Hand in Hand

It's nestled underneath a few trees that offer it shade when it's hot and a blanket of leaves when it's not. Everyday I drive past it I see so much potential and productivity out of it. It radiates beauty in my eyes and gives me a feeling that there could be angels all around it. It stays this way except for a couple times a day that I'm certain of. During these times it is surrounded by laughter and chatter from children waiting on their bus to come. It offers a place to rest for the weary and something to climb on for those who need the exploration. I've learned about being a better wife/parent from reading books while on it. I've had wonderful conversations with friends while standing nearby it. It's just amazing how it's not a resting place or a place to talk to friends or a place to read things until we show up and present ourselves to put it to use. Just driving past only gets us a glimpse. This BENCH is a representation of God and his beauty and radiance and the fact that He is always there with open arms waiting for us to rest in Him. But, until we come into his presence we can not take part fully in what He has to offer us. We can learn so much if we just open up his WORD and begin sitting with Him and reading it.
It might just be an old bench but when I see it I see a place of comfort and healing and I'm so very thankful that God placed it there to be used. Somedays I drive past it and imagine an elderly couple sitting hand in hand praying with one another. It's amazing what we can see if we just open our eyes to our surroundings. I've had mine closed before and missed out on so many opportunities to lead someone to "the bench".
Lord, I praise you for being our resting place and healing comforter. I thank you for your beauty you give us in nature and scenery. thank yo ufor this simple reminder that a bench that we sit on to wait on a bus can be so much more to us just as you can be so much for us if we just take that step towards you and let ourselves fall into your arms. May I never stop leaning on you for my strength and my rest. Allow me to glorify you in all I say and do. Keep my eyes opened to the truth and give me direction concerning certain worries I am having. I pray that I utilize the bus stop bench indefinitely. Thank yo for creating me and for the friends you bring into my life on a daily basis. bless each one of them in a special way Lord. I ask all of this in your name, Amen.

Get your ticket...

I've been a little disgruntled the past day or so over losing one of my blogs after spending quite a while of thought and writing put into it. I even woke up yesterday morning with a pit in my stomach because of it. After giving the loss and the initial frustration over to God I can honestly say I feel completely better about it and am up for writing a new one.
I've always enjoyed watching scary movies and became very addicted to a specific series of them. It was as if there was a gap I was trying to fill by getting a dangerous scary high from watching them, but all I was doing was filling my mind and heart with gore and foul language. The next movie of this series came out yesterday and I've always been THE FIRST IN LINE to see it when it comes out but this time around I wasn't feeling as anxious to watch it yet at the same time I was still battling whether or not I was going to go see it. I have battled this for quite a while now. I even threw out a bunch of my scary movies 6 months ago and then i accumulated two or three more since then. In my devotions this morning I read Romans 16:18-20 and it states, "For such people are not serving our Lord christ, but their own appetites. by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." THIS HIT A NAIL OVER MY HEAD because How am I to be innocent about what is evil if I am filling my brain with it and paying money to do so??? I feel I was filling my own appetite just as this verse says and everyone has heard about my obedience and God is full of joy over me, why would I want to go ruin that??? For you it might be something else that is hindering you from allowing God to be joyful over you or you may be making decisions that are evil in God's eyes concerning something completely different. We know we should be exercising our bodies and putting healthy foods into them so shouldn't we also be doing the same for our minds??? If we let our intellect fade and numb our minds with useless things, that is what will come out of us in the form of words, ideas, or actions. And this is so true for me because when I watch a horror film I end up not only being afraid later when it's dark in the house but my mind goes back to the gore and terrible sinful scenarios and replays them until I am in a worry in my mind over 'what if this happens to me?' And then I begin to doubt God's protection and I begin to dwell on the "rush" of the sensation the movie made me FEEL....but, we are not to be making decisions based nearly upon feelings but also upon God's word and what we KNOW he is speaking to us about. I had been in prayer about this movie for a short while now and I am greatful to say that I do not need to go see this film to have my gap filled. He is slowly filling in my crevices and holes with HIM and His word and I am blessed by this!
Something I too can cling on to is Phillipians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Perhaps I will go make my own movie now and finally get rid of the rest of the ones that were keeping my mind stuck in a place it ought not to be! Tickets go on sale next weekend...

Stuck on Bandaid!

Just minutes ago I had a nice looking finger until a rotten hangnail got in there and I did the oh so famous mistake of pulling it and caused me some pain and a bandaid to cover up my mistake! Thankfully the bandaid will help heal it up and I won't have to type with a big piece of "tape" around my finger anymore. It is very awkward to have this on while trying to convey a message!
This makes me think of our lives and how we have nice things going for us and everything is looking great until we come across a stumblingblock or a hangnail so to say that causes us to give in and pull it thus resulting in pain, suffering and annoyances. I am so thankful that we can go to our HEALER (bandaid) who created us and he will restore us back. There may always be that scar from the initial tug in the wrong direction but the next time the hangnail is hanging out we can remember the painful process and choose to not yank on it and keep ourselves beautiful..inside and out!
I was in prayer and was reminded today of how important it is to be encouraging to one another regardless of the situations we are in. In Romans 12:8 I love what it says, "If it isyour gift to encourage others, then DO IT! If you have money, share it generously (this direction please!! lol) If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. and if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." HOW VERY TRUE IS THIS?? I have to often force myself to find something nice to say to my own husband because I do not naturally feel it at times. God has given me such a plepheral (not sure if that is a word) gift of being an encourager these days but that doesnt' mean I always put it to use. We ought to be utilitizing the gifts God has given us and even if we do not feel we were instilled with encouragement everyone can say "thank you or you look nice or wow, that was a nice thing of you to do today" Do it with the right spirit of not just wanting to feel better about yourself but because you truly want to brighten up someone else's day and help them become a better person and in turn you too will become one. We should never feel as if we have reached any mark of being finished with using our gifts and talents. We also shouldn't compare with others. (I do more then he/she does so therefore I'm doing fine)...Keep yourself in check with Jesus and know that there is always more encouraging, giving, and teaching you can do. Help others to not pull their own hangnails by being involved in their lives and the more you open up and do this you will find that you no longer have hangnails of your own that even decide to come up because they know they won't get pulled anymore! If God be for us, who can be against us? Don't let Satan be a stumblingblock to you if God is talking to you about something specific. Take that step and obey. Let Jesus be the last bandaid that you need! Stick to Him and you will stay in good condition!

Doing something wise with it.

Someone in my hometown won the lottery the other day...I wonder who it was...I wonder if they will use their money wisely that God has given to them. I think of Job who was blessed beyond measure with riches and glory and yet he chose to serve God with his wealth, despite the hardships.
Although finances are sometimes hard God has always supplied for us (My God shall supply ALL your needs according to his riches in glory) and continues to do so. We have been struggling to figure out how we were going to pay for my dental bills for quite a while now. I have put off getting work done for 2-3 years now because of finances. We finally decided we were going to do it no matter what. God intervened via NAVY MARINE CORPS RELIEF yesterday and we were given two checks totalling almost $2,000. This covers the bulk of what I need done. This was such an answer to a prayer and blessing to us that I probably havent' even fully thanked Him enough yet for it.
My parents, bless their hearts sent us some money too to help out with the boys and dental and put towards christmas since we had almost delinquished our account. I am so greatful for loving supportive parents who see a need and feel led to help meet it. Thank you Lord for the parents you have given me and for all the years that I turned my back on them you allowed them the energy and the strength to keep their eyes fixed on you. Bless them for their words and thoughts and kind deeds. May they continue to find favor in your eyes. Amen.

Today I am overly tired and emotionally exhausted. It's been a very long week and I am a little upset at myself for missing about three days of doing my blog but I'm not going to beat myself up over it! God has still been teaching me new things daily and I strive to apply them to my life.

We went to a parenting bible study/life lesson this morning that we are involved in at church andI so enjoy soaking up the info and the experiences from other families and the pastor and Michelle. I love seeing other people's perspectives on things and giving me pointers on how to approach certain situations in behavior, etc. I struggle with comign together with my husband beforehand so that we can back each other up and be consistent. This is definitely a prayer of mine that he and I would get on the same terms and likeminded in our parenting so that it would not cause any more strife. I feel like I am so stressed out with the kids the past couple days, and not because of them but because of the immense arguing Sam and I have been doing. Satan is poking his head in on our business and trying to rip us to shreds right where he knows we struggle and I will be doodlebusted if I am going to stand by and let him do that. It is now that we need to look to God even more for our strength, answers and guidance in this situation.

I keep thinking today is Sunday when in actuality it is only Saturday!!! Was supposed to have someone over tonight to hang out but I am not sure if I can manage it without a good nap.
So, on that note, I am off to lay down and rest my body and mind and spirit.
I trust that whoever won that money is out doing something wise with it and if it were my parents that they send me even more of the "love" soon! lol

Filling up the backpacks

Sitting here at the very tail end of the day I look back over it and am trying to collect from it something or somethings that I learned. Because, everyone knows you are "supposed to learn something new every day" right??? This morning I learned that I should have checked my son's homework on friday instead of 3 minutes before the bus pulled up and I saw an assignment to find something that started with 'W'. I quickly thought "what starts with W that I can send in his bag??" OF COURSE...WATER...so I fill up this little tupperware container and then stick it in a gallon size ziploc bag and down into his backpack. All the while praying and crossing fingers that it stays inside the sealed bag and doesn't spill on his papers. After I put him on the bus I was able to think of many other W things I could have used but it was too late.
Something else I learned was that sometimes we meet someone and waste too much time staying in the distance and not getting to know them until it is too late and they are moving away. Had a playdate this morning with a friend who is moving in a month and I neve rhave gotten as close as I would have liked to. so, we are gonna stay in touch and do the fb thing I am sure..the last thing i learned from all of that was if you get somewhere 15 minutes earlier then the other person you should get out of your car and wait up front for them so they aren't the ones finding you still sitting in your car talking on your phone. She scared me because she called me then I looked out the window and she was standing in front of the restaurant. so I had to laugh at myself then. for there was nothing else to do. when I got inside I learned after ordering my meal and sitting down that I had forgotten to order a drink so I made a mental note to self to order a drink the first time so I dont' have to go back throuhg line like I did today to get a drink. and somehow my drink cost more then my meal...how does that happen? it was coffee. and my meal was soup. hmmmm. I learned that a great friend of mine is hurting badly and I shared my heart with her and am praying for her situation and will always be greatful that she entrusted me with this info. Later I learned how giving people are when I got a call from a store on the mall saying they had more shoeboxes for me. I got there and was able to fill about 12 big garbage bags full of shoeboxes for operation christmas child. Now I am working on getting people to fill them up. I spent this evening with a friend picking up her son from the dr.'s office and just being there for her when she needed someone to be there. I learned that it is good to have solid christian friends who can pick you up when you can't pick yourself up and in turn will be there for you in your times of trials. I learned that my children love me very much indicated by them verbally telling me this tonight! :) they are becoming more and more obedient each day and I pray for t heir souls and their futures and the decisions they will make down the road that they be God honoring ones and not self pleasing. I am their role model and so this places me in a frame where I am stared at always to see if I am living up to the criteria of the "perfect example"?? I don't imagine anyone can be that except for Jesus himself. We are to continue to be like Jesus day by day and walk in his shoes and teach our children and those around us of His word and truths and promises. And am learning how to do this without sounding culty or too overspiritual. I'm in three differetn bible study groups now and on a praise team. It's great for my soul but I need to learn to remember to apply it and what I am learning into my real life or else it is all pointless. Things are always subject to change. in 2 Cor. 4;18 it says, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen;for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." We tend to be visual learners and can't fathom believe something that isn't there. Obviously God is there whether we believe it or not. He is always around us waiting for us to follow His leading. No matter how hard your body is hurting hie words say, "by his stripes you are healed" No matter how bad your finances are his word will always say, "My God shall supply all your needs" I pulled out a winter coat two days ago and was completely broke and needed to run get something but had no money. I reached down in the pocket and there was 8 dollars. And then later that day a friend of mine gave me a belated birthday card and it had 20 dollars in it. I tried to give it back saying that was too much but she refused. It was just amazing How God sent two visuals for me to see how He works when I already knew he could . Don't settle for what the world says you can ha ve. Lay hold of what the WORD says you can have. Center your attention on the etneral truths of god and look not to the things which are seen. After all, they're subject to change. Just like our military orders. We just got told that we are now on a four year rotation which puts us staying here till march of 2011. My prayer now is that God will find us a home we can rent/buy soon and not have to pay a nasty move out fee here. We want something a little more spacious but not crazy big yet...just more room for the kids to play and for us to have our own place instead of sharing with others in a building. Today I've learned that by throwing our hurts down into the pit that we once were in is in a sense throwing them at the feet of Jesus and just leaving them there....He will cover them and they will be no more. His poor feet have taken so many things from me being flung, tossed, chucked, yanked off and slung his direction...but Praise God he is allowing us to send them in his direction!! So, what is it that you collected from your day today? Was it noticing someone who needed help and you possibly helped them? or did you bypass them thinking they could manage on their own? No one can manage alone...we all need Jesus. You can try to go it alone but let's just meet up in a few weeks and you can tell me where your life is at and I will share with you where mine is at t hat point. So, in a subject to changing world something we can rest assured on is the 7,000 promises that god promises to cover any circumstance you'll ever face. And no matter what happens those promises will forever be the same. let's begin collecting good change, the word of God daily in our lives, prayer, collect a good attitude. it surely will take you very far in life as opposed to a nasty attitude that may leave you high and dry and miserable. Seek the Lord, put him FIRST remember there is always a promise for every situation and God will never leave you or forsake you.
so, w hat starts with W? WORD of God and WISDOM from his WORD. These r things we ought to carry in our backpacks each day! I'm going to fill mine up tonight so it's ready in the morning!!!

nutshell

I was rushing around this morning getting everything ready for church. I was going early to help setup the welcome table. So off I go and when I get there it's alreayd set up... was reminded that it was YOUTH sunday so they were taking care of EVERYTHING...saw some boys in the hallway goofing off and the one had climbed up into the trash can and then he climbed out. I thought it would mak ea great picture for the youth group bulletin board....so i asked him to get halfway in it again...so he does but ends up getting somewhat stuck and thenthe pastor comes along and I had to say, "I TAKE TOTAL BLAME FOR THIS..I ASKED THEM TO GET INTO THERE"..lol so, out he came and was thankful it was just recyclables in there!!
the teacher was sick so we kept the boys in with us...they did great with crayons, papers and rachel sitting beside them to keep them company. The message was preached by the pastor's son, Johnny. He spoke a great sermon on living in the world but not of the world...Jesus came to the world and lived amongst them and was never tempted by them to sway his thoughts or actions. he reached out to those in need. Just as we should be doing.
After service we ran home and changed and then Michelle came and picked the boys and I up and we drove to rachel's field hockey game. that was an interesting game to watch!!! Rachel did really well and Kyler was cheering her on...it was cute!
played at park for a little while and then we went and got ice cream at a place that was closing tonight for the season. Came home after that and I left at 4:30 for a bible study at a friends house. This study is on the old and new testament laws, stories, etc...it's going to be very interesting finding out all this stuff in intricate detail...and, it has homework....
I'm pretty exhausted now because I am still recooperating from saturdays activities and little sleep last night!!
tomorrow i have a playdate in the morning and then a meeting with a friend at panera bread at 1. bus stop at 3:45, then not sure what the evening has in store for me...probably reading or studying...

that was my day in a nutshell...now it's time for me to go to bed...

Do you have insurance?

Of course you are a good driver but what's to say the other 100 thousand people out there aren't? This is one reason we need insurance. Let's say you decide to go the back way to work to avoid traffic hassle and you end up stopped and waiting behind a huge accident. Or you end up in one. Although nothing was wrong with the decision you made to go that direction, ultimately the choice you made took you down the path to an abrupt stop . If you had chosen to go the other route you might be thinking, "I wouldn't have been late for work and had to waste so much gas stopping and going or I wouldn't have been hurt and injured and car totaled. But, if there is a reason behind everything that occurs then we ought to believe that no matter which direction we had taken we were at the risk still of being privy to things going into disarray. We make decisions every single day that affect not only us but those around us. One tiny choice can change the entire course of your day. What would have been ended up not being because you chose something else. I keep trying to figure out in my mind if Adam and Eve had never bit into that apple when they did how long it would of been until someone came along and did it? Were they on a time limit if they got to a max number of days they had made it and no longer had to worry about starting the fall of man??? God already knew they would do that though so I wonder if He even needed to have a separate option of path in his mind if he knew that the path they took was already their destiny.
Why then do we need to make decisions if God already has it all figured out and nothing we do is going to change what He knows of us. We can't surprise him by always doing right or making a mistake once in a while. He knows we are going to do that before we even do it. So why is He yearning for us to choose righteously if He already knows we will or will not. Can he change our minds/hearts without it having changed His?? It's so much to fathom . I have changed the way I was living as many people do by just making daily righteous decisions instead of wrongful ones. God wants us in his presence but knows that tomorrow we may not be if we choose to do B over doing A.
In Ephesians 4:22-31 it talks about choosing to throw off your old self (devil nature) and choose to renew your thoughts and to display a new nature because you ar ea new person. Letting your words you say be an encouragement to others and to rid yourself of bitterness, anger, rage and slander. We are clearly told what decision to make right here so why would we ever not choose this way?? Why would God tell us to do this stuff then stand by and knowingly let us fall into temptations path? The only thing I can come up with is because he doesn't want robots for children. Instead, he wants those whose hearts and minds are focused on him but still are able to be tempted. It makes us stronger when we resist temptation and turn to Him then when we give in to the temptation and have to come crawling back. And then it's even harder to stay focused because of the memory of the wrongful action. Remember that Jesus was tempted but he resisted it by quoting scripture. How pure his mind must have been as well to of not even sinned in thought process. If we start cleaning up our dirty road and signs along the way we might be able to see what direction the sign is telling us to take and thus make a wise choice as opposed to a hurtful one. And to do this we need to pick up our bleach, rags and swords (the bible)so we can defeat the enemy from taking us in the wrong direction. And in turn avoid BIG failures in life. Soak yourself in the word and prayer and memorizing verses/passages. I so struggle with memorization so it's something I need to pray that God would give me the ability to retain it when the time comes to have it to stand up against that old nasty Satan and his tricks!!! I can see where the devil could easily grab hold and rip this marriage apart again and in all honesty the past couple days I have been feeling distant, distracted, stressed and not even knowing why and it has effected the relationship I have/am rebuilding with hubby. We've been arguing more again and I'm feeling put down like I used to and I KNOW THIS IS FROM SATAN..he is trying to attack me with these doubts and feelings...I've drawn away from Sam just a little bit but inside am not wanting to be doing that, but because I choose to draw away I live with the red flags flying up all over the place saying, 'warning, warning...get back on top of your marital devotions and praying and communicating because if you slowly fade out it's as if yo are throwing your own mud on your road sign and will be harder to get back to where you belong the further you go on that journey. So, let's DECIDE to willfully choose what that still small voice is telling us so that in turn we can avoid all accidents altogether on the way home. It is a daily choice we make to sign our day and life over to the Lord. I am endeavoring to get my mindset in line and do better at being a loving wife as opposed to a stressed out frustrated aruging one. let all anger and wrath and bitterness be GONE... I am trusting in Jesus to be my insurance and coverage on this trip! Do you have insurance?? If not it's time to DECIDE TO get on your knees and get the complete coverage package!

Better think twice..

Did I seriously just blow on my ice cream because it was too cold in my mouth?? I am thinking my reflexes are a little out of wack. Why do the kids wait until bedtime to start coughing up a major storm? I just emptied the humidifier so it wouldn't grow mold in it and I thought, "Oh yeah, they aren't having colds anymore so we don't need this thing now" And now they are in there hacking and snorting up their snot. ewwww... Kyler was munching on something the other day for like 1 whole minute and I asked him what in the world he had in his mouth because I had not given him anything to eat. His four year old little serious voice piped up and said, "mom, I'm eating my booger and it' sa chewy one so it takes longer" I WAS NOT SURPRISED and it was too late to do anything about it. Just told him that boogers belong in kleenexes and if you must eat them then do it in the privacy of your own room! lol how's that for good advice?
Speaking of advice God gives us some clear cut advice in so many areas of life . What I relearned this morning was that God advises us to run to Him not away from Him in our trials. We have never done anything so bad that God can not wipe away and we be able to move on in our spiritual lives. In I John 2:1 it says, My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But, if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely.
I felt this morning as if my attitude were all over the place and my thoughts were definitely not his thoughts and so my actions were not what His would of been either. Just the way I grumpily bumped along today off and on was more depressing for me than anyone else. I kept trying to be vibrant and chipper but my fuse was shorter then usual today and I still need to stop and ask God to forgive me for getting so worked up over small little details or issues in my life that could be better dealt with if I were to just pray in my struggles instead of lose sight and faith altogether.
Sharp uncomfortable pain has been shooting out of the middle of my back and off my right shoulder all yesterday and today. I took ibuprofen earlier and a muscle relaxer but it didn't seem to help any. I still feel twisted like pretzel as I said yesterday. But very sore and nothing seems to be helping. Perhaps I need to practice better posture, which I am trying to do when I sit here but often I slump over and then it starts hurting worse. I could not have a job where I had to sit behind a desk all day. I would go insane not being able to get up and go do stuff somewhere else. I am a go go go people person most of the time. So sitting down every day all day is difficult for me. Unless I am on facebook. ha ha ha. Just pray that this will subside sooner then later. I count myself blessed to have a functioning back and shoulder though so I am not trying to complain, just sharing what is going on painwise.
A few weeks ago Kyler had scratched on the kitchen table with a fork. He had engraved alphabet letters into it. He denied having done it at first and then later he finally came to and admitted it. so he was punished and then a couple weeks later He had done it again and Cade caught him in the act. He was disciplined again and put to bed at 6:00 when it occurred and it made him sad that Cade and I were still up and he couldn't come play. I thought, surely this will end his fork engraving days...but sure enough but this morning at breakfast he and cade were eating and I heard the infamous holler, "mooooooooommmmmm, Kyler's cutting on the table again.." so I went over and caught him in the act and asked him why he did it?? " He replied something to the effect of "cade was singing the song wrong or had said something wrong in his mind..." either way, it had nothing to do with needing to dig the letter A into our nice kitchen table. I sware we need one of those plexiglass things over top. Suffice it to say, he lost two days of playing games/tv. And for Kyler that's a lot since his famous quote when I say it's time to turn the games off and play something else is, "but that's the only thing we know!" which is SOOOO NOT TRUE. these kids play a lot of games but they also love playdoh and legos and coloring and playing regular board games too. But he cracks me up with the things he says.
I still have to run an errand tonight since my husband decided to go to sleep at 5:00 or so. I was going to send him but I guess it will be me! I need to get out anyways...had a long day!
Tomorrow is the Elkridge FireHouse open hall from 10-2 if anyone wants to come. I will be working there and I have no clue what I will be doing, but wherever they need service done I will be volunteering!
Going to try to get some good rest tonight as well. I just hope I don't have goofy dreams like I did last night...I woke up because in my dream a friend of mine was calling me, same ringtone that she has on my phone and this is what woke me up this morning right at the perfect time...so I ended up texting her at 5 a.m. to thank her for being my wakeup call in my dream! ha ha. she was up too, cuz we go walking...didn't want you to think I go around calling my friend at the wee hours of the day...you migh tthink twice before getting to know me eh? :)
Goodnight!

Pretzled

I'm feeling very twisted up like a pretzel today. For some reason or more then one reason my fingers are taking turns going numb and tingly and my back has been twisted/twisting all day causing pain to shoot up and down the spine. It then sends tingly numb feelings down the leg into the foot. right now I am praying about it as opposed to getting fearful that it could be more then overuse of a computer for the finger/hand thing. Praying it isn't anything critical. My vision has been going a bit blurry today too...
I managed to get a lot done today though despite the minor muscle ache setbacks!!
Sometimes I feel like my spiritual life is pretzled up...all twisted and entertwined around myself. What I need to continue to focus on is putting God in the center of that pretzel and then entertwine myself around Him.
I am going to choose to praise Him in this pain and bless his Holy name. "By him therefore let us offer th esacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15)
I want to continue to experience the joy of realizing that God is indeed "rich in mercy" because of His great love with which He loved us. Praying that my faith will rise to new levels and my Father will be blessed, and in turn I will be blessed through my pain.
Speaking psalms and praises magnify God. Singing songs to him magnify His name.
I believe that if we are wrapped around God as the center of our life then the pretzel twisting will begin to unfold into the shape of a cross and our name will be put on that cross as an eye opener that He died for ME , this sinner who deserved to not go to heaven, and he not only did that but he offered Himself to let me wrap back up in His wings when I feel I couldn't make it on my own. Which is most of the time!
I want to not let a moment go by that I am not blessing the Lord for grace, mercy and love and gifts he has bestowed upon me. May we seek to be pretzled around HIM so that he can unfold his truth to us and further bless us in the process.

Enough for 5,000

Ever have one of those days where you just want to get away from everyone and rest?This morning I learned In Mark 6:31 that Jesus says, "Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest." He and the disciples had that days form of paparazzi flocking after them so they took off in a boat to find a quieter spot. So many people saw t hem leaving and they ran along the shore to meet them when they got out. Jesus thought of them as sheep without a shepherd and He had COMPASSION on them and ended up teaching to them. Later when the disciples were even more tired they became hungry and started wondering where they would get food to feed everyone from? First off they were doubting already that God could provide and second they were not having compassion because they asked for Jesus to send the crowds AWAY so they could eat instead of offering or having faith that He would provide and having Compassion upon these people who desperately were seeking the words of Jesus. I believe in my own mind that the disciples sometimes took Jesus for granted and didn't see what a wonderful person they were blessed to be hanging out with. I wonder though in our lives do we take Jesus for granted and doubt that He could bring us through something that seems impossible? I know I have. I want to start being even more compassionate to others. Compassion has never been one of my strongholds so I have to daily ask the Lord to help me with it. If it's something you struggle with, give it over to God and see what miraculous thing He can do with you. Let yourself be used as an instrument for His glory.
Matthew 9:36 states, "But when he saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. "
Just remember...he can take your five loaves and two fish and turn them into enough to feed 5,000! Let's be tenderhearted towards one another so that Christ's light will shine through us and we will have the "paparazzi" following us wanting to learn more about Him.

Breakfast:Open daily

Do I wear the red shirt or the black shirt today? Do I eat cheerios or corn flakes? Do I buy this item on sale or save my money for something I more desperately need? The list of daily decisions could go on and on. This morning I asked God to show me me something from His word and that was a decision I made when I prayed. If you choose honey o's instead of the other two cereals it's not going to be that much effect or if you change your mind about the two shirt colors and decide to go with brown it's not going to be a major decision breaker but when you ask God for something and He shares it with you and you choose to go against His will that can make for a rough day. We have the right to choose where we want to spend eternity. If you are speaking with someone and they do not believe in a God or salvation but rather that Jesus was just another man walking on this earth and that God can not save us ask them, "what if they're right?" See what they respond with, but be sure to then ask them, "what if they're wrong?" What if Jesus was a man but he died on a cross to save you/me/the world and He is yearning for us to reach out to Him and ask him for that salvation and to partake in His daily blessings and an eternity with Him. How much of life would be wasted thinking you were right when all along your view was distorted? It is now that we need to be praying so much for those around us who may not know Christ or may just think he could not save or give any hope for everlasting life. I've spent a good portion of my life running away from God and trying to make myself decide that I didn't need Him or that He wasn't there because of certain scenarios that had occurred. The problem with that always was, that HE WAS STILL THERE and still is daily. He is always reaching down and has his loving arms open to us and is begging us to make the right decisions to follow him and to bring others with us. I heard someone this past weekend talk about how we can go to bible studies, read daily, pray and pump ourselves full of biblical knowledge but if we are not choosing to go out and share it with others then we are infected with "theological obesity". What decision is God asking me to make today? I pray this morning that He will give me a new set of eyes to start my day with that I may see others in the way He sees them and that the choices I make will glorify Him and not self or others. Down to the words that come out of my mouth and the thoughts that fly through my head. There is a song we sang as a child, "Just two choices on the shelf, Oh what could the choices be, pleasing God or pleasing self, Oh I would more like Jesus be!!" How awesome to please Him rather then ourselves. It sure brings me more joy each day and I can tell on the days or moments when I decide to do things my way. They always go awry and I end up in a bigger mess then I was to begin with. We need to be digesting into our hearts GOD and his Word so that when situations arise and decisions need to be made it is our natural instinct at that point to choose How he would deem fit!
I have felt God leading me the last few weeks into different church ministries and also for praying more openly. It seems like something that would be easy for me, a talker, a natural people person, but it hasn't always been. I've battled with it for years. God has given me such a desire and joy though lately to put Him first and please Him by jumping in at church and serving in any place they need help. I chose for so long to sit back and just watch others serve. It is/was high time I changed my decision and Oh the joy that comes when we choose what He wants. He makes no mistakes and is certain to give us that extra blessing we need and confirmation that will get us through knowing we chose properly. I have been praying more in my own quiet time as well as in public settings and it's not as scary as it was at first. When you choose to follow His leading He gives you what you need...it's taking that first step that is the hardest. But once you are on His path He promises to not leave us or forsake us, so why is it that we choose to do that to Him?? I pray that I would purpose to not let any sort of fears get in the way today of choosing right. Lord, may you be glorified in my every thought, action and words today. Bless all who are striving to please you but may not always do so. Continue to bring them back to you and to help them see where wrongful decisions take us/them and that being in your Will is such a healthier, more joyous place to remain.
So now it's breakfast time...hmm....cheerios or toast and eggs??? I don't think there is any wrong decision here except to choose not to choose and then I would go hungry. I am so greatful for a full breakfast bar that is open daily to come to in His word...Breakfast without Him causes deep hunger, so whether eggs or cereal be sure to eat something today!!

Maintenance is coming tomorrow to do a routine check of filters, fire alarms, etc....I have been scurrying around cleaning up things and making sure the hallways were free of clutter so they can walk through without tripping on toys/clothes. I want to make it presentable when they come. As I am writing this I am now thinking, "what if we put as much effort into our spiritual lives with making sure hallways were free of clutter and cobwebs as we do with our physical"??? I wonder what our lives would be like. Instead of rushing around to clean bathrooms we were rushing around to get our bible and read it so we could clean out our minds from impurities that might be lurking about. Just a thought...I hadn't planned on taking this direction with this blog, but God had different plans when he struck me with that thought and led me to write it! :) YAY GOD!
I visited the endodontist today for a root canal consult and was praising the Lord when the dr. told me it did not need retreated, only capped! This will save us quite a bit of money also hassle, pain and time! My next step is wisdom teeth extraction . I will keep you updated on how/when that is/goes.
This afternoon I went to a friends house and helped her organize her room. I enjoyed spending time just chatting with her and getting to know her better as we cleaned. she plays guitar so we sat down and sang some songs when we finished up cleaning and it was so nice to just sit back, start singing and worshipping from her room. You need not be in a church or at a church function to worship and praise God. After I left there I came home and spent the evening playing with the kids. Kyler had learned his lesson last night about hitting and throwing fits so I was proud to say none of that occurred tonight. Also, BOTH boys have implemented in and been using EACH TIME the new interrupt rule. Where they grab my arm/wrist to get my attention instead of hollering out, mom mom mooooooooommmmmmmmmmm.....once they do this I acknowledge them within a minute or two and address the situation. This causes less stress and screaming and teaches manners and respect. I am so greatful to Michelle for sharing this with me! I am praying it continues to work. My husband even followed it yesterday when I was talking to someone and he wanted to talk to me too. LOL.
I am so tired but I am dying to start up on this new book...it's Dobsons', bringing up BOYS...I've had it for awhile but just haven't read it all the way through so i am just going to start over cuz it's been awhile since I began reading it. could use a fresh start!
Hoping for a good nights rest tonight and the ability to get up and go walking tomorrow. I've not been since last week...
going to go enjoy lying my head on the pillow and passing out for a few hours! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Needs a ruler

Ever had one of those days where your parenting was off by 3/4 of an inch the whole day? Mine started out waking up groggy to darkness outside which makes it even harder to get up. I heard little footsteps then peeled my eyes open to see Kyler standing right in front of my bed saying, "mom, it's time to get up and play!!" I rolled over, looked at the clock and told him "give me 5 more minutes" My poor children's concept of time will be messed up because my 5 minutes becomes 20. Once up Cade got up too. We decided he needed his hair cut because it was getting shaggy. Up until this morning he had been all for this idea. For some reason he chose this morning to have an emotional meltdown over it to the point where the back of his neck was all splotchy and red and looked like fingerprints. This upset me because it appeared we abused him when this isn't the case. sam and I made it clear to him that he couldn't get up and run off until the haircut was finished and he had taken a shower. He didn't care if his hair was cut all the way or not he just wanted to be done. Sometimes arguing comes naturally with a 6 year old but it gets me NOWHERE fast. I am learning to speak my case, and leave it at that. It is because I say so, you do because we say. Instead of mommy's nurturing explanations all the time. This is easier said then done at times. I just end up feeling as if I owe them something if I am too stern, yet I know they need that firmness and consistency. Thank goodness we are taking a parenting course through the church. And I am reading Dobson's BRINGING UP BOYS. And mom and dad had gotten us a cd collection called, total transformation I have been listening to latelythat has handy tips/advice on different behaviors.
Ok, so we get ready for church and leave and we no longer are out of the parking spot when Kyler begans a massive cryfest over not having a toy in the car. I threw a pair of socks back to him and told him to play with those. This did not accomplish anything at all (note to self). Cade found a toy and gave to Kyler and instead of me going back and taking it away as I should have because of the fit he threw I let myself be content since he was being quiet and I was already a little frazzled from the earlier event. Church was wonderful, was good seeing everyone, kids did well in their classes, we helped pick up afterwards and they even played in the gym for a bit...no problems. THEN, I was talking to the pastor's wife and Kyler comes up and wants to show me "peter pan" on the bulletin board. He began interrupting and then screaming for my attention. My natural response is to look down at him and find out what he wants but I knew this was not the best choice. I tried ignoring it and that didn't work so I ended up naturally responding. I had my hands full and was helping pick things up so I couldn't be drug off to look at the board he so desperately wanted me to see. Plus, I was STILL TALKING..imagine that.... :)
thankfully, Michelle in her sweet kind way shared with me the interrupting rule where the child is taught to grab the arm when they want something and wait till we respond. She helped me assess the situation and I had Kyler apologize to me for his screamfit, he attempted to say sorry to her and ended up just hugging and then i gave him a second chance to take me in and show me the board without screaming. This played out well...until we got to pizza hut and both kid began interrupting. I had explained the rule in the car, shouldn't they of GOTTEN IT??? They both finally started grabbing my arm but Cade would end up talking while he was grabbing. I'm not sure if they ever mastered it but they did do a little better by the end of the day. (you might wanna ask Michelle what her opinion was on the matter. lol)
the rest of the afternoon was pretty decent with no mistakes in it...until around 5:45 when Kyler decided he would punch cade repeatedly because he didn't win the tic tac toe game. I had already warned them once about fighting and said they would be going to bed early if it occurred. I sent Kyler straight to his bed and he has beenthere since. Aside from getting up to go pee. Cade turned out to be very very wonderful and loving and fun tonight. We did playdoh and drawing and legos together with very good conversation and no arguing or backtalking or whining. he said I was a sorta funny mom at one point...I asked him if that was ok and he said, "yeah, I like that you are so silly, but you aren't as silly as you were when you were a kid". I always tell the boys stories from my childhood that were goofy so because I am not pranking the babysitters, eating stinkbugs,sliding off of roofs in the winter time and drawing on the walls I am not as funny...but, thankfully still can be labeled "sorta funny". I guess I'll take it!
Somedays I think I want the supernanny over here and then others I can't fathom comparing myself to some of the families on that show. "we aren't near as bad as they are". In retrospect I shouldn't be comparing to others but should be continuing to see how to better my children's spiritual conditions as well as learning the basic tools for teaching obedience, listening skills and for myself remembering to BE CONSISTENT and reasonable. I will say that I am always asking them what Jesus would think of that attitude and reminding them that it makes him sad when we disobey.
I't sonly 8:30 but at 7 when Cade wanted to make playdoh lego karate men I was about to fall asleep on the table so of course now that everyone is in bed it's time for me to finish my last three chapters of my book and then head off to dreamland myself.
If I could pick two highlights of my day it will be "the new interrupting rule lesson" and when my voice was really really highpitched and squeaky and Cade was cracking up laughing from it and I actually thought for a moment that it had stuck this way cuz I kept trying to talk regular and it stayed in squeaky mode" lol.
I am hoping that tomorrow my parenting won't be off by any inches, but....I am expecting a few milimmeters at least. Guess I better go find my ruler!! :)

Ready or Not....

God is a 24/7 maintenance lifeline who deserves to be thanked/praised daily!!!
I went to a Mentoring class today at the conference and I am so glad I did because I have been feeling God leading me into some sort of mentoring or counseling services lately. I still am not 100% sure what but He is leading me in the direction of where He wants me at and is still doing a work in me to prepare me for His calling. We all leave imprints on people whether good or bad. Here is the list of "imprints" that the leader of class presented that we should follow.
The imprint of love for GOD
The imprint of consistent PRAYER (knee pads...down on one knee, offers protection)
The imprint of studying God's WORD
The imprint of loving people to CHRIST (handing out tracts)
The imprint of a noble life- PURPOSE (gifts/talents)
The imprint of TEACHABILITY (books)
The imprint of PERSERVERANCE (running shoes, run the race set before you...)
The imprint of reckless abandon to GOD (overflowing fountain)

I am working on a list of practical things I can do for my Mentee. I am also thinking of things I can ask a mentor. We ought always to be learning from others.

All in all the conference was great. Music was excellent and sessions were fabulous. I truly enjoyed hearing Carrie's story of hurt and recovery. If you are not familiar with Carrie Mcdonnall I reccomend you research the story. It's quite a powerful one. Her book is called FACING TERROR.

I was thankful today to God for providing me with a ride home. The people I had ridden with left early and I wanted to stay for the whole seminar so I asked in a class if anyone lived near where I did if they would be willing to drive me home. It just turned out that the lady sitting next to me lived in my area so she offered and ended up dropping me off at home and invited the kids to their AWANA program at the church right down the street. She was an elderly woman and had such a kind soul. It's just amazing how God supplies all our needs.
This evening I have spent 6 1/2 minutes in a closet behind ballgowns waiting to be found by the kids in our hide and seek game. LOL. Spent the rest of the time on computer, reading and making dinner. I am so exhausted I am heading to bed early tonight.. Church in the a.m. Looking forward to another beautiful day tomorrow!

Surgery anyone?

We've all driven past or seen on the news a collision sight on the side or middle of the road. I used to get impatient when stuck in traffic and then would drive past and feel guilty that I had been feeling that way. I've since changed my attitude to one of prayer for those who may be injured and I thank God now for his safety he gave TO ME and how if I had been 2 minutes further down the road I would have been in that COLLISION. How great is our God that He brings us through our daily activities just in His perfect timing. I learned today at the conference that CHANGE TAKES PLACE WHEN NEEDS MEET PROBLEMS, in the same sense that a problem of a car wreck gets a need met via ambulance, dr.'s, and God's healing. These two factors COLLIDE with each other. We ought to be meeting the needs of others around us. Being a light and laser surgery to this dark blind world is what our purpose on earth is as christians. When we follow God's leading to reach out we are being servants. And God says in his word in Matthew 25:21 "well done, my good and faithful servant." One thing imparticular that God spoke to me about this weekend was how we can be servants with the wrong motives. I can say I have been that before and I pray that I can strive to be truly heartfelt in each of the occurrences that I serve for someone, sing a song or drop money in the offering plate.
Another key aspect I was taught was how we are called to Love to see through God's eyes the people around us. I think of the song, GIVE ME YOUR EYES.
"give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes so I can see, everything that I am missing, give me your love for humanity, Give me your arms for the brokenhearted, Ones that are far beyond my reach, give me your heart for the ones forgotten, give me your eyes so I can see!!" HOW VERY TRUE are these words? We should be begging God DAILY to look at the world through his eyes. Imagine the changes that would be made in our lives as well as people around us if we chose to reach out in a Christ like manner and look further into someone as you are passing by them realizing that maybe just maybe they had a death in the family that morning and just needed someone to say Hi and be an encouragement to them. Perhaps you are on a bus and you see someone with their head hung down and what's inside their mind is that they feel life is no longer worth living but when we stand to get out we just walk past them like it's nothing. We ought to be noticing people's hurts and body language so that we can be Jesus to them. Obviously we can't tell them to touch the hem of our jeans or shirt and be healed, but we can show them in the Word how they can be eternally healed from a life of captivity and pain.
If we can convey Christ to those who don't know him or have a misconception about Him then we have Loved like He loves and have abandoned ourself and God is well pleased.
I am headed to the dr. for an eye transplant. Who is with me?

turn down the volume...

How often do we serve without any mindset of needing praise or someone noticing what we had done? How LOUDLY do we serve? Perhaps we ought to turn down the volume a few notches and stick to the task at hand which is serving Christ with a humbled unselfish spirit that does not long to bring praise to self but only to God. Someone who will clean a dirty bathroom at a church and will be whistling while they work instead of grumbling or bragging about what they are doing. I want to be a better servant from this day out. Lord use me, teach me and deepen my desire for reaching out to others. Help me to see when I need to be reaching out. May I not ever once refuse your voice when it speaks to me. I will obey right away. Thank you Jesus for bringing me home safe tonight from conference and I pray and ask that you give us traveling mercies there again tomorrow and that each woman there would be open minded and hearted and ready to dive into your word and learn.
I'll be needing some coffee though that early in the a.m. yawn...it's bedtime now...past midnight and this thing starts at 8 tomorrow morning. this was a long day...it's officially over!

Eye on the sparrow

Everything that could seem wrong seemed it this morning. I had started to doubt even that I could be used of God and the change in my life couldn't be real because I was not worthy to be singing praises and writing devotional blogs on here or being joyful. surely this was some sort of put on to get attention. THIS IS WHAT SATAN WAS TRYING TO DAMAGE ME WITH!! . He also was trying to tempt me with smoking. (I share this because I had said in a previous blog that I would keep people updated on how this goes...it's still a battle that i deal with off and on so I appreciate the prayers..) God sent a distraction via a phone call from a friend right at the moment I was contemplating asking someone to borrow a cigarette. That silly that I would of gone out of my way to go knock on my neighbors door, ruin my testimony and borrow their cigarrettes.(I didn't end up going though)..If anything I should be knocking on their door sharing Christ with them instead of them sharing smokes with me. It's been such a stronghold for me and a place that I can't be..for me smoking has/did become a sin. for others it might not be...but for me it is. so, if I had done it I would have been sinning. I am just thankful that He placed the right person at the righ ttime and the strength to overcome all the battles I was dealing with. Get back, Satan..I know that God has given me a new song and a new joy, hope and peace and He is allowing me to use what gifts he gave me for HIS GLORY. No longer for mine. Stop putting those thoughts in my head because You are no longer going to get control in those thoughts~!
A friend of mine told me to read Micah chapter 7. It is a whole story about misery turned to hope. I was so encouraged by it along with my prayer time and a nice card that came in the mail from someone we don't even really know. It was relating to a sparrow and how we are more valuable then them. I believe that His eye is always on the sparrow so I know he watches over me as well. This is a hope we can cling to that no matter what He will always be there. I plan on going through the rest of my day with a smile and peace over me. I am looking forward to tonight's conference. BREATHLESS. Check it out. Her name is Carrie Mcdonnall and what a story she has. www.carryonministries.org I can't wait to listen to her speak tonight and be open to what God wants to show me!!

Battle Mode

I'm amazed at how God knows exactly what we are going to be battling on given day and already has something set up to get us through it and cause us to trust in HIM. how simple this would be right now to just throw my hands up and say I am done perservering just because of the way "i feel". But, that would be selfish, wrong and not to mention I would be missing out on so many blessings and would fall back in a pit just like that and would be staring up at God wondering how I did that again. And I'm sure I would see Satan standing there laughing at me saying, "ha ha ha I made you fall again..." I am here to say that I AM NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN...not today...and I plan and am trying to take one day at a time so FOR TODAY I am asking God to fight it for me because I am too weak right now. His word gives me strength and endurance that I am going to grasp onto right now while praying that he gives me some answers concerning specific things on my mind. I am desiring a peace and a healing in this matter.
I am thankful I don't have a lot of things I need to do today . this will give me more time to spend reading and soul searching. I am praying that Satan backs off all the way, in fact just from the time I've been writing this and reading verses off and on during this I am feeling God's presence even greater than it was earlier. so, PTL for that. He and I are in battle mode and I am so glad He is on my side. We plan on winning this!! :) will keep you posted.

Lady Liberty

Through you the blind will see, through you the mute will sing, through you the dead will rise, through you all hearts will praise, through you the darkness flees, through you my heart screams, "I am free". I am freeee to run, I am free to dance, I am free to live for you, I am free.
Freedom, such a wonderful thing. That's what the will of God amounts to. Freedom from oppression, hurts, anger, bitterness, poverty and sickness and sin. Jesus came to provide freedom for us all. The problem falls in when there are others who do not know of this freedom. We are not all created to be a missionary in a foreign country but, we are commanded to go and preach the gospel in the world around us...we can be a witness in our neighborhood or our own surroundings/environment.
In 2 Corinthians 3;17 it says, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Jesus wants to do the will of the Father here on earth but he does it through us.
I think of the Statue of Liberty holding up her torch. Let your light so shine!! I often question the will of God. I need to begin carrying it out instead. In John 14:12 it says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. he will do even greater t hings than these, because I am going to the Father." What an awesome reminder how faith is a producer of true actions not just statements.
My bible reading this morning was from Isaiah 61 (whole chapter). It is talking about the Lord anointing us to preach good news to the poor, release prisoners form darkness, proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, comfort all who mourn and it goes on and on. I urge you to read it. In verse 10 a) it says, "I delight greatly in the LORD my soul rejoices in my God." v.11 - For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations!" How amazing that by taking steps of faith to obey His calling and will for our lives we can be a part of those seeds growing and the freedom of people all across the earth being reborn. I can't wait to recruit some more followers who will someday stand with me singing, "I am free" in front of our Heavenly Father. what a joyous site that will be!

Knock Knock

The first thing I think of when I hear the word Newlyweds is, "new love". Newlyweds are always talking about one another and spending time with each other. They can't seem to get enough of the other person or what their thoughts and words are. Take, "Billy and Jane" (my made up characters) for instance: Billy loves Jane with his whole heart, she makes him happy, she completes him and she knows his thoughts somedays when he doesn't even know them, she finishes his sentences and she is beautiful. Why would he not want to marry her? he wants to spend every last waking minute now with her so he gets down on one knee and proposes. She gladly accepts knowing how happy He is going to make her. He has been there for her through some pretty tough times and she knows she can not live her life without Him either.
3 months after the wedding things are GREAT...they are happier then ever and still spending lots of time with each other although work has gotten back under way so it has cut out a small portion of the time they were alloted when they were dating. Billy and Jane have a very good relationship for the next few years. One day Billy came home and announced he had lost his job. Jane was devestated. She immediately began to worry and wonder how they were going to pay their bills, etc. Billy tried and tried to find a new job but for months was not able to. Jane's spending habits had to be cut back which caused some stress for her as shopping was often her stress reliever. She became resentful towards Billy and slowly began being more interested in friends at work. She even started talking to another guy although it never led to anything it was still a mental process she was going through of disconnecting from Billy. billy too grew cold and frustrated at himself, at her and at God. His prayers had gone from "Lord, thank you for this beautiful home and wife and job you have provided for me to have" to "Lord, why do I not have a job now? You know I can't provide for my family without it, I am going to get MY home taken away from me if you do not help me find something soon. and my wife she's all over the place these days. I have no clue what is going on and I am starting to get upset with it and not even care. "
As you can tell both of their hearts had grown distant from one another and in turn from God. Isn't it true that we too in our christian lives can be SO ON FIRE for God at the start of a relationship with Him or at a church service where everyone is making decisions and we too want to dedicate our entire lives to the mission/ministry of Christ. We will be willing to go to Africa or Asia just as the missionary up front was speaking about. We even go home and start reading up on it and thinking about it or praying about it. Or we often get in a good few weeks, sometimes even months or years of sticking to whatever decisions we made but then something occurs that knocks our embers off the burning pile and singes them on the dirt below.
I am currently in my reconnecting with God/connecting with Him FOR THE FIRST time for REAL in my life. I grew up being taught the bible and going to church but it never was as real to me as it has been in the past month and a half since God has been working in and through me. What a transformation. I look at where my life was 6 months ago...a deep dark ugly nasty pit of regret, hate, discouragement and no hope for anything. Was on the brink of losing my marriage and my family. This is my ON FIRE time so to say. I believe that I am in need of rekindling the fire daily so as to not let this fire burn out. I know how easy it is to fall and grow lukewarm and lose interest in the things that once were desirable. Right now I can't imagine not having this joy and this vibrance for God and life, but it can happen in the blink of an eye. Satan can come in and work his little tricks and put someone in your life who can pull you down or something that occurs that causes you to doubt and the doubt turns to fear and the fear turns to worry and the worry to regret , pain, anguish, and so on...we've all had hurtful situations occur.
In James 4:8 it states, "Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you." So, if we are DAILY doing this and keeping God in our routine for our pattern of life it will be easier to withstand the devil when he seeks to devour us. We will be able to hold onto that newlywed type of faith, hope and love that we once had/I currently still have. I ask that anyone reading this keep me in their prayers because I know how quickly I can falter and I need encouragement, as we all do. I pray that each of you and myself would be encouragers to one another and lift one another up in the Lord daily so that the FIRE for HIM will continue to shine brightly and keep you with that WARM feeling all year round for year after year.
Jane ended up in a car accident and badly injured on the way home from work one day. billy rushed to the hospital and there by her side cried out to God to save her from dying and that he would do anything if He would just allow her to live. He would give his life back over and rekindle that flame with God and with his wife. She ended up living and Billy went on to become a preacher and she a pastors wife. They daily commit to one another now and rekindle their marriage flame as a part of daily routine. To this day he wishes he had not had to have something so devestating happen to bring him to his knees, but is greatful for where God has brought he and Jane through it all.
Revelation 3:20 says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with h im, and he with me." the Lord is knocking on our doors today asking us to rekindle the flame. Will we be like billy and Jane who lost their flame and got it back after something serious occurred? Or will we get back into the routine of daily seeking Him so that it does not take something drastic in life to bring us to our knees?
I pray for a daily "newlywed" type of faith and love for my Savior!

and you'll grow, grow, grow!!

A few years ago I visited Sequoia National Park and was simply taken back in breathtaking awe at the sights of the trees and roots that were coming out of the ground. The size was just massive and it was not just ONE but they were everywhere I looked. I began to think, these trees did not just occur this way overnight...they have taken years of growth and care to get them to be this way. But how awesome that one tree could produce more and more just from it's seeds falling off scattering across the ground. What happens when we personally sprinkle a seed into the soil is beyond amazing. This tiny little speck becomes a tall beautiful plant, tree, bush, etc...We stand back and do not often give that speck the awe that it deserves. How can something so tiny produce something so big and continue to produce over and over? I hope that today you can consider yourself a tiny seed that God has planted on this earth to help reproduce more and more fruit over and in abundance. It only takes a small step for God to be able to use me. It's continuing to daily strive to water myself, give myself sunshine in God's word and in prayer that will keep me growing full and live to where I can be an effect on others whether it be for shade purposes so they can sit under or fruit that they can partake in or flowers that they can place on their table and sit back and admire. Either way we are all specks that ought to be digging into the ground of God's word/soil and implanting ourselves there and forming our roots so that we can remain firm and strong when the winds and storms come blowing by. We want people to pick off of our branches and our petals/leaves for their purposes. I am so greatful to God for designing me with this "ability" (given only by Him) to be able to reach out to others one step at a time. In so doing I am building my own plant in my own life and stretching higher and higher into the sky getting closer and closer to the kingdom. Just as even the tallest tree in the world reaches nowhere near Heaven we too will never be fully as tall as we can be until we have arrived in our heavenly home. We ought not to compare our lives or our fruits with others around us . (hers is rotting and mine are fresh and luscious to the eyes and taste, etc..) We ought always to compare our leaves, berries, flowers with God and although we are continuing to grow and flourish and spread out across the open land we can not let our good production go to our head. I must always continue to give God the glory for His allowing me to reach out to others and be used by Him. It can be in so many different ways. A kind word, a simple gesture, simply saying hello, telling someone you are praying for them and then making sure you do, helping someone across the street, picking something up for someone when they drop it, holding open a door, leaving a tract at the dinner table in the restaurant, thanking God for your food while out to eat (what a testimony that is), being ready to help whenever it is needed at church or home or work, keeping a positive attitude, keeping God first so that when people see you they WANT what YOU HAVE... In Luke 13:18-19 it says, "What is the kingdom of God? like? What shall I compare it to? It is lik ea mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." How many birds will you allow to perch in your branches today? Daily strive to grow one root at a time instead of planting the seed and the next morning waking up wondering why there isn't a huge tree in your front yard yet. Begin to act as though the Word of God is true EVERY hour of the day regardless of what winds may blow through your path or how someone might make you feel. Keep adding to your faith and to your growth by daily watering, getting some sunlight and reaching out to others. Don't expect overnight results, God sure doesn't. Unless He is the one answering a prayer and decides to have an overnight miracle performed! This makes me think of the song, "Read your bible, pray every day and you'll grow grow grow...neglect your bible forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink"....if you neglect God's word, prayer and reaching out then you will surely whither up and just as a plant who doesn't get water and sun shrivels and dies so too will your spiritual life and effectiveness of your outreach. If you continue to seek God then eventually your faith is going to bigger than any tree in Sequoia National Park. And THAT IS PRETTY BIG...go google those trees if you haven't seen em yet. They are incredible! You too are incredible and do not forget it!

Need a hand?

Anyone need a hand? How about toes, foot, arm, leg, knee, eye, nose, fingers, ears and mouth to go along with that?? If I had to say what body part I was I would pick the hand for sure. I am always waving at people, and using my hands to pick up things, do dishes, clean, etc...I need all the other parts too but it would be hard to operate without hands. Think how hard it would be if you were missing a hand or a toe or a foot. Our bodies work better when all of the parts are functioning. So it is in a church body. We depend on one another as pieces of a body to complete us and the church. I remember as a kid we would fold our hands and say, "Here's the church (put our pointer fingers up) here's the steeple, open the house and see all the people (wiggle all fingers around after opening up hands). :) What happens though when you fold your hands the regular way and try it. You open them up and there are NO PEOPLE inside. A building is no good if there is no one to occupy it. It remains stagnant, dormant and unused. We can also become this way if we let ourselves not be used of God. Each member of the church ought to be allowing God to work in and through their lives to direct them as to what functioning part they are in the body. In I Corinthians 12:13-20 it says, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free. We were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body. It would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? but in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where woud the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but ONE BODY.
It goes on to say, "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" and the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
Just as this is true so it is true in the church. We need each other. For encouragement, for growth, for accountability, for spiritual food, for our spiritual livelihoods. We first off need Christ to be the center of our body and when each limb, part is working in accordance to His word how healthy of a church body it will be.
So, next time you hear the song, The toe bone connected to the heel bone,The heel bone connected to the foot bone, The foot bone connected to the leg bone,The leg bone connected to the knee bone,The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,The thigh bone connected to the back bone,The back bone connected to the neck bone,The neck bone connected to the head bone,Oh, hear the word of the Lord! Be sure to LISTEN to the Word of the Lord intently and strive to be a dedicated member/body part/bone of Christ's body in the church and never feel as if you are alone or have to hop on one foot to get somewhere or do something with one hand because you can reach out with that hand and allow someone else (another hand/foot) to be used of God.
Hands down, putting God first is always the key to any situation! :)

No more snooze button.

beep beep beep...that ever annoying sound that awakens us from dreams and a deep nights rest. It's the sign of a new day, a fresh start and an opportunity to be who God created us to be on this day not the day before, but THIS DAY. Put the previous days' woes, sorrows and cares behind you and awaken to new truths and excitement! It's time for me to get serious about starting my day off properly. Besides the bowl of cheerios that promises to reduce my cholesterol I am finding that I can not go through a day without my bowl of Biblios which gives me the spiritual strength I need as well as reducing my fears, frets, worries and attacks for the day. I've not been doing this morning reading/getting up routine for very long so I am not here to be better than anyone else, I am just simply stating that it makes such a difference when I purpose to get up those few minutes/or even hour earlier so that I can (first have my coffee or else I'm just not gonna be able to make any sense at all) and then I can open up the Word and find out what God is trying to teach me on this day. It infiltrates me in such a joyous way and gives me this extra boost of energy that will propel me through the activities of my day!!!
In Psalm 63:1, 6 it says, "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee....I will remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." Note that it says EARLY will I seek thee. This to me means God seeks to have our attention all day long but he wants us to give him the very start of it so that He can utilize what time we have to make it more efficient for us. If I wait till evening to do my devotions/prayer time I find that I am going to bed blessed but can not look back over my day and see as many blessings or joy from that day because I did not put him First. Obviously if afternoon or evening is the only time you have and you already are getting up early for work or whatever then this is better than not having any quiet time, but I assure you that when you give God your best He will in turn give you His!
This morning as I opened up to Hebrews 4 I was given the reminder that We have a great high priest who has gone through similar temptations as we have, yet he was without sin. We are to approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. In verse 12 it says that the Word of God is living and active. sharper than any double edged sword. Penetrating to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. That is pretty deep if you ask me!! And if I have the control over allowing this godly penetration to seep into my veins then I consider that a very blessed thing and want to take advantage of that daily. If I throw Him to the side then I fear I am stuck in a day on my own and I have learned from mistake after mistake that I can't live this life on my own. I refuse to anymore.
I have been writing out verses on sticky notes/cards and carrying them with me (typically one a day) so that when I am confronted with a "sticky" situation or an attack by Satan I can pull it out or go to God in prayer and ask for His healing and his power to lift me up out of that moment and set my feet on solid ground. If I do not have these truths or this knowledge of how to fix an issue then I will be stuck once again in a vicious cycle which is a place I am dreading ever being again!
Just think, if you are a car mechanic you are going to study up on how to fix cars, if you are a baker you are constantly learning new ways to make new things and create better cakes and pastries, if you are a teacher you must review your lessons so that you can be able to perform better when approached with a question or a situation by a student. In any job or task that we do we must have the knowledge to do it. So is our christian life. No God, no peace, Know God, Know Peace. Desire to put him first today and just see what kind of blessings you have and the change of attitude you are implanted with! :)
It's seriously serious!! So, next time you start to roll over and hit that buzzer remember it's just God waking you up asking you to come talk to Him so he can give you a gift that you can take with you all day long! Don't hesitate to have your coffee first though...

Teacher says...

everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its' wings! In Psalm 91:11 it says, "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
I'm thinking that angels are not truly like what we envision them with little diapers and halos and cupid arrows flying around all over the place. And as far as ringing a bell to give them wings is concerned I would say that's just a line from a movie! I do believe in angels though but not those kind. I believe in the all powerful angels sent down from heaven sometimes in forms of other people in our daily lives as well as the ones that are invisible to the eye of those not being protected at the time. I personally have never seen one, but can say that I have had guardian angels watching over me numerous times when I've been in dangerous situations. In Acts 12 is the story of Peter's amazing escape from prison. An angel APPEARED before him but none of the guards saw him or the angel walk out. How miraculous that was and had to of been for Peter at the time. It even states that he thought it was only a vision/dream that it was occurring. God obviously had more plans for Peter then to be stuck in a prison for life. I remember quite a few years ago when I was on a motorcycle with a random person I had met and they were driving furiously fast in an unknown territory. How irresponsible of me to even be on that cycle not to mention out of God's will at the time. God, in his infinite grace saw fit to spare me from an accident though even when I was not where I needed to be with Him. He knew that He had something more in store for me and PRAISE HIM that I have finally come to grips with that and am daily striving to allow him to take me on his ride through this life instead of someone whom I dont' know. The more I am on this ride the further I desire to go but am choosing to not go too fast or else I will surely crash.
We ought to be saying, "Thank you Father for giving your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways."
Ironically the song, "I believe there are angels among us" just came on the radio!!! How very true that is; I can't wait till we are in heaven singing praises with them all!!
next time you ring a bell don't think of giving an angel it's wings but rather of God's protection He provides us and the "wings" he gives us to continue in this journey we call earthly life!

emotionally drained

I am so thankful for such a wonderful powerful God who offers peace in trying times. He gives us direction and conviction of places we need to be and people we need to seek out at certain times and he blesses us for taking steps of faith. I will say though that today was a long day for me. We had a parenting/marriage counselor in our home for almost 4 hours and although I knew she was coming I didn't intend on her being there so long but we had so much in common and Sam and I were talking and a lot of issues were brought up that we h adn't touched on in a while and so there was some more healing that took place today along with some tears and triggered emotions in the wrong direction causing arguing, etc. I am glad though that God has this marriage in His hand and it did not get out of control.
I have a close friend I am lifting in prayer tonight and will continue to do so as I know God is a God who does not turn his back on us if we choose to seek Him. I fully know I can't live this life without Him anymore and I am not quite sure how I managed to survive for so long without Him truly in my life. ??? was hanging on by a thread I guess.
My body is screaming at me to go lay down and my mind wants to stay awake. It's such a battle for me to sleep. I feel like so many things are a struggle for me and I don't want to fall back into the pit of alcoholism or smoking or lavish shopping addiction but I am aware that if I do not stay aware of it it could happen again. I am taking one day at a time but am ok with people knowing my downside or my vulnerability that is. Perhaps it is more a weak spot that satan can come in and attack me at and he knows right where to try it at. after having a four hour conversation half of it on alcohol with our marriage counselor/parenting program lady I was starting to be stressed otu from it and feeling the urge to drink...but didn't want to...just knew the urge was there so I crushed it and moved on. then we were at restaurant and there were signs everywhere for discount beer night/mixed drink specials etc....this too was a temptation and a battle that I had to say no to. I ordered pepsi and struggled through it but felt a peace after i resisted. for me I dno't honestly believe that I could just drink a beer .... or a glass of wine it would or has in past gone on and on. I ha ven't drank in a few weeks but when i was drinking it was addictive in many different ways, shapes and forms. even while the lady was in our home talking about all of this and stresseing me out I said, "if you had a beer here right now I would maybe take a drink of it" but of course we didn't it was just speaking metaphorically I guess...
so anyways...our conversation ended up really well stated and she did a great job of bringing out what we needed to know and have in our marriage to stay stable. I look forward to meeting up with her again soon. I am being designed now for what he has for me. I just hope he can let me go to bed first then w can work on all the other stuff!!! :)

DO RE MI

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start, when you read you begin with A B C when you sing you begin with DO RE MI... One of my all time favorite songs. I only bring it up because today I opened up my daily devotional and it was a passage from Genesis 1. THE VERY BEGINNING. I wondered, "how am I going to learn anything from this? I already know that God made us and I believe in creation and how everything came into existence. I've heard the stories of Adam and Eve countless times, what more is there to get?" As I was reading in Genesis 1:27 I came across the all famous verse, "So God created man in his OWN image, in the image of God he created him. male and female he created them." Why did God create us? Was it to have someone to dominate over? If it were then why did He create us IN HIS IMAGE? I believe and know wholeheartedly that God is full of love and needed/needs to give that love to someone/all of us. He longs for us to be accepting of it as well and to show it back to Him in our daily actions and lives. I never realized until this morning after reading and God speaking to me that He could have given all of His love to the angels but he chose us instead. Not the animals or the fish or the plants and the trees. He chose US. you, me. How amazing is that when you really begin to think about it? If I had all the power and love to give in the world I'm not sure if I would be able to hand it out to people whom I knew were not going to be acceptive of it at times and were going to spit in my face and say wrongful things about me. Praise the Lord God did not have this mindset. He has a desire to fellowship with someone like Himself, so I need to be daring to believe that I am someone special and a ONE OF A KIND creation. The linguistic definition of DOMINATOR is "to be connected with (a subordinate node) either directly by a single downward branch or indirectly by a sequence of downward branches." Now, I'm not big into linguistics or into it all for that matter but what I see from this and I hope someone will correct me if this can't be interpreted this way but I like to think outside the box. I see God as a DOMINATOR in this sense because He is the vine and we are the branches, and as we reach out to others and share God's love with them we add branches to the family tree and continue adding them in a sequenced pattern so to say.
So, why did God create me? So that He would have someone whom He could talk to and love and although I like to talk I sure haven't done enough of it over the years to the one who designed and formed me specifically for Him. Lord, I pray that from this moment on I would be reminded daily of your love for me and the critical need to speak with you about my inhibitions, thoughts, desires and requests. That I would feel comfortable knowing you are waiting to hear from me and you long to share yourself with me as well. Thank you for being this awesome loving God who in a loving vinelike sense does dominate and branch out to us when you did not have to. I pray that I would spread your word and your love to someone new today and if it be your will they become a part of this family tree. Bless each person who reads your word commits to abide by it and chooses to love you with their whole heart that you created for them. I ask this in your name, Amen.

anything...

What's anything got to do with anything? let's first come to terms with what "anything" means. websters dictionary defines it as:
1. pronoun
any thing whatever; something, no matter what: Do you have anything for a toothache?
(OH I HOPE THEY WILL WHEN I GET MY ROOT CANAL DONE AND TEETH EXTRACTED)
2.NOUN
a thing of any kind.
–adverb
3.
in any degree; to any extent; in any way; at all: Does it taste anything like chocolate? —Idioms
4.
anything but, in no degree or respect; not in the least: The plans were anything but definite.
5.
anything goes, any type of conduct, dress, speech, etc., is considered acceptable or valid or is likely to be encountered and tolerated: That resort is a place where anything goes

Now that we have established what "anything" is/can be, we can start breaking each one of these meanings down. anything, something, no matter what...I'm not so sure those three go together.
lets try it in their sentence they used above. : Do you have no matter what for that tooth ache?
WRONGGGGGG Do you have something for that toothache? proper but we are trying to use the word anything. I would ask, "can you just give me a vikadin please for this toothache.
the second thing it poses is a thing of any kind. anydog anywoman anychild anytoothbrush, anyemail, anyfriend, anyhair, anyletters, any pencils.... so, this determines that things are dogs, women, children, toothbrushes, etc....women and children are not things though...we are people...we are anyONES. but that's a different topic.
ok, next is in any degree or respect not in the least, does it taste anything like chocolate?
so anything means degrees and respect now? does it taste in any degree like chocolate? hmmm that sorta makes sense...not sure about the respect one...
moving on.
anything but in no degree or respect....so everything except ??? or anything but?

anything now goes, any type of conduct, dress, etc..is considered acceptable or valid. I think that a lot of nothings should not be accepted not anythings. :) that opens up a can or worms there for a big ole mess.

so, have we concluded ANYTHING from all this mumbo jumbo?
I honestly believe that Anything you ask in His name He will supply. It might not be exactly what you wanted but He will give you what you need. Anything else we need to discuss?
we can all thank Sioby for this lovely discussion on ANYTHING. :) teach her to give me an actual topic next time. lol

Giant going down.

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho...OHHHHH Joshua fought the battle of Jerichoooooooo and the walls came tumbling DOWNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!
What walls do I have up that need to come down? How can I live a life of faith if I am not willing to take courageous steps forward? Sometimes our battles seem so insurmountable but if we would just trust in God to carry us through He would knock those GIANTS down and it would build our faith in Him. But we often choose to run away and we wander for 40 years aimlessly in a desert. In the Wizard of Oz the "cowardly lion" is seeking courage from the GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ...What he doesnt' realize is that He had it the whole time he just was choosing not to use it. Just as anything is a daily choice so are steps of faith and being courageous and brave. We have to mentally and spiritually set out each and every day to stay open to what God is telling us and if He speaks to us about leaping forward or even taking a baby step we had BETTER LISTEN and do it or we will be walking in a vicious circle.
I have always been so worried/afraid of what other people will think if they see me reading the bible, prayer book, or praying in public. To the point where I would quit or hide the book about prayer, etc....Since this turning around period in my life I have been purposely carrying those books with me to stores or appt's or to the park and hold them up proudly. I spend my morning after my walk, in outloud prayer in my living room ,and where I would have been embarrassed if even my husband walked in and saw me praying, and would peek out every so often; I am now instead on my knees in sincere adoration and so caught up in being in front of my Heavenly Father that I could have a room full of people and not be worried. Now, literally starting out in a crowd of people to pray outloud is a different story...It's always been very difficult for me to do that, but I learned two weeks ago at church that BOLDNESS is a key factor and it ties into this lesson completely. I stepped out that morning in a prayer group after not having prayed outloud in two years and I spoke words that although they were scattery and sounded uneloquent (if that's a word) they were spoken from my heart. Learning about BOLDNESS and stepping out in Faith is not going to automatically make me this professional pray-er in public but if I devote to taking a stand for Christ then I won't care what I sound like to the world around me.
In Joshua 1:7 it says, "Be thou strong and very courageous that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."
The next time God asks you to march into battle and all you see are GIANTS you remember that the Word of God is your sword and He is your shield and you need nothing more to cause those Giants to go down!

Chill Pill

Everything is going fine until something isn't. From the karate meltdown last night to the broken shoe cryfest this morning to my husband running behind stressing me out making me think he wasn't going to get Cade to the bus in time I am feeling attacked by Satan because HE knows that stress is what causes my actions, thoughts, words and attitude to be altered in a negative pattern. After Sam left the house I just stood there thinking, "ok, what did that stressfest just accomplish?" NOTHING...I handed it over to God and have vowed to make it a daily thing that I give over to Him. Why worry when I can pray. I recall an old song with those lyrics..."Why worry when you can pray, trust Jesus, he'll be your stay, don't be a doubting Thomas, rest fully on his promise, why worry,worry worry worry...when you can pray!" So, After I gave it over to God I called Sam and apologized for acting so ridiculously and in turn he apologized for not being as sensitive, etc...TAKE THAT SATAN..hi yah
Now to get through the next 12 hours of the day with happy and joyful thoughts!! I am thankful that God and his still reminders and words in his Word can act as my CHILL PILL! I need to take a daily dose of it for sure!

I was too tired to write about this last night. I love my husband, but this is too funny not to share. After much "discussion" yesterday he ended up going alone to the grocery store but didn't leave until 5:30 or 6 ish last night. Oh, and before I forget..didn't get home till 8:45 (or right around there)... I will admit the list was pretty long but I'm the type of person that will go in, grab what I need and get the things that aren't on the list too that are on my list in my head and then get out of there. He has a type A personality so he can't just grab an item; esp. if it's on a list and I have written pillsbury biscuits. What I learned last night was that I need to just write BISCUITS, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BRAND, ...JUST NOT CRESCENT ROLLS. I just counted 11 texts JUST ASKING ABOUT THE BISCUITS. And 23 texts altogether the whole time he was in store. Each aisle, each thing on list he would text me and ask, "what kind of tostitos?" I'm like, i dont' know..the kind you eat..just grab some...the cheap ones. lol. "they are out of sea critter nuggets" OK...SO JUST GET ANOTHER KIND... "what the heck are bagel bites?" JUST GET MINI BAGELS LIKE I SAID WHEN YOU WERE AT HOME SINCE IT'S TOO HARD TO FIND BAGEL BITES. "did you want lysol wipes or spray?" SPRAY...REMEMBER WE WERE OUT AND WHEN WE WERE AT STORE THE OTHER DAY WE WERE GONNA GET WIPES BUT THEN I SAID, 'OH WE HAVE A BUNCH ALREADY'
"they are out of cinnamon cream cheese...what kind do you want instead?" HEHEHEHEHEHE
I told him it was a very stressful grocery shopping experience for me and I wasn't even there!!
He always amazes me though and comes home with everything on the list down to the t. Mom was telling me a story about this lady who wrote out a list and numbered it and sent her hubby to the store. He came home with 1 tomato 2 benadryll's 3 bags of chips 4 5 lb bags of sugar(20 lbs of sugar. lol) and SO ON....all the way to like ten or so. I was cracking up.
I also love that my husband has a mind built in a tetris mode. He can take all the stuff in the cabinets and fridge and look at it and somehow puzzle piece it up into the cabinets to where it looks so organized, everything has it's perfect spot. If I do it I have to hurry and close the cabinet door and put a sticky note on it that says, "be careful when opening this cuz stuff will fall out" He and I are so different it's hilarious. I guess that's what makes our marriage so unique. opposites attract and I am finally starting to come around to where I am attracted to him. For those of you who know me well enough you know I've struggled with that our whole marriage. I am finally at a point where I LOVE MYSELF and love the creation that God made me to be and in turn am loving the man that God placed into my life and am finding how we fit together in different ways, shapes and forms!
I have a dentist appointment today for the second time in two weeks. I am not looking forward to the fluoride stuff they are going to put on my teeth, but at least I will be squeaky clean afterwards. They are probably going to notice a stupendous change on my teeth from first time they saw them because I went out and bought one of those EXPENSIVE (6.00) spin brush toothbrushes guaranteed to remove all plaque and nastiness from the crevices. I do need to go use it again before I go and should probably floss too. They will be very happy to know I took out my piercings and quit smoking. Last time I was there the dental asst. was trying to figure out what it was on the xray. She thought I had some rare type of metal screw in my mouth. LOL.
I'm staring at 4 different books I am currently reading and hoping that I can get home early enough to still have some free time to read up on them before the boys get back from school.
Cade has his first Karate class tonight and so I ask prayer for that to go well. He gets very nervous/shy/acts out at new events. I am praying that this will be something that can help him with his self esteem and discipline as well, not to mention just being involved in a team event. I am excited to take pictures though....well, scratch that...I could backspace but I'd rather just write "over it". Sam just called and convinced me that it would be better if He just took him so that Cade wasn't trying to run and sit with us, disobey instructor, etc. Mommy has a tendency to be a lil more lenient. so, I am going to send camera with Sam while I sit at home just waiting to hear how it went....guess there is always TEXTING! "what's he doing now?" "is he kicking yet?" "did he break a board with his head?" "what kind of outfits are they putting him in?" "do they think he will be black belt material?" HEHEHEHEHEH
have a great day all. I'm off to get my teeth cleaned!