This past weekend I took advantage of an extra day off work to do some serious spring cleaning around the house. Just so you know how serious it was -- I cleaned the oven.
Except I didn't. Yes, I cheated. The oven cleaned itself.
Thank God for whoever invented self cleaning ovens. And bless our landlords for buying one :) The one problem of the self cleaning oven is that after the cleaning process, you have a house that is about 7,000 degrees. Great in the winter.... Not so great in the spring when the temp is 75 degrees. Oops.
After I wiped my oven down and it was all sparkly, my life seemed so much better. With the exception of the blazing hot house. While icing myself down, I had a revelation. Ready for it? Our oven is like our heart.
No, our hearts don't make our houses feel like the Sahara Desert. Nor do they bake delicious mounds of bread or cakes or anything else. Here's my thinkin' Lincoln...
I don't know about you, but I don't put "clean the oven" on my weekly to do list because the inside of the oven isn't something that a visitor could see right away. I admit, on most days, my house LOOKS clean, but if you really start looking, you are going to find some hidden crud. Specifically in my oven.... after I bake a lasagna.
We, too, can also LOOK like we are doing well. We can do our hair and nails, wear a smile and pretend to be "doing great" when we really aren't. Just like my oven, I let slime and grime build up in my heart because people can't see in there. I can appear to be okay when deep down, my heart is being hardened because I haven't made time to read the word. Or it is being littered with anger, worry and negativity because I refuse to let go. Or, it is being dirtied with unforgiven sins because I become too busy to ask for forgiveness.
Cleaning my oven just took a switch of a button and enduring some heat. Heart cleansing just takes submission and confession. Jesus already took the heat. The gunk of our hearts will be "burned off" when we confess our sins:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
Maybe it's time to do a little spiritual spring cleaning. Don't let your heart get dirty. Allow God to create in you a clean heart.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Patience is a.....pain
Seriously. Let's forget the virtue thing. Patience is painful.
Let me start off this post by saying I absolutely hate being late to anything. I can remember hating it as a child. We were ALWAYS late and everyone was waiting on us. I have vowed to not be late to things. (I know, wait until I have kids, right?)
I don't have to wait. I am being trained right now. This morning as my beloved husband decided to get in the shower 20 minutes before church began, I found myself reciting "Love is patient... Love is patient... Love is patient" We walked into church 5 minutes late and my little punctual self was not a happy camper.
But then God said "Hey my Pouty Princess, listen here. When you have to wait on people, I am training you to wait on ME." Humph.
Okay, okay. The world didn't end because we were five minutes late. In fact, those five minutes might have kept us from being a part of an accident. And the world won't end because God doesn't answer His door when I want to. He'll open the door when He is ready. I have a hard time remembering that God's delays are not God's denials. I just have to WAIT.
Sigh. I'm not good at waiting. But I'll work on it....
Let me start off this post by saying I absolutely hate being late to anything. I can remember hating it as a child. We were ALWAYS late and everyone was waiting on us. I have vowed to not be late to things. (I know, wait until I have kids, right?)
I don't have to wait. I am being trained right now. This morning as my beloved husband decided to get in the shower 20 minutes before church began, I found myself reciting "Love is patient... Love is patient... Love is patient" We walked into church 5 minutes late and my little punctual self was not a happy camper.
But then God said "Hey my Pouty Princess, listen here. When you have to wait on people, I am training you to wait on ME." Humph.
Okay, okay. The world didn't end because we were five minutes late. In fact, those five minutes might have kept us from being a part of an accident. And the world won't end because God doesn't answer His door when I want to. He'll open the door when He is ready. I have a hard time remembering that God's delays are not God's denials. I just have to WAIT.
Sigh. I'm not good at waiting. But I'll work on it....
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Stores,Stores of the South
Yes, it's true I am alive! After reading this post, you might think I've been buried in coupons. That's not the case :) I assure you, I spend no more than an hour on coupons each week. I clip from the paper and I print all the printables I see during the week, put them in a pile and clip them all together before I go shopping.
I point out the time I spend on coupons because I hear so many people say "I just don't have time for that". Well, let me tell you, I just don't have the time (or money) not to clip coupons.
Let me illustrate by my shopping trip this week:
It is hard to capture everything in a picture. But here is a list...
1 40pk Hefty Trash Bags
1-8 Roll Scott Toilet Paper
8 cans of Green Giant Veggies
20 cans of Hunts Tomato Sauce
8 packs of Uncle Bens Long Grain Chicken and Wild Rice
2 Boxes of Ritz Crackerfulls
1 Bag of TendaBake pancake/waffle mix
1 Box of Minute Brown Rice
4 Boxes of Green Giant Frozen Veggies
2 Cans of Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Tomatoes
2 Jars of Bertolli Pasta sauce
2 cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
4 boxes of chicken broth
4 cans of Progresso Beans
2 cans of Progresso Soup
3 half gallons of Silk Almond Milk
2 quarts of Good Belly Probiotic Drink
1 32 oz Pacific Almond Milk
2 cans of Lindsay Black Olives
1 jug of Log Cabin Syrup
1 package of Butterball Turkey Bacon
1 package of Butterball Turkey Sausage
2 packages of al Fresco Chicken Sausages
1 organic whole chicken
1 package of organic baby carrots
1 package of Sargento cheese
2 packages of Wholly guacamole
1 package of Activia Blueberry Cheesecake Yogurt
1 bottle of Kikkoman soy sauce
1 dish of mashed potatoes
1 bottle of Men's Vaseline lotion
10 gallons of water (not pictured)
Total spent? $56.52. Yup, fifty six bucks. Retail price (before sales and coupons) was $192.20. I saved $135.68. All for an hours worth of coupons each week. I save more money by clipping coupons than I make in an entire day at work.
Now, I will tell you one secret.... living in the South is a tremendous help. I shopped this week at three stores that they don't have in the North. Earth Fare is the equivalent of Whole Foods, except they have awesome coupons. (I got the chicken, carrots and mashed potatoes for FREE there just for buying water and a few other things I had coupons for.)
Then, Harris Teeter was having Super Doubles week where they double any coupon with a face value of up to $1.98. I love those weeks.
And Publix had an awesome deal on General Mills and Hunts products. They offer store coupons that you can use along WITH manufacturer coupons.
So, yes, the stores in the South rock. And they put Walmart's "Low Prices" to shame!
I point out the time I spend on coupons because I hear so many people say "I just don't have time for that". Well, let me tell you, I just don't have the time (or money) not to clip coupons.
Let me illustrate by my shopping trip this week:
1 40pk Hefty Trash Bags
1-8 Roll Scott Toilet Paper
8 cans of Green Giant Veggies
20 cans of Hunts Tomato Sauce
8 packs of Uncle Bens Long Grain Chicken and Wild Rice
2 Boxes of Ritz Crackerfulls
1 Bag of TendaBake pancake/waffle mix
1 Box of Minute Brown Rice
4 Boxes of Green Giant Frozen Veggies
2 Cans of Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Tomatoes
2 Jars of Bertolli Pasta sauce
2 cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
4 boxes of chicken broth
4 cans of Progresso Beans
2 cans of Progresso Soup
3 half gallons of Silk Almond Milk
2 quarts of Good Belly Probiotic Drink
1 32 oz Pacific Almond Milk
2 cans of Lindsay Black Olives
1 jug of Log Cabin Syrup
1 package of Butterball Turkey Bacon
1 package of Butterball Turkey Sausage
2 packages of al Fresco Chicken Sausages
1 organic whole chicken
1 package of organic baby carrots
1 package of Sargento cheese
2 packages of Wholly guacamole
1 package of Activia Blueberry Cheesecake Yogurt
1 bottle of Kikkoman soy sauce
1 dish of mashed potatoes
1 bottle of Men's Vaseline lotion
10 gallons of water (not pictured)
Total spent? $56.52. Yup, fifty six bucks. Retail price (before sales and coupons) was $192.20. I saved $135.68. All for an hours worth of coupons each week. I save more money by clipping coupons than I make in an entire day at work.
Now, I will tell you one secret.... living in the South is a tremendous help. I shopped this week at three stores that they don't have in the North. Earth Fare is the equivalent of Whole Foods, except they have awesome coupons. (I got the chicken, carrots and mashed potatoes for FREE there just for buying water and a few other things I had coupons for.)
Then, Harris Teeter was having Super Doubles week where they double any coupon with a face value of up to $1.98. I love those weeks.
And Publix had an awesome deal on General Mills and Hunts products. They offer store coupons that you can use along WITH manufacturer coupons.
So, yes, the stores in the South rock. And they put Walmart's "Low Prices" to shame!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Dream On!
We all have dreams in our life. We dream about getting our driver's license, going on our first date, graduating high school/college, getting married to the prettiest/richest woman/man, having lots of kids, dogs, cats, birds, etc. There are dreams planted in us. We were built for a purpose. (Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you... Before you were born, I set you apart." )
When you ask a little kid "What do you want to be when you grow up?", you always get fascinating answers. But ask some adults that same question and you'll usually be bored with their answer. Most likely they won't seem quite as excited as a five year old. Or they may not even have an answer. Somewhere between the years, the vision has been lost. But why?
Do we forget about them in our quest to earn a paycheck? In our money driven culture, I'm afraid too many people have let the pursuit of money ruin their pursuit of happyness.
Or do we just allow our dreams to fade away and write them off as being "impossible"? Do we believe that we aren't capable of accomplishing our dream? Part of that is truth -- we cannot accomplish things on our own. We need God to help us in accomplishing the dream. But we have to ask for it.
There is a story about a man who died and went to heaven. St. Peter met him at the gate and told him that he would take him to the place God had prepared for him. They passed street after street of big, beautiful mansions. The man got really excited, but they just kept walking. Finally, they stopped in front of a small, but livable house and St. Peter told him that this was his home. It wasn't a mansion, but the man was happy to just be in heaven.
However, as the man opened the door, he saw stacks and stacks of unopened boxes in his house. The man asked "What are these boxes for?". St. Peter replied "These are the gifts that God had for you while you were on Earth, but you never asked for them, so He never sent them"
Ouch. What gifts are waiting for you that you just haven't asked for? God has boxes filled with powers to conquer what you thought was impossible. So the task being impossible is no excuse.
Really, do you have an excuse? You can either spend your time making excuses or spend your time making a WAY. There is a quote that I love "The only thing that's keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself about why you can't have it"
So get out there and "Dream On" because you are never to old (or too young) to have big dreams.
When you ask a little kid "What do you want to be when you grow up?", you always get fascinating answers. But ask some adults that same question and you'll usually be bored with their answer. Most likely they won't seem quite as excited as a five year old. Or they may not even have an answer. Somewhere between the years, the vision has been lost. But why?
Do we forget about them in our quest to earn a paycheck? In our money driven culture, I'm afraid too many people have let the pursuit of money ruin their pursuit of happyness.
Or do we just allow our dreams to fade away and write them off as being "impossible"? Do we believe that we aren't capable of accomplishing our dream? Part of that is truth -- we cannot accomplish things on our own. We need God to help us in accomplishing the dream. But we have to ask for it.
There is a story about a man who died and went to heaven. St. Peter met him at the gate and told him that he would take him to the place God had prepared for him. They passed street after street of big, beautiful mansions. The man got really excited, but they just kept walking. Finally, they stopped in front of a small, but livable house and St. Peter told him that this was his home. It wasn't a mansion, but the man was happy to just be in heaven.
However, as the man opened the door, he saw stacks and stacks of unopened boxes in his house. The man asked "What are these boxes for?". St. Peter replied "These are the gifts that God had for you while you were on Earth, but you never asked for them, so He never sent them"
Ouch. What gifts are waiting for you that you just haven't asked for? God has boxes filled with powers to conquer what you thought was impossible. So the task being impossible is no excuse.
Really, do you have an excuse? You can either spend your time making excuses or spend your time making a WAY. There is a quote that I love "The only thing that's keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself about why you can't have it"
So get out there and "Dream On" because you are never to old (or too young) to have big dreams.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Glimmers of Heaven
Usually around the holidays people get all reminiscent and think about those who aren't here on Earth anymore. But me? I have these random days throughout the year for no rhyme or reason.
I was blessed to be able to meet three of my four grandparents. And I am blessed that I still have one here to enjoy and cherish!
My dad's mom died 3 years before I was born. I often wonder what he would've been like, but since I never got to meet him, so I guess I don't really "miss" him. But I wish I could....
I got to spend 12 years with my mom's mom before she left this world. But 14 years later, I still think about her an incredible amount and wonder what it would be like to have her around. She taught me to be a book worm. We took countless trips on the weekends to the library. She taught me how to enjoy German food. She taught me how to cook endless things. She taught me how to work. I never went to take your daughter to work day with my parents. Grandma took me to work and it was so much better. (Isn't everything better with grandparents?!) She shared her love of hot air balloons, dolphins and lighthouses with me.
Then there was my dad's dad - Grandad. He taught me how to do word searches and to watch Braves baseball. He also proved that you can eat a mammoth bowl of chocolate ice cream and still live to be 87. He was a man of great faith and I strive to know the Bible and live like he did. He was a man of few words, but I sure do miss him just being around! When I go visit Meme, I miss the house being 81,594 degrees because Grandad didn't want the fire to go out. I miss him sitting at the end of the table at his place. In fact, everyone hesitates to sit there still because it's Grandad's seat. I miss watching him walk to and from the barn two or three times a day in his worn path.
So yes, I miss them. But you know what? God gives me reassurance that they are happy. And it looks like this:
A rainbow cloud. I don't know the technical name, but to me, it is my glimmer of heaven. These little clouds, they are openings in heaven where Grandma and Grandad can pour out their love on me and let me know they are happy :) And that makes me happy.
Cherish your moments with your loved ones. No one can confidently say that they will be here tomorrow. The only thing we can be confident of is that there is a heaven...... and there is a way to get there! I hope you know the way!
John 14:1-6
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I was blessed to be able to meet three of my four grandparents. And I am blessed that I still have one here to enjoy and cherish!
My dad's mom died 3 years before I was born. I often wonder what he would've been like, but since I never got to meet him, so I guess I don't really "miss" him. But I wish I could....
I got to spend 12 years with my mom's mom before she left this world. But 14 years later, I still think about her an incredible amount and wonder what it would be like to have her around. She taught me to be a book worm. We took countless trips on the weekends to the library. She taught me how to enjoy German food. She taught me how to cook endless things. She taught me how to work. I never went to take your daughter to work day with my parents. Grandma took me to work and it was so much better. (Isn't everything better with grandparents?!) She shared her love of hot air balloons, dolphins and lighthouses with me.
Then there was my dad's dad - Grandad. He taught me how to do word searches and to watch Braves baseball. He also proved that you can eat a mammoth bowl of chocolate ice cream and still live to be 87. He was a man of great faith and I strive to know the Bible and live like he did. He was a man of few words, but I sure do miss him just being around! When I go visit Meme, I miss the house being 81,594 degrees because Grandad didn't want the fire to go out. I miss him sitting at the end of the table at his place. In fact, everyone hesitates to sit there still because it's Grandad's seat. I miss watching him walk to and from the barn two or three times a day in his worn path.
So yes, I miss them. But you know what? God gives me reassurance that they are happy. And it looks like this:
A rainbow cloud. I don't know the technical name, but to me, it is my glimmer of heaven. These little clouds, they are openings in heaven where Grandma and Grandad can pour out their love on me and let me know they are happy :) And that makes me happy.
Cherish your moments with your loved ones. No one can confidently say that they will be here tomorrow. The only thing we can be confident of is that there is a heaven...... and there is a way to get there! I hope you know the way!
John 14:1-6
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Run, Run Rudolph...
WHEW! These past few weeks have been CRAZZZZZZZY. Needless to say, I've been slack on my photo challenge. Plus, I think my ADD has kicked in. So I'm just going to knock this thing out right now.
Day 15 - A Picture of something You want to do before You Die
Oh this could take ages. In college we had to create a list of 50 things we wanted to do before we turned 50. A sort of "bucket list". I wish I knew what had happened to it. I should sit down and write a new one because I've got a lot I want to accomplish!
I've always loved dolphins and would love to swim with dolphins! Technically, I guess I have swam *with* dolphins before. I've seen them just a couple of hundred of feet from the ocean. But.... I want to TOUCH one.
I would also love to go for a ride in one of these:
Other things: Visit the Grand Canyon. See the Northern Lights. Go to NY at Christmas time. Okay, how about I just say "Visit all 50 states"?
On a less adventurous note, I'd also love to have a bundle of happy and healthy children and grandchildren before I die. Although, a bundle of children will probably bring about MANY adventures.
Day 16 - A Picture of someone who Inspires You
Children. They just have a way about them. Children inspire me to make the world a better place for them, to let go of the things that really don't matter and cling to those that do, to be honest and sincere in my thoughts and actions, to have fun and not care what other people think of me and they inspire me to love one another and not hold grudges.
Day 17 - A Picture of something that has made a huge Impact on Your Life recently
Since there is no definition of "recently" here, I'm going with this...
Day 18 - A Picture of Your biggest Insecurity
This one is hard to capture in a picture. My biggest insecurity is that I won't be "good enough" for certain circumstances and life events. But God conquers that mental block everyday for me :)
Day 19 - A Picture and a Letter
I really don't get this. Am I supposed to write a letter? I'm going Sesame Street with this....
The letter of the day is...........
Day 20 - A Picture of somewhere You'd Love to Travel
Ahhhh... Tahiti. But unless we win the lottery, I just have to dream.
Day 21 - A Picture of something You Wish You could Forget
Student loans. Ugh. If only forgetting them would make them go away.
Day 22 - A Picture of something You Wish You were better at
Memorizing Scripture
Day 23 - A Picture of Your favorite Book
I can't choose a recent one, but this was hands down my favorite book as a child.
Day 24 - A Picture of something You Wish You could Change
Yep, I wish I could change the "change"
Day 25 - A Picture of Your day
Eek. Not sure which day this was REALLY supposed to be. I took lots of pictures yesterday, so I'm going with yesterday.
We got the truck stuck in the snow.
Dad came to the rescue with hot ashes and we got out.
We left snowy Maryland and traveled ALL day long through snowy Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Day 26 - A Picture of Something that means a lot to You
My salvation!
Day 27 - A Picture of Yourself and a Family Member
Day 28 - A Picture of Something You're Afraid of
I feel like the previous needle post was similar to this challenge...... but let me think.....
Death/Dying of myself and loved ones. I know my destination, which gives me comfort, but the dying process itself..... well, scares me.
Day 29 - A Picture that can always make You :)
My husband as a cute little Newsie . HAHA.
Day 30 - A Picture of someone You Miss
'Nuff said.
Day 15 - A Picture of something You want to do before You Die
Oh this could take ages. In college we had to create a list of 50 things we wanted to do before we turned 50. A sort of "bucket list". I wish I knew what had happened to it. I should sit down and write a new one because I've got a lot I want to accomplish!
I would also love to go for a ride in one of these:
On a less adventurous note, I'd also love to have a bundle of happy and healthy children and grandchildren before I die. Although, a bundle of children will probably bring about MANY adventures.
Day 16 - A Picture of someone who Inspires You
Children. They just have a way about them. Children inspire me to make the world a better place for them, to let go of the things that really don't matter and cling to those that do, to be honest and sincere in my thoughts and actions, to have fun and not care what other people think of me and they inspire me to love one another and not hold grudges.
Day 17 - A Picture of something that has made a huge Impact on Your Life recently
Since there is no definition of "recently" here, I'm going with this...
Marriage is a huge adjustment in life... even a year and a half later.
Day 18 - A Picture of Your biggest Insecurity
Day 19 - A Picture and a Letter
I really don't get this. Am I supposed to write a letter? I'm going Sesame Street with this....
The letter of the day is...........
Day 20 - A Picture of somewhere You'd Love to Travel
Ahhhh... Tahiti. But unless we win the lottery, I just have to dream.
Day 21 - A Picture of something You Wish You could Forget
Student loans. Ugh. If only forgetting them would make them go away.
Day 22 - A Picture of something You Wish You were better at
Memorizing Scripture
Day 23 - A Picture of Your favorite Book
I can't choose a recent one, but this was hands down my favorite book as a child.
Day 24 - A Picture of something You Wish You could Change
Yep, I wish I could change the "change"
Day 25 - A Picture of Your day
Eek. Not sure which day this was REALLY supposed to be. I took lots of pictures yesterday, so I'm going with yesterday.
We got the truck stuck in the snow.
Dad came to the rescue with hot ashes and we got out.
We left snowy Maryland and traveled ALL day long through snowy Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Day 26 - A Picture of Something that means a lot to You
My salvation!
Day 27 - A Picture of Yourself and a Family Member
Day 28 - A Picture of Something You're Afraid of
I feel like the previous needle post was similar to this challenge...... but let me think.....
Death/Dying of myself and loved ones. I know my destination, which gives me comfort, but the dying process itself..... well, scares me.
Day 29 - A Picture that can always make You :)
My husband as a cute little Newsie . HAHA.
Day 30 - A Picture of someone You Miss
'Nuff said.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sisterly Love
Today's photo challenge is a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without. As you can guess from the title, I chose my sister, Katie.
Approximately 12 years ago, my brother and I were informed that we would be having a little sister in 3 months. At that point in time, I was a selfish teenager. The way I saw it, my life was just fine without her. I didn't want to imagine a life with a little sister. But you know, she kind of grew on me :) And I really couldn't imagine life without her now! She has provided me with great entertainment and countless stories to tell and to listen to. She makes me laugh by doing the silliest things. She continues to keep me young by informing me of the newest trends. She reminds me that my actions are always being watched by "little" eyes. She is another person in the world who loves me unconditionally. We could all use a few more of those loving people in our lives! Love ya girlie!
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