But just as big as the half way point is the fact that in 7 {SEVEN} days we will have are big ultrasound and hopefully will know if we should plan pink or blue! This seems like it might really happen! We are thankful and trusting God!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Countdown!
But just as big as the half way point is the fact that in 7 {SEVEN} days we will have are big ultrasound and hopefully will know if we should plan pink or blue! This seems like it might really happen! We are thankful and trusting God!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
A blessing!
We had our second ultrasound today! Two weeks ago Grasshopper measured 6 weeks and 2 days with a heartbeat of 128. That put our due date at April 5th 2011! Today I went in nervous, with our history it just doesn't seem possible that we MIGHT have a great pregnancy with a full term healthy baby...but the doctor today said (while anything can happen) she didn't see any reason to worry at this point!
Grasshopper measured 8 weeks and 5 days today with a heartbeat of 180! What a blessing it was! I was able to hear the heartbeat and see Grasshoppers' little heart beating on the screen by way of a small little flicker!
I am slightly more excited now but they are going to have me come in for another ultrasound in 2 weeks just to check things out again! I am so excited, at that point I should be just shy of 11 weeks...that is almost all the way through my first trimester! Definately uncharted territory for us here! Praise the Lord!
Grasshopper measured 8 weeks and 5 days today with a heartbeat of 180! What a blessing it was! I was able to hear the heartbeat and see Grasshoppers' little heart beating on the screen by way of a small little flicker!
I am slightly more excited now but they are going to have me come in for another ultrasound in 2 weeks just to check things out again! I am so excited, at that point I should be just shy of 11 weeks...that is almost all the way through my first trimester! Definately uncharted territory for us here! Praise the Lord!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Please forgive me...
So I know everyone says I need to be excited, and I am! Do you not think that a couple who wanted to have a large family who finds out through 4 miscarriages that we no longer have a shot at having natural children because I am no longer ovulating even with fertility helps then 4+ years later finds herself pregnant is excited at the possibility of having a baby? Do you really not think we are excited?
But here is the thing, we HAVE had 4 miscarriages. We HAVE had no positive end to a pregnancy in the past. I HAVE been haveing sypmtoms, but that doesn't mean that it is just going to be OKAY!
Please forgive me for not jumping up and down, please forgive me if you do not think I am putting enough faith in God, please forgive me if you think I worry too much, please forgive me if you think I am being lazy, please forgive me if you think I am not counting my blessing.
Do you know how difficult it is to answer the question, "how many children do you have?" with the number 2 (before knowing of this pregnancy.) I want to scream from the rooftops that I have 6 children, just because the other four never lived a second on this earth doesn't mean they were not my children. But other people do not get that. I am greatful and blessed beyond all measure with the two beatufiul children I do have...and if God thought they were all we needed than I would be okay with that. But our hearts tell us different. We are still actively persuing adoption, and we have a baby that is 8 weeks and 1 day growing inside of me. We have passed the point of pregnancy of three of our four miscarriages and things are looking pretty good...but we are still early on.
So if you choose to talk with me, please remember that we have history. Please don't just assume because I am healthier now than ever that everything is going to be okay...please know the best thing to do is to pray. I am scared, and worried, and nervous that the ultrasound tomorrow is going to look the same as the one 2 weeks ago and show that my baby is not growing. I look toward the positive as much as possible, but at the end of the day the best I can do is, "this one is a fighter, we are going to be okay." I tell myself that often, and pray it to be true. But really, my heart will not stop the hurt until around 7 months from now I am holding my healthy happy baby in my arms.
Please forgive me...
But here is the thing, we HAVE had 4 miscarriages. We HAVE had no positive end to a pregnancy in the past. I HAVE been haveing sypmtoms, but that doesn't mean that it is just going to be OKAY!
Please forgive me for not jumping up and down, please forgive me if you do not think I am putting enough faith in God, please forgive me if you think I worry too much, please forgive me if you think I am being lazy, please forgive me if you think I am not counting my blessing.
Do you know how difficult it is to answer the question, "how many children do you have?" with the number 2 (before knowing of this pregnancy.) I want to scream from the rooftops that I have 6 children, just because the other four never lived a second on this earth doesn't mean they were not my children. But other people do not get that. I am greatful and blessed beyond all measure with the two beatufiul children I do have...and if God thought they were all we needed than I would be okay with that. But our hearts tell us different. We are still actively persuing adoption, and we have a baby that is 8 weeks and 1 day growing inside of me. We have passed the point of pregnancy of three of our four miscarriages and things are looking pretty good...but we are still early on.
So if you choose to talk with me, please remember that we have history. Please don't just assume because I am healthier now than ever that everything is going to be okay...please know the best thing to do is to pray. I am scared, and worried, and nervous that the ultrasound tomorrow is going to look the same as the one 2 weeks ago and show that my baby is not growing. I look toward the positive as much as possible, but at the end of the day the best I can do is, "this one is a fighter, we are going to be okay." I tell myself that often, and pray it to be true. But really, my heart will not stop the hurt until around 7 months from now I am holding my healthy happy baby in my arms.
Please forgive me...
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
~~~Encore Children's Boutique~~~
You must go HERE! I have launched an online children's boutique I am calling ENCORE and we now have one client and 36 items posted with many more to come in the days/weeks ahead! Please go and shop and Encore for newborn through 6 at this point! If you need a place to consign your new or gently used children's clothing please feel free to post a comment and leave a way to contact you so that we can set it up! I look forward to doing business with you!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The way things are...
So. seriously, I have another 'gripe' to blog about. I could gripe every day most likely, but I try not to dwell on these things too much!
I am having the most difficult time with people...people that cannot be honest and that is in any avenue of life. It might be calling in sick when you don't want to work, or trying to bring your sick child to daycare while under the influence of tylenol. It just seems that it is ACCEPTED in today's society that telling a little lie isn't a lie at all and no one bats an eye! I don't know about you but that makes me uncomfortable. Especially when it comes to friends, I will tell you that my husband have a very small number of people that we acctually consider friends, which i ssad...but safe at the same time. We have had a large group of friends in the past and seemed to only be hurt or let down time and time again...and even now there are people in our community that once were friends...or so we thought, in actuallity they were only our friends because they needed something from us or needed Handsome to do some work for them. GGGGGRRRRRR
SeRiOuSlY pEoPlE!!!!
Lets just be honest and the world would be a better place, if you really do not want to be our friends but would like some help with something, just be honest about it. We are rather busy people and so it might not be right away, but most likely we will help in any way we can....because that is who we are!
Another thing, if you are in a position of helping people already...I mean your job puts you in with working with people, it could be a receptionist, a customer service rep., a pastor, or working in a restaurant (any job that involves people) DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT HAVING TO HELP PEOPLE! It does not matter how petty their problem it is YOUR JOB! I have to say that at times this one is difficult with me, I have some days where it seems that a client my not be understanding my hours or my rules or what have you and it gets a little frusterating so I complain to my husband or to one of my few friends.....and I need to do better.
But while I work on some of my weaknesses, can I challange you do to the same? If you work with people, have a people serving spirit!
I am having the most difficult time with people...people that cannot be honest and that is in any avenue of life. It might be calling in sick when you don't want to work, or trying to bring your sick child to daycare while under the influence of tylenol. It just seems that it is ACCEPTED in today's society that telling a little lie isn't a lie at all and no one bats an eye! I don't know about you but that makes me uncomfortable. Especially when it comes to friends, I will tell you that my husband have a very small number of people that we acctually consider friends, which i ssad...but safe at the same time. We have had a large group of friends in the past and seemed to only be hurt or let down time and time again...and even now there are people in our community that once were friends...or so we thought, in actuallity they were only our friends because they needed something from us or needed Handsome to do some work for them. GGGGGRRRRRR
SeRiOuSlY pEoPlE!!!!
Lets just be honest and the world would be a better place, if you really do not want to be our friends but would like some help with something, just be honest about it. We are rather busy people and so it might not be right away, but most likely we will help in any way we can....because that is who we are!
Another thing, if you are in a position of helping people already...I mean your job puts you in with working with people, it could be a receptionist, a customer service rep., a pastor, or working in a restaurant (any job that involves people) DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT HAVING TO HELP PEOPLE! It does not matter how petty their problem it is YOUR JOB! I have to say that at times this one is difficult with me, I have some days where it seems that a client my not be understanding my hours or my rules or what have you and it gets a little frusterating so I complain to my husband or to one of my few friends.....and I need to do better.
But while I work on some of my weaknesses, can I challange you do to the same? If you work with people, have a people serving spirit!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
God's Promises ...for BoYs...
I recently have taken the time to read through this little devotional book for boys. I think it is a great book for both boys that can read and a nice reference book for parents of younger boys that are not yet able to read! My son is only three and with things like, "God's Promises when you need to be a good sport" and then they give a little poem, along with three scripture references. This book is full of great places to go to in the Bible to help little boys in certain situations in life!
The other part of the book is the wonderful illustrations! Each of the Promises has an illustration that goes with it and the poem! A great book for parents of boys both younger and early teens!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Happy Childcare Provider Day!
A friend, who also has a daycare posted this on my fac.eboo.k page this morning...just had to share!
A CHILDCARE PROVIDER~ A willing partner for working moms,she comforts, pampers, soothes and calms With all the love she has to share,she's great to have when mommy can't be there.She loves to rock a fussy child,corrects the one that gets too wild.She hears her share of tearful pleas,and comforts those with skinned up k...nees.With little children she plays games of peek,for bigger ones it's hide and seek.She is an expert at each game,but somehow loses just the same.She helps them learn the alphabet,and gives them hugs when they're upset.She gently tucks them in their beds,with dreamland tales for sleepyheads.She is a true and trusted friend,who helps them learn and play pretend.Although she's paid, it's plain to see,she serves them with a love that's free.
A CHILDCARE PROVIDER~ A willing partner for working moms,she comforts, pampers, soothes and calms With all the love she has to share,she's great to have when mommy can't be there.She loves to rock a fussy child,corrects the one that gets too wild.She hears her share of tearful pleas,and comforts those with skinned up k...nees.With little children she plays games of peek,for bigger ones it's hide and seek.She is an expert at each game,but somehow loses just the same.She helps them learn the alphabet,and gives them hugs when they're upset.She gently tucks them in their beds,with dreamland tales for sleepyheads.She is a true and trusted friend,who helps them learn and play pretend.Although she's paid, it's plain to see,she serves them with a love that's free.
Monday, April 26, 2010
You Are God Alone
We sang this great song in church yesterday and the words are great!
You are not a god
Created by human hands
You are not a god
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a god
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that's just the way it is
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone
You're the only God
Whose power none can contend
You're the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You're the only God
Who's worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that's just the way it is
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone
Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That's what You are
Unchangeable
Unshakable
Unstoppable
That's what You are
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
Your are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone
Check it out on youtube by Philips, Craig, & Dean!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
In Need of Venting...
So, I will probably get land blasted for this but seriously people....why is it that the only time 'long lost friends' (very loosly quoted) decide to contact you is when they have an ax to grind? I mean seriously....I only wish that people IRL (in real life) could be half as brutally honest as the 'long lost friends!'
I am a F.ace.Boo.k lover, I hop on it at least once a day, but usually several times a day to keep up with some very dear people that I just do not live very close to. It is also a was to promote my business and quickly touch base with local friends to invite over for a BBQ or something that they can get at their leisure, but lately FB has been bugging me in the sense that all these so called friends are sending friend requests and all of a sudden you have hundreds of 'friends' that are up in your business judging you. I know, I know...you are thinking that a person shouldn't A) be on FB at all or B) accept friends that are not truely friends. Well you see, some of them you don't suspect to be all knife in the back until it actually happens. Maybe I am to trusting, but seriously...I would not do that to someone, so I really do not expect others to do it to me.
Now for the IRLers that read my blogs. Lets get something straight...I am a big girl and I can take your honesty. If you have a bone to pick with me...lets get it off your chest and work on the Biblical thing of taking care of it!
Okay, so I just have alot on my mind right now and sometimes I feel as if I am about to burst because so many people are all sweet and kind when in fact they get together with girlfriends and dish about me when I am not around. If you don't want to be a real friend....lets stop kidding ourselves!
Seriously, I really am done now! Hope you are having a FANTASTIC weekend!
I am a F.ace.Boo.k lover, I hop on it at least once a day, but usually several times a day to keep up with some very dear people that I just do not live very close to. It is also a was to promote my business and quickly touch base with local friends to invite over for a BBQ or something that they can get at their leisure, but lately FB has been bugging me in the sense that all these so called friends are sending friend requests and all of a sudden you have hundreds of 'friends' that are up in your business judging you. I know, I know...you are thinking that a person shouldn't A) be on FB at all or B) accept friends that are not truely friends. Well you see, some of them you don't suspect to be all knife in the back until it actually happens. Maybe I am to trusting, but seriously...I would not do that to someone, so I really do not expect others to do it to me.
Now for the IRLers that read my blogs. Lets get something straight...I am a big girl and I can take your honesty. If you have a bone to pick with me...lets get it off your chest and work on the Biblical thing of taking care of it!
Okay, so I just have alot on my mind right now and sometimes I feel as if I am about to burst because so many people are all sweet and kind when in fact they get together with girlfriends and dish about me when I am not around. If you don't want to be a real friend....lets stop kidding ourselves!
Seriously, I really am done now! Hope you are having a FANTASTIC weekend!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Review of An Honest Love
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Short and to the Point...
I will make this short and to the point....do you know what is wrong with society these days? I can give you two things that are very real and make it very difficult for me to put myself out there to meet/trust new people.
1) Very few people really try to live their lives according to what God would have for them and what His Word says for us to do.
2) Very few people really care about anyone other than themselves....so many people are selfish and could care less about the hearts of others. You see this often on FB, people status' that rant about the latest gadget or what have you and there are tons of comments...but someone really puts their heart out there and expresses a real hurt and no one cares!
Anyway...just a little grrrr from me....I don't understand why more people cannot be a little more caring, but then again these two points kind of go hand in hand too!
1) Very few people really try to live their lives according to what God would have for them and what His Word says for us to do.
2) Very few people really care about anyone other than themselves....so many people are selfish and could care less about the hearts of others. You see this often on FB, people status' that rant about the latest gadget or what have you and there are tons of comments...but someone really puts their heart out there and expresses a real hurt and no one cares!
Anyway...just a little grrrr from me....I don't understand why more people cannot be a little more caring, but then again these two points kind of go hand in hand too!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Ideal Protein Diet
So I have had several private messages and a few comments asking about the Ideal Protein Diet and I wanted to share a little bit of information on it for those of you that are interested.
The way that I found out about it was because of a dear friend of mine that has followed my struggles with PCOS and weight issues for a while...knowing I have had four miscarriages along the way. She had several other friends that had been on the IPD and had seen how well it worked for them (PCOS and all) and each person she knew that tried it and stuck to it was extremely successful! She also saw some of them go on to carry pregnancies full term and deliver healthy babies! So after seeing how well it worked she passed the information on to me...
Since her and I live a state a part, I didn't know where I could find a consultant to work with so I went to this website and emailed them. There just happened to be a wonderful lady right in my town that I meet with every single week! I started the 1st of January, not as a resolution...just because of the cost I wanted to wait until after Christmas so I didn't put trips to see family in jeopordy because of my diet! There is a one time only consultant fee at the beginning of $100 and then I also bought a week and a half of food...all the vitamins...the shaker...and a couple of dressings and what have you. You need to plan on around $90.00 a week for the diet but this include all food except 4 cups of veggies and one 5 oz portion of lean meat. In my opinion it is an amazing diet and the price is worth it. The first 5 days of the diet are a little rough as you are cleaning out your system...but on day 5 I started feeling amazing with more energy than I have had in a VERY long time (maybe since high school!) Since 1.1.10 I have lost 35 lbs and feel amazing! I am in a size 12 pant and started in between an 18 and a 20! The results are amazing! Several people have started since I have that I know and a bunch of them have even better results than me!
If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me through leaving your email in a comment and I would be happy to either answer them privately through email or publically on this blog!
If you choose the IPD you will not be sorry!
The way that I found out about it was because of a dear friend of mine that has followed my struggles with PCOS and weight issues for a while...knowing I have had four miscarriages along the way. She had several other friends that had been on the IPD and had seen how well it worked for them (PCOS and all) and each person she knew that tried it and stuck to it was extremely successful! She also saw some of them go on to carry pregnancies full term and deliver healthy babies! So after seeing how well it worked she passed the information on to me...
Since her and I live a state a part, I didn't know where I could find a consultant to work with so I went to this website and emailed them. There just happened to be a wonderful lady right in my town that I meet with every single week! I started the 1st of January, not as a resolution...just because of the cost I wanted to wait until after Christmas so I didn't put trips to see family in jeopordy because of my diet! There is a one time only consultant fee at the beginning of $100 and then I also bought a week and a half of food...all the vitamins...the shaker...and a couple of dressings and what have you. You need to plan on around $90.00 a week for the diet but this include all food except 4 cups of veggies and one 5 oz portion of lean meat. In my opinion it is an amazing diet and the price is worth it. The first 5 days of the diet are a little rough as you are cleaning out your system...but on day 5 I started feeling amazing with more energy than I have had in a VERY long time (maybe since high school!) Since 1.1.10 I have lost 35 lbs and feel amazing! I am in a size 12 pant and started in between an 18 and a 20! The results are amazing! Several people have started since I have that I know and a bunch of them have even better results than me!
If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me through leaving your email in a comment and I would be happy to either answer them privately through email or publically on this blog!
If you choose the IPD you will not be sorry!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Mama's Heart
While I am a Mama in most sense of the word, I have never carried a baby in my womb for 9 months and birthed him or her. I do not look at my children and think, "wow, he has his Daddy's eyes" or "the poor girl has my nose" or what have you. But I have something even more special, I have the fact that God specifically place our Princess and our BooBear in our lives!
You see, while we have been able to conceive four beautiful babies that stayed with me for 6-8 weeks each, we never knew if they were boys or girls...or what color eyes they would have, or who's features they would carry. But in all four of those situations if we would have been able to carry them to full term we would most likely not pursued adoption, and thus our two would not be with us. Don't get me wrong, they are missed, and I deeply wish I would have been given the chance to be their Mama...but God had different plans.
And while we had 26 'matches' in adoption before we finally brought our Princess home from the hospital, again, if any one of those beautiful lives would have come to our home they would not have been the children that God intended to be with us.
I look at our Princess and see so much of my mother in her, right down to the teeth...but how is that possible? They are not even related by blood...and if you know is IRL they really do not have any resemblence of eachother either. But, boy oh boy, do they have similar personalities! Sometimes it scares me how much of my mother's personality my beautiful daughter carries...but you see that was Gods plan. He placed the Princess in our lives because she was the 'perfect' fit! It even cracks me up a little. The Princess is named after both Handsome and my paternal grandmothers for her first and middle name...both our grandmothers had an interesting wave ~both of them waved the same~ and our Princess waves that very way. Neither my husband or myself do, she just started doing it like that! Another great example is how my grandma used to cross her arms on her tummy when she was listening or talking or waiting and my daughter does that very same thing. Gods plan is the perfect plan.
I look at our BooBear and see that he looks SO MUCH like my husbands side of the family. I often look at pictures of his older boy cousin when he was at a simliar age and they look so much alike (to me) it is interesting. He does carry different physical features that are so much like my husbands family that most of the time people just figure he is our biological child. While we view him no differently than if he were our bio child, he is not...BUT, he is the BooBear God knew we needed and placed with us because again, he is are 'perfect fit.' There are even a few times I can look at him and see a glimpse of my brother when he was a wee one...every now and then! Gods plan is the perfect plan.
Not that it makes it any easier that we lost four perfect babies to miscarriage, or that it hurts any less that we received 26 phone calls stating we were to be parents and 26 more phone calls telling us something went backwards and it wouldn't be happening. I grieved for each of those 30 little angels...little angels that even though they were not really IN OUR LIVES they were and I loved them...before I even knew them!
Now, I am not preaching away for no reason...though we all do need a reminder of Gods plan and timing being perfect every now and then...
BUT, there is a reason for this. I do not know how many people read this blog on a regular basis...I do not know if you know me IRL or if you stumbled across this blog just by chance and are a first time reader...or a secret stalker that hasn't commented yet...but I do want to ask you one thing...
Please be in prayer for us, we have felt the desire to grow our family by way of adoption again. We do not know if it is tomorrow or two years from now...but we believe it is a desire God has placed in our hearts and we have been praying for a year already to bring our O.O.H. (boy) or E.D.H (girl) home. Our children are excited for the day that happens and pray daily (sometimes more than once and on their own) for bring a brother and/or a sister home. Now here is the thing, while we have enough to support more children on a daily basis, we do not have $25000 laying around to pay for the adoption. We did a fundraiser last year that helped us raise $250 towards the cause of our adoption...but that is all we have! We also have a laywer in town who is willing to do our states finalization for nothing...so that is another provision God has given to us. BUT, that isn't the total cost of the adoption. I believe God can do amazing things, and I believe that He could help us to raise the full amount and not have to take any debt out for this adoption...
That is where you, the faithful readers, come in to play. I am not asking you to all send me your money (though if you wanted to email me! lol) I am asking that you pray with us for the finacial provision so that we can grow our family again. I am also asking that if you know of any great fundraisers please leave in the comments how I can reasearch and look into them. My prayer every year is to bring our baby home for Christmas...I prayed that in 2008, in 2009, and I have been praying that for 2010...so if you have any advise or information to share with us, or if your church might be interested in doing a benefit to help an adoptive family out...please let me know!
Here's to bringing our bab(y)(ies) home this year~
You see, while we have been able to conceive four beautiful babies that stayed with me for 6-8 weeks each, we never knew if they were boys or girls...or what color eyes they would have, or who's features they would carry. But in all four of those situations if we would have been able to carry them to full term we would most likely not pursued adoption, and thus our two would not be with us. Don't get me wrong, they are missed, and I deeply wish I would have been given the chance to be their Mama...but God had different plans.
And while we had 26 'matches' in adoption before we finally brought our Princess home from the hospital, again, if any one of those beautiful lives would have come to our home they would not have been the children that God intended to be with us.
I look at our Princess and see so much of my mother in her, right down to the teeth...but how is that possible? They are not even related by blood...and if you know is IRL they really do not have any resemblence of eachother either. But, boy oh boy, do they have similar personalities! Sometimes it scares me how much of my mother's personality my beautiful daughter carries...but you see that was Gods plan. He placed the Princess in our lives because she was the 'perfect' fit! It even cracks me up a little. The Princess is named after both Handsome and my paternal grandmothers for her first and middle name...both our grandmothers had an interesting wave ~both of them waved the same~ and our Princess waves that very way. Neither my husband or myself do, she just started doing it like that! Another great example is how my grandma used to cross her arms on her tummy when she was listening or talking or waiting and my daughter does that very same thing. Gods plan is the perfect plan.
I look at our BooBear and see that he looks SO MUCH like my husbands side of the family. I often look at pictures of his older boy cousin when he was at a simliar age and they look so much alike (to me) it is interesting. He does carry different physical features that are so much like my husbands family that most of the time people just figure he is our biological child. While we view him no differently than if he were our bio child, he is not...BUT, he is the BooBear God knew we needed and placed with us because again, he is are 'perfect fit.' There are even a few times I can look at him and see a glimpse of my brother when he was a wee one...every now and then! Gods plan is the perfect plan.
Not that it makes it any easier that we lost four perfect babies to miscarriage, or that it hurts any less that we received 26 phone calls stating we were to be parents and 26 more phone calls telling us something went backwards and it wouldn't be happening. I grieved for each of those 30 little angels...little angels that even though they were not really IN OUR LIVES they were and I loved them...before I even knew them!
Now, I am not preaching away for no reason...though we all do need a reminder of Gods plan and timing being perfect every now and then...
BUT, there is a reason for this. I do not know how many people read this blog on a regular basis...I do not know if you know me IRL or if you stumbled across this blog just by chance and are a first time reader...or a secret stalker that hasn't commented yet...but I do want to ask you one thing...
Please be in prayer for us, we have felt the desire to grow our family by way of adoption again. We do not know if it is tomorrow or two years from now...but we believe it is a desire God has placed in our hearts and we have been praying for a year already to bring our O.O.H. (boy) or E.D.H (girl) home. Our children are excited for the day that happens and pray daily (sometimes more than once and on their own) for bring a brother and/or a sister home. Now here is the thing, while we have enough to support more children on a daily basis, we do not have $25000 laying around to pay for the adoption. We did a fundraiser last year that helped us raise $250 towards the cause of our adoption...but that is all we have! We also have a laywer in town who is willing to do our states finalization for nothing...so that is another provision God has given to us. BUT, that isn't the total cost of the adoption. I believe God can do amazing things, and I believe that He could help us to raise the full amount and not have to take any debt out for this adoption...
That is where you, the faithful readers, come in to play. I am not asking you to all send me your money (though if you wanted to email me! lol) I am asking that you pray with us for the finacial provision so that we can grow our family again. I am also asking that if you know of any great fundraisers please leave in the comments how I can reasearch and look into them. My prayer every year is to bring our baby home for Christmas...I prayed that in 2008, in 2009, and I have been praying that for 2010...so if you have any advise or information to share with us, or if your church might be interested in doing a benefit to help an adoptive family out...please let me know!
Here's to bringing our bab(y)(ies) home this year~
The Flowering Cross by Beth Rayn
We have read this book several times since it came in the mail and I cannot get enough of it and what is better is that my children and the Patch kids cannot either! What a way to use very real situations (I think everyone knows at least one 'Papa Jack' to teach children Biblical Principles!
I love how Beth Ryan uses this story to show children how to be a witness, even if they dont seem to be lovable; along with being kind and caring for others! I really love the Bible verses and a spiritual tidbits throughout the book geared towards children.
This is a beautiful book that will be an Easter tradition in our home!
This review is for BOOKSNEEZE...check them out here if you are a blogger and are interested in becoming reviewer for them!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Valentines Family Weekend...pt 2
Can you see my little fish and her Daddy?
The hotel we stayed at was amazing, definately one we will keep in mind when we do this next year!
See the happy open mouth coming off the slide?
She just wanted to swim swim SWIM!
Very happy off the slide again!
"All by myself Daddy, you watch!"
"Love you Mama"
Going up the stairs to do the slide AGAIN!
Floating on her back, all by herself!
She was all smiles the two nights we went swimming!
Back float again
Motion picture...she then learned that jumping in was TONS of fun!
Splash!!!
She wanted to go again and again! I think she kind of tired Daddy out that night! Brave "Big Strong Girl" (as she says)
Brother wasn't as fond of the water as Sissy, in fact the second night him and Mommy sat on the sidelines and cheered on Daddy and Sissy! And he was okay with that...so was I, it allowed me a chance to take some fun pictures!
Kelle Hampton...amazing mother!
I have been reading her enjoyingthesmallthings.blogspot.com blog since before little L was born almost three years ago. Little N was born this January with Down Syndrome and while I have always been amazed with her and how she handles life...it is truly amazing to see how she had taken the birth of Nella in stride! Keep up the amazing job Kelle!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
A new obsession...
One might say it is a vain obsession, one might say it is a waste of money, but seriously...with ~handbags~ as AWESOME as these, how could you resist!
Now it all started when I worked at this marvelous little consignment store downtown...before my babies were born! They got me into some pretty cute purses...I am thinking of one very adorable pink Liz.Claiborne. that looked like reptile skin, I still get visitation rights every now and then since I gave it to one of my friends! But what really got me into these things is when I bought my first K.V.Z bag! I was just trasitioning out of a diaper bag and wanted something big enough to carry one or two extra diapers and a small travel wipes case, along with all the other needs a girl might have of her own. The search was on, until one day the beautiful Kris from S.R. (the store I used to work at) gave me a call with a purse she thought was right up my ally...well, it was...that would be #5 in the picture. My very first KVZ bag with the baubles and all! It shimmered, it was still very neutral, and it was big enough...or so I thought. I ended up with a second black KVZ with gold detail that previously mentioned friend also received because again...it just was not big enough. ENTER ~ purses #1 & #3 in picture! Both are the great Kathy.Van.Zeelands work and I love LOVE them to pieces. I used the zebra for Spring/Summer and the steel mirrored one for Fall/Winter. Then I happened upon a GREAT deal in purse #2 just a few weeks ago, also a KVZ but TIGER STRIPE....seriously, for the price it was I just couldn't pass.it.up! It was so exciting when we returned home a couple weeks ago from East River and there was a nice large box sitting by the door welcoming me! And just on Sunday I was pegged...we went to the towns Home Show and there was a .Purse.Diva. booth there, I stopped to take a looksie and she got me with a, "you look like a lady who appreciates a fun purse." CanIGetA...mmmmmmmmhhhhhhmmmmmmm?!?!? So I came home with #4 the dreamy teal bag!
So it starts...most likely a life long relationship with these wonderful purses...I can still see a few colors missing from this line up that I would like to recruit for the team, so I signed up to host a Purse.Diva party on July 13th 2010....it will be an open house come and go as you please kind of party...come check it out and see if you can find something that you just cannot live without...trust me, you will never regret bringing home a new addition! You just might regret leaving the wonderful beauty there though! But seriously, I am still all KVZ, and I sorta feel like I cheated on her with the most recent purchase! But don't worry because I still have my eye on SEVERAL of your bags Kathy!
Friday, February 26, 2010
♫Denny's Song♫
Denny's Song
Let there be light, God said,
And out of the darkness it came
He spoke the worlds to existence.
And everything in them the same.
And as He made them one by one,
"It is good," the Father said.
Until He saw a lonely man,
then these were His words instead.
"It is not good that man be alone
I'll give him a wife and they'll have a home.
Together as one the two shall be,
as man and wife," as you and me.
Once God saw a man who served Him
With no one to walk by his side
No one to meet every need of his heart,
And kiss away tears that he cried.
So God made a lady to love him,
And walk by his side all through life.
Some one that he'd call his very own,
His friend and his love, his wife.
"It is not good that man be alone.
I'll give him a wife and they'll have a home.
Together as one the two shall be,
As man as wife,"
As you and me.
From the Family.Love.Notes ~A.collection of songs for the Christ-centered wedding and the true Christian home by Cathy.Corle~
We had this song sung at our wedding on 8.10.02
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Extramarital Affairs
Did you know that an extramarital affair is just an escape from reality or a search for fulfillment outside of marriage? This means that an 'affair' can come in many different disguises! Think about it...
*Activities
*Materilaism
*Career
*Family
*Fantasy (which can include porn.ography and/or romance novels)
or
*An actual love affair
So are you the kind of person that seeks outside activities to be involved in a little too much, how many boards are you on? Are you the kind of person that needs the newest latest things to keep you happy? Are you a work-a-holic that just cannot say no because you are too busy getting ahead with your job to take time for your spouse? This one is very common, it seems like something for the greater good when you 'sacrifice' your relationship with your spouse to spend time with the family driving the kids to all their sports and recitals when you could be taking just one night a week to devote to your spouse? Do you have troubles with getting away into a fantasy land either in your thoughts or in what you watch/read and that tends to take the place of a relationship with your spouse or at the very least cause a gap between you? Or are you one that has taken it to the next level and actually been involved with someone other than your spouse? Each of these usually start with small steps and Satan can use those small steps to, in a sense, seduce you to get deeper and deeper until they have a stronghold in your life.
It is not what God has in mind for a marriage relationship. I am sure each marriage has suffered at least one of these 'affairs' at some point and time, but again...bring it back to the Bible and recommit yourself to finding joy and fulfillment in your spouse!
*Activities
*Materilaism
*Career
*Family
*Fantasy (which can include porn.ography and/or romance novels)
or
*An actual love affair
So are you the kind of person that seeks outside activities to be involved in a little too much, how many boards are you on? Are you the kind of person that needs the newest latest things to keep you happy? Are you a work-a-holic that just cannot say no because you are too busy getting ahead with your job to take time for your spouse? This one is very common, it seems like something for the greater good when you 'sacrifice' your relationship with your spouse to spend time with the family driving the kids to all their sports and recitals when you could be taking just one night a week to devote to your spouse? Do you have troubles with getting away into a fantasy land either in your thoughts or in what you watch/read and that tends to take the place of a relationship with your spouse or at the very least cause a gap between you? Or are you one that has taken it to the next level and actually been involved with someone other than your spouse? Each of these usually start with small steps and Satan can use those small steps to, in a sense, seduce you to get deeper and deeper until they have a stronghold in your life.
It is not what God has in mind for a marriage relationship. I am sure each marriage has suffered at least one of these 'affairs' at some point and time, but again...bring it back to the Bible and recommit yourself to finding joy and fulfillment in your spouse!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Not original to me...
I just received an email from FamilyLife.com that was pretty sobering! It was called, "Googling Help for Marriages" and the idea behind it was using Googles autofill setting to see what the most popular searches are when it comes to marriage...so I tried a few of their suggested ones and this is what it said:
I typed "My Husband"
it offered...
...is annoying
...makes movie lyrics
...hates me
...doesn't love me
...is a jerk
...cheated on me
...ignores me
...'s three wives
...is an alcoholic
...is depressed
I typed "My Marriage"
it offered...
...is falling apart
...is in trouble
...is over
...is boring
...is failing
...was a mistake
...is dead
...trouble quiz
...is over now what
...needs help
I typed "How Can I Get My Wife"
it offered...
...to swing
...to shave
...in the mood
...to shut up
...to love me again
...to loose weight
...'s facebook password
...pregnant
...to
...back
I typed "How Can I Get My Husband"
it offered...
...to fall in love with me again
...to be more affectionate
...to leave the house
...to want me
...to be more romantic
...to help around the house
...to loose weight
...back
...to love me again
...to talk to me
Those are the top 10 auto fills for each of the phrases and the top ten are choosen by most popular searches.
Dave Boehi ends the FamilyLife.com email with this:
"This is just one piece of the picture of American marriage. But it's enough to show once again how many people are looking for help for their marriages and families.
There are answers to these problems--and those answers are found in a relationship with God and in the plan He provides in the Scriptures. Probably you know some people who need those answers.
When I read stories about marriages that have been saved or revived, I often notice that someone in that couple's life was courageous enough to step in and offer help. Perhaps a listening ear and a wise word of exhortation. Or an invitation to attend a Weekend to Remember® marriage conference or a HomeBuilders Couples Series® group.
In your family, in your church, and in your neighborhood there are people who are searching desperately for help. You can look at this as an overwhelming problem, or a tremendous opportunity."
We attended a Weekend to Remember last October and while we have a good relationship and strong marriage commitment, it is something I would encourage any couple (new and old alike) to attend. At our meeting the newest married couple was less than 24 hours and the longest married couple was 55 years! It helped us to understand where the other is coming from a little more, what God expects of us in our relationship and so much more! I reference my session binder where we had fill in the blank answers and homework and "making it personal" couple and individual activities to accomplish throughout the weekend. One of the things I learned there that I still think of almost daily is that when you are have a discussion it is best to meet fact with fact and emotion with emotion. My Handsome is a very factual person and I am an emotional person...he has learned that when I am struggling I do not want to hear all the facts about how to fix whatever the problem may be, but I need tender love and care (ex. hugs, kind understanding.) That turns around, when he is struggling with something I cannot get all emotional...I have to deal in facts (ex. instead of crying, have actual reasons for why that upsets me.) One of the best tools that I could ever have been equiped with! Wish I would have gotten it before 7 years of marriage!
If you know of a Weekend Remember retreat being help in your area, I highly recommend you to attend! It will be well worth your time and investment!
But as for the google for marriage...I would suggest going to the Bible and seeing what God has to say about the troubles in your marriage. Dr. Google isn't likely to give you Biblical advise in that department!
I typed "My Husband"
it offered...
...is annoying
...makes movie lyrics
...hates me
...doesn't love me
...is a jerk
...cheated on me
...ignores me
...'s three wives
...is an alcoholic
...is depressed
I typed "My Marriage"
it offered...
...is falling apart
...is in trouble
...is over
...is boring
...is failing
...was a mistake
...is dead
...trouble quiz
...is over now what
...needs help
I typed "How Can I Get My Wife"
it offered...
...to swing
...to shave
...in the mood
...to shut up
...to love me again
...to loose weight
...'s facebook password
...pregnant
...to
...back
I typed "How Can I Get My Husband"
it offered...
...to fall in love with me again
...to be more affectionate
...to leave the house
...to want me
...to be more romantic
...to help around the house
...to loose weight
...back
...to love me again
...to talk to me
Those are the top 10 auto fills for each of the phrases and the top ten are choosen by most popular searches.
Dave Boehi ends the FamilyLife.com email with this:
"This is just one piece of the picture of American marriage. But it's enough to show once again how many people are looking for help for their marriages and families.
There are answers to these problems--and those answers are found in a relationship with God and in the plan He provides in the Scriptures. Probably you know some people who need those answers.
When I read stories about marriages that have been saved or revived, I often notice that someone in that couple's life was courageous enough to step in and offer help. Perhaps a listening ear and a wise word of exhortation. Or an invitation to attend a Weekend to Remember® marriage conference or a HomeBuilders Couples Series® group.
In your family, in your church, and in your neighborhood there are people who are searching desperately for help. You can look at this as an overwhelming problem, or a tremendous opportunity."
We attended a Weekend to Remember last October and while we have a good relationship and strong marriage commitment, it is something I would encourage any couple (new and old alike) to attend. At our meeting the newest married couple was less than 24 hours and the longest married couple was 55 years! It helped us to understand where the other is coming from a little more, what God expects of us in our relationship and so much more! I reference my session binder where we had fill in the blank answers and homework and "making it personal" couple and individual activities to accomplish throughout the weekend. One of the things I learned there that I still think of almost daily is that when you are have a discussion it is best to meet fact with fact and emotion with emotion. My Handsome is a very factual person and I am an emotional person...he has learned that when I am struggling I do not want to hear all the facts about how to fix whatever the problem may be, but I need tender love and care (ex. hugs, kind understanding.) That turns around, when he is struggling with something I cannot get all emotional...I have to deal in facts (ex. instead of crying, have actual reasons for why that upsets me.) One of the best tools that I could ever have been equiped with! Wish I would have gotten it before 7 years of marriage!
If you know of a Weekend Remember retreat being help in your area, I highly recommend you to attend! It will be well worth your time and investment!
But as for the google for marriage...I would suggest going to the Bible and seeing what God has to say about the troubles in your marriage. Dr. Google isn't likely to give you Biblical advise in that department!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw
So I have mentioned that I was going to be doing some reading and reviewing for BookSneeze and I received the first book in the mail on Wednesday and LOVE it! "Love Your Heart" is a great book! I read it to my 3 year olds and they thought it was great how much the Daddy loves his little Princess!
I think that the book does a great job of showing what kind of a connection a father/daughter team really has. As the pages turned coming closer and closer to the end I could never have imagined what the REAL lesson was going to be! When little Katie offers to help her friend and put her own desires behind that of her friend it teaches a lesson that some many children (and adults alike) miss these days, kindness. A selfless act is something I never tire of teaching to my little ones. I read the book to my daycare the next day and they all enjoyed it! A hit for sure, one my daughter has asked me to, "read me to it Mama" many times since and it has only been two days!
My opinion of the book is a must have for anyone that sees the special bond between Daddys and daughters! But as my son says, "It isn't just for girls, Mama! Boys can read this one too because we need to be good Daddy's some day!"
Pick this one up! And check out BookSneeze!
I think that the book does a great job of showing what kind of a connection a father/daughter team really has. As the pages turned coming closer and closer to the end I could never have imagined what the REAL lesson was going to be! When little Katie offers to help her friend and put her own desires behind that of her friend it teaches a lesson that some many children (and adults alike) miss these days, kindness. A selfless act is something I never tire of teaching to my little ones. I read the book to my daycare the next day and they all enjoyed it! A hit for sure, one my daughter has asked me to, "read me to it Mama" many times since and it has only been two days!
My opinion of the book is a must have for anyone that sees the special bond between Daddys and daughters! But as my son says, "It isn't just for girls, Mama! Boys can read this one too because we need to be good Daddy's some day!"
Pick this one up! And check out BookSneeze!
Friday, February 12, 2010
MckGiveaways are here!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Music
I know I have been talking alot about music lately, but seriously....what better way to prepare your heart for God than with some good music full of scripturally based words?!?!? I LOVE music and have music going most of the day (when MickyMouseClubhouse and HandyManny are over.) It is so much fun to see all the little Pumpkins Running around the house singing and dancing to praise and worship music.
One day I do hope to be serving our Lord full time again...whatever capacity that may be I know music will go with us! I was thinking the other day about what happened if we were to loose our CD collection...it is full of so many different types of CDs from very traditional hymns to more comtemporary and some Southern Gospel thrown in there. I am thankful for music and all that it does for a person...it really can take you up or down, so what kind of music do you choose? Right now I hearing, "Cuz Jesus I am so in love with You" sung...hopefully that can be sung out of the depths of my heart every single day! And right on to "We fall down and lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus." WOW! Just start really listening to the music you have in your home and if like me, it is for extra noise to drown out the REAL noise...re-evaluate, even if you are not paying attention the little ears in your home are and we have decided to play 99% Christian music (I do still have to keep a few of my sappy love songs around for the times when I might need a reminder for how much I love my hubby ~not because of him, but because I usually need an attitude adjustment! ;-)
Anyway, just a random thought that popped into my head after hearing my 3 year old daughter as she was cleaning up singing along to "Rock of Ages."
Something along this line is the favorite songs of my kiddos...right now the Princess is loving "Every Move I Make" commonly known as "The WOOHOO Song" in our house...."Every move I make I make in you you make me move Jesus...every step I take I take in you you are my way WOOHOO"
My BooBear loves "Today is the Day" and can sing the entire thing without music (when he wants to...he is three ya know!) In the mornings it is common to hear him sitting in his bed bursting at the top of his lungs "TODAY IS THE DAY YOU HAVE MADE I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT OhOhOh OhOhOh"
Before we moved here I cared for a little 3 year old boy that ran around singing "Man, I feel like a woman" and that was before we had our own kids. But at that point I realized that it really is about what you as parents put into your kids' brains that helps mold them to be who they will be...and I would love for all of my children to grow up loving God and serving Him too!
One day I do hope to be serving our Lord full time again...whatever capacity that may be I know music will go with us! I was thinking the other day about what happened if we were to loose our CD collection...it is full of so many different types of CDs from very traditional hymns to more comtemporary and some Southern Gospel thrown in there. I am thankful for music and all that it does for a person...it really can take you up or down, so what kind of music do you choose? Right now I hearing, "Cuz Jesus I am so in love with You" sung...hopefully that can be sung out of the depths of my heart every single day! And right on to "We fall down and lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus." WOW! Just start really listening to the music you have in your home and if like me, it is for extra noise to drown out the REAL noise...re-evaluate, even if you are not paying attention the little ears in your home are and we have decided to play 99% Christian music (I do still have to keep a few of my sappy love songs around for the times when I might need a reminder for how much I love my hubby ~not because of him, but because I usually need an attitude adjustment! ;-)
Anyway, just a random thought that popped into my head after hearing my 3 year old daughter as she was cleaning up singing along to "Rock of Ages."
Something along this line is the favorite songs of my kiddos...right now the Princess is loving "Every Move I Make" commonly known as "The WOOHOO Song" in our house...."Every move I make I make in you you make me move Jesus...every step I take I take in you you are my way WOOHOO"
My BooBear loves "Today is the Day" and can sing the entire thing without music (when he wants to...he is three ya know!) In the mornings it is common to hear him sitting in his bed bursting at the top of his lungs "TODAY IS THE DAY YOU HAVE MADE I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT OhOhOh OhOhOh"
Before we moved here I cared for a little 3 year old boy that ran around singing "Man, I feel like a woman" and that was before we had our own kids. But at that point I realized that it really is about what you as parents put into your kids' brains that helps mold them to be who they will be...and I would love for all of my children to grow up loving God and serving Him too!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
People
So, if you know me IRL you know that there were many trials that we faced in the middle of our marriage (almost 7 1/2 years) and many of those trials came about because we didn't fit into a certain mold that other people believed Christians should be. The purpose of this blog is still not completely clear to me, but it seems that it is my {just have to get it off my chest} kind of blog!
Well these last few weeks have been those of trying to seek and hear God. I believe we are on the right track, but it seems that every time something good is coming around one of the above mentioned people step out from the past and lash out. Or maybe it just seems that way, my husband preached an AWESOME message on Sunday. He gets to preach every once in a while at our church to give the pastor a break or while he is away, but this message seemed to be exactly what was heavy on my heart the last while!
It was titled Success is Loving! He talked about how Peter denied the Lord, he said that he didn't even know "the man." We all know that Jesus heard all of this. I liked how my husband said that "the meeting of their eyes has to be one of the most painful exchanges in human experience." After this Peter wept bitterly the Bible says.
He then went on to talk of when the Lord said, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Speaking of the other disciples. Peter responded "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." But Jesus had asked him if he had the agape (selfless unconditional spiritual) love and Peter responded with Philia (a friendship affectionate type) love.
Jesus asked him again with the agape and Peter again answered with the Philia. Then Jesus goes on to ask him a third time, but this time he did ask if he had the Philia (friendship) type love for him. Peter then aswered but saying, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Speaking of the Philia love!
This started with three questions followed by three denials and come to a point where there were three questions from Jesus and three times that Peter could tell Him of the love he had for Him!
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your stregnth."
It is possible to do most anything without loving God, and some may not even know. Your heart is only completely known by you and God. You can pastor, work, teach Sunday School, work on a bus route, or be a missionary without loving God. But we need to get our priorities back in order and put loving God back on top of service to Him!
My husband also said on Sunday, "Realizing that loving God is the ground of all true success is truly liberating." And he left us with three ingredients to loving God!
#1~An absolute honesty regarding our love for God.
#2~Cultivate earnestly the conscious inner ability to love Him while we serve Him.
#3~Spend special time with Him.
I was touched by this message. Loving God is the most important thing and it is really what my husband and I try to base our every decision around! Have we failed, YES....will we fail again, YES! But that doesn't mean we aren't Christian, it just means we are sinful humans like everyone else.
The praise team followed this up by singing "Here I Am":
"Something in my heart
Burning like a fire
I want to live for You
Need Your touch right now
Fill me with Your power
Power to live for You my God
I will not be moved
I will stand for You
I will go where You send me
Jesus take me now I am Yours
I am Yours
Lay my life on the altar
Everything I give to You alone
Here I am
Here I am
Here I am send me"
Which seemed so perfect, but they didn't know what he was preaching and he didn't know what they were singing! I couldn't control my tears as we sang that song....it was like someone had stabbed a hole in my heart so that every bit of emotion rolled out through the words of this song! It will be interesting to see what God does. I believe that there are amazing things going to happen...soon, and we will be here ready and waiting! But until then, our day to day life is to love and serve Him!
Hope this was as much of an encouragement to you as it was to me! Maybe this is more just a reminder for me before the details esacpe my mind! But I have now realized that the people that think we are not Christian because of how we dress, or decisions we have made really do not matter. What matters is that we love God with everything in us and that each decision we have made we have made through prayer and following God! That is how we plan to continue!
Well these last few weeks have been those of trying to seek and hear God. I believe we are on the right track, but it seems that every time something good is coming around one of the above mentioned people step out from the past and lash out. Or maybe it just seems that way, my husband preached an AWESOME message on Sunday. He gets to preach every once in a while at our church to give the pastor a break or while he is away, but this message seemed to be exactly what was heavy on my heart the last while!
It was titled Success is Loving! He talked about how Peter denied the Lord, he said that he didn't even know "the man." We all know that Jesus heard all of this. I liked how my husband said that "the meeting of their eyes has to be one of the most painful exchanges in human experience." After this Peter wept bitterly the Bible says.
He then went on to talk of when the Lord said, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Speaking of the other disciples. Peter responded "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." But Jesus had asked him if he had the agape (selfless unconditional spiritual) love and Peter responded with Philia (a friendship affectionate type) love.
Jesus asked him again with the agape and Peter again answered with the Philia. Then Jesus goes on to ask him a third time, but this time he did ask if he had the Philia (friendship) type love for him. Peter then aswered but saying, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Speaking of the Philia love!
This started with three questions followed by three denials and come to a point where there were three questions from Jesus and three times that Peter could tell Him of the love he had for Him!
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your stregnth."
It is possible to do most anything without loving God, and some may not even know. Your heart is only completely known by you and God. You can pastor, work, teach Sunday School, work on a bus route, or be a missionary without loving God. But we need to get our priorities back in order and put loving God back on top of service to Him!
My husband also said on Sunday, "Realizing that loving God is the ground of all true success is truly liberating." And he left us with three ingredients to loving God!
#1~An absolute honesty regarding our love for God.
#2~Cultivate earnestly the conscious inner ability to love Him while we serve Him.
#3~Spend special time with Him.
I was touched by this message. Loving God is the most important thing and it is really what my husband and I try to base our every decision around! Have we failed, YES....will we fail again, YES! But that doesn't mean we aren't Christian, it just means we are sinful humans like everyone else.
The praise team followed this up by singing "Here I Am":
"Something in my heart
Burning like a fire
I want to live for You
Need Your touch right now
Fill me with Your power
Power to live for You my God
I will not be moved
I will stand for You
I will go where You send me
Jesus take me now I am Yours
I am Yours
Lay my life on the altar
Everything I give to You alone
Here I am
Here I am
Here I am send me"
Which seemed so perfect, but they didn't know what he was preaching and he didn't know what they were singing! I couldn't control my tears as we sang that song....it was like someone had stabbed a hole in my heart so that every bit of emotion rolled out through the words of this song! It will be interesting to see what God does. I believe that there are amazing things going to happen...soon, and we will be here ready and waiting! But until then, our day to day life is to love and serve Him!
Hope this was as much of an encouragement to you as it was to me! Maybe this is more just a reminder for me before the details esacpe my mind! But I have now realized that the people that think we are not Christian because of how we dress, or decisions we have made really do not matter. What matters is that we love God with everything in us and that each decision we have made we have made through prayer and following God! That is how we plan to continue!
Friday, February 5, 2010
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
I am a HUGE fan of songs that not only worship, but also can speak to the heart and get ahold of a heart issue! The song "How Deep the Father's Love For Us" has been one of my favorites (I know I have MANY) of them...but with Valentines Day rolling around the corner I think it is important to remember what love is the purest of all...that is God's love for us! Enjoy the lyrics and I will see what I can do to get the music to auto play so you can hear it! LOVE.THIS.SONG!
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)
If you would be interested in a CD with this song on it the Steve Pettie Evangelistic Team has a great one called "Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All" and you can get it here!
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)
If you would be interested in a CD with this song on it the Steve Pettie Evangelistic Team has a great one called "Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All" and you can get it here!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
BookSneeze
I am really excited, I heard about this sight from another blogger...terrible but cannot remember which one to link you up this time...but I filled out the application this morning and they accepted it. So I was able to go back to their website and choose which book I wanted to review first from their available list....
I will be receiving...
I will be receiving...
...in the mail shortly
Once I get it look for my review!
Hey and you can go here if you are a blogger and join the fun too!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
7.5 inches!
So I am pretty excited! At the official weigh in tonight I was down 14 pounds (my 16.6 is morning weight) and after measuring I have 7.5 inches less to my body! It may not seem like much to some of you...but to me it is huge! PCOS really took a good chunk of the last few years away from me in some way, shape, or form and this is about fighting back and finally getting victory instead of constant defeat!
I shall march on!
I shall march on!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Music!
There is nothing like a good worship song to get your heart and mind ready for church! Sometimes we let the business of the day or yuckiness of the week get us down...but then music can turn you right around! Sometimes music can even be convicting! There is a Casting Crowns song "If We Are The Body" that talks about what the Body of Christ should be doing and often is not! You really think about those words and if you are true to yourself it should be a daggar to the heart!
What are some of your favorite 'make you think' songs? Would love for some of your creepers to come out of the woodwork and leave some comments so lets get started with this!
***I know you readers are out there! This blog hasn't been around too long and the numbers keep going out!
What are some of your favorite 'make you think' songs? Would love for some of your creepers to come out of the woodwork and leave some comments so lets get started with this!
***I know you readers are out there! This blog hasn't been around too long and the numbers keep going out!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Moms of Mulitples in the Media
Have you noticed that for several years that the newest MUST HAVE addition to the Celeberty lifestyle isn't a new purse or pair of heels? In fact it would seem that these days the famous people that so many follow just keep having/adopting children! We see pictures of mother's out at the park holding 2 tiny babies and not being very careful...almost dropping one of them! We see other mother's seemingly using their children to make mucho dinero while they travel around the country for obligations and leave the children at home with nannies or what have you, but it just kind of gets under my skin. It is no deep secret to those that know me that I LOVE the Dugg.ar F.amily and watch whenever I get a chance. You see the difference I see between these other infamous Mother's/Families and the Dugg.ar is what their lives are based around. While many of them are fame and fortune I see the D's as a family that bases their lives around God and His Word and what His plan for their lives would be. Granted, they are {I am sure} making money of off the show but I know so many times I have heard them talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and fully trusting in Him! You see, while they are NOT a missionary family, what a ministry it is that .TLC. has allowed this family into the homes of many Americans weekly to publicly put forth the Ds faith in God. You see them trust, you hear them pray, talk about salvation, you witness them having devotions, but one of the biggest things in my book is that you see them live the life they preach. How many people can honestly say they do that? I also love how each of the children down to the littlest ones during the interviews will most of the time talk about a blessing from God...weather it be their thrifty shoes or their indoor playground. That family has taught their children to work, to play, and to respect authority...but most importantly they are instilling into each of their children's lives the importance of living for, serving, and trusting God in every single moment of their earthly life!
I applaude you Dugg.ar F.amily! Keep up the great work, I will watch your show as long as it is on air and as long and re-runs continue! Keep showing people that you can build your life around faith in God! I have watched and learned many things from your show...and read your book, several times! Thank you for putting something worth watching on the TV!
I applaude you Dugg.ar F.amily! Keep up the great work, I will watch your show as long as it is on air and as long and re-runs continue! Keep showing people that you can build your life around faith in God! I have watched and learned many things from your show...and read your book, several times! Thank you for putting something worth watching on the TV!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Australia Hillsongs - Let The Peace Of God Reign Lyrics
This song was sung last week at church and the words have just been rolling through my head over and over again since!
*You may want to pause the playlist at the bottom*
Father of life draw me closer
Lord, my heart is set on you
Let me run the race of time
With you life unfolding mine
And let the peace of God
Let it reign
Oh Holy Spirit you're my comfort
Strengthen me hold my head up high
And I stand upon your truth
Bringing glory unto you
And let the peace of God
Let it reign
(Chorus)
Oh Lord I hunger for more of you
Rise up within me let me know your truth
Oh Holy Spirit, saturate my soul
And let the life of God
Fill me now
Let your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And the peace of God
Let it reign
Oh Holy Spirit you're my comfort
Strengthen me hold my head up high
And I stand upon your truth
Bringing glory unto you
And let the peace of God
Let it reign
(Repeat chorus twice)
And let the life of God
Fill me now
Let your healing power
Breathe life and make me whole
And the peace of God
Let it reign
(repeat)
Monday, January 4, 2010
The Ideal Protein Diet
So I started the Ideal.Protein.Diet on January 1st 2010 and I am already very excited about it! I have my weight loss ticker up on the top of this blog now to keep that in front of my face on a daily basis! I started at 212 and this morning the scale weighed me in at 204.5! This is a diet that does help you loose your weight rather quickly but in a healthy manor! I have around 80 lbs I am looking to loose to get me back to where I was in high school. But the weight loss isn't even the most exciting part of it! I have energy, a pretty good amount of it and I have not had excess energy for a LONG time! This diet works for ladies with PCOS VERY well! Seriously...the 7.5 lbs that are gone already are lbs I had been trying to shed in the gym since July! It helps the body to stop overproducing insolin (a PCOS problem) and get your innerds to start working the way they should! I look forward to actually attaining my goal in short order!
I am excited...and on that note, I need to go make my Pina Colada smoothie so it can be gone by 8!
I am excited...and on that note, I need to go make my Pina Colada smoothie so it can be gone by 8!
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