Monday's Menu

I hope this past week has been a precious time with family celebrating Jesus' birth. We certainly have had such sweet memories made and we also spent a little time sharing memories of ones we lost this year, our sweet Gaga Rachel and my dad's best friend, Roger. Those are sweet as well even it they produce some tears from time to time. :) (have I mentioned that I am a weeper?)

Anyway, we also got to see our dear friends, the Perkins and will be heading on Thursday to see our other dear friends, the Stumpf's. The three couples use to be in a small group together back when we had just adopted Emma, the Stumpf's had 4 of their 8 kids and the Perkins were waiting for God to bring them their precious little girls, now 5 and 3. What a road we all have taken since then and it is so neat to see that those friendships that are built in prayer and God's love just become like family. I'll post pictures of our visits later.

As for this week, we are going to do some soups and salads to get back to normal eating versus this gorging that has taken place! Whew! So here is the plan:

Monday: chili, corn bread

Tuesday: taco salad

Wednesday: potato soup and left over ham :)

Thursday: (headed to Stumpf's) not sure what we will take yet....white chocolate mix

Friday: veggie soup, bread

Saturday: white bean chicken chili, corn bread

Sunday: ham -n- beans (maybe by then the ham will be gone!) :)

For more menu ideas visit www.orgjunkie.com

Heartstrings

This morning I got on my facebook account to find some pictures posted from a friend's recent mission trip to Romania to pass out Christmas boxes. He goes often as he has made his life's work to help the children of Romania through his organization Remember the Children. You can find out more about his story on their website but today I wanted to share a few of the photos with you of these kids who live like this everyday. We walked some of the same areas when we visited Romania 4 years ago. The images I have from that trip still tear at my heartstrings. Pray for God to move through areas like this in Romania and so many other countries. No one should have to live like this. The other thing to notice when looking at the pictures, the faces. Such joy from those who received the boxes...something so simple to do for any area including your own city. Bless a child less fortunate this Christmas....you will be the one who gets the best gift in return....pure joy! A mother and baby receiving a Christmas box.

A young boy getting his box. Notice his feet and the snow!

A church in Romanian village

The living conditions of some of the people in Romania is heartbreaking.

This was my friends favorite stop. They were stopped along the side of the road and were blessed with these Christmas boxes. Awesome!

More kids....more boxes.....more reasons to give.

Mondays Menu!

Can you believe it is Christmas week?! I am so excited! I love this time of year. Now that our house is decorated, filled with the smells of baking, I can relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor. :) I love sitting by the tree with the lights on and music playing in the background and that is what I have been doing! So awesome!

We are blessed to live close to both sides of our family so we spend Christmas Eve with my family. We then have time at home Christmas morning and then head down to Matt's folks later that day to join up with his crew. This year there will be a slight change since Matt's sister is heading to her in-laws for Christmas day. We will be hosting Matt's parents on Christmas and then going to the family get together the next day once his sister is in town. I just did not want his mom sitting alone on Christmas especially this year being the first one since her mom passed away. So I have had fun thinking of what to have for my first Christmas dinner at our house! :)

As I finish up shopping, look towards the family times, I am praying we never lose sight in why we celebrate this season. Taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus is what makes this time so special. So, be sure to do the same and really meet with God during this special time of year. As for food...here is what we will be eating this week:

Monday: baked chicken drumsticks, rice, green beans

Tuesday: White bean chicken chili, corn bread

Wednesday: Crouton chicken, mashed potato, broccoli

Thursday: Christmas dinner with my family!! (not sure what I am taking yet)

Friday: Christmas!
Breakfast: monkey bread, egg casserole, fruit, wassail

Lunch/dinner: Turkey,mashed potato, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole,
lime jello mold, fruit salad

Saturday: Christmas with Miller's! ( not sure what I am taking there yet)

Sunday: left overs!

Sister Time

What a blessing to have a sister who you enjoy spending time with as a child, even more of a blessing is growing up together and becoming friends who respect each other and encourage each other. My sister and I are totally different in most ways. As short as I am, she is tall. As pale as I am, she is tan. As blonde as I am, she is brunette. As straight my hair is, hers is curly. As much as I am home, she is on the go. My sister and I from outward appearances as well as lifestyle appear to be quite different and one would think that would bring a lot of strife. What I adore about her, the differences. I love that she is so bold and fearless. I love that she lives a life full of activity. I love her kids to no end and I am thrilled to see them shine in the sport she loves, swimming. I cherish all the memories of growing up sharing a room with my sister, Emily. But today, I am just thankful that even when she is super busy during swim season, there are those brief moments of freedom that I can have a short giggle with her or share something we are very much alike in ....our love of chocolate.

Emily is a a strong woman of God who seeks to please Him in all she does which looks very different than the path I have chosen to do the same thing! Go figure! She is a teacher and a coach. Her influence on the teen girls she coaches is endless. I am amazed at the opportunities she has to share her faith through this venue. Her kids see this passion and know it comes from God. God uses whatever you are passionate about to bring Him glory...He made us that way! Who would have thought He could use a sport like swimming to reach so many for His kingdom? My sister has a gift and I am thankful she is using it to honor God as she is through her coaching, teaching, parenting and being a great encouragement to this sister who thinks her little sister rocks! :)

One cool thing that God gave my girls through my sister....whenever people ask our girls if they are " real sisters", Doodle gets so upset. so we have to talk about what it means to be a "real sister". We figure out that it does not mean looking alike, but it involves being there for each other and loving each other no matter what. Well, my sister and I look nothing alike and that helps my girls see that "real sisters" don't have to look alike. God knew what He was doing when He picked my sister before I ever knew I would become a mom through adoption. His hand in my life through picking the right parents, siblings, mate, children is evident and today I just wanted to say thanks for choosing so well. :)

He's A Busy God!

If I didn't know better, I would think that God is trying to show me something. :) Actually, I know He is showing me that He is more than able to meet all my needs and some of my desires too. I have told you two of the ways that is happening in our home with the washer and garage door. But He also gave me a simple gift that blesses my family. Every year for Christmas, I make these calendars for our parents. They are sweet pictures of the grandkids which they so love. I was afraid I could not do them this year because they are a bit pricy now. Well, leave it to God to bring me an email from Snapfish for...get this....BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE!!!! Isn't God just too fun! I told you that we would all stand in awe of how He chose to make all my needs and desires come to fruitition this season. So that gets me thinking...do you have anything you need to lay before God and watch Him move? He so will do just that and in a mighty way!

God's Gifts

Well, if you recall, I wrote about my concern over financial issues we were facing lately and the fact that the list of things we needed to check on or get fixed felt like it was just growing. I made the list, prayed over it and let it go. I think now is the time to update on the amazing gifts God has given us since that post which you can read if you click here.

First, it was the washing machine which I wrote about last week and you can read about here.
Now, it is the garage door. My home is a lovely brick ranch. Nothing showy. That is not who we are. We just want what we need in a home. Anyway, while I like my house, the one thing that seems to have been an issue with my pride has been this crazy garage door. We moved into this house almost 10 years ago and it needed a new door then. We have not replaced it yet and we have certainly watched it deteriorate. It is nasty. I get so embarrassed when people drive up to our house and that is the first thing they see! Crazy! I think God had to show me to put that aside and know that is not what matters in His eyes. So, regardless that it has taken me 10 years to finally just let it go...today, God met that need in our life. Or the want in mine. :)

The patient of Matt's that fixed our back door this summer has been out to measure the door a couple times and we hoped he would order it for us. Matt trades services with him. He builds beautiful homes. Anyway, today at lunch, the doorbell rings. I answer it and it is this gentleman wanting to measure the door and know what color we wanted. We get the door..get this....TOMORROW!!! Only God can make that happen, friends! I stand in awe of a mighty God who meets all of our needs as well as some of our desires when we choose to fall at His feet in humility. I am so excited I can't process all of my feelings but I do know that this will be the most precious Christmas we have had in some time....can't wait to see what else God crosses off that list! What a mighty God!

S-T-R-E-T-C-H!

Have you ever noticed how God gives your children gifts that cause you to be stretched out of your comfort zone? Or sometimes, you have to show by example to help them step out of their own comfort zone? I have had the lovely blessing of having a very perky daughter in the mornings. Most of the time, that is not my bent. However, I enjoy watching her and she is stretching me to try it sometime...just not today. :) Seriously though, Doodle has a gift of not really knowing a stranger in a group. I become terribly shy when I walk into new places. Typically she does not which helps me to stretch my comfort zone. I have to go with her after all. She also is a little dare devil with roller coasters and that certainly has forced me out of my comfort zone of the kiddie rides.

Then there is Bean. Man, that girl is going to be stretch me til I snap! haha! She knows no fear with rides either. But that is not why I write today. Bean loves helping her daddy with all sorts of projects. It doesn't matter if it involves a tool or loud noise or if you will get messy. She just likes to know how all this stuff works and be there with him. I must say, she is stretching me to learn more about these things as well. For example, two nights ago, my husband mentioned he was having a pain that we were not sure what it was. He feared it might have been a hernia but was not sure...could be a pulled muscle. He could have done that while crawling around the crawl space moving speaker wires to their new homes. Of course, Bean was with him on the venture.
But they were not able to complete the task at hand that night due to not enough wire. So, guess what? Bean and I crawled under the house to do it for him last night. She knew what had to be done from the night before. She did a great job. I was scared out of my mind but did not let her see that. I just thought if I saw a mouse or big spider I would create a new way into the crawl space with a mommy shape hole! But there were not critters as I feared. It was kind of like crawling around in playground pebbles but it was also a fun time with Bean leading me around. Doodle stayed up and grabbed the wires we pushed through to their new homes. She was a great helper as well. Her job is the one I usually take on with Matt...but this night...Bean stretched her mommy and I am feeling very proud that little girl. I am also so glad that God finds cute little ways to push me out of the comfort zones in various ways.

Monday's Menu!

Ahhhh! Can you hear the sigh of relief coming from our house? The rush is over. We have made it through the Christmas programs and now we get to just sit back and wait on Christmas to arrive. Well, maybe not sit back, but we get to bake the cookies we each enjoy. This year, I am only baking their favorites. No need to bake the others just for the sake of baking more cookies. We did manage to get a tree Sunday after church. It looks so nice and we just love decorating it together. The girls have had fun putting all the nativity scenes around. Have I ever mentioned that I have a nativity scene addiction as well as a book addiction? Well, if not, that is for another post!

This week we are really slowing down. We have our last co-op and BSF on Monday and dance ends Tuesday. The rest of the week, we are home. Did you hear that? Home!!! We will finish school on Friday and then have two weeks off. I am so excited to get the much needed house hold chores done and attack a couple of projects on my to do list during that time. Until then, here is what we will be eating this week:

Monday: (BSF night) Girls and Matt eat on the road.

Tuesday: (dance class) sandwiches on the road, apples, pretzels

Wednesday: ham, cheese broccoli ring, salad

Thursday: Teriyaki chicken, mashed potato, green beans

Friday: boiled supper, corn bread

Saturday: easy chicken pot pie, fruit salad

Sunday: pork roast, cheesy potato, salad, fresh bread

For more great menus, head on over to http://www.orgjunkie.com and check out all the yummy things being cooked up this week! :)

Lights, Camera, Action!!!

The girls have both been involved in different Christmas programs this year. Last weekend, Bean was in the Sonshine Kids Choir's musical called Angel Alert. It was so cute. They did a lovely job. What I enjoyed was watching my quiet shy girl stand up to the microphone and say her line loud and proud. That moment was so exciting for me. She has always been our super shy girl, hiding behind my legs. To watch her come out over the past couple years to the point she is willing to stand up on stage in front of hundreds of people and speak, well that is just God's gift!

This weekend, Doodle has been involved with her praise dance ministry team in a Christmas program at a church. The first show was last night. It was beautifully done. I can not tell you what it does to me watching her dance for her Lord. She beams! It is not the same as when she is on stage for a play, but it is this look on her face that lets me know who she is dancing for...her Jesus. She is so reverent at that moment it brings me to tears.

Watching both the girls this week has allowed me to really hit my knees with a heart of gratitude to God. It is one thing to have a daughter who loves singing around the house or dancing like crazy. But to have two daughters who love singing praise songs daily and dancing for God, well that just melts my heart. There is nothing that touches my heart more than watching my children serve Him, seek Him and worship Him. Matt doesn't have to shop for me this year, the gift of watching each of them do their thing for God, well, that is the best gift I could open this year.

The Best Christmas Gift

Each Christmas morning since we have been parents, we have started our morning the same way. We bake a cake for Jesus' birthday. Next we read the Christmas story from Luke 2 while the girls add Jesus to the Nativity. We then do my favorite part of our Christmas day...we sit around the tree and think about what we want to give Jesus this year and write them down on a small piece of paper. He gave His life for us, so surely we can think of some things we can do or give up for Him each year.

These have been so amazing to see what God places on our hearts and how some of them change and others are pretty constant. I then put the pieces of paper in a little decorated ornament box and the girls hang it on the tree. We pray together and then we open gifts. The girls get three packages, just like Jesus. This time is precious to me and I guess it is such a blessing to know that when we chose to not partake in the Santa world, we still have some fun traditions we do as a family on that morning. I think we feared it would be weird..which if I were totally honest, I would have to say it was a bit weird at first but not now. This is my favorite time of the day and it is also my girls.

All of this talk about slowing down to truly celebrate Jesus this Christmas has me thinking...what do I need to give to Jesus this year? I really want to honor what I give to him. Sometimes we give our time. Sometimes it is something we need to let go such as our anger, selfishness, etc. This year I want to make sure it is what He wants me to give up even if it is not on my radar right now. I want to give Jesus the best gift ever....all of me. I wonder what I will have to lay down in order to do that.

Time for a change!

I have had so much fun seeing all the changes in my blogger friends blogs lately. I was inspired. So I am working on decorating my blog for the holidays. For me, that is tough. I have to "try on" several to see what I like. So, know things might not look the same tonight or tomorrow, but eventually I will decide and it will be pretty. :) Until then...hang with me. :)

God Cares About My Washer!?!

I know what you are thinking....What? Why would God care about our washer? Well, I think the same thing but you see, He does! Ok, maybe not the washer in itself but He cares about the circumstances around my life and takes care of all it even the washer! Let me explain better...

We purchased a very nice machine a couple of years ago after saving to pay cash since our old one broke. At that time, we took our clothes to the laundry mat for almost 3 months! It was nuts. So once we decided on what to buy, we have been in love with this silly machine because it does 3 loads of laundry in one load! Anything that saves time around here is a love of mine. :)

A month ago, this blessing of a machine became a bit shall I say "agitated". (sorry couldn't help it!) It started blinking "F1" at me during the fill up times in the cycles. I read what that meant and knew we were in trouble. We did not have money to pay for someone to fix it. We did not have money to go to the laundry mat either! Plus, this machine is only two years old! What's up with that? Luckily, every time I restarted it, as the instructions told me to try, I was able to get it to go. So, I prayed over that silly machine and God made it hold out to finish our laundry each week....until Sunday. On Sunday night, Matt had to take our laundry over to the office to do. He was there until 1:30. (much smaller machine!) That did not bless him and I felt horrible! It got us researching the problem and brainstorming how to fix it.

Matt found online that there were others who had this problem and that the manufacturer took care of it. So I called yesterday. I told them what we have had happening and guess what....they are sending a repairman out to our house tomorrow!! Best part~ FREE OF CHARGE!!! Did you catch that? FREE! God is amazing how He manages to show us He cares and will take care of it all....even a washing machine. I know some would say it is not Him, but I know it is because I have been praying about it for a month and asking for Him to either fix the machine so it will just work or bring the money to fix it. He did! So that gets me to thinking, if He cares about my silly machine and fixes it, why don't I leave all the other big stuff with Him and watch Him move? No answer today..just thinking about that one.

Keeping CHRIST in Christmas!

This season really does start to make me crazy as I put on myself the need to do all the extras that make Christmas what it is "suppose" to be. However, that is just what I am being challenged to not do this year. On Sunday, our pastor spoke on having a simple Christmas this year. Making it all about Christ and not about us. And really when we get down to it, all the "extras" are really about us. We want to have the traditions with our kids and we make these things a priority. So, I was challenged when Pastor Gary mentioned that we are no different than the people of Bethlehem...we did not make room for Jesus. We do not make room for Him in our life at Christmas and we don't make him a priority. So I know for a fact that we do not want that to be true of our home. We have always made the celebration about Jesus versus Santa and I guess I thought that was good enough. I think I have over compensated with other stuff to make our girls not feel like they "missed out" of the whole Santa pull. In doing so, I have done the same thing we were trying to pull away from by not doing Santa, I have made Christmas all about us.

So I have been contemplating what to give up and some how God has made it so that certain circumstances make it easier to do so. We are not going to be writing a letter and sending cards to everyone we have ever known this year. I am going to send a photo card to those who I know pray for our family so that they can continue to do so.....I use the Christmas photo cards as prayer cards throughout the year. A different family each week is prayed over and it helps me to use the pictures.

Second thing to go, excess spending just to spend. We usually only buy three gifts for our girls for Christmas. We figure if it was good enough for Jesus...why change it! That will remain the same, but I am not going to be able to buy all of my nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers gifts this year. I just can't do it. And truly, I am so much more all about the memories we make together anyway, so I will figure out something to "give" them instead. My first thought, take all 10 kids to the lake house for a cousin sleepover which would allow all parents to go on a date night. We'll see. Still praying over this one as it really causes me to be sad that I can't buy them something. God is still working on this one yet I know they don't put getting or not getting a present from me as how much I love them. It's my issue.

Third thing to go, parties. We are invited to lots of parties and people kind of expect you to come. So I am going to bow out of them as they usually involve extra baking, buying and stress. We don't need that right now. We need peace as we get ourselves prepared to celebrate Jesus' birth. So we will do the girls' Christmas programs at church and I am hosting my co-op mom's meeting next Monday night while the family goes to Bible Study Fellowship, but after that we are done. No more. So don't be offended if you ask us to a party and we say no. We need time to be a family, playing games together, watching old movies, reading great stories, worshiping our Lord. We need time to be still before God and really allow Him to meet us in these moments before Christmas. How can we find that time if we do not be still? In order to do that, we must say no to some stuff. I guarantee you that doing that will ruffle some feathers. I just hope the people who get ruffled are able to one day understand and that God will give us the right words to say to calm those feathers if needed.

Lastly, we are not putting out lights this year. I am making that decision for my husband. He hates it. He really does. He does it for us. His girls always tell him that we are the only house that doesn't have them out. So what?! We also are the only house on our street that doesn't have Santa come and that homeschools, so why start being like everyone else in this area?! We are different by choice most of the time and truly why should we make him be more stressed at this time of year just to be like the neighbors?! So I am saying no to that this year. Let's instead spend the time Matt would have used to put up the lights to go down to our friends mission and help put Christmas boxes together for those who don't have anything for Christmas. Better way to spend our time for sure.

Our plan in how to use this extra time is to flip it for being God's hands and feet during this season. We want to serve with our friends with the boxes and possibly through our church if we find a way to do so. We want to help our neighbors with their tasks if needed. We want to be home spending quiet time together. We want to have our home filled with love, laughter and peace. We would love to invite our neighbors over for a soup/bread meal or maybe a cookie/cocoa night but that will depend on if I can do that without making it all about the food and decor having to be "perfect". We also want to spend time with grandparents more. We have lost both of our grandmas recently and we both cherish those times so much. We want our girls to have that time with each set of our parents. We know those moments change you in wonderful ways. So, pray for the Miller's to continue to peel away the stuff of Christmas that make it all about show and glow. We want to shine for Jesus only and take time to sit and meditate on God's Word.

Menu Plan Monday

Well, it is that time of year where we all have a few more holiday parties to attend or cookies bake which can lead to busy schedules all around. We have a ballet dancer in our family who is dancing in a Christmas show at a church this next weekend. That means she has practice every night this week. Ugh! Poor thing is wiped out already so I am showing her some grace with school work this week. She will be doing co-op work and history but no math and spelling to shave off some of her workload and allow for a rest time in the afternoon.

We still don't have a tree and with our schedule this week, I am not sure when we will get it! I am hoping we can pick it up Wednesday night and plan on decorating a bit through the week and finishing up on Sunday as a family. We'll see.

So while trying to keep Christmas all about Christ and yet adding parties and practices to our schedule, I am deciding to keep it simple with food. So here is what the Miller's will be eating this week:

Monday: (BSF night) Girls and Matt eat on the road.

Tuesday: (dance practice/class) sandwiches on the road, apples, pretzels

Wednesday: (dance practice) veggie soup, bread

Thursday: (dance practice/meet friend for dinner) pizza, salad

Friday: (dance performance) taco salad

Saturday: (dance performance/ co-op Christmas party) Girls eat with cousins!

Sunday: (NOTHING!) Pot Roast, carrots, potato and fresh bread....yummo!

Missing a Buddy

Last night, I was given a sweet little letter by Bean at bedtime. I opened it preparing to have some stalling tactic as she does not like having to go to bed lately. She has struggled with staying asleep through the night and even getting to sleep. We keep talking to her but until last night, we did not know what the problem was and truly at this point were getting a bit frustrated at being awakened in the middle of the night by a 9 year old. You kind of expect it when they are 9 months but not 9 years.

The note said (written in crayon which added sweetness in my book):
Dear Mommy,
I am missing Gaga Rachel. Can you help me
get through this please?
Love,
Bean


Then there was a second page with a large picture she drew of Gaga Rachel and a note:
Gaga Rachel, I love you!

Gaga Rachel

Ok, I don't know about you, but my heart sank. I feel so badly that I did not put two and two together before this note. Bean is getting ready to sing in a church kid's musical. She has so much fun doing that however the last time she did, we got a call from Grandma while eating ice cream. That call was that Gaga Rachel heart had stopped and the EMT's were trying to revive her. We left the girls with my parents and Matt and I darted to the assisted living facility where she lived but it was too late. Graciously, my parents brought the girls over as we wanted them to have a chance to say good byes there if they wanted to. Doodle did not, but Bean did. She went in with me to see her buddy and she stayed close by the rest of the time really. Then at age 8, that little girl wrote a little something and read it in front of the crowd at the funeral. We were so proud but also so shocked as she is our shy child. She is the one we have to practice what to say if we see people we know when we go places so she will not just hide behind my back.

Gaga Rachel with her "Little Brown Bear"

Why would this little girl do that? Because Gaga Rachel and Bean had always had such a sweet bond that doesn't really go with explanation. It just was what it was. That does not mean Gaga Rachel was not precious to all of us and that Doodle is not missing her as well, because that would not be true. I just think that with this musical, all of that stuff has surfaced and she does not know how to process it. On top of that, I think she truly realizes that she is not coming back. This is Bean's first time to deal with death at an age she can truly understand. It never gets easier to say good bye no matter how old you are but we keep pointing her to where Gaga Rachel is now. We also have encouraged her to remember all the fun times or silly things she did with GagaRachel so she will smile through the tears. Focus on the good stuff and let the rest take its course. So, it is with tears running down my cheek that I write this post today and must say to you, Gaga Rachel, thank you for loving my girls so well that they miss you so much. The memories they have spent with you will last a lifetime. We love you and miss you, sweet Gaga Rachel.

Doodle with Gaga Rachel at the lake house. Sweet memories.

Testing Faith

I find it amazing that just when you think everything is going well, you are tithing above and beyond the 10% you are instructed to give to God and have extra in the bank....all of a sudden life hits full force and you are scraping nickels together for a loaf of bread! Gracious! I was getting discouraged with recent financial issues when I realized that God wants to know that we will trust him in all things, in all ways and all circumstances. So, once again, we enter this busy season not prepared as I so much prefer. I will trust God to bring the finances to take care of what is needed and the extras will just have to be icing on the cake if and when God chooses to bring that money in as well. So while I remain faithful with giving, helping others and such...I also have to prove faithful in how the money God gives us is spent and what we do to honor Him with that money. It is sooooo easy to be all protective and hoard it when there is a time of less in your life. But God wants us to be extravagent in our giving. So, with a bit of fear but much faith I write this and know that by the end of this season, we will have an amazing story to share about how God has blessed this family once again. He never ceases to amaze me. He may not be early but He always comes through and in ways I just can't imagine! So, God, I give these concerns to you today knowing you will be faithful to figure it all out and that in doing so, I can not take it back....

washing machine (fix it or $$ to fix)
cars acting up (fix them or $$ to fix)
debt to pay off
garage door
new shoes for the girls
desire to have Christmas dresses for girls
money to go to the doctor (all 4 of us need to get a check up)
braces
dance
gas money
desire to help out the needy this season with $$ or presents
$$ for books for school

Lord, this is just the stuff that goes through my head on a daily basis as I make decisions. I know that all of this junk going through my mind is not allowing me to serve you or worship you in a way that brings you honor. I may never fully understand what it means to have abundant wealth and truly I do not want to as I find it puts my trust in money and not in God's provision. So while I struggle with feeling overwhelmed with worry at times, I still love having a God that will provide my every need. Now, if I can just get over feeling guilty when friends do nice things for us for the holidays when we can not repay that favor. Thank you God that you never look at the outward gifts but the inward. May our gifts be a sweet aroma to you.
In Jesus' most precious name, Amen! :)

Facebooking Your Faith

Well, lately I have had a few people in my life come down really hard on people who use facebook to contact old friends. I was starting to feel a bit guilty. I agreed that it is less personal than a call or note but with the season I am currently in with life, I don't have the luxury of sitting and writing notes to all the people that cross my mind or picking up the phone to talk to them for longer than 10 minutes. I really don't use the phone much to talk to my best friends so how can add this group to my list?!

Anyway, I was just about to jump the facebook ship and give it up when I have recently had the best experiences and conversations with two of my friends from high school. One of them was my best friend through high school. We were really together or talking all the time. We did not always make the wisest choices then but we so enjoyed being together. This recent death of a classmate has brought the two of us back into communication as it was a reminder of how fragile life truly is and we need to take the time to be involved. But something else has happened....I was able to chat with her for about an hour off and on while doing laundry and lesson planning. Our chat started off about this mutual friend, drifted to good memories and ended on the best thing yet...my faith in Christ. She is at a point of wanting to know more about scripture. She is reading through the Bible but has lots of questions. We talked through some things and I was able to invite her to my church or a Bible study. She jumped a the chance!

The other friend was a buddy I so enjoyed while we danced together on the PomPom Squad. We had not spoken since high school and she is a joy. We are both believers and she was struggling in sharing the Word with a cousin who was commenting on her page about gay marriage. I just read the post and thought led to write something. That little comment allowed the two of us to write back forth about sharing Jesus and being godly wives in situations. It was such a blessing.

So, after praying about these two events on my facebook, I have decided to stay put. I do think right now my ministry is at home with my girls and the other children God places in my life. But what an awesome opportunity to also be able to spread the love of Jesus Christ through something so relevant in today's society such as facebook. So I am going to reach out in Christ to these friends of mine from years gone by and pray that God will continue to bring opportunities to my door...or I guess my wall! What a blessing!