Encouragement

Don't you just love it when you  turn on your computer and see that someone has emailed or left a comment on your blog? I do! I love the feedback, and I love the interaction. I've been blogging for almost two years, and have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people.....people who share a common faith, and people who often share the same heartaches and burdens that I have....people who pray for me and encourage me.

One of the main purposes I have for blogging is to be an encouragement to others. That doesn't mean all of my posts are joyful and uplifting....that wouldn't be real! I think sometimes it's more of an encouragement to know that we all have struggles, and hopefully we can help each other through the ups and downs.

So this week's Monday Morning Resolution is really very simple....to be an encouragement to my readers, to my blogging friends, to my family and anyone else I have contact with. Hmmmm....considering I'm snowed in, that last one might be pretty easy. I'm sure being cooped up with the kids will make up for it though!

Lord, this week I resolve to be an encouragement to all those who cross my path.

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

 

He Knew That He Knew

I meant to post this several weeks ago, but didn't have the time to get it ready. My brother and his wife had put together a slide show for my dad's funeral. Because it was quite long, I decided to make my own shorter version using two of Dad's favorite songs, "Farther along", and "You Know That You Know It."

 The second song is by Gordon Jensen.  We knew we had to include that song in the celebration of Dad's life, but we didn't have it on a cd....only an old record of Dad's....and there was no place to download it from the internet. My nephew noticed that Gordon Jensen's website gave a phone number, so he decided to call. He left a message, explaining that this was his Grandpa's favorite song, and why we needed it. Gordon Jensen called him back and said he would send it out right away, and that it should arrive in a couple of days. He later called back and told my nephew that because the shipping was going to cost so much to get it here in time, he wouldn't charge us for the cd.  What a testimony! How many people would care enough about a stranger to go out of his way to not only help us, but to donate his song? In case you don't know who Gordon Jensen is, he wrote songs such as "Redemption Draweth Nigh," and "Written In Red."  I hope you'll check out his website. 

Peace and Contentment

My view this morning......so peaceful

Our cat's favorite spot to nap....doesn't he look content?

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you.

 

Writing and Priorities

This post is probably going to be a bit of a ramble as I think out loud!

Back in the fall, I had started a few writing projects...a book - Lessons in forgiveness, a short story, and I was also thinking about another book idea.... but due to real life committments, I haven't gotten any further on any of these. I also started reading more blogs on writing, and signed up to review some books. Unfortunately,  those books got lost somewhere along the way, and finally arrived this week....all of them! In the meantime, I've had foster children come and go, and homeschooling has been hit and miss.

I guess this is where priorities come in.....I can't do it all. I need to decide what is most important and I need to focus on what God has called me to do....and everything else will fall into it's proper place. So, for now, most of my writing projects will have to wait. I'll read and review these books, but I'm not sure I'll be taking on any new ones too soon.

The one area of writing (besides blogging!) that I will continue with is my songwriting....because I know that God has given me that ministry..... Songs come when they come. Of course there's work involved, but I don't have to force it...the writing comes more naturally. In January I wrote two songs, and yesterday I got the chorus for a new song. Writing is never going to be full time for me,....at least not in the near future, and my intent is not to earn a living from writing. For me, it's a ministry....I want to be an encouragement and a help to people. Of course I'm thrilled when I hear that my song has been sung by someone I don't even know, or in a church that I've never even been to.  It's a blessing to know that God is using my songs to touch the lives of others!

So, there's my ramble....I think I just needed to get refocused on what my purpose is. Thanks for listening!

What about you....do you ever find yourself going in too many different directions, or off track with what the Lord has called you to do?

Tuesday Trimming, Toning & Telling Week # 5

January passed so quickly, and here we are starting our second month of our fitness and weight loss plan! Our incentive to keep at it is to watch the show, The Biggest Loser! (it's available online) When you see people who weigh 300 -500 lbs, and you see what they ate to get that way....and now they're trying to get that weight off in order to save their lives, it's enough to keep you away from the junk food!

We are both almost halfway to our goals! Wohooo!!!

Here's our progress report for this week:

Deb:

Starting Weight: 69.62kg/153.5 lbs

Goal Weight: 60.55kg/133.5 lbs

Weight Loss Required: 9.07kg/20 lbs

Starting BMI: 26.37 (overweight)

New BMI: 25.20 (still overweight)

New Weight: 65.99/145.5 lbs

Lost This Week: 1 lb

Total Lost: 8 lbs

Exercise Goals Met: poor, satisfactory, good, excellent

(I have a herniated disc, so exercise is difficult!)

Food Goals Met: poor, satisfactory, good, excellent

(February Progress Picture)
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Brian:

Starting Weight: 119.29 kg/263 lbs

Goal Weight: 98.88 kg/218 lbs

Weight Loss Required: 20.41 kg/ 45 lbs

Starting BMI: 35.09 (obese)

New BMI: 32.58 (still obese)

New Weight: 109.76 kg/242 lbs

Lost This Week: 2.5 lbs

Total Lost: 21 lbs

Exercise Goals Met: poor, satisfactory, good, excellent

Food Goals Met: poor, satisfactory, good, excellent

(February Progress Picture)

Click here to see week # 1.

For some great tips for healthy snacks check out Dani Joy's post here.

How is everyone else doing with their goals so far?

Just Put One Foot In Front Of The Other

My Monday Morning resolution for this week is one I have posted before, so many of you may have read it. It's also taken from my book, "Stepping Stones Along My Journey."

My dad grew up near Miami, Manitoba, at the foot of a huge hill, called Mount Nebo. One day a neighbour commented that he was so tired, he felt like he had just moved Mount Nebo with a wheel barrow. That statement somehow grew into a favorite saying of my mom’s, and one that my husband quotes quite frequently, “You can move a mountain with a wheel barrow, just put one foot in front of the other.” Now when Mom says this she means it literally! Over the years, as she has landscaped the yard and tended the garden, she has done it without the aid of a tractor or other machinery. Although she has probably gone through many shovels, rakes and wheel barrows, her simple tools have served her well for almost sixty years.

Brian has learned to apply Mom’s expression to any job that requires some effort or tenacity. Our oldest daughter still remembers hearing this advice when she was a child, and we were landscaping our own yard. One day, my brother said to Brian, “You’ve really taken that saying to heart…...when I heard it I figured forget the wheel barrow, rent a backhoe!” I suppose there are times when my brother’s solution is the best way to tackle a chore, but for most situations in life, Mom and Brian have found the right approach. There is no short cut, no easy way out, and no magic formula. What is required is a commitment to the task at hand; whether it’s gardening, building a house (or a church), raising children, or simply living the Christian life. Hard work need not be drudgery; Mom loves working in her yard, improving the soil and planting. Her reward is sitting on a garden bench at the end of the day, surrounded by the fruits of her labours. Somehow, I don’t think she would get as much pleasure from the end result if someone else had done all the work. So, as I go about my day, I remind myself, “Just put one foot in front of the other.” And as long as I keep my eyes on the Lord, I can trust him to direct each step I take.

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Proverbs 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 13:19a The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul:


Lord, today I resolve to remember my mother’s advice to just put one foot in front of the other, no matter what I am doing; homeschooling, housework, watching my diet, or writing, to just keep at it until the task is done or the goal is met.

(walking up Mount Nebo)

Cute Little Heads

Because of confidentiality, it's hard for me to post about our foster children, so lately I just haven't mentioned them. But it's hard to leave out such a big part of our lives, so I decided to at least tell you a little about what's been keeping me busy...or I should say 'who' has been keeping me busy....besides our three boys.

We had a couple of placements in the fall...both times three siblings. The first three stayed only a week. The second set was all boys, and they came in November. They were meant to be just a short emergency placement, until they could be moved to a regular foster home. (we are trying to NOT keep kids for more than emergency, which should be less than two weeks) Unfortunately, so many kids had come in that there was a shortage of homes. Finally, the day after my Dad passed, they managed to move the two older boys. But there was no home for the little one...and still isn't, so he's here indefinitely!

Then last week, we got a call for a 7 week old baby. He's been here long enough to get my sciatic nerve irritated again, and now he's leaving. My back will appreciate it, but he is so sweet, we'll miss him!

So let me introduce these cute little heads.

This is Princess D, who's cute little curls should be famous by now.

Hopefully one day you'll get to see the cute face to match the curls!

And this is Mr. S, our 1 year old cutie, who cheers me on when I'm on the wii!



And last is our little one who's leaving us...don't they all have beautiful hair?!

So, now you know the rest of the family!