Hearts Transformed

I like crafts. I like feeling creative. I like spending time using paper and glue and glitter. I know some of you reading this just rolled your eyes at the mere mention of glitter. Some people have such an aversion to glitter because it has a tendency to have a mind of its own. But I love how it brings a little something extra, another dimension if you will. I like makeup. I like spending time making my tired face look fresh. I like the way I can add a little color in the areas that have frankly become a tad dull over the years. I like being able to cover up a blemish and to smooth out the rough places. I even like adding a little glitter from time to time. I like a clean house. I like when things are in the right place. I feel so much more at peace when there aren't piles of clothes and toys and unsorted mail laying around. I like walking in after a long day and there being a sense of order and calm. However, over time, if I am honest my crafts have become more replicating s...

Indifference:  lack of interest, concern, or sympathy. "she shrugged, feigning indifference"  That is really the example the internet gave when I looked up the definition. How many times have you feigned indifference when that isn't at all what you really think or feel. I do this alot with my husband and my children. I calculate the cost and feign indifference to keep from the fight or because I'm just tired. But then I over react because my shrug didn't really shrug anything off but only deflected the conversation or situation. This chapter covered the story of the prodigal son, it is found in Luke 15 if you need a refresher. This story is used by many to celebrate the graciousness of the Father and the gift of forgiveness. However, chapter nine has us take a look at the "good" kid and explore his resentfulness and then his seemingly indifference to his brother's return. It is often easier for us to get why bad things happen to "b...

Hey MOPS Mommas and anyone else that is reading this! We just finished up with Chapter 8- Picket Fences. This chapter is all about our comfort zone. Some of us find our comfort zone pretty open and friendly as long as we are the ones in control but when someone else tries to enter through the gate to the inner most part of who we really are it is locked up like Fort Knox. And other's of us keep our distance so great from others because we don't want to risk being hurt. Which one are you? I am definitely more towards the open circle as long as I can control the real personal stuff. I still struggle daily with trying to seem like I have it all together and trying to be sure that everyone else is pleased and happy. Funny and convicting this about this chapter is that i am not really a people pleaser at all. I am a self pleaser. I want other to be pleased with me so I will do what I think will make them the happiest with me. I do not want to disappoint others mainly because ...

My heart is super heavy. I work with some really amazing families that have had their share of struggles but today tops it. I work with a lady whom I spoke to exactly one week ago this afternoon and now she is laying in a hospital bed and her family is having to make the difficult decision of whether to pull her off life support. This lady is like all of us with a family and friends. She was working to set goals in her life and  for her family. She had hopes and dreams. I am devasted. I am in shock. I am at a loss. It is Ash Wednesday and we enter into this most somber of seasons to which I have never entered in such a state of overwhelming feelings of impending death. I pray that her family is safe and well. I pray that her children push themselves to accomplish all that they dream and all the she dreamed for them. I reflect on the coming remembrance of Jesus death and I pray that I push myself to accomplish all that I dream and all that MY FATHER dreams for me. I pray that I ...

Seasons come and go and right now I am in a season of great anxiety. My head and my heart are not matching up. My head knows the logical things, like it is 3 am and I should be asleep. My body is exhausted and has a headache. My attitude is exhausted and needs adjusting. My faith is exhausted and needs a fresh wind. My heart is exhausted with worry. I know to be grateful. I know to be calm. I know worry doesn't change things. I know my fears are unfounded. Yet here I am in a season of exhaustion. I am in winter and I need signs of Spring!  I have family that loves me. I have friends that support me. I have a belief in The God whom is patient and kind. I have a warm house. I have food in the fridge. I have sooooo much. Yet I am in winter and I need signs of Spring! Seasons come and go and I am certain that Spring is coming and I welcome it!

Today started out rainy and fairly warm given that it is February but by this evening it was down right frigid and called for a bowl of soup. I decided I wanted chicken chili and I thought I would create my own recipe. It was SO yummy and pretty healthy! Ranch Chicken Chili 4 cups chicken broth 1 small white onion 1 can Rotel 1 can diced green chiles  1 can white hominy drained 1 can white beans drained 1 can pinto beans drained 1/2 package Wildtree Creamy Ranch Dressing and Dip Mix 1 tablespoon Wildtree Chipotle Lime Rub 1 tablespoon Wildtree Grapeseed Oil 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken shredded black pepper to taste Heat oil in 4 quart pot and add onions until tender. Add remaining ingredients and bring to boil. Turn down and let simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with lime wedge and avocado slices.  Let know how you like it if you try. 

I don't often take sick days but Miss Chelsea doesn't know that and she has had her fair share of sick days. Today is one of those days. It has been so bitterly cold here and we ventured out the other night and wound up walking quite a distance in the cold windy air. And like magic the nose started running. Well last night the cold moved from runny nose to full on seal coughs and crying spells. Poor thing. By this afternoon Miss Chelsea is on full tilt and running around like her normal self. All of that back story to say, I stayed home today and I didn't feel bad at all so I knocked some things out like going through Mt Paperest on my desk. I found all kinds of goodies. Bills that I didn't pay on time (awesome), letters from our Compassion sponsor child that I hadn't responded to (sad), and an itunes card for a free download of a Christmas song I picked up for a friend (Merry Christmas 2015?). I looked everywhere for a card that was a just because occasion and cou...