Things That End

Ok. No I'm not ending my blog page. But I am talking about when things end. There is a beginning and there is an end to all things. Change is inevitable. You have heard the saying, "All good things must come to an end." There is some truth to that. A day ends. Friendships end. Careers end. Storms end. Sadness ends. Pain ends. War ends. Life in this body ends. But LIFE does not end. We are eternal. The Bible says "God has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." I like the analogy of a puzzle. That first piece has no meaning to it in its self. The beginning of a puzzle doesn't look like much. But in the end it is exactly what it is supposed to be. A beautiful picture. God knows our beautiful picture. He knows every piece of the puzzle of our life. He was at the beginning of it and He will be at the end of it. Be content in the beginning of new things and the end of old things. God is in control.



*Get a puzzle and pick a day and time to put it together as a family. We did this at Christmas time. Good times together.

Face Fear

You cannot really run from what you fear. Every fear that we don't conquer will come back and we'll have to make a decision to run away from the things we fear again. It is really a never ending scenario. This weekend I went to Six Flags with my family. Although I had every intention of riding the giant roller coasters, as soon as I was faced with one I chickened out! Well, with a lot of coercing from my husband I made the leap. I sat on that stand up roller coaster and buckled in. All of a sudden my heart was racing, my hands were sweaty, and my body was tingling. I was starting to have an anxiety attack and begged my husband to let me off. He wouldn't!!! I was going to face that fear whether I liked it or not. And boy did I like it! I went on every fast, high, twisty one there was. Every time I approached one I remembered the last one and it got better every time. So it is time to face the fears in our life. They are all different. A roller coaster, a microphone, a job change, a move, a sickness, our future, death. Whatever our fear we can face it with God's help. Psalm 91 is my scripture for fear. It covers all the bases. And know that God loves you and cares for you and holds you in His Hands. Period.

PAMPER THYSELF!!!(you deserve it):)

1. Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers for the table
2. Get an inexpensive manicure or pedicure. They do exist.
3. Bubble bath by candlelight
4. Lock yourself away in your room and makeover yourself
5. Treat yourself to lunch
6. Go to a bookstore, find a corner and a cup of coffee
7. Enjoy a sunny day. Grab a lounge chair and look at the sky.

I do one of these once a week. I can't take care of anyone else if I don't take care of myself!

The Clothespin Game

While at a friend's bridal shower we played a game. It was called "The Clothespin Game." There were clothespins on a line and you had to pick them off with one hand behind your back and see how many you could fit in your hand. So when you couldn't hold anymore one would fall out of your hands. The "moral" of the game was: The more things you try to juggle you are bound to let something fall through the cracks. Cute game, huh? But so true. Some women could get alot more pins in their hands then others. Isn't that true for us? I guess I would rather do a couple things with all my heart than many things half-heartedly. We should all look at our lives and see if that's the case. An awesome woman of God once asked me "If it doesn't matter for time and eternity does it really matter?" When we are busy and stressed we can fly through a day and never really do anything that truly matters. We can't ever get that day back. God is giving us just this day. 24 hours. Let's take a look at our priorities. Let's focus on the things that truly matter.


*You can use clothespins to to seal bags of chips

*Make a list of priorities
My List:
1. Spending time with God
2. Spending time and doing things for my husband and children
3. Taking care of me. (Excercise, "me" time)
4. Church Ministry
5. Friends
6. Work
7. Blogging

How my garden grows!

When we bought our house, one of the reasons we loved it so much was the landscaping. The lady who lived here before us landscaped it so there was something blooming all year long. But as the years passed and life got busier I realized I did not enjoy yardwork as much as I thought I would. Plus I don't seem to have much of a green thumb. My grandmother would actually plant artificial flowers in the dirt. I guess that's my horticulture inheritance. The Bible talks alot about planting and sowing seeds and gardens. This is my favorite promise : "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11

Here is a great book to help you (and me) plant some of God's beautiful creation but without too much work. It's called "The Ever-Blooming flower garden" by Lee Schneller

Tip: Keep phyllo dough in the freezer and canned pie filling for a quick dessert.

Tip: Get cheap clay pots and paint them yourself. Use stencils

RUNNING THE RACE

Life can be a race. Hurry, Hurry, Rush, Rush. It comes so easy. Even the most organized person, with one interruption in their day, feels rushed. No one likes that feeling, except if you're in a race. In a race, the feeling of being hurried and rushed can move you more quickly to the finish line. Or it can make you feel defeated and you come in last. Maybe it comes down to our motivation. Do we want to win? Is the race worth it? At the end of the race (or at the end of our day) when you lay your head down are you going to feel defeated? I believe the only way not to is to choose every morning to allow every interruption to motivate you. Maybe you needed that interruption. Maybe that interruption needed you. "The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord". Psalm 37:23





*Tip: You can mop all your floors at one time with Murphy's Oil Soap



*Keep a pretty basket in your kitchen for mail and papers. Go through weekly.

Food and Teenagers

Now that my babies are teenagers they seem more on the go than I am. My son is constantly over at his nearby friends house regularly. They have what they call a "shed" (which must have taken over the former treehouses of my day). It is a place they "hang out". They made it themselves. Ok, what does this have to do with food? Well, if you're like me, I miss him now that he is gone so much with his friends. But I have found that food is the key to bringing them all over here (if you want them that is). So, I've decided to always leave my kitchen open to them. I plan to cook enough food for an army. And if they decide not to eat, well, I freeze it and have food when I don't feel like cooking. So really it's a win, win for me. Here's a few ideas of things to keep on hand for those hungry teens.

1. Hot dogs, hot dogs, hot dogs
2. Most love pasta dishes
3. Homemade (or pillsbury) cookie dough
4. Boxed cakes and mixes
5. Being creative. Things they probably don't get at home very much. Mine went crazy over country fried steak, mashed taters, and green beans. (although it did take some time to make)

LIFE'S INTERRUPTIONS

Don't you hate it when you have a plan and then "something happens" to interrupt it? Unexpected company, sickness, your children's plans, someone "needs" you! Those inconveniences in life can really show you alot about yourself. I was thinking about when the cloud of God's presence was with the Israelites and when it moved they moved with it. I'm sure they were never "ready". They were all probably scrambling around waking up their children and gathering their things. If we just remember that God is with us. That whatever change or interruption comes to you, we have His presence. We have His power. We can do all things through Him who gives us the strength.



WHEN CHANGE COMES:

1. Take a deep breath.

2. Say a little prayer

3. Go, rest, help, do, it all with God's presence




Tip: When you run out of laundry detergent you can use 1/4 cup dishwashing liquid for a large
load.

WELCOME!!!

I am so glad you have visited my blog page. I was inspired to blog by a 15 year old friend of my daughter. I am a wife and mother of two teenagers. I have a very busy cleaning business and am planning to start an at-home transcribing business. I am also blessed to coordinate a girls ministry at my church. God gives the ability and strength and energy to do all these things. I don't believe in being idle (Proverbs 31:27 "She does not eat the bread of idleness"). Living a sedintary life was not why we were created. We all have a purpose. Every day God has something for us to do and lives to bless with His love. So, get ready for some encouragement and some great ideas. "However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all." Ecclesiastes 11:8