We have had a fun summer.   Starting with our family trip to Disney, swim lessons, camp for Natalie, 4th of July picnic, VBS, whew it has been busy.  I thought I would share some photos.

Phoebe and Paige..swim lessons

Tricia and Phoebe, 4th of July cake

Phoebe and Natalie

The next set of pictures are from VBS.  Phoebe had a blast and learned so much about Jesus.  The pictures are of my friend Kimmie.  She was in charge of the penny war.  They gave the kids a goal and if they reached the goal the kids got to make Kimmie and some others into human ice cream sundaes!  Well, when you give a bunch of kids that kind of challenge bet your bottom they are stocking up on toppings for the sundaes.  The kids raised around $2200 for the week.  That is amazing.  The money is going to missionaries in Australia. 

Kimmie...nice and clean..

oh...chocolate, strawberry,

what a mess!!

what would you do for $3000.00..ha ha..

Adorable!!

I came across this video and it is powerful.  Please take 10 min. out of your busy day to watch it. I  believe it will bless you, get you thinking  and make you smile because it is very relatable to how we are. 

When we allow God to chisel out the fear we will see courage in Christ. When we allow God to chisel out pain we will have joy in Christ. When we allow God to chisel out bondage we will have freedom in Christ. So, what does God need to chisel out for you. I know that this video made me think, really think. I want to shine for Christ. I want to be a testimony to his faithfulness. I want to be his masterpiece!!

I hope you are having a great Monday and starting your week off right.  I have decided that I need to start getting up early.  Get myself ready for the transition to school.  I know, I know…it is still summer.  Well, before we know it we will see those big yellow buses everywhere.  I want to be ready and not be a zombie the first month of school.  Plus I am really trying to train myself to get up and have my quiet time with God.  This takes discipline. My carnal, selfish self wants to stay in bed and snooze.  I have gotten away from quiet time and I see the consequences of that.  Not good..not good at all.  I would like to blame it on summer and not being on a regular routine but after thinking about it…it’s just laziness.  I get up, go exercise, watch the morning news or check my email.  Am I placing those things a higher priority overspending time with my maker?   It is all about priorities, yep that is what it is all about.  For me anyways…I needed to evaluate what really matters to my soul.  Lately I have felt hmm what word is it..hungry and hollow.  I feel like my days are running into each other and all I do is go go go.  My soul is hungry for something more satisfying.  I believe that can only come from spending time with God.  In the past, when I am drenching myself in God’s word, I am not hungry.   So that is my new goal.  Get up early, get me some joe and spend time with God.  What better way to start my day!!

I love acrostics.  Acrostics helped me in school and in EMT (emergency medical technician) education.  Well I have found that I really enjoy it when I see them.  In a book, magazine etc.  They help me remember things or place a silly word association to something .  I thought it would be fun to share some. 

P.U.S.H   pray until something happens

B.R.E.A.T.H.E.   believe righteousness eventually arrives to handle everything

GPS   God’s priority system     (love that one)

B.I.G    bold in God

L.I.F.E    living in faith everyday

B.R.E.A.D    bible reveals every answer daily

R.O.C.K    rely on Christ’s knowledge

F.R.O.G   fully rely on God

my new favorite

WHAT AP   with HIM all things are possible

So share some that you know. 

F.I.S.H       forever I’ll serve HIM

How do you like the new look?  Kinda spunky and sheek  huh.  I wanted to have something fun. 

Can you believe that school is gonna start in 4 weeks.  That is crazy.  We have had such a mild summer.  The weather has been great but really odd.   I am nervous for school.  My baby will be in kindergarten.  This brings on a whole new hosts of worry.  She is now in the “school system.”  This is when I take a deep breathe and pray!   I know she will be fine.  Phoebe is outgoing, smart, witty and full of personality.  I know she is ready but I hope they are ready for her! 

I am kind of looking forward to getting back into a routine.  My favorite season is fall.  I love the smell of  pumpkin pie, warm cups of coffee, casseroles, apple tarts, paired with the beauty of God’s paintbrush over the earth.  The rich colors…magnificent.  I also look forward to getting back into bible study.  This semester our church is doing Esther by Beth Moore.  I started this study with another church but didn’t get to finish.  I am excited about it.  Beth Moore studies always move me.  The depth and intensity keeps me wanting more.  I have found that I need to be in a study.  That is my accountability.  I need to be surrounded by other christian women.  I need to sing the praise music.  I need to be covered in prayers and pray for others. 

What study are you doing this fall?  I have been praying about starting a study in my home this fall.  I have found that when I drench myself in God’s word, life seems to flow better..imagine that.  When I get out from under God’s umbrella, I get wet.  I am speaking from experience, trust me you get wet.  So I want to make sure I am under the umbrella at all times.  Plus, I just love doing bible study!  I am a bible study junkie. 

So, what study have you done or do you have a study that you really want to do?   Have you seen Beth Moore’s new one.  Click here to check it out.

Radically Blessed is getting a new look!!  Can’t wait to see it.  We’ll also have some new topics to discuss, stay tuned.

Have a great Monday!!

Hey friends,

It has been a long time since I posted.  Things here in the Cross house have been crazy.  Elliott had to have some more tests on his shoulder.  He had surgery on it in April and it is still giving him problems.  They finally gave him cortisone shots and he is back in physical therapy. 

We went on our Disney Vacation.  It was great and so much fun.  I tell ya, Disney has thought of everything to make your vacation so enjoyable.  Here is a rundown.  We arrived on Sunday afternoon.  We stayed at The Wilderness Lodge.  Now, let me just say that this place is huge.  It is like being in a Colorado mountain resort.  It is beautiful.  The staff is so friendly and the accommodations are wonderful.  We got settled into our rooms and wandered around the hotel.  When we purchased our vacation we also did the Disney dinning plan.  I highly recommend it.  We ate dinner and went out to the beach (the hotel is nestled around a lagoon)  to see the lighted boat parade that they do every evening.  It was fun. 

On Monday we were up bright and early and went to Magic Kingdom.  The shuttle boat over was accessible and it was fun seeing the girls on a boat.  We spent 12 hours at Magic Kingdom on Monday.  We rode rides, many of them Natalie could stay in her wheelchair.  Like I said, Disney has thought of everything.  They treat kids with special needs like royalty.  We ate great food and stayed for the evening parade.  You should have seen Phoebe by the time we left.  She was sound asleep in the stroller.  Natalie was all smiles.

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