Come and Worship

Thursday, December 25, 2008

My heart and mind have meditated on many thoughts this Christmas Season. I love everything about the "Christmas Season"...the food, the presents, the weather, the colors, the greenery...the music. Music connects me to the Father and can always shift my focus. Two songs this season have kept my heart humbled and my eyes lifted to the heavenlies. Today let us kneel and bow in worship to our King.

Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o'er the earth.
Ye who sang creations story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth.

Come and worship, come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ the newborn King.

Shepherds in the fields abiding
Watching o'er your flocks by night.
God with man is now residing
Under shines the infant light

Saints before the altar, bending,
Watching, longing, hope and fear.
Suddenly the Lord descending
in His temple shall appear.

One thing I have meditated on this Christmas season is the simple life that Jesus lived. He didn't come as a "royal" Child born to a King, He came to the humble family of a carpenter. He could have enjoyed all the earthly riches available and yet during His time on earth He lived a very simple life. We know there was intentionality in this because it reflects the fact that earthly treasures, no matter how wonderful are temporary, but heavenly treasures, the souls of men, are eternal. Jesus knew that there was nothing on this earth that could satisfy Him more than His relationship with the Father and that His time needed to be spent on eternal treasure not indulging in earthly temporary treasure. My heart has been stirred to discern where I need to simplify my life so that I can be more about the eternal and less indulgent in the temporary.

They never knew a dark night
always had the Son's light
on their face
Perfect in glory
Broken by the story
of untold grace...
come that day

Majesty had come down
Glory had succumed now
to flesh and bone
In the arms of a manger
In the hands of strangers
that could not know
Just who they hold

And the angels filled the sky
All of heaven wondered why
Why their King would choose to be
Be a baby born to die

And all fell silent
For the cry of an infant,
the voice of God
Was dividing history
For those with eyes to see,
the Son would shine
From earth that night

To break the chains
Of guilt and sin
To find us here
To pull us in
So we can join in Heaven's song
And with one voice around the throne

All the Angels filled the sky
And I can't help but wonder why
Why the King would choose to be
Be a baby born for me
Be a baby born to die

Risk

Sunday, December 14, 2008

I'm not a gambler. I like decisions that are safe, comfortable, predictable. Although I say and think I trust God, I like my life to be simple enough that I can handle it. Life is and has been good. There has been peace, provision, hope for whats to come, and a simple enjoyment of where we are in life...all risk free. A restlessness has begun to stir in my spirit...not in fear... because of a lack. A lack of risk.


In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade one "leap of faith" could lead to finding a great treasure and saving his father's life. He must risk his life though. Stepping off the cliff could save his father's life or end both of theirs.

The Lord has been showing me that although my life is good it could be great(not perfect)...but getting there involves risk. It involves risking everything and taking that first step off the cliff with no visible way to get across trusting that He is going to carry me every step of the way.


"The splendor of a human heart which trusts that it is loved gives God more pleasure than Westminster Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, the sight of ten thousand butterflies in flight, or the scent of a million orchids in bloom. Trust is our gift back to God. Unwavering trust is a rare and a precious thing." Brennan Manning, Ruthless Trust

He has brought this passage back to me, gently reminding me of the sweet aroma trust is to Him. He is showing me that sometimes risk is good...it builds our faith and strengthens our courage. I have to take that first step He won't push me. Sometimes He brings us to a place where we have everything to lose and only Him to gain more of. That is exactly where I feel...standing at the edge of the cliff...holding on to everything that keeps my life comfortable...but the minute I let go and walk out, the bridge will appear (cue indiana jones music) and we will walk across together.

Aunt Karen Part 1

Saturday, November 15, 2008

I love being an aunt! I love having the opportunity to invest in these precious children. I hope to be wise with this opportunity given to me and reflect Christ to them!

Aunt Karen Part 2

Caught!

Monday, November 3, 2008

When we go out of town we keep Bailey in the kitchen behind a baby gate. The last time we left he chewed a hole through his gate...so we bought a new one. I will just let the pictures tell the story of how we found him upon our return yesterday...


The sad thing is we don't know how long he was like this...but no worries we laughed a lot and clearly took pictures before we freed him. I'm guessing he probably learned his lesson

We Believe in Auburn and Love it!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Bryan and I carved our first pumpkin! WAR EAGLE!

Managing Life

Thursday, October 23, 2008

I know I haven't posted much of my thoughts lately. Life has been full and there is much my heart and mind are chewing on.

I am not by nature a disciplined person, I have never followed the same routine every morning (except for hitting snooze) or any day. I just go with the flow for each day. It is something I strive to improve in my life because I know I can't always do or not do based on my feelings. Recently as I read a friends blog, I began to think about the idea of being the "manager" of my home. I have never really looked at it from that perspective and as I thought about the Proverbs 31 woman, I realized that was exactally what she did. She organized and managed the household and provisions her husband provided. As I began praying through this and processing this we started a series at church on our finances and being good stewards of what God has given us. This past Sunday we discussed how each decision is a spritual decision and that we are not the owners of our things and money, we are simply the managers. So right now I am just praying through every part of my life and asking for God to show me how I can better manage each area, especially my time, money and my home.

Life in general is good for us. Fall is always full, especially this year with two of Bryan's brothers getting married. Admist the busyness though I am blessed and thankful to have so many wonderful people in my life that keep me busy.

Celebration!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Bryan's youngest brother was married this weekend. We had the honor and privilege of sharing in their special day. Courtney is a precious friend not only of the Isbell family, but also of mine. Matthew and Courtney...we are so excited for ya'll. You are both so special and such a blessing to us! We pray God's blessings over you and your union! Thank you for allowing us to stand beside you!

Fall Fun!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Last week we headed out to the Pumpkin Patch with Beth, Buck and Peyton to take Peyton's six month pictures and just enjoy the wonderful fall weather!

Suggestions Please

Friday, October 3, 2008

We are in the process... I more so than "we" of picking out a new kitchen table. There are two that I have found that I love. One is a little more formal and more like the actual dining room table I would like to have one day. The other is a little more "worn" and would always be a great kitchen table. The chairs are really where I need some good input. Sadly they are all the same price so that does not help. Share your thoughts...

The Carmichael Table: My favorite! 
The Farmhouse Table
The Farmhouse Chair

The Ladderback Chair: Bryan's pick

Curved Back Dining Chair (this also come in the white on the legs of the first table)...its my favorite but Bryan's least on the comfort level

I miss them...

Thursday, October 2, 2008

These boys bless me so much, and I miss them like crazy, get jealous when other people get to see them more...but love the smile on their face when I go to Alabama to see them!!!!

The countdown is on! We are leaving next Thursday night for Alabama for Matthew and Courtney's wedding...and I will get to see these precious boys!

Life List

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Grand Canyon
The Swiss Alps
Mt. Everest

Bryan and I have an unofficial life list. We have talked about the different things we want to do, but don't have an official list. So here it begins...look for updates as we check things off and add things. Here is our starter list:

1. Visit all 7 continents

2. Visit all 50 states

3. Skydive (Bryan)

4. Ski in the Swiss Alps

5. Stay at the Sound of Music House (Karen)

6. Learn a different language (other than Spanish)

7. Back-pack in Europe

8. 7 wonders of the world

9. Go to base-camp of Mt. Everest

10. Stay in a 5-star luxury hotel

11. Visit all the US National Parks

12. Go to the Masters

13. Have something published

14. Make our own signature wine

15. Drive and Astin-Martin

Dreaming

Thursday, September 18, 2008

This is where my brain has been all day. Today was my first day of being "checked out". We are closing out our 6th week of school so I think I've hung in there pretty good. While my brain was not fully engaged with my students it was fully engaged in dreaming. Dreaming is renewing for me. I have always been a dreamer. I love to know other peoples dreams and help them dream. While I do love to dream, and I dream big sometimes, I hold my dreams loosely and let them rest in the hands of my Savior, knowing He can dream far bigger dreams that I could imagine. However, it was nice today to take a break mentally and renew myself. I will be a much better teacher tomorrow for it ( i guess next time I should plan it for a Saturday).

Change for the better

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Well there has been some discussion for the past week that Bryan might be moved to a different school due to enrollment numbers. We were ok with this seeing that any other school would be closer than where he is now.

Finally today, after roughly 11 months of driving a stifling round-trip 110-120 miles/day for at least an hour and half each way, the assignment was changed. Starting Monday, Bryan will be at Norcross High School which is 7 miles from my school. Total we will cut 40 miles off our commute, saving gas and time. His school hours are also different which will allow us to arrive home at least an hour earlier than we have been! Needless to say our drive could always get shorter but for the remainder of this school year we will at least be able to get home earlier and save a little bit of money.

Wedding Vow Renewal Service

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Today at church we finished up our Wedding Project Series with a Wedding Vow Renewal Service. At first Bryan and I were a little hesitant thinking that vow renewing was for people who had been married a long time. However, as Shawn spoke this morning I realized that it was simply an opportunity to say "I'm still in it, I'm just as committed today as I was .... years ago". So we decided to go ahead and do it. Bryan loved every minute of it, and while I enjoyed the personal significance part I laughed, turned bright red, and hated that people were watching us. (At least he was on stage playing in the band during the kiss part or I would have been BRIGHT red!!). During the series we have talked about 5 decisions its important that we make:
1. To Believe (the best about each other and the best about the marriage)
2. To Leave and Cleave (why this the way God designed it)
3. To Love (Ultimately demonstrating Christ love by loving each other the way Christ loves us)
4. To Submit (Choosing what is best for the marriage and again reflecting Christ)
5. To Renew (To renew and remember our commitment to each other and God)Although we weren't all dressed up it was so good to reaffirm to one another our commitment to each other and to our marriage especially after 2 years of "rich or poor, sickness and health" etc. I feel blessed to have such a wonderful husband who has always loved me like Christ does and is quick to forgive and extend grace. However, I love knowing that it can be even better than it already is!

House Fun!

Monday, September 1, 2008

We have been finally (a year after moving in) doing some painting and decorating. We also found a beautiful antique piece for a steal! Here are some pictures of our progress. None of the rooms are completely finished but i have expensive taste and found curtains that will break the bank. More will come as I finish each room!

We paid $40 for this antique dresser and bought some new, matching knobs and stained them and fixed the stain in some rough spot.





This is our first kitchen color...it was a little too bright for my taste. So we repainted it today along with the loft. Our friends Beth, Buck and Peyton graciously spent part of their labor day helping us paint! I still have a faux finish to do in the kitchen but I am no longer blinded by the walls until its all finished.

Picture 1 is the final finish and picture 2 was the first color (they got out of order and i can't figure out how to change it)

34 Weeks

Monday, August 25, 2008

Well the school year is off to a good start...and with two weeks down and only 34 left to go =) not that we are counting.



I love my class they are a precious bunch of kids and we are already seeing some good progress! I am completely amazed at my station in life by how much joy I am gaining from this experience and how much peace I have about it right now. Making such a long drive everyday is so much easier when you have the peace of God surrounding your heart. I continue to be overwhelmed and amazed as Bryan and I just passed our one year mark of living here in GA. God has been so good to us this past year in blessing us with wonderful friends, church, community, and jobs! Thank you all for your continued prayers and support it is so vital for us and does not go unappreciated!

back to school, back to school...

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Karen and I both are back to school for preplanning this week. i am so not out of my summer mode. it will probably take me 3 weeks to get back into a routine. boooo.

Working 9-5

Saturday, July 26, 2008

It's official...this is my last Saturday of summer. Monday I start back to school (yes, a little earlier than everyone else) for new teacher orientation. I'm glad though because I will have two full weeks to work in my room; and since I feel completely clueless about this job hopefully those two weeks will bring me up too speed. July has been a full month for us so I apologize for the lack of posting. I went to AL for a 10 day visit which also included a trip to the beach with the girls. Our first summer has been a wonderful success. We have both relaxed, slept, played, and worked (but not too much). I am glad to be getting back into a routine as I tend to function very well on routine. Crazy...I'm a teacher (who would have thought!)

4th of July

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Bryan and I headed up to Helen, GA (quite spontaneously) on the morning of the 4th and went tubing on the Chattahoochee river. It is obviously a very popular outing on the 4th since there were TONS of people there! But it was still fun. We met up with David, Farah, the boys, and Farah's mom and step-dad; grabbed some dinner and walked around a little while. It was our first visit to Helen and though, it felt more like a game day with all the tailgater's, we were quite impressed and look forward to visiting again when its a little less crowded. We hope everyone else had a great 4th as well (pictures to come but we took them with a water camera so they have to be developed the old fashioned way).

30 Minutes to Amaze Yourself

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

I am officially an employee of Curves for Women again. I started yesterday and am going to be working through the end of the summer and maybe 5 hours a week during the school year. Its been fun to be back in the Curves environment interacting with the women and helping them care for their bodies. I'm also excited because it will give me the opportunity to build more relationships in the area.

Swimsuits and Authenticity

Saturday, June 28, 2008

I, as many of you, have spent the last several months preparing for summer...the dreaded swimsuit season. Staring at my reflection, picking a part my "flaws", so that I knew just what to work on so that when I revealed myself half naked I would be accepted.

Before attending a co-ed event at the lake my senior year of college I was having major insecurity since two of the girls attending had just finished competing in Miss Alabama the week before. Bryan asked me why I was so worried and the truth that left my lips surprised even me. I told him it was because I was being vulnerable with myself in front of a lot of people I didn't know.

I can cover my body and wear the right clothes to make certain areas look smaller, bigger, flatter, etc. I can disguise my body with clothes and make my reflection acceptable. However, stepping into that swimsuit means that everything I have covered up all year is now out in the open. I can't hide any longer, I must reveal to people what my body truly looks like.

Community/Authenticity is just like this. We try to cover our true selves up, our flaws, sins, things that might bring criticism, by not being authentic. We don't want to be naked for fear of being rejected.

However, as this summer has approached and settled in I have been daily reminded of the freedom that comes with vulnerability/authenticity. I am still loved and accepted by friends and family no matter how much my body has changed or looks in a swimsuit; just as I am accepted by those some friends and family when I am willing to be spiritually naked with them.

My figure isn't perfect and neither am I; but the freedom that comes from being naked with those close to me is far more valuable than

Summer of Tests

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Well it appears I am going to have to take and pass one more test before I can be fully ready to take the teaching position next year! I thought this summer was going to be a break from school, but its back to the books for me. I am still waiting on my scores from the first test...they should be here in about two weeks. Any prayers for divine intervention during the scoring would be welcomed =). I don't feel great about certain parts! Well I guess I should go enjoy the rest of my day before I have to start studying again next week.

Friday the 13th

Saturday, June 14, 2008

For the second time in my life, it happened again. My birthday was yesterday, Friday the 13th.

Growing up my mom and family always made birthdays really special. As I have gotten older, I still enjoy them, but i'm not real big on the celebration. Mind you, I still love me some birthday cake/dessert and any gifts wanted to be given =) Giving gifts is definitely one of my love languages, however its not my primary way to receive love. I did not receive one gift yesterday(in a box, etc.) and it was a birthday that I will not soon forget.

Yesterday I received a lot of quality time(my primary receiving love language), the best gift anyone could give me.

Two of my dearest friends started my birthday morning off with a wonderful breakfast at Chick-fil-A and then we went and walked around some new houses we had wanted to see for awhile!

Bryan cleaned the house for me and then rescued me from studying to take me to lunch and let me window shop at the outlet(his favorite thing to do of course)

We headed over to Beth and Buck's for our first summer swim and grilled out with David and Farah and the boys. Beth made me a special birthday dessert that was to die for! And my friends were nice enough to take it easy on me and let me take them down on Wii Boxing(ok maybe they didn't go easy on me, i'm just that good)

My parents and brother are coming to visit tomorrow and two other friends are hopefully coming next weekend!!

Thanks everyone it was a great Friday the 13th Birthday!

Spring

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Vacation...

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Jacuzzi tub
Paying the "regular" price for a suite with a fireplace
Jacuzzi tub
Local restaurants
Jacuzzi tub
Beautiful mountain views
Jacuzzi tub
Waterfalls
Jacuzzi tub
Hole-in the wall bbq place
Jacuzzi tub

Spending time with my husband

Highlands, NC

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Scenic overlook on the drive up











Whiteside mountain. This was on our little adventure to find food Sunday night.










Scenic overlook on our way back from eating the best bbq










Glenn Falls

















Bridal Veil Falls