I Got An Award!

I got this award from Michelle. She is my dear forever friend, and she has an amazing blog. If you have never checked her blog out you have GOT to!!! She has some really good insight and wisdom as a Christian, as a wife, as a mom, as a teacher (homeschool), and just general multi-tasker. Love you Michelle, thank you for nominating me!

Now to the award instructions:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/ her blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

I am nominating:

1. Tracey at Babaloo.

2. Michelle at Walking My Way to Health.

3. Shauna at ...That They May Be One...

4. Lynn at All Things Bright and Beautiful.

5. Tracy at Beyond My Picket Fence.

6. Pamela at Pinkshoelady.

7. Jennifer at Blessed and Scrappin'.

Another fun quiz...

Cool Traci, me too!

find your inner PIE @ quizmeme.com

Trying New Things...

I feel like I have had a really productive day today!

My interview went okay (I'm not a good judge of how these things go), I am supposed to find out something by Friday. Please continue to pray. I'm definitely still praying! There were some very interesting developments which I will share later with you all. Suffice it to say that GOD IS GOOD!!! Amen? Amen!

My mom brought my kids home today. They went unexpectedly to spend the night with she and my dad last night. My parents had just come by to visit yesterday and my daughter started begging to spend the night, so I relented. Anyway, my mom was going to start teaching me to crochet when she came back with the kids today. EXCITING!!! That was new venture #1. It went okay, but about three or four stitches in, I thought it would be too hard, and considered giving up. However, my mom really encouraged me to keep going. So, here is my progress as of this evening. You all may laugh, you may think this is pitiful, but I was really pleased with my progress. I CAN FINALLY CROCHET!!! Albeit, in an amateur sort of way...

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We went to the library and I picked up lots of Spanish stuff for kids, as I'm starting to teach my kids Spanish this year. They kept asking, "how do you say that stuff?", so I decided there would be no better time to start teaching them than when school starts and while they are so young! Right? I think so too.

Lastly, I see on some of your blogs all of these little tags and pics regarding Jane Austen books, and well, please do not throw rocks at me or gasp in horror as I tell you the following truth about me... I HAVE NEVER READ A JANE AUSTEN BOOK...there I said it. I'm so glad I finally got that off of my chest! LOL! I don't have a lot of time to read, so I check out audio books as much as possible. I picked up Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma. So, please wish me well as I branch out into a new avenue of literature, not to mention a new section of the library.

After my new experiences, I came home and made a beef stew (yummy!) for supper with some buttery rolls (heavenly, Michelle!), and sat down to work on my new project - a crocheted something or 'nother...

Goodnight all.

Where's My Soap Box?...

I'm about to delve into more medical reports, but wanted to take a moment to post something that I feel is very important...

...give me just a second, I have to pull my soap box out to stand on...

James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." NIV

I am not going to tell you where I was, or when I heard this, or who even said it. I am just going to give you the circumstance of what was said, and how it made me feel.

I was sitting down, and two people were behind me talking... The first person said "oh, there goes so-and-so"...The second person said "my, he/she has really put on weight, he/she used to be so slim"...

OUCH!

No, they weren't talking about me, but it hit me just as hard. Since I got married I have gained quite a bit of weight. So, when I go somewhere, especially a place where people have known me for years or even for most of my life, I'm a bit self-conscious. I'll admit it. I am concerned that they think "boy, has she put on the weight".

Am I alone? Do we all have these insecurities?

I dare say we do.

Then why, why, WHY???, do we say things that point out others' insecurities, others' weaknesses? Why?

What if this conversation took place in church? What if these two people were talking about someone that was my relative, and I overhead them? What if I came into church feeling a bit insecure, visiting for the first time, and I heard this conversation taking place behind me? How would I feel? Is that a church I would want to continue to attend?

People hear us that we don't always realize are listening. These two people obviously did not think they were talking loud enough for others to hear, but they were.

This really applies to every place we frequent, even in our homes - because our children are picking up on everything we say and do. If I talk about somebody, they hear it, they learn it, they MAY even repeat it... I saw a good sign outside a church this week that said (this is as close as I remember it), "if you only say nice things about people, you never need whisper."

The book of James has so much great teaching on taming the tongue, and I need to learn it as much as anybody. What happened in this story I told above really was an eye-opener for me, and I hope that I will learn not to make this same mistake...

I Took the Quiz!

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

Just an update...

Hi everybody. I know I said I was going to be off of here for a few days, but I just wanted to extend the prayer request...

The company I am hoping to get hired on with contacted me this morning to set up a time for an interview. We got it set up for this coming Wednesday, July 23, in the a.m. Please continue to pray; I truly, truly appreciate your prayers.

Thank you all for your encouragement! God is GOOD!!!

Waiting for an Answer...

I will be taking a little time off for the next few days or so and I covet your prayers during this time. Some of you know that I am a medical transcriptionist, and have been for the past seven years. I have been able to work from home, keep my kids at home, and we have just completed our first year of homeschool. The clinic I have been working for is a large one here in our area, having multiple branches. They have been slowly phasing us out as they move toward computer voice recognition, and as of the first week or so of May, I ran out of work.

Sooooo, I have been unemployed for two and a half months now, and it has hit us hard. We certainly do not live an extravagant lifestyle in any way, shape, or form, and things were tight as it was. Now, it's getting just plain unliveable.

I have been putting out resumes and applications online over the past week, and have interviewed once so far. I am praying that the right job will open up by God's hand, and that all other doors will be closed. And so, I wait...

A couple of weeks ago my employer of seven years sent me an email asking if I could take one day of work a month, as the doctor I had been working for had requested that we continue to do one particular day a month when he was not working in the clinic, but was making rounds. I was happy to take that one day, but again, it would not be sufficient. However, this helps me in that I can still say I am employed.

Then, this morning I got another email from her asking if I could take some dictation that another employee normally does. It is for a different clinic, and she needed it done ASAP! I said I could take it (happily!!!). I went to pick it up and it was several days' worth of work, and so I have plenty of work to keep me busy over the next few days here. Hopefully, during that time I will hear from one of the other jobs that can offer me full-time work.

So I am asking you please, if you think about it, pray for me as I am awaiting news on a job opening. I was so encouraged by Terri's post the other day (click on her name to read the post) and how God so plainly gave them the answer they needed and the provision they needed.

I will be back online when I can. I appreciate your prayers! :0)

Time to be Silly...

I just would like to say for those of you who have young children that taking time to read a Dr. Seuss book is always worth while. My mom had a Dr. Seuss collection for me when I was a kid and she used to read them to me, and I had such a love of books! I learned to read early and began reading everything for myself, Dr. Seuss and everything else I could get my hands on. I still have that collection of Dr. Seuss books - How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches the Egg, And to Think That I Saw It All on Mulberry Street, If I Ran the Circus, etc., etc.

My daughter wants me to read these to her all the time, and even my son likes them. I try to make them fun for her too. I do different voices for the characters and I just really get into the story with her. It's fun for her and it's fun for me. I can be tired and not really feel like getting into a book or reading out loud, but once I get started it's way fun!

To me, Dr. Seuss books get better with age. The way he wrote and rhymed, and all of the creativity; I love these books just as much now as I did as a kid.

I have to say that I don't have any of the primary books like Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, or One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish; only the larger books.

So, if you get a chance go check one of these out at the library and read one to your child. I think you'll both really get a kick out of it! And if you don't have small children, bring out the kid in yourself and take a break with a Dr. Seuss book. Read it out loud so you can really appreciate the rhyme and rhythm. It'll give you a little taste of childhool again.

Being Molded Daily...

I just want to share something today that I read off of my Battlefield of the Mind calendar that sits on my desk. I have a calendar in the kitchen that I write things on, and it shows the entire month, so I use it most of the time. Therefore, my Joyce Meyer calendar sits on my desk and end up having to read to catch up because I don't use it as much.

What is always so amazing to me is that when I go to catch up, or even when I sit down and read the right devotion for a particular day, it is always so timely. That can't just happen to me, does it happen for you too? Doesn't it seem like God has something special for us to read, whether it is on someone's blog or on a calendar, maybe on TV or in a book, and most especially - in his Word?

Well, I just wanted to share one day of what I read tonight. It is actually tomorrow's devotion, but I wanted to read it anyway. God was really speaking to me through this and I wanted to soak up all I could...

"Tuesday - July 15

You are changing for the better. Every day you're growing spiritually. God has a plan for your life. These are the truths you must think on. This is what you are supposed to be doing with your mind! Think deliberately according to the Word of God; don't just think whatever falls into your head. Rebuke the devil and start going forward by thinking right thoughts."

"He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His return), developing (that good work) and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6"

Man, that is good stuff. We are constantly being molded into His image. He will continue the good work he began in us until it is brought to completion - to perfection.

As you think about your day, maybe you made mistakes (I sure do!), and maybe you did some things you're proud of and some things you're not. Maybe you were snide with your spouse and had a bad attitude, knowing it wasn't right, but chose to ignore it. Maybe you acted ugly to someone who cut you off in traffic. Maybe you were short with someone on the phone who was only doing their job. Maybe you were hasty with your children and punished unjustly or spoke unkindly. I've done these things, I'm not perfect. But I'm working towards perfection.

Instead of beating ourselves up over our faults and wallowing in our own unworthiness, let's remember the sacrifice Jesus became on the cross so that we could be worthy through Him. Let's not abuse his grace, but let's treat it with the value it deserves. It is by grace that we are saved, and nothing else. Our works CANNOT save us. What we are to do is read God's Word, seek His face, hold tightly to His hand, and do our best to become more like Him each and every day. He will take care of the rest. He will mold us into a beautiful vessel. He already knows what our finished product will look like. We see flaws and scars, but God sees a beautiful and unique creation.

Even the Little Things...

You know God really cares about the little things. He cares about every aspect of our life, no matter how big or how small it may seem. Our needs matter to Him and our desires matter too.


Two weeks ago I was very concerned about how I was going to be able to get our homeschool curriculum in time for school to start. It just didn't seem doable. This was a "big" matter to us - school is really important, obviously. But, as usual, God was working things that I couldn't see yet, and He already had a blessing on the way. Thankfully, we will be able to get the curriculum on time, and will be able to get started when we need to! That is a big PRAISE THE LORD as far as I'm concerned! God is so AWESOME!

So the school stuff was a need that I was concerned about, and God took care of it!

For the past two or three years the kids have used the same pool at our house, and they have a blast in it. It's just a small pool with collapsible sides - but still great for their age. They love it. At the end of last season, when we took it down the last time, my husband noticed it had a hole in it. So, that was the end of that. We do have another pool that is BIG and inflatable, but we need a pump in order to inflate it, which we will have to purchase when the time comes. It is a great pool with two slides, way fun - but definitely need a pump! So, the bottom line is that we had not been able to replace the pool that tore up last summer, and also had not been able to get a pump for the new pool. My kids had gone to my parents' house to spend some of their summer vacation there, and their cousin lives next door. He is the same age as my son and they have a pool, so after they came home all I heard about was "when are we gonna get a new pool???" I honestly didn't know when it was gonna happen for them, and there was no way that it could be at the top of my priority list...Pay electric bill...buy swimming pool...hopefully toilet tissue... HA! No way. The pool was way further down the list.


Okay, so long story short...the day after I got the answer about the curriculum I got a call from a local business. The last time I had gone in I had registered for a giveaway they had going. I had registered before for a grill/charcoal/etc., and didn't win. But that day I was on my way out the door and happened to see in the window a swimming pool just like the one we had (the one with the hole in it), a cooler, and some beach towels. I ran back in and registered, and low and behold WE WON IT! The kids were so excited - you just can't even believe it.



So the pool was a want, a desire of my heart for my kids, and of course their desire probably even more so!


No, we don't have to have that little pool. Yes, we can get by without it! But my Daddy in heaven cares about every aspect of my life, the big and the small. A blessing is a blessing, and I felt such a boost in my faith from that. It just reminds me that my God loves me and my family and this whole world SO much. He cares enough about us that He will meet our every need if we just trust Him. He offered up His own Son to meet my ultimate need, the need for salvation.


I don't believe that we get everything that we want, especially when our wants are sometimes selfish. Phillipians 4:19 says that "my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."(NIV) So we know from that verse that our needs will be met. But as far as wants, James 4:2 says "...You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."(NIV) So, I believe that we get some of our wants, but it definitely depends on our motives.


The kids having a pool was honestly not something I remember praying for. It was something that I really wanted them to have though because it is really, really hot where we live! Now, if I pray for a brand new car that might be a bit more selfish for me! Not because it is wrong to pray for a new car, but because I have a car that is in working order, it runs good, it gets fantastic mileage; if I asked for more it would be a selfish request at this point because my need is met. Not to mention it would tack on a bill that we could not pay!


I say all of this because I'm feeling so blessed right now, but I have been struggling in the faith area for a little while now because I just couldn't see how certain things were going to fall in place, how certain needs were going to be met, etc. But I have to say that every time I look at that little pool in the backyard I remember that God cares about everything that I'm going through, everything that I'm facing, every answer I'm searching for, every need, every want, and even the little things.

Taking Time for You...

It has been a busy weekend here and I feel like I'm heading into Monday just a wee bit behind. Not good, right? Well, in honor of feeling behind I have decided to take a little while to relax. I am having a cup of hot chamomille tea as I work on chapter three of my book. That is so relaxing to me! It really does so much good to take a little time for yourself to relax. Yes, it is late, it's 10:25 p.m., and I really should be in bed, but this is time I need to take for myself. Once I get on a roll writing it is hard for me to stop until I am completely done with the chapter, so I will probably be up for a while yet. But, this is excellent quality time for me.

Below is a picture of my favorite tea cup. My mom has a really fantastic collection of tea cups, including antique ones and lots of really pretty decorate china cups. I am not a collector of tea cups, just someone who enjoys tea. This particular cup was given to me as a gift. It's glass, not china, but because it was a gift drinking out of it makes it that much more enjoyable.




I took the time to stop and post about this because I think it is important for all of us to take some time for ourselves. We want to be at our best at all times, and we are more likely to be that if we are taking the time with the Lord that we should be taking, and also taking some time to take care of ourselves. I'm not just talking about taking care of ourselves as in putting make-up on or exercising or dressing up...no, I'm talking about taking care of ourselves mentally - getting the rest we need and time to unwind, a little time alone.

For me I like to drink hot tea and write, especially while listening to a bit of classical music. But for you, maybe it's a rich cup of coffee, or maybe curling up with a good book, possibly even a decadent chocolate chip cookie that is still a bit warm and gooey. For each of us our needs are different. So go, soak in a hot bubble bath, drink a cup of hot tea from your best china cup, or take five minutes just to go stand outside and watch nature, even go so far as to take a nap.

We should always remember that taking care of the people we love means also taking care of ourselves.

You asked for it!!!

Okay, this is my second post for today, so if you're just reading this one scroll down and check out the other one first (Pulling His Weight...). Tina asked me to post some pics of my mom's projects. I am not crafty in this department, but my mom cross-stitches, crochets (does NOT knit!), sews in every way that you can I guess otherwise though. She used to make my clothes when I was a child, and all of the other kids were so jealous! She has made some clothes for my kids, but pretty much just pajamas. She lives too far off to get to do very many fittings. Those are packed up until winter, so no pics. I have lots of things she has made, but have only taken pics of a few to share with you all. Hope you enjoy these! Wish I could take credit for them, but my mom is sooooo talented in this department - not me!

These are the curtains she made for Noelle's room, Disney Princess curtains, she made them with the valance attached and the panels split so that they can be pulled back when we wish to do so. The curtain rods were from Wal-Mart, there is a pretty pink ball on each end with pink feathers around each one, and I think it sets the curtains off perfectly. And right beneath these are the curtains for Jordan's room, they match his sports themed room and are made exactly the same as Noelle's. We have not put up his decorative rod though - it's really cute with footballs on each end.

These are Jordan and Noelle's baby blankets (folded). Jordan's is the blue/white sparkly baby yarn with white trim, and by the time Noelle was born my mom had found a new yarn - not sure what it's called, but it's got a kind of soft terry sort of feel to it; pink and white of course.

This is actually a toy passed down from me to my daughter. My mom made this sheep for me when I was little and it is just precious. I wish you could see his little blue button eyes - really sweet. He is up on a high shelf in the playroom where I keep a few stuffed toys and dolls until my little girl wants to play with them, so I took the best pic I could with my arms outstretched!

And this is the last one. My mom made this for Noelle and I think it is just gorgeous, it's my absolute favorite afghan she has made - ever! She is making one like it for Jordan too, with just two different shades of blue and a maroon, I believe, which will match his room really well. Noelle's doesn't match her room, but it's just so BEAUTIFUL anyway!

Isn't my mom crafty??? Love you mom!

Pulling His Weight...

Okay, so once again I am a couple of days behind....

On Tuesday, Michelle and her family had dentist appointments, so I kept her littlest boy -Nate - for a few hours. When they got home I had my kids and Nate outside playing, so Jacob and Amber came out to play with them for a few minutes before we had to leave. It turned into longer than a few minutes, it always does! But that was mainly because Michelle had to help me with some computer issues before I left! Anyway, while the kids were playing somebody spotted a strange event. We saw a red ant pulling a bee across the driveway. The bee was obviously dead, but it was just so amazing to see this tiny ant pulling this huge bee!

He was working so diligently and not giving up....

Hmmmm, could there be a lesson in this somewhere??? :0)

Certainly one I need to learn from!