Good Morning Girls

Number one on my bucket list is to read the bible in one year. This will take discipline and persistence. This morning I finished reading day 7 of my reading plan of reading through the bible chronologically. I have enjoyed my quiet times with God, for I desire to have a more intimate relationship with him. But I am not the best at disciplining myself. So I have decided to start a "Good Morning Girls" group. Its an idea that I got from one of my favorite blogs http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/ . This group is an accountability/encouragement group. I sent out an email to a few girlfriends last week saying we would start Tuesday the 4th, so just this past Tuesday. Immediately 13 ladies said they wanted to be apart of this. We have all committed to reading the bible everyday and just post what we have read. We have also offered each other prayer and encouragement. Everyday this week someone new wants to join! As of today there are 18 girls in this group! Praise God, right! I am so thankful for this group of ladies and for the journey we are taking together.

Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another DAILY, as longs as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

(The picture above is a photo that I took of my view during my quiet time in Haiti last July)

Feeding the Ducks

We took a small part out of our day today right after school to feed the neighborhood ducks. It was a fun and precious moment watching and listen to the kids laugh as the ducks snatched up the bread they threw on the ground. I'm looking forward to warmer weather so that we can stay outside longer.

Plenty of Time

Yesterday was yet another full day for me. I did the usual of making breakfast, taking Skylar to school, getting home to work, and also trying to find a way to entertain and love on Maddox.

My work day finally ended and after feeding Maddox lunch I was able to finally get him down for a nap. I was going over in my head the many things I had to do for that day in order to prepare for friends who were coming over for an early dinner at 5 pm.

First I had to go pick up Skylar from school and do a last minute grocery trip to pick up some last minutes things for dinner. I of course forgot the bread, but thats ok. Mitch was home, prepping for the dinner party.

As I walk in the door I notice out the back window to our backyard that there are clothes scattered about. I was confused at first asking myself how in the world did those clothes get back there? When I went outside to investigate I saw that there weren't just "some" clothes, but an ENTIRE wardrobe of clothes and toys scattered through out the entire backyard and deck! I knew then that Maddox, who was suppose to be napping must have opened his window and threw out all these clothes. I was furious! I went upstairs and asked him WHY did you do this? He just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know". I was just too upset to deal with him, so I let him go play with his sister while I cleaned up. I saw that not only did he open his window but he some how or another puncture a large hole in the screen window and then shoved that out onto the ground. His bedroom is on the second floor!

It took me close to 45 minutes to clean up the entire yard, because not only did I have to pick up all those clothes, but I also had to clean up a couple of stuffed toys that our dog, who was in the back yard, had tore up and had scattered stuffing all over the yard. While cleaning I knew that there was other stuff that need to be done before our friends arrived and THIS was not apart of the plan. I had to just keep telling myself, I have plenty of time, I have plenty of time.

Finally I was done and able to scorn Maddox properly. While cleaning up the mess and looking up at his window and thinking about how he had to open it and the dangers of him opening the window from the second floor scared me. All I could envision was him falling out of the window and landing on his head onto our back deck and killing himself. Of course the vision in my head was graphic and horrendous (I like to think the worst case scenario moments playing through a mother's head is normal). I had to get across to Maddox how dangerous it was that he opened his window. So I plain and simply told him that by opening his window he could have fell out and died. I let him know that it was wrong to open the window and if he did it again he would be severely punished. He understood me perfectly well and I just pray that he does NOT do something like that again.

It was 4:00 when I was done cleaning up the yard and I still had so much to do, including cleaning up the house and preparing dinner. I had to just keep telling myself, I have plenty of time, I have plenty of time.

The house was finally cleaned enough to be presentable and even the playroom was clean. I had not yet started dinner, but everything was laid out for me. I was however able to make cheese and crackers for our friends to munch on while I cooked.

5:00 on the dot our friends Caley and David arrived with their 2 little girls. Us 4 adults hung out together in the kitchen while I cooked and the 4 kids ran around the house playing. I made chicken marsala, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and an italian salad. Caley brought over a secret recipe caramel dessert that was fabulous. We all had a great night together and it turned out that I did have plenty of time after all.

Busy Sunday

Sunday's Accomplishments

Yesterday was full and busy from the time we got up until the time we were able to settle down at 8pm.

*We had Starting Point class at church at 10 am. Which is a class we're taking before we join the church.

*At 11:30 am we had church service. The service was on encouraging others, and how our words matter.

LOL the poor kids have to go through 2 of the same services every week in kids church because Mitch and I take a class, then do service, but I think they both still have fun. This morning Shelly, Mitch's mom, brought our nephew Corbin with her for the 10 am service. The kids love playing with Corbin. Every Sunday Mitch and I give the kids a dollar each to give to the offering in kids church. Not realizing it, but Mitch and I accidentally made Corbin feel left out by not giving him a dollar. I realized it after we already dropped the kids off and walked out. Fortunately we were able to hurry back to him :) we have to be mindful to bring an extra dollar every week for him too!

*After church we had lunch at Costco. I had a turkey wrap, Mitch had a hot dog and the kids had pizza, and for dessert we had churros. It was all pretty good.

*Then we went to Old Navy and got Skylar some much needed summer time clothes, about a weeks worth for now. They look so good on her!

*Then we headed back to Costco for groceries

*Back home for the kids to have a quick nap. Mitch and I also rested for a bit on the couch watching tv together

*I then threw together a green bean casserole to take with us to Life Group, which is like a bible study with a lot of fun with friends and food.

*The kids were babysat at the church but the Life Group was held at Pastor Tim's house. Tim is one of the 5 or 6 associate pastors at our church. He also leads our Starting Point class.

*We got home around 8 and put the kids down for the night. Mitch and I spent our evening catching up on Lost, eating grapes, goat cheese and crackers and lovin on each other ;)

Before we fell asleep we both read a few chapters out of our bibles (on our phone through You Version) separately and then fell asleep.

I am loving this awesome time with my family and my husband, and I just pray that the good times never stop :)

Making My Words Matter

Encouragement!

I really enjoyed Sunday's sermon. The series we are on right now is about repairing relationships. Yesterday was on encouraging others. We talked about how important our words are and how even gossiping (which I am completely guilty of of!) can and IS hurting someone. And then how using our words to encourage someone call really heal and lift them up.

I have a bulletin with me with some notes that I took during service and I am basically going to type out word for word this bulletin along with my notes. This message was too influential for me to not be able to share.

Making My Words Matter

James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."

How do words affect every relationship in my life?

What I say can wound people I love.

Proverbs 12:18 "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

( I know for me all it takes is hearing one harmful word to ruin my day. But to hear a compliment will put me on cloud nine. How can I help put someone on cloud nine?)

Psalms 52:4 "You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!"

(How true is that verse above! Especially with me! It is so easy to give into gossip, or to even initiate it! But why? Why would I do or say such harmful things about other people when I know that I too commit sins. I would be hurt deeply if someone said something against me.)

Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

(I haven't always found that verse above to be true, but it doesn't mean that I shouldn't still apply it!)

What I say can bless people.

Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths. But only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Psalms 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD my Rock and my Redeemer."

(Above verse is an awesome prayer to pray.)

What I say has the power to control

James 3:3-4 "When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

What I say has the power to destroy

James 3:5-8 "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. IT corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is its set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame his tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

(Who knew our tongue was so dangerous.)

What I say reveals who I am

James 3:9-12 "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My bothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

(Its the same concept of tell me that you love me and then with the same tongue you bad mouth my husband. If you loved me you wouldn't insult me by insulting my husband.)

My problem is not with my tongue its is in my heart

How do we change our words:

1. Start with the heart

Matthew 12:34 "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

2. Ask God for help

Psalms 141:3 "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips."

(Prayer with the right motivation in mind does work!)

3. Think Before you speak

(How many times have I heard that before LOL)

James 1:19 "My dear brothers, take a note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

(If we all only took this above verse to heart, how much more peaceful would our lives be?)

*A special thanks to my husband for encouraging me!*

My 24th Birthday

My 24th birthday fell on a Saturday this year. Maddox woke me up at 7am by jumping on the bed and yelling, its "sun shinnin mommy!" Determined that I was going to sleep in I told him to go wake his daddy, who has only been in bed for about 4 hours because he works late bartending. Mitch got up when Skylar walked into the room and he gathered up my birthday present he had bought and the birthday cards that he had collected from the mail. It was nice opening them all up on my birthday morning. Maddox sang to me Happy Birthday. Skylar did not join in, I guess she was too sleepy. My present from Mitch was my Victoria Secret lotions and sprays.

Mitch took the kids downstairs and I went back to sleep and slept in til 11. This is the first time I've been able to sleep in, in about 5 months. It was so nice!

When I came downstairs Mitch was asleep on the couch. Poor thing, and poor kids. Before lunch Mitch took the kids to grandmas. He stayed over there pulling up her fence. I chilled out at home doing some deep cleaning for some reason on my birthday.

Mitch came back home pretty early, around 4 I think and we got ready and went to Greenville to celebrate. We started out going to the mall to go shopping. I bought myself a few outfits. Then we went to Azia for appetizers. I ordered a cosmo and together Mitch and I spilt the most beautiful and delicious sushi. One roll was a rainbow roll, the other a volcano. They both lived up to their names. They were sooooo good.

Next we went to Old Navy and I got some flip flops.

Afterwards we went to dinner at P.F. Chang's. I ordered the duck and it was so juicy and tender. I was nervous about getting the duck because only once when I was 16 did I have duck that I liked. Ever since all the ducks I have had have only been mediocre, but not this duck, I was very pleased. Mitch had the kungpow chicken I think....

We were going to go to MiMi's Cafe for dessert but we decided to go to Quaker Steak for drinks instead. I ordered a Strawberry daiquiri which came with a rose. From then on out I had a mixed lemonade drink that the bartender recommended. Mitch drank beer. While there the UFC fighting game was on so Mitch and I enjoyed ourselves watching it.

Mitch and I had a lot of fun on my birthday. Mitch made it very special for me and I love him very much!

The Bunny Bear

For Christmas Skylar received a Build A Bear bunny from her cousin Taylor. She really likes the bunny, only she thinks it a bear because it came from Build A Bear.

Well a couple of weeks ago in the car on our way back from Georgia I tried to explain to Skylar that her "bear" is actually a bunny. There was no convincing her. Finally she exclaimed,  "some people call my bear a bunny, but God and I know that its really a bear!"

End of argument. If God knows that its a bear then who am I to say that its not ;)