I was preparing a Shrimp Spread to take with me to our Women's Bible Study tonight when I had a random thought. Let me go back for a minute & give you some background.
Eight years ago, my sister & I took a little vacation to Corpus Christi. It wasn't too far away from home, but she had been going through some really rough times, and I thought it would be fun for just the two of us to get away from everything and take it easy for a few days! My husband kept our two kids (then ages 2 years & 11 months), and my mom kept Sara's daughter (11 months). Even to this day, that was my favorite vacation (although Disney World comes in a very close second!)! We did whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted...We slept late, ate out every meal, went and played Putt-Putt at 10:00 one night, shopped in all the little shops (that we never went in growing up. We had family down in Corpus, so that was like our second home. We didn't ever do much sight-seeing). Basically, all the things that mother's with little children don't get to do on a regular basis. Our last evening there, we went out to eat with our cousin Patty & my very special friend, Buck. Patty ordered shrimp, and even though she was full, she made herself finish off her plate. That's nothing unusual in our family, but it was what she said that stuck out at me. She said, "I made a promise to myself. Every time I order shrimp, I must finish every last one. If these shrimp layed down their lives for me, the least I can do is to eat them." Ha-ha! :) Gotta love the shrimp!
Now fast forward 8 years, onto my thought as I was in the kitchen making the Shrimp Spread. I thought, "Isn't it crazy that some people take something so silly as eating every last shrimp on their plate so seriously, ensuring that the shrimp's death wasn't in vain. And yet, do we as Christians take Christ's laying His life down for us just as seriously?"
Of course the shrimp didn't choose to lay their lives down for you...but Christ did. Do we live our lives in such a way that His death isn't in vain?
Just a thought.
"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." John 15:13
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
A Child's Heart
While cleaning out my car a couple of days ago, I found this piece of wrinkled paper lying on the floorboard. I picked it up to throw it away, but when I looked at it, this is what I saw. I thought it was very sweet. My 9 year old wrote this, and it's called, "God Gives."
He knows everything about me.
He knows everything I want to be.
He knows everything I need.
This man I'm talking about is the Lord Almighty.
God gives everything I need.
God gives.
I love seeing these little glimpses into my children's hearts!!
There are days when I question myself, wonder if I'm ever going to get through to my kid's, and worry if I'm making a difference in their lives (for the good). And just when I need it, God places this in my hands to assure me, that He's busy at work and drawing them to Himself even when I feel like I'm faltering.
"...and how good is a timely word." Proverbs 15:23
What has God given you at just the right time when you needed it most?
He knows everything about me.
He knows everything I want to be.
He knows everything I need.
This man I'm talking about is the Lord Almighty.
God gives everything I need.
God gives.
I love seeing these little glimpses into my children's hearts!!
There are days when I question myself, wonder if I'm ever going to get through to my kid's, and worry if I'm making a difference in their lives (for the good). And just when I need it, God places this in my hands to assure me, that He's busy at work and drawing them to Himself even when I feel like I'm faltering.
"...and how good is a timely word." Proverbs 15:23
What has God given you at just the right time when you needed it most?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
It's All Gravy, Baby!
Spilling gravy on the dinner table shouldn't seem like such a big deal...but it wasn't JUST on the table. And it wasn't even just on the table and chair. It was all over the table, the chair, my son N, on his clothes, the floor...and on and on it goes. Where it stops, nobody knows!? :) Sorry, I just had to throw that in there, because it popped in my head and I'm random like that. Anyhow! I then instruct N to get some paper towels and clean up his mess. He did go get the paper towels, but instead of cleaning up the mess, he smears the mess...in very large circles...over and over and over and...you get my point, right? I then have him strip down (which he's LOVING by the way)while I take over and clean it up myself. I must admit though, I didn't do it while "giving thanks in all circumstances," even if it is "God's will for me in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
By the end of most days, I'm pretty well spent emotionally & mentally and I have a tendency to over-react sometimes to the little things. I hate that about myself, but then I'm reminded by my Daddy God that He cleans up my messes all the time...and without complaint! We can't clean up our own messes, and the more we try, the bigger the mess gets. We simply need to step out of the way and let God take over. And he's had to clean stuff off and out of me much worse than gravy from Church's Chicken!!
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
By the end of most days, I'm pretty well spent emotionally & mentally and I have a tendency to over-react sometimes to the little things. I hate that about myself, but then I'm reminded by my Daddy God that He cleans up my messes all the time...and without complaint! We can't clean up our own messes, and the more we try, the bigger the mess gets. We simply need to step out of the way and let God take over. And he's had to clean stuff off and out of me much worse than gravy from Church's Chicken!!
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Monday, September 22, 2008
My favorite song at the moment...
This song says everything my heart is feeling. What a great prayer!!!
It's Fall!!!
Today is the first day of Fall! This is my absolute most favorite time of year!!! My idea of perfect weather is when you can wear a sweatshirt with a pair of shorts & not be too hot nor too cold! Call me crazy, I don't care. Of course we haven't made it there yet...this simply means that our high today may only get up to 86 degrees vs. 100+. Of course, if the city pool were still open, it would be great weather for swimming! Just one of the many perks of living in this crazy South Texas heat!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
My son thinks God is a Frog-napper!
This really made me laugh today and I wanted to share it with you all.
My kid's and I went to my oldest brother Clay's house this morning to help him pack up his belongings and to load the U-Haul (because for those of you who don't know, he accepted a job in Arkansas)! Clay had a few odds and ends that he was giving to the kid's...one being a stuffed animal frog. E (9) immediately laid claim to it, seeing as how he has a fascination with frogs, and always has (even as a baby)...whether they be real, stuffed, etc. When we got home, he brought the frog (affectionately known as Frog-O) into the kitchen and sat down in the kitchen floor and got out a pair of scissors, a rectangular piece of cardboard that he also brought from Clay's, and went to work. He's busy creating Frog-O's habitat, and apparently N (8) took full advantage of the opportunity with E being distracted and swiped the beloved frog when E wasn't looking. E took the Twister game mat and folded it several times, making a nice, padded mattress for Frog-O, and took 2 paper towels as his blanket. He then asked to borrow two, shallow dipping bowls that I own for food/water dishes. He crumpled up a blue piece of paper for Frog-O's water, and cut an odd-shaped piece of cardboard for the food. Very creative, you think? Well, then it's time to put Frog-O into his new home, and lo and behold, he can't find him! I just assume he's misplaced him while gathering materials for the home, and tell him to look harder for the missing Frog. He assures me he's looked EVERYWHERE!!! I ask him if he's checked his bedroom, living room, closet, etc. After several minutes of searching frantically for Frog-O, E is very frustrated by this point and says, "That's it!!! He's not here! He's just disappeared!!" I tell him, "E, frog's don't just jump up and disappear. Well, the stuffed ones anway. He's got to be around here somewhere." To which E says, "Ya??? Well, the Bible says that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away! God had to have taken Frog-O because that's the only other reasonable explanation!!!!" HILARIOUS!!! Shortly after, however, N finally fessed up to having done the Frog-napping, and I'm happy to report that Frog-O is safely back at home, resting comfortably and enjoying a freshly cooked cardboard dinner. A happy ending to a stressful day!
My kid's and I went to my oldest brother Clay's house this morning to help him pack up his belongings and to load the U-Haul (because for those of you who don't know, he accepted a job in Arkansas)! Clay had a few odds and ends that he was giving to the kid's...one being a stuffed animal frog. E (9) immediately laid claim to it, seeing as how he has a fascination with frogs, and always has (even as a baby)...whether they be real, stuffed, etc. When we got home, he brought the frog (affectionately known as Frog-O) into the kitchen and sat down in the kitchen floor and got out a pair of scissors, a rectangular piece of cardboard that he also brought from Clay's, and went to work. He's busy creating Frog-O's habitat, and apparently N (8) took full advantage of the opportunity with E being distracted and swiped the beloved frog when E wasn't looking. E took the Twister game mat and folded it several times, making a nice, padded mattress for Frog-O, and took 2 paper towels as his blanket. He then asked to borrow two, shallow dipping bowls that I own for food/water dishes. He crumpled up a blue piece of paper for Frog-O's water, and cut an odd-shaped piece of cardboard for the food. Very creative, you think? Well, then it's time to put Frog-O into his new home, and lo and behold, he can't find him! I just assume he's misplaced him while gathering materials for the home, and tell him to look harder for the missing Frog. He assures me he's looked EVERYWHERE!!! I ask him if he's checked his bedroom, living room, closet, etc. After several minutes of searching frantically for Frog-O, E is very frustrated by this point and says, "That's it!!! He's not here! He's just disappeared!!" I tell him, "E, frog's don't just jump up and disappear. Well, the stuffed ones anway. He's got to be around here somewhere." To which E says, "Ya??? Well, the Bible says that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away! God had to have taken Frog-O because that's the only other reasonable explanation!!!!" HILARIOUS!!! Shortly after, however, N finally fessed up to having done the Frog-napping, and I'm happy to report that Frog-O is safely back at home, resting comfortably and enjoying a freshly cooked cardboard dinner. A happy ending to a stressful day!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
My First Post
Welcome all you faithful, adoring Blog fans! Hello?? Anybody out there? :)
Well, seeing as how this is my first post, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Bethany. It's so nice to have you here. I love having people drop by-I hope you'll stay for a while. Let me give you a little background as to why I started this blog and let you know what you may find here during your visit.
1. First and foremost, I love to write! For years, I use to journal faithfully, but with three "stair-step" children, ages 8, 9, and 10, I don't really have the time anymore. But I miss writing and want to get back into the habit, so I'm hoping to be able to do that here.
2. My daughter J (10), has been asking me for a while now why I don't have a blog of my own (I read so many others). I didn't have a good reason not to, so here I am.
3. I used to keep this folder of either a. Cute b. Funny or c. Sweet things my kid's have done over the years. I would write down the date, their age and the initial of which child it was, and then jot down a note on what had occurred with just enough information to jog my memory for future use. It just so happens that I can't find that folder ANYWHERE, and I'm not one to lose things. I pride myself on being pretty well organized, but it looks like I'm going to have to start over. So, piece by piece as the stories come back to me, or as new ones occur, I plan to post them here.
4. Several people over the years have told me I need to write a book. Well, I don't think that's ever going to happen, but who knows? This might be a fun way to toy around with the idea. I might post anything from old poetry I've written, current funny stories on the kids, word pictures God has imparted to me at some point in time, or just a rambling, non-sensical (yes, this is an actual word...go here to read the definition: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nonsensical ) random post. There's never any telling what you might find.
So check back soon, as I already have a new funny to share on E. ;)
Well, seeing as how this is my first post, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Bethany. It's so nice to have you here. I love having people drop by-I hope you'll stay for a while. Let me give you a little background as to why I started this blog and let you know what you may find here during your visit.
1. First and foremost, I love to write! For years, I use to journal faithfully, but with three "stair-step" children, ages 8, 9, and 10, I don't really have the time anymore. But I miss writing and want to get back into the habit, so I'm hoping to be able to do that here.
2. My daughter J (10), has been asking me for a while now why I don't have a blog of my own (I read so many others). I didn't have a good reason not to, so here I am.
3. I used to keep this folder of either a. Cute b. Funny or c. Sweet things my kid's have done over the years. I would write down the date, their age and the initial of which child it was, and then jot down a note on what had occurred with just enough information to jog my memory for future use. It just so happens that I can't find that folder ANYWHERE, and I'm not one to lose things. I pride myself on being pretty well organized, but it looks like I'm going to have to start over. So, piece by piece as the stories come back to me, or as new ones occur, I plan to post them here.
4. Several people over the years have told me I need to write a book. Well, I don't think that's ever going to happen, but who knows? This might be a fun way to toy around with the idea. I might post anything from old poetry I've written, current funny stories on the kids, word pictures God has imparted to me at some point in time, or just a rambling, non-sensical (yes, this is an actual word...go here to read the definition: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nonsensical ) random post. There's never any telling what you might find.
So check back soon, as I already have a new funny to share on E. ;)
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