Yes, I have teens..... and I love it!

My oldest 2 are teenagers and my 3rd child is just about there as she is 12. I will proclaim loudly, I love my teens and I like pretty much most of their friends.

The other day I was talking with F, my 15 (almost 16) year old and 2 of her friends. We sat around the kitchen table, ok well we all sat, or stood in the kitchen and talked. We talked about everything God, school, church and yes... boys.

I often wonder what I did to be so blessed as to be able to sit and talk with my teens the way I do. We have had open talks and I have chosen to talk to the kids about just about anything from a young age, even if I didn't think that they were ready for it, though still trying to protect them from too much information. I have also made time to play with them the things that they enjoy.

I know that being open and honest with our kids is not a promise to a good relationship with them, but I do believe that it has helped.

This day..

I like so many others love music. The right song can pick me up and get my heart focused in the right direction so quickly. Like so many of you we are going though a hot spell here in the midwest. Our apartment is rather warm and I hate to admit that I do not handle the heat well. I get crabby and lazy. Today was one of those days that I was headed in that direction. 


Then I spent sometime in the sprinkler with several of my children. That helped a lot. While I was not wanting to get wet at first, I ended up in a water war with my 10 year old son and ended up soaked. That was fun and cooling. I was very thankful for that. 


Came inside and started to do the dishes. I had an mp3 player on my cell phone, so I was listening to some songs and then one of my favorite came on. It is an older one by Steven Curtis Chapman called This Day. I love the lyrics to this song, especially this part..


"Who knows what tomorrow’s light will bring
Tears to cry or maybe songs to sing out loud
But only God can see that far away
And He made us for living day by day
‘Cause He wants us to see
That the God that He’s been every day of historyIs who He is this day"

Remember this day is a new day, this moment is a new moment. The stress from a moment ago can be in the past. if you just release it to God.

But even if he doesn't....

I have known the story of Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-nego since I was a young girl. I have read the story time and time again. (If you don't know the story you can read it in Daniel 3 or Here on Blue Letter Bible and read it.) I am sure I have read the words before, but the other day God really brought them out to me.

Dan 3:15 NASB - "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
Dan 3:16 NASB - Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
Dan 3:17 NASB - " If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 NASB - "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Do you see it? They knew God had the power to save them, but even if he didn't they would choose to obey and follow.

There are areas in my life that I know God has the power to change, but even if he doesn't I will choose to follow and obey. This can apply to even the smallest areas of our lives. Like giving up soda. 

What have you read that all of a sudden God shows you something you had not seen before. 

overwhelmed

What do you do when you are overwhelmed?

It is a very common thing in my home to have more then 1 child who needs my help or attention for something. It is one of those times that I am thankful for my older kids cause they are able to help me. However they have been gone much this summer and I am left to take care without their help.

What do I do... breathe. Sometimes, most of the time, simply taking breath and putting a smile on my face makes things so much easier.

Then I pray and ask for wisdom. Jam 1:5 NASB - But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

God is ready to give us wisdom.

Pro 2:6 NASB - For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 NASB - He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

 

working on the weight loss

Well I have been kinda working for the past week or so at really losing weight. today I am kicking it into gear and making sure I track what I eat.

My weight loss attempts are something that is keeping me down. I feel like such a failure. I have never been able to lose weight and now things keep getting worse. I am however going to cling to God and let him do the work.

My first goals right now are..

• Track my food. Even if I go over my calorie goal, I will track.
• No soda. I love to drink soda. I may try and limit to say one can every other day, but for now I am saying no. 
• Exercise just 10 minutes a day. (Today was 15 minutes)