I am happy to report that my temporary crowns have been put on with only minimal discomfort. Thank you for your prayers.
There is so much evil in this world and so many people who are only out for themselves. It is disheartening sometimes. Our God is sooo good though that He continues to show me how many good people are left in the world.
I have been following the story of a little 5 year old girl named Kate Mcrae who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in July . Her family has a caringbridge site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate. I don't even remember now how I got wrapped up in her story but it's heart wrenching and inspiring all at the same time. Kate was going to be stuck in the hospital over Christmas taking Chemo. She had made friends at the oncology unit. Her family mentioned that Kate would like it if people donated some toys to the hospital so that they children who were stuck in the hospital could have a nice Christmas. People from all over the world donated toys..they had so many toys that they filled an entire Penske truck with them and still had so many left over that they had to distribute them at other hospitals. It was awesome. It is just a reminder that people still care.
God has really blessed me with the people He has brought into my life. The kind of friends that you trust with everything including your dogs and your kids. The kind of friends who will go out into below zero wind chills to snow blow your cousins driveway..just because you asked them to. The kind of friends that when you are having a hard time with life will just circle up around you and go to God on your behalf. I am so thankful for all of them. They are GOOD PEOPLE!! The DO exist!!
I pray that you will be blessed by an act of kindness whether it's by a stranger or by a friend. I pray that you will pass that kindness on to others. Sometimes all someone needs is a smile. This world needs to be reminded that there are some Good People left.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Snowed In
I am sick of all this snow. Enough is enough. I am very thankful to Home Depot who is the only store in this city that has snow shovels for sale. I gave one of the children a lesson in snow removal. He was very thankful for the lesson. NOT!!
I am thankful for my boss who believes in safety first. He lets us work from home when the roads are bad. God is showing me to look for the positive in all things...so the positive is my boss. The snow really is beautiful- not the stuff on the road- it looks YUCKY but the backyard is really pretty.
We are gearing up for JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz) this weekend. It is so awesome to be able to watch kids get excited about learning the Bible. Some of these kids put me to shame with their knowledge of God's word.
Leanna's Dad is meeting with the heart surgeon on Monday so I would ask for prayers that the Dr. makes wise decisions on the possibility of another open heart surgery. I am having 2 crowns put on tomorrow and those that know me know that I don't have the best luck with dentists.
I am going to try to post here 5 days a week. It helps me to stay focused and accountable. Hopefully I'll start having pictures too!! Thank you all for walking this journey with me. God Bless.
I am thankful for my boss who believes in safety first. He lets us work from home when the roads are bad. God is showing me to look for the positive in all things...so the positive is my boss. The snow really is beautiful- not the stuff on the road- it looks YUCKY but the backyard is really pretty.
We are gearing up for JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz) this weekend. It is so awesome to be able to watch kids get excited about learning the Bible. Some of these kids put me to shame with their knowledge of God's word.
Leanna's Dad is meeting with the heart surgeon on Monday so I would ask for prayers that the Dr. makes wise decisions on the possibility of another open heart surgery. I am having 2 crowns put on tomorrow and those that know me know that I don't have the best luck with dentists.
I am going to try to post here 5 days a week. It helps me to stay focused and accountable. Hopefully I'll start having pictures too!! Thank you all for walking this journey with me. God Bless.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
It's all in the struggle
So I just wanted to share what has been on my heart today. I have been battling some heaviness in my spirit lately. I don't want to say it's depression, just more like spiritual warfare going on inside of me. I have been having a hard time feeling God in my life. I know He is there and I am going to keep chasing Him no matter what my "feelings" are.
Things have been hectic around our house for quite some time. We have been battling illnesses, surgeries and deaths. We have been struggling financially even though we are making better financial decisions. We have been trying to lose weight and the process has been slow and painful. I do mean PAINFUL!! Get yourself a personal trainer who is a big fan of lunges and you'll know what I'm talking about. I just felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I talked to my relate group from church about it the other day and asked for prayer. It sure is helping...if you are struggling with anything, I highly suggest you get yourselves some strong prayer warriors in your life. I woke up Monday morning renewed. I could feel some of the darkness coming up off of me. God has shown me so much in the past 2 days including the way that I got myself in this mess. See..I think I am in control of my life. I think that I can conquer the world. So when things aren't going my way...I think it is me that is failing. I have to pretend on the outside like all is right with the world so that others won't think I'm a failure. I tend to look at the negative things in my life..look at all of the things that aren't going according to MY plan. Geesh...I've been chasing Jesus since 1998...you would think I would know by now that there is no such thing as MY plan. God puts circumstances in our lives for a reason. That reason may be to teach us something or better yet..it may be so that you can help someone else who will be going through the same circumstance later in life. It isn't punishment for something we did wrong...it's an adventure..sometime's painful..but always worth the ride.
I was reading a book today called "My Faith Still Holds"...and there was a quote in there from Condoleeza Rice that said, "Struggle doesn't just strengthen us to survive hard times - it is also the key foundation for true optimism and accomplishment. Indeed, personal achievement without struggle somehow feels incomplete and hollow." WOW...did that just hit me when I read that. It was as if God was sitting next to me, taking all of the pieces of the jumbled puzzle that has been life in the past year...and He just snapped them all together to show me the big picture. If I was trying to get my finances straightened out and it was super easy and everything went my way...I wouldn't stay on a budget for long...I would just assume that if I got into financial trouble again..it would be super easy to get back on track. If I lost the 132 lbs that I am trying to lose and I did it all in a few months...I wouldn't keep it off because if I could take it off that quickly then who cares...BRING ON THE MEXICAN FOOD!! In ALL things...it's all in the struggle. Don't get me wrong...when an unexpected blessing drops in your lap...it is something to treasure..but it usually means the most when you have been trudging along first.
I can quit rambling now...I just want to encourage anyone who is reading this..that there is hope and joy in the struggle. This too shall pass...and when it does...I pray that God will show you all of the good that came from it.
Things have been hectic around our house for quite some time. We have been battling illnesses, surgeries and deaths. We have been struggling financially even though we are making better financial decisions. We have been trying to lose weight and the process has been slow and painful. I do mean PAINFUL!! Get yourself a personal trainer who is a big fan of lunges and you'll know what I'm talking about. I just felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I talked to my relate group from church about it the other day and asked for prayer. It sure is helping...if you are struggling with anything, I highly suggest you get yourselves some strong prayer warriors in your life. I woke up Monday morning renewed. I could feel some of the darkness coming up off of me. God has shown me so much in the past 2 days including the way that I got myself in this mess. See..I think I am in control of my life. I think that I can conquer the world. So when things aren't going my way...I think it is me that is failing. I have to pretend on the outside like all is right with the world so that others won't think I'm a failure. I tend to look at the negative things in my life..look at all of the things that aren't going according to MY plan. Geesh...I've been chasing Jesus since 1998...you would think I would know by now that there is no such thing as MY plan. God puts circumstances in our lives for a reason. That reason may be to teach us something or better yet..it may be so that you can help someone else who will be going through the same circumstance later in life. It isn't punishment for something we did wrong...it's an adventure..sometime's painful..but always worth the ride.
I was reading a book today called "My Faith Still Holds"...and there was a quote in there from Condoleeza Rice that said, "Struggle doesn't just strengthen us to survive hard times - it is also the key foundation for true optimism and accomplishment. Indeed, personal achievement without struggle somehow feels incomplete and hollow." WOW...did that just hit me when I read that. It was as if God was sitting next to me, taking all of the pieces of the jumbled puzzle that has been life in the past year...and He just snapped them all together to show me the big picture. If I was trying to get my finances straightened out and it was super easy and everything went my way...I wouldn't stay on a budget for long...I would just assume that if I got into financial trouble again..it would be super easy to get back on track. If I lost the 132 lbs that I am trying to lose and I did it all in a few months...I wouldn't keep it off because if I could take it off that quickly then who cares...BRING ON THE MEXICAN FOOD!! In ALL things...it's all in the struggle. Don't get me wrong...when an unexpected blessing drops in your lap...it is something to treasure..but it usually means the most when you have been trudging along first.
I can quit rambling now...I just want to encourage anyone who is reading this..that there is hope and joy in the struggle. This too shall pass...and when it does...I pray that God will show you all of the good that came from it.
Please leave comments...even if they are anonymous. It's good to know that I am not just typing to the wind. GOD BLESS!!
Monday, January 4, 2010
New Year's Goals
I am not sure if anyone will even read this since it's been so long since I've posted anything. I was just sitting here reflecting on the past year and all of the ups and downs that came along with it. I was thinking about resolutions and how I hate making them but I realized that I needed to set a few goals.
I am part of a group at church called WE Weight. We are just a group of ladies who are trying to get healthy. We talk about the things we did right in the past few weeks and the areas that we need some help. One of the coordinators talked a month or 2 ago about setting goals. I have been determined to set small goals that will help me to get to my large goal that seems overwhelming. As I look at 2010, I dont' want to set any resolutions but I sure need to set some goals.
#1. To increase the speed in my chase after God.
#2. To increase the speed of a 5K from 58 minutes to 40 minutes
#3. To complete a 1/2 marathon.
#4. To look at food as fuel more often than not
#5. To fly on an airplane without needing a seatbelt extension
#6. To spend more time thinking about things I am thankful for
#7. To spend less time being angry about things that I cannot control
#8. To give less control of my life to emotions and more control to God.
#9. To raise at least $500 for SMA
#10. To pay off all outstanding medical bills
#11. To decrease the balance on all credit cards by at least 50% (this includes paying off some to decrease the overall balance)
#12. Take a family vacation to Colorado which would include a hike up the "ascent" trail just to see if I can make it.
#13. Go to Cancun for a much needed beach break (only after 10 and 11 are complete)
#14. Love myself more
#15. Love God and Love Others
These are just the 15 that come to mind right now. I am posting them here so that ya'll can help hold me accountable. I also hope to post more here as it helps me to see what God is doing in my life.
I pray that every one who reads this will have a blessed 2010.
I am part of a group at church called WE Weight. We are just a group of ladies who are trying to get healthy. We talk about the things we did right in the past few weeks and the areas that we need some help. One of the coordinators talked a month or 2 ago about setting goals. I have been determined to set small goals that will help me to get to my large goal that seems overwhelming. As I look at 2010, I dont' want to set any resolutions but I sure need to set some goals.
#1. To increase the speed in my chase after God.
#2. To increase the speed of a 5K from 58 minutes to 40 minutes
#3. To complete a 1/2 marathon.
#4. To look at food as fuel more often than not
#5. To fly on an airplane without needing a seatbelt extension
#6. To spend more time thinking about things I am thankful for
#7. To spend less time being angry about things that I cannot control
#8. To give less control of my life to emotions and more control to God.
#9. To raise at least $500 for SMA
#10. To pay off all outstanding medical bills
#11. To decrease the balance on all credit cards by at least 50% (this includes paying off some to decrease the overall balance)
#12. Take a family vacation to Colorado which would include a hike up the "ascent" trail just to see if I can make it.
#13. Go to Cancun for a much needed beach break (only after 10 and 11 are complete)
#14. Love myself more
#15. Love God and Love Others
These are just the 15 that come to mind right now. I am posting them here so that ya'll can help hold me accountable. I also hope to post more here as it helps me to see what God is doing in my life.
I pray that every one who reads this will have a blessed 2010.
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