You can't pick your family....

Just a little thought--- you can't pick your family. God does that and somedays I question his thinking... but reguardless you might as well apreciate them for what they are.

So I have been tagged so here are 7 random facts about me:

1) I can't sit down and relax if cabinet doors are open/there is dust/or the kitchen is dirty. I have grown more and more obsessed with this lately...to Bryan's pure annoyance.. but I seriously can not relax if I look and there is dust on the coffee table. And living with 2 dogs that shed does not leave much time for relaxation.

2) I often have fashion shows with myself (and if they are lucky.. my dogs). Especially at the beginning of a season I get out ALL my old clothes and try things on- typically prancing in front of the mirror to Pink or Aerosmith.

3) I will not eat casserole leftovers, Diet Coke from a can, or milk.

4) I LOVE Mariska Hargitay!

5) I have had my baby names picked out for 10 years. Bailey Grace and Parker Daniel. Bryan hates Parker... so its back to the drawing board.

6) I throw away half drunk cans/cups if I think they are making a table looking messy... this also annoys Bryan when he gets up to walk the dogs and comes home to no more Mountain Dew.

7) I have an extreme fear of ferretts and rats! It's weird. I will have nightmares that keep me up about little hairy rodents... AHH!! GROSS!!!

I now tag

Mandy
Melissa

God's Faithfulness.. in the midst of my uncertainty

Well I have been a mess about Bryan's promotion. ALthough my words say that I trust in God's faithfulness, sometimes my heart wants to (and does) take back the reigns and take charge of the situation when I dont feel He is working fast enough. But- once again He is proven Soverign and Faithful. We have been praying for healing for Bryans back (check), a safe return to work (check), and now his promotion (check). He aced his managment test and will be having his board interviews soon for fulltime UPS manager. Better yet- it sounds like we will be able to stay in the DFW area! So many blessings- although undeserved I am beyond thankful. And thankful for a husband who points out to me that it's not of our doing, but of Gods!!

Dog backwards is God--- that's no accident!

I got Jake senior year of college. Both of the dogs I had growing up died within a month of each other and I just lost it. It was like Where the Redfern Grows... You never know how much you love something till you dont have it.. thats for sure. Honestly I think it was just to shut me up, but my roommates came together and bought me Jake. Liz and I went up the Waco pound and found Jake's litter.. they were wall yappy and crazy... except Jake. Who, much like he is today, was sleeping soundly in the back.

Jake has been my constant companion for the last 6 years. He has moved with me 6 times, say up with in the middle of nights of recovery, been my sounding board as I questioned my place in life, and now the best friend of my husband! He has taught me much about compassion, indurance, and patience... and Love... LOTS OF LOVE!

Peeka is the newest member of the family. I HATED little dogs till this little thing. Bryan, on the other hand, wanted a dog to sit on his lap while I was at work (since Jake is happy laying alone in the other room).... so I bought him Peeka in March. She is a mess.... and has given us a sign of what parenting a toddler may look like. She is constantly demanding attention, doing things to make you pick her up and kiss her... this little thing is nonstop. And.. believe it or not... I adore her! She and Jake are now best buds and sleep together. She will do anything to get close to her brother... he doesnt care, but I swear I see him roll his eyes at her sometimes!!
I can't wait to see how they will react to a baby someday!

I dont know if you could tell , but Jakes favorite place is resting his head on our coffee table, while peeka likes to sneak underneath it!! A glass coffee table is a BAD idea with nose marks all over it! The last picture is of Bryan making Peeka into the easter bunny!!

Why I love my job....

This is why I love my job....

How can you look at these sweet faces and not realize what Jesus

was saying about having faith like a child. Although I am so ready

to have my own child, I have to admit that it is nice to have them

go HOME after church!

Where did it go?

Somehow we let love slip away. IN the midst of our maddening lives we become human doings and not human beings. We let our jobs, our stress, and ourselves get in the way of the reason I think we are here to begin with- TO LOVE and TO BE!

This weekend I got the chance to do both of them. Since we have been married, Bryan and my life have been a constant mad race for something... it was first a race to get on the road to the honeymoon, then his promotion, my new job, his back surgery, recovering from his back surgery, an addition to my job and his 2nd promotion. Life- stress- money- they sneek in and stole my joy away. But this weekend I just "was." We did nothing- ran errands, layed in bed watching movies, reminded eachother of why we fell in love to begin with...

We are only here once, and it's not for too long... why spend it doing and going and pushing... no one else on the planet lives like us insane Americans do. Today I chose to be a human "being" even in the midst of my busy schedule. I chose to be still and know that He is God and thank Him that I am not!

My Teachers

Lately I have been suprised of who God has used to teach me more about Him... its been my sweet husband who is just now finding out and learning about the Lord and the little kids at church.

During Sunday School I gather all the kids together and have them act out the Bible Story. I figure it works on two counts... they can get out their skirms and they may just learn something by doing it. Last week was Cain and Abel... yea how do you teach 3 year olds that a brother killed his brother. Well of course the most dramatic boys got up to act it out and the death sceen was something from a horrible silent film. Once the story was over I asked if anyone had questions. One of the 4 year olds asked why he would do that.. "its always better to just talk to someone.." "why wouldnt God come in and save Abel?" Good Questions... what happens as adults that we stop asking questions... we pretend we know it all and that we have it all figured out. No wonder Jesus asked us to come to Him like children. With selfless abandon they run to him and pull out their quetions about EVERYTHING! Why shouldn't we... when we stop asking questions we stop believing in the mystery of it all..

Bryan has taught me more about unconditional love than anyone ever has. For someone who is just beginning to grasp the intensity of the Lord's Love he certainly knows how to give it. Maybe he knows more about Him than he is letting on. Bryan has shown undying support and love reguardless of my days... in the midst of intense struggle, depression, and joy (sometimes all within an hour) he has not wavered. He is the same no matter how I am.

I wonder who else God will use to teach me about himself... today I chose to be open to whoever or whatever that is!

Sinner and Saint

Ever just feel lost. You look around one day and you ask yourself how in the heck did I get here. I think, that many people have the notion that if you work in a church that somehow you have it all together. That isn't true at all. I believe the most broken people I know work for the ministries in one form or another. Although I teach children about the Love and Grace of God that in no way means that I am better than the rest. I battle my own demons on a daily basis. I have to fight addiction, jealousy, insecurity, gossip, and hatred daily. It's just that I have an army fighting with me. When the Lord is on your side there is a peace that comes with facing your demons. Am I better because I work for a church... heck no... hell no! Maybe its just that I have hit the bottom and have watched as the Lord has pulled me out.. how can you not tell others about that??

On an ENTIRELY different note.. and showing my still very childish side.. I am feeling a bit left out with all my friends blogs having their babies (or soon to be babies) on their site. SO- here are pictures of MY babies.... I am not bragging- but seriously... TOO CUTE!!

Yes - No - I have a better idea...

I think God has three answers to our prayers... "Yes" (which I rarely hear) "No" and "I have a better idea." It's hard t hear that last one huh? When I think about waiting for Bryans job... wanting a baby... wanting a house...all these things that my head said "NOW!!" and God saiys ""I have a better idea!" Its a better idea to stay and wait ... to be patient.. to enjoy life where I am with what I have.

To get me out of this funk.... I chose to think about my blessings. Have you ever just sat down and thanked the Lord for everything he has done for you? I mean really EVERYTHING?? The sunrise, the rain, hearing my dogs play in the other room, watching my mom eating fried pie, Bryan's recovery, that I have a place to live to begin with, that I have a job.....honestly it would take days.

So now- I chose to be thankful. In the middle of the storm there is always hope for the sunset.