The Great Pumpkin Chase.....

Do you ever feel like you are on a big hunt? Kinda like chasing the great pumpkin or hunting some easter eggs? By the way - I STILL love to hunt Easter eggs - will I ever grow up?!?!? *SMILE* Okay okay back to the whole hunting thing....I have been hunting for a church. Or maybe I should call it the "unhunt".

I have been visiting Daniel (my younger brother) and his wife Emily in Valpo, Indiana. Today, I went to their church GracePoint. Something that was confirmed for me today was just how much I need to really seek the Lord on finding a church home. Growing up I never saw my parents trying to decide what church to go to in the community. The church was why we came to the community. And to be honest, I have gone mostly where my faimly has served.

Another reason I don't think I have been proactive in finding a church home is because sometimes it hurts to go. Most churches are geared towards families - so what if your family consisits of the four-legged type....then what? Honestly, there have been moments that I have left church feeling worse than when I went in. So why go?

Today the sermon hit home for me. I needed to hear it. My heart needed to hear it. It was on pivotal circumstances.....it made for an emotional time. I know, some of you are saying - of course....dang waterworks! Oh for the love....I wish that I was like this rock of steel - but I'm not. Probably won't ever be. And to be quite honest the more pivotal circumstances I have in my life the more tender my heart becomes and the more tears that flow. Just so you know I'm hearing Justin Timberlake sing --- "cry me a river..." in my head! *wink* Oh come on - you know it! You love it!! You were thinking about the song too!! *SMILE*

Speaking of songs ... here's part of another one that I think of when dealing with pivotal circumstances....and of course we worshipped with this song....
"I will trust You in the pain
When I can't see past today
When it's hard to lift my
hands to praise You, I will trust You" (Daniel Doss, Ronnie Freeman)

So I guess the question is - am I gonna trust Him in my pain? Are you gonna trust Him in your pain? It's not easy. There have been times that all I can do is just stand there and weep - and sometimes I haven't been able to stand at all - it's simply been flat on my face weeping....

....I WILL trust you in the pain when I can't see past today when it's hard to lift my hands to praise you I WILL trust You....

Trust - it's not knowing what is gonna come tomorrow..... but knowing He will get me through it.
Trust - it's believing that He is still God and HE IS GOOD....
Trust - it's believing that He has a purpose....
Trust - it's knowing that the victory is won....
Trust - it's a confident expectation

"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge, He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18: 1-2

Ummmm so.....

after reading my last post I thought.....it looks as if I am serious about buying car number 3! That would be a TOTAL negative! Just thought I would clarify....I mean I AM a teacher....and none of us got into teaching because of the paycheck! *SMILE* Car #3 was simply fun to test drive and then walk away!

Now that's out of the way - I thought I would post some pics.... a couple before and after pics. My little Sadie boo......

So these pics would be the "before".....

Sadie usually looks like a little scrub muffin - all scruffy! I love it but sometimes her face hair gets in the way. It is hard for her too see, however I don't want to take her to the groomer b/c I don't want her trimmed all over. And now comes the after pic. I decided the other night to take matters in my own hands. (Sorry Sadie, momma has learned her lesson!)

Sooo here is the "after"....... Now, I'm gonna take you through a photo shoot of Sadie - she hates to pose....so here are how many pics it took me to simply get one stinkin' picture of the little pup's face and it's only b/c I dangled a treat in front of her. I should have done that from the start!

umm yes, I'm serious! See how frustrating this process can be??? And I did it ALL for you! Just so you could see how utterly ridiculous I am!

The above would be Jackson (her bestie) getting in the way. Now, he IS a poser!!! If anyone gets a camera out it's like he becomes the next contestant on America's Next Top Model!

almost.........

aaaand ta da!!!

I would like for you to take note of the choppy uneven facial hair and how HUGE her ears look! However, please also note that she still has both of her eyes and there was no bleeding in the process of the "grooming". And yes I use the word grooming lightly! Oh she looks sooo bad here!!! Bless her!