Closing out the year

I haven't posted much recently.  No real good reason, mostly lack of things to say.  I am currently thinking of all the things that have to happen between now and the end of the year.  Christmas program at church this weekend.  Last minute shopping next week.  Christmas eve lunch with my grandparents, uncle, and cousins. Christmas with my adorable little family next Sunday (that is what I am looking forward to the most).  Sister and her husband arrive Christmas day late afternoon/early evening.  A few hours with them and then an 11 hour trip to Michigan with 3 adults and 3 kids. Packing Mom and Dad up for the trip back to PA with all of their stuff.  New Years Eve hopefully quiet at home!  Whew...lots going on!

Seems like no big deal, right? Should be...praying so!  The one thing I have to constantly be reminding myself is that this season is NOT about me and my agenda.  It is about Christ and His being born on earth to die. To die for you and me!  THAT is the most incredible thought and one I don't EVER want to loose.  He came to die for me...something I did not deserve but something I am beyond thankful for.

I know this is said a lot this time of year, but take a moment to reflect on what God has done for you!  Set aside the "to-do list" and focus on the reason we should be celebrating!  Remember the little baby but also remember His sacrifice on the cross.

I pray you have a WONDERFUL Christmas with your families.  I pray you have a FABULOUS New Year.

Tricia :)

Looking back...moving forward

I just got finished reading over my past blog posts. Well, seems I am not learning from the past.  Seems I am still struggling with things I was getting a hold of weeks ago.  Why is it that this happens?  One answer I know for sure is the sin nature.  I know that I need to make it regular, daily even, practice to put off the sinful nature and put on the Holy Spirit.  But you know what...I AM NOT!  Why??  I am asking myself this question because I really would like to have an answer...but I don't...

I will say that the last few weeks have been challenging.  Almost two weeks ago I became very sick; passing out, feeling nasty, just plan horrid.  Turned out to be a cyst on my ovaries; really a rather common thing.  Well, it shook me a bit cause it made me quite sick for a week.  I will say one great thing that came out of it was God used it to begin mending a relationship.  Remember this is my theme this year?  Well, God certainly is not going to let we go back on something I committed to Him.  Without going into details and names, a friend and I have had issues of bad communication and areas that need growth spiritually.  It has had us not talking for awhile.  Well, thanks to her, my husband was able to go with me to the hospital while the kids slept.  So now, Monday we are getting together to talk over lunch.  Please pray with me that we will be able to truly talk things out and mend communication.  On top of all this, we are struggling to make ends meet with our finances.  It looks like I may have to get evening work...something I have not wanted to do.  Not because I am afraid of work, but because we committed to me staying home with the kids.  I know Jeremy will be with them at night so it isn't like we are going against our standing on no daycare.  It just means a change I was not prepared for.

So, challenges.  Some really tough, others bringing on good things.  I find myself asking God WHY! Why do we have to go through this time?  I have been through enough haven't I? Between a brain tumor and then all the subsequent eye issues haven't I been through enough?  My husband is a deacon in our church.  I teach Sunday school...we are faithful to music team and our attendance at church.  So WHY ARE WE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS? I don' t know the answer...I may never know the answer.  I remember 4 years ago when we found out my tumor was growing and it needed to be removed.  I remember my amazing husbands response to all of it...why not me?  Why not choose us to go through this hard time?  The only thing I can say is maybe God wants me to learn something.  Or maybe God wants to teach someone else something through how I deal with it? Or maybe God sees something in me/us that He knows will carry us through? Or...maybe...He is preparing us for something harder down the road?  I don't know, like I said, I may never know.

I DO know that God is in control.  And God has a plan that is beyond my understanding at this point.  And His grace IS sufficient.  That does not make the present circumstances any easier.  But it does make me thankful.  And it does give me peace amidst the storm. 

So...I looked back, now I must move forward.

Tricia :)

Leaving Facebook...for good?

Well...I made the decision the other day to stop using facebook.  It was taking the place of other things; things that were more important and certainly more God honoring.  But I am left with this thought: Now I can't communicate with people from my past and present that I don't physically see on a regular basis!  So...do I make it a permanent "shutdown" or do I just take a break?

Those are my thoughts today...while trying to get things done around the house.  I want my time with my kids and husband to be quality.  I want to be more diligent on getting things done around the house.  Not that things are in major chaos but...could they be better?  My answer is a most certainly YES!

So for now, no more facebook. Will I go back? Maybe!

Tricia :)

A Woman of Excellence

 So I went to our ladies BBQ this afternoon...great time, great fellowship.  I went with a lot of stuff on my mind about our financial situation and my exhaustion from the week.  Just too much "stuff" on my mind.  We had fellowship and lots of eating and I was still just bogged down, physically and emotionally.  But then we sat down and got into our time of studying God's word together.  Now we were going to get an answer, right?  Now was the time for releasing my "woes and cares" and finding peace with it all...whatever!

Well, one of our deacons wives was in charge of the lesson time so I came into prepared to glean whatever I could to "get a fix" for my issues.  It was a very refreshing talk on how to be a Woman of Excellence...not human excellence (as is defined by doing well in life and having all the "stuff" you want) but God honoring Excellence, Excellence for HIM.  So as I sat and listened and participated God began to speak to me through all the other people who were sharing.  I "say" all the right stuff, I "act" right...but am I truly a Woman of Excellence as God defines it?  Being so wrapped up in my issues and not focusing on what God says.  Being so focused on how tired I am at the end of a week or day...so focused on how we barely have 2 pennies to rub together each week?  Am I allowing God to work through these things...allowing Him to make me a Woman of Excellence through them?  Truth...NO!

Ok...now the good stuff is happening!  Now God is getting a hold of me and making me focus on Him.  So many scriptures were read today discussing this issue of excellence.  I will choose the one that spoke to me the most! Philippians 4::8 "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are right, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, think on these things."  That hits it on the head for me.  If I am thinking on things that are true I can't be worried about finances...if I am thinking on things that are lovely I can't be focused on my tiredness.  If I am thinking right, then I can act right!

WOW...God used today to teach me, yet again, that He is in control and His ways are right.  That if I am going to be a Woman of Excellence my first priority HAS to be on glorifying Him.  I have to be in His word more so I can learn from Him.  I have to be focused at home to live a life worthy of His calling in my life!

So, what is a Woman of Excellence you say?  I don't know all the answers to that loaded question.  But I do know that I have to start by being in His word and glorifying Him in all areas of my life...then and only then can I begin to know what Excellence...God's Excellence...is for me!

Tricia :)

Random thoughts...unable to sleep

So...I lie awake at 11 pm, trying to stop my mind from running. Funny thing is I have had the best day.  I was able to save money while grocery shopping and fill my house with food to eat.  That is one of the best feelings to me...providing food for my family to eat.  Having the cupboards full of good things to eat and not having to scrape up something for meals. 

Suppose I need to stop for a second and remember those who can't do this...provide for their families.  I am always so bummed when I can't.  We have been so blessed and I often forget that.  So many times when we can't go shopping for stuff we "need" I get so stressed out.  There are so many people who don't get to have the satisfaction  I did today. Wow...makes me stop and reflect on all God has done for me.

I was watching a video that a friend posted on Facebook yesterday...a reminder of the amazing universe God has created and how He chose us out of all of that.  Of how small we are and how huge He is.  Of how He died for us...small humans. 

All this makes me want to give Him glory more.  All this makes me want to stop focusing on the temporal things of this world and start focusing on Him.  All this makes me stop............

But then I want to shout!  SHOUT Praise to His name!  Just sing with all that is within me.  I would too...except my family is asleep.  I am in awe that He loves me.  That He chose me.  That because of what He did on that cross so many years ago, I can live forever! That even though my "Big Day" was so important to me, He still keeps providing even on these days that don't feel so big.  That He still loves me on the days I choose to make it all about me.  That even though he is HUGE and I am small, He still cares about my "Big Days."

All I can say is WOW...and THANK YOU!  Thank you Lord for all you do for me.  Thank you Lord for choosing me.  Thank you Lord for sending your Son for me.  Thank you Lord for today, my "Big Day"

Ok, I think I am done rambling now...good night!

Mobile posting

Set up my new mobile posting! Not sure when I would need it but hey...

I sent this via my phone just moments ago...seems odd to be able to post from a phone to a blog.  When did we advance so far here in America.  I know I grew up in the age of computers and such but I am still amazed at all the changes that are being made almost daily.  I must say that I think I am prone to enjoy a simpler life, less stuff and more time interacting  with people, you know, flesh beings instead of plastic and hardware!




I guess some would say I am old fashioned...oh well, maybe I am! (Although, I may still use the mobile posting if I am gone for an extended time, guess I am still young enough to enjoy the fancy stuff) 

Home again

We had a great time away for the holiday weekend.  Got home yesterday evening...now back to "normal"...although I am not sure I have ever been there! 

July 4th

We are heading out of town today for a few days of fun with my husbands side of the family.  Should be a great time of getting to know each other.  Pray with me as I continue to mend the relationship with my mother-in-law.  I desire to honor the Lord in how I act towards her and the things I say to her.

I hope and pray you have a great weekend too.  Enjoy your family and remember the men who fought and are still fighting for the freedoms we enjoy here in America.  As is said so often, freedom is never free!

Stretching....hurts a bit

I have been going through some times of stretching lately.  All somewhat difficult things...all things the Lord is teaching me.  I decided that my "theme" for this year was Relationships. Well, as soon as that happened, the Lord challenged me with some relationships.  First, in January my grandmother passed away.  I miss her very much!  The Lord taught me I don't have a guarantee of tomorrow...I need to make every moment count, for Him. 

Through my personal study time in the Word I began to feel the Lord calling me towards mentoring/encouraging the younger women and new Christian women in our church.  I am not sure where that is going but I am waiting on the Lord for answers.  But, I had a relationship in my life that was not right.  Without going into details, my relationship with my mother-in-law was not where it should be.  I had some time with her alone a little bit ago and was able to talk things out.  Now we are moving towards a better, God honoring relationship.

Then a few days ago our puppy died.  Again, sparing you the details, we all were a bit crushed.  It took me a few days to get to a point where I could stop seeing the ordeal in my head every time I closed my eyes.  But yet again, the Lord used it to mend a relationship.  My beautiful daughter just turned 6 recently.  I realized that my time with her has not been quality time.  I have another child who will be 2 in August.  He has taken up a lot of my time.  That is ok, but M (my daughter, I will not use my kids names in this blog) needs to know that she is equally as important.  I have somehow lost track of that and now I am back on! 

So I am being stretched...and sometimes it hurts.  But all the while, I am mending the most important relationship, my walk with the Lord.

New blog

I have decided to begin blogging again.  I want somewhere to keep track of all I am learning from the Lord.  I am not very good at writing things out...but I can type and I enjoy the computer.  So here it is...my new blog.  I will try to post often but I am not making any promises.

This will be a place to record life as I live it...so enjoy the ride with me!!

Tricia :)