A Life of Gratitude

My entire life, I've thought that being thin played an enormous role in how pretty someone is. I've realized lately that my weight and my appearance have had me in bondage. I've let my worth be determined by my pants size. I know this isn't how God determines worth. I know God doesn't want me to spend all of my time worrying over the number on the scale or what others think about how I look in bathing suit.  I know there is more to a person than their size. So, recently I asked God to teach me what true beauty is. I guess I've just been really pondering what TRULY makes someone beautiful. God has been faithful to teach me this week. The first verse I stumbled across was Ezekiel 16:14. It says, " I dressed you in my splendor and perfected your beauty, says the Sovereign LORD." God wants me (and you) to know that we are perfect in beauty because He made us that way!" So what does that beauty look like? Don't worry, He hasn't lef

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to paint the bathroom while all three boys were home and Bryan was working but that's what I did today! It was crazy and loud and messy but once it was done, I felt soooooo accomplished!  We didn't have our downstairs bathroom painted when we moved in our house 2 years ago but we did have the rest of the downstairs painted. So I have had "paint the bathroom" on my to-do list for 2 years! Haha. Finally, a Saturday afternoon popped up with nothing else to do.  It took all day, starting and stopping, waiting on Bryan to reach the ceiling, and doing 3 coats of paint but I am so happy with the outcome! BEFORE: AFTER:    Today I am thankful for a day of hardwork. There's nothing quite like working on something and feeling accomplished when the job is done!  I am also grateful that I'm able to mark something off of my very long to-do list! Proverbs 14:23a is right...."Hard work always

This week has been busy and fun!!! We had Vacation Bible School at HopeCity this week and it was incredible! Bryan and I were the leaders of the Orange Team! We taught 38 Kindergarten and First Graders! It was so much fun and a little crazy! We had some great helpers too!  The Orange Team Rocks! Yea, we're a little crazy Large Group Time!! Bible Time!! This was only half of our group! The other half were making crafts. Evan was on the yellow team!!! Dylan was on the green team! We had over 200 kids at VBS! Even Tyson got to come to VBS! He's in the "Bye Bye Buggy" here Today I am thankful for a church family that has so much fun pouring into the lives of our children! My boys had a terrific time at VBS this week and so did Bryan and I! I am also grateful for the truths these sweet little souls learned this week.  Jesus knows who I am. Jesus knows my worth. Jesus knows I need a Savior. Jesus knows my purpose. Jesus loves an

I totally wrote about this passage only 12 days ago but God is teaching me through this story over and over again! I thought I was done learning from this passage for now but it just happened to be the Bible lesson that I taught tonight at Vacation Bible School! And, even though I've seriously read this passage 20 times over the past couple weeks, God was faithful to teach me something through it, again. John 4 tells the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan Woman at the well. We're told that is around noon when Jesus sat by the well. The Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well around that same time. Jesus speaks to her, asking her if she could give him some water to drink. She is flabbergasted by His willingness to speak to her. She was a Samaritan and a woman, so He had two pretty good reasons to ignore her. But Jesus doesn't ignore the ones He loves, does He? She ask why He is talking with her and Jesus explains that if she knew who He was, she would be aski

Tonight as I sat at my kitchen table with my Bible Study friends, I felt my heart bubbling up with gratitude. We spent 3 hours reading through 2 chapters of scripture, sharing thoughts and ideas, laughing and eating, and enjoying one another's company. Every other Friday night I get to spend time with these lovely ladies and learn more about our Heavenly Father.  As we sat together this evening I realized that we have been getting together for Bible Study for a year and a half now! It seems like we just started a few months ago but already a year and a half has passed!  I also thought about all the previous months I felt God nudging me, telling me to begin a neighborhood Bible Study. For at least 6 months I knew that God wanted me to step out in faith and begin a study in my neighborhood but I ignored Him. I had a million excuses.... "I'm too tired. I'm a homeschooling mom with three boys, I'm too busy. I don't know many people in the neighborhood. I don&#

Today during our church service we sang "Good Shepherd." I love this song! My favorite line says, "Take my hand and lead me home." Singing those words today made me ponder what that really means....for God to take my hand and lead me. Of course, I began to envision my boys. No matter where we're going or what we're doing, if my boys reach their hand for me to hold, I grab it. If they are willing to let me lead them, I do it! Especially when we're crossing the street or walking through a crowded area, I never let go. As a parent, I will take my child's hand and guide them happily. I am not burdened by their desire to be lead or annoyed that they need me to be their guide. I will always be here to lead them. Willingly. Gladly.  I believe the same is true for God. We often view God as someone that is annoyed by our neediness or aggravated that He has to hold our hands through life's ups and downs. Nothing could be farther from the truth

My God is so faithful to teach me through His Word. Even when I'm slow to understand what He's saying, He keeps on teaching me! The past couple of weeks I've heard the story of the Samaritan Woman at the well over and over again. Finally, I decided that I needed to spend some time studying that passage, just to see what God wanted me to learn.  Today during my quiet time, God blew my mind with this same passage I've read at least 10 times over the past couple of weeks. As I read about the Samaritan Woman, who was usually shunned by Jews, meeting Jesus and being forever changed after being offered living water, I heard God telling me to look up the word "water" in the index of my Bible. So I started reading every verse in the Bible that contains the word "water." I was amazed by what I found! Even in the "old days" before Jesus came on the scene, folks desperately longed for a Savior. They didn't know it yet but they yearned for

Today we celebrated Independence Day with our 3rd annual 4th of July party! It's always so much fun! Our house nearly bust at the seams with over 20 kids and all their parents. It is loud and hectic and really, one of my favorite days! I love having so many of our friends over!! After the party we always walk up to the top of our neighborhood to watch the big firework show that the city of High Point puts on each year. The kids enjoy this so much! They barely watch the fireworks but have a blast sitting together in the dark, laughing and talking. I loved listening to them tonight. The rain held off and the fireworks were beautiful! We even got to see some of God's "fireworks!" Fireworks and Lightening make quite the show! Today I am grateful for so many friends to celebrate with! I love getting together each year to do fireworks and grill hotdogs and hamburgers with the precious people! It'