and so it begins...

 


The hard part of moving obviously are the goodbyes.  I am emotional to a fault.  Let's just say I live and love very deeply.  Goodbyes about do me in.  It's the part from the beginning of this process that made me not want to move forward. 

Today I had to say goodbye to these sweet women.  Women for the most part that I haven't known for very long.  I kind of shimmied my way into their neighborhood bible study, and they of course welcomed me with open arms.  It's been such a blessing to study the word with them.  There is a richness that comes from friendships when the Lord is the common thread.


I'm praying so hard that the Lord leads me to another bible study with women I can connect with.  It's like air to me.  I need it so desperately.  One because I'm lazy when it comes to studying the word on my own, and two because friends are vital to my well being.  I know He knows this.  I'm sure He's got it covered, but if you could pray that specifically for me I'd so appreciate it!

I'm feeling kinda down on my physical self lately. I've gained 10 pounds since last year. 10 POUNDS!! And I can tell.  My clothes are a little snug. My face and arms look pudgy.  I'm a stress eater, and there's been just a little bit of stress going on lately. Funny thing is my honey is losing weight. Well actually it's not funny it's annoying the he$@ out of me. He's looking lean and fit and I'm going all soft.  I know I shouldn't wait for another day to start cleaning it up, but I feel like I can't properly focus on myself when everything is in complete chaos around me. Hopefully once we get moved in and settled I can put it in high gear. Anyone with me??




This picture completely cracks me up.  Let's just say I don't do candid well.  I look like I'm saying DUH or DER!  That face is in reaction to the gift my bible study girls got me.  It was the sweetest necklace.  It's a glassed in mustard seed with the scripture Matthew 17:20 engraved on the back.  It says: If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed ...nothing shall be impossible unto you.  They also prayed over our family and the move.  Goodness I was snotty mess when that prayer was over.   So grateful for them and that new reminder that I'm wearing around my neck.  It only takes a tiny of speck of faith to believe that great things will happen.  Surely I have at least that much faith right?? 

Have a blessed day.

near death

I will be the first to admit I don't read my Bible like I should.  I get lazy I guess, so when my friend Sasha told me about a daily devotional she reads that comes directly into her email called Girlfriends in God I knew I needed to sign up.  I've started reading it and it has become such a blessing.  I feel like the gals who write it are talking directly to me. 


Today's devotional was about angels.  I grew up with my mom teaching me to pray that the Lord would loose his angels to guard, protect and watch over me.  So every morning before the girls get on the bus or before we get on with our day we pray and we loose our angels. The Bible says For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name’ (Psalm 91:11-14, NIV).  Isn't it a wild thought that we have angels encamped around us?  They watch over us and keep us from harm. 

{find here}

When I was growing up I clearly remember three times that I had near death experiences.  One time when I was maybe 10 or 11, I was working in a concession stand at a baseball game.  I didn't have rubber soled shoes on or anything grounded and I happened to touch a popcorn machine or something that had an electrical short in it.  It took a hold of me and I felt myself being electrocuted.  I seriously could not let go.  Someone had to pull me off.

{find here}

Another time I was at a friend's swimming pool and jumped in the deep end and sank to the bottom.  I vividly remember looking up and my life more or less flashed before my eyes.  I didn't know how to get to the surface.  I was in panic mode.  Someone jumped in and saved me.  And then finally when I was in high school I was crossing over a busy highway and from out of the corner of my eye I saw a glimpse of silver.  It was a kid I went to high school with in his tiny little sportscar.  I had pulled directly in front of him.  I remember crying with relief and shaking like a leaf.  There was no way in the world his car didn't drive right through mine!!! 


There are countless other times I'm sure that God has had his hand on my life and spared it in one way or another.  Have you ever come close to death??  Do you believe in guardian angels??

Have a blessed day.

The perfect gift

As I was driving to my bible study this morning, one hand on the steering wheel and one hand holding my gigantic new camera...I had so many thoughts swirling in my head:)  It's a winter wonderland in my neck of the woods.  I'm humbled every single time I drive down this beautiful country road.  Humbled by the scenery and the hand of God that placed every hill and valley...humbled by the strong horses and cows I see grazing...humbled that I can attend a bible study at all.  That I can freely gather with other women and talk openly about the Bible and all that God is doing in our lives.  It's such a privilege. 

Ironically we are talking about greed and the love of money.  Still following along with the Calm my Anxious Heart book...it was obvious that it was a hot topic with Christmas drawing near.  We all share similar struggles with how much to buy and the fine line between wants and needs, and as I sat there thinking of my post the other day...with my very unnecessary new camera purchase, it made me think.  What is pleasing to the Lord?? 

It all boils down to a heart issue and is a very personal thing.  What may be an idol or wrongful focus for one person may not be that for another.  And it's not always about spending either...you could be the opposite and want to store up and save every little penny...finding security in that.  So it's an interesting subject.  One I don't even begin to have the answers for.  It definitely makes you open your eyes and realize none of this is ours anyway.  So have your way Lord and show me what that is...period. 

Speaking of Christmas and gifts I had the opportunity to get a special birthday gift for my friend Kristine the other day.  We met at a bible study a few years back.  The first day they called all the teachers forward and she was one of them and in my mind I picked her...not knowing she would actually be my teacher.  Don't know why she stood out or why I wanted her, but God has definitely put her in my life and she is such a special friend that I can share my faith with. 

So it was only fitting when I found this nativity that I knew it should be hers.  Have you ever found a gift and knew it was perfect??  Isn't that the best feeling?  That saying is so true that giving is better than receiving.  I know this first hand.  The excitement of repainting this manger and fixing the light.

Fussing over the details...putting it all together to bless her.  Well it was such a blessing to ME! 

Can't help but think and compare what the Lord felt when he sent his son...the PERFECT GIFT for us.  Can you even imagine...the excitement, the thrill of knowing his son would be the savior of the whole world??  How when he was putting his plan together he thought of each one of our faces.  Faces that needed a Savior.  For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...oh it's the sweetest most perfect gift ever!!!

Have a blessed day.

New School

Yesterday was the first day of a new bible study for me, Beth Moore's study on "Esther - It's tough being a woman". As little Beth Moore is talking 100 miles per hour, using complicated sentences and in depth looks at the history of the book of Esther, I was sure missing my coffee. Since I started my 21 day challenge, for some reason I stopped coffee too. The whole time I was sitting there I was wondering how many cups little Miss Moore drank that morning to make her that perky and sharp. She's just the cutest thing ever.

The theme of our study is not only about Esther, it's also going to relate to the challenges we face as women. Towards the end of her talk she brought up a survey that she did. She asked a large group of women what 3 areas they struggled most in.

They responded:

1.) Yielding, as in finding their role with submission etc...

2.) Balance

3.) Hormones

Now my #1 would definitely be hormones. I've shared before that between pms, ovulation and my actual period there is only about a week out of the month where I feel like myself! So that one was a no brainer.



My #2 would be self confidence. There is this standard as women that I think we all feel a pressure to live up to. Comparing ourselves with other women and trying to have it all together. Always pushing to be our best selves. It's exhausting really. But I haven't found a way to not care, and honestly I think it's good to try to be our best. If only we could completely love ourselves in the process and realize that we are who we are and not try to conform to what "others" are.



Last but not least, my #3 would be balance too. I am always juggling ten million things at once. Not always on the exterior, but internally I have a mental check list going. Before I go to bed at night I still have thoughts and to-do lists running in my mind and if I don't write them down I just toss and turn. It is a challenge being a mom and running a household and all that that entails. Women have a lot on their plate. It's just the way it is.

What would be your top 3 areas of challenge as a woman??

Have a blessed day.

Photo credit: #1 Flickr Juao Faustine, #2 Flickr axel+, #3 Flickr lallart 71, #3 Flickr Westw