Weekend Update with Christina Berry

I subbed on Friday as the junior and senior high shop teacher and really enjoyed it. The only time I had a problem was in one period over a cell phone. And do you know what bothers me the most about the interaction? Not that I held my ground and called him on his actions, but the fear that he might equate me following school policy with not liking him! Each of those kids seems like a bundle of raw material, a packaging of potential. So next time when I have him in a class, I hope he doesn’t think I’m “out to get” him. It’s like I want to sit down with him and tell him how much I care about the decisions he makes as he grows into a man.

Took the kids to their father’s house and met someone I’ve been wanting to meet for quite some time. I want to protect everyone’s privacy in this situation, but I was so overwhelmed with how well the meeting went, how my heart was clean and pleasant and not given to what would be “normal,” how totally healed and in awe of what forgiveness does and that I couldn’t possibly be faking my feeling of wholeness, I cried a bit on the way home. Praise be to God for His unfailing mercies!

Here’s the stop for today’s tour: Jennifer AlLee’s second half of an interview she posted earlier this month.

Joshua posting a notice of the upcoming book signing at the dance studio

He’s proud of his mama!

With Georgene Rice at Selah’s women’s conference on the campus of George Fox.

We spent most of Saturday at the conference enjoying awesome speakers. The theme? Reimagine–Embracing change, trusting God, and moving forward. Couldn’t have been more perfect for where I am in life!

I loved this scripture Linda Lucas used in her session.

 Everything’s falling apart on me God; put me together again with Your Word.

Psalm 119:107

 Also heard this statistic for the first time: couples who pray together stay together with a divorce rate of less than 3%.  Why am I always breaking the norm? Well, I do like to be non-conformist … 😉

Then Bo Stern shared about burdens. How the word “grace” actually means weight in a positive sense. That the same things that weigh on us and we feel we need a vacation to get away from are what gives our lives meaning. Weight of burden and weight of purpose, we are to carry an even yoke designed to hold both in balance.

Sometimes when we step in to help someone with a burden we try to take it away, yet that can be a disservice to what God is calling that person to. When Jesus couldn’t carry the cross He was to be crucified on any longer, Simon helped Him. BUT he carried it to where it was headed, he didn’t try to carry it away.

Bo really had great insights into letting people grow under the weight of burdens to fulfill the calling God has for them.

Saturday night, the kids and I went to a friend of a friends to watch Surf’s Up outside. It was so much fun to bundle up and sit in lawnchairs and watch the movie under the bright moon. And the dancing to the credits at the end wasn’t bad either! 🙂

Today’s church service focused on our various ministries at church. I was excited to see people passionate about their areas of service and grateful for the opportunity to hear the options all at once so I could choose where to spend my time and talents.

 Josh and I posing before throwing our horseshoes

Enjoying live music at the BBQ