Bible Challenge, Portable North Pole, and what God showed me today

This looks like a fun challenge and I hope I can keep up. I work 12 hr shifts right now until I change to my new job and it gets hard to stay consistent with anything. I wish there were more time for my growth with Christ. So many things I want to do and learn that I find it hard to focus on one thing at a time. I'm a little ADD like that. Like right now, I just finished Max Lucado's book John 3:16 and I highly recommend it. Loved the book and there are 40 days with Jesus devotions in the back. So I finished the book today and read the 1st day devotion and I try to do my own personal devotion based on scripture. I am also still doing our marriage mentoring with God's Design For Marriage which has a lot of homework and study with it. I like to read all the lovely writings each writer does on their blogs that inspire and encourage me. Then there are so many things I want to say and write about that I would be posting a book in one blog posting, with all my various thoughts. So you see, I try to do all those things, take care of kids, help with household duties, work, learn to sew, and find time to chat with a friend (which I haven't done in far too long), I feel like I am losing touch in life. I have so many things on my TO DO list that I find I am walking around in circles trying to figure out what to do and when to do it.
A fun Christmas Surprise for your Kiddies:

I wanted to share with any moms a website that I absolutely LOVE! It is a portable Santa who talks to your kids with the information you fill out. We did it last year and Ava was ecstatic over it. The link is http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home or you can find them on FB at http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=199410016605.

What God Showed Me Today: A Piece of Him

In the book John 3:16 Max Lucado writes, "Jesus offers zoe, the Greek word for 'the life as God has it.' Whereas bios, its sibling term is l ife extensive, zoe is life intensive. Jesus talks less about life's duration and more about its quality, vitality, energy and fulfillment. That is my Zoe, full of vitality, energy and fulfillment. She is a constant reminder of my brother, she acts exactly like he did when he was little. Right down to the mischevious little grin. So to hear zoe is "the life as God has it" brings such joy to my heart. God gave me this little girl who loved her uncle to hang her upside down by her legs to let me know long before I would know it, that he would be giving me back, "the life as God has it." He gives me my brother everytime I look at her and watch how she lights up a room at entrance. You always knew when Richard arrived and you always know when Zoe has too! Oh how God works, marvelous and magical.
With Love,

Day 8 of BC and PINT with a few words

Sometimes things don't always go as well as we hoped they would. Turns out my etsy shop is a failure but at least I tried. I am a very self doubting person and am my own worst critic. I hope to one day change that but for now it remains. I turn to God to get me through...

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Things which you do not hope happen more frequently than things which you do hope. ~Titus Maccius Plautus

Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. ~Author Unknown

Hope is grief's best music. ~Author Unknown

Hope never abandons you, you abandon it. ~George Weinberg

There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go. ~Author Unknown

Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. ~Edna St Vincent Millay

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

1. It will always be spent without my brother
2. The focal point of gifts (many who have to give their kids the best of everything)
3. Not remembering what it is really about (the birth of our Savior)
4. Taking down decorations
5. Taking down the tree when it is hard and prickly and sticks you


Post It Note Tuesday



A little bit of bitterness and a little sweetness

So since it's the holidays, it has been a very difficult time for my family. Coming up on our first holiday season without my brother has started to take more of a toll. Especially for my mom and dad. All I want to do for them is fix it. Make their pain go away, make my mom stop crying, my dad stop withdrawing, and my youngest brother get his idol back. But I don't have any of the tools necessary for these great tasks. I want to be  positive but yet it is hard. This is all hard and frankly it just plain sucks. I have to vent for a minute because I want to be real about life. And life right now for me is bitter sweet. There is a lot of bitterness that I have toward my brother's murder, the trial, parts of me that I feel no longer exist, my depression and more frequent panic attacks, the loss of my husband's job, the fact that I can no longer be a SAHM, I miss my babies dearly, I can hardly believe that at 12AM November 30th starts and 10 months have passed since his life was so brutally taken. Taken from us, from his friends, and from his future. I don't know that I have really talked much about who my brother was. But I will tell you a story about what he did to save another's life. He was working in Kentucky after the ice storms in March of 2009. As my brother travelled back toward Leitchfield, he was going south on Mountain Parkway in Winchester when he noticed a car in the ditch on the other side of the highway. He said they look like they need help and got off at the next exit and turned back going east bound to the accident site. The driver, was stuck in the vehicle and the passenger was in shock as he was walking around. My brother noticed the car starting to catch fire. He ran down the embankment and him and another guy, a co-worker, pulled the guy out of the car and as soon as they ran up the hill the car exploded and caught the woods around it on fire as well. A doctor happened to arrive on the scene and the driver had a broken leg and a large head wound. My brother, who passed out from the site of blood when he pulled his first tooth, the one who cannot stand to look at it much rather touch it was given strength to help wipe the blood from his face and hold him down while the doctor reset his leg, right there on the scene. Giving him words of encouragement.  My brother arrived just in time to save that guy that day. Isn't God's timing perfect? This is just one story of the heart my brother had. He tried to find out which hospital the guy was transported to, called around to hospital's to see if he was ok but he was never told any information because he was not family. My brother died never knowing who that guy was or what happened to him. After his death I made it my goal to find the one he saved that March day. It took me 7 months of searching files and archives with very little information. Finally, a breakthrough and I found an article, very small little tidbit from the Winchester Sun about police reports stating a similar accident. I googled one of the guy's name and found he had a myspace account. Well I bravely sent him a message. Yeah, can you imagine that message arriving in  your inbox. I waited and waited for a response and finally got one. He wanted me to thank my brother, the accident changed his life, and he was the passenger. The driver, unfortunately had taken a different turn and I have yet to get in touch with him. I had to tell this guy that the person who so selflessly saved his friend's life was no longer here. Was it my brother's purpose in life to save this guy? Ten months later, my brother died. I still keep in touch with him and it is amazing to see one of the people whom my brother's life changed. The course of events in one another's lives to cross paths at that specific time can only be the work of God. A part of his divine plan.
Ten months have gone by. A long ten months. Kind of like searching through your purse for something you can't find and you get aggrevated and start complaining, frustrated and annoyed. I feel like that. Searching for my brother but can't find him. Well, he isn't there. The one thing I was trying to find has left and I know he is in a far greater place but that doesn't make mine, nor my mom, dad, Will, and the rest of family and friends pain go away. The sting that comes with grief. Grief, what an experience. I didn't think I would have to face it  for many years, yet it took me by surprise one winter morning. It was cold, rainy and I felt like the sky was painted black. I often hear people say 'good grief' but there isn't such a thing. We can only hope that we finish our grieving process healthy and stand strong in our faith in Jesus Christ. The one who died for our sins so we can live eternally. John 3:16 is so often repeated and memorized, maybe even overused by some without even realizing. But in reading Max Lucado's book 3:16 I find the words of "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." I feel different about that passage having not realizing the truths behind it, more than just words on paper but life filled with love. I am awwed by the writings of Max Lucado. I have read a few of his books and my brother was beginning his book Facing the Giants, a book my mother had given him for Christmas.When the Lord called him home.
Life without him will go on and I will have to learn how to manage the pain but it doesn't mean that it will ever go away.
My sweetness has been found in a promotion at work. I interviewed for it and was anxious and consumed by the outcome but at just the right time, when bills were crunched and things seemed like they were doomed, God pulled through once again! He saved us, he always saves us!
And look at the pictures of my girls below. Now how sweet it is to be given the gift to be their mother.
Thank you God for my gift from you, without them, I wouldn't see the sweetness that this life can still hold. I have hope, faith, mercy, and grace on my side. The strength I have been given is at just the right time. God is never late, his timing is always perfect. It may not be in our timeline but who said we had control over anything. If you think you do, you may want to reevaluate and start again with the things you don't have control over, I bet that list will be a wake up call for there is nothing that God does not control. You must draw your plans in pencil but you have to give God the eraser!~I have had to give him the eraser on many occasions, most of my life has not turned out by my plan. Who's plan are you going to follow is the question?

With sincere love,

Magical Monday and Blog of the Month Voting!! Day 7 of BC

Go over to For the Love of Blogs

and check out my giveaway they are hosting and nominate me for BLOG OF THE MONTH!!

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY

So this one is kind of hard for me because I never really can come up with a craft of my own. The only two that were ever my idea was Ava's reward chart and their hairbow holders. I have posted it in the past but will post it again just for this challenge~

Ava's Reward Chart

I used soft felt and cut out shapes to stick up on the big piece of thicker felt board. When she does all of her tasks and behavior for the day she gets to put one of her shapes on the board. When she gets 7 shapes on the board, she gets $4 since she is 4 years old. And she uses her money to save up for things she wants to have. It has been very effective but she does have many days when there is no reward given :( ~but it keeps her trying harder for the next day. Thought I would share with you.
We have now added $1 extra if she memorizes her scripture verse for the week, yep, she is breaking the bank!!





For the hairbow holder
One piece of unpainted wood (gotten from Hobby Lobby) it can be any shape, I chose oval.
One unpainted letter
Ribbon

It's pretty simple, I painted the oval and the letter and glued the letter on with super glue and then I hung a piece of ribbon from the back. I picked up a cute little crown from there too, they have so many designs to choose from. Wa La a hairbow holder, I made one for my other daughter as well.



With Love,

Monday Blog Hops

  

 

Reaping and Sowing-Putting Christ First

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be gien to you as well.
Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all; "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take their cross daily and follow me."
Have you ever wondered where the benefits are of all that you are doing in life? Are you really letting go of yourself and handing it over to Christ? Are you seeking him first or do you put him last on the daily list of things to do?  I will admit, I am guilty of these too. As humans, we want to fix it all, or we think we have it all together. We forget during the day to pray constantly, we don't create a daily time with him to reflect, or we forget him all together. Paul warned in his writings that you will always reap what you sow. Galations 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
If we don't give ourselves to Christ and surrender ourselves to him, we will receive nothing in return. Just like working at a job and getting paid nothing. We don't want that to happen, so we make sure we work to provide for our families. Just as Christ wants you to work hard for him so that we can reap the reward of his eternal family.
Even in the midst of struggles, suffering, or trials we must continue perseverance and seeking Him. This may be hard because we have the attitude of 'I don't deserve this.' We try at all costs to avoid pain. We want to live a carefree life. But the only way to reap the 'carefree' life is to follow Christ, and put him first in all that you do. We will all have consequences for what we do, for both the present and the future. Just look at Paul's writings in Galations 6:7-10 
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Day 6 in the 12 days of Christmas BV

This is a hard one because of what I have just spoken of, forgetting ourselves and doing God's purpose of putting him first. But Jesus was brought many gifts and we do not exactly NEED anything for we have it all in Jesus already but we can still have wants in life. And a few things would be nice....ha ha. Just for the blog challenge. hint hint

I want things that I can use for my crafting and sewing. I would love to have a line of fabrics like the bundle below. Oh the girls dresses, skirts, tops I could make for spring!

Erin McMorris, Weekends, Gray, Red and Violet Half Yard Bundle of 9 from sewdeerlyloved
 



http://www.etsy.com/listing/54633650/erin-mcmorris-weekends-gray-red-and

I also want a fabric cutter and a measuring board.

And I would Love an Ipod (yes, I am probably the last person on the planet that doesn't have one)! And of course it would have to be in PINK!

But more important than any of these things is that my girls have a wonderful Christmas and know what it is really about. To see their faces on Christmas Day is worth every penny that was spent and memories that can never be taken away.

With Love,

Designs by Heather G. Giveaway

I have just started my etsy shop with handmade cards. There are some great Christmas cards available for you to purchase and print anywhere you choose. I am currently having a 30% off SALE! I am giving away a free card of your choice or a custom card you would like me to make for you! Head over to my shop at http://www.etsy.com/listing/63113540/love-christmas-digital-photo-card.

This is a sample of one of my cards. To enter just leave a comment of which card you like the most from my ETSY shop! Very simple and I will post the winner on 12/2/2010 at 12:00 AM! So hurry up and get those Christmas cards out!
EXTRA ENTRY: Follow my blog
Please leave email adress in post!
My daughter will randomly draw the winner on 12/2/2010
With Love,

Encouragement for the Day, Day 5 and A To Do List for You

We can all use prayer and praying for each other whether the person knows it or not is a powerful tool we have as Christians. We all have a duty to pray for one another for all things. So today say a prayer for someone you know that is in need or you want to bless.
Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Saint Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us..

I found this at Dayspring and you can go and design a card for the kids in Ecuador, add a family photo, and they will hand deliver them on Dec. 16th! The link is below it. So go and do it! ha ha

http://www.studiodayspring.com/cardbasket_view/?basket_id=160

DAY 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV show special

Also, please don't forget to check out my Etsy Shop for new Holiday Cards! Don't forget I have a bunch of backgrounds and fonts so I can personalize any card for you!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mom2avazoe

Also, go and check out this new Christian community blog! They can post your blog and posts to get more traffic on your site and the people are super nice!!




With Love,

Zondervan Breakfast Club

Dear Reader,

Sign up today for our Breakfast Club and every morning, in your email, I'll give you a 5-minute nibble from a fiction or nonfiction book. By the end of the week, you'll have sampled 2 to 3 chapters. Every Monday I’ll feature a new book.
When you sign up you’ll receive:
Sample excerpts from books
Sneak previews of upcoming books
Win signed books and other fun stuff
The Breakfast Club is a unique way to discover new authors, win books, and decide for yourself if a book is right for you. Sign up today and start reading tomorrow

http://www.emailbookclub.com/Zondervan/

Facebook Ruins Marriage

I found these articles on Spiritually Unequal Marriage and thought them to be interesting and wanted to get some feedback about what you thought about the subject.

Facebook Ruins Marriage

Facebook ruins marriage.
I’m sure you saw in the news a few weeks ago a Pastor in New Jersey gained national attention when he told his staff to close their Facbook accounts.
The gist of this requirement was his experience that in his marital counseling efforts, many marriages ended because of Facebook. A married spouse would find an old flame online, they began to chat and then ultimately began an affair.
Well this incident with the pastor opened up some fascinating and interesting conversation around our house, with my teen-daughter, my husband and a few of my friends.
So my question; Is Facebook a danger to marriages? Should we close down our account? Now don’t be shy, add your voice because I can tell you, this is a very real issue. We received many Google search hits on an article I wrote about this very issue a year ago.
So, what say you?
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Hugs, Lynn
Original Article: An affair? Facbook?

This is the original article:
An Affair? Facebook?

Do you think you could never have an affair?
I know this question appears outlandish. However, I want to tell you a story.
FACEBOOK: Write On my wall:
Hi Tina, I found you through our High school link in Facebook. Wow, your picture is gorgeous! How are you doing? What are you doing? I am settled in well with my medical practice. Yes, I went to med school in California and returned here to practice. I can’t wait to hear from you. Boy, did we have great fun at the football games. Write me.
HIS WALL: Hi, Wow, I am so glad you found me. I knew you would end up in med school. I am doing great. I was thrilled you wrote me. I always wondered what you were doing. I sometimes think about what life would have been if we had stayed together. You know, I honestly have missed you. I am kinda going through a tough time in my marriage and to see you name and message made me feel some happiness. I have a ton of fond memories of us in high school. Wow, would I love to see you again. Tell me more about yourself. Write me.
HER WALL: I am so sorry to hear you are in a tough place. I am also in a lonely place. I divorced last year. Man, it was ugly. I knew all along I missed out on the right girl, you. Hey, how about I give you a call and let’s catch up some more?
WARNING… WARNING…. WARNING….
Okay, my friends, this is how it happens. A casual online conversation with an old friend of the opposite sex. Facebook is a new phenomenon that is reconnecting people.
So can you tell me what went wrong here? What was Tina’s first mistake? What was her second? What should she have done?
DO YOU THINK THIS SCENARIO IS A REAL ISSUE? Be Blessed, Lynn

This was MY RESPONSE that I posted on her site.

I think if your marriage is centered around Christ and you are both committed to the relationship and it's boundaries then you would have nothing to worry about. However, if you are seeking out ex's and conversations that should not be occuring then you would have reason to close accounts. Facebook can be addicting but so many other things. There are many ways that cheating could take place that I don't believe Facebook would be the root cause. There is another issue going on in the marriage that needs to be addressed.

Posted by: Heather
Their website is http://www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com/ if you want to check them out.
With Love,

DAY 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas with Aly & Molly

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

First, I try to do it in one big swoop, setting aside the money and getting it all at once. I try to get it when everything is on sale at the same time. If there are a few items left then I know I can look for those to go on sale. I also said I wasn't doing Black Friday and I put my foot in my mouth on that one. But I made the hubs go, so at least I didn't have to battle it out. But they were having such a great deal on the Leapster Explorer games and that is what we are getting for my oldest, Ava. I couldn't pass it up. I did offer to go but I don't do well in large crowds, so I wouldn't have been able to concentrate and get anything accomplished. At least, it would have taken me much longer than him b/c I would be walking around in circles. I was on the phone with him the whole time price comparing with my ads and I also sent a list with him. So I think it worked out pretty well. I also got their birthday presents while he was there b/c they had such a good sale on them. They are getting fold out slumber princess chairs!

Second, I always hit up the Gymboree on Thanksgiving online. I usually have a coupon and get the best jingle deals. This year I was sadly dissapointed b/c the jingle deals were awful. I did get some stuff b/c they had everything 30% off and I had the coupon.

And lastly, I took advantage, probably too much advantage on the Gap 50% sale. It was a mad house and I got there much later than I wanted to but it was so worth it.

I would say the biggest tip is to make sure you are getting the best sale possible. And sometimes it is hit or miss. A lot of times the sales are better before Thanksgiving and sometimes they are better after or on Black Friday. All I know, is that my husband got the last Leapster Explorer in pink. Not sure if they will put more out or not. But my mom got the new dancing Mickey Mouse before Thanksgiving when she found it because the manufacturer did not make enough and it was sold out already at the places I had looked. My mom said they had them for sale on ebay for like a couple of hundred dollars. They were sold out last night at ToysRUs so I am glad she went ahead and got one.
I know this was a little long but those are about all the tips I have, I am making some gifts too so that should cut down on some expenses. Even with all these tips, I have already spent too much money but I will now go through some stuff and weed it out as to what I actually need and don't need.

Weekend Hops

 Go over and check out this blog, she is a new friend at For the Love of Blogs. 

http://livinglovesong.blogspot.com/