God has a way of making me laugh…really. He just has a way of *saying* the right thing at the right time.

I am two chapters away from finishing The Glorious Appearing& as I was reading this evening, I busted out laughing (really…it was a “LOL” moment!) Here is what I read:

Some men never know when they’re beaten, never know when to fold and walk away. Nicolae Carpathia, proving-as if that were necessary-that he was indeed the Antichrist, was the epitome of that kind of man. In a classic case of cosmic denial, his pride still persuaded him he could not lose in the end.

Ever know someone having those characteristics? I almost said qualities…but those aren’t quite *qualities* are they?

Since I had experienced a “what in the world is *person* thinking?” moment earlier in the day, tonight was the PERFECT time for me to read that (God’s timing is always spot on ).

Thank you God for the comparison…I am still giggling

Work In Progress Wednesday should be changed to WorkSSSS in Progress Wednesday.

Currently, I’m in the middle of reading THREE books - Down Came the Rain, Glorious Appearing, & What Every Mom Needs - as well as a few knitting projects for Christmas - finishing up a blanket for Eleanor & a couple stuffed bears for Lilli & Corinne. Eleanor has also grown so fast that I am also in the process of knitting her some new longies.

So which project to post? My first bear has come along the fastest and is almost complete, so I’ll choose that one:

As you can see, I still have a few details to finish on its feet & other hand.  To give it a little more personality, I’m going to knit a scarf. I’m quite happy with the way it looks; I will admit that I was a little doubtful, at first. Before I added the nose, eyes, & ears, it looked like I had knitted a person with a really bad tan. Thankfully, it now resembles a bear

What have you been working on?

That’s what I am…a Guardian…

Well, according to the Keirsey Temperament Personality Sorter anyway. In the book, What Every Mom Needs, the authors talk about how if we as mothers understand our God-given individual personalities, we are then able to overcome our weaknesses and become better mothers. Here is what a Guardian is:

Guardians are the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to serving and preserving our most important social institutions. Guardians have natural talent in managing goods and services–from supervision to maintenance and supply — and they use all their skills to keep things running smoothly in their families, communities, schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses.

Guardians can have a lot of fun with their friends, but they are quite serious about their duties and responsibilities. Guardians take pride in being dependable and trustworthy; if there’s a job to be done, they can be counted on to put their shoulder to the wheel. Guardians also believe in law and order, and sometimes worry that respect for authority, even a fundamental sense of right and wrong, is being lost. Perhaps this is why Guardians honor customs and traditions so strongly — they are familiar patterns that help bring stability to our modern, fast-paced world.

Practical and down-to-earth, Guardians believe in following the rules and cooperating with others. They are not very comfortable winging it or blazing new trails; working steadily within the system is the Guardian way, for in the long run loyalty, discipline, and teamwork get the job done right. Guardians are meticulous about schedules and have a sharp eye for proper procedures. They are cautious about change, even though they know that change can be healthy for an institution. Better to go slowly, they say, and look before you leap.

Guardians make up as much as 40 to 45 percent of the population, and a good thing, because they usually end up doing all the indispensable but thankless jobs everyone else takes for granted.

Guardians at Work
As a Guardian, you enjoy working as a valued member of a team, whether you are leading it or following a credible leader. You like to work with people who carry their weight. You appreciate having clear-cut responsibilities and being recognized for your dedication and achievements. Your natural traits are those that employers have traditionally valued - and that successful companies still respect. You are responsible and loyal to an organization once you’ve signed on.

In any environment, including your work place, you are usually focused on making people happy and facilitating harmonious relationships. You often lend “aid and comfort” by drawing on a combination of tradition, past experience, and the direction of established authority. In your ideal job, people would give of themselves and work toward the good of the group.

Jobs That Match Your Personality
Keirsey.com surveyed 5,425 members about their careers. Here are 3 examples of careers that Guardians like you excel at and enjoy. More examples are included in your optional Career Temperament report, which also includes informational links to the U.S. Department of Labor O-net database, and actual job listings at HotJobs.

• Customer Relations
• Teacher: K - 12
• Producer (Entertainment)

Teacher…go figure…(as Lilli and I started school today…first grade, can you believe it?!)

YAY! I’m so excited because I just got my first Paperbook Swap book in the mail: What Every Mom Needs. In short, this book shows us moms how to be great moms without forgetting about ourselves.

I finished reading the introduction and laughed at nearly every page - I felt as though I were reading my thoughts on paper!

Here are a few excerpts from the introduction that I can relate to:

* “I need affirmation that the choices I have made are worth it, especially when I cleaned the kitchen floor for the third time that day…”

* “Staying at home with my new baby made me feel like I wasn’t ‘doing’ anything, even though I had never worked so hard in my life.”

* “She never came close to finishing the to-dos on her list.”

* “A photo of herself with her work friends…’We sure had some fun days together. I miss them.’”

*  “We’d rather go to the grocery store alone - and at eight o’clock at night - than wrestle our two year old into her jammies.”

* “One mom comments, ‘My husband said that since he did not go to the gym today, he’d like to go on Saturday. I snapped. Was he totally out of his mind? When did our schedule ever dictate time for me to do something for myself? I never leave my children’s side 24/7.’” (Now granted, Michael is VERY good about watching the girls…I just can’t bring myself to have *me time*…I’ve heard I need to get over that…lol)

* “Mothering matters. It’s one of the most significant undertakings we can ever begin. It shapes our world, our family, and ourselves. Whew! No wonder we’re tired…And no wonder we overlook ourselves in the process.”

(This one didn’t make me laugh, but it struck me deeply)

* “We need to define the worth of mothering. It is not measured by a paycheck or promotion. Instead, the value of mothering is in knowing that you, and only you, are the mother your child needs. God has chosen you for the job. No one else in the world can mean as much to your child as you.”

I will definitely enjoy reading this book!

So here it is - three days since my last blog post! WOW! I have much to share…

I’ve picked up the last Bible study book that I never finished (Couples in the Bible) and have begun to do a lesson each week. I completed lesson three last week (see…I have a habit of starting things and not finishing them…) and it made me chuckle…okay, laugh out loud really. Why? It was the story of Lot and his wife. In a nutshell, Abraham and Lot were of the same family and when their households became too large to travel together, Abraham let Lot choose where he wanted to settle first. Of course, Lot chose the most fertile land near Sodom (a thriving but sinful city) and Abraham got stuck with the leftovers. Later, when God sent angels to warn Lot and his family to flee before God destroyed the town, Lot was hesitant. Even his wife looked back at the city as they were leaving (she was then turned into a pilar of salt!). Lot loved God but still gave into worldly desires. He was double-minded.

Geez…how many times has my lack of faith caused me to focus on worldly things (you know, the “oh I can do it myself”) rather than on God and His promise? Or, how many times have I chosen to do things I wanted to do rather than choosing to pray or do things God’s way? Tooooo many to count! Lord, I thank You for your grace!

So then Sunday morning rolls around. We went with my friend, Carrie (who has three boys about a year or two ahead of each of my girls). What was the pastor preaching about? Choosing the way we live. Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (NLT) But still, we have free will…the choice is up to us. Our lives can either be self-centered (focusing on our wants and desires) or our lives can be God centered (having confidence and utmost faith in God).

Wow, when God wants to make a point, He doesn’t hold back!

So after these many convictions from God about what I’m choosing in my life, I’m confused…lol. Honestly, I felt convicted to not blog as much or spend as much time on the computer in order to make time with God in prayer…I got that one, really, I did. But these extra two convictions…my Bible study just HAPPENED to be about separating from the world and the pastor’s sermon just HAPPENED to be about who’s way we can choose to follow in our lives. I think not. God is really orchestrating something here and I just have to find out what. Lord, I pray you open my eyes to what it is You want me to see. And as it says in Philippians 2:13, please continue to give me the desire to do your will!

I think the last time I won something was in third grade from Pizza Hut. They had a coloring contest and I won a “Land Before Time” Little Foot stuffed animal. Obviously, it’s been a while…lol.

But my luck has turned around. I am this weeks winner of Mandi’s Favorite Things: I won a subscription to both Family Time & Wondertime. I’m super excited because they both are loaded with recipes and crafts, which I’m always on the hunt for. The girls and I are going to have SO much fun - thanks Mandi!!!

Now onto contest #3…what you’d think I’d give up when my luck is this good? Nah This week’s winner will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to CurrClick: a site where you can download curriculum that is organized by subjects, age, price, you name it. With my “near to perfectionist” type personality, I just love looking through the different categories that are organized so well All you have to do is visit CurrClick and choose the product(s) you love the most. Then go back to Mandi’s site and leave a comment with your product choice, your name and a way for her to contact you if you win! Also, if you blog about this contest and come back and leave her a comment with a link to the post, you will receive THREE additional entries. Additionally, if you tell someone about the contest and they mention your name in their entry, you will receive an additional entry as well. WOW!

Why are you still reading this…go go go!

As of this afternoon, I can officially cross off “Read #8: The Mark” from my “Things to Accomplish” list. I started reading this book two weeks ago, however I began the Left Behind Series about a year and a half ago. To be honest, I go through spurts: reading, knitting, cooking…and since the Anouk pattern is on my bad list (it’s taken longer than expected and even though I’m halfway through, the back is IDENTICAL to the front…which just bores me at the moment), I thought I’d finish up this book. It has been an exciting read and has reminded me of thankful I am to be where I am in my Christian faith. For those of you who are not familiar with the Left Behind Series, it is about the “Rapture of the Saints–in which Christians are swept to heaven and unbelievers are left behind to endure the Antichrist’s Tribulation.” (courtesy of www.amazon.com). So now the question is, do I finish up Corinne’s Anouk dress, work on Lilli’s summer tank, or start book #9: Desecration ? Hmm…I think I’ll sleep on it

 
God speaks to us in His time and His way and I am thankful for it. I am so thankful to have a gracious and loving God. I am so thankful that He helps me, His child, to see the lies Satan tries to deceive me with. I am just so thankful!!!It’s amazing how many times Satan tries to deceive me on a daily basis.

Take today for example:

1) “You’re not pretty enough.” - Lie from advertisements in magazines at the checkout lane (which I’ve trained myself to not even look at…because who cares who is anorexic or obese in Hollywood?!)
2) “You shouldn’t have to wait patiently for the light to turn green…go ahead get frustrated!” - Lie when I was waiting at that intersection of Amherst Street & Merrimans Lane…you know, when the left hand light skips your lane and you have to wait a whole other rotation.
3) “You’re not a good mother.” - The most recent lie from a conversation where I was told how to parent my daughter. (lol)

There are some other one’s, but these three lies are the one’s I’ve been praying about how to deal with for the past two years. It’s amazing how God will speak to us in His time, not ours. This past September, prayers #1 & #3 were answered. My small group started reading  “Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free, ” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. In all of her books, she quotes Scripture and applies it to today’s world. Now, I’ve I read and re-read the same Scripture she quotes, on previous occasions. But this time, God switched on a light bulb….I’ve even been known to say, “Duuuuh!” as I read. I’m happy to say, and I give thanks to God through our Lord Jesus Christ for this, lies #1 & #3 are no longer an issue for me. They are easily seen and easily discarded….woo hoo!

Prayer #2 was answered last night…through Morgan Freeman. Michael and I watched “Evan Almighty.” (Yes, even though we do not watch television, we do watch movies. Netflix is so convenient and they have a parental ratings and reviews section that I enjoy using ) Overall, the movie was cute and made you feel all warm and fuzzy at the end. However, I would not suggest this to anyone wanting to have a biblically sound lesson on “Noah’s Ark” (Here is a Christian based review on the movie). One scene really spoke to me - I even had a “Duuuuh!” moment. God (played by Morgan Freeman) said, “When a person prays for patience, does God give them patience, or the opportunity to be patient?” Really - did I think my Father God would just whip up some patience to zap into me? This made me look at the situation from a parental point of view: Is Lilli going to learn how to do a back handspring on the balance beam after one gymnastics class? Absolutely not…but with the opportunity to practice in her lessons, I know she will nail it one day! Is Corinne going to up and walk if I’ve been carrying her around on my hip all day? Absolutely not…but with the opportunity for her to hold my finger as she practices walking, she will be running around before I know it! So bring on the impatient moments and the put downs…let me show you what I’ve got! I’ve got God’s Truth and that can crush any lie or deceit thrown at me! (double woo hoo!)

 

John 8:32
     “…the Truth will set you free.”