Monthly Archive for August, 2007Page 3 of 10

Coffee, Courage, and Commitment (And Happy Wednesday)

Happy Wednesday! (At least it is now) - The boys get out of school early on Wednesdays, so we decided to bring them to “Cuppy’s” (My favorite coffee shop, on Lee Vista). So, hangin’ with my boys and drinking a caramel latte (and free wifi)…it just doesn’t get any better than this!

We had lunch with Vinny and Valerie, an awesome couple with a passion for God that’s contagious. They are definitely “so C3″!

I’ve been reading “Stand Against the Wind” by Erwin McManus - he’s one of my favorite authors - and this quote spoke to me, “Our capacity to run free is related to our commitment to stand firm.”

It may seem odd that he would correlate commitment with freedom. Those two seem contrary, but, in reality, you are only as free as you are committed. You are only as strong as your willingness to lay aside anything that hinders you in the race. Freedom comes after the sacrifice, when there’s nothing left to lose.

McManus asks the question, “How often have we surrendered our freedoms under the weight of our fears?” That’s something to ponder. Fear is bondage, and bondage is the death of hope.

So, today, I desire to run free and fearless - with nothing left to lose, and everything to gain.

Happy Wednesday!

Peace.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on August 22, 2007
in coffee, faith, life lessons and wednesday
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Thanks…for the Memories (sounds like a cheesy song!)

Thanks to everyone who made yesterday so special.

Even though there was a ton going on with the start of the school year, the blogs, phone calls, emails and gifts are greatly appreciated. I especially have appreciated the prayers and support throughout this last year.

Yesterday was a long “marathon” of a day - I did get to:

*Spend time with Byron (as we were mutually traumatized by the boys first day - they were troopers, though, and seem to have sweet teachers).

*Have coffee with friends (Amanda and Leigh Ann :-)) at Cuppy’s, my favorite coffee shop, (on Lee Vista).

*Spend time at C3.

*Remember what “carline” is like - three times - (especially when some people in big trucks - not bigger than mine, but still bigger than the other cars waiting patiently - think they don’t have to wait in line like everyone else, and speed to the front of the line putting everyone else in peril)…oh the joys of the private school mentality!…anyway, I digress…remember what carline is like!

*Get to see Kayleigh have her senior pictures taken…for 2 hours!!! - I think mine took 7 minutes! She was beautiful.

*Have a wonderful sugar-free ice cream cake, made by Diane (I didn’t think this was humanly possible, she should get a Nobel peace prize!).

*Talk to my “Oma”.

*NOT work out or jog, although I did take a nap instead of lunch, I just need to do that EVERY DAY!!!

*Spend a few minutes with the kids as we ate dinner AT 7:45!!!

*Read a lot of sweet thoughts and wishes from friends.

*FINALLY go to sleep…

And here we are, and I actually don’t have time to be blogging, but I just wanted to say “Thanks” to everyone for making my crazy, marathon birthday worth running.

I love you all. Peace.

Published
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angiebledsoe
on August 21, 2007
in family, friends and fun
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Selah to "Peace"

Sleep won’t come tonight, so I went back and read some of my earlier posts labeled “peace”, many of which I wrote when I couldn’t sleep. One, that I wrote back in May, seemed fitting. I needed to remember other times when I needed to remember… .

Maybe after remembering, sleep will finally come. Maybe after being reminded, peace will return…

“I should be asleep. I’ve been awake since 5 a.m.. There are so many things on my mind. I’m just asking God to cover me in His grace and mercy tonight. I know it’s all I need, although my mind tells me I need to figure everything out by myself. I know I need to spend less time thinking and more time waiting. ‘Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord - You are the Everlasting God. You do not faint, You won’t grow weary. You’re the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need. You lift us up on wings like eagles.’ I’d love to soar on wings like eagles, but right now I just need to be quiet and wait. Rest is not easy for a restless mind, so I’m going to be still for a while and know ‘our God, You reign forever, our Hope, our Strong Deliverer.’
‘I will lie down in peace and sleep for You, oh Lord, will keep me safe.’ I can sleep because my God never slumbers.
As a child, I memorized many Psalms, and although I rarely remember the exact reference or wording, God is always faithful to bring what I need to my rememberence - no more, no less.
I think it’s Psalm 121 that says something like: ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills - From whence cometh my help? - My help cometh from the Lord. - The Lord watches over [me] - the sun shall not smite [me] by day nor the moon by night - He who watches [me] does not slumber - He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.’
Now I will lie down in peace and sleep for ‘joy comes in the morning…’ Selah!“

I will lie down in peace.

Selah.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on August 20, 2007
in peace
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The Remains of the Day

Another Sunday…

Today was a good day for us at C3 - you could feel the anticipation of all that’s coming.

Personally, I woke up feeling incredibly old. I asked Darrell if their was a mandatory retirement age for the Praise Team…because I’m sure I’m getting close!

I walked/jogged tonight, and smelled the dryer sheets (former post) which almost distracted me from my agony. Almost, but not quite. I did jog more than last time, so I guess I’m making progress.

Tomorrow will be a CRAZY manic monday with the kids starting school (two different schools), time at the office, and Kayleigh has senior pictures (that’s gonna really help with the “I’m feeling old” stage I’m in!). Plus, I get to be reminded that I’m getting closer to 40, and the clock is ticking…(in a weak moment, I vowed to be “buff by forty” - I’m just going to chalk-it-up to delirium from one of Byron’s work-outs.)

So, it’s off to bed because 5:30 will be here before I know it. I wonder when the “early to bed, early to rise - and LIKE IT” phase of old age is gonna kick in??!!!

See ya with the sunrise (figuratively speaking, of course - no one wants to see me first thing in the a.m. when I have to get up early - it’s not pretty!).

Peace. (Is it bad that I can’t feel my arms?)

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on August 19, 2007
in exercise, family and sunday
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