Birmingham

In an unrelated conversation a week or two ago, a friend of mine through out the idea that she was heading to Alabama to see Katie Davis speak if I would want to join her. My gut reaction was to say no since P can't take any time off work and I was certainly not carting the kiddos with me on that 8 hour trek. But when I realized she was speaking at a church service over a weekend when we had nothing planned, I quickly agreed before I could talk myself out of it. I'm not usually spontaneous, but I couldn't pass this up.

Over the past two years, I feel like God has been taking my view of Him and of what it means to follow him and flipping it completely upside down. Two of the sources He's used to transform my worldview are: 1 - The book, Radical, by David Platt and 2 - learning about Katie Davis and her ministry in Uganda. So when I found out Katie was speaking at the Church at Brook Hills in AL (David Platt's church), I felt like two of my favorite things were colliding and I wanted to be there to experience it.

The weekend was great. I loved the chance to get away for a day and half, even if most of it was spent in the car. The ride felt short with the great conversation of my friend, Linda, and a fabulous book on tape (Little Princes...A story about reuniting trafficked kids in Nepal with their families...so, so, so good. I highly recommend it). We met up with Linda's daughter, Lauren (a friend of mine from my years of leading YL in Mariemont) and her college roomate. We did typical girly things... met up at a mall for some shopping, enjoyed dinner out and went to see a movie. It was nice to just relax and enjoy girl time.

The church service was great. I loved hearing Katie's story. She reminds me so much of Mother Teresa. She's only 22, and yet she is loving with such an unselfish love and impacting the lives of the poorest of the poor. I loved hearing about her 14 daughters (yes... 14... she's adopted 14 sweet girls, and is raising them with such loving hearts for the poor around them). It was good to hear the hard times she's endured and how it's not always easy. The thing she said that hit me the most was how when we look at need in the world around us, it is overwhelming and we can feel hopeless. But instead of being overwhelmed by the multitude, we need to just love the one that God has placed before us. Love each person that crosses our path, since that is the person God wanted for us to interact with.

And I loved hearing David Platt speak. His heart for sharing Jesus is so evident in the few words I heard him speak. He challenged his church family to give radically of their time, lives, money... everything. He challenged the church that Katie's life shouldn't look so radical. We are all called to care for the widow, poor, orphaned, sick. Maybe we are not all called to Uganda, but it shouldn't look so radical for someone to give up everything to follow Jesus. It's what we are called to do. To be willing to give up everything for His sake. To love even when it hurts, to love even the unloveable, to love when it isn't comfortable.

It was a tiring weekend, but I am so glad that I went. Thanks to my sweet hubby for not even batting an eye when I asked what he thought about me going. He had a blast with the kids and I had a blast without them :) It was a win-win situation!

And just like that...

When we were at the park the other day, an older friend of A's told us how he had learned to ride a bike with no training wheels. He wanted A to watch as he demonstrated his new skill. Since he is completely visual, A studied his friend with a very intense gaze, then stated, "I think I can do that." He sat down on his friend's bike pushed off and just like that... we have a biker in our family! I had prepped myself for weeks of chasing behind his bike with an aching back, bandaging up scrapes from his many falls. But seems like we have breezed right by this milestone.

Now I know I'm his mom, so I'm a little biased, but I am pretty impressed that he picked it up so quickly... seriously, he just jumped on and took off! And he's only 4 1/2... I wasn't expecting this for a few more years. Way to go, A. We are so proud of you!!