05.28.59

51 years ago today, my mom, Beth Corley, was born. There was a time in my life when 51 seemed really old...now it seems incredibly young. It is interesting how perspective changes as you go through life. My mom was the best one. As I've said in earlier posts, she was hilarious, the most fun, not really the best in the kitchen, loved parties, opened her home and her heart to anyone, very passionate about her family, completely head over heels for my Dad, did I mention tons of fun?...I am thankful that I was able to be a part of her life on this earth for 23 years. She was the BEST mom.

When you have a mom, as great as mine was, taken out of your life, there is a big hole to fill. There are a lot of moments that happen in life that you wish you mom could be present for...pregnancies, babies being born, falling in love, engagements, weddings, broken hearts, Mother's Days, birthdays, Christmases, Tuesdays, Sundays... Over the past several years, many incredibly women have stepped in to fill that gap for Rebekah, Troy, Ruthie and myself. Even though no one can take the place of Beth Corley, there have been many precious ladies who have loved on our family and shown up in those moments in life when the only person that is sufficient is your mom. So, to those women across the country...thank you for being sensitive enough to realize that we needed you and for setting aside your time to be available to take the temporary place of our mom...you are precious and we see Jesus through your life lived out. I know my mom would be thankful that you have picked up right where she left off.

Meet my brother, Madison Corley

So...my youngest brother, Madison, whooped my tail in a 5K this past Saturday. Going into it, I was expecting to have to help him get across the finish line, but he basically sprinted the whole way! On the way to the race, I was giving him all of my expert tips...don't drink the water they try and give you during the run, go to the bathroom beforehand, pace yourself, go to the bathroom BEFORE...that type deal. He was out in front of me the whole time! I was a tiny smidge depressed about that, but mostly really proud of him. During the run, he would turn around to make sure I was still behind him and every time he turned around, you could just see this look on his face that he was so glad to be beating his big sister. Madison ended up coming in 2nd in his age division! Whoo hoo Mad!!

The Corley family was introduced to Madison when he was just 3 years old...he was so cute!! Since then, he has become a brother, a son, and even though he's only 8 years old, an uncle. He and his mom had no idea what they were getting into with us...Madison is an incredible help with Kate and she absolutely adores him. They are best pals and it is the most precious thing to watch her with him. She just follows him around wherever he goes.

Madison is the smartest kid I've ever met, aside from Kate, of course. He reads on a 10th grade level, he's on the track team at school and is all-around a very athletic little guy. He will be 9 years old on Saturday and we will of course, in Corley tradition, have 3 different parties to celebrate him. I am very thankful that God chose to bless our family with the addition of Madison. It is a mystery to me how God works in our lives and allows people to enter and leave based on what His plan is. I don't get it...I don't need to...all I know is that we are blessed to have Madison as a part of our family. We love him very much.

Rise and Sing by (Steve) Fee

New Post

Sometimes you need a hard kick in the bottom to realize you’ve got to change something...whether small or a big deal, sometimes you need a jolt of reality to get you to take some action. I have had a few such weeks and got a big ol’ kick in the pants recently. This has forced me to evaluate how I’m doing life now, in the present…with work, as a mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend …and how that could affect how I do life in the future…as a wife, as a mom, and as a friend, sister, daughter, and employee. Something had to change. I was hit with the realization that I was trying to carry everything myself…but I was dropping things…stuff was getting broken as it fell…I wasn’t being incredibly loving in my interactions, and people were getting hurt as I continued to try and carry myself through this life on my own. Even though my mind knows that’s not how a relationship with Christ is supposed to go, my life was being lived out in such a way that someone who didn’t know me probably would have no idea that I claimed to have a relationship with Jesus that I was continually leaning into.

Something God reminded of a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been clinging to it as though my life depended upon it: “Do not be anxious about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He’s done. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4.6-7 When I’m truly hanging onto the Truth, I find incredible rest and peace. I have had a few times over the past week or so where I’ve just grabbed my 3x5 card that I wrote that verse on, walked into the other room and just begged Jesus to take away my fear and anxiety about things I have NO control over and to please grant me His peace that I can’t even comprehend, it is so unprecedented. He has promised “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13.5 God has a beautiful plan for my life, even though I feel like I've made it ugly, and a beautiful plan for yours…He really does and the great thing is, we’re living it right this minute. Yeah, it might not feel like such a beautiful plan today, May 19^th 2010, but I am confident we will look back on this season of life and know that God was IN it, lovingly walking us through our days, showing us how to love more like Him and do life the way He intended for us. Lean into Him...He loves you; even when life sucks, He is crazy about you.

Update on us - Kate and I are really doing great. Kate is now 2 years old, has moved into a “big girl bed” and we are getting ready to begin potty training…really big things happening in our house :) Work is going very well for me…I continue to be amazed that God brought me to such an incredible company. We are still loving being by our family, minus Bekah, but miss Dallas mucho. We are attending Newspring Church here in Greenville and the pastor is one of the most authentic and genuine people I have ever heard speak. My world is rocked every time I hear him teach. Still trying to find the “place” that we fit and can plug in, but I am confident that God has something for us and that He’ll lead us to it.

In closing – You and I have no idea what the person next to us might be going through, in secret, all by themselves…maybe a hurting or broken heart, a painful loss of a friend, parent or love, or a seemingly impossible situation with no end in sight . Go love on them…I guarantee you they need it.

Livin' the good life...

Last Thursday night, as I was sitting at home watching "The Office" with two of my favorite people - my precious sister, Ruthie, and her boyfriend, Mikey Z - I was overwhelmed by the fact that I am really living the life...seriously. It is truly a gift to have relationships like the ones I get to experience with each person in my family and the people I get to do life with on a daily basis. Too often, I get caught up in "business mode", as my Dad calls it, and I forget to acknowledge Christ for the great things He's doing around me and the gifts He's given me in the people I get to walk through this life with. When I'm truly walking closely with Him and my focus is on a bigger picture than what's in my own field of vision, I am so much more aware of what He's given me, and what He's doing in and around me... and life becomes about so much more than what I don't have. I am committed to embracing the life I have been given now and am determined not miss out on today because I am not promised tomorrow.

Ok. I'm off my soap box. As I've said before, when God is doing big things in my life, I just want to shout it out to everyone I know, but I'm done now...promise.

A quick update on our lives here in South Carolina...Kate is talking and having her own opinion on how things should go. We butt heads often and I am daily challenged by how I show her love, even when she's not doing what's right. She turns two next month and the time has flown by. I cannot believe how quickly life goes by us. Kate is a wonderful ly precious girl and, I know I say this often, but I am amazed that God chose me to be her mom. It's probably the best thing I've ever done...be a mom, that is. I love it.

I absolutely love my job and the people I get to work with. There is never a day when I'm not excited to get into work. It is the toughest job I've ever worked, and yet, I still love it. For those of you who don't know, I am working with a company here in Greenville, Find Great People International, on the Executive Search team as a Health-Care Consultant - basically, I help hospitals across the country find the best fit on the C-Level, VP and Director Level. I get to talk to all types of people, learn about their families and career goals...I love it.

Alright, Kate's waking up from her nap so I've got to get back to life, back to reality. Go make today the best day and keep loving on those around you...more than likely, they need it.

New Post

It's been a few months since my last post and my only excuse is that life has been happening...which is good news. Kate and I are finally settling in here in Greenville, South Cackalacky. Kate is enrolled at Pennington Child Development Center and loving it. Her teacher's name is Miss Lovely....it really doesn't get any better than that. She is loving spending lots of time with her family. I am daily in awe of the fact that I get to be her mom. God's grace is unfathomable.

The biggest news is that Kate and I are moving into our very own home next weekend!! I am thrilled! It is a great little house down the street from my Dad. It's got a great yard and a cow pasture right next door. It's perfect. We are so thankful.

Unfortunately, sometimes life doesn't play out the way we think is best. The truth that I continue hold onto is that God is in control. He knows what's going on and I am daily challenged to rest in that. "But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me." -Michah 7.7

I will do a better job of keeping the world wide web apprised of our lives here in South Carolina. Have a wonderful day today!!

On The Move

Sorry there haven't been any blog updates lately. We have been so busy getting ready for our big move next Friday! We can't wait! I am currently training my replacement at work and things are really coming together. My Dad will drive in on Wednesday, July 1st and we will pack up the U-Haul and head to Greenville, SC on July 3rd. This is a decision that has been difficult to make but I am confident that the timing is God's and that He is leading in this next step of my life. It is exciting. I will update more as we get closer to moving. Thanks for all of the encouragement and for loving on Kate and I both.