Those two words standing together take on new meaning. I am truly blessed. I have a wonderful husband, happy healthy kids, a roof over my head, food to eat whenever I am hungry, a God who loves me even though I am undeserving.
I am living (for certain).
I am blessed.
But I am LIVING BLESSED? Am I living my life as if I am blessed? Am I radiating the joy that is evident in one who is truly living blessed? No...most definitely not. I still manage to find something wrong with my life or myself. I often harbor bitterness and envy over these things. Right now, it's like a stain I can't get out of my favorite shirt. No matter how hard I try or how many times I wash it, treat it, pre-treat it, scrub it, it remains...even appears to be getting BIGGER sometimes. It was only today that I realized why it is growing instead of shrinking under my efforts. I am using the WRONG kind of treatments. I am trying to work it out alone. I haven't once asked for advice or help, not truly. So here I am, with my big stain that I just know everyone can see, wanting so badly to seek wisdom and guidance. How does one live blessed? How can I live blessed?
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." ~Psalm 37:4
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
changes
So I stink at keeping up in the blog world! Since the spring semester began, I hit the ground running. Now, here I am in finals week...already looking to what next fall will bring. I was all enrolled in summer classes, only to decide in the past few days not to attend. I am wiped out. Mentally, physically, spiritually, you name it! But I love school, and I love where I am headed! But I am also welcoming the break and the time I am going to get to spend with my little people this summer!
Speaking of little people...As many of you know, we are expecting little person #6! We are very excited, even though the timing is a little sooner than we had originally planned. (We all know how PLANS work out, right? Ha.) But with two years of nursing school on the very near horizon, we felt we should stop trying to control it all and just see what happens. So, two months later...you guessed it! 6 is due October 30th. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are all anxiously awaiting (they still don't understand just how long it takes to GROW a baby!) 5 really doesn't comprehend any of it, but she most certainly will once 6 arrives! They are divided...3 and 4 want a sister. 1 and 2 want a brother and have requested that God take her back if it is another sister. I have to remind them how much they love the sisters they already have and that they will feel the same about another sister. They are still in disagreement, but we shall see.
The pregnancy got off to a rough start...I was sick and very tired until just recently. It is nice to be able to eat again! But that period of time gave way to a case of shingles (think chicken pox)! Fortunately, I am on the downhill side of that one, but it was NOT fun.
Everyone has had a relatively healthy winter...a few minor bugs here and there. Bri was finally rid of her ear troubles when she had tubes put in a few months ago. She began walking and talking within weeks! Praise God!
We are all anxious for summer...especially hanging out with friends and family!
Love to all!
Speaking of little people...As many of you know, we are expecting little person #6! We are very excited, even though the timing is a little sooner than we had originally planned. (We all know how PLANS work out, right? Ha.) But with two years of nursing school on the very near horizon, we felt we should stop trying to control it all and just see what happens. So, two months later...you guessed it! 6 is due October 30th. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are all anxiously awaiting (they still don't understand just how long it takes to GROW a baby!) 5 really doesn't comprehend any of it, but she most certainly will once 6 arrives! They are divided...3 and 4 want a sister. 1 and 2 want a brother and have requested that God take her back if it is another sister. I have to remind them how much they love the sisters they already have and that they will feel the same about another sister. They are still in disagreement, but we shall see.
The pregnancy got off to a rough start...I was sick and very tired until just recently. It is nice to be able to eat again! But that period of time gave way to a case of shingles (think chicken pox)! Fortunately, I am on the downhill side of that one, but it was NOT fun.
Everyone has had a relatively healthy winter...a few minor bugs here and there. Bri was finally rid of her ear troubles when she had tubes put in a few months ago. She began walking and talking within weeks! Praise God!
We are all anxious for summer...especially hanging out with friends and family!
Love to all!
Monday, January 12, 2009
the new year
resolutions...i don't usually make them. the word itself makes me cringe. just a reminder of one more promise that i can't keep. so this year, i didn't make any resolutions. but i set a goal. it's a lofty one, but one that i must reach if i am to keep peace (or create) in my home. what is this goal, this all-encompassing goal, you ask?
DO NOT OPERATE IN EMERGENCY MODE ANY LONGER!
this means many things for me. first and foremost, it means that my priorities have to line up with my family values. prior to 2009, they haven't. i have shifted my mind (and my heart) to make time for what is important to me. mostly, that means i am saying no to my little people less and saying yes to opportunities to teach them, to play with them, to grow with them. that also means i am saying no to my husband less (we all know what that means ladies...sorry honey!) it means i am saying yes to Jesus more. saying yes to His purpose and plan for me. saying yes to time alone with Him. it's been less than two weeks, and i have found great reward in making time for the three most important things in my life. that reward shows in them and it shows in me.
second, this means that i will be prepared. i will not have a sky-high stack of papers on my desk that should have been addressed yesterday. i will keep up with my laundry and not let it pile up in the laundry room (even if I CAN shut the door and hide it!) i will keep my house tidy. no, this doesn't mean it will be spotlessly clean everyday, but i will avoid the clutter that keeps me operating in emergency mode day after day. i have been a prisoner to this way of life for far too long!
i read a series of books about leadership a while back, and creating habits was frequently discussed. do something for 30 days, and it is habit, the authors said. that is my plan...to create habits of the things that power the wheels of my family vision!
what are YOUR goals for this year?
DO NOT OPERATE IN EMERGENCY MODE ANY LONGER!
this means many things for me. first and foremost, it means that my priorities have to line up with my family values. prior to 2009, they haven't. i have shifted my mind (and my heart) to make time for what is important to me. mostly, that means i am saying no to my little people less and saying yes to opportunities to teach them, to play with them, to grow with them. that also means i am saying no to my husband less (we all know what that means ladies...sorry honey!) it means i am saying yes to Jesus more. saying yes to His purpose and plan for me. saying yes to time alone with Him. it's been less than two weeks, and i have found great reward in making time for the three most important things in my life. that reward shows in them and it shows in me.
second, this means that i will be prepared. i will not have a sky-high stack of papers on my desk that should have been addressed yesterday. i will keep up with my laundry and not let it pile up in the laundry room (even if I CAN shut the door and hide it!) i will keep my house tidy. no, this doesn't mean it will be spotlessly clean everyday, but i will avoid the clutter that keeps me operating in emergency mode day after day. i have been a prisoner to this way of life for far too long!
i read a series of books about leadership a while back, and creating habits was frequently discussed. do something for 30 days, and it is habit, the authors said. that is my plan...to create habits of the things that power the wheels of my family vision!
what are YOUR goals for this year?
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