Flooded With Emotions

Last night at church and then again this morning, our youth drama team did a skit (I know they aren't the first to do it, but it was the first time I've ever seen it) that portrays a girl being brought to life by God and then being separated from Him by all the pressures and forces of life such as sexuality, alcohol, drugs, money, etc. that eventually lead her to be suicidal. You see the enemy telling her she's nothing and giving her the gun. She sits there crying with the gun to her head and eventually throws it down and runs to God (who has been standing there the whole time, waiting for her to come back to Him). She is being held back by the enemy and all of the evil that has overtaken her, but she doesn't stop fighting to get back to God and eventually He casts them all aside and takes her into His arms. It was such a powerful representation of the struggles we face in life and how we can't get through them on our own. My youngest sister, Delyn, and her husband, Jason, were there with my husband and I and we were all extremely moved. Delyn and I were shaking and sobbing and having experienced the death of our cousin from suicide just 6 months ago, it was all so real to us. It just created a physical picture for us of how he was struggling and the hurt and torment he was in and I just can't help but wonder what the outcome would have been if he had had a close relationship with the Lord...if he had just turned to Him. God is standing right there waiting for us to call out to Him. It's that easy. He loves us so much and wants a relationship with us and all we have to do is turn to Him and pursue Him. So why do so many people turn away from Him? Why do so many people resist and reject Him? I just don't understand. You have everything to gain by loving and trusting in Him and the only thing you have to lose is going through a life without true joy, without hope, and without acknowledgement of eternal life in paradise with Him. The choice is yours. So, what do you choose?

Here is the song that went along with the skit and I hope that anyone who comes across my blog will read this and listen to this song and that if they aren't walking with the Lord, that they will really evaluate their life and question just what it really is they are living for. God bless.

Don't Stop Me Now!

I am on a cleaning frenzy! Now, that doesn't happen often with me (as my husband would probably tell you), so it's a big deal around this house. How bad could my house possibly be, you ask? Well, let's just say that those frosted glass shelves in my curio cabinet are actually not frosted at all, they just appear that way and considering you could probably put together a meal of M&Ms and popcorn out from under the cushions of my living room couches...well, you get the idea. Yes, I am the first to admit that I am not a great housekeeper. I love a clean house, I just hate having to clean it. However, send me into someone else's house and I will clean that thing from top to bottom with no problem (just ask my sister and brother-in-law, seeing as I cleaned their whole entire house until sparkling clean while they were gone on their honeymoon as a wedding gift to them and it was no easy task, sorry Dana, but it wasn't LOL). Why do I have no problem cleaning other peoples' houses but hate cleaning mine? I'm not exactly sure, but I'm guessing that it's just because it's somewhere different and doesn't feel as monotonous as cleaning the place you look at everyday. Whatever the reason may be, I just have a hard time motivating myself to really thoroughly clean my house, instead of just doing the daily surface things (and sometimes I'm not even all that good with that, to be honest). But, here I am today, I've already thoroughly cleaned my family room (washed windows, moved the sectional and vacuumed, vacuumed in the cushions, dusted, wiped down the walls...all that good stuff). It looks awesome and as tempted as I am to just sit in this room and bask in the clean beauty of it all...I'm motivated to make the other rooms in my house just as enjoyable to be in. So, off I go! Let's hope this motivation lasts long enough to get through the other 8 rooms in my house!

I will be still

I just wanted to share this today. We sing this song at church and sang it today and it just gives me chills. If, in the middle of chaos and tragedy, we would just be still and remember that God is in control, we would so much more easily be able to handle life and the situations that it brings. Our God is a loving father who hurts when His children hurt and who holds our tears in His hand. We are so blessed to serve such an amazing God and I pray that whenever a situation arises that seems too big for me to handle, I will be still and remember that nothing is too big for Him.

Lions and Tigers and Grandmas?

My grandma is home from Florida (where she moved last August and I'm still not really ok with it) for a few months for my little sister's wedding and my cousin's wedding. On Monday, we all headed to the zoo. When I say "we all", I mean Brian, the boys and I, my sister Dana and her husband and daughter, my sister Delyn, my Mom and Dad, my cousins Rachel, Erica and Bryan and my grandma. It was such an awesome day. The kids and all the adults had a great time (and I got a great workout from all that walking and pulling a wagon). It was just a really nice day with all of us spending time together and I'm thankful we had the opportunity to spend the time with my grandma and make those memories. God is so good.

Here are some pictures from our day at the zoo.

My beautiful grandma and I.


Asher and a seal.


Asher, Gavin and Riley in the Arctic Circle.


My goofball husband. I think I may see a resemblance here. LOL


Gavin and I. He's going to be as tall as me before too long.


Asher getting a little ride in the stroller from my niece, Payton.


Brian skipping along with Asher and Payton.


Riley and a little duck.


Asher and Riley looking at the seals.


A close-up of my beautiful grandma and I.

Make that 12

As of today, I have lost 12 pounds on Weight Watchers! Woooohoooo! 12 pounds after only 5 weeks seems awesome to me. 12 may not seem like an especially significant number, but to me, it is. My birthday is April 12th, Brian's is July 12th and we got married on June 12th. So, 12 is a significant number to us. Not only that, but I now weigh less than I did when I got pregnant with my oldest son (who is now 10), so I haven't seen this weight in over 11 years...in fact, probably close to 12! Needless to say, I am pumped and going to keep this going for sure! Brian and I just ordered the Power 90 program and will be starting that as soon as we get it, so that should help accelerate my weight loss and do some much needed firming up. I am so happy and am feeling sooooo good!

Ya see, there's this guy...

There's this guy I know who makes people laugh constantly, is extremely kind and considerate and is always making people smile and feel good about themselves. He's really good looking and has an amazing personality. The best part is...I get to spend my life with him! He's my husband, Brian, and he turns 31 today. He's always putting me and the kids first and he makes me feel like a beautiful princess everyday. I am truly blessed to be able to share life with him. He played this song for me one night and said it was the way he feels about me. The funny thing is, it's the way I feel about him too. So, in celebration of his birthday, I want him to listen to the words of the song coming from me and realize just how much he means to me. I love you, my Briny! Happy Birthday!

Late Night Ramblings

I feel so restless lately...like I just want to break out and really do something. When I say I really want to do something, I mean something for the Lord, something that builds His kingdom and glorifies Him. What do I do? Where do I begin? I need to pray about it, of course, and ask for guidance in where He wants me to go and what He wants me to do. I need to stop being lazy and start taking care of my house and the day to day stuff so that I don't feel overwhelmed and like I can't possibly leave the house and do something else when I've got so much to do at home. Isn't it funny how we sabotage ourselves? I've got to spend SO MUCH LESS time on this computer and more time doing things that are productive...like spending good quality time with my boys while they are all home for the Summer and doing projects with them that help them to see how important it is to help and serve others. I am going to do this! I am stronger than the nagging voice that tells me to sit on my butt with a cup of coffee and the laptop for hours on end. I am stronger than the whispered lie that the kids are having fun doing what they are doing and don't care if I'm sitting in my own little world and not interacting with them. I am tired of being a victim of the laziness and lies and am ready to make a change. A change for me, a change for my kids, a change for my husband and ultimately...a change for God. Now that it's all right out there for everyone to see, I am accountable to anyone and everyone who reads this. I am going to make these changes and they start first thing in the morning. I am a new creation, darn it, and it's time I start acting like one!

Your prayers are welcome and appreciated. ;-)

More Stamping Goodies and Fun for Me!

I can't believe I won something from Ellie again! This time I won a $20 gift certificate and I have already picked out some seriously awesome stamps. I can't wait to get them! Thank you again, Ellie! You're a total sweetheart!

Check out her blog HERE

9 Pounds Less to Lug Around

So, after 3 weeks of doing Weight Watchers with my wonderful husband, I am 9 pounds lighter. I can definitely be happy about that. It made me feel much better in my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding last weekend and when I put my jeans on for the first time in weeks yesterday, they were much more loose and it made me so excited! I need to lose close to 30 more pounds, but am looking at it in increments of 10 pounds to make it seem less daunting. This is the first plan I've ever done that seems like something I could actually live with and be successful with. I am so happy with what I've done so far and excited to see where I go! I have 5 weeks until my cousin's wedding and if I can lose even just 10 more pounds by then, I will be ecstatic and half way to my goal weight! How cool would that be? I'm not going to freak myself out about it though, I'm just going to be happy about whatever progress I make.