Standing In The Gap

Yesterday, I tempted fate.

I teetered on the brink of death, gazed at hundreds of feet below me as I hung in the air upside down, and heard blood piercing screams of horror from all sides. I saw tears, and fear, in peoples eyes, including my own.

Yep, I rode a massive rollercoaster.

Not just any rollercoaster, mind you. The Nighthawk, at Carowinds. I not only made the crazy decision to ride this rollercoaster, knowing full well that I really did not like rollercoasters, but I suffered through an hour wait in anticipation of the 70 seconds of fear I would get to experience. ( I should also add, that the peer pressure from my 12 year old daughter to ride the ride with her was merciless, which was really my reason for giving in. What a mom wont do to keep her kids happy. Geesh).

Anyway, aside from those 70 seconds of sheer terror, of which I spent most of the time with my eyes closed shut (and when I did open my eyes I didnt like what I saw), I had a great day. The weather was perfect, not too hot, and the crowd level was low, so with the exception of this one ride, the lines were not long at all. We had a great time and hated to see the day end.

I did ride a few other coasters, which were not nearly as heart-stopping as the first one, and one in particular made me think about something. It was called The Ricochet, and was mainly a jerky ride, where you practically tipped off the edge of the track just before you were jerked back to safety.

Each time we neared the edge, my stomach sunk, and I had a quick thought about what would happen if a chain broke, a gear jammed, or a mechanism failed - and how close I would be to death if that were to happen. Now I know these parks are safe, but I cant help it! Although I have been known to take a few risks at times, Im not much of a dare devil. My kids call me a wimp, but I can live with that.

Anywhoo..... as I was teetering on the brink of death praying that nothing would break and that I would be abruptly jerked back to safety, I wondered how many other times I have been in impending danger, and was protected by God, whether I realized it or not.

I think back on my college years, and wonder how I ever made it out alive. God must have been there protecting me when I made bad decisions and gave little thought to the consequences of some of my actions.

I thought about how fearful I was that I would not ever be able to have a baby, but remembered how my heart was overwhelmed as I looked at the glow of Christs forgiveness and mercy shining through the big blue eyes of my first baby girl.

I thought about my son who was born with premature lungs and could not draw his first breath, but how God protected him and has helped him grow into an active little boy.

I thought about when my 18 month old daughter fell through an attic in a two story home, landing on the hard garage floor, and did not have one broken bone in her tiny little body.

I thought about how each of my children are healthy and happy, and how God has protected us from illness or harm.

I thought about how my marriage is still going strong, despite the challenges of marriage, family and finances, and the trend of divorce that plagues our country today.

And I remember how God was surely there that day that I was turning left in my car, with my blinker on, and just as I turned, a white truck going as fast as lightning came out of nowhere, passing me on the left, "brushing" against my car and then spinning wildly into a nearby yard.

Me and my three small children were in my car the day we had that "near-death" experience. Had that truck hit us, we probably would have been in serious, if not critical, condition - maybe worse. It is still hard to believe how we averted that accident - but obviously, God was there to push that truck away just far enough away to miss us. A millimeter of movement, in a millisecond of time.

In fact, it was so close, that the trucks bumper left an eight inch deep scratch on my front bumper. Now that is close. So close to leave a scratch, but far enough away that I didnt even feel the bump.

God had to have been there in these few circumstances, and so many countless others that I can remember. But what gives me chill bumps the most, is wondering how many other near-death experiences, or impending harmful or painful situations, that God has averted for me. How many other times was He present, wrapping His arms of protection around me, surrounding me with a cushion of angels, and I didnt even realize it?

These thoughts have prompted me to remember, that as we go through our daily lives, we need to try to not be so oblivious to the invisible Savior that is walking beside us.

For example, each time I get behind a really slow car going less than the speed limit, I admit that at first I may get annoyed, but then I tell myself that God must be protecting from something ahead of which I need to be slowing down. Maybe it is a deer in the road, a child on a bike, a car in the wrong lane - whatever it is, I have to believe that God knows what is best for me, and that He is protecting me, even though I dont understand it.

Each time I dont get a speaking engagement I was hoping for, or an opportunity that I had prayed for, I try to remember that God must have a reason for that decision.

I have to remind myself often to try to remember that God is with me, as I am sure you do too. Sometimes we get so caught up trying to be in control of our lives, and running around doing all of our important daily things, that we forget who is really holding the steering wheel of our destiny.

A close call with death is a stark reminder of Gods protection. I have never had that scratch on my bumper repaired, because every day when I go to get in my car and see that big long scratch, I am reminded of His love for me and my family. I am reminded of how He was there that day, standing in the gap between my car and the out of control truck. I am reminded of how angels caught my baby when she fell from the roof and how God breathed breath into my sons newborn lungs. I am reminded to thank Him for His goodness and protection, even during times I didnt acknowledge His presence.

It may seem silly to think that I need a scratch on a car to remind me of Gods omnipotence and greatness, but I am only human, and in such need of Gods grace and mercy. Thank goodness His mercies are renewed for us daily. That in itself, is a tremendous, undeserved blessing.

If the truth be told, I have lots of little reminders sitting around my house to remind me to praise God, to be thankful for all He has done that I know about, and that I dont know about it. To help me remember that He is with me every second of the day, even if I dont see Him, or know He is there. Ill try to share some of those reminders with you soon.

As you go about your weekend, be on the lookout for the invisible. You never know when He could protecting you from harm, standing in the gap for you, holding back pain that you cant even imagine, and filling your life with blessings that you didnt even know you wanted or needed.

Reckless

I opened my daily devotion, and the theme verse for the day was Matthew 14:29-30, "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

When I first starting reading, I thought to myself, "oh, I know this passage backwards and forwards and in my sleep - the story of Peter stepping out in faith onto the stormy waves. A great story of faith and keeping our eyes focused on Christ."

But today there was a different focus, and the key word used was "reckless". It went on to explain that we are to be reckless in our faith - not habitual, not routine, not guarded. But reckless.

If you ask me, reckless doesnt sound like a good thing, does it? Who wants to be considered a "reckless person"? I know I dont!

I looked up the official definition of reckless, and it said this: utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution.

Okay, so when it comes to doing stupid things in life without any caution or thought, reckless is definitely not a good thing. Reckless behavior usually results in negative consequences, pain and problems. Trust me, Ive been there.

But when it comes to our faith, recklessness would be an awesome quality to have.

Reckless faith would be a faith so strong that we live out loud for God, regardless of the consequences.

That we open ourselves up to be the hands and feet of Christ, in situations where most people are keeping their distance.

That we try to reach people who everyone else has deemed unreachable.

That we love people, who are not lovable and dont return that love.

That we forgive people, who dont deserve our forgiveness, making other people wonder if we have our head own straight.

Reckless faith. Faithful, without fear of consequence or judgement.

Peter was reckless, in earthly terms, because he jumped out of the boat during a raging storm without a flotation device, into waves that were big enough to capsize his entire boat. But actually, it wasnt Peter that was reckless, it was Peters faith.

He obeyed, without thinking. I bet Jesus liked that.

As I thought more about this term, I determined that by "reckless faith", God means we need to recognize and do what He would have us do - regardless.

Reckless in our faithful actions, our faithful thoughts, and our faithful words, and reckless in our service.

About seven years ago, I felt God calling me to lead the womens ministry at my church. At the time I was the poster child for the overwhelmed-overcommitted-stressed out-crazed eyeball career woman/mom trying to do it all. But after much prayer and anticipation, I agreed to assume the role. Reckless? Yes. Did Jesus like it? I bet so. And it drew me closer to Him than ever before.

A few years later, God called me again to step out of my boat, and asked me to share my testimony with others, and speak and write, knowing full well it would cause me embarassment and hurt. But after years of not obeying, I finally took that first step. I had to share experiences that I wasnt proud of, but God had called me to reckless faith. And I was blessed by that recklessness.

There may be a few other times in my life when I exhibited reckless faith, but there are many more countless times where I chose to stay safely in my boat.

It is so much easier to stay afloat in the safety of our comfort zone, than to step out into stormy waters hoping that Jesus will be there to rescue us. That my friend, is why it is called reckless. Reckless dependence, and reckless trust.

How is God calling you to be reckless for Him today?

Not Just Grown Ups, but Messengers

Thanks for dropping by today! If you read todays Proverbs 31 devotion, you already know how important it is to reach todays teens with the Word of God.

With two teen daughters of my own, I come in contact with so many girls who need Jesus. From beautiful girls dressed in the trendiest clothes, to girls who favor the look of the dark side. From Student Council members to students barely getting by. From cheerleaders, to the unpopular. From star athletes, to those sitting on the bleachers. Girls of every color, size, shape, ethnicity and culture.

But no matter what type of the girl they are, they are a girl who needs Jesus. The hard part is figuring out how to build a relationship with them that will foster opportunities to share Christ.

As I mentioned in the devotion, we have a small window of opportunity to reach teens with the love of Christ, whether it be middle school, high school, or college age girls.

Do you remember what you were like in high school? I certainly do, and since during that time of life I was smarter than my parents and anyone else I knew (ha ha!), I may not have been receptive to preaching and teaching about Jesus had I not grown up in a Christian home. So, it is not hard to see why kids who have never been exposed to Jesus, and never had a loving adult help them see the importance of a Savior in their heart, would tend to be turned off by religion. Its not their fault, they are just a victim of circumstance who never got the message.

My heart actually breaks for teens who are so lost, so unaware, and dont even know it. If only they could seek Gods wisdom in prayer, instead of seeking attention and popularity, at all costs. If only they could feel the love of a devoted Father, instead of sacrificing their purity in an attempt to gain an empty love. If only they could see themselves through Gods eyes, instead of just what they see in the mirror. I wish I could just put my arms around them and tell them all these things, but I know they would look at me like I had two heads.

I am the first to admit, it is hard to reach girls in this age group. For one, we dont want to mortally embarrass our own teen daughters by acting like religious fanatics, or so they would say. Secondly, it is not always comfortable to approach someone who you dont know all that well. And thirdly, nobody likes rejection! We often fear that reaching out to the younger generation is beyond our capability, that we are not equipped, or that they wont be interested in what we have to say simply because we are a grown up.

Many teens may react that way, but it could be simply because they have not ever experienced Gods grace. They have never known that peace is attainable, because they grew up in an home full of turmoil. They have never seen the power of prayer. They have never had anyone share their testimony with them. They have never known that Jesus saves. They are simply unaware.

As Christian adults, we are not just grown ups, we are messengers. Messengers with a message that can change the lives of those who receive it. Messengers who are equipped through our faith and commitment to Christ to get the message out to those who need to hear it. Messengers who dont need to be biblical scholars or trained counselors, but who simply need to use the voice God provided them to relay The Message.

A message of hope and love that can turn someones life around forever.

Think about the young girls, from 12 years old to college age, who God has placed in your life. Those girls did not just happen to cross your path, they were divinely placed there for such a time as this. Are you taking advantage of your open window?

If you have ever felt God calling you to reach out to young girls in your neighborhood, school, or community, then Proverbs 31 offers a great way to help you get started, called Gather and Grow groups.

Gather and Grow groups are membership-based groups that meet locally on a regular basis all over the country. Proverbs 31 provides the group leader with spiritually encouraging materials from the Proverbs 31 Ministries Resource Center, that are designed to lead discussions that will offer godly perspectives to the issues facing today’s teens. The goal is to provide a setting for girls to talk about their feelings and learn about Jesus in an atmosphere that they are comfortable with.

Groups can meet anywhere, anytime, and as often as you would like. For more information on Gather and Grow groups, visit the P31 blog for teen girls, at http://www.radrevolution.blogspot.com/, and click on the "get connected" tab. You can also email Lynn Cowell with any questions, at Lynn@proverbs31.org .

But whether you feel called to take on a leadership role to organize a group, or you just want to reach out to a teen that God has placed in your life, I urge you today to pray for Gods wisdom, strength and courage to take that first step. With each day that passes, our window of opportunity gets just a little smaller, and you never know what the future holds.

Several years ago my daughter knew a young boy who was killed in a tragic accident. The loss was very sad, but her heart also broke because she wasnt sure if he knew Jesus before he died. A tear came to her eye as she said, "I wish I had shared Jesus with him when I had the chance". A message from God out of the lips of a child, straight to the heart of a grown up.

One life can change countless lives, and procrastination sometimes closes the window altogether. So many young girls are unaware, and the urgency is now.

Our willingness to step out of comfort zones and share Gods love with those who need it, even it feels a little uncomfortable, could impact the Kingdom of God for generations to come.

*Click on the Next Generation tab above to view my youth event speaking topics. If you would to check my availability for your upcoming church event, please email Barb@proverbs31.org.

*Your prayers would be coveted for the sweet boy injured in the accident mentioned in todays devotion. You can visit his website at www.prestonloyd.com

Cartwheels in Heaven

Well, I guess it seems that I was missing in action last week! Me and little Michael stayed so busy every day while the rest of the family was on the mission trip, that we both collapsed into bed each night, leaving no time for blogging!

But even though I wasnt writing with my fingers, I was writing in my heart. All week long I seemed to keep thinking of things I could post, but nothing just felt right. It was like I couldnt focus on anything in depth. My mind would race from one subject to the next, never landing on anything for any length of time.

The reason for that, apparently, was because my heart was missing something. My heart was void of something very very important, that gives me the motivation to write, speak and worship.

What was missing, was hope.

God has been talking to me all week about it, gently and very subtly. I dont know if it is for your benefit, or for my own comfort and reassurance, but today God has prompted me to write about hope.

There are a lot of things we are hopeful about, in fact we use the word "hope" quite flagrantly - "I hope I get to go to the beach this summer; I hope my child wins their ballgame; I hope I get that job I interviewed for."

Hope is simply a part of our every day language, and as a result, I think sometimes we forget how crucial real hope is.

I too have hope about many things, including the fact that I put my total hope and belief that Jesus Christ will one day return. No doubt about it. He died for me and you, arose from the grave, and will return. But what about having anticipation and expectation about other things in life until He does return? That is the hope that is hardest to hold on to.

My heart has felt like it had a two-ton boulder pressing on it lately, worrying about my sweet sister Christie.

Each day is a challenge for her, as she battles her Multiple Schlerosis, and each day/month/year seems to bring new difficulties. The disease is progressing, and there is nothing we can do about it, except watch with heartbreak and fear.

One day last week, my sister said she had a dream. In this dream, she was running, doing cartwheels, jumping and playing with her kids. It went for a long time, and she was happy and laughing.

Then she woke up. To reality. A reality where she cant run. A reality where carefree romping and playing is nothing more than a memory. A reality filled with pain and disappointment and a lack of hope. Then she cried. Then I cried.

I have prayed for her healing so many times that it has probably become a mute point with God. I have begged for comfort for her so many times, that God is surely tired of hearing it. I have pressured God for understanding so many times, that He is probably ready to give this daughter a spanking.

I have begged Him for a sign of hope, but have yet to see one. Hope seems to be just an illusion, beyond our grasp, taunting us about the unknown, testing our faith.

I found myself thinking, is hope really real? Is hope possible, when a situation seems hopeless? Is physical healing possible, when all odds seem to be against it? Is comfort and freedom from pain really attainable, when every cell inside a body is raging a war against itself? Is peace actually available, for those who find no end to the hurting?

Is hope nothing more than an unrealistic wish that we make out of the desperation of the longing of our hearts?

In my quest to find an answer, I looked up the definition of hope, and it is "the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best; to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence; to feel that something desired may happen".

Well that sounds all well and good; a nice, warm and fuzzy answer.... but seriously?

As I continued reading the definitions for hope, I came across the last one, which said: 'hope against hope', defined as "to continue to hope, although the outlook does not warrant it".

As I pondered that thought, my spirit leaped a tiny bit. I began to see that God has been trying to reassure me, and to help me find the illusory hope that has been missing from my heart.

In retrospect over the past week, I can see how He filled my days with gentle, subtle reminders that He heard the cries of my heart, and that my hope in Him can be strong. I see how He was trying to lead me to a place of acceptance that I can continue to have hope, even when the facts do not warrant it.

Dont ever believe that God cant send an email, because He has been keeping my inbox full lately! He "sent" me the following verses in email this week, through devotions and people:

John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."

Jeremiah 17:14 "Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise."

If you think I just pulled these verses up because they seemed appropriate, think again kemosabi. They appeared in my inbox on their own, all with the same theme of believing in God without fail, trusting the unseen, finding peace, and believing in hope. I even came across an article about hope. And today, during our Sunday School lesson, we discussed the topic of hope. Irony? Absolutely not. God speaking? Absolutely.

God was plugging into my heart, using as many outlets as He could to infuse the power of hope back into my life.

He was simply waiting on me to hear Him. To allow His reassurance to saturate my heart, and fill up that empty space that had been as dry and void of life as the hot, sandy desert in the middle of summer.

If you ask me, hope is as essential for survival as is food and water. When someone gives up hope, expectations, and anticipation of good things, then there is nothing to look forward to. Maybe nothing to live for. Hope is life giving. Without hope, there can be no life, and life is a gift, even when it involves suffering.

How many times have we heard that "God didnt promise a life without suffering"? Too many to count probably. How many more times have we forgotten that truth? I dont know about you, but I cant even keep count of my own forgetfulness, because I dont like suffering! I dont like to see anyone else suffer either. It makes me sad; and at times, angry; and I feel powerless.

No, I cant understand the purposes of suffering; I dont see the reason; I cant imagine what benefits could possibly be derived. But I also know that it is not for me to understand. God is God, and I am not. His ways, are not our ways. His omnipotence is not for me to understand. I may not like it, but I must still love Him, and trust in Him, nonetheless.

I can only maintain the faith and belief that God uses all things to His glory, in one way or another, and without hope in that truth, then life and sufferings, seem pointless. I have to maintain a hope that He may heal people now, he may heal them later in life, or he may heal them when He calls them home.

My sisters nine year old daughter responded to her dream that morning after she had it. She told mommy not to worry, because one day, they could do cartwheels in heaven together. Even though hearing that brought an instant tsunami of tears to my eyes, it also opened my eyes to what hope is really all about it. Out of the mouths of babes. Hope is a treasure that can fill the gaping holes in our heart if we reach out and drink it in.

I think the key is having that hope against hope. A hope that continues to believe that God does hear, He is working, and He can heal, even when everything I see with my human eyes does not warrant it.

I will never stop praying and hoping for Christies healing, and I hope that He chooses to knit her back to perfect form. What an amazing miracle that would be, what glory that could bring Him as we shouted His praises to the world!

But I have to commit to holding fast to my faith, and keeping faith in who God is, and not what He does. That will be hard, and there will be more days where I will need Him to help me have hope against hope. Maybe even tomorrow.

Whether any of us do cartwheels here on the green grass, or in heaven on white fluffy clouds, is Gods decision - but believing that He was, is and will forever Be, is where hope has to begin.

Psalm 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

Psalm 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;my hope comes from him.

Psalm 119:14 You are my refuge and my shield;I have put my hope in your word.

Psalm 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;I have put my hope in your word

Set Apart

This morning we got up early, packed the car, and headed over to the church. Michael, Morgan and Kaitlyn, and 50 other teenagers and more chaperones, left today for the World Changers mission trip. They are headed to Savannah, Georgia, for an entire week, to repair homes for people who live in poverty and cant afford the expense of having their home repaired.

Their physical labor will primarily be doing roofing and painting, and minor household repairs. All of this will be done in extreme heat and difficult conditions. In fact, todays forecasted high for Savannah is 112 degrees! But a cool front is coming in (haha) and it should stay in the nineties most of the week. They have been strongly encouraged to drink lots and lots and lots of water, and try to eat something healthy at least once a day.

Most importantly, it is their spiritual labor that is the focus for the week. As our youth minister said this morning during prayer time before they departed, it is just absolutely hard to understand why these teenagers would voluntarily agree to drive hours to get to another city, work in unbearable heat, and repair homes for people they have never met, and will never meet again.

That is why the theme for this trip is to be "set apart", and by simply getting in that van and heading out, they are already setting themselves apart for Christ. They could have easily stayed home, saved money, hung out at the pool, and socialized with friends, but they chose to spend the week being willing servants. I am so excited for them, not only because of what they can do for others, but for what I know God will do in their hearts while they are doing His work.

Kaitlyn, who is 12 years old, was a little anxious about the trip. She didnt have any girls her age going (most participants were high school kids); she was very concerned about missing an important cheerleading camp that is taking place this week, which means she will have to learn all the routines on her own once she returns; and she will be missing two swim meets.

She had a smile on her face and assured me she would be fine, giving me that look that says "leave me alone mom", but I could see the anxiousness behind her big blue eyes. As I gave her a hug, I told her that I know God is going to do something amazing through her this week, and that He will reward her faithfulness. I know in my heart she will have a wonderful time, but please keep her in your prayers this week if you think about it.

And for all the kids that are going, I ask you to pray for them. They are a great group of teenagers, with a lot of potential to reach others for Christ, and minister to one another too. This week is not just about shingles and paint cans, but about being a light in the darkness for people who may have lost hope, and for growing in their own relationship with Jesus.

I really wanted to go on the mission trip, but I needed to stay home with Michael, plus they had enough chaperones. As I was secretly wishing that I was loading my luggage into the van and feeling a little left out, God pricked my heart this morning, and I was reminded that I dont have to leave the state, my community, or even my neighborhood to be a light for Christ. Its not about location, its about dedication! Then, when I got home, I received an email devotion today stating just that truth. Gods timing is so perfect!

Philippians 4:19 was the key verse, and it says "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." God can meet peoples needs in lots of ways, including through teenagers on mission trips. But God also uses us to meet the needs of others right where we live. I want to focus this week about illuminating the light of Christ through my every day life, and ask God to bring people to mind who need to hear from a friend, or need to meet a helpful stranger.

My prayer for the week is that each and every teen going on this mission trip will have a divine encounter this week. A divine appointment where they can share Christ with someone, and experience a God-ordained purpose that they didnt know they had.

While I am holding down the fort here at home with my little buddy, who I get to spend a whole week with enjoying mommy/son time, I pray my eyes will be open to see the people God puts in my path, and the wisdom to be His light, when He calls.


Lets focus on being "set apart" for Christ this week together.

______________________________________________________________________________
Here are a few pictures of this mornings send off to Georgia:

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Leviticus 20:26 You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

The Rain Stayed Away!

Hallelujah, we finally made it through an entire swim meet tonight! Over the past two weeks, every time we have tried to have a meet, the rain pours, the lightning strikes, and the thunder roars. But today, the rain came, the rain went, and then everyone swam their little hearts out - and won the meet by over 200 points!

Michael and Kaitlyn swam super great tonight, both winning first place in at least one heat, and several second places. Whoo hoo! Its a very time consuming sport, but the kids love it and it is awesome exercise for them. Morgan is not on the team this year, because she had too many school conflicts, but she is also a great swimmer. This is our 5th year doing swim team, and is something we look forward to every summer.

Guess we just have a house full of little Nemo's who just want to keep swimming! Between swim practice five days a week and all the swim meets, I dont know how they dont stay shriveled up all the time, but the fun and excitement of it outweighs a little bit of shriveled up skin I suppose. :)

Here are a few shots of our evening:

A quick shot before the pool got too busy....(which actually took five minutes, since they were both mortally embarrased that I was taking their picture at all)

Michael diving off the block to start his heat.........
Kaitlyn doing the 50 meter back stroke.....

Kaitlyn doing the 50 meter breast stroke....

Hmmmmm, Michael standing around and looking at all the girls? Not a good a sign.

Kaitlyn and a few of her swimming buddies....

Everyone jumping in the pool after learning of our victory, and celebrating in the cool night air!

Now Im off to bed... have to get well rested for tomorrow nights swim meet, and Thursday nights swim meet, and all the 9am practices. Did I say fun? Actually, it is.

And I know that one day I will wish I had a million places to be and a million places to take the kids, so for now, I will just keep on polishing that taxi cab sticker on my car, and treasuring every moment.