This Saturday and Sunday Wendy's will be donating 50 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for every Frosty sold!

Items in a jar

Yes...I have placed an item in my jar, two actually. I am trying to be creative with the jar being "half full" attitude instead of half empty...oh yeah, there was a pun intended.

The first item I placed in my jar was a rock...nothing great and awesome about it. Though, I think I spotted a fossil in it..hha..haa. But, I placed it in the jar of "his treasures" because I liked it, my son was playing with it and gave it to me as a gift. I also placed it into my jar because I thought maybe I was the second person ever to touch this rock(my little one being the first) Now how cool would that be? So in the jar it went.

The second item was my grocery bill...you may think I am crazy(though, that is still open for discussion). I placed it in my jar because I am blessed and grateful for

the money to purchase food for my family. So many don't have the means to do this task. So I feel like it deserved the gratitude it was worth...so in it went.

I was searching for the perfect words of the Father to place in this entry...and BAM!!!! Flipped right to these(he is too cool!)

Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful

Psalm 107:9
For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things

The old jar

Hello...all!!! Hope you and yours are doing well. The weather is finally starting to remember that it is summer and making its appearance now and again. It has been nearly 4 1/2 years since Elijah died...I have started to get "creative" in the way that I deal with my grief and utter pain of not having him in my everyday and night life. I wanted to share with you something that I briefly read in a book, but I am expanding on it a little and will keep you posted on if it really works for me or not. I hope to also find some scripture to offer...maybe in the next post.

I have just received a whole box of old canning jars from a friend(she must know that I can't ever say no when people offer). So my brain has been hard at it to think of what I was going to do with all my little glass gifts. Got me thinking...yes, I do think from time to time...surprise!!!! So, I decided to lift my spirits a little and make it a little "collect ALL jar". Collecting things that I see, that... for a moment bring me joy and a glimpse into our wonderful creator.

What, you ask am I planning on placing into the jar???? Well, I don't really know yet. HE has not yet given me a "treasure" to place into my jar.(Always HIS timing, not mine). But I am going to make time to look at the gifts around me. Rocks, leaves, maybe even a lighting bug or two...don't worry animal activists, I will set them free. I want to be able to look at something small that captures my eye and my heart, placing it into an sad, lonely, empty jar. Slowly, filling it up to the top. Later, being able to recall in my memory the joy that each and every item in the jar gave to me. Filling my heart with hope and happiness like the treasures filled my jar.

God is good and always provides small treasures to us in his name.

Waiting out the wait

No, I have not fallen off the face of the planet...though if feels like it...have not been feeling well...Don't worry,I don't believe it is anything too serious. But while I have been having blood tests done, I am reminded once again that I am not mortal...got me thinking about the when, where and how I will leave this world. I know we usually don't get the "heads up" on that one, but I often use the term "waiting out the wait" or "out waiting the wait"(you can let me know what is grammatically correct). You can take that a few different ways, but for me in this life..."I am waiting"...waiting for when I am in Heaven, waiting for my service on earth do be done, waiting to be reunited with other believing loved ones..and most of all waiting to be in the presence of "HIM."

I have a new understanding of the "wait" not only since becoming a believer, but also at the loses that have happened to our family over the last few years...in the last five years we have lost so many that we love, cherish and miss daily.

Ok...get ready..I am going to say a scary word to some of you ...but death(there I said it) has a different look to me. Don't get me wrong...I want to see my kids grow up, meet my grand kids..etc. I want to do good things for those around me and my community, I want to retire, get old and work at Wal-mart handing out happy face stickers to all the kids(little joke around here due to lack of a 401K).

Get ready...going to say it again. Death looks less scary...inviting...comforting and most of all HOME. So I wait as if I am going on the best anticipated vacation EVER. Packing nothing but the love that has been passed to me. Waiting...for the chance to hold my Elijah who I never really got to know and for the first time meet my other baby...though we have never laid eyes on each other...I am quite sure I will know them when I see them. I pray that with one embrace my special children feel all the love that I have had and been saving for only them all these years. So until I am called HOME...I wait. Some days the wait seems short, like time on earth is going so fast but other days it seems like I am just standing still...as I am waiting out the wait.

This song says it ALL!
I could not have said it better myself...Happy Mother's Day to all that are Mom's...who will be...or pray to be...may God provide the strength to endure whatever road you are on.
(REMINDER---pause music Playlist at bottom to hear the youtub video)

I (with his help) did it!

All of you that know me...know that I LOVE MT. DEW!!! Or even a cheap mark off, Hillbilly Holler is my fave. But for lent I decided to refrain from my evil little crutch. I didn't realize how much I depended on it...not the caffeine just the taste. So I did it...not once did I "fall off of the wagon". And can you believe this...I still have not had one drop of Mt. Dew even after Easter. I can't even believe it myself. GOD is good and way stronger than I am...thank goodness for prayer...always listens and never fails...I started writing this email on 4/21 and still on 5/6 have not had any...I know it seems silly but to me it is a very big deal. I have not been feeling well lately so trying to change my "life style eating habits" hopefully will help. Now if I could just learn to stomach...peas...ugh..yuck!

The cross

I am so excited about this Easter...(no not just because I can drink Mt. Dew again)
Ever since I became a believer...every "Christian" holiday means more and more to me every year. Mainly because during the past year, I feel like I have grown so much in my faith in God. Do I know everything...aaahhh NO...do I have so much more to learn...aaahhh YEAH!
I am truely so greatful for the price that Jesus paid for all of us. I could not imagine knowing how your life would end, and in such a violent way...yet he died for us anyway even knowing what was ahead of him.
So may you all be full in the spirit of Easter and not only for the PEEPS or tasty food or candy eggs...but for the CROSS.
He came and left...so we could leave and come to HIM.
REJOICE IN HIM AND HIS FATHER!!!




BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
by Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!