Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Simple Devotion ~ February 25, 2009


For Today...

Dear Lord,


I bring you my shortcomings...for not daily spending time with you and making You a priority in my life.

I bring you my worship and praise... You are the God of Wonders beyond our galaxy...Your love for us is unconditional, NOTHING can separate us from You! Thank-you for your truth in Romans8:38-39 -For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I bring you my prayer... teach me to pray, give me the words to say as I not only ask for requests but also praise You for what You have done and who You are. Help me to be an example of You to my children.

You spoke to me...in the movie Fireproof. Unless we know you personally, we cannot truly love others cause we don't know what Love is. "You can't give her what you don't have!" When we wonder how can we keep showing love to people that continually reject us we must remember that that is what God does ...he loves us unconditionally even though we don't deserve it and have constantly "spat in his face".

To read more Simple Devotions click here

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ February 23rd Edition



I keep saying that I need to keep a daily journal and when I saw this I thought it was a great way to blog and keep things recorded. So I'm going to give it a go.


For Today...
I am going...back to work now as my 45 minute break is over.
Outside my window...
well I'm at work and I'm on my break so as I look out the cafeteria window into the courtyard I see the large Christmas light displays (ie reindeer, snowman, Santa & elves, Christmas trees, teddy bear) lit up against the black night.

I am thinking... about all the things that I need to finish before the end of the shift and what what I am going to get accomplished tomorrow and this week.

I am thankful for... so many things but I guess the thing that is coming to my mind first right now is I'm thankful that my husband was able to catch his high blood pressure and get it treated before a major catastrophe (...considering his family history and all)

From the kitchen... we have lots of leftovers in the fridge for the next day or so - lots of veggies for salads and chicken & shrimp chow mien that I made for supper last night.

I am wearing... my nursing uniform - wine colored pants and a top with red and pink hearts with various nurses and the words "Nurse Power" as well as white socks and white shoes.

I am creating... memories daily with my kids

I am reading... right now- I'm reading THIS as I type; also I'm reading the Bible hoping to read through it this year, a book called "Date Night In A Minivan" and a book by James Dobson called "The Strong-Willed Child".

I am hoping... that my husband's 3rd dr appt in 5 days goes well tomorrow.

I am hearing... not alot considering that it is 3:20 am. The hum of the lights & vending machines as well as the keys clacking on the keyboard as I peck away.

Around the house... I need to clean up as it is starting to look like a war zone.

One of my favorite things... scrapbooking (when I get time), also I enjoy visiting with friends and spending time with my wonderful husband and three children

A few plans for the rest of the week...
not as exciting as the last few weeks were I've gone glow bowling with my mom, husband & kids; gone to the monster truck show and recently gone to Disney on Ice with the kids. This week my husband has booked off work so I'll enjoy spending time with him while the kids are at school. On Friday I'm attending a computer training inservice at work. and then more night shifts this coming weekend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
This is the frog my husband got me for Valentine's Day and the flowers my kids got me. :)

Visit Peggy at Simple Woman's Daybook to visit more daybookers.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Changes

I haven't been blogging much lately but I must say there have been some things of note happening around here:
Jan 23/09- bought 2005 Echo....can you say F-R-E-E-D-O-M!!!!
Feb 17/09 - had 46" plasma TV delivered & installed - awesome! :)
Feb 20/09 - Prayer request - we have known Cliff's family history and his weight issues but today he was sent to the dr. with high blood pressure and it was the start of being prescribed 3 (4?) new cardiac medications and a lifestyle change.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Happy "2 Days After" Valentine's Day

Sorry that this "Valentine's Day" post isn't on the 14th. If it counts, I was thinking about it on the day but just never had time to even turn on my computer this weekend. On Friday evening, we (all of us) went to a dinner/ dance 50th birthday party celebration for two co-workers of ours. Then Saturday morning (& Sunday morning) Cliff & I both worked from 7:30am - 3:45pm while my mom babysat the kids. Here is a picture of a couple of my Valentine's Day presents:

...(or not...) For some reason Blogger won't upload my picture right now :( So rather than waiting till whenever and REALLY being late with this post, I'll just tell you. From Cliff I got a really cute & soft frog about a foot high. He is sitting and holding a heart. While Cliff & I were at work, my mom was babysitting the kids and took them to the Dollar Store to go shopping for Mom & Dad. The kids got me flowers each - small pink ones from Wynn, peach roses from Autumn, and yellow peonies(?) from Liam. Along with the flowers they each picked out another thing for me and two things each for Cliff.

On the way home, Cliff stopped at Sobeys and picked up some groceries for supper and together we made supper when we got home - ribs, mashed potatoes, asparagus and salad. With Rolo ice-cream for the two of us later YUM! :)

What did you do for Valentine's Day?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Do You Truly Love ?

I recently watched the movie Fireproof with my husband. It was such a powerful movie and I so often felt like "been there, done that". So many things said in the movie really spoke to me but the one scene that hit me the hardest and was a real eye opener was when Caleb was talking to his dad at the cross. He was so frustrated and asked his dad, "How am I supposed to love someone over and over when they constantly reject me?". And as his dad was leaning against the cross...he looked up at it and replied..."That's a good question. The answer is you can't give her what you don't have. God loves you even though you don't deserve it and have constantly spat in His face". Basically, just as we don't deserve God's love for us, our spouse doesn't always deserve love but we love anyway. After watching this movie I'm feeling that I need to rededicate my life to God and take on the challenge of the Love Dare. Did you see the movie Fireproof and if so what was your favorite part?

Also as I was reading my emails yesterday, my Girlfriends In God daily devotional also spoke to me in this area of my marriage. Let me share it here with you:

The Roman Rules of Marriage

Today's Truth
[Let your] love be sincere-a real thing." (Romans 12:9 AMP)

Friend to Friend
February is the month we celebrate love, marriage, and sweethearts. But love is more than frilly Valentine's Cards, heart-shaped candy, and bouquets of roses or balloons. Sometimes love is commitment to hard work.

If you are married, here are some questions for reflection: Do I love my husband well? Do I adore the man God has given to me? Am I admiring him as a child of God? Am I appreciating him for who he is today instead of what he could be if he lived up to my expectations? Am I giving my heart freely or do I make him feel as though he constantly has to earn my love?

Paul gives us some good advice on how to love one another in Romans 12:9-18.

  • Love must be sincere.
  • Cling to what is good.
  • Be devoted to one another.
  • Honor one another above yourselves.
  • Never be lacking in zeal.
  • Be joyful in hope.
  • Be patient in affliction.
  • Be faithful in prayer
  • Share with God's people who are in need.
  • Practice hospitality.
  • Bless those who persecute you.
  • Rejoice with those who rejoice.
  • Mourn with those who mourn.
  • Live in harmony with one another.
  • Do not be proud.
  • Do not be conceited.
  • Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
  • Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
  • If it is possible, a far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Now take a look at that list. It is easy to think that Paul is talking about our friends or fellow Christians. But if these are the guidelines for loving our friends, how much more are they guidelines for loving our very own husbands! As Ann Landers once said, "Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiving. It is a loyalty through good and bad. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses."

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day as you celebrate your marriage. And if you're not married, celebrate the love you share with friends, family, and your heavenly Bridegroom - Jesus Christ.

Let's Pray
Dear God of Love, I pray that I will love others well today. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can overflow Your love to those around me. I know that loving others is Your most important command. Help me to keep that foremost in my mind and actions this day.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Go back up to the Roman Rules above. Either write them out or print them off from this devotion. Carry this list in your pocket and glance at them often today. Check up on yourself several times through the day and see how you're doing!

If you're brave enough, ask a friend to give you honest feedback on what you do well and what needs improvement.

More From The Girlfriends
February is the month of love and a wonderful time to contemplate our marriages. Do you want to become the woman of your husband's dreams? The woman who makes him sorry to leave in the morning and eager to come home at night?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Liam's ABC's

I made a book last year for my youngest son. We (he & I) attended a 10 week program offered in our community last year called Rock & Read. We spent the first half of our time reading books to our little ones and the second half, the kids stayed and played in one room while the mom's went to another room to make their book. At first I had no idea what sort of book to make. We were told to keep it simple as this was for the kids and probably anything we made for them they'd like. Suggestions were a number book, letters, theme (ie cars)... I had several pictures of Liam with me and got the idea of Liam's ABC's. Seeing that the youngest child always seems to get jipped on the number of pictures, videos, memorabilia that they have, I thought I'd make a scrapbook of sorts. Here is the final product.

























































































































































































































































Liam (in fact all the kids) really like looking at it and it was a lot of fun to make. I'm planning on making two more eventually - one for Wynn & one for Autumn.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?




Your Candy Heart Says "Hug Me"



A total sweetheart, you always have a lot of love to give out.

Your heart is open to where ever love takes you!



Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a surprise romantic evening that you've planned out



Your flirting style: lots of listening and talking



What turns you off: fighting and conflict



Why you're hot: you're fearless about falling in love