Hebrews 11:1

Mid-Century Planter

2012-02-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

It's always good to have life in the house (beside people). A little green adds a lot in a room. I of course love the mid-century planters

Some guy by the name of La Gardo Tackett made these and they can get preeetty spendy! $1000 for a planter...pshaw...whatever!!!

There are plenty DIY mid-century planter ideas out there like this one and I was actually planning on doing one but that was like #48 on the list of 50 other things I want to do.

Today I took a stroll thru the Goodwill and low and behold...there it was! It's authentic, it's mid-century, it was $15.00 and I am doing the happy dance!! So off to the nursery I went to get me some Yucca.

What is that, Velvet?

2012-02-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

Another great Missouri find. The the final trip my in-laws made in their move from MO to AZ I had them pick up one last great craigslist find. It was $20 and my MIL cracks me up when she talks about the first time she saw this chair. I wish I had taken pictures of the back! It was a cats scratching post. You can tell this chair belong to the cat and it drove my dog CRAZY!! It was a mustard yellow corduroy. It didn't look like much but I could tell she was going to be a beauty!!

Helloooo love, welcome to your new home!!!

The funny thing...it's my MIL's favorite chair now. She is trying to convince me to give it to her.

I'm trying to decide if I want to paint the legs?

It's Been a While...

2012-01-31T18:38:00.000-08:00

I haven't had much time to sit and write a post lately and if I did get a second the last thing I wanted to do was sit on the computer and re-cap the craziness. In short November, December and January has been completely packed to say the least. Thanksgiving, 6 birthdays, 2 Christmas gatherings, a baby shower, the death of my Grandma and a memorial service. And most of that took place at our house. When building our family room addition we prayed that God would use it and we are soooo thankful He has done just that!! I am most happy when I see many people gather in my house. It is a huge blessing to my heart to see people coming together...laughing, crying, sharing and creating memories. A little piece of Heaven if you ask me!

My Grandma recently passed and since she was in her 90's she had out lived most of her friends so what was left was family. We decided it would be nice to have the memorial service in a more comfortable setting (our home) then in the chapel of the nursing home, which felt a bit generic and impersonal.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Blessed and comforted is what we all felt this past weekend during her memorial service. We were comforted by the fact that God brought our family, both near and far, together, in one room. What a gift that was. We were blessed with all of the sharing that went on, on behalf of my Grandma. Her smile, her soft hands, her blue eyes, the smell of her perfume and her love for bowling and the game Yahtzee. If you ever want to bless me, ask me to play Yahtzee with you. My Grandma loved her family dearly and our tummy's knew it well!! She was an amazing cook and people who visited her home for dinner couldn't believe people ate like that. Her heart was filled with love and her life was evident of that in her servanthood. It spoke volumes to everyone. It was evidence in all that was shared. We have been given a legacy that reminds us to always love and to always serve. She was a great example to Matthew 16:24 and now she is reaping the rewards in glory.
It has been so hard to see my dad, aunt and uncle walk this journey but what they don't know is how much they have blessed us all. They have honored their parents the best they could and that has brought much wisdom to their children. As much as I hated seeing them go through this, their love, honor and sacrifice for their parents affected me so deeply.
Another blessing in this was for my for my girls. We had talked with them many times leading up to the memorial service to prepare their hearts and what to expect. They did so well sitting and listening to the many memories shared and seeing their family members share tears. Having my girls watch family members honor another family member was such a gift. The intimate talk we had with our girls after the memorial was filled with wonderful questions, a challenge to live a righteous life, a beautiful conversation about salvation and prayer for the family members who may not know the Lord.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
I Corinthians 15:55-57

We cried and we are mourning her loss but the sting of death has been removed and our soul feels it.

"Venting"

2012-01-05T14:32:00.000-08:00

"Venting"...a word that justified my complaining. I was guilty and had to repent.

It fueled my un-content heart which lead someone else down the path of un-contentment.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing...Philippians 2:15

"You Make Me Happy Everyday"

2012-01-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

It never fails...whenever I am in need of a smile she is ready to deliver. (she was caught outside with her sissy's lipstick)

Every single night, before she goes to bed I sing three songs to her. One of the songs is "you are my sunshine" but I changed the words up a bit to make it our song.

"You are my sunshine, my Madi sunshine, you make me happy everyday. you'll never know dear how much I love you, please don't take my Madi away."

It's so cute because she sings the song with me and she say mommy when I say Madi.

Decisions Decisions

2011-12-20T18:08:00.000-08:00

This message couldn't be more timely for us. We all have decisions to make in life and I have to say I am guilty in thinking it was God's trail of "bread crubs" that lead me to making the right decisions.

I have to admit what he is talking about in the sermon is huge in the Church and I am guilty of it big time!! Eye opening and life changing on how to make godly decisions.

Olivia Ann (Anastasia)

2011-12-15T00:32:00.000-08:00

Olivia: Kind one

Anastasia (ah-nah-stah-SEE-yah)
spiritual meaning: Resurrection - The state of one who has returned to life.

To be honest with you, I did not know the meaning of her name when I gave her the name Olivia. Her name in Russia was Anastasia so we decided to keep that as her middle name. As far as her first name...I was praying over names before my girls came home...before I even knew I was going to be a mother to two girls. I had heard the name Olivia and my heart was drawn to that name.

I LOVE that her name means kind one. When she came home from Russia she was anything but kind (not that a 14 month old could be kind but believe me, she was anything but kind due to orphanage living).

For the past few years I have made it a tradition to crawl into bed with the birthday girl the night before her birthday and tell her of her special story...about how God brought her home. As I laid in bed with Olivia reminiscing over her beautiful story we were laughing about the funny things she did as a baby. One of those funny, but not so funny things she did was hoard things. Her sister could not crawl yet so she would take all of the toys and put them just far enough to where her sister could not reach. Then as her sister grew she would take her sisters toys and her toys and hide them. As she got older we use to find things under her bed, under her pillow and things hidden in her closet. Through the years I have seen her heart majorly soften towards people. She is the one who will quickly serve her sisters first when helping mommy with lunch or dinner. She has recently told me that her friends and family are worth more than her things. She told her sister the other day..."you can have my toy, because I love you more than I love my toy."
Tonight after doing our Advent tears ran down her face over her sin. It was such a sweet brokenness. She told me she hated her sin so much and she wanted the Lord to come now. She said she wanted to see Jesus and thank Him for dying for her sin. It was such a sweet sincere cry which of course made this mom bawl like a baby. It gave me a glimpse of how the Lord may feel when we come to him in our times of brokenness. It made me want to hold her and make her feel loved and forgiven and cherished. It was a good hug tonight.

I also love that I get to encourage my daughter with the fact that her name means kind one.

I love too that fact that her middle name means Resurrection. There is no life for a child in an Orphanage. The fact that she is adopted...chosen, out of all of those babies, by God, for our family! God returned her back to life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET O

Another Amazing Opportunity for the Duggars

2011-12-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

My heart hurts for the Duggar family and I pray for healing, the only kind of healing God can bring. If I know the Duggar family, they WILL use this pain to encourage others. Glory will go to God, they will turn their hearts to the Lord, their children are going to learn first hand how Christians deal with pain through the example of their parents, their marriage will strengthen, and they will go on trusting the Lord with the size of their family. The most amazing thing...America will see a true and steadfast faith and how much peace we can truly experience in our most difficult times. He is a faithful God and I have no doubt He is going to bring so much good out of all of this. This opportunity IS His goodness.

What's My Reason?

2011-12-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

He legitimately had every reason in the world to keep the change for himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DXL9vIUbWg (just incase the video dosen't show up)

Happy (late) Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T16:55:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for!!! It feels good to finally have a chance to sit down at the computer. I actually don't have a chance... I have one child to the right of me doing her spelling and the other to the left of me reading...and if you know me, it is soooo hard to do things with distractions. So if this post is choppy you'll know why.

Update on Gabby...We did go to jail to visit her but there was no record of her??? Not sure if she is lying to her boyfriend or what? My prayer is that she went back home and got off of the streets.

We have gone back out and met some more precious people. The girlfriend I have been going out with, her and I are thinking it might be best if we worked with an organization. Our husbands agree that it would be safer too. The streets are not exactly the best place for women to go out and witness. We will continue to keep food bags in our cars and there is a spacific married couple we will continue to visit but for now I think our street days are over.

SO....onto a totally different subject... You know I love my projects! And of course I am never without a one. Many of you have asked me..."what the heck are the kids doing while you are busy doing your projects???" That is the nice thing about homeschool! They are usually right by me asking me a bazillion questions about what I am doing, how I am doing it and why I am doing it? They also read to me while I am working, or they ride bikes, roller blade, play on the playground, build things, paint...really the list is endless. Here is a picture of one of them as I worked in the garage....

Is this not the cutes thing ever!!! I was sanding one of my latest projects and she went inside, grabbed her sleeping bag and enjoyed a nice nap in the cool air. She slept there for atleast and hour and a half.

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Thanksgiving was really nice. We had my parents and hubbys whole family here. It was also Neals dads 60th birthday that day. Once again I got lucky and didn't have to cook the meal.

That was a tasty bird!!

The girls loved playing with their cousins..

And of course we can't go a day without the computer?!?!

Here is a picture of Neals family...His parents, brothers, sister and their families.

I really love Thanksgiving. I love the food but most of all...I love that it's just a day to really enjoy the best blessing of all...FAMILY!!!

Well I saved the best for last. If you have actually made it to the bottom of this post then you get to see what Grace got as an early Christmas present....

Thats right...another dog! You know, it's just not crazy enough around here! Question: What do you give a lazy child? Answer: A responsibility.
His name is Boo and we of course rescued him. He is a 2 years old cockapoo. He is really cute. After we brought him home we soon realized he is a horney little thing. Our other dog is a female and my parents dog is a female. He thinks my parents dog is reeeeally pretty. We are having that issue fixed this week. Speaking of which, I'll end on a funny story.

So I brought boo home and quickly gave him a bath. He was matted with knots and very dirty. After washing him I got busy cutting off all of the knots. He had a lot of knots on his tummy. There was a pretty big one I kept pulling on and moving back and forth so that I could get under it and cut it off. Welllll, after all the tugging and moving I finally realized it was not a knot!! Poor little guy. I am not use to having a boy dog!!

Michelle, You Truly Are One Of My Heros!!!!!

2011-11-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

As most of you already know they are going to have their 20th baby....and I know most people will roll their eyes and say they are crazy. With all the rolling of eyes and criticism she always returns the with understanding and truth. Made me think of this...Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. Philippians 2:14-16

I think God is soooooo good and I am so encouraged by this family. I think all of Michelle answers were awesome in this video. Obviously, 20 kids is not Gods plan for everyone but it amazes me to see how many kids they are raising up in the Lord and sending out into this world for Christ.

This may sound offensive and really it's just a thought that passed through my head for a second......What if...it was the non-believers who closed their wombs and the believers who adopted more and left their wombs open to whatever God saw fit? Honestly, it was a split second thought. I wonder what the world would look like? Don't get me wrong, I believe God is completely sovereign through it all...all of our fears and doubts.

UPDATE...

2011-10-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

We went out today to visit with our friends and they were gone. We were sad but we totally trust God in this. We prayed in the car that God would lead us...in particular, my heart was praying for Gabby. We were led to more new friends in need and had a chance to talk with them for a bit. Another sad situation...husband and wife on the streets. She was very protective of herself and stuff. Very little eye contact. It was evident she has had a hard past. She had some understanding about Christianity. She has encountered some weird "god stuff" on the streets with others sharing and wanting to force things on them. She did not want us to pray with them because of some "scary" expierences in the past but she did ask us to pray for them when we go home. It was a great opportunity to share about the true Christ, His love for us, and the freedom He offers. It was really sad to see the way this lady viewed herself...almost unlovable.
Then it was a miracle what happened next. We started once again driving aimlessly around and we happen to see Curtis walking across the street and this was not a street that was close to where we had met him in the first place. I do not believe in coincidences or accidents! God is sovereign in EVERYTHING! Curtis informed us that Gabby had a warrant out for her arrest and she was now in jail. John too was arrested. Please pray. My friend and I are going to try to visit Gabby in jail this week. I do believe with all of my heart the Lord has lead us to her, just not sure why yet? I just know that I want her to feel cared for and most importantly that Christ cares! Please please pray if you are reading this!

Food Bags

2011-10-30T23:11:00.000-07:00

A while back the girls and I, for a home school project, made food bags. The girls wrote a verse on the bag, filled it with food and then we kept them in the car so we would always be prepared if we happen to come across someone in need.
We ran out of the bags a while ago and I had been really wanting to make more bags but had not got around to doing it. This time though, not only did I want to make bags but I really had a desire to seek out those in need but was not sure what that looked like for the girls and I since it probably would not be safe for us to do on our own. So I prayed about it. Not to long ago I was having a conversation with a friend of mine in our home fellowship...she shared with me a similar desire. So we bought some food, put our bags together and went out! I can't tell you how much it blessed me!!!

I won't go into great detail but God did lead us to some precious people in need. We have already visited them twice. My husband went the second time to meet them. If you are reading this right now please please say a prayer for Mary, John, Gabby, and Curtis. Their situations are heart breaking. All non related. They just know each other from being on the streets. To give you an example...Gabby graduated high school last year, she is from a broken home and is already out on the streets. She is a very sweet girl with big dreams. We had the privilege to share the Lord with them and pray over them. We are very excited to go back and visit with them more. As of right now they sleep in the back corner of an abandoned parking lot on blankets.
The conversations we have had with our girls have been so deep, so eye opening and to hear them pray for these lost souls...there is nothing like it.

I love love this song. I can't even begin to tell you what it does in my heart. When I was young I use to pray that it would not be the Lord's will for me to be a missionary (i know you all laugh cause you use to pray the same thing...well okay, not all of you). Now, I would love it if He chose to send us. I know you guys are giggling because you all know how much I love my make-up, home decorating and shopping....I can't begin to tell you really how much that stuff does not mean to me. It means nothing to me but a little fun. There are times I despise all of that stuff when I think about the unfathomable number of people in need of Christ. I don't want any of those earthly things to become waisted thoughts or time. And I get it, it's not my stuff that is preventing lost souls from coming to Christ. It humbles me though and I am so thankful for my blessings. I don't deserve any of it. Most importantly... I don't deserve my eternal destination.

We are going to go back this week to visit our new friends. Please pray for them...and for us. I am not their savior...I cannot change their life (as much as my heart aches to provide for all their needs)...pray that we would share well with them and point them in the direction to the One who can.

UPDATE: 11/1/2011

We went out today to visit with our friends and they were gone. We were sad but we totally trust God in this. We prayed in the car that God would lead us...in particular, my heart was praying for Gabby. We were led to more new friends in need and we had a chance to talk with them for a bit. Another sad situation...husband and wife on the streets. She was very protective of herself and stuff. It was evident she has had a hard past. She had some understanding about Christianity. She has encountered some weird "god stuff" on the streets with others sharing and wanting to force things on them. It was a great opportunity to share about the true Christ and the freedom He offers. It was really sad to see the way this lady viewed herself...almost unlovable. Then it was a miracle what happened next. Driving aimlessly around we happen to see Curtis walking across the street and this was not a street that was close to where we had met him in the first place. I do not believe in coincidences or accidents! God is sovereign in EVERYTHING! Curtis informed us that Gabby had a warrant out for her arrest and she was now in jail. John too was arrested. Please pray. My friend and I are going to try to visit Gabby in jail this week. I do believe with all of my heart the Lord has lead us to her. I am not sure why but I want her to know we care and most importantly, Christ cares! Please please pray if you are reading this!

Six Years Ago Today We Got A Call....

2011-10-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

Two days later we were parents.

God's timing is perfect!!

Oh, how I love Craigs list!!

2011-10-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

So check this chair out I found here locally on Craig's list.

It's a Carbon chair which retails for $600 at CB2 and that is for the modern version. This is the Mid-Century Modern version. Whoop Whoop.

I went to go take a look at the chair and the older gentleman who owned it was the cutest man ever. He had the biggest pop belly with suspenders. He lived on a farm with all kinds of animals. The girls were very excited! They got to pet horses, donkeys and mini horses.

The owner was having a yard sale that day and when we walked up I spotted my chair. In an e-mail he had told me the chrome was in good condition...poor man, he must need glasses. It was crusty and rusted. He wanted $50 for it which was good for this type of chair. I offered $40 despite the fact it was all rusted. I am always up for a good challenge. As I was taking the chair away the gentleman says..."do you know the name of this chair" "no sir, I don't" (at least the Mid-Century name) He told me I should check into it because he was told it was worth quite a bit since it was vintage. I still have yet to do the research.
So, wanna know how to turn a chrome rusted chair into a shiny new one...take tin foil, dip it into water and scrub. The chrome looks brand new!!! Of course I was sooooo bad at taking the before pic with all of the rust. I was just so excited to get it outside and start working on it. And then I of course had the cushions re-done as well...

It's white with sliveryish/grayish.

I am totally stoked!!! Score!

More Fun

2011-10-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

Remember these pictures I painted....

Well you know me. I like change. I am getting rid of the green, actually it's all going outside on the new back patio. Anyway, I am doing a minty kind of a greenish lightish aqua. Haha, did you get that?
So I decided to paint over these pics with a color I thought would go better...

I also added a silver glaze over the top. I also think it plays well off of the dining table.

Wait until you see the chairs I found off of Craig's list!! I am in the process of refinishing the wood and the cushions. Okay, I'll give you a sneak peak...

Totally Mid-Century Modern!! I am currently working on the one you see on the left. It took me 2 hrs to take that chair apart!!! And my hands were killing me! The fabric I got is the color of my dining table top. These chairs, once they are done, will find themselves in our family room.
So you are not going to believe how much I found these chairs for. I actually found another pair of these chairs here in town and the person was selling them for $225 each. If you look them up in Ebay you'll see they are listed anywhere between $150-500...depending on the condition. I found mine on Craig's list in Jeff City MO. My in-law are in the process of moving here so I thought I would just have these awesome chairs hitch a ride with them. Okay so are you ready for the price....$50 for BOTH!!!!!!!!! Whoop Whoop!!
My In-laws are making their final move next weekend and I have been able to find two more amazing finds. Can't wait to show you!

The other day the girls and I decided to have another painting day. I purchased two little canvases for the girls to paint on and I myself bought a long canvas to place above my fireplace. I wanted to do something in grey and yellow since grey is the color running through the house and yellow is my pop color.

Sorry about the shadows but I didn't want to take it down again. I think it will look better up there once we have the fireplace sandblasted. It's not professional but it beats spending hundreds of $'s!!

Act 17:26

2011-10-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

I think if things are ever going to look different it has to start in the Church. I just recently heard a teacher speak on the topic of Race and even though her heart was in the right place and her intentions were to encourage unity, little did she know she accomplished the exact opposite!! It broke my heart and actually started a fire within me. Everything she said was so off and felt so wrong! My heart was beating so hard I thought it was going to come out of my chest. After the lecture was over, as insecure as I felt, I chose to speak with the teacher about some of the things that did not sit right with me. She thanked me and then intellectually justified things. As I drove home that morning the frustration inside of me grew and grew.
Either the Church does not understand the theology of race or, not even realizing it, they have adapted to the cultures way of thinking including the terminology. We cannot expect unity if we think or act like the culture. Think back to how you learned about Race?? School, movies, TV? I know as a kid I did not learn from the Church. The images I saw and the terminology that was used only created another generation of segregation. So incredibly sad!! Thankfully I have come across some amazing pastors who have exposed the very poor teaching and proclaimed biblical truth.
There are some topics I really wish we heard the Church discuss more...Education, Race, and Adoption. Very very important topics to the Church!
This video is such a great example of why even the church is slow to change in the topic of Race. Segregation was accepted in the Church. I hear my dad talk about growing up in it. My Grandfather himself was very racist. The crazy thing is, the Bible taught the same thing then as it does now. What was up with these pastors back then and even now??? Seriously, THE CULTURE SUCKS and we the Church NEED TO WAKE UP!!!!!!!!

Bloodlines Documentary with John Piper from Crossway on Vimeo.

For parents out there who desire to teach their children the truth about Race I highly recommend Answers in Genesis. Search their site, so many great things for kids. The girls and I are going through this right now and it's GREAT!!!

Here is a short video, right to the point..

My First Collection

2011-10-13T01:07:00.000-07:00

I have come across many women who collect a certain thing(s) or they've inherited a collection from a family member and I've always thought that was special but I've never come across anything I would want to collect or at least love something so much that I would want to store and keep around for a long time. If you know me, I am the throw away queen! As soon as I got back from my honeymoon I sold my wedding dress.

I don't know if I am getting more mature (HA!), more sentimental (double HA!) or if I have just found something I can't take my eyes off of!! My Grandma use to have a collection of plates that my Aunt now owns. Every time I am at her house I admire them. I have told her countless times that I would LOVE to inherit them but considering my Aunt has a daughter who too would love the set, I am pretty sure they will not end up in my cupboards.

It never dawned on me that this was something I could collect. My mind just doesn't think that way. I am constantly looking around my house to see what I could sell, give away or throw away. Definitely not collect and store!!!

So not that any of you care....but I just thought I would share with you my new collection. I don't actually own any yet but maybe if family members read this post and just so happens to be on Amazon or in an antique store they can remember me at Christmas and Birthday :).

Just beautiful!!! And so versatile. It's called ~~Hobnail~~ opps...thanks Mom. It is called Imperial Candlewick.

I feel so grown up and sentimental.

~And hubby if you are reading this I know collections give you hives. I promise, this will be my only collection ;).

Back Patio is Almsot Done...YAY!!!

2011-10-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

We finished the back patio ceiling this morning. Tomorrow we are doing stucco for the back wall and then we will move the furniture out. Whoop Whoop!
We were going to go with the ordinary dry wall for the ceiling but then we thought...since when did we just do the ordinary thing? I began to rack my brain and since we love the Urban look I thought some kind of metal would look great but, the cost would not be so great though. I started to look around at junk yards and Craig's list. I found a guy at a metal junk yard who had a bunch of used corrugated metal sheeting from a barn for a really great price!!! Metal, rusted, used, good price... Man, did I do the happy dance!!! I was sooooooooo excited! This junk yard was heavenly!! I could have bought so much stuff. I actually ended up buying some J metal that is totally cool and rusted...they are awesome! I am going to use them as picture shelves.
Anyway, like I said we finished the metal ceiling and I am over the moon! I am so in love with it.

Now I just need to find some cool industrial looking fans.

A Must Must Watch!!!!!

2011-09-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Watch it to the end...but make sure you have tissue!!

Victor, a 9 year old, was in the hospital alone with cancer. The Watters family was often on the same unit becasue their daughter too was dealing with a simular cancer. The Watters family adopted Victor, cared for him, shared Jesus and loved him up until his death on September 7th, 2011.

As another friend of ours shared on their blog..."A life with a soul is filled with so many blessings. I can't say (because I don't know this family), but I would guess that whatever struggles came with bringing Victor into their home (financial, emotional, etc.), were a pittance compared to the abundant blessings showered upon the Watters family from and through their five years of interactions with him.

Pilgrim's Progress

2011-09-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

I know most of you are going to think I am a big dork for recommending this movie...but that's okay. Most of you already think I am a dork LOL!

For some of your little right brain learners this is perfect. It is a great visual. SOOOO much to talk about, as you know, if you have already read the book. My little right brainer has a hard time sitting and listening to a book, so for her this was perfect. Now when we read the book she has a picture in her head and some understanding. Some of you who have little boys would love this movie too.

And one more thing...this movie made me cry. I'll say it myself... I am a dork LOL!!!

If you have netflex you can get it there.

A Little Science Project

2011-09-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

When I was young I figured out that if you put a cup of water in the freezer, soon you would have a cup of ice. My parents would find cups of water in the freezer all the time. It was a learning process though, because I would check the cup of water every five minutes. My mom would tell me that if I kept opening the freezer it would take longer because I was letting the cold out.
Guess what I am finding in my freezer ALL THE TIME NOW. It cracks me up! They too are checking the water every five minutes.

Princess Chest Re-Do

2011-09-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

I am giving the girls room a face lift. Changing the color of their dresser, drapes, bedding and princess chest. I am finishing up on the dresser today. Yesterday I finished thier chest. I am so excited because I think it turned out so cute! It started of as a plain white cheap chest from Target....

I took the lid off and ulpholstered it with some soft charcol fabric.

And because under the lid looked so bad I put some leftover fabric on the back side to cover all the staples. Then I painted the base dark pink. Screwed the lid back on and there you go....a new fabulous chest. YAY!!

Can't wait to show you the finished room!!

Family Vacation

2011-09-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

End of August, beginning of September, the girls and I got to go visit our friends, the Gregg's, in LA. I wish I would have taken more photos because we did so much fun stuff. At the end of our trip Hubby met up with us and we drove to Colorado to meet up with his parents for a week. The whole vacation was a blast!!! It was a nice time away from the heat! I really love road trips.

Things That Make You Go HMMMMM

2011-09-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

You know when you get that unsettled deep down gut feeling that God is doing something. Nothing is coincidental right?!?!? It's almost like He is giving hints but I can't quite put the hints together???

"OKAY LORD, YOU'VE GOT MY ATTENTION...WHAT WHAT WHAT?"

I know, I know...wait.
It's almost like a treasure hunt.

I am excited but I don't want to get excited because I don't even know what I am getting excited over. kind of makes a person go nutty.

btw...this CD is AWESOME. The girls and I listen to it often.

I Really Love the Words to This Song

2011-09-17T23:54:00.000-07:00

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

(Chorus)
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Chorus

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Chorus

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Just Working Through Some More Pride

2011-09-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

Reminds me I am not alone. I am not the only one. And I guess it would be prideful for me to think I was...the only one.

Suppose we all were experiencing the same thing...what benefit would that be? Well I guess it might make me feel better? But that's not the point of our experiences.

Many years ago I was dealing with years of infertility and then following that we were going through adoptions. Seriously, at the time, I felt like I was the only one experiencing my thoughts, depression, and marriage issues. I actually got angry at others and the Lord that I was the only one going through this.

Of course I see now. I realize I was so caught up in my emotions. It really was, at the time, all about me. I am so thankful for Gods mercy. I am grateful that the Lord loves me so much to He help me get over myself and receive the gifts He had planned for me to receive in that time of pain. I am also grateful He works it all together for His good...EVEN my selfish "I'm the only one" thoughts. It has taught me how to share my experiences with others in a God honoring way, unlike before. When sharing I used to have thoughts running through my head like, "you wouldn't understand, or, you have no clue".  Totally prideful! Then there were times I just didn't share at all in order to protect myself from what others may say because of their lack of understanding and then, I would get angry because I felt like I couldn't share.  I realize now, I don't always have to share!!! Most of the time when I thought I was sharing really all I was doing was complaining, grumbling, and inviting you to my pity party and then when you did not appease my flesh I would get mad at you. Ugh, such a vicious cycle! Good grief, how is it that some of you still love me, LOL!!!

The past has taught me to remove my expectations on others.  It's not always about them understanding my situation...it's about how Christ is working, it's about how good God is, despite the situation!! It's about me trying to understand what God is teaching me and translating that to others so they may turn towards God in their situation.

So right now, to be honest with you, I feel like I am the only one who has children that dis-like each other. Daughters who are sooooooooooooo mean to each other. They act like they hate each other. They fight and bicker all the time.  And I'm not talking about the typical toddler fights. Every time I turn around I swear they are yelling something so hateful to each other. Their facial expressions and body language is terrible!!! I would like to blame it all on one particular child, and yes, she may need a little more help than the others, but we all need help in this area. We don't all respond like we should due to stress levels and sometimes shock from what we are hearing come out of our child's mouth.

Back to the whole expectation/ entitled attitude thing. I do realize I CANNOT expect my children to obey or be kind, loving and compassionate. Even if that's what I try teach them ALL DAY LONG! It's about directing their hearts towards the Lord and how their actions makes the Lord feel (not how mommy feels) so that they would want to please the Lord...not me. It's about me going to the Lord daily and asking Him to get a hold of their little hearts and make the changes He needs to make. In the mean time...I really want to pull my hair out!!!!! Not to mention it's breaking my heart. So if you feel lead, please pray for our hearts, our ~~reactions~~ responses and that we would be able to bring glory to Christ through our weaknesses.

Thanking God For His Mercy

2011-09-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

I am passing on an article that is so raw, so authentic and so beautiful! We over here have had our small (and I mean small compared so many out there) share of "after the airport" experience and continue to. I can't tell you how grateful I am for those who chose to pray for us, love and encouraged us, even when you didn't understand what we were going through. Heck we didn't understand what we were going through.
I can't tell you how hard it was and how depressed I felt soon after our adoptions. DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! And the judging eyes or the subtle comments and sometimes not so subtle were so upsetting and made me feel like I was crazy not to mention made me feel SO isolated. I truly felt like I was loosing my mind!!! In part it was our fault because we shared so much of our frustration so openly and I think it shocked so many. My goodness we were shocked too so I can imagine how we looked on the outside?!?! I feel like I am in a good place now with all of that. Judging eyes and the subtle comments don't phase me as much anymore. God has provided me with safe places to share my crazy, loosing my mind kind of times with ones who understand, ones who know our hearts and ones we trust will speak truth in love and not judgement. Don't you just love those safe places!! God is so faithful!

If you know a young mommy who may be struggling with little ones or a mommy who has adopted or just a mom going through a hard time...encourage her, love on her, and remind her "she is following a God in this story who loves and restores... She will not remain exhausted and spent. We are loved by a merciful Father."

And to the friend who shared this article...thank you for being a safe place. You have and continue to encourage and love me through the times I feel like I am going to loose my mind. Love you!!

Luke 22:32d

Truly Worth Your Time

2011-08-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

I know most of us have busy lives (as a friend of mine puts it..."no time to fart left") (did I just say that???) anyway, if you ever get some time to sit and read, read this!!!
Such an amazing testimony. I promise it will encourage you to a greater faith. It's like a great book...once you start, you won't be able to stop.

Rickety Benches

2011-08-15T23:17:00.000-07:00

So a little while back our next door neighbor move out of state. After he left we saw that he had left some stuff in his back yard (yes we peaked, but our fence is low so it's hard not to). Anyway, my hubby texted him and asked him what his plans were the for the left over stuff... he told us to have at it!! Yay for us! My husband got this really nice Rubbermaid shed, which was so great because we were in need of one and we had been searching Craig's list for one. Then we found a nice set of car tires so we grabbed those, listed them on Craig's list and may a couple hundy! I also saw a couple old rickety benches I thought I could possible do something with. They were sun beaten, splintered and dirty...nothing a little sanding and paint couldn't take care of.
Here is a before pic...

Since we are re-doing the back patio I figured we could never have enough seating so I upholstered one to make it more comfy. I was going to do both but I didn't have enough fabric. I am kind of thinking I may make a coffee table out of the other one since I am kind of into that worn wood look. Maybe slap some grey stain on and a piece of glass on top???

Anyway, here was my morning project...

I painted the legs white and then sanded them up a bit. Then I added the foam, batting and fabric. After a million staples and one very sore thumb....A new bench for my back patio.

In one of the pictures is one of two chairs that I am going to be using at the farm table (another Craig's list buy and re-do). And the humongous farm table that is some what in the photo is our dining table for outside but since the back yard is under construction it is in our kitchen. My house is a bit crowded!! I have been meaning to post the before and after pics of the table and the crazy sanding/ painting story that goes with it.

Soul Surfer

2011-08-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

We finally watched Soul Surfer the other night. I am glad that I was not expecting much because I would have been really disappointed. The movie was okay at best. Acting...two thumbs down, and as far as being a "Christian" movie...well if you consider mentioning God a couple times, having a Christian song in the movie, leaving Christ out of the scripture verse they quoted. etc. etc... luke warm at best!!! I am a bit disappointed by other Christian organizations recommending this movie. I shouldn't be surprised, luke warm seems to be the trend. So many missed opportunities in this movie...such a bummer!

These guys have a fun job!!!

2011-08-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Now that the concrete slab is gone it was time for the structure to come down. We all joked about connecting the structure to our contractors truck and pulling it down but we weren't sure if that was the best choice. Our back patio was not some tin roof that could easily be pulled down. Once it came to making a decision we decided to choose the more fun approach. After much prep work and one failed attempt we finally did it. The video does not capture the coolness but you can see it did work and it was fun!!!
Here are some pics along with the video.

Before

Now for the new floor and new structure. Yay!!!

More Construction...Back Patio

2011-08-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend consisted of taking out the existing concrete floor. This concrete has been curing for more than 50 years and some of the areas were close to 10 inches thick!!! Between Dad, hubby and I we were able to rip it out. I have always wanted to work a jack hammer. I have to tell you, if God would have made me a boy, I would definently be in construction!

Before

And of course each girl wanted to take a ride in the "tractor"

Our back patio.

After pic. Whew!! That was fun!

Now we can rip the structure down. Wait until you see this!!! Some chains, a bobcat and wah lah! I'll post the video tomorrow.

Divided the Movie

2011-07-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.dividedthemovie.com/#watchlink

A young mans journey to find out why we are loosing our children.

A Tall Glass of Encouragement

2011-07-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

Not that anyone noticed....and not that I expect anyone to notice but, this blog took a bit of a shift. I went from sharing spiritual things...to sharing about my thrifty finds and the fun home projects I have been working on at home. Not that that is a bad thing but if you could see my heart as the Lord does you would see that the shift was due to my lack of zeal, disappointments and very discouraged heart. Don't get me wrong, I am going to keep up with my fun projects because I really enjoy them but I just have to say that my heart is in a better place.

Here is what I know, and what my heart is totally okay with...

Relationships are seasonal.
Relationships are purposed.
Sometimes they last and sometimes they don't.
Friends come and go.
They are a gift to be enjoyed.
Friendship brings wisdom, love and comfort.
Friends share truth.
Friends love you through the growth spurts.

Having said all of that...Here's what I also know,
Relationships were NEVER meant to end on a bad note. Even though they are sometimes seasonal, God would never end a season on a bad note.  Although it does happen and God is so good to reveal so much to us in those times of separation, we as believers should never be okay with unreconciled, unresolved issues. It should be a deep pain in our heart and soul until things, Lord willing, get resolved.

A good and very wise friend of mine encouraged me that when relationships goes through a rocky time it is very important to always (and I say all of this with a lot of !!!! because they are all so very important)...
1. WAIT, Be Patient!!!
2. While you are waiting, ask the Lord to reveal what He needs to reveal!!!! (Usually the issue that caused the break is not the real reason for the break...God allowed the break to happen so that He could reveal the real heart issues.) If you continue to focus on the "issue" you will miss it all.
3. Commit to Pray for restoration, even if your heart is not there yet!!!
4. Think the best of that person!!!!! (so hard!!!)
and then most importantly, TRUST that the Lord IS doing good work.

Even though I knew all of that to be truth my impatient heart began to hurt so bad from some spiritual battles in my life that I became soooo discouraged and depressed.

Literally last night and this morning I told the Lord that I felt like my heart could not handle it anymore, that my heart desperately needed some encouragement. I asked him this morning to heal one of those spiritual battles in my life. That afternoon He did more than that. He not only restored a friendship, He made it stronger than before. Pride was washed away, Satan's lies were revealed, pain was totally removed, hearts were completely encouraged and truth prevailed.  And because of what was done on the cross, there was complete restoration.

Needless to say...I AM TOTALLY ENCOURAGED!!!

God's work is...... SOOOO GOOD. and I say that like I was completely! and utterly! dehydrated! and the Lord just poured me a nice big, huge, over flowing, refreshing cold one. ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.    of course I am talking about a drink of water ;)

More Thrifting...More Projects

2011-06-14T00:29:00.000-07:00

So I love thrift stores and all but for some reason I have never been to Goodwill. I drop stuff off there but never go in. Not sure why??? Today, I went in. So glad I did!! So excited for the little things I found....
Look at these darling little mason jar salt and pepper shakers. I think they are going to be perfect for our soon to be new back patio dining. $.99

I took a picture with my phone so you can see how cute and small they are.

So our bathroom has needed a waste basket for sometime now. $5.00 Perfect huh! And yes, of course this is getting some paint. Probably a dark charcoal gray spray paint...We'll see.

Recently I was in Newport and I went into this little AMAZING home decor shop. It was really pricey!! But man did they have some incredible stuff. I did make it out of there with a little piece for my home, I will post that later but something else there caught my eye. These awesome brass candle sticks painted. I didn't want to spend $30 per candle stick sooooo of course I was now on a mission...project # 56! Wish I had taken a picture of the candle stick in the decor shop. They were kind of like this...

Well thank you Goodwill! One for $5 and the other for $4. I have not decided what color they are going to be yet but I am sure they'll pop up in a future post with some color on them.

And then I saw this. Didn't really have a big need for it but I loved it and thought it would be a great serving piece for the new patio dining. It's not that big, maybe 9 or 10 inches wide. I can picture dinner rolls in it or napkins or maybe some popcorn? Who knows? What matters is it's totally cool! and metal! and only $6

Okay, I saved the BEST for last!!!! So after I was done at Goodwill I went next door to the thrift stores I usually go to. I saw this great idea. Thanks to Ginger D. for "liking" this site on her FB. That site lead me to this site where I saw some picture and of course the wheels started to turn. As if I don't have enough projects!!!! But I do want candles hanging over my dining table outside. Okay here is the pics I saw...

Great idea huh. I am not totally into the ladder, even though it is totally cute. I was looking for something metal...of course! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would come across something so AWESOME as this!!!!

And look it's already rusted and has thingamajigers so it can be hung.

I am so in love!!!

Oh and Ginger, I told you I would check for you too. I did see some stuff that might work. Not wooden ladders but some old wooden stuff that could probably be turned into something that looks like a wooden ladder.

UPDATE: I wrote this post late last night. When I woke up this morning I found these!!!! YAY! Something to hang from my new metal piece.

I found them on this site. Love that site!! I ordered 2 each which came to $28.00 but I had a $20.00 credit. Waahooo!!

Ugh! Public Restrooms

2011-06-07T18:54:00.000-07:00

WARNING: NOT FOR WEAK STOMACHS!

Public restrooms are so gross! Knowing what my own kids have done in public bathrooms makes me never want to go in one. Today is no exception!!! It's inevitable, even though my 3 year old is pretty much potty trained, whenever she gets into the water she poops!!! Seriously, what is it with her and water??? She's swimming one minute and the next she gives me this look and I know right away what it means. Well as you can probably guess, I got one of those looks today! Ugh, sooooo now we are off to the restroom to get cleaned up. We go into the stall, pull her bathing suite down and dump # 2 in the toilet. If I'm lucky it lands in the toilet. So much of the time it lands on the floor and then if I am really lucky she steps in it. Today was good, it landed where it was suppose to. This toilet was one of the those that automatically flush. NOT a big fan of those! Have you ever bent over to wipe a child and while wiping, the toilet flushes and splash, it goes all over the face??? No? me neither. Anyway, so after the toilet flushed I took her bathing suite off and started to dunk it in the clean toilet water to get the remains off so I could then take it to the sink and clean it with soap. Man!! The life of a mother!!! So as I was dunking her bathing suite in the water the suite slipped from my hand and seriously!!! not even a nano second later the toilet flushed and her suite was gone!!!!!!!! It sucked that suite up so fast! OOOOOPPS! Madi looked at me with her big eyes and I gasped. We both just kind of looked at the toilet for a moment in disbelief and then my daughter with her loud but very cute voice said..."OH NO MOMMY, THE TOILET SWALLOWED MY BATHING SUITE!!!!" We both started cracking up. I swear, what is it with me and public bathrooms?!?!? I am really thinking it would be smart to carry disposable gloves and Clorox wipes with me....not sure WHY I have not thought of that until now??

He Pretty Much Nails It

2011-06-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Your Knowledge is limited to what God has revealed...It helps keeps us in our place.

Don't You Just Love Thrift Stores!!!

2011-06-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

This was my recent thrift store find.

BEFORE:

Words from my daughter..."Are you sure about this one mommy?"

YEP, I'M SURE!

Love Love Love the chevron print pillows!!! This is one of my favorite prints. One way or another I am going to have a rug with this print.

So now when you come dine with us you will have your own special seat at the dinning table...

Passing on a godly encouragment

2011-05-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

There is a blog I read often. You can find the link on the right side of my page. She is an amazing godly woman. I soak up her posts that are just filled with wisdom. Recently she lost everything. Her house was flattened to the ground from a recent tornado. Wow!!! Convicting and encouraging. Talk about praising God in the storm.

You just never know how you will respond when life turns upside down. Her morning started off with her father having a major heart attack...little did she know, that was just the begining.

Pie Safe Project

2011-05-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

My Fabo MIL gave me this beautiful pie safe recently. I was very excited to get my hands on this one!! Here is the before pic. I know, totally not my contemporary style but I love it!!

After...(click on pic to see close up detail)

DIY Projects

2011-05-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

So, lately I have been sooooo into the whole DIY projects. I have been inspired by some other web-sites out there.

There are about 6 projects I have been working on. I'll start with my paintings...I have never painted a picture before in my life...well I take that back. I may have painted a picture in kindergarten way back when, not sure if that counts. So I saw this really cool picture on Art.com and thought... I bet I could create something like that. Why spend $60.00 on each picture when I could spend $14 on two!! Thanks to Hobby Lobby.

I started with drawing the stencil...

cutting the Stencil...

I then took the stencil traced it on my canvas, painted it... and wah lah...

Okay, so it's not perfect and maybe it looks like the picture I painted in kindergarten, but it works for this low budget gal. I didn't realize I already had this print in my house until after the project was done. It's the mail/ keys/ sunglasses/anything else that can fit into it, holder by the door. By the way...do you see butterflies or circles with diamonds??? I saw butterflies.

The next project...I purchased this really great bookcase from Dawn. I have been wanting to reorganize the kids toys, puzzles and such. When I saw this bookcase I instantly got an idea. Forgive me because I am really bad at taking before pictures but I am going to try to get better because I have many ideas up my sleeve. So since I don't have a before pic I went on-line to find something close to the color of the bookcase...

I knew when I purchased it I was going to paint it white but I wanted to add some flair to it. So I decided I was going to find some funky print and wallpaper the back of the bookcase. HOLY SMOLY!! Wallpaper is so expensive!! For the type of look I was going for the wallpaper was going to cost anywhere from $75-$100. No Way!! So I then began to brain storm and came up with the thought of finding a cool fabric and putting fabric on the back of the bookcase. I googled the idea and wah lah... (click on the pic so you can get a closer look at the print)

I found the fabric at none other than Hobby Lobby (love them!). I purchased fabric stiffener and rolled that on the back of the bookcase. I then laid the fabric down and rolled the fabric stiffener on top of the fabric. Once it dried I cut the extra fabric off with a razor blade. The great thing is, it was soooooo easy and when I am done with this look it peels off fairly easy and the fabric is reusable after a quick wash. Yea for plan B!!

So there, 2 of the 6 projects I have been working on. I will post some more later. I think I am addicted to DIY projects. The great thing is, it has inspired my kids. They copied me in using my stencil and painted their own picture. I suck because I didn't take a picture of that. They also have become great little sanders.

Worth Watching

2011-05-18T13:50:00.001-07:00

"Come"

2011-05-13T13:20:00.001-07:00

For some time our Pastor has been reading Matthew 11:28 and the word "Come" has been on my mind. I recently heard someone say "It is our responsibility to come" as if it were our choice. That did not sit well with me so I have been asking the Lord to give me wisdom in the word "Come". It just seems that if it were our responsibility then we would have a reason to boast. Ephesians 2:8,9

The Lord would never give us that opportunity to boast in ourselves. "It was I who chose the Lord. It was I that came to the Lord. It was I that made the decision for the Lord."

I think we are forgetting and not giving credit where credit is due...The Holy Spirit convicts of our sins (John 16:7-11), giving us the knowledge of sin, once we understand our condition, we begin the search for salvation.

We would never understand our state of depravity if it were not for the Holy Spirit. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. Romans 3:10&11

Jesus taught Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives us a spiritual rebirth, without which we cannot see, or understand, the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Paul refers to this process as being "made alive," and John, James, and Peter speak of our being "begotten." We speak of "regeneration," or being re-created in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). It is the work of the Spirit to awaken our hearts to God, to call us from death to life, to bring us to faith, and to seal us with a guarantee of our eternal inheritance.

So the word "Come" we would never hear nor understand if it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit. So what do we do with the word "Come"... We respond in humble obedience only because we have been given the ability to "Come". We no longer live in the bondage of sin, we have the freedom to come.

I love how one pastor put it...A cow eats grain; the cow would never eat meat, he wouldn't even think to eat meat because that is not in his nature.

The cow has free will to eat meat. No one is stopping him...but, it would never even cross his mind.

It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit, the rebirth He begins in us, that we are able to do something that is not in our nature.

Which leads me to the previous post...Compassion for the ones "who know not what they do"

Compassion

2011-05-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Lord, Increase my compassion for the lost. Help me to realize daily it is darkness we are up against and not flesh. Help me to have the heart of Christ...""Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

Dead people do dead things...should I expect more??? Take my judging heart and replace it with compassion. Even towards those I expect more from. Thank you for revealing weak areas in the body. Remind me to choose prayer over judgment, give me that broken and contrite spirit. I also pray that those whom you choose to reveal my weakness to would pray for me and not judge.

There May Be Therapy In Our Future!!

2011-05-10T13:09:00.001-07:00

Amish Grace

2011-05-01T02:08:00.000-07:00

Watch it! Watch it with your children. Talk about it with your children. So good!!

I would love to say that I would respond the way these families responded...but, in all honesty, I am not sure that I could say that.

You know the quote I have on my blog...the one by Spurgeon..."Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of." I thought of that while watching this movie. You see that very thing that Spurgeon is talking about take place in this movie. Gosh, so much to think about, talk about, pray about after watching this.

To truly forgive, to really choose love, to completely turn over those fleshly emotions to the Lord, those emotions we feel we have the right to hold on to. The emotions we seem proud to hold on to because vengeance is a virtue? Like it’s a point of strength. A sort of moral hostility against what is wrong.

In the movie one of the news casters is speaking to one of the Amish men about his faith. She did not understand this kind of forgiveness they were offering? Forgive when there is no regret or remorse? Ouch is all I have to say after watching that particular scene. He replies to her with this "forgiveness comes from an open heart and it comes without condition...or it does not come at all." Condition...ouch!

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount." "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Luke 6:27-35

This movie is a perfect example to this scripture.

Young Adult???

2011-04-25T16:01:00.000-07:00

"Take your time...don't grow up too fast...enjoy life as long as you can before you settle down...see and experience the world...don't be so quick run off and get married...enjoy singleness, play around, taste the goodness..." And then once you do get married..."don't rush into having kids, kids are expensive so make sure you have a good job and are financially set, buy a home first, enjoy your marriage a while (which is funny because once a couple is married and having issues, mind you, issues WITHOUT CHILDREN, they end up having children thinking that it will bring them closer??? So which is it people...don't have children or do have children??? Issues come no matter what...THAT'S MARRIAGE! And it's not a bad thing!

Interesting article... What Is It About 20-Somethings?http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?_r=2

"Among the cultural changes he points to that have led to “emerging adulthood” are the need for more education to survive in an information-based economy; fewer entry-level jobs even after all that schooling; young people feeling less rush to marry because of the general acceptance of premarital sex, cohabitation and birth control; and young women feeling less rush to have babies given their wide range of career options and their access to assisted reproductive technology if they delay pregnancy beyond their most fertile years. "

"Is emerging adulthood a rich and varied period for self-discovery, as Arnett says it is? Or is it just another term for self-indulgence? "

Definitely a good topic to be discussed. The questions is...what does the bible have to say about this?

And please don't misunderstand me. No, I don't think everyone needs to be married at the age of 18 and have 20 babies. If you know me, you know my opinion... God is sovereign over all of that!

The question I am aiming at is...How does the bible define an adult and at what age are we considered and adult?

A really great sermon on this topic...

He starts right in on the young adulthood thing at 43:40 but of course I encourage listening to the whole thing :) especially if you have little ones!

There Is A Reason Why I Listen To This Man Often!!

2011-04-02T11:08:00.000-07:00

If you have daughters or even if you have sons...

Don't pay attention to the pictures in the video. Actually look away and just listen because the pictures distract.
If the video does not show up click here..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4EfaeYm9M0&NR=1

click here if video does not show up...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS5rbw0uGhg

It's not just Biblical...It's totally logical.

No Craftiness...Just Pure Truth

2011-03-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

So I was in the gym this morning listening to this sermon. Not good, when you want to bawl your eyes out!!

Just imagine if more pastors shared the Truth like this!! When God's word is shared in complete truth it makes you crave more, it convicts and it changes life. It's not the pastor, it's the Truth and we need more of it.

~Wisdom- the best use of knowledge. Knowledge is not enough...you need to know what to do with the knowledge. Voddie knows exactly what to do with the knowledge...Preach it!!

No doubt this sermon can stir up pride and it's kind of sad to think that the Church has aided in that pride but when that pride is completely tackled by the grace of God it leaves you humbled to the dirt. This sermon left me literally trembling with humility. I am not sure I have heard this articulated so well before??

When you preach the word of God, you need no craftiness. When you soul recognizes the Truth you realize it's NOT man...It's all God!

A GIFT!!!

2011-03-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

Bare with me because my thoughts are so sparatic. My heart is just bursting with joy and gratitude right now that I am afraid it is all going to come out jumbled.

So today in my Isaiah study our lecturer was speaking of our worth. You know....Christ loves us so much that He DIED for us. After the lecture the teacher and I were also talking about how we are a love gift from Father to the Son that the Son gives back to the Father. John 17 (read it, so AMAZING). I am a love gift? A GIFT TO CHRIST!!! WHOA! This is what I think of when I think of a gift...It's something you choose for someone you love, something you know they will love. Something that will bring them joy. A gift is something that is thought out in advance because we want it to be the perfect gift. And we all know that God can only give good gifts. I am a good gift????? Seriously?? Too, I am a gift that comes without a gift receipt. I cannot be returned!

And then I get home to find out my good friend is now holding her new gift, a son. A precious gift from God. My heart is really exploding.


Elijah Stone Johnson

Amazing...we are a gift from the Father to the Son in which the Son gifts back to the Father. Our children...gifts from the Lord...gifts we give back to Father.

I don't know, is it me or is that just so H.U.M.B.L.I.N.G!!!!!!!!!

"Jesus Christ is God's love gift to the world, so believers are Gods love gift to Jesus" ~John MacArthur

http://www.gty.org/AudioPlayer/Sermons/1564

a great sermon on the topic.

John MacArthur

2011-03-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

"Christian psychology" as the term is used today is an oxymoron. The word "psychology" no longer speaks of studying the souls instead it describes a diverse menagerie of therapies and theories that are fundamentally humanistic. The presuppositions and most of the doctrine of psychology cannot be successfully integrated with Christian truth. Moreover, the infusion of psychology into the teaching of the church has blurred the line between behavior modification and sanctification...If one is a truly Christian psychologist, he must be doing soul work in the realm of the deep things of the Word and spirit- not fooling around in the shallows of behavior modification... There may be no more serious threat to the life of the church today than the stampede to embrace the doctrines of secular psychology. They are a mass of human ideas that Satan has placed in the church as if they were powerful, life-changing truths from God. Most psychologists epitomize neo-Gnosticism, claiming to have secret knowledge for solving people's real problems. There are even those psychologists who claim to perform a therapeutic technique they call "Christian counseling" but in reality are using secular theory to treat spiritual problems with biblical references tacked on. ~John MacArthur

If all we had was God's Word, that would be enough.

Chalkboard Motivation

2011-03-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

Something I have been wanting to do for a long time. A little motivation maybe? A reminder for mommy to encourage and take notice. I made this chart a few weeks ago and the kids love it! They love getting dots! It actually works in this home. Of course there are rewards after getting so many dots. This picture was taken the morning after I hung this up and as you can see both Olivia and Grace had gotten a dot for brushing their teeth, making their beds, getting dressed and brushing their hair (without me asking of course!). They were so excited to wake up the next morning and do those things so they could get a dot. I of course thought to myself, hmmm I wonder how long this will last??? It actually has lasted! They don't always remember but they are remembering more times then not. It took Madi a little while before she caught on but as soon as I recognized something that she did, which was obeyed right away, I got very excited, did a little dance, praised her and she received a dot. She now has more dots in that category then the other girls lol!

If you are wondering, I used liquid chalk. Love this stuff! Washes off with water.

Just added this picture cause it cracks me up! Life with girls!

Tug of War?

2011-03-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

To give up something as certain as motherhood to pursue other things we call "callings" is completely delusional (sorry is that too harsh, this video makes me want to puke). If God has blessed you with children, without a doubt, that. is. your. calling!

This video is the world at it's best! And extreme too...at least for my sheltered eyes. I must admit though we see this on a lesser scale in the Christian community . I see motherhood tugging at hearts competing with "other callings." No doubt we have been gifted with other talents but I don't think they were intended to compete with being a mother or wife. I'm trying hard to think if there are examples in the bible of a mothers conflicted with caring for her children full time, yet feeling like she is being pulled in a different direction? I am coming up short.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

2011-03-06T11:04:00.001-08:00

Jim Daly Video from Focus on the Family on Vimeo.

Jim Daly Video from Focus on the Family on Vimeo.

Check this out...http://www.icareaboutorphans.org/WaitingKidsinYourState.aspx

JJ Heller!!!!!!!

2011-03-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

And to think...I was about to pass on this gig due to nerves (in other words, the father of lies)!!!

Thanks to our good friends Bradley and Dawn I was blessed to be apart of this beautiful video. I have no doubt this video is going to be great, how could it not?!?! JJ Heller a very talented singer song writer match up with Bradley Gregg, a great producer and editor along with his very supportive, creative wife Dawn and all of her great ideas equals one amazing video! I am very excited to see how this all comes together.

The really cool part...I got to be in the video!!! I was the make-up artist for the models and me doing their make-up is apart of the video.

Can I tell you, I WAS NERVOUS AS ALL GET OUT!!!! I have not done a model or brides make-up in sooo long so I thought I was going to puke when I agreed to do it. Not only that, but the fact that I was going to be FILMED while doing it!!! Seriously, ask Dawn, I was pooping my pants beforehand. Once I got there and saw how laid back things were I calmed down and of course thanks to my loved ones praying for me (thank you, you know who you are) it really turned out to be a very fun experience.

I had had the pleasure of meeting JJ and her husband before and they seemed to be a very nice and pleasant. After yesterday I can definitely assure you they are SO nice, so laid back down to earth, so real and trying to figure out life/ God's will for their lives just like the rest of us.
Here are some of the great photos Dawn took throughout the day. http://dawngregg.smugmug.com/Other/JJ/16030812_SJgFQ#1202922281_8qGne

Stay tuned. I will post the video once it is released.

Going Green...I mean Orange

2011-02-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

So I have this event coming up...it's a Moroccan themed event and I have been trying to plan out my outfit and make-up. I have not bought make-up in a LONG time since I have soooo much. Last night I decided to go see what the new trends are and see if I could get some make-up to go with the colors I am wearing for the evening...dark gray and orange. This is how the night went down. I will just share with you some of my conversation I had last night with my cousin.....

me texting her..."got talked into buying orange lipstick tonight!!! I am such a sucker! 'oh u look so beautiful in that color' "really, ok, I'll take it" ugh!!

my cousin..."Oh no!! Can u return it? Someone tells us we look beautiful and we're sold! I've bought lovely orange tones before too...not so good!!

me..."no no, it's not orange tones...IT'S ORANGE!!! She said it's so in and it looks so good with my eyes. and yes, i can return it. Oh and did i tell u i bought the orange blush to go with it??? i'm a desperate mom who never gets out and now when i do go out i will look like an orange!!

I then sent her a picture so I will give you one too...

her response..."HAHA!! Oh that's just terrible Jeni! So awful and orange! But trust me I can relate! My big outting was Target yesterday (by myself) and it felt like a vacation."

I never thought about this, but we are prey. Stay at home moms, who have no clue as to what is going on out there (not that that's a bad thing!!). I never thought me, the use to be make-up artist, would be in this predicament. Kind of funny, kind of humbling, and I'm kind of okay with it.

Anyway, I gave the orange a test, what do you think???

It kind of looks red. Believe me when I say...IT'S ORANGE!

BTW...Jaime, it looks so much better on you!

Be apart of the Blessing in bringing Elijah home

2011-02-22T11:43:00.000-08:00

A little Home Decor Fun

2011-02-18T15:53:00.000-08:00

So I have been having fun doing some decorating. I found a really cool mirror and yes I am a dork, I forgot to take a before picture but I do have the after shot. If you can imagine a run down, dirty, creamy in color mirror. Add a little gray glossy spray paint and waa laa (sorry the pic came out a little blurry)

Then, I found a really cool Hollywood Regency style screen in gold. I love some of the glam found in Hollywood Regency so I thought I would try to bring some of that in with the contemporary stuff we have.

Of course I was not going to keep it gold!! So I spray painted it a lime green to bring more of the green out in that crazy chair I have. I am hanging the screen in my dinning room for now but not sure if that is where it's going to stay.

I am now on a mission to find a really cool door for my storage room, the room off of the living room. We want the door to glide open like a barn door along the wall. I want it to be a hanging piece of art. Here is a picture of the room off to the left. And to the left of that you can see I painted the new door that goes to the outside in chalk board paint. The kids love it! Now I want to collect cool magnets.

Anyway, I found some pictures of doors that I absolute love for the gliding door. Now I just have to find them and at an affordable price. Totally down for refinishing the door too if that makes it cheaper.

My favorite one is the last one. If anyone knows where in the world I could find a door like these, maybe a place that sells antique doors, please let me know!

If this does not make your jaw drop, I don't know what will!!!!

2011-02-16T21:46:00.000-08:00

If you can stomach it, watch the whole thing. Not sure why I am shocked??? Not shocked, just really really heartbroken. LORD PLEEEEASE COME SOON!!!

If for some reason you cannot view the video...go HERE

Recognize anyone in this Photo?

2011-02-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.booninc.com/catalog.php

YAY! Go to page 33. I have to say though after all the cute ones they took and this is the one they chose? Oh well, it was a fun experience!

A Must Must Watch. Ahhhhh so good!

2011-02-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

if for some reason the video does not work, go HERE

Thanks Erin!

So Guilty

2011-02-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

When we wrestle with out-of-control emotions, it is easy to conclude that emotions are inherently sinful or wrong and should be suppressed. We need to remember that being created in the image of God means we have the capacity to experience and express a variety of emotions. God exhibits a spectrum of pure emotions, including joy, delight, anger, jealousy, and sorrow. And He has designed us to be able to feel and express many different emotions in a why that reflects His heart and brings glory to Him.
The problem is not that we have emotions-they are a gift from God. The problem is that our emotions (unlike God’s) are tainted by the Fall. The challenge is to let the Spirit of God sanctify us in the realm of our emotions so that they can be expressed in godly ways.
I know of no tool that the Enemy uses more effectively to lead us as women into bondage than our emotions. He does so by causing us to believe things about our emotions that just aren’t true.
The Truth is that, due to our fallen condition, our feelings often have little to do with reality. In many instances, feelings are simply not a reliable gauge of what is actually true. When we allow them to be tied to our circumstances-which are constantly changing-rather than to the unchangeable realities of God and His Truth, our emotions are prone to fluctuate wildly.
If we want to walk in freedom, we must realize that our emotions are not necessarily trustworthy and be willing to reject any feelings that are not consistent with the Truth. ~Nancy Leigh Demoss

Wow, Isn't that the Truth!

2011-02-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. ~ C.S. Lewis

Just a Thought...

2011-02-03T22:05:00.000-08:00

Recently I heard another believer say..."after all I did for so and so and this is how I get treated."

You know when you say something and it doesn't sound as bad as to when you hear someone else say it? Cause I am pretty sure I have said something like that in the past. We are probably just so self deceived into thinking we aren't as bad.

Anyway, when I heard this come from that persons mouth this verse came to mind... Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23,24

I understand, especially as a mother, when we pour so much time, effort, money, etc. etc. into a person or persons and then when things don't go as planned it stings. I totally get it.

I wonder...if our motivation was different, would it sting as much?

You know what will sting even more...when our works are tested.

...each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 1 Corinthians 3:13

Daily Letting Go

2011-02-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

Once again I am reminded it is the Lord who protects my children. As much as I try and try I might, I will always fail. They are not mine, they are His. They come with a plan and a purpose. And in the short time I have with these little blessings I am reminded that my sole responsibility is to point them in His direction in every way possible.

Last night was no exception. I am always reminding our oldest that she is not in control well last night it was God reminded me I am not in control. Our littlest was found with an empty bottle of benadryl in her hand and the smell in her mouth. We have NO CLUE where she got it from since all of our medication is kept up high in a kitchen cabinet, a cabinet I myself cannot reach. It was a busy night, a lot of rushing around but this definitely stop us in our tracks. I called poison control and the fact that we did not know how much was in the bottle to begin with and now that it was empty, they told us we had no option but to have her observed at the ER. They of course had to tell me every scary thing that could possible happen!! So off to the ER we went. After four hours of observation, Madi being diagnosed with RSV (doc didn't like the sound of her cough) and a lot of prayer and meditation we were home safe and sound.

After she was all tucked away in her bed and sleeping like baby I told my husband that I could not imagine living the hospital life. I also know too that it could easily be us. So many sick kids out there. So much pain, so much hardship. A trip to the ER turns into a weeks, months or years in and out of the hospital. I am so thankful that yesterday He let us go home and was reminded once again of His sovereignty.

God has been pounding me lately with a constant reminder of His sovereignty and I know well that there will come a day where that will be the only truth that will bring comfort. Our family is about to embark on a very scary road ahead of us, something we have all been trying (and I say that with weakness) to prepare for for a long time and no matter what I do, God reminds me that He already did the planing and preparing. He set forth the path, Isaiah 25:1 and I am not in control. There is nothing I can personally do to prepare myself except to decide to keep my eyes focused on the One guarantee, the One we can ALWAYS depend on, the First and the Last, the One who is perfect in Faithfulness Isaiah 25:1.

Increase my weak faith Lord and increase Your Glory...however that looks?

Help Bring Baby Johnson Home

2011-02-01T16:37:00.000-08:00

http://gatheredfromafar.com

Capturing My Thoughts... In Writing

2011-02-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

This whole 'thinking the best of others' is really hard, don't you think?

You know those certain people in your life that make you wonder if they just creatively says things to get under your skin? Or, forget the creative part, they just blatantly say things because they know it will get under your skin (of course only if you let it.)

Ever feel like there are some who are always trying to prove themselves or prove you wrong? They try to sound so intellectual when disagreeing with you, only to make you feel stupid, but inside you just want to say, seriously, get your head out of your bootie! And it would totally kill them to agree with you.

There's an itch there but it never gets scratched. A big fat elephant in the room that is constantly ignored. And you always wonder if this time will be the straw that will break the camels back? Will it ever be rooted out?

Is it me, or am I just crazy??? (don't answer that.) Honestly I try hard to not think too much about this stuff because it could drive a person mad. And really, it's so petty and a waist of the mind. So, now if my mind does go there (which I guess is right now, since I am writing about it) I try to remember to pray for that persons heart, my heart and recite Hebrews 4:6 (thanks to our amazing Pastor who has repeatedly gone over this verse)....But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

Because you know what I mentioned above, it's all rooted in that icky poo poo pride. And I do trust, that in time, God will root it out.

Definitely not saying for one single second that I am above all of this, cause I most certainly am NOT!!! Just saying, it is on my mind. So....I am pondering, meditating, praying and soaking up truth....instead of letting my mind "go there".

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ... 2 Corinthians 10:5

When writing this a certain person, who is totally opposite of what I just wrote, came to mind. We get a long really well, we enjoy each others company and I know for a fact we do not agree on everything but for some reason, it works. We have no problem discussing the things we disagree on. We ask each other questions about the things we disagree on and try to understand each other better. We laugh about our disagreements or maybe cry. We challenge each other in love. It's authentic. She laughs at me when I make a complete butt of myself. And I with her. There is no competition, no insecurity in our friendship... a true sign of her security in Christ. It is so refreshing to be with her.

It really takes two, who are secure in Christ, to have a great relationship because with each others short comings and pride etc. etc. without Christ, one is usually working harder than the other. Which is sometimes Gods plan too, for a season.

We are just called to love and of course search our own hearts and then let God do the work...because without a shadow of a doubt I know He will!

2011-01-28T08:25:00.001-08:00

Can't view video? GO HERE

It Was Love At First Sight

2011-01-27T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's me out of the box, my inspirational piece for the new room, the chair that took my breath away and the chair my husband thinks is atrocious LOL! It was my birthday present this year.

In the past I would have NEVER! But, why not!?! Right?? I finally went for it and I am very excited to decorate around her. Finally, some color in my life. She is comfy too!

Somthing to Think About

2011-01-24T00:48:00.000-08:00

Can't view video...GO HERE

I grew up in the youth ministry and for a while worked for the youth ministry. Sad to say a lot of the kids I grew up with have walked away from the faith. And unfortunately I have seen youth staff and teachers walk away from the faith as well. It was exciting for a while but the entertainment of it all does not last.
Most will defend the youth ministry and yes, God will bring good out of it all, but, for sure I think there is something to think about or re-think.
And just to put this out there...this is not to slam the teachers out there. I know a lot of great youth teachers out there who have great intentions and a heart for the youth.

I know it is a very tough subject especially in this culture. Listen to the research, it is surprising.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/media/video/ondemand/state-of-the-nation/state-of-the-nation

Go right to the 3rd Video, he immediately starts the video on this topic. All three are recommended though!

Way To Go Judge!!

2011-01-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

My Mom sent me this. whether this is true or not I thought it was great. Could you imagine if we had more judges like this in our court system!!!

Gotta love this Judge!

You must read this.......a proper decision by the courts...for a change..

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY

In Florida, an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days.

He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring,"Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays.."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."

The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.

Court is adjourned..";

You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!

2011-01-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

"This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness." ~Elisabeth Elliot

Lord, You're Hilarious!!!

2011-01-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

Seriously the Lord is SO funny! One of the things I remind my kids of when they are being sneaky or when we are asking them to tell us the truth, is that "your sins will find you out" which is stated in Numbers 32:23. They are amazed every time God reveals their sin. Well today, on a whim, I decided we were going to have ice cream for a snack (I never do that!). It was just that kind-of a day for me. Madi was eating a piece of cheese and I told her to finish and then she could have her treat. I was scooping out the ice cream, turned around and the cheese was gone. To quick for her to have finished it, maybe? I asked her if she had given it to the dog and she said no. I asked her several times more and quietly she would say no. I had a hunch that she was lying but, since I did not have proof, I gave her the ice cream. The girls were outside eating their ice cream and all of a sudden I hear Grace yelling "mom the dog puked and madi's cheese is in it." I walked out side to take a look and sure enough, there's the cheese! Guess who lost their ice cream.
I reminded the girls once again that their sins, one way or another, will be revealed. They thought God was really funny by having the dog puke up Madi's cheese. Another funny thing is, this dog rarely pukes!

You don't want to know what the girls are telling me now..."Mom, the dog is eating his .....

A Few Good Resolutions

2011-01-08T13:06:00.000-08:00

Really worth your time in reading...

http://www.jonathan-edwards.org/Resolutions.html

All of them are so good but here are some that struck me...

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.

21. Resolved, never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.