Sunday, May 27, 2007

Are you struggling?

Tonight I taught the kindergarten and 1st grade class at church. I had to tell you what one of the little girls said that was visiting. We were talking about Job and I was telling them that he was just going through a hard time and he had all this bad stuff happen to him in his life and I said, "He was just...." and the little girl said, " like he was struggling?" I said, "Yes exactly." Then she said in a soft sweet voice, "Struggling means you had a bad day and you can't go over it by yourself."

I was totally touched at the words she used to explain "struggling". It was just awesome coming from a five year old. Kids are so honest and understanding and they just have such incredible ways of explaining things without any bias behind their words.

The truth is we're always struggling with something and we can't "go over it" by ourselves. We need to get better at sharing our struggles so we can get through them, don't you think?

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Jordin Sparks WINS AMERICAN IDOL 2007

For those of you whose Tivo/DVR didn't record the actual annoucement of the winner last night, here's the video.

Cheers to Jordin...........Pooey on Fox for running behind and making me wait until this morning to see the rest of last night's show! ;0

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Daughtry's Make-up and Elliot's Teeth






I woke up this morning to the sound of John's radio going off and the guys on there were talking about Chris Daughtry's make up last night. My tivo had stopped recording after the American Idol finale and I didn't get to see him sing at the end. The guys on the radio talked about how he looked like a drag queen with all that eye makeup on, but after finding pictures and watching the video from last night, I didn't think it was as big of a deal as what they were making it out to be.

I also want to comment on Elliot Yamin's performance a few weeks ago. He is AWESOME! (By the way, did you know Elliot is 90% deaf in his right ear?) I think I'm gonna go buy his CD. I always said throughout last year's competition that he'd fix his teeth once the show was over and boy did he! Those things almost glowed in the dark. He looks much better now and I loved his curly hair!

What do you guys think?

Saturday, May 19, 2007

How well do you know me?

Okay, I'm gonna do this too...................




Take My Quiz on
QuizYourFriends.com

http://www.quizyourfriends.com/quizpage.php?quizname=070519174139-264458" target="_blank">

Can you Ace my quiz?
Yes!
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Let's Find Out!




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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Time Management

http://www.uclick.com/client/sea/ca/2007/05/06/index.html

I'm hoping this comic is large enough for you to read. (If not, go to the link below the comic)

I feel like "Cathy" right now and probably will until I hit 80 years old! :) I am really trying to exercise time management right now, but I've always been in a hurry, late everywhere I go, and frustrated in the process! I'm sick of it and I'm working on changing my bad habits. I know it will take a lot of stress off me once I figure out how to manage myself and my time. I need more patience and calmness in my life. I think I bring a lot of unneccessary stress upon myself. Oh, and if anybody has any recipe suggestions for quick and semi-healthy meals, let me know. I am running out of ideas!

Friday, May 11, 2007

I think I may be a weirdo

Someone told me the other day (Ok, it was Krista) that I change my blog design more than anyone else she knows! It's true. I am so weird. It made me start thinking about all of the quirky things I do that make me who I am. I may be setting myself up to be made fun of by doing this, but it was time for a new post. Here are some of my odd habits. Call it OCD if you want......it is what it is.........

1. I constantly crave change. I guess I get bored with the same old stuff more quickly than others do. I used to change my hair style and color just on the spur of the moment. I just get in these moods where I have to do something new right then.

2. I can't stand it when pictures on the wall are crooked. I must fix them immediately.

3. The toilet paper has to be over the roll. I feel the urge to change it if it's not, even if it's not in my own house.

4. I only eat small candies or snacks in even numbers. The television volume or air conditioner in the car has to be set on an even number. It actually bothers me when if I see that it's set on an odd number. I can't stand it! I'm not superstitious, I just like even numbers. We got married on 6/8/02 for that reason...........

Okay, why am I telling you all of this? You're probably thinking I'm more than just a little weird. I think I may need therapy! I probably shouldn't even post this to my blog, but I'm going to anyway.



What are some of your weird and quirky habits and behaviors? Humor me! Come on, please comment. We all have something.........

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm

"I'll Praise the God Who Gives and Takes Away"

I'm not trying to depress anybody. I just have to get out everything rambling in my head at the moment. Some of these statements may be pretty blunt, but you all know me and I have to get it out, and I am long winded, so if you get bored, I'm sorry....................................

Most of you know, we had another miscarriage. I hate saying "We've lost the baby". It sounds like I don't know where it is.......but I do. I believe that little baby had a soul and is with God. It isn't lost by any means. It's strange how when this happens we don't know what to say and nobody else does either. It's just one of those tough things in life that we have to depend on God to get through. My faith has been pretty strong this time, more than it was the last time. I pray that it continues to be because I will not allow Satan to make me mad at God for this. I went through a lot of anger the first time and it damaged me for a time.

I had a D&C yesterday and everything went well. I have had a virtually pain-free recovery so far which is a blessing. My throat is hurting the worst because I found out they have to put a breathing tube down you when you "go under" that far during anesthesia because you stop breathing. I'm glad they waited until it was over to let me know that or I would have had a panic attack before surgery!

The biggest recovery will be emotional. I got really depressed after our first miscarriage and then during my pregnancy with Bonnie because I think I was so scared we'd lose her too. I don't want to go through that again. I'm gonna fight it as hard as I can and try to remain at peace through this and when God does bless us again. It will do me no good to worry all the time about something happening again, but I can't help the fact that those negative thoughts still linger in the back of my mind.

I feel like I've been stronger this time in ways but weaker in others. I was just out of my first trimester, which has brought more shock than the last time. My mind fills with those "What ifs" that I am convinced are put in our heads by Satan himself. What if this happens again and again? What if I didn't take my progesterone supplements long enough? What if they were wrong and missed something on the ultrasound and I've just gone through a procedure and killed my baby? Crazy thoughts I know, but I'm just being honest. However, my logical side is CONVINCED that God knows best and he saved this child from a life of pain and suffering if it had been brought into this world.

It's just been a really hard week. We just had John's granddad's funeral on Wednesday and then Friday I went to the doctor and found out my baby's heartbeat was gone at almost 14 weeks. For the last few days, I have felt like "What's next, God?" However, also during this time I've found out about a lot more trials that others around me are going through that have helped me gain perspective on my trials lately. People are hurting all around me. I hate that others are having to go through storms, but it's part of life. Even though I can only know my pain and it can't be compared to anyone elses, I'm reminded that it can ALWAYS be worse.
As Bevin's last post talked about, "I am truly blessed!" Even though I'm in pain, I am BLESSED to have a wonderful, supportive husband with a job that allows me to stay home with the most precious child I could ask for, a house to live in, enough food that I am never hungry, more clothes than anybody needs, just to name a few. I WILL get through this!

As most of you know, I am a music person. Songs help me get through things. When this all happened, I kept singing the part of "Blessed Be Your Name" where it says, "You give and take away; you give and take away; my heart will choose to say, 'Lord BLESSED BE YOUR NAME'! He does give and take away and it's hard to deal with the taking away part, but let's look at it in a way that I've just now realized through this trial: When he takes away, it's not just him allowing the good things to be taken from us in this life when he decides for those things to happen........it's him also taking away pain, suffering,and burdens from us when he knows that's best. We must remember that and that's how I've chosen to look at all this. My baby is much better off being with God than down here with me in such a crazy place where it could have lived a life of pain and suffering. Sometimes we get blessings in disguise (probably more than we realize). Every time I hear or sing that song, it will always remind me of that message. There is such POWER in song and praise! When I sing songs of praise and worship to God, it changes my heart and strengthens me in a way I can't explain. (And Amy-- the reason I love "He's Always Been Faithful to Me" so much is because it got me through another really hard time not too long ago. I'll tell you about it sometime. I understand why you got burned out on it though! HAHA :)

...Funny how those songs "just so happen" to come on the radio and leave us with exactly what we need at the time. Ya think God had anything to do with this one that came on exactly when John's alarm went off on Sunday? I've been singing it ever since, including on my way to the hospital yesterday. I was just introduced to this song at our Ladies Retreat about 8 weeks ago. It came to me through radio just when I needed it myself. It is EVERYTHING I need to hear right now. Please listen to the words. I'm posting it above.

Thank you all for being such great friends......just another one of those blessings God has given us........I love you guys!