The Ordinary, Mundane, Trivial Routine...

I hate it...the ordinary, mundane, trivial routine that keeps my life afloat. The day in and day out "stuff" that has to get done in order for my life to function normally. Making beds, doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms, doing dishes (14 times a day), making breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Grocery shopping, taking kids to and from lessons and parties and functions. Church. Bible studies. Classes. It is the things that we do EVERY single week that never seem to be done! No matter how many times I sweep that kitchen floor, I know in a matter of hours, it will need to be swept YET again! And after a while, my mind becomes numb...my heart lacks the passion for life it once had. I begin to wonder if this is all of me? The girl with the dreams and goals...the woman who aspired to become GREAT...the one who longed for foreign lands, travel and adventure. How do I become a sold out follower of Jesus when most days I simply struggle in following my children around the house, picking up and setting things straight.

But then, in the mind-numbing, humdrum routine of reality I hear that whispered prompting. I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. I sense the earth quaking in the stillness of my heart. And then He calls out my name. He bids me come. He meets me where I am. He reveals a glimpse of Who He is. And I am AT ONCE overwelmed by the beauty of the life He has granted me. He shows me that He has given me my dreams and goals...they are wrapped in pictures of toothless grins and silly faces. He chooses to show me greatness in terms of selfless service and humilty to those around me. And the foreign lands, my neighbors and family. Travel...hello, I live in ALASKA. And adventure, well I can almost see Him shaking His head with a HUGE smile on His face as he speaks the single word, TRAVIS.

And so, in my moment with my Lord, I realize that my daily, loathed routine is all in the eye of the beholder. For with the right heavenly perspective, my ordinary, mundane, trivial routine can be turned into a glorious, heart-song act of worship for my Creator.

Nobody works anymore...

by Travis...
Nobody works anymore. I was walking down a hallway at a headquarters building on an Army base and I noticed something that disturbed me. Room after room was filled with mindless individuals that were doing nothing more than staring at their assigned computer screen, clicking on their assigned keyboard, and moving their assigned mouse. I was thinking about how much money is poured into these rooms. The salary (up to $100,000 per year some of them), the future retirement, the training, the equipment (computers, desk, chair, paper, electricity, flooring, walls, etc.). I came to a conclusion about these senseless beings that were occupying space until they went home for the day.
What a waste.
The military has spent billions of dollars on dim-witted programs directed at creating more "jobs" for people to do.
This results in less being accomplished in one day due to said program because so much time and effort must be spent in keeping said program up and running that it leaves no other time in a day for the real "jobs" that were meant to be accomplished. This results in the hiring of extra seat-warmers (people) to take up the slack and hold up the imaginary program so that it can be deemed a success in the eyes of the creator. Oh, by the way, all of the real "job" holders that accomplished work just fine before said pretend job entered the scene, are now mandatorily made to attend briefings, fill out forms, and go to classes about the senseless program. This results in the downward spiral of everything around the organization and you can see what direction this would head.
Nobody works anymore.
This is the conclusion I came to. "Nobody" as defined in this article encompasses most desk-job-holder-junkies, who’s entire day consists of waking up, driving to work, staring mindlessly at a computer, lunch, more mine-numbing computer time, then off to the house to brag to their other mindless cohorts about all that they accomplished today and how "tired" they are. How many times have you been in a room and noticed how many people have their flat screen pacifiers in front of their face, rolling their thumb across the screen.
I guess the only thing to do is not be a mindless screen-starrer, and try to do some REAL work every day so that in the future, we might still have a shot at getting things done on our own.

Wrapped Around Her Finger

So, my sweet little Emmy Grace has her daddy ALL figured out! This morning, as we were running errands Emmy informed me of something VERY important! She said,

"Mommy, I know what I suppose to say to Daddy when he says no. I say PLEASE!!!! And then he says, Okay."

I then asked her what she is supposed to say to MOmmy when I say no.

She exclaimed... "I suppose to say, 'Okay Mommy'."

Mommy talking..."Why do you say 'please' to daddy though?"

Emmy Grace..."Cuz that's how he will change he's mind."

And that is how my little sweet 3 year old daughter has her daddy COMPLETLEY wrapped around her little finger! And the sad part is, she KNOWS it!

Laughing till it HURTS!

Have your cheeks and jaw ever hurt from laughing so hard? It happens often in this household. Looking at my babies and seeing them laugh in delight, makes my heart happy! Tonight Luke was taking a bath and Wes was making him laugh. It was the CUTEST thing in the world! Travis and I sat there and smiled so big and laughed so hard at our little men that my face actually hurts! Isn't life good! I am sososososososo blessed!

Perspective from a 3yr Old...

Thoughts from a 3yr old...

We are on our way to swimming lessons...one of my favorite things to do! Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, Mommy packs us up and we head out the door, load up in the car, and she drives us to the pool. EVERY Tuesday and Thursday. I lay down for my nap KNOWING that she will hurry in at 2:45, wake me up, and get me ready to go. As we get in the car I know it won't take long to make that quick drive to my lessons. I sit in my car seat patiently, as she drives past the familiar landmarks, eventually arriving at our destination. I'm only 3 and I can't read the road signs. I don't know how to drive. I am learning how to tell time, but haven't quite mastered that one yet either. I depend on my mommy to get me there on time, everytime. I know she will do what she needs to do to make this happen. I trust her. She loves me. She knows how important these lessons are to my 3yr old heart. I LOVE swimming lessons.

And she does...everytime...get me there...on time...

But today, she didn't leave at the same time. She didn't drive past the familiar landmarks. She went a different way. But I know my mommy. She loves me. I trust her. She knows. And eventually, somehow, she will get me to my swimming lessons.

And she did.

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Can we be like my sweet 3 year old? God has a destination in mind for us. He loves us. We trust Him. But when He alters the course, When the landmarks become unfamilar, When the route is different than all the other times, Do we still trust Him to get us where we need to be? Do we still cast that vote of confidence His way? Can we sit in our car seats patiently, waiting and releasing all control over to the One who holds our lives in the palm of His hand?

Just some thoughts from a 3yr olds perspective. This mommy is humbled by the greatness of our God!

A Chosen Daugter

Twirling. Dancing. Laughing in delight as she spins her flowing garment about her. A picture of beauty. A story of royalty. Her life speaks of majesty, splendor, heirship to a throne! But far greater than bloodlines ever withstood...her kinship is one of adoption! She was specifically chosen.
For you see she was born an enemy, a threat! Her life began outside the palace walls. Her identity was a foreigner, an outcast. She had no rights, no inheritance. She stood condemned to die. Yet, in one act of complete and unselfish sacrifice, she was redeemed. One Man stood out from all the rest...one Man reached down through heaven and earth to rescue her soul from her rightful death. In all His kindness and love, He tenderly placed his arms around her scornful heart and erased all that lay in ruins. He replaced it with goodness and grace. He invited her in to His royal family. He chose her to be His. Nothing in all the world could explain this act of love. Only a plan. A plan that outdated any book or story that had ever been written or told. A plan that withstood the beginning of time. A plan that spoke of forgiveness, of mercy, of grace and love. A plan that captured the lost, the forgotten, the despised and rejected. And turned them into children of a KING, princes and princesses.
So now, she boldly approaches her King. Unsummoned. Yet fully accepted. And as she kneels in the pressence of the Almighty, He raises her to her feet. He embraces her as a father would a young child. He whispers words of love and confidence over her. He sees her in all HIS glory. For it was His glory that accepted her in the first place. The GLory of the King reaches out and calls her daughter, she is His chosen!

Poor Sick Babies...

This week has been a doozy! All week long I have been taking care of sick children. It started with Wes on Sunday...and as soon as he was feeling better, 4 days later, then Emmy spiked a high fever! Now, Luke has the fever and all the other lovely symptons that come along with that fever! I am a worn out mommy! I pray this sickness leaves our household quickly! I don't know how much longer I can doctor this illness! I hate with all my heart when my babies are sick! They are so pitiful!

Stand Amazed!

Some pictures speak much louder than words ever could! My husband captured the greatness of our GREAT God in this amazing picture of Mt. Mckinnely. Aren't you glad that God isn't boring...nor created ANYTHING boring! But that He has an imagination...He was creative...inspiring...intricate and detailed! It makes for a fantastic life! Living out His beauty! Be aware friends...look around and soak it all up! He put it here for His enjoyment first and foremost, but for ours as well! AMEN!

Divine Urgings...

Waiting. Waiting? Yes, waiting. I am waiting. In silence. Quiet, uninterupted silence. My babies are down for the night. My hubby isn't set to be home for another 3 hours. And I am waiting on the Lord. I am waiting for Him to speak. I speak ALL THE TIME. I tell Him what I want, what I need, what I like and dislike. I talk about my thankfulness, my lonliness, my happiness, my joyfulness, my saddness. I cry out to Him about my pain and hurts. I laugh in delight over Him. I sing songs of gladness, adoration, joyful celebration. I pour my heart out in words everyday! I love words. I love talking. I love expressing who I am and what I think. But God has given me a profound message...and the jist of it is..."SHUT UP BLAIR! Be quiet. Rest your ever-moving mouth and listen. Let ME speak. And when I don't. Wait! Be patient. Stop acting on what you think is best...and allow me to move you in the direction I see fit. Wait for my divine urgings. It will make life simple...if you wait on Me."

So, I am waiting. And I have to admit, I am quite excited! To know that the King of the Universe, the one true God has something divine for me...it causes my heart to beat a bit faster, my mind to whirl in possiblites, my head to swim in the wonder of it all. He loves me, that I know for sure. Sometimes I picture Him smiling and shaking His head as He listens to all my ramblings. I am most sure that He tries to get a word in here or there...but I just keep talking, oblivious. And instead of getting frustrated with me, He lets me talk. But in all His love, He is gracious enough to stop me. To silence me. B/c He has greater things going on...and He knows the joy and delight I will receive if I act on His quiet urgings instead of my own. What a mighty God we serve.

Even in this quiet moment...I hear Him chuckling to Himself. I hear Him saying..."She can't do it can she...her mouth is quiet but her fingers and talking 90 miles an hour!" Oh me...I am getting off this computer RIGHT NOW LORD!