Progress Report

I forget how faithful God is when I behave myself. He has been so good to me this week. Of all the times I've attempted "Weigh Down Workshop" principles, this one has been the easiest. I really don't feel like I've had to deprive myself this week at all. I felt that way before. I knew when I was full and it was very difficult for me to stop at that point.

The scale certainly reflects God's mercy. (I plan to report that progress monthly as I know how greatly it can fluctuate, especially for women.) He rewards me so when I am obedient and put Him first. The greatest rewards though are in my heart and in my changing attitudes. Overall this week I've felt joyful and grateful.

Currently when the kids hit rest time I do the following:
~ Copy my Verse of the Day from my daily email
~ Comment on the verse if I feel I need to.
~ Make a short prayer list and spend a few minutes in prayer trying to just "talk" with my Father.
~ I make a note of Thanksgiving.
~ I make a note of Confession.
~ I spend 10 minutes reading from the book of Psalms. I'm going straight through. I jot down verses that speak to me and sometimes a short comment on them.
~ I spend 10 minutes with devotional music playing copying the book of Isaiah.

Ya know, I felt a little embarrassed initially of my babysteps of faith to jumpstart me back to the spiritual place I needed to be. But when I actually write it down, that's not half bad.

And the cool thing about babysteps is that I haven't gotten overwhelmed and skipped or put off 'til later my process even once since Saturday. I'm proud of that. I did choose to alter it yesterday to spend time reading and sending out an impromptu on-line Bible Question search I'd done. I feel okay about that because it was just as essential to my spiritual health this week as my regular routine.

On another note, today was a gorgeous day as so many are here in the Grand Valley. We met three other homeschool families and their kids at a nice park in GJ. The moms were SO NICE. I really enjoyed talking to them. They are the moms of girls that will hopefully make up Trinity's new Brownie Troop next fall which I will lead. The kids had a blast. I had to have enjoyed it more than they did though.

Yesterday was a horrendously windy day. From our second floor you can see three different mountain ranges. The Bookcliffs, the Grand Mesa, and the Colorado National Monument. The wind was so fierce yesterday that it created a major dust storm. You could just barely make out the top of each range if you looked really really hard. The air was brown and visibility was awful.

Occasional wind ... I'll take it. It beats the dickens out of tornadoes, thunderstorms, smoldering heat and the ever-so-fun hurricanes!

I must say that I really questioned getting a two story house. It was never on my radar to do so. I can't imagine not having this house and not having the views it affords us. Although we'll be on a shoestring budget for at least a couple of years, it is SO WORTH IT!

Have a blessed day in our Father's World!

Verification Codes

Let me just say that yahoo aggravates the fire out of me. When I send a group email out it asks for me to copy a code to verify that I'm not sending out automated spam type messages. Surely most of you have come across these little boogers a time or two!

The problem is, Mr. Yahoo, that half of the time you can not read at least one of the characters in the swirlie code. COME ON! I end up taking a minimum of two tries, sometimes three to guess the mystery letter that I can't read. Verification codes are a nuisance but I could learn to tolerate them. Let's just make them legible so we don't spend more time verifying our emails than we do writing them to begin with. Thank you.

Game on, Sarah Dawn

I started to write this as a comment for my friend Sarah but decided it was blogworthy.

A couple of week's ago Sarah announced her intent to do a temple remodel. I've been following her progress and her process with a little envy I suppose, and a little shame.

So many times I've tried to lose weight. So many times I've tried to grow closer to God. I'm not sure why I deviate from the right path.

So, my message to Sarah ...

Hey Girl!

I just wanted to say two words to you. GAME ON. I am so in this.

I just realized today that Will is 5 months away from being the age Trini was when I got pg with him. I desperately want at least one more child, two really, but I refuse to endanger myself or them by starting off a pregnancy so "weighty".

So, "Fill me up, bread of heaven." I'm determined to make this temple a pleasing place for God's spirit. And, like you, I'm working from the inside out.

Continuing on ...

I haven't been giving God nor His word the attention He is worthy of. From now on, when the kids start rest time, it's me and Him, one on one for at least 20 minutes at first. That's my babystep. I know it isn't enough but it is more than I'm doing now.

(Thank you, Flylady, for reminding me that doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing. And, especially with God, it's just stupid to strive for perfection, which is unattainable.)

Experience tells me that when I fill myself with the Word I tend not to fill myself, (okay, OVERFILL myself,) with food. In addition to jumping into the Word with both feet, I'm officially listening to my body. God gave me the benefit of signals with regard to food. I'm listening. I'm not going to drive anymore. Not even from the backseat. "Jesus, take the stinking wheel". (Okay, so she didn't sing stinking but she's a size 4 or something.) I've messed this temple up way bad.

The mind clutter and the body clutter are heading for the hills. I refuse to regret for the rest of my life that I didn't allow myself to receive the gifts I might have been given had I not kept pushing God's will aside.

So, sister Sarah, we're in this thing together, okay? Anyone else want to come along? Jump right in. The water is cold but it'll get warmer. I'll blog from time to time but I'm not making any promises. Babysteps. I don't want to get overwhelmed.

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you?" - I Corinthians 3:16
- The remodeling has begun. I'm giving it to You, Father.

Goodbye My Friend

Peanut Brassette

1995 - 2007

~ Thank you for the laughs, the tears, the growing of our patience.

~ Thank you for the loyalty, the licks, the growing of our patience.

~ Thank you for your floppy ears, your hound dog bark, and the growing of our patience.

Our first "child", you've been with us since our marriage began. You were loved and you will be greatly missed.

Run and be spunky and free of pain once more! Farewell old girl!

Love,

Mom

"A Dog's Plea"

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having any fun. Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.

Author Unknown

Tub Ta Tub Tub Tub

It's in. Its' gorgeous. It is soothing and relaxing and it is an adult tub. (As opposed to the adolescent tub of days passed.)

Where we started:

And look, our bathtub is all grown up now!

I enjoy having a soaking tub so much! Mark was the driving force behind getting this done. He is awfully good to me.

One of the deacons at church contracted the work. His team demo'ed and then finished it while a plumber actually installed it and did that part. I'm glad to have it over and done with and I'm so glad to have this as part of our home at the end of long days.

Just wanted to show you one of the highlights of my week!

Lesa