Well, it's official guys. In a few weeks I'll go to the Dr. and get my levels checked out and whatnot. A heart wrenching day... a million thank you's for all your beautiful prayers. The pain is here but deep down I still have this very steady feeling of peace. Thank you Lord for your mercies in every form they come. Do me a favor? In lieu of apologies would you just pick out a favorite scripture and leave it for me if you're so led?
Love to you all...I'll see you all soon...
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
Home again, Home again,
Jiggety Jig! So glad to be home. Man. Whew.
I caught up on everyone's blog and it seems there is a slight thread of the doldrums.
I want to give everyone a rah-rah but it is hard not to get sucked in! Crazy times for us ahead too and sometimes I just want to hide! Not sure how this pg is going to go after all, it's pretty much touch and go at this point. I wish I could just know one way or the other but only time will tell. If I can't carry I will hold off until the new year and see a Dr. Get everything checked out...maybe try again. But I am not giving up hope yet! Can't wait to see everyone again. J is almost here as well and I will be happy to see him more through Nov and Dec as we travel back and forth with him. Yay!
This week I hope to be starting on the CHECKLIST (hear booming echo)
and seeing your sweet faces!!!! Let's get together and cheer each other up! I like New Z's blog that we can have peace in the Lord if we seek Him!! and (as they say in the old Southern Baptist Church...)
Sunday's a comin'!!!!
I caught up on everyone's blog and it seems there is a slight thread of the doldrums.
I want to give everyone a rah-rah but it is hard not to get sucked in! Crazy times for us ahead too and sometimes I just want to hide! Not sure how this pg is going to go after all, it's pretty much touch and go at this point. I wish I could just know one way or the other but only time will tell. If I can't carry I will hold off until the new year and see a Dr. Get everything checked out...maybe try again. But I am not giving up hope yet! Can't wait to see everyone again. J is almost here as well and I will be happy to see him more through Nov and Dec as we travel back and forth with him. Yay!
This week I hope to be starting on the CHECKLIST (hear booming echo)
and seeing your sweet faces!!!! Let's get together and cheer each other up! I like New Z's blog that we can have peace in the Lord if we seek Him!! and (as they say in the old Southern Baptist Church...)
Sunday's a comin'!!!!
Who we are in Christ
I was reading the intro in my NEW FAVORITE HOMESCHOOLING TOOL, The Checklist, lol and she was talking about how we should be doing what we are gifted at 80% of the time and 20% at the rest...I have always been big on that. Before I even knew it as a homeschooling "truth". I thought that since we are all gifted by God in some area, why don't we teach to that since that is the gift that God intends us to use? Perhaps we don't because it is hard to trust in such intangible absolutes. But if we know God gives gifts then we DO know it is an absolute, so then it is just a matter of living it out by FAITH.
When we see other's strengths, sometimes it is hard to not compare it to our own weaknesses in that area. How the enemy loves this. Get us women comparing. Ugh. You know the really predictable thing about the enemy? It's that his tricks are never new.
He LOVES us to think about how this one is better at this, how that one is better at that and how we fail miserable short. But for those of us who are Christian, we KNOW that God has gifted us in whatever area He wants us to use...we cannot let other's accomplishments and successes make us feel less than. A-because it is not true, B-because it gives the enemy temporary victory and C-it is SUCH a bad witness.
We should be REJOICING in the successes of others! Lifting them up! Fearless said it beautifully in a blog once..we should not boast in ourselves but let others toot our horn! We should RING THOSE CHIMES when others succeed. This is how I will make my true confessions...
When I read of dear M's delicious butternut squash soup...I endeavor to make it!
When I see Fearless yet again coming to the cross on some issue or another, I marvel at her leadership qualities and get myself back to the cross where I belong!
When I see Leisa's humor and vibrance, I remember to LAUGH and to love!
When I see New Z's even keel, I think "meek and quiet spirit" work on that!
When I see HSC honesty and genuine living w/o legalism, I think RELAX, you're o-k-a-y.
I think of you all as great friends but also as tools that hone my walk.
I also know that not all of you may feel worthy as we all don't at some time or another. You may not even SEE the way you are being used to sharpen others. You may not even feel like that is an area you are gifted in and yet you obviously are being used that way... I often have said I have no at home skills but sometime or another when someone encourages me or tells me I have blessed them in some way I remember, right-God has blessed me with gifts too...I just don't always SEE them as gifts! I think weakness: I am inconsistent (but fun!) I lack discipline (but am passionate!) I tend to rule absolutely (but can ask for forgiveness!) I am highly, highly, highly (did I mention highly?) impatient but am also highly capable. My strengths can become my weaknesses and my weaknesses my very strengths!
We spend 80% of the time focusing on what we perceive as a weakness never realizing they are our undeveloped or our out of control gifts!
I know that those who are exceedingly skilled in some areas of homemaking can be lacking in others! That some may have self esteem issues, that humor may mask sadness or pain,
that quietness may mean fear is present in some form and that with too much freedom may come trouble...
The point is that we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses...it's just a careful balance. From now on I choose to focus on my strengths AND yours, and let God lovingly work the rest out of me, one day at a time.
When we see other's strengths, sometimes it is hard to not compare it to our own weaknesses in that area. How the enemy loves this. Get us women comparing. Ugh. You know the really predictable thing about the enemy? It's that his tricks are never new.
He LOVES us to think about how this one is better at this, how that one is better at that and how we fail miserable short. But for those of us who are Christian, we KNOW that God has gifted us in whatever area He wants us to use...we cannot let other's accomplishments and successes make us feel less than. A-because it is not true, B-because it gives the enemy temporary victory and C-it is SUCH a bad witness.
We should be REJOICING in the successes of others! Lifting them up! Fearless said it beautifully in a blog once..we should not boast in ourselves but let others toot our horn! We should RING THOSE CHIMES when others succeed. This is how I will make my true confessions...
When I read of dear M's delicious butternut squash soup...I endeavor to make it!
When I see Fearless yet again coming to the cross on some issue or another, I marvel at her leadership qualities and get myself back to the cross where I belong!
When I see Leisa's humor and vibrance, I remember to LAUGH and to love!
When I see New Z's even keel, I think "meek and quiet spirit" work on that!
When I see HSC honesty and genuine living w/o legalism, I think RELAX, you're o-k-a-y.
I think of you all as great friends but also as tools that hone my walk.
I also know that not all of you may feel worthy as we all don't at some time or another. You may not even SEE the way you are being used to sharpen others. You may not even feel like that is an area you are gifted in and yet you obviously are being used that way... I often have said I have no at home skills but sometime or another when someone encourages me or tells me I have blessed them in some way I remember, right-God has blessed me with gifts too...I just don't always SEE them as gifts! I think weakness: I am inconsistent (but fun!) I lack discipline (but am passionate!) I tend to rule absolutely (but can ask for forgiveness!) I am highly, highly, highly (did I mention highly?) impatient but am also highly capable. My strengths can become my weaknesses and my weaknesses my very strengths!
We spend 80% of the time focusing on what we perceive as a weakness never realizing they are our undeveloped or our out of control gifts!
I know that those who are exceedingly skilled in some areas of homemaking can be lacking in others! That some may have self esteem issues, that humor may mask sadness or pain,
that quietness may mean fear is present in some form and that with too much freedom may come trouble...
The point is that we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses...it's just a careful balance. From now on I choose to focus on my strengths AND yours, and let God lovingly work the rest out of me, one day at a time.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Back with the Dad
It's good to be with J again!! It's taken a day to adjust but I'm feeling better today. I forgot what being pg does to you and I am afraid I am feeling my age a bit! I need rest! I've been cleaning with the girls all day and we are not even close to being finished. Poor guy works and works down here with no time to do much house stuff. So cleaning and cooking is a treat for him. I made a big pot of veggie soup and brought scones and brownies from home. Simple egg salad and sweet potatoes today for lunch. The weather is very rainy here from the tropical storm but it is on and off...we may go the beach later or just hang and watch Spiderman 3. More later...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Thanks-noticing
I just read an interesting article about a guy who moved to Manhattan all gung-ho to make it and who became disheartened after a few weeks there when reality set in. (my same experience when I moved there, lol) so on an errand he started counting all the things that made him happy. A Mother walking a baby in a stroller all bundled up, a jet going over (fascination with flying) etc. etc.
He perked up and goes on to become successful in the years to come but always remembered his "gratitude walk".
The article goes on to cite a study with group A) those who counted things that made them happy as they went through their day, B) those who counted the hassles and C) those who just counted the days events.
Not surprising to hear the results...those who counted the things they were grateful for were happier, more productive, healthier, had less vices, were more willing to help others, were more successful, etc, etc.
It got me thinking...remember when gratitude journals were all the rage? Well, I could never keep one because I just cannot seem to journal (which is why I love to blog I suppose...techno-journaling) but I can certainly count things that make me happy. Now, I am a pretty positive person to begin with but I can get frustrated pretty easily too and I have to wonder how many of us take gratitude walks through their life, count hassles or just mark time with what-they-do.
Reading some blogs kind of tells the tale actually...Lol, ouch!
I am going to try to walk around counting the things and focusing on the things that I am grateful for...not just saying thanks in my prayers but in a perpetual state of thanksgiving.
If you want to try it to, I would love if you would email me in a few days and let me know and thoughts, stories or anything that comes out of it....then I'll put together an update post (keeping you anonymous if you wish) and re-post the results.
Come on, humor me! Get busy noticing things that make you happy and being thankful. I want to post a result that our lives were changed subtley or dramatically by just noticing things that make us happy and being grateful for them!
He perked up and goes on to become successful in the years to come but always remembered his "gratitude walk".
The article goes on to cite a study with group A) those who counted things that made them happy as they went through their day, B) those who counted the hassles and C) those who just counted the days events.
Not surprising to hear the results...those who counted the things they were grateful for were happier, more productive, healthier, had less vices, were more willing to help others, were more successful, etc, etc.
It got me thinking...remember when gratitude journals were all the rage? Well, I could never keep one because I just cannot seem to journal (which is why I love to blog I suppose...techno-journaling) but I can certainly count things that make me happy. Now, I am a pretty positive person to begin with but I can get frustrated pretty easily too and I have to wonder how many of us take gratitude walks through their life, count hassles or just mark time with what-they-do.
Reading some blogs kind of tells the tale actually...Lol, ouch!
I am going to try to walk around counting the things and focusing on the things that I am grateful for...not just saying thanks in my prayers but in a perpetual state of thanksgiving.
If you want to try it to, I would love if you would email me in a few days and let me know and thoughts, stories or anything that comes out of it....then I'll put together an update post (keeping you anonymous if you wish) and re-post the results.
Come on, humor me! Get busy noticing things that make you happy and being thankful. I want to post a result that our lives were changed subtley or dramatically by just noticing things that make us happy and being grateful for them!
God cares about the details
How many times have we said this?
Well, K has been needing some clothes BADLY. I mean, her onesies can't snap anymore, hear what I'm sayin'??? So on to ebay I go where I find the most incredible lot of baby clothes I've ever seen. To DIE for cute. All baby Gap, Children's place clothes. Now, I have never, ever been a label buyer, but these clothes made me realize why their clothes were perceived as so much better...because they are. Lol So of course I get J bidding on them. The lot (about 20 different outfits) is up to over 200.00. Wow. I start thinking with 100.00 I can go to Wal Mart and get more than what I need. But Jeff bids for me anyway as he KNOWS this has become as big a want as need. If you knew J, you would know what a gift to me this was because he is the epitome of being frugal. Goes to 250, 300, finally at our being outbid at 322.00 even I cannot stand it anymore and put a stop to it. Ridiculous says I!
A few days later, Fearless shows up with like 20 dresses for K. Some for play, some for church. I could practically get through winter with them.
And then yesterday another friend who came for lunch brought three HUGE tubs of play clothes in the exact right size. Even up to age 2 if I wanted. Onesies, outfits, dresses, leggings, sweaters, pants, on and on and on and on. I took a huge lot from the tubs and they are still full to be returned....
And would you guess what? They are mostly all Baby Gap and Children's place. (Just so soft and stretchy!) A bigger lot, (by far) all for free. Now, to me this says, God can do all things if you give him a chance and are obedient to what he says about money. He blessed me BIGGER than the ebay lot...He just put it together a different way. I love how He works!
Thanks to those who gave or lent me clothes and thanks be to God who can clothe the lilies of the field AND my darling Kate!
Well, K has been needing some clothes BADLY. I mean, her onesies can't snap anymore, hear what I'm sayin'??? So on to ebay I go where I find the most incredible lot of baby clothes I've ever seen. To DIE for cute. All baby Gap, Children's place clothes. Now, I have never, ever been a label buyer, but these clothes made me realize why their clothes were perceived as so much better...because they are. Lol So of course I get J bidding on them. The lot (about 20 different outfits) is up to over 200.00. Wow. I start thinking with 100.00 I can go to Wal Mart and get more than what I need. But Jeff bids for me anyway as he KNOWS this has become as big a want as need. If you knew J, you would know what a gift to me this was because he is the epitome of being frugal. Goes to 250, 300, finally at our being outbid at 322.00 even I cannot stand it anymore and put a stop to it. Ridiculous says I!
A few days later, Fearless shows up with like 20 dresses for K. Some for play, some for church. I could practically get through winter with them.
And then yesterday another friend who came for lunch brought three HUGE tubs of play clothes in the exact right size. Even up to age 2 if I wanted. Onesies, outfits, dresses, leggings, sweaters, pants, on and on and on and on. I took a huge lot from the tubs and they are still full to be returned....
And would you guess what? They are mostly all Baby Gap and Children's place. (Just so soft and stretchy!) A bigger lot, (by far) all for free. Now, to me this says, God can do all things if you give him a chance and are obedient to what he says about money. He blessed me BIGGER than the ebay lot...He just put it together a different way. I love how He works!
Thanks to those who gave or lent me clothes and thanks be to God who can clothe the lilies of the field AND my darling Kate!
Monday, October 29, 2007
My favorite things...
A freshly diapered and jammied baby sleeping on my shoulder
smell of sausage cooking in the morning
kids singing as they work
a seven year old's laughter
a really good read
anticipation of a new baby
a happy husband
gleaning from scripture
growing in faith
LIFE!
smell of sausage cooking in the morning
kids singing as they work
a seven year old's laughter
a really good read
anticipation of a new baby
a happy husband
gleaning from scripture
growing in faith
LIFE!
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