We spent most of the day at the apartment today. My younger brother-in-law surprised us with a visit after his radio show and took us to McDonald's so the kids could play in the playplace. We even watched a little of the Astros/Brewers game afterwards.
I also took some time to think about the meaning of today's holiday. Jesus' sacrifice is so much more than I can fathom. My little mind cannot wrap around the vastness of it.
I also have questioned in the past why we call today "Good Friday". How can we say someone dying on a cross is good. But I thought about something today.....or I should say God reminded me that what the world may mean for evil, God turns for good!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
A Tale of Two Cities
I have never read "A Tale of Two Cities". Call me illiterate....but I don't remember reading it. I'm sure I will have to some time, since I am homeschooling my children. haha!
But I am now living my real life "Tale of 2 Cities". I have been in Texas for three months......helping my inlaws. At first, my father-in-law was having chemo treatments, looking forward to recovery. A little over a month later, we were planning his funeral. Now, a month and a half later, I am still here.
I miss our home. But we have found this awesome church family who have welcomed us with open arms. They have revived a spark in me that I haven't felt in a long time. I used to be a children's/youth director, so I had the chance to be around some awesome people. After leaving the ministry, I felt a part of me had died. All those retreats, planning Bible Studies and watching teenagers transform spiritually before my eyes was over.....or so I thought. I am getting to see it again as a volunteer now. :)
It will be hard to leave family here.....but it will be sooo very hard to leave the church family we found. We have only been there 2 weeks, and already people are calling us "part of the family". How cool is that. Here is a clip about Easter Sunday.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzxMNTMB_EY
See why it will be hard to leave? But, we will try to get back every other month or so. And then, we will have Revolution Church to attend, worship and serve!
But I am now living my real life "Tale of 2 Cities". I have been in Texas for three months......helping my inlaws. At first, my father-in-law was having chemo treatments, looking forward to recovery. A little over a month later, we were planning his funeral. Now, a month and a half later, I am still here.
I miss our home. But we have found this awesome church family who have welcomed us with open arms. They have revived a spark in me that I haven't felt in a long time. I used to be a children's/youth director, so I had the chance to be around some awesome people. After leaving the ministry, I felt a part of me had died. All those retreats, planning Bible Studies and watching teenagers transform spiritually before my eyes was over.....or so I thought. I am getting to see it again as a volunteer now. :)
It will be hard to leave family here.....but it will be sooo very hard to leave the church family we found. We have only been there 2 weeks, and already people are calling us "part of the family". How cool is that. Here is a clip about Easter Sunday.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzxMNTMB_EY
See why it will be hard to leave? But, we will try to get back every other month or so. And then, we will have Revolution Church to attend, worship and serve!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
His 6th birthday!
J turned six yesterday. He is our "tax baby". :)
I can remember how scared I was six years ago. I had an appointment on that Friday. Just routine...
Then, after a sonogram showing that this kiddo could grow up to 11 pounds in a few days, my doc chose to do a c-section. Of course, dear husband was out on an oil rig. He was 6 hours late. Thanks to the good Lord, we had asked my sister months before if she would be his backup. She was wonderful.
Our lives have changed so much since J was born. I used to be a children's/youth director with long hours. Now I am a stay-at-home mom who homeschools. I cannot imagine life any other way. I thank God for my hard working husband who provides for us so I can stay home with the kids.
Our "J" is quite a unique fellow. He got calls for his birthday even from Nigeria! He also got a card from the church's youth group. What six year old has that happen???
Here is his "unique" cake. You may have seen it at a bakery near you....but it is truly and "experience" close up....haha!
He said he had the best birthday ever. I am so glad, since we are away from home. I am blessed to have two boys who can adjust to any circumstance! :)
I can remember how scared I was six years ago. I had an appointment on that Friday. Just routine...
Then, after a sonogram showing that this kiddo could grow up to 11 pounds in a few days, my doc chose to do a c-section. Of course, dear husband was out on an oil rig. He was 6 hours late. Thanks to the good Lord, we had asked my sister months before if she would be his backup. She was wonderful.
Our lives have changed so much since J was born. I used to be a children's/youth director with long hours. Now I am a stay-at-home mom who homeschools. I cannot imagine life any other way. I thank God for my hard working husband who provides for us so I can stay home with the kids.
Our "J" is quite a unique fellow. He got calls for his birthday even from Nigeria! He also got a card from the church's youth group. What six year old has that happen???
Here is his "unique" cake. You may have seen it at a bakery near you....but it is truly and "experience" close up....haha!
He said he had the best birthday ever. I am so glad, since we are away from home. I am blessed to have two boys who can adjust to any circumstance! :)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
A week of happy's and sad's
This week began so great. We found a great church to go to while we are visiting my husband's family. We even went to a small group meeting on Monday night. We met some great people who really welcomed us with open arms.
Then, last night, a true role model in my life passed away. Aunt B was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about a year and a half ago, I think. She had lost her husband to a car accident the winter of 2005, her mother the next May, and her grandson the next January. I had written her a letter and sent it yesterday to let her know how she was such a wonderful part of my life. She'll never read it. I guess I am selfish. I sooo wanted to let her know what she meant to me and my family. But, I have a feeling she knew. She was such a godly woman, wife, mom, educator, and friend. She was such a great friend to my parents. She opened her home to my boys.....and her grandson became a good friend of my oldest child.
My goal now is to get my life back on track. I know I can't do it alone. God, you have to help me. I want that fire back in my life spiritually. I want to be healthy inside and out. I want to raise my sons the way You want me to. I want to be a wife for my husband that You want me to be.
It is all yours, Lord! Help me become who I am in YOU!
Praying for my family and friends affected by this death...but may God drive people to want to be better because of her example! :)
Then, last night, a true role model in my life passed away. Aunt B was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about a year and a half ago, I think. She had lost her husband to a car accident the winter of 2005, her mother the next May, and her grandson the next January. I had written her a letter and sent it yesterday to let her know how she was such a wonderful part of my life. She'll never read it. I guess I am selfish. I sooo wanted to let her know what she meant to me and my family. But, I have a feeling she knew. She was such a godly woman, wife, mom, educator, and friend. She was such a great friend to my parents. She opened her home to my boys.....and her grandson became a good friend of my oldest child.
My goal now is to get my life back on track. I know I can't do it alone. God, you have to help me. I want that fire back in my life spiritually. I want to be healthy inside and out. I want to raise my sons the way You want me to. I want to be a wife for my husband that You want me to be.
It is all yours, Lord! Help me become who I am in YOU!
Praying for my family and friends affected by this death...but may God drive people to want to be better because of her example! :)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
New church for us to go to when we come to visit family in TX.....
http://www.revyourlife.com/
This is where we visited this morning. My oldest loved it. (The youngest is only 2....he seemed to enjoy it, but who knows at that age? haha)
We were welcomed by so many. My son's teacher even asked us to come to small group at her house tomorrow night.
Thank you, Lord, for helping us find a church home away from home. I hope my husband likes it....cause I sure do! :)
This is where we visited this morning. My oldest loved it. (The youngest is only 2....he seemed to enjoy it, but who knows at that age? haha)
We were welcomed by so many. My son's teacher even asked us to come to small group at her house tomorrow night.
Thank you, Lord, for helping us find a church home away from home. I hope my husband likes it....cause I sure do! :)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A New Start
I am making a new start. Things have not been normal in my life lately, to say the least. In the past decade I have:
fallen in love
gotten married to someone unlike anyone I imagined myself marrying
had two boys
lost a great friend to cancer
been in 3 churches
ended 2 careers to be a stay at home mom
cared for sick loved ones
lost father-in-law to cancer
struggled with depression
spending 4 months away from home to care for family.....in a hotel, then 2 bdrm apartment with two little active boys! :)
But I would not have it any other way!
However, I am now in my my fourth month away from everything I have known....in a town 600 miles away. I am finding myself having a lot of times when I am super lonely. I have no friends here. Just the boys and my inlaws. But my husband has set a "homecoming" date! Just 30 more days!
I also have to make a change with my health....eating right, exercising, getting in the Word more. We are going to visit another church this Sunday here in our temporary home. Hopefully this will be a place we can come back to when we come back over (which will be a lot now) :) . We have had a lot of good times here....and have seen God's hand through all of it. We were blessing with a good nest egg to help pay for an apartment and hotel fees. I am able to stay at home because of the job God blessed my husband with. We homeschool, so we didn't have to worry about taking the kids out of school.
God is good....and He IS in control.
Follow me in my crazy journey to getting healthy....spiritually, mentally, physically. Also, I am going to strive to be more of a Proverbs 31 woman....here is the scripture I am going to concentrate on during this journey:
Proverbs 31: 10 - 31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
fallen in love
gotten married to someone unlike anyone I imagined myself marrying
had two boys
lost a great friend to cancer
been in 3 churches
ended 2 careers to be a stay at home mom
cared for sick loved ones
lost father-in-law to cancer
struggled with depression
spending 4 months away from home to care for family.....in a hotel, then 2 bdrm apartment with two little active boys! :)
But I would not have it any other way!
However, I am now in my my fourth month away from everything I have known....in a town 600 miles away. I am finding myself having a lot of times when I am super lonely. I have no friends here. Just the boys and my inlaws. But my husband has set a "homecoming" date! Just 30 more days!
I also have to make a change with my health....eating right, exercising, getting in the Word more. We are going to visit another church this Sunday here in our temporary home. Hopefully this will be a place we can come back to when we come back over (which will be a lot now) :) . We have had a lot of good times here....and have seen God's hand through all of it. We were blessing with a good nest egg to help pay for an apartment and hotel fees. I am able to stay at home because of the job God blessed my husband with. We homeschool, so we didn't have to worry about taking the kids out of school.
God is good....and He IS in control.
Follow me in my crazy journey to getting healthy....spiritually, mentally, physically. Also, I am going to strive to be more of a Proverbs 31 woman....here is the scripture I am going to concentrate on during this journey:
Proverbs 31: 10 - 31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Oh, and you would know that TLC premiered their series "Extreming Couponing" tonight. Is God telling me something? hahahaha!
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