Wordpress Or Bust!

This is my last blog on this page.

I have been so blessed by all of you readers. I sincerely hope you will follow me over to my new "home."

It is still being fully developed. So please save the link until I have everything up so you can follow me the way you prefer (email, fb, twitter, etc.)

My new "home" is here: A God-blessed Life (http://agod-blessedlife.com)

This page will be up for public display for a little longer as I figure out how to redirect traffic to the new page.

In the meantime, do not miss out on my most current posts over there.

Thank you again for following me so far. I do hope you will follow me a little bit further down the blogging road.

God bless!

Fear Not: The Reluctant Recruit

I never dreamt I would end up in the Military, let alone the Air Force.  When the Lord opened that door and shoved me through it, kicking and screaming I might add, I still thought at the back of my mind that after all those trips to the recruiter's office, the two trips to MEPS, and the final weigh-in before I went to MEPS to ship off to Basic that He would throw something into the mix letting me off the hook.

He did not.

I will never forget the night before I left for MEPS- my last night at the only home I had ever known.  I realized I would never return and find it the same.  I realized the step I was about to take was going to send me over a cliff, and I either had to learn real fast how to trust in Him, or I was going to drown for six years.  I slept very little that night.

Then the short night at MEPS where I was loaded onto a bus, taken to the airport, and flown to San Antonio.  The longest short night of my life.  I was so riddled with fear.  I knew I was not cut out for Military life.  I knew that I was going to fail.  I was not in shape, despite my skinny frame.  I could barely run up a flight of stairs without feeling like I would collapse from shortness of breath and weak muscles.  I knew I was not up to being yelled at.  After years of being yelled at, I had never gotten used to it, and it always reduced me to tears- to know that for six and a half weeks, someone was paid to yell at my every mistake had me quaking inside.

When we got off the plane in San Antonio and waited for the buses that were to take us to Lackland AFB, I remember sitting in a darkened hallway in the airport surrounded by other recuits.  Few of us spoke.  Whether or not they shared my fears and insecurities or were simply exhausted, I will never know.  I remember being too wound up and anxious, the fear a tight not in the pit of my stomach that threatened to reveal itself physically.  I swallowed hard every couple of minutes to keep down the bile. 

Suddenly, the TI send to fetch us stood at the end of the hallway.  All I could see was his silhouette.  A tall, stocky man with the recognizable TI hat.  As he yelled at us to gather our gear and prepare to follow him, my fear threatened to overwhelm me.  I looked at him and I looked behind me at the empty hallway stretching back to the airport.  I stared long and hard behind me.  How bad would it be to simply step out of line and return to the life I knew?  How severe would the consequences be really for walking away from my "signed contract."  I knew I didn't belong there.  Soon enough they would know too.  So why stay?  Why put myself through hell?

"Because," the still small voice spoke.  As the TI moved down the line taking roll, I battled with my God.

"Why?" I pleaded as I noticed the TI getting closer.  Somehow, I knew once he got my name and verified it on his list, there would be no escape.

"Trust me," the still small voice spoke again deep in my heart.

"It's too much, too hard... Oh, God!  WHY?"   Panic hit me hard as the TI was only a couple people away from me.

"FEAR NOT!" said the voice sternly in such a way I was sure the girl in line in front of me heard it too, though maybe she just turned to look at me as I caught my breath and fought the urge to throw up.

"Fear not," the voice said again more gently as the TI was suddenly standing in front of me.

"Fear not," the voice whispered as I stared at the ground and gave the TI my name and waited for him to find my name on his list.

"Fear not," the voice repeated to me over and over during the first week of Basic Training.  But that moment in the hallway, in the darkness, in the midst of my fear and anxiety, that still small voice somehow kept me rooted and helped me jump off that terrifying cliff into a whole new world, new life, new adventure- all things that changed my life in ways I never dreamed.

I look back now and realize His Hand at work.  I look at my Military family, the lessons I have learned, the people I have met, the friends who have become more like family, the DH who I met while serving, our resulting family, and most of all the closer relationship I have with my Lord (imperfect as it is), and I see a piece of the tapestry He has spun for me.

I will never forget that fearful period, or that terrifying moment in San Antonio.  It was life changing- it should not be forgotten.

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This post has been part of the Blogtember Challenge started by Jenni.

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

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Book Review: Redeeming Love- 20th Anniversary Edition

Redeeming Love- 20^th Anniversary Edition is a Christian fiction novel written by esteemed author Francine Rivers.  This edition includes a group study at the end to delve deeper into the Biblical applications shared in the story.

The story begins with a young girl, a mere child, who is yearning for love and acceptance.  Seeing the world’s perspective of love in shocking realization and through the shocking circumstances, the young girl grows into a young woman who is hardened and bitter.  Understandably scarred, Angel has grown into a beautiful woman and has become a sought out prostitute.  When a Godly man discovers she is part of God’s will for his future, and sets about to not just marry her, but to teach her the truth of love, of God’s love, both of them find themselves caught in a whirlwind of emotions and struggles neither expected.

Paralleling the Biblical account of Gomer and Hosea, the story of Angel in Redeeming Love catches the reader from page one.  Just as Gomer continually left Hosea for the life she was more comfortable in, and just as Hosea continually and steadfastly loved her, this incredible story of love despite past sins, recurring sins, and other struggles clearly reflects the love God has for his children.  This book is a beautiful account of God’s redeeming grace, mercy, and love. 

As an avid reader, I am often wary of Christian fiction because it is often hokey and unrealistic.  However, Redeeming Love was brutally realistic and honest to its storyline and character development.  While in real life I cannot relate to Angel’s experiences, I can certainly relate to the struggles of her heart as she learns to love, to trust, and to view God as loving instead of damning.  Moved to tears from the very beginning, and moved to tears again as Angel grows through the book, I find that Redeeming Love will be a favorite among my books and worthy of reading repeatedly.  I recommend this novel for men and women alike.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher from Multnomah book review program.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this review are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

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Words of Wisdom



Words of wisdom...  Everybody has some these days, right?  We see snippets, quotes, blurbs, verses, lyrics, etc plastered on our Facebook walls, on Pinterest, and shared via Twitter.

 

What's the big deal?  Why do we cling to words of wisdom from others?  Why do we store away advice given sometimes, and completely dismiss it other times?  Where do we seek our advice?  Why do we seek advice from those people or sources?

 

Have you ever wondered? 

 

I am always seeking advice from others.  Partly due to my own insecurities, I seek advice regarding issues that I feel I do not know enough about to do well on my own.  This means I ask for advice A LOT!  Oh, yes...  (Though its typically via FB because I have developed a love-hate relationship with my phone... LOL)   Anyway, today's challenge for Blogtember is to share some advice or words of wisdom that I have been given that has actually been useful and that I still follow today.

 

When I think about all the advice I have been given over the years, both asked for and unasked for, I have a whole lot to choose from.  However, there was some advice, not given to me directly, but given by way of lyrics in a song.  I heard it for the first time in high school.  Back when my faith was an easy thing.  Reading the Bible was easy cause I had so little else that I was responsible for.  I had all the time in the world.  Being a "good" Christian was easy because I was too afraid of being "bad."  Still, as I was staring my future as an adult in the face, preparing to put my school days behind me, this song stuck out to me, became a mantra when peer pressure sought to overwhelm me, and carried me through when I could not seem to call my favorite Bible verses to mind. 

 

The song is called "Dare To Be Different" by a Christian group called DeGarmo and Key.  The entire song is beautifully written, but while I cannot remember the lyrics from the entire song, I can remember the chorus: 

 We dare to be different,  Dare to be called strange, Dare to be different, and the Cross you wear should mean you've truly changed.

I have lived that chorus.  I strive to keep living that chorus.  Just because I am a member of this world, does not mean I have to be caught up in the pressures of the world.  Striving to be different, to be Christlike, to be a better person, I think I have been more aware of glitches in mainstream thinking that others just accept.  I think striving to be different has helped me stay motivated in my faith.... cause when all else fails, that chorus starts playing in my mind, even though I have not heard to song in years... 

What words of wisdom or advice have you been given that you have kept in mind in your life?

 



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This post has been part of the Blogtember Challenge started by Jenni.

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

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Three Month Hiatus

So I decided I am done.  I have gotten bored, fed up, frustrated, and just plain tired of the daily grind.  So.  I am taking three months and doing what I want to do.  Just me, myself, and I.  I figure it is well past time where I do what I wanna do the way I wanna do it and to heck with everyone else!

Ya wanna know what I am going to do?

I am going to spend a week or two to do absolutely nothing!  Well, okay, not nothing.  I am going to grab my Kindle, keep the cocoa flowing, and catch up on all MY reading.  Reading just for the heck of it.  No reading for reviews.  No reading for editing.  Nope.  Reading for the plain ole fun of it!  I figure, in two weeks time, I should be able to knock out at least four or five books that I have been waiting to read.  However, there will be NO cooking.  NO cleaning.  NO laundry.  NO carpooling.  NO errands.  Nope.  Nada.  :P

I am going to pack up my car, and I am going road tripping.  I am taking my laptop (no work allowed), my camera, my phone, my Bible, and my Kindle. The road trip will take around three months, because I have quite a few people I need and want to see.  From here, I think I am going head to Colorado Springs to see family that I never see enough.  From there, head down to Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico to drop in (uninvited- because its MY three months- and I can.. LOL) on friends who I love and miss.  From there, I would head east into Texas to visit family stretching from El Paso, to San Antonio, to Fort Worth.  That should take a hefty amount of time, I think.  From Texas, I would head to Florida where I would pick up my Sister, kidnap if need be, and drag her butt with me to Ohio and Indiana to see my other Sisters and my best friend.

All along those visits with family and friends, I would have to stop by National Parks, and State Parks, and National Monuments.  As much as I have seen of our great nation, I have not seen nearly enough. 

At the end of the three months, I fully intend to have an additional thousand or so pictures to edit and share with everyone.

Yeah... Right...  Honestly, I am doing just fine where I am.  Yes, there are books on my Kindle waiting to be read or reread.  Yes, there are family and friends scattered across the country that I really need to see again, and WANT to see again.  Yes, I am chomping at the bit to visit every single park I can get to.  Yes, I get caught up in the daily grind and daydream OUR next vacation or family visit.  (I don't travel alone anymore...LOL... and I am completely fine with that!)

However, life is pretty crazy busy in a completely awesome way right now.  I am loving life, with all of God's incredible blessings, despite the struggles.  If I could just up and go for three months, then you better believe, the three month hiatus I described above would be the way I go.  But I can't, so I won't...   LOL

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This post has been part of the Blogtember Challenge started by Jenni.

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

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Where I Come From

 The title above reminded me of the following song.  Listen close to the lyrics... 

 

 

I come from a small town in Ohio.  From there I moved to a small town in Florida.  Big cities scare me.  I don't like the crush of people.  I don't like the city rush, the city mentality of doing whatever it takes to get ahead.

 

I come from a small town.  I have missed living in a small town, but now that I am getting older, even a small town is too big.  I loved being able to at least recognize every person I ran into.  I loved watching high school sports, even as a private school student, and know each player's name, each cheerleader cheering her heart out for the small town team.  I loved passing people in the road and they all wave, cause if they don't know you personally, you might need each other down the road.  I loved the small town churches where you knew every member of the congregation by name, where Jesus might be taken for granted, but we all knew His name.

 

I come from a small town.  I love small town courtesy- you take care of each other- even if it means you get zip in return. I love big trucks, baseball caps, cowboy hats, boots and jeans, wildlife grazing on the sides of the roads, the smell of fresh turned dirt, the smell of cows and horses and chickens.  Special to my home of 11+ years was the smell of the paper mill and chemical plant, and the smoke and steam from the stacks that towered over everything and could be seen from miles away.  Unique to my hometown was the sunrises or sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico, the smell of the salt water and all it washed up on the beaches, the captivating beauty of the dolphins playing just past the waves.

 

I come from a small town.  Even though that particular small town is no longer home to me- I have changed too much to ever go back for more than a visit- my heart longs for the small town atmosphere.  My heart cries out to know my community.  My soul longs to leave city lights and trade them in for stars and moonlight.  I anxiously await the day I can open my house windows and hear birds, trees, breezes, and children playing without the sounds of city life- traffic, horns, sirens, etc.  I can hardly wait to smell dirt, farmland, grass, rain on soil, and livestock. 

 

Yeah... I come from a small town.  Its not for everyone that's for sure.  But for this chick- its as big a place as I ever want to be ever again. 

 

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This post has been part of the Blogtember Challenge started by Jenni.

 

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

As always, I am eager to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment sharing your thoughts or sharing your blog!

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52 Weeks of Blogging With A Purpose: What Being A Mom Looks Like

In continuing on this 52 week journey with so many other bloggers, I hope you will visit the blog that started it all. From From Mrs. to Mama is a really fantastic site kept by an incredibly articulate young woman.

 

Instead of trying to put into words what can so easily be shown in pictures, I decided to share just a few...  I think they speak for themselves.  

 

 

 

 

He is one of the greatest blessings in my life... When all else seems like its falling apart, when I forget how much God loves me, all I have to do is look at this angel He brought into my life...  How privileged I am to be Mommy to this Kiddo. 

 

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The Blogtember Challenge ~ Are you in?

Saw this on a fellow blogger's page...  Viewed the list of topics/challenges and just had to join in.


 

The topics are as follow:

Tuesday, Sept. 3: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do? (bonus points for fun photos from Pinterest, but don't forget to cite the source!)

Thursday, September 5: Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered.

Friday, September 6: A story about a time you were very afraid.

 

[BREATHE-Enjoy your family-Count your blessings!] 

Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth." You can even google your type and find more info on it!)

Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

Wednesday, September 11: Share links to your favorite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favorite items in each shop.

Thursday, September 12: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

Friday, September 13: A self portrait

 

[BREATHE-Enjoy your family-Count your blessings!] 

Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

Tuesday, September 17: A memory you would love to relive.

Wednesday, September 18: Only photos

Thursday, September 19: Creative writing day: write a (very short) fictional story that starts with this sentence: "To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the century."

The story does not necessarily need to have a conclusion - you can leave your readers wishing for more!

Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort.

 

[BREATHE-Enjoy your family-Count your blessings!] 

Monday, September 23: A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

Tuesday, September 24: Review a book, place, or product.

Wednesday, September 25: Write about a time you screwed up - a mistake you made.

Thursday, September 26: Go to a coffee shop. Order a favorite drink. Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Or write about anything you'd like! Bonus points for including a photo from the coffee shop. (I recommend downloading Ommwriter and bringing headphones along!) *if you can't make it to a coffee shop, at least leave your usual space and write someplace new.

Friday, September 27: An anonymous letter to your Facebook friends. Be as snarky as you'd like. (but don't include people's real names.)

 

[BREATHE-Enjoy your family-Count your blessings!] 

Monday, September 30: Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it's special.

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

As always, I am eager to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment sharing your thoughts or sharing your blog!

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The Blessing of Philia Love

To those men and women in my life who prove that friendship is a matter of faith, trust, respect, honesty, and patience.  To those men and women scattered near and far who have made me a better person.  I treasure you.  I count you among my blessings more valuable than you can know.

The proof of true friendship has nothing to do with what you did or didn't do, what you did or didn't say, what you were able to give me or share with me.  Proof of true friendship is seen in these verses:

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  ~1 Corinthians 13 v 4-7

Having failed so many friends, as I lost my patience, as I became too proud, as I was easily angered, and as some friends have failed me in all those areas as well, the very last two words are a beacon of hope...  [love, friendship] "always perseveres."

This weekend, our Lord has blessed me with proof of true friendship, proof of lasting philia love.  

How great is our God! 

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

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Traveling, Talking, and Toad Catching

Just a short post...

This Holiday Weekend, I am visiting with an old friend.  We have not seen each other in almost nine years before this weekend, and when we went our separate ways, we departed ways not on the best of terms.   Over time, we reopened the doors of communication, apologized to each other, and forgave each other.  As our lives changed, we have been led back to each other, and are finding ourselves picking up as though we had never been apart.  Not to get too deeply into that- let's suffice it to say that she and I are both very different women now, and the Lord has clearly been moving in both our lives in ways neither of us could have imagined.

Now... to the travels:  We drove from Denver to Grand Junction along I-70.  A new route to me, I could not help but wish DH was with me so I could have snapped a hundred pictures along the way.  The Kiddo was snapping away behind me, but I haven't seen them yet, so I am not sure how they turned out...  I hope to share a post of his pics later in the week.  :)  Anyway, Colorado is breathtakingly beautiful!  I was choked up numerous times viewing His handiwork and design.

And on to talks:  From the moment my friend got out of her car, I knew all my nerves and worries were for naught.  I forgot how easy it is to talk to her.  Conversations about life, military, family, friends, GOD, the changes in our lives, the ups and downs, and we found ourselves talking well into the night and reluctant to stop.  I am going back today to soak up more time before heading back home. 

AND then toad catching:  Ahhhhh... country living!  The Kiddo is having a blast playing with my friend's children.  They spent hours playing in some dirt piles, all of them coming in for dinner covered in dust and grit and grins stretching across their gorgeous faces!  (And the Kiddo was worried he would be bored... LOL)  After dinner, the Kiddo experienced after more fun as he and some of the others wandered around and caught toads.  (I hope I can snag a pic from my friend to share with y'all).  Big and small at least half a dozen toads ended up in a bucket for a while before they were let loose again.  The contentment and joy on my Kiddo's face pinched my heart--- I am so ready for country living...  So ready.  :)

So much for that short post... LOL  Forgive me.   I hope I can share more of the amazing weekend with you later this week. 

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Mystery Solved: Beef Allergy

 

If you do not like to read or hear about stomach related issues- here's your chance to walk away. I do not share this to be crude, but because I hope to help someone else who may be suffering and not finding answers.

Several months ago, as my digestive health hit rock bottom, and tests came back negative for everything (not counting the removal of some precancerous polyps), I found myself desperate to find what was making me miserable.

I was afraid to eat.  I feared eating out.  I feared cooking.  While the Kiddo and the Hubby enjoyed everything I put before them, I would find myself staring at the mixture of dairy, wheat, and meat products on our plates and worry over which one was the enemy.  I would eat only the tiniest of portions in hopes I would not, in the middle of a movie, cuddle time, or some other event, have to rush home or to the bathroom to spend hours of agonizing pain as my body repulsed it.  In anticipation of utter agony, I avoided friend's gatherings, canceled dinner dates, and even canceled date nights with my DH terrified of the excruciating bubbling and rumbling that occurred in my intestinal tract that made it feel like something was in it eating from the inside out.  (I do NOT exaggerate... DH has witnessed my tears and moans and watched helplessly as I doubled over putting pressure on my gut to just get a second's worth of relief.)

I thought I was allergic to dairy (the intestinal changes occurred almost immediately after my Kiddo was born- all my Dr. friends blamed it on a lactose intolerance, and eating yogurt on a daily basis DID seem to affect the occurrence of the symptoms- until it didn't), or gluten, as those are staples in my family's diet.  We love dairy- cheese, ice cream, butter, yogurt, milk, etc.   We love bread, crackers, tortillas, crusts, cookies, etc.  While I knew I could cut them down, I was not sure I could cut them out.   For several years, I have avoided dairy as much as I could (cept for cheese and ice cream, as a few of my friends can attest as they would witness me chowing down on cheese or ice cream and comment on my supposed lactose allergy.)  The symptoms I had were not consistent with my dairy intake, or my gluten intake,and the symptoms were getting worse, so I decided to finally go and really be seen for what might be the culprit.

Symptoms included:
SEVERE and sudden abdominal cramps, within 30 minutes of eating.
Shaking, cold sweats, chills
Extremely soft stool that ultimately turned to liquid.  (sometimes using the bathroom alleviated the abdominal pain, sometimes it did not)

Occasionally, symptoms also included:
nausea
headaches
dizziness

Because I have Fibromyalgia, I did not go to be seen for these symptoms because I thought the fibro was just making me more sensitive to "normal" issues.  However, after speaking with some nurses and my then current provider, I finally decided to go see a GI doctor.  Because of family history with colon cancer, that doc decided I needed a colonoscopy and an endoscopy.  During the colonoscopy, they found some polyps that had to be removed, but nothing else.  Same for the endoscopy.  That, in conjunction with a series of blood panels, ruled out my feared gluten allergy as well as a dairy allergy.  So then I was sent to the lab for tests to see gall bladder, kidney, and liver function among other things that I do not recall right now.  Everything came back negative.

While that was all awesome news, it was also extremely frustrating.  My provider and my GI doc were both at a loss as to what was causing my severe and increasing symptoms.

Then, I had a conversation with a friend who told me her hubby had some sort of beef allergy.  He also could not seem to find answers to his own discomfort, and at the suggestion of someone, cut out all beef for a while.  Completely befuddled, because I had never considered I might have a meat allergy!  I mean, seriously, how many people do you know that are allergic to juicy hamburgers or prime ribs?  Its nonsense!  However, I had nothing to lose so I discussed it with DH and we decided to live beef-free for a while.

The first two weeks, I noticed a difference immediately.  Then I had a McDonald's Big Mac (I KNOW... not the greatest samples of beef, so sue me...)  Immediately, I got sick.  Two more weeks of no beef, and I realized I might finally be on to something.  So, DH and I were out for dinner, and I decided to order a steak, my favorite cut, medium well.  Sure enough, we barely got home in time for me to run in agony to spend the next two hours writhing in pain on the toilet.

Since then, I have been completely beef-free.  I still eat red meat.  I eat venison, elk, and bison.  I would like to try organic, grass-fed beef, but am frankly afraid to.  I am eating a ton more pork, chicken, and fish, though I lean more toward the fish because, unless it is farm raised, it is tons less likely to be hormone injected.  (I am seriously skeptical of my new-found relationship with chicken and pork...) 

I still have intestinal issues from time to time- as we all do, and all will.  However, there is a marked difference in the severity and consistency in those episodes.  Since I stopped eating all beef products, I have not had a single instance of those gut-ripping cramps.

Anyway, this is not Doctor confirmed.  This is confirmed through my own experience.  I would like to see a Doc to get the allergy confirmed, but I think I have been poked and prodded enough this year.  I have met my quota!  LOL

Anyway, if you suffer from severe abdominal issues and tests show nothing- maybe try taking two weeks off of beef.  Who knows?  It might help. 

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Chats On the Farmhouse Porch

I saw this link-up on one of my favorite blogs, Homespun Simplicity, and decided to join up! 

  Do you remember your first day of school?
I do remember my first day of school- the first day of K, my first day at every new school, my first day of every new grade.  School was the central focus of my life.  I loved school.  Namely, I loved the smell of the school books.  I loved opening up a new-to-me subject book to see the name of the student who had the book the year prior- I felt a strange sense of connection with that student, and would flip through the book looking for telltale signs that the prior student had left their mark in it.   I loved shopping for new school supplies.  I loved the brand new box of unused crayons, which I carefully guarded  from others, and made sure were in correct order before putting them away when I was finished with them.  I loved soaking up whatever the teacher decided to share with us.  I only had one teacher, the entire time I was in school- to include college- that I did not like or respect.  Not bad considering...

  SO back to the question... LOL  

I guess I should tell you about the first day of school  I remember the best.  My first day of ninth grade- a transition from public school to a private school- a transition from a class of over a hundred to a class of under ten.  I remember the kids of all ages rushing through the halls.  I remember how ALL the teachers smiled and hugged and greeted their students and seemed genuinely happy to have each one in their class.  I remember getting my new books and realizing they were mine to keep, so I could highlight to my heart's content and finally really use those beautiful highlighters waiting in my bag.  I remember how shy I was after years of bullying in elementary school and awkward transitioning in middle school.  I remember how lovely my classmates were, how kind they were, how eager they were to know me.  I remember meeting the girl who became one of my best friends- someone I still treasure all these years later (and I am not sure I have let her know that--- shame on me.)  I do remember that first day as one of the best first days of my school career.
 
Do you decorate for the different seasons? If so, have you decorated for fall yet?
I love to decorate for the seasons and for major holidays.  I grew up helping my Mom decorate for Christmas and Easter, and helped her change out a few items around the house for particular events.  However, since being married, and getting to spend quality time with my amazing MIL, I have really hoped to start emulating her decorating habits.  The woman goes all out!  And she has such amazing taste and ability to coordinate.  I love it!  However, being in the military lifestyle, I have to be careful how much "stuff" I accumulate as we are limited on how much can be moved from place to place.  Still, I content myself with placemats and tablecloths for now.  Someday, I hope I can really decorate for seasons, especially the Fall, because it is my all-time favorite season!

What food do you associate with fall?
Pumpkins, apples, spices, lots of pork! Then of course, there is turkey...  :)

Do you order books online, buy books in a bookstore, download books to a device, or frequent the library? If not interested in books, how do you get your music?
I get new books a combination of ways.  I am purchasing more ebooks via Amazon.com now because of the ease of carrying my Kindle and having my "library" in my purse.  However, some books become like family.  I read them over and over and over.  Those books I still buy hard cover versions of so I can keep them and curl up with them next to the fire with a cup of cocoa.  Those I search everywhere for the best price.  I prefer to buy books used, if they are in good condition.  However, I have shopped online, in stores, even at yard sales.  I don't really care where I get them, so long as I feel as I have found the book I want at a good price and in good condition.

When was the last time you realized that you had just been talking to someone really special?
This is a hard question to answer.  Recently I have spoken with old friends, family who I am rebuilding relationships with, my sister, and my daily conversations with my Kiddo or Hubby.  They are each really special in their own way because they mean so much to me. 

However, if the question is meant to inquire about someone special who is new to me, I would have to say it was with a dear lady I met at a group gathering very recently.  I was the newbie.  I am always self-conscious and out of place when I force myself to attend gatherings to meet new people.  However, again, because of military life, it is something I must do despite my hermit tendencies, because at some point, I am going to need those MilSpouses, or they might need me.  Anyway, I forced myself to walk up to the other ladies and introduce myself.  Most of the women were warm and welcoming, but they all clearly had already formed friendships and groups of their own. I still felt like an outsider looking in. 

Having enough of forcing myself into conversations, I sat down at the edge of the room to look through some brochures I had picked up.  Sitting next to me was this charming woman.  We spoke, simply small talk- generalities about the evening, the cool weather, the obvious fact that I was new.  LOL  The woman got up to leave, and as she got up, she complimented my skin.  (I am not good at taking compliments- never have, never will)  I smiled, trying to force myself to accept the compliment graciously-- HOW DO YOU DO THAT???  I commented that I use coconut oil on my face instead of lotions and creams.  The lady sat right back down to hear more.  I expanded on my use of coconut oil and the changes I have seen in my skin (and hair).  She listened with disbelief, then looked at my graying hair and complimented it as well.  She told me I looked like I was 24, but the gray hair contradicted that appearance.  Again at a loss in how to respond, I laughed (uncomfortably) and told her my real age.  Of course, my age was still young to her, but her eyebrows raised just the same.  As she rose to walk away, she patted my hand and recomplimented me before walking away. 

Now... For someone who has a horrible time accepting compliments, her kind words, and the way she delivered them- almost shyly- touched me deeply.  I am not one who cares about fashion, or trends, or clothes in general.  Most days, I put my hair in a ponytail, grab my most comfy jeans, and t-shirt, and I am good to go.  No make-up.  No primping.  That is just not me.  However, when I do put a little more time in my appearance, because I KNOW how important that is to OTHER people, its nice to know I did it the right way.  LOL  That woman's gentle compliments were very soothing to me as I felt so out of place.

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

As always, I am eager to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment sharing your thoughts or sharing your blog!

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52 Weeks of Blogging With A Purpose: I Said I Would Never

In continuing on this 52 week journey with so many other bloggers, I hope you will visit the blog that started it all. From From Mrs. to Mama is a really fantastic site kept by an incredibly articulate young woman.

I said I would never....

I know many of us can relate. Before we are parents, we swear we will be different from our parents, we will be better than this or that, we will be more strict, less strict, more easy going, the lists go on and on.

For me, some of the things I said I would never do I do actually try to stick to. My life is a series of contradictions. I am painfully aware of that. However, for better or worse, this is my life.

One thing I said I would never do is force my child to eat something he does not like. However, he MUST first try a food before he can choose whether he likes it or not. He cannot just look at a new food or recipe and decide from its appearance that he does not like it. No. He must try at least three bites of the new food. Then, if he decides he truly does not like it, I will allow him to eat around it. This rule has kept him eating veggies, has allowed him to try new foods that I see other children turn their noses up at, and has carried over into life lessons- new activities, new people, new places, etc.

I said I would never force my child to believe the same as me. This is a HUGE issue and struggle for me. As a Christian, I want my son to become a Christian as well. However, most of my childhood I was forced into a belief set that both helped and hindered my spiritual growth, and ultimately caused huge rifts within my family. This is a struggle for me also because as a Christian, I believe it is my duty to minister to my child, to teach him of God's love, grace, and mercy, to help him understand what sin it and how salvation affects us. The struggle is knowing where the line is drawn between teaching and coercing. My child KNOWS how I long for him to become a Christian. He knows how important that is to me. He also knows I will not force him and I will not stop loving him should he choose to (deep sigh) believe otherwise.((Wow, that is so hard to write... wow...))

I said I would never have children... Well... Obviously, I messed that one up! LOL Seriously, I never wanted my own children. From teen years on, I wanted to adopt. There are so many children out there in need of loving homes- from all over the world- but the Lord chose to surprise me and bless me with my Kiddo, my angel... I happily eat those words. :)

I said I would never lie to my child. It is relatively easy to be honest with friends and family as an adult. If you feel you can't be completely honest about something (to spare feelings), you simply walk away, change the subject, whatever. (Don't get all self-righteous on me claiming you ALWAYS tell the truth. You KNOW you have that one friend or family member, where you keep your true feelings hidden to spare their feelings.) However, when it comes to being honest to my child, as a parent I have found honesty is sometimes very hard. There are some questions I just cannot answer. I try to say exactly that, but sometimes there are situations where even a delaying answer is a form of a lie, a form of evasion. I hate to admit that I have lied to my child. I have a million and one justifications for those lies of ommission, white lies, or lies of evasion. Still- no matter how I slice it- I feel like a horrible mom.

I said I would never be like my Mom! HA! Don't get me wrong, my Mom is who I give much credit as to the woman I am today. However, like we all can, I can look over my childhood and point out all the things- large and small- that my Mom did wrong. So when I said I would never be like my Mom, I meant I would not make those same mistakes. I was right. To a point. However, I make my own mistakes that I have no idea how to fix, and I am certain my Kiddo will look back on his childhood and say he will never be like me or DH. Then one day, like I am doing more and more often now as my Kiddo gets older, he will find himself saying something I would have said, or doing something the way his Daddy would have done it. Then, like I am realizing, he will realize that being like Mom and Dad is not so bad really.

I am sure there are other things I have said I would never do... That I have found myself doing anyway. Or maybe I have stuck to it, and have just realized how incredibly hard it is to stick to those things. One thing I am learning, no matter what I said in the past, its okay to be wrong, to admit it, and to change my mind. Life is too unpredictable, too chaotic sometimes. If I cannot change along the way, how will I ever be able to teach my Kiddo to roll with the punches?

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

As always, I am eager to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment sharing your thoughts or sharing your blog!

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New Signature

A reader had sent me a message in response to my call for critiques in Flashback Friday: Revisiting the Beginning.

I had not gotten a ton of feedback, and I really do care what you, my readers, think of the blog, so I decided to play around with this particular suggestion.

What do y'all think?

NEW

 

versus

 

OLD

 

Here is what I did. (There may be easier ways to create a signature, but I am barreling through this creative blogger stuff the best way I know how-- through experimentation!)

I worked in Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0. (My version is seriously outdated.. Newer versions may differ from what I share below.)

I clicked "edit"- mostly because every time I click "create" it tries to force me to choose what kind of project I want to do, and the options offered never fit what my goal is. LOL

Once the screen loads, I click "new" under "file."

A white blank space should appear. That is your background. On the right hand side, just above the background layer are options to shade your area... I always spend a lot of time playing around in that area. :) Once you pick out your background color, pattern, or shade, go to the text box on the left hand side.

After clicking on that, I marked out a text space on my "canvas" and started playing with fonts. I was not sure I wanted to use the same font I use as my default font (Homemade Apple), but after playing around with different fonts and colors, I decided to stick with it after all. Photoshop did not have Homemade Apple as one of its standard fonts, so I had to find it here- a free download- which I then was able to use.

Once I got my signature the way I wanted it, I scoured images. (Make sure there are no copyrights on the images you use.) I use free clip art or use images I have taken and edited myself (I do all my photo edits in Photoshop.) You do not have to use an image in your signature. I added it cuz I thought it added a unique quirk that matches my personality.

If you add an image to your signature block, flatten the image. Then "save as" a jpeg image. When you have your image saved, go into your online photo album and upload it there. I use Google+ Photos or Picasa, which connect directly to my blog. When the signature image has loaded, right click on the image. Click on "properties," then highlight and copy the image url. Paste it immediately into the following code:

<img class="left" alt="post signature" src="YOUR IMAGE URL">

Then, assuming you are using Blogger, go to your work space. On left side, click on "settings." Then click on "posts and comments." In the "post template" box, paste the link from above with your image url. Be sure to save before leaving the settings page.

***Note*** Your new signature will only show up in your new posts. If you want it to show up in previous posts, you will have to put it there manually. (If there is a way to send it backwards to previous blogs, I have not discovered it yet.)

If you are using another blog site, please refer to your site help desk to learn where to insert your signature.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please let me know. I would be happy to try to help, or to talk you through it. I am also available to create a signature, image, or blog button for you for a minimal fee.

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

As always, I am eager to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment sharing your thoughts or sharing your blog!

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Random Reflection...

I know I have already shared how excited I am that we found a church where the Pastor speaks God's Word in a way that lovingly compels us to face the truth about our faith, our actions, our sins, and the love of Christ, which is reflective of the love of God.

I know... I might be getting repetitive...

So rather than go into a lengthy discussion over this week's sermon, which spoke of the witnesses of Jesus' claims as the Son of God, I thought I would share just one of the points that Pastor made that caused me to look inward and question my priorities within my faith.  Very loosely, I have paraphrased that point in the picture below...   It may not make much sense to you out of context...  However, I hope it still causes you to think about your own faith, the tools we have been given to help our faith grow, and the source of our faith- Jesus.

Thanks for coming by and reading my random reflection on today's sermon.  If you would like to read the entire sermon, I believe it will be posted here in a couple days. 

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If you liked this post, or any others you read while visiting A God-Blessed Life, please let me know by clicking on the "Top Mommy Blogs" button in the right column.

As always, I am eager to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment sharing your thoughts or sharing your blog!

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