To Know and Tell Friday

Question 1 In the spirit of Christmas... Artificial or Real Christmas Tree? I like both, but for myself I like the ease of an Artificial tree, We have a 3 step Tree with lights already on it. I know that takes some of the fun out of the tree experience. I promise we make up for it in other fun experiences threw out the session.
Question 2 If your life was a TV show...what would the title be?
Are We There Yet?? (because we are always traveling)
Question 3 When you go to the movies what do you get from the Concession Stand?
Nothing I'm to cheap I've already spent all my money just to get myself and my dear husband in. (because we only really go on his birthday because he loves it. That doesn't count the drive inn we go all the time.)
Question 4 Cosmetic that you cannot live without? I bought myself a redness reducer from the Clinque counter at Marshall Field for my birthday probably 4years ago and I love it, I use it sparingly because that was the first and last time I've every been in that store or spend that much money for any make up product. Oh was it worth it and when I run out I will be going to get myself another present.
Bonus Question (gotta think about this one...)
If you could go back in time to a pivotal point in your young life and give yourself one word of advice, and it would be guaranteed that you would follow the advice... What would you tell yourself... ( It is OK if you tell more than one thing :) I wasn't really into playing sports when I was younger, I could have been very good at it I'm coordinated and good at thinking on my feet, I have that competitive drive that a person needs to really give it all they got. I never felt comfortable drawing attention to myself so the advice I would give myself it go for it don't worry about the others they will see soon enough what a great asses you are to the team and to life. I think if someone would have told me that If would have redirected several area of my life, in a good way.
Blessings to all my blogging friends...Merry Christmas!!!!

Thankful Thursday

I have a very simple Thankful Thursday, I'm Thankful that I don't have a broken Ankle. I fell getting my daughter off the bus on Tuesday. My Dear Husband does a great job clearing everything. There was one step that our gutter was dripping on that we didn't notice, and it had a little piece of ice where it was dripping and of course I looked at the steps and didn't see it, so when I stepped on it that was all she wrote. I have to crawl up to the front door open it and pull myself up before the bus got to the house. I couldn't go inside untill the bus got here because they have to see you to let her off (she is in Pre-K). I'm also thankful that it was feeling better yesterday so we could still host our Christmas party, although I did to much and I'm paying for it today. We had a great time and and I'm glad we were able to host it. So that is what I'm thankful for.

Advent Week 4

This week you should light all four of your candle sticks.





Week4 Advent

Week one we celebrated Promises
What promises did you make to your family?
Have you fulfilled it yet? If not what is stopping you?
Week two we celebrated Angels
How do angels help us, and protect us?
Week three the candle represents Rejoicing.
How can we Rejoice everyday?
Week four we celebrate the Shepherd Candle.
The last Purple or Blue candle should be added to the lighting..

Scripture Reading
Luke 2:8-20
John 10:2-5, 11
Jeremiah 31;3, John 5:16-17
Isiah 40:11
Isiah 53:6-7, John1:29
Homework
Have a Birthday Party for Jesus. This Christmas as you give out your gifts say to each person “because God gave us the gift of Jesus I give this gift to you with love.”
Sing your children to sleep with carols.

Scripture to look at
Can you be like the shepherds, sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth with others? Luke2:18
How are we like sheep? Luke 15:3-7
In what ways do sheep depend on the shepherds?
What is an everlasting love? Romans 8:38-39
How do we know that God loves us with an everlasting love? John 3:16


I was going to give out candy canes and tell the story of the candy cane:
Along time ago, a candy maker wanted to give the people in his town a Christmas gift that would remind them of God’s love. He worked long and hard in his candy shop, fashioning a red and white peppermint stick into a shepherd’s rod.
How does the hooked end of a shepherd’s rod help the sheep? It is used to rescue the sheep when they are in danger—perhaps to pull them from a rocky ledge or out of a stream.
How can the straight end be of use? It is used as a weapon to protect eh sheep, scaring away predators who could try to hurt the sheep.
Why would the candy maker use the color white? White reminds us that Jesus was pure and without sin. Even though He came to earth as a man. He was also true God and he had no sin.
Why would the candy maker use the color red? The color red reminds us that Jesus shed His blood for our sin. Jesus took our punishment. He paid the price for each and Evey sin.
In what other ways does the candy remind you of Jesus? The candy is hard. This reminds us that Jesus is the rock of our faith If you hold the candy cane upside down. It will look like the letter J which stands for Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

Advent Week 3

This week you will light your pink candle or 3rd blue candle



Advent Week 3

Week one we celebrated Promises
What promises did you make to your family?
Have you fulfilled it yet? If not what is stopping you?
Week two we celebrated Angels
How do angels help us, and protect us?
Week three the candle represents Rejoicing.
Which Candle should we light?

Scripture Reading
John 3:16-18, James 1:17 –
Luke 2:1-8
Psalms 46:10-11, Revelations 3:20- Are we as preoccupied as the towns people in Bethlehem
Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew5:14-16
Homework
Take advantage of the Christmas light this season to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. (Visit Henson Robinson Zoo’s Christmas Lights) If anyone knows of a Christmas walk, Angel Tree, Go experience what it might have been in Bethlehem at that time. Look at how other cultures celebrate Christmas. Invite someone to spend the holiday with your family if you know of someone who may be alone.

Scripture to look at
What is a Sacrificial gift? (Luke 21:1-4)
What did it cost God the Father to give us His gift? (Philippians 2:6-11)

Jesus calls His believers the Light of the world. Why is that important? (Matthew 5:14-16)
What are some ways your light has shone to others this Christmas season? What ways can it still shine? (Matthew 25:40, Matthew 7:12)

Know and Tell Friday

Question 1
(More of a fill in the blank..) I wish my hair__________. I wish my hair would fix itself, sometimes as a mother it would be nice if puff it looked nice all by itself.
Question 2
Someone you miss? I have no family close really my mom has been here with us for a little while so I don't miss her, I miss everyone else. My family and my husbands family is so far away that we miss them but we still get to see them the ones I miss most are my niece Colleen and my husbands mother mostly because there is so much I never got to know about them before the Lord took them home. Our greatest losses in life aren't always the ones we spent alot of time with because we have the memories to fall back on, but the ones we think about who don't send a flood gate of memories into our heart, the ones who we long to know more about.
Question 3
What's your favorite comfort food? I've been asked this question before and I honestly have to say I can think of any food that gives me comfort or warm fuzzes. There are foods I like and eat when I'm craving it. Nothing I would call a Comfort Food.

Bonus Questions
Question 4
In your opinion what are some of the qualities that make a person a "best" friend?
I could probably fill up a whole page, but I will name a few. A best friend is someone that you can literally share everything with (not that you always will), but that you could, and she will still love you!!! A best friend is someone that you can show your goofy side to, and she thinks it is just adorable. Last, a best friend will always want what is best for you (spiritually speaking too), even if that could cause her sadness or pain. I agree with my friends answer entirely I'll add just one thing. A friend is someone who has been planted in your heart when you least expected it and you didn't even know it. Sometimes it's the person who you would never have picked but God picked them for you and your glad you didn't have a choice (because you know they wouldn't have made the cut).
Question 5
What is one area that you struggle with in the wife arena? Just one... Can we say air your dirty laundry please. I struggle with assuming my hubby understands me and knows what I mean, sometimes I will use pleasantries with others as to not upset or offend people but I don't always with my husband, assuming he understands what I meant, which he probably does but it's not a good reason to not use my best manners when asking him to do something.

Thankful Thursday

There are times where my mind is just rolling with thoughts, today was one of those days. I was in my car thinking and talking to myself and thought I should blog that, today is Thankful Thursday perfect timing so here it goes. I have to say it may be long.
My husband and I meet on the Internet. I was in college and chat rooms were starting to become popular and I had never used a computer before really I used one to type a paper or two for class but nothing much we mostly used pencil and paper (does anyone remember what that is. HA, Ha) and my sister had a brothers word processor. So that is what we used. Anyway I decided to learn about this computer thing with chat rooms and stuff I was in between semesters, a couple of friends showed me the ropes and then told me about a website call Christian Matchmakers, so I thought well I check it out I would learn how to use the Internet and maybe make a friend. I didn't really think I would meet someone I could spend the rest of my life with. Long story short I meet my hubby and we hit it off, so I wrote him a letter that stated my expectation of a mate and how I wouldn't accept anything less, and if he had a problem with my expectations to let me know now because I didn't want to waste either of our time pursuing a relationship. He wrote me back and the only part I remember was when he said I can live up to all of your expectations and then some, and he has lived up to all of them and then some.

I'm thankful for a few things one is a great man who doesn't scare off easily and lives up to his commitments.
Another thing I'm thankful for is a God who loves us so much that it breaks his heart when we lower our (realistic) expectation for a mate. So often we especially women, men some to, begin to believe the lies that the Satan, and the world sometimes tells us about our self. That we aren't good enough or we better take what we can get because it may not come around again. You can't take care of yourself so you have to put up with the disrespect.

I'm thankful for individual in my past who took the time to teach me that I deserved to be happy and have someone who loved me like Christ love the church. If they hadn't loved me with Christ love I may have settled for someone who didn't love me as much as my hubby and almost as much as Christ loves me.

Know and Tell Friday

Question 1
What makes you cry? I'm not a crier, I Know that is not normal for a women, but some really good eye opener movies make me cry and by cry I mean tear up. Thinking about my children makes me cry. Memories of things from the past, Or thinking about things going on now with them. As well as thinking about what there future may hold, makes me cry tears of joy mostly. When I think of my hubby and how lucky I am to have someone who loves me so completely. He is so good to me, I cry thinking about how meeting him made my life so much better then it might have been then if I had not meet him. That makes me Cry tears of joy.
Question 2 (Hopefully this question will bring a little comic relief your way)
I am assuming everyone goes to their gyno for their regular checkups.... What do you do when you are getting you pap smear done? I don't know if I can answer this I don't like to even think about it let alone talk about it, the thought of it makes me want to cry, Ha Ha!! I concentrate on breathing and relaxing that all.
Question 3 (If you have recovered from question 2)
Dream Job (Being a wife and a mother is probably the number one answer, so for this question name an occupation or ministry that you would like to work in)
I have a couple dream jobs, One is to be a speaker I love to teach women and speak, I presently fell selfconcise being up in front of people. But I love to speak in front of people, I often have thought about writing a book but what would I write about. I've always wanted to be an art director for a book company. Someone who would hire private artist to illustrate book covers, or children's books and approved the work or asked for changes who would tell the artist what we wanted it to look at. Those are my two dream jobs.
Bonus Question (Going Deeper...)
What is one thing that you struggle with presently, or struggled with in the past that you hope does not get passed down to your children? I have so many struggles, one would be not making healthy choices, we have changed that recently, with the exception of pizza. I don't exercises like I should and I would like to change that because I want to teach my children that exercises is important and good for us. I one I struggle with is pride I don't like to apologize, or point out my errors even when I recognize them. But I know that it is important for all relationships in life to be able to openly to recognize your mistakes as well as apologize for how it may have effected the people around you. I don't want my children to think it's o.k not to apologize. I think people can be apologetic and feel remorseful with out have to say anything, but I also believe that people need to hear that your sorry an how your going to try to be better before they sometime will be able to forgive. I want my children to not feel shame in openly recognizing there mistakes. Well I hope that answers the questions.

Advent Week Two

In preparation for Week 2 get a christmas ornament for each member in your family wrap it and set it by your advent wreath. This will help us to think about How Mary must have felt knowing that she was going to have a baby put she couldn't see it or touch it. Everyone will be anticipating the gift that is for them at the table the same way that Mary was anticipating the gift God had given her. You could tell your children how much you looked forward to meeting them in person for the first time, and how it felt to see them and hold them for the first time. Then let everyone open there gifts. Maybe tell them why you choose that ornament for them and what they mean to you today.




Week 2 Advent

Week one we celebrated Promises
What promises did you make to your family?
Have you fulfilled it yet? If not what is stopping you?
Week two we celebrate Angels
(light two blue or two purple representing Promises and Angels)
**Matthew 18:10
Hebrew 1:14
Luke 1:28-38
Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 2:13-15
Matthew 7:7-8
John 5:24
Luke 2:14-19

Continue setting up the nativity by place several angles around one with Mary and Joseph and talk about how then angel came to them to give them messages from God. Then hang an angle over the stable or by the stable to remind us that God sends his angels to us so we would know that he has and is settting everything in place. Starting with Jesus and even today in our own lives.

Homework
Additional scripture to look at
Isaiah 6:1-4, God’s angels are spiritual beings created to serve him. What dose this mean?
Zechariah 1:10-11, How do angels serve God? What other ways not mentioned in this scripture?
2Samual 14:17, According to the Bible, angels are wise and know the difference between good and evil, Can you name some bible verse about angels?
Matthew 18:10,
Psalms 34:7
Psalms 91:11
Hebrew 1:14,-- Above 4 scripture, How does it feel to know that God has angels that are always watching out for you?
James 1:17, What are some of the wonderful thins God has done for us? What happens when we listen to God? What do we have to do to receive God’s gifts? What are some specific gifts God has given Your Family this Christmas season?

Getting ready for Advent

Please forgive me for being last in starting our advent session on the Internet. You still can start just maybe try to push two weeks into one. You could talk about week one the next couple of days and then week Two is actually on Sunday the 9th of December.



You will need one round surface that holds candles for the advent. You could use a Styrofoam circle and push the candles into it, or a evergreen wreath that is a complete circle and candle holders this greenery reminds us that God's love is ever lasting without beginning or end. Decorate what ever you use with evergreen pieces. Next you will need four candle sticks, you would need either 3 purple and one pink, or 4 blue, this represents the royalty of Christ as king. These four are placed around your circle. Then you will need a white pillar candle to place inside your circle, representing that Jesus was pure and without sin.

Advent Week One

Oh, my please forgive me I forgot to post our Advent week one Thursday so today I'm going to post our Advent Week one which was Sunday Dec 1st, and week 2 which will be Dec. 9th. I hope you enjoy!!!!

















Week 1 Advent

Advent Means- Coming, We celebrate Jesus coming as a babe and his coming into our hearts as our savior, and his coming again as king.
Advent Wreath- shape is a circle with no beginning or end. This reminds us that God's love for us will never end. The evergreens in the wreath also remind us of God's everlasting Love. They do not turn colors and fall off like other leaves; instead they stay green and remind us that God's love will never fail. Light the promise Candle (one of the for blue, or one of the 3 purple)
Week one theme Promises
Read- Hebrew 6:12-19
Genesis 2:21-25
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
John 8:12
1John 1:5-10, (1:9)
John 14:1-6, 27

To set up your nativity this week, Set out your stable, you can put some animals around it. Put Mary and Joseph somewhere away from the stable, also put the wise men out far way from the stable, as well as the Shepperd's. This shows us that everyone had to travel to get to the stable and they came from different places.
Also find a ring of some kind to place at the stable to remind us of the promise God made to send a savior in the form of a baby.

Homework
Bring a wrapped ornament next week; bring some People to represent town’s people for Nativity, (mostly for Children)
Make a promise to the members of your family
(Something you can keep and fulfill it soon)
Scripture to look at
Psalm 89:3-4, Luke 1:687-80, Hebrew 9:11-28, These verses talk about how important promises are to God, and his ever lasting covenant with us which means his promises will last forever.
Isaiah 9:6-7, Have you ever had to wait for a promise to come true, was is worth it?
Genesis 9:11-14, Galatians 4:4-7, John 17:2-3, Matthew 28:20, What is your favorite promise form God, what makes it special to you?
Isaiah 42:6-7, God calls Jesus a Covenant. In the bible times they would exchange something of value to make a commitment or covenant with each other, like a cloak, a staff, or a ring. Can you think of ways that shows peoples commitments today? (rings, handshake, signing a paper)
John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:3, How is Jesus the covenant pledge to God’s promise?
John 8:12, Who is the light of the world, What does that mean?
1John 1:9, How do we know that God will forgive the wrong things that we have done?
Revelations 21:3-4, What did Jesus promise? Do we have to do anything to earn the peace that Jesus promises us? What will heaven be like?
Revelations 22:5, Who is our light and will be in heaven?

To Know and Tell Friday

1.What scares you? I have a lot of anxiety issues they started after I had children. It's funny how as women without children we do things we wouldn't dream of after we have children. Things as simple as speeding or passing in a no passing zone. Staying up all night and then going to work the next day. I don't know about anyone else but I need my sleep. My biggest fear is that my children and hubby would not know how much I love them if anything were to happen to me. I know that is weird, but that is what I'm afraid of.
2. Coke or Pepsi (Diet counts)? Pepsi all the way, I love the new diet Pepsi max, only because it taste like regular Pepsi I think and I have a very hard time drinking diet pop, but it has not calories and some say better for you, not everyone I know so please don't e-mail me and tell me how bad Diet Pepsi is for me. I also know the extra caffeine in the Max is not good for me either.
3. I would love to try...public speaking, as well as learning the two step. I think it's awesome when your somewhere and a couple gets up and starts to dance the two step to some country music, how fun. My brother gets married next September maybe I'll talk my hubby into learning the two step for he wedding.
4. Spiritually speaking, do you have a Quiet Time? If so, where, when, and how long have you had one? If not, what is stopping you from having a Quiet time? (Quiet time is defined as time alone with God. It can consist of praying, reading God's word, and worship among many other things) My Quiet time isn't regular, I've had a regular one at different times but at this time in my life I haven't kept a regular consistent quiet time. It seems that I allow other things to get the best of me in a lot of areas and that is the first thing to be moved or left out for the day. I know there are definite things in my life that if I don't get done first thing in the day I'm less likely to get done, but I still leave them go. Like QT, Exercise, Dinner planning.
To know and Tell there is my answers, good questions.

I've been working on my Closet tackle today, I'm so behind, wow!! As I was clearing shelves I came across "The Box" you know the one that you keep all the Love letters in from when you and your husband were dating and/or the first year of Marriage, I've kept that down to a shoe box size box which I think is great. I have kept more in it then just stuff from my hubby, there is letters from my sister that I got after I was married and move away as well as some cards from her and other, like for our anniversary, and a few other things that were important to me. Like the brochure from "Josephs techni-color Dream Coat staring Donny Osmond that I went to see in College. Shakespeare festival stuff from my sister who went and shared the stuff with me. Anyway I'm sure you would like me to get to the point, you don't need to know everything that was in the box. Well there was one sheet that was given to me by someone it was a quote I'm going to share it with you then tell you who wrote it:

The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them-words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important things lie to close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or say you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That's the worst, I think when the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.

Isn't that a great quote by Stephen King. I wonder often if I open myself up enough to be the understanding ear that maybe someone else needs.

Just thought I would share that little bit of wisdom with everyone as I'm procrastinating on finishing the closet.
Ha, Ha!!!!!!

In other Words

This week, Sarah is hosting "In 'Other' Words" at her site, To Motherhood and Beyond. Sarah has chosen a quote by Elisabeth Elliott. With the busy holiday season upon us, this quote is timely...

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."

~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

I have to believe that this quote was meant for the bigger things in life like dwelling on regrets, or hurts from yesterday, as well as maybe worring about things we may regret or people we may hurt tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 says "Therefore do not worry about tommorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
The second part of this quote I would take to heart in all areas of life. I think that if we feel like we are burning the candle at both end we have to come to the realization that one end of the candle we are burning for ourselves not for God. If we were working entirly in Gods leading and guidence, our busyness wouldn't be overwhelming to the point where we feel like we are burning the candle at both ends. That doesnt mean we shouldn't do anything for ourselves because Gods will is for us to do for ourselves and our family. But maybe there are things that God hasn't necessarily blessed that your doing for yourselve or your family. I know that in our house we have rules about the number of organized activities our 7yr old can be involved with. We want him to be involved with sports but not at the expense of the family and his mothers sanity Ha,Ha!!! I'm not say that a mother should stop doing laundry for her family because it's causing her undo worry, but I have to say that maybe what God wants is for her to figure out some boundries and schedules to help her not to have undo stress. For one thing if your children are old enough teach them how to do there laundry, or put it away, fold it, we started with our toddlers teaching them how to sort by color groups. We had enough laundry that we would work on learning our colors and help mom sort clothes all the pink went into one pile, blue in another, yellow in another and green in anohter, etc. etc. Then when I washed I could put together blue and green if I wanted or yellow and tan/brown and I saved time not haveing to sort myself. There are ways we can have a full and busy life and not be overwhelmed and I think that is in Gods plan.
I have been at points in my life that I've overextended myselves helping at church, and I do think that some of that was my desire to serve and do something not always Gods desire to use me where he was at. I definitly encourage everyone to pray for God to use them where he is at, sometimes that will be where you are at and sometimes that wont be where your at so you'll have to adjust where you are to meet him. I've fallen into the trap of teaching sunday school or do some little job simple because no one else would do it so I did, that's usually the job that made me feel overwhelmed. I know that if I'm talking with someone, it takes me an extra long time to work up the courage to sometimes share from my heart and if the pause isn't long enough sometimes I never actually share, I think that is sometimes what we do in churches we volunteer to quickly for things we don't necessarily want to do just because we didn't want it not to get done, that we don't pause long enough to let God work up the Courage in someone else to volunteer. So I guess what I'm saying is to be busy isn't bad as long as your not feeling overwhelmed and if you are pray for God to show you where he wants you. Maybe pause a little longer in all areas of your decision making.

Advent Series

I'm so excited to let everyone in on this little holiday celebration we do, Advent is a way for us to Celebrate Jesus Birth with our children, and to teach them about the Christmas story. We started this about 2 or 3 years ago with our family and this year we are sharing it with a group of friends and there children. So I thought why not share it with our blogging family as well. We purchased a book when we started and it is great because we are able to adapt the information to the level that our children can understand for there age groups, as they grow so does the amount of information we give them. We started this with viewing the Movie The Nativity Story. We enjoyed it greatly, so I will post what we study once a week and all you need is my post four candle sticks either 3 purple and one Pink or 4 blue, and one white pillar candle, and some greens. As we go through the series we will be putting together the nativity scene. Advent is meant to start 4 Sundays before Christmas, so I will post my stuff my the 30th of November because December 2 would be our first Sunday and I will post by Friday every week so you have it for Sunday. I will try to put picture on line as well. Have a great Christmas Season!!!!

To Know Him MeMe

My friend what a great gal she is has started a MeMe which consist of some random questions for all of us to get to know each other better. So I'm going to attempt to answer them.
Question 1
1. What makes you crazy? So many things make me crazy, crooked things make me crazy like a striped table cloth and the stripes are crooked, or my dinning room table is on a rug that has a pattern of squares I like the table to be in the middle if it is off I have to move it and symmetrical things make me crazy isn't that funny because the two are the same sometimes I like odd numbers so if I'm going to hang something on the wall it has to be asymmetrical and/or an odd number of item, or it will drive me crazy.

2. Best brand of jeans? I don't have a favorite brand of Jeans I like put I do know that for my shape the low rise jeans are great because I have a short waist to hip and the regular cut are a bit saggy in the bottom.

3. What do you do on rainy days? We my first choice is to scrapbook but since my area isn't organized or cleared I would probably opt for a good 80's Movie.
The answers in bold are mine (I am sure you figured that out already :) PLEASE PARTICIPATE if you would like.

Blessings to you all!!!

Tackle Tuesday

Today I'm tackling Poncho's I've decided last spring to crochet eight poncho's one for each of my eight nieces for christmas. I have five totally completed and three more started but not finished. To be honest I may redo one of them becasue I used yellows and blues and I think I may redo that one with pinks so if time allows I will actually be crocheting nine poncho's well today I would like to at least two out of my three started but not finished poncho's then I will be almost done with the poncho's.

Update

I have to say that the closet isn't as easy as I had hoped it would be. I'm going to push along. My problems started when I was cleaning the closet I needed to get to the cider chest that I kept my sheets and blankets in, but it had gotten buried in the bedroom so I had to clean the bedroom to rediscover the ceder chest, I wish I would have taken before pictures of that then I would be able to add it as part of the challenge. Not to mention in the middle of this challenge my hubby and I decided it would be a good Idea to move the kids play room into the basement and make the play room my daughters bedroom again so that my son and daughter wouldn't be sharing a room. She just turned 5 and they needed there own space. So we spend an entire day moving rooms around and separating closet space as well as moving all the toys to the basement and cleaned the carpets on that side of the house. I also wish I would have taken before pictures of that so I could enter it as well. It is unbelievable we have almost an entire room of toys we are getting rid of. O.K. lets recap
To Do List: clean and organize walk in closet
Accomplishments: organized 2 full bedrooms and purged a 3rd bedroom
cleaned the carpet in 2 bedrooms and the hall way (none of which is the room we started with.
Purged a room full of toys, took little to no pictures of any of it.

Now to work on the closet. I will finish it if I'm up to midnight on the 29th. I do have to say that my dear hubby contributed to the closet purge a little he went through all his cloth in the closet and took all the ones he doesn't wear or can't wear or that have holes and been wore to long already off the hangers and made another pile in the closet. What a good helper. Ha! Ha!

WOW!!!!

One of my very first post I talked about my friend who did the WOW thing check it out if you haven't read it. I like to every once in a while share my own WOW moments. It's always a WOW moment for me but also can be I can't believe I didn't pick up on that before. Well this experience is a little of both. As far back as I can remember of my church going days I've been taught lesson on Running the Race!!!!Once again I was doing my bible study this week what a wonderful bible study I must say which was about Running the Race. What exactly does that me? Oddly enough I had to sit down and ponder how I've always defined that statement and if my thoughts were accurate or not. To begin with I had to dig way back to when I've heard the term used in biblical teaching. Iguess I've always thought if I was working hard to be a Christian or a Christ follower then I was running the race to win. Win what I had to ask myself, the title of A Good Christian. What is that? Is it someone who goes to church every Sunday Christmas and Easter, someone who volunteers, Someone who does what is right, doesn't lie steal (except maybe the occasional pen at the doctors office accidentally Ha, Ha!!) Seriously what is the definition of a Good Christian who is Running the Race to Win? I believe that in the past Running the Race meant working for my Salvation and what God revealed to me this week was that Running the Race has very little if anything to do with Salvation I already have that as soon as I excepted Christ free gift of salvation I didn't have to earn it through my works or better I couldn't earn it through works. So what am I Running the Race for? For the one thing that God wants from all of us and it should be the one thing we want to give to God A RELATIONSHIP, A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!!! Our pastor did a great sermon about when we get to heaven who would we want at our table. God wants us all to be at his table but that means we have to Run the Race!!!!!!!! The Race, The Relationship Race! Where are you in the Race, are you winning or losing?? Why don't you ask yourself and God that Question? I have a great friend who has a wonderful post on her Blog about the sermon our pastor did if you want to check it out. You may have to Scroll down to November 12 I think. toknowhimjesus.blogspot.com Have a great day!!!

13 Photos of Halloween Past and Present for Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Pictures of Halloween Past and Present
1. thur 3. Elexis, Jacob, and a friend of Jacobs decorating a pumpkin! (2007)








4.thur 7. Halloween 2007 A Pink Lady and A T Bird took over the neighborhood.

We used just tape and letter stickers on the back of there jackets/sweaters
Elexis decided that her pink sparkley shoes worked much better then saddle shoe which is o.k with me becasue she would wear them more then saddle shoes.





8. Jacob and Elexis dresses up as Snowwhite and Inspecter Gadget 2005

9. The same year Jacobs Kindergarten class went to a pumpkin patch

10. Last but not least that brings up to Halloween of 2006 we spent time picking out pumpkins at a great apple orchid close to where we live.

11. thur 13. Our family carving pumpkins in 2006
First picture is My mom, Mark my hubby, and the kids Jacob and Elexis

This Picture is of Jacob and I after we finished drawing our pumpkin face.


The last Picture for today is of teh kids with there finished art work.

THE ANT AND THE CONTACT LENS

A true story by Josh and Karen Zarandona
Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go
rock climbing. Although she was very scared, she
went with her group to a tremendous granite
cliff. In spite of her fear, she put on the
gear, took hold of the rope, and started up
the face of that rock.
Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a
breather. As she was hanging on there, the
safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and
knocked out her contact lens.
Well, here she is, on a rock ledge, with
hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet
above her. Of course, she looked and looked
and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge,
but it just wasn't there.
Here she was, far from home, her sight now
blurry. She was desperate and began to get
upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to
find it.
When she got to the top, a friend examined her
eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was
no contact lens to be found. She sat down,
despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting
for the rest of them to make it up the face of
the cliff.
She looked out across range after range of
mountains, thinking of that verse that says, 'The
eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the
whole earth.' She thought, 'Lord, You can see
all these mountains. You know every stone and
leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens
is. Please help me.'
Finally, they walked down the trail to the
bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of
climbers just starting up the face of the cliff.
One of them shouted out, 'Hey, you guys! Anybody
lose a contact lens?'
Well, that would be startling enough, but you
know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving
slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it
on it's back.
Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist.
When she told him the incredible story of the
ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew
a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens
with the words, '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.'
I think it would probably do some of us good to
occasionally say, 'God, I don't know why you
want me to carry this load. I can see no good
in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want
me to carry it, I will.'
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the
called. Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of
existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning
each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing,
but with Him...I can do all things through
Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)



I'm sure you've heard this story before I have but I received it as an e-mail today and thought wow how easy is it for us to forget who is in control of our lives and how we wouldn't want it any other way. I know that in area of my life I need to surrender to God, and there will be plenty more area in the future will I learn to let God have control and do what he asks me to do or will I make the same mistake over and over again. What will you do?
I think it would probably do some of us good to
occasionally say, 'God, I don't know why you
want me to carry this load. I can see no good
in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want
me to carry it, I will.'

30 Day Organizing Challenge

It pains me to post these pictures but here it goes. When we moved into our new house about 2.5 years ago we did really well with the unpacking we only had a handful of boxes that didn't get fully unpacked and guess were they ended up. Yes the master bedroom closet and when ever we run across something we aren't sure where to put over the last 2.5 years it also went in the closet so my tackle for Novembers Challenge is that Closet. Maybe if I'm lucky a few more rooms with get tackled in order to make room for the belonging in that area.




When we first moved in I thought that closet was way to big and I told my hubby that I was going to put a cushy chair and lamp in there to make it my private reading room(hiding place) as well as a closet. Now I've wished it was bigger. Not any more It will be my roomy closet again.

Wordless Wednesday

Two years ago we had Snow White and Inspector Gadget. Last year they were Batman and a unicorn. Which I never did get any pictures of, this year I will be sure to post a picture they are dressing up as T Bird and a Pink Lady, from Grease. I'm excited it took me a long time to get Jacob excited about it put he is really excited about it now. Come check out the new pictures later this week.

Casting Crown Concert + Stuff

What a great Concert!!! I'm waiting for my Friend who took Pictures to send me some so that I can show them to all of you. But if you don't what to wait to see that great Pictures Check out her Blog. toknowhimjesus.blogspot.com she would love to have you visit to check out the pic's. We had a great weekend, my sister got married and we spent time with the family. I have to say that traveling is no piece of cake for me anymore. We drove 500 miles one way and it down poured most of the way and when it wasn't raining it was foggy. At times we couldn't even see 2 car lengths in front of us. I was a nervous wreck all the way there. I did great on the way home, but the weather was beautiful. We are planning another trip right before the new year, after Christmas before the new year. I hope the weather is good I'm putting my order in for no snowstorms or anything like that. The bible says we shouldn't be worried or anxious about anything because the Lord will talk care of us. I remind myself of that everyday, but some days it is easier said then done. I wonder all the times you read in the bible that an angle of the Lord came to this person or that person and said don't be afraid, where they thinking that is easier said then done. I'm not sure. I just had a song pop into my head, for those of you who know me and my singing ability you know that a song popping into my head is a lot better then out of my mouth!!!!:) :) "It is well" was the song. Life is a constant fight to remind ourselves who we are living for and how what we do and say is a reflection of Christ. I've over the years filled my mind and my heart with positive thoughts and tried my hardest to hold to them. I was not always successful sometimes I let things bother me that shouldn't and I say thing I shouldn't I sometimes let myself get caught up in gossip, but the Lord always forgives me I just have to work harder not to be pulled into those traps. What traps are you repeatedly being pulled into and what are you going to do today to stop. Make a plan and know it inside and out. The peace and satisfaction will be worth it in the long run.

On the road again

I'm not a country music fan but as I began to write this blog that song On The Road Again popped into my head. We have been crazy busy getting ready to go to my sisters wedding in Michigan we leave today after school. It has been a frenzy of planning and packing and all that involves here. Although I certainly did take several hours out of the frenzy to treat myself to a great evening with my friend at a Casting Crowns concert. We had planned to go and one of my friends said she would get the tickets, so I asked her as nice as I could to not get floor tickets because I didn't want to try to see around people who sat in front of us so maybe the first ring of seats would be great. So she called about a week later to let us know that she did get floor seats but they were front row center, and free!!!!!! So what a blessed evening we had the three of us in our front row center free Casting Crowns seat. Yeah!!!!!! The only thing that could have made it better is back stage passes but that is getting a little greed. No it was fabulous I will post picture when I get them from my friend who went with us. I wish I could stay here all day but I have to return to my frenzy. I also wanted to give a shout out to orgjunkie.blogspot.com who is hosting a room organizing Challenge starting Nov. 1, so check her blog out if your interested I know that everyone has a room that we hide from guess, my problem is which one with I share with all of blog sphere?????
Have a great weekend.

Bad Stuff

I had a WOW moment yesterday, our family was driving to walmart and my daughter who just turned 5 had some very difficult question for me as we were talking. It started out very easy she asked "why god mad kids, moms, dads, Grandmas,Grandpas, Great Great Great grandpas", making sure not to exclude any one person from the creation line. I thought I can answer that and so I told her that "he wanted someone to talk to and spend time with and that is why we pray and talk to God and spend time with him he just wants us to love him and to love us back and take care of us." Then she went on to say "if God created everything then he made the bad stuff too." I looked at my husband at this point and said your turn, your daughter whats to know why God created the bad stuff. We tried to explain to her that God didn't create bad stuff that people are able to choose what they do and sometimes they choose bad stuff and that is how come there are bad things in the world. My husband also told her "a long time ago there was an angle who didn't want to do things the way God wanted to do things so he decided to do bad stuff and talk other angels into doing bad stuff and God had to punish him."
My daughter said "So God put him in Jail" "Yes it is kinda like jail but he still talks people into making bad chooses and into doing bad things"
"He wants people to be in Jail with him" "yes"

What a mind our children have, is life really that cut and dry, black and white. I would have never thought that my 5 yr old would ask the same questions that millions of believers and non believers alike struggle with day in and day out. How could a loving and merciful God allow bad thing to happen? Even as a Christian Women myself I have at times struggled with that question personally, when my almost 2 year old niece died it was hard not to say how could God allow this bad thing to happpen. Then to have my sister and her husband who did't know Christ personally ask how could a God who is good take our child away. If only we had the eyes of our children maybe we would be able to see the true as cut and dry, black and white as they do. God doesn't hurt us but he is there to hold us when we are hurting.

Tackle it Tuesday
Yesterday I tackled one of my many hot spot. Actually one of the smaller ones, my Breakfast bar that actually got used as a Breakfast Bar this morning. It tends to collect all the I don't know what to do with this papers stuff. I cleaned it off and threw away a lot of stuff. it looks great but I didn't take any before or after pictures.

Wow this is a fun personality quiz check it out if you have time.
Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy

I hate to say it but, my life has been crazy this week and last. I'm going to sit down and post something real so pleas check back in a couple of days. I write soon with some pictures I hope.

Family Fun

Jacob was so excited that his cousins where coming to visit especially the oldest. They are only 2 months apart and have been hanging out since they were almost 2yr old that is before we move to Springfield. They don't get to see each other as much so Jacob was very excited.



I have to say we had the best time with Mark sister and her family this past weekend. They came to Springfield to watch Jacob play football and we had a little Birthday Party for Elexis while they were here. The only thing that would have made it better is if both of his sisters could have come. We missed her a lot but she had to work. Next time maybe she will be able to come as well. I've put a few picture on the blog to show off our fun time. Most of my pictures were on the film camera not the digital so this is what we have.
Enjoy!!!!!

Homecoming

Today is Homecoming here the kid are excited because they get out of school early, have a parade and get candy. The teens are excited because they get to have a energetic pep rally, great football game that hopefully they will win, and a dance with handsome boys, and beautifully girls. Two of whom will be crowned King and Queen. What a wonderful memories for all of them. I was struck with the thought of a Homecoming yet to come, someday we will all have a great pep rally, handsome men and women meeting the King, do you think there will be a parade. I certainly look forward to meeting the King. Everyone have a great weekend and I will hopefully have some pictures next week.

Tackle it Tuesday

Before

Both of these are after shots

I'm so excited I've tackled part of our office, the desk and computer desk which equals about 1/3 of the office, the rest will follow.
Our office seems to be the place were almost everything goes when we don't know where to put it or don't want to take time to put it away. So I'm slowly one step at a time tackling the dumping ground.

The View

I'm sorry I haven't posted lately we've been very busy I would post football pictures except we have been useing the 35mm if anyone remembers what those cameras are, Ha!!!!Ha!!!! Anyway I have to tell everyone that I an really enjoying The View it comes on at 10:00 in the morning where I am, and they have gotten 2 new co-host the first on is Whoopi and then the second one is Sheri Shepherd not to be confused with Sheri Rose Shepherd who has written several christian books and speaks. She wrote 7 Ways to a Better You. This Sheri Shepherd is an African American actress she spoke at the women of faith conference in 2006 when I went. Anyway I love it, it seems that she isn't afraid to talk about her faith and what she beleives. I look forward to watching it so I can see what she is going to say. She quotes Scripture from heart and talks freely about God and blessings. It was funny today they were talking about covetting and she said that she was up for a walk on role that was going to be a regular add on character on Everyone Loves Raymond, if you watched that she was the cop his brothers partner at the end of the seris. They wanted Queen Latiffa?? ( I'm sure I didn't spell her name right) so she went home and prayed that God would bless Queen L with something better so that she could get this job. Come to find out Queen L was doing a movie and couldn't do the spot and Sheri was choosen for the spot. That makes you think more about why God tells us to pray for our enemies ( I use the word enemies loosly as maybe an obsticle) if we ask God to bless others he will bless us. It seems that in my life I've done more covetting then I reallize or wanted to realize. There has been several Jobs I've wanted and not got, why? I would ask God and try my hardest not to have hard feeling toward the person who did get it. It's a humbling thing to have to realize and admit that God has something else in mind and I need to be patient and wait for him to tell me what it is. I'm still waiting but with a better attitude and more understanding these days. I tell myself all the time the blessing the Lord has given me and will bless me with in the future has and will out weigh any blessing I would have choosen for myself. Think about what the word covet really means an how much it encompasses. May God Bless eveyone who reads this Blog. I'll see you tomorrow with a tackled project I hope.

Tackling it

I've decided to tackle my Office/Scrap room I'm not posting pictures just yet. I've been overwhelmed a for a long time by that room and I'm not even scrapping because I'm so overwhelmed so it is time come check it out on tuesday. I'm sure only part of it will be done but it will be a start. I have a great organizing system Ijust have to put things away.
Stay Tuned

Tackle It Tuesday

Check back here next Tuesday to see what I tackled this week. ????

Wordless Wednesday

The Printer is Here

For those of you who don't know I won a photo printer from HP, for those of you who do know it arrived today at my door. I'm setting it up and will post how wonderful it is later.

You makes a Difference!!!

I Received this through my e-mail and wanted to display it through my blog and I'm going to give this blue ribbon to a friend who started me into blogging. She has inspired me to push through and keep blogging even when I didn't know if I wanted to keep blogging. I love blogging even if I'm the only one who checks my blog. Ha, Ha!!! I'm just kidding I'm grateful to all who read my blog and I hope that everyone who reads it enjoys it as much as I enjoy putting it together. Thanks Kim. I have to say there are so many people if my life who has made a difference in a small way and some in a not so small way I owe them a debt of gratitude. I will be giving a few more of these out in the future.

"YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE"
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by
telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student
to the front of the class, one at a time.
First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the
class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with
gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."
Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of
impact recognition would have on a Community. She gave each of the students
three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this
acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the
results, see who honored whom, and report to the class in about a week.
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby Company,
and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a
blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt.Then he gave him two extra ribbons and
said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to
go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the
extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person, to keep this
acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me
what happened."
Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been
noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down,
and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The
boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would
accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put
it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took
the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart.
As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extra
ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first
gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want to keep this
recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."
That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son, and sat him down. He
said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office,
and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me, and
gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I am
a creative genius! Then he put a blue ribbon that says, "Who I Am Makes a
Difference", on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and
asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I
started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought
about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home, I
do not pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not
getting good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess.
Somehow, tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know
that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the
most important person in my life, and I love you.
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he could not stop crying His
whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears,
"Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom,
explaining why I had took my life, and I asked you to forgive me I just did
not think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I
need it after all."
His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and
pain. The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch,
but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference.
The junior executive helped other young people with career planning, and
never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life...one
being the boss' son. In addition, the young boy and his classmates learned
a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make a difference".

Isn't this a wonderful story? I'm passing the blue ribbon to you, for WHO
YOU ARE does make a difference, too. You're # 1 in my Book!
May GOD BLESS YOU Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought
about you today!
A prayer for today: Lord, Thank you for my friends and family who really do
make a difference to me. AMEN

Thankful Thursday

It's kinda funny but today I'm thankful for waking up next to my hubby, and thinking WOW!!! I sure do love him. There are mornings where as I sleep I dreamt that we got into this horrible fight and I actually wake up mad at him. After a feel minutes my sleepiness wears off and I have to laugh because I realize it was a dream and I'm not really mad at him. Those day are almost never, but today I just looked over and new that the best thing that ever happened to me beside finding Jesus was waking up next to him each and every day. Man, do I love him.

We love the Wii

Last night was so much fun we host a small group in our home, and the month of september is a fun time for us as we wait to start our 6 week study. So we decided to check the Wii out from the church to learn how to Wii bowl. Our group had so much fun. The Adults played then we invited the children to come in and play as well. It was a great night.

I would encourage any one who had a chance to play this gaming system to give it a try it's easy and fun. Wii had a great time.