A Little Cat and My Favorite Mouse

Okay - so my blogs this week have been more of my serious side.  It's time for a little fun.  You will all laugh at me - but I'm used to it.  I have come to terms with the idea that I am now a cat lover.  I guess you guys need to come to terms with it too.  I know it's strange - I know it is out of the ordinary for me.
But - here it is.

My biggest question.

Are you ready?

It's very serious.

It may be detrimental to my household.


Can my new cat get along with my favorite mouse?

I say YES!!!!!!

 Meggie's new bowl arrived today!  So - not only is she on the back of my van wearing Mickey Ears - she now has her very own Mickey bowl.  

You didn't know she was a huge Mickey Fan like me, did you?  I couldn't have kept her otherwise.

 How cute is that???? It has her name on it!

 And each time she finishes her food - she will see her favorite mouse!  I enjoy making this cat feel at home!

 

On a side note - you didn't know she was a Pool Shark, did you?  Russ and the kids discovered it this week.

 

Blue jingly ball in the corner pocket!

I Get it!

In my last post, I wrote about the way God is working in my heart about giving.  About going beyond myself.  About taking our family beyond our little "huddle".  I have to be honest and say that I've never had much of a "world vision".  Not because I didn't want one - not because I didn't notice. But it never went beyond that.  I was so busy with stuff around me.  Ministry right here in front of me.  Teenagers and their all consuming "drama", puppet teams, my own babies, caring for my mother when she had ALS, starting my own business to help support our family, BSF, being a Pastor's wife.  All very good things - and all things that God had for me at the time.  But, now He is working in a new area.  Stretching me beyond my circle.  Allowing me to see others.  REALLY see others. It's funny, when Russ told me he was going to Haiti, I was like, "Great!  God isn't just going to let this go - something crazy is about to happen".  (you have to say that with a bit of sarcasm in your voice).

I don't feel guilty about not seeing things before.  God knows what my journey is - he knew I couldn't handle more than I was already doing.  Those were the things He had for me at the time.  But, back in August, when the kids went back to school, and I started to have "me time" - I knew something was coming.  I knew God was working and growing and changing me.  I had choices to make.  I could go back and do what I had always done - what had been comfortable.  Or I could wait and see what new thing the Lord had for me.  It was a hard decision at times.  Just "resting" - not doing the "spiritual" thing.  But sometimes resting is spiritual.  How can we hear God if we are always running like crazy?

So - Russ went to Haiti.  I've never been on a mission trip outside of the U.S. before.  Many people asked me why I wasn't going - or if I even wanted to.  I have to say that I did not have the desire to go.  Not because I didn't want to help people - but I feel that God puts those kinds of desires in your heart - and it just wasn't there for me.  Practically speaking - I have two children.  Both Russ and I cannot be gone for seven days - out of country - during the school year.  It just wasn't practical.  Wasn't my time to go.  Do I want to go somewhere like that someday?  YES!  But right now my priority is being Mom.  That's my number one mission field.  I'd like for us all to go as a family when the kids are old enough.  Hey!  We spent 6 weeks in Oregon - that's a start!  But even if being mom is my priority - my kids are older now - there are other things that I can do right here.

So - Russ went to Haiti.  Even though I did not have the desire to go, I was jealous.  Not jealous that He was getting to do something cool for God or jealous that he got to travel and I didn't.  More like a "this is the first time since we've been married that God is going to do really cool things with you and I'm not going to be there to experience it with you first hand" kind of jealous.  Does that make sense?   We've always done everything like that together.  I hated the lack of communication we had while he was gone.  I wanted to be there to experience the heart break, the tears, the God moments with him.  And I couldn't.  I felt like an outsider.  There is now this part of his life that I don't really get.  Or do I?  I know I'll never get it fully - but God is working.

So - Russ went to Haiti.  He came back different.  I knew he would.  I fervently prayed that I could understand as much as possible.  That I could support him.  Be quiet where I needed to be quiet and ask questions when I needed to ask questions.  God was so good and gave us a long weekend away so we could talk and he could share and work things out in his own mind.  But God, in his grace, didn't leave me out.  He allowed all of this to rub off on me too.  He allowed it to open my eyes to a world around me that I hadn't really taken the time to notice before. 

Now - let me back up a bit and say that Russ had been dealing with this long before he went to Haiti.  He's been preaching it from the pulpit since we started at Ocean Park.  "It's not about us.  It's not about preference.  It's not about our "Holy Huddle".  It's about everyone else around us who needs to know Christ. It's about those around us that have NEEDS!  Genuine needs.   Let's get out of the pews and do something different - do something in the community."  I know that so many Sundays he feels like that just falls on deaf ears.  I pray fervently that I can encourage him on those days.  That a fire will be lit in our church family and consume the congregation.  That people will "get it" and be excited!  I desire for the church to buzz like a bunch of bees - going to and fro and sharing the work - sharing the results with each other.  Sharing Christ. 

A few months ago I saw a Hummingbird in my front yard.  I immediately went out and purchased a feeder, filled it with that fun red stuff they like and then sat back and waited.  Nothing.  Not one bird.  It was that way for weeks.  This bright red feeder - wonderful yummy food - Nothing.  Then on Monday I noticed a few bees buzzing around it.  And the food looked like it had gone down a bit.  'Must have begun to evaporate', I thought.  Within an hour - there were dozens and dozens of bees all round this thing!  Fighting for a position to get in and drink the food.  The food level had gone down significantly!  They were so excited!  All working together and buzzing about.  I saw their excitement!  I saw how it became contagious!  Everyone wanted a taste - everyone wanted to be a part of this exciting find! Everyone wanted to share in the work. They are, after all, making honey.  They have a job to do - one bee can't do it alone!  He couldn't have emptied that entire feeder.  But when they all worked together - man!  That food was disappearing!

Well - I don't know. This all feels sort of cliche' because I am the Pastor's wife - I'm supposed to "get it".  Don't you just love how Satan puts thoughts in your head?  "Your supposed to get it - no one is going to really hear you - you're the pastors wife - you are supposed to have it all together already."  I HATE that!  You know what - I'm human - just like everyone else.  I don't have it all together.  I sin - I fall short.  Heck!  I'm always 2 steps behind Russell.  He's always waiting for me to catch up.  But you know what - he's not perfect either.  All the things he stands up and preaches about are things that he struggles with personally too!  Things that God is showing him - things he has to repent over - be broken hearted over.  so - I'm not going to hide behind my fears anymore - I'm going to be real and I'm going to say - I FINALLY GET IT!!!!!

I FINALLY GET IT!!!  I GET IT RUSSELL!  I'm excited!  I'm ready to do something!  I'm ready to share - not just myself - but my resources!  I'm ready to make a difference!  I'm ready to get going! I'm tired of the same thing week after week after week.  I'm ready to truly worship with my whole heart - with my resources - with my everything.  I want to make a difference.  If I have to be the fire that lights in our church - then so be it.  I GET IT! 

One of the things that I discovered yesterday in my search for what God wants me to do to help make a difference is this:

These beautiful pieces of jewelry are made out of cereal boxes by Haitian Artisans with The Apparent Project. And I found out yesterday that they need cereal boxes!  Now that is something I can do!

And I can have a jewelry party and help sell these beautiful pieces so that people in Haiti can have enough money to keep their families together.  The majority of orphans in Haiti are not orphans because their parents died - but because their parents couldn't feed them.  They give them up in order to save their lives.

I know my post today is already long so I will just say - Read this blog to find out more.  I'm ready to help!  I'm excited about this! I can't wait to share it with others - to host a jewelry party!  And I'll tell you - I hate hosting parties like that!  But 100% of all the proceeds go to Haiti!  Now that's something I can get behind!  I want to help collect cereal boxes so these beautiful people can continue making this beautiful jewelry!  I want to go beyond myself!  This is easy......wonder what else I can do???????  What can you do???????

Who's with me????????

"Though There's Pain in the Offering"

My mind is swirling with things tonight and so I thought I would sit down and try to put them in order.  So - bear with me as I "listen to myself".

The Lord is definitely working in my heart, although I'm not quite sure what to do with it yet. We are extremely tight this year as far as Christmas goes.  The thought of purchasing gifts is overwhelming.  All I know is - I want to make them count!  I want to use what money I do have for something eternal.  Not to sit in my own little family huddle - but reach out and help others who truly have NEEDS.  I don't want to think twice about giving to others.  I've been praying for the last several months that the Lord would make me a generous giver.  I'm sure that is where all this is coming from.  I want to be able to just give and not think twice about it.  But I want my gifts to be eternal - to meet a need.  I don't want to think "Oh - but if I give that money away - or -  if I spend my money on them, then I can't pay for...."  I just want to give - cheerfully.

We have increased our giving at church.  Not by much - but I will tell you that it is a bit scary.  It cuts into our already tight finances.  On Sunday we sang "Blessed Be Your Name"  There is a line in that song that says: 


Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Though there is pain in the offering.  Wow!  I've sung that song many times - and there is always one line or two that really hits home.  But this time it was "though there's pain in the offering".  I'll be honest with you and say there was pain in my offering yesterday.  Writing that check and giving that money meant we were going to be short this week on our bills.  This is one of those months where all the due dates fall in the same week.  It would have been so easy to not have written it.  God will understand, right?  Wrong.  God doesn't need our money.  He's God - He can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants.  He owns everything. Our giving isn't so much about obedience as it is trust.   God promises that in my obedience, He will provide for my needs.  What it boils down to is - Do I Trust Him?  UGH!  I always come back to this place.  And I mean ALWAYS!!!!  Do I REALLY trust Him?  Why do I fight this so hard?  Is it because I'm selfish?  Is it because I want to do my own thing with our money?  Is it because I had a father that I couldn't trust growing up and so I remain skeptical deep down?  I could tell you story after story after story of how God has continued to take care of us financially and I shouldn't have a problem with this - but here I sit - holding tight to my money because I think that there is no other way.  I have once again put God in a tiny little box.  How insulting.


My entire adult life - whenever I'm facing a decision and I don't see the logic in it. Don't see how things could possibly turn out, the Lord whispers to my heart these two simple words, "Trust Me".  I have learned to listen for those words.  I love them and hate them at the same time.  I love them because a peace that surpasses all understanding comes with them and I know everything will be okay - eventually.  I hate them because this means I am going to feel like I am stepping off of a cliff and God will catch me but it is not going to be without some measure of discomfort and growth in the process.  Not without the feeling of plummeting out of control.  But we aren't in control, are we?  Oh how I like to think I am.  Maybe that's another reason I keep coming back to this place.


Yesterday as we were driving to church and I'm praying and fighting with myself about writing that tithe check, the Lord said, "Cami, Trust Me."  I began to weep - knowing that God is at work and something amazing is going to happen - but also knowing it's going to be a hard week.  I wrote the check, I put it in the offering plate before church began - and then we sang that song.  "Though there's pain in the offering - Blessed Be Your Name."  All I could do was weep and ask the Lord to once again forgive me for my lack of trust.  "Lord, I do believe but help me overcome my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)  Oh - I say that a lot too!

So - here I sit, my mind swirling with a lot of different things tonight - putting my thoughts out into cyber space for whoever to read - praising the Lord.  Blessed be His name because He will care for us this week (I already had a Calligraphy payment today for more than the amount that I wrote the tithe check for).  Blessed be His Name because He knows what else we need this week and will provide it.  I know - because He promised me.

I'm also thinking about Christmas.  It is coming upon us fast and I am so over the commercialism, the gifts, the traditions, the parties, the busyness, the crazy amount of money that we Americans spend on "stuff".  Now, let me say - that I am NOT over the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Just the way we celebrate it.


Russ spent a week in Haiti.  The poorest country on this side of our world.  I know he has been affected so much deeper than I will ever understand because he was actually there. But it has affected me as well.  I look at the photos and I see poverty.  I keep up with this blog done by missionaries who live in Haiti day in, day out.  I read her posts and I cry.  I dare you to read through it and not.  This week, the kids and I went to Wal-Mart and purchased items to fill our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I didn't think too much about that until I came home and was packing them.  Toothpaste, toothbrushes, paper, crayons, combs, brushes, soap, candy, a few small toys.  Simple things.  Things we take for granted.  Things we just go out and purchase and don't think twice about it.  Do you know what the average DAILY salary for a person in Haiti is?  IF they are fortunate enough to even have a job?  (There is a 70% unemployment rate there)  The answer is $3.00!  Yes!  I said, $3.00.  PER DAY!

And even with our economy the way it is in America this year - how much will we go out and spend on Christmas gifts?  Gifts that have no eternal value.  Gifts that will be smiled upon and then put in a closet or on a shelf.  Gifts that will boost our self esteem for a few weeks because we have the latest and greatest - the newest and the best.  For now.

Why is it that I don't think twice about buying "stuff", but I fight with God on the way to church about my tithe check?  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  That's heart breaking.  Oh!  How I desire to switch that around.  To put more of our money into eternal things.  The greatest gift at Christmas is Jesus.  That is the ONLY thing I should be sharing with others.  That's where my money should go.  So that others will hear and know about Him.  That is the greatest gift I could ever give.  That has eternity written all over it.

I don't know just yet where this is all going to go - but I look forward to letting you know.......

Fall Festival, Halloween Pics and Car Decals

As I mentioned in my last post, I am the Room Mom for Anne's class.  The biggest responsibility of the year is the school's Fall Festival.  I've been really busy getting everything together for our Treasure Chest booth.  Volunteers, supplies, signs, ticket boxes, etc.  We finally had the Fall Festival this past Friday and it was a lot of fun.

So much fun for Jarod - that I hardly ever saw him to get a photo.  But we do have plenty of photos of Anne having a great time!

 My Treasure Chest Sign

 Jarod made the ticket box for me.

 Anne playing 

 The obstacle course

 Wee!!!

 Love it!

Playing in the Bounce House

 

My helper for the evening!  Could not have done it without him!

On a different note - I'm going to squeeze in a few photos from Halloween.  My friend finally posted them on Facebook so I snatched them up.  Thanks Melissa!!!

 Family shot

Caught eating candy!  Our FSU Seminole and our Firefly

Last, but not least, I thought I would share with you the latest addition to our Disney Decal Family.  And I figured you would enjoy having another good laugh at my expense! 

You know it's official when I put the cat in Mickey ears on the van!!!  How cute is that?  It just makes me giggle!

A fun story to go with my decals - I am NOT a sticker person when it comes to cars.  I even make the dealers take their advertisement stickers off whenever I purchase a new (to us) vehicle.  I like my cars to be clean and tidy.  Then 4 years ago at Christmas, my brother Marc gives me these 4 little Disney people to put on my van.  He knows how I am - but he also knew they were wearing Mickey Ears!  How could I resist?  I screamed with delight, giggled hysterically and they have been on my van ever since.  This is actually my fourth or fifth set - I've lost count.  After several months, they begin to peel off and I replace them with new ones.  All except the Princess one (Anne) - she's original!  They don't even make her any more!  She, for some strange reason, has never peeled, never cracked.  I take the other three off, replace them, and she stays the same.  I guess it's just because it's Anne.  Ha!  Although I will admit (and I can't believe I am doing so) that it is something I have prayed about.  I like the Princess sticker so much, and knowing they don't make this one anymore - I don't want to replace her with the little girl.  So I am guilty of asking the Lord to keep her in tact.  I know, I know - it sounds ridiculous.  But I have found that even the ridiculously small things that are important to us - are important to the Lord as well.  Not because they are important - but because I am important.  So - I have learned to pray about the little ridiculous things as well as the big things that are important to Him.

So - it's funny when I say that I am NOT a sticker person when it comes to cars.  Seems I say a lot of things about myself like that and then God changes my heart and mind in some way. "I'm not an animal person, I'm not a sticker person." Ugh!  Have you seen the side of my van lately?  Maybe I'm out of control.......

Fall is Here

Fall is officially here.  The busyness has begun and will not stop until after the New Year.  Can you believe we are only 3 weeks from Thanksgiving?  For our family, as soon as Jarod's birthday hits in September - it is down hill from there.  Strap in and hold on for the ride!  This week alone has been no exception!

Now that I am doing my church work from home - I have a few more hours in the day.  Not many - but take away the driving time going back and forth to the beach and it adds up throughout the week.  Well, on top of being mom, being Russell's secretary, and my Calligraphy business - I decided to take on being Room Mother for Anne's classroom this year.  I volunteer a few hours every Thursday in her classroom and have additional projects at home. As the school's Fall Festival (the biggest fund raiser of the year) approaches, I am beginning to wonder what I was thinking!

But seriously, it is a lot of fun.  I love being involved, meeting her friends and sharing these memories with her.

Last Friday was "Scarecrow Day".  All the kids dressed as scarecrows, played games, stuffed their own huge class scarecrow and had snacks.  I wound up popping popcorn for all 4 Kindergarten classes - but managed to break away and take a few pics.

 Class picture in front of the Scarecrow they built.  Great job guys!

 My Scarecrow Anne

 She was coming to show me all of the candy in her hat. - Loving the pigtails!

 Story time with Mrs. Reed.  We love her!

Getting ready to head home!  Fun day!!!!

So, enter Halloween.  Can you believe I actually left the house and forgot my camera?  I was just sick!  I'm still hoping some friends will post some on Facebook (Hint Hint) so I can download them.  Jarod went as a Seminole Football player and Anne wore her Firefly costume from her dance recital last June.  We paid a lot of money for that adorable costume and it was only on stage for 3 minutes so she got to wear it again for Halloween!  :-)

We did something very different this year.  Usually, we spend our Halloween fellow-shipping with our friends from Pathway Church.  But, Halloween fell on a Sunday this year and on Sundays - we spend our entire day out at Jacksonville Beach.  Russell challenged our church to forgo evening services on Sunday and gather at members homes to fellowship, pass out candy, and engage our neighbors.  Along with candy, we passed out gospel tracts with our church information on them.

It was the most enjoyable evening!  We had two different families who hosted, we gathered at their homes, sat out on the driveway, talked, shared, laughed and met the neighbors!  What an awesome idea.  Nothing special about it really - except for being intentional about sharing the gospel, sharing about our church.  And, getting to know other church members in the process.  It's so easy to get caught up in the idea that they will come to us - but we need to be going to them.

Anne was a hoot!  She was our evangelist for the night.  While everyone else was passing out candy, she took the stack of tracts and took it upon herself to give one to EVERYONE who came by.  No matter what age they were or if they were in costume or not.  And when Russ took her and Jarod down the street to a few houses to do their own Trick or Treating, she took them with her and when they gave her candy - she gave them a tract.  She would just announce, "This is from our church."  If we could all have such bold confidence.

Now to today's adventure.  All of the Kindergarten classes went on a field trip to Sykes & Cooper Farms.  It was about an hour from the school (by bus).  We had so much fun!!!!  Here are a few pics.....

 Anne & "Miss Piggy"

 Anne & "Jack"

 Taking off for the Hayride

 Lost in the Corn Maze - are we there yet?  Anyone bring a GPS?

 The cool slide!

 Class Photo

 This was AWESOME!!!!  The Popcorn Popper!  I got on this thing after I finished taking photos.  We need one of these in our back yard!!!!

 Crazy class picture in the hay

 Anne and her teacher, Mrs. Reed.  Jarod had Mrs. Reed for Kindergarten as well.  We LOVE her!!!  Neat Christian lady.

Everyone got to take home a pumpkin.  A great time was had by all!!!!

Well, that is all the adventures for now.  Can you see why I'm tired?  Ha Ha!  Friday is the Fall Festival and hopefully I will remember my camera.  Then maybe things will calm down again - for a few days.

Until next time.......