Love

The most beautiful love story ever written:

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Yes, my friends, that is the most beautiful love story ever written!! I can tell you that it rocks my world still and I pray that it always does. I pray that I never get to the point where my gratefulness turns to taken what Christ did for me on the cross for granted. He didn't have to, and once there, like the hymn tells us, He could have called ten thousand angels to get Him down from there and out of here, but He didn't. What drew Him to earth? What propelled Him to die in such a horrendous way?

Love.

Years ago, I came across a song by Third Day that, to this day, still rocks me to my core. It is one of those songs that I can never casually listen to. It is one that causes me to worship deep. Do you know what I mean? One of those songs that you feel on the inside. There are a few songs that touch me like this. DCB's "Oh How He Loves" is another one of those songs...gets me EVERY time.

Take a minute today and breathe in the Love of Christ that drew Him to us; fallen, sinful, pathetic man. He chose to come here. That realization still humbles me; every time. He didn't have to. Let it sink in. He didn't have to leave heaven to come here. He did it because of love. His love for us. Amazing!!!

So as you approach this Easter season, and think about all that it means, really means, consider what Christ did when He came here for us. Consider the price He paid, and then thank Him deep!!! Worship Him deep!!! Have a realtionship with Him, deep!!!

Breathe it in.....




Love Him deep today....Worship Him deep today....

I love you,

What God Uses

2 years ago Saturday, this little corner of blog world was started.

It's so fun to go back and read those early posts that pretty much only I read. To see me introduce myself to y'all and talk about my Jesus and my family, is heartwarming to me. And today two years later, still talking about my Jesus and my family. Our family has expanded and we've added a g-babe to this cottage mix, and oh how much fun are we having with that little dude. I ask you, could Sir Cuteness get any cuter?!! (I have him today by the way. And he has taken to calling me Maaaaaaaaw!!! Say it just like that with kind of a demanding tone and you have how Sir cuteness gets my attention =) He is the cutest!!

Dak is growing up right before my very eyes. He just called me a few minuts ago and said he was going to be REALLY busy over the next two weeks with Prom prep. He is on the committee and has had so much fun with it. He is growing up SOOOOO fast!!!

God has also used my husband tremendously over the years to bless my life, but in the past two years, He has used him like never before. He has been with me every step of this tumultous journey through numerous doctors, procedures and medicines and he has been my biggest support!! Honey, I can never thank you enough. You are my hero!!!

It is interesting to me how God has used this little blog to make something huge in my life. He has taught me so many lessons through this venue and through so many of you. Y'all have blessed my life so much.

But isn't that just a wonderful part of who God is? That He can use this girl AT ALL is truly a miracle in itself. If you could have seen me, oh about 30, you wouldn't even have recognized the girl writing you today. Trust me....that my friends, is ALL God!!!

Through the webinar that I took a couple of weeks ago, things have changed dramatically for me. I'm still reminding myself to just "do the next thing". That has been an important lesson for me in this journey. I am so much more calm. And today I will be taking a mini-retreat in our prayer room while Sir Cuteness sleeps and my kitchen floor dries. That is another thing I learned in the webinar, retreats don't have to be all weekend, (although those ROCK!!) they can be just a few minutes of quiet time and focus, and that is on my agenda for this afternoon.

Again it is truly amazing "What God Uses"!!!

So today, notice what He is using in your life. It might be rather unorthodox, or it could be very common. I've been trying to take more notice lately and give Him all the glory!!!

Have a Blessed and Beautiful Spring afternoon,

Spring Breakin' 3-D Style!!!

To say we had a good time yesterday, well would be an understatement. It was so fun to spend the day hanging out with my teenager, even if it did rain ALL DAY, and mess up my hair and it was cold, and, and, and it was still SO much fun!!!

We started the day off with my test, and then from there went to the Mall for a little Prom Shopping. If you know my son, you know that he is very conscious of the way he dresses. He loves to be fashionable and look nice almost all of the time. Well, for prom, he doesn't want to rent a tux. Now I really wanted him to, but it isn't what he wants, and after all he is practically a man at this point, so I must back off. bummer. So he wants to put together his own outfit. Now for most teenagers of the male persuasion, this could be disastrous, (in the lightest of sense =) but I am not concerned at all. He has such style sense, and will look GREAT no matter what he picks out.

So he did indeed pic out a really nice outfit, but a little pricy, so we are looking around. I have pics of it, but I don't want to show him off until prom =)

The theme for prom this year is "Masquerade". So we did buy his mask, and it is so cool and because I want to wait to show him in it, until he is all ready to go, (ya know for effect and all =) I thought you might like to see me model it. Yes, Next Top Model here I DON'T come!!! =) anyway...

Ta-da!!! How interesting and creative is this mask. I've never seen another like it (except for the three more hanging on the rack =) very Phantom of the Opera-ish!! It was my favorite one. I was really glad he chose it. He is going to look wonderful ~~ absolutely wonderful!!!


And here is my sweet, prom-going teenager. How adorable is this child? I LOVE HIM SO!!!
Yeah I don't know why he looks like this, other than we are sitting right next to Starbucks IN THE MALL, and his mother has been wearing his prom mask for the better part of 5 minutes. Hahahaha!!!

We grabbed a snack and headed to the movies to see "Alice in Wonderland" in 3-D. It was really good and turns out that the 3-D's of today really are a cut above yesteryear's 3-D's. Who knew?!! But I will say this, if you are prone to migraines or headaches I would save a little moolah and just see it in good ole 2-D (or whatever it is, I so don't know =) Because I know that my sweet husband would've been so sick, if he'd watched it in 3-D. But if you aren't bothered by such, oh please, see it in 3-D and have yourself a ball. We had such a good time. We laughed and whispered and looked at each other off and on through the whole movie. It was a Beautiful day, despite the weather. A little rain couldn't dampen our spirits. See?...

See how much cooler the 3-D glasses are today instead of yesteryear? Do y'all remember the one blue lens, one red lens glasses of yesteryear? Yep these aren't your mama's 3-D glasses, or maybe they are....See?!!

My test was alright, but the level they were testing is REALLY low, so they gave me something for it, and I already feel better. But that my friends, is a post in its self.

TOTALLY SWITCHING GEARS:

Today I was filling out our Census ~~ slacker ~~ and was griping about it. Yes, I know very unbecoming, but I didn't want to do it, to be honest. I was busy and blah, blah, blah. So as I'm kindly complaining (hahaha) Dak says, "Well mom, at least you didn't have to travel to Bethlehem to do the Census." Oh snap.

Ok I'm done complaining. And then the silly thing only took me about 5 minutes, and that includes walking it to the mailbox. WOW I am so pathetic some days, but Dak keeps it real for me. Thanks son!!

Hope you all are preparing your hearts for Easter and all that the season means.

Love you,

The Sweet Moments...

I had such a sweet day hanging out with this little one.

He is the sweetest thing ever, and he loves his grammy!!!

The feeling is oh so mutual, Sir Cuteness!!

Look how cute he is, looking at me, trusting me, holding on for dear life, loving me...

Oh how I love this little fella!!!

We had the BEST time!!

Oh yeah I said that already. Can you tell we had the best time? Can ya?!! =)

And here we are sharing a little fist bump explosion.

You can't see the explosion part in this picture, but the boy knows how to fist bump!!

Just sayin' ...

My days are so full of joy when this little one is around. Even in the midst of pain and hurt and stuff, he just makes it all so much better. He loves me know matter what. And loves me even more when I let him have some peach juice. Oh yeah, now that is the stuff of champions!!!

YUMMY!!!

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I am having tests run this morning and then it's off for a day with Dak. He is on Spring Break this week, and today we are going prom shopping or prom looking depends on what we find I guess, oh yeah and how much money I want to spend =) and then it's off to the movies. We're going to see "Alice in Wonderland" in 3-D. Dak has informed me that the 3-D movies of today are SOOOOO much different and better than the 3-D's of yesteryear (my day, heehee) and so this should be fun and eventful I'd say. What says you?!?!!

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So I'm leaving you today with a little video of Sir Cuteness and me hanging out at his house the other day. Yep it's breakfast, and yep that is oatmeal adorning his adorable little face.

He wears it well!!

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Please excuse the poor video lighting. I am a dork when it comes to all things camera related. My sweet man fixed it for me last night. It was some kind of setting thing-a-ma-bob. Me?.... I'm a point and shoot kind of camera and video takin' gal. Give me the easy version =)

Have a Super Blessed and Beautiful Day ~~ love you,

From the Inside Out...Part 2

I went to the naturopathic Doc yesterday, and can I just say that it was EYE OPENING!! There were things that I found out in there that both made me extremely hopeful and very sad.

Advances in medicine have not only hit conventional medicine, but also naturopathic medicine. The things they can do now as compared to even five or six years ago is astounding. They can now test your DNA and find out what your genetic make-up is, including what your pre-despositions are to diseases and defencies in your body. And then after this is done, they taylor make supplements for your specific gene-code, that give your body EXACTLY what your body is lacking (at least to the best of what a doc can do). I was just THRILLED!!! There are 12 markers that they test in the DNA, so in four weeks I will know what I am specifically lacking in this physical body as far as physical things go, and then will start taking supplements to fill-in what I am lacking. WOW!! Amazing!!!

Before the four weeks is up though, I will already have a supplement pack to start taking. It is a pack that everyone (who is tested) takes because did you know that 99.1 % of all of our DNA are alike? I know!! Who knew? Doctor Hoover says it is that other .9% that gets us. That's the stuff that makes us so different, the stuff that predisposes us to other things. Yes I know. Who knew? Seriously!! So that I will start taking as soon as it gets here. YAY!!!

Now I'd like to share with you the sad part of this appointment. He did a body composition yesterday to see what my overall health is, and it is not good turns out. Recently I have lost a lot of weight, due to the fact that I cannot eat very much, not to mention the fact that I just feel rotten a lot of days. And apparently that has done a number on my system. Instead of losing fat, I have been losing muscle. Now I knew something was up, because instead of being able to go up in weights when I work out, over the last few weeks I've had to go down. I know...crazy!!! So I knew something was up. Well turns out that my BMI is 34.3, +6.9 points more than it should be. What?!! And my muscle mass is 64.1, -6.7 down from where it should be. Here is the kicker, Dr. Hoover said that I am no healthier than an obese person. What? How can that even be? But he said it is because of the muscle that I am losing. I am losing weight, but not fat. Isn't that nuts?!! Wow I had NO idea.

So here's the plan, starting today, I will be doing A LOT of resistance training. He doesn't want me doing a lot of aerobics right now, because that will aide in more weight loss, and he doesn't want me losing anymore weight. So resistance will be key to getting me healthier. That is where I will be starting. It's funny because I know how to work out, but I find myself wondering what to do, ya know where to begin. Weird. anyway...

But thankfully all of this health stuff isn't bringing me down. I know whom I have believed and I'm convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. II Timothy 1:12 I'm actually excited to start feeling better and have more energy. This has been a very long road sometimes. But God is faithful!!!! No matter what, He is still God!!!!!

Easter is coming and my heart is turing toward home, if you will. I am starting to still myself for all that the Easter season brings. Sunday is Palm Sunday and then next Friday Good Friday and then the following Sunday is Easter. Hallelujah!!! He arose!!!!! So as I prepare my heart "from the inside out" I'd like to share this song with you by The Hoppers. If you don't know The Hoppers, Oh you should. They are an amazing Southern Gospel group and this is an amazing song. Let's start preparing our hearts toward home and what God did for us through Christ. That is the truly amazing inside out transformation that has taken place for those of us who believe. PRAISE HIS NAME!!!!!



Spend some time with Him today and enjoy His presence.

Love and joy to you all today,

From the Inside Out

In this current season, health has been a BIG issue for me. I have battled different things along the way, but one of the biggest has been the battle to eat. Yes you heard that right, and if you know me, that is not an area I generally struggle in =) But lately, it has been very hard to eat, because I get very nauseous when I do. It is annoying.

Doc's have said that they think I have an ulcer, so they are treating that. Last week I had a colonoscopy (a post in itself, oh boy...) and it showed that I have internal hemorroids. Again, oh boy. So they have me on medicine for that. I had a hysterectomy almost four years ago and they have me on medicine for that. And all of this for a girl who DOESN'T like to take medicine!! I also take vitamins and herb supplements. WOW!! How things change!!!

My hope and prayer is that I can get off of this medicine relatively quickly and get back to doing what I do with proper diet and exercise. I know that will help GREATLY!! But one must be able to eat right?!! But really I feel like the doc's are more treating symptoms and not the real problem, to which they can't really fix anyway. So what is the real problem? For me it is stress. Internal, crazy, hard to control, emotional stress. I'm actually much better than I was even a week ago, but still working on it.

Today I'm going to see my naturopathic doc, Dr. Hoover, and I am thrilled. It has been several years since I have seen him, and the decision to go see him at this juncture is the right one. He is a kind and compassionate doctor who doesn't just treat symptoms, but desires to find and treat the REAL issue. Yes, I probably have an ulcer, and yes we know I have internal hemorroids, and yes the lack of hormones is a HUGE issue, and yes, stress is causing problems. So I prayerfully go today with a positive outlook knowing that this consultation will get us started back on the road to recovery.

There is so much more to write on healing "from the inside out", but I need to get ready to go. I have a morning date with Sir Cuteness, be still my heart =) But I'm leaving you with one of my fav songs from Hillsong United, "Inside Out". Take a moment and sit back and enjoy the presence of Abba Father as you listen to this song. Let it bring healing.......



Love to you this day,

Trying to Catch-Up

Well hello all!!! Long time no post I know. There is so much to tell y'all about that I'm thinking it's gonna take all week!!! But today, I'd like to start with what is most on my heart; what God has been doing in my life.

I told y'all about the online webinar that I participated in at awomeninspiredconference.org last week. It was entitled "Revived" and truly that is what it was for me; a revival in my Spirit.

Now to be honest, generally when I hear about Revival or a conference entitled the aforementioned "Revived" I must admit, I am somewhat of a sceptic. Because in my estimation revival, true revival, must begin in the heart and the participant must be open to it. Not that I wasn't, this has just been an incredibly difficult season in my life over the last year, and quite frankly I have felt down-in-the-proverbial-dumps!! So I wasn't sure just attending a webinar was gonna do it, or even if I had time for such, but I really felt God telling me this was for me and to participate as I could, and I did, and boy did He show up in a HUGE way for me!!!

Now I didn't get to hear all of the speakers, but I will be getting the MP3's in a couple of weeks, and am looking so forward to getting those babies downloaded and on my ipod so I can listen at will and enjoy and take notes and change from the inside out even more!!!

But God made sure I heard the ones that I needed for immediate application. Ya know? Isn't it so like our Father to make sure you hear just what you need when you step out in obedience to Him? Such a beautiful thing!!

So I learned that my creativity is a wonderful God-given gift and that I shouldn't stifle it. Now did the speaker say those specific things? No, but God made sure that I understood that He has given me giftings and talents and it's okay to use them, I should use them for His Glory!! It was so liberating to me. I feel like I have a wonderful part of my life back on track and I'll be sharing much more about this in coming posts.

But today what I really wanted to hone in on was one particular thing that happened that God has been continually speaking to me through. She was speaking on calling and doing that which God has called you to and not being afraid. Well at the end of each session you could type your question and the speaker would answer it (this was a live webinar ~~ fantastic!!). So I typed this question: What if you know God has called you to a certain thing, but you don't know where to start? The speakers answer blew me away and has impacted me and the decisions in my life every.single.day. since she said it.

She referenced Elisabeth Elliot. Most of you probably know her story, but if not you can go here to read a short synopsis of her journey. But back in the 1950's her husband was in a remote village of Ecuador with four other men (missionaries) trying to reach the Auca tribe for Jesus. They tried to befriend them and share with them the Good News of the Gospel, but they were speared to death by members of this tribe. After her husbands death Elisabeth prayed to God and asked Him what she was to do next, and God told her: Just do the next thing.

This was so profound to me. This speaker referenced this story and told me to just do the "next thing". And that is what I'm doing. It seems so simple, but it has opened up a world of possiblities. I am so excited about what God is doing and will do in the future regarding the call He has placed on my life and my families life. Revived indeed!!!!!

I cannot express to you the hard season that we've been going through, but I also cannot express enough the incredible journey of faith that it is taking us on, right to the Throne of Grace and we are indeed finding help in our time of need. God is so very faithful to His children!!! I love Him so!!

Well, there are BIG changes coming soon to a blog near you (this one)!!! So please be looking for much more regular blog posts and lots of other things!! I just want to take this opportunity to thank you who have stayed with me through this season and who have prayed or just read, left comments and thought about us. You are truly a blessing to my life and I don't take a single moment of your time here for granted. You are truly a blessing to me!!

Have a Beautiful Wonderful Love-Filled Day,

Video Success ~~ Thank you Smilebox!!!

Okay so don't let the picture throw you off. This was a serious districts meet for the kids, but what you have here is the warm-ups and yes there are silly moments in warm-ups.

So cute!!! I have another one to post that is even sillier, but thought I'd start with this one.

I'm so proud of Dak, Kaylee and Sami. They did such a GREAT job!!!

This greeting generated with Smilebox

And yes this is two posts in one day. Is that some kind of record? Well for me it probably is =) So please scroll on down and read about the firsts this week too. This is going to be a fun week in some regards and a very interesting one in others, yep scroll on down and read what I mean...

Enjoy ~~

A Week of First...

Some good firsts and some, well not so good firsts, but firsts none-the-less.

First of all, I have signed up for an online webinar. Have y'all ever done this? I am looking forward to it, although I really won't be able to participate as much as I'd like, but I am going to try to get in as much of it as I can. Today it will not be a lot, but hopefully more tomorrow and probably will be able to take in most of the day on Wednesday. If you'd like to know more about it you can visit Lisa's webiste right here. She is one of the speakers and just a lovely lady. You REALLY need to check her out!!

So Thursday is another first for me, I will be having my first colonoscopy. I know I am too young for such, but the doc feels with my symptoms that I need to rule out any problems, or head off any potential problems at the pass. So that is why I'll be home Wednesday, yep doing the prep. Which I hear is the hardest part. Tell me that's the hardest part. I'm trying not to freak out about this whole thing. I've almost called it off several times, but I suppose I will be moving forward with it. Trying to have a sunny outlook on a not-so-sunny procedure.

Also on Thursday another first for Dak. His HS basketball team is going to state (not a first), but Dak is riding up on the pep bus to Columbia (about 3 hours away) and joining in on the fun and festivities. WOW now that seems like such a long way from home, but I know that one day he'll be heading away from home for real and even 20 minutes will seem like a world away at that time. He is so pumped though, to go on Thursday. We are ordering our Final-Four shirts today. GO CLEVER BLUEJAYS!!!

I plan on posting more regularly again, now that I am getting a rhythm back to my life. At least a little. God has some posts rolling around in this heart of mine, so I'll be sharing more on that.

Oh yeah, and I tried to post Dak's video from Saturday where they are singing in warm-ups so you can hear him, but silly blogger errored, so I will try again later.

Love y'all ~~ have a Blessed day

District Ensemble 2010

Dak was in Districts for solo's and ensemble's today. He was part of an ensemble. They did so well!!! They just sounded beautiful.

They got a 2+, if they'd gotten a 1 they would've went to state. They were dissapointed they didn't get a 1 and especially because they got counted off for not having enough facial expressions while they sang. To me that is crazy to get counted off for that and that is what keeps you from going to state. Crazy!!! Their singing was so good. I took a couple of videos of their warm ups. I'll get at least one of those posted soon. Until then, I made a Smilebox to show y'all the beautiful day that we had.

Enjoy!!!

Personalize your own free scrapbook

Dak, I'm just so proud of you. You did an awesome job son!!! Love you ~~ mom

Beautiful, Wonderful, Picture Friday...

WOW has it really been a week and a half since I posted?

Let me answer that ..... umm, yes, yes indeed it has been.

WOW time flies!!!

My sister told me the other day that she hasn't seen any recent pics of Sir Cuteness because I am a slacker haven't blogged lately =)

I am such a slacker.

Truth is....I've been crazy busy lately.

But I wanted to post some recent pics of our Sir Cuteness and one of Dak and Sir Cuteness,

because well they are just the bee's knees (what does that even mean?) anyway...

They are just the sweetest!!!

So here goes...

Enjoy.....

Look at those eyes ~~

Baby boy has a deep love for papa's hats....

So cute.....




Especially this one ....
It's his fav .....


So incredibly, stinkin' cute.....

What a doll baby.....hammin ' it up, Sky style!!!

Why yes, yes he is all boy and loves him some dirt .....

And here he is with his FAV Uncle....Dak

.... are they not the cutest things going ~~ I mean seriously ...

Speaking of Sir Cuteness, I am on my way to go get him right now.

YAY!!!

So have a Blessed and Beautiful Friday,

Focus...

So one could say, that I have trouble focusing sometimes. One could say that. The reason that is would be because I tend to be on the creative side.

When I start something I have EXTREMELY good intentions on finishing in a timely manner, but often I flit off in another direction and the book goes unread for weeks, or even months, or the bathroom cleaning gets left for tomorrow. So one of the things that I am currently working on is focusing more on the things I have already started, and seeing those projects through to completion.

Which brings me to the book I picked back up again today: Beth Moores (should be an apostrophe, but blogger is crazy!!) "So Long Insecurity". This is a fascinating book and one that I am finding my name written all over. Anybody else feel that way? I find my self marking up this book and going through the online questions over at her blog here. It is fascinating I tell ya.

Here is an excerpt: "Insecurity refers to a profound sense of self-doubt -- a deep feeling of uncertainty about our basic worth and our place in the world.... The insecure man or woman lives in constant fear of rejection..."

This could be the definition of how I have felt much of my life.

So insecure about the way I talk. When I was a kid I had to go to Speech Therapy after school. It was awful. Back in those days... (hahaha) .... my therapist made me talk into a recorder and then she would play that mess back to me and tell me how awful I sounded and how I needed to do better. It was so hard. I hated the way I talked.

So insecure about my looks...the ugly dumpling.... always had permed, frizzy hair, chubby, BIG glasses and BIG hips. I was so unhappy with my looks, but I always tried to do the best with what I had. That was my thinking.

So insecure about just myself. I couldn't talk in public. I'd nearly throw up from the nervous stomach and I always thought myself SO uninteresting. I ALWAYS said the wrong thing, so it seemed to me. I had such an issue with myself.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. And the constant fear of rejection would just cripple me sometimes. It caused such fear to set up in my life. It was crazy.

I tell you all those things about myself to tell you that God is SO BIG and SO GOOD!!! He totally has made a way for me through Christ!!! He has taught me (and is still teaching me) to be who He created me to be. The song by Jonny Diaz I just love: "More Beautiful You"

God has been teaching me that He has made me and you just the way we are and there cannot be a more beautiful you. You are just as He designed you to be. Isn't that cool? So enjoy his very interesting video of this song.



So I am totally working on focusing more, getting things accomplished in Him and totally being who He created me to be WITHOUT worrying about what others might think. That is hard for me because I am so sensitive. I want you to like me. (Yes I know, poor ole insecure thing =)

I love ya all ~~ have a Blessed evening,

Is it Monday yet? ...

Oh my word what a weekend. In the craziest sense of the word!!!!!

Y'all know that Sir Cuteness got the stomach flu last week. Well his mama got it after he did, then I got it on Friday, and then Dick got it on Saturday and then Chase (Sky's daddy) called this morning about 6:45 am and he has it. Oh my!!! The only one who hasn't had it is Dak, and we are so praying that he doesn't get it. He was hole up in his room yesterday bathing in anti-bacterial lotion and soap. Official tennis practice starts today, and he so wants to stay well.

This stomach flu is crazy!! I don't know if it because I am just puny in general, or if it is because of my recent bout of ulcer-ville, but it has hit me hard. I am still feeling really icky. Still not able to eat much and today I just ache. Yuck!! Okay enough about that. I hope none of y'all get it.

__________________________________

I wanted to ask for prayer for my dad's wife's family. My stepmom's mom passed away on Saturday evening. She was a beautiful woman of God. She passed away at 94 and today is in the loving arms of Jesus, her Lord and Savior. She was a mother, mentor, servant and Blessing to everyone she touched. She was just a doll. A beautiful reflection of our Savior on this earth, bringing the Good News!! She will be greatly missed by her family, church family and extended family and friends.

Have a Blessed and Beautiful day,