It's late on Sunday evening and I'm sitting here in contemplation. A lot of you know that my favorite hymn is Day by Day. I have loved this song since my Nazarene days. We sang it today, in church and the last part of the second verse really really hit me; Brought me to tears. Last week, we mailed a necklace to Mariah.....A necklace that had been anointed with oil, blessed and prayed over by our pastoral team. Pastor Fred warned us that we would be up for attack from the enemy, once that necklace was placed in Mariah's hand. She received her necklace on Monday and on Tuesday, the attack began.....My toe became badly infected with cellulitis. On Thursday, Mark's car broke down...yesterday, Mark discovered that the car is going to need more repair than he thought. Please my brothers and sisters, pray for us as we put on the armor of Christ and fight the enemy for our daughter's soul. Anyhoo, as I was standing up on the pulpit singing, God hit me with it, head on. Sweetly broken and wholly surrendered, I wept, for my daughter, for our coming battles and with joy, because my Heavenly Father gives me so much more than I deserve!! The protection of His child and treasure Is a charge that on Himself He laid;“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”This the pledge to me He made. No words meant more to me, than these, today. The promise that God will protect us and strengthen us, while we persevere through this time, is mind-blowing. I have the promise, I have the faith......I HAVE THE VICTORY!!! When the devil came after me, wanting to steal, kill and destroy my marriage, I fought and I won!! I will fight for my daughter and I will win. Hear that devil? You will not win!! You might as well just get thee behind me, right now, give up and save us both the time!!! I'm trusting God to deliver her, just like He delivered Mark and I.
Well, one more day of this long weekend and I am happy to have a little extra time with Mark. He works so much and during the week, I miss him. Having the extra time to spend with him is worth so much to me!! The extra rest will be good for him. We have issues, during the week, with getting enough rest. If he would just admit that I'm right and go to bed when I tell him to, then things would be fine, right??? And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you, at a really great price!! Getting Mark to go to bed is like trying to reason with my fourteen year old.....All he hears is Blah Blah BlaBlaBlah......I wish he was more like our dog....a biscuit or a handful of Cheez-Its and he'd do anything I ask.......No, really, I try to be quiet and gentle with Mark, well at least sometimes....I love Mark and I only want to protect him from getting overtired. He sees it as me being naggy and controlling......We've agreed to disagree.....Like I said, if he'd just realize that I'm right.......Oh forget it and stop rolling your eyes, I know as well as you that the chances of that happening is as slight as Obama suddenly becoming an ultra-right conservative republican....Tell me another fable, Aesop!!
So I better git!! It's near on to time to retire for the evening and fall asleep to mind-numbing repeats of Hannah Montana (seriously, stop laughing....I find most network TV, vile and repulsive) I love you everybody and have a wonderful evening and a happy Memorial day!
In Him
Lisa
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Happy Memorial Day weekend!!
Well folks, it's Saturday.....Memorial Day weekend......We had errands to do this afternoon, so we went to Sonora and picked up Meds at Walmart....bought cat food and litter and then Mark took me to lunch at Togos......I enjoyed my sammie and then enjoyed my hunny!! Then we had to go to Angels Camp, to pick up a Chiltons at Kragen and then we came home. Mark is now working on his car and I just finished a fic called Under the Apple Tree, on fanfic.net. The language was a little more harsh than what I like, but the pretense of the story demonstrates how the things we do to our children when they are young will affect them for the rest of their lives and make them into who they ultimately become, as adults. I am proud of who I am, as an adult!! I have the most noble job.....I am a wife and seasonal Momma. I am proud of my anti-Women's lib beliefs. I am most certainly proud of my submissive/servant heart and my passion for serving those I love. I am proud of my good brain and I'm proud of my voice.....these are both spirit gifts from my Heavenly Father. I am proud of my ability to parent and nurture my daughter. I would like to have a more quiet and gentle spirit, but sometimes, you can't always get what you want, right?? I don't have anything quiet or gentle, about me......Anyhoo, all the things I am most proud of, the things I see as good about me, were never modeled in my life.....I had to LEARN THEM ON MY OWN!! I had to learn them from God, when my marriage fell into quicksand and my world fell apart. God put people in my life to teach me and love me back into the Kingdom. My brother Pastor Dave Kinney, who sat for countless hours, listening to us bicker, wading theough my tears and giving us the tools to live a good life. Charlyne Steincamp who send me daily devotionals, my sister Karen Diaz, who let me cry and prayed for and with me, when I needed it. My neighbor Linda Harvey who was there to make sure I didn't hurt myself. My best friend Darcie, who refused to take sides and was supportive of me, when everyone turned their backs on me, after I decided to stay and fight for my marriage. My best friend Rosemary who was there, just to love me and support me and in a lot of ways, Mark's ex-girlfriend thing, Terri, for showing Mark what a "good Christian woman" was not!!!.....God not only showed me the right road, but he gave me the shoes that would get me there.....Now, Mark and I are members of the best Southern Baptist Church in the Mother Lode. I sing in choir and I'm a soloist, with fans!! I work in the kitchen, every time there is a potluck or dinner, which I absolutely love. My God has completely brought me 360....He's given me the true desires of my heart...... I have a close knit group of the most awesome sisters in Christ that you could ever find.....I have an amazing God inspired husband, who has his own ministry, within the church and is daily becoming what God wants him to be as a husband, father and provider......I am in love with my life and with my home and my faith and my Jesus, my duty and my husband. I know it seems as though we have nothing.....most of the time, that would be the case.....But in God's eyes, we are so very rich!!~
Well it's getting on to be that time of day and my hunny's going to be wanting some dinner.....It'll probably be hot dogs......I know, yay!! (seriously, stop rolling your eyes)
Mariah will be here in less than a week and I am so excited to spend nearly two whole months with my daughter. She is growing up so quickly.....I am anxious to see life through her eyes, if even just for a moment......Better is one day in Your courts, Better is one day in your house, better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere......Love each other as He loves.....
In Him
Lisa
Well it's getting on to be that time of day and my hunny's going to be wanting some dinner.....It'll probably be hot dogs......I know, yay!! (seriously, stop rolling your eyes)
Mariah will be here in less than a week and I am so excited to spend nearly two whole months with my daughter. She is growing up so quickly.....I am anxious to see life through her eyes, if even just for a moment......Better is one day in Your courts, Better is one day in your house, better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere......Love each other as He loves.....
In Him
Lisa
Friday, May 28, 2010
Another Beautiful Friday!!
Yes, I am still alive!! I have been rather lazy in blog roll duties, these past few weeks.....Well, now that I think of it catatonia has more energy than I. We went to Joseph and Rosemary's wedding, last weekend. It was just beautiful...I though, looked like a cyanotic dreidle in my bridesmaids dress. Albeit a rather large cyanotic dreidel. Anyhow, after the rehearsal dinner, on Friday night (we rode with Pastor Dave and Jill over to the restaurant from the rehearsal site) and whilst getting back into the back of Pastors crew cab, Mark slammed the door on my foot. And after I stopped screaming....... it didn't hurt for too long, but I didn't notice the little cut on my second toe and by Tuesday, it was infected with cellulitis!! So it was off to pay another wonderful visit to Dr. Hallat, at the clinic and show him my boo boo, request a 10 day supply of bactrim and hear how I need to lose some weight (Duhr, I have mirrors in my house and I'm not blind yet!!Delusional maybe, but not blind) This time, he was touting some sort of "One step up from Starvation" diet.....I think sometimes that old man just likes yanking my chord) He did though, renew my scrips for a year.....Whoo Hoo.....I had to miss choir practice on Wednesday and I wasn't happy about that. I love my time with my choir brothers and sisters. I'm still a hopeless windbag and consummate smart mouth and I still enjoy an hour or two of verbal sparring mixed with my music. Pastor Dave sent me email, though with the new song that they learned Love the Lord by Lincoln Brewster......What a song!! He also let me know that he'd chosen one of my favorite Hymns.....Day by Day, which right now, seems to describe my entire existence!! Day by Day and with each passing moment, faith I find to meet my trials here!! Last Wednesday Pastor also gave me a demo of a new song he wants to sing with me, in the future (Who'da thunk little ole me would ever be singing duets with Pastor??) This will be our 4th song together....the first was No Wonder...Easter 2009...the second, Strange Way to Save the World Christmas 2010, the third, I've Just Seen Jesus Easter 2010......I am so blessed and honored to sing with such an amazing brother and friend. I am even more blessed to have the gift of song. For those of you who just joined the party and don't know....I quit smoking 7 months ago, after smoking for 22 years....and I quit cold turkey.....seeeeee....my God is REAL!!! That's helped my voice tremendously.....I went from a raspy Kathy Troccoli to a lower range Sandi Patty......I sing mostly soprano in our choir, but sometimes I sing harmony with Pammie.
Mark and I are doing great!! I can't imagine ever loving another man as much as I love him. He was, is and always will be God's plan for my life. I praise the Lord daily for the love of my blessed husband and I just keep falling more and more in love with the man of God, he's becoming....We will celebrate 10 years together, on August 6.....
In a week and a day, our pride and joy will be with us for the summer, once more!! We pick Mariah, just before 10 pm at Oakland Airport on Saturday June 5th. Mark's promised to take me to Bancheros for dinner, before we pick her up and I'm so very happy about that.....My baby girl is growing into a fine young lady!! She is not flesh of my flesh, not bone of my bone, but desire of my heart and I (sniff,sniff) praise God everyday for her. We talk via e-mail or (more frequently) by text message, every single day!! I never knew I could love her this much, but I do.....
Anyhoo, I am not doing anything exciting, this weekend!! Laundry!! Listening to Mark curse,trying to repair his car and church on Sunday. I just now remembered, it's a three day weekend!!! Great!!! More time for Mark to fix my honey do's!! More time for Mark to get some rest!! That's what's important!! Well, I guess I should actually try and get something constructive done today......Love each other as He loves and I'll talk to ya soon!!
In Him,
Lisa
Mark and I are doing great!! I can't imagine ever loving another man as much as I love him. He was, is and always will be God's plan for my life. I praise the Lord daily for the love of my blessed husband and I just keep falling more and more in love with the man of God, he's becoming....We will celebrate 10 years together, on August 6.....
In a week and a day, our pride and joy will be with us for the summer, once more!! We pick Mariah, just before 10 pm at Oakland Airport on Saturday June 5th. Mark's promised to take me to Bancheros for dinner, before we pick her up and I'm so very happy about that.....My baby girl is growing into a fine young lady!! She is not flesh of my flesh, not bone of my bone, but desire of my heart and I (sniff,sniff) praise God everyday for her. We talk via e-mail or (more frequently) by text message, every single day!! I never knew I could love her this much, but I do.....
Anyhoo, I am not doing anything exciting, this weekend!! Laundry!! Listening to Mark curse,trying to repair his car and church on Sunday. I just now remembered, it's a three day weekend!!! Great!!! More time for Mark to fix my honey do's!! More time for Mark to get some rest!! That's what's important!! Well, I guess I should actually try and get something constructive done today......Love each other as He loves and I'll talk to ya soon!!
In Him,
Lisa
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Just Another Day in The Neighborhood!!
It's Wednesday, It's Wednesday!! Happy Wednesday all!! I actually went back to bed, after Mark left, so I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning....I might even get something done today!! Yesterday was a good day.....I had ice cream with Gloria after counseling with Pastor Dave and it was a lot of fun.....My time with Pastor Dave went well. I've been in pastoral counseling for three years now and I thought I'd gotten it all figured out!! It's usually when you think you've got it all figured out that the enemy peels back another layer of the onion and there's a whole other issue to deal with.....Turns out, I don't have it all figured out, after all. It's okay though....Pastor is good at helping me and I'm thankful to God for the closeness I have with my Pastor...I am completely comfortable talking honestly about what I think and feel.....Next to my Mark and my daughter Mariah, Rosemary and Gloria, Pastor Dave and Jill, his wife are my best friends.....I am blessed!! My family may not think of me fondly, but God has provided me with a wealth of other family who love and care for Mark and I, it's just the best feeling.
Today, I have choir practice and another pow wow with Pastor Dave and Pastor Fred...and Mark, too. Next week, I have to go to Fresno on Monday, for the final dress fitting and then Mark and I will go on Friday afternoon, down to Fresno for Joe and Rosemary's wedding...Pastor Dave and Jill are going too, Pastor Dave is officiating the wedding. I am a Bridesmaid....for the first time in my life, so I am quite excited!! I have been waiting to be a bridesmaid for a lot of years.....I love wearing fancy dresses.
I am quite happy for my best friend Rosemary!! She's found a good man in Joe and they honestly seem very happy together. I have known Rosemary since 1980 and we have been best friends since 1981.....We went to Junior High School together. In 8th grade, I had to sit next to her in first period Math.....We had Mr. Goulding as our teacher. She used to hit me with her neck scarf....Rosemary wanted to be a cheerleader that year, too, so I had to sit there and listen to her do her "cheers" and then, when she tried out, she did a kick and her shoe came off and flew across the gym.....She didn't make cheerleader......All through my teenage, young adult and adult life, Rosemary has been there for me......We had a few rough spots....due to other friends that were jealous of our closeness and tried their level best to make sure we hated one another. But we always seem to find our way back!! Rosemary's older sister Lisa is also my good friend and her mother has always been like a second mother to me....I'm truly thankful to God, for Rosemary and her precious family......I am so very blessed. Joe and Rosemary are going to have a wonderful life. It's my hope and prayer that they will know only joy, in their lives and that every day will be filled with love, hope and understanding. I'm so proud of you Ro.....you've done a fantastic job of growing up!! I'm so very happy to call you my best friend.
I have decided to go back to a low carbohydrate approach to eating. I am just too hungry with "normal" eating and I feel like junk. (Stop rolling your eyes and don't think I can't see you....I'm a mom, I see everything) My blood sugar is out of control too and I desperately need to get that back under control. The Atkins Foundation has another book out, so I thought I'd buy it on eBay when I can afford it....See what kind of changes they've made to the program.....
So I'm going to make Barbequed Chicken with Marinated Cauliflower and green salad for dinner tonight. I might even fry up some cheese sticks, while I'm at it!! I finally remembered to buy new oil for my deep fryer, when we were at Smart and Final, on Sunday. I took the old oil out of the fryer, yesterday and it was nasty!! Thankfully, I haven't used it, in a while. Now that the weather is warming up, I'm going to have to strain and drain the oil every time I use the fryer. I don't want it to get rancid. In the winter, I leave the oil in the fryer. We don't have central heat, so I can get away with that. This is the way I make my Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.....They are low carb and very good!! I cut my whole milk mozzarella cheese into sticks and beat two eggs together in a bowl. I put some dried shredded parmesan cheese in another bowl and add whatever seasonings I want. I coat each stick of cheese with egg and then with cheese. I put them on a wire rack and put the rack in the freezer. After they've frozen I take them out and I repeat the procedure. If they are coated enough after the second freezing, I'll cook them. If not, they get another tar and feather and another set in the freezer. Then I heat my fryer to 350 and deep fry them til their brown. I serve them with low carb mustard sauce. This is the same procedure I use for making chicken strips too....Mark and I just love them. Mark gave me my deep fryer for Christmas and I absolutely love it!!
Well, I guess that's all I have to say for today!! Not very interesting I know....but what can I say, I can't have an exciting life, everyday!! It would end up dull and boring and mundane.....
Anyhoo.....Love each other as He loves and I'll see y'all tomorrow......
In Him,
Lisa
Today, I have choir practice and another pow wow with Pastor Dave and Pastor Fred...and Mark, too. Next week, I have to go to Fresno on Monday, for the final dress fitting and then Mark and I will go on Friday afternoon, down to Fresno for Joe and Rosemary's wedding...Pastor Dave and Jill are going too, Pastor Dave is officiating the wedding. I am a Bridesmaid....for the first time in my life, so I am quite excited!! I have been waiting to be a bridesmaid for a lot of years.....I love wearing fancy dresses.
I am quite happy for my best friend Rosemary!! She's found a good man in Joe and they honestly seem very happy together. I have known Rosemary since 1980 and we have been best friends since 1981.....We went to Junior High School together. In 8th grade, I had to sit next to her in first period Math.....We had Mr. Goulding as our teacher. She used to hit me with her neck scarf....Rosemary wanted to be a cheerleader that year, too, so I had to sit there and listen to her do her "cheers" and then, when she tried out, she did a kick and her shoe came off and flew across the gym.....She didn't make cheerleader......All through my teenage, young adult and adult life, Rosemary has been there for me......We had a few rough spots....due to other friends that were jealous of our closeness and tried their level best to make sure we hated one another. But we always seem to find our way back!! Rosemary's older sister Lisa is also my good friend and her mother has always been like a second mother to me....I'm truly thankful to God, for Rosemary and her precious family......I am so very blessed. Joe and Rosemary are going to have a wonderful life. It's my hope and prayer that they will know only joy, in their lives and that every day will be filled with love, hope and understanding. I'm so proud of you Ro.....you've done a fantastic job of growing up!! I'm so very happy to call you my best friend.
I have decided to go back to a low carbohydrate approach to eating. I am just too hungry with "normal" eating and I feel like junk. (Stop rolling your eyes and don't think I can't see you....I'm a mom, I see everything) My blood sugar is out of control too and I desperately need to get that back under control. The Atkins Foundation has another book out, so I thought I'd buy it on eBay when I can afford it....See what kind of changes they've made to the program.....
So I'm going to make Barbequed Chicken with Marinated Cauliflower and green salad for dinner tonight. I might even fry up some cheese sticks, while I'm at it!! I finally remembered to buy new oil for my deep fryer, when we were at Smart and Final, on Sunday. I took the old oil out of the fryer, yesterday and it was nasty!! Thankfully, I haven't used it, in a while. Now that the weather is warming up, I'm going to have to strain and drain the oil every time I use the fryer. I don't want it to get rancid. In the winter, I leave the oil in the fryer. We don't have central heat, so I can get away with that. This is the way I make my Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.....They are low carb and very good!! I cut my whole milk mozzarella cheese into sticks and beat two eggs together in a bowl. I put some dried shredded parmesan cheese in another bowl and add whatever seasonings I want. I coat each stick of cheese with egg and then with cheese. I put them on a wire rack and put the rack in the freezer. After they've frozen I take them out and I repeat the procedure. If they are coated enough after the second freezing, I'll cook them. If not, they get another tar and feather and another set in the freezer. Then I heat my fryer to 350 and deep fry them til their brown. I serve them with low carb mustard sauce. This is the same procedure I use for making chicken strips too....Mark and I just love them. Mark gave me my deep fryer for Christmas and I absolutely love it!!
Well, I guess that's all I have to say for today!! Not very interesting I know....but what can I say, I can't have an exciting life, everyday!! It would end up dull and boring and mundane.....
Anyhoo.....Love each other as He loves and I'll see y'all tomorrow......
In Him,
Lisa
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Staying Home, Hugs and Small Victories
Happy Tuesday, friends.....
Well, here I am, working on my second cup of decaf...having already eaten my breakfast (a whole french toast bagel) I'm liking this Weight Watchers thing!! As long as I'm honest and accountable, I can pretty much eat whatever I want, as long as I stay within my points limit. I love my morning coffee....and I HATE putting any sort of liquid dairy product in it..I love the taste of powdered non dairy creamer in my coffee....Chemical Cow!! With Atkins, you can't use chemical cow, only heavy cream...so I stopped drinking morning coffee. I just didn't like the taste. With Weight Watchers, chemical cow is zero points....Whoo hoo!! The resurrection of morning coffee!!! Also, a few months back, I discovered a company called Walden Farms. They make condiment type things....ketchup, salad dressings, peanut spread, jams, barbeque sauces.....the really great thing about this company is that their products are all sugar free, fat free and calorie free!! It takes some getting used to....the taste, that is, but everything I've tried, is pretty good!! It's nice to be able to eat ranch dressing on a salad and not have to worry about counting the points. The products are all on the pricey side....but to me, it's all worth it!! I get mine at The Country Store, in Sonora......Raley's carries some of the products, too.
This past Sunday, Pastor preached on the value of biblical Christian womanhood. I was quite happy with this sermon, as it touches a special place in my heart and was also a very big answer to prayer. Most of you who know me, I mean, really know me, know that I am a big proponent of having a true servant's heart and the importance of biblical submission in marriage. I am a submissive wife and I am proud of that!! I'm not saying that I'm perfect at it....sometimes, I down right suck at submitting and I really would just like Mark to understand that I want my way and that's that. I am a work in progress and I praise the Lord for that, daily. I do not hold the same equality, in God's eyes, as my husband and that's okay!! I kind of like having my own place in the kingdom. I like feeling protected and cared for, by Mark and I like him to feel the comfort and peace that he is taken care of as well, when he is here, in our home, with me. Okay on with the point, I'm getting off track. Well, like a lot of folks, these days, Mark and I struggle financially.....We aren't destitute, but we have to plan and be careful with our money. I have been throwing the idea around, in my mind, of going out and finding some part time work, to go ahead and supplement our income....I've been praying for guidance about this and I really feel that through Pastor Dave, my prayers were answered and God truly spoke to me. My place is here, in my home, supporting my husband and seasonally, my daughter, as only a wife and mother can. That my job is to be servant and caretaker to my home and family and that we need to lean on He, not on dollar signs, to meet our needs. I have the peace that passes all understanding now....Now, I have found my joy and the joy of the Lord is my strength.
Have you noticed how we shy away from touch now? We don't touch each other, anymore.....Are we afraid that a simple touch would be showing weakness? Are we afraid of germs? Are we afraid, period? I love to hug people!! All kinds of people!! Little people, big people, old people, young people, baby people...dogs, cats......and I like getting hugs, too!! My sister in Christ, Laura gives the best hugs....she hugs with her soul and I'm so very thankful for those hugs. My sister in Christ, Gloria gives great hugs.....My best friend Rosemary give wonderful hugs and my Mark gives the bestest hugs.....I have to think of the times when I have been broken and hurting.....when those hugs have been lifelines to and from God. How would my life be, if I never experienced those touches? What kind of person would I be? I shudder to even think. How would I feel if I had never shared anyone's joy by giving them a hug? I would feel empty and alone. Touch is important, for us, as Christians and as humans. It binds us together and keeps us unified. It warms us and makes us feel as if we are a part of some bigger picture. It heals and nourishes our spirits. Unfortunately, in this seemingly disposable, clinical, sanitary world, we are not encouraged to touch each other!! We might catch something or pass something along.....We might get cooties or something......It's all a bunch of hooey!! If you want to make a difference in someone's life, right now, today, reach out and touch them.....Shake their hand...give them a hug....Trust me, that selfless act of kindness might just change someone else's life for the better......
I have as small victory as of late, that has really impacted my life. So much so, that I have to tell you about it. I want to say, first, though that God is the force behind this victory, not me.....I am just the empty vessel who asked for a blessing and was then filled with it!! On October 28th of last year, I quit smoking.....I smoked for 22 years and gave it up, cold turkey!! It's been 6 months and I am so very proud of myself and so very thankful to God, for being my rock and my fortress. I feel great!! I quit, by holding God's hand through it all. I didn't need a patch or some mind altering drug or some sort of peculiar tasting gum.....I did it with God!! I haven't picked it up since and God has really blessed me with a total disgust for the whole smoking thing....It smells nasty and I can't believe I did that for so long!! I can laugh now, without coughing.....I can walk up my stairs and not feel like I'm trying to breathe underwater. I can taste my food!! Whoo Hoo what a blessing!! Nothing is impossible, when you put your trust in God, Nothing is impossible when you're trusting in His Word....Hearken to the voice of God to thee; Is there anything too hard for me? So put your trust in God alone and rest upon His Word, For Everything, oh everything, yes everything is possible with God.
Have a great day everyone and love each other as He loves!!
In Him
Lisa
Well, here I am, working on my second cup of decaf...having already eaten my breakfast (a whole french toast bagel) I'm liking this Weight Watchers thing!! As long as I'm honest and accountable, I can pretty much eat whatever I want, as long as I stay within my points limit. I love my morning coffee....and I HATE putting any sort of liquid dairy product in it..I love the taste of powdered non dairy creamer in my coffee....Chemical Cow!! With Atkins, you can't use chemical cow, only heavy cream...so I stopped drinking morning coffee. I just didn't like the taste. With Weight Watchers, chemical cow is zero points....Whoo hoo!! The resurrection of morning coffee!!! Also, a few months back, I discovered a company called Walden Farms. They make condiment type things....ketchup, salad dressings, peanut spread, jams, barbeque sauces.....the really great thing about this company is that their products are all sugar free, fat free and calorie free!! It takes some getting used to....the taste, that is, but everything I've tried, is pretty good!! It's nice to be able to eat ranch dressing on a salad and not have to worry about counting the points. The products are all on the pricey side....but to me, it's all worth it!! I get mine at The Country Store, in Sonora......Raley's carries some of the products, too.
This past Sunday, Pastor preached on the value of biblical Christian womanhood. I was quite happy with this sermon, as it touches a special place in my heart and was also a very big answer to prayer. Most of you who know me, I mean, really know me, know that I am a big proponent of having a true servant's heart and the importance of biblical submission in marriage. I am a submissive wife and I am proud of that!! I'm not saying that I'm perfect at it....sometimes, I down right suck at submitting and I really would just like Mark to understand that I want my way and that's that. I am a work in progress and I praise the Lord for that, daily. I do not hold the same equality, in God's eyes, as my husband and that's okay!! I kind of like having my own place in the kingdom. I like feeling protected and cared for, by Mark and I like him to feel the comfort and peace that he is taken care of as well, when he is here, in our home, with me. Okay on with the point, I'm getting off track. Well, like a lot of folks, these days, Mark and I struggle financially.....We aren't destitute, but we have to plan and be careful with our money. I have been throwing the idea around, in my mind, of going out and finding some part time work, to go ahead and supplement our income....I've been praying for guidance about this and I really feel that through Pastor Dave, my prayers were answered and God truly spoke to me. My place is here, in my home, supporting my husband and seasonally, my daughter, as only a wife and mother can. That my job is to be servant and caretaker to my home and family and that we need to lean on He, not on dollar signs, to meet our needs. I have the peace that passes all understanding now....Now, I have found my joy and the joy of the Lord is my strength.
Have you noticed how we shy away from touch now? We don't touch each other, anymore.....Are we afraid that a simple touch would be showing weakness? Are we afraid of germs? Are we afraid, period? I love to hug people!! All kinds of people!! Little people, big people, old people, young people, baby people...dogs, cats......and I like getting hugs, too!! My sister in Christ, Laura gives the best hugs....she hugs with her soul and I'm so very thankful for those hugs. My sister in Christ, Gloria gives great hugs.....My best friend Rosemary give wonderful hugs and my Mark gives the bestest hugs.....I have to think of the times when I have been broken and hurting.....when those hugs have been lifelines to and from God. How would my life be, if I never experienced those touches? What kind of person would I be? I shudder to even think. How would I feel if I had never shared anyone's joy by giving them a hug? I would feel empty and alone. Touch is important, for us, as Christians and as humans. It binds us together and keeps us unified. It warms us and makes us feel as if we are a part of some bigger picture. It heals and nourishes our spirits. Unfortunately, in this seemingly disposable, clinical, sanitary world, we are not encouraged to touch each other!! We might catch something or pass something along.....We might get cooties or something......It's all a bunch of hooey!! If you want to make a difference in someone's life, right now, today, reach out and touch them.....Shake their hand...give them a hug....Trust me, that selfless act of kindness might just change someone else's life for the better......
I have as small victory as of late, that has really impacted my life. So much so, that I have to tell you about it. I want to say, first, though that God is the force behind this victory, not me.....I am just the empty vessel who asked for a blessing and was then filled with it!! On October 28th of last year, I quit smoking.....I smoked for 22 years and gave it up, cold turkey!! It's been 6 months and I am so very proud of myself and so very thankful to God, for being my rock and my fortress. I feel great!! I quit, by holding God's hand through it all. I didn't need a patch or some mind altering drug or some sort of peculiar tasting gum.....I did it with God!! I haven't picked it up since and God has really blessed me with a total disgust for the whole smoking thing....It smells nasty and I can't believe I did that for so long!! I can laugh now, without coughing.....I can walk up my stairs and not feel like I'm trying to breathe underwater. I can taste my food!! Whoo Hoo what a blessing!! Nothing is impossible, when you put your trust in God, Nothing is impossible when you're trusting in His Word....Hearken to the voice of God to thee; Is there anything too hard for me? So put your trust in God alone and rest upon His Word, For Everything, oh everything, yes everything is possible with God.
Have a great day everyone and love each other as He loves!!
In Him
Lisa
Monday, May 10, 2010
Pearls
Good Morning, my webbies!! It's another Monday, here in paradise!! Everyone knows I love Mondays!! I'm peculiar, I know....but,I prefer to think of it as being original. I love the feeling of beginning again, with a whole new week and another week means another week closer to being reunited with the ultimate joy of my life, my fourteen year old daughter Mariah!! She isn't mine by flesh....she's Mark's, but Leeza Gibbons once said; "Not flesh of my flesh, not bone of my bone, but desire of my heart" and she is.....We are very close and I love her as if I had carried her, myself. She'll be here on the evening of June 5th and Mark and I are beside ourselves with joy!!
I am sorry that I haven't been around much....I have no viable excuse for not writing, because laziness and being uninspired are not excuses!! The enemy has been working double time on me, the past couple of weeks and I've been trying to claw my way out of my pit!! It's not been easy and it's not been fun. It has though, been a time of learning and hopefully growing.....I am not an easy person to get through to....I'm hardheaded and stubborn. Sometimes, God really has to knock me down, to be able to stand me up and get me going again!! I am thankful for every one of you, who keeps me in your prayers.....I really need those. Lemme tell you all, what's been going on. Firstly.....I have stopped going to the gym.....I stopped three weeks ago. It was starting to become and obsession and all obsessions are strongholds......The last thing I need in my life is another stronghold!! We all need exercise, everyday but I was spending as much as three hours a day in the gym and that's not so good!! I am going to try and go back to the gym, today and do a single 30 minute workout and that's all.....No more and no less. Secondly: I've had to seriously look at my eating habits. (Yes, again.....Don't give me that look and seriously, stop rolling your eyes......) They've gotten way out of control....I've been flip flopping from starvation to excessive eating.....from low carbing to not and everything else, in between!! I've seen it all....and I don't like it....I don't feel good and I don't like it!! So, I'm going to try Weight Watchers again!! Please pray for me, my friends.....I need to get this weight off, but I need a plan that's sensible and flexible. Atkins wasn't.....though it was good for my diabetes, it was really difficult to work it into my life. So this morning, I had half a french toast bagel (Glor, it was really very good...not too sweet) toasted with some low fat margarine and I'm working on my second cup of decaf.....and I'm feeling quite satisfied. I'll have a bowl of soup for lunch and maybe a salad or half a peanut butter sandwich. Thankfully, I have much soup in my cupboard. I need to make some SF Jello and put it in the fridge.....I just cannot let myself "go".....I've seen what that will do and I'm not ready to give up my life for food. I'm not ready to give up my servant's heart for a Snickers bar!! I'm not ready to die!!
It doesn't look like there's going to be any more unemployment extensions for the already 101,000 people living in California who have run out of benefits.....Yours truly being one of those people. I am thankful for the extensions we got, though....It saw us through some hard times!! Now, though, we will have to buckle down and really economize our lives!! I will probably start doing a little more selling on eBay....Just to have some pocket money and a few niceties, while Mariah is here. We usually do our grocery shopping at Walmart Super Center, down in Stockton, once a month, but this time, we went to Smart and Final...I spent less and got more of what I needed and less of those impulse buys, that I am sooooo known for. We did really well. I still need a few things from Walmart, but I'll make Mark a list today and he'll stop tomorrow, on his way home from work and pick up what I need. That way, we're not wasting gas on an extra trip and Mark is less apt to impulse spend.....So we managed to cut our monthly grocery spending from over $300.00 a month to right around $200.00......That's just $50.00 a week in groceries, for the two of us. Not too shabby!! I did get a great bargain on eggs, yesterday!! Smart and Final had the biggest brown eggs I've ever seen in my life....20 count flats for $2.55. We are now set on eggs!!
I need to get going, though....I have much to do today and I need to get started!! Everybody have a happy Monday and if you would, keep my mother in your prayers, when I called her yesterday, she couldn't move her legs to walk. She was very upset at this and seemed very scared!! Love each other as He loves and we'll talk again, soon!!
In Him,
Lisa
I am sorry that I haven't been around much....I have no viable excuse for not writing, because laziness and being uninspired are not excuses!! The enemy has been working double time on me, the past couple of weeks and I've been trying to claw my way out of my pit!! It's not been easy and it's not been fun. It has though, been a time of learning and hopefully growing.....I am not an easy person to get through to....I'm hardheaded and stubborn. Sometimes, God really has to knock me down, to be able to stand me up and get me going again!! I am thankful for every one of you, who keeps me in your prayers.....I really need those. Lemme tell you all, what's been going on. Firstly.....I have stopped going to the gym.....I stopped three weeks ago. It was starting to become and obsession and all obsessions are strongholds......The last thing I need in my life is another stronghold!! We all need exercise, everyday but I was spending as much as three hours a day in the gym and that's not so good!! I am going to try and go back to the gym, today and do a single 30 minute workout and that's all.....No more and no less. Secondly: I've had to seriously look at my eating habits. (Yes, again.....Don't give me that look and seriously, stop rolling your eyes......) They've gotten way out of control....I've been flip flopping from starvation to excessive eating.....from low carbing to not and everything else, in between!! I've seen it all....and I don't like it....I don't feel good and I don't like it!! So, I'm going to try Weight Watchers again!! Please pray for me, my friends.....I need to get this weight off, but I need a plan that's sensible and flexible. Atkins wasn't.....though it was good for my diabetes, it was really difficult to work it into my life. So this morning, I had half a french toast bagel (Glor, it was really very good...not too sweet) toasted with some low fat margarine and I'm working on my second cup of decaf.....and I'm feeling quite satisfied. I'll have a bowl of soup for lunch and maybe a salad or half a peanut butter sandwich. Thankfully, I have much soup in my cupboard. I need to make some SF Jello and put it in the fridge.....I just cannot let myself "go".....I've seen what that will do and I'm not ready to give up my life for food. I'm not ready to give up my servant's heart for a Snickers bar!! I'm not ready to die!!
It doesn't look like there's going to be any more unemployment extensions for the already 101,000 people living in California who have run out of benefits.....Yours truly being one of those people. I am thankful for the extensions we got, though....It saw us through some hard times!! Now, though, we will have to buckle down and really economize our lives!! I will probably start doing a little more selling on eBay....Just to have some pocket money and a few niceties, while Mariah is here. We usually do our grocery shopping at Walmart Super Center, down in Stockton, once a month, but this time, we went to Smart and Final...I spent less and got more of what I needed and less of those impulse buys, that I am sooooo known for. We did really well. I still need a few things from Walmart, but I'll make Mark a list today and he'll stop tomorrow, on his way home from work and pick up what I need. That way, we're not wasting gas on an extra trip and Mark is less apt to impulse spend.....So we managed to cut our monthly grocery spending from over $300.00 a month to right around $200.00......That's just $50.00 a week in groceries, for the two of us. Not too shabby!! I did get a great bargain on eggs, yesterday!! Smart and Final had the biggest brown eggs I've ever seen in my life....20 count flats for $2.55. We are now set on eggs!!
I need to get going, though....I have much to do today and I need to get started!! Everybody have a happy Monday and if you would, keep my mother in your prayers, when I called her yesterday, she couldn't move her legs to walk. She was very upset at this and seemed very scared!! Love each other as He loves and we'll talk again, soon!!
In Him,
Lisa
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