Fun and crafty things!

We try to stay busy and creative around our house. I like to do all sorts of fun crafty/artsy things with our little girl. Lately, she's been really good at playing by herself or at the table while I'm cooking/cleaning, etc. She likes to read, color, play with her stickers, play with play dough, and finger paint. Of course the play dough and finger paint is something we do together and she loves to make her art. :) Here is her latest piece.

I'm excited that she likes to paint. We used some paint brushes and other tools with this piece as well. I can't wait when we can paint side by side with our easels.

I also tried out a craft that I've been meaning to test lately with coffee beans. I think might make nice gifts in the future with some jazzing up with fabric and ribbon or string of some sort. Just put your favorite whole coffee beans about half to 3/4 full in a half pint mason jar  and place a tea candle (make sure it is a tea candle and it has the metal case around it) nestled in the coffee beans. When the candle is lit the coffee beans are warmed and a pleasant aroma wafts throughout a room. Make sure they are in an open area.

 I'm looking forward to more crafting soon! Enjoy!

These are my prayers lately....I can't say it any better.

When bad habits become a crutch....

Sometimes we get in a zone of day to day living, just going, not really living in the moment, but going through the motions to get to the next "thing" we have to do. When we get like this like many of us do, we often neglect some things that are vital. We are also often more susceptible to certain temptations and struggles that we are perhaps more sensitive to than others.

We all have something. Something we know that we should be weary of. Stay clear of. Be careful with. .... Some of us have more than one big thing.

For me, one of those things is my OCD habits/(obsessions and compulsions) to being clean and being afraid of anything potentially germy or harmful due to germs.

Now, when most people hear someone confess something like this they generally just put you in "that" category; the one with the over-protective mom who carries wipes and germ-x everywhere they go and won't let their child touch anything! While that is true to some extent, I must admit that for me it goes even deeper than that.

I can't begin to explain how this "thing" makes me feel/act/react, etc sometimes. I literally feel crazy sometimes and have to will myself to not do certain (compulsions: cleaning certain ways). I can see how it is affecting me, my relationship with Christ and others, and my actions. I know this needs to change now.

This is something I've dealt with my whole life, but I've only had it this hard twice in my life thus far. Both times, seemingly in times I felt "out of control," so to speak. So, I find myself trying to think back to how I got out of this extremely disturbing funk and I keep coming back to the fact that I began to re-dedicate my life to Christ. Step by step, I made sure I was in God's Word, if not daily, then at least most days of the week. Having more prayer time and re-surrendering my life to Christ daily.

 It's something I really did have to do daily. The surrender part. I realized that my problem came from me thinking I had any control over what was going to happen to me and not trusting God to take my worries/fears and giving Him the reigns of my life. It's not until I truly surrendered to Him completely and trusted the Lord, that the healing began.

So, as I sit here tonight, thinking about my issues again and trying desperately to conquer this "thing" on my own, I realize once more that I need to look back to before and look up to God. I need to surrender to Him again. I need to trust Him with everything in me. Not just say it, but do it.

Easier said than done, I know. So, tonight, I begin again. My own personal renaissance once more. Who says we can't have more than one of those in a lifetime. I think that it's all part of growing and becoming a stronger Christian/person. After all, we are human and our God is a forgiving, merciful, loving, and gracious God. We are going to make mistakes, but thankfully, God is always there to pick us right back up and is waiting with open arms for us. He'll get us through. I just need to lean on Him.

I ask for prayers as I re-evaluate where my priorities are and focus on trusting/depending on God with everything once more. I thank you friends, who-ever might be reading this, for your prayers. I know that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phillipians 4:13)

Not Enough

There come times in your life when you realize you're not enough.

Not enough to do things perfectly.
Not enough to never lose your temper.
Not enough to always be patient.
Not enough to always have the strength.
Not enough to never get frustrated.
Not enough to never get angry.
Not enough to be the best of everything.
Not enough to please everyone.
Not enough to please yourself.

It's times like these that bring you to your knees and make you remember that you aren't enough alone. You need God's love and guidance. You need that close relationship.

Somehow in the hustle bustle of our busy lives we forget that we aren't Superwoman/man. We can't do everything. We won't be perfect. We may not be perfect, but when we have God on our side and a constant relationship with Him and willingness to learn and change for the better, we can do much more than we can do alone.

I found myself in an on my knees kind of moment this evening and was reminded of this lesson. I cannot fix myself, I need forgiveness daily, and I need to be persistent and dedicated when it comes to having a close relationship with God.

It's been a long day and I'm still a huge work in progress. I recognize my need for renovation and pray that God will mold me into who He needs me to be and that He gives me the strength to tackle whatever life brings.

Long Nights Bring Introspection

So, this is an old picture, but it serves as an example of the long nights Grace, John, and I have endured lately.

Last night when we came home from church Grace was burning up and I took her temperature and found out that she had a 102 fever. Needless to say we were up all night with our sweet girl.

There's nothing more difficult than trying to comfort your child when they are ill and not being able to do much at all. It makes you feel so helpless and sometimes it so frustrated that you can't do anything to make them feel better.

Sometimes during tough nights it's easy to get selfish and frustrated when you are exhausted and suffering from lack of sleep. But when your baby is really sick and all they want is to snuggle with you, then somehow it's hard to be "upset" or "selfish." It really puts things into perspective and humbles you.

As I lie awake with a sleeping baby lying on me I couldn't help but think about my mother. In times like these I remember all the times when I was sick as a child and my mother never failed to come and take care of us either to: give us our medicine at the directed times, put a cool rag on our head, rub our backs, or hold our hair when we were nauseous. I never saw resentment, annoyance, frustration, or selfishness in her eyes or the way she took care of us and comforted us. I knew I could always count on mom to make it better or at least do her best to.

As I think about the way my mom took care of us and just her overall attitude and character, I can't help but contemplate on my own attitudes and what I strive to be like. I want desperately for my daughter to feel the way I did about always being able to count mom and never thinking I was an inconvenience or an annoyance.

I'm still learning this mom thing. Whoever said it just comes easily was apparently not a parent. Lately I've realized some areas in which I need to work on. I need to remember that it's not all about me. That my responsibilities and priorities changed when I had a child, a child of whom I adore with all my heart. I love that sweet girl, and when I think about the times when I have a selfish attitude it breaks my heart.

I think God must feel that way sometimes.

We as His children are constantly grieving Him and breaking His heart.

We are selfish, arrogant, prideful, rude, controlling, and sometimes just plain mean.

He is the Ultimate Parent.

He is our Father who loves us unconditionally, who never tires of comforting us, never tires sitting with us all night until the pain is gone, will always be on time with what we need, and with whom we know we can always count on. Our trust should be in Him and we should strive to be like the Ultimate Parent.

I am reminded of that lately through some long nights. I strive to be Christlike, to be the parent God wants/needs me to be. I pray that we all strive to be Christlike in whatever situations or relationships we may be in. I pray that all my sleepless nights bring such revelation.

Miraculous Signs....

I was reading my daily bible study today out of Exodus Chapter 4 and it brought me a few realizations I wanted to share with you. Lately there's been a LOT going on in my life and I've been super busy trying to juggle all that is to be done. I'm seeing new doors being opened, and opportunities being brought before me to use my talents/gifts to serve God in new ways. I'm excited, yet am still nervous, and lots of the time I feel as if I don't measure up or am not good enough for the job.

I don't know if I've actually ever read this section about Moses talking to God about the rod and the signs and his fear of speaking. I know I've heard about it several times, but I'm not sure if I've actually read it on my own, which is odd, but it was definitely what I needed today. Funny how things happen like that, right? :P

Reading it revealed to me a part of human nature. How Moses needed/wanted proof and lacked confidence to do God's will. We all go through that at one time or another. Usually several times in your life if you are like me. When God calls us to do something, He knows EXACTLY what He's doing. We're usually just too scared or nervous, or not yet ready to give up the reins, to believe or surrender to Him. So, sometimes God sends us a helper, like He sent Aaron to help Moses.

I imagine sometimes, how it would be if we just listened the first time and said, "Ok, I'll do it Lord! Whatever you want! You're the boss!" Without fear or insecurities. What kind of awesome things God would show us.  God IS in control. Let us rejoice and be glad that He has a plan for our lives and knows us better than we even think we know ourselves. He knows what we are capable of because He made us and He loves us! What better reason to believe and trust Him than that? This gives me courage.

Thank you Lord for your mighty power and your plans for my life. Please help me to not hesitate when you call me to do something. I know that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13) Thank you Lord. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

May you say YES to what God is calling you to do in your life right now. Be of good courage my friend. You will do great things through Christ.

Stillness...

Sometimes we need a reminder that we need to be patient.
Just be still.

Wait.

Be calm.

Sometimes the verse, "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10, just says it all.

In the midst of all the complications, worries, sadness, longings, and troubles of this world sometimes the best thing to do is just to be still. We are God's children. He WILL take care of us.

I've needed to be reminded of this lately, so I thought I'd share this song with you guys. I hope it speaks to you.