Wise Words

"Wait on the Lord, be strong and of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart...wait on the Lord. Psalms 27:14

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Friday, February 26, 2010

Friday Fill-Ins for February 26

Ok, I slacked off yesterday b/c I just needed a break! I was exhausted. So, I'm back with the Friday Fill-In's thanks to the wonderful Janet!

1. A cup of tea is not really my cup of tea. I prefer it to be iced and slightly sweet and lots of it.
2. LOVE makes a place feel like home.
3. Everything has its beauty except for hate.
4. Why am I not overly fond of the taste of strawberries?
5. Art makes me feel different emotions depending on the media and the subject.
6. LOL I just noticed I forgot my cell phone this morning – I'm lost without it! . . . No, seriously, I am.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward tosleep and time with my family, tomorrow my plans include moving stuff into storage to get the 2nd room cleaned out so Em can have her own room and we can move Nate's crib into there as well instead of in the living room, Brady's birthday dinner and enjoying time out with my husband and Sunday, I want to go to church, enjoy the day and maybe see a movie or go get one!

If you want to participate in the Friday Fill-In, go visit the delightful Janet at Friday Fill-Ins. :-)

Return of the FRIDAY FIELD TRIP (FFT)! YAY!

It is time to implement another gem that went by the wayside. The Friday Field Trip – affectionately known as the FFT.

The FFT is where I bring you to places around the web – or even here on my blog on occasion. Some of these will be repeats from years past b/c, really, I don't expect you to go back and try to find them from 2005-2007. Kind of a hassle.

Today we have two wonderful "go nowhere" FFT's that do nothing but waste your time - in a really fun way! I think this was one of my most popular FFT's.

So grab your brown bag lunch and have a seat for a good bit of fun in the safety and comfort of Nic's Place!

For the women:
Are you looking for a ruggedly sensitive man? Someone who is good with his hands, loves children and is always happy to see you? Well look no further. The Brawnyman is here. This was a "promotion" that was going on at the Brawny site. They had a "rugged" outdoorsy man who does everything from complimenting you on your new haircut to understanding when you've just had "one of those days". It's HEE-LARRY-US! These gems have been preserved on youtube and have been embedded here for your viewing pleasure. Just click the videos below to view the man that Brawny calls their Innocent Escapes Brawnyman. You will, at the very least, be able to get a laugh or ten out of it!

























This next FFT is for everyone and is great for those who need dance lessons.

"Are you tired of rhythm?"

Yes, my friends, it is the ever popular How To Dance Like A White Guy promotional video. A must have for every redneck home. It doesn't matter if you're from the North or South, rednecks are found everywhere.

So kick your feet up, pop the top to a cold one (soda that is) and get ready to have fun while learning the secrets of How to Dance Like A White Guy! Maybe you can pick up a few pointers beforehand if you're going out this weekend!

Just press the start button and you're on your way to a learning whole new kind of dance to impress the other people on the dance floor.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Word Filled Wednesday for February 24 - Psalm 8:1

Can you spot the angel in the cloud?


I was at my mom's house when I happened to walk outside and see one of the most spectacular sunsets I have ever witnessed. The sky was on fire with gold brilliance, as if it had just been poured from the furnace, molten and pure. Rimmed by clouds of mauve and dusty rose, the golden light seemed to bounce back and forth, as light might bounce off of water and then reflect on the ceiling. The only thought I had was . . . MAJESTY! This is what majesty looks like! Splendor, glory, perfection . . . majesty. God's majesty. I took the picture and went back in to my computer and downloaded it. Something caught my eye. Can you see it? I saw the angel in the cloud, worshiping the very majesty I had been witness to for that all too brief couple of moments.

Angels are everywhere. They worship, they glorify, they help, they comfort, they protect. This picture was taken during the time when I was going through a very painful divorce, as mentioned in yesterday's "In Other Words" post. This picture gave to me, for that brief moment, the knowledge that we are never alone. That we are always watched over and that the very angels who watch over us, glory in the very same moments of perfection that we do.

Maybe you can see the angel now:


If you would like to join us for “Word Filled Wednesday” drop by Susan or drop by “The 160 Acre Woods” to find out more about how to participate in “Word Filled Wednesday


HDQ for February 24


It's the return of the HDQ AKA the Hump Day Question. In the past I really enjoyed doing this as it was me answering any question YOU put to me. I am starting this up again and will be doing this on a weekly basis so as to hopefully give you a little more insight to me that you might be interested in knowing. Recipes, family, hobbies, thoughts/opinions, jokes, beliefs, etc.

On Mondays I will be asking you to submit your questions to me in the comments section of that day's blog post. I will then answer them on the hump day of the week AKA Wednesday. All I ask is that you keep the questions clean.

I have two questions to answer this week. The first from one of my oldest and dearest blogfriends, Captain Picard.

Well, Nic, I guess the first thing I can think of was what was the very first thing you thought when you knew you were pregnant last year?

The short answer: "Are you SERIOUS?"
The long answer: "Are you SERIOUS? I was told it would be 'pert near' impossible to get pregnant again, but oh, wow, ok, it was less than 30 seconds to go from blank to two lines. No waiting for three minutes. Ha-ha. Oh. Wow. Hmmmmmm. Wow. Really?! Oh boy! What's Oscar going to say? This was definitely not expected and we both thought we'd never have another child from either of us. Ummmm, wow. . . wow . . . I'm going to be a mommy again at the age of 36. Wow. I . . . hmmmmm, I need to sit down. Ok. This is a miracle. I mean literally a miracle. Wait, did I read it right? One line is . . . not pregnant and two lines . . . yup, definitely two very bright unmistakable lines. Ok. This is just . . . wow! . . .(deep breath) . . . I'm going to be a mommy again!"

Our next question is from LittleWomen21

So, I will take you up on your HDQ. Was your ex-husband a Christian, did he claim to be a believer? Did you go to church together - and if so how did you handle church - and how did the church treat you - during and after the divorce? I ask because all too often churches tend to shoot their wounded instead of loving them.

Great question and no, it's not too personal at all. My ex-husband was agnostic when we were dating and then after we were married and Emily was born, he said that being involved in the pregnancy and birth made him realize that there is a God out there. He now "claims" to be a Christian, as many people out there do, but his walk, talk, lifestyle and behavior still do not show the fruit of the Spirit nor the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. Emily feels the brunt of this on the weekends she is there as she is so sensitive to the call of the Holy Spirit and the leading of God in her life – and thank you Jesus for that!

He went to church with me occasionally, but it was rather more to "babysit" Emily than to get anything out of it. To him it was an exercise in boredom and I could see him mentally tuning out the pastor because he was uncomfortable there and felt like he had better places to be.

I didn't talk about it with too many people at the church, but I had known the pastor of the church for years. Knew him before I knew he was a pastor. He was the next door neighbor of one of the families I sat for on occasion. He was exactly the same outside of church as he was inside. A man of integrity, truth and compassion. A true man of God. I talked to him about what was going on and then to the youth/children's pastor in order to let him know that there might be some emotional problems with Emily at Sunday School (there never was, thank God), and one other man who was the Pastor of Caring Ministries (they called it something else back then and he is the PERFECT person for the job and still holds that position today and so many lives are better for it). They all prayed for me, over me, for Emily, for healing for my heart, etc. Honestly, they have been the most amazing and wonderful people I have been privileged to know.

Our church is very unique (or it seems like it these days) in that, though it is a VERY large church it IS NOT a "seeker" church, it is anything but a "seeker" church and that is refreshing. They tell the unvarnished TRUTH, knowing that the Gospel is offensive to those without the Holy Spirit guiding their lives and yet refusing to change the message to make it more "palatable" as so many churches these days are doing, love as Christ loved, follow the example of Jesus in treating the wounded, the downtrodden, the outcast and they do it so naturally and easily that one never gets the sense that it's forced or disingenuous. I am blessed with a wonderful church home! They treat the wounded with care and love and prayer instead of shooting them where they stand.

To find out more about them you can visit their website at FEFC.ORG.

Thanks so much for participating in the HDQ this week! I really enjoyed the diversity of the questions and the ability to answer them!

What a wonderful award!


I am SO EXCITED! I got a Beautiful Blogger award!

Thanks to Jo for this award, she is a real treasure and encourager and to be given this by her means a lot! So, now I must tell you seven things about me . . .
1. I'm forever grateful to my Lord and Savior for never once turning His back on me, even when I was doing what I ought not to do, several times. Without Him I would be nothing and I would not have the blessings I do nor would I know how to look for and appreciate them.
2. I'm so in love with my husband it's not even funny. He gets me more than anyone else has ever done and he's patient with my quirks and with me. In him I have truly found a home, a place where I belong. He is my soulmate. He's a great daddy to my daughter and our son and he has made my/our lives complete. (I also am so in love with my daughter and son that my heart fills to overflowing with the love they bring out in me)
3. I really like my guns but I have a special affinity for my knives. I have two sets of perfectly balanced throwing knives. Forget the daddy at the door to terrify the boy into acting right . . . it'll be me. LOL!
4. I love to encourage and affirm others. I believe that there's too much tearing down in life and not enough building up and b/c it takes a lot of effort to build up and only one careless statement to tear down, I spend a lot of time building others up to counter the damage done by every day thoughtless words that are thrown out there.
5. I LOVE to write. I have COUGHseveralCOUGH manuscripts that I have started but never finished. I was told by a few pub'd friends of mine that what I had was rather good. Why have I never finished them? IDK. Maybe fear of failure. Maybe fear of success. SIGH! Maybe I'll finish them at some point.
6. I've been told by several people that I have a GOR. GEOUS. voice but I absolutely can NOT sing in front of large groups of people when I know they're watching me. I literally get weak in the knees and my voice shakes so bad I almost sound like Katherine Hepburn when she was older. I hate having stage fright b/c I love to sing.
7. I can organize events, people and projects like there's no tomorrow and have a real knack for it but have absolutely zero organizational skills when it comes to clutter and stuff and housework. Why is that?
I am passing the blessing along to six other blog friends of mine who have blessed me in very different ways and through their friendship, words and life are BEAUTIFUL BLOGGERS to me:
MiPa @ Miriam Pauline's Monologue
Graham @ Captain Picard's Journal
Lois Lane @ Home Fires
Esthermay @ The Heart of A Pastor's Wife
Twinkle Mom @ Sunflower Faith
Christy @ Searching for Butterflies (She also happens to be my real life friend!)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

In Other Words for February 23



So with a painted grin, I play the part again,
So everyone will see me the way that I see them…
Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples,
with walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain,
but if the invitation’s open,
to every heart that has been broken, maybe then we close the curtain,
on our stained glass masquerade….
Casting Crowns in Stained Glass Masquerade

Casting Crowns has a lot of songs that speak to my heart and to my life as you will see.

I could not believe what I was reading for this week's quote. This was my life a few years back. Back when I was going through the pain of a divorce from my unfaithful husband, a divorce which was the product of an affair that left his (just out of the teen years) mistress pregnant, while I was trying to raise our 4 year old daughter practically alone at the age of 32.

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong ~ Stained Glass Masquerade


This quote was my life after the divorce as I struggled to figure out who I was as a single mother, one who had been stuffed in a box during my marriage ("You're not welcome or wanted to go out with me and my friends. Stay home with the baby."), pushed aside in the care taking of my daughter ("She's MY child, I'll take care of it/her, go away") and fearing to fight him because it would have resulted in so much pain, even more so than I'd already been in emotionally, mentally, spiritually and, yes, physically. And, I didn't want our daughter to be subject to the name calling, the yelling, the shoving and pushing that her dad would do to me in front of her ("She's two, she'll never remember it, so therefore it doesn't matter what I do to you in front of her.").

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart ~ Stained Glass Masquerade


So I pasted the smile on my face and kept trudging on. Weary, disillusioned, angry, humiliated, hurt, numb, but always with a smile plastered on, hiding the pain, until I was alone. Until night fell. Until the lights went off and I was alone, no longer needing my façade, my masquerade. Then I could just sink into the chair, the couch, my bed, and stare. Wondering what I did wrong, wondering what happened in my life to bring me to this place of desolation, desperation and disillusionment, wondering if it would ever change.

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be ~ Stained Glass Masquerade


I struggled to take care of my daughter the way I KNEW she needed to be taken care of. In all honesty I didn't do such a good job for a couple of years because of the road I was walking and that's painful to admit. In spite of those shortcomings at the time, really, it was because of her that I kept plugging on, going about the day to day as if by rote, one foot in front of the other, one breath after another. It was because of her that I didn't have the breakdown so many thought I was entitled to, even my own counselor/psychologist. If I wasn't strong for my daughter, then I couldn't do what needed to be done on a daily basis and I could not afford to fall apart. Ever. I would most likely lose her to her daddy if I did. But even then, even though she (literally) was what I was living for, working for, going through the motions for, I was brittle, on the verge of breaking.

Jesus, hold me now
I need to feel You in this place
To know You’re by my side
And hear Your voice tonight
Jesus, hold me now
I long for Your embrace
I’m beat and broken down
I can’t find my way out
Jesus, hold me now ~ Jesus, Hold Me Now


Several of my long time blog friends were with me through this time of depression and hurt and questioning. Some as far away as England, but always just as close as my heart because they became those "grown up" glimmers of encouragement, those lights in the darkness of my spirit. I knew God was there, but I couldn't feel Him and at that point I really needed to feel something other than lost. I tried to figure out who I was again after all the pain and after a while in trying to figure it out I made a wrong turn somewhere and got even more lost than I had been. I was just so tired of being alone without a corporeal human to lean on.

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart ~ Does Anybody Hear Her


Rather than try and struggle through happy lies and fragile fronts I dropped the blog altogether. I just couldn't face in the light of day, and under the scrutiny of friends, what I was doing, what I was becoming so I stopped coming around and sorting through my disjointed and fractured thoughts because it was just too painful to be put under a microscope and criticized by everyone. I'd already been unfairly and wrongly criticized enough in my own marriage because he had been trying to shift his faults, sins and responsibilities on me so he didn't have to look at himself and what he'd done to his family. I just couldn't deal with the pain, the sympathy, the advice so I walked away from a part of myself that had been important to me. The path I trod kept me from where I needed to be going.

Curse this morning sun, drags me into one more day
Of reaping what I’ve sown, living with my shame
Welcome to my world, and the life that I have made
One day you’re a prince, and the next day you’re a slave

Lord, I just looked up today
And realized how far away I am from where You are
I don’t know what else to pray
Broken at Your feet I lay
The life I’ve torn apart ~ Jesus, Hold Me Now


I didn't want to face how I'd lost so much time out of the life of my beautiful and precious daughter by being selfish and wanting to "live" again. It's one thing to find oneself, but it is another entirely to try and find oneself by losing oneself in the wrong things because in doing so, so much is lost in every other part of one's lives. In the most important parts and with the most important people.

So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today . . . ~ Does Anybody Hear Her


Eventually, after I got tired of looking at myself in the mirror in the mornings, after I got tired of the guilt of my mom taking the bulk of the care of my beloved daughter, after I couldn't stand the loneliness of a different kind that I found myself mired in, eventually I started to get it right and to do what I should, instead of being what I shouldn't. It was baby steps though. But it was baby steps forward with God's help. And that's what mattered. Abba. Father. Friend. Healer. Confidant. Savior.

Daddy, here I am again
Will You take me back tonight
I went and made the world my friend
And it left me high and dry
I drag Your name back through the mud
That You first found me in
Not worthy to be called Your son
Is this to be my end
Daddy, here I am
Here I am again ~ Prodigal


However, when I stopped doing what I shouldn't and started being who I should, I didn't know how to come back. Didn't know how to face the questions that might be waiting – for anyone who might still be out there. After almost 1½ years after I started to get my life back in order, I felt the overwhelming urge to blog again. It was so very heartening to hear from my two very dearest Brits (one an ex-Pat), thank you Graham and MiPa, after my first blog post in about 2½ years, except for an update in January of 2009. That, in itself gave me the courage to continue to start blogging again and bring me back to where I can write what's on my heart, instead of turning away and wearing the mask to hide the plastic smile and disjointed movements of someone who was just going through the motions. Presenting to the world what I wanted it to see instead of what was really going on inside.

Your mercy saved me
Mercy made me whole
Your mercy found me
Called me as Your own

Here I stand a child of Yours
Broken and in need of You
Break these chains and wash my guilt away
Healer of my brokenness
My weary soul will find its rest
You are my strength, the lifter of my head
You're greater than my yesterdays
You hold me close today
You're the Lord of my tomorrows
My heart will always say
You're greater than my yesterdays . . . ~ Mercy


Only through God's help, grace and mercy am I here today, do I have a truly wonderful bond and relationship with my (now) 8 year old daughter, a job I completely enjoy and take pride in, a new husband I love, a 3 month old son who is a true miracle and an 11 year old high functioning special needs step-daughter who is a great challenge but whom I do love regardless of the difficulties right now and a closer, more trusting relationship with my God, the lover of my soul. I've closed the curtain on the masquerade, the one that included broken glass as well as stained glass. I no longer need it anymore. I can be who I am and I am on the path to who God wants me to be. Still baby steps, but they're bigger baby steps and they're still going forward. Now when I smile, that smile is no longer in danger of cracking, but is instead bright, genuine and full of hope and promise.

. . . And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side . . . ~ Praise You In This Storm


and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age ~ Matthew 28:20b


Please visit Loni @ Writing Canvas for more perspectives on this week's In Other Word's quote.

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And, now I am going to implement something that I used to do back in my earlier blogging days before I stopped for a couple of years to take a break. I will be posting the HDQ answers again on Wednesday. What is the HDQ, you ask? The HDQ is the Hump Day Question. Basically, I answer YOUR questions that you pose to me. Anything you want to know about me, my life, my family, beliefs, opinions, humor, hobbies, etc. Please submit your questions in the comments and I'll have them answered on Wednesday.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Miracle Monday for February 22






Well, I'm going to try this out today. This is Miracle Monday, hosted by Beth @ A Mom's Life

It's easy to participate. Just write about a miracle that you have witnessed, heard about or been a part of and link back to it here. You can copy and paste the Miracle Monday badge into your post if you would like. That's it!

I would like to say that my Miracle this week has to do with yesterday's weather. Talk about the PERFECT day! Upper 70's, low humidity, completely clear, topaz blue skies, minus a few teeny spider web wisps of white cloud way high up, warm, sunny atmosphere (but not too warm) and a gentle cool breeze. That's the perfect weather EVERY day! After the rain, rain, rain we've had this past month, to experience weather so perfect yesterday is nothing short of a miracle!

I will carry that memory of yesterday with me through this week of clouds, cold and even – dare I say it? – SNOW. 1"-3" of the white stuff WITH accumulation is possible, nay, probable tomorrow...all day. Then, once winter has had its "last hurrah" for the season here, we can go back to the perfect days for a while, that is until the 90+ degree temps make their appearance as early as March or April.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

And, now I am going to implement something that I used to do back in my earlier blogging days before I stopped for a couple of years to take a break. I will be posting the HDQ answers again on Wednesday. What is the HDQ, you ask? The HDQ is the Hump Day Question. Basically, I answer YOUR questions that you pose to me. Anything you want to know about me, my life, my family, beliefs, opinions, humor, hobbies, etc. Please submit your questions in the comments and I'll have them answered on Wednesday.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Friday Fill-Ins for February 19

1. Johnny Weir wears some really girlie lookin' outfits…just sayin'.
2. I have barely watched the 2010 Olympics.
3. And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin . . . I KNOW THIS! This is the marquis at the top of my blog! Heeheehee! .
4. Scratch it, blow it, pick it or flick it if you get an urge.
5. Having sweet dreams happens every time I'm with my family.
6. What does it take to catch a break every now and then?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep and getting over these stoooopid allergies, tomorrow my plans include Deb's 50th birthday party and Sunday, I want to go see a movie – The Lightning Thief!

If you want to participate in the Friday Fill-In, go visit the delightful Janet at Friday Fill-Ins. :-)

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday for February 18

On Thursday's I do an array of posts, so rather than 3 separate posts, I'm combining them into one. Much easier that way. LOL!


I never numbered the gifts in my life, but am going to start today until I get to 1,000 (and beyond!)! B/C today's gift is the single MOST important one, I am just posting ONE. The rest of them will have multiple gifts. :-)

1. The gift of Salvation. I KNOW where I'm going when I die. It's not some vast, empty space or cold, hard ground with Squiggy, Squirmy, Wiggly, Wormy and Bob for company. Because if God's gift of His son to US so that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can have life eternal and everlasting in a place with no more fears, tears, worries, hurts, angers, loss, grief or disappointments. Instead we will live forever in a land where there is no night, only joy, happiness, fellowship, worship, laughter and love. THAT is my number one gift! Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone; because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.

Click the link via the picture above to see how to participate in One Thousand Gifts (some do it on Mondays, but I do mine on Thursdays for right now)




~1 Thessalonians 5:18~ Give thanks to God in all circumstances (no matter what they may be), for this is God's will for you (who are) in Christ Jesus.

Ahhh, the circumstances of life...some good, some not so good. It's always a struggle to give thanks for the not so good moments, but that is what I am focusing on today because I believe and I know that God gives us those moments for a reason.

I am thankful for the moments of chastisement, yes, those painful, uncomfortable moments we all would rather not ever have to deal with. But, really, without them we would never be given the opportunity to learn and grow from those mistakes or areas where we need improvement and without growth, we become stagnant and when we become stagnant, just like water, we become sour, unpalatable and a host for all manner of things that are unpleasant whether it be attitude, demeanor, outlook, how we react to a situation or person, etc. It's the same with our spiritual life. God uses His chastisement to make us aware of where we are lacking spiritually and where we need to improve in order for us to become more like who God wants us to be.
I am thankful for Oscar not having had a job since the first part of October. While it is financially worrisome, it has allowed me to give that worry and concern over to God and He has provided 100% and then some for us. It has shown me that God provides completely for those who let Him take the reins. As one saying says (with a modification by me), "If God is your co-pilot, then you'd better swap seats and give Him the controls". It has also allowed Oscar and I to become closer to each other and be there for each other in ways that we couldn't have if he were still working an out of state job.
Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

Get The Code




13 Ways I Express My Love to My Family:
1. I tell them
2. I hug them
3. I give them unexpected treats/gifts
4. I make sure they are clothed, fed and have shelter
5. I actively listen to them
6. I read to them
7. I sing to them
8. I cook for them
9. I take care of them when they're sick and do what I can to make them feel better
10. I praise them
11. I brag on them to others
12. I write "love" letters to them
13. I pray for them

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Word Filled Wednesday for February 17 - Psalm 139:13-16


All my life I wanted to be a mother. Even as a child. Doctor? Nope. Actress? Nope. Princess? Well, maybe on occasion. Teacher? No to that as well. But ask me if I wanted to be a mother and it was YES with zero hesitation.

When I got pregnant with my daughter, I was definitely NOT expecting it. I'd been taking birth control for 10 years and thought, "I'll be ready to have kids on my terms." God apparently had other plans. But, after my daughter was born and my body went haywire after her delivery and after I had several tests run to figure out what was wrong, I was told that I really quite possibly never should have been able to get pregnant in the first place b/c I was severely anovulatory – a hormonal condition that causes me to ovulate maybe 3 times a year, 4 if I'm lucky, but there’s no way to figure out which month I drop an egg…plus, as I'd mentioned, I’d been on the pill for 10 years.

To top it off, I was told that the chances of me getting pregnant again would be the equivalent of lightning striking twice or winning the lottery. I resigned myself to the fact that instead of a house full of children like I'd always dreamed, I would be completely content with the one miracle daughter I was given.

Who knew that EIGHT years later I would become pregnant again?! This time with a son. I didn't know. I thought my child bearing days were over. After all, I was 35 and if it hadn't happened by now, then it wouldn't happen. True, I didn't know. But God knew.

I have two living, breathing, bonafide miracles who are completely healthy and happy and wonderful and infinitely precious! My 8 year old daughter and my 12 week old son. They may not have been planned by me but they were planned by God who ordained not only my life ahead of time but the lives of my daughter and son.

My picture is one of my son at just around 6 weeks old already grasping my finger and holding on to me . . . just as I will teach him to hold on to the Heavenly Father who created him . . . and my daughter . . . and me.

If you would like to join us for “Word Filled Wednesday” drop by Christy @ Critty Joy or drop by “The 160 Acre Woods” to find out more about how to participate in “Word Filled Wednesday




I really enjoyed my very first Word Filled Wednesday! I hope you did too. :-)

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

In Other Words for February 16






25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34


freedom
n
1. personal liberty, as from slavery, bondage, serfdom, etc.
2. liberation or deliverance, as from confinement or bondage
3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the quality or state of being free, esp to enjoy political and civil liberties
4. (usually foll by from) the state of being without something unpleasant or bad; exemption or immunity freedom from taxation
5. the right or privilege of unrestricted use or access the freedom of a city
6. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) autonomy, self-government, or independence
7. the power or liberty to order one's own actions
8. (Philosophy) Philosophy the quality, esp of the will or the individual, of not being totally constrained; able to choose between alternative actions in identical circumstances
9. ease or frankness of manner; candour she talked with complete freedom
10. excessive familiarity of manner; boldness
11. ease and grace, as of movement; lack of effort

resign
v. re•signed, re•sign•ing, re•signs
v.tr.
1. To submit (oneself) passively; accept as inevitable: I resigned myself to a long wait in line.
2. To give up (a position, for example), especially by formal notification.
3. To relinquish (a privilege, right, or claim).


In Hebrews 13:5 God tells us not to love money because God will never leave nor forsake us. "But to get through life one needs money", you say. Have you ever stopped to consider the attitudes of those who are poor, and yet trust in God against the attitudes of those who are rich and only have a passing acquaintance with God? From the outside looking in, one would surmise that the poor would be scared of where their next meal came from or how they would keep a roof over their head. And one would assume that those with money would not have a worry in the world.

However, what we find is that those with money and without God usually are constantly concerned with losing it or how to get more and never truly find peace, whereas those tending to have less in life, who rely on God fully and completely, tend to have a more relaxed and peaceful demeanor because they KNOW that God will never let them down, that God will always provide.

Let's look at a prime example from history regarding one who solely relied on God to get him through.

George Mueller was born less than a decade before Charles Dickens in 1805; so he was certainly aware of all the horrors of society that the famed novelist describes in his works and in 1834 he decided to do something about it. He and his best friend, Henry Craik, founded the Scriptural Knowledge Institution (SKI) in Bristol, England, with one of their prime objectives being to establish Orphan Homes for the many homeless children in Great Britain.

But Mueller and Craik had no money, nor did they intend to ask anyone for it: they believed that God would provide everything they needed - without patronage, without requests for contributions and without debts. All they had to do was pray, and God would provide. For 64 years, that was how George Mueller operated. SIXTY FOUR YEARS!!! Relying solely on God's provision by TRUSTING their lives and the lives of those they cared for into God's hands.

Here are some of the ways he prayed. First, he never shared a need with anyone but God. Second, when he had a need, he opened his Bible, searched for a promise that fit that need, and then meditated on that scripture. Mueller believed in the power of thinking through scripture as much as he believed in the power of prayer. Third, he pleaded for that promise before God. And he didn't just pray for money: he prayed for individuals as well. Sometimes Mueller prayed for someone for as long as fifty years. He didn't stop praying for anyone or anything until he got his request. That's how convinced he was that God would answer his prayers. Through his prayers, Mueller obtained the modern-day equivalent of $150 M for his charities; he led tens if not hundreds of thousands to the Lord; and he lived to be 93 years old. That was the power of his faith and life.

Once, when there was no food to give the children and it was almost lunch time, one of Mueller's assistants came to him, worried. Mueller said, "It's not twelve o'clock yet." Just then, a truck pulled up to the orphanage loaded with food from an unsolicited donor. Often, Mueller had no idea where their next meal was coming from: he just trusted God's promises. Another time, when Mueller was onboard a ship that was lost in fog, he comforted the anxious captain by saying, "My eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God, who controls every circumstance of my life." They came out of the fog, and that captain later gave his life to Christ.

Part of Mueller's success was due to his attitude. Someone once asked him the secret of his service, and he said, "There was a day when I died, utterly died: died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends. And since then, I have studied only to show myself 'approved unto God.'" Being dead to self, the world, approval and blame freed Mueller of the cares of life that hold so many of us back, freed him to be alive only to Christ, freed him to serve.

It freed him from the fear that so many face when threatened with the unknown. Well, the unknown may be unknown to us, but it isn't to God. So why don't we just, as the saying goes, "Let go and let God". Let go of our fears. Let go of our worries. Let go of our cares. Let go of our expectations. Instead let God become the focus of our lives. Give all of our burdens, concerns, worries, cares, needs, fears, etc. over to Him. He will not let us down. As Matthew 6:25-34 above states. Are we not worth more to God than the birds of the air or the lilies of the field? How much more will our Heavenly Father give to us as we put our Faith and Trust solely and completely in Him?

My family is one that is living this daily. My husband has been without a job now since October 9 – his birthday. I have given my fears and worries over making ends meet to God. I have placed myself in His hands. Place my family in His hands. Trusted Him with the Faith of a child that He would allow us to be able to make ends meet. To be able to pay all of our bills. I have the youngest daughter in a private school and a 12 week old in a preparatory school/daycare. There is rent, utilities, insurance, vehicles, groceries, etc. Certainly MUCH more than what my income could ever cover alone. God has covered it all and allowed us to have some extra as needed. God has been MUCH MORE than gracious.

Forget about being in good hands with Allstate. I'm in good hands with God! I have overcome that fear of tomorrow and what it might bring because I know that God will take care of us. He has proven Himself faithful always and in ALL ways so how could I do anything less than put my whole self into His keeping?

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

1. "Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Chorus:
"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

2. Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Chorus

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Please visit Debbie @ Heart Choices for more perspectives on this week's In Other Word's quote.

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

In Other Words for February 9



*I have to say first off, before I get started, that I think that my blogfriend Esthermay, at The Heart of a Pastor's Wife, has an amazing perspective on this quote and I invite you to check her response out.

noun
n. Abbr. n.
1. The part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive.
2. Any of the words belonging to this part of speech, such as neighbor, window, happiness, or negotiation. I am a CHRISTIAN.

ad•jec•tive
n. Abbr. a. or adj.
1. The part of speech that modifies a noun or other substantive by limiting, qualifying, or specifying and distinguished in English morphologically by one of several suffixes, such as -able, -ous, -er, and -est, or syntactically by position directly preceding a noun or nominal phrase.
2. Any of the words belonging to this part of speech, such as white in the phrase a white house. We should exhibit Christian behavior.

These days it seems that everybody either wants to profess being a Christian (noun) or solidly profess AGAINST being one (due to the distinctive lack of the adjective Christian in the daily walk of most who profess to be one). There is no real "in between". Many people say that they're a Christian because it's expedient for them to do so in order to look better to man, depending on the audience. Much like the Pharisees of old, they "act" the right way to get the attention of man, but what do their actions say? Those who profess to have a saving knowledge of God, and yet, live a life clearly apart from God are what those who are vehemently against anything having to do with Christianity look at and call "hypocrite".

It's easy to give lip service to being a Christian, but what does the Bible say? James 2:20 states that Faith WITHOUT works is dead. But, the only way to heaven is through believing in Jesus as the son of God and accepting Him as your Savior, you say. Yes, that is true. You cannot "work" your way into heaven, however, what is meant in that verse is that Faith is proved genuine by good works coming forth as fruit in the Kingdom of God. That's where the adjective part comes in.

For those who claim to be the noun of Christian and MEAN IT, they will have the adjective of Christian in everything they do, from their rising to their resting and it will be clear that they are different from the rest of the world. God will show in them through their actions via the living adjective of Christian. It's easier to claim the noun of Christian than it is to live the adjective of Christian.

Most of those who claim the noun of Christian do it for approval, for attention, for acceptance. Much like the Pharisees of Jesus' time. Through their "pious" street corner prayers they didn't have the true love of God in their heart. They were saying, "Oh, look at me. Look at how great I am. Look at all that I have done. Look at all I have given." Instead we are to LIVE the adjective of Christian so that everyone will see Christ in us through our actions and love. Those who live the adjective of Christian do so without seeking the attention, without wanting recognition, they do it because they are being an example of what God wants ALL who claim the name of Christian to be like.

Are you merely giving lip service to the name and noun of Christian or are you living the adjective of Christian in everything that you do?

Please visit The Next Step for more perspectives on this In Other Word's quote.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Meal Monday!



I used to have a deal where I did a plethora/smorgasbord/"whatever means A LOT" of recipes for different holidays. Well, over on Facebook, I posted yesterday about the menu I was making for Super Bowl dinner and I got SO MANY requests for the recipes that I decided to write them all out. You too can have a fabulous meal that's fairly easy to do. But b/c this does include a roast, best set aside time to do it right, such as a weekend. Please note that my meals are not for the calorie conscious. I make no bones about this and have made such disclaimers in past recipe shares.

My only request is that, if you do use it, please let me know how you liked it. Also, these measurements are mostly approximate b/c I just throw it in w/o really measuring. LOL!

Roast and fixin's:

* If you want plenty of gravy, fill the crock pot at least ½ way up with water

Take 1 large roast – (Top Round or Eye of Round)
Season it with a coarse kosher or sea salt rub, mixed with black pepper, minced garlic (can be found in the produce section of the grocery store – much easier than doing it yourself) , garlic powder and onion powder. In other words, mix all of those together and rub it on/in to the roast.
Place it in the water and add Worcestershire sauce to the water. At least 1/3 cup – dash it over the roast as well
Place 3 dry, lightly cracked whole bay leafs on top of the roast
Cook it for a minimum 6 hours in the crock pot.

Sautéed mushrooms:
Take 1 stick of butter, 3 tablespoons of minced garlic (with the garlic oil – the same as used above), 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and about 1½ cups of a heavy red wine (maybe a merlot or cabernet), about 7-8 dashes of Worcestershire sauce and about 1½ teaspoons of kosher or sea salt and put it in the skillet to simmer. Let it mix together for about 5 minutes after simmering starts.
Take a good size mix of washed pre-sliced and whole white mushrooms and place them in the skillet and put the top on it. The longer you simmer the mushrooms, the more flavor they absorb.

Honey and brown sugar baby carrots:
Place baby carrots in a pan, fill the pan partly with water, 1½ teaspoons of kosher/sea salt and one stick of salted butter.
Add ¾ cup of brown sugar and drizzle approx ½ cup of honey over the carrots.
Put lid on pan and let cook until soft

MY mashed Potatoes:
(This is for 2 very large russet baking potatoes – typically 1 large potato for every 2 people)
*NOTE: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE MIXING STEPS IN ORDER!!! The potatoes don't taste as good if you lump it all together and do it at one time.
Peel and cube the potatoes and put them in a pot to cook
Add about 2 tablespoons of kosher or sea salt and let cook thoroughly. Adding the salt here allows you to cut down on the amount used later.
Thoroughly drain cooked potatoes
With a hand mixer or Kitchen Aid/Cuisineart stand mixer, mix the potatoes
Add 1 full stick of salted butter and mix together
Add 1/2 small container sour cream and mix together
Add 1/4-1/3 cup of HOT heavy whipping cream (for those of you with access to and HEB, it's in the purple and white container) and mix together
Add fine ground kosher or sea salt and pepper to taste and mix together
From here you can also add more heavy cream or butter to achieve desired taste
*The potatoes should come out very heavy and rich so that they peak when you mix them

Gravy:
Take some of the juice from the roast (about 1 cup) and about ½ cup of flour and mix it together in a shaker until the lumps are gone. *PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN OPENING B/C THE HEAT WILL CREATE A PRESSURE THAT WILL CAUSE THE HEAVY GRAVY MIX TO EXPLODE AND IT IS HOT, HOT, HOT!!! (I know b/c I burned the tar out of my palm last night with it!)*
Take a lot of the remaining juice from the finished roast and put it in to a pan.
Slowly stir the flour/juice mix in with the hot liquid.
If there are any little flour balls that float to the top, they can be removed by spoon, but there shouldn't be many, if any, if it is shaken right.

*Kosher and sea salt are both better for you than regular salt. Less sodium and you use less b/c they're so strong.