God will provide...

"We walk by faith, not by sight.". 2 Corinthians 5:7 Why is it so hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that there is something out there that I can base my life around and that can help me through the daily trials and to recognize those things that are of great worth? As I sat through a service at church today, I was reminded that my faith is something that fluctuates WAY more than I like it to. It is something that I fit into my life when it is convenient. It is something that I struggle with due to the fact that I am a "planner" by nature and want nothing more but to see a clear picture of what it is that is planned for my life... But is this how I would like for it to truly be? Would I want to know what it looks like or would it cause me to only plan even more and drive myself crazy in the process? I was fortunate enough to listen to a story told by Brittany Leslie, a missionary alongside her husband and children in Africa and part of our church family. She talked about her childhood and how she longed for stability and then her adventure through adolescence and then college. How, at the age of 6, she was "called" by God to be a missionary and how she was relentlessly pursued by His love throughout her entire life, even when she did not see it. She went on to get married, have a child, move to Africa, have two more children and then go into a depression that she could not understand. However, she knew that her purpose in life was to walk by faith, not by sight ... If only I could learn to do the same... My goal this week is to remember that my service is for His purpose (last week's reflection) and to try and just remain quiet, walk by faith and stop trying to "see" everything that my own self wants to see, rather than what He wants me to see... "Walk by faith,not by sight.". 2 Corinthians 5:7

Ok, so how cute are these???

Things I love: Okay, I really should have thought of this, but this is what makes Starbucks so great! I am not sure about you, but I drink ALOT of coffee and it is usually from Starbucks, which happens to be conveniently located between my house and my office... ironic, huh? I saw these when my husband and I stopped there on our date night to grab some tea and I thought to myself, what a great idea... as many of those little cardboard sleeve things I throw away, I really should get one of these! I will probably have to keep it in my car, as I tend to put things in odd places and lose track of them... but just a small thing that I am totally loving right now and need to pick up on my trip to Starbucks in the near future! Help the environment, look cute and enjoy a great cup of coffee... can it get any better?? Just a glimpse into what I am loving this week... Cute one for the Valentine's day season: http://www.starbucksstore.com/starbucks-reusable-cup-sleeve-valentines-day/011016363,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=drinkware-accessories

So ballet dance must not be her thing...

Do we set ourselves up for failure when we expect so much for our children? We are told that we need to get them involved, let them explore life and encourage them to do things and learn what they like. Well, contrary to what I thought, Abigial doesn't care much for structured dance classes. The only time anything remotely caught her attention was when they played music and when she was able to play on the big blue mats. In a class of about 10 kids, Abigail told me "NO" I'm not sure how many times, ran around in circles, rolled around on the mats... Pretty much nothing what the rest of the group was doing! What is the fine line between just saying that a 2 year old won't be perfect and this just isn't her thing? Anyone? Should I say to myself that it was only her first class and we should try it again or save us the money and frustration and just find something else? I am slowly learning that what I think might be right for her is totally opposite of what she wants to do... This isn't supposed to happen until she is a teenager! HELP! Maybe we will look into a tumbling class this week...She will probably want to do ballet dance in that class... That would be my luck!

Sunday Spirit...

I have decided that I will start each week with a prayer/devotional that has something to do with my own struggles and possibly the struggles of others.... I am not sure if it will touch others in any way, but I do know that I would like to remind myself that God is with me each and every moment of my days and nights and that he truly does love me, even when I might not take the time to listen to or see him. The following is a prayer taken from a book that I own and sits by my bed, but rarely is read or looked at... Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Timothy6:6 Lord, sometimes I see great gain as something to be obtained from wordly achievement. I praise my children for this rather than their faith in You. Sometimes I long to hear the praise of people for the job that I do when I should be concerned with doing what pleases You. Show me how to be a godly woman, how to have true contentment that comes from service to You. Help me to reinforce in my home the need to be satisfied with doing Your will, whatever that may be. WOW! Ain't that a kick in the pants! I greatly needed that reminder that what I am doing is in service to God. The reason I get up and go to work each morning should not be to get caught up in all of the drama or to serve those who I might be so bitter about but to serve a God that loves me and reminds me that he will never give me more than I can handle. Remind me of this God.... You would never allow me to suffer without a plan, cause I am struggling here! Remind me that I do have a purpose and You will not allow me to fail,acording to Your standards, not the standards of the world...

Things I love Thursdays...

Does anyone else have as hard of a time finding comfortable workout pants as I do? Now, I am a bit "thicker" in my middle section due to having a baby and just eating bad foods... Therefore, I tend to have a hard time finding pants that will fit my legs and not be too baggy and hinder my workout but that also fit my middle section and don't either cut off circulation or allow my belly to just flop around! I have found a great solution! Tek Gear Shapewear pants I was hesitant, as the material seems to be a bit tight and form fitting, but once I gave them a chance in the dressing room and waited a few minutes, I began to like them! They are true to size and fit in all of the right places, regardless of what I might think of my own body..:) If you are looking for something to wear while improving your workouts or even starting out, check them out! http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/womens/activewear/brands/tek_gear/PRD~569303/Tek+Gear+Shapewear+Pants.jsp And yes, I got them at my local Kohl's store! :)

March of Dimes Walk-- Need your support

Okay, so we all hear about this organization known as the March of Dimes, but do we really know what it is? (marchofdimes.com)

Do we really understand that when we see that small baby in the picture that it means that someone's child has been born prematurely or with a birth defect or that somewhere in the world people are working together to build stronger, happier, healthier babies? You got it, this is the March of Dimes!

Never, in a million years, did I think that my life would be directly affected by this all too familiar global problem. I went into the hospital expecting to have my child with normal labor, hold her for the first time and take her home to a beautiful room and home that was waiting for her... this all changed on February 21, 2010. At 12:19pm, I was rushed into the operating room for a c-section, only to catch a quick glimpse of very small and premature daughter, give a quick kiss to my husband and then they would all leave for an emergency followup. I would wake up a few hours later to see my daughter hooked up on tubes and in an incubator, weighing only 3 lbs 5 oz and where she would stay for the next 3 weeks, while I would go home and pray every night for her well-being and sit in her pretty room all alone.

There is much more to the story and we have been truly blessed, but this is EXACTLY why our family is now committed to taking part in and raising funds for the March of Dimes and we would love your support!

To make a donation to our team: Abby's Army, please go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=1766501&si=F1F7F358-94B1-43E4-90E1-388122CCFA40

Thank you, in advance, for your support!

"You shall walk after the Lord your God and (reverently) fear Him... And obey His voice" (Deuteronomy 13:4)

Is it so easy to obey everything that God says? If we truly hear His voice, then we are told that we will live a life of abundance and fulfillment.

Does anyone else consider themselves to be "practical" and how does this balance with doing with He plans for our lives and being obedient while also being obedient to our own families?

Word for today: Listen, discern and obey boldly

How about I start with a conversation with Him-- that might help!

Source: Hearing from God each morning, Joyce Meyer

Wouldn't we all love for this to be our body?? I know that I would! Does anyone else get as discouraged as I do when you see a picture like this or see someone in the gym who looks like this and think to yourself.... I am never going to look like that, so what's the point? Do we all need to strive to look like this or just be comfortable in our own bodies? It is a two-edged sword, to be honest. I think that if we do what is best for our own bodies and have REALISTIC expectations of what we can accomplish, we can do nothing but succeed. After having a child, I am pretty certain that my abs will NEVER look like that... but who's to say that I can't have flatter abs than I do now? Who is to say that I wouldn't be able to better exercise and have more energy and be able to actually balance on one of those ball things that they make look so easy? I am willing to give it a try! Goal for the week: workout at least 3 times this week for a 45 minute session, going balls out and working up a sweat... WITHOUT focusing on what I should look like and rather what kind of person I would like to be on a fitness level