There are many things in this world that make me smile. The touch of my husband, the weekly runs to Sonic with my buddy, catching up on the phone with someone I hadn’t talked to in months, and of course, the new tricks of my little princess, Tatum. Let me give you a few smiles of what she does for me:

1) When Tatum is trying to wake up in the morning and she’s stretching out her little body, she farts. Big time.

2) When she notices that she actually has feet and hangs on to them for dear life. And then rolls to the side….still hanging on, afraid that if she lets go, they will disappear forever.

3) When Tatum is waking up and sees her mommy or daddy…she grins this HUGE grin, gums and all. And sometimes sticks out her tongue. We love it.
4) Sometimes on Saturday mornings, Chris will bring Tatum to the bed so I can nurse her while laying down. Eventually she falls asleep and so do I; we get to nap together.

5) When I pick Tatum up from the sitter’s and take her home to nurse for dinner, in the middle of her eating, she’ll stop, look up with her big blue marble eyes and smile. THEN, as if that isn’t good enough, she’ll just start “talking” to me. As though she wants to tell me all about her big day at Amanda’s. I have to remind her that she has to eat dinner….but I love every moment of it.

6) Tatum’s voice is a little high pitched and when she starts “gabbing”, it’s hilarious.

7) The excited face that she makes when I first put her into her warm bath water—and then she pees.

While she’s taking a bath, Tatum likes to kick her feet in the water. Brodie also likes to watch her play in the bath. It’s always a family event.

9) Coming home from work on Daddy/Daughter days and seeing Chris and Tatum sitting with each other, singing or talking. I almost cry everytime.

10) When I try to comb down her hair….and it pops right back up again like BuckWheat. I have learned to just give up and let it fly.

My list keeps growing everyday.

Categories: Thoughts
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Let’s be honest - we all want to be blessed.  Entire faith movements have been birthed out of this deep desire.  I believe this journey with Jesus is much more about sacrifice than blessing - but my eyes are drawn to the “BLESSED” in scripture.  Today was such the case.

First, I think we all know the narrative well about Jesus and the Fig Tree.  Jesus, hungry, approaches a Fig Tree in hopes of what - a fig to eat.  Matthew 21.19 says he found nothing on it except leaves.  So He does what every “god” would do - cursed the tree and watch it wither.  Of course Jesus turned this miracle into a lesson for his amazed disciples about faith and doubting.  But there is always more to the story.

This morning during my devotions I was reminded of the Fig Tree.  I was reading Psalm 1 and it begins with “Blessed is the man” and that peeks my interest.  Verse one talks about the blessed not walking, standing, or sitting with the wicked.  Verse two is about the blessed passion for His law, but verse three (oh, verse three) says “the blessed is like a tree planted by streams of water that yeild fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers (paraphrased).” 

Three points.  First, Matthews narrative about the Fig Tree says it grew by the road.  The blessed in psalm is planted by streams of water.  But Jesus expected fruit from the tree by the road.  I think its important we remain aware of our surroundings and plant ourselves where life, movement, and growth can happen.

Second, Jesus cursed the tree and it withered fast - so fast the disciples were amazed.  The blessed tree in psalm “does not wither.”  Now the supernatural took place in Matthew’s narrative, but the lesson is the blessed tree produces fruit and has no reason/cause to wither.  I want to produce fruit.

Last, Jesus closes His lesson on faith with these words, “If you believe, you will recieve whatever you ask for in prayer (Matt 21.22).”  Sounds very similar to the last line of Psalm 1.3 (NIV) when it reads, “whatever he does prospers.”  I like to think that whatever the righteous ask for will prosper, be successful, thrive.  I like that thought.

Categories: faith
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So here we go!  Me and a friend are getting in my Honda tomorrow morning and heading to Indianapolis for a big shin-dig for pastors.  I’m excited about the trip because it will give me and Scott (my friend) a chance to connect one final time before Summer and I take a fulltime position in God knows where.

I’m also looking forward to the event.  I don’t normally go because I feel there is no room for young pastors like myself in the voting process and decision making.  But I realize that I have to cast my lot and speak my voice - its my responsiblity.  So I look forward to the whole event.  Plus I will get to connect with old friends and make new ones.

Please keep me and Scott in your prayers.

Categories: life
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