Ready to end....and start again

These days I have one date in my head...August 10th.

Once this date has passed on the calendar then my family can get back to more of a normal schedule.

I have always heard about the busyness of the "campaign trail" but living to testify about it is another story altogether.

I truly think I could fall asleep sitting straight up...and I can testify to Shep doing just that and in a restaurant no less :). So much for a glamorous politician, huh??

Anyway, we are days away from the ending of this primary campaign and the beginning of school starting again for Caroline....and Ava.

She is too excited to be going to "big school" with her sister. Caroline will begin 2nd grade and Ava will proudly walk in as a Kindergartner. We are already having heavy discussions like "take our lunch vs. cafeteria food". She is just excited about the choice and acts very grown up about all of it.

Such is life....we end and begin everyday.

As tired as I am....I am grateful for this experience. God has used it so much in my life to show me how weak I really am and how much I must rely on Him.

Gleaning

I was reading the Word last night and my passage was out of Ruth chapter 2. It was a simple text...basically about Ruth walking behind the workers and gleaning the leftovers of what they had left behind.

(Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after they have been harvested. Some ancient cultures have used the method of gleaning as an early welfare system.)
-Websters Dictionary


My devotion was challenging me to be a godly gleaner.

I am sure Ruth was not thrilled with her current circumstances. She was a widow and she chose to look after her mother-in-law. In order to do that she basically had to take on the role of a beggar to live and survive. She humbled herself to the lowest station to do the right and honorable thing.

I don't like my current circumstances.

BUT...there is much to be gleaned from them.

I don't want to let one morsel of God's grace for me slip through my fingers because of pride, busyness, or disappointment.

Lord God help me glean ALL that you have for me during these trying days. Help me not to shy away because of difficulty but to fully engage and soak up Your goodness in the midst of these difficulties. I love You Lord and I know You desire good for me. My heart trusts You while my flesh screams otherwise. Help me walk through each encounter of my day watching for You to teach me through it.

Little Ol' Me

Tonight I had the distinct pleasure of speaking on behalf of my husband at our Bartow Women's Republican meeting.

I don't mind telling you that I am so glad that Shep normally does this part. He is terrific at public speaking. I am perfectly content being the woman at his side cheering him on.

However I got to experience speaking for him.

It was a cool experience!

I had a great topic.

Shep.

He is the most amazing man I know. Kind. Strong. Committed. Trustworthy. Honest. Funny. Helpful. Hopeful. Faithful. Steadfast. Solid. Intelligent. Reasonable. Willing.

It was neat to just get to brag on the one man that makes my world go around.

He works so hard.

....and I got to give back. To him.

Instead of standing there beside him. I got to stand up and speak for him.

Now....I am not saying that this was a BIG deal to anyone else.....because after all it was just "little ol' me" but I had a blast.

Anywhere but here..

Sometimes the scenery everywhere else looks way better than where you are...

We have been battling through our circumstances for quite some time.

We are exhausted on every side...physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Our bodies are being forced to pour every ounce of energy we have into this run-off race for State Rep. We believe it is what we are supposed to be doing.

Financially speaking...we are like everyone else....we are FEELING it!

Emotionally we draw new mercies from God each day and try our best to live our lives confidently and uprightly before Him.

Spiritually we rely on God's guidance for what each day brings...because we truly don't know what is around the corner.

You all know that I personally wonder and talk to God a lot about Caroline. Her healing is always just a thought away. I really thought she would be healed by now. I can't believe she is about to start 2nd grade. I ask God...again. "Are you sure? Did You really tell us You were going to heal her? When? I feel so foolish. People think I am crazy!"

The truth is I want to do something. Anything.

Maybe if I do something then God will move.....can I just be anywhere but here?!?


I asked God what I should do...if anything. The next day or so my devotional answered my question.

"These words are God's command to believers when they are reduced to great distress and brought to extraordinary difficulties. They cannot retreat. They cannot go forward. They are shut up on the right hand and on the left. What can they do? The Master's word to them is, "Stand still."

by Charles H. Spurgeon out of Morning and Evening

Exodus 14:13 "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."

He melts me....

Normally I only talk about my man melting my heart but I wanted to share a few recent snapshots of Zeke.

This little boy makes smiles multiply at our house. He is our class clown. There is usually a reason to grab the camera when Zeke is around.

Shep wore this cowboy hat on election day. He stood out in the hot sun from 7 am til 7 pm. It looked right cute on him if I may say so and kept the sun off.

So, when Zeke saw that his daddy had been wearing it...it was good enough for him.

These next shots show what can happen when a "certain daddy" leaves greasy tools lying with the kids toys in the garage.

Exhibit A: Little boy picks up greasy tool and then proceeds to wipe his face....of course this " certain daddy" pleaded innocent to the whole thing.

Round 2

It is not quite midnight yet on election night and we are facing a run-off.

Go figure....

Don't you love how God strengthens you by showing you what you have done that you didn't think you could do in the first place??? (Did that make any sense??)

What I mean is this.

If you had told me a year ago that Shep and I would have spent the last 2 months campaigning like crazy for the State Rep. for District 14...I would have laughed.

I would have told God that I didn't have it in me.

But He has shown me otherwise.

I was hoping for a solid answer tonight....victory or defeat......a concrete answer.

Instead I got......"There's more work to do".

So...here we go.

The run off election will be August 10th.

There is a lot to do between now and then.

We have to rise to the occasion and trust God again for the outcome.

God, this isn't what I wanted but it must be best. Give us strength. Give us effectiveness. We need You more now than ever. We are so honored to work for You. Show us how to do this. It seems like there is more to do than time to do it. Surround our family with Your Presence and peace....we trust you again. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and help us to do it with glad hearts.

Thy Will Be Done...

Here I sit wondering what life will feel like at this time tomorrow.

It is July 19th, 2010.

The eve of election day.

Over 2 months ago we followed in obedience as God lead us to throw our hats in the ring as Shep decided to run for State Representative of District 14.

It has been one crazy ride.

Exhausting.
Exhilarating.
Frustrating.
Fun.

We have knocked on doors.....walked hot and rainy streets....shaken lots of hands....held signs.....cheered during speeches...been chased by dogs....put up signs....knocked on more doors....made lots of phone calls....and met some pretty amazing folks.

Shep and I will go to bed tonight knowing that we did as God asked of us. That will help me to rest well.

The outcome is in His hands....not ours.

Shep and I have prayed fervently over these past few weeks that God's person would win....even if that is NOT us.

Don't get me wrong....we WANT to win.

But Shep and I would both tell you that we want what HE wants for us....more than what we want for ourselves.

This race has given me much grace and perspective for those currently serving in elected positions and those running for them. It is hard work...it takes THICK skin, lots of sacrifice, unbelievable friends and family who work tirelessly and a genuine love for people and your country.

I have found myself praying for our opponents and their families because I have a better grasp of what they are experiencing and I appreciate their effort.


God, thank you for the strength and courage you have given over these past 2 months. Your Hand of provision has met us at each and every turn. We pray again that Your will would be done....that Your man for this position would win. Thank you for the many people who have supported us, prayed for us, encouraged us, sweated for us, and worked like crazy behind the scenes. Give us ALL grace as we wait for the results tomorrow. Help us trust you whether we win or we lose. Thank you for this opportunity. We have grown in ways that we would have never dreamed of on our own. You have such a keen way of pushing us past the limits we place on ourselves and then You delight in our amazement over what You alone have accomplished through us. I love you Lord Jesus. I pray for my sweet man tonight. Give him peace. Give him wisdom. Let him feel You near. Continue to grow our faith and help us to stand firm on Your promises. We let go....and wait....trusting You.