Psst....

Hey! If anyone is still lurking around over here, I just wanted you to know that I posted something over at my new place, and I'm {SO} excited about it!

Wanna know what it is?

Click here to find out! Don't miss it... there's a little something for you, in the way of a coupon code for DaySpring!

Moving Day

I've been thinking about moving my blog to Word Press for perhaps a year now. I thought it would be a daunting task, but it turns out, it's pretty easy.

Considering the formatting issues and some new changes that are coming (I'm so excited!), I thought this was the best time.

Come see me at http://wvgurl.wordpress.com/ .

She finished the race.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. - 2 Timothy 4:7

Gran finished her race on April 6th.

I knew I would miss her, but I never fully realized that this ache would be so deep. She was the person I shared everything with and now I wonder, who will I talk to now? Who will fill that void?

I know that no one can really fill the void she leaves. I know that there's ever been and will only ever be one Gran.

As in life, in death she was completely individual and original. At her request, she had a white casket with red interior, which had to be custom ordered. What Betty wanted, Betty got. The services were just perfect, if you can that about funeral services. A heaping helping of humor helped us remember her without tears, if for a moment.

My 7 year old's heart is so sad. She keeps saying, "I just can't stand the thought that she's gone." When did she grow up and become so mature?

My 3 year old goes back and forth between saying, "I miss Gran so much" or "I love Gran" to "We need to wake up Gran."

That's the kind of stuff I don't remember reading in the "What to Expect" books. How to guide a child through loss and grief.

As for me, I've been nearly paralyzed with grief at times and today, I felt lighter for a few hours. Then I saw something that she had given my mother-in-law and was heavy hearted again. This is the way it goes. I know that, and even though it's been 5 years since our family lost someone, it's different this time. Partly because we were so close, and my grandfather was closer to my brother and my cousin. Partly because last time, we had 11 months to prepare ourselves, as opposed to 7 weeks. It's the same in that, with both, I really thought (hoped and prayed) that my grandparent would get well and be with us for years.

She's been gone for 10 days. I've quit counting the times I've picked up the phone to call her.

Letting Go

Again, my apologies for the strange formatting. Word Press may be getting another user, as I'm just about done with Blogger. Today, my grandmother was transferred to a hospice house. She's been in the hospital since February 13th, and to be honest, I've kept thinking that she was going to pull out of this. All this time, I thought that she would get better. It might take a while, months probably, but she would eventually be well enough to go home. On Friday, her defibulator was turned off. Today, her doctors discontinued her medications. Bit by bit, day by day, I'm seeing that, barring a miracle, she will not get better. Not in the way I've meant it. She's only 79. I say "only" because there's a story she tells that says that my brother and I always said she'd live to be 100. That's just over 20 years away. Her birthday is June 5th. When I talked her into going to the hospital on February 13th--when she fell for the second time in three days--I told her that I wasn't ready for her to die yet. I just kept saying, "I'm not ready yet." And I'm still not. It's not that I'm afraid of where she'll spend eternity. It's because I'm selfish. I want her here, with me. She's Gran. My spicy, unconventional grandmother. The regional favorite name "Maw-maw," and the traditional "Grandmother" were probably too stuffy or matrionly for her. I remember seeing it only once, when I was in maybe the Sixth Grade, in a book. I don't recall the title and I couldn't really tell you much about the book, except bits of it, and one being that the guy's grandmother, Gran, lived in Barbados. Then, this past year, I learned that a little boy in Abbie's preschool class calls his great-grandmother Gran, the way Abbie does. I always wanted my kids to call my grandparents by the names I called them: Gran, Maw-maw, Paw-paw, and Nanny (my great-grandmother, who passed away when I was 15). I want my kids to know her the way I did, even though the Gran I knew as a child has turned into a much more fragile one who cannot travel, go for a drive, or go on marathon shopping sprees the way she did when I was a little girl. Blindness and illness have changed that. They know her, but I wish they had more time with her. We lost Paw-paw when Hannah was 2; she barely remembers him and both she & Abbie mostly know him through photos and stories. I didn't think the same would be true for Gran. All I want to do is watch Shirley Temple movies with her, and sing the songs she sang to me when I was little. I'm not sure if that's crazy or silly or what, but it really is all I want to do.

The strangest part of it is that I've decided I need a dress like the one Sandra Bullock wore in "Hope Floats" for her mother's funeral. I don't know why. I don't look like Sandra Bullock. I'm way bigger than she. I have no idea why I have it in my head that I should have a black dress like this. And a similar hair style. Go figure. Now I know why Joan Didion appropriately named her novel, The Year of Magical Thinking. It's a must read if you've ever experienced loss or grief. You may not agree with everything she wrote, but her take on how it takes a while for the brain and heart to really grasp that the person you love really is gone and won't, for example, be coming back or need their shoes, is unlike anything I've ever read. I told Paul today that I don't want to think about the funeral or services. I don't want to think of Gran really dying. I don't want to think about telling the girls, though I know we need to prepare them. Also in the weird/interesting/odd (whatever) category, I've always thought that Hannah looks like the little girl in "Hope Floats." Especially now that she wears glasses. Anyway, movie stuff aside, I have to say, I'm surprised at how tired I am. It reminds me a bit of when I was pregnang (no, I'm not). My suspicion is that it's part true fatigue (trying to be everything to everyone, all the time [wife, mother, housekeeper, nursery director, errand runner & vistor for Gran]) and part grief/despression. Tonight, I went to sleep around 5:30 and woke up around 9. It's 3:07 AM, and I'm wide awake. I want off this roller coaster now, please.

Coincidence?

**I've tried several times to correct the formatting in this post, but Blogger does not want to cooperate. My apologies.** For a couple of months, I've felt that God has been trying to get me to readjust the way I see myself. Two books are on my To-Read list: Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst and Head to Toe by Annie Downs. It's no coincidence that blog posts like these keep finding their way to my laptop screen: You're the Best God's Got ,"That Mom" , and countless others that encourage me to stop comparing myself to other people, especially to other women, wives and mothers. I'm not supposed to have their strengths, and just because I don't share their strengths doesn't mean I'm weak or less. It's easier said than done, that's for sure. Remember that line in Pretty Woman? "The bad stuff is easier to believe. You ever notice that?" And that's where I've been stuck for a very long time. I believe that I'm not enough, no matter the situation. I'm not enough as a wife. I'm not enough as a mother. I'm not enough as a daughter. I'm not enough as a Christian. It's been hard, and sometimes, when I watch a show about a man who spent 23 minutes in hell, I begin wondering if I'm an unsaved Christian. Add to this:

• Stuff going on with our church


• My grandma being in the hospital for 7 weeks after a fall, and her doctors now advising us to consider Hospice


• Marriage issues, which aggravate the "I'm not enough"

And the result is a very tired, very sad, and very heavy Me. I wish I could just deal and be done with any one of these issues, but they have snowballed into an avalanche. I am physically sore from all the stress.

If anyone knows of Mommy Get-aways, or inexpensive conferences or anywhere at all where I could go to be renewed and refilled, please let me know.

Happy Birthday, Erin

Erin at The Vintage Pearl is celebrating her birthday today. To celebrate, they're doing a fantastic giveaway: 5 $100 gift certificates! I encourage anyone who reads this blog to check out the giveaway (all 5 of you!). ;-) OXOXOX

Because I had to.

Because yesterday, March 6th, it snowed.

Because my tulips were trying to reach towards the sky, through the snow.

Because I've been crazy busy since my grandmother was hospitalized on February 13th.

Because I've been cooped up inside since my gall bladder surgery on February 25th.

Because I'm craving Spring now more than ever before.

A fresh look. A hint at what's to come.

What do you think of the new look?

The Bible is Kicking my Butt.

You GUYS! Do you see that blue & white button to the right of the screen? The one that says, "Join me" as I read through the Bible in 90 days? Yeah. That one.

Wow.

I was doing ok until the weekend, when I didn't have a chance to read at all, actually, so I'm way behind. I'm just beginning Exodus today and they're already in Leviticus 14.

But I'm hoping to really push through and catch up this week.

Now, reading through the Bible in just 90 days is kind of crazy, you know? My church read through the Bible in a year a few years ago. But I didn't participate. I was afraid I wouldn't stay with it, that I'd putter out around July. Which I probably would have. And then I'd feel all guilty and beat myself up about it. So I quit before I started. :-)

Seriously, I felt a tug in my spirit. I needed to do this. I need to not hop around and follow my pastor or the special speaker, and just dive in and finish. While the "read the Bible in a year" is more like a marathon, this is kind of like a sprint. A 90 day sprint, but still a sprint.

I have a few posts that have been marinating for a couple of months, actually, and I do hope to get them up. I want to post photos of the TV room now that it's been painted, but with the toys that took over since Christmas, I'd like to tidy it up a bit. I even have a photo that I took of my bathroom, which received its own little holiday/winter makeover! But the computer's hard drive has been going bad, so when Hubby finishes that (perhaps this week), I'll have more power and speed to get those done.

If you don't hear from me in a while, you'll know why. In the mean time, let's dig in to Exodus!

I *want* to be good.

My three year old is quite a handful most days. She's smart, curious, fearless and precocious, which means that on most days, she gets into something she's not supposed to be getting into. It doesn't matter that she's been told 564 times to not do this or get into that, she must. It's as if she can't help herself.

And then it's time for me to discipline.

Then she's repentant.

"I wanna be good, Mommy," she cries through tears and tangled curls.

During one of these scenes recently, I felt a nudge and heard it a little differently. Always before, it seemed she said this because she was trying to get out of trouble. As if the wanting to be good would cancel out the thing she'd done. Or perhaps I'd find her too charming to discipline.

But this time, it seemed that I heard her heart a little differently. Perhaps for the first time, I heard her the way she really meant it.

I want to be good, Mommy. My heart and soul long to do things that please you and make you happy. I want to be obedient. I don't want to do things that get me in trouble. I want to be... good.

Sounds an awful lot like my prayers.

I want to be a good Mommy. I want to be a good wife. I don't want to yell at my kids and I don't want to argue with my husband. I want to be a good Christian and really live out my faith in a way that leaves no doubt that Jesus is in my heart and is Lord of my life; however, so often, I fail and fall short. I fear I'll be known as a hypocrit instead. I want my flesh to die so that your light in me shines.

I wanna be good.

Did you hear that, God? I want to be good.

But I can't. Not on my own. I need You. Desperately. Deeply. I can't do life or marriage or mothering or Christian without You.

I've heard it said more than once, that God wants us to be at the point of desperately needing him. That when we're not enough, He comes and fills in the rest.

If that's the case, I should be right where He wants me.

* * * * * * * * * *

This post by Ann Voskamp is wow.

She talks about stretching in a way that is relevent in this season and to my season.

Just last night, I was talking with someone about the past year. I was saying that I've been stretched so much this year that I feel like a Gumby doll. I've been streched beyond my comfort zones. I've bitten my tongue. I've learned a lot about people, church and myself. This year, I've had a mirror put in front of me and a spotlight on all the areas in which I need to grow. It's been overwhelming most of the time and nearly all year, I've doubted that I'm in the right place at the right time.

Though God has tried to whisper, He had to pretty much shout it out to me this time. Oh that I would learn to listen to--and believe--that still, small voice.

I'm not sure what will come in the new year, but I have a sneaking suspicion that more stretching and more growing are definitely part of His plan. Perhaps, at some point, I will be good.

Encouragement

A few weeks ago, my best friend showed up at my house with corn chowder for a family in our church. My house was, to put it lightly, a hot mess. I was moving old clothes out, sorting through things for donation, you name it.

She said, "There's no judgment here." I thought, "Just wait 'till you come in."

My floors needed to be vacuumed. My sink was overflowing with dishes. Everything was everywhere. It looked as if a tornado had been set loose inside my house.

My pride took a huge hit that day. And actually, it took another 3 days later when my Mom and Aunt made a surprise visit.

My Mom came that weekend to help me paint our TV Room and Kitchen (pictures to come soon, I promise). I got things in order, but it's a daily battle to keep things looking presentable. I feel that I'm the only one who fights the Battle of Keeping the House Clean.

I came across this post and I can't tell you how encouraging it was. Even when our home projects aren't complete, we should appreciate the work we've done.

I keep replaying the words of this post over in my mind. I keep telling myself to keep striving. Little by little, this house will be what I want it to be: a haven for my family.

Well, I Blew It

So I blew it on the second day of NaBloPoMo. I had pulled up Blogger and had a post in mind, but a sleepy little girl took precedence. I fell asleep with her and missed the second day's post.

But the whole point of NaBloPoMo is to post more often, so that's what I'm aiming for.

Most of my posts are totally random. This one is no different.

I've been thinking about my health and my weight a lot lately. And I have to say, I've been encouraged by Wynonna Judd's story and how she's lost 55 lbs. I get her. I relate to her. And I think, wow, she's looking great.... wonder if I can, too?

This week, I posted a status that got LOTS of comments. Basically, I was asking for weight loss/better health tips. Wow. I was kind of surprised to have that many responses. But it has me thinking. What can I do now to help curb my calories? What physical activity/activities can I do to help me get moving?

If I had an extra $250, I'd buy my neighbor's like-new treadmill and do that. I'm in the mood to walk, if that makes any sense, but as I type this, we are experiencing freezing rain and may have our first snow tonight. And I'm a big ol' baby, so you're not gonna see me suck it up and walk in the freezing rain.

There was a lot of debate on my Facebook status about the right way to go about it. Some swear by South Beach. For others, it's Weight Watchers. Still others just count calories.

I dunno what to do.

I can tell you this: I have tried Weight Watchers at different points and have been very successful. I like the accountability. Dare I say, I need the accountability. But I hate paying $12 a week for the accountability, you know?

This year, I dabbled with the South Beach Diet for about a month. I lost 10 lbs. But I hit the wall at 10 lbs. I'd teeter between 8 & 10 pounds lost. I quit at Easter.

Although, I will say that I felt a lot better on the South Beach Diet.

Counting calories seems so daunting to me. I have no idea why, especially given that on Weight Watchers, to calculate the points value a food has, you look at the calories, fat and fiber.

Anyway, all told, to get back to my healthiest weight, I need to lose 53 pounds. I kind of feel like I'm David and the weight is Goliath. Add to that a wedding next October, and... GULP. Kind of scary. Definitely daunting. I don't know where to start, but I need to start somewhere, the sooner, the better.

NaBloPoMo?

National Blog Posting Month.

Am I up for it? Probably not.

But a lot has been on my mind, and so often, I think of things to say or even "write" a post in my mind, but it never makes it to the computer.

Perhaps that will change this November. We'll see.

Crazy, Extravagant Love

I've been wanting to share with you a story of God showing his crazy, extravagant love on me.

But, as we say in West Virginia, I got a wild hair to (finally) clean up our front living room. During the weeks that encompassed a consignment sale and illness (all 4 of us have had something), the living room and, really, the whole house went to hades in a hand basket, if you catch my drift.

The room is coming along nicely. While not finished, it's so much better than it was!

So, in addition to having a really cluttered house, our finances have been hit hard. Sometimes, you just don't have quite enough to get to payday. Such was the case last week.

That weekend, we went to the Pumpkin Festival as we do every year and I didn't go crazy. I have been wanting a nice wreath for the front door, but didn't find anything there that was a price I was willing to pay.

After we got home, I went to Home Goods and found one for a great price. For some odd reason, though, I didn't take it out of the box and display it on the front door. I also found some pumpkin colored towels, but didn't take the tags off or wash them.

Wednesday came and the gas gauge sat on E. We didn't have any money to get gas. None. Payday was Thursday, and until the check came through electronically, we were honest to goodness broke. The girls had been coughing and we had used all the cough medicine.

Then I thought of the wreath and towels. And I have to be honest, my heart sank a little. But then I thought, "They're just things and we need the money." In the parking lot, I said a quick prayer that said something like, God, I know these are just things. I only bought them to bless my house and make it a haven. But taking my girls to church to learn scriptures is more important than stuff. I trust You. Amen.

I get my money back and stop at the gas station just in time, as I would imagine we were running on fumes.

At church that night, someone came up to me and blessed me with a gift card. I don't want to say who got it, who gave it, or how much it was, but I will say, I was blown away. I cried. I was just... really, blown away.

I don't mean to say all this to make myself look all great or anything. That's not the point. The point is that God will provide for our needs. He knows our heart. He knows our needs and even our little wants that seem so insignificant to anyone else but us.

Lessons learned?

• Obedience is better than forgiveness. Had I not been obedient, and had I not valued my children learning the Word over stuff, I would have missed the blessing. He wants our obedience and I should strive for that, rather than relaxing and then asking forgiveness.
  
• God's Timing and My Timing. Had we stayed home, I would've missed a blessing that provided for the medicine my girls needed that night. Had we stayed home, my need in the time in which I needed it would not have been met; it would have been delayed. Sure, it would've still been a blessing, but the extra "punch" of God meeting my need, exactly when I needed it would've been lost.
  
• When you work as unto God, He will use anything, even people, to love on you.
  
• God's love extends beyond anything I do or don't do. It goes beyond my failures and confirms that He is a loving Father. No, I will definitely fail, disappoint or hurt Him, but He loves me more than all that.

Nearly a week later, I'm still blown away. And thankful. And overwhelmed by God's crazy, extravagant, exuberant love.

Prayin' & Cleanin'

Sorry I've been away for so long.

My thyroid has been a bit out of whack, thus making me exhausted. The van broke down (still isn't fixed). A friend loaned us a vehicle to take little one to her annual appointments in Cincinnati. A few days after we got home, I got sick and it lasted all week.

As a result, there's so much work (the kind that helps me earn money) and house work (the thankless kind) and laundry (how on earth does it multiply so quickly) that I have hardly any time to write. I've been trying to pray when I'm cleaning. Kind of unloading on the Creator of the Universe. We'll see what happens with that.

I've been trying to get up the past few days about a half hour earlier than I normally do. It didn't take this morning. I'll keep trying and hoping that I find my rhythm... the one wherein I get daily time with God, daily time to write, get all the housework caught up/done, and my earning income work done.

It's been a long, uphill battle. Still not there, but trudging through.

On the upside, it's looking a lot like Fall outside, which is serving as inspiration to get the housework caught up so the Fall decorations can be put up. Christmas is less than 3 months away and I keep hoping that THIS year, my home will be organized and ready for the holidays by December 1st.

Is this how God feels when we repent?

So.

It's been quiet. The reasons are the same as always. Busy life = quiet blog. I've written several posts, actually, but they never made it from my brain to the computer screen.

Another reason is, I'm in a bit of a funk. I've debated about whether to write about it here, or to just sit and wait until the clouds in my mind finally drift off.

The past few weeks have been challenging as summer break ended and school routines began again. This was my first post-school year summer, and many parents can attest to the bickering that commences about 2 or 3 weeks after school has dismissed for the summer. It lasts until the day they go back. I've never been one to wish my children away, nor have I been one to count down the days until school, but I must admit relief at the reprieve school has offered.

Tonight, my youngest was being super sweet. Uber sweet would probably be a better description. She was settling down for the night, her forehead covered with corkscrew curls that would fall in her eyes had they not been coiled tighter by the humidity. She suddenly sat straight up and began apologizing for all kinds of things: for breaking the zebra on the Noah's Ark her grandmother gave her, for breaking the jewelry box my grandmother had given her, for hurting her sister's feelings and for hurting me (physically. She has extra sharp elbows and has a gift for finding my c-section incision, a bum knee, etc. with them).

I was astonished that she still remembered some of these things; I had long forgotten them.

She had apologized for a couple of those things before. There was no need to apologize again.

I hugged her as tightly as I could and told her that it was OK. That she didn't need to apologize again and again. All I could think was loving her and telling her everything was alright.

A little nudge and heart whisper/thought: Is this the way God sees me when I repent?

Is this how He feels when I come back again and again, apologizing for the same thing?

These precious gifts, revealing secrets of Heaven by just being themselves... by just being their mother, I can see things I couldn't see before.

Post-It Note Tuesday

I just found this. How cute. And perfect for me, especially today.

FINALLY: The Cowgirl Room

Hannah and me in her room when she had just turned 3. She's now 6 1/2.

I'm posting an old photo of Hannah's room before the updates and renovations. For obvious reasons (just look at those walls! Oh wait! This was taken before I tried to remove the textured wallpaper.) I don't have a lot of photos of her room. Between the wallpaper that was partially removed, or the ugly brown cardboard-like material hiding under the wallpaper that had been removed to the... mess, there wasn't a really good reason for me to go snooping around in there with a camera. Too bad, because the before and after photos would have been A-MA-ZING.

For the last year or more, I have wanted to somehow re-do or repair the damage hiding under the textured wallpaper. Warning: If any of you ever buy a house with textured wallpaper, be afraid of what's lurking underneath. Be very afraid.

To say that our budget is tight would be an understatement, and that is one of the main reasons we had not been able to get my oldest daughter's room in order. It wasn't because I didn't want to. No, this mother's heart desperately wanted to create a space where her daughter could play, read, rest and have friends over to enjoy. Over the course of the past year, Hannah has gone from wanting a princess-themed room to a cowgirl-themed room.

A few weekends ago, my mom was in town for a conference. As she was leaving town, she stopped by and we were talking. Then she grabbed some Spackle from the garage, started filling in the damaged places on the wall, and the rest is history.

Dear friends, let me show you Hannah's Cowgirl Room.

This is the view when you first open the door. My Hubby picked out the light switch, which we found at Walmart for less than $3. You can't really tell in this photo, but it's kind of a bronze finish.

This is what you see when you step inside the room. The pink color is Strawberry Float and the brown color is Hot Chocolate; both were bought at Lowe's. I found the dark chocolate valance at Target for $15.






The pale pink bedding was purchased at Home Good's at least a year ago for about $40. It's a very pale pink with tiny white polka dots.







One of the issues we had last school year was Hannah never being able to find her coat or backpack. Problem solved with this handy hook I found at Hobby Lobby which says, "Cowgirls Welcome." Our new routine this coming school year will be hanging her coat and backpack up when she gets home.





This is one of my favorite vignettes in the entire room. It's hard to see the little table, but I found that at a pre-yard sale for $10. I had already had the lamp for many years. The Cowgirl wall plaque and Rodeo Girl picture frame were found at Hobby Lobby for about $6 or $7 each.









We got this cube shelf within the last year at Target when it was on sale (they are regularly $45, I think and we got ours for around $30 if I'm remembering correctly). The canvas cubes are $6 each at Target.










This was my Hubby's dresser when he was growing up. When Hannah was born, we sanded it and painted it green to match her yellow, blue and green "Little Suzy's Zoo" themed nursery. Funny, we had to just sand it again and repaint it brown, which is what it was originally.





The brown boots were a steal at Gymboree, for about $7 or less and were bought to match a cream and white cow print dress, which she has now grown out of. I'm glad they weren't put in with all the consignment items! The little pink and brown Cowgirl box was a Hobby Lobby find and was no more than $8.





See this adorable picture of a beautiful baby on a bed of pink roses? Yep, that's the same beautiful, creative girl in the photo above. She is SO HAPPY with her Cowgirl room. And her Mommy is SO HAPPY that her girl has a place all her own to enjoy.

I would like to get a brown or rust colored barn star, but haven't found any locally and will probably get one the next time I'm in Huntington... I'm sure I'll go to Hobby Lobby, too! While it may not be perfect, it's such an improvement over what it was. But the most important thing is, my girl is happy with her room.

When my mom asked Hannah what her favorite part of her room was, she answered, "Everything."

I'm linking this post to: Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays at New Nostalgia and
Transform Tuesdays at The Pumpkin Patch.

Design

So... I've been thinking about re-doing the look/design of the blog.

I have been using Cutest Blog on the Block for free backgrounds and stuff for a while. I really like their stuff, but am looking for something a bit different. If you know of other sites that have really cute backgrounds for free, please post their link in the comments.

I keep looking at these mom blogs that have a lot of traffic and look really good. And though my group is smaller and more intimate, I'd like to have a really nice looking blog. I do admit to liking (loving) changing with the seasons. I've thought about buying someone's services... I had seen a package for seasons on another blog. We'll see. I can't see sinking money into the blog unless it's making money.

Any suggestions?

Baby Be Blessed Giveaway

Hey friends, just wanted you to know that Baby Be Blessed is giving away a gift certificate for one doll or stuffed animal. Details are here:

http://babybeblessed.blogspot.com/2010/08/yayfree-friday.html

As I've mentioned before, I'd loooooove to get one for my girls. Even if I don't win a gift certificate, I'm going to budget enough money to get one for each girl. I love that they are handmade. But even more, I love that each doll or stuffed animal is personalized for each boy or girl. You can choose a Bible verse yourself, or you may use one they suggest.

Hop on over to their blog and do all you can to be entered in the drawing, too.

Jesus Loves Me

Obviously, Jesus loves me. He loved me enough to step out of Heaven and onto earth, becoming a man to die on the cross so that my sins would be covered by a perfect sacrifice, so that I could come to know the Father.

That alone is more than my mortal mind can comprehend.

Because He loves me, He cares for me. What matters to me matters to Him, too.

Last week, I was invited to and attended a party. You know the type, where basically, a bunch of ladies gather to hear another lady talk about the products she is selling and the party guests buy things. Their hostess is often awarded gifts based on the amount sold at her party.

The party I attended last week was a good one. There were really lovely things for the home and I could easily go through and mark many things I'd love to use in our home once all the painting is finished. And once I could afford it.

I even considered becoming a consultant.

I attended another party last night with the same basic principles. The themes for this party were purses and jewelry. The hostess said that I shouldn't feel pressured to buy anything. But I couldn't, anyway, so that kind of alleviated any pressure. :-)

I only went to the party to mingle with neighbors, to get out of the house. I'm not a purse girl, so that didn't appeal to me as much. Besides, I didn't really dig the pink designer-like purses that were so plentiful.

I'm not really a jewelry person, either. I used to wear only my wedding set, when I could still wear them. When I wear jewelry, it's usually the same silver hoops or a silver bracelet. Nothing fancy. Not a lot and not very often.

I saw a set that I liked. But, you know. So, I was going to leave when they were gathering for a game. I felt as though I should stay. I did, and in doing so won $25 worth of free jewelry. Funny, it was the exact amount I needed for these:

It's not a big thing or even a remotely important thing. For the next month, the most important things to me will be getting school clothes for my oldest and birthday party supplies and presents for my youngest. No, this was a small thing. A small, lovely, beautiful thing that I like. But in reading this book, I'm realizing that God appreciates those lovely, beautiful things, however small or seemingly insignificant, and He put in me the desire for beauty, inside and out.

A little love wink, straight from Heaven.