Click here to view this photo book larger

YOU CAN MAKE IT LARGER AND EVEN GO FULL SCREEN BY CLICKING ON IT TO SEE IT BETTER :)

Brandon and I took a short trip down to Southeast Oklahoma last weekend. We were celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary that we had last month. We arranged the boys to stay with family and were all geared up to "get away" and just relax. Well, turns out I had sun poisening from a couple days before and ended up really sick. We still made the most of it and saw lots of scenery and played some scrabble too. I didn't realize our state was so beautiful :) Here are some pics from the trip...

It's been a tough "season" for me. I've been trying to find my place. Should I go back to work? Should I lead a women's group at church? Who should my friends be? What kinds of things should I be involved in? Am I a good parent? Where should I be at this junction in my life? What do I see happening in the next 5 yrs.?

I think life is a constant process of asking those questions. For each season, there might be a different answer.

This "season" has been a season of no's. Each time I ask God if He is leading me to something, I feel like he is saying "No Christi, wait". Wait for what? I've been waiting and nothing is happening. What do I need to do to prepare? What if I miss what I'm waiting for? But, I continue to wait.

We have been and are being challenged in our marriage, in ministry, in parenting....all the areas of life that require attention. It seems I want to do things I shouldn't, but the things I need to do, I don't.

After asking all those questions, I'm realizing that what I'm doing right now is what I am supposed to be doing. God is shaping me. He is breaking me down. He is showing me that I'm not here to please others. I'm not here to have "things" or do things but to learn from Him. Through all of these challenges, I am becoming more dependent on Him. I am growing. I am becoming a new person.

As I am becoming "different", I am trying to figure out who I am all over again. It seems to be constantly evolving. I think that's a good thing. Instead of waiting for the next thing, I am trying to embrace where I am right now. I am saying "no" to things right now. I am making conscious choices about life situations. But, through all of that, I am growing. I am maturing. He is shaping me to be who He wants me to be and not necessarily who I thought I should be. He knows me to my core..more than I know myself.

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too lofty for me to attain.

He's shaping you too. So...wait for it. You might just be in the middle of your formation process and not realize it. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!

~Christi~

Brandon and I met in college. We had so much fun together. We would talk about anything and nothing and just have the time of our lives. Through our first years of marriage, we sort of continued in that path.

Then, about 10 yrs. ago, we learned about being intentional with our lives and living with a purpose. Finances with a purpose. Parenting with a purpose. Vacations with a purpose.......after several years of living with that mentality, we have realized that now we have a hard time doing nothing. Free time seems like such a waste. Our date nights turned into talking about our goals and plans and all the areas where we feel driven.Serious. Serious. and more serious.

We've realized we need to relax. I don't mean lounge on the couch, but relax the mind. We have gotten so focused on the "purpose" that we don't even enjoy it. It's always looking towards the next goal or the next area where we can improve. It's time to have some F-U-N.

There has to be a balance. I still believe in having vision and goals...but somewhere in there has got to be fun and vacations and relaxation or you will just get burned out (which is what I'm battling right now). We have so many goals and we will continue to try and reach them, but we are wanting to try and enjoy the process.

So, I don't know if any of you can relate to this post. It might have been just one of those that I needed to write for me. But, if you are struggling with striving too much, or constantly trying to be more and do more, then take a break and relax. Let yourself enjoy life.

Life is meant to be lived for a purpose....part of that purpose is to enjoy it!!

~Christi~

"I don't know how we did it"....I used to say that all the time when I was talking about our finances and the different seasons in our lives....Truth is, I do know how we did it-through God's grace and Mercy.

Let me start in college days, I had a full tennis scholarship, Brandon had a wonderful job on campus. We acquired no student loans. What a blessing! I know people who are my age who are still paying student loans.

Fast forward to when we were youth pastors. I know times were tough but I don't really remember having to go "without". I mean we didn't have some of the basic luxuries (like cable and cell phones) at the time but we never had so we didn't miss those things. When I think about our house payment and all the things we managed to do on that little salary I ask myself "How did we do that?".

Then I look at our time in California. At first I had gotten a job but just couldn't handle being away from our 3 and 1 1/2 yr old boys. Poor Ethan literally cried all day at day care. We decided we would do whatever it took for me to be able to stay home.Brandon got a full time job shortly after we decided. Our rent was higher than we had ever paid, yet our income was about the same as in Oklahoma- "how did we do that?" Again- I remember we didn't eat out as much but I don't feel like we were "deprived" in any way. We met all of our bills plus some. (This is where I started clipping coupons and using the Grocery Game and saving money-it came out of necessity and that was a blessing in itself! It has paid off through the last 5 yrs!)

Through Brandon's $16,000 payment of a Master's degree (we paid $13,000 of that), we never took out any loans. We paid as we went (about $1000-$2000) a semester. "How did we do that?".


We got to go to Disneyland 15 times in a 1 yr span (w/our passes). We went to the beach and so many fun places. Our house payment was $1550 at the time and now it's about half that! "How did we do that?"

Looking back, I always say I don't know how we did it but I really do. GOD did it! He provided. He is always faithful. We never stopped tithing or giving. We truly believe that is being obedient to the Lord. I don't want to think that because we did that, then He blessed us. I think He just takes care of His children. But, there is something to be said about giving to Him with the mindset that our things belong to Him!Keeping Him first in ALL things includes your finances. Giving to Him should be in good times and in bad.

There have been so many blessings along the way that we really can't even name them all. I do want to list a few though:

• Making almost $40,000 on a house in Cali that we really just kind of happened into-no planning whatsoever I promise). With that we were able to put down 20% on our house now as well as do some updating which puts us in better shape on payments and house value. We were scared to death buying that house (that we honestly couldn't afford) but God took care of every detail!
  
• Being able to live in Mexico for 2 months (with a mission organization called Back 2 Back)
• Being able to help out some friends in need and pay their entire mortgage payment one month
  
• Brandon and I taking a week-long trip to Seattle last year
• Being able to pay for an emergency surgery I had last year
• Getting a great deal on a 2001 Ford Expedition that is paid off
• Not acquiring any debt except our mortgage (we have our house on a 15 yr. note -starting in 2005- and are working to pay it off).
  

We are in the middle of the International adoption process. When I look at the cost I want to ask "how are we going to do it?". I know we aren't, God will be the provider. He always has been. Why question that now?

I encourage you to write down your blessings. Even write down those extra expenses. I wonder if you will ask "How did I do that?". The answer is...

ENGLISH:Lifechurch.tv has created the ONE prayer site in spanish! We are so excited to get to participate in a church that is truly global. Each week when we attend church online, we are able to meet new friends from around the world. Hope you and your church can be a part of ONE prayer 2009 this summer!Starting June 6-7, 2009...

SPANISH:¡Lifechurch.tv ha creado el UN sitio del rezo en español! Nos excitan tan para conseguir participar en una iglesia que sea verdad global. Cada semana cuando atendemos a la iglesia en línea, podemos encontrar a nuevos amigos de alrededor del mundo. ¡Espere que usted y su iglesia puedan ser una parte de UN rezo 2009 este verano!Comenzando el 6-7 de junio de 2009…

JAPANESE:Lifechurch.tvはスペイン語で1つの祈りの場所を作成した! 私達は偽りなく全体的である教会に加わることを得るようにそう刺激される。 毎週私達が教会にオンラインで出席するとき、私達は新しい友人に世界中から会える。 あなたおよびあなたの教会が1つの祈り2009年の部分である場合もあることをこの夏望みなさい!2009年6月6-7日始まる…

FRENCH: Lifechurch.tv a créé l'UN emplacement de prière dans l'Espagnol ! Nous sommes ainsi excités pour obtenir de participer à une église qui est vraiment globale. Chaque semaine quand nous allons à l'église en ligne, nous pouvons rencontrer de nouveaux amis de partout dans le monde. Espérez que vous et votre église pouvez être une partie d'UNE prière 2009 cet été !Commençant les 6-7 juin 2009…

GERMAN: Lifechurch.tv hat den EINEN Gebetaufstellungsort auf spanisch hergestellt! Wir werden so aufgeregt, um zu erhalten, an einer Kirche teilzunehmen, die wirklich global ist. Jede Woche, wenn wir Kirche uns online sorgen, sind wir, neue Freunde aus der ganzen Welt zu treffen. Hoffen Sie, dass Sie und Ihre Kirche ein Teil von EINEM Gebet 2009 sein können dieser Sommer!Beginnen 6.-7. Juni 2009…

KOREAN: Lifechurch.tv는 스페인어에 있는 1개의 기도 위치를 창조했다! 우리는 정말 세계적인 교회에 참가하는 것을 얻도록 이렇게 흥분한다. 매주마다 우리가 교회를 온라인으로 갈 때, 우리는 새로운 친구를 세계적으로 만날 수 있다. 당신과 당신 교회가 1개의 기도 2009년의 부분일 다는 것을 이 여름 희망하십시오!2009년 6월 6-7일 시작…

Share your score and IQ in the comments