Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

                               I love Summer!!! I love warm weather! The only thing that makes this dreary, cold, monotonous weather bearable is the fact that the holidays are just around the corner. Family time, eating time, conversing time, time to just relax and focus on loved ones. The kids having breaks from school. Time to hang out and chill with them. Just today, I decided to have my dad's extended family to my humble abode for turkey day. I like to entertain, however I must admit I'm not very good at the decorating part. I'd like to think that people will still have enjoyed being here, despite what my house looks like.
                              But, Christmas is my all-time most favorite season of the year!!! I love it even more than my birthday! My A.D.D kicks in and I go berserk for the shiny paper, ornaments, candles, glitter, and it doesn't help that red is my favorite color!! (I would have made a great elf!) In all honesty, I love giving gifts. I start my planning in August/September for the gift giving season. (You never know when that perfect gift will be on sale!)  On Christmas Eve, my family comes over, we eat appetizers and open gifts. The kids are all watching to see when us adults have the last bite swallowed so they can open presents! Who am I kidding, I can't wait to dive head first into the tree! I just realized that would be a sight to behold! Ha.
                              The other evening Marv and I sat down with the boys to discuss what they wanted for Christmas. All 3 boys were yelling so loudly over each others voices, that I couldn't hear a blessed word. They did calm down enough to say what each one wanted, even Marv, who dreads this time of year, mentioned a few helpful gift ideas for himself! I can't wait to get started!!!
                               With all the hustle and bustle that this time of year brings, please don't forget to be thankful for the many blessings you have, family & friends that are still here, your health and most of all the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Jesus.

Joy

      Joy, such small lettters but what a great impact these 3 have on our lives. We, as Americans are stressed out, overworked, stretched to the max, among lots of other things. There's so much 'stuff' vying for our time, trying to grab our attention that we don't know which end is up sometimes.  It's easy to put quiet time on the shelf or say a quick prayer in the car on your way somewhere.
      This past Sunday at Grace, we started a new series called 'Get Back'. I am so excited for the revival this is going to bring to Grace!! We were challenged to fast from something, anything, to get our minds focused on Christ once again. We all struggle with spiritual drift from time to time and this is the time to recommit to scripture reading, face on the floor prayer time, & truly confessing all the dirt within us. I encourage you, whether you attend Grace or not, to look into your own life and see where you have drifted, (scripture reading, memorization, prayer time). I have decided for my fast to eat only salads and healthy foods, no junk or packaged garbage. As a family, we are skipping fast food, including my ever-so-handy Monday, Friday & Saturday night pizza. This means I will have to cook more but it's going to be so worth it!
      Our worship master, Rocky, wrote a song called Revive Us. The lyrics 'restore our joy' struck a  chord with me. I'm usually a positive, happy person but earlier this summer I felt a little down. My prayer is that God would restore the joy back into your lives.
    Good luck in your fast and 'Getting Back' to God!

                                                    Revive Us

                                                                                                                        Amy

Tidbits of Busyness

     Can I just say that I hate that Satan loves to keep me busy. It's the number one thing that gets me every time! I don't see it coming! So busy with work that my kids get neglected. So busy that my spouse feel unloved & disrespected. (OUCH) So busy that family & friends feel rejected. So busy I don't have time to open God's Word. It is one of Satan's plans to busy me with other 'things'. To distract me from what is really important. Perhaps, I am the only one struggling with this?
     I can tell when I don't spend enough time in the word & praying. I get anxious and start to worry. I can tell when I am busying myself with other 'things'. I can so tell when I'm not spending enough QUALITY time with the men of the house. They get irritated, closed up, and simply don't want to listen. Which in turn makes me grumpy and it ends up in a vicious cycle. Yes, I can get grumpy on occasion, I am only human.
     However, on the flip side, I try to weed out my schedule and focus on only the things that are of most importance. I try to spend my days off with my boys and feed my hungry hubby a nice dinner from scratch on my days off. (One of his love language's is acts of kindness.) If that means having his clean underwear in his drawer and not on the laundry room counter, I will gladly have them put away. :)
     The boys and I were watching home videos the other evening. I remember thinking we are never getting out of diapers and bottles with the twins and now here they are going into second grade! I am wondering if I will ever teach them everything I want them to learn/know before they leave our home. How am I focusing today to spend time with each one? How can I teach them biblical principles and scripture? I have a couple of attack plans! I will take time out to smell the roses, put away clean underwear and make mashed potatoes from scratch!
      I hope you find yourself not to busy to smell the roses.

Life Group Trip

               This past weekend, our Life Group took a short, eventful and very hilarious work trip to Gary, West Virginia. Gary is located at the bottom of the steepest mountain (or so it seems) in one of the poorest counties in the United States. We had several work projects lined up through an organization called School for Life. A few of our projects included, re-schingling a porch roof, gutting a bathroom, tearing off 2 porches, power washing the exterior of a house and repainting it. Now I'm a list maker, get'er done kind of person and get great satisfaction to cross things off the list when completed. Let me just say, God had other plans.
                Marv and I tore into a bathroom on Friday, tearing out a pedestal sink, a toilet that sat on bricks and a couple severed 2x4's, and a full tub/shower combo. Now let me paint you a picture, minus the putrid smell (which is forever etched in my senses). Marv, is by no means, a plumber by trade. He knows that hot is on the left, cold is on the right, and that everything else flows downhill. Water gushing out of a pipe means there's a problem. The floor in the bathroom gave the Alps a run of their money, hence the reason the commode sat on bricks. I should also say that we had to move these people's 'things' out of the bathroom before we could do our work. I am very funny about hair and products that are not mine or my family's. So I could have almost started gagging moving hair pieces, sanitary napkins, and everything else under the rainbow. (I still shudder)
                After removing the tub, sink and toilet, mostly in pieces, there were 4 layers of crusted on vinyl flooring we had tear out. Marv had given the last layer of vinyl a good yank and popped off the sink pipe at floor level. Insert Old Faithful here! We had to leave to grab a few more supplies. When we returned, I immediately smelled something when we climbed the stairs to get to the house. The grandma was home babysitting and decided to dump turpentine all over the floor and down the open pipes. (Who has turpentine laying around their house?!!!) My eyes burned and I had a cough already and this was just the icing on the cake. Moving on, as Marv was trying to cut apart the shower his foot went through part of the floor. The rest of our group joined us Saturday morning to help finish what we could. Our supposedly 1 day bathroom took us 2. Saturday it was raining and so the outside projects that didn't get accomplished, will wait until someone else arrives to get finished.
                It didn't matter that we didn't get the 5+ projects done. We gave a mom a safe floor so she can give her 4 year old son a bath without having to worry about falling through the floor. Also a  toilet that won't fall over spilling it's contents. My take away: Be happy with what you have. The Jones, Smiths, Millers, Yoders, Troyers, whoever will always seem to have bigger and better. The truth is, who cares!!! If you have a roof over your head that doesnt leak, food on the table that isn't moldy and clothes on your back that aren't dirty, then you, my friend, are BLESSED! What more does one want except happiness and contentment. I find myself very happy with everything the Lord has blessed Marv and I with. I hope you are too!

Mowing Faster

I found this song- Big Daddy Weave on my ipod through my shuffle feature. I found that I drove faster on my mower when this song played! I bet I could run a lot faster too, if I played it when I ran! I can relate to the line, 'to be held so tight I've never felt so free'. Love that my Jesus holds me tightly and I have freedom through him!

                                                        

Amazed

                        Once again, I am in awe and stand amazed at how God answers prayer! During these past 40+ days, I was just blown away by little things that came to light through fasting, prayer and reading the Word! I have seen, firsthand, that God sees the bigger picture and that He cares about the little things. I'm so glad He does!!! My gator has been out of commission the past 2 1/2 weeks. Talk about frustrating! It stresses me out and makes me grumpy when I have no wheels. It's fixable, but with a hefty price tag. Marv and I were discussing about how to pay for these repairs. This past Friday, we found out of  some monies that were due us that we had forgotten about and they exceeded the amount of the repairs! Needless to say, we were dancing for joy! I'm hoping you find the joy & amazement in the little things as well.

New Song

This is a new song to me that I like. Just thought I'd share.

                   Addison Road- This little light of mine.

Spring Peepers & Flowers

                        How about this weather!!! I am loving it! I feel like I could go outside and shake all the winter dust off of myself. We were talking about the spring peepers the other day at work. A few of the guys didn't know what a peeper is. For those of you who don't know either, it's a little frog. Yesterday while driving home from work, I had the windows down and these guys were so loud!!!! I could hear them over Toby Mac! Peepers not only make their existance known, but also the arrival of Spring known! Not to mention the pretty flowers that are popping up through the ground. Last fall I had planted bulbs and I was fearing they wouldn't come up. But alas, they have shown their ever so tiny heads! Thank you Jesus for the changing of the seasons!!!! (All except winter, sorry Virginia)

A Spring Peeper

(by any other name, could be called a frog)

Praises

                      So last Friday Coleson had surgery on his face to remove skin grafts and expanders that were stretching his cheeks. Everything went so great! Thank you Jesus! Doc wanted to keep us overnight, but I told him Coleson does so much bettter at home, so we were able to leave! Coleson's face is still a little swelled up but is diminishing everytime I look at him. He has stitches from ear to ear as well as a smile as big as a cheshire cat's! His whole head looked like a mummy until yesterday when the Doc removed the gauze and mesh.  Doc had a mirror for Coleson to look at himself with and was he beaming! I can't believe the difference in this child's demeanor. He is normally a happy kid but when we walked out of the hospital he was holding his head higher. He didn't shy away from strangers when they looked. Coleson still has a large piece of tape covering the incision that will have to wear off in the shower. He also has 6 or 8 stitches in his chin that come out in about a week. Coleson is planning on returning to school tomorrow. He is excited to show his classmates and friends his 'new' face. :) I will be posting pictures of before and after at a later time. Thank you to all of you who prayed and have been praying for us as a family, especially Coleson. Some days I think God has given me (and Marv) more than we can handle. Phillipians 4:6 says- 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.' I have been anxious and scared (I'm human) but I am so thankful that we serve a God who is in the business of  answering prayer. In His time and the way He sees fit. This answer was better than we could have hoped for!

Last Step

                     We are on the home stretch in our journey with Coleson's surgeries! Can I get a hip-hip-horray?!!! Hopefully this is the last one for a long time. Monday we met with the surgeon for one last look. Doc asked Coleson if he was ready for Friday and Coleson said 'YES' really loudly and gave the Doc a hi-five. Can you tell he is excited? Most kids, even some adults would be dreading going under the knife, trying to find away around it. Not Coleson, he wants to look like Kendall (his twin) more than anything again. He is willing to gag on his anethesia mask, have his face taped up, go through the up & down emotions that his meds bring, not to mention the pain of having his chin cut open from ear to ear. He is my super trooper! He never complains or whines. I am so proud to be his mom! I feel like I have been holding my breath since December. Praying that we can make it until March without popping an expander, getting sick, or having the surgery foiled in any way. Marv and I gave up a vacation, because we didn't want to leave Coleson for fear he got another infection or we would miss an appointment. March 27 it will be 2 years since the accident. Every time baseball season rolls around I think about the day our lives change forever. If we happen to cross your minds on Friday, please lift us in prayer. We press forward knowing that the Lord is going before us.

Motive

       Motive. This word had me thinking all the way home from bible study this evening. The question was raised 'What is our motive for looking good, exercising, losing weight?' Is it because we're afraid of what other people think, to become healthier, to have your husband notice, to have other men notice, to keep up with girlfriends, is it because your body is a temple, a living place of the Holy Spirit?
       Several years ago, during one of our heart-to-hearts, Marv said a few words that I'll never forget. I was feeling insecure about my weight and not being fit after having the twins. In a nutshell, I asked him if my extra weight bothered him at all. His reply will always stick with me. He said, "Inside you're still the woman I married." Inside. Hit me like a ton of bricks. Still makes me tear up. He didn't care that my outside had become mis-shapen and I had grown extra skin, he fell in love with my heart! God loves us, loves our hearts, no matter the scars and wounds. God doesn't care if we cover ourselves in the fanciest threads. It's the inside He cares about, that only comes from a relationship with him. My motivation for dieting and exercising back then had been to look good for Marv. I believe that my heart wasn't in the right place, that's why I wasn't successful. I would be lying if I didn't say that Marv's enjoying the new tansformation and tells me almost daily. I workout and run because I love it!!! There's almost nothing like the feeling of getting done with a workout, shirt soaked in sweat, heart beating like crazy knowing I kicked butt! If your workouts pale in comparison, call me, we will hit the gym.
        I realize there is more working out to be done on my inside, my heart, but I am accountable to several people. As one lady said, "You can tell beautiful people from the inside out, they shine." I want to go to my grave as having been known as a beautiful person, not because of the cothes on my back or the size jeans I wear, but because Christ shines THROUGH me!

Compliments (For Men)

         Not sure if I have any men reading my blog, but for those of you married men who are reading this, consider this post the frying pan to the head! Maybe I have been living in denial or maybe I'm just ignorant and didn't see it, but I can't believe there are married women in this world who don't get compliments from their husband! What on earth is wrong with you men?!!! In your dating years, you pursued your wife, said all sorts of nice things to wow her, bought her special thought through gifts. What happened? Do you have any idea what a "honey, that dinner was delicious." or "I like the way those jeans fit you." would do to her self esteem, especially if you don't pay her compliments often or at all?!!!!! She will store that away in her heart for as long as she needs till you pay her another one. If your like Marv and have no problem sending emails that say "ur hot hot hot tanks for ur patance" (written in his own spelling), or if you send your wife texts during the day saying "hey sexy don't forget the milk" then consider the frying pan a hand to pat your back with! Men encourage/compliment your wives, even when she's part grizzly and it's that time of the month. It's at those times when we need a hug or a kind word the most (and chocolate never hurts). It will work wonders!!! Find something throughout the course of the day to compliment her on. My prayer is that all women would feel consumed by love from their men!

New song

I like music and while I can't sing a tune to save my life, I sing anyway. The Lord doesn't care what it sounds like, just that your praising him right? I am liking everything Matt Maher right now. Here's one that I particularly enjoy, it's called  As it is in Heaven. He's taken words from the Lord's Prayer and re-vamped them. It's one of those songs you can really jam to on a warm summers day with the windows down! Enjoy!

Change

           Usually I'm not opposed to change, I even enjoy it most of the time. I can, for the most part 'roll-with-the-punches'. Call me crazy. Change brings new goals, new people I haven't met, a new pep in my step. However yesterday I wanted to kick change to the curb with the trash! Everything hit me at once and my emotions went through the roof! Do you ever have days like that? Maybe I'm the only one. Coleson has yet another infection, in his cheek this time, another round of anti-biotics. Marv sold his business (one where he was his own boss for 11 years), started a new job working for someone, and took a pay cut. The pay cut doesn't bother me, it's that Marv works hard and I know that he doesn't particularly enjoy that type of work. But he's working towards a bigger goal. Then to top it all off, last night as I was leaving home to go to bible study, I backed into my garage door and bent the bottom 2 panels! I was so frazzled at that point I had to laugh, as if it can't get any worse and then it does! Bible study ended up being just what I needed last night. Jocelyn Hamsher asked us what home feels like. Thinking our earthly home. (safe, peaceful-well maybe not always when I have 4 men in the house, a place where I can be myself- these were a few of the answers) Now think of our eternal home and those same words apply. I will be striving daily to be at 'home' with Jesus. My prayer is that you will to.