December 14, 2009

A timeless classic for the Christmas season

The movie "Mary Poppins" was on ABC family channel tonight. My husband knows this is one of my all time favorite movies, so he told me the time and channel before it started. I got busy playing on the computer and doing laundry and forgot all about it until about the last 5 minutes of the movie. So I turned on the last 5 minutes.

I think this movie is such a timeless classic because of the message it portrays. Not of a nanny who whips two bratty children into shape, but that the presence of an earthly father figure is important to the family dynamic. God designed the family unit to be just that a unit~ a mother, a father and the children. I understand that things happen in life to rip that unit apart, but just watch the end of the movie. The family is going to the park together to fly a kite. And the dad gets it! He realizes that it is important to the children to spend time being with them. Not to take them to the park so they can do it on their own, but to be an active participant involved in their lives. And Mary Poppins and her umbrella (the talking parrot head) even have that conversation. The bird says something about the children going off with their father and not saying goodbye and Mary says, "Just as it should be."

Can I just tell you how blessed my girls and I are that we have an active, participating daddy in our lives? He is so good with our girls. He'll take them to the library to pick out books and videos. Then come home and read to them or sit down and snuggle as they watch a video they brought home. He'll take them to the park or start a tickle fest with them. Sometimes all he has to do is be his usual goofball self and they'll just crack up at him. And I don't know about you, but there is nothing that puts a smile in my heart more than listening to a child's sincere, belly busting laugh, the kind that come up all the way from the toes.

So, it is the Christmas season. We celebrate Jesus Christ coming to earth to be fully man, yet fully God. What an awesome gift God gave us in his only son Jesus Christ. I bet Joseph had moments like those above in teaching Jesus how to be a carpenter. What an awesome gift God gave me when he blessed me with the perfect husband for me and 2 beautiful daughters for my husband and I to parent. He chose us to be their parents. May you see the wonders and gifts all around you this Christmas season.

September 11, 2009

been a long time

Don't know if there's any one who even still looks at this, but....I'll give it a shot.
Yes, it's been a long time since I've been here. Life has been crazy~ I'm sure you can't even begin to relate(watch out for dripping sarcasm). Yes, life is crazy for all of us, some of us just manage it better than others.
So for those of you who prayed for my nephew, Adam, he passed away just over a month ago. In fact, a month ago today we were at his calling hours(wake, for some of you). It just seems so surreal.

So, I started cleaning at my church this week. This is not a volunteer position, rather a paid position. This is the first job I've had since I became pregnant with my girls. Well, I babysit for my landlord at least 1 day a week, and have been doing that since my girls were about a year. But to me that doesn't really count.
So 3 people on staff at my church said to me, "I started out cleaning, here." In my mind, I'm saying, "GRRREEEAAATTT!!!!! God, what are you trying to tell me??? That I'm going to be on staff here in the near future???" I certainly don't feel that calling, although God did call me out of a massage therapy career to go to Bible college. Hmmmmmmmmmmm

Change is definitely in the air in my life. And while I don't feel like it is to be on staff at my church other than the cleaning person, I do feel like God is calling me to a new level. He's been trying to deal with me in regards to my marriage~ on many different fronts. (Honey, if you're reading this don't worry, it's all good!) And about my personal life, how I am eating, spending my time, etc.
Some scriptures he's been giving me: Matt. 6:21 ~For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And today he gave me Col. 3:23-24 ~Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

My Pastor came & talked to me today while I was working. He just wanted to welcome me and in not so many words re-iterate what the Lord had already been telling me in Col. 3:23-24. It was nice to hear the encouragement and reinforcement.

God is soooo good. Hope you are having a blessed life. (btw~ that doesn't mean it will be trouble free.) I am praying for you.

Oh, yeah & just so you didn't think I forgot; it is amazing to me that it has been 8 years since 9-11. I was getting ready for work when all the commotion started, yep, life can definitely be surreal at times.

April 12, 2009

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY and another pet peeve, and some shout outs

Hi There! Bet you've been wondering where I've been. No? Well, that's okay. I'm going to tell you anyway. I have been sucked into the proverbial waste of time called Facebook. One of my other bloggy friends called Facebook the lazy person's blog. And to some degree that is true. It is a bit of an easier way to keep up with people other than reading a bunch of blogs. I don't like that I have allowed myself to be sucked into spending sooo much time on Facebook; yet on the other hand, I have connected with people from grade school, high school and beyond. To me, that is awesome. People I haven't seen or heard from in over (gasp)25 years! (where has the time gone? didn't I just graduate from high school only a few years ago???)

So today is Easter! HAPPY EASTER! HE HAS RISEN INDEED!!! Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for my sins & saving my life.

Are you curious what another of my pet peeves is? No? Guess what, I'm going to tell you anyway. Why? Because it is my blog & I can write about what I want.

Like I said a paragraph above the previous one, today is Easter. This is 1 of 2 important "holidays" or holy days in Christianity (the other being Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.) Why? Because Jesus Christ died on the cross for ALL of our sins & then rose again 3 days later. There is not a gosh darned thing any one of us can do to earn, work or otherwise cajole our way into heaven. You either believe it or you don't. If you don't, you may want to ask yourself what would happen to you if you keeled over & died while reading this post. Where would you go?

This brings me back to my pet peeve. People will say to me, "Oh, so you are religious?" RELIGION & RELIGIOUS, YES, THAT IS MY PET PEEVE! NO PEOPLE, I AM NOT ANY MORE RELIGIOUS THAN YOU ARE.

While some "denominations" have "religious" services, Christianity is about a relationship. A relationship with Jesus Christ. Do I do religious things? Absolutely! And I bet you do too! Do you brush your teeth regularly (on a schedule)? Then you do that religiously. Take a shower, go to the bathroom, or eat a meal at a specific time of day? You do those things religiously. I could go on & on, but I'm sure you get my drift. A relationship with Jesus Christ; what does that mean? It means that you believe he was man and God; was born of a virgin; crucified on a cross, died & rose again 3 days later & now resides in heaven at the right hand of God, the Father. Now you may be saying, okay, I've never seen him, how do I know he exists? Have you ever seen the wind? You've felt the wind, you've seen the wind move the trees, but have you ever seen the wind itself? So how do you know the wind exists? For me, I just know! But if you doubt- ask Him. He'll show you. You may be asking how do I have a relationship with Him? How do you have a relationship with your friends? You have to talk to them right? So talk to Jesus. Ask Him to come live in your heart. He will do it. He did it for me, & he did it for the thief on the cross next to him so many years ago. And He has done it for many other people. Does that mean I don't sin any more? HECK NO! I sin daily, but He will forgive all of our sins. This might seem all too simple for you, I promise you it really is that simple.

Okay, I think I'm done ranting about my pet peeves. Now for some shout outs!
Well, since it has been almost 3 months since I last posted, there have been A LOT OF BIRTHDAYS! A couple of the ones more dearer to my heart- my nephew, Adam- turned a quarter of a century, my nephew, Dylan turned 8, my baby girls turned 4!!! And there are many others, who I hopefully wished happy birthday to on their special day. Also my niece, Lyla, made her way into the world and a special friend, Andrew James, made his way into the world- I got to witness this one! Oh how beautiful it was. To read more about,click here .

I guess that about wraps this up tonight. I hope you had a joyous day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I don't purport to have any of the answers, but hey maybe we can figure out this thing called "life" together. God Bless.

January 17, 2009

Things going on

You may have noticed I added a new blog to my list of "blogs that inspire me." I've been reading this blog for quite awhile actually & should have added it a long time ago. Forgive me for not doing so, but I am now going to encourage you to go check out Joe Sangl. My girlfriend nick-named him "Dave Ramsey lite." Either way, whether you read Joe or you need a lot more detail & need to read Dave Ramsey - go do it. This stuff works- well, it works if you are at your "I have had enough" point.
Let me just tell you it has all been God, but my husband has been unemployed (and is still) since the end of June, and we have managed to drop debt even during this very difficult time.

On another note, another blog I read that is usually very comical is Because I Said So; she has 6 children, 3 of each. She has a review blog & well, a lot of people read her. She's kind of like the next "Erma Bombeck." She posted a few weeks ago about a giveaway on another blog, so I hopped on over to check it out. And guess what happened?! I WON! I WON!! I WON!!! (Great,~ now I have another blog to add to my list of blogs I read. Just kidding, Rick!)I won a doodle drawing from Rick over at Organized Doodles. He posted rules as to what we could pick for a doodle so I picked this one titled: Holy Ghost Riders ~Doesn't it look great!~

I have to explain, my husband & I both ride motorcycles; a passion I got my husband into. In fact I created a monster, but it is a good one. We are also Christians, meaning we believe in & do our best to follow Jesus Christ & his Word. So I thought that while ALL Rick's drawings were great, Holy Ghost Riders was the most apropos for me. The original post has this scripture -Matthew 3:11. Unfortunately he left it off the doodle he sent me, but that's okay. Thanks Rick! I absolutely love the doodle & when the finances return I plan on getting more.