Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was such a beautiful day! I seem to always be the first awake so after my traditional "Gobble gobble wakee wakee" text to my dad and brother I worked out! Lol I worked out, hows that for a new tradition! We started our morning watching the Macy's parade. I love to watch that parade with my kids. We had a wonderful dinner with my mom and dad, one day my momma is going to let me cook! We had a beautiful turkey and I made a sweet potato casserole that was fabulous all this along with the traditional trimmings!  We are so thankful for family and friends and holiday traditions. Loving this season! I was so busy enjoying my family I did not get many pictures, but my favorite moments were Owen making sure after prayers we all told each other what were are thankful for and our dinner phone call with Teddy, Steph and Allie and Gary having a chance to talk with his family later that evening! I love this time if year, praying for health and happiness for all! 

All Is Well And We Are Blessed

 

 

 

Well this has been a week, and it’s only Tuesday! Thankfully Thanksgiving is only a day away and we will have some down time! I have not felt well at all. My stomach is up to new tricks. I have battled with stomach ulcers for years and take medication daily for my ulcers. Several weeks ago I ran out of the medicine and did not get it re-filled right away. I was fine, really I was. Until last week when I had a horrible attack that left my arms and hands numb and in the doctor’s office dizzy and disoriented. My doctor thinks several different issues could be going on but was leaning on my pancreas being overworked because I do not have a gall bladder. Once the attack is gone it’s gone and I literally feel fine. Today I had another appointment and was given a new prescription, I  was also told that my pancreas  could be overworked. I have  cut back in my diet and for several months I have not indulged in fatty or unhealthy foods. Gary and I recently came off of a fast with our church and for his first  meal he wanted Korean BBQ. I don’t eat much red meat anyway but this day I had a piece of the BBQ and it also had a chunk of fat in it. My doctor believes that my pancreas was overly processing enzymes to break the fat down, so I’m pretty sure I set this attack off myself and have been told by my doctor to never eat any fatty or fried foods. This is not a big deal for me, I’m praying with my new medicine and continuing with a healthy diet I can manage to not have any more of these attacks.

To make our short little week a little longer my dad was in the hospital having some maintenance done to his existing heart stints. Anytime my dad is in the hospital is causes me stress, I don’t ever want to see anyone in my family in pain or hurt. Thankfully he only had to stay overnight and is home eating and moving around like nothing has happened. So we are thankful for his speedy recovery and are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving all together!

We are in a season of change with Gary’s company and changes can be unnerving especially at Christmas. We are  faithful that God will carry us through any uncertainty with His Grace. He is in control and we are reminded that our lives are just a speck of dust. We live for the promise of eternity and our treasure is in Heaven. We are faithful and thankful for this season of change and moments of utter dependence on Jesus.

Gary and I were just speaking on how much fun we have with our little’s at Christmas. Lilly and Owen will only be this age once and we treasure this time with them. This may have been a hectic week and a time of uncertainty but we have two amazing and sweet little guys that are unbelievably excited to celebrate the Christ in Christmas. We are going to rejoice and sing and eat and love on God and family. We are so excited to celebrate this time with our family, friends and church.  God is good and we are incredibly thankful for His love and mercy and the gift of celebrating His Son.  So for now we are good being held in health and uncertain times by our Sweet Jesus, all is well.. and we are blessed..

 

These Moments

These moments melt my heart. After church Owen was not feeling well. He did not want to cuddle with me but with his big sister! So thankful that they love each other. 

The kiddos are watching Frosty The Snowman!   

This Guy!

I love to mess with him when he is driving! 

Lilly And Music

We are so proud of Lilly. She has a love for music and it makes this mommas heart swell! Here are some pictures from her 4th grade music concert. Lilly is also in the school choir and is up bright and early for chores every Tuesday. She is a little light and we love every minute of watching her shine. 

Please forgive my picture taking skills.. I really need a real camera! 

Heart of Praise

I’m in such a worship frame of mind, I don’t know if it’s the season that is upon us or I just feel an urgency to shout and  to praise God. I listen to worship music all the time and often wake to songs glorifying the Lord on my heart during the night and first thing in the morning. I truly believe that I was made to worship and glorify Christ through song. And every part of my being longs for eternity where I will be able to soak and glorify God perfectly in Heaven. Reading John 4:23 during my Radiant Word Study back on the 7^th of November I was reminded about worship in Spirit and in Truth.  Worship is not to be confined to a location or a talent it’s not something that happens just in church when the music starts. Worship is a heart matter.

We are to love The Lord our God with all of our heart all of our soul and all of our might. Our worship and our praise weather corporate or private is a direct result of this expression of love. True worship must be in Spirit where our whole heart is engaged we must also be educated in scripture to honor God with His words. Worship is reserved for God and God alone. My worship is the acknowledgment of God and all His glory in everything. My prayer for myself and my family is obedience to Him and His word. I pray we leave this world exhausted. Exhausted looking to hear those precious words of ‘well done.’ I often pray for a great awakening in my home and in my church that we would be leaders in praising Christ with our whole selves. My heart is truly alive with praise, and I pray faithfully that my children will be brave and praise God with might. I have many in my life that may not understand this and that is okay. Worship and being undone in Christ grows as your relationship with God grows. I feel like I’m entering into a new season of worship and life in general.  I have never felt more comfortable as a Passionate Follower of Christ, wife and mother.  This has been a powerful year for me and I’m embracing this season more and more. I have never been more in love with The Lord or my little family. I’m praying that these desires of praising God continue to grow and become more urgent.

Glow

Today at church I was talking with my friend Geri who told me how much she loves it when I'm singing on the worship team. I have to admit as much as I want my worship to shine for Him alone, I love when people tell me this. I love leading worship and it does my heart good to hear kind words of encouragement. She also made me laugh and told me I glow in more ways than one. Gary was also there and they chuckled.. Okay so I glow literally, I did not know this until I watched some video... Haha!! Oh my!! :/ 

I actually prefer to think The Holy Spirit is just stronger in me than others!! :) 

1st Grade Projects

Owen is seriously OCD! He likes to do things himself and is uber self sufficient. I gave this kid no help with his project. He came up with it from ideas given at school and he took off from there. We did  use some hotglue that I helped with but other than that all him! He also wrote a whole little report about how a homestead works. Really proud if this little guy!    

My Veterans

So blessed and thankful for so many veterans in my life! 

Uuuggg Snow

I knew it would happen sooner or later. We had a good snow last week. It does  put me in the mood for  Christmas. After I took our obligation first snow pictures I had a little hot chocolate surprise for the kids.  

My Sweet Kiddo

Lilly had an early morning choir rehearsal, so after Owen and I took her to school we had a mini date at Starbucks. I love my mini dates with my kids, these are the best days I'm adoring this season! 

It's Starting!

Our favorite season has begun! We are going to watch our first Christmas movie tonight! The premier of The North Pole on the Hallmark Channel. Nothing better than a cold night and a beautiful cozy home filled with candlelight and family!  

Quiet

I love feeling small and knowing God is in control of my life. After a very long week of work, school and illness I'm so thankful that my life is just a speck of dust. I love knowing one day we will live in the perfectness of Heaven. On my very cold prayer walk this morning watching the sun poke up, I was listening for God. As much as I love big powerful praise and worship, Its my alone time I love most. Basking in His still small voice, that sweet gentle whisper. These are the moments where The Lord leads me and comforts me and reminds me the hard narrow road is only going to become more narrow, but to take comfort and have peace because He said He will be there and never ever leave me. My prayer this morning is for my family and friends to find and seek His quiet voice, where you too are reminded how small and dusty you really are. Take comfort in Him hand over life to our precious Jesus and let him lead you.  

:)

My husband is super HOT! Yup I said it! He is amazing and I adore him! Tonight he is sitting at the dining room table giving Lilly her reading and spelling test. I love how caring and loving he is with the kids! We make a great team and I love living and doing life with him! Feeling so blessed! 

WLW

I have a mind that wonders. I can see the romance and beauty of the earth. I love being outside and walking, hiking, crunching in the leaves feeling the breath of God on my face. I love it. However I don’t see the beauty or romance in 5 degree weather nor do I see the beauty of freezing! I stuck to my lunchtime routine of walking and I surly froze. I am maintaining my weight but have hit a serious plateau. I’m not sure what to do about it. I think I will just keep at it and eventually I will step on the scale and see it move downward. As of now I’m sitting at a total weight loss of 46 pounds. I’ll take it!

 

Reading

Lilly has come so far with her reading! 

Love

  I really love my husband and kids. They do great things. Saturday I had the privilege of leading worship at The Holy Spirit Encounter weekend. When I came home I found my little family hard at work in our neighbors yard raking leaves. Our neighbor came over later on in the day and gave Lilly and Owen $10.00 a piece. Lilly is so excited to save her money to buy Christmas presents and Owen spent his on a nerf gun. Money burns a hole in his little pocket. He was able to save enough for offering at church! 
 

Fasting

We have been fasting for the last forty days. We ended today and had a little indulgence. I made some pumpkin muffins that were amazing. Literally it was a small can of pumpkin and a yellow cake mix. I added cinnamon and pumpkins pie spice other than that I did not add anything. I used a mini cupcake pan and they are really good. And we had some sushi.  

I have to admit I have truly enjoyed this time growing closer to God. My devotion time, family devotion and worship have never felt stronger. After our indulgence today we are going to continue onto Thanksgiving. Loving growing closer to God. 

You Don't Have To Lose Weight To Fit The Armor of God.

You Don't Have To Lose Weight To Fit The Armor of God. 

Twice today I have heard this. Once was a Facebook post by my friend Tab and also in conversation with my friend Jennifer. And I totally agree. You don't have to be a size eight to have a temple for Christ. It's the inside that shines through. Never anywhere in scripture dose it say the ideal body is thin. Christ shines through us who love and who trust him. God loves us no matter what shape or size we are. And I pray during my journey and struggles with my own weight I never mislead anyone about Christ not loving us because of our body size. 

My journey with weight and me being heavy is simply because of my sin. I have literally for several years worn my sin around my wast. Instead of turning to Christ I turned to food. I for many years was not happy with my job. I was working to much and had no schedule. I longed to be a great wife and mother and I felt tired run down and simply exhausted by life. To dull my busy lifestyle I ate horribly. I was not taking care of myself, this is the body God gave me and I was not honoring God with my own personal choices. For me because of my terrible food choices I have had the pain of weight pulling me down. I had to make a choice to honor Christ with my whole self. I had to literally "Break Free." 

I made a huge decision and took a completely different position with the same company I have worked for, for the last thirteen years. This decision completely changed my life. God lead me in this direction so I could stop the busy and become a wife and mother with a job on the side. This changed has lead me to remember I am loved by the King and I can devote more time to Him and taking care of myself. I am a lover of Christ and I long to lead worship freely. I could not physically do this wearing my sin, how misleading to my church and my little disciples whom I'm trying to train. I had to change my ways to honor Christ and I'm well on my way in this journey! For me and me alone my weight was a sin I self indulged in horrible food and used it as a comfort. I have turned my ways around and with every prayer walk and meal I'm satisfying my hunger for Him! 

Dying With Dignity

There has been much talk on social media and in the news of Oregon’s Dying With Dignity law. This is a law that allows terminally ill people to take their own lives in order to shorten their suffering, pain and what some people would think dignity. I have been praying for a young lady who recently choose to move to Oregon to take advantage of this law. This young lady was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and posted a video on social media to share her story about why she choose November 1st as the day she would end her life. In all honesty I prayed she would change her mind and choose to let The Lord take her home in His time.

I can't help but think of the day that I will ascend to Heaven. I also want to die with dignity, however my dignity will be in Christ and in Him alone. If that means that I fade away to a mindless ball of bones or feel more pain than I can contemplate then so be it. The beauty in my life is through Christ Jesus and in the event of my death and darkest moments I pray that He is the only light I will see.  

I do not live for my dignity, my worthiness or even my self-respect. I live that Jesus Christ might be glorified through me. Until my last breath I will live to glorify And passionately purse The Lord. 

 

 

Home For Sale

Gary and I had such a fantastic conversation tonight. We have been contemplating buying a new home. We both wanted some upgrades and bigger rooms for the kids. We have been looking and we are so blessed to announce that we have completely and utterly changed our minds! Our home is not for sale and it will never be! We are in love with this house and this is our home! We have such sweet and lovely neighbors. Anytime during any part of the year there are families enjoying the park, people out walking, running and just enjoying the neighborhood! This is where we brought our babies home, thier first Christmas, first days of schools, this is where we have seen and where we will continue to watch them grow and we are staying put!  We are going to start making some changes in the new year we will be looking into self renovating the bathrooms, kitchen counters and carpet. We also are going to make some changes to our yard. We have so many memories here at this house and it's important to us both that Lilly and Owen can come home to their childhood home! We live in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city, and our school district is one of the most well funded in the country!  Sure our car was stolen out of garage however we have to remember criminals go to affluent neighborhoods to do their business! And so what the kids have small bedrooms! The fact is they have bedrooms and it's all theirs! I'm positive they will survive with small rooms!! We are staying put and we are going to keep making changes and memories! We have time to take our time and make changes when we can.  God has blessed us and given us such a gift in this home! The memories we have here are priceless, and we will be able to share and show this little home with Lilly and Owens future spouses! So cheers to making memories and life! We are blessed and thankful! 
Besides the Holy Spirit comes through the window!