This just got Real!

Spring 2014
I am not even sure where to start... it might be a helpful if you know what I do.

Many of you know I work with addicts. Many of you have seen my post about #drugcourtworks; #ilovemyjob or #savinglives things like that on twitter or fb. Well, today I hated my job. (Even as it comes out it taste bitter). Today I attended my first wake for a client. 

I don't speak of this to bring awareness to addiction or to have people feel sorry for me, I write to express myself and clear my head by getting my thoughts out. 

I am believer/follower of Christ. (I know my mouth and silly antics don't always show that) I also believe that God will be glorifed in this tragedy, but it has still been a shock to my system. 

When talking about my job it's always "ya, I work with people struggling with an addiction" or  "I help people learn to live a sober a life" something like that. But today a client whom I've known for 15 months was laid to rest and I am left wondering, what the hell happened? There is comfort knowing that God has taken her out of her pain and suffering and made her whole again. God has justified her and people turn to him or learn of His greatness through this. 

When taking this job, fresh out of Grad School, there a burning fire to serve God's people, to minister to the broken and hurting. The flame still burns and the love for my clients is still there, but I have come to realize that this job comes with cost. That cost is my broken heart. 

Coming from a Social Worker Masters program I have set up boundaries, there is a clear line where work stays at the office. But when investing in another human begin do we not risk it all? God created US ALL in HIS IMAGIE, that is how I view all my clients. There fore I do my best in treating them all like children of God. My goal is to make all my clients feel God's unconditional love. It is not always nice and neat because sometimes my clients have to go to jail. But in processing the issue or relapse with them, I try to imagine the way the Jesus would treat them. 

As I process all this, I start to wonder, was I naive in thinking this could happen, or was it known but I willing choose not to acknowledge it??? 

Where is the Manual?

Just when I thought things would get mildly easier, my son gets this note home from school. His color for the day Yellow, the remark from the teacher “spitting on friend.” My heart SANK….This is not something that I was ready to read. The talking out of turn, talking to much, not listening, not follow directions I would except, and am I better equipped to handle. But spitting on a friend. WHAT??

God where is the manual for this kid? Did I miss place it or did you forget to send it?

Where do I even being? I cheat... I let Nate deal with the hard part. :) (Thank you darling) 

 I come in once the big crocodile tears are rolling down his checks, due to the "lecture" he's received from daddy. As I tuck him into bed, I try to bring it all home by explaining that God has "rule book" that "we" his people need to follow. 

When asked how God wants us to treat others, he say's, "be kind, loving, caring and nice" 

(in my head I am thinking SWEET he has learned something) 

I ask, "What led you to spit on your friend?" 

He replies, "She was staring at me?"  

(REALLY !!!! my stomach is turning)

Then I thought about the other mom, and what she now thought of my son and worse yet, what she thought of his parents! 

So again ask where is the instruction manual for these kids?

Raven Run Fun

Raven run

Once again we set out to discover more beautiful places in Kentucky.

Moving to Kentucky has really opened my eyes to hiking.

California has some beautiful places to hike too, but for whatever reason Kentucky was opened my eyes to the wonder of nature. (I still have a STRONG dislike for ALL bugs)

Today as we walked through one section that was dense with amazing big tress, the wind picked up, and the sound was peaceful. (After I yelled at my kids to stop arguing)

Just kidding.

It is amazing that being in nature really does calm ones soul.

There is something about being surrounded by the glorious wonder of the Creator, 

that takes all the stress of the world away. 

One of my Favorites.

This one is for my Titus. 

LOVE these CraZieS

Look Out Point

happy baby

Ky River Palisades Trail...

We came and we conquered 

We took the kids for another fun adventure.
Recently I discovered this VERY cool app called "All Trails".
This app is free and it's AWESOME!
It's SuPeR easy, put in the zip code and it pulls up trails in that area .
Todays trail, Kentucky River Palisades trail.

Truth be told, we did not get to finish the trail, somehow when the trail forked we choose the "look out" path. Which don't get me wrong is breathing taking, but the goal was completed the loop. (This just means we have to go back:) 

This is a MUST do for the summer if you like to hike. The trail is marked, and the path is covered by beautiful trees. It is VERY LUSH! 

A cool "cave" the boys found

This is the way little man rolled 

A dried up creek 

These two cuties had a blast 

Hook Line and Sinker

So I consider myself to be hip and up on the current trends, so it should come to no surprise that I am totally addicted to Essential Oils. Essential Oils have always been in my life, but not at this magnitude!  I bought the Young Living Essential Oil kit a couple weeks ago, and it has been complete BLISS! 

There is a lot of good literature on the history and use of oils. Like any customer I did my fair share of research. I do believe that we as Americans pump our kids and our selves full of medicines and other horrible poisons daily. I am not saying that modern medicine does not have a place, because there is a REAL need for it, but there is a natural remedy that is what I prefer. 

According to Young Living, Essential oils and plant extracts have been woven into history since the beginning of time and are conisdered by many to be the missing link in modern medicine. Essential oils have used medicinally to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses and to combat insect, bug and snake bites in addition to treating all kinds of mysterious maladies. Oils and extracts stimulate tissue and nerve regeneration. 

So what is an Essential Oil? An Essential Oil is that aromatic, volatile liquid that within many shrubs, flowers, trees, roots bushes, and seeds that is usually extracted through steam distillation. Essential Oil are HIGHLY concentrated and FAR more POTENT than dried herbs.

Have I peeked your interest yet...? Stay tuned for more information on these amazing oils! 

Where is the LOVE?

Today’s sermon could not have smacked me more in the head then I could have myself. Today Pastor Steve spoke of John 14 and the “Last Words” . John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father”.  And this weeks word if JOY!  Okay Lord I get the hint… I love the way He make things obvious. The verse for today is John 15:10-11.  “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” 

Once again I love that as I have been struggling the past few weeks with experiencing God’s pure joy, and allowing the worries and the weight of this world get me down, God comes along side me and gives me a gentle nudge to remind me of His LOVE!!

The past month or so it has been hard to focus on God, I feel that I have been sucked into the things of this world; being consumed with “getting skinny”,  “looking cool” and of course “fitting in”.  The path to obeying Christ is no mystery. He highlights two commandments, and both focus on love. Love God with all your heart, soul and mind and second love your neighbor as yourself. Reflecting on the past month, when I am not following God’s commands and not reading His words, my joy is dismal. Jesus’ desire is for us to be filled WITH HIS JOY!! There is great blessing in doing what God has asked, and what He has asked of me is simple…LOVE HIM, LOVE MY NEIGHBORHS. In fact I would be so bold to say that God, mandates us to LOVE!! 

Pastor Steve left me with these challenges:

1.     If God is in me, there ought to be LOVE coming out of me. (Of course because God is love).

2.     Obedience in the only proof of LOVE

3.     Jesus promise we will not be alone and He promise to continue to reveal himself through His Spirit.

4.     The more I walk in LOVE, the more I understand who God is and what HE is doing.  

   

      Number 4 is my favorite; (no lie that’s the one that really got smacked me in the face).  Jesus offers us a simple prescription. TAKE HIS LOVE and GIVE IT BACK. In exchange, He blesses us with joy.

Thank you Lord for loving me, even as I fail to do as you have called. Please help me to LOVE ALL, in the mist of difficulty. Teach me your ways of LOVING people. 

Generosity

Generosity, the trait of being willing to give your time or money. 

     This has been the word of the week in my daily devotions. While I must admit this word at some point has made me feel uneasy, after this week's reading there is something POWERFUL in it! 

"The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed" Proverbs 11:25.

"One man gives freely, yet gains even more" Proverbs 11:24

"Give, and you will receive" Luke 6:38

As stated early after this week of readings this word generosity has taken on a new powerful meaning! 

What if we gave generously of our time, energy, efforts and most importantly our love! 

 Giving without fear, is what I am asking the Lord to help me with. I can not believe that I will be holding a half empty bag as a I give freely. God has created me to give, and to give freely. I know that He will fill me and restore me when needed. Giving all my efforts in my work as a mother, wife, a friend, a co-worker and giving all my Love to everyone that I have contact with, even those who wrong me, is going to be a hard. But God gave me a powerful example, the giving of His son. 

Why be generous? Because God is--and so is everything God created. Charles Spurgeon wrote, "The sea feeds the clouds, the clouds empty out their treasures, the earth gives back the rain in fertility, and so its an endless chain of giving generosity"

It would be easy to with hold, especially when dealing with ungrateful, sinful, and self-ish people, but God gave to us when we were sinful, ungrateful and self-ish! We should NOT with hold our best from others. When they're at the worst, we can give our best, for one reason only-- that's how God gave to us! 

Join me on the this journey to be more generous. Can you imagine a world where people don't tear one another down, but uplift one another. A world in which we give each another our best! 

A world in which our kids see adults give unconditionally to others.

I know that's what I want for my children. I want my kids to grow up in home where we give freely, because that's what God did for us.