Good Times with Good Friends

I have spent several days over the past two weeks in Raleigh-Durham hanging out with dearly-missed friends. I attended the final pool party with my bible study.  I have learned so much and grown to know more about Jesus because of these awesome ladies and our wonderful leader Allyson (sadly taking the picture instead of in it).  The group has changed over the past 4 years as people come and go, but words can not describe how much I enjoyed spending time and living life with these women!!!

Most of my time was spent with one of my favorite families.  I always enjoying spending time at their house with the three kiddos. We went strawberry picking, swimming at the pool, made movies on my phone, and ate a lot of delicious strawberry pie.  (I may or may not have eaten 1/4 of a pie in one sitting) 

One day I was sitting in the van with the kids, and I heard what sounded like splashing water. Thinking it wasn't possible, I turned around to see what was going on. What do you know, the 5 year old has an empty cup upside down over a plastic bag on the floor. I asked him what happened and he said "I didn't want the water in my cup so I dumped it on the floor." Now I know he knows better than that, so I asked him what his mom would say when she found out.  In a scared voice he asked "are you going to tell her." Before anything else is said his mom walks back to the van, and his 3 year old little brother wastes no time in telling his mom what happened.

Again, I know he knows better than to dump water onto the van floor, but in that moment he did what wanted to do without thinking about the consequences.

This entire situation made me realize that I'm just like a child.  I am always doing things that deserve punishment from my Heavenly Father.  I do things like see a girl in shape and want to look like her, see a mom with kids and envy her life, get angry and yell at drivers on the road, serve myself and my needs before David.  I was reminded that everyday I sin again God. I rebel again Him. I do what I want to do at that moment and don't think about the consequences. God hates sin, and my mind was consumed with the punishment I deserved.  But then I remembered Jesus and the Gospel.  Jesus has already taken that punishment for me. He paid the price for MY sins on the cross. Jesus in my place! Now when God looks down on me, he sees grace and that justice has been served. Oh what a savior!  

I so often forget the huge cost of my sin, and then it just smacks me in the face. And I'm reminded of God's great grace and Jesus's sacrifice when I'm just hanging out with kids.

In other news... David and I celebrated our wedding anniversary on June 5th!!!  We had a delicious dinner at The Palm Restaurant.  It's been a great 4 years, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.