I'm Not Too Busy To Be Thankful!

Wow, it feels like my life has sped by as fast as the wind is gusting outside my window tonight.  There have been many things on my heart (as usual) and it is good to know that God is right beside me on this path.

There are many things to be thankful for today:

• Kids and I not getting hit by a car while crossing the street in the rain.  Umbrellas are as much a distraction as cell phones in my book and we have learned to be more careful!
• Miss A is very excited to be going to camp this weekend.
• Mr E gets to spend the whole weekend with The Artistic Pixel Man and is looking forward to a WHOLE weekend of computer games, junk food, movies and time with Dad.
• I am flying to Newcastle, NSW on Friday for the Juice Plus+ Conference happening in this part of the world.  I never would have guessed that my first JP+ conference would be somewhere other than in the States.  I hope to meet many new friends, gain much information and have a great time without getting lost.
• I am thankful for friends who were willing to offer childcare at a moment's notice.
• And I am thankful that TAPM is going to take Friday off to spend with our children.  May their memories be sweet and their time together fun!

A life-long blessing for children is to fill them with warm memories of times together. Happy memories become treasures in the heart to pull out on the tough days of adulthood.  
~ Charlotte Davis Kasl

 

Whatever is Worthy

Not worthy

• discouragement
• giving up
• excuses
• laziness
• fear

Worthy

• positive encouragement
• persevering through the tough stuff
• speaking to the facts and doing what will get things accomplished 
• action
• putting on a confident smile and taking each step forward

Some questions that were posed to me today...

• Would I follow me?
• Do I make excuses or priorities?
• What do successful people do?  Am I doing those things?

LORD, may I be active, bold and work with a generous heart!

Thinking on...

So much mulling around in my head lately.  I am learning quite a bit about life.  - Why, it seems, that I am just now finally getting my head around some of these topics, I do not know.  But you know what they say..."Better late than never!"  :)

Lesson # 1  As the mom goes, so goes the house.
Lesson # 2  As the mom and house go, so go the kids!
Lesson # 3  A clean kitchen sink helps the mom go better.
Lesson # 4  The mom also goes better with good sleep and plenty of water to drink.
Lesson # 5  Kids will avoid school work at all costs.  It is the mom's job to keep them on task.
Lesson # 6 Keeping the kids on task cannot be done while sitting at the compu

Live These Things...

Today's thoughts...INTEGRITY.  TRUTH.  Even when it is hard.

Today I had the responsibility of disciplining one of my children for lying.  Again.  While in the States, they would get one spank per year of their age for lying.  Now living in a country where that is frowned upon, I tried it their way for nine months.  The taking away of privileges for lying did not work.

Let me say that more often than not, it takes the application of serious discipline to get to the true heart of the matter.  It was not easy and it was not fun, but today has shown me that a spanking given in love can touch a heart like nothing else.  The level of repentance was high and true.  And it opened wide the door of respect that was slowly closing between mother and child.

Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. 

Worry more about your character. 

Integrity is its own reward.   

~ Laura Schlessinger

 

Not a very Museful Day

Today was spent nursing children who, when it was noticed that they were looking a bit more perky, decided to "act" a bit more sick to avoid having to do school work.  Granted, we did have a variety of ailments...so the day was not dull in the least bit.  Tiring?  Yes.  Dull?  No.

As I write, I wonder if I ever do this to God.  When a task is set before me, do I purposefully find a "reason" to do something else?  Ouch. 

Lord, please help me to be content in the work You set before me.  I confess that I am more often than not, going through my days to please myself instead of serving others and loving You.  Please help me to remember that every day on the job of life is an opportunity to grow more like Jesus.  And I can't grow if I don't focus on Him.

Tenaciously Stupid and a Worthy Thought

I just saw a news report on the Ohio man and woman who recently ran away to Florida together, both leaving behind family and spouses.  It was interesting to hear her reason for taking this action...she didn't feel loved, felt pressure from work, pressure caring for her young daughter, didn't think anyone would miss her.  My goodness, what lie DIDN'T she believe?

Satan must be ecstatic over this one.  Two families broken apart.  The man's wife already in the process of divorcing him, the woman not ready for her husband's forgiveness and looking for a place of her own.  And millions of women across the country nodding their heads and saying "I know just how she feels."

I will be the first to agree that yes, there is a load of pressure in the daily living of life.  Yes, sometimes it does feel like no one cares.  Yes, sometimes caring for children is a seemingly thankless task that drains the life out of you and can be described as being pecked to death by a duck.

But I will also quickly say that there is a way to ease the pressure.  There is always someone to love you.  There is a prescription for doing daily tasks in a way that eases the load.  A five word answer that some might say sounds trite or simplistic.  My friend, "take it to the Cross!"  There you will find strength for the pressures of life, love everlasting, and joy in your domestic duties.

How appropriate that this post was saved to be finished later tonight.  God knew I would need my own encouragement.  Ha!

How faithful He is to tell me what I needed to hear today through the mouths of two friends, a taxi driver [our first female driver in NZ, an Orthodox follower] and my dear daughter.  I know how that Ohio woman may have felt, but I also know that I am loved and that I am beautiful.  Thank you LORD, for your timely reminder!  May I be an encouragement to others the way You give it to me.

Oh, the burden that is lifted at Calvary when sin and cares are placed at the foot of the cross.  My prayer for this woman, and all others who might be in her unhappy shoes...to find the love and strength and peace that only faith in Jesus can bring.

A Record of Steps

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. ~ Vance Havner

Thanks to my new pedometer, I am now able to keep a record of how many steps I take in a day.  This particular post will serve to be my "Step Log", as I journal about my path to wellness.

May 2010 

1 - 4487

2 - 9809 
3 - 2144
4 - 7056
6 - 9386
7 - 9050
8 - 5791
9 - 15039
10 - 8356
11 - pedometer worn, but forgot to record steps
**NOTE: pedometer worn most days.  If it is a day that I do not leave the apt, step total is under 3000.  If I do go out, steps total anywhere from 3000 - 9000+.  One thing I am finding is that I do need to make conscious steps - that is, make the plan to go walk and then DO IT!  If I don't, then the steps don't get taken!

Simple Worship

Today in church, it was evident that God inhabits the praise of His people.  The Spirit was moving such, that today was the "morning message that wasn't".  Although the pastor was not able to give his message due to lack of any time at all left in the service, I can say that God's message came through loud and clear through the open reading of His Word, prayer and praise!

All I keep thinking of lately is that Satan runs when we praise our Heavenly Father.  Are you discouraged?  Give praise to God.  Are you afraid?  Give praise to God.  Are you facing troubled times?  Give praise to God!

Oh that we would focus on Him and give Him praise!

"And the things of earth will grow strangely dim 

in the light of His glory and grace!" 
~ Helen H. Lemmel