Blessed to be a Blessing!

I have been asking the Lord to aid me in being more aware of my surroundings. Requesting that the holy spirit "prick" my heart to a need when it presents itself and how to respond to it.

It is easy for me to see the need in Haiti. It is real, raw and flashed before our eyes on the printed page and television. However, there are situations in my own sphere of influence that I overlook on a daily basis.

Today, Praise God, was a day that I was intentionally aware and God used me to touch a life. And then, someone touched mine!

I was in the grocery store and by-passed a elderly woman putting items in her cart. There was something about her that drew my attention. I still am not sure what it was, other that the Holy Spirit.

As I was paying the cashier for my goods, she wheeled her cart in behind mine. As I collected my bags, I felt the Lord telling me to help pay for her groceries. So, I slipped the cashier some money, and instructed her to put it toward the woman's bill. And merrily went on my way. IT FELT SO GOOD!

Then the devil came visiting my head. "How do you KNOW she really needed that money?" he accused. "How will you pay for YOUR groceries next week?" he questioned.

"I don't know... I just want to be obedient.... It really is not my business, but God's," I kept reminding myself.

As I pulled into a nearby gas station, I filled up with fuel and went in to the store to pay. When I headed back out to my van I realized I had locked the keys in it AND left the motor running! UGG!!!

The clerks helped me locate a locksmith, who came and took down the serial number of my van and actually made me a new key at his shop! (I did not know you could do that!)

Upon returning, and unlocking my vehicle, he declined the money I offered.

I set out to be intentional, aware of the needs around me, and God, in the way that only HE can orchestrate, met MY need in a beautiful way.

Blessed to be a Blessing!

Respecting your MAN!

To all the gals I met on Wednesday at M2M...I so enjoyed spending the morning with you!!


12 years ago, I was on the phone with my man. The conversation went something like this. "I really think now is the time to sell the stock", I insisted. "No, Honey,I really want to put in the sell price at 13, I sure it will hit 13 today!" Curt replied.

So, I called the broker and instructed him to sell when it reached $13.00 a share.

It didn't. It topped out at 12 and 7/8.

And then plummeted! To $7.00! And never regained momentum.

We sold at $7.50. And lost ALLOT of money!

I have MANY mistakes in my marriage.There have been times when I have been insensitive,cutting and hurtful in my communication with my man.

I am thankful that day, 12 years ago, I was none of those things. I never said anything other than "I love you." period.

He knew he screwed up. I did not need to say "I told you so!"

What he needed from me was Respect and Encouragement.

He needed me to let him know that this incident did not define him!

I am thankful, to this very day, that I did not say the words that so often fragment and destroy marriages..."I told you so!"

Looking at the past-Preserving or rebuilding?

As I look at my past, I have a choice. To Rebuild or Preserve.

They will rebuid the ancient ruins and restore the Places long Devastated; Isaiah 61:4

The colisium in Rome has been preserved along with many other ancient artifacts. But that is not what God wants me to do with my past. He desires that I rebuild the ancient ruins of a life that has left me,at times,standing in the ruble of the mess I have made.

I am tempted to make a "shrine"of it. Preserveing it like pickles in a jar for years to come. Blaming others or berating myself with the constant reminder of failure.

God has something so much better for you and I. He desires that we pick up the pieces one by one and begin to rebuild and restore the desolote places of our lives. We cannot rebuild without the loving hand of the Father.

And He is with us each brick at a time. Healing,restoring and whispering our names as he rebuilds our lives and charactors.

The choice is ours.....Preserve or Rebuild.

A taste of Heaven on Earth!

Meet my Grandma! How I love her! She is 90 years old.

Growing up, her home was one of my favorite places to visit. When I walked in the door, I was greeted with the familiar smell of antiques,fresh baked bread and the sweet aroma of my grandfathers lingering tobacco smoke.

On chilly days, a fire roared in the wood stove and a pot of potato soup simmered on the stove.

When I would spend the night, I would intentionally forget my pajama's so I could borrow hers. They smelled of lilacs. And climbing into her tall feather bed in the guestroom, I would snuggle down and cover with a quilt she had crafted herself.

My Grandmas home spelled LOVE. The sights, sounds, textures and smells welcomed me with open arms. Just a little taste of heaven on earth.

Remembering Haiti

The Nation of Haiti and the precious people that abide there are in my thoughts and prayers.....over and over again the Lord brings the suffering that they are enduring to my mind.

The recovery will take months and even years. And yet, when the news media frenzy moves on, will I? Or will I stay committed to pray for the Haitian people?

Lord, break my heart with the things that break yours, help me to remember this country and it's people when life moves on!

What works for me!

Today is grocery shopping day. UGG! It is one of my least favorite things to do. It ranks right up there with getting my teeth drilled!

You buy groceries....they are consumed......buy groceries.....they are consumed......

You get the idea.

I do not mind cooking said food, it is the TIME in the grocery store that drives me crazy.

Lame, I know.

So, what works for me to manage my minutes in "food land"

Since I shop the same stores each week, I know the layout of each one.
*I make my grocery list by aisle's. Yup, you got it. I start in the refrigerator section so....first on my list are the needs in that area. Sour cream, yogurt, milk, OJ......
*Next comes the canned food aisles....so soup,beans ect....
*I cross off each item as I put it in the cart. I also put a C with a circle next to the item name if I have a coupon and also include the quantity I need to purchase of that product.

This method is very convenient and keep the shopper from "backtracking" through the maze of aisle trying to find and item.

It works for me! For more tips visit Kristen at www.wearethatfamily.com

My Love and Hate relationship with my treadmill

There it sits....in my basement. I hide it there so it doesn't taunt me. It sure doesn't beckon me!

There is not one bone in my body or thought in my mind that says "Go get on that!"

I just do not want to. I am not athletic. I cannot even run to my mailbox without falling so why would I get on this contraption and risk possible injury?


Because, I love how I feel when I am done "working out". I love the energy level and the sense of accomplishment. And of course, being toned is a great bonus.

But it is so hard to be disciplined!!! I know anything worth anything takes hard work and perseverance.

So, I heading down to the "dungeon" to do what I hate, to feel how I love....strange, huh?

Maybe when I am done I will come back up stairs and have a "cookie" on my "You are special today plate"...smile and sigh.

http://www.sueheimer.com/

The gift that keeps on giving!

As I was driving through town today, I came upon this poor deflated snowman.
He is just a remnant of his former glory. Once a towering 7 ft tall, lit and all smiles, welcoming the holiday season. And now, here he lies in a heap. Perhaps he is waiting, until next fall, when he once again inflates in anticipation of a holiday to come.

As I was talking to co-workers and friends this past week, this was the sentiment of many. Disillusioned and disappointed with Christmas and their New Years Celebrations they too had felt they were left in a deflated mound.

Maybe they did not get what they asked for for Christmas, or sickness hampered the festivities. possibly relationships were messy or complicated and the holidays illuminated that fact.

I asked for one thing this Christmas. "More of JESUS". I prayed that I could see him in my "everyday" life. Aware of him working in and around me. And I got what I asked for and more!!! MORE of JESUS!

It was not a storybook holiday, in fact, I had the flu for a few days. But I was not deflated or defeated because I got the greatest present given to mankind and his name is Jesus. And HE is the gift that keeps on giving 365 days of the year. He will not disappoint.