I have been blessed to be a homeschooling, soccer mom to my three children. I have been married to my best friend for 14 years! He has been my biggest source of encouragement and inspiration. The Lord is taking us on an incredible journey and we are thrilled to serve Him. We pray our testimony and our lives will point others to Him!
This past weekend James and Michaelah played in their first tournament of the Spring.. The weather?? Well, it felt more like Winter than Spring! Just thankful it didn't rain. We had a great weekend. Michaelah has two more tournaments: First weekend in May we will be in Chattanooga and the second weekend we will be celebrating Mother's Day in Kentucky! Our Katiebug also plays but I am unable to be in two places at one time so I am hoping to get some pictures of her playing this past weekend from my parents. So more pictures to come! ~Enjoy ~
Michaelah wants a header so bad... She'll get one before the season ends!
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days”
Psalm 90:14
If I go to the grocery store while I’m hungry, my cart will usually contain extra food items I wouldn’t normally purchase. It seems like everything down every aisle looks good. My craving is usually not satisfied until I get at least one little bite of something. Well, this is also kind of like my spiritual walk. I wake up and get so caught up with the hustle and bustle of the morning that I forget to spend time with Him. It literally makes for a bad start to what could be a beautiful day. I can ask for God’s help all day long but I will not be fully satisfied until I am in His presence. We were designed in the image of God, for God. To know Him… Continually… Daily…and without ceasing.
In my devotion today I read this:
BEING SPIRITUALLY THIN IS SO NOT IN!
Look around! Spiritually hungry people are everywhere. Just turn on your television, pick up a magazine, or go to an online chat-room. People are desperately trying to fill their hunger hole…trying to find happiness and satisfaction in things, status, and people.
Now, if you dare, look even closer to home. Look at your PTA meetings, boardrooms, Little League fields, and malls. And, if you’re really brave, look in the mirror. Each one of us sees a hungry woman staring us in the face.
It is really important to turn to the Bread of Life at the first inkling of hunger pains. Go to Him with your needs and give Him your burdens. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He wants to meet you at the point of your need.God gave you an open invitation to come to Him:
“Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1a)
Each time we connect with God throughout the day, our souls are nourished. Sometimes we just need a small spiritual meal. Sometimes our needs are greater. In those moments, we are invited by our compassionate God to sit down to a great big dinner. How are you handling your constant cravings?
Some of you might be my friend on facebook and have come searching for me wondering where I have gone. If that is you, I’m glad you found me. Facebook has been a great way to stay in touch with some of my very special friends and family. I love getting on facebook and seeing what my sisters are up to, seeing pictures of all my nephews and nieces...love being able to write to my best friend in Florida, love corresponding with my high school friend who is now a missionary...encouraging a wonderful friend and military wife in Colorado, love that I am in contact with cousins I haven’t spoken to in years... and as most of you know I love to debate politics. What I love the most are all the ENCOURAGING posts, status updates, Bible verses and quotes some share. However, I am not a fan of using facebook as a tool to hurt, judge, accuse or make assumptions. There are some posts, quotes that are just so obvious. So this past weekend I realized the best thing for me right now, as hard as it may be, is to take a break from facebook for these three reasons:
Distraction - it's just not a wise use of my time. Drama - 80% of the people on Facebook are pretty normal people, but the other 20% really wear me out! Dissension - People airing their personal disputes or opinions of someone else on facebook just isn't the right place.
I decided this on my own accord because I know this is going to be the best for me right now... best for my spiritual walk, for my health and sanity! It will allow me to spend more time with God and my family. I will continue to blog about my family, continue to be that very, very busy soccer and homeschooling mom and continue to be a supportive and wonderful wife to my husband. Oh, and be politically active - find me on twitter! Most of you have my email so feel free to keep in touch.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
Easter Sunday... As always, the kiddos couldn't wait to get dressed in their Easter outfits. We then took some pictures and headed to church. We had a fun time in our Sunday School class. We had the kids tell the Easter story to us this year. My favorite part of the morning was worship with our church family. I am not sure about everyone else but when I worship on Easter morning it is an experience like none other!
We then headed home and made some side dishes then headed over to my parents for a yummy lunch. Kids enjoyed hunting for eggs, especially the ones filled with money. We went outside to enjoy the beautiful day before heading in for some dessert and a few games of UNO then sang Happy Birthday to my sister Tricia in Colorado. Later that evening the kids enjoyed coloring eggs and then I cleaned up their mess :)
I am so thankful for my family and for another year of Easter memories...
ALIVE! ALIVE!
Look what Mercy's overcome
Death has lost and Love has won
ALIVE! ALIVE!
Hallelujah Risen Lord
The only One I fall before
I am His because He is Alive!
Emmanuel, the promised King the baby who made angels sing Son of Man who walked with us, healing, breathing in our dust The author of all history, the answer to all mysteries The Lamb of God who rolled away, the stone in front of every grave.
Of all the Easter craft ideas we enjoy, this is one of my favorites to do with my kiddos.
Empty Tomb Cookies
You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible
Instructions:
These are to be made the evening before Easter. Preheat oven to 300F. *** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).
Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon
to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He
was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: John 19:1-3
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar
to drink. Read: John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life
to give us life. Read: John 10:10&11
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest
into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers,
and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the
sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to
know and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins
have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read: Matthew 27:57-60
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66
GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20&22
On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9
My computer crashed a few weeks back so I am now using another computer upstairs and it is super slow... I have been tempted to just throw it out the window but then I thought: how would my son do his school? Anyway, hope to have a new one soon so I can blog a little more. I did want to share something from my devotion this week. It was a total blessing to me and hope it blesses you too!
"Taste and see that I am good. The more intimately you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. I am the Living One who sees you and longs to participate in your life. I am training you to find Me in each moment and to be a channel of My loving Presence. Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: through pain and trouble. At such times you can know My goodness only through your trust in Me. Understanding will fail you, but trust will keep you close to Me.
Thank Me for the gift of My Peace, a gift of such immense proportions that you cannot fathom its depth or breadth. When I appeared to My disciples after the resurrection, it was Peace that I communicated first of all. I knew this was their deepest need: to calm their fears and clear their minds. I also speak Peace to you, for I know your anxious thoughts. Listen to Me! Tune out other voices, so that you can hear Me more clearly. I designed you to dwell in Peace all day, every day. Draw near to Me; receive My Peace."
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
—Psalm 34:8
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
John 20:19
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
