taking a breather

Have you ever had a Dove chocolate?  It's kind of like opening a fortune cookie, but even better I think.  So for our trip, my sister bought this bag of Dove's chocolate and we ate a lot of it.  :)  I loved opening each wrapper to see what it would tell me.  I really liked some of it, so I'm going to share it with you as I take a breather from all the work I am doing.

"Smiling is free."
"Happiness looks great on you."
"You're invited to relax today."
"Take this moment.  Enjoy it."
"You should charge for your great advice."
"You have a great laugh!"

I think of these words that have been given to me by Dove.  There are a lot of the same ones, but I don't remember getting two of the same.  "Life is good" appeared for my sister a couple times.  Anyway... these words remind me our words... my words... what our tongue produces.  In scripture it talks about how "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" from Proverbs 12:18.  Yesterday in my quiet time I read from Matthew 12 and verses 35-37 struck me about the issue of our words. "The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned."  Our words are so powerful.


I still struggle with some of the words that were spit out at me that were so hurtful from years ago... I see people who walk around with scars and hurts because of words that people have thrown out at them without care or sometimes even words that were not given to them, withheld from loving, caring words.  I think of how important it is for us to have sayings like the Dove's chocolate stored up in our tongues, but most importantly in our hearts to give out freely... to be able to give life and produce fruit in people's life rather than bringing forth pain and evil.  It's a thought huh?


I'm taking a break... I have been working on a paper all day today... My daughter has been so good at entertaining herself all day.  I finished my first 12 page paper.  I need to study for a test for Monday and then start on another 12 page paper... after that I have three 5 page papers that I need to whip up.  These next two weeks are going to be crazy.  My sister noticed my patch of gray hair on our trip... So sad... Yes I do have a patch of gray hair... So sad... :)


Last night I went to a Gungor concert with some friends.  It's funny actually... I was telling people how I have never been to a concert and then last week SC reminded me that we had gone to a concert together at Ravinia years ago.  I remembered it, but after having been to a concert yesterday... the Bo Deans at Ravinia was nothing compared to this.  :)  It was an amazing display of God's talent.  I was blown away by how God can use people in so many different ways.  They are an exceptional band.  My friends and I were discussing in the car the one thing we didn't like about the concert, which was their song from a Catholic prayer.  It did not line up with our theology.  That was a great discussion on our way home.  But there was my favorite part that I do not think I will ever forget.  Toward the middle end of the concert, Gungor came up and asked us to pray "Shalom" in singing over different areas of our life.  So there is this chorus of people singing "Shalom".  I felt that was the most powerful part of the concert... there I was prayerfully singing "Shalom" - peace- over different areas of my life...  And as I sang this prayer, I could feel God's peace falling upon my heart that was a little distraught going to the concert. 


I continue to see God's faithfulness, His Sovereign hand and unfailing love over my life.  I pray that as I grow in my walk with Him and as He continually prunes me to bear better fruit, I will abide in Him and go to Him as my rich source!  I pray that I may smile more, love more, be more joyful and enjoy the life He has given me.  I am content where I am, but know that I could be deeper in Him...  more of you Lord and less of me!!!


Please pray for me these next few weeks.  


1.  To finish this semester well.  I have 7 more weeks of school left this semester.
2.  Pray for my summer class that starts right after finals.  It's going to be a lot of work that I need to finish before finals are even over. 
3.  I need a job for the summer.  I'm trying to apply for a renewal of my teaching certificate so that I could teach this summer.  Pray for all that to go smoothly and that I could get a good teaching job.  I need this to cover the classes that I will be taking over the summer and help a little with the fall.  
4. I look to the future and it's a little daunting... I am doing summer classes so that I could finish in three years as planned.  If not, I would have to find a job and make the program last a little longer.  I would rather do it all now and just start working and have to really be careful with finances.  I also feel continued peace that this is where God wants me, but I can't see past that... which at times could be very hard, especially for someone who likes to have a plan.  :)  Please pray that I could continue to rest in His faithfulness.
5.  A and I continue to pray for a new daddy.  A couple weeks ago as I was putting A down for bed, she asked me, "Mommy, don't you want me to have a new daddy?"  I felt like she was telling me I'm not doing what I need to for her to have a new daddy.  I have no control over this situation, but it is a deep longing for us both.  Would you lift this up with us?  I especially ask for prayer for the man, whoever it may be... I know that our situation is not a normal one for people my age.  I mean there aren't that many widowed men or even divorced men my age... so for a single guy to take us on... I totally get is overwhelming, but I pray for a man that will be head over heals for A and for me and will be so willing to be family with us.  

We covet your prayers and appreciate the prayers that are daily lifted up for us!!


**Okay break over... back to studying!**

**I found this on our trip and feel like this is what I want...**

Below are pictures of our trip.  It was great.  A is finishing up her break with a sleepover at her aunt's house while I go with some friends to a Gungor concert at Wheaton!!  Sooooooo super excited!

break before the storm

this week is A's spring break and it happens to be my sister's as well, on top of that my wednesday classes were cancelled this week as my school had a day of prayer.  i did get together with a friend and pray that morning, but then A, my sister and i came to galena for our spring break.  :)  it has been a really good time, but i know that when i get home, i'll have tons of work to do... until july!  today as i sat in the coffee shop with A and my sister, i got an e-mail from my professor for one of my summer classes... i have to start working on that now in order to finish that class... it's so crazy to think about.  i started to hyperventilate just a little while i was reading the syllabus, but... i know i'll be able to do it.  it's going to be quite a crazy time starting next week until july, but God has really taught me how to ask for help, take care of myself and find things that bring life into me in the midst of all the craziness... and i just have to keep relying on those small gifts that the Lord gives me.  :-)

please... i covet your prayers as i head into this storm of work after this great break.  Lord be with me... as well as A!!

**tried putting up pictures but the hotel internet is super slow... hopefully will be able to do it when i get home.**

A's spring break

today is the official start of A's spring break... yes i had her skip two days prior to this, but officially this is the beginning.  she has a full week ahead of her.  today was the only day that it would be the two of us.  so i tried to find something we could do that we have never done together and would be special.  we went to the chicago botanic garden.  it was so nice... not all the flowers have bloomed, but the ones that have were so pretty.  the whole day, which was 5 hours of walking around the garden, we talked about God's creativity and praising Him for the wonderful things He has created for us to admire.  it was great.  tomorrow i get a day of work again as my friend, JM, is taking A to the zoo!!  wednesday we are going on vacation with my sister.  then it's going to be over!!  time is going to go by quickly.  here are some pictures from today...

and then there were 6

it was a typical day at our house... no actually it wasn't.  ha ha... on wednesday, which is my forever long day at school, i came home to a house full of people.  MP, my bro-n-law, brought his family for their spring break.  it was really nice to come home to dinner all set at the counter with laughter and fun.  i was pooped, but after the kids were in bed, it was a blessing to sit down with adults and have a good conversation about what's going on in our lives.  a house that was used to 2 girls, turned into a rambunctious house of 6.

three nights with them and i am teaching A early on how to ditch school... ha ha...  it was really good. i love that yes we started out that we liked each other because of marriage, but now i really sense that we love each other because we like each other.  :-)  my brother is full of energy, loves the Lord, loves his wife and kids, strives to be the man who God has designed him to be and is just so caring.  my sister and dear friend is one of the wisest people in the world... she's beautiful, a great mother and has such a tender heart, but more than that, she's my sister and i love that!!!  they have really taken the role to walk along side me and be whatever it is that i need them to be for A and myself.  what a blessing to have that!!

we had a great time... the kids were absolutely in love with each other and had so much fun...  they even played hide and seek in our small condo.  it was great... lots of life, fun and laughter!!  thanks for coming guys!!   we love you and hope we don't have to wait two years to see each other again.  (ha ha... that's what E said.) - here are some pictures...

museum of science and industry

"where we going?"  i asked

"indonesia!" was the reply

he loves her!!

the P girls!!

auntie and kids

i feel like i look so short

the girls did not plan this... i thought it was so cute!

the rambunctious 6

cousins!!

the pond

a couple days ago in my bible class, my professor talked about faith.  something that i have been thinking about with faith is how we need to jump or step out into the water like i've mentioned before.  so my professor talks about faith and told this story of how people could stand around the pond talking about how they do believe that it's thick enough to stand on or skate on and they could stand there for hours talking about what they think and how they do believe... but they won't know for sure until someone takes that step to put into practice what they believe, which takes faith.

yesterday in my bible study we talked about this same thing... how faith is so easy to talk about, but so hard to put into practice...  are you putting your faith into practice?  one of the girls in my study reminded us that faith is not just for big things in life, but that it should be for the little things, everyday things...  for me, i have to have faith every day i drive to school.  i have seen a few really bad accidents and i show faith by driving to school and not letting fear overcome me and paralyzing me to stay home not never going anywhere.

i feel like then this faith comes only by abiding in the one we have faith in.  how could we have faith if we are not abiding?  if we don't know who it is we are abiding in... how could we have faith?  we can't...

are you one of those people who just stands around the pond talking about believing that the pond is frozen deep enough to stand on?  or are you the one that will test it out?

abide and love... the connection

God is teaching me a lot about abiding lately.  today He did it again, but it started with love and He has been teaching me about love as well.  these past weeks i feel like i have been learning about love...  how to love well. and as i read john 15 about abiding, it not only talks about abiding in the vine, but in verse 9 it says to "abide in my love".  when we abide in Christ we are abiding in His love.

my brother in law and family are in town and they took A for the day, which was such an unexpected blessing in which i took advantage of  and got to do a lot of school work.  i went to campus and conquered research on a paper i need to write.  i got to campus early on purpose to attend chapel to hear the rest of the series from tuesday's chapel.  i received a surprise present by a couple that led praise, it was amazing.  it was during that praise i was reminded of love and abiding.  the couple sang this song about love... it touched me.  i wish it was a common song, but it was something the wife had wrote.  it was just a song filled with truth that i needed to hear.  the words of the song took me back to john 15 verse 9, "as the father has loved me, so have i loved you.  abide in my love."  then in verse 12 it says, "this is my commandment, that you love one another as i have loved you."  powerful... so as i sat there praising with my brothers and sisters this song... i teared up... i have been longing to love better in every situation, in every circumstance, every person...  surrendering control and ask that the Lord will provide me the ability to love... and that comes by abiding in Him.  as i prayed, i felt this great release... i can't do this on my own... it's exhausting whenever we try to do things on our own... but with Christ i can do all things.

Lord you are the source of all things... and i cannot do anything without abiding in you and being connected to you... would you continue to grow me and help me to abide in you... deeper, fuller and richer?

i just want to finish with the famous verses on love....

if i speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  and if i have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if i have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.  if i give away all i burned, but have not love, i gain nothing.
love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  it does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
love never ends...
- 1 corinthians 13:1-8a-

**today i got to have a discussion with a man in my class who just got married 5 years after his wife passed away...  it was such a healing time for me to have this discussion with him - he really knew and understood where i was coming from... and the words that are in bold are some things he taught me about being in the situation that i am in.  what a blessing that the Lord places these people in my life.**