Busier than a three ring circus!

It's gonna be a crazy busy weekend around here, but I've been thinking about some things that I want to write about in the next few days and thought I would give you a sort of teaser about them...

1. I saw a man with holes in his shoes....

2. I'm tearing our home apart

3. Baptism

4. Scared to die

5. What not to do in the garden

6. Entertaining.....this is how we do it

7. New furniture

8. Anish

9. Money money money

10. I don't like your tone of voice.

So, let me know what you want to hear about first.....all of you who think I haven't been writing enough lately better comment :) I will write about it in the order that you comment. It's all gonna be covered....the drama, the romance, the action packed adventure....you don't want to miss this!

Thankful Thursday

I'm linking up with Thankful Thursday today to join the many others in thankful praise to God for the things He has done for us.

1. I am thankful for the opportunity to share Christ with a lady on Tuesday night and for her decision to receive God's gift of salvation.

2. I am thankful for new living room furniture for my empty front room. I'm thankful we stayed under budget and paid cash for it so there isn't any buyers remorse!!!

3. I am thankful for my husband who not only works his own job, but shares the load at home, with kids and housework. He's great!

4. I am thankful for a late night trip to Whataburger with a a friend. It encouraged me to spend time with her.

5. I'm thankful for glorious weather...for swinging, playing, running, gardening, grilling and enjoying.

Thank you Lord for your many gifts to me!

Spring Garden

Roses

Snapdragons

           

Something I didn't plant

Sunflower Seedlings and Spring Mix

  Rose Bush

Onions

Corn

Potatoes

Tomatoes

Peas

Watermelon

   Spinach

The Trapping....

Que Spooky Music...

We set a trap in the backyard and baited it in hopes of getting the culprit. Instead....we captured a similarly distasteful creature who will be making his new home in the country somewhere....a opossum. Have you ever seen one of these up close and personal? Not the prettiest flower in the bunch for sure.

We weren't trying for the opossum. But, the damage he could do to my garden is way too much and therefore, our friend came, loaded up the trap and will let him go someplace in the country. His curiosity got the best of him and he ended up taking the bait, left for the other animal.

I wonder if we ever do that? Satan sets a trap meant for someone else, but our curiosity gets the best of us and we fall for something we never intended to fall for. I know I've done it...and then I wind up someplace I never intended to be.

I'm glad there are no tricks like that with God. That's why this journey of knowing Him is such a blessing. As I learned today at church, God wants to put His hand on us. What better place could there be than in His hand, guided, secure, safe?...no matter what traps are laid.

Thankful Thursday

I am linking up with Lynn for Thankful Thursday this week.

Feel free to share your thanksgiving here in the comments section.

1. I am thankful for time spent with 2 friends over a meal and coffee (well, frozen slushy thing for me). Shared ministry mindset makes for encouraging and inspirational iron sharpens iron time. Loved it!

2. I am thankful for being able to see spiritual growth in my daughter. The other day she said to me: "Mom, we need to thank God for leading us to the perfect house to buy". Wow....I love that!

3. I am thankful for Bruce's (hubs) heart for people. It's his greatest strength and God is using him in big and small ways to further the kingdom. It's exciting to watch.

4. I am thankful for time I had with Tucker on Tuesday night. We read books and played ...something just the two of us don't get much time to do.

5. I am thankful for the opening of snow cone stands...you know what that means....Summer is on the way!

What are you thankful for?

Wordless Wednesday

Stuff I Threw Away Today

So after work today I dove head first into Tucker's closet and dresser (AKA The Great Unknown)....here's some of what I three away:

1. 7 unmatched socks....some from his infancy...how have they made it through 4 moves? I do not know.
2. 1 diaper...unused...thankfully.
3. 19 Kid's meal toys...you know the ones that come with chicken, fries and apple juice?
4. Puzzles with lost pieces.
5. Broken crayons

Then I moved on to Savannah's closet....which happens to be barbie/American girl doll heaven. Here's what ended up in file 13:

1. Countless # of barbie shoes- seriously... Barbie needs to learn to organize her shoes so she doesn't keep losing them.
2. Bend-a-roos....I hate those things
3. Dried up Play-dough
4. 2 flip flops....that didn't match each other.
5. Dried up markers

.....and I am not finished yet.

The goal is to move Savannah's school desk into her monstrously large closet (she has 2 closets in her room). I'd like to set it up like a mini-office with all school related stuff in there so that she can have her own private space for school, reading and crafting. She's excited and so am I.

Here's what's in the garage sale stash:

1. Clothing Boys- 3T
2. Clothing Girls- 6 and 6X
3. Girls Shoes- Size 10-11
4. Lacing Cards
5. An expired webkinz (does that mean he's dead?)
6. Aggie Monopoly
7. A few beginner reading books

The stash will be growing as I get ready for my garage sale on May 14. Each room is getting a thorough going through and so is all the stuff in my storage shed. I'm sure there will be a plethora of treasures to discover!

If you're in the area come by and see me.

Budgets

Today I spent the day with this gal:

She's grown so much over the last year that a shopping trip was in order. Dad told her she had X amount of dollars to spend and that she couldn't go over it. So we headed out to her favorite stores...Children's Place, Old Navy and Kohl's. She found some great deals and came home with lots of summer clothes that FIT! She did a really great job weighing her purchases. Once she even found something that she really liked, but decided it was just too much for her to spend on it. I was so proud of her!

Teaching our kids about money is one of the most difficult things about parenting. I want them to understand that money doesn't grow on trees, that we are to be generous with what we do have, and that saving for a rainy day is essential in these tough times...and always. Such adult things to be teaching them, yet foundational in raising children to be adults with a clear head about finances.

Wow....who knew this parenting gig would be so tough! Thankfully God' word has plenty to say about money, saving, debt and other stewardship topics. He's got it covered!

Main Street

Today is the opening day of Main Street Farmer's Market in my town. I love this place! Step back to street vending and slow browsing. Even if you don't buy a thing, it's worth the short stroll through Main Street to see the fresh veggies, vivid colors and nice farmers.

Connect with them on facebook under Main Street Farmer's Market or go to their informative website for more information: http://sulphurspringsfarmersmarket.com/

Juggling Show....

Ever feel like this? This picture pretty much represents the life of most of the women I know. Don't get me wrong....I don't hate my life (NOT AT ALL)...there are just some days that something gets dropped. You see, I am no expert juggler! In fact this week while I was busy being Mrs. Greenthumbs I realized just how pathetic a performance this really was! Laundry piled high, gold fish ground into the carpet, one cat that has one less thing to worry about (her tail), way too many happy meal toys, kids that are smelly, unpacked summer clothes boxes and much more. It ain't pretty (well, except for the yard...)

Sometimes you just have to let some stuff go to get some other stuff done. I've never learned how to juggle it all....some of it, yes, but on most days, something gets dropped. I'm not super mom- in fact that's not even on the radar.

What I am is...

1. A Christian striving to please and glorify God.

2. A woman on a mission to be a godly wife

3. A mom who wants to raise 2 godly kids

4. A church member who wants to do my part in the body of Christ

5. A friend who wants to be supportive, and laugh, and cry...sometimes at the same time.

6. A daughter who still thinks her mom hung the moon

7. A sister who will grow old thinking about wonderful

childhood memories with a wonderful brother,

sister and uncle and wishes regularly we all lived closer.

You see...juggler is no where on the list. How I started believing I could juggle marriage, children, church, parents, gardening, laundry, dishes, cooking, baking, balancing the check book and grocery shopping- I have no idea!

Thank you Lord for this full life - for the to do list that never gets completely done and for all the God appointments that you allow to interrupt MY schedule, for the random butterfly kisses from Tucker and the sweet conversations with Savannah to the not often enough date nights with Bruce....thank you...thank you ...thank you.

Thankful Thursday

Another Thursday is here and that means another opportunity to Thank the Lord for the things He has done and is doing in my life. This week Lynn is hosting Thankful Thursday. You can join us there or leave a comment telling what you're thankful for today. Happy Thankful Thursday!

1. 
   
   I am thankful for the glorious weather we are having. God's creation is screaming out His majesty in the colors of spring. Iris, yellow daffodils and peach blossoms have fragrantly filled my senses with their sweetness. I am in awe of such beauty. Thank you Lord!
2. 
   
   I am thankful for a few less hours of work this week. It's been fun spending some extra daylight hours with the kids in the yard.
3. 
   
   I am thankful for 2 financial blessings.
4. 
   
   I am thankful for my garden and the progress I already see.
5. 
   
   I am thankful that someone thought of me when they were getting rid of 6 tomato cages and instead of throwing them away, they brought them to me. The thing that is so special about this is that I had just thought about the fact that I was going to need to purchase them on my next trip to Lowe's. God is so good!

Wordless Wednesday

Head over to Wordless Wednesday for more great photos!

Jehovah Jireh- My Provider

A year ago, I was wondering where Bruce was going to get a job to support our family. Today, I am reminded of God's faithfulness through the last year. I am also in awe of the many ways He was proven to us that He is our Provider.

From a new ministry job, larger tax return than anticipated, to unexpected gifts, to an occasional one day job here and there, to ends just miraculously meeting, to an attentive pastor who checks on our needs regularly- God's been providing for us!

And not just providing....but blessing...you know...over and above what we could even begin to imagine.

I guess today is just one of those days that I have to sit back and think about the goodness of the Lord. I'm in awe. Ever had a day like that?

Resurrection Thoughts

Gentle Savior

Quiet Reminders

Keeps His Promise

Rises

Grave clothes discarded

Stone rolled away

Angels attending

An empty grave

Grieving woman

Questioning His disappearance

Wondering

Doubting apparent

Comforts Mary

Speaks her name

She tells others

They're amazed.

Death where is your sting?

Grave -your victory?

Hell has been defeated

The grave could not hold HIM down!

In the Bible

My bloggy friend Kat, from Heart 2 Heart did a review for these videos recently. I liked the idea behind them and thought you might like to know about them too. Take a look!

Games, Gimmicks and Good Gravy

I've heard of a few gimmicks about getting people to come to church recently. It sort of gets my blood pumping when conversations start about it, so what better place for me to lay it all out there, but here....my beloved blog. ----and Warning 1- it's all over the place!
I've heard people say things about youth groups that offer pizza, candy, giveaways and other "bribes" to get the teens to come to church. I've heard about churches giving away TVs and cars and gift cards to get people into the doors of the church. Here's my take on it....and (WARNING 2) you're probably not gonna like it.

I think it's sad. Good gravy! I think it's shameful. I think it's absolutely embarrassing....but for reasons other than the obvious. In Bible times people came to hear Jesus for all different reasons....some just wanted to be healed...they had no other purpose, had no idea what He could really do for them. Some were skeptics and went to see Jesus so they could prove Him wrong, they had no idea what He could really do for them. Some came because they were invited....or perhaps someone came because they heard that He might feed them....He had turned the water to wine and multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish- maybe they came thinking they might get something to eat. Some came because they had a loved one who needed healing. They had heard about Him and wanted to see if He could do the same for them. Anyway....it wasn't important why they went....many of these people were change forever- eternally- because they came for the wrong reason.

So, I don't really care about what it takes to get someone inside a church to hear God's Word. What I do care about is why it is necessary. 2000 years since Christ came, shouldn't the church (in general) be doing an extraordinary job of sharing Christ, being His hands and feet, loving on people, meeting the needs of the poor and sick and hurting ...that people are wondering what is different and we then lead them through the doors of the church to share with them this wonderful, fulfilling, healing, comforting relationship that they can have with Christ too? Shouldn't our lives be different enough that when someone comes to the place that they realize they are empty and broken, that they know they can come to us and we will share the answer- JESUS- with them?

I don't know about you, but for me, the sad part about the gimmicks used to draw people into church, is that it just shows that Christians aren't doing, being and living out our faith. If we were, people would be wondering in amazement about this JESUS we say we love. They'd be curious that we could forgive so easily, love so freely and be so generous. They'd be knocking on our doors asking for directions. Times is too scarce to worry about how we are getting people into the church. Make haste! Start living out your faith...don't wait til Sunday or Easter or Christmas to invite someone....they may look at you like they are surprised you even attend church. Do it now....live it now...talk it now...be the church...at home, work, play, school. We have the antedote to sin....share it however you have to.

Don't worry....any games we play have already been played. Daily in most of our lives....old habits, addictive behaviors, gossip, lying, cheating, tearing down the church, envying the size 6 figure of another woman, yelling hateful things to our spouse. I don't know....just seems like there's more game playing going on with people personally that we don't have a lot of room to be pointing our fingers at the church.




PS- I've personally been involved in the lives of many people who came to church because we gave them food. I'm convinced that if the church was busy taking care of the widows, orphans, impoverished and indigent that God would bless. Obedience to His New Testament Commandments would make National Healthcare, Foodstamps, Medicaid and other government assistance programs unnecessary. ---and we would be filling our churches with changed lives....people who understand their need for Christ and His Bride.

Stepping off the soapbox.