Hi friends!  Can you believe it is the end of January?  Slow down 2010.  Genny over at My Cup 2 Yours is hosting Talkin about Thursdays, a fun way to meet new friends and get tips and ideas.  Today it is, telling 5 things about yourself.  So here are mine:

1.  I took square dance lessons when I was around 10.  (yehaw)

2.  I have such a passion for growing in God’s word. 

3.  I love, and I mean love Mexican food!  Especially chimichangas.

4.  I was an EMT with our local fire department. (before kids)  That is how I met my husband!

5.  I like the color purple, coffee, funny movies, christian music, exercising, reading, cooking, and carrot cake! 

Now it is your turn!  Tell us five things about yourself!

I had an awesome, fun morning,  women’s bible study started at church! I am so ready to get back into routine and study God’s word together.   We are doing the study, Experiencing God, which is said to be the best life changing bible study around.  It was so much fun to be reunited with sisters in Christ.  It is a wonderful celebration and it will be an adventure. 

I am sure your heart is as heavy as mine!  The devastation in Haiti is horrific.  Please, please be on your knees praying for this country.  They need so much help and hope.  I heard today on the radio that witnesses have seen groups of Haitians on hillsides singing hymns…praise Jesus!  In times of economic struggle it is easy to ask how you can help, what can I do?  Pray and ask God to show you how to serve these people.  One way you can is to text “disaster” to 90999 to give $10 to Compassion’s disaster relief program. They will be working directly with the local churches who know where these families live and will be providing immediate relief to them.  You can also click HERE to donate. 

Psalm 46: 1-7
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Hi friends,

We are well into the new year, 2010, can you believe it.  Where did the decade go?  I follow a few blogs and Kelly over at Kelly’s Korner is doing this fun Show Us How You Live topic.  This months topic is New Year Resolutions or what I like to call “goals”.  So let’s share!  You can click on the link above to get to Kelly’s blog. 

Five goals for 2010:

1.  Regular date nights with my hubby.  We have let this go and life get’s ahead of us.  You can get so wrapped up in the day to day stuff and before you know it another month, year or decade is gone. 

2.  Develop a quiet time.  This is an ongoing goal of mine.  I really want to cut out time to fellowship, praise and dig into God’s word.  I want to grow patience allowing God to stretch me in adventures that I believe he has for me.  I desire to follow God’s lead in my life, doing his will, being a faithful follower.  Be and have kindness and gentleness reside in my heart so I can model to my daughters what it means to have compassion towards others and teach Phoebe self control.

3.  Work out three times a week.  I am a mom of young children and I don’t want to place un-necessary pressure on myself.  As long as I am eating healthy and getting in my 3 workouts I am good with that. 

4.  I want to read more.  I love to read.  I don’t get the chance often but I want to start a book club or something.  This allows me to slow down and take some time to myself.  Plus it helps your kids.  When they see you reading you can tell them to go and get a book.  Reading is food for your brain!

5.  I want to discover me.  This is the biggest one for me.  Jesus made me like he wanted me and I have lived in bondage thinking I don’t measure up.  This is such a lie and I want to break free.  I want to see what I like and what I enjoy and be the true me.  I believe many gals have these chains because let’s be real..we all want others to like us and think we are special.  The one that I want to impress by being who he created me to be is Christ.  There is something in each of us that only we possess and we need to discover it, unlock it and use it so that we can work for God’s kingdom. 

6.  Okay I said to list five but I have another one.  I want to be a better mom.  I want to take the time out of my busy life to truly disciple my children.  Who else will do it and who else would I want to do it?  Once again it boils down to being disciplined with TIME.  Making sure we are not allowing BUSYto get us. You know the acronym for BUSY is: being under Satan’s yoke.  The evil one keeps us busy so we can’t develop our quiet time, spend time with our husband,  deepening our marriage, disciple our children according to God’s truth and not of this world, build friendships and on and on.  He likes to isolate us or keep us running all the time and than her has our minds for a playground and boy does he have fun!  Be aware of his schemes.  Be on the lookout! 

So there is my list for 2010.  What do you have on your’s?

Hey out there.  It is snowing and cold here in Ky.  The kids have been off 3 days this week.  Phoebe has had so much fun playing in the snow.  She was making snow angels yesterday.  As I sit here and write, she and Elliott are out there sledding in the backyard. 

So, I just finished a great book and wanted to see what you all were reading or wanted to read.  I really enjoy reading.  I don’t get much time to do it, but it does give me a respite from the daily life.  The book I just finished was “When Women Walk in Faith” by Lysa Terkeurst.  I love to highlight things in books that take me into deep thought or convict me.  This book is so highlighted!  It is great.  It walks you through the 5 steps of walking in faith.  If you have a list going of books to read in 2010, put this one on it.   

So, what’s on your list to read in 2010?  Are you gearing up to dive deep into God’s word with a bible study?  Do you have a favorite author?  When do you find time to read? 

Our women’s bible study is going to be starting “Experiencing God.”  I did this study when I was pregnant with Natalie back in 1999 (which I was on bed rest and while at study had to sit in a lawn chair that reclined)  so I really don’t remember alot about it.  I am eagerly anticipating the adventure Jesus has in store for me during this particular study!  I am sure it will be one not to forget. 

Well, I am off to get something warm to drink and see how the gang is outside.  Bet there will be some kind of snowman or fort built.  We have around 5 inches of snow and it is flurrying.  Oh, how do you like the new look of the blog.  I just love the colors…they are me.  I have been going through this journey of rediscovering who I am, what I like and don’t like.  I recently had the epiphany that I am a people pleaser and would make decisions based on if someone else would like it or not.  Would they think I was weird, judge me or change their view of  me.  Instead of being the person God created me to be I would be like a chameleon with whoever I was with.  This is a topic I would love to dive deeper in future posts.   If you have insight or are reading this thinking that sounds like me, let me know.