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!