Thankfulness and Worries

First of all, an update on DH...he finally passed his second kidney stone yesterday around 1:15 pm. He said it was very painful and today his body is sore. Last night is the first night he has been able to sleep without a pain pill on board so we are both thankful for that. I made sure to say a little prayer of thanks to God this morning for helping us get through this difficult time.

Besides that I seem to be having some inner demons I am wrestling with. It seems to be a reoccuring thing with me. I get into a wonderful situation and I think that everyone is perfect, going the way it should be and then not too long into it, I start having doubts about my decision and my place. I have never been one of those people who has lots and lots of friends. I have a couple of really good friends and unfortunately, none of them live in the metroplex - they either live in Austin, Houston or Lubbock area. I am trying to branch out and meet some new people but I am apprehensive. For example, DH and I are now members of our church, Keystone, and as such you are asked to volunteer your time and effort to support the church as well as join a community group. A community group is a group Bible study and fellowship time out of a fellow member's house. DH and I love our group - everyone is great but I feel like we don't quite "click" yet, if you know what I mean.

Both DH and I aren't very outgoing - we keep pretty much to ourselves and while some people think we can be described as standoffish, we are really just shy. We aren't quite sure what to say and this fall we are one of only 3 new couples to join this group. Everyone else has been together for at least a year if not more so they all get along fabulously. I don't know...I am just dealing with this "demon" of not feeling like I get along with the other wives in the group. Don't get me wrong, everyone is WAY nice and I know they don't know that I feel this way....I will just need to pray extra hard and even more so, pay attention to our pastor's talk this weekend on insecurity. What do you think? Any recommendations on overcoming these thoughts? Any help would be greatly appreciated!



(picture borrowed from All Posters)

Negativity

The topic at my church this week was "Negativity". Again, I was so surprised and enlightened by the sermon Brandon gave. I have 2 pages of notes that I took - I knew I had to post it on here. I hope you gain some wonderful pointers just like I did. Brandon, our pastor, opened with Philippians 2:14-15.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."

Brandon went on to say that our world is full of brokenness and its own struggles so why would we want to bring even more negativity into the world. The reason why we do it? Because it is natural to be negative and we really must focus hard on it to let go on the negativeness. Also, it is important to remember just because negativity is natural, it is NOT a part of your BEST life. A perfect example of this is in Numbers 13-14 - the story inside is when Moses is leading the Israelites thru the wilderness to the Promised Land. He sent 12 men on a recon mission to see the "Promised Land" and report back to them what the "Land of Milk and Honey" God promised them looks like.

Upon returning, the scouts reported that the land was inhabited by powerful, large people, even some descendants of Anak. They all started to complain and in Numbers 14:3, they say "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?" All the people saw was the negative - they did not even stop to think that God had a plan for them there and to trust in Him. God has a purpose for each of us but we tend to only see the obstacles. The bottom line is - Negativity robs you of the deep, inner happiness and the life that God has in store for you.

We all must try to remember that our happiness does NOT depend on our circumstances....circumstances will NEVER be perfect, ever. God is NOT neutral to our negativity - He hears all, He sees all - if you want an example of someone who had a real reason to complain, it was Jesus. Jesus was born with a death wish, every day of His life he was getting one step closer to his death on the cross but He did not complain. He prayed. So how do we overcome negativity?

Psalm 143:4-5 says "So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart withing me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done."

We first need to wash our MINDS with the word of God and begin to train our minds to see what God says. And then we must wash OURSELVES with the works of God. Pray to God for those obstacles but also give thanks to Him for all that He has done in our life so far. And then we will have the power for today and the hope for tomorrow.



This was an incredible message for me. Brandon really allowed me to see what my negativity does. Just like I wouldn't want to be Miss "Debbie Downer" to my spouse at the end of the day, why would I want to be that way to God? I will be praying hard to continue to improve in this area of my life. This past Friday morning, I had to take DH back to the hospital where he was diagnosed with another kidney stone. Instead of us focusing on the negative aspect of this, we are trying to see the things in which to be thankful - that this stone is 2 mm SMALLER than the last one, it is only 1 mm so there is a very good chance it will be passed on its own. One thing at a time and one prayer at a time....I hope each and every one of you have a blessed week!

(picture borrowed from The Flower Expert)

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today....Monday, September 15th

Outside My Window....not too bright, not too overcast but cool - I love it!

I am thinking....I need to find some inner drive and get all this filing done on my desk

I am thankful for....my house, safe from Ike, family and friends that survived Ike and for another week of having a steady job

From the kitchen....plans to test out some recipes for desserts since it is my weekend to bring them to our church community group

I am wearing.....khaki capris, pink striped polo and crocs flip flops

I am reading....finishing up Dark Curse by Christine Feehan, I picked it up on Saturday morning

I am hoping....that DH hears back from UNT on the jobs he applied for and that it will be good news

I am creating....some fall things, little by little - I made 2 autumn/fall cards yesterday

I am hearing....the faint hum of the printer and my fingers typing along on the keyboard

Around the house....little things to be picked up and put away

One of my favorite things....is having DH let me get totally absorbed in my book and read until I can't read anymore, without any complaints

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week....trying out a few dessert recipes, starting a Home Management Binder, laying out a detailed budget for DH and I to start and exercising 3 times

Here is a Picture Thought I Am Sharing With You:

Caption under picture says - "Wouldn't it be easier just to accept the fact that there are people out there who are better looking, smarter, wealthier and happier than you."

I am trying very hard to turn my worries and my thoughts, especially with this topic, over to God. This weekend at our church the topic of discussion was "Worry". I plan to post the teaching on it tomorrow.

(poster borrowed from All Posters)

Control Issues

This past weekend our church started a new series entitled "Help!" and yes, they are using The Beatles famous song at the intro. They did a good job of it too! The series is throughout the month of September and it is covering several topics or issues we wrestle with. The topic this past weekend was "control issues". Our pastor, Brandon, always does a terrific job covering any aspect that has to do with the topic and this was no different.

Brandon started out giving us some symptoms of how we can be "control freaks" or have "control issues".
- Do you tend to always resist help from others?
- Do you tend manipulate things and/or people towards your own agenda?
- Are you bothered by other people's ways of life, something opposite your own?
- Do you go to extremes to ensure that NOTHING EVER could go wrong on your watch, also known as being overprotective?

Ultimately, Brandon said that we are all somewhat of a control freak in some way for we want to be the boss, plain and simple. We want to have control over our lives and how they pan out but guess what? We can't possibly be in control. God is. Brandon also stated that he feels there are 2 main issues that fuel the "control freak" inside of each of us: either fear or distrust. Fear over what might happen if we don't have control or distrust that others can't do it as well as we can. Brandon went into more detail but he summed up the sermon with some unbelievably good points.

1) God has designed us to live with life, not with fear.
2) The greatest tragedy of being a "control freak" is not living the life God has in store for you
3) Overall, point blank, we (humans) are not made to control every aspect of our life. God made us, God has a plan, God knows where we are going before we do and to be cliche for a minute, "God is the driver's ed instructor and we are the first time driver getting ready for our final driving test". Sometimes God has to reach over and stop us, steady us, bring us back to the right path.

Brandon gave several Scripture passages throughout his sermon but two, in particular, really drove home to me:
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." Luke 9:24

And the BEST one of ALL:
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9


Are you really in Control?

(cartoon borrowed from Inkcinct)

Fall Giveaway!!

Head over to Colleen's blog, And Baby Makes Five, and enter to win her Fall Giveaway!!
Aren't the goodies just precious?? She made the witch plaque...I don't know about you but I am keeping my fingers crossed that I win the goodies! Sorry everyone else!!





GO THERE NOW - DON'T WAIT!! She will be drawing the winner next week!!

Simple Woman Daybook

For Today....Monday, September 8th, 2008

Outside My Window...looks to be another hot day in Texas, SO ready for the fall!

I am thinking....that I will follow my pastor's teaching on control issues this weekend and I will turn over my thoughts, worries or stresses to God today

I am thankful for....my husband's recovery - he finally passed the kidney stone Friday afternoon, thank the Lord!

From the kitchen....hoping to have a wonderful week of homemade meals - going to grocery store tonight, after work

I am wearing....black yoga type pants, gray wrap around shirt and black beaded sandals

I am reading....Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer little by little, part one is finished

I am hoping....that my hubby will find a new, more fulfilling job soon

I am creating....a Home Management Binder, hope to finish it this weekend

I am hearing....the a/c in my office and Josh Groban play on my iPod

Around the house....a few items to be picked up tonight and a master bedroom that needs to be finished so that our new house is totally unpacked and complete!

One of my favorite things....is hearing gentle reminders and plans for my life from our church sermons, friends' blogs or emails

A Few Plans for Rest of the Week....to get back onto Weight Watchers, exercising at least 3 times and planning out our meals - no more eating out!

Here is a Picture Thought I am Sharing With You:


(picture borrowed from All Posters)

Weekend Project #2 - House

Sorry for the delay in posting our second weekend project, our house. Hubby has had some setbacks with his kidney stone situation. He woke Wednesday morning, around 4:50am, doubled over in pain. Needless to say it was a hard day, full of rest and pain pills. We also moved in his urologist appt from Friday to Thursday and he had more xrays taken and an urine test. The urologist informed us that the kidney stone had moved, much lower, into the groin area but that it wasn't out yet. He recommended hubby continue drinking LOTS of water, resting and using the pain pills as needed. Also he wants us to call back next week and give an update and if hubby isn't better by then, then he wants to do a detailed ultrasound.

Thankfully, Friday afternoon, when I was at work, it seems that hubby passed most of the stone. He said it was the most intense pain he had ever experienced and wouldn't want to go through it again. I am making sure that hubby is still downing the water and resting but so far, no pain pills have been used today. I hope this is the last leg of this journey, for hubby and for me. Now, back to the house, we were finally able to really get cracking on it over Labor Day weekend and we have completed everything, except for the master bedroom. Here is what we have so far:


Formal Living Area and Formal Dining Area


The View as You Enter Our Home


Guest Hall Bathroom


View as You Enter the Office


My Area in Office for Scrapbooking, Bible Study, Etc.


Guest Bedroom


Hubby's "Play" Room for XBOX, Wii, Football, Etc.


The Kitchen, as viewed from the living room


Living Room, as viewed from Kitchen (sorry it is dark)

So the only things left to show you are the master bedroom/bath and the front of the house. I am planning to have those pictures done tomorrow to load up and show you. I know we have a lot of bare walls right now...we are working on that but not a bad start, I thought!! What do you think?

Weekend Projects

Hello everyone! Sorry for being MIA lately. I have been working on getting DH healthy and tackling some weekend projects during this nice long holiday weekend. First of all, I hope everyone had an enjoyable, relaxing weekend. DH has been feeling much better - thanks to the Lord and to all the many prayers. The last 2 days he has been more like himself. He has final check up appt on Friday with his urologist. We are hoping for final confirmation that this kidney stone has left us for good.

Besides that, DH decided that he wanted to paint our garage floor. I know, most of you are like "what? Paint the garage floor?" I was the same way. However, since our home was a model home, the builders' construction office was stationed in what is now our garage so the floor was completed messed up. Here is the before of our garage floor:

The Beginning


The Supplies


Me Painting Edges




The Final Garage Floor

DH and I were very thrilled with the results - it looks very nice and much cleaner! Our thighs and calves are screaming at us today from all the bending and painting but we think the results are well worth it. Weekend Project #1 Done!

Tomorrow I will post our second Weekend Project - Finishing and Putting Together our House! Finally!