15 point challenge to women.

I am taking a class at church right now called Identify. It has been AMAZING. There is so much I could share about what I have learned... and maybe I will get there one day. But saying that this is my attempt at blogging twice in 1 week as apposed to twice in 6 months... I will start small.

They gave us an article to read that is a 15 point challenge to women by John Piper. A lot of the points stuck out to me... here are some of them.

• That the promises of life be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill your soul to overflowing.
  
• That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in Heaven.
• That you be women of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area of its teaching; that meditation on Biblical truth be the source of hope and faith; that you continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking that study and growth are only for others.
• That you be women of prayer, so that the word of God will be opened to you, and so the power of faith and holiness will descend upon you; that your spiritual influence may increase at home and at church and in the world.
  
• That you be women who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God which under-girds all the spiritual processes; and that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines of grace, and even deeper lovers about these things.
  
• That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific calling; that you not fritter away your time on soaps or women's magazines or unimportant hobbies or shopping; that you redeem time for Christ and his Kingdom.
  
• That, if you are married, you creatively and intelligently and sincerely support the leadership of your husband as deeply as obedience to Christ will allow; that you encourage him in his God-appointed role as head; that you influence him spiritually primarily through your fearless tranquility and holiness and prayer.
  
• That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home, the neighborhood, the community, the church and the world; that you not only pose the question: career or full-time homemaker?, but that you ask just as seriously: fulltime career or freedom for ministry. That you ask: Which would be greater for the kingdom- to work for someone who tells you what to do to make his or her business prosper, or to be God's free agent dreaming your own dreams about how your time and your home and your creativity could make God's business prosper? And that in all this you make your choices not on the basis of secular trends or upward lifestyle expectations, but on the basis of what will strengthen the faith of the family and advance the cause of Christ.
  
• That you step back and (with your husband, if you are married) plan the various forms of your life's ministry chapters. Chapters are divided by carious things- age, strength, singleness, marriage, employment, children at home, children in college, grandchildren, retirement, etc. No chapter has all the joys. Finite life is a series of tradeoffs. Finding God's will, and living for the glory of Christ to the full in every chapter is what makes it a success, not whether it reads like somebody else's chapter or whether it has in it what only another chapter will bring.
  
• That you develop a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short and billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, foods hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all your might and maximizing your joy in ministry to people's needs.
  

My Little Family

Photo shoot in the pumpkin patch with the Drinkas.

New things in my life:

1. Blentec Total Blender

Matthew and I have been wanting this amazing piece of machinery. And thanks to our Costco membership we found it for a good price. Let the blending madness begin!

2. Bangs

I have been growing my hair out for awhile now and want to keep it long but did not want it to be boring so I decided to go for bangs. I haven't had straight across bangs since I was 7 and was always a little hesitant to get them but with some encouragement from a good friend I decided to go for it. My forehead tickles and they will take some getting used to but so far the response has been good. What do you think?

3. The Last Lecture

My dad and I are going to read this book together. I have heard good things about it and am excited to bond with my dad as we discuss it with each other. 1st step: Get myself to Barnes and Noble to buy a copy!

4. Work Hours Cut

I just found out this week that my hours at work are being cut. Matthew and I are now having to do some serious talking and praying to figure things out. I feel stuck between 2 thoughts. The first thought is that I absolutely love my job. I love the people I work for and the people I get to serve and minister to through my job. I have learned and grown so much through this position and have become a part of the family I work for.

On the other hand, I have never felt a calling to pursue a career. Matthew and I have felt that I need to work as much and as hard as possible in this season to prepare for the future. The future being to start a family and for me to be home with our kiddos. Losing these hours is going to greatly effect our ability to prepare for the future as we feel like we need to at this time.

5. Katie Myers

Since I got married having close relationships with other women has been a struggle. I have been desiring a best friend for quite awhile now. Katie is my new and old best friend. We were super close in high school but lost touch after graduation. After we moved to Austin I reconnected with her. Katie got married just after we did and lives in Austin. Over the last year and a half we have been able to pick things back up and I have truly enjoyed her friendship. I realized in the last month that God is providing an incredible relationship for me through Katie and I was challenged to pursue her more. We have been hearing all about biblical community at church and I felt a challenge to live that out specifically in my relationship with her.

I think I have always been afraid to pursue relationships because I feared that I would be rejected, or they would not desire the same depth of friendship. I am learning there is risk because people aren't perfect and we will let each other down. But in choosing to pursue this friendship I have gained incredible encouragement and accountability and someone who will share in my joys and my struggles.

6. Babies (I AM NOT PREGNANT AND WE AREN'T TRYING!)

My desire to be a mom is bubbling up within me.

It's the little moments in life

I am thankful for the little moments of life that bring joy to my heart. The majority of them are spent with my family and close friends... but sometimes they happen when I am all alone... in my car... with the radio turned up... the windows down... and I am singing my heart out to whatever is on.

These moments are even better when the realization comes that I have been singing a song for a long time with complete confidence and then learn that I had the lyrics completely wrong.

That recently happened with Jordin Sparks song Battlefield. In the moment of great intensity of the song I would belt out confidently:

"You better go and get Sharonda, get Sharonda, get Sharonda"

As opposed to the real lyrics that say "You better go and get your armor".

I had no idea who Sharonda was or why you would want her in the midst of a battlefield but it didn't matter. There was a moment of shame when the realization of the real lyrics happened but the next time I was in my car and this song came on I realized that my version is so much more fun!

So whenever you hear that song you can think of me and join me as I serenade Sharonda.

Faces of Matthew

Lisa changes her hair a lot. But to me, she never looks that different. I can't say the same for my brother-in-law. Since I've known him, he has worn all the hair on his head I think in every way possible. The below is a glimpse of how he has changed since he's been in my life. Hope you enjoy!

I'm looking forward to what he comes up with next.

Bad Writer

I (Sarah) had an interesting conversation with Doug last night.

Doug: What were dinners like with your family?

Sarah: I don't really remember.

Doug: Me neither.

Sarah: I remember we had dinner at church on Wednesdays. When I was in high school we were just real busy. One of us had something every night. Monday nights was family night, you were there for some of those, spaghetti and 7th Heaven.

Doug: Yeah...

Sarah: I had cross country, Amy had basketball and volleyball, Lisa...(Doug tunes me out)...journalism...

Doug; Lisa was in journalism?

Sarah: No, I was.

Doug: Oh, I was going to say. She's not a very good writer.

Sarah: Really? Oh.

Doug: She doesn't write like you at all.

Sarah (confused): When did you have a chance to read her writing?

Doug: She left her blog open on your computer and I read some of it.

Sarah: The one where she talks about herself in the third person?

Doug: Yeah.

Sarah: I wrote that.

Doug: Oh. (I see the "Oops" look on his face). Well, maybe you're losing your touch.

So, to the Moores, and those who follow their blog, I apologize for my poor writing.

the summer has just begun

The Moore life has quickly changed.

After spending a month with them, Hailey decided Austin was not the best place for her at this time. Not because of them, I promise. But they haven't had time to miss her as their NEW DOG, Jake, has quickly made up the difference for any peace they would have gained. He's a sweet sweet dog. But there has definitely been a lack of sleep and added stress. For those who haven't heard or met Jake, he's a 55 pound German Shepherd mix. He's very intelligent. Matthew had to rig up the crate in various ways as Jake kept escaping.

Right now Matthew and Caitlin are starting the 18 hour drive from Ohio to Texas. They're doing it all in one stretch, with a few breaks for naps and food. Caitlin will be here for five weeks and so far there has been talk of trips to Schlitterbahn or Sea World, maybe a camping trip, and other various day trips. But it won't be all fun and games. I plan on putting Caitlin to work helping me care for a toddler and newborn. I'm sure she'll feel tortured with trips to the Austin Zoo, the mall and the park.

And that about covers Lisa's life for the past month. Since I have her password now if she fails to keep people updated I'll continue to step in.

Lovingly posted by Sarah Drinka (Lisa's sister)

A list of updates...

So I have been a slacker about updating.... my apologies. I am good at making lists so I thought I would take that route on updating everyone on everything happening in our lives. So, here goes...

1. We have a new housemate! A good friend of ours, Hailey, decided to move up to Austin so we invited her to stay with us for a few months to get settled here. Her work schedule is pretty opposite from ours so we don't even see her everyday but it has been good to have time with her. And she does a good job helping out around the house.... I don't know if I will be ready for her to leave in a couple months! :)

2. I am still loving my job!!! I have established some great relationships with several of our patients. This job has truly been a catalyst for Matthew and I to move towards a healthy lifestyle which has been great! And I have become a true believer in Chiropractic!

3. Caiti, Matthew's sister, will be here in about a month and will be here for about 6 weeks. We are excited about having time with her that will likely involve lots of fun times in the sun and more exploring of Austin. Matthew will be flying up to Ohio and then driving down with her so she will have her car here. Then they will drive back up and Matthew will be flying home. I am really excited that Matthew will get to go up and see his family and that he will have that long car trip (twice) to bond with his sister.

4. I really want a puppy. We came so close to getting one this week but things didn't go through. For a while I thought Matthew wasn't really ready for us to get a dog. But what I have learned is that he is just picky about the kind of dog we get. He had a dog when he was growing up that he loved and if I ever show him a dog that even slightly resembles her then he tells me to go for it. So, I feel that the addition of a puppy to our family will be happening very soon! (at least I hope so!)

5. I am going to be an Aunt x2 on Tuesday!!! Sarah will be having her baby on Tuesday. This means we will have several days of little Matthew (my nephew) staying with us (hooray!). We are very excited to meet little Kyler Drinka and to welcome her into this world!

6. As part of getting healthier we are doing a three week extremely healthy eating kind of detox thing. It has been something we have been moving towards and I feel that this decision to start out kind of extreme will be a good way to make eating healthier a consistent part of our lives. We are sticking to fruits, veggies, eggs, and nuts. I am feeling a lot better and feel like I have already lost some weight (we started on Monday). I haven't weighed myself but will hopefully make use of the wii fit today and check on that!

7. Sarah, my sister, planned a surprise camping weekend with the guys weekend for Doug for his birthday so Matthew left straight from work last night and will be back Saturday early afternoon. Sarah did a great job and I know Doug will love this. I also know that this will be really great for Matthew to be able to get out and do some manly things with the guys. Thanks Sarah!

Well.... that is all of the updates on life I have for now. Things are getting busy but we are loving life and thankful for all the blessings that God is providing us with!