Spriritual Journal (part 1)

Several years ago I was challenged by a longtime family friend to begin a journal of my spiritual markers. I started, but like many things did not follow through. I am now going to share what I wrote and hopefully add to it regularly. This will be an ongoing, if not occasional process.

Spritual Journal (part 1)

My first spiritual marker (at least the first one I remember) was from the time I was around 7 or 8 years old. I was "heavily burdened" by shame and guilt over my childish sins. My mother sat in our living room with me at her knees and listened to the confessions of a child. Then she cupped her hands in front of her and told me to put my sins into them. I did, she then lifted her hands toward heaven and released them. Then she told me that I did not have to feel guilty over these things anymore because we had given them to God!

What a perfect picture of grace. No matter how "spiritually mature" I become, this lesson is the one I return to in my darkest hour.


I remember being a 14 years old and attending a church service at a local church. I was not there for any spiritual reason. I think it was more of a "social" reason (in other words a guy). Towards the end of the service (which I'm sure I paid little to no attention to), the pastor asked if anyone would like prayer for healing. For some reason I decided to respond. I had recently been told, after a routine school screening, that I had the signs of scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, that can cause endless years of struggle and medical difficulties. One of the telltale signs was that, when stretched out in front of me, one of my arms was at least 1 1/2 inches longer than the other one.

I had known this pastor my entire life, he was a friend of my parents, and there was nothing extraordinary about him. Without any hoopla, purple tuxedos, or screaming and wailing, he placed his hand gently on my head and prayed a simple prayer. I don't even remember the prayer, it was not noticeably powerful. When he finished praying, I thanked him, and turned, intending to return to my seat. The pastor smiled and asked me if I would like to look at my arms again. I stretched them out in front of me and found them to be exactly the same length.

I have never undergone any treatments for scoliosis of any type. After that day I never had an irregular result from a screening or any other complication or condition resulting from this.

I don't know why God chose to heal me that day. Maybe He just wanted to remind me of His power, maybe it wasn't for me at all, but someone else whose faith needed strengthening. But He did it, and it reminded me of his awesome power and of how real he really is.

I remember being 14 years old and meeting a good looking guy. We were at the mall and I was introduced to him by a mutual friend. I had no idea at the time, that this moment would end up being one of the most significant in my life. But God knew, He knew that night that he was giving a self-absorbed kid a glimpse into the rest of her life.

He's all dimples

He's all dimples. This picture is my new fav. This is a baby I know and love, and will bribe on prom night.

Crafty....er..not

Tried to Mrs. Suzie Homemaker this week and do an ornament craft with the kiddos. Here is what ensued.

The store sold this kit as a great ornament making craft for the fam....whatever. I managed to figure out what was needed for each ornament (wire cutters, wire bending tools etc.), Then sorted through approx. 5,0000 beads of various maddening sizes. Got the kids to slowly and maticulously make the correct arangment for the torture devices....I mean ornaments, at which time they ran from the table as fast as they could. I however could not be deterred. So I spent the next 2-hours making these ornaments from hell with only my youngest daughter at my side (because she finaly began ignoring me and making them however she wanted to..smart kid.) So 2 hours later I had: a chipped tooth (couldn't find wire bending tool), a metal sliver in my finger, had taught my children several new words.....and 24 beaded ornaments.....Merry Freakin' Christmas!!

Fraaaaaazled Woman

Hubby has been out of town 5-weekends in a row. I am ready for a husband (and more importantly father-to-my-children). He has done it only as an act of service to his family.....but......we are both ready for some normalicy. Oh ya, did I mention I hosted Thanksgiving for 42 people (that is not a typo). Found out the day before Thanksgiving! But pulled it off with LOTS of help from my sister. My kids have been home for a week, but return tomorrow....I love public school!!!!!!

So now that that's over....it is time for CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!! Let the games begin!

I'm Back!!!!!

Sorry it has been a while. I can't believe how out of touch I feel when I'm not blogging.

School has started, the kids are doing GREAT this year. I am going through a quarter-life crisis. My husband says the very fact that I'm calling something a quarter-life crisis means that I'm having one. I'm sort of looking for a job but not working yet. I'm trying to get my house ready to sell....that's fun. Life's just kind of going on around me and I keep trying to find a good jumping in point.

Halsey cheered at her first game and loved it, and so far has straight A's this quarter. Derek is reading and doing well in spelling and math. Sadie is doing great in school and reading really well. Big Derek is still doing what he always does, you know jumping over tall buildings in a single bound etc.....So here I am behind the scenes watching with pride, wondering how it all is happening so fast.....

No matter how many times well meaning elderly people say it to you, it just doesn't sink in......they grow up so fast.

Time to get back to it. Whatever "it" is.

Can I just say that buying school supplies is getting annoying....seriously. I have spent upwards of $200.00 on school supplies and lunch boxes and backpacks.....for public school! That doesn't even begin to cover clothes. Back to school is a very expensive time of year.

I think I'm looking forward to the first day of school this year. Unlike last years emotional breakdown. Maybe this year it won't take me a month to get used to it.

Oh....my new favorite quote from the blogesphere:

Every time a new blog is started a therapist loses its wings!!

Camping in August (cont.)

We survived camping in August, we really enjoyed it. These pics are of the day we spent on the lake. The kids did not get out of the lake for about 5 hours.