tutus

My sister got tutus for Mollie and Betsy for Christmas.  When Mollie puts hers on, she really gets excited. Dancing and singing all over the room.  She is a hoot.  Maybe I should invest in a tutu as well to put on when I worship the Lord. Just kidding, but I am challenged by her energy in singing to Jesus.  Like David, she is dancing before Him with all of her might. 

rewards

For Christmas, I gave my sister-in-law certificates to cash in for when she loses weight.  This weekend, she got to cash in 3.  I am proud of her. It is good to set goals and be rewarded at intervals to make sure you're staying motivated (especially with weight loss or a big project).  I am getting to reap the benefits too, which I doubly like.
Hope you all have a great weekend.

abundant blessings

As I look around me, I feel completely blessed by the goodness of the Lord. So many answered prayers - a husband, kids, house, food in the pantry, great friends and good neighbors, heat (just kicked on), a laptop, clothes galore for each of us, good health --- really too many things to list. I am overwhelmed at the Lord's provision in my life both physically and spiritually. God is good, all the time. 

memorizing verses

It is time for me to start teaching Mollie to memorize some verses. She can already recount many of her stories (Bible or otherwise) and loves to "read" and look at flashcards. I think she is going to love learning the word, and knowing scripture will serve her well all of her life.  I have a book of verses in ABC order written for kids that we'll start with and build from there. I'm going to love this time too.
Have a wonderful day everybody.

Seek ye FIRST

It seems to me if I get up early to pray and read (and blog) I seem to get more done during the day than if I put those things off.  Just fitting the in here and there throughout the day makes it harder to do at all sometimes.  I want to be intentional about how I spend my day, not just given to every whim or desire that comes my way.  I think that is part of my weight issue, giving in to those desires for food instead of seeking God first and meeting with Him about my day. If I sought out God's opinion first, would I spend less money? Serve the body more? Give more? Talk less?  hmmm

Mt. 6:33 (MSG) Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

quiet time

Even though Mollie doesn't take a morning nap anymore, I still make her have some quiet time each day. I give her some books and let her read quietly in her crib. We'll see how this works out once she transitions to a bed.  It is good for her and myself to have down time.  Betsy sometimes sleeps still and sometimes not, but I'm not willing to let her out of the quiet time routine even though it may not be nap time.
Hope you have a quiet time scheduled for each day, it is good for your soul.

I'm missing you

I was at a leader's retreat this weekend with the church and my parents kept the girls.  It was nice of her to do that so that Andy and I could focus our attention on the meetings and be with our friends without distraction.  It was hard though at times to be away from the girls and because our location was so remote, there was spotty cell phone coverage at best.  I was amazed at how much I did miss the girls, though not really, since my day pretty much revolves around them at present. 
I was thinking about missing them as compared to fasting.  I think it is good to give up things (TV, entertainment, food, sweets) for a time to desire the Lord even more. It works. The longings come and your heart is purged and you do feel closer. Our reunion was sweet and I'm very grateful for my children and even for the time apart. It was good.
Thanks again mom and dad (and sister)  for being such a blessing and sacrificing your time and energy to keep them.

prayer

Prayer is faith in action as well as communication and communion with God. He has been so faithful to answer my prayers making me realize I need to pray even more.  Being disciplined to pray daily brings many rewards, why do I neglect this time so easily?  Do you have a daily prayer time? Now that I have a huge closet, maybe I'll move my prayer time in there, to close out the world and focus my thoughts on prayer.

meditation

What are you thinking about?  I am trying to be more deliberate in the meditations of my heart and mind. Being very judgmental about the thoughts I dwell on and keep going back to in my "down" time.  It is easy to be consumed with self, but my desire is to be more others focused, more Christ centered.. We certainly don't have to be prompted to love ourselves, that comes very naturally. Now to be more like Jesus, there's a challenge.

I'm a pretty pony

The girls are loving the new house. Mollie is galloping around the living room and pressing the song button on the riding horse as Betsy rides the pony. Mollie just upped the ante and grabbed her shakers to dance around with as well. 
I am loving the new house too - Andy and I went to Lowes last night for our date. We had a great time buying things to help make the new home even better.

-The coat drive ends this Friday. I don't think I mentioned that in yesterday's post.

Coat drive

Right now there is a coat drive going on in Lex. KY so if you have extra coats (or hats, scarves or blankets)  that don't fit anymore or are not "in style" please drop them off at one of the YMCA's, Henry.Brown Studio or do what I'm going to do and drop them by the Starbucks on South Broadway or Chevy Chase.

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa

getting settled

I know it takes time to feel settled in a house, and we are getting there for sure. I think the girls are more settled into the routine than I am. I think this week as the packing winds down and the "normal" routine gets more established I'll feel more at home. It sure has been fun so far and I love thinking about the girls growing up here. As I type this, they are sitting in empty boxes playing with their musical instruments and Mollie is pretending to go to Starbucks.

Saturday song

Today will be the visitation for Ken M.  I can't imagine the pain of that loss. But I do know that he loved the Lord and that affords his family a lot of comfort in this time. Our life is our worship, what is the love song that you will sing - one that honors self or God?

Friday friend day

I've had friends over most of the day or been on the phone w/ them.  I've been so blessed to have friends over to keep an eye on the girls while I work on getting the house ready. Another friend came by to offer (much needed) decorating advice.  I am so thankful for all of my friends.
I'm looking forward to making new friends in the neighborhood as well.
I do know that to have good friends, you have to be a good friend.
Life is good-I mean GREAT.

Thursday things to do

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  While not all of the boxes will be unpacked today, the number will be small...we are waiting on a china cabinet. So far, the only casualty of the move has been on piece of stemware...not too bad for moving a whole house worth of stuff. I am taking a quick break before unpacking more boxes.  The pile of trash and the pile of donations keep getting bigger as well. As does the list of things we would like done around the house- a light replaced here and there, another shelf in the pantry ... those kinds of things.
One of our church members went to be with Jesus last night, it kind of puts everything in perspective for me. A new house is great, but this world is certainly not "home".

Wednesday wash day

Well in the move the washing machine took a tumble down some stairs at the old house, so Andy spent the bulk of the day yesterday making final repairs on it and it seems to be working just fine now. Thankfully. I would not like to drag all of these clothes to the laundry mat, but I would do it if need be. Now, back to the clothes and more unpacking.

Tuesday loves company

We have had so much help pass through our house (old and new) to help with the move. I am so blessed by it. I am overwhelmed by all of the kindnesses that have been extended through this transition.  I am looking forward to having these same helpers back in our home to bless them with coffee or dinner or prayer. I love my friends and am loved by them.
In the meantime, as I look around this wonderful house, I am overcome by how amazing God is - His blessings are wonderful. Andy and I are getting settled in, of course it will take weeks to get everything together, but we are making good headway thanks to all of our helpers.

Monday move day

Well I'm going to the bank w/ Andy later today to buy our house! So excited. I've heard that it is a lot of paperwork, I'm ready with pen in hand. There are many things in life that are hard or seem so at the time (a good marriage, having a baby, graduating from school) but with hard work and a good plan we manage to get them done. Hopefully with a measure of grace. Else I guess we roll with the punches as life goes by :) Hopefully with a measure of grace.
Signing off today, but I'll be back tomorrow from our new house.
Jessica

the great pick up

Right now we are picking up toys and putting them in boxes. I don't think the girls (2 yrs. 10.5 months)  understand that we're moving. It will be interesting to see how they respond. I'm sure that they'll be excited to see their toys in a few days. Now, we're off to my in-laws. Have a great weekend, I know I will.
Blessings,
Jessica

school girl games

I tell you I am daydreaming a lot these days about the new house. As I am packing boxes, I am imaging where things will go in the new house - rearranging things dozens of times. It reminds me of games that my sister and I would play as we were growing up.  Playing house was always fun, making a house a home is even better. So not only am I thinking about the placement of furniture, I am trying to think of how the house can bless others as well.  I'm having so much fun.

China

The folks from my home-fellowship came over last night and helped me pack more boxes. The ladies who were packing up the dishes and china were having so much fun that eventually we all ended up in the kitchen giggling as we worked. I love my church friends!

bags = packed

Today I packed a suitcase with a few days worth of clothes, the move is getting closer and I want to make sure I have everything I need for the time we're staying at my in-laws.  There are things I will miss about this house and the memories we've made here, but I am looking forward to closing this chapter of life and beginning the next one.

bananagrams

I have been playing bananagrams every day since Christmas. It was my present from the girls (of course Andy picked it out). I must say it has been a nice diversion for me from packing and thinking too much about the current house as well as the new one.  Of course as the move nears, I'll be playing less and working more, but the game is quick so maybe I'll continue to play daily.  It is good for me to have something else to engage my brain so I don't get too stressed about all there is to do. Moving and weddings and childbirth and many other events are like that---you can only do so much before the actual day of the event. No need to stress or worry, that's just the way things are. Bananagrams-here I come.

Pack rat

I am not a hoarder by nature, but it is amazing the things I've held onto over the past few yrs. As I am packing up the house, going through things, I am realizing that I'll have more room in the new house, but I'm being ruthless in trashing and donating. I love the prospect of a fresh start, of bigger spaces, of room to grow.  I want to be careful not to just fill it up with stuff.

Happy New Year

Here we are in the new year with the blank calendar ahead - though the days are filling up fast with a move in 10 days!  It is easy to get distracted with the to do list but I am trusting God to help me get trough this busy time. I know that He will help me accomplish all that I am supposed to do, I just need to complete His agenda not mine.
So whether it is the to do list or the list of resolutions, I need to prayerfully consider the days ahead.

Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;