Friday, September 25, 2009

Baseball Forever

Recently my dearly beloved husband celebrated a birthday.  In case anyone was wondering he turned 21… again.  Don’t worry honey I wouldn’t sell you out.  And yes, in case anyone was wondering, I did rob the cradle. 

To celebrate my hot younger husband, I bought him tickets to the Cardinals / Cubs game.  He went with Evan (our son), his dad & brother & his son, Jett. 

The ballgame was quite an experience for the two young boys.  Jett has been to baseball games, but this was a first for Evan.  (I was praying that he wouldn’t drive the guys crazy before the game was over). 

After driving six hours, watching batting practice, and all the pregame festivities this little man fell asleep during the first inning and slept throughout the entire game.

Jett sleeping

And then there was Evan… my little energizer bunny.  He was bouncing off the rails, literally.  He had numerous root beers and ice cream.  The little boy was in HEAVEN.  I think that Corey created a lifetime baseball fan. 

Evan

If anything baseball crosses Evan’s line of sight, a huge perma-grin grows across his face.

 
 

 

Monday, September 21, 2009

Welcome to SCA

SCA? What the heck is SCA?  You mean you DON’T know.  Just Kidding. ( I had an extra shot of espresso today.  Please excuse all “smart-butt” comments).

Let’s begin with a bit of background.  Way back in the day when I began this blog (last November), I stated in my profile that I was a Christian.  That’s true.  I am.  I believe in God.  I love God.  I so bad want to be the woman that He designed me to be.  However, my free will gets in the way.  Why in the heck did He give us free will?  Ugh!  I can totally hear Him up there belly laughing and answering my question.  He wants to be loved.  He wants us to WANT to spend time with Him.  He WANTS us to desire to do the right thing. 

I get it.  I do.  Who wants to be in a relationship when they feel like they are making that person spend time with them.  Who wants to go on a date with someone to only watch the person spend the entire night playing on their phone throughout the entire date.  (Seriously, be considerate!  Not that I know anyone that does this… I’m a people watcher & I see it happen).  Recently I went out to eat with Lauren and witnessed a guy spend most of a date on his phone.  Which brings me back to the title.

SCA is Struggling Christians Anonymous and I am a member.  Like I said before I am a Christian, but I am also human.  As I watched this scenario unfold the last time I went out to eat, I couldn’t help but think of 1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy (jealousy)…

And I couldn’t help but wonder… because it was obvious that this girl was jealous of a cell phone.  Yes, jealous of a cell phone.  All she wanted was some of her boyfriend’s attention (I didn’t see wedding rings).  So as I observed this couple and thought of this verse I wondered how often Corey & I have been here.

We both enjoy our phones.  He loves all the sports apps and I like to read blogs.  I wonder how often he was upset that I was giving my phone undivided attention and he was hurt and I know that I’ve felt that way.  I realized that jealousy comes in all shapes and sizes.  There are many things that can get in the way of people interacting and truly relating to one another and touching each other’s hearts.  Jealousy (or envy) isn’t always about being jealous of your significant other giving their kindness to another person of the opposite sex but just giving positive attention to anything or anyone.  When someone doesn’t feel loved, or they feel ignored, belittled, demeaned, or disrespected it doesn’t take much for them to get upset about their significant’s positive attention going elsewhere.

However, I know from experience that usually those that are in a good relationship rarely feel jealous, because they are secure in their relationship.  They know that they are loved above all else (Except God, hopefully)…  they feel respected, they feel enjoyed, they feel cherished, they feel pursued. 

Wait!  Isn’t that the kind of relati0nship that God wants from us?  For us to WANT Him…  For us to WANT to know Him better…  For us to read want He has to say.  It is!

The funny thing about that is that when I was find myself in a good positive relationship I have to work harder at my relationship with God.  Yes, you read that correctly.  When life is good, I’m out there happy and enjoying myself.  I am thankful and I appreciate all that God does in my life, but I find myself opening the Bible less.  I am distracted by all the bliss surrounding me.

However, when life keeps throwing curveballs I turn to Him to fill me up with love, understanding, support, and to remind me of who I am when I feel belittled.  That isn’t how it is supposed to be. 

Here I was enjoying a nice dinner with my daughter and watching a couple’s lack of interaction and I could feel God completely calling me out on my own lack of interaction in my relationship with Him.  Not to be gross, but I felt as if I was being told that He didn’t want to just be an emotional tampon.  There to soak up the sadness, loneliness, and be supportive.  He wanted to enjoy the good times too.  He wants to take long walks on the beach (a.k.a spend quality time with me reading the Bible and getting to know Him better). 

As I reluctantly looked back at the couple, and watched the guy tapping away on his phone I vowed to set aside some “date time” with God.  I want to let him know how thankful I am that He is so persistent,  that He makes me feel so loved, and I want the opportunity to let him know just how much that I love Him by pursuing Him too.



Friday, September 18, 2009

She’s a Man, Baby!

I’ve always loved gadgets.  I’m a practical kind of gal.  So if there is a tool out there to make life a little easier, a bit more simple, then I am a fan. 

(Just so you know, in this sentence above the word “tool” can also be interchanged with the word “toy”.  I’m just being realistic here).

As of late, my top three websites have changed. 

And Lord (I am not using His name in vain… I am praying with you), help me… (my husband would probably agree that I need it).

But two of my top three favorites are sites that are for MEN.  They are for men who like gadgets, but still they are for MEN.  Hopefully next week they will debut a cool scrapbooking tool (FOR MEN) and I will feel better about myself. 

Wish me luck,

Jess

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Fundraising

Hello everyone.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Lauren’s school (Victory Christian ELC) is having a fundraiser and Lauren is very excited. They have provided a great incentive to motivate the young ones. If the students sell a certain amount of items then they get to have a group outing and go to a local venue to play. She is very excited and hopes to be able to participate (or rather play).

So please take a look at the website.

Here are the instructions, for those that are interested.

1. Go to www.innisbrook.com

2. Click on the box on the far right of the screen that reads “Out of Town Orders”

3. Enter the School code “103312”

4. The next screen should confirm Victory ELC, if so hit “continue”

5. On the next screen please enter Lauren’s seller number, which is “R154230E”

6. The following screen should say something like L STU*** K4. That’s our girl

7. Now you can begin shopping.

Thank you so much!

We really appreciate any participation!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Well Why NOT?

Can someone please break this down for me?  Because I’ll be honest.  I don’t get it. 

I’m not the kind of person that saves the “good china” for special occasions.  I’m more of the kind of person that would use it to serve dinner to my husband anytime.  (That just might be why I don’t grasp this theory of his).

image

We were talking tonight about cars.  Which is something he enjoys.  They make him smile…. REALLY BIG.  ( I love those dimples)!!!

image

And he was trying to explain why some cars… like say the B-E-A –UTIFUL Dodge Viper below are not what one would consider an “every day driver”.

image

The thought of owning a vehicle like this and not driving it everyday left my mouth hanging open.  (Maybe not but it could’ve been… I was that shocked).

I mean seriously.  If I owned that vehicle, I not only would want to drive it everyday… I would probably hire a contractor to see if I could install a shower. 

I could finally see myself actually drinking eight bottles of water a day.  (I would purchase ONE and only one, drive back home drink it then suddenly realize that I AM REALLY PARCHED & need another  - & off to the store I’d go, to buy ONE & only ONE.

For the most part, cars (for me) are just a way to get from point A to point B.  However, I do enjoy going to car shows and drooling over sports cars and cars with every gadget imaginable already installed.  (If my DNA sample is ever needed, it can more than likely be found there).

So can someone, please break it down for me.  :-)

Until then,

Jess