Celebrating Randomness

My friend Chrissy tagged me, and here are the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!

Rather simple, so first here are the six random things about me:

#1. I am a flower person. I love flowers-- all types: Gerber Daisies, Roses, Heather, Vincas and many others. I like to plant them, but I forget to water them. My dearest most thoughtful husband keeps them alive!

#2. Sometimes I find it hard not to laugh when Evy does or says something funny. These are usually times when I need to follow up with some sort of life lesson or discipline. It is usually not the time to be laughing. She is truly funny.

#3 I really like to make things, but tend not to finish projects. I have material for cross shirts, stamps for making cards, tons of scrapbooking materials but rarely use them. I have all these cool ideas, but they never turn out and I end up frustrated. I found a new card making magazine today and was somewhat inspired to try again. It just isn't too fun to do it alone or with a toddler at your feet!

#4 I am a TV addict. I love to watch TV, so much so that Michael and I have 2 TIVOs and a dual tuner DVR from the cable company... it is my weekend indulgence. I love to watch the Biggest Loser and eat popcorn and junk...great example huh? I am however finding that most TV is adding scenes and storylines that I don't want to put in my head.

#5 I secretly (oops! not anymore) want to learn ballet and play team sports (soccer or volleyball or something). But, Enid, America doesn't have a ton of chooses and I don't have a lot of courage to go at it alone.

#6 I love to listen to "my" music jamming loud in the car with the windows down and the sun roof open. It doesn't happen too often (since someone is always in the car) but when I am alone, I might drive the long way just to hear one more song. I also imagine that I have some sleek sporty car vs. my large SUV... secret desires revealed!

So... what randomness do you have. I tag:

Michael
Hesterwoman
Amy V.
Lisa S.
Jessica
Dawn

Randomness

So, I have had a ton of thoughts on my mind my none seemed complete enough to write a blog about. So, I am thinking I will make a quick list to expand at later dates. I still haven't figured out what in the world this blog is for. It seems to change and my poor readers probably feel as emotionally drained as my me by the end of the post. (Sorry!)

• Thinking of researching women of the Bible vs. barren women of the Bible. It seems that barren women always made some HUGE impact in the Old Testament.
• I am currently praying about taking a family mission trip to Texas/Mexico this summer with MBMS. I have always felt like God was urging me to missions, but was never allowed to go as a youth group member. The first few years of marriage it didn't present itself and then I kept pushing it away- trying to start a family, jobs, etc. Now, it seems to be ever present again. I don't want to disobey.
• Thinking about how to deal with disciplining children. I want Evy to grow up to be a Godly women, so am I giving her a good example. She is a typical three year old (maybe not?) and is pushing those limits... also we are having HUGE food issues... she is such a slow and picker eater. Should their be consequences for that? should we just leave her at the table to finish? will that effect/affect her attention issues? Am I giving her a good enough example?
• Dreams.... why am I having dreams again? these seem to only happen when I am pregnant- and I am not THAT!! these are... terrible dreams. I am in the part of the Patriarchs study that Joesph has interrupted the dreams of the butler, baker and Pharoah. I am hoping mine are nothing more than a SUPER tired spirit who is studying about dreams.
• Shoulder issues... I finally have a partial answer to the problem. It is probably a pinched nerve in my neck causing all the pain. While that sounds like a small and fixable issue- the researched causes of the pinched nerve are not generally great. I had an overwhelming fear that it was possibly a cancerous tumor on my spine which put me into a little hysteria last night (only lasted about 10-15 min) I think the researched information coupled with the dream about Mom only have 5-8 months to live after a bone scan (I am having an MRI on Tuesday) was a little more than I could handle last night-- kind of the like bulter and bakers dreams were preparation for their life's outcome- one restored and one destroyed!
• I am a little sad that in less than 2 weeks my study will be over... although I have been making the time (almost) every morning and to spend time before school (or internet) to complete a lesson. It has become a treasured time in just a short while. I am already prepared for the interuim time before the next study. I will become more faithful to reading the BM "David" study I am suppose to be sharing with my friend Amy in Ohio.
• I am still praying/searching for a mentor/friend whom I can get counsel from. It has been on my mind and then was asked in a church survey. I can remember the best spritial conversations between my mentor years ago... I sure miss that!

Okay... if you are still reading... it seems like I am falling apart, but I am not! I am truly blessed and love my new lease on life. What a wonderful, glorious life to leave in healing. I have that to owe to My Jesus!

A great weekend!!!

It has been a very fun weekend, despite Michael's sickness. We had a blast with our family and the girls really love each other. They are so fun to watch. I wish they were able to spend more time together, but alas life gets in the way. But, Jess found a house in Enid... so maybe they will move here and then get jobs and a new life (wink...wink...)

Thankfully school on Friday was chaos but not madness and we all survived... so that is a great praise.

Saturday after the family left to go home, Mom and I went to the store and then to the Kiner's to let the dogs out. When I opened the door and the alarm started beeping at me, I knew I was in trouble. I had about 30 seconds to figure out how to turn it off. I knew the code, but had never actually disarmed it! So it went off and I was calling Michael, trying to figure out how to get it to stop. I was shaking like a leaf. The company called and thankfully, I thought to answer the phone and no police were called. I felt like a big idiot and was still shaking after we left. After church, I went back, but this time... no alarm! Thank the Lord!

Sunday has been great so far, wonderful worship, yummy homemade lunch, time with Michael, catching up on TV, a nap, and a light dinner. Oh, and the Pokes won their game... who could ask for more!

A song in my heart....

I told Michael the other day that I wanted another copy of the 4Him Praise and Worship CD. I was addicted to it several years ago AND listened to it so much is is severely scratched and skips constantly-- not to inviting for praise or worships session. "GREAT- GRE- GREA- GREAT is they faithfulness....not working well!" So my all to wonderful, ever so pleasing, AWESOME husband of mind had another copy burned and sitting on the bar before work a couple days ago. I sure have enjoyed it!

Today I took a pregnancy test. I was pretty sure it would be negative, as the ever so unwanted "other" signs are taking form, but I thought, "what can it hurt." Well, for those of you who know my story... it can be very painful. I surely should own part of the testing companies with as much money I have thrown to the wind (or peed on and thrown away). Anyway, today's outcome was no great shocker- negative. I was a little taken back at 5:15 this morning because there were two lines. But this particular test has to have a + and a line... so it was still negative. BUT, the most WONDERFUL and GLORIOUS thing happened afterwards. I realized I was internally singing "Fairer, Lord Jesus". Isn't that great... a song...in my heart! This is a big deal for me because I am not a musical person. I sing in church, and in the car, and in my classroom, but I don't just sing when their is no musical backup. I don't remember melodies well, so I like the music to prompt me... but today (and really for several days) those 4Him praise tunes RING in my heart!!!

Time to say Goodbye...

So, the junk room is still invaded the living room. I did however find the energy (battling a small cold) today to go through Evy's closet. The new "office" closet will house my clothing, so I had to go through all the baby clothes and toys that were precariously tucked away. I spent a couple hours unloading boxes of baby clothes to decided weather to keep or sell/consign. I drastically reduced the amount we are going to keep and even pulled some of my favorites for my niece. I did however stumble across two things that made my heart a little sad. I had really forgotten about them... until I picked them off the shelf today. Last year (while I was still pregnant) we went for Mills-Henderson Zoo Day '07-- I picked up a bib for baby to commemorate the "first trip to the zoo" I had also purchased Evy a shirt that said "World's Greatest Sister" on it for her to wear during the 2nd/3rd trimester... that never happened. I remember tucking them away thinking... maybe next time!?! So, now it is time to say goodbye to my darling little baby clothes to make room in the closet. I really don't know why I held on to so many.... I guess I was thinking our next little one could use them, but really the odds of that are small. Cori is the opposite season of Evy so she didn't get much use either... I was really kind of proud of myself for not spiraling out of control today. I feel more and more healed everyday! Thanks and glory to God. As for the bib and sister shirt... someone will get great use out of them, someday!

For the Love of Jacob...

That was the title of the video lesson for today's Bible Study. I walked into an empty room, tables arranged differently, but the first thing that jumped out at me was 4 (count them, 1, 2, 3, 4) boxes of Kleenex. So... we studied about Jacob preparing to meet Esau and how he was scared to death, shaking in his boots (or sandals, rather)! They hadn't met up since he deceived Isaac and stole the blessing. He had fled his home and family to escape Esau "comforting himself with thoughts of murder!" So... we make it about half way through the lesson talking about wronging someone and having the fear to face them- no big deal for me... I thought, "what in the world do we need all this Kleenex for?"

Then... "IT" came. Jacob's face-to-face encounter with the Lord. He sent his family away and sat alone waiting to meet Esau. A man came along and they wrestled all night. We touched on having an Honest Appraisal of the situation- figuring out who we are and what game we are/or aren't playing. Being able to deal when it is just "you and the Lord"
Then we talked about "An Honest fight" Do I fight dirty- my answer yes. I was learning this week that I need to stop trying to "win" the argument by saying hurtful things first (or period) It isn't okay. So... I was pretty sure that was my lesson for the day. But, oh, no!!! The LORD had something else in mind.

In Jacob's wrestling with the Angel of the Lord, he could not overpower him~ meaning he could not make him quit. He had to hurt his hip to make him stop. Then Jacob begged for the blessing.

God wants to bless us, sometimes he has to injure us to let him! BOOM! In Beth's words, God says, "you can bend your knees, or I can break your legs" That was it. My questions to "why" did the last year happen~2 miscarriages, sickness/surgeries, sadness, loss, all the stresses~ were answered in those 14 words. Sometimes God has to injure us to let him bless us! Boy, was I injured. I wrestled and wrestled... then I let go. I was angry that I didn't win, but it isn't for me to win. God is FOR US, so who can be against us. In my self-destructive cycle I was feeling that opposition from God. He was bowed behind me pushing me, wrestling me, egging me on. BUT, He was still working. He wanted me to put up an Honest fight... and wait for his blessing. For a while I let go, I gave up, I didn't hold on for the blessing. In every struggle, DO NOT let go until the blessing comes. When we struggle through the crisis with God all the way to the blessing, we are gloriously redefined.

I will be gloriously redefined!!!

Back in the Groove!

So Fall Break was officially over at 7:45a.m. today when I had to report to school. It was an interesting day. Not the best-- not the worst. I am going to be teaching SAIP on Thursday, so I am missing parent-teacher conference night. To make up for it, I am offering conferences for two evenings. I was at school until 6p.m. night. So... now I am officially back in the groove.

This... also applies to my exercise routine. I am **really** trying to workout more. I want to learn to run... it burns more calories than walking and seems to be great stress relief. It also is a necessity to achieve my goal of completing a triathalon. I went to FP yesterday and did 25 minutes of cardio (about 6 min. of jogging- the rest walking) and then lifted weights on arms. I really considered hiring a trainer again to kick my butt... but can't justify the extra $88 a month (just for once a week) and would really need to spend more. Maybe I should pray for that extra money to come in... cause otherwise we just don't have it.

So... my online "friend" just completed a marathon relay and found some great gear. She is giving away a GREAT sports bra- it has a pocket to old your ipod, phone, keys, extra. A great thing when you are biking or running. So...

I entered the Gracie Gear Giveaway!

Check out Roni’s Weight Loss Blog for more information.

I also started another blog... so I can post my food totals and exercise. I am definately needing some accountablity if nothing other than writing and posting daily. You can check it out if interested. www.amysextradegree.blogspot.com

Happy Monday!