Just some thoughts

I really haven't had a lot to blog about lately.  Been feeling a little lost and not sure where I should be in life.  As a stay-at-home mom, I am just here, doing the dishes, folding laundry, and driving kids here or there when they need it.  Dinner is expected.  When we run out of toilet paper, milk, or bananas they run to me.  Sometimes it's a thank-less job.  But if you really think about it, although I don't get told thank you for emptying the dishwasher, being a stay-at-home mom is an important job. 
I slept in this morning.  Went for a 2 miles walk with my lil man.  As we walked, we got to talk.  Nothing deep.  But just spending time together walking and talking.  Precious!  I ate breakfast at 11am.  Yesterday I sat down and watched a movie with my daughter...in the middle of the day!  Precious!  Went for a drive yesterday with my oldest son.  I won't tell you why we were out for a drive, but we got to laugh and talk while we were out.  Precious!
I have realized that I am a schedule/structured person and without a schedule or structure, I feel a lack of importance or meaning.  I'm learning to enjoy these "unscheduled" things as gifts from God. 
I recently read a blog about Nebraska.  This person is from Colorado, but went for a week to small-town Nebraska to stay with a friend.  She talked about how relaxed and laid back it was.  How people enjoy the small things.  Feeding ducks, watching a small-town parade, corn fields, tractors and bug spray.  And oh those amazing Nebraska sunsets.  For a small second, I missed living in Nebraska.  But then realized that it's the idea.  And there is no reason I can't enjoy the "Good Life" right in my own back yard. 
I think I'll go make some Kool-aid.  Fill some water balloons.  Eat lunch on the patio with my kids. 

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

Summer

I've always said Fall is my favorite season.  I love the colors of fall.  I love fall decor with all the straw, mums, scarecrows, leaves and crisp air, etc.  But I'm starting to wonder if summer is really my favorite. 
Summer means:
my kids being home from school
laid back schedules
being able to walk to the pool on a whim if we decide we want to take a dip in the pool.  Even if it's only for a half hour.
grilling all kinds of yummy food and no fancy dinners
eating on the patio with my family
sitting near a lake reading a book while my family fishes
wrapped up in a blanket by the fire pit making s'mores with my hubby and kids
camping
the coolness of an air conditioner after you've been outside
the coolness of summer evenings
suntans...and sunburns.  (I happen to have both)
fresh veggies and fruits
road trips

I could go on forever, but those are just a few of my favorite things.  All from God.  Thank you, God, for all of these amazing things you bless me with.

Oh Goodwill, how I love thee!

As I sift through my closet to choose what I will put on for the day, I realize how much stuff I have actually bought at the local Goodwill.  Our budget has not allowed me to have a shopping spree at the mall, but I'm fine with that...especially when I can find clothes from Gap, Ralph Lauren, Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, Jones New York, etc all looking brand new.  I also have a few pairs of name brand shoes that I have bought at Goodwill. 
Today's outfit from the Gdub:
Jeans from Target via Gdub
Sweater tank from Gap via Gdub
Black jacket from Isabella Rodriguez via Gdub
Flower slip on shoes from Nordstrom via Gdub

Gotta love it!
Now off to Longmont to celebrate our nieces graduation. 
Happy Memorial Day to you all! 

Youth Ministry....is this what I am supposed to be doing?

That question was answered tonight as I served hot dogs and hamburgers to the teens in our church at our end of school year party.  There always seems to be one or two girls that just need a hug and to be loved on.  I found that girl.  She cried and talked...and I thanked God for allowing me to love her!  How sweet it is for God to use me in this way.

Jackpot at the Gdub!

Some of you may know that my newest obsession is visiting Goodwill, Salvation Army, or any other thrift store.  So much fun to see what kinds of treasure I may find.  Well, last night as the family was out running errands, we stopped at Goodwill.  I was looking for something with hooks that we could hang in the kids' bathroom to hang their towels on.  No such luck.  But I did spot a cute little "shelfy looking thing" for $5 that I loved.  When Jason asked what I would use it for, I really wasn't sure, but knew I'd find a use for it.  So, because I couldn't come up with a specific use, we passed it by and walked out of Goodwill empty handed. You know what they say while you are shopping and not sure if you really need something.  You'll forget all about it when you leave the store.  NOPE!  Not this "shelfy looking thing". 
I woke up this morning and you could actually see the light bulb floating above my head!  I knew what I wanted the shelf for!  It was the perfect size to display all my rubber stamps on in my craft room.  So I immediately texted my friend, Stephanie, who had asked me on Wednesday to go with her to run errands if she wanted to take a detour and run over to Goodwill.  So off we went.  I could feel my heart beating faster the closer we got...not knowing if my cute little "shelfy looking thing" would still be there.  I grabbed a cart and walked with a little more speed than usual to the back of the store where the furniture was.  As I rounded the corner, I couldn't see it so I turned around to Stephanie with my lip sticking out.  I walked a little further.  THERE SHE WAS! (no, not stephanie)  MY 'SHELFY LOOKING THING'!!!  I walked over and ripped off the portion of the tag that you take to the front counter.  VICTORY!  So, now that I knew I had the "shelfy looking thing" I had all the time in the world, so I told Stephanie I was going to go look at the clothes.  The last few times I had been to Goodwill, I hadn't found much in terms of clothes.  Well, I had a HEAPING cart load of clothes and headed to the fitting room.  Since I have lost weight, I hadn't bought a whole lot of summery clothes, and have needed some capris and short sleeve shirts.  I feel like I hit the jackpot today at our local Goodwill.  Five pairs of jeans/capris and four shirts, a "shelfy looking thing" and a cute little picture frame all for $38!  Oh and did I mention that a few of the pairs of capris still had the original store tags on them?!  Yeah for me!
Now to go put my "new" clothes in the wash and get my "shelfy looking thing" in it's place. 
Have I mentioned that I love thrift stores?! 

The bottom shelf looks crooked, but I just didn't have it in all the way.
Oh, and if you need a little Goodwill inspiration...check this out http://www.alittlejunkinmytrunk.blogspot.com/ or
http://thriftingdenver.org/

Ashamed?

I sat here this morning reading through the accounts of Jesus' last days as a human.  Something so big was about to happen that I will never understand, this side of Heaven.  But because of Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead, I am saved...I have eternal life, and He has prepared a place for me in Heaven. (John 14: 1-3) Oh how joyous I feel knowing that.

I was reading in John 20 where Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb.  She did not stop and think,  "what will people say about me if I run and tell them what I've just seen."   She immediately took off running to tell Simon Peter and the other disciple (whom some believe was John) what she had just seen. It made me start thinking about how we as humans in today's world are so careful as to not offend others, so we don't share our witness with them. 

What has Jesus done in your life?  Why not share that with others and give Him the glory.  Are you afraid of what others will think of you?  How does Jesus feel when we are afraid, embarrassed or ashamed to speak of Him?  I know I am guilty of this, and I have repeatedly asked Him for forgiveness and to help me "show Him off" more. 

It doesn't have to be some huge thing that He has helped you through, although He does this time and time again.  The other day I was late picking up my daughter and her friend from school...and as I drove to their school, every light I came to, turned green.  I thanked God for each one and smiled. (I'm sure the people driving next to me thought I was a lunatic driving with a huge smile on my face)  There have been other times I have hit every red light there is.  I often use red lights as my special time to talk to God, and thank Him for this special time He has created just for Him and me. 

If you are reading this, I would LOVE to hear what God has done for you in the past few days.  Open your eyes and see His work in your life.

My family, God's family

Once again I am humbled by being part of God's amazing family. 
Got up and filled the coffee maker...it didn't turn on.  No coffee for me.
As we do each Sunday morning, we went to church. I felt different as we drove to church (not because I didn't have my morning coffee), but I can't really explain it.  As I sat and listened to the sermon, I had tears in my eyes. (for those that know me, I DO NOT like to cry around anyone).  The sermon was about Jesus' amazing love for us.  Pastor Torrey did an amazing job explaining Jesus in the Garden.

 http://sc.fhview.com/sc_customplayer/seriesitems/1/118693  Click on Easter Series, The Garden.

 As we approach Easter, we should be thinking of what God did for us, not Easter bunnies and baskets.  He sent His Son, Jesus, (the reason we celebrate Christmas) to die for us on a cross.  He was perfect.  He didn't deserve that!  He had no sin.  But I do.  You do.  We all do.  None of us are perfect.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23
We do not get to Heaven by being "good" people, because none of us are all that "good".  (what is good anyway?)  Jesus died on that cross, taking on all our sin, so that we may have eternal life when we believe in Him, and live for Him.
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved! Romans 10:13
He gave us the ultimate gift, the least we can do is live for Him.
After church and running kids here and there, we had our financial class we've been doing for the past several months.  We pulled into the parking lot and I receive a text.  It's from a good friend, who asks if I am dropping Peyton off for Awana.  I tell her we already did and ask why.  She said she just wanted to see me.  Okay.  We go into our class.  Again, as the video is starting for the class, I'm feeling different.  I receive another text.  This time it's our daughter, asking if we can stop by church on the way home from our class, she has money for us.  I ask her what the money is for.  She said "just come by and get it".  I ask her who the money is from.  She said, "an angel".  By this time...we're 10-15 minutes into the video and the topic of the video is being able to give freely of God's money.  This is a subject that excites me.  I love to give.  Not always money because it's been pretty scarce lately, but I love to be able to help  and give of my time also.  I am not bragging here, God gifts us in different ways, and He has blessed me with this special gift.  Because of this past year's circumstances, we have not been able to do this as much as we'd like, and in fact, we've been on the other side of the giving more than we have felt comfortable.  It's a very humbling place to be.  So, again, I sit watching the video, thinking of the text, with tears in my eyes.  About 20 minutes later, I receive another text, from another good friend.  She asked if we could stop over at their house after our class.  I said yes.  The video ends and I have to go to the restroom to get ahold of my emotions and stop the leaky eyes. 
We leave the class, and stop at church.  Peyton hands us an envelope, with cash in it.  I asked her what it is for and she says, "it's for a new coffee maker, mom".  I again ask who it's from...she wouldn't tell me, but I guessed...and I guessed correctly.  So much for controlling my emotions and tears.  Again, they fill up.
So we leave church and head to our friends' house who asked us to stop by.  As we walk in their door, she hands us a large bag, with a coffee maker inside.  OKAY!  What is happening here?!  By this time I am bawling like a baby. 
The "feeling" I had felt all day long, is now explained.  God was very present with me throughout the day (as He is always), I was just being stubborn and not recognizing it.  God knew that Jason and I have been working really hard on our budget, trying to get things paid off so we can be prepared for any bumps in the road that may come our way again.  Ever since Jason was laid off, we have been very aware of every penny we spend and God also knew that a new coffee maker was not in our budget.  But with the help of some of our amazing friends, He allowed me to have a beautiful new coffee maker.
As for the cash I received to buy a new coffee maker, it is tucked neatly in a secret drawer, waiting for God to reveal to me who it needs to be passed on to.  Oh how it excites me to know that someone will be blessed by this, as I was when it was given to me.  After all, none of it is ours, it is all God's.  We will not take our material possessions with us to Heaven, nor will we need them. 
My prayer and dream is to some day have the extra money to share with those that need it, and for God to bless those that have blessed us in the past few years. 
Every morning, as I sip my coffee, I smile and thank my God...because that coffee, is from my Father in Heaven.  He fills my cup.