I have been reading a great daily devotional book that I received in the mail a while back. It has been a great encouragement each morning as I read it. It has prompted me to pull that prayer journal out of my drawer, dust it off, and start using it again. I sat at the table and read thru my entries. Not very many, but obviously important entries. I am just not much of a journaler, but it's been nice to look over my prayer requests since September 2009. I came across the time in our lives when Jason was laid off from his job and wanted to share it, in hopes that it would give someone hope, encouragement, and a peek in the lives of those who live for God, but are also sinners....and we stumble, only to be picked up by our Heavenly Savior, Jesus.
Friday, December 11, 2009 We got bad news on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009. Jason got laid off from Airstip Technologies. We are devastated, sad, angry, frustrated, helpless, etc. It's been two days and our friends have been amazing. I've been working a LOT. I was working when Jason came into the store and told me that he no longer had a job. I was working yesterday when I received a text from Jason. It was a picture of bags of groceries left on our door step from our very good friends. Amazing! They are struggling financially, and yet they buy us groceries. (God's children) Today, another good friend, walked into the store. She told me she's praying for us, is worried about me and that she loves me. (oh to hear those words when all you feel is hopelessness!) Then she asked what we needed. How do you answer a question so big? It came up that our car was out of gas and I needed to get to and from work each day. She asked for the keys and went and filled our car. When she came back, she slipped some money in my hand. Wednesday night as I closed down the store, another friend came in to keep me company, lend support, and brought me coffee. She stayed while I closed the store and walked me to my car. Thursday night, yet another friend came in to the store while I was working, brought me coffee and just wanted to let me know she was there for me. She also asked what bills needed paid or what they could do. Our true family, right here in Castle Rock. Our support...our brothers and sisters in Christ!
Dad has emailed or called at least once a day.
We spent yesterday morning taking Christmas presents back. Wow! That was depressing!
But One thing stays the same through all of this. Jason and I have both agreed that we couldn't handle going through all of this, without God as our Rock!
Thank you, LORD, for being in our lives, for showing your love through your children, our wonderful friends. I pray that you will show us a way to stay in Castle Rock, right where we all want to be!That you will provide for us, humble us, and keep our eyes on you, ALWAYS! I LOVE YOU!
I hope you find that as encouraging as I did as I sat with tears in my eyes reading it this morning. In those few paragraphs, is exactly what the bible talks about. Love, encouragement, answered prayers, trust, faith, etc. Jason has a job. We still live in Castle Rock. And God IS, WAS, and ALWAYS will be our Rock!
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Life of a Domestic Goddess
Are you ready for a great story about the adventures of a stay-at-home-mom-and wife? Whew! Strap on your seat belts, it's a wild, exciting ride! Okay...now that I got you all excited...here's the real story!
Woke up this morning at 6:45 to the sound of my husband and older two kids getting ready for their adventures for the day...work and school. The front door slams at 7:05. Again at 7:07 and for the last time at 7:15. Aw, the sound of my 17 year old son's 1966 pick-up...it really does sound tough and mean, but I'm sure the neighbors don't appreciate it as much as I do at 7:15am! I'm awake, I might as well get out of bed to start my exciting day too. On goes the workout clothes. (if I skip this step, the workout will fade away like the sunset behind the mountains!) Downstairs I go in my workout clothes. First stop, (after the bathroom, of course) is the kitchen. My first adventure for the day! I get to clean the kitchen, including all the dishes stacked from every one's bedtime snacks and drinks. About 20 minutes later, the dishwasher is unloaded, reloaded, crumbs and stains wiped from the counters, coffee is brewing and the table is wiped and made "pretty" again with the centerpiece in it's place. Whew! Kitchen cleaned...check! By this time, I hear a loud thud from above. Yep, it's the youngest jumping from his top bunk to start his adventures for the day. Shower is running, at least he'll smell good for his adventures...at least for a little while...until mid-morning recess where he'll run around outside and that 9-year-old boy smell makes it's appearance. (5 days until he's 10...as he reminds me each day as he counts down the days each morning) Meanwhile, I am making sure his lunch is complete, while eating my banana. Sandwich-check. Crackers-check. Orange-check. Capri Sun-check. Down he comes. The every-day-occurrence during cold temps is about to happen. The argument/conversation about it being cold outside that he needs a warmer coat. (light snow is falling outside during this conversation, just to give you a visual). So out the door he goes...on his bike, in the falling snow, in his hoodie.
Alone at last to put my feet up, eat bon-bons and watch television all day! What? Isn't that what you think stay-at-home-moms/wives do all day while everyone is slaving away at work and school? Stop daydreaming and let's get back to the "REAL" world. I didn't just put on my workout clothes to look like I exercised.
Off to the family room to jog 2.5 miles. (with the help of Leslie Sansone and her jogging workout video.) Now, that's better! What a great way to start the day! Cook an egg, put an English muffin in the toaster....clean up a few crumbs I missed on the counters and sit down at the table with my favorite book (The Bible) and my Esther bible study book, a cup of coffee and my eggs and English muffin. A little time spent with my Heavenly Father helps the troubles of the day seem a little more bearable. But first....go upstairs and get a load of laundry...put the clothes that were left in the washer in the dryer and start a new load in the washer. Now I can sit down at the table and eat my cold eggs and drink my cold coffee. The sound of the dryer buzzing is my sign that it's time for me to get back to work. One load in the laundry basket, one load in the dryer and a new load in the washer. Upstairs I go with a load of clean laundry to fold...picking up some things that need to go upstairs first and adding them to the basket. Fold laundry. Scrub toilet (did you know that you need safety goggles for this kind of work?! Yep....good thing I had my glasses on, or who knows what I would have in my eye at this point....glasses are speckled from the "stuff" that sprayed up as I was scrubbing and wiping.) Now on to that dreaded shower. I think I'd rather clean the toilet! Spray the shower, cough from the fumes, open window and back to the shower to scrub. This should seriously be a sport...or added to the list of strenuous exercises! Sparkling clean...well, kinda...as much as a not-cleaned-as-often-as-it-should be shower can sparkle! Right on que...dryer buzzes. Downstairs to put another load in the basket, dryer and washer again. Back upstairs to fold another load...picking up more things that need to go upstairs and placing them in the basket before headed up.
It is now 11am and so far no bon-bons have been eaten. Television was only turned on for the 33 minute workout and my feet are on the floor..not placed on a nice soft foot stool. I am, however, taking a break from my to-do list on the fridge that seems to have bright, flashing lights around it so that I don't forget to look at it each time I walk by, to check my e-mail and write my adventures down so that you can share in this exciting day with me. Stay tuned... The rest of this exciting day will continue. Day, after day, after day, after month, after month, after year, after year.
Woke up this morning at 6:45 to the sound of my husband and older two kids getting ready for their adventures for the day...work and school. The front door slams at 7:05. Again at 7:07 and for the last time at 7:15. Aw, the sound of my 17 year old son's 1966 pick-up...it really does sound tough and mean, but I'm sure the neighbors don't appreciate it as much as I do at 7:15am! I'm awake, I might as well get out of bed to start my exciting day too. On goes the workout clothes. (if I skip this step, the workout will fade away like the sunset behind the mountains!) Downstairs I go in my workout clothes. First stop, (after the bathroom, of course) is the kitchen. My first adventure for the day! I get to clean the kitchen, including all the dishes stacked from every one's bedtime snacks and drinks. About 20 minutes later, the dishwasher is unloaded, reloaded, crumbs and stains wiped from the counters, coffee is brewing and the table is wiped and made "pretty" again with the centerpiece in it's place. Whew! Kitchen cleaned...check! By this time, I hear a loud thud from above. Yep, it's the youngest jumping from his top bunk to start his adventures for the day. Shower is running, at least he'll smell good for his adventures...at least for a little while...until mid-morning recess where he'll run around outside and that 9-year-old boy smell makes it's appearance. (5 days until he's 10...as he reminds me each day as he counts down the days each morning) Meanwhile, I am making sure his lunch is complete, while eating my banana. Sandwich-check. Crackers-check. Orange-check. Capri Sun-check. Down he comes. The every-day-occurrence during cold temps is about to happen. The argument/conversation about it being cold outside that he needs a warmer coat. (light snow is falling outside during this conversation, just to give you a visual). So out the door he goes...on his bike, in the falling snow, in his hoodie.
Alone at last to put my feet up, eat bon-bons and watch television all day! What? Isn't that what you think stay-at-home-moms/wives do all day while everyone is slaving away at work and school? Stop daydreaming and let's get back to the "REAL" world. I didn't just put on my workout clothes to look like I exercised.
Off to the family room to jog 2.5 miles. (with the help of Leslie Sansone and her jogging workout video.) Now, that's better! What a great way to start the day! Cook an egg, put an English muffin in the toaster....clean up a few crumbs I missed on the counters and sit down at the table with my favorite book (The Bible) and my Esther bible study book, a cup of coffee and my eggs and English muffin. A little time spent with my Heavenly Father helps the troubles of the day seem a little more bearable. But first....go upstairs and get a load of laundry...put the clothes that were left in the washer in the dryer and start a new load in the washer. Now I can sit down at the table and eat my cold eggs and drink my cold coffee. The sound of the dryer buzzing is my sign that it's time for me to get back to work. One load in the laundry basket, one load in the dryer and a new load in the washer. Upstairs I go with a load of clean laundry to fold...picking up some things that need to go upstairs first and adding them to the basket. Fold laundry. Scrub toilet (did you know that you need safety goggles for this kind of work?! Yep....good thing I had my glasses on, or who knows what I would have in my eye at this point....glasses are speckled from the "stuff" that sprayed up as I was scrubbing and wiping.) Now on to that dreaded shower. I think I'd rather clean the toilet! Spray the shower, cough from the fumes, open window and back to the shower to scrub. This should seriously be a sport...or added to the list of strenuous exercises! Sparkling clean...well, kinda...as much as a not-cleaned-as-often-as-it-should be shower can sparkle! Right on que...dryer buzzes. Downstairs to put another load in the basket, dryer and washer again. Back upstairs to fold another load...picking up more things that need to go upstairs and placing them in the basket before headed up.
It is now 11am and so far no bon-bons have been eaten. Television was only turned on for the 33 minute workout and my feet are on the floor..not placed on a nice soft foot stool. I am, however, taking a break from my to-do list on the fridge that seems to have bright, flashing lights around it so that I don't forget to look at it each time I walk by, to check my e-mail and write my adventures down so that you can share in this exciting day with me. Stay tuned... The rest of this exciting day will continue. Day, after day, after day, after month, after month, after year, after year.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friends
I LOVE MY FRIENDS.
I am truly blessed with the most amazing friends ever. I thank God for introducing me to these wonderful women in my life.
Today I got to celebrate my great friend, Patty's, 50th birthday. It was a surprise party filled with some of our other amazing friends.
I truly feel blessed when I get to share these times with such amazing women.
As I sit and think of all the friends in my life, I am overwhelmed. I have friends whom I've been friends with since 7th grade, friends I've met along the path of life, friends I've met over the Internet, friends I've cried with, shared my deepest feelings with, laughed with, shopped with, scrapbooked with, worshipped with, prayed with....the list goes on and on. I can't imagine going through happy times, sad times and hard times without my friends.
I am truly blessed with the most amazing friends ever. I thank God for introducing me to these wonderful women in my life.
Today I got to celebrate my great friend, Patty's, 50th birthday. It was a surprise party filled with some of our other amazing friends.
I truly feel blessed when I get to share these times with such amazing women.
As I sit and think of all the friends in my life, I am overwhelmed. I have friends whom I've been friends with since 7th grade, friends I've met along the path of life, friends I've met over the Internet, friends I've cried with, shared my deepest feelings with, laughed with, shopped with, scrapbooked with, worshipped with, prayed with....the list goes on and on. I can't imagine going through happy times, sad times and hard times without my friends.
Thank you to the bestest friends in the whole wide world!
Thank you for listening as I tell you my struggles and fears.
Thank you for laughing with me (or at me).
Thank you for loving me even though you see my faults.
Thank you for your encouraging words and support.
Thank you for conversations over coffee.
Thank you for the hugs.
To all my amazing friends, THANK YOU!
I love you more than you'll ever know!
LORD, I thank you for these amazing women whom you have brought into my life!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Disneyworld
Yep, I went to Disneyworld yesterday with my friend, Stephanie. No, my Disneyworld is not in Florida, it's right here in Colorado, and not too far from my house. My 'Disneyworld' is also known as Salvation Army. What a fun and exciting place. The treasure that you can find there puts excitement in me! Since Jason was laid off last year and we had to tighten our belts, along with the tanking economy, the price of gas, groceries, etc., school fees and just raising three kids (two of them teenagers) has made us step back and realize that we need to watch how we spend our money. We have stopped going out to eat...only on a rare occasion do we splurge in this category. I rarely leave the house just to "get out of the house" because when I did, I would usually come home with something that we didn't "NEED". We want to be responsible with how we spend God's money.
So, last September I lost weight and went down four pant sizes. That requires "new" clothes. Ha ha...you should see some of those clothes on me. You know those diet/exercise commercials where it shows someone standing in a pant leg of their old clothes? Well, I can't quite do that, only lost 42 lbs, but it's still funny to try on those clothes and see how far I have come in these past months. Now that the weather is getting nicer, I have realized that I have NO summer clothes that fit. So off to "Disneyworld's" half off day! Yep, everything in the store is half price.
I woke up yesterday morning feeling pretty exited for the adventure to begin.
We each went our own separate ways and occasionally we would "run into eachother" and compare and share what he had found. This type of store is not one where you can shop together and look at the same things, because each person has their own "treasures" they find. That is why it's so exciting. I ended up with four short sleeve shirts (hey, it's a start), 7 work shirts for Jason, a pair of shoes (sprayed liberally with Lysol when I got home), and a few glass jars that will help in my home organization category. All for $28! (did I mention that several of the shirts I bought Jason were top name brand that probably sold for $60 brand new and they all still looked brand new?!)
They rest of the day was fun also. Got to eat yummy Panda Express for lunch with
my friend and got to take secret pictures of people we saw out and about. ha ha...yes, we did in fact drive around the Target parking lot so I could take a picture of a lady walking out of the store. Did I mention that it was St. Patrick's day? This lady was decked out in her HUGE green hat and a very furry green feather boa and she acted like it was "normal". I had to get that on camera!
Last night I came home and washed all our "new" clothes. Now it's time to get some of them ironed, errands ran and, oh yeah, get dressed first.
Happy Friday everyone!
BTW...it's half price day at "disneyland" tomorrow aka Goodwill. Happy shopping. Here's to you finding your treasure!
So, last September I lost weight and went down four pant sizes. That requires "new" clothes. Ha ha...you should see some of those clothes on me. You know those diet/exercise commercials where it shows someone standing in a pant leg of their old clothes? Well, I can't quite do that, only lost 42 lbs, but it's still funny to try on those clothes and see how far I have come in these past months. Now that the weather is getting nicer, I have realized that I have NO summer clothes that fit. So off to "Disneyworld's" half off day! Yep, everything in the store is half price.
I woke up yesterday morning feeling pretty exited for the adventure to begin.
So off we went.
In we went.
Let the fun begin.
Shoes, clothes, knick knacks, oh my.
We each went our own separate ways and occasionally we would "run into eachother" and compare and share what he had found. This type of store is not one where you can shop together and look at the same things, because each person has their own "treasures" they find. That is why it's so exciting. I ended up with four short sleeve shirts (hey, it's a start), 7 work shirts for Jason, a pair of shoes (sprayed liberally with Lysol when I got home), and a few glass jars that will help in my home organization category. All for $28! (did I mention that several of the shirts I bought Jason were top name brand that probably sold for $60 brand new and they all still looked brand new?!)
They rest of the day was fun also. Got to eat yummy Panda Express for lunch with
my friend and got to take secret pictures of people we saw out and about. ha ha...yes, we did in fact drive around the Target parking lot so I could take a picture of a lady walking out of the store. Did I mention that it was St. Patrick's day? This lady was decked out in her HUGE green hat and a very furry green feather boa and she acted like it was "normal". I had to get that on camera!Last night I came home and washed all our "new" clothes. Now it's time to get some of them ironed, errands ran and, oh yeah, get dressed first.
Happy Friday everyone!
BTW...it's half price day at "disneyland" tomorrow aka Goodwill. Happy shopping. Here's to you finding your treasure!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Don't throw stones...
Let's set the scene:
Jesus was at the Mount of Olives, in the temple courts, with all the people gathered around him, teaching.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?"
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away, one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared, "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:3-5 & 7-11
Just a reminder that we are all sinners. Lay your stones down... none of us can throw a stone at others.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
THANK YOU, Jesus!
Jesus was at the Mount of Olives, in the temple courts, with all the people gathered around him, teaching.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?"
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away, one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared, "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:3-5 & 7-11
Just a reminder that we are all sinners. Lay your stones down... none of us can throw a stone at others.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
THANK YOU, Jesus!
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