Fall Has Come

Well, not really, but it's thinking about it. I see the cycle beginning. While Michael's parents were here, we had a 48 hour cool shot in the midst of days that reached the high 90s and maybe the 100s. Yesterday it was cool and cloudy and gray all day. This morning the temp in our house was 57! It's mid-80s now at 7pm, but windy and the wind is blowing around a few leaves already. I know the weather won't change permanently yet, but the hint of Fall is enough to make this Florida girl wonder if she's had enough warmth yet. Apparently the Farmer's Almanac, as well as some real-live farmers we know, think that Winter will come early this year and will be very cold and snowy. I don't really know how I feel about that. I actually have been disappointed with the lack of snow since I've move up here. On the other hand, and early, long, cold, hard Winter is not completely appealing, for some reason. I'm going to at least start praying that my flights out of Billings and back in from the family reunion will run smoothly. That's about all for now. Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend and try not to hate me too much for complaining about cooler weather as you sweat in the humid heat down south.
Love you all,
Christina

I didn't realize how long it had been. . .

until I saw that the date of my last post was August 4th! Sorry :(

Michael's parents and Grams came up for a week visit. We had a lot of fun. Grams was so fun. She kept saying "I wouln't take for that!" Meaning she wouldn't trade (the animal, dinner, view of the mountains, etc) for anything. She had a lot of fun and so did we.

Well, I've got to run to Praise Team practice, so I'll try to catch you up a little more later.

Prayer

God's been teaching me about prayer and pushing me toward prayer. Not just prayer for other people, although that is part of it. But the heart of prayer that seeks His will in every moment. For instance: I came down to church earlier that I needed to to prepare for Praise Team Practice and I asked God what He would have me do with that extra time. So, here I am writing to you about prayer.

In Sunday School we have started reading Elizabeth George's book "A Woman After God's Own Heart." In the first chapter she talks about "acknowledging God" in all situations - taking just a second in the midst of whatever the situation to check in with God and see what He would have me do. Even before we started this book God had started His work in me concerning prayer. I have been finding out that God is showing me things when I'm teaching other people that I hadn't considered or realised until they came out of my mouth. I confessed to everyone at the Women's Tea that I've been planning before I pray!

What a difference it has made to ask God how I should spend my time, who I should ask to help with certain things, even what words to use to share what He is doing in my life. I am beginning to enjoy one of the blessings Elizabeth talks about in her chapter on prayer - a deeper relationship with God. Watch out - here comes another instance of God teaching me as I type! It's kind of like human relationships - the people I feel closest to are the ones who I share the most of my life with, the ones who are intimately acquainted with even the most mundane decisions of my life. Somehow things aren't so mundane when God is involved in every decision and I can see Him working in even the smallest things.

A Little Bit About Me. . .

Name: Christina Marie Laird
I am: a pastor’s wife
I want: to be a prayer warrior
I have: more than I need and more than I deserve
I wish: ice cream were fat, sugar, and calorie free
I hate: cleaning my house, but I love it when it is clean. Speaking of which. . .
I miss: my family
I hear: the hum of the computer. If I were at home, I would hear the chimes my Mom gave me for my birthday along with birds and crickets
I wonder: about people
I am not: so good with Internet/computer technology
I always: try to avoid answering “always” and “never” questions. What if only one time it weren’t true?
I sing: along with praise CD’s in the car. Sometimes I get frustrated that the roof is too short for me to raise my hands, but since I’m driving that’s probably better anyway
I laugh: a lot with Michael
I cry: at sad TV commercials
I make: quilts
I write: prayer charts, so I don’t forget to pray for people
I regret: my rebellions
I need: more of Jesus
I am surrounded by: beauty! I try to make sure I don’t take my surroundings for granted.
I should: exercise more
I must: spend time with Jesus
I understand: that God’s ways are not my ways
I adore: my Lord
I listen: not as much as I should
I hope: in God. Not a wishing kind of hope, the knowing and waiting kind of hope
I dream: of being a mother
I celebrate: Michael!
I love: Michael!
I give: Michael! No, wait that doesn’t make any sense!
I tag: Aunt Kathy, Aunt Chrissy and. . .who else reads this blog?
(all you have to do is copy and paste this into your own blog, erase my answers, put in your own then post it) Check out my sister’s (Anita) answers on her blog. The link is to the left.