(go the bottom of post, play YouTube video, and scan back to the top to read/absorb the lyrics)
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us, oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us, oh (repeat from top)
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
And oh, how He loves us, oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us, oh
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
heading for shore!
it was 113 degrees at my house earlier this week. the kids and i had been cooped up indoors for 5 days, and were on each others last heat-induced-cranky-nerve when the local weatherman spoke of cooling temperatures over the next few days. he promised "that the weather would drop, and instead of 113, temps would be down to 106."
Dear Mr. Weatherman, 106 is NOT COOLER WEATHER!
we all know that as mommies we wear many hats. we are the resident cook, nurse, taxi, maid, teacher, seamstress, personal shopper, referee, etc.... well somehow i have also become the resident cruise director. i know my kids would be very happy if i began posting a weekly activities calendar. it's too bad for them (yet good for me) that i only post a weekly chore chart!
so monday, after 5 blazing HOT days cooped up inside with ms." i'm bored," ms. "i have nothing to do," and "mr. can i play wii" (for the 500,000 time), i was turning into,well, mrs. "don't mess with me." at some point mid afternoon i disappeared to mr. computer for a little company from the outside world. here i read my old friend jeff's facebook profile update stating that that he and his family were at sunset beach camping. i f.b. commented that i was "sorry to not be there" (they had invited us to join them sometime ago). at that moment good friends, 70 degree temps, and the beach sounded very appealing.
i returned to the real world, and to my job as cruise director, where i persuaded (forced) my unhappy kids to join me in a game of scrabble. somewhere between the words "felt" and "star," between the arguing and tears (5 days cooped up is not a good thing people), the phone rang... it was jeff, with the most beautiful words ever spoken to a mommy nearing insanity, "it's not too late for you to come and join us."
the questions of "could we go" and "should we go" quickly turned into "we have to go!"
so this cruise director instructed her cabin mates to pack up because we were
heading for shore!!
we enjoyed 24+ hours at Sunset Beach, 70 degree temps, and gracious friends. we topped it off with an evening at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!
what a treat it was to discover that on mon. and tues. evenings santa cruz beach boardwalk returns to 1907 by cutting the cost of treats such as soda, hot dogs, and cotton candy to just 75 cents. to top it off each ride is the cost of one 1.00 ticket! noah and emilie were THRILLED to discover our spontaneous adventure to the beach included a ride on the 6th oldest roller coaster in the u.s., the 85 year old giant dipper!
thank you "jeff n' kelly hayes" (f.b. name) for rescuing us from the pit of heat despair!
we are BLESSED to have you as friends.
How are you staying cool and sane this summer?
you can pre-order the book The Church of Facebook ,written by Jesse Rice (another old friend) here.
Dear Mr. Weatherman, 106 is NOT COOLER WEATHER!
we all know that as mommies we wear many hats. we are the resident cook, nurse, taxi, maid, teacher, seamstress, personal shopper, referee, etc.... well somehow i have also become the resident cruise director. i know my kids would be very happy if i began posting a weekly activities calendar. it's too bad for them (yet good for me) that i only post a weekly chore chart!
so monday, after 5 blazing HOT days cooped up inside with ms." i'm bored," ms. "i have nothing to do," and "mr. can i play wii" (for the 500,000 time), i was turning into,well, mrs. "don't mess with me." at some point mid afternoon i disappeared to mr. computer for a little company from the outside world. here i read my old friend jeff's facebook profile update stating that that he and his family were at sunset beach camping. i f.b. commented that i was "sorry to not be there" (they had invited us to join them sometime ago). at that moment good friends, 70 degree temps, and the beach sounded very appealing.
i returned to the real world, and to my job as cruise director, where i persuaded (forced) my unhappy kids to join me in a game of scrabble. somewhere between the words "felt" and "star," between the arguing and tears (5 days cooped up is not a good thing people), the phone rang... it was jeff, with the most beautiful words ever spoken to a mommy nearing insanity, "it's not too late for you to come and join us."
the questions of "could we go" and "should we go" quickly turned into "we have to go!"
so this cruise director instructed her cabin mates to pack up because we were
heading for shore!!
we enjoyed 24+ hours at Sunset Beach, 70 degree temps, and gracious friends. we topped it off with an evening at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!
what a treat it was to discover that on mon. and tues. evenings santa cruz beach boardwalk returns to 1907 by cutting the cost of treats such as soda, hot dogs, and cotton candy to just 75 cents. to top it off each ride is the cost of one 1.00 ticket! noah and emilie were THRILLED to discover our spontaneous adventure to the beach included a ride on the 6th oldest roller coaster in the u.s., the 85 year old giant dipper!
thank you "jeff n' kelly hayes" (f.b. name) for rescuing us from the pit of heat despair!we are BLESSED to have you as friends.
How are you staying cool and sane this summer?
you can pre-order the book The Church of Facebook ,written by Jesse Rice (another old friend) here.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
No one deserves our love more
"Why Should God be loved? I answer the reason for loving God is God himself. And why should God be loved for his own sake? Simply because no one could be more justly loved than God. No one deserves our love more than God. Some may question if God deserves our love or if they might have something to gain by loving him. The answer to both questions is yes, but i find no other worthy reason for loving God except for himself."
"The first and greatest commandment is "thou shalt love the Lord thy God." but human nature is weak and therefore compelled to love itself and serve itself first."
by Bernard of Clairvaux
On the Love of God
when i entered this Christian life i knew that God loved me. as a child God pursued me, and tucked the truth of his love for me into my heart. he pursued me through his people- through a woman named "aunt wanda" who'd pick me up for sunday school, through neighbors that took me to vbs, and through many others. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "the truth that has been revealed to you will not be taken from you or your childrens' children." and so i couldn't get away from the simple truth of the scriptures and songs i had heard as a child. they played on the turntable of my childhood memory, whispering to me again and again "Jesus Loves me this i know."
however i haven't always loved God. i loved myself. i loved myself in that i served, protected, provided, and was out for my own gain first.
and i knew i didn't love God. i knew i needed to, not for God but for me. He loved me, and in order for our relationship to be full i needed to love him.
but i didn't.
and i wanted to.
and so our divine romance began with these honest words, "God i don't love you, but i want to... i want to love you."
i don't know of any prayer that has impacted my life more. God has romanced me, and i have fallen head over heels. and not just once, but countless times!!! and he has romanced me with himself. not with temporary things, prayers answered, or a comfortable life... it is with HIM.
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as longs as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands, My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
Psalm 63:3-5
Have you fallen head over heels in love with God?
"The first and greatest commandment is "thou shalt love the Lord thy God." but human nature is weak and therefore compelled to love itself and serve itself first."
by Bernard of Clairvaux
On the Love of God
when i entered this Christian life i knew that God loved me. as a child God pursued me, and tucked the truth of his love for me into my heart. he pursued me through his people- through a woman named "aunt wanda" who'd pick me up for sunday school, through neighbors that took me to vbs, and through many others. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "the truth that has been revealed to you will not be taken from you or your childrens' children." and so i couldn't get away from the simple truth of the scriptures and songs i had heard as a child. they played on the turntable of my childhood memory, whispering to me again and again "Jesus Loves me this i know."
however i haven't always loved God. i loved myself. i loved myself in that i served, protected, provided, and was out for my own gain first.
and i knew i didn't love God. i knew i needed to, not for God but for me. He loved me, and in order for our relationship to be full i needed to love him.
but i didn't.
and i wanted to.
and so our divine romance began with these honest words, "God i don't love you, but i want to... i want to love you."
i don't know of any prayer that has impacted my life more. God has romanced me, and i have fallen head over heels. and not just once, but countless times!!! and he has romanced me with himself. not with temporary things, prayers answered, or a comfortable life... it is with HIM.
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as longs as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands, My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
Psalm 63:3-5
Have you fallen head over heels in love with God?
Friday, July 17, 2009
We're Going On A Bear Hunt
Emilie's 10th b-day was a blast!
She enjoyed a slumber party with 3 friends- which included lots of giggles, dress up, American girl play, games, pizza, and a "Bear Hunt."
The "Bear Hunt" was really a scavenger type riddle hunt. I created clues or directions for the girls to follow, and then taxied them all over our little town to their riddle's destination. Once there they posed for pictures, had an activity, and were given the next riddle.
It watches the lights change to red, yellow, or green,
There is nothing in Oakhurst it’s eyes haven’t seen.
It talks and it snarls to men from England named Charles,
While posing quiet well for a photo with Marie from Portugal.
It’s relatives are known to hibernate in winter,
Yet this one resides at our towns center.
Too much candy will make them rotten
Too much soda will cause decay
Too much sugar will keep him drilling
Not enough brushing and he’ll give you a filling
He’s good friends with a fairy who visits in the night
To leave you a dollar in exchange for a treasure that bites
Visit him twice yearly to keep them pearly white
Or when your 82 they will soak by your bedside at night.
Wash, rinse, comb, trim
Curl, dry, set
Brush, spray, layer, perm
Black, blond, brunet
This place is “COOL”
And will quench your thirst
With beverages made just right
Warm, steamed, blended, or iced
Drizzled with caramel, what a tasty sight
Choose hazelnut, chocolate, or irish cream
It’s yummyness in a cup...
Know what i mean jelly “BEAN?”
The next part of the fun had the girls following direction.
They went to a local super market, here they were instructed to buy just 1 item each from a bin. The item had to begin with an initial from their name. They were relieved when the candy bins supplied their need. They were pleased at the check out counter when their items were 6 cents and under (one item was free because it was unweighable).
Their next and final mission was to find a specific employee. Once found she instructed them to go to the bakery, purchase plain cupcakes, and to race to the baked goods isle to get 1 topping each to decorate their cupcakes. They had just 3 minuets. Ready, Set, Go! 
We topped the fun off by decorating and devouring our cupcakes together, and singing one more hApPy BiRtHdAy to Emilie!!
Special thanks goes out to my friend julie for her creative help. Thank you also to all the businesses that participated. We live in a GREAT community!
She enjoyed a slumber party with 3 friends- which included lots of giggles, dress up, American girl play, games, pizza, and a "Bear Hunt."
The "Bear Hunt" was really a scavenger type riddle hunt. I created clues or directions for the girls to follow, and then taxied them all over our little town to their riddle's destination. Once there they posed for pictures, had an activity, and were given the next riddle.
It watches the lights change to red, yellow, or green,
There is nothing in Oakhurst it’s eyes haven’t seen.
It talks and it snarls to men from England named Charles,
While posing quiet well for a photo with Marie from Portugal.
It’s relatives are known to hibernate in winter,
Yet this one resides at our towns center.
Too much candy will make them rottenToo much soda will cause decay
Too much sugar will keep him drilling
Not enough brushing and he’ll give you a filling
He’s good friends with a fairy who visits in the night
To leave you a dollar in exchange for a treasure that bites
Visit him twice yearly to keep them pearly white
Or when your 82 they will soak by your bedside at night.
Wash, rinse, comb, trimCurl, dry, set
Brush, spray, layer, perm
Black, blond, brunet
This place is “COOL”And will quench your thirst
With beverages made just right
Warm, steamed, blended, or iced
Drizzled with caramel, what a tasty sight
Choose hazelnut, chocolate, or irish cream
It’s yummyness in a cup...
Know what i mean jelly “BEAN?”
The next part of the fun had the girls following direction. They went to a local super market, here they were instructed to buy just 1 item each from a bin. The item had to begin with an initial from their name. They were relieved when the candy bins supplied their need. They were pleased at the check out counter when their items were 6 cents and under (one item was free because it was unweighable).
Their next and final mission was to find a specific employee. Once found she instructed them to go to the bakery, purchase plain cupcakes, and to race to the baked goods isle to get 1 topping each to decorate their cupcakes. They had just 3 minuets. Ready, Set, Go! 
We topped the fun off by decorating and devouring our cupcakes together, and singing one more hApPy BiRtHdAy to Emilie!!Special thanks goes out to my friend julie for her creative help. Thank you also to all the businesses that participated. We live in a GREAT community!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
i'm in the middle of a girl's slumber party.
this photo was taken before my house was taken over by 9 and 10yr old girls.
and this is after...
and guess what mrs. o.c.d. is okay with the cushions, blankets, and pillows spilling into every room. i'm okay with syrup and powdered sugar on the kitchen floor. i'm not freaking out at all that dress up clothes, and american girl dolls are hanging out with puzzle pieces and pet shop toys.
i'm fine with it because my girl is VERY HAPPY!
this photo was taken before my house was taken over by 9 and 10yr old girls.
and this is after...
and guess what mrs. o.c.d. is okay with the cushions, blankets, and pillows spilling into every room. i'm okay with syrup and powdered sugar on the kitchen floor. i'm not freaking out at all that dress up clothes, and american girl dolls are hanging out with puzzle pieces and pet shop toys.
i'm fine with it because my girl is VERY HAPPY!
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