Birthday wishes!

Just discovered it is my friend's birthday today (or maybe it was yesterday). Jenn and I met about two months ago. God blessed me immediately when he placed this fabulous woman in my path. I look forward to getting to know her and her sweet family better.

Happy Birthday, Jenn! Wishing you a very blessed year.

Love,

Lisa

Thankful Thursday

It is Thursday and hard to believe the last day of January! Wow, where does time go?

Today I am very thankful for having a husband whom I COMPLETELY trust with Lindy. In fact, I think it is safe to say he takes just as good or better care of Lindy than I do. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend our church ladies retreat. I didn't leave the house with a long list of what Don needed to do with her. I just left and didn't worry about them one time. They were in my mind and heart because I love and miss them; however, I didn't fret about the situation because I knew without a doubt they were doing great. He was being her father, not babysitting. (Slight pet peeve of mine when people say that.)

I know this kind of peace is not the case for everyone and I certainly don't want to take this fact for granted. Don's skills as a father are a huge blessing to me, Lindy, and will be to our next daughter.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the very special call I received two years ago --January 25, 2006-- and for having a God who knows what is best for me. As I listen to Lindy chatter about all day long following me from room to room, it is hard for me to believe at this point two years ago, I hadn't even seen her precious face. She was a dream. She was a prayer. Although she was real, she didn't yet feel real to me. That all changed at 11:06 when I got a call telling me we had a daughter and within 90 minutes of the call seeing this sweet face...

For some very strange reason, I got to thinking about a line from the Garth Brooks song, "Unanswered Prayers." The line that came to me was, "...Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." In a big way I don't agree with that line because I believe God answers ALL prayers but maybe not how we want them answered. So, as I think about our journey to Lindy I acknowledge how some of God's greatest gifts are through prayers answered HIS way and not ours. If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't have this face to see later this morning...

What are you thankful for today?

Seven random things

My friend Shannon tagged me last week challenging me to share seven random or weird facts about myself. I don't always do these because I'm not that great at coming up with any interesting answers, but here goes:

1. I am afraid to watch horseraces and airshows because I fear witnessing a terrible mishap.
2. You know that LBD (little black dress) every woman is supposed to have? I don't have one.
3. I am extremely disappointed when I attend a birthday party or shower just to find that the cake has whipped frosting, rather than buttercream or cream cheese frosting. No cake for me, please.
4. I have never seen or read Gone With the Wind.
5. I have never made a homemade pie crust (pastry not graham cracker).
6. I tear recipes out of magazines and newspapers but will probably never get around to using them.
7. I am not very fond of the color gold for decorating, wearing (YUK), or team colors; however, I do like it for jewelry. Silver, platinum, and white gold are great, too... :o)

There's a little about me. I tag anyone else who would like to share...

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday! This week I thought I'd share an email I received earlier this week that really hit home...

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we cannot. Whatever your cross, whatever your pain, there will always be sunshine, after the rain.... Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall; But God's always ready, to answer your call.... He knows every heartache, sees every tear, a word from His lips, can calm every fear... Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night, But suddenly vanish, dawn's early light... The Savior is waiting, somewhere above, to give you His grace, and send you His love...

We all have different crosses to bear. Those crosses--although not pleasant--help shape and mold who we are. We can choose to make the most out of them, learn from them, and become a better person as a result. I am trying to learn to be thankful for the crosses I have and remember that none of my crosses are as great as the price paid for me AT the cross.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1: 2-4

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

I'll admit, I've been feeling a bit blah and uninspired. I think I have been dwelling more on what I don't have (or all that I want), rather than what I have. I have also been bemoaning who I wish I could be, rather than who I am. It bothers me when I allow myself to get like this and am not actively demonstrating my thankfulness to God or those around me.

Today I needed to spend some time reading some of the words of thanks in the Bible uttered by other men and women. The psalms always have some great words of thanksgiving and praise. Here is one that really spoke to me and I hope it will speak to you, as well.

Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

What are you thankful for today?