Saturday, February 28, 2009

Changing of Seasons

I love it when the seasons are about to change. I can not honestly say that I like one season over the next because every time I am tempted to do so, I remember why I love them all. I look forward to the change, the amount of sunshine that we get, and the colors that come with each season. I look forward to doing the simple things that bring a smile to my face around the house, such as changing the kitchen towels, or the flavor of candles that will come with that season. I like the debate that goes on in my head on whether or not it is time to change out the flannel sheets and go back to the regular ones and vise versa. The simple decorations that change on the mantel, or the family pictures that will come more into focus around the house. It is fun to walk the garden aisles at Target and picture what my plants are going to look like. The simple decision of what color to paint my toes to match the mood and the season ~ orange Mrs. Dunbar??? In essence I feel like God gave us the seasons to enjoy the fresh breathe of difference. To look at the season as a different time to see the majesty of what God does for us. So as we prepare to say good~bye to winter, and hello to spring.......look for the butterflies in mass, the colors of flowers everywhere and the trees blooming ~ it can be breath taking.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Letter "D"

Mrs. Dunbar gave me the letter"D" to play the game. It was fun, and took more creativity than I thought! Thanks Mrs. D!!!
  1. Dunbars ~ That is right, love the family, the whole lot! I even truly love the V family! This whole family loves the Dodger's but that is NOT one of my loves (Let's Go ANGELS!) Let's just say it is interesting in our friendship the rivalry that goes on! How blessed am I that I get to have great friends!
  2. Dandelions ~ I know that technically they are weeds, but when you have a flower that as a child, you can make a wish on, how do you not love them? Now when watching the kids make wishes, it brings a smile to my face.
  3. Diet Coke ~ Cherry is my favorite, but I have been on the stuff since I was 17. We aren't getting divorced anytime soon.
  4. Dresses ~ They make you feel girlie when you are wearing one. Mr. C. loves when I wear one and it makes him flirty!
  5. DIY projects ~ gives you a boost of confidence and lets you be creative, plus it is cheaper ~ well sometimes
  6. Die cuts ~ oh to my friends who are crafty with me, this is my new passion ~ just wait for the cards that are coming out of our household! Even Missy is into them and getting a kids machine for her birthday ~ perfect for the crafty girl
  7. Doritos ~ the chips are good don't get me wrong, but my favorite is when Mr. C. makes a Dorito Roll for Sushi! (Don't knock it until you've tried it!)
  8. Doughnuts ~ Ah.....just the thought makes my mouth water......glazed, maple bars, old fashioned, buttermilk......the list goes on and on..........
  9. Dryer's Ice Cream ~ see previous post!
  10. Divine Grace ~ I also saved this purposely for last, without it I am nothing, with it I have the promise of eternity.

If you would like to play along, or play again if you are a follower of Mrs. Dunbar, then let me know in your comment and I will give you a letter ~otherwise enjoy and learn a bit about me!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday. I know this because my calendar tells me so, and because I know my dear friend living in New Orleans just got done celebrating Mardi Gras. However, the last few "Lent Seasons" I have been convicted. A friend of ours several years ago, wrote this amazing lesson on what Lent really was. Because I didn't grow up observing it, I had a vague understanding. When she was done speaking to our small group, she challenged us all, to really give up something and CONTEMPLATE the meaning behind Lent. Now, if you are a regular Lent observer, good for you, but the challenge remains the same.........what are you giving up, why are you giving it up, and do you think about it every single time you deny yourself that pleasure, what the point really is. The point is to remember that Christ denied himself the pleasure of life. He denied himself the pleasure of remaining perfect and sinless when He took upon our sins. He denied himself the pleasure of just being carried up to Heaven when His mission was done, and died a painful death instead for OUR sake. He denied himself for a time, complete communication with HIS FATHER. The sacrifices that we celebrate on Easter were great, and I haven't even touched on all of them. So as I prepare to participate in Lent on my own, I am contemplating what I am going to give up, why am I giving it up, and do I remember the reward for what I get in return. Now, this is totally on me, my church that I attend does not publicly encourage Lent. However, if you take a look at it for the core of what it was set up to do, it is pretty amazing. I won't challenge you to participate with me, that conviction has to come from you, but if you do, then please let me know so that I can be praying for you as we go through this together.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tuesday's Treasure

I LOVE ice cream. I do. I know it is bad for you if consumed in excess, but hey what isn't???? This is a picture from Ben and Jerry's (my favorite of their flavors is Chubby Hubby), but I am not partial. I even like generic grocery store brand. I can't say that I have a FAVORITE FLAVOR per say. It is as the mood and timing strikes me. What is your favorite flavor or flavors????
Over the lips, past the gums, look out Thighs, here it comes!!!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Grammar Lesson

Missy is learning the basics in reading and writing. So because she has figured it out that letters make sounds, and sounds make words, she has now a passion for writing things down. However, being the brilliant 4 year old that she is, she needs help spelling, so this is what we do in the car is spell out words and she writes them down, then reads them back to me. However, the other night this is the conversation that happened in our household.......

Missy: Daddy, I've lost my Rit!
Mr. C: Your what???
Missy: My Rit ~ I just had it, now it is gone
Mr. C: What exactly is a Rit?
Missy: you know - my cracker
Mr. C: No honey, it is a Ritz not Rit
Missy: NO,......(small pause for having to explain something so trivial to her dad) Mommy said that if we have more than one, THEN it has an "S" on the end. I only lost one cracker so it is a Rit. (Duh - implied here)

Mr.C: (laughing but trying really hard not to) Oh! You are right, and here is your cracker.
Missy: Thank you, I really like my Ritz but this is my last one, I didn't want to loose my Rit.

We didn't have the heart to correct her further on the "s" really being a "z". She's 4 after all!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Are you HUNGRY???

When I get hungry, I am not a very nice person. I am irritable, irrational, cranky, and basically a bear to be around. When getting lunch today for me and Missy, I realized that spiritual hunger is much the same way. When we don't make time for God, we stop reading our Bible or do it only when it is convenient, we don't worship on our own, we simply become spiritually hungry. We become irritable, irrational, cranky and basically a bear to be around, all the while screaming at God to fix something. The problem is that HE has fixed us something, it is just the question of whether or not we want to eat it. In our house this happens almost every night for dinner. Missy asks "What's for dinner?" and if the answer is not one of her favorites, her immediate response is "But I don't want......." The same is true of us. We ask God for favors, deals, prayers to be answered, problems to be solved, people to be healed etc. But when HIS answer is either "yes, if you are obedient to......" or "no, that isn't in MY will........" then we start to whine and complain and throw a fit. We become more spiritually hungry because WE decide to throw a temper tantrum, get mad at God, and we CHOOSE to be hungry. Our relationship and spiritual maturity is only fed when we put the fork in our mouths. We actually have to physically feed ourselves, and have no one else to blame if we go to bed HUNGRY other than ourselves.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Ode to the Fish


It is sad to say good-bye to the "Crazy Fish". We have goldfish. It is not glamorous, or anything but this is what we could compromise on when Mr. C. wouldn't let us get another kitty (we couldn't be blessed by two amazing cats could we???), we weren't ready for the puppy yet, and I WONT do rodents, and Mr. C. won't do birds......that basically left fish, so about two years ago we got some. Then about 6 month into it, one of the fish started swimming upside down. My brother was the one to first notice it one night. But alas in the morning our fish that we thought we would be flushing was back to swimming happily in the aquarium........later that night, upside down. This routine happened for quite a while until he stopped swimming right side up anymore. It became a conversation piece in our home. We had a fish that literally swam upside down for close to 9 months! Quite frankly I am shocked that ANY of the fish have lasted this long ~ I mean they are goldfish!!!! They cost $1.59!!! But it has been money well spent. However, our conversation piece stopped swimming all together. It was sad really. We felt connected simply because we talked about this animal so much. The others are happily swimming, but our crazy one is in the porcelain Heaven of Fishdom.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Tuesday's Treasure


This is Charley. He has been our "kitty" now for almost 13 years. If you know him, you know he ROCKS as a cat. Not too long ago, the vet called him the "old guy". I was shocked, he is only 12. Our neighbors cat is over 20. The way he pounces on paper, you would think he was 2 months. We are not cat people by nature, but both Mr. C. and I agree that we love our "kitty" even if he is getting up in the years. By the way, this is Charley preparing for the puppy that was coming by putting his smells on the puppy's bed. He really does like dogs, puppy ~ well, we are still adjusting!
**There was a change in posting ~ just for you Monkey!!! Come play with Charley soon!

Monday, February 16, 2009

My Ebeneezer

Yesterday we had a guest lead worship at our church. We sang this song that had the word Ebeneezer in it. I sang along thinking of none other than Scrooge, and the words seemed to fit. However, I learned as we took a break from the song that he wasn't talking about Ebeneezer Scrooge at all. An Ebeneezer is a rock tower of sorts that the Israelites would construct to remember all of the blessings and things that God had brought them through. As they were wondering around in the desert, they grew tired, complaining, and the like, but they at times would take the time to remember all that God had done, and therefore would continue to do. For every blessing they added a rock to their tower.

So this morning, I was thinking of what my Ebeneezer would be made of. What blessings, times of trial, or hardships would I remember that God was faithful to bring me through and therefore would be faithful again. Some of the physical blessings were easy.......family, kids, a house that keeps the rain off of me.....etc. Some of them were not hard to remember, but hard to be thankful for. It is hard to be thankful in the midst of a trial. It is hard to remember God's goodness, graciousness, and that HE actually is in control. I also think it is hard to see some of the trials as positive things instead of something to keep whining about. On these I need to remember that the time is over, for now, and be focussing on what I learned from it, instead of how it stunk to go through it. I think I am going to ponder the idea of an Ebeneezer for a while, and maybe be creative and come up with my own rock pile that I can add to. I think it is important to remember the good things God blesses us with and the hardships He leads us through. If we never look back, the future can look awful dark sometimes.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentines Day



Here are my primary Valentines. Mr. C. and I have been Valentines now for 16 incredible years. Bubba, we go back 8 years. I love my men tremendously, and I couldn't ask for more, they are phenomenal. Where is little Missy???? Well, she reserved herself for her Daddy, and you know what? I am okay with that. I still get a Valentine from my Dad every year, his place is special on Valentines Day, for he was my first and set the bar pretty high for those to follow him.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Missing something????

I must be missing something in my diet. Here is my lunch for the today.......Carrots, with fiesta ranch dip (orange), an orange from my Mom's grove (yummy!), and a slice of cheddar cheese. What do these things have in common ~ yep you guessed it, it was a completely Orange lunch. Am I missing some vitamin I don't know about?????

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Scriptural Naps

Those who know me, know that I LOVE, I mean LOVE taking naps. Especially like this past weekend, when it was dark, raining, and my room was cold. I love snuggling under the covers and just getting away into dream land.

Then I relearned that God values rest as well. Maybe not in the specific nap form, I can't find the actual word in the Bible. However, He STRONGLY believes in taking time off, and relaxing. Back in the OT, it starts in the BIG 10.....Remember the Sabbath Day and Keep it HOLY. Then the Sabbath and remembering it is listed more times in the Bible. He wasn't fooling around on the issue. In Leviticus there is the guidelines for taking 7 days off for the sole purpose of rest and relaxation (they just didn't use the word VACATION). God's design and plan for us was not to run ourselves weary. To be so dead dog tired that we can't even remember our name or families faces. The point was to relax, and reconnect with HIM and with ourselves and loved ones.

This issue has been a big one for me this year. I have seriously taken it to heart. Now, Sundays don't always work out for us to have a day off. On those weekends, we reserve another day during the week or weekend to have the rest that is needed. Unfortunately it doesn't always involve a nap, but it does involve taking it easy, being with family, not stressing about the endless laundry, bills needing to be paid, or housework that needs to be done. God wanted us to have a day that we could actually contemplate HIM and reconnect with HIM. If you do a little research you will find that :
  1. God wasn't kidding around on taking the Sabbath Day seriously

  2. There are tremendous blessings and rewards for those who obey
  3. God is pretty amazing to MANDATE a weekly day off, and a yearly week off ~ That is a cool mandate if you ask me!
  4. There are some pretty SEVERE consequences at the very end of Leviticus if the Israelites didn't follow the rules for taking the Sabbath and Sabbath years seriously.........Look at the nation's history.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Tuesday's Treasure




Today's treasure might seem a bit unusual.....but here it goes. My treasure for the week is the rain. I, unlike most So. Cal residents love the rain. I treasure the fact that we don't get THAT much of it during the year. I love the sound it makes against the windows, even though I know that it means I am going to have to clean them........later. I love the fact that it cleans the streets, lets us have a REASON for drinking hot chocolate, and just generally smells wonderful. I think it is wonderful that today is only a whopping 44 degrees outside and tonight, if the rain stays it might actually snow a little at our house. Rain brings the opportunity to put on my polka dot rain boots and go splashing in the rain puddles with the kiddos. I love that with the rain, it brings winter into reality and that to me is wonderful considering that it is February, we will have enough warm glorious days. It won't stick around forever, I don't want to move to Seattle ~ yet, but for this week, I will treasure the rain and cuddle up with my Valentines for warmth!

Monday, February 09, 2009

Valentines Day

I love Valentines Day. Not for the romantic reasons that you might think, although I like those too. I love setting out towels with hearts on them, and putting simple decorations around the house. I like the fact that I just finished decorating my mantel with pictures from family members wedding day all the way back to my great grandparents. I love that with all of the decorations there are shades of pink, that come with the promise of spring not far away.


I love this suito-holiday most because it is a choice. At Christmas and birthdays there are those people that you "have" to buy for. For whatever the political reason, buying for them makes life easier. But Valentines Day you get to CHOOSE who you love on. There is NO obligation (except for sometimes your spouse and possibly kids) to give the gift of saying "Hey, I love you!" For instance, this year's teachers are going to feel the love they deserve! I think girls probably do this more than guys, in fact I know so. But still, isn't it fun to get a card from friend, and remember that you love each other on top of liking each other and having a hang out buddy?Isn't it fun to buy your own pack of kids Valentines and send them in the mail to friends, or make them a card? I love the simplicity of it, and yet it speaks volumes to the recipient. As for the romantic part, well.........that is just plain fun and needed as well. My Hubby is a GREAT Valentine, and I am so glad that cupid still strikes him!

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

My Kids Are Growing

Yesterday was kind of a hard day for me. I am actually seeing the growing process in both of my kids on that day. It is sad in one way to see the process happening, but then on the other hand I am very proud of the growth that they have shown.

Yesterday, was Bubba's birthday. He is now officially 8. I knew this was coming, I can read a calendar, but it still strikes me as sort of odd. I remember so clearly the day he was born, when no one was expecting him early. I remember so clearly the drama that followed as I was admitted in the hospital and Mr. C. gravely warned that it could have been so much worse had we not acted as quickly as my sister and I did. It just is odd, that my baby is learning and reading cursive handwriting as I am typing this. He is growing right before my eyes and although some of this brings great changes, some of it is sad.

Then there is Missy......she today has to take the Kindergarten admittance test at the school in which we want to enroll her in for the fall. When Bubba took this test, it was much later in the spring. I know she is ready. I know she is apprehensively excited to go to school with the big kids. But she is my baby, she is my last and for the last couple of years she has been my sole shadow during the days except while at preschool. Next year she will attend school for 81/2 hours a day. This is the first step of her becoming a big kid instead of a preschooler. Exciting, yes. Sort of sad, also a yes. Then she had the nerve, to go on Indiana Jones yesterday with the boys. She was FINALLY tall enough, by two Disney employees. When did my little one grow so big???

I do not want my kids to be babies again. HECK NO!!! I also am just reminded yet again of how quickly the time passes. Before I know it they'll..........well, let's just take one day at a time!

Worship

I am an usher during my mornings at BSF. This is not a glamorous job. I am the lady that asks as politely as possible for the 400th time for the other ladies to do the pew shuffle and make room for others. Because of this position though, it is hard to sing the hymns with the rest of the people. IN fact we aren't allowed to hold hymnals while doing our job, so I stand and worship God by listening. It is a fairly new experience for me, to listen to the choir of voices singing songs that unless I know I have to just pay attention to.

Yesterday morning something caught a hold of me though. We were singing the song "Peace like a River". Most people know this one, I think it was even on "Little House on the Prairie", but it says in the chorus, "It is well with my soul" over and over again. Now if you don't know the hymn was penned while crossing the Atlantic and the author had just lost his family in a tragic accident. Yet he penned "It is well with my soul". Amazing. Some of the ladies you could see, were actually paying attention to the words. Several actually stopped singing along and began to weep. In today's economic crisis, are things well with my soul? If God took MY kids, could I sing the song?

I think it is easy to sing songs that are like "Amazing Grace" Oh yeah, let's sing all four choruses on that one!!! What about "Our God is an Awesome God" Woohoo yeah gets the blood pumping. We sing one at church that is very upbeat that talks of God being near, and Heaven coming down. I love it, but these are Happy songs that talk about who God is. These are great and I can get into them. But on Sunday we were challenged as we were about to sing "Blessed be the Name of the Lord" to really listen to the words. When God "Gives and takes away, my heart will truly say, Lord blessed be your name". Really????? IF God took away my family, I would have a hard time singing. IF He took away cancer, no problem, let's sing that again.

Several years ago, our old worship minister actually asked us to not sing, if we didn't believe the words we that were coming out of our mouth. There were several Sunday's when our church wasn't a choir, but more like a quartet. His challenge struck me again today. Am I lying in my worship if I am singing with the masses "Blessed be your name" or "It is well with my soul" if in my heart of hearts it isn't. Should I sing, as a reminder of where my heart needs to be? This is something I am going to ponder for a while. I want my worship in song to be genuine and not just following the masses. Maybe even in my own church where I know the words and they are displayed for me, I should be really LISTENING to what the words are saying like I have to do in BSF.

Technology is NOT my friend

AGH!!!!!!! I have no other words but that!!!!! I am in a technology rage right now. I am trying to post pictures on my blog, the internet is being dumb and keeps kicking me out. My hubby keeps texting me as well as other people and my phone stinks to text on. We got a new TV that I am having trouble working without the 8 or 4 year old around. FILTH FARTH AND FILTH AGAIN!!!!! AGH!!!!!!!

Monday, February 02, 2009

Tuesday's Treasure

This week is Bubba's birthday. He is a true treasure. He is smart, funny, and has a very sweet spirit and heart. He loves soccer, building with Legos, and being with family (even his sister). Although he can be true boy with the burps that are rated, the gross humor, and the toots, well let's not go there; he can also cuddle like no one's business and endures kisses from his mom (if we are not in public). He is a true joy, and warms my heart. God knew what He was doing when He made us wait for the treasure He had in store for us.