We have been blessed with some great times with family this summer! Here is a slideshow of our latest adventure... our bi-annual birthday bash with my extended family. One of my college roommates and her family actually got to come by for a while! So much fun!
Summer 2010 Bdays on PhotoPeach
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Feeling vs. Expressing
I recently read a quote that stated "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
Read it again if you need to.... it is so true! This time of year we are invited by many sources to think about what we are thankful for. But how many times are we asked to express that gratitude? And if we are asked to express it, isn't it usually in the form of a fill in the blank sentence? I am thankful for ____________________.
While there is nothing wrong with this method of expressing gratitude, I am challenging myself and you to find some different ways to express your heart full of blessings. Maybe it will be in a song you sing to the Lord with all the stops pulled out! Or maybe it will be in a note stuck on a windshield of a generous neighbor. Maybe it will be in a perfectly browned loaf of homemade bread sent to a teacher. Or maybe it will be in a gentle hug and a smile for your child just for being him!
The possibilities of expression are as endless as the number of bloggers on the web.... so what will it be? How will you show your gratitude today?
Read it again if you need to.... it is so true! This time of year we are invited by many sources to think about what we are thankful for. But how many times are we asked to express that gratitude? And if we are asked to express it, isn't it usually in the form of a fill in the blank sentence? I am thankful for ____________________.
While there is nothing wrong with this method of expressing gratitude, I am challenging myself and you to find some different ways to express your heart full of blessings. Maybe it will be in a song you sing to the Lord with all the stops pulled out! Or maybe it will be in a note stuck on a windshield of a generous neighbor. Maybe it will be in a perfectly browned loaf of homemade bread sent to a teacher. Or maybe it will be in a gentle hug and a smile for your child just for being him!
The possibilities of expression are as endless as the number of bloggers on the web.... so what will it be? How will you show your gratitude today?
Friday, February 20, 2009
A Gentle and Quiet Spirit
Many years ago, when I was a teenager, I was given a blessing in words. An adult who I don’t even remember specifically, perhaps someone working with our youth group, told me that I reminded them of the verse in I Peter that talks about a woman with a gentle and quiet spirit. This person said that I did not speak out very often, but when I did, I had something significant to say. It is amazing how something spoken over 20 years ago is still remembered today. Never underestimate the power of a spoken blessing.
But just this week, I have been reminded of this verse, so I went back to read it in context. It reads:
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Twenty plus years ago, I thought this verse meant that if you were talkative or assertive or flamboyant, then you did not have a gentle and quiet spirit, but I believe that the Lord is teaching me new things about this verse. How many of us are “quiet” or “gentle” in nature, but our spirits are in turmoil because the “noise” around us is deafening. How many times have we felt like our spirit was not quiet because we were fretting about whatever was going on in our physical, emotional or spiritual life?
Today, I am praying for a quieted spirit. I want my spirit to reflect the trust I have in God to lead and guide me where He intends for me to be. It is when I decide I need to take control that my spirit is stirred with worry or anxiety over things completely out of my control. Therefore, today it is God that is in control. And that is beautiful
But just this week, I have been reminded of this verse, so I went back to read it in context. It reads:
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Twenty plus years ago, I thought this verse meant that if you were talkative or assertive or flamboyant, then you did not have a gentle and quiet spirit, but I believe that the Lord is teaching me new things about this verse. How many of us are “quiet” or “gentle” in nature, but our spirits are in turmoil because the “noise” around us is deafening. How many times have we felt like our spirit was not quiet because we were fretting about whatever was going on in our physical, emotional or spiritual life?
Today, I am praying for a quieted spirit. I want my spirit to reflect the trust I have in God to lead and guide me where He intends for me to be. It is when I decide I need to take control that my spirit is stirred with worry or anxiety over things completely out of my control. Therefore, today it is God that is in control. And that is beautiful
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Beginnings
On the eve of the beginning week at the beginning of the new year, I am wondering what the next few weeks and months will hold. It seems the beginning of the year for me is always a favorite time, not because I have high hopes of losing those lingering pounds or to gain a new lease on life, but the fact that the possibilities ahead are endless! I know, I know. A week ago the future possibilities were endless, but there is just something about a fresh calendar page.
I believe God created in us this need for a new start. How else can you explain all the chances He gave his people in the wilderness or the second starts he gave individuals like Moses, David, Abraham, etc, etc, etc. Here's the best part... He continues to give us second, third, and fourth chances! We get do overs. So you are disappointed in how your 2008 turned out? Do something different. You knew you shouldn't have said what you said? Make it right. You have regrets about how you've spent your time or your money? Make a plan to change.
Beginnings are beautiful! As I begin this new year, I am praying specifically for God to show me where I need to make changes and where I need to stay put. I know He will.
I believe God created in us this need for a new start. How else can you explain all the chances He gave his people in the wilderness or the second starts he gave individuals like Moses, David, Abraham, etc, etc, etc. Here's the best part... He continues to give us second, third, and fourth chances! We get do overs. So you are disappointed in how your 2008 turned out? Do something different. You knew you shouldn't have said what you said? Make it right. You have regrets about how you've spent your time or your money? Make a plan to change.
Beginnings are beautiful! As I begin this new year, I am praying specifically for God to show me where I need to make changes and where I need to stay put. I know He will.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Broadcast Your Blessings!
I was just reading a book that used the phrase "Broadcast your blessings" and it made me think. What am I broadcasting? When people come in contact with me, what message are they receiving? Yesterday at church we were talking about the broadcasts we receive from the media and how we allow them to impact our lives.
In a small but valient effort to counter those influences and purposefully create some joy at a time of year that is really not too joyful for so many people who are hurting, here is my broadcast of blessings....
a husband who loves me immensely
two handsome sons who have hearts of gold
a warm home with a beautiful Christmas tree
money in the bank to buy Christmas presents
a job that allows me freedom to be in tune with my kids schedules
a small group that loves deeply
friends all over the world
a sister that texts during the day to check on me
a God who is always near
Of course this is just a start, but who knows where this could lead! Anyone else out there ready to broadcast your blessings? I dare you!
In a small but valient effort to counter those influences and purposefully create some joy at a time of year that is really not too joyful for so many people who are hurting, here is my broadcast of blessings....
a husband who loves me immensely
two handsome sons who have hearts of gold
a warm home with a beautiful Christmas tree
money in the bank to buy Christmas presents
a job that allows me freedom to be in tune with my kids schedules
a small group that loves deeply
friends all over the world
a sister that texts during the day to check on me
a God who is always near
Of course this is just a start, but who knows where this could lead! Anyone else out there ready to broadcast your blessings? I dare you!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Hello...Anyone home???
Whew, has it been since October 18th since I blogged? Shame on me. I guess life has officially gotten in the way of blogging. We are in the thick of basketball and lots of travelling and receiving of guests into our home. Add into that much wife-ing, mom-ing and working and you have yourself one full schedule!
Tonight is put up the tree night. We have to squeeze it into our tight schedule, but you take what you can get! We still manage to squeeze in most nights of the week together at the table, even if that means eating at 5:15 or 7:30, so I'm still pretty proud of that! Table time is definitely the best.
The pics are from recent times with family... fun, fun, fun!
The pics are from recent times with family... fun, fun, fun!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Makes Me Proud!
This is an awesome story. Makes me proud to be an Aledo girl!
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2008/10/16/homecoming.queen.cnn
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6025166&page=1
Enjoy!
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/living/2008/10/16/homecoming.queen.cnn
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=6025166&page=1
Enjoy!
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