Alive Again

When did life become so complicated?
Moments ago problems weren’t real problems. Problems were petty.
Now they come in bigger sizes with much worse shapes.
Shapes of sickness and suffering.
Shapes of death and seeming defeat.
Sizes that cause us to lie awake at night.
Sizes that weigh so heavily our breath catches.
It catches and we wonder how we can ever breathe again.
“The Lord God…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being.”
Alive again.

Treasure Hunting

I {heart} thrift stores! I don't think I had ever been in one until I worked at MS Baptist Youth Weeks at Gulfshore Baptist Assembly when I was in college. I believe the first trip I made to one was to find 80's clothes for a theme night we were having. Interesting. You could just smell the Aquanet.

Anyway...I've loved thrift stores ever since! I recently went exploring to try to find some good ones where I live. I love to find household items (picture frames, knick-knacks, old furniture) to give new life to. (I haven't been too successful with the old furniture yet. I have to build up some confidence before I try my hand at sanding and painting!) I found some "treasures" a couple of weeks ago. I got a wicker-like laundry basket for a couple of bucks. I love to find baskets to store my babies' toys in. They look better than big plastic containers! (Which, by the way, I have those all over the place too.) I also got a couple of empty frames--no backing, no glass. They now are part of a wall display in my living room that I'm very proud of. So cute! I will have to post pictures soon.

I'll give you an example of a furniture project I was not brave enough to try. I found a cool nightstand at Goodwill for 5 bucks. It was pretty big and had two drawers. It was very beat up, but I thought maybe I could sand it and paint it a cool color. I wish you could have heard my husband laugh when I used the words "sand" and "paint". Granted, my track record with crafts and projects like that gives him no reason to put any confidence in me in that area. I chickened out. Maybe next time!

I do want to give you a link to an amazing lady who is awesome in the thrifting and re-purposing arena. Her name is Myra, and she has two blogs called My Blessed Life and The Casabella Project. My Blessed Life is an encouraging read for Christian women striving to be Godly wives and mothers. The Casabella Project will give you amazing ideas about crafting and decorating.

Click here for a virtual thrifting trip with Myra to get some cool ideas for a project you may want to try! Hope you enjoy!

The God Life

The good life. I've heard that expression a million times. I'm sure you have too. It's what everybody wants. Good family. Good house. Good job. Good car. Good finances. But, even when those things seem good, life sometimes isn't. I have so many friends (whether face-to-face friends or online friends) who are experiencing less than what our culture calls "the good life." My friends Brooke and Brad have a 3 month old baby girl named Rylee who was just diagnosed with an incurable genetic disorder. (www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryleemarlar) The Whittakers at www.howcantheyhear.org have a four year old, Susana, who is dying of cancer. The McRaes at www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate just found out their kindergarten daughter Kate's cancer is back.

Life is not good. Even at it's best, life is not good. We live in a fallen world. Romans 8:20-22 says:

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."

Humans are fallen. Nature is fallen. Not one thing on this earth was left untouched by sin. But God, through Christ, will make all things new (2 Cor. 5:17). Life is not good. But, God is. God is good. In Matt. 19:17 Jesus says, "There is only One who is good." The only true good life is the God life. It's the only life that can say, "My baby is sick, but God is good." "My daughter is dying, but God is good." "My family is broken, but God is good." Because, the God life doesn't hinge on people or stuff or circumstances. It is a life that is hung on one statement, "There is only One who is good."

I am beyond thankful today for the goodness of God. My home is peaceful. My marriage is strong. My babies are healthy. My cabinets are full. But, I know there will come a time when life may not seem so "good." I pray that God will give me the faith to know then more deeply than I do now that HE IS GOOD.


*Please be praying for Rylee, Susan, and Kate. Visit their blogs and websites to see the amazing gift of faith God is giving these families.

Count Your Blessings

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done!

"Count Your Blessings" by Johnson Oatman

1. Relationship with the Lord
2. My wonderful husband
3. Andy
4. Ava
5. Christian parents who raised me in a godly family
6. 3 beautiful sisters
7. Church family
8. My home
9. Health in my family
10. Teaching Sunday school
11. The ability to play the piano
12. A voice to sing
13. Laughter
14. Food to cook
15. Clothes to wash
16. A bed to make
17. Toys to pick up
18. Diapers to put on my babies
19. Andy's kisses
20. Ava's toothless smiles
21. Naps
22. Conversations with Brandon
23. Quietness
24. Chocolate
25. Long, hot showers

I could go on and on. I needed to put this day in perspective.

Off Days

Do you ever have days that just seem to be "off"? Today is already one of those days for me. I have a ton to do today! (And yet here I am.) I was making my grocery list and planning my menu for the week this morning when my baby boy decided he wanted to use the potty. He doesn't do that much! So, I took him. After that was unsuccessful, we went to his room to get him dressed. He got dressed, and we turned on his Bible story songs CD. He wanted to get in his bed. He got in and laid down. I told him I was going to go work on the grocery list and asked if he wanted to go with me or stay in his room. He said he wanted to stay. I left and went to finish the list. A few minutes later I noticed he was being really quiet (had the baby monitor on). I went back to his room, and he was laying in the bed asleep! Before 11:00 this morning! I couldn't believe it. Naptime here is 1:00 pm. So, needless to say, we're a little "off" today! My whole day seems weird now. I'm a little hooked into a schedule when it comes to my babies' routines. We'll see how the rest of the day goes.

Being Still

Never in my life have I valued quietness like I do now. By nature, I'm an extrovert. I thrive on being around other people. Yet now that I'm a mother I cherish quiet, still moments. I love my family. I love the sound of Andy galloping down the hallway. I love the sound of his laugh when his daddy tackles him and tickles him. I love the sound of him singing "Jesus Loves Me." I love to hear my sweet Ava "talking" to me with her coos and sighs. But, I also love the still moments when they are tucked in bed and I'm alone. It's really the first time in my life that I've craved time alone. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God." Way too many times I've just been still. Period. The other day the Lord reminded me during one of my precious quiet moments that there is a second part to that verse: "Know that I am God." I pray that the Lord would continue to remind me of that until I get it. I pray that I would use my quiet moments wisely to remember that He is God, and He deserves my complete devotion in the quiet moments as well as the chaotic ones.

Grocery Day!

So, today was supposed to be grocery day. We're out of just about everything. But instead I took Andy and Ava and went to my Memaw and Papaw's house. We spent the day there with my sister and her husband and little girl. Andy had so much fun outside playing on the swing set. It finally feels nice enough to be outside! Now I'm back home and we're going to have to ration milk for breakfast in the morning. I've been working on my list all night. I thought I had it finished last night, but I discovered more deals and coupons so I've tweaked it. We'll see how successful I am tomorrow. I love to find a good deal! I'm a little obsessed with coupons. I go through phases. I haven't done it for a while (had my hands full being pregnant and having an infant!), but I'm gradually easing back into it. I found some good deals at www.coupons.com and www2.kelloggs.com. Kroger also has coupons to download to your Kroger card at www.kroger.com. Maybe these will help you in your grocery endeavors this week!
P.S. Kroger doesn't double coupons that are downloaded onto your card.