Can't Get it Out of My Mind

A dear family friend of mine, woke up and his life changed forever. He was diagnosed with luekemia on Friday. He was admitted and chemo started on Monday. I just can't imagine how much my life would change faced with 'life threatening' news. He has a wife of three years, a very sweet brother and sister, and wonderfully caring parents. He has a wonderfully supportive church home and I am sure he has one where he lives now.

But I just can't get him out of my mind. I literally think of him and my little friend 5 yo Mathew (who is also fighting for his life with luekemia). When I wake I rush to the computer to check for updates hoping for good news, then check them through out the day. I don't know why their hurts hurt me so bad, make me so sad - but I have been in tears for them for days.

So, with my sadness, I pray, plead, beg to the Lord to be BIG! To fill their needs, to heal their bodies and to be glorified. And He is being glorified... if you go to their http://www.caringbridge.org/ (visit mathewjgliddon or joelmartin) and read their guestbooks you see the words of His children encouraging them in their fight.

So, I guess since its on my mind that's why I've blogged it.

How can life turn around just like that?

All of a sudden I was overwhelmed and totally disgusted with myself, as a mom, as a Christian, and a wife. Seriously, I was on top of the world (which means I had ALL the plates spinning simultaneously) and felt like my life was doable!
Then there was the CRASH heard around the world. All the plates stopped spinning and crashed to the ground. As I looked around, I didn't have the energy to get a broom to clean it up so...I just sat down on the floor amidst the mess.

Today, I found a broom and have cleaned up the mess...but I dont feel like the plates are spinning yet. I feel like everything is in slow motion and I am just BLAH! Looking back over the week, I tried to figure out how I got here. And I have figured it out..I think...#1 - lack of sleep - going to bed WAY to late! #2 - not enough Bible Study . So I will live and learn and change that this week.

Tho, I was stubborn and did not turn to the Lord when I was struggling. He sure reached out to me. The perfect song came on the radio and my super supportive husband told me what I needed to hear.

Admist my slow motion - I did do 'school' today with my kiddos. We are working on projects for the Imagination Fair. The best part of the day was talking to my 3yo about how things sink or float in water. Boy did we have fun.
Here's a picture!

Update on New Year, New Start

Well, its been about three weeks since I tried to start something new in my home. The three areas were home management, quiet times with the Lord and exercising/eating right.

The results:
In the area of home management the kids are definitely on board to helping A LOT more and we are keeping the house A LOT neater!
In the area of quiet times, I am not where I want to be. Everyday brings new challenges to 'fight' for quiet times. Please keep praying for me!
In the area of exercising and eating right...I've lost 5 pounds I gained over the holidays and I've exercised 3/4 times per week. My eating is not GREAT. Till cheating a little too much of the 'not so good' foods. I think I'll switch it up a bit and try eating the CORE plan with Weight Watchers next week.

Overall, I feel like I've made some great new starts to the year and can't wait for my habits to continue to change.

Posted by Tampa Sis

More Pictures, Great Fellowship!!

This past weekend the kids and I journeyed to Tampa via Lakeland to spend some time with my Sister and her family and to check out the progress of our house. The house looks ready to have the foundation poured. My family and my sisters family signed our names on a piece of paper which was written, "As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord." We crumpled it up and dropped it down the foundation wall to the left of the front door. I have included some pictures so you can see.

The kids and I had a great visit with my sister and her family. WOW!! Cant wait until we are closer so we dont have to try to squeeze everything in on a weekend.

Lakeland 2B'er

More Wisdom from God via Beth Moore

"in our last lesson, I received a fresh instruction from God about becoming more deliberate in setting my gaze. If I have low expectations, skewed feelings, and impaired spiritual hearing, my eyes are either looking in at myself or out at people and circumstances. God wants our eyes fixed upward like somone down on her knees at His feet."

That really spoke to my heart...and to my outlook. So often I get in a funk when I look at the circumstances around me. I, at times, am just like my kids. If things don't go the way I planned or thought they should, I pout (or more adult-like fall into a funk). And that saying ... 'when mama aint happy, aint nobody happy' is so true. When I fall into a funk...sure thing, the girls and even Sam get grumpy too!

So, I need to keep my 'eyes fixed upward' like I am on my knees looking at Him!
Join me...keeping your eyes on Him!

YAY!! The Walls are Growing!

Ok, my parents were wonderful enough to make a detour to Lakeland this past weekend and to take a few pictures of my growing house. I am SOOOOO excited!!! ( I won't mention they are also building a house in the same area....=P)

I worked very hard this past weekend in our Lake Worth house trying to get it ready to be sold. It is very close. Most of the major stuff is done.

A BIG YAY!!! goes to my TAMPA SIS for her amazing ability to set a goal and keep on track, well actually setting several goals and staying on track !!

Me on the other hand, I am not doing so well staying on task with my goals. Right now I am house focused and I am not keeping up with my bible studies....so many goals and my focus is all wrong. So this morning I changed my schedule. I woke up a little early (5am...yuck )and did my bible study in the morning and my day has gone well; I journaled my eating, my stresses and some goals for the week! I have to say though I have an awesome role model of how to keep on keeping on in my TAMPA SIS!!

This week I have added a goal of getting my resume together. One more step to moving to Lakeland!!

More later....

Lakeland 2 B'ers

Good bye 5

Yes! I weighed in today at Weight Watchers.. and I lost 5 pounds this week!
Unfortunately, its 5 pounds that I lost in 2007, but I'm back in the groove.
Tampa Sis