Happy New Years to all and to all a good night

I'm sitting here in the midst of another beautiful moment. Jamie's reading books to Matthew, Mark is in Grandma's lap and they are looking at the balls and bells on the tree. Papa is watching football and I'm just enjoying the sounds of my children and being with family. We're with Jamie's family this time. What a wonderful holiday season we've had. This past two weeks we've spent a lot of time with a lot of family. It's been so nice. I need to update a bunch of pictures but right now I'm not at home, not on my computer. ... so I'll do that next week.

Last year I spent a long post reflecting on the past months of travel and events. I will tell you that I'll spare us all that month by month break downthis year. Let's see if I can do this in a shorter way... I was blessed last year on Dec 23rd with my second son, so I can tell you that the first several months of 2009 were HARD and LONG and sleep-deprived. But of course worth it all the same. In March I was able to surprise my best friend for her birthday, that was definately a highlight of the year. Another highlight for our family was in August spending a week in CO with our family, my parents, my sister and her boyfriend and his family. It was a very neat joint vacation. The end of the year has been my favorite so far. I've been surounded with family and yesterday my sister and her boyfriend got engaged. It's so exciting to see them start to plan their lives together for the long haul. They have some obstacles facing them to start off but I knwo that they can do it. I am so happy for them both! My sister has worked so hard and so long and she deserves to be loved and cherrished and I know that this man will do just that.

In addition to my reflections post last year... I mad ea big long todo about my goals for the year to come. I will not be doing that again this year. I can tell you some thoughts, but not specific goals. 1. Lose weight. Period. Last year I put a number on it and didn't make that number. Not bad, I'm not far from it, but still no dice. There were a lot of other weight related goals last year but they weren't reached, and this year I'm not interested in setting myself up for failure. I need to lose the rest of this weight. That's all there is to it.

2. I need to be more in the Word. Daily. No excuses. No but no if no after no whenever I can maybe put the baby... no... I need to be in the Word daily. I read what I wrote last year about me talking to my earthly husband and telling him that I love him daily, but neglecting my Heavenly Father and my Heavenly Husband. Why????!? Am I really too busy to love Jesus every day? To show Jesus my love by honoring Him and reading His word?? The answer better be no.

That's all.

Good night everyone. Merry New Year.

Perfection

As I looked around the living room this evening, I was touched... blessed. There was a moment when my heart just soared, I was on cloud nine. I was smiling ear to ear and it wasn't because of the beautiful music coming from the tv. It was because my family. Most everyone that I hold dear to my heart was in the same room, with the same purpose. My oldest son sat in his daddy's lap, my youngest in mine, a dog between us, my parents on the couch across from us, my sister in a big comfy chair, her boyfriend at her feet, another dog next to him, ....Christmas carols being sung by a choir... it was perfection. I felt my heart just beat faster thinking about it again. It was just beautiful. I watched my son watch my uncle's chorus sing these beautiful songs and my heart just was so happy. As they sang songs he is getting familiar with, it was just beautiful--- I wish I could come up with another word, but it was just simply beautiful to watch him know the songs that tell the story of Christ's birth. He knows that tomorrow is Jesus' birthday and we give gifts to celebrate that God gave us a gift. He gave us Jesus. There is nothing more touching than that child-like-faith.

For more information on the amazing choir we watched tonight, click here to learn about the Ambassadors of Harmony located out of St. Louis, MO. I love them. They are amazing.

My baby is one.

Happy Birthday Mark Edward!!!
It's hard to believe it's been a year already.
Look wear we came from in just a fast flying year.

We weren't sure we were going to all come home together for a moment of our hospital stay. I am so blessed. I am so grateful that God made you healthy and let you come home with us. It has been such a joy watching you grow from baby to a big boy.

Look at this big one-year old! Happy Birthday angel boy.

You started walking yesterday. Walked before your birthday. How about that?!

Snowman cake

The dreaming stages for Mark's birthday cake. Theme of party: snowman. Cake desires: A huge snowman cake! I really wanted to make a great cake for his party. I really wanted it to turn out...

And I was SO pleased with how it did! Isn't he cute?!

Mark of course got his own "smash-it" cake!

Not too sure at first, but eventually dove in...

And I do mean, dove in.

Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus

There is nothing sweeter than my 3 year old son singing words of Praise! This afternoon he was singing without prompting "Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus Oh I trust Him Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus" We listen to a CD with this song on it often in the car... here are all the words, in case you aren't familiar with it or if you'd just like to read the words again. Do you trust in Jesus? Can you sing to Him, "Jesus Jesus Precious Jesus, oh for Grace to trust you more!"? How God works in my son to tug at my heartstrings... I'm always amazed.

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Text: Louisa M. R. Stead, c. 1850-1917
Music: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921

1. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

2. O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!

(Refrain)

3. Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace.
(Refrain)

4. I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
and I know that thou art with me,
wilt be with me to the end.

(Refrain)

Nothing Compares

This weekend our church put on our annual Christmas Concert. This year we did a marvelous Travis Cottrell book, King of Glory King of Love. Go here to check out more of his website.

The point of this blog post though is to take just a moment and share with you something from my heart. I know there are those reading that I've never met. You don't know me from Adam... here's a window into my life. Click on this video and watch our Choir sing this song called Nothing Compares. I have a solo part way into the song. I'd love to share that with you. I'd love share with you this song.... there's a line that says "I could count all the ways that my heart has been blessed, but nothing compares, to this."

Do you have that joy? I do hope so. May God bless you.

Enjoy this song.

... and ignore the larger than life shepherd standing next to me. To my right on the stage was manger scene. hehe!

something special about a baby

There is just something special about a baby being born...

This week has been interesting for my family. Monday night I drove with Markie to KY to be with a friend of mine while she prepared to deliver a baby. There is something special about the arrival of a newborn...the long wait finally over... the baby that God gave a momma breathes his first breath outside the womb. It's truly amazing. There is no greater miracle than the gift of life. Psalms 139 says that the Lord knew us in our mothers' wombs. The Bible says that He knew us before we were formed. That He knows our names. He knows how many hairs are on our heads.... just amazing.

When you are abe to be a witness of life being born... it's so hard to imagine that God could give up His only son for you and me. but He did. amazing isn't it?? I love counting down the days to Jesus' birth so we can celebrate THAT miracle!

Thanksgiving recap

I know I'd already started a "Christmas" type post but I just got all my pictures edited from Thanksgiving. We drove ten hours to STL, paused for about 3-4 hours and then kept driving another 4 hours to KC. We spent Thanskgiving day with my best friend and her family. Then drove back to STL in the evening to spend the rest of the weekend with my family. I think we had a great visit with both families. Thanksgiving day was wonderful. And then our Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday was also wonderful. I was able to reconnect with long lost family members that we hadn't seen in years. It was really a great day. All aside from GA Tech losing. :( Boo. Oh well, maybe next year!

"well, hi!"

So sorry it's been so long since I last wrote... Almost two weeks... The holidays are BUSY aren't they? Things start taking on their own routines and schedules and priorities. I will be glad for January just to be back in a normal routine again. This month of December we have 4 parties, 3 concerts, 2 additional church days, a blood drive, a preschool program, professional pictures, and a partridge in a pear tree!!! It seems like it just doesn't stop. My baby will be one in just 20 more days. It is hard to believe. I'm looking at all these "have tos" on my calendar and wonder how much are REALLY "have tos"? How many things could we bag if we needed to? At what point is your family more important than all the "things you have to do"? Are you making your family important at this time of year? It's easy to get caught up in all the running around...

If you're reading this... post a comment for me on what's a tradition that is just focused on family. What's something you do as a family or with your family/for your family that doesn't include running a shuttle from point A to point Q? I'll be curious to see what traditions are out there!

Point of Grace Concert!

My favorite band on the planet is Point of Grace! And last night, Jamie took me to my first ever POG concert! Seriously such an amazing night~ Mark Shultz was also there, and his half of the concert was more like praise and worship. It was their last night on the road together after three months... Very very cool. A-maze-ing! SO cool. Did I mention how cool it was?!?! Look at how close we were!!!!

Train up a child in the way he should go....

Okay, So I'm sorry but, no wait, I'm not sorry! BUT, for now, I'm just going to copy and paste another Proverbs 31 ministry devotional for you to read. If you haven't yet done so, GO TO THEIR WEBSITE and sign up for these.

This morning, I got to see my oldest preform in his first ever SCHOOL PROGRAM!!! I loved it. Loved it. Even in the last song when he RAN to the teacher, telling her she was singing the song wrong. Yup. Great. I have that kid... And then I came home, and read this...

I Don't Want to Raise Successful Children

19 Nov 2009

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

I don't want to raise successful children. That's a shocking thing to read, and a shocking thing for a mother to type. So, let me clarify.

I used to define success according to my child's report card. Good grades and academic achievement would surely equal a good child with great potential in this world. But then several of my children wound up being average students with average grades. Though we carted them off to tutors and spent many a late night at the kitchen table helping them, they remained average. And I remained concerned and frustrated.

One report card day I found myself facedown in the fibers of my carpet crying and wonderi ng, "Where have I gone wrong as a mom?"

I dug into Scriptures. I begged God for wisdom and discernment. I prayed for God's perspective with each of my kids. Finally, one day it dawned on me - what if I simply chose to embrace the natural bent of each of my kids as God's way to protect them and keep them on the path toward His best plans for their lives?

What if my A student needs academic success to prepare her for God's plans while my average to below-average student needs to be steered away from a more academic future? What if my sports star kid needs that athletic excellence for his future assignments by God, but my benchwarmer kid is being protected from getting off course by her lack in this area?

And that's when it finally dawned on me. My job isn't to push success for my kids. My job as a parent is to recognize the unique way God created each child and point them to Jesus at every turn along their journey toward adulthood. Yes, I wan t my kids to learn and thrive and grow up educated, but it's not a flaw in me or them if they don't have straight A report cards and trophy cases full of sports medals.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (NIV).

I am challenged to ponder these words, "… in the way he should go." Are we training our kids that the "way he should go" is to chase worldly achievement or to chase God? Whatever they learn to chase as a child, they will chase as adults. Therefore, we must be challenged to honestly assess the way we are pointing them to go.

My daughter, Hope, is one of my average students. She has also warmed many a bench in the sports she's tried, and can always be found hiding on the back row of the stage during school concerts. Using the world's benchmarks for achievement, Hope wouldn't be seen as a child positioned for success. But God…

This past January, my 15 year old Hope, shocked me when she announced she wanted to go to Ethiopia with some missionary friends of ours and live in the remote African bush for the summer. Yes, she may not have trophies and straight A report cards but she does have a heart of gold. And because she's not entrenched in sports and academic pursuits that could have created obligations for her summer, she was free to go to Africa. Free to chase God in a really big way.

One of the first e-mails she sent me from Ethiopia read, "Mom, I've fallen in love with the AIDS orphanage children. They rushed at me when I held my arms out and I tried with all my might to hold all 30 of them at once. I love it here."

Now, don't get me wrong. I do expect Hope to return to her studies this fall, give 100% effort, and finish her high school career having done her very best. She will most likely then go to college. But she probably won't be delivering the valedictorian address or wearing the honors cords and medals. She'll be the on e with a vision of a dying AIDS orphan pressing against her heart ready to chase God's plans to the ends of the earth.

So back to my original statement, I don't want to raise successful children. It's true, I don't. Though Hope's sister coming behind her is an A student and can always be found on the front row of school performances - we don't chase after success for her either. I trust God that she needs those things in her life for the plans He's unfolding in her life. We train with that bent in mind. But, we don't chase it. Just like Hope, we point her in the direction of God at every turn and pray like crazy.

I stand by what I said and I'll say it again, I don't want to raise successful children. Because--- raising God-honoring adults who will set the world on fire for Christ is just so much more rewarding.

Dear Lord, being a mom is a really tough job. Please help me, teach me and show me how to define success for my kids. In J esus' Name, Amen.

drop everything?

Are you a "drop everything and run" type of person?

I've recently (and by recently I mean like last week) been reading a daily devotional that my BFF, Nic, encouraged me to sign up for... Surprisngly, I'll admit, I was a little groaning when I read the email she sent. 'Good for her' I thought (and she knows this) but I don't want to. I told her I didn't want another "something" coming every single day. Oy. I already delete about 4 - 10 emails each day without reading them from this book store or this website or that survey or oror... I didn't want another email coming day in and day out. however, I couldn't actually close the tab I'd opened. I felt guilty saying no to having God's WORD come to my in box. If I wanted to delete the other stuff, I still could. But was I really saying that I had not enough time to sit down and read ONE email I knew would be chalked full of stories and scripture?? Harmph. I still didn't want to, but dragging my feet, I decided to sign up. What could it hurt right? ...

That was Wed last week.

Thursday, this was the devotional:


"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)


I wonder if the greatest witnessing tool available to us Christians is often pushed aside because of our busyness.

The other day I was focused on all the items on my seemingly never ending to do list. As I was sitting at a stoplight a friend called me and started lamenting that her son had forgotten his lunch and his belt required by the school's uniform policy. She was stressed and trying to get in touch with her husband who'd just dropped her son off at school. She was at home with a new baby feeling groggy from a sleepless night and overwhelmed by her situation.

Her son could probably get his friends to share their lunches with him. But, the belt would be a problem. The school would call her when they noticed the missing belt and require her to bring one. She lives over 20 minutes from the school.

As I sat at the stoplight listening to my friend, I looked to the store off to my right. That store has belts. That store has lunch food. I was faced with a decision. Could I help? Well, I could but my schedule would have to be rearranged a bit. Would I help? My friend wasn't asking but in that moment I knew it would be a tremendous blessing for her.

This day I wouldn't let my busyness take precedence over the blessing of divine interruptions and opportunities to love. So, I helped.

I don't know this for sure but I suspect my friend had been asking Jesus to please help her. It's hard being up half the night with a sleepless baby. It's hard to find a new normal when life gets a little off kilter by changes in the family dynamic. It's hard when you need help but feel like everyone is so busy you hate to bother them.

Now, I'll admit, I'm a task-oriented person so it doesn't come naturally for me to look for ways to be interrupted in the midst of my busyness. But sitting at that stoplight, I realized the power of pausing. Pausing just long enough for Jesus to tap on the edge of my heart and say, "Could you? Would you? Do this as if it's the most important part of your day and not an unwelcome interruption."

The Bible teaches one of the most important precepts is love. When we love others we are living the message of Jesus. And listen to what Psalm 19:8 says, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."

Oh how many times have I missed the joy of pausing to live and love and light the world for Jesus?

Dear Lord, help me to pause today and remember my great witnessing tool is to simply be available to love others. Show me where I can love. Make me courageous enough to step aside my carefully planned to do list and look for ways to be an answer to the prayers someone has prayed today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Good huh? Really something to think about... can I allow myself to be interrupted when the time comes, if there is need? "Sure" I thought to myself. And went about my day, not giving it a second thought...

Even when the need arose, I didn't think ... I just acted... and man, did the need arise.

Thursday afternoon at 4pm, a dear friend of mine who'd recently moved... called and tried to talk to me. She wasn't making any sense and she was having trouble speaking, slurring her words together. This would be bad enough on it's own but she was on day 5, 6, 7? of major pounding migraines that wouldn't stop... All I could think about was getting to her. To make this long story very short... I got off the phone with her, made arrangements with my husband, for my children, found someone to ride with me and hit the road, driving 7 hours to be at her side with out a moment's hesitation. Nic asked me that night as I was driving, if I'd read the devotional... I paused while we talked and thought back to it. Yes, I had read it. I hadn't thought about it much ... but... it was like it was written to prepare me for the weekend to come. ... and I wasn't sure on Monday if I'd really needed a devotional to come every day to my inbox. HA! HOW RUDE OF ME!!!! to think I didn't need God's Word on a daily basis intermixed with all that junk mail....

After we arrived to friend's side ... and again super long story short, got her to the doctor, back home, to the hospital, picked up her mom from the airport the next day, worked with the doctors who worked with red cross who worked with the ARMY to get her husband back to her (as he was on base elsewhere)... we came back home to our families, 3 days later.

Whether you are willing to be interrupted for a morning, for a belt...
or for a weekend for an ill friend...
the question is ARE YOU WILLING?

If you had to, if you were asked to, if you were feeling a pull in your heart, to drop everything and run..... for a moment? for a morning? for a day? for a weekend? a month? a year? ...

Could you? Would you?

Shouldn't we?!

Please know that I'm NOT saying any of this to toot my own horn or anything of the like... I'm simply just a vessle that God was able to use this weekend when no one else could come... I'm honored to have a husband who understands me and allows me to drop everything when I'm called upon. I'm blessed to have my family as a close knit unit. ... And above all, I'm blessed to have a God who's already gone before me and is preparing me a place.... GOD IS SO AMAZING. He was willing to drop EVERYTHING for us... we should be willing to drop everything when we're called upon.

I'd also like to recommend the Proverbs 31 ministries daily devotional. Today's was also good... don't delay, sign up for the devotionals, get God's word coming to your inbox daily instead of the jokes or forwards, take the time to read this email every day. Who knows, in the devotional, He may be equipping YOU to drop everything...

Mike's Wedding Weekend

This past Thursday, Mom and Kris flew to town. Kris stayed the night and then traveled on south to share in the pre-wedding celebrations for Mike's wedding. (in case you don't know, Mike is Brian, her boyfriend's brother). Mom stayed the weekend and was our sitter so that Jamie and I could go to the wedding hands free. It gave her a great opportunity to have some quality time with her boys. Here is just a few from this weekend's fun.

Spaghetti

Mark is, apparently, a fan of this meal.

Scrapbooking gals

A friend from church posted about this.... thought I'd join in! Would you like a FREE weekend away!?!??! Go enter and see if you win! I sure did! I'd love a weekend away to update my scrapbook FOR FREE?!!?

http://twelvefridaysweekend.blogspot.com/2009/11/one-more-giveaway-for-event.html

Cake Balls 2009

OH YES! I'm starting early this year. Yes. I know it's not yet halloween... And I really don't care about it. I just finished all 8 steps of last year's cake balls phenomenon for the first time this year. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you haven't been reading since last December... go here to see the post where I break down step by step instructions for the cake balls. If you've never heard of cake balls before, you also should go here to bakerella's site. She is amazing and where I first learned of them...

Oh my, they are so good. I might have had two in the process of making the first batch. Two isn't a bad number though. I made 48. So there still are 46 to share... And... being the first batch, I couldn't decide. So half are white dipped with reg choc drizzled, and the other half is reg chocolate dipped and white choc drizzled. mmmm.....





oh and if I have any faithful followers of my weight blog wondering about these cake balls, they are 2 points without the chocolate coating, 3 points with. Thank you very much, I put the reciepe in the builder last night before eating any!

Matthew 5:25-34

Today's focus verse...

Matthew 5: 25-34
²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Seeing

This was sent to me in an email this morning....



Who Will See God?

Today (10/26/09) at 9:29am

Today’s Verse: “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” (Psalm 24:3-4, NKJV).

Today’s Word:

Do you want to see more of God in your life? As believers in Jesus, the Bible says that He makes His home in us, but we have to do our part to develop our relationship with Him. We have to choose to submit our hearts to Him and allow Him to purify us on the inside. We have to constantly guard ourselves and not allow things to come in and contaminate us.

How do you guard your heart? By being selective about what you see and watch on TV. If you don’t want to become like the people you see on TV, don’t watch them! If you don’t want to end up like the people singing those songs on the radio, you shouldn’t listen to them. If you don’t want to end up like the people in the magazines, you shouldn’t read them. What you give your attention to will shape your heart and character. Give your attention to the Word of God. Give your attention to worship. Open your heart to the Father and ask Him to purify you by His Holy Spirit. As you do, you will rise higher and higher into the abundant life He has for you!

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, I want to see You. Open the eyes of my heart. Purify me and cleanse my heart. Help me make the right choices so that I can honor You today and always. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Good bye Moses Sampson..

In early December of 2004, a co-worker of mine at the time said that his cat was going to have babies... and boy did I want one. I asked Jamie what he thought about us getting a cat, then waited with expectations until the litter was born. ... When my co-worker was telling me about the babies he mentioned one with all four white paws. I knew that was the one I'd want. I'd always wanted a gray cat with white paws. I already even knew what his name would be, assuming it was a him, I'd name him Moses. Don't know why, just knew that's what that would be. Well December 28, Moses was born... and Feb 10th he came to live with Jamie and me! I loved that cat so much. In our earlier marriage life, Jamie traveled a lot. Moses was my companion at home. He was my love, my friend, my life line... The first picture up there is the day I got Moses. He was so tiny. He followed me around like a shadow... One day I was shouting at him to get down or off something and after I yelled his name, Moses, out came another name, Sampson. Thus birthed his middle name. Moses Sampson it was. I rarely used it unless I was angry or being silly with him. ...Today we needed to say good bye to Moses... and already it's so quiet. The boys are in bed, Jamie and his brother have been talking, I'm sitting here just listening to the lack of cat in my house. He should be bumping my leg or purring in my lap right now, but he's not. It's been a long time coming, but we've finally found him a new home. Today I drove all three boys (Matthew, Mark and Moses) to Jamie's work place to pass Moses to a co-worker of his who's going to give him a new home. This is what I posted to my facebook page, rather than rehashing I'll just copy and paste it here...

Today was hard. I'm glad it's over. I wasn't expecting Matthew to actually cry but he did. He said he didn't want X to take his Mo-Mo. We were in the car and he said he wanted X to give us our Mo-Mo back. Yah... a momma can only take so much. We were both crying. It was hard. But I know that's what's best for Moses...for those who've been asking, it just hasn't been fair to Moses since Mark was born. He hides the whole day in the closet.he boys screaming and crying has really effected his stress levels; he was puking a lot due to the screaming, chasing, squealing... it just hasn't been fair for Mose. He's a good cat, a lap love in the evenings but he spent the days hiding in fear. It's very bitter sweet. I know it will do better for him to have a home that doesn't have little people chasing him in it. We've probably kept him in terror about 6 months too long.... :( Even still, I will miss my first baby. (My first "M", haha). How do you explain to a 3 year old that their pet is now gone for good?

The bottom picture Jamie took last night. I took a couple more of just Mose this morning. I really do feel like something's missing. Hopefully it doesn't last too long. I don't like this feeling. I wonder how many questions I'm going to have to answer from Matthew.... if you're reading this, just please send me some good thoughts while we enter into this new season. Thank you.

Not knowing who reads this now... X, if you're reading, I hope Moses makes you happy. He was a great friend to me.

Markie

Just a quick post of Markie... This is from a cousin's wedding a couple weekends ago. Isn't he super cute?? I know I need to upload one of Matthew too. *wink*

'Harvest time' recipes

Here are some points friendly recipes that were emailed to me today, thought I'd share them. A couple are crockpot ones which make me really happy! Enjoy!

Crockpot Apple Pie (4 Points)

8 apples -- tart, peeled and sliced
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons Brummel and Brown Spread - softened
3/4 cup Splenda
1/2 cup Egg Beaters® 99% egg substitute
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Reduced Fat Bisquick®
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons cold butter

Toss apples in large bowl with cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Place in lightly greased crockpot. Combine milk, softened butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and the 1/2 c Bisquick. Spoon over apples. Combine the 1 cup
Bisquick and brown sugar. Cut the cold butter into mixture until crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture over top of apple mixture. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or until apples are soft.

Points: 4

Pumpkin Pie Wontons

1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
2 Tablespoon Sugar Free Maple Syrup
3 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
26 Packaged Wonton Wrappers
Cinnamon mixed with Splenda Granular, for dusting

Preheat oven to 400F.
Mix pumpkin, maple syrup, brown sugar and pumpkin pie space in medium bowl.
Place a wonton wrapper on flat surface. Spoon 2 teaspoons of filling into center. Moisten edges of wonton with water & fold in half to form a triangle. Press edges to seal. Repeat with remaining wontons. Arrange prepared wontons on an ungreased baking sheet. Lightly coat wontons w/ non stick cooking spray & sprinkle them with Splenda & cinnamon mixture. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Turn over and bake another 2 minutes.

Serves: 13 (2 Each) - 1 POINT

Pumpkin Cobbler
1 (15 oz.) Can Solid Pumpkin
1/2 Cup Egg Substitute
1 (12 oz.) Can Fat Free Evaporated Milk
3/4 Cup Splenda Granular
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
1 (9 oz.) Package Jiffy Yellow Cake Mix
4 ounces Diet 7UP or Sprite
1/2 Ounce Chopped Pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl combine the Pumpkin, egg substitute, evaporated milk, Splenda, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves. Spray a 9X13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the pan. Sprinkle the cake mix evenly on top. Next pour the diet 7UP over the dry cake mix. Top with chopped pecans. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool. When ready to serve, top each piece with fat free cool whip (optional).

Serves: 12 - 3 POINTS

Apple Muffins (No Fat)
(2 servings)

1/2 c Applesauce
1/2 c Apples; diced
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Cloves
2 Eggs
6 tb Flour
1 tsp Baking powder
2/3 c Powdered milk
10 pk Sweet and Low
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 c Carrots; grated

Mix all ingredients. Spray muffin tin with Pam. Divide equally. Bake at 350 F. for 25 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins which is TWO SERVINGS of SIX (yes 6) MUFFINS EACH.

1 Protein and 1/4 Vegetable. This recipe is no fat. You may substitute Egg Beaters for the eggs and Equal for the Sweet and Low. Freeze well.

Veggie Pot Pie w/Jack-O-Lantern Crust
Serves 8 - 3 POINTS

2 (17-oz.) cans mixed vegetables, drained
1 can cream of mushroom or celery soup
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon dried celery flakes
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 ready-made refrigerated pie crust

In bowl, mix all but crust. Spoon vegetable mixture into greased 10-in. round baking dish.

For jack-o-lantern "face," in the pie crust dough, cut out 3 triangles - 2 for eyes and 1 for nose. Cut out mouth. Place crust over vegetables. (You may discard cuttings or bake on a separate sheet.)

Bake at 375ºF. about 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and crust is browned. Serve warm.

Creamy Ranch Potatoes and Chicken

20 oz. Potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 of a 1 oz. Package of Dry Ranch Mix
1 Pound Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts, cubed
1 (10 oz.) Can 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
1/4 Cup Fat Free Sour Cream
1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Onion
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Spray crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.
Mix all ingredients together and place into crockpot.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.

Serves: 5 (1 Cup Each) - 5 POINTS


Creamy Chipotle Dip
In a small bowl, mix and mash 1 teaspoon of canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with 2 tablespoons of reduced-fat sour cream. Cut a small green pepper into strips; sprinkle to taste with salt and lime juice. (If dip is too spicy, cool it down with lime juice.)


Easy Corn Soup
Place 1/2 cup of frozen, thawed corn niblets in a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup of fat-free chicken broth, 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon of cumin; bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Puree in a blender and then top with chopped jalapeno, if desired.

WW Corn Muffins

1 can cream corn
2 egg whites
1 cup self rising cornmeal
Pinch of salt
Beat egg whites until they are medium peaks – fold the rest of your ingredients.
Spray your muffin tin with PAM – Bake 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

12 Muffins = 1 Point Each

Happiness

For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness. ~Author Unknown

Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response. ~Mildred Barthel

Most people would rather be certain they're miserable, than risk being happy. ~Robert Anthony

What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner. ~Colette

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~Abraham Lincoln

Happiness is a form of courage. ~Holbrook Jackson

This is my "depressed stance." When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this. ~Charlie Brown


Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect, it just means you've decided to see past the imperfections.-- Unknown


I can choose to be happy. -- Loo

John did it.

I don't know how... but it's been revealed to me that John got the single pink rose to the front of that chapel...

(if you have no clue what I'm talking about, you didn't read all my memories in the previous post, did you?) (haha)

Five years...

I can close my eyes and see moments of my wedding day flash before me. It is hard to believe that it's been 5 years tomorrow. If you care to read about them... I'm going to share some of my wedding memories...

~I remember so many moments of heroism from my best friend, Nic, as she tried to make the day without a glitch for me. She was my secretary, my chauffeur, my companion, my dress carrier, my veil straightener, my "wing man", if you will. She was everything I needed that day from a person who gave of herself completely for me.
~I can see a circle of men standing around Jamie when I got to the church, shielding him from seeing me.
~I can see my best friend's husband standing guard the front stairs to make sure no one interrupted the wedding before ours (oh yes).
~I can remember someone's voice, I can't rememebr who... wait, Loretta? Maybe maybe Loretta saying to my mom "Austin's here" and my eyes wide trying to wrap my brain around what that meant, and the tears that came after that when I was told that yes, my great grandpa had been brought to my wedding day, even though I'd been told that he wasn't going to make it, I was beyond emotional about it.
~I can remember seeing Jamie's face as he watched me walk down the aisle. One thing I've never asked him about-- was I wonder what he must have thought or felt, when I stopped, mid aisle. ... seriously, I didn't make it all the way down the aisle... I could not pass my great-grandpa. I'm sure it isn't "done" but I could not pass him. I stopped, lifted my veil and kissed his cheek. He told me to be a good little girl (as he'd always done my whole life) and patted my hand, sending me on my way down the aisle, at my daddy's arm, to meet my future husband.
~I remember the floral shop messed up and didn't have a pink single rose in their order for my great-grandma yet some how when I got to the end of the aisle, there was one right beside the communion plates in her honor. I still don't know how it got there....
~I remember my sister couldn't make it through Candyss' song. I remember her small sniffles get louder as the song went on during our unity candle ordeal. I remember frozen in fear, as I watched the eyes of each groomsmen get wider and wider as Kris could. not. pull it together standing just behind me, holding my flowers as I held Jamie's hands. I didn't know what to do, I knew I didn't want to interrupt the song, but as soon as it was over, I turned and handed her my handkerchief so she could wipe her eyes. For whatever reason, this made the whole place erupt into laughter and we were able to carry on. It's one of my favorite memories actually. I love you Kris. I know I'll be a blubbering idiot at your wedding some day, and I bet I'm way worse than you were at mine. (like that would surprise anyone)
~I remember Peter saying "I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride." and the first chords of our song started playing...

I'm so thankful for that day. As crazy and stressful as it was, as uptight and anxious as I was, I wouldn't trade my wedding day for anything. It was the day that I became part of Mr and Mrs Jamie Hobbs. I'm so blessed. I can not believe it's been five years. Five years seems like a long time. Man, in five years of marriage we've moved twice. Jamie's changed jobs twice. We have two beautiful boys. ... hmmm, there is a theme, in five years, apparently things happen in twos. haha

Thank you Jamie. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me... Thank you for allowing me to be your wife. And thank you for the punch at the reception. (wink)



.... if you'd like more mushy-ness, you should read Four Years, written last year about this time. Not nearly as lengthy, and not about the wedding day itself either. Just a short poem for Jamie.

Spot on.

A friend sent me this email... knowing I'm dealing with some battles.... and folks, it is spot on. Thank you friend.


~~~

September 23, 2009
The Contact Lens and the Ant
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."

Friend To Friend
Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the enormous granite cliff when she stopped for a well-deserved breather. Standing on a narrow ledge, she measured how far she had come and reveled in the excitement of her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope suddenly snapped against her eye, knocking out her contact lens. "Great!" she thought. "Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow the contact lens had landed on the ledge, but it simply was not there. As panic began to set in, Brenda immediately prayed for peace and help in finding her contact lens. Taking a deep breath, she resumed her climb.

When she got to the top, a friend closely examined Brenda's eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Brenda was now calm because she had reached the top, but was also sad because she could not clearly see the beauty of the mountain range around her. A bible verse suddenly popped into her mind, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." Brenda smiled as she thought, "Lord, You can see all of these mountains. You know every stone and leaf and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me find it."

Later, when Brenda and her group of friends had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff, they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?" Well, that would be startling enough, but do you know why the climber happened to see the lens? He had noticed an ant that was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying the contact lens.

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, "Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy, but if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

Just this week, I have repeatedly asked God why I have to carry one of the current burdens in my life. As far as I can tell, there is absolutely nothing good in it and the weight of that burden seems to get heavier with each passing day. Then yesterday, I received an email from a friend who thought I might need to hear this story of the ant and the contact lens. God has such a great sense of humor, doesn't He? I got the message and am now praying, "Lord, if you want me to carry this load, I will."

I may never understand the purpose of this particular burden but remember ... human understanding is not necessary for spiritual obedience. That's where faith comes in.

Are you carrying a burden that seems to grow heavier with each step you take? Does the load you carry seem pointless and hard to understand? Trust God. He will supply all the strength and power you need for every burden that comes your way.

Let's Pray
Father, please forgive me when I complain about the burdens and problems that come my way. I want to face each one with joy and peace. Give me the faith to trust You and to daily surrender to Your plan - even when I don't understand it. Help me to stand firm when I want to give up and remind me that You are working all things together in my life for my good and Your glory. Today, I choose faith over fear. I choose Jesus.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

• Grab your bible, a piece of paper, a pen or pencil and find a quiet place to get alone with God.
• Make a list of the burdens you are carrying today. Be specific.
• Read the verses listed below and commit them to memory. Pray them and claim them for each burden in your life.
• Beside each burden you listed, write one of the following verses. Surrender that burden to Him and leave it at His feet.

Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."

Galatians 5:1"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

More From The Girlfriends
It seems like everywhere I turn, I find people who are burdened, facing each day with a sense of hopelessness. God does not want us to be victims of the burdens in our life. He came so we could live in freedom, relying totally on Him for strength and power to live each day. If you are like me, it is easy to get caught up in the trap of trying to "fix" our problems or eliminate our burdens instead of appropriating God's power and promises to sustain us. Pride keeps me from admitting my helplessness and arrogance convinces me that I can handle it on my own. Wrong! I encourage you to celebrate your weaknesses, knowing God delights in transforming each weakness into a vessel through which His power and glory can shine!

More thoughts

Yes... yes I'm still awake. I can't go to bed....

I spent over an hour on the phone with my best friend... wait... was it two hours??? Wow. Anyhow, I did some tidy house work while I was on the phone with her: Started some laundry, swept the kitchen and living room, emptied and reloaded the dishwasher... while we discussed my struggles. Cuz that's what you do after you post a giant message about your heart being heavy--- your best friend tells you in an email that you'd better call her.

We talked about some of the nothings and then some of the bigger ones, and then more than that we talked about the Spiritual. We talked about how if I was focusing on all these negatives then I was letting Satan think he's winning. And we know how the story ends, we know that he is not vicotirous. I will not let Satan reign in my life.

Here's words from her email to me... I thought maybe... someone else might be needing to know these words for themselves....

Are you perfect? No. You know why? You aren't Jesus and that title is His alone for those of us on this side of glory. But, are you precious to Him? Are you striving, every day, to do better in any area you can? Yes. I know you are. I know that your heart yearns to be better, for Him. And you ARE succeeding. Miring yourself in thoughts of "I'm not good enough" and "I can't fix that" and "I can't do this" -- that is from the devil. Pastor said today, and I wrote it down: "The devil is a defeated foe and HE KNOWS IT. He can not take up a weapon against you and succeed. BUT --- what he can do, and does daily, is get in your head and make you THINK he's winning." But you know what? I've read the end of the book, HE IS NOT WINNING. Your life is still yours, and GOD is winning. He wants you to trust in HIM and His ability to keep your family safe. To preserve your friendships and help them flourish in His hand. To see what goes on in your church and know that through you, He can bring about whatever needs to be brought about.

You are His vessel. You are precious, you are capable and you are exactly what He wants. But if you are allowing yourself to get distracted from that, then your faith is weakened. And the Bible says the only thing... THE ONLY THING... that is impossible, is for God to work where there is no faith. Faith is how He gets things done. So renew your focus on HIM. Get back in the bible. Talk to Him, every day. Rebuke the devil when he's in your head, filling you with fears and telling you that you aren't good enough. Talk to him, tell him he's not winning and you aren't buying his line of bull anymore. Get your faith strengthened again and then just let God handle it. Whatever "it" is. Because He will.

~~

And so, sitting here with her on my phone telling me these truths, with her words on the screen repeating these truths, I found myself thinking of my own entry just this past week. I said this:
I can say that I'm so moved lately. I know God is working. I know HE is alive and HE is powerful.

What happened in the time I posted those words and in the next days to follow that made me start doubting that? Why is it when you start to feel in control that you're going the right direction, you get all turned around? What is it that made me feel insecure about what grounds me? What is it that made me start doubting...and start accepting the doubts as truth?...... SATAN. AND. HE. WONT. HAVE. ME.

I need to put my FAITH back on my SAVIOUR and let the devil take the back seat!

and with that. I'll be off to bed.

two happy things

On a more positive side of things, I should have mentioned in the rant prior... two things:

1. Jamie and I took our annual get-a-way this weekend and we had a blast. Lazy river, swimming pool, beach time, just being with one another, watching movies late at night, sleeping the whole night away, staying in bed with no kids to tend to, calling maintenance this morning because we thought a rat was in our closet--- very happy it was only a squirrel in the ceiling vent...

2. I should have posted this last week and didn't... A good (new) friend of mine, we'll call A does NOT have to have surgery as was expected and even scheduled on her ankle. She was scheduled to be laid up for 6 weeks with three small kiddos underfoot. I'm praising GOD that her MRI stumped the doctors. She's been given a new brace and a check back follow up date instead of the previously scheduled surgery date! God is so good. I pray that He'll continue to heal her further and stump the doctors more!

Struggling...

ugh...

I dont' know where my thoughts are going to go here so bare with me. ... I've been struggling lately. I can't seem to do anything right lately, and there are a few things that have been effecting me all over. I seem to be having conflicts that I can't resolve. Instaed of finding my feet and getting out of the storm, I'm just sinking deeper into more and more and more... I'm struggling with some very private and personal things, and for the first time I am not sure where to go. A year ago, I would have just posted them on here not caring who read them, now though... I don't know. I feel like a failure in so many places... friendships, weigh loss efforts, parenting... I just feel like I'm struggling. I don't know what I want from this post... please dont' flood me with "oh, what's wrong" comment after comment. I don't know. I just feel, well like I'm struggling. I feel like I'm flailing my arms, screaming for help and no one is listening.
A friend lost a baby recently and I've been shaken by that, for my own personal obvious reasons ...
I can't seem to get back on track with my weight loss efforts, I had a great streak of being on plan going and I've squashed it, now starting a new streak of days off plan. Ugh. To that end, I have not been updating my weight loss blog. :(
I feel like I'm drifitng from one of my best friends,and that scares me to no end.
A book I was reading and enjoying, about 300 pages into it, the main character finds out she has ovarian cancer. So... needless to say I put that book down and can't pick it up. I don't want her to die, I don't want her daughter to be left alone, I don't want to visualize things that could be happening in my mom's future. I hate cancer. I will say it again... I HATE CANCER.
My dad told me yesterday that on fox news there is aa family who have been separated from their kids for a month because the walmart idiot develpoping their family pictures called the police he suspected foul play and child abuse when he saw the children naked in the tub. I'm so sorry but who DOESN'T have nakey pictures of their kids in tub? Shoot, I have my friends' kids' nakey tub pictures! come on. Dad made me promise I wouldn't take our pictures to walmart to develop if we have nakey pics on them of the boys, but my God, even doing them online with kodak gallery or shutterfly, wouldn't stop someone for calling the cops on you. I feel so defeated in that area. I have had several dreams in a row that someone either steals or kills my boys and I do nothing to stop it. I don't want to sleep because my dreams are haunting me.
The girl, Abby, on The Biggest Loser show has been on my mind all week... I seriously think someone would have to commit me to a mental hospital if something happened to my boys and Jamie in one swoop... I'd lose my mind. I don't know if I could get out of bed in the morning. I don't know how she has the strength to continue living. I am amazed by God's greatness to give her that strength. I'm amazed by God's love for her that He obviously has plans for her. Jer 29:11 keeps popping into mind. His plans are not to harm her, he has a future for her... and a hope... .... and that's another thing...
I haven't been in the Word since mid week, and I KNOW I need to open my Bible and get back in it. Why is it we can do so well and then we stop?

.... Sorry to continue rambling but since that's all I am doing, I'll just stop...

John 8:31-36

My best friend Nic has been sharing her thoughts in "blog world" with her scripture learning, studying... I use my blog to update on most every level of my life, except this often is the part I keep to myself. Well after sharing last week's women's devotional, I thought I will probably use this more and more to share the things in the WORD that God is speaking to about me...

So, our new pastor has started preaching two separate messages on Sunday mornings. A "series" in the second service. But the first service seems to be just whatever God has laid on his heart...

I can say that I'm so moved lately. I know God is working. I know HE is alive and HE is powerful. Here is just a recap from Sunday, I took a full page of notes at each service. Here are the notes from the first service, about being Free.

John 8:31-36 (New King James Version)

The Truth Shall Make You Free

³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.


*most of this is paraphrased or direct quote from Pastor Joe Davis*
click here to go to our church website to learn more about Summit and Pastor Joe's messages

"Authentic Freedom"
Freedom is a great Christian word.
1. What are we free from? ... because Christ CAN liberate us, from the forces that enslave us.
-- From Guilt. . Ps 130 There is forgiveness with God
--Freedom from yourself, from sin. -- Sin is really, at it's root, at it's essence is just self-centeredness. think about the words that start with S E L F - .... over 50! Self-image, self-worth, self-help, self-esteem, self-, self-, self-, self... We are so obsessed with ourselves!
--Freedom from Fears-- fear is like a like a fungus, it grows in the dark. So by all means, why don't we drag it all out into the LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST! Let Him deal with it!

~We are free from Guilt, as Guilt is taken away by the DEATH of Christ.
~We are free from sin, as Sin is take care of by His SALVATION
~We are free from fear, as Fear is taken care of by his EXHORTATION

2. What are we free for?
True, authentic freedom is simply to be what God created us to be-- ourselves. God created us in His image. He wants us to be like Him. 1st John 4:8 says 'God is love'. Therefore, we are not ourseves if we are not love... loving, giving, dying to our self to start living in Christ's love. Jesus says to come and be free in Him, "For if the Son has set you free, then you are free indeed"

pictures from summer vacation

long time coming, but here you go...