What if....

What if self-interest gave way to putting others before yourself?
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

What if we have to give up something so that others could have anything?
Deut. 15:7.
If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.

What if we serve a God bigger than our current brain can comprehend?
Luke 18:27
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”


What if God gives us what we need, not what we want?
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.


What if we ask, and the answer is "No"?

And God Said No
I asked God to take away my pride. And God said "No".
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said "No".
He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said "No".
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said "No".
He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said "No".
He said suffering draws me apart from worldly cares and brings me closer to Him.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said "No".
He said I must grow on my own. But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said "No".
He said He will give me life, that I may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me.
And God said "Ah, finally you have the idea!"

Copyright © Claudia Minden Weisz (the mother of a Rett Syndrome child)




What if we were more united by our sameness than divided by our differences? I don't think we would be asking "What if?" but boldly proclaiming "Watch this!".

My Alma Mater

This week Adam and I helped move our friends Gina and Tayler into St. Mary's gleaming new freshman dorm, Founders. It was quite the surreal experience. The entrance to Founders is steps away from the entrance to the dorm Adam and I met in. As we walked through campus each area brings back memories of friends and laughter. St. Mary's was the best four years of my life. What sets StMU apart from other universities is definitely the people. I am so incredibly excited that Gina and Tayler are going to be a part of the St. Mary's legacy. I know they are going to love it.

What's happening?

Lots of things are happening! We have completed all of our required classes for the adoption process, we just need a few inspections and we will be licensed! But...we have had a bit of a game changer. Adam's MCAT scores were incredibly awesome (no surprise, my spouse is a brainiac) and that means that his/our options for where he can attend med school at are almost unlimited. SO....he is in the middle of applying to a ton of schools (prayers appreciated) and we will find out in January where we are headed or if we are staying put in good ol' SA. What this means in terms of the adoption process is that we need to wait until January before we take a child into our home because if we have to move the child would go back to the state-an option that is not good for anyone. I am a bit disappointed that our process is being delayed, but it is for an excellent reason. Until then Adam and I will both be teaching in Pleasanton again this year, and it is going to be a great year! God is doing exciting things in our lives and I am going to be more purposeful in sharing these things with my writing, so stay tuned!

2011 Resolutions

I have not written resolutions the last few years. This year though I feel like there are many things that I would like to work on. I have also heard it said that you are much more likely to attain your goals if you write them down. So perhaps these are not "resolutions" but rather aspirations. Here goes...



My 2011 Aspiration-Resolution List (not necessarily in any particular order)



1) Improve my relationship with God-this has always been the most important area of my life but this year I really want to make it count! I have been plugged into a great church for a year now and I know that great things are in store.

2) Become a better wife. Love is serving-the end. (We also started the 365 Love Dare yesterday)

3) Be more prepared each day for work. I want to inspire my students each day-plus I get bored easily so I need to keep things exciting for me too.

4) Improve my relationships-I need to work on being a better friend and family member. This will involve removing the self-centered attitude I often possess-and it will be tough..

5) Let go of failing/non-existing relationships. I am going to stop questioning the past and trust that God knew what he was doing when He left seemingly important people out of my life...this might be the hardest one for me to accomplish, but it will definitely be the most freeing.

6) Take charge of my finances! Adam and I started Financial Peace in 2010 but were unable to finish the classes due to scheduling conflicts. We are still practicing many of the principles and God has already done wonders in the area of our finances.

7) Find something each day to be thankful for. God has shown me more and more lately how much I have to be thankful for-may I never go a day without remembering this.

8) Exercise more-and by more I mean at all. Although I am limited in what I can do, I have let my limitations stop me from doing anything. Adam and I are beginning a program called "From Couch Potato to 10K".

9) Convince the Witherspoons to start recycling :)

10) Write more. Writing has always been an outlet for me. I want to try to blog at least once a week. Maybe even figure out how to do fancy things like add pictures!

11) Keep my house clean! My mental state is almost always a mirror image of the cleanliness of my surroundings-thus I need a clean house.

12) ----^ In accordance with #11, I am going to work on not sweating the small stuff.





I'm sure there are many more things I need to work on, but this is a good start. As it is written, so shall it be!