The other day, I realized my daughter’s hat was missing. It is a cute pink hat that has a matching scarf (the kind that slides over your head and onto your neck so you won’t lose it) that her grandma gave her. It really bugged me that we didn’t have any idea what happened to the hat. This is the kind of thing that drives me crazy. Almost anything I lose will consume my thoughts until it is found.
I remember a time in high school when I lost my favorite necklace. It was a heart with a mustard seed in it reminding me that faith can move mountains. I cleaned every little spot in my room. (I’ve never been really good at keeping things clean so this took some time.) I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would help me find it. The necklace was a gift and something I treasured. Finally, I sat down exhausted of knowing where else to search. I had no idea where the necklace could be. I got off the bed to move a framed picture for the wall that was sitting on the floor waiting to be put up when I felt the necklace on its hanging hook on the back. This moment was one of many that taught me that God cares about the little details of my life.
As I look back on the moment now, sermons resonate in my mind about the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. God cares about the lost. The way my heart and mind are consumed as I look for a lost item, God pursues the lost. I am thankful that God cares about the lost.
My daughter put on a sweatshirt the other day and exclaimed, “There’s something in my sleeve!” With a smile, she pulled out the missing hat. It’s so exciting when what is lost is now found!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thankful Tidbits - 11-9
I turn into somewhat of a zombie after 9pm most nights. I'm just one of those early to bed; early to rise kind of people. With this fall back time change, however, that means it is difficult for me to stay up past 8pm. While daylight savings time seems like a great concept, it always messes with my household. Our bodies are used to eating and sleeping at certain times. My children still wake up at the same time they did before only it's an hour earlier. Not to mention that because we are attempting to get back into our usual routine, they are actually losing an hour of sleep because we aren't putting them to bed any earlier. The kids are a bit crabby and I can't say I'm peaches and cream over here myself.
This morning Rod made coffee before he left for work because he was up in the middle of the night rebooting a machine for work that had gone down. (I am very grateful for his laptop and remote connection by the way.) My husband made extra coffee and I have some sitting in the pot for myself. He certainly has his moments of being considerate. I just started drinking coffee in the last couple of years. It has to be flavored or be accompanied by flavored creamer. This morning, I am thankful for coffee and flavored creamer. I'm also thankful for a considerate husband.
This morning Rod made coffee before he left for work because he was up in the middle of the night rebooting a machine for work that had gone down. (I am very grateful for his laptop and remote connection by the way.) My husband made extra coffee and I have some sitting in the pot for myself. He certainly has his moments of being considerate. I just started drinking coffee in the last couple of years. It has to be flavored or be accompanied by flavored creamer. This morning, I am thankful for coffee and flavored creamer. I'm also thankful for a considerate husband.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thankful tidbits - 11-8
I'm thankful for so much today. Money to pay bills; Good health to enjoy walking outside; good friends and one in particular who allotted time to spend with me today; days without children; sleeping children; sleep. I'm thankful for sleep. This time change has our house a bit messed up. Hoping it changes in a few days. Goodnight.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Thankful Tidbits - Stay-at-Home Mom - Nov. 7th
It seems that everyone is getting hit in some way by the bad economy these days. I realize that I created our own financial problems by backing into the garage door, but it seems we just continue to get hit. Our escrow for our taxes is too low so our mortgage payment is going up. My husband’s insurance is not only going to take a larger chunk out of his paycheck each month but we will no longer be so easily covered by the insurance either. Rod went to get the oil changed on his car yesterday. He was informed that his tires were bald. He was then informed of some work that needed to be done fairly soon on his vehicle that would cost an amount of money we simply do not have. He got the tires for reasons of safety but told them that the rest had to wait.
It is draining to deal with the finances. I enjoyed life so much more when Rod handled the finances early in our marriage (all in his head) and I just spent the money knowing nothing about what was happening with the checkbook. A few thousand in credit card debt later, we learned this system simply doesn’t work. These days, we attempt to be proactive with our finances. We have our budget (although rather loose) laid out for the entire year. I have been looking at the grocery ads to find deals and couponing with Jill Catlado’s help. It just seems we should be moving in the positive direction at the bank, not depleting the small amount we have built up.
I’m working on the attitude of gratitude when it comes to our finances. This morning I read this post at (In)courage. I am reminded that staying home is a choice. Being a stay-at-home mom is a privilege. . I am grateful to be a stay-at-home mom. I’m working on determining what we can cut so I can continue to do this and stay on top of the finances. And I’m trusting God with the rest. He’s never let us down before.
Thank you, Lord, that although we may need to cut back, you allow me to stay home with the kids.
Thank you, Rod, for working hard hours so I can do what we believe God wants me to do.
Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
It is draining to deal with the finances. I enjoyed life so much more when Rod handled the finances early in our marriage (all in his head) and I just spent the money knowing nothing about what was happening with the checkbook. A few thousand in credit card debt later, we learned this system simply doesn’t work. These days, we attempt to be proactive with our finances. We have our budget (although rather loose) laid out for the entire year. I have been looking at the grocery ads to find deals and couponing with Jill Catlado’s help. It just seems we should be moving in the positive direction at the bank, not depleting the small amount we have built up.
I’m working on the attitude of gratitude when it comes to our finances. This morning I read this post at (In)courage. I am reminded that staying home is a choice. Being a stay-at-home mom is a privilege. . I am grateful to be a stay-at-home mom. I’m working on determining what we can cut so I can continue to do this and stay on top of the finances. And I’m trusting God with the rest. He’s never let us down before.
Thank you, Lord, that although we may need to cut back, you allow me to stay home with the kids.
Thank you, Rod, for working hard hours so I can do what we believe God wants me to do.
Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Thankful Tidbits: Wounds from a Friend - Nov. 6th
Proverbs 27:6 – “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”
When the wound from a friend is fresh, I am in complete disagreement with this verse. It hurts when a friend points out my… uh… shortcomings. Looking back in hindsight, however, I am allowed to realize the value of these "wounds" and more importantly, the friend.
There is one moment burned into my memory that reminds me of the truth of this verse. Early in my marriage, I was out with two friends. One friendship was on a much deeper level than the other but the three of us were out together nonetheless. We were enjoying some ice cream and conversation. (I believe that was what I was doing. The ice cream part is fuzzy to me but seems to be a likely choice.)
I don’t remember exactly what it was that I was saying. I simply remember that my words were not very encouraging about my husband. It might have even been one of those “husband bashing” moments. My girlfriend (who has been one of my very best friends for years) lent a listening ear. She’s great about that. That’s one of the reasons I love her so much. The other friend (who was really more on the level of an acquaintance at the time) lent a listening ear but then had the audacity to touch her fingers to her lips as she spoke to me. “Be careful about the words you allow to come out of your mouth about your husband. The way you speak about your husband will affect your feelings toward him. Make sure you speak kindly to others about your husband.”
To say I was furious would be an understatement. I did not understand where she got off telling me what I should say about MY husband. Was she even invited to join my actual friend and myself for the evening or did she invite herself?
Hindsight changed my opinion. Today, I am thankful for this dear friend. We have begun scheduling dates on the calendar for breakfast to catch up. I look forward to my time with this friend who took the time to call me out. She is someone I now actively seek advice from. She’s had more experience in life than me and I am interested as to how she has handled different situations.
The confrontation with this friend changed my life. It told me how much she valued me. She believed in me enough and in my marriage to risk the potential friendship at hand. I often remember her words as I talk about my husband. Oh, sure, I still have my moments of complaining, but more often than not, I remember to speak positively about my husband. True to her words, I feel better about my husband after 14+ years of marriage than I did early on. It probably has a big part to do with finding the positive about him and sharing that with others.
That best friend who simply listened to me that night still listens. We’ve come a long way in our friendship and she has often "wounded" me to make me better as well. This only makes her friendship more valuable.
It may be painful in the moment, but the wounds from a friend certainly are better than the empty flattery of someone else. I am thankful for the wounds from sincere friends because it reveals how very much they care.
When the wound from a friend is fresh, I am in complete disagreement with this verse. It hurts when a friend points out my… uh… shortcomings. Looking back in hindsight, however, I am allowed to realize the value of these "wounds" and more importantly, the friend.
There is one moment burned into my memory that reminds me of the truth of this verse. Early in my marriage, I was out with two friends. One friendship was on a much deeper level than the other but the three of us were out together nonetheless. We were enjoying some ice cream and conversation. (I believe that was what I was doing. The ice cream part is fuzzy to me but seems to be a likely choice.)
I don’t remember exactly what it was that I was saying. I simply remember that my words were not very encouraging about my husband. It might have even been one of those “husband bashing” moments. My girlfriend (who has been one of my very best friends for years) lent a listening ear. She’s great about that. That’s one of the reasons I love her so much. The other friend (who was really more on the level of an acquaintance at the time) lent a listening ear but then had the audacity to touch her fingers to her lips as she spoke to me. “Be careful about the words you allow to come out of your mouth about your husband. The way you speak about your husband will affect your feelings toward him. Make sure you speak kindly to others about your husband.”
To say I was furious would be an understatement. I did not understand where she got off telling me what I should say about MY husband. Was she even invited to join my actual friend and myself for the evening or did she invite herself?
Hindsight changed my opinion. Today, I am thankful for this dear friend. We have begun scheduling dates on the calendar for breakfast to catch up. I look forward to my time with this friend who took the time to call me out. She is someone I now actively seek advice from. She’s had more experience in life than me and I am interested as to how she has handled different situations.
The confrontation with this friend changed my life. It told me how much she valued me. She believed in me enough and in my marriage to risk the potential friendship at hand. I often remember her words as I talk about my husband. Oh, sure, I still have my moments of complaining, but more often than not, I remember to speak positively about my husband. True to her words, I feel better about my husband after 14+ years of marriage than I did early on. It probably has a big part to do with finding the positive about him and sharing that with others.
That best friend who simply listened to me that night still listens. We’ve come a long way in our friendship and she has often "wounded" me to make me better as well. This only makes her friendship more valuable.
It may be painful in the moment, but the wounds from a friend certainly are better than the empty flattery of someone else. I am thankful for the wounds from sincere friends because it reveals how very much they care.
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