Nesting, Parenting, & Discipleship...

I can't help but sit here and think that the only reason I've not blogged lately is because I didn't feel like I had much to say.
I picked up a book this morning and brought it to the office. It is one of my 20 I'm wanting to knock out this year, but I haven't started it yet. Man, I hate procrastination. :-) The book is by Donald Miller, and it's called "A Million Miles In A Thousand Years" I can't recommend it. It looks good, and a lot of great writers have recommended it. But, it's where I start. Picking it up, though, I reminded myself... "I've always wanted to write a book!" I've thought this a lot over the past few years. I've not ever written one. I journal a ton and honestly thought about making that a book. But who would read that besides maybe my family? Then, what if I did and nobody read it and it just ended up on the clearance rack? Those are what I define as excuses. That's what I'm doing... giving you excuses. :-) It's easy. Easier than writing, I guess. I digress.

What sold me on the book was what Miller said at the very beginning, "If you watched a movie about a guy who wanted a Volvo and worked for years to get it, you wouldn't cry at the end when he drove off the lot, testing the windshield wipers. You wouldn't tell your friends you saw a beautiful movie or go home and put a record on to think about the story you'd seen. The truth is, you wouldn't remember that movie a week later, except you'd feel robbed and want your money back. Nobody cries at the end of a movie about a guy who wants a Volvo. But we spend years actually living those stories, and expect our lives to feel meaningful. The truth is, if what we choose to do with our lives won't make a story meaningful, it won't make a life meaningful either."

I think the greatest points in my life have been in the moments that I've been able to impact people personally. So, what's the best way for me to impact the world? One person at a time. Discipleship and Parenting. There is something very healthy to remind ourselves of. It's a reminder that Isaiah gave us when he was most used by God. It's a reminder that I can't best impact the world unless I'm mindful of who God is. Once I get rid of worrying about who I am, and I have a right understanding of who God is, I won't be able to say much more than what Isaiah did in 6:5 "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips..."

The biggest thing going on with us is that our baby Hallie Jordan is almost here! For me and Susanna, this is another opportunity in which we have to impact the world. This is an opportunity that God's giving us to disciple a little girl. We are so excited and ready to see our baby girl. Susanna has been working like crazy "nesting." She's been getting the barn all ready for living with our new addition to the family. We are excited beyond measure!
If there's one thing I can say about Susanna it's that I fall more in love with her every day. Do I tell her that? Of course! But still, not as much as I should. She's amazing, and she's daily working harder and harder to make her family function as best as possible. I asked her a random question this morning as we were getting dressed, "Where do you see us raising the kids?" I was insinuating where exactly we would want to live in the Greenwood area. Her first words were, "Not in the barn." :-) We are hoping to find something sort of out in the country, but not too far out. We want neighbors, we just don't want neighbors looking into our windows because they live so close. I want an area where the kids can play outside and I feel it's safe. I want them to have what I had, plenty of space to grow up and play, and possibly woods that they can enjoy exploring. When I think of discipling and parenting, I think of the teammate that God has given me. What a blessing! God is good!

Who are you discipling?

Blessings,
Frankie