Upward movement

It is finished. I have completed the Lord, change my attitude study that I have been working through for the past 10 weeks. So, what is the result? Is it back to business as usual? I sure hope not. This study has been so amazing. I want to say life changing...I want it to be life changing.

When I started this study I had no idea how much my attitudes needed to be changed. God has been busily at work chipping away from many areas in my life. Attitudes that I really did not consider sinful, but they were. I have complained in areas I should have been thankful, I have coveted when I should have been content, I have been critical when I should have loved, I have doubted when I should have practiced faith, and I have rebelled when I should have submitted.

I have been doing the christian walk now for a long time so when I saw the table of contents I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I knew what the author would say about each of those elements, but I did not (I think that may have been a little prideful). Each of the negative or wilderness attitudes were presented and un-layered in a way that I did not expect and it revealed things in my heart I did not like. The first week the author said 'we create our own wilderness by our attitude'. That the children of Israel would not have spent 40 years in the desert had they not doubted, complained, coveted, been critical and rebelled. I don't want to live my life in the desert.

So were do I go from here? God is moving and I want to move with Him. He is showing me some areas in my life that He wants to change. Some of them because they are not edifying and some just because change mixes things up and it is time for movement. It is always fun to see God moving even if I don't know where He is going. I have learned so much about myself and the Lord and I don't want this to be a temporary thing. This process is a bit like surgery, but surgery is to get rid of what is not supposed to be there or fix what is wrong. And that is a very good thing.

Monday!

Monday again! Seems like they roll around about every 7 days ;o)
Monday: Mexican either tacos or taco salad, we are all about choices.
Tuesday: Grilled chicken on the barbie
Wednesday: Dinner at church (Mac & Cheese)
Thursday: Chicken sandwiches
Friday: Fajitas
Saturday: Spaghetti
I spent the day doing the Costco, Wal-Mart, grocery store run. Fun fun. It would be so much easier to do that if money was no object and we could just buy whatever I want at whatever the price. Shopping for the best deal is time consuming.

Then took a walk this afternoon when the kids finished their classes. Although it was great to take a walk, it is obvious that I desperately need to be doing that much more. (Huff, puff, huff, puff.)

Hey, while you are out blog hopping, go wish Jamie a Happy Grandma Day, she becomes a grandma today for the first time!!

Hello Spring

Dear Sweet Spring,
It is so good to see you. I thought you had decided not to come, but lo' you were just delayed. You always deliver weeks before your due date, bringing hope for warmer days ahead. The promises of cropped pants and flip-flops. I am sure you have good reason. Did Winter tell you you were not needed? Not wanted? Winter is always so greedy, wanting to take more than is rightfully hers, trying to coming early and leaving late. Breathing colder than she needs too. Really she needs an attitude check and a bible study on selfishness. I think I will talk to the Lord about her behavior this year. This is simply unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated.

Your temperatures today were glorious. I was so happy to have all my windows open, letting your lovely air fill our home with your sweet scent and shooing Winter out the door. I hate to talk behind Winter's back, but she stayed far too long. She really wore out her welcome.

You have been so long in coming I did not properly prepare. My body has been lazy...and it shows. The short sleeved t-shirts show that I have eaten too much pasta and not enough salad. My jiggly thighs show evidence of not enough walking. My belly shows the evidence of the ice cream I indulged in this winter while watching the Biggest Loser. Although our good friend scale says that only five pounds have come to stay this winter, my clothes tell me different. Maybe five in each area? I pledge an alliance to lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, blueberries and the rest of the rainbow along with grilled chicken breasts. I vow self-control over soda, bread, pastas, and chocolate (after I eat the chocolate banana bread I just made).

I am sure this is all your fault Springtime friend. Had you been here sooner I am sure I would have never indulged, but stuck to the plan. Now I must face myself in the mirror. My pasty white self, (that is until I find the self-tanning lotion).

But you are here now. Time to walk, time to plant, time to clean, time to purge (clutter and weight, not meals). I am so glad you are here. And I so look forward to your cousin Summer right around the corner. She brings with her a completely different set of promises and joys! ;o)

Randomness

I am finding myself in a big of a blog block/slump again. Lots of random little thoughts but no real posts of any substance. I am hoping now that Jamie is back I will be inspired to greatness.

Monday (aka yesterday): French Dip sandwiches and sweet potato fries
Tuesday: BBQ Hamburgers - Now that the sun has decided to come out (somewhat) I think it is time to break out the grill
Wednesday: Dinner at church - corned beef and cabbage
Thursday: Chinese chicken casserole
Friday: Fajitas
Saturday: Spaghetti


Bible study has been great. Every week as we work on a specific attitude God has faithfully given me opportunity to put it in place, even when I didn't think I had issue with a particular attitude. The past week we worked on the wilderness attitude of doubt and this week we are replacing it with the promised land attitude of faith. Sure enough God has been giving me opportunity to doubt or trust Him. He has been faithful and is once again showing me how trustworthy He is and how I can fully place my faith in Him. I really do feel He is helping me change some of my wilderness attitudes.

In other random thoughts:
**My 12 year old son is driving me crazy. I seriously think his brain cells have taken a vacation.

**Emma had spring competitions for piano last weekend. I am so proud of her!!

**Celebrated 17 years being married to my sweetie.

**Spring break is right around the corner...yea!

**Can't wait til it is light enough in the morning to start walking again.

So there you have it. Have a great Tuesday, St. Patty's Day.

The Bachelor and Bible Study

**Let me preface with this: Reality TV is really not reality at all. It is a simulated reality. But I do love the Biggest Loser and unfortunately got hooked by this seasons Bachelor.

OK, First of all can I just say I cannot believe this guy. I really thought he was a great catch for any of the ladies and had big opinions on who he should send home. I could go on and on about Jason, Molly and Melissa...but I won't.

My bible study this week was replacing an attitude of criticism with an attitude of love. It is so good. Love it, love it, love it.

What do these two have to do with each other?
We have love so messed up. The bachelor kept saying how he could not help his heart and how he felt. He was just following his heart. He didn't regret proposing to one girl then dumping her on national tv because he did love her at the time. Give me a break.

On Ellen DeGeneres she was talking of the situation and said 'You straight people can have your "marriage" if that is what it is all about'. Ouch.

We have things so messed up. So far from God's standards. So far from the truth.

Love is patient, Love is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not proud, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provokes, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in inequity, but rejoices in truth, love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

I really don't think going on the bachelor will net anyone a life long love (OK, maybe Trista and Ryan). But how crazy is our society to think that this is real love. What security is in this kind of love?

Can I just say I absolutely love my man. He is awesome and I need him more than anyone else on this planet. Does he drive me crazy? Sometimes. But I know I drive him nuts too. But I am crazy for him. I hope I can show him a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love for the rest of my days.