Do you ever come across a phrase you've never heard before and then start to hear it over and over? Is it that you never heard it or that you never listened for it? I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that I have had a phrase shared with me in different settings three times in the last three weeks, and I know without a doubt that God is speaking to me. He is speaking directly to my heart. I can't say that I've ever heard him quite this clearly before, so it's taken me a little off guard. Root of Bitterness That phrase has shown up two weeks in a row during our Wednesday morning Bible study lesson. I think those were the first two times that I had heard it used. The third was during my prayer last night from Thirty-One Prayers for My Husband, the book set that The Husband and I have been doing together. just.  whoa. whoa. Ok, God. I'm listening. And, it's gotten me thinking. Often it seems that God gets our attention before o...

How is it already Thursday?! I had great intentions of blogging this week, but a lot of things popped up and snagged my attention away from this space.   My mom showcased her new trimmer and leaner self .   You'd think she'd been doing more exercise than the 2 or 3 times a week mall-walking trips, but nope.  She just stuck to cleansing and drinking her protein shakes and eating healthy meals and snacks.  Her body did the rest.  Kinda phenomenal what the body can do when toxins are being removed from the equation.     I've been working with several people this week on getting them set up to succeed with their health goals, and I've been so ridiculously excited to wake up every morning (even on little sleep, haha!) knowing that I get to help people feel better just by loving, serving, and caring about them.   Bible study was wonderful, and I'm still super pumped I have the opportunity each week to attend with women from all over t...

I have four things in particular to be thankful for today. 1. I'm thankful for a warranty on our washing machine.  The transmission (did you know your washing machine has a transmission?!   I sure didn't.) had to be replaced yesterday.  But, the thing still isn't working correctly, so another technician will be coming out early next week to figure out what's going on. We're really grateful that we arent having to pay the cost to fix these issues.   2. I'm thankful that for the first time in over 4 years, I'm finally involved in a women's Bible study again. A friend I met at church invited me, and I'm so looking forward to being in God's Word daily and meeting with those gals weekly.  I'm thankful The Husband has off those mornings to be able to spend quality time with Jack and Ella.  I know it will become a sweet time for them once they get used to being with him and relying on him.  ;) 3.  I'm thankful that I was able to locate these for...

Good Sunday morning to you! Yesterday, my sister gifted me with a new Bible study devotional. It's called The 30 Day Praise Challenge .  I started reading it last night, and I sent her this message.  Life has been rough lately. The Husband has been trying hard to find another job to better provide for our family and to get him out of an awful work-environment. He and I have been arguing a lot, and the stress in our home has risen steadily. Raising toddlers and being pregnant leave me exhausted and wiped out and with little energy to have common marital discussions/arguments most days.  We struggle with finances, with who we are, with our faith, and with being content with where we are.  Life is hard, and often we find ourselves wondering if anything will ever change. If we will stop struggling so much and find the hope and faith that have gotten buried down beneath so much negativity and sadness. If our marriage, that has gone through the loss...

A little Jesus and a little play-doh.  Some mushing here and some shaping there.  I know He's molding me with this study because I feel His gentle prodding with passages like this one.  I'm thankful He can still get my attention, but I have a long way to go.  It's like anything learned, really.  We hear the words, we try the steps, we make progress, and then we falter.  Ella is learning to sit and roll these days.  She can sit unassisted for about twenty seconds before she begins to topple. She leans too far forward or to the left or right, and then she loses her balance.  We do that, I do that, too.  I know what I need to do. I know what's healthy. I know what's right. And yet. I lean too far toward anger or bitterness, and I've stumbled off the path.  I'm learning. Im getting there. I haven't finished the race yet, so I will continue moving forward, trying my best not to take too many steps back along the way. 

Man.  It's only been three days since Lent started, and it has seriously been so tough not to open up my Facebook app on my phone (I finally deleted the app) or type in the website address in my browser. It's been much tougher this go-round.  It hasn't been tough to incorporate the Bible study I began, though. I've done half of a chapter to a whole chapter each morning while Jack has room time and Ella's napping.  The memorizing of the verses are a bit harder; though I've got Hebrews 12:1 down pretty good now.  It's a great one, and I wrote it on our chalkboard in the mudroom to help me remember it.  This is totally off topic, but I'm eating this bowl of oatmeal to help boost my milk supply (apparently oatmeal is a galactagogue).  I can't stand oatmeal, but this is the steel cut oat kind, which makes it a little tastier. But not much. So to make it edible, I add a splash of milk and a big spoonful of Nutella. That makes it much easier to swallow. Lit...

They say to make something a habit, you should do it for 40 days. I suppose the same goes for breaking a bad habit. 40 days.  There are many instances of the number 40 in the Bible. The Flood for 40 days and nights.  The Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years.  Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days and nights.  40 days from the resurrection to Jesus' ascension.  The Lentin season begins today, Ash Wednesday, and (not counting Sundays--the days of rest), it lasts 40 days, ending on Easter Sunday.  Traditionally, things are "given up" during this time to encourage more time of reflection and to gain a closer relationship with Jesus, the whole reason for this season.  I've decided to give up the time I spend on Facebook.  I feel like I spend way too much time on there, and this gives me the opportunity to break that habit and start a new one.  Yesterday, my sister brought me a birthday gift (thank...

1.  I've been absent from the blogging world for a while, only posting an occasional photo here and there. Lots of things have been going on, and honestly, I've had no desire to write. 2.  The Husband has now finished week 2 of the sheriff's academy. The grueling hours of school and work, the daily physical training, the continual lack of sleep, and sometimes only seeing Jack for a few minutes each day (yesterday, he didn't see him at all) are wearing on him, and he's exhausted. The weekend is a much-needed respite, and I'm glad he'll get to rest as much as he needs.  He's applied for a different job, one that hopefully will be more flexible (hours-wise) and more in line with his career goals. If you feel inclined to pray that he gets called in for an interview, we'd appreciate it. 3.  As I mentioned in #1, lots of things have been going on. I'll be completely up front and tell you that my faith has been wavering. Floundering. Failing. I...

I just ate slices of plum and dark chocolate chip morsels for a snack.   It's 6:30pm, you know, the "typical" dinner time, but The Husband isn't home yet, and I was hungry .  So, I fixed something that was both tasty and healthy!  I'm sure he'll walk in the door any minute and will want to eat dinner...maybe he'll settle for slices of plum and dark chocolate chip morsels, too? This past Monday night, The Husband and I began a Bible study with a group of sweet friends.  Here's what I posted on FB when we arrived home. " We just returned home from a wonderful, thought-provoking, encouraging Bible study with a small group of dear friends. I'm already looking forward to next week's meeting and to each day's lessons this week. I can't wait to see how God is going to work in and through us all these next five weeks and how we will grow closer as brothers and sisters in Christ. Going to sleep extra thankful tonight." It...

I'm awake. At 7:30 on a Saturday morning.  It's not important why. TheHusbandsethisalarmfor6:00andIcouldn'tgobacktosleep. *clears throat* I'm awake.  I'd rather not be.  I'd rather be curled up in bed sound asleep next to my dozing husband.  Instead, I'm perched in the office chair with a quilt wrapped around me because it's chilly (and because I'm drinking the leftover chocolate shake I got last night).  My tailbone hurts. I'm awake , but I decided, as I climbed out of bed, searched for the drawer in our dark room, found an extra shirt to put on, and walked stealthily out of the bedroom, that I'm not going to be upset that I'm once again the only one awake this early.  I thought to myself:   I'm going to use this time wisely and not waste it. So, I checked email. And, I read a blog. Next, I finished up my Highlights post for Monday (except for the picture we'll take tomorrow before church). Then, people, I really got ...