A month ago the dreaded pain was back. I went to two other doctors before I would admit that I had another cyst. I was hoping the pain was caused by a kidney stone or maybe something else. I just kept praying it would go away!

Two weeks ago, my doctor confirmed I had two more cysts. Ugh! I was so not happy actually, quite irritated.

Bryan and I had to get real about this with one another. If the cysts didn’t go away this time, then the ovary was coming out. 7 cysts since September was just not good and I couldn’t keep going like this.

The last few days I have been feeling better. Today, we went for my follow up appointment.  The scan showed the cysts are all gone. What an amazing miracle! I am so thankful God still heals! I am living proof!

When I got back to the office, I was met by some of the staff wearing round stickers on their foreheads that said “Long live the ovary”.  There was also one on my door.

Today was the Kid’s ROCK volunteer appreciation cook-in.  After several months of planning an outdoor cook out the weather decided not to cooperate so the party was moved indoors. When people serve it is amazing how they find it hard to be served. So many people said, “What can I do to help?”It was so great having fun together and showing the volunteers they are appreciated.

There were a few competitions kid style. A hoola hoop contest was won by Jen Roush. She is quite a hoola hooper. Gary Lyman can keep a hoola hoop going too and he was a close second.

Playdo pictionary seemed to be a big hit. Each group made up a team name. One person from the team had to scult the word and the rest of the team had to guess. The Dough-Dogs won after a three way tie breaker with Beasty slice and Heart Stars.

Since our cookout became a cook in, I wanted to keep one of the original games. What cookout could be complete without an eating contest? Children, adults and teens gathered around a table with their hands behind their backs to eat a wedge of watermelon as fast as they could. 4 guys ate all the way down to the rind, Ian Gillen, Michael  Furlong, Gary Lyman, and Pastor Matthew Ray. I can’t believe how much watermelon all the kids ate!

Here are the people that helped me make this event happen. I want to give a big shout out to my wonderful husband who helped with this event in so many ways. I don’t know what I did to get him to marry me, but I am sure glad it worked. My children who helped their Mom, I love you. Mary McCoy who made 9 dozen chocolate chip cookies and volunteered to serve just because she’s my friend. Lori Capace who stepped in and helped set up and clean up without being asked. Matthew who cooked some mean burgers and helped out in a great way. Pastor Ron, who is a true servant leader. He swept and mopped the fellowship hall floor with a smile.

I love my husband, my kids, my team, my church, my life.

Two weeks ago ended a series Bryan taught on Sundays, iServe. The focus of the series was that church isn’t about us anymore. You can download the podcasts here. Yesterday, the Fuller family came to serve at the church. This family serves with a great heart each week, but they made a decision to take some of their vacation to serve at the church. I was excited they were coming to volunteer as a family.

Of course John had us laughing and Helen and I took over designing Bryan’s office.  We took a trip down memory lane when we found some old photo albums.Courtney, Kennedy and Caleb helped me with a special project being unveiled on Sunday. They also worked on sorting blocks, Christmas decorations, and putting like items together. I loved having them help me. We talked about their upcoming vacation and summer plans.

What can you do to put it into action today?

• The whole week felt a little strange since I was off all week with Adam.
• Friday, we slept late and spent the day together as a family. Adam was still moving a little slow.
• The boys and Bryan played this game Adam bought. They all took turns training the cheerleaders.
• I bought a Wii fit, but can’t seem to find a Wii. If you find one let me know.
• Sunday was great! One Prayer kids is making an impact on our kids.
• Our main point this week is Servant Leaders Help Others and we are collecting new men’s socks, men’s underwear, and ladies underwear for the HandUP closet at The ROCK.
• Father’s Day lunch was spent at Bonefish Grill. It was so nice and we had a wonderful time with family.
• My husband is a wonderful father and great husband. I don’t know what I did to deserve him.
• I had the opportunity to speak with my father and enjoyed laughing and talking with him. Wish I could have been with him too.
• I love my life.

Today, Noah and Gabriel had appointments at the dentist. Since Adam was doing so well, I thought it would be good for him to get it out for a bit. All morning he kept asking when would we be able to go.

Yesterday, three of his friends stopped by to bring him a gift and play some video games with him. He also received a package in the mail from his Mimi and Papaw with a new video game. The video games have been a great distraction.

Both days he has received calls from family and friends checking on his progress. He has done extremely well. I am so thankful for all the prayers and support we have received.

Tomorrow the bandage comes off and then he can take a real bath or shower!

Yesterday, Adam had surgery to repair two abdominal hernias. Nana, Papa, Auntie Abbye and Reagan were at the hospital during Adam’s surgery and Uncle Don stopped by to say hi. Numerous people called to check on him and others sent text messages.

Nana and Papa were a great help bringing popsicles, lunch and Nintendogs Dalmations. Adam has been playing Nintendgos with the help of his brothers. Mimi and Papaw (my parents) sent balloons, a stuffed dog that Adam has named Bagel, and a mug full of candy. Our friend Mrs. Debra stopped by to bring games and activities to keep Adam occupied. One game was Go Fish and Adam even felt up to playing a game last night.

This morning Adam woke up ready for some real food! He is getting the royal treating with breakfast in Mom and Dad’s bed while watching cartoons.

Have you ever had something on your calendar, but did not realized everything involved in the event? Today, I had a realization of one such event. I had a big oh no because I had not carefully reviewed the event.

In living in the margin, there are a few things I have committed to myself and one of those is that I will take my Fridays off. I began to panic on the inside that I would not be able to get all my work done and I would have to come in on Friday. Then I stopped myself and remembered the scripture:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Phillipians 4:6″

On my way home, I prayed and asked God to give me wisdom. I began to thank Him for all the ideas He has given to my team over the last 11 months and how He has guided me, and then He gave me a plan.

My weekend so far:

•  Thursday enjoying a date with my honey. We had been so busy being together was so nice.
• Friday morning just enjoyed being.  You should try it.
• Had lunch with a dear friend and caught up with her.
• Bryan, Gabriel and Papa went out of town for a quick trip.
• Friday night Adam, Noah, and I had dinner with Nana. We love our Nana!
• Off to Noah’s game where they won 15-7. It was a great game. I was so proud of Noah. One of the parents commented on Noah’s great attitude no matter what happens! Wow that made me proud.
• Saturday morning Adam played a game in the rain. They won 16-6. He got two good hits driving 3 runs in.
• Off to a great time at John and Helen Fuller’s house for a baby shower for Abbye. It was a wonderful time connecting with friends. Thank you to the Fuller’s.

I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend and enjoying Monday off. I am glad I am working on living in the margin.

I am definitely an idiot and God reminds me of it everyday. Today, He has reminded me of it all over again. He is also reminding me that I have definite limitations and working on the Kid’s ROCK website makes me feel like a #1 idiot.

For the tech savy, what I had to do today would seem easy or commonplace. However, I am now sitting here with a huge headache crying out to God to bring a volunteer with computer design experience.

What is so awesome about the body of Christ is there is someone who has this skill and proficiency that I do not have. What frustrates me, excites them.  Whoever you are, I am praying that God will intersect our paths.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

I am learning to set priorities in the right order so  I can say “yes” to the right things. The things God has given me and what He has given me to do. He has given me a husband and three wonderful children and if I say “yes” to all the good things I lose sight of the great things.

Over the last several weeks, I have been reading and studying about choosing how to schedule time. I did a study while in Costa Rica on living in the margin. When living overwhelmed and with a crowded schedule the first thing that suffers are relationships.  These changes have helped me to plan my schedule.

Here are some of the changes I have made:

• I  turned off twitter to my phone-this was robbing me of time through the day. I still read them online….sometimes
• When I am off I let my voicemail pick up phone calls. My husband and children need to know they are the most important people in my life.
• I cut down on the number of blogs I was reading a day. If I don’t read them today they will be there tomorrow.
• Started planning our schedule 4-6 weeks ahead looking at really busy times. Making sure after heavy meeting times and kids schedules we had no extras on our schedule. Bryan and I are doing a better job of coordinating our schedules.

Bryan started a new series Sunday, iServe. If you have felt overwhelmed in your life and thought you were too busy to serve, maybe you should do what I did and reevaluate your priorities. Find the areas in  your life that are stealing your time.