Today really stunk

Working is so over-rated. So. So. So. So overated.

Love this post! http://mabelshouse.blogspot.com/2007/11/grateful-for-little-things-that-keep-my.html

Check out Liz's book too. Laugh-out-loud, honest, and real:


and she loves Anne of Green Gables! My kind of girl :-)

Quote

Kites fly against the wind, not with it. -Winston Churchill

Awesome Song..These Guys Rock

Pause the playlist to the right though, der ;-0

Quotes

Matthew 7

 ¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Do not be afraid…for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

I want...

..for life to slow down.
..to work less and be with my family more.
..to work out more.
..to cook more.
..to shop more.
..to read more.
..to be more.
..and to have more time.

I wonder what it is that I need? Only God knows.

Mabel's House

I needed to read this today: http://mabelshouse.blogspot.com/2011/06/easy.html

My Mom

I have been meaning to get my Mom a card but because I am in a real time crunch lately I am going to dedicate a blog post to her instead. Besides, my Mom is mostly the one that reads my blog anyway. Mom's are good for stuff like that and so much more. So here it is:

Dear Mom,
I am really proud to call you Mom for many reasons but tonight I want to tell you one. The way you take care of Grandma and Grandpa is really inspiring. I know it's hard and draining, and you could just turn your back, but you don't. You have been really selfless and I am so proud of you. You really honor God in what you do and I know He is proud of you too.

All my love,
Your dear daughter

Growing pains

God answers prayers in ways we can never imagine. I have prayed so many things in the last several years that, I think, God is starting to answer, but in no where near the way I thought He would. Let me tell you though....

It. Hurts. 

When God grows you, it hurts and it's hard. Sometimes it hurts so much that Satan will try and trick you into thinking that pain can't be part of God's plan, but it is. Paraphrasing "Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist: the Christian life is is about death and rebirth, about riding the waves, about tasting both the bitter and the sweet.... because something won't ever taste as sweet without the bitter to temper and compare it to and who would want only super sweet all the time anyway? Too much sugar will rot your teeth and your soul.

So that is what I am beginning to learn, and hopefully celebrate, even though it most definitely takes growing pains to get there.  Thankfully, I know there IS a plan and that God is holding me and my family in the palm of His hand.

Book list update

Here is my New Year's book list. Maybe I will make it! :-)

• The Bible - Our church starting a two year bible reading program. So far I am keeping up but I'll admit Old Testament is challenging to get and I need to dig deeper.  ***update, six months in and I am keeping up! with encouragement from my dear husband
• Anne of Green Gables Series - I have read the first four books. I think there are three more. I really like Anne, she is my new role model. She sees beauty in everything and everybody and she is always trying to help. Read all of them and it is all I can do not to start over! Favorite series!
• Living With Less So Your Family Can Have More by Mark and Jill Savage - I saw this couple at Hearts at Home talk about this topic and how living simpler can build stronger relationships. I was able to order it with an Amazon gift card (yay favorite Uncle!)
• Learning to See by Marybeth Chapman - This is the book about losing her daughter and being able to praise God in the good and the bad. It has been sitting on my night table for a while. I know it's going to be sad but I do want to read it. 
• Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis. I want to read at least one of these this year and start watching the movies. I just have to read the book first before I watch a movie.
• The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. This has been on my list for a while. Just need to do it! ***update, just started this one
• Angels: God's Secret Agents by Billy Graham, again on my list for a while.
• So Long Insecurity You've Been A Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore. I have never read any Beth Moore. This one intrigues me and I think is her newest. 

Of course there will be a bunch of randoms (Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist is awesome! as was Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is probably now one of my favs of all time :-)) thrown my way too. Bring on the umbrella and ice tea!

Chair Exercises

According to Realage sitting in a chair all day reduces your longevity, EEK! Here is a good article about taking breaks from sitting in a chair: http://www.realage.com/shape-up-slim-down/workout-center/in-a-chair-take-a-break?src=edit&chan=tip&con=tip&click=p4

I really like these chair exercises too:

Quote

"Fear is more painful than pain itself" - Mr. Meredith, Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery

Quote

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Good post

Another good post from the Tiredsupergirl about what Jesus did for us: http://tiredsupergirl.blogspot.com/2011/04/washing-feet.html

Love her but most especially love Him :-)

Peace

Great devotion on peace from Proverbs 31:  http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2011/04/drowning-in-or-drowning-out-distractions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+p31encouragement+%28P31+Encouragement+for+Today%29

Friends

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks to you like family.  Proverbs 18:24 MSG

Coco Nut

I am almost giddy at Target having groceries now. They have quite a bit and pretty cheap too. Always good. I am excited at one of the new finds in the grocery section too. If you like coconut, you do not want to pass these up, they are like a little piece of coconut heaven:

At $2.99, they are a steal. Don't bother yourself with the nutrition information either. I can tell you that coconut is very high in fat, however, is also heart healthy in small quantities, I swear!

Techies

One of my favorite bands says....

"The point of all this livin'
  is the dying still to come
  and I could be forgiven
  but I just won't, I just won't"

-"Old Familiar Steam" by The Old 97's

ALWAYS!

I don't know if it is the music, the sweat, or both, but I ALWAYS feel better mentally after a workout. Always.

Great Song!

Jason Gray did a concert at our church last summer. He is awesome and I love this song!

Love Jill Savage

She has some great marriage posts. Take a look:

http://www.jillsavage.org/

Quote

Keep your face upturned to {God} as the flowers do to the sun. Look, and your soul shall live and grow.

Hannah Whitall Smith

Kid Funnies..Little Break Dancers

Time and Again

Great devotion today from Proverbs 31 ministries:  http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2011/01/time-and-again.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+p31encouragement+%28P31+Encouragement+for+Today%29

Kid Funnies

Peanut: I am T-man's baby sister but I am NOT a baby!

separately


T-man: I wish I was at Aunt Manda's right now.
Me: Why?
T-man: Kung Fu Panda XBox

Hide-n-go-seek

New Years Book List

I don't necessarily have resolutions this year. Instead my goal is to read more and I have several books on my list:

• The Bible - Our church starting a two year bible reading program. So far I am keeping up but I'll admit Old Testament is challenging to get and I need to dig deeper.  ***update, six months in and I am keeping up! with encouragement from my dear husband
• Anne of Green Gables Series - I have read the first four books. I think there are three more. I really like Anne, she is my new role model. She sees beauty in everything and everybody and she is always trying to help. 
• Living With Less So Your Family Can Have More by Mark and Jill Savage - I saw this couple at Hearts at Home talk about this topic and how living simpler can build stronger relationships. I was able to order it with an Amazon gift card (yay favorite Uncle!)
• Learning to See by Marybeth Chapman - This is the book about losing her daughter and being able to praise God in the good and the bad. It has been sitting on my night table for a while. I know it's going to be sad but I do want to read it. 
• Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis. I want to read at least one of these this year and start watching the movies. I just have to read the book first before I watch a movie.
• The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. This has been on my list for a while. Just need to do it! ***update, just started this one
• Angels: God's Secret Agents by Billy Graham, again on my list for a while.
• So Long Insecurity You've Been A Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore. I have never read any Beth Moore. This one intrigues me and I think is her newest. 

Of course there will be a bunch of randoms thrown my way too. Bring on the hot tea/cocoa and snow days!

Monkees

I really like this pic.

Quote

Life itself cannot give you joy, unless you really will it. Life just gives you time and space, it's up to you to fill it.


Chinese Proverb