Merriest Christmas

My babies with me for Christmas for the first time in our lives. Makes me so merry.

things that keep me awake at night

not knowing how i would get my cats out of the house in a fire.

being the church

Check this out:

I have been carrying this newsletter around in my school bag for over a month waiting to post it to this blog.
Do you see what I see here?
Four Thank-Yous on just ONE page: for working together to clean the church building, for being a top contributor to a children's home, for prayers and acts of kindness toward local teachers, and for feeding a high school football team.
This is not trivial! I have kept this with me and planned to post it because it is such an incredible testimony of the power of God to work through His church to encourage a community.
And, see the announcement in the bottom left corner? Last week, I was there for that fall festival with my mom and my niece. And I saw for myself that what is represented in those thank-yous is really real. Their little church parking lot was packed out with faces young and old, MOST of which I had never seen before. This is my home church. If anybody is a regular attender, I have seen his or her face. There were HUNDREDS of faces from small Sandersville (population 6000-7000) that I had never before seen at this church. Hundreds of faces from a community encouraged by a church living its calling. And you know what really impressed me? It was FREE! This church opened itself up, gave out smiles, laughs, hugs, candy, and a full meal FOR FREE!
It has been a long time since I have seen such a small church so selflessly give of itself to pour into its community.
I am so proud of my home church for being the church in their community.
Thankful for you, Sisters Baptist Church.
Refreshed,
mo

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people." (Philemon 7)

let's face it

Next week, I turn 30. 30 short years, 30 long years. 30 years. So, in true third-life crisis form, I am looking back and looking forward. Remembering and planning. As of last Friday, there were only 2 things left on my before-30 bucket list. One of them -- getting a Ph.D. -- I am working on but cannot make happen before 30, so I transferred it to the before-31 list, which works for me. We'll reevaluate this time next year. :) The second thing on my before-30 list I marked off today. See video, then keep reading below.






I could try, but I would never be able to describe to you my skydiving experience. The physical experience itself is unbelievable and indescribable. In addition to that is the act of defying fear and living life without regret. There are so many reasons I should not have jumped from that plane today. Among them: 1) it's crazy to jump willingly into freefall from 10,000 feet; 2) i had a lot of work i needed to get done today; 3) i definitely don't have $169 lying around to spend on doing crazy things. But, there is one better reason I should have jumped: I wanted to. And because I wanted to, I needed to.

My dad's response to my jump: "Crazy fun! Way to go. But is this the little girl who used to squeeze my hand off on airplanes?"

Yep. I'm that little girl. I distinctly remember, though, in 2001, that somehow God gave 16-year-old me the wisdom to decide not to let fear come between life and me. I had the option of not going, but I chose to squeeze my daddy's hand and cry during take-off, turbulence, and landing all the way to Israel that year. I chose to live in spite of fear and without regret. I remember making that choice consciously. And, I remember the incredible experience of walking where Jesus walked.

Since then, I have experienced three weeks in Europe, three trips to Liberia, and several trips across America to visit family. Experiences made possible by a conquered fear of flying.

Today, it happened again. I experienced. I jumped from a plane I never would have been in if it weren't for that 16-year-old wisdom. I jumped because I have wanted to know what it would be like and because I knew I would regret not jumping. I jumped in spite of fear, and in spite of fear, I experienced life in a new, exciting, and amazing way.

I can only hope to carry this wisdom into my next 30 years and to continue truly to live.

Take my word for it. It's worth it to live. It's worth it to know fear and to experience life anyway.

Actually, don't take my word for it. Try it.

FDR's quote is cliche only because it is so true: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Fear stands between life and us. Our options are to turn and run from fear, thus running from life, or to face it and run toward fear and toward life. I choose life!
-mo

Useful

How To Drill Straight Holes with a Hand Drill (Using Lego)
 http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Drill-Straight-Holes-with-a-Hand-Drill-Usin/ 

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