Friday Favorite Five...

Happy Friday to you!

A blogging friend of mine, says that she stops every Friday morning to sum up some of the blessings in her life and lists five of them as her favorites. This helps her remember to be thankful for the little things in her life and when she has a bad day between Fridays, she looks back at her blog and gets an instant reminder and pick-me-up! I liked the idea so much, I thought I would do the same thing so.....

• My down comforter on my bed... so inviting at night after a long day and so soft and cloud like to look at durning the day!
• Little boys who take great pleasure in being kind to one another. Not just for the sake of the kindness jar (although that helps) but because they love to come tell me that they are being kind to each other.
• A teen girl that loves with all her heart. She can have a tough exterior but when she loves she gives it all.
• A preteen boy that still loves to cuddle up next to mom and kiss her good night.
• sugar free jello with whipping cream.... yum only 25 calories too! Can't beat that when you are watching what you put into your mouth and counting calories :)
  

Hugs,

Janet

Spring Fever

Ok, its official I have it, Spring Fever... and I got it bad!!! We are headed for March and I am ready, more than ready, to get going and get things done. I was remembering back this morning while on my treadmill, and pretty sure ever since I was a little girl, the end of winter seems so long to me and I get very antsy and ready for Spring to get here! Its funny to me, the changes that occur so quickly within me. I am ready to get cleaning done that sat all winter for lack of energy to get it done. I am ready for lighter foods, fresh fruits and veggies, walks outside with my loved ones, homeschooling to allow us more time outside instead of at the table working with all the lights on and windows closed. I am ready!! My Sweetie and I started "spring cleaning" our bodies this week by throwing away the junk and eating better. What a difference just that has made in 4 days. After the first couple of days of grumpies, we are feeling much better, we even smiled at each other last night :) hehehe! I also have made it a point to have my Pandora Worship music on all day. It helps lighten my mood greatly and the kids and I are all running around here singing and praising, What a blessing! 

So, bring it on... Spring we are ready for you and have lots of plans! Can't wait to see you and all that you will have to offer us. Thank you God for giving us four seasons to enjoy your Creation!

Happy Spring to all you lovelies!!

Plastic Knife

This week in my devotion time, I read a really great thought from the author of my daily devotion and I wanted to share it with all of you my favorite readers of my blog, hehehe! The only problem was, that I couldn't share it until I could put it to the test and I had the chance to do just that today.

The author said that, like me, she has never really had a great use for plastic knives. I had to agree with her, pretty much useless for cutting anything of any substance and even spreading things like peanut butter or jelly can be daunting at best with a cheaply made plastic knife. The author pointed out that she finally stumbled upon a use for plastic knives, and I became very intrigued! She found out that they make the perfect knife for cutting brownies.... WHAT? Now, those of you who know me, know that I am always ready for something that makes my creations in the kitchen come out even better than before. So how can this be that I have never heard of this before??  Now, this is awesome news, but what actually is better than this ( I know, can there be anything better??) is what she said after this discovery of hers that really made me tingle inside. Knowing that plastic knives have their own purpose, one wouldn't cut things like cardboard or potatoes or meat with them, they have their own purpose or gift and do anything else with them would be useless and a waste of the users energy and time. Well, guess what ladies? We all have the same purpose in our Creators eyes! We are created with special gifts and talents and we spend so much time misusing them and comparing ourselves to other women (especially).  Each of us has something to offer and use for His purpose and He is excited to watch us be useful for those purposes! So, your friend might be more organized than you, she might be more patient with her family, she might be a great hostess who has it all together on the drop of a dime, whatever! You are special too and have something to offer that your friends doesn't. Look inside for it, pray about it, and be ready to use it for God's purposes and He will be pleased, and so will you!!!

By the way, I did try cutting my warm brownies with a plastic knife, and sure enough, they came out perfect! No ragged edges, perfect squares, and not one bit stuck to the knife! Give it try and think about how God created you for His specific purpose!!

Hugs!

Great big thank yous!!!

Most of you that read my blog happen to know that these last few weeks have been tough on me. I just want all of you to know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the words of encouragement, the cards, calls, gifts, offers to make meals, take kids, and notes of laughter :) that you bestowed on me. It truly is wonderful to have such amazing people on my side of this life and without you, I would be a lost person. Each of you blessed me in YOUR way, which made it that much more personal and special and I can't thank you enough for how you have made these days lighter and easier!

So thank you many times over for being my friends, my shoulders to lean on, my listening ears, and most of all my prayer warriors! You are my friends and my sisters and for that I am eternally grateful.

Hugs to you all!

Valentine's Day

Five years ago today my mom was taken from this earth of pain and heartache to go and live with her heavenly Father. Every day I miss her more than I ever thought possible. She was truly my best friend and genuinly loved me unconditionally. What a treasure she was to me, Frank,  and to our children. I was the baby of the family so we had lots of time together, just her and I, after all the kids were gone from the house and we had a special bond that will never be replaced. There is a part of me that is grateful that she is being spared from some of the pain that is here on this earth. I knew her too well to know that some of the choices that people in her life are now making would simply destroy here and there could lie some of the reason that God took her home to be with Him, to spare her of any more pain from these people here. Who knows the reasons, other than the Almighty?! She is thrilled to be in the presence of her Jesus, I know this without one doubt. And as I get older and I see more about what is here on this earth for me, I see the increased joy of the thought of being in God's presence.  How nice to have something like that to look forward to!

Mom, today more than others, we miss you oh so much. I miss the calls, and the visiting, how you made every day a special day with unexpected cards and notes, just to tell me you love me and how proud you are of me. To just get one more of those, would be an irreplaceable gift. For now, I treasure the box of cards, notes, and pictures that we have of you with the kids, that I did keep and take them out and share them with your grandchildren from time to time and they really love them, so thank you again! Happy Valentine's Day mom, may you have the love of Jesus all around you on this day, and know that I will see you one day too and wrap my arms around you!

Happy Birthday to you, Mom!

Today is the day! My mom would have been celebrating her 71st birthday today!  Happy Birthday mom!! 

We all love you and miss you so very much mom. And today more than ever the void and hole that you left in my heart is a little bit bigger and much more open and vulnerable.  That hole opens and closes depending on the day and time, but todays its wide open still wondering why. 

I love you mom and miss you more than anyone would ever 

know!  Hugs and Kisses from earth sent to you there in Heaven.  Mwah!!

Thank you God for my children....

Yesterday was just plain awful. One of those days that you just want to erase from the calendar and your life... ick! All three of my boys picked up on my more than usual quietness and that my eyes were more teary than usual. This morning while they were getting dressed, I was walking towards their room to give them their clean laundry and I stopped outside the door as I heard my oldest son, Austin telling the twins; "ok, guys we need to cheer mommy up today. She is really sad and we need to make her feel better. Lets be sure to be good today and to say lots of I love you's to her. And tell her that she looks pretty too, that makes her smile." Then the twins started in, with " yeah and if we tell her that she is a good teacher, she likes that. And when we kiss her she smiles alot. And if we do our school work without fooling around she doesn't get madder (Cam) LOL." This went on for a couple of minutes and then I walked away thank God for these blessings that he gave to me and crying again but this time tears of joy!