Fighting back the world

It's so hard to fight back the influence of the world. The world is so ingrained in our culture. It weasels it's way into our lives. It grabs hold of us and pulls us away from Christ in every way possible.

I have spent time imagining how great it would be to win the lottery. Of course you have to play to win, and we have only bought a handful of tickets in the last year or so. I keep thinking how great it would be to not worry about bills. But I also know that my trust would be in the money and not in God. Watching Extreme Home Makeover sure makes me wish I could blow up this house and start over fresh. And build a new house in 7 days. :0)

Trusting in God for our needs has been relevant to me lately.

My Dad would be so proud

Where is the line?

DH and I were watching Glenn Beck tonight. He was talking about the inflation in the 70s from the FED printing money. Back then they printed 13% increase in money to cover the "need". The inflation rate went up to 20%. Recently the FED has printed a 120% increase in money. So what would the inflation rate be?

The only way he can see that has happened in the past to cover our debt would be through transfer of government-owned property. The Chinese would own our country.

So we started talking about stocking up on our food supplies a bit. And then we started looking online. There is a huge industry out there of freeze-dried and dehydrated foods. But for a family of four, for a 3-month supply of freeze-dried food, you could be looking at $3000+. The food has a 30 year shelf-life.

I asked if I need to start shopping clearance racks for larger sizes so the kids would have something to wear. I'm not talking a whole wardrobe, but a couple items in every other size?

Our biggest concern is always my son's insulin and diabetic needs. Those are items that cannot be stock piled.

We realize that we cannot make it without faith in God to supply our needs. But where is the line between personal responsibility and faith? We would like to think that the Rapture would happen before we would need to worry about any of this, but Scripture doesn't give us that reassurance.

Does your family have a disaster plan? If so, what is it?

God is good

I was talking to our pastor the other day. I was letting him know that I and the kids were sick and wouldn't be at church Sunday.

I also let him know that my SIL's tumor was benign. He was happy to hear that and said to me, "God is good!"

I agreed. I told him, "But Pastor, even if it had been cancerous, God is still good."

I've been thinking about that - that even when things are difficult, or not the way WE would want them to transpire - God is good.

When I get sad about my son's diabetes, and wonder why - He is good.
When I get a good report about my daughter's eyes - He is good.
When I try to make sense of my mother's nonsensical behavior - God is good.

When I think of my dad in Heaven, and just wish he could be here or I could be there - God is good.

I'm so sick

Baby was sick a couple weeks ago. Or was it just last week? Then Little Boy woke up stuffy. So I should have been thinking yesterday when I started feeling the tiniest little tickle in my throat. It went from a niggling thing to the full-blown flaming irritation I'm now feeling. So naturally, my children didn't sleep in, and instead, pretty well destroyed my son's partially clean room. The topper was when they "accidentally" tipped over my son's 7 drawer plastic organizer. Nothing fell out, but the sound of zillions of little toys crashing around in the drawers was deafening - even through the door. Not MY idea of playing quietly.

My Three Favorite People!

Hurting head

I remember now why I never wanted to teach lower elementary grades. I've been listening to my son sound out words, and it hurts my head. I pray that soon the little light will click on, and he'll start recognizing words. I do smile and encourage him, because all said, he's doing well. I just don't know how much more I can take... Until I think about him getting on the bus very early in the morning, and not getting home until well into the afternoon.

OH. And last night I forgot about Baby's ballet lesson. I even sat and looked at my planner with my husband yesterday. The workplace is shutting down machines for maintenance, and he will be working double shifts again this week. Of course, I was irritated with him about his work schedule conflicting with appointments I made LONG ago, and it never registered that I was looking at the current day where it said, "Ballet - 5:30". I didn't think of it until about 12:55 am. And then it bothered me so much I had a hard time sleeping.

Going through Little Boy's lesson today, I read a reference to something that didn't make sense. I went back to the beginning of the book, and realized I've left out a part of the math lessons from the start of the year. So now I have to integrate it into the lessons. It's not a huge deal, but I feel like I need to spend some quality time planning out lessons, and making sure I'm not missing anything.

Kids are snacking and watching a short cartoon, and then we are back to s-s-s-k-s-k-sk-sk-oo-skoo-skoo-skooooool-skoooool -skool. SCHOOL! sigh

Praying for my sister-in-law

I woke up thinking about my SIL; she's having surgery today to remove a lump from her thyroid. The surgeon will determine if he needs to take both sides, and check her lymph nodes.

She is very calm (to me anyway), and optimistic. I don't know how I'd handle it. I'd probably put on a good face and be inwardly terrified.

I'm praying that God watches over the surgeon and that my SIL and BIL have peace and strength. And that she will have a very quick recovery and be able to get back to her beautiful little boys.

Surviving the dentist

So, I went to the dentist yesterday. I almost talked my husband into taking my appointment, but decided to get it over with. I have a place between two teeth in the back where food gets pushed up into the gums that often aches. The x-rays didn't show any problems. I was afraid one of the teeth was bad. So now I know. But I do have 2 cavities - both between teeth. I keep getting told to floss. Why is flossing so difficult?

My head, shoulders and back ached all night from the stress. I can still feel a dull pain in my head. Next time I need to take some of my anxiety meds.

I really do like my dentist. I just don't like what he has to do.

Ugh!

I have a dentist appointment today. I missed the 6 month check up, so I haven't been there in a year. And I'm so anxious already. I almost had my husband talked into taking my appointment today. But I spent some time last night brushing with baking soda. I'll do that again after I eat breakfast. Maybe that will make me feel better about getting my teeth cleaned, but I know I'll have other work that needs to be done. I should have taken some Wellbutrin last night.

Our dentist is great, by the way, so it isn't because of him. I just get so nervous...

My first tin

Check out this design entry from the "Design The Next Glade® Scented Oil Candle Tin Contest"

I like the other color pallette better.

My Glade Tin Contest Entry

Check out this design entry from the "Design The Next Glade® Scented Oil Candle Tin Contest"

Colossians 1

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Colossians 1. When I taught school in Indiana, my students (and I) memorized verses 9-17.

9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:

14In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:

17And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

Verse 18 goes on to say, "And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence."

He is so powerful, and His power and might and knowledge of what is to come is a huge comfort to this worry-wart Mommy. If He could create the world and every creature in it, He can take care of me and my family!

Day at home

How on earth do people manage who have their kids involved in multiple activities?

My kids each have one "activity" right now, and I feel flustered. Of course, both are on the same day of the week...

I got the rehearsal/performance schedule for Baby's ballet class. There is a performance on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 20th. That 's the same day of the kids' Christmas program at church. She's going to be one exhausted little girl. And I have to be sure to have everything done Saturday, or find someone who will fill in if I need help. It will be difficult, but we'll do it.

I went to the ENT doctor yesterday. He changed my allergy medicine again. I go back in 6 months.

I was supposed to go to counseling today, but my therapist has a staph infection in her hand. So I go in two weeks.

I have a short list of big things to take care of so I need to get hoppin'.

Busy month

As the days progress farther into the month, I've started feeling some anxiety. There are just way too many things scheduled already! How am I going to handle any last minute things that happen? Yikes. I'm trying to not borrow trouble, but November is filling up, too.

Wouldn't you know, revival meetings are going to be the week in November that I take the kids to see the Imagination Movers? We're staying overnight after the show, so we'll miss that day. I don't see us rushing home just to make it to church the next night, either. We'll see.

Today the kids were racing Mario on the Wii. I was sitting here watching them, and I got car sick! Baby was driving like a maniac! Blah.

I hope to be done with the Secret Sister mess tomorrow. I finally have 4 people to swap with, but the little old ladies are proving to be nagging nellies, and I don't know that the generous ladies who agreed to swap are all that happy now. Now that they know who these women are, that is. Oh well. It's just a year, right?

I'd write more, but I'm super hot from holding my laptop and feeling a bit woozy - probably from the crazy drivers earlier! And it is almost 1:30 am. ugh.

Beauty Day

I went to get my haircut today - Brian cuts all our hair. I've stuck with him since he gave me a spiral perm before my wedding. He's moved 3 times now, and we just follow him. He cuts my husband's hair and both my kids' hair. I think he's very good, but his "specialty" is color. I NEEEEEED to get my hair colored, but I think I'll save $$$ and do it myself. SOOOON.

I have no idea where I want to go with my hair style. Right now I guess I'm letting it grow out into a bob again. But I had Brian cut my bangs in two layers. A short layer underneath, with the top layer longer and piecey. I came home and cut more off the short layer. (Sorry, Brian.) I think many times he's hesitant to just go for it. My theory is and always has been, "It's hair. It grows. Just cut it!" I think it looks good.

I also bought some new nail polish the other day. I went from Sally Hansen Hot Magenta to Honeymoon Red. I tried to put the color swatches on my blog, but the swatches came up empty. I like the color; I haven't polished my fingernails in years. I think when I held Little Boy in the hospital, and my polish flaked off onto him, I decided nail polish and babies probably weren't a great combination. But my kids are bigger now, and I thought I'd "take a whack at it" - to quote our new favorite line from a movie. Can you guess the movie?

Part of my heart

My kids say several times throughout the day, in a winsome way, "I love you, Mom." And I tell them that I love them. Inevitably, one of them will ask, "Why do you love me?" I tell them that I love them because they are part of my heart.

Little Boy went with me when I took Baby to her ballet lessons the other day. The thought of leaving here there forever must have crossed his mind. The way she treats him sometimes, I guess I don't blame him. But as we were driving across town to pick her up, he said, "I'm glad we're picking up Baby. I could never leave her at ballet because she's part of my heart."

He can be so sweet.