Observations from a CRAZY weekend...

Just a bunch of random musings of a very long weekend....

..This really all started a few weeks ago when the van had no A/C on the way to our beautiful vacation in Hilton Head - the place my family and I have come to love - and so that kind of sidetracked our thought process a little, but no people or small children were injured, so all was well and we trudged ahead with the plan to enjoy the trip...and we did. NOT A SINGLE PERSON wanted to leave the island, including Grandma. I'd still be there if it weren't for this gig called a J-O-B.

ANYWAY...thoughts and observations from the last 5-6 days of which will forever known as the weekend from the PIT...I don't need to tell you which PIT I am referring to, you should know me enough by now...

• I love my mini-van. 
• I was sad to take it to the shop, but I love Air Conditioning more than I love my mini-van.
• My Chicks - I love them. I thank God for giving them to me. As much as I love them, I pray for them...and their parents. 
• I am reading a book about Purity and leading my chicks through it - they need to hear it and absorb it - I need prayer to get through this book and project truth into their lives.
• I get nervous when a plan does not go well.
• I first act like I am not nervous, but then I talk to God. When nothing happens (patience young padawan), I get more nervous. Even though I know full well He's got it.
• I really love watching a bunch of six year olds play baseball. They are cute and fast and good and it's fun. I equally love their parents.
• It is not fun watching them lose though. I know it has to happen in life, but when I see them striving so hard, it makes me lose my mind and say things I do not want to say.
• Stress is real folks. 
• Stress can cause people to lose their minds and say things that do not want to say. See above.
• My kids are rock stars during stressful situations. Seriously y'all...car breaks down on two lane road and NOT A SINGLE PERSON stops to help and my kids are playing pitch and catch. PRAISE JESUS!
• My husband is equally a rock star. He calmly assesses situations and although he didn't like what he was observing, he remained calm and decisive. He really is God's perfect gift for me.
• My mom and my in-laws deserve numerous amounts of praise, love, affection, and thanks. 
• My two friends, affectionately known as LL and L - they are rocks. In the midst of being stuck on the side of the road, these two keep me sane. Both are praying, one is texting me updates and the other is trying to keep me laughing for fear of knowing when I stop laughing, I am going to break down in tears.
• Stress is real. Are you seeing a pattern here?
• Sleep. Sleep is important. When you are stressed it's even more important.
• Lack of sleep will cause people to lose their minds and say things...you get the point.

Amidst all that, Jesus is LORD. He knew exactly where we would be when the car broke down, and He knew exactly that we had more than enough time to get to where we needed. He wasn't surprised by what happened, and when we called out to Him and asked for His guidance He provided the right people and answers in His perfect timing. 

You know...I asked for this. 
Wait, what?
Yeah, I know how silly and crazy that sounds, but I did...I have been asking God to draw us close to Him...asking Him for moments where my kids can see Him working...telling Him we will do ANYTHING he asks of us...asking for His glory to be revealed in us...asking Him to show up in the big and small moments...

So am I surprised in what circumstances He uses - YES. Am I surprised that He uses those circumstances - NO. Absolutely not. When I commit and say that I want Him to be glorified in my life, then I commit to allowing Him to use any means necessary.

Be encouraged. He has overcome the world!

-Karen