He has Risen! Easter is Here!

Aidan got a movie in his basket left @ grammy's house this year. Rise of the Guardians. I hadn't seen it but heard it was great and couldn't wait to watch it with the kids.

During one scene of the movie, the boogie man comes and ruins an Easter egg hunt the Easter bunny put together. The Easter bunny gets mad and takes it out on Jack Frost. But it is what he said that made me think.

"Easter is about new beginnings, new life. Easter is about hope, and now, its gone."

Easter is about new beginnings, new life and hope....All things that represent God Almighty. Before I found the lord it was just another holiday I celebrated and found eggs and ate candy. But now, it is so much more than that and this Easter was a beautiful one for me.

Both the kids got bible's this year. Aidan got a devotional bible and skyler a prayers book. And they haven't left the house once yet without them in tow. My children are already finding and loving the lord. And you want to know the even more awesome part!? At my mother's house, the one person who was doubting our change in faith, my son and daughter got them to say grace with us before dinner. It was so touching. And my mom and dad everyone else at the table opened their hearts and without questions, said ok. My 6 year old son. My 6 year old son got my parents, 2 of the must unreligious people I know, to participate in a prayer. A prayer to god. And my son began the prayer. I was so touched I almost cried. It is amazing the things God can help us accomplish when we just open our eyes ears and hearts to him.

I hope you all had as much of a new Easter as we did. Full of new beginnings and hope. Amen!


Till next time bloggers, and god bless!

Day 14, 15 & 16

Ok, behind, again. I know. But cut me a little slack, things have been hectic.:)

So, Day 14 - To Guard the Castle from Harm

So, you know how most women believe the men to be the protector, the guardian...your brave when you fear and your laughter when you cry? You know, your rock? Well..that is what god believes the women to be to her home and her family.

It is much easier said than done though, for sure. Me? I have to sit on the side of the bed furthest from the door in case of intruders, and the one who won't even attempt a scary movie because of the nightmares it may set forth. Yea, that's me. The wimp. So, to be the protector of my family, that's a big deal. Scary. What if I fail? What if I fail at protecting those I love most, and home my loved ones reside?

But then there is that thing. That thing that us women have the sets us apart from any man. Woman's intuition. Some call it mothers instincts, others may call it a separate type of courage. Maybe both. A strength no man will ever know, like that is why God chose us to endure Labor and not man. And that may be true.

Think back to when you found out you were pregnant and the feeling you got when the baby kicked. Or that magical moment when you heard it's heartbeat for the first time or saw your first sonogram. Then all that pain to push out this human, that you and your husband created, together. And as soon as he/she is placed in your arms all the pain, all that FEAR, is gone. Fear of failing now is just joy and success.

Like god programmed us to be that strong, you know? And just like harboring a child for 9 months and giving birth, protective instincts just comes, naturally. And you may be filled with fear about failing or what could happen, but is ever about failing yourself? No, its always about fear of failing those you love most. At least for me anyway, and I am sure that is the same for most other wives and mothers. Who wants to let their kids down, ever? Not me. So whether its protecting them from harm and strangers and bad guys, or from the common cold. It just comes to us. Like when your a mom of newborn and all the baby has to do is let a little whimper or sigh out and your awake like a bat out of hell. Instinct. Intuition. Or in other words, God. So in times of need and despair, and fear, and harm, look to god and he will help you protect and guard. All the rest, will just come naturally :).

Knowing when to show a little tough love, or knowing when you to back off. Showing them right from wrong and teaching them and talking with them. These are all things we can do as wives and mothers to guard our home and the ones we love. The keeper of the home.

Day 15 - To celebrate your strengths, trusting God with your life

Wow. To celebrate your strengths, trusting God with your life.

All of us are always so quick to focus on the bad of those around us, never even questioning whether we are wrong or not. But what about all those good things about them, their strengths. Like my husband has a horrible habit of leaving the bathroom a MESS after taking a shower and shaving and it drives me mad sometimes. Especially when I just cleaned it. But he also is great at vacuuming. He hardly ever changes skyler's diaper and sometimes it erks me so much I fight with him about it, but what about the fun playful things he does with the kids when I need a break? See? There is always a balance, a strength, to the negatives.

And in those times where it isn't as simple as a dirty bathroom or a smelly diaper, look to God to make you feel better and remind of you those strengths.

It's that simple. We are human and none of us are perfect. Put your faith in the Lord, and during difficult times he will be there to listen and to guide.

Day 16 - To love you without expectation, planting my days with hope.

I tend to always get in these modes of, I wish we had this, or I wish I could do that, etc, etc...But what God has begun to teach me is that it isn't always about what could be or how you want things to bed, but what they are about now.

Every year, when tax time comes around, I am always expecting to have money left over to finally take a family vacation. A time to get away, and forget about all the stresses going on in our life at that time and just enjoy time together, as a family. I mean, who doesn't want that!? Maybe a nice cruise, a trip to disney world or to another country. But every year, when tax time comes, we always have bills to pay, and in that end result, there is never enough left over to take that vacation. First I get sad and dissapointed, then I get mad and frusterated that we will never catch up financially, and then after ranting about it for a few days, I finally accept it. But here is the kicker...


It was never about that trip. Sure I was hopeful and I still am, but now I have perspective. At least we got the money to pay those bills. God didn't think at that time that trip was necessary. He gave us what we needed to pay off our financial burdens and a little extra to maybe take the kids the zoo or to see the circus, or go on a nice day trip to block island. Whatever it was that we used the extra cash for, we still got that time together, as a family. It's not about looking at your life and seeing how it could be better, it's about seeing the blessings god has given you now, and embracing them.


God never said he didn't want you to hope and have faith. That is not what I am saying at all. Hope away, there is nothing wrong with hoping and dreaming. Hey, who says we ever stop anyway. Just like Love, it beats within us. But be realistic and positive. Understand God loves us and just because you don't get that vacation, or that new car or new home, doesn't mean you don't deserve it and doesn't mean God doesn't think you deserve, it just isn't the right time yet.


So the next time your wishing for a miracle or hoping for a better change in your life, pray. It may no happen tomorrow, it may not happen in a year, it may not happen in 10 years, but never give up on God. Just like none of us ever give up hoping and wishing and dreaming. Faith is a beautiful thing, it is what makes us tick. Embrace it, and embrace God, and your life will prosper, no matter what you have or don't have.


Till next time bloggers, and God Bless

Day 13 - To be a woman of Strength

Everyone in the world, (at least I am sure) believes women to be the strongest of the two species. Man provides, and women endure, right? But what happens when we have to be strong, to ENDURE, even when we don't want to? Well, that is when God comes in.

God CREATED women to be strong. Yes, some are stronger (or not) than others, and yes, some have more to endure than others, but that doesn't matter. God knows where to test us the most, and in today was one of those times, for me.

Granted it wasn't anything huge, and to some it may seem so silly. But to me, it wasn't. I grew up in a house that was very judgmental and critical, in every sense of the word. And unfortunately it rubbed off on me and into my marriage. But now that I have God in my life, I see things differently. 

She began to explain how she felt they should take priority and that they didn't feel like they were getting the upper hand. But in my new found faith in God, there is no one better than the other, so I didn't quite get what she meant or how she could feel that way. Normally I would have gone on and on with her, joining in her complaints and rants, or yelling at her until she got so upset she hung up the phone...but not tonight. I begin to explain my reasoning in the situation in hopes she would understand a little bit more, but I didn't get to far. Granted we didn't fight and we hung up in agreement, but I still felt a little defeated. "You've changed" she said. "How?" I asked. "You just have, you're just different." I didn't think so. But as I stood up for my husband and his family, no matter what my thoughts and opinions were, I felt...proud. Saddened by moms feelings, but still, proud. 

In that moment, I knew I had done differently in my words than I ever had in these types of situations. No one is perfect, and one day I hope my mother will understand this, and even though we may be right about others imperfections, it does not make it OK to talk harshly about them.  Especially to their other family members. 

As for now, I will continue to pray for each parents imperfections. But now I know I can relish in the fact that I knew what to do without fear or judgement :). I stayed strong. I stood up for what I believe, and for MY family :). For my husband. 

PROVERBS 31:25 - "Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come."

Till next time bloggers and God bless. 

A day making small memories

So, some days its nice just to sit back and spend a little extra time. A little extra time tending to your favorite hobby, like gardening or scrapbooking. A little extra time talking on the phone with a long time friend, catching up. A little extra time at the gym. 

For me, it was a little extra time with my kids :).

Aidan went off to school and I decided to bake with my baby girl. 

We made Lemon Vanilla Cupcakes (and sky added the jimmies).

This is what they looked like after I took them out of the pan.

I also made my own frosting for them. Lemon Sour Cream frosting. SO YUMMY!

After the icing cooled onto the cupcakes it hardened a little bit, so perfect! 

Once I finished this portion, it was time to pick up Aidan. So after lunch time, they indulged in a cupcake each. So cute!

 If you are interested in the recipe, here it is!

1 stick of butter melted.
1 2/3 cup of all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 Large egg
1/4 cup of plain yogurt
3/4 cup of milk
2 tsp of vanilla extract
2 tsp of lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of your dry ingredients in one dish. Next, mix all of your wet ingredients except for lemon juice into a mixer bowl or blender, or into a bowl with your dry ingredients if you plan to use a handheld electric mixer. Blend well until there is no grit, then add dry ingredients into blender or bowl mixer (unless you used the handheld) and blend well, again until there is no grit. Next add 2 tsp of lemon juice. Mix. Add sprinkles if desired.

Next, transfer cupcake mix to cupcake tin. I did not have any cupcake liners on hand, so I greased the entire pan with a paper towel with butter on it. But if you have liners there is no need to do this step. Fill each mold 2/3 full.

Place in oven for just about 20 minutes. I checked mine with a toothpick at about 15 minutes and they still needed some more time, so I found the full 20 minutes was sufficient, but all ovens vary.

While you are waiting, you can go ahead and make the icing. This is the recipe I used: Lemon Sour Cream Icing. I blended it all together in a blender and it came out perfect. It is wet and a little runny at first but dries on nicely after letting it set on the cupcakes for about 20-30 minutes. I loved it!

Let cupcakes cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then transfer to plate or cooling rack and let cool for another 20 minutes. Then add Icing and sprinkles and enjoy!

Then we hit the park. The first over 50 degree day before 4, so I knew we had to take advantage of it :)! The kids had a blast, and when we got home sky had her nap and fell right to asleep. All in all, it was a wonderful mommy kid day!

Psalm 127:3 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

 

Till next time bloggers, and God Bless. 

Day 12 - To walk through this life with you

You know when your walking down the pathway in the park, and past by that old bench that must have been sitting there for ages, and on that bench, just as it has aged for years, there is an old couple in their 80's, holding hands and smiling, looking like they are just as in love in that moment as they were when they first met.

That thing when, when you see it, you sigh and say, THAT'S what I want.

Then you continue walking, staring back at them, wondering, what did they do their entire marriage to still be that in love. 'Cuz whatever their secret is, I want to know.

I remember when Josh & I separated for some time. He was a wreck, and granted at the time I had no sympathy, I knew he was hurting. Well, he ended up getting really sick while talking to me one night during that separation and began to have a hard time breathing. Next I knew I was getting in the car and going to the emergency room. 1 hour ago I couldn't stand him and just wanted him off the phone, now I am worried sick, just wanting and hoping for him to get better. Guilt started to set in wondering if this was all my fault.

Then, as I walked in and saw him lying there in the stretcher in his state, I began to die a little inside. I knew, even though at that time I thought we would never be together again, I had to be there for him. Be strong for him and let him know, no matter what, I wasn't leaving his side. He was still my husband and I didn't want him to be alone.

It's amazing how things can make you rethink all your decisions. And now, with the perspective of God on my heart and in my mind, those "things" become even more apparent. No matter how much I disliked him during this time, I still loved him. How and why after all the mistakes he had made only God knows, but I did.

Ecclesiates 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, because they  have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.

The challenge? If your husband is sick, troubled or weary be a companion that remains by his side. And if not? If all is going well in your lives? Praise God for the blessings upon you.

"Dear God, thank you for all the blessings I have in my life. Thank you for my husband, who is healthy and strong and continuing to try to be a good leader for our family. I pray that you continue to guide him and give him the courage and wisdom he needs on days he is struggling, and I praise you for the days where he loves us as you love us, and respects your word through actions in our home. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

Day 11- To listen the best what I know how

You know what I figured out during this day? I am not that great at listening when I am angry. Now, I'm not saying I didn't have a right to be mad, because I did. I know it and he knows it. But that is not what this is about, being right I mean. 

I could go on and on about how he failed this challenge with a huge 'F' posted on his forehead, but this wasn't his challenge. It was mine. 

I felt like I was doing well, listening to what was going on and what he wanted, until I felt like he was sacrificing our time together. 

What do you do when you are caught between two different values God has for your love life? Mutually submit to one another, he says, make time for one another, he says, and consider others priorities as you would your own, he says. It is a 100% effort on both spouses parts, he says. But what do you do when one spouse notices the other is NOT giving as much effort as the other. This is tough, something I am still trying to understand. 

Yesterday I felt defeated and hurt. So I did the only thing I could think of, and that was to go to God in prayer. I felt I had listened to as much as I could until I knew he wasn't listening in return. 

But then there is the other aspect of all this, to watch what you say as you can't take it back later, and that love is not resentful or self-seeking, it is not easily angered and it keeps no records of wrongs. 

How do you know when to seek one over the other? Well, to be honest, I don't think you do. You just need to go to prayer and hope God will help. The flesh is a hard thing to deal with and we are all human, but being recently saved I feel I hold a higher duty to God and my family to work my humanly issues out that much more. 

I have a right to be angry. That I understand. But I don't have a right to shut my husband out or resent him when I am. Listening takes a lot of work. I mean REALLY listening, not just with one ear, or concentrating on one thing while the person talks to you about something else. I felt, last night, that God answered my prayers and tried to make Josh understand his wrong doings, but did I accept it there and move forward, no. I stayed upset. And although I am no longer angry, I am still disappointed and hurt. I will continue to listen, the best I know how. I won't give up, and I will continue to try and be the best wife I know how to be. But it works both ways my love. MUTUALLY submit, 100% on both ends.

So, today was a bust, to say the least. Neither one of us held up to our husbandly and wifely duties as God wants us to do. But not every day is going to be good. We have to learn to deal with the bad days just as we love living the good ones. No one is perfect and God understands this. We sinned and went against him and his love, and yet, he still died for us. He still loves us. Just as I still love my husband. That will never change no matter what kind or how many bad days we have. So even on those days you can't listen to him,  when all else fails, just remember to listen to your heart for him and face your issues to God in prayer, and seek out ways to apologize when needed, and find a way to forgive even when you did nothing wrong. 

1 Peter 5:6-7
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you"

Till next time bloggers, and God bless! 
 

Day 10 - To Love you

So, to love you. 

That was this chapter's title. Pretty self explanatory right? Simple and not to much thought for this one you would think.

But no, it really isn't. To love you. Well, I do love you, what more needs to be said or done? Believe it or not, a lot. 

As Andy Stanley says and as we have been learning in Sunday School...Make love a verb. It isn't just about falling in love then letting the rest of your relationship slide on that. Not in the least bit. It takes work and commitment. Just like a garden. You can't expect to plant the flowers/vegetables/fruits, water it once and let it be. Yes, they will begin to grow with your starter efforts (just like in the beginning of a relationship), but in order to continue growing you need to keep tending to it. Watering it, deweeding and giving it lots of TLC.

I like to think me and my husband are pretty good at this, but there are times we lose sight of it's importance.

The challenge was to find a special way, an out of the ordinary kind of way, to tell your husband you love him. Write him a note? Send him a text? Make him a card? You choose because you know him best.

I wrote a little blurb on a facebook status he put up and at dinner I placed a smiley face of pepperoni on his plate to make him smile. Unfortunately, due to the stresses we faced my little not so large efforts when somewhat unnoticed. Yes, I was discouraged and then turned to God in Prayer in hopes to feel better. Sometimes I show my love the best by caring...sometimes overcaring. And to my husband it just comes across as me being overbearing or critical, which I try not to do, but sometimes I just can't help it. I hate seeing him stressed or overworked or worried. So I just let him be, and hope to continue these efforts in the future. That is the point right? I don't want my "garden" to go unnoticed or feel unloved. Besides, to love your spouse. That is a daily deal, no matter what. It's just finding the right ways to show that love, keeping in my mind your husbands priorities and God's word.

"This love to which I speak is slow to lose patience-it looks for a way of being constructive.

Love is not possessive.

Love is not anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own ideas.

Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage.

Love is not touchy.

Love does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people.

On the Contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. 

Love knows no limits to its endurance,

No end to its trust, no fading of its hope;

It can outlast anything.

It is, in fact, the one thing that stands when all else has fallen" 

- Elisabeth Elliot.

 See? It doesn't always have to be doing a little something extra, but to also practice these values on a daily basis. That alone will show your spouse how much you still love him very much. Don't lose sight of the person you married because your wedding day should be one of the best days of your life. Full of joy and celebration and the reminder of who you married and why you married that person. Even in times of stress and conflict that love can still and always will be present. I promise.

Today's chapter - To Listen the best Way I know how....here is another doozy.

Till next time bloggers and God bless!