Time seems to be flying by. Already this January is in its final hours. Craziness... I realized I also have been neglecting my camera. Not many pictures or videos taken this month. It made me a little sad. The good news is tomorrow is still fresh. We can always begin again tomorrow. :)
This is also good news since I have been failing miserably on my Resolutions...
live each day to the fullest-- this one I maybe doing all right on :)
stop sighing-- I have become much more conscious and think I have cut back on the sighing for the most part
have semi regular date nights with the Mister-- hopefully there is one on the horizon ;)
de-clutter our house!-- I do have some bags ready to be taken to the SA...taking them there is the next step
Memorize a JOY verse each week-- I am working on my 3rd verse...not a total fail
blog more regularly-- trying
count 1000 gifts in 2013-- counting away... up to 111
make a new quilt and maybe another ripple-- I have a quilt fund started. And a pattern picked out. And another top secret ripple or two are in the works ;)
keep piano bench and kitchen table cleaned off-- this is a constant battle
exercise-- I think I have exercised maybe a grand total of three times this month. Fail.
start playing piano again-- did not even sit down at the piano even once. Major Fail.
Okay so maybe not failing miserably. They are a work in progress. Today is not over. Tomorrow is a fresh new day.
In the meantime here is a recap of some of my January gifts...
Last week at Bible Study we talked a little about dreams. Whether or not we had dreams that meant anything. The general consensus was no, pretty much they were a bunch of non sense if we recalled them at all.
However this past week I did have a dream that stuck with me. I was spending time with a family. And some of the details were weird and dream like, you know the kind of things that make perfect sense while you are dreaming but then when you wake up leave you scratching your head thinking --Wow, that was weird.
What stuck with me though was the words this family was speaking to each other. They were mean, backbiting and rude. Their off handed comments caustic. It was no way to speak to anyone. Let alone someone you love.
It served to remind me how important our words are. How we need to guard our mouths and watch the way we speak to those around us. It has made me more conscious of the words that come out of my mouth this week. Resolving to be more encouraging. I want to build my family up not tear them down.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Last night Mikayla and I were in the kitchen. She was making her lunch, we were chatting and laughing. I opened the freezer to grab the hamburger meat to make Tacos for supper tonight. As I was reaching into the freezer, I heard the sound of something dropping. Startled, I jumped back in panic. Mikayla almost fell over laughing at me.
It was only the ice dropping into the bin from the ice maker. However... you may recall a few years back I suffered an injury from frozen chicken falling out of our freezer and hitting me on the back of the head. Thus the reason for my jumpiness around freezers.
If you missed that story or just need a good laugh, you can check it out here.
Things have been busy here, not much time for blogging. Sunday though we had a lovely little family dinner. My parents, grandma, my sister and her boyfriend were able to come over for dinner. We had a lovely mini "Thanksgiving" dinner. Grandma kept asking me what we were celebrating. To which mom and I replied, why do we need a reason... but finally settled on Family being the reason. It just doesn't get better than that. :) After dinner we indoctrinated Rich, teaching him our family's favorite game. Dutch Blitz!
Storm cuddled up with Grandma on the couch...
The Mister of course was watching football... ;P
Monday Hannah was able to go over to Pastor's house along with a couple buddies and play with Pastor's trains. The kids look forward to going for their train visit every year. :) They will miss Pastor and his trains next January.
So much to be grateful for! Yesterday I was having a little attitude problem in the morning. But I recognized it, that's half the battle. I prayed about it as I drove to work. Listening to KLOVE as usual. They have started this new feature in the last month or so where at 8:45 every morning they having an encouraging story. It happens to hit right about the time I pull into the OMX parking lot the mornings I work. :) I frequently sit in the van and listen to it before I head in. Yesterday it wasn't so much the story but the song they played in response to it. It touch my heart, and made me thankful yet again, as I read in my devo that very morning-- That we do indeed have a God who sees us. A God who cares about our trials and struggles no matter how big or small. A God who answers us.
This is the song, I listened to it again before I went to bed last night, as the anxiety level was creeping up again...
I received this in an email last week. I decided to print it out and put in in my Bible. I love our country. I love where I live.
But I know I have been guilty of not praying for our Land.
Its something God keeps bringing to me. So I am adding it to my list of New Year's Resolutions to pray for our country and leaders. Every day. Join Me?
I am not sure where this email originated but this is what I received...
"Please join me in
committing to daily prayer for these three things:
Government
Officials–to be led by Biblical principles
Our fellow
Americans–to turn their hearts to God
Disciples of
Jesus–to speak and act wisely, as salt and light
in our world
(Note that the first
letter of each sentence spells GOD.)
Pick a time that works for you and
pray every day.
Pray as you commute or cook dinner
or brush your teeth. Pray at the mall or
in the hall at school.
Let prayers fill our homes and
highways and government buildings.
Change comes not in the making
or breaking of laws, but in
acknowledging God’s eternal laws written on our
hearts.
Please pass this on to anyone who
believes in God."
I also have this little book tucked in the back pocket of my Bible cover. It is a 40 day prayer guide to praying for our Nation as well.
I kinda feel like I haven't been doing well on the joy front the past week or so. I have let feelings of being tired, over whelmed and discouraged take over. Last week as I was at work {feeling overwhelmed tired and discouraged} this is the verse God was whispering to my heart.
Restore to me the JOY of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Psalm 51:12
So that is my Joy verse this week. I kinda feel like its cheating as its one I pretty much already memorized. But its the one that is speaking to me this week. =)
This morning as I read my devotional it talked about how the language of thanks was something that had to be learned. I found that encouraging. It's not something that comes easy. I am not utterly failing. It is something that takes work and concentration. Its so much easier to complain. To sigh, to be cast down. But I don't have to stay down. He will lift me up. He will hold my hand as I begin again to journey down this road of Joy.
I flipped to the back of my devotional and realized I had not written a single gift since Wednesday. That simply will not do...I thought back over the past few days. Here are a few I jotted down. My eyes wide open to see the gifts He has for me today...
It immediately caught my eye. The mister and I too married ridiculously young. I was just 18, he had just turned 20. Eleven months later we welcomed our first bundle of joy Mikayla Erin.
Its been 14 years now since we first said "I do." So much has happened. Not all of it good. Maybe someday I will share our whole story. But even though some of it is painful, I don't think I would change any of it. It has made us who we are today. Through it all we are stronger.
I wouldn't say everyone should marry young. I was naive and a silly, romantic girl. Truthfully I had no idea what I was getting into. But one thing is sure. I always wanted to be a Godly wife and mother.
Marriage is hard. Being a mom is hard. But I would never consider saying to one of my children, you know I still love you...I just don't want to be your mom any more. I can not even fathom such a thing. Why would I ever do the same to the man I pledged to love, honor and cherish the rest of my days. I wouldn't choose not stop being a mother. And I shall not choose to stop being a wife.
Why would it be considered better to spend those young years drinking and partying... in my opinion that is the choice that is squandering your youth.
The bottom line is you need to do what is right for you. To know when you find that person God has for you. To firmly build your relationship and home on Him. So that when the storms do come. You can stand firm. Side by side. Maybe you are 18, maybe you are 30, maybe 50... I don't think age is the key factor at all. Its a matter of commitment. Faith. Covenant.
I have been struggling with feeling in adequate at times lately. My job is a cashier. I don't have any college education. And people are frequently surprised I have three children. One of which that is a teenager! But my worth doesn't come from having a degree, or a high powered job. I am 32 years old and really I don't know what career I would choose, even now. I don't really have any desire to go back to school. I am not sure where this road I am on is leading.
But one calling I am proud and happy to have is that of Rhett's wife; Mikayla, Ryan and Hannah's mother.
I met this gentleman at the Store the other night. It was just about closing time when he wandered through my line. Telling me of his wife, who had passed away 14 months ago. 46 years they were married. He still missed her, went to her grave everyday. Marriage is precious, he told me. I agreed. He asked if I was single. Or Married.
"I am married." I replied smiling. He smiled back asking how long. "14 years."
"That's good." He answered. "Marriage is precious when you find the right person. You look like you found the right person."
"I have." I confirmed. He held my hand. Smiled into my eyes. "God Bless you, Amy."
And just this morning saw the post Ann Voskamp wrote about Falling In Love Again on her blog.
Marriage is precious. Family is priceless. I realize that things happen, circumstances are beyond our control. But God can bring hope and healing out of even the darkest situations.
I will treasure my husband and my children, everyday.
It's New Years. Time to start again. I wasn't going to make any specific resolutions. I rarely keep them. I had intentions in mind. Things I was gonna shoot for.... But then I was inspired.
I chose my word for the year a while back.
J O Y
And that is the main thing I am working on. To be more joyful, to be more positive. To find the wonders and gifts in the everyday. I also plan to simplify. Get rid of excess clutter and become slightly more organized.
The other night I bought this book for my Kindle, it caught my eye and it was free so I figured, why not? :) Maybe I can pick up a few tips to help me out.
Also the other night as the Mr and I were driving home we heard someone on the radio talking about how we should find joy in the everyday. That we weren't meant to live for the weekend, or vacation or whatever. That there are things to be enjoyed everyday.
