06/29/12

If you have read my blog long enough, you know I LOVE chocolate and peanut butter.  When times are desperate and I don't have any Reese's around I will grab some semi-sweet morsels and put them in peanut butter.  I must say.... dipping a Hershey/Dove bar in peanut butter is even better than a Reese's. 

Unfortunately, eating that a lot is not good for the waistline.  

I am trying to lose weight, not gain it all back.

If I ate that daily, there would be poundage galore even though I am working my Zumba moves.

SO....

What is a girl to do when she is really craving chocolate and peanut butter?

My brother gave me the answer the other day and I am hooked:
 

 

You pour some of each of these in a bowl, stir it up and you have yourself a crunchy, healthy snack that is much less in the calorie department.

Don't get me wrong.... I will still be enjoying some real chocolate and peanut butter at times.

For now, this surely is a great replacement!

06/28/12

Today I have....

....cleaned a lot.

I still can't believe how much junk we have.  My daughter will be proud that I have successfully cleaned out my room from the "catch all" area.  She is at a sleepover right now so she isn't aware.  :) 

.... wanted to write love letters to Steve in the dust on the furniture.

Instead, I chose to use furniture polish and get rid of it.  I have sneezed a couple of times, too.

.... found so many trinkets that Steve and Wesley use for hunting or fishing.. or both... that I don't know what to do with them all.  

I just piled them on Steve's dresser hoping he'll figure out where they belong.

..... not washed clothes yet.  

With it being over 100 degrees today I think I will wait till midnight.  By then it should be cool enough.

.... managed to leave the umbrella up after enjoying a moment on the deck yesterday only to have a gust of wind come along and break the umbrella and shatter the deck table.  

Steve was not happy with me over THAT one.  (He had bought the quite expensive umbrella last year.....)

.... have felt crummy since the umbrella and table broke.  

Do you think I could glue it back together???  No... not if you saw how many pieces of glass that thing broke into.

....felt the tiredness and pain of my Zumba and Just Dance.  
I am thankful, though, because if there was no pain, there is no gain.  I really am enjoying it.  Just learning balance.  haha!

.... hated the ruling that came from the Supreme Court over "Obamacare"... like he really cares. 

I am trusting the Lord that He knows best and nothing takes Him by surprise.  I am also praying that November will CHANGE a lot of things around our country!!!

..... have just enjoyed being home, taking it slow in my cleaning and listening to peaceful Christian piano playing on my CD player. 

.... I am blessed.

06/27/12

My brother would know what this animal is... but I don't.  :)  It is from the Zoo in early May.  Cute thing, isn't it?

Responsibilities.

If you have read my blog long enough you know I am big on teaching my kids in the responsibility area. ...as well as my students.

This summer, as I mentioned on Monday, I am having Wesley and Mikayla increase their responsibilities.  There are things I really could do myself, but that would not be teaching them.

Wesley has been in the yard a lot cutting grass, putting out mulch and spreading pine straw.  Overall he has a good attitude, but last week he shared with me and Steve that he didn't think it was too fair.  Why? 

....because his buddies from school didn't have to work in the yard.

Hmmmm....

Well, we are not the parents of the buddies at school and we graciously shared that.  If they were our children they would be right alongside Wes working in the yard.  :)  What Wes is learning is life skills that will take him far.  He is learning from his Daddy and gaining much knowledge.

Mikayla has also been busy, but she is more like her mom and is an inside person.

Girlfriend can flat organize something.  In fact, I have had to laugh a few times because she has cleaned up so well in some areas that I can't find anything I need! 

They are both learning more about preparing food and cleaning up.  They have always had chores, but they are just going a step further.

I am so thankful to see them working hard and doing this because it is pleasing to the Lord and not out of a bitter spirit.

I figure if they are helping make the messes..... they can surely help clean them up.  :)

Have I told anyone lately how much I love my two kiddos? 

06/26/12

 Here is the Southern Leopard Frog that Wesley caught last week.  I was in the middle of doing my Bible study and he wanted me to take pictures of it.... because it was so cute.  Now, I am all about photographing something, but I was in the middle of my Bible study.... and it was later at night..... 

BUT... I knew that frog would not last overnight and I also knew he may never find one again around our house because this little guy was actually farther away from his normal home.

Hope you like the pics... I have ordered copies of them for Wes for his room, but he doesn't know that yet. 

Speaking of frogs... we now have another pet.

I found out a week or so ago when purchasing crickets for Rosco that tree frogs do well with other tree frogs.  SO... we began to think about getting another one for Wes.  

The first store didn't have any in at the time Wesley and I stopped in there.  BUT... I was near another pet store last Saturday and they had one.  I got it for him.

I wish I could have captured his face when I brought it in and surprised him.  He was so excited. 

The only way to know whether it was a boy or girl was whether it would "bark"... or whatever it is that they do.  We just figured it was a boy.

At first, this guy was named Hubert.  

Come Sunday, Wesley revealed what we had wondered... he thought it was a girl.  There had been no barking, croaking or just overall sound coming from this frog.

We had to think of another name.

There was Lily, Claire (all from Mikayla), Roxanne (Wes' fave for a while), Earline, Jumpy, and countless others, but this one stood out to Wes and so....

He named her Lulu. 

How cute is that? 

So now we have Rosco and Lulu inhabiting Wesley's domain.  We bought more crickets today... thankful that they only cost $.10 a piece because we have more to feed!

I found out the other day that anoles live very well with green tree frogs.... who knows what may come to live with us next....

06/25/12

Yeah, yeah... I took a bit of a blogging vacation.

I needed it.

To be honest, this past year was quite stressful in many ways and I have needed time to "find me" again.  I have had much to share, but the words just would not come easily.  I have what you call "burnout."  The only way I know to re-charge has been to be in God's Word, rest, enjoy my kids and just be.

So, what HAVE I been up to lately?

Doing my Bible study.
Let me just say that I am LOVING my Believing God Bible study by Beth Moore.  I am gaining much from it.  I can't wait to share some of the things the Lord has been teaching me.

Turned 41.
Yes, last week was my birthday.  I am moving on in my 40's.  With what the Lord is teaching me, I am glad I have arrived.  :)

Exercising.
My walking was great, but I was finding I was not burning a lot of calories.  I decided to begin doing Just Dance 2 on the Wii.  Let's just say that my body was having an adjustment period to the sweating that was a happenin' around here.  haha!  With some of my birthday money I bought Zumba 2 for the Wii.  I am not the most coordinated individual, but I am not terrible.  I will say, however, that doing these fitness routines in the comfort of my own home is much less embarrassing.  Wesley and Mikayla even cheer me on.  :)

Wedding Pictures.
I am still in the middle of them, but I am near the end of them.. I think.  That is what I get for taking so many!  :)

Taking pictures.
I have taken a few family and group pictures as of late.  Looking forward to some Senior portraits hopefully soon.  

Loving being home.
I am a homebody - I will be the first to admit.  I do not need to have entertainment elsewhere at all times to make me happy.  I enjoy a slower pace and knowing I don't HAVE to always be somewhere. 

Taking Wes to Cross Country practice.
Wesley is in the training mode for Cross Country this fall.  A friend of ours has taken him under her wing and is doing extra practice with him, too, to build up endurance.  I appreciate this immensely as this is not my gift!  He can run 3 miles in 26 minutes.  He has off and on days, but overall he is doing excellent.

Taking Mikayla to piano.
Mikayla is now into her third year of piano and has been moved up to the Intermediate Level.  She really loves it and I really love hearing her play.  I bought her a Metronome because timing is her worst enemy.  She loves that thing.

Sleeping in.
I truly did not want to do this often.  Why, you ask?  Well, I just don't want to be lazy.  I am finding that after the year I have had I have needed it more.  I seriously still try to get up by 6-6:30 most days, but some days (like today) it was almost 10:00 before I rolled out of bed.  I am trying to listen to my body.

Cleaning.
A small amount.  I am cleaning out certain parts of the house but not all at once.  It is amazing how I can clean something out and in the next day it is back crazy looking again.  We'll get there...

Teaching Wesley and Mikayla more responsibilities.
They are having to do more things and have risen to the challenge.  I am proud of both of them for what they are learning to do on their own without being told.  Mikayla does love to organize and clean out.  She is the total opposite of this sentimental "maybe I should keep that" Momma of hers... :)

Letting Molly in the house....
Shhhh... don't tell Steve.  I can't believe that this total cat-loving person of myself is actually letting the dog in the house for a time.  She doesn't get to come in every day but if it is really hot or if there is a storm, we let her in.  Sometimes Steve knows... and sometimes he doesn't.  When she looks at me with those eyes I just can't resist.  Of course, when she starts chewing up everything in sight in the house... well, it is time for her to go back out.  haha!

Drinking lots of water.
Yes, yes, yes.  I am trying to make sure I am drinking it constantly.  I love those cups that are plastic with the straw... you know the ones that look like a cup from McDonald's or something?  I keep those things full of water at all times.  I love the fact that I just sip away.

Reading.
I am enjoying the Bailey Flanigan Series by Karen Kingsbury right now.  I didn't want to stop reading it last night but knew I needed to do so... Hmm... I wonder if THAT is why I had a harder time getting up this morning?  haha!  I love, love, love being able to read more than one sentence and then falling asleep like I do in the school year.

Working on Powerpoints.
Oh goodness... yes, I am still doing those.  I am in North America now.  I still have South America and Africa to finish.  It is good times, though, with my brother.  Nothing like factual information to bring two people together into laughable moments.

Well... there you have it.  I think that is a run down of the latest here.  I will hopefully get back on schedule with sharing my thoughts of what the Lord is teaching me.

Unless a nap is required.

06/24/12

Isaiah 43:25

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

I am so thankful for my Lord that puts my sins into extinction... and remembers them no more.  What a comfort!!

06/18/12

Today is a guest post today.... but I am still typing it out.  :)

This is from Mikayla.  I have told her (and Wesley, but he hasn't jumped on this bandwagon yet) to write a couple of times a week and tell about what she has done in her days.  This helps with keeping their sentence structure going without them realizing it.  haha!

I will be admitting first and foremost that you may be hearing A LOT about how I am interacting with the kids and issues we discuss.  I am learning so much while teaching and helping them, too.   I have many posts floating in my mind.

Here is Mikayla's "post" from June 17. (She gave me permission to share.)  She entitled it and everything.  I have typed it as she wrote it.... we're still learning that punctuation and correct sentence structure, mind you.  Hope you enjoy.  It was something pretty special to me.

THOUGHTS

One of my struggles of being a Christian, is thoughts. I think thought all kinds of bad stuff.  Well, it got to the point to where it was really scaring me.  So last night, I talked to my Mom.  She read and showed me some verses that were awesome!  I'm so glad I have a mom and dad that can comfort me!  My Mom and I also talked.  We talked a lot about my thoughts, but we also talked about the verses.

Here's one of the verses she underlined for me:  

Philippians 4:8 - Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  

That's an Excellent verse!

So here's my advice for thoughts:  Don't let Satan put bad thoughts in your mind.  But you say, How do I do that?  By memorizing Bible verses, and whenever Satan is tempting you with bad thoughts, say Bible verses!  You can also pray to God, that he will help you.  God will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.  He'll ALWAYS be with us.  Don't let Satan defeat you!  You (with a TON of God's help) defeat HIM!

Happy Father's Day!

Romans 8:15-16

 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “ Abba! Father!”  [or Daddy!]

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father Whom I can call "Daddy."

I am beyond blessed that my Heavenly Father gave me my earthly Father who has always been a rock, a comfort, one who disciplines in love, and my DADDY.

I am also beyond blessed because my Heavenly Father gave me my husband who is a wonderful DADDY to Wesley and Mikayla.  He is a lot like my own Daddy and I am blessed to watch him as he leads, guides, and directs our home. 

On this Father's Day I feel the joy that can only come from blessings from the Lord.  The men in my life are true examples of what Father's should be.

06/14/12

I want to have a conversation with you.

In other words... I need some feedback, peeps.  Are you still out there reading?  I realize it is summer and many people are everywhere, but a girl still likes to know whether her words are meaning anything.

SO.

Today I will ask a question and answer it myself.  Then, I want to hear from YOU.

Question:

Do you collect anything?  If so, what is it? 

Did you collect anything as a child?  If so, what?

(I realize I just asked two questions, specifically four, but they involved the same topic.  :)  )

I really don't collect as many things now as I did when I was little.  I used to collect cats, dolls, wrappers from anything because I never knew when I might need them, etc.  As I have gotten older I have tried to purge more and get rid of things that just collect dust. 

Of course, some people may say I do collect DUST!

However, I know I could say I collect pictures because I just love them so. 

I love anything that deals with my growing up years. 

I also have been collecting things in which to photograph newborns.  Anyone out there about to have a newborn and want me to photograph him/her?  I am dying to try out some of my new little hats and diaper covers.  :)

Hmm... I guess I should also say I collect jelly/jam jars.  It will be time for me to start up that process again soon.  The kids and I love it.

I sometimes wish I was more like those thrifty shoppers (Ronda and Gretchen... my online/real friends) that can find all kinds of interesting things at cheap prices to use around the house, but, alas, I am just a person not used to much change.  I am getting better, but I figure if it still works, I will continue to use it.  Every now and again I go wild and change things up.  Usually you all are aware of that because I post it here.



SO... it is your turn.  Please leave me a comment answering the questions.  I really do want to hear from you!

06/13/12

I am having a hard time doing my devotions lately.

I know, I know... what have I been on here "preaching" to all of you recently?

Something has just been different since I finished up school.

What, you might ask?

Well, my kids stay up a lot later.

When I go to do my own devotions, they follow me.... because they want to do theirs with me.  :)

I hear these sweet voices saying, "Mom, are you doing your devotions?  Can I come in there, too?"

It has actually become quite special to my heart and a memory I will forever hold.  They are crawling in bed with me and we are all together.

Doing devotions with my kiddos is meaning that while I am trying to read the Scriptures, one of them reads something from their Bibles and asks a question about it.  That leads to other questions.  Pretty soon I just put down my Bible and let the conversation roll with them.

Yes, I need time alone with the Lord and have enjoyed more of that this week while they have been at VBS at church, but I wouldn't trade any of that time.  I am finding my Quiet Time with the Lord is at different times than bedtime or early morning.. I have to squeeze it in when I can, because my kids are wanting to be with me when I do them.

What better use of my time is that!?

Mikayla is asking pertinent questions that she is needing right now for her growth spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally as she is preparing for Middle School.

Wesley, my deep thinker, is putting a lot more effort into really understanding what the Scripture is saying instead of just reading over it.  We have had quite the conversation over the first few verses in John 1!  He is asking about what certain words mean and it is causing me to have to dig deep to learn myself!!  :)

I can't tell you just how much this time with my kids is meaning to me.  I pray that it will only continue and we will always enjoy our talks around God's Word. 

That is the basis/foundation for all we, as parents, should do, is it not!?

06/12/12

Yesterday the kids and I went to a funeral with my Mom.  One of her friends from church had died last week and she was a special lady.

Last week the kids went with Mom to another funeral for a dear saint in our church.  Steve and I couldn't go because of a previously scheduled appointment but I was so glad the kids went with Mom.

These have been some of their first tastes of death where they really remember the person who died.  They have gone to funerals before, but they were too young before to really grasp all that was happening.

I'll be the first to say I have a hard time attending funerals.  It isn't because of lack of compassion and care for the family.... it is usually because the burden they are going through in the loss of someone dear is so heavy on me, too, that I don't feel I can bear it.  I honestly don't know how the families get through it.

But then, I remember that death is not the enemy for a Christian.  Those who know Christ as Savior need not despair or lose hope because one day we will see our loved ones/friends, that also know Christ as Savior, again. 

God holds us during all of those times and He is holding our friends who have recently lost loved ones.

Wesley was quite impacted at the funeral of the gentleman who passed away last week.  At the funeral the pastor shared how the gentleman had underlined information in his Bible and Pastor read certain passages that were special to the precious man who had passed.  Wesley said he wanted to be like this man... he wanted people to see how he had learned things in his Bible and such. 

Even in death, we can be an example to others.

The funeral yesterday was no different.  It was a time to reflect on the legacy of this precious lady and all of those she cared for and to which she showed compassion.  It truly was a celebration of her life... the life she LIVED.  The life she reflected of Christ.

Anytime someone passes from this world, it causes one to think on life. 

What kind of impact am I making in this world?

Who would come to my funeral?

What would be said?

Have I made an impact for Christ, most importantly?

Have I been there for others and shown compassion?

Do I live my life fully as to the Lord and do people see me the same whether I am at home or in public?

There were all kinds of things that passed through my mind yesterday and in the past week, for that matter.  Three people who we knew passed away within days of each other.  They always say death comes in three's.

We all have a day we live and a day we die.  There is a dash in between those dates.  God is with us when we breathed our first breath and He will be with us when we breathe our last. 

born - died

What are we doing to live for God in the dash of our life? 

What matters most is eternity.

06/10/12

 In honor of my brother for his birthday I am posting one of his most favorite animals... the elephant.  These are African Elephants.  I went to the plains of Africa the NC Zoo and stalked these for days moments until I was able to finally capture these in all their glory.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEVO!  :)

Luke 22:31-32b

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:

06/07/12

The flowers for the wedding were just beyond gorgeous.  The one I placed in my last post was from the chairs for the family.  This is the way the staging was decorated.  I loved, loved, loved the candles.  They were so romantic and gave off a warm glow.

Scars.

Most people have them.

I have a few left from my growing up years of skinned knees and things.

In my adult life I became the proud owner of scars after my gallbladder and appendix decided to quit working 3 years apart.

Those scars are a reminder of what used to hurt, but now does not.  But they are still there.

We all have personal scars as well.  They are scars that can't be seen on our skin like mine, but they are inside and some are very deep.  The scar tissue has developed around some of them and caused them to become hardened. 

In our journey of life, we all will face times that we feel our heart is being ripped out, our soul is crushed and our life has no purpose.  Through it all, we must cling to the One Who bore the greatest scars of all for us.  Because of His stripes, His scars, we are healed.

I look back on my life and see the horrible times that I didn't think I would ever survive.  I still see the scar, but I also see the healing that came after the pain.  The scar remains, but what is in its place is a renewal, new growth, and a remembrance of what the Lord brought me through.

For that, I feel that my scars are beautiful and I am thankful for them every day.

I was reminded of this when I read this verse the other day in our Sunday School study:

Hosea 6;1

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

I also love the NASB version of this verse:

Come, let us return to the Lord.

For He has torn us, but He will heal us;

He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

He knows because He suffered more than we ever could and His scars will forever be visible for what He did for us.


I love this song from Steven Curtis Chapman.  It sums up all I have been thinking with this.

06/05/12

Another beautiful detail of the special wedding this past weekend.  :)

I saw this today and wanted to post it.  I have had this conversation with Mikayla many times about modesty on the beach... swimming pool... etc...    Hope you watch it!

06/04/12

This is one of my favorite pics so far from the wedding.  I have just begun editing, but this one is special because it is the groom's mother's Bible.  She passed away unexpectedly 3 years ago so it was an emotional yet joyous day.  I wanted to honor his mother in any way that I could. 

The wedding itself was a blast.  I loved the memories that were made and the fun that was shared.  I will always enjoy thinking on that day!

I was holding a camera from 12:45 until 9:00 that night.  I didn't realize just how sore I was going to be until yesterday.  haha!  Between pulling weeds on Friday and the wedding on Saturday my body has found some muscles I forgot I had.

I shall share more pics as I get them done.  :)

Now back to editing.....

06/03/12

 

Isaiah 58:11

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

06/02/12

Today is a busy day!

I have a wedding to photograph... very excited about capturing this special day.

Those weeds I pulled yesterday have wreaked havoc on my muscles.  Advil to the rescue!

Enjoy your day, my friends...  maybe I'll show some other pics of the beautiful bride and groom later.  :)

06/01/12

 

We have been pulling weeds today.

In our yard, that is a huge feat.  We have almost 3 acres and lots of beds around the house.  With school and work they have become overrun with weeds and it was time to get out there and clean it up.

The kids were in the front beds and I was on the side/back bed of the house.  

I must admit, when I began I was quite overwhelmed with what lay before me.  Then, I realized it was just something I had to start wherever and keep moving, knowing that the more I pulled the more the bed would be clean.

As I was working, I couldn't help but relate it to my Christian life.  The weeds are the sin.  Just like our beds were overrun with weeds because they had been neglected with us being so busy, so can our Christian walk become crowded and stagnant because of the weeds of sin growing among us when we become "too busy" for the Lord.  We forget our daily pruning and nurturing of our spiritual soil by getting the nourishment from God's Word.

Some of the weeds I pulled were easy to get up... especially with the rain we have had.  Others were quite difficult and it hurt my fingers as I continued to pull.  Still others I had to get the shovel and force them to come out of that ground.

Isn't that just what God does in our lives?  He sees it is time for us to come back to Him and become the beautiful flower garden He created us to be.  The weeds of sin overtake us and He is the Master Gardner helping us get out those sins.  The ground can't do it by itself, and neither can we.  We are imperfect and we need the Savior's help.  Sometimes the weeds of sin can be easy for the Lord to remove.  Others are so deeply rooted He has to take his "shovel" with love and dig deeper into us until we finally release that horrid root.  That digging is hard... it causes pain.... but God is there holding the shovel and has not left us.  He knows it is best for us.

Something else was interesting to me as I pulled those weeds.  A spider had built a web in the tree nearby where I was pulling.  I didn't realize it was there until I was right up on it.  Satan is like that... He gets his web built and we are caught before we know it.  As I continued to pull the weeds, I looked up and saw that spider taking down its web!  I have never before seen a spider do that... I just thought they always abandoned them and moved on.  This spider actually took apart the entire web and then disappeared.  

Made me think of how Satan has to move away once we let the Master Gardner come in and get rid of the weeds of sin in our lives that have trapped us.

I shared my analogy with the kids and they brought up some great thoughts, too.

Mikayla said that having to clean out the weeds is like the consequences of our sin... they are hard, and back-breaking but it is a consequence of having them there.

When I jokingly said I would like to have a talk with Adam and Eve about all of those weeds, Wesley said that even if Adam and Eve hadn't sinned he bet that someone else would have done the same because we are such weak creatures.  

So profound for my 12 year old thinkers.

I am normally an inside person... I don't do well with gardens and I am not the best at keeping plants alive.  However, it was cathartic to get out there and pull those weeds and be reminded that God is doing the same in my life.

I was thankful for the opportunity to learn another lesson from God's in His Creation just by experiencing it with Him.