Five Friday Randoms....

Here are five random things to let you know a little more about me...

Some of my Favorites

1. Gummy Coke bottles are my favorite candy!

2. Diet Dr Pepper is the drink

3. Animals nurture my soul

4. I love Fall/Winter months

5. Walking is my preferred choice of exercise

Happy Friday my friends! :)

It Is Our Most Favorite Place.....

CHICK-FIL-A
The first choice visit when dads out of town! We LOVE Chick-fil-a! :)

An Unknown Passion

What is something in your life that you would think might never happen or would have never crossed your mind? Was is something that tells you it won't happen due to finances, time, other dreams? Is there something in you, an unknown passion you didn't know about?
For Me??? I would say probably adoption. Ryan and I have never been closed minded about the idea but I have that voice in the back of mind saying, why, you already have 3 girls, its too expensive, you hate to fly so how would you get across the ocean without a panic attack, etc. As a friend of mine who help start an orphan adoption center just adopted her 3rd child from Ukraine. She inspires me! Her endless love for her own children and 3 adopted ones. Her love for a big family! I think its amazing. Check out this coming home video of her kids greeting her, her husband, and their new 12 year old Ukrainian daughter.


I don't know if I will ever adopt but it has crossed my mind more than once and way before my friend started her orphan adoption agency. Now, I just tap into that "thought" more because I have friends that are adopting and have adopted. I've seen and known the blessings. I am encouraged by my friend's motivation and passion for orphans around the world. Its inspiring. My prayer might be to at least start digging deep down within me to see what makes me tick! What dreams do I have, what risks am I taking. It begins with....believing, "its what faith can do!"

Wisdom

Over the past couple of days, I've been reading through some of the proverbs. They are fabulous, fruitful, and great take-away application to our lives. Here are a few that stuck out to me. Enjoy.

"a man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?"
prov. 19:24

"a gossip betrays a confidence, so avoid a man who talks to much." prov. 19:19

"the lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of man; it searches out his inmost being."
prov. 19:27

"ears that hear and eyes that see- the Lord has made them both." prov. 19:12

"listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise."
prov. 18:20

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
prov. 18:21

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord." prov. 18:22

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." prov. 18:24

"the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."
prov. 18:10

Remembering Haiti

I don't want to forget the devastation and images I have seen from the earthquake that struck Haiti! I pray that these people's needs would not be forgotten and that we would be faithful to praying for this nation. We have a friend who is a doctor and he flew out at 5:30 am today to go and help the people of Haiti. He is a orthopedic surgeon so he knows his hands will be able to serve the hurting. I'll be praying for him and so many other volunteers, military, and non-profit organizations. I can't get the image out of my mind that was aired on Friday on the Today show. It was Ann Curry there in Haiti walking amongst the hurting, showing the tents lined up outside in fear of after shocks and the hospital already overflowing. She talked with a 5 year old boy, who smiled, who grabbed her arm, whose leg was broken and waiting for help. So, I pray that this boy I saw would meet men like Dr. Dave Vanderwiede and receive the love and care, and his broken leg would be healed in a cast.
All these things make me recall a favorite song to my mind. "How Beautiful"
It says, "how beautiful when humble hearts give, the fruit of pure lives, so that others may live..."
May we all continue to give and pray for the Haitian people.

My Verse For the Year!!!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

As a new year has begun, so much is happening and time seems to be flying by super fast. I want this verse to really sink in deep into my heart and soul as many things are taking place within my life right now. I want to continue to lean on the Lord for my marriage, being a wife, and mom of 3 girls, in my work, and the call to possibly plant a church. Ryan and I both feel God might really be leading our hearts and lives into motion for church planting. So, as this journey begins, I want this verse to ring true greatly for me! I need it. I need to remember not to lean on my own understanding and what I think but how He will make our paths straight. He will show us why we should plant a church, where, and when. As a very detailed, organized personality this drives me CRAZY!!! I need clarity and my heart desires it. I pray that this verse would bring me comfort as we journey toward God using us in big ways.

Some Good Reads

2009 was a great year of book reading for me! I read some awesome books so I am a little blank on where to begin for the year 2010. I have a couple in mind but would love some suggestions to any of my readers that are out there!?

Here are my 2009 reads that were terrific.
Stepping Heavenward
Crazy Love
The Prodigal God
To Small to Ignore
The Forgotten God

LOVED all these so I need some good ideas for 2010! Help me out. :)

The gift that keeps on giving.....

Thanks to grammy and grandpa, (my parents) the girls got a much needed trampoline for Christmas! They love it! Its perfect for their ages and keeps them entertained for awhile! In fact, I have even taken advantage of it and done a couple of tricks myself. Makes me get out there with them and have a little fun and feel a little younger! On Friday after school, we had the whole family jumping and me and Ryan kept popping the girls. They were just belly laughing soooo hard, it had me cracking up! :)
This will be the gift of endless fun! So, thanks for the perfect Christmas gift this year grammy and grandpa!

I have a feeling.....

That I am going to miss this someday! The little people, petshop, polly pocket parade line up to get into the house. :)
I am trying to tuck these away in the back of my memory.I can't forget these moments!!! Thankful for the joy of my children.

Greeting 2010....

Psalm 65:11

"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance."

Thank You Lord!

Its a baby kind of a day.....

NOW! :)
I forgot what having a baby in the house is like! Seriously, you think with my baby girl being only 4 I wouldn't of forgotten but you quickly move into each new stage totally erasing the past others.
Well, for the Spring semester, a dear friend of mine has gone back to teaching to complete this school year and she needed someone to keep her baby girl, Madilyn. She is super sweet and fun and at the fun stage 4 months! Not to little and demanding. :) She loves the girls and just laughs and its kinda fun to see the girls turn their focus on someone else besides themselves. Its a great way to learn to share mommy and realize how I work now and with that comes some demands in the house to help out. Its been a true blessing all around. The hardest part for me is remembering that your day is revolved around a schedule/routine and during those famous "nap" times you shower, fold a load of laundry, play on the trampoline with Annalise, etc! ;) Its funny how quick you forget that stage and get use to the ones you are in.
I am excited about this semester as it brings extra financial help into the house yet it allows me to still be with the girls. Its a perfect fit for us all!