Update

Here's an update on my summer list...
- spend time with family and friends... build relationships... (check :))
- go to niece & nephews ball games
- plan, decorate, and help with VBS
- go on trips (been on a few :), one more to go)
- work out and get in better shape 
(this has been put on pause, I will resume next week =D)
- swim and maybe get a tan 
(haven't been lately :( but I am a lil darker, courtesy of a burn...)
- organize the file cabinet... papers have been stacking up for months...
- make a painting for guest bath... "splish, splash, taking a bath"...
- create & complete wedding photo album
- plan for classes next year (in progress!)
- save pictures to computer/disk... create photo albums (?)
- make some new crafts and/or foods... gotta find some ideas...
(These past two weeks some of the eats I've made are a Flag Cake, Tye-Dye Cupcakes, Potato Skins, Shrimp Parmesan Pasta, homemade peach ice cream... Yum!  I'll post pics when I get them to my comp)
- read books (Radical, Crazy Love, Don't Waste Your Life, Remarkable Women of the Bible, Love and Respect, First Love, Christ Centered Life, My Utmost for His Highest, Mathematics for Every Student (started this one), Why Didn't I Learn This in College, and more may be added)


So as you can see, there is still much to do.  But you probably also realize (like I do) that I am running out of time.  But it's ok.  I'll get done what I can and I'll tackle these other items some other time.  They're not summer only items.  Well, most of them are not.  I just usually have more time in the summer.  


If you hadn't noticed yet, today is the 15th... 
which means it's time for my next memory verse and I think it is quite appropriate...


Matthew 6:34 (HCSB)
Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. 
Each day has enough trouble of its own.


Until next time,
Focus on today (each day), don't miss out on everything around you

Celebrate!

One of my sweet friends, Amber, is celebrating her Mama's birthday by doing a giveaway on her blog.  You should check it out.  :)


One of the "extra entries" for this giveaway is to ... "Leave me a comment about one treasured thing that your mom gave you (material or abstract)." 


Well, I got to thinking... we celebrate birthdays and have good times, but how often do we stop and really treasure that persons life... treasure what they have given to us.  


A few things my wonderful Mom has given to me over the years... 

• modesty in dress and understanding why to dress modestly
• stop and spend time with God... in His word and in prayer
• a love for puzzles and games
• some of her old clothes (I thought I was so cool wearing her old high school clothes =D)
• a love for spending time with family and knowing who's related to who
• the desire/love to collect things... charms for my bracelet, smashed pennies, etc
• easy recipes :)
• a love for scrapbooking... along with some scrapbooks...

I love my Mom!  :)  And I really love spending time with her (and the rest of the family) and doing fun stuff!!  God has blessed me with a great Mom.  I hope you're able to enjoy time with your Mom this week.

Until next time,

treasure those in your life & all that they've given

Realizations

This summer I decided to go on one of the youth trips (like last summer).  Our youth have three main trips in the summers:  Centrifuge, PowerPlant, and World Changers.  I signed up for PowerPlant because I love serving with church plants.  Unfortunately, we didn't have very many youth sign up for PowerPlant this year.  I was needed as a chaperone for the Centrifuge trip.  To be honest, I wasn't too excited at first.  Don't get me wrong - I like Fuge, but I wanted to go to PowerPlant.  Well, we went to Fuge and it was a good week.  I had fun and learned lots.  It was trying at times but also encouraging. 

Our World Changers team left today.  I must say that I miss going to WC every year.  I have been to seven WC projects in the past ten years.  My Mom called to tell me something yesterday.  The first thing she asked was "Do you want to go to World Changers?"  I was at a loss.  I said, "What?!"  She asked me again.  I paused and thought about it.  Yes!  Wait, I have stuff to do.  I have a meeting on Tuesday that I can't get out of.  I have another meeting Thursday, not required though.  I have to run the computer. etc.  I wanted to say "Yes.  I'll go home and pack and be ready to leave in the morning."  But I couldn't.  Needless to say, it kinda bothered me.  This opportunity arose, but I couldn't/didn't take it.

[On another note... hang with me... it'll all tie together...]

Last night, some feelings overflowed out of me.  Not good feelings either.  These feelings were insecurity and selfishness.  I had been feeling insecure and selfish for a little while, but last night it was time for them to come out.  Ready or not.  My husband knew something was on my mind.  So he inquired.  My stubborn self tried to hold back, but I couldn't.  I miss getting flowers.  I miss getting stuff for me.  I'm tired of cleaning and doing laundry.  I'm not good enough.  There are fifty million things going on in my head.  etc.  And he had words to share with me... words that were true even though they were hard for me to swallow.  He reminded me of one of our devotions we read recently - about being thankful instead of complaining.  I was thankful, really.  I have been blessed far more than I deserve.  But at the same time, I was listening to "these lies" as he called them.  He also pointed something out to me - I need to focus on one thing at a time... pick one thing to start and let that be my focus until I finish it... that way I wouldn't be overwhelmed (hopefully).  

Well, all of this to say that I have come to a few realizations...

• I'm not good enough.  I never will be.  I am who God has made me.  I have to trust that He knows what's best and He will be my strength.  Sure gifts are nice, but they're not a necessity.  Sure time would be nice, but really I have it... I just need to make the most of it.  
• I do need to focus on one thing at a time.  Get one task down and then tackle something else.  I will finish as much of my summer list as possible in these last few weeks.  
• We are put in certain situations for a reason.  Enjoy the time you have, where you have it, with you have it, and learn something new.
• I am blessed!!  Great family, good friends, nice home, clothes to wear, food to eat, able to travel...
• Insecurity and selfishness may return, but I don't have to listen to them.
• We don't always know how much time we have left to live.

I love music!  It often reminds us of truths we need to hear.  Here are a few that have brightened my day... Mirror, Mirror by Barlow Girl, Beautiful by Mercy Me - another gal (http://vinson-nicole.blogspot.com/) enjoyed this song recently as well...

I hope y'all have a wonderful Saturday!

Until next time,

Live life to the fullest!

Note:  When I get my pictures uploaded from my camera to my computer, I will share with you some good eats that I made recently.  :) 

#13

It's the second half of the year... Only 12 more verses for 2011. Here's verse 13:

Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 

I want to encourage you to "stop and chew" on this verse. Really think about what the Lord was saying to the Israelites.

Live, Laugh, LOVE

Life is wasted if you do not love the things that come your way.  We are often blessed ten times more than we realize and acknowledge.  So today I am going to share with you some things that I love...

I love weddings... a time of celebration of two individuals and two families joining because of their love for each other.  I have the honor and pleasure of attending/assisting at a wedding today.  And might I say, it has been a joy watching the wedding party have their pictures taken... and the bride is beautiful!

I love spending time with family.  This past week my family (Dad, Mom, Brother, Husband, and I) enjoyed a vacation in Branson.  It was a blast!  We went with very few plans for the week; however, we seemed to always be going and having fun.  If you go to Branson this year, I highly recommend that you go see the show Noah at the Sights & Sound Theater.  We also did the usual... putt-putt golf, tennis, shuffle board, swimming (pool & lake).  Unfortunately, the sun was not my friend while we were on the lake.  My poor body is burnt!  But it will heal... hopefully sooner rather than later.

I love summer... and all of its festivities.  We have a cookout & swim with the youth this weekend... so exciting!  I'm also looking forward to our family's fish fry to celebrate the 4th of July... fun times ahead!

I love quotes.  One addition to my classroom walls next year will be quotes... some printed on colored paper, some framed and bought, some painted by dear friends... quotes come in so many different designs and are often great reminders that we need...

I love learning new things.  Yes, I'm weird - I like to learn.  I spent an entire week at a workshop learning how to have more engaging lessons.  I hope that I will be able to efficiently/adequately apply what I learned.  I love to learn and that is part of the reason I also love to teach.

I love pictures... and capturing the memories we make throughout our lives.  Unfortunately, I often forget to bring my camera along.  But I am getting better.  Hopefully I'll be able to get the pictures saved so that I can share them with you.  And I also have a nifty phone that is pretty good at doubling as a camera.

I love to laugh and have fun!

I love sharing life with others... which is why I have chosen to blog this year.  I hope my posts don't bore you too much.  I hope to share with you more and more along the way.

Until next time,
enjoy the life you're getting to live

Halfway!

After this next verse, I will be halfway through the year for SSMT.  It’s hard to believe that twenty-eleven is going by so quickly.  Here’s my next verse:

Colossians 3:17 (HCSB)

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

When we posted our verse this time, we were also asked to complete the following statement. 

Memorizing scripture has helped me…
to keep my focus on what is important and not let the “little things” bog me down.

I really needed this reflection.  I have been down a little here lately.  Of course, I think part of the problem is that I have been busy… running ragged… and it’s summer!  I have yet to understand how my time disappears.  It doesn’t feel like I waste it on insignificant things, but it also doesn’t feel like I’m being as productive/useful as I should be.  I need to make sure I keep my focus on the things that truly matter and that I am working toward those goals especially.

On a positive note, I have accomplished a few things on my summer to do list…

-     - go to niece & nephews ball games

-     - VBS

-     - work out… Insanity… enough said…

-     - swim… went three days in a row last week  

-     - started reading one of my books:  Mathematics for Every Student

-     - cook new food:  Baked Potato Soup = yum!

Until next time, 

Enjoy your summer!!

Sweet Summertime

Well, summer has begun!  Not officially... there's about 20 more days until it's official... 


Nonetheless, summer is here.  And it is a great relief.  Plus it brings excitement.  Excitement to accomplish all of my summer goals.  And today, my friends, I'm going to share with you some of the things on my list: 
- spend time with family and friends... build relationships...
- go to niece & nephews ball games
- plan, decorate, and help with VBS
- go on trips 
- work out and get in better shape
- swim and maybe get a tan 
- organize the file cabinet... papers have been stacking up for months...
- make a painting for guest bath... "splish, splash, taking a bath"...
- create & complete wedding photo album
- plan for classes next year
- save pictures to computer/disk... create photo albums (?)
- make some new crafts and/or foods... gotta find some ideas...
- read books (Radical, Crazy Love, Don't Waste Your Life, Remarkable Women of the Bible, Love and Respect, First Love, Christ Centered Life, My Utmost for His Highest, Mathematics for Every Student, Why Didn't I Learn This in College, and more may be added)


So as you can see, I do not want to be lazy and waste my summer away.  And don't worry -- I will share the results of these lovely items.  I shall relax, but I shall also be productive.  Life is too short and too sweet to waste. 


As I begin this list, I have a new verse to be memorizing...
1 Kings 3:9a (NIV)
So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. 


Until next time,
Live Your Life!!