Sometimes one of the most spiritual things you can do is to take a NAP!
-John Ortberg (the life You've always wanted)

Let me say a huge AMEN to that one!!!!

This past week, I only wished that I would have taken the nap vs pushing through the week.

I admit on Monday morning, October 30th-after driving 12+ hours the day before, returning from Missouri, being emotionally zapped & missing my brother and his family already...I didn't have my armor on(the armor that the Bible refers too)Also needless to say-when I was hit with some emails from people who say "they are in my corner" and "have my back".. that broke my heart, I crumbled a bit...

...I needed to fall to my knees right then and there,...instead I felt like crawling into a corner and staying there...

**on a side note-we truly need to take care of ourselves...emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually...that's where we let our guard down, at least that's when I let my guard down and that's when our armor begins to have holes...Just like a person stranded on a dessert island, your body will get by for a short time without food, but eventually you will need food, something to sustain & nourish the body. We still need nourishment...we need to do something! So even if I don't have time for an of hour devotion & prayer time, or to have time to what I like to call, a duraflame moment( which by the way-doesn't happen THAT often..)...we need to connect to HIM-we need to let HIM into our daily lives. We need HIS word daily-even when we don't 'feel' like it! It is for OUR BENEFIT...

I also had to deal with a little bit of a dissapointment. Again with being tired, my heart ached longer than it would usually do. But when God gives you a dream when you are younger, it's hard to see it continually slip through your fingers...

"Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn"...this verse is a tough one, because sometimes those who are rejoicing are rejoicing for the same reason you might be sad & disappointed. (They are not rejoicing that you are sad, oh you know what I mean...at least I hope you do :)
...That is when you put faith into action...I need to allow God to heal the hurt, & the disappointment. It is in those times when He can whisper and remind me that life is not about me, no matter how many disappointments I face, HE IS in control and knows what is best for me...He is the God of the broken hearted..I will trust HIM with that!
Matthew 6:33 He also tells us to SEEK first HIS kingdom not our agenda's, and all of these things will be added unto you
.Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord.. and He will give you the desires of your heart.
He will give us a new song like it says in Psalms 40:3O.. help me LORD to trust YOU with my dreams,help me LORD, not just believe IN You for my salvation but to believe YOU at Your Word.

I felt like my shelf life expired this day? ever felt like that ?...sour & rotten...and probably should be thrown out...haha

-Around 4pm Steve's mom went into the hospital.
-6:30p.m I was able to see my girls from my accountability group...It was sooooo good to see them, but I still felt in a fog...and didn't feel like myself :( ..sorry girls I will be more fun next time..and more awake! hahaha

Monday was a LONG DAY!

Tuesday-Halloween
-I passed out candy to kids taller than me, that didn't dress up and had pillow-cases for their candy...URGH!

The last 5 years we have spent Halloween with my friend Aaron, watching Michael Myers, and the original Halloween Movie...Miss you my friend...it wasn't the same without you!

*on a side note...3 out of the last 5 years..Steve's mom has been in the hospital on Halloween...(and our anniversary) weird huh?

Wednesday-
Still not catching up on sleep...I so wished I would have stayed in bed that day!!! do you know those days?...My emotions would have been so much more under control.

-Steve's mom gave us a huge scare... HUGE SCARE!
-I had a REALLY rough day at work.,
- my brother called-he missed ME! Usually I am calling him, and telling him how much I miss him...so that got the tears falling...
Josh (my nephew) was being baptized at his chuch in Missouri... I was so sad to have missed that...so sad!
-during worship that night at church-the lyrics to Blessed be the Name-hit me-"You give and take away-you give and take away-my heart will choose to say-Blessed be your Name".
..My heart was breaking, those lyrics rang true for me, in so many different areas of my life..but I needed to worship...whether I felt like it or not. (We can not be ruled by our emotions...) being in His presence is the best thing ever! to get a "God's Eye View of the circumstances"...(Tommy Tenney)

I was able to see the girls sing Shackles! *(Laurel they finally did Shackles!)...I was running out to go up to the hospital, and they prayed with me...( I have such dear people in my life! thanks Carrie)

Drove to the Hospital... whew...hard stuff..

I did receive the quote below at work that same day, that helped me get a good perspective...

"Heaven is not here, it's There. If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for."
- Elisabeth Elliot (wife of missionary Jim Elliot-End of the Spear)

And now here it is a week later
...WOW! what time and a good night's sleep will do :) Thank YOU JESUS!

..I have been reminded that if I spent more time exercising instead of on blogspot and myspace, I might get some weight off..(OUCH...that was hard to hear..but so true!-so dear friends...you may be seeing less and less of me out here)

Last Saturday I was able to hang with Kristi K, and began feeling like my normal self :)...thanks darlin'...

Ruth (Steve's mom)is doing better today! Hallelujah! (thanks everyone for your prayers)

I am blessed to sing with Kristi and Nancy tonight! So excited about that!...I haven't sang with Kristi in what feels like a year...how long has it been kiddo??? I don't know...but it's been too LONG! and to do our Hillsong songs...? hee...I love it...and each song is so totally where I am at...don't be surprised, If you hear sniffles in between notes...

Going out with my niece Abby this Friday for my birthday! I can't wait for that~!

I know this blog has been kind of scattered...but that's just where I am at lately...time to go rake some wet leaves!

Be Well