And let us consider...

" Let us hold unswervingly to the faith we profess, for he who promised is faithful. AND LET US CONSIDER how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. LET US NOT GIVE UP meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, AND ALL THE MORE, as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

Sometimes I read familiar passages of Scripture and they hit me in a new and fresh way. This happened today. A recent conversation reminded me of this passage of Scripture. There have been times in my life where I have read this and glossed over it, because it was something that was just lived out naturally. Then there are times, like now, where I read that passage, and I wonder...Am I meeting together regularly with people who are encouraging me in my faith and vice versa? How many "small groups" have I been in that have just fizzled out for one reason or another, so that it becomes easy to do what others "are in the habit of doing"...which is not meeting together? Has life gotten so busy that it is okay to not do this in certain seasons? I don't think so.

I think it takes work to be in relationships with others. I think it takes work to carve out time in schedules to make this a priority. But is it important? Yes, it is. I need to be considering how I can spur on those around me. I also need to be an encourager to the people in my life. I firmly believe I can either build people up or tear them down with my words and actions- I know I have been on the receiving end of both, and yet encouragement is so vital in our walk with Christ.

So, my prayer today is that I will live this out in my life. Help me to be wise with my words, my actions and my thoughts. Help me to be a life-giver in my relationships.And help me to encourage those around me...all the more!!

Water slide

Gotta love a water slide! We are here at Holden Beach with our dear friends, the Andrews! It is a joy to see smiles on the faces of children!







Zach's first day at the water slide...taking it all in!

SO GLAD I am not in the dating scene anymore!!!

O.K., for those of you reading this, that title might seem a little strange-like, Cammie, haven't you been out of the dating scene for a while now? And the answer is "Yes, Phillip and I have been married almost 8 years!" The reason why I am talking about this is because I overheard some girls, probably in their 20's, sitting outside of Caribou yesterday, talking about guys they had gone out with recently. The conversation went like this...Friend #1" Should I text him and tell him I had a good time?" Friend #2 "I don't know..does he think you are interested?" Friend #3 "Well, this is just my opinion, you shouldn't seem too anxious and if you text him at 10am, you might seem overly anxious..." and on the conversation went. Oh, to text or not to text? That is the question!!!

Well, I was sitting at the table at this Caribou on East Blvd. after an awesome overnight date with my husband (somewhat of a staycation in South Charlotte), and I had this overwhelming sense of joy and relief that I was not having to worry about those such things anymore...to text or not to text.(-: There were a lot of those kinds of conversations in my 20's and so yesterday, it just reminded me of how blessed I am as I looked over at my husband (oblivious to the said conversation going on near us).I am thankful that God, in His timing, brought the perfect man into my life...perfect for me!!!

And if I do decide to text him, I don't have to worry about seeming overly anxious, or too forward! All I have to worry about is whether or not texting is part of our phone plan!!! Thank you Lord!

Definitely not there yet...

Do you ever read Scripture and realize just how far off your life seems to be from actually living it out? I have that happen more often than I care to admit.

Last week, I had a "bad attitude" day. Unfortunately I can't really blame it on anything...I just had a stinkin' bad attitude. Nothing seemed to go right circumstancially, and if you couple that with a bad attitude...well, you get the picture!! I was not fun to be around (ask my husband-or actually, please don't-it is quite embarrassing!)

I finally took a "time out" because I had even had enough of me. I journaled some and just took some time to breathe. Suddenly, things seemed a bit lighter. I read some Scriptures and tried to focus on all the blessings in my life.It was a turning point in my day.

Now, here are the verses I read today that I wish I had lived out last week: "BE JOYFUL ALWAYS,PRAY CONTINUALLY; GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS."(1 Thes.5:16-18) Last week,was I doing any of these things? Hmmm...NOPE!!! I was not giving thanks in all circumstances-rather, I was complaining about them. Well, bad attitude day is over, God's mercies are new every morning and the good news is today and every day,I can have a fresh start.

P.F.Changs with old friends

...and I mean "old" as in friends I have had for a long time! Tonight I had dinner with three dear friends of mine, all mom's of former students who were in the youth group at Church at Charlotte while I was the youth director. These friends knew me and have loved me in my single days, walked with me through my dating and marriage with Phillip, and are now encouraging me with my two young children! They all have children that range from being newly married to rising seniors in high school. They have walked the path ahead of me and yet they also take the time to walk alongside me. I have seen them walk through some really hard times in each of their lives,and yet one thing remains...these three women continue to love the Lord and pursue Him with all their hearts. They continue to be real and authentic in their pursuit of Christ, embracing the "trouble" that life brings (John 16:33), and pressing on with beauty and grace.

I am challenged and encouraged by these three women. Hebrews 10:24 says "And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds." I believe that occurs in the sharing of our lives with other believers, and tonight,that took place in a booth at P.F. Changs when four old friends shared a meal and their lives.

4th of July

This is a pic of Taylor and Zach in their 4th of July outfits-however you can't see much of their outfits -oh well!! Just imagine...cute, stars, red, white and blue!!!



Would you have guessed that only a week ago Taylor needed to jump into my mine or Phillip's arms at a pool? Now, check her out! She would rub her hands together (in a getting ready pose) and then run and jump off the diving board herself!!

What a difference a week can make!! Happy 4th everyone!

He's cute, but he can make a mess!!!

Look at sweet little Zach...8 months old and his first day on the swing!!! Can you imagine my sweet little guy making a monstrous mess? Enter baby food CARROTS!! I think I have served him carrots for my last time, after doing so a few days ago.

I was in a bit of a hurry because I had 45 minutes to feed Zach and give him a bath before going on a date with Phillip. Typically, that would be enough time to get all that done, but NOT WHEN CARROTS ENTER THE PICTURE!!

I started feeding Zach and he proceeded to eat some and then spit some out. Carrots in the form of baby food are EXTREMELY orange and prone to stain. The phone rang and I answered it...Taylor then wanted to help out and take over the feeding...BIG MISTAKE!! I was on the phone for maybe one minute but that was one minute too long! Taylor missed his mouth a few times in that sixty seconds. After we finished the feeding, Zach was a mess but that was no big deal because it was bath time. I took his clothes off and gave him a bath. I get Zach out of the tub to find he had left me a present in the tub. Yep, you guessed it , a brown present. I get Zach cleaned up , dressed and lathered in sweet smelling baby lotion. I put him in his crib for a minute so I can clean up in the bathroom. I come back and he has spit up all over his clean outfit and the crib sheets(which happen to be a real pain to change!!!!) I changed his outfit,called Phillip upstairs to change the crib sheets, cleaned him up again, and then took him downstairs and put him in his exersaucer while I finished a few more things before going out...and as if he hadn't spit up enough to give me the message he does not like carrots, he gave me one more spit up for the road!!!

A few outfits later,and spot cleaner on all the clothes and crib sheets with orange stains, Phillip and I went on our date.

Moral of this story...no more carrots!!!