Costa Rica

Ok, it is official Hannah is signed up to go in June.

So if anyone has any cleaning/babysitting etc. That Hannah can do to raise money. With Ron being out on disability the timing kind of stinks. But we are hoping to be able to do our part after tax rebate time. If you have any idea's how to raise funds or anything like that let us know. We have to have a good chuck in 30 days, so we need to do some work before then. I welcome any and all idea's. I have prayed about this trip and talked to one of Ron's cousins who did several mission trips to this area. And feel a peace about it. If we can get the finance part worked out.

She is so very excited. I still have some reservations as a parent, but I think that is normal.

Thank you all so much.

Just let me tell you!!!

Let me tell you how GRRREAT (picture Tony the Tiger voice) my God is.

I have been overwhelmed time and time again by how he takes care of me and my family.

With Ron having surgery things in our house have been well hectic. For me anyway. I am the worrier the planner you could say. I want to make sure everything that I can possibly control is in order and ready to go. For the most part this works out well. But in doing so I sometimes forget that I am not in charge. I forget if I would turn things over to God that I wouldn't have such the headache. Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying God is going to call the short term disability people or stay home with my 2 year old while I am at the hospital. But he will "If it's his will" allow things to go smoother, let the pieces fit together so to say. I have been praying for weeks about this surgery and all it entails. As have many others. I was nervous. Ron seemed very calm yesterday. I prayed over him and kissed him before they wheeled him out and all of the sudden the calm hit me. I can't thank you prayer warriors enough. Because I know some of my friends/family were not only praying for Ron's surgery, but for me to get through it without getting an ulcer from worry. And it worked. I had a peace that it was going to be ok. And it was. The surgeon came back in last night around 6-6:30pm and told us that the section he removed was really inflamed and irritated. He said that everything hooked back up great and he didn't think he should have any other issues besides the normal healing from this surgery. Last night he was only able to eat ice chips, and today he may start to get to drink a little today. He won't get to eat for a few days yet. They don't want to jump start his system too soon. That is why we don't know how long he will be in the hospital it all depends on how long it takes to get things going again.

But the other thing that God has blessed me with is friends and family. I know he has used people to help me through this time. I am so grateful by the meals that were brought to us. By my Dad who is staying with the kids. And in the mail last night was a visa gift card from a contest I had won. It will come in handy to pay for the extra gas to go back and forth to the hospital. God is really watching out for me/us. OH and this morning as I am talking to my boss' about the surgery and about leaving at noon today to go be with Ron. They tell me they have decided to pay me for yesterday and this afternoon so I don't have to worry about the paycheck. I mean really God has blessed me beyond thought. I never dreamed of them paying me. But it will help so much. They said consider it Christmas.

I don't like to preach to people. If you don't have a relationship with God you are missing out on some serious blessings. I am not talking gift cards or extra hours on your paycheck. I am talking about a peace and love that you know from no other source. I know you get love from family etc. But they are human and as much as we like to think it as unconditional. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tells us we can be forgiven of our sins and the slate wiped clean. Now that is unconditional. I am just so overwhelmed by this feeling of love and peace that I had to share it with you all.

Thank you to those who have let Christ live through you and bless me!!!!

Mistakes

^{NIV Version}

^{1st Corinthians 10:11} These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Same Verses:

The Message

^11-12These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

We all make mistakes. Not a one of is perfect, although sometimes we would like to think we are. I know I am in no way perfect. What I do know is that I was created in the image of THE Perfect One. And that everyday is a test to be like Him. We all have different struggles. Some may be drugs and alcohol. Other's it may be money or food. Some may even have issues with fidelity. No matter what your stumbling point, I found these verses comforting in my Bible studying today. And it left such an impact on my heart that I have been thinking about it all day and felt the need to blog about it. If someone that happens to read this needed to hear these verses then praise the Lord that I listened to His calling.

If you are not being tempted, then my friend watch out cause the devil has already won that battle. The biggest part of these verses that stuck out is God is faithful. We will fall and stumble but he will always be there and will not give us more then we can handle.

I know several people who look at that verse and relate it too bad things that happen to us, that he will not give us more then we can bear. But I don't think it has to do with that at all. I think it has all to do with temptation. Yes we are creatures of free will, but he knows where our heart is and he is going to let the devil tempt us, but not more then we can't say no to and rebuke.

I have a deep calling in my heart to help our teenagers prevent teenage pregnancy. And this verse keeps coming into my head when I think of it. Yes you will be tempted but you CAN get through it without failing.. I am excited about the chance to go with some of our youth to a program called Silver Ring Thing. (www.silverringthing.com) I want them to know even if they have fallen they can start over. Isn't that just the most wonderful gift. That we can be forgiven and get a second chance? What ever it is my friends that is tempting you I hope you find a way to overcome and become closer to God. It is a long journey, but such a rewarding one. Nothing else can offer the final reward that God does.

Ok I am getting off my soapbox now, back to your regularly schedule programing!

An Everyday Heart

Since most of you are friends with me on Face Book you have seen in the last couple weeks that I am trying to be thankful for what I have. Well in SS class yesterday one of the questions in our study hit home. Maybe not in class but later in the day as I reflected on it. I am paraphrasing here,

"How would your life be different if you let God a little more into your heart?"

By our own human standard we all wanted to say, he was in our heart fully. But the great thing about these women that I grow in Christ with is we all agreed that we could all let Him in a little more.

There are areas in my heart that I hold back, sometimes not even by a conscious choice.

I learned several years go after holding on to some pain for way too long. That the longer you hold that pain and hurt in your heart, the longer you are letting that person control you.

With that being said it is not something you can just do on your own. I find even though I have tried through the years to "Let go and let God" I screw it up. That's right me. My God is always there, always holding out his hand. Just waiting for me to allow him to embrace me. To take away the hurt, pain and fear that consumes me. It is such a relief to turn it all over to him, yet I try to hang on to it for so long. Trying to fix it for myself. Maybe it's pride. Maybe just stubbornness.

However life is always better after I turn it over. You would think being a grown woman I would learn that by now. Ummm NOPE! Still struggle with turning it all over to Him.

Money issues, relationship issues, family issues. He wants to help with it all. He wants to take the burden. Why don't we let him?

One of my friends wrote that the true show of faith is not in the Highs and Lows of living this life, but the middle. Are you praising him during that time? The mundane parts of life. Are you turning over the "everyday problems"? Sure we all pray when people we love are sick. We also rejoice and give praise when we see miracles. But what about that middle? Do we let him in on that part? I think my goal this holiday season is to let him into that space of my heart. The everyday.

Brick between the eyes..

Do you ever feel like God has to give you a brick between the eyes before you get something?

I DO!!!!

There have been many times that I have argued with my Lord only to give in and do what is right. I guess it is human nature. Most of the arguments from me start with something along the lines of "but what will they think". Ok I know that we shouldn't care what other people think. However it is something that is our nature I think. We start when we are still small. We want to fit in. No one wants to be the one to stick out, a thought that increases by leaps and bounds when we hit teenagism. *yep that's my new word*

Now you may not have been the one that had to have the clothes that was popular, or played sports, or listened to the same music. But for the most part you probably didn't do too much to stick out either. No one wants to be made fun of.

On the way to work/school this morning a song came on K-Love. As I was singing along, without even realizing I was doing it I was raising a hand in praise. After the song Hannah asked "Why do some people do that?" of course I had to ask do what? "Raise their hands when they sing". OH THAT......

Well it is a way of worship I tell her, I remind her how it speaks of raising hands to praise in the Bible. I asked her what her thoughts were on it. And she told me she has seen me do it in church along with some other people, but never really felt lead that way. She also wanted to know if I felt weird sometimes doing it in church if there was no one else doing it also.

Well honestly NO! I don't look around in church to see if other people are holding their hands up or if they are clapping. If I feel like I need to do those things I do.

It has not always been that way.

One of my dear friends was moving out of state and during one Sunday service before they left the Lord was telling me to get on my knees and prayer with her before we left the church. I argued over and over in my mind and heart through the whole service. What would everyone think? What if she rejected me? Guess what she didn't, we knelt and prayed and we were both touched beyond what we can do, God blessed us both in that moment.

Later as I was retelling the story to my hubby, his simple reaction was my brick between the eyes moment. "Well if you can't kneel and pray at church, where else should you do it" OH LORD!! Yeppers that one got me. He was right of course. *yes honey I said you were right fell free to print this blog post and frame it*

I too often let others determine how I worshiped.

As I was thinking about blogging about this or to just let it go. A friend of mine from High School posted a link to a new blog her brother is writing.

http://thoughtsofaworshipper.blogspot.com/

Again it was like the brick between my eyes, telling me to write what was on my heart.

I may have a big bruise on my forehead, but I will praise the Lord that he cares enough about lil ole me to throw the brick!

Trip Abroad

The other night as I was cooking dinner/washing dishes (oh I miss a dishwasher). Hannah was there helping me which she often does. That is the time we talk about school, friends, church, my work, anything really. I think we have a great relationship and she tells me a lot about her life. I know there is stuff she won't tell me, but all I can do is to be there when she is ready to talk. This night her Spanish class was on her mind. Apparently during said class her teacher got a packet of information on a class trip. Which I am also told the foreign language class takes once a year during the summer. This years trip is to Costa Rica. Ok is possibly to Costa Rica. She continues that the teacher doesn't have all the details yet but that it looks like the trip would cost $2000.00 for travel, hotel, meals etc. I think she expected me to freak. Instead I said ok get me all the details and we will call your dad and tell him to come up with half and we will try to come up with half. I wish I would have taken a picture. I emailed the teacher the next day and asked for all the details as soon as she gets them.

See I have a different situation then probably some of the parents. My ex lives out of state, he also refused to sign passport papers last time we tried. We have to have him sign a notarized letter or be there in person. I have been praying about this. I hope if this comes to be he sees how much it would mean to her. Please my friends and family pray with me on this.

I told her this trip and the cost of or at least spending money may fall on her shoulders too. She will have to save her birthday, christmas and any other money. And she may find herself babysitting, cleaning windows or just anything she can to earn extra cash.

I hope this is something she gets to do. It is a once in a lifetime chance I think. And if possible I am gonna do all in my power to make it happen. In that same breath. This trip scares me. Hannah is a traveler, she has literally gone from the Mexico border to Niagara Falls, but it has always been with me or my folks. She is a good girl and listens well. It is everyone else I am scared of. All of the travel advisories. I know the teachers would not go some place they didn't think was safe. But I am a mom. I guess the whole point of blogging about this is to call prayer. I will keep everyone updated when I know more.

Thank you to all.

Chance at free money.

I know we can all use a chance at extra cash. So I am passing on a chance to win a $100.00 visa gift card. Go check out this blog post http://suburbanturmoilreviewstoo.blogspot.com/2010/10/tell-me-about-your-favorite-annual.html

It's easy just leave a comment with your Christmas breakfast and you are entered to win.

Now I am going to enter twice by blogging about it here, but there are other ways you can enter too. I just know we can all use extra cash. Christmas will be here before we know it.

You may also want to check out her many other blogs too while you are there. She is a funny down to earth mother.