So, there is this new song that I absolutley LOVE!!!! I find myself listening to it whenever I can. And when I'm not listening to it, I'm singing it or humming it anyway. I love the words. I think it is my mantra right now. (thanks for the cool word, Uncommon Blonde) Anyway, I wanted to share the words so that it could be an encouragement to others.
Still Standing
You gave me courage to believe
That all your goodness I would see
And if it had not been for you
Standing on my side where would I be
If not for your goodness
If not for you grace
I don't know where I would be today
If not for your kindness
I never could say
I'm still standing
If not for you mercy
If not for your love
I most likely would have given up
If not for your favor
I never could say
I'm still standing
But by the grace of God
To you I lift my offering
And set my heart on higher things
For if it had not been for you
Standing on my side where would I be
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
I'm still standing
But by the grace of GOD!!!
Be blessed!!!!!
About Me
- PraiseJunky
- I am a wife, a mommy, a home educator, and domestic goddess, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a musician, a reader, a writer, and a lover of Jesus Christ.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
The Powder Brush
So, I was putting my make-up on this morning and I came across a powder brush. It has a long clear handle and has lasted quite a long time. So, as I stood there looking at it a flash of memories began to flood my mind. And it occurs to me that the powder brush was a birthday present from my buddy, Uncommon Blonde. She probably doesn't even remember giving it to me but I do, vividly. It was the first make-up present I had ever received,from someone other than my mom. And it was on my 16th birthday. Now those of you out there that were fortunate enough to have attended the party, this will be just a funny reminder but to the others.....here goes nothing.
The year was 1995 and it was my 16th birthday. Now, I was a huge fan of everything 70's. So, it was just natural that the party was a celebration of the decade that brought ME into the world. My parents rented a roller skating rink for the event. And all of the guests were asked to dress in 70's attire. I wore a royal blue polyester pantsuit. Thinking back......I thought I was soooooo cool. I ironed my hair and wore a headband reminicent of the Brady Bunch. My dad decided to play DJ. So, all of the music was 70's. My favorite was Inna Godda Da Vida.
So, there we were skating around in circles and having a blast. At least I was. I had never had a huge birthday party before and I was so excited to have all of my friends there. There were even some guests that came that weren't invited......you know how that goes. But I didn't care, I was disco princess for the day.
Then came time to blow out candles and open presents. And the only present I remember distinctely getting is the powder brush from Uncommon Blonde. There were other presents but I don't remember what they were. I don't know if Uncommon Blonde picked out the gift herself or not but she did not know that here I would still be thinking about it 12 years later.
And thank you for helping me remember that wonderful day. It is nice to stroll down memory lane occasionally.
A side note........do you realize that the kids in high school these days are "dresssing up" as 90's people when they have costume parties......makes me feel old. Apparently they like to dress up as "Saved By The Bell" kids or even "Beverly Hills 90210". It must be the cool tight rolled pants. LOL. I guess every generation does it to the one before.
So, take a minute and remember something great from your past experiences.....it's totally worth it!!
The year was 1995 and it was my 16th birthday. Now, I was a huge fan of everything 70's. So, it was just natural that the party was a celebration of the decade that brought ME into the world. My parents rented a roller skating rink for the event. And all of the guests were asked to dress in 70's attire. I wore a royal blue polyester pantsuit. Thinking back......I thought I was soooooo cool. I ironed my hair and wore a headband reminicent of the Brady Bunch. My dad decided to play DJ. So, all of the music was 70's. My favorite was Inna Godda Da Vida.
So, there we were skating around in circles and having a blast. At least I was. I had never had a huge birthday party before and I was so excited to have all of my friends there. There were even some guests that came that weren't invited......you know how that goes. But I didn't care, I was disco princess for the day.
Then came time to blow out candles and open presents. And the only present I remember distinctely getting is the powder brush from Uncommon Blonde. There were other presents but I don't remember what they were. I don't know if Uncommon Blonde picked out the gift herself or not but she did not know that here I would still be thinking about it 12 years later.
And thank you for helping me remember that wonderful day. It is nice to stroll down memory lane occasionally.
A side note........do you realize that the kids in high school these days are "dresssing up" as 90's people when they have costume parties......makes me feel old. Apparently they like to dress up as "Saved By The Bell" kids or even "Beverly Hills 90210". It must be the cool tight rolled pants. LOL. I guess every generation does it to the one before.
So, take a minute and remember something great from your past experiences.....it's totally worth it!!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
NO FAIR!!!!!
So, not only is my brother not coming into town for Thanksgiving.........he and his lovely wife went on a cruise. I will miss him while our whole family is together for the day but I think I am actually more jealous......... I hope he is having fun for me.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thanksgiving????
So, here it is Thanksgiving again. I think that this is probably my favorite holiday of the year. Although the rest of humanity seems content to play down its relevance and are ready to jump to the selfish and commercialized side of Chritmas, I am not. I love the fact that Thanksgiving Day has not been turned into something that its not. It is still a day that families spend together. It is still a whole day in which we conciously take the time to think about the blessings in our lives. I love the smell of dressing cooking, the sound of football games in the background, THE LEFTOVERS!!! But my favorite part is the fact that I am with my family and friends. And I realize that the rest of the world does not celebrate Thansgiving either. Which makes it important as well. We can be grateful for the freedom we have in the good ole USA. Freedom that is being preserved right now by our brothers and sisters in arms across the globe. My heart goes out to the families of those soldiers that are putting themselves between the those that would try to destroy our freedom and the rest of us. It makes me even more thankful for the fact that we can celebrate Thanksgiving.
I also realize that I am blessed beyond measure in so many ways. I have alot to be thankful for.
I was at a funeral today and a young woman was sharing some thoughts about her grandmother. She recited a quote by an anonymous author that really stuck with me and I feel that this week it has relevance.
"I was crying because I had no shoes, and then I saw a man that had no feet."
It makes me realize that even things that I consider liabilities in this life can be counted as blessings if looked at through a different set of lenses.
So, after being inspired by a fellow blogger I have decided to conciously sit down and write out my blessings. Of course there are an infinite number but I can try to cover the big ones.
1. My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, he created me and without him I would be nothing and
have nothing. He is my everything.
2. My health.
3. My husband. (what a man)(I love him so much, you have no idea)
4. Reid (he is an entire blog all by himself)( a precious sweetie!!!)
5. Pierce (also deserves his own blog) (my little angel baby)
6. My mom (also my best friend)
7. My dad (what a nut! lol)
8. My brother (what an awesome guy)
9. My sister (also my best friend and a nut too)
10. My in laws (great additions to our family)
11. Our home
12. Our vehicles
13. Our jobs
14. Our church family
15. Great friends
16. and so many more!!!!!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Changes
Well, this morning was a big difference from most of the other mornings around my house. Both of my children were up around 5:00am. Yikes!!!! I am NOT a morning person. I think both of them had gotten cold in the night. The heater was on but you could feel the cold seeping in through our 70 year old wood floors. So, I decided to try to put them in bed with my husband and I. Not a good idea. They both just flipped and flopped until all 4 of us were awake. So, here I sit at the computer at 7:00am showered, dressed, make-up on, and with hair fixed. Aside from the fact that I am still tired, I feel pretty good. Several years ago I worked for a school photography company as a photographer. I had to be at the schools when they opened so I could set up before school started. So most days I was up by 4:30 or 5:00am. Looking back, I actually enjoyed those days. I got to see the sunrise every morning and I was off work by noon or 2:30 at the latest. It was good pay and I got to spend time with kids. Not a bad job. Of course that was before I had children. There is no way I would be able to do that now. Nor would I want to.
Now that I have brought it up.........yes, I am a stay-at-home mommy. I love it!!!!!! I am so blessed to have a husband that supports me in this. Although I whine about it sometimes, he works SOOOOO hard to provide for me and the boys that I am able to be home with them at this point in their lives. I teach music for 3 hours a week but I consider that "me time" rather than a job. Plus, it has not taken me away from the boys. Which brings me to the next blessing. I have a wonderful mother that has made herself available to watch my kids whenever I need. I also have a great mother in law that also watches the boys if needed. I realize that in this area of my life, I am somewhat spoiled. I get to stay home with my boys, and have family that can watch them if I need to run out and buy groceries or get a haircut. Its great!!! And no, I am not flaunting...........I am just thankful and grateful and want to say so. So, if you are a mommy out there and you work outside of the home.........more power to you! I am not knocking working at all. It is just not for me at this point. Everyone has to make their own decisions and this is mine.
Oh! and by the way........this is totally off the subject..........but I HATE THE NEW TIME CHANGE!!!! enough said.
So, its Friday again. Time is flying by faster and faster these days. Every time I turn around, another week is gone, then another month and now almost a whole year since my littlest guy was born. Where does the time go? And as I look back I wonder what significant things have I done to show for the time? Yes, I have been raising two little boys....that is a major thing. But what things outside of myself, my family and my little comfort zone? I think I need to think about that some more. I know that I have more to offer than I am putting out there. We all do. And I have begun to realize, with the help of some pretty cool people in my life, that there is a great big world out there and that there are alot of very good things to get involved in. I don't have to stay focused in one town, community or group. When we look at the little things going on around us it is easy to get discouraged and self-involved. But if we look outward, our blessings become launch points for ministry. Our setbacks become foundations for building great things. And everything looks different. So, I am ready for a change. And I think it has more to do with mindset than geography or occupation.
So, off I go to sing songs to God with all of those sweet children at school. If you live close you ought to come by some time. There is nothing like listening to children sing praises to God. It's like getting a sneak preview to heaven.
Now that I have brought it up.........yes, I am a stay-at-home mommy. I love it!!!!!! I am so blessed to have a husband that supports me in this. Although I whine about it sometimes, he works SOOOOO hard to provide for me and the boys that I am able to be home with them at this point in their lives. I teach music for 3 hours a week but I consider that "me time" rather than a job. Plus, it has not taken me away from the boys. Which brings me to the next blessing. I have a wonderful mother that has made herself available to watch my kids whenever I need. I also have a great mother in law that also watches the boys if needed. I realize that in this area of my life, I am somewhat spoiled. I get to stay home with my boys, and have family that can watch them if I need to run out and buy groceries or get a haircut. Its great!!! And no, I am not flaunting...........I am just thankful and grateful and want to say so. So, if you are a mommy out there and you work outside of the home.........more power to you! I am not knocking working at all. It is just not for me at this point. Everyone has to make their own decisions and this is mine.
Oh! and by the way........this is totally off the subject..........but I HATE THE NEW TIME CHANGE!!!! enough said.
So, its Friday again. Time is flying by faster and faster these days. Every time I turn around, another week is gone, then another month and now almost a whole year since my littlest guy was born. Where does the time go? And as I look back I wonder what significant things have I done to show for the time? Yes, I have been raising two little boys....that is a major thing. But what things outside of myself, my family and my little comfort zone? I think I need to think about that some more. I know that I have more to offer than I am putting out there. We all do. And I have begun to realize, with the help of some pretty cool people in my life, that there is a great big world out there and that there are alot of very good things to get involved in. I don't have to stay focused in one town, community or group. When we look at the little things going on around us it is easy to get discouraged and self-involved. But if we look outward, our blessings become launch points for ministry. Our setbacks become foundations for building great things. And everything looks different. So, I am ready for a change. And I think it has more to do with mindset than geography or occupation.
So, off I go to sing songs to God with all of those sweet children at school. If you live close you ought to come by some time. There is nothing like listening to children sing praises to God. It's like getting a sneak preview to heaven.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Domestic Diva
So, does anybody else out there feel like the clothes take on a life of their own and mulitply when you start washing them? What started out as 4 loads of laundry has become 8. Whats' up with that? Surely, my little family isn't that dirty...........
And today is occurs to me that I need some more closets in my house. I simply do not have enough places to put all of the "stuff' we own. I used to be quite a pack-rat. Not anymore, now I am the "throw it out" queen. Before we had children I thought that our house was "nice sized". Now I think it is shrinking. Either that or the toys are actually growing and getting larger in size. And to think that Christmas and the boys' birthdays are just around the corner. I do not know where we are going to put the boys if their stuff keeps growning. ;)
I had all of these ambitions of all of the wonderful domestic diva things I would do before I got married. Boy, was I naive. Now I still do them. Okay, for those of you out there that actually know me, I will qualify that statement. I do some of them some of the time. Better? I actually do not mind laundry. Although, I hate ironing. I will not buy clothes if they look like they will need ironing at some point. Some call it lazy, I call it planning ahead. I know I won't wear them if I have to iron them, so why buy them? I have a dozen cookbooks and do not cook as much as I should. Now, I do cook and feed my family but I do not consider "Hamburger Helper" cooking. I cooked quite a bit when we first got married. Actually, I cooked every day. But after a couple years of eating alone because my husband worked late, I stopped knocking myself out. Now that I have two little guys that need healthy, nutritious food to eat, I will have to get off my butt and do better. Anybody out there have any time-saving ideas or recipes?
I actually enjoy vaccuming. There is just something about those little stripes in the carpet that make me happy. I just wish they would stay looking like that. We have wood floors and ceramic tile in all rooms but one. So I don't get to vaccum as much as I would like. Oh well, what a problem to have, right? That leads me to my next quandry. Mopping the floors. I love those Swiffer Wet Jets. They work wonders. But I feel that I need to clean the floors in between with the mop and bucket. And since I have wood floors in some rooms and tile and vinyl in others I feel that I need to clean with two seperate products. Murphys Oil Soap for the wood. I hate the way it smells but it keeps the floors from looking dull. And then a Mister Clean for the ceramic. Once again, a lot of work for it not to look any different. Man, I am just rambling today. Sorry about that.
I am wanting to completely gut one of our bathrooms and re-do everything in there. We have not done anything in there since right after we moved in. The placement of everything is wierd. So, I am saving up for a remodel. Anyone out there want to donate to the cause? ???? ;) hahahaha just kidding.
Well, now that I have postponed the inevitable, I guess I should go finish the laundry, sweep and mop the floors and clean the bathrooms before my little angels get up from their naps. Here's to all of the other Dmestic Divas out there. Cheers!! ( oh, I am holding up a Dr. Pepper, by the way)
And today is occurs to me that I need some more closets in my house. I simply do not have enough places to put all of the "stuff' we own. I used to be quite a pack-rat. Not anymore, now I am the "throw it out" queen. Before we had children I thought that our house was "nice sized". Now I think it is shrinking. Either that or the toys are actually growing and getting larger in size. And to think that Christmas and the boys' birthdays are just around the corner. I do not know where we are going to put the boys if their stuff keeps growning. ;)
I had all of these ambitions of all of the wonderful domestic diva things I would do before I got married. Boy, was I naive. Now I still do them. Okay, for those of you out there that actually know me, I will qualify that statement. I do some of them some of the time. Better? I actually do not mind laundry. Although, I hate ironing. I will not buy clothes if they look like they will need ironing at some point. Some call it lazy, I call it planning ahead. I know I won't wear them if I have to iron them, so why buy them? I have a dozen cookbooks and do not cook as much as I should. Now, I do cook and feed my family but I do not consider "Hamburger Helper" cooking. I cooked quite a bit when we first got married. Actually, I cooked every day. But after a couple years of eating alone because my husband worked late, I stopped knocking myself out. Now that I have two little guys that need healthy, nutritious food to eat, I will have to get off my butt and do better. Anybody out there have any time-saving ideas or recipes?
I actually enjoy vaccuming. There is just something about those little stripes in the carpet that make me happy. I just wish they would stay looking like that. We have wood floors and ceramic tile in all rooms but one. So I don't get to vaccum as much as I would like. Oh well, what a problem to have, right? That leads me to my next quandry. Mopping the floors. I love those Swiffer Wet Jets. They work wonders. But I feel that I need to clean the floors in between with the mop and bucket. And since I have wood floors in some rooms and tile and vinyl in others I feel that I need to clean with two seperate products. Murphys Oil Soap for the wood. I hate the way it smells but it keeps the floors from looking dull. And then a Mister Clean for the ceramic. Once again, a lot of work for it not to look any different. Man, I am just rambling today. Sorry about that.
I am wanting to completely gut one of our bathrooms and re-do everything in there. We have not done anything in there since right after we moved in. The placement of everything is wierd. So, I am saving up for a remodel. Anyone out there want to donate to the cause? ???? ;) hahahaha just kidding.
Well, now that I have postponed the inevitable, I guess I should go finish the laundry, sweep and mop the floors and clean the bathrooms before my little angels get up from their naps. Here's to all of the other Dmestic Divas out there. Cheers!! ( oh, I am holding up a Dr. Pepper, by the way)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sundays
I love Sundays. Its the only day of the week when my entire little family is together from sun-up to sundown. Plus, we get to go to church and praise the Lord. It recharges my mental, emotional and spiritual batteries. It also allows me the time to think about the blessings in my life instead of being bombarded by "life" and its little annoyances.
I realize now why my parents tried so hard to keep Sunday afternoons so treasured. They must have felt the same way. I didn't always agree with spending that day together but now I am glad that we did. There are so many happy memories that I remember. I wouldn't trade any of them.
I am also grateful to them for the fact that they always took us to church, whether we wanted to go or not. Now, church is such a special part of my life. I am thankful for the teachings that I heard, the scripture that was written on my heart, and the relationship that developed between me and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Like everyone else out there, I have gone through some junk but its the truth of Gods Word and the strength of Gods character that has kept me going. He was there with me when I had the blood clot in my lung that tried to take me out. And here I stand healed. He was there with me when my sister left this earth and went to be with Jesus. And here I stand comforted. He was with me when I met my husband. And here I stand married with two beautiful sons. He was with me, He is with me, and He will continue to be with me. And He is there for everyone else if they will just turn to Him.
I am so thankful and grateful for today. The fact that I am alive and well to see my husband and two sons is a tremendous blessing. If I could just remember that at the dawn of each day, then I should have no cause to grumble and complain. God is good! And He makes all things new. I love Him so much. He is my everything.
A side note to all you blog readers out there. If you don't know the comfort, joy, peace, and love of God's presence, I pray that you will seek Him out. He loves you so much. All He is waiting for is you, just you. Turn to him. He alone is the answer to all of your questions.
I realize now why my parents tried so hard to keep Sunday afternoons so treasured. They must have felt the same way. I didn't always agree with spending that day together but now I am glad that we did. There are so many happy memories that I remember. I wouldn't trade any of them.
I am also grateful to them for the fact that they always took us to church, whether we wanted to go or not. Now, church is such a special part of my life. I am thankful for the teachings that I heard, the scripture that was written on my heart, and the relationship that developed between me and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Like everyone else out there, I have gone through some junk but its the truth of Gods Word and the strength of Gods character that has kept me going. He was there with me when I had the blood clot in my lung that tried to take me out. And here I stand healed. He was there with me when my sister left this earth and went to be with Jesus. And here I stand comforted. He was with me when I met my husband. And here I stand married with two beautiful sons. He was with me, He is with me, and He will continue to be with me. And He is there for everyone else if they will just turn to Him.
I am so thankful and grateful for today. The fact that I am alive and well to see my husband and two sons is a tremendous blessing. If I could just remember that at the dawn of each day, then I should have no cause to grumble and complain. God is good! And He makes all things new. I love Him so much. He is my everything.
A side note to all you blog readers out there. If you don't know the comfort, joy, peace, and love of God's presence, I pray that you will seek Him out. He loves you so much. All He is waiting for is you, just you. Turn to him. He alone is the answer to all of your questions.
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