Baseball, Baseball, More Baseball, and dreams

It's Baseball season in Omaha!  College World Series has taken over Omaha.  I LOVE IT! My family has had tickets for the series every year since I can remember.  I remember going when I was young with my Grandma and Grandpa.  Some of the best days of summer and makes me miss my grandparents. When I was in high school I used to work at the stadium as an usher and College World Series was my favorite week to work.  Watch baseball, hang out with awesome fans, and get paid.  This is the first time in many years that I've been able to go to the games, the first time Mark and I could go together, and Caden's first series game.  This is the week in my family's summer that is all baseball. It's a little bit different atmosphere now from then, when the stadium was down by the zoo but Omaha has the same feeling.  It's an exciting time for Omaha.  If you haven't ever experienced the College World Series you really should!  Here's a little video that I found on Youtube that gives a bit of what Omaha is like during the series week! http://youtu.be/vosF5QvI03I

 I've been missing my HGTV shows and TLC shows during the series because if we aren't at the game. The game is on TV.  Don't get me wrong I love baseball and I love the series it's just sometimes I just want to watch House Hunters.  So I've been sneaking in bits and pieces of shows when I can.  I think they help me dream of places that we could be living in the future.  To dream about what our next house will look like and even how I can decorate it. To dream about where God will send us and where we will live.  As if I don't have any furniture or decorations packed away.  I'll continue to let it be a dream because I know that someday when we are where God places us I will unpack all those boxes and remember all the beautiful decorations, pictures, and memories that are in storage.  Then I won't have to dream anymore.
In all my dreaming over the last couple of weeks while watching HGTV my friend Laura sent me this devotion that she read from a friend of hers."Rest in Me, my child. Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen. Pray continually, asking My Spirit to take charge of the details of this day. Remember that you are on a journey with Me. When you try to peer into the future and plan for every possibility, you ignore your constant Companion who sustains you moment by moment. As you gaze anxiously into the distance you don't even feel the strong grip of My hand holding yours. How foolish you are, My Child! Remembrance of Me is a daily discipline. Never lose sight of My Presence with you. This will keep you resting in Me all day, every day."
It reminded me that as I dream of the future God is right here.  To give my dreams and worries of the future to God.  He's got this!  
I'll continue to watch HGTV and of course I will still watch baseball.  I will just now remember to "Rest in Him" and let His grip take my dreams.  It's not easy to do but it's all I really can do right now.

 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."  Matthew 6:34 (The Message) 

Beautiful Things

Friday morning Mark got me up early to go work on the farm with him. He has been teasing me that I couldn't do it. Ha! I'll prove him wrong!  It is not my first choice for getting up early but I did it. I Went out in my pink Nikes and husker hat to crawl around in the mud through tomato plants.  Doing a job I didn't like but I did it.  Mark and I enjoyed each other's company while the birds chirped on a cool morning.  I continue to tease him that I'm not going back and he should of given me a job that I'd like to do first so I will come back.  When it comes down to it I will go back.  Even in the mud I enjoyed my time digging in "God's Country!"  In his creation, listening to the birds sing, watching the chipmunk run around the garden, and spending time with my best friend.  What more could a girl ask for!
Later that day we went to the Zoo and met up with some friends we haven't seen in awhile.  It is always great to be with friends and at the zoo.  The boys love the zoo.  We are so thankful to a friend who gave us a zoo membership.  We have been twice since being home and foresee many more trips this summer.
Saturday Mark and I went down to Kansas City for the day to support a friend of ours and his son as they celebrated the life of his wife and mom.  She was a beautiful women of God and now resting in peace in the arms of our Lord.  She will be missed.  Even though going down to KC for a bit was hard because of the circumstances it was nice to get hugs from those we love and miss.

As I reflect on a few things we did this past week I am reminded of this song by Gungor, Beautiful Things.   I love that as I was getting mud in my nails, I could see beauty growing in that tomato plant with pretty little yellow flowers.

God's creation is all around us and that morning I was reminded to continue to pay attention to the beauty out of dust.  It also reminded me to enjoy every minute of time "home" because it will not be for long and time goes fast.



Psalm 97:10-12 (the message)

"God loves all who hate evil, and those who love him he keeps safe, snatches them from the grip of the wicked.  Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God's people, Joy-seeds are planted in the good heart-soil. So, God's people, shout praise to God, Give thanks to our Holy God!" 

Bubbles and Suckers

We have been in Omaha for little over a week now.  We've been busy!  The boys have been wanting to be outside most all the time.  The weather here besides some rain has been beautiful.  So our days and evenings are out in the backyard blowing bubbles, LOTS of bubbles!  Tate has figured out how to actually get the bubbles to work.  It's a very exciting thing for a 1 1/2 year old. 
 Caden is putting many miles on his bike! Yesterday we went to a playground area at Chalco Hills which made me miss Lake Lenexa and the playground.  So we are on a summer quest to find great parks in the Omaha area.  Today with met with a playgroup from First Covenant Church at another park Walnut Grove Park.  A great time for the boys and mommy to get to know new friends and get out of the house on such a beautiful day!  The park itself was approved by Caden.  He said, "This park is great, it has nice walking trails for my scooter and bike, and sand for Tate to play in. I like it's name too it's like Grover from Sesame Street!" I love that boy the things he says are so funny.  I think we found one park we will frequent this summer. 
Mark had several conversations with churches all over the U.S. for some pretty exciting positions.  Mark has been working out on a farm picking the suckers off a lot of tomato plants and various other farming duties. Like driving 100s of posts into the ground. He is coming home each day with tons of sermon illustrations.  I am getting a sermon daily! :)    He is getting some great talks together for the next youth group! 
I bought some material at the fabric store.  I have been determined to try to find a purse that's not too big and not too small.  It has been impossible!  So I begin my journey on Pinterest to find a pattern to use my material and make the perfect purse.  Happy sewing! 
Here is a picture of the boys today after they got their free bike helmets thanks to Kohls giveaway.  They are safe not only on their bikes but in the car! 

This is the material I've bought to make my perfect sized purse. Wish me luck! 

The Farm! 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with meand you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11: 28-30