Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Free first Jonathan Park download now available on Behemoth
It's way too late. Even my comp is not cooperating and not wanting to paste the image. I;ll try again later on today after we are done with school. Please, head to Life in a shoe for a coupon code for your free download and a chance to enter a $50 giveaway to Behemoth.com.
What? He just turned 13? I thought he was already 23!
That's how I felt when our oldest's BD came around the bend. I thought he's been a teenager for quite a while now!LOL! He's been very particular about his looks, his food, etc and still very unparticular about his room. But, that's all I am going to say. His muscles have been huge for over a year now, and his brain, well, never mind, not everything in life catches up in time... as we all know. :)
But truly, it's a different world to have a teenager in the house. A male teenager. He is a great kid though! He is a challenge, he is a handfull! Are you hearing the tune of Sound of music yet?
I so enjoyed reading my Sweet Savages' mom creativity in celebrated her oldest son's BD. What a godly idea! Great work, girl!
But, our dad wasn't home for this event to be a bit more creative and we got way busy to even figure out what cake and what flavor icecream to make. So, we ended up buying it instead of making our own and my sweet friend's boys made our son a cake and my friend treated us to a yummy meal at her huge dinner table!!! Thank you so much, Carolyn! We forgot the candles at home (I was together enough to grab the camera to get a few pics) but the boys were able to find some stray candles to make it a memory. And so we do have a small piece to share with our dad(who catches up on our lives daily on the phone in conversations and prayers and on the blog in pics) and friends.
Oh, and I almost forgot! I also had a coupon for a free entree at Ruby Tuesdays the week prior to his BD. I took him out on the absolute last day and we were very surprised to find the RT closed! So, no turning back. the girls were happily occupied and the closest RT was on the other side of town. So, the other closest choice was Red Lobster! We had tons of cheesy biscuits and just the 2 of us time, no girls! So, he got a double Bday! It was hilarious when he was placing his order. Potatoes in different form were his vegetable 2 side dishes-mashed potatoes and french fries. But I didn't remind him about the food pyramid! His is warped anyway! Why attempt to educate him on his Bday, right? I fed him broccoli the next day. You thought I wouldn't attempt to make it up, huh?
So, here we go! Bday boy! Flash and all! I am off to bed now!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Pearls-in-the-making?
If you've read my previous post you might be surprised by another one of the kind.
I've been very weepy lately. Whiny, complainy(inside and out, loudly the last one), unhappy, worn out about quite a few issues in my life. Having my limbs in working order didn't seem to bless me long enough. I feel like I don't have enough arms and legs to do all that is expected of me to do (or that I feel I have to do). Now, I cannot take anymore the excuse of my husband being out of the country for the majority of the time. But I have been accepting it a little bit too much lately. I repent. It does make a difference. But still, I shouldn't grumble.
I have been feeling like a dirty sock pulled inside out and dropped right where it was taken off (multiply that by 4, please, twice a day) I was rebuked, convicted and touched by the timely sermon our pastor delivered just yesterday. But today, the problem resurfaced again. Dumb Israelites, I thought yesterday. They complained about everything. They had to have a miracle daily to keep their faith up and their complaining down. All they had to do is quit complaining. They wouldn't have had to wonder 40 years in a circle. They were stopping themselves from entering the Promised Land. Duh!
But, yet, here I was again, back to the same battle, just like the Israelites. The pastor stated that when we complain we are stopping from going forward. I thought: what a revelation! I want to go forward. I want to have instead of lack. I want to move and not be stagnant. But, yet, here I am again, same exact spot, with the same problem. Well, I wonder why? Because I didn't stop complaining. As soon as the going got tough today (ok, it was 3 gr Math and English, that was all and a few fights over why someone did someone else's chore, nothing really major, but it doesn't take major when one is down, does it?) and school stretched into late afternoon the complaining about certain issues was back again. Living in close proximity with 4 kids all the time can be very character building, you know? Well, my character wasn't going anywhere lately.
But God is staying close to me though I feel like I am so far away from Him when I complain. He put friends in my path when I needed them most. I was reminded in ems, phone calls, ezines, newsletters to keep on trucking no matter how hard it gets. I am so very thankful!
The last one that broke a dam and let a flood of tears of repentance and relief (hope it's not temporary) was Mary Carother's short article in the Prison to praise newsletter that was sitting unopened for a few days ( I told you I stay busy to even open the mail some days) . Now, I am sure many of you have heard of the process of the creation of a pearl. I am sure I did in the past. But it really struck me today like a ton of bricks. Lord, am I that rough on the edges that you have to send me so many grains of sand to irritate me to form me into a beautiful pearl (out of an ugly oyster?) And do I have so many friends because they need me too? I believe God's creation is a wonderful mirror. We can see ourselves in it so well if we just try. I just had to google the birth of a pearl and was awed! I really got it this time. One word used there was stimulate. The irritant inserted in the shells stimulates the growth of the layers that ultimately results in a pearl. If I didn't have the irritants (which, who of us don't?) then I would't be stimulated to become polished and round and perfect. I'd just sit there, no progress. Hmm, Ok, I get it this time. It makes sense.
Mary compares this process quite plainly: God allows us to have someone in our lives who causes us stress and irritation. He has a purpose in doing this. He desires that we begin to cover that person with love and grace, just as Jesus has done for us. His goal is to encourage us to grow more like Jesus. As we cover this person with god's love and extend grace to them, again and again, it is possible with the Holy Spirit's help that they, or WE , just may become a beautiful pearl in the hand of the Lord.
I have to confess that I haven't been covering the people in my life (mainly the kids whom I am with 24X7) with love and grace and have been complaining way too much about their faults. When I did try to cover them, it wasn't wholeheartedly. When they rejected it on my first try, I quit trying. But I see now that I wasn't willing to be "irritated" in order to reap the benefits of the ultimate beauty.
So, now that the message is clear to me, I plan on getting my crafty girls (who doodle all the time anyway, might as well put the doodling and the bazillions of paper (another irritant) to good use) to make a big sign tomorrow with the word PEARLS and tape them in each room. I'll make sure they use as much of those pearly marker, pencils, whatever (that will make them go find them all, LOL) to make beautiful pearly PEARL words. I pray we are reminded of the process daily. I hope one of my trial children (who has been anxious to replace her earrings from the recent piercing with some faux pearls I got for her) will be reminded of this creation lesson every time she looks in the mirror. May you be reminded daily of His Love and grace with the people who might rub you the wrong way in your life. And if you think you are a done polished, perfect pearl, please, come visit me and my pearls-in-the-making! You might change your mind. :)
I've been very weepy lately. Whiny, complainy(inside and out, loudly the last one), unhappy, worn out about quite a few issues in my life. Having my limbs in working order didn't seem to bless me long enough. I feel like I don't have enough arms and legs to do all that is expected of me to do (or that I feel I have to do). Now, I cannot take anymore the excuse of my husband being out of the country for the majority of the time. But I have been accepting it a little bit too much lately. I repent. It does make a difference. But still, I shouldn't grumble.
I have been feeling like a dirty sock pulled inside out and dropped right where it was taken off (multiply that by 4, please, twice a day) I was rebuked, convicted and touched by the timely sermon our pastor delivered just yesterday. But today, the problem resurfaced again. Dumb Israelites, I thought yesterday. They complained about everything. They had to have a miracle daily to keep their faith up and their complaining down. All they had to do is quit complaining. They wouldn't have had to wonder 40 years in a circle. They were stopping themselves from entering the Promised Land. Duh!
But, yet, here I was again, back to the same battle, just like the Israelites. The pastor stated that when we complain we are stopping from going forward. I thought: what a revelation! I want to go forward. I want to have instead of lack. I want to move and not be stagnant. But, yet, here I am again, same exact spot, with the same problem. Well, I wonder why? Because I didn't stop complaining. As soon as the going got tough today (ok, it was 3 gr Math and English, that was all and a few fights over why someone did someone else's chore, nothing really major, but it doesn't take major when one is down, does it?) and school stretched into late afternoon the complaining about certain issues was back again. Living in close proximity with 4 kids all the time can be very character building, you know? Well, my character wasn't going anywhere lately.
But God is staying close to me though I feel like I am so far away from Him when I complain. He put friends in my path when I needed them most. I was reminded in ems, phone calls, ezines, newsletters to keep on trucking no matter how hard it gets. I am so very thankful!
The last one that broke a dam and let a flood of tears of repentance and relief (hope it's not temporary) was Mary Carother's short article in the Prison to praise newsletter that was sitting unopened for a few days ( I told you I stay busy to even open the mail some days) . Now, I am sure many of you have heard of the process of the creation of a pearl. I am sure I did in the past. But it really struck me today like a ton of bricks. Lord, am I that rough on the edges that you have to send me so many grains of sand to irritate me to form me into a beautiful pearl (out of an ugly oyster?) And do I have so many friends because they need me too? I believe God's creation is a wonderful mirror. We can see ourselves in it so well if we just try. I just had to google the birth of a pearl and was awed! I really got it this time. One word used there was stimulate. The irritant inserted in the shells stimulates the growth of the layers that ultimately results in a pearl. If I didn't have the irritants (which, who of us don't?) then I would't be stimulated to become polished and round and perfect. I'd just sit there, no progress. Hmm, Ok, I get it this time. It makes sense.
Mary compares this process quite plainly: God allows us to have someone in our lives who causes us stress and irritation. He has a purpose in doing this. He desires that we begin to cover that person with love and grace, just as Jesus has done for us. His goal is to encourage us to grow more like Jesus. As we cover this person with god's love and extend grace to them, again and again, it is possible with the Holy Spirit's help that they, or WE , just may become a beautiful pearl in the hand of the Lord.
I have to confess that I haven't been covering the people in my life (mainly the kids whom I am with 24X7) with love and grace and have been complaining way too much about their faults. When I did try to cover them, it wasn't wholeheartedly. When they rejected it on my first try, I quit trying. But I see now that I wasn't willing to be "irritated" in order to reap the benefits of the ultimate beauty.
So, now that the message is clear to me, I plan on getting my crafty girls (who doodle all the time anyway, might as well put the doodling and the bazillions of paper (another irritant) to good use) to make a big sign tomorrow with the word PEARLS and tape them in each room. I'll make sure they use as much of those pearly marker, pencils, whatever (that will make them go find them all, LOL) to make beautiful pearly PEARL words. I pray we are reminded of the process daily. I hope one of my trial children (who has been anxious to replace her earrings from the recent piercing with some faux pearls I got for her) will be reminded of this creation lesson every time she looks in the mirror. May you be reminded daily of His Love and grace with the people who might rub you the wrong way in your life. And if you think you are a done polished, perfect pearl, please, come visit me and my pearls-in-the-making! You might change your mind. :)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Just when I labeled my day rough!
Please, scroll to the bottom of my blog and silence the music player before clicking play on this awesome, inspiring video! Thank you!
It's almost midnite and I should be in bed for my alarm is set to 6am (don't worry about me, I don't always hear it if my earplugs are still in, LOL. My 12 yo will make sure to wake me up, he's so good at that!!! ) But, here I am blogging, feeling convicted of a lot of many different things and I just had to share this humbling video. Just when I thought I could label my day as rough and hope and pray the next one is better this small reminder in an unexpected em (Mercola out of all the people?) brought rivers of tears penned up inside. I've seen Nick Vujicic in many videos on the www but I didn't see this one. It really came in my inbox at the right moment. I had to search for more even though it is so late, I couldn't get enough of this man who is histerically funny. Nick has no arms and legs but his testimony of Jesus Christ in his life is so powerful and yet hubling! I included it in this post as well below the original one I received today.
When I thought my mole hills I made out of my day's events were enough for me to sulk I had to be reminded of God's mercies. I am so thankful!!!. For every part of my body formed properly so I can hug my children. But I didn't feel like hugging my mischievous dd who climbed on the washer to get to MYYYYYYYYYYYYY hat (without permission, of course) on the top shelf and spilled bleach on the carpet. I didn't screw the lid correctly (it is a defected bottle with a messed up threat, upon close inspection) after I used it today. Now, we are renting, you know. Even though my landlord promised the carpet is coming out after we move, I don't believe that will be the case, but I better speak life and faith! I didn't feel like hugging my 3rd and 5th grader when I had to sit over them to finish their math and explaining the same concept for the ...th time. I plain didn't! I really wanted to get my hands on something else to be used on their derriere instead!!
But, now that I was so gently reminded of my abundant blessings by this humble man, I think I will go and tuck just 4 of them in and hug them, like I do every nite before I head to bed. I pray I am reminded of all of my blessings tomorrow and the day after. Rough day? Indeed! But the lesson learned at the end? Worth every bit of it! I'll get right back up tomorrow! And, Lord willing, I won't even have the bleach smell in my nose, eyes and wherever it can get in. It is rough now, but it will be better tomorrow. So, if you had a really rough day, don't forget you can get up easily! This man had to try many times just to get up. But yet he is so happy! And his testimony is on DVD now and can be shared so easily thru youtube as well. Bless someone today. Share his story and message. Be blessed!
It's almost midnite and I should be in bed for my alarm is set to 6am (don't worry about me, I don't always hear it if my earplugs are still in, LOL. My 12 yo will make sure to wake me up, he's so good at that!!! ) But, here I am blogging, feeling convicted of a lot of many different things and I just had to share this humbling video. Just when I thought I could label my day as rough and hope and pray the next one is better this small reminder in an unexpected em (Mercola out of all the people?) brought rivers of tears penned up inside. I've seen Nick Vujicic in many videos on the www but I didn't see this one. It really came in my inbox at the right moment. I had to search for more even though it is so late, I couldn't get enough of this man who is histerically funny. Nick has no arms and legs but his testimony of Jesus Christ in his life is so powerful and yet hubling! I included it in this post as well below the original one I received today.
When I thought my mole hills I made out of my day's events were enough for me to sulk I had to be reminded of God's mercies. I am so thankful!!!. For every part of my body formed properly so I can hug my children. But I didn't feel like hugging my mischievous dd who climbed on the washer to get to MYYYYYYYYYYYYY hat (without permission, of course) on the top shelf and spilled bleach on the carpet. I didn't screw the lid correctly (it is a defected bottle with a messed up threat, upon close inspection) after I used it today. Now, we are renting, you know. Even though my landlord promised the carpet is coming out after we move, I don't believe that will be the case, but I better speak life and faith! I didn't feel like hugging my 3rd and 5th grader when I had to sit over them to finish their math and explaining the same concept for the ...th time. I plain didn't! I really wanted to get my hands on something else to be used on their derriere instead!!
But, now that I was so gently reminded of my abundant blessings by this humble man, I think I will go and tuck just 4 of them in and hug them, like I do every nite before I head to bed. I pray I am reminded of all of my blessings tomorrow and the day after. Rough day? Indeed! But the lesson learned at the end? Worth every bit of it! I'll get right back up tomorrow! And, Lord willing, I won't even have the bleach smell in my nose, eyes and wherever it can get in. It is rough now, but it will be better tomorrow. So, if you had a really rough day, don't forget you can get up easily! This man had to try many times just to get up. But yet he is so happy! And his testimony is on DVD now and can be shared so easily thru youtube as well. Bless someone today. Share his story and message. Be blessed!
Handmade jewelry at great prices
I was reading a friend's blog (instead of sleeping of course) and came accross this funny name -Natasha. Well, that's what my parents called me. No, I didn't have a brother called Boris... like in the cartoon that some old people tease me about. So, I figured I'd check it out quickly. Her jewelry blew me away. She had my colors! The turquoise, the orange, the browns! WOW! I saw her offers for giveaways and here I am blogging about it. Not just for extra entries, but I really like how she put those pieces together. Check Natasha's jewelry out. There is also a button on my sidelink. Very inexpensive gifts at a great price in my opinion. I wasn't into jewelry at all before but somehow I got really interested in the last few months. I've bought a few inexpensive, faux items as a gift to myself, but these babies are half of what I paid! Anyway, just thought I'd share. Pass it on if you like what you see.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
iPod giveaway-10 chances to enter it!
I just had to include this great iPod giveaway before I forgot about it tomorrow. Who knows maybe I will win, or maybe you if you enter. Have a good one!
Countdown starts new
My attempts to keep up my blogging with weekly countdown posts till our dad's return from Jamaica weren't very successful, as you already deducted. But I will keep trying especially since the countdown is much shorter now because:
Ben ended up coming home (for a short 5 day visit) prematurely for his cousin's funeral who never gave up in the long battle with cancer. Steve is missed greatly but he is in a much better place praising Jesus with his second oldest son Josh who left to be with the Lord exactly 6 months before. Thank you all for the prayers for his family! Please, continue lifting them all up. His wife and 11 children are praising Him!
We received the news Saturday and Monday the kids and I checked into a hotel in Atlanta just 15 min before Ben landed a bit before midnite. He was able to catch a shuttle to the hotel and was in the room as we all got our Pjs on and got sort of settled, as settled as one can get with 4 kids in a hotel room!!! How sweet is that???!! Ain't God good? I didn't want to get out into the bitter cold and pick him up from the airport (not far, a few miles only, but it was so very cold in Atlanta) but was willing to do so since the shuttles were running every 30 min after midnite. Praise the Lord he was able to get on the shuttle that was preparing to leave!!! I was so glad! Even that small of a detail was worked out by Him. Kids were ecstatic to see dad. I was in the bathroom when I heard him come in. Voicing excited opinions about his beard was something I didn't expect! I had no clue my husband had grown facial hair in a matter of a month. Ben grows a beard only in cold weather if he is working outside (I can count on one hand how many times I've seen him with one). He has been working in Jamaica for the last month-hot there, you know? But I was warned before and he finally carried out the warning?! I bet his beard came in handy in the freezing KY weather on this trip. It was extremely cold! The surrounding counties had lost electricity due to ice storms but there were no problems in our county! We have 2 sick kiddos with fevers and headaches upon our return! I don't remember it being so bitter cold when we lived there. But that was 2 years ago!
Needless to say, it took some time to settle everybody to bed so we can get some sleep before continuing our trip to Ky the next am. But we all were refreshed and were blessed by a nice free breakfast for the whole family in the concierge lounge (for members who live in Mariotts there are a few nice perks) before heading out.
His testimony about his visa is pretty neat! Ben's passport was at the local govt office for a visa extension after his entry one issued just for one month upon arrival. He had his luggage packed and waiting when he got the call about his successful visa extension just 30 min before he had to leave for the airport. His connecting flight in Miami was cancelled due to problem with the plane (so glad another detail, that delayed but kept him safe, was taken care of) , but he was able to catch another one at a much later hour, but he made it safely!!! God is so good!
We had an uneventful trip there and back. It is so very good to be back home with a phone and www (we don't have either in KY). We had a full day with dad yesterday and early this morning he took the shuttle to the Atlanta aiprort! I missed him the minute I waived him bye. The warm weather, the sunshine and two small hands holding on to mine (oldest were sick at home) made it bearable to part. T-shirt weather is also so uplifting to one's spirits! So, that's in a nutshell our unexpected week with dad. Countown, here we go again!
Be blessed and enjoy your husbands!
Ben ended up coming home (for a short 5 day visit) prematurely for his cousin's funeral who never gave up in the long battle with cancer. Steve is missed greatly but he is in a much better place praising Jesus with his second oldest son Josh who left to be with the Lord exactly 6 months before. Thank you all for the prayers for his family! Please, continue lifting them all up. His wife and 11 children are praising Him!
We received the news Saturday and Monday the kids and I checked into a hotel in Atlanta just 15 min before Ben landed a bit before midnite. He was able to catch a shuttle to the hotel and was in the room as we all got our Pjs on and got sort of settled, as settled as one can get with 4 kids in a hotel room!!! How sweet is that???!! Ain't God good? I didn't want to get out into the bitter cold and pick him up from the airport (not far, a few miles only, but it was so very cold in Atlanta) but was willing to do so since the shuttles were running every 30 min after midnite. Praise the Lord he was able to get on the shuttle that was preparing to leave!!! I was so glad! Even that small of a detail was worked out by Him. Kids were ecstatic to see dad. I was in the bathroom when I heard him come in. Voicing excited opinions about his beard was something I didn't expect! I had no clue my husband had grown facial hair in a matter of a month. Ben grows a beard only in cold weather if he is working outside (I can count on one hand how many times I've seen him with one). He has been working in Jamaica for the last month-hot there, you know? But I was warned before and he finally carried out the warning?! I bet his beard came in handy in the freezing KY weather on this trip. It was extremely cold! The surrounding counties had lost electricity due to ice storms but there were no problems in our county! We have 2 sick kiddos with fevers and headaches upon our return! I don't remember it being so bitter cold when we lived there. But that was 2 years ago!
Needless to say, it took some time to settle everybody to bed so we can get some sleep before continuing our trip to Ky the next am. But we all were refreshed and were blessed by a nice free breakfast for the whole family in the concierge lounge (for members who live in Mariotts there are a few nice perks) before heading out.
His testimony about his visa is pretty neat! Ben's passport was at the local govt office for a visa extension after his entry one issued just for one month upon arrival. He had his luggage packed and waiting when he got the call about his successful visa extension just 30 min before he had to leave for the airport. His connecting flight in Miami was cancelled due to problem with the plane (so glad another detail, that delayed but kept him safe, was taken care of) , but he was able to catch another one at a much later hour, but he made it safely!!! God is so good!
We had an uneventful trip there and back. It is so very good to be back home with a phone and www (we don't have either in KY). We had a full day with dad yesterday and early this morning he took the shuttle to the Atlanta aiprort! I missed him the minute I waived him bye. The warm weather, the sunshine and two small hands holding on to mine (oldest were sick at home) made it bearable to part. T-shirt weather is also so uplifting to one's spirits! So, that's in a nutshell our unexpected week with dad. Countown, here we go again!
Be blessed and enjoy your husbands!
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