Have any of you read this book? It is amazing!! It's a book about a beautiful girl (Angel), who from a child, has a rough life. Her father is a man married to another women, other than her mother. Her mother ends up in prostitution and so does Angel. Michael Hosea sees her and God tells him that she's the woman for him to marry. I know he never thought he'd marry a prostitute. The book is about their lives, and their struggles and how God speaks to them. At one point in the book Angel leaves Michael and he prays and prays for her. God was teaching him about faith. I know this book is a sort of Christian Romance book, but that chapter where Michael was struggling with faith really spoke to me. I know Michael wanted to go after Angel, but God wanted Michael to trust Him. Michael wanted Angel to be there with him, but he knew that God was going to do something wonderful in Angel's life that otherwise would not have happened had she stayed with Michael.
This week has been a rough week with faith. There are some days where I have great faith, even bigger than a mustard seed. Then there are other days where I can't even find faith like dust (I'm not sure what is smaller than a mustard seed, but you get the idea). I've been praying for some very specific, very big things to happen this year. I know I serve a big God and He can do anything, even things that seem impossible. The hard part is not interfering with what He wants to do. I like to be in control, I like to be prepared and have a plan. Sometimes God wants to get me out of my box and experiment with new things like trying His plan instead of mine. The things I'm praying for this year are things that I have no control over. I can't force financial blessing on Josh's career, I can't force healthy pregnancies to happen for my cousin, my co-worker and myself. I know that God is really teaching me so many things right now. I had felt like everything was great, I loved the Lord, my family, and my husband. It seems like just when you start to feel comfortable, just when things are going great, God goes and stretches me. I know it's something that has to be done and I know I'll trust and love Him more at the end of this. The stretching just hurts sometimes, it's uncomfortable and sometimes I just want it to be over.
So if any of you are going through "stretching" please know you're not alone and it gets better. There are going to be bad days, but just think of the results at the end. It's like working out. I go to the gym just about every day and although I don't like it, I like the way I feel when I'm done. When I don't go I feel guilty and not strong. It's a love/hate thing:)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Ode to 1099s and W-2s
Oh, how I dislike thee so.......
It's that time of year again. I used to love the first of the year because it was when I could file my taxes and get a little bonus money, however it's bitter sweet now. I still love the "bonus" the government gives back to me, but I so hate doing 1099s and dealing with issues regarding W-2s.
It's a pain going through all of the payables for the year and determining what is and what isn't "1099-able". I must admit that I enjoy my job and I'm grateful for it. My boss and the girl I work with are great people!
Next time you have to deal with someone who prepares either of these government documents for you, please please be kind. They are working hard and are just as frustrated as you are (most of the time anyway).
Oh and by the way, please keep my co-worker in your prayers over these next few weeks. She's going through the IVF process. It's been a long time coming and I'm praying that they have a healthy baby this year:)
It's that time of year again. I used to love the first of the year because it was when I could file my taxes and get a little bonus money, however it's bitter sweet now. I still love the "bonus" the government gives back to me, but I so hate doing 1099s and dealing with issues regarding W-2s.
It's a pain going through all of the payables for the year and determining what is and what isn't "1099-able". I must admit that I enjoy my job and I'm grateful for it. My boss and the girl I work with are great people!
Next time you have to deal with someone who prepares either of these government documents for you, please please be kind. They are working hard and are just as frustrated as you are (most of the time anyway).
Oh and by the way, please keep my co-worker in your prayers over these next few weeks. She's going through the IVF process. It's been a long time coming and I'm praying that they have a healthy baby this year:)
Monday, January 4, 2010
A year in review and here's to a new year......
Well, 2009 has been quite eventful to say the least. We purchased a house this year, we took a trip to Texas and Josh got to meet my "Texas Family". We made some wonderful friends at our church, then our friends moved away. It was very sad for Josh and I, but at the same time it was exciting to see the new paths God was preparing for our friends. We also experienced a miscarriage in 2009. While this was a terrible thing to go through, I really feel like God is showing us every day how to move past the sadness. This is not to say that I'm never sad or that I never feel depressed, but I have come to see God in a different way through the sadness. He brought me through an incredibly difficult time and helped me to recover emotionally and physically. Josh and I have grown closer to each other and our families this year.
To start the new year we are doing a 21 day fast at our church. Last year I gave up sweets and overall it was pretty easy. I still had cravings, but it wasn't something I couldn't handle. This year I wanted to make sure that this fast was something that would "cost" me something. I wanted it to be a challenge, though not quite as challenging as the Daniel Fast. I decided to give up all sugar, other than fruits, and caffeine and soda. I'm also waking up 20 minutes earlier so I can spend that time in prayer without any distractions. I normally pray while I'm doing my hair/makeup and in the car, but these 20 minutes are completely devoted to my Lord:) I do have to pray that He'll help me to stay awake:) I'm believing for a few things this year; these are my top 5 requests, though I have many more. I'm starting the year off right by fasting and letting God know what I'm believing Him for this year. He has already been so good to us, and I'm excited to see the exceeding and abundant blessing.
1. I want to know the Lord in a completely new way, I want to know His voice better
than ever, I want to walk in His will wholeheartedly.
2. A completely whole, healthy, and happy baby for Josh and I, for my cousin and his wife, and for my co-worker.
3. Financial blessing for Josh in his career.
4. Provision for me to be a stay-at-home-mom.
5. Salvation for our unsaved family members.
Here's to another year, I pray that all who read this are encouraged and blessed. God is so good!
To start the new year we are doing a 21 day fast at our church. Last year I gave up sweets and overall it was pretty easy. I still had cravings, but it wasn't something I couldn't handle. This year I wanted to make sure that this fast was something that would "cost" me something. I wanted it to be a challenge, though not quite as challenging as the Daniel Fast. I decided to give up all sugar, other than fruits, and caffeine and soda. I'm also waking up 20 minutes earlier so I can spend that time in prayer without any distractions. I normally pray while I'm doing my hair/makeup and in the car, but these 20 minutes are completely devoted to my Lord:) I do have to pray that He'll help me to stay awake:) I'm believing for a few things this year; these are my top 5 requests, though I have many more. I'm starting the year off right by fasting and letting God know what I'm believing Him for this year. He has already been so good to us, and I'm excited to see the exceeding and abundant blessing.
1. I want to know the Lord in a completely new way, I want to know His voice better
than ever, I want to walk in His will wholeheartedly.
2. A completely whole, healthy, and happy baby for Josh and I, for my cousin and his wife, and for my co-worker.
3. Financial blessing for Josh in his career.
4. Provision for me to be a stay-at-home-mom.
5. Salvation for our unsaved family members.
Here's to another year, I pray that all who read this are encouraged and blessed. God is so good!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
What a Wonderful Christmas
Well, Josh and I had a truly wonderful Christmas! God is so good!!
This year I was determined to create some traditions of our own. I wanted to make homemade cinnamon rolls, but they ended up being "semi-homemade". I used puff pastry instead of making my own dough. I didn't have much time Christmas Eve to get the dough taken care of. We went to church on Christmas Eve and then went to my parents' house to open gifts. We normally don't open gifts on Christmas Eve, but we did this year because my mom was inviting other people over for Christmas dinner. I was so excited to get a new digital camera. I've been wanting one for some time, but holding out because I didn't want to spend the money on it:) We both got some other great gifts. I love watching other people open gifts and taking pictures of them!
Christmas day we started off by opening our gifts to each other and then we took my wonderful cinnamon rolls over to Josh's parents' house. We opened gifts there with Josh's family and it was so much fun. At the Harris house, there are so many gifts and we hardly all fit in the room but I love that. I had such a great time hanging out with them and watching everyone open their gifts. I love that there are a lot of people in a small space enjoying each other. It's different than opening gifts at my parents' house. Not better, just different. I told my mother-in-law that I had such a great time with them. I know that God is helping to love Josh's family more and more. It's hard when you get married and then you have to share your time between two families or sometimes more. I told Josh a few weeks ago that if we have a baby next year I didn't want to go to each family's house and open gifts, but now I'm thinking twice about that. I want our child to experience two different "types" of Christmas. I say that now, but who knows, when we have a baby I may want to just stay home!
We've had so many people say to us that 2010 is going to be a year of growth for our family and I'm standing on that! I want to see my family grow. I want there to be a healthy baby with us next Christmas! I know and I pray that we will be blessed with a little Josh or Michelle in God's time. I know that ultimately He knows what is best for us. I've come to realize that His plan is definitely not always my plan, but I'm waiting on Him and leaning on Him. I remember praying when we first got married that He would place the desire to have children on my heart when the time was right for us. I have the desire to be a mom and I know that Josh has the desire to be a dad. I'm looking forward to 2010!
This year I was determined to create some traditions of our own. I wanted to make homemade cinnamon rolls, but they ended up being "semi-homemade". I used puff pastry instead of making my own dough. I didn't have much time Christmas Eve to get the dough taken care of. We went to church on Christmas Eve and then went to my parents' house to open gifts. We normally don't open gifts on Christmas Eve, but we did this year because my mom was inviting other people over for Christmas dinner. I was so excited to get a new digital camera. I've been wanting one for some time, but holding out because I didn't want to spend the money on it:) We both got some other great gifts. I love watching other people open gifts and taking pictures of them!
Christmas day we started off by opening our gifts to each other and then we took my wonderful cinnamon rolls over to Josh's parents' house. We opened gifts there with Josh's family and it was so much fun. At the Harris house, there are so many gifts and we hardly all fit in the room but I love that. I had such a great time hanging out with them and watching everyone open their gifts. I love that there are a lot of people in a small space enjoying each other. It's different than opening gifts at my parents' house. Not better, just different. I told my mother-in-law that I had such a great time with them. I know that God is helping to love Josh's family more and more. It's hard when you get married and then you have to share your time between two families or sometimes more. I told Josh a few weeks ago that if we have a baby next year I didn't want to go to each family's house and open gifts, but now I'm thinking twice about that. I want our child to experience two different "types" of Christmas. I say that now, but who knows, when we have a baby I may want to just stay home!
We've had so many people say to us that 2010 is going to be a year of growth for our family and I'm standing on that! I want to see my family grow. I want there to be a healthy baby with us next Christmas! I know and I pray that we will be blessed with a little Josh or Michelle in God's time. I know that ultimately He knows what is best for us. I've come to realize that His plan is definitely not always my plan, but I'm waiting on Him and leaning on Him. I remember praying when we first got married that He would place the desire to have children on my heart when the time was right for us. I have the desire to be a mom and I know that Josh has the desire to be a dad. I'm looking forward to 2010!
Friday, December 18, 2009
It's Almost Christmas
So, I'm very excited about Christmas. It is my favorite holiday and not just because there are presents, although I love presents:) I love the smells of Christmas, the baking of Christmas, spending time with family and time away from work. I'm most of all excited because my grandparents are coming to visit tomorrow. They are going to be here for 3 weeks and I just love that they are going to be here. I know they are in their 80s and so they are don't want to do as much stuff as we do but I love that they are coming to town. I know Josh isn't as excited as I am because we end up spending most of the time that they are here at my parent's house and he gets bored easily. We're going to make tamales when the grandparents get here and my grandma will make my favorite cake (vanilla wafer cake) and my not so favorite cake (fruit cake). I know, it seems to always revolve around food but you can't help that at Christmas time:)
This Christmas I've come to realize that I love my family more than I have ever loved them before. I know that going through a difficult time can bring everyone closer together. I pray every morning before I go to work and as I was praying this morning I found myself thanking the Lord for my wonderful husband. Now, I try to pray the Matthew 6:9-13 way (Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.....), but sometimes that's hard. I get a ahead of myself and start thanking in the beginning and asking for stuff right away. I know He hears our prayers no matter how we pray, but I try to pray the way He said to. Anyway, I know that this Christmas I love my husband more than I ever thought I would when we got married. He is the only man that could put up with me, other than God:) Out of all the men on the earth, God blessed me with Josh.
When we first started dating I knew in the back of my mind that he would be the one, but I didn't let myself actively think about that. He says he knew right away that he could see us spending forever together. Our romance was a whirlwind romance. We started dating in November and we got married the following July. That whole year preceding the November when we started dating, I had prayed that this would be the year that I would meet my soul mate and future husband. I had even told God that I didn't have to know he was the one by the end of the year, I just wanted to meet him and know that he was out there. I remember letting the dog out every night and looking up at the sky and praying that prayer. Of course I had to wait until almost the end of the year to meet Josh, but I prayed it every night and I reminded God that the year was coming to end:) The situation for us to start dating was all wrong. When we started liking each other and talking on the phone he was dating someone else and she was not a Christian. I remember one phone call, and I just knew that he was going to ask me if he should break up with his girlfriend. I told him that I couldn't answer that question. Of course my answer was to break up with her, but I couldn't tell him that. He ended up breaking up with her on a Wednesday and that next Monday we were together. I so did not want to be the re-bound girl, but I was. I also did not want to be the first one to say I love you, but I was. I thought my parents would be skeptical of our quick moving romance, but they weren't. They were so happy when he asked for my hand in marriage:)
Now here we are 3 1/2 years later. I thought I loved Josh so much back when we were dating, but I love him so much more now. I'm more in love with him than I ever thought I'd be. We've become accustomed to having in-laws, lived with a crazy roommate, had some crazy "heated arguments", lived in 3 different apartments, bought a car, bought a house, and shared so many wonderful experiences together. Josh has become a wonderful spiritual leader, he is there to support me, he has become more loving and he is not a very "touchy" person, I can see the growth in his relationship with Christ and that's probably most important. I know it's only going to get better and I can't wait to see what the future holds.
Love ya sweet thang!
This Christmas I've come to realize that I love my family more than I have ever loved them before. I know that going through a difficult time can bring everyone closer together. I pray every morning before I go to work and as I was praying this morning I found myself thanking the Lord for my wonderful husband. Now, I try to pray the Matthew 6:9-13 way (Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.....), but sometimes that's hard. I get a ahead of myself and start thanking in the beginning and asking for stuff right away. I know He hears our prayers no matter how we pray, but I try to pray the way He said to. Anyway, I know that this Christmas I love my husband more than I ever thought I would when we got married. He is the only man that could put up with me, other than God:) Out of all the men on the earth, God blessed me with Josh.
When we first started dating I knew in the back of my mind that he would be the one, but I didn't let myself actively think about that. He says he knew right away that he could see us spending forever together. Our romance was a whirlwind romance. We started dating in November and we got married the following July. That whole year preceding the November when we started dating, I had prayed that this would be the year that I would meet my soul mate and future husband. I had even told God that I didn't have to know he was the one by the end of the year, I just wanted to meet him and know that he was out there. I remember letting the dog out every night and looking up at the sky and praying that prayer. Of course I had to wait until almost the end of the year to meet Josh, but I prayed it every night and I reminded God that the year was coming to end:) The situation for us to start dating was all wrong. When we started liking each other and talking on the phone he was dating someone else and she was not a Christian. I remember one phone call, and I just knew that he was going to ask me if he should break up with his girlfriend. I told him that I couldn't answer that question. Of course my answer was to break up with her, but I couldn't tell him that. He ended up breaking up with her on a Wednesday and that next Monday we were together. I so did not want to be the re-bound girl, but I was. I also did not want to be the first one to say I love you, but I was. I thought my parents would be skeptical of our quick moving romance, but they weren't. They were so happy when he asked for my hand in marriage:)
Now here we are 3 1/2 years later. I thought I loved Josh so much back when we were dating, but I love him so much more now. I'm more in love with him than I ever thought I'd be. We've become accustomed to having in-laws, lived with a crazy roommate, had some crazy "heated arguments", lived in 3 different apartments, bought a car, bought a house, and shared so many wonderful experiences together. Josh has become a wonderful spiritual leader, he is there to support me, he has become more loving and he is not a very "touchy" person, I can see the growth in his relationship with Christ and that's probably most important. I know it's only going to get better and I can't wait to see what the future holds.
Love ya sweet thang!
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