Hello, friends!
Here it is, Tuesday afternoon and I want to get out into the sunshine. How many of you are enjoying that today? I have slept quite a bit last night and today since I didn't get much the other night after making a trip to get baby checked out. The baby is happily growing and all is fine, except for the fact  that mom is ready to be a little smaller, lol! Did anyone else have a hard time with names? I still don't really know what to use and I only have a little more than 2 weeks to go. I have a baby name book, but it did not help much. So not my type of names. Then again- what is my type? 

Yesterday I was BLESSED by a good friend- she came into my house and helped me organize my bedroom closets (she's a genius) and then watched Kaylee for me so I could go do some jobs I had lined up and she did my dishes, laundry and cleaned the floors. Oh, and pinned my son's underwear up on the bulletin board! Hilarious lady! And did I mention that she brought me chocolate? Wow- she definitely spoke my love language! Having someone clean my house is amazing! I am so thankful for her. I have never had the courage to ask for help much and she just showed me how nice it can be to allow others to use their talents when mine simply are not working! I think I might ask again when I need it, and I'm guessing it might be sooner rather than later since I'm having baby #4 in the next few weeks and will be alone after the 2 week stay my mom is planning to give me. Good Lord help me, I have no idea how I will survive this.

I think it hit me really hard the other night when I faced the thought that it might be time for this baby to show up. Wow- wake up call. God promises never to give us more than we can handle, right? Well, he's given me a new perspective on this verse lately. He means 'He won't give us more than we can handle without leaning on him for support!' So, how do I handle an 18 month old, a 9 yr old, find work, pay for daycare, and take care of the house and meals? I have no idea. I know I will have plenty of opportunities to laugh at myself. I have to- sometimes I take myself WAY too seriously. I KNOW!!! So, God is in control and he will send help in times of trouble, he's done it. He will get the bills paid when I am at the end of my rope- he's done it! He will show me how to do something when I am clueless- he's done it b4!!! God is an awesome God and we should never forget it. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks I'm made of. He obviously thinks I can handle more than I think I can. Whew!

So- the message of the day- BE ENCOURAGED!!! GOD is in CONTROL and he holds us in the palm of his hand. He loves us more than we can imagine. So- chin up everyone, you are loved with an everlasting love!!

Wishing you God's richest Blessings for you and your loved ones!
Lori

Learned something new!

So I learned something just now- I was having fun with this little Amazon button I found, lol, and realized I can actually make a commission if you guys buy books through my site and links. Woohoo! So, hope you like some books I put up, God knows I can use all the help I can find. Haha, I just realized also- this is just more incentive for me to read instead of playing my Country Life game on facebook. How's that for a winner? Anyone wanna join me? Reading contest? Anyone? I can't hear you! :)

Love u!

OH WOW!!! Here is one of my absolute favorites!! Dani Johnson...if you are serious about changing your life- you've got to listen to this. Whether you get it here ar some other way- AWESOME teaching on the Word of God!!!! She has been through so much but she never gave up, she just trusted God to bring her through, even through a debilitating illness that the Dr's wanted to put her on drugs for. She said "It's not an option to live on drugs for the rest of my life- God, you're going to heal me." And he did!!! Wonderful stories and teachings! I actually listen to her about 3-4 times a week when I need a good pick-me-upper. Hope you enjoy!

So here I am at 1AM, with no kiddos in the house! Woohoo, OK maybe not. I actually went to the ER last night because baby was not cooperating, but all is well! We are fine and back home, but since the kids were already sleeping at a friend's house, she said they could just stay till the morning. So what am I doing wide awake? Hmm, thinking and working I guess!

I am ever so thankful for my blessings! When we came home from church today, I had the boys help me get lunch ready. We made chicken fingers, (yes, from scratch) asparagus, and had some home canned applesauce- we ate and cleaned everything up by 1:30 PM. Then it was time to relax! And how nice it was, let me tell ya! I just enjoy my time to talk and get to know the boys- we always eat at the table and I never realized that other families don't until I was having a conversation with a lady who works with families on a regular basis. It blew me away- how many people miss out on that special time by watching tv or whatever they do, I guess? What else is there to do? I just don't know- it's always been that way for me. If we don't sit at the table, it's rare and feels funny, lol!

So now here I sit- reflecting on my latest reading materials. :) I am reading a series by Hannah Alexander hat I am enjoying so entirely!!! This is the second book in the series, the first one is called Second Opinionsorry, kinda backwards, I know! ut- that's me, seemingly can't get organized since I've had a baby and have another one on the way!

How DO people stay organized with little ones that constantly drag everything out again? I would love to know!!

 So anyway- back to my books......they have given me a new appreciation for Dr.'s and hospitals. Whoa! They have some stress to deal with! Ordinary people can get pretty verbally abusive when put into bad situations or under stress. an you imagine? They catch it all- they are smack in the middle of crises every minute of every day. It is what they are trained to do, yet these books have just given me a new perspective and appreciation for them. If you have to go to the hospital someday, please remember this, lol! Treat the Dr.'s and nurses with some respect and compassion, they are doing the best they can and they literally hold your life in their hands sometimes!

So, I think I should really get to bed. I still have to get up at 6:30 AM and make sure my 9 yr old gets to the bus OK. Yikes! I will be tired. Hope you all enjoyed reading this tonight. I didn't feel very newsy, maybe I need sleep. Praise God, I'm home and not in the hospital bed waiting for this baby to make his/her appearance. God is GOOD!!!

Oh boy- my head is swimming with all kinds of things I'd like to say. Where do I begin?

The book- 5 Love Languages- whoa! I thought I remembered what it said, but I was wrong! Sheesh! Yes, it says it's for couples and why am I reading it when there's no man here? Well, because I love people and this book also helps me understand other people's love languages. For example- I have this wonderful friend who I was so confused about. I could tell there were some hurts going on inside, but I just couldn't figure out how to help her. One day we got on the subject of this book and she said her love language was 'words of affirmation' ! Blew me away! I never would've guessed! To me, she always seems to be cool, calm and collected- almost as if she never needs anything. Oh, what I would do to be like that, lol! But- we all need to be loved. By friends, spouses, kids, parents, and anyone we come into contact with. The clerk at the store- are they rude? Did they possibly have a bad day and are just taking it out on you because you happened to be in front of them at that time? Usually when someone treats us badly, it's because of an issue within themselves, which helps me to overlook things. But it still can be really hurtful!

As it says in Luke 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 6:35 Love your enemies, do good, lend, hoping for nothing in return.....
6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.
OK, maybe I'm not perfect in the quotations, but we get the drift. These verses kinda slapped me in the face this morning. I have issues to deal with, forgiveness to seek and love to give. Is it easy to follow these rules? Not really, but easier than the alternative, I think! I can't wait to hear God say "Well done, my good and faithful servant." This is what I strive for.

And how did I get on this subject again? Oh yeah, loving others. How can we show love to others when we need so much? Well, that answer for me has been- seek God, he promises to fulfill all our needs!! And he does!! God has shown me LOVE in this last year like never before. He has gotten me out of bed and said "I have something for you" and I could not disobey! I felt his physical presence with me in my room and I was Blessed beyond what I have ever thought possible. When someone says God doesn't speak to them, I know it is only because they do not know how to hear him. God speaks to us everyday- if only we would listen. Dani Johnson talks about that quite a bit on her cd's. How she came from where she was completely broken to being restored through Christ. I give God all the Glory for what He has done in me. I would never have made it these last 2 years without leaning on him entirely. Someone once said to me, "WE who HAVE to lean on God are more Blessed than those who are self-sufficient and independent." I think she's right, but it's till hard when you've been so independent your whole life.

I feel like I'm rambling now, so I will go get some lunch and wish you all a good day. My daughter is taking her nap and I plan to enjoy these next few minutes of silence. :)

God Bless all of you!
Lori

OK, so now I plan to start reading every day. The books that I know are going to help propel me in the right direction for my life. I think I will start with 'The Five Love Languages' since I sometimes wonder if I remember how to treat others. I know I have so much pain to deal with that sometimes it overshadows the needs of others. Today I had a scary episode.

My little princess is teething.....yeah! So, mom isn't feeling good and she is getting everything she's NOT supposed to! We moms know how that goes, right? My lack of patience combined with her grumpiness was not a great and fun day. But- by the Grace of God, we made it and I am now thankful that He brought me through it.
Anyway- by this afternoon when her incessant whining was really getting to me, I almost lost all control. I seriously wanted to punch something. But I couldn't find anything I was willing to hit, lol! I won't destroy my house, hitting my daughter wasn't even a thought!!!! and so I was without options, which made me laugh and renewed my sanity! If there had been a .....what do you call those bags you hang from the ceiling?.....yeah, one of those- if I had one in my house, it would have been put to good use today! :)

So long story short- it made me realize that something has to change! I didn't used to be like this. I never lost my temper before all this crap with my ex! The 'stuff' has to be dealt with!! No matter what! Even my boys tell me I'm different, well yeah- granted I went through a bunch of junk in the last 2 years and it is still a lot to deal with every day. The fact that I am pg isn't really a huge help, lol! I can't do all the things I would if I wasn't. But this too shall pass so endure it I will!

Do any other moms have episodes like this? If so, I'd really like to hear about them. I might feel a little more normal then, lol! Tonight I feel like a winner for getting through the day, but I also can't help but look back and wish I hadn't yelled when I did. Wish I had loved on her more or just put my own work on the back burner. But unfortunately, there is no one else that's going to do my work. Darn, huh? This is my life and God must really think I am something if he believes I can handle this day after day! 'Cause I'm not so sure. ;)

So I am now going into my own little world- u see this picture on top of my page? God made this scene and I plan on just meditating on it and thanking Him for His love and asking for a renewal of strength for tomorrow. God loves us all and He made these nature scenes for us to enjoy. So even if I'm not physically there, I can enjoy it and realize that someone else WAS there.......can you hear the birds? The sound of water running over the rocks.....the feel of the mist...awesome, so relaxing!

Hope you all have a wonderful night and a Blessed day tomorrow! Love, Lori

Hello, America!

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives! What will we do with it? It is up to me and each of you how you will spend it. I have my to-do list, but it doesn't always get completely done. As long as I have prioritized and I get the most important things done, I can't stress over the rest. I have little ones that need their mom and they are number 1 on my to-do list. And- speaking of, my 18 month old is screaming to get out of bed, lol! Later, my friends!