Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Snowy Harrisburg

I am SO loving my new camera...I took some shots around town on Sunday when the roads were clear and I felt like I could get out and not fear ending up in a ditch :)  The snow was absolutely beautiful!

Across the pasture on Stallings Road

Overlooking the river at the bridge on Stallings Road

Pond below Harrisburg Elementary School

Old Post Office/Sim's store at railroad


Sunday, December 26, 2010

The snowy view from here

Snow has definitely arrived around here!  I had to get out and walk it at 6am this morning to go and take care of a neighbor's cats, one of whom must have insulin twice a day...fun stuff...it was seriously cold!
The view up the street
Playground...might be a little chilly today :)

Haven't put my poolside furniture up yet...

Snow on the fence

Backyard

Maddie running like a crazy dog everywhere!  For an animal who HATES the rain...she LOVES the snow!

Max has a face full of fluffy snow

Max and Maddie's snowpaw fight...they LOVE the snow!



Saturday, December 18, 2010

Christmas Randoms 2010

How is it even possible that Klay is so big?!?!

I mean seriously? Could they be any cuter?

My favorite Samantha in the whole world!  Growing up TOO fast!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Celebrations

I celebrated my 37th birthday this weekend. I have NO idea where 37 years have gone...I really used to think that people my age were old, but I guess I no longer have that luxury! I've accomplished a lot in my 37 years, but also feel like I have so much I want to do and kinda feel like time is running out on some things that I feel strongly about. Like being a mom. Yes I have a home daycare and get to spend five days a week loving on babies. But they're not mine. And that's okay. But I do really desire to be a mom. And the clock is ticking on that. Just gotta keep praying for the Lord's guidance.

We celebrated with a party at my sister's on Friday complete with mashed potato bar and all the toppings, lots of yummy appetizers and dips and cupcakes, truffles and pastries...YUM! (NOT to forget the slushy grown up drinks and "serious" Choclatinis).The group above is the crew in attendance, minus Mary Ann who is taking the picture. Love my girls! I can't imagine my life without any one of the them in it. So here's to another year!

We also celebrated 34 years of my church, well, being a church! I haven't been there since the beginning, but pretty darn close...I'm pretty sure we started there in 1978 or 1979. So that's a pretty long time. But it's home and it's comfortable and it's "my" church. The Lord has been preparing me I think for maybe the idea of it's okay to not be at "my" church. But for right now, I'm staying put...until He leads me elsewhere.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Weekend in Lake Lure

I spent the weekend before last at a fabulous cabin in Lake Lure, NC scrapbooking, relaxing and spending time with friends. I cooked and washed dishes, cropped a little and then cooked and washed dishes again. Such is the life of a scrapbooking consultant on a weekend retreat.

But I loved every single minute, okay maybe not the loading and unloading part, but the actual having fun part! The weather was great, the cabin was awesome and the food was delicious!

The picture to the left was on the road up to the cabin...I have always loved to take pictures of winding roads and of course add beautiful fall color to it...and it's just too cool! I like this picture because it reminds me about where my life is right now...I can see the road clear as day, it's well formed and uncluttered, but at some point, I can't see around the bend...I have to trust that the road on the other side of what I can see is just as clear. I have to have faith that there isn't a cliff that I am going to fall off or roll down. Only God can guide me when I'm unsure. I know this...He loves me THAT much. That's not to say that I'll never make a wrong turn or miss a road and have to do a big ol' U turn. But God's grace and mercy will surround me down the path, no matter how twisty or turny it is.

Here's a shot by the lake...How marvelous is God's creation? Just kinda takes your breath away! I am so lucky to be able to enjoy time away and literally sit and just "be" in God's masterpiece!

I've been thinking about my blog lately and what to share, and what crosses the line into over-sharing. I am trying to get into the habit of online journaling, but I think I'm overthinking things ~ go figure that?!? But I do know that God's at work in my life. Enough said.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Weekend Recap...Monday thoughts

Busy weekend. Again. Seems like the story of my life. But I'm not complaining. Well, I guess I am sort-of. I am thankful that my life is filled with so many people and places I care about that it keeps me on my toes, but dang, some days, I'd just like to watch my dvr in peace, and my pajamas :)

But this weekend was good. Baby shower for a dear friend that I haven't seen in a while who looks absolutely adorable with 2 weeks to go! Dinner at a cool Mexican restaurant with two great friends and then the Collin Raye concert...a great girl's night out! Since I had the rare occasion of having a day off from my own church duties, Sunday held church with a friend in SC and lunch with his family, my sister and my "second mom". Sermon at the church I was visiting was really good. You can check it out here if you like: http://www.nrcc.net/listen.asp (click on "That Sounds a Little Bit Crazy") It's always nice to have a Sunday that I can sit and enjoy a service without my responsibilites...and this one was a great!

Today was busy. Houseful of kids. Couple of teenagers. Typical day. Hoping for a great Tuesday. Don't forget to vote!

God is still working on the situations in my life. I can feel it. Just need to pray, pray, pray! I leave you with another song I'm rolling around... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAMbEPZfWCY It's an older Hillsong tune I heard at my friend's church. and I love it :)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Faith to Keep Moving

Isn't it interesting how you have a mountain top day, week, month...and then just as quickly the valley is staring you right in the face? Ugh! I am very blessed with a roof over my head, a job, family and friends who love me and a wonderful church. So why am I in the valley? I'm not so sure. I know that God is in control. Don't doubt it at all. Really. Am I not quite cluing in to God's plan? Feels that way. I have been stepping out of my comfort zone and in faith that God will show me the path He has for me. Then I feel like maybe my "listening ears" must be turned off.

I know that God shows us the mountain top view so that we can weather the valley experiences - I think I feel a little like I'm on a see-saw these days. And I don't like it. Maybe it's God's plan, maybe it's just stubborness on my part that I'm causing myself more pain in my disobedience. All I know is prayer is the only thing that's making sense. Duh! you say? Isn't that the obvious option for someone who spends as much time at church as me? Not necessarily. I do pray. Not as often or as dedicated as I'd like to. My struggle is waiting for the Lord's answer. I tend to jump ahead, planning, calculating the next step instead of being still and letting God do His work. Lots easier to type than to do. For me, anyway. I get focused on what I think I "want" and everything else goes by the wayside. Like everything. Cleaning house, paying bills, laundry, you know the everyday stuff. I want to fix my current obsession, whether it be a relationship, my current quest to lose weight, etc. - you get the idea.

Faith that God is in control and that He will wrap His arms around me when I fail. Again. Like, seriously, again and again. I have been known to be stubborn and passionate about things in my life, and sometimes that can be good. When I'm supposed to be submitting to the will of God, not so much. I do have faith that God will see me through, he won't abandon me in my time of need. I just have to turn to Him. He wants that relationship with me, for real. He loves me, THAT much. He is jealous for me.

My prayer for today is to let the Lord settle my mind and heart. Let Him take the situations in my life and work through them. Even though I just don't see how that's gonna work - it's not really my job to do it. I am going to be faithful to praying about it, that's what He asks us to do.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Lord. I'm. Amazed. by. You.

I stand in awe of the amazing things that God is doing in my life these days. Not that any one thing is earth shatteringly big, but all the little, although very personal, ways that He is blessing me put together make for some pretty awesome changes in my life.

This past weekend we had a wonderful sharing time at the end of our book club meeting that was very blessed. God allowed us to share our hearts, ask for prayer and become more intimate with our fellow sisters in Christ. I was truly touched by the outpouring of support that I saw and was offered and I'm just so excited to see the Lord working in and through us at CCH...just an amazing time.

I relate most things in my spiritual life in a roundabout way through music, not just in the lyrics of a song, but just a little melody line that might play over and over in my head. Reading a bible verse that's been made into a song, I'll always sing along to it as I'm reading. Surely I'm not the only one who does that, right? Yesterday our praise team sang the song "Amazed" (check out one of the many versions on youtube by clicking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEaD8NTrLJQ) It just really resonates with me about how amazing God is. Just IS. He doesn't have to be, nobody is forcing Him, He just loves us THAT much. I can't even imagine the love He has for us. One of the lines says "How wide, how deep, how great is Your love for me" ... we can't even put a measurement on it - nor would we want to. God offers us our salvation, doesn't force us to make a decision, but welcomes us boldly into a relationship with Him if we accept it.

I've been a Christian my whole life. Never really knew a life outside of the church. But my personal relationship with God was dependent for the most part on my parents and what I was told to do. I've always believed in God, but until the last few years, I'm not sure how much of my relationship with Him was real, like really for REAL. I have become very focused on "relearning" what I'm sure I've learned in my 36 years through my own eyes, much of it feeling like the first time I've ever read it. And maybe it is. All I'm certain of is that God is doing a work within me that I am absolutely sinking deep into. Allowing His grace and mercy to envelope all that I am, all that I do and say, and all that my future is to hold.

I've taken some bold steps of faith recently and we'll see how all that plays out in the coming weeks, but I do know that God is in control and I can do anything THROUGH HIM. Phillipians 4:13 is a commonly quoted verse stating "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" ...but it has taken on some new meaning for me. He desires to be my all in all, my strength and guide through this crazy life. It's not always easy or automatic or makes sense to me, but I know that I am taking my faith and holding on tight to it, while letting go of my control on the things in my life and letting God guide me down the paths that I should take.

I'm amazed. How He loves me.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Random Monday Thoughts...

This past weekend was pretty uneventful as far as most of my weekends go. Sunday was the busiest day, no suprise there, but all in all it ended up being a nice relaxing couple of days.

I am gearing up for a pretty crazy week, with something going on every single night...YUCK! However, tonight is our first discussion of the "Crazy Love" book by Francis Chan at our women's meeting at church. You can check it out here http://www.crazylovebook.com/ I am looking very much forward to this discussion and reading through this book...it's looks really good so far!

I'm praying for my friend Randy, who is in Peru on a missions trip until the 17th - this is the latest in his many trips...he's actually a pretty amazing person. So if you read this and feel so inclined... Pray away...they could always use more prayer warriors!

Didn't have Boundaries study last night due to some conflicts, illness and some out of town folks...so I'll have to read ahead this week...God is moving and changing me through this study...I highly recommend it to everyone...you should check it out. Yeah YOU!...seriously - you won't be sorry.

Pool was closed today, signifying the real end of summer around here, except that the weather apparently didn't get the memo that it's October 11th because it's in the upper 80's all week this week.

The Lord is teaching me new things everyday and showing me that if I will be obedient, He will direct my paths, even in the small stuff. I really long for a deeper relationship with Him and I feel like I may actually be taking the steps in that direction that have been a LONG time coming. I can't ever remember not believing in God or thinking I would go to heaven if something should ever happen to me, but I do feel that now, at age 36 (well almost 37, but who's counting, right?) I am finally digging deep and trying to listen and follow the way I've learned and known about all along. That's not to say I've not been serving Him over the years, because I most certainly have, but as far as being faithful, honoring and exalting THE King of Kings...I find myself wondering what in the world was I thinking with some of the decisions I've made over the years. Prayer and bible study time don't come as natural as I would like, so I have to make mental notes to remind myself throughout the day, but I hope with time that will give way to being second nature like I know it should be.

Well that's some pretty random stuff there, but there you have it. Praying for all who have passed by this post and for those in my life who need prayers whether they admit it or not. Blessings :)

Monday, September 27, 2010

A New Favorite Song

Ok, David Crowder is, how shall I say this politely?, kinda strange looking...but this song ROCKS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJyW55AXJAk

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Struggling...

So Romans 5:3-5 says this: "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love" ...but that doesn't mean we won't have rough days, rough weeks and even rough months where life just stinks!

I am in the midst of just a crappy, busy, hard to deal with week. Some of it is financial, some housework I've fallen behind on due to laziness and being too busy and some of it is dealing with situations that I just don't want to deal with.

I trust in the Lord to provide for me. I know He will. It's not a question of "will I survive?" Of course I will, but I hate being behind on bills, housework, dealing with late paying parents and just being frustrated! Ugh! Weeks like this make me not want to get out of bed, eat nothing but junk and just be fussy in general.

But I am still doing my job, paying what bills I can and trying not to overeat, not being so successful on that last one, but whatcha gonna do???

This isn't a feel good, warm and fuzzy post, but I do want to encourage you (and remind myself) that there will be better days. The Lord has not forgotten me. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so! :)

Monday, September 6, 2010

Thankful, Blessed and Rested... A lesson in Grace

After a wonderful weekend at the campground (www.myrtlebeachtravelpark.com if you're interested) for Labor Day, I am thankful for a few days away, blessed to have been there with wonderful friends and family and to enjoy beautiful weather and company and rested up for the four day work week. Sometimes the simplest of things can put bigger problems into focus. In this case it was a conversation with a friend that probably shouldn't have happened. Okay, for sure shouldn't have happened. Sometimes I can't keep my big, fat mouth shut! I'll probably hear about it again in the form of a snide facebook comment or a conversation with someone at church, but the point is here, I've just gotta learn. I mean I'm 36 years old for Pete's sake (whoever Pete is). This is NOT grown up behavior. Anyway you get the point. I feel like I'm being shaped and molded by all the things going around in my world, one itty bitty teensy weensy bit at a time. The Lord is working in my life, I know He is...I just have to get out of the way and let Him do His job. 'Cause after all, I can't do it for him...duh...not like I really thought I could. In this case, I knew better, and I knew that I knew better. But now I've done it, I can't take it back, and I've just got to deal with the consequences. Obviously my boundaries study hasn't quite kicked in all the way yet. So, here I am, starting over again. Thank goodness for God's grace, He loves me THAT much. And I just wanted to share that, 'cause you know, I really needed to hear it myself. The following is an excerpt from Romans that I want to take to heart. Thought I'd share.

Romans 12 - Place Your Life Before God

1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. 3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Stream of Consciousness

This a random post of just thoughts rolling around int my head...I've started to post several times and never completed any of them, so I'm just gonna roll 'em all into one...beware :)

Sometimes life just doesn't make sense, and I just want to shake those close to me and say SERIOUSLY??? I love the people in my life, but dang...sometimes...they make decisions that I just don't get. And then want my support, which I can't quite give because, frankly, I think they might be smoking crack...well not really, but you get my point. Sheesh! I want the best for those in my life, especially "my" kids, and I know they have to grow and learn on their own, but "letting" them make bad decisions hurts my heart! I would give my right arm to save them from broken hearts and even one second of self doubt - it just weighs so heavy on me that any of them have to suffer because of the actions of those who say they "love" them! I am going to leave this topic be for the moment because I feel my blood pressure rising as I type - just gonna keep praying for this and let the Lord guide me to help where I'm supposed to and not where I want to!

Speaking of things I WANT to do...I want to get healthy...of course meaning lose weight, fit in my clothes, be more self confident...etc...but I more desire to FEEL healthy, regardless of the number on a scale, the size printed on the tag of my clothes or how I look in a picture. I feel like I've wasted so much time in a cycle of dieting, overeating, feeling bad about overeating so eating some more...well, you get the idea. I am charging towards my 37th birthday and just am NOT happy about the way I take care of myself. Yet I can't seem to find the motivation to stay on track...just not sure what my problem is!

The 5's are all starting school in the next few days and I can't believe it's already time for them to leave me. Five years has passed like a flash and it feels like just yesterday that Cheyenne, Peyton and Karcen were all in infant carriers...and now they are going to school and not looking back! Time is flying by in my life and I feel like a bystander more than a participant - praying about this...can't really blog about it just yet...just praying for now.

There are many more thoughts...just out of time for now.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Procrastination

Fitting for a first post is a topic that is near to my heart...is that weird, that procrastination is near to my heart? Well it is nonetheless...I excel at putting things off - I consider it a character flaw, but in it's simplest form, an attribute. Are you shaking your head (as most of my close friends would if they were to read this)? Let me explain...I like to do things well, not halfway, not almost done, but seriously 'all done' ; which leads me to procrastinate often because I simply don't have time to get a task done, which makes it worse and then it builds up a bigger task, well you get the idea. But do I really "not have time" or am I just procrastinating until I really don't have time.

My pastor spoke this past week about being a good steward of time, and his sermon should've come with a supply of bandaids for the toes being stepped on and bloodied, especially mine. One of the verses he shared was from Romans 13:11-14...the version below is from The Message bible:

"But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!"

Yeah, I know...that's some serious stuff...I thought so too...but here's where I'm at ~ I struggle with being SO busy that I don't get anything done. That seems like an oxymoron, right? Well I have time, of course, to get everything done, but I make time for many other things, like watching TV, instead of doing the things I never have time for.

Part of the sermon spoke to the concept of reaping what I sow - and one of the notes I took was this: I can't expect to sow a lot when I give a little to God....what a simple statement, but applicable in so many aspects of my life. I can't expect to have a spotless house, a skinny body or anything else I desire, if I'm not willing to do the work. I can't expect to have the life God wants for me when I won't be a good steward of my time, both in bible study and efforts in my everyday life...there is simply NO room for procrastination...plain and simple.

Ok, not so simple...but here's to working on that! Blessings to you!