God's Beauty

Yesterday I took some time to walk down to the Harbor alone. The harbor is literally a 1 minute walk from our apartment and this was the first day I actually walked around where we live, since there has been a ton of snow and ice everywhere it has been hard to walk around here. Anyway, I carefully walked on ice to a bench and sat down to just take deep breaths and relax taking in the view. Seagulls flying through the air, the airport is across the harbor so airplanes were flying in and out of the airport (Closest I've seen a plane to the ground, kinda freaky but cool). When you look beyond the harbor, it then becomes the ocean and there were a couple boats out, more will be out once the weather warms up more. Across the harbor is also the city and it's just so neat to see the hustle and bustle, but living not even 3 miles from the city it's a little more relaxed. Sitting there seeing all the snow and being slightly chilly, I was thinking Spring is going to be so pretty here. Although I hear there isn't really a Spring here, but I guess we'll see. It's a lot different from the "Amish country" that I'm use to, but beautiful in its different ways.

Scrapbooking

Last night after I put Halie to bed I decided to take an hour to scrapbook and try to catch up a little bit. I did a page of my brother Mark (marine) in his dress blues with a few family pictures, and him with Halie, Last Easter, and a page of my dad's surprise 50th birthday party. I only have to do "Fall Fest" and Christmas and then I am done with scrapbooking the year of 2010. I can't believe I'm almost all caught up, and am very happy about that. I would be 100% caught up, but I ran out of clear page inserts to put pages in. Anyway I was thinking while I was scrapbooking that Halie will be 2 1/2 years old on the 21st this month. She is getting so big and smart!

I really love scrapbooking because I like to be creative and capture special moments that Halie can always remember. She already loves her scrapbook and knows that it is hers and all about "baby Halie". I have a scrapbook from my high school/college years, and a wedding one my Mother in law made for us. I was looking at them yesterday and was smiling the whole way through "walking down memory lane".

Anyway I was thinking about starting a Scrapbooking Tips page on this blog. But first would like to know if anyone is interested in seeing it, & getting cool (or what i think is cool! hah) ideas that you can do for your scrapbook(s). Comment below if you do, and I'll get it started!

Looove

With Valentine's Day coming around the corner I thought maybe I would write about love. Two different things I'm going to focus on in this blog post, the first one being about my family.

After God, my family is the most important thing to me. I strive to be a great wife and mom, and in doing so giving them all my love. Philip is my best friend and everyday my love grows for him. He is sensitive to my feelings, respects me and values my opinion. He knows how to make me laugh when I'm feeling blue and never hesitates to hold me in his arms when I'm upset. Through rough patches in these last 4 years he has "carried" me through them. He prays for me and I know that he loves me, not only by his words, but by his actions; He puts me first. He is a great husband and man of God, and I am truly blessed beyond measure! I love to brag about him and I hope he's not embarrassed, but he's an amazing example of a Godly and great husband!

Through our love, we created our daughter Halie. I love her so much!! She is funny, cute, smart, friendly, curious, giving, goofy and a really great kid! She loves to show off, and I love to watch her show off! I don't know what is more precious then her coming up to me randomly hugging me saying "I love you mommy", or when she sings "you are so beautiful" with me. I think about how much I love her, and then remember that God loves each of us more than that! Which brings me to the second part of this blog!

God's love! He loves us so much that he knows exactly how many hairs on our head. He sent His only son to Earth, and then watched him get brutally killed. Jesus died for our sins! He loves us so much that he died for us. God chose you and me to be created and gave us life and purpose! God has kept me safe in times where I could have died. Thankfully I didn't by the grace of God! God spared my soul and I know that he loves me more then I could ever humanly understand. God loves each and every one of us and wants an intimate deep relationship with us all. I'm not really sure how to end this blog, but Amen!

Don't worry, be Happy!

So today I have had a lot of time to get things done around the apartment. I've been picking up toys, vacuumed, did my weekly cleaning of the bathrooms, and so on. This may seem weird but when I clean its one of the only alone times I get, so during that time I get to plan in my head, think about different things and pray. I love to sing worship songs and talk to God while cleaning. Even though I don't mind cleaning and sometimes enjoy it (weird I know) singing and praying helps things get done quicker. Today though I was letting my mind wander and was thinking about the future with having people over, cooking everyone dinner and hosting. It's going to be a lot of fun for me because I love to have people over fellowship with one another and talking about Jesus. I quickly realized that the future is now and we will be having new people over any day now as we start meeting people. The first thing that came to mind is "oh my we need a kitchen table and chairs, we can't eat on the floor". Sad for thinking that I know. We sold our old table before we moved and I really need to stop worrying about little things like that! I know God will bless us with an affordable table when the time is right, and until then we could always go Japanese and sit on the floor to eat! Haha....wait that is the Japanese isn't it? Anyway, my point is and my prayer for today is to not worry about little things like not having a table, and start worrying about big things like people who don't even have food to eat at a dinner table.

Ok well share your thoughts I guess!

This is just the beginning

I haven't posted in a little while, I guess you could say I've been busy! I want to get back into a regular routine though!

So we made it to Boston! After driving 8 hours (suppose to only take 6) we got to our new apartment a little before 5pm. Our Apartment is on the second floor so we thought it might be some what of a challenge to move in. Our plan was for Phil to unload the truck moving items and bins up to the top of the stairs and me and Halie carry them down the hall to our new home. Our team work worked great, and we had everything out of the truck and into our new place within an hour and half. This was a serious workout! By the time we were done, we couldn't breathe and our bodies were so sore. I got a migraine, threw up twice and skipped dinner...but it was a great night! We did it, just the two of us with God's help. Half way through unloading the truck we both wanted to stop and give up, but then Phil said God told him "this is what it feels like to carry the cross". There is no way you can give up hearing that from God. He gave us strength and got us through it. The first night was a great feeling being in our new home, and knowing that we are following God. This journey has been scary, a little stressful and tiring, but through whatever any of us go through God is always there right beside us helping us through it. This journey is really just beginning though and I am most of all excited!

God's love has gotten me through so many hard times in my life. There is nothing that you can't get through. I know it's hard to hear that at the time when you are going through the hard time.  Big or small. Jesus is our rock, turn to him and put everything into His hands. You don't have to feel like you are alone, because you're not!

Little Cheddar Meat Loaves

I got this recipe off of my friend Meghan's blog....it looks and sounds sooo good! Making it tonight for dinner and thought I'd pass it along. Also thinking about starting a tab of family recipes I have and want to share! Thanks Meghan!!

1 Egg

3/4 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup quick oats

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 tsp. salt

1lb. Ground beef

2/3 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. mustard

 

In a bowl combine egg, milk, cheese, oats, onion, salt and ground beef. Mix well. Shape into 8 loaves; place in a greased baking dish. Combine Ketchup, brown sugar & mustard; spoon over loaves. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.

Bridalwhaty??

Ok so there is this new hit show called "BridalPlasty" on E. It is about engaged women competing to get plastic surgery's, so that they can look "perfect" on their wedding day. Through out the show there are challenges and which ever bride wins, they get to pick a surgery off of their wish list and have it done. For instance nose job, new teeth, liposuction, get their breasts bigger, and so on. Ok so that is your overview of this show...

What is wrong with these girls! They all think that they can't and won't get married until they look perfect, b/c they want their big day to be perfect. Every week one bride gets cut off the show (b/c this is a competition). Just like when you watch "The Biggest Loser", and they are told "I'm sorry you are not the biggest loser" when they are told to leave, this show also has a saying. When the Bride is told to leave b/c she lost, they are told "you're wedding will still happen, it just won't be perfect". What message are we sending to these women, and to the viewers, especially girls who watch this show.  They pick themselves apart pointing to what they hate about themselves and act like crazy animals trying to win challenges so that they can have plastic surgery. It's a serious competition between these girls, and they all hate the way they look. 

News Flash!! God Created us all. He doesn't make mistakes, and everyone He created is beautiful. I'm so sick of women talking bad about themselves and pointing out what they hate about their bodies and obsess about it. Now yes sometimes I fail at doing this, after all we all are human. I sometimes talk about how I want to lose weight because that is something I can control. But i don't hate myself, I love myself.  I am going to always teach and am teaching Halie now, how to love herself and show her how beautiful she is. I don't want her to ever think "I hate my nose" or "I wish I could have plastic surgery". I just think it's really sad that these women hate themselves and the way they look. Take a look at this picture below...it's a before pic, at the beginning of the show...

Share your thoughts...