#504. having Jaye home with us Friday

#505. sharing Gymboree and swim lessons with Daddy

#506. 3 days in a row of my 2 favorites

#507. Star Wars movie nights

#508. family ice cream date! Yum!

#509. her request to "snuggle" @ 3am...I just can't say "no"

#510. future planning/dreaming with my man

#511. laughing til we cried while trying to show her a puppet show

Bad Hair Cut

On Tuesday I went with my Mom to get a haircut. I loved my cut I got earlier in the summer and just needed a trim to keep the shape...Well, the lady who cut my hair did a number on it and I am left with hair that I HATE! I'm not sure what she was thinking, but the layers are choppy and way too short!! I don't mind having short hair, but when I can't even put it in a ponytail, something is not right!!!

In the picture above you can see the "hole"...I feel like she screwed it up there on the side...it just doesn't blend like it was supposed to...I've found that if I can manage to get it 1/2 up then you can't see the bulk of the yuck... (I haven't worn my hair 1/2 up in forever)

It's decent from the front...a little short, but not too bad...it's just the back that kills me! I had hoped that maybe if I made my hair "curly" it would help hide the yucky cut, but I'm still not so sure. I know it's only hair and it will grow back and really, there's not much I can do...but in the mean-time it really stinks to get ready each day with a cut that I hate and don't feel great about.

Esther

"Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he brought up because she had neither father or mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother had died...Esther was also taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hagai, who had charge of the harem. The girl pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with beauty treatments and special food. He assigned her seven maids selected from the king's palace and moved her and her maids to the best place in the harem. Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. Everyday he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her....Now the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen." -Esther 2

So the story goes that one of the king's right-hand men despises Mordecai and asks the king to send out a decree to have all the Jews killed on a certain day. Mordecai learns of this and asks Esther to approach the king and have the decree revoked and instead, allow the Jews to go after those who are persecuting them. Esther and Mordecai both fast and pray for 3 days prior to her approaching the king. Esther could have been immediately killed if the king did not invite her in when she approached him. The King found favor with Esther, granted her banquets and ultimately granted her requests, had the king's right-hand man Haman killed, and appointed Mordecai as second in command. God chose to use an orphan, being raised by her cousin, to bring victory and freedom for her people.

"Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of the Jews." -Esther 10:3

This story is not only the story of God using an orphan girl named Esther, but is the story of a faithful man who spoke up for those who could not speak for themselves and worked to further the good of his people. Mordecai chose to take in Esther, his cousin, and took the time to raise her and really to prepare her for what God had in store for her, and in return God ushered him into a position of power and authority. Mordecai said "yes" to an opportunity set before him and was greatly rewarded for his obedience and also his faith and boldness!

What opportunities or people has God placed before us that we need to say "yes" to? Are we truly in-tune with His urgings and callings in our lives? Are we courageous enough to say "yes" and take those steps of faith, even when we may not know the outcome? How does God want to use us to further His Kingdom and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves?

#496. early morning adventures
#497. her awe of the windmills in the desert...she couldn't get over that they twirled around and were everywhere
#498. the joy of a new friend and how quickly play begins when you're 2
#499. catching up with a near/dear friend and picking up where we left off 3 years ago
#500. pumpkin scented candles filling the house on a rainy Wednesday
#501. grateful that hair grows back...
#502. unexpected treat to see hubby before bed last night
#503. excitement for Fuse and the possibility/potential for meeting new friends

#490. a great morning pretending to be butterflies
#491. time to sit and catch up with my folks
#492. quality time with some cute kids at work
#493. a few moments catching up with hubby
#494. middle of the night snuggles with my girl, even if I am not exhausted
#495. joy and excitement over trash trucks

24:7

At church today our pastor rolled out the vision for the next 2 years at church. I love that it has been prayed about, fasted about/for, and planned since the beginning of the year and I love what the next 2 years are all about! The key verse is Exodus 24:7

"Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, 'We will do EVERYTHING the Lord has said; we will obey."

He then layed out how, as a church, we will do this...

1. Intentional Intimacy
-By spending time with the Lord, praying, and reading His Word seven days a week.
-By asking each day, "God, How are you going to bless me and who can I show love to?"
-By writing down what God puts on my heart, how He blessed me and who I showed love to.
2. Total Surrender (of our time, talents, and treasure)
-By using my talent and time to serve God at Crossroads for 100 weeks.
-By faithfully tithing over the next 2 years.
-By giving an offering beyond my tithe over the next 24 months.
3. Experience More
-By serving out of my comfort zone at least 2 times.
-By fasting with the church during two 40-day fasts.
-By meditating on the key 24:7 verses.
-By participating in a Learning Community.
4. Love Like Jesus Loves
-By passionately worshiping God.
-By passionately praying before church and during the invitation.
-By loving the family of Crossroads the way Christ loves me.
-By loving my family, my friends, and others the way Christ loves me.
-By participating in a place of Community.

I love the clear purpose and intentionality of all of this. I love the challenge that was set before us today and I love that He boldly called the church to step out of the apathy and into a real-life, passionate relationship with Christ. I am excited to see what God will do in our church, but I am more excited to see what God will do in my own life as I commit to these things. I have faith that He will move and that He will work in my life and also in the lives of those I love.

#484. playday with two 2-year olds and a favorite friend
#485. bein with someone who knows me so well and continues to be a part of my life, after all these years.
#486. "new friends" for my girl @ the game
#487. another sleep-in Saturday...so grateful my husband allows me to do so each week
#488. my sweet hubby took her to Costco, dalmation costume and all
#489. hubby who works so hard to do well and produce great work for his company