endless gifts {138-155}

138. family
139. Ann V....love her blog....I am continually challenged...anyone else read her?
140. joy
141. health
142. happiness
143. people who make me smile
144. a favorite book
145. daily needs always met
146. my daily bread
147. my godly heritage {I'll have to tell my family history sometime.}
148. the Christmas season
149. smell of a fresh Christmas tree
150. my youngest brother
151. a reminder of the need for His strength {I always need to be reminded!}
152. crafting blogs that I stumble upon
153. a day out in the country
154. seeing other peers who are sold-out, serving, faithful, and committed....awesome!
155. I'm grateful to be blessed!

I tagged these verses in my Bible after I read it the other night because I wanted to share them with you.

Psalm 66:10-12

For thou, O God, hast proved us:  thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

I was having a discussion with my cousin on Friday night and we were talking about trials.  So often, we as Christians, do not want to accept the trials God puts us through.  Really, how many of us are jumping up and down shouting, "Over here!  I want a trial, please!  It's about time I had something difficult come into my life.  Life has been way too easy for me these days."  Ummmm......no.  But it's through the trials that we draw closer to Him.  We were created to have fellowship with the Father. If He takes us through a fiery season and it draws us closer to Him, then what better thing could we ask for? 

And the most interesting thing I noticed about these verses is that the Psalmist is referencing God.  He noticed that God brought "us into the net" and God "caused men to ride over our heads."  I love the clear visual picture I get in that passage.  Ouch!  :)

And the passage that I quoted ends with "but thou hast brought us out into a wealthy place."  Incredible! 

On the way home from MI tonight, I was flipping through my uber-favorite book Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? In the chapter I was reading, the author referenced the story of Ruth. 

Here are two thoughts I have highlighted:  

He works on a scale much larger than our individual lives.

and

God's quiet providence was already at hand, but Naomi couldn't perceive it.

It's an encouragement to be reminded of the bigger picture.  It is easy to get hung up on the little things that don't happen according to the plan.  But each trial is God's hand at work to perfect me beyond what I can fathom!

how was your Thanksgiving holiday?

Mine was fantastic!

**Thursday.  Dinner was great.  We watched the most moving movie I have ever seen!  It was The Hiding Place.  Wow!  I'm sure many of you have seen it.  If not, you absolutely must watch it sometime.  I was so challenged.  Challenged to love more, challenged to memorize the Scriptures more, and challenged to be a truer-bluer Christian.  Awesome!  Can't say enough good about that movie!

**Friday.  I worked in the morning {blessed}.  My parents and brother went to get our Christmas tree.  We brought all of the Christmas decorations up to the house but we haven't decorated yet.  Because....

**Saturday was my cousin's fiancee's wedding shower.  I love her!  I have met her before this weekend but got to know her much better.  She is absolutely so sweet.  She and my cousin fit perfect together.  She is so bubbly, outgoing, and happy.  I love happy people! 

left-right: me, John {cousin}, Janelle {soon-to-be cousin}, and Sara {cousin}

Have a fabulous Sunday, everyone, as you worship our risen Savior!

::my words::part two::

Secondly, the spoken word {my tongue}.

I have this verse jotted on a card and tacked to my cork board. It says, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ..." Philippians 1:27. If we were to apply that verse to every conversation we had {best friend, boyfriend, brother, sister, parents, husband} plus applying all the other verses on the tongue that teach us not to slander, gossip, etc...what would we talk about? Really. What would our conversations be filled with?

I don't know how super-duper open I've been about this on my blog, but I don't really have a best, best, best-ever girlfriend. The kind I can chat with for an hour, pick up the phone and decide to go somewhere instanteously or share my heart with. And I really, really miss having one. My best friend and I from hs have gone different directions.  Of course, she's still a Christian but we just have completely different life paths, different friends, different locations.  So many friends from college I have lost contact with.  Many have gotten married {different goals!}.  Some just don't "do" long-distance friendships.  And, we change.  I'm not sitting here bemoaning this fact.  I have friends...I do...but not a "heart" friend. And I miss that so much. But I know not having a "heart/soul friend" is God's way of teaching me some things. Among the lessons I have been learning is what I say with my tongue. I have come to the realization that I talk too much. **shocker, I know!**  Girls definitely have the gift of gab! :) But if my conversation is to be centered around the gospel of Christ, that limits a lot of unneccessary talk that girls do and which often leads to gossip and slander. I'm not saying it's wrong to talk about nail polish, facials, make-up, shopping, and sales but I don't think that's the *only* thing that we talk about.

If our conversation is centered around the gospel of Christ then I think we'll do a lot more talking about Scripture, souls, missions, ministries, how to be a blessing, etc.

All this to say, that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." {Proverbs 18:21} I am praying that my tongue is not death, but life!

::my words::part one::

The written and spoken word is how we communicate.  I've been thinking about my blog and my tongue lately.

While popping around on Tuesday afternoon, I saw a link to this article.  Intrigued, I clicked.  Ironically, on Monday, my mom and I were having a conversation centered around the topic of the internet and privacy and filtering {filters, really} and social networking.

First of all, the written word {ie...my blog}.

I agree with everything in the article that I linked to.

I have thought much on the topic of how much is too much?  It seems like everyone has fb!  Well, except me!  And I would *love* to connect with people from the past, especially friends from college, through that handy website.  I feel like I don't know half of what is going on in other peoples' lives because I don't keep up with them through fb.  On the other hand, so many that I have known {hs or college} have strayed from the standards and convictions that they used to hold dear...or at least I thought they did!  However, I already have a blog.  That is time-consuming.  As much as I would love to connect with people through fb, I do enough connecting through my blog.

Twitter.  Oh, twitter, how I do miss thee!  I loved having a twitter.  But how much is too much?  I already have a blog!

If we're not supposed to be entangled with the affairs of this life {II Timothy 2:4} how much is too much?  I am of the opinion that it is a personal issue, as well.  What is good for you may not be good for me and vice versa.  I don't think anyone is wrong for having a blog + fb + twitter + whatever else is out there.  I don't even think it would be wrong for me to have a fb or twitter.  But if I find myself spending enough time on my blog {and bloglines!} then why do I need to have a fb or twitter?  I think it really boils down to time spent.  I can check my email, google reader, bloglines, and whatever else and be done online within 20 minutes in the morning, give or take.  It's really a matter of self-control.

I was convicted reading the second main point in the article.  I hope that everything that is said on this blog is not self-centered and is pleasing to the Lord.  That article was such a blessing!

Here's an honest, not misleading, question.  Have you given much thought to social networking?  What are your thoughts on how much is too much?  I am so curious to know if you ever feel overwhelmed or overloaded?  Have you deleted accounts because you feel like it's too much?  How do you streamline your internet time?  I'm truly curious in an honest way on your thoughts!

Monday night wrap-up

Monday night was fun.

• went to Target for the first time in probably two whole, entire weeks {unbelievable}
• As I'm walking in, head down, minding my own business, a guy walking out greets me with a "Merry Christmas"...completely caught me by suprise, I flashed a smile and said, "Same to you!"  Wow!  Some sure are jolly.
• I had my coupon envelope - yay!  I saved $2.75 + I had a $5-off card.
• Found a cute hobo purse.  I've been searching for the perfect purse...and this one is almost perfect...perfect enough.  The reason I needed a new purse is because the purse I'm currently using is f-r-a-y-e-d.  My dad brought back a purse each for me and my mom when he went to Cambodia several years ago.  I love this purse. It's different, colorful, and the perfect size.  Recent problems include the zipper breaking {that's embarrassing because then everyone can see inside}, fraying on the handles and in other random places.  Needless to say, it was time for a new purse.
• Went to be with my grandma.
• Timed conveniently so that I watched the final episode of J&K+8.  I almost cried at the end.  That is so incredibly sad that a cute, adorable, "Christian" family has broken up. 
• My new favorite show on T-L-C is the D*gg*r family.  Love them!!  And they're Baptist!  Woo-hoo!

I'm planning on a fabulous week.  How 'bout you?

blessings + hugs to everyone!

endless gifts {127-137}

127. that my Mom wasn't able to get the H1N1 from her onc. doc right away because she isn't high risk anymore!
128. our family's health...no H1N1, other flu strains, or nasty colds
129. a Sunday school lesson on thankfulness
130. being able to serve in my church
131. patience
132. steadfast members in my church that I look up to
133. anticipation of a {short, day} trip on Tuesday
134. provision for my needs
135. gorgeous, November weather
136. forgiveness
137. redemption

cleaning can be so uncool sometimes

{please excuse my teenage slang, there!}

This is an "only-happens-to-Rebecca" story.

Let me insert a preface here and say that the longer I clean houses where pets are occupants, the less chance any future children of mine have for owning a pet.  The chances decrease greatly by the week!

I honestly can be a complete klutz.  Completely.  Hard to believe?  So true.

At this particular house, I clean the dog and cat bowls each week {which is a very good idea}. 

First of all, the dog decided not to come out of her cage this morning so I couldn't completely finish the {narrow} porch and added to the slight mayhem I'm about to decribe. 

This next scene that I'm about to describe happened in seconds, really.

As I'm putting the cat dish/tray on the built-in radiator/heater, it begins to fall.  I start to catch it as it is falling and end up with cat litter in my fingernails - double ewwww!  As I catch the falling dish/tray, I stumble over I-don't-know-what and somehow flick my shoe off.  My shoe flicking off turns into completely coming off my foot and flying in the air and into the bucket of yucky water.  As I'm reaching to catch my shoe, my unsuccessful attempts to stop the shoe from being immersed in water make my shoe become completely submerged in water.  Oh.my.goodness.!!!

I was fit to be tied!

Double-double-double-GROSS!!

First phrase that pops into my mind, "Cleaning can be so uncool sometimes."

I had to laugh, though, because it truly was an only-happens-to-Rebecca type of experience!

the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY
November 19th...

Outside my window...gray skies, beautiful leaves on one tree that still have not fallen, looks like winter

I am thinking...about my younger {not youngest} brother

I am thankful for...my Ipod

From the kitchen...planning Thanksgiving dinner {I'm doing Thanksgiving this year...yay....yikes!}

I am wearing...jean skirt and 10//2 shirt

I am creating...Bible verse songs flip-chart today!

I am going...to see my Granny this morning and run a few errands

I am reading...through Ezekiel

I am hoping...to go to my cousin's wedding shower in MI next week

I am hearing...my radio, the doorbell ring

Around the house...construction is still going on in the bathroom and living room.

One of my favorite things...my morning coffee routine

A few plans for the rest of the week: work tomorrow, then a typical weekend

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

a little display I put up on the bus this week

Credit goes here

quick chicken and dumplings

Abbi asked me for this recipe when I mentioned the yummy goodness in this post.

This week was the first time that I made the recipe.  For the other 101 x's we have had it at our house, my Mom always makes it.  I did not want to mess up the goodness by making it myself.  However, it worked out real well that I was able to make it this week and I learned a little about the recipe. 

{our variations included}

4 cups water {chicken broth}
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 (10 3/4 oz) cans cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
1 (7.5 oz) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits {7.5 oz or larger}

*Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring often.
*Separate biscuits in half, forming 2 rounds; cut each round in half.  Drop biscuit pieces, 1 at a time, into boiling mixture; stir gently.  Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

So here is what I learned:

When I put the chicken broth and soup in the pot, the liquid level seemed lower than when my Mom makes it.  So I added more water.  I think I put about 2+ cups of water in.  It did not alter the taste at all, but the broth was thinner {more like a soup} instead of thick like you would think of with dumplings.  So if/when I make this again, I would probably add more water but would definitely add another can of soup. 

{Thanks, Abbi, for doing the ice-cream cake post!  It reminded me to post this recipe!}

I heard this thought on the radio and wanted to share it with you all.

"If we only had tomorrow what we
expressed thanks
for today,
how much would we have?"

Wow!

I love lists and cause & effect verses in the Bible.  Lists make everything so straight-forward.  It's not that I think that the Bible isn't straight-forward but I just love lists. 

Anyways, I just wanted to share some {what I call} "cause and effect" verses.

It is a faithful saying:

For if we be dead with him,

we shall also live with him.

If we suffer,

we shall also reign with him.

If we deny him,

he also will deny us.

{Here's the clincher for me.}

If we believe not,

yet he abideth faithful: 

he cannot deny himself.

II Timothy 2:11-13

Lately, it seems that I have been referencing my spiritual trial this summer more frequently.  These verses really hit home.  God has said that He is faithful.  I had to believe Him.  God has said that He will never leave me.  I had to believe Him.  God has said that He cleanseth me from all my sin.  He has given me salvation.  I had to believe Him.  But even if I do not believe, He is still faithful.  He cannot deny Himself.  He is faithful.  Wow!  What an awesome assurance and thought!

100 things

I had planned to do the 100 things about me post on my 100th post but that post came and went! I've never done a list this long. I had mixed feelings about doing it because it does seem a bit self-centered but after I read one the other day and it looked interesting, I decided to jump in and do it.  Oh, and this is not one bit spiritual.  I've had to come back and edit and re-edit this post before posting it.  I'm still having mixed feelings about this thing. And there's absolutely no particular order to this list at all.

1. I am the oldest in my family.
2. I am the oldest grandchild on both sides of my family.
3. I have always wanted an older brother, a sister close to my age, and a baby sister.
4. I am slightly OCD about certain things.
5. My favorite color is yellow!
6. I had two sets of braces growing up.
7. I think that good quality and fewer things (possessions) is better than poorer quality and more things.
8. I am unabashed lover and addict of sweet tea.
9. I love birds.
10. I would love to travel the U.S.
11. I love the deep South.
12. I love the midwest.
13. My family members are my closest friends.
14. I miss my best friend from HS, Becky.
15. People who don't know me think that I am quieter, proper, and reserved (more like my Oma).
16. People who really know me know that I can be super-talkative and slightly crazy (ie excitable) (more like my Granny).
17. I think my personality is a great blend of both of my grandma's.
18. I miss my brother (one year younger than me) a lot!
19. I took piano lessons for 12 years.
20. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm great at the piano.
21. I played the flute for 14 years.
22. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm great at playing the flute.
23. I love to sing harmony.
24. My favorite month is October.
25. My favorite season is summer.
26. I love to ski.
27. I'm growing my hair out.
28. That is different because normally I have short hair.
29. I used to sleep with my contacts in my eyes.
30. In college, sometimes I would be so tired after church from my busy weekend that I would come home and lay on my bed to "think."  Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep in my church clothes & with my shoes on + the lights on in my bedroom.  I would wake up either very early the next morning or during the middle of the night.
31. I have always loved to do laundry.
32. I dislike cleaning showers but don't mind cleaning toilets so much.
33. When I was younger, I read too much.
34. I still love to read but don't read as much as I used to.
35. My favorite time era is the 40's, 50's, and 60's.
36. My favorite series to read growing up was Cherry Ames.  She was a nurse in the 40's & World War II.
37. I wanted to be a nurse at one time.
38. I went to school to start my nursing degree.
39. Sometimes, I wish I was a nurse.
40. But I know that I could never be a nurse now!
41. Blood & weird medical procedures gross me out.
42. I have a tendency to start things and not finish.
43. I love to dress up because I wear casual clothes 5 1/2 days a week.
44. I would love to go to the White Sox training camp in AZ.
45. Every year, I follow the Sox a little more.
46. No matter how prim and proper I seem, I'm really a country girl at heart.
47. I dislike being rushed (different from being busy).
48. I wish I was more creative.
49. I am frequently late in turning in library books...hence, many late fines.
50. I've been to the UK.
51. I've been to the Caribbean.
52. I've climbed (really hiked) Pikes Peak.
53. I've hiked the Grand Canyon.
54. I've been white-water rafting.
55. I've been to Mexico.
56. I've been to Canada.
57. I would prefer to travel the U.S. before I travel internationally.
58. Every summer as a kid, we went to AL to visit my maternal grandparents.
59. Those are some of my happiest memories.
60. I wish I payed more attention in college.
61. My college graduation day was one of the happiest days of my life.
62. Bring on the road trips...I love them!
63. I'm the teacher for the 1st-3rd grade girls class for the midweek service at our church.
64. I love that class!
65. I wish I talked slower.
66. I've had the same Bible since HS and cannot think of replacing it.
67. As a little girl, I sort of made up mind that I would never get my name imprinted on my Bible until after I was married.
68. Now, I think it would be great to get my name imprinted on my Bible even though I'm not married.  :)  Funny how our opinions change!
69. My initials spell r-a-g.
70. I love to play VB.
71. I love to sing in the car.
72. My coach started to teach me overhand serves when I was a junior (in HS) but I could never get the hang of it.
73. I love DD coffee over St*rbucks any day!
74. I do not have a perfect underhand now!
75. My secret:  I cannot place a serve...no matter how hard I try!
76. Our girls' intramural team was undefeated my senior year in HS.
77. I was the girl in 8th grade Home-Ec that could not tie a knot.
78. I don't like to play basketball.
79. I got hit in the head with a softball at a college activity and needed stitches.
80. I haven't played softball since.
81. I love to swim.
82. I would love to live on a boat...not a houseboat and not a huge yacht...just a cute little boat that can cruise around wherever.
83. I love the snow.
84. I dislike the cold.
85. I like to recycle.
86. I'm sort of crunchy-green organic...SORT OF...not weird and not completely. (Post edit: meaning, I prefer homemade food, beef from organic-fed cows, eggs from a farm, etc...)
87. I was a sprinter in HS.
88. I eat chocolate chips straight out of the as a snack.
89. As much as I played sports in HS, I rarely do organized exercise now.
90. I think being an active person is the best form of exercise.
91. My favorite fiction book to read is When Crickets Cry.
92. My favorite author is Elisabeth Elliot.
93. I've never gotten a speeding ticket.
94. But I do have myself pegged for getting a speeding ticket one day in a few choice spots (eeekkkk....).
95. My dad had me absolutely terrified of getting a speeding ticket when I first started driving.
96. I am just now getting over that fear because I realize that I will pay the fine (and the larger fine at that) to keep it off my record.
97. I started driving at 16.
98. When I first started driving and got behind the wheel, I would laugh hysterically.  Partly from nerves and excitement and partly because my brothers made me laugh!
99. This list took me a while to make.
100. I think this list is too long.

counting my endless gifts {119-126}

119. finding extra contacts that I thought I had misplaced
120. straight corners of a cornfield

{This may seem funny but think about it...God has created everything with order, nothing is abstract. I don't think Christians should appreciate abstract art. I was driving out in the country this week and noticed this particular cornfield and the rows were so straight. It struck me as beautiful.}

121. being able to help buy a food basket for our church's food fundraiser

{This is one of the reasons I was so blessed on Friday.  Anytime you're down & out, do something for someone else.  I guarantee your attitude will change.  I wasn't down & out on Friday but I had so much fun purchasing a basket for the teen's food fundraiser this week.  It was an absolute blast!}

122. God's provision
123. deals and coupons on necessities
124. awesome opportunities
125. God always takes care of me!

{The less money I make, the more I see God provide.  The more I give up, the more He provides.  Every.single.time.!  Awesome!}

126. correction and conviction from the Word of God

bliss!

Thanks to my 10% membership discount + a special 25% off coupon, I bought this book on a great deal!

I have been interested in embroidery but hadn't taken the time to find a book.

This book is right up my alley. It's easy to understand; the author has a sense of humor; there is a nice amount of photographs (instead of sketches); it doesn't make embroidery/stitiching look intimidating; and, the patterns are cute.

Does anyone else do embroidery or stitch?

PS - multitude monday coming tomorrow & I cannot wait...it's been a blessed week!

Today is...

...my 7th spiritual birthday!

I was a sophmore in college.

It was the last day of the youth conference at our church.

I hadn't been under deep conviction before the sermon.

I wasn't going through a difficult time spiritually.

But the Holy Spirit definitely drew me to Christ that day.

I can say that without a doubt.

It was the first time that I could not raise my hand to testify that I was saved.

I could not remain in my seat when the pastor asked for the unsaved to come forward.

It's humanly inexplicable. However, I'm so thankful that God saw fit to include me in His family. I had rejected Him for years because I had grown up in a Christian home and heard the Gospel countless times.

PRAISE GOD FOR SALVATION!

Through the difficult time I had spiritually at the end of the summer, my faith was shaken to the core. But as I dug into God's Word, my faith increased. This summer, I've become more aware of what Christ has done for me. I have become more aware of my sinful condition. I have become more aware of my daily need for Him. What would I have done this summer if it hadn't been for Christ? I'm so thankful for my salvation!

the simple woman's daybook

I've seen this in several places and have been wanting to do it for a while. Here it goes...

FOR TODAY, November 12th

Outside my window...sunshine and a blue sky

I am thinking...about how to make my life more profitable

I am thankful for...finding new contacts that I had misplaced

From the kitchen...I'm thinking about making choc. chip cookies for the weekend

I am wearing...my comfy clothes

I am creating...Bible verse memory cards

I am going...to church tonight

I am reading...through Ezekiel

I am hoping...to find another avenue of work besides cleaning houses

I am hearing...the hum of the computer and traffic from the highway

Around the house...need to get my craft/storage closet organized

One of my favorite things...homemade chicken dumplings

A few plans for the rest of the week: another set of Bible verse memory cards done and listed on etsy...work tomorrow morning...game for Junior Church.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

This is me and Liz...the week of our graduation (me from college, her from HS), we're both wearing our striped shirts, we both have long hair...this picture is inspiration for me to continue growing my hair out...she is getting married in July and I'm in her wedding! Time flies!

Credit goes here: The Simple Woman's Daybook

me and awesome Mrs. E!

This is the beginning of a lovely day.

I can just feel it.

The sun is shining.

I don't have to work this morning (I just had this feeling that I would get called off today and I did; they're on vacation.)

These pictures were taken Monday night of me and Mrs. Eeeeee at the youth activity at our church for the "Renaissance Fair."

Doesn't she look awesome? I'm still lovin' the hair!

counting my endless gifts {109-118)

109. a few days off work

110. fun with friends

111. a warm weekend

112. {once again} cello lessons...this week she took me 15 minutes over my lesson time...wow!

113. getting to help with the youth conference at church {even though it's just a little bit}

114. my favorite kids who ride the bus were able to come Sunday...they've been sporadic throughout the fall because of football

115. my brother is home from Africa

116. friendliness and comradeship between single girls

117. finding a Renaissance outfit at 75% off

118. being able to fix the outfit without sewing or buying anything extra
{So this is huge...my typical solution when I want to fix something is to throw $$ at the problem. I had to buy a cape to go over the Renaissance dress and the cape seemed too long and black and the dress needed a sash. I had planned to run to the fabric store and pick up a few things which ='s money. This morning, my Mom and I cut off the desired amount of fabric which made the cape not so long; it didn't need to be hemmed because of the type of material. The extra material will be used for a sash. Thus, reinforcing what I'm trying to improve on....frugality.}

Here's another cute story from bus today.

It was absolutely, gorgeous today. The skies were a beautiful blue with white, swirly clouds.

If you have read my blog for a while, you may remember that our route is way out in the country {love it}. So, I'm driving our farthest out kids home and the brother is sitting in the front seat {that's still a big deal to kids, same as it was when I was a kid} and he pointed out the clouds to me.

Isaac: Miss Becca, the clouds are so pretty. {said with a slight, cute lisp on the "r"}

me: Yes, they are.

Isaac: They're all swirly. {more awe expressed about the clouds}

me: Yes, they're very pretty today.

Isaac: It's like God is up in Heaven swirling the clouds. It's like He is in art class.

Kids are so innocent and forthcoming! It made me laugh. I'm sure God smiled at that one, too.

Just a warning, I'm not going to promise very many posts this week. The youth conference at our church is starting tomorrow. {Wish you were here, Anne!} I get to help out for the opening activity tomorrow night. It's a Renaissance (medieval) theme. AND, there were Renaissance dresses on the H*llow**n clearance rack at a store in town. Wonderful! Plus with work sprinkled in, helping out in the kitchen at church, and picking up a girl from our route so she can attend the service, I might not post as much as I would like. Hope ya'll have a fabulous week, too!

yay! bus game!

I haven't blogged about a new game for our Sunday bus route in a while. Here's a new game I made tonight for tomorrow. {Once again, let me remind you that these games are not perfect; but they're original.}

Here are the acorns, top & bottom, that are in the bucket below.

On the back are points.

One person at a time will have a chance to pull a match (by points & color) out of the bucket. If they get a match, they'll be awarded points. Then, if they can correctly answer a Bible question, they'll get double the points on the acorn that they drew.

my week!

So this has been an interesting week! My Mom went with my Dad on a short business trip to New Orleans. They left Sunday night after church; she flew home on Tuesday afternoon; he flew to Phoenix (his second office), then home today.

I had Monday off of work. (!) I had Tuesday off of work. (!) And I took Wednesday off of work. (!)

Monday: I just did things around the house. I'm never bored when I have a day off. Never, ever bored. I went to see my Granny. I went to a friend's house and watched an old movie.

Tuesday: Hung out at home in the morning. Picked up my Mom from the airport then we went shopping. I bought some cute-o things. And let me say that almost every single thing was a need. Seriously. I know that seems hard to believe but it's true.

Wednesday: I went with a friend and her daughter and her friends downtown Chicago for the day. It was so.much.fun.!! The girls were so pleasant to be with. I had a blast! We ended the day with popcorn from a specialty popcorn shop. I have one word: delish!

Today: I'm working. Woohoo!

Friday: You already know about my Friday {see post below}!!

How has your week been?

on being single

Here's the follow-up post to my multitude monday post yesterday.

On Friday night, my parents and I were chatting and weddings was one of the topics. I commented that if I ever get married, I have determined that my wedding will be focused on two things: family and thankfulness. Because I will be adding family {my husband's} and he will be adding family {mine}. And family is really important to me. The second thing I would like to focus on is thankfulness. Thankfulness to my church family and my parents for investing in my life. And most importantly, thankfulness to God. I was being funny when I said, "For sure, we will be praising the Lord because at that point, it will be an absolute miracle if I ever get married. It will just be a service filled with PRAISE that I am FINALLY getting married!" I told the girl I visit with on Saturday that it will be a regular day of Thanksgiving in the middle of the year if I get married. Maybe everyone should come dressed as Pilgrims? Haha....JOKING...of course!

Now here's a more serious part.

I have had a discussion with another single friend about praying & singleness and she understood what I was getting at. I have had this same discussion with my Mom and she has encouraged, prompted me to pray more because that is what I need to do.

So when I pray diligently about being single and getting married, I never ask the Lord for an answer to my prayer within a time table. If the prayer doesn't get answered does that mean the Lord doesn't answer prayer? Of course not! I believe that He answers three ways: yes, no, wait. But I must admit that I don't have enough faith to pray within a specific time table. So I pray, "...help thou mine unbelief." {Mark 9:24...I know the sentence before it is Lord, I believe.} Anyways, when I pray more about getting married, the guy finding me, etc...I feel like I get more anxious. This is supposed to happen and quickly because I am praying more diligently! So when no magical guy appears, I quickly become discouraged and not content with my singleness. Focus on the key words: not content. And let me say that life is so much easier, joyful when I'm content.

So I jump ship. I quit praying. Sinful, shallow me! But, I'm content, I argue!

THEN. Last week in my devotions, I read this portion of Scripture:

"...Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

...And they walked in their own counsels.

Oh {love that word in the Bible; shows such emotion!} that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee."

That was a major jolt for me! That is not the entire portion of Scripture in Psalm 81: 10-16 but I included what was a blessing for me. My pastor has a sermon that I've heard in the past based on verse 10. Basically, God WANTS to bless me but I'm sitting here with my mouth sewn shut because I'm CONTENT. When if I open it up in PRAYER, HE wants to FILL IT! Silly, shallow me!!!! My heart's desire is to be a wife and mother. God knows this! So why not pray this with my mouth wide open. I have pictured in my mind little baby birds just hatched, squawking, their mouths w i d e open for food.

So you can guess what I'm up to now!! I'm back to praying WITH MY MOUTH OPEN!

FRIday

I am really looking forward to Friday.

Here's why:

#1 - I'm going to an indexing conference {that I thought was in September/October...and it's in November - lucky me!} Do you remember a while back that I explained about a new career opportunity that I was looking into? Oh yes, here's the post. So I'm going. I'm a little nervous because it's not like there are an abundance of indexers in the United States. I know there won't be 500 people at the conference and I can melt into the crowd. No. I am going as the novice not-even-an-indexer. I'm going strictly for informational purposes. To find out more of this stunningly attractive, boring, helpful, interesting career.

#2 - My brother will be home from his 4 1/2 week missions trip to Africa. Actually, he was in Africa for about 4 weeks; the 1/2 week was travel time. We really haven't heard a lot from him so there will be many stories to hear.

#3 - My friend will be back. She has been gone for two weeks and I so miss chatting with her!! Yay! I heart her.

...continuing to count my endless gifts

97. sunshine after not having it for days

98. no debt

99. gas that is still under $3 per gallon

100. lovely-smelling candle burning

101. remembering God's Word {fruit from my memorization cards...yippee!}

102. smell of fabric softener on clean clothes

103. courage to make the right choice

104. my five sense: touch, sight, smell, hearing, taste

105. {almost} making it within my weekly cash budget - my new experiment

106. my awesome family

107. making my Dad laugh {post on that later} {before you think I am implying that my Dad never laughs, let me explain. I was talking about my wedding day - if I ever get one - and a comment I said literally made my Dad....really....laugh. It was hilario!!}

108. compliment from a kid {let me explain: I was bringing a little boy and his sister to church on Sunday and I had a DD coffee in the cupholder. They thought I had bought donuts, too, but I told them...nope, just coffee!! He said {so cutely}, "Miss Becca, if you had donuts, I know you would share them with us." My reply, "Of course, I would, Cody." His reply, "You would be a good mom." Awwwww.....melt!! :)