The Madness Has Begun!

Yep, it's been busy. Just like I said it would be for the next couple of months. My brother's family moved in last week, and we've been over at their new house quite a bit the last few days. Between my dad's emergency room visit for a finger injury and my nephew Brady getting RSV, it's been a crazy few days in our family! Jonah is having a blast with his cousins! And I'm loving having more family in town. I'm a family girl, for sure. No question about it. This is fun! I squeezed in a little road trip Saturday to meet some college friends for lunch, and I was reminded just how healing laughter is. It's nice to have people in my life that I know when I spend time with them, I will leave feeling lighter than when I went. I will have laughed, been a little silly even, and not been burdened by a single thing for that period in time. I'm thankful for that. Feeling lighter feels so good. I was so physically exhausted before making that trip, but that time with them energized me greatly. So did the three+ cups of coffee I drank that morning. When I'm well-caffeinated, I get pretty fun, if I might say so myself. I have to keep up with my fun friends somehow.

Life has been full. And good. Our church is going through a series on prayer, and it's been really good for me. And challenging. You know how we all have our strengths and gifts when it comes to the spiritual life? Well, mine is not prayer. Never has come very easily or naturally for me. I've known for a long time that I need to address some of the issues I have with prayer, and God certainly thinks now is the right time. Our community group is going through study questions from the sermons on prayer, and Lisa, my mentor, approached me about looking at some of the apostle Paul's prayers during our time together the next several months. She didn't know yet about the sermon series on prayer. And I had that thought a while ago about studying Paul's prayers but hadn't acted on it yet. What timing. At this point, most of what I have learned has to do with examining my motives during and about prayer. I've been challenged to answer whether or not my prayers are centered on God receiving more glory? Are my prayers, and every part of my life, about making Him more famous? That's really what "Hallowed be thy name" is all about. I confess I typically skip over the reasons and just make my requests, and I'm learning that's been a big part of my misunderstandings about my prayers and how God answers. These are actually really big breakthroughs for me, and I'm excited about what God has in store as He's teaching me to pray. There's a reason for the timing of these lessons, I'm sure. Can't wait to know what it is.

Other than all of that, I've been busy with these two kids. Jonah's been requiring a lot more one-on-one attention, and I've been trying to have more focused play time with him lately. I love spending time with him, but I don't just love playing pretend animals all day. I'm learning to do it more often though, meeting him where he is and giving the kind of time and attention that is quality by his definition. It's been good. Except that my house isn't clean at all. You don't want to walk barefoot in my house right now. But something's had to go. Parker Jane got her first tooth this week on her 8 monthday (I can't believe she's less than four months away from being a year old!!), and I'm starting to try to give her more table food. I'm so over the baby food. It would be really convenient if she would just eat real food. Right now, she's learning what to do with it and doesn't keep the solid food in really well yet, but she'll get it soon. Her dexterity amazes me. She can easily pick up small finger foods and get them into her mouth. She just struggles to keep it in. Other things occupying my mind are several showers I'm helping to throw for friends over the next 6 weeks, Bible study starting next week, and figuring out how to get organized and manage my time well. Joel has accepted an assistant coaching position at a local school for their baseball team, and that will obviously require extra time on top of his other work responsibilities at church. He wasn't looking for this at all, but when approached about it, was really excited about the opportunity. And I'm excited for him. But it's going to make these next few busy months even trickier. We're having to really get scheduled and intentional with our time together. So, that's what my days are like right now. Oh, and 24 is back on. And oh. my. goodness. It is GOOD. Hour three may have been my favorite hour of all the seasons yet. Are you 24 fans loving this season like I am??