life at the present

Has it been awhile? Yes.

I'm sure you all understand, but my life feels a little hectic right now.

Between juggling school, work, church and playing wifey, I have no time.
I feel like I work from before sun up to after sun down.

Anyways, I'm sure many of you are in the same boat.

And I know there are a lot of people that have much more on their plates, so I don't feel like there is room for complaint.

Life is good.

You gain strength, courage and confidecne by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." You must do the thing you think you cannot do.- Eleanor Roosevelt

today

oh mannn....

long day at work.

I need a little inspiration/motivation myself today.

ahhhh..

Amen.

yup.

Progression.

Have you ever felt like you haven't accomplished anything extremely significant? Sometimes, I look at my life and ask...

"What have I really accomplished?"

I feel like I have accomplished things, but things that may seem small or insignificant to others.

However, I need to keep in mind

That which grows the slowest last the longest.

What we are doing on a daily basis determines the kind of person we ultimately become.

Although I am not a mother yet, I'm preparing myself to be a mother. I'm new at this whole "wife" thing, but I'm working on that too, because I want to be a great wife. I understand that this is what Heavenly Father wants me to do.

I was once told that being a wife and mother is the most un-thanked-job. But silently, women do it. So for all of those women out there, remember you are doing the most important work on this earth.

"True progess quietly and persistently moves along without notice."
-St. Francis of Assisi

one flaw in women.

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men.....
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in..
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or email you
to show how much they care about you.

They heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.

Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.

However, if there is one flaw in women, it is that they forget their worth.

Don't forget your worth ladies....

Happy Monday.

The other day, I was driving home from work. I had a bad day at work. I'm sure you all understand that. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the demands of life.

I turned on a good tune.

I looked out the window and I saw some birds flying.... that's it. But ya know what? For some reason, that helped remind me that God was aware of me.

Silly? Maybe.

Insignificant? Maybe. But not to me.

I knew he was with me. I knew he understood what I was feeling in that moment.

I know God is everywhere.

You just have to keep your eyes open... you'll see.

Happy Monday.

I found this list someone made, it has given me a lot to think about...

I am Thankful

1. For the wife who says it’s hot dogs tonight, because she is home with me, and not out with someone else.
2. For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato, because he is home with me and not out at the bars.
3. For the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes, because it means she is home, not on the streets.
4. For the taxes I pay, because it means I am employed.
5. For the mess to clean after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
6. For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
7. For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.
8. For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home.
9. For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech.
10. For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with transportation.
11. For my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm. For the lady behind me in church who sings off key, because it means I can hear.
12. For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.
13. For the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
14. For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means I am alive!

What are you thankful for?

St John 1 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. Let me set the story up....



Christ is spending time with the apostles. He spends the day with Philip.

What an exciting experience!

So, of course, Philip does would any of us would do and he goes to tell his friends.

He goes to Nathanael and he says..
vs 45 "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Nathanael responds with
vs 46 "What good thing comes out of Nazareth?"

Philip says
vs 46"Come and see."

Philip takes Nathanael to Christ. Before Nathanael introduces himself, Christ calls him by name. Nathanael is so confused so he asks Christ
vs 48 "Whence knowest thou me?"

Christ says
vs 48 "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under he fig tree, I saw thee."

Nathanael.... a new man, with a changed heart says
vs 49 "Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel."

Now we don't know what Nathanael was doing under that fig tree, except that he was praying.

I think we all have fig tree moments don't we? When we think that nobody knows what is deep down in our hearts. They don't know our struggles and challenges. But one day we will meet our maker and we will know that he was with us. Even when we thought we were alone.

I had a fig tree moment. I was struggling, so I went for a walk. I found myself under a tree, praying. I was praying for peace and this story came to my mind. I found that peace. I know Christ is with us all. I know he hears our prayers. He knows what is in our hearts.





And Iinvite you all to come and see.

Last summer, I worked as a counselor at EFY.

I loved my job. One Sunday afternoon during the counselor orientation, the cutest boy ever walked it. He was such a stud. Later on in the evening, I met him. His name was Brett.

Throughout the week, some of our youth participants decided that they wanted to "hook us up." They were very persistent. They would borrow a pen of mine and give it to Brett to return the pen to it's rightful owner. They would scheme ways to get Brett and I together.

That week I was particularly close to a group of boy participants. One evening we were talking about Brett and I casually said

"Whatever... I'm just not cute enough."

One of the boys responded...

"I don't know what mirror you're looking in. Do you want to borrow mine?"

When he made that statement, he didn't mean it profoundly. But I have reflected back to that time and time again.

Sometimes, I think that we have a tendency to look in the wrong mirror. Maybe we should take time to look at ourselves and others in a different mirror.

May I add, that today, that cute boy is my husband.

So, What mirror are you (and I) looking in?

a blog is born.

Well, here it is ladies and gentlemen.

Today...

.... is the turning of a page. A new blog is born. Let me tell you a little bit about what inspired me to create this...

Lately, I've been thinking about the influence media has on me. Now it is estimated that we see a whopping 3,000 advertisements each day. 3,000. Wow....

go with my on this little analogy.

My dad loves his yard. Everytime someone new comes over he wants to give them his famous "yard tour." (It is beautiful by the way). I have been on this yard tour many, many times. One time in particular we stopped at some rose bushes...

He kept talking, but I became numb to the sound. I was particularly focused on the way he was fertilizing the plant. In order to properly fertilize a rose bush you place the fertilizer in the soil just near the rose bush, not directly on the bush.

This is the way media is for us on our lives. It is all around us and it greatly effects our development. That is why it is important that we are always surrounding ourselves with uplifting, positive things.

I would like to quote Victor B. Cline "The media has a great potential to teach, inspire, inform, and entertain, but they may also corrupt, degrade, and pervert. They have the power to influence profoundly for good or evil all aspects of our values and feelings, as well as our behavior. We are affected by what we choose to expose ourselves to. "

to read that whole article click here.

I just wanted to create a source of encouragement, inspiration and some hope especially for us women. Because I think that's what we all could use a little more of.

To start. I would like to introduce you to an amazing couple, Ashley and Patrick Sullenger. They lost their baby girl on July 16th of this year. They are going through such a tough time, but their testimonies have been a great source of comfort for them. My prayers go out to them.

What a great example they are!

I hope that this blog will be a small source of entertainment, encouragement and strength for us all.