Losing Stinks and thats ok.

                          

This season, Logan finished out his basketball season without winning a single game. All season long I would tell my sweet kiddo, "you learn so much more from losing than you ever do from winning." This is something I truly believe but frankly, losing stinks. Like makes your heart ache game after game when you have played your heart out and still go home without that big W.  Last night the boys were trying to win their first play-in game, just to make it to the fun tournament that was going to be happening at the Jr high today.  After playing so hard and Logan falling on his already hurt elbow half a dozen times, the game ended in another loss and my  5'8, 11 year old boy was in tears. He was devastated. For a few hours after  I was like...."
come on buddy, toughen up....keep those tears in. Don't forget, you learn so much more from losing than winning...blah blah blah......" Never once last night  did that boy complain about not winning. By the time we got home his tears were dried and he grabbed an icepack to place on his swollen and purple elbow. Then he started asking what time the first game of the tournament was in the morning. He didn't want to miss any of it.  Makes me tear up just thinking about it. You see, my boy just wanted to go and be apart of it and cheer his buddies on. He was happy for all of them. He was gonna go to that tournament not as a player but as a fan and supporter for his people.
  He was at my bedside at 7:35 am dressed and telling me he was  finishing up his chores so that he could head over for that first game. He gave me a big hug and smiled with pure and true joy beaming from those pretty blue eyes of his.
  What a wonderful lesson for his mama. What wonderful preparation for life for my kiddo.
 Frankly, there will be so many times when we lose at every single thing we do. Times when we spill water all over table with some new buddies that we are just getting to know.(Oh yea...there I am ;) ) There will be occasions when we are not pick first, over and over again whether it is in work, in friendships, ministry opportunities, and in other situations.  Its ok to shed those tears and then pull ourselves up again and go and cheer our people on from the sidelines.  Being behind the scenes use to be a humbling position for me as well. But I am learning to love it, to appreciate it, and to grow from it. Because, after all, you do learn more from losing than you EVER will from winning:)

  

Above is Logan sitting by his friend Sam(who beat us last night.) Sam told Logan he was sorry they beat them last night. What a sweet kid:)  Bottom pic is Logan shooting hoops with his people ❤️

When we all think we are right...where do we go from here?

  The biggest problem that I have in my life is the fact that naturally, I think that I am right.  Something that has really gotten me into trouble off and on my whole life. It is the way arguments start with my precious hubby, its how my brain can go places when I'm not considered first for something, and its how my heart can be hurt when someone disagrees with me.
  I think basically the whole human race struggles with this. It causes divorces among couples that once adored each other, makes friendships end in ugly bitterness of the  heart, and right now, here in America and even in the heart of my sweet home town of Tillamook, it has divided us . We are born this way. The pride of being 'right' starts as soon as we start to breath. 
  Volleyball my Senior year of high school was a very difficult time for me. I had a really really harsh coach who convicted me of doing somethings that I didn't do and who was able to turn a lot of my team against me. I had taken a stand with a previous coach from the year prior and this new coach was not happy with me for it. It even came to the point where the coach asked me to quit. For most  of my life, I had never had any issues with authority nor had I had any adult not like me, let alone turn a bunch of my peers against me. Really was hard and hurtful at the time.  I loved volleyball so much but I was so miserable, I was seriously going to quit over something I didn't even do because I was so miserable!! I'm thankful for such awesome parents and their guidance in my life. Their advice was not to quit, but to humbly go to the coach, apologize for any problem that I had caused. I was unaware of what I had done but I was sorry for anything that may have been caused by me. That was the hardest thing in my life. I knew that I was right. I knew that I had done nothing wrong, but I also knew that I needed to make peace with this lady. Right or wrong. Even though the  things she said about me were really hurtful . I played out the rest of the season. I wish I could say that things softened between her and I. Really, they never did. It was hard for me to even be in the same room as her for a while, but I knew I did the right thing.
 We all are faced with these areas in our life that we know we are right. I knew I had not intentionally done anything wrong to this coach, but I also knew that my pride can sometimes keep me from seeing the big picture. Sometimes it is good to step back, not talk, and truly listen to what people have to say. As well as reevaluating my own heart and actions to make sure I was actually in the right.
  In a society that is full of people that all think they are right, where do we go from here? How do we stay in peace with people who think or act differently than us? And how do we react and treat others that may accuse us of untruths in our lives?!?
I can't get this verse out of my mind "He has shown me, O man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8b.  As a young girl, my dad took me along with him to camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je and we learned this verse in a song. The Lord often brings it to my mind in lifes ups and downs. When arguments arise among some of my people, when things don't turn out how my heart so fiercely wanted them to,  when others don't stand with me or disagree with me in my choices or things that I believe and stand for.  I think this is the answer to keeping us from being so divided.  Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with thy God.   This verse answers what God ask us to live by  and calls us to do. We "Act Justly"  by taking action to make things right. We "Love Mercy" by being rich in our loving kindness and sparing someone of what they may deserve and showing compassion instead. We "Walk Humbly with thy God" by not thinking of yourself as better than an other person and having a deep relationship with the Lord. 
  So as we face over and over again the issue of us all thinking we are right and the question of where we go from here, these 3 commands are a great place to start.
                               "Act Justly-Love Mercy-Walk Humbly"

 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."   2 Corinthians 10:5

"Fall, Football, #FOMO, and why I am trying to be better at saying 'no' "

Everyone keeps talking about Fall!!! But people, FOR REAL, we still have 20 days until it officially hits. Lets embrace the last couple of days of summer while we can. Because, let's face it....we won't be seeing much sun starting in November. Let's not rush this stuff :)
I do love Fall.  I love the season almost as much as I love Christmas.  The kiddos go back to school with new shoes, new clothes, new pencils, new backpacks,  and everything is NEW. So I guess the wonderful parts of Fall that I love, mean the fresh newness of  things.  The air is crisper and  a little cooler. Its just a refreshing season. PLUS, football starts up again. Since I was little, football has been a big part of my life. I grew up with a daddy and grandpa who adored it. Specifically, Denver Bronco football. I have some fond memories of my Grandpa taking me to a couple of games. He was a season ticket holder in the 80's and 90's. I remember a game he just took ME to. He spoiled me with lots and lots of hot chocolate because it was FREEZING cold at the Mile High Stadium.
  In the early 90s when we moved to Oregon, we started attending all the high school football games. This was the highlight of my week. Being little miss social, it was a time I could just hang out with my friends. It's pretty fun to pass this tradition down to my kiddos and go to the games here in Tillamook. I love watching both my kids sit with friends or  see them throw around the football during half time:) PS. Logan is starting his 3rd year of tackle football. I stumbled across his picture from 2 years ago. Look at him then and now. Makes me wanna cry. My boy is growing up, way to fast.

With Fall almost being here, it also brings the beginning of a LOT of new events. We all took a break from the "Normal" for the summer, but September hits and it all starts up again. This gets me excited and then it also gives me a tiny bit of anxiety because I wanna be involved in everything. I've had my little summer break and  I'm all refreshed from not having very much in my schedule for 3 months. I feel ready to get going with stuff again.  Seriously, ya'll, I struggle with "FOMO" like there is no tomorrow. "Fear Of Missing Out" TRUTH. This little problem of mine gets me in trouble and causes  me to overly stuff my schedule with work, kids, sports, bible studies, and other social settings. Which then leaves me with not a lot of home time....and...I am a homebody and an ambivert (which basically means I am a introvert and an extrovert...so yeah, thats super fun to explain to friends....."I totally wanna hangout and spend tons of time with you....but then 30 min. later I need to go to my bedroom and shut the door and just be by myself for awhile. FUN. haha ) So, this whole FOMO thing gets me in trouble, a lot. I get worn out easy, burnt out on social settings, and end up just wanting to stay home, all the time.  As this Fall is quickly coming at me, I have been faced with the option of doing that to myself again or trying to make some changes. I want to be able to say no, maybe even to the things that I really wanna do, in order to  not cause myself a little nervous break down- for real!!! So, I started praying about it in June.  Basically because in May, I hurt my back so badly, that I couldn't even get out of bed for like 5 days. I couldn't make it to several social things that I was helping lead, couldn't work, couldn't even take my kiddos to school or make them dinner or do any house work. I was STUCK. And in that week, I realized something BIG. The world can and will go on without Krista. This was both humbling and completely mind and heart changing for me.  With this mind set, I just starting praying that God would show me what he wanted me to keep in my life, specifically this Fall, and what He wants me to not do anymore. I have already had God show me things that I just can't be involved in and even a couple of areas He closed the doors for me. Even though I was kind of still forcing those doors open. 
  I love a couple of quotes from this lovely little book I read last Fall, " the Best Yes," by Lysa Terkeurst. 
"Saying yes all the time, won't make me Wonder Woman, it will make me a worn out woman."
"Wisdom makes decisions today that will still be good tomorrow."
"Do I have the resources to handle this request along with my current responsibilities ? Could this fit:
*Physically? Financially? Spiritually? Emotionally?"
" A small 'no' pushes through the resistance of awkwardness and disappointment because its better to nip something early on." 
"Humility and wisdom are a package deal. And often the people who have the most wisdom have experienced the most humility. Or sometimes even the most humiliation."
"Every day we make choices. Then our choices make us."
    Love all these words by Lysa Terkeurst:):)

     At the end of the day, Gods word is the ultimate Wisdom giver and life changer. Love these verses:
" The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though He may stumble, He will not fall, for the Lord upholds Him with His hand." Psalm 37:23-24
"Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."Psalm 119:105 (LOVE THE WHOLE 119 Psalm , fyi:) )
This is the verse the kids and I are gonna focus on this coming school year:
  " Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all of your might....." Ecclesiastes 9:10a
So, in order to act the above verse out, I need to pray about my schedule, pray for wisdom in what He has for me this Fall, and let the "FOMO' go.   Oh, and  maybe this will allow for me to watch a little more football with my sweet family.

The ball in my closet

  I've been getting rid of tons of stuff !! Jason and I watched this show on living in tiny houses and we both went crazy for it!! It's basically a retirement Goal for us now!! 

  As I was going through my closet, yet again, I found this big Chucky Cheese ball stuffed behind all of my clothes. 

  We went to Chucky Cheese almost two weeks ago . The last time I remember seeing that ball was when we got home and one of my kids was telling another one of my kids to not touch their ball!! Little did I know that this child decided that hiding this ball from their sibling was better than having it out and playing with it. The ball was totally forgotten about and all the fun that could have been had with it, hadn't happened yet!

  As I pulled that ball out and thought over this and giggled a little, I thought that this was a great exsample of how I am about so many things! I wanna hide things so I don't have to share or keep some wonderful things all to myself.

  So next time I'm being stingy with my things or my money or my time, I hope I think of that super cool - green and purple shinning ball, that my child saved up tickets for a year to get, that has been sitting in my closet - unused- unplayed with- and forgotten about. Just with the attitude of it being theirs alone.  I don't know about you but, I would rather play some wall ball !!

 "But do not forget to good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."  Hebrews 13:16

I have this freedom - let it ring

So today, I tried on a couple of swimsuits . I haven't done this since God pulled me from that yucky bondage almost 2 years ago.  It's a thing that triggers a yucky attitude to my precious body that God has blessed me with. But I wanted to, I was ready:) 

  So, I grabbed a way cute one piece and didn't worry about the size that I grabbed. Peyton came in with me because my girl adores anything to do with new clothing :)  I slipped the suit on and looked in the big dressing room mirror and I smiled. Sure it was a little snug in the thighs, (someday I will move past the jr section racks;) ) my thighs had some beautiful little dimples - as this runs in my family, but I looked and I beamed. I was content in what I saw:). Peyton loved it and I told her how I loved how cute and modest it was but still totally stylish and cute. And she agreed. You can never start to young with teaching your littles modesty;). But at the same time, I want my girl to grow up loving her body- no matter what size or shape she is blessed with. 

  I took the suit off and put it back on the rack and we went on with our shopping. We went and grabbed some coffee and some chips and headed out to do our fun things of the day.

  A couple years or even last year I would have planned out my whole day- week, heck month, on how to not eat and over exercise  in order to "like" what I saw in the mirror and I may have talked to my daughter about it and even said- yuck, I look gross. But, now in this freedom I now live, I was able to leave Target with other things on my mind like my kids, God, my studly man at home working so hard for us to be able make a fun trip to the zoo and pay for my kiddos dental work today. 

  With freedom brings- well- freedom. Freedoms definition is as follows:

  the state of being free or at liberty rather than inconfinement or under physicalrestraint:

exemption from external control,interference, regulation, 

Oh my goodness, I have freedom over the bondage of this sin and it's such a huge relief. Complete freedom of external control and internal control-which truly has lead to a more grateful and content mind set.

  

Coming Soon to Tillamook Oregon! IFGathering 2016

Wow! Can I just say Wow?!!? That is the word to explain what God can do when you tell Him yes.
  As you all know, I was blessed to attend IFGathering 2015, in Salem Oregon, this past February. My precious friend, Amybeth, had invited me to attend the year before and I saved that date for the WHOLE year with massive excitement and anticipation.  To be totally honest, my soul was in need of some attention and I was way thrilled to have a little weekend get away with my bestie. Jesus, Coffee, Pizza, Hotel room, and Amybeth basically sums up my idea of the BEST-TIME-EVER. 
   Little did I know what God was gonna do in my heart that weekend. Basically, it hasn't stopped since.  I've been praying, and studying, and searching, and waiting to see what God was stirring inside me. I knew He was calling me to something bigger. That weekend, I had a little tug that said, "This would be so cool to host in Tillamook." And I thought, "but no, I can't do it. That will be way to much for me." But I prayed, talked with some friends, prayed, and waited.   About a month ago I told Amybeth what my thoughts were and she said this, "Krista, no way. The leader here was wondering if you would be interested in Hosting IF in Tillamook. How cool. And girl, Im praying about co leading with you!"  
  So, here we go Tillamook Oregon!! IF is coming to Tillamook. Please save these dates! February 5-6.  Times and location details will be provided later but save those dates for now!

  What is if?    
        We exist to gather, equip and unleash the next generation of women to live out their purpose.

Vision 

If:Gather

Our 2-day gathering each year brings together women from all over the world to humbly seek God and to equip them to better live out their callings. We seek to model, resource, & empower women so that they create fresh, honest spaces in their local contexts to wrestle with essential questions of faith like: IF God is real… THEN what? We call them IF:Locals. The makeup and mechanics of each IF:Local is unique. There are monthly and annual opportunities to gather with women for prayer, for convening at dinner tables, for processing of Scripture, and for dreaming about what God can do through the laying down of our lives in obedience.

If:Equip We have created a free, simple equipping tool for reading the Bible daily. By providing easy online access to scripture, insight from thought leaders in our generation, and a like-hearted community, we hope IF:Equip will prepare women around the world to know God more deeply and to live out their purposes. We aim to release more holistic equipping materials in 2015.

If:Unleash

We believe in women uniting for healing and reconciliation in homes, neighborhoods and local churches around the world. By partnering with other non-profit organizations and coming specifically alongside women, fostering relationships and utilizing our God-given gifts, we believe that our generation could not only transform hearts but leave a tangible impact on the entire world.

     Check out this link for more details:  IFGathering

 Jennnie Allen is the founder of IFGathering and I just think she is so so so great. She shares that the Lord has called her to "Disciple her generation."  Love seeing my generation stepping up! Check her out Here .

My precious friend Jocelyn has shared her love for IF Here. This woman is incrediable and I'm so thrilled to get to spend some time with her face to face in September at our IFLocal Leaders Conference. This social media friendship is totally over-rated:)

We love Jesus and our child's teacher believes in evolution .

Our son Logan is a 3rd grader this year at our local elementary school.  He's been in the public school system for 4 years now. He came home this year and expressed to us that his teacher believes in evolution.  No, we didn't even bat an eye about pulling Logan out of that class. Let me back up just a little bit.

   When Jason and I became parents, we both were very certain that our kids would go to public school. We both had gone to public school and had also been raised in good Christian homes. Our experience with the public school system had been really good.  We had not felt the pull in any other way for our kids schooling. Once Logan began kindergarten , I was surrounded by a lot of people who had either gone the Christian school route or chose to homeschool their kids. I felt very alone as a Christian sending my kid to public school. Even at times , I felt judged. I started second guessing our choice. Am I doing the right thing, will my kids be safe, and am I failing? I didn't have a core group of friends on this same path as I was at this time. So I looked for a book or a blog of some mom or dad who went the publics school route. I had a hard time finding any blogs! The only blogs I could find were these blogs of these super human, super moms who homeschooled. Which lead me to be even more discouraged. 

 I finally stumbled across a book called "Going public," by David and Kelli Pritchard.  This couple has lead a Young Life group out of Tacoma Washington for years.  So this meant that I finally found a great Christian family whom had sent their kids to the public school and wrote a book about it!!:) I was so thrilled. I ordered and read it in a week!

  What I loved about this book was that the key point of it had everything starting at home!! In our homes, we are to train our kiddos, teach them TRUTH, and get them prepared for life! I felt relieved, refreshed , and content with Jason and my choice in putting our munchkins into the public school.

 Shortly after that, Jason knew he wanted Logan (age 6) to start reading and studying on creation. This was super important for Jason as this is his passion. He love studying truths and backing up the creation story that we believe from the word of God. We ordered a kids version of "Answers in Genisis," by Ken Ham.  " The Answers book for kids." Logan soaked them in and this became a habit for he and Jason every night. (Side note- we just began these books with our daughter Peyton who is now 6.)

  Fast forward to this school year. When Logan came home and told us this about his teacher, the first thing I asked Logan was what he thought about that?Logan was  concerned for his teachers belief. He said the bible is true and he believes in creation. He couldnt believe we came from apes and that we just " happened ." During his whole school year, Logan and I have had many talks on the way to school concerning creation and theology.  As well as talks about this amazing, all powerful God who also wants a personal relationship with us. But we also had a lot of talks about respecting his teacher, even though he doesn't always agree with him on things. Logan later went on to write a paper on "Anti- Evolution," in which he got a 100%. His teacher didn't agree with its points but as Logan had shown him respect all year, his teacher showed him the same respect.

  I understand that some may not agree with our choices in the area of public school or allowing Logan to stay in a class that the teacher taught and believed in evolution. We feel so strongly that our kids need to be raised at home in the truth and trained for the world.  We are pretty set on having this take place as they are still living under our roof.  But please know that we don't take this calling lightly !   Our kids are covered in prayer daily and nightly. I believe so much that the Lord wants them to be the little lights in their classrooms and it really gives me a satisfying joy when I think about it .  Our kids attend the public school but there is no doubt that our kids are "homeschooled" in Biblical truths. 

 "One of the most inportant armaments you must give your children as you send them out the door to the public school is a relationship with God that fills theirs minds" 

  " Let it be said about ourselves and our children here in free North America, that we love God more than normal." - (going public- David and Kelli Pritchard

*****side note:I know other parents have a different calling in the area of homeschooling or private school for their kids . I think it would be so amazing if we as parents fully back each other up in whatever schooling choice we make for our kiddos. How cool would that be?? Let's do it :)