I'm having one of those "thankful" days, ever have those? Just a day to reflect on all you have seen, all you remember, and being thankful for where you are today. I remember.
The other night we met with the Pastors at our church that do outreach and as we were talking about different things we want to do to reach our city (mind you our city is named the "most miserable place to live) I remembered. I was sharing with them how there was a time as a kid that I recall getting food from a church. It broke me into tears talking about it, as if it just happened. We lived on Welfare most of my childhood, and that's not a fun place to live. It was not like my mom did not work hard either, it was just that my dad was no help at all to her financially. She did not sit around, collect government money and call it a day. She was one that tried her hardest to get off the system; but with 4 kids, you can imagine how hard it was. When I look back on my childhood, I generally think of everything from my perspective, how it affected me. Now that I'm an adult, with kids of my own, I can only imagine a glimpse of what my mom must have felt on a daily basis.
I did not intend for this to be a sad post however, sometimes you have to remember the rough times in order to appreciate the now. I remember. And I appreciate. I generally am a thankful person anyway, not because I'm super awesome and always have the right attitude, no. I guess it's just because I do remember, I remember where I used to live. And I see where I live now.
I'm so thankful that God lifted me out of the mirey clay, that He set my feet on a solid rock. I'm so thankful to have a great family, to have great friends. I'm so thankful to be part of a church that is gearing up to reach this miserable place to live. I'm just so thankful. Because I remember.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
He hears
I know that God hears us when we pray; I pray with full faith that God is totally hearing me, that He is placing things into action to facilitate the answer that I need. Yes, I believe in the power of prayer.
Having said that, I tend to forget that God hears me when I'm just talking to Him, not really praying for anything in particular, just talking. I know He hears me, but sometimes I need to be reminded that I know it.
Just now, I was sitting down to read a bit before I go to bed, ya, it's 8:30 and I'm getting ready for bed, so what?! Anyway. I just was talking to the Lord briefly about different areas in my life that I feel are lacking...you know how that goes right? You always have something you feel inadequate about...at least I do. I found myself telling the Lord things about myself that I wish were different, and to even type them out here, well, it would sound so silly to you all. It's not physical, although I always am griping to the Lord about weight. Nope, tonight I was just talking to God about how I wish that I were smarter, had more to offer people...more value...things along those lines. I won't go into detail, but you get the gist right.
So I open a book that I have started to read before but had forgotten about. I decide to read the introduction, and was reminded that yes, I know God hears. The intro starts off talking about the time that Mary went to the tomb and was met by Jesus Himself! It goes on to say how Mary knew that Jesus cared deeply about her simply because He called her by name that day...this is the portion that jumped out at me:
"God knows each of you and cares for you just as He cared about Mary. He knows your name; you belong to Him (Isaiah 43:1). No matter who you are or what kind of baggage you carry with you, no matter what you look like or feel like, no matter what you do or don't do, God loves you just as you are right now. You don't have to get your act together, lose ten pounds, run a marathon, write a best-selling book, or raise perfect children. You are an extraordinary woman in His sight right now."
Ok, crazy right? Man. No sooner had I just finished talking to the Lord about all these attributes that I feel are lacking in myself, that I read that He thinks I'm extraordinary. I have never, ever used that word in describing myself but lookout guys, I may just have to start!
So there ya have it; the next time you start off on a list of things you want to change, remind yourself that you are already extraordinary!!! Just.as.you.are.
Having said that, I tend to forget that God hears me when I'm just talking to Him, not really praying for anything in particular, just talking. I know He hears me, but sometimes I need to be reminded that I know it.
Just now, I was sitting down to read a bit before I go to bed, ya, it's 8:30 and I'm getting ready for bed, so what?! Anyway. I just was talking to the Lord briefly about different areas in my life that I feel are lacking...you know how that goes right? You always have something you feel inadequate about...at least I do. I found myself telling the Lord things about myself that I wish were different, and to even type them out here, well, it would sound so silly to you all. It's not physical, although I always am griping to the Lord about weight. Nope, tonight I was just talking to God about how I wish that I were smarter, had more to offer people...more value...things along those lines. I won't go into detail, but you get the gist right.
So I open a book that I have started to read before but had forgotten about. I decide to read the introduction, and was reminded that yes, I know God hears. The intro starts off talking about the time that Mary went to the tomb and was met by Jesus Himself! It goes on to say how Mary knew that Jesus cared deeply about her simply because He called her by name that day...this is the portion that jumped out at me:
"God knows each of you and cares for you just as He cared about Mary. He knows your name; you belong to Him (Isaiah 43:1). No matter who you are or what kind of baggage you carry with you, no matter what you look like or feel like, no matter what you do or don't do, God loves you just as you are right now. You don't have to get your act together, lose ten pounds, run a marathon, write a best-selling book, or raise perfect children. You are an extraordinary woman in His sight right now."
Ok, crazy right? Man. No sooner had I just finished talking to the Lord about all these attributes that I feel are lacking in myself, that I read that He thinks I'm extraordinary. I have never, ever used that word in describing myself but lookout guys, I may just have to start!
So there ya have it; the next time you start off on a list of things you want to change, remind yourself that you are already extraordinary!!! Just.as.you.are.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
What have I started?
Joei just walked in and said, "Mom, you will be so happy to hear this! Payless has the BOGO sale!"
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Creepy Barbie lives
Joei had been asking for this life size Barbie that she saw at Wal-mart, and Santa being the jolly old soul he is, decided to bring it for Christmas. She was over the moon when she saw it. Immediately she stripped the Barbie of her clothing and wore it herself. It fit, sorta. The Barbie made the rounds with her that day, at the table, in her room, in the middle seat of the car. Seriously.
Jaden came over on Christmas morning and was lucky enough to get a shot with the Barbie. Jaden, please contain your excitement.
Joei was very possessive over the Barbie, as if she were her real life friend. They danced together, sang, chatted...yep. Now can you see why she acquired the name creepy? You can't? Just wait.
Joei also got a Hannah Montana wig from Santa, here's a shot of the awesome wig along with El Creepo.
Well Creepy Barbie was laying low for awhile, she just sat next to Joei's bed. Creepy Barbie has not been played with much for the past few months...however, she has made a come-back. She sat at the table last night while Joei ate supper. Joei has danced yet again, chatted yet again and yes, wore her clothes.
She gives me the jeebs because at first glance you think it's a kid sitting there! Still not sure why I call her Creepy Barbie? Well, you would call her Creepy Barbie as well if you were in the kitchen, minding your own business, only to turn around and see this....
.
.
.
Wait for it....
.
.
.
Imagine very scary music playing right now...think "shower scene from Psycho."
.
.
.
Jaden came over on Christmas morning and was lucky enough to get a shot with the Barbie. Jaden, please contain your excitement.
Joei was very possessive over the Barbie, as if she were her real life friend. They danced together, sang, chatted...yep. Now can you see why she acquired the name creepy? You can't? Just wait.
Joei also got a Hannah Montana wig from Santa, here's a shot of the awesome wig along with El Creepo.
Well Creepy Barbie was laying low for awhile, she just sat next to Joei's bed. Creepy Barbie has not been played with much for the past few months...however, she has made a come-back. She sat at the table last night while Joei ate supper. Joei has danced yet again, chatted yet again and yes, wore her clothes.
She gives me the jeebs because at first glance you think it's a kid sitting there! Still not sure why I call her Creepy Barbie? Well, you would call her Creepy Barbie as well if you were in the kitchen, minding your own business, only to turn around and see this....
.
.
.
Wait for it....
.
.
.
Imagine very scary music playing right now...think "shower scene from Psycho."
.
.
.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
100 posts?
Really? I have posted 100 times? Huh. I'm a regular sitcom in and of myself.
Well in honor of my having posted 100 times, I thought I would share a few pictures that Cindy took of the girls...it's been awhile since I posted any. I have shared before in one of my 100 posts that I'm the worlds lamest photographer, so anytime someone else snaps a shot, I like to share it!
And this last one is typical of a day with the two of them, Lily being man-handled by Joei and her crazy face!
Well in honor of my having posted 100 times, I thought I would share a few pictures that Cindy took of the girls...it's been awhile since I posted any. I have shared before in one of my 100 posts that I'm the worlds lamest photographer, so anytime someone else snaps a shot, I like to share it!
And this last one is typical of a day with the two of them, Lily being man-handled by Joei and her crazy face!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Out of the blue
I love the out of the blue statements Joei makes, this is one that I don't want to forget. We were just sitting there with Lily and Joei said, "the other day, when we were watching the new President, the people didn't clap for the old President. They clapped for the other Presidents, but not the old one. That made him feel sad."
Um, ok. For one, how in the world did she pick up on the fact that nobody clapped for President Bush? Sure, some people did, but I heard that people actually boo'd at him. I was not paying that close of attention when he was introduced, though it was on and I saw it, I just don't recall the booing or lack of clapping. As the previous Presidents were being introduced, I was trying to explain to Joei that they were not the new President and what not. So the fact that she could totally pick up on that, just shocks me! Kids are so perceptive.
Um, ok. For one, how in the world did she pick up on the fact that nobody clapped for President Bush? Sure, some people did, but I heard that people actually boo'd at him. I was not paying that close of attention when he was introduced, though it was on and I saw it, I just don't recall the booing or lack of clapping. As the previous Presidents were being introduced, I was trying to explain to Joei that they were not the new President and what not. So the fact that she could totally pick up on that, just shocks me! Kids are so perceptive.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Prime example of why we need to pray
For President Obama that is. The following article was on Yahoo just now...
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions, officials told The Associated Press on Friday.
The move, long expected in the Democratic president's first week in office, will be welcomed by liberals and criticized by abortion rights foes.
The policy bans U.S. taxpayer money, usually in the form of U.S. Agency for International Development funds, from going to international family planning groups that either offer abortions or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion. It is also known as the "global gag rule," because it prohibits taxpayer funding for groups that even talk about abortion if there is an unplanned pregnancy.
Also known as the "Mexico City policy," it has been reinstated and then reversed by Republican and Democratic presidents since GOP President Ronald Reagan established it in 1984. President Bill Clinton ended the ban in 1993, but President George W. Bush re-instituted it in 2001 as one of his first acts in office.
The Democratic official and senior U.S. official who disclosed the plans did so on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to pre-empt Obama's announcement.
Obama was expected to sign the executive order at a low-key event, one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.
The move was not a surprise as both Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who will oversee foreign aid, had promised to do away with the gag rule during the presidential campaign. Clinton is to visit the U.S. Agency for International Development, through which much U.S. foreign aid is disbursed, later on Friday.
Obama has spent his first days in office systematically signing executive orders reversing Bush administration policies on issues ranging from foreign policy to government operations. But, save for ending the ban, Obama has largely refrained from wading into ideological issues, perhaps to avoid being tagged a traditional partisan from the outset after his campaign promises to change "business as usual" in the often partisan-gridlocked capital.
Rather, Obama has chosen to focus initially on issues in which there is consensus across the political spectrum and support from the public, such as closing the prison camp for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to making government documents more accessible.
Organizations that had pressed Obama to make the abortion-ban change were jubilant.
"Women's health has been severely impacted by the cutoff of assistance. President Obama's actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning," said Tod Preston, a spokesman for Population Action International, an advocacy group.
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions, officials told The Associated Press on Friday.
The move, long expected in the Democratic president's first week in office, will be welcomed by liberals and criticized by abortion rights foes.
The policy bans U.S. taxpayer money, usually in the form of U.S. Agency for International Development funds, from going to international family planning groups that either offer abortions or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion. It is also known as the "global gag rule," because it prohibits taxpayer funding for groups that even talk about abortion if there is an unplanned pregnancy.
Also known as the "Mexico City policy," it has been reinstated and then reversed by Republican and Democratic presidents since GOP President Ronald Reagan established it in 1984. President Bill Clinton ended the ban in 1993, but President George W. Bush re-instituted it in 2001 as one of his first acts in office.
The Democratic official and senior U.S. official who disclosed the plans did so on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to pre-empt Obama's announcement.
Obama was expected to sign the executive order at a low-key event, one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.
The move was not a surprise as both Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who will oversee foreign aid, had promised to do away with the gag rule during the presidential campaign. Clinton is to visit the U.S. Agency for International Development, through which much U.S. foreign aid is disbursed, later on Friday.
Obama has spent his first days in office systematically signing executive orders reversing Bush administration policies on issues ranging from foreign policy to government operations. But, save for ending the ban, Obama has largely refrained from wading into ideological issues, perhaps to avoid being tagged a traditional partisan from the outset after his campaign promises to change "business as usual" in the often partisan-gridlocked capital.
Rather, Obama has chosen to focus initially on issues in which there is consensus across the political spectrum and support from the public, such as closing the prison camp for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to making government documents more accessible.
Organizations that had pressed Obama to make the abortion-ban change were jubilant.
"Women's health has been severely impacted by the cutoff of assistance. President Obama's actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning," said Tod Preston, a spokesman for Population Action International, an advocacy group.
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