Thanksgiving weekend is drawing to a close and I have yet to post what I am thankful about. The weekend was full of family visits, shopping, playing games, and kids playing with their cousin.
As for what I am thankful for:
Mark--I am thankful for the wonderful man who is my soul mate, my friend, and a source of strength in my life.
My Children--I am thankful for my children, two very special gifts from God, who bring so much joy to my life and are great young people to be around.
Pix--I am thankful for this little guy and the joy that he has brought into my life this year. He is always happy to see me, cuddles when I need it, and was a great addition to our family this year.
My Parents--I am thankful for constant love and support in my life and that we are now friends, a gift that I do not take for granted.
My Sister--I am thankful for the friend that has loved me, supported me, and been there through all of the ups and downs of life.
Compassion Children--I am thankful that our family extends around the world now. I love the connection that E and Addy feel with our Compassion Children and that we are all connected through God.
My Jesus--I continually stand in awe at his love and grace. As I look back at the person I was, I am so thankful for the person he is helping me to become.
Friends--I am thankful for the friends that I have. The support, love, and laughs that we share in life are so important in my life.
11.28.2010
11.24.2010
Our Day in Pictures
The day began with Computer Class - I had two big helpers today.
We met Daddy for lunch.
A trip to the grocery store and wash the car.
Time for wii....
and a win!
Playing ball.
Mail from Ama & Apa.
Nap time.
Monopoly challenge.
E snagged some cash...
Addy contemplates the trade.
The day ended with Addy cuddling with her daddy and E and I laughing so hard that we both had tears running down our face. I love having my family home.
We met Daddy for lunch.
A trip to the grocery store and wash the car.
Time for wii....
and a win!
Playing ball.
Mail from Ama & Apa.
Nap time.
Monopoly challenge.
E snagged some cash...
Addy contemplates the trade.
The day ended with Addy cuddling with her daddy and E and I laughing so hard that we both had tears running down our face. I love having my family home.
11.23.2010
Passion
Last week I listened to a presentation on passion. The presenter had put a wonderful power point presentation together on passion complete with quotes, pictures, and songs. I wish I could give you more details about the it, but honestly it was presented during a spinning class and I was paying more attention to keeping up with the others in the class even though this was my first class. I do remember these things about the presentation:
There were also pictures of the most passionate "famous" kisses from movies and art. Unfortunately due to the class time, I had to leave before the end of the presentation, but I guess it ended with a picture of the Mayo Brothers.
I think about all of these people and more, and look at their lives and what they have done with their lives, all I can say is... "Wow!" These people live, breathe, and dream something until it is accomplished. I admire this about them.
Coincidentally enough, I had been wanting to read Apolo Ohno's book, Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday. I purchased the book last Thursday and began the book on Saturday. Talk about getting in the mind of someone who is passionate! I am not yet through the book so will save my review of it for later, but I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Yesterday I listened to Scott Harrison's story, the founder and president of Charity: Water. Another phenomenal story. If you have not heard his story, please check it out here.
Scott, after visiting Africa, began a drive to bring clean water to one billion people. He recreated what a charity looks like and because of bringing clean water to people, is bringing health and a chance to earn an income.
Both passionate in a very different way, Apolo and Scott have made me ask the question of myself, what am I passionate about? Do I live each day like like there is no tomorrow? Do I live each day with "zero regrets"? The answer is no, but I am trying. Of course I am passionate. I passionately love my husband and my children. Each day I strive to make their lives as easy and as enjoyable as possible. I hope to give my children the best possible foundation that I can so they can succeed in the future. I am passionate about my students and that they have the best opportunity to express music and the gift that it is. I am passionate about the friendships in my life and aiming to be a good friend. I am passionate about our Compassion children, wanting them to have a better life, looking forward to when I will see them, in heaven if not here on earth. Above all, however, I am passionate about my God. Each day I want to become who he has made me to be. Each day I walk with him, wanting the world to see his love though my life. In Apolo's book he says,
"Every single on of us has a path to travel. Everything happens for a reason. This I believe.... I profoundly believe God has a plan for me."
I don't know exactly where life will take me as my course is not as clearly defined as some. But I keep building on the things that I am passionate about, and I may not touch the lives of millions or even billions, but perhaps I can share my love and passion for God, even if it is with just a few.
A picture of Lance Armstorng
A picture of Apolo Ohno
There were also pictures of the most passionate "famous" kisses from movies and art. Unfortunately due to the class time, I had to leave before the end of the presentation, but I guess it ended with a picture of the Mayo Brothers.
I think about all of these people and more, and look at their lives and what they have done with their lives, all I can say is... "Wow!" These people live, breathe, and dream something until it is accomplished. I admire this about them.
Coincidentally enough, I had been wanting to read Apolo Ohno's book, Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday. I purchased the book last Thursday and began the book on Saturday. Talk about getting in the mind of someone who is passionate! I am not yet through the book so will save my review of it for later, but I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Yesterday I listened to Scott Harrison's story, the founder and president of Charity: Water. Another phenomenal story. If you have not heard his story, please check it out here.
Scott, after visiting Africa, began a drive to bring clean water to one billion people. He recreated what a charity looks like and because of bringing clean water to people, is bringing health and a chance to earn an income.
Both passionate in a very different way, Apolo and Scott have made me ask the question of myself, what am I passionate about? Do I live each day like like there is no tomorrow? Do I live each day with "zero regrets"? The answer is no, but I am trying. Of course I am passionate. I passionately love my husband and my children. Each day I strive to make their lives as easy and as enjoyable as possible. I hope to give my children the best possible foundation that I can so they can succeed in the future. I am passionate about my students and that they have the best opportunity to express music and the gift that it is. I am passionate about the friendships in my life and aiming to be a good friend. I am passionate about our Compassion children, wanting them to have a better life, looking forward to when I will see them, in heaven if not here on earth. Above all, however, I am passionate about my God. Each day I want to become who he has made me to be. Each day I walk with him, wanting the world to see his love though my life. In Apolo's book he says,
"Every single on of us has a path to travel. Everything happens for a reason. This I believe.... I profoundly believe God has a plan for me."
I don't know exactly where life will take me as my course is not as clearly defined as some. But I keep building on the things that I am passionate about, and I may not touch the lives of millions or even billions, but perhaps I can share my love and passion for God, even if it is with just a few.
11.20.2010
Alex & Me
11.16.2010
Spiritual Heritage
I am finally back at it. I am on a plan, a bible reading plan that is. I am being realistic this time and instead I am going to read through the bible in 100 days. :) Just kidding....kind of. In 100 days I will read "an overview of the bible... without getting bogged down." Rather than the 10 chapters a day that my last plan put me on, I have a chapter or two a day. Yesterday was Genesis 1 & 2, today was Genesis 3. Tomorrow half of chapter 5 and all of 6, etc. I am excited but know that this will require some commitment on my part too as there are no "days off" as there was with the last plan. But I figure I can find 5 to 10 minutes in each day to read my chapter or so, even if it is as I am going to bed at night.
I have had a couple of things come at me in the past few days, and for some reason somewhere in my head, I have the nagging thought that they all connect together and that I need to pay attention to this. Perhaps in typing this out to you I will find the connection.
In church on Sunday the message was about the spiritual heritage we leave our children. We can't, as parents, choose for our child to live a life of faith as that is a personally made decision. We can, however, make sure that the "spiritual heritage" that we leave our children gives them the correct tools to choose a life of faith. We have to make Jesus a natural thing in our lives. When E and Addy are grown up, and someone asks them, what was something important in your family while you were growing up, would they answer "We loved Jesus"?
This message hit me deep inside. I want our children to grow up knowing Jesus and having the tools to choose a life of faith as I had growing up. I remember family devotions, where we would all sit at the breakfast table eating breakfast together as a family and prayers that followed. I remember cuddling up to my mom every morning when we woke up while she finished reading her bible. I remember as a child wondering why the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac would make Mom cry, and now as a mom, I get it. There are many more memories from my childhood that I remember a life of faith modeled for me. I hope I can do the same for my children.
As time drew near for both kids to be in school all day, I wondered how I would fill my days. I didn't want to waste my days and in the future look back and say, "What was I doing all day?" Rather, I have the desire to make each day meaningful in a new way. I want to still model a life of faith to the kids, but what does that look like now that they are not around 24/7? Obviously, taking time to adjust to my new job, some things had to be put on the back burner for a little while as there is only so many things a person can focus on at one time. But now that I am settling in there, I am ready to start getting back to some things and possibly adding some new things. This past summer when I was reading my bible every day, I was amazed at how much it really helped my day! I wasn't reading because I was required to read, I was reading because I wanted to read. I have missed it. I have missed that time I spent with God each day. So I have set up a new plan for myself, and I am really excited about it. This will be an easy conversation point when talking to the kids about bible stories. It is hard to talk to them about the stories if I am not reading them myself!
I am excited about my new plan to be at the gym and get back to feeling good about myself and taking better care of myself. Life has a much better perspective for me when I am feeling good about myself. It is amazing how much that impacts my daily life. I am amazed at the energy I feel today after my workout even though I was up at 5:30 to get to the gym. I am anxious to see if I can maintain, this, but I am putting a priority on it so that I can.
I tell you this because I read a blog post about pruning. I want to be careful that while I am adding things to my life, I don't want to become over committed. I want to be adding things to my life that bring value to life, both mine and my family. I understand that pruning is not just about schedules, but about growth as well. I know there will still be a time of pruning even though I am careful about what I add to my schedule. But I am glad to have the reminder before hand.
The other thing I wanted to share with you was from a different blog post that I read. I still want my job as a parent to be my top priority in this season of life that we are in. Just because the kids are at school all day does not mean that my job as a parent is any less important. :) Please check out this post , make sure to scroll down below the pictures and read what has encouraged me and given me a fresh view on my role as a parent.
I have had a couple of things come at me in the past few days, and for some reason somewhere in my head, I have the nagging thought that they all connect together and that I need to pay attention to this. Perhaps in typing this out to you I will find the connection.
In church on Sunday the message was about the spiritual heritage we leave our children. We can't, as parents, choose for our child to live a life of faith as that is a personally made decision. We can, however, make sure that the "spiritual heritage" that we leave our children gives them the correct tools to choose a life of faith. We have to make Jesus a natural thing in our lives. When E and Addy are grown up, and someone asks them, what was something important in your family while you were growing up, would they answer "We loved Jesus"?
- Are conversations about Jesus we have as a family natural? Do the kids hear Mark and I talking about Jesus? Do we talk about Jesus with our kids?
- Is prayer a natural thing in our family? Do the kids see us pray? Do we pray with the kids? Do we pray as a part of life, not just meal times or in times of crisis?
- Is devotion time a natural part of our family? Do we read the bible with the kids? Do we read the bible ourselves? Do we talk about our bible reading and the things we are learning?
As time drew near for both kids to be in school all day, I wondered how I would fill my days. I didn't want to waste my days and in the future look back and say, "What was I doing all day?" Rather, I have the desire to make each day meaningful in a new way. I want to still model a life of faith to the kids, but what does that look like now that they are not around 24/7? Obviously, taking time to adjust to my new job, some things had to be put on the back burner for a little while as there is only so many things a person can focus on at one time. But now that I am settling in there, I am ready to start getting back to some things and possibly adding some new things. This past summer when I was reading my bible every day, I was amazed at how much it really helped my day! I wasn't reading because I was required to read, I was reading because I wanted to read. I have missed it. I have missed that time I spent with God each day. So I have set up a new plan for myself, and I am really excited about it. This will be an easy conversation point when talking to the kids about bible stories. It is hard to talk to them about the stories if I am not reading them myself!
I am excited about my new plan to be at the gym and get back to feeling good about myself and taking better care of myself. Life has a much better perspective for me when I am feeling good about myself. It is amazing how much that impacts my daily life. I am amazed at the energy I feel today after my workout even though I was up at 5:30 to get to the gym. I am anxious to see if I can maintain, this, but I am putting a priority on it so that I can.
I tell you this because I read a blog post about pruning. I want to be careful that while I am adding things to my life, I don't want to become over committed. I want to be adding things to my life that bring value to life, both mine and my family. I understand that pruning is not just about schedules, but about growth as well. I know there will still be a time of pruning even though I am careful about what I add to my schedule. But I am glad to have the reminder before hand.
The other thing I wanted to share with you was from a different blog post that I read. I still want my job as a parent to be my top priority in this season of life that we are in. Just because the kids are at school all day does not mean that my job as a parent is any less important. :) Please check out this post , make sure to scroll down below the pictures and read what has encouraged me and given me a fresh view on my role as a parent.
11.14.2010
Banished
As I read this book I was drawn into the story and how real the government ban on life was. It left me contemplating what a ban on religion would look like and how that would affect my daily life as a Christian. I would like to hope that I would be as courageous as this group of Christians was in such circumstances.
11.13.2010
Sponsored
Today I had to opportunity to work the Compassion International table at the Hearts at Home conference. I had been looking forward to today ever since the email asking for volunteers was sent a little over two weeks ago. My previous experience of hosting a Compassion table was almost two years ago at our church during a teaching series. It was so fun to stand behind the table and watch as people would select a child, who is in need, to take home and provide a chance at a better life. Earlier this week I found out that a friend of mine was volunteering at the same time, I was even more excited!
It was such a blessing today to stand at the table and watch again as children were sponsored. It was fun and interesting to see how people chose the child that they did. Some chose them based on their own children's birthdays so they would be similar ages. Another person chose based on a location, or because the child had been waiting for almost a year for a sponsor. Some read all of the information about the child, matching interests or just to see what the child liked. There were a couple of people who walked up to the table and just picked up a packet without looking at the picture or the information. No matter what it was that made each person pick the child or children that they did, I could not help but stand at the table and thank God that these children were getting help that they so need. What a blessing that today while we were helping at the table nearly 50 children were sponsored!
It was such a blessing today to stand at the table and watch again as children were sponsored. It was fun and interesting to see how people chose the child that they did. Some chose them based on their own children's birthdays so they would be similar ages. Another person chose based on a location, or because the child had been waiting for almost a year for a sponsor. Some read all of the information about the child, matching interests or just to see what the child liked. There were a couple of people who walked up to the table and just picked up a packet without looking at the picture or the information. No matter what it was that made each person pick the child or children that they did, I could not help but stand at the table and thank God that these children were getting help that they so need. What a blessing that today while we were helping at the table nearly 50 children were sponsored!
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