What would I do?

If I had more strength.  More courage.  If I tapped into the POWER available to me through the Holy Spirit.  How would my life change?

This commercial inspired these questions in my heart.  And I've had some answers, and I was surprised.  I never think of myself as timid or mousy.  But when I thought about the things that make me scared (ya know, those fears that are tucked away and usually only emerge during times of crisis), I realized my life would be different--  perhaps only slightly different, but what if all of those little differences created huge ripple effects to make BIG differences.



I thank the Lord for using even Dove commercials to inspire deep thought on spiritual matters. And let me remember God's words to Joshua, "Be Strong and Very Courageous"  and do the same!

Call me Mary...

Poppins, that is.

This week I have been a nanny to 5 (yep, f-i-v-e) children, every day all day.  From morning 'til night, I was substitute Mom.  The three oldest I sent off to school, making sure everyone had breakfast, had a lunch, and had appropriate clothes (like no swimsuits).  Throughout the day, my charges were a three year old, Noelle and her younger baby sister, Gianna who is 9 months old.

It was entertaining, enlightening, and exhausting.  Serious.


I want to give a shout out to all the Moms out there.  I admire you and thank you.  You are definitely underappreciated.  Well, let me tell you, even from this last week alone: I see what you do, and I THANK you.

II'll give you a glimpse of the week I channeled Mary Poppins:

1.  I have cleaned floors, sinks, noses, faces, hands, feet, and booties. Children are messy, but so is life.  It's okay. Roll with it.

2.  Three year olds say the craziest stuff.  I have laughed at everything this child has said.  She is so precious, making up songs and dancing on a whim.  Maybe I should do more of that...

3.  I have pretended to be an airplane in the yard, Bowser from Mario, and a frog.  Not only have I been the guard of the castle, but also the guard of the stairs.  The baby wants to crawl up the stairs any chance she can get.  So I have to guard them because that's not safe, just fyi.

4.  I praise the Lord above for the Wiggles.  I don't know who you men are, but I. love. you.  With my whole heart.  Is that an exaggeration?  Nope, not in the least.  When I turn on those colorfully dressed, dancing men, the baby and the 3 year old will stop dead in their tracks and sit still.  THAT, my friends, is a miracle.

There were sometimes I felt like it was the easiest job in the world, and there were other times when I thought Mary had the right idea, "just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down..." Where's the Nyquil??  These children NEED sedation.  (Just kidding  people... don't freak.)

Loving my life.  And taking a nice break today... Saturdays are great for that!

I want a garden....

Simply to have a garden gnome.

And name him something like, Rupert or Pip.

Remembering the Sparrows

Our Lord God is a watchful Creator.  He is a caring Father.  I have to remind myself of this often.  When I do, my first thought is of the sparrows.

He knows when a single sparrow falls to the ground (yeah.. check out Matthew 10).  The sparrow was considered a worthless bird.  Back in the day of sacrifices, you couldn't even buy one by itself... you could buy FIVE with half of a penny!!

And our God--our holy, mighty, awe-inspiring, loving, gracious God knows when just one of these birds falls to ground.

How much more does He care about us, His Beloved?  His children?  And how/why do I forget this?  He cares.  He cares about the details.  He cares about my thoughts. motives. actions. intentions.

When I know deep down... the kind of knowing that makes me ache and can bring tears to my eyes...when I KNOW this, then I will fear nothing.  Nothing can harm me except what the Father has known about.

Let not your heart be troubled.
Do not worry.
Fear not.

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

The Crying Laugh...

That's what I was doing after I watched these. Watch the first one... it's the original newscast. The second one is well... freaking hilarious.

hahahahaha....

annndd you're welcome.

Thoughts on Faith and the Future

There has been so much change over the past few months, I have no idea where to start. I still don't. So I'll just pick up where my life is now, and let your imaginations fill in the gaps.

Friday was my last day at the restaurant, and I have never felt so relieved. I do not know what the Lord has for me Next, so each day is a leap (more like: little hop) of faith...which is precisely how I love to live. Seriously. What an adventure is a life lived with Jesus. I cannot wait to see what happens Next.

There are several options to consider. So for now, I am praying, praying, praying. Asking, begging, seeking for the Lord to show me what to do Next. My post So...What's Next? from several months ago echoes my thoughts right now. I do not know where I am going, but I trust in my Creator to show me and pray, pray, pray.

Here's to the unknown and wobbly leaps of faith.

Words to live by...

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." -Frederick Buechner

"Every element of self-reliance must be slain by the power of God. Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His power." -The O.C. (aka, Oswald Chambers).

Thy will be done.