Packing

We are only a few days away from our big move to Rio Rancho, NM. My husband has accepted a new pastoral appointment at a bigger church and we are very excited. Every day has been filled with packing...a box here...a box there. Fortunately we have stored several things well and it has not been too terrible of a chore. I am a little nervous because I will not be here when the truck comes or when things are unloaded at our new home. I'll be in Boston for a meeting (some people say I have great timing :) It's eye opening when you pack. You spend time deciding what is important to you and whether or not it is going to be put in a box to be unpacked again. What makes something important enough to make the cut? When you look at your life and see the bags and boxes that accumulate, do they represent what you want to be remembered for? When I pared down my closet to only the most essential things I would need for the next week, I stepped back and felt a huge weight off my shoulders. It was freeing! I know it sounds crazy, but having less to choose from feels great :) I want to use this move as an opportunity to shed some baggage. Baggage that weighs me down. I want my life to be an example of how Christ can live through a person. He didn't need a bunch of "stuff," and I don't either. Today I Am Thankful For: 1. Space Bags 2. Paper Plates 3. Dust Bunnies 4. A housewarming card from a sweet friend 5. Abundance

Giving It All

My six year old adores his Aunt Tawn.  She came to spend Mother's Day weekend with us as it was the first one she and my husband spent without their mom.  We had a pretty quiet weekend and just spent time hanging out doing our usual things.  Over dinner, my husband commented that it was too bad his sister could not stay another day.  Little did I know, my little one was paying attention.

 After we got home, he brought all the change from his little piggy bank and said, "Aunt Tawn, this is so you can change your flight."  He gave everything he had to her.  That act of unselfishness made my Mother's Day complete.  To know that my little one has a heart filled with compassion and love is all I need.

 My son's act of love reminded me of the widow in Luke 21:1-4.

"As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.  All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  (NIV)

Unfortunately we don't know much about the widow.  Was she young or old?  Were her children grown or tugging on her apron?  Did she have any family to rely on?  There are many questions we can ask about this passage, but the most important thing is that she gave everything to God.  Her monetary worth was equal to a penny in our world today, and she gave it willingly.  How many of us could actually give everything up?  The world the widow lived in is quite different than our world today, and giving up every penny we have is pretty unrealistic.  But what other things can we give up wholeheartedly in the name of Christ?  The most important gift I have to give, material possessions aside, is my heart.  The love that I am capable of sharing is what God intended.  It's not to be kept to ourselves, but to be shared with others.

 How is your heart?  Have you let anyone in lately?

 Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Airplanes

2.  A big, home-cooked breakfast

3.  Cotton balls

4.  Ear drops

5.  Loose change

Mama

It's been almost 16 years since Mama passed away.  I think of her often and today I have a warmth in my heart as I think about her.

The homemade french fries she would make after school.

The $20 bill that would come in the mail when I was off at college (always right when I needed it).

The new outfit she would surprise me with when I was pregnant and growing a bit too fast :).

Cracking up in laughter with her over the silliest things.

Hearing the music to the show "Dallas" and knowing her and Daddy were glued to the television (and the O.J. trial).

And the daily phone calls, which I miss most of all.

I miss her everyday.  Lydia Campos was my mother, and I am a better person (and Mom) because of how she loved me.

Boxes

We finally bought boxes (considering we are moving in four weeks, we need to get with it)!  My husband's last Sunday to preach in Truth or Consequences will be on Father's Day, but we have the opportunity to move into our new home (at least me and the boys) early so that my "Christian" may attend Vacation Bible School at our new church and I can get my offices at home and at the main location in Albuquerque set up.

 The one thing that is really catching me off guard are the emotional ups and downs I am experiencing.  My church family is very near and dear to me and leaving is truly bittersweet.  Everything happening in our lives surrounding my husband's new pastoral appointment has truly fallen into place.  And I know it is all as it is supposed to be, it's just overwhelming sometimes (but in a good way).

To say I am thankful for the experiences we have had over the past six years since moving to New Mexico is truly an understatement.  My life is on a different path than I ever dreamed it would be on at this point in my life.

I am so happy.

Today I Am Thankful For:

1.  Tape

2.  Air freshener

3.  Babies with chunky legs

4.  Paper flowers

5.  Boxes