Yesterday was awesome…

Well first off, we had our company picnic and it was very Yummy!!!  Everything turned out so well.  I was truly impressed with everything.  I got rave reviews on the Pico De Gallo that I made.

So last night we were at church at “SCU” (Shoal Creek University) and we were in our marriage class, we had to answer some questions about what we can do for each other.  It was hysterical.  Brian and I had pretty much the same answers for how we can be flexible for each other.  We have learned so much about each other with the DISC profile and how all the personalities are. 

One thing that they were saying last night is to make sure that we always have a date night.  Even if it is twice a month, we need to spend quality face to face time with each other.  I totally agree with that and we do make time to go on a date with each other.  As a matter of fact, last Saturday, we went out on a date and we talked and had a great time being with each other.  I do cherish the time that we get to spend with each other.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Encouragement for Today

This verse flies in the face of our current culture, with its repugnance toward exclusivity of any kind. Nevertheless, it’s the truth and the heart of the Gospel. There’s salvation in no one else and in nothing else. This is an offense to some, but as Christians, we must make sure we don’t compromise this truth—because it’s the Gospel.

Well, I hope everyone has a wonderfully blessed day.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

One of those days…

Well, today has just been one of those days.  I can’t seem to get ahead for anything.  Although, I did get out for a few minutes and I went to Sam’s Club to get the hamburger’s, hot dogs, potato salad, and condiments for our picnic here at work tomorrow. 

Anyway, this morning in leadership group, we read the daily plan and journaled.  I was reading in 2 Samuel 11-12 and one of the words that jumped out at me and slapped me up side the head was compassion.  I also feel that emotion goes along with compassion.  I was telling a friend of mine that I do feel the compassion for people when they are telling a story, but I may not show emotion at all.  So I was asking, does that make me a cold person?  Am I a safe place for others?  I just don’t know.  I was told before that when I tell my life story, I didn’t show any emotion.  I don’t know where that comes from.  I’m sure there is a lesson in there somewhere.

I’m gonna get out of here, I have less then an hour here at work.  YIPEE!!!

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.”Acts 3:19–20

Encouragement for Today

Here’s the essence of the gospel in a sentence: Turn from your sins; turn toward God. Then you’ll be cleansed of sin, and God will bring refreshment from his very presence. This “turning” doesn’t happen just once, but daily. Daily we find ourselves not facing God, but facing temptation, or our own selfishness, or even our own pain inflicted by others. As soon as we become aware of this, we can turn back to God. Whenever you don’t sense God’s presence, ask yourself: In what direction am I facing? Do I need to turn around?

 Have a great rest of the day!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Sorry it’s been a while…

Things at work have been crazy busy.  This weekend went well except for Sunday.  I woke up with a darned Migraine.  So needless to say, I was down all day long.  The just zap me so badly and it sucks that it took my day away.  But you know, it is just a time to keep praising God for everything that goes on in our lives, good or bad.

Saturday, I took Little Brian out and took a few pictures of him and so far this is my favorite one.   He is such a handsome kid and he isn’t even showing his face, but I like the way the picture turned out.  My husband said it would make a good cover for a country album.  I just laughed at him.  Anyway, he said it reminds him of some guy that is on a journey thinking about life and just watching his feet as he walks and letting his mind wander.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Acts 3:1–6

Encouragement for Today

Peter perceived and met the lame man’s true need, his deepest need, the need he’d perhaps given up on. The lame man’s goal was simply to survive; his biggest hope was to get his most basic needs met through money. However, God wanted to get at the underlying issues and heal him completely. Are there any areas of your life where you need healing? You may think you need “money,” but God knows your true need. Let him get to the core of your issues. Dare to believe he wants to heal you completely.

Well now I have one of my guys up here at my desk telling another one of the guys that I am the meanest person ever.  I just laugh at him, especially when he turns around and tell everyone how much he appreciates the work I do for his team.  They just kill me.  LOL!!!

Hope everyone has a great rest of the day.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

This past week…

Has been very busy.  I took 1/2 a day on Wednesday from work and took my placement test at Penn Valley.  I have also set up my classes for the fall semester.  I will be taking Math and English. 

Then on Thursday, I went to the Dr. to find out what he thinks is going on with my left leg and my right hand.  He decided to have me go for an MRI to make sure that there isn’t anything going on in my brain to cause the numbness.  So Friday I had the MRI done.  Talk about a loud machine.  I’m glad they give you ear plugs so dampen the noise.  I won’t get the results back for 2 weeks. 

But anyway, I got a lot done this weekend.  I got the house painted inside.  The reason I took the rest of the week off work was to paint.  Lil’ Brian helped me with a lot of the painting, especially since my husband didn’t want me on a ladder with the numbness going on at any given moment.  But anyway, we got the kitchen, living room, the hallway, and the basement bathroom all painted.  What a good feeling it is to have that done.  So really the only room left to do is Lil’ Brian’s room, but I let him know he could do that anytime he wanted to.

I just got an email from my mom today saying that she is coming for a visit in May.  YEAH!!!  I’m so excited about it.  We don’t get to see each other but maybe once or twice a year.  We just don’t have the funds to travel and mom’s job keeps her extremely busy, and she is lucky to get away.  I know who I get my willingness to work from.  The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you. …” “I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the LORD?” And Joab replied, “Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town! That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.” “All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.” Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and called his troops back from the attack. They all returned to their homes, and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 20: 16, 19–22

Encouragement for Today

A wise woman (who’s never even named) saved a whole town from destruction. How? She had the courage to engage Joab, who was battering down the city wall! She got his attention, ascertained who he was, asked him to listen to her, focused him on his real goal (destroy Sheba, not the city), and then went back to her people with a plan of action (kill Sheba and prove it to Joab). What a wonderful example of a woman not being afraid to speak up and take action! In fact, that’s exactly what made her “wise.”

Hope everyone is having a great and blessed day.  Talk to everyone soon.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

Just another 1/2 day left…

Well, it is now about 3 in the afternoon and tomorrow I am working only 1/2 a day then I’m off for the rest of the week.  Woo hoo!!!  It’s exciting.  But I’m still nervous about the placement test.  I know I will do fine, it is just the whole not being in school and how dumb am I really?

One thing I have to say is Happy Anniversary Baby!!!

Yep it is mine & Brian’s 19th Anniversary.  19 blissful years.  OK, not all of them have been blissful, but the majority of our years have been wonderful.

Not much else to say today.  Except, Lil’ Brian has his interview at Home Depot this afternoon.  Hopefully he will get it so he can get out of McDonald’s.  He has been with McDonald’s for almost a year and they haven’t given him one raise.  He keeps getting told that the store just doesn’t have the funds to give him a raise.  That is total BS.  It just irritates me.

Hope everyone is having a good day.  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

 

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,     but they’re deceiving you. They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.     Their hearts are full of many evils. While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,     their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. Proverbs 26:24–26

Encouragement for Today

We are to be discerning and not naïve about people. Some people are deceptive. This verse also suggests that we need to allow ourselves time to discover another person’s true character. When considering entering into a working relationship with someone—or, in fact, any kind of long-term relationship—you must give it time to discern their true character. Pay attention to what other people say about this person’s character; take the time to check things out. If there’s anything to know, this Scripture passage suggests that it will come to light.

A lot of thinking going on…

I have been looking into colleges for myself to further my education and do what I have always wanted to do.  I’m looking into going back to school for nursing.  Last night Brian asked me if I was serious about going back to school?  I said, yes I am.  You know I have always wanted to be an RN and the need for nurses is huge.  He was saying that he would love for me to do that and once I start working as a nurse and start getting established, he wants to quit his job and go to school to become a Christian Counselor.  I could totally see him doing that.  Couldn’t you?  So anyway, that is what is going on in the world of Stephi!!!  I know, the wheels are always turning.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Your laws are perfect     and completely trustworthy. … Your promises have been thoroughly tested;     that is why I love them so much. … As pressure and stress bear down on me,     I find joy in your commands. Psalm 119:138, 140, 143

Encouragement for Today

God’s Word is entirely worthy of our trust. It’s been tested and found to be true again and again. There are few things in which we can absolutely trust; this is one of them. The promises and commands allow joy, even during times of pressure and stress, because possessing truth and the promises of God surpasses any negative thing we can experience.

Have a very blessed day and keep on pressing into Jesus!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

All I can say is Wow!!!

With Brian being sick all weekend and now I’m coming down with a cough, I just wish things were normal again.  I know he is sick and tired of being sick and tired.  He seriously sat in the same spot since he got off work on Friday.  Although, on Sunday, he was playing on his laptop so I got to watch all my shows that I haven’t been able to watch.  He just laughed at me because I can watch design shows and makeover shows all day long.

So Saturday night we had small group and needless to say, Brian didn’t go with me so it was Me and Dan.  Lucky Becky got to go to the lake with an old friend.  I think it is great that she got to do that.  By the time I got home, my sinuses felt so packed and I think it was the starting of a migraine.  I felt lucky to make it home in one piece.  While driving the headlights were blinding me and I was starting to feel nauseous.  So that is what made me think it was a migraine coming on.  When I got home, I took 2 of my really strong pain pills and went straight to bed.  The next morning, I felt great again.  I really hate feeling that way.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Then Absalom and all the men of Israelsaid, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the LORD had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom! 2 Samuel 17:14

Encouragement for Today

Ahithophel had a better plan—it was more in line with reality. David and his men were tired and discouraged. But Hushai was much more persuasive. His words were more powerful; he framed everything much more colorfully, explicitly, and emotionally (vv. 7-12). God used Hushai’s words to answer David’s prayers for protection. God answered David’s prayers by working through the misguided advice of others (Hushai and the other men of Israel) and through Absalom’s susceptibility to persuasion. Can you trust that God can also work through unlikely sources in your own life?

I hope everyone has a blessed day!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

This weather is unbelieveable…

I couldn’t believe that I heard there was a possibility for flurries on Friday.  It is already April, the weather should be getting nicer.  I don’t mind the rain, but snow?  No way!!!  I have never liked the snow.  I guess it is unamerican of me, but I just never have liked it, even as a kid growing up.  Sure I played in it, but only for a short time, then I was ready to go inside and curl up on the couch in my PJ’s.  I know, I’m a woosie.

So poor Julie hasn’t had a voice for 2 days now.  She feels fine, just can’t talk.  Sounds like larengitis.  My husband is going to the Dr. today to see what is going on with him.  It isn’t our regular Dr., but only because he is gone for the next 2 days.  Big bummer since Brian only trusts our Dr.  But what can you do.  Not a whole lot, you gotta do what you gotta do.  I just want him to get better. 

How is everyone’s day going?  Are you praising God for such a day?  Whether it is good or bad?

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. Jesus knew that his mission was now finished. John 19:26–28

Encouragement for Today

Note the tenderness of Jesus: one of his last actions on earth was to provide for his mother. Once he’d done that, he knew everything was finished. For what pain do you need the tender touch of Jesus? Go to him for healing, knowing he’s as eager to meet your deepest need as he was to care for his earthly mother’s needs.

Have a blessed day!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO

What a day this has been…

Well, I got up at 4:15 am to be at the church at 5:30 am for my leadership group.  These early days are kicking my butt.  Then with my poor husband being sick makes me feel bad for him.  He has been running a fever and sounds terrible.

I can’t believe how hard and loud the rain was this morning when I woke up.  But I slept like a log last night.  Do you ever wonder why you sleep better when it rains?  I do, and I would like to know the answer on that.

Then at work, I have been swamped.  Not that it is a bad thing, just that right now I am just now getting caught up from Friday.  What a pain that is.  Anyway, I can’t complain, at last I have a job to go to everyday and I do enjoy the people that I work with.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a good day.

Today’s Verse from the New Living Translation

Your eternal word, O LORD,     stands firm in heaven … Your regulations remain true to this day,     for everything serves your plans.Psalm 119:89, 91

Encouragement for Today

God’s Word is eternal; its truth will never change, nor will it pass away. For those who don’t see the Bible as relevant to today, these verses refute that stance. God’s Word, his laws, his truth stands firm forever, and everything that happens still serves his plan. Can you let this truth give you peace today? As you dwell on God’s Word, rest in the fact that everything serves his plans. As you put yourself in the way of God’s good plan by obedience, you can experience amazing peace.

Have a good day and I will talk to everyone later.  Love, love!!!

This weekend so far has been great…

It is early Sunday morning and so far the sun isn’t shining, but I’m anxious to see how the weather will be today.  Yesterday it was gorgeous and around 68 degrees.  I did get out and work in the garage a little.  I didn’t get a whole lot done, but one corner I did get my shelves in and was able to put my small appliances out there so they didn’t take up so much room in my kitchen.

Last night was nice.  We went over to a couples house and had a great conversation with them.  We are hoping to have another couple over next weekend.  Although, I think a couple of the leaders at church are coming over on Friday for dinner.  We have told them several times that we need to have them over and something always comes up on either side.  So I think this Friday will be the day.

I hope everyone is having a blessed weekend.  I also pray that everyone is spending time with God.  That is the most important thing to do.

The late Fred Rogers once said, “Since we were children once, the roots for our empathy are already planted within us. We’ve known what it was like to feel small and powerless, helpless and confused. When we can feel something of what our children might be feeling, it will help us begin to figure out what our children need from us.”

Let’s build on Fred’s thought for a moment. We adults know what it feels like to accomplish something and wonder if anyone noticed or valued the feat. When a parent makes it a point to understand what his or her child likely feels in a situation—rather than simply focusing on the situation itself—then that parent gains an excellent opportunity to speak life-changing words.

1 John 3:16

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.“

Have a great rest of the weekend and I will talk to everyone tomorrow!!!  Love, love!!!  XOXOXO