~~~My Friend~~~

My new palm sander is my friend...

Working on my kitchen floor...

Very excited about the preliminary results...

Very...

If I didn't need sleep...it would be the plan for all night...

Michael Jackson

So - What a difference a week makes...I was giving a really cool chick my idea of a CD that would soundtrack the Conference...it featured a Michael Jackson montage...after I sent off my choices - I thought of 'You Are Not Alone' - but did not forward it to her. She made this hysterical CD...it's permenantly in my computer

THEN:

Changes come - I usually hate hate hate and avoid change. But Change has a way of saying - 'Hello? I am not going away - you have to pay attention to this.'

My oldest sons have both spoken. I really value their input and love them more than my heart can ever express. My response to both of them has been - God will be glorified - when He wants to change MY PATH - He will show me.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. I began it praying and at the end of my day - sat at my desk and opened my 'Ending Your Day Right' Devotional by Joyce Meyer.

Wowowowowowowow - God is glorious. And I thought that the timely anonymous donation today in the mailbox that stated: 'A Donation To Help In Your Work' was God's affirmation...but then I opened this book with His words in it. This is what it said:

MAY 1 ~ YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he...(has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love and kindness - trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him). Psalm 91:14

God wants you to know you are not alone, satan wants you to believe you are all alone, but you are not. He wants you to believe no one understands how you feel, but that is not true.

In addition to God being with you, many believers know how you feel and understand what you are experiencing mentally and emotionally.

As God's child, you can claim His wonderful promises. No matter what you are facing or how lonely you may feel, know that you are not alone.

As you meditate on God tonight, draw strength and encouragement from knowing He is always faithful and He will never forsake you.


Wowowowowow

The Demise of Kitchen Carpet...

My Kitchen ~ This picture comes from last June - Jesse's graduation ... Some of my favorite women are here:

Vanessa...Heather...Colleen...Rachel and Christina...

Vanessa was mad at me then...but she got over it...with us - anger disapates...and love remains...Heather...was pregnant...wowowowow...now a Mommy to Liam...Colleen...didn't know she was going to BE pregnant...big surprise...Rachel...acting like she is working...we all know better...and Christina...knowing that my bright idea of a Turkey dinner on Graduation Day was waaayyy more than I bargained for.

My kitchen has been a work in progress - when we moved in - the walls had blue/purple crazy flowered wallpaper with blue/purple plaid border...whoever did it must have been high - or colorblind. The cupboards were an ugly finish...and there was carpet on the floor.

I hate carpet on kitchen floors. There should be a law against it. I hate carpet on kitchen floors...

But first - we had to strip the wallpaper - to paint. It wasn't easy...it sucked actually. I would watch these home improvement shows and it always looked really easy. But for us - it was LABOR. Then I had to talk Gordy into painting the cupboards.

He doesn't have my vision. But once he began to see the end result - he got into it and painted into the late late night.

But for 2 years more - we haven't done anything with the floors. I have pushed - ever so gently...well really I nagged - let's just pull it up...it will be soooo cool. And anyone who knows Gordy - knows that he is a LITTLE anal about floors...so I finally got the section in front of the door - it looked like hell for about 2 months...then last weekend - we just pulled it all up...The first layer of carpet - then the second layer of carpet - then the first layer of linoleum...followed by 2 more layers...then wood floor...heavy sigh...

But now - I am looking at getting the 'uckumpucky' that was beneath the linoleum.

The kids are helping...they are putting in requests for their own tool belts...but some of it - I am doing by myself...on my knees...

You can do alot of praying when you are on your knees for another purpose...I find myself praying 'without ceasing' right now...

It's interesting watching the floor come to life - under the uckumpucky...I have a feeling that it is going to be a week of change...in many ways...

'The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.' ~ Maya Angelou

Get Reappointed...

All of us become disappointed when we have plans that fail, hopes that don't materialize and goals that are not reached. When this continues for a while, we become discouraged, a condition that can lead to depression if not handled properly.

When I get discouraged, I must make a decision to adapt and adjust, to take a new approach, to just keep going despite my feelings. That's when I must remember that the Greater One resides within me and decide I won't let discouragement keep me from realizing my dreams and goals.

When I feel discouraged - it is sometimes difficult to be positive. That's when I must rise above the discouragement through Him who lives in me. He is always available to help me find renewed direction and hope. I try to remember - 'When I'm discouraged, get encouraged ~ and when I'm disappointed, get reappointed.'

'Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.' ~~~ Deuteronomy 1:21

Those Days ~ These Boys ~ These Days

Those Days - were so predictable. Jesse and Joe were always ready for fun and adventure. They are the boys in between everyone else. These pics are from our trip to Edmonton way back when.

Here we are again - celebrating another 'birthday weekend' with the boys. Only now 'these boys' are young men ~ 19 and 16.

Cool Joe - with Ryan. I love those eyes and that smile. We always say to live a day in Joe's world is a good place to be. Joe sees nothing bad in anything - people, circumstances, food (haha), music...etc. Joe really is the 'baby' of the family - he would still have us tie his shoes for him - if we only would. I am so proud of his calm, centered self. Isaiah 26:3 tells you when you keep your mind on the Lord, you will have 'perfect and constant peace.'


Patient Jesse - with Ben. Jesse is such a personal perfectionist ~ so very patient and justice minded - and loves his family desperately. Jesse is the 'golden one' ~ the one that God poured all the talent, creativity, agility, atheletism and IQ into. On the cusp of becoming a wonderful, wonderful man - that even he can't fully realize yet. Don't be so unforgiving of yourself... Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Psalm 27:14


For my absopositively wondermous sons on their birthday weekend: Sometimes you may feel discouraged, miserable and depressed. In those times you need to take a close look at what's been going on in your mind.

By focusing on the goodness of God and waiting, hoping and expecting Him to encourage you and fill you with His peace and joy, you can overcome negative thoughts that drag you down.

Think and speak positively. Begin believing right now that you are about to see God's goodness in your lives. Wait, hope and expect His blessing to be abundant in your lives.

My Girl

My girl...from a shy, quiet little one - who just wanted to be included in everything her brothers did...to a confident young athlete...then to over coming enormous obstacles that would have put many people down for the count.

I love this first picture...running away from the waves...testing the water's edge ~ to...


Running fast and furious - full sprint into the ocean. Fearless ~ to...
Laughing and being carefree in the face of it all.

These 3 pictures - for me - signify her caution and strength and happiness...

'Those who hope in the LORD wll renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.' Isaiah 40:31

Wow

Wow - we just got done watching 'Lord of the Rings' triology. It is interesting explaining it to the little ones. I don't really think I am even qualified to explain 1/2 of the shows...but I try. I hope that they don't repeat my interpretations to anyone.

But the network ran the shows with 'limited interruptions'...meaning fewer commercial breaks. After all the intense battle sequences - I was thankful for the happy touchy feely sequences towards the end of the show...then came this odd commercial.

The commercial cuts back and forth from a white collar worker sitting on a toilet in a public restroom 'rigging himself up' to inject some drug...to Christ being nailed on the cross and crucified. It was really odd. In the end - it was a commercial for a local church - stating 'Christ died for you so you wouldn't have to.' My kids were stunned. From the sunny glowing touching wrap up of Lord of the Rings - to a guy shooting up and Christ's being crucified. It was an odd in your face interpretation of the parallel between turning to Jesus - unfortunately - not very well done.

Wow....now I am all jazzed up to begin about my takes on media literacy...but for now - I have Jesse wanting the laptop....