Hello, friends! I've missed you, lol! The last few days have been pretty hectic, but today is the Lord's day and I take that seriously and get rest and spend time bonding with my kids. Right now, the dishwater is still in the sink because I'm not done with lunch dishes, but I needed a break, ahhh! Sounds lazy now that I say that- Oh well!   
     So here it is afternoon and time for Kaylee to take her nap, but I would like to take the kids and go walking out by the Goshen Dam. It's so beautiful out there. Even though it could be warmer, it could be much colder too. So I appreciate the fact that I don't need to wear a jacket and am planning to take advantage of the weather while we have it. Who knows when it will change again, this is IN, right?
     Lyndon is playing with Kaylee on my recliner and it's so fun to listen to him. He's so good with her! He put her to sleep yesterday when it was nap time. And yet he is so shy, that he refuses to get to know anyone at church. What's up with this phenomenon? Teen years? Or rebellion? Good grief, it was a fight to get him to church this morning, but somehow we made it!
     Elijah is my outside buddy. He's off playing soccer across the street, his favorite past time.
     The boys have wanted to spend quite a bit of time on the computer playing games and watching movies, so I told each of them they need to read books to earn time. So Lyndon has picked up Personality Plus- one that really helped me a few years ago and taught me a lot. Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself. Special Feature: Personality Profile Test. (Revised & Expanded Edition 32 printing, June 2000)). It helps you learn how to get along with people better, to understand others and accept people as they are. I believe this could fix many relationships, it helped me in so many ways. Helped me accept my kids' differences and to teach them to accept each other instead of making fun or laughing at each other. We all have different needs, wants, abilities and gifts. So if we appreciate each other and work together, we can all accomplish more than we ever can be alone. So, hopefully he will find something in the book that will help in some area of life. :) Learning is good! 



Ha ha, I just got fresh pineapple out to snack on and Lyndon says I'm strange, lol! ;) That's OK, I'll be strange if it means I'll be healthy. I also want to make some carrot juice this afternoon. Goodness, I am planning too many things instead of resting, aren't I? Well, I want to feel better!! I feel like there's junk in my body that needs to be deleted. So in order to do that, I have to put the good stuff in! So here we go.......time for salads, fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Oh, and I've eased up on coffee. :)

I think I want to tell you all about a book I just finished reading called Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives (Including a 5-Step Plan for Self-Empowerment). I found this book and just thought it looked interesting since I have gone through some crazy things in the last two years and need to change my life. But for some reason I have not had my 'AHA' moment that is needed in order to make some serious changes. I want to, in the worst way- but I just haven't been able to yet. In this book, it says that you can't rush it, it just comes when you're ready. Ugh! But I will continue to strive forward everyday and pray for God's leading. Because ultimately He is in control and I want to be in His plan. This book was very empowering though, and opened my eyes and made me cry quite a few times. Inspiring stories of women who have gone through years of abuse or addictions and then pulling themselves up and changing their lives into something beautiful and serving others.

Lord, make me into what I ought to be! Mold me and move me, shape me but above all lead me.

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!

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