PRAY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER PRAYED BEFORE

Baby Stellan is NOT doing well at all... please, please, please pray for him, pray continuously throughout your day for him, his family, and all of the doctors and nurses taking care of him.

Pray

Baby Stellan is back in the hospital with some pretty serious heart issues. We have prayed and prayed over this baby boy for months and months, and it is time to step it up, and pray harder. Please pray for the earthly doctors that are taking care of him, and that God will show them the best route to take with making Stellan's heart better. Please pray for his family. I cannot imagine what his mother is going through, but she has the peace that passes all understanding, and she knows that God's plans for her baby boy are already set in place; whether it is that he goes home to his family or he goes home to be with our great Lord. I have been praying all day and night, and have signed up on a couple of prayer blogs to spend a set out amount of time to pray specifically for Stellan, the doctors, and their whole family. Thank you for praying for Stellan and his family, I know his mom and dad sincerely appreciate it!!





Loving Heavenly Father, I pray that you will please be with Stellan. I pray that you will please give the doctors working wtih him the utmost, clearest wisdom, and that they will know what will be the best route to take care of this precious boy's heart. I pray that you will give his family peace in this situation, and that they will feel your loving arms constantly eveloping them and holding them. I thank you for your love, and for caring for your flock, even though we deserve none of it. Amen

i am blessed beyond all measure. and i don't deserve it. none of it. i will forever praise Him for the countless blessings i have been given.

help.... por favor!

I am a huge coffee freak. Like HUGE. I'm getting to the point that I can't go a day without having it in the morning. This is occasionally substituted with tea and raw honey, but I'm on a mega coffee kick lately. So, here is my dilemma. And, I need help. Seriously. I suck.... literally suck at making a good cup of coffee. I either get it too strong or wayyyy too weak, and it tastes nasty. We've been spending money to go to McDonalds every morning just for 2 large coffees. This is where you come in... please tell me how to make good coffee. I'd rather make it at home or in my classroom so I can have more than one cup. I've tried numerous times to make a good, quality pot of coffee, and have had no success whatsoever. None.



So, peeps, it is your job to help a friend out. Give some pointers on how to brew a satisfying, good pot of coffee. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I'll even return the favor and give you advice on how make your kid say funny stuff, or how to make a fourth grader seem less annoying. I am even contemplating purchasing Gevalia Kaffe, and hoping that a miracle will come out of it, but I pretty much don't think that will happen. Now, get commenting cuz I'm tired of waiting in the drive-thru! Thank you muches <3

oh my gosh....

convo with the kiddo

me: hey, sissy, do you want to read a book with mommy?
her: yes, wead a book, palease
me: ok, go get mommy one of your books and we can read
her: i get dis book, mommy
me: yes, you can get that book. do you want to read "goodnight moon" too? we can read two books
her: oh my gosh, you're kidding!
me: nope, i'm not kidding. mommy will read lots of books with you

her: oh my gosh, you're kidding
me: mommy will really read you lots of books... because i love you
her: i wuva yeeew, mommy!


convo with the husband

me: so, yeah, my kids really weren't good today at.all.
him: neither were mine, i'm ready to be done with school
me: totally! oh, just to let you know, i have a meeting tonight for my other job, so we need to eat dinner early
munchkin: oh my gosh, you're kidding!


convo to the dog

kid: coley, no take-a my food!
dog: whining uncontrollably to get his chops on some human food
kid: coley, morgan sayed no!
dog: still whining for food, and jumping at her while she's trying to have a conversation with him
kid: oh my gosh, you're kidding! coley, you need-a lissen-a me now!


i don't know where this "oh my gosh, you're kidding" thing is coming from, but she didn't learn it at home. it's kinda funny cuz she uses it appropriately.

Happily Ever After Fireproof

we watched it last night. it was a-ma-zing! and, it really hit home. i've been on a big "i need to be a better Christian, a better example for Christ, and many, many other things" lately. i became a Christian when i was 5. i was watching jimmy swaggert with my mom and dad, and the tears just started streaming down my face. i told my dad (who also happens to be a pastor) that i wanted to ask God to come in to my heart. at 5 years old, i didn't know about devotions, seriously praying, and everything else that entails being a true follower of Christ. as i have gotten older, i often think that i am doing a "good job" at being "the kind of Christian people want to be", and get slapped in the face with the reality that i'm actually quite wrong in that viewpoint. then i wonder why we have financial difficulties, why my husband and i fight, why i don't seem happy with anything, ever. if i actually walked the walk instead of just talking the talk, things would change.

my husband and i have been together for almost 10 years. like every relationship, things started out wonderfully. that "honeymoon" period where you can't get enough of each other... that lasted for about 5 years. then, i graduated from college, moved down to virginia (10 hours away from my family then, and the first big move i made alone), started my teaching position, and was with him 24/7. we got married, things started off really rocky, got better, and then plummeted and got even worse. after 6 months of marriage, i moved out of the house for 3 days, and thought it was over. guess who wasn't the center of my marriage then? and after 4 years, 3 moves, 2 dogs, a kid, financial difficulties, buying our first house, surgeries, cancer in both of our parents (his mom, my dad), and many other ups and downs, guess who still isn't the center of our marriage? we try, but do we try whole heartedly? nope! God is definitely part of our marriage, because if He wasn't things would have been over a long time ago. however, He is far from being in the position He rightly deserves in either of our lives or in our marriage. through everything, i have learned that marriage is far from an easy ride. far, far, far from an easy ride. there are times when i've wondered what i was thinking when i said "i do" to this man. there are times when i've stepped back and really thought about what an ugly, hateful person i was being, and wondered how on earth he could stand to tell people i am his wife. however, we have never once stopped loving each other. no matter how badly we couldn't stand the other person, the love never went away. i would rather go through a million valleys than to go through the rest of my life without my husband. i have realized what a blessing i have in him, and that i really need to start appreciating everything that we have together. i've also started thinking about these kinds of things.... when i raise my voice to my husband or daughter, i think "if this was God standing before me, is this how i would want to speak to Him?". or, in my actions, i ask myself, "would i want God to see/hear me doing/saying this?" it is so easy to lose focus on the One who should constantly remain in the first and most important place in our lives. but, we really need to strive to make that change, and put Him first ALWAYS. i have been praying hard lately that i start really, truly talking the talk and walking the walk.

the movie puts things in a whole new perspective, and really guides and shows that God needs to be the most important person in your life and your marriage. and when He is, everything else, no matter how hard things get, will fall in to place. when He isn't number one, satan creeps in and takes over, and that leads to a destruction you can't even fathom. i have challenged myself to really pray, and ask God to show me where i need to be to make Him the focal point of my life and marriage; for Him to use me to pour out His love for my husband; for me to be slow to anger, and quick to love. divorce isn't an option, and the word will never be uttered from either of our mouths. we're in it 'til the end... through the good times, and the bad, through sickness, and in health, through the thick and the thin.

he gets me

it's nice to have a husband who gets me. like, really gets me. he knows my quirks. he appreciates my uniqueness. he puts up with my spoildness (it's his fault after all). he loves me for who i am. he loves me no matter what i look like. my husband rocks.

it's back

i have been thinking a lot lately that maybe my teaching days are coming to an end. my creativity has seemed to have gone kaput, all i do is test my kids to death, and the only perks were that i got done at 3:30 every day and had the summer off. however, that changed yesterday. i did a totally awesome, cool hands-on activity with my class yesterday. seeing their faces light up brought my passion back. i realized maybe i am taking my job for granted, and i am treating it as a "job" and not my passion. i needed that lesson.... in more than one way!

<3

Nail Clipping ~ $8

Rabies Vaccination ~ $30

Total Vet Visit ~ $204

Dog Cloning ~ $150,000

Having something to always want to snuggle you, kiss you, never judge you, always be there when you're sad, never say anything mean to you, always want to please you, always be happy to see you, and make you totally, blissfully happy ~ PRICELESS

I don't care if his vet visit today cost $1,000, I wouldn't be able to live without my dog! He's my baby, and I love him to death; always have, always will! And, I am bound and determined to work my butt off to pay that $150,000 to have him cloned so I never have to live a day without my Coley Bear!

AnD iT sMaCkS yOu In ThE fAcE

have you ever had a conversation with someone, and while you're conversing with that person, you get a whammy letting you (inadvertantly) know that you're not as good of a Christian as you thought you were? that happened to me today. the girl i was talking to described a teacher whom she thinks is a good outward example of a Christian, and she shouted my name and let me know how Godly i am that person definitely wasn't me. guess i have some praying and changing to do!

Happy Birthday (a little late)

I thought I'd share my birthday cake with you that my Daddy got for me!!! He got one for my girl and his girl!!! (Well, we're both his girls, but you know) He got me Strawberry Shortcake because I used to LOVE her! The message says "Happy Birthday B.G." Which, in father daughter terminology, it says "Happy Birthday, Baby Girl" and that is what he calls me!! How cute

Psalm 37

I read this for my devotions last night.... and loved it!


1.
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;
2.
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
3.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
6.
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.
9.
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
12.
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
13.
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
14.
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
15.
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16.
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
17.
for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18.
The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever.
19.
In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20.
But the wicked will perish: The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke.
21.
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
22.
those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.
23.
If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;
24.
though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
26.
They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
27.
Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
28.
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
29.
the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30.
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
31.
The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
32.
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;
33.
but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34.
Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35.
I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
36.
but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37.
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.
38.
But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40.
The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

SiMpLe ThInGs

let me start out by telling you the precursor to this post.... last weekend we headed to amish country. we went to celebrate both my birthday (feb. 2) and our munchkin's birthday (feb. 27) with our families. in my family, it is birthday tradition to be taken out to a restaurant of your choice for your birthday dinner. i knew we were going out for my dinner, and had a couple of places in mind. the one plan didn't work because of a princess (who happened to be very sleepy), and her schedule didn't work out with the restaurant's schedule. so, i decided to go with olive garden. we don't get to go out to eat much, and olive garden is one of my favorite restaurants. i went in to put our name on the list, and it was jam-packed. the wait was 55-60 mins, which is so not doable with a 2 year old. so we brain stormed, and tried to think of somewhere else to go. my dad mentioned doc hollidays. this wasn't good for 2 reasons 1) i'm not a big meat fan. i could so be a vegetarian, but just haven't gotten around to doing that (probably never will either) and 2) the last time my hubster and i went to a doc hollidays when we were dating, it was seriously gross. i was just thankful for the opportunity to have dinner with my family, and we all headed to doc hollidays. my poor brother got physically ill from what we had to eat, my husband's prime rib was so salty it made him dizzy (can you say high blood pressure), my mom and i had beer battered fish and chips and they tasted like they were covered in pure beer, and my dad had baby back ribs... they were amazing (the ribs, that is). so, nobody really enjoyed their dinner except for my dad (my husband didn't mind his because he had a hunk of cow, but it still made him dizzy). my dad also shared his ribs with me, so the end of my dinner was good, too. wow... that was a pretty long precursor!!

fast forward to last night

we had one day of school this week, and it was weird being away from my husband and baby girl yesterday. things have been pretty rockin in our marriage after a major slump, so we've been really enjoying being with each other. after we got in the car, we had to run and get something for my little critters, and we discussed the fajitas we were planning on having for dinner. i asked adam if he wanted to run and get something yummy for dessert, and he said he'd think about it while i was in the pet shop. after i came back, he gets this grin on his face (you can tell he's either being ornery or has something up his sleeve because he has a massive dimple, and it's the truth-teller 100%). he kinda got all cute on me, and all sweet and was like.... "well, i know you were really disappointed in your birthday dinner, and i've felt so badly that you didn't get to go where you wanted to go. so i thought maybe we could run home, change the kiddo (she was gross from daycare), and go out as a family". how sweet!! he had it planned all week long <3>