Awakened for a Weekend

Here are some of my pictures from Blogawakenings' Awakeningfest 2007. My sister Cheryl and I flew out to D.C. on Friday to attend the Awakeningfest on Saturday. We were blessed beyond belief! I am in awe of my brother in Christ for seeing with my own eyes what a wondrous event that he has undertaken and has painstakingly grown in his pursuit of being a "fisher of men".

It was just amazing seeing some of our fellow bloggers face-to-face and hearing those sweet voices to go with all of their beautiful faces and spirits! We felt that we caught a little glimpse of the Kingdom! Cheryl and I sat all day, through sunset and into the night, in wonder to be a part of a crowd of 10,000+. We arrived Friday to horrible weather. Fog, rain, and humidity. But by morning God honored all of the prayers to provide the most beautiful fall day in the rolling mountainous area with the trees just touched with the fall colors beginning to show.

Their were soooo many youth having such a great time. And the families and babies! And everyone was having a wonderful time! Babies did not cry and children and teens appeared to be at their very best. We sat amid prayers, we stood and worshiped, and we shouted and danced our praises to our Most Wondrous King! The music was fantastic! We reveled in each minute. What we came away with is more than I can write about in one post. But we want to come back next year and volunteer and be a part of such a spectacular event! The Barlow Girls talked about not worrying about what you can or can't do and focus on what the Lord wants you doing. They had a very inspiring testimony. Our brother Blogawakening is really living that!

To our brother Dave in Christ....we cannot thank you enough for your most Jesus-like hospitality. It was truly a pleasure to meet you and your family. I look forward to seeing you all in heaven. Stacy...we didn't get much time together, but if we are still here next year maybe we will get more working together at the fest! I hope that more of you here may have the opportunity next year to attend!

Birth Pains

In 1Th 5 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

There has been alot of talk and discussion of 'birth pains'. Is our world experiencing those labor pains? Earthquakes, wars, tsunamis, hurricanes, flooding, terrorism, violent mass killings as Virginia Tech, and I could go on and on. Ladies, I bet all of you remember your labors. And to be fair, I'm sure many men do too. But women especially remember.

We look at the events over the last years and can see that similarity. The labor pains begin mild enough. Sometimes many women don't even know that they are in labor. The pains so irregular, infrequent....who knows. But as the labor progresses, ahhhh, they rise in pain, lasting longer, coming closer together.

The picture above was late in my labor. I remember holding on to that side-rail with every one of my kids as if it were my best friend (Maybe no one wanted to hold my hand for fear of broken bones, I don't know) The pain so searing, so cutting it took your breath away(and you were supposed to do your Lamaze breathing--ha-ha). I held on for dear life, breathing and praying to get through it. But I had that security. My friend, who is a L&D nurse, is a Christian and helped deliver all of my kids. Beyond medicine, she also gave me her prayer support. My sister also. I always thought, "How would I have gotten through it without their prayers and support?"

I think about these pains our world and our country have been going through. 9/11. All of the natural disasters. Columbine, VT, the Amish school killings. Are they coming more frequently? It seems like it to me. I know my kids have seen more in the last few years than I have seen my whole life. At their ages, I could not have imagined the events that they have witnessed. I am so thankful that I have Him to turn to. When things are far beyond my ability to process I can crawl in His lap for comfort, to cry, and to feel His arms around me telling me He is right here. I don't know what people do that do not have that relationship with our Heavenly Father. Whether it's denial, alcohol, drugs, work, any number of addictions or distractions they must have to do something. I am thankful that in the midst of some of these dark days I may live my life so that those who don't know Him may see that there is hope. Hope in Jesus. We need to be beacons of hope for those looking for Him. Because if we are indeed in labor, we know that there will be more hard times. But it is not a time to despair....He is coming.

Just walk......

2John1:6 says And this is love; that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

I often think about the time when Jesus lived. Everyone walked. It was the mode of transportation. Walking. Walking far. Scripture talks of walking in faith, walking in obedience, walking in truth, and walking in love. I'm thinking walking was real big back then. I'm not quite sure why I've been so compelled to walk for a cause as breast cancer but I've definitely been called.

To walk in a 3-day walk not only are you committed to walking 3 days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), 20 miles each day, and sleeping in tents, using portajohns, and showering in semi-trucks.... but you must commit to raising $2,200 for the cause....And they enforce this by having you give them your Visa # so if you fail to raise that money they charge it to your card! You MUST train vigorously for this walk as walking 60 miles is alot of miles. I should know...I've done 3 of them....

I said I'd never do it again. And then the day after my third walk I met Lisa. Walking at my sons football field with her hair growing in from chemo. You all know what an amazing, inspiring woman that she is from all I have said. I told her that day I said I'd never do this again, but after meeting her that day I said "Well, I guess I'm walking again!" And so I walk. Walking is good. One would be amazed at how far the body can walk. 60 miles! That's alot....I wonder how far Jesus walked. I bet no place was too far to save someone. To tell them the news. To heal. To turn water to wine. To clothe. I guess that's how I feel. 60 miles is alot. But not to far to stop cancer from taking one more mother away from her children, or one more wife from her husband, or one more daughter from her mother.

Walking is good. Walking gives you time to think. Time to pray. Time to appreciate. Appreciate our bodies for all they are capable of. For all of the beauty in God's creation. Time to reflect. Even if you walk with someone, when you walk 10-15 even 20 miles, most of us don't want to talk all of that time.....you need to crawl inside of yourself and reflect. God shows us things.... Sometimes good things, things to appreciate, be grateful for, but sometimes things to change. Things he is not so pleased with.

I never thought I'd be excited about walking 60 miles since my first 3-day but I am truly excited for all that the Lord has to show me. I will think of Him every step I take and every mile that I walk. I truly cannot imagine how I would have gotten through some of the toughest times of my life if He was not walking beside me.....Won't you ask Him to walk with you?

But the greatest of these is Love.

Well everyone....last night was the big night! The reception was lovely.....lovely but sad. The dresses, the beautiful tables, the wonderful food and 6 foot high chocolate fondue fountain was dreamy for any bride, but for my friend the most important thing there was good friends and family. It was a surreal night. For those who don't know, I met my friend the day after I walked my 3rd 60-mile walk for Breast Cancer. She was on my 8 y.o son's football field walking with her fanny pack and I had asked her if she had done "the walk. She said no, because she just finished her last round of chemo as she was recovering from breast cancer and I knew in my spirit that we were meant to be in each other's life for a reason. Our friendship took off fast and furious and I began a team to walk the 60-mile in Lisa's honor for 2007 when shortly thereafter she was rediagnosed, this time 4th stage.

This dream of hers to have this church wedding and remarry her husband touched everyone there. All she wanted was to "dance" once more with her husband, though it was not to be. Her tears were streaming as the bridal dance started. Her husband did his best to dance with his beloved in the wheelchair. They had her only daughter dance the "Daddy's Little Girl" dance because she knew she would not be here for her wedding.

I was struck by how precious our lives and our marriages are. Why do we sweat the small stuff on any given day when you see a beautiful testimony of marriage "till death do us part" and a young woman who lived life always to the fullest, gave to her friends, was always there for family, was The most patient and loving woman with a daycare in her home to countless children and babies that she could not help but have impacted them by her love. Although sad. how wonderful for all of us to have the chance to hug, kiss, say I love you's. Many people experience the loss of loved ones without that chance! I didn't get to spend too much time with her as everyone wanted their little piece of her last night, but I'm bringing her some pictures later today and I'm going to tell her that I look forward to seeing her dance "at the cafe"!

Thank you all for your prayers.....Her doctor and nurse were there last night...they do not think she will be here too long. I'm leaving with my family Tuesday for Florida for a week....I have refundable tickets should I need to come home. I hope not. Because I still want a little more time with her. Love one another. O.K.?