Rafting

I had a deal with my sister going that I wasn't going to post on the blog until I got pictures of her classroom and kids! I got them a couple of days ago, so I am the real slacker! Anyhow, we were able to meet some of our family in Chatanooga on Sunday afternoon to go rafting. It was fun to see everyone, and it was my first (and possibly) last attempt at rafting. I have included a few pictures from the event.
I have decided to list a few pros and cons of rafting, incase anyone is going to have to make a decision to participate or not:
1. The water is cold. So, if you typically are cold more than you are hot (like me) than this might not be the sport for you.
2. You don't know what kind of instructor you might have (they might be highly adventure driven or not...thankfully, he wasn't too crazy so we never flipped. This can not be said for other groups...the Lord was good to us).
3. You have to sit on the side of the raft, not inside. This threw me a bit.
4. The water is cold.
5. It is beautiful...I often caught myself singing "My God is so great, so big and so mighty..there's nothing my God can not do" (anyone remember this one from vbs?).
6. Nothing screams glory like being in the middle of His creation...it was beautiful...and away from the craziness of what we make of life.
7. The water is cold (not sure I mentioned that).

With all of that said, I am really glad I partipated. It was a good time to hang out with family while getting to see some beautiful stuff. I am sure it's gorgeous in the fall...but I can't imagine how cold the water would be then.

(I hate to put verses that aren't in context...so, I am putting these in context even though I debated just putting verse 8.)
Psalm 98:7-9
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy; 9 let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.

Worn Out

Chris and I have had trouble sleeping recently (him even more so than me), which makes for long days. Thankfully, I was finally able to take a little nap today which seems to help. Everytime I try to get on here to update I am too tired to formulate words and thoughts clearly. Anyhow, I wanted to give a huge shout out to my sister who is an official graduate of the University of TN Masters program, and new 1st grade teacher! We are so proud of all she has accomplished thus far and look forward to how the Lord uses her time with this group of students. We can't wait to hear all the stories of your first "real year"! I wish so badly that I could have helped her set up her classroom, but Eli has been under the weather and still has a junky nose...bless his heart. So, the last thing I wanted to do was to get her sick before her kids come on Monday. We have been their in spirit. I just wish I could see it...just a couple more weeks.
So, we have kind of laid low this week with Eli, yet again. We were able to celebrate our friend Nick's birthday on Sunday night with our community group and all the kids. It reminds you of how blessed you are to have such incredible friends.
As for my thoughts...I have been thinking a lot about how many characteristcs there are of God...so much of the time I want to cling to the love, forgiveness, and mercy part of God...and not realize the other side of God who gets angry, seeks justice, and disciplines His children. So much of the time I want to just do things my own way and throw up my hands at the end of the day and ask God to fix things that I have managed to do all on my own....I know that has to be a slap in the face to the God who wants to be the only writer of our story. Anyhow, I just know He gets angry at me and allows me to learn from the mistakes I make...even though so often I just do the same things...ughhh! I wonder if I'm ever going to learn sometimes. I am greateful, however, for who He is and what He has called me to at this stage in my life. As I continue on the journey I look forward to learning and falling more in love with Him.