thought for the day

One day a small boy was trying to lift a heavy stone, but he couldn't budge it.
His father, passing by, stopped to watch his efforts. Finally he said to his son: Are you using all your strength?
Yes, I am, the boy cried, exasperated.
No, the father replied calmly, you're not.
You haven't asked me to help you.

Source: Bits and Pieces

Priorities

As moms we definately put ourselves last in the long list of priorities. Why should we though? Then I thought even more about all the things that take precedent over real "priorities". For example, last night my oldest asks me if I am going to the ladies group tonight (last week was the first one and if you want to come email me or call me it was great!). I tell him yes of course and I am going every Monday evening. He kind of groans and says ok. See he has to watch the younger sibling while I am away and he cannot go and do his thing! Why should I feel guilty about taking a little time for me, for fellowship, and God? Well I don't feel guilty, there may have been a time in my life where I would have, but oh no, not today! Here is a story I would like to share with you about priorities.

An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a one-gallon, mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.
When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"
Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes."
The time management expert replied, "Really?"
He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"
By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.
"Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"
"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!"
"No," the speaker replied, that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all.
What are the 'big rocks' in your life -- time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all." So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.
*Stephen Covey

For me, this women's group is going to be one of my big rocks in my one gallon jar called life. Have a good one!

How Great is our God!

I am tired, but a good tired, and not as tired as I was from Winterfest. We just got in a little while ago from a youth rally. I love going to them for me just as much as Vince and I enjoy taking the teens. We really got a lot out of the "break outs" and met some great people. The theme was "reaching Him" and the one thing that really stood out was when the guest speaker was talking about how people in the world act like there is no God. That we are here because of a "big bang" theory. He used the visual of a fish bowl. This fish bowl was nothing and then the fish owner (God) made land and water. Oh and there was light (every aquarium has a light) The guy put in water and rocks. Then he talked about decorated landscape so he added colored rocks, seaweed, etc. Then he put in two fish. Going a long with the Genesis story theme. Every time he would take his hand out of the bowl he would say something like, "well just because they don't feel me or see me anymore does that mean I am not here to the fish." It really made me look at the universe on different planes. Yes, i have thought of it before but today it was like yeah. God is in this huge existence and I am here in the fish bowl that he has created for me. I loved this one part he said about the Creator and the fish bowl. He said what do many if not all people do when they have an aquarium, they sit back and enjoy that which they love and care for. Just like God, I can imagine Him sitting back looking down at the world and enjoying that which he created for us, because he loves us. (yes I know that there is yuck in the world but I just want to focus on the good for now) Anyways, it was a really good day and I encourage you to ask one of the teens about it and see what they have to say. The singing was awesome too by the way. Some real soulful singing is the only way to describe it :)

Worst movies you have ever seen?

I will start with these (and I will mention only ones I have seen:
A day without a Mexican- thankfully it was only a rental
Lost in Translation- unfortunately we wasted gift certs for this
Ocean's Twelve
Anaconda (the one with J-lo)
Howard the Duck (80's)

laying down your life for Him!

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49345

My Jesus by Todd Agnew

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate ChristThen why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sl*ts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we'd recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud
I think He'd prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a posterchild for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I'm tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I'm not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like my Jesus

Are you serious???

I was going through an Avon catalog today and this is what I came across that made me die of laughter. This is one of the dumb ads that should be sent in to The Tonight Show or something like that. I never thought I would come across one but here it is and I did.

stumped

Nicholas will be a senior this fall. I know, I know, where has the time gone and why am I thinking about the fall when it is finally 60 + degrees outside. So anyways, Vincent and I were talking about taking a nice family vacation somewhere. It will technically be like our last one almost. That's just it, where? We just paid $$$$ for Dakota's orthodontic appliance (and he still needs braces which the insurance is gone since it went to help pay for the appliances), college looming next year, a new roof that needs to be put on, and whatever else decides to loom over us that we are not aware of. Anywhoo, we want to do it over the next Christmas break, the requirements are cheap, warm, and preferably somewhere we have not been. Any ideas? I was thinking of Vegas, but........not sure! I did mention a cruise to Vincent but we really do not want a credit card involved.

the things one can find on ebay!?!?!?!?!

http://cgi.ebay.com/A-WELL_W0QQitemZ6260599944

free kid's movies

Here are some movies that are free to kids 12 and under for the month of March and the first weekend in April. Adults are only $1 with a child. These movies tend to fill up so get there early. I know that Chicken Little is showing at 12 noon and 2:15 p.m.

cartoon of the week

poor kota part deux

Today we went to the orthodontist and we are all done spreading apart Dakota's upper jaw for the moment. However, he is now starting the next phase of treatment. This is a pic of what he has to wear to bed every night. He puts rubber bands on the hooks in his mouth and then attaches them to the plastic piece on the face mask. He likes to sleep on his stomache and tonite is our first night with it. Pray that all goes well! Thanks!

bible verse of the week

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

prayer requests

my gramma- the end is near
a family going through some trials, the dad left and is an alcoholic
a dad who just found out he has leukemia
my sister who needs a job-she is the sole provider
and once again the parents of teens ;) (especially me)

no I don't understand it all but I have a small inkling

When you have children it really changes ones outlook on things. It is bad enough when you have to punish your kids and take your kids to go get shots and the such. I remember my mom saying to me once, "this hurts me more than it hurts you". Yeah right I thought. She loved punishing me and making my life miserable. Well here I am and I have done exactly something I told myself I would never do. Which is to say that very saying my mom would tell me.

Anyways, Kota and his "punisher" (well that is what I call his mouth piece thingy) is really stressing me and him. He has tears in his eyes and asks me to take it out. I cannot. I want to. I hate seeing his pain and hurt. I see the red, raw cheeks that look so "ouch". He hates the wax that makes his cheeks look more puffy like a chipmunk. It is a battle for him to eat. If you know Kota's eating habits before this just worsen it about 100x's. We go round and round with food and he cannot afford to lose weight.
Well, yesterday I was really stressing about his "punisher" cause he finally felt it in his nose expanding. Man I hated myself when I turned the key in his mouth and his eyes watered and he says my nose!

I have no understanding of what God may have felt when he sent Jesus to be condemened for my sins the way he did. But I am sure that it was similar to the way I feel now with Kota. I want to help him but I cannot. It is for everyone's best interest that this happens no matter how uncomfortable and painful it may be. You want what is best for those you love and sometimes you just have to go through things that you don't want to go through. I keep telling Kota, it is to benefit him. Imagine how awesome things will be when we are done. I am putting my son through this because I love him. This is not even a sliver of what God has done for me and you by sending his son but it is an inkling of understanding what he went through. We all have done it. Taken our kids to get shots, fillings, tests, whatever. We did it cause we loved them and we wanted their lives to be better and healthier. The amazing thing is that Kota trust us that we are doing this to help him. That we are doing this cause we love him and have his best interest at heart. He doesn't question it. He has said he does not want to do it but knows he has to.

I thank God and Jesus that they did what they had to do for me and you. So that we can have better and healthier lives. So that we can live eternally. We just need to trust them. We need to obey and keep on keeping on.