Planning Ahead

It is a rainy Saturday morning around here. I love mornings like this. For whatever reason mornings like this make me slow down. I just sort of want to curl up with my coffee and my Bible study and NOT do anything else. But I have children, so that doesn't last as long as I would like. :)

This morning, I'm planning my week. All the things I need to do for our day to day commitments are taken care of and right now, I'm thinking about summer. Specifically what I can do now to prepare for summer, and then the fall.

Something I've been thinking quite a bit of lately is planning ahead. This verse has been running in my mind for about a month.

Proverbs 6:6-8 "Go to the ant O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without having any chief, officer or ruler, she prepares her bread in the summer and gathers her food in harvest."

And then God throws this one in there.

Proverbs 31:27 (really the whole passage, but particularly verse 27) "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Did that sting you as bad as it did me?

Oh I could write a book about that verse 27. :) Far too often "idle" could be an adjective to describe me.

Anyway...planning ahead... get ready to laugh out loud.

I think that this year, I'm going to expand our patio garden a little. I about choked yesterday at the store when Chloe told me what our total was BEFORE we left the produce section. It was ridiculous. Fruits and veggies should not cost so much.

I decided at that point that we were going to research and figure out how much we could grow in our tiny backyard. Right now...for sure we will have jalapenos (for Chad and Chloe) tomato's, and all my herbs.

On my maybe list are cucumbers and squash...I've got to research them a bit to see if I have space to grow them. Do you have any suggestions?

If I don't get my garden, or maybe better said...if nothing grows, them I'm going to find a local produce stand. I would much rather pay for homegrown produce!

Now here is my question for you.

What do you do to plan ahead? Do you have a special thing you do to save $$ on your grocery bill?

(And GA girls...I'm looking for a CHEAP table for our patio...it can be in rough shape too if you know of anyone wanting to get rid of an old piece of patio furniture let me know!)

My heart is thinking spring/summer and Chad just informed me that we may get snow in the morning. I guess I'm going to through together a pot of soup and send Chad out for a gallon of milk. ;) AND ONE MORE LOAF OF BREAD!!! Wouldn't want to run out if we have a blizzard...you have to love the south.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Psalm 131

1 "O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.

2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore." (ESV)
A lady I deeply admire and respect shared this Psalm last weekend. I have read it everyday since then. Three very short verses that pack quite a punch.

That first line in verse two is the kicker for me. For whatever reason this week I have found it hard to calm and quiet my soul. My mind seems to be running on high this week. So many thoughts, lists, plans....you understand don't you?

God woke me up EARLY this morning to force me to quiet my soul for a little while. It was sweet. Normally, if I'm up early Chloe joins me. (regardless of the time) Not today. God let her sleep until a little before seven. I sort of feel like I've been to the woodshed. (You know, had a little bit of a talking to.) BUT...

I have calmed and quieted my soul and I can do this thing called life today knowing, believing that He will give me what I need for today.

Tired Ears

Being with my nieces last week brought back so many memories of my girls at that wonderful age of two. All of the children on this side of the family share one "talent", they start talking early and they never stop. :) Between the four of them, my ears hurt by the time Thursday afternoon rolled around.

At times, it seemed each one needed something totally different from the other. Morgan would need to hear "good job" while Mia wanted someone to hold her. Emma just wanted a little peace and quiet and Chloe, well Chloe just wanted to talk. :) I loved every minute.

This morning I was sitting with God thinking about several specific situations. Some in our family and some not. Can I just be totally honest here?

He absolutely amazes me.

God doesn't slumber or sleep. Unlike me, He is never overwhelmed with all these children demanding His attention. He is adequate to supply each and every need I know off AND the ones I'm not even aware of.

This is the verse He gave me last week in the middle of taking care of all those beautiful girls.



Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, or His ear dull that it cannot hear." (ESV)

I pray that today you know, really know that God's arm is long enough to reach you, and that His hearing is as sharp as ever. He hears you sweet friend, slow down and listen for His response.

Real Quick

I can't wait to jump back into blogland this week and catch up with you. :) I have missed you so much, but God has had other plans for me the last week. (And I wouldn't have missed it for the world!)

We got home Friday afternoon and I immediately had to prepare for a weekend planning/retreat time with Freedom's Call. Our speaker is in town and we had a marathon time together that will wrap up at 2:00 today. I could not wait to share this and I wanted to get it down before I got busy and the initial impact of this was over.

Okay. Deep breath...

Our pastor began a new sermon series this morning based on the book "In a Pit with Lion on a Snowy Day" by Mark.....I can't remember his last name but I'll find it.
(The scripture passage is 2 Samuel 23:20-23 if you want to check it out.)

In each and every point of this sermon God spoke something to me personally. The thing that has left me awestruck is that none of what our pastor said this morning, was new material to me. I have been journaling it, hearing it and even talking about some of it this weekend with Freedom's Call.

The point that made me want to get out of my seat and into the floor...right there in the service was point 3. Be assured I did not leave my seat, BUT IN MY MIND I WAS TOTALLY FLAT IN THAT FLOOR! Here it is:


Attempting to do something great and failing is better than doing nothing and succeeding.

Then our pastor said this:

Lion chasers are not stopped by FEAR OF FAILURE.


Ya'll. This is me on so many levels. If you've shared my life through my blog for anytime, you've probably picked up on that a little bit. I try to hide it, and God showed me this morning THAT was a pride issue. He's been beating that into me for quite sometime, but this morning it penetrated that part of my heart that has remained closed to hearing and accepting this.

I'm praising Him for not giving up on this strong willed child. (Yes mom we all heard you just say amen.)

I'm praising Him for impressing this series on my pastor's heart.

I'm praising Him for the timing of it! A couple of you know that this week, I made the decision to do something with my music that has me scared to death. Terrified actually but....

I don't want to be stopped by fear of failure anymore. This girl is going to chase that Lion and take it down.

Okay! I'm off to finish up our planning time and then to worship with our children's choirs.

Talk to you Monday!

So Far So Good

The girls and I are hanging out with my parents this week, helping my mom and taking care of my nieces. We have survived the first two days of my 2 year old nieces. :)

I have forgotten just how active two year olds can be. Today was a no nap day. Needless to say, it's barely 6:00 and we are already in our pj's. I love my nieces to death but I was very glad to see their mommy today!

Yesterday morning Chloe and I went to pick up these precious little things, they got right in the car and began to talk talk talk. I have no idea where they get that from. :) At one point, Morgan said "Aunt Steffie I'm right here, behind you." I said "I see you Morgan and I'm glad you're there." Mia then proceeded to say in a VERY loud voice "I'M RIGHT HERE TOO STEFFIE I'M RIGHT HERE."

It was cute but it reminded me of how I feel sometimes when I'm in a group of people. When I'm not supposed to be in front of people I fight being shy. I always have. There are times when I want to say "I'm right here! I just don't know what to say!" It's something that I struggle with.

It's probably why God has for the last few years has been dealing with me on where I seek approval. Where I seek to find significance and if I'm looking to find it anywhere but Him, He has removed that relationship or position from my life. I would love to say I've learned my lesson but for me, it's an on-going process.

Okay...enough heavy and why I went there I don't know...can you tell I'm tired!!

Tomorrow will be a good day. Mom and the girls and I all have hair appointments and then we will take mom back to the Doctor to hopefully removing some of the "wrapping" on her hand. She's doing great and will feel so much better once this mound of an ace bandage is gone!

If you think about pray for my man. He's home alone and from I understand...he's had frozen pizza two nights in a row. I knew I should have frozen some dinners for him.

Have a great rest of the week!

Memory Verse Challenge 2009 #4 and an answer to Nancy's question.

It's the 15th and that means it's time for my second verse for this month.

My first verse this month has been a favorite for a long time, but the past two weeks, Deut. 33:12 has been life to me. As I thought about the next verse, I kept thinking about how the Deut. verse had changed my thoughts and my attitude over the last two weeks. God reminded me that His word IS alive and powerful and that when I allow Him to, He uses it to transform my thinking. (Rom. 12)

My next verse is 2 Corinthians 4:16

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

Nancy in NC asked me what book I started with when I started studying the Bible. So I'm throwing this question out for you all to answer to. Leave her some comment love again and let's give her some ideas of just where to start.

Nancy, for me even in the times when I wasn't what we would describe as "close" to God, I always read a Proverb a day and a Psalm a day. Just one. When I started getting this desire to go deeper with Him, I was doing the Beth Moore study "Jesus the One and Only." I have heard my Dad and other pastors say that a great place to start reading the Bible is the book of John. It may take you a while, but don't rush it. Journal what stands out in your mind and talk to God about it.

Okay friends, think about it and give Nancy some ideas. I can't tell you how much your comments to her meant to ME! It was exciting to see and read your thoughts. Leave her some comment love here and let's encourage her as she goes a little deeper in her love and knowledge of our Jesus.

I'm off to finish laundry, pack our suitcases and then after choir the girls and I are driving to Chattanooga for a few days. We'll be taking care of my mom and my little nieces.

Have a great week!!

Happy "V" Day

FIRST: Thanks for praying for my mom. The surgery went as planned and she is resting at home. She is still recovering from being put to sleep. (Something she didn't think they would do, she's had several hand surgeries and has been awake for each one.) Dad says she is sleeping most of the time, which is what she should be doing! The girls and I will go up Sunday night to make sure she doesn't overdo it this week and to help with my nieces. I can not wait.

Now that I've updated you: HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Chad and I were able to enjoy a real date last night. It was much like our first date, except we ate at Olive Garden instead of the mom and pop pizza joint and we saw a movie that I can actually tell my parent's about! (Read this post from last Valentine's Day to understand)

We saw Confessions of a Shopaholic and I LOVED IT!!!! I laughed and yes..I even got teary in a couple of scenes. Please...don't tell me how dumb that is I know I have issues. BUT when Rebecka and her best friend are fighting..it just broke my heart and then at the end when someone does something AMAZING for the main character. Well...it was a picture of redemption and reminded me of Jesus. So there. My mind was just on my Savior. He had just spent the day thrilling me and that miracle we needed...He came through big time and right on time. How I love Him.

This morning all three of my people had their karate test. Everyone passed and yes, Chloe got high test score again. I'm so proud of ALL of them for working so hard. Chad and Chloe are now brown belts and Emma is a green stripe.

After the test we enjoyed dinner leftovers from Olive Garden and then we all took naps. It was heaven. After nap we needed to make a Wal-Mart run and since I still have a Starbuck's gift card, I was getting a cup of coffee.

On the way, Chad pulled into a shopping strip close to the Starbuck's, and I asked him what he was doing. His response was typical Chad.."I'm pulling into this parking space...let's go." We get out and walk into the "phone store".

I have to tell you I got a little tingle in my stomach. My cell phone and I have a love/hate relationship. The phone I dearly loved died right before I went to Texas last August, so we bought a nice phone very cheap on e-bay and I vowed to make it last until my contract was up and I could get a better phone with a little bit of a discount. Well....the time to do that was this week. I know anything about my phone contract so I did not know that. I just knew that my cell phone battery was starting to act STUPID. :)

So anyway...my dream phone was out of our price range and I decided that I wanted a Blackberry Pearl, yes in pink. :) Well, when Chad told the salesman what I wanted he asked if he could make a suggestion. He and Chad talked shop while the girls and I examined all the phone stuff and before I knew what hit me, I was walking out with my dream phone. A pink Blackberry Curve. Before we got through Wal-Mart I was getting my e-mails. Darlene R. I'll have you know your comment was the first e-mail I received! I moderated your comment from the check out line in the Wal-Mart. It's the little things girls, the little things. :)

We have had a great Valentine's weekend, I hope you have too. I'm more in love with my man today than I was the day we were married and like I told him this morning..I can't believe it has been 17 years since our very first date. Who would have thought!

I'm going to post my 4th verse in the LPM Verse Challenge on Sunday afternoon. I'm also going to have another question from Nancy in NC. :)

Blessings!