It Is Well With My Soul

It's Saturday night and I am resting on my couch after a ver long, and funnnn, day of children's (yes, multiple) parties!

Chad is in the kitchen working on his side job as I am settling on my couch reading and studying one of my three book studies, "Fully Devoted." I'm reading about the topic of "Grace" and the Prodigal Sons. As I sit comparing myself to the Prodigal Son, Chad's music streaming from his computer seemingly became louder. The song from his speakers? The hymn "Be Thou My Vision." My first reaction? "Wow, that was timely." But, in fact, not timely, just Him telling me that He is right here with me. 
A smell I encountered today arose a very disturbing memory from my childhood. It had set itself unsettling within otherwise a great day. This message of His presence was what I needed for the comfort I am now feeling. And guess what song is now playing as I wrap this up? The hymn "It is well with my soul." 
Amen.

For references on the hymns listed in this blog: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NAjDw1FoDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_EfDqF7YI

Whiney Mommy day

So...I'm having a tough day. I went to the chiropractor yesterday to get my back adjusted.It's been far too long and my back was a total mess. I woke up today in more pain than I was in yesterday. On top of that, my knee and ankle are in extreme pain. Icing on the cake? Mmmm, cake.... My allergies are so terrible that I decided to take some Benadryl on top of my daily dose of Zyrtec. Um, just take me out back and shoot me today, folks! I'm an extremely drowsy gimp! Need to get through this day! I have 3 birthday parties to attend this weekend!
Have a great day!

My Perfect Life

Seven years ago, if you would have asked me if I'd be in the position my life is in right now, I would have answered "Not in a million years!" And not because I don't love my life, quite the contrary, really. I LOVE my life. I can honestly categorize my life as perfect. Go ahead and hate, that won't stop me. :) I'll say it again...my life is perfect. By my definition, a perfect life is NOT a big fancy house with big fancy things and anything that requires a big heavy wallet to buy "perfection." I'm not trying to fool anyone, maybe a long time ago, I thought these things would make me happy, but that is not what was handed to me, yet I'm perfectly happy with my life. 

Out of high school, I worked at least two jobs, sometimes three, all while going to college full-time. I was fortunate that my mother got me through college, so I didn't have to work to get myself through school...but I did feel I needed to buy my "happiness" at that point in my life. I always had really nice clothes, nails done and paid to go anywhere I wanted....but I didn't get out much anyway... My life felt meaningless. I felt like I had no real purpose.

After college, I went straight into corporate America with my Business degree, and there I was...working, making a living....but everything felt like I was just going through the motions. I wasn't enjoying life. For me, life = work. I had nice things. But, what's the point of getting dressed up if you have no where to go? 

Fast forward two years, I met Chad while working part-time in a jewelry store that I worked at on nights and weekends. Catching on to the pattern? All I did was work. But I'm not complaining - had it not been for working that part-time job, I would have never met Chad, quite literally the man of my dreams. After working with him for 5 short hours, he left for the day and I looked at the store manager, a friend of both of ours, and said "I'm going to marry him." :) The manager just chuckled.

Fast forward two more years, Chad and I are married with baby Grace. I still worked full time, but I at least felt like I had more of a purpose. I was a wife and a mother. Someone needed me. (I tend to want to be needed.) Shortly thereafter, I was baptized. Life had only gotten BETTER since then.

When Grace turned 3, we soon found out that she was going to be a big sister. Grace was in an in-home childcare setting while Chad and I worked full-time. I'll admit, I used to think that the $35 a day that I paid for childcare was outrageous. Now that I stay home and take care of only two kids at a time...and they're my own kids, I feel like I robbed the poor lady! I DIGRESS. While bitterly adding up what I'd be paying someone else to raise two of my kids once the baby was born, it made no sense for me to work full-time only to bring home less than one month's mortgage payment from a full year's salary after paying for childcare. Never, in a million years, did I ever expect that I would be so blessed to become a "SAHM." Don't get me wrong, I also see nothing wrong with full-time working parents...it just didn't fit properly into my family at this time. And I will say, I've worked in many different types of fields doing Administrative and project management work, but no job I've ever had has been as hard, difficult, or exhausting as being a stay-at-home-mom. BUT, no other job has ever been as fulfilling, either. I'm a chef, personal shopper, cleaning service, housekeeper, taxi service, bookkeeper, party planner and secretary. I don't get paid a salary. I get paid in hugs, kisses and unconditional love....and I am RICH!!!! 

I have traded my heels for flats, , my dress clothes for yoga pants....side note, I don't do yoga....and my long hair, that took forever to style, for a super short pixie...which, I'm not gonna lie, I looooooove! I drive an SUV filled with toys, dvd players and Goldfish crumbs. My house looks like a tornado hit it from the inside, I sometimes have piles of laundry or dishes. But my kids are happy, Chad is happy, and all of this....makes ME happy! 

I've recently felt compelled to start singing at church....even if my voice is, and I quote, "Not bad, but not extraordinary." (I won't mention who gave me that "compliment.") I stand on a stage in front of a whole congregation and sing. Again, not something I would have ever, EVER thought I could do....get on a stage.....in front of people......and sing. But, I feel that God has moved me to serve Him by leading worship with my less than extraordinary voice. I truly feel closest to Him when I am singing. My initial discomfort has put me into some of my most comfortable moments because I know God is with me. 

Most recently, I've started reading by being involved in some groups with fellow Christians. Groups of people that I thank God every day for bringing into my life. They are all wonderful people! I have always backed away from reading, but I'm currently reading 3 different books all at once. And, in turn, I've been inspired to start writing again...hence, this blog. What better a starting point that to write about something you're well aware of or know a lot about? So the subject: Me and my life. However, I didn't know much about my own self until recently. I finally took the time to sit and think about who I really am while appreciating my life and everyone and everything that has been given to me by my Lord. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for my perfect life.

~Thanks for reading! xo 

Non-Reader reading three books at the same time!

After a long summer of laziness, the Fall brings me into three different Group settings, all of which we are doing some kind of book study. All of which are in relation to the Bible or being more like Jesus.
All of them are studies that will take place in future weeks and/or months. 

I've started my first book, "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess," by Jen Hatmaker. The author wrote this book as she experimented with losing the excess in her life in the following categories: Food, Clothing, Possessions, Media, Waste, Spending, & Stress." Each category for one month. 
I will start off by saying, she is a Saint! For her first month, she picked only 7 foods to eat for a whole month.....none of which with spices or anything of the like! She did very well! I, on the other hand..... Well, this is a study we are doing with a Mom's group. We have a blog that we are writing on to keep each other motivated. I am on Day 5 of the month of the Food month and here are my entries proving my failure on decreasing the excess of food:

This one is in response to our fearless leader, Megan's, initial blog on the experiment:

"GOOOOD MORNING!!!"....typing doesn't express sarcasm.... {raspberries}....
So, I'll start off by saying that one of my first thoughts was ALSO, "ooooooh, I can lose weight doing this!" THAT just goes to show that this was going to start out as an epic failure for me....and so... I am starting off with baby steps...today...because, this weekend was an awful example of EXCESS of food in my life. My list for my 7 foods are as follows:
Chicken - Beef - Cheese - Eggs - Apples - Lettuce - Coffee (yes, coffee - no one would like me, and I mean NO ONE, if I had to cut the coffee...I'm doing this for unselfish reasons, I promise). :)
Friday started off well. I only ate these foods....however, I did not steer away from spices...so, it's a modified "7" as I use these items as a base. Saturday, however, Day 2, I ate funnel cake....NOT on the menu. Sunday was my mom's birthday. We celebrated by going to the Movie Tavern and Olive Garden. EPIC FAIL! Popcorn, Pasta, and Strawberry Shortcake....none of which are on the menu. 
Today is Monday. I hate Monday. But, I need to regroup and get back to trying this over again. I ate APPLEbutter on a spoon for breakfast. I plan to eat EGGS with CHEESE for lunch....and I'm thawing CHICKEN breasts for dinner. So, I'm kind of on the right track for today. Stay tuned. 
I will, also, be cleaning out the cupboards and donating anything we don't eat. 
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's posts! 

p.s. - As I started off on this adventure, I was a non-reader.... I'm already done the second chapter about clothes! I'll consider this my success for the first 4 days...ha.

After another response....later the same day (yesterday, to be exact)....

I think giving up something is certainly a great variation of this. It may be what I decide to do since I failed miserably yet again today....
Admittedly, soon after planning on cheesy eggs for lunch (I even put this in writing in a blog - see above) ....I decided to reheat my leftover spaghetti from last night for lunch.... I was thawing chicken breasts for dinner....and decided I was going to make buttermilk chicken....which is very time consuming. The TWO chicken breasts I was thawing is not nearly enough to take the time to make these...so I pulled out more chicken breasts to thaw and will make it...tomorrow. PIZZA it is tonight! Ding goes my oven - preheating complete!

So...needless to say, I struggle with food...well, no food.....I love food. The end. 

The other books I'll be reading are: "Fully Devoted: living each day in Jesus' name" by John Ortberg.....and "Ester: It's tough being a woman" by Beth Moore. 

I maybe should have started off by saying that I never could sit and read a book well...with full comprehension....because I have the attention span of a fruit fly. BUT, I read two of the chapters of "7" in two days (30 days of her experiment each) and had a hard time putting the book down. I am also actually LOOKING FORWARD to starting up on the other books! So maybe I'm failing with the food experiment, but my success is coming in reading.....and writing again. I used to write a lot...haven't for a while. But this has all inspired me to start a blog..... Happy reading! :)