~As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT
~If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. 2 Corinthians 5:13 NLT
I have some of the craziest friends in the world.
It's a good thing we are crazy first and foremost for Jesus or we could get ourselves into some real trouble.
I am so thankful for them. I don't know how I could walk though this faith journey without them.
Each of them has taught me something that I don't think I could have learned on my own. They are there when I need someone to lean on, someone to help with my kids, someone to just listen...
I don't know how people go through life without people they can trust around them. I can share my deepest, darkest secrets with them and know that it is safe. I know that I can tell them those thoughts most of us never utter and they will pray me though. I know that I can trust their advice because each is rooted in God.
I treasure our prayer time. I wish we could do it more often but life just gets in the way sometimes...
My prayer for each of my friends tonight is that God would open the floodgates of Heaven and pour blessings on you that you won't have room enough to take it in! Blessings in your marriages, in your finances, in your heath...in any area that you feel lacking as you read this, may God fill you.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Work, work, work....
Work, work, work....gotta get it all done...gotta get it done now....no rest for the wicked.....
R E S T!
God calls us to rest!
~ One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NASB)
~ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For her who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9-10)
~ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 NASB)
I am re-reading a great book right now. I pull it out whenever I begin to feel burdened by my calling as an intercessor. Beni Johnson's The Happy Intercessor. It is a wonderful book and I find new ideas in it each time I read it (this has to be at least the 5th time I've read it through, I've picked it up for just a chapter more times than I can count).
So this week I choose REST. This will be a daily, hourly choice I will have to make. I will rest in the Lord. I will not strive to perform. I know that I am accepted and loved by God. There is nothing that I can ever do to make Him love me more! He wants what is best for us, for me. Right now I must stop all this busy work and rest!
R E S T!
God calls us to rest!
~ One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NASB)
~ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For her who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9-10)
~ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 NASB)
I am re-reading a great book right now. I pull it out whenever I begin to feel burdened by my calling as an intercessor. Beni Johnson's The Happy Intercessor. It is a wonderful book and I find new ideas in it each time I read it (this has to be at least the 5th time I've read it through, I've picked it up for just a chapter more times than I can count).
So this week I choose REST. This will be a daily, hourly choice I will have to make. I will rest in the Lord. I will not strive to perform. I know that I am accepted and loved by God. There is nothing that I can ever do to make Him love me more! He wants what is best for us, for me. Right now I must stop all this busy work and rest!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
How do I help them?
How do you help your kids with something you, as an adult, can't understand?
How can you help them with something you never faced at their age?
HOW?
Growing up I had so much family around me. My MOM and DAD, the only dad I ever knew, got married when I was 2. I can never remember them being apart. MOM and DAD were always there. I do remember them taking 1 vacation, a cruise, without me. I stayed with my gram and gramps. Gram and gramps lived just a few doors down...My aunt lived around the block and another aunt lived on just the other side of the railroad tracks. I was surrounded by family...cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, MOM and DAD.
My boys have not grown up with the luxury of family....when our first son was born we lived overseas (my gramps died while I was pregnant with him). I did my best to travel home with him often but it just wasn't the same. When our second son was born, we lived in Alaska (my gram died while I was pregnant with him). We got to Alaska in December 2001. Before that my hubby hadn't had to travel too much. A trip here...a trip there but after 9-11-2001 EVERYTHING changed. We could never count on him being home. Trips lasted from 45-90 days and he'd be home a month if we were lucky and he'd be gone again....
A month before the youngest turned a year old, my mom got sick. She had breast cancer....the boys and I rushed to Arizona to be with her (leaving hubby alone in Alaska for 6 months). Leaving her after being with her for 6 months to come to Texas was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.
It took my hubby years to learn the lay of the land here in TX. Probably because he's been gone more than he's been home since we moved here. This has by far been the hardest base on our family. I think my mom could see the toll it was taking on us and decided that MOM and DAD needed to move closer. Boy did that decision change our lives FOREVER. My parents beautiful home sat and sat and sat on the market...after 9 long months it sold. The week it sold, the doctor said the words that have become too familiar to our family 'we think it might be cancer.' So MOM and DAD moved to Texas that June. It was cancer...in his lungs. The boys and I rallied with MOM and DAD to get DAD well. The hubby was gone during most of this time. He was training for a new career field....DAD got better, then got much worse. The cancer spread to his brain and after 2 years of living here, he passed away. My boys learned the meaning of family and so much more while we cared for DAD.
Now I have just MOM...and too much of the time, my boys only have MOM.
Something HUGE is missing. The boys struggle in their own ways each time he leaves. The older they get, the harder it gets. Their issues become greater, their struggles greater, their questions greater....I'm working hard to make it as both MOM and DAD...and I'm working hard to soothe their hurts, answer their questions, and help them through their struggles.
We miss the DADs that are not with us. We long for the day that we will all be together again....
Psalm 91 NLT
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
How can you help them with something you never faced at their age?
HOW?
Growing up I had so much family around me. My MOM and DAD, the only dad I ever knew, got married when I was 2. I can never remember them being apart. MOM and DAD were always there. I do remember them taking 1 vacation, a cruise, without me. I stayed with my gram and gramps. Gram and gramps lived just a few doors down...My aunt lived around the block and another aunt lived on just the other side of the railroad tracks. I was surrounded by family...cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, MOM and DAD.
My boys have not grown up with the luxury of family....when our first son was born we lived overseas (my gramps died while I was pregnant with him). I did my best to travel home with him often but it just wasn't the same. When our second son was born, we lived in Alaska (my gram died while I was pregnant with him). We got to Alaska in December 2001. Before that my hubby hadn't had to travel too much. A trip here...a trip there but after 9-11-2001 EVERYTHING changed. We could never count on him being home. Trips lasted from 45-90 days and he'd be home a month if we were lucky and he'd be gone again....
A month before the youngest turned a year old, my mom got sick. She had breast cancer....the boys and I rushed to Arizona to be with her (leaving hubby alone in Alaska for 6 months). Leaving her after being with her for 6 months to come to Texas was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.
It took my hubby years to learn the lay of the land here in TX. Probably because he's been gone more than he's been home since we moved here. This has by far been the hardest base on our family. I think my mom could see the toll it was taking on us and decided that MOM and DAD needed to move closer. Boy did that decision change our lives FOREVER. My parents beautiful home sat and sat and sat on the market...after 9 long months it sold. The week it sold, the doctor said the words that have become too familiar to our family 'we think it might be cancer.' So MOM and DAD moved to Texas that June. It was cancer...in his lungs. The boys and I rallied with MOM and DAD to get DAD well. The hubby was gone during most of this time. He was training for a new career field....DAD got better, then got much worse. The cancer spread to his brain and after 2 years of living here, he passed away. My boys learned the meaning of family and so much more while we cared for DAD.
Now I have just MOM...and too much of the time, my boys only have MOM.
Something HUGE is missing. The boys struggle in their own ways each time he leaves. The older they get, the harder it gets. Their issues become greater, their struggles greater, their questions greater....I'm working hard to make it as both MOM and DAD...and I'm working hard to soothe their hurts, answer their questions, and help them through their struggles.
We miss the DADs that are not with us. We long for the day that we will all be together again....
Psalm 91 NLT
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
He cares for us
So just before my hubby left, we noticed something growing in his garden. He usually grows peppers but didn't plant any this year, knowing I wasn't going to care for them or use them.
Well in the place that he normally grows the peppers, a LARGE plant was growing. I asked him (I know NOTHING about gardening) if the peppers were coming back. He told me he was pretty sure they weren't but wondered what was growing...so we left it alone. Might be a weed, might be peppers, who knew.....GOD KNEW
Here is a picture of what has bloomed there! One of my favorite flowers! I really feel like God put it there to remind me that He cares, He cares about even the small stuff. So now while I'm doing the dishes (which I NEVER have to do when hubby is home) I can look out our kitchen window and be reminded of God's great love for me! I just had to share this really cool story!
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.1 Peter 5:7
Well in the place that he normally grows the peppers, a LARGE plant was growing. I asked him (I know NOTHING about gardening) if the peppers were coming back. He told me he was pretty sure they weren't but wondered what was growing...so we left it alone. Might be a weed, might be peppers, who knew.....GOD KNEW
Here is a picture of what has bloomed there! One of my favorite flowers! I really feel like God put it there to remind me that He cares, He cares about even the small stuff. So now while I'm doing the dishes (which I NEVER have to do when hubby is home) I can look out our kitchen window and be reminded of God's great love for me! I just had to share this really cool story!
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.1 Peter 5:7
Monday, June 21, 2010
Cook 1 day - Eat all week
OK I'm trying. I'm trying to learn how to cook on Monday and then eat that food all week long. Summer is fun, I shouldn't be stressing about what to eat. I also don't want to be running through the drive thru more than once a week. Our weeks are pretty scheduled and Monday is our day home. I cook and clean and the boys do their chores on Monday. We must learn that in order to play, the work has to get done first. How can we ever enjoy our play time if we know that we need to get home to get other things done?
The boys are learning about chores this summer. They are putting away laundry, emptying and taking out the trash and recycling, cleaning their room, and cleaning their bathroom. It's been great to have their help! They seem to be enjoying it (well as much as 6 and 10 year old boys can).
So today I've cooked homemade meatballs (we will use these for spaghetti and meatball subs), I've also cooked chicken and a new broccoli rice dish. We still have the fixin's for quesadillas and I will make BBQ beef sandwiches another day. Super simple recipe that cooks in the crock pot for 10 hours.
I'm very proud of the progress that both the boys and I have made on getting this house together. This will help with the better eating too! I love knowing what's in my food...
SO I'm going to sign off and give myself a huge pat on the back....we'll maybe I'll just have a glass of sweet tea = )
The boys are learning about chores this summer. They are putting away laundry, emptying and taking out the trash and recycling, cleaning their room, and cleaning their bathroom. It's been great to have their help! They seem to be enjoying it (well as much as 6 and 10 year old boys can).
So today I've cooked homemade meatballs (we will use these for spaghetti and meatball subs), I've also cooked chicken and a new broccoli rice dish. We still have the fixin's for quesadillas and I will make BBQ beef sandwiches another day. Super simple recipe that cooks in the crock pot for 10 hours.
I'm very proud of the progress that both the boys and I have made on getting this house together. This will help with the better eating too! I love knowing what's in my food...
SO I'm going to sign off and give myself a huge pat on the back....we'll maybe I'll just have a glass of sweet tea = )
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Father's Day
UGH
Ok now that I've got that out of my system...Father's Day is very difficult once your earthly father has passed on. I was my dad's hospice caretaker for the 2 years that he was sick and in some regards I think that makes it even harder that he's gone. Mom and I took care of him round the clock, 24/7 with little help. Of course during this time my husband was gone...I mean like the whole time. He'd come home for short visits but that was it. Did I mention that I have 2 school age children? Yeah. My dad had lung cancer that spread to his brain so it wasn't always easy to deal with him. It did alter his moods and his thinking. I look back sometimes and think "I should have been nicer, more patient, more loving towards him." I try not to beat myself up but days like this bring those memories flooding back and I have to fight through it all over again...
Of course you all know my husband is deployed right now. So I would usually fill a day like this spoiling HIM rotten. Needless to say, my mind has been racing all day.
We did have a nice church service and then went to the State Park pool with some friends but it was just a strange day. I'm glad it's almost over....tomorrow will be a better day. The boys start golf camp tomorrow! My big guy has done this before (when he was in Kindergarten) but it's a first for my little one...I really hope he enjoys it. The big one is a huge soccer player but the little guy hasn't really found his "thing" yet....maybe this could be it!!!! I'll keep you posted.
Ok now that I've got that out of my system...Father's Day is very difficult once your earthly father has passed on. I was my dad's hospice caretaker for the 2 years that he was sick and in some regards I think that makes it even harder that he's gone. Mom and I took care of him round the clock, 24/7 with little help. Of course during this time my husband was gone...I mean like the whole time. He'd come home for short visits but that was it. Did I mention that I have 2 school age children? Yeah. My dad had lung cancer that spread to his brain so it wasn't always easy to deal with him. It did alter his moods and his thinking. I look back sometimes and think "I should have been nicer, more patient, more loving towards him." I try not to beat myself up but days like this bring those memories flooding back and I have to fight through it all over again...
Of course you all know my husband is deployed right now. So I would usually fill a day like this spoiling HIM rotten. Needless to say, my mind has been racing all day.
We did have a nice church service and then went to the State Park pool with some friends but it was just a strange day. I'm glad it's almost over....tomorrow will be a better day. The boys start golf camp tomorrow! My big guy has done this before (when he was in Kindergarten) but it's a first for my little one...I really hope he enjoys it. The big one is a huge soccer player but the little guy hasn't really found his "thing" yet....maybe this could be it!!!! I'll keep you posted.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The past few days
So I haven't posted in a few days...time to get at this again. I have to say that I love summer! Of course the kids drive me nuts and get into their little bickering matches, but overall I love the carefree days, the late nights, and the lazy mornings.
We've had so much fun since the last time I wrote.
Wednesday we went to the library. I love that my kids love books (my 10yr old actually read a book and then saw the movie and learned the lesson that we all eventually learn, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie LOL). We then went to lunch and bowling with friends. Oh that's another thing I love about summer - we get to see our friends on a much more regular basis.
Thursday we helped a friend, another military wife whose hubby was out of town and had a package delivered that was taller than her roof! It was a Step 2 playhouse for her girls so we hauled the pieces and stayed to make sure it got put together. We did a pretty good job! Us military wives are strong!!! After helping her we headed down to the State Park Pool. I love our local State Park! There is so much to do but in the summers, the pool is the place to be!
Friday my mom took the day off. We hung out with her for the day. I'm so happy to have her near, we lived FAR from her for almost 10 years so I treasure the fact that she is near. I love to see my kids with her! Friday night we went to the drive in. That's right, the drive in. What a hidden gem! We saw Toy Story 3 and Prince of Persia (that's the book my boy read and liked better than the movie).
So yeah, we've been pretty busy. Not too busy to miss the hubby though, the kids are dying to Skype with him (hopefully that will happen soon). We also sent the first of many packages to him on Friday. The lady at the Post Office comment that she couldn't believe that he was gone again!
We've had so much fun since the last time I wrote.
Wednesday we went to the library. I love that my kids love books (my 10yr old actually read a book and then saw the movie and learned the lesson that we all eventually learn, the book is ALWAYS better than the movie LOL). We then went to lunch and bowling with friends. Oh that's another thing I love about summer - we get to see our friends on a much more regular basis.
Thursday we helped a friend, another military wife whose hubby was out of town and had a package delivered that was taller than her roof! It was a Step 2 playhouse for her girls so we hauled the pieces and stayed to make sure it got put together. We did a pretty good job! Us military wives are strong!!! After helping her we headed down to the State Park Pool. I love our local State Park! There is so much to do but in the summers, the pool is the place to be!
Friday my mom took the day off. We hung out with her for the day. I'm so happy to have her near, we lived FAR from her for almost 10 years so I treasure the fact that she is near. I love to see my kids with her! Friday night we went to the drive in. That's right, the drive in. What a hidden gem! We saw Toy Story 3 and Prince of Persia (that's the book my boy read and liked better than the movie).
So yeah, we've been pretty busy. Not too busy to miss the hubby though, the kids are dying to Skype with him (hopefully that will happen soon). We also sent the first of many packages to him on Friday. The lady at the Post Office comment that she couldn't believe that he was gone again!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Day 2
Got to chat with the hubby today around 1! He is safely at his 'new home' for the next few months. Didn't get to walk today...it was storming pretty bad when I got up. In fact, I think it stormed most of the night...I woke up with a visitor (our 10yr old) in my bed! Today we bowled (the kids get 1 free game per day for the whole summer!) then picked up the last few things that we needed from another grocery store...refrigerated bread sticks for 'gooey carmel rolls' and paper cups to make 'homemade popcicles'. YUM O
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV
Monday, June 14, 2010
Day 1
So day 1 is almost over.
Kissed the hubby goodbye late last night...we'll see him again in late October. But life must go on....
The boys and I really had a great day.
I woke up early and walked about a mile and a half in our neighborhood. I'm determined to lose a bit of weight this summer. I plan on increasing exercise and doing a better job with portion control as well as making healthier choices...
SO the boys and I did some meal planning for this week. I usually dread taking them to the store with me but we had a great time at the grocery store today (maybe it helped that we went to an actual grocery store instead of Walmart)! They went with a list and were very interested in the fresh produce and looking at labels! It was really cool to see! Tonight we had some yummy quesadillas! I'll be checking out some kids cookbooks from the library...see how I can get these boys cookin'.
Verse for today ~ Matthew 5:14-16
Kissed the hubby goodbye late last night...we'll see him again in late October. But life must go on....
The boys and I really had a great day.
I woke up early and walked about a mile and a half in our neighborhood. I'm determined to lose a bit of weight this summer. I plan on increasing exercise and doing a better job with portion control as well as making healthier choices...
SO the boys and I did some meal planning for this week. I usually dread taking them to the store with me but we had a great time at the grocery store today (maybe it helped that we went to an actual grocery store instead of Walmart)! They went with a list and were very interested in the fresh produce and looking at labels! It was really cool to see! Tonight we had some yummy quesadillas! I'll be checking out some kids cookbooks from the library...see how I can get these boys cookin'.
Verse for today ~ Matthew 5:14-16
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Let's try this again...
So I named this blog during my husband's last deployment (Oct 09-Feb10). I didn't do a good job at all. I'm going to give it 1 more shot, yes it's already time for him to go again! I guess I don't feel like my life is that interesting and don't know exactly what to blog about (I'm not the world's best cook, or have 100 kids LOL). I've decided that I need to focus more on what God is doing in my life, so here goes!
I suppose I should introduce myself since this is my first post.
I'm Michelle married to my wonderful husband Matt for almost 13 years. We have 2 boys, they are 10 and 6. My husband has been in the United States Air Force for almost 19 years. I've been a stay at home wife/mom for the past 11 years (I think that is the part that makes my life seem boring, but those 11 years have been anything but boring!).
*Today God gave me Matt's scripture verse for this deployment, He also helped me write my 'goodbye' letter. The verse is Deuteronomy 31:6
I suppose I should introduce myself since this is my first post.
I'm Michelle married to my wonderful husband Matt for almost 13 years. We have 2 boys, they are 10 and 6. My husband has been in the United States Air Force for almost 19 years. I've been a stay at home wife/mom for the past 11 years (I think that is the part that makes my life seem boring, but those 11 years have been anything but boring!).
*Today God gave me Matt's scripture verse for this deployment, He also helped me write my 'goodbye' letter. The verse is Deuteronomy 31:6
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