Forts

When the weather turns cold here (which in so Cal that means 50s and 60s) we get inside. My boys love to build forts....well, #1 usually is the master builder while #2, #3, and #4 enjoy or destroy the creation. Most often #1 will build a separate fort for #3 and #4 and set up some communication system between the two. Boys.....
Here is a moment where they where all were enjoying the fort and watching a movie or something at the same time. A rare moment of stillness and peace.

On another note, I think my couch cushions are taken off at least once a day. It is a continual job to put cushions and the chairs back in the right place. Oh the joy of being Mom.

Blog Envy

Oh you know you have experienced it...I was reading a post from my friend and it hit me that one of the main reasons I hesitate to post is blog envy. I don't really have anything great to offer the world, no decorating talent, no spend thriftiness, or craftiness really. I am a wannabe/poser. Well, I am just going to be honest about it. I love reading this blog and this blog, and this one is just simply amazing. I enjoy reading how life happens here and here. But the problem is that when I read these blogs plus the others that I am addicted to, I find myself paralyzed with fear that what I have to offer it just not of any value. Can you see the lies that I have believed?



I really shouldn't care about what others do or what mine looks like. It is about what God is showing and teaching me through my family and really the rest of my life and reflecting that through my blog? So I have made a promise to be more real with myself and start posting what is going on on the inside and not just the outside. You may be shocked to find that it isn't pretty. I am broken just like the rest of humanity (praise God for his grace, Amen?). I will also post about the army of men my husband and I are trying to raise to be men who love Jesus whole heartedly.



So there I am....exposed and fearful, but I need to be and do what is scary. Here's a pic of #4 seeing how it wouldn't be a real post without a picture.

Cousin C

We got to have Cousin C for a whole day at our place. He was completely exhausted by the end of the day. He had a great time exploring the house and playing with his cousins.

Life

Can I be honest and say that life it a little overwhelming lately? It isn't even because I am so busy...that was my before life. I have taken great strides to cut out what I don't need to do. I found myself doing things just because I felt guilty if I didn't. You see, I am one of the types that thinks I have to "do" in order to make God be OK with me. This past summer and fall, God taught that 1. I can never "do" enough and 2. He's good with me just as I am. Wow!!!! How freeing!!! It was such a huge message for me to accept and take in. I still fight that old self that says "you should be doing more at the church" or "you should be in prayer/bible study more" It was one of the first times in my life that I felt like I could breathe and be free.

The old self though rears its ugly head every now and then. Four kids, house, and work are enough to keep me busy. We just have had a few extra stresses lately and well, I am not handling it well. I can tell because I want to have a Dr. Pepper all the time. That may seem crazy, but it is my addiction. When life gets stressful have a DP and then it seems manageable. Whoa!!! Hold the phone. DP shouldn't be what I turn to. Jesus should. So I have been trying to cut back and cut it out of my life. Yet, here I am with my crazy life. (not too crazy, but crazy circumstances) I feel like God is big enough to take care of it, but somehow my mind and heart haven't come together on this.

Pray that I will depend on God instead of my DP or any other "thing". I want to love him with my whole person and not part.

Worship (a several parts series)

So I can going to be brave and begin to "be real". I attend a wonderful church called Sandals. It has been one catalyst to my growth as a Christian these past couple of years. It has every aspect of what true Christian should be. Does it mean we do it perfectly? No, of course not. Every church is imperfect, but we at least admit it. I look forward to going and seeing how God is going to change my or prompt me to action. Lately, I have been learning alot about worship.

What is worship? Well, it is giving our attention and adoration to someone or something. We all worship. Sometimes it is our jobs, kids, house, or spouse. Sometimes, I think I worship worship.

Needless to say God is showing me that when I turn my eyes on him and sit at his feet, life gets put into perspective. I feel all the weight leave my shoulders as I pass that to him and I get to rest in his peace and freedom.

So I want to leave you with our sermon from the last week. It was amazing. I was so glad that I got to be a part.

The Lord's Supper: Worship from sandals church on Vimeo.

What can you live without?

I was doing my daily reading of blogs (my new favorite past time) when I came across this post by Meg. I love reading her because she is very real and she has a lot of kids. Needless to say I have been challenged with the thought of giving something up every month. It seems difficult and hard, but in the end I think/hope it will be a blessing.

I needed some change in my life

Not the best picture, but I cut my hair off and had the lady straighten it. I really like, but am anxious to see how short it will be when curly. It was so fun to make people do a double take. #4 was unsure if I was his mommy. You know it's drastic then.