Monday, September 8, 2014

The Weekend

Since the end of July I have been home exactly 14 days. Not 14 days in a row, but 14 days scattered here and there amongst the 39 my calendar says have passed. You could write your name in the dust on my dining room table.

But! I am home all week and I am happy. And there will be dusting happening round here so whoohoo!

These past few days have been a bit of a blur between the wedding dress adventure and then attending Women of Faith all weekend with my mom. All I can say about both is wow. WOW!

Actually, that's not all I can say because why use one word when you can use two hundred  ten?


Have you ever attended a Women of Faith event? This was my first time, and I absolutely loved it. My mom and I went to the one in the city of Brotherly Love, aka Philadelphia. I'd given my mom the tickets as a Christmas present last year, and it was especially nice having her there with me.

I was familiar going in with most of the speakers, but not all, and I was definitely already a fan of the musicians on the roster. Natalie Grant performed Friday night, and Matthew West on Saturday afternoon, and they were both better than awe.some. I bought five Cd's if that tells you anything.

Yes I still play Cd's, especially in my car where I can play them loud.

My girls are smiling at that last line. They've been jolted out of their skin a time or two upon getting into my car. What can I say? Some music is meant to be played loudly and sung at the top of your lungs in the privacy of your own vehicle.

All the speakers were terrific, but the one who really made me squirm so to speak, was Christine Caine. I wasn't familiar with her story going in, but she is a truly dynamic speaker who made me feel like I needed to leave there immediately and get busy doing. We talk a lot about retirement in our house and what that will look like. One of the things she said in her message was that God didn't create us to retire. He created us to keep going forward, growing, learning, expanding His kingdom. I'm gonna have to let hubs know-ha!

I bought her book, Unstoppable: Running the Race You Were Born to Win, and it is speaking to me right where I am in this slightly confusing, middle age-empty nest-what's next, season of life.

Pete Wilson, pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, gave an excellent message on the life of Joseph and how would we respond to life's hard, seemingly unfair circumstances if we lived completely confident in the knowledge that God has a plan? I made a point of meeting him afterwards and got him to sign a copy of his book for me, Plan B.


When I first started my blog back in 2009 I had no idea what I was doing. I was living in England, preparing for a big move back to the states, and I just had so many words in my head that my husband said I really should be blogging. I had only a vague notion of what a blog was, and I guess I never imagined anyone actually reading what I wrote. And if by chance someone did read my words, was I ready for that? To be real and vulnerable the way I think the best writers are? Somehow Pete Wilson landed on my blog in those very early days, and he left me a very encouraging comment about my writing at a time when I was still on the fence about this whole blog thing. I so appreciated that and others who were kind too, when my blog was in its infancy.

It's often the little things, isn't it?


I feel like my mind and my heart are so full today. I'm glad I have some less busy days at home right now so I can mull it all over. Hubs is happy to have me home too.


We had a really wonderful day yesterday watching the Jets beat the Raiders on a gloriously blue sky Sunday afternoon. That 9/11 flag rolled out for all the world to see still does me in.


So what's on your calendar this second week of September? My baby has a birthday this week. She's turning 24, but neveryoumind. She will always be my baby. Happy Monday everyone!

12 comments:

  1. I've taken a Christine Caine video bible study class before. Her story is very interesting. Glad you got so much out of going.

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  2. I love Women of Faith. I've been to 3 or 4 of their events, but it's been several years now. Glad you had such a great time.

    My baby has a birthday this week too. She'll be 20! Wow! Where did the time go?

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  3. I've never heard of Christine Caine, so I'll have to check her out. Oh, I think so much about "where to from here." I so want the rest of my days to count more than the past of my days but I hardly know where to start. Perhaps I need to read Plan B. Will check that out too.

    Glad you have some time at home. I don't know how you keep up with yourself. :o)) Enjoy your week!

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  4. I love Women of Faith... so much to take in in such a little bit of time.
    I'm checking out that book - I see the words "Run & Race" & I'm checking it out :)

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  5. I've not done a Women of Faith weekend. Our church is doing Emmaus Weekends. Joe went a couple of years ago, but I've not made the commitment yet. Women of Faith appeals to me more. So glad you had that awesome time away, and got to spend it with your mom. Enjoy your week at home and don't worry about the dust!!

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  6. Great post and I listened to Christine's video and put her book in my cart on Amazon. I love how she motivated you! I definitely need to get busy doing and my experience this week end made me realize how short life can be. I can't sit back and do nothing. How fun that you were able to go to a game, those are always good times. We are going to Chicago a week from Wednesday for our 45th class reunion. Have fun celebrating your baby's birthday......

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  7. I have heard of Women of Faith but not sure if there has ever been one held close by. Hmm.
    Sheesh, even if I'm home there is dust on my dining room table. Ha.
    Just yesterday, I told the Hubby that a Sewhawk game was obviously long overdo. He said he'd get right on that. He's easy like that. :)
    Happy Birthday to your 'baby.'

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  8. I attended a Women of Faith event about 12 years ago. It was great. I'm glad to hear your comments about Christine Caine. My dil called last night to see about going next week. Christine Caine is also going to be at the Dallas WOF.

    Sometimes I wonder about being retired, too. My husband and I both have retired and I see both pros and cons of it. I like to stay busy and so being retired has just meant not going to an office each day and earning a pay check.

    The dust is very thick at my house right now, too. I just don't worry about it as much as I used to.

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  9. I went to a Women of Faith event 15 years ago but unfortunately haven't been since. I love Christine Caine. She was friends with our old pastor so actually came to our church to speak. Woman of God and very powerful impacting speaker!

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  10. I am with you on the retirement thoughts, it seems like such an unknown. A looming unknown!
    I love that you were able to talk to the pastor who encouraged you, what a kiss on the cheek from God!
    I think your Hubs likes you :)

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  11. My baby turned 39 last week. 39?!?!?!?

    Dust ... it's so easy for me to ignore ... as long as no one touches the dust to reveal its presence. ;-)

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  12. Only home 14 days, out of 39?! That's a lot of traveling, but it sounds like you're having a ball :)
    As for that dust...it'll just come right back. It always does :(

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