"The God Who Requires Trust"

Yesterday I was able to go to church for the first time in awhile. Sickness, surgery and other things have gotten in the way.
Once the service started I was reminded how much I need church in my life. It makes me stop and focus on what is important. I can take much needed time out of my schedule and sit in God's presence.
The sermon yesterday really spoke to me. The title was "The God Who Requires Trust". The part that really got to me was the idea that "old faith is never going to be enough for new challenges."
The idea was that as things come up in our life, we need to grow in our relationship with God in order to handle what comes along. The pastor spoke of the Children of Israel in the dessert. In chapters 14-17 of Exodus, things kept coming up that tested them. The lack of water and food tested their faith. They whined, and complained. They allowed outside circumstances affect their relationship with God. They whined because what mattered to God didn't matter to them. While it is easy to sit back and judge them, I know I do the same thing. I allow the circumstances in my life to affect my relationship with God. I question, complain, worry and fight.
The service ended with the song "Blessings" by Laura Story. The lyrics were so beautiful I wanted to share:

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Courtesy of lyricshall.com
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

As we get ready to end 2011 I look back and am amazed by God's mercy and blessings. It has been a really tough year, I have cried, complained, wondered "why me", yet the whole time God has shown His faithfulness. He has more than proven that He can be trusted. I have a renewed fervor to increase my faith.

Ribbons and Bows

Now that my little Roo's hair is long enough I have started researching ways to make hairbows.
Thanks to Pinterest I have been able to look at quite a few different ways to make them. After taking some of the best hints and techniques I have made some really cute ones for both Roo and Pae to wear Thanksgiving Day.
Here is how I did it...

Cut six pieces of ribbon all the same size. Lay them out in the start pattern, alternating colors. With a needle and thread make one stitch to connect them all.

Bend over both sides of a ribbon to the middle, add another stitch. Continue to do this alternating colors. Make a final stitch, and knot and cut thread.
Using a hot glue gun add a charm in them middle to cover up any stitches, and glue onto your clip.

All done!!!! Some of the other instructions I saw used a glue gun for every step. I was afraid that it would make the bow too thick. I am not the best at sewing but found this really easy.

Can't wait to make some for Christmas!

Back to My Childhood

When we were growing up we always had oatmeal at least one morning a week. My favorite way to have it was with maple syrup and raisins. When I got to college instant maple brown sugar oatmeal became my between class snack.
This afternoon I decided to bake some cookies, my husband had mention oatmeal cookies last week and so I decided to whip some up. When I discovered I had no more vanilla I decided to try to bring back some of those oatmeal tastes. I took a basic oatmeal cookie recipe and switched it up a little.
I came out with a wonderful chewy oatmeal cookie that tastes even better than the oatmeal....so maybe cookies for breakfast tomorrow?

Maple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together throroughly:
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Beat on medium speed until well blended:
1/2 pound butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 tsp maple flavoring or real maple syrup

Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until well blended and smooth. Stir in : 3 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats, and 1 cup chopped raisins.

Drop dough onto baking sheets about a tsp at a time. Sprinkle with raw sugar then then press to flatten slightly. Bake at 350 for 9 minutes. (I baked mine on my stone and so it took about 15 minutes for them to bake). Let them rest for about 2 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.

In the Spirit of Thankfulness

Usually this month of the year I update my Facebook status each day with something I am thankful for. With my surgery and the way life has happened this month I haven't kept up on things which is why I wanted to take a minute and write this blog post.
This year has been very difficult. One thing after another has happened with my family's health. My little Roo has developed a seizure disorder, this morning she is undergoing an MRI to try to find the cause, my hubby started off the year with having a stomach surgery and has had issues with his shoulder, my little professor has had some asthma attacks and I have been dealing with issues that came up during my last pregnancy.
Last night I sat and cried, all I could think of is, "why can't we get a break". It is one thing after another. It is exhausting and taking a toll on all of us.
However, I awoke this morning with a feeling of utter thankfulness. While life is swirling around me, I have a constant rock that I can sink my feet into. Through all of this God is beside me. He knows my limitations more than anyone and will give me the strength to get through anything, no matter how big or little that comes along. As the ole' "Footprints in the Sand" poem, He has been carrying me through this year.
I am so thankful that I have a personal relationship with Him. I am so thankful that He loves my children more than I do and that each one of us is in center of His hand.
I don't know why all this is happening, and my humaness rebels against the trials with every breath I take, but I know I need to relax, to rest in Him and let him take the burden.
So this month I am thankful that no matter how much life changes God doesn't. I am thankful for my family and my friends who has put up with the ups and downs that is our life. I am thankful for friends who are willing to share their gifts and talents with me. I am thankful for my husband and for the support that we give each other. I am thankful for my children, and that they are so resilient, that each day I hear giggles from both of them. I am thankful for the military and my husbands command who have taken such good care of use this year. I am thankful for our house and the things that fill it. I am thankful that even though I have had multiple health problems, I haven't had asthma issues. Most of all I am thankful for a God who doesn't expect us to go through life on our own.

Happy "Normal"-ween!!!

Yesterday was such a fun day. It was our first "normal" day we have had in awhile. I got to sit back and watch both of my little ones have a great time and act like kids!
Roo and I have been spending most of the days in the house or in the doctors office. Not exactly the fun life she should be having at this point of her little life. So yesterday as I watched her be goofy waiting for Cameron's parade to start it did my heart good!

My little professor has been having a tough time lately as well. He is worried about his sister and just been kinda sad. Yesterday I got to see him smile alot, he was excited to dress up as his favorite book character, "Jack" from "The Magic Treehouse" books for school. He looked adorable in his glasses and little backpack!

I spent the morning make cupcakes to take to a friends potluck that she held before we all went trick or treating.

The potluck and trick or treating was so much fun! All of us enjoyed being around our friends. It has been weeks since I got to see my friends and all of their little ones. It reminded me how thankful I am that God has given me such a close group of friends. I don't know how we would have gotten through the past few years without their love and support.

I was very proud of the fact that I put together both kids costumes this year! I felt so crafty!!

Trick or Treating was so much fun this year. Both kids amazed me with their energy!!! They kept going long after I was tired out, and now we have enough candy to last us till next Halloween!

It really was a great day and encouraged my heart so much!