom.  I want to be a wife.  I want to cook, clean, help my kids with school and then have nothing else to do.  But, God's answer was no and then the very next week I had the biggest week I've ever had.  I did more in one week than I did the whole month of February last year.  God really showed me just how blessed I am to be able to work from home.  I get to spend every day with my kids.  Even though I may not be able to just sit with them, they are in with me while I'm working most of the day.  How many other working moms get to say that.  I am so very, very blessed.  I've also hired a helper, shout out Brooke Robinson, and just the 2 hours she helps me each week are huge!  I've also changed some of the ways I do some things and it helps me be more efficient.  I started  listening to preaching, leadership podcasts & Christian nonfiction books while I sew in the morning.  I feel like I'm learning so much while I'm working and it makes the time go faster. I also have an extremely flexible schedule so I can pretty much do what I want when I want.  When I start listing it all out again, I'm reminded of just how blessed I am to do what I do.  I know it's God that has blessed my business and I know that He is going to continue to do so.

So, that's pretty much the highlights of the last few months:
Church is amazing
My marriage is amazing
My job is amazing

So, pretty much I have an amazing life.  I read in Esther 4:14 the other day:
"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

God could have chosen anybody to do what Doug and I are doing.  If we would have said no, it really wouldn't have been that big of deal for Him.  But, we were brought here for such a time as this.  A time to help start a church that will change lives and in the process, change our lives.  Amazing?  I don't even think that's the right word, but it's the best I've got.