If You've Carried A Watermelon...

When I think about insecurity, I can't help but be reminded of Jennifer Grey's character, 'Baby,' from Dirty Dancing. You can see it all over her face that she desperately wants to say something impressive. However, what comes out is... "I carried a watermelon."

I wish I could say that I've never been in Baby's shoes... but just yesterday I let insecurity get the best of me and said something brilliant like "I carried a watermelon." I was left pondering how easily I let myself be tossed by the wave of insecurity. I think it comes down to who is determining our worth. If, even for a moment, we take the job of determining our worth and value out of the hands of God- we immediately feel insecure. When we start looking to someone else for security- something they ultimately cannot provide, we feel shaken. Since the opinions of others are fickle, our worth found in people is on unstable ground.

There is someone that can make you feel secure. In fact, He embodies the definition of secure: safe, dependable, trustworthy, guaranteed and certain. When we put our security in God, we can stand on His secure foundation and know that He determines our worth. So, so what if you've 'carried a watermelon' lately... God's love for you is so deep and so wide that it cannot be grasped. In Psalm 16 David writes, 'Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.' His opinion of you pales in comparison to your greatest admirer.

I am not sure if this blog was for anyone else or not. It could just be me working something out through a blog. But, if nothing else... I can cross off another item from my bucket list- to use my FAVORITE movie of all time as an illustration for a biblical principle... Hahaha... Just kidding... sort of.

Just remember, if God is for you, then NOBODY puts baby in the corner!

Sorry, I couldn't help it. I will quit while I'm ahead. ;)

Wake-Up-Call

A few years back, Jeremy and I implemented a plan to reinstate weekend sleep- we take turns on who gets up with the kids and switch off on who gets Saturday as well. When it's your day to sleep in, you can feel an excitement that starts the night before!!! This morning, it was my turn to get up with the kids. We put them to bed late and I hoped they would sleep late but I had a little anxiety- fearing they would wake before the rooster crowed. Sure enough... I heard loud and louder exit their room before 7 am.

I kept my eyes closed to try and pretend like it wasn't happening. Much to my dismay, I opened my eyes and Brody was standing before me waiting for my eyes to open. As soon as they did, he said, "I berry love you, Mommy." He said it as if he had waited all night to tell me. I scooped him up and reciprocated his 'berry' love. I bounced right out of the bedroom to make homemade sweet potato pancakes- all for 5 little words.

The bible says that the tongue has the power of life and death. We choose whether to build someone up or tear them down. Proverbs 12:25 reads, "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." A simple, kind word costs you nothing, and yet you can use it to make a person's day. The power of words is always on the tip of your tongue.

Overflow

The start to 2011 has been tumultuous for us. My disclaimer in saying this is that I was voted "Most Spirited" when I was a cheerleader and have the plaque to prove it! I tend to be an optimist- the glass is just half full for me- you get the idea. Anyway, the first 14 days of this year have proved to be the most challenging days of my lifetime thus far. I will not attempt to even go in to all the happenings of this year, but I will say we have felt kicked while we were already down... and this is all while feeling closer to God than ever. It's almost as though we can feel the painful growth we are experiencing during these trials.

The other night, I had a dream that one of the toilets in our house overflowed. In my dream, I could not contain the water that was flowing out. Now, while a toilet overflowing is usually not a pleasant thought, the word I kept hearing in my head the next day was: overflow.

As I studied the word the next day I found a verse in Psalm 65:11:

You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.

I believe God is going to crown this year with His bounty and there will be an overflow of blessings. Later that day, I came upon the song that is playing and was encouraged to know that God can Turn it Around! If 2011 has shaken you in someway, remember that there is a God who can turn it around and crown the year with His bounty!

A Jolly-Good Time...

A great visit to see Santa today. No tears. No screams of terror. No refusals to see Santa. Brody was doing great until Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas- his body language says it all!!!!

Ho Ho Ho!!!!!

Christmas Card Outtakes 2010

It seems like I just put this blog up for 2009, but it's true... another year has passed by. As you may know, this is my favorite blog of the year. This year wasn't as eventful as past Christmas card outtakes, but it had its own shining moments.

Our idea was to stack the boys up. Jadin and Brody waited perfectly while Jeremy prepared to place Dallas on the top of the stack. But, Brody's ticklish nature got the best of him and Dallas was not happy about being on top of a giggling Brody.

So, when your out shopping for that perfect gift, we hope that our outtakes will remind you that you can't please everyone!!!

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Time to Take Back Time...

There are not many places you can go these days where you won't know what time it is. The time is ticking away on wall clocks, alarm clocks, cell phones, computers and wrist watches. And despite the attempts of anti-aging products, it's clear that time is not something you will escape. A quote from one of my favorite movies, Steel Magnolia's, says it best, "Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marchin' across your face."

I was thinking about how much time we are given. No one knows the exact number of days we will be on this earth, but if I were to estimate how many days I had left, would it change how I live? So, let's say I live to 100- a lofty guess but I will think positive. If I were to live to 100 from the age I am now, I have approximately 26,000 days left. Does that sound like a lot? Knowing that I have already lived roughly 10,000 days, 26,000 does not sound like a lot to me. And what if it were less? A lot less.

I have decided that I don't want to squander the days I have left. Whether it's 26,000 or only a few. How do we waste time? Well, each of us could probably answer that individually but I am sure we all could resonate with the next few time-wasters.

I have wasted days being mad at someone. I have wasted days feeling sorry for myself. I have wasted days feeling insecure. I have wasted days being critical. And I have wasted days in regret. In fact, I think that looking back is one of the main ways we all waste time. Sure... there are lessons to be learned from looking back- thus the statement 'Hindsight is 20/20.' The past usually gives us a clear picture of what we need to do better. And if it's a clear picture, then take a peak, take note and get your eyes back on what lies ahead.

How many days have I wasted wishing I would have said something I did not say or did not say something I said? How many days have I squandered wishing I would have taken a risk that I didn't or waited a bit longer before I took a leap. Too many to mention. Paul says in Philippians 3, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which Christ has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." This is what I want. I do not want to waste one more day pumping my time into things that bear no fruit. I want to press on.

So, how do I put this into action? Well, I was given the chance last night. A situation popped up and I immediately felt mad. Rather than stewing over it all night (which I have done an embarrassing amount of times) I dealt with it, gave it to God and moved on. You do all you can do and then let God do what you can't. And instead of losing sleep because I was stewing all night, I enjoyed my evening and slept well. I couldn't help the fact that I got mad, but I could make a decision as to how long I was going to stay that way.

No more wasting time- it's far to precious.

The Best Play-Dough EVER!!!

By popular demand... here is my recipe for play-dough. I made the batch we have now 2 years ago and it is still like new and smells good. Enjoy! Below is Blue Raspberry...

Play Dough Recipe

2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup cream of tartar
1 pkg unsweetened powdered Kool-Aid (gives color and smell)

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over low/medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air tight container.