Cardboard Stories

I just watched this and I think you should too... I'm thinking of what my cardboard story would be. Maybe the challeng could be to do this within your community:

http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies

I have to..

I have to blog about this....I've been thinking about my community group for a while now and how much my life has changed with them around. For me this also includes 2 girls here at the office. I think I have wanted to write about it b/c I am eternally grateful for all of them. Our pastor talks about Community a lot and happened to this weekend as well. He often talks about when we get to Heaven the Lord might ask who all we accounted for a long the way....It is difficult at times being in community. Here that means all things are on the table- ALL things! Decisions that are made are passed through community, fights are pushed through community and good/bad times as well. We (meaning WM) really push for people to be living in community which is a small group of people tightly knit around you. They know you, your spouse, your marriage intimately-good luck hiding stuff! This is the way it works if everyone is willing, if everyone is trustworthy, loving, understanding and walks beside you in a biblical way. Most communities don't really let you get away with anything that isn't edifying or biblically sound. This doesn't mean we are boring at all or perfect AT ALL we just try to live life together. I think this really is foreign to a lot of people and they are truly missing out on one of the greatests gifts in life.

I have to tell you that last night we had fondue with our group and we all wrote on cards our answered prayers and prayer requests for next year. I knew as soon as it was announced (actually thought about it before we even went) I would have to fight the sadness, I would have to and want to search my heart for the prayers that WERE answered and not focus on the one that hasn't been yet. This past week I have prayed that I would be strong in the Lord, courageous in the Lord and joyful in the Lord- He is faithful and reminded me of the answered prayers. You know what else....several people in our group put the Shipley family addition on their prayer card for next year. I couldn't believe it. Truly, I couldn't- I would have never guessed they would be thinking of the same thing I was and would think to put it on their card for the following year. Why would I be surprised? I am amazed....at the people who the Lord has placed in our life at this very time. He brought us to WM, he put this group together (trust me, only He did), He is faithful and I am so blessed.
I can't wait to wade through more waters with all of them...I love them dearly.

bragging and bensters

I have to brag for a second. If you live around here you know our house has not been decorated for Christmas yet. I've been putting it off! 1) b/c I am lazy 2) crazy brain. Okay so yesterday Blake had the day off and when I came home this is what I found! Now, you can't tell in the picture but it is PERFECT! Every ornament is perfectly placed and it is beautiful. I think he will be in charge from now on. The house was also spotlessly cleaned with our stockings hung up and a wreath outside. I told you guys my husband was an amazing servant and he keeps proving me right. Here is a pic:

And another fun pic. This is how we often find Bentley now that I've thrown their beds out.....I was wrong to do so, I think I have to go buy a new one! She will NOT go to sleep unless she can find a pillow. These pillows were perfectly stacked before- Point proved:

Tagged...you're it

I was tagged....Here we go I'm also changing this to 5 things b/c 7 is way to many!!

5 Things I want to do before I die...

1.become a mom

2.go back to capri

3. go to several fabulous beaches

4. buy an old house to live in forever  and fix it up with my hubbs

5. see my children come to know Christ

5 Things I can do...

1. clean with the best of em'

2. shop

3. run but choose not to :)

4. be creative/crafty

5. throw great baby showers! ha....

5 things I can not do...

1. speak in front of large crowds

2. speak a second language

3. athletics :)

4. paint (although I'm trying to teach myself)

5. ski

5 things that attract me to my hubby

1. His character (servant)

2. His goofiness

3. His intuition

4. His eyes, smile, hands, chest, (whole package)

5.  His passions

5 things I say Most Often

1. brrr rabbit

2. doneskee

3. yeppers

4. ovulation, eggs, doctor, hormones

5. love you

5 Celebrity Crushes

1. Seth Cohen aka Adam Brody

2. Brett Favre

3. McDreamy

4. Brad Pitt (why not)

5. Bend it like Beckham

5 Peeps I'm tagging

1. Sara

2. Katie

3. V

4. Lindsey

5. Aleks :)

What I know today

Here is what I have read over and over again lately. Not particulary b/c I choose to read/hear this over and over again but because this is where the Lord has me for right now. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."-Psalm 27 (and surrounding passages). Here's the deal, there are days that I do not know how to do this any better than I am. I can not put another foot in front of the other, I raise the white flag, I surrender! I hate reading it and get angry.... I heard someone say this morning "there are no mistakes in the Kingdom"... I am at a good place today but as soon as I heard it I thought "really Lord, no mistakes huh?" So where does that leave me...it leaves me to Wait upon Him, to be strong and courageous and see what the end result will be. I know, I know that He does not make mistakes. The thing that brings me joy is to hope in what is to come, His plan, His answer. To know that someday we will know and there will be SOO many people who have prayed and pleaded on our behalf and thanks will be given to the Lord. So I am supposed to wait, not just one day, not a year but to wake up every day and ask what the Lord has for me that day and learn to be strong in Him. A lot of the times it hits me that everyone has their "something" that they have to continually turn over to the Lord. It's so hard isn't it? So I will put one foot in front of the other and continue to surrender until I can sing the following Psalm:
Psalm 30: Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help." 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.... I can't wait!