Jules - 51/154 - as Jules is going

Insecurity

July 5, 2013 by Jules Leave a Comment

The other day, the hubs and I went to the marvelous Chick-Fil-A with our littles. We are still working off “hot-spots” on our phones which means, my part-time job(s) involving nothing but the net suck through our media packages leaving those jobs paying for nothing but the overage charges on the phone bill. Hence the family outing to “chick a lay” for a coke, playground, and the beloved wi-fi!

God had more in mind for us than me getting some work done online. While we were there we encountered several families/friends that we don’t always run into.

Local Ministry Friend

A guy Matt knew from Walnut Ridge, a staffer I met at Super Summer, a dude that is so sweet to keep up with us and our ministry.

Local Recently Engaged Friends from another church

No longer attending the church that helped us launch is weird. We’re not sure who want to stay in contact with us and definitely don’t want to push relationships so people don’t think we expect them to go with us. This couple and their adorable twins are always willing to say hi. So comforting! And we were so excited to tell them congrats!

Out-of-town Family Friends

A fun family we were friends with over 3 years ago and 3+ hours away strolled into “our” Chick-Fil-A. WHAT? This was the family I used to babysit for before/while I was pregnant with Maggie {THAT long ago}. We are so excited to know we are on the vacation path for them and will be a stop on their trips!

{Apparently} Local Friend from High School

This is the one I really don't wanna talk about. I have a feeling I’m not the only one who does this though…that is the Only reason I’m sharing this. You know my goal is to live realness out here in this mystical, seemingly perfect, online world. You know that and make everyone else feel better about themselves 😉

We had just ~~paraded~~ walked in with our littles and headed straight to a back table near the glass window to the playground and right next to the door as to keep an eye on our babes and catch any escape attempts. As soon as the kids had been herded into the playground, removed shoes, and heard the ground rules, I returned to our table and pulled out my laptop to get to work. There’s minimal time before the captives realize, although the cage looks kid friendly & colorful, it is still nothing more than just that…a cage. So, click click click I went.

The first glance up through the glass window to check on my talker who had engaged in serious conversation with the unsuspecting adult who’d placed himself inside the cage, my eyes wandered past the 5-year-old and out the window where people were enjoying the oddly beautiful summer weather on the patio.

“I know her…” I thought as I caught myself staring at girl relaxing and munching on chicken yumminess. I quickly shot my gaze another direction as to not be the weirdo creeping from 2 sets of windows away. I wasn’t quite sure if I really knew her…I have a Terrible memory. Just ask my husband. Wait. Don’t do that; it's just embarrassing.

I couldn’t help myself, every time I went to double-check the littles, my eyes wandered outside. I searched my sad lil memory for a name. Normally I have an awful time not only remembering names but where I know them from. Just hours before I stared at another women, even asking Matt, “How do we know her!?!” This time, I was pretty sure this girl and I had attended high school together. This was a rare and odd occurrence for me. For the last decade {all the years following HS}, I’ve lived a minimum of 4 hours away from my home town. Even when visiting over holidays, I see classmates and can’t recall names.

Worse than that, I am shy…I guess. I never thought of myself as shy but when I see these peers, I most often smile and run the other way. I’m terrified that they won’t know me or if they do, they won’t want to say hello. Maybe it’s just simply insecurity. I can’t remember what kind of relationship we had in high school and I’m pretty sure I was a completely different person then than I am now. Was I a tool to them? A hypocrite? A Pharisee? I once blushed when in Wal-Mart with my mom and an old friend saw me and hugged me…more than once. What is that?

I’m a people watcher. An observer. I’ve always sat on the outside watching {and taking pictures of} things in their natural habitats.. {Hello psychology degree} BUT because of this, I’m never sure how much I knew about people because we had a relationship or because I observed things. {Please don’t be creeped out and run away…}

Wow, that was a really long explanation to say…I didn’t wave, say hi, or go out to visit. I was so worried she would have no idea who I was or care if she did. I did what every sane, not creepy person does. I searched my FB friends. I found her. It was the girl I remembered. She was/is a sweet Christian girl who apparently went to college her in our new town and has called this home ever since, working at the local school. Why didn’t I just wave?

While I had different levels of this tendencies with each of the people we encountered that night, I think the insecurity level of when/where I knew those people from came flaring back. Odd.

Do you have these tendencies of insecurity leading to an outward persona of snot? I told myself when I got a FB that I wasn’t going to live behind insecurity. I was going to “friend” anyone I recognized from high school and start over. I wouldn’t assume they thought I was odd or uncool. Well, the “friending” happened but the interaction didn’t . I’ve fallen back into this state of hiding. That’s no way to live a life for Christ; making disciples will not happen with me hunkered down in my house behind my computer screen. This year is supposed to be purposeful! Insecurity is a HUGE opposition to a purpose filled life. I'll just keep truch’n I guess.

Filed Under: Testimony, The ones about the Rothacher Home

July Deals {Thoughtful Thursday}

July 4, 2013 by Jules Leave a Comment

Today I wanted to give you some great resources for teaching your kids about what the 4th of July actually is; you know, aside from all the awesome BBQ, lake trips, and fireworks.

What's in the Bible

has a great article on Teaching Our Kids What It Means to be Patriotic as well as this cool coloring page.

They also have a new series on their blog to help make your summer meaningful.

The 8-part series has blogger, Heather Conrad and her family, walking you through the My Jesus Journal, an activity guide created to help children develop a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and how they can come to know Him.

Now, just for fun {and for mamma}, I have our July Deals from the as Jules is going affiliates!

Summer Essentials: Laundry Detergent for those grass stains, Disney Parks for my vacationing friends, and coupons for those of you who eat.

For my friends who like to take as many pictures as me {especially during the summer} and would like to do something them eventually, other than posting them to Facebook:

Anyone else like to change up your house seasonally {or when you get bored}?

Hope some of these deals are fun and helpful for your summer with the fam!

Filed Under: Deals, The Ones about Jules Life {Randomness}

The Tainting of Words: Modesty

June 25, 2013 by Jules 2 Comments

Anyone who has known me for any short period of time knows that I hate clothes.

Not as in, I'm wish I lived on a nudist colony. I don't mind wearing clothes. I mainly hate clothes because the purpose of them has changed from "hiding our sinful nakedness" to "if ya got it {or even if you don't & wish you did} flaunt it".

God has fearfully and wonderfully made each of us. But somehow we all want to be like someone else. Even in our proclamation of individuality, we are attempting to obtain a standard set by someone {not God} and thus reach and ideally surpass said standard. We have put ourselves in competition with one another. {Ladies! This is why we create evil drama.} Like raw, thoughtless animals in the wild. Wanting to gain stature, labels, attention {negative or possessive}, and when those things are gained, somehow we have gained worth? False worth.

Modesty among women {and even men} has lost its meaning. Modesty used to be esteemed as a regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress;
lack of vanity! Clothing & Fashion (modifier) designed to prevent inadvertent exposure of part of the body a modesty flap. Lack of pretentiousness; simplicity.

Most females my age nearly roll their eyes at me when the topic of modesty comes up. Young women think that this word is some how "out dated". A foreign concept of decade past. They picture layered robes and head dressings. Then if you get past that idea, the excuse of "it's just too hard to shop for decent clothing."

Why have decency, prudence, and simplicity been labeled out-of-date? When did guarding those things in our lives become not worth the time?

Our world is in a state of constant decay; depravity of man has never been more onslaught than today. Tomorrow we will be even further down that road.

"Everything is heading toward decay, and we are striving against it." - Sarah Mae, author of 31 Days to Clean {Genesis 3:17-18}

Okay, if you are still reading, know that when I say the word modesty has lost its meaning, I am saying that we have chosen to view that word as a nasty, enslaving term that limits us. I am not saying you need to be enslaved to turtle necks, skirts, and long sleeves. I'm also not saying that if you simply wear things that cover your...boobs and butt then its modest. If there's nothing left to the imagination for only my husband to enjoy...I might reconsider the wardrobe. The full meaning of modest means clothing is not about you.

I am here to say, be free of the bondage if "fashion". As I would tell my kids, "Lets think looooong term." Does wearing the in-style thing today really have any impact on your eternity? If chosen wrongly, it could have a negative impact on those whom you are trying to impact for eternity... I had to learn a hard truth that applies to just about everything in life:

If your lifestyle makes sense to the world then its likely not a godly lifestyle. Live like no one else & let God be honored. [Tweet this!]

To help understand modesty further, watch the video below...let Science tell you about the physical aspects of modesty.

MODESTY::
I looked as if I were trying to melt into the scenery and become invisible, like a giraffe standing motionless among sunlit leaves —Christopher Isherwood

<--More Resources-->

Apparel:

Swimsuits: http://www.divinitasole.com/
Clothing can be found {hunted for} in lots of stores, but I've found success at:
Old Navy, Forever 21, Maurice's, Target, JC Pennies, Ross, TJ Max, and Gordmon's
I do have trouble envisioning the potential modesty of an outfit if manikins & models are making seductive faces/posses at me... 😉

Articles:

"Can you be a Lady without being Modest?" -More Like Momma
"If She Only Knew: Thoughts on Modesty and Beauty" -The Time-Warp Wife

Note: If you know me personally, I am NOT saying my t-shirts are in any way fashionable. One of the many reasons you'll likely near find a "What I Wore Wednesday" post here... I am NOT saying you should dress like me to display modesty. 😉 Although I do attempt modesty in all I do, there are lots of other ways to accomplish this.

Filed Under: The ones about the Rothacher Home

Where DO You Live?

June 24, 2013 by Jules Leave a Comment

I just wanted to give a lil update on where we are. Literally.

There is a wide group of people who stop by this blog occasionally. Some are friends and family I grew up with from birth until graduating Fayetteville High. Some are friends I matured with at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge. Then there are the ministry friends and family I have met along with way over the past 9 years of marriage; anywhere from Walnut Ridge FBC, Parkers Chapel FBC, Central BC, The Valley, and all those we've collided with in between.

I lived in 2 houses as a child; one of those was for 16 of 18 years. Since moving out to attend college I've lived in 1 dorm room, 1 apartment in town, and 1 apartment on campus, as a single adult. Now I'm about to move to my 6th houses in my 9 years of marriage. That's 11 homes in my life time of 29 years {this August}. Since this has all been in Arkansas, I'm not sure if I can wear the same badge but I can definitely relate to "The Humbling of a Nomad".

I've had tons of friends from different corners of the state as well as the town we are currently "living in" have been asking similar questions, all just in the past couple days. I thought I'd take a minutes and let ya know the answers to these FAQ::

Have you closed on your house?

Yes. Depending on which house you're asking about.

We "closed" on our "big blue" house in White Hall and sold it for good! After a year of it being on the market {6 months with an agent & 6 FSBO}, we finally sold it to a perfect family who will be so blessed by the space. God really did turn a hard year of waiting into a situation in which He could be glorified.

No we haven't "closed" on the home we're buying in Vilonia. A week after selling our house in White Hall, we made an offer on a house in Vilonia. To most this sounds like a hasty decision, but if you know us {and the details of this life in limbo then you know we've been searching for a home "in the field" and this is the exact layout I fell in love with when we first began our journey of house hunting that has included hours of online searching, an awesome realtor and over 2 DOZEN houses. This will be the "nicest" home either of us have ever lived in. Don't get me wrong, we haven't lived in crappers but this is the newest and fancier than I ever saw us being able to buy. Just goes to show, God blesses us beyond what we deserve.

We are supposed to "close" any time between now and July 10th!!!

Have you finished moving?

Again, Yes. Depending on which "move" you're asking about.

We moved essentials into our "borrowed" home and then the rest of our belongings after the sale of "big blue".

We have not moved to our new home we are in the process of buying. We are giving the seller a week after closing to move her furniture out as well as to stretch and clean carpets {the only thing not perfectly maintained about the home}. Keep ya posted 😉

Are you excited about your new town?

I bet you can guess this one...Yes. Depending on which "new town" you're asking about.

Conway, the town we are currently living in our "borrowed" house is great. The town feels cleaner and while having all the amenities of "bigger town" without the 1-2 hour commute like ALL the past places we lived, yet still feels small enough to not be overwhelmed.

Vilonia, the town in which we are buying our new home, is only a 15 minute drive to Conway. Although it is a rural community, it still has several gas stations, restaurants, and a grocery store. Plus, our church family is all out there.

When beginning this church planting trek, the first thing they tell all church planters is to "move to the field", meaning live in the community in which you plan to minister, serves, and be a part of that community. Guess God chose to use us a lil differently. Which I love. I think this has let us see, this isn't about us. Often in youth ministry, groups grow based on the popularity and personality of the pastor. Here, He is keeping the truth at the front of everything we do: this plant is about the people God so dearly loves already planted in Vilonia and how He wants to empower them to reach the masses for His name.

Where do you live???

We live in a "borrowed" house that has become home. It really is true, home is where your heart & family is.

Back in March, 1 weeks before our preview services and 5 weeks before our launch date, we were blessed beyond comprehension by a couple who can only be described as "used by God". Through the church that partnered with us for the plant as well as mutual friends, God connected us with a family who heard about our 1 hour commute multiple times a week for services and meetings because our house {WH} still hadn't sold. They allowed us to stay in their home that hadn't sold yet & the former renters had just moved out of...for FREE. Talk about birds of the air.

This transition home has allowed us to be used by God at the valley, wait to sell our home to the perfect family, find the perfect new home for our family, all while being taken care of by God via this amazing family.

This entire God situation deserves a post all its own; I'm just having trouble putting it all into words.

We live on the side of a gorgeous mountain, in a log cabin, with a beautiful view, a huge shop/storage building, 30 minutes from the valley, in a home that was made for just a time as this and our family. God is good.

If I didn't answer your questions about our whereabouts, just ask! I'll keep ya posted on the "final move" and "new home"!

Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Homemaker, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home, The Ones about The Valley Church