I had the best of intentions when I started my TI30 entry for today about 2 hours ago.
(***MOM READ THIS LINE: It's not going to happen.***)
***ALL OTHER READERS: But it ain't gonna happen. ***
I'm leaving at 5 to get some gas and head to Grandma's and then I'll be there through Sunday night-with NO internet access. It's like visiting a different century. So get ready for another Weekend Update (see, the SNL thing would have SO worked out) come Monday. Can't wait to see the folks and they're actually having a good trip so I believe God ordained all this. Well, He ordains all things but I think this is in his Perfect Will, not the Permissive one.
Anyway, you all be blessed this weekend and take time to be thankful-even in the small things.
Blessings,
B
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Re-Cap: Part I
It's another fabulous Friday here in TX and since I'll be out of the far reaches of the internet during my visit to Grandmother's (TO SEE MOM & DAD), I figured I should go ahead and get my TI30 in before I leave. So here we go...
***And that's as far as I got before I was distracted by work and never came back to finish. So here we go with a little game I like to call...
***And that's as far as I got before I was distracted by work and never came back to finish. So here we go with a little game I like to call...
CATCH UP BLOGGING
So buckle up, sit back and get ready for the ride (that will be conveniently broken up into several easy-to-read installments)!
************************************
TI30 Friday, September 26, Day 26
1. At this point, I'm thankful for gasoline. Mom & Dad were traveling from NC and told me about all the places that have been out of gas along their route. It's odd to me that even though TX was took the brunt of Hurricane Ike, we still have gas unlike so many other cities that were hardly affected. At any rate, I'm glad Paris, TX still has fuel.
2. Do you ever have deep, life changing (or at least life revealing) conversations with those close to you? The ones you know you'll remember for the rest of your life (or at least the year since your memory isn't what it used to be)? Well, I had one of those w/Z last night and I'm so thankful that he and I can even have those (especially considering the hour it took place).
3. After living in this foreign land of TX for a year now, I've really learned to be grateful for the time I get to spend with people that have known me longer than just this year. I used to be so invigorated by the idea of getting to "re-create" myself but after a while, even that gets old. Since I'm able to spend time with my Mom & Dad this week, I'm so thankful for them knowing me-really knowing me-and being able to just be me. The Me I've been for 25 years. What a comforting feeling.
*************************************
So buckle up, sit back and get ready for the ride (that will be conveniently broken up into several easy-to-read installments)!
************************************
TI30 Friday, September 26, Day 26
1. At this point, I'm thankful for gasoline. Mom & Dad were traveling from NC and told me about all the places that have been out of gas along their route. It's odd to me that even though TX was took the brunt of Hurricane Ike, we still have gas unlike so many other cities that were hardly affected. At any rate, I'm glad Paris, TX still has fuel.
2. Do you ever have deep, life changing (or at least life revealing) conversations with those close to you? The ones you know you'll remember for the rest of your life (or at least the year since your memory isn't what it used to be)? Well, I had one of those w/Z last night and I'm so thankful that he and I can even have those (especially considering the hour it took place).
3. After living in this foreign land of TX for a year now, I've really learned to be grateful for the time I get to spend with people that have known me longer than just this year. I used to be so invigorated by the idea of getting to "re-create" myself but after a while, even that gets old. Since I'm able to spend time with my Mom & Dad this week, I'm so thankful for them knowing me-really knowing me-and being able to just be me. The Me I've been for 25 years. What a comforting feeling.
*************************************
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day 25
At the risk of being entirely too busy this evening preparing to see Mom & Dad tomorrow, I've decided to go ahead and post today's TI30. So here it is.
1. I'm REALLY thankful that I'm gonna be busy tonight packing. :) YAY! I can't wait to see Mom & Dad-haven't seen them since July so it will be good to be reunited.
2. I'm even more thankful for my busy schedule. I am usually complaining about how I have no free time and I'm so tired and blah blah blah blah blah. But can I just say that after 4 days of absolutely NO energy, I am thankful for my chaotic life and the ability that I have to handle it. I never realize how strong of a person I am or how much I really accomplish until I'm out of the loop for a day or two. Thank You Lord, for restoring my health and bringing my body back into alignment.
3. At this point in the day, I'm thankful for caffeine. And the fact that I've had 3 "healthy" servings of it today. That should last me until I pass out from exhaustion later. Lucky for me, even when my body doesn't have any energy, it is available in liquid form. :)
So that's all I've got time for now. Lots to do this evening and I may be needing another serving of caffeine before it's all over. Can't wait for the weekend!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
P.S. Go give my amazing boyfriend some props! Check him out at zebulonap.blogspot.com :)
1. I'm REALLY thankful that I'm gonna be busy tonight packing. :) YAY! I can't wait to see Mom & Dad-haven't seen them since July so it will be good to be reunited.
2. I'm even more thankful for my busy schedule. I am usually complaining about how I have no free time and I'm so tired and blah blah blah blah blah. But can I just say that after 4 days of absolutely NO energy, I am thankful for my chaotic life and the ability that I have to handle it. I never realize how strong of a person I am or how much I really accomplish until I'm out of the loop for a day or two. Thank You Lord, for restoring my health and bringing my body back into alignment.
3. At this point in the day, I'm thankful for caffeine. And the fact that I've had 3 "healthy" servings of it today. That should last me until I pass out from exhaustion later. Lucky for me, even when my body doesn't have any energy, it is available in liquid form. :)
So that's all I've got time for now. Lots to do this evening and I may be needing another serving of caffeine before it's all over. Can't wait for the weekend!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
P.S. Go give my amazing boyfriend some props! Check him out at zebulonap.blogspot.com :)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Day 24
I can't believe I'm actually catching up. I guess being sick has its perks...
Today's TI30:
1. Today I'm thankful for being ahead at work. At one point, about 2 weeks ago, I was a week behind. But it's amazing what a little hard work and some perseverance will do to your work load. Being sick also gets people to leave me alone so I've been able to accomplish quite a bit in the past few days. Since I'm taking off a little next week, it will be good that I've worked ahead.
2. I've written about Z quite a bit here on my blog but I don't believe I've spoken of his parents very much. His mom's birthday is coming up this Saturday and I mailed her card today (gift delivery will happen at a later date). So I'd just like to take a moment to say how grateful I am for his parents-for their faith, their love of life and their sweet spirits. His dad is a true man of God who daily strives to follow Him as closely as possible, doing everything he can to please the Father. He has a heart for seeing souls saved and is a true evangelist, telling of Christ's love as often as he can, wherever he goes. His mom reminds me quite a bit of my own mother-a strong woman who is the glue of the family, holding them all together. Both of our moms have seen the best and worst of ministry and have been affected (positively and negatively) by it all. His mom is thoughtful and very giving and is a great cook (as is my mom). I am so grateful that they are such a strong, close-knit family. Not that it's happening yet, but Z's family is one I dream of marrying into. Although they aren't my blood family, I could see myself loving them as my own and feel 'at home' when I'm with them. They're FABULOUS! (Happy Birthday, Mrs. P!)
3. Lastly tonight, I am thankful for my home. It's not much-just the center section of a little two bedroom, one bath triplex full of all my junk-but it's mine. Ok, not technically. Technically it belongs to Steve Yoder but he lets me rent it. :) This little apartment has seen me at my best and at my worst. I've been through a lot in the past year and this house has seen me through it all. It's gone through some major upgrades since the day I first moved in but somehow, it's become home. And as weird as it may sound, I think I'll be sad when I move away. Each place that I've lived, in each different town holds a piece of me. And Paris is no different. I have grown leaps and bounds in the year that I've been here (I'll have a tribute to that year in the near future) and I know God destined me for this place for however long I'm here. So to my humble abode filled with the love, laughter and tears of the past year-thank you.
And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I'm signing off. More of an update about my life at a later time.
Blessings to each of you,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
P.S. Thanks to the new readers I've picked up-that excites me! Leave comments & let me know what you think of my space (but be kind, I'm a little sensitive about putting myself out there, much less people telling me what they think of me).
Today's TI30:
1. Today I'm thankful for being ahead at work. At one point, about 2 weeks ago, I was a week behind. But it's amazing what a little hard work and some perseverance will do to your work load. Being sick also gets people to leave me alone so I've been able to accomplish quite a bit in the past few days. Since I'm taking off a little next week, it will be good that I've worked ahead.
2. I've written about Z quite a bit here on my blog but I don't believe I've spoken of his parents very much. His mom's birthday is coming up this Saturday and I mailed her card today (gift delivery will happen at a later date). So I'd just like to take a moment to say how grateful I am for his parents-for their faith, their love of life and their sweet spirits. His dad is a true man of God who daily strives to follow Him as closely as possible, doing everything he can to please the Father. He has a heart for seeing souls saved and is a true evangelist, telling of Christ's love as often as he can, wherever he goes. His mom reminds me quite a bit of my own mother-a strong woman who is the glue of the family, holding them all together. Both of our moms have seen the best and worst of ministry and have been affected (positively and negatively) by it all. His mom is thoughtful and very giving and is a great cook (as is my mom). I am so grateful that they are such a strong, close-knit family. Not that it's happening yet, but Z's family is one I dream of marrying into. Although they aren't my blood family, I could see myself loving them as my own and feel 'at home' when I'm with them. They're FABULOUS! (Happy Birthday, Mrs. P!)
3. Lastly tonight, I am thankful for my home. It's not much-just the center section of a little two bedroom, one bath triplex full of all my junk-but it's mine. Ok, not technically. Technically it belongs to Steve Yoder but he lets me rent it. :) This little apartment has seen me at my best and at my worst. I've been through a lot in the past year and this house has seen me through it all. It's gone through some major upgrades since the day I first moved in but somehow, it's become home. And as weird as it may sound, I think I'll be sad when I move away. Each place that I've lived, in each different town holds a piece of me. And Paris is no different. I have grown leaps and bounds in the year that I've been here (I'll have a tribute to that year in the near future) and I know God destined me for this place for however long I'm here. So to my humble abode filled with the love, laughter and tears of the past year-thank you.
And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I'm signing off. More of an update about my life at a later time.
Blessings to each of you,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
P.S. Thanks to the new readers I've picked up-that excites me! Leave comments & let me know what you think of my space (but be kind, I'm a little sensitive about putting myself out there, much less people telling me what they think of me).
Days 22 & 23
Since I've not been feeling well, I'm a bit behind on TI30. I'll cover Monday & Tuesday in this post & try to hit today in one a little later. I'll also try to make this brief...
Monday, September 22, Day 22
1. This sounds materialistic but I'm thankful for cute clothes. I'm a *bigger boned* girl ;) (who's working on trading some of those bigger bones for smaller ones) but I'moccasionally often depressed when I go shopping for clothes. I don't shop that much anymore, mainly because the cash flow is tight but when I realized that I only have ONE pair of pants that 1/2 way fits (if I wear a belt), I figured it was time for a few new items to help me make it through Fall and transition into Winter. Of course, I could still wear my summer clothes as Monday was the 1st day of fall and the high here was 90 degrees. But I digress. So I was lucky to find a cute pair of chocolate brown pants that go great with my gold shoes so I pulled off a cute outfit Monday. I knew I looked good and you have no idea how much that helps my confidence especially since I was not feeling my best thanks to allergy/sinus issues. Anyway, thank you to the designers that make cut clothes for us "big boned" girls that don't make us look like grandmother hippos. :)
2. I'm thankful for anti-biotics-for obvious reasons. I don't know how I'd make it through my sicknesses on just Sudafed and Tylenol. So thanks God for doctors and pharmacists who make my world a much better place approximately 2 times a year. (And the invention of a drive-thru pharmacy? GENIUS!)
3. This may sound silly but I'm really thankful for the infrastructure of our country. Why, you ask? Because our infrastructure is allowing my mom and dad to come visit me this weekend and stay for my birthday! :) YAY! I can't wait to see them. Dad will get to see my place for the first time and I can't wait for them to meet Z. It's going to be great! So thank you to all the DOT workers that are making this visit possible.
4. I would be amiss to finish this TI30 without mentioning how grateful I am for my Sunday School students. I love them so much and even though they are hormone-filled balls of energy, they really know how to brighten my day. They are a great source of entertainment and are quite inquisitive. Thinking back over the past few Sundays, we have talked about politics, illegitimate children, Biblical facts, church doctrine... I'm telling you, they're great to teach and really challenge me. I absolutely adore them-even when they work my nerves and talk through 1/2 my lesson. :)
Tuesday, September 23, Day 23
1. Since I was still sick Tuesday, I became very thankful for my couch. That's where I spent the ENTIRE evening-5:15-10:30pm. I dozed a little and watched some tv. Talked to Z some and just tried to take it easy. This is sad, especially since I have a brand new, Simmons Beautyrest bed but I spend the night on my couch probably twice a month. It's THAT comfortable. It was free after me and my roomies split ways after college and actually goes well with my decor. In fact, I think it's what my decor is based on. Oh well...
2. I'm very thankful for air-conditioning & ceiling fans. With running a low-grade fever during my infirmity, I have been ever so grateful that I have a ceiling fan to keep me cool at night. For some reason, I can go to bed and be freezing, but I'll wake up roasting. A strange phenomenon but one that makes me thankful all the same.
3. I'm really grateful for friends who go through similar phases of life at the same time. To spare you the details (and because I have to keep some of my life private), I'll just say I had a good chat with a friend I used to spend a lot of time with and it turns out that we're experiencing similar feelings and situations at the same time. I'm so thankful God gives us other people to walk life's journey with us, sometimes giving us the same steps to take at the same time.
Ok, I might actually catch up this evening. Can you believe we're only 5 days away from the end of TI30? I can't fathom how an entire month has almost already gone by. Wow, how time flies!
So, I suppose that's all for now. I should be back later to get today's post in. In the meantime, be blessed!
~B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Monday, September 22, Day 22
1. This sounds materialistic but I'm thankful for cute clothes. I'm a *bigger boned* girl ;) (who's working on trading some of those bigger bones for smaller ones) but I'm
2. I'm thankful for anti-biotics-for obvious reasons. I don't know how I'd make it through my sicknesses on just Sudafed and Tylenol. So thanks God for doctors and pharmacists who make my world a much better place approximately 2 times a year. (And the invention of a drive-thru pharmacy? GENIUS!)
3. This may sound silly but I'm really thankful for the infrastructure of our country. Why, you ask? Because our infrastructure is allowing my mom and dad to come visit me this weekend and stay for my birthday! :) YAY! I can't wait to see them. Dad will get to see my place for the first time and I can't wait for them to meet Z. It's going to be great! So thank you to all the DOT workers that are making this visit possible.
4. I would be amiss to finish this TI30 without mentioning how grateful I am for my Sunday School students. I love them so much and even though they are hormone-filled balls of energy, they really know how to brighten my day. They are a great source of entertainment and are quite inquisitive. Thinking back over the past few Sundays, we have talked about politics, illegitimate children, Biblical facts, church doctrine... I'm telling you, they're great to teach and really challenge me. I absolutely adore them-even when they work my nerves and talk through 1/2 my lesson. :)
Tuesday, September 23, Day 23
1. Since I was still sick Tuesday, I became very thankful for my couch. That's where I spent the ENTIRE evening-5:15-10:30pm. I dozed a little and watched some tv. Talked to Z some and just tried to take it easy. This is sad, especially since I have a brand new, Simmons Beautyrest bed but I spend the night on my couch probably twice a month. It's THAT comfortable. It was free after me and my roomies split ways after college and actually goes well with my decor. In fact, I think it's what my decor is based on. Oh well...
2. I'm very thankful for air-conditioning & ceiling fans. With running a low-grade fever during my infirmity, I have been ever so grateful that I have a ceiling fan to keep me cool at night. For some reason, I can go to bed and be freezing, but I'll wake up roasting. A strange phenomenon but one that makes me thankful all the same.
3. I'm really grateful for friends who go through similar phases of life at the same time. To spare you the details (and because I have to keep some of my life private), I'll just say I had a good chat with a friend I used to spend a lot of time with and it turns out that we're experiencing similar feelings and situations at the same time. I'm so thankful God gives us other people to walk life's journey with us, sometimes giving us the same steps to take at the same time.
Ok, I might actually catch up this evening. Can you believe we're only 5 days away from the end of TI30? I can't fathom how an entire month has almost already gone by. Wow, how time flies!
So, I suppose that's all for now. I should be back later to get today's post in. In the meantime, be blessed!
~B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Insert
Hi all!
I'm working on my post(s) to cover the weekend but thought I'd insert a welcome to my re-designed page. It's different but I absolutely LOVE it! I don't know why I waited so long to change things up but I'm so glad I have finally gotten with it. Hope you enjoy the new look-let me know what you think. I happen to really love the diamond accents on either side of the posting background. *Surprise!* Ha! ;)
Anyway, welcome to the new look. Those of you that know me, know how much I love change-from my hair cut & color to the arrangement of furniture in my house. So you can expect the same for my blog. YAY for options!
Ok, back to work. I promise the updates are coming. Soon. (I've been under the weather a bit so I have a little more free time to write.)
Blessings for your Tuesday!
~B
I'm working on my post(s) to cover the weekend but thought I'd insert a welcome to my re-designed page. It's different but I absolutely LOVE it! I don't know why I waited so long to change things up but I'm so glad I have finally gotten with it. Hope you enjoy the new look-let me know what you think. I happen to really love the diamond accents on either side of the posting background. *Surprise!* Ha! ;)
Anyway, welcome to the new look. Those of you that know me, know how much I love change-from my hair cut & color to the arrangement of furniture in my house. So you can expect the same for my blog. YAY for options!
Ok, back to work. I promise the updates are coming. Soon. (I've been under the weather a bit so I have a little more free time to write.)
Blessings for your Tuesday!
~B
Monday, September 22, 2008
Days 19, 20 & 21
I'm baaaaack!!!
So here I am, ready to report from the weekend. It's been wild since Friday and I owe you,my faithful readers Mom & Dad, some details & a little TI30 action. So without further ado, here we go.
Friday, September 19, Day 19
1. I'm thankful for getting to see Z again. It had been almost 3 weeks and I never want to wait that long between visits again. He has become my best friend and I have missed him so much. It was sooo good to be with him in the flesh again and no, Mom, I don't mean "in the flesh", just "in person".
2. I'm thankful for driving time. Traveling so often (usually 2-3 weekends a month), I log a LOT of time in the car. I spent about 6 hours in my little CRV over the course of the weekend and driving time is the perfect remedy for a chaotic week. There is plenty of time for me to mull over the happenings of the week and process everything, making appropriate conclusions and allowing myself the opportunity to peruse things through my mind. Unfortunately, I sometimes take this time as extra worry time but I try to keep it as prayer time after I think through everything. The time Z & I spent traveling around also gave us a chance to just talk and spend some good quality time together. It was great!
3. New restaurants are always fun as well. Since my town has very little variety, going out with Z is always a treat because he takes me places I've never been before. Friday, his dad actually wanted to take us out and we ended up at Pappadeaux. It was wonderful! Minus being the loudest restaurant I've ever eaten in, it was very tasty food. We had great service, I tried some excellent mango tea, and ate the best cheesesticks and chicken tenders I've ever had. I even tried crawfish & didn't hate it. YUM! :) If you ever get the chance to try it-DO! Just a bonus to having a boyfriend who lives in a big city...
Saturday, September 20, Day 20
Saturday was a BIG day.
1. Oh my GOODNESS! I've been waiting for this experience ever since I moved from TN over a year ago and it finally happened. About 15 minutes from Zeb's house is perhaps my favorite restaurant in the world. There is only 1, lone location here in the huge state of Texas and my boyfriend was sweet enough to take me there. What am I making such a big deal about? ONLY the best chicken tenders & fries on the face of the planet: ZAXBY's!
This place is incredible! SO YUMMY! And I finally had my favorite chicken finger plate in my new state. YAY!!!
2. While there are plenty of perks to living in a big city, after enduring all the traffic Z & I sat in on Saturday, I am thankful for my small town life. I want to live near a big city but not in one. Even if the people in my small town aren't the best drivers in the world (which I'm sure is what they think of me).
3. So the hot air balloon festival is obviously the highlight of the weekend and the City of Plano didn't disappoint. There was so much to look at and enjoy, the weather was perfect and Z & I had an absolute BLAST! :) By unanimous vote-best date EVER!
Sunday, September 21, Day 21
I woke up at 5:30 Sunday morning with a VERY sore throat so needless to say, my drive home was not as enjoyable as hoped. I made it to church that morning-even taught Sunday School-but felt AWFUL afterward so I ended up laying out that evening. You know I'm sick if I'm missing church so it's serious. But even with being sick, there are things to be thankful for.
1. The 64 ounces of Pepsi I bought for $1.80 to keep me awake on the way home. I never knew they made cups that big but I'm so glad they do. That lasted til I got home and gave me enough caffeine to make it through church. I used to have an addiction to Pepsi way back in my middle/high school years and though I'm not revisiting that era, it was SO good.
2. The Hispanic family that has been coming to our church on Wednesdays for the past few months. They are the kindest people with the most beautiful children and sweetest spirits. I had a long talk with their oldest daughter, 13, who is dealing with some adversity at school and it felt so natural to chat with her about her decisions and influence. She longs to make a difference in her world and it was so fulfilling to help her understand that her light shines brightly in the dark world of her school. I felt both honored and humbled to be able to share with her. She is a precious, strong young lady whom I know God is raising up to be a mighty leader of her generation.
3. Z. I know I talk about him a lot but to me, I can't express how thankful I am for him. I'm just glad he lets me be me-nothing more, nothing less. I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not. I'm just me-and he loves that. We had a really long, good talk Sunday night and I remembered all the reasons I've fallen in love with him (as if I needed reminding). This relationship that we've developed is truly unique to me-I've let him see all the different facets of my personality and he hasn't run away yet. I'm so thankful for that-never thought it would be found. More on him later... (oh, stop groaning-you just wish your boyfriend was as fabulous as mine)
Ok, this has been weekend update with yours truly, B. (I should've pursued that SNL offer.)
More TI30 soon. Still trying to gain some energy & get over this sickness.
Blessings to you all,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
So here I am, ready to report from the weekend. It's been wild since Friday and I owe you,
Friday, September 19, Day 19
1. I'm thankful for getting to see Z again. It had been almost 3 weeks and I never want to wait that long between visits again. He has become my best friend and I have missed him so much. It was sooo good to be with him in the flesh again and no, Mom, I don't mean "in the flesh", just "in person".
2. I'm thankful for driving time. Traveling so often (usually 2-3 weekends a month), I log a LOT of time in the car. I spent about 6 hours in my little CRV over the course of the weekend and driving time is the perfect remedy for a chaotic week. There is plenty of time for me to mull over the happenings of the week and process everything, making appropriate conclusions and allowing myself the opportunity to peruse things through my mind. Unfortunately, I sometimes take this time as extra worry time but I try to keep it as prayer time after I think through everything. The time Z & I spent traveling around also gave us a chance to just talk and spend some good quality time together. It was great!
3. New restaurants are always fun as well. Since my town has very little variety, going out with Z is always a treat because he takes me places I've never been before. Friday, his dad actually wanted to take us out and we ended up at Pappadeaux. It was wonderful! Minus being the loudest restaurant I've ever eaten in, it was very tasty food. We had great service, I tried some excellent mango tea, and ate the best cheesesticks and chicken tenders I've ever had. I even tried crawfish & didn't hate it. YUM! :) If you ever get the chance to try it-DO! Just a bonus to having a boyfriend who lives in a big city...
Saturday, September 20, Day 20
Saturday was a BIG day.
1. Oh my GOODNESS! I've been waiting for this experience ever since I moved from TN over a year ago and it finally happened. About 15 minutes from Zeb's house is perhaps my favorite restaurant in the world. There is only 1, lone location here in the huge state of Texas and my boyfriend was sweet enough to take me there. What am I making such a big deal about? ONLY the best chicken tenders & fries on the face of the planet: ZAXBY's!
This place is incredible! SO YUMMY! And I finally had my favorite chicken finger plate in my new state. YAY!!!
2. While there are plenty of perks to living in a big city, after enduring all the traffic Z & I sat in on Saturday, I am thankful for my small town life. I want to live near a big city but not in one. Even if the people in my small town aren't the best drivers in the world (which I'm sure is what they think of me).
3. So the hot air balloon festival is obviously the highlight of the weekend and the City of Plano didn't disappoint. There was so much to look at and enjoy, the weather was perfect and Z & I had an absolute BLAST! :) By unanimous vote-best date EVER!
Sunday, September 21, Day 21
I woke up at 5:30 Sunday morning with a VERY sore throat so needless to say, my drive home was not as enjoyable as hoped. I made it to church that morning-even taught Sunday School-but felt AWFUL afterward so I ended up laying out that evening. You know I'm sick if I'm missing church so it's serious. But even with being sick, there are things to be thankful for.
1. The 64 ounces of Pepsi I bought for $1.80 to keep me awake on the way home. I never knew they made cups that big but I'm so glad they do. That lasted til I got home and gave me enough caffeine to make it through church. I used to have an addiction to Pepsi way back in my middle/high school years and though I'm not revisiting that era, it was SO good.
2. The Hispanic family that has been coming to our church on Wednesdays for the past few months. They are the kindest people with the most beautiful children and sweetest spirits. I had a long talk with their oldest daughter, 13, who is dealing with some adversity at school and it felt so natural to chat with her about her decisions and influence. She longs to make a difference in her world and it was so fulfilling to help her understand that her light shines brightly in the dark world of her school. I felt both honored and humbled to be able to share with her. She is a precious, strong young lady whom I know God is raising up to be a mighty leader of her generation.
3. Z. I know I talk about him a lot but to me, I can't express how thankful I am for him. I'm just glad he lets me be me-nothing more, nothing less. I don't have to pretend to be something I'm not. I'm just me-and he loves that. We had a really long, good talk Sunday night and I remembered all the reasons I've fallen in love with him (as if I needed reminding). This relationship that we've developed is truly unique to me-I've let him see all the different facets of my personality and he hasn't run away yet. I'm so thankful for that-never thought it would be found. More on him later... (oh, stop groaning-you just wish your boyfriend was as fabulous as mine)
Ok, this has been weekend update with yours truly, B. (I should've pursued that SNL offer.)
More TI30 soon. Still trying to gain some energy & get over this sickness.
Blessings to you all,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Friday, September 19, 2008
Day 18
Late. Again. Not much else to say about that.
So here's Day 18 of Thankful In 30...
1. I found another little piece of manna yesterday at Wal-Mart in the form of...
BETTY CROCKER
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP
COOKIE MIX!!!!!
Can you tell I'm WAAAY excited?!?!? I made some up last night and WOW! They are excellent! I ate mostly dough last night-didn't bake a single cookie. But today, I baked the leftover dough and YUMMY! Best cookies from a mix EVER. So yeah, I'm pretty thankful for that.
2. I'm VERY thankful for a free weekend to go see Z. I'm leaving right when I get off work today and we're going to have some down time tonight to just be together and then tomorrow we're going to the Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival. If you're in the area, it looks like it's gonna be a blast! Perfect weather, entertainment, hot air balloon and fireworks...does life get any better than this??? Yes, it does-only $5 to get in. I can't tell you how excited I am about the weekend. For some reason, the preparation involved with going out of town really excites me so I was thankful for last night and getting ready to leave.
3. I'm really thankful for compliments. At the risk of sounding extremely egotistical, I would like to say thank you to those of you who dish out the praise. It's not always needed, most of the time, I'm ok without it. But every once in a while, it's nice to hear the kind words. In the past few days, I've had several compliments on my clothes (even $7 shirts), hair (that has been 2 different colors in 2 days), blog (more people read than just Mom & Dad!?!?!) and-most significantly-Coach purse (similar to the one at right that my brother actually bought me in NYC-a girl actually took a pic of it w/her phone so she could remember it). So a huge thanks to those of you who aren't afraid to offer the compliments-they aren't taken lightly. You guys are the best for lifting my spirit and helping my self-esteem. You're the best!
I probably won't post again til Sunday since I'll be at Z's. But no worries, I'll be mentally tracking my TI30 list so I can share with you guys. In the stead (thanks to my fave college professor for that phrase), you all have a fabulous weekend and enjoy yourselves!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
So here's Day 18 of Thankful In 30...
1. I found another little piece of manna yesterday at Wal-Mart in the form of...
BETTY CROCKER
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP
COOKIE MIX!!!!!
Can you tell I'm WAAAY excited?!?!? I made some up last night and WOW! They are excellent! I ate mostly dough last night-didn't bake a single cookie. But today, I baked the leftover dough and YUMMY! Best cookies from a mix EVER. So yeah, I'm pretty thankful for that.
2. I'm VERY thankful for a free weekend to go see Z. I'm leaving right when I get off work today and we're going to have some down time tonight to just be together and then tomorrow we're going to the Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival. If you're in the area, it looks like it's gonna be a blast! Perfect weather, entertainment, hot air balloon and fireworks...does life get any better than this??? Yes, it does-only $5 to get in. I can't tell you how excited I am about the weekend. For some reason, the preparation involved with going out of town really excites me so I was thankful for last night and getting ready to leave.
3. I'm really thankful for compliments. At the risk of sounding extremely egotistical, I would like to say thank you to those of you who dish out the praise. It's not always needed, most of the time, I'm ok without it. But every once in a while, it's nice to hear the kind words. In the past few days, I've had several compliments on my clothes (even $7 shirts), hair (that has been 2 different colors in 2 days), blog (more people read than just Mom & Dad!?!?!) and-most significantly-Coach purse (similar to the one at right that my brother actually bought me in NYC-a girl actually took a pic of it w/her phone so she could remember it). So a huge thanks to those of you who aren't afraid to offer the compliments-they aren't taken lightly. You guys are the best for lifting my spirit and helping my self-esteem. You're the best!
I probably won't post again til Sunday since I'll be at Z's. But no worries, I'll be mentally tracking my TI30 list so I can share with you guys. In the stead (thanks to my fave college professor for that phrase), you all have a fabulous weekend and enjoy yourselves!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Day 17
Yes, I know what time it is and yes, I know I'm late for TI30. But I was absolutely exhausted last night. I had run all day long and when I got home I worked on the church directory until late. Gotta love projects that people start and don't finish that I have to pick up. But it will be so good to get a decent directory. I also got to catch up w/long, lost best friend, Matt. Haven't spoken with him in probably 2 months and it was so good to hear his voice. Can't believe he's getting married in 6 months but I'm happy for him. Needless to say, I was too tired to write last night so here's yesterday's list.
Thankful in 30
1. It was my one year anniversary at work which is so weird to me. I can't believe I've lived in Texas for over a year and have been working in insurance that long now. I became quite reflective when I realized it halfway through the day but I have to say I'm thankful for my first full, productive year of growth here in Texas. While things haven't turned out exactly the way I thought they would, God has brought me farther than I thought possible. He has pulled me out of my comfort zone (kicking & screaming) and taught me lessons on life, love, spirituality, and most importantly, myself. Now I know that I'm a much stronger person than I thought and with Him on my side, I can conquer anything. In the past 12 months, I've seen the lowest valleys of my life and soared to the highest mountains. And looking back, my God has been MORE than faithful. He's given me His best, even when I thought it should have been something different. He's treated me like the princess that I am in Him and I could never say enough about His mercy and grace.
Thank you, Lord for the lessons I've learned and the ways You have placed me on the Potter's wheel when I've been at my ugliest, most broken state only to refine me, shape me, and mold me into more of the woman You created me to be.
2. I'm thankful for the friends and family that have seen me through the past year. Yes, it's strained many relationships but I think God allows times of turmoil to make us (me) more appreciative of the bonds we share. I know that is especially true for me and I'm just thankful to have had people to walk with me along this part of my trek.
3. Lastly, I'd like to say thank you to (and for) the people who mean the world to me. Mom & Dad, thank you for raising me in a Christian home. Thank you for recognizing that I'd need a relationship with the Lord to help me through my life's journey. Thank you for allowing me to spread my wings and fly even when you felt like keeping me in the nest a little longer. My salvation is definitely a gift from God but I would never have received it had I not had praying parents who shared it with me. I'll never forget that night of revival, sitting in Dad's office, and praying the prayer of repentance. An insignificant moment for the rest of the world but a life-altering one for me; one that forever changed the course of my future. I would not be the woman that I am today without the blood of Jesus covering my life and more importantly, my sins. So thank you Mom and Dad, for being faithful to the cause of Christ and trusting the Lord with me. Because of Proverbs 22:6 ("Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.), I believe and know that one day, we'll see your sons come back to the same saving knowledge and recognition of Jesus that I have. He never said they wouldn't wander away so we must trust them into His hands. However, until the day they return, I vow to band with you as we stand in the gap for them, praying for God to do whatever it takes to restore them.
Ok, I think I've "spreached" enough. As you can see, I have a lot to be thankful for and could never fully express my gratitude for all the blessings in my life. But I'll keep trying...
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thankful in 30
1. It was my one year anniversary at work which is so weird to me. I can't believe I've lived in Texas for over a year and have been working in insurance that long now. I became quite reflective when I realized it halfway through the day but I have to say I'm thankful for my first full, productive year of growth here in Texas. While things haven't turned out exactly the way I thought they would, God has brought me farther than I thought possible. He has pulled me out of my comfort zone (kicking & screaming) and taught me lessons on life, love, spirituality, and most importantly, myself. Now I know that I'm a much stronger person than I thought and with Him on my side, I can conquer anything. In the past 12 months, I've seen the lowest valleys of my life and soared to the highest mountains. And looking back, my God has been MORE than faithful. He's given me His best, even when I thought it should have been something different. He's treated me like the princess that I am in Him and I could never say enough about His mercy and grace.
Thank you, Lord for the lessons I've learned and the ways You have placed me on the Potter's wheel when I've been at my ugliest, most broken state only to refine me, shape me, and mold me into more of the woman You created me to be.
2. I'm thankful for the friends and family that have seen me through the past year. Yes, it's strained many relationships but I think God allows times of turmoil to make us (me) more appreciative of the bonds we share. I know that is especially true for me and I'm just thankful to have had people to walk with me along this part of my trek.
3. Lastly, I'd like to say thank you to (and for) the people who mean the world to me. Mom & Dad, thank you for raising me in a Christian home. Thank you for recognizing that I'd need a relationship with the Lord to help me through my life's journey. Thank you for allowing me to spread my wings and fly even when you felt like keeping me in the nest a little longer. My salvation is definitely a gift from God but I would never have received it had I not had praying parents who shared it with me. I'll never forget that night of revival, sitting in Dad's office, and praying the prayer of repentance. An insignificant moment for the rest of the world but a life-altering one for me; one that forever changed the course of my future. I would not be the woman that I am today without the blood of Jesus covering my life and more importantly, my sins. So thank you Mom and Dad, for being faithful to the cause of Christ and trusting the Lord with me. Because of Proverbs 22:6 ("Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.), I believe and know that one day, we'll see your sons come back to the same saving knowledge and recognition of Jesus that I have. He never said they wouldn't wander away so we must trust them into His hands. However, until the day they return, I vow to band with you as we stand in the gap for them, praying for God to do whatever it takes to restore them.
Ok, I think I've "spreached" enough. As you can see, I have a lot to be thankful for and could never fully express my gratitude for all the blessings in my life. But I'll keep trying...
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Yep
I'm blogging and it's not even time for TI30 yet. :)
I just wanted to share how good God is-in case you need any reminding. As I shared last night, my mood has not been the best as of late. My brain is tired of thinking through different situations in my life and my heart is tired of worrying about it all. There are a lot of changes getting ready to take place around me and for once, I feel fairly stable. Besides my work situation, everything else in my life is on the up and up. But that is not the case for many of the people I am close to-several are in the process of major re-locations and for some reason, I find worrying about it all much easier than just laying it at the feet of Jesus. Although I know He can bear it much better than I can (and He already knows the outcome), I like to be in control-or at least think I am-and hold on to the weight of the burden. Not to mention the spiritual dry spell I am going through but that's another blog for another day.
So after feeling down in my spirit for the past few days, I come into the office today, check my e-mail, and find this as the devotion from the daily devotional e-mail I receive:
Now, my friend, tell me my God isn't good!?!?! I am amazed at how intently He listens to my cares and concerns and provides before I even know what I need. Why He is so loving and giving to me, I'll never know but I'm so grateful that He is. Thank You, Lord.
Back with more later,
B
I just wanted to share how good God is-in case you need any reminding. As I shared last night, my mood has not been the best as of late. My brain is tired of thinking through different situations in my life and my heart is tired of worrying about it all. There are a lot of changes getting ready to take place around me and for once, I feel fairly stable. Besides my work situation, everything else in my life is on the up and up. But that is not the case for many of the people I am close to-several are in the process of major re-locations and for some reason, I find worrying about it all much easier than just laying it at the feet of Jesus. Although I know He can bear it much better than I can (and He already knows the outcome), I like to be in control-or at least think I am-and hold on to the weight of the burden. Not to mention the spiritual dry spell I am going through but that's another blog for another day.
So after feeling down in my spirit for the past few days, I come into the office today, check my e-mail, and find this as the devotion from the daily devotional e-mail I receive:
| Today's Verse from the New Living Translation |
The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The LORD helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. … The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 145:13–14, 17–19 view in context |
| Encouragement for Today |
Do you feel overwhelmed, weighed down beneath heavy burdens of too much responsibility, poor health, wayward children, or financial woes? Don't be afraid to call on God and cry out to him for help. If the truth is that you're in dire need of help, that's okay—call on God. Whatever your situation is, take it to God. Trust that he's "gracious in all he does" and "filled with kindness." Believe that he's close to you and will grant your deepest desires. |
Now, my friend, tell me my God isn't good!?!?! I am amazed at how intently He listens to my cares and concerns and provides before I even know what I need. Why He is so loving and giving to me, I'll never know but I'm so grateful that He is. Thank You, Lord.
Back with more later,
B
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Day 16
So...yeah. Don't feel like writing but I'm trying to be thankful. My mood is down tonight and I just wanna be left alone with my thoughts. Maybe I'll write more on the mood later but for now, I just want to do my TI30 and be done. So here goes...
1. My support system at church. Although it's annoying to have your phone ringing off the hook sometimes and 50 people chasing you down to tell/ask you something, it secretly invigorates me. I love being a point person and being in leadership. Lest that sound haughty, I feel that I'm good at organizing, delegating and following up-which simply lends my personality towards leadership. Here lately I've been a little lax but I'm trying to tighten up the ship.
2. I love Autumn-the weather, the feeling in the air, the food, the holidays, the symbolism (new beginnings. I know, that's supposed to be Spring but think about it. Besides the environment most of the rest of us celebrate endings in Spring-school, sports seasons, tv seasons, etc. But in Autumn, there is the beginning of school, a new church year, new tv shows/seasons, etc. So Autumn is the new Spring. :) Ha!) The only thing I miss is being in NC for the changing of the leaves. Texas is SURE not as pretty when it comes to scenery.
3. My Alma Mater-Lee University. I received a mailing from the Alumni Relations department today and it just made me miss good ol' Cleveland. Those were good days and I'd love to visit soon. I realized tonight that I haven't been back in over a year. Sad. But I'm thankful for the Christian education I received there and for the impact it made on my life. I definitely wasn't the same person I was finishing as when I started. That small, Church of God university tucked away in a valley in the Southeastern corner of Tennessee holds a very special place in my heart.
So that's all for now. Perhaps I'll expound on my mood later.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. My support system at church. Although it's annoying to have your phone ringing off the hook sometimes and 50 people chasing you down to tell/ask you something, it secretly invigorates me. I love being a point person and being in leadership. Lest that sound haughty, I feel that I'm good at organizing, delegating and following up-which simply lends my personality towards leadership. Here lately I've been a little lax but I'm trying to tighten up the ship.
2. I love Autumn-the weather, the feeling in the air, the food, the holidays, the symbolism (new beginnings. I know, that's supposed to be Spring but think about it. Besides the environment most of the rest of us celebrate endings in Spring-school, sports seasons, tv seasons, etc. But in Autumn, there is the beginning of school, a new church year, new tv shows/seasons, etc. So Autumn is the new Spring. :) Ha!) The only thing I miss is being in NC for the changing of the leaves. Texas is SURE not as pretty when it comes to scenery.
3. My Alma Mater-Lee University. I received a mailing from the Alumni Relations department today and it just made me miss good ol' Cleveland. Those were good days and I'd love to visit soon. I realized tonight that I haven't been back in over a year. Sad. But I'm thankful for the Christian education I received there and for the impact it made on my life. I definitely wasn't the same person I was finishing as when I started. That small, Church of God university tucked away in a valley in the Southeastern corner of Tennessee holds a very special place in my heart.
So that's all for now. Perhaps I'll expound on my mood later.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Monday, September 15, 2008
Day 15
Yes, I'm actually sitting down at the end of the day to write this. Whether I finish this before I doze off is yet to be determined but hey, at least I'm trying.
Today's Thankful in 3o
1. I wish you could have been here today. The weather here in Paris was absolutely GORGEOUS! I was a little chilly on my way to work this morning but it was a perfect Autumn morning and Autumn hasn't even arrived yet. We started out in the upper 50's and by lunch were in the upper 60's. By 5:00, when I got off work, we were at the mid-70's and I was LOVING it! Sunroof open, windows down-it was the perfect day here weather wise. Thank you, Lord for the little tease of Fall this week. You are such an awesomely creative God who has such masterpieces in creation!
2. I know I'm stuck on food items but tonight I had a little piece of heaven that I had forgotten about in the form of...
Today's Thankful in 3o
1. I wish you could have been here today. The weather here in Paris was absolutely GORGEOUS! I was a little chilly on my way to work this morning but it was a perfect Autumn morning and Autumn hasn't even arrived yet. We started out in the upper 50's and by lunch were in the upper 60's. By 5:00, when I got off work, we were at the mid-70's and I was LOVING it! Sunroof open, windows down-it was the perfect day here weather wise. Thank you, Lord for the little tease of Fall this week. You are such an awesomely creative God who has such masterpieces in creation!
2. I know I'm stuck on food items but tonight I had a little piece of heaven that I had forgotten about in the form of...
JIFFY MUFFIN MIX
I know, I know. A very trivial food but have you tasted the sweet, buttery goodness of Jiffy corn muffins lately? AH-MAZE-ING!!! So yes, I'm thankful for Jiffy.
3. Lastly, tonight I'm thankful for communication. I'm so grateful that we, as humans, can express ourselves and communicate our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. That quality that is unique to humans invigorates me and excites me as I cherish the differences in the ways that we each emote. Thank you, Lord for the ability to communicate and the enjoyment of receiving others'.
*******************************************************************
Well, I made it but I'm tired. So with that, au revoir mes amis!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
I know, I know. A very trivial food but have you tasted the sweet, buttery goodness of Jiffy corn muffins lately? AH-MAZE-ING!!! So yes, I'm thankful for Jiffy.
3. Lastly, tonight I'm thankful for communication. I'm so grateful that we, as humans, can express ourselves and communicate our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. That quality that is unique to humans invigorates me and excites me as I cherish the differences in the ways that we each emote. Thank you, Lord for the ability to communicate and the enjoyment of receiving others'.
*******************************************************************
Well, I made it but I'm tired. So with that, au revoir mes amis!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Day 14
Yes, I'm still a day behind. But here's the deal-yesterday was completely draining for me-physically, emotionally, and mentally.
A synopsis of the day's events:
~To church early enough to find a couple problems but not early enough to have time to fix them. Have to find time to do that this week. So much work to be done there but my body is about a week behind my brain.
~Tried to teach Sunday School to my 10-14 year olds who think they are too cool for everything. Do you know how hard that is???
~Service was good but I felt a heaviness. There was a strain for me there and it's really hard for me to push through when I know I haven't been on top of my spiritual A-game throughout the week.
~The afternoon was dull-didn't accomplish much but did watch a Richard Gere movie. I missed the last 15 minutes so I have no idea how it ended and I didn't catch the title so I've gotta figure out which one it was.
~Drama ministry practice w/my kids (a mix of youth ages 10-15 w/a 4 year old thrown in) really tested my patience. I love them and they're doing great w/the song we're choreographing but they LOVE to goof off. Normally this wouldn't bother me but when we're trying to accomplish something in a limited amount of time, it works my nerves. But God helped me through it and I have a few days til the next one rolls around. Hopefully we'll be performing in the next few weeks.
~The evening service was...interesting. I'll leave it at that. I spent some time at the altar just praying for all the situations in my life. None of them directly involve me but I'm tired of carrying around all the worry. I know I do that to myself but it's still really hard to resist. I also got to reconcile with a friend whom I've been missing for a long time. Slowly, we're finding the Lord restoring our friendship. I'm very, very thankful for that.
~Got to see Pastor's new house after church and it is super cute! The backyard is perfect for the kids and the dog and I can see us spending a lot of time on the back porch this fall. I'm excited for them to get moved and situated.
~Talked to Z for a while after I got home-and polished off the oatmeal cookies-oops. :) We had a good chat about "stuff". It was really good to be able to talk to him. I miss him so much and am looking forward to seeing him this weekend. We're going on a date Friday night and perhaps to the Plano Hot Air Balloon festival Saturday. I'm just really anxious to be face-to-face with him again. I've really missed him these past 2 weeks.
~Fell asleep on the couch (hence no TI30) and made it the bed a little after 2am.
So as you can see, yesterday's behavior was not very conducive to blog writing and therefore, here I am. So without further ado, yesterday's Thankful in 30.
1. The #1 thing I am thankful for is my Jesus who meets me every time I step toward Him and takes on all my burdens and allows me to carry His. I read a statement recently that said something to the effect that we can walk miles away from God but it only takes 1 step to get back to Him. I am so grateful that even in the times I run away from the very One my heart needs, that in an instant, with a single step I can return to Him. Not that I've been running lately but in those moments, when I do return, I am able to cast every anxiety and fear on Him and take up His yoke for His "yoke is easy and (My) burden is light". Thank you Jesus for taking on all my pain and allowing me to cast my cares on You. Indeed, You do care for me.
2. I am also thankful for life's little moments of comedy. For instance, I mentioned how stressful my drama ministry practice was, but at some point during rehearsal, Gabe (my favorite 4 year old) came to me asking if he could be "God". Since he'd been begging me all practice to be "Jesus", I said yes just to appease him. Not 5 minutes later, here came Gabe up the aisle of the sanctuary with his arms and hands extended in true yoga style saying in his most "God-like" voice, "Here comes God!" It was the cutest thing and I needed that little chuckle during such a stressful time.
3. I confirmed with my mother that all of my family survived the hurricane safely. My aunt and uncle in Houston were without power and as of Sunday night were traveling to stay with my Grandmother for a few days. They suffered minimal wind damage and their daughter who resides in a different area of Houston only had water that came in through the window of her apartment. Grandmother lost a pear tree from her front yard but other than that came out well. Overall, everyone came out well and I am thankful for protection and favor during the storm. He is a faithful God who loves and cares for His children and I thank Him for grace and mercy on my loved ones.
Well, I guess with this post I am officially 'caught up' - at least until tonight when I forget or fall asleep again and have to catch up again tomorrow. But for now, I pray God's blessings on each of you. If you think about it, say a prayer for Z and his family tonight and tomorrow as the visitation and funeral for his grandmother are during those times. I know it will be difficult for him and his family.
~B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
A synopsis of the day's events:
~To church early enough to find a couple problems but not early enough to have time to fix them. Have to find time to do that this week. So much work to be done there but my body is about a week behind my brain.
~Tried to teach Sunday School to my 10-14 year olds who think they are too cool for everything. Do you know how hard that is???
~Service was good but I felt a heaviness. There was a strain for me there and it's really hard for me to push through when I know I haven't been on top of my spiritual A-game throughout the week.
~The afternoon was dull-didn't accomplish much but did watch a Richard Gere movie. I missed the last 15 minutes so I have no idea how it ended and I didn't catch the title so I've gotta figure out which one it was.
~Drama ministry practice w/my kids (a mix of youth ages 10-15 w/a 4 year old thrown in) really tested my patience. I love them and they're doing great w/the song we're choreographing but they LOVE to goof off. Normally this wouldn't bother me but when we're trying to accomplish something in a limited amount of time, it works my nerves. But God helped me through it and I have a few days til the next one rolls around. Hopefully we'll be performing in the next few weeks.
~The evening service was...interesting. I'll leave it at that. I spent some time at the altar just praying for all the situations in my life. None of them directly involve me but I'm tired of carrying around all the worry. I know I do that to myself but it's still really hard to resist. I also got to reconcile with a friend whom I've been missing for a long time. Slowly, we're finding the Lord restoring our friendship. I'm very, very thankful for that.
~Got to see Pastor's new house after church and it is super cute! The backyard is perfect for the kids and the dog and I can see us spending a lot of time on the back porch this fall. I'm excited for them to get moved and situated.
~Talked to Z for a while after I got home-and polished off the oatmeal cookies-oops. :) We had a good chat about "stuff". It was really good to be able to talk to him. I miss him so much and am looking forward to seeing him this weekend. We're going on a date Friday night and perhaps to the Plano Hot Air Balloon festival Saturday. I'm just really anxious to be face-to-face with him again. I've really missed him these past 2 weeks.
~Fell asleep on the couch (hence no TI30) and made it the bed a little after 2am.
So as you can see, yesterday's behavior was not very conducive to blog writing and therefore, here I am. So without further ado, yesterday's Thankful in 30.
1. The #1 thing I am thankful for is my Jesus who meets me every time I step toward Him and takes on all my burdens and allows me to carry His. I read a statement recently that said something to the effect that we can walk miles away from God but it only takes 1 step to get back to Him. I am so grateful that even in the times I run away from the very One my heart needs, that in an instant, with a single step I can return to Him. Not that I've been running lately but in those moments, when I do return, I am able to cast every anxiety and fear on Him and take up His yoke for His "yoke is easy and (My) burden is light". Thank you Jesus for taking on all my pain and allowing me to cast my cares on You. Indeed, You do care for me.
2. I am also thankful for life's little moments of comedy. For instance, I mentioned how stressful my drama ministry practice was, but at some point during rehearsal, Gabe (my favorite 4 year old) came to me asking if he could be "God". Since he'd been begging me all practice to be "Jesus", I said yes just to appease him. Not 5 minutes later, here came Gabe up the aisle of the sanctuary with his arms and hands extended in true yoga style saying in his most "God-like" voice, "Here comes God!" It was the cutest thing and I needed that little chuckle during such a stressful time.
3. I confirmed with my mother that all of my family survived the hurricane safely. My aunt and uncle in Houston were without power and as of Sunday night were traveling to stay with my Grandmother for a few days. They suffered minimal wind damage and their daughter who resides in a different area of Houston only had water that came in through the window of her apartment. Grandmother lost a pear tree from her front yard but other than that came out well. Overall, everyone came out well and I am thankful for protection and favor during the storm. He is a faithful God who loves and cares for His children and I thank Him for grace and mercy on my loved ones.
Well, I guess with this post I am officially 'caught up' - at least until tonight when I forget or fall asleep again and have to catch up again tomorrow. But for now, I pray God's blessings on each of you. If you think about it, say a prayer for Z and his family tonight and tomorrow as the visitation and funeral for his grandmother are during those times. I know it will be difficult for him and his family.
~B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Day 13
Wow... I actually forgot about blogging yesterday. It was such a calm, peaceful Saturday (in spite of the hurricane) that I just went to bed without even thinking of TI30. I guess that will be #1 on my list for the day...
Thankful in 30
1. Calm, peaceful Saturdays when I don't have a thing to do. Although I was supposed to be in Henderson, that trip got cancelled thanks to Ike so I spent most of the day Saturday (after sleeping in since I had a late night of cleaning on Friday) doing more cleaning, getting organized and watching tv. Do you know how rare that is for me to be able to do that? I honestly can't remember the last Saturday I had nowhere to be or nothing to do. Thank goodness for catch up days-I even made oatmeal cookies. YUM :)
2. Family is family wherever you go. I heard from a cousin Friday that I saw at the reunions in July and it was so good to hear from her. I'm thankful that even though we may not see each other but once a year, we're family 24/7/365 and I love them!
3. Oatmeal cookies are my favorite & I (with the help of Betty Crocker) made an incredible batch. They are just plain oatmeal without raisins or any extras but I do love oatmeal chocolate chip & I should have put some of my many, many pecans in these. They are so yummy & I swear, I could eat the whole bowl of dough without ever baking one cookie!
Since I'm behind, I'll go for now. But I'll try to stay caught up as much as I can. Hope everyone will continue to remember those affected by Hurricane Ike in their thoughts & prayers.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thankful in 30
1. Calm, peaceful Saturdays when I don't have a thing to do. Although I was supposed to be in Henderson, that trip got cancelled thanks to Ike so I spent most of the day Saturday (after sleeping in since I had a late night of cleaning on Friday) doing more cleaning, getting organized and watching tv. Do you know how rare that is for me to be able to do that? I honestly can't remember the last Saturday I had nowhere to be or nothing to do. Thank goodness for catch up days-I even made oatmeal cookies. YUM :)
2. Family is family wherever you go. I heard from a cousin Friday that I saw at the reunions in July and it was so good to hear from her. I'm thankful that even though we may not see each other but once a year, we're family 24/7/365 and I love them!
3. Oatmeal cookies are my favorite & I (with the help of Betty Crocker) made an incredible batch. They are just plain oatmeal without raisins or any extras but I do love oatmeal chocolate chip & I should have put some of my many, many pecans in these. They are so yummy & I swear, I could eat the whole bowl of dough without ever baking one cookie!
Since I'm behind, I'll go for now. But I'll try to stay caught up as much as I can. Hope everyone will continue to remember those affected by Hurricane Ike in their thoughts & prayers.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Day 12
Well, another day, another dollar earned. Thankfully (no pun intended), it's the weekend. I'm a bit nervous about this impending hurricane. I know Paris is a long way from the coast and according to my personal meteorologist, I have nothing to worry about. But it still makes me a bit anxious... I'm sure I'll be fine.
Today's Thankful in 30
1. The Holy Spirit is certainly something to be thankful for. Today I've been praying for Him to comfort the Parker family-especially Sharon. She lost her mom today and as that is the first parent that either she or Pastor Parker have lost, I know it will be hard. It was an unexpected passing yet I know it was no surprise to the Lord. They traveled to OK late tonight (thank you for safety of travel, God) and will be there through Tuesday after the funeral takes place. I'm thankful that the Lord gave us His Holy Spirit to comfort and give peace that passes understanding and I'm praying He'll do that for them in the days to come.
2. My friends in Paris are definitely a source of gratitude for me. I'm amazed that I've been here over a year now and how welcoming the people have been toward me. As of late, I haven't had much time to spend with my friends here with so much going on at church and trying to see Zeb as much as I can. I've just been staying so busy. But tonight I caught up a little with my 2nd family here and it was so good to spend time with them. They are a lot of fun and I know I can be myself with them which is such a good feeling. It felt good just to hang out again and I hope to have more time in the near future to see them more often. Thank you God for the friends I've made and for moving me here so our paths could cross.
3. Tonight I'm also thankful for my job. It may not be my favorite job and there may be days (more often than not) that I don't want to get up and go to work but at least I have a job. The pay may not be great but hey, it's not long term. (Of course, I can't believe I've been working there for a year.) My co-workers are bearable and my work load is fairly easy most of the time. I have a paycheck that comes in every 2 weeks and decent benefits with health insurance provided. Thank you God for a place of employment, job security and your grace to make it through each work day.
4. A short blurb about Z:
I'm so thankful for Z and his calm composure. I freak out over the smallest things (if you couldn't already tell) and he is the perfect complement to that part of my personality. He keeps his composure and is level-headed and cool as a cucumber 99% of the time (that I've seen anyway). He loves it when I overreact and I do too-because it gives him a chance to be my protector, a feeling that is certainly unequaled and extremely comforting. God knew exactly the kind of personality that I would need to complement me in a relationship and I'm so thankful for Z. (Thanks for putting up with my antics, hun.)
That's all for tonight.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Today's Thankful in 30
1. The Holy Spirit is certainly something to be thankful for. Today I've been praying for Him to comfort the Parker family-especially Sharon. She lost her mom today and as that is the first parent that either she or Pastor Parker have lost, I know it will be hard. It was an unexpected passing yet I know it was no surprise to the Lord. They traveled to OK late tonight (thank you for safety of travel, God) and will be there through Tuesday after the funeral takes place. I'm thankful that the Lord gave us His Holy Spirit to comfort and give peace that passes understanding and I'm praying He'll do that for them in the days to come.
2. My friends in Paris are definitely a source of gratitude for me. I'm amazed that I've been here over a year now and how welcoming the people have been toward me. As of late, I haven't had much time to spend with my friends here with so much going on at church and trying to see Zeb as much as I can. I've just been staying so busy. But tonight I caught up a little with my 2nd family here and it was so good to spend time with them. They are a lot of fun and I know I can be myself with them which is such a good feeling. It felt good just to hang out again and I hope to have more time in the near future to see them more often. Thank you God for the friends I've made and for moving me here so our paths could cross.
3. Tonight I'm also thankful for my job. It may not be my favorite job and there may be days (more often than not) that I don't want to get up and go to work but at least I have a job. The pay may not be great but hey, it's not long term. (Of course, I can't believe I've been working there for a year.) My co-workers are bearable and my work load is fairly easy most of the time. I have a paycheck that comes in every 2 weeks and decent benefits with health insurance provided. Thank you God for a place of employment, job security and your grace to make it through each work day.
4. A short blurb about Z:
I'm so thankful for Z and his calm composure. I freak out over the smallest things (if you couldn't already tell) and he is the perfect complement to that part of my personality. He keeps his composure and is level-headed and cool as a cucumber 99% of the time (that I've seen anyway). He loves it when I overreact and I do too-because it gives him a chance to be my protector, a feeling that is certainly unequaled and extremely comforting. God knew exactly the kind of personality that I would need to complement me in a relationship and I'm so thankful for Z. (Thanks for putting up with my antics, hun.)
That's all for tonight.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Friday, September 12, 2008
Day 11
Nope. I'm not gone. Just late on posting. With all the hurricane hype and angst paired with important church duties, I ended up with very little time to post yesterday. So here's Day 11's...
Thankful in 30:
1. In honor and memory of all those affected by 9-11, I am thankful for: freedom in the U.S., men & women who willingly volunteer themselves to serve our country, and the grace of God that continues to allow blessings on our nation.
2. After staying at the church much past dark last night, I'm thankful for safety. Churches can be scary places when the sun goes down, especially when the door was unlocked when I got there. I'm also praying for continued safety as it appears Hurricane Ike is heading to Paris for a visit. Lord, protect the residents of the Gulf and those in the path of this storm. You are the sovereign God who controls the wind and waves. I trust you.
3. After a chat with a good friend, I am thankful for Sunny D & sugar wafers. (I'll try not to eat a whole package in 2 days again but I'm not making any promises) :)
4. I furthered my way into the 21st century last night by becoming one of the millions that use Skype. A college friend had been begging me to get it for a while and I never had time to sit down with that intention. So last night, I finally did and let me just say that it has got to be one of THE coolest programs ever! We chatted, for free, via our computers and I could see him! I don't have a webcam so he couldn't see me but it was incredible all the same. Needless to say, Mom & Dad, we totally need to be Skyping. :) You'll love it! (And Dad already has a webcam so you won't have to buy anything! And IT'S FREE!!!)
That's all for now. Maybe tonight I'll actually post TI30 on the day it's supposed to be published.
:)
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thankful in 30:
1. In honor and memory of all those affected by 9-11, I am thankful for: freedom in the U.S., men & women who willingly volunteer themselves to serve our country, and the grace of God that continues to allow blessings on our nation.
2. After staying at the church much past dark last night, I'm thankful for safety. Churches can be scary places when the sun goes down, especially when the door was unlocked when I got there. I'm also praying for continued safety as it appears Hurricane Ike is heading to Paris for a visit. Lord, protect the residents of the Gulf and those in the path of this storm. You are the sovereign God who controls the wind and waves. I trust you.
3. After a chat with a good friend, I am thankful for Sunny D & sugar wafers. (I'll try not to eat a whole package in 2 days again but I'm not making any promises) :)
4. I furthered my way into the 21st century last night by becoming one of the millions that use Skype. A college friend had been begging me to get it for a while and I never had time to sit down with that intention. So last night, I finally did and let me just say that it has got to be one of THE coolest programs ever! We chatted, for free, via our computers and I could see him! I don't have a webcam so he couldn't see me but it was incredible all the same. Needless to say, Mom & Dad, we totally need to be Skyping. :) You'll love it! (And Dad already has a webcam so you won't have to buy anything! And IT'S FREE!!!)
That's all for now. Maybe tonight I'll actually post TI30 on the day it's supposed to be published.
:)
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Day 10
Thankful in 30:
1. Today, I am most grateful for nights when I can slip out of church, virtually unnoticed, and get home semi-early. Yes, tonight was one of those nights. I had no reason to hang around, had taken care of all necessary duties, and was hungry/tired. So I gathered my things, said a few goodbyes, and was home by 8:30. :) Those are nice every once in a while.
2. Days when I can proudly say that I'm 'caught up' at work. This hasn't happened in a couple months but boy does it feel good to spend a hard day of work and get things under control. Now maybe I can breathe easier for a bit-until I'm off again.
3. As cheesy (pun intended) as it sounds, I'm thankful for Bisquick's instant biscuit mixes. Tonight, I made garlic/cheese biscuits in less than 15 minutes and they were absolutely WONDERFUL! You should SO try them!
Looking forward to the approaching weekend-plan to spend it with Grandmother. Have really been missing Zeb as of late. We've had some very significant exchanges as of late and I'm finding that I love him more each day. Thank you God for the countless blessings you bestow on such an undeserving servant as myself. I love you, Daddy!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. Today, I am most grateful for nights when I can slip out of church, virtually unnoticed, and get home semi-early. Yes, tonight was one of those nights. I had no reason to hang around, had taken care of all necessary duties, and was hungry/tired. So I gathered my things, said a few goodbyes, and was home by 8:30. :) Those are nice every once in a while.
2. Days when I can proudly say that I'm 'caught up' at work. This hasn't happened in a couple months but boy does it feel good to spend a hard day of work and get things under control. Now maybe I can breathe easier for a bit-until I'm off again.
3. As cheesy (pun intended) as it sounds, I'm thankful for Bisquick's instant biscuit mixes. Tonight, I made garlic/cheese biscuits in less than 15 minutes and they were absolutely WONDERFUL! You should SO try them!
Looking forward to the approaching weekend-plan to spend it with Grandmother. Have really been missing Zeb as of late. We've had some very significant exchanges as of late and I'm finding that I love him more each day. Thank you God for the countless blessings you bestow on such an undeserving servant as myself. I love you, Daddy!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Day 9
Lest you think I've fallen off the thankfulness bandwagon, let me throw yesterday's list out there. I was utterly exhausted at the end of the day and knew that any attempt to write a coherent entry would prove to be futile. My brain was on auto-pilot and I scare myself sometimes with what I say when I'm in that state. But now that I've had a few hours sleep and feel a bit more lucid, here it is.
Thankful in 30
I'm thankful for:
1. Church members/workers who are passionate about the Lord. Right now, this applies to one of my Wednesday night teachers who is volunteering to help paint our nursery and a newly-appointed elder who is making phone calls to visitors and members alike. Our church needs about 50 more people like these two. I applaud them for their sacrificial efforts!
2. Friendly Wal-Mart employees. While picking up my groceries for the month, I ran into a girl who was stocking in the makeup aisles. She proceeded to show me some men's cologne that was on sale and then told me about some Crest Total Health kits on clearance for $1.50. I haven't had many unpleasant dealings with our Wal-Mart workers (in fact, last night most of them were quite friendly and greeted me when they saw me) but this young lady (whose 22nd birthday is today) was especially kind. Thank you Lord for knowing how much I dread going to W-M and providing me grace enough to make the trip more enjoyable.
3. Differences in people. I'm glad we aren't all carbon copies of each other and that each of us has our own opinions, views, thoughts, and ways of expressing ourselves. I was reminded of this blessing last night and though I do appreciate differences, I also recognized within myself a need to expand my horizons. God, give me a eyes that sees as Yours, a mind that thinks as Yours, and a heart that loves as Yours.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thankful in 30
I'm thankful for:
1. Church members/workers who are passionate about the Lord. Right now, this applies to one of my Wednesday night teachers who is volunteering to help paint our nursery and a newly-appointed elder who is making phone calls to visitors and members alike. Our church needs about 50 more people like these two. I applaud them for their sacrificial efforts!
2. Friendly Wal-Mart employees. While picking up my groceries for the month, I ran into a girl who was stocking in the makeup aisles. She proceeded to show me some men's cologne that was on sale and then told me about some Crest Total Health kits on clearance for $1.50. I haven't had many unpleasant dealings with our Wal-Mart workers (in fact, last night most of them were quite friendly and greeted me when they saw me) but this young lady (whose 22nd birthday is today) was especially kind. Thank you Lord for knowing how much I dread going to W-M and providing me grace enough to make the trip more enjoyable.
3. Differences in people. I'm glad we aren't all carbon copies of each other and that each of us has our own opinions, views, thoughts, and ways of expressing ourselves. I was reminded of this blessing last night and though I do appreciate differences, I also recognized within myself a need to expand my horizons. God, give me a eyes that sees as Yours, a mind that thinks as Yours, and a heart that loves as Yours.
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Day 8
Thankful in 30
Today I'm thankful for...
1. Chick flicks-I love cute chick flicks i.e. How to Lose a Guy, Wedding Planner, Little Black Book, Failure to Launch, P.S. I Love You :), 27 Dresses, etc. There's just something about ending a movie with a smile that I enjoy so much.
2. Days when I feel confident and pulled together. Today was one of those days. Not to be egotistical but I looked good, felt good, and was productive all day long. Sometimes these days are few and far between.
3. The sound of my dryer running as I type this. After being without one for so long, it is still a bit of a thrill to do laundry at my own home. It is my favorite house chore after all...
4. Being organized. Yes, I'm OCD but I've been a little bit lax lately and need to step it up a notch. But I'm getting back on track & am loving it!
5. Not being in the "dating around" scene any longer. In talking with a co-worker today, I realized how desperate people are to find companionship. It is so sad to see them trying every possible thing they can imagine to fill the void that I know only God can fill. My heart breaks for those people and I truly hope they will reconcile themselves with Him before any more time passes. Thank you God for sending me a Christian man who loves You more than He loves me. I am blessed beyond measure!
**********************************************************************************
Not much else to blog tonight. I got word last night that Mom & Dad may be driving down for my birthday so I'm definitely excited about that. :) And it looks like Zeb will be moving by the end of the month too. YAY! I'm really excited for all the changes that are coming about in my life. God is good and faithful and I am honored to be His daughter!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Today I'm thankful for...
1. Chick flicks-I love cute chick flicks i.e. How to Lose a Guy, Wedding Planner, Little Black Book, Failure to Launch, P.S. I Love You :), 27 Dresses, etc. There's just something about ending a movie with a smile that I enjoy so much.
2. Days when I feel confident and pulled together. Today was one of those days. Not to be egotistical but I looked good, felt good, and was productive all day long. Sometimes these days are few and far between.
3. The sound of my dryer running as I type this. After being without one for so long, it is still a bit of a thrill to do laundry at my own home. It is my favorite house chore after all...
4. Being organized. Yes, I'm OCD but I've been a little bit lax lately and need to step it up a notch. But I'm getting back on track & am loving it!
5. Not being in the "dating around" scene any longer. In talking with a co-worker today, I realized how desperate people are to find companionship. It is so sad to see them trying every possible thing they can imagine to fill the void that I know only God can fill. My heart breaks for those people and I truly hope they will reconcile themselves with Him before any more time passes. Thank you God for sending me a Christian man who loves You more than He loves me. I am blessed beyond measure!
**********************************************************************************
Not much else to blog tonight. I got word last night that Mom & Dad may be driving down for my birthday so I'm definitely excited about that. :) And it looks like Zeb will be moving by the end of the month too. YAY! I'm really excited for all the changes that are coming about in my life. God is good and faithful and I am honored to be His daughter!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Monday, September 8, 2008
Another reason...
why my boyfriend is better than yours...
:)
Blessings,
B
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3
:)
Blessings,
B
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Day 7
Thankful in 30
1. Mexican food
I'm amazed at how different the cultures of our world are but so thankful for their foods. YUM!
2. Parents
Who love me and are concerned with every facet of my life
3. Renewal
19 people from my church were baptized tonight and I am so thankful for the fresh start God gave each of them and for the grace and mercy He bestows upon me each day
*************************************************************************
7 down. 23 to go. And I'm loving every minute of it!
(Obviously the longer post isn't happening-sorry.)
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. Mexican food
I'm amazed at how different the cultures of our world are but so thankful for their foods. YUM!
2. Parents
Who love me and are concerned with every facet of my life
3. Renewal
19 people from my church were baptized tonight and I am so thankful for the fresh start God gave each of them and for the grace and mercy He bestows upon me each day
*************************************************************************
7 down. 23 to go. And I'm loving every minute of it!
(Obviously the longer post isn't happening-sorry.)
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Day 6
Thankful in 30:
1. Amazing praise & worship music sung in Spanish (i.e. Best of Lakewood Live's 1st verse to Glorify)
2. Bookcases-there's just something about them that I LOVE (probably b/c I love books so much)-I got 2 new ones today
3. Electric power tools-to put together said bookcases
4. Living less than 1000 yards from Wal-Mart so I can run over & purchase screws to put together said bookcases with
5. Text messaging-so that I can be in constant communication w/Z
6. The feeling I get when I arrive home, take my shoes off, change into comfortable clothes, & breathe a sigh of relief.
******************************************************************
Perhaps a longer post will get written tomorrow. Sorry to disappoint.
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. Amazing praise & worship music sung in Spanish (i.e. Best of Lakewood Live's 1st verse to Glorify)
2. Bookcases-there's just something about them that I LOVE (probably b/c I love books so much)-I got 2 new ones today
3. Electric power tools-to put together said bookcases
4. Living less than 1000 yards from Wal-Mart so I can run over & purchase screws to put together said bookcases with
5. Text messaging-so that I can be in constant communication w/Z
6. The feeling I get when I arrive home, take my shoes off, change into comfortable clothes, & breathe a sigh of relief.
******************************************************************
Perhaps a longer post will get written tomorrow. Sorry to disappoint.
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Day 5
Though this is posted on Day 6 of my month, it is Day 5's Thankful in 30. Given the time, I'll make no small talk. Today's list:
1. A Pastor who loves and cares for his sheep and handles all other church responsibilities as he is the only paid staff member but yet will stay up until the wee hours of the morning conversing and strategizing over things with his CE director. I have the best Pastor!
2. Music-it speaks the words of the soul as can been seen by the lyrics to the song (shown below) sent to me by my bf today.
A Summer Song by Wavorly
Spread the blanket on top, and I'll turn off the lights
And we'll gaze at the stars
With you by my side, the moon set to the right
It's incomparable so far
I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling
Two years ago, I had no idea that you were so perfect
As we wait so long, until we join hands
You make the wait worth it
I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling
Now years down the road
Still hasn't gotten old to sit and laugh the day away
There's one thing you should know
My love for you grows even more every day
I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling in love
And the day that I finally can take you home
There's no way that I'm ever, ever letting go
We'll be ok, though miles may separate
There's no space between our hearts
And this day, I choose to keep loving you
As if it were a choice, I can't stop falling…
I haven't stopped falling in love
Spread the blanket on top, and I'll turn off the lights
3. 3 children who have greatly improved my quality of life and help me keep my life in perspective. They are spectacular and always have me smiling & laughing!
I love you Hannah, Elijah & Gabe! :)
1. A Pastor who loves and cares for his sheep and handles all other church responsibilities as he is the only paid staff member but yet will stay up until the wee hours of the morning conversing and strategizing over things with his CE director. I have the best Pastor!
2. Music-it speaks the words of the soul as can been seen by the lyrics to the song (shown below) sent to me by my bf today.
A Summer Song by Wavorly
Spread the blanket on top, and I'll turn off the lights
And we'll gaze at the stars
With you by my side, the moon set to the right
It's incomparable so far
I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling
Two years ago, I had no idea that you were so perfect
As we wait so long, until we join hands
You make the wait worth it
I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling
Now years down the road
Still hasn't gotten old to sit and laugh the day away
There's one thing you should know
My love for you grows even more every day
I haven't stopped falling in love
Haven't stopped falling in love
And the day that I finally can take you home
There's no way that I'm ever, ever letting go
We'll be ok, though miles may separate
There's no space between our hearts
And this day, I choose to keep loving you
As if it were a choice, I can't stop falling…
I haven't stopped falling in love
Spread the blanket on top, and I'll turn off the lights
3. 3 children who have greatly improved my quality of life and help me keep my life in perspective. They are spectacular and always have me smiling & laughing!
I love you Hannah, Elijah & Gabe! :)
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Day 4
Thankful in 30
1. Today I'm thankful for hairdressers who can fit me in at the last minute as I am so not loving my cut from last week. I've figured it out-I'm a layers kinda gal. :)
2. I'm also mucho grateful for people who keep me grounded and listen to me vent. I'm blessed to have so many people in my life who do just that and hope that I can be the same kind of blessing to them as well.
3. Cooler weather-practically perfect-reminding me of my God who gives us little gifts through His creation declaring His sovereignty. (And also means my electric bill will be going down in the near future. YAY!)
4. Chocolate pudding aka My dinner. :) Ah the joys of living alone...
5. Lastly, I am thankful for my gift of organization. Although it really annoys me at times b/c I am so OCD, an organized life is SOOO much better than a chaotic one.
Th-th-th-th-th-that's all folks!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. Today I'm thankful for hairdressers who can fit me in at the last minute as I am so not loving my cut from last week. I've figured it out-I'm a layers kinda gal. :)
2. I'm also mucho grateful for people who keep me grounded and listen to me vent. I'm blessed to have so many people in my life who do just that and hope that I can be the same kind of blessing to them as well.
3. Cooler weather-practically perfect-reminding me of my God who gives us little gifts through His creation declaring His sovereignty. (And also means my electric bill will be going down in the near future. YAY!)
4. Chocolate pudding aka My dinner. :) Ah the joys of living alone...
5. Lastly, I am thankful for my gift of organization. Although it really annoys me at times b/c I am so OCD, an organized life is SOOO much better than a chaotic one.
Th-th-th-th-th-that's all folks!
Blessings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
When I Fall In Love
Growing up, every little girl dreams of when she'll be able to sing that old Doris Day song and know that she's found that forever love. I know I've spoken of it quite a bit but I do feel that I've found mine. And it all changed in an instant.
Z and I had been "officially" dating for 5 weeks and had known each other for just under 2 months. Things were moving fast-faster than I was comfortable with and I knew that I wasn't just falling-I had fallen. At this point, I had been to Arlington 3 times and Z had come to Paris twice. The second time was the weekend right after the first time he visited and it was a total surprise. He showed up at my house on a Saturday evening just as a friend and I were getting ready to go to a concert here in town. I had just stepped out of the shower and was applying my makeup. The doorbell rang, my friend answered it and there he stood. I thought she was kidding but she told me to put on some clothes and come see for myself. So I threw on a tank and my pj bottoms and she was right. It was him. That was the start of the change.
He stayed through the weekend and into the first part of the week, not leaving until Tuesday evening. Those two weekdays were special-I'd go home for lunch and he'd be there. We spent one evening visiting a newborn church member in the hospital, eating pizza & ice cream & watching Madea. Tuesday evening before he left, I came home from work and he had folded the laundry, done the dishes and cleaned up the house. (Now do you understand why I love him so much ladies?) So we were able to just enjoy each other's company before he had to head home.
After he left, my pastor's wife called to see how I was doing. We made small talk for a few and hung up. Her daughter (who is like my sister) called back minutes later, inviting me over to watch a movie. I agreed since I was pretty bummed about Z leaving so I arrived and we (me, Pastor, & PW-pastor's wife) sat and chatted in their living room. The kids were busy "cleaning" (aka playing) so we were able to have some adult conversation. After discussing all the likes and dislikes (though those were few) of my situation, I could tell my heart was changing. Pastor & PW know me the best of anyone outside of my family (especially spiritually) so I value their opinions. They both gave Z the stamp of approval (not that it was needed but I felt better with it) and we chatted about other random topics. After PW & I talked his ear off, Pastor went to bed-it was late when I got there-but PW and I continued our discussion of the situation. At some point during the conversation, I began to cry and when PW asked why, I had no good explanation. I was scared but not enough to cry so hard. Once I began to contemplate it, I realized why I was crying and exactly what was wrong:
Now that I had found the one I believe God made for me, I didn't want to be alone anymore.
See, up to this point, I had enjoyed my independence, my freedom. I liked living alone, having my space, not feeling pressured or tied down. I didn't have to ask anybody's permission to do anything and I didn't have to feel guilty for doing what I wanted to do.
But now, I had met this man. A man who I wanted to be with, who I wanted to ask permission from, who I wanted to be tied to. A man who made me feel like a woman, who treated me like a lady, and who respected me as a sister in Christ. And that enjoyment of freedom was snuffed out-in the blink of an eye. In fact, the average person on the outside looking in would have never noticed anything different. But that night into the early morning hours of August 20, 2008 there was a 180 degree change for me.
So now, here are Z & I-struggling to follow God's will for us; wanting to press the fast-forward button on our lives but knowing we should cherish every here-and-now moment together. And that's just what we plan to do-for the rest of our lives.
I love you, Z.
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. Ruth 1:16b-17
Blessings,
B
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Z and I had been "officially" dating for 5 weeks and had known each other for just under 2 months. Things were moving fast-faster than I was comfortable with and I knew that I wasn't just falling-I had fallen. At this point, I had been to Arlington 3 times and Z had come to Paris twice. The second time was the weekend right after the first time he visited and it was a total surprise. He showed up at my house on a Saturday evening just as a friend and I were getting ready to go to a concert here in town. I had just stepped out of the shower and was applying my makeup. The doorbell rang, my friend answered it and there he stood. I thought she was kidding but she told me to put on some clothes and come see for myself. So I threw on a tank and my pj bottoms and she was right. It was him. That was the start of the change.
He stayed through the weekend and into the first part of the week, not leaving until Tuesday evening. Those two weekdays were special-I'd go home for lunch and he'd be there. We spent one evening visiting a newborn church member in the hospital, eating pizza & ice cream & watching Madea. Tuesday evening before he left, I came home from work and he had folded the laundry, done the dishes and cleaned up the house. (Now do you understand why I love him so much ladies?) So we were able to just enjoy each other's company before he had to head home.
After he left, my pastor's wife called to see how I was doing. We made small talk for a few and hung up. Her daughter (who is like my sister) called back minutes later, inviting me over to watch a movie. I agreed since I was pretty bummed about Z leaving so I arrived and we (me, Pastor, & PW-pastor's wife) sat and chatted in their living room. The kids were busy "cleaning" (aka playing) so we were able to have some adult conversation. After discussing all the likes and dislikes (though those were few) of my situation, I could tell my heart was changing. Pastor & PW know me the best of anyone outside of my family (especially spiritually) so I value their opinions. They both gave Z the stamp of approval (not that it was needed but I felt better with it) and we chatted about other random topics. After PW & I talked his ear off, Pastor went to bed-it was late when I got there-but PW and I continued our discussion of the situation. At some point during the conversation, I began to cry and when PW asked why, I had no good explanation. I was scared but not enough to cry so hard. Once I began to contemplate it, I realized why I was crying and exactly what was wrong:
Now that I had found the one I believe God made for me, I didn't want to be alone anymore.
See, up to this point, I had enjoyed my independence, my freedom. I liked living alone, having my space, not feeling pressured or tied down. I didn't have to ask anybody's permission to do anything and I didn't have to feel guilty for doing what I wanted to do.
But now, I had met this man. A man who I wanted to be with, who I wanted to ask permission from, who I wanted to be tied to. A man who made me feel like a woman, who treated me like a lady, and who respected me as a sister in Christ. And that enjoyment of freedom was snuffed out-in the blink of an eye. In fact, the average person on the outside looking in would have never noticed anything different. But that night into the early morning hours of August 20, 2008 there was a 180 degree change for me.
So now, here are Z & I-struggling to follow God's will for us; wanting to press the fast-forward button on our lives but knowing we should cherish every here-and-now moment together. And that's just what we plan to do-for the rest of our lives.
I love you, Z.
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. Ruth 1:16b-17
Blessings,
B
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Day 3
Thankful in 30
1. The couple at church who volunteered to teach the 9-11 year old class on Wednesdays. I love my kids but will be glad to be able to be fed on Wednesdays. (Yes Mom, this means I'll be able to have dinner w/you on my birthday.)
2. Cooler evening temps announcing autumn's impending arrival.
3. An amazing, funny, intellectual, devoted, loving man of God who I just happen to call my boyfriend. (And whose birthday is in exactly 30 days.)
4. Productive days at work when I can catch up.
5. Calendars.
************************************************************************
In other news, this presidential race just got interesting to me tonight. On Friday, when I heard of McCain's choice for VP, my immediate first thought was, "He is such a fool!". (I literally said that out loud.) Over the past few days, I've seen any chance of a Republican continuance of power dwindle especially after the story about her eldest daughter surfaced. But after her speech tonight, all I can say is, "Wow." I see now why people love her so much. Granted, I'm not sure if any of them knew why until tonight but she really worked the crowd, gave an outstanding speech and portrayed herself as a strong, resilient lady, ready to serve. And so, the plot thickens...dun, dun, duuuuuuunnnnnnn.
Let me also take this opportunity to say thank you to Z:
You have changed my life in so many ways. I never dreamed a love like yours existed but I am so thankful it does. Moreso, I am thankful God is allowing me to experience it. I don't know how He did it but He brought us together and I've found a once in a lifetime love. Words will never adequately convey my feelings but they're all I've got. Thank you-for loving me just the way I am and inspiring me to better myself each day. Just as with God's love, I am so unworthy but thank you for being His hands, His feet, and His heart to me. I love you.
The End.
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. The couple at church who volunteered to teach the 9-11 year old class on Wednesdays. I love my kids but will be glad to be able to be fed on Wednesdays. (Yes Mom, this means I'll be able to have dinner w/you on my birthday.)
2. Cooler evening temps announcing autumn's impending arrival.
3. An amazing, funny, intellectual, devoted, loving man of God who I just happen to call my boyfriend. (And whose birthday is in exactly 30 days.)
4. Productive days at work when I can catch up.
5. Calendars.
************************************************************************
In other news, this presidential race just got interesting to me tonight. On Friday, when I heard of McCain's choice for VP, my immediate first thought was, "He is such a fool!". (I literally said that out loud.) Over the past few days, I've seen any chance of a Republican continuance of power dwindle especially after the story about her eldest daughter surfaced. But after her speech tonight, all I can say is, "Wow." I see now why people love her so much. Granted, I'm not sure if any of them knew why until tonight but she really worked the crowd, gave an outstanding speech and portrayed herself as a strong, resilient lady, ready to serve. And so, the plot thickens...dun, dun, duuuuuuunnnnnnn.
Let me also take this opportunity to say thank you to Z:
You have changed my life in so many ways. I never dreamed a love like yours existed but I am so thankful it does. Moreso, I am thankful God is allowing me to experience it. I don't know how He did it but He brought us together and I've found a once in a lifetime love. Words will never adequately convey my feelings but they're all I've got. Thank you-for loving me just the way I am and inspiring me to better myself each day. Just as with God's love, I am so unworthy but thank you for being His hands, His feet, and His heart to me. I love you.
The End.
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Day 2
Today's Thankful in 30
1. With the leftovers of Gustav pounding Paris right now, I'm thankful for dry places to do my workout walking. (Thank you, FBC FLC.)
2. The sound of rain outside my window right now-even though it is the remnants of a hurricane, I love rain.
3. Old friends-I heard from 2 today and though I miss them terribly and don't talk to them near enough, I'm so thankful for their friendship and the lessons I've learned during those seasons of my life.
BONUS: I'm thankful for blogs. Z started one today and I love to read what he writes-he's so intellectual. I'm looking forward to getting to know him even better-there's so much to learn.
Not much else to blog about tonight. Finishing up the 90210 premiere which I've been anticipating for MONTHS (so far, it's pretty good), talking to Z, planning a lesson for my class tomorrow night, doing some reading & hitting the sheets.
Happy hump day tomorrow!
Blesssings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. With the leftovers of Gustav pounding Paris right now, I'm thankful for dry places to do my workout walking. (Thank you, FBC FLC.)
2. The sound of rain outside my window right now-even though it is the remnants of a hurricane, I love rain.
3. Old friends-I heard from 2 today and though I miss them terribly and don't talk to them near enough, I'm so thankful for their friendship and the lessons I've learned during those seasons of my life.
BONUS: I'm thankful for blogs. Z started one today and I love to read what he writes-he's so intellectual. I'm looking forward to getting to know him even better-there's so much to learn.
Not much else to blog about tonight. Finishing up the 90210 premiere which I've been anticipating for MONTHS (so far, it's pretty good), talking to Z, planning a lesson for my class tomorrow night, doing some reading & hitting the sheets.
Happy hump day tomorrow!
Blesssings,
B
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Monday, September 1, 2008
Thankfulness
I've been convicted lately of not being thankful enough in my everyday life so I'm making a change beginning today. For the next 30 days, every day, at the end of the day, I plan to name at least 3 things that I'm thankful for that are specific to the day's happenings. There may be days that have more than 3 but I guarantee that each day there will be 3. (This also means that I will have to blog every day, for those of you who keep up with me Mom & Dad Mom.) I'm seeking to change my attitude and become a more grateful person.
So without further ado, today's Thankful in 30:
~the 30 minute walk I got in today
~the smell of an open-air fire that wafted my way reminding me of the impending change of seasons
~my Sunday School classroom that is now fully decorated & is serving as my office as well
~Route 44 sweet tea @ Sonic for $1.07 (gotta love happy hour)
~the accomplished feeling of productivity now that I've worked, cleaned, worked out & blogged
More tomorrow...
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
So without further ado, today's Thankful in 30:
~the 30 minute walk I got in today
~the smell of an open-air fire that wafted my way reminding me of the impending change of seasons
~my Sunday School classroom that is now fully decorated & is serving as my office as well
~Route 44 sweet tea @ Sonic for $1.07 (gotta love happy hour)
~the accomplished feeling of productivity now that I've worked, cleaned, worked out & blogged
More tomorrow...
Blessings,
Bethany
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Grace
I picked up Blue Like Jazz again today. (Check it out if you haven't already.) Had started it months ago after hearing the rave reviews and for whatever reason got sidetracked and put it down. A shame because Miller makes such valid points like the one I read today. Chapter 7 is entitled Grace and it hit really close to home. Growing up in a minister's home, I lived in a fishbowl with each congregant of my church watching my every move (as well as those of my brothers) just waiting for me to screw up and become the "heathen music pastor's daughter". In my mind, I only truly fulfilled that title maybe 3 or 4 times in my 18 years at that church. Sure I acted up just like every other child in the church but I only really performed seemingly "unforgivable" sins those handful of times. But as I grew up, I learned a lesson from my mother that I struggle with to this day: I must have it all together (or at least appear as such). I always felt that it was important for me to be strong for my friends, for my parents, for my church and to always take a leadership role, placing myself slightly above the other church members-in whatever area applied. I have lived in this position ever since those tender teenage years and have only recently come to understand that everybody knows I don't have it all together (although I've fooled many) just as they don't either. I've been forced to reconcile myself to the fact that when I do have it all together,I've reached the point I don't need God because when I can handle myself without Him, I refuse His love. Which is somewhat the point Miller made during his Grace chapter.
"Like Rick, I am too prideful to accept the grace of God. It isn't that I want to earn my own way to give something to God, it's that I want to earn my own way so I won't be charity." (Miller p.85)
That statement could not be any more true in my own life. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a very independent person. When I put my mind to something, it's going to get done. Period. End of story. So for me to admit that I can't get to heaven on my own, that I MUST rely on God and His FREE grace, goes completely again my innate nature. I want to be able to earn it or work for it or do something, anything to merit it. But I can't. And too many times I've allowed the enemy to steal my blessing simply because I won't humble myself enough to acknowledge (in front of others) that I need God's free, endless grace.
So today I'm saying this:
God, it's me again, Bethany. I realize I can't earn Your grace or Your love so I surrender today and give myself up to You. Take what little I have to offer and apply Your infinite love to it and use me, Lord. I am Your servant in need of mercy that I cannot win, earn or buy and I am so unworthy of such a marvelous gift. Thank you for unmerited favor. All my love belongs to You.
Blessings,
Bethany
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6
P.S. Another passage from the same chapter that I really love:
"Rick says that I will love God because he first loved me. I will obey God because I love God. But if I cannot accept God's love , I cannot love Him in return, and I cannot obey Him. Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God's love will. The ability to accept God's unconditional grace and ferocious love is all the fuel we need to obey Him in return. Accepting God's kindness and free love is something the devil does not want us to do. If we hear, in our inner ear, a voice saying saying we are failures, we are losers, we will never amount to anything, this is the voice of Satan trying to convince the bride that the groom does not love her. This is not the voice of God. God woos us with kindness, He changes our character with the passion of His love." (Miller p. 86)
"Like Rick, I am too prideful to accept the grace of God. It isn't that I want to earn my own way to give something to God, it's that I want to earn my own way so I won't be charity." (Miller p.85)
That statement could not be any more true in my own life. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a very independent person. When I put my mind to something, it's going to get done. Period. End of story. So for me to admit that I can't get to heaven on my own, that I MUST rely on God and His FREE grace, goes completely again my innate nature. I want to be able to earn it or work for it or do something, anything to merit it. But I can't. And too many times I've allowed the enemy to steal my blessing simply because I won't humble myself enough to acknowledge (in front of others) that I need God's free, endless grace.
So today I'm saying this:
God, it's me again, Bethany. I realize I can't earn Your grace or Your love so I surrender today and give myself up to You. Take what little I have to offer and apply Your infinite love to it and use me, Lord. I am Your servant in need of mercy that I cannot win, earn or buy and I am so unworthy of such a marvelous gift. Thank you for unmerited favor. All my love belongs to You.
Blessings,
Bethany
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6
P.S. Another passage from the same chapter that I really love:
"Rick says that I will love God because he first loved me. I will obey God because I love God. But if I cannot accept God's love , I cannot love Him in return, and I cannot obey Him. Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God's love will. The ability to accept God's unconditional grace and ferocious love is all the fuel we need to obey Him in return. Accepting God's kindness and free love is something the devil does not want us to do. If we hear, in our inner ear, a voice saying saying we are failures, we are losers, we will never amount to anything, this is the voice of Satan trying to convince the bride that the groom does not love her. This is not the voice of God. God woos us with kindness, He changes our character with the passion of His love." (Miller p. 86)
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