My Dance Girls

For Christmas, Santa brought the girls ballerina lessons. They started them on Monday. Here they are before the lessons. They love their new "tu-tu's" as they call them.

Philippians 4:19

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Today our pastor preached a message from this passage. I've tried to think on that verse this afternoon and really understand what the Lord is trying to teach me. Our pastor asked the question...what is your biggest need right now in 2009? That need could be a physical need...maybe healing from cancer or sickness or financial woes...it could be an emotional need...maybe a broken heart or stress...or it could be a spiritual need...maybe you need Jesus in your heart or you may have a burden so heavy that you cannot seem to bare it anymore.

My very first thought was that I truly need the amazing Presence of God. That's the only way I'll be a different person, right? He also made a comment which I'm not sure had anything to do with his message (I could be wrong because Emma was doing her 4 yr. old thing beside me...very distracting). He said in a round about way...if you pursue something and make something your focus, you will eventually achieve it. Now, I don't think you can pursue Christ so much that you will be just like Him, but it got me to thinking....What is my focus? is it Christ? or is it me?

I've been so totally consumed with myself for so long, I've become desensitized to it. I can always rationalize how I handle a situation or how I deserve to feel the way I do about a circumstance. I LONG to have Him as my focus. I can't really afford anything less.

Lord, please help me to be the child of Yours that I need to be. You are the only thing in my life that is a certainty. Help me to see You in every blessing and trial. May You be glorified in my life. Thank You for loving me anyway.

Happy New Year!

Ok...so I'm slacking already on my blogging for the year. Do you ever come to your blog or journal and feel like you have writer's block? I'm speechless most of the time. I've been trying to really grasp that 2009 is here and that I've left 2008 behind. I don't really have resolutions. BUT...I do have several goals for the year...some that I have to admit I've already failed at.
I long to dwell in the presence of Jesus. Not just pop in and out. I hate that dry feeling...like He's so far away. It makes me sad to look back over 2008 at the things I've truly missed out on. I could very easily have the "post-Christmas blues". Does anyone else get those? Is it just me?

Oh well...I long to be a different person in so many ways at this time next year. I've sat and wondered what the Lord may have in store for me and for my family this year. Will I lose someone I love? Will Don still have the same job? Will we be expecting another child? Will I be homeschooling Emma or will she be in public school? Will my relationship with my Lord and Savior be so intimate that I may know Him like He already knows me? Those are just a few. I know my will where most of those are concerned.....but HIS???...I'm not so sure.
I do know that there are mountains to be faced, moved and climbed in the year to come....I also know that I'm the daughter of The King, the One who knows all. I know that He is who He says He is. I know that He can do what He says He can do. I know I am who He says I am. I know I can do all things through Him. I know that His Word is alive and active in me. I pray that no matter what may come our way...I'll trust Him.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Well...Merry Christmas to you all. I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted. There has been so much going on from Emma having pneumonia & going to the doctor 4 days in a row to taking in Chloe for fever and realizing she had an ear infection. Whew!...when my kids get sick...they get sick. We are all 3 fighting a terrible cold and cough. I think we may all be on the mend though.

We are in Ohio with NO snow. I was shocked. It was 64 degrees here today...supposed to be 38 tomorrow. Crazy weather.

Blessings...where in the world do I begin. We are always showered with TONS of gifts from both sides of the family. My kids are SO spoiled...well...me too I suppose. I try not to forget that we could be that family that has lost their jobs...that has a home that is in foreclosure....that mom or dad that has to stand in line for food stamps just to feed our family. We are blessed to be able to be a family once again this year. We could be that marriage that split this year. We could be that family that lost a child or mom or dad this year. I have NO idea why Jesus continues to bless me and my family. We deserve hell....we deserve nothing good...yet, He loves us....He continues to make Himself known in our lives whether through blessings or trials. Praise You Lord...for the good and the not so good.
I just wanted to say how blessed I am to have each of you as friends. Thanks for sticking by us through the thick and the thin.

Jesus, I'm blessed to be called Your child. Thank You for being real in my life. Happy Birthday and thank You for dying for me...my kids...my family...my world. Praise You today and always

Christmas Pictures

We ventured out to Portrait Innovations yesterday for our annual Christmas pictures. Here are the results. Enjoy!

Living Free

Well, I seem to be out of my funk...well...today at least. I was in my devotions this morning. The Lord really seemed to be speaking to me. I've struggled for 3 weeks to really hear Him. Not because He wasn't speaking but I think I just had so much going on...so much noise...in my mind that I tuned Him out. Sad, I know. I completely failed the test He put before me though I strive to hang on. This morning I was reading in "Living Free" by Beth Moore. It was talking about pride vs. humility and how to reach humility. Here's what got me...

"Let's allow the circumstances, weaknesses, and any thorns in the flesh that God has chosen to leave to do the job they were sent to do~~provoke humility."

I have allowed some circumstances, some weaknesses and some definite thorns to defeat me the past 3 weeks. I've really been trying to cling to the verse He's given me for this funk...

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:14 (NIV)

May God bless you all today.

My Funk

I would like to begin by appologizing for my delay in posting. I'm not really sure why I haven't posted accept that I've been in a funk lately. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love Christmas lights, candles, music, the whole 9 yards. However, I haven't even been able to listen to Christmas music this year. It makes me sad for some reason. Like I said, I can't really explain my funk...I just know it's there.


I'm sincerely trying to put the principles of my Bible study, "Believing God," into practice. Here is the 5 statement pledge...

1. God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's Word is alive and active in me.

He's proved Himself over and over to me. Therefore, I have no reason to doubt Him. I have been allowing satan to win the battle in my mind though. I'm sure that's the reason for the funk I'm in. I'm currently living in my circle of defeat...struggling to make it out. One thing that brings me complete and total peace is that God hasn't given up on me...no matter what my state of mind is. I know He's in control. I'm just trying to let Him have it. I promise I'll be better about writing. I really have some pretty funny stories to share about my kids.