Excited to Serve

I've been convicted that we need to use our big empty house to serve others with hospitality. (It's more empty than big ;-) So we're having visitors tonight. A sleepover with three adorable little kiddos so that our friends can have a night out for their anniversary.

I'm exhausted from the week behind me and overwhelmed looking at the week before me. But I'm thrilled to be able to serve our friends tonight and love on their little ones.

Finding Freedom

I love the idea of journaling. I love the idea of being able to open one of those old notebooks and relive years of my life gone by. I love the idea of being able to look back on what the Lord has brought me through, how he's answered prayers and shown himself faithful.

But there's something about a new journal that intimidates me. Much like this blogging business intimidates me. There are so many pages, and I'm supposed to fill them all? With what? What if I write the wrong thing, what if I feel stupid when I read it later in life, what if my hand writing is too sloppy? Should I date each page? Is it important to record the time of day? Should I sign off in a certain way?

I have too many expectations of what a journal is supposed to be. As I was looking through my old ones, I noticed most of them started with intention. They started with a page of what this journal was going to be about. I started multiple journals in which I was going to keep a record of just the highlight of each day; I started one journal just before starting college with hopes of recording that part of my life; I started prayer journals; I always started with expectations.

That's how I've accumulated a pile of blank pages; a pile of mostly empty journals. With too many expectations of what a journal is supposed to be and not enough freedom to just be.

But freedom comes packaged with grace, tucked inside with the newspaper and bubble wrap. I just need to take the freedom out of the box and put it to good use.

Sissy's Graduation

My little sissy graduated from college this past Saturday. It was a day filled with great memories and lots of proud moments. My hubby graduated from the same university three years ago, I graduated from there four years ago, and my parents graduated as Spartans 35 years ago. It was fun to remember our days on the banks of the Red Cedar and to celebrate my sister joining the fold of MSU alumni. She'll tell you that she's always lived in my shadow, but as she graduated with high honors, a job lined up, and a bright smile ready to be shared with the world, she's shining so brightly nothing could overshadow her. And I could not be more proud.

We didn't always have a good relationship. We fought often when we were young. Over toys, who got to sit in the front seat, who got to play on the computer, eventually clothes, but thankfully never boys. I pulled her hair and bossed her around. I showed her sinfulness at its worst. And over time she's shown me forgiveness. Now I call her not only my sissy, but my best friend.

And that's GRACE.

More Questions than Answers

I have more questions than answers.

What am I going to write about? Will anybody read what I write? Does it matter if anyone reads it or not?

One thing I know is that GRACE is something I can't live without and it's something that I want to share.