...better is one day...

I'm getting so excited for this coming weekend; Life Light music festival is coming to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If you haven't heard of this event, it is (and I'm not making this up) the largest outdoor, free Christian music festival. It really is something to see and be a part of. I feel so fortunate to live close enough to be able to take a few days to take in the concerts and all of the other activities that go on. Another amazing thing is that in our camping group this year we have eight families from our area that are going to be camping together; what an awesome way to spend a weekend! We also have other friends who are staying in nearby hotels or driving up for the day that will be spending the days with us as well - how can you beat that?

Within our group, there are also many of us that volunteer with Life Light in various areas; for the past few years a good friend of mine and I have volunteered in the Prayer Tent. Last year, we stepped out of our comfort zone and walked through all of the food vendors one morning and talked and prayed with each of them as they were preparing for the day; what a RUSH - we simply didn't think it could get any better than that. Good music, good friends, and God allowing us to really get "dirty" in his ministry - we were on a Holy Spirit high! Life was good! My heart beats with excitement as I anticipate what God has in store for us this year.

Psalm 84:10 says: "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

I can't even imagine it, but I believe God when he says that even all of my best days ever won't compare to one day, to ONE DAY, with him. I'm excited for Life Light - but today I'm STOAKED for my eternal life.

A Bucket List

Have you seen the movie the "Bucket List"? Two men played by Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson make a list of things they want to accomplish or experience before they die and they set out on an adventure of sorts trying to experience everything on their list. Good movie, not so great language at times, but generally I liked it.

A while back, a friend of mine invited me to start my own bucket list; without getting to philosophical I started my list (you can view it on my facebook page if you are even slightly interested) and the first item on my list is to "give away something very important to me." When I put that on my list, I had no idea what the "very important" thing was but imagined it to be an item of personal property - I'm wasn't even sure I owned it yet.

In July this scared young man came to our house and sat and squirmed in a chair in our living room pretending to be interested in whatever it was that was on the tv; Clint and I both knew why he was there but I decided to let him squirm for a little while. But because I'm a mother and I just love all children, I finally broke the ice and said "Jon, I'm going to extend my first act of grace to you - we know why you're here..." The rest is history. He proceeded to tell us how much he loved Taryn and that he wanted to ask her to marry him but first (oh my word, are there still young men who have enough respect to do this?) he wanted our permission to ask her to marry him.

So, on July 18, 2009, I will "give away" something that is very important to me - figuratively speaking, of course. As I thought about whether or not that qualified as giving something away I realized that it did indeed, because Taryn, along with my other kids, is of far more worth to me than anything I own, or could ever own. I know that I will still "have" her but our relationship will take on a new form and I will need to look at her as belonging to someone else - not in a possessive way but in a loving way.

Why the Name?

The name of my blog? Easy...I have no idea what these entries will be about and I can't think of anything more random than popcorn - and - AND, if I had to live off of one food for the rest of my life it would definitely be popcorn!

I also want to be able to share all the ways that God continues to change and challenge me in and through my every day life; things changed drastically for me a few years ago when I became a Christian (when everything that I knew finally made the 12 inch journey from my head to my heart) and the work that God is doing in me sometimes seem a bit "all over the place" similar to popcorn. So, go get yourself a bowl or a bag - and maybe sometime, in a future post, I'll share with you my secrets for making the best popcorn!!!

Be blessed.