Reivew of God's Little Princess Devotional Bible by Sheila Walsh

Girls long to be loved and adored, and give their heart to their hero. God is that hero! The characteristics focused on in this Bible storybook will help your little girl blossom into the princess she was created to be. Virtues to create beauty such as compassion, sharing, and truth are highlighted in fun and engaging ways. The perfect format for girls to learn about their destiny as a daughter of their King.

With having a five year old daughter who loves princesses, this was a perfect fit. A nightly ritual. She reminds me when I forget. It took a few nights to realize that each section is color coded. At times the Bible stories begin in the middle of the story, so that's a bit confusing for her, but we are able to discuss what the story is about. I do like the follow up pages to the story which includes questions that she can easily relate to and at times there are little skits to act out to bring home the point that she is a true princess of the King. Also, I like how the point is emphasized a lot that you don't have to be beautiful on the outside to be loved which.

This book is a great springboard tool to open up discussions about inner beauty, life and God. I'd recommend it. :)

house hunting

At the beginning of June, we started house hunting again. We've been hoping to move closer to the kids' school and be in a more central location so we aren't driving so much. We did well finding the house we are currently in with having four days to find one when we moved out here, but we needed to be closer to where our lives are currently taking place.

Craigslist is the place to look for rentals here, so we were scouring it two, three, four, five times a day as you didn't know when a new place would pop up (and they go SUPER fast...within a day). Every house was either surrounded by trees (I've been really struggling depression wise with having a dark kitchen where you need to turn the light on even in the middle of the day as the kitchen is my haven and it's been the last place I want to be..not good) so those were out, it was on a busy street, or the neighborhood wasn't the greatest.

Then we found the house. We walked through it once. Waited a week, talked about it. Prayed about it. And walked through it again. Ed loved it and was oh so patient as I was still hesitant and didn't want to move forward until we were both ready. We talked to the owners. Talked to the realtor. Everything fell into place. Then this past week we signed the lease. We absolutely love the house. It is bright. Has colors on the walls that we love (currently we live in a white house except the bathroom which is mustard), and it is exactly 4.4 miles to the kids' school and 4.4 miles to church. All back roads. We feel it's where we're supposed to be. The owners (through the realtor) said they believe God dropped us there to rent from them and are so excited we'll be taking care of their house.

The house has not been a rental and was the owners' first house together so they have updated mainly everything. It's on a dead end circle which means no traffic which means the kids can actually go out of the driveway without worrying of being hit by a car. The neighborhood is a diverse range of ages and we look forward to meeting our new neighbors. We'll be able to take our time moving as we take possession July 23rd, but don't have to be out of our current place until the end of August (but will more than likely be out by the middle).

So between moving, VBS in 9 days, working 80+ hours over the next two weeks, it'll be pretty silent around here. You may see another post or two as there are some more changes that will likely pop up over the next few weeks. And I'll put up pictures of the new place once we're in.

Cheerio!!

my brain can't even wrap around what i want to write.
too tired to push the shift key to capitalize words.
it's fried.
and then some.
who knew vbs could take so much work!
some songs, crafts, throw in a bible story and that should do it.
right.
being on the parent side of it is so much easier than the planning side.
time to go rewrite some curriculum.
see you in a few weeks.
maybe.

more than just words

The other day I read these words which are a snipit from my friend Matt's most recent post.

I remember the day I killed the weeds.

It was after hearing my teaching pastor talk about forgiveness. He said that forgiveness is seeing the debt someone owes you and being willing to say “I’m not collecting.” That hit me deeply because that was my deal- I was still waiting to collect. I wasn’t plotting revenge through a series of menacing deeds but I held onto the debt the same. I just wanted it to be even. I wanted the scales of justice to balance out. I wanted my name cleared. I was waiting for a letter, an email, a phone call saying “I made a terrible mistake. I was wrong.” I would have settled for an “I’m sorry.”

In that moment, as those words rang both painful and hopeful in my ears, I made a decision- a decision that was as much simple as it felt impossible. I stopped collecting. Seriously. I’m not just saying that. In the midst of a bitterness that was choking the life right out of me, I stopped collecting. I felt the weeds that had been coursing through my heart die right then and there. I felt the cold roots of bitterness ripped from the earth. Through strength that was not my own, I completely freed my debtors. And that day, I myself was freed.

I've read over this portion many times and pondered his thoughts over the past days. I've been waiting to collect. For years.
But after reading Matt's words, it hit me square in the forehead. Bitterness has been literally choking the life out of me. Throw some anger and fury in the soil too and you've got a nice steamy place for lots of unhealthy things to grow. I've been holding hands deep in my soul with something that has been causing roots of bitterness to seep up into the rest of my being and into my heart.

I am praying that someday soon I will be able to truthfully say, "I'm not collecting. Or seeking justice. Or desiring my name to be cleared." To be free by only God's grace and strength.

So thank you Matt for your heart words.

To read the entire post and more of Matt's amazing writing, just click here.

Today I sit.
It is 12:00 and I am still in my pajamies.
I may hit a couple g-sales this afternoon, but then again, maybe not.
No plans.
No running around.
No work.
Just rest.
I may just stay in my pj's until dinner.
My body informed me last night that it needs a rest after 40+ hours at work this week and then home life intertwined with the MIL here and end of school.
So I need to listen or else a crash and burn ending will take place.
Very, very soon.
And nothing good could come of that.
I was in bed by 8:00.
So today I sit.
And rest.

cookbook and cookies

One of my all-time loves are cookbooks. I love the pictures. I love reading every recipe. I love when there are pictures OF the recipe outcomes.

Another of my loves is cookies. So many options, so yummy with milk, or ice cream, or warm, or by themselves. So over on Brown Eyed Bakers Blog, you can jump on the bandwagon to enter to win a cookie cookbook! What can be better than that?? It's the best of both worlds!

Head over here to enter!

through the years

One: we were such young pups starting a life together.
Two: you worked the split shift and I worked the night shift plus school.
Three: life seemed to get a bit more difficult.
Four: enjoyed adventures, camping, trips, friends and our little two bedroom apartment.
Five: our first child, first house, first new car.
Six: lots of laughter, bandages, surgeries.
Seven: we made it through the first six years.
Eight: our second child, second house.
Nine: many highs, many dreams, many adventures.
Ten: many lows, many tears, many breaks and cracks.
Eleven: a jumbled assortment of unanswered questions and non-happening events.
Twelve: thoughts, glimpses, possibilities.
Thirteen: massive change, massive move and massive life reconstructions.
Fourteen: blank pages waiting to be filled.

Fourteen years my love. I would not change any of it. These years have shaped us beyond what we ever expected. I love you so much more, so much deeper, more fully than I did the year we said I DO. We've been through hell. We've gazed at the sky on the peaks. We've changed. I would do it with none other. I am blessed to have taken your name. It represents so much dirt, tears, laughter, heartache, change, yearning, challenge, tenderness, adventure, love and hope. You are my soul mate. My life partner. My lover. My closest friend.

I love you. Happy Anniversary my love.