Higher Call

Love Them Everyday!

2012-02-14T06:05:00.001-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Valentine’s might be my very favorite celebration day! I love being able to make my little family feel special and we all love being together so much. It just makes me smile.

So far this year has been a year of being more still. I’ve let go of several responsibilities because I’ve wanted to listen to the Lord a LOT more. Sometimes being still means being alone a little more and that is sometimes hard for me, but it’s HARDER to listen to a still small voice when you are so busy and on the go all the time.

A few scriptures kept popping up over and over again to let me know that being still for a season was what God wanted. One in particular might as well have been tattooed on my forehead!

“The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent!” Ex. 14:14

The Lord is faithful to His promise that “If you seek Him, He will be found by you…” I Chron. 28: 9b

Part of the reason for being still is that I have been seeking the Lord about how He’d like me to move forward to minister to others. A while back He reminded me that my FIRST ministry is to my family, but in this relatively short season of being still He has been very strong in reminding me that the people who live in my house are to be the FIRST ones who see Him shine through me.

Sometimes those that we love see ALL the ugly. We feel like because we are family and we CAN be ourselves then they are the ones who catch all of our complaining, unhappy thoughts and feelings. Well, that had to change!

In order to honor God in the everyday.. these people that He has entrusted to me… needed to be treated like the special people that they are.

One thing that got my attention was how I’d be really busy getting my house clean… when “special guests” were coming! In this time of being still God has whispered to me that the people who live here everyday are just as special as the the special guests and they deserve the same effort!! I’ve been trying much harder to keep our home in better order and to make it a special place for my family when they are here.

I was really bad about never making beds. But since God has spoken to me about this I’ve tried really hard to have our rooms look nice and picked up so that it feels together when we come home. The world is so chaotic! Our home does not have to be!

I’ve also been on a napkin brigade! Everyday I’ve written a note to go in Caroline’s lunch box (and sometimes in my hubby’s.. if he takes his lunch!) just to say, “I believe in you!” “You can do it!” “You are special to me!” “I love you!” It’s not much… just a paper napkin and some ink, but I pray that everyday she knows that her mom is behind her while she’s trying so hard to overcome her delays and be just a typical kid!

It is really a blessing to have this time with God. I am praying that in the quiet He will speak and direct me to His purposes for me. In the mean time… I am going to try to minister to my family!

Sheer Randomness

2012-02-10T13:07:00.001-08:00

It’s the weekend!! Woo hoo! I am so happy to have a few days to get caught up at home! I have been sick for a while and frankly have just done the basics to keep us going… you know laundry, cleaned the kitchen… and that’s bout it! I am on my 2nd antibiotic so hopefully this will be the death of the sickness… and not of me!! Needless to say there is PLENTY to keep me busy over the next several days!

Since I am feeling better I decided to go back to the gym today. Oh. My. Word! I may not be walking tomorrow to do all of the things that I need to do!

Or maybe the maid will show and I won’t have to worry about any of it!

Ok. Wishful thinking.

So! In this post I mentioned that we were starting some redo projects around the house. I am excited to say that this week we met with a flooring guy and I think we’ve settled on a color and style that we like! Yay! I can’t wait to show you the before and afters! It’s gonna be great! We still have to set a date and all, but at LEAST we made some progress!

Also, I started doing a few little things for Caroline’s room redo. Here’s a rag wreath that I made for her door…

Some of the fabric was from her bedding when she was a baby! I think it’s fun and will be cute when everything starts coming together.

I also talked about this wall…

That’s a terrible picture, but it gives you the idea.

Living proof of big, blank, and needing some TLC!

I was so excited to find some scripture to put on it, but….

that top line? Crooked as ALL get out!! UGH! Hopefully (REALLY SOON! Like tomorrow) we will be able to work on that little issue and I can show you some good pics! I Love the scripture though and I am pretty sure once we get it straight I am going to add some family pictures around it. Sooo… it’s a work in progress, let’s say!

And I am excited that we are planning another Laundry Love project! We have started collecting coins and are all set with the folks at the Laundromat for a Friday night in March! I am eager to meet some new people and hopefully share the love of Christ with the people in our community! It’s going to be awesome!!

I hope you have a great weekend! Go to church. God is so good. He deserves our worship and praise! I, for one, can’t wait!!

Name One Thing

2012-02-06T06:39:00.001-08:00

Here’s a fun little game to help us learn more about each other! If you repost on your blog leave a comment so I can check it out! I am not real crafty with the whole linky thing! We use to do these a long time ago…

Name one thing for each of the following:

Something you crave when you are sick: Mashed potatoes from KFC

Something your grandmother use to say: “I love you, a bushel and a peck!”

Something you MUST wear if you don’t have time to get your complete face on before leaving the house: Mascara

Something you love to do while working at home: Listen to Pandora Radio

Something you are picky about: Having the kitchen cleaned before bed

Something you wish you were better at: Not procrastinating!

Someone you miss: My Grandma

Somewhere you’d like to visit: Paris

See, now that wasn’t so bad! Tell me about you!

Go Figure! and a Redo

2012-02-01T15:11:00.001-08:00

We went to Occupational Therapy last week…

and they started something new with Miss Caroline. They talked about how cooking is so good for kids and how they think that using ideas in the kitchen might help us more with some developmental things! Processing information and the order of things (sequencing) is really hard for her so they decided to write out some simple directions for her and another kid and they let them make a snack for the therapists. They had the best time!

It isn’t that we’ve never tried to get her involved in the daily cooking (and cleaning) at home… it’s just that she has never really been interested!

Insert the power of suggestion from someone other than mom!! Since the THERAPIST thought it was cool… well, suddenly it is the best idea EVER!!

So Saturday we decided to make a coffee cake/streusel for daddy… since he’s the only one who drinks coffee (her words).

The directions and ingredients were simple and she did great! She was even excited to see that some of the words she’s learning at school were on the box. Fractions like 1/4 cup and Fahrenheit made her SOO excited! GO FIGURE!

Working on life skills like this will also develop more independence and help her gain some confidence that she can do things like other kids. She gets nervous that she might spill it or not understand so she just brushes things off. Hopefully this will be a good time of learning!

In other news I am gradually beginning to redo a few things in our house and I am PUMPED! We are meeting with some flooring folks and getting a few quotes for some new HARDWOODS in our downstairs! I can’t wait!

We are also going to redo Caroline’s room to make it a little more grown up! Here’s the bookshelf and the striped paint and border that we’ve had since she was 2!

It has been really cute and she has loved it, but it’s time to move on! Especially since places like this are starting to show:

It just needs to be freshened up and turned into an older girls’ room! I already have a Pottery Barn dust ruffle that I found for $5 at a consignment store. It is brand new and still in the package! And I have an idea of the colors… isn’t this pretty?

We are going to turn her bed sideways and make it into a daybed look with big pillows and probably paint the walls green. Maybe not this bright, but it gives me ideas galore! We are thinking green and white with some pink and black thrown in. I am on the hunt for CHEAP and ADORABLE things to help make her room precious!

I also have had this HUGE blank wall in my bedroom and I am OVER IT! I have some ideas about how I want to change that up a bit so I am excited to see how that comes together, too!

Stay tuned! It’s gonna be FUN!

I Wish

2012-01-29T13:24:00.001-08:00

I wish every day were happy and good days.

I wish I could eat chocolate cookies everyday without worrying about it

I wish no one ever lost anyone they love… especially that kind of love that lasts from childhood to old age. Too many strings tied too tight… pull too tight when they are gone.

I wish I never allowed myself to be frustrated with anyone. Especially my child.

I wish my favorite jeans would never wear out!

I wish we’d never get use to the fact that Jesus DIED for us… and just sit in a worship service.

I wish being a mom wasn’t so hard.

I wish I could cook better.

I wish we had a fence so we could have a dog.

I wish life weren’t so messy.

I wish I could play the piano and sing.

I wish to live my life to honor God and to no longer live for man. I wish that everything I did I asked Him first and that I didn’t make such hasty decisions and I wish that I trusted Him more. Loved Him more. Spent time with Him more. Honored Him more. Praised Him more. Sought Him out more. Listened more. Feared Him more. Reverenced Him more.

I wish I obeyed Him more.

I wish I were less selfish. More concerned for others than myself.

I wish for the rest of my life to be lived better than the first part of my life.

I need it to start today.

What do you wish?

Fun Times

2012-01-24T08:02:00.001-08:00

A few posts back I posted this new wreath that was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest! I posted it on Facebook and I got a couple of orders! Who knew!?!? I was so surprised! So I made this one…

and this one…

for two of my friends. I just changed the ribbons and they both look really cute!

Also, this past weekend we had a meeting with folks from our church and needed some childcare. These two NEVER turn down the opportunity to take a girl to dinner and ice cream!

She also scored a new toy and some new clothes!

Hello! What about the parents??

Since then I have been under the weather and have spent more than my share of time on the sofa. It’s just a virus so I am sure I will be back to normal soon. Well, normal is totally relative in my case!

Happy Tuesday!

Remember

2012-01-19T05:30:00.001-08:00

His Body the bread…

His Blood the wine….

Broken and Poured out all for love…

Love so amazing!

We must remember His sacrifice and how He shamelessly gave so that we might live.

Sweet New Look and a Challenge!

2012-01-13T13:00:00.001-08:00

I am so excited to have a new blog look! I have no extra funds to really purchase a new look but I found this free one at this website and I am LOVING it! It was very easy to download/upload… oh! Whatever I did! I am NOT very computer savvy so if I can do it ANYONE can! Everything seems a little big to me so I will be working on the details, but in the mean time I am enjoying the colors and fun-ness!

In other news I am really excited about a new challenge that our church has taken on. We are ALL, the entire church from kids to Sr. Adults, are going to read through the Bible in a year! We are going through it chronologically and we’ve just started… because it’s Jan. 13th and all… so we are in Job! It has been very cool for my daughter, my husband and myself to all be reading the same thing at the same time! We’ve discussed what we’ve read and we all have questions that we want to research. It is just really cool and I am pumped about our Sunday school class and church all being “on the same page!” Literally!

Yesterday my daughter was riding in the back of the car and she said, “Mom, tonight me and dad are going to read Job! I have never read that book before. I know about Jesus being born in Luke 2 and I know about creation in Genesis, but now it will be something new!”

I love that God’s Word excites us and that it IS new… no matter how many times we read it He is always speaking and we learn something new every time if we just listen!

Some Things are Coming Along

2012-01-09T10:10:00.001-08:00

In the past I’ve shared a good bit about our daughter and the mild special needs that she has. Since it has been a while since I’ve really blogged I wanted to do a little update on her because of the hopes of encouraging someone (even someone who never leaves a comment!) that things DO get better with time and maturity!

This year Caroline started the 3rd grade. She has a great teacher (in public school who loves Jesus… YAY GOD! He meets our needs every time!) She has made some sweet friends and she’s trying really hard in school. While math is still extremely hard she continues to work and claims that math is her favorite subject.

Her determination to try is really inspiring to those around her. We all know that math is hard, and in the 3rd grade they start multiplication. The teacher sent a note home asking parents to commit to helping our kids learn their facts and I asked Caroline what she wanted to do. “Well,” she said, “Don’t you think I need to at least try!?” Yes. I do think so sweet girl, so let’s get to it!

She continues to do Occupational Therapy and that has helped some with her ability to plan and organize her thoughts. She has also worked more on handwriting and writing this year than ever before and she’s doing much better at putting her thoughts on paper in an organized fashion.

In the last few months of 2011 we did a speech group with her where she was in speech but participated in different social situations with other kids around her age. It was GREAT! They discussed and role played manners, appropriate conversations with peers vs. adults, conversation starters and other socially appropriate areas of communication. She can still be a little socially inappropriate, but it does seem to be helping some. (There was the time we were at lunch after church with friends and saw different friends while eating. She said, “I’d RATHER be with (and named the other table of friends)!” in front of those that we were eating with. I wanted to climb under the table!!!!!!!!! Oh… so embarrassing! There is just not a built in filter and you never know what she will say!! We still have some work to do!)

One thing that I love is that she is growing to love God’s Word. Even if she can’t comprehend all that she reads in school she still LOVES to read and wants to know what the Bible says. I love this kid’s version of Jesus Calling for her. We started it on the first day of 3rd grade and pretty much use it every night.

It is really special that though there are struggles, the things of the Lord are familiar and something that she longs for. I hope she never looses that!

If you have a child with special needs I DO know the fears and the dreams that have changed for you and that child. It is not an easy road, but I want to remind you that God is ALWAYS in control. He is always at work and so NEVER stop praying. Never stop pushing for the best and never give up hope for things to get better. Sometimes it seems that things will never get easier or she will never grow and mature and then one day something improves (like getting completely dressed without DRAMA to the max!) and I think…”Oh! There is hope!” There is hope for you too! Just never give up and always seek out the best help that you can and stick with it!!

Even though she is 10 now and I expect her to do so many things on her own I do have to remember that she HAS only been on the earth for 10 years! Just 10 short years!! And I have to remember that she’s not where those that are her age are so I need to give a little grace and try to be understanding. Things are coming along, though ,and I am praising GOD for His faithful hand of mercy in our lives!

Laundry Love

2012-01-04T15:03:00.001-08:00

I mentioned in this post about a special local outreach project that I participated in during 2011 and I mentioned that I really hope to do it over and over again. I think that it’s such a good idea that I want to spread the word to others who might be willing to do it their communities. It is such a neat way to minister to the community and allows opportunity to share the gospel in a very effective and different way.

So… here’s what you do!

The goal is to reach out to those in the community who having clean clothes is a financial hardship.

1) Start collecting quarters or funds and laundry detergent. I’d encourage you to enlist Sunday School classes of all ages to participate and get the entire church involved. We asked our youth and two adult classes to help collect quarters for the first one that we did and it worked great. Most Laundromats do not use quarters now (you load a card to put into machines) but people associate quarters with Laundromats so that’s how we did it. We asked a ministry within the church to help with detergent.

2) Go to a local Laundromat and ask the owner if they’d allow you to come in one day/night and pay for the laundry to be done of those who come through the doors during a specified time. ** WARNING! They are going to look at you like you’ve lost your mind.** Determine how many people you feel you may be able to help based on your budget (funds collected) and time frame. We chose 20 people and determined to be there from 6pm until 9pm. We decided that we had enough money to do 2 washes and 2 dryers per person. We also gave tickets to those people so that as we paid for the load we could take a ticket and keep things fair.

3) Get together items to help entertain children. We took coloring pages and crayons, pipe cleaners (to make things with) and beads to string.

4)Collect information to help present the gospel and info about your church to give to those that you meet. We took witnessing tracks and visitor info about our church.

5)Determine if you would like to serve some sort of food. Once the laundry gets in the machines you have about 20-30 minutes to chat with those in the Laundromat. That is your opportunity to get to know the people a little, offer them a snack and share Christ. We chose to offer a light meal and so we bought subs from Subway and had classes donate chips, drinks and cookies for dessert. Often you are dealing with those who live in hotels, on the streets or who are very needy. Offering food and clean clothes means so much to them!

6) Show up and get busy sharing Christ’s love! We had a few youth to work with kids that came in. We had men that held the loaded money cards and they’d go to the machines as people loaded their items and pay for the wash/dry cycles and women who helped with food distribution.

The neat thing was we were able to encourage the Laundromat owners and the Subway employees as well as the people that we helped with their laundry.

This idea is not original with me or my church. I am including a link to a ministry that can give you more information about this type of outreach and how this idea came to be. Let me just say… those who participated that night are currently trying to arrange other Laundry Love projects in our city. It impacted all of us and we are eager to share Christ in this unique way all around our city!

Here’s the link! If you like the idea but are not sure how you can get your church involved you can give to this ministry who consistently reaches out in this way! It’s awesome!!!

Something New

2012-01-03T07:15:00.001-08:00

Since it’s the New Year I have been wanting some new things to spruce up around our home! I don’t really have much money to spend but I was recently on Pintrest (OH MY WORD! I could be on there for days on end!) and I saw some cute wreath ideas and I thought I’d give an old grapevine wreath a makeover. The flowers and ribbons were so faded and so I didn’t mind tearing that thing apart and trying to give it some some life.

I had recently bought some burlap for fun gift wrap so I decided to use the rest of that to cover the vines and then I found this adorable “G” initial on sale at Hobby Lobby. Their ribbon was on sale, too, and so I spent less than $10 to redo this…

I think it turned out pretty cute and I know that I will love having something different on our front door. When Christmas is over it just always seem so BLAH! Hopefully this will be a fun new look!

Fun to be Back!

2012-01-02T06:20:00.001-08:00

It has been so long since I’ve really blogged that I really do not know where to start! So many things go on in our lives that it’s hard to know where or how to begin! I saw this post on my friend, Faith’s, blog so maybe that’s where I’ll start! Here we go!!

1.What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

I made hand dipped pretzels to give as neighbor gifts at Christmas and they turned out cute and yummy!

And I helped a couple of people decorate their homes for Christmas! THAT is stressful!!

I also participated in a local mission project called “Laundry Love” and it was an incredible experience that I hope to repeat again and again!

2.Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I do not really make resolutions but I did start consistently exercising and plan to keep that up in the new year!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth this year?

We had a couple of sweet friends in our Sunday school class have precious babies!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My mom’s sister passed away around thanksgiving. I was not especially close to her, but my mom really struggled with losing a sibling. It was an honor to sing at her funeral and we know that one day we will see her again!

5.What places have you visited?

In the spring my husband’s cousin got married and we went to Alabama with our entire family! Here I am with my husband and daughter and my husband’s brother and his family. We had a great time, but man was it HOT!

In the summer I went on a women’s retreat with girls from our church. We had such a great time in the North Carolina mountains!

I also went just a short drive to meet my college roommate for breakfast over the summer! I had not seen her in SOO long and it was great to catch up a bit!

In the fall we headed back to the NC Mountains and this time I got to lead a retreat with one of my sweet friends! It was such an honor to be asked and I was a nervous wreck, but God, in His faithfulness showed up and we had a terrific time!

6.What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

More discipline in my life to be in God’s Word and to be healthy. I also want to be obedient to some things that I know God is calling me to.

7. What date from 2011 will be etched in your memory and why and why?

Probably December 3rd because my family surprised my brother with a 40th Birthday party and ALL of my aunts and uncles drove from hours away just to be there for the big day! He was SOOO shocked!

My uncle drove 3 hours just for this! And this is his best friend from High School!

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?

Probably starting to exercise and sticking with it. It is not something that I really enjoy but I decided that in order to be here as long as possible for my family I could not just sit around any longer! I did not lose a ton of weight, but I have felt better and look better in my clothes so at least SOMEthing’s working!

9.Did you suffer illness or injury?

The only thing that happened was I woke up on my birthday with the flu. Going to see my family doctor that day was not exactly what I had in mind!!

10. What was the best thing you bought?

My camera and a Wii game for our daughter for Christmas this year.

11.Where did your money go?

Therapies for our girl (it’s helping so we are not complaining!) and bills. Yay for bills.

12.What song will always remind you of 2011?

Oh gosh! Nothing is really standing out to me.

13.What do you wish you had done more of?

Spend more time having friends and family over for dinner and fun, spend more time being still and letting God work instead of being in a tizzy over things and taken more pictures!

14.What do you wish you had done less of?

Worry about silly things. … lack of trust in the Lord. I wish I had been less aggravated with my daughter over things that now seem silly.

15.What was your favorite TV program?

I am happy to say that I didn’t watch as much TV this year!! When I did watch I liked the talent shows like Sing Off and X Factor.

16.What was the best book you read this year?

I loved reading Jane Eyre and I did So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore and it was AWESOME!

17.What was your favorite film of the year?

I loved The Help and we thought Mr. Popper’s Penguins was fun!

18.What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

Well, since I had the flu I spent my 41st birthday on the sofa and my husband brought me a fun little cupcake from a local bakery! Once I was well he took me out to a sweet lunch and we went and bought my camera so all in all it wasn’t too bad! Just a little delayed!

19.What national/world event stirred you the most?

We enjoyed watching the Royal Wedding and we’ve been a little more aware of the protests that have taken place due to the economy. It has been a rough year with so may pay cuts and job losses and people striving for a better life. Just very interesting.

20. Who was the best person you met this year?

There is a new youth intern at our church that the Lord brought at the perfect time! I have been really challenged by him and he has some wonderful ideas about how to reach our city for Christ. I am looking forward to serving along side him and others in the coming year .

I pray that the Lord blesses this coming year and that as we move into 2012 we will see His hand at work and that our lives will reflect a heart of obedience even in small ways.

HELLO WORLD!

2011-12-27T12:52:00.001-08:00

I can not believe how time flies and how busy life has had me! It really has been such a crazy time, but hopefully that is beginning to change Our church is getting ready to do something called “A Year Through the Bible” where we all read the entire Bible together! I am so excited and ready to listen and hear what God might have to say as I try to be more intentional about being still and listening!

This Christmas has been fun, and I have loved every minute of being with family and friends, but I have also worked quite a bit and that just makes it hard to get everything done and be still, too!

A few high lights of Christmas! (I wish I had pics of everything!)

* The family getting together to celebrate with “only a few gifts” only to find out that that we are getting NEW HARDWOODS FLOORS in our downstairs! I almost died!

*A fun friend celebration at one of our favorite local restaurants! We exchanged gifts and laughed so hard! I loved it!

*Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services that were just full of worship! Oh how I loved having Christmas on Sunday!

I pray that each of you have a WONDERFUL New Year! I ‘d love to slow down and blog more and just be. It’s what I am praying for!

A Good Reminder

2011-08-06T19:10:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago our girly went to spend time with my parents while I got to attend the Beth Moore Conference and hang out with my girlfriends! (I had such a great time that it needs to be a whole other blog post! FOR REAL! How amazing is our God!?!?)

Before leaving for the grandparent’s house of spoildom there were 2 weeks of WAR at my house! Little girl had decided that, at 10 years old, she knew best and that she was in charge! Oh. My. Heavenly. Days. Is ALL I’m gonna say. I had completely HAD IT and I was ready to ship her off on the next train if that was what it took for my sanity to be restored!

So.. I took her to meet my dad in a town that is almost halfway between here and there and I was ELATED to have time to myself without the talking back and smart attitude. I stopped and shopped for a bit… listened to music that I wanted to hear in the car… just felt a little freedom was a GREAT thing! I just felt like a ton had been lifted off of me and I was FREE!

Later that day the Lord did something that I knew was a reminder straight from Him! I met a lady who was so precious and sweet and just as cute as could be. We struck up a conversation about church and she started telling me of her daughter and how they’d been to church together and how she loved to praise the Lord. She talked about worship and how her daughter worshiped with great abandon and how wonderful it was!

I shared with her that I was so excited to be going to the Beth Moore Conference and that I, too, loved Jesus and MAN was I happy to have some time away from my child! Just for a weekend!!

Then she said it,

“Well, My daughter died a year and a half ago from brain cancer. She was only 21.”

As she told me some of the details of her last days and how the Lord had used her to bring others to Him I just stood there and began to cry! My attitude had been just as bad as my 10 year olds, and while it was good to have the break, I knew in my heart that something in me had shifted. I was no longer grateful for the gift that God had given me. I was aggravated and irritated with her childish ways and I was SOO focused on me!

“I’d do anything to have just a little more time with my daughter .”she said. “Sick or not… I would not care! I would just love to hug her and hear her voice again.”

God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that I am so selfish. He knows that I am so easily distracted by my own desires and that I get my eyes on myself to a fault sometimes. This lady had no idea how my attitude had been over the past couple of weeks and what a terrible time we’d had recently. She was just sharing and the Lord was just working on me… well, like taking me out behind the shed for a little “talk”!

I got in my car and cried a little more. I was just amazed that God had chosen on THAT day to let me meet such a Godly and loving lady and that her story was what I needed to get my priorities back in order.

Now, don’t get me wrong. That time away was ALSO something that God used to help me be refreshed and restored. I STILL NEEDED IT! I do not regret the time that she had with the grandparents and that I had with my husband and friends that weekend. My family had fun with my girl and it was good for everyone, but that story… that story of loss and love and gratitude and gratefulness and hurt and joy and sadness were all used to help me be reminded that every person in our lives is a gift from the Lord!! We do not have them forever and we should be so incredibly thankful for every minute that we have with them.

I just love how God works. He is more amazing to me every day. I pray that today you are loving those that He has blessed you with and that you don’t take one single minute for granted.

Lovin’ Me Some Summer Reading!

2011-07-16T12:14:00.001-07:00

At the end of the spring/beginning of summer my little girly went to spend some time with my parents. I was so excited because my man and I had planned to go on a MUCH NEEDED date night and he had said that he’d take care of the plans. As I arrived back into town he called me and said for me to meet him at an old theater here in town for a newly released movie that he was SURE I would love!

BLESS HIS BABY HEART! He has been a student of his wife for 15 years (almost!) and knew that I loved period pieces like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, etc.! I was SOO excited to drive up to the theater to see this:

The movie ad for Jane Eyre! along with a line of eager and excited WOMEN waiting in line to buy the tickets. We walked in and sure enough… there might have been 5 other men in the theater.. the rest were excited, bathroom waiting, popcorn wielding, chitter chattering women in every seat! (Well, those still waiting in line at the potty were not in their seats yet, but they were all talking about how excited they were while they were in line!)

I LOVED THE MOVIE! He scored big brownie points that night!

Well, I decided to see about reading the book and much to my surprise there is a FREE DOWNLOAD on Kindle for many classic titles! I WAS BESIDE MYSELF!

So, I am currently reading Jane Eyre and can hardly get anything done for having my Kindle plastered to my face!

Though Jane was reared without much of a family tie she became educated and independent is amazingly confident and just a tough old girl! Perhaps I’ll do a book review! Ha! What do I know about reviewing books?

Two Posts in ONE DAY!? Can it BE?

2011-07-15T12:57:00.001-07:00

Well, I just finished my monthly post and started looking at other blogs when I cam across this awesome pillow…

I’m REALLY trying to adopt the motto! Off to the gym in the morning! Again. Bleh.

Here’s A Little Of Everything!

2011-07-15T12:46:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess I lied! In my last post I said that I was going to be better about posting and here it is, almost exactly a month later, and I am just sitting down Honestly, I am good with it. I have been trying to keep one little girl kind of busy this summer and not in front of the T.V. so we’ve been on the go! Well, as on the go as you can be without vacation plans! It has been amazing to me how quickly the time has passed and we’ve been right here the whole time!

One thing that has kept me a little busy has been this Bible study.

It has been such a good time in God’s Word and the study really has dealt with some very real issues for women. It is very relationship oriented so there were many times that the ladies that participated would share that the Lord was really speaking to their friendships or family relationships in a wonderful way! I am very thankful for the time spent with the women and with the Lord as we studied 2Samuel.

God is really working in the lives of so many at our church and we are just sitting on the edge of our seats as we wait on the Lord to show us the next steps in some efforts to reach out to our community. I am so eager to see how God works and can’t wait to share things as they unfold. Just asking God to work and then hanging on has been the most awesome sense of excitement for us lately!

To keep the little girly busy we’ve been doing SCHOOL! She loves to read and she found out last year that she loves science so we have been talking about the life cycle of a plant and habitats! She has loved it all!! Trying to keep her from falling too far behind in the areas of math and reading are really important because we DO NOT need to lose ground! She has enough struggles without us going backwards so we have also continued to go to speech and to do occupational therapy during the summer. If we are going to be here we might as well make the most of it!!

With the funds being a little tight we’ve tried to get creative so that our family can have a little fun, too! Last weekend our friends kept little girly so that we could go on a date. I packed a picnic basket and called my hubby. I asked him to meet me at our first date spot where we sat under an overhang in the rain (very romantic!) and had a sweet little picnic together! MAN DID WE NEED THAT!? Sometimes we just let life keep us busy and we don’t slow down to spend time together. I was so thankful that the Lord provided a sweet time for the two of us and friends to keep the kid! He is so faithful!

A Recap in Numbers

2011-06-13T20:19:00.001-07:00

Blawgin’ Friends! How I’ve missed you!!!! Man, life got CRAZY busy and I”ve hardly sat at the computer long enough to check e-mails! (I don’t have a smart phone so we do things the old fashioned way around here!) I did check my friend’s blog one day and she had done a recap in numbers, which I thought was very efficient and creative, so I’m gonna do the same!

72 is the number of children that participated in my first ever pre-school and day care graduation! The theme was “All Aboard with Jesus” and we had real train signs on stage:

The kids were super cute in their railroad hats and bandanas and my very own daddy came and played the banjo while the kids sang. A great time was had by kids, teachers and parents and this was ONE happy Pre-school music teacher when it was all over!!

10! is the number of years that we celebrated that very same weekend as our little girl rolled into the double digits! Well, she’s not so little anymore, but I suppose she will always be little to me.

Everything was pink and yellow (right down to the bathing suit!) for her swim party! She had a few friends from church and school and family that came! She had a ball!

968 is the number of calories that I have burned since starting a new nutrition and fitness logging system on www.sparkpeople.com. and ZERO is the amount that I have paid for it!! The pounds are not just falling off, but I do feel so much better and my clothes are feeling better so I am not giving up!! I have lost a few pounds and have a long way to go, but I am LEARNING and that is almost as valuable!!

2 is the number of projects that I have completed since I wrote about my shopping spree with my sweet sister-in-law. I like how the silver platters look with a painting that my brother did above my kitchen cabinets.

And I really like how this table turned out once I added a few touches…

One is the number of girls who finished 2nd grade in my house. It is the number of kids that I am proud to say has grown so much this year. She is doing math and reading and she loves God’s Word.

There are still struggles and some things that we plan to explore this summer to help us better understand her needs. She is learning that life is hers for the living and that sometimes real friends are hard to come by, but when you find them you cherish them.

And One is the Jesus that still amazes me everyday of my life. I do not know how I’d make it through life’s journey without Him and His Word reminding me of His love for me everyday.

Oh, I hope not to stay away so long next time! Summer is here and we really don’t have major travel plans, but maybe things will slow down enough for me to blawg and catch up on some of you!

Coming of Age

2011-05-16T12:23:00.001-07:00

I have a friend who has 2 daughters. When they both turned 12 or 13 they started doing ALL of their own laundry! She told me that she even very rarely moves laundry from the washer to the dryer for them, but reminds them that if they want something specific to wear, etc. then it is THEIR job to get it done!

I guess I have a few questions about this whole chores, allowance, and what all people do with their kids! I know it has a lot to do with how we are raised and how our parents taught us,,. I mean, I can hear it now… “I HAD TO CLEAN THE BATHROOMS EVERY SATURDAY AND YOU WILL TOO!”

But how do you decide when and which chores? Do you do an allowance? How do you decide what to give and how often?

At our house our 9 (almost 10 year old) makes her bed, puts her dirty clothes in her laundry basket, helps clean off the kitchen table and picks up her things to put them away. She does most of these everyday and I do not give her an allowance. I feel like she needs to learn to be responsible for her things and that her help is more or less what our family does together. (i.e. having our meal and cleaning up)

This past weekend we worked in the yard. The poor kid tried EVERY friend within a mile radius to see if they could play. No one was home. (Poor little lip hung down so low! So disappointed!) Her dad and I gave her some chores to do so that she could participate with us and not just be sitting in the house watching cartoons all day.

When it was all said and done she helped me rinse off some pavers, dragged bags of tree clippings from the back to the front yard and helped “wash” the house. (Well, she had some water and a brush. Not sure how much washing was actually taking place!)

After we finished we were exhausted and my husband decided to run to Chic-fil-a to get our supper, and as a reward, he bought her an ice cream.

SO! My question is… how you do handle such things? Saturday’s yard work was above and beyond what we normally ask of her. Would you have given her an allowance, or was the ice cream “reward” enough?

Growing up we never really got an allowance on a regular basis. I do not really know how people keep up with what kids earn and how they earn it. And in our situation,the grandparents are usually really good about giving little monetary gifts at report card time, holidays and birthdays so she has extra spending money. She is usually not hurting for funds… if you catch my drift!

My husband and I are not at odds over this or anything… as a matter of fact we have not discussed it much. I just wondered how other folk live! Can you help a sista out??

Might As Well Blawg!

2011-05-14T09:02:00.001-07:00

Well, it’s raining. I am happy about it because our ~~weeds~~ yard needs the rain, but my plan WAS to work on said ~~weeds~~ yard and hopefully help it out a little. Oh well! Maybe later… what else could I do? OH! I know! Let’s write a blawg entry! Never mind the laundry, dusting and 457,890,321 other things I need to be doing! I HAVE PRIORITIES!!

So last week was Mother’s Day and with family out of town it is always a trick to figure out who we will see and when. Because of the whole “ON THE DAY” thing in my family it can sometimes get tricky! We figured it out, none the less, and here are a few family shots!

Note how not ONE mother had her picture taken and who is the random person in red up there? Anyway, a fun time was had by all and it may just have been the best Mother’s Day EVER!

The main reason for such greatness was that we kept it simple. We had a cookout with my sweet man’s family and the kids just played and played. We met my family for lunch after church and just hung out a little.

For Mother’s Day my husband agreed to help get the nasty shutters off of the house…(note the random shades of fadedness that once graced the front of the Guinn Inn! Oh, so lovely.. and classy, too!)

… and we bought new ones! I AM SO EXCITEDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!! We are using black instead of green (or whatever that lovely color is!) and louvered instead of flat shutters! I can’t wait to get everything cleaned and the new ones up!

Before we throw the old ones out I just may snag a few faded ones, group them together and hang them as a shabby backdrop on our deck! My husband is asking,”How come they were TERRIBLE on the front of the house but suddenly artwork on the back!?!?” Hee hee! Let’s see what happens!

I also went on a little shopping trip with my sister-in-law last week and found some good finds!

We hit the Habitat for Humanity store where I scored these silver Oneida trays:

The big one was $6 and the small one was $4!! My SIL gave me the one lying down to help balance out the tray number … I LOVE THEM.. now, where to put them?? I have a few ideas!

I also found this beige candlestick that has the colors of my house painted on it and it is really shabby… My SIL had the brown one so I am going to work on a place for those too!

THEN.. I needed tables and my SIL wanted to get rid of some so…

I am trying this one out in my den!

And this one needs some TLC, but it will go on my porch!

I am eager to get some plants and maybe an outdoor rug to bring the look together! It’s all looking a little bland right now, but after I finish blawgin’ (remember! priorities!) I am going to get to work! Once things are together… ok, once I change things because I NEVER feel like I am completely done, I will show you and see what you think! I’d love your help!

It looks like the rain may have stopped. Guess I need to get busy! You have a good weekend!

The Ugly Truth

2011-05-10T08:24:00.001-07:00

In the last post I shared about how God is really beginning a work m me that I’ve never experienced before. I am NOT KIDDING when I say… LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

The title of this old blawg is “Higher Call” and so many times I have been tempted to change it to something more whimsical and cute. Here’s the thing… while God gives US the ability to be whimsical and cute… and I am so glad HE DOES! I am pretty sure that HE is not all whimsical and cute.. if you catch my drift. I mean… the UGLY truth is that He is down to some serious business in this sin-filled world! I love that He is AMAZINGLY creative and has a sense of humor… BOY does HE!? But at the same time there are some hurting and lost people out there that He is desperately trying to reach.

Just in the past few weeks in my own experience with people I have spoken with several teenaged unwed mothers, a woman whose husband has abused her for years and is living in an EXTREMELY difficult situation and a girl who is addicted to drugs. There have been life threatening situations where families have cried out to the Father in anguish for Him to intervene. I am talking LIFE ALTERING and deeply disturbing situations that are just plain NOT PRETTY! And those are just the people that I have talked to!! Imagine how many lives there are that are just hopeless and hurting due to sin and bad choices and illness and addiction and crime and shame and guilt and just plain hurt! It is really TOO much for any of us to handle and yet… if we are followers of Christ we are called to GO! Make disciples and be obedient! But how!?!? It’s too big!

I started asking God WHY!? Why would He bring these people into my life? I have NEVER been where they are and I do not know how to minister to them. I can pray. I can listen. I can give them scripture. That’s it! I, personally, have NOTHING for them.

His answer? “Exactly!”

HUH!? Oh, I was so confused. Until it hit me like a ton of bricks falling from a 40 story building!

ALL I HAVE IS HIM TO GIVE THEM AND THAT IS ALL THEY NEED!!!!!!!!

OHHHHHHHHHHH!

The ugly truth is that there IS a Higher Call on my life and I have been too afraid to step out there and see what it was until now. The ugly part is my fear of stepping out, by the way, and not His call.

Ok, so here’s the cool part. I am sensing that because I am whimsical and like fun things and enjoy being with people that He is going to allow me (THIS IS SOO COOL and SOOO GOD!) to use what I have (and it ain’t much, trust me) to use it in the lives of these people. How!?! Well, that’s the part He hasn’t shared with me yet, but I sense that His plan is unfolding.

You know… this little girl?

Well, she’s mine. And I am telling you that the growth that is taking place in her right now is blowing me away, BUT there was a time that I was completely overwhelmed by her delays. She has some struggles that I have shared about in the past and let me tell you… Time spent on our knees has been vital!!

But we weren’t the only ones praying. God put faithful friends who love Him into our lives who committed to believe and pray for us. He has put family into our lives that have supported us and loved us through every step of the road that we’ve taken. He has provided health care and therapy workers (who love Him!) that came up with plans to help us with her. I mean GOD provided!!

It is still a battle, but it’s getting a little easier. He is at work and He is growing her like we asked Him to! He answers! He hears!! So… that is what I am suppose to give back! That is His plan!! Give the hope and love and support that I have come to know.

Ok, this is plenty long. If you are still reading by now.. God bless your baby heart! I guess I am just really excited and can’t wait to see the rest of the plan unfold.

What about YOU!?! How is God at work!?!

It is Not by Sword or Spear

2011-05-05T16:46:00.001-07:00

It’s time to be very honest.

God is working in me anew. It is something to celebrate. It is something to stand in awe of. It is something that I long for with my whole being. I want to be a woman after God’s own heart! I want to honor Him.

I am seeing that, though I asked Jesus into my heart at 10 years old, I have more to learn about being a Christ follower than I can wrap my bleach blonde head around. I have so much to learn about love… sacrifice… honesty. I have so much to learn about truth and laying down my own agenda for the wonderful plans that He has. I want to be obedient and eager to learn from His very alive and active Word! I want to dwell in His tabernacle and know His voice so that I do not miss a word when He speaks.

So much of my walk has been about me. As I look back through my life I see that I have been extremely self-centered and have come to God on MY terms more times than I’d like to admit. Slowly He is chipping away at me and helping me to see that my best laid plans are so trivial and worthless. Only HIS ways have lasting impact and are God honoring. It is hard to admit, but now that I am beginning to see how others might view those of us who claim to be Christians, I have definitely been a hypocrite… pretending to have things ALL figured out and acting as if I am some super Christian.. oh! Just thinking about it makes me sick. Let’s just say that a humbling process is taking place through the people that He is bringing into my life. They are showing me what REAL life is about and how only HIS grace is sufficient. I have NO answers and can NOT be prideful as if I have all the answers. I CLEARLY and PLAINLY do not!!

Several months ago my daughter was riding in the backseat of the car looking through my well worn and written in Bible. She said, “Wow! Mom! Look at this!” She kept turning and came to some places without writing. She said, “Umm, mom? Why is it that some pages have writing and some don’t?” I said, “Well, I have taken notes where I have heard a sermon or done a Bible study or written a prayer for you!” She quickly replied, “Well, these pages with NO writing? I guess you have to study those! You need to get busy!”

Oh, how right she is!

I realized that I have never done a real in depth study of David’s life- the VERY man that had a heart after God’s own heart. Yes, I grew up in Sunday school so I have read about David and Goliath, Bathsheeba and Jonathan, his friend, but I have never really studied the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel. The opportunity recently presented itself at our church and so I dove in! Wow! I am already being challenged to look at myself differently and see the Lord as The God of Kings! I pray that I have a true heart transplant over the next several weeks! I pray that God will do a work in me like He has never, ever done and that my walk with Him becomes more about Him than me.

This old girl is not ashamed to admit that there is a new spot inside my heart that I have never sensed before. It’s an open spot that is ready to be filled with God’s agenda. I am protecting this spot. It can not be filled with anything that is of me. I want it to be filled to over flowing so that it consumes my ENTIRE heart with EXACTLY what God wants for me. I can not wait to see what He reveals!

NEW From BETH MOORE - DAVID Bible Study from LifeWay Women on Vimeo.

Easter 2011

2011-05-03T07:49:00.001-07:00

Well, I am pretty late with my Happy Easter wishes, but here’s the good news! JESUS IS STILL ALIVE! On the way to church this past Sunday our little girly asked us,”So Jesus was alive LAST week at Easter! Is He STILL alive THIS week!?” Oh, PRAISE HIM! Yes! He is alive and at work even today!

We had a whirlwind of an Easter and Spring Break traveling to see family all over the south east! It was a lot of fun, but very tiring, as we shopped with Mimi, made birthday cakes, ate dinner out and played in South Carolina!

The OH SO YUMMY Key Lime Pound Cake!

We made a quick trip back to North Carolina, repacked and joined up with my husband’s parents to make the 6 hour trip to Alabama for a wedding and Easter!

First the wedding…

…

Everything was so pretty and we enjoyed seeing my husband’s cousin tie the knot!

I never got a good shot of the bride and groom but here they come in their red convertible!

Such a beautiful day and my girl was loving time with her Paw Paw and daddy!

My sweet little niece loved the flowers at the reception which was held in a floral shop!

Our cousin’s little girl was a flower girl and look at how precious she was!

The next day was Easter and we were so excited to attend The Church at Brook Hills there in Alabama. It is a wonderful church pastored by Dr. David Platt. It was such an honor to celebrate our Savior with brothers and sisters in Christ that we’ve never even met! We saw wonderful baptisms and heard wonderful testimonies of the changing power of our Lord and Savior. It was just a wonderful day of worship!

After church we needed to head home, but knew that we’d better spend a few minutes with family since we don’t get to see them very often. My husband’s aunt had a brunch for all of us… and an EGG HUNT!

Girlfriend found the first one and instead of continuing to look… it was ALL about the candy!

Our niece and cousins were hard at work with all of their treasures too!

We finally made the long trek back to North Carolina! It was such a fun time catching up with family and spending time worshipping our Lord and Savior! We loved every minute of it!

We pray that you had a blessed Easter as well!

Events Unite!

2011-04-15T15:58:00.001-07:00

Why is it that it seems to be all kinds of quiet for months and THEN EVERYBODY I KNOW gets together to plan major events in their lives?? AND they invite me to come! AND I want to go!!

1)It is spring break. YAY! THANK YOU JESUS! PRAISE THE LORD! HALLELUJAH THINE THE GLORY! I am a little happy.

2)At the end of spring break is Easter and I love Easter. I love time with both families and going to church and just celebrating our Savior’s death and resurrection. It is just a special time and my parents get really excited because we try to see them and my husband’s family in the same weekend.

3) At the end of spring break is ALSO my mama’s birthday. Now, you need to understand. This woman is ALL about seeing you “ON THE DAY.” That’s what she calls it. “I need to see you ON THE DAY.” Meaning that if your birthday is on Wednesday and you happen to live 2 hours from her she will take the day off of work and make a little 2 hour journey just so she can hug your neck and give you all manner of gifts. Could she wait until the weekend. Welllllll.. she COULD, but it would not be without much angst.

You can imagine what it means for US not to see HER on “THE DAY” when it’s her “DAY.” You with me?

4) About a month ago we got a beautifully addressed (in wonderful calligraphy) envelope in the mail. It was from my husband’s cousin who we NEVER see. He lives in Alabama and we… don’t. We live 6 hours from Alabama.

HE’S GETTING MARRIED! YAY! He’s getting married!

Me- Really!? WHEN?

My husband- Easter weekend!

Me- Easter weekend?

(sigh)

My husband- Yes! And we are going, right? I mean he came to our wedding and supported us! It’s only right that we go and support him!

Me- Uummmm… yeah. It’s Easter AND mom’s birthday. Wonder how THAT’S gonna fly?

5)I called mom. I had to make a deal. WHAT IF… we went to see THEM for most of spring break and celebrated her birthday while we were there, came home (the day before THE DAY mind you) in time to get things ready to leave the next day and drive 6 hours?!? By cracky! It just might work!

Fortunately we worked it all out, but it was a little hairy there for a second. I would be so great if all of these people would check with each other before they scheduled life changing (or altering according to my mom) events!

WHEN? Would Someone Shed Some Light?

2011-04-14T17:12:00.001-07:00

When you begin to try really hard to eat right and work out every other day WHEN does the fat start to go away? Anyone?

Oh, I guess it takes longer than 2 weeks and I guess after you work out, get sore, work THAT out, go back and get more exercise of some sort, try to eat right and THEN eat cookies, drink sweet tea, and have a crescent roll with butter on it (that was heavenly!) it kind of cancels it all out so you are right back where you started.

Am I right? Was that the longest sentence ever?

I don’t need to get rid of 5lbs. either. I need to get rid of like 50! It is so easy to get discouraged when you’ve TRIED so HARD! Yeah. Whatever.

I really am trying to… TRY. I guess my clothes have felt a little smidge better than they did before I started this rigorous exercise and diet plan.

Ok, honestly here’s what I’ve done. I have tried to eat better. Like oatmeal for breakfast (filling and I like it) something other than a sandwich (bread) and no chips, etc. for lunch and then something sensible for dinner. And I’ve tried to drink more water. My problem is that by dinner time I am ready to eat MY HOUSE so I tend to clean my plate AND want dessert! Not that I am eating junk for dinner, but I want ALL that’s coming to me! Not really controlling my portions all the time.

I have also been trying to work out at least 3 times a week. I have done a toning class, been to the weight room where I ran/walked on the treadmill or elliptical and lifted weights and I have tried to run/walk outside.

The motivation for all of this?

Yes, the dreaded photo! This is just one of several that have been taken of me recently. My friend took this at a shower and when I saw it all I saw were my 2 chins (among my other 2 things!) and thought HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!?! Something MUST be done!

Now, do not get me wrong. I am not down on myself. I am not super confident in my looks, but I am not lying on the sofa in a state of depression either. I am just tired of being the one that you’d describe to your husband, who has never met me, as “You know… she’s a little chubby and has curly hair (with bad roots! She could use a color job!)??”

The other thing? I am 41 and I have a 9 year old. I am not the youngest mom on the block and I have a ways to go to help this kid grow into who she needs to be. I do not want my health to start declining before it has to because I could not control how many brownies I ate! Sometimes when you have outside motivation it helps you try harder and stick to it.

ANYWAY! The journey has begun. I have not done as good today as I have in days previous. I didn’t exercise, I woke up late so I didn’t pack my lunch for work and I didn’t drink as much water. The good news!? Tomorrow is a NEW DAY! I can wake up ready to go and keep truckin’ one day at a time!

Anyone else on the same train? What are you doing that has helped?

Ho Hum or Hallelujah!?

2011-04-12T14:41:00.001-07:00

You ever have one of those days when you aren’t sad, but you aren’t especially yourself either? That is me today.

I have had the entire day to myself. The Lord woke me up SUPER early (like 5:30! Hello! I didn’t know that was on the clock!) and I had a sweet time of reading His Word and praying.

Then little girlfriend wanted to be a little PILL this morning so that caused a little ripple, but we survived. She is usually fond of mornings, but only if she can do what SHE wants to do. You know..play with the cat, watch cartoons, read a book of her choosing, lay around and ask a million questions while we try to get ourselves ready for the day (THIS drives me INSANE! DO NOT TALK TO ME IN THE MORNING! Please.). Anyway, we made it so that was fine.

Usually when I drop her off at school I am on GO! Clean the house, grocery shop, do laundry, run errands, make appointments, take the car to be serviced… it’s always something. I have 2 days off so I usually try to make the most of my time alone, but there’s usually one thing that is missing… Even though I am alone I am not usually listening to the Lord. I am usually crowding Him out with all that I need to do and thinking about what’s next and moving to the next thing.

Today.. I wasn’t feelin’ it. The busy part I mean… I wasn’t on GO! It was like God was speaking to my spirit and telling me that He woke me up for a reason and He wanted me to listen today.

I moseyed myself back home after dropping girlfriend and her attitude at school. I came in the house and sat back down with my Bible for a little while. I did a load of laundry then sat back down… came to check e-mails and talked to a friend. I’ve done other things, but nothing like my usual break neck speed to get things done. My in-laws even got girly from school for me so I have had extended time alone.

I don’t really feel like I have accomplished a lot, but I do feel like I have had some sweet fellowship with the Lord today. I have been quiet. I have prayed for some friends who are going through some very difficult times. I have journaled. I have listened. No T.V. or radio. Just me and God.

Do you ever have days like that? Do you feel that it is time wasted and regret not cleaning that toilet or doing that list of things that are looming or do you find rest in that day and find it a gift from God? I am trying to find it as the latter.

In this world that is so fast and so full of constant communication and drive it is sometimes hard to find quiet days as productive days. But God’s Word tells us to “Come, all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28. I mentioned some friends who are going through difficult times, and it has burdened my heart so much that I’ve hardly thought of anything else. This time of prayer has been so good for me (and I pray they have felt it) as I have come to ask God to take it and work!

I also know that Gods’ Word says in Proverbs 31:27 that the Proverbs 31 woman “Watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” I do not want to get into the habit of so enjoying these days that I don’t do what is necessary to help my home be what it needs to be for my family.

Oh, I don’t know. I was just wondering if those quiet days for you are just HO HUM! Or if they are HALLELUJAH!?

Here’s to Some People I Love!

2011-04-11T09:36:00.001-07:00

We interrupt this laundry doin’, sheet changin’, bathroom cleanin’ day to think about something a little more pleasant than a dirty house!

Yesterday my parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary! YAY! I am so proud and happy for them!

I love that my dad plays the banjo and sings. I love that he cares about people and he never meets a stranger. I love that he’s never afraid to take a stand for what is right and I love that he loves Jesus! I love that he tears up when he walks into a sanctuary just because he can sense the presence of the Lord. I love that he can sing barbershop and that he knows so much about everything! I love that he’s creative and that he can build things with his hands.

I love that my mom is funny and fun and she’s stylish. She likes to dress up and look good and be girly! I love that she doesn’t think that anyone is better than anyone else, but that we are all the same so we need to respect that. I love that she loves to shop and that she wants the best for us all. I love that she prays for us and that she is always trying to help when there’s a need. I love that she is happy and that she doesn’t really ever complain. She’s just glad to be here and is ready to encourage us at anytime! I love that she’s pretty and that she has a good heart. I love that she loves Jesus!

Yesterday they went on a date to celebrate. I love that.

They went to a nice restaurant and while they were there mom gave dad a new wedding band. He lost his and mom wanted him to have one so she worked overtime to get it for him. Is that not the sweetest thing ever?

They went to a movie and they always hold hands. Dad’s legs are not good and mom helps him all she can.

Through out my life they have not been perfect parents. There have been times that we have been at odds with each other and they have certainly had their times that have not been easy, I am eternally grateful that they have stayed together and set the example for me and my family.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD! I could not be more proud of you and the legacy that you are building for our family! Thank you for always being there and for never giving up on each other! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

A Smathering of Randomness

2011-04-08T12:32:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I want to write an entry just to write an entry. It’s not that really anything exciting is going on, but LOTS of things are happening and sometimes I just don’t feel like I can share.. which keeps me from writing entries. Ya know? Are you VERY corn-fused now?

SO! Today is going to be just all over the place. Hang with me? Thanks.

Here’s what I mean about the “don’t feel like you can share” thing.. You ever go through times where you just feel like God is speaking (like STANDING ON YOUR FACE speaking so you know it’s STRAIGHT from Him?) but you can’t really tell anyone what He’s saying yet? That’s where I am this week. God is at work and He is bringing a new challenge my way, but it’s not time to say it out loud. If you know me… that’s HARD! I am a blabber mouth. Anyway, when God gives me the go ahead I am going to shout it from the roof tops, but right now it has to stay between me and Him. Lots of things that He needs to make clear before I can even understand it myself so I am WAITING. Be quiet and wait.. yeah, NEITHER are my strongest qualities. Guess He’s working in more ways that one! Ya think?

Don’t you LOVE God? He is so amazingly personal and keeps us on our toes. Whoever said that being a follower of Christ was boring must be stuck in a hole somewhere. It’s the biggest adventure of my life and I am FULLY aware that I am completely not equipped to do what He asks of me!! I have to be on my face everyday because… REALLY GOD?

This has been busy few weeks with a fun and sweet wedding to attend, a sweet shower for my friend’s niece and then family came into town for a night. All of that on top of normal school, work and church responsibilities PLUS a day of Occupational Therapy for my little girlfriend, and a night meeting at church thrown in makes for an exhausted Friday. That makes me tired just reading it. I am so happy to be at home tonight and just have tacos. You know.. it’s the simple things, isn’t it?

I am really excited that our little girly girlfriend is growing so much. Everyone that works with her has commented on the progress that they are seeing. Occupational Therapy, Speech, Regular Ed. and Special Ed. folks have all said that they are very encouraged by the maturity and growth that they are seeing and that makes this mama of a kid with some special needs smile from ear to ear!! Another thing that has helped me gain some real perspective? I visited a school that is just for severe and profoundly handicapped children. THAT, my friend, will make you say, “Yes, my kid struggles with some stuff, but she can sit up and swallow and eat solid food and walk and talk and not wear a diaper… all at 9 years old.” Oh, my heart just went out to those parents as I thought about what we deal with on a daily basis and how it does NOT compare to what they must deal with.

Again, God at work …on my self-centered self. Just a little reminder that He’s in control is all.

Well, I hope YOU are doing well! Hopefully the next entry will be full of news that I can share!

Cheap AND Cute? I’ll Take It!

2011-04-05T17:37:00.001-07:00

A few weekends ago my family met me in a small town that is almost halfway between where we live and they live. We do that sometimes after church just to get to spend a little time together.

They have a great shopping area and we went to Pier One and shopped around a little. I found the cutest salt and pepper shakers!

Are they NOT adorable? AND… here’s the best part.. they were $3 and they were not even on sale! FOR THE SET! You better believe I snatched those little cuties up in a second!

They go perfect with my décor and I can leave them out all the time! LOVE THEM!

It’s a little sad when you get so excited about salt and pepper shakers, isn’t it?

Disciple Now 2011

2011-03-28T10:38:00.001-07:00

We just had such an amazing weekend with some really mature and wonderful kids! I am always excited when Disciple Now Weekend comes because we get to hang out with kids who are seeking the Lord! Oh, how I wish I were so mature and focused on God when I was their age!

We hosted 11th and 12th grade girls at our house this year and MAN did we get a great group!?! I am always a little on guard about who will be grouped together and how the dynamics will work.. you know how kids can be! This year the girls were all very eager to share and include one another. It was really awesome!

My husband had to work some so I did not get to attend the worship services and hear all of the amazing speakers, etc, since I had to be home with little girlfriend. The kids said that it was awesome and the theme was “Reverse”. I heard and saw things about dying to self and taking up your cross to live for Christ. It definitely hit home with the girls and God’s Word is always able to make us think about how we live… no matter WHO we are or how old we might be… uh humm. Let’s just say you didn’t have to attend the services to get the point!!

I did get to spend some time with the girls at lunch on Saturday and after lunch we did a service project for the unwed mother’s home.

I mentioned in an earlier post about how our Sunday school class has been taking meals to unwed teen mothers, and we have desperately tried to get God’s Word into their hands. We can’t always afford to buy Bibles for the girls as there is a high turnover rate, but we don’t want cost to stop us. We started making scripture cards to give to the girls so that they could hear God’s promises and have hope! The cards are great, but they are labor intensive so we got the girls to each write 12 scripture cards a piece… one for each month.. and we put them together in little groups to take to the girls…

It was so awesome to hear the girls saying the scriptures out loud and finding new scriptures that might minister to the teens who are not SO different from themselves.

Afterwards we had a sweet time of prayer where the girls prayed that the cards might mean something so powerful and life changing to the ones that receive it. It was neat to see their determination to make the cards special and to be willing to pray for people that they don’t know.

Afterwards the girls had a devotional time and then dinner where we talked about setting a table. I got out the good china and glasses and our little spaghetti dinner became a fun time of talking and dreaming about their own homes one day. I was so busy that I forgot to take pictures, but it was a fun time!

After it was all said and done we were tired, but who CARES? Time spent with great kids and God’s Word and laughter and growth and encouragement?!? We’d take that any day! Heck.. we can take a nap later! It was a terrific time of growing in the Lord and in friendships!

The (Not So) Easy Bake Oven

2011-03-26T18:37:00.001-07:00

See this?

See the words on the front? “Easy Bake”. Yeah.

I remember having said “easy bake” when I was a kid, and so I thought it would be a fun gift for the little chicky!

We got it out of the box.. and immediately had a curious visitor…

Then we emptied the brownie mix into a little bowl and little miss did the stirring….

It was rumored that someone licked the spoon, but was stricken down by adamant denial… YOU be the judge.

“Did you lick the spoon and put it back into the batter?”

“No!”

“Oh, really!? Can I take a picture?”

“MOM! I DIDN’T eat it!”

I think we need a few more lessons in stretching the truth.. don’t you?

Then we poured the batter into the little baking tin and we pushed it into the “oven” (a.k.a. light bulb holder that is suppose to cook food) and we WAITED, and WAITED and WAITED. The instructions say to cook for 8 minutes.. Well, that ain’t the case sister!

Girlfriend got so tired of waiting that she went and read a book and GUESS who was stuck waiting for the stuff to cook only to tell her that she could not eat her creation because it was WAY too hot! Let’s just say… “Easy Bake” might need a new name!

No Prayer Ever Wasted Here!

2011-03-21T07:10:00.001-07:00

Hey Blawgin’ Friends!

I hope everyone is doing well on this second day of spring! (By “everyone” I mean all 5 of you that read this little chicken scratch on my side of this big world!) What a fun outlet though!! I can share my few adventures in life and ask you to pray for me and show you my attempts at decorating and tell you about my little girlfriend and ask you to pray for me! You are going to be sick to death of me asking for prayer, but I so need it! SO, a big thanks to all 5 of you for stopping by!

Lately, the Lord is putting more and more women in my path that humble me by their pursuit and walk with the Father. I am just blown away by the hunger for His Word and as I see Him work in lives of those who once suffered from amazing hardships like addiction, homelessness and abuse. To see their transformations just reaffirms in me that God is at work like never before and that His church is growing closer and closer to Him. What a challenge to me to be on my face and to have a moldable heart so that He might change me in some radical and wonderful way!

My heart has also been so saddened lately by women who are struggling. Some struggle in their marriages because of so many past hurts that the Lord has never been allowed to heal. Others are hurting because of present hurts and situations that they feel are just out of their control. I just want to say, “OK! THIS is how it’s done! You gotta lay that thing down!” While it’s true that we have to lay it down, the Lord just keeps shutting my mouth (He’s so wise!) and telling me to pray. It’s all we can do! It has to be about their walk with God and how He’s going to work to bring Himself glory through their situations! There is a reason that I have TWO ears and ONE mouth! Listen more, talk less, listen more, talk less… it’s on a continuous repeat reel in my little head lately.

Our Lord is so faithful to hear our hearts and know our needs. Everyday on the way to school my little girly and I pray. We have been hit by the economic situation in our home just like everyone else. My husband is a structural engineer and there have just been NO buildings to design. Everyday my daughter and I pray, “Lord, bring more work to daddy’s company and help us to remember to thank you when you answer this prayer!’ Well, NO PRAYER IS EVER WASTED! Lately daddy has been at work late and on Saturdays just trying to keep up with the many small projects that are coming in!! It doesn’t matter to us! We will take ONE BIG project or a lot of small ones! The work has been steady enough for the company to call back some of the employees that were once laid off!! AMEN! How awesome to be able to show our girl that God DOES hear and He DOES answer when we pray! Oh, I pray that she will become a woman of prayer!

It is so true that no prayer is ever wasted should the Lord ever bring me, your neighbor, your sister, your mom or your boss to your mind. He is always here and He's always listening!! You can also rest assured that if you leave me a comment and ask me to pray that I will certainly pray for you! What a privilege to go before the throne of Almighty God and know that He hears our prayers for one another! Every once in a while I just pray for the sisters in Christ of this old blawgin’ community to reach those who might not know our Savior through this medium! How amazing would it be for the Lord to reach someone for Him through Blawg’ville?? I’d just love to pray for you more specifically and watch as the Father works!

Jesus deserves nothing less than our hearts to be sold out to Him! He died so that we might have life and have it more abundantly! I know that that abundance is not going to come through anything that I can produce or provide. He lived to love us and died to save us so that we might be in full relationship with Him. His challenge to me has been to talk less, listen more (to Him and others) and to PRAY! How can I pray for you my sweet sisters?

A Little Change

2011-03-13T14:21:00.001-07:00

It sure is starting to feel like spring! I am ready for a change! It seems like we have been sick and yucky for a LONG time. So.. in the spirit of change I thought I’d make a little spring change to the ol’ blawg! Just a background change can make a huge difference! It’s a little busy, but so am I so it works for me! You like?

Today I had a fun time serving in the special needs class at our church. I love to see these kids get excited about singing and they do a great job of just loving on us! Such a blessing!

Then we had a fun lunch with some new (and old) friends and I took my camera along. I didn’t get permission to share their pics online so I can’t share those, but I can share other things that were fun to photograph!

How about my little hair model??

HA! The wind was blowing and she turned around to look at me so I took it. So funny!

We also saw some beautiful swans…

And I thought this picture turned out really cute!

I am looking forward to a good week! God reminded us this morning that our lives and situations can either look bleak or full of hope depending on our perspective. If we see that any difficult issues that we face is for the honor of Christ and our ability to grow in our relationships with Him then, though it’s not easy, we can choose to rejoice! I am planning on rejoicing this week! How about you?

The Power of a Picture

2011-03-08T11:10:00.001-08:00

Have you ever doubted that God can use you where you are? Maybe you feel like your gifts and talents don’t really fit into what ministry might look like.

Last night our Sunday school women, and a few friends, went to an unwed mother’s home to serve dinner. I always look forward to our time with these women and count it a privilege to get to serve along side the girls in our class. When we are put in situations where God asks us to step outside of ourselves and serve you begin to see all kinds of talents and gifts come out!

In the past it seemed that every month was a real struggle for us to “break through the walls” that the women put up each time they walked through the kitchen doors. It was very obvious that there was an “US vs. THEM” mentality. The girls of our class were really bothered by the fact that we seemed to only feed the girls when we knew that we were there for a much bigger purpose. Yes, meeting a physical need is important and what God calls us to, but what about their souls? How would we ever reach them if no one ever spoke?

We started putting note cards on the tables and asked the girls to please leave us a prayer request so that we could pray for them once we left. It helped. The girls started asking us to pray for their situations and we began to learn things that helped us better know how to reach them. But we were not satisfied. We wanted more.

We decided that every other month we would do a craft. We have done scrapbooking, picture frames, clipboards, and other crafts that have allowed us to sit down next to these girls and just talk. We also found that if we could get them to bring pictures to incorporate into the crafts that they would share a little about their situations and we could offer some words of encouragement straight from God’s Word.

The hard part? Some of them have come straight from the streets into this home for pregnant women. They have nothing. We would ask, “Do you have a picture that we could use for your frame?” and usually they’d go to their rooms only to return with an ultrasound picture.

This is the cool part… God began to work in the heart of one of the women in our class. She is a photographer with a local agency that does school pictures and other things for their agency. She began to think that if we took their pictures and allowed them to have them at no charge then maybe they would begin to see their self worth.

She showed up last night with equipment in hand. We prepared the girls a yummy spaghetti dinner and then it happened… they started showing up in the dining room. Several of them had had their hair done, they had their makeup on, they were wearing their best clothes and they were so excited!! They had looked forward to this night for a while and they were so ready to have their pictures made. Some of them already have children and they had worked to dress their little ones in their best so that they could have a family shot done.

There was laughter. There were smiles. There were friends having pictures made with friends. Our class was standing in the middle of these young girls and experiencing something that we’d never experienced in this place… JOY!!

I believe that we sometimes get an idea in our minds about what ministry might look like. We think that we can’t teach or we can’t sing (and we don’t want to take care of kids in the nursery!) so we must not be able to serve. We’ve never written a book or stood before thousands to deliver a life changing speech, but what about what we DO have? We do things in our lives everyday that make us unique. We are nurses, teachers, decorators, office assistants, and architects. We are able to help make a space more beautiful, build a new space or help someone feel better. God does not call us all to be teachers or speakers or singers! He calls us to be obedient and to use what we DO have to honor Him.

I loved just standing there and watching. I watched the young moms talk to our class members like they were friends. I loved seeing the girls smile and realize that they are beautiful. Yes, they are in a hard spot in their lives, but our prayer is that one night of smiles helped them to see that they are beautiful in God’s sight and that He has a plan for them.

What A Mighty God We Serve!

2011-03-07T06:48:00.001-08:00

Hello sweet blawg-ville friends!

I just HAD to use this entry to Praise our MIGHTY and AMAZING Heavenly Father for what He is doing in the life of my family!

This past weekend my mom and I attended a brunch at their church. Now, this may not sound like a big deal to most, but lately my mom has not been very involved in church. Not that she never goes, she does go. But to do something extra.. something that she had to plan for and something that SHE initiated and invited me to attend… well, THAT , my friends is a BIG OL’ FAT DEAL! God was so faithful and spoke so wonderfully to our hearts about prayer and, well, let’s just say that we needed it. I am praying that He will recapture her heart and that she will just not be able to stay away after hearing that He loves her so. It was a wonderful time of being reminded that our relationship with HIM needs to be first and I am believing that this is going to be the beginning of something new in her life! PRAISE THE LORD!

For her whole life I have prayed for this little stink of a girlfriend:

All of a sudden something is happening in this kid that is just making our jaws drop and our eyes open to the fact that NO PRAYER IS EVER IN VAIN! It has not been of our doing, but totally of the Lord as He is maturing this little girl into something that we had only hoped for a year ago. While she is still not where she needs to be for her age she is still growing in her ability to learn, care for herself and her things and just do things that we have prayed for since we found out that she had some delays. Her knowledge of God’s Word and her willingness to pray for others… well, let’s just say that God is putting something in her that only HE can instill. He amazes me every day and He deserves all the praise and glory and honor! HALLELUJAH!

You know that story in the Bible about the 10 lepers being healed and ONE of them retuning to say thank you? I want to be that one. After all that we’ve dealt with and prayed for and hoped for I just can’t help but to thank God for how He carries us through. It’s nothing short of a miracle when we see things come about that we know that HE has done and I just can’t help but to give HIM praise!

What are you thankful for today??

Birthday Randomness

2011-02-28T06:43:00.001-08:00

It has been at least two weeks since I have been on the ‘ol blawg! Lots has happened… ok, lots of time has passed (it seems) and a little has happened since then.

The long and short of it? I got the flu.

The morning of my birthday I woke up with a fever and aching ALL over. My parents had planned to come for dinner. My friend was taking me to lunch. My mother-in-law was getting my little girly from school so I could have a day of fun… and I laid on the sofa. Oh, the doctor told me happy birthday and that was that!

We finally did get to have a little time with family and they were all so great! They listened to my wishes and gave me money so that my sweet hubby and I could go get this:

I have been waiting a loooong time and saving, saving, saving so after I started feeling a little better (the flu lasted 8 days people!) my husband took me on a lunch date and we went to the camera store and … YAY!

This past weekend I just REALLY wanted to get away. I have been just so tired and cooped up in the house. Saturday was a perfect day to go to the mountains and practice taking some pictures with my new camera. I HAVE SOOO MUCH TO LEARN! But here’s my first attempt!

We hunted for waterfalls…

and played in the park..

It was a much needed time with family and time to just enjoy God’s amazing creation! After feeling so bad it was just great to get out and get some fresh air and laugh! Our little girly is so funny and we just had a great time making memories!

It ALL Started WIth Headache

2011-02-12T20:28:00.001-08:00

So this week we have lived in the land of the sickness and can I just say that we are glad that this week is all done. ALL DONE I SAY!

Last Saturday little girlfriend went to run some errands with her daddy and when they returned she went straight upstairs to get her pillow and baby and she laid on the floor in the den. It was SATURDAY, people! The day that she wants to play on the computer and watch a thousand cartoons and go out to dinner. We knew we were in for it!

Sure enough.. next day we go to church and we pick her up from Sunday school. I wish I could have taken a picture of the pitiful little thing… she was pale and running a fever and THAT started the week.. an entire week of the blahs and fever and coughing and fever and coughing. Oh, it was miserable… for her!

Well, wouldn’t you know? One day while sitting on the sofa girlfriend coughs and she just sprayed me! “HURRY! GO wash your face if you want to survive!” my husband said. (He’s not usually dramatic, but that day it just came out! I laughed so hard at him! “Survive!?!”) I knew instantly that I was going to have some form of the crud and sure enough… here I sit. Coughing and with a very small voice.

My husband is looking for a place to stay. He’s terrified he won’t survive.

So today… after a late breakfast and a nap we did some exciting things. You WILL be jealous.

1) We went to the dump. (Where I was SOO tempted to get this piece of furniture out of the receptacle because it looked like it had promise! Then my husband said it might have termites in it and that made my stomach flip so I stayed in the car. Ewww!)

2)We went to Target.

3)We went to a nursing home to visit a lady from our church.

4)We ate a salad at Panera.

Now, try to contain yourself! The sicklings are just some party animals!

Next week is going to be better! I just know it!

I Hate to Admit it But…

2011-02-08T11:34:00.001-08:00

There are several things that I’d hate to admit that I do, but alas they are true…

I HATE that this woman …

is driving me NUTS! Around here she’s affectionately known as “Cruella”. She is digging her own grave so she just needs to go! GET RID OF HER! I’m just sayin’!

I also hate to admit that I am SOOO excited!! This is FEBRUARY and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Valentine’s Day! It has always been a special time to me and I just love to love on my sweet man and my little stink of a girlfriend!

I also hate to admit that the day after Valentine’s is my birthday and no matter how old I get I just LOVE to celebrate! I pray that every year the Lord is maturing me into who He wants me to be and I just love spending time with friends and family!

I also hate to admit that I am secretly hoping that I get MONEY for my birthday because I have been saving and waiting a while to get a new fancy camera! Any time my family asks what I want I just say, “MONEY, PLEASE!” in hopes that they LISTEN! They are so sweet to me and they are probably tired of me talking about said camera… they are probably going to oblige me just to make me stop!

And WHY Did I Say That?

2011-02-04T14:02:00.001-08:00

** EDITED TO SAY THAT I HAVE NO IDEA WHY!!?! THE FONTS CHANGE FROM GINORMOUS TO MICROSCOPIC FROM POST TO POST! SORRY!

One thing that I am NOT loving about myself lately is how insecure I can be. I tell ya! I walk away from situations or conversations wondering if I did or said the right thing, if I hurt someone’s feelings or if I said the WRONG thing! I know that I am never going to be perfect and I know that God’s grace is sufficient for me… so why do I struggle with this so?? I have to admit that I go through times that are less insecure than others so this isn’t a constant battle, but it does come around every so often and I HATE IT!

I think that when you say that you are willing to step out and lead or take on a role that maybe you’ve never taken on before it’s natural to feel insecure and fear that perhaps you won’t do things the way others might expect. I teach pre-school music for the first time ever this year and while I have taught before, I’ve never taught music OR preschoolers so I am feeling my way through in dealing with parents, teachers and a new boss. It can all be a little intimidating and I sometimes wonder if I am doing it right! The kids are so young and when I taught before I taught middle and high school so it’s a whole different ball game with little emotions and little needs vs. kids that are bigger than me and parents that are not expecting you to take care of their “baby”… if you get my drift!

I am also leading a women’s Bible study and I walk away from there every night thinking that I said too much or not enough or I took too much time on that one point or not enough on that one… UGH! It’s enough to drive you nuts! I take great comfort in the fact that BETH MOORE admitted the same feelings in the last video that we watched. If SHE’S insecure… I am DOOMED!

Perhaps it’s just human nature to feel this way, bus I am usually pretty comfortable in my skin. (I wish there were less skin and that it were less wrinkled, but none the less… ) I know that eventually I will come out of it, but in the mean time… well, maybe I shouldn’t have burdened you with my issues!
SEE?!?! Oh, I need to lie down.

Sweet Spring Preview

2011-02-01T09:46:00.001-08:00

This past weekend we had some much needed warmer weather and sunshine! I was so happy to just feel warm for a change!

I have hung my favorite basket on my front door and added a little white ribbon so that it’s not SOOO springy yet!

One day as I walked in the door I noticed a sprig sticking up from the side of the basket. I pulled it and I yanked out an upside down nest!

I took the basket off the hook and looked inside…

A mama bird had not only built a nest and laid her eggs, but she had built a COCOON! They were all snug in their nest with a protective covering to protect them from the cold, and they are BEAUTIFUL! There are five eggs and one is blue but the others are different shades of pink! Caroline decided that those were going to be girls. She also worried, “She left them by themselves!? How will they take care of themselves?!” I reminded her that most mama birds are never far away and we should not touch the eggs just in case she’s watching!

She also asked, “But when will they hatch!? Is it time? It is cold out here mom! Shouldn’t we go in!?”

It made me think about God and how He sees us. We see this world as so cold and we feel like He’s really not paying attention. How will we EVER take care of ourselves?? But He has us nestled right under His wings and He has hedged us in on all sides to protect us from this world. He waits until just the right time to let us “hatch” into what He has for us and He’s only allowing certain things to filter through until it’s our time. Sometimes being still is so hard and waiting on His timing seems like an eternity. But in the the mean time He’s created something so beautiful and unique in each of us.

Oh, I don’t know… I don’t think it’s an accident that those baby eggs are hanging on my door for me to pass each day as I enter my home. I think God allowed that mama bird to make that nest for those little babies, but He has spoken over and over again through them to me..

“Be gentle.”

“Let them have their time.”

“There’s a mama bird who cares about those baby eggs.”

“Be patient.”

“Trust that My time is perfect.”

Interesting, isn’t it? How God pursues us. Don’t you just love Him?

Something Fun

2011-01-24T08:09:00.001-08:00

Lately I have tried to figure out inexpensive ways to give gifts. It seems that lots of people that I know are graduating, having babies or getting married. I love giving gifts and I like to give things that are unique but right now we just don’t have the extra funds.

One day, while looking through blogs, I saw a super cute idea but now I can’t remember who did it! A blogger had taken old sheet music and she had sewn fabric letters to it (somehow!) to make a very cute and personalized gift. I started thinking that I had some fabric and some stencils so maybe I could do a variation of her idea.

One of my former students is getting married in March so she was my first experiment! I had no idea what colors she was using so I just went with black and white…

When she opened it at the shower on Saturday she was so excited to have her new initials in a frame and her kitchen is going to be black, white and green!

I decided to make one for my office so I just made a “G” in the colors that I like..

… and we have a friend with a new baby so I decided to make one for her room as well.

I am still playing around with it, but it’s fun and fairly easy to make. I think there’s nothing quite like fun fabrics, monograms and ribbon to personalize your home!

What’s He GONNA DO?

2011-01-21T14:20:00.001-08:00

Hello friends!
I hope you’ve all had a great week! I tell ya… we’ve been busy around here, but it’s been all good! One of the most exciting things that happened is a group of women at our church FINALLY started this study…

We were suppose to start a week ago, but the snow and ice caused it to be postponed a week. I had been reading and preparing and was ready to start when the snow hit so waiting a week just prolonged the anticipation! It has been a while since I’ve lead a study and the day that the study was to begin I just had butterflies!
I had gotten word that a couple of ladies from a local rehab facility would be joining me and the other ladies and I was SOOO EXCITED! (Still am for that matter!) There is nothing in this world quite like seeing God work in the lives of those around you. I know what a difference He makes in my life and how He’s changing me everyday, and I know that He is already working in their lives so it’s just a privilege to be with them as He continues to work and change all of us!! We are all in different places in life and we all have struggles so this journey is going to be something that is going to transform our lives and I am sooo ready!
Another thing that excites me is that the study has been revised and I just could not wait to see how God spoke anew to Beth Moore and how He’d speak to me! I’ve only done the first two days of study and I am already just eager to run ahead and study myself silly!
I don’t know. I think we come to places in our lives where we sometimes feel like our wheels are spinning. It helps so much to get into something like this with other women and just hash it out! Maybe we don’t do it all publicly but we can hear the same truths and know that God has a plan for us where we are. Somehow being reminded of that gives us the extra push that we need to press on! Well, at least it does for me!
If God puts it on your heart to pray for me and these ladies I’d just love it! I am a little intimidated by this and yet excited to be along for the ride. Thankfully the results don’t depend on me in the least so just pray that I will have the endurance to press on and be what God calls me to be. I wonder what He’s GOING TO DO?!? Oh, I can’t wait to find out!

I Got IT!

2011-01-13T11:45:00.001-08:00

I am so excited!! I have been waiting since Christmas to get to pick up a new one of these at Target!

After THREE LONG days of sitting in my house with a sassy girlfriend I was finally able to take her to school today and head to see if they’d come in… AND THEY DID!

My mom and dad gave me a gift card for Christmas because apparently there was not one Kindle in the southeast to be found! Mom said she went back over and over to see if they had them and they never did so she just had to settle for a gift card.. which was fine with me!

I can’t wait to use it and make time for more reading. I need to read. It’s so cool because it has children’s books that you can download, and I know it will encourage the little girl in this house to read more too. You can download magazine subscriptions, newspapers (not that I read newspapers!) and even blogs! Well, I think they are strictly Amazon blogs, but it’s cool, huh!??

Does anyone else have a Kindle? What have you liked about it and what would you recommend I read? I like novels and I enjoy reading period pieces sometimes. It’s important to me that it’s clean and I’d love some really good Christian authors. It has been a while since I’ve read a good book so I am excited to hear what you think!

THAT is QUITE Enough!

2011-01-12T12:24:00.001-08:00

Well, it’s happening, I am afraid. This little girl…

is growing up. And with that growth comes a sassy mouth that is inevitably going to get her into a LOT of trouble.

The other day we were in the grocery store and girlfriend was in a MOOD! She told her dad and me that she was looking for a new family… right there in the store. We were trying so hard not to laugh, but she was determined that she “has the worst life ever and she’s going to stay mad!” Alrighty then.

What am I going to do with this one? You know, her dad was perfect. Just ask his mom! But me… well, let’s just say that everyone says that they know where she gets it! COME ON PEOPLE! I have no idea what you are talking about.

Why is it that things have to be this way? It seems that no matter what type of home you try to raise them in kids just have to go through some fit pitchin’, back taklin’, ugliness! (Well, apparently not my husband, but every one else on the planet! By the way, this is a joke amongst the family so I’m not throwing him under the bus!He’s precious, but REALLY doesn’t get the whole fit pitchin’ thing.)

Anyway, that is where we are right now with Miss Priss. She’s currently in her room for talking back. She said, “And I’m NEVER coming out!” I might arrange it.

Random-y Randomness

2011-01-10T09:10:00.001-08:00

Today is a snowday so we are all at home. We’ve had pancakes and done laundry and are getting ready to go out to play! I can not believe how much snow is coming down! After all! We do live in the SOUTH! It’s beautiful though and I love to see what God can do! He’s AMAZING!

You might be wondering why this font is big and my last entry was kind of small (and hard to read!). Over Christmas our computer crashed and everything has had to be restored and redone. I lost my settings so I have been playing around. Maybe one day I’ll get it right!

This week I am preparing to lead this Bible study at our church…

I am so excited because this is THE study that changed the way that that I understood God’s relationship with His people and how Jesus is so amazingly intertwined into history in it’s entirety. It has been years since I’ve studied the tabernacle and I am a different person now. I can not wait to see what God has in store for me and the other women in this study! Just in preparing for this God has already spoken to my heart. I know that He will use the women that attend the class in some amazing ways as we all grow in our relationship with Him.

In other news… You might remember this little guy…

I was REALLY hoping we could keep him for Christmas! Then reality hit and we just knew that we could not afford another animal right now. He’s really tiny and just adorable and I’d love to have him, but my friend still has him and is trying to find him a home. We were a little sad, but we would want to give him a great home and take care of all of his needs. We just can’t afford it right now so we had to say no. BOO HOO!!!!!!

I have an exciting new little crafty thing that I am working on. I can’t wait to show you! It involves some of my favorite things… ribbon, initials/monograms and cute and fun fabrics! Maybe after playing in the snow I can work on it and that can be my next post!

Happy Snow Day everyone!

The No-Resolutions Resolution

2011-01-06T14:06:00.001-08:00

I REALLY do not like to make New Year’s Resolutions. I get really aggravated at myself and feel like a total failure every year that I try to make one because I get started and then by February I quit. I have tried to make all of the typical ones… lose weight (that’s the biggest!),…

be in my Bible more, watch less T.V.,… you know.. all of the typical things that people say they are going to do… I’ve done!

Well, last week I sat down to have my quiet time and I was at one of those places where I didn’t really know where I was going to read. I was thinking about resolutions and what God would have me do so I I just turned to the Psalms and started looking through.
As I read the first verse of Psalm 23 I saw it…”The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want..” The Lord said to me,” This year why don’t you TRUST that I will lead you AND you will not be in want!
I read Psalm 24:1 “The Earth is the Lord’s and all that it contains, the world and those who dwell in it..” Again it was like God was saying “TRUST ME! I am in control. You can’t control what others do or say but I CAN so just TRUST ME!”
Then Psalm 25:1 says “To YOU, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”
I can TRUST You Lord with my very SOUL! I do not need to be afraid but completely know that You are in control.
I kept reading the first Psalm of the next few chapters and it was apparent to me that I now had my assignment. I do not know what lies ahead and I have already had a couple of challenges this year where I have HAD to trust that the Lord because I can’t control others and I have to know that He will provide for my home. This year I do pray that my walk with Jesus is like never before. More and more my personal walk is deepening and I cherish the times that I have with Him while no one else is around.
So! This year will be a “No Resolution Resolution” kind of year. Not a year where I decide what I will resolve to do, but a year where my resolution has been assigned to me. I do much better with assignments anyway! I look forward to what God has for me in the coming year so let the changes begin!

FINALLY! The CHRISTmas Recap!

2011-01-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone had a wonderful CHRISTmas season and enjoyed time with family and friends!

For us this has been a family Christmas!

On Christmas Eve we went to my in-law's to spend the day. It was really nice and we enjoyed spending time with family and attending our church's first ever Christmas Eve service! It was PACKED and so wonderful to have all of our family together to worship.

Here we are after the service. Doesn't girlfriend look THRILLED!? HA! MERRY CHRISTMAS KID!

We were able to spend time with our almost 2 year old niece, Taylor.

She is such a cutie and is growing up so much!

I was very excited to get money from my in-laws because they know that I am looking for a new camera. I always love finding the really small boxes with my name on them because I know that there's some much needed funds inside! Caroline got a pillow pet that she'd been asking for and she just squeeled when she opened it!

That night we came home and got ready for SANTA! Our family really tries to put the emphasis on Jesus and the fact that the REAL reason that we celebrate is that HE CAME FOR US. Usually we wrap the majority of our gifts and they are from my husband and me, but there's always that "What's Santa gonna bring you?" question so we leave a few things to put out for Christmas morning.

Here's "the big" surprise...

This year Caroline wanted a doll house! She was really excited when she came down the stairs and saw this (still in the box) and was ready to put it together. Later she opened 5 rooms to go inside so we played all kinds of make believe with her new house...

She is also such a typical kid and would rather play in the box than with the gift!

Then, we waited anxiously for MIMI to arrive because MIMI brings the never ending bags of goodies! I wish I had taken a picture of our tree before and after Mimi and PawPaw arrived! Oh heavenly days!

We read the Christmas story, opened gifts and had dinner and then we sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Jesus around our traditional Birthday Cake!

This year Jesus got hot pink icing and pink candles! I am sure He doesn't mind!!

That night it started to snow so we all enjoyed time together just talking and drinking coffee and Hot Cocoa.

The next day we went outside for a while to play in the snow. Even Mimi and PawPaw got in on the fun!

Nice tongue concentration there Mimi!

There are so many things that I am thankful for this holiday. My family is definitely (well, besides Jesus!) the biggest. I know that I am very blessed to have each one of them in my life and I am thankful that we got to be together! We have our flaws and we don't always see eye to eye but over all I do not know where I'd be without each one.

Doggy Shopping Family Randomness...

2010-12-16T15:20:00.000-08:00

Look what we found!

One day while driving to get my daughter from school I almost ran over this little cutie!! My heart stopped as he ran right out in front of my car! I was running late so I didn't stop right away, but when I came home a friend of mine pulled into the driveway right behind me. We live in the same neighborhood and I told her that I'd seen him on the road near our homes. She said that she had seen him the day before and he must be a stray! We walked out to the road, and sure enough, there he was! My friend had a towel in her car and she cornered him and caught him!! Bless his baby heart... he was so dirty and shivering! She kept him and took him to the vet where they said that he's 4-8 years old and he seems fairly healthy with the exception of his teeth. He didn't have a chip and had obviously been out for a while so the vet encouraged her to keep him. She already has a dog, and we have a cat, but we are considering keeping him at our house.

My husband had a business trip to prepare for this week and we have been really busy with that, but he does not always travel so when he returns we are going to discuss it to see if our family can swing it! I am afraid to get too excited, but I think he's precious and I would LOVE to have him. Isn't he just the cutest THING!?! If we can't keep him I think my friend will. We don't want him out on the street and we want him to have a good home. OH! I hope it's MY home! PLEASE SANTA!? I've been pretty good this year!

So.

In other news...this week has been a shoppin' flurry and I'VE LOVED IT! I have been so excited by a recent blessing that the Lord has given us that has allowed us to buy some Christmas gifts. It's so awesome when the Lord shows up and blesses you when you don't expect it, isn't it?! I have been shopping here and there while my little girly girl has been at school and I hope she LOVES what she's getting. I can't wait to see her reaction on Christmas day when we come down the stairs as a family and she opens her gifts. I will be sure to share all about it after the Christmas maddness is over and I have a nap.

Speaking of girly girl... she is already beside herself about a little tradition that we started a few years ago. Every year we go to the same bakery to get a BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR JESUS! I take her with me and we look through the window at the cute little cakes and I let her pick which cake she'd like.

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

Last year, we traveled two hours to see my family and we HAD to go to the bakery before we left our town and we TOOK the cake with us! I am telling you.. she will NOT let me forget about Jesus' cake and she is already asking when we are going and if she can blow out the candles. It is always fun to see which one she will choose and she's super excited to go again this year. I hope she never tires of this sweet tradition and our time together. AND the bakery can NEVER close! Oh. That would just be the end of life as we know it.

Changing Christmas

2010-12-12T18:18:00.001-08:00

Merry Merry Christmas!! I love this time of year! I am so excited to have special times with my little family and enjoy some neat things that we don't normally do during the rest of the year.

This year I've decided to change lots of things! One is some of my decor. I get tired of things looking the same every year, but I can not afford to go buy ALL new Christmas stuff every time I get bored! (Shocking! I know.) So after Christmas last year I had an interior decorator GIVE me lots of left over ribbon.(HOW COOL IS THAT!?) I thought I could make lots of new BIG bows and make things look a little different.

Here's my front door... I found these ice skates at a local Christmas show and decided to use them instead of a wreath...

I think they turned out nice and it is definitely a something different! I also found a wreath stand for $1 at a yard sale so I made a matching bow to sit near the door with the skates..

For a long time I had a plaid red ribbon on the top of my tree that I liked, but it was time for a change too.

NICE that a strand of lights right in the middle is not burning and I can't get them to come on... I'm NOT stressin' over it. You can't really tell when you are standing in front of it because the lights are pretty bright. It's hard to see the ribbon in ths picture, but I love it and it updates my tree a little so it makes me happy!

Another change that we are making is that we are purposefully NOT making tons of plans. We have run ourself ragged in years past and while we enjoyed time with friends and family we were just TOO stressed. This year we have still done a few things, but we have not scheduled ourselves so much that we can't just enjoy sitting by the fire at home and having dinner as a family.

This year has been a hard year financially for lots of folks and we are no different. At first I was worried about how we'd pay for the gifts that we wanted to buy. Funny thing is... it is kind of freeing to not have much to spend. We will just do the best we can for our family members and let that be it! I have not worried about what to buy everyone (ok, except my in-laws!) and it has been kind of nice. I have made more of an effort to find things that have meaning and not just a shirt or tie because I need a gift for them!

I have found that this year, probably more than any other, I have focused less on the THINGS of Christmas and more on WHY we celebrate just because things have been more simple. I am grateful for more things because I've had time to think about them! My brother is home from rehab. THAT, my friends, is a huge gift to ALL of my family! Who needs a new sweater when he is on the road to recovery and walking a little better everyday!? THAT is such an answer to prayer!!

What have you done to make things more simple this year? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU! I pray the Lord's richest blessings on you and your family this holiday season! He is so worthy of our praise at this time of year and all year long!

When Reality Hits... It Can Sometimes Hurt! (This is LONG!)

2010-12-06T06:57:00.000-08:00

This past week I had a meeting with my daughter's school. It's always a little scary to have a meeting when your kid has special needs. You NEVER know what they might say or how they might feel your kid is doing. I guess it's that way with any kid, huh!? Since her goals are not the same as a typical 2nd grader I already know that things will obviously be at a slower pace and a lower level, but it's still sometimes hard to hear. After 9 years it is STILL hard!

I was really nervous about this particular meeting because they had mentioned at a previous one that they may want to move Caroline to a different setting/classroom. This would mean that the kids would be lower functioning and I was NOT happy about it one bit. Caroline can read pretty well and she is making slow progress in some of her math skills. Academics are really hard for her and she can be socially awkward with her peers, but she can socialize! The classrooms that they were considering had kids with limited language and most could not read or do math at all.

You'd better believe I was praying and seeking the Lord for His compassionate hand to be on our situation. I know that there is a scripture in Psalms that says "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." I prayed that over and over again! I just kept asking the Lord to show us His goodness and to show the teachers what was best.

The Lord has been so good to us and put people in our path who know a lot about special needs. Since I have been the special needs coordinator at our church the Lord has truly shown me that we are not alone and that our situation could be so much worse (SO QUIT YOUR BELLY ACHIN! and be glad for what you have... yeah, He said that to me! :)!!

One mom also works with kids with special needs as her profession. She was the compliance facilitator for a special needs SCHOOL (like ALL of the kids have needs and she knows the law backwards and forwards... so she kept their entire school up to date on things in the special needs world). I explained my concerns about our teachers wanting to potentially move Caroline and she agreed to go to the meeting with me and my husband ! I could not believe it! God just works in amazing ways! He just does!

Well, the meeting was on Monday and I went to church on Sunday just ready to wear the altar out with my request for God's favor in this situation. I got the the altar and I could not pray. It was like the Lord was saying "You've brought this. I know your need. Rest." I made it to my seat and got ready to hear the sermon. Guess what it was about!? Trials that we anticipate. Things that we can't see, but that we stress over. Not knowing WHAT'S around the corner but trusting WHO is around the corner! Oh, yea. The pastor might as well have started the sermon with "HEY! MELISSA! This one's for YOU!"

Monday morning comes and I get a text. My friend (with ALL of the knowledge) says that her childcare for the afternoon fell through and she can't make it. I panic a little, text her back with a few questions and pray. God said, "It will be ok! I will be there." I regain composure. That afternoon my husband comes home from work early. He walks up the stairs and as soon as I see him I know... he had a fever! I LOST IT! I started crying and saying, " I CAN NOT DO THIS BY MYSELF! I CAN NOT!!" (Because it's all about me! Poor guy, with a fever and stomach bug and I am crying about ME!)

I call the teacher and say that I want to reschedule. She said, "Are you panicking about us moving Caroline? We are not going to do that. We don't want to see her in that environment. We are going to just look at her goals and how we can help her best here at our school. We've checked. Right now there isn't a better place for her."

What? You are not moving her? I've almost given myself an ulcer for NOTHING!? Oh, I was so mad at myself for not trusting God. He had told me time and again that it would be ok. People were praying for us like mad and God had even not allowed me to pray about it because He told me that He was in control. Yet, I continued to stress and worry... ALL FOR NOTHING!!!

The hard reality that they did present to me that day is that Caroline will probably not graduate with a diploma. As we look at her abilities now we have to realize that pre-algebra and calculus are probably not realistic expectations for her and those are requirements for graduation. They do feel that we can work with her and teach her some skills so that one day she might have a job and possibly live on her own or in a group home. Middle school is currently 3 years away for us, but those years pass quickly and the middle school setting is a lot of "inclusion" where the kids with special needs are in regular classes and the special ed. teachers are there to help modify assignments. Caroline probably can't function in that environment very well. We need to be looking at what would be best for her at that time.

When you havea baby you just never anticipate that things will be nothing but wonderful for him/her. You never think that your child won't go to college and you don't plan to have to adapt every part of their lives for them. When I look at those who have children with more severe disabilities I can only imagine the heart of that mom. She got pregnant and had a child that she had great dreams for. Now, those dreams are different and there is a different path that she's having to take. Not that the path isn't good. It is good! It's just different and it's not the path that she thought she'd take with this child. Any child with even mild disabilities bring challenges that parents never anticipate. It's hard not to compare your child with other typically developing kids and it's hard to not want what they have for your own child... just being honest and real.

So.. reality is hard, and sometimes it does hurt, but we are not lying down and quitting. We've got work to do.. spelling words to learn, math problems to do, reading that needs to be done. We are just going to keep working and keep trying and never give up because we never EVER know what God has in store. He may allow us to go through trials like these so that we can minister to those who come behind us. He may allow us to see Him do a miracle in the life of Caroline that could only be explained by His mighty power! What mama would not pray for Him to touch her and just heal whatever has caused these difficulties? He made her... He knows! I just know that without Him I'd be in much despair and there would be days that I probably would worry myself sick! SO.. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW! Let's live this life to the fullest!

Higher Call

2010-11-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll! Can you believe it's here? I SERIOUSLY can not. It just seems like fall has completely flown by and I have some how missed it! How does that happen!? I suppose with the busyness of school and work and everything else I just wake up one morning and it's Thanksgiving week!

Thanksgiving makes me all serious minded and reminiscent for some reason. I think I'm like my dad. At Christmas he always cries and thinks about his own parents and his life as a kid. He talks about how he misses those days and how he wishes that he had done some things differently. He can be seriously sentimental and he can make this kid of his tear up in a second! COME ON DAD!

The thing about Thanksgiving for me is that it somehow makes me think about the Higher Call that God has placed on my life. As a wife and mom I realize that I am so thankful for the man and baby girl that God has given me, but with that comes great responsibility to live my life more for Him. I have little eyes watching my every step and a husband that needs to know that he is loved and respected above all else in my home.

I am currently reading the book of Ezekiel for my Quiet Time and God has directly spoken to me through this verse: "Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman over the house of Israel..." (Ezekiel 3:17) Now I know that Ezekiel's responsibility was certainly different than mine, but it's that underlined part that keeps screaming at ME! " I have appointed YOU a watchman over the house..." It's totally out of context, but I don't think that God is calling my attention back to that phrase by accident.

As a part of the higher call that He is placing in my life I truly believe that it is my job to watch all that enters into my home. That includes MY OWN ATTITUDE AND MOUTH! It's funny how I can pick up on other attitudes that are not honoring God and other words that might be tearing others down, but my own? Uh, not so much. Man, do I have a lot of learning and growing to do.

This Thanksgiving we will probably spend our family time at the rehab hospital where my brother is currently recovering from a spinal cord injury. They say that the bulging discs have caused significant swelling around the cord and that he will need time to recover and get back on his feet.

Not too long ago I told my husband, " You know, I wish we could do something different for Thanksgiving. Every year we just eat and lay around watching football and parades. It seems so self-indulgent." WELL, I guess God heard and He's fixin' that little situation! Unfortunately my brother won't be able to be home, but I am actually a little excited that maybe our family will be able to minister to those who might not have family there to be with them for this Thanksgiving Season! You just never know what God has in store for you as you walk through a little valley.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving! What is the Higher Call that you are sensing God placing in your life? If you blawg about it... let me know!

Thankfulness- Day 10 on the 13th~

2010-11-13T15:41:00.001-08:00

Today I am thankful for the special needs ministry at our church.

I love, love, love seeing these sweet faces come to church each week with so much love and joy in their hearts.

We are so blessed to have a church that is ready and willing to open their doors to kids, and parents of kids, with varying degrees of abilities. We also have a class for adults and it is such a neat thing to see their class work each week.

The teachers love the students so much and they are always willing to do whatever they can to see them learn about Jesus.

We have a lesson each week that is designed to help every student hear a story from the Bible and we do activities that reinforce the Bible story.. just like any other Sunday school class.

Who says that every class at church needs to be just like every other class? We ALL need a place and we all have a place in the body of Christ.

Thankfulness- Day 9 on the 12th!

2010-11-12T18:45:00.001-08:00

Today I am thankful for fun things...

Laughter... and smiles....

Mexican food, Sweet tea. New shoes. Friends...

Funny faces... ice cream... sunshine...

happy sounds... like leaves rustling and falling to the ground.

Silly pets that make us laugh...

Hot pink boas and birthday cake... friends who call just to say hello...

Sliding boards and swing sets... bike rides and sunsets...

Today I celebrate all things fun because life is WAYYY to serious most of the time!

Thankfulness- Day 8 on the 11th!

2010-11-11T13:58:00.001-08:00

My goal was to be thankful (and tell about it) every day in November. Well, I HAVE been thankful everyday, but blawgin' about it has been a different story. I am not plugged into the internet from my phone and I don't have a laptop so if I am not at home... well, the blawgin' don't get done!

My brother (who I wrote about on day one! My link thingy isn't working... sorry!) had surgery this week to correct the bulging discs that he had affecting his spinal cord. The discs were causing him to be unable to feel his feet and legs and he was really struggling to walk.

Once they did the surgery he was able to feel his legs and now, just two days later, he is able to stand on his own again and is walking better everyday.

Today, I am thankful for doctors and nurses. The man that walked into the pre-op room was a man with blood running through is veins just like any of the rest of us. He walked in with nurses who are moms and wives and who breathe one breath at a time just like us. But those people were confident in what they had learned and they were willing and ready to make a difference in the life of our family.

They talked with assurance about the procedure and asked repeatedly if we had any questions, knowing that we were getting ready to walk out of that room and leave our loved one in their hands.

Now, don't get me wrong. This was BATHED in prayer. I had everyone I knew rushing the throne room of God on his behalf. We do know that ultimately God has the final say and He was the one that directed that surgeon's hands.

I just mean that these people were willing to be used in the life of my family and brother to make a difference. What if they'd never been willing to go to school to learn how to do something like replacing a bulging disc with bone and then fusing it together with titanium? AND my brother was the second surgery that day!!

We truly do not realize how fortunate we are in our country to have facilities and trained professionals who attempt to care for those of us in need. Their caring hearts and compassion for life shined through that day.

Oooh... I know! They get paid a pretty penny to do what they do. Some of them drive big fancy cars and live in amazing houses. Thing is... I don't really care. That day that doctor kept my brother from an otherwise paralyzing condition. He also kept my mom and dad from literally losing their minds with worry. It was a miracle and we know that God allowed us to be there to have the help that day so that He might shine through.

I know it's Veteran's Day and I AM thankful for those who fought and continue to fight for our country and the freedoms that we have. Without our Vets the hospitals and healthcare that we have would not exist. (Now, what the government is doing with it all is a TOTAL different story! And a sad one at that!) But today I just need to be ultimately thankful for the men and women who were used to work a miracle in my brother's body!

Thankfulness Day 7

2010-11-07T15:34:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday and I am thankful for my faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

I do not have a testimony that takes me down a long dark path or drugs or alcohol. I did not live an extremely wild life, but I AM a sinner. I believe that what He saved me FROM in this life is just as important as the salvation that I know that I have for eternity.

I asked Jesus into my heart when I was ten. Through out my life I have always longed for friendships and relationships that would fill me. As I got older I dated several guys and I so longed for those relationships to make me safe and secure. I put so much hope in man and when it didn't work out or when it was very apparent that we were NOT a good fit... well, my heart would just break.

In college I truly began to realize that my faith had to be my own. My parents brought me up in church and I loved singing and being active there, but it wasn't until I was faced with some serious situations and issues in school where I had to decide if God was real in MY life. It could not be about what my mom and dad said anymore, but it had to be about what God said and how I was going to decide to live for Him or for this world.

Now, more than 20 years later, I am sure that Jesus is Lord. He saved me from an uncertain future and He is my security. I am eternally grateful for His sacrifice for ME and I am no longer afraid of what the future holds.

Many people who do not know Christ think that being a Christian HAS to be the most boring life ever. Since I have truly started walking with the Lord it has been the biggest adventure of my life! He has such a wonderful plan for each of us and being obedient means doing things that I thought I'd never ever do! You never know where He will take you next and I love knowing that He is in control!! I don't have to worry about taking steps that will lead me down the wrong road as long as I am spending time with Him each day and praying. He WILL direct my path!!

So today I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is my Rock. He is my Salvation. He is my ALL in ALL! I can not imagine where I would be without His love and conviction and forgiveness, and I praise His Name for saving my soul.

What about you? Do you know Christ as Savior? If not, I'd love to share how you can know for sure that your sins are forgiven and that one day YOU will go to heaven when you die.

The Bible says that ALL have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. It also says that the wages (or payment) for sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. I pray that if you are not sure of what your future holds that you will seek Him today!

Thankfulness Day 6

2010-11-06T07:00:00.001-07:00

Today I am just thankful that it's the weekend! This has been a very busy and emotional week with my brother's need for care and my inability to be with my family. (By the way, he does not have a brain injury. He has a large bulging disc that they will be looking at more closely very soon. PRAISE THE LORD it's not his brain! Thanks for praying!)

On top of my heavy heart our church had a Home for the Holidays event and these girls were asked to sing!

It was very busy, but a lot of fun and was a good distraction for me since I couldn't travel to be with my family.

I love being a part of a group that worships and sings together! Their friendship has been just a wonderful benefit of being part of such group. Each girl's unique walk with the Lord blesses me every time we are together!

Have a great weekend! I love making myself sit down and think about what I am thankful for! What are YOU thankful for??

Thankfulness Day 5

2010-11-05T10:50:00.001-07:00

Today I am thankful for my husband!

To say that we are opposites would be an understatement, but somehow the Lord saw fit to put us together and I LOVE HIM TO PIECES!!!

He is right by my side in helping me raise our girl and he is a very strong influence in both of our lives.

Lately he and his dad and brother have started having lunch once a month to reconnect and establish some accountability. I love that. I love that he's willing to work at our family and that he cares about everyone of us. (That's our niece, Taylor with her uncle Steve!)

He's a pretty serious guy, but I love that he's willing to step out of his shell and be involved in things that interest our girl.

Work has been pretty tough lately with this economy, but he has hung in there and he continues to work hard though some days are discouraging!

Just a few minutes ago he left to go on an over night trip to share the love of Christ with a few friends from our Sunday school class in the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky. I know that God is going to use his gentle spirit and willing heart to point people to Him.

So... today! I am proud and VERY THANKFUL for my sweet man!

I LOVE YOU STEVE!

Thankfulness Day 4

2010-11-04T11:38:00.001-07:00

Today I am very, very thankful for this place:

It is not the biggest or the fanciest...

By no stretch of the imagination is it perfect...

It is NOT always clean...

It is not always put together, but it is our home.

We make memories here...

We live here and love one another here...

We celebrate here!

We laugh and we cry here...

We are silly here and we enjoy our time together.

We grow in our walks with the Lord here... and we are amazed

at His goodness to us...

We are grateful that the Lord sees fit to allow us to live in such a place and we pray that our little family honors Him everyday as we live in this gift from Him.

Thankfulness- Day 3

2010-11-03T12:16:00.001-07:00

Today, and everyday, I am thankful for this face...

She is growing so much and learning more and more everyday. I am so proud of some of the obstacles that she has overcome and some of the things that she's doing that no one was really sure she'd do!

She is so HILARIOUS and makes me laugh every single day. Sometimes she will just stop what she's doing and say, "Mom, I love you!" and it just melts my heart every single time!

I am so proud of her ability to read (the teachers say that she can read better than some 5th graders and she's in 2nd grade!) and I am so proud of her determination to be as much like any other kid without a mild disability. We still have a ways to go, but God is at work in her and I am ETERNALLY thankful to be her mom!

Thankfulness- Day 2

2010-11-02T09:16:00.001-07:00

Today I am thankful for the girls that God is growing in our Sunday School class.

Lately we have truly seen God bring some wonderful new friends to our class. One of the things that I love about us is that we are a very diverse group. God has used different life situations and experiences to help each person see that they are truly not alone and that He can, and will, use us if we just open our hands and allow Him to do that.

For example, I have shared many times about my daughter and some of the special needs that she has. Well, recently God brought TWO of the women in this picture into my life, both with daughters with special needs, just to help us all see that He has a plan and that He can use us as support for each other. I have loved that they have been down the road that I am now walking and they truly understand when I share about the disappointments and the small victories that we have around here.

There are numerous stories of how God has brought one girl our way and we've immediately thought, "WOW! HER story sounds like HER story!" and we've been able to see God develop accountability and friendships that have been nothing short of amazing.

The picture is from a recent women's retreat that we planned for the class. God did some wonderful healing work that weekend and He has drawn us closer to Him and to each other since then. Some of the women are new believers and their perspectives and joy is so contagious that you just LOVE being around them! Some have loved Jesus for a long time and their wisdom and perspective encourages the new believers. It is so wonderful to see how God works!

So, today, I am thankful for the women that God is using to encourage me and that I get to share life with on a weekly basis! I love you all and I am praying for you!!

A Month of Thankfulness- Day 1

2010-11-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

Well, the first of November does inspire one to begin to think of the things that we are thankful for and when I saw that my friend Jennifer at Homeward Bound was telling what she was thankful for... I thought I'd join in! Thanks Jen! I needed some inpiration today!

Today I am thankful for my brother. He had a heart attack this time last year and recovered pretty well. Recently, he fell at work and has injured himself. Initally we thought it was a back injury, but the doctors say that the fall has affected his brain. We are not sure what will happen next, but he has had the highest spirits and he is trusting that everything is going to be fine. The injury has affected his ability to walk and he is currently walking with a walker. He is waiting to see a neurosurgeon in the coming week. He has been through so much and I am diligently praying that the Lord will heal his body completely.

I am also thankful for my parents. Mom and dad have been with my brother through all of this and they are tirelessly working to help him get the care that he needs. Mom is such a positive light in our family and my dad prays, prays, prays. They have not always had it easy, but they try very hard to work together to make our family what it is. Since this accident they have done everything that they can for my brother, and though they are getting older, they do it all with such love and care.

I am thankful because I know that our lives could be so much worse. I am thankful that I have a family that loves Jesus and who sticks together through thick and thin.

If you have a moment would you pray for my family? We are trusting the Lord and the fact that He is Jehovah Raffae "The God Who Heals."

The Nudge

2010-10-25T07:12:00.001-07:00

This past weekend a group of girls and I went to sing for the Salvation Army Women's Shelter. As a group we were very conscience of the fact that this was going to be different from any opportunity that we'd had before. We wanted so much to be able to reach out to the women and children in the shelter and we prayed that the Lord would use the music to break down walls so that we would have the opportunity to share about God's amazing love and salvation.

That morning, before I went to meet the other girls, I was getting my shower and contemplating what to wear. It was like I wanted to look my best, but at the same time God nudged me. "Leave your engagement ring at home." I didn't really understand, but it became heavily impressed on me to wear jeans and a t-shirt and not too much jewelry. Thing is... I kept my engagement ring on!!! I suppose, out of habit, I just continued to get ready and didn't think another thing about what the Lord had specifically said.

We arrived and set up our sound, ran through the songs and prayed. They opened the doors and a line of women and children entered the cafeteria where they would have a meal and we would sing. Immediately one of the girls that sings beside me said, "Oh, my heart is so heavy for them. I don't think I can do this."

As the women and kids began to get their food and sit down to eat we began to sing. There were some upbeat songs and some of them clapped and sang with us. Others looked so down trodden and desperate that they didn't even look up. We began to get some of the children to come up and give us high five's and they wanted to sing in the microphones. We taught them some words and let them sing.

One little boy... probably around 5-6 years old kept coming to me and smiling this huge smile. He kept wanting to sing in my mic and then he said it. "WOW! Look at THAT RING! It's BIG!"

Oh, my heart just sank. God reminded me RIGHT THERE that I had been disobedient and that I had ignored His nudge. Instead of hearing the words of the songs about forgiveness and mercy that little boy had seen my ring!!! I stooped down and told him that Jesus loved him very much and that He had a plan for his life. I hid my ring out of sight and desperately tried to make him hear that no matter what he was loved by a Heavenly Father that could give him much more than rings or pretty temporal things.

Later in the weekend I heard a speaker on Christian radio talking about the nudges that God gives us. He said that often times they are one sentence, but very specific nudges and we are wise to obey even when we don't understand. God really convicted me that He had specifically given me an instruction and that I had chosen not to hear it and act on it immediately.

I am forever telling my daughter to LISTEN THE FIRST TIME! It hurts my heart when she blatantly disobeys me when I know that she has heard my instructions. I can only imagine that my Heavenly Father felt the same way as I obviously disobedient to His command. The wonderful thing about it all is that God still speaks to His children, and though I am not always obedient, He still forgives and He still uses us to do His work.

Maybe God is telling you to do something. Maybe you are sensing a nudge. I pray that you will not be like me, but that you will hear and act immediately. His ways are not our ways and His plans are not our plans. We don't always need to understand, but we DO need to obey the nudge.

Some Catchy Title Goes Here

2010-10-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

I don't really know what the title is... probably something about randomness. That's pretty specific, huh?

There really isn't much to write about this week. Other than the HACK, HACK, HACKING cough that I've had ALL ding-dong week! Everytime I cough in my husband's presence he shakes his head and says, "uh uh. stop now." in his driest tone. It's actually pretty funny. He's as tired of hearing it as I am of doing it!

Those little pre-schoolers and their cute runny noses is who I blame. One day just passed the tissue box around the circle then made everyone have a dab of hand sanitizer. ALL 12 of THEIR TINY NOSES were running of their little faces! Bless!

This week in pre-school a little girl told me that she had made up a song. (I teach music.) I said, "Oh, really!?" Let me hear it! She sang "I am a catepillar, cute as can be. Wonder what color butterfly I'll be?"
I thought that was VERY creative and precious. THEN another girl raised her hand and said, "I know a song!" I told her to let me hear hers too. She sang, "You change your mind, like a girl changes clothes...."
ALRIGHTY THEN!!! Moving on... moving on!

We have a pretty busy weekend of a birthday party, a hayride and singing so I think it's going to be fun! I just hope I don't HACK, HACK, HACK the whole time!!

Maybe my title should have been more specific. Something like Cougharama... or Coughing and Cuteness??
Have a good weekend! HACK!

The Almost Done Re-do!

2010-10-18T08:25:00.001-07:00

Things are not completely done in my year long quest to redo the play/bonus room, but we are making progress and I am SO EXCITED with how things are going that I just could not wait to share!

First we started with bead board. We have 2 doors in the alcove area that really stood out (and were a HUGE KID MAGNET!) because they are painted white. Every time you walked into the room your eye went to those doors. We had to fix that!

Next was paint because the color was this beigey-pinky-peachy color. I recently had someone give me a plaid sofa that has an off white color in it and it was NOT the color of the walls. I can't really afford to change the sofa right now (like with a slip cover) and FREE IS FOR ME so we kept the sofa and decided that it would have to work!

Here's the new bead board and the paint before... with a few samples splattered on:

And here's the new khaki brown that we painted:

I wish I had a really good camera so that you could see the color. It looks so much warmer and... just better!

Next, I wanted to change the lighting a little. I went on a search for a CHEAP light fixture and Voile'! I found it!

It was ugly brown with a piece missing from the candle on the far right, but it was $29. I knew I could add a little paint and some other stuff and we'd make it work!

The other issue that we had was that the light fixture that was already there was a canned light. That means a big hole that can't support another light fixture unless you convert it.

Well, Lowe's has a fix-it kit! We worked to install it and then got on with the light redo:

Yep! I hung it in the tree in my front yard and went to town with a can of spray paint! The neighbors just stared, but who cares!? It totally changed the look of the light and it dried pretty quickly in the sun!

That week I was in a store that had some really adorable (AND SUPER EXPENSIVE) lights in it. There was one light that had 5 arms (like mine!) and they had embellished it with feathers and "jewels"!! It was $300!! Oh my word!! But, I totally loved it so I decided to duplicate it.

I went to Hobby Lobby and got a white boa and some pearly Christmas garland for about $14 total. I cut and hot glued the boa and garland to fit and added the light bulbs and here's the finished product:

The total cost was only around $45 by the time you added the fixture, paint and fancies... I'll take that ANY day over $300! And it probably saved my marriage... I'm just sayin'...

We also had another cute light that had been in my daughter's room. We thought it would be good to have a light on her new desk, but didn't want to buy something new. We decided to that the pink light would not go:

So I painted the base brown and kept the blue bow:

On the same $29 light shopping trip I found a really adorable quilt top that I just loved!! It wasn't that expensive and it just screamed character to me. I wanted something super cute and shabby as a window treatment, but, again, it needed to be super cheap! I am not sure that this will stay this way, but for now... I like this:

Over the summer we took some cute pictures that I had never printed so I spend .45 each on the prints then went to IKEA and got $5 frames to make a picture wall.

This isn't finished, but I love the look and I can't wait to add to it!

So.. the ALMOST finished alcove looks like this:

So far the paint and bead board have been the most expensive things that we have purchased for the room. The desk and sofa were given to us and I have been reusing things in our house along with cheap pictures and frames to help complete the look that I wanted.

I am so happy with how things are fitting together and I can't wait to show you the rest of the room! The plaid couch will have to stay, but it could be worse! I could be sitting on the FLOOR! It's not terrible... it's navy and beige. It could be some CRAZY color scheme!! (I'm trying to get use to the plaid.. can you tell?!?!)

Turkey Day Quandry

2010-10-06T12:08:00.000-07:00

You might remember that I am currently the pre-school music teacher for the preschool at our church. Oh. My. Heavens. You probably have never seen such cuteness in your entire life. Today I wore my hair curly and one of the boys said, "HEY!What's up with your hair? It's funny!" Love it.

We are having such a good time in Music and Move It! We are playing instruments, playing with hula hoops, singing songs and being down right silly people! I promise I have never, EVER, sung "Deep and Wide" so many times in my entire life. They love it and I love them so it's totally worth it!

And I wear jeans and tennis shoes. AND I get paid a little. How can you beat it? Cuteness, "Deep and Wide", jeans AND payment. I'll take it.

Well, as the preschool music teacher I am responsible for a preschool Thanksgiving program. We are learning 3 songs and the kids are just the cutest things singing "Oh, I'm glad I'm not a Turkey!" Problem is, I have like 5.2 minutes of the program covered with those 3 songs!! Parents and grandparents will be in attendance. We need a little more don't you think? You creative folk out there got any suggestions?

I am pretty sure we will have a pastor from our church come to say a few words, and we definitely want to present the gospel since we owe ALL thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I just gotta figure out how to make the program God honoring and ADORABLE all at the same time. I am sure God will show me. He's pretty amazingly creative Himself!

Here is another thing... I need a nap almost every day after I leave the wild people... I mean preschoolers. They are precious, but MAN! They can wear ya out! AND I am wearing out a can of Lysol. Bless their little runny noses!

The Next Decorating Step

2010-10-04T08:40:00.001-07:00

Well, I am here because the spackling is drying in the playroom!I am really happy that the bead board is up and now needs a nice coat of semi-gloss white to make it shine! I am also excited to be applying 2 shades darker than this...

to my walls! I like this color apparently because when I put it on the wall in the playroom... it totally matched the hallway right outside! So... I went 2 shades darker and I am LOVING IT! It's enough contrast to make it a little different, but I think it will blend nicely with the rest of the house!

I also found a quilt top that I can't wait to show you all (and my sister-in-law had a fab-u-lous idea for it so I hope I can make it work!) and a light for $29. It's quite ugly right now, but YOU JUST WAIT! I have visions of paint and dangly, sparkly things hanging from it's ugliness to make it ALL Beautified!

The house still looks like a yard sale, but we are making progress. I am working now, too, so things are going MUCH S-L-O-W-E-R... these days, but it's progress none the less. I'll take it.

We are having dinner here for several couples on Oct. 16th so that gives me a deadline. I do well with deadlines. AND the fact that friends can't come for dinner with the Sanford and Son theme song playing in the background!

Thanks to my friend Faith for helping me with some words on my header! It turned out cute and so WELCOME TO THE NEW LOOK!

Oh, the washer? Still. Not. Fixed. Could you just shake a repair man for me if you see one around town? Any one will do. The part is RUMORED to be in by tomorrow. I washed panties in the sink.

Have a lovely day! Pictures soon to come! :)

Please Excuse the Mess!

2010-09-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I am under construction! I wanted something new for the ol' BLAWG for Fall so I am experimenting.. hence the header with no words.

I like the red. I like the header. Just trying to figure if I like them TOGETHER! That's the key.

I wish I were all computer savvy and knew how to make it just FAB-U-LOUS! I don't have money to spend on a blawg so I will just have to make do with what I got! Kind of like other things in life, huh?

So... savvy I 'm not so it will be ...cute. ish.

The Ol' Blawg is among other things that are a total mess right now...

The washing machine hasn't worked for 2 weeks! You can imagine the mess of laundry I have had lying around. Were it not for a sweet friend that lives close by this girl would be goin' ALL commando and thangs!
Hopefully the part will be in soon and we can get the laundry party started up in here. Bless my little conservative hubby's heart... he can't fathom the whole commando thing! Be FREE! I say! Be free! heee heee!

The playroom is being redone into a more mature space and I am so OVER THE TOP excited about that! I took The Nester's advice and totally cleaned out the space. I put everything in "a holding room" (a.k.a. guest bedroom) until we could decide what will stay and what will go. It's kind of neat because it's like I have a blank room to start over in and it helps my 40 year old brain plan!

The guest bedroom... looks like a yard sale. I'm just sayin'.

Well, hopefully some of these messes will be cleaned up soon! I'm open to votes on the header and red coordinating... or on the playroom for that matter! And if you know the machine repair man would you tell him to PLEASE come save my poor hubby! :)

Interrupted

2010-09-19T19:33:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I finished a Bible study and I wanted to find something that I could read or study that was different than anything I'd studied before. I did what ANY responsible person would do... I put it out there on Facebook!

"Hey! I just finished a Bible study. What are you doing/studying that challenges you?" I know. Very spiritual.

Immediately, an old friend of mine put this on my page:

She said that Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker had changed her life in terms of how she looked at the people around her. Well, I was up for the challenge so I went to the Christian bookstore and bought it.

OH. MY. HEAVENLY. DAYS! I had no idea that I was about to embark on a journey with the Lord that has revolutionized my view of those in need.

Basically, Jen Hatmaker (the author) and her pastor husband were very comfortable in their church. They were ministering to believers and baptizing converts on a weekly basis. The church was growing and her life was safe. THEN God began to challenge her to feed His sheep. She said that she thought that they WERE feeding His sheep, but that God's view of feeding sheep was obviously very different from hers. He began to challenge them to take His Word more seriously in the area of caring for the widows, poor and outcasts right in their own community.

Wow... I am here to tell you that it hit me square between the eyes. I realized that, while I am seeking to honor the Lord with my life through reaching those with special needs and their families, I could be doing FAR more on a daily basis to reach others as well. By no means had I arrived in the area of serving others and God was about to bring my terribly slanted way of thinking into light!

During my weeks of study the Lord would seemingly put people in front of me and it felt like a test. " Are you going to be faithful to reach out to him? I know you don't feel especially comfortable, but do you trust Me?" He'd ask my heart.

The study pointed out that those of us who are not in dire circumstances tend to look the other way and not even acknowledge the presence of the homeless or hurting. The author reminded the reader that "God cares deeply about the issues of mercy and justice and that He is calling His people to ENGAGE with those in need."

"God! What do you want ME to do? I can't help everyone! It's so overwhelming!! And I am busy! How am I suppose do to this?"

Well, there were a few times that I literally had NOTHING to give. I mean I had not one dollar. So I'd start, " Well, great God! Now what do you expect me to do!? I can't even buy them a Coke!" God didn't care. It wasn't my money that God wanted OR needed. It was me. I was being challenged to not look the other way. It was up to me to be determined to look people in the eye and speak to them as if I knew them. He was giving me the charge to treat ALL mankind like the children that He made and for whom He gave His Son. He wanted my heart to be more like His, and not just love those who attend my church or who I see weekly in Bible study. He wanted me to see that EVERY SINGLE person on the street, in the mall and at the grocery store are HIS children and they ALL need Him.

Our Sunday School class has been going to an unwed mother's home for a couple of years now to feed the moms once a month. Each month is a struggle for me because I feel that there are great walls between me and the girls and I don't know how to break them down in the limited time that we are together. The more I read the book the more the Lord impressed on me that feeding them was fine, but what else could I do?

Again, my put-God-in-a-box response was, "BUT GOD! There are a lot of them and they have GREAT needs! I can't help them all! They won't even look at me! How am I suppose to help them when they won't even speak when I try to say hello!?"

(Good grief, I am a BIG baby!)

His response? "No,YOU can't help them all, but you can help a few. Imagine helping whomever you can and those few coming to know ME because of your willingness to try to meet a few needs."

Well, Ok, but how was I going to do that?

"The best way to connect the gospel with our culture is to capitalize on the shared common ground. What if we REALLY loved our neighbors and offered a safe place..." -Hatmaker

My common ground? The Lord showed me... I am a mom in need of a way to care for my child. While I may not have made some of the same mistakes that they have or be in the situation that they are in.. I am where I am BY THE GRACE OF GOD! He is the one that has provided for me and my child and He can offer the same hope to each of these women.. if I am willing to tell them! After we seek to feed and clothe them we need to get to the true root of their need. They need to know that He loves them and has a plan for their lives. They need to hear that He's faithful when they are not and that He will not leave or forsake them. They need to know that Jesus died just for them!!

All I know is that being complacent where I am is no longer acceptable. God is doing a work in me that is like no other work that He has ever done. For a few years now I have been going through a process of Him removing things that distract me from hearing His voice. I know now that I have been arrogant and prideful. Honestly, it has been painful, but very freeing. I have cried countless tears over the loss of strongholds and areas of comfort that He has stripped from me.

Here's the thing. "If people are offended by God Himself, by His authority, his Word, His Son, His history, there is little we can do about that. They will ultimately have to wrestle with Him. But if they are offended by our representation of God, then we will answer for our arrogance. We can help that, and we should." -Interrupted, Hatmaker

So, here we go. I have no idea what God is going to do, but I do know this. My life has been interrupted. No more will the Lord allow me to be comfortable in the pew where I sit each Sunday. He will not allow my heart to be satisfied with my arrogant way of thinking that all people are like me and that only people who are like me deserve to hear about His forgiveness and grace. I am sure that I will be inconvenienced and uncomfortable at times, but I am POSITIVE that sending Jesus to die for me was both of those for our Heavenly Father. Sharing the gospel is so much more than memorizing the Roman Road. It is reaching the needs of people right where they are and loving them no matter what. I am sure it won't be easy, but I'm ready Lord! Let's do this thing called LIFE!

We Are Making Progress!

2010-09-13T08:47:00.001-07:00

You might remember pictures that looked like this in a much earlier post...

WOW! What a mess... Well... FINALLY, we are making some progress to convert the mess to something that we hope is going to be beautiful!

We've started by cleaning everything out (sorry the picture is dark) and helping this little alcove in our playroom look more like a little room itself. You can see on the sides that there are two little doors that lead to our storage area, and I want to make them less stand-out-ish.

It's hard to see the details, but we are adding bead board to the height of the doors all the way around the alcove so that it makes the room look more consistent. I also want this room to be more like a big girl retreat for Caroline as she grows. There's still lots of work to be done, but IT's HAPPENING! FINALLY!!

Once the alcove is finished we plan to add "THE DEST!"

Remember this??

Well, now it looks like this!

And this drawer with the old drawer pulls now look like this!

I am pretty excited about how my first attempt at taking something old and making it new again has turned out. I knew that it would not be perfect so I went ahead and made it look a little shabby. You might as well go with it, right?

It's still in the garage because we are working on it's new home so I will have to post pictures of the finished project when it's all put together! We are planning on a new wall color and some fabric to soften the space and make it more like a bonus room and less like a playroom.

Girlfriend and Pepper are pretty pumped about the changes!

Pretty much... we are a hot mess all the way around!

We have also gotten approval to change the color of our (very faded) front door and shutters! Right now they are such an ugly shade of faded green and I have big plans to spruce that up very soon!

Well, in other news... I start teaching pre-school music this week! You will want to stay tuned because, with one to four year olds, I am sure I will have stories to tell!

On a more serious note... we have been informed that the teachers at Caroline's school are having her observed for a potential classroom setting change and I am NONE too happy about it. I am just praying that the Lord will give me the wisdom and ability to shine for Him while dealing with this so say a little prayer if the Lord brings us to your mind! He IS IN CONTROL and I believe that with all of my heart. I know that it will work out for the best and worrying has done NOTHING to change it. I am seeking to come to Him with open hands and I am asking Him to calm my anxious thoughts as we go through this time. He's faithful! I know He will!

AND on a "GO GOD" note... our Sunday school ladies just returned from a women's retreat and I can not wait to share about it with you. Thing is... I was SO busy that I forgot to take any pictures! Other girls did better with this so as soon as I steal some from them I will be sharing about our AMAZING God and His AMAZING hand of mercy and grace.

DID I SAY 'STEAL'???

Have a blessed day blawg world! See you soon!

The Year of Fours

2010-09-01T11:39:00.001-07:00

You might remember that earlier this year I turned 40.

While it IS a milestone in my life.. and while it makes me feel REALLY old when I meet someone in their 20's and I realize that I am TWICE their age... it has really been just a normal year for me. You do realize that people in their 20's are, like, adults and all, with the ability to be married and have children... right?! Well, that can mess with your mind just a little bit when you are TWICE their age.

I'm just sayin'....

Good grief! I look like my mother! And what did I do to celebrate said 40 years? Ate cake of course! Moving on...

Well, last week my sweet husband turned 44! Would you like to know what HE did to celebrate?

Well, he ran his first 5K, of course!

Don't let the numbers on ALL of our shirts fool ya! He ran the 5K and me and girlfriend did the Kid's FUN RUN! Four times around the track and we were ready for some Gatorade.

He, on the other hand, ran the 5K in just over 30 minutes and I was so proud of him! So proud, in fact, that we forgot take the picture of him crossing the finish line.

What fans we are.

Well, just yesterday we celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary! I was so surprised when he came home from work and announced that though we could not spend lots of money on each other for big gifts, or a fabulous trip, he COULD take the day off and we would just hang out just like we did when we were dating! We decided that we needed to run errands and could have a nice lunch all while our little one was in school. We wouldn't need to hire a baby sitter and spend the money on something expensive, but we COULD just be together. It was wonderful!

One thing that my husband is great at is remembering to see what the traditional and modern gifts are for each of the years that we celebrate. The year that the traditional gift was cotton he got me the SOFTEST jersey t-shirt sheets around. We STILL love them and sleep on them all the time!

This year the traditional gift was ivory. Since I am not much into elephants or their tusks he decided to get me this...

It's ivory in color, and holds much meaning to us as we have walked this journey together with our daughter and the needs that she has. We have to remind each other that it's NOT all bad and that when one is overwhelmed by it all the other is here to be a shoulder to lean on.

Is that NOT the sweetest??!?! I thought so, too.

Yes, I cried. Stop it.

So, it's our years of 4's! 40, 44, 14... sounds like a locker combination.

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That!

2010-08-28T18:42:00.001-07:00

Lots of things are going on around here. Some I'm THRILLED about and some are just day to day things. Either way... here's the short and long of it:

1) We took Caroline to the Developmental Pediatrician where he confirmed that she has a cognitive developmental delay. We were given this diagnosis about a year ago through her psychological testing so it didn't have quite the disappointing affect as it did when they first told us. THANK THE LORD! It basically means that (if we lived this scenario with her 20 years ago) she has the label of mild mental retardation. (It makes my heart squeeeeeze really tight to say that.)

The coolest thing the doctor said was, "Even though the testing shows this diagnosis, the last chapter of her life has not be written! She reads on a 2nd grade level. Many people with this diagnosis make it to, maybe, the 5th grade level so she's half way there. She is very social and outgoing and that will work in her favor. Let her strengths compensate for her weaknesses and let's just see what happens! Keep working and trying as hard as you can. You are doing a good job with her!"

We are going to start speech therapy this fall to help her with some social skills and written and expressive language. While she is social she sometimes can be inappropriate in her socialization so we are going to hit that area hard this year.

It was really an answer to prayer to be able to see this doctor before school started. God is STILL in control and He's going to work in and through this situation. We are just hanging on!

We also have a new special needs teacher this school year who seems to love her. I am excited because she is very talkative and is already keeping me up to date on things really well. Hopefully, this will be the BEST YEAR YET!!

2) I got a JOB! Can you believe it?!?! Me either!!

The pre-school at our church needed a music person and they called me. ME! I have to admit that when I taught school I loved working with the big kids (high school) and working with the little ones were my toughest years. (I know.. it's a little warped to some people) The great thing is that it's part time and it's MUSIC! We are going to march and dance and play drums and be loud and sing, sing, sing! I'm sure I will have my days... stay tuned.... there will be plenty of opportunities to blawg I'm sure!

3) A few weeks ago, while talking to Caroline's OT, we started talking about things that are needed in the special needs community and how we could possibly meet some of those needs. She told me about a family that had a son with severe disabilities who is around 8-9 years old and he has limited muscle control in his mouth so he drools. She said that the boy has an older brother who wears sports stuff all the time and she wanted to find someone who could make some sort of bib that would be more fitting for an older kid... maybe something with sports teams on it. She said that so often people just use dish towels or bandanas to help with this issue, but she wanted him to look nice and more like his brother.

Well, I have limited sewing ability but I can sew... a little. I set out to find some fabrics that would best suit older kids... cute florals, polka dots and checks for girls and sports fabrics for boys. I am in the process of making a few bibs just to see if families might be interested and... well, who knows?? It might be a little side business for me and it might help some families that want to have more dignity for their handicapped children. I'll have to share my findings as we go!!

4) A while back I wrote a post about receiving a desk ("DEST") from a friend and I had plans to paint it and make it all shabby-like! Remember? Well, tonight we were putting the new cute drawer pulls on it so it's ALMOST DONE!! I can't wait to show it to you!! SUCH CUTENESS awaits! That REDECORATING thing is slowly but surely coming along! So much to show you!!

4)God is just really working in me in some different and wonderful ways. He's making my heart more tender towards things. He's making me more aware of decisions that I make and prayers that I pray. He's just so amazingly tangible to me right now and I am so thankful to have Him so close. I am seeing Him at work around me in different people and situations and it's just exciting! Praise the LORD!

Well, I guess that's it for now. I suppose I have some updates coming soon considering all that I have awaiting me... a new therapy for my girl, a new job and some new decorating ideas! Can't wait to share... so stick around! :)

"BUT! I Can't!!!"

2010-08-17T07:33:00.001-07:00

It seems that almost every time I ask my girl to do something new, before she even tries it she says, " BUT! I CAN'T!!!"

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T!?!? You've never tried!!!! Oh, it makes me so mad to hear her say that! YOU GOTTA TRY for PETE'S SAKE!

Before I go on any further I am just going to warn you... this is going to be a rant. Yes, I am going to admit that I am just about sick of something and I might step on some toes... even my own.

You know what I am REALLY sick of? I mean SICK TO DEATH!??! I am so sick of Christians (myself included) hearing God tell us to do something and before we even take a step in the direction of obedience we say (in our best whiney baby voice)" BUT GOD! I can't!!!!!!!!!!!" and we stomp our feet.

Oh. My. Word. What a bunch of spoiled rotten brats.

You know, as her mom, I really try NOT to ask Caroline to do things where I know she will ultimately fail . I try to encourage her to do things that I think she can handle and that she might find some sort of confidence in. I do not ask her to do things that are unreasonable, but I try to help her find new things in which she might succeed.

So, in my finite little pea brain I do this with my own child.

WHAT DO WE THINK GOD IS TRYING TO DO!?!? SET US UP TO BE HUGE FAILURES?!?!

You know, when I ask her to do something new I usually stand right there just to make sure she's got it. I hold out a hand or I offer direction.

Do we think He was kidding when He said "I will never leave you or forsake you!? Hebrews 13:5b

OR what about when He said, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid, What can man do to me?" in the very next verse?!?!

I am really not sure why we are scared. He calls us to do things like love others. Is that really so hard? I mean, I realize that not everyone is easy to love, but we can't be responsible for what THEY do. We are responsible for what WE do.

Right now there are people hurting out there. There are people who need to be discipled and encouraged. There are people who are hungry (both physically and spiritually) and here we sit! (Ok, I don't really sit. I am busy... but am I busy being obedient, or am I busy being... well... busy!?)

Anymore, I don't think "I can't" is an acceptable response from me. I also think that I have been involved in things that have kept me busy but they are not things that God has truly called me to. Some tough decisions may need to be made about how I spend my time.

I do not believe that God is calling me to be some huge success story in His kingdom. As a matter of fact He calls us to be servants. He came as a servant and He calls to nothing more and nothing less.

He does not want me to be so involved with my own growth that I miss the opportunity to help someone else come along in their walk too.

Ok, time to come down from the soap box. I just know that a change is coming. No more excuses. No more insecurities. God is God and I am not and it's not up to me to decide whether or not "I CAN!" If He says to do it... well, He's the Daddy. I think my response should be, "Yes, sir." and my butt should get in gear.

It's what I expect in my own house. How much more does God expect it of me?

Your Mama Heart

2010-08-15T14:09:00.001-07:00

A few months ago I had a lady approach me about a concern that she had for her youngest child. "I know you are a special educator," she said, "and I know your child has some special needs. I just need to ask you a question. If you think things are going on with your child and you ask your doctor and the teacher if they agree, and they say 'Well, kind of' don't you think you should pursue finding out more? My mom thinks I am over reacting, but I see things here! I am concerned."

My response: "Honey, YOUR MAMA heart knows. Your heart knows your child and the Lord is going to use you to take care of that child. Do not listen to anyone else. Your mama heart sees a red flag and you need to follow it! The Lord is working in you to show you what needs to be done. Listen!"

As moms each one of us have a God given sixth sense about our children. In our heart of hearts we know when something isn't right. We also know when a decision is good for our children and we roll things over in our minds a million times as we face new obstacles and make new choices that affect them.

Soon I will take Caroline to a Developmental Pediatrician. It is going to take a while to get in with him, but I understand it's worth the wait. In all that we have done with her (academic testing, psychological testing, occupational therapy, vision therapy, sought out more support in school, etc.) I have handled her caseload. Up until now, my mama heart has prayed and has seemed to sense that the decisions that we've made were good. Now that she's older... well, let's just say it's getting harder.

Last year we received a "diagnosis" that claimed Caroline to be moderately developmentally delayed. Her IQ score was very low and she has some scores that show her functioning at a high 4 year old to 5 year old range. While my mama heart knows that she is not as mature as a typical 9 year old and while I realize that she can not do the work that a typical 9 year old should be able to do, I will not settle with the idea that she may NEVER be able to learn certain things. My mama heart will just not allow me to accept things as they are and never expect her to try or develop into all that she can be.

Being realistic while having expectations that cause our children to strive to be more is what a mama does. We can not allow others, with their opinions and concerns, to stifle us as moms or our kids.

Perhaps your mama heart is telling you that you need to help your child take a new step forward. Maybe all odds are against that child, but you believe that he or she CAN do it regardless of what others believe.

Or maybe you realize that something is not quite right and you believe that other opinions might help your child move out of a hard spot and into a better place. Perhaps professional help in some way is what is needed and you KNOW that it could make a difference.

Please let me encourage you... follow your mama heart. God put that sixth sense in you for a reason and He can use it to spur growth and change in your child like no other.

We are their strongest advocates and we know them like no one else does. Do not be afraid to confront a problem head on and deal with it for them. Certain behaviors and issues that they face may need more than you have to offer so don't be afraid to seek out help so that they might conquer those issues. Do not be afraid to push them just a little harder to help them attain goals that they never thought possible.

Children need their parents. They are growing every single day and it is up to us to take that growth and help it have purpose and live to it's fullest potential.It is a daunting task, but don't worry... your mama heart, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, will show you how.

"If it is Possible...

2010-08-12T19:45:00.001-07:00

... as far as it depends on YOU..."

Yes, Lord? You are talking to me?

"live at peace with..."

Oh! You are talking to me... what was that again? You want me to live at peace... as far as it depends on me live at peace with who?

My family!? Ok, that's pretty easy. I love them and I have to live with them so I guess I need to make that a big effort. My husband is my opposite, but I love him so much. I can definitely live at peace with him.I hate it when we are not on the same page so I want to work hard at that. That's not too bad of a command there...

Oh, no! My friends!! That's what you are going to say, right? My friends! I love them too! They are so funny and fun to be with! Ok!! I can do that! Live at peace with my friends...

The people at church? Well, ok. I don't always see eye to eye with all of them, but I do spend a lot of time there. I have many friends there who are also my brothers and sisters in Christ. I can live at peace with them. It's a little harder to do... if I am being honest, but I can try a little harder... That's no problem Lord.

"If possible, as far as it depends on you live at peace with EVERYONE." John 12:18

EVERYONE!?!? COME ON! EVERYONE!

WELL! I don't know if I can do that. I mean, that evil woman that works at the bank is just RUDE every single time I set foot in there! GOSH! I can not stand her! I can not believe she has a job dealing with the public like that!! She is so rude so I am rude right back! She deserves it for being so mean!

AND THEN... that woman at work! Oh my goodness! She is just plain disrespectful towards the customers and those of us who work with her! I mean, I know she's going through a hard time at home! Her kids are brats and her husband is a jerk, but it's not MY fault! Why doesn't she work hard to live at peace with EVERYONE!? Including ME!?? Do you know how hard it is to be around her EVERY single cotton picking day!?!? All she does is complain.. blah, blah, blah.. and she's always so grumpy!

AND.. oh yes! My MOTHER sometimes just plain gets on my last nerve! She is forever henpecking me to do things differently with my house or my parenting. I get sick of hearing it so I just hang up on her!! I don't want to be badgered anymore about how I can or can not do things better! It's so old and I am never going to live up to her expectations!

I want to live for YOU Lord, but I just don't think I can do it! Live at peace with EVERYONE!?? Only YOU can do that!

"Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's MERCY, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone... Do not be overcome with evil but repay evil for good... " John12:1,17,21

Lord, you are right. I admit that I have not been striving to show those that I can be at odds with the love of Christ. Perhaps I have repaid evil for evil instead of good. Help me Lord.

Help me to be more of a light than ever before for You. Give me words. Show me how to hold my tongue instead of lashing out and help me to pray for those who are struggling. Help me to be the church, YOUR BRIDE, outside of the church walls.

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit IF the Spirit of God lives in you. " Romans 8:9

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

An Answer to Prayer!

2010-08-11T08:05:00.001-07:00

Just one day before this picture was taken this little girl made the biggest and best decision of her life!

After a terrible day of getting in trouble for bad choices and attitudes she became more aware than ever that she is, indeed, a sinner in need of a Savior!

After reading a story in her little girl's Bible she came to me and said, "Mom, this says 'Do you make bad choices?' and I do."

We talked and cried and talked some more and she

ASKED JESUS INTO HER

HEART!!!!!!!!

What a glorious and exciting day for our family!

God is at work and we are praising Him daily for His grace and mercy! Rejoice with me and please say a prayer for her growth in the Lord. He is able to make her dreams come true!!

The Hole

2010-08-01T19:55:00.001-07:00

Have you ever seen a sink hole? Have you ever thought about how serious of a situation that is where entire buildings can just disappear into this hole in the ground? The ground just separates and perfectly sound buildings and cars are just swallowed by this hole. It's really an amazing thing when you see the devastation that one hole can cause!

Lately, I've been looking around at, and listening to, people.

If we really listen to the needs of the people around us they are all really very similar in nature. Many of us have health needs. We have very serious family concerns. We have financial needs that are overwhelming. We are tired and we are unsatisfied. We are all really very similar... with this hole in our hearts that never seem to be filled.

There are times that we feel this huge emptiness that seems nothing can fill. Family situations get harder. Friends feel distant. Work seems impossible. It just seems that nothing is working, and the hole is swallowing our very being.

Sometimes the hole gets smaller. We patch things up with our families. We get a new job. We begin to feel rested and friends are around more often. We laugh. But in the still of the night... or the quiet of the morning... we can still feel the hole.

The thing about this hole, no matter how big WE may feel it is, is that it's a GOD SIZED hole.

Most of the time we are so self consumed that we really don't stop and think just how BIG God really is.

He's the "Creator of the UNIVERSE" BIG.

He's "Able to move mountains" BIG.

He's "Greater than the number of stars in the SKY" BIG.

And He knows the number of hairs on my head... BIG!

We get so busy trying to fill our own emptiness that we don't really stop to realize that maybe we are going about this whole "being fulfilled" thing in the wrong way. I think that, just like the sink hole, if we continue to ignore them, these God sized holes can be extremely dangerous. We start to try to fill it with things that can cause irreparable damage.

Affairs.

Drugs.

Alcohol.

Idol worship.

Chat rooms.

Pornography.

Being so busy that I have no time for anything normal.

We try many self-destructive behaviors that never truly satisfy so we strive and strive for more... only to find the hole is still there, and now we have destroyed our minds, families and the lives of others. There HAS to be a solution.

One thing that engineers do when they begin to look at a sink hole is they begin to look at the areas of weakness around the hole. They have to get an idea of how the hole started so that they can begin to repair it and get things back in order.

Our holes started when we were created. God allowed this GOD SIZED HOLE in each of us so that we would recognize that we will never survive this world without Him. It's like our hearts are divided by this hole and He purposefully put that division there so that HE could fill it.

Read what Ezekiel 11:19-21 says," I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord."

God knows that our hearts are divided. It does not surprise Him that we follow after things that we want to fill these holes. Thing is our "fillers" are like filling a pot hole with sand. Life happens, we feel alone and are hurting and eventually the sand washes away and the hole is still there.

So when this hole is in my chest and I am not sure how I am going to fill it.. how unfair do you think it is to ask my husband to be big enough to fill it? He's not GOD big.

And then there are my friends... is it fair to ask them to fill a hole that only God can fill? They don't have enough time to fill my God-sized hole. They are too busy trying to be moms and daughters and wives and... fill their own God- sized holes. They can not fill mine!

Hosea 6: 3 says, "Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; "

We have to come to the realization that we are putting things in front of God and that we are not allowing Him to be sufficient for us. We are not pressing on to acknowledge Him through out the day and so that hole just grows and grows and grows.

As a believer in Christ that is a very hard statement for me to make. The fact that I am allowing myself to say, "YES! I love Jesus and He is my everything!" and yet not living my life COMPLETELY filled by Him is hypocrisy. I have allowed family, friends and being busy to come between me and God, at times, and I sometimes wake up feeling so empty that I can hardly stand it!

Micah 7:5-7 says," Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- a man's enemies are members of his own household. But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; My God will hear me."

I don't feel that I can't talk to my husband and my family isn't my enemy, but we are ALL human and we do let one another down.

Only God- The PERFECT LAMB Himself is the one who can truly hear our thoughts and lives without condemnation. He- THE OMNIPRESENT FATHER is the only one who knows our struggles and can give us true and lasting solutions. He-OUR JEHOVAH GOD is the only one who loves us enough to truly give Himself for us and COME to fill our hearts completely.

His covenants with us are true and sure. We can trust them fully. He has never left us alone and He has proven Himself faithful throughout the history of the ages.

He has restored me over and over again. He has healed my brokenness. He has calmed my fears. He has rescued me.

He wants to give me an "undivided heart" and a "new spirit!"

It is my heart's desire to live what I truly believe. I do believe and know that Christ came for me. He has saved me from eternal damnation in hell, but he has also saved me from the holes of this life. All I have to do is be faithful in my relationship with Him to ALLOW Him to fill me (and my GOD SIZED HOLE) and live life to the fullest in His redemptive power!

In Christ alone... I place my trust... and find my glory in the power of the cross.. in every victory... let it be said of me... my source of strength... my source of hope... is Christ alone!

I'll Have Fish... With a Side of Black Eyed Peas

2010-07-30T09:20:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been here?

Have you ever seen this SO close up that it takes your breath away?

Honestly the pictures don't do it justice! My husband and I walked in to see the 50 foot tank where a whale shark swam past. It was so amazingly beautiful and HUGE and we both just stood with tears in our eyes. He said, "You do know that before man was created God made these creatures to bring Himself glory!"

Some of the fish didn't even look real! They were so beautiful swimming in schools and creating artwork that we'd never seen before!
One of the more fun exhibits was the one where the penguins interacted with the people. Look at how close my husband is as he sticks his head through this acrylic bowl to get a closer look!

The penguin walked right up and looked him in the eye!
Then there was this strange fish. We still have not identified this crazy creature!

The funniest exhibit was the otter exhibit. They are so well camouflaged that they may be hard to see, but they are cute as a button and so animated!

I mean kicking back with the peeps here... and just precious!
There was so much to see that we just wanted to take our time and take it all in. Huge glassed in areas were available for you to just sit and take in the beauty of God's creation and just marvel at His creativity!
Japanese Spider Crab

If you have never been to the Georgia Aquarium I strongly advise you to make the trip! Our entire family was mesmerized by the wonderful array of exhibits and things to do.
Right across the street from the Aquarium is the Coca-Cola Museum and there were TONS of people waiting to get in so we didn't wait with two small, and rapidly tiring, children!
Oh wait, that's just one of them with the sweetest Paw Paw ever! Here's the other one...

... my sweet niece Taylor!
We decided to go right down the street from the Aquarium to this fun (and less crowded and not overwhelming) place...

The children's museum was not as crowded and we were able to let the kids play a little in the cool air...
Painting...

Playing in the Farm...

Grammy got into the action... milking a cow!

Oh, and daddy got stuck in the slide... shhh... don't tell him I showed you!

HA!
There was even a place to play in the sand and make a new friend!

After all of the fun of the day we decided to walk a few blocks to a really good restaurant where they had the best sweet tea in the SOUTH! (Ok, maybe because we were so hot did it taste like the BEST, but it sure was good!)
Afterwards we walked back to our hotel where the streets were blocked for a concert that Microsoft Corporate was putting on for an employee conference. We saw lots of people heading towards the Centennial Park (which is between the Aquarium and Coca-Cola Museum).There were HUGE puppets...

... and a New Orleans band...

It was really cool to be there during the festivities. People were dancing and playing around.. just having a great time...
We stopped in the park to play..

And as we walked we heard an announcer say, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR..... THE BLACK EYED PEAS!!!!!!!"
WE COULD NOT BELIEVE OUR EARS! We stopped and sure enough... through the trees there were huge screens...

... "Let's get the party started... yea!" The Black Eyed Peas played for two hours outside of our hotel!

Yard Sale-in'

2010-07-17T17:18:00.001-07:00

Today two of my friends and I did a yard sale together. Here are a few lessons that I learned:

1. Do not hold a yard sale in the middle of July lest you plan on sweating profusely and being even MORE attractive than the yard sale crowd.

2. Joining up with friends to do a yard sale is a grand idea! If you are gonna kill yourself for a .25 sale, you might as well do it in good company!

3.You don't have to price every single itty bitty thing. People will not pay that price anyway so why bother?

4. Just put yourself out there if you really want the sale! One of my friends tried to sell a car seat and she was a go getter. She would even say, " You know someone who needs a car seat? Give 'em a call! I'm here until one!" YOU GO GIRL! Loved it!

5. Sending your kids to grandmas while you get ready for the sale is the BEST IDEA SINCE SLICED BREAD!

6. Spending days pulling out junk, pricing it and sitting in the drive way to sell it is a LOT of work. Somehow from year to year I forget this principle and I do it anyway! I am worn slap out!

7. Dunkin' Donuts is your friend.

8. The hubby that goes to get said donuts is your hero!

9. Always fully charge your rechargeable items. Otherwise they will not sell and you will lose the biggest sale that you could have had that day and you will kick yourself 100 times and make a fool of yourself trying to convince the buyer that you are telling the truth and that the thing REALLY is great and works great and you are an honest person that would never lie about something like that just to make a buck!!!!

Not that that HAPPENED or anything.... I'm just sayin'.

10. People will try to talk you down on things that are a quarter and for some strange reason you feel that you need to come down! FROM A QUARTER PEOPLE! A quarter. Wow.

All in all it was a good day and if nothing else it was a great way to get things cleaned out so that I can proceed with my little redo project! It was a lot of work, but I made a little money and my house is cleaner and more organized for the effort. I also got to know two of my friends a little better and appreciate them more now that we have sweated together to make something happen. I wish we would have taken pictures! We were a sight to behold!

One Thing's For Certain

2010-07-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

I do know one thing for certain...that is that there's NOTHING for certain.

Just this week I received an e-mail from Caroline's special ed teacher that she would be leaving our school to serve at another school that is closer to her home. She was totally precious and eager to even meet with us to tell Caroline herself if I thought that was necessary. Her concern for us as she leaves is just so sweet and I obviously want what is best for her and her family, but it leaves me scratching my head.

I prayed. " REALLY, GOD!? We prayed and prayed about our decision to move Caroline from private to public school last year and it has been the hardest thing that we have had to do lately. This lady was really good to Caroline. I felt like You put her there and we are so grateful! She helped so much and we had her to go to as we tried to adjust and now You are taking her?"

Guess what He said. "Yes, child. Nothing is certain, but Me. Do you not think that I can provide someone even BETTER for Caroline? How about you obey me by trusting me and let ME do my job?"

Oh. Okay.

As I type this LeeAnn Womack is singing "I Hope You Dance" in the background. You know, I just want that for Caroline. I just want her to fly so high and be so successful that she can't help but to dance. When I pray and pray for things and they just seem to be HARDER instead of easier it just makes me frustrated and question God.

"Why do we have to go through ANOTHER adjustment?"
"Why are things not coming along for her like I hoped they would?"
"How will she cope with someone new along with a new 2nd grade teacher?"
The questions are never ending!

Thankfully God is big enough to hear my heart. He made me and I know that He can handle my questions and emotions and feelings. He also knows Caroline and He has a plan for her life. (Jer. 29:11) If I think about it long enough I do come to that realization and my anxious heart settles down again.

There are so many things that are uncertain. As I see my mom and dad aging it makes me begin to pray that He will prepare me for when they are no longer here. It seems like a sad thing to pray, I know, since they are pretty healthy and even still working, but my heart struggles so with the uncertainty, and no one knows how long we will live. Only God knows so I am having to trust that He will carry me when that time comes. I pray that I have them for many, many years to come, but I don't know that and my heart breaks to even think about such things.

Not long ago somone asked me how I can trust God so much. Thing is, I don't know what else to do. I sometimes feel like I am just wandering around this earth just trying to make sense of it all.There are many days that I don't seem to trust at all, and then some how my heart comes back around. It's like He calls my heart back and somehow I just long to rest in Him and respond. If I didn't have Him to lean on, pray to and trust in I am pretty sure that I would be INSANE! The uncertanties of life sure can throw us some curve balls. Praise the Lord! He's in control!

Budget Talks 2010

2010-07-09T07:05:00.000-07:00

You know, things are pretty tight everywhere! With so many job cuts, pay cuts and every other kind of cut the economic picture right now is pretty dim. People are doing all kinds of things just to make a buck!

Well, here at the Guinn Inn things have been a little tighter than usual. I have tried to do a few things to help cut back, but it just isn't enough and it has caused, shall we say, a little STRESS!!

Last night we had a "no kid night" (usually known as date night until the budget brought THAT to a screeching halt!) and we decided it was time for a meeting of the minds. So we cooked dinner at home (to save money!) and then sat down at the computer for a little heart to heart over spending. Oh, joy.

It was "THE GUINN INN BUGET TALKS of 2010" and will be televized on CNN next week. Times TBA.

One thing that ~~sorta-kinda-not really~~ got me in the mood to get down to the nitty gritty was this post by the Nester about saving money and getting out of debt. Thankfully my man has been diligent about keeping us out of debt but the saving money part has been harder and harder lately. I am so proud of him because he REALLY tries to not fuss when I spend, and since I do all of the shopping for the family that is a weekly thing!

One thing that has helped us TREMENDOUSLY was taking a Crown Financial Class at our church several years ago. My husband is one of those who could take a paycheck, keep $20 and put the rest in the bank or give it away to needy children around the world. I, on the other hand, would take a paycheck, put $20 in the bank and spend the rest... ON ME! Because I NEEDED A NEW OUTFIT every week! You can imagine the battles that ensued once we married. Oh yea. Not a pretty thing.

So the Crown class helped us to see spending, saving and giving from God's perspective. It helped us see that my way was not the right way (to my great surprise!) and neither was his. We needed some balance. Now that we have been married for almost 14 years we both realize that we still need God's Word as our guide and that neither of us have all the answers.

We made a little progress last night, but the BUDGET TALKS of 2010 will need to reconvein at another date and time. We are already beginning to see where we are careless and that we can do a better job if we work together to make some changes. We need to pay more attention to the details instead of just estimating here and there. I am interested in working some to help with the bills while protecting the time that I spend with my girl as she grows(so I need to do some research and be praying about what God would have for me) AND I could do a better job of shopping around for deals and not just buying items because they are at my favorite store. THEN there's the whole eating out thing! Oh heavens!

One thing I know for sure... without the Lord as our guide I can definately see that we would be going head to head over this whole thing.What are you doing to help your family in these tight times? I'd love to hear suggestions!

A Flood, The Fourth and Other Fun-ness!

2010-07-06T06:45:00.001-07:00

Happy Summer Ya'll!

It has been a little while since I've really sat down and thought about all that has been going on around here! I am so thankful that we do not have the school schedule to live by for a few months!! Usually summer kind of throws a kink into my plans because I don't know what to do with myself or my child on these long summer days. This year, however, we have been busy some, but then we've been enjoying those not so busy times, too. Especially the extra sleep part! YAY for that!

Last week was a busy-but-in-a-fun-way week. Caroline has had lots of therapy (that she actually loves!) and it has been good to see her grow. We had lots of therapy last week with appointments and check-ups, etc. On Wed. we went for a check up and that day was a cloudy day. When we returned from the doctor's office we made it just before the big downpour! Check out our yard after the rain!

We could have ridden the rapids down the street! I don't think we have ever had that kind of river running through our yard after any rain storm!

Well, the rain ended and the next day we decided to head to see my family. I was so glad that we went to spend a few days just hanging out with my parents and brother. Unfortunately, I didn't take ONE picture!

You see, they live in small town America and I just love it! We get to drive down named dirt roads, see all kinds of animals and farming and the food there is amazing because it is all so fresh! They even had the Peach Festival while we were there and we had to leave before the festivities really got under way! Next time, we HAVE to plan better!

We made it home for the 4th of July and man did we have a good time! Some of our long time friends invited us to their house for a cook out where there was face painting...

Nail painting...

(they were alternating red and white... very patriotic!)

... sparklers...

.. and the much anticipated...

FIREWORKS!

All of the kids lined the curb and watched as the daddies lit the fireworks in the street. Aahhh yes... the men were at their finest as they reverted to their childhood days of playing with fire!

Well, hope YOU enjoyed your 4th and that your summer is going well! We are so blessed to live in a country where we have so many freedoms! God has blessed us in so many ways!

See you soon....

My 4th Grade Teacher Called it a "DEST"...

2010-06-24T09:23:00.001-07:00

I have a few friends who are really good at refinishing furniture to make it look shabby-chic...

My friend Cindy had this old desk in her garage and she was just tired of it so she GAVE it to me!

FREE, PEOPLE! FREE!!! Have MERCY! It's a blessing from the Lord I tell ya!

You probably remember that I have been contemplating redoing Caroline's room and making it a little more grown up for her. This desk done in shabby chic style would be SOO cute! She already has a white iron bed and I've shared before that this is my inspiration pic...

I think a white desk and white bed with green walls and bedding (with a touch of pink somewhere) would still be girly and so pretty!

It has these old drawer pulls and the little locks that older desks use to have (so it has character!) and it is HEAVY! I am thinking that she may regret giving up this little treasure!

So I have my sander (that my daddy used to make my bedroom furniture!) and I have discussed the process with my friends so I think I am ready to give it a go! Fingers crossed!! If they can do it I can do it! Right?!?!?

Pray for me. And the dest.

I'm Impressed!

2010-06-20T18:23:00.001-07:00

For a few months now I have REALLY wanted to redo my blog design, but I have NO extra funds to do such a thing! Yesterday I signed on to read other people's stuff and I saw that Blogger had a new "design" tab! I started playing around and I like the choices that they have and how easy it is to make your blog have a more custom look! This header is actually one that my friend Faith made for me a while back and I still love it so I decided to use it again! How about that argyle background!?!? Now that they have options you just never know!! I may have a new design every week! HAPPY BLOGGIN' ya'll!!