FaithFULLness

February 20th, 2014

faithfulness

I wonder sometimes if I'm the only person who refuses to ask God for anything big.  Not because I'm so deep & spiritual, but because I don't want Him to tell me, "NO!".  Beth Moore calls it ATTEMPTING FAITHFULNESS WITHOUT ANY FAITH!  Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without FAITH it is impossible to please God".  I can think of many times in my life that I worked hard to prove my faith in Jesus through serving & doing instead of focusing on what was most important to Christ inside my own heart.

The Christian faith isn't tricky but our faith-less-ness in WHO JESUS REALLY IS in our  lives causes us to play games with it.  Things like holding grudges, not offering forgiveness and jealousy have plenty of room to roam around in our hearts when we are operating on a limited amount of faith.  It's only human for us to fill up that empty space with something.

Today I accidentally came across a mean comment about someone I love dearly.  My first reaction was anger and I wish I didn't have to admit it.  I let my mind run wild with thoughts of —  just what kind of person are you saying something like that?  I felt hurt and then my hurt turned to wanting to react.  Then God….reminded me that I'm different than that person.  Not better, different.  I'm new, in Him and I don't have to hurt others to make me BETTER or funny or whatever it is that this person was trying to do by saying something mean.  I can't LOVE GOD & HATE OTHERS (1 John 4:20).

Which brings me back to faithfulness.  I don't want to miss out anything God has for me.  If I'm full of all sorts of other stuff, things that don't really belong in me….then I can't in any way possess the faith that believes that GOD CAN DO ANYTHING I ask of Him.

I believe that God can do anything and I plan to live a more faithFULL life by asking Him for the big things that I've held back from Him.  If He says NO, then I'll trust He has something even better for me.  Because…..He does.

He is FAITHFUL!

Lord,

Thank you for reminding me how much I need you and that I need your cleansing power of forgiveness in my life.  I want to be faith-filled and I can only do that by obeying & trusting You.

Amen

2 Lost Days

February 18th, 2014

tombstone

I may or may not survive whatever has attacked my body.  I've been deathly ill for 2 days now.  I've asked myself over and over, "Who passed me this death sentence?  I see no people!"  Ever been so sick you couldn't carry your own body to the bathroom?  Yea, that's how awesome this is.

Over the weekend, I went with my husband to a meeting about our taxes.  The couple we spoke with weren't sick and their house was immaculate, so I don't believe they were the "carriers".  My sweetboy visited, but he was in & out all the time.  My youngest and her boyfriend stopped in too.  They left what I'm almost convinced was my ticket to barfville.  Also known as, HELL!  I should've been suspicious when they purposely left their Red Lobster food in my fridge. 

What was I thinking…..eating someone else's leftovers?

If that is what has nearly killed me, RED LOBSTER IS DEAD TO ME….FOREVER!

I want you to know that if you are ever sick with some sort of stomach bug, DO NOT watch tv.  Every single commercial, show and thought is geared around food.  I've never noticed just how much until now when eating a morsel of food is the last thing my brain can process.  I may never eat food again.  Blame it on the poisoning or stomach flu….whatever.  Also, it's probably not a good idea to live all alone when you're knocking on heavens doors sick.  My hubby left on Sunday for a big work trip and I woke up sick on Monday.

Perfect timing, huh?

Just when I think I'm going to pull through, the stomach pains come back with an intensity that I just can't describe.  I have no control over my own body and it's making for a very miserable existence.  All night long, I begged the Lord to make it stop.  So, here I am at around hour 36 of this stuff and I'm not sure if it's going to pass on by or not.  I'm sick, I'm weak and I'm all by myself.

I had plans to be a big girl while my hubby was away working.  I was going to get out and do a few things to pass my alone time.  This little setback has stolen 2 days of my life!  Now, I wait to heal and see the light.

If you don't hear from me again….send help!

Too dramatic?  I told you — I'm sick!

Insider Information

February 17th, 2014

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This happened at my house, finally!

It may not seem like a huge deal… But to me,  parking inside again is MONUMENTAL!   Thank you,  best husband ever.  He worked and worked to make this possible.  Even with a huge Texas trip looming over his head bright and early the next morning.

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Cool huh?  Oh and make note: That HUGE car, barely fits.  Not sure my Suburban will ever go in there.  Is it weird that I dream of stuff like GIGANTIC GARAGES?  Or barns?

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I've been stepping out for fresh frozen air with these two and I love how much fun it is for all 3 of us to get out of the house and walk like a boss.

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The snow will not go away!  Notice it is still everywhere…

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My yard… Is under there,  somewhere.  Gee whiz Indiana.  Come on, dude.

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I keep thinking of how hot it will be this summer when we get out to work in our pretty yard!  I see potential because….duh, I'm an optimist.

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Even the dogs are wondering when this stuff will go away.  Going potty is an art form when sniffing &  smelling is part of the procedure.  Dogs are smart.  They also can be persnickety!

So,  they do a lot of this…

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Lazy girls!  I can't judge them.  I'm doing the same stuff.

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This weekend may have been snowy but at least we had visitors.  Gates and her boyfriend Seth visited too.  Didn't get a picture of those cuties.  They had to drive home late Saturday night in a rotten snow storm.  It got a little sketchy there for a bit and they had to pull off at a gas station.  Luckily, they made it back home safely.

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My sweetboy and I stopped by hubby's office.  We picked up dear old Dad for a great Five Guys lunch & Costco trip.  I'm so glad we did because "somebody" lost his glasses and since it's been a looooong time since he had an eye exam….the doctor had a cancellation right when we walked up and WOOHOO, "somebody" has a brand new prescription for NEW GLASSES!!

wpid-20140214_134006.jpgMy fave son and I snapped a selfie….cause we're shallow like that.  Too bad its a little fuzzy.

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Peeking out… Watching more snow fall from inside the office.

And because we haven't had enough…..more snow is coming today. 

No big deal,  just 3 or so more inches with a nice slice of ice!  I think I'll just stay parked inside!  I CAN PARK INSIDE FOR REAL NOW, Y'ALL!!

Happy President's Day!

Love is…

February 14th, 2014

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Going out to dinner with your favorite person.

 

 

Love is…

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Heart shaped fried rice.

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Along with all your favorite seafood.

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Shrimp shrimp shrimp!

Worth celebrating a week early! Hehe.

Happy valentine's day,  Honey <3

I love you!

Shopping Alone

February 13th, 2014

empty nest full heart

I saw her trying to shop.  She shared her eyes with the stack of childrens clothes on the table at Costco and her two little kids strapped in the cart.  Back and forth she went, table to cart…trying to appease the tiny people all while searching for a great deal.  Then, I heard her voice change.  I recognized it.  It was the "Mom" voice.  Her little team was getting antsy and by the looks of her cart, she hadn't been there very long.

I listened in, not to invade her space or be nosey but to see her be the mom God called her to be.  She spoke with firmness and love all wrapped together but I could tell she was stressed.  I didn't mean for it to happen but a flash of memories clicked away inside my head.  Memories of three little me's hanging onto and riding in my cart: a handsome boy wearing a ball cap, a bouncy curly blonde wearing something pink and a wild-haired baby with some sort of food in hand.  I let the memories flow as I walked away thinking of how weird it would be for me to say anything to this young mama.

Who wants to hear a stranger tell them to enjoy every minute of this hurried, noisy and messy time?

I saw her again in the parking lot.  She was leaving as I was returning my cart.  God placed me in her path because He knew…..I needed to hear her praising her children on their good behavior!  She used her mom love sword to build them up.  Her enthusiasm didn't go to waste, both of them were beaming!

I thanked God for letting me have a peek into this young mom's heart.  I've been there when shopping was an adventure but you still had to do it with monkeys in tow.  I've used my mom love sword to pursuade little people to hang on and be patient just to get through the store.  I've made deals, threatened punishment and handed out bribes (hey, I'm not proud) so that groceries could be bought.

And now…..I'm shopping all alone.

What happens while our kids are little is that we think they'll never get big.  We somehow see the days as endless and exhausting (and they are).  God in his infinite wisdom doesn't let us see the empty nest.  Oh, we know it will happen and many of us tease about the excitement of it coming.  But the names God stamps onto the heart of mothers….is deep.  The love she feels for them when they're chewing on the cart handle quadruples when they don't sleep under her roof anymore and pay (most) of their own bills.  She sees the fruit of her labor and she falls more in love than she ever knew she could.

If I could say anything to a young mother….it would be, live it & feel it.  Every single bit of it.  It's fleeting.  It ends.  It goes away and doesn't return ever again.  Your tired days & sleepless nights….are very long when your kids are small and get even longer when they sleep somewhere else.  You think about them and your heart swells…..its just how God wired us.

So, for those struggling to be nice at the store because you're tired.  Hang on.  You'll be pushing that cart alone before you know it.

 

Even Superman Forgets

February 12th, 2014

superman

 

I was so mad at my husband on Monday.  I didn't set out to be that way.  It just happened.  He forgot his phone on a day that I actually needed to communicate with him.  So, the circus of events that ensued pretty much sent me into ticked-off wife territory within just a couple of hours.

Now, he didn't leave the phone on purpose and I knew that.  Either way, it happened and things got real tough to deal with when I couldn't get ahold of him to help me with the meeting the windshield guys at a friends house.  I trudged on because you know, martyr. 

Marriage is challenging.  Even good ones face issues that test the depths of love.  I felt the testing on this day full blast.  If it could go wrong, it did.  Just by the way each circumstance fell into place, frustration and powerlessness managed to wedge its way into the middle of us.

Ok, I was mad!

But you know what?  I didn't let that change how I really feel about my husband.  The bottom line is that he is who he is and to me, HE IS EVERYTHING!  So, imagine the reaction of the window guy who couldn't get the rearview mirror parts back together when I snapped a picture to send to my husband.  He said, "If I can't get it….he most likely can't do it either!".  To which I informed him….."Oh, HE CAN GET IT, HE IS SUPERMAN!".

That little tidbit surprised Mr. Safelite not because he knew I was frustrated with my hubby (he didn't know that) but because WHO THINKS THEIR MAN IS SO SUPER?!!  Uhh, me!  I knew without a shadow of a doubt that if my husband was working on that mirror piece, he could fix it!

I may have a husband who forgets things sometimes (never on purpose or to make my life crazy) but he is a man who won't quit!  He will work and work until he finds a way to make something happen.  I never have to worry or wonder…."Can he do it?".  He just does it.

To me……HE IS SUPERMAN!

Can you say that about your true love?  In spite of his weaknesses, can you see the real man and the real intentions of his heart?

I hope you can because there will be days……there will be crazy days that will put you to the test.  And when that happens, will you tear him apart or will you elevate him to the level he truly deserves?  Husbands have a lot of people to please, ladies.  It's not just us that they are trying to keep happy.

Remember that when your SUPERMAN forgets…

 

The rest of the conversation with Mr. Safelite:

Mr S – "Oh so you're married to Superman?"

Me – "YES, almost 25 years!" 

Mr S – I don't think I could do that.  Be married that long.

Me – You're not Superman then.

Mr S – Did you know he was Superman?

Me – No, it was all by chance!  I didn't know he would turn out to be so amazing! I took a risk and God blessed me!

He smiled and we laughed together at my GOOD LUCK!!!