Birthday Blessings

Birthdays look a lot different now than they did a decade ago! My idea of what's "fun" and what makes me happy has completely changed! I started my morning with my church's mom's group Little Lambs. I am so blessed by these amazing moms and their faithfulness in coming. They had a candle for me in my cupcake and sang Happy Birthday. There was a lot of laughter in our discussion and a lot of love for each other and our kiddos.

I had lunch with my kids and then went to the outlets in Cabazon WITHOUT kids and treated myself to some new clothes for the first time in years! It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and I LOVED being outside! 80 on my birthday in February - what's better than that?

When I got home, Justin and the kids were at the park so I joined them for a while to enjoy what was left of the sunshine. Justin picked up my favorite dinner and we ate together as a family. My kids favorite part of the day - of course - birthday cake! Then they needed a bath!

I started the day telling Justin I didn't want to "do" anything that I normally HAVE to do! No diaper changes, no getting kids fed, dressed, ready etc. But I decided to still give them their baths anyway. For some reason, this was a special bath and I enjoyed every moment. It's funny how on certain days we take the time to appreciate the little moments, even though they happen every day.

I finished the day watching TV shows with a glass of wine. A perfect ending to a perfect day. I am beyond blessed by my friends and family and love you all!

"Rejoice the the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all." Philippians 4:4-5

Facebook Friends

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to take a break from Facebook. I was spending WAY too much time on it! I decided instead to spend the time I would ordinarily spend online, reading my Bible. I wanted to read the Bible in one year again but didn't start it until two weeks ago so I had quite a bit of catching up to do! Isn't it amazing that even though I was "behind," I would find that everything I read was speaking directly to what I've been going through in life?


While this has been great for me, something I didn't consider was that people would think I had "unfriended" them because I deleted Facebook. After a couple of emails, I realized I was taking the wrong approach. Why was I allowing Facebook to have so much control over my life? Why didn't I simply take back the control and limit the amount of time spent on it? Sometimes you have to take a step back from a situation to see it clearly.



One thing in my reading that stood out to me was from Matthew 10 in the story of The Shepherd and His Flock. "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." Matthew 10: 17-18


I am trying to improve my life, get my priorities straight and become the woman that God wanted me to be. Have I made some mistakes along the way? Yup - you can put Facebook down as one of them. I tend to learn things the hard way - is there any other way?


And so my Facebook friends, I am back on Facebook. Not three times a day, not for an hour at a time, but just once in a while to stop in and say hey - this is what's going on with me and to check in and see how everyone is doing. When my Spirit is fed, my children are happy and my home is in order, only then will I take the time!

Why Me?

This past week I've had a bad case of the "why me's?" It seems that when it rains, it pours. Everything breaks at once, big bills come at the same time, extra expenses suddenly appear and every little thing that can go wrong, does. First our 6 month old TV broke and can not be repaired and isn't covered under warranty. I'm still in shock that we spent almost $1000 on a TV that's just destroyed, gone and we have no money to replace it. Then Paige did a header out of the trailer on my watch resulting in the biggest "goose egg" and bruise I've ever seen. We spent the next 24 hours watching her for any sign of a concussion or worse! After 6 months of pain and a trip to Urgent Care, I find out I have to have surgery to have my gallbladder removed because of gallstones. The strain of a single income is finally catching up with us after Justin's overtime was cut. So of course, all the big bills started rolling in. Both of the kids caught colds leaving me with nothing better to do then sit around and dwell on these things and feel sorry for myself. And boy have I!

I know it happens to all of us but I still had to wonder, why me... Am I being punished? Were we too materialistic with our TV and needed a reality check of how blessed we really are? Do I take my kids health and livelihood for granted and needed a reminder that it can all be taken away in a second? Do I take my own health for granted and the fact that I'm even here? Why me? The question is, why not me? That's life. It happens to us all. Sometimes we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and learn from it and grow. We can let it break our spirits or press on and remember that life on this earth is short. I let life get me down for a few days but then I had to just GET OVER IT and remember the bigger picture.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall (Paige WILL stumble and fall); but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strong." Isaiah 40:29-30

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust (and children) destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew: 6:19-21

What the flu taught me

For the last couple of weeks I've been experiencing exhaustion of mind, body and spirit. I kept saying I need to slow down and rest because I tend to overschedule myself and push it to the limit. I didn't listen to what my body was telling me and suddenly I was forced to listen!

This week my life was overtaken by the flu. I felt so helpless, barely being able to take care of the kids or myself. Today I woke up feeling good for the first time in days. I was overcome with the most greatful feeling and the realization of how much I take the most basic things in life for granted like my good health, taking a shower, eating a good meal, drinking coffee, and just walking around without feeling sick.

Then it struck me that I've been taking things for granted on a much larger scale. I complain about my car falling apart to someone who doesn't have one. I complain about how my house is in the wrong neighborhood when people are losing their homes. I complain that my husband works too much overtime when a lot of people are out of work. I complain about my kids keeping me up at night when some people can't even have children. Compain, complain, COMPLAIN!

I have been blessed with so much in this life and am ashamed that I sometimes forget that. I just needed a good, swift kick in the butt and boy did I get it! Thank you God for all of lifes little blessings and for reminding me to never take them for granted!

Today I decided to make a conscious effort to pay attention to all the things that I'm greatful for. Here are a few....

A brother who loves his sister




A daddy who adores and plays with his children

A beautiful day to work in my garden

A perfect little helper


Reed who gives me joy a thousand times a day

Paige whose playful spirit reminds me not

to take life so seriously!

The messy moments that drive me nuts

Food and Easter baskets prepared by my parents, delivered by my sis

Enjoying another Easter basket thanks to Grandma and Grandpa

That's Reeds hand trying to get more eggs! P doesn't put up with that!

A quick walk to the park with my cool kids

Even their little bickering is precious.
(Paige kept trying to get Reeds glasses and he kept pushing her off)

A park all to ourselves

And last but not least, some of my favorite moments come at the end of the day...

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1: 2 - 4