THE SHOCK FAMILY

There have been significant milestones over the last several years in my "recovery" from fear... This past couple of weeks there have been two of them! First of all, a family member called me out the other night as we were in a discussion about where this country is heading.  I said that I wasn't afraid...  she said something like  "You??? You??? You're the most fearful person I know".  Man, was that a huge wake up call!  I have thought long and hard on that one... it rings in my ears!  Being called out is never fun, but God is using it to open my eyes.  Is that what I want to be known for? The second... and most important... is just being able to see and hear one of our favorite pastors, Matt Chandler,  go through an enormous trial  (one that I have always been afraid of) with such a faith in God. The kind of faith that he has preached about for years.  His sermons have always helped me and pointed me to the truth that CHRIST IS EVERYTHING!!! Matt h

Just wanted to show off the cake that my niece Christen and Daughter Alayna made me for my 40th. All of my favorites in one cake.... Favorite word.... HOPE! Comes from life verse... Rom. 15:13  May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. Favorite drink... PEPSI OF COURSE!  Btw,  don't tell Aunt Ruthie :) And then these girls went above and beyond by writing all of my favorite verses on the cake! Not only was the cake beautiful... it tasted AMMMAZING!!!! Check out their website...   www.thecutiepiebakery.com

I am sitting here this morning thinking and praying about how to say all I want to say right now.  I feel like I might have had a breakthrough with my fears this morning. I have had more than a few "lightbulb moments" in my struggle with anxiety. This revalation was brought on by my hearing about Stephanie Spielman's death last night.  As soon as I heard it, my stomach was in knots.  I wish I could say that it is because I felt bad for her family and friends, but if I am being honest...  I was thinking about me.  I KNOW!!!  How absolutely RIDICULOUS!!!  When things like this happen, I immediately try to imagine myself and my family going through it...  and I get scared...it's so selfish...  it's what any good hypochondriac would do...  bring the focus back to me! One thing that I was taught long ago in my battle with hypochondria was that God will not give me the grace for my imagination.  The people who are actually going through the trial...  those are the

I am loving the new David Crowder Band CD -- Church Music.   The words to the songs just hit home, and it is the BEST MUSIC EVER to run to!  My favorite song so far on the cd is Shadows. The lyrics are incredible... When shadows fall on us We will not fear We will remember When darkness falls on us We will not fear We will remember When all seems lost When we're thrown and we're tossed We remember the cost We rest in Him Shadow of the cross What a word picture!  When I listen to the song, I can feel myself kneeling in the shadow... Resting there... Peaceful there... Safe there... No worries there... HOPE there! It reminds me of a sermon I heard by Matt Chandler ( I wish I could remember which one it was). He said (and I am paraphrasing)... The cross is not something we lean against and tell others they had better come over here and kneel down... No, the cross is place where I myself am kneeling and telling others there is room here for them as well!

Here it is...  I am Charlie Brown -- Satan is Lucy -- I keep falling for the same old lies! Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly .  Everytime I watched this cartoon as a kid, I always just wanted to scream at him  "Stupid Charlie Brown! Why are you falling for it ONCE AGAIN?????"  Is that not what we do all the time?  same old lie, maybe packaged a little differenly . My friend Jane pointed this word picture out to me last week.  I keep thinking about it, and it has helped me sooo much!  I am putting this picture up all over my house...  I will NOT kick the football! watch video here: http://www.hgtv.com/videos/the-elusive-football/8751.html

My only sister! She thinks I will have nothing to say about her... believe me, I have plenty! Kath is 13 years older than I am, and I am pretty sure I have been following along in her footsteps my whole life.  From being a majorette, to homeschooling, to reformed theology...  the way that she has lived has so much shaped who I am!   Of all of the women I have talked about so far, I have to say...  she is my favorite!  Can I say that :)???  All of the others have come in and out of my life due geographics and circumstances beyond our control...  but Kath...  she has been the one "constant" in my life.  She has always been there...  no matter how far apart we live!   One of her gifts is that she is such a good listener...  and we all know that is a must if you are in my life :)...  she will listen, and listen, and listen some more... and then have such encouraging words to say at that end, always pointing me back to Christ! I can remember being on a walk with her before God s

Ok... I know the Big Game is only a few hours away, but I want to tell you about my dear precious friend Cindy... and then I promise I will put my "game face" on! I was just thinking about her a little bit ago, and how she said to us one day "I'm tired, and I could go take a nap, but I think I'm gonna go for a bike ride instead. After all, energy breeds energy ya know!" I LOVE THAT!!! I want to LIVE that out in my life... She is the older woman that I had been praying for since we moved to Columbus. I just kept praying that an older, wiser woman would step into my life... and God answered so hugely with Cindy! Last fall, I met her when we worked together out at Leed's Farm. I could see instantly that she has such a peace about her, and I admire that so much. At that time we were in the heat of wedding planning, and I was stressed to the max. Cindy would just keep reminding me to ENJOY the time... it would go by fast. She was so right! I w

Momma Lori! What can I say about Momma Lori? Better known at Blackhawk as "Korban's mom"... and at first that is exactly how I knew her... but when she and David started coming to our small group, all of that quickly changed! It was so nice to have some gray hair in the midst of all of us "20 & 30 somethings"! She became not only my mentor, but my biggest cheerleader... she so has the gift of encouragement!!! Kevin and I would go to the Miller's house and sit on the couch and eat some of David's famous popcorn... and just listen to them... ok, maybe I talked a little ;).... they had so much wisdom to pour into us about child rearing, ministry, relationships etc.! I got to see up close and personal just how Lori could befriend someone at work and bring her into the family of Christ~with Jane Treece. Jane is an amazing testimony of how Lori could love someone and lead her into a vibrant walk with the Lord! My favorite trait of Lori&

I am half way through "My Tributes"... and I have to pause and say something. This morning as I was out walking/praying/trying to run, I had a sort of revelation. I'm just gonna be honest here. I realized how much I am wondering if the three ladies I wrote about have seen what I wrote... wondering if they liked it, if I offended anyone, if I did not do them enough justice (sidenote, they all 3 know me well enough to know that I would be thinking that :)!). In the midst of all that thinking, Chris Tomlin's "All The Way My Savior Leads Me" came on my ipod. As I was listening, I felt like God was saying to me (not audible btw!) "Ya big geek (ok, maybe He didn't say that, but it sure did sound like it), Why are you so worried about what others think? I am right here.... THANK ME for those women in your life. Who do you think put them there? Who knew EXACTLY what you needed and when you needed it? Who gave these women the words that t

I am so excited to write about Laurie D.! If I had to use one sentence to describe her it would be "She walks with God"! The first time I met her was in a youth leaders meeting at Blackhawk. we were told to write notes of encouragement to each other. Laurie wrote one to Kev and me (I still have it)... she signed her note "Desiring Him Alone"... and Oh, is that true in her life! Laurie taught me so much about living for Christ every waking moment! I remember being at her house for bible study and thinking she was CRAZY for not having cable and not going to the movies. One time, somebody asked her if she was fasting from TV… her response was, "yes, I'm on a life-fast from TV." NO WAY could I EVER live like that! She explained to me that it isn't about saying "NO" to that stuff... it is about saying "YES" to Jesus! The more we draw near to Him and "taste and see that He is good", the more we notice the th

I know the Titus 2 women are supposed to be older, but this next mentor of mine falls into "younger, but wiser" category! When I met Laura, she was newly married, no children, living in a new city, and her husband Ryan had just become the youth pastor at our church. She was only in D-town for about a year... God knew that was all I needed to learn some valuable lessons on being a wife, being humble, but most importantly, Laura exuded an unshakable and unashamed FAITH in God! I remember us sitting in McDonalds and pulling out our bibles. She had me pick a Psalm and we just prayed through it... read a verse, pray, read a verse, pray... it was uncomfortable at first, but I've loved it ever since! She also had me make a "Top 10 List"... a list of 10 prayers that I wanted God to answer, but seemed impossible at the time... like my father-in-law being saved (happened June of 2003). That "Top 10 List" was Amazing! I prayed everyday and watched

This friend came into my life at a time when I was completely OVERWHELMED with little ones, with homeschooling, with housekeeping, and most of all up to my eyeballs in fear! She had a way of knowing how to get my mind off of my troubles, and she could make me laugh more than anyone I had ever known. She and her husband Sam had a few years on us... and they were both so good about giving Kev and me HOPE for the future! Gretchen was (and I am sure still is) the QUEEN of organization! She helped me so much with my house. She would come over and we would just go room by room throwing the junk out! Man, did she laugh at me... especially when she found 50 million wet wipes from KFC stashed in my kitchen drawer :)! I am sure the whole process would have made for a great tv show. The most important lesson I learned from Gretchen was taught by her example alone. She fasted every Wed. for her children and their spouses. At the time, I thought she was crazy... seemed like we always

As I am quickly approaching the BIG 4 0, I have been reflecting on God's faithfulness through the years. He has been so faithful to continue to place older, wiser women in my life... for which I am eternally grateful! This week I want to tell you about a few of those Titus 2 women that God has used so powerfully to teach me on my journey.

This Morning I had Fox News on while I was getting ready for work. They had on country singer Darryl Worley singing his song "Sounds Like Life to Me". As I was listening to the words (I must say it has a catchy tune!), I was thinking how at age 39, I can relate: Sarah’s old car’s about to fall apart And the washer quit last week We had to put momma in the nursing home And the baby’s cutting teeth I didn’t get much work this week And I got bills to pay I said I know this ain’t what you wanna hear But it’s what I’m gonna say But... then came the chorus: Sounds like life to me it ain’t no fantasy It’s just a common case of everyday reality Man I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it up To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy It sounds like life to me Here is the second Chorus : Sounds like life to me plain old destiny Yeah the only thing for certain is uncertainty You gotta hold on tight just enjoy the ride Get used to all this unpredictabi

Celebrating Punk and Orv's 60th wedding anniversary tonight... Little Ceasars Pizza and an all out Punkie Party!!! I put this on my Facebook status and as people began to reply (I get text msgs. when they do), Christian started in on the whole "status update ridicule"... I think it is a cool way to let people know... who normally wouldn't know... but might just want to know! You should have seen my mom's face light up as I told her person after person that was congratulating them via Facebook status!!! She loved it! I know that not everyone is too happy with Andrew letting them know EVERY TIME he goes on a run... and EVERY TIME he gets back from a run. I think it is kinda cute though :)!!!

Well, we did it... or should I say Alyssa did it... or should I say GOD DIT IT?!!! Grandma Karen and Grandpa Kevin? Pretty crazy!! Ok, Lance is sitting here beside me as I type this... I am supposed to say... Uncle Drew, Aunt Alayna and most importantly UNCLE LANCE! This is our "family blog" ya know! What a priviledge to be able to be in the room and watch our baby, with the help of her husband (he did a great job... only had to sit down and breathe once!), and Dr. Stockwell, deliver such a precious little gift from God into this world! Grandma Jan (Kevin G's Mom) said Kessa Alaine has long fingers which will be great for "basketball"... RRIIGGTTT!!!! I'm thinking more PIANO :)!! Alyssa asked me to pray with her late last night. I think it is finally hitting her that the worrying just never ends. As we prayed, we just asked God to remind us that He is in control... He loves little Kessa more than we do, and that He gives us just these circumstan

I am reading Lev. 5 this morning, thinking how crazy it is that they would have to offer up a lamb for unintentional sin -- thinking about the 600 or so laws they lived by -- What must have that been like?! Then I read Col 3 and am thinking about how we are to live today. We are to seek things above, not things that are on earth. We are to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander etc. and put on compassion, kindness, humility etc. We are to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, and then it goes on.... Wives submit to your husbands. As I am reading this, my husband comes in and asks me to check on my Dad. I *Sigh* and get up, not wanting to be interrupted from my precious time with God. I check on Dad, look at the clock and realize I had better walk now (I need the endorphins). STINK! Looks like a huge thunderstorm is coming. When will I get MY walk in? Mom starts to ask question after question about our local radio stations... she need to find Rush Limbaugh.

Ok, so I am so good at starting something, and then not seeing it to completion... Probably why I have hesitated so much on starting this whole blog thing! I am also not sure how to make this page look "cool"... That's where my kids come in! So much is happening in our house right now. Mom and Dad are here while Dad rehabs from his total knee replacement. Alyssa just called and things are moving with this baby.... anytime now :)! Isn't just like God to have us in geriatric ministry and new baby mode at the same time??? Such a picture of life! Thanks for stopping by... It's good to have an outlet for my thoughts (other than facebook status!).