i don't like having the bed to myself

Let me start off by saying, I am super excited for my hubby and the youth that are on our church's youth mission trip right now, I pray that the Lord will use them in amazing ways while they are helping and ministering to recent tornado victims...but of course, I miss him. It's only been like half a day, and already I feel like something is missing. Times like this make me so thankful he did not follow through with the Army. Thank you Jesus! Our little 4 year old was having a really hard time dealing with daddy leaving for this mission trip and I couldn't figure out why, it was only going to be 5 days. Eventually we figured out that she thought Daddy was going to the Army after all. Poor thing. Once we explained everything to her she then hugged Daddy and said, "you be back in 5 days...that not long time." ...I have to admit, I was a little bit excited at the thought of being able to come home from bible study tonight, get the kiddos to bed, and enjoy a snack and a good book until I fell asleep. Ya. The kiddos were put to bed, I enjoyed a snack and then... the silence became too much and I am now watching some mindless show on television while sitting on my computer facebook stalking and blogging as of now...I need to go to sleep, I really really need to go to sleep. It's just so difficult when he's not here. A big empty bed...sigh. I really don't like when I wake up in the middle of the night expecting him to put his arm around me like he always does when I wake up in the middle of the night...and then nothing. I always have a moment of panic before I remember where he is. I know it sounds silly. I just love him so much. I pray they all return home safely.

This is our most recent FaMiLy picture!
We are all sweaty and have that icky after-pool look
about us, but it's still great!

Psalm 56:3 "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You."

This past weekend our 4 year old daughter tried surfing for the first time. Standing on the beach, she was all ready to go. She was sun screened, life-jacketed, and wearing a big smile as she set out into the water with Daddy. Admittedly, my heart skipped a beat and I had a moment of panic...but as sudden as the panic came upon me, a still small voice interfered. Stop worrying. So instead of doing as the voice said, I took a deep breath and yelled out to my hubby, "Be careful! You're going out that far?". He smiled at me and then gave me a look as to say, stop worrying. I smiled back. As our daughter lay on the board belly down waiting for the first wave, big smile on her face, I couldn't help but think about how little she was and whether or not she was ready for this. Doubt began to cloud my thinking, but then once again that voice. Fear not. I exhaled and felt guilty for worrying again. I couldn't even go 2 minutes. That's when the perfect wave began to build up. My hubby readied her board and told her what to do and to hold on. 3...2...1...and there she went. With the biggest smile I've ever seen on her face, she glided across the water on that board, water spraying in her face, and the complete feeling of fearlessness sweeping through her. I thought to myself, why can't I be like that? This little child climbed up on a board much bigger than her, went out into water deeper than she can reach, and then allowed herself to be carried at a fast speed towards the shore. She is way more fearless than I am. And to think, I almost let my fear hinder her from being able to enjoy this experience. She jumped off the board, let out a giggle and said, "You see me surf mommy?! I wanna surf again! I wanna surf again!". The voice came to me again. Stop worrying, enjoy this moment. So I did. I breathed in and let the fear out with my exhale. I smiled at her and said, "Good job! Go do it again!". I loved watching her, each time she came in, jumping off her board ready to try again. She even tried to stand up...it was short lived, but she tried. That's what matters. She rolled into the water and under her upside down board at one point...and you know what?...I wasn't even worried. I just moved the board off of her and up she popped, ready to go again. I think my hubby and I enjoyed watching her surf, just about as much as she enjoyed surfing. It's amazing what you miss out on when fear has taken over. I don't want to be like that anymore. This was like an eye opener for me. I want to be like my daughter while she was surfing, free from fear and full of joy. Just trusting in God. Why worry about things I can't control? Why not just enjoy the things God has blessed me with and the moments God wants me to experience? I worry entirely way too much from day to day. I'm done. I just want to live my life as the Lord wants me to. No fear. Just complete trust in Him.

and then I had a thought....

I have been racking my brain trying to figure out a way to read my bible front to back without giving up midway, or losing my motivation. I have come up with an idea. I am going to type, word for word, the chapters I read daily. Starting in Genesis and ending in Revelation. I have no idea how long this will take, seeing as I have 2 kids, I home school, I am very involved in church activities, and I have other mommy and housewife stuff to take care of throughout the day, but I will accomplish this! I encourage you to follow along with me on this journey through God’s word!

READ MY BIBLE WITH ME

I couldn't pick one verse...

I was recently doing a study that took me to a reference point in Romans 12. I then got carried away and read through Romans 12 about three times before returning to my original study. I wanted to post a couple of verses that spoke to me that day, but in re-reading the chapter, I had such a difficult time posting just those verses. This chapter is so important to read when discerning what your walk as a Christian should look like. I have spent the last couple days trying to figure out which verse to pull out and share, but since I couldn't pick just one verse...

Romans 12
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not think highly of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith, or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless those and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you , live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

nails with my little

Today my daughter and I painted our nails...all different colors! This is one of those super easy things that you can do with your younger girls that will make some sweet memories and lots of giggles.

my little girl's nails

She is very excited about wearing her multi-colored polk-a-dot dress on Sunday with her matching nails!

my daughter's quotes of the week

We have been teaching our daughter how to swim (pictures to come soon), so we were in the pool and she had taken off her floaties. She was doing really good, and decided she wanted to jump on one of those noodles. She was doing really good, but making me really nervous. So I said to her, "Why don't you put your floaties back on for a little bit, take a rest." She, of course, did not want to...she said, "No Mommy, I want to keep doing this!". So I said, "Baby, make sure you hold your breath if you go under. Are you sure you can swim without your floaties?"...She then says to me, "Mommy, remember, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."...ya. That was end of that....oh, and she is now swimming under water.

Lately, my daughter has been noticing different skin colors on family and friends. Well, the other day, I was sitting on the bed with my daughter and I said to her, "Look at you! You have a good tan going." and she says, "Yeah, my skin is changing color like [friend's name] skin color." This friend is Mexican and has a darker skin complexion. She thinks that's how her friend came to be that color. This is a cute little story.

We were sitting outside and this bird ran right into the side of the house and fell to the ground in front of our daughter. She was just kind of watching it for a minute and then said, "him hurt his wing!"...So she was a little worried about the bird and came to the conclusion she needed to pray for it. Her little prayer was so cute and just so full of sweetness. She said things like, "Please God help him fly away up in the sky and be all better." About a minute after her prayer, that bird flew up into the tree. She was so excited and she looked up into the sky and said, "Thank you God for helping the bird fly away! God heard my prayer, He fixed his wing!". It was so cute.

Happy 4th of July

Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

John 8:36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

On this day, while we celebrate our country's freedom, let us remember the greatest freedom given to us by Jesus.