But honey....he just ate, maybe you shouldn't bounce him around like that?

Hate to say I told you so.....good job son.

the 6 hour make-over

and that's what I think about that

How about I give you the finger...

And you give me my phone call?

Sometimes you have to SLAP them in the face just to get their attention!

"Grace, we're indivisible. If you can't work late, then I can't work late. And if I can't work late, I CAN'T WORK LATE."

-Frank Cross Scrooged

Everyday is a new slap in the face, a new revelation. It hurts, and certain parts of my face are feeling raw, but God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2Corinthians 9:8). I keep being brought back to a place of peace, in knowing that God loves me soooooooo much, that He cares more about my character than my comfort. He sees my potential, and out of love, He is taking me there.

When we step outside of God's grace, and into our own strength, everything around us starts to slowly fall apart. It's subtle, and usually takes a while to realize all that you have been working so hard in building is crumbling before you eyes, and there's nothing you can do to save it. So here I am, standing in whats left of the rubble, having no other place to look but up. Realizing that if I do not tap into God's abounding grace, I CAN'T WORK LATE!

I am ok with being here, I know why I am here. You cannot go with God and remain where you are!! I have been trying to shortcut the desert time, which has led me to cul-de-sacs, which has forced me to revisit lessons you was meant to learn. Here I've been wondering why I fell on my face when my foundation was shaken, because I'm having to relearn baby steps! "If My people would but listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!" (Ps. 81:13-14)

I am ready for the storm....

Little one had a playmate today

Hangin'.....Chillin'.....Footloose.....

Buddies...

Whoa girly, don't you think I'm a little old for you?

Chillin'

Shhh....I'm playing

My little one looking all grown up

My son in his 'old-man' PJ's

Stealing a kiss

The season I find myself in these days is that of heavy pruning and character building. It feels like so much is getting cut off that all I'm left with is a big stump. It seems as soon as I think there can't be another thing God could root out in my heart, He does, and it hurts even worse than the last. I'm not sure why God chose to deal with all these things at once. I'm not sure why God chose now to do it. I'm not sure how all these things managed to slip by me, here I thought I was doing alright.

It's amazing yet so completely "duh", how a little step after a little step in the wrong direction can leave you stranded in a foreign place faster than you can dig out your map. How one eye off the target can distract you so quickly, how one thought can manifest into an attitude. I have faith that God will see me through, I have peace in knowing I won't be here forever, and anticipation of the next exciting season that I know is coming, I just don't know when.

I'm in rough shape, and I'm not pretty to look at. My eyes are fixed on the promise that He will carry out the work He has started in me to completion. That He will give me the things I need to be whole, not lacking in anything. I look forward to the day when I can stand on a mountain and see all the beauty and splendor of this valley. Until then, I know He is faithful and I know He is God. I can appreciate this time, because I know what it's for.

"Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds, for we know that trials produce perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope."

I was reading a post on Jenny's blog tonight, and some thoughts and feelings stirred up in me that I wanted to share.
I hope and pray that the heart behind this is heard.
Us as women need to stick together!Whether we're big or small, skinny-mini or roley-poley, slim and fit or chunky and out of shape....WE ARE ALL FIGHTING THE SAME BATTLE! To find OUR WORTH in the never ending love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. If it's not weight, it's something else.....jealousy, envy, judgement, pride, low self esteem, vanity..... We all struggle with finding our worth, we all live in the same unhealthy society that tells us what to wear and what to look like.It's not a competition on who is hurting more, the fat person or the skinny one. Having been one of the skinny people all my life, let me put a word in for us. We hurt too. Over weight people don't want people assuming that they sit on the couch all day eating potato chips, skinny people don't want people to assume they don't eat, or that they only eat salad or exlax. Over weight people hate it when skinny people look at them like they're slobs, skinny people hate it when weight people look at them like they're anorexic. There is such a division, lets break it down! We need to be there for eachother! God made us in HIS image, all of us. We are princesses! Royalty! Daughters of the King of Kings! There is no higher calling! The enemy has done an amazing job at putting walls between us, walls of competition, barriers of judgement. Instead of encouraging one another we put stumbling blocks in our road! The perfect image on the billboards and in magazines are a distraction to our goal! Whatever those images may be, looks, money, position... treat them as such, a distraction. Our goal is to become more and more like Jesus, to become more and more close to Him daily, to strive and serve, to see His kingdom come. May us as women come together to break down the walls that society has placed between us, may the categories that we find ourselves in be taken away, and may we be left boundless and free. Bless you, my sisters, my friends. God will complete the good work He has started, He loves us too much to leave us where we are! We have an amazing destiny, we are worthy of His love, He paid the price we couldn't pay.
Jenny, you are doing amazing, you are walking the road at a smooth and steady pace, not falling into a crash diet that will only bring temporary results. You desire change, and in that God has room to move and work in you. You are a blessing!