Casting Crowns Video

WOW!! This song has just reminded me that no matter what differences we have with one another, we are to work together like the body works together! This world has become so judgmental that people are hurting!! Are we as the body of Christ, reaching out to the hurting? Are we teaching those that don't know the way? Are we stepping out of our comfort zone and welcoming everyone that walks through our church doors? Or do we just stay amongst our circle of friends and stay where we are "safe"? As Christ's followers, we should know and understand that we are SAFE in HIS ARMS especially when we are doing HIS WORKS! Lately, I have been trying to examine myself and trying to see what it is that GOD wants me to do. I have been sitting dormant ever since I had my oldest daughter, Mara. I know that I haven't been doing the Lord's work like He would like me to do. Life is full of choices. We have the right to choose on a daily basis what we are going to eat, wear, drink and who we talk to. GOD does not force us to do anything that we don't want to do. He gave us that free will! Why is it that we don't make the choices to LIVE FULLY FOR HIM??? Is it because we are too "comfortable" and don't want to extend the comfort to others that are in need of comfort? I don't know where GOD IS TAKING ME! I don't know what HIS exact plans are but I do know that I am going at them with full speed and wanting HIS WILL TO BE DONE in my life and my families life. My life hasn't seemed complete for years and I know that the completeness is coming! GOD has MANY WONDERFUL THINGS IN STORE for not only ME but all who believe in HIM!!! He is our Alpha and Omega, The First and Last, The Beginning and The End! He is our Comforter and Healer!! I want to be the part of the BODY of CHRIST that reaches, teaches, that LOVES UNCONDITIONALLY!!! I want to be the part of the BODY that CHRIST would have me to be!! Life is too short to just be sitting dormant and not moving! I am so ready to get into MY PART OF THE BODY!! Are you ready for that? Are you ready to put yourself out there? I am!!HERE I AM LORD, SEND ME!!!! Let me be used of you and through you!! Give me the confidence that I need to go forth! Thank you LORD for CHOOSING ME!!! Well, I am done rambling. I hope this song ministers to you like it is me!!GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

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LIFE IS ROUGH when you are going through a tough time

Well, my dad has been a walking miracle for many, many years. He has gone through 2 open heart surgeries, cancer removal of the colon area, stints placed in his heart, arteries replaced in his legs and cancer on is ear lobe. So yes, he has been on borrowed time for quite a long time. I believe that he had his first heart attack when he was only 42. A few weeks back, he was acting strange and saying bizarre things. He was confused but then he would be fine. Very weird! So my mom made an appointment for him to see the doctor because she believed he either suffered a stroke or was starting into alzeheimers. They went to the doctor. The doctor ordered bloodwork and an MRI. The MRI showed that he didn't suffer a stroke and that he isn't in the early stages of alzeheimers. Good news, right? WRONG!! The doctor informed my mom and dad that my dad's brain is shrinking. Sounds strange to me. How can your brain shrink? Well, my dad has the hardening of the arteries disease. This has caused many of his problems. His arteries build up with plaque and the only way to get rid of it is by surgery. His last leg surgery, they had to use an artificial artery because he had no more useable arteries in his legs. They previously were able to take a part of an existing artery and replace the bad section. He has had that done sooooooo many times that they couldn't do that anymore. I know, this all seems technical. Trust me, I haven't understood a lot of it!!! Because he has this disease, the arteries to the brain are becoming defected in that I believe that the blood flow to the brain has decreased which is causing his brain to shrink. Crazy isn't it? My husband made the comment that they say we only really use 10% of our brain so why does it matter if his brain is shrinking. I told him that under different circumstances, I believe it wouldn't really matter but because the blood flow to the heart is slowly disappearing, I think that is why it is a problem. I don't know though because I AM NOT A DOCTOR nor do I think that I know everything. This is just my answer on the whole thing. Anyways, the doctor pulled my mom aside and said that we are to enjoy him as we can. What does this mean? Well, my dad's borrowed time is about to expire. We have no idea when or how long we have. It is really difficult for me because I hate not knowing how long. I think I would feel better if I knew that we had 1 week, 1 month, several months or a year or two. I have come to grips that my dad has been sick for a VERY, VERY long time and that he won't be here to watch my girls grow up but it has really hit me hard!!! I know that GOD's hand is on the whole thing but I want to know when! Are we allowed to know how much time we have with him? I hate knowing that Mara and Mariana will not have their "Papa" growing up. I hate that Mariana hasn't even really gotten to know him like Mara has. I hate that life has to end. I know that this is what life is all about. That we will all die someday. Some sooner than others but it is just really, really hard. In a perfect world, we would all just be taken up to Heaven without having to deal with the pain of losing loved ones. But we don't live in a perfect world! I am just praying that my dad doesn't have to suffer anymore than he has for so many years but it is hard to let him go. I want to know that he will be going to Heaven but I am not sure of that and I think that is the hardest part of the whole thing. He knows that GOD has brought him through oh so many times and he really knows that God had His hand on him before one of the surgeries that he has had but that is all I see. I know that he did ask God into his life back when he had his last open heart surgery but he didn't change his life style at all. So I just need comfort from the Holy Spirit in knowing where he is gonna be for eternity! I know that Mike and I need to have a talk with him to see. I wished that my parents would go to church on a regular basis somewhere but they don't. I know that I am rambling on but this is just soooooo difficult right now. Please, if you feel led, keep my family and I in your prayers. We really need them! Thanks for letting me get this off of my chest. May God keep you safe in HIS arms!!!

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LUNCH DATE

Today was a GREAT day! We all got up, got ready for church and actually made it to church before the service started!! That hasn't happened in awhile. It is just so hard for me to get moving when I know Mike is home. He takes the girls and leaves me to some nice quiet time! I LOVE WHEN HE IS HOME! Anywho, I guess the sermon was wonderful. Mike told me I need to get a copy of it. I had to take Mariana out. She was a bit fussy and so I took her out so she didn't disturb the rest of the congregation. After church, MY DEAR, DEAR friend, Aunt Kim was gracious to watch our two little princesses so Mike and I could have a date!! A DATE!!! Wow, that is such an awesome thing especially when they become so few and far in between. Kim loves any chance she has to watch the girls. She has 3 of her own boys and she married a man who had 3 boys of his own so yes, she is surrounded by boys/men!! So when I ask her if she would like to watch the girls, she almost ALWAYS answers without hesitation, YES!!! I would love to!! Her husband likes when she watches them, because it gets the itching out of her system of wanting a baby girl! LOL!!! Well, back to our date. We went and ate at Carrababas or something like that. It was good but it wasn't worth the money that we paid. It was very expensive and the thing that gets me is that Mike got this meal that had 2 chicken breasts prepared 2 different ways and fresh green beans. NO PASTA AT ALL and it is an Italian Restaurant. I got some kind of pasta with shrimp, spinach, mushrooms, chunks of tomatos and garlic. VERY YUMMY but I think the next time we have Italian, we will stick to Olive Garden! They have a much better selection and you get more for your money! Don't get me wrong, I LOVED our "DATE!!!" but would have enjoyed it more if we didn't pay so much. It is so hard to just look at spending money on a date that we could have spent on several meals at home. I had to keep telling myself that we don't do this very often. The last time we went to lunch, by ourselves, was last Memorial Day weekend and we didn't spend money. We had a gift card!! We really needed that time for just the two of us. We actually enjoyed ourselves and didn't really mention the kids at all. I didn't even call half way through our meal. Isn't that great? I am getting better at not having to check up on my kiddos while we are out. I did call when we were heading back there so she knew but that was only 1 call in 3 hours! It was so nice. I believe that when you get married and start a family that so often, couples get caught up in the kids and forget about themselves as a couple. I really believe that couples need time to just themselvesl, outside of the home. It just gives them that chance to reconnect. I had such a great day! I did end up missing choir practice again but we got back after 4pm and I couldn't just up and go to choir after being gone for that long! Well, I am gonna end now with this thought~~~~ALL YOU MARRIED COUPLES OUT THERE~~~take the time to reconnect with your spouses. Find a babysitter, who doesn't charge so you don't feel so guilty spending money on lunch/dinner without your little ones! I am soooo very grateful for Kim for being so willing to take the girls so we can have "me" time with one another!! THANK YOU KIM FOR BEING SO WILLING!!! Have a great week everyone! Let's all try to take a guess what kind of weather we have in store this week! LOL!!!

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TAG

Favorite Sites:
Beth's Blog
Myspace
Salem Hosp Baby Net

Challenge Favs:
Trying to decorate cakes! I have decided that it would be so much nicer to decorate your own cake than to buy one from the bakery. I am no good at it but practice is all it will take.

Guilty pleasures:
Taking a nice long hot bath when noone is up so I can just take that moment for myself. Also, the internet is my means of sanity. LOL!!!!!

Babysitting Fav.:
Besides my husband, I would venture to say Kim Linhart!! She has 3 of her own boys and her husbands 3 boys so she will gladly take my girls anytime she has the opportunity!!!

Creative Fav.:
No creativity going on in my neck of the woods!!!!

Clothing Fav.:
Now, clothing fashion for me means staying in my flannel pj's all day and not having to try to find something that "fits"! I am in the need of major weight loss so until then, PJ's are the all time favorite thing!!!

I don't have anyone to tag because I really don't have anyone on my blogspot to tag.

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