the M.I.A girl "Beverly"...is BACK!!

Hi ladies!!
Sorry to have slacked in my 7 communication.  I seem to have been MIA with the sweet community I call the "7ers".  I have loved reading your updates from the past few months.  I have seen God move more in my life in these past few months than I am willing to admit.  Along with 7 I have read a few other books that seemed to drive the point right home:

1. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years (by Donald Miller) - I learned that I have the opportunity to create a "story" in my life and use the things I do everyday to make a better "story line".  I see things through the "movie lense" now and pray how this one event might fit into a bigger picture.  I am obessed with Donald Miller.

2.  Love Does - by Bob Geoff - Let me say that this book is amazing it will definitely get you in the "Let's Go" mind set.   Bob's spoke at PPC last year and I was absolutely taken by his story and how his passion for Christ drives him to "DO"...hence the book...Love Does.  READ IT.  I am obssessed with Bob Geoff....who also knows Donald Miller.

3. Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis  - really...just read it.  A unbelievable story of trust and willingness to serve the Lord.

A few stories of my own as a direct result of the 7 project:
1.  The "clothes" month of 7 was sadly not a huge deal over at my house.  I have streamlined my clothes for a while now.  I guess that's what 4 kids does to you.  I also was traveling and limited to only a carry-on size bag for three weeks of travel and I usually wore a bathing suit....so, I had to tackle it another way.  I gave away so many clothes!  My sister was headed to Zambia, Africa to work at a camp called "CampLife" and she said she needed 50 pounds of kids clothes/toys/books.  My kids and I cleaned out our current toys/clothes/books and we had 50 pounds in 5 seconds flat.  When my sister got home we were looking at her pictures and my little Jilly noticed a dress of hers in a photo.  We were all taken by surprise. It was a sweet and tender moment that I think forever changed my kids.  We all decided at the moment to go on mission trip as a family to see about giving more to these kids.  It was a beautiful moment.

2.  I was still trying to purge and started giving furniture away.  I asked my sweet young cleaning lady (girl!) if she would like any furniture.  I ended up giving her two twin beds, frames, matresses, box springs, headboards and side table. I gave her a sweet bassinett and an amoir for a baby's room and a few TVs and some clothes for her son.  She said, "My mother in law is coming to live with us in two weeks and I had no idea where we were going to have her sleep.  I am so grateful"...(all in broken English/Spanish)...and she cried.  I told her God wanted to bless her.  She was so amazed.  It was a beautiful moment of "perfect timing" from God.  LOVE THIS!

3.  The last bit of excitment about the "Possessions" month....I am OBSESSED with "repurposing" things.  My kids have had the jump on me about this for years as they take every paper towel tube and water bottle and make all sorts of stuff with them.   But, I am less likely to take the time to do this.  However, I just took a piece of furniture that I have been trying to give away for years and had a God moment.  I saw the piece for what it could be and not for what it is....a beautiful picture of how God sees me.  So....I will soon post some photos of the new "old" piece.  Love how God speaks through all things.

So...I am excited to hear how it's all going with all of you!!!!!  Write some update soon!!!

I enjoy reading a website called Unclutterer. Recently they gave tips for cleaning out your closets and I thought of 7.

I have finally accepted the fact that I need to give away a lot of clothes that I will never fit into again. They are from my pre-baby days and I just don't think my body will ever be in that size again. It has been sad to sort through them and accept that I have traded my (slightly) sexy black skirts for non-iron shirts that can hide spit-up stains and wear well after many washes. I would like to give them away to a specific group that could use them (like Jen did). However, I think my clothes have a very distinctive "private school, white girl" look to them that most recipients would not really want. I don't see many homeless people wearing Lily Pulitzer knock off skorts. It is a reminder to me of just how out of touch I am with people that are truly needy.

stuff...

So I went a little nuts after reading the book the first time and did a quick purge (resulting in three giant bags to Goodwill), sad that a quick purge resulted in so much un-needed stuff!  I now have begun the process of cleaning one cabinet, one drawer at a time.  I took two more bags to goodwill today.  I know we are supposed to be finding a connection to the people that are receiving this stuff, but I have yet to find a way- I have random junk- ice cube trays anyone?  


I wondered today as I pulled up to the goodwill donation center- what on earth must this man think as he goes through my bags, anyone's bags that they drop off- I am sure he, more than anyone can tell you about consumerism and how we all buy way too much crap that we don't need- crap that no one actually needs.  


I wonder, will anyone actually need these random things I am "giving" away...grateful that they are no longer in my house and praying that I will not be back here next year with more stuff...praying to be strong and not fill the voids in my life with junk, but with the One who has given me blessings beyond measure.


Speaking of the random things, does anyone need coffee filters- we don't even own a coffee pot yet we have filters!  I also have Lansinoh breast milk storage bags if anyone is interested...


On a side note, I gave & to my sisters this summer.  One hasn't read it yet, and the other is going nuts over it :)  She and I have given ourselves the goal of Thanksgiving for total overhaul of our homes- no closet or drawer left unpurged! 


Good luck to everyone in the "stuff" department :)


PS- I am absolutely LOVING the verse that MOPS is using this year...yay Robin!  It is so on target with our 7 quest....


 1 Peter 4:8-11 NLT
 "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen."