The Pacific

Even though Scott and I have never been in the military we love to watch military based films.  Whether they are based on true stories or not or are a documentary it doesn't matter we love to watch them.  Recently HBO came out with a 10 part mini series called The Pacific. It follows 3 Marines during World War 2.  We are hooked.  There is one guy in the mini series they call Sledge.  He is a follower of God and his faith is really being tested has he faces the nightmares of war.  We still have a few more parts to watch so I'm not sure how he makes out in the end but I will let you know.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ tomorrow please remember those men and women that are serving our country both here at home and over seas.  Please ask God to watch over them, protect them and draw close to them.

Until next time~

Such a long week.

It's been such a long week that I don't even know where to start or what to write about. I've been really trying to make sure that I have some one on one time with God each day.  It's just tough when the girls are up and the chaos they bring makes it hard to concentrate.  With Christmas less than a week away I'm making sure that we keep the reason for the season right in front of us. The girls have seen me volunteering at church.  Mackenzie even helped greet this morning by welcoming those coming into the building.  We are going to make some more goodies for the neighbors while she is on Christmas break from school.  And I think that I am going to make a cake for celebrate the birth of Jesus on Saturday.

Earlier in the week Mackenzie and I had a very nice conversation on the way to school.  She asked me if I knew of anyone that doesn't believe in God.  I told that yes I did. Her Uncle Rob, Aunt Heather and cousin Riley.  Her response - So that means they won't go to heaven when they die.  I let her know that she is correct.  With a confidence in her voice that spoke beyond her years she tells me - Well, I believe in God.  I was so happy to hear her say that my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.  Mackenzie is now at the age where she questions everything.  And I am so happy to be able to have these open conversations with her.

For the past few days I've had this unsettling feeling that God wants me to do something.  I just can't quite put my finger on what it is he needs me for. I think I might know what it is but I'm not sure how to go about making it happen.  As I continue to read The Purpose Driven Life each day clarity hasn't come to me yet.  I know that God will put me where he needs me when he needs me.  So in the meantime I need to make sure my ears are open to hear his whispers.  I'll let you know if God hits me upside the head with the answer. =)

Until next time~

Oh, how I love the Christmas season.

Hi everyone,

Sorry that I haven't written in awhile.  We've been busy getting ready for Christmas.  Last week the girls and I decorated cookies to take to our wonderful neighbors right next door.  They hold a special place in our hearts, especially this time of year.  See, we do not own a snow blower, just a plain ol' snow shovel.  With the winters we have been having the past couple of years we really get a workout shoveling.  When we get a good amount of snow they are always right there snow blowing our driveway before we even think about moving the snow. They don't do it because we ask, they are just great people and do it out of the kindness of their heart.

So the girls and I made them some cookies.  The first night we went to deliver them they weren't home.  Mackenzie was so sad.  She is such a sweet girl and she wanted to thank them for helping us out.  Mackenzie did get to deliver the cookies the next night.  She was so proud of the cookies her and her sister had decorated.  I'm sure that our neighbors will be getting a lot of cookies this snow season.

Yesterday, I made gingerbread men for the first time ever, from scratch.  It was also the first time I actually ate one.  I told Kennedy the night before that we were going to make them.  She was up at 6:30 yesterday morning wanting to make cookies. She had to wait of course.  Kennedy was such a good helper cutting out the cookies and even helped with decorating and clean-up.

All this talk about cookie making reminds me to stop and take in the little things this time of year.  A kind neighbor who helps you out, a grateful child and the wonders God creates.  The snow is falling really hard right now and the city is going to be at a stand still tomorrow. (We are forecasted to get up to 10 inches tonight.)  I hope everyone takes to the time to take in the little things.  God is so amazing and his beauty is all around us we just need to take the time to see it.

Until next time ~

You are not an accident.

While we are in between books for our Life Group I have decided to finally read through the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  I have started this book a couple times but usually gave up by the 4th of 5th day.  Seeing how the we aren't starting the next book until after the holidays this is a good time to take this 40 day journey.

The topic for the day I just read deals with accepting that I am not an accident.  God designed me the way I am for a specific reason.  This is a hard thing for me to accept.  

There is a poem in this chapter that sums it up nicely.  It is by Russell Kelfer

You are who you are for a reason

You're part of an intricate plan.

You're a precious and perfect unique design,

Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.

Our God make no mistake.

He knit you together within the womb,

You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,

And no matter how you may feel,

They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,

And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.

And God wept that it hurt you so;

But it was allowed to shape your heart

So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,

You've been formed by the Master's rod.

You are who you are, beloved,

Because there is a God!

Until next time~

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

I love, love, love the Christmas season.  I've always loved it.  When I was little I was just mesmerized by the Christmas lights and how Santa somehow snuck into our house on Christmas Eve and put our presents under the tree.  I remember going to a Christmas service at the church my dad was a part of.  The wonder of us all coming together to celebrate God given us his only son.

Now that I have children of my own I want them to also feel the wonder and amazement of the Christmas season.  I don't want them to grow up to only remember the presents that Santa brought them.  I hope that they remember the warm feeling they get when we pick out gifts to give to our loved ones.  The sense of joy as we bake cookies to give to our neighbors.  But most importantly I want them to remember why we celebrate Christmas.  We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, God's only son.  Who came so that we could be forgiven.

Today we picked out our Christmas tree.  We bundled the girls up and loaded them into the car.  As we were driving to tree farm Scott and I were discussing some of the Christmas plans.  When we got to the farm we began our search for the perfect tree for our living room.  Kennedy would of been content with a short little tree,  in fact, it's really what she wanted.  It didn't take us long to find the tree for this year.  We cut it down, dragged it to the car, actually Scott dragged it to the car.  Scott strapped it to our little red Alero and we drove home.  I dug out our decorations for the tree and we began to turn the pine tree into our 2010 Christmas tree.  I love decorating the tree.  Reliving the memories and significance of each ornament is one of my favorite parts.  Tonight after the girls go to bed Scott and I are going to sit back, enjoy a nice drink and just be together.  Here's to a great Holiday season.

Until next time ~

Whew, so glad that I did.

Yesterday Scott and I spent all day getting ready for a very much anticipated Thanksgiving dinner with Scott's family.  There would be 11 total people around the table to share a wonderful meal.  Those coming included Scott's father, Randy, Scott's brothers, Justin, Nico and Christian, Nico's girlfriend Jess, Scott's Grandma Mary and Scott's Uncle Doug.  Scott spent the day cooking and preparing the food while I cleaned up the house and tended to the Kennedy and Lexi. (Mackenzie was spending Thanksgiving with her dad.)

The week before I kept seeing a lot of Thanksgiving related TV shows where someone would say a prayer out loud before the meal.  I just knew in my heart that this is something that I wanted to do before we all shared our meal.  I brought the idea up to Scott and he said "That's fine, as long as you say it."  I wasn't surprised by his answer at all.  All day Wednesday into Thursday I prayed about it.  Asking God to not let me chicken out and give me the right words to say. See, I've never said a prayer out loud in front of anyone before.  And here I was going to do it for the first time in front of Scott's family.  I know that most of them are believers.  But it's been a hard year for some of the others since Harla past away.  Their faith has been shaken severely and I think they may have given up hope that God still cares about them.

As dinner was close to being done and ready to be enjoyed my nerves started to get to me.  But I kept hearing God telling me to do it. The world needs more prayer. I knew what I wanted to say, I had been rehearsing it all day. Right as dinner was coming out of the oven I called everyone into the living room.  No one but Scott and I knew what was going to happen.  They were quite surprised when I said that we were going to pray before we eat.  (We had never done that before at a family gathering.)  It was short prayer, I said how we were thankful for the opportunity for us all to be together to share a wonderful meal.  That it's been a hard year as we were missing Harla but we knew that she was with us in spirit.  It's been a great fall as Scott's brother Justin is back in our lives.  I ended by saying that we were thankful for all that God is going to provide for us in the future.

Last night after everyone left and Scott and I reflected on the day he said that what I had said was very touching.  He even noticed that some of his family had gotten teary eyed. Whew, I did it.  You know what, when I finished a huge sense of peace came over me.  God lead me through it and I can't wait for the next time I get to say a prayer out loud again.

Until next time ~Anita

Transformation in progress.

Last week the ladies and I in our Friday morning Life Group finish the book The Miracle of Life Change by Chip Ingram.  It was a very good book.  I was challenged to think about things that don't normally cross my mind.  My relationship with God is definitely different, in a good way.

Like most followers of Christ I have my good days and my bad days.  I have days where I feel really close to God and days where I feel so far away I'm not sure how I'll ever get back.  I'm still amazed that no matter how many times I blow it God also takes me back, He longs for me to come back to Him.  To find comfort in his arms.

I still get distracted by the "got to do this" and "have to do that".  One thing that has helped me to keep things in the right order; God first then everything else, is by staying involved in the Life Group at church.  The ladies in my Friday morning group are truly amazing.  I've made friends and found mentors.  I am developing authentic relationships.  I know that I can share with these ladies what is inside my heart and I trust that they will not judge me.  They are there to listen, offer advice and help me to listen to God and hear His whispers.  

I know that I am still a work in progress.  But I also know this; God is always here to help me and guide me along the way.

Until next time ~ Anita