Gettin Ready

I'm stuck in that mode... You know... I have to get ready for this, oh, and then this is coming up, and then we need to go there...

Today I'm soaking in the reality that the Compel Conference will be over 2 weeks from now.  Ohhhh... there are so many things to get done by then:-)  BUT....  It has been fun to watch as registrations come in and we make final preparations.  I'm already "Getting Ready" for next year by working on booking that speaker...  Like I said - always trying to stay a step ahead...

Yesterday the boys had a swim meet in Yankton.  Emma stayed home, so I the boys had my undivided attention.  Let me tell you... they did great.  Caleb was able to bring several of his times down, and Carter, well... he was game on, all day!  And... we had big smiles and lots of thumbs up.  How can a mom not love that????

Today I had the opportunity to visit Bridge of Hope and tell them about ATLAS.  What a nice church with sincerely friendly folks.  And... I got to listen to an entire sermon with no one pulling on my arm, or needing to use the bathroom (All the moms know exactly that that is like!)

Tomorrow holds Simple Talk at noon and then a meeting at the Marina Inn for the conference and a prayer meeting tomorrow night.  (Assuming the roads are kind to me!) 

It's easy in this season of business to squeeze out my God time.  Today, I feel him pressing in and laying on my heart that the one thing I need to be Gettin Ready for is my eternity in heaven.    He wants me and he wants my attention.  It's not that he doesn't love our other activities, but he loves us more than our deeds.  So... tonight I'm heading toward my bible and some good alone time with the Lover of my Soul.  I've got some "Gettin Ready" to do! 

God Speaks...

First of all - I have to tell all of my sweet Jesus sisters about the coolest thing that happened to me today. For those of you who don't know, I'm the coordinator for a women's conference coming up soon!  (check out http://www.compelconference.org/ if you're not already in the loop!) 

For the last couple of weeks we have experienced some minor technical difficulties with sign ups. (If you are one of these, please call me!) At any rate, it appears to be an Amazon problem. (That means getting it fixed appears to be a bit of a nightmare!) Randomly, the system choses to not let some of you check out. Yesterday, I was at my wits end with this, and then got news about some minor venue problems. My frustration level was at a bit of a high:-)


Tonight, I pulled into my garage and hanging on the hook that my kids normally put their snow pants on was the cutest little decoration that said "Be Still and know that I am God." (Which is our theme this year:-) Wow - So, you guessed it, I jumped out to see who had left me such a treat... and... no name. Hmmm.... who could have known and blessed me in such a way??? Friends, it was God. I know he used one of my sweet friends to calm me and my anxious thoughts. To whomever was so clearly listening to him and obedient.... THANKS, THANKS, THANKS!!! I promptly placed it in a spot at home where I will see it often! (And I'm still smiling!)

Arms Wide Open

Do you ever have those moments?  Tonight I was relishing in the last night before we send the kids back to school and get back into our routine.  Enjoying every last minute of our snuggle time and "vacation" time. 

Emma had asked to take a shower, so I was helping her in.  She needed me to wait for her to get undressed so that she could give me a hug before she got in.  I got my very specific direction from her (If you know Emma, that doesn't surprise you)  "Mom - stand RIGHT there and get ready to hug me."  So... I did just that.  I put my arms out and closed my eyes and was kneeling there waiting to hug here.  And then... it was if God whispered to me...  "This is how I stand waiting for you.  Just waiting for you to walk up and hug me, I have my arms open.  This is how I feel, just like you do right now, only much more."  I could only give a smile and silently thank him.  Thank him for his love, but more so, for perspective.  I could almost feel him huggin me right then, and savoring in the hug.  What a moment!  And then...little bare butt Emma comes running in and throws herself in my arms, resting her head on my shoulder and says "You're the best mom ever!"   (Mind you last night I was the worst mom ever and she didn't want to see me again!)  That moment, those 2 seconds before she dashed off to the shower were a taste of heaven for me!  And then, a tear runs down my cheek.  How that felt for me, was nothing compared to how God feels about me.  And... he cared enough to tell me that in my inner being.   To whisper when I was on my knees with Arms Wide Open! 

Misty Edwards sings this song that I love, and I'm sure that it has become my new favorite for a while! 

"Lord, thank you for Christmas break and for the memories with family.  Thank you for quiet times and places when we can slow down enough to have you speak to us.  Thank you for using Emma to get me to a place where you could speak to me... Thank you for the love you have for me!  WOW...  you are cool!  As I look forward to 2011, my goal is to "Be still and know that you are God."  bring me to my knees so that I can experience more and more of you!"