GoG 49: The NOW Again

Whew! Last one for the night! And I'm finally caught up!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember #48? .... Living for NOW?

I found out today that I did NOT pass the Praxis (for the 9th time) ... which means that I have to either sit behind a desk and stare at papers for the rest of my life (with my plain English degree) or I need to start over with something new. So ... starting over it is! But I'm not exactly sure what I'm gonna start over with or as or .... ya know. I have some ideas, but it's gonna take a lot to do any or all of them. And then there's the whole seek God for His will thing. :)

I googled my ideas for almost 3 hours this afternoon ... trying to find that new plan. I wanted just a glimpse of something I could do. Really, I wanted to find that new plan and plan it all out right then and there. I knew I was being unrealistic, but I couldn't help it. I've been waiting for so long. My "life" has been so up in the air for so long. And I was just tired of the "up in the airness" today.

I went to Jonathan and Levi's basketball game tonight. And while I was there, I realized something. I realized that I am doing it. I am doing that new plan. I don't know all of the details, but for now, God has me right where He wants me. He wants me to live for the NOW. And right now, that NOW is working with my SoZo kids. Pouring into their lives. Loving them. Encouraging them. Supporting them in what excites them. But not only did I realize that ... I realized that I don't need to have everything planned out. I don't have to ... need to ... or want to get all caught up in what's gonna happen in May when my second job at the writing center is over .... or what's gonna happen once this summer is over and my kids go back to school .... or anything concerning my future. I can (and should) simply live for the NOW.

So again ... God, in all of His amazing grace, is reminding me of His lessons. "Trust Me completely, Mical. Live for Me now, Mical. I've got it all, Mical." .... Yep. Our God is stinkin' ... beyond stinkin' amazing!!!!! :)

GoG 48: The NOW

God has been teaching me about NOW lately.

God wants me to live for the NOW .... instead of worrying about my future.

And it's not always worry.

Sometimes, it's just me dwelling too much on what is gonna happen. I don't know what is gonna happen ... but I find myself thinking about it too much.

Perhaps I'm not worrying .... but I'm getting caught up ... I'm distracted.

I'm not living for today.

Last night, I went to a college-age Bible study with a friend .... and I laughed on the inside while we were watching a video (Rob Bell ... a pretty cool motivational speaker) about leadership ... specifically church leadership ... but leadership in general. I laughed because Mr. Rob was talking about God giving us a job .... and then when we finish that job, He gives us another one. And when we finish that job, He gives us another one. And so on and so forth. .... One step at a time. One day at a time. One job at a time. .... It was just another reminder that God wants me to live for the NOW ... and I think He wants that for all of us. Sure, we need to be observant. We need to seek God for our futures. But God doesn't want us to get so distracted with the "laters" that we miss the NOW. And God cares about me and His plan for my life enough that He will remind me of this lesson over and over again until I get it. Wow .... now, that's grace, yo!!!

GoG 47: The Child's Hugs

Almost there. 3 more posts for the night, and I will be caught up!!!! Rock on!!!! Y'all have a lot of posts to catch up on! Better get readin'! ;)

#47: More touches from the little'uns :)

Wednesday at after school, Andrea (little hispanic girl who likes to pretend to run her boogers all over me) saw me and ran up to me .... "Miss Mical! Miss Mical!" And she gave me several huge hugs!

And my day was complete. :)

GoG 46: The Bible Study

So I have this really amazing guy in my youth group. His name is Andy .... and I am completely proud of him. He is just awesome! He loves the Lord .... he is growing in the Lord (like crazy, yo!!!) .... he is a leader .... he makes good decisions .... he's sensitive to the needs of others .... he's humble .... hilarious .... just an all-around good kid .... but more than just good 'cause Jesus is the Lord of his life - genuinely ... and it shows. :) .... I'm just a little proud to call him one of "my kids" ... if you couldn't tell. ;)

He started a sr. high Bible study this past Tuesday night. He led it and everything. Golly, I was proud! I AM proud. .... It went really well. We read in Joshua ... and we got to talking (even some of the kids who don't usually talk got goin'!) about what God has been teaching us and how it has changed our lives. Good stuff. And it was all Andy! .... Well, it was all God ... but God used Andy to lead and listen and just do a really good job with it. I think Andy was pleased with it too. I know I was!

But gosh .... it was just amazing to watch one of my kids do something so great ... for Jesus! It was just another glimpse of God's grace. Not only does He allow me to work with amazing kids ('cause my other kids are great too!) ... but He allows me the privilege of watching them grow up in Him ... maybe even HELP them grow up in Him. ...... Amazingness. Awesomeness. And a bunch of other "ness" words. :)

GoG 45: The Graceful Mical ... or not

Well, if you've been keeping up with my blog, you know that I like to tell stories about myself. By that, I mean ... I like to tell y'all about my spazziness, my blondeness, my well .... Micalness. :D

Monday night, I went to Red Robin with Maggie and Hannah. And while I was there ... within about 5 minutes of each other .... I practically threw the cardboard stand across the table and I spilled a full glass of water all over the table. .... It was one of those "you had to be there" moments ....

First, I knocked the cardboard stand off the table .... but it nearly flew across the room. Who knows what I was doing?

Then, I was reaching across the table to help Hannah move her burger basket ..... and I knock over my water .... what the heck? Ha ha! .... Again, you had to be there. But we all had a good laugh about it.

I am just so graceful .... uh ... yeah right. And my lack of gracefulness is grace if you really get down to it. Ha! Nice ....

GoG 44: The V-Day Party

Last Sunday, Calvary had its 4th annual Parents Night Out/Kids Valentine's Day Party. I've been organizing it and leading it for the past 3 years, and it's always a good time. We keep the kids in the sanctuary playing games, running around like crazy people, listening to music, doing crafty stuff, and we feed 'em dinner. All the while, the parents go out for a night on the town.

My GoG for Sunday was all of the help I received with the event. I made it a youth group service project ... I asked all of my kids to come help with the event. .... They didn't have to come ... but they did. Just about everyone was there. It was great to see my kids there serving the church by loving on the kids. And it was fun to laugh with them too ... we laughed quite a bit, which is always good.

And afterwards, several parents (and nearly all of the youth) stayed to help tear tape and decorations off the walls, put the chairs back in order, do the dishes, vacuum the floors, and make sure the kids didn't kill each other in the clean-up process. .... It was such a blessing to have so much help .... and just another hint of God's great grace in my life. :)

GoG 43: The Lack of Crying

I've said it over and over on this goofy blog ... and in everyday life ... Emily is my very best friend in the whole world. .... When Emily and Barry first got engaged, I realized that one day she'd be leaving me to go live with King Barry in Nashville. ... Well, last Saturday, that day finally came. I could've sworn I was gonna be a royal mess the entire day of the wedding. But surprisingly, not one tear fell. I had tears gather behind my eyes during the slide show ... maybe one tear gather during the vows ... and I nearly lost it during one point in my maid of honor speech ..... but no. tears. fell. Amazingness.

Somehow, I was able to keep it together the entire day. I still haven't cried ... and she's been married for a week. Craziness. .... But my lack of crying is my GoG for that day (and really now too). It's grace because not only am I not a royal mess ... but my heart is not aching too much either. God is really pouring on the grace, helping me get through this transition. Thank you, Lord!

GoG 42: The Same Way

At Barry and Emily's rehearsal dinner, I had the huge honor of sitting at their table. The whole way to Chili's I kept thinking, "Gosh, I hope I get to sit by Em." And when I arrived ... shortly after Barry and Em ... Emily yelled for me ... "Mical!" And she pointed to the seat next to her with a smile. And Barry yelled at Micah (his best man) in the same way. ... Oh, it was such a joy to sit with them. Em was leaving me the next day, so I wanted to spend every minute with her ... and I just wanted to be close to her. And come to find out ... she felt the same way. :)

Now, that's grace. :)

GoG 41: The Child's Touch

I got to Brookside Church last Thursday, the 11th .... and after dropping off the food, Hannah Crane (little Hannah ... 7 years old ... from after school) grabbed my hand and just held on tight. She followed me to my car and everything.

There is something about a child's touch. Many people know me as "the girl who doesn't like to be touched." This is true to some extent ... but I've gotten a lot better. I've even grown to really enjoy hugs from most people ... especially friends. But for a long time, I've loved the touch of little kids. Their touches are so pure and empowering and dear to me.

And when they run and give you a hug or grab your hand and hold on for dear life .... sometimes, if they just say your name .... at least for me, it's like a little piece of heaven. Or ... grace. :)

GoG 40.5: The Friend Date

My friend, Ben, and I get together about once a month for something we like to call "friend dates." We usually meet at the Brownsburg Starbucks around 7:30pm .... and we talk for 2 or 3 hours ... sometimes more .... hardly ever less. It is a really sweet time. ... Lawana posted on one of my blog posts recently and told me that God has blessed me with some really special friendships. She is so right. Ben Nilsen is one of those friends I'm not sure I could live without. He has been one of my greatest encouragers, prayer warriors, and dearest friends for a few years now. Ben, by himself, is God's grace in action in my life .... but something he said at our friend date will probably stick with me forever 'cause it meant so much to me.

It was one simple sentence.

"I hope you can come because, yes, I want you to be there, but I also think you'll help calm me down all that day."

We were talking about me driving to Key West for his wedding. And he not only said he'd love for me to be there .... but he also said I could help him calm down (wedding jitters). .... You wouldn't think that comment would mean all that much ... just 'cause it's not anything huge. But boy, did it. It told me that he really appreciates my friendship ... that I'm the kind of friend that he feels really comfortable around ... that he can share his life and joys and struggles with me ... that I'm a friend who is dear enough to him that he wants me to be there on his wedding day ... just so we can share the day together as dear friends.

Ahh ... yep. It's one of those friendships called grace. :)

GoG 40: The Hannah Text

#40 .... Hannah Baker is amazing. She sent me a text last week that made my day.

It said ...

"Mical ... I love you. Just wanted you to know I am praying for you today. Not sure why but you are on my heart. Hope everything's ok!"

And that's all. What a blessing. What grace. I don't deserve such amazing friends like Hannah Joy ... but God gave her to me anyway. :)

GoG 39: The Day With Emily :)

So ... this is lame. I am so stinkin' behind with these GoGs. Bummer, yo. ..... And this is even more lame -- in effort to catch up to today's GoG, I'm gonna post several short (very short!) GoGs. And hopefully, I won't get so far behind again. And thankfully, I've been keeping track of my GoGs. :)

#39: A day with Emily :)

The Monday before Em's wedding, I headed to Serendipity to help her decorate for the reception. Afterwards, we went to dinner ... then to Target ... and then I went to her house to watch a movie with her and Josh. Good day.

A glimpse of God's grace because I have a BBF ... and she is the most wonderful thing in the world to me. Days with her make my life complete. :)