Thanks to Megan...

Here's a recent pic of Michael and I after I had about 4 or 5 inches cut off of my hair!  

So at dinner last night Megan told me I should post because it's been a long time!  I decided to take her advice!  Life is good with the McCracken's!  We enjoyed having spring break to rest.  It's nice that both of us teach because we  get the same holidays together!  We slept in, relaxed, did a little (but not enough) cleaning out, and then we celebrated every night with our church family leading up to Easter Sunday.  I definitely think all professionals should have a spring break like teachers do!  I won't go so far to say that it's the reason I teach...but it sure makes the long hard days easier!  

Here is a fun first grade story!...The week before spring break I was teaching my reading groups and we were reading a story about a little girl who wanted to read.  She kept having to move rooms in the house because there was noise in each room.  The story didn't say what the noise was so the kids had to infer from the pictures.  She had to leave her room because her baby brother was screaming in the background, then the story shows her at the kitchen table.  In the background, her dad is using a blender.  I asked my reading group, "Why do you think she can't read in the kitchen?"  Without skipping a beat, with great confidence, a little girl spoke up and said, "because her dad's making a margarita!"  She later told us that margaritas are adult drinks that they drink when they are annoyed with their kids!  :)  Fun times teaching  first grade!  

Easter was wonderful.  Our church met at a movie theater and we had between 75 and 80 people attend. One lady gave her life to Christ that day!  It was a really fun celebration of our Savior who lives!  What a sweet gift it is to have life in Him!  

Sorry my thoughts have been random and jumbled, but I guess this is what happens when I have almost a months worth of "no blogging" in my mind!  In case you are wondering....my puppy is behaving better with me now!  ;)  Until next time...it will not be as long!

Last post...

As I was rereading my last post, I thought I should clarify one thing...I was not trying to in any way discount big ministries that have alot of people!  I realized that my wording may have suggested this.  It is really amazing that many ministries have tons and tons of people hungry to grow and to be discipled...and in many cases that is just what is happening!  I was simply revealing my heart's poor condition of being too comfortable and proud in big ministries.  God is using the small body of believers He has placed me in to teach me alot.  We pray for growth and for Him to bring more people!  Anyway, today was a great Sunday together with the body!  I hope you all had a good one too!  :)  

To Sit at Your Feet...

First of all, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post again.  I find myself intrigued by other people's blogs but never post my own!  Things here are going well...one week until spring break...and that is GREAT NEWS!  :)  During spring break since it is the week before Easter, our church is holding what we are naming "Passion Week."  We are doing something each night of the week to prepare for the celebration on Easter Sunday.  We are really pumped because we haven't done anything like this before.  For those of you that I haven't talked to in a while, let me fill you in a little on the ministry we are a part of here...

Michael and I were called to move to San Antonio and minister at The Church at Vineyard Hills.  This is a church where his dad is the pastor.  We meet in a school cafeteria and have about 30 people on a Sunday.  We have "satellite groups" during the week for study and fellowship.  This place is different than any church I've ever been a part of and honestly, it was a huge step of faith for me because I'm comfortable in churches where there are thousands of people...that's just it though....COMFORTABLE.  Ever since we have been in San Antonio, the Lord has really opened my eyes and heart to reveal to me that I have spent my years as a follower of Christ being entirely too comfortable.  In the past I have prided myself in being a part of big name ministries where there are a ton of people...wow...I'm revealing alot about my heart's condition here!  The Lord has begun to really break down my pride and search my heart.  He has revealed to me that it's not about numbers, but lives changed by the power of the gospel.  He has called me out of my pride and out of my "everything is so great in my life" fakeness...to a humble, broken spirit.  He has reminded me of the importance of discipleship and investing in the lives of others for His glory.  I have come to a place in my walk where I am so hungry to just know Jesus more intimately.  There is a song that I love that really speaks my heart right now and so I'll share the lyrics with you...

"The more I seek You, the more I find You."

The more I find You, the more I love You.

I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand,

lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heartbeat.

This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand,

I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming."

All of this to say, God is at work in a huge way in this heart and life.  He is so good and I am so thankful for the grace that allows the process of sanctification in my life.  He is at work in San Antonio and at work at the Church at Vineyard Hills.  He is bringing people to know Himself and calling them into fellowship eternally with Himself.  He is making disciples and using us, people, in spite of who we are.  God is so good and His grace amazes me!  I want to know Him more, I want to sit at His feet!