Playin' Around

Are you liking the slideshow feature I just figured out?! I'm loving it! Here's some recent pictures of me and the kids goofing around (and some of Gracie just sitting around and being pretty)!

The Message

I have been wanting to read "The Message" translation of the Bible for years now and just haven't gotten around to it.  That is until now.  The timing to start reading through the Bible again just seems right for me (when is there ever a wrong time?) and so this time around I'm going to read the Message. Everytime I've heard this translation in Scripture I've always been "wowed" by how it's written.  It's so fresh and alive!  In reading the preface and introduction to the Message, the author, Eugene H. Peterson, says this, "You are going to come across words and sentences that stab you awake to a beauty and hope that will connect you with your real life."  Sounds good to me!  Previously he writes of a common problem among Christians and says, "Many others had spent years reading it (Bible) but for them it had gone flat through familiararity, reduced to cliches.  Bored, they dropped it (Bible)."  How true this is or can become for us, right?

So, I've chosen a Bible reading plan that will have me reading the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs (twice) from now until the end of this year.  Is anyone up to join me?  It only means reading two chapters a day, one from the New Testament and one from either Psalms or Proverbs.  I'm going to get started on May 1st.  Sometimes it's easier to stick with a plan when you're in it together with someone and have that accountability keeping you on track....  Email me or write a comment if you want to do this thing with me!  :) 

Wonderfulness

It's been over a month now that I signed off from Facebook and I can honestly tell you that I've never looked back!  Before I left I thought I might miss it some or be tempted a little bit to take a quick peek, but thankfully that has not been the case.  Truthfully I don't know how I ever had all the time I spent on Facebook.  My life has been as busy as ever since "leaving" (the good kind of busy I might add), but now I don't have that pull of FB nagging at me.  It really is wonderfulness!  It's been very freeing to not be wrapped up in it all.  I say all this not to brag on myself or to make anyone feel guilty.  That's not my intentions at all.  I bring it up because many people have asked me out of curiousity how it's been for me since leaving Facebook, so I just thought I'd let you all know.  For me life is richer, fuller, less stressful and anxious, less pre-occupied with "stuff", more focused and engaged in the actual people around me (not just my immediate family, but neighbors and friends), and the list could go on!  So there you have it.  And don't think it's not a sacrifice for me because it is!  I also have friends and family all over the world on Facebook, which is the biggest reason why I've heard people say they could never get off of it, and of course it's nice to stay connected with those people who are so far away from you. 

However, don't be surprised when you see me back on there when my children become teenagers - I will be spying on them like a hawk!!!

Breaking Free

I recenty finished a 10 week Bible study (although it took me about 15 weeks to complete) from Beth Moore called "Breaking Free" and what a journey it was!  I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this study, only a desire to go deeper with God, and well, I got my wish!  It turned out to be an intense time, but oh so worth it.  This was my first Beth Moore Bible study and I just loved it.  She has a lot of personality and is so much fun to listen to.  If you're considering taking one of her Bible studies I'd like to encourage you to go for it!  You won't be sorry.  Are we ever sorry when we dive deeper with God?  Nope, He is always faithful.  He always loves us and desires more of us.

The Owl

This video is nearly a year old and it seems that not much has changed.  Both kids still love the "owl" glasses and Grace is still a noisy little girl!  :) 

ZUMBA

A couple of weeks ago the kids and I joined the YMCA (woot-woot)!  I'm one of those annoying women who can honestly say they love working out.  But it takes a gym membership to get my booty in gear.  ;)  Needless to say it's been fantastic to be getting into a routine and re-learning the weight machines.  Today I took my first ever Zumba class and I am totally and completely hooked already!  On top of getting an insane workout, it brings back to life one of my passions - salsa dancing!  Lovin' it!  And the best part about the whole thing is that both of my little munchkins have so much fun in the daycare there.  That makes for one happy mama.  :)

Everything

Steve and I sometimes tune in to American Idol and last night we watched the mohawk sportin' dude (I think his name is Colten?) get voted off.  He sang this song from Lifehouse, one of my favorite bands, as his last song on the show and it was pretty awesome!  This song is years old, but it is somewhat new to me and I wanted to share it with you because it's a very beautiful and powerful song.