I've got chills....

there multiplying...... (yes I know. a bit corny, since that is a song from Grease) but this is truly how I feel about the start of the new year!
I am so very excited for the challenges that I taking part in, that every single time I think about it, or read the writing/musings of some good friends about this challenge that I get chills up and down my arms, and my heart beats extremely fast! Its a great feeling! 

This new year is going to be so exciting! For the first 90 days, I am taking part in one AWESOME challenge! I am going be joining a bunch of others over at moms toolbox and reading the bible in 90 days.

I am also taking part in another challenge over at Revive Your Heart

Another fun part of all of this is the Linking that I'll be doing.  I'll be linking up to two other blogs at the moment.  Graceful Abandon and Taylor Journey..

Each Monday and Friday both of these wonderful ladies will be putting different things on their blogs where everyone can jump in and discuss what they are doing and finding out through these challenge..But don't forget to come back here, because I will be blogging my updates as well.

I hope that many of you will be joining me and I truly believe God is going to really be doing some wonderful things in our lives through out this next year!!!!!!

Get ready.. Get set...because in a few shorts hours, 2010 is OVER..Gone.. and DONE WITH..and 2011 will be here!!

:-)

So Christmas week we spend at Disney. It's insane there! We've never been during Christmas week, and I wouldnt reccommend it.  Its over-crowded. They shut the park down and wont let anyone else in because there were so many people. Its a fun trip! But you have to wait in line, just to walk! -I stole that line from my husband who heard it in passing while on our trip!

I have the best hubby in the world. Of course, I'm biased because he's mine! Currently we are on our drive home and i'm on the laptop..in the car! Gotta love it!

I've really felt a tugging on my heart lately. I've honestly been so lonely in my life. Not lonely in the fact that I do not have anyone around me. but lonely in the fact that I'm not where I need to be in my life and relationship with God.  I really feel that these challenges that I am taking on in a few days will really help.

I have a great life.I have a wonderful husband who is also my best friend in the entire world. He's my soul-mate and he has my heart.  My heart is broken into a few different pieces. My children have the rest of it.
My life, to be perfectly honest, is very good!  I have a hard-working Man of God, who loves his wife and children.  He does so much for us.  He's smart, wonderful, and handsome.  Not to mention he Loves God with all of his heart. I'm so blessed that God chose him for me.  

But even for people who seem to have it all or have awesome lives can be lonely if they are not where they need to be with God. I want to be in a personal relationship with God where people can look at me and just know that there is something different about me.  Do you know what I  mean?

I am really hoping/praying/wanting these challenges to help put me where I need to be. 
I will be blogging my daily progress and updates as well. 
I am so ovecome with excitement for this new year.  Its going to ROCK!

What I am doing this year..

I really feel led to do something different this year. Not the same resolutions that I've had in years recent (I don't even call them resolutions anymore)...
I really feel like God has planted some people in my life for ONE SPECIFIC reason, and its to bring me closer to him.
I've seen the way a few certain people are living their lives for God, and I want to be more like that!
Thanks to a friend over at the Blog Graceful Abandon, she's introduced me to a site that has a few more challenges, that I plan on doing over the next year. I can't do them all at once, I think I would be way to overloaded for that.
Head over to http://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenge/  and take a look at these challenges.
I want to do ALL of them, but the first ones I am doing are the 30 day TRUE WOMAN makeover and the Husband Encouragement Challenge.
The TRUE WOMAN Challenge goes through Proverbs 31, 1 Timothy 2:9-10, and Titus 2:1-5.

The Husband Enouragement Challenge, is just that.    A challenge to speak positively to and about your husband each day.  Encouraging him each day too,.

Then I'd really like to do the Gratitude Challenge!  :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

First of all, I pray and hope everyone out there had a wonderful and amazing Christmas!
Our family tends to be a bit different at Christmas time. We try to spend Christmas in a different place each year. So far, two years we've managed to do this. (We actually just started it a few years ago). Our first attempt at this, was Hershey, PA. The kids had a ball spending Christmas there.
This year, Sunny Florida!! Except for today and yesterday, the weather has been amazing! Never in my life, Did I ever think that we would be swimming OUTDOORS on Christmas day! It was awesome!!

From my blog, you can see the large picture of some Sunflowers.... That is my ALL TIME FAVORITE FLOWER!! I cant remember a time when I didn't LOVE Sunflowers!! I even had my wedding bouquet made out of Sunflowers (*and Red Roses*)

Another thing... PALM TREES.. We don't get these back home.. I've always loved palm trees, but I never knew how much I loved them until the past few years. We've spent a many of our family trips all around Florida (the beach, Disney, etc) and everywhere we've been, there have been Palm Trees! It seems my camera is always filled with pictures I've taken of palm trees! :)

Of course, My all time favorites in the world, would be my loving Husband and beautiful children.

My husband is so awesome. He spoils all of us (me and the kids) so much. He works hard, so that I can be a full time stay at home mom (I'm not all that great of a home maker, but I'm trying).... yet even after is long work days, he still finds time to play with the kids, go to sporting events with them, and take care of us all.
He spoils us with amazing trips to everywhere we've been. Whether its a weekend away with just him and me, or a week away with the family..
So far, our most traveled too places are the beaches of Florida and the Orlando area. Florida is awesome.. I love the weather here. We've been at all different times of the year, and had pleasant experiences pretty much each time.. :)

But yes, he spoils us way more than we all deserve. :) We are so blessed to have him in our family, as husband, dad, best friend! God is truly amazing!



Now onto Blog Business.

I am trying to make my blog look better. Something happened over the past few times when I changed the background and now I can not get my blog back like it was.

I love the palm tree background, but when I did it, it messed up my Sunflower picture. I want it centered. I just cant get it back to the way it was, no matter what I do... Any advice.

Merry Christmas! & Happy New Year!

So, instead or, in place of using YOUVERSION.COM for my bible reading.
I am taking a challenge for myself for reading bible!  I am going to be using the MOMSTOOLBOX and reading the bible in 90 days.  It starts on January 3 and will end in April.  Will you take this challenge with me.
Head on over to http://www.momstoolbox.com/ and sign up for their 90 day challenge! 
This is not a study program. It is a reading program designed to help you read every word. You can go back and study whatever you like, however you would like, later....


So, how many will take this challenge with me.
I will be blogging my progress right here!!

Something that really touched my heart.

I have been reading this book off and on for the past several months, but I keep coming back to this one part.
Its a book that I was given at a MOMS meeting, called 'What every MOM needs" by Elisa MOrgan and Carol Kuykendall

Have you heard the Jesus stories umpteem times? Is church a regular part of your life?  Maybe you have just gone through the motions for years, but its been just that--motions but not much heart involvement.  Have you been living your day to day life with Jesus as your friend, your confidant,  you guide , your giver of light and hope?  If not, move past the motions and sit down and talk to Jesus.  Begin a real relationship with him today.

Maybe you have had a relationship with Jesus for some time.  You know what it's like to have God live your days with you, helping you, whispering to you, conforting you, and nudging you in new directions, but in recent days you, you've lost the connection with God.  You're so busy, so behind in every area of your life, so needed by your kids, you can barely hear yourself think, much less hear any whispers God might be throwing your way.  It's one more area of guilt--you havent made the time and space for God that you think you should, but life rushes on, and you don't know what to do about it.

Now, whatever your situation, MOM..STOP! Whether you are just crackign yourself open to let Jesus in, or you're realizing that you  need to begin a real relationship with him, or need to find a way to get back to that relationship with him.  Let's stop, and breathe.  Jesus, come now.  Give my spirit some quiet.  Show me how to live my days in relationship with you.

Ask Jesus to help you find one part of your day where you can be quiet with him for just a few minutes. Maybe ten minutes before lying down to sleep.  may ten minutes when you first open your eyes in bed in the morning.  Maybe a few minutes after the baby goes down for a nap.  maybe some minutes during a coffee break at work.  Maybe while your husband puts the kids to bed.

Come to me, All you that are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.-- Matthew 11:28

If we can steal those few minutes away from all the to-dos of our everyday life, we'll find that time with Jesus will change the color of our days.


I personally find it very hard to even get a few minutes of quiet during my days. With a 7 year old, a 6 year old and a 7 month old taking of pretty much every moment of my day, I don't even have a moment to shower without the baby sitting in the bathroom floor while I'm doing so (she's confined-of course).
In 7 months, I can count on one hand how many showers Ive taken without her in the room with me! Thats part of being a mom, but there is hardly ever a quiet moment in my house.

However, I have never even thought, to ASK JESUS to help me find a few minutes of my day to set aside just to be quiet with him!  This will be what my focus is going to be on.
However, to add to my everyday quiet and learning time with Jesus, I am going to ask any followers of my blog that I may have to take challenge with me.
Please visit http://www.youversion.com/ and take this challenge. There are several BIBLE reading plans!  Pick one and do it each day,. You can read each passage for your daily bible reading, right on the website, at the end, you can check it off and it will keep up with your progress for you.
I picked two, weeks ago, but sadly I have not followed my own advice, but I plan to start, TODAY!
I am doing two: Project 345 Plus  and the Rediscovering the Christmas Season   I knwo the Rediscovering the Christmas Season  might be a bit late. Its suppose to only take a month to do this. So I will finish up several weeks after Christmas, but thats okay!
The Project 345 plus is reading the Bible in 345 days!
day.

Following a reading plan is a great way to make the Bible part of your daily life. YouVersion has 20+ plans, with options for customization and support to help you stay on track. See what God reveals to you when you spend time in Scripture each day.


I'd love to have everyones input each day, if you are reading it. Im thinking of posting my daily readings here as well, to keep me on my goal. Anyone else want to do this with me!

BE NICE!

Not just today, but everyday. I get so sick and tired of Rude people!  Of course, the only people I've really been around the past few weeks, are my husband and children!  And of course, the rude ones are my oldest!
Its almost like he wakes up in the mornings and decides "What can I do today to make my mommy loose her mind?"
I know this isnt true., but it sure feels like it.

This isnt even what My post is going to be about today. Im going to make it a positive day.

A smile can change someones entire day and a kind word or gesture can change their life!
I'm sure you remember the story of the two boys in high school.  One (We'll call him Jon) was getting a bunch of things out of his locker and as he was walking out the doors to walk home, he stumbled and dropped EVERYTHING. 
It was as if no one even noticed him, Until another boy (We'll call him Joe) walked over, knelt down and begin picking up Jon's books.  He then helped Jon carry his things all the way home.
They two boys became good friends, frequenting each others houses, playing video games, etc.

Years passed and the two remained very close.  One day, the question came up as to why Jon was taking his books home that day.  Jon replied to Joe. "I cleaned out my locker because I didnt want to leave a mess for anyone else. I was coming home to end my life!"

But because Joe was kind enough to offer a helping hand, Jon thought there must be more to life than what he was living!  There must be a reason to live!

***

I've always tried to be nice to people. I usually take on more than I can handle becuase I don't like to let people down, or to say No when people need help! But recently I did have to start saying no, especially for school things with my kids. I would help out EVERY SINGLE DAY if I could, but lets face it. With a baby, and two kids in school, its so hard to help out..

But anyway, thispost has no real meaning to it.  Just the story of the two boys popped into my mind today, as I was yet again, getting upset over no real reason with my oldest! 

A thought or two.

A good friend of mine and fellow blogger as well, pointed me towards this site today:
Raising Godly Tomatoes.  Ihave to say, what an amazing site! It is jam packed full of information regarding raising Godly children!.

I have also got to tell anyone of my followers that you really need to go and visit the blog called
Graceful Abandon    You will be seriously blessed by reading BOTH of those suggested sites!   There is so much information in both!

:)

This year has flown by..and other things..

Wow! It's Christmas time! Where in the world did this year go!
With the birth of our 3rd child 7 months ago, I guess things just started happening extremely fast.. Lets see. There was her Birth. Then the kids starting school. They both played soccer, so every single saturday was spent at the ball fields! Then as soon as they finished soccer, Cheerleading and Basketball started up!
This is what I've waited my entire life for! Ball field mom! :) But wow, with a new baby, its a lot HARDER than I ever thought it was.
Thankfully, I have a Baby K'tan to wear her with! If I didnt have that. I'd probably be miserable! I have seriously gotten my moneys worth with that!!!!!


Amongst other things!

I realised something pretty important yesterday....
I get so upset when I walk into my childrens bedrooms and I see that it looks like WWIII has broken out! Clothes, Toys, Games, Coloring books, etc...E V E R Y W H E R E !!!!!!

Then I walk into their closet and WOW!!!! What in the heck has happened? Its even worse, but in a smaller space!! I get so upset when I see this.
So I either make them clean it, or wait till they are at school and I clean it!

So yesterday, I cleaned my oldest childs closet and bedroom! Its spotless. Doesnt even look like a child lives in that room anymore!! I can't tell you how many scraps of paper that I threw away, broken toys, crayons. etc!

I found socks that Have been missing for MONTHS!!! After it was all said and done, and I was exhausted.. THe room looks GREAT!
Then I come into my own room, to put some clothes away and my closet actually looks WORSE than my kids closets! :(

I have SOOO MANY CLOTHES! and embarassing as it sounds. I still have some stuff packed in containers that are labled "After Baby"!
I have come to a decision that I have, without a doubt. HAVE TO GET RID OF SOME OF THESE CLOTHES!!!! I will donate, instead of selling them. Because, pretty much all my clothes are good quality and most are name brand! They are all in pretty decent, if not "like new" condition. So I will donate them to various places!
In doing this. I am also, going to quit stuffing clothes into my dresser drawer, but be more like a friend of mine that HANGS all our her clothes up. (with the exception of certain items).

I feel that cleaning out my closet, will be a lot like Cleaning up my body/heart/soul! Not that My body/heart/soul is dirty of anything...but its a lot in the same. It takes time. It can't be done all in one day, and it takes prayer!
Decluttering is good for the mind.body.spirit.soul! and I intend to declutter like crazy! Of course, this will have to wait until after Christmas, as there is just way to much going on at the moment, but I will get it done.

this is not a new years resolutions, as those never work out. Instead its a promise to myself.my family. my house!

A clean house/with as least amount of clutter as possible is also a healthy house.

I vow to hang up more of my clothes (and my husbands and kids) so that we are no longer the wrinkled family....TO leave as little as possible to cram into dresser drawers (Ok, lets face it) when your closet is overflowing and you can't close your drawers, YOU'VE GOT TOO MANY CLOTHES.. -I definately fall into this!

Am I the only one?

It seems after my 2nd child was born 6 years ago, and more intensified now that the 3rd one is here, but my emotions are NUTS!

I mean, I know its normal to get teary eyed at somethings but seriously, a commercial on tv... Maybe its just the mom in me.

Get this,
Taking the kids to school, yesterday morning, The song "Mary did you know?" came on. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas music, and I've heard this song a million times!(Its one of my faves) but I got serious chills listening to it!
Can you imagine, Mary...Sitting there holding baby Jesus, and kissing him on the fore head, and in the song it says "When you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God!" How Amazing is that!
"The son that you delivered, would soon deliver you...Mary did you know?"

I mean, SERIOUS CHILLS!
Then the other night, while watching my 7 year old son, practice for his Christmas Choir Special at church, (I help with the 5th and 6th graders, who were are in it too) I look up to see my little boy, in the balcony and he looks down at me, and sees me and grins really big and waves, as they are singing and I got all teary eyed!
I actually had to stop myself from crying right there at Practice but I was filled with such joy that all these YOUNG PEOPLE are choosing to sing and praise My GOD!
Its awesome watching each of them and how different they are now, compared to what they were in August when Choir started. The excitement of Christmas is filling each of them with such joy. Maybe its because school will be out soon, or because presents will soon be opened...Either way, Each of their faces lit up as they were singing some of these songs and I was there to witness such talent that they have..
and I get teary eyed!

Watching a commercial on TV, sometimes I'll just nearly start crying. If it has ANYTHING at all to do with Children/parents/grandparents it'll do it to me!

They can be the sappiest ones ever. Watching a movie will do it to me now.

Growing up, My brothers and I use to laugh at my mom when this would happen to her and I was so happy that I didnt get all emotional at every single movie like my mom did, but now....Its me its happening to.

Pondering..

Today at church we were studying Solomon in Sunday School, when it was mentioned that commentators all believe that Solomon was around 20 years old, when God asked him "if he could have anything, what would it be". Instead of choosing riches, and things of the sort, he choose Wisdom.

I've always viewed being "wise" as something that comes with age, but that isnt it at all. As some else else stated in class today "We should be be praying for Wisdom for our children, youth, etc?".

You can make wise decisions at any age. You can be wise at any age as well. Yes, you grow more wise as you age, but thats because over time you learn from your mistakes...but asking God for wisdom and discernment! Wow!

Can you believe that! Awesome.

In other things.....
I've been trying really hard to understand my oldest child lately. HE's exactly like me, but a lot smaller. The reason he and I butt heads all the time is because we are just alike. We argue, (ALL THE TIME) over the most ignornant things.. "Why?" I have no idea. We both feel the need to prove that we are right and the other is wrong.

My oldest brother and I were like this growing up. Now that we are much older, we get a long a lot better...I don't want to wait nearly 30 years for my son and I to get along. He's the sweetest child in the world with a heart of gold! He constantly worries about children in other countries yet he's spoiled rotten! He knows MUCH more that I did at that age, but sometimes I wonder if he knows too much! He's a smart kid! But because he is so smart, he gets himself into trouble. He KNOWS he is intelligent and its because of this he thinks he knows EVERYTHING.

Im working really hard to not argue with him so much but its so hard. Maybe "I" need to pray for Wisdom and discernment!

But after all that is said and done...I think back to my earlier posting about Solomon. How many 20 year olds today would pray for such a thing?

How many 30 year olds? 40? 50? Would most of us not pray for Riches, Popularity, Love, Cars, Houses, etc????

If given the opportunity to have ANYTHING we wanted....What would we say?

because Solomon didnt say those things. Instead he said "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" (I Kings 3:9) Solomon was asking for wisdom to be a good king.

Then God Answered:
"Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

well..i

I made a new blog to keep up with my sewings/designs work things.
I'll still use this one, but if you care to follow me over at my new blog, please feel free. Its at http://stephs-designs.blogspot.com/ Its still in the designing stages and im trying to figure everything out, but thats where Its at!!!