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.

Enough.

I am determined to post something more substantial this week than a Monday Menu. That is why I am posting on Sunday ;o) Don't get me wrong, the menus have a great place and keep things running on track in our home (a least for meal time). But my posts have been a bit...I don't know...lame? Hair and menus. Wow, that is deep. I got to see Jamie yesterday and that made me think of how much I miss her posts. Jamie, that is not to guilt you. You just always put a smile on my face when I read your posts. Lately whenever I see Jamie we ask each other how the frugal living is going. That is a post all in itself. But I do want to share what God has been teaching me the last few weeks. Apparently He needs to drive this in deep because for the last four weeks it has been the same lesson. God is enough.

I already talked about this a bit the first week when the lesson was on complaining. Whenever I am complaining it is telling God He is not enough. The second week just reinforced that thought with the lesson on thankfulness. I have really been working on being thankful and saying thank you as often as possible with being sincere. You know what I have learned? I have really not been a very thankful person. The ugly word of entitlement comes to mind.

The past two weeks the lesson has been on covetousness and contentment. God has brought me so far from where I had been in the early years of marriage with covetousness. Yes, the green eyed monster comes out from time to time but really not very often anymore. Yet I learned in week four that I still struggle somewhat with contentment. Again the theme of God is enough. Just like God, He has given me opportunity to practice this theme. Again and again He has given me opportunities to either practice being content or not. Will I trust in Him and truly believe that He is enough. That He is big enough. Involved enough. Cares enough. Provides enough. Loves enough. Will give enough justice.

If you would have asked me before if I believed that God is all I needed I would have given the right answer, yet He is pushing and chiseling away on my grasp of control. Giving me opportunities to trust Him to be enough.

If you think of me pray for me this next week. The lesson is on a critical spirit. I have known from the beginning of this study this would be a hard week to swallow. More chiseling will be involved.

Hair...why do I think about it so much?

I want a new haircut. Something fun, a little funky, sassy, and sensible. And...I want to look like her.


or...

But this is my favorite...(She is a real person that I virtually know)


Is that asking too much?
That's all I got. Real deep today, I know.

Monday again?

I am not sure where last week went. I am finding it hard to believe that it is Monday again. I am loving that this Monday however is a holiday. I am not so excited about celebrating President's Day, but very much looking forward to enjoying a day off of work and school. Ron has taken Eli(12) and Eden(11) snowboarding for the day, so I think the rest of the gang and I will go to a movie this afternoon and maybe do a little clearance shopping.

Here is what I have planned for meals this week.
Monday: Chili and cornbread
Tuesday: Mexican stack (kinda like taco salad)
Wednesday: Dinner at church (potato bar, yum!)
Thursday: Homemade mac & cheese
Friday: Fajitas
Saturday: Chicken soup or maybe Tortellini soup
Check out the Organizing Junkie for more meal ideas.

Monday Menus

Monday: Pork roast, rice pilaf, and green beans
Tuesday: Ella's B-day!! I am sure she would prefer Mac & Cheese but we are having Fajitas
Wednesday: Dinner at church
Thursday: French toast
Friday: Spaghetti, bread, salad
Saturday: Still thinking on this for Valentine's Day, Our Best Bites looks like they will have some yummy things this week. They had chocolate waffles with berry sauce today. Yum!

Those of you that know me very well are wondering if I really made pork roast. Yes, I did. Neither Emma or I ate it, but I made it ;o) I am trying to use the meat I have in the freezer (my dad brought it over)

Happy Monday to y'all! For more menus head on over the Organizing Junkie

Thursdays thoughts

This week has flown by. I can't believe it is already Thursday, February 5th! We celebrated Eden turning 11 yesterday (and will continue celebrating through the weekend because one day is just not enough) and getting ready for the baby to turn 3 on February 10. Add in the sniffles, some coughing, work and school and we have had a busy week. Are you as ready as I am to see the sun shine and the weather warm up?

I am taking this fabulous bible study that I can not recommend enough. It has been a wonderful opportunity to pour some water on this dry and thirsty land. It has been a really long time since I have done a bible study that is this powerful. Never have I related so much to the complaining children of Israel. I have seen a painfully close resemblance to myself in their whining and ungratefulness. Who wants to be around a whiner? Not me. In fact I usually try to avoid them. I would much rather be considered thankful. Real to life's struggles, but thankful.

Here's a little sample:

If we choose complaining as our lifestyle, we can be absolutely sure that we will be sent to live in the wilderness.

All the grace and strength you need to experience joy and victory are available to you; but by choosing to complain, by clinging to the idol of a perfect life, you are flushing away the grace of God.

Your complaining is totally self-centered rather than other-centered.

They let the things they taste, touch, smell and feel dictate the priorities of their lives. (Israelites)

God sees our complaining as an insult to His provision

God's fullness comes to those who turn from complaining and embrace thankfulness as the focus of their thought life.

Emotions make a great caboose but a terrible engine.

Emotions are untrustworthy and should not determine your choice of attitude.

We dishonor God with anything less than gratitude.

I am so enjoying this study! Yes, it is very convicting. But not in a negative way. To me it is so exciting to see God revealing things I need to change in my life, and to see scripture through another lens. To know that He is not done with me and that He is patient to still be working on my heart. What an awesome God we have that loves us so much. I still have so much to learn.