Learning

So as we close out 2010, I've been thinking about the New Year and all the promise a New Year always holds.

2010 has been hard in a lot of ways for me. I must admit that I have struggled greatly in this year emotionally. Yes I have struggled physically, but that has not been the worst thing. Emotional pain is so hard, and that is what I've been struggling with lately.

Last night, I went to bed after a good cry, and I woke up in the middle of the night saying:

This is what I know:
God is good all the time,
And all the time God is good.
He has the Master Plan.
He is the Master Plan.
And I can trust Him.

Sometimes life is just hard. You want the ones you love to follow Him the closest. Yes it is hard when they choose another way that will NEVER fulfill. But God is faithful and He knows my heart and He knows their heart, and I can trust Him.

The verse that went through my mind last night was:

Philippians 3:13-15 (New International Version, ©2010)
"13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you."

Okay so this is the series around the verse. It's so good. The part of the verse going through my head was "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." That is where I am right now; pressing on and pressing in.



I encourage you in 2011 to press in, be deligent about your time with the Father. Be intentional and don't let anything stop you from pressing in to Him. He will lift you up and Bless you for it!! God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!!

Thank you for listening to me today and always. I so appreciate all of your prayers and your comments. I really do appreciate them so. My life is so greatly enriched by this community.

Love you,

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry CHRISTmas!!! Have a Beautiful and Blessed day celebrating the true meaning of CHRISTmas!!



Happy Birthday Jesus!!!!!

My pitifully small faith.....

Have I mentioned how much I love Apps? I think I have, but please let me reiterate this: I am loving them.

I have a Beth Moore App: Praying God's Word Prayer Card app.

I LOVE IT!!! I read this yesterday:

"I didn't ask you to believe in Me. I asked you to believe Me.

I sat very puzzled for several moments until I was certain that the Holy Spirit had faithfully shed light on my pitifully small faith. I sensed Him saying,'My child, you believe Me for so little. Don't be so safe in the things you pray. Who are you trying to keep from looking foolish? Me or you?'"

Okay so I don't mind telling you, that it shook me. I was riding my recumbent in the garage listening to Pandora and the next song that came on while I was reading this passage was:

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in
Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

The part that kept sticking out to me was "It was my sin that held Him there..." My sin held Him there, He died for me, I live because He lives, and my pitifully small faith keeps me bound in the arena of "I wish......" I wish my leg would get better..... I wish my loved one would quit running from Him..... I wish......... I wish........ instead I should be saying, I KNOW my God is able. It was my sin that held Him there, but He conquered it. I do not have to have pitifully small faith. That's the deal. I can BELIEVE HIM....not just in Him, but believe Him. When He says He is able, because He is ALWAYS able. I can believe Him.

So as I enter 2011 I am entering in learning mode. I want to know more. I want to know Him more!!! I will be starting by joining the Seista Scripture Memory Verse Team with the LPM Blog. God has already laid my first verse on my heart. I am so ready to start the New Year with Scripture on my heart every day. How cool is that?!!

We are also starting up our online Bible Study the second week of January (tentatively), and it will be Beth Moore's "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place". If you would like to join us, please leave me your e-mail address and I will send you more information. We'd love to have you.

Luke 2:4-5 (New International Version, ©2010)

"4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."




Have a Blessed day,

The Joy Swap

Earlier this month I was so excited to take part in a swap of goodies hosted by Monica and Carrie. I had never done one so I was really excited to participate. How it works is Monica posted on her blog that they were doing another swap, this one being The Joy Swap, for CHRISTmas (each one is named different). You have to be a regular commenter and follower on either her or Carrie's blog. Then you comment on that post and they send out an e-mail a few days later with questions on it that you answer. Then you are paired up with someone with similar answers. Then you and she share e-mails back and forth and get to know each other. How cool is that?!! It was SO fun!!

My Joy Swap Sister was Debbie Fisher. She does wonderful papercrafts!!! She is SO talented.
If you'd like to see what I sent her, please head over to her blog and check that out, and just check her out. She is so fun and you might just make a new friend.

Here are all my goodies.....
















She sent me this delicious Peppermint Mocha -- YUMMM!!!!!

















Look at this cute snowman that says: "May your heart rest in God's loving care!" Just what I need right now in this season. Thanks Debbie!!















I am SO enjoying this pad and pen. How cute is this and it's music notes. I absolutely love it!!! It has my CHRISTmas shopping list in it right now as we speak (no I am not done -- EEK!! =)



















This cute snowman found his new home on my piano. So beautiful!!!
















Debbie is so talented. She put this candle together for me.

















And she then sent me this cute pot holder. I LOVE snowmen!!!!!


















These were Peppermint Oreo Balls and Sir Cuteness couldn't get enough. In fact, we hid the last one so no one else would eat it and he could have it later. How sweet is that?

















And she also sent me this adorable sticky pad holder.

























Debbie, thank you for all the fun goodies. It was so fun getting to know you.

I got another fun package in the mail this week and I'll be posting about it with pictures next week.





Luke 1:38 (New International Version, ©2010)

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.




Have a Beautiful weekend,

Bows....Bows....Bows.....

Well CHRISTmas is in full swing around here, and with our Sir Cuteness, he makes things so much more fun!!!

When I went to Wal-Mart the other day I got wrapping paper and this HUGE package of bows and I remember thinking that I will never use that many bows. Boy was I wrong, in fact, we may end up buying more because of this bundle of Cuteness.....

Sir Cuteness has decided that our packages need LOTS of stickers.....ummm, errrr bows =)

He likes it that I can make a regular bow a sticker. Yeah, I'm just cool like that =)

I mean seriously, look at this bundle of Cuteness!!!

















See what I mean about the bows.....
















Bows courtesy of Sir Cuteness. I mean seriously, what's a present without A LOT of bows?!!


















Oh my word, can you stand the Cuteness?!! =)

















When Sir Cuteness found out this present was his, he decided he needed a few more bows, of course.
















Oh my, can you even stand the Cuteness?!! I know.....totally Cuteness!!

I love CHRISTmas through the eyes of a child. He is making this a very special CHRISTmas for us indeed. Right now he is running around the coffee table with his car in only a thermal shirt, pull-up and socks, and he's completing this ensemble with all the car noises he can make. Oh the Cuteness!!!!!

Have a Beautiful Day!!!

Luke 2:13-14 (King James Version)

"13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

It's the Little Things.....

Sometimes its the little things that mean the most.

My husband is so sweet. He does things like:

1. Plugging my toothbrush in when it gets low.
2. Putting my car in the garage.
3. Pulling the covers down at night.
4. Rubbing my leg just because.

And big things like:

1. Mopping the floor regularly.
2. Vacuuming regularly.
3. Cleaning for me.
4. Changing his work schedule to help me get to PT on time.
5. Rubbing my leg just because =)

And so many more. And along with my husband I have the sweetest friends and family that do so much for me.

Dak has been helping me get things done or changing his schedule to go with me to the grocery store so I don't have to go by myself.

So many things that get done on a daily basis by the people I love and who love me, just so I can spend an extra few minutes off my leg.

My leg is having some real issues and I'm ready for it be better. I'm ready to be riding my bike and tearing it up!!! Okay calm down RJ and Georgia, I know, I know.....there will be no tearing it up for a while, and right now I can't even ride a real bike, but a girl can dream right? =)

I go to PT after while, and am hoping for a better session. It didn't go well at all on Monday, but that's okay I'm gonna keep pushing through, because I am bound and determined to be able to start doing all the little and big things for my family again.

Psalm 27:13-14 (New International Version, ©2010)

"13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD."

Have a beautiful day,

The Gift!! and a Birthday.....

Disclaimer: My pictures and captions are all messed up, but hopefully you can follow me here =)

So today was the day I headed back to church. It seems like it has been forever since I have been there. I was so glad I was able to go today. It was our CHRISTmas program day and it was SO good!!! Our church does a wonderful job of presenting the gospel every single Sunday, but on holidays it is outstanding!! I am so thankful to go to a church that is Christ centered.

Today when I pulled in I prayed for a good parking spot, because I was by myself and it was SO cold, and I'm still on a cane. As I pulled in there was nothing in the first row, so I went to the second, and there was someone pulling out in the front part of the lot. So good and so like my Father.

Then when I went into the bathroom, there was one of Dak's friends that graduated last year. I talked to her for a second and then as I entered the sanctuary, a waitress at one of my favorite restaurants was there and then as I talked to her, my favorite girl Alyssa came up to me with one of her incredibly sweet friends, Airelle, and they said that I would sit with them. They had me a seat IN THE THIRD ROW!!! What GREAT seats!!... for a wonderful program.

It was.....

And it was SO good!! My favorite part was seeing all of the people that came forward and knowing that God was doing a work and they would never be the same!!~ Yep, gained some brothers and sisters in Christ today. Beautiful!!

After the service, they invited me to lunch. How nice is that? These girls are 2 Seniors in High School and a Freshman in college and they invited me to lunch. How sweet!!

We had such a good time.

Of course there was sweet Alyssa.....

Sami.....our college Freshman.....

And Airelle......wow I look old.....anyway.......she is an absolute doll!!!!!

I haven't had much time to blog lately, so let me catch you up on a birthday one of us had last week. My sweet Mr. Winslow.

Sir Cuteness and I had such a fun time planning a fun evening for him.

We went to church and got him the Daniel series and then it was off to the pizza store and then Dairy Queen for the always-famous Ice Cream Cake.

How cute is this cake? I LOVE snowmen!! How fun that they had a cake that was a snowman!!! YAY!!

Be.still.my.heart.

Love.

Okay, so still CHRISTmas shopping. How many of you are still shopping? Oh please I hope I'm not the only one!!!

Is anyone else loving The Sing-Off? Oh wow!!! I'm loving the older group and Committed. Those two groups are my favorite. Anyone else watching and loving?

Hope you have a beautiful day!!

Another First Last.........Senior CHRISTmas Program

Last night was another first last for us in Dak's Senior Year, his CHRISTmas Program. He has been singing in choir since the third grade. It has been so fun to watch him through the years. It is so hard to believe this is the last High School CHRISTmas Program for him.

This Senior Year is starting to really fly by. I'm trying to take it all in, but on the inside the emotions are starting to stir. As I drove down the road the other day, I started thinking about graduation, and thinking about how sometimes the kids will give their mom's roses, and I have NO idea if the kids will do that, because they didn't last year, but that didn't keep my brain from going there. I finally had to call my sister because I was practically in tears. Oh my people!! You are gonna have to keep me sane for the next 5 months. 5 MONTHS FROM TOMORROW MY BABY GRADUATES!!! But I'm okay really....sniff....tear.....sniff....tear......boohoooooooo =)

I love him so!!! Last night was a lot of fun.

Here is Dak with Alyssa. I cannot tell you how happy these two have made me over the years, and this girly is the sweetest thing. She stopped by last night before the Program just to see me, because she was afraid I wouldn't be able to be there. How sweet is that? She also wanted me to check her hair with the feathers in it. This girl is absolutely beautiful. And the feathers made it even better. It was fun.
















And here they are doing a little secret high five (I found out later). How funny is that? All these years they have always been so serious during these things (for the most part). But last night they had some fun little moments. So fitting for their Senior Year.

















The girl with the long dark hair is my sweet friend Trisha. She is the sweetest girl, and when she saw me come in last night she made a bee line across the room and gave me the biggest hug. Ya know, a real hug for a long time. I love her so. RJ, you would love to sit and talk with this very real, Jesus lovin' girl. Trisha participated in our Fall Online Bible Study. Y'all would just love her.
















Oh my word, I love this boy so!!!!! We didn't take pics before we left, so I made him take a couple after the program. He makes me SO happy!!!!!

















Okay, I so wanted to take a pic without my coat on so I could show you my cute sweater. Mainly because RJ, you'd love this sweater. It is crochet I think, with a cowl neck. I LOVE this sweater, but it is hard to wear. Do you know what I mean? You have to wear a shirt under it, like I said it has a cowl neck, so you have to get that right, and it also has bell sleeves. But I really love it, I just don't wear it much because it is so stinkin' hard to wear, but next time I'm so taken a picture of it. Just for you my dear RJ.

You can kinda see the neck in this picture. How cute is my Dak? I showed his picture to a waitress yesterday, yes I am that girl who shamelessly shows pictures of her family at whim =) and she said, "oh he looks so much like you!!" AHHHH, I'm so happy when people say that. I love it that me and my boy look a like. He doesn't have my average or crazy knees, Praise the Lord, but he does have my nose. Yep we both have button noses =)

















Okay, so my video as far as looking at it is not so good, but the audio is so good. I wanted y'all to hear just a touch of this choir singing one of the most beautiful CHRISTmas songs, Immanuel. So beautiful!! Their harmonies are so beautiful!!! Love.



So today is PT day, after taking a day off to rest my leg yesterday, we'll see how it is today. I am having a real problem though. I am not sleeping and it is starting to get to me. I'm trying to get off of my pain meds at night, but I wake up every about 30 mins last night because my leg is hurting. It is getting annoying. I'd so appreciate your prayers. They gave me some medicine to take, but I tried it and woke up thinking that my pictures had rocks in them and Mr. Winslow was made at me. Weird. So I am needing some restful, leg not hurting sleep. I'd love to get a good night's sleep. Nothing like it.

Hope you all have a beautiful day!! Take a moment and take in the season. I just love CHRISTmas. All the sounds and sights and the beauty of the season makes me smile. When I think about God sending Christ to this earth to redeem us, knee problems go away, pain vanishes and my heart is so thankful.

Father,
Thank you for sending Christ for us. When I think of the journey Christ took here from cradle to the grave and then when He rose again and ascended to be back with you, and knowing it was all in your plan for our lives to know you and be with you for eternity, my heart is full. There is truly no one like You Father. Thank you for sending Jesus. Thank You for loving me. I praise You LORD!!! Amen.

Manipulation?.........Not good......nope just not good!!!

So I went to see the doc on Friday expecting good news. I know that I am slower than your average TKA patient when it comes to healing, but I have been thinking things were looking up, until Friday.

I went into the doc and it was x-ray day. So they took those and in the doc came in. He started moving my leg around and immediately started talking about manipulation. Now that word can mean many things, but in this case it means that he takes me back in to the OR and puts me out and moves my leg all the way in both directions and breaks up the scar tissue.

Now I don't know about you, but I can think of better ways to spend an afternoon =)

He feels like my range of motion isn't what it should be and that it needs to get there and soon. My PTist said that docs are doing manipulations much sooner in the healing process than they used to.

So I think the doc saw my "deer in the headlight look" and decided he'd give it a little more time. (That and I asked him if we could wait =) (Hey a girl does what she can..... =) He decided that he will give it a month. I wasn't suppose to see him for another three months, but he said he wants to see me in a month. So a month it is, and between now and then me and this knee are going to be having some SERIOUS talks, because it needs to get with the program!!! =)

Oh, by-the-way, the x-rays looked great. Everything right where it is suppose to be. Lined up and looking good. Doc said that all the parts were made to fit my bone structure except for the knee cap. He said the damage was so severe to my knee cap that he had to put a bigger one in there. He said that it will look bulkier than my other one. I'm telling ya, I got the Mac-Daddy of knee caps. Now I don't really care of it looks bulkier, I just hope it works well. They assure me it will.

Okay, so on another note..... I'm really enjoying my Ipod Touch. I have downloaded the ESV version of the Bible on my Ipod and that's the version my church uses. How cool is that? I am playing Scrabble and have I said how much I enjoy Pandora?....Yes I know I did, but just wanted to reiterate that.

I read on a blog about "last minute" CHRISTmas shopping. Oh now that kind of made me nervous. I have barely even started!!! And Mr. Winslow's Birthday is this week. I have a lot to do. Wow, is there an app for that? heehee

I just want to remind everyone that Bible Study will start up again after the first of the year. I'll be announcing what we will be doing soon. I'm really excited about starting it up again.

I participated in a Joy Swap through The Homespun Heart blog and I have the box sitting on a chair ready to go out to my Swap buddy tomorrow. I am SO excited!!!!! It has been so fun meeting someone new and getting some little goodies together for them. So fun!! I'll be posting more about that soon. It was SO fun.

Sir Cuteness has been gone since Friday. I can't wait to get my hands on him tomorrow!!! He is the sweetest thing. His mama said today that he kept walking around saying, "I crack me up!!! I crack me up!!" Yep Sir Cuteness you crack us up to. He is THE sweetest thing in a pull-up I tell ya.

I hope y'all have a beautiful week.

Luke 2:1-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

The Birth of Jesus
"1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David."

Have a Blessed day,

A Little Something.....Something......

So I have been a little absent from by blog lately. I've had some things on my plate. I've been working on CHRISTmas gifts, buying a CHRISTmas tree because we had our CHRISTmas tree in storage over the summer and when we decided to close out our storage unit we found that we had a brown recluse infestation, EEK!!!!! So, in light of that, a new tree was in order.

I found a lovely one at Target and now it has a spot in our living room and Sir Cuteness is TOTALLY digging it. TOTALLY!! I made sure I put some fun ornaments down low, and under the tree put a lot of stuffed animals. And he is loving playing with them. It is so cute. And I will make sure that I get lots of pics posted soon.

And speaking of pictures.....

I took these very cute pictures of..........

Sweet Dak.....




















Cute and Adorable Sir Cuteness.....




















Oh.my.stars.Great Granny & Sir Cuteness Oh.my.stars.CUTE!!!!!




















My beautiful mother......



















And Georgia and Sir Cuteness reading the grocery ads.....





















And all these pics courtesy of my new..........

Ipod Touch 4th Generation!!!!!

Okay so yes, technically this is my CHRISTmas present from Mr. Winslow, and yes he is letting me have it early. It is SO cool!!!!!

It takes pics and videos and WOW apps are way cool, you are SO right RJ!!!!!

So if you Ipod Touch users out there have some fun apps that are good and clean, please let me know. Probably the coolest one that I've found so far is Pandora radio. Can I just say, WOW it is GREAT!!!!!

I have an ESV Bible downloaded right to my Ipod. How cool is that? I mean seriously!!! So cool!!

On the way of a knee update, I go see Dr. R tomorrow and we'll see what he says about my knee. It is going pretty good, but I am having a lot of issues with my ankle and achilles. But hopefully he will be able to shed some light on those issues.

I have been having PT 3 days a week, 2 hours at a time. It is hard, but necessary.

I was in PT on Wednesday and there was a girl in there who was probably in high school, or early college years and I heard her PTist say, "So a total knee replacement huh?" And I thought what? I hadn't seen anyone in there younger than me with total knee. Her and I got to talking and she said that she actually had a steel plate all the way down her leg, so she didn't have just a total knee, but work on her whole leg. She'd had a tumor removed about a month ago. I didn't ask if it was benign or maglinant, but it really put things in perspective for me.

I don't know her name, but I have her picture in my head, and I'll be remembering her. Her parents were with her and her mother was right by her side the whole time, asking all the right questions. It was beautiful. I'm thankful I met them. And hope I see them again.

Hope you are all having a beautiful CHRISTmas season!!!!!

Psalm 63:2-4 (New International Version, ©2010)

"2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands."

Love you!!!!! Have a Blessed day,