Furloughed

I sit here looking at my life and wonder how in the world I made it to this point. My mind is filled with ideas for several different posts and I have not the ability to focus on any one in particular much less write anything that makes sense. The hours in my days seem to get stripped from me each day and I start the next trying to recall what needs to be handled on this new day that was put off on the day that has past. Did that make any sense at all? See what I mean? I hate busy. The only reason I sit this morning typing a blog post is that I'm furloughed from work, so I have an extra twenty minutes that I can do something with and maybe I won't feel too guilty over something else left undone.
Last weekend I was able to sit still and hear Lysa Terkeurst speak at a church in Roswell. I loved every second of it and didn't even mind feeling so raw at the end of the day. The photo with Lysa and me and flat hair is on my phone, so I'll have to post it on another day. (She has on a really cute sweater that may make up for my flat hair.)
On Sunday, my church had a guest speaker, Dave Edwards, and he made me laugh and I think I cried again.
My gratitude list continues:
31. snow in Georgia
32. God's way of speaking to me
33. the ministry of Lysa Terkeurst
34. Paul's story
35. Saints winning the Super Bowl
36. Christian friends at work
37. Valentine hearts
38. having a burden for my students
39. conviction to forgive
40. Tiramisu

Plan b & Renee Swope

My day started out very rushed with one thing or another making me take deep breaths and saying " okay, so let's move on to plan b". Plan a was just not gonna happen today. I would love to tell you that I am this wonderfully patient woman that handles curveballs without so much as a flinch, but it would be just a big ole lie. Today though I would like to humbly thank my heavenly Father for his gift of deep breathing and reminding me that my circumstances will pass, but his joy would stand firm through the challenges of getting a family off for the day.

I had read this earlier (before the morning got out of control) and had even printed it out and tucked it into my journal.
It's from Renee Swope's blog and it's simplicity really spoke to me this morning.

An strong oak or a puney pine?

Before Christ, I felt like a weak and wimpy pine tree. Tossed by the winds of my emotions. Defined by my circumstances. Uprooted by life's storms. Despair was my story.

But in CHRIST - I am rooted in God's love. With Christ I am...Strengthened by life's storms. Transformed by trials. An oak of righteousness, planted for HIS glory!

Because of Jesus, that is what we are...

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. ~Isaiah 61:3

I'm linking this to Tuesdays Unwrapped over at Chatting at the Sky.This oak tree stood firm through the winds of Katrina.

A Bump

Last week I hit a bump. It made me quiver inside and I felt my resolve give in to ideas and thoughts that would only create distance if spoken out. I prayed and cried. I told God every angry thought I had about the situation and then I told him my biggest shame was letting a problem in this life rob me of my peace and joy. The weight in my chest eventually lifted and I chose to praise God and to trust him. "I have no hope but you I cried and in that moment something died". I grew a little that day.

Hebrews 10:35-36
Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

I'm linking to Tuesdays Unwrapped over at Chatting at the Sky

ABC Flashcards

My SIL keeps our Bird on the Sunday nights we have our small group meeting. She loves spending time with her and they both stay busy throughout the evening. Last night my sil was reviewing ABC flashcards with her and trying to get her to come up with other words that started with the sound of the letter on the card. When they reached U my Bird couldn't think of any other words, so my sil said "underwear" which started lots of giggling. My Bird then responded "I know one-Um-diddle-diddle-um-diddleye". I love Mary Poppins!
My gratitude list continues:
21. Mary Poppins
22. Our sense of humor
23. Snow flurries
24. Inspiring words from unexpected places
25. T-Bone's New Job
26. Passion for following Christ
27. Shrimp Creole
28. The New Orleans Saints great season
29. New friends
30. Answered prayers

he loves us

I really love this song and have been listening to the cover version by the David Crowder Band. It was playing as I was driving home in the snow flurries the other day. The beauty of the winter sky and the words that reinforce what I already know were a welcome end to the workday.

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Dog Pee & Pioneer Woman

So I made the mistake of stopping by Pioneer Woman this morning and now I'm wanting to make this Southwest Corn Dip & the Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites plus I drooled over a couple of others. My menu for today and tomorrow is already planned and I've shopped, so I'm not prepared to be adding new items. I had purchased the Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook for my sil that lives in Houston for Christmas. She loves to cook and I just knew it was the PERFECT gift. I wrapped it real pretty and put it under the tree and then dog pee happened. Our old smelly Boston peed in front of the tree and it traveled to the one present under the tree and so now I had a Pioneer Woman Cooks with wet dog pee on one corner. I ripped off the paper sniffed the corner and although it did not stink of pee I knew I had to get another. So off to Borders with my 30% coupon in hand I go the Sunday before Christmas and repurchased the book. I'm so proud and it is so worth it because I know she is going to LOVE this book. We arrive in Mississippi and my sil from Houston always has books from a friend of hers that works in publishing. She throws a pile of cookbooks on the bed and says take what I want, but she thinks the Pioneer Woman Cooks looks really good and she would like to keep that one or I can take it and she will just get another one from her friend. I gave the book to her on Christmas morning and we had a good laugh-haha and I came home and had not one, but three Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbooks. I returned one to Borders and still have the dog pee one and the free one from my sil. I'm not sure what to do about the dog pee one, but I've never given away anything on my blog. Haha!

Auld Lang Syne

The Nester has a Best of the Nest 2009 posting that was really fun to read. I don't necessarily think these are my best posts, but they are posts I like for one reason or another.

I still feel like this about our church. We officially became members in November and I thank God every day for placing us in this church. He knew exactly where and what we needed in a church home. Sunday

This is one of my favorite recipes from the summer. Father's Day

My photography skills and camera are both somewhat lacking, but I love this shot of my Bird. Reluctant Ballerina

This is my post on the four year anniversary of Katrina. Katrina

My little Bird made me smile by putting her beloved doll in a shopping bag. Miracles Everyday