Thursday, April 30, 2009

thoughts on my week

I'm so thankful for this little blogging journal I started over a year and a half ago. Time has a tendency to speed up instead of slow down...doesn't it? Life's moments would be forever forgotten if I didn't stop to snap a picture or jot down a few notes. My sister-in-law Sarah and I had a day away together last Saturday. We both have a lot in common and shopping is one thing. We spent the day at the mall and kept saying how nice it was to have the time to freely look and take our time without worrying about anyone else. I loved having the one on one time with Sarah!Back at home, our wonderful husbands took care of the kids, mowed the lawn, plowed the garden and had supper ready for us when we got home. What a day!
That night our little brother, Immanuel, spent the night and celebrated his 11th birthday with us on Sunday.

Over the past week I've been reading alot about the thought life...about taking my thoughts captive to Christ...not letting them control me. Tearing down lies that Satan puts in my mind and replacing them with God's truth. Thoughts I've struggled with personally in the past are fears, low self esteem and even depression. This week in my devotions I read and meditated on verses like 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" and John 8:32 "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free". I learned to look up verses specific to the struggles I faced, write them on note cards and take them wherever I go...claiming God's truth.
Verses like
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield.I trust him with all my heart.He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Ps 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Why is it that when you're focusing on a particular topic, it seems to creep in and at times become a struggle again? That happened for me a bit this week.
"Our thought life is something we'll work on for the rest of our lives in our desire to be godly. Staying at work on our thought lives is the very essence of godliness."
"Is godliness perfection? No, it's giving our hearts, souls, minds and bodies to God and desiring to obey Him more than anything." -Beth Moore
Philippians 3:12[ Pressing on toward the goal] "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
My sister planned a day out this week to go to the Vera Bradley outlet sale. My mother-in-law came and met us all for breakfast then stayed with my kids at our house while we went to the sale. Thanks Ruby for making the trip and helping me out! It was nice to have the break since Kevin was out of town a few days.
While at the sale, my nephew turned up missing. We texted him and found out that he was helping a couple of ladies out. They had collected more Vera Bradley than they could carry and needed some assistance making it through the long line for checkout. The limit for purchasing was $2500 and they had both maxed that amount out, so he had quite a load to carry. We waited for him in the van to finish helping them load their car and when he got to the van, he was grinning from ear to ear. They paid him 30 bucks for his services. That will come in handy for prom this weekend.
God really worked out my week wonderfully...keeping me busy with fun things to do with family and friends while my hubby was away. That night I met these beautiful ladies for dinner to celebrate a couple birthdays.

Seriously, I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. I love these girls and feel blessed to call them friends. Chatting & laughing our heads off in the Target Garden Center

Thursday, April 16, 2009

He is Risen!

I have such wonderful memories of Easter Sundays growing up. Mom would take us shopping for a new Spring dress to wear for the first time that morning. We would go to church before the sun was up and have a sunrise service outside while we shivered in our lacy bobby socks. I didn't care...it was so exciting to me as a little girl because I knew that this day was set apart from other Sundays...it was a day to celebrate. I'm so thankful that such a big deal was made on that day when I was younger and I want to pass that on to my kids too.I've been talking with them about the amazing Easter story of Jesus' death and resurrection a couple weeks leading up to the big day. We got several Easter books from the library and read them over and over. I loved hearing them ask their little questions about death and heaven. What an amazing privilege to watch them learn!

We had a great service at church that morning with a choir, drama & wonderful worship...and the Lord blessed us with a beautiful day too! The three days that followed were rain, rain, rain.
After church, we drove to Middlebury and celebrated with Kevin's family. Grandpa and Grandma G. and Grandma B. joined us.

Eager and ready to hunt for eggs.This one was a little out of reach...

...but not near as out of reach as some others. Uncle Curt had to use the fork lift for the rest.

Grandpa had fun hiding the eggs this year. Here's Kaiya getting an Easter basket full of eggs from way up high in this tree.Caedmon pulling a basket full of eggs from a tree branch with mommy hanging on tight. It will be pretty hard to top this Easter egg hunt. Wonder what Grandpa is gonna do next year.??

Kaiya and Grandma having fun on the swing

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

True Beauty at 60

Proverbs Chapter 31

She is worth more than precious rubies.
Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.
Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
My mom turned 60 on the 3rd of this month. On her birthday we went out to dinner then dropped by here for dessert. If you are in Fort Wayne for dinner, you MUST drop by this little place for an after dinner treat.
I'm in love with their sundaes...they're served in a chocolate bowl and covered with two of your favorite toppings. We chose crispy peanut butter and dark chocolate. Our family shared this one......it went fast and let me tell you, we each fought for as many bites as we could get....by the time it was all said and done, I had chocolate on my white coat and Caedmon had chocolate on his white sweater.

The birthday girl

This past weekend, our family...including my parents, my sister's family and us...stayed at Pokagon for one night to do even more celebrating with the birthday girl.

So much to do there...our family LOVES this place!

Playing around in the recreation room on Friday night
Rylie & CaedmonNephew Jake & Kevin battling it outMaci & KaiyaDinner at Clay's Family Restaurant on Friday nightBack to the hotel for cake, gifts, snacks & bubblyMy sister and I put together this cupcake tree. Thanks for the cupcake topper inspiration, Heather. :) This was my mom's senior picture in high school.Rylie & Kaiya enjoying the fireplacesweet baby emmiJust enough time to enjoy the pool that evening before it closed. Breakfast the next morning at the historic inn restaurant
There is a cute little craft room tucked down in the basement that we checked out after breakfast. The kids got to pick out a free craft to work on.Daddy helping Caedmon paint his wooden whistleKaiya working on her bead chick
Kevin and Dad working on a puzzle overlooking Lake James

This park is so beautiful and has so many great places to walk... which is one of our family's favorite things to do.
We walked to the nature center then stopped by the playground on the way back.She sure doesn't act like she's 60!

Emmi Klairrelaxing back at the innGrandma passed out Easter baskets for the kids......and had her famous Easter egg hunt...golden eggs included $$.
It's just like mom to turn a party that is supposed to be all about her into something where she gives to others...and that is exactly who she is...a giver! If I could only be half the woman she is, I would feel so richly blessed.
I love you mom! You are a one of a kind beauty and I'm so glad you're mine!
Happy Birthday!