An Day in the Life.....

This would not be a typical day as the course of events go, but busy-ness is becoming normal for our family, and yet ...well it's hard to explain. Let me just tell you about today.

Overview: Ludie preached at our local church in Athlone this morning and it was broadcasted on national radio (the archive can be found at rte.ie) and then we went to Ballinasloe to meet up at the Ballinasloe Christian Fellowship, have a FABULOUS lunch with even more FABULOUS people. We then went from there with the Immersion Team and the First Baptist Woodstock team to the Ballinasloe Horse Fair. The kids and I then came home, ate, played chase and went to bed. Now I am sitting here with dirty dishes taking a sanity break.

Now let me fill in the details. ;)
Last night I stayed up until 1am getting ready for today. I cooked the sausage for breakfast and made the biscuits (not cookies, but savory scone type things) and put those in the refrigerator, got all the clean clothes put away, vacuumed/hoovered the living room (because the floor was just that nasty), cleaned the dishes that had been sitting on the counter since BREAKFAST and put the instant coffee, sugar and whitener (powdered cream) in the cups-because I knew I would need a big cup in the morning and quick! I was so proud I felt like June Cleaver. Probably one of the times I got it right.

So Lila and Ruthie woke up. I put her back in bed and told her it was not time to get up (so thankful for the later sunrise and heavy fog to make their room darker (even with blackout curtains). Fed Lila and then we were all up for the day. I was so excited. Breakfast was done in 15 minutes with a nice meal, coffee, scrambled eggs, biscuits and sausage (I know I already told you this but I just had to say it again). Ludie practiced his sermon on us while we ate. It had to be timed to 15 minutes. This is a miracle in itself because his sermons are usually 45 minutes. How do you pack everything in in 15? I did give him a pointer, (honey if you are reading hold on, it gets much better). I told him that it sounded dry, he needed passion. I know he was timing himself and that is what he was most focused on, but it needed passion. I was honestly so scared to tell him. Who really wants any type of input especially before going on national radio in a little over an hour.

We then we all got ready for church. Ludie went out and sat in the car and practiced his sermon again (it was too chaotic in the house I guess to concentrate). Maybe I should just go sit in the car. No, the kids would find me.

Ludie left to go to the Mullins house and pick up some Wellies for me to borrow for the Horse Fair later that day. He also took some things over for Andrew to have while he is in isolation for FIVE WEEKS! (pray for them).

Before we left I texted all our friends and acquaintances to listen to Ludie on the radio. Which is real scary for me for several reasons, however I am thankful for this because I learned about some issues in my heart that needed work. First I hesitated texting them. My pride said, what if something happens and Ludie just has his worst sermon ever, and that is their impression of him and what we are doing in Ireland? What if these people hear this and completely turn their backs on us or against us (a thought I am ashamed of). And just being plain scared (over a radio programme. Then I got frustrated and thought what is a little radio programme got me so worried about and if I were in battle, say the Battle of Jericho, I'd be on the sidelines with knees knocking and crying, I'm just a spiritual weenie.

This was a huge opportunity, one that has not come to our church in 10 years and this is the one chance we have to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well I had to work on some heart issues.

First issue: Pride: it is not about us. It is not about our capabilities or lack there of. What other peoples' impression of us are is not the measuring stick or our validation.

Next Issue: I should care more about others going to hell than how others view or treat us. I should take every opportunity to share the Gospel and get over myself!!! I've been told not to share the Gospel because it might rock the boat...my response was, "you care more about not rocking the boat than whether or not that person goes to hell?". And yet, I found myself being a hypocrite. "If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for." Spurgeon.

Next Issue: The sin of worrying. When I worry, I am not trusting God. I am failing to see Him as God and in complete control of everything. Period. I also need to give myself grace. We are in a battle after all. So I asked forgiveness, repented and focused on who God is and not on who I am.

Anyway, we both met at church. I was early for once! However he forgot his coat and phone charger. I got the text after we got to church. We both forgot the offering and I forgot any money for later that day. Really rivetting huh?

I was on edge (again, yes I really need to take it down a notch). I was wondering how I was going to take care of Emily and nurse Lila while Ludie was preaching. I ended up feeding Lila before the service. Ruthie and Griffin would be in Sunday School. Thankfully the older kids were not with the younger kids this week so I sent Emily with Ruthie to Sunday school. Ludie checked on her and she was having a blast! Thank God. And I had only one child and she was sleeping in my arms.

The service was great. Everything went on schedule according to plan and Ludie really shucked some corn! He did a great job! His passion came through. Real passion, not just putting on a radio show passion but passion that comes from a heart that thrives in sharing the Gospel. You know that twinkle someone gets in their eye when they fall in love and they talk about that person to someone else? And as they talk that passion just oozes out of them? That is the way Ludie is when he talks about the Gospel. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that is what flames his heart, and it is evident when he is sharing the Gospel individually or with a nation as was the case today. I know it is all God's doing, but I am sure glad He choses to use my husband, and that my husband is obedient.

We then left there and went to Ballinasloe Christian Fellowship for lunch with the church members, the Immersion Team and the First Baptist Woodstock Team. I just love that fellowship. The people there are some of the best in the world. They love on our family so well and just take care of us and take us in. My children know they are loved when they go there.

We then went to the Horse Fair. Now going to the Horse Fair is fun and Very interesting. It is not the everyday Ireland, and nowhere have I ever witnessed anything like this. There are 100's of horses, riders, carnival rides, and vendors on the street, and people selling poultry, dogs, goats and ferrets. The majority of people there are travelers (formerly known as gypsies). This could be it's own blog post so we'll skip those details this time. I'll just stick to my experience. We parked in the wrong spot so Ludie and David had to move the car and catch up with us. So CJ, Haley and Lindsey took me and the kids to "home base"-a church downtown- that was the meeting spot for our team. Haley pushed Lila in the stroller, Griffin is self sufficient, Ruthie held my hand and Lindsey took Emily because she got to heavy for me to carry after a while. While we were walking up a muddy slope as a cut through, a horse came down the hill while a car that was slipping in the mud tried to get up. We stayed back at a very safe distance but it was a sight to watch. We then met at our home base and then dispersed. There Ludie and the kids and I walked through the streets. I got shot in the rear by a bb from one of the traveler kids.

I honestly would feel completely comfortable navigating through there if I weren't trying to watch four kids in a crowd. I was also tired from the night before, tired from the stress this morning and now this. We got to the green where most of the horses were. I stayed out because there were too many horses for it to be safe for Lila in the buggy/stroller. However where we waited on the side, Lila, Emily and myself there were the occasional horses going by. One of which came flying with his rear end towards us because of his idiotic owner running down the street with him, whipping him around and not having control of him. I did not feel I could move Emily and Lila fast enough out of the way, so I just stood between them and the horse and yelled at the horse, and waiting for whatever happened next. With the adrenaline I had at the moment I think I could have taken Arnold Schwarzenegger out single-handedly. The Coueys, Pat Gaskin, and Ashley were so sweet and stopped and helped with the kids while Ludie had the other two. It all would not be such a big deal but I'm just not as mobile as I would be if I were by myself and could step out of the way, so moms who are reading this, do not worry about your kids. I could have and eventually did get into a safer place where we were blocked from the horses.

We then walked through the part I liked with the miniature horses, goat, chickens, ducks and goats for sale. I could eat that up. And then the strong mist came. We walked what seemed 1/2 mile to a mile back to the car. Emily and Ruthie did GREAT with their little legs and wellies. Griffin is just fabulous as always. We finally stopped walking and Ludie went the rest of the way and got the car for us. While we were waiting I hid Emily behind the stroller and changed her diaper while we were waiting. I was exhausted by then. I got in the car. I forgot to get petrol money out of our envelope. I was low on petrol, it was time for the baby to eat, my phone battery was low, the kids were hungry and tired and we were stuck in traffic. I chose not to worry this time....because God can handle it! I also chose to pray to Him first instead of texting my best friend Sarah. So I prayed and THEN texted Sarah. She prayed too. And then the traffic started moving, the baby fell asleep and the other three listened to a complete Magic Tree House audio book as we drove home. We then came home and ate left over biscuit and sausage, and also had turkey sandwich meat and tomato soup for dinner with orange diluted/squash to drink. Played chase. And now the kids are in bed. Ludie won't be in until the wee hours again, but at least he is somewhere local where he does get to come home for the night.

I got to see my wonderful friends that I have been waiting for so long to see, we really did have a great time at the fair. It was exciting and challenging, and most of all, God showed up today.

Though I unnecessarily fretted today, I have done a better job than usual about laughing at the days to come and not worrying, because I realize that God is in control, despite all the circumstances that surround us. Proverbs 31:25
Prov 31:25