Reflections on 2009

Reflection Questions for 2009

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year? Getting out of credit card debt!
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened? Seeking to be a better mother and struggling daily.
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year? Watching my two girls grow into sisters that play and fight!

4. What was an unexpected obstacle? Though not unexpected, my own sin is a constant obstacle

5. Pick three words to describe 2009. Blessed, joyful, fun

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you). Blessed, fun, new

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking). He would say, I don't know in a voice that said, don't ask me to answer useless questions.

8. What were the best books you read this year? Bible, Because He Loves Me, Comforts from the Cross

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships? My Lord, my husband, my children

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year? understanding the Gospel in a way I never had before.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally? I am learning to serve my husband with a joyful heart. Still working on this with my children.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually? The little day to day things that make me understand Jesus better. I can't pinpoint just one, but I know now that it is not big things that point us to Christ, but the little things.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically? outward.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others? I would like to think that I serve others more than I have in the past in a selfless way.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home? Being at home with my children and learning to love that role.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management? balancing work and house work and caring for my children

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? The computer, hands down

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year? Reading the Word

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?I have a long way to go, but keep trying.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you. Growing, learning, changing

Jesus vs. Santa

Early Christmas Greetings

With 3 weeks before Christmas REMEMBER:
Jesus is Better than Santa.
　
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
　
Santa rides in a sleigh.
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
　
Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.
　
Santa fills your stockings with goodies.
JESUS supplies all your needs.
　
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.
　
You have to stand in line to see Santa.
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
　
Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
　
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?".
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
　
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.
JESUS has a heart full of love.
　
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
　
Santa says "You better not cry".
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
　
Santa's little helpers make toys.
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
　
Santa may make you chuckle but . . . ..
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
　
While Santa puts gifts under your tree . . ..
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
　
It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.
May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2009
And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year.
　

The Parrott Family

A great article came out in the paper today about the Parrotts! Be sure to go donate now that the button is up!

Read Article

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I use the term everyone loosely as in the everyone, I mean no one who actually reads this thing any more.

I have so much to be thankful for. Food, clothes, jobs, a house, money to pay our bills, two beautiful children, a wonderful God-loving husband, amazing family and friends and the list could go on and on.

In addition, I am thankful for the things we don't have, the challenges and trials we have not had to face. The things that God has chosen for others but not for us. Thank you Lord for sovereignly caring about every little detail of ours lives and for loving me enough that when I ran away and turned my back on you for so many years, you kept your hands out reaching for me, and you sought me out and brought me to you. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and for letting me see you for who you truly are and me for who I truly am, a sinner, in need of an amazing Savior. Thank you.

Time flies

I could yak about why I haven't been here in so long, or how lame I am, but really, who cares?

Waht I do want to say is God is so good! I just took a survey regarding the recession and how it is affecting our family and our jobs. I know many out there are suffering very ill effects of the current economy and I won't say it hasn't affected us either. BUT, both my husband and I are blessed to still have our jobs and we are so thankful for that.

In addition, earlier this year hubby and I did a Crown Financial Study with our small group at church and we have been trying our best at steady plodding and being good stewards of what the Lord has given us. (1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.) The things we learned and practiced during those weeks have really helped us and I believe the Lord has blessed us for trying to be faithful. I say trying because I knkow that I could do a whole lot better than I have been. But despite my failures, God is merciful and has blessed us abundantly and has gotten us out of credit card debt! How awesome and mighty is He!? So while answering that survey, not only could I say that the recession has not affected us much, we have actually been getting out of debt and being able to give out of what God has so graciously and mercifully given us.

We are also currently raising money for a dear sweet family in our church, the Parrotts. Go here and ready their story. Go, really, I said GO! And if it is laid on your heart to help them, please donate or buy a cookbook or both! We will have the donation button up shortly on their blog and I will post a link here as well. If you have any questions, email me at shootersstation @ gmail dot com. God is doing mighty things with a cookbook we have put together. We are praying, (please do pray with us) that we will have our first order of 300 by Christmas! So far we have sold 75 books and I do truly pray that we sell out and have to buy more. While putting together the cookbook, I prayed for 100 recipes. I ended up with over 250! Praise God again!

I am so thankful that I am allowed to see God work. Thankful that He called me to Jesus to follow Him. It makes me sad that so many cannot see the hand of God in the every day things But I can understand too, when so many have turned their back on God, pushed Him away, told Him they don't need Him, they can't see Him because He has done what they have asked.

Ladies of the Vine: Verse for the week

Titus 2:3  Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

 

Titus 2 is rich with commands on how to live as a wife and woman in the ways that God has intended for us. These verses carry so much that sometimes it is easy to be overwhelmed by what God expects of us as women.  But, we have hope, because He is faithful and has given us all we need to live in the way He has called us. 

 

In what ways do these verses convict you?  What practical ways to you purpose to obey these commands? 

--
Jasmine

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

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He is everywhere

Acts 17:24-31
24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

29"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

Help get my friend's car blown up

My friends are trying to get their car blown up by Conan, check out their video. http://tinyurl.com/l6bgzb Help get their car blown up!

Graphic PSA in UK

Is graphic PSA too much? I don't think so, teens need to see the consequences. I saw a video in drivers ed about trying to beat trains. It was graphic and enough to make me never want to try and race a train. http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/25972763/graphic-content.htm#q=PSA+Testing

Proverbs 31 Woman

My friend Sarah has issued a challenge/request. She wants to know our little tidbits of info that help us save money and time. Working part time at home while watching two kids and managing the household, I need all the help I can get. Here is a quick list of what I do, hope it is useful. Feel free to share your tips in the comments here.

• I plan my meals every week. I sit down and plan what we are eating each night and then plan my grocery list. I only go to the grocery store once a week. This saves time as well as money because you are making a bunch of little trips to the store. The more you go to the store, the more you buy.
• A friend of mine just told me that Walmart will match any competitors price, so she clips all the prices, etc from the weekly grocery circulars and makes a list and takes it with her to Walmart when she shops.
• Kroger and I think Randall's both offer double and triple coupons up to a certain amount every day.
• If you are into clipping coupons and finding the best deals already, check out The Grocery Game. I don't have the time to do it, but I know that you can save money.
• Flylady has helped me when my house gets too out of control. I don't do it all the time, but when I am trying to get back on track, it works great, because it tells me what to do and when to do it. She has some great tips and links to dinner ideas and taking care of your home, family and body as well.
• I am slowly learning that it doesn't have to be perfect and it doesn't have to be done at a certain time or a certain day. I am learning to let go of the rules I place on how and when things have to be done. This has helped me to be less stressed. It has also helped me to have a messier house. ;-)
• In an average week, I leave the house very little. I have found that the more I leave the house, the more money I spend.
• In terms of going out to eat, we have a hard time doing this, but I know it works. Portions are so big these days, you and your husband can usually share. If your husband isn't in to sharing and you have kids, my oldest doesn't usually eat much, especially when we are out, so I try to not order her anything and have her share mine or her and her sister will share. Always order water too, you will save money. Kids eat free is always a good thing to take advantage of too. Just make a mental note when you are driving around
• For fun things to do in the Houston area as well as a list of Kids eat free places (mainly in the Cypress area though) check out http://www.ninaloca.com/.

I thought of a couple more:

• Buy in bulk. Anything you use a lot of , see if you can't buy it in bulk. I do this with meat especially. I buy 5 lbs of ground beef and then split it up into 1 lb increments and freeze it.
• Make a lot of one meal and then freeze left overs for an easy dinner at a later date.
• Consider one meal a week without meat, it's cheaper.
• Frozen veggies are just as good as fresh sometimes and are sometimes cheaper. Check prices though.
• Track every penny you spend for a month. You will see what your money goes to and where you need to cut back.
• Go to a cash only/check only (remember what those are) basis and you will spend less money because you aren't just whipping out the debit card all the time.
• Sit down once a week and do your bills/budget. Looking at it on a regular basis gives you a good idea of what you are spending and where you need to tighten.
• Tithe first, save second, then pay your bills. You will be amazed at how much further your money goes this way and your bills won't get lost in the shuffle.

And, lastly, to save time, stay off the internet! Still working on that one.

Well, that's what comes to mind write now. Enjoy!

We the people...

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies.

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Isaiah 40

5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."

Tips, Tricks and Product Raves

Thought I would share some of my favorite things or some of the things I have discovered, slowly I might add, regarding motherhood.

First, wanted to tell all you moms who sweat while chasing your children around, there is some good deoderant out there! A friend recommended it to me. It's called Degree Clinical Protection. It's a bit more expensive than regular so I only use it when I am leaving the house...and continue to use my Dove when I am at home. It works great and no more sweaty pits. Or at least not near as sweaty.

Another product recommended to me, has changed my laundry life forever. I have a habit of leaving laundry in the washer and/or dryer for day(s). Downy Wrinkle Releaser. Most incredible stuff ever! Just spray on fabric, stretch a little and the wrinkles go away! If the fabric is thicker, it doesn't work as well, but t-shirts, etc, it works awesome and it smells like fresh laundry, the kind that hung out on the line to dry!

That's it for today, more to come tomorrow!

It's already tomorrow, already

Today is yesterday's tomorrow. And so here it is, time to write my first post. And nothing real to write about. I may have to be lazily clever and post one liners and songs for the month. As long as it has the word tomorrow right?

TOMORROW

Tomorrow is the day - August 1st, NaBloPoMo begins. While I know that I will never make it to posting everyday, I would like to post here more. I still write blog posts in my head, I just never have time to get them down "on paper" so to speak. Priorities and all.

But Tomorrow is another day, and so we will see what God brings.

A classmate of mine passed away yesterday. I remember little about Terrance Jackson, but what I do remember is his smile, infectious to say the least. He was a clown, always making people laugh, but he had a tender heart. In his mid thirties, he died of a brain aneurism. Life is short. We do not know the number of days the Lord has given us. Do not wait for tomorrow for what you need to do today.

Do you know where you will go, Heaven or Hell, when you die? If you have any questions at all, the Bible is clear about how to get to both. What road are you on?

Unofficial NaBloPoMo for August

I've tried my hand at this before. Needless to say, I'm pretty bad at keeping up. So I will unofficially be blogging, probably twice in August to be realistic, instead of everyday, on the subject for August which is TOMORROW.

http://nablopomo.ning.com/

Weekly Goals

I am going to start posting weekly goals.  At least this week anyways...;-)  Maybe this way I will be more accountable and actually stop being LAZY!

 

1. Get up every morning at 6 for Quiet Time and Prayer Time
2. Memorize Psalm 86:11-13
3. Read Proverbs 31 every morning as part of the True Woman 30 Day Challenge
4. Read in John every night
5. Pray my priorities
6. Work out at least 20 minutes 2 times this week.

Okay, that should keep me busy this week. 

I should really write something

Where in the world have I been? I write blog posts in my head, they just never make it to paper. Busy with social media for work, don't have much part in it after hours.

The Little One is walking now. She's mobile!!!!!

Wish I had more time to write... Find me on FB or Twitter though.

Undistracted Devotion

This sermon really hit home with me, and I would venture to say, most Mom's out there or anyone for that matter in this day and age can relate to the busyness and distractions of this world that pull us away from our first love, Jesus Christ.

Fun with Flying

Love the business men getting into it!

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=0a4bae05b8237b63f5f5

Where will you be?

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4fe243ea9675cf88602d

Everyone is heading in a direction? Where are you headed?

Happy First Birthday Grace

Gracie/Woosky/Boosky/Woosky Booter,
A year ago today, right now I was getting my epidural (close enough) and in an hour, you were born. What a blessing and a joy it is to be your mother. Your smile, laughter and giggle are some of my greatest joys. I thank God for bringing you into my life.

Love,
Mama

Weekend Fun

Quick update and just forget the past 6 or so months without a post, kay...

We went to The Woodlands Resort for the weekend! It was an amazing blessing to actually get to go somewhere as a family during Spring Break! Now that hubby is at a new job we actually get to spend weekends together and it has completely changed our family dynamic, for the good.

Here are some pics of the girls. Grace turns 1 this week and it's amazing how fast the past year has gone. How did I end up with a 3 and 1 year old? I have some idea how it happened, but I am still amazed at these two little blessings.

Waiting for Winna to come get us, sittin' in the wagon.

Sisters.

First trip to the pool, "What is that?"

Random Questions

Do people actually talk face to face anymore or does everyone just twitter their husbands?

Why is my 10 month old all of a sudden getting up at 6:30 am?

Why does my 3 year old think she needs to smell her sister's bottom? Maybe cuz she sees me doing it?

Why does the weather keep going from 80 to 30 every other day?

Why am I complaining? I could live in KY? Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Why?

Tagged in Facebook, use for blog...

I still can't understand how so many people have time for the social media thing. I don't et my laundry done as it is...

Anyhooo. .. did this in facebook and thought, hey let's post something over here. If you feel so inclined, do it yourself and drop me an email, twitter me, facebook me, whatever it's called and I might see it when I dig out from my never ending pile of things-to-do-that-seem-to-never-get-done.

So I present, 25 random, and possibly strange, things about me.

1. I have never plucked my eyebrows. Ever.
2. I have been married 5 years.
3. We went to Costa Rica on our honeymoon. I highly recommend it!
4. My husband and I quit drinking in August of 2008. We decided that the way we used alcohol was not honoring to God nor was it setting an example we wanted our children to see and follow.
5. After many years as an atheist, agnostic and growing up Jewish, God opened my eyes and saved me in June of 2007.
6. Being a Christian has brought me more joy, happiness and peace than I ever thought was possible and in a way I never imagined was possible.
7. I love my two girls, but would love to have a boy next time. Not sure I would know what to do with one though!
8. I have worked for The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center for almost 10 years.
9. I have a BS in Kinesiology with a minor is Psychology. I do marketing for a living and I love it!
10. I don’t understand how so many people have so much time to blog, twitter, facebook, etc. How do you guys get anything done?
11. My favorite sound in the whole wide world is the sound of my girls laughing.
12. I have a foot fetish. Don’t come near me with those things. Toe fungus commercials creep me out.
13. I used to be a personal trainer. Now I work out about once a year.
14. I have a brother and a sister that are the same age for 8 months out of the year, but the only way they are related is through me. (Technically they are both half, but I have never ever thought of them this way.)
15. I am a very selfish person. I am trying very hard to overcome that.
16. I want to be a better wife and mother than I am.
17. I am really bad and keeping up with people.
18. Most weeks I don’t go anywhere except Walmart and Church.
19. I am an extremely amatuer photographer, but I would love to spend all my time taking photos.
20. I have a blog, but rarely post on it anymore. Doesn’t matter cause my 5 readers I had before have long since disappeared.
21. Both of my daughters were born the day before they were scheduled to be induced, a week late. They like the threat of induction apparently.
22. I wish I was better at doing the family thing. I am bad at keeping up with my family.
23. I went to 5 different elementary schools in two different states.
24. I lived in Mexico when I was little and spoke pretty good Spanish. That’s all gone now, despite 4 years of Spanish between 8th grade and college. You don’t use it, you lose it.
25. I am not going to tag anyone for this since most everyone who cares to do it, already has.

To my Boo Ba

Happy 3rd Birthday (yesterday) Sweetie! We love you soooooooo much. What a blessing and a joy you are to us and all those you come in contact with.

Matthew 7:13

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. " Matthew 7:13 NIV

Jesus is talking about the way to heaven. When we come to forks in the road, hard decisions, day to day life, everything, the hard way is rarely the way that we would choose. In general we choose to go the path of least resistance, which usually happens to be the path that most everyone else is on. We cave to our selfish desires to be comfortable, to have it easy, to not have to face the difficult decisions, even when we know they are the right decisions. Many times we face a situation, knowing that if we choose one way, it will be harder, but probably best in the long run and we face an option to choose the easy way and usually avoid any discomfort, but also in turn avoiding not only the true issue, but the blessings we might have received had we chosen correctly.

The road to God through Christ is narrow and many choose to ignore it, choosing instead to believe that since so many more people are on the broad road, that one must be right. We find comfort in numbers, believing that the majority is always right. Sometimes the majority are just lost.

It is easy to see the wide path when looking for options, but finding the narrow path requires searching, asking tough questions, suffering consequences for our sin and moving forward in faith and trust that the God who made us and all that we know will get us through to the other side.

Photo Friday: White