i did it!

For the first time ever in my 35 years...

today, I got a pedicure. 

Huge accomplishment, I know. 

Sorry to get your hopes up. 

However, it is kind of a milestone for me because I'm not a huge fan of people messing with my feet...especially my toes. For some reason I had visions of toe-excavations and huge cheese graters being used. But it wasn't like that at all. 

I have to admit, it was nice. 

The foot and leg massage, 

the exfoliating scrub, 

the hot stone treatment, 

the full body massage chair after the pedicure, 

even the complimentary frozen yogurt with hawaiian fruit...

all very nice. 

I see more pedicures in my future.

"way behind" wednesday

Ok. 

 I am way behind on my blogging. 

Blame it on my malfunctioning computer...

or uncooperative camera... 

or my Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Monday...

or the rain sweltering heat...

whatever the reason, I've got some catching up to do!

Let's start with Mother's Day.
After a (mostly) relaxing morning at home
(we go to church on Saturday night),
and some wonderful cards and gifts,
we met my parents and brother at Olive Garden for a yummy lunch
(gotta love those bread sticks and salad!).

Then we lazed around the house until early evening and met some family and friends at the beach for a cookout.

Sam, his cousins, and friends had a great time jumping waves, playing with boogie boards and digging humungous trenches in the sand.

The dads cooked up some mean hamburgers and hot dogs, and wrestled each other into the water (Marko has a broken toe to show for it {shaking head}....BOYS!!)
And the mommas...relaxed!

This was Ava's first time at the beach (even though we only live 20 mins away from it...sad. I know.) and she did really good. She liked the sand and the water (a BIG plus, since I hope to be there a lot this summer!) but wasn't too crazy about the wind.

All in all, it was a fabulous day!

empty...

...is what I want to be today.

Empty of my selfishness.

of my own plans.

of an uncaring heart.

of everything that is not of You.

Please come and fill me...

with Your Love,

with Your Compassion,

with Your Life,

with Your Light.

loving and obeying

I came across a journal entry that I wrote several months ago. The truth of it is still ringing in my ears...

Last night I was getting Sam ready for bed and he was not obeying me (for what seemed like the 50th time that day!). Instead of doing what I asked him to do he came up to me, wrapped his arms around my neck and said, 

"I love you soooooo much."

A statement that usually melts my heart, this time it sounded mocking and hollow.

I responded, 

"I love you too, but instead of telling me that you love me, I want you to show me by obeying me."

Instantly the Lord echoed those words in my heart.

"Don't just tell me how much you love Me, I just want you to obey Me."

I thought about how hollow Sam's "I love you" sounded in that situation. And how my own "I love you" must sound to God, when it is not accompanied by obedience.

Because Sam is four, his love for me is immature. It's based mostly on his feelings at the moment. He does whatever feels right- not realizing that a demonstration of true love towards me would be to obey whether he feels like it or not- trusting that what I've asked him to do is in his best interest.

Yet, even in my "maturity" as a child of Christ for over 20 yrs. I too, have an immature love for God sometimes. If I really loved Him with a secure, developed love- and truly understood His love for me- I would obey.

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." 

John 14:15 

Lord, please help me to love You. Please open my eyes to see when I'm just giving You lip service instead of truly obeying You. Please deepen my understanding of what it means to love You and to see clearly the love You have for me.

do you know that he knows?

Find out who...and what he knows here.

five question friday

 

 

 

Ok, so  I'm fresh outta things to say for the moment so I thought I'd cheat a little and do Five Question Friday today. Here goes...

1. Did you pass your driver's test on the first try?

 

Yes. BUT, I did not have to parallel park. Is that cheating?

2. What is your most embarrassing moment?

 

Okay, you should know that I go to great lengths to avoid embarrassment. GREAT LENGTHS! Sadly, my four yr old did not get this memo and asks me things in public, at the top of his lungs that would make a sailor blush. Ok, not that kind of stuff. But, questions like; "What's that smell...did you just toot?!?" or (about a woman wearing guy-ish clothes right next to us) "Is that a man or a girl?....No, I think it's a man!" and my personal favorite, "Mom, I gotta POOP!"

3. What TV show would you like to be on- Oprah, Biggest Loser, or What Not to Wear?

 

Oh, please, pu-leeez, put me on What Not To Wear! I could withstand the mocking, knowing that $5000 worth of clothes is coming my way! 

4. Would you ever get plastic surgery and what kind?

 

Um, ok. Here's the thing. I KNOW I should be happy with the body God gave me. And I was (mostly) until I had kids. But now that my middle has been stretched to the sun and back, I'd gladly accept a tummy tuck if someone offered it to me. But they never will. So, no. I'd never get plastic surgery. 

5. What are your favorite jeans to wear?

 

Ones that fit! I'm no respecter of jeans. 

 

 

 

So, there you go. Now mosey on over to Mama M.'s and see what everyone else is saying. Have a GREAT weekend! 

dear Lisa - part 2

Several days ago (challenged by a blog friend, Sami to journey together back to our First Love) I wrote a letter to myself, from God. In an effort to be completely vulnerable (something I'm working on with fear and trepidation) I have written a letter back to Him here.

losing my balance

When I was 4 yrs old, a neighbor girl, Angie, came over to our house to display her newly acquired cartwheel skills. Being the novice that she was, she fell and then promptly announced to me and my mom that she had lost her balance. Immediately I began looking under pillows and behind chairs, inside cupboards and on top of counters. When my mom asked me what I was doing I said, "Looking for Angie's balance!"

These days I am looking for balance in a different way. It seems like ever since Ava was born I cannot get back into full swing. I try to juggle my time between keeping the house, doing pre-school with my son, running errands, spending quality time with my kids and my man, and sitting at the feet of Jesus (not in that order...hopefully). Not to mention church stuff, family get togethers, pre-school co-op and play-dates. Oh, and blogging. ;O)

The problem is, something always gets dropped. And it's usually not the fun stuff! I let the laundry pile up. I put pre-school off for "one more day." I neglect my husband's physical needs (well, that is fun, but still...), etc. And all the while I'm thinking, "Lisa, get your act together!" 

So, I've been asking the Lord to show me what I can do to find my balance again. And this is what I'm hearing:

God: "Fruit of the Spirit." 

 Me: "Huh?" 

God: "Fruit of the Spirit. You know, love, joy, peace, self control..."

Me: "Ohhh..."

God: "Yep. If you're letting my Spirit control your life you will have the time and energy to accomplish everything I want you to do. And, you won't be wasting your time on things that I don't want you to do. Like spending too much time on the computer. And getting to bed waayyy too late." 

Me: "Okay. But you're gonna have to help me. I am so weak."

God: "I know. And I have fresh grace for you every time you need it. I AM the balance you are looking for."

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."

Galatians 5:22-25

So, as of this moment, I am making a new commitment to be led by the Spirit in all aspects of my life. Please feel free to hold me accountable (yes, Marko...that means you too!) to being the Spirit-led woman I'm supposed to be.

my abc's

Ok, I have a confession to make.

I am a sucker for finding-stuff-out-about-people lists! I love to read them, love to make them.

So, let the games begin...

A - Age: 35 (and now officially one of those people that says, "But, I still feel like I'm 18!")
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: Washing the floor
D - Dinner favorite: Tilapia with a slab of lemon herb butter (baked in foil packets), broccoli and crescent rolls.
E - Essential start your day item: Breakfast!
F - Favorite color: Turquoise or Bright Green
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H - Height: 5'
I - Instruments you play(ed): None, sadly. I have hopes to learn to play the piano in the next few years though.
J - Job title: SAHM , but the list could go on for pages!
K - Kid(s): Samuel and Ava
L - Living arrangements: Small-ish house with a small-ish yard on a quiet street.
M - Mom's name: Andrea, but everyone calls her Andi
N - Nicknames: Lees, Bev (short for Beverly, which a friend in h.s. started calling me because it rhymed with my last name, Eberly. Beverly Eberly...hilarious.)
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: D & C gone awry
P - Pet Peeve: People that are ALWAYS complaining!
Q - Quote from a movie: "You smell like beef and cheese"
R - Right or left handed: Left, but I cut with my right hand.
S - Siblings: Mark, Matt
T - Time you wake up: between 6-7a.m.
U - Underwear: Essential
V - Vegetable you dislike: Okra. The slimy, hairy combo sends me over the edge.
W - Ways you drink your coffee: Disguised as a Frappuccino
X- X-rays you've had: Teeth, chest, neck, back
Y - Yummy food you make: Lasagna
Z - Zoo favorite: Dolphins