Dear God...

Dear God,

Forgive me for forgetting that you are in my life.

That you love me

and look after me

and hold my life in your hands.

When I think that I can't handle it anymore,

I know that I am failing you,

because you ultimately control it all.

Thank you for all my blessings!

I pray that I will continue to

strive to live the kind of life

that honors you.

Amen

My 39th birthday

I had a very good birthday this year. This coming from the girl who usually cried during her birthday for one reason or another!

In the morning I was awaken by Jeff and the kids with a present of (2) Vera Bradley wallets. Super cute and while I did drop a hint, I was so glad to see them!

I ran my mom to some doctor appointments, got bagels for a treat at work and still got to work on time!

I got the cutest message from my Veersma family. Everyone sang me happy birthday (complete with Scooby Doo’s) and I got to work with a huge smile on my face!

Work went well and I even snuck in an appointment with a nurse to talk about health goals.

I got home to find out that mom had gone to the condo board about keeping both dogs even though only one is allowed in the bylaws.

We went out to dinner at the Curragh and ate outside. I had my favorite dinner (Veggie Boxty) and then we went for a stroll downtown for some shopping and ice cream.

Before we got back in the car we hit the new fountains downtown. The kids had a blast running under the arcs of water and trying to stay relatively dry!

I feel asleep with my buddy T-man. We talked about famous people he knew and didn’t know. There was some giggling and joking around. Someday I won’t be able to snuggle with my little guy, but for now I will cherish the moments I get.

Jeff then carried a sleeping Tristan to bed and came to bed.

I am so blessed!

Rubber bands...

I recently had the privledge of meeting someone at my church to discuss God-given gifts. The funny thing is that I got to compare my current gifts with a copy of my gifts from some years ago. Some new ones are developing, others were well developed and yet others, I had the privledge of scratching off my list.

Scratching off the list you may ask. I realized that while I was able to use these gifts, they were not particularly the ones that I enjoy. So I got the permission to scratch them off the list.

This may seem like such a little thing, but it was so liberating.

My friend at church explained that God gave us gifts so that we can be like a happy rubber band. All loose and happy. That when we attempted to do things that were out of our zone, it was a stretch and that would pull us. We can do it for a while, but after a long period of time, we snap.

I feel like I am so late in the game, but I believe this can give me direction on trying to make my life more enjoyable for me (and others around me).

Top ten things I miss from Lake Champion

• Being outdoors all the time!
• On demand hot chocolate
• Being surrounded by some of my favorite people
• My "Vamp It Up" nail polish gang
• A king sized bed
• No dishes to wash - thanks middle schoolers
• Watching my kids play with fish, frogs and other creepy crawlies
• Being surrounded by so many people with true servant hearts
• Walking everywhere as opposed to sitting at a desk all day
• Knowing that even sewing rings on curtains can help serve the Lord!!!

The Passion

I try to make a point of watching the Passion of the Christ, during lent every year. I feel like I need to be reminded of exactly what Jesus went through for a sinner like me.

I cringe, turn my head, and find excuses to leave the room when the pain is too much to bear...

I wonder if I would know the truth when it came to persecuting him. Would I follow the crowds? Would the words "Crucify Him" come out of my mouth?

Tears stream as I shutter at the thought of what Mary went through.

But then there is the miracle of the grave being empty...

The gift we have been given which in no way is related to jelly beans, bunnies or candy.

It is unbelievable...

For a sinner like me.

I pray for all my loved ones in this time of Lent. That our hearts become ready to celebrate this gift.

Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Prayer List for this morning...

• For contentedness for myself (is that a word?)
• For hurting marriages
• For a good birthday for my little friend (and his family)
• For babies to continue to be healthy and grow up strong
• For my mom in Peru
• For hurting moms who don't have relationships with their children
• For the patience and wisdom to give my children "good" attention
• For foster parents who take in and love
• For a better attitude at work
• For help to be the best wife possible for my husband and best mother possible for my children
• For my coworker who found out that there was more to his health issue than just a stroke
• For my unemployed friends who do their best to live life "normally"
• For blessing on our Lake Champion trip this spring break, that our hearts get prepared to do God's work no matter what it is, that our travels are safe and that we do it for Him not ourselves.

Some pictures

Tristan fell asleep in our bed and this is how we found him when we went to move him into his own bed.

Perry the Platypus in case you were wondering. Notice the kids' school bus pulling away.

On the playground at Jim Kaat park. We went walking and found ourselves at the park. Stayed out until the sun set and the cold chased us away.

The kids' first Pinewood Derby at Calvary. They had a blast and both came home with trophies. Lots of fun for the whole family.