This week has been rather interesting for me.  I feel as though there has been a slight transformation of my mind.  God is good.  He has taken a situation this week to reveal to me some amazingly powerful truths.  Perhaps a revelation that to the next person is obvious.  Things that I've known but have become real to me just now.  I thank God for this week and the things He has shown me.
He is coming for us soon.  Isn't that amazing?  I truly believe like never before that He is coming for His church in my life time. Wow.  It blows my mind that He has chosen us to live in these times.  These are times that  are going to shake our world.  Times that are serious.  Serious to make our lives right with Him and serious to make Him known. 
My eyes were opened up to the realness of His coming for us and also to His judgement.  I was reading in Revelations about judgement day.  For some reason - I can't remember ever really learning that this is huge.  Judging the life that we've lived.  God is a gracious God and so loving. He wants nothing more than for us to understand and grasp His love for us.  It is by grace that we are saved.  But He will also look at everything we have done or didn't do.  Our character.  Our motives.  Our actions. 1 Cor 3:12- 15 says "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss;  he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."   That's pretty deep and has challenged me.
Lord, as hard as it is, take me through Your refining fire now so that I can stand Your tests at judgement before you.  Change my heart.
A great book I've been thinking about this week but can't seem to find is "the Final Quest" by Rick Joyner.  I highly recommend this!

Yesterday was your first day for school ever.  Your first day of Junior Kindergarten.  You have been so exctied about this day for a long, long time.  Last year this time you were already watching the school buses drive by our house and wishing you were on it.  You have been begging me for months to go on a bus and to go to school.  It has been a long awaited time for you!
So, we got your Rapunzel backpack and lunchbag which you desperately wanted for school and packed them all up the night before.  You helped me make your lunch too.  You were jumping with excitement as I told you "Just one more sleep". 
You got yourself dressed and out on the front porch we waited together.  I asked you if you'd miss me.  You said "no".  I asked if you were excited, "Yes".  If you were scared, "No".  You couldn't wait!  And then we saw the bus coming.  I could see your excitement and for the first time ever, I could see you trying to contain yourself from screaming and jumping for joy.  It was so cute and I was so very excited for you!  I was happy that you were going because I know it's what you need right now.  Of course I missed you but I knew you'd be having fun and you are thriving to learn more than I can give you right now.  Kaiyah missed you a lot.  She wanted to go with you...but off on the bus you went and we waved goodbye to you.  What a big girl you have become.  This has happened SO fast.  You amaze me.  You have such a strength about you that's undeniable.  Challenging at times but sure will be amazing to see worked out in you as you continue to grow.
Now...here is where Mommy had a melt down....I was waiting outside for your bus to come...and there it was!  I had my phone out to take a picture of you getting out.  But, no Madison.  I got on the bus thinking maybe you fell asleep.  I searched the bus up and down the isle calling your name.  No Madison!  Now the panic sunk in.  The bus driver was on the radio calling the school...and it was a LONG wait to hear back.  And finally a lady's voice came on the radio - another bus driver saying, "I have a Princess 1 on my bus but there are no parents at my last stop, etc"  So, she was directed to  your stop...and there you were.  The last one on the bus.  You were put on the wrong bus!  Oh, but it scared your Mommy so much!  I broke down after I got you inside...so, sorry about my tears as I'm sure you didn't understand all that! 
But you had a wonderful day and made new friends.  I love you and can't wait to see what this year will bring for you.  You are a blessing to this family!

What's important to You?

What is important to You?
For me, I have a lot on my list....like coffee.  I need coffee to function.  I didn't become a coffee drinker until I met Mike.  He wanted me to have a coffee with him all the time so I finally tried it (again).  First, I started drinking it with lots and lots of sugar - more like a capaccino. I'm down to a double/double now. But, if I miss my coffee, I'm dragging and on comes a headache. Yikes - an obvious addiction!

My family is important.  Having my kids now, I don't know what I would do without them - well, I have some ideas for a weekend here and there! 

Lots of other importance in life...like birthdays, chocolate, vacations, having fun in life, Vi shakes, massages, vehicles (what would I do without?!!), etc...

But nothing beats the importance of God in my life.  I wouldn't even want to know where I would be without Him.  God has been so amazing and faithful.  I have been given an amazing life with amazing experiences that wouldn't have been possible without God.  He also has made me who I am today.  I continue to allow my life be a project for him - wait, that doesn't sound right - not intentionally of course!!  I try my best to be 'moldable clay' for the maker of the Universe - to allow him to transform me. 
Mike and I went to Shiloh Place Ministries last October and had new insight on Father God as our Daddy.  Really learning about God's love for us.  Learning to let go so God can love us.  Amazing teaching and would recommend anyone and everyone to experience this teaching. SO worth every penny. Plus, it's right outside Myrtle Beach - Bonus! :)
So, I'll ask again - what is important to you?  Would love to hear it.....

Two different lives united

Today I am grateful for my husband.
What a journey we have had since we spoke our vows. It has been a road that I never thought I would travel. We have both learned so much and have grown beyond my imagination! It's crazy to think that as we look at our current situation, often we don't see what we have and what we should be grateful for until something or someone around us sheds light on it all...and not even intentionally necessarily.
This is not to say we are complete and complacent at where we are - but that we have come a long way and have yet more to go. But I am happy. Happy I have someone to love and that loves me. Someone that's willing to fight for me and do everything he can to be the best that he can be.
Two different lives united. Raised differently, loved differently, celebrated and faught differently. Learning to love each other as we are.

Yesterday we went to African Lion Safari with the fam.  Lots of fun.  Pretty hot day -so really grateful for the splash park there.  I'm also so surprised at my oldest's amazing memory.  She remembered all the things from last year and asked about certain things before getting to them...  So - I think their fav. part was the water.  They had a lot of fun.  My boy just chilled and went with the flow. 

What's everyone waiting for? This is the answer to better health better finacial blessing and yes you just might lose a pound or two!!!  Really - what else do you have to lose?  You can only gain  (besides weight) with this company!

Me and my boy!

At the park with the kids and their cousins!

Here's a picture of my little guy finding his feet and toes for the first time - in a vacuum store. How sweet is he?! Love that Boy!

Well, that was a busy day!!  Garage sale here.  Ridding of lots of clothes and toys that never get used and just plain old 'stuff' we've collected in the basement over the years.  And  old things that have been replaced by new things - the krups espresso machine for the new dated Keurig - which I'm in love with!  Then restoring ALL the unsold stuff back to the basement in hopes to do one more garage sale this season. Then to the store for some specific dinner groceries for guests that were coming over for dinner.  Then having extremely wound up, over-tired kids running around the house!  The joys that I know I will cherish down the road (At least that's what people keep telling me! haha). 
So...on a big change of subject - I'm not too overly impressed with my blog yet.  Pretty boring stuff.  I guess I like deep and real, to the core kinda feelings.  I am realizing that it's a lot harder to reveal those things to - what could be - a huge audience. To reveal what really goes through my mind. What really is happening in my life and the lives around me.  I suppose privacy is what comes to mind.  Some things are meant for all to know and some things aren't.  But that's where I struggle with people that seem to be "fake".  People that act as though all around them is perfect and not a thing in their lives is wrong.  Is that truly possible?  Maybe for some people.  Or maybe I'm the odd one? Hm. 
Anyway - maybe in a surprise blog here and there, reality (to the core feelings) will slip into writing :)

Something Healthy Please!

Wow. I'm excited to start blogging! It must be because it's something new. Maybe these enthusiastic posts will make up for missing days of posting, which I'm sure are to come?! Sounds good to me!
Well, the hubby and I had a chance to go for dinner lastnight sans girls. So, just us and the babe - 5 months - who needs a congratulations for getting his first 2 bottom teeth through without sleepless nights! What a good little boy. Love him. Dinner was nice. We were on our way for something easy and started talking about what we might eat. We're both getting tired of the grease/calorie filled dishes that we could make better ourselves and decided we weren't going to be enjoying the food so were trying to think of a healthier choice restaurant. We listed a good handful and none were really 'healthy'! We debated about going back home but I was not in the mood to cook. We know there are some nicer restaurants downtown that are fresh food/chef prepared but then you're looking at a much more expensive bill and not super baby friendly... Seriously? Are there no healthy restaurant choices? Help me out here - please feel free to share your insights! I'd love to know of some great new places to eat. I do know there are some places with"healthy" choices...but is it truly 'fresh' food? BESIDES a salad!
Anyway - we ended up at Moxie's. We do love that place and haven't been there together in ages. Mike had enchiladas (healthy?...probably not, but a nice choice other than burgers/deep fried food). I had 'Fraser Valley free-run chicken with goat cheese'. Sounded healthy and I can never get enough of chicken. It was pretty good! But, they have to make it not healthy, don't they? The chicken still had the skin on and it was fried. Really yummy though. Just a step away from 'healthy'.
Trust me, we're not healthy all the time. We definatly love our snacks and cravings and don't pass them up often but it's nice to try...and well, restaurants just make us feel bloated lately.
And since we have embarked on our 90 day challenge, we are more motivated to eat better.
So - I guess this day was about food! Not my intention but here it is non the less!

6 years in...

It's been just over 6 years married and thought it time to start a blog...about life...about kids...about dreams.
I hope to be 'real' and hope to be thought of as authentic - plus I love that word.
At times, it'll just be a line or a paragraph. Maybe something one of the kids did - or didn't do. Maybe a brief emotion in time. Hopefully, in some way, I'll be able to catch it on paper, or I suppose I should say blog.
So, here I go! Wish me luck and join me as I share my life stories, my kids, dreams, and challenges.