Go. Be. Do.

"Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart."  Ephesians 6:6 Wanting to find meaning in the meaningless tasks of life...trying to make purposeful choices...desiring to have joy in the journey...making attitude adjustments...striving to serve out of love... So why is it that my imperfections are so much more noticeable than what I occasionally get right?  Why is it that just when I think I've made improvements, out of left field comes another notice that I'm still striking out more times than not?  Why is it that when I'm experiencing the wind rising me up, someone wants to keep me grounded? I want to say I don't understand, but unfortunately, I do. "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of t

Most of my last week of February has been spent in Orlando enjoying the warm weather and marvelous sunshine!  I like having goals that can be achieved even on the road. :) #1  In the sunshine state it was easy keeping the water intake up.  So glad I have worked on drinking more water this month.  Hopefully it's been on my mind enough this month that I will continue to think about it and make it something I begin to do by habit. #2  I have corralled all the loose photos that I can find into albums and we're still enjoying moments of browsing through them time to time.  The freeing moment of this activity was when I decided to just get them into albums and not stress upon getting them in order.  Just having them in the albums (it took 4 full albums!) is great.  If I decide one day to organize them, great.  If not, great! #3 Visit with at least one friend every week just because...I have really enjoyed meeting this goal each week!  Just today, I was able to have breakfast with

A few months ago, I found out that we were going to Orlando for business and a little family getaway.  Hmmm...what's there to do in Orlando that's family friendly?    Of course, Disney World!  After much research into which theme park to visit, we decided upon the Magic Kingdom.  We had one day and we made an entire day of it...out the door by 8, walking back in the door almost 14 hours later.  Craziness. We had a great day walking and riding...mostly walking...around the park (should I be saying Kingdom?).  Either way, we had alot of fun. I have never been to a Disney park before.  I've never really desired to go.  Honestly, my boys have never asked to go to one either.  Tim has called The Disney Store "Disney World" for years...he came up with that on his own and it was enough.  This opportunity to visit Disney World showed itself right for our moment, so we engaged upon it with a skip in our steps.  Watching my boys' faces throughout the day was my favor

My all time favorite photo using the macro feature on my camera!  Grab your camera and post one of your favorite macro shots for the challenge at Home Is Where You Start From . I featured this photo on my blog post,  Living Water , last year.

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God..." 1 John 3:1 I've been thinking about this month's goals...last month's goals...and next month's goals.  It can all be overwhelming if I let it, because along with the 3 goals of each month, I have so many other goals for each day I want to do, too. One day this week, I read 1 John 3 and just simply rested in it.  I wrapped myself in the unconditional love God has for me as His daughter.  It is something I cannot work towards.  He is love and He loves me.  I feel refreshed in this fact. As for my goals...water intake is still going well.  an impromtu visit to IN (where my family lives) this week helped me get my "visit with a friend" goal met.  And, by later today my loose photos will all be in albums. Thanks to all who stop by and leave encouraging words on my blog!  Hope you have a great end-of-the-month week next week.

I was so excited today when I discovered the first daffodil bloom!  Then, tonight, when I downloaded the pictures to my computer I discovered the ever illusive effect I've only ever dreamed of catching in one of my photos...bokeh! Not eye catching, Wow!, bokeh...but bokeh nonetheless.  This is exciting for a wannabe photographer like me! It's the little things in life that make me smile, indeed.

                              For God so lo V ed the world                                 that he g A ve                                     His on L y begotten son                             that whoso E ver believeth                                               i N him                               should no T                                            per I sh                  but have everlasti N g                                           lif E .                                        John 3:16

Nothing says "February" like Conversation Hearts... Join in on the challenge at Home Is Where You Start From and show us what February looks like to you.

There's something about this week that makes me feel as if nothing was accomplished...but, I just read over my goals as I wrote them at the end of January, and realize that I did make short strides in all three areas. Water intake has continued over what I drank prior to February 1st...more photos have been found and stacked for entry into another photo album (when I go and purchase one or two more)...and, even though life has rearranged my schedule some this week, I am visiting with a friend tomorrow. Hope everyone has had a good week!

Last month, when many were naming their year, "The year of...", I, at first, couldn't come up with any one thing that stuck out to me.  I then wrote a post about a new kind of year .  God was opening doors to something new.  Indeed it has been already full of new things for me and I am so enjoying them all.  Since then, God has further blessed my spirit in many ways and has invited me into an especially sweet reunion with Him during Bible study and worship.  However, things aren't as they used to be...they have changed.  Change occurs whether we want it to or not.  Although some changes are more difficult than others, it's through these times that God reveals Himself faithful, mighty, and constant.  He never changes ( Malachi 3:6 ; Revelation 4:8 ).  He is as great in the tough times as He is in the bountiful times.  I love this about my God!  I am welcoming the changes taking place.  It's refreshing to see things coming together as only God could arrange. 

What does PE look like at our house?  Well, on a nice day, it's riding bikes, playing basketball or football and doing other "boy things" outside.  On rainy days, depending on the season, it's either puddle jumping in the rivers running through our backyard or playing Wii.  We went swimming at the Y ealier this week, too, since it was cold and rainy out.  Our latest PE activity, though, is our new backyard zipline...I love Alex's expression as he started out on his turn down the line.  Daddy and Grandpa built their zipline and it couldn't be better...except for it to be rated for Mama, too. :)  Maybe an upgrade can be in our future. :)     Join in on the PE fun at the L.E.N.S. photo challenge @ Home Is Where You Start From .

Well, well, well...I feel like I'm constantly going to the well for more water.  And, frankly, I don't like water.  Not without lemon...and sometimes not even with it. :)  But, I probably did drink more water this week and, therefore, I am well on my way to accomplishing this goal for February.  As for getting to the Y this week in addition to drinking my water...let's just say I made it there once.  Had a sick boy most of the week and we didn't get out much at all.  Very thankful he's on the mend!  There's still time, though, to get there a couple more times...   I'm almost completely finished stuffing photos that I've gathered from my hotspots into photo albums, too.  Had to go and purchase two more albums this week to have room for them.  I love the time the boys and I have spent reminiscing over our past adventures.  Makes me want to print out the pics from my computer and get them into albums, too...maybe I'll just order some more photo books.

Nine years ago today I walked down the aisle to say "I do".  How time does fly!  When we were engaged, I had a chance to write in to my local paper about our engagement in a special sweethearts edition.  The following is a short version of our story that I submitted.  It was chosen to be printed, too, which was pretty exciting. This is our story...Memorial Day weekend 2001 I was planning a birthday vacation with my best friend, Christa to celebrate our birthdays which are a day apart at the end of May.  The previous year we flew down and met up at Sarasota, FL.  On her flight, she met and was squeezed inbetween a handsome stranger, Victor, and the window.  Well, we all became acquainted that weekend and had dinner and made plans to keep in contact.  When it came time to plan for our birthdays in 2001, Christa and I were invited to spend the weekend in Atlanta with Victor and his friend who had a house near the city.  That friend was Scott.  Christa and I flew in on separate