Thank you Father!

I know, I know, my blogs are few and far between, but hey, I'm writing now!!!

I decided to write a little snippet because I was reminded of something today. I know this sweet, godly, beautiful young woman who amazes me! Her spirit is saturated with loveliness! I keep up with her on Facebook and through her blog about her and her husband's struggle to adopt a child. They have been excited and disappointed, mostly disappointed, so many times but she has never lost her faith or her resolved. As I read her most recent blog, I was truly convicted.

I have to admit I have been very frustrated lately with my kids. They never pick up after themselves, they never throw their trash away, they leave their dirty clothes wrongside out, their rooms are always messy, their bathroom is, well....we won't even get into that! Anyway, as I read her blog it made me realize I should treasure those things. I am blessed to have them and I have never even given a second thought as to how easy it was for me to just have them.
What I'm trying to say is that I have to ask for forgiveness from Father for taking for granted things and people that others so desperately long for.

Heather, I am amazed at you and you are precious. Thank you for opening my eyes and helping me to be thankful for my children, even when they're frustrating! My prayers are with you and you're going to be a wonderful mommy some day!!!

Growing Hurts

Well, here I am again! It's really hard to find time to blog. I thought I'd write a few words today though!

My daughter, Chelsea is in Africa over Spring Break. She's there on a mission trip. This isn't the first time she has traveled abroad and we hope to be able to send our other children on trips abroad when they reach to right age. But for Chelsea, these trips have been bittersweet times. She's the oldest of 4 and I'm not sure why, but she's really a homebody. She has a hard time with being away from home and this time, in particular, has been very difficult. Our constant prayer for this trip has been that she would come face-to-face with the Creator and learn something about Him and herself that she's never known before. Well, ask and you shall receive!

It's very difficult when you pray for a life changing experience for your child and God answers! What I mean is this: We prayed for a life-changing experience without being specific, knowing that God knew what that needed to be. Growing closer and more intimate with Christ isn't always a lovely and pleasant experience. Sometimes it's painful and very difficult. We can see, hindsight, that it was worth it, but in the midst, we're not so sure. I believe that thing that God is teaching Chelsea is, among other things, that Father is all she needs! When all things cease (or are not availabe because you are in another country)( i.e. phone, tv, music, family, car, comforts of middle class living) GOD is her all in all, her comfort, her peace, her place to fall into and be loved on. I think when you've been to that place, it makes all the difference in our confidence that God is our Papa, our Home!

If you happen to read this, pray for Chelsea. She really could use it! Pray Satan is bound in her life and that she totally surrenders to God's reaching out and waiting for her (and all of us) to come into His arms and rest.

Slowing Down

Well, yesterday would have been a great time for me to blog because I was home all day. We had a 'snow day', really it was an ice day. The kids were home from school and the office was closed so we lounged around in our jammies wathing TV. We napped, we ate, and we laughed.

Sometimes I get frustrated and can't wait to get those kids out the door and off to school, then at least I don't have to deal with the drama anymore. Yesterday, though I realized that all that frustrating stuff only happens when we are rushing to get ready to go somewhere. When we take the time to just relax and don't have to be anywhere, life if good! Everyone in sweet, considerate, willing to do for each other and easy going. I mean I know we have to go places and we have to get ready and we need to work on being more understanding during that time, but all that being said, I think life is too busy. Not only does busyness stress us and make us tired, it stresses our relationships and makes others tired. I want to work hard to simplify things. I know my family does many things that are unnecessary and that only makes it harder to nurture our relationships and malnourished relationships makes life not so good.

God is Good!

My kids are out of school today. They were yesterday also. Yesterday I was so exasperated with them. They had certain chores they were supposed to be doing and in the process they called me several times because someone wasn't cooperating. It's times like these when I feel like a failure for not teaching them how to better communicate with each other. Also, I get so frustrated that they are not more perceptive of when things just need to be done. Like when I have to say, "Pick up those shoes!" after they have stepped over them, tripped over them, and kicked them out of the way. "Brush your teeth!", when they smile and it looks like they just ate cheetos. Yuck!

Anyway, today is a new day and I just read something that my youngest daughter wrote and it warmed my heart. She was singing the praises of her two older sisters and how much she loves them and that they make her feel special. She was greatfull for the relationship they have. Thank you, God! I guess you'll always have the fussy days when it's hard to communicate with each other. Or when others can't live up to the expectations we put on them (because they are unrealistic. Guilty!) But it's ok, when ultimately, things are good!

So, I realize, what's most important is the relationship of the people in your house. If THOSE are what they need to be, then the stuff that hinders our communication sometimes, the stuff on the floor, and the stuff on their teeth are actually not that big of a deal.

I'm starting this new Bible Study by Beth Moore called Esther. I'm very excited about it. I don't know if you knew this, I certainly didn't, but God's name is not mentioned one time in that whole book. Weird, huh? Anyway, as I was watching the intro video she said something that caught me by surprise. She made this statement, "God will not fulfill your destiny without YOU!"

Now, think about that. I guess our lives will progress until we get old and die or we die by some other means. And whatever happens in the between time will, in essence, be our destiny. But will it be the way God wanted it be? As I thought about that statement, I realized that I want to be an active part of MY destiny. I want it be the way God wants it to be. The only way that's going to happen is for me to ask Him, to seek His every step for my life.

As it is right now, I don't ask Him what He wants me to do each day. I don't ask Him what He wants me to do next week, or next month. I haven't asked Him in a long time what He wants me to do next year. I want God to fulfill my destiny with ME! I want to be there every step of the way and I want the Destiny God intended for me when he 'knit me together in my mother's womb'! Because, I know THAT'S the destiny that will bring me true joy, peace, and a life worth living. Not to mention, when I seek God's destiny for me, I give Him the worship He deserves. When I die, I want people to say, "God fulfilled her destiny WITH HER and she loved every minute of it!"

No More Filing Cabinets!

Last night at dinner we were talking about our day and my son, Seth, asked what something meant. (I won't mention what that was because it was a little inappropriate, but I was glad he asked instead of just say it) Anyway, we told him the meaning and that it was not a nice comment to make. His answer to our explaination was funny at the time, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it's exactly what we all do without even realizing it. He said this, "I should take a hose, put one end in my mouth and the other in my ear, tell myself what it means and not to say it, then the little men in my brain can write it down and file it away!" We laughed because there is never any telling what is going to come out of that boy's mouth. But isn't it so true?

We tell ourselves things constantly or hear others tell us things that will help us, encourage us or make us better and more into the person God created us to be and what do we do with it? We let the 'little men' in our brains file it away! Why? Why don't we do something with it? Maybe it doesn't seem like that big of a deal, or we think we'll do something about it later. But we never get around to it. Let's use those thing we tell ourselves, that are true, or the things others tell us to change us. That's what I'm going to do! I'm going to let those 'little men' write those thing down, but I'm not going to let them file it away. I'm going to ponder it, believe it, and use to allow God to let it change me. No more filing cabinets for me!

MMM.....Diet Dr. Pepper!

Well, the work week is almost over and I don't feel like I accomplished much. I did the same ole thing and didn't lose a pound, AGAIN! All that cookie dough I ate last night didn't help either. I guess at some point I need to change my approach if my outcome is going to change. Imagine that!

Well, starting tomorrow, I'm giving up soda. (I say tomorrow because I'm right in the middle of a delicious diet Dr. Pepper. It's more like a dessert that a soda. Did you know that?) I read we waste 450-500 calories a day on the things we drink! I would much rather waste those calories on the things I eat. Well, I don't mean add those calories to what I'm already eating, but you get the jest.

Anyway, baby steps, that's my motto. I'll try this, then maybe I'll let go of something else. I know this though, nothing worth having (a slim, health, sexy body) is easy! I guess everyone knows that, but sometimes I just have to remind myself that it applies to my weight and health also. Help me out by giving me tips to abstain. PLEASE!