Are you the kind of person who embraces change or do you just ignore it?
Do you question it or run from it?
Do you like it or hate it?
Let me start by saying that there are so many different types of change, both positive and negative. Change comes in so many forms and while some are welcomed with open arms, others are rejected by sobbing tears. Changes are something that I have always been taught to accept no matter what, because you can't change them. How you deal with changes really says alot about who you are. I would like to think that I have accepted and dealt with the changes in my life in such a way that God would say "Well Done." However, I sit here today with a heavy heart. Yes I'm pregnant and emotional, but my emotions are justified today.
It's funny how changes from long ago can continue to affect your life. In order to "deal" with things, I talk about them, cry, get angry, laugh etc. I'm a woman so emotions should be accepted as a form for dealing with things. Many people who have known you your whole life sometimes feel like the story is constantly being re-told and get tired of hearing from you. No matter how many times the story is told, rejected, accepted, it still remains the same and must be dealt with.
It's time to deal with things that hurt. It's time to deal with issues that frustrate me. No more hiding them. No more hoping someone will listen and understand. Change, in this case, must be dealt with head on. Although, I do feel that it will be a constant decision and battle.
This may make no sense, but whatever changes that have occured in your life....how did you deal with them? Are you proud of it? If not, change the outcome in the future! Changes and struggles make us who we are, so ask God to bless them.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Baby News
So, I want to start by saying that we have been very blessed this week. Sometimes, God answers prayers and in the ways that we have asked Him to. This week, a lot of stress has been lifted off of our shoulders! So thanks be to Him for all of our blessings and trials.
Today, I got to see our little one. What an amazing sight to see! I feel so incredibly bad, because daddy didn't get to go today. At the very first ultrasound, he was able to see the heartbeat, and at this ultrasound, the little one was jumping for joy. I guess we are even now.
We found out at the ultrasound that I am a little further along than we thought I was. Originally, they thought I was 11 weeks and 1 day today. However, I am 11 weeks and 5 ish days. She had to try REALLY hard to get the baby to stay still long enough to measure crown to rump. She got a few different measurements. The first was 12 weeks and the second was 11 weeks 6 days. So who knows!!! My new due date is August 24th.
Everyone keeps asking what we want. Depending on the day, depends on the gender! We just want a healthy little one and a healthy pregnancy and delivery. So far, things look good, however they did have to take a double look today. She thought she saw some braxton hicks contractions, but said that was normal. Either way, things look good and baby is a bounding bundle. (Takes it after it's dad. He can't stay still for 2 seconds.) I have had cravings for Milk, (I drink a gallon in a few days time) salty stuff, and NO SWEETS. I guess it's good that I would rather have fruit or jello than ice cream. The only problem so far is that I sleep in the middle of the bed. (According to my husband) We will keep everyone updated! Love you all!
Friday, February 4, 2011
An Example
Imagine being homeless for a second.
You were in jail for years, and when you got out, you were left to be on the streets. It's January, and it's very cold, even snowing at times. You are a nice person, and you strive to be pleasant in order to stay at the mission or a church for each night of the week. You don't own much, just the clothes on your back and a few letters or documents. You find yourself at a church one night, privaledged to be a part of their shelter for the evening. A man from the church walks up to you and begins talking to you. He seems genuine and wishes to help if he can. You tell him that really, you are in need of a coat. Within a weeks time, the man meets you on the street, buys you lunch, and gives you a coat. The week passes, and you are blessed to receive a ticket from the mission to stay at that same church again. The man is back. This time, he brings you a backpack, toothbrush, toothpaste and deoderant. This man barely knows you, why is he doing this? You begin to talk to him and open up and inform him that you do have family, however they are living in Detroit and you haven't spoken to them in many years. The man vows to you that he will find them. As a few days pass, the man finds you on the street and tells you that he has found your family. What do you think? He allows you to talk to your family on the phone and vows to you that he will get you home to them. By now, about two weeks have gone by. You are now at the bus station with a ticket bound for Detroit. what is going through your mind? You life has now changed drastically in only two weeks. For whatever reason, you are attacked. What do you do? You call the only man who has shown any interest in you in a long time. He comes to pick you up. What happens next? Wait for it........
I'm sure my family will kill me after I write this, but too bad. Let me start by telling you that my family and my husband's family are very different. Neither good, bad, right or wrong. Just different. Having been raised differently, it is very difficult for me to see the relationship that my sister-in-law has with my mother-in-law and it is difficult for me to understand some of the things and reasons why my in-laws do the things they do. With that being said, God has blessed me with in-laws and a relationship with them that is more than I could have asked for. Many times people clash horribly with the family that they married in to. We have our moments....don't get me wrong. I can honestly say, however, that my relationship with David and Linda is one that I am blessed with. David and Linda are wonderful Godly people who would never toot their own horn, and I can promise you that they will tell you that they are only doing things and acting as God would want them to. David has spoken many times in the last month or so to our church and each time he says "Our role as a Christian is to constantly live a life trying to be more like Christ." That's all we can do, and that's what we are called to do.
The man in the story has a name. His name is Pruette. The church man also has a name. He is my father-in-law. After Pruette was beat up, he lived with David and Linda for about 3 days until the snow in Detroit had cleared and the bus could leave. David and Linda were not the only ones who helped. Many at the church donated to help get Pruette back home.
I'm not saying that everyone needs to take in homeless people. Honestly though, how timid are we to do the right thing sometimes or to even be nice to someone. David drives me crazy sometimes, because he is ALWAYS in a good mood. How many times do we let our hurt, bad feelings, or fear get in the way of doing what Christ would want us to. Please do not go thanking David and Linda and commenting on the whole situation. They will say exactly this "We were only doing what we felt was right and what we felt, as Christians, we were called to do"
Don't get me wrong. I have a loving and caring Father and family. My dad works very hard throughout the week and at church. He helps out at the pantry, which many (I'm sure) try to avoid because they just don't have time. God has blessed me with family and in-laws that live for Him. I just wanted to pass along the story because I thought it was a neat one.
Are you striving to be Christ-like?
You were in jail for years, and when you got out, you were left to be on the streets. It's January, and it's very cold, even snowing at times. You are a nice person, and you strive to be pleasant in order to stay at the mission or a church for each night of the week. You don't own much, just the clothes on your back and a few letters or documents. You find yourself at a church one night, privaledged to be a part of their shelter for the evening. A man from the church walks up to you and begins talking to you. He seems genuine and wishes to help if he can. You tell him that really, you are in need of a coat. Within a weeks time, the man meets you on the street, buys you lunch, and gives you a coat. The week passes, and you are blessed to receive a ticket from the mission to stay at that same church again. The man is back. This time, he brings you a backpack, toothbrush, toothpaste and deoderant. This man barely knows you, why is he doing this? You begin to talk to him and open up and inform him that you do have family, however they are living in Detroit and you haven't spoken to them in many years. The man vows to you that he will find them. As a few days pass, the man finds you on the street and tells you that he has found your family. What do you think? He allows you to talk to your family on the phone and vows to you that he will get you home to them. By now, about two weeks have gone by. You are now at the bus station with a ticket bound for Detroit. what is going through your mind? You life has now changed drastically in only two weeks. For whatever reason, you are attacked. What do you do? You call the only man who has shown any interest in you in a long time. He comes to pick you up. What happens next? Wait for it........
I'm sure my family will kill me after I write this, but too bad. Let me start by telling you that my family and my husband's family are very different. Neither good, bad, right or wrong. Just different. Having been raised differently, it is very difficult for me to see the relationship that my sister-in-law has with my mother-in-law and it is difficult for me to understand some of the things and reasons why my in-laws do the things they do. With that being said, God has blessed me with in-laws and a relationship with them that is more than I could have asked for. Many times people clash horribly with the family that they married in to. We have our moments....don't get me wrong. I can honestly say, however, that my relationship with David and Linda is one that I am blessed with. David and Linda are wonderful Godly people who would never toot their own horn, and I can promise you that they will tell you that they are only doing things and acting as God would want them to. David has spoken many times in the last month or so to our church and each time he says "Our role as a Christian is to constantly live a life trying to be more like Christ." That's all we can do, and that's what we are called to do.
The man in the story has a name. His name is Pruette. The church man also has a name. He is my father-in-law. After Pruette was beat up, he lived with David and Linda for about 3 days until the snow in Detroit had cleared and the bus could leave. David and Linda were not the only ones who helped. Many at the church donated to help get Pruette back home.
I'm not saying that everyone needs to take in homeless people. Honestly though, how timid are we to do the right thing sometimes or to even be nice to someone. David drives me crazy sometimes, because he is ALWAYS in a good mood. How many times do we let our hurt, bad feelings, or fear get in the way of doing what Christ would want us to. Please do not go thanking David and Linda and commenting on the whole situation. They will say exactly this "We were only doing what we felt was right and what we felt, as Christians, we were called to do"
Don't get me wrong. I have a loving and caring Father and family. My dad works very hard throughout the week and at church. He helps out at the pantry, which many (I'm sure) try to avoid because they just don't have time. God has blessed me with family and in-laws that live for Him. I just wanted to pass along the story because I thought it was a neat one.
Are you striving to be Christ-like?
Full Custody
So, I have many things that I want to say, and I have written line after line and can't seem to begin this blog with a profound statement that I feel is worthy of "the first line."
I realize that many people may not read this, but sometimes it is beneficial for me to write. (or type, as the case may be)
This week has been one of depression and realization. Let me start by telling you how absolutely wonderful my Wednesday night women's Bible study is. We are studying Phillipians at the moment, and I have been so blessed by different comments and scriptures that are shared each week. It's funny how God knows what we NEED to hear, maybe not what we WANT to hear. This past week we talked about anger, and the fact that Paul, while in jail and after being beaten, was still able to praise God through his struggles and pursue the furthering of God's word. Ok....let's stop right there. I said IN JAIL......and PRAISE. How many times do we praise God when things are NOT going our way? I'm sure we question Him, but do we praise Him. After all, He knows what is best for us and will always provide for us. Anyway! Statements were made about God's disipline for His children and about anger and frustration. (Quoting Tricia) "God wants to have full custody, not just visitation on the weekends." Statements were also made that God will protect us, but that does not mean we won't go through difficult times. If we were shielded from difficult times and never had to struggle, everyone would want to be a christian simply for the fact that they would want to be protected. Not because they love God.
With that being said, things have happened this week where I have struggled but still managed to make myself try to get in the habit of praising God through the frustrations and the anger.
This week, I feel that by letting God in to every aspect, emotion and situation, (even if you are having to force yourself), is a step in the right direction. By being a part of everything in my life, I strive to live my life for Him.
I have more to say, but I am going to put it in a different post....please take the time to read it too!!!
I realize that many people may not read this, but sometimes it is beneficial for me to write. (or type, as the case may be)
This week has been one of depression and realization. Let me start by telling you how absolutely wonderful my Wednesday night women's Bible study is. We are studying Phillipians at the moment, and I have been so blessed by different comments and scriptures that are shared each week. It's funny how God knows what we NEED to hear, maybe not what we WANT to hear. This past week we talked about anger, and the fact that Paul, while in jail and after being beaten, was still able to praise God through his struggles and pursue the furthering of God's word. Ok....let's stop right there. I said IN JAIL......and PRAISE. How many times do we praise God when things are NOT going our way? I'm sure we question Him, but do we praise Him. After all, He knows what is best for us and will always provide for us. Anyway! Statements were made about God's disipline for His children and about anger and frustration. (Quoting Tricia) "God wants to have full custody, not just visitation on the weekends." Statements were also made that God will protect us, but that does not mean we won't go through difficult times. If we were shielded from difficult times and never had to struggle, everyone would want to be a christian simply for the fact that they would want to be protected. Not because they love God.
With that being said, things have happened this week where I have struggled but still managed to make myself try to get in the habit of praising God through the frustrations and the anger.
This week, I feel that by letting God in to every aspect, emotion and situation, (even if you are having to force yourself), is a step in the right direction. By being a part of everything in my life, I strive to live my life for Him.
I have more to say, but I am going to put it in a different post....please take the time to read it too!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)