Drum-roll, Please....

It's finished! (Well... sort-of... a couple minor touch-ups remain, but this is what it truly will look like.)

Dad's room is done also. I'll post pictures later, it's not quite as exciting as the pool, though.

; )

So when are you coming over?!

Summer Sunshine

My Brother-in-Law

Please pray for my brother-in-law, Stuart. Last night Stuart had a heart attack. Thankfully he is doing well, but I can't help but grieve for this precious man's health. Stuart is one of the most fun-loving men in our family. My kids love him, and rightfully so. We all do. Married to John's sister with two grown sons, I'm sure they all need your prayers.
This definitely comes under the "Life is Hard" category, and we appreciate your prayers.

*Update: Stuart received four shunts in his heart, but thankfully did not need any bi-pass surgery. He's recovering well. Thanks for your prayers!

Heaven Bound...

"Christians often want to die when they have any trouble. Ask them why, and they tell you, "because we would be with the Lord." We fear it is not so much because they are longing to be with the Lord as because they desire to get rid of their troubles." -C.H. Spurgeon

No, I'm not depressed (or suicidal!). We are not going through any MAJOR trials right now, but I definitely can relate to this quote by my favorite dead guy.
I remember especially feeling this way after my Mother passed away. I came to the stark realization that Life is Hard. Losing people you love the most will do that to you. When I am faced with difficult situations: mortifying sin, dying to myself, watching loved ones struggle, seeing the results of this fallen world... I cannot help but look forward to heaven. Can anyone relate?
I'm challenged by this reminder to take a deeper look at my motives.
Lord, help us to love you more!

Lauren's Shenanigans

Upon returning
home from the
gym this afternoon, John informed me Lauren had learned
a new trick.
Like The Gibson Crew, we are in the process of potty-training.
Every time Lauren goes "potty" she
gets a couple M&Ms. Lauren likes M&Ms.
A lot.
Apparently, while I was out today, Lauren got a cup of water, poured it in her potty and exclaimed, "I did it, Daddy! I get treat!"

July Fourth

Thanks to my wonderful sister, Kathleen, we were able to spend an extended weekend at Ocean Isle Beach while she took care of my Dad. Maggie was able to join us as well, a delight as usual.

A Quest for More

I've been reading a fabulously challenging book by Paul David Tripp. Here's an excerpt:

"We are all capable of fighting for what has little value while forgetting things of transcendent value.
In a flash of irritation, a mom will treat the condition of her son's bedroom as being more valuable than the community she is to have with her son, which is so essential to what God wants to do for this boy through her. After months of frustration, a believer will get into a heated argument over garden boundaries with his neighbor, forgetting how much more important it is to be salt and light in the man's life than how many flowers were planted over the property line. For a moment, a man will get more of a sense of well-being from the look and smell of his brand new car than he does from the condition of his heart. For a season, the affection and appreciation of another human being will become more functionally important to us than the gracious, forgiving, and adopting love of our heavenly Father. For a moment, a succulent steak becomes more important to us than a soul that has been satisfied by the Living Bread. In the flash of one look, the beauty and shape of a woman's body can become more important than the long-term marital community and a heart that is pure. And in a car on a given night, being right in the eyes of your spouse can become more important than living right before your Lord."

Wow. We live in a much smaller world than what God created us for, a world centered around ourselves. I'm so convicted.

Wordless Wednesday

Katie and the World Race

Please pray for my beautiful niece as she follows Jesus around the world. Katie has joined The World Race, a missions opportunity traveling through eleven countries in eleven months. Never heard of it? Watch this:




When asked why she wanted to go on the World Race, Katie replied,

I'm going around the world in 11 months, because...

I believe in love.

Call me a romantic, call me an idealist, call me naive...but it's the truth. I believe in the love of God and His Son Jesus Christ, because it is a love has changed my heart forever. I'm indelibly marked with the love that put Jesus on the cross. Like skin tattooed, my heart is stained with the love of Christ. I cannot get rid of it--nor do I want to--and nothing I will ever do can separate me from it. The love of Jesus washes over me when I seek His face, and I am drowned in the glory of it...but rather than earthly drowning, which is a nightmare, this drowning is a welcome overpowering of my life; this love is eclipsing my humanity and my sinfulness, creating a new Spirit where once the death of sin reigned, and calling me ever deeper into the presence of my Creator.

Oh yes, I believe in love. And because I've seen the power of the love of Jesus in my own life, I believe Jesus just wants me to show others that love.

Katie is still raising support for this trip. If you are interested in joining her support team, go here. Also, you can follow her adventures through her blog at: http://katierowland.theworldrace.org/.