Saturday, June 30, 2012

Catching Up

I guess I'll stick with my numbers here and try to blog 7 or less times each month. Chasing a 17 month old gets crazy y'all but she is so much fun! This week has been full of finishing the month strong with our business, trips to Chick-Fil-A to get out of the heat, running around the house, and teaching Kennedy animals and their sounds. We also found that our afternoons are much easier if we go somewhere with Kennedy so we have taken adventures to Cabela's, Academy, and the Outlets in San Marcos. We are having a blast with our girl. Here are some pictures from the week:

Friday, June 15, 2012

Target

The Target in Kyle, TX closes way too early in my opinion. 10pm? I'm just getting started at 10pm! So tonight my late Target run turned into me joyriding around Kyle, TX praising the Lord with my moon roof open and windows down. Awww! So. Good. For. The. Soul!
"our God is greater! Our God is stronger! God you are higher than any other! Our God is HEALER awesome in power OUR GOD! OUR GOD!!"

I didn't need to buy anything at Target I was just going to look around and get out of the house. Obviously He is all we need. So refreshed!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

12

I've been a Christian for 12 years today! I will never ever forget the day! I remember feeling and knowing that I am free and the shackles are gone forever! Thank you Lord that you are working in me! You've been beyond patient with me and I'm going to see the plans you have for me through!

Where You Lead Me
What is life?
A thousand roads, a thousand ways
Why am I so afraid to move
I crossed the line
I'm stepping out so come what may
I give it all cause I'm drawn to You

As long as my heart is beating...
Where You lead me I will follow
Where You lead me I give my life away
Where You lead me I will follow
Forever and a day
Forever and a day

I can't deny Your very presence is my life
And why would I ever turn away
Cause deep inside I know that I cannot rely
On anything less than faith

As long as my heart is beating...
Where You lead me I will follow
Where You lead me I give my life away
Where You lead me I will follow
Forever and a day

This is all I'm dreaming of
To live completely in Your love

So this is life

Where You lead me I give my life away
Where You lead me I will follow
Forever and a day

Where You lead me I will follow
Where You lead me I give my life away
Where You lead me I will follow
Forever and a day
Forever and a day

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Grumpy & Tired Blessings

whew


What a day! I don't want you to feel sorry for me. Really I don't. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I told Kyle I was ready for us to start a family but today I'm not sure why I thought I was ready to start a family. I kid. Sort of.

We headed to Spicewood, TX for a family reunion today and it was great and not too hot and we ate some wonderful BBQ and saw half of Kyle's family. I love going out there every year. Kennedy took a 45 minute nap in the car on the way home and no other nap today.

At 5pm she brings me her swimsuit (cute) and we swim and play in the sprinkler outside. This was fun but there were tears from her when it was time to go inside. Once inside I take off her swim diaper that holds absolutely nothing and she pees all over my hand, arms, and legs because naturally I was changing her diaper on the living room floor. We both laugh.

By 615 she is absolutely done! She wants to nap but I know it's less than 2 hours until we start the bath/bed routine so I try to feed her dinner. Everything I made for her ended up on the floor and there were more tears. And tears.

From 630-8 there was: screaming, tearing up a book, pulling all toys out, and fits. Looking back now I think I should have just bathed her and put her to bed but I was so afraid (and tired) that if I did that she would wake up 45 minutes later and I would have to do bed time all over again.

She never ate anything other than a couple of spoonfuls of applesauce for dinner.

I had to put myself in time out and take a 10 minute break during which time Kyle had her laughing as they played with her zoo. As I sat there I was thinking about what a grump Kennedy was this evening and how terrible it is to put up with a tired baby. I was almost in tears myself when I began to wonder if God ever feels that way about me. Does He get tired of my whining, tears, moods, and poor choices? Does he frown when I pass up what He wants for me? Do I miss His blessings? Am I resting enough in HIM? 


I cannot ever express all that I have learned about God by being a mommy to Kennedy Kate but He reveals Himself to me through her more times than I can count. That little girl has blessed my life and teaches me so many lessons about me. I am so thankful for grumpy and tired blessings and I pray that God would just use me!


Monday, June 4, 2012

Don't Quit

I read this devotional last night and feel compelled to share it. Maybe this word is for you today? It sure was for me!

Galatians 6:9 NIV
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Devotional

Don't Quit

I've been a Christian for twenty-three years," Cheryl said. "I'm just not getting anywhere. I'm as weak as I was when I first accepted Christ as my Savior. I still fail. I just don't know if it's worth it." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she continued to talk about her failures. "By now I know all the right things to do, but I don't do them. Sometimes I deliberately do something mean-spirited or unkind. What kind of Christian am I?"

"Probably a growing Christian," I said.

A startled look appeared on Cheryl's face. "Growing? Did you hear--? "

"Yes, I heard. But if you weren't growing, you wouldn't lament your failures. You'd be satisfied about your spiritual level or tell yourself how good you are."

"But I'm so discouraged, and I fail God so many times."

I went on to tell Cheryl she was correct--that she had failed. All of us do at times. If we're not careful, we allow the devil to point to what we haven't accomplished and where we have been weak. When that happens, it's easy to feel bad or want to give up.

That's not the way of the Spirit. No matter how we mess up our lives, God doesn't give up on us. The Spirit constantly nudges us.

We can allow our thoughts to dwell on what we haven't done or how spiritual we ought to be after all these years in our Christian faith. If we focus on what we're not or what we haven't accomplished, we are allowing the devil to make advances on the battlefield of our minds.

"Don't quit. Don't give up." That's the message we need to hear. I think of Isaiah 43:1b-2: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you...; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you."

This is God's promise. He doesn't promise to take us completely out of troubles or hardships, but He does promise to be with us as we go through them. And when God is with us, what is there to worry about?

Pray: God, despite my failures, You are with me, encouraging me not to give up. Please help me to remember that, with Your help, I can win. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2005 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/Gal6.9.NIV