Friday, February 27, 2015

Whirlwind

WOW!  This month has been a whirlwind for me.  I can’t believe I haven’t even had a chance to post anything since January and March is right around the corner.  It’s been a crazy month!  I thought I would give you a glimpse into what I have been up to…

The month began with an awesome series launching at our church called “Circle Maker”.  It is based on a book written by Mark Batterson.  He encourages us to pray circles around our biggest dreams and greatest fears… bold, audacious prayers.   Our pastor encouraged us to set an appointment with God daily during this series and even fast at some point setting something aside to focus more on God.  We were given appointment cards as a reminder. 

We sat around tables on Sundays and Wednesdays.  We connected with one another as we connected with God.  It was awesome!  The youth focused on this in their services too!  The results were amazing!  I have two teenage boys who are NOT the same!

They were faithful to keep their appointments with God!  We knew it was appointment time for one of our son’s when we immediately heard passionate singing and praying belting out to God muffled behind a door.  This month has created a hunger for MORE of God in my boys, my family, and my church.  We are praying more, reading the Bible more, and God is stirring us up.  HE is amazing!

Besides our “Circle Maker” series, the first few weeks were consumed with the Basketball season.  Both boys play, but on different teams… with different practices, at different places, with different game schedules.  It felt like for a lot of the month that I was a taxi service and scheduler, planning and coordinating the comings and goings of the Davis family. 

My boys LOVE basketball and it is the only sport they choose to play so we just go with it for the short season.  Basketball is their life.  They watch it on TV, shoot hoops outside at home, play basketball video games, shoot in their mini basketball attached to their door in the bedroom, get basketball sports updates on their phones, create fantasy basketball leagues, and play pick up games when ever they get the chance.  I think you get the point!  It’s all consuming! 

I think this month with our “Circle Maker” series going on, it has been a great reminder to my boys to…. Keep God FIRST.  I’ve noticed a difference in them.  I see them trying to balance a little better their LOVE for basketball and their LOVE for God.  It’s a good lesson to learn early on in life.  I always love it when someone else can re-enforce what we are teaching at home.  It seems to stick better to their lives.

In the middle of the month I went on a Marriage Retreat with my sweetheart of 21 years.  The retreat location was 1 ½ hours away so we took our time getting there.  We had lots of talk time in the car and over the weekend.  I love these retreats.  They aren’t just for people who are struggling in their marriages.  It’s for people who want to become better TOGETHER.  Marriage is work!  It’s always good to hear of different ways we can make it better.  I also love hanging out with old friends and making some new ones too while we are there.  Besides the amazing sessions, I get to spend extra uninterrupted, quality time with my boyfriend.  How can I refuse?

Intermingled throughout the whole month we have had several sports photo shoots.  My husband is a photographer (Davis Creative Photography… Check it out!).  I am his assistant.  I register all of the kids picture forms and assist him with the detail side of things.  This month we had FOUR separate photo shoots we did for various basketball leagues.  There were a lot of early mornings and late nights leaving this girl one tired mama.

At the end of the month my boys went to a youth retreat with our church.  They call it “Kindle”.  It’s all about stirring up a fire inside for MORE of God.  The retreat lasted from Friday-Sunday afternoon.  It was powerful!  I’ve noticed a huge difference in my kids since they got back.  More God-fruit coming out of their lives…Which is a good thing!  There is a clip from the worship time at the retreat below.  My son is the one on the far right in gray helping lead worship.  Enjoy!

What I don’t have time to tell you about is that I was blessed with the incredible gift of kidney stones filling both kidneys this month.  Yay ME!!  The pain at times was as intense as labor pains.  What was that lamaze class about again, I forget?  It’s been so long!  It was unpredictable and debilitating at times, but I survived!  I also registered my boys for their private school next year.  This is a long process… lots of paper work!  We had a Super bowl party too, I got a new nephew, and I agreed to lead a small group at my church.  Did I mention we did our taxes on our own too…YIKES!

It’s been a busy month, but a full one.  I am so thankful for a “Community of Circle Makers” who stood by me in prayer through all of this.  My favorite verse carried me through.  It is settled deep within me and pops up when I need it most.


“I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13 (NCV)

 

March here we come ready or not!  Let’s make it amazing!

Living to leave a legacy,
Julie