I have a friend going thru quite an ordeal right now. Suffice it to say, he has been wrongly accussed, by an evil man, and is now in quite a predicament. I don't feel comfortable giving specifics...
What I am learning from this mess that he's encountered, is that we really need to constantly be aware of how much our words and actions are being scrutinized. I'm learning that sometimes you truly don't realize how you sound, until you replay things in your head (or even listen to them if they've been recorded). I'm learning that manipulation is a very tricky thing and even when you think you've got your wits about you, you might be getting manipulated by the people closest to you... the people you'd never ever expect.
The whole scenario is at best, scary and at the very worst, pushing my friend over the edge. I am really worried about him and the toll this is taking on him and his family.
I'm finding more and more as I grow closer and closer to God, that the devil is really just waiting for a chance to take us down. Honestly! It's so unbelievable how low he will stoop, who he will use, what he will convince people of. Now please don't get me wrong, I don't think that the devil is all-powerful. He can only do so much. (I mean, he's not GOD! Thank GOD!) But he sure can create a whole lot of havoc while he has the opportunity to.
I guess what I'm really getting at is... Take time to speak nice. Take a minute to smile. Enjoy every breath of fresh air. Hug and kiss your children as much (and as often) as you possibly can. Reflect. Communicate clearly. Love totally. And always always pray. God wants the best for us... And we can acheive the best only if we're walking with Him.
And please keep my friend and his family in your prayers.
41. Chocolate chip cookies baking
42. Crying children
43. Time-outs
44. Weekend away with my husband
45. A minute of peace and quiet
46. The sound of yelling and laughing outside
47. Tag
48. Hide and Seek
49. Big hugs
50. And kisses
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Day #11 - Blessings
OK, this is the 3rd blog started in the last 3 days... And for some reason, I seem to have writers block or something!?!
We have lots of exciting things going on... friends are having babies, the weather is getting nicer, we had 2 overnight visitors in the last week, my Bible study group is AWESOME.
We have things to look forward to in the future... The weather is getting nicer (I know I pointed that out twice), Bob Seger concert this weekend, Easter is just around the corner, March for Babies walk in Lansing at the end of April, a girl's night with some old friends planned after the walk, summer which means swimming and parks and flowers and gardening and outside time.
I am stoked!!!!
And I went and bought the Casting Crowns CD today after my dentist appt... Glorious Day!!! Love it!!!! And yes, today was a glorious day, but I'm referring to a song by Casting Crowns. If you get a chance, check it out on YouTube. I am addicted to that song right now!!! Brought me to tears on my way home from the store. Had it loud enough, that I didn't hear my low gas chime, and didn't notice I am about to run out of gas until I turned on my road. For those of you that don't know where I live/have not visited this is not a good thing. There is not a gas station on every corner in this metropolis of Osseo, Michigan. So I have a play date planned for the am... Cross fingers I can make it to a gas station on the way to Archbold, Ohio. (I'm giving you names of the towns so that you can google them... we're talking BIG TIME here)
K, signing off, gotta get the girls in the tub.
Blessings...
21. Dental insurance
22. Nice dentists
23. Loud music
24. Patience
25. Visitors
26. Naked little butts running around my bedroom
27. Newly rota tilled gardens
28. Beautiful flower beds
29. Taxes being done
30. Grandparents that will watch kiddies
and 31-40 because I missed my blessings last post
31. Raspberry lemonade
32. Low gas light
33. St Paul's Lutheran
34. Bob Seger
35. Almost 9month old with 8 teeth
36 2 year old with 4 molars coming in at once
37. Singing in the bathtub
38. Tigers baseball
39. March madness (almost over)
40. Ohio State losing in the tourney ;o)
We have lots of exciting things going on... friends are having babies, the weather is getting nicer, we had 2 overnight visitors in the last week, my Bible study group is AWESOME.
We have things to look forward to in the future... The weather is getting nicer (I know I pointed that out twice), Bob Seger concert this weekend, Easter is just around the corner, March for Babies walk in Lansing at the end of April, a girl's night with some old friends planned after the walk, summer which means swimming and parks and flowers and gardening and outside time.
I am stoked!!!!
And I went and bought the Casting Crowns CD today after my dentist appt... Glorious Day!!! Love it!!!! And yes, today was a glorious day, but I'm referring to a song by Casting Crowns. If you get a chance, check it out on YouTube. I am addicted to that song right now!!! Brought me to tears on my way home from the store. Had it loud enough, that I didn't hear my low gas chime, and didn't notice I am about to run out of gas until I turned on my road. For those of you that don't know where I live/have not visited this is not a good thing. There is not a gas station on every corner in this metropolis of Osseo, Michigan. So I have a play date planned for the am... Cross fingers I can make it to a gas station on the way to Archbold, Ohio. (I'm giving you names of the towns so that you can google them... we're talking BIG TIME here)
K, signing off, gotta get the girls in the tub.
Blessings...
21. Dental insurance
22. Nice dentists
23. Loud music
24. Patience
25. Visitors
26. Naked little butts running around my bedroom
27. Newly rota tilled gardens
28. Beautiful flower beds
29. Taxes being done
30. Grandparents that will watch kiddies
and 31-40 because I missed my blessings last post
31. Raspberry lemonade
32. Low gas light
33. St Paul's Lutheran
34. Bob Seger
35. Almost 9month old with 8 teeth
36 2 year old with 4 molars coming in at once
37. Singing in the bathtub
38. Tigers baseball
39. March madness (almost over)
40. Ohio State losing in the tourney ;o)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Day #10 - And it's March 10th!
Ok... So i just had a real dumb moment that I won't even go into the details on... But it made me realize that I totally always expect the worse.
I mean, I don't just expect it... I anticipate it... I plan for it... I get ready for what my reaction will be before I even know for sure that I'm right... I get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach... And then whammo - I'm totally wrong! Things aren't nearly as bad I thought they were going to be. What the heck?!?
And this is with everything... Example? Madeline got sick all over me this morning. Do I assume she just had too much gas in her belly from a bottle she just finished? No. I assume she's sick and now she'll infect the entire house and I might miss my Bible study because i don't want to infect them and on and on and on. (altho in this case I might be right, because she is running a fever and asleep now.)
I'm a worrier. Worry what people think. Worry what I'll say. Worry what my girls will do. Worry Worry Worry... Prob why in the last couple months I've noticed an increase in my gray hair.
But to worry about things that haven't even happened, and may not even happen... Seriously?... Come on now... Along with making me feel like a complete basket-case, it really can't be healthy right?
I gotta loosen up... I know summer will help... Carefree summertime fun will definitely help.... If it will just hurry up and get here before I worry it away.
I mean, I don't just expect it... I anticipate it... I plan for it... I get ready for what my reaction will be before I even know for sure that I'm right... I get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach... And then whammo - I'm totally wrong! Things aren't nearly as bad I thought they were going to be. What the heck?!?
And this is with everything... Example? Madeline got sick all over me this morning. Do I assume she just had too much gas in her belly from a bottle she just finished? No. I assume she's sick and now she'll infect the entire house and I might miss my Bible study because i don't want to infect them and on and on and on. (altho in this case I might be right, because she is running a fever and asleep now.)
I'm a worrier. Worry what people think. Worry what I'll say. Worry what my girls will do. Worry Worry Worry... Prob why in the last couple months I've noticed an increase in my gray hair.
But to worry about things that haven't even happened, and may not even happen... Seriously?... Come on now... Along with making me feel like a complete basket-case, it really can't be healthy right?
I gotta loosen up... I know summer will help... Carefree summertime fun will definitely help.... If it will just hurry up and get here before I worry it away.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Day #9 - My Baby Turned 4!
So Kate turned 4 years old on the 4th of March... I'm over it now, but I was really struggling... I feel like we ("we" being society at a whole) are always in such a hurry. And I know this is something that has been talked about so much that it's probably old news to most of us, but it really, really, really hit me when my baby turned 4.
The last 5 years of my life have been crazy, fun, eventful, full, unbelievable, changing, scary, enlightening, wonderful, sad, and so much more...
Summer of 2005, I bought my first house, all on my own! Empowering to say the least!
December of 2005, Michael proposed to me!
Summer of 2006, We found out we were pregnant for Kate. Wow!
Fall (October) of 2006, Michael and I were married... I know I know... Wrong order... What can I say?
Spring (March) of 2007, Kate was born and we became parents for the first time!
Summer of 2007, Michael got a new job and started traveling. The plan was for us all to move to Wisconsin as soon as we sold our house in Lansing... However, the housing market was beginning its downturn... We never made that move... Instead, I was a single mom during the week, while working full-time, and Daddy came home on the weekends to see us. Less than ideal.
Spring of 2008, We found out we were pregnant with baby #2, soon to be known as Lauren Michaella. Totally shocked! Baby #2 was not planned either...
Summer of 2008, Michael got another new job, with Menard's. We were moving to Ohio. Our house finally sold on a short-sale, trashing my credit, but at least it was only in my name. And we were off on our new adventure.
Late Fall, Early Winter of 2008, They began construction of Michael's new plant in Holiday City, Ohio. We rented a beautiful home from Menard's, which worked out perfectly, except that you could see the plant from our back windows. Needless to say, Michael was working 80-90 hour work weeks, and was called into help on things non-stop.
Winter (January) of 2009, Lauren Michaella was born. Michael's plant was up and running, but not without glitches. He was still working insane hours and I fell into some pretty harsh post-partum depression.
Summer of 2009, We had been in our rental house for a year and decided maybe we should look into buying a house. I started browsing and found a repossession that looked decent. Later that summer, we were moving into it. Ugh, moving AGAIN!
Winter 2009, Pregnant AGAIN! OH TRIPLE WOW! Really, really, really, not planned! Lauren was not yet a year old and our family was already growing again!?!
Summer (July) 2010, We welcomed our 3rd beautiful baby girl into the world. Madeline Jean.
Quick synopsis - in 5 years, we have been in 3 homes, had 3 babies, 2 dogs, moved out of Michigan just to move right back to Michigan, gotten married... Obviously not in that order... Can I just say WHEW?!?
I am sooooo ready for things to just slow down. We have so much work to do at this house. The girls are going to start activities soon (soccer, dance, etc...). Kate will start pre-school in the fall. I really don't see anything slowing down anytime soon.
But I am definitely looking forward to a glass of wine in the evening this summer (because I won't be pregnant), sitting on my half-stained, half-finished deck (we'll get to that eventually). I just need some time to rest, and unwind, and enjoy my husbands company... Looking forward to THAT!
And my blessings...
11. Our grocery bill last night. We desperately needed groceries!
12. Mud. It means the snow and frost and sleet will all soon be history.
13. Bath tubs. Keep the girls entertained so that I can take 15 minutes to throw a blog together.
14. Kate's birthday. Helps to remind me to slow down and enjoy the special moments.
15. Make-up. Semi-hides my lack of sleep.
16. The Bible. Keeps me sane!
17. Music. We watched zero TV yesterday...
18. TV. It keeps me sane too. ;o)
19. Facebook. For keeping me "connected" to my old friends.
20. My Bible study girls. For being my new friends.
The last 5 years of my life have been crazy, fun, eventful, full, unbelievable, changing, scary, enlightening, wonderful, sad, and so much more...
Summer of 2005, I bought my first house, all on my own! Empowering to say the least!
December of 2005, Michael proposed to me!
Summer of 2006, We found out we were pregnant for Kate. Wow!
Fall (October) of 2006, Michael and I were married... I know I know... Wrong order... What can I say?
Spring (March) of 2007, Kate was born and we became parents for the first time!
Summer of 2007, Michael got a new job and started traveling. The plan was for us all to move to Wisconsin as soon as we sold our house in Lansing... However, the housing market was beginning its downturn... We never made that move... Instead, I was a single mom during the week, while working full-time, and Daddy came home on the weekends to see us. Less than ideal.
Spring of 2008, We found out we were pregnant with baby #2, soon to be known as Lauren Michaella. Totally shocked! Baby #2 was not planned either...
Summer of 2008, Michael got another new job, with Menard's. We were moving to Ohio. Our house finally sold on a short-sale, trashing my credit, but at least it was only in my name. And we were off on our new adventure.
Late Fall, Early Winter of 2008, They began construction of Michael's new plant in Holiday City, Ohio. We rented a beautiful home from Menard's, which worked out perfectly, except that you could see the plant from our back windows. Needless to say, Michael was working 80-90 hour work weeks, and was called into help on things non-stop.
Winter (January) of 2009, Lauren Michaella was born. Michael's plant was up and running, but not without glitches. He was still working insane hours and I fell into some pretty harsh post-partum depression.
Summer of 2009, We had been in our rental house for a year and decided maybe we should look into buying a house. I started browsing and found a repossession that looked decent. Later that summer, we were moving into it. Ugh, moving AGAIN!
Winter 2009, Pregnant AGAIN! OH TRIPLE WOW! Really, really, really, not planned! Lauren was not yet a year old and our family was already growing again!?!
Summer (July) 2010, We welcomed our 3rd beautiful baby girl into the world. Madeline Jean.
Quick synopsis - in 5 years, we have been in 3 homes, had 3 babies, 2 dogs, moved out of Michigan just to move right back to Michigan, gotten married... Obviously not in that order... Can I just say WHEW?!?
I am sooooo ready for things to just slow down. We have so much work to do at this house. The girls are going to start activities soon (soccer, dance, etc...). Kate will start pre-school in the fall. I really don't see anything slowing down anytime soon.
But I am definitely looking forward to a glass of wine in the evening this summer (because I won't be pregnant), sitting on my half-stained, half-finished deck (we'll get to that eventually). I just need some time to rest, and unwind, and enjoy my husbands company... Looking forward to THAT!
And my blessings...
11. Our grocery bill last night. We desperately needed groceries!
12. Mud. It means the snow and frost and sleet will all soon be history.
13. Bath tubs. Keep the girls entertained so that I can take 15 minutes to throw a blog together.
14. Kate's birthday. Helps to remind me to slow down and enjoy the special moments.
15. Make-up. Semi-hides my lack of sleep.
16. The Bible. Keeps me sane!
17. Music. We watched zero TV yesterday...
18. TV. It keeps me sane too. ;o)
19. Facebook. For keeping me "connected" to my old friends.
20. My Bible study girls. For being my new friends.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Day #8 - WOW!
Holy Moly!
I say, write, type, do a lot of dumb stuff!
And lately, I'm really down on myself for my faults... Maybe I should start thinking about some positive things? Maybe even keep track of them? Let's say... Starting NOW!
1. My beautiful girls in the bathtub. I thank God for them everyday!
2. My littliest girl crawling around on the floor. Her too! Her too!
3. My wonderfu,l hard-working, loving husband. Could God have given me a better other half?! No way!!!! My meant-to-be!
4. Our big ever-growing extended family. We are all so blessed!
5. Spaghetti dinner last night. Yummo!
6. Cookies and milk after we got the kids to bed. Guilty pleasure.
7. Bananas and oranges for breakfast. I think the girls are sick of cereal, and we're out of eggs.
8. A fantastic weekend planned. Woo Hoo! Kate turns 4!
9. Good friends, old and new. I thank God for you guys every day too!
10. The melting snow!!!! Spring is almost here!!!! I can smell it!
Okay, I'll start with those 10. We'll see how fast this list expands. And TODAY, I'm going to try and stay as positive and upbeat as possible. Putting my faith and heart where it belongs!!!!!
I say, write, type, do a lot of dumb stuff!
And lately, I'm really down on myself for my faults... Maybe I should start thinking about some positive things? Maybe even keep track of them? Let's say... Starting NOW!
1. My beautiful girls in the bathtub. I thank God for them everyday!
2. My littliest girl crawling around on the floor. Her too! Her too!
3. My wonderfu,l hard-working, loving husband. Could God have given me a better other half?! No way!!!! My meant-to-be!
4. Our big ever-growing extended family. We are all so blessed!
5. Spaghetti dinner last night. Yummo!
6. Cookies and milk after we got the kids to bed. Guilty pleasure.
7. Bananas and oranges for breakfast. I think the girls are sick of cereal, and we're out of eggs.
8. A fantastic weekend planned. Woo Hoo! Kate turns 4!
9. Good friends, old and new. I thank God for you guys every day too!
10. The melting snow!!!! Spring is almost here!!!! I can smell it!
Okay, I'll start with those 10. We'll see how fast this list expands. And TODAY, I'm going to try and stay as positive and upbeat as possible. Putting my faith and heart where it belongs!!!!!
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