Paid In Full

Ever have one of those "Ah Ha" moments that God gives you? Isn't it amazing how it can be in the oddest places too?

I got mine today... just thought I would share it with you.

So there I am...standing in line in a crowded, hot, little portable converted classroom that is kindly known as the "San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Office in Grover Beach"...and I am there to begrudgingly pay my 1st ever speeding ticket. (click on the link for the full story). I was honestly still very..hmm..how shall we say it...bitter about the whole ticket and not thrilled to be there in the first place! (trust me..I had thought of fighting it, but gave into it and just decided to let it go)

One gentleman in the group made time pass as he would strike up conversations with others, comparing notes...you know...awful police officer stories...fines...etc, etc, etc...all the while I continued to wallow and feed my self pitty party. As I neared the front of the line, I overheard the young girl, who couldn't have been more than 20, at the counter explaining her situation to the clerk and asking if she could get her fine reduced...it currently stood at $700.00. Hmm..ok..first thought..Wow! what did she do?...then came lesson number 1...my $157.00 was looking pretty good right about now, I should quit complaining (whining was more like it) and be thankful that we have jobs and were able to pay it (as begrudgingly as I wanted to).

Finally a clerk opened another window and it was at last my time to pay my dues. As I waited for my receipt, I again grumbled at the fact that I was EVEN there.....hoping that MR. "It's my job to enforce the speedlimit" cop was happy! hmph!( Ya..I admit..I had a bad attitude)

In the midst of my party..the kind clerk brings me back my receipt and says " Here ya go Julie, you are PAID IN FULL"
It hit me. PAID IN FULL. Not that my ticket was paid (at that point I could care less!)..but it hit me....
My sins...ME..little ol me..MY sins had been PAID IN FULL! Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for ME! It was the "AhHa!" moment.

As I stumbled to the car, I giggled at the way God can use my bad attitude and teach me a little lesson. Apparently He wasn't done, because as I drove off, the most beautiful song came over my CD player. Phillips Craig and Dean were singing this version of it, and at that point..I do believe I lost it.

The following are the words to that beautiful song, and if you have speakers...turn up your volume and listen as Lincoln Brewster sings of How much God Loves us! If you've ever doubted His love...just remember.. YOU ARE PAID IN FULL!!

Amazed
You dance over me,While I am unaware.
You sing all around,But I never hear the sound.
Lord, I'm amazed by you
Lord, I'm amazed by you
Lord, I'm amazed by you
How you love me.

You paint the morning sky, With miracles in mind
My hope will always stand,For you hold me in your hand
Lord I'm amazed by you
Lord I'm amazed by you
Lord I'm amazed by you
How you love me.

How wide, how deep,
how great, is your love for me.
How wide, how deep,
how great, is your love for me.
Lord I'm amazed by you
Lord I'm amazed by you
Lord I'm amazed by you
How you love me.
Lord you love me.

Bah Hum Blog!

Maybe it was the busyness of the season...or just so many things going on that I felt "Blog Overwhelmed"...whatever it is, apparently I go through it once a year...because I remember it happening last year... I think about blogging...really I do.. I even changed my background anticipating on posting all kinds of stuff....it just never made it! Go Figure...

On the bright side..I do have some free time coming up and my goal will be to update the blog. (of course the events maybe months old by then...but hey..its a start right??)

For those of you who have expressed your concern...wondering if I am still alive......WE ARE...and we are well! :-) Thanks for caring for us!

Look for updates posted soon...just think...you can sit and read them ALL in one setting!! (its planned!)

Happy New Year

As is tradition that we ring in the New Year with the Pius Family. For several years it was spent in the snow, and the last few years have been spent gazing at the ocean from their "beach cottage"
Laughter, games and fun was had by all! We even spent the night at their place ...you know..15 mins is just too far to drive home!...but it made for a fun morning with everyone and then some time spent at the beach! (even though it wasn't particularly perfect beach weather...just something about the beach!)
Here's to 2009!!!

Driving Mr. John

Mr. John Deere that would be!

Brandon eagerly took dad up on his offer to teach him how to drive the tractor. What could be more fun right?? Of course dad was ecstatic to have the help with all the stuff he has to do around here.

So the boys spent the day working outside..moving stuff from here....to there..to there...and back to here... whatever it took!

Gave Bubba an opportunity to use his new found skill!!

Ready!..Aim!...Fire!

The Pius bunch came out for a visit this weekend. We greeted them with open arms....and Air Soft guns!! Never fear... they were fully prepared for battle!! Let the games begin!!

I do believe I see two big boys in this picture! Who is having more fun?? The kids? or the BIG kids??

Don't mess with this house man!!

I, of course, played the official photographer of the games! ( I value my life ya know!!)

Soccer Tournament

This weekend we ended the 2008 Soccer season with a bang! The boys came out fired up and it showed the entire weekend. They won 2, and lost 1 of the regular games, but it was enough to send them to the championship game on Sunday afternoon.
Their opponent was a team that had beat them the day before and was caulked and ready to go thinking they were going to squish our boys! OH ..did they have a surprise coming for them! Our boys played the most intense, well thought out and perfect game that I have ever seen. It looked like a professional team was out there! We dominated the game...had numerous attempts at the goal, just never could quite seem to get it in there. If it wasn't for the one goal that snuck its way into our goal early in the game, our boys would have technically won the game. So it stood...after a LONG hard battle 1-0...our loss. But in all of our eyes...they had won!
Congrats Bubba!!

Bunco Night

Never rope a 13 year old boy into playing Bunco as a fill in player. Beware...they will take no prisoners! Sally, as we affectionately called him, walked away with the most buncos....5 to be exact...the most wins....14 works for him...totalling $30.00 bucks! ( Yes..we play for cold hard cash!)
Next time...I'll leave him in his room playing Nintendo Wii!!!