Confessions of a Preacher's Wife

2010-08-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

A Fresh Start

"a new beginning"

It's back to school time! With school beginning comes a lot of preparation and planning. Kids need new clothes, a new backpack and lunch box, a fresh haircut, sharpened pencils with good erasers, and packs of clean paper. My favorite back to school item was shoes...I know you just can't believe it. But I couldn't wait to go back to school shoe shopping! Each year I would buy a new pair of tennis shoes, not necessarily because my feet had grown (because they are about the only thing on my body that doesn't increase in size every year), but because last year's shoes were dirty. So I would start my research early on. I would start by going in every shoe store and browsing, picking out a few here and there and trying them on, remembering the ones that I loved so I could tell my dad all about them. Being the man that he is, he was truly grateful that I did this without him and all he had to do was shell out the bucks and not have to go with me and sit for hours.

But shoe shopping is not what I am wanting to talk about, though I could for hours. What I want to think about is the fresh start that the school year brings. No I don't have children, but I do want that fresh start. I want that new attitude, open mind, and willingness to learn. I want to renew my soul and strengthen my faith. So with that I am turning to blog world. I am not a big writer and usually I don't just lay it all out there, but last night God was tugging on my heart. I know this because the night before last I had hardly any sleep so I couldn't wait to go to bed last night, but little did I know when I laid down that the ideas would come tumbling in. Cartwheel after roundoff after backhandspings of ideas of what to say and how to truly apply it to my life. So finally I fell asleep and I am up before 7 because the ideas came rolling in again. I'm tired of making my own plans and putting them before God's plans for me, so here it is, my fresh start!

The first topic I want to touch on today is the "new shoes," which represent a new outlook and new priorities in my life. So let me say again how I would go about getting my perfect pair of back to school shoes...."So I would start my research early on. I would start by going in every shoe store and browsing, picking out a few here and there and trying them on, remembering the ones that I loved so I could tell my dad all about them." RESEARCH! Really I have to start research, but I always dreaded those stinking research papers in school! Ok I'm over that little meltdown, and it's time to think of the research that I must do.

I keep reading these sentences over and over and it is perfectly clear to me that I must get out my Bible knock that dust from Wednesday night off of it, and dig deep. If you are like me, sometimes you will make a goal to read your Bible daily. So I would take it out, read a couple of chapters as fast as I possibly could, not remembering anything I read, and check that off of my to do list. It seems I do that with a lot of spiritual things but worldly things I spend hours upon hours taking in every detail. So I want to challenge you as well as myself to get out our Bibles and indulge ourselves in it. I'm not saying it has to be hours a day or to read the whole book. But start with a couple of verses and let's truly look at them do our "research."

Next let's browse and pick out a few verses here and there and try them on. Ok now I've hit a sore spot for myself. You see I have a little OCD running through my veins and if I am reading in John I do not want to turn back to Matthew, I just want to keep reading where I am until I get the chapter finished. But we do need to cross reference and be able to have that Aha! moment where things start to come together and make more sense. Just this past year I did my first all girls Bible study, and boy do I recommend it! It is a bonding experience like no other! During this study I had to knock down some of my own walls and stop letting other people spoon feed me and get out there and feed myself. And did you know...that the Bible, from start to finish, fits together perfectly. There are so many underlying themes that I found from Genesis to Revelation that I had never thought of before. It is truly awesome! But don't just read the words, try them on for size. Find a verse or a chapter that applies to you or motivates you and try to put that into play in your life right now.

So moving on, the next thing we need to do is remember the words, verses, and chapters that we love. Memorization another UGH moment. My husband could memorize the phonebook if he wanted to, but I have a hard time remembering what day it is most of the time. But once we find some of those chapters and verses that hit our hearts hard, do you know that it is almost just as hard to not memorize them. Maybe just a few words here and there but the ones that apply to me just stick out like a sore thumb in my mind right now and I didn't even realize I knew them!

And the most important step is to tell people about Him. That was the last part in my shoe shopping process. Before I bought those perfect pair of back to school shoes I had to tell my dad about them. Do you think I went to my dad and said hey I found some shoes, they are at Bennett's you can go get them if you want. NO! I went on and on and on about how much I loved them, and what color they were, how they had squishy things in the heels that would make me jump higher and run faster, and how I would never ask for another pair again if I could just get the perfect pair now. That's how we have to tell others about Jesus, our perfect Jesus! What he has done for us and what he is still doing for us daily, how much we love him, how we are forgiven, and how much we need him now! If we just go about our lives keeping Jesus all to ourselves what joy is that? We have to truly put our joy in Him and let that joy run through our bones until we can't shut up about Him. This is where I struggle the most and so this is my outlet and hopefully my encouragement to you and to myself. I am going to overcome this insecurity within myself until I can walk up to a stranger and tell them all about my Jesus.

I know this has been long and I hope the rest will be shorter but I had to get it all out there. Let's do our best to get that fresh start and encourage each other along the way. If you see your sister's shoes getting dirty, pull out that wet wipe in your purse and wipe them off, and if she is so deep in the dirt that you couldn't possible wipe it all off, pick her up and throw her over your shoulder and carry her out of that sinking mud and get her a new pair of shoes. With much love!

It's Been A While

2010-02-15T10:02:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

It's been forever and life seems crazier than ever, but February has brought some craziness I thought I would share.....NO I'm not pregnant but congrats to Angela I know everyone has to be so excited about that! I miss you all and hope you are doing well!

The craziness of the week started with a baby shower Amanda and I had for Jessica she is having a little girl in March. We are excited to have a little girl in our family. Here are a couple of the pre-party pics....

Then there was John Mayer and Michael Franti. This was my birthday gift from Jeremiah and our Christmas gift to Tina. We had a blast and of course John Mayer was awesome even if he has had a bit of bad publicity lately!

Two Happy Girls!

Saturday we went down to Tuscaloosa for a BBQ where you got to meet old players, tour the locker room and play on the field. We got tickets for most of my family and Phillip for Christmas. My sister was so excited to meet J.P. but unfortunately for her he was a no show but we did get close enough to Jay Barker to smell his cologne :) I'm not sure she knew who he was though.

Phillip running out with Saban

The Super Bowl and Jeremiah's birthday were also somewhere during the last week. We are going to Atlanta this weekend to finally celebrate our anniversary and Jeremiah gets to race in a stock car (his Christmas gift) so hopefully it won't take me months to post from that. When your birthday, Christmas, and anniversary all fall in the same month....it makes for a crazy week in February!

Why I hate the dentist?!?

2009-10-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finally gave in and went to the dentist for the first time since I had my braces taken off. I know it's awful but I really would rather see any other doctor than the dentist! I figure if cave men survived without toothbrushes, toothpaste and crest whitestrips surely I could make it with them for the rest of my life without having to see a dentist ever again! All was well until my wisdom teeth decided to grace me with their appearance. So off I went nervous as I could be, seriously I was probably worse than any child ever thought of being.

So I started reflecting back on all the times in my life when I went to the dentist regularly and tried to narrow down what was my issue. Then I remembered when I was about 5 or 6 I went to a dentist here in Athens, who will remain nameless, but you know after you get your teeth cleaned the dentist comes in and pokes around your mouth with that pointy thing. Well as he proceeded poking he jerked my 2 front teeth out without telling anyone in the room he was about to do it. They were just baby teeth but could he not have warned a girl? I mean really?!? So I guess this is where my nerves come from.

So yesterday, I am at the dentist I get the first x-ray done where the thing goes around your head. Then the hygenist tells me they will have to do the wings x-rays. Well that brings up another problem, in all my life I have never been able to do those. I gag so easy that I can't bite down on the stupid things. I did warn her that I couldn't do them so after about 15 minutes of trying she finally gave up and had to do it like they would for a child and hold them in my mouth while someone else pressed the button. YAY! X-rays are over let's get these teeth cleaned and hit the door. Or so I thought! But after the cleaning the dentist comes in and starts poking around. I knew my wisdom teeth were hurting but I thought he would just look at them and maybe make a later appointment, NOPE! They were coming out. So an hour later with 3 small fillings and 2 less wisdom teeth I am sent home. Needless to say I am not at work today and I probably won't leave the house except to go get some medicine. And have I told you the worse part? My husband works there and so I not only made myself look like a baby but he made fun of me the whole time! Maybe next time I won't wait 10 years to visit the dentist!

Vacation Relaxation

2009-09-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

I will start this off with a confession, hence the title of my blog, well I used to be a big Danity Kane fan. I know probably not the best choice of music but they are an all girl group and their songs always put me in a great mood. With that said, Jeremiah is anything but a Danity Kane or country music fan, until recently. I don't know if you have heard of a country group named Gloriana, I hadn't until he wanted to buy their CD which was on sale for $8.88, says something for them right?!?

Day/Night 1

We decided to leave after church Sunday night and head on down to the beach so we didn't waste Monday on the road. So back to the story of the "new CD" we have. I'm sure all of you have a song that reminds you of summer or of your last vacation. Not only do I now have 1 song I have 13! I would say that we have listened to this Gloriana CD at least 20 times since we have left Athens. I am just glad that no one has bugged our car because you would most definitely hear the worst duet you would ever want to hear. I am just glad that Jeremiah has finally realized that country is the way to go! We got to the condo about midnight and drug our stuff in, after I had an AMP energy drink at exit 67. There just so happened to be a black cat sitting behind our car and it was getting ready to attack. Jeremiah proceeds to turn to me and say "Did you see that?" And then the BIGGEST rat I had ever seen ran right in front of me and I probably woke all the neighbors with my squeal. So after a couple episodes of Golden Girls, trying to get unwired from the energy drink and tell myself there was no way that rat could get in I finally got some rest.

Day 2

A trip to Burger King, Christian Book Store, that I think we keep in business, and WalMart we finally made our way to the beach.

There was no one there except for us and a few dolphins.

Day 3

We had a very "healthy" breakfast that my wonderful husband made us. Bacon, eggs and biscuits. Bless him, he cooked breakfast and supper almost every night. I must say that he did a great job. Most of you have heard of how unromantic he is but he does do the little things that I often take for granted. So after breakfast and sunscreen we headed down to the beach and once again just us...until we decided to get into the ocean. I am very paranoid about sharks so I am always on the look out. I once again tell myself that no shark is going to come close to land when lo and behold I see a black shadow, no not a shark but this is what I saw...

Obviously it is sting ray season. I would have taken a real picture but the minute I saw this lovely creature, once again I screamed and resorted to a much safer place...the pool! Where I finished my day.
Day 4

A much less exciting day so I thought, no more ocean for me, if I want to see sea creatures I will go to the aquarium thank you very much. Around noon we went in for lunch and as I was sitting watching All My Children I saw this creature outside our door....
Did I mention we were on the bottom floor.

Day 5

Jeremiah went deep sea fishing, which he didn't do much fishing because he was sick the entire time, but I had a day of relaxing by the pool alone. Once again another creature was after me. This time I knew these bugs were going to be down here because they are this time every year. Love bugs, sounds like a cute little bug. Well these are by far the dumbest most annoying bugs there must be. You can swat at them and they just fly back at you. Maybe it's because they look like they have 2 heads. Maybe that was the reason I was the only one by the pool that day. Here you can see the "cute" little bug..

Day 6

Breakfast, pool, Tacky Jack's, outlet and game day eve very much a great day!

Day 7 or better known as GAMEDAY

Only one day that makes the nerves a little too much to stand. That's the day that the Tide takes the field for their opening day. I couldn't relax so I didn't even try to go to the pool. I tried to sleep...USELESS, watch the other games that were on but I think that made the nerves worse. So we decided to go to Old Time Pottery. I love decorating but that store overwhelms me so I don't know why I thought it would calm my nerves. It didn't! I left empty handed and more nervous than when I went in. After a horrible first half for our offense and special teams, "special" is a great word for them and a miserable half time the second half made me relax some and overall I think our boys did a good job for their first game of the season! Roll Tide!
Day 8

Church, lunch, pool, and now looking for a job here because I don't want to go home. Even with all of the creatures this has been one of the best vacations I have ever had. There was no time schedule, no where to go, and nothing we had to do. Such a relaxing trip and I think my father-in-law says it best....."Time wasted at the beach is not time wasted!" I hope you all have had a wonderful week and hopefully we will see you soon! Remember God loves you, Jesus loves, Guy loves you, Jeremiah loves and I love you too! Good night!

Life...how your outlook changes!

2009-08-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, Okay! So many of you have been after me to start blogging, so against my better judgement, I have joined the "Blog World." Thing is I don't have any children, or a high profile job, I am not adventurous, I don't even ride roller coasters, but what I am is....a preacher's wife.

I remember it very clearly...tenth grade, Ms. Krupko's speech class. We had to give a presentation on what we wanted to be when we "grew up"! Many, many things crossed my mind, a rapper, well I can't sing as many of you have witnessed and I have no rhythm. A doctor, no I really don't do blood! An engineer, well I do love math, but have you met me?!? Not really the engineer type. So I started thinking what do i love??? FASHION! That is when it hit me... I was going to be the First Lady of the United States! Probably not what you were thinking huh?? But Jackie O. did it so why couldn't Bethany Brooke? My husband could run the country and I could be a fashion icon with my own purse line...BB instead of DB. I had it all planned out. Thing is I didn't marry Mr. President.

I did however marry a man who is doing something much greater and more rewarding than running our country, but still me, Beth, Ms. Shopaholic, purse and shoe lover, a preacher's wife? How did this come to be?

One October evening Jeremiah plopped down on the couch after working at Lowe's and proceeded to inform me that he was going to preach. PREACH! REALLY! Well Ms. Materialistic here could only think, we are going to be broke! Not thinking of the souls to save or the gospel to spread only thinking about those hounds tooth heels that I needed for the Bama games. But so the story goes....

I am definitely not your typical preacher's wife, but I am trying and learning more each passing day. I will always be myself, but I do have a much greater understanding of the amazing mercy and grace Jesus has shed on me and I am striving to have more of that in my life everyday. I am very blessed to have such wonderful friends, family and husband, who without I don't know where I would be.

Well I hope this hasn't bored you or now my lack of fashion doesn't offend you. But remember God loves you, Jesus loves you, Guy loves you, Jeremiah loves you, and the preacher's wife loves you too! Good Night!