The Countdown begins.....

There are so many things that we are in the countdown for....

• I get to deliver not one, but 2 cakes for foster children Aug 2 and Aug 5th!!  (5 and 7 days away)
• We get to go to a wedding reception for our Children's pastor on Aug 13. (16 days away)
• Perryn starts 1st grade at Star Charter on Aug 23. (26 days away)

But the MOST important and the MOST fun things to begin our countdown are:

• The T4A Conference.  What's that you haven't heard of T4A?  Well, you must have been under a rock...It's the Together 4 Adoption Conference on Oct 1st and 2nd here in Austin!! We can't WAIT!!!  Gabe and I are looking forward to finding out more information on how we can help and how we can begin our adoption journey.   (65 days away)
• I am also looking forward to meeting LOTS of my newest and bestest friends, the Warrior Girls.  These girls are such an encouragement to me, even on my 'best' days.  They know how to help me see what God has in store for me and for those less fortunate. (65 days away)
• I'm running the Chosen Adoption 1/2 Marathon on Oct23rd!!!   (86 days away)
• But the MOST IMPORTANT count down, is that I will be launching something EXTRA SPECIAL, in just 4 DAYS!!!  You're going to have to hold on and keep checking back, because I'm MIGHT give you a SNEAK PEEK over the next 4 days as to what will be happening on Aug 1st!!! 

Contentment

Yesterday at The Austin Stone, Darrin Patrick from The Journey Church guest preached for us. Let me just say, "WOW"!! He preached out of Philipians 4:10-13. We all know verse 13, but I have never looked or studied the verses prior to it. He talked about true contentment with our lives.

He referenced these verses:

'But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.' I Timothy 6:8 (ESV, emphasis mine)

'Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." ' Hebrews 13:5(ESV, emphasis mine)

To me, before I started reading Radical by David Platt, this was what my American dream consisted of....a NICE house in a nice neighborhood.

Darrin said that contentment is "Being ok with who you are & what you have, NO MATTER what's going on around you!" That is the most profound statement that I've heard in a LONG TIME.

Contentment is a strength issue, but not MY strength issue, DIVINE strength issue....letting God in when things are going well (like now) and when things are going bad. Contentment is a foretaste to heaven...and I can't wait to get there.

Am I a bit nervous? Absolutely. Am I bit scared? Absolutely. But I also know that the 'secret' to contentment is to NOT stop at the 'pointer' but GO ALL THE WAY. For example, not to just continue to run, but to run for others. Not just bake cakes and be creative, but make cakes and be creative for others. To not just buy a house, but wait to buy the one that God has in store for us.

So for now, I am content with being in a 2 bedroom apt, having 1 car, having Perryn in a Charter School instead of homeschooling, and whatever else God hands me right now. Are you content with God has given you?

Warning, warning

As you can see a new look has taken over the blog, which coincides with a new season in the Engelhardt household and it's going to be a WILD ride. I am giving fair warning that there will be more pictures, there will be more blogging, and there will be a different 'feel' to our new blog. Why you ask? Well, because God has been doing a work in our lives and hearts. Here's what's been happening:

1. We have had a GREAT summer! I've been to the pool, been to Colorado for a family vacation, been studying Esther, started running again, and been reactivating my LOVE for reading.

2. I am DONE, finished with just talking and posting little blog badges on the sides of the blog and not really talking about them. So, be forewarned, the TOUGH stuff WILL be talked about now, with NO sugar coating.

3. Securities and Fears - I have begun to take back my security...no one else is getting access to it anymore. Why? Well, because I have done some reading (Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity). I've also been working through the Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman Bible study with Ms. Beth. God has truly given Ms. Beth a gift to speak truth and she is using that gift in a fabulous way and God is using her to speak and work on me. (I also found on Lifeway.com that I can download the video sessions as I need them for $5 a video. Yes, it would be so much more fun to do this study with a group, but I can do it when I'm able to with my crazy schedule.)

4. Family vacation - we went on a family vacation for the 2nd time in 2 years!! This time we drove all the way to Pagosa Springs, CO. We had a BLAST!! I will get picture up as soon as I can.

5. Blog Badges/Tone/Books - here's the deal. I have been reading So Long Insecurity and we start working and discussing the book Radical by David Platt with our Missional Community group. Gabe and I both feel that we need to change our attitude and our 'American' dream is changing. As of today (July 24, 2010) we are now a one car family again. We sold Gabe's car and bought him a bicycle. We live a mile from work, why...guess what - it's getting us out of debt FASTER. We are seriously looking at whether or not we are going to buy a house anytime soon. We are waiting for God to show us that.

The blog badges that are on my blog ie: Red Letters Campaign and Hopemongers, well there's going to be more. And as much as I LOVE being creative....I am going to be using my talents to help the least of these and not promote a creative business that isn't doing very much. Will I still accept orders? ABSOLUTELY, but I'm not advertising anymore...no more Tip Junkie, no more SIS. More Children's HopeChest, Charity Water, Love146, and T4A. These guys need MY voice; however, small it is.

6. Running - I have been running a lot over the past several months. I've done a couple of 5Ks and the Muddy Buddy. I ENJOY running, I'm having fun. I've also felt God asking me to use my new love and joy to help those less fortunate. So, at least once a quarter I will be running a 1/2 marathon and having it sponsored. I will be running the Chosen Adoption 1/2 in October in Gruene, TX. This one will be sponsored, but I'm going to wait to share who's going to benefit from it.

I hope that you will continue to read my blog, and now it's going to more deep and emotional and not so superficial anymore.

I will leave you with a VERY cute picture of my kids and BEVO, because, they are always picture worthy.

Blessings,

Priceless

So, I'm behind on blogging, so sorry. But, I do want to let you know about a giveaway that's going on right now. I LOVE Tom Davis' books. I currently have Scared and Priceless on my reading wishlist. I just hope that I win this contest for the Priceless book!!! So head over to see if you can win the book and some Saints Coffee!!

Family

These are our most recent family pictures. My uncle was kind enough to meet us at The Long Center in downtown Austin for a couple of hours. He did a fabulous job and I can't wait for him to do it again. He took a TON of pictures, but these are the best in my opinion. Enjoy!!