CWF Photo Challenge - Day 9

A picture of the person that has gotten you thru the most

There is no doubt about it - Kaleb Moss!

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 8

A picture of something that makes you laugh

Hey, can't blame a mom for trying!

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 7

A picture of your most treasured item...

My parents. Thanks to them - I learn to value what really should be treausred in life.

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 5

Most of my most precious and favorite memories are only captured in my heart and mind. No kodak moments for most of the ones that I treasure the most.

The best memory as a family was when we went to Disney and were asked to be the 1st Family. We got to open the park at Animal Kingdom. It was a great treat for our family and was the start of a great vacation.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 3

A picture of the cast of your favorite show

I LOVE Scrubs! I watch an episode (or a few) every single night before bed.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

No doubt about it, there is no one I have been closer with than my MOM! She is my biggest cheerleader and my wisest source of advice. I love her to pieces and am so thankful to have her in my life. I am blessed beyond words to be her daughter.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day One

Day One - A picture of myself with 10 facts....

1. I hate chocolate; but I do like Peanut Butter Cups.
2. I am head over heels in love with my amazing husband, Kaleb.
3. I have dreamed of being an author.
4. My world is defined by Kagan, Kade and Kenadee in so many ways.
5. I spend tons of time looking for the perfect chair which seems to only exist in my mind. I have a vision of my comfy chair but never seem to find at the store.
6. I am scared about my kids getting married and never coming home to see me.
7. I think God has something in store for me to do that I have not seen yet.
8. I get scared very easily.
9. I love to plan anything, especially family trips.
10. I put on my pj's the minute I walk into the house.

Last Day - Challenge One - Question 30

I am a little sad that the Challenge # One is over. I was thankful for taking a look at my new year and helping mold my 2011 in to a year of discovery for myself, my family and my faith.

I wonder how many of the CWF ladies particiapted? I can't wait to find out at our next meeting?

"In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you about it this year?"

My fitness. Already wrote a long blog on this so I am not going to re-write. Just reminding myself that I really want to make some changes here. I am going to get started soon.......

Challenge One - Question 30

"What is the most important new item you want to buy this year?"

I have already answered this question and the answer is a HOME!

Challenge ONE - Question 29

"If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it"

First question- I honestly have no idea

Second question - I guess it would depend on the person and what the advice was.

Third question - I would HOPE that if it was sound advice from a valued source I would listen to it.

I guess I did not really answer this question, but it was the best that I could do :-)

Challenge One - Question 28

"What one biblical doctrine do you want most to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?"

(Cartoon from www.mightymag.com)

As most people know, my church is collectively reading thru the bible this year. As we do, I am hoping that I will learn much more biblical doctrine than I know today.

To start though, I think I am struggling most with why we don't do somethings that God's word clearly says not to do or to do. Are we, as the body of Christ, watering down God's word to make us fit into the world better? Are we falling back on the excuse that says "that is old testament law and no longer applies" because we just don't want to do something?

My biggest fear is that "my religion" might be allowing me to hold to doctrine that is not biblical. If God says ALWAYS and FOREVER, then I am certain that he actually didn't mean until I say so later?

With that being said, I do understand that some laws of the Old Testament no longer apply once Christ was born and became the living sacrifice for me. Troy did a great job the other day explaining the difference between some laws are eternal and some laws were dissolved because of God's provision in other ways.

Yet....

But...

However.....

What forever laws am I neglecting because of either "not wanting to" or just "ignorance"?

I don't want to read God's word over and over and miss the point of what God is telling me. I can cling to all the encouragement the bible gives, memorize the history and the parables but if I am missing the INSTRUCTION then that is a problem.

So, for this year I am going to begin to compile a list of God's instructions. If I am not doing them for a reason, I want to know why. If it no longer applies,then I want to understand what took the place of the previous instructions. Most importantly, I want to begin to pray for the strength, the understanding and the acceptance of what I might not be ready to do. As we all know, the fact is I am a sinner and not perfect. I will fail BUT I would rather fail trying!

P.S. No this does not mean I am become legalistic or a freak. We are not going to move into a cult society. Just going to try to live life the best way I know how!

Challenge One - Question 27

"What the single most important thing that you could do to improve your commute this year?"

I love my commute. During my morning commute, I talk to my mom every morning of my life. She and I check in with one another and it is a wonderful way to start my day.

During my mornings I can laugh my butt off, cry like a baby or just spend a few minutes complaining or rejoicing over something that is happening in my life. In my approximate 30 minutes of a drive each morning I get some "mommy time" with my mom! I get the pep talk I might need or the wise advice on a number of situations.

The most precious part of this time is that I get to find out what is happening with her and my Daddy. I get to know they are okay and be a part of their life.

As for my commute in the morning, I could not think of anything better to do with my time!

For the afternoon, I try to take care of any calls I need to make, appointments to be made, or petty/routine issues that I need to do. It is the few minutes I can handle business during "work hours" of a normal business.

Of all the things I want to improve, I am actually pretty happy with my commute. Plus, if all else fails I turn the music up, open my sunroof and sing like a crazy women! It is just what the doctor would order on some days!

Challenge One - Question 25

"What is the one skill you want to learn or improve this year?"

I want to pick back up quilting. I learned several years ago and then just stopped. I really want to finish my kids t-shirt quilts this year.

Challenge One - Questions 24

"What is the most important trip that you want to take this year?"

I don't have a specific trip in mind that is the most important. Actually, I am looking forward to the several mini-trips that we have planned for our family. Some weekend trips and a few longer. Just excited to get away with my family and enjoy life.

Challenge One - Question 23

"In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?"

I want to grow in my maturity with regards to people.

I have a REALLY hard time with being "WARM". When it comes to people, I either like or do not like a person. I can't seem to find the middle ground of just letting them be.

Why?

I guess I just feel like I don't want to fake it. I either want to go 100% in a relationship or just forget the relationship (and person) all together. I don't want to waste any moment of my life getting to know someone or understanding them to see if the friendship (or basic relationship of any kind) can be turned into something. (Not very Christian, I know)

It is not fair of me and I am sure that I have missed the blessings of a relationship because of it many times. I also could have saved myself some disppointment by backing off from a friend that I chose to go 100% for at the wrong time.

So, I am hoping this year as I evaluate the relationships in my life I can have more maturity about the situations I have with people. I can understand that while someone (personal, family, business or even a checker at the grocery store) may not be a fixture in my life - they are a part of it. If just one minute, one hour, one week or forever - I want to learn to accept their existence and embrace the value that it brings.

Challenge One - Question 22

"What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?"

DIRECTION - Short and sweet!

Challenge One - Question 21

"What one thing do you regret from last year, and what will you do about it this year?"

I guess the main thing that I can think of is that when my dad had surgery, I did not make it there. I mean I tried, but for some reason I just was not able to make it there before he had surgery.

My Daddy is the most amazing man and I love him so much. The thought of not being there when I so wanted to be was so painful and broke my heart.

Obviously, between Kenadee's trip to the ER for her broken arm that day, the airlines refusing to let me on the plane b/c I did not make it to the airport in enough time and all else that happened on that day there was not much I could do. Yet, when I walked out of that airport I felt defeated and disappointed in myself.

How could I be in a place where getting home to my parents was out of my reach? I felt guilt, I felt regret and I felt anger.

This year, I can't do anything about that situation but I do plan on making some better plans for "emergency situations". I want to research my options, have a game plan and be able to get there if I ever need to again. I am just praying that this 40 years down the line.

I will know the plane schedules, possible routes for a faster trip home and the best place to rent a car. If I ever need to be there, I will - God willing :0)

Challenge One - Question 20

"What book, in addition to the bible, do you want to read this year?"

I love to read and I read such a variety of books that it is hard to pick just one book. So, I will list a few that I hope to get to read this year. Here is just a start to my list :-)

Essentials for Life for Women by Marcia Ford
Find Your Strongest Life by Robert Whitlow
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
Between a Rock and a Grace Place: Divine Surprises in the Tight Spots of Life by Carol Kent
Decision Points by George W. Bush
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

Challenge ONE- Question 19

"What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?"

I hope that my children learn by example the things that I do RIGHT (not the things that I do wrong). I hope that they will look at my life and see how desperately I want God to be in control and how much I want God's will to be done in my life. For that, I pray for God's grace to allow me years of walking with Him and showing HIMSELF faithful even when I am not. To that, I hope any success, any joy or any happiness is credited to HIM so that my children know that all good things in my life were the result of God's love.

In my own personal way, I am keeping journals for my kids that show the numerous prayer requests that God has answered in my life and for those that I have prayed for. I hope that by seeing my account of God's faithfulness to my prayer life they will leave their burdens/their hopes and dreams in God's hands.

I also hope that my legacy leaves not only my footprints but that we have surrounded our kids with others whose faith is an encouragement to their spiritual future.

I also saw a really cute idea about how to incorporate survival scriptures for kids as they grow up and I am working on this one. I heard a really cute idea from somewhere (I think a book I read or at Women of Faith this past year) about how one mother would weekly place a "scripture note" on their child’s pillow with a little love note. I am working on beginning this tradition for the upcoming teen years because I want my kids to know just how much I adore them and love them.

Challenge ONE - Question 18

"What is the one new way that you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?"

I want to be a blessing by showing my commitment to their work. To thank them more often and to show my appreciation for their hard work. I know that they (and their families) work hard to be available to our church body and I want them to know they are appreciated.

I also will continue to pray for them and their ministry. I believe God has placed them each at NBCC for this season and I want to pray for God's blessings on them as they minister to our church family.