That is what I have been doing for about the last week and a half.  I am not sleeping well because that is mostly when I cough.  Mike started feeling bad Saturday and made it through preaching Sunday and a youth meeting last night but is recovering today and giving his voice a rest.  It seems that we have been sick more this year than usual – a couple of nasty stomach bugs, the flu and several colds – but none of us has had to go to the doctor -thankfully.  My friend Boni posted a link to this site last week.  It’s an article about the overuse of antibiotics.  I thought it was very well balanced and logical.  My kids have only been on antibiotics a couple of times each – mainly for positive strep tests.  Mostly because God has blessed us with healthy children but also because  I agree they can be miracle drugs and save lives but they are overprescribed.  Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor if they are really necessary or wait it out a day or two at home before rushing to the doctor.  What do you think about antibiotic use?

It’s just been one of those days when everything I have picked up has dropped, broken, spilled or fallen apart. Just can’t seem to get with it. I haven’t felt well – still trying to get rid of this cough. All that said – today was the most beautiful day of 2008. 70 degrees, sunshine and no wind! Ahh- spring is on it’s way! We got to play in the back yard this afternoon and enjoy the sunshine. Gotta go pay the price now and do the house work.

Check out Mike’s blog here for information on the Financial Freedom Experience that is coming to Cornerstone April 4th and 5th.  I am looking forward to it like a root canal!  Just kidding – I think it is going to kick my tail about some financial discipline that I need.  I have flipped through the book and it looks powerful.  I am looking forward to the way God is going to use Joe Sangl to challenge us – it may just hurt a little.  Sign up soon – you can’t afford not to.

Mike just finished reading the book Visioneering by Andy Stanley.  Last night he said he wanted me to read the last 3 paragraphs of the book.  It really spoke to me because I have a HUGE internal struggle of the tension between what is and what I feel God is calling us (personally and as a church) to be.   That is especially true when I come down from the high of being somewhere like Unleash at NewSpring.  Here it is.  Let me know what you think.

I only have a few minutes and then I am dedicating my day to cleaning and schooling.  

I could post about 5 pages of stuff that is overflowing from my brain since Unleash. I am only going to share one thing that powerfully spoke to me.

Let me give you a brief peek inside my head before I tell you what I felt God say to me. I always struggle with going to conferences like Unleash. I come home wanting to sell everything and move to Anderson, SC and volunteer to clean bathrooms at NewSring on Sunday mornings just to be a part of what God is doing there. It so evident that God is working and people are meeting Jesus by the 100’s. I have such a desire to be a part of something like that. Another thing you should know before you read on is that I tend to be a runner (not the marathon kind – although I really do want to get ready to try the New River Trail 5K in May) but the kind like Elijah – after defeating the prophets of Baal he decided to hide in a cave at the first sign of trouble from Jezebel. If I feel defeated – I am ready to run, go somewhere else, take my marbles home, you get the idea.

During the last session Perry challenged everyone by sharing that when he was ready to give up it hit him that Jesus never gave up on us. The NewSpring band played Dead or Alive (yes the Bon Jovi one) while scences from the Passion of The Christ played on the screen. It was such a picture of how Jesus never gave up, never ran away and never quit. As I watched those images of Jesus being beaten, betrayed and killed I felt God say to me – If this is what you believe – if you really believe I did this for you – then you can’t quit. No matter how hard the road ahead looks you can’t run. I am learning from experience how hard being a pastor’s wife can be. I am also realizing how hard being a pastor is and it’s not easy seeing the person you love the most struggle. God has stretched us over the last few months and sometimes it hurts. We are so sure that we are doing what God has called us to do and I am not running. Jesus never quit on me -I belive that – so I’m in it for the long haul – dead or alive!

It is soo late and I have soo much to do but just needed to get it out of my system!  I am pumped about heading to Unleash tomorrow.  Mike and I went last year and we were blown away by the messages, the music, the volunteers, the excitement, the passion, the staff . . . I could go on and on!  Mostly we were blown away by the passion NewSpring had for people to meet Jesus – it was contagious.  Last year we were still a little unsure of where God was leading us.  We knew what God was leading us to do just not where.  Mike was not full time at Cornerstone -so taking back all we had learned was a little tough.  We are bringing 9 more people with us this year from Cornerstone!  I am so excited for us all to be encouraged and come back to Galax with a passion to reach people for Jesus.  It couldn’t have come at a better time.  Tonight our band led worship at a community wide revival.  Skateboarder Tim Byrne did some cool stuff with a skate board that would have put most people in the hospital.  He had a great message and an incredible humble and authentic spirit that really connected with people. Ken Freeman had an awesome message from Proverbs – first time I’ve heard him preach – powerful.  Seeing the response was the best part.  There was a group in the seats in front of me that prayed together, held hands, cried together as Ken challenged them to pray together and hold each other up and hold each other accountable.  There is nothing like seeing talk lanky 16 year old guys crying out to God together.  That never gets old -never!