Gotta share with someone!

I'm busting at the seams and gotta tell someone, so I'm telling yall - I just found out today that I'm pregnant! Hubby and I are very excited! We have not told dear daughter and probably won't for a few more weeks. As a four year old she'll definitely understand, but that concept of time is still not there. Nine months might as well be an eternity for her. So, when we tell everyone at church we'll tell her (of course). The first ultrasound will be on the 26th, so we'll probably spill our secret sometime after that. Any fun stories on how to tell people (like the church) - I'm leaning towards making a "I'm the big sister - June '08" tshirt and letting her wear that to church to see if anyone comments. Anyone do anything on a large scale that was fun?

meals

Ok, there's something to be said for planning meals out in advance, or at least (which is good for me) thinking about it first thing in the morning or the day before. Coming home from work has been a whole lot better b/c I'm not throwing together dinner as I walk in the door in my mind. Hooray for thinking ahead! Have any other tips to share about meal planning?

recharge

I was getting ready to brush my teeth the other night with my electric toothbrush and after applying the toothpaste & turning it on, I discovered that it was not full of power. It's battery was winding down and needed to be put back on the charger. It took so much longer to brush that night. Because it wasn't humming along at top speed, it seemed that I had to take more time just to brush my teeth the normal amount of coverage. It got me thinking about how we, as humans, need our "batteries" recharged sometimes. For example, as a mom, some days all I hear is "mommy, I need this" or "mommy where's this?" or "insert any whine here." It totally runs down my energy! Where do I go to refill? Well, I could go a variety of places - a trip out to St*rbucks for a Double Chocolate Chip Frap. or escaping into a novel are two of my (failed) favorite attempts to recharge. But, what leaves me truly recharged and ready to attack the next round of whines (or chores or out-of-the-house job demands) is time with the Lord. Spending time reading His Word and time in prayer are what leave me emotionally high and content. Let's work on filling up with the True source and no imitations. (Then after we've had our time with Him, we can go to St*rbucks for a treat!)

contestc

Another pink giveaway at 5MFM!

The special-edition pink EX-Z75 will be available beginning October 2007 and can be purchased at Sears, La Curacao, Fred Meyer, BJ’s, Nexcom, AAFES, Staples, and Future Shop. The bundle package will have an MSRP of $179.99, and will proudly sponsor the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, please visit www.casiousa.com.

concert

Last night we took over a dozen of our youth to see Barlow Girl in concert at our local fair. What a GREAT concert! I really enjoy the Barlow Girls' music and message. Here's a link to a YouTube music video of theirs. Give a listen!

humility

"Humility is that grace that, when you know you have it, you have lost it." Andrew Murray (1800's) - pg. 29

"To clothe ourselves with humility sounds so easy - like donning a new blouse. In reality it's much more complicated. It's more like signing up for an extreme makeover that begins with the heart." Gracie Malone - pg. 35"

"It takes a more mature woman to love God just b/c He is God." (vs. when He's performing miracles or signs or doing things for us). Gracie Malone - pg. 34

In reading my devotional today, these couple of quotes really stood out to me from this chapter on humility. I think the main thing I would point out is that in humility the focus is off of "self." It's not thinking that we're so low we're worth nothing and it's also not comparing ourselves to others thinking we come out on top, better than another. It means we don't think solely of how an action or event affects us, but rather what we can do for others despite what inconvenience it causes us.

If you're like me, it's hard to put that in action with my family, where sadly, I should be following God's desire for humbleness by serving my family selflessly, but I don't always. I pray that the Lord would help me to support my family as a humble child of Christ, rather than a proud wife and mother who could come up with a selfish, prideful reply when asked to "please get me this" or "please do that."

Double check where your motivations come from today - are you thinking only of yourself or of others?