April

Oh hello.... its MAY! If you are like me at all... you are probably thinking where in the heckfire did April go... I didn't even get one post up last month. Therefore I have a TON of catching up to do. So this is my disclaimer...hope you can hang in with me as I recap my April to you.

Some time this month I applied for an open position at my church.. it was kinda a longshot because I don't have a lot of previous experience at all with computers other than blogging and working my Mary Kay business.. but it would have been a full time position and that would have been SO SO NICE.. Right now I am getting about 28 hours of work a week and I am probably going to have to find a second job this summer because I will be done babysitting soon.... back to the job... I got called in for a per-interview and then a second ..... then it was the waiting game... I just prayed that if it was the right fit it would work out.. if not, then it wasn't something I would have probably liked anyway :D

I would have to say that our biggest priority has been our Raised Garden. It all started when I brought home a BUNCH of seeds and made our dining room a "green house."  Now I have a deck-full of plants anxiously waiting to be planted in our GLORIOUS Beautiful AMAZING garden.... Three weeks ago we drove our little selves to Lows to buy us some lumber.... (we had no real idea what we were getting ourselves into).... I had to have looked like a goon staring at the walls and walls of different kinds and sizes of wood! Thank heaven that my wonderful husband was there and could read boy!

Ps.. we also saw a BBQ Grill outside and bought it for my parents as a surprise early mother's & father's day gift.  David and I both really like gifting and.. lets just say it.. my parents grill was way past its expiration date and they are hosting my sisters wedding reception at their house on May 3rd (tomorrow) and I am not sure if their old grill even stayed lit anymore... So GOODBYE Stinky green rust bucket! Hello to nice and shiny!

So we got our lumber and Grill and had to load it all into my dads truck and try to sneak the grill over to my parents into the back yard without them noticing.... YEAH RIGHT..... there was no way I was going to be able to effectively help David get that GIANT grill out of the truck and around back without dropping... So we just got my dad and said SURPRISE... can you move it hahaha.

The next few weeks we spent almost all of our waking time (besides work) outside in our yard and garden. David built the garden beds while I spent 2plus hours pulling stupid dandelions... I am not kidding our yard has like SUPER-SIZED weeds.... SERIOUSLY.  We thought we would try to get free dirt to fill our garden beds, so we headed out to different building sites and started shoveling dirt into the back of the truck.... yeah way too much work and WAY WAY to many rocks... So we eventually decided to just spend the little extra money and buy good composted soil from a landscaping company!! SUCH A GOOD IDEA.... don't waste time shoveling rocks... they delivered it to our back yard and we shoveled it in the beds and it looks and feels AMAZING.. I'm telling you our plants are going to be the happiest in Billings~nodoubtaboutit!

Last week was probably the craziest of all... because we were working out in our yard tons and my friend Katie asked me to share a booth in a "SPRING FLING" craft and vender fair.... SO I was crocheting like crazy trying to have something to sell... I'm not kidding... David was dreaming that I was crocheting on the couch and all our our plants dieing around the house because of neglect... I PROMISE I DIDN'T KILL ANY PLANTS IN THE CREATION OF MY CROCHET GOODIES.

Monday I went to the Kenesiologist and she tested and attempted to clear some of my major allergies from my system. She uses contact reflex analysis to determine what I am allergic to or what I have a negative reaction to. And then resets my body to have a positive or neutral reaction to it.... the problem with seasonal/environmental allergies is that they are everywhere and in order for her treatment to work/stick I have to avoid all contact with the allergen for 36-48 hours and that is practically impossible with environmental allergies.... unless I decided to become bubble girl.. Not likely.... but I can say that whatever she did has improved my lungs and breathing a whole lot this go around... She also told me I had a small infection and virus in my system so she has me taking 10000 mg of Vitamin C and taking oregano extract. The oregano works like an antibiotic but it doesn't kill the good bacteria... at least that is my understanding.

On Friday...(the day before the craft show) , I worked from 7am-5pm.... where I found out i didn't get the job i had interviewed for...(which i was actually relieved because I had been waiting 2 weeks to hear either way).....then went straight to dinner then right back to the church for ladies night out (I probably wouldn't have gone but my mom had already bought me a ticket and there was a chance I could win an ipad so why not). Ladies Night Out was fun but its not really my kind of thing..... I mean really... who wants to hang out with 1000 women who all wear a different kind of perfume and wear way too much of it.... I was having an allergy fit! Seriously, deodorant is plenty folks... you don't need to soak your clothes in frilly fragrance! That is why I love my husband... he noticed my allergy to fragrance and he stopped wearing lots of Cologne....is that how you spell it...? Ihavenoclue! But he is the sweetest most caring man in the world and I love him to death! ___ oh and if you are wondering, I didn't win the ipad or anything!

OK SATURDAY: I had to wake up early because I was so spent the night before that I couldn't even function to price everything. So I got up and got to work on organizing my crafts. The show started at 10am and went till 4pm.  When I got to the venue I was shocked at the size of the room.... they had us (50 venders) squished into this small conference room!!! And it was a complete bust.... I didn't sell one item! NOT ONE... there was like no traffic at all that came through the show and I got the feeling that the ones that did show up were overwhelmed (like me) at how close together everyone was. Katie had offered to watch my stuff while I then had to head over to my sisters fiance's grad party... and man was I sure glad to have some space!!  David came back with me to the craft fair to clean up and we headed off to church to finish out the day the right way!

That is what I love about church... even when I don't want to go... or think I am going to fall asleep during the sermon because I am just plain exhausted... I can go and worship a God who loves me even when I fail. And it made my day so much better.

And on the last day of this wonderful month of April we celebrated my sister with a Bridal High Tea Party. It was a fun and small relaxing time where we showered Arianna with lace and drank yummy tea. I was so inspired by this event that I am going to have to plan my very own tea party and have everyone over and we can wear big hats and pretty dresses! yes I think so! 

Month of Thankfulness: Day 9 & 10

This is a picture I took in Glacier National Park in August of 2007.
I thought it was a beautiful and something to be thankful for... Living in Montana.

ok... So apparently I am really bad at making my goal of a post a day... I didn't know I was going to get sick and super busy! So here is my catch up day!

So when I woke up on wednesday I was like a million-trillion times better so that is good... BUT being that I work all day on Wednesdays.. I was completely worn out when I got home and decided that I would not be posting anything... And now its Thursday and I am behind again...and feeling worn out from a long day of work yesterday... and I have an even longer day ahead of me...

However, no matter how tired I am feeling there are always things to be thankful for. Like my netty pot and Mucinex DM Expectorant ... Can I say LIFE SAVERS!

or my beautiful friend Justyne who went to the story for me while I was at work today to find me the Mucinex DM Expectorant because no place was open when I was hading to work! I LOVE HER.

or my wonderful husband who went to the store last night to get me lotion infused kleenex so my poor nose could have a little break...

But most of all I am thankful that even though I don't feel like I am moving fast enough... I know that God is in control and the whole world isn't going to fall apart because I am moving so slowly.

I am excitd that Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and that means BLACK FRIDAY Shopping! Last year was the first time I ever went and experienced the chaos of the day AFTER Thanksgiving... but I did find some awesome deals that I am glad I went out at midnight last year and shopped the town...

 yes it was madness and I was exhausted afterwards but I guess I am attracted to the excitement of the beginning of the Christmas Season!

I AM A CHRISTMAS JUNKIE!

Some of the things I got were:

• my prelit christmas tree for sale $40 at Target.
• the fossil makeup bags that I gave to my Bridesmaids at Herbergers
• As beautiful black & white pe-coat also at Herbergers
• 5 seasons of HOUSE at $5 each!! AMAZING

Month of Thankfulness: Day 5

As I sit here watching the first snow fall of the season..  listening to the Pandora Christmas Station and breathing in the sent of my new "evergreen" Candle from Bath & Body Works,
I am excited because its beginning to look like christmas!

Yesterday when I got off work I decided to stop by the mall to use my Bath & Body works coupons.... and I still had a gift card from last christmas to use up..

when I got there I was instantly put in the Christmas Spirit!!! (if that is even possible because I was already there)! but anywho.... I spent 15 mins at least smelling all of their new candles.... I TOTALLY Gave myself a headache!

While I was overstimulating my sense of smell... I couldn't help but notice this trio of people doing the same thing!  There were two women and then one of them had a son who was 4.. (I know this because they mentioned it at one point(

Anyway... the little boy really wanted this "gingerbread" candle and the mom did not like that smell at all! And told him no because they were only going to get one.

The little boy, who is wearing a bright read hooded sweatshirt and jeans... perseeds to throw a big fit and yell how he wants and needs this said "gingerbread" gingerbread candle!

My Favorite part of this story is that the mom was so Cool and Collected! She explained that they were not getting it and if he really wanted it that badly he could ask for it for Christmas. Hahaha...

I wanted to tell her!!! YOU GO MOM!

because too many parents these days allow their kids to get anything & EVERYTHING they want just to prevent a "Scene"

The mom's friend leaned over to me while the Mom was talking to her son.... and said "I am NEVER having kids!" haha

Sometimes I wish that situations would make me question if I want to have kids or not... but usually they make me want kids even more!

I Can't wait to be a MOMMY!
To have the opportunity to Raise up a child in the ways of the Lord and teach them about the important things in life!! Oh man!.... I get all giddy inside when I think about having a baby... but now is not the time, and I will eagerly wait for when I can tell everyone that I am going to be a mommy!

OKAY... back to being THANKFUL (because thats what this post is really about) So here I am watching the snow and obviously reflecting and anticipating things.... and Its SNOWING!

If you know me at all... I am not a fan of the SNOW... because in my mind SNOW = being COLD and WET and BAD ROADS!!!

But there is something so beautiful about the first snow... The way it blankets the earth in white.. and suggests a time for stillness and rest. So I am going to appreciate the first snow and be Thankful for its calm and quiet suggestion to everyone that Christmas is right around the corner!

I will chose to see the good things about Snow and try my best not to complain every time it snows this year.... because God is the one who makes it snow... it provides the earth with moisture to sustain life in the Spring....

And it is REALLY BEAUTIFUL!

Month of Thankfulness: Day 4

If you care to read my first post on Thankfulness you can do that here & here

When I think about being thankful and the question... "what are you thankful for?"

I feel like my answers tend to err on the side of superficial and (for a lack of a better word) "not deep" or well thought out.  Do you ever end up thinking that you are not really thankful for what your say you are.... I mean really.... do you really FEEL Thankful?

Well I am not sure that I always do.

But I want to... I want to be Genuinely Thankful for the things that I have and I want to quit taking simple everyday necessities for granted. Always feeling like I need more stuff.. that needs to stop! Right now because I HAVE MORE THAN I NEED.

So Today.. I am thankful for some of the simple things like that...

Like the clean air I have to breathe..

Warm/Hot Showers every morning....well more like every other.. But I have the option of Warm water whenever I want it... I don't have to shower in Cold water or wonder if there will be any water to drink.. Because I know that it is a guarantee that if I turn on my faucet water will come out! That's a GIVEN!

But that is not the case for everyone around the world....

Grocery Stores Filled with Food... I don't have to go hungry! But there are many people who do... EVEN IN AMERICA.... EVEN IN OUR TOWN!! This month is the beginning of the Holiday season.. and our Church (Faith Chapel) is having a food drive so that we can help supply our local food bank with food for families this Holiday.  Join us in making sure no one has to go hungry this Thanksgiving!! If you are in the area... Please bring in non-parishable food items to Faith through out the week or durring one of our weekend services...









We are also doing a Coat & Blanket Drive... this is Montana and winter here can be pretty brutal...epically if you don't have the means to stay warm... Drop of your extra blankets and coats so we can help those in need this winter season!


Yes.. I know that was a little off topic.. but these are thinks I take for granted A LOT! and I want to change that and maybe help someone else out in the process!


Today I will leave you with a passage from Ephesians 4: 19b-20

"..Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing to make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for EVERYTHING, in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ."

Ethiopia: please pray

I have had mixed feelings this week... and I think it is all because our church sent another team of people to Ambo Ethiopia... And I am not going this time. Don't get me wrong... I am so happy that the others are going and getting to experience one of my favorite places and see the faces of the orphans that many of our congregants sponsor.

BUT... there is a part of me that is broken inside because I am not going. My heart can't help but feel that Araque will think I don't love her because I didn't come back... or that the kids will forget about me! Is that silly? Maybe.. but I have to wonder. And will Araque connect with another person on the trip and then forget about me?

I guess this is another place where TRUSTING GOD comes into the Picture. I know that I LOVE these kids and nothing will ever ever EVER change that!! And there is always a reason for everything... GOD knows why... I Don't... and That is OK.

So I am praying for our Team these next two weeks... Praying that they are SAFE, Praying that GOD prepares their way and breaks down any walls that will keep them from doing GOD's work.

This trip will look a lot different than the previous ones.. in that instead of spending 100% of work time at "NEW HOPE" Orphanage, the team will be helping out the community of Ambo by rebuilding the Four Square Church.  They will see the orphans but not as much as we are used to... So I will also be praying that the kids understand this change and adjust to this transition well. Pray that they don't feel "unloved" or "neglected" or "unimportant".... That they understand that God's LOVE is Bigger than US and HE has called our church to help the lost and the poor EVERYWHERE!!

Some really neat things are going to happen though our partnership with the community of AMBO ETHIOPIA and I am so glad that I get to be part of it!  For example: In this past year... Faith Chapel has been able to find Sponsors for the Orphans so that each child has 3 sponsors and that fully meets NEW HOPE's Budget!!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!

GOD has a plan for this Community!!!  Then next BIG thing the orphanage is praying for is a new school building.  They are facing the problem that many of the girls are a grade away from finishing the program and will then have to be forced to leave the orphanage.... but if there is another school building the orphanage can offer more classes and higher grades so that the girls can stay and complete their schooling before they have to leave.... (I'm not sure if that makes sense...?)

What they have don't once the boys have grown up... is they leave the orphanage and then move into a community home with a "house-mom" and go to public school (or high school)... and that seems to be working out well.... but the girls would not have the same opportunity (I don't think).... So I am asking you to PRAY with me and ASK GOD to provide a way for the School to become a reality!

GOD is BIG enough for that... we must trust HIM and BELIEVE that HE really can make anything happen!

Matthew 7:7 ~ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.
John 15:7~If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 

If you wish to follow along with our Mission Team in Ethiopia you can read their blog here
 its a live feed (if they can connect to the internet) of what they are doing... join me in praying for them these next two weeks!

Group picture in front of the orphanage October 2010

Happiness

I saw this picture while browsing blogs today and thought it was worth sharing.... 

So happy that I am married to my best friend in the world.... and I know that I don't have to impress him... and he does make me happy

LOVE YOU DAVID

Also... how fun would it be to have that many balloons and go out for a photo shoot!!!