A Walk In The Park

Last Thursday Josh and I enjoyed a stroll through Loose Park while the kids were at McDonald's. While we can't post pictures of the kiddos, here are some of Josh and I strolling through the park. Hope you all enjoy them.


I can be naughty, but it never looks quite right...

Josh at age 102...crazy eyes and crazy mouth...AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!

I'm coming for you!

I just got done doing my Ricky Bobby hands impression and am laughing at Josh's reaction....a true smile from me on camera is rare.

The happy couple...We've been married for 6 years. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats, some fish, and 4 kiddos...can you tell?

This is one of my favorites of Josh. He's so handsome and so darn photogenic!

This is what it looks like to kiss him...hmm...second thoughts anyone?! =o)

Taking a moment after Josh is caught taking chest pictures...sometimes that man!

No, it's not a strip tease! I'm buttoning my jacket!

This is what it looks like to kiss me...any takers?

This is what awesome looks like!

Enjoy!

More Than Conquerors - Devotional Day 16 - October 6

Scripture: Romans 8:37 - In all these things we are more than conquerors through im who loved us.
"Every day we face challenges of varying degree, but even seemingly small challenges can have larger implications later. We must determine from the outset, like at the beginning of the day, that we are going to adopt a victorious outlook." How do you start your day? How do you handle the everyday challenges? Do they make you blow up or do you handle them with grace and gratitude?

"If we know already how the story ends, that we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us, then we can begin with gratitude, no matter where we find ourselves from moment to moment." Think about that a minute. As a Christian believer, we know that the "end" is won by God and that we believers will be triumphant with Christ Jesus. We know the end of the story...where's the suspense?! Where's the mystery?! Where's the worry?! We shouldn't have any suspense that we don't create, the only mystery should be Christ's return, and we shouldn't be worrying about anything. We know we win!!!

What an amazing story to look forward to each and every day! "Just as in order to be successful you have to visualize your success; in order to be faithful you have to visualize God triumphing over your challenges....open ourselves up to the power and possibility of God."

Just remember...We win through Christ Jesus!

Be Nice - Devotional Day 15 - October 5

Scripture: Psalm 133:1 - How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

How many of you have a "sand paper" person...someone who rubs you the wrong way all the time? You can't seem to get a handle on yourself when this person (or persons) are around...Perhaps we should turn the mirror to ourselves and see if we are a root cause. I know I often find that there is something within me that is the root of my feelings...whether good or bad.

"...prayed to God and asked Him to reveal Himself and He did, everytime." Sometimes when we walk into a rage or an arguement or get in a huff, we don't think. But, we should and we should pray that God will guide us through the situation so we can live in harmony.

"Why am I so annoyed by this? What is it about me that is reacting so strongly? What is my part here? Certain irritating or frustrating people and situations in our lives, particularly the ones we cannot escape, are put there on purposse by God to refine us. Once we get over being bugged, we can get on with being healed."

So, let the sand paper people of your life refine you into a one of a kind!

Lay Your Burdens Down - Devotional Day 14 - October 4, 2011

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7 - Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understand, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This is a huge chunck of scripture! Let's put into steps what it is telling us to do.
1) Rejoice in the Lord always. - That's a pretty easy line. How often do you rejoice in the Lord? How often do you thank Him for your day or your life or your kids or your wife or your husband or the chance to sit down and take a load off?
2) Let your gentleness be evident to all. - This one is also an easy line. How often are you gentle with others? Some other words that mean gentle...for those who like descriptors...carefulness, caution, kindness, tenderness. So, it should be evident to all...that's the whole world, everyone who knows you or doesn't know, etc...we should be careful, cautious, kind, and tender. I can think of a few choice words used this week that do not express those words. =o(
3) FYI - The Lord is near. - This really isn't a step of things to do, it's just an FYI.
4) Do not be anxious about anything. - For some people, this is very easy. For others, there is no telling them not to worry. Anxious can also be worried, tense, afraid, aghast, antsy apprehensive, basket case, bugged, butterflies, careful, chocked, clutched, concerned, jittery, jumpy, nervous, restless, troubled, strung out, or watchful. So God is telling us to not be any of these things. Just the opposite, we should be assured, calm, content, cool, happy, indifferent, peaceful, tranquil, unconcerned, and unworried. Oh, to be in that place all the time!
5) In everything present your requests to God. - Oh, to lay down our burdens! It feels great doesn't it...to take a little break from our burdens before we pick them back up. But, God wants us to lay our burdens down and NOT pick them up again. Just lay them down and leave it! "...we select a few stones from the gravel on the ground...we quietly assign them the burdens du jour. We say a short prayer and each place our burdens on the ledge before we turn and head...home....leave them at the foot of the cross. I have a tendency to trust God initially, but then run back and reclaim my troubles in the vain hope that I can rectify them on my own." Amen, because we can't do it alone!
6) FYI - The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. - This is just an FYI...after we lay down our burdens, God's peace will transcend upon us and guard our hearts and minds...if we let it.

Let me leave you with this verse for thought: Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Pray for Our Children - Devotional Day 13 - October 3

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:19 - Give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees.

"I need to pay greater attention and place higher emphasis on the desire for my children to be obedient to God than the desire fo rthem to be obedient to me. It's one thing for a child or teenager to make a good choice because they fear getting grounded and it's another thing to make a good decision because they genuinely want to please God." What a statement! Pray our kiddos will be obedient to God versus obedient to us? No, no, it's stating that we should pray they are obedient to God first and then to us. When we put things in God's hands it tends to work out much better for everyone involved.

"The former has a shorter shelf life...The latter, the desire to please God, is a lifetime pursuit, a joy. One linfe of reasoning produces an adult whose actions depend on who's watching, the other will eventually become a part of an adult's good character that reveals itself regardless if anyone is around to observe or not." Have you ever used "You need to do this or else..." line on your kids? How long does that behavior last? In my household, it's literally as long as I am watching them. If I tell them to sit down or to put the toys away and turn my back, they are all over the room playing. But, if I'm watching them, they will do as they're told. However, how great would our household be if they did what they were asked to do because they wanted to please God and honor their mother and father?!

"It is a deeper way to pray, for the formation of a heart that follows and longs for God rather than for a mind that makes good choices." Have you ever sat down and really poured your heart out to God about your kiddos? Have you the desire to see your kiddos live for God and God's purpose?

"Solomon was able to finish the temple that his father only dreamed about. King David was a good man, in spite of his many flaws, but Solomon was a man of impeccable character. The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed upon him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before. The prayers of a faithful parent have incredible power." Imagine your children becoming so much more than you can ever hope for...more than they can ever dream because you faithfully pray for them to be in God's will?!

Start your intimate prayer today for the sake of your children!

Share and Share Alike - Devotional Day 12 - October 2

Sorry I missed yesterday! I was busy making homemade applesauce and apple crisp.

Scripture: Hebrews 13:16 - Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrific es God is pleased.

"From the time they are toddlers, we nag our children to share....Before they even have a chance to fully appreciate the fleeting "Mine" stage, we are already on them to share and take turns." I remember always being told to share and be nice. We learn alot from our kiddos as we go through the "Mine" and "Share" stages. The best example of this happened just a few days ago. Jamion had on a toy cat watch and CJ was playing with a yo-yo and toy disc thrower.

Jamion: CJ, can I play with the yo-yo?
CJ: No, I playing with it.
Jamion: CJ, you need to share.
CJ: Okay. You get the yo-yo, but I want the cat.
Jamion: No! You don't get the watch. It's mine and you can't have it. Now share the yo-yo with me.
CJ: NO!
Josh: Jamion, do you think it's fair for you to tell CJ to share when you won't share with him?
Jamion: Yeah. It's not nice. He needs to share.
Josh: Well, don't you think it's mean of you to not share?
Jamion: I guess.
CJ: Can I have a doughnut?

Isn't it amazing how much we can learn from our kids? "Just like love, forgiveness, and a sense of humor - you have to know you have it for yourself before you can freely give it away....need to see us sharing things not only with them but with our friends, our spouses, and our extended families. We typically grow up to treat others the way we have been treated."

We all want our kiddos (and all people) to share and share alike. However, the means by which we teach our children to share is in our hands. "Acting out the lesson of sharing as a parent is far better than nagging." What a concept for us to be on their level and share with them and others. It's a great reminder for adults on a lesson we sometimes forget.

"Let's be mindful today of our treatment of others." As the Golden Rule states: "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31

Cannot Be Shaken - Devotional Day 11 - October 1

Scripture: Hebrews 12:27 - "...so that what cannot be shaken may remain."

"All of us go through a time or times in our life when the walls quake around us and the earth seems to move under our feet...Our lives get shaken up now and then..."

What have you gone through lately that has shaken your life? What has knocked the wind out of you, swept your feet out from under you, etc? For me it was leaving Heartland Services to put my family first. This was a big feat for me and for Josh. You see, I had been working at Heartland since January 2004...it was a staple in my life and in our relationship. But, it wasn't the right staple once we became parents. While it was a chosen shake, it was still a hard shake...Should I look for another job? Should I be a stay-at-home mom? Should I find a full time job? Should I find a part time job? Where was God going to take me?

"Knowing that God is sovereign and nothing can happen to us that does not pass His approval, I sometimes wonder why He allows such rigorous and often painful upheavals...When the shaking stops and we try to put back misplaced and broken items, we realize that not everything has survived the quake." Have you ever broken something that was important to you and tried to glue it back together...no matter how hard you try, it will never look the same or be the same as it was before it was broken. Do you choose to keep it in its new light or do you throw it out and get a new one? If it has meaning to you, there is no easy answer.

"It is this: When all else is shaken, He remains." Remember the next time your world is shaken, turned upside down, toppled over, stepped on, run over, ravaged, etc, God is still the same. He will love you and keep you and help you through it all.