Star

10 and a half years ago... on a cold cold windy blustery night.... four little kittens were born. Joe got to witness their birth and I remember him calling me up very concerned that the mother was eating that gross stuff (the afterbirth...) I remember reassuring him that it was normal... and being so excited listening to the progress. Shortly after we named these kittens... Well the kittens officially became ours a few months later... Star had fluffy calico fur with a beige patch over her eye. She looked a lot like her sister Chloe but we could tell them apart easily... that's what happens when they are your kids.

As Seniors in High School we had these four cats... they went several places with us... moved a gazillion times... and through it all we stayed a family.

Tonight we said good-bye to Star. She has had health issues that in the past she has over come but they always eventually come back. This time it was just too much. In 2005 she had a blood transfusion and she rebounded great. The other day she had another one, but I think her organs just gave out on her this time. The vet clinic did an amazing job with her... and I am very greatful for all they have done.

I am very thankful that she passed away in my arms... I was able to look at her and recognize what was going on (she went downhill fast) and finally tell her it was ok to let go, that she fought really hard and that we love her but she could let go. I sat and petted her a few days before and talked to her about her momma, and what she looked like... in case she went to meet her soon. I also explained to her that my Grandpa Marvin is an animal person and he would most definatly be waiting for her for me. Grandpa loved me and I think he is willing to do that for me :) So I explained all that to her and let her know it was time... and then she slipped away.

I am so thankful for the years we had with her... the guilt of not realizing what was happening or the I should have done this... should have done that... should have spent more time... those are getting to me... but I know that's just the Enemy trying to weigh on me and pull me down. She knows she is loved.... My wonderfully soft, beautiful green eyed cat... with your sweet soft meow and purring until the very end.... I will miss scratching underneath your chin and along your cheek

You will be missed Star, I love you always and forever.

Super Cute 31

So I got my 31 bags in... I bought them for swimming.

I got a blue dotted organizer for coaching and what not...and then this beautifully big bag that I can bring to swim meets to carry towels and caps and goggles... check it out!

Jealous!?

Fridge Verse or Piercing Wound

Sharing another great read... man, this one is good...

Author Randy Alcorn touches on the frequently converging issues of money and trust.

"Sometimes more is to be learned from the passages of Scripture we avoid or skim over than those we underline or post on our refrigerator. The Bible contains an arsenal of such verses on the subject of money and possessions, and they just keep firing away at us. The more we allow ourselves to grapple with these unsettling passages, the more we are pierced.

Our only options, it seems, are to let Christ wound us until he accomplishes what he wishes, or to avoid his words and his gaze and his presence altogether by staying away from his Word. The latter option is easier in the short run. But no true disciple can really be content with it.

By now some readers are long gone and others who remain are uncomfortable. I must admit that I share your discomfort. You may even be thinking, 'I'd rather not deal with these issues. I'm content doing what I'm doing.' But are you really content? Are any of us who know Christ, who have his Spirit within, really content when we haven't fully considered his words? When we haven't completely opened ourselves to what he has for us?

Comfortable, perhaps. Complacent, certainly. But not content. I, for one, hate to live with that nagging feeling deep inside that when Jesus called people to follow him he had more in mind than I'm experiencing. I don't want to miss out on what he has for me. If he has really touched your life, I don't think you do either.

For all these sobering implications, I must quickly add that for me the process of discovering God's will about money and possessions, rather than being burdensome, has been tremendously liberating. My own growth and enlightenment in financial stewardship has closely paralleled my overall spiritual growth. In fact, it has propelled it. I have learned more about faith, trust, grace, commitment, and God's provision in this arena than in any other.

Amazing isn't it??? Very convicting... but good stuff he said there.... and so very, very true!

So... maybe John 3:16 shouldn't be that fridge verse, our clutch phrase... maybe it should be something more like:

Isaiah 23:9 The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.

In other words... bring us to our knees at His feet.... for we must examine our lives and remember that all true accomplishment comes from our Creator. We have no reason for pride in ourselves it separates us from our God.... so, in all our pride and glory cripple us... bring us to our knees until we understand we NEED Him... yeah it hurts.. its a wound, but a LOVING wound indeed. His LOVE, His MERCY, His GRACE His FAITHFULNESS... for He is so giving and so generous that our heart can only burst and can't contain our desire to be like Him..

March!?

say WHAT?! it's really March!?

What does March bring???

March brings:

National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness-
Some of you may know... Joe's dad has MS as well as a few others that we know. Please help raise awareness by sharing this link : http://www.msfocus.org/ Pray for those plagued by this disease... for healing, for pain relief, for His comfort, for finances and their employment/work due to pain and hardship.

NEW EMPLOYMENT-
Next week I will be attending a two day class and begin learning the in's and out's of insurance sales. I will then have to test a few weeks later and hopefully come out a licensed insurance agent! So keep that in mind ;)

NO SWIMMING-
WOW!? Say what?! Ok.. not exactly NO... but no swim practice for the Seahorses. I will however be helping out here and there with the Junior high swim team... and giving private swim lessons to a special little buddy of mine- Emma. We will also hold our Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet... lol ok did I say no swimming!?

Cookie Sales will WRAP up
PTL on that one...

Their Bundle Our Joy- www.theirbundleourjoy.blogspot.com
We are praying for a March match.. that God moves into the heart of an amazingly deserving couple and we are matched and are able to bring life into their world together.

DR SUESS!?-
http://www.seussville.com/
The Lorax has been my ALL TIME favorite book by Dr. Suess... (Wacky Wednesday is a close second). I love it's message and I was thrilled to find out that they were making it into a big movie (there is a another movie.. but you know what I mean)

Lysa TerKeurst

Loved her blog post today... had to share...

http://lysaterkeurst.com/2012/03/god-im-a-little-mad-and-a-lot-confused/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LysaTerkeurst+%28Lysa+TerKeurst%29

Thursday, March 1

God, I’m a little mad and a lot confused


If you are here from my Encouragement for Today devotion, welcome.
Kick your shoes off and get ready to get gut honest.

When God doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers it can be hard. Sometimes, down right awful. One minute I’m determined to trust God. In the next, I feel myself slipping. The “why” questions tumble in so hard. My heart hurts. My eyes leak. And in those raw moments I just feel a little mad and a lot confused.

Ever been there?

I don’t want to oversimplify what to do in these times. I know from the prayer requests you’ve been leaving in the comments this week, many of you are facing really tough issues. Situations where the answers aren’t easy or clear cut. But I have discovered a few things that help me when God seems silent…

* Press in to God when you want to pull away.
When I really want to hear from God but He seems silent, I sometimes find I want to disengage from my normal spiritual activities. Skip church. Put my Bible on my shelf. And let more and more time lapse between prayers. But the Bible says we will find God if we seek Him with all our heart. Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” All my heart includes the parts that are broken. Bring it all to God. He can handle your honesty and will respond. But we have to position ourselves to go where truth is. Go to church. Listen to praise music. Read verses. Memorize verses. And keep talking to God.

* Praise God out loud when you want to get lost in complaints.
In the midst of what you’re facing, find simple things for which to praise God. I don’t mean thank Him for the hard stuff. I mean thank Him for the other simple, good things still in the midst. A child’s laugh. A bush that blooms. The warmth of a blanket. The gift of this breath and then the next. Psalm 40:3 reminds me God will give me a new song when I make praise the habit of my heart and mouth. “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.”

* Put yourself in the company of truth.
That friend that speaks truth? Listen to her. Stay connected to her. Let her speak truth into your life even when you’re tired of hearing it. Stand in the shadow of her faith when you feel your own faith is weak. Let her lead you back to God time and time again. Proverbs 12:26, “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor…”

It’s okay to feel a little mad and a lot confused. Our God is big enough to handle our honest feelings. But don’t let your feelings lead you away from God or away from His truth. Press into Him. Praise Him. And put yourself in the company of truth.

As you stay with God in these ways, you will become ready to receive His answer when it comes.