He is Able......

I had one of the most exciting times of my life this weekend. I worshiped, prayed and sobbed with 6,000 women.  Sounds frightening to some... all that estrogen in one room.  To me it lifted some of the deepest baggage I have ever worn.  In three words "I'm not alone" freedom came and it came in a big way.

I looked around and saw so many different women.  Sizes, shapes, ethnicities crying out ME TOO!!!! Not just me too, that they too had so much baggage to bear, but also at the same time how many blessings has still been rained down upon them.  I'm not sure Hope could have escaped that stadium if it wanted to.

Priscilla Shirer, if you ever get to hear her please do, kept reciting a passage that if we never know our God or pick up the bible we can lay our hands on and believe.  It comes in the form of Ephesians 3:20 it states:

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

I kept replaying those words.  Now- this moment.  Is able, to do not just more, immeasurably more. In our lives and guess what his power to do these things lives in us.

Girls let me tell you we all have a story.  We can all tell of his great Grace at some point in our lives or we surely will.  I can also tell you this its always more, always grand, always dynamic. More then our wants, prayers and dreams could ever take us.

Two times in my life that have been incredibly painful and I believed with all my heart he proved this to me.  When I lost the love of my life  two months before my wedding and when cancer proved it kinda liked me and diminished my chances at a young age to have children.

Not only did God reward me in double for those dark, desperate times of hurt in my life....he lavishly rewarded me in double.  I not only have faithful love in my life, our meeting was nothing mundane.  Atlanta Georgia, random introduction across the way, live 5 minutes away back home and a feeling in that first hug outside that stadium God said this is what it all was for.  He is good. He is from me.  My husband is a contstant reminder of God's immeasurable power.

Fast forward few years later. Not only did God take the hands of amazing surgeons to answer my prayers of delivering a child, I was rewarded the most perfect baby boy.  Then just to top off his grace and love he gave me another child nothing short of boring, guess what? Happens to be a baby girl. One of each for me to adore in his glory. Tell the world he seemed to scream. I have overcome it all and I will for you.

Girls he is able.  I'm not sure what you are facing today.  We all are facing something, but this I know keep praying, keep believing.  He can, He is able and when he does it will be immeasurably more then you could have ever imagined.  That I will promise you.

1,000 Reasons to Smile

"I love when you do that Mom! You know when you smile."

The words hit me like daggers today laying, snuggling with my 4 year old son.  The look of peace staring at me was eye opening.  He knew I was happy, he wanted me to be happy.  Was he on the fact that some days I'm anything but....you know Moms what I mean.  Those days when the monotony and carpool catches up and there is nothing you want more then a big break.

Wait! Did he not see the smiles I had when he comforted the crying baby, or made his first soccer goals?  When he spotted an american flag after school and rambled off 1-20 so perfect.  Or when he always gives Jesus praise for making him super fast or funny, so so funny. 

Is it the days I yell too much for picking on his sister.  Or not hurrying up, just like his Mama who seems to rush through life.  Or when he just won't fall asleep to take his naps anymore, I'm not ready for that darn it...remember I need the break.

It dawned on me today that life is passing by.  That 4 year old on the couch, kinda loves me...idolizes me actually. That one day this is what he will remember.  Not how many toys I purchased, or trips to the zoo. Not the play dates or trips to the pool.  It is this, that smile on my face that will forever mark his heart. That will make him want to come back to visit. That he will inherit one day.

So I challenged myself today that instead of doing the 30 day skinny challenge, the get organized challenge, the make time for me challenge....that I would challenge myself to the greatest one of all.  The smile challenge.

It once was said......

 

 

I believe that.  Guess What? Our kids do too:)

Am I Pitty?

 

So the school year beginning bell has rung for the Zimmers.  I'm going to come out first and say not one tear was shed by anyone but my daughter.  She had more then any one of us could have ever combined on a bad day.  I kept looking around, doing the actress tear up deal.....lets just say I can understand why Hollywood never called. I skeptically looked around for some comrades.  I think I spotted a few but never can be sure.

Something surreal happened that morning that trumped any of that.  It happened and it happened young.  My two year old daughter discovered a mirror that was laid against the wall to be hung in  her brothers room.  I witnessed the walk up. The grab of the dress on both sides.  The sway and the look up.  Then it happened.  "Am I pitty Mom?"

Double Take, holy crap....did she seriously already discover beauty was a question. I wanted to scream no not yet!!! I wanted to grab her chubby little bootiful face and kiss it hundred thirty times.  I wanted in that instant to provide her so much assurance that it would last a lifetimes of those hideous questions.

Does she secretly know the truth.  That she was headed to that place.  That "school" place where cruelness and vulnerability starts.  Where kids eventually will notice labels, pimples and all sorts of akward.  Will they make fun of her name, her smile as she squints those adorable eyes and bunches up that nose.  Will they notice that, my favorite thing about her and have her believe anything but. 

That place where she stands in the open praying someone befriends her.  Someone finds acceptance for her, someone wants to be her friend because of her heart and not her outward beauty.  Then it dawned on me how many parents are feeling the same thing.  As they hug and turn to walk away to silence, some peace.... do they have that little piece of empty in their stomachs?

I pray a lot, but I'm not sure I could ever pray more over something in my entire spiritual journey.  That God surrounds my kids with good loving nurture. That the scary place, is also filled with angels who surround them.  Waiting to bring out the strength and faith they need to withstand a cold and tarnished world.

God says in the good book by my bed, in fact every bed in my house in case of daily emergency or hiding....!   Hebrews 11:1 - 11:40 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  I have faith in his word, that no matter how akward, struggling, or denied at times they may be they are protected, even in my absence.  They find that place in their wee little souls that reminds them they are loved. They are accepted.  They are safe.

And we all say Amen....especially because school has begun and these angels can help a Mother out:)

Who Dey Time!

 

So as I'm planning our first annual Opening Day Bengals Blowout I thought it was only appropriate I pick my fav Bengals attire.  Hard to believe it's here already, hard to believe we are home to celebrate with the die hards like us.  Maybe section 160 won't be the same again this year:)

Happy Who Dey!!!!!