Anyone who knows me and/or has been reading my blog for a while knows that I love Steven Curtis Chapman, his music, and especially his heart for adoption. I, like so many other SCC fans, was brokenhearted over the tragic loss of his sweet China Princess Maria Sue. That is why I was SO anticipating the release of his new album. I knew it would be an outpouring of truth as SCC and his family worked through the grief.
Sweet hubs and silly girl
Last night was the first night our community group combined with another group for guys/girls night. We had the incredible blessing of being "paired" with Brandon Hays & Amy Imel's group. Not only was it extremely nice just to see the hearts of some more amazing women, it was just a great night of truth and challenges.
But one statement stuck with me more than anything else. Here's a quote from my lovely friend Leslie that has just pierced my heart today....
"We need to focus on the Cross-- the REALITY of the cross, not the "pretty" cross.
Think about that. I know I will be....
I. Am. Tired. This week is dragging on.
I love my students. They make me laugh. Smile. Want to pull my hair out. Stifle laughter when I really SHOULDNT let them know I think they're funny. Cry. Sad. Disappointed. Proud of their success. Have a better day. Have a worse day. Want to be a better person. See the good in the small things. See potential in the unlikely. Exhausted.
Parker pretty much cracks me up. She is an absolutely hilarious little girl. She had so much energy, joy, and zest for life. She makes me want to be a better person/mom/friend/etc. She is so smart and loving and sensitive. She's pretty much the best kid ever.
Community group tonight. I love them so much. They are an amazing group of people to walk through life with! And I'm super pumped because tonight is Cohen's first night at cgroup!! It's the first newborn baby for the LP group and I am thrilled!
I'm watching CSI and blogging from my iPhone. By the way, my iPhone doesn't have a name (like several people I know) but if it did... I think it would be Ellie. Ha. Gonna go do something more productive now.
I am a reader. I love, love books. But I'm more of a "fiction book" fan because I love a good STORY. But I'm about to read Crazy Love by Francis Chan. A little nervous. Slightly intimidated. Ready to be challenged. Anything that is subtitled "Overwhelmed By a Relentless God" is bound to instill a little... shall we say... holy hesitation? I'm already a bit overwhelmed after reading these lines in the Preface: "This book is... for those who don't want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do." and "Come with me on this journey. I don't promise it will be painless." YIKES. We'll see how this goes.
New pics of Parker posted on the family blog...
