All 3 of my kids are dying for Super Bowl Sunday to get here. Every day this week they have been counting down the days. None of them are huge Cardinals or Steelers fans. Emma doesn't even like football. They are just all about the food! It is my tradition to make my homemade fried chicken on Super Bowl Sunday. I usually spend most of my day in the kitchen until the game starts. They have been asking about the Super Bowl since we got back from Colorado :). It makes me feel so good that they love my cooking so much - it definitely makes it fun to cook for them! I am going to try and remember when they are grown that I will still need to go to their houses on Super Bowl Sunday and make fried chicken!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Relationship Ramblings......
In the spirit of my New Year's resolution to be "second", one of my goals this year is to deal with some of the relationships in my life in a better manner. Watching Emma go through some 5th grade relationship issues this past week, I realized that we all have these struggles, regardless of our relationships or our age. It has had me thinking quite a bit. It is hard as a person to deal with my own relationships, nevertheless guide my 10 year old daughter on how to appropriately deal with her relationships!
This is what is in my head...relationships. The joy, the pain. The highs, the lows. All the in-betweens that come in relationships. Marriage, friendship, family, acquaintances, complete strangers. We relate with people everyday. We are relational by nature. God created us in our very core to be relational. First and foremost with Him, then with others. I think relationships can bring us extreme joy, but also intense hurt. To let yourself be vulnerable with someone, to open up your heart to be loved, also risks being hurt.
I've been dealing with this with God for a bit now. About why He allows some people to come, take a piece of our heart, and walk away with it. Why some people are only here for a season and then He allows them to move on. Why a goodbye is so hard when someone you love goes away and other times the person goes nowhere, but the relationship is lost, which makes it that much harder. If we are created to be relational, why are relationship so hard sometimes?
NO relationship will ever be perfect with another person because of sin in our world and our own sin nature. The only perfect relationship we will ever have is with Christ. He will never leave us or forsake us, He will never hurt our feelings, He always looks out for our best. He is the true definition of what love is and what trust is. We can completely let ourselves go with Him, and KNOW that He'll never, ever hurt us.
I need that. I need to know that I'm good enough for Him. I need to know He is pleased with me. He created me to be the way I am...which means He likes who I am, even if I feel others do not! This is a lesson I am trying to pass onto my children. He truly knows me, the real me...and doesn't run away. He knows my thoughts, He knows my dreams, my heartaches, my fears. He KNOWS me. Intimately. He is safe. I know that He won't hurt me, ever. He can fill the hole in my heart that other relationships can leave empty.
I've said many times, after being hurt, that I am done. We all know this isn't realistic, but we've all been there. Emma is there right now. We've all had those moments that hurt so bad we declare that we are never going to let anyone hurt us like that again. But...in order to receive love, you have to give love. Which requires us to be vulnerable. That's hard.
So, that's where I am right now. Trying to work this all out. Figure it all out and in the meantime just leaning on Him. We are helpless alone, but with Christ we can do all things. I might not do them perfect or even well at all, but to Him...my efforts are seen and He is proud of me. I pray that during this year, He will work through me in my relationships and help this part of my life. And I pray He will do the same for my children as well, and that they may navigate this area of their lives more smoothly than I do!
This is what is in my head...relationships. The joy, the pain. The highs, the lows. All the in-betweens that come in relationships. Marriage, friendship, family, acquaintances, complete strangers. We relate with people everyday. We are relational by nature. God created us in our very core to be relational. First and foremost with Him, then with others. I think relationships can bring us extreme joy, but also intense hurt. To let yourself be vulnerable with someone, to open up your heart to be loved, also risks being hurt.
I've been dealing with this with God for a bit now. About why He allows some people to come, take a piece of our heart, and walk away with it. Why some people are only here for a season and then He allows them to move on. Why a goodbye is so hard when someone you love goes away and other times the person goes nowhere, but the relationship is lost, which makes it that much harder. If we are created to be relational, why are relationship so hard sometimes?
NO relationship will ever be perfect with another person because of sin in our world and our own sin nature. The only perfect relationship we will ever have is with Christ. He will never leave us or forsake us, He will never hurt our feelings, He always looks out for our best. He is the true definition of what love is and what trust is. We can completely let ourselves go with Him, and KNOW that He'll never, ever hurt us.
I need that. I need to know that I'm good enough for Him. I need to know He is pleased with me. He created me to be the way I am...which means He likes who I am, even if I feel others do not! This is a lesson I am trying to pass onto my children. He truly knows me, the real me...and doesn't run away. He knows my thoughts, He knows my dreams, my heartaches, my fears. He KNOWS me. Intimately. He is safe. I know that He won't hurt me, ever. He can fill the hole in my heart that other relationships can leave empty.
I've said many times, after being hurt, that I am done. We all know this isn't realistic, but we've all been there. Emma is there right now. We've all had those moments that hurt so bad we declare that we are never going to let anyone hurt us like that again. But...in order to receive love, you have to give love. Which requires us to be vulnerable. That's hard.
So, that's where I am right now. Trying to work this all out. Figure it all out and in the meantime just leaning on Him. We are helpless alone, but with Christ we can do all things. I might not do them perfect or even well at all, but to Him...my efforts are seen and He is proud of me. I pray that during this year, He will work through me in my relationships and help this part of my life. And I pray He will do the same for my children as well, and that they may navigate this area of their lives more smoothly than I do!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”- Matthew 7:7-8
I wasn't having the best of mornings......I received this as my Verse of the Day. It reminded me to trust in my Heavenly Father and take all things to Him.
I wasn't having the best of mornings......I received this as my Verse of the Day. It reminded me to trust in my Heavenly Father and take all things to Him.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Girls' Night
The boys were gone tonight, so Emma and I had a girls' night! It was too much fun. I picked Emma up after pointe class and we got pedicures and then went out to eat. My sweet daughter is at such a fun age. Ten years old just about killed me :), but there are some advantages to having a daughter I can do fun girly things with! I really enjoy hearing all about the 5th grade. It is fun to have some alone time together to talk. I truly treasure these mother/daughter times and look forward to many to come!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
It's Definitely Different Than Baseball!!!!
The Sampson Spartans are 3-0! The boys are playing basketball for the first time this year. They are having a blast, but we are still figuring out this basketball thing! They are getting lots of running in up and down the court. Nicholas scored his first basket on Saturday. However, neither Nicholas nor Dylan are the most aggressive boys on the court :)! They are having a lot of fun though, even with having to juggle basketball and baseball practices. It is a treat to watch them out of their element and figuring out a new sport!
My grandmother, aunt, and her friend came to visit from South Carolina. The kids so enjoyed being doted on by family! They got to come watch them last night. There were a lot of laughs for everyone. The Spartans won 14-9. Basketball at this age isn't very high scoring!!!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
I Am Second
A friend introduced me to a new website that I wanted to share with you. It touched me so deeply, and I know it will touch you as well.
I have been giving thought to my goals for 2009, and have found myself struggling to come up with a meaningful one. After seeing this, I know that my goal is to be second. I want to grow in Christ even more this year. I want to use that to be the wife, mother, daughter, and friend that I should be - that I fall so short of most of the time. I want to remember that Jesus loves ME, not what other people perceive of me.
"I Am Second" is a site full of short testimonies from several Believers. Some are faces you and I readily recognize and others are new. But each shares the powerful story of Christ's impact on their life. I encourage you to take a minute and go watch a few.
I haven't had the chance to see them all yet, but so far my favorite is from a guy named Nate Larkin. His story is one of real transparency. And I admire that. I respect that. And I guess it resonated with me so deeply because God taught us about transparency in 2007/2008. A different kind of transparency that Nate's. He taught me about judgment, patience, and perceptions. Perceptions of those you think know you. And the surprises in people, both positive and negative. The challenges that came into my life over that time period changed my way of thinking forever. I learned that only God knew us, knew our hearts, and could deliver us from our worldly troubles.
I learned of the great freedom that comes from walking honestly with God. The liberty that comes from bringing your "real self" to the table. How God can take something terrible in your life and use it for good. That the hardships in our lives are blessings because, as Nate points out, they help us realize that God is the center of everything. As Nate puts it, "I don't think I ever really met Jesus until I stepped out of my 'church persona' and became another broken, desperate man." The Lord used Nate's testimony to encourage me because I can't relate to the details of Nate's struggle. I don't personally know his vice. But yet I still understand. I can relate to his hurt, to his desperation, to his Hope.
There is risk in transparency.
Some will misunderstand.
Some will jump to wrong conclusions.
Many will judge.
Not everyone that hears your story, or my story, will be able to relate to the details.
But God can still use us.
He will use you.
He will right the wrongs in the end, and carry you through your battles. Trust in Him.
This website encouraged me and gave me renewed focus. I pray it does so for you as well.
I have been giving thought to my goals for 2009, and have found myself struggling to come up with a meaningful one. After seeing this, I know that my goal is to be second. I want to grow in Christ even more this year. I want to use that to be the wife, mother, daughter, and friend that I should be - that I fall so short of most of the time. I want to remember that Jesus loves ME, not what other people perceive of me.
"I Am Second" is a site full of short testimonies from several Believers. Some are faces you and I readily recognize and others are new. But each shares the powerful story of Christ's impact on their life. I encourage you to take a minute and go watch a few.
I haven't had the chance to see them all yet, but so far my favorite is from a guy named Nate Larkin. His story is one of real transparency. And I admire that. I respect that. And I guess it resonated with me so deeply because God taught us about transparency in 2007/2008. A different kind of transparency that Nate's. He taught me about judgment, patience, and perceptions. Perceptions of those you think know you. And the surprises in people, both positive and negative. The challenges that came into my life over that time period changed my way of thinking forever. I learned that only God knew us, knew our hearts, and could deliver us from our worldly troubles.
I learned of the great freedom that comes from walking honestly with God. The liberty that comes from bringing your "real self" to the table. How God can take something terrible in your life and use it for good. That the hardships in our lives are blessings because, as Nate points out, they help us realize that God is the center of everything. As Nate puts it, "I don't think I ever really met Jesus until I stepped out of my 'church persona' and became another broken, desperate man." The Lord used Nate's testimony to encourage me because I can't relate to the details of Nate's struggle. I don't personally know his vice. But yet I still understand. I can relate to his hurt, to his desperation, to his Hope.
There is risk in transparency.
Some will misunderstand.
Some will jump to wrong conclusions.
Many will judge.
Not everyone that hears your story, or my story, will be able to relate to the details.
But God can still use us.
He will use you.
He will right the wrongs in the end, and carry you through your battles. Trust in Him.
This website encouraged me and gave me renewed focus. I pray it does so for you as well.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
We're Back.....
Happy New Year to everyone!! I wish everyone a blessed and prosperous 2009. I know we have high hopes for the year!
I promised to blog from Breckenridge, but didn't! I have attached a slideshow to the side of all of our fun over Christmas. We had a fantastic time.....lots of skiing. It wasn't nearly as cold as last Christmas. Our last week was like Spring skiing! We enjoyed the sun along with the beautiful sites. Unfortunately, Marcelo caught bronchitis when he got there, so he had to sit out a bit. However, he joined us for the last few days of skiing and made up for lost time. He even took Emma up the T-Bar lift to do some new black runs which made her trip! I was just proud of myself for taking 3 kids skiing by myself for the days before he got there and while he was sick. I even did well driving on the snow! While we were there, we had some fun in Downtown Denver as well. We hit the sites, including a fun trip to the Lucky Strikes Bowling Alley. We made lots of memories on this trip. It is such a precious time for us to have our family together with the winter wonderland to play in. We all get so sad when it is time to leave. I'm not sure I've stopped crying yet! My heart is definitely in Colorado......
I promised to blog from Breckenridge, but didn't! I have attached a slideshow to the side of all of our fun over Christmas. We had a fantastic time.....lots of skiing. It wasn't nearly as cold as last Christmas. Our last week was like Spring skiing! We enjoyed the sun along with the beautiful sites. Unfortunately, Marcelo caught bronchitis when he got there, so he had to sit out a bit. However, he joined us for the last few days of skiing and made up for lost time. He even took Emma up the T-Bar lift to do some new black runs which made her trip! I was just proud of myself for taking 3 kids skiing by myself for the days before he got there and while he was sick. I even did well driving on the snow! While we were there, we had some fun in Downtown Denver as well. We hit the sites, including a fun trip to the Lucky Strikes Bowling Alley. We made lots of memories on this trip. It is such a precious time for us to have our family together with the winter wonderland to play in. We all get so sad when it is time to leave. I'm not sure I've stopped crying yet! My heart is definitely in Colorado......
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