What I have been up too..

I guess we are all entitled do a period of feeling tired and overwhelemed, right? Well that is me right now. For all you Moms who have delt with a child who gets up in the night you know where I am coming from. Makenna has had these terrible nightmares for the last two weeks. By 3-4am she is in my bed. I used to be able to sleep through her getting up. However now she is waking me up so that she can wrap her arms around my neck or 'hug my arm' as she puts it. Jeremy and I had a chat with Makenna and Gavin about strangers. Since then, she has not slept through the night. We have to continually check to make sure the doors are locked and check all the rooms of the house to show her that there are no strangers here. Jeremy didn't realize that his way of explaining strangers may not have been the best for a 3 year olds ears. How Mommy ends up taking the heat, I have no clue. Basically it has been two weeks of interupted sleep for me. Lately it takes me 15 minutes to calm her down just to get her back to sleep. Then, I have to work on getting myself back to sleep.

Working out has been so tough when one is sleepy and feeling very fatigued. I have managed to make it through the EA Sports workout 3 times a week. If I get tired, I just stop. The option of taking a nap is looking better and better for me although I have never been a napper. And, it is very difficult to nap with a 3 year old who sometimes is very independent then others very needy.

Here is what I have got going on.....
I am pretty sure that I start the gym next Wednesday. I am excited to start working out there, meet new people and spend one on one time playing with Makenna. Today I met with a Creative Memories Consultant who will be active in my store sometime in March. My classes have been filling up and I have met a huge circle of wonderful women.

It was Silly Sunday at church this past Sunday. Jokes were told, silly heart hats were worn, we took a Valentine's Day trivia, and there was a chili cook-off. It was a lot of fun. Makenna makes herself right at home there.

During a church meeting with the education board, I decided to take over the responsibilty of the Youth Group from 4th-7th grade. I am currently looking into changing the Youth room to be more inviting to the children as well as coming up with a good name for the group. There is a potential sleep over at the church on March 20th which is when we will kick off the start. Game night is going to be the theme. My youth group, Animation, is getting together and planning a 20 reunion for sometime next spring. Somehow I managed to be in charge of that too.

Gavin will be 10 on Wednesday....I cannot even believe it. Josh is sleeping over this coming Saturday night then the small party will be on Sunday. I think Makenna is more excited then Gavin is. This year he hardly asked for anything. I think he is growing up way too fast....at least for me. It is hard to believe that Makenna will be 4. Time sure does fly.

What I am thankful for today:
my children
sleep
Chloe who is currently sleeping wrapped around my neck
new customers
new teachers
my friends (old and new)
my family
my store
4-wheel drive
cheese nips
chocolate
creativity
my health
open minds
laughter
positive attitudes
inspiration
kindness
helpfulness
selflessness
love

Corinthians 13:1-13

Because it is closing in on Valentine's Day, I thought this was very suiting. I know we all tend to forget what true love really is.....

Corinthians 13:1-13


If I speak in the tongues of men and angels,
but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.
And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.
And if I dole out all my goods, and
if I deliver my body that I may boast
but have not love, nothing I am profited.
Love is long suffering,
love is kind,
it is not jealous,
love does not boast,
it is not inflated.
It is not discourteous,
it is not selfish,
it is not irritable,
it does not enumerate the evil.
It does not rejoice over the wrong, but rejoices in the truth
It covers all things,
it has faith for all things,
it hopes in all things,
it endures in all things.
Love never falls in ruins;
but whether prophecies, they will be abolished; or
tongues, they will cease; or
knowledge, it will be superseded.
For we know in part and we prophecy in part.
But when the perfect comes, the imperfect will be superseded.
When I was an infant,
I spoke as an infant,
I reckoned as an infant;
when I became [an adult],
I abolished the things of the infant.
For now we see through a mirror in an enigma, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know as also I was fully known.
But now remains
faith, hope, love,
these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

What I am thankful for today:
the last two snow days with all the kids
my pain in the butt dog....LOL!
my friends
my children
Giant brand Pizza
the sunshine
Wii
laughter
love
kindness
snow
inspiration
time
my health
the health of my loved ones
hot tea
my warm bed
my home
my dreams
my future

Forgiveness and 10 Pounds of Flour

Spirit of love within me, possess my hands and heart,
Break through the bonds of self concern that seeks to stand apart.
Grant me the love that suffers long,
that hopes, believes and bears,
The love fulfilled in sacrifice that cares as Jesus cares.

~Timothy Dudly-Smith

Today I am going to write about forgiveness. It was touched on in our sermon at church yesterday. How is it that God forgives us for everything we do, but we have such a hard time forgiving what has been done to us? How is it that God can look passed all of our flaws, yet we cannot get passed others? How is it that God can love us no matter what, yet we cannot learn to love everyone?

After 36 years, I am still learning how to forgive. It is true that the only person who suffers is the one who cannot forgive. Pastor Tricia made it clear that we learn from those who have hurt us and although we may forgive them we should not become their door mat. And a friend reminded me today that in order to not become that door mat, we should forgive but not nessecarily forget. Another friend said, a time of being unforgiving, is a time for prayer. It takes a lot of strength to be able to forgive. I know that I have done wrong at times. I am sure there are people out there trying to forgive me.

If you are like me and carrying this weight around, remember this story below and do not forget to pray about it. God is willing to help you through it...he is the master of forgiveness.

I read this email that was forwarded to me a while back called "Forgiveness and 10 lbs of Flour"........

One of my favorite things about my son, Christian is that he wears his day on his face. If he’s had a good day it’s splashed all over with reckless sunny abandon. If he has had a bad day it hovers over his head like an impending monsoon. I never have to wonder, the weather is announced at twenty paces.


I was listening to the radio in carpool one day when I saw the storm approach. He rumbled towards the car, opened the door, tossed his backpack in as if he were releasing a grenade and sat down. I knew better than to say a word. There was only one thing to do. I drove straight to his favorite ice cream store. We ordered and sat in silence for a few moments-one doesn’t want to rush the weather:)

“I am done with John Frank!” he said. (name changed to protect the heart of the mother)

“Really,” I said. “I thought he was one of your best friends.”

“He was, but I’m done with him now. Done! He is off my prayer list.”

“Sorry to hear that,” I said. “Best friends are hard to come by. What happened?”

So he told me the whole sordid tale of how John knocked his books off his desk and they went flying everywhere and the teacher got mad and Christian said it was John and John said he wasn’t so he got in trouble twice. He was punished once for knocking his books over and the second time for tattling on a classmate.

“It’s not fair mom!”

“I hear you,” I said. “Fair doesn’t live here anymore.”

I watched Christian that evening as he was bent under the inequity of life. It was crushing him. Before bedtime I said to him, lets go for a walk. I asked him to carry the ten pound bag of flour I had bought that day. I told him I would explain why we needed it when we got to where we were going.
After a while he asked if he could put it down but I told him we had a little farther to go. We walked and walked ’till finally he flopped down on the path and said, “Mom, this thing is too heavy!”
Well, I’m sure you get the point that we talked about that night.

“Here is the deal Christian. When you don’t forgive it’s as if you carry this weight around with you everywhere you go. John’s probably been asleep for half an hour but here we are, worn out from the trip. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the other person was right or even that they are sorry, it just gives you a place to take the burden. Forgiveness is God’s gift to us to live in a world that’s not fair.

Why not be flour free and forgive?

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30

What I am thankful for today:
forgiveness
appreciation
Makenna singing "Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the Highest!"
love
laughter
my friends
my children
my family
my pets
Pastor Tricia
new opportunitues
a great nights sleep
Gavin working out with me this morning
steamed broccoli
a wonderful weekend at the store
Jessica for working at my store on Tuesday nights!!
church
hot green tea
the sunshine
open minds
Donna L and her awesome creativity!
the power of prayer
Wendi's surgery being a miracle!
miles and miles of smiles!
my store
my customers
my life

The Station

THE STATION

By Robert J. Hastings


TUCKED AWAY in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and village halls.


But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination--for at a certain hour and on a given day, our train will finally pull into the Station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So restlessly, we pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the Station.


"Yes, when we reach the Station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When we're eighteen. . . win that promotion. . . put the last kid through college. . . buy that 450SL Mercedes-Benz. . . have a nest egg for retirement!"


From that day on we will all live happily ever after.


Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no Station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The Station is an illusion--it constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise. Only today is there light enough to love and live.


So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.


"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."


So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot oftener. Eat more ice cream. Ride more merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we go along. The Station will come soon enough.


 
The guest minster did this as a sermon today at church. Robert Hastings was featured with this story in one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. How honest is his writing? It is true that if we concetrate mostly on that huge house, that suped up car, the name brand clothes, our looks...and so on...how when we get these things the feeling is wonderful but also short lived.....especially if we are not achieving these things with God by our sides. The joy of material items does not last. Money comes and goes, cars break down, houses constantly need upkeeping, and so on. The only thing that stays consistant is God's love for us. God wants us to achieve our dreams, but by going through him. If you do not go through God's will and God's chosen path for you, your dreams once achieved will either not last, or turn out not being enough. You will want more, because you are not feeling the joy and love from God. Without God in your life, there will consistantly be an emptiness. Believe me, I know first hand. If you ignore God's will you will run into problems, feel stressed, feel alone, angry, sad and frustrated. Achieving your dreams will be hard.
 
God, now being a very important part of my life has shown me that all things ARE possible with him. And, he will bring all good into your life and help you achieve your dreams leaving you feeling like they are no work at all. Why I struggled so much in my past was because I wanted what I wanted and wasn't listening to God.
 
If you find yourself in the same situation...or similar situation, over and over again, it is because you are not learning from it. God wants us to learn and become better people from the lessons we learn. If you feel trapped in a cirlce of stress because your life is one huge circle....know that if you do not learn your lesson, God will bring it around AGAIN! It is a pattern that you can get out of just by listening to God. The joy you receive is undescribable. With God, you appreciate so much more in life. I feel that as long as I can smell roses, view amazing sunsets, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, obtain long lasting loyal friendships, spend time with my family, squeeze my children, maintain my job, stay healthy, have my pets lay on my lap, taste a butterscotch krimpet, have a roof over my head, and feel God's love......there is nothing more that I need.
 
What I am thankful for today:
my home
my children
my pets
all of my wonderful loving, faithful, understanding, friends
my family
God
my church
the wonderful opportunities that have been arising
allowing God to shine through me
Amy Grant
my new teachers
new ideas
the simple things in life
living for each moment
life lessons (hopefully learned..LOL!)
unconditional love
laughter
my store
my strength
open mindedness
positive attitudes
inspiration
appreciation
hugs
faith
hope
peace