All weekend I had been planning to make noodles for Thanksgiving. I kept telling the kids to be ready. They're my noodle cutters. Finally, after church and lunch on Sunday, I stirred up six eggs worth of noodles and started rolling them out. Madolyn had went down to the church to help cook the Thanksgiving meal for that evening so it was just Lane and I. As I was rolling them out, Lane kept asking to roll. I kept telling him I would let him try in a minute, thinking whatever he does, I'll have to redo because they have to be super-thin.
Well, he showed me. I caved and gave him a ball to roll out. He rolled and turned and rolled and turned and it was perfect so I just let him finish the rest of the rolling. Awesome. I went to the recliner to take a nap while they dried out a little. "Mom, when can we cut?" "Give it an hour or so. I'll tell you when." I fall asleep. Every little bit he wakes me up to ask if it's time...finally I told him he could start cutting. "Remember to cut them in half and roll them up like Grandma Great and then start slicing." And back to sleep I went in the chair. He took my Nook and had Pandora (the music station) pulled up on it and was listening to Christian music and singing, dancing and cutting. Last year, our music of choice was the soundtrack to Mamma Mia!
When I woke up, he had over half of them cut already. (I was only asleep for maybe an hour (in bits and pieces). I went over to help...and although they were wider than we usually have, he had done a terrific job. He said his thumb was sore and asked if I would finish cutting the rest of them. Sure thing, bud. So I cut and figured I wouldn't see him again...nope, he came back in and unrolled my cuttings...which is the part I really dislike. He was such a huge help...in fact, I almost feel like I helped him. We now have a nice batch of noodles ready for Thanksgiving on Thursday. I told him that some day, he will make his wife a very happy lady :)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
The First Hunt
Jay has been planning this for weeks. The First Deer Hunt with the kids. They have walked back behind the house a time or two in past years and have sat with Jay against a tree for an hour (tops) and come back to the house, no action. So this is the real deal.
Of course, although we have known for...EVER...actually that this was the first day of shotgun season (it is ALWAYS the third weekend in November, ALWAYS), Thursday night was the normal scramble to find everything necessary to go out before dawn. As was the case when I was a young one hunting with my dad, I wore whatever we could come up with to stay warm. It wasn't always pretty. Madolyn went out this morning in a pink Carhart coat and navy blue snow pants. Yes, somehow (she's growing constantly) she has no coveralls or bibs that fit...so the snow pants have to do. Lane has Madolyn's hand-me-down camouflage coveralls to wear.
So anyway, the kids were excited and could hardly get to sleep. We kept yelling at them to be quiet because they had to get up at 5 and were going to be sooo tired. I was pumped to get up with them and take pictures of them heading out (and then handing over the camera for kill shots, of course). Then I would have the whole morning to get ready for work and maybe do a load of laundry and some extra stuff around the house. The best-laid plans... We ate out last night and I had Diet Pepsi. (We were eating pizza, I can't drink water with pizza and they had Pepsi products so it was a no-brainer!) Sooo I could not sleep. I fell asleep at 10 and was wide awake around 1. Got up and read for an hour. Tried to sleep, nope. Came out in the living room and watched TV for an hour. Tried again to sleep out on couch, nope. Crawled back into bed and tossed and turned. It was terrible.
So by the time Jay was up and ready to wake the kids, I had finally fallen asleep. I missed the send-off...boo. I noticed that they remembered to take the camera, so that was good. Jay got a couple pre-hunt pictures.
I get a text at 6:15 from Jay, "Ok your daughter is the noisiest thing ever she cannot help but to make noise." I had to laugh...if you know her, that is SO TRUE. I can just hear the bull in the china shop heading to the hunting blind. Sneaky girl.
Next text at 7:20, "Kids toes r cold we have the stove goin." Let me just say that when I was young and hunting with my dad, it was dad, his gun, me and my gun. We walked out to a tree, sat down and leaned against it. That was it. I may have had a couple kleenex in my pocket and a piece of gum. If you would've seen the stuff they had sat out to take with them, you would've thought they were heading deep into the mountains for three days. They had a packed cooler with snacks, drinks, full thermos of coffee, sleeping bag, camp stove (for heat I'm told), a Nintendo DS, an Ipod touch, a cell phone, hunting stool, binoculars, range finder, gun and gun case, handwarmers...and they were going to be in a hunting blind. It made me laugh.
Text at 7:54, "We have seen 0." Bummer, I replied that I hope they would see something soon so kids wouldn't lose interest. His response at 7:59, "O probably kids r bein good." 8:00, "We r leavn at 8:30 if we dont." On the way to work, I said my prayers and prayed that God would send them something to keep the kids' interested because Jay was so pumped about them being so excited. (And of course for safety today for all hunters because it can be very dangerous and my kiddos are out there!)
Text at 8:14, "Just shot a big one." Awesome, thank you, Jesus. As I've stated before, sometimes he answers the silliest prayers. I didn't really ask for a big one, just something. We'll take it. Kids were excited. Madolyn was quick to tell me that the deer weighed more before they gutted it. She is so dang smart. ha.
They took pictures (as you can see). I've heard all the gory details and how it went down. The kids enjoyed deer hunting with their dad. I'm thankful Jay will spend the time with them. We assured the kids that it doesn't always go this way...some days you don't see anything.
I told them since it was so early, they could go back to school. Haha. Just kidding. They went back to hunting in the afternoon. And the luck stayed with them...they shot a doe after being out just less than an hour.
They will go back to school to learn book stuff on Monday. Today was a life lesson. We will now have deer sausage and deerburger in our freezer!
Of course, although we have known for...EVER...actually that this was the first day of shotgun season (it is ALWAYS the third weekend in November, ALWAYS), Thursday night was the normal scramble to find everything necessary to go out before dawn. As was the case when I was a young one hunting with my dad, I wore whatever we could come up with to stay warm. It wasn't always pretty. Madolyn went out this morning in a pink Carhart coat and navy blue snow pants. Yes, somehow (she's growing constantly) she has no coveralls or bibs that fit...so the snow pants have to do. Lane has Madolyn's hand-me-down camouflage coveralls to wear.
So anyway, the kids were excited and could hardly get to sleep. We kept yelling at them to be quiet because they had to get up at 5 and were going to be sooo tired. I was pumped to get up with them and take pictures of them heading out (and then handing over the camera for kill shots, of course). Then I would have the whole morning to get ready for work and maybe do a load of laundry and some extra stuff around the house. The best-laid plans... We ate out last night and I had Diet Pepsi. (We were eating pizza, I can't drink water with pizza and they had Pepsi products so it was a no-brainer!) Sooo I could not sleep. I fell asleep at 10 and was wide awake around 1. Got up and read for an hour. Tried to sleep, nope. Came out in the living room and watched TV for an hour. Tried again to sleep out on couch, nope. Crawled back into bed and tossed and turned. It was terrible.
So by the time Jay was up and ready to wake the kids, I had finally fallen asleep. I missed the send-off...boo. I noticed that they remembered to take the camera, so that was good. Jay got a couple pre-hunt pictures.
 |
| Just moments before the kill. |
I get a text at 6:15 from Jay, "Ok your daughter is the noisiest thing ever she cannot help but to make noise." I had to laugh...if you know her, that is SO TRUE. I can just hear the bull in the china shop heading to the hunting blind. Sneaky girl.
Next text at 7:20, "Kids toes r cold we have the stove goin." Let me just say that when I was young and hunting with my dad, it was dad, his gun, me and my gun. We walked out to a tree, sat down and leaned against it. That was it. I may have had a couple kleenex in my pocket and a piece of gum. If you would've seen the stuff they had sat out to take with them, you would've thought they were heading deep into the mountains for three days. They had a packed cooler with snacks, drinks, full thermos of coffee, sleeping bag, camp stove (for heat I'm told), a Nintendo DS, an Ipod touch, a cell phone, hunting stool, binoculars, range finder, gun and gun case, handwarmers...and they were going to be in a hunting blind. It made me laugh.
Text at 7:54, "We have seen 0." Bummer, I replied that I hope they would see something soon so kids wouldn't lose interest. His response at 7:59, "O probably kids r bein good." 8:00, "We r leavn at 8:30 if we dont." On the way to work, I said my prayers and prayed that God would send them something to keep the kids' interested because Jay was so pumped about them being so excited. (And of course for safety today for all hunters because it can be very dangerous and my kiddos are out there!)
Text at 8:14, "Just shot a big one." Awesome, thank you, Jesus. As I've stated before, sometimes he answers the silliest prayers. I didn't really ask for a big one, just something. We'll take it. Kids were excited. Madolyn was quick to tell me that the deer weighed more before they gutted it. She is so dang smart. ha.
 |
| Little sunny, but they still look happy! |
They took pictures (as you can see). I've heard all the gory details and how it went down. The kids enjoyed deer hunting with their dad. I'm thankful Jay will spend the time with them. We assured the kids that it doesn't always go this way...some days you don't see anything.
I told them since it was so early, they could go back to school. Haha. Just kidding. They went back to hunting in the afternoon. And the luck stayed with them...they shot a doe after being out just less than an hour.
They will go back to school to learn book stuff on Monday. Today was a life lesson. We will now have deer sausage and deerburger in our freezer!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Ingathering
But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God. Psalms 50:23 (NLT)
‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ Jeremiah 33:11 (NLT)
Our church's annual Ingathering is today (Sunday). We will have a message given by a guest speaker and then take up our Lord's Acre offering. Afterwards, we eat a fantastic traditional Thanksgiving meal prepared by the loving hands of a few of our church women. It is a delicious spread.
Many, many years ago, our church established the Lord's Acre Program. It was put together because so many in the church were farmers, and as you may know, most farmers have a big harvest in the fall and then live off that income for the next year. So this special offering was taken at the Ingathering meal the Sunday before Thanksgiving and the farmers could give one acre's worth of income to the Lord's Acre Program. The Lord's Acre Program then is what we (our church) have used to build the mance, the educational wing and new basement...which is now the old basement...and our new church (1995), a new attached garage and expansion of the mance, new metal roof on the church, and now a front porch and new sidewalks for mance.
Our congregation isn't quite as full of farmers as it used to be, but the non-farmers determine an amount they can give based on their blessings and that is their offering. It is considered, at least in my opinion, something beyond your regular tithe. I feel like it something that is an option and done out of thankfulness to God. It always amazes me that at the time the check is written, it is so painful...then later a special blessing comes our way and the loss of that extra money is forgotten.
The Ingathering is one of those annual traditions I look forward to with my church family. Now, that I'm older I understand the Lord's Acre Offering a little more and it is special too. I'm always amazed to hear the dollar amount as we are eating supper. I suppose when it comes down to it, technically it is about the money, but it means much more than that to me now. It is an investment in our church's future. In the future of God's kingdom. A little "Thank You" to our Heavenly Father.
‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ Jeremiah 33:11 (NLT)
Our church's annual Ingathering is today (Sunday). We will have a message given by a guest speaker and then take up our Lord's Acre offering. Afterwards, we eat a fantastic traditional Thanksgiving meal prepared by the loving hands of a few of our church women. It is a delicious spread.
Many, many years ago, our church established the Lord's Acre Program. It was put together because so many in the church were farmers, and as you may know, most farmers have a big harvest in the fall and then live off that income for the next year. So this special offering was taken at the Ingathering meal the Sunday before Thanksgiving and the farmers could give one acre's worth of income to the Lord's Acre Program. The Lord's Acre Program then is what we (our church) have used to build the mance, the educational wing and new basement...which is now the old basement...and our new church (1995), a new attached garage and expansion of the mance, new metal roof on the church, and now a front porch and new sidewalks for mance.
Our congregation isn't quite as full of farmers as it used to be, but the non-farmers determine an amount they can give based on their blessings and that is their offering. It is considered, at least in my opinion, something beyond your regular tithe. I feel like it something that is an option and done out of thankfulness to God. It always amazes me that at the time the check is written, it is so painful...then later a special blessing comes our way and the loss of that extra money is forgotten.
The Ingathering is one of those annual traditions I look forward to with my church family. Now, that I'm older I understand the Lord's Acre Offering a little more and it is special too. I'm always amazed to hear the dollar amount as we are eating supper. I suppose when it comes down to it, technically it is about the money, but it means much more than that to me now. It is an investment in our church's future. In the future of God's kingdom. A little "Thank You" to our Heavenly Father.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Going to the Rodeo
Someone who shall remain "Anonymous" had to point out on my Mother of the Year post that I had taken my child to a circus without pants...that is slightly untrue. It was actually a rodeo. So there.
When Lane was two or three years old, we decided we would take the kids to the local rodeo. Jay and I had been to a couple rodeos and always enjoyed them, but we had never taken our kiddos and we had never been to the one just 30 miles away...so let's giddy up, partner and go!
We picked the date to go. We knew our kids would be so excited. Lane is a boot/shoe lover...my boy. He loves shoes and boots of any kind. I'm embarrassed to admit how many shoes he has...and he is a boy. (It is a given for a girl to have many shoes, right?) Anyway, his grandparents had gotten him new cowboy boots and he was so in love with them. He put them on and didn't take them off for anything. Lane was still at the age when he took big naps. We knew he would need a big nap that day because of the rodeo later on. I can still picture him (I think I actually have a picture) of him lying on his bottom bunk with his cowboy boots on and his "bunk" (aka his blankie) wrapped around his head/neck area, as he likes to do.
It was time to load up and head south to the annual Labor Day rodeo festivities. We had to wake Lane up because he was still sleeping. Somehow, someone (may or may not have been me) put him in the car as is. And thankfully, we had remembered to grab Lane's cowboy hat. Because who can go to the rodeo without a cowboy hat? Duh.
We pulled into the parking lot and started to unload. Jay unbuckles Lane and asks me where his pants are. I looked back at Lane and said, "Hey, bud, where's your pants?" And you know how this conversation goes down: Wife asks husband where the pants are. Husband says he didn't get them because he thought wife did (because she does everything;) Wife now realizes that she brought everything but the kitchen sink...and son's pants.
Solution, Jay and Madolyn would get out, walk around and eat something delicious. Mom and Lane would go to the neighboring town to Wal-Mart to buy a pair of pants. When we got to Wal-Mart, Lane said to me something along the lines of "I can't go in there, I don't have no pants." I wrapped his bare legs (what was exposed between boots and undies) with his "bunk" and off we went. We quickly found a pair of jeans and made the purchase. No need to bag these, cashier, we'll be wearing them out, thank you:)
Chalk another one up for me, I'm so gonna nail this Mother-of-the-Century thing!!
When Lane was two or three years old, we decided we would take the kids to the local rodeo. Jay and I had been to a couple rodeos and always enjoyed them, but we had never taken our kiddos and we had never been to the one just 30 miles away...so let's giddy up, partner and go!
We picked the date to go. We knew our kids would be so excited. Lane is a boot/shoe lover...my boy. He loves shoes and boots of any kind. I'm embarrassed to admit how many shoes he has...and he is a boy. (It is a given for a girl to have many shoes, right?) Anyway, his grandparents had gotten him new cowboy boots and he was so in love with them. He put them on and didn't take them off for anything. Lane was still at the age when he took big naps. We knew he would need a big nap that day because of the rodeo later on. I can still picture him (I think I actually have a picture) of him lying on his bottom bunk with his cowboy boots on and his "bunk" (aka his blankie) wrapped around his head/neck area, as he likes to do.
It was time to load up and head south to the annual Labor Day rodeo festivities. We had to wake Lane up because he was still sleeping. Somehow, someone (may or may not have been me) put him in the car as is. And thankfully, we had remembered to grab Lane's cowboy hat. Because who can go to the rodeo without a cowboy hat? Duh.
We pulled into the parking lot and started to unload. Jay unbuckles Lane and asks me where his pants are. I looked back at Lane and said, "Hey, bud, where's your pants?" And you know how this conversation goes down: Wife asks husband where the pants are. Husband says he didn't get them because he thought wife did (because she does everything;) Wife now realizes that she brought everything but the kitchen sink...and son's pants.
Solution, Jay and Madolyn would get out, walk around and eat something delicious. Mom and Lane would go to the neighboring town to Wal-Mart to buy a pair of pants. When we got to Wal-Mart, Lane said to me something along the lines of "I can't go in there, I don't have no pants." I wrapped his bare legs (what was exposed between boots and undies) with his "bunk" and off we went. We quickly found a pair of jeans and made the purchase. No need to bag these, cashier, we'll be wearing them out, thank you:)
Chalk another one up for me, I'm so gonna nail this Mother-of-the-Century thing!!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Christmas in July...almost
We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) Romans 8:24-25 (NLT)
I read a friend's (I'll call her Linda) post on Facebook this week and this is what it said: "
I read a friend's (I'll call her Linda) post on Facebook this week and this is what it said: "
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The black hole
Oh mercy me, I wanted Hank the Tank II so badly, didn't I? I couldn't wait. I was counting down the weeks until we could pick him up. I was thrilled when Jay picked him up a day early and surprised me. Sometimes I am an idiot.
So far Hank has chewed through the laptop cord, Jay's iPod cord, gnawed on several shoes, destroyed my bath rug, left marks on my brand new lawnchairs, made holes in so many of Lane's shirts or pants I have lost count, ripped my shoelaces from my tennis shoes into tiny shreds, ate the handle of a pumpkin and chewed the corner of a cool rustic box that I really love...but last night's discovery takes the cake.
I'm standing in the kitchen and Jay is rolling around on the floor with Hank in the living room. Jay yells at me and says, "Oh my gosh, Hank has chewed a hole in the carpet." (insert look on my face) "but it's not that bad really, you have to be looking for it to notice." I continue cleaning up the kitchen or whatever I was doing. Few minutes later, I go back into living room and see it. Let's get something straight here. Why men try to sugarcoat things is beyond me. You don't have to be looking for it. You could snag your toe in it and fall. It is about the size of a half dollar and it is completely through to the pad.
Fortunately for them, as I've told my family over and over and over, I'm not a crier...because again, this would be one of those instances where I might start bawling. Our carpet, although not in pristine condition by any means, is only ten years old and minus a couple stains (I was planning to have it cleaned this week) it's pretty good. I had not even considered having it replaced any time soon, not even one second's consideration. Our kids are still young enough to spill and stain it!!
In talking with my coworker I call Kathy, I have come up with a plan to "repair" the black hole. I (Jay) will cut a piece of carpet out of Madolyn's closet (as her carpet is the worst in the whole house, fingernail polish, markers, unknowns) and will then glue it to the hole. It won't be pretty, but it will at least fill in the crevice and be a little less noticeable...you know, you won't see it unless you're looking for it...for real.
I know that if you are not an animal lover you are thinking, why in the world would you let a dog destroy your house? I know, it takes some degree of insanity. It's not like we haven't been through puppies before, and actually, several times. It is no secret that they are destructive, chew on absolutely everything and are on a mission to attack and destroy. How can you let a pet do this to your home? Because they are so precious, of course.
Last night we decided Hank needed to be locked up in our bathroom, contained so he was not free to roam around the house seeking out chew toys. Jay threw him a bone and his blanket and set the baby gate up. About 4:15 a.m. I heard that unmistakable gagging sound, flipped the light on and Hank had puked on his blanket (thankfully). I know this is a little TMI here, but there on his blanket in a small pile laid what was left of the hole from the carpet. It's like salt in a wound, you know...
So far Hank has chewed through the laptop cord, Jay's iPod cord, gnawed on several shoes, destroyed my bath rug, left marks on my brand new lawnchairs, made holes in so many of Lane's shirts or pants I have lost count, ripped my shoelaces from my tennis shoes into tiny shreds, ate the handle of a pumpkin and chewed the corner of a cool rustic box that I really love...but last night's discovery takes the cake.
I'm standing in the kitchen and Jay is rolling around on the floor with Hank in the living room. Jay yells at me and says, "Oh my gosh, Hank has chewed a hole in the carpet." (insert look on my face) "but it's not that bad really, you have to be looking for it to notice." I continue cleaning up the kitchen or whatever I was doing. Few minutes later, I go back into living room and see it. Let's get something straight here. Why men try to sugarcoat things is beyond me. You don't have to be looking for it. You could snag your toe in it and fall. It is about the size of a half dollar and it is completely through to the pad.
Fortunately for them, as I've told my family over and over and over, I'm not a crier...because again, this would be one of those instances where I might start bawling. Our carpet, although not in pristine condition by any means, is only ten years old and minus a couple stains (I was planning to have it cleaned this week) it's pretty good. I had not even considered having it replaced any time soon, not even one second's consideration. Our kids are still young enough to spill and stain it!!
In talking with my coworker I call Kathy, I have come up with a plan to "repair" the black hole. I (Jay) will cut a piece of carpet out of Madolyn's closet (as her carpet is the worst in the whole house, fingernail polish, markers, unknowns) and will then glue it to the hole. It won't be pretty, but it will at least fill in the crevice and be a little less noticeable...you know, you won't see it unless you're looking for it...for real.
I know that if you are not an animal lover you are thinking, why in the world would you let a dog destroy your house? I know, it takes some degree of insanity. It's not like we haven't been through puppies before, and actually, several times. It is no secret that they are destructive, chew on absolutely everything and are on a mission to attack and destroy. How can you let a pet do this to your home? Because they are so precious, of course.
Last night we decided Hank needed to be locked up in our bathroom, contained so he was not free to roam around the house seeking out chew toys. Jay threw him a bone and his blanket and set the baby gate up. About 4:15 a.m. I heard that unmistakable gagging sound, flipped the light on and Hank had puked on his blanket (thankfully). I know this is a little TMI here, but there on his blanket in a small pile laid what was left of the hole from the carpet. It's like salt in a wound, you know...
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
aaaaaahhhh....UNCLE!!
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
That's it. I give. I'm saying it. Remember when your mean, older brother got you down on the ground and wouldn't let you up until you said that dreaded five-letter word that meant you were a total sissy and weak? I am shouting it now for all to hear.
I have decided to do what I can now with the stacks and stacks of pictures and forgo scrapbooking the pictures into cute, clever and crafty scrapbooks, using all the cute, clever and crafty scrapbooking supplies I have been addicted to purchasing. And I have a plan.
For the next two weeks (and I actually I did a test-run last week) I will be going to the Dollar store (as if I haven't spent enough money on this project already) and purchasing their cheap $6 200-picture photo albums. I will be putting my ever-growing collection of pictures into these photo albums. I will not label them yet, but I will do my best to put them in some sort of chronological sequence.
My long-term goal is to then take those already-put-together photo albums and look for pictures of events I would like to scrapbook and then work on that particular event. I think I have overburdened myself with the fairytale of scrapbooking every single photo I have ever taken. I don't even want to start a scrapbook because just looking at that mountain of pictures makes my head spin. Because I am so overwhelmed by the vast quantity of pictures to thumb through and organize, I have totally turned from this project. And quite honestly, at this time in my life, I really don't have the hours it will take to scrapbook each and every picture.
And it made me think of our walk with Christ or lack thereof. Sometimes don't we feel so overwhelmed with life or overburdened by tasks that we just turn away or bury our head with our fingers in our ears and try to hide from God? When in fact, this is the very time we should be running to him. You know how it is, if I just skip church, youth, prayer time or my devotional and try to tackle this or that during that "free" time, I'll feel so much better. Ha, don't fool yourself, you won't feel better...because you're pushing God to the side, because you're letting something else get in the way of being closer to Him, because you're allowing a little project (in the big picture) bring you down and cause you to feel less about yourself.
I am pretty confident I have never asked God to help me with the scrapbooking project. I thought that might be silly. But I have developed a new plan, and I believe it will work because I've added something, something that will help me to tackle that humongous tower of pictures that stare at me every day. It will cause that little voice inside my head that tells me I'm a failure because I can't even finish one project to disappear. I am ready. Instead of believing that God doesn't care about my mound of pictures and my unfinished project, I have asked God to help me stay focused, enjoy the process and accomplish this simple task. He will give me the strength and gumption to finish.
I think there comes a time in each person's life when they have to just give up and shout "UNCLE"! Sometimes it is a major deal and sometimes it is as simple as a mound of pictures that is dragging us down. A point is reached where we must simply throw up our hands and surrender to ourselves and to God. Today I am shouting "UNCLE" and diving into my new project.
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
That's it. I give. I'm saying it. Remember when your mean, older brother got you down on the ground and wouldn't let you up until you said that dreaded five-letter word that meant you were a total sissy and weak? I am shouting it now for all to hear.
I have decided to do what I can now with the stacks and stacks of pictures and forgo scrapbooking the pictures into cute, clever and crafty scrapbooks, using all the cute, clever and crafty scrapbooking supplies I have been addicted to purchasing. And I have a plan.
For the next two weeks (and I actually I did a test-run last week) I will be going to the Dollar store (as if I haven't spent enough money on this project already) and purchasing their cheap $6 200-picture photo albums. I will be putting my ever-growing collection of pictures into these photo albums. I will not label them yet, but I will do my best to put them in some sort of chronological sequence.
My long-term goal is to then take those already-put-together photo albums and look for pictures of events I would like to scrapbook and then work on that particular event. I think I have overburdened myself with the fairytale of scrapbooking every single photo I have ever taken. I don't even want to start a scrapbook because just looking at that mountain of pictures makes my head spin. Because I am so overwhelmed by the vast quantity of pictures to thumb through and organize, I have totally turned from this project. And quite honestly, at this time in my life, I really don't have the hours it will take to scrapbook each and every picture.
And it made me think of our walk with Christ or lack thereof. Sometimes don't we feel so overwhelmed with life or overburdened by tasks that we just turn away or bury our head with our fingers in our ears and try to hide from God? When in fact, this is the very time we should be running to him. You know how it is, if I just skip church, youth, prayer time or my devotional and try to tackle this or that during that "free" time, I'll feel so much better. Ha, don't fool yourself, you won't feel better...because you're pushing God to the side, because you're letting something else get in the way of being closer to Him, because you're allowing a little project (in the big picture) bring you down and cause you to feel less about yourself.
I am pretty confident I have never asked God to help me with the scrapbooking project. I thought that might be silly. But I have developed a new plan, and I believe it will work because I've added something, something that will help me to tackle that humongous tower of pictures that stare at me every day. It will cause that little voice inside my head that tells me I'm a failure because I can't even finish one project to disappear. I am ready. Instead of believing that God doesn't care about my mound of pictures and my unfinished project, I have asked God to help me stay focused, enjoy the process and accomplish this simple task. He will give me the strength and gumption to finish.
I think there comes a time in each person's life when they have to just give up and shout "UNCLE"! Sometimes it is a major deal and sometimes it is as simple as a mound of pictures that is dragging us down. A point is reached where we must simply throw up our hands and surrender to ourselves and to God. Today I am shouting "UNCLE" and diving into my new project.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)