Thursday, August 21, 2008

Por Fin!

At last! The Siesta Fiesta is almost here! (Pause: I am suddenly starving to the point of throwing up and I need to get a bag of Cheetos. Okay, now I'm all good.) Tomorrow morning I am getting on a plane with my beautiful mother and we are heading to the great city of San Antonio, Texas, for a weekend with the Lord and with many of our blogging buddies. I have had some mental stress about this weekend over the last year, but now that everything is in place and it is finally here, I am only excited. There are so many people who I want to see and to meet! I can't wait! And of course it is always cool to be around the LifeWay team and the praise team. They are an awesome bunch. Also? Almost all of my dad's family is going to be there, possibly including several of my cousins who are in college and below. I haven't seen one of my aunts and her kids in over a year because they moved overseas last summer. I am looking forward to hugging their necks. If you notice a handsome grandpa cruising the arena with a cane, that is my Pappaw. He will probably be working the room.

So, I've had a lump in my throat for two days for no reason other than my hormones. Today I almost cried listening to Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" on the radio, which is not a crying song, y'all. (Sometimes I have to turn off the Christian radio station when they play the easy listening version of some song that is not meant to be played that way. I can't think of an example but y'all know what I mean.) Seriously. The hormonies are bad. The catharsis is coming but I do not know when. I will go ahead and apologize to anyone who might be near me or in view of me if it happens this weekend.

Finally, please hear me braying like a donkey while I apologize for Curtis and I making a joke about the little boy who was with Yao Ming in the Olympic opening ceremonies. All I saw was a tiny clip and I had no idea he was an earthquake survivor who had saved some of his classmates. He honestly looked like a toddler in such a large man's arms and I thought he was Yao's son. We had no idea and we feel terrible. Sorry y'all! Thanks to my dear friend Vonda Jo for giving us a clue. We love you and miss you, Vonda Jo! I'm sure I will have many more things to apologize for in the next six months, seeing as how pregnancy seems to diminish my filter.

I said "finally" in the last paragraph but I lied. I need to wrap up my feelings about the Olympics. Yeah for Shawn Johnson winning a gold medal! I got emotional watching her parents embrace and cry. Yeah for Misty and Kerri for winning another gold medal in a rain-soaked match! Did y'all hear them saying that now they just want to have babies? I thought that was sweet. Boo hiss for the poor guys who thought they had won medals after a race but on their victory laps found out they had been disqualified for stepping on the line. That totally stinks. And it's not like the guys who ended up with the medals could quite celebrate - they had actually come in fourth and fifth. Boo hiss for what happened to poor Lolo Jones. Bless her heart. Boo hiss for all of the athletes who put their hope in getting a medal but will go home disappointed. I pray they find the true Satisfier of their souls. Now I want us all to think about how we have watched the extent of man's spectacle and glory. It only lasts a few minutes. And like much of the opening ceremonies, it is really not what it appears to be. Our glory and our lives fade like a mist, but God's glory is eternal and limitless. It is unimaginably awesome and magnificent. We were created to magnify Him and to enjoy Him forever. What a wonderful hope we have! Lord, let us see YOUR glory this weekend! Amen!

49 comments:

Immeasurably More Mama said...

Have a fun weekend at the Siesta Fiesta!
Praying God's glory will rain down all over San Antonio this weekend...I have NO doubt that it will!!!

jamie b said...

Amen!

I so wish I could be there this weekend. Will be praying for your mom, praise team, and others this weekend.

Kelly said...

I sooooooooooooooooooooooo wish I was going to SA so we could meet in person. Have so much fun!
We could cry together because I am a mess - all I do is cry these days. It's OUT OF CONTROL!!!!

Unknown said...

I am sooo hoping I'll get to hug your neck this weekend! :-) :0)

Anonymous said...

Amen! Loved how you wrapped this post up!

I didn't get to watch any of the olympics...can you believe that! I LOVE the gymnastics and diving!

I cannot wait for the fiesta this weekend! I am SO excited! And also a little scared that I'm going to get lost driving to San Antonio from Austin:O

Anonymous said...

Amanda,

Have fun in San Antonio. I won't be there. :( But at least we got to share a quick hug in Atlanta.

I have to tell you that today while I was doing my mascara -- yes, right up at the mirror -- your name popped in my head and at the same exact moment the song "The More I Seek You" came on the iPod. So I stopped right there and prayed for you...by name, because if I know anything I know the challenges of raising a toddler. But to do it with pregnancy hormones...now, that is superhero status for you, my dear.

I prayed for you to find those times to just lean into Him, feel His heartbeat and to see Him in all His magnificent glory in just the everyday stuff of raising Jackson and Little Fig.

Now I'm crying. But then again, I'm hormonal, too. Just the premenopausal kind -- opposite end of the spectrum from you, but emotional just the same!! Hug your Mom for me and I'll be praying for her.

And while you are at it, tell her that I have been personally and specifically ministered to by going back and listening to Wisdom for Women this week. My "now thing" that I need wisdom for is pressing against me hard. I honestly wish I could be in San Antonio, but I've had my own little private LPL this week in my very own living room. Don't you just dig His LIVING AND ACTIVE Word that accomplishes even years after the fact??

Blessings,
Dori

MITZI said...

Oh amanda, I wish I was going to San Antonio. Please post pictures for us Siestas staying home. I know we'll be thinking and praying for the whole event. Enjoy the moment!

Anonymous said...

I am so excited about this weekend in San Antonio, both the conference and the Siesta Fiesta! I hope for the opportunity to see you there. How fun that you'll get to be with your family, too! Oh, and you're so not alone with all the raging hormones; I'll cry right along with you! :) Blessings!

Melissa said...

I can't wait for the Fiesta! I'm heading out in the morning right after my daughter's parent/teacher orientation at school. We may drive in right at time for things to start, but we will be so pumped!!
Praying for safe travel for your family. Thank you for all you do!

twinkle said...

We're flying into Santonio arriving at 10:05 am! May see you there then but definitely at the Siesta Fiesta. Can't wait and thanks so much for the blood, sweat and tears planning this thang...

Amy said...

Glad to hear the issue with the filter isn't just me...I'm much more blunt lately. It's really difficult on Wednesday nights when I just want to tell it to the youth straight up. I just cover my mouth and pray it can't get out.

Jerry, Lauren, Kaylee, and Isaac! said...

oh i really wish I could make it this weekend. I can't wait to hear all the details. I am praying for a safe, fun time for everyone and the presence of the Lord will be mighty! :)

Wencked said...

Please have an extra special wonderful time this weekend in San Antonio. I had so wanted to go see you Mom speak this weekend. I had planned it with friends months and months ago...then I got pregnant. Well my newest little man is here as of 3 days ago and I won't be making it to the Siesta Fiesta.

PS - My hormones are working overtime right now too...I can totally relate to you little mamma.

Jen said...

It's like the Broken Road song they had to God-ize. It's ok for sometimes a love song to just be a love song...

Ashley said...

I am so excited about this weekend! And I can't wait to hug your neck! Have a safe trip!

McClure Family said...

I'm praying for you, sister! I hope this weekend is full of joy for you!

lori said...

well, I may not yet have made it to your must meet list, but you are on mine and I can not wait to see you.

And you know what song made me cry to today was Alicia Keys "no One" It just made me feel like it was a song to God...

Anonymous said...

My family and I are already here in SA. We've spent the week on vacation going to Sea World. Can't believe tomorrow's Friday! Looking forward to meeting you!

Nicole said...

Ok...so how sad is it that I didn't know what "por fin" was? I had to google it!

So I am way excited about this weekend! I would love to see you and your fam and would be especially delighted to see your Pappaw! :)

See you in San Antonio!

Heidi in Austin said...

I just hope I don't bawl like a baby the whole weekend-

I checked out a video of your mom from our church library- Great Hills Baptist Church in 1993- woo, her hair was even bigger back then- and her heart was so full of humility and Jesus, and hilariousness, she hasn't changed a bit! I so can't wait to meet y'all and your sis!

su said...

Amanda,

What you wrote about the Olympics - it reminded me of Jer 9:23-24 about what we should boast of: not wisdom or might or riches but knowing the LORD. Makes me so glad that I'm a Christian.

I'll be thinking of you and praying for your weekend (and wishing I was there). Have fun!!

bethany said...

Have a wonderful weekend! I so wish that I could be there also....(sigh). Maybe next year.
I'm praying for all of you. Give your momma a big hug for me.
And please make sure that your camera is snapping away!!!
Love ya girl!

Kelli said...

I am praying for all the blogging Siestas this weekend! You girls are going to have SO MUCH fun! It was just too much for me to bear leaving my sweet little 4 and 1/2 month old princess at home (and I am fairly certain that I could not have pumped enough to be gone and would have had to have had break out pumping sessions or something) - LOL!!

Have such a blast!

And my question is why did my filter continue to stay off after I birthed the bebe! Does it get better? :)

Anonymous said...

Amanda, I cried too watching Shawn's parents in the stands. i am not even pregnat and never have been. I am 31. I always joke about how bad its going to be when/if I ever do become pregnant. The tears will be falling all the time.

Stonefox said...

Wish the Siesta Fiesta would come over here to Asia! Share the fun, girls, share the fun! But hope you have a great time ANYWAY! :)

Missy said...

Have a great weekend! Can't wait to hear about it next week.

Gayle @ thewestiecrew said...

I am sitting at the airport as I type (at an hour that should be illegal).

I am so excited!! It's going to be a great weekend... :D

Erica said...

So well said. Do you think the Siesta Fiesta will become a yearly event?

Anonymous said...

I've enjoyed the Olympics, however, I'm sort of glad they will be over soon, so we can stop being slugs on the couch every night! :)

I was sad for LoLo Jones too. :)

Kelly S.

Kelly @ Love Well said...

I used to joke that those tears in pregnancy are true baby baptism.

Have fun in SA this weekend. I have so many sweet, funny, encouraging friends who will be there. I'm doing my best to control the envy. After all, Teyla is worth it.

But I do pray strongly that there will be another Siesta Fiesta next year.

Krystal said...

I love the Mister's new picture! He is so grown up and will be a fabulous big brother!

Steph V said...

Hope y'all are having a wonderful time already. I have no doubt you are!!!

Great seeing you last night! I can't wait for schhol to start back, for MOPS, for dinner Tuesday! Ahhh...so much excitememnt!!!

And I'll pray for your preggo hormones. I had them bad. I still have them. Actually, I just wan't blessed with a very good filter some days!

Love you girl!

Dionna said...

Oh - I'm pouting that I'm missing Siesta Fiesta this weekend! I know you will all have such a blast and if God ordains it- I'll get to meet you sometime in the future. But till then, I might pout "just a little." :):)

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

Girl we are here waiting on your cute preggo self!! Come on!!! :))

Michelle said...

I love your use of "Boo hiss." I Mind if I use it on my blog sometime?

Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous! said...

I just want you to know that I now have a mental image of you belting out Irreplaceable. I love that song.

Ronda said...

I can very much relate to the loss of the "filter" when pregnant. I am one of the most filtered people ever and I have said things the past few months that I can't believe! Oh well! It's different and kind of fun! :-)

Anonymous said...

So true about man's glory being but for a moment. What great perspective.

I wanted to be at Siesta Fiesta so bad, but I live in Washington state. And we're going on vacation to Orlando for two weeks in October. Not like I have a lot to complain about, but I really did want to be there. Can't wait to hear all about it!

JayCee said...

Thanks, Amanda, for everything you did to prepare for the Siesta Fiesta. And the LPL event was wonderful! We certainly saw the Lord's glory this weekend in more ways than one. I wonder if anyone else saw the rainbow in the sky on Saturday morning? When my friend Sue & I looked out our hotel room in San Antonio, there it was. What a blessing from the Lord just reminding us that He is the Lone Star of Texas!

Anonymous said...

i love that you love Cheetos the exact way that i do....even with full knowledge that they will turn on me....i grab a bag and all is good!!!!!

kari said...

poor jackson...your profile picture is a pic of him smiling so cute and written underneath his name "amanda" :) you don't have to publish this comment. just an fyi. LOVE YOU!!!!

Tara said...

Amanda,
It was so nice to meet you this weekend in San Antonio. Thank you so much for your ministry- for starting the blog, for editing the Bible studies, for organizing the Siesta Fiesta. You are one amazing woman- all with a toddler and one on the way!

Blessings to you my friend!

Anonymous said...

Have you checked out this? 5minutesformom.com
I like the faith lifts.

Did you experience the glory of God in San Antonio?

Three Fold Cord said...

Hope you have a good day of rest tomorrow! I know that you will love having Mondays off.
I like the new pic of Jackson, he is really getting big!! Can you imagine what he will be like when the baby comes??

Unknown said...

Amanda, I have a video link for you. I think you'll appreciate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO_BnsrWMnI

teee heee heee

BTW, the new pic of Jackson is awesome! I could just eat him up!

*hugs*

katiegfromtennessee said...

Hey Little Momma:)

Hungry and the hormones raging? Not a good combo-you poor thang:)...That must have been the best time for you this weekend!! I prayed for you all, ya'll were on my mind Fri. and Sat:)...YeAH! Created to magnify and enjoy Him forever:) Oh, I'm sure you saw His glory this weekend!!!

Love in Christ,

katiegfromtennessee

Unknown said...

I believe we did see His glory Mrs. Amanda. We do love you and your family so. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to meet you briefly and hear a more personal side to your testimonies "face to face."

You know, when your mom shared about the gum in the notebook paper, it made me think of a time when I discovered that I had "overstuffed" my Bible.

The poor thing was huge with bulletins and cards people had given me, pictures and slips of notpaper... I had just opened Bible study and people were handing me checks for member books as I walked through the aisle to the front.

I rounded the small, black music stand and went to put my Bible on it when it swiveled and unloaded not only my Bible but its entire contents onto the floor. Checks and slips of notepaper went flying everywhere.

I laughed along with the rest of my Bible Study girls... and then admonished them never to get up in front of a group of women with a "loaded" Bible. Needless to say, we started late that evening. It was a situation ripe for embarrassment, but a good sense of humor is required if you are going to lead Bible Study... Mostly cause you gotta' be willing to laugh at your own "oops" moments from time to time.

Love you girl. It was so good to meet you - May Jackson's potty training be blessed and hastened in the days to come in the name of Jesus - Amen.

Mel @ Studio MCA Designs said...

It was wonderful getting to see the three of you on Saturday! You girls are a hoot! My sister and I wanted to tell you during the Q&A that we are another Melissa and Amanda set of sisters, but time ran out. Thank you for putting yourselves out there and letting us get to know you a little more personally. Just so you know, my sister and I could totally relate to the stories about your dad!!!

And one more thing, Jackson is looking so OLD in that new profile photo! It looks like his face has slimmed down and he just looks like such a boy now. He is precious!

Love,
the "Melissa half" of the "other set"

Jessie Weaver said...

I think I spent the last two weeks crying over spilled milk. Does stability return when you have the child?