No Training Wheels

Here is video of my daughter Abby riding her bike without training wheels. She has been doing this for about two weeks and I finally got a video of it on my new Flip video(http://www.theflip.com/) I am so excited to have videos of the kiddos doing their thing. Will is riding his tricycle and we hope to get him a bike with training wheels soon. I am very grateful to live in a cul-de-sac where the kids can play tennis, ride bikes and do a variety of other outdoor activities. Hope to post more soon. We just got back from vacation today at lake erie so hopefully I will have time this week to update on all the exciting events of the week. Thank you God for the simple blessing of portable video to capture these milestone moments, I know it seems silly but this technology has brougth me and others some great moments.

Hearing God's Voice

I just started a personal summer bible study called "What Happens When Women say Yes to God" by Lysa Terkeurst. In the second chapter on hearing God's voice the author reveals a simple prayer she starts each morning to help her communicate with God and hear his voice. I found the prayer encouraging and helpful so I thought I would post a little summary of it.

Dear God, please give me the desire to want you more than anything else. I ask for the discipline to make my relationship with you top priority. Please give me the discernment to know the difference between my own thoughts and God's voice. I ask for clear direction at each crossroad in my life and that my relationship with you be characterized by sheer joy rather than a sense of duty. Amen

Well that about sums up what I continue to strive my relationship with God to be. Thank you God that I am a work in progress and that you are more than willing and able to shape me into the woman you want me to be.

Ten wonderful years

This past weekend my wonderful husband and I celebrated our ten year anniversary. He suprised me by planning a whole weekend of fun events including a suprise destination. We went to Cincinnati for the weekend, which was nice because I really wanted to drive somewhere rather than fly, I just like being able to be close to the kids in case we are needed. Needless to say this was a perfect place to go because this is where Mike and I started our married life together.

We went to an amazing steak house called Jeff Ruby's and then to the show Jersey Boys. The show was awesome, probably one the top one or two I have been to. The music was amazing and the singers sounded just like the original Four Seasons. It was funny because I was too young for their music but was suprised how many songs I actually knew. The next day we drove around Montgomery and Blue Ash and took a look at our old apartment and condo, we had some great memories there and look forward to bringing the kids there some day to visit as well. After that we went and watch the Reds play the Boston Red SOx, it was a great game that went to ten innings, it would have been even better if the Reds had won.

Overall it was a great relaxing weekend, a time to reconnect with out being interrupted by our two lovely children. Thanks to God for sending me a loving husband who truly does cherish me. I am so grateful to have a husband that not only honors God but honors me as well. Thank you for this blessing God.

Great News!!!!!

Today I was so very fortunate to recieve the news that my recent breast biopsy was negative. My husband and I were pretty sure that this would be the case but there is always that element of fear and doubt that creeps around. I felt like we really trusted God and his plan for my health and I did have a peace about it. Of course part of me also wondered if God's plan would be different then what I hoped for and would I really be strong enough to trust him if the outcome was different. Everytime I saw something about breast cancer this week I thought, was I supposed to see this because it is preparing me for having breast cancer. As I look back at the events of this week I see God providing specific answers to my specific prayers. The doctors and staff handled my case just the way I had prayed about and even though the biopsy was a little scary, what a peace of mind it has now provided for me.


I don't want to forget this time I had with God where he provided specifically for my needs and he gave me a peace I know I would not have had without him. I also don't want to forget how easy it was for Satan to creep into my thoughts trying to discourage me from trusting in the one who created me. I tell you that the love I felt for my two children and husband this week was overflowing. The possibility of having cancer made me cling to them more than ever and what a sweet time of hugs,kisses and bonding we had this week. How good is it of God to give me such a special blessing during an uncertain time


I pray today for each person who got the phone call today from their doctor and did not recieve the news they had been hoping and maybe even praying for. May they recieve comfort from the only one who can truly provide it. May they recieve blessings they never would have seen or recognized because of this journey they are about to embark on. Thankyou Father for your words of comfort: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11

I Can't believe it

Well my son is finally potty trained. After many failed attempts over the past few months, he finally got it. It has been about three weeks since he has been in underwear all day and he is doing great. He is actually more comfortable going to the bathroom on his own and not needing to tell me about it then my 5 year old daughter is. My son is very private about his bathroom time which I think is why he had such a hard time with potty training at first.

It is amazing that when I leave the house now or take my son over for a playdate that I do not need to bring diapers, what a huge time saver and relief. I had prayed about potty training my son for a while, and thought how dumb is this that I am praying about such a thing, but over the course of a few weeks I could see God guiding me along on how to best approach it with my son. Thank you that you are never too busy for my prayers Lord and that you even delight in hearing about my son's potty training needs. Everytime my son goes to the bathroom now with out even needing to ask for help I feel so thankful for that simple blessing that God given to me.

Rest

I am just finishing up the busiest 10 days I have had in a while. My husband has been traveling for work the past 7 of 10 days and to say the least I am a little tired from going it alone with my two little children. I have been preparing for a bible study this week and preparing for work tommorrow and inbetween taking my little ones to all their activities. Needless to say I am due for a little rest.

How convenient that I am in the book of Matthew and Jesus clearly provides an answer to my fatigue: Matthew 11:28,29 and 30- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you....For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Here I thought rest would come when my husband returned and all my preparations were done, but God was there all along waiting to provide me rest.

Thankyou Lord that is just that easy to recieve rest. I am so thankful for your word and that it never changes. Help me to seek you first rather then lean on my own understanding(or lack of).

College Football

I love College Football season, it is truly the most exciting of all sports and my husband and I enjoy hours of entertainment when the season finally starts. It is so great to turn on the TV and see multiple games at one time(unless you don't have the big ten network). We are huge Buckeye fans and so far it seems as though the defense will save our hides each game or so I hope.

We unfortunately do not have access to the Big Ten Network so we packed up the kiddies and headed to a local restaurant to catch the first half of the game. Although the Buckeyes were not stellar, we had a great time being surrounded by Buckeye fans and our kids were really good which is always a simple blessing in itself.

I am thankful that God allows us to relax and enjoy something like college football just because. It's true that athletes at times can be inspiring and that sports can be a platform to present the gospel(ex: FCA) which is great but I think God just wanted us to enjoy ourselves. To be in awe of the athletic talent that God has afforded some people, to provide excitement and suspense in a last minute touchdown or overtime victory and even slightly enjoy an unexpected defeat(sorry michigan) Sometimes there is no greater meaning behind something, God just does it because he loves us and wants us to experience joy in a thousand different ways.

So enjoy the simple blessing of college football or whatever sport, activity you enjoy and enjoy it because God provided it for you. God loves us in many ways, some show up big and others show up small but thank goodness God always shows up.