287 days in

Lately I've been thinking about where I've been over the past 286 days of writing. Sometimes it's hard to believe it's been this long. 

There are things that I love about it, the 1st being that I can look back and see what my life has looked like over the past 9 months and how God has so clearly moved in it. 

I love being able to look back and see how He was going before us and preparing the way for what He had planned for us. It makes me more confident about the future. I know He'll lead us always. I know He will walk before us always. I love that. 

I also love seeing how the Lord has so greatly changed me. He has a lot more work to do, but I can look back and see how I have more faith now then I did. I'm more obedient now than I used to be. I am more on fire for God's word than I have ever been, and I can see all that clearly as I look back over the past 280+ days. 

I also love how this blog has chronicled the lives of my children and our family. If I don't write it down, I forget it. And now I have it all here and by the end of it, I'll have a year of our life chronicled here. I love that. 

I am beginning to look towards the future too. 

I'm wondering what it will look like. 

I know that the Lord clearly asked me to do this for a year, and there are so many stories I have heard from many of you that have made it worth it. You usually seem to get the most out of the nights that I write out of exhaustion and frustration. You like the real, raw me, and you only get that because I agreed to do this everyday for a year. 

I've figured it out. Day 365 will land on Friday, August 10th. 

That's basically only 3 months away. Ironically when I started blogging, I challenged myself to write for 3 months straight {a post a day in March, April, and May.} And that's how it all began. Then I thought that 3 months was forever, and now I feel like I'm nearing the end of the road with only 3 months left to write. 

I don't know if I'll still write everyday. Everyday? Can I do that for longer than a year? I guess you can do anything you feel called to do. 

I really don't know what it'll look like after August 10th. I guess I have a lot of praying to do over the next 3 months. Maybe I'll write 3-4 times a week. Who knows? 

I guess we'll see.

I was just thinking about that tonight. 

287 days in.....3 months to go. 

.....day 287 of a year of writing.....

From the mouth of babes

A conversation between my son Luke {age 3} and myself earlier this evening.


Me: Luke what's in mommy's belly?

Luke (with a sweet dimple filled grin): A baby.

Me: What kind of baby?

Luke (with that same dimple filled grin): A big black one.

Me (holding back laughter): A big black baby?

Luke (still with that grin and this time with his hand on my belly): Yeah. A big black baby gurl. (aka girl)

Me: You think momma has a big black baby girl in her belly?

Luke: Yeah.


God is funny and can do anything, but that one would be a shocker all around. Ironically, I've always wanted a black baby. I just think they're so pretty, but I don't think that's going to happen.

I hope that made you smile and didn't offend you.

From the mouth of babes......

.....day 287 of a year of writing.....

All that matters is Why

I've basically been begging the Lord to speak a word to me over the last month or so regarding where on this beautiful Earth He would like us to live. And ya know what? He won't say anything!

You know this is a girl who likes a plan, and I left my house today in tears because Brian and I got in a disagreement over what was next. I was pretty sure we were set on building. I mean he spent the entire morning looking at floor plans. To me, that means we're building.

And then suddenly, he pulls me over to look at a house for sale that he just can't believe he hadn't seen yet in all of his searches.

Wait a minute.....I thought we were building.....not buying....what happened to that?

And before I know it, we are arguing over nothing.

I leave the house to head to the grocery store in tears. {I have very high suspicions that my overly emotional reaction to a small disagreement has to do solely with my pregnancy hormones....and you better believe I'm going to play that card as many times as necessary.}

And suddenly at a stop sign, with tears streaming down my face, I just cry out to the Lord,

"Would you just say something!" 

I was mad. I mean like angry mad.

For crying out loud, just say something....anything......

You see, I so desperately want to do whatever His will is for my life, that I beg Him to speak and to lead. And sometimes, He is simply silent. But I firmly believe that the Lord is just as intentional about what He doesn't say as He is about what He does say.

His silence, is our opportunity to act on that which He has called us to be filled with and that is faith and faith alone. In those times that He chooses not to answer back, not to offer any signs or signals, we must simply act out of faith by following His word and doing what we believe He would ask us to do.

And the more I thought about all this acting on faith business, the more I kept thinking about the house we almost bought in Piedmont just a month or so ago.

We sought Him over and over again about whether or not this was the house, and one night Brian had a dream about it.

He was in a room with nothing in it but what looked like a day calendar hanging lonely on the wall. You know the type that you rip off a page for each day... Some have inspirational sayings, or jokes on a square pad. Well, this one simply said "500 days".

While he was in this room, He was asking the Lord if we were supposed to move into this house. And oddly enough, the Lord didn't seem too concerned with whether or not we moved there or not because when Brian asked if we were supposed to buy this house by the lake, the only thing the Lord said was, "Will you sacrifice something for me?"

And Brian asked him if he needed to sacrifice something for this house, and the Lord said "No. You can move into that house. Its not for the house. Will you just sacrifice something for me?"

And Brian's answer was yes.

Then he watched the sheets of paper on the calendar flip and flip and flip, as if God was thumbing through them, until finally they were almost all gone. The He ripped off most of the calendars' pages, and the one left showing said "43 days". Brian asked, "I am going to have to sacrifice something in 43 days?" His answer was simply "Yes."

Oddly enough, Brian had that dream exactly 43 days ago. Today was the day of sacrifice.

Over the next few weeks, we would begin to understand what he would have to sacrifice and why. The Lord would ask Brian to stand up for something he knew was wrong and as a result, he would end up having to sacrifice his position at our church. Tonight was the last night our youth will meet until the beginning of the next school year. It was not something Brian "wanted," but we see the Lord's hand all over it.

After that, when we knew we would no longer be attending the church that we just bought a house to be closer to, the Lord provided a way out.

It never mattered to Him from the beginning what we did about that house. He knew He could fix it no matter what we decided. And I think He wanted us to see that. I think He wanted us to see the way He would work out all the details if we would simply do the things He called us to do.

What I've learned from all this and what kept running through my head tonight on a late night trip to wal-mart was that it doesn't matter where or when or with whom or how.....all that matters is why.

He wants me to know why I am His child, and why He placed me on this Earth at this moment in time.

Where that happens and with whom and how are all details that He can work out as long as I'm working towards fulfilling His will for my life.

The more I think about it, the more I know that He doesn't care where we live and who we do life with or how we go about our day, as long as we're seeking Him and doing exactly what He has called us to do.

When you know your why.......the small details don't really seem to matter anymore. The Lord can work any small detail of your life into good for the purposes of His kingdom. Maybe we really shouldn't stress over the small things. He can work the big and the small into good when we're living for Him.

.....day 286 of a year of writing.....

If we build it?

So now we're contemplating building. Building a house? Really? There are things I have said that I have no interest in, and building is one of them. I love the idea of it....picking things out and making it my own, but Brian and I are both so stubborn that I'm concerned we would definitely kill each other in the process.

But the more we look, the more we realize that with house prices what they are, we clearly see that in the right addition, we can buy a lot and build and have instant equity in a house, and that sounds pretty good to me.

Luckily we know a great builder. We have found an incredible housing addition. And maybe, just maybe, it's all beginning to fall into place. I guess we will see as only time will tell. Would you pray that we would clearly understand what the Lord has next for us? We would appreciate that so much.

.....day 284 of a year of writing.....

What Good is it?

I put the final ink on my James Mercy Triumphs bible study today, and the phrase that won't leave me is, "What good is your faith?" 

James, the 1/2 brother of Jesus himself, urges us to not just believe, but to live out our faith through our obedience to the Lord. 

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

What good is it if we don't actually help anyone? What good is it if we are merely trying to survive this life instead of thriving in the truth that the Lord has called us into? 

What good is it? 

And I keep asking myself what that looks like in our lives? And I'm asking the Lord too? How do you want us to live it out? What does it look like for the Dalkes? 

We sort of thought we knew. We thought we knew what He had for us to do, but then everything changed. With Brian being home lately, we've been able to really seek the Lord. Our relationship is really strong right now, and oddly enough I believe it's because of an event that we didn't know was going to happen; an event that we didn't plan for at all, but now, in retrospect, we see the Lord's hand and blessing all over the circumstance that placed us in the situation where Brian is home for now. It's been a growing and healing time for us, but now we're stepping back and asking the Lord, what's next? 

And it all comes back to that statement....what good is it? What good is our faith if we aren't actively listening to the Lord and helping those He calls us to help?

I think we're getting better at seeking His will instead of our desires. I pray that we continue to get better that constantly. 

On of my favorite phrases from Beth's pen in the last session of James was this,

I want to keep the poor on my radar at all times and stop protecting myself from the pain and plight of others. 

Do you do that? Protect yourself from pain because it's easier?

I do. It's why I don't watch the news. Have you ever heard that song by Matthew West called "My Own Little World?" It's that message exactly. It's about staying in our own little worlds "where it hardly ever rains."

What's interesting is that the Lord knows that about me. He knows that I do everything I can to keep myself from pain. Most of us do I think. And pain is exactly how He brought me to Him through a little girl named Ellie Kate McLaughlin. You can read about how she changed me here. But Ellie Kate's life and her family's life is not one empty of pain. When the Lord brought the McLaughlin's into our lives, He never intended for it to be a temporary thing. He intended to use something painful to make me fall head over heels for Him. Pain is what made me seek Him and find Him.

Yet, we so often do everything we can to stay in our little worlds. We don't want to deal with anyone else's rain when we can barely handle our own. But what good is that?

What good is our faith if it's not being lived out through our actions and desires to be the hands and feet of Christ?

My prayer tonight? That He would make my faith good for something. I want it to be more about Him and less about me. I want to be willing and joyful to do whatever it is He calls us to do.

So I have to ask you too.....what good is your faith? Are you seeking His will for your life? Are you letting Him use you for the good of His kingdom? I don't think it's the easiest thing to do, but the easiest thing is never the best. Doing things that are hard is what makes our lives worthy.

What good is your faith?

.....day 283 of a year of writing.....

It's time for a plan....anyone?

Well tomorrow officially begins our summer. The kids are out of school, and we're ready for some summer sun.

Tomorrow I will also be 15 weeks pregnant. The past couple weeks have really been smooth sailing. I am not having any hugely strange cravings. I do love lime in my water and I'm eating a lot of yogurt and granola. I am sort of craving all things salt. We picked up McDonald's for the kids today after church (I know it's so healthy!) and I made the comment that I just wanted to lick the salt off the fries. I've also been craving beer with salt and lime. I think it's a salt thing which is probably really an iodine thing. I know that iodine is something your body needs when pregnant which would explain the typical "pickle" craving that lots of women have when they're pregnant. 

What else? 

I think we're beginning to zone in on where we want to settle down. We've been looking at houses and have even looked out of state some, but after being back at our old church for 2 weeks in a row now, we feel at home more so than we ever have. 

We were attendees at LifeChurch.tv in Edmond for almost 10 years when we moved to the LifeChurch.tv campus in Yukon. And when we came back to Edmond just a couple weeks ago, I didn't expect for it to feel the way it has. 

We know so many incredible people in Edmond. We have family in Edmond, and it simply feels like home. I honestly didn't expect it to feel that way coming back, and I don't know why. But today during worship, it was like I heard the lord whisper to me, "Did you think I wouldn't be here too?" Of course He's there. It's where He lead us back to, and it feels so very good. 

I'm ready for a plan. A pregnancy work out plan, a bible study plan, a house hunting plan. You know me if you've been around here for any amount of time; I just love a good plan. 

My new workout plan? 30-40 minutes of cardio every day from now until that baby makes it's appearance. It sounds hard, but it's do able. My mom and I went on a walk last night while Addy rode beside us on her bike. I just need to say what I'm going to do, so I'll be accountable, so there you have it....that's the plan....cardio. 

My new bible study plan? I'm going to get back into the habit of being in God's word every morning. I have that crazy passionate desire for more and more of His word again, and I love that. It's a really good place to be. I can't get enough of it, and I need to set aside specific time each day to be in His word. That means early to bed (no later than 11) and early to rise. It'll be good. I like that plan. 

Our house hunting plan? Start looking at houses in the Edmond area (which is where we are and where our church is) or near Lake Arcadia. We have not walked into a single house for sale in this area yet, and I'm ready to. I want to see what our options are. I'm ready to get the ball rolling. 

I also think I need a plan for reading for fun. I think since it's summer I should just do it. In all my planning, I've also decided to attempt to start writing in the morning instead of in the evening to free up some more time with my hot hubby and give me more time to read for fun. Why not huh? 

So what about you? Are you planning anything this summer? Or are you going plan less? 

Ironically enough when I'm on vacation, I don't do a lick of planning. No schedules. No itineraries. No pre-made plans whatsoever. Just another random fact there. 

Hoping you had a great weekend. Don't forget to wear your Thunder wear tomorrow.....Thunder up!  

.....day 282 of a year of writing.....

A Spring Shower

Today I hosted my sister's last bridal shower. She's getting hitched in Mexico in just a few weeks, and we're all so excited about our trip.

Today was a great chance for friends to visit over good food and a great atmosphere.

She wanted an informal shower....she didn't want to open presents (I don't blame her), so we hosted a display shower. It gave everyone time to chat and catch up. The only activity we had planned was a blessing ring for people to fill with favorite recipes, scriptures, or advice.






We wanted simple but delicious food, so we decided to go for an omelet bar and a yogurt parfait bar. Everyone helped themselves.




Each guest who wanted an omelet took a cup, wrote their name on it, added the veggies they wanted, and handed their cup to the cook.





I found this handsome guy to cook up the omelets, and he did a great job. They were delicious!










We had a variety of drinks available....coffee from the Keurig, orange juice, mimosas, and orange flavored water (which we have refilled about a dozen times today...everyone loves it including the kids).





We also had cupcakes and bundt cakes for dessert.



All in all, it was really a fun shower. Everyone raved about the food, and as long as you have a cook, it's really easy! (Thanks again babe!)




Here is my mom, my sister (the bride to be!) and myself posing for a little family shot.




Addison wearing her Aunt Knee-Knee's (Whitney) very high heels. She's already a pro witha  pair of heels at 5 years old.




Whitney and her life group girls (Paige, Laci, and Lindsey) sporting her new personalized apron. SO cute!




The Lawton crew (all from high school).




And me and my sister. Isn't she beautiful!?

It was a great, great day. Thanks to the 30+ women who showed up today to shower my sister with love!

.....day 281 of a year of writing.....