{Terra Incognita}

What's New?

2011-08-04T16:17:00.000-04:00

Sorry ya'll. Been so busy now working, that I don't have time to blog here anymore.
Actually, that is all I do all day is blog, but for OTHER PEOPLE!
It's crazy.
I am kinda the ''social media'' expert at Network Handlers.
{cough cough}
Learning a lot. But also, it exposes all that I don't know.
One of them, how to balance, work and home.
Still trying to figure that out and only working 3 days a week!

If you need some good SEO, new website, design, and software for non-profits...we are it!
I'll still be blogging at the Habitat site.
Blesssings!
Chrissy

I Won For Words Sake....at There are Two Kinds!

2011-05-18T15:31:00.000-04:00

I am all sorts of everywhere lately. One of them is not in blog world.

But, I do have time for the occasional contest.

Right now I am sitting outside by my parents pool in South Florida, on a little hubby birthday getaway, laughing at the fact that I can whip out good one-liners, but not blog posts. So, maybe I really should just be a Tweeter. Or is that a Twit?

I don't even know, isn't that sad?

{But, with my new job, I have been quickly initiated into the world of social media to the max.}

Guess I need to get on it.

So, with that said, I won a little contest over at my buddy Brett's blog.

he's over there------------>

somewhere.

It's called "Aliens and Strangers." that is where a lot of great Theological discourse happens.......but he also has another blog of all kinds of fun, called

"There Are Two Kinds."

You should check them both out.

He did a contest where he asked his readers to fill in the blanks on his latest "Two Kinds".

There are two kinds of coffee:

_______ and _______.

Check his blog out and you'll see what a

"word smith " I really am ;)

No, I Didn't Know Who Warrick Dunn Was...

2011-05-07T20:09:00.001-04:00

I admit it. I have not kept up with sports stars since my brother played for MSU. Even then it was limited.
If you remember, my football love ended in high school.
So when my job requested my presence somewhere and told me to keep a FSU, Tampa Bay Bucs, Atlanta Falcons football man a secret, I had NO PROBLEMS with that. I couldn't even remember his name.
What is funny is I am still blogging. { I know you miss me}. Only, it's for someone else. My new job.
At least, blogging is part of my job.
As a working- away- from -home- 3- days -a -week- mom.....it's hard to keep up here....I know I have been a big blog slacker here. So sorry.
It is a lot of crazy with a husband, house, 3 kids, dog, cat, bills, chores and oh, ya, a job.

But, hey,the job is fun and things are great. Really. I actually am enjoying a change of pace and scenery.
So, this week I got to witness something really special and exciting.
I'll give you some hints:

Check out the blog I do for Lakeland Habitat for Humanity.

It was such a great experience. I felt like it was an episode of Extreme Home Makeover. The house, the family,the emotions, the workers, the press, and the hubbabaloo surrounding the event was just.so.cool.
Read more about Warrick Dunn and all his foundation does. Great guy.
I'll remember his name now!!!!

The One Thing

2011-04-24T21:39:00.000-04:00

"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil--
a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."

Miss Bennett -Pride and Prejudice

Very interesting. A tendency? A natural defect?
Do all good people have the ''potential'' to do bad things?
I believe so. Just like Miss Bennett said.

Would we all, if given the right (or wrong) circumstances,
disregard our selves, our ethics,
our convictions, our morals, and become or do
something that we never thought possible?

I am totally perplexed today for many reasons.
It seems in just one day, I have been bombarded by tons of examples citing this very claim!

First, our Pastor says today,
"Adam and Eve's choice to sin, lays upon all of us.......
we all would of made the same choice."
{So stop blaming ''them'' for something ''you'' would do too}

Then, in Sunday school we compared/contrast the life of Saul and David.

How baaaaaad Saul's heart was,

and how goooooooood David's heart was.

{Oh how I long to have a heart like David}

And yet, David had the "bad boy bug" more than a few times himself. He did some dastardly awful things!

But his heart, always after God, always repentant, always humbly seeking forgiveness.

He had something extra that Saul didn't have. Screwed up plenty,yes, but turned it around.

Saul, not so much.

We used Lemons and Oranges to compare/contrast the two Kings.

Saul, the lemon....obviously, and David, the orange.

What we did to demonstrate the ''bad'' that David did, we discussed this little known fact:

~ a sweet orange starts out as a lemon!

So, they both started out as lemons....

But, the ONLY way to make these orange juicy sweet things is to ''graft'' in the orange to the lemon root.

Grafted in. hmmmmmmmm......who is grafted into my soul?????

Later, I laid watching missed episodes of my favorite show
Off The Map today ( I am a little under the weather , sniff sniff). I was suddenly taken aback by the blatant crimes being committed in the finale!
Yet, upon reflection, I understood them from a whole different perspective. Weird.
One Doctor falls in love with a "Cocaine''poor farmer with a poor farmer who's making a living the only way he know's how.........then another Doctor is looking for a 'black market heart" for his Doctor girlfriend who will die any day if she doesn't get a new heart. They resort to desperate measures or turn a blind eye to get what they need in their despair. From the outside it seems we would scoff and shake our head in disgust. While, those on the inside, saw it as their only hope. Would we be tempted to make those same decisions?

{Think back to Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroid in Trading Places for a minute.}

Just thinking this through in ONE DAY was pretty overwhelming. DEEEEEEEP, as my hubby would say.

We all have this lemon/bitter/despairing/evil/thieving/lying/prideful/yucky, NATURE. true no?

Talk about a lose/lose situation. This nature of ours....it's scary.
In any of the mentioned scenarios above, I can see myself making some of the same bad choices.
My judgement factor has been punched in the nose with some heavy doses of finger pointing in my direction.
I don't know what I will do in grave circumstances.

But, the one thing I do know, is I have a Savior that has conquered sin.
I know.....
The one thing that can keep this nature off my back is my obedience to Christ.
The one thing, that can keep me off the slippery slope into oblivion is my trust in Christ.
The one thing, that gives me hope to overcome temptation, is my love for Christ.
The one thing that has saved a wretch like me.....is Christ.

So, Miss Bennett, you are right, no education can overcome.
I would add, no theory, no job, no religion, no rule, no book, will help us overcome.

Only the ONE who has done this thing right and perfect...can help us overcome.
Thank God we have an amazing grace.....
because for all the times I pride myself on being obedient to His voice, I just keep messing up!

Free Servant

2011-04-16T14:15:00.000-04:00

I've been living with my new body art for a month or so now.
I have to say, it's been an interesting experience.
Let me preface by saying that I NEVER thought I would get one in an obvious place. EVER.
For the past 5 years, my James Bond mantra has been, "Never Say Never".
Go figure.
{okay, there are things I totally know I would NEVER do,like breaking moral ethics....

I don't know who I'll be in 10 years....or tomorrow even. I have surprised myself in so many ways with my changes that I don't even question why anymore.

So, back to my tattoos.

I didn't counsel with anyone,aside from my hubby, or solicit advice from friends,
on my decision to get some ink.
That would of just left me confused.

But, I did show those who saw or heard that I did the deed.
I have had comments from
"But you're a Christian,"
to
"What were you thinking?"
to
"Those are the most beautiful, meaningful tattoos I've ever seen!"
to
"I want one that has meaning!"
to
"Why did you put them on your wrists?"
to
"Oh, hummn, okay"
to
#%%@&**((@!!!

So, as I search my soul for explanations that I really feel I DO NOT NEED TO Justify, I have come to the conclusion that..... it's alright. It's totally, all right!
I didn't ask before, I don't have to know what anyone thinks of them now.
Heck, they don't need to see them, or wear them, or appreciate them.
Only me.
So, I did say that I would share at least the meaning behind my permanent decision.(since you brought it up). :)

I really hesitate to write my thoughts out on this blog sometimes.
I have never been much of a journaler, diary enthusiast per say.
So, letting my fingers speak my brain language is really weird for me.
Vulnerable to a point...feels kind of icky.
just saying.
I waver on if I really mind being judged and having people I don't know, get to know me in this manner.
But, I started this blog, so, if you are reading it, then, it's because you like to read my craziness.

On my left arm is a beatiful bird cage.
It is representing more than a decade of being locked inside a prison.
A prison that wore no name other than that of religious bondage.
We all have lived in prisons at some point.
Mine just came in the form of a cruel warden hidden and disguised in a cloak for good.
Years of my youth was spent searching and longing for God. Trying to be good enough for Him by obeying all the rules of my Roman Catholic upbringing.
It left me feeling empty. I wanted more.
So, being primed for the picking in my early 20's....religious zealots with happy faces and "the Word'' in their hearts was all I needed to fall right into the trap.
I was learning, learning, and learning all about GOD.
I was memorizing, practicing and spewing what THEY believed the scriptures said ABOUT GOD,

All the while controlling me and my life with a figurative gun to my head.
Leave and this will happen to you. {insert killed here}
Don't tithe and this will happen to you. {insert Poor here}
Don't believe big enough and this will happen to you. {insert an accident}
Do what we say and this will happen to you. {insert Abundance here}
Do believe in all the promises God wants to give and this will happen to you {insert happiness here}

So you see, I was not allowed to have a true and intimate relationship with the Lord.
I had to filter it ALL through the religion I was in.
A cage of indifference, judgement, pride and rules.
Knowing all about Him, without knowing Him at all.

On my right hand is a bird (sparrow) who was finally set free by God himself, and is flying towards a cross.
This bird is me flying as fast as I can towards Jesus. The real Christ. The cross of Christ. Where sin and repentance begin.
Not a filtered, sterile, figurative image of a savior who wants to give us all our selfish desires.
But a living, and real Savior who rescued me from myself but sacrificing himself.

There is so much more to the meaning, but that is the short of it.

I am no longer a caged prisoner of religion, but now I am freely bound to a savior.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Gal 5:1

Mrs. F part duex

2011-04-14T08:36:00.000-04:00

Sorry it took so long. I am ......eh, em....a working woman now.
weird.

Mrs. F

2011-04-03T15:18:00.001-04:00

I happen to play an important role in the Children's Ministry at church.

I am a character. Not just any character....no, no......I play the incomparable MRS F!

Mrs. F- Gloria Finkenhoffer.
AKA= Gordo's mom

Here's a sample of this Sunday's lesson in Humility. And yes, I got hit......by 2 flying planets! I will try to post the ending later.

{don't you think my hair is doing a great job of allowing me to ignore my kid?}......hahahaaa

">

I Will Never...

2011-03-31T10:11:00.000-04:00

"I WILL NEVER!"

How many times have we all screamed this about one thing or another....especially convictions we seem to hold so dear?

I have eaten plenty of those words over the past 5 years regarding all the things that
" I would never'' do.

I now have a running list of all the "Nevers" that have turned into ''Do's".

So, while I'm at it, I mind as well add one more to my list.....

I thought I'd ~~NEVER~~ say these simple 6 words.

"My Child Is Going To Preschool."

Gasp. Sigh. Croak. Sniff.

Seriously?

This was a sort of arrogant pride issue for me since my firstborn came into my life.
I swore she would never go to school because of my sense of duty and the privilege to be her mom.
As I looked into her newborn blue eyes, and rocked her, and vowed to protect her all the days of her life,
I was determined and quite content to homeschool her.
Fast forward 5 years, and I was more than happy to walk her to to a public school.

Oh the insanity! I know now, it was my sincere hormones doing all the talking back then, but still, was I that fickle to scream 'NEVER'?

So, here I am sending my last child to the wolves after even up to last year, railing about sending a 3 year old to pre-k when, ''Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, and he didn't go to preschool!"

So, our new journey to Never-Say- Never land, starts next week.
My boy needs to play........badly. He knows I am not a good playmate for longer than 1 hour.
He needs to get out 3 days a week, to be with friends, learn some songs
and give mommy a chance to work...with adults.

He'll be okay.
I'll be okay.

It's only part time for heaven's sake.

I would NEVER work full time.

A Convenient Truth

2011-03-22T07:46:00.002-04:00

Last week I got a frantic call from my husband.

On my way home from my fun tattoo day, his call laced with desparate pleas and begging:

"Can you please stop by Lowe's?"

Then he hits me with... the ugly truth.

"The water is off....
not only off, but, broken. The pipe is broke." {insert heavy sigh}

Our dog, Molly (bless her pain in the ~~arse~~ butt, soul), dug a hole so deep right next to the water pipes, and apparently bit through it.
*I say apparently, because, it seems improbable that she bit right through, I am thinking more along the lines of , she ripped off what was already breaking.....

When my husband found her, she was lapping joyfully at the geyser shooting out from our underground aquifer and of course rolling in the mud. { I could hear barks of pleasure all the way across town}!

Glad I was not the dog at that moment my husband got a hold of her....

So,of course, all water had to be shut off completely and hurriedly as to not waste our precious resource, nor our cash.

As he tried to fix what he could at the time, he realized that he did not have the right ''tools'' to fix the pipes properly, nor did he have the "know-how "to do it the right way. He guessed at what the answer was,then he googled, and then started in on the job.

I got the call about half way through with specific instructions and details on what materials to purchase.

How convenient.......
How awesome it is, to be able to walk into a home impovement store, and just buy what I ~~want~~,
I mean , need.
* I really try not to look at the new bathroom sink area, or the lighting fixtures, or the tempting new KITCHENS....
no, I walk right passed them with my head held down and only a lift of a brow! {sigh}

How awesome is it, to have google give you all the places to find information on how to fix broken things.

Although, it took about 3 trips to the store, and doing the last bit in the dark, without a flashlight so instead my husband is holding and flicking repeatedly a lighter to see??? (don't ask)
All that, we still had it fixed in a half day.

A half day without water!!!!!!
I ain't gonna lie.
The truth is, it was a pain. An inconvenience. But, I knew it was only temporary.

I didn't have a bowl of spare water either.

I had 4 bottled waters left in the fridge. To drink, for cleaning, whatever.

Every time I went to wash my hands, I couldn't.

I had to go get diaper wipes to clean myself off.

Boo hoo me! I know. How sad.

Here I am , working with

The Adventure Project. org

to help with their water well maintenance program,

and I am whining about my half day of no water!

What if my husband could not fix the broken pipes?

What if there was no store, no google, no......money to fix them?

Wow, the realization hit me one day while reading about Ram Rati's story.

But, I can, and YOU, can make a difference.

We can help with an area that helps train and maintain broken wells, so that they don't go without water longer than necessary.

Usually, these wells are not broken by a dog named Molly.

But, a woman named Molly can be trained to help fix and repair and maintain the wells for many years to come.

I need 10 of my readers to help with this campaign. The Keep It Clean Campaign for World Water Day.
That is TODAY!
Please help us ,won't you? Donate here.

$20 dollars goes a long way to help this program continue.
And you get a great bar of soap to go with your generous giving.

And here:The Adventure Project .org

Love this . Check it. Made by some of my fellow Tribe members.

typeTAP: Water Revolution from The Adventure Project on Vimeo.

My Midlife Catharsis

2011-03-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

MIDLIFE: meaning the middle of your life
CATHARSIS: Greek word meaning ''cleansing" or "purging".

Alright, I admit, I am 40. I also admit that I may not truly be considered '' middle-aged" yet by some standards.

But, in the fun of making sport of myself, lets just pretend that "40" is the zenith of an average lifespan.

I don't want to think of going down hill after this....but, they don't make those ''over the hill' balloons for 40th and 50th birthdays for nothing!

I prefer the ''Aged to Perfection" ones myself.....

I am also not in a crisis, heaven's no!
I am actually in a process of cleansing myself.
Cleansing my life of anything that has held me back.
Purging any old ways or thinking that didn't glorify God or encourage me to be a better me.

So, heavy on my heart for the last year or so, was my need to express myself, for myself.

Not to start controversy or to even ''be an example'' to others, but to just do it for me.

Thus begun the wild hairs abounding since my birthday last August.

I searched and designed, and searched and pondered, asked my hubby, prayed, and designed some more.

Then,as if some force beyond me took me by the hand, I made the decision!
In my excitement I dragged my friend and partner in crime Katie, to witness the catharsis in the making!

Can you guess yet?????

The dear head has to give it away.....

This is Danny and he has some serious skills.

You'll have to wait for another blog post for my lengthy meaning behind my first tattoo.

(and no,I don't really consider my permanent eye-liner to be a real tat)!

Animal Freaks

2011-03-01T16:59:00.000-05:00

I grew up with dogs.
My first dog was a beautiful Irish Setter named Brandy. I was about 7. Sweet and family friendly. She lived with us for about 10 years.

Then, at 16, with new charge card {and boyfriend } in hand, I walked right into the pet store at bought that blue eyed, cutie patootie, Siberian Husky! Oh, yes I did. And, yes, I got in MAJOR hot water. But that is another story.
Finally, in college I picked out an adorable and tough, little Dachshund for my mom.
A different dog, for all our different stages of development.

I also had a bird and fish mixed in there somewhere.
A cocatiel named Ponch
(yes, his namesake is from CHIPS).
He hated me, yet, I tolerated his bite.
But, one day, he changed.
He actually let me hold him, pet him, and stroke him for a whole day.....then
...he, eh died.
Right in front of my eyes while holding him, he keeled over!
{I cried so hard, my mom called me in sick that day from school.}
The fish tank I had for many years.
But, as I got to be a distracted teen,
I remember the tank becoming somewhat of an ''eye sore'' in my room.
A slow poo death was smothering my fishies.
Brown sewage water replaced the fresh blue, and suddenly, I was fish-less.....

Fast forward 10 years and married.....
Before even having children, Hunk and I were obsessed with anything Discovery channel had to offer.
All the shows about wildlife, animal science, zoo adventures and exotic pet control.

Surprisingly, given my track record for impulse animal purchases, we never quite fell into the
"married with no children" habit of buying the beloved puppy.
We had too many responsiblities running bible classes in our home 3 times a week..
.... Had to keep the house clean you know.

Then when our girls were wee lassies, we would hunker down on a cold winters night, in the mile high Colorado bunker and watch
every episode of Crocodile Hunter.
{Crikey, I miss that bloke}
I think we watched it so much that my husband swears he heard me say "Sheila and Crikey" in my sleep. We even wrote letters to Bindy Sue Erwin and became members of the Austrailia Zoo!

Of course we would head on over to the Colorado Springs Zoo every chance we'd get.
When we'd come visit my folks in Florida, we'd visit the Miami Seaquarium, or Sea World.
{Just watching Shamu fly out of the water to this day, brings me to tears.}

Yes, we are TV animal lovers.

Endless episodes of Man vs. Wild, and The Dog Whisperer still pervade our home.

Ok, Man vs. Wild isn't about animals, but it's nature and roughin it....

So what happend to us?

We didn't have any animal living with us for the first 10 years of our marriage.
With as many shows about animals we've watched, you'd think we would of started our own farm!

But, no. We love from afar.
Animals are awesome creatures of God.
We ended up with a cat, Zoe, about 4 years ago.
And just this August, got the infamous Molly, the lab. {although I swear she is cheetah, from all her escapes}.

Since we've begun our animal journey here at Plunkett Central, I have realized that we are really just "tolerable animal lovers."

While we love them, it's an obligatory kind of love. Sorta like your long lost relative that you have to hug on Thanksgiving, but in your every-day-life, you would never hug them.
{just sayin, don't judge}

Yes, they are cute, and cuddly, and sweet and lovable......
but, they also, poop, pee, cost money, time, effort, work, energy and try my patience!

So, as I started to ponder this hypocrisy we have been living in, I came to realize a couple things.

~ As an animal owner, you have to be SELFLESS.
I have to rush home now, worry about them being alright, no long extended vacations without lots of thinking/planning, and constant interaction. I am not alone, anymore....ever.

~Animals have a way of HUMBLING YOU.
I used to pride myself on my clean house and the pretty smelling air that flowed through it.
Now, my house teeters on the brink of a hair/dirt/food pile,
and smells like WET DOG. seriously. I hate it.
You may not smell it, but I do. When you come over, I am thinking of it......a lot.....

~Animals Love you NO MATTER WHAT.
I have not been nice at times to these 2 critters. I am ashamed .
But, no matter what I have done, they kiss my butt and {try}to lick my face every chance they get!
Unconditional love at it's best.

Those shows were probably just our way of seeing and enjoying God's handiwork in His creation. I do appreciate it fully.
So while I may complain, and moan about the upkeep of these critters that are NOT MY CHILDREN,
I can't help but be thankful for the pruning God is doing in my life. They are setting the example for us in how to love Him, and how He loves us, to love unconditionally, to live a selfless Christ-like life.

He loves that in us....
no matter how stinky- dirty- filthy we are.
No matter how many times we mess up.
No matter how many times we forget to thank him.
No matter how much dirt we drag in..
No matter how much we make the ugly cry face...
He sees us, as His.
Beautiful messes.
Sweet smelling.

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish” (II Corinthians 2:14,15).

So, who wants a gray and white spayed tabby cat?

Who Am I?

2011-02-17T11:41:00.001-05:00

Recently I was asked to do a short bio
for my involvement in The Adventure Project.

Can I just say, that I really have no idea what the heck to write about myself!

I have done {and not done} so much in these last 20 years {yes, I am that old} that to dwindle it down to a short bio was actually overwhelming.

My palms started getting sweaty.
My heart beat rapidly, then, started to sink and swell.
First with pride and then with disappointment.
My brain hurt in knowing that I may have forgotten more and more as each child came,
and as my age increased.
I don't regret much of what I did, but mostly for what I haven't done.

Should I put down that I went to college for 6 years on my father's dime and still don't have a degree to hang on my .......well,
I have no office, but, my bedroom wall?

or how about I put down that I changed my major 3 times and never finished my student-teaching......
but that all the oodles of credit I have,
got me to substitute teach for a few years, just long enough to convince me that I should change my major for the 4th time?

or the career decision to go to Nail school right after high school, was only because I wanted to work in a salon where we could do art and not have to wear shoes?

or the fact that I did nails/makeup/hair as my own business for 20 years and then, as if sick and tired, decided enough was enough and
semi-retire?

or that I have a notebook full of inventions and ideas that will never see the light of day?

or that I had a started a Welcome Service business at the pinnacle of the housing boom, just to lose it when it plummeted?

or that I was in a Christian Cult for the better part of my 20's and 30's and regret staying that long, every day of my life?

{but, through that I developed a love for the bible and the study and teaching of it....}

or that I have been writing a paranormal- fiction novel for 2 years that will probably not get finished in this decade?

or that my 3 kids are the joy of my heart?

{who by the way, occasionally embarrass me me with poop and comments that make me scream and laugh at the same time?}

or that I am still in love with my hunky hubby after 16 years?

or that I am passionate about Jesus' commandments to love God and love our neighbor?

or that I am passionate about missions and helping widows and orphans?

or that I have been in leadership on and off with MOPS for 8 years and have a love for helping moms?

or maybe that I am a gold buyer,jewelery maker, occasional money saving radio show guest, plant expert, a breast-feeding guru, a health nut, a closet horticulturist, a craft freak, a thrifty fashionista/decorator, and a lover of good food?

The possibilities are endless here. I have no idea who I am or what to say.

Decisions.....decisions....

This Man of Mine

2011-02-14T17:33:00.000-05:00

We don't celebrate many of these holidays or purchase it with stuffed bears, chocolates or flowers.

I don't need them.

All I need is him.

Him in all of his ways.
They are good.
They are precious to me.

He has been the soft places for my 16 years of hard falls.

He's my best friend, my lover.

My man.

So thankful.

Dear {Stupid} Cupid...

2011-02-11T08:28:00.006-05:00

I know, I know....I NEVER ask for things. I don't. I just get them for myself, if it's reasonable, and I love it, and have to have it, and it calls my name, and I can't live without it, and it's pretty, and it's a need or a want.....

Okay, enough of that lame drama.

Here's the deal. If I don't throw it out there in cyber never-never land, then, nobody really knows what I like when they feel inspired to get me something
{cough, cough.....Hunk.....eh emmmm}

So, here are some things that {stupid} Cupid can bring my way on Valentines Day, or any other day for that matter, if the mood strikes. ♥

This is soooooo WE!

This is sooooo ME!

This is soooooo BOGO free!

{love}This is soooo us
My home needs the reminder.

As much as I love all these things....and I do....

I can't really ask for these things right now. Not really without some pang in my stomach from guilt, remorse, or just plain disgust with myself.
Don't misunderstand, I do {love} those things. And, I might get one or two of them at some point. There are times when I am more open to splurge on myself without feeling these emotions.
But, some things are just more important in my life today.

Like knowing about the millions of others that don't have access to safe drinking water?
{as I sit here drinking my coffee}

Did you know that 1 out of 8 people in the world lack access to clean water?

That without clean water, 14,000 children die EVERY DAY of diarrheal- related diseases which is
more than Aids, Malaria, and Measles combined?

Sadly, 1/3 of all drinking water wells built in the last 20 years are broken.

This is what you {Mr. or Mrs.} Cupid can do to help.

You can help me spread the word about a program in India called Water Aid. They train and fix the wells in their community.
They have repaired over 300 wells in 2 years. That means over 75,000 people now have their water back. They still have 4,000 more to repair!

The Adventure Project wants to help this venture GROW!!!

Here's how:

Buy a bar of soap.

Give people in India this:

That simple.

Don't be stupid cupid. Forget all that other stuff.......This is what I really want.

Multitude Monday 7~ Football Follies

2011-02-07T08:35:00.005-05:00

With all the football madness going on yesterday,
{even in my mostly girl house}
I was suddenly reminded of my old obsession with the sport.

I can't remember really when it started, but it seemed to happen right before I became an official teen.
Somewhere in the 9-11 range.
My father was a very avid sports fan and a former all-around athlete. Regular basketball games with all the neighborhood boys were a favorite of his to show off his skill and that
" I still got it'' attitude.
All 4 of us were involved with some sort of sports growing up.

I was a softball, cheerleader, gymnastics girl mostly.

But, on occasion, you would find me on the grassy field, playing a pick-up game of tag football.
I was running, throwing, laughing, and chasing those boys
{don't go there}
as if my very life depended on it. Occasionally, some tackle football was thrown in there for good measure. Mostly by me....

Playing with all boys....

Whoa. I have no idea WHAT I WAS THINKING!!

But, looking back, the atmosphere at home had me obsessing over anything football.

We were huge Miami Dolphin fans {obviously}
and loved the Steelers on the side.
My dad wanted boys....he got 3 girls before that dream was reality. So, he persisted anyway with sports to compensate.
{Too bad my brother was 10 years younger, for I didn't get to enjoy his love for the game until I was already grown. He ended up playing for the MSU Bulldogs as their long-snapper. {talk about my father's joy}
So, a little air time for him on TV and me to watch from Colorado was enough to sport the family pride.}

My bedroom, that would have been for my brother had he been born yet, was completely decked out with NFL curtains, red carpet, and a gigantic football player painted dead center on one wall.
It felt right at home.
The curtains had the names of every NFL team (at that time) and for hours I would just stare at the logo's and try to pick my favorite one. It was all based on aesthetics of course...
you know, best design, what colors were the best,
and what I would look like in their uniform {with shoulder pads}.

Many nights I would dream of running through the tunnel towards the cries of screaming adoring fans chanting my name as I entered the stadium.

Yes, I wanted to play football.
I wanted to be quarterback.
I wanted to make history.
{The first female Pro football player}
Hear the roar.......hear me roar.

I even imagined them having to make me my own private locker room.

I can't remember exactly how long this love lasted.
But, it was a jealous love.
For all else around me was consumed by its allure.
My dreams of dancing/acting, doctor and mother, were drowned out by the passions of my longing desire.
To play football.

Then one day the dream was gone.
A slow, trickling dislike for the game settled into my core.
I wasn't interested in tackling the boys anymore, or having red carpet, or staring at that gigantic fat football cartoon on my wall.
I was changing. Morphing. Growing.
~Puberty.~
Yup, boobs put a kabash on them goals, like a yellow turning red light.
What I strange phenomena.
I went from dreams of sport life, to dreams of rocking babies.
Dreams of throwing a pig-skinned ball, to throwing baby showers.
Red, blue, orange and teal, were now replaced with pink and purple.
My allegiance to the sport took a backseat to my hormonal raging femininity.

I was becoming a woman.

So today as I sit here with my house, my car, my husband, my kids, my dog, my cat, my desires, my wants,
My LIFE...

I am immediately reminded of the ONE who is and has been Jealous for ME and my allegiance.

The ONE who He, Himself, is a Consuming Fire.
The One who wants me all to Himself in heart, in mind.
The One who is screaming my name, who has it tattooed on His hands.
The One cheering me on in my mundane daily routine.

Do I let Him be the Passion, the dreams, the desire of my heart above all else?
More than I was for the dreams of playing football?

I have to ask myself that frequently.
I do try , to not allow the ways/temptations of this world to sway me from my first love.
The center of my life that permeates into all other areas.

God.
He is gracious.....always allowing me to fail and flail in the winds of this world.
He stays put for me.
I am His.
If I think about it, He really is the all time, all around, best quarterback we have in this life.
Throwing the ball out there for me, directing which direction I should run towards.
I can follow his leading, or go my own way.
Whether its to the end zone, or loss of a down, or a fumble....
He's my BIGGEST FAN and for that, I am so thankful.

Cereal Woes

2011-02-03T16:53:00.000-05:00

Ah, sweet Honey Sunshine.

Kashi sunshine.

I love this cereal. I do. Great for the kiddos to snack on too.

And now I see, they redesigned the packaging into new box, just for my eye candy needs.
They have a ''new look''.

They also have a new weight limit on this fancy shmancy new box!
Seems they forgot to include a couple ounces back into their honey goodness.....

but of course they still charge the same price!

Something is wrong with this arrangement.

Cereal is already WAAAAY overpriced!

Now, for $3-5, instead of two bowls a box, I can eat a whole box in one morning.

yay!!! *insert extreme sarcasm here*

1000 Gifts Journal~ Multitude Monday 6

2011-01-31T21:55:00.000-05:00

Thankful.

Although...

Today was a day of testing.

Testing of...

My patience.
My emotions.
My strength.
My love.
My intentions.
My dreams.
My desires.
My hopes.
My past.
My future.
My beliefs.

I would like to say I got all A's on these tests.
I would be lying.
But, I didn't fail miserably either.

So for that, I am thankful.

When I stop to look into the eyes of my children, my spouse......I see love. I see what I love.

The key is to stop.

And look.

And see.

I feel Him there. In the eyes of my family.

It is in those moments that I stop looking at ME and start looking to HIM in everything around me.

When I do, the thankfulness pours forth like fresh water from a spring.

~running
~laughing
~smiling
~chasing my boy around and around and around and around...
~jumping
~kissing {all of them, and especially those extra special hubby ones ;) }
~eating great food
~eating chocolate
~being able to change my course when He calls
~crying with tears of joy
~the sunshine
~wearing shorts in January
~coffee that makes a good self-tanner {oh, yes, I am trying}
~laundry that never ends {neither do my prayers for each of the folded garments}

Ouch quote

2011-01-29T08:22:00.000-05:00

"If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word,

then I know nothing of Calvary love.

For a cup brimful of sweet water
cannot spill even one drop of bitter water,
however suddenly jolted.”

~ Amy Carmichael

Go That Way...!!!!!

2011-01-26T09:58:00.002-05:00

"Go dat way!!!! Dat way!!" He screams. He wails. He sniffles.

"Mommy is not going THAT way. I am in charge, and I am going THIS way!" I yell to the back of the car.

"I wanna go dat way....!"

This is the daily exchange between my soon-to-be 3 year old son, Justice, and myself while driving in the car.
{eh,ehm, mini-van}

He is obsessed with trains and the road in which the train tracks follow.

So, on every drive near those tracks, he has his mind made up, to where we need to go.
No consideration whatsoever as to where I AM going or where I NEED to go or where I WANT to go.

It's all about him. His desires, his pleasures, his wants.

"I want to see train!!!!" He cries.

Eventually, he stops the crying and whining as soon as we are far enough away from the tracks to realize he's not going to see them.

*{ouch, it's like me sometimes. When I see or covet something with my eyes, my desires. I whine while it's near me, close to reach, so close I could touch it, yet I can't have it.
But, as soon as I am far away from remembering it, or I replace that desire with something else, do I then stop the whining.....}

God has set a course for us. He sets a path. He's says, "Go this way!"

And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.
{Isaiah 30:21}

So many times, I hear His voice behind me, beckoning me to go another way.
But, I want to go my own way sometimes.
I want what I think is best for me.
Is this how I want my relationship with Him to be like?

When I follow my heart instead of His, I am left empty.
I want my heart, to be His heart.

Why can't I just obey every time???

I tell Him, "I want to go THAT WAY GOD.....but, THAT WAY looks more fun, more inviting, easy...."

So, daily I struggle with the trains that tempt me to go another way than what He has determined for me.

Yet, I am determined to try to stay close to His heartbeat in order to hear His voice showing me which way to go.

As I learn to walk with Him , stumbling along this life track, I am sure of one thing:

He is with me.

Fashion Date

2011-01-22T18:46:00.000-05:00

Hunk and I went on a date......can you tell I was a little excited?

follow the rest of the story

here:A little date night fashion fun...

Don't hate me for going all Wordpress on you. I am trying to keep some things separate.

I'll let you know if it's permanent.

Have a great weekend!

A New Thankful Journey~1000 Gifts 5

2011-01-17T08:45:00.000-05:00

I am here. After a long week of busyness.

Here for long haul. My life. My life. My life.

How did I get here?

The strange series of events that lead to the place where I am is mind-boggling.

I never planned it. I never dreamed this far into my life as a little girl.

You get the fantasy dreams of marrying a prince, having children, and a white picket fence.

or

being a movie star, or a rock star.

But, the minutia, the details of life always escape the dreams.

I love where God has me.

I love my life. (although some days I wonder)

But, all in all, it's mine.

He gave it me.

For that, I am thankful.

My life in all it's wonder and strife.

Undone

2011-01-16T20:01:00.000-05:00

I am undone. Buried.
Buried in a place so deep-
that if the walls around me
came crashing down
-they wouldn't touch me.
So deep,
I wouldn't even notice.
So unglued-
in places that even truth
will not stick to....that
the bonds of my self can
no longer hold together.
Uneasy, unsure-
are my feet that slip..
pulling me in a new direction,
that refuses to go.
Unequipped, unskilled-
to handle the unknown territory
that lies on the road ahead.
Out of the whirlwind
He reaches for me.
Out of the earthquake
He lifts me.
Out of the thunder
He speaks to me.
Unable to comprehend
the depths of His love,
I weep.
Unleashing waters..
Unashamed to face Him,
Unhindered by His love.
I am undone.

Conversations with Hunk

2011-01-13T08:32:00.002-05:00

Last night Hunk and I were in the kitchen when he got home from work. It was one of his late nights, so he already had eaten his supper. Standing there over the stove he noticed our dinner, and started drooling over the left-overs.
New recipe; Baked Potato Soup.
He took a few dreamy bites, and then made some comments about how fattening it probably was.

Hunk:
Man, this is good.

Me:
oh, wait, you need to put on some more cheese and sour cream on top.

Hunk:
what? I am not putting on cheese and sour cream.
I can tell this is already loaded with calories.

Me:
So? What if it is loaded? It's HOME MADE! Anything home made is good for you.

Hunk:
Is that so?

Me:
yes, the French eat waaaaaay more fat than this for every meal, and they don't get fat!!!!
They eat butter and bread and cheese all the time. It's the slowness and appreciation with which they eat it, that is what keeps the pounds off.

Hunk:
So are you telling me, Henry VIII wasn't fat?

Me:
what? Who the heck knows! He was a KING. They had no rules or boundaries. He probably ate pork for every meal.

Hunk:
Just sayin....

Me:
Uggg, anyway, it's goooood isn't it?

Hunk:
yes, very good, and very fattening.

Me:
But, it's homemade!!!{I thought I made myself clear on this point}.

Hunk:
I'll bring it to work and eat it tomorrow. Let me put it in a tupperware.

As he poured the soup into a new bowl, he left the remains in the pan for me to drool over.
So, what does any hungry self respecting food addict do at 9 pm ?

That's right. I took out tortilla chips and scooped up the leftover soup until there was not even a finger lickin drop left.

Hunk:
Why are you eating that now? And with chips? Don't you want something, healthy?

Me:
It is healthy, I made it!!!!!! Besides, I am hungry. I only had one bowl, and I worked out today....and why are you asking? I can't eat this?

Hunk:
Just wondering.

Me:
I can eat what I want, when I want. I work hard, and don't tell me what to do!

Hunk:
I would never tell you what to do honey.
Nobody can tell YOU what to do.
I can't believe you allowed our old Ministry to tell you what to do. Why is that?

Me:
I don't know.......maybe because I equated them with God. I do let God tell me what to do. That is all.
I let you suggest, ask and lead me places......but don't TELL me to or not to do something.
It just makes me want to do the opposite.

dang.

Hunk:
You're so fiesty when your're hungry.

A Stinky Story

2011-01-11T16:31:00.003-05:00

As a mother, I find that talking about our baby's bodily fluids to be completely acceptable at any time, even when eating!

There is just something about babies burps, farts, or ''blow-outs'' that have us *roller-coastering through a series of smiles, chuckles and belly laughs.

Of course...ALL IN THE RECALLING. Not always in the MOMENT.

So, as I recall this particular incident, {one that was just recently brought back to my attention}I do look back on it with fondness, and tears of hilarity rolling down my face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Poop Adventure

It was just your typical day at Barnes and Noble book store;

Late afternoon, not too many people, and all the kids just home from school, and kinda hungry for dinner.

Deciding last minute to go in so my oldest could use up her gift card and buy a good book.

My boy, who is 2 and a half years old now, was then about 18 months old. Fully walking but still very much a baby.

I plopped him down in front of some John Deere books not 2 feet away from me, to entertain himself while trying to locate a certain book series for my daughter.

Every two seconds I would check on him. So, when I looked up and saw that he was up and walking around, I stopped what I was doing, to move toward him.

Noticing me, he started to walk further away, so I trotted after him in hurried adult fashion.

At that moment, my eyes popped out of my head as I saw his diaper trailing down ONE PANT LEG!

Now I am RUNNING toward him, trying stop this eventual catastrophy {and not knowing what was inside his diaper},

HE RAN faster.....and wouldn't stop when I called his name...

Then, as if in slow motion, the horror began...

First, the diaper came totally out of his left pant leg.

So I immediately snatched it off the floor, just as a-

Large Brown Round Nugget of POOP came flying out of his right pant leg, rolling across the Barnes and Noble young adult book section!!!!!

My mouth flew open in utter disbelief, grunting inside....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

''Ahhh, stop, boy, stop" I yelled.

As he continued to run away from me, I bent down, grabbed UP THE POO with the diaper in one quick swoop!
{ trying desperately to avoid any embarrassing looks from folks that might of seen what just happened}

As I looked up to locate the boy's whereabouts, I became even MORE HORRIFIED!
{as if that was possible}

Oh yes, it's possible...

Of course, He left A TRAIL!

A trail of stinking, freaking, unbelievably ridiculous brown corn nuggets were dropped all over the book store floor- which then lead me to his exact hiding spot!

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.{or experiencing}

I looked around to see if anyone had noticed, and since no screams had been uttered yet, {except my own silent ones} I was supposedly in the clear.

"Thank God!"

I didn't know what to do first.

So, I grabbed my diaper bag hastily, and wouldn't you know, I was down to ONE WIPEE! ONE!

I pleaded with my eldest daughter, who was now thoroughly disgusted and avoiding us, to watch her then, diaper-less brother....
as I ran to the bathroom to get some wet paper towels.

I quickly {and stealthily} grabbed every corn- laced- crap- ball off the floor with the soapy paper towels, one by one......and scubbed and scrubbed until I felt it was clean enough.

It was an endless trail, and I cried endless tears through it all.

I found his stinky excrements in the book rounders, around the corner, in the stuffed animal section...

He even managed to step on some in the John Deere book isle, that was already ground into the carpet.

At one point I stuck a new diaper on him,{tried to clean him off} and looked for my other daughter who was huddled in a corner reading to see if she knew what was going on all around her......NOPE, Totally Oblivious.

Not one person noticed this bold disregard for public cleanliness, nor was there a hidden camera anywhere. I was free.

But, here I am telling you, because quite frankly,

It was one of the funniest days of mommy-hood in my life!!!!

A disgusting, embarrassing situation, ends up being the funniest topic for family gatherings. {even at the table}

I know what you are thinking, " I am never going to THAT Barnes and Noble ever!"

Don't worry, it shut down a couple months later.

It's now the Halloween Store.

the culprit @ 8months

the culprit @ 18 months

* I made this word up. I like it.

1000 Gifts Journal~ Multitude Monday 4

2011-01-10T09:08:00.001-05:00

Vacations.

Family.

Fun.

Laughter.

Amore. {love}

Engagements.

Plans.

Anticipation.

Adventure.

Food.

Exercise.

God's creation.

New.

Ocean.

Kayaks.

Se-saws.

Good books.

Deep Conversation.

Desserts.

Kisses.

Hugs.

These are some of the things I am thankful for today. After a whirlwind couple weeks with family visiting from London, and new brother -in- law to interview, trips to enjoy, pictures to take, food to eat, fun to be had, some school to attend and homework to finish, I am spent and behind.

BUT, not without thanksgiving. Not without praise and wonder.

New Uncle

2011-01-06T07:25:00.001-05:00

The girls new Uncle Eugenio from London.(via Italy)

I really think we should keep him ;)
{waiting in line at Harry Potter Universal Islands of Adventure....}

A day with Auntie and Uncle at Universal

2011-01-06T07:12:00.001-05:00

The New Harry Potter Village

Watch Out Ashtyn!!!!! (Auntie Erin having fun)

Jurassic Park- Universal Studios

1-1-11

2011-01-01T00:10:00.000-05:00

"This year, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again."

— Howard W. Hunter

park day

2010-12-31T14:26:00.003-05:00

This winter day, is why we live in Florida. 70* and beautiful....

A Bee In My Car

2010-12-28T23:12:00.002-05:00

In our first Sunday school class since leaving ''the cult'', we faithfully studied for {2 whole years } the book of Romans.
What a eye-opener! You'd think now after 5 years I would of learned more than this.....slow...and steady....

Anyways, I was in chapter 14 recently, and realized how much I love this section of scripture.

It is loaded with direction for our lives especially, our attitudes.

''Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." Rom 14:13

Sometimes, I can be impatient with others and their shortcomings. {no,really}

My husband, children, friends, and even strangers can get the blunt obstacle of my anxious,finger pointing wrath.

But what I am learning, is that I cannot both judge AND be patient toward others.

They are total opposites. Who knew?

Since, patience is a fruit of the spirit, and

If I am going to become a vessel of God's patience toward others,

then I must also learn to withhold judgement toward them.

My judgement of others is colored by my attitude, my past, my personality and

my positions in life.

Only God is the perfectly righteous judge.

My flesh taints and stains my judgement.

I think about this when driving sometimes.

Someone swerves or cuts me off and I immediately want to scream and curse at them for being so ''stupid''for not paying attention.

and....they very well may be...stupid........BUT..

There could be a hundred reasons why they swerving and almost killing me!!

Maybe a bee was flying around in the car?

{this happend to me, no joke}

Maybe they are having a heart attack at the wheel?
{oh my, I should pray for them!}

Maybe their heel got stuck under the gas pedal and they are bending down to unhook it?

{note to self: don't wear heels when driving}

Maybe they are upset about life. Crying and driving. Desperately hurt inside.

Maybe a song came on the radio just then to remind them of their loss, their plight, their sorrow.

{ :( another note to self: no crying while driving}

So, I am realizing that my quick passing of judgement on other human beings (and animals) can be hazardous to my patience, which then affects my fruit, that ends up being a terrible witness for Christ.
{I also have no idea what the other person is going through, has been through, or where they are going.}

but, but, but, but........ what if , what if...............they were just driving like a stupid lunatic?*

hey, I got a plank in my eye a mile wide... oh wait, that's not a bee, it's a wasp!

*disclaimer- okay, I am not saying that if they are drunk and run you over literally that you should not be angry or mortified, or upset...or spilling hatred from your pores....this is about judging, forgiveness is another post.

1000 Gifts Journal~ Multitude Monday 3

2010-12-27T21:33:00.002-05:00

31. A Christmas well spent. Not on fancy gifts... but spent on helping, eating, lots of baking, and games.

32. I am thankful for sugar. And I am thankful to give up sugar for at least a week.

33. My husband, who spent hours on a custom made a beautiful framed picture collage of our engagement photos.....all done with a dull knife!!!!!!

34. My girls, who help me more than they know. (and remembering to tell them so)

35. My dog. She is pretty. She keeps the boy busy. This way, I still like her when she slobbers all over something just cleaned.

36. Fresh smelling sheets....when I get around to washing them.

37. Guests that are comfortable enough to rummage through my kitchen cabinets for something.

38. Music. I ♥ music. hmmmmmm sounds like a post I did somewhere??

36. My Savior's birth. But more so, his sacrifice. His resurrection.

37. Hot showers. Ever since the temps here in Florida have been ~~C o L d~~ FrEeZiNg....my showers stay hot ....say...only about 5 minutes? So, I am thankful to have those 5 minutes. Oh, yes I am!

38. Vintage "anything " hunting. I am crazed at this point. Check this site out. It's free vintage pretty things!!!

39. Seeing God move....even when I don't feel like it.

4o. ~~Target. No, wait, maybe I am not thankful for Target....sometimes I refer to it as the Trapget.~~....scratch that.
* A easy store to get to, that carries my basic necessities only.

May the new year come upon us, as we store up heavenly treasures to enjoy for eternal years.

Multi-tasking & Tags

2010-12-23T19:31:00.002-05:00

Being a wife and mother, multi-tasking seems to come naturally out of the blue upon womenhood.....a phenomenon really.

Men don't get this blessing.
Vary rarely, if ever, do you see (or hear) of a man that can:

take on a phone call, sweep the floor, comb child's hair, eat a bagel, sip coffee, break up a fight, pick up toys, bake, wipe a nose/butt, and smile....
all at the same time!

Nope, it's just. not. natural.

So, I shouldn't get annoyed when the hubster can't keep up. It's quite comical really.

In an effort to encourage his { inborn talents} ....I sent him and the girls the other day, to see Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader.....where he can treat them like little ladies, buy popcorn, and explain to them the real meaning behind the movie, and that Aslan is really Jesus.

It's not that I didn't want to go, on the contrary, but, it's Christmas time and the only way to bake, clean and wrap and make these tags, is when nobody is home!
{and it was the only way for them to go shop for my gifts} hee hee

ha, I am not this shallow.

I cooked 3 meals, made Christmas bark, nuts, and read Catching Fire....and then I made some of these lovely tags from HERE,
all while the boy slept.
{gals from MOPS used these for gifts and gave me the name of this chic blog}
see, multi-tasking.

It's a gift. Praise the Lord.

~So, I printed out these on quality photo card stock.

I could of just printed them on khaki card stock, or punched a hole and used them, but I really like to embellish EVERYTHING....so, I couldn't help myself.

First, wrinkle the paper.

Then, add distress ink. This one is Vintage Photo.

Once you rub it on, it gets into all the folds nicely. But, there is still one more step....and it's S C A R Y!!!

You wet it! Yes, use water. I know, I freaked too...but here is the ''rub'' ...
You wet a paper towel, then rub it over and over the tag, to kind of bleed the ink.
I have ran it straight under water, but, I get carried away and it gets sopping wet, and bendy. So, the wet towel works great.

I then used my Ek 1 inch hole punch on scraps of this paper, and made little disks to punch a smaller hole through. Then I can string my twine.

Viola!
Multitasking at it's finest and all ready and dressed for the pretty wrapping paper.

Merry Christmas!

1000 Gifts Journal~ Multitude Monday 2

2010-12-20T23:03:00.004-05:00

It's late, and I'm tired.

But that doesn't stop me from being thankful for today. Actually, I was thankful all day, I just had craziness going on in my house. I have thoughts of sugarplums dancing in my head for some reason.

So, in an effort to share the day with you, it will be a part of my thankfulness list for this week. ;)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
16. parents who are willing to drive 4 hours to see US instead of us going to see Them for Christmas.

17. Having an early Christmas with my family.

18. My mom's cooking.

19. ^---My parents LOVING on these guys---^

20. a fire in our backyard pit.

21. good girlfriends to sit and chat with while watching Ambient Fire on dvd. {don't laugh, it's the bomb}

22. friends who know me, and like me, in spite of myself.

23. Roast beef

24. giving to others, especially when it meets a desperate need.

25. chocolate peppermint Christmas Bark (famously made and eaten by yours truly. {baggy pants to prove it}

26. A hubby that puts up with my sometimes ugly un-thankfulness.

27. Watching my son, rip open presents once he got the hang of it. {then plugging my ears the rest of the day , as he was determined to get more of them from somewhere!}

28. A fuzzy red blanket that reminds me of Santa.

29. Hot apple cider.

30. A grandma who keeps letting little ones play on her iphone, and now, they want one too. {thanks Ma!}

I Wish I May....I Wish I Mite..

2010-12-15T09:32:00.001-05:00

One Sunday Morning

Sunday morning rituals, being tested every minute until leaving;

Moaning, nagging, pulling for the endless needs and wants of my being.

Tested and tried is the patience of mine, wanting to crawl back into slumber;

But, push myself, to the place I belong, to worship and commune with one another.

Carrying heavy loads, rushing, gathering and trying not to miss a thing;

We enter the vehicle, releasing heavy mom sighs, and endless cries in a clanging a sharp ring.

Destination is reached, she approaches. Clothed in drab fair and riding on only 2 wheels;

My heart searches for reasons, of answers and embarrassing thoughts of begging for meals.

While I am still hesitant for the moment, she rides forward and speaks in a soft way...

"Excuse me", she says with a smile, "can you please put this in the offering today?"

Her hand reaches out and puts a folded one dollar bill into mine;

"I have to work this morning, or I would go." She tells me with pride.

Looking at the ragged bill, I reply, "Oh, yes, of course,we would love to".

"Thank you" she stated, " Oh, and will you say a prayer for Debbie too"?

"Yes, we certainly will!" we exclaimed as she thanked us and went her way.

Tears fill my eyes as I watch her peddle away;

The girls perplexed in wonderment, look up and say...

"Mom, why did that lady give you money?"

Dad quickly replies, ''The Widow's Mite, honey."

"So why did she do it, I don't understand?

"She gave all she probably had, to honor and please God with what she can."

Our hearts were full as we walked into Church on this morning;

Seeing the cheerful, thankful heart of another was lovely and very inspiring.

We said a prayer for Debbie, holding back tears trying to be brave;

laying down her offering, thinking, "its not the amount she had, but the heart with which she gave."

Luke 21(The Message)

^1-4Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies(mites). He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all!"

{Thank you dear Debbie for the lesson you gave us when,

you rode into our chaos, our craziness called, our life.}

2 Corinthians 9:7 (Amplified Bible)

⁷Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].

2 Corinthians 9:7 (The Message)

^6-7Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

Tinkering Tuesday~ child table makeover

2010-12-14T07:29:00.002-05:00

I know it's not Wacky Wednesday, but, I had to get some crafting out of my system! So we'll call it

Tinkering Tuesday!

I got this table last year for the boy from Craigslist for $5 to eat on, do play dough, trucks, draw and color. It just became an eye sore to me because it was right in the middle of my walking area from 2 rooms. It also has a gash in the top and the wood was the wrong shade for my taste and decor. As you can see below,one chair is all wrong, because my husband sat with the boy to play and broke it! ..so that is his ''jimmy rig'' job you see....too bad the boy never wants to sit in THAT one anymore. So it was time for a makeover!

see gash at top

Even Molly gave the look of ''this table needs an up-do!"

jimmy rigged lonely chair

oh, there's the gash

sanding, sanding, sanding while watching a movie...

taped up outside and ready to be sprayed...Antique White

I know, ingenious...pizza box

picking out coordinating scrapbook papers

setting up the design

making sure they fit

decopage

let dry, add another coat

not real boyish, but, it's in my home, not his room. :)

i love this paper

here is the jimmy rigged chair, he now will sit in!

Now, I did do a little more ''after sanding" but, still working on that to give it the aged look. I love the way it looks now in the house, and the boy actually uses both chairs! Amazing.

A New Thankful Journey~1000 Gifts

2010-12-13T08:10:00.002-05:00

1. My husband kissing me good morning and then goodbye.

2. My girls being able to dress/eat/do hair for school.

3. My son grabbing my face as I lift him out of bed- and kissing me on the lips!

4. Hot coffee {especially on a cold day}!

5. A new warm fuzzy blanket.

6. A warm, pretty,home.

7. A dog & a cat.. {still}

8. Glasses to see clearly when I wake...and contacts to go in immediately!

9. Cereal. Peanut butter kind.

10. My pre-lit Legbutt Christmas tree.

11. No socks...even though my toes need them.

12. The boys' slinky curls.

13. The Opportunity to help others by buying coal.

14. Friends that call me at weird times to talk about deep stuff ;)

15. A God Who's Mercies are new EVERY DAY!

I will be on this journey. Posting my list every Monday.
join me. It all stared here.

The Thanatos of My Bondage

2010-12-08T19:18:00.002-05:00

I did it. It's gone. It's finally dead and buried.

I finally threw away my very first ''real'' bible.{ KJV of course.}

The very bible I got when I was 20 and first started my journey into bible-dom...

OH, the Horror! The sacrilege... I know. Relax.

It really has taken me a {very long time} to part with such a ReLiC.
It's 20 years old. No kidding.
But, you see, I am not throwing out this bible because of it's tattered maturity....

No , no!

I am throwing out this bible because of all it's

~heresy, opinions, bad research, wrong beliefs, and just plain bad memories!!!

I do not despise the prophetic words written by
''holy men of God, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit ''.

What I despise are the

notes,

corrections,

words,

symbols,

lies,

hyposcrisy

and

vomit

on

almost

every

page,

hand written

by

me...

spoken

by

men

that

I

have

NO

respect

for

anymore.

In the garbage it went. Only took me 5 years.

These notes were actually helpful.....I hope I don't forget these...

falling apart as you can see

cheater notes

cheater notes from a whole book of escatology

The irony......

....notes on the UN-deity of JC from John! Trying to disprove the trinity in the very book to prove it! ha! the gall...

more notes on our self-serving RIGHTS

bye-bye now...buh bye...

*disclaimer* Yes, I still love the scriptures. Very much so. I just don't worship them, nor elevate them above the Creator!

The Italian Butterego.............A.K.A . {The Redneck Legbutt Tree}

2010-12-04T07:49:00.000-05:00

Yes, folks, it's that time of year again, when we do the infamous TREE. Not just any tree for us Plunketts...no sir ree bob! {what does that mean anyway?}

No, we do things BIG 'round here. And unusual.

{Actually this will be our first year doing something totally non-traditional.}

Anyhow, I did a radio show a few weeks back about "saving money for Christmas stuff"......blah blah blah

and one of the ideas we had was to USE WHAT YOU GOT to decorate your tree.

INGENIOUS! I know...

All kinds of fun and exciting things can be done.

RECYCLING at it's best going on in this house!

You can use, kitchen utensils, kid crafts, old plates, kids toys, underwear.....{well, lets not disrespect the pagan tree now}....

On the show, I happened to mention a ''MAN TREE" and it all went downhill from there.

Hubby ran with it, and came up with the idea to use LEGO's for our tree decor, and ~~forced~~ convinced the kids to like it too.

I of course had to soften the thing for my sanity sake and for the love of all things pretty.

So, my butterflies made an appearance to round this baby out!

The kids sat there knotting twine hooks and digging through bins of my hubby's childhood Lego's...

Can you tell he's excited about LEGOLAND to open soon..{I can't wait!}

So without further ado, I give you: Butterego.........aka, Legbutt.

{I'll let you guess who likes which name best}

badum..badum...badum...

this is ...um...some kind of ship...or plane?

I have no idea what this is.

in case of fire we can jump out the window....

cowboy yehaw

in case the tree capsizes, we have butterfly rescue close by

and a knight to protect our stuff...." I will joust for Christmas!"

butter beauty

The Reason

For the season

yes, this one is in jail. *see next pic

this is our , "He'sets the captives free" ornament

Have fun being non-traditional some time, it actually has been refreshing, and a lot of fun.......of course trying to keep my boy from taking them all off to play with is besides the point...

"WHO" Wulda Thunk?

2010-12-03T11:51:00.008-05:00

Speaking of "Cindy Lou Who"......
Who would of thought that she would have ANYTHING to do with what has been stirring in my heart lately.

Yes, I have a heart. But, seriously, what does she have anything to do with anything other that a cute little girl with hair that can be duplicated at a salon downtown, during a Christmas festival, for a nominal donation?

Much, apparently.

Allow me to share a little of what God has been pruning me on, before I show you this startling connection.

I have been praying, studying, searching, crying about the treatment of others when it comes to our "apparent enemies"

Yes, enemies.

Christ told us to 'love our enemies.... .

I know , sounds cliche, but what does that mean? How does this translate into my relationships with others.

Now, before you get all terrorist on me, I don't have ''dangerous enemies'' ...well, at least none that I know of.
I am talking about friends and family even...neighbors and aquaintences. Those who we deal with on a constant basis, but tick us off in some way, and we then in turn... ''right them off"!

Does this happen to you?
It happens to me. And more often than I'd like to admit.
I also, detest this in me. I recognize it for the train wreck that it becomes.
Nothing but the opposite of what I hoped to accomplish.

So what the heck does all this have to do with Cindy Lou Who?????

Well, as we were decorating our Butterego, AKA Legbutt Tree ,
we enjoyed the movie, ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas".....weird, I know..
and
there she was. Little Cindy Lou Who, the only one in the whole town, LOVING on that Grinch!
Everyone in Whoville hated him; he was RUDE, a THEIF, a DIRTY, UGLY, SCARY, MEAN OL GRINCH!
and yet, she {loved} him, and kept reaching out to him, and was nice anyway towards him....
and her LOVE
turned him into a different being. A nice Grinch. One that saved the Whoville Christmas....but all along Cindy was the only one sharing what "Christ mas" was all about....
Amazing!
LOVE. A powerful thing.
So when Jesus said to "LOVE our enemies" Love your neigbhor as yourself"
He wasn't kidding. So I ask myself....do I take this seriously? Do I just want to be RIGHT?
Do I want to let my pride/ego/self-preservation supersede above one of the greatest commandments?
What about just doing what "should "separate me from the world?
Most in the world, don't offer forgiveness without strings. Most don't love unconditionally.
I am beginning to see that the more I am like Christ, the more set apart from the world I am. The more DOING I DO.....
Jesus' love in me to love my enemies.
If this stuff really works,like it did for Cindy LOU WHO,
then, I have to go bake cookies now for my ~~enemy~~ neighbor ;)

* I could of stayed quiet.when dealing with apparent enemies..."Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent."

Proverbs 11:12

looooohooooo

2010-12-01T12:18:00.001-05:00

this is what happens when Dad takes them downtown while I have a GNO!!

Cindy Loo Hoo has some competition.....they didn't mind all the people asking them if they could take their pictures either ;0)

Never Underestimate the Power of {Dignity}

2010-11-23T14:14:00.002-05:00

Here I am trying to pack, clean, and all together get ready for Thanksgiving week while babysitting a friends cutie children as well as my own.....and yet, I couldn't wait to tell you what I am excited about..... something totally un-related to a stuffed bird.

COAL

Not for the choo-choo train either. (although my son would LOVE that)

I am talking a useful, eco-friendly solution to use coal to help a global issue.

{and yes, while all this craziness is going on,I should be packing.... because , lets face it: I.am.a PROCRASTINATOR
when it comes to leaving for out-of-town family chaos....}

Nonetheless, I am helping support a new, wild, yet dignified adventure in global poverty issues.

I always have time for that {insert, AVOIDING PACKING here}

A long time blog friend of mine Jody, has co-founded and launched a new Non-Profit today. I have supported her Water4 Christmas campaigns a couple years now, and when she invited me to join her TRIBE
and what it was about , well, how I could I say NO!

No way, could I say no to :

*helping people by giving them useful resources and tools
*promote dignity while doing so
*improve economic stability for the family and location
*SAVE LIVES

Ultimately, Jesus said to
JUST DO IT

It's not a quick fix, which is what I love. In crisis we ALL NEED a hand up!
But then what? Keep lining up, taking hand outs from everyone? No!
We all want to be proud of what we can do for ourselves and families. So do the ones who need it most.

So, what do we do?
Well, for continued help, they need SOLUTIONS.

I joined a Tribe, this tribe is going to help with some of the extreme global poverty issues.

Let me introduce you to:

THE ADVENTURE PROJECT

HAITI is the first stop on this solution ride.

A lump of coal. $20 gives you a nice LUMP OF COAL to keep or give this Christmas.
Don't Be Naughty, be Nice

But, that lump, pays back dividends a hundred times over.

$20 buys a charcoal burning stove for a family in need in Haiti.

This will cut down their expenses by 20%(which puts money in their pockets) and helps them feed their family in a safe,efficient way.

Plus, they feel EMPOWERED.

Please join me in embarking on a new adventure .

Buy a LUMP

or join the TRIBE.

I know how thankful I am this year, so lets give thanks to the Lord for being able to be His hands, feet and mouth by taking action to help the least of these when they need it most!

Got a New Adventure Tomorrow.....

2010-11-22T15:03:00.000-05:00

Are you Ready?

Have You Done Your Christmas Shopping Yet?

2010-11-08T22:25:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know Halloween just ended...but all the stores have the music, so that must mean,

''IT'S TIME".

Although, I am a thrifty shopper... and I also, have no real income. (no moms DON'T get paid) I can't help myself right now with getting ~~stuff I want~~ things that matter.

You see, I turned down a ''work from home'' slave labor job the other day, because I just honestly,
"don't have the time".

And, the reason why I don't have time, is because I like to DO other things with my time, other than work! Obviously.

I love to craft, and help people, and craft and help others, oh and clean, and do homework, raise great kids....all that stuff...

Don't get me wrong, I would love the money. We do need it.
Actually,we could use a little extra right now, to support all of my spending habits.

You know when you spend it those things ....the ones that leave you up at night thinking about it. The ones that even if you didn't get the right t-shirt, or the jewlery you would go back for more! I am not talking things you can get at the mall either.

I guess I need a new hobby or a real paying job.

But, man, with Christmas coming, I just have to keep up my vice for the good of all.

Lord help me. (and my husband when he gets the bill, amen.)

In the Words of Satan - The Arrows

2010-11-04T12:05:00.006-04:00

I just had to post this. Rated PG 16....

Forgiveness and Truth.

This is a Christian South African,two girl band. Awesome song.
No explanation needed.

Didn't Win (((sigh)))

2010-11-03T14:18:00.002-04:00

Nope! Leave it to chance and God as prayerful warriors picked 3 ''blessed'' winners to enjoy a free trip (worth $3000 ) to Ethiopia. I seriously want to congratulate them. Chance of a lifetime.
But for me, I look at it this way....
at least I got a free t-shirt.
No, no.......
I did , but that isn't the best part of the contest!
The best part is that I got to contribute to help someone make a difference in a childs life...and theirs!

And .....I also got to meet this organization......and enter ANOTHER CONTEST!!!
This time to COSTA RICA!!!! whooo hooo!!!

I WON! Well sorta...

2010-10-27T08:10:00.000-04:00

I never win anything. So, to get the hugeness of this win, you have to understand that.
Also, I should of stated in my last post that I was entering to win a "chance'' or an extra entry in an Ethiopian Mission trip drawing.
Needless to say, I was very surprised when I logged in this morning to mycrazyadoption to just "check" because the last 2 days have been crazy busy at church for the missions auction, and I* totally.forgot.

So, out of 100 chances, the fine #16 won! That would be me. Chrissy Noelle.

What I won was the ''mini'' giveaway.

So, in reality, I won a shirt, to make that 3 total for me and this Simply Love design, and an ENTRY in the bowl for a chance to win the ETHIOPIA mission.

So, that's one step closer........chances are greater with 2 entries.....
and yet, chances are slimmer since I already won something, right?
HA!
God is in control.....

Ethiopia Mission Giveaway

2010-10-25T09:16:00.000-04:00

I have decided to enter a CONTEST. Not just any contest, but an entry for a FREE mission trip to Ethiopia!

Why not? It's not until February, so that is enough time for me to convince myself that I can do this. (if I even win it)

I already love the T-shirts from http://mycrazyadoption.org/ so, this will just be a no-brainer entry for me.

So what, that it will be something I've never done before, or could change my life forever, or that my kids will miss me dearly, or that I will die without my kids around me, or my husband will freak out without me around for a week, or that the long plane ride to Africa will be so exciting, or those precious sweet children in the orphanage will just love me,and I them,

and that God will be glorified through my obedience?.....

so what? ya, not much reason, just doing. Leaping. Praising God.

Guatemala isn't until June, so I mind as well go to Africa for something to do until then. ;)

32 Flavors

2010-10-08T15:34:00.001-04:00

I love this song by Ani Difranco. Couldn't find an official video, because Alana Davis did this too. but it works. So many things I relate to.....

"32 Flavors"

squint your eyes and look closer
I'm not between you and your ambition
I am a poster girl with no poster
I am thirty-two flavors and then some
and I'm beyond your peripheral vision
so you might want to turn your head
cause someday you're going to get hungry
and eat most of the words you just said

both my parents taught me about good will
and I have done well by their names
just the kindness I've lavished on strangers
is more than I can explain
still there's many who've turned out their porch lights
just so I would think they were not home
and hid in the dark of their windows
til I'd passed and left them alone

and god help you if you are an ugly girl
course too pretty is also your doom
cause everyone harbors a secret hatred
for the prettiest girl in the room
and god help you if you are a pheonix
and you dare to rise up from the ash
a thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy
while you are just flying back

I'm not trying to give my life meaning
by demeaning you
and I would like to state for the record
I did everything that I could do
I'm not saying that I'm a saint
I just don't want to live that way
no, I will never be a saint
but I will always say

squint your eyes and look closer
I'm not between you and your ambition
I am a poster girl with no poster
I am thirty-two flavors and then some
And I'm beyond your peripheral vision
So you might want to turn your head
Cause someday you might find you're starving
and eating all of the words you said

I am NOT Wonderwoman

2010-09-23T13:46:00.000-04:00

WONDERWOMAN

She Never had:

children

or a husband

or a yard

or a dog

a boat

a crashed computer

a broken car

a church

a pimple

a rash

a broken leg

a messy house

a screaming baby/toddler/tween/teen

She NEVER had to:

pay the bills,

cook 3 meals a day

do homework

mow the yard

maintain, maintain, maintain {insert noun here }

walk the dog

pick up poo

wash the cars

wipe baby butt

clean bathrooms

vacuum

organize {insert another noun}

kiss boo boos

mend a broken heart

Heck, she didn't even eat, go to the bathroom or shower!

So, the next time someone tells you that you are a "super mom''

or a''wonder woman" for all you do,

say, "no, I don't think so......

I am WAY more than that!"

Reality Bites.....just enough

2010-08-30T09:31:00.000-04:00

It's been a whirlwind kinda week.
You know, the kind when you have a toddler, two kids back to school, one with new braces and lots of oral surgery, a husband who works a lot, house to clean, bills to pay,
oh, and a new dog.
We thought that by watching numerous episodes of the Dog Whisperer and Animal Planet, and "God rest his soul", Steve Irwin (Croc Hunter) that we were EXPERTS at animal care and training.
Apparently not.
In all honesty, besides having a cat that gets no attention except the occasional foot rub, and then foot kick to get off our bed, (she wasn't a trainable kind) we suck at the animal thing.
The turtle,well, he lived beyond our expectations and sanitation.
Fish, they never lasted in this house.
And, my number 2 likes to adopt all the cats in the neighborhood (while ignoring her own) and swears she's going to be a Vet.
All that aside, dog ownership has been a whole different animal.....no pun...and a quick slap of reality.

This week I have:
~ chased said dog AT LEAST 10 times through the neighborhood.
Good thing she likes my minivan cuz she gets in it the second she sees it.
~broken up at least 10 fights between dog and cat without a scratch.
~ played tug-o-war-, thrown balls, frisbees, and children...all in attempt to satiate her playful desires.
(We had no idea how many or what kind of chew toys to buy, what kind of leash, collar, crate, FOOD!!!!
This pound puppy is costing me big dollars without even realizing.)
~leash burns on my hands, and boo-boos on my knee, and my pride.
~ been flung through the yard in my jammies.
~vacuumed more hair on my couch and van than in my entire life.
~started and ended the day taking dog out to pee or poo.
~gotten bit while wrestling with her playing with dog toys
But I also got lots of :
~ licks.
~droopy eyed looks
~belly laughs from my toddler playing chase with her
~ lap laying
~ talks with the kids about care and responsibility
~exercise
~smiles from my girls
~new games to play as a family
~unconditional love (no matter what we do, she'll love us)

That last one reminds me of how God loves us.
No matter what we do to to Him, against Him, for Him, with or without Him,
He loves us the same.
That is so much love, it is un-comprehensible.

I love this dog. I do. She is soooo sweet and lovable.
Why cant I love people more, no matter what they do to me, just like I do Molly?
She's teaching us (through the fire) how to do this.
how to love better.
The reality is, dog ownership is a ton of work and can bring out the worst in you.
There are trials in patience, love, stewardship, and trust.
The reality is also that it is bringing out the best in us.
The best in love, patience, compassion, and care.

Now, if I can just get this dog to stop devouring all the bug- eating lizards in my yard....

I'm old now, so....why not?

2010-08-24T19:49:00.000-04:00

okaaaay.....a dog. ....yeah. It's only been 20 years.
Good birthday present.
My kids are so, so happy.
blogging is taking a backseat, like usual, and more so.......
at least until I stop chasing her down the street in my jammies;)
Meet Molly.
She's sweet.
Not so nice to the cat:(
BIG TRAINING in progress.
For us....

Aged to Perfection........

2010-08-17T12:25:00.001-04:00

wow. I have never looked better. This is what my family does while I am out partying for this ''grand'' occasion.
I was really looking foward to chewing on my hair! LOL.

The Fanatic

2010-08-06T09:46:00.000-04:00

“Belief that you are accepted by God by sheer grace is profoundly humbling. The people who are fanatics, then , are not so because they are too committed to the gospel, but because they are not committed enough.

Think of people you consider fanatical. They’re overbearing, self-righteous, opinionated, insensitive, and harsh. Why? It’s not because they are too Christian but because they are not Christian enough. The are fanatically zealous and courageous, but they are not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding–as Christ was….What strikes us as overly fanatical is actually a failure to be fully committed to Christ and his gospel.”

(Tim Keller)

My blog friend Jody likes to post these quotes on her blog a lot lately. For some reason, this one, really resignates with me. Why?

Oh, maybe because I've seen myself in the ''fanatical'' parts at different times in my life...and maybe I know some that fit this mold to a T...

Interesting how we become soooo self-righteous when we think we know God more than someone else.

How we are impatient and insensitive to others.

Our opinions way heavy and dominate , E V E R Y conversation.

All in the name of Christ.

All to show how spiritual we are.

or, does it show how NOT like Christ we really are?

A nice Pharisee.

Yes, that was me in the cult 10 years ago.

Still is sometimes.

Lord, help me to be committed to ALL of you, and not All of me.

The Uglies

2010-08-04T14:33:00.000-04:00

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.-
NOT by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do! Eph 2:8-10

I admit it.
I like nice things.
Pretty things.
Sometimes, I might even covet a pretty thing or two.

I find myself sometimes, drawn to pretty houses, pretty people, things that smell pretty...
It seems instinctively I shun anything ugly or unlovely.
Is it any wonder I have a hard time understanding then, the grace of God?

I have been thinking about Grace and Mercy lately.
Grace being getting something that we DON'T DESERVE...
Mercy being something we DON'T GET but totally deserve.....

How HUGE is that?
How Much LOVE is that?

God gives us grace when there is nothing pretty inside.
Peel all my layers off and if there is still ugliness there, yet, He loves.
That is unfathomable!
I can't do this towards others. I try, sometimes. It's hard.
So, it's hard to imagine God loving me because He decided He would, despite all.

He sent His son, poured out all His wrath on Jesus Christ to die for all my ugliness....period.

Harder still, to accept this.

We all try to do more, make ourselves be more, earn it by works, attention, and pushing ourselves.
We try to dress ourselves up with good deeds, fancy degrees, and charitable attitudes to try to increase God's love for us.........unnecessarily.

He loves us, me, ugly and all, just because.

For that reason alone, I should love more, give grace and mercy more.
Only He can do this in me.
Only He can reach down, take the ugliness and make it pretty.

I highly recommend the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Highly.
It painted this picture of God's Grace and Mercy in His pursuit of us when we don't deserve it.

Utter Bluther

2010-08-04T09:48:00.000-04:00

As I ponder my life while showering, I come to some really deep never answered questions.

Why is it that the second I pick up a bin of toys, it looks so appealing to my children, they dump it out?
(all the while, they never even touched one toy that was laying on the floor all day....)

Why do I have to research one product endlessly, and still not make a decision on what I want, to save my life??
(all the while a random, spontaneous detour to the mall by the hubster to pick me up a present-no research at all, and yet, i love it, needed it and want it ;)????

Why are we all obsessed with bubble wrap?
(kids popping it as.we.speak.)

Why am I scared of Pawn Shops?
(even though they have the best stuff inside, and I have to force my feet to enter...)

Why do I hate ironing? Wait, folding? yeah, it starts there....
(even though I want clothes wrinkle free and hubby to look his best)

Why do I start 5 projects on the same day?
(and then never finish them for a long time)

Just wondering if any of you knew the answers to these questions.....

The Owie

2010-08-01T18:47:00.000-04:00

So, we had a rough week.

My ABRUPT end to a 2 year nursing relationship left him and I going out of our ever loving minds.

The nursing challenge was all that I thought it would be. NUTS.

He did good. Then he'd do bad. I'd do good, then I'd do bad.
He whined a lot. I whined a little.

He acted as though he didn't know what was wrong with him.
I acted as though I knew what was wrong with him.

I felt bad enough, but then to see him try, and try...was hard, but I never gave in.
I mean , come on.....Cabbage leaves were used!!!!!!

and holy cow, we stuck it out, a whole week!!!

UNTIL...

A certain pain struck me. A pain to go along with the one in my heart.
One that meant baaaad news, if I didn't do something ASAP> the owie.

so, we had to back up and start again, with ending again.

(((sigh)))

S.l.o.w.l.y. this time.

Weaning.

They call it that for a reason.

Duh, me.

Bittersweet

2010-07-26T13:31:00.002-04:00

It's here.
It's finally here.
It snuck up on me without even realizing it.
I did not plan it.
I did not control it (until now)

What was I thinking?
He wasn't ready.
Neither was I.

But, I had an opportunity, and I took it.
Now, I have to stick with it.

My last belly born child....my boy,

has had his last mommy milk for the rest of his days.....

I am so happy. :)
I am so sad. :(

Good timing~ went away for anniversary overnight.
Bad timing~ my girls/his playmates have all day camp this week!

My ta-ta's ache.
I am his only playmate.
We have to go out.......a lot......

This is going to be a long week.....thank you for praying.

More Beautiful You

2010-06-28T20:28:00.001-04:00

Help!!!!!!!! The Pre-teens have entered my home!!!!!!!!
I NEVER thought I would see the day....

As a mom of two girls, I am constantly aware of the God-sized task that this is in raising them.

To raise them with "Audrey Hepburn values in a Paris Hilton world."

Did I say I have a pre-teen now in my house?

Oh, yes, well, she's 11 going on 16.

Another that is 9 going on 30....(don't ask).

Seems they start things earlier nowadays.....

Oh, I can go on and on and.....

I will spare you the horrors, for now, until another blog post. :)

Right now, let me tell you about my friend Gwen and her son #4, Jonny and how they will help me with this issue.
She's been my bible study teacher for MOPS, a mentor, and friend for the last 4 years.

I admire her for her faithfulness to His Word.
For her insight into mothering and marriage by being a very.good.storyteller.
(she kept good journals)
She's an accomplished author of several books,
And, I admire her for her love and compassion for others around her.

Can't hurt that she raised 4 great sons too.

One has 4 kids, one adopted.....more to come I am sure....
One going to seminary.
One that plays professional baseball and has a foundation for orphans and the poor.
and One that is a Christian Musician, Dove nominee(cough) that wrote a beautiful song about girls.

The popularity of this song has prompted many to share their testimonies about how they were believing the lies of the world, in order to keep up with beauty, and how this song inspired and helped them believe the truth of what God says.

So, they wrote a book, mom and son, on just that. Those who have been transformed by God's love and the lyrics that touched them through Jonny's song.

To order go here: $13.99
http://www.harrisonhouse.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=660

More Beautiful You~ Jonny Diaz

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

[Chorus]
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And he'll treat you like the jewel you are

[chorus]

So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl
[chorus]

Something Happened....

2010-06-17T13:56:00.000-04:00

Something happened today, and yesterday.

Nothing bad.

On the contrary, something amazing.
Something, beautiful.
Something, eternal.

Something out-of-the-ordinary, for an ordinary-stay-at-home-mom-kinda amazing.

How is it just when I am utterly broken from crying and praying over what God wants , really wants, from us =His people, I get an opportunity 2 days in a row to see Him at work???

Yesterday, I helped a blind man.

A helpless, young, lost, and confused, blind man.

He was standing in between an intersection with his sight dog, totally alone. Just asking for a car to crash into him.

I had to drive past him to get into the parking lot I was heading for.

Immediately, I parked, got out, and yelled, ''sir, do you need help?" (Not even realizing that he was blind at that moment cuz of my lack of perception).

He said ''yes, I don't know where I am, I am looking for the bus stop".

It finally hit me ''blind, duh, oh no!"
I was so overwhelmed emotionally for this man, I grabbed his arm, and pulled him off the road, and looked around for the bus stop bench.
I asked him where he was coming from and then I asked what his dogs name was, and of course his name.
Trying to keep things light, I scolded ''Barkley" for steering Robert in the wrong direction.
I didn't let go of his arm until I got him to the bench.
Within 30 seconds , the bus was already there, so I made sure he had $ and talked to the driver to make sure this bus would get him clear across town to his home.

Robert said thank you and goodbye faster than I could grasp what in the world just happened.

I entered the store I had parked for, and got bombarded by customers and workers asking me about the
" man in the road with the dog''...!!!!!!

Apparently, he was there for awhile, and nobody helped him. :(

I was starting to feel anxious, and tears were in my eyes, as I was trying to focus on my errand.

I quickly grabbed my one item, and ran to my car.

Then, I had an absolute meltdown. As I write, I cannot stop the emotion flooding my soul.

What it is? So what I helped a blind guy?...I've helped a lot of people before, some in worse conditions.
why is this affecting me so?

Because in that moment, I saw what God has been saying to me all along. Saying to all of us.

Seek and save the lost.

He is blind. He was lost.
He needed someone, to bring him to safety.

That someone is Jesus Christ. For all people.

Without Him, they will stay wandering in the wilderness of their own sin, not knowing which way to go.

We can show them the way, the truth, the life.

Sometimes I forget that. Jesus paved the way for us to be in God's presence.

Wouldn't you know it, the very next day, God had to go and do it again to me. He's just giving this home-body some fun....

Here I am driving the kids to VBS in a terrential downpour/tornado/florida hurricane/CrAzy weather......while my two year old is screaming his head off cuz of the lightening/thunder that is bound to hit our car......
Barely visible outside, so I drive about 10 miles an hour.....
I noticed ahead 3 cars, a woman, WALKING IN THE STORM.

All cars in front of me pass her.

I immediately stop, beep, wave at her to get in.

She gets in, thanking me over and over....
holding her dripping wet purse..........
apologizing for getting my car wet......
crying and crying........
-because she thought she was going to get hit by lightening.......

Her car broke down 2 blocks from where I picked her up.

Not one car stopped to help her.

She was drowning. Scared. Helpless.

What God is showing me, is that, we are the ones to take His Hope to others. To rescue those who have no Hope. To bring the 'good news' to those that need it. Who is going to do it? Isn't that what Jesus left us to do?

We can get so wrapped up in our own little world, our stuff, our time, our stuff, our time......

We think, "oh, someone else will do it, let someone else do it, I'm not going to do it!"

What are we so afraid of?

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14

To say that I preached to gospel to the blind man and wet lady is not true. I didn't have time to.

But, that wasn't the point of my experience.

What God was showing me, in real life examples, was the state of ALL PEOPLE WITHOUT JESUS.

And unless we do something about it, (physically, and spiritually), then we are missing out on His calling.

RADICAL from David Platt on Vimeo.

RADICAL from David Platt on Vimeo.
">A Radical Life

T-shirts for a Cause.....

2010-06-02T18:46:00.000-04:00

What do you think of my new design? I have a FB friend that has started a new biz after quite a few missions...

In an effort to keep my creativity (although time is severely in need, just look at this lazy blog) in tip-top shape, and to support this VERY WORTHY CAUSE...(besides buying an already made one.....ehhhemmm) ...

I thought I'd give it a go!

We'll see if he accepts my efforts! :)

www.designthedifference.com

Ya, I know it's not Wednesday...

2010-05-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

I'm late. for. everything.

this blog,

the store,

MOPS, '

Church,

phone calls....

so deal with it. xoxo

Here's the finished wreath for my front door.

and

I don't have time to rotate it. :)

Drop Box

2010-05-18T22:31:00.000-04:00

working on Wacky Wednesday.....

Wildflowers

2010-05-04T14:07:00.001-04:00

But godliness with contentment is great gain. I Timothy 6:6

"All I wanted to do is just plant some wildflowers in the corner.....but, then I would have to mulch around it, put stepping stones in to get there, then fence it off so the dogs don't get in it...and....."

That was my friend the other day, when I asked, ''Why is it that ONE project, turns into TWO projects?

I mean, all it is, is one itsy bitsy task to do! Really?
....spread some wildflowers in the corner of your yard....
And suddenly it needs to turn into a full blown garden!

It is never ending.

Some days I do feel like the dog chasing the tail.

Projects that need to be done. Have to be done. Want to be done.

But, then, ever so subtly they turn into weeks and weeks of unfinished projects.

All beckoning to be finished.

All crying out in agony over their un-usefulness.

Staring at us in the face with ugliness.

The weight on our shoulders is heavy and not to mention, costly.

Starting one project that cannot be finished until another is started because they somehow connect...all the while looking at both unfinished projects, too tired to keep going, because you somehow ended up with a third 'unrelated' project you got in the middle of!

Oh, and did I mention money?

What is it, that makes us feel like we have to do more? To have more? Is it discontentment?

Remember, my son's closet shelf in his room that came out of the wall and crashed to the ground?

Books strewn everywhere.....for over a week now, it's been sitting there. Yes, I neatly piled the books all over the house.
But, my husband avoided it like the plague!
In his eyes, it was just ' one more project' we need to fix. One more to add to the already domino effect our yard projects have created.

Yet, I couldn't leave his room and the mess like that?

(yes, I took it upon myself to fix this problem today, vwalla!)

And, sometimes, it is necessary to go away. Be lazy. Take long vacations. Never be home.
(like some of my neighbors....never home, never doing projects, never caring about their yard, or lack of....)

I guess, I can't live like that. I am thinking future generations when I plant a tree......anyway...

But, this summer, when these yucky projects are done, we will be going away, so we don't enjoy all the work we did. Ironic?

Upkeep. Maintenance. Those are still synonymous to ''projects''too.

That's what they were....maintenance.

But, I fear that in the starting of a project, most are out of a desire or want to have more, do more, be more.

I don't like it, but sometimes it seems that way. Even if it's a "need''.

I pray that I can count the cost more often, be able to discern the real needs, and that I can relax and enjoy what I do have even more often.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:28