A to Z Summer Fun (Girls' Versions)

So, it's about summertime, and we've got our A to Z summer fun list on our minds! I asked the girls what they'd put on the list if they could make it this year - they had some great ideas.  Here's what they came up with on their own...

SARAH'S ABC SUMMER FUN LIST
A is for Andy's 
B is for ball games
C is for coldstone
D is for dog day
E is for eat Chinese 
F is for father day
G is for game day
H is for half priced sonic shakes
I is for ice cream day
J is for jello day
K is for kite flying
L is for lick your lolly pop day
M is for mom day
N is for nap day
Ois for outside day
Pis for popcorn day
Qis for quiet day
Ris for riding day
Sis for sunshine day
Tis for taco day
Uis for u do it your way
Vis for viking dress up day
Wis for water day
Xis for xtra watermelon day
Yis for your imagination day
Z is for zebra painting (or zoo day)

MORGAN'S A-Z SUMMER FUN 
(BTW, she made a complete powerpoint presentation of her ideas!)

A - Animal Day (go to the zoo with casella family)
B - Bring together hands day (invite friends to help clean up our world)
C - Counting Day (count things we're thankful for)
D - Deserve Day (think of someone and give them something)
E - Egg Roll Day (Chinese for dinner with dad)
F - Fun Day (we each think of something fun and do it!)
G - Get Day (GO GET ANDY'S FROZEN CUSTERD!!!)
H - Hugs hope and happiness day (bring joy to others around you)
I - Ice cream day (with dad)
J - Jumping Jacks Day (go to Chesterfield)
K - Kick back and relax (hang outside, play in water)
L - Lickity split day (make huge hot fudge banana splits)
M - Mouth watering Day (go get whatever your taste buds are screaming for)
N - News Flash Day (get old newspapers and doodle on them)
O - OOOOH AAAH day (go see a movie)
P - Pop Pop Pop Day (Go Eat Lunch with Pop - bring popped popcorn pizza and soda pop)
Q - Quack Day (have Henry over to go feed the ducks)
R - Race Day (think of funny races to do)
S - Spa Day (go get our nails done at mom's nail salon)
T- Trip Day (Take a trip to a secret place)
U - Up Up Up and away (watch Mary Poppins as she goes up up and away)
V - Vacation Day (lets stop A-Z fun and do whatever we want)
w - What is that smell Day (go into kitchen and just start baking)
X - X-citing Day (what is on our agenda for today, where are we going, is it a surpirse?
Y - Yikes Day (it is the second to last day, so lets go have a campfire!)
Z - ZYX...learn the alphabet backwards. 

So, now, what to do, what to do? Complete both of their lists? Combine a few of each of theirs and some of my own ideas into one list?! Hmmm.  Whatever we do, I'm sure it will fall somewhere between awesome and zany fun! I LOVE SUMMERTIME!! 

It Began with a God-Sized Dream: Nonprofits Impacting the World

Tuesday's Link Up With Holley -- God-Sized Dreamin' at it's best! Take this “do what you can” step for your God-sized dream: Share about your favorite nonprofit organization. They are all God-sized dreams in action. How have they inspired you? 

There are so many great nonprofit organizations out there! Sometimes I wish I could support all of them!  So I've narrowed it down to two that are on my mind this morning.

Locally, and as it relates to my God-Sized Dream, I really appreciate Lost and Found Grief Center, and I really would like to begin to volunteer there. (They only have 1 volunteer training a year - in the fall, so I have to wait).  You see, as I've been processing the dreams in my heart, I know that I want to help people heal on their own journey, especially as it relates to grief and all that one must process when a loss occurs.  While I hope my written words will one day benefit others, I've felt more of a tugging that I need to be connecting locally, in-real-life, with others on this journey.

Locally and Globally, I love Convoy of Hope: A Driving Passion to Feed the World. Before we moved here 5 years ago, I'd never even heard of this amazing organization, that is based here in Springfield, and impacts millions of lives around the world, through disaster relief and local feeding programs.  They have opportunities where we can volunteer on Tuesdays, and I'm looking forward to doing this again with the girls this summer with more flexible bedtime schedules! (Want to join us?!) I love knowing that our efforts do make a difference.

A few years ago, I got to hear the founder of Convoy of Hope speak at our church, and wow - talk about a God-Sized Dream, that God placed in his heart! I'm so glad he followed that dream! What started with him buying groceries and handing them out in poor neighborhoods (through local churches) from the back of his truck --to 16 years later having fed 55 million people in 100 countries, and $304 million worth of supplies and food given away. WOW!

BONUS: If you've never heard of Mercy Ships (and before this morning, I had not!), you should read what my friend Mel has to say about them. Amazing, beautiful people working for this nonprofit!

Mike's Day Off

Happy Birthday to Harry S. Truman! (Thus, the reason Mike had today off. There are benefits to being a state employee!)

So, Mike's day off...he got up early to take Morgan to school, then came home and loaded up bikes. After Sarah headed to the bus, we headed to the Frisco Highline Rails-to-Trails for some biking.  We ended up biking 20 miles! 

There was even a mountain bike trail that ran parallel with the trail, so we got on that for a couple of miles. I love mountain biking.  We had so much fun pre-kids mountain biking regularly.  Maybe one day I'll jump over logs and plow through creeks again! :) For now, we enjoyed the conversation, exercise, and time together this 20 miles allowed us. 

Mike even had a flower get stuck in his bike spoke, see it there in the middle...

He then took Sarah lunch (nuggets, fries and a frosty) and ate with her in the school cafeteria. Always an experience! Then we cuddled on the couch, watch some shows on netflix, til Morgan got home and they left to go get some blizzards at DQ together. 

And guess what!? Our new storm doors came in! So after a quick trip to Lowes to pick them up, he's spent the evening installing the first one! Oh, I love it!!!  I've wanted these since we moved in 5 years ago. I'm thankful for the overtime he's worked the last few months so we could afford these 'extras'! 

I love how Mike took time on his day off to spend some time with each of us, so I just had to write it down, just in case we ever start forgetting how awesome he is (although I don't think that's possible!) 

Love Does

Guess What? It's Tuesday, time for Holley's God-Sized Dream Link-up  (and, yes, I'm actually posting my post on said Tuesday, don't faint!)


Today's assignment: Find a way to pay it forward. You’ve been encouraged in your God-sized dreams by your sisters here the last few months. How can you spread that encouragement forward by investing in other dreamers? It can be small and simple or BIG and wild. Ask God what you can do and get creative. Then write a post about what you’re doing and link it up below.

I did find a way to pay-it-forward, but I am going to keep it private, and  instead, share with you a story from my past.

<< Rewind to 1994 <<

We had been married not even four months. I was working what temp jobs I could find, while Mike took classes at Michigan State and worked part-time in the dorm cafeteria. Good times.

Rewind just a bit more: Two weeks before our wedding, I wrecked our car -- late at night, country road, county had just put down loose gravel, I went too fast around the curve and came face to face with a tree.  I was fine. The car was not. We used most of our wedding money to fix our car.

Then, a couple of months later, we were rear-ended in a hit and run.  Thankfully we were again okay, and the car was still driveable. It looked horrible, but we drove it for 3 more years with a smashed back end that needed a screwdriver to pop the trunk.

Then just weeks after the hit and run our transmission went out.  I remember taking our car to the shop, and having to walk back to campus -- it was a good 2-3 mile walk on a brisk sunny day.  And I remember the tears and wondering how in the world we were going to pay for this.  Love is good, but it doesn't pay the bills.

Later that week, in the mail, we got a large check from some good friends.  They were by no means wealthy -- they were a few years older than us, raising two kids, serving in ministry. But they reached deep into their hearts, and generously shared their money with us to meet a very real need in our lives. It was then and there that Mike and I knew we would pay-forward this act of kindness to others when we were able to later in life.

One small deed of encouragement (love in action) has the power to alter the course of one's life. That is the truth we experienced.

And writing this just now, reminds me that we got to hear Bob Goff at church a few weeks ago, and I need to get his book, Love Does from the library! If I ever get to be as wealthy as him, I hope I use my money to change lives like he does, but I will also not let my lack of wealth keep me from doing good now with what I have been given.  I'm glad God gives us others, to encourage us, while we pursue the dreams He places in our hearts!

If you've never heard Bob Goff, check out this short you-tube video (this guy put his personal cell phone number in the back of his book for readers and tries to answer every call he receives!):

Winter in May?

I had to capture this past weekend (May 3-4) because it has been 69 years since it has snowed in Missouri in May!! This is what we woke up to last Friday...

So I did my best to cheer myself up with some extra chocolately hot cocoa in my newest favorite mug...

I mean, after all, this was me on my deck just 2 days previously, trying not to be quite so pastey-white...

 Then Saturday morning, we had signed up to run the May Day 1 Mile Fun Run in Republic...so we kept our commitment.  We had a good time, despite the temperature!

And I'm definitely glad our temps are back up into the 70s this week!! Because I love Spring!! 

Friends who Inspire Faith

Yes, I know it's Friday and I'm just now linking up with Holley's God-Sized Dream Team Link up from Tuesday! This week's assignment: Write a letter of encouragement to another dreamer in your life. Share your letter by including it in a post and linking up below.

Last month, I actually sent out a few of these letters of encouragement in snail-mail. I didn't want to repeat myself, so I've been pondering this for many days.  The last few nights I've been awake in the middle of the night and found myself praying for several friends in my life.  Through those prayers I was inspired to write this letter to three of them.

You see, these friends, have all taken huge leaps of faith this past year, trusting in God. Let me give you a 'snapshot' of each.

Lisa: I've met her through Holley's God-Sized Dream team, and she writes a beautiful blog called Life After The Shore -- and it talks about her journey leaving the only life she ever knew, and beginning again.  As a teen, her parents joined a cult, but she & her husband heard God's voice saying, 'walk away, I have bigger plans for you!' and so they did! You can read here story here.

Janelle: I met her just over a year ago. She was over the children's ministry at our church campus in Nixa.  I love her genuineness, her ability to organize, encourage and inspire.  But here's the thing. She and her husband have felt this calling to go and plant a new church. Not just anywhere, but in Las Vegas. So with a toddler, and without jobs, they stepped out in faith, moved back to Nevada to live with family for a few months, as they pursue this dream in their hearts to share God's love with the broken souls in Las Vegas.

Angela: When I met Angela, she was leading a study on Jill Savages's book, Professionalizing Motherhood.  Our kids were drinking bottles, now they are in middle school.  She has been a dear friend though the years. We still text regularly.  She has a heart for other cultures. And right now that heart means pursuing her doctorate degree in order to pursue the dreams God has placed in her heart.  This meant her and her husband left good paying, stable careers, to move half-way across the country, believing that God would provide, as they stepped out in faith.

Dear Lisa, Janelle, and Angela -

Do you know how many times your faith inspires me?  Often it convicts me.  I want security. I want to have some control over my future (as if that's possible, but still I try!). I want to have 'comforts' (often financial), before I pursue dreams.  I may hear God whispering, or even waving his arms loud trying to get my attention, and so often, I make excuses. I don't have that faith that you have.  And yet, I find myself praying to God, asking Him to help me find a faith like yours.

I know each one of your journeys has not been easy. It has not always been full of things going the way you hoped they would. It has meant sacrifice in many ways. Oh, there has been times when God has answered prayers 'yes'! and times when He said "no" or "wait" -- and there you stand with this dream in your heart, wondering, longing to see it be reality, teetering on that edge of faith, clinging at the same time, to the dream, to the Dream-Giver.

How beautiful this world is because of people like you who truly live out their faith. Not without fear, but with confidence in the One who placed these dreams in your heart. Your faith, in knowing He will provide, is beautiful and inspiring. I know that many lives are and will be touched with His love because of the brave choices you have made.

Please know that I pray for each of you -- for strength when the way gets hard, for God to show up in a big way and meet your needs, for your dreams to become reality, for your families, for your hearts to be encouraged by Him.

I'm glad God let our paths cross. My life has been forever touched by you.

With love and admiration,

Cathy

(in)RL Conference

There's this blog I follow called (in)courage.  It's a collection of amazing christian, women who share their hearts and their journey every day.  There is so much good stuff, I never have time to read all of it. But when I do have the time to sit and soak it in, it is so very replenishing! Good, good, stuff!

Well last year they had this conference, where they (in)couraged women around the globe to move from being online, to meeting up in real life (in)RL -- through this conference.  Well last year, no one hosted a meetup in my area, so I didn't attend. This year, I decided I would host a local meetup, if people were interested in meeting up in real life.

So, this morning, three brave women whom I never met, came to my house and we shared conversation  and laughter, and cinnamon rolls!  The online conference wasn't all that we thought it would be...but we were all glad for the opportunity for connection!

Here's a couple of photos....

Oh, and during this time, Mike took the girls out for donuts and some mother's day shopping.  All I can say about this picture is...Oh.My.Word. (Yes, that's a donut!)

Tightrope Walking

Well it's Tuesday and I'm linking up with other God-Sized Dreamers over at Holley Gerth's place.  This week's challenge:

Take some time to play. Do something creative. Snap a picture. Build a Pinterest board. Make a craft. Read a book. Bake a treat. Wrestle with your kids. Whatever energizes you. It can be related to your God-sized Dream in some way or totally different. Sometimes along the way to our dreams we just need a little time to play. It helps us keep going and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Well Friday night, spur of the moment, we went to the Baldknobber's show in Branson with our girls. You can read all about it here, but let me just say, it's been a long time since I laughed that hard, and boy did it do my heart good to spend an evening laughing with Mike & the girls!

Then, we spent hours and hours this weekend playing on our new Gibbon Slackline (click link to read/watch more about it!).  Think tightrope merged with trampoline.  I am in the process of writing an entire article, with lots of pictures, about the fun we had with it, especially our girls and their friends, to be published Thursday @ The Good Stuff Guide. 

But since this post is about me taking time to play, I'm going to include a few of the snapshots Mike took of me on the slackline.  What you can't see in the pictures is me wobbling like a bowling pin that can't decide if it should fall over or not. What I do hope you see is laughter. It was fun to play with our new toy in our backyard this weekend. And let all the work wait.

And here's just one more picture of the girls, because I had a lot of fun just watching them play too! 

Come on over and join other dreamer's at Holley's Place...

A Real Hillbilly

FYI: Maybe you had to be there, but the funny part is below the photos!

Yesterday, we did something spontaneous. We normally aren't like that. But we had money in our 'fun envelope' still, and with tickets being only $5/each this weekend, we bought tickets to the Baldknobber's Show - The first show that started it all in Branson!

And we had a great time. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. And let me tell you, that laughter felt good.   Really good. My heart is still smiling this morning, and I still find a few chuckles slipping out this morning. 

I couldn't get real good pics of the stage with my camera phone, but here's the girls exposure to some culture... hillbilly style. Notice the guy playing the washboard on the end.

Here's my darling daughters hanging out at the Baldknobber's during intermission...

and my absolutely favorite picture....

But despite the great show...full of entertainment and laughter, I have a confession. I missed at least a third of the show. You see, this real hillbilly gal came and sat down in front of me.  Her skin too wrinkly and too dark, from waaay too much tanning, and her hair full of a can of hairspray to support her 80s style curling-iron look.  And let me tell you, she was obnoxious. Completely, totally, obnoxious. 

At her first stand up and whoop, I just looked at Mike and we burst into laughter. And it continued, on and on. I looked at my girls - and they look on their faces (priceless!) -- wide eyes looking at the lady, then looking at me with pure bewilderment, shaking their heads, and Morgan whispering to me "really?!" Yes, really, my daughter. Welcome to another culture. Welcome. Glad I could expose you to others. I told them they could join her (wink), to which they responded with even wider eyes and a firm NO! 

Then the missing-half-his-teeth guy she was sitting next too (it was a large group that came together) kept turning around to convince us that he did not come with her. Several in the group tried to encourage her to settle down, to which she'd respond with more inappropriate hollers.  FINALLY, the staff came and had a little talk with her, so she calmed down slightly. Her behavior was rude and disrespectful to others around her, but some reason, it just gave me the giggles. And I could not stop laughing at her.  

THEN, I was horrified when she jumped up and started whooping again when they asked military to stand up and be honored when they heard their anthem play. So there she was with all these honorable veterans,  whooping!!  I think my eyes were wider than my girls.  THEN, the missing-half-his-teeth guy turns around and says to us "She said she's 'done' a vet, so that's close enough!" Oh good grief, and while completely inappropriate, I totally lost it in a fit of giggles! 

I'm glad we live in such a colorful world, with so many colorful people! It sure keeps life interesting! And I'm sure because of her, my girls will never forget THIS Baldknobber's show! 

Oh, and I have to brag, after the show, when we stood up to leave, a nice lady behind us stopped me and complimented how well mannered our girls were during the show! Awe. Proud momma moment there.  So, when they asked for ice cream at 10:30 at night, and Mike said, no, it's too late.  I responded nonchalantly with, "well the lady did compliment them on being so well mannered tonight." And he said, "What, you think we should reward that kind of behavior?" To which I responded with a 'yup!' as he was turning into McDonalds for a couple of sundaes!

A Hug from God

To be honest, I've felt some guilt that I've been M.I.A. from Holley Gerth's Tuesday link-ups about God-Sized Dreams the past several weeks.  I made the commitment to do this, and then I haven't.  But I have to give myself grace. I have been struggling with depression. I have been trying to get to a healthier place. I've tried to sit down and write some Tuesday posts, but I just couldn't make them happen.

Well, I took her challenge this week, The most important part of any God-sized dream is the Giver of it. Set aside a particular time this week to be with Him–to pray, journal, take a walk or simply sit quietly and listen. Write a post sharing what your heart hears or receives.

So last night, I sat among the treetops, quietly on my deck. It was gray and a bit dreary out, but the air felt warm, and the birds were singing.

I read some more of Holley's book first, and had my notebook to jot in. And I read this, "so that His voice is louder than anything else"...and I prayed, "Lord, I want your voice to be louder than anything else right now. Louder than anything."

And then this song came to my mind, Remind Me Who I Am by Jason Gray. And so I prayed the words to the song, "Lord, remind me who I am. Who I am to you. If I'm your beloved, can you help me believe it?"

And my spirit remembered, He loves me. He gave me these dreams. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is still alive and active in our world. And His Spirit resides inside of me.   I also read these words from Holley's book. "Truth reminds us who we are." Then she writes more (I changed her 'you are' to 'I am')  "I am loved. I have a purpose. I am not alone. I am stronger than I know."

And as I stared up at the Heavens, the sky above me became blue, and I couldn't help but smile. That blueness above me, while all around me was still grey, felt like a hug from God. And I smiled out-loud, while whispering up "thanks."