We have joined the ranks....

We now watch American Idol.

I never thought the day would come! I've never had any reason not to watch it, I just never had, never watched an episode, nor had Josh. But this season we watched the auditions, which of course made us want to watch to see who made the show... & here we are, intrigued!

I like the rock guy... not the long haired rock guy that the judges pick on & say he's not really rock, but the other one. BUT I have been voting for Jason Castro, because he's good & he's an Aggie, WHOOP! I must represent, yo.

So, I'm really excited - we are going to DISNEY WORLD!!!! Yaaaa!!! My family has gone twice already in life, & we just love it, & Josh has never been, so the five of us are going soon & Josh will see what the MAGIC is all about!! All our kids in Sunday School were talking about how much they love Disney World, & now Josh will be able to talk about it too. :-) It will be lots of fun!!

I'm also excited because we had gift cards leftover from the wedding, & I used them to buy new bathroom stuff for the guest bath, & some window treatments for the kitchen, which will hopefully be painted by this time next week! I like seeing our home come together. It will take a lot of time to be able to buy more furniture & do some updates & replacing, but it already feels quite homey.

The local San Antonio morning show is doing an SA version of The Biggest Loser, & I watched part of it yesterday, & I love seeing people & their success in losing weight. It's really hard! So good for them!

We are hanging out with good friends this weekend, Claire & Russell. I'm excited!

C

Refinement.

Wow.

What a tough week. What a crazy week.

Nothing absolutely horrible has happened, but situations have occurred, the kind where all you can do is pray. You know what I mean? Something happens, or is happening, & you have absolutely no control, nothing you can do will fix or help anything... so you pray. A lot. Surrender anxiety to the peace that only God can give ("do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer & supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 6-7). Through these situations God has also been refining how I pray - my prayers are often very selfish, based on what I want, based on what I think should happen so I can remain comfortable & happy. God has been changing my prayers to what is Biblical - patience, truth, love, joy. I often think I also know how God should do something so He can be glorified. I'm often wrong. God will be glorified, but He knows much better than I do how that should happen ("'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways,' declares the Lord." Isa. 55:8)

Refinement hurts sometimes. But how much more good it is to look like Jesus!

"In time will I be what You're thinking of?" (Jars of Clay - I heard that lyric working out today.)

You know how in the past few months I have been learning more about listening to God every day, being still & silent & hearing Him speak to my heart & obeying what He says? Well. Let me tell you. Be prepared to hear Him!! Today He spoke some hard words for me to swallow. He wants me to let go of my worldly security & trust HIM through obedience & wisdom. He asked me to do something I did NOT want to do. But I did. & I felt immediate freedom! I will have to remain trusting the Lord & not what the world trusts, I must continue to keep my mind & heart set on Him. But He is good! He delivers. He will be glorified in my obedience, & He will take care of me. That's all I need to know.

God is moving & working & changing me, sometimes quicker than I feel ready for. But He is so good & I trust Him. So now let's watch Him move.....

C

Oprah warning

I'm sure some of you watch Oprah, if not, we all are at least clearly aware of who she is & the power she has.

Read this article - I'm not one for boycotting everyone & everything that goes against the Word of God & His character, because the truth is we live in a fallen world, BUT, I hope you will consider not watching or endorsing Oprah's show considering the false teachings she is supporting & promoting.

'Oprah & Friends' to teach course on New Age Christ

i forgot i dislike coconut & pineapple!

okay.

food is yum-may

I like the Ellen show. If I'm at home at 3 during the week it is guaranteed to be turned on (altho that channel is the worst with the bunny ears, so mainly I'm listening more than watching). So it's on & she was just talking about foods she likes & doesn't like. So NATURALLY I feel inclined to tell you mine, because, why not?

Likes!
-breakfast tacos (with salsa, I used to hate salsa, now I like it!)
-peaches (dewormed)
-grapefruit
-bread... all kinds... white... wheat... multigrain... pumpkin... cinnamon raisin... lemon... focaccia... ciabatta... Panera......
-soup
-mushrooms
-escargots

ok so that list could go on for a while. But my dislikes list is pretty specific.

Dislikes!
-lemon in my water
-onions
-tomatoes
-peppers
-hot spicy foods
-iced tea
-moldy cheeses

Is it bad that half of those are vegetables?

C

Lizards are sometimes cute

I realized last night that I feel very much like I am letting people down when I am sick. I feel like I'm being a bad wife, & a bad worker for the church, b/c I just can't do much. I pushed it too much yesterday b/c I wanted to get my life back & it made me feel pretty icky (physically). I'm a control freak.

That's what I learned yesterday!

I've been a hermit all day. I'm hoping by Saturday I will be able to leave the house without pushing it.

Yesterday I was being a bum on the coach, when I saw...

A LIZARD CRAWLING ALONG OUR KITCHEN FLOOR!!!

I think the first thing through my mind was... "lizard... kitchen... that shouldn't be in there..." then I realized I had to do something about it! So I attacked it with tupperware (luckily Sage was outside so she couldn't have fun with the little booger) & cautiously made it to the front door to throw it out. I'm so brave. I usually think lizards are cute... but not when they are in your house!!!!

Part of the reason my health went south yesterday was because we kind of went to the San Antonio Rodeo to see Jeremy Camp & TobyMac. I know I shouldn't have!! Buuttttt it was a good concert!!

Tonight we are having lasagna & watching a movie. :-)

C

Influennnnnnnnza

I'm sick & it's NO FUN!! I started getting symptoms of the flu Monday morning & just left the house for the first time since then about 2 hours ago to go the grocery store, & now I'm just TIRED. Chills & sweats, aches, & a horribly sore throat have been my constant companions. & what's horrible is, you're so achy & tired, but you don't get very good sleep, with waking up shivering, then waking up in wet pjs from sweating (I know it's gross, I'm living it) & your head hurts & ahhhh. I don't get sick very often at all so I'm awfully whiny now that I am. :-( I'm feeling a smidgen better now that I think my fever is gone, but I read today that the tiredness can last for WEEKS after the other symptoms subside!! Geez.

I have enjoyed taking several baths within 24 hours tho. :-)

Oh, & Theraflu tastes gross.

God has been teaching me a lot lately. The Word is extremely alive, the Spirit is guiding & speaking, all while facing new challenges that make me feel helpless & all I can do is trust the Lord with it. It's good stuff & it makes me excited.

My arms are done typing....

C