The Big "J" Word

February has been by far my favorite month in a very long time. I am really starting to feel settled more and more everyday. I am no longer the lost (ok so I occasionally still do get lost) new person but a member of a church, resident of Florida and I have to admit even though we want a house this apt is awfully cozy.

We got to see Cola turn one, go to Bermuda, celebrate Valentine's Day, watch Dalen learn basketball, spend a day at Universal for free and Friday we will see our 5 year anniversary come to pass and be able to attend the Youth Pastor's Summit on the 28th. It's been a FUN, action packed month.

I have noticed that I don't like my mental state during the good times in life. It seems I am always Justifying why I deserve good things just so I feel comfortable enough to somewhat enjoy them while they last. This morning I woke up craving ice cream. Random for me because I am not a sweets person. We have a container of Publix brand Roadrunner Raspberry Frozen Yogurt in the freezer, yum, and I kept going back and forth just trying to gather enough Justifying thoughts so that I could enjoy some guilt free. Why do I do that?

I found myself in Bermuda having to force thoughts away of why someone else should have taken that beautiful platform in front of an amazing group of young people. But that someone else was me. For whatever reason, God chose me, sent me, provided for ME.

I am not one to super spiritualize my unhealthy mentalities but I am not naive enough to dismiss the probability that the enemy would love to detour me from enjoying the many blessings God has given me.

So this morning I had ice cream for breakfast. On a sugar cone. Not because I have lost so much weight and deserve a treat, not because I did so well on the Daniel's fast last month but just because. Just because...

Enjoy your just because moments. Sometimes after seasons of struggling, working hard, experiences of loss you won't have a reason to enjoy small things but it doesn't mean you shouldn't. Embrace a just because mentality. And tomorrow if you happen to wake up craving ice cream and need a reason to enjoy it for the "most important meal of the day" just tell yourself I said you deserve it.

And of course what is a post without pics of these beauties in my life...

We found a great new park.

Did I mention we are having some pretty amazing weather??

Cola had NO fear of the ducks. See the swan right behind her hand??

Universal

I don't know what kind of weather you are having but I just have mention how glorious our weather has been this week. There is no other word but glorious. It's been in the mid 70s and today finally reached 80, Mr. Sun has been FAR from shy and there has been just enough wind to keep us from breaking a sweat.

We are going on several days of no heat or air used. I think my utility bill could used to that! We had free Universal tickets from a church member and they expire in March so we decided to take advantage of this beautiful day and spend it together, outside.

My hair is so stinking long. I'm gonna have to cut it off soon!
We were standing in line for Shrek 4D and told Cola to smile...we were laughing so hard.
She is such a happy gal!

Cola was dying to get into this pool of balls. Underneath was a huge trampoline.

So fun! Look at her smile!

This was one of my fav. parts of the day. We saw the Simpsons, which we aren't allowed

to watch in our house. I really wanted the kids to get pics with as many characters as they

could and D kept yelling, "But we aren't allowed to watch them on TV!" "They say bad words!"

Guilty by association??

Ok, on one hand I'd like to report this character and another it's one of those things you just roll your eyes and move on. So the man underneath that costume decided it would be funny to scratch his butt and then chase the kids with the hand he did the scratching with. I think we all know my son does NOT need anymore ideas of this sort. He ended up scaring off half of the line of kids after chasing them.

Have I ever mentioned how much Dalen loves "Curious THE George"?

I'm not sure how well you can see our faces in this pic but every now and again I realize how much me and C look alike. This pic is one of those moments.

Dalen rode his 1st roller coaster and LOVED it! He laughed and screamed the WHOLE way! I was super proud of him. I also took him on the ET ride. It was my only request for the day, I really wanted to take D on that ride. He was a little uncertain at first but when we get to the part of the ride that's over the city and it seems like you are on a bycicle in the sky, Dalen sat straight up, his mouth wide open and looked over to the big "moon" (which was a planet in outer space to him) and yelled, "Oh my gosh! We made it to outer space! This is amazing mom! You are so awesome!" Then broke into a thunderous applause. He literally had no doubt in his mind that he had officially gone to outer space! It was a priceless moment that I will NEVER forget!

How do you and your loved ones choose to spend pretty days?

Leaders, Power, Control

The following post has nothing to do with the pictures in it, but I've learned there are no good posts without pics!

Dalen got his jersey at his 1st basketball game a few weeks ago.

He is #6!
Cola loved her birthday cake!

Her smile is totally contagious!

Post game snack!

Ok, now onto my thoughts. I've been thinking about leadership a lot lately. Leaders are everywhere, not just in the church but in the marketplace as well. Here's what I have noticed...

So many people think they are leaders because they have been entrusted with power so that they can control others...WRONG! So, so, so WRONG! I am so disheartened at seeing so many leaders abuse their placements.

As a leader you have been entrusted with influence so that you can lead! It's not about control, it's about being such a positive influence that others follow you as you lead and find themselves in positive places because of your leadership.

If God has entrusted you as a leader you probably find yourself as the "head". This may be a head pastor, head manager, head teacher of your team-where ever you are the "head" just remember you are not there to control the body. You are there to empower the PARTS of the body.

True leaders delegate. They offer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. They are never intimidated when a follower surpasses their successes. They are mindful that when followers turn to leaders that have then, and only then, been truly successful.

Be a leader....not a power driven control freak.

Catch Me If You Can

Do you ever feel like your life is in high gear, accelerating at a very high speed? I remember thinking I need to blog, I need to blog and then puting it off and I feel like my life in hindsight are fleeting memories that may or may not be able to be retrieved. Anyways, I was gone 5 days to Bermuda. I know, I should have been blogging about the upcoming event but I am funny about announcing I am going to be gone when my babies will be home with their caretaker.

So, Mario and I were asked to speak at a youth conference in Bermuda. We sure, "Let us pray about it," that's a lie, haha. We really actually said, "Of course, we think we can suffer for the cause of Christ in your beautiful country!" We left on the 9th and came home on the 13th. It was a beautiful trip. Breathtaking scenery, lovely people, a faithful God who did amazing things in our services.

This trip allowed me the rare opportunity to be on a platform in front of total strangers which I know is my ultimate calling from God. It was an amazing opportunity that I won't forget. 24 souls were saved! That's what it's all about! Here are some pics...

It was raining. I had no umbrella. What's a girl to do?

Grab a showercap and go! Thanks, Jenna!
One of my favorite speakers!

Bermuda has pink sand! The waves wash peices of coral up on shore.

When you look closely you see tiny bits of pink grains! Beautiful!
Funny story, I had no bag to get sand so I was in the bathroom and took a few of these.
Worked perfectly, it was all I could find.

There are two lighthouses on the island. This is one of them.

Beautiful stained glass in a church!

Smallest drawbridge in the world!

Pretty church!

This just makes me laugh!

This makes me smile and relax a little.

Our babies did amazing! Our caretaker is just that. I can not call her a babysitter...she is so much more. I believe she is our modern day Mary Poppins, sent straight from God.

Tick, Tock, Time

Does anyone besides me feel like time is moving too slowly or too quickly or do you ever find yourself wishing you could turn those stubborn hands of time back?

I'm sure I am not the only one! Time is the most valuable thing in life. So valuable, that it can't be bought, exchanged or recycled. You can't speed it up, slow it down, enjoy it more than once-you get the point.

I have realized the only influence I have on time is to make it worthwhile. Which I must add, is totally our choice.

I have found that the times I am busy making it worthwhile are the times I am least likely wanting to control how fast it comes and how slowly it goes. Because anything worthwhile goes with you forever, impacts your heart like nothing else and you know that the worthwhile moments can never be relived just the same more than once.

Enjoy a few worthwhile moments I captured on my camera phone. I just love her smiles and of course those rare moments when Dalen hugs her just right.

When you find yourself wanting to flee from the present moment or race to the next ask your self what you can do to increase the value of the now. Make every moment worthwhile!

Books

Why is it that every time I try to get my pictures in a certain order it never happens? It's not worth a tantrum...Anyways, I have found that Dalen really, really loves me to read to him. I have been going through a lot of our boxes that have books in them and found some of my very favorites. I have a hard time deciding who loves these books more, him or me.

To all of my teacher friends, mom, friends with nieces or nephews these books are must haves!

My parents gave all three of us Love You Forever for graduation. They wrote a personal note to us in the front so every time I get to read this to Dalen I pass by my dad's letter. Don't you love his writing?

My mom gave me this book two Mother's Days ago. It is a total tear jerker and every mom should buy this for their daughter.

This is one of those I have had since I was little. This book never gets old and I love the bad mood faces Dalen makes when we read it.

The Dreaded Flu: Day 2

I am pleased to say that the baby's fever has gone way down. She is still showing signs of great discomfort and has developed a horrible cough but I am still prayerfully hopefully she will be better by her birthday.

I do have some funny things from Dalen.

He has started to call my contacts "eye-tacts"

I asked him what a wish was as one of Cola's toys talked about a birthday wish and he said it's the part of the birthday magic. Wow, I think he really knows what it is??

He told my sister magic is the spirit of a ghost.

He has gotten into a horrible habit of lying. He told our music pastor I called him a liar, the preschool/nursery director I was SOOO mad at her b-c she let him go outside during nursery time....and lying is just NOT funny to me AT ALL.

He also told me "we are having a dance contest" I looked at him and said "we?" And he said, "yeah, me and him" and pointed into the thin air. Then he busted out in total dance moves and looked beside him and shouted, "Go homie! Oh yeah!" Kind of scary!