It's been a really long time since I blogged. My computer is still in the shop - with no return date set yet :(
In the meantime, check out this post by my friend, the goofy college dude. I hope you will appreciate his words as much as I did!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Not Good Enough...part 2
I’ve been thinking lately. If God’s going to do what God’s going to do regardless of what we do … does it matter what we do at all? Is our effort, planning, hard work, talent, skill, etc important at all in the scheme of God’s plan? It must be – or He wouldn’t give us the skills, abilities, knowledge to do those things.
I know that God doesn’t need us to accomplish His will – BUT He chooses to use us. In light of that…
I believe we should offer our everything. The very best we have to give. I can't imagine anyone would disagree with that, but how often do we really live that way?
Like the story in John 12 about the anointing at Bethany. When Mary came with her very best perfume, in a very large bottle and poured it all out on Jesus feet – she was giving him everything she had. Holding nothing back. She didn’t bring whatever was closest to the door (most convenient), the one that was easiest to find or carry, she didn’t pick something off the street to bring to Jesus. She picked the very best, most expensive, most treasured thing she had to offer to her King. She wasn't concerned with convenience, ease or cost.
She knew it would cost her. I wonder what she was giving up in order to bring that offering to Jesus. I’m guessing it was just as much a sacrifice as an offering. I’m guessing that it probably cost her a meal or two or ten – and it meant that she would be questioned, ridiculed, criticized . I wonder if she was afraid what people would think? I wonder if she was wondering how she would take care of her bills/food/family? I am wondering if she thought about anything else at all – other than the incredible privilege of bringing her very best to the One and Only?
I am reminded of a specific time in my life when I abandoned all in worship of that same One and Only. There was a mission trip I was a part of as a teenager – called Houston 2000. I honestly don’t remember what we did there. I don’t remember what the purpose of the trip was (sad, huh?). I only remember that it is there that Jesus met me where I was and taught me how to worship. Not just in song, but in lifestyle. Not just through music, but through thoughts and intentions and obedience. It was in that place that I understood for the first time what it felt like to abandon everything for the sake of getting just a little closer to the Savior. Usually when we pray or worship we bow our heads or get lower to the ground as a picture of reverence and devotion. That’s a wonderful thing. But that time God brought me to a place where I was standing on my tip-toes reaching up as high as I could desperate to be closer to him. My eyes were wide open and I was looking up to that ugly ceiling and sobbing and singing with everything in me that Jesus was my everything. Oh to go back to that place.
I have experienced many similar moments over these last 10 years – but none like that one. It was my first. Firsts are special. The first time I met Jesus was special – I will never meet Him like that again. The first time I held each of my daughters were special – I will never feel like that again with any of them. The first time I held my husband’s hand and looked into his eyes was special. Even though I love him more now than I ever thought possible – it will never feel like it did that first time.
That moment in Houston, TX I met Jesus in a way that I never have since. It was the moment that I understood that He wants my everything. Not just some of me – but all of me. Not just my best – but my VERY best. Not just 1 day a week, but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anything less than that is not good enough. My last post was all about how I feel like I’m in a perpetual state of not-good-enough. I hope that won’t always be the case. I struggle EVERY day – EVERY moment – with trying to remember to give God my everything. My thoughts. My works. My family. My job. My relationships. My obedience. My words. My intentions. My feelings. I know He wants it all. I wonder if in our busy schedules, many responsibilities, and all the things we do FOR God we are missing the simple act of sitting at His feet giving Him everything we have heart and soul?
God deserves my best, expects my best and even demands my very best. Anything short of that is not good enough. I pray that today I will make every effort to serve him instead of others, to love him instead of myself, to focus on him instead of all the ‘things’ I need to get done. And I pray that I will learn to rely on His strength and instruction in order to do all of those things. I pray that my life today will be an act of worship of my One and Only. Anything less than that is simply not good enough.
I know that God doesn’t need us to accomplish His will – BUT He chooses to use us. In light of that…
I believe we should offer our everything. The very best we have to give. I can't imagine anyone would disagree with that, but how often do we really live that way?
Like the story in John 12 about the anointing at Bethany. When Mary came with her very best perfume, in a very large bottle and poured it all out on Jesus feet – she was giving him everything she had. Holding nothing back. She didn’t bring whatever was closest to the door (most convenient), the one that was easiest to find or carry, she didn’t pick something off the street to bring to Jesus. She picked the very best, most expensive, most treasured thing she had to offer to her King. She wasn't concerned with convenience, ease or cost.
She knew it would cost her. I wonder what she was giving up in order to bring that offering to Jesus. I’m guessing it was just as much a sacrifice as an offering. I’m guessing that it probably cost her a meal or two or ten – and it meant that she would be questioned, ridiculed, criticized . I wonder if she was afraid what people would think? I wonder if she was wondering how she would take care of her bills/food/family? I am wondering if she thought about anything else at all – other than the incredible privilege of bringing her very best to the One and Only?
I am reminded of a specific time in my life when I abandoned all in worship of that same One and Only. There was a mission trip I was a part of as a teenager – called Houston 2000. I honestly don’t remember what we did there. I don’t remember what the purpose of the trip was (sad, huh?). I only remember that it is there that Jesus met me where I was and taught me how to worship. Not just in song, but in lifestyle. Not just through music, but through thoughts and intentions and obedience. It was in that place that I understood for the first time what it felt like to abandon everything for the sake of getting just a little closer to the Savior. Usually when we pray or worship we bow our heads or get lower to the ground as a picture of reverence and devotion. That’s a wonderful thing. But that time God brought me to a place where I was standing on my tip-toes reaching up as high as I could desperate to be closer to him. My eyes were wide open and I was looking up to that ugly ceiling and sobbing and singing with everything in me that Jesus was my everything. Oh to go back to that place.
I have experienced many similar moments over these last 10 years – but none like that one. It was my first. Firsts are special. The first time I met Jesus was special – I will never meet Him like that again. The first time I held each of my daughters were special – I will never feel like that again with any of them. The first time I held my husband’s hand and looked into his eyes was special. Even though I love him more now than I ever thought possible – it will never feel like it did that first time.
That moment in Houston, TX I met Jesus in a way that I never have since. It was the moment that I understood that He wants my everything. Not just some of me – but all of me. Not just my best – but my VERY best. Not just 1 day a week, but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anything less than that is not good enough. My last post was all about how I feel like I’m in a perpetual state of not-good-enough. I hope that won’t always be the case. I struggle EVERY day – EVERY moment – with trying to remember to give God my everything. My thoughts. My works. My family. My job. My relationships. My obedience. My words. My intentions. My feelings. I know He wants it all. I wonder if in our busy schedules, many responsibilities, and all the things we do FOR God we are missing the simple act of sitting at His feet giving Him everything we have heart and soul?
God deserves my best, expects my best and even demands my very best. Anything short of that is not good enough. I pray that today I will make every effort to serve him instead of others, to love him instead of myself, to focus on him instead of all the ‘things’ I need to get done. And I pray that I will learn to rely on His strength and instruction in order to do all of those things. I pray that my life today will be an act of worship of my One and Only. Anything less than that is simply not good enough.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Not Good Enough
I feel like I'm in a perpetual state of not good enough. How about you? It really gets me down a lot of the time. I feel like no matter how hard I work, or how much I prepare, or how badly I want to give my everything - there is always something that holds me back or drags me down. I feel like the more I know God, the more I know about Him - the more 'not good enough' I feel.
I don't think that it's such a bad thing to always want to give more, do more, be more for Christ. I actually think it's a good thing for me to feel that way about myself.
BUT...here's where it becomes a not-so-good thing. My incredibly high standards that I set for myself (and never feel like I come close to achieving) are starting to color my opinions of others around me. I often expect everyone around me to aim for those impossible standards too, and when they don't I get really frustrated. I KNOW it's my own issue - and that I should only worry about myself, but have been really struggling with it lately.
In John 21, Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him and Peter keeps saying yes - and Jesus keeps saying, then feed my sheep..then this happened...
20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
It's interesting that in the middle of the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach Peter - about how to love Him - he gets distracted by someone else around him and wants to know what Jesus wanted to do with him. Jesus says basically that it's none of his business - and that all that should matter to Peter is what Peter will do. I have been focusing a lot on this passage lately and have been making huge efforts to focus on my service, my job, my responsibilities as a follower of Christ and not worrying about everyone else's responsibilities. It's a battle I struggle with almost daily - and I intend to win.
Jesus says to me today...'as for you, Kim...you must follow me."
I don't think that it's such a bad thing to always want to give more, do more, be more for Christ. I actually think it's a good thing for me to feel that way about myself.
BUT...here's where it becomes a not-so-good thing. My incredibly high standards that I set for myself (and never feel like I come close to achieving) are starting to color my opinions of others around me. I often expect everyone around me to aim for those impossible standards too, and when they don't I get really frustrated. I KNOW it's my own issue - and that I should only worry about myself, but have been really struggling with it lately.
In John 21, Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him and Peter keeps saying yes - and Jesus keeps saying, then feed my sheep..then this happened...
20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
It's interesting that in the middle of the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach Peter - about how to love Him - he gets distracted by someone else around him and wants to know what Jesus wanted to do with him. Jesus says basically that it's none of his business - and that all that should matter to Peter is what Peter will do. I have been focusing a lot on this passage lately and have been making huge efforts to focus on my service, my job, my responsibilities as a follower of Christ and not worrying about everyone else's responsibilities. It's a battle I struggle with almost daily - and I intend to win.
Jesus says to me today...'as for you, Kim...you must follow me."
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Funny Kid Stories
Okay, so I've always thought my kids were entertaining. But sometimes they are downright hilarious! Here are a few recent examples..
Wisdom from an 8 year old (all of this happened during the car ride home from school):
First...
E: "I think it must take a long time for food to go from our mouth all the way back out."
Mom: "Actually, baby it has to go through a lot of organs before it's ready to come back out - like your stomach and your intestines."
E: "Hey - dogs have intestines too! I learned that from Martha Speaks." Then, in her best know-it-all voice..."See mom, Martha Speaks is educational. That's why I should always get to watch it. And Cyberchase too cause it teaches fractions."
Then...
E: "I wonder if anyone knows how to stop the water from coming out when they need to go to the restroom. I think the scientists should really figure that one out."
And my very favorite...
As we were driving into our neighborhood there was a kid with his parents all out in the middle (the actual middle) of the street! They didn't even look up or move when we (in my huge van) finally had to just drive around them! Then my 8-yr old said..
E: "I wonder if they are hobos. (pause) One of my friends in Sunday School said that hobos are d-u-m-b (she spells it cause she thinks it's a major bad word) cause they go into the street and just lay down until cars run over them. But I think they just sit next to the street and ask for food and money and clothes and stuff cause they are actually homeless."
Wisdom from a 2-year-old:
First...
The other day Syd was lifting up and down her shirt because she thought it was funny. Then suddenly she stopped and said...
S: "Mommy, mommy look! (then she pointed at her chest) - I have bra!"
And last night...
After tooting on me and laughing she suddenly had a very concerned look on her face and said...
S: "Mommy? Yesterday I toot on Christian's mommy."
Mom: "What, baby?"
S: Yesterday I toot on Aunt Chelle."
Don't really have any wisdom from the 1-year-old yet, but give her 6 months or so and I'm sure she'll be just as genius as the other two.
Man, I love my kids!
Wisdom from an 8 year old (all of this happened during the car ride home from school):
First...
E: "I think it must take a long time for food to go from our mouth all the way back out."
Mom: "Actually, baby it has to go through a lot of organs before it's ready to come back out - like your stomach and your intestines."
E: "Hey - dogs have intestines too! I learned that from Martha Speaks." Then, in her best know-it-all voice..."See mom, Martha Speaks is educational. That's why I should always get to watch it. And Cyberchase too cause it teaches fractions."
Then...
E: "I wonder if anyone knows how to stop the water from coming out when they need to go to the restroom. I think the scientists should really figure that one out."
And my very favorite...
As we were driving into our neighborhood there was a kid with his parents all out in the middle (the actual middle) of the street! They didn't even look up or move when we (in my huge van) finally had to just drive around them! Then my 8-yr old said..
E: "I wonder if they are hobos. (pause) One of my friends in Sunday School said that hobos are d-u-m-b (she spells it cause she thinks it's a major bad word) cause they go into the street and just lay down until cars run over them. But I think they just sit next to the street and ask for food and money and clothes and stuff cause they are actually homeless."
Wisdom from a 2-year-old:
First...
The other day Syd was lifting up and down her shirt because she thought it was funny. Then suddenly she stopped and said...
S: "Mommy, mommy look! (then she pointed at her chest) - I have bra!"
And last night...
After tooting on me and laughing she suddenly had a very concerned look on her face and said...
S: "Mommy? Yesterday I toot on Christian's mommy."
Mom: "What, baby?"
S: Yesterday I toot on Aunt Chelle."
Don't really have any wisdom from the 1-year-old yet, but give her 6 months or so and I'm sure she'll be just as genius as the other two.
Man, I love my kids!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Simply Love, Africa
Some amazing friends of mine, Brenda and Gary Gorman, are starting the process to adopt from Ethiopia. This will be their second adoption. Their first brought them beautiful Eliana.
This is Eliana at her adoption celebration in July 2007.
This is Eliana at her adoption celebration in July 2007.
This is a much more recent pic that I stole from their blog.
In an effort to raise money for the upcoming adoption, they are selling the coolest t-shirts ever!
Here are a couple of pics of some of them. They are $25 each and the proceeds go directly to the adoption fund for the newest little Gorman.
where you can also read their adoption story.
If you have an extra $25 to spend - I hope that you'll consider supporting this amazing family in their adoption. I can't wait to get my shirt :)
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Breakfast Song
Might be the worst thing I've EVER heard! Yikes! So many questions...
Did you notice all the Elvis stuff in the background? Poor Elvis.
Did you notice all the Elvis stuff in the background? Poor Elvis.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Makes me want to put down the guitar...
AMAZING!!
You should check out his Mario Bros & all the other video game theme songs.
seriously - amazing!
You should check out his Mario Bros & all the other video game theme songs.
seriously - amazing!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Starfield ROCKS ... even on handbells :)
You HAVE to watch this video. Pretty impressive considering it was all on bells of some sort.
And here's Starfield's version:
And here's Starfield's version:
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Mommy Resources
I found a couple of resources this week that I just HAD to share.
www.springpadit.com
is a website where you can manage your calendar, meal planning, chore charts, budget, and SO much more! I've only been using it for a couple days - but am loving it so far.
www.mint.com
is my new favorite site. It's a budget and money management site. It'll access your bank accounts and organize everything you spend/earn into categories. You can add a budget and it'll track your spending against your budget. This site might just be a lifesaver for me.
Here are a couple more that I've used in the past and sometimes still use...
www.cozi.com
is a household management site where you can manage recipes, grocery lists, calendar - it's aimed at family organization. Pretty cool interactive site. Even has an app to manage your photos - and can make a really cool photo collage screen saver (which I use and LOVE).
www.handipoints.com
is an online chore program to help you manage, rate, and reward your kid's chores. I signed up with the best of intentions. The site it great - although it does have parts of the site that are only available if you purchase them - boo! You can reward chores with an online cyber pet thingy that they can dress, feed and play with. Beats me why but Elisa just LOVES her cat (named Boo-boo after our cat that we had to give away a while back).
www.my-calorie-counter.com
is my favorite online calorie counting tool. Track your excercise, eating, and weight loss goals. I used this religiously for 2 weeks and lost almost 8 pounds just by eating better. Good site.
That's all I can think of for now. Just had to share - let me know what you like / don't like and if you have any planning / organizing tools you use.
www.springpadit.com
is a website where you can manage your calendar, meal planning, chore charts, budget, and SO much more! I've only been using it for a couple days - but am loving it so far.
www.mint.com
is my new favorite site. It's a budget and money management site. It'll access your bank accounts and organize everything you spend/earn into categories. You can add a budget and it'll track your spending against your budget. This site might just be a lifesaver for me.
Here are a couple more that I've used in the past and sometimes still use...
www.cozi.com
is a household management site where you can manage recipes, grocery lists, calendar - it's aimed at family organization. Pretty cool interactive site. Even has an app to manage your photos - and can make a really cool photo collage screen saver (which I use and LOVE).
www.handipoints.com
is an online chore program to help you manage, rate, and reward your kid's chores. I signed up with the best of intentions. The site it great - although it does have parts of the site that are only available if you purchase them - boo! You can reward chores with an online cyber pet thingy that they can dress, feed and play with. Beats me why but Elisa just LOVES her cat (named Boo-boo after our cat that we had to give away a while back).
www.my-calorie-counter.com
is my favorite online calorie counting tool. Track your excercise, eating, and weight loss goals. I used this religiously for 2 weeks and lost almost 8 pounds just by eating better. Good site.
That's all I can think of for now. Just had to share - let me know what you like / don't like and if you have any planning / organizing tools you use.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
You're Welcome...
My favorite part of this video is how he says "You're Welcome" at the very end ... made me laugh out loud! Nobody says it quite like Mark Driscoll...
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sweet Sweet Sound
I can't seem to stop playing "Sweet Sweet Sound" by Sarah Reeves over and over again on my itunes. It is affecting me today. Downloaded the lead sheet today - so hopefully we'll be playing it soon.
What are you listening to today?
What are you listening to today?
Friday, February 13, 2009
Hello, is this Poison Control??
So I know I already posted about our close call from last night with the dog's overdose, but needed to update you with our second 'overdose' of the last 24 hours. Seriously.
I was cleaning the kitchen and looked over to find Syd (my 2 yr old) on the couch holding my newly bought bottle of pepcid complete. I forgot to put it back up on the counter this morning after taking one - OH NO!
I ran over to the couch to find a very happy, sneaky looking kid, an empty bottle, a pile of chalky pink tablets all over the couch and one in her sneaky little mouth. Asked her to spit it out - too late - already swallowed. I began counting the tablets. There were 25 in the bottle to begin with minus the 2 I had over the last 24 hours minus the 19 I found piled up on the couch and that leaves 4 TABLETS!! I asked her how many she ate and she said 5 - but she's two and can't count - so I figured my math was more correct.
I immediately called Poison Control and they said that she will probably be constipated, and might throw up, but it won't kill her. So, I hung up the phone ready to kill her myself (just kidding for all you who have your hand on the phone about to call child protective services) - and had a very serious talk with her about why you shouldn't eat medicine that mommy doesn't give you. She laughed - I cried - good talk.
So it is now only 11:45 and already I've had to clean up the aluminum foil that Syd spread across the den (it is now in a very lovely aluminum foil ball b/c I couldn't get it rolled back up), clean up the mess from my dog throwing up a sock (yes - he also eats socks!), and call poison control to make sure my daughter was not going to die from an antacid overdose. I'm laughing out loud even typing it all!!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am in the running for mom of the year - and I'm sure after this post I have your vote.
I was cleaning the kitchen and looked over to find Syd (my 2 yr old) on the couch holding my newly bought bottle of pepcid complete. I forgot to put it back up on the counter this morning after taking one - OH NO!
I ran over to the couch to find a very happy, sneaky looking kid, an empty bottle, a pile of chalky pink tablets all over the couch and one in her sneaky little mouth. Asked her to spit it out - too late - already swallowed. I began counting the tablets. There were 25 in the bottle to begin with minus the 2 I had over the last 24 hours minus the 19 I found piled up on the couch and that leaves 4 TABLETS!! I asked her how many she ate and she said 5 - but she's two and can't count - so I figured my math was more correct.
I immediately called Poison Control and they said that she will probably be constipated, and might throw up, but it won't kill her. So, I hung up the phone ready to kill her myself (just kidding for all you who have your hand on the phone about to call child protective services) - and had a very serious talk with her about why you shouldn't eat medicine that mommy doesn't give you. She laughed - I cried - good talk.
So it is now only 11:45 and already I've had to clean up the aluminum foil that Syd spread across the den (it is now in a very lovely aluminum foil ball b/c I couldn't get it rolled back up), clean up the mess from my dog throwing up a sock (yes - he also eats socks!), and call poison control to make sure my daughter was not going to die from an antacid overdose. I'm laughing out loud even typing it all!!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am in the running for mom of the year - and I'm sure after this post I have your vote.
My 2 year old music critic and my huge chocolate eating dog
It was one of those nights last night. It was bath night - so that was an adventure in and of itself. It was also the night before Elisa's valentine party at school. I hadn't been feeling well all day - so I asked Ricky to go to the store and get the valentines along with some pepcid and gatorade (cause of course I forgot to get valentines until the night before - ugh).
We put the youngest 2 down to bed and then Elisa began working frantically on her valentines (which we had again forgotten about). She finished them in less than an hour and headed off to bed. About 30 minutes later Ricky and I heard some rustling in the living room, which is where Elisa had been working on her valentines, and both of us instinctively called out "Elisa - BED!" forgetting we'd already sent her to bed. Then along came Tux (my giant puppy-boxer) trotting along at a pretty quick pace. I told Ricky that he only came running like that when he'd been into something he shouldn't have been. Then we both looked at each other and realized that the valentines were in the other room (complete with a piece of chocolate on each one!)
The valentines were EVERYWHERE!! All but one of the chocolates were gone - he ate 20 pieces of chocolate!!! We started freaking out - not only because he had eaten alot of chocolate, but because in his frenzy to get to the chocolate he pretty much destroyed the valentines our little angel had spent so much time and effort on!
I read the bag and it turns out that he only ate about 9 oz of chocolate after all - not nearly enough to be fatal. Thank God! He didn't even get sick - he must have a stomach of steel!
I spent the next hour trying to recover Elisa's valentines. Luckily I found a bag of chocolate that my mom had bought about a week ago - so I was able to put them back together (and replace a few of them that the dog ate along with the chocolate). Hopefully Elisa won't be sad that it looks all different. Oh, and by the way - during this fiasco we needed to find out how much he weighed so we'd know how much chocolate was too much chocolate - turns out he weighs in right at 75 POUNDS!!! I knew he was big - but oh man!!
On another note...
This morning while we were driving Elisa to school I turned on the radio.
Syd immediately calls out - "No, mom - not THAT song!"
(Note: it was a very slow, sweet, lovey-dovey song).
So I changed it to PowerFM and I think it was Skillet playing and she said - "Yeah, that one!"
I laughed so hard!! Just to test it out again - on the way home I changed it back to KLTY (disclaimer: I honestly love KLTY - and listen to it regularly) which was playing again a very slow sweet song. She yells out - "I don't like that song!" I switched it back to Power FM and she yells out - "Yeah - yeah! That one!"
So I guess my 2 year old has inherited my taste in music - woohoo!
We put the youngest 2 down to bed and then Elisa began working frantically on her valentines (which we had again forgotten about). She finished them in less than an hour and headed off to bed. About 30 minutes later Ricky and I heard some rustling in the living room, which is where Elisa had been working on her valentines, and both of us instinctively called out "Elisa - BED!" forgetting we'd already sent her to bed. Then along came Tux (my giant puppy-boxer) trotting along at a pretty quick pace. I told Ricky that he only came running like that when he'd been into something he shouldn't have been. Then we both looked at each other and realized that the valentines were in the other room (complete with a piece of chocolate on each one!)
The valentines were EVERYWHERE!! All but one of the chocolates were gone - he ate 20 pieces of chocolate!!! We started freaking out - not only because he had eaten alot of chocolate, but because in his frenzy to get to the chocolate he pretty much destroyed the valentines our little angel had spent so much time and effort on!
I read the bag and it turns out that he only ate about 9 oz of chocolate after all - not nearly enough to be fatal. Thank God! He didn't even get sick - he must have a stomach of steel!
I spent the next hour trying to recover Elisa's valentines. Luckily I found a bag of chocolate that my mom had bought about a week ago - so I was able to put them back together (and replace a few of them that the dog ate along with the chocolate). Hopefully Elisa won't be sad that it looks all different. Oh, and by the way - during this fiasco we needed to find out how much he weighed so we'd know how much chocolate was too much chocolate - turns out he weighs in right at 75 POUNDS!!! I knew he was big - but oh man!!
On another note...
This morning while we were driving Elisa to school I turned on the radio.
Syd immediately calls out - "No, mom - not THAT song!"
(Note: it was a very slow, sweet, lovey-dovey song).
So I changed it to PowerFM and I think it was Skillet playing and she said - "Yeah, that one!"
I laughed so hard!! Just to test it out again - on the way home I changed it back to KLTY (disclaimer: I honestly love KLTY - and listen to it regularly) which was playing again a very slow sweet song. She yells out - "I don't like that song!" I switched it back to Power FM and she yells out - "Yeah - yeah! That one!"
So I guess my 2 year old has inherited my taste in music - woohoo!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Believing God for the Impossible
I was reading my bloglines today and came across one that seemed to echo what God has been teaching me over the past several months...
Here's the link to the original post...you should read it. A young woman named Katie who lived in Uganda and takes care of so many of the poor, orphaned kids there - providing them food, school, shelter and much love. She wrote a post about how God is the God of the impossible. Here's a small glimpse (and my favorite part of the post):
"Every morning as I wake up with some impossible ask in front of me, I know that God will meet it with impossible strength and love. I serve the God who used Moses, a murderer, to part the Red Sea, a God who let Peter, who would deny Him, walk on water. A God who looks at me, in all my fallen, broken weakness, and says YOU can do the impossible."
It seems that God has provided me with several opportunities in the last several months to believe that He is the God of the impossible. Not every one of these opportunities has turned out the way I would have hoped - but I have come out of each of them with a bigger belief that GOD CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. I believe that He can do whatever He wants to with me - even when I don't understand how He would do it. He has been teaching me that I have to believe Him for the impossible.
I read something a while back that has stuck with me (it came from this blog)...
"Expectant faith honors God, and God honors expectant faith."
I have been learning to pray expectant prayers - that is praying what I know God wants me to pray and expecting Him to answer in a way that only He can. I am growing closer to Him as I am learning to believe (like Beth Moore taught me) that
- God is who He says He is
- God can do what He says He can do
- I am who God says I am
- I can do all things through Christ
- God's word is alive and active in me
It's a daily struggle to keep on Believing God - but it's a struggle I intend to win today. What about you? What are you believing God to do in and through your life?
Here's the link to the original post...you should read it. A young woman named Katie who lived in Uganda and takes care of so many of the poor, orphaned kids there - providing them food, school, shelter and much love. She wrote a post about how God is the God of the impossible. Here's a small glimpse (and my favorite part of the post):
"Every morning as I wake up with some impossible ask in front of me, I know that God will meet it with impossible strength and love. I serve the God who used Moses, a murderer, to part the Red Sea, a God who let Peter, who would deny Him, walk on water. A God who looks at me, in all my fallen, broken weakness, and says YOU can do the impossible."
It seems that God has provided me with several opportunities in the last several months to believe that He is the God of the impossible. Not every one of these opportunities has turned out the way I would have hoped - but I have come out of each of them with a bigger belief that GOD CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. I believe that He can do whatever He wants to with me - even when I don't understand how He would do it. He has been teaching me that I have to believe Him for the impossible.
I read something a while back that has stuck with me (it came from this blog)...
"Expectant faith honors God, and God honors expectant faith."
I have been learning to pray expectant prayers - that is praying what I know God wants me to pray and expecting Him to answer in a way that only He can. I am growing closer to Him as I am learning to believe (like Beth Moore taught me) that
- God is who He says He is
- God can do what He says He can do
- I am who God says I am
- I can do all things through Christ
- God's word is alive and active in me
It's a daily struggle to keep on Believing God - but it's a struggle I intend to win today. What about you? What are you believing God to do in and through your life?
Thursday, February 05, 2009
What do you know about Jesus?
That's the question I asked my 2 year old Wednesday night as we were heading home from church. I LOVED her answer. She said...
"Jesus loves God
and God loves Jesus."
that's it. I was so excited that she understands (even at 2!!) that God and Jesus are connected. Of course, she then continued on with ... "Twinkle, Twinkle loves God and Row, Row Boat loves Jesus...and Mary little lamb loves God and ABEC loves Jesus" My husband looks at me and says, "Now I'm pretty sure there's some deep spiritual application there if we could just decipher it." Hilarious stuff.
My favorite part of the car ride home, though, was when my 8 year old asked my 2 year old if she could tell her about Jesus. Syd (the 2 yr old) yells "YES! but Weesa (that's what she calls her) where's your bible?"
Ricky and I looked at each other with such tremendous pride in our hearts as we realized how much our little baby already knows about Jesus. She knows that Jesus loves God, God loves Jesus, and that the Bible is the story of Jesus. WOW! We were so proud that our 8 year old was so willing, ready and excited to witness to her little sister. WOW!
If only we were all so willing, ready and excited to share the incredible story of Jesus with those that we love. I love it when God uses my kids to teach me a lesson.
"Jesus loves God
and God loves Jesus."
that's it. I was so excited that she understands (even at 2!!) that God and Jesus are connected. Of course, she then continued on with ... "Twinkle, Twinkle loves God and Row, Row Boat loves Jesus...and Mary little lamb loves God and ABEC loves Jesus" My husband looks at me and says, "Now I'm pretty sure there's some deep spiritual application there if we could just decipher it." Hilarious stuff.
My favorite part of the car ride home, though, was when my 8 year old asked my 2 year old if she could tell her about Jesus. Syd (the 2 yr old) yells "YES! but Weesa (that's what she calls her) where's your bible?"
Ricky and I looked at each other with such tremendous pride in our hearts as we realized how much our little baby already knows about Jesus. She knows that Jesus loves God, God loves Jesus, and that the Bible is the story of Jesus. WOW! We were so proud that our 8 year old was so willing, ready and excited to witness to her little sister. WOW!
If only we were all so willing, ready and excited to share the incredible story of Jesus with those that we love. I love it when God uses my kids to teach me a lesson.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Life Is War
Guest Blogger: Sandra McCurdy
John Piper in Let the Nations Be Glad wrote:
Probably the number one reason why prayer malfunctions in the hands of believers is that we try to turn a wartime walkie-talkie into a domestic intercom. Until you know that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for. Prayer is for the accomplishment of a wartime mission.
This was very convicting for me. I’ve been in places where spiritual warfare was blatant, bold, and very much out in the open. Prayer was critical to the outcome every time and yet, I fall back so easily into complacency using my conversation with God, as Piper writes, “…not to call in fire power for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask for more comforts in the den.” (p. 46)
Why am I so complacent when the battle is raging around me? Why am I satisfied with asking for things that will make me comfortable when those around me are falling in battle?
In Ephesians 6 we are told to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
It’s time to start acting like we are in a battle. Our comrades are falling all around us. We need to be vigilant. We need to be ready. We need to see with spiritual eyes. We need to stay in close contact with our Commander. We certainly don’t need to be afraid or confused because our leader is supreme.
In Nehemiah 4:14, Nehemiah tells the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Forgive my complacency, Lord. You have called me to be a part of your army and I haven’t been a good soldier. Please renew my heart. Set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. Help me to be strong in you Lord and in Your mighty power. Help me to be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
--Sandra
John Piper in Let the Nations Be Glad wrote:
Probably the number one reason why prayer malfunctions in the hands of believers is that we try to turn a wartime walkie-talkie into a domestic intercom. Until you know that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for. Prayer is for the accomplishment of a wartime mission.
This was very convicting for me. I’ve been in places where spiritual warfare was blatant, bold, and very much out in the open. Prayer was critical to the outcome every time and yet, I fall back so easily into complacency using my conversation with God, as Piper writes, “…not to call in fire power for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask for more comforts in the den.” (p. 46)
Why am I so complacent when the battle is raging around me? Why am I satisfied with asking for things that will make me comfortable when those around me are falling in battle?
In Ephesians 6 we are told to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
It’s time to start acting like we are in a battle. Our comrades are falling all around us. We need to be vigilant. We need to be ready. We need to see with spiritual eyes. We need to stay in close contact with our Commander. We certainly don’t need to be afraid or confused because our leader is supreme.
In Nehemiah 4:14, Nehemiah tells the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
Forgive my complacency, Lord. You have called me to be a part of your army and I haven’t been a good soldier. Please renew my heart. Set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. Help me to be strong in you Lord and in Your mighty power. Help me to be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
--Sandra
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Heart Factor
I've been blogging since May of 2005. Crazy, right? I was reading back through some of the very first blogs I wrote and came across this one...I figured since I have pretty much all new readership (is that a word?) I would re-blog one of my very first blogs...
I have just started reading a book called "The Sacred Romance" by Brent Curtis and John Eldridge and had to share a piece of it with you: "In the end, it doesn't matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished - a life without heart is not worth living. For out of this wellspring of our soul flowers all true caring and all meaningful work, all real worship and all sacrifice. Our faith, hope, and love issue from this fount, as well. Because it is in our heart that we first hear the voice of God and it is in the heart that we come to know him and learn to live in his love." It is often interesting to me, although not suprising, that when God is trying to tell me something He will continue to tell it to me in as many ways as possible until I get it. Well, God - message received.
In the beginning of the book I am reading, the author mentions that all of us - no matter our relationship with Christ, are always wanting more. More love, more emotion, more meaning - More Heart. I can definitely relate to the desire for more out of life - as I'm sure you can. I have been overwhelmed with the feeling lately that there is so much more than I am getting. I seek God - but do I seek Him hard enough? I praise God - but do I praise him often enough? I worship God - but do I worship with ALL of my life, or simply with my song? I have to confess that everything I could ever give would never be enough. So, how do I get more? I'm not exactly sure. I suppose that just knowing that there is more will force me to seek harder and praise more often and try to learn how to worship with everything that is me. At least I hope that is the case.
I have just started reading a book called "The Sacred Romance" by Brent Curtis and John Eldridge and had to share a piece of it with you: "In the end, it doesn't matter how well we have performed or what we have accomplished - a life without heart is not worth living. For out of this wellspring of our soul flowers all true caring and all meaningful work, all real worship and all sacrifice. Our faith, hope, and love issue from this fount, as well. Because it is in our heart that we first hear the voice of God and it is in the heart that we come to know him and learn to live in his love." It is often interesting to me, although not suprising, that when God is trying to tell me something He will continue to tell it to me in as many ways as possible until I get it. Well, God - message received.
In the beginning of the book I am reading, the author mentions that all of us - no matter our relationship with Christ, are always wanting more. More love, more emotion, more meaning - More Heart. I can definitely relate to the desire for more out of life - as I'm sure you can. I have been overwhelmed with the feeling lately that there is so much more than I am getting. I seek God - but do I seek Him hard enough? I praise God - but do I praise him often enough? I worship God - but do I worship with ALL of my life, or simply with my song? I have to confess that everything I could ever give would never be enough. So, how do I get more? I'm not exactly sure. I suppose that just knowing that there is more will force me to seek harder and praise more often and try to learn how to worship with everything that is me. At least I hope that is the case.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Weekly Weigh-In
Okay - confession time...
I HATE weekly weigh-ins. I gained 3 pounds this last week. Probably because I've been sick, the kids have been sick - and I haven't been to the grocery store in almost 2 weeks - so we've eaten out ALOT. Ugh.
Honestly, I'm not really very motivated right now to do much better. Kids are still sick - and I feel like I haven't slept in a week (probably pretty close to the truth).
However, I KNOW - God desires better from me. He demands my very best. He will not settle for my leftovers (no food pun intended). I know that He expects me to be the very best me I can (I know it sounds cheesy - but it's true). SO - I WILL do better this week. Meet me back here next week for an update. Same bat time, same bat channel :)
I HATE weekly weigh-ins. I gained 3 pounds this last week. Probably because I've been sick, the kids have been sick - and I haven't been to the grocery store in almost 2 weeks - so we've eaten out ALOT. Ugh.
Honestly, I'm not really very motivated right now to do much better. Kids are still sick - and I feel like I haven't slept in a week (probably pretty close to the truth).
However, I KNOW - God desires better from me. He demands my very best. He will not settle for my leftovers (no food pun intended). I know that He expects me to be the very best me I can (I know it sounds cheesy - but it's true). SO - I WILL do better this week. Meet me back here next week for an update. Same bat time, same bat channel :)
Monday, January 05, 2009
Weekly Weigh-In
Okay - so I honestly completely forgot to weigh-in this morning. In fact, I've been forgetting a lot lately. I did weigh in last week, though - and also yesterday...so...
Last week - 221.9 (that was last Tuesday)
Yesterday - 221
I think that considering I ate a LOT of sweets during Christmas - that's not too bad. I've mostly maintained - although I'm 1 pound heavier than I was a month ago - ugh.
I worked out 3 times this last week, though - so hopefully I'm on the right track now.
By the way...am I the only one still doing this Biggest Loser thing? 3 more months to go - anyone still in?
Last week - 221.9 (that was last Tuesday)
Yesterday - 221
I think that considering I ate a LOT of sweets during Christmas - that's not too bad. I've mostly maintained - although I'm 1 pound heavier than I was a month ago - ugh.
I worked out 3 times this last week, though - so hopefully I'm on the right track now.
By the way...am I the only one still doing this Biggest Loser thing? 3 more months to go - anyone still in?
Friday, January 02, 2009
Little girls
I am learning a lot about little girls - since I am trying to raise 3 of them. Being a mother is - BY FAR - the hardest thing I've ever attempted. Not because of the potty training, non-sleeping baby, the many trips to the doctor, the constant struggle with messy rooms and messy faces and baths, and all the cooking and cleaning and such - although all of that is hard. It's because of the many, many emotions that swirl around inside a girls head ALL the time. Little girls are more like little enigmas - it's really impossible to figure out what to do with them.
My little girl is 8 1/2 now. But 8 1/2 nowadays is more like 10 1/2 was back in my day (like I'm SO old). She is growing up so much faster than I did - at least it seems that way. She is asking questions I don't have answers to, and is worried all the time about everything. Did we worry that much when we were kids? Sometimes I worry that her worry is a result of my worry. - wow - that's a lot of worry!
I'm realizing today that there really are just a few things that she needs on a daily basis. Here are some of the things I think she needs from me and her dad:
My little girl is 8 1/2 now. But 8 1/2 nowadays is more like 10 1/2 was back in my day (like I'm SO old). She is growing up so much faster than I did - at least it seems that way. She is asking questions I don't have answers to, and is worried all the time about everything. Did we worry that much when we were kids? Sometimes I worry that her worry is a result of my worry. - wow - that's a lot of worry!
I'm realizing today that there really are just a few things that she needs on a daily basis. Here are some of the things I think she needs from me and her dad:
- She needs to feel loved
- She needs to feel safe
- She needs to feel beautiful (I don't know why this is - but it seems to be true of all girls.)
It sounds so simple, right? Yeah - not so much. This mothering thing is the most gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, hair-pulling, crazy hard thing ever in life. Each day I wake up terrified that I'm gonna screw up - and each night I lay there praying I'll do better the next day. There are wonderful moments sprinkled in, but most of the time - it's just trial and error. I hate that. Each day is a new adventure - we are truly taking it one day at a time.
I've decided to start a mom's support group - for moms of school-aged girls. I figure there's strength in numbers - right?
I'm also on the search for books and resources to help me in parenting my three girls. If there are any books or other resources that have helped you - please let me know.
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