Do Not Fear...

Tonight I came home to a lovely little surprise of toilet paper in my grandfathers Japanese maple, my bushesm and on my roof. Most peoples first thoughts are things along the line of, "crazy teenagers" or, "my friends are nuts." My thoughts...not so normal. My over active (or some would call it creative) mind started thinking about what crazy person had rolled my house and might now be inside waiting for me or lurking around in my pitch black yard. Of course I did what any scared little girl would do...I called my daddy. And like my knight in shining armor he drove the 25 minutes to my house to check for burgalers much like he checked for monsters under my bed. It wasnt until about five minutes after he left that I felt the quiet reminder that God says..."Do Not Fear!" He is my rock and my fortress and while I dont fear the future - things like, will I get married? Will I have kids? Will I ever have a different career? Etc.... I do have nights like tonight where some toilet paper makes me afraid to get out of my car in my own driveway. This is a huge flip from the girl who used to be so independent her friends and family often lectured (or yelled) at her. I think I need to learn the balance of a healthy fear and a healthy independence . Tonight I just need to find a way to stay here and sleep and not be freaked out...I will Not Fear...the Lord MY GOD is with me!!

So tonight was pretty hilarious. I guess you never know what may come when you allow 7 middle school girls free reign at a movie theatre. It started pretty calm - quiet chatting to the people they had come with while we walked to Q'doba, small talk while stuffing our faces at dinner, and me saying silent prayers that God would use tonight to bond them in some way. Boy did He answer prayers. The bonding came in the form a dance, during the movie & in the front of the theatre, to Hannah Montana's "hoedown throwdown" song. The best part...only one of the girls knew the actual dance to the song. Alot of arm flailing, jumping, and girlish laughter. I dont think anyone in the theatre actually minded...@ least I hope not. I remember during one part of the song I looked back (I chose to sit in the row in front of my girls) and saw them all laughing and looking at each other with sneaky little grins...still not sure what that was all about. We ended the evening eating ice cream and hanging out by the fountain at Stonecrest. Perfect weather and I kept hearing them laugh and say things like, "I know. This was so much fun!" It totally made my night - it made me think about how selfish I can be sometimes to not want to go out or email or call one of them (we all know that middle school girls could spend years of their lives on a phone!) It also made me realize how much I love them, how much I desire to be a positive influence in their life. It reminded me that I have to have my heart and mind saturated in the word so I can live out a life that exemplifies Christ in all areas. It made me look at some areas of my own life that I need to give to God so that I can really be an example for these girls now. I want to be someone who 12 years from now, when they are my age, (YIKES!) they can still depend on and look to as an example of a Godly woman. I have a lot of work to do...but I think loving them and praying for them is a pretty good start! And joining them for that Hannah Montana dance was a pretty good start too!!!

Giving it a shot...

This whole blogging "thing" feels a bit weird I must admit. However, I am giving in to my two beautiful friends who have so lovingly harassed me - and I am counting on at least the two of them reading my oh so fascinating words of wisdom. I think blogging is more about the writer than anyone else, but it's my prayer that God could use my words and reflections to encourage others. So for now I will leave it here...leave the millions of you who I know are hanging onto my words wondering what will she say next??? Happy Reading!