Are Titles Really Important?

I was told in college that writing the introduction is often the most difficult part of writing a paper. I think coming up with a title is pretty difficult too! As I wrote "Are Titles Really Important?" I remembered a thought I had earlier this week.

I was shopping last week for some new clothes. (Does anyone else remember when $25 was NOT the clearance price?) As I looked at the clothes, makeup, accessories, and shoes I thought about how ridiculously expensive it is to live in this "developed" country. I consider myself a feminine girly girl with common sense. In this economy that is an oxymoron! Just look at this ensemble:

This outfit is $57.97! Add to that make-up, eyebrow tweezing, nails, purse, earrings, and other wouldn't go in public without and you are close to $75! Where do you think this outfit came from? Guesses? SEARS! That is like Wal-Mart/Target/KMart prices. Seriously, when did we get to a point where one outfit cost half a day's wages? I just don't understand.

Ok rant over. I will continue my quest to look cute and girly on a budget.

Time to Work

I have thoroughly enjoyed my month without working full time. Work was so stressful the last few months I'm surprised I didn't loose my mind! Now that I have had a month to regain my sanity it is time to get down to business.

Goal setting was never something I was good at. Being a perfectionist makes it very difficult for me to write down my goals. What if I am unable to reach my goals? I fail and that is not something I enjoy doing! It is time to set some goals. It is time to really look at my business and plan for the future.

Our adoption has been held up at the state DHR level. Right now I am anticipating our paperwork getting back to the state around October. Add 13 weeks to October and we are into 2012. It is disappointing, but realistically, we aren't quite ready to have a child/children yet. What can I do right now? Right now I can secure my income by building my business.

Tomorrow night is dinner with my in laws. I love that. I love having grandparents around even if they are my husbands. It is so amazing what we can learn from seniors. They have lived through so much.

Seeking wisdom and guidance this week. Blessings to you.

What's my motive?

I have a slight need to control things. I know this is shocking for anyone who knows me in real life, but I am a bit of a control freak. I really have to examine my motives sometimes. Looking deep within my actions and desires to determine my motives is sometimes VERY difficult.


Give it to God and don't take it back!

Starting Year #3

Today was our 2nd anniversary. I must say it is 100 times better than our first anniversary. Last year I was enjoying a night in the ER finding out about my kidney stone that would stick around for a month!

Tonight we enjoyed game night with our friends. Our relationship started during our game night dinners 4 years ago. Kyle asked me to marry him on game night. Its fitting that we share our second anniversary with our friends who brought us together.

Year two brought us so many changes. We started the domestic adoption process (still going through hoops). I started my own business with his support. We decided to sell our house and bought land in a smaller town. We went on our first mission trip. We enjoyed many new things and places last year. I hope our third year brings us many more first and new experiences. I wouldn't change one thing!

I take you Kyle, to be my husband,
loving you now and as you grow and develop into all that God intends.
I will love you when we are together and when we are apart;
when our lives are at peace and when they are in turmoil;
when I am proud of you and when I am disappointed in you;
in times of rest and in times of work.
I will honor your goals and dreams and help you to fulfill them.
From the depth of my being,
I will seek to be open and honest with you.
I say these things knowing that God is in the midst of them all.

Smurfs and Promises

Recently I heard about this driving game where you point out different colors of cars on the road, for example the French’s yellow car or the Smurf blue truck.  While my friends were talking about this game I was thinking, “Are there really that many distinct Smurf blue paint jobs out there?” YES there are! Since hearing that story I have seen at least half a dozen Smurf blue vehicles every time I travel! I have seen so many yellow and blue cars that I now play the Pepto pink game just to focus on a new color. Life is like that though isn’t it? We see what we are seeking.

I talk about writing down prayers to the youth at my church a lot. I tell them about the prayers that I have prayed over the last decade and how amazing it is to see God’s answers. While watching for God to answer a prayer is great, I’ve recently been so convicted that I was missing something…

On our mission trip two weeks ago, the homeowner was telling us about God keeping His promise to her. In a dream she saw a carpenter walking around her crumbling house, she cried in her dream and the carpenter said, “I can fix this. Trust me.” When our mission team arrived to give her a new roof, she realized it was God fulfilling His promise to her in her dream.  How often have I focused and meditated on God’s promises fulfilled or seeing his blessings?

This week I commit to opening my eyes and looking for God’s promises fulfilled and His blessings on my life.

Psalm 119:40-42

The Message (MSG)

 ^41-48 Let your love, God, shape my life
      with salvation, exactly as you promised;
   Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery
      because I trusted your Word.
   Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever—
      your commandments are what I depend on.
   Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me,
      guard it now, guard it ever;
   And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces
      as I look for your truth and your wisdom;
   Then I'll tell the world what I find,
      speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed.
   I cherish your commandments—oh, how I love them!—
      relishing every fragment of your counsel.