{pray, pray, pray...}

Little 5 month old Stellan needs our prayers. Visit his momma's blog to find out specifically how to pray.

{while I'm waiting}

Last week I was cleaning a space in our bedroom that easily collects clutter when this song While I'm waiting by John Waller came on. The words stopped me in my tracks...they were words my heart so desperately needed to hear. I knew the song was in the move Fireproof, but I heard it with fresh ears that afternoon in my bedroom. I'll post the lyrics at the end if you're interested in knowing them...it's also the first song playing on my playlist.

You see, I feel like I've been waiting for God to move...spiritually and physically...for a long time. And I'll tell ya, I'm getting tired of waiting. There is not a patient bone in my body. One of the things I realized after hearing this song was that God knows I'm not a patient person. He made me this way for goodness sake. He must be trying to teach me something during this season of waiting. Being the patient person that I am{not}, I have a tendency to think that I can "figure out" what God has planned for me...I like to speculate what God's going to do next....as if I could. But God's way are so much bigger than my own. Why can I not just realize that and go with it? Apparently, I'm kinda dumb!

Anyway, I've just finished doing an amazing Beth Moore study on Esther. I blogged a little bit about the study here. And in {in a funk} I blogged about a desire I have longed for for a long time. There was one video session where Beth talked about the importance of knowing #1-when it's time, #2-when it's time to wait, #3-when it's time to wait for someone elses time and #4-when the meantime is God-time. There were several points she touched on that totally spoke to my waiting heart. One thing she said was "Never in our wait is God inactive"....read that again and let it sink into your heart. I have felt like God is very inactive right now, but I was reminded that even though I am not feeling Him, He's still there, working on my behalf. Another comment Beth made was "Our strength will be depleted when we wait on the event, person, or thing instead of waiting upon the Lord." I have been so guilty of waiting to move instead of waiting for God to reveal Himself. He has a much better plan than I could ever come up with for myself and my family.

I want His will and if that means that I have to wait, then I'm gonna wait. There's so much I'm learning and being reminded of in the "wait" too. I'm being reminded of the awesome things God has done for me. He has protected my family countless time. He has rescued me from myself more times than I can remember. I'm learning that I really don't have any control whatsoever over my circumstances. I'm learning that if I claim to love God then I can't straddle the fence...I've got to live every single aspect of my life for Him. I can't stay holed up in my safe circle of Christian friends and family. I've got to be passionate about my relationship with Christ and share Him with others. I've got to serve Him while I'm waiting. I've got to worship while I'm waiting.

Well, I've rambled enough for today. If you find yourself in a season of waiting, meditate on the words to this song and apply them to your unique set of circumstances. God has an awesome destiny for you...will you wait for God to reveal Himself to you and bless your socks off? I'm praying you'll be patient.

While I'm Waiting...by John Waller
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
and I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead,
bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience


While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait


I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait


I will move ahead,
bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience


While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I will move ahead,
bold and confident
I'll be taking every step in obedience


While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

I will worship while I'm waiting

{the smilin' robber}

I'm gonna let y'all in on a little secret...it's hard to be a feared robber when you can't wipe your darlin' grin off your sweet little face.

My sweet boy was getting so aggravated that he couldn't keep his "mean" robber look for very long. Don't ya just love him?

{the good, the bad and the ugly}

Maybe if I start with the good, I won't stay hung up on the bad and ugly.

After a pretty stressful 24 hours, my bff, Jean, shows up this morning with a delightful bouquet of bright, happy daisies...at least I think they're daisies. Thanks Jean! You're the greatest!

Now for the bad:

Yesterday, there was some pretty vicious wind in NE KS. I'm talkin' crazy wind! I heard on the news last night that someone recorded a 92mph wind gust. Really?!

The kids were outside playing and I heard an odd noise. So, being the good mom that I am I went out to investigate. The next 3 pictures is what I find...our fence leaning precariously to the north.

Again, b/c I'm an awesome mom, I send the kids inside and immediately call the hubster. That conversation went a little like this:

Me: "Babe, we're about to loose our fence."

The Hubster: "What?"

Me: "This crazy wind is about to knock our fence over. I think we've got about 10 minutes until it's on the ground."

The Hubster: "....."

Me: "Babe, did you hear me?"

The Hubster: "......"

Me: "Are you there?"

The Hubster: "......"

The next thing I know, he's home! He hung up and raced home...how sweet is that?!

Moving on. When he got home the fence was still standing. So he races upstairs to change his clothes and then begins grabbing tools and boards to prop the fence up. He had to run to the basement to grab a hammer and when he came back outside this is the condition the fence was in...

I had just stood there and watched it happen. Again, really?!

He began working frantically to get the fence propped back up. He was hammering, I was holding...we really are a great team. He had to run in the garage for something and I was left holding the sagging fence...which was quite heavy by the way. Just then, another huge gust of wind blows through and pushes the fence in the opposite direction. I, of course, scream, let go of the fence and watch as it crashes into our yard. Sorry folks, there are no pictures of that as it was instant mayhem.

This last picture show the fence after the Hubs has sawed it apart and has begun to take it apart section by section. Now you can see our ghetto back alley and appreciate the previously standing privacy fence.

My sweet hubby worked on that darn thing all evening and is coming home early this afternoon to set new posts and begin reconstructing the fence. Bless his sweet heart.

Now for the ugly...I told you it was comin'!

I am sick to death of this house! It seems we have had one issue after another here. I am trying to hard to stay positive and trust that God has a plan. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'm failing at that.

This is the 3rd time something has happened with this blasted fence. The other 2 times huge branches from our neighbors tree has come crashing down through out backyard totally wiping out our fence. Really, you ask. Really!

I have been trying to remember the good things that have taken place in this home, but I'm coming up pretty short. But, I could make a list a mile long of all the crappy things that have happened here. I know it won't do any good, but I so want to make that list and present it to God. He knows everything that we've been through here. He planned for us to experience those things. I know the Hubs and I have grown closer to each other through all these experiences and for that I'm thankful.

But enough already! I'm done!

There you have. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Pray for me!

{you know what today is?}

It's the first day of spring! WHOOO-HOOOO!!!!

Enjoy it!

{that sneaky little leprechaun}

The conversation went a little like this:

EG: "Um, why is our milk green? Is it rotten?"

Mom: "What do you mean, your milk is green?"

EA: "Whoa! Green milk is awesome! Does it still taste like milk?"

Mom: "I don't know. You'll have to try it and see."

EG: "I'm not too sure about this."

EA: "I love it?"

EG: "So really, why is our milk green?"

Mom: "Well today is St. Patrick's Day. Maybe a little leprechaun snuck in and turned your milk green."

EA: "That sneaky little leprechaun."

{when you homeschool...}

you can "arrive" at school dressed like a princess...w/a foam crown, a barbie ring, and a save the planet t-shirt b/c that's what princesses do. Doesn't get any better than this!

This is just a pic of the boy tracing circles. He started off a little shaky, but did awesome on the bike wheel. He was so proud of himself! I'm just glad his ears are clean! ;)I hope you have a blessed Friday and a wonderful weekend!

{are you kidding me? I won...}

...a blog makeover from super, awesome Mandy over at Shabby Pumpkin! Her stuff is super, duper cute and she's so creative. She also made over my sweet friend Mandi's blog. How cute is that?! I can not wait to show off her work on my blog! Thanks so much Mandy!!!


Now, on a different note...

I'm doing Beth Moore's Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman Bible study...btw, it's amazing! Anywho, today's lesson was based on Esther 7:6-7, when Esther reveals to Xerxes who it is that wants to destroy, kill and annihilate her and her people, the Jews. In those verses is also the first reference specifically to "the king and queen." Until now, Esther and Xerxes have been referred to as two separate people, not a married couple.

The hubster and I are in a rough spot in our marriage right now...no thanks to our crazy schedules. But I can totally see how Satan is working to keep us apart and against each other. We have allowed life to cause us to lead almost separate lives and we're not standing as a united front against the enemy who so desires to see our marriage crumble. So, what Beth had to say about Esther and Xerxes standing side-by-side against their enemy, Haman, really hit home w/me today. Beth writes, "A husband and wife can bond when a threat arises. We can be two people living very separate lives when, all at once, crisis shoves us onto common ground. In Satan's vicious attacks against our marriages and families, he remains unmoved until we decide, as different as we are and as much conflict as we've had, to stand together. Then, Beloved, he is terrified."

I so needed to hear that this morning! How about you? Are you and your spouse on seemingly different paths? If so, choose now to "stand side-by-side on level ground as an actual couple." It's what God wants for our marriages and families! Matthew 12:25 says, "a household divided against itself will not stand." Please join me in praying for the marriages of our friends and loved ones. Leave me a comment if you have found a way to keep your marriage strong in the face of your enemy.