On Life: A long overdue update

So excited to be back here, ready to share with you about the many blessings we have experienced lately. It's going to be a whirlwind, so hang on friends!

1. The announcements have been made, via Christmas cards, facebook, and one on one interactions, but the last step is sharing it here in my blog. Are. You. Ready? {Que the drum roll please}

2. Baby Girl has a name. Sienna Marie. Isn't it beautiful? {hint: if you don't agree, don't tell me ;)}
We wish Sienna had biblical meaning like the boys first names, but it has personal meaning to us as we (my husband and I) met at Siena Heights University. And I'm excited to be passing down my middle name to her as well, a name that has meaning in both my family and Brian's family.

3. Early in December I posted that I really wanted the month to be a time where we, as a family, stepped back and spent more time in the Word, focusing on Advent and the reason for Christmas. I'm happy to report that we did that. And it went well. I also used that time to step away from Facebook a bit, limiting myself to 15 minutes or so a day and really tried to evaluate facebook and it's place in my life. It was a good time for me.

4. As a result of that time, analyzing and processing, I made some changes to my facebook settings and hacked it to be more suitable to my needs as they stand right now. I was fed up with the negativity that would stream into my life through the feeds. I was overwhelmed and annoyed by the ads, political platforms, and the accusations, anger and bitterness people seem to thrive on. But, I also highly value having access to communicate with old friends, church friends, babyfit friends, and family who is spread across country wide, and grow deeper in those relationships. Facebook is the easiest way for me to share family photos with those who are closest to me. But I've come to realize, that not everyone on my friends list needs to see everything I post, and I don't need to know what everyone on my list is doing either. So, I'm utilizing the "Close Friends" list Facebook provides. I've set my status', and photos to be visible to this list only and have selected about 25% of my friends list for this list. These are the people who are edifying in some way, who help me to grow in my relationship with the Lord, who make me laugh, or who simply mean the world to me. Plain and simple. When I log onto Facebook I simply select that list, and scroll through those status's and posts and avoid the main news feed as much as possible. And I must say, I made this change on the first of the year and the difference it has made is unreal. Facebook is now a place that I have some control over. It's a place that brings me light, and doesn't consume too much of my time. I still have access to all of my friends and them to me, and allow my blog posts and occasional status's to go to the whole friends list, but this has helped me to be more productive and allow facebook to influence me in a positive way instead of taking all the negativity with the good.

5. The Lord blessed us with a new car this month. Several weeks back we had a call from a relative saying they would be selling a car and wondering if we were interested in it, for a good deal, we were! With the holidays and a few details that needed to be worked out. Then one day my van up and died, we think it's the battery but my husband can't get it out for several reasons, and low and behold this opportunity was already there for a quick, stress free replacement that was able to help us out before we suffered any of the inconveniences of being down to one car. PRAISE THE LORD! I call the car "Gramps."

6. The Lord is really showing himself and his blessings right now through favor in both of our work places, and that, in a time where our economy is struggling is an absolute blessing that must be sung in praise!

7. This last weekend the Lord blessed us with a rare treat for Michigan. Beautiful weather in January. It was so nice that we took some time out from our cleaning and errands and busy day to get Micah's new bike put together and allow him to experience it for the first time. A giant thank you to my parents for the amazing gift,  a bike is more than just a possession to a little boy, it's opportunity, and personal ownership, it's that feeling of being big. Take a look for yourself (yes, they are in pajamas at 4 in the afternoon, and Gramps is in the driveway so you get to see a lot of his tail end)...

Micah: "Yeaaaaaaa, Micah!" 

8. Owen got a Wii for Christmas, and loves it more than life itself lol. Working on trying to make sure he stays grounded and doesn't get too absorbed into video games. Rules and time limits have been of the up most importance. Micah's imagination never stops working. He is always making up stories, and pretending that his bed is a spaceship has helped improve our bedtime routine by significant amounts. Our lives have been measurably changed, and it all started with a blanket my sister made him for Christmas, a blanket with space pictures, and rockets. The "Magic Blanket." Basically, the blanket just helped us realize that Micah functions in imagination, I'm trying to use this new knowledge to help think of creative ways to teach him things like the ABC's and spelling, phone numbers etc, simply singing a song doesn't work for him the way it did for Owen. 

And, that my friends, is most of it. God continues to stir in our hearts with our new years theme of being rooted and we are so excited about the ministries we are involved in at church and the attitude we are re-cultivating in our home.

"Look mom, it can fly like Mary Poppins"

Photo by Micah

May God bless you abundantly, until Friday!

Teresa :)

The Truth About Concealer

Source

Yesterday, I was at the store when I remembered that I needed some new makeup. A new lipstick, eye liner, and foundation/powder. First of all, what a can of worms that opened! Why can't buying makeup be quick, cheap and easy? I decided to switch back to brown eyeliner and ended up needing eye-shadow and mascara to match. Then spent 10 minutes trying to decide on a shade of lipstick that would be close to my usual so my husband would like it but different enough to make me feel striking and extravagant when I wore it. Finally, after buying all new detail makeup I was ready to grab my usual foundation and powder. Imagine my dismay when I discovered Kroger didn't have it, and didn't have great sales. After 10 more minutes, I finally  opted for a powder/foundation combo and decided to buy a (cheaper than foundation) stick of concealer for the harder to cover spots like under my eyes and around my chin. 

My poor boys thought I was down right insubordinate at this point. "Mom, cupcake, cupcake" Micah kept demanding, as the whole purpose of running to the store in the first place was to buy the boys consolation cupcakes for not being allowed to stay at the Men's Superbowl Party at church "Mom, why can't I stay at the men's party and have cake? I'm a men, and I like football!" Owen declared with a pout as we drove home from church. By the time we got home and I finally got the boys their cupcake Micah had been hysterical for 5 minutes. 

So this morning rolls around and I get to use my new makeup. What is it about new makeup that is so exciting, and refreshing (and addicting, did you notice I needed 4 items and left with 6, 3 of which I didn't intend on buying in the first place)? I usually drag my feet or skip makeup all together, but not today, I couldn't wait to get in the bathroom and beautify myself today! 

Source

My first step was to apply the concealer and I realized that this is probably only the second time in my whole makeup-applying lifetime that I've purchased/used concealer. I went to work, gingerly applying a dab of concealer here, and a dab there. I targeted my eyes and chin first but then when I rubbed it in I realized there were a few blemishes, and then scars from previous blemishes, and when those were concealed I found freckles on my nose I didn't like, and is that an age spot in the middle of my forehead?   


By the time I was done, I realized I would have been better off starting with a solid foundation from the beginning.  Not only did it use more product (often applying two or three coats) and take more time to fix everything, I realized that it kept revealing more faults in my complexion. Hiding or concealing one, made another jump out at me like a bulls eye or Target symbol on my face. 

This same concept applies to my Christian Walk.  Many times I'll find myself with a weak foundation, my prayer life might be rock solid but my devotion time will be suffering and my heart gripping onto pain, anger, or jealousy. Perhaps I'm reading my Bible daily, and my heart is loving graciously, but my prayer life is suffering greatly, unsure, unwilling for whatever reason to give it to God in prayer. When these times arise, and we all know that they do, I can almost see myself standing in front of a hypothetical mirror with a hypothetical stick of concealer. Overcompensating in one area or another, trying as hard as I can to hide each resulting issue from my husband, my kids, my friends, my readers, and if I'm painfully honest, my Lord. 

On the other hand, if my heart is clean, my prayer life and devotion time are all in line, in other words, my foundation is solid, then everything else sort of just falls into place. I'm more tolerant with my children, more productive, more approachable, my flaws are less apparent, my sinful tendencies easier to resist, and I'm fit and ready to be used by the Lord.

Source

How easy it is to chose the cheaper concealer route, to push off devotion time, or prayer, or even a confession until later, assuming it wont cause any harm, but how quickly they get forgotten. Later never comes, and one issue snowballs into another, leaving blemishes, targets, all over our best intentions. Concealing each resulting issue one at a time, painfully revealing more sin, and more heartache, more frustrations that need to be dealt with. How much smarter it is to start with a solid foundation from the beginning, to take the time necessary each day to invest in our spiritual life with prayer, devotions, and by protecting our hearts. 

Today, I chose foundation, and I pray the Lord will continue to use this example as a reminder to me when I'm tempted to cheat and push my time with Him aside for other things. I pray that using concealer everyday on my face (until it is gone, or I can justify spending even more money on makeup to replace it with foundation), will help me to form long term habits of maintaining a strong foundation on my Christian Walk. 

What have you been using? 

Turned Off For the Glory of God: Update

Last month I posted about my goals for 2012, but I also shared with you my hearts desire to be more intentional, to seek more opportunities to grow in Christ, to use my evenings more wisely, and to get up before the sun in order to work on a project I believe the Lord wants to see me bring to completion. In order to accomplish these things, I felt prompted by the Lord, convicted, to keep my Television Turned Off for the Glory of the Lord.

I just reread the post, and let me tell you, I feel convicted all over again. I've had to take my own advice, again, and now I feel refreshed, ready to make my journey more concrete, share my pitfalls, learn from them, and move forward. 

So, how did I do? I did pretty well, my attachment to my shows has decreased significantly. Even the shows I DVR and watch on the weekends are having less of a pull on me. After about the first week, I stopped having the desire to cheat or watch something on my computer during a different part of the day. Early on, I noticed how much more time I had with the TV off. I was able to get the kitchen cleaned, laundry caught up, reignited my love for reading (or rather, just devoted time to my love for reading), and even managed to get to bed at a reasonable hour. 

So I did pretty well with keeping the TV off, and detaching myself from that permanent state of couch-potato-itis I seemed to be living in. But how did I do with the other part of my goal, the getting up before the sun, reading daily and progressing on my project? As I used to say in Spanish class, "Asi-asi" Okay-okay. I did manage to get up before the family and have some quality reading and prayer time almost every day, but was not physically able to get up before the sun on several occasions due to being sick, healing and work trips etc. I'm proud of myself for managing to maintain a steady reading schedule, and did, as I say, get up before the sun on several occasions but somehow I didn't manage to make even an ounce of progress on my project, for that I'm disappointed.

The out-of-my-control circumstances that prevented me from getting up to "work" early on several occasions produced a few grey areas in my goal. Was I only cutting out TV on the nights before I intended to get up early? Or was I committing to do this long term to increase my creativity and relationship with the Lord? 

There were a few nights where the first question persuaded me to watch an hour of TV or two. But ultimately I've decided it's the second question that prevails. The ambiguity was partly increased by the indecisive end to this pursuit. So this month has taught me to be very specific, and has helped me to discover where I need to improve. 

• I'm officially committing to not watch TV during the week throughout the rest of 2013
• Beginning at 6PM on Sundays, ending at 6PM on Fridays
• Irregardless of whether or not I'll be waking up before the sun
• In an effort to "cleanse the pallet" and increase my creativity and productivity
• In an effort to increase my understanding of and devotion to my Lord

• The one exception to the rule will be for sick days/vacations

• Also, phase one of my project needs to be completed by June 1st. No exceptions. 

Now, I know I've harped on a lot of the failures here, but I have learned so much this last month. It's freeing to not feel pressure of when my shows start during the boys bedtime routine. I admit that far too often I'd get grumpier than needed because I was anxious not to miss a single second of juicy drama. I've learned a lot from the 2 free kindle novels I downloaded. My husband and I spent more time discussing deeper issues than we regularly do. I had at least 10 hours of sleep on more than 5 occasions. Most importantly, because my time in the Word is more focused, and I've had more of it, my prayers are becoming deeper and less rehearsed. The Lord is revealing to me many things about myself and my circumstances that He wants to use. 

So, is it worth is? Absolutely. 

I'm excited to carry on. Especially now that my purpose, rules, exception, and goal has been cemented in blog-stone. 

One of the bloggers/authors that I just recently began following, Lindsey Harrel from The Mustard Seed,  posted on this same topic today, see why she's cutting TV and movies out for the whole month of February. 

The Simple Little Things

Thank you today Lord, 

For the simple things in life that bring us joy.

Source: google.com via Mindy on Pinterest

For the frilly girly things that make me smile.

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Ashley on Pinterest

The blessing of not just having clothes 

but cute clothes.

Source: jonesdesigncompany.com via Teresa on Pinterest

For makeup, wedding rings, sleek black boots, earnings, sweaters and scarves.

Source: polyvore.com via Teresa on Pinterest

Thank you for comforters, pillows, beds. 

Picture frames, flowers, and trinkets that decorate our homes. 

Source: 7thhouseontheleft.com via Teresa on Pinterest

Thank you Lord for the ability to remember 

moments not caught on camera.

Source: Uploaded by user via mk on Pinterest

Smiles, laughter, comforting hugs, 

moments with mommy, 

and night time prayers whispered by a four year old. 

Source: google.com via Hailey on Pinterest

Thank you for this day and each little thing, 

each seemingly small blessing 

that will make it so full and abundant, 

so special it's worth remembering. 
Amen


P.S. Thank you for Pinterest to store and share all of these beautiful images and things we have been blessed with.


Linking up today with: 

Our Luxury

Father God, 

For this post I asked Owen to help me. Lord, I gave him the camera and said "Can you help me take pictures of things we want to praise the Lord for?" Immediately he went to our dishwasher.

 Apparently he appreciates how much cleaner our house is now as much as we do. How much easier the kitchen is to clean. He also loves to "help" he loads the dishes, puts the soap in (almost always the right way) and knows which buttons to push. 

Micah loves to help me unload the dishwasher. Each time he hands me a dish(I take them super fast to prevent breakage!) he says "Thank you." So stinking sweet. 

Thank you Lord, for giving us this dishwasher, perhaps my favorite part of our beautiful new kitchen. 

Seriously, I couldn't love it more. After 5 years of dishes by hand this truly is a luxury and I praise you for it.

The Front Steps

Lord, 

We are beyond grateful for our new home, 

there are so many things about it that we love. 

Love being homeowners, having our own decorations and our own yard. 

Today I want to praise you special Lord for our front door. 

For the small front porch in which we have been able to welcome friends, 

sit on and watch the kids play our front yard, 

and even greet Trick or Treater's last week 

(for the first time in our married life). 

Thank you Lord for this blessing, in a time where so many are losing their homes and struggling to stay afloat, thank you for this space we can finally call our own. 

From Frump-tastic to Fanta-bulous New York & Co. Style

It's hard for me to justify spending money on myself. My husband will send me to the store with permission to buy clothes for myself and I come home with entirely new outfits for him and the boys, and if I'm lucky some cheap shirt I found on the clearance rack at Target for $5 or less for myself. I constantly know the needs of others around me, and therefore it's hard to splurge on myself.

For years my cheap half target/half hand me down wardrobe, supplemented with the generous Christmas and Birthday gifts from my three moms, have been enough to sustain me. I like to look nice, but I'm a homebody at heart anyway so my jeans usually end up looking sad and my shirts have baby scars on them (you know, nearly invisible finger prints, stretch marks, or rings from where the boys have pawed or spit all over me), my hair gets in my face so I pull it up, and who has time for makeup with 2 strong willed high energy boys underfoot?

This post is mostly about looking good, and taking care of myself in a physical sense, but lets step aside for just a moment and talk about the deeper issue. This same excuse that lurks in and prevents me from spending too much money on myself, or too much time on my looks crosses over into that spiritual sense as well. The morning routine is too crazy or rushed, so reading, praying, praising might get pushed aside. In the evenings I'm so burned out I don't always take the time to enjoy my blessings or take care of the things and people I've been blessed with. Cleaning my kitchen or bathing my children gets pushed off to another time, another day. And the cycle and pattern continues, I begin to feel even more bogged down, even more stressed out, scrounging the dirty clothes for something clean enough to wear, feeling as far from fabulous as possible right down there at frump-tastic.

I want to be better in this department, I know that by starting my day out with a little extra me and God time, making sleep, reading, and grooming priorities I begin to feel better about myself and do better at taking the attitude of "Do all things as though you are doing them unto the Lord" seriously. Therefore, I want  know I need to keep reading each morning, do my hair and makeup regularly, and take better care of my clothes. Last month I began the process by buying myself some clothes from the one and only New York and Company. My favorite store. My all time favorite store, and I discovered that their email list is the most beneficial thing to be on. Ever. They are constantly sending coupons for 40% to 50% off your entire purchase that run simultaneously with bogo sales. SCORE :) (Fantastic! But also dangerous!)

What a difference a pair of good quality jeans makes!!!!!!!!! Just slipping these babies on makes me feel like a woman! In addition to that, they are a little long, and nice enough that they require a nice pair of heels (I prefer my boots) and let me tell you there is something about the combination of my tall boots, sexy jeans, and scarf that make me feel like I walked out of a big city and not rolled out of bed in plain ol' MI.

This isn't to say I want to ignore my families needs entirely, I know vamping up my wardrobe will be a slow process done over time, but it's a goal and that my friends is the first step. This isn't a new goal, it's one I tend to bring up once a year or so (last year my sisters bought me some awesome accessories for Christmas which I still love and use frequently, and FYI if you are reading this, this would be an excellent idea for Christmas again this year), but as, up until about 6 months ago, I'd been in about a 5 year run of either being pregnant, thinking about being pregnant, or nursing, my goal just never seemed to stick. But now is the time! My baby is almost two and it's high time I start thinking about me again.

Today I woke up before the kids and did my devotions for the third day in a row. Today marks the fourth day  that I got dressed nice, did my hair, and my makeup and wore my boots :) Today is a good day.

Feels good to look good. At least at the beginning of the day! By the time I get home you can't hardly tell but it's the effort that counts right?

This little goal, happens to align perfectly with one of my favorite bloggers, Sarah Mae, new Motivotional challenge. Yes you read that right, a combination between Motivation and Devotional. Isn't it Fanta-bulous? I can't pass up the opportunity to do something motivotional just because it's so stinking fun to type. I hope you'll head over to her blog and check back here Monday to see what a Motivotional is all about (I just had to type it one last time!)



Also linking up today with a new discovery of mine in this ginormous blogging world Mrs. T, Naturally for her Blog Out of the Box link up on "A Day In My Life."

Thanks for stopping by today friends, please feel welcome to poke your nose around and get to know me better!

Miscellany Monday: Moving

I haven't participated in the Miscellany Monday over at lowercase letters in several months, and I have a million thoughts swirling around in my head regarding our big (though local) move, so I figured today would be the perfect day to do participate in the link up.

I don't have a ton of pictures because I don't have a camera right now, so what I have is off of my cell phone and as you can see the quality is crappy, hence why there are only three. But I hope you'll enjoy them anyhow.

Also, it's weird taking pictures of empty rooms and piles of boxes.  Once everything finds it's place I'll borrow someone's camera and start snapping pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

Here is a shot of the awesome welcome mat that my MIL Karen bought us :) I'm amazed at how something like a welcome mat can make a space feel more inviting, more welcoming, and more homely. I'm so grateful that she came to help us last week and for everything she and Brian's dad did for us while they were here. I'm glad that I was able to get to know her even better while we scrapped, painted, and shopped, and was blessed by the thought behind these (we got 3 welcome mats) gifts.

I didn't get a picture but the mat at the backdoor is for the kids, it's got fish on it and says "hello", I wanted the backyard to be more playful and figured people re-entering from the back have already been formally welcomed.

Yeah for pastor's who are super helpful and the son of a "Jack Dave of all trades," after church last night Tim (still in his church clothes) and his dad Dave came over and fixed the water hoses to our washing machine, so I can now do laundry again :) and yeah for a husband who did two loads for me last night!

Living out of boxes really is no fun. Simply hanging our clothes in the closet made our bedroom feel 90% better. It's begining to feel like the oasis and retreat I want it to be. Even our kids are learning now, that they don't play in mom and dad's room!

"People have moved in now, move out already!" "{{Smack}} Go tell your friends" and "This isn't your home, this is my home" are all things we shout (feeling a little Happy Gilmore-eque as we do, ugh yes I have seen Happy Gilmore, not my style anymore but loved that movie when I was in college) as we attack the carpenter ants that wont get a hint. We have sprayed 3 or 4 times, and they. just. wont. leave.

Though they are slowly reducing in number, but that happens naturally when you physically kill 20 or 30 a day.

Killing ants feels a lot more humane when you stomp on them with your feet. When I hit it with my hand or watch it writhe in pain from poison I just sprayed on it I can hear these little ant voices saying "no, not me, save me please, little baby Suzy needs me" and I kill it anyway, but it hurts a little when I do.

Even Owen has been heard saying "Get out of here, tell your friends!" right before or after a giant whack. The kids enjoy the ant killing game. It's exciting to beat ants.

Micah does not yell at the ants. He does not yell at me when he sees an ant. He picks up dead ants between his fingers and says excitedly "Eant" which really sounds more like "eat" than "ant" and for a few days I thought that's what he was going to do but after I said "don't eat it, throw it in the trash" he now picks them up saying "eant, trash, eant, trash" over and over. So stinking funny.

Here is a crappy blurry picture of my darling three men eating popcorn out of the beautiful popcorn bowls I picked up at Goodwill just before we moved in. We were supposed to do this our first night at the house, but we didn't and it didn't happen the second night either, but finally on the third night I made it happen and he (they) were happy. Notice: we are not eating in the living room, or the basement.

New rule. We only eat in the kitchen. The boys are catching on quickly. Once they are in bed, we can "break" the rule. It is holding up well. I'm so so glad.

New rule. We no longer watch tv in the morning. This is harder, each day that goes by Owen is fighting it a little harder, I'm hoping by the end of week two he'll be over it, but today was rough. My reason is because of a video we watched at woman's study on Wednesday about giving God our first minutes and first dollars. I give God lot's of minutes and lots of dollars (and I"m pretty good about the firsts with my dollars) but I struggle with getting up early and putting Him first. We read to the boys every night before bed, but I think Owen has already figured out that the rule is "we read the bible before bed when we feel like it" it's not that something like a bath or being lazy would push it out, but if we went to church that night or were out too late, or moving to a new house, then our routine would get skipped. I don't want them growing up with weak and poor bible habits, they need to be formed young.

Another reason we don't watch tv in the mornings, the one that keeps getting stronger now that I've started this and I'm seeing his behavior, is that Owen is getting way too attached to the TV. When our new service got hooked up Owen was able to work the remote (thanks to daycare I think) and quoted, a commercial to me. It wasn't just a whine "I want that" which I hate so much, but he actually was selling the product to me. "Mom, you should get that, it's only 19.99 and it lasts for 10 hours, plus you can use it for work not just for school or take it on picnics" he said about a lunch box. I know he knew the info because I was listening to the commercial as he was talking and this particular commercial hadn't mentioned work or picnics.  If I say "no, you can't watch tv" in the morning or whenever he throws a full fit, when he was asked to leave tv for dinner he started crying about how he was going to miss the movie that was on. His heart is way to into his heart is way too into TV for 4 years old. If I don't nick this in the bud now, it is only going to get worse.

Oh, and a bonus to this nifty new rule? Owen is sleeping later. Why? Well, my guess is that he no longer knows what shows are on TV and he isn't "worried about missing my cartoons." Sleep is good. :) 

New rule: Ok it's not really a rule but an attitude, one of contentment and peace. It's hard to feel peace when your life is packed in boxes but I'm so blessed and excited to have our new home that I don't want this joy and pride to fade with little "homeowner problems" that come up, or to feel discouraged or have my blessing weighed down by the burdens of life. I want to cling to the blessing that this home is to us, cling to the unending list of things the Lord did to bring us into this home specifically, and praise His name for this home ALL the days that we are in it. I often think our blessings get forgotten and what we once praised the Lord for we later start gripping about and I have already begun making a conscious effort not to let that happen with this blessing. I'm excited about this new adventure and I know this is the Lord's house for us, I want to make sure that 8 months from now I haven't forgotten what I know now.

A picture of the kitchen finally starting to come together. Seeing these vases and this set up really made me feel like I was in my home, even though everything else was still in shambles.

Hoping we can put up picture frames soon. Tonight maybe.

Thanks for hanging with me, even though I've been sporadic lately.

Making It A Vacation

I'm sure you've heard the various phrases about the difference between a house and a home. This one in particular being the gist of them all "A good home must be made, not bought." Joyce Maynard. These in particular have been at the forefront of my thoughts lately because we are trying to buy our first house.

However, tonight's post is not about the house, or our home of the last five-ish years. This is about vacation. I feel like coining a few new phrases "the difference between a vacay and a vacation..." or "A good vacation must be made, not bought." "Vacation is where the heart is," "Ones favorite place on earth will always be where she vacationed as a little girl" and finally "The heart of a vacation is in the memories that were made there."

Sale Pending! =)

Remember that announcement I hinted at in this Fabulous Post? Well, it could be another 10 days before I know what I wanted to know before telling you what I will then know, and well I can't wait that long because I might literally explode.


I'm not sleeping well because I keep going back and forth between being overwhelmingly excited full of planning or scheming and exceedingly stressed about everything that has to be done in the next few weeks, but can't be started yet! Ah.

The Bike Incident of 2011

It was kind of a dreary day for the park, but the rain stopped and the kids needed to get out (mom may or may not have needed a little mom time as well) so we met my really good friend Abby and her girls at the park. Our brilliant plan was to play for awhile, eat some lunch and then go for a walk letting the older two kids ride their bikes.

At lunch Micah dropped his banana and then continued eating it. I didn't realize it until I discovered him with a mouth full of gravel. This has absolutely no relevance to the story, except that it happened and was disgusting.

If The Bible Is Like Apple, Then Proverbs Is Like The iPhone

I don't have an iPhone, so I don't have an iPhone, but I still know all about the apps. I can't even count how many times I've found myself saying "really? There's an app for that?" in the last year or so. It seems like things have gotten a bit out of hand, I mean any question, problem, inconvenience, or entertainment need could be met instantly with a shiny iPhone.

Southern Hospitality

We had an amazing weekend in Atlanta! Sorry this update is so late, I've been processing the trip, reflecting on life, and enjoying my kiddos. We don't have a working camera right now so our pictures our limited.

Hair Help :)

So, I decided today I need a drastic hair change! And I need it NOW!

Does that happen to you? Do you get this urge to do something, and if your going to do it, do it drastic, and do it immediately. 

Instant gratification, that's what my mother called it. I think she often followed that up with impatience and selfishness too?

Palm Sunday

Have you ever stopped to think about how quickly life changes? Looking back on my life, all of the major events, significant life changes, have happened abruptly. 

The first of these changes happened in 7th grade when I was adopted from my real father by my step father (who is my real father, in every definition of the word, my dad, my daddy, my hero). One day I was any other freshman gettting ready for volleyball tryouts, the next I had a broken shoulder, and my mother was soon there after diagnosed with MS. The 4th of July 2006 was any other celebration a fun weekend we shared with my sister the 5th of July we were diagnosed with cancer. (Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.) The morning October 16th 2008 I was happily pregnant with our second child, that evening I was learning how to mourn the loss of someone I'd never met but couldn't have loved more. Celebrating the joy of a newborn one minute, shouldering concerns and fears over bad test results the next.

I'm sure this is how it felt to Jesus. Living a normal (his father is God, nothing about his is normal, but you know relatively speaking) life one minute then having it all turned upside down. First to be worshiped and praised greater than any fanfare we could imagine. Though I do have an image in my head of thousands upon thousands of people singing and laughing with faces and eyes lit up. Akin to the reaction of a group five year old's when Santa finally rides by on his reindeer at the end of an exciting parade. Electric, contagious, unhindered, unmistakable joy. I wonder if Jesus was able to enjoy the praise he so rightly deserved, or if he knew all to well what was coming. That tomorrow this praise would begin to be slowly replaced by another contagious emotion. Fear or perhaps it was greed. What came first, the chicken or the egg? 

Yes, one moment things were beautiful and the next He was suffering a death more painful than any I could imagine.

Every Easter season it seems I find myself indignantly thinking HOW???? How could they have done this to MY KING???? I would have known! I would have KNOWN. If I'd been there, if I'd been alive, I WOULD HAVE KNOWN! I think that somehow I would be stronger, smarter, more faithful. I would have remembered our praises from the week before. I would not so quickly be persuaded by fear. My heart would have known who he was and what to do about it. Yes that's right, every Easter I begin to think (even just a little bit) that I SINGLE HANDILY COULD HAVE CHANGED HISTORY :) I'm just that good.

Eventually the slightly more honest part of me might ashamedly admit that my anti-confrontational personality really wouldn't have done anything. I would have been an innocent bystander standing in the crowds, crying tears of remorse at what everyone else had done to him.

The fact is it's just so hard, and painful, to imagine standing at the foot of the cross and denying Christ. But that's the sin of pride making itself present in my life. This morning I was reminded that I'm a sinner, and denying that sinful nature, standing behind pride and indignation, is in and of itself a sin.

I think that somehow I would be stronger, smarter, more faithful. I would have remembered our praises from the week before. I would not so quickly be persuaded by fear.

The truth is I do this weekly, sometimes daily. I think it's safe to say we all do.

On Sunday I stand amongst my church family and sing praise songs "You are my all in all."

You are my Messiah! 

The alarm clock goes off on Monday morning and I think "this is ridiculous, I don't get enough sleep, how can I be expected to function, sleep is the MOST important thing."  
We want Barabass! 
 
I easily remind friends "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Praise be to the Lord! 

"The doctor bills are HOW MUCH? How are we going to pay for that? That will kill our savings."

Give us Barabass! 

I pray for patience and praises for our health nightly before bed and oft several times during the day.

Hosanna in the highest

Another fever, another copay, another day off of work. I fret, I worry, I struggle. I get frustrated or angry because I have to shoulder this burden ALONE. I'm the only one this affects, the only one who deals with it, who CAN deal with it.  
Barabass! Barabass! Barabass!


How could they have done this to MY KING???? The truth is I DO THIS TO MY KING.

One of the most universal examples pastor gave was this: on Sunday one sings You are My God on Monday "My God," becomes a curse word. "My God, why would you do that?" I see this type of thing on Facebook all the time Christians who say FML (*** My Life). I love you Lord, I hate my life. I'll serve you King, let me have 10 more minutes of sleep first. You are my God, I need more money/things.

I stand at the foot of the cross everyday, and everyday I have a choice. "You are my God," or "Barabass Barabass!"

Picture Source

 This week represents the time my Lord laid down His life for ME. He died for me, even while I was still a sinner. This week I really want to focus on what I can do, to make more of an effort to die to myself daily and take up the cross for Christ.

Friday Favorites! (Shopping)

So I know I already posted today but this looked quick, easy and fun and I need to be de-stressed so I thought I'd link up with Lyndsie at A Love Worth Waiting For for Friday Favorites (Shopping!)

I have a super hard time spending money on myself (especially when I've been given permission to!) so I often end up buying cheap cheap cheap but if money wasn't an issue my wardrobe would almost entirely consist of

Fiction Friday: Who Am I?

It was the day that I'd been waiting for. The day each of us had been waiting for, and for me it had finally come. The day should have held hope and excitement like sun and fresh air, but instead the day dawned cold and misty. The men came and began securing my belongings, making sure each items was accounted for, they meant well, but I overheard them talking about my new home, about how I was a face picked out of a "catalog".

What is your "Black Friday" profit going to be?

(Published as an FB Note on November 26th 2010)

Last "Black Friday" we hardly slept the night before, and were up before the sun, anxious. Others rushed around with fleeting thoughts of free coffee, early bird deals, and finding the perfect gifts, while we packed up our precious new born and drove to Detroit Children's with our stomachs in our chests and hearts in our throats.