More

We had such a great time camping. I will elaborate more in a later post. For now, I am letting you all know that we decided to leave the tents up. We are about to head back up there, this time with the kids, and are going to spend one more night before tearing everything down. The kids are really excited and this is turning out to be a really great Labor Day weekend.

Also, two of the singers in the praise band were out of town this week so I was invited to sing with the praise band. I was excited and nervous. Our church has no shortage of musical talent. During prayer time this morning I specifically asked God to help me hear my part and to be confident in it. Through one of the other band members God said "Loose yourself in Me and you will find what you are seeking".

I don't think that what God said only relates to my singing. As we loose ourselves in Christ, as we give more and more of ourselves to Him, we find what we are seeking. My bible study this morning (I'm sorry some of you are getting tired of hearing that=)) said it like this: We are pleased with too little. God has so much more for us, yet we settle for so little of Him.

Let's loose ourselves in Christ, and in doing so find the abundance that He has to give.

More of You, Lord.

More of You.

Bridget
"How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!...You drove them from me, You who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, You who are sweeter than all pleasure." St. Augustine

"We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go one making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." C.S. Lewis

Camping with God

You might think I'm joking. But I'm not. A group of friends that God has brought together felt invited by God to go camping with Him August 29th.

This week we have done a partial fast for breakfast and lunch (beverages but no food) and have met together at lunch to pray. Wednesday morning Brenda (in second pic with me) and I went to the campsite to set up one of the tents. Because it is a holiday weekend we wanted to set up early. After setting up the tent we walked around the site and prayed. God was already there preparing for us while we were at home preparing for Him.

Then on Thursday we went back out there to set up the other tent and Becca (the one taking these pictures with her camera phone) was able to meet us there to help. Again, after we were done we walked around the site and prayed. Then we met up between the picnic tables and prayed together. You could feel God's presence and then He blessed us tremendously by baptizing Brenda in the Holy Spirit. We are all so excited to spend time with God in this different way. And to spend time with each other. This tent is facing the river. It's back is to the road.

There's a slight chance of rain.

Our picnic area. It's surrounded by trees so it's kinda private.

The back of our tent. The front faces the picnic tables, the road is to the right, and the river is to the left.

Please pray for us, our children (who will not be camping), and the unknown campers that might experience the presence of God.

Bridget

Decorating and Desserts

I LOVE TO DECORATE!!!

In the past this has caused me some grief because I wasn't sure of God's view of decorating. And I wasn't sure of my own motivation.

Well, not only has God shown me that He loves beautiful things (just look at His creations) but He reminded me that my desire to decorate and enjoyment of it started way before I ever knew HGTV or TLC existed. As far back as junior high I remember arranging and rearranging my bedroom. I loved planning what to hang where and how to display things on the shelves.

*correction 8-27-08 My Mema has informed me that when I was as small as 3yrs I would move my nursery furniture around and at Christmas I would move the nativity scene around.

Since this is such a joy of mine I have been thinking for awhile about adding the subject of decorating to the blog. This will be the first such post.

I just made two new, completely original pillows today. Walmart had green, beige, and orange pillows in pairs for $10.00. There was only one pair of orange left. I couldn't resist. Then I headed to the craft isles. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, I just wanted something to embellish the pillows. I found some small bows in the Martha Stewart scrapbooking stuff. Then I got a bottle of fabric glue and I was done with both pillows in, literally, 30 minutes.
This is not actually the chair they reside in, but the flash on MIL's camera doesn't work so I had to move one of them to in front of a window. My computer chair happened to be closest. The bows are striped in brown, green, blue, orange, and beige. Two colors per bow. I am quite pleased.

Also, lately I have been in a menu rut. I pretty much rotate the same 10 meals. BORING! So tonight I tried a cousin's Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe. It was very good and very easy. So it got me to thinking; maybe some of you wonderful, brilliant, bloggy people have some delicious and EASY recipes you would love to share. Here's the thing: I am serious about the EASY. Like five ingredients or less. With minimal chopping and pealing and stirring and anything else that would require that I actually stay in the kitchen while dinner is cooking.

I don't have a dinner recipe to share tonight, but I do have a dessert. I call it Ding Dong Surprise because. basically. when my kids asked me what it was I didn't want to have to explain. So you first buy a package of Hostess Ding Dongs. Now I recommend getting the real deal. No generic here because if they are stale or the chocolate coating isn't quality is basically can ruin the desert. (I'm just trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about. I've never actually tried the generic so it really might be just fine.) You will also need some chocolate chip ice cream, or your favorite kind, and some Hershey's chocolate syrup.

Put the Ding Dong in a bowl and microwave it for 10-12 seconds. Then put a scoop of ice cream on top and drizzle with syrup. How good does that sound? Well, it tastes even better.



Satisfied customer.

So, thanks for helping a girl out and, seriously, try the Ding Dong thing.

Bridget

Warm Tile Floor

Last week RC asked me if I had noticed the tile floor in our bathroom being warm. I had not, so I went and checked it out. Sure enough, they were warm. Particularly in one spot.

The spot right next to our water heater.

Praise God, my FIL was able to find the leak and replace a small portion of the pipe without removing the water heater. This could have been so much worse. All it took was one afternoon spent next door watching movies while FIL did all the heavy lifting.=)

But now I miss my warm tile floor.

Bridget

Snaggletooth

*This happened before we went to Chicken Town for the horse rides. I found my MIL's camera happened to decide to work again so I snapped a quick pic and am just now downloading them to my computer. RC had come home for lunch as he does most days. The boys were wrestling and Popeye asked dad to be on his team. So it was Popeye and Dad against Bobo and Bear. While Bear was trying to get up from the floor Dad tried to punch him (lightly) in the stomach. He missed. He didn't actually knock the tooth out. It just happened to be loose enough for Bear to pull out after the blow to the mouth. =)

That'll teach him.

Bridget

Andre

Andre was my best friend in highschool. I had three. Two girls and Andre.

We all sang in choir together and three of us went to church together. Every morning on our way to school my sophmore year, by mom and I would pick Andre up. Then one of my other best friends moved onto his street so she took him to school our junior year. Then he got a car.

Andre was an amazing singer and musician. He was an amazing friend. He was an amazing person.

If you ever watched 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air' then you might have seen Carlton do the 'Carlton' dance. Andre could do the 'Carlton' and we loved it when he did.

Andre would let himself into our house via the keypad on our garage door, he had the code, would make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and would sit at our coffee table watching tv, eating his sandwich, and drinking a big glass of milk. My dad would come home and find him there and it never crossed Andre's mind that this was weird.

Andre was the mascot for our highschool. Our mascot is the Fighting Chick. As in chicken. A big purple chicken with a gold head. Andre was great at it.

Andre could hang out with anyone and usually did.

And Andre loved Jesus.

Andre would be turning 30 today. However, God chose to take him home in October of 2002.

Andre began his battle with lung cancer in 1998. He was not a smoker and was documented as the youngest person ever with this type of lung cancer. And everytime the opportunity arose to speak with someone about his situation he used it to share the love of Christ.

Andre attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK and while there got to sing a duet with Nicole Nordeman when she came to do a concert.

Andre was an inspiration to us all. I miss him, but I know that I will see him again. That's a wonderful promise we have in Christ.

Bridget

Three Posts in One

First of, I need to apologize to my father-in-law. Ronny, I'm sorry.

His birthday was August 12th and that day I thought about posting a Happy Birthday for him, but realized I didn't have a picture of him on this computer. I didn't go to the other computer right away and then forgot.

I'm so grateful for my father-in-law, and am really sorry I didn't get things done. I love you, Ronny!

Happy 58th! You don't look a day older than 57!=)

Second, we had a really great weekend! Princess got to go to a Cheerleading Clinic for little girls. My mom coaches the cheerleaders at the highschool she teaches at so Princess got to go a couple years early. The perks of being the coaches granddaughter. She loved it! My sister took some pics, but hasn't sent them to me yet. So I'll post those later.

The boys and I went horseback riding with some family. It was a blast! The horses were great and the ride lasted a whole hour! Bobo and Bear had their own horse and Popeye rode with my dad. My aunt Abby took a few pics before we got on the horses then her battery ran out. Being without a camera is getting frustrating! Trusting God to provide, though.

Lastly, we started school today. I'm looking forward to getting into the groove. The first couple of weeks can be tough until everyone gets the new routine down. Especially mom. The kids were really excited and did great. I am crazy tired even with a nap and still have to fix dinner and go to the grocery store tonight.

With that being said...

later internet peeps,

Bridget

Now, Jenni, you knew I was going to write a post about it...

Oh, happy day! My friend Jenni, with The Camera , brought me a surprise this afternoon! You need to know that Jenni is not only a great photographer, but she is an artist and writer as well. During our trip to Ikea Jenni promised to paint me an abstract painting that would go with my decor.

I was so excited!

She has the canvas prepared at home. However, there is no paint on it, yet.

So when she came over on Monday I was showing her where I thought the painting would look best. In my entry where no one will miss it!

Well, Jenni didn't bring by the painting, but she did bring by a beautiful photograph of an orange marigold that she took and she already had it framed and matted!!! She said it was to go in my entry till she gets the painting done!

I am so excited and it is so beautiful!!!

There is something about a beautiful photograph especially when it is taken by someone you know.

Thank you so much, Jenni! I love it!

Bridget

Aren't They Pretty!?!

So, my friend with The Camera sent me these.

See why I NEED this camera?????

Bridget

Perfectionism...and the havoc it wreaks

I'm not really sure where this post is going. I have a few ideas but I'm not sure how they will all connect. So, here we go...

This morning during the music part of our corporate worship I realized I hadn't posted lately about what God is doing in my life. I'm going to be honest with you, painfully actually, that the thought came to me because a few of the people I worship with read this blog and I wondered what they were thinking about me.

Please, don't roll your eyes just yet.

Praise God, (and I say that with all seriousness and sincerity) that I quickly realized that SELF was showing up in a big way. And in the middle of worship none the less.

First, I can promise you that they weren't thinking about ME, or this here blog. They were in no way, shape, or form wondering what was going on in my life and thinking that I must be backslidden because I hadn't posted anything about God lately. But that is what self does. Thinks everything is about ME.

Please hear me: I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING ISN'T ABOUT ME.

I'm just being honest with my experience hoping that my honesty resonates with others, if even just one, and points them to Christ.

So...this afternoon I asked God what I could share about that He has been doing in my life lately for the SOLE PURPOSE of blessing and encouraging others.

And this is what I heard in my spirit:
Perfectionism

Here's my story:

Two or three years ago my Mema sent me a book titled Healing for Damaged Emotions by Dr. David A. Seamands. My first response was, "I don't need to read this book." So it sat on my shelf.

Well, about three months ago, my Mema sent me an email asking if I still had the book and had read it yet. She also mentioned that she would get me another copy if I didn't have it anymore. I didn't email her back right away. Honestly, it wasn't on my bookshelves and I was afraid I had given it to the library with a lot of other books before we moved.

However, like two weeks later, I invited myself to be a part of my friend's garage sale. I just grabbed some boxes out of our storage unit and took them to her house. That Saturday morning a lady tried to buy the book. I apologized profusely, explaining that my Mema had just asked me about this book and I couldn't possibly sale it at this garage sale knowing my Mema would want to buy me another one. At this point I still didn't think I needed to read it but was thinking I might, just for a clear conscience.

During that time I was reading a book, off and on, called The Reason for My Hope by Charles Stanley. I can't remember how many days later, it might have been the next day or it might have been a few days later, I picked up this book and this is the quote just six small paragraphs in: "One area in which many people need healing is in the area of old memories and past hurts. They are living with diseased emotions that keep them from embracing their potential." p. 179 Well, first of all the tag line of the damaged emotions book is: Recovering from the memories that cause our pain. Second of all, I want nothing more than to reach my potential for Christ. To hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." is my heart's desire. So if something is keeping me from it, it has to go. And third of all, I knew this was God's way of telling me it was His will for me to read this book.

What God showed me through this book was not at all what I expected.

I had never thought I was a perfectionist. I didn't clean until it was perfect. In fact, quite the opposite. I didn't expect everything around me to be perfect and keep at something until it was perfect. But God showed me that my definition of perfectionism was far too limited. My perfectionism was less external and more internal. First, I expected spiritual perfection. I knew I couldn't reach it, but I was supposed to get darn close. Even more, I assumed others expected this of me, too. And I was convinced that God wasn't going to ever allow me to do big things with Him until I was almost perfect. Second, my perfectionism was causing me to be perpetually depressed. Not the can't function, need medication kind. That kind is real and I am not making light of it. But I was experiencing the not really looking forward to anything, just doing what I absolutely have to do to get by kind. This book showed me how perfectionism is a proponent of depression. Lastly, I expected perfection in a few people around me. The people who really are supposed to receive the most grace from me. My family. My husband and my children bore the brunt of it.

Now, I'm sure you can imagine that this didn't always make for happy relationships. I'm not saying that our marriage was falling apart and my children were miserable, but had this been left unchecked it would not have been good. Frankly, my perfectionism was wearing them out and God wanted them to have a break. And, in His mercy, He wanted me to have one, too.

The havoc that perfectionism was wreaking on my life was bigger than I realized AND completely unneccessary. I can see now how there is no way to reach your full potential in Christ with a perfectionist attitude. And I am so grateful to God for showing me this. His purpose is never to condemn. It is always to heal.

So, I would like to recommend this book to you if any of this resonates. I have linked to it multiple times so just click on any of them.

I also need to add, as if this post isn't long enough already, that being free from perfectionism is nothing like I imagined. It is so much more. While it takes time to break habits, there is a level of freedom that God has granted me and the joy that comes with it is intoxicating. Please, if you're sitting in the same place I was, don't stay there. God has so much more for you. You really don't want to miss it.

I love you all,
Seriously, I do,
Bridget

Skip Carey Part 2

The following are a short tribute to Skip Carey from MLB.com and his most classic (and my favorite) two calls for Braves baseball.

The Tribute:

THE Call: I was praying so hard during this game. I was in my bedroom watching, and my parents were watching in the living room. There were two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Braves were down by a run with Sid Bream, one of the slowest men in the game on second base representing the winning run, and Fransisco Cabrera was at the plate. Did I mention there were two outs? Barry Bonds was in left field for the Pirates. Fortunately, he's never been known for his throwing arm. No movie could ever touch this script.

I don't think I ever jumped so high or cheered so loud in my life. I flew into the living room, "did you see that?!!" My mom was whooping and hollering, too. My dad was trying to get us to calm down. I still get teary-eyed every time I see this clip.

The Championship: It was a Saturday night. I was doing my request show in KKVO radio in Altus, OK. My parents recorded the game for me. I remember asking them at one point what the score was. 1 - 0. The tape was waiting for me on my bed when I got home after midnight. I watched with great anticipation. It was well worth the wait.

The only World Series Championship Skip Carey got to call. It'd be cool to call a championship someday. Any kind of championship. I often wonder if I'll get to celebrate this again. If I do, it won't be the same without Skip Carey calling it.

But I do know that I will enjoy it. ;)

A Poem

Written on my last day at KVWC radio in Vernon, TX, on December 18, 2007. My shift was over, and I was waiting for the next guy to show up. It was around six in the evening.

As the sun sets on another day
So it does on the old way
If with dawn comes morning bright
Then we shall chase God's new light
If tomorrow brings a darkened sky
Then we shall trust that God is nigh
For it matters not what the day may bring
God is on his throne, the reigning king

Ewww...

I debated whether or not I should share this story with you all, but since I try to be transparent on this here blog I decided I would.

But first, CFHusband has reached his goal of $3000!!! He will be shaving his head live on his blog Friday night at 8:00pm EST.

Now, back to my story. Which requires a little back story.

First, my husband works at a radio station. He is the Program Director, but he also does his own morning show. It's called the "Me and My RC Show". RC Cola used to have the Me and My RC commercials. Catchy, huh?

Anyway, because of a conversation last night I knew that RC would be coming home early for lunch. Early being 9:30 or 10am.

More back story info you need: My parent's have a cell phone family plan and because they love me they have given me a phone in that plan. This allows me to talk to my mom, dad, and sisters as much as I want for free. It also has free texting. Since the phone that RC and I pay for doesn't have free texting I do all my texting from my 'chickasha' phone.

Well, about six months ago, my 'chickasha' phone starting calling it quits. Certain buttons refused to work. Finally it gave out so I was without a 'chickasha' phone for about a month. Last month my mom found my dad's old phone and charger so she mailed it to me. I put my SIM card in it and have been using it ever since. It is very nice to have my 'chickasha' phone back.

Last week I spent some time going through my dad's old phonebook. I deleted lots of numbers and rearranged others. One thing I didn't do was check the actual numbers to make sure they were up to date.

So this morning when I texted my husband asking him to bring me a coke from the tunnel when he came home for lunch I should have checked his number first.

Yes, I spent a good forty-five minutes this morning having a texting conversation with a total stranger. Mind you, there were some warning flags like the language he used. Nothing major, but not things my husband usually says. And how he seemed to have no clue as to what I was talking about most of the time. So when my husband came home this morning and I asked "where's my coke" and he said "You didn't call and tell me you wanted one" I knew something was wrong.

I told him we had been having a text conversation all morning and he showed me his phone to prove that 'no' WE hadn't.

Ewww...

The text conversation wasn't anything I would be embarrassed to show my pastor, but it was a conversation that I would only have with RC so when I realized I wasn't actually having it with RC I got that sick feeling in my stomach.

Why do people do that? Surely this person knew I didn't mean to text them, but they went along with it anyway. Maybe they thought I was someone they knew. Anyway, I apologized to the texter and asked them not to ever text me again. So far they have respected my wishes.

And, yes, I have already changed RC's number in my 'chickasha' phone.

Lesson learned.

Bridget

Skip Carey

One of my favorite all-time voices. If not my most favorite. He called Braves baseball games for 33 years. I boycotted TBS when they quit televising Braves games. I miss his voice. Now, I won't get to hear it again. I just read where Skip Carey died in his sleep Sunday afternoon. He was 68.

It just adds another notch to the "bad year for the Braves" belt. Big fan. Always have been. Past three years have been tough to watch. This year not so much, because they haven't been on tv.

Skip's death just bums me. What bums me most is, I'm not sure he was a believer. If he was, then praise God! He's home! If he wasn't, then...well...I only thought things were bad for the Braves.

Skip Carey and Pete Van Weiren were my faves. Classy broadcasters. The kind I want to be. Sad day. I can't believe one of them is now gone. Gone but not forgotten. Thanks for the memories, Skip.

Do you know Jesus Christ? He's God's only Son. He died so that we may live. I hope Skip knew that. I pray you will if you don't already. Let's talk.

CF Husband goes bald

Back in March I introduced you all to Nate, Tricia, and Gwyneth. Since Tricia's double lung transplant she has been diagnosed with Post-Transplant Lymphoma. She is currently undergoing chemo. Tricia's brother-in-law has also been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. So...Nate is raising money this week for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

My family has been affected by Leukemia. It took my Papa's life in August of '99. If you want, check out Nate's blog and if you can please give to help find a cure for these horrible cancers. Nate is going to shave his head, live on his blog, if he reaches his goal of $3000 in one week. I think we are on day 3 of 7.

Thanks,

Bridget

EepyBird.com

The above cartoon is from Aug. 2nd's Prickly City. I once did a sermon illustration on the kind of impact Jesus should have in our lives using diet coke and mentos. It was good. This is funny. If you've never tried putting mentos in diet coke, you totally should. Check out this website. Simply amazing.

If you have tried the mentos and diet coke trick, please share your adventures.

Way to go, Parents!

On Wednesday, July 30th my parents celebrated 26 yrs of marriage and on July 31st my in-laws celebrated 37 yrs of marriage! Isn't that cool!?! When I call and tell my parents Happy Anniversary they always say it back to me. I was three when they got married and my mom says I thought I was getting married too. All I remember was I loved the flowers I got to wear on my head but every time I bowed my head to pray they fell off. First kiss as husband and wife.

My hot parents. The first time I met my dad (before he was my dad) I told my mom that I liked his hair. Now he is completely bald. So now, mom, I like his head.=)

I like to share this story (and I hope my parents don't mind) because I believe it shows my dad's character. My dad is six years older than my mom and when he was in college he dated my mom's oldest sister who was in high school. They never dated seriously from what I understand, but he still dated her with the kind of character that kept it from being uncomfortable for him to years later date my mom, her younger sister. My mom says that my dad was the only one of Abby's boyfriends (not that Abby had too many) that was nice to her.

My in-laws were high school and college sweethearts. And I could totally get up and go next door to borrow a wedding picture from my mom-in-law to scan and post, but then I would have to rewrite this whole post because blogger is crazy and puts all pictures at the top of the page so If you want to write something first then show the picture you have to post the picture first then write above it. And frankly I didn't think that far ahead. Maybe I'll post one tomorrow.

I am so blessed to have both sets of parents! I love you all!

Bridget