Your Work is Part of God's Plan

I received this via email today, and thought it was so good that I had to share it.  This really spoke to me, because sometimes I just get in a routine and forget that I'm doing what I'm doing because God put me here to do just that as part of a much bigger plan - one that I might not see for quite some time, or ever, here on earth.

Your work is part of God's plan


by Rick Warren

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

"The gifts, the abilities, the talents, even the interests you have -- they were genetically encoded into you by God."

Your work can be an act of worship. No matter what you do, it's never just a job if you are a believer. This is because God designed you with talents, gifts and interests that He wants used for His glory.

You are custom-made. There's nobody like you in the whole world. And the gifts, the abilities, the talents, even the interests you have -- they were genetically encoded into you by God. God made you with a specific mission in mind -- and He wants you to use the gifts he's given you in your work.

The Bible says you are God's workmanship. The Greek word used for workmanship is poema. That's where the English word poem comes from -- you are God's poem! You are God's work of art. You are God's masterpiece.

Your work is part of God's plan for your life and that is why, as you work, you worship God.

St. Jude Trike-a-Thon!

So today was the Trike-a-Thon at Tatum's school...doesn't she just look adorable??  She was SO EXCITED this morning as we took her bike and gear to school because she was GOING TO GET TO RIDE HER BIKE with all of her friends!  It was almost all she could talk about this morning, on the way to school, and then once we got inside the building.

So precious.

In case you're wondering, it's not too late to donate toward her riding in the Trike-a-Thon.  The funds are being donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and you can donate directly online in support of Tatum's efforts.

Astros

They aren't Kellen's team this year (he's a member of the Phillies team), but he's having a hard time distinguishing between t-ball teams and the real deal.  After his game tonight, he told me that the worst part was that they had to play the Astros...'cause they're the team he really likes!

Funny boy.

Prayers for guidance

The Lord has been speaking to me about writing.  (Don't laugh, while you're taking into consideration how much the blog gets updated - or doesn't).  But I came across a website tonight and am going to pray and ask for guidance on whether or not I'm supposed to tweak and submit an article I wrote about a week or so ago.

In case you're wondering, the opportunity currently in front of me and something I just discovered was the submission process for Proverbs 31 Ministries magazine.

Pray with me for guidance?

She Speaks Scholarship Contest

On another blog I frequent, a writing contest for a scholarship to She Speaks was posted.  Although the timing is bad for me this year, with the conference scheduled right over my due date, I thought I would post the link for the scholarship and information about the conference here for anyone interested.

Family Update

It's been a while since I've just updated on everyone, and the moms board I'm on had a thread like this, so I thought I would take a quick moment to give an update on US.

Kellen is nearing the finish line of first grade (goodness where has the time gone??). He'll be tested this month for G/T (5 testing days for an hour each day) and we should know his placement mid-May. I'm not worried about it...he tends to get bored in school easily and when he does, he gets in trouble (not BAD trouble, but he's a class clown (can't imagine where he gets THAT from), talker, etc kind of kid), so we try to keep him busy. He's currently in t-ball (twice a week practices for another week and then who knows what the game schedule will look like), Tae Kwon Do (during Kids Klub one day a week), Cub Scouts (weekly den meetings and then monthly pack meetings), and Awana's at church. He has an AMAZING memory for scripture and blows me away nearly every week when we're practicing his scriptures for Awana's. He has such a sensitive spirit and is SUCH a wonderful big brother!

Tatum is 3 now, and I remember why I later scoffed at the 'terrible two's' even though they began at 18 months with both she and Kellen. The 3's are infinitely worse at our house! She (and Kellen) are both such strong willed children and some days are just exhausting. However, I'm blessed to have strong willed children that know their likes/dislikes...it's the molding of them that makes it all a challenge.  She's doing wonderfully at her daycare, and is participating in KinderTots (combo dance and gymnastics) once a week there. She's Kellens biggest cheerleader at his sporting events, and wants to get out there and play right along with the boys. She's oh-so princess yet such a down and dirty tomboy. And despite the strong willed challenges, she is so sweet! She's my snuggler, and I am trying to get as many snuggle moments as I can with her before #3 comes along.

Speaking of #3, we settled on a first name for peanut, Jacey. We're still working on a middle name, but I'm feeling better about the fact that she has a name other than peanut now. However, the kids are still calling her peanut, so I'm thinking that nickname might stick for a while. I'm over 23 weeks along, and July seems like it's speeding toward me.  I'm pretty much past the nausea now (yes, I know...I'm quite far along to still have been struggling with that some days), but am still having random food aversions.  Peanut butter sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, and cereal are my staples.  And Freeb!rds burritos seem to be my constant craving.  And Olive Garden salad.  Yummy!

Work for me is pretty much the same...still incredibly busy but I get lots of reminders that I'm exactly where I need to be. One of the presentation proposals that I'm part of (group of 3) was just accepted as a pre-conference workshop for the annual advising conference to be held in October, so I'm trying to figure out the funding to go along with that travel.  It's a huge honor to have been selected for a pre-conference workshop: the session is longer than a regular conference session AND the participants have to pay an additional cost on top of the conference registration fee to attend.  Wow!  I think I'm still in a little bit of shock about it but am very excited!

Matt is still working from Conroe selling insurance, commuting back and forth 2-3 days a week and working from the house the other days. With his work schedule and the kids activities, I feel like I don't get out much for me, but we're surviving!  Our house may not stay clean, but the kids are loved and happy, and that counts a whole lot more in my book!

We have a winner!

Well, Friday was Matt's birthday, and despite the fact that he added a year to his age on Facebook, I think he had a pretty good day.  Both of the kids were out of school on Friday, but TAMU was up and running (at least for faculty/staff), so I went to work while he stayed home with the kids.  Shortly before his parents were slated to arrive (we ended up going out to eat with them Friday night), I sighed and told Matt that I really wanted us to work on a name for peanut.

He started playing on name websites, I got out my phone, which holds the 'list' of names that I had compiled, then whittled down (based on popular names of 2009), and off we went.  We had a couple of 'maybe's' from him for those on my list: Aliza (joyful); Bianca (white); Leala (faithful, loyal), but we really weren't both sold on any of those yet.  I had already vetoed Riley (which was # 109 in 2009, putting it on the officially ok list, but was 36 in 2008 and 52 in 2007, which in my opinion was just too common too recently for me).  So Riley got the official veto.  Matt wasn't liking Shilo (God's gift), so we were still in the looking phase.  Well, he starts rattling names off of whatever website he was on, and said "Jacey."  It apparently means healer and is of Greek origin.  And it's in the 800's on the most popular names list.

So, we both really like it and it's official.  Peanuts' real name is now Jacey.

We're still working on her middle name, so stay tuned.....