Today, I was looking at my counch pillows and wishing for some new ones. Then I got a clever idea! I would go get some fabric and recover the ones I had shoved in the closet because I didn't like them. That way, I would save money, and then I would be able to use my new sewing machine! But then I got even more clever (I know, amazing isn't it). I realized I could just use the fabric of my old pillows since it was still in good shape, to recover the other pillows! I was so excited that I had come up with a solution without spending any money! So out of eagerness I cut up the first pillow, but then I realized that I really should clean house first, so I got out my dusting rag and starting dusting, only to be sidetracked by hanging some pictures which took longer than I had anticipated and then that led to a creative idea for the empty wall space above my tv cabinet (I know, I was just full of them today). Then Israel woke up. Now it is 10:30 pm, and my house is still not completely clean, I have have unfinished projects, my office is more messy than it was this morning, and I am only staying up because I don't want to give up this quiet time alone with Joel WITHOUT a crying baby! Yes, Israel is teething again. I wasn't expecting it this soon, since he has already cut the too bottom teeth. I know all babies are different but I had just talked to my friend and her daughter cut her too bottom teeth and three months have passed and she hasn't gotten anymore. So that is what I was expecting. Well, yesterday he was fussy, but today has been the worst so far. I was SO glad that Joel was home today, because I don't think I could have made it through today without him! But he is now asleep, and we still love him to pieces but we are still REALLY enjoying the time of peace!

A Snowy Tradition

If you know me and my family, you know that we have a lot of traditions. Mainly at Christmas time, but we also have little things all year round that are fun to do. Megan started this one way back when, and we have tried to keep the tradition going (or at least I have) even when she left and got married. Every time it snowed she would go out and get Mac and Cheese and Hot dogs! Every snowy day I remember in my childhood had mac and cheese. So today on this cold snowy day, we are fixing mac and cheese! I am so hungry so I hope this water boils quickly!

What do you do to make your snowed in days fun!

Glory in your tribulations?

Does that sound right to you? Well it is! I am going through this Beth Moore Personal Reflection Series on David. I have really enjoyed it! Today we read in 1 Sam 8 about Israel asking for a king. She focused in on the lessons that we can take from Israel demanding a king before it was God's timing. Patience was the first lesson, and how Israel's lack of patience cost them greatly. She suggested that if they had waited for God's timing, how different their story might have been. The other lesson? Rejection. Samuel felt rejection since he had been their faithful judge for so long, but God told him that they were not rejecting him, but God. Then the hard part that sent me on my guilt trip. Samuel told the Israelites everything that a king would bring...and it was all bad. but the thing that gets me, is that they didn't care! They still wanted one! So I had to ask myself...Do I do that???? Do I still insist on something even though the cons are staring me in the face? But the thing that stood out to me the most was the fast that often God does not readily give us our hearts desire because He can see the big picture and can see that what we desire, at the time we desire it would not be good for us and would cost us. Beth Moore states: "Faith sometimes means forgoing our desires because we trust Christ to have a better plan for our lives." the BETTER stood out to me.

The Lord really nailed me on this one! It convicted me but also made me want to dance with joy, knowing that my Lord desires my best! And if He is not giving me what I think is the best, then instead of me moping and getting angry, I should be excited to wait and see what BETTER thing the Lord is going to bring my way! That will make for a wonderful red shoes day, won't it! So from one sinner being sanctified to another...let's trust the Lord that He has the whole world in His hands and He is going to do what is best for all of us!

Have a great day!

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed

Does anyone know where that phrase came from? I don't, but I have heard it my whole life especially when I woke up cranky. Well today was one of those days...not that I was cranky, well, to start with at least, but because everything seemed go wrong. Yesterday I ventured out and tried to make my own Moby wrap. It didn't turn out like I had expected and so this morning I was trying it again, knowing that I would have to carry Izzy around church since he had ANOTHER cold! But Izzy was cranky so he was all squirmy and did not want to be wrapped up. Then everything that I put on seemed to be too big, and time was running out! Joel had to be at church at a certain time, and I wasn't ready, Izzy was still in his pajamas, and the diaper bag wasn't ready. So in tears I told Joel that he better just go and I would stay home with Izzy. So he left and I put Izzy down for a nap and we both cried ourselves to sleep.

I will not bore you with the rest of our day, but I will say that it is 8:00 pm Israel is STILL crying after being put to bed, and although I love my family and spending time with them and taking care of them...I am ready for this day to be over. Please tell me I am not the only one that has days like this.

One funny thing that did happen was that Joel  wanted some tomato soup for super. So we ran to the store, I got a phone call and so he went into the store to get the soup. He came out and told me how many he got, but he kept calling it "sauce". I thought he had just gotten mixed up, but when I got home, I pulled out the bag two cans of tomato sauce...not soup! That didn't matter to him, he just added water and seasoned it like we do the soup, and he ate it anyway!!! We got a good laugh.

So if you had a day today that you are ready to be done with...find something to laugh about.

Mixed up

If you are like me then sometimes you get mixed up. We try to be like everyone else (for different reasons) and we end up not being able to do what God created us to do.

I was reading an Eric Carle book to Izzy called the Mixed Up Cameleon. I love it because it shows the life of a cameleon and how it seemed somewhat boring to him. Then he saw a zoo, and all the wonderful different animals and started to wish that he could do the different things that all the other animals could do, like be big and white like a polar bear, or smart like a fox, and each time he wished it, something of that animal would be added to his body, like the tail of the fox, or fins of a fish, or antlers of a dear, or a tall neck of a giraffe. Then he saw a fly go by and because he was all the different animals he couldn't catch the fly like he was originally made to do! Then he wished to be himself and he caught the fly.

I think I should read this story everyday to remind myself that God made me just the way I am for a specific reason and if I try to be like everyone else then I will eventually be so bogged down with trying to be what I am not, that I won't be able to be and do what He created me to be and do. Great book! Get it for your kids, or for yourself, and enjoy!

Happy New Year

I know I am a little late writing this considering that it is already the 5th, almost 6th of January. But better late than never...so they say.

Do you do New Year resolutions? I try to sit down and act spiritual and try to come up with a verse for the year and several things to put down on a list, but do I keep them? And do I remember the verse for the entire year? Sadly no. But this year, we did things a little different. I didn't make a list, but Joel and I resolved to make a budget and to really stick to it. We got really detailed and specific, and we are really excited! You know how kids feel secure and safe with boundaries and rules, well that is how I feel. I know...funny isn't it. Although I have a limit to what I can spend it is kind of fun to be able to have a certain $ amount that I get to spend on anything I want and to think about it and dream about that one or 2 or maybe even three things that I can get with my money!

I did make a little list of things I wanted to improve on, but it just had a couple things on it. I decided that I wanted to try to be a happier person. The Lord gave the a verse in Job and how he chose to bless the Lord despite what had happened to him. And then I really want to work on not worrying so much! It really wears me out! So if you see me, remind me to not worry, and to be happy!

What are your new year's resolutions?

Along with this new year, my little baby is growins so much! He keeps us in stitches with all his funny faces, and he keeps our eyes peeled, not wanting to miss a single new thing that he does. He is in the beginning stages of crawling, so he gets up on his knees and rocks back and forth. Tonight he was in his bed and not really wanting to go to sleep so he starts messing around and he actually got up on his hands and toes! We were rolling! Sometimes I feel like I can't squeeze him hard enough, and I can't kiss him enough times to show him how much I love him. I feel like I am going to burst! We are truly blest and can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do in this little life!