Happy Holidays and Taking a Blog Break...

Hi All!

I've decided to take a little break from blogging to focus on the upcoming Holiday Season. I plan to hang out with the boys, wrap gifts and enjoy some time with our extended families. I also hope to do lots of reading, work on some other writing I'm doing and catch up on my classwork (which isn't nearly as fun as the other stuff...but necessary)!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Happy Holidays!




**Photo Credit - Will Treelighter (magic-tree.org)

Saying Grace...

Being Grateful for what I've been given is a central theme in my life. I've come a long way and can look back at things that have happened in the past and recognize that there was a reason. I think God allows situations in our lives to happen so that we will grow in our relationship with Him. It's hard to be grateful sometimes though, isn't it? I could write a lot about this but I'll save it for another time.

I feel like I have a strong personal relationship with God and I'm continuing to grow and learn everyday. However, an area that I haven't been successful in is really sharing that with my boys. I talk about God and hope that I'm modeling my life in a way that shows my love and relationship with Him. But, we're not good about saying prayers before bedtime and saying Grace before meals. I talk to them a lot about being grateful for things and sharing what we have with others and we really do that! But, this one area is what I'm working toward to help grow and strengthen their relationship with God as well.

About Grace...I can write some really poetic prayers sometimes...some deep thoughts about my faith...but I'm not good at speaking prayers out loud. This would be one reason Grace before meals has not happened often. Kobe and I talked about this at dinner the other night and together we came up with the idea to write down short prayers we think of or find and things we're grateful for. As we write these things down we will start adding them to a jar. We're calling it our Gratitude Jar and we will pull out one or more of the slips of paper and read it as our "Grace" before each meal. It's a start...and... something the kids can be involved in as well.



In searching around for some ideas for our Gratitude Jar I found the following sites:

OUR PINATA has a cute idea for a Gratitude Jar.

PRISM, has a really cute idea for a Blessings Jar.


And finally, here are some simple prayers that will be going into our Gratitude Jar. I'd love for you to share any short prayers of gratitude that you say!!

Thank You God

For the golden corn and the apples on the trees

For the butter and the honey for our tea

For fruits and nuts and berries that grow beside the way

For birds and bees and flowers We give our thanks today

Blessings on our meal

And on our family!

The Lord is good to me

and so I thank the Lord

for giving me the things I need

the sun and the rain and the apple seed.

The Lord is good to me.

Amen!

Let us pause before we eat

and think about the ones in need

of food and shelter and of love,

please bless us all dear God above.

Amen.

Thank you for the food we eat,

Thank you for the world so sweet,

Thank you for the birds that sing,

Thank you God for everything.

Thank you, God, for loving me.

Thank you for my family.

Help me to learn more each day

To be kind at work and play.

Amen.

Treating yourself after a Mammogram...or anything that is scary!

Many of you know I just had my first mammogram this week...on Monday. I still don't know the results but I'm hoping no news is good news at this point. It's been a long week of waiting and I hope to know something tomorrow.

I was pretty nervous about having this procedure done. Well, as many of you advised...it was no big deal. No pain at all and VERY little discomfort. All in all a positive experience for someone who had put it off because of nerves. Thank you for your kind words and and encouragement...it was very much appreciated.

I'm all about treating myself when I've done something hard or scary and this was no exception. The day of the Mammogram (right after, in fact) I went to Bath and Body Works and bought myself some of the new Twilight Woods lotion. I don't know if the name of this scent has anything to do with the Twilight books or movies but somehow the scent seems fitting so I'm pretending it does.

Guys...if you're reading this...sorry...but keep reading because this is a really good idea for your wives or girlfriends...) I had purchased a bra a couple of weeks ago and it happened to come in the mail this week. So, I decided from now on when I have my yearly mammogram I'm going to purchase one or two nice bras to commemorate the event. I'm sure someone has already thought of this idea...but it was a new one to me so I'm claiming it.

So, treat yourself when you do something you don't really want to do... like getting a Mammogram. Treat yourself in a way that is comforting to you...buy a latte if you don't normally do that...pick up a cute new journal...get a babysitter and spend some time alone....visit the library for a couple of hours and shop the books there...take a long bubble bath with the door locked and instruct the kiddos to leave you alone (for the record this NEVER works in my house)! Just think comfort!

This is my month for getting some things done that I've been putting off and the Mammogram was first on the list. Now, on to the rest of the list. More Thanksgiving Prayers and Traditions coming next.

And the winner is...

...Tammy from Flat Creek Farm!

Thank you, Tammy, for always taking the time to visit and leave such kind comments. I'm so glad to have gotten to know you over the past year...if you will email me your address I'll send out your devotional right away!

If you haven't visited Tammy's blog you should take a peek at what life is like on Flat Creek Farm...you won't be disappointed. Her Thursday Walkabouts are really beautiful. Click here to see one of my favorites. I hope you'll pay her a visit.

Multitude Mondays - 1000 Blessings...

There is a blog that I read daily called Holy Experience. I get so much encouragement, food for thought and wisdom from Ann. I have especially enjoyed her posts about Journaling as a
Spiritual Discipline.

I have decided to join Ann on her journey to 1000 gifts on Multitude Mondays. Here I will begin to intentionally list my blessings each Monday.

Also, don't forget that I'm celebrating my blogiversary tonight with a drawing for one of my favorite devotionals. Just leave your comment here if you'd like to be in the drawing.


The first of my 1000 blessings are...


#1 My Family

#2 The experiences I've had to bring me closer to God

#3 The peacefulness of falling leaves

#4 Courage to do what needs to be done

#5 Hanging out with Kobe and having a great conversation

#6 Kylers giggles

#7 Gods strength when I'm scared

#8 Authors who inspire me and encourage me to go deeper...

#9 A grand old house as a workplace

#10 Learning along with my boys

Expanding Your Territory...

How do you do that? How do you look beyond your own issues, stresses, debt, work schedule and even your search for fun and really see where you can help someone else? Show someone else Gods love through your actions. It's hard to do. It is for me anyway. I get caught up in my own life and feel like I don't have time for others outside of my little family unit sometimes. But, some part of me always wants to reach out. I haven't ever been the type of person to lead. I'm more of a helper...an assistant...a servant, if you will. A servant sounds so lowly and degrading doesn't it? Isn't that what we're supposed to do, though? Serve others. I think that is what God wants me to do. I have thought so for a very long time.

The first time this servant mentality became apparent to me was very early in my faith walk. It was probably more than 12 or 13 years ago and my cousins Denise and Marsha and I went to Carthage Missouri and visited the Precious Moments Chapel. I decided to buy a bible at the gift shop. The artist who designs the Precious Moments figurines and artwork, Samuel Butcher, was at the shop that day and I asked him to sign my bible. He signed the bible for me and wrote the following scripture:

^{Isaiah 58:10}

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

I didn't tell the other two girls but I spent the rest of the evening thinking about this scripture and how it felt right for me. It put into words what had been in my heart...helping others. Well, life moved on, as it does, and I never really did anything big with this revelation but it was always there in the back of my mind. I have never forgotten the scripture and have referred to it many times as my relationship with God has deepened. I've tried to live my life with this thought...How can I show the love of God in my actions? I haven't always been successful. I've had my selfish moments. I've also been a little too persistent in my offer of help and was turned away. But there have been moments...moments when I wasn't really intentionally looking to help someone and it happened...my territory expanded.

Expanding my territory. The gratitude journey I'm taking this month helps with that expansion. When I'm grateful for the blessings I've been given and see the joy in the little things, I'm able to expand and see beyond my own boundaries. I hope you can see that in your own life too.

A Prayer for expanding your own territory...

Whatever I do, things great or small
Whatever I speak or frame.
The glory may I seek in all,
Do all in Gods name.

--Anonymous

photo courtesy of flickr.com

I missed my Anniversary...

...My Blogiversary...that is!

I've been blogging for two years and really actively blogging since October 2008. I have posted 150 times. Amazing! I've loved every minute of it.

So, like many Bloggers before me, I'm having a giveaway to celebrate! I will be giving the lucky commenter a copy of Solo: The Message Remix Devotional by Eugene Peterson. Those of you who have read my blog for awhile will recognize this devotional since I've written about it several times and many of my posts have been inspired by what I've learned from reading this little book. I know you will enjoy it as much as I do.

How to enter? Just leave me a comment and I'll randomly choose the winner on Monday, November 9th! If you're reading this on Facebook, you can either click all the way over here to the blog or just leave a comment under the post on Facebook. You will be entered either way!

Thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog. It's still amazing to me that people actually come and visit, read and even leave comments.

Thank you!!

November Gratitude...

Early November. A brief lull before the rush of the Holiday Season begins. A time to think about what we have to be thankful for. I have much thankfulness...Kids..Husband...My Job...My Husbands Business...A Comfortable Home...Abundance of Food...Our Health...I could go on.

I am blessed! But, do you ever feel like there is supposed to be something more? You read all my blessings above...what else could I possibly need? Nothing...Except a closer relationship with God and a clearer vision of where I'm supposed to go with the gifts I've been given. Prayer is always the answer when I have a question. Continued prayer on my part to find the answer and I ask for your prayers to make the vision a little less hazy for me.

This month, as the title of my blog states, I'm going to Embrace My Blessings. I'll be sharing with you the little blessings often overlooked and hopefully big ones too. I will also share some beautiful Prayers of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving traditions that have inspired me to go on this little gratitude journey during the month of November.

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

- Samuel F. Pugh

A Not So Spooky Halloween Story...

Preparation for Halloween Night was in full swing the weeks before October 31st. Preparation like decorating the Fall Tree, Pumpkin Carving, Costume planning and School Parties. All the preparation was for that one night...All Hallows Eve.

That night there was a slight chill in the air and a gentle breeze. The moon was almost full and provided some light to walk by. Those boys were so excited about Halloween night. Their MeMe was visiting and they were happy to share their Halloween festivities with her.

On Halloween night the neighborhood was full of ghosts, vampires, pumpkins and THE SUPER MARIO Brothers. There were a few Mario's and Luigi's to be seen around the neighborhood, but I believe my boys were the cutest. As doors opened and candy buckets and bowls were emptied of their contents, you could hear things like, "Oh, it's Mario", "What a cute Mario and Luigi", "Look, it's Luigi". Over and over these phrases were uttered.

These boys were full of themselves that night...full of pride in their choice of costumes...and VERY full of sugar...they are sweet boys, you know!

The older boy (Luigi) and one of his neighborhood friends spent most of the night ahead of the rest of the group running as fast as they could to each house to get the most candy. The younger one (Mario) had only been trick or treating one other time and it had left his memory. He was only two years old that year. After receiving candy at the second house he muttered, "I don't want to go home". "You want to go home?", I said. "I DON'T want to go home", he repeated. It only took knocking on two doors for him to realize that he liked this...this getting candy thing.

Two hours later, I hear the little one say, "I want to go home" as he is dragging his very heavy candy bag on the street. I knew what he was saying then. He was tired.

Fun was had by all and it was a good night!

MeMe and Little Mario

Our pumpkins...

View of the moon from our back deck...

Kobe and the pumpkins after the carving is complete...

Luigi and Mario...