3 gifts funny

1. My favorite character impression "Captain Crazy" that includes booty shakin', arm wavin' and loud singing. My family LOVES it -- well, not really, but it does embarrass them and I enjoy that.... :)
2. Chasing Char and her friend Nicholas at the park.
3. Mazie chasing squirrels in the backyard that she will never catch. She gets soooo excited and intense.

3 Gifts Orange

This one is hard for me (hence the day-late post). 

1. Orange aprons that put food on our table.

2. Orange flowers finally blooming in Wisconsin.

3. Oranges that remind me of my Florida home and help me focus on nutrition.

Joy Dare

It took awhile, but I finally read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I read it with a friend from Columbus, Julie Johnson Brashear, who I haven't seen in years. But, it was a gift in and of itself to reunite with her and begin recognizing the gifts (even the really hard ones) that come from God in the lives we are living.

I would love to write more about the book itself when I have more time. This post is to set up the future posts of gift counting. Voskamp publishes a monthly schedule of a gift "scavenger hunt". It is simply an opportunity to look for the gifts that are around us -- sometimes in the most common ways.

I would love it if anyone reading would join me in my scavenger hunt. It is way more fun to see gifts together -- it only magnifies God's work in every life. So, feel free to post a comment with the gifts you see today and every day!

Cheri Lyn Novak

It's been a little while since my last post. And, let me just say a LOT has happened! I mean, a LOT has happened! I have a new name! I married Mark Novak, Jr. on December 20, 2011. If you recognize his name, that's because I featured him in a post about family. Apparently, Char knew before we did.

Now, I have added to my amazing family a husband, a daughter and more aunts, uncles and cousins than you can shake a stick at. The ceremony was a quiet one at home. Then, we celebrated this summer with a vow renewal ceremony along Lake Michigan and a tented party in the back of our humble home. It was so fun!

 Char had a great time getting to know her new cousins, Hannah and Grace. She got to meet Aunt Cheli and Grandmommy and Papa. Getting to know each other takes time, but the girls had it figured out in no time.

I purchased a home in Whitefish Bay after Mark and I started dating. We have stripped it down and remodeled it to make our two-bedroom, 1950's saltbox into a home for three.

 Oh, and I have a new job, too. Well, I have had a few jobs since I left Sears. But, I am now happily working for Home Depot, while I take on some sales training jobs on the side.

 As you can see, God continues to dump blessings on me. I know he is dumping blessings on you, too, even if we have to look for them sometimes.

Trusting it won't really burst

So, silly me, I thought I was through the healing. After the last few weeks I have decided the healing never really ends. :) At least not this side of heaven.

So much has happened in the few short weeks I've been here. Some big successes and some failures. But, God is enlarging my heart and teaching me how to love. Even in the midst of some painful revelations, He SHOWERS me with his love. He has sung His song of love over me. I am fighting to keep my heart open and not shut down. It seems for every ounce of pain, He replaces it with gallons of His grace and mercy and tenderness.

What a Love! What a Lover!

I am officially on the Captivating bandwagon. If you're a woman, you need to read this book. I say that with some hesitation, because I hated the book when I first read it. But, even if you hate it now -- you need to read it until you don't hate it anymore. LOL.

Maybe I just read it when I was ready to hear what it has to say. But, I love this book. And, when I try to think of one female who doesn't need to hear this message -- I just can't do it. Grab several boxes of kleenex and read the book. And, if you go to Valdosta, GA -- there is a half-price book store there. They have the pretty devotional version for $4.99. If I knew I was going to love it this much, I would've bought out the store on my way back to Wis. I'd keep one clean copy for myself since mine is tear-stained and snot-dripped.

And, I promise you, if you do the work and examine your heart, it will feel like your heart is going to be ripped out of your chest one minute and in the next, it will feel so full of God's love that it will burst. But, trust me, it won't. It's just stretching to make more room.

David Crowder Band - How He Loves (2009 Video & Lyrics)

His Banner Over Me

"Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away His judgments against you. He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.

The Lord your God is a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. "
-- Zeph 3:14-17 NASB

Responding

I am not sure I can begin to put into words this last year. And, yet, my heart has been stirring for several days.

I left friends and love (and cold) for security and warmth. I needed (more than I even realized at that time) a sheltered resting place -- a sanctuary. A quiet place where I could replace the voices in my head with the steady voice of the Savior.

It's been hard. In every way. I have avoided people. I have tried to hide. I have faced the cold hard truth about myself. I have learned to trust. I have been selfish and indulgent. I have been dependent. I have relinquished dreams. I have taught Sunday School. I have fought with some of the people I love the most. I have said I'm sorry (many times). I have met some amazing new friends -- and continue to be amazed by long-time relationships. And, yet, I find myself at the end of this season surprised that I do not feel bruised and beaten. I am energized, refreshed and ready. What a tender loving God I serve. I don't understand His love for me. I will never understand how He works his salvation out in me -- not in this life anyway. And yet I am so grateful for it.

It feels as if the preparation for my next step in this journey has moved into warp speed. I have grown more in the last two weeks than I have the entire time I have been here. Once again, God's timely, intentional care for me is so clear.

Since I left Milwaukee, there has been a tugging on my heart to return. It's amazing how a place -- and its people -- can get into you. I am moving back to Milwaukee. Back to friends. Back to family. Back to the familiar. And, yet, I am not the same. And, I would venture that my friends and family there are not the same either. There will be new ground to cover -- and new history to create.

For me, there is a new purpose and focus. I don't leave this warm sunny state without hesitation or fear. And, yet, the time has come. Here we go!