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Monday, June 4, 2007
Sunday, June 3rd's sermon
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
Does Jesus really care? Does he care about me? The answer---yes, he does.
We assume things are as they appear. We get mad and frustrated that things aren't working out how we planned. But God's working on our behalf--maybe not the way we want it to happen--but he's there. It may take a while to see it, but you'll see it, someday a lightbulb will come on and you'll see he's been there the whole time.
Many times storms come in quick. Your faith is truly tested during our storms. When the storms come and you can't see through it, you have to hold true to what you believe. So what is it that you believe? What do you believe about Christ? Haven't you seen God work before? Has God not ever answered your prayers or been with you through hard times?
Jesus cares about you--where you are. He's very aware, very concerned. No matter the storm, Jesus is in your boat. A calm is coming.
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
Does Jesus really care? Does he care about me? The answer---yes, he does.
We assume things are as they appear. We get mad and frustrated that things aren't working out how we planned. But God's working on our behalf--maybe not the way we want it to happen--but he's there. It may take a while to see it, but you'll see it, someday a lightbulb will come on and you'll see he's been there the whole time.
Many times storms come in quick. Your faith is truly tested during our storms. When the storms come and you can't see through it, you have to hold true to what you believe. So what is it that you believe? What do you believe about Christ? Haven't you seen God work before? Has God not ever answered your prayers or been with you through hard times?
Jesus cares about you--where you are. He's very aware, very concerned. No matter the storm, Jesus is in your boat. A calm is coming.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The Joys of Motherhood
Anyhow, I had a pretty crazy week with my children last week, but somehow this week they have made it all better. I'm happy life is that way sometimes. Kids drive you just crazy enough to want to get rid of them, only to turn around and hug your neck and tell you how much they love you or think you are pretty. :) Melts your heart!!
Shall we start with Ethan? He is all boy, all the time!!! Thankfully, he had two older sisters that has influenced a calmer side of boyness, so far. Yet the boy still seeps out of him!!! He does not mind to get dirty at all. He has purposely found the only puddle in the parklot to jump into. He heads for the mulch piles at the park or dirt mounds.....just to play in. Sadly, this has rubbed off on Jamie and she enjoys it just as much! When he eats, the hands immediately hit his pants or shirt when there is something on them and he wants it off. No napkins for him! He does use one for his face, only because he hasn't figured out how to wipe it on his shirt too. The funny thing about this is when Jamie ever gets anything on her shirt....even just water, she changes it. Ethan, the other day, had more pudding on him than went in him. And he just sat there. He probably would have just been fine in this chocolatey mess had mom not freaked out and whisked him away to the bathroom to get cleaned up and new clothes.
None of this is to show that I am annoyed or unhappy with him. It's just to show that I'm coming into this all new. Having two girls, I cried when I found out we were pregnant with a 3rd child and I think I cried even harder when we found out it was a boy. I come from a home with two sisters. So I had no idea what to do with a boy. These past two or so years with Ethan has been great. He's been a wonderful addition to our family....and I didn't cry when he was born because he was still a boy, but I cried because I had accepted the fact and was happy to have a boy. :) And I still am today. A few weeks for the first time he showed interest in himself.....down there. :) And he wanted to use the potty.............and he went....twice!!! I'm sure this is just a fluke....and thus has proven that, but I'm excited and we are all trying to be as encouraging as possible!! But any suggestions are welcome!!! Right now we are just going like girls do....I'm not even messing with the standing up thing yet. :) That's Dave's job.
Now my girls! I love them and they drive me crazy.....just because they can! They cry when they get hurt (seems like forever), they cry when there is a bee around, they fight like maniacs, and they scream and yell.....but oh how they scream....especially Jamie. I wish motherhood was just about all the fun and enjoyment of children....but lately, I have had to just grin and bear it. Not so much fun. However, come this Friday, I will have a first grader. That is the plan anyway. This has been a new whirlwind this year, starting school and having to do it on my own, so it seems...with Dave being at work in the evening. However, we have made it through. I am so proud of Taylor. She has made lots of friends and learned so much. She went to the dentist twice for fillings and made it through...even though she sooooo does not like it. But who does?? She has created herself a little bit of an attitude, though. I would like to think that with time it will go away, but I know better!!! I was a daughter at one time, still am. And I still do not like being told what to do!! :)
Next year Jamie will start preschool, so I am sure she will develop a new independence from mom as well. She already seems so smart in what she knows, I think just from having Taylor to be her example. She is my helper and my little mommy, though. She makes sure things are taken care of, like Ethan or grandma next door. She, however, does not like to be the helper when mom asks to, say, pick up her toys or something. She has this little problem with lying right now.....she knows that she is doing it too. So far we can tell when she is doing it....we best break her soon of it!!!! I love her to pieces, along with all my kids. And without them, I would not be in the midst of my joyful motherhood. :)
I hope all my mothers out there had a wonderful mothers day! Filled with homemade gifts, hugs, kisses, and great expressions of appreciation. I can honestly say I appreciate my mom more now that I have kids, than when I did when I was younger.
So here is to you mom! Love you!
Shall we start with Ethan? He is all boy, all the time!!! Thankfully, he had two older sisters that has influenced a calmer side of boyness, so far. Yet the boy still seeps out of him!!! He does not mind to get dirty at all. He has purposely found the only puddle in the parklot to jump into. He heads for the mulch piles at the park or dirt mounds.....just to play in. Sadly, this has rubbed off on Jamie and she enjoys it just as much! When he eats, the hands immediately hit his pants or shirt when there is something on them and he wants it off. No napkins for him! He does use one for his face, only because he hasn't figured out how to wipe it on his shirt too. The funny thing about this is when Jamie ever gets anything on her shirt....even just water, she changes it. Ethan, the other day, had more pudding on him than went in him. And he just sat there. He probably would have just been fine in this chocolatey mess had mom not freaked out and whisked him away to the bathroom to get cleaned up and new clothes.
None of this is to show that I am annoyed or unhappy with him. It's just to show that I'm coming into this all new. Having two girls, I cried when I found out we were pregnant with a 3rd child and I think I cried even harder when we found out it was a boy. I come from a home with two sisters. So I had no idea what to do with a boy. These past two or so years with Ethan has been great. He's been a wonderful addition to our family....and I didn't cry when he was born because he was still a boy, but I cried because I had accepted the fact and was happy to have a boy. :) And I still am today. A few weeks for the first time he showed interest in himself.....down there. :) And he wanted to use the potty.............and he went....twice!!! I'm sure this is just a fluke....and thus has proven that, but I'm excited and we are all trying to be as encouraging as possible!! But any suggestions are welcome!!! Right now we are just going like girls do....I'm not even messing with the standing up thing yet. :) That's Dave's job.
Now my girls! I love them and they drive me crazy.....just because they can! They cry when they get hurt (seems like forever), they cry when there is a bee around, they fight like maniacs, and they scream and yell.....but oh how they scream....especially Jamie. I wish motherhood was just about all the fun and enjoyment of children....but lately, I have had to just grin and bear it. Not so much fun. However, come this Friday, I will have a first grader. That is the plan anyway. This has been a new whirlwind this year, starting school and having to do it on my own, so it seems...with Dave being at work in the evening. However, we have made it through. I am so proud of Taylor. She has made lots of friends and learned so much. She went to the dentist twice for fillings and made it through...even though she sooooo does not like it. But who does?? She has created herself a little bit of an attitude, though. I would like to think that with time it will go away, but I know better!!! I was a daughter at one time, still am. And I still do not like being told what to do!! :)
Next year Jamie will start preschool, so I am sure she will develop a new independence from mom as well. She already seems so smart in what she knows, I think just from having Taylor to be her example. She is my helper and my little mommy, though. She makes sure things are taken care of, like Ethan or grandma next door. She, however, does not like to be the helper when mom asks to, say, pick up her toys or something. She has this little problem with lying right now.....she knows that she is doing it too. So far we can tell when she is doing it....we best break her soon of it!!!! I love her to pieces, along with all my kids. And without them, I would not be in the midst of my joyful motherhood. :)
I hope all my mothers out there had a wonderful mothers day! Filled with homemade gifts, hugs, kisses, and great expressions of appreciation. I can honestly say I appreciate my mom more now that I have kids, than when I did when I was younger.
So here is to you mom! Love you!
Monday, April 2, 2007
Grocery shopping and coupons
Well, ever since I was little, I was exposed to grocery shopping with coupons. Coupons were treated just as important as money. I actually get disappointed when I lose a "good" one or when a "good" one is expired. Recently a friend of mine, Kim, introduced me to the grocery game. You can check it out at www.thegrocerygame.com . Anyway, this website gives you a list of what's on sale at the stores close to you and tells you what coupons to use from which week they were put in the paper. I haven't been doing the grocery game as loyally as Kim, but I look on there once a week to see what the best deals are. I know have enough tooth paste to last me a year or more, that I got for $1 or less for each. I also have enough health and beauty to start my own little store in my bathroom. With as much cleaning supplies I have gotten for almost free, you think I would have the cleanest house. However, there isn't a coupon for time. :)
For the past couple of weeks, Kroger has been doubling a $1 coupon. Kim and I get all excited and it seems we compete almost to see who gets the most stuff for the littlest price. She even posted on her blog a photo of all the stuff she bought. So in the spirit of shopping, I'd like to share my most recent shopping endevour.
I went to Kroger with my $1 coupons! and I got lots of stuff. I got some FREE gum, listerine strips, toothpaste, pads, pasta, and Hamburger helper. I also got 2 Manwiches free when I bought 1. I got deodorant for $.50 and crossiants for $.50. I got some other things that were $1 or more like shampoo and vitamins, but it was fun trying to find all the goodies. I spent $64.54 and saved $75.62. I saved more than 50% on my total bill, even with pull-ups and Dave's none sale items!!! Gotta have his gatorade for lunches...and Ethan likes his string cheese!!!
I encourage you to take advantage of all the free stuff out there!!! I think Oprah is having a super shopper on her show tomorrow!
I have to go cut some coupons now! I just need to find a better way to organize though! I think I need a coupon intervention. :)
Happy shopping!
For the past couple of weeks, Kroger has been doubling a $1 coupon. Kim and I get all excited and it seems we compete almost to see who gets the most stuff for the littlest price. She even posted on her blog a photo of all the stuff she bought. So in the spirit of shopping, I'd like to share my most recent shopping endevour.
I went to Kroger with my $1 coupons! and I got lots of stuff. I got some FREE gum, listerine strips, toothpaste, pads, pasta, and Hamburger helper. I also got 2 Manwiches free when I bought 1. I got deodorant for $.50 and crossiants for $.50. I got some other things that were $1 or more like shampoo and vitamins, but it was fun trying to find all the goodies. I spent $64.54 and saved $75.62. I saved more than 50% on my total bill, even with pull-ups and Dave's none sale items!!! Gotta have his gatorade for lunches...and Ethan likes his string cheese!!!
I encourage you to take advantage of all the free stuff out there!!! I think Oprah is having a super shopper on her show tomorrow!
I have to go cut some coupons now! I just need to find a better way to organize though! I think I need a coupon intervention. :)
Happy shopping!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
LOL
Do you really laugh out loud? Or have laugh out loud moments?
Well, I had a few today. I'm not sure why today in particular was a laugh out loud moment, but I caught myself doing it quite often today. This morning I got dressed and headed to church for the Tuesday morning Taebo workout a couple of the girls from church have been doing. Well, I showed up and no one was there. I called one of them to find out that she was still out of town. I laughed...out loud, because I had already started putting away chairs before I had called her. Seeing how I had put away half the chairs, I finished stacking and putting away the rest of the chairs and left. Well, I had every intention of working out at church and I wanted to workout, so Dave did Taebo with me. It's very hard to workout and laugh....so I really tried to workout, even though, Dave kept trying to hit me when we where doing the punching exercises. Or when we were supposed to be working faster, he would do a little dancing jig or act like he was skating. It was just really funny and I can't laugh and workout at the same time....so I had to stop working out to get my laugh on!!!
After the workout, I was busy with laundry and trying to get cleaned up. Ethan came in the room, chattering something...he does that...just starts talking. He knows what he's saying, but it takes the third time for him to say it for me to understand it. Anyway, he was wearing Car pajamas and pointing to his shirt and saying "Ka chow". The funny thing was that we haven't watched that movie for a long time and "Ka chow" is what the car on his shirt says. I thought it was funny and Dave did to, so Dave proceeded to have Ethan repeat it along with other phrases from the movie, like "Ka chigga". another LOL moment.
The reason for this posting was that most recently at 11 o'clock at night my daughter Jamie in her sleep induced state came out in the living room, crouched at the end of the recliner and urinated. At this time, my back was to her, because I was on the computer. I heard her come out of her room and heard her get on the chair. I figured she was just coming out of her room because I wasn't in bed yet. I assumed that until I heard what sounded like her pouring water on the floor. Get ready...you know you are about to laugh. I turned around to see her crouching on the edge of the recliner and peeing. My first reaction was "stop, what are you doing?", that reaction jolted her either awake? or to a state of mind that it just wasn't normal to do that. Either way, I wasn't mad...but I was overwhelmed with the odd scene of her going to the bathroom in the living room and I laughed out loud!!! I asked her what in the world she meant to do and she simply replied, she didn't want to use the potty. Oh well...all I could do was laugh.
I hope you had a good laugh, I know I did today.
Well, I had a few today. I'm not sure why today in particular was a laugh out loud moment, but I caught myself doing it quite often today. This morning I got dressed and headed to church for the Tuesday morning Taebo workout a couple of the girls from church have been doing. Well, I showed up and no one was there. I called one of them to find out that she was still out of town. I laughed...out loud, because I had already started putting away chairs before I had called her. Seeing how I had put away half the chairs, I finished stacking and putting away the rest of the chairs and left. Well, I had every intention of working out at church and I wanted to workout, so Dave did Taebo with me. It's very hard to workout and laugh....so I really tried to workout, even though, Dave kept trying to hit me when we where doing the punching exercises. Or when we were supposed to be working faster, he would do a little dancing jig or act like he was skating. It was just really funny and I can't laugh and workout at the same time....so I had to stop working out to get my laugh on!!!
After the workout, I was busy with laundry and trying to get cleaned up. Ethan came in the room, chattering something...he does that...just starts talking. He knows what he's saying, but it takes the third time for him to say it for me to understand it. Anyway, he was wearing Car pajamas and pointing to his shirt and saying "Ka chow". The funny thing was that we haven't watched that movie for a long time and "Ka chow" is what the car on his shirt says. I thought it was funny and Dave did to, so Dave proceeded to have Ethan repeat it along with other phrases from the movie, like "Ka chigga". another LOL moment.
The reason for this posting was that most recently at 11 o'clock at night my daughter Jamie in her sleep induced state came out in the living room, crouched at the end of the recliner and urinated. At this time, my back was to her, because I was on the computer. I heard her come out of her room and heard her get on the chair. I figured she was just coming out of her room because I wasn't in bed yet. I assumed that until I heard what sounded like her pouring water on the floor. Get ready...you know you are about to laugh. I turned around to see her crouching on the edge of the recliner and peeing. My first reaction was "stop, what are you doing?", that reaction jolted her either awake? or to a state of mind that it just wasn't normal to do that. Either way, I wasn't mad...but I was overwhelmed with the odd scene of her going to the bathroom in the living room and I laughed out loud!!! I asked her what in the world she meant to do and she simply replied, she didn't want to use the potty. Oh well...all I could do was laugh.
I hope you had a good laugh, I know I did today.
Friday, March 16, 2007
A chronic case of boo-boos
I must say I am certainly looking forward to the warmer weather...not hot weather, just warmer. My children have managed to share colds, viruses, and the flu continuously this year! And I myself have had strep for about a month now. I'm almost through my second antibiotic and I don't feel like I'm over it, isn't that great. I still have my tonsils, so I'm sure I get to try ever antibiotic that is possibly out there, only because I had a reaction to penicillin in the 7th grade. Now I can't even take it as a percaution.
My beautiful daughter Jamie has been a test to me these last months. First she cut her hair, which caused me emotional distress. :) Since then, she's been a normal 4 year old. She torments her little brother, tells on her older sister, and makes sure her needs are priority. Most recently, she has had a chronic case of boo-boos. If you don't have girls, you may not know what that is. Let me explain. With my little Jamie, if she gets a boo-boo...even just a little hang nail, paper cut, scratch....not anything that actually bleeds, it's the absolute end of the world...her's anyway. It hurts, she cries, it hurts, she tells you, it hurts, it needs immediate assistance, it hurts, it needs a bandaid, it hurts, she can't get it wet, it hurts, IT DRIVES ME NUTS!!! I purposely bought extra bandaids this month just for Jamie.
Thankfully Taylor has grown out of this for the most part, or she just doesn't get into things that cause her boo-boos, like Jamie. I have hope that once the warmer weather comes, Jamie's boredom with her boo-boos will cease and her need to play outside will cause her tantrums with aches and pains to not last a long. I can hope, that's all I have now. :)
so I'm praying for warm weather for my sanity and my health ( want to be over the sore throats, coughs and yukeyness).
My beautiful daughter Jamie has been a test to me these last months. First she cut her hair, which caused me emotional distress. :) Since then, she's been a normal 4 year old. She torments her little brother, tells on her older sister, and makes sure her needs are priority. Most recently, she has had a chronic case of boo-boos. If you don't have girls, you may not know what that is. Let me explain. With my little Jamie, if she gets a boo-boo...even just a little hang nail, paper cut, scratch....not anything that actually bleeds, it's the absolute end of the world...her's anyway. It hurts, she cries, it hurts, she tells you, it hurts, it needs immediate assistance, it hurts, it needs a bandaid, it hurts, she can't get it wet, it hurts, IT DRIVES ME NUTS!!! I purposely bought extra bandaids this month just for Jamie.
Thankfully Taylor has grown out of this for the most part, or she just doesn't get into things that cause her boo-boos, like Jamie. I have hope that once the warmer weather comes, Jamie's boredom with her boo-boos will cease and her need to play outside will cause her tantrums with aches and pains to not last a long. I can hope, that's all I have now. :)
so I'm praying for warm weather for my sanity and my health ( want to be over the sore throats, coughs and yukeyness).
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