Snapshots and Scripture #2

Operation: Weight Loss (2 Month Low Carb) Day #1

2 Months, Really? Ok. Deal.

Starting today, Jon and I are embarking on two months of no carbs.....er--- two months with no bad carbs. We are not eliminating fruit from our diet, and we will have whole grains on a limited basis. Mostly though, lean protein and veggies for the next two months.

We both have pretty huge goals to lose weight. I keep talking about it, but it is time to do something. Jon has been working out very consistently and has lost quite a bit of weight, but is looking to lose more as he controls his eating.

Me...well I am a bunch of talk and struggle heavily (pun intended) with follow through. So friends, ask away! Keep me accountable. Feel free to hang out with me, and NOT ask me out for ice cream, but to go on a walk or bike ride instead:))

Welcome to our journey.

The Diary of a Shoebox

Snapshot and Scripture #1

Not here.

When one part of the body is broken we all are.  We may not know the details, but we know that something is wrong, that something is not working as it sure. 

At first, it is hard to recognize it. We don't call it for what it is. We call it "brokenness." And it is. It is so broken. Sooner or later, we need to come from behind the facade of brokenness and call it for what it truly is.  

Sin. 

Ouch. The politically incorrect word. The word we must avoid. 

And yet, when we avoid it, it gets deeper and deeper. What once started off as something attractive, is now becoming destructive and rearing its ugly head. 

Take this piano for instance. In its hay day, it was used to lead others in musical worship on Sunday mornings. It was a tool that led people into God's presence. It was valuable.

As time passes, the piano gets left behind. It is no longer tuned regularly, or taken care of properly. It can no longer serve the purposes for what it was created to do.

Much like our sin. Once it gets a foothold in our lives, it takes root. It holds on and begins controlling us and making us do things that are against God's word. We do thing that are not glorifying to God and will in the end hurt us and our relationships.




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Before we know it, the sin is getting bigger and bigger. It is becoming blatant and obvious to everyone around us. Sometimes we recognize is and sometimes it takes the words, observations and careful reflections of those who speak truth. Either way if we don't stop it, it start to control us rampantly. It is no longer just an ugly part of our life that is not bringing glory to God, but the ugly part is ruling our attitudes, thoughts and actions. 

The gasoline has been poured. 

The match has been lit. 

Once the match is lit, everything catches fire,quickly. Even the parts that are not on fire are being affected. The wind blows, the air is filled with smoke, people are coughing, things are covered in soot. They may not even know where it all came from, or the cause of the fire, but they are surely being influenced by it. The fire cannot go unnoticed.

Before you know it, sin has overtaken, and we can no longer be what we were created to be.

We have been walking through some junk with some people. We have see sin take hold in lives and bring ruin.

Today, I became aware of  my own incredible, nasty, destructive sin. It doesn't look quite as ugly as a burning piano, but I know how quick of a leap this can be. Lord, stop it now! May my life bring You glory. I don't want to walk in disobedience.

When I see the sin creep up in my life, I want to stomp it out and walk away from it. I will shout from the roof tops...NO MORE, NOT HERE.   I will do battle on my knees.

A Whole lot of new and I think I like it.

Do you recognize these girls? They (we) are the women behind Ordinary Miracles Photography. We are in business and now have our website up and running!!!! Please check it out, let me know what you think. What do you like about it, what would you like to see changed, etc? 


This is new. 


A new busy. A new busy filled with photo shoots and then hours of editing after said shoots. It is a new busy trying to balance the rest of life with this new, grand adventure. 


We have been busy with photo shoots. It is awesome and so life giving. I love it so much. I experience God behind the camera and through photos. I get excited and energized. 


Now that it's official, I am waiting for YOUR business! Who's next?

And then there is a different new. 

The new of having a toddler. A full blown, emotional, stubborn, independent, loving, affectionate, stubborn toddler. Some think he may have gotten his stubborness from his mother, but I have no idea what they are talking about.

This is so new for me. I never thought I would love an 17 month old. I mean, come on. Who falls in love with that tantrum thrower in the doctors office? Oh, how I love him. He is so fun. What a great age.  And all the while I am completely in shock that I love this age so much. This is a whole love of new. 


And then there is the newness of my job. Each fall the Michigan Division of InterVarsity holds a fall conference. We are anticipating over 600 people in attendance (students, staff and volunteers). During the conference the students pick a track to be involved in. We are expecting about 50 students per track. Because of the growth, we have had to add new tracks. Enter me.

I am in the process of developing a curriculum for this track time as well as directing the track during the conference. I am so so so excited for it. I am excited to dive deep into scripture, to work with staff and to help students experience God in a trasnformational way through scripture. The track is going to be called, "1 Samuel: Hey, I am talking to you!"

This is so new. I have never directed a track, let alone writing all of the curriculum for it. It is going to be stretching, and challenging. I am going to have to depend on God for strength and direction. It is going to be so good. 


Because sometimes new, is good. 

haven't been around much

But don't give up on me!

Wait. Maybe you didn't know I went away.

Well, not away. Just not blogging, because life got busy.

So busy.

With good things. SO MANY GOOD THINGS.

And some hard things.

But mostly, I have been working, mommying, wifing, erranding, homemaking, and sleeping.

And yes, I just made up some verbs.

The end.