10 Things I am Thankful For February 18, 2008

I have been so focused on what I have been through in the last few months that I feel like I need to thank God for what I do have – instead of what I don’t.  Here’s a very small slice of a very large pie:

1. Thank God for my faith.  What He has planted inside of my heart has deep roots and blooms year round.
2. Thank God for my family.  They show me a glimpse of what God has to offer and are my heaven on Earth.
3. Thank God for my home.  It has provided shelter not only for our family, but others in their time of need.  The beautiful noise that comes from it is a reflection of the love that is felt inside.
4. Thank God for my body.  Although it may not look perfect to the outside world and it has given me some pain lately, I know it was a gift from God.  I know he gave me these eyes to see joy on Monkeys face and these ears to hear her giggle.  I know he gave my these arms to wrap around my family when they are hurting and when they are joyful.  I am grateful.
5. Thank God for providing for us.  We don’t always manage our financial blessings in the best way, but we are a work in progress and He allows us the financial freedom to make mistakes and move on.
6. Thank God for leading us to The Rock.  This church has blessed us in so many ways including the kids program, MOPS and all of the classes.  We have also been able to connect with some new brothers and sisters in Christ and feel very blessed every time we are able to get together.
7. Thank God for grace.  Both His and others.  One of my dear friends Nina showed some undue grace this past week and it has completely changed my outlook. She has inspired me to really work to be more like her.  More like Christ.
8. Thank God for my past and thank God for what He has planned.  I can’t wait to see my story unfold.
9. Thank God for prayers that are answered, and prayers that remain unanswered.  Sometimes those prayers are the ones that really show how much he cares.
10. Thank God for his only son.  As a parent myself I can’t imagine what it feels like to choose to send your child into a broken world, knowing his tragic fate.  I am broken and sinful.  Because of Gods gift of his only son, I am forgiven.  I can’t imagine anything I am more thankful for.

I challenge you all to thank God for 10 things this week.  Big or small, He doesn’t care.  If you want to share, please leave a comment.  Leave all of them, or just one thing.  We all have something to be thankful for, even in our darkest moments and this week is a time for thankfulness!

Tag, You’re it! February 2, 2008

One of my new friends in the blogosphere, Velvia at It Could Fill Books (which by the way I think that is a great blog name) tagged me for 7 random things about me. So here goes…

1. In my previous life (before I became a stay at home mom) I managed apartments. Specifically I handled evictions, and really felt okay with it. During that time, I also saw a dead person and handled a woman whose children were taken away from her because of the condition of her apartment. At one point my company had to put Travis and I in a hotel because of how crazy a resident was treating me, yet I loved the job.
2. My husband Travis and I met 8 years ago through a mutual friend in a karaoke bar called The Main Event. That night he sang “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats. That song made our wedding CD, two years later.
3. I had a newspaper article written about me when I was in High School because I was involved in so many things. Some of those things included Cheerleading, Marching Band, FBLA, winterguard and competitive speech. Today I can barely handle Monkey and more than one appointment on any given day. LOL
4. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was a victim of domestic violence. Not through one boyfriend, but two. The first time I was pregnant it was with one of the abusers child. I didn’t know it at the time, but the miscarriage I suffered was Gods protective hands wrapped around my heart.
5. I became a Christian about four years ago. I feel although I am a baby in my walk with the Lord, I have loved every minute of our time together and I can physically feel Him drawing me in every day.
6. Our Mini English Bulldog snores louder than my dear husband. At least once a night Travis or I ask if the other person said something because the noise is so easily mistaken as a voice.
7. Last, but not least, I love, love, LOVE photography. I love to take pictures of people when they don’t even realize I am there and I am anti-portrait. (too stiff!!) I love to capture emotional moments in my cameras eye and I love the reaction I get when people see my work. I love pretty much everything about it.

So… V’Dubs, you are up… 7 random things about you. I know you can do it, and I can’t wait until you do.

5 Things I’m Lifting to the Lord February 1, 2008

No matter what is going on in my life, I always have something I am trying desperately to hold on to. I need to be better about giving everything over to God. I trust him, I know he loves me, and I know he will protect my heart, guide my hands and guard my mouth. Yet, I try to stay in control.

With the short, yet busy month of February upon us I am going to make an effort to give five things up to God.

1. The refinance of our house. Things have gotten a little off track, but I can already see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just how God always is, the new plan is even better than what we thought was our plan before.
2. The stress of Monkeys birthday party. It is never easy to bring our crazy families together, but I am asking Him to help me keep the focus on our Monkey.
3. A leadership position with MOPS. I should hear back from the MOPS steering team this month regarding my application to be a discussion group leader. I am excited about the possibility of helping other mommies grow in their faith through this program, and I hope I am chosen for this position.
4. Finding a preschool for Monkey. One of my dear friends from MOPS highly recommended another preschool for us to check out. She is enrolling her son there, and used to teach preschool, so my hopes are high, but just like everything else, it is in Gods hands.
5. Myles and his continued education about his alcoholism. He is my mothers boyfriend, and I love him just like he is family. He is struggling with his disease and is currently serving time in jail for DUI. He is working on his relationship with God, but like so many people with this disease, he struggles everyday. I need to focus on writing him more so he can know how much I love him and miss him.

There are things I can give to the Lord during all seasons of my life. For now, these are my top five. What would you like to give up to the Lord? You can be specific or non-descriptive. I commit to praying for you and the release of your stresses, so be sure and leave your comments below so I can be sure and pray for you.

Elfa Shelving January 28, 2008

We are (still) in the process of organizing everything in our house. We moved in about a year and a half ago from a house which was about half of the size therefore we have a huge need for decorations, window treatments and shelving.

We have been primarily focused on the downstairs, with the exception of Monkeys toy room and bedroom which have gotten some well deserved attention lately. However, I am getting the bug to work on our room and retreat so I have been casually looking at furniture and ways to organize and combine our office needs with my scrapbooking stuff.

The Container Store is having their annual sale on Elfa Shelving, so we decided to think about it for our retreat/office/craft room. Without the 30% off sale, the shelves are a little pricey so in the past we have been a little put off. However, the quality is good and should last a long time.

Five Faves in the Kitchen January 9, 2008

Travis and I both like to cook and I love to bake.  There are things I use in the kitchen that I would pay any amount to replace, should the need ever arise.  Here are my five favorite things in the kitchen:

1.  I cannot make cookies without my pampered chef stoneware. I have tried, God knows I have tried. But instead of cookies I make flat, oily pancakes that end up rock hard within ten minutes. It is a science wonder really.
2. I never used rubber spatulas for anything until I bought some from Williams Sonoma. How they get plastic to stay perfect up to 500 degrees is beyond me, but I cannot live without them. And they clean my flat top stove. What more could a girl want?
3. I absolutely LOVE my crock pot. I didn’t use it when I was gone for nine hours a day, but now that I am home I love to get everything ready in the morning and forget about it until right before Travis comes home. This is a must have for me.
4. My pampered chef nut chopper. I love it because it is big and I can chop a lot at one time. I love it because it is super easy to clean. But most of all I love it because it is so easy to press Monkey can work it. I have to admit, this is my second one and the plastic is cracking on this one just as it did on the last, but I haven’t found anything better so in my cabinet it stays.
5. Last but not least, I love Monkeys Learning Tower. For those of you who just said ‘Monkeys what?’ let me explain. It is an adjustible stool that is fully enclosed on all sides. Monkey can use it to help me cook, or do crafts. Because it holds up to 300 lbs, daddy can use it to paint the ceiling trim and mommy can use it to clean the top of the fridge. This is the stool of all stools.

What are your five faves in the kitchen? Be sure to let us know why and where you got them so we can get them too!