Friday Fave Five #127

I love blogging on Friday's and catching up with Susanne over at Living to tell the Story.  I also love to reflect back on my week also. 

1.  Receiving another gift from my Secret Prayer Sister at church.  I blogged about this earlier in the week right here.

2.  Being able to relax a bit after a stressful week with a friend and make a new bookmark.  It's always relaxing to have a cup of tea, a craft and a friend to keep you busy for the night.  I was doing that at my friend's house tonight.  It's nice.  We vent, complain, laugh, joke, tease and just plain enjoy each other.

3.  The love and support of people at church.  I really would be lonely and lost without my church family.  They help me so much.  And that extends out to fellow Christians that I don't necessarily attend church with every week.  Christian friends are really a blessing to each other.  I love having that support system.

4.  Lindt Lindor chocolates.  Enough said.

5.  Being able to spend every day with my children, watch them grow, laugh, play and learn.  Bubba learned how to read this past week.  We are so proud of him.  I love this part.  When all of our hard work finally just kinda, falls together.  When they really get it. 

I hope that you enjoyed this post.  If you'd like to read more like it, check out Susanne's blog above.

My Thanks to My Lord

Today included a few wake up calls for myself.  At one point of my day, I was feeling sorry for myself and also worrying.  The phone rings, I answer it trying to disguise my voice because I had been crying.  

It was a phone call letting me know that I was getting some help.  It came just at the right time.  Perfect timing?  No.  Just God's timing.  He knew exactly when I needed to hear that phone call.  How can He know so much?  

Because He is our Creator.  God knows all.

He is also trustworthy, true, forgiving and loving.  He guides me with a gentle hand, yet loves me with a strong hand that covers me like a shield.  He is my fortress, my refuge and my strength.  Without Him, I would not be.  

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for everything that you have given me.  Thank you for showing me when I need correction.  Lord, please fill my heart with love and patience.  I know that I can trust in you God and if You are worried about the little birds, I know that you are worried about me.  Thank you for taking care of me.  Thank you for showing me how to have a strong faith.  You are Lord!  In Jesus Name, Amen.

What I Loved About Today

1. We got all of our school work done today.

2.  I got to take a nap today!

3.  My pastor at church let me borrow books and a movie to teach my kids about dinosaurs from Christian books.

4.  I had Lindt Lindor chocolates to eat today from Valentine's day.

5.  The kids at AWANA make me smile and laugh.

6.  Seeing my pastor's wife and getting a hug and kiss from her.

7.  Talking to my sister on the phone even if it was just for a few minutes.

8.  Making plans with a girlfriend for tomorrow.

9.  Getting M&M's and a little dish from my Secret Prayer Sister.  The lid of the dish says "The Joy" in the middle of it and around the outside it says "of the Lord is your strength".  I think I'll keep some M&M's in that by my computer. Oh and the M&M's are the Valentine colors!

10.  Laughing with Stinky.

11.  Laughing with Bubba.

12.  Laughing with my hubby.

13.  Having a quiet moment to read my Bible.

14.  Going to the library with my kids.

What a great day I had!  I am so blessed to have this life!  I am taking tonight to publicly say:

THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME!

The Walk by Shaun Alexander Book Review

“It’s Satan that says you have to be perfect.  But God says something different.  He says you have to be obedient.”

That quote struck me and stuck with me.  It seems a powerful quote.  Isn’t that the amazing truth though?  God isn’t looking for you to be perfect.  He knows that it is impossible.  We are human and we can’t do it.  



So what can you do to walk closer to God that is not trying to be perfect?  Shaun Alexander has those answers in his book, The Walk.  Shaun clearly points out the different stages of walking with God.  There are five stages and they are: 1. The Unbeliever, 2. The Believer, 3. The Example, 4. The Teacher and 5. The Imparter.  Each person falls into one of those stages.  



Shaun has outlined in his book what each stage is and how to know if you are there.  He reminds us that we must go through the stages starting at the first stage and working our way through to the fifth.  We can not be an Unbeliever, and jump to being an Example or Teacher.  Each stage must be worked through, according to each person’s own time line.



The Walk is written in a way that you can easily work through your walk with God and understand where you are at each step.  It’s not just the walking and God parts, we can’t forget the most important word in that sentence, with.  



I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I have not been told to post this review in any way, this is my own opinion.

Bloggerview #2 - Brandy's Brood

Welcome to another edition of Bloggerview!  This week our lovely guest is Brandy over at Brandy's Brood!  I met Brandy on Twitter and we became fast friends.  So without further ado, here's Brandy!  And sorry this took me so long to post Brandy!


1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I'm Brandy. I'll be turning 30 this year ... and unlike a lot of my high school classmates, I'm NOT freaking about it. I met my husband online in a chat room when I was 18. He was in South Carolina, I was in Michigan. I hopped on a Greyhound when I was 20 to go meet him in person for the first time ... and 2wks later we were married {been married 8 1/2yrs now WooHoo!!}. 15 months later, our 1st daughter was born. She's 7 now and almost done with her 2nd grade homeschool year. Our youngest is 28mo, still nursing once a day, and sleeping in her own bed right next to ours. Being home with my girls is my ideal job, literally. Of course, there are days that Pepsi, a good movie or book, and some prayer is the only thing that gets me through, but still ... lol


2. What is the main purpose of your blog?

It's evolved ... even in the last couple of weeks. I used to mostly write about our family happenings or whatever came off the top of my head. But here lately, I'm wanting each post to have a point. To encourage or challenge or inspire in some way.


3. When you started your blog, what was your ideal goal for it?

Goal? You're supposed to have blogging GOALS??? Why didn't someone tell me?!?!

Ahem, sorry. Yeah, goals. Well ... to take a bit from my answer to question 2: to encourage, challenge, or inspire in some way. Intentional blogging.


4. What would your ideal day consist of?

Well, I would leisurely roll out of bed at the crack of 10, with a hot breakfast waiting for me ... thanks to my fantabulous cook ... and the house would be sparkling clean ... thanks to that maid of mine ... so I might go for a swim, or read a book, or go play with the girls, or ...

Wake up from my dream. Honestly, days like today are ideal. I'm being productive ... the girls are in great moods and getting along great ... things are moving along smoothly and without much bumps in the road {we'll just overlook that moment when our youngest shattered another bowl}. Right now, it would only be better if it was sunshiney and warmer so we could rock some capris and go play in the grass ;-)


5. What blogs do you read that inspire you?

Ann of A Holy Experience
Christin at Joyful Mothering
Laura at 10 Million Miles

Honestly, ANY of the 13 linked in my sidebar ... it's why they're there ;-)


6. Is there anything else that you would like to share? Maybe a testimony, funny story, photo or even a recipe?

I'm drawing a blank here right now, so I guess I'm done lol. Thanks, Danielle! This was fun! :-D

Well my intentions were to have my pictures edited and stamped before I wrote my post so that I could include some of my pictures.  But I am so tired.  I have a migraine and neck pain. 

I am reading a new book right now called The Walk by Shaun Alexander.  It looks like it is a great book so far!  I really like the feel of the cover.  It has a gritty feel to it that makes it easy and fun to grip.
So I leave you with this.  Is anyone ready to have their blog interviewed yet?  Come on, don't be shy!

Friends

It's been an awful past two days.  Well, late afternoon today things started to brighten up.  But through it all I have friends. 

They are praying for me.  They are caring for me.  I love my friends.  They make me smile and cry with the nice things they say and do. 

Without friends, life can be bleak.  It is a great joy to have friends.  And I have them all over the United States!

Thanks Ladies for all of your love and support!