Ob Portu

I am really getting into the shorter devotionals- the 21 day devotionals. They are packed with more content in the day... but are shorter in overall time length. I am currently enjoying this one about Unquestionable Character, check it out:

http://preview.youversion.com/reading-plans/151-unquestionable-character

Anyway, Stole this from my devotional today... good stuff though

Pastor and generosity consultant Brian Kluth makes this point in a brief
discussion of the etymology of the English word opportunity:

Hundreds of years ago when people lived near the oceans the word
opportunity was coined.

It came from the time when ships needed to wait until
the tide was in before heading out to sea, otherwise the ship would run aground.

In the Latin language, the words 'ob portu' describe the perfect moment when
time and tide converged for a ship to get underway.

Into every person's life come some God-ordained opportunities.

You'll know it's the right time when an urgent, life changing need - something that has
eternal significant value - converges with your ability. At just the right
moment, urgency and ability come together. And at that exact moment, you have
the opportunity to fulfill a divine purpose God intended for you.



I need to make the most of the opportunities God is sending my way. I need to be ready for that moment, that perfect moment for my ship to sail.

What about those mistakes? Those journeys were I take off too early.. too late... the ship may get tossed around a little, scratched from rocks or shore, but the lessons are learned and taken to heart. God has been whispering to me about His next journey for me... I am so excited for Ob Portu... I am so ready for His blessing.

TAG

Tag I'm It! I was surprised to see my name tagged over on my friend Kim's blog and not only surprised but annoyed lol... but I am one who participates soooo here it goes...
and I don't have 11 blogging friends SO if you see this and you have a blog ... then you are it ... aha and if you do have a blog start following me darn it... duh!

The Rules:
You must post the rules
Post 11 fun facts about yourself
Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you;
then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged
Tag 11 people and link them in your postLet them know you have tagged them!

My 11 Fun Facts
I once said I wanted to have 10 kids... and I wanted four-5 of my own and then adopt all different nationalities... I'm pretty sure Angelina Jolie overheard my discussion with Joe about this in high school.... now that I have kids of my own... I still think about it and maybe if we had more income I would consider it. I think it's very admirable of families to welcome more into their home.

I am super addicted to Fruit Ninja- I had a 706 the other night which is AWESOME.... (it's xbox 360 kinect)

Everyone and their brother had told me I should write a book... it's kinda getting annoying. Thinking about writing a book about how annoying it really is ;)

I was pretty athletic growing up. I enjoyed and participated in almost all the sports offered: swimming, softball, track, volleyball, basketball... I'd go golfing with my dad and boyfriend.. etc. I would always play sports at recess (football, kick ball, knock out) and in PE when we had free time I would always play dodge ball with the boys... but when it came to bowling. I absolutely hated it... and sucked at it. It was one of those things I never enjoyed because I wasn't good at it and I am uber competitive. SO... now I bowl as a substitute in a bowling league and every stinking night that I have to bowl I get a little nervous... and it bothers me that I suck ... I am gradually getting better but I still suck.

I always wanted a brother! I never got one... and I have 4 girls... how odd is that. But I always wanted one :(

I love reading... I could read all the time if I had the time... which I don't... but I get addicted to it where I cant't stop and won't stop... Pretty sure I got that from my mom and Bay got it from me.

I am seriously addicted to tv series on netflix.
I think the first one I rewatched was Grey's Anatomy EVERY episode... then Son's of Anarchy... then Gossip Girl... I got half way through Felicity I may go back to it...now One Tree Hill... when 1TH is done I might go to Dawson's Creek not sure tho but it's an ADDICTION (ridiculous) I know...

I also love sunflower seeds... something I could eat forever and ever and ever and live on a deserted island with. No doubt...

I am young at heart with an old soul... that's the best way I could describe myself...

I absolutely love working with kids... it's weird because I never would have considered myself a kid person but I love the feeling I get when I know I helped shape some kids life. Again I was NEVER a kid person.... it's weird just thinking about it for me.

I love bubble baths.... but I never get to take them anymore... they are usually a pregnancy must have like 2-3 times a day when I was pregnant!


Answering my questions from Kim:

1) You have just been given a very large sum of money (we're talking millions)... what do you do with it? I would pay off all my debts... I would secure my children had enough money to last them (and invest that) then I would give the rest away to deserving charities and churches! (definatly fund our own Morrison Crossroads building)
2)If you could change careers and be anything (without having to go through training, education, etc.), what would you do? Definatly a veterinarian oooh or a midwife
3)What is the best vacation you've ever been on? San Diego! Went there BY MYSELF :) when Joe was graduating from bootcamp. I went there about 4 days before his family got there. I got to tour the city and learn how to surf... it was so freeing

4) What is your favorite movie? P.S. I love you....

5) If you could have dinner with three people, who would you choose and why? Haha... that sounds like a college essay question, doesn't it? Is this Dead or Alive? ok so if they can be dead or alive... of course Jesus, my grandfather (just one more time), and Amanda Beard
6) What's is the most favorite thing (or outfit) you've ever worn? I used to love my promise ring from Joe that I got in high school

7) What is your most vivid childhood memory? Anything involving swim meets or softball tournaments... I always remember what I did where and how well I did it.
8) If an actress was to play you in a movie, who would it be? ooooh Julia Stiles... very sarcastic
9) What is the best thing that you know how to cook or bake? Chelsea Chicken
10) What are three things on your bucket list? I would love to swim with dolphins.... go to Disneyworld.... do a backpacking trip when I'm in my 40's
11) Do you have a go-to Starbucks order? If so, what is it? If not, what is your guilty pleasure? Grande Caramel Macchiato (I can't spell it but I can say it)





Now my questions:

1) If you had to watch one kids movie non-stop for the rest of your life what would it be...

2) What's the soundtrack to your life like? (name a few songs that would be on it)

3) What is one thing you want me to know about you?

4) What is your favorite word and why?

5) If you could be anything in the world what would you be.... (family, money, education not in the picture)

6) What is your favorite childhood memory?

7) If you could eat dinner with three people (alive or dead) who would they be?

8) Who was the most influential person in your life?

9) If you had to kareoke what would your song be?

10) What's your favorite meal?

Let's not get tired of doing what is good

Galatians 6:9: "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up" (NLT)."

A LOT of people ask me... how do you have the energy to do all the things you do??? Or... don't you have enough on your plate????

Well.. yah. I do have enough on my plate. BUT... there's never TOO much, and what's enough anyway?!

I am 27..
I am a military wife to the heart
I am a Christian Woman
I am a mom to four beautiful girls
I am the Girl Scout leader to a Daisy troop of 21 amazing girls
I am the Head Coach to a swim team of 35 awesome swimmers
I am a Crave leader to a mass of pretty remarkable kids
I am planning our class reunion of 10 years (what ten?!)
I am a surrogate mother in waiting... patiently waiting
I am a leader at our church and assist in several areas (basically wherever needed and when)
I am a child of God.... and with Him I am able to do anything

To be honest... I am going through a FUNK... a season in my life where I am being a luke-warm Christian. Every DAY I have a choice to live for Him or live for me... and I've been choosing the wrong option. Now I'm not being a crappy person, I'm not doing horrible things... don't get me wrong I'm being a good person- just not a GOOD GODLY PERSON. I am not putting God first, I am not putting my relationship with Him above all, I am not living for Him... I am not taking the time I need... I'm giving it away to other things. All of them are good things, but not good enough.

Every day we have that choice- do we give our time to God or to worldly things. Do I choose to seek and pursue Him and live my life for Him or not? I have been doing horribly for the last maybe two months. I KNOW is the worst part... I KNOW He wants me... I am His child and he is waiting for me. This is how the past two months have kinda been going I mean not really but this is sorta what it's been like.

I wake up and God is there
"Good Morning... do you have a moment to talk?"
and I rub my eyes and look at the clock and say.... "Not now.. I have to get the girls up and make sure they don't have any homework and have their lunches and ugh! sounds like Ollie is up already wonder what she has gotten into... can you wait until they are off to school??? That'd be great..." and I'm off and running and God is standing there... waiting
they go off to school...
"Now do you have a moment to talk, there are a few things I need to..."
before He can finish, I interrupt.
"I have a newsletter to write for the swim club, there is Girl Scouts tonight that I have to finish planning the meeting for... let me just get those two things done.. get the little girls fed and dressed and ready for their day.."
But... He is there pursuing me and I am off on another thing...
I get done with my to do list or as much as I want to... and it's lunch time
"Really God... I have to feed the little girls and spend some time loving on them and playing... during nap time... I will talk to you during nap time.."
Naptime comes... and instead of taking the time for Him I take time for me... I am on facebook... oh sure I am doing stuff for girl scouts and swim club and myself.... but I am NOT doing it for Him..
and then the little girls are up, and we are playing, and we are out the door to swim practice and then it's home after swim practice and supper needs to be cooked or girls off to dance or something and then I have my husband home...
by the time I know it it's 9:30 and everyone is in bed and I am in bed sitting there thinking where has my day gone... and God calls
"Your day is almost done.. there is still something I need.."
Yawn.... "I know... I know... but I really am tired... I have a lot on my mind I just want to watch a show and fall asleep God...."
2:00 in the morning He's waking me up....

I am pushing HIM off.. who am I to say not now.... who am I to say I don't have time or energy... really. He sent His only son to the cross for my stupidity and selfishness..

I don't have time NOT to give it to Him. I can't afford to... I NEED Him in my life and I need His strength and energy. The past weekend I was really convicted. I mean I KNEW this... I was convicted of this but not doing anything about it... every day I would feel it in my heart and be lazy. EVERY day for the past month or so. What am I stupid? yes I am but He loves me anyway! What a crazy love that is.

I am back. I am back and my focus is back on God. Every day I try to live for him... some days I fail MISERABLY. Some days better than others... every day I have a choice to make. I can choose to put Him first... or myself. Putting my time with Him back at the beginning of my day- giving Him the BEST of me... before I'm tired and weary... I make that choice daily. He loves me on the days I do my best.. .He loves me on the days I do my worst.

anyway... back to Galatians...


So let's not get tired of doing what is good.... (or right, or meaningful, or inspirational, or influential, or beautiful) At just the right time we will reap the harvest (I will REACH that kid who is struggling, I will PROVIDE a safe relationship to that kid who doesn't have one, I will IMPACT that one life that needed it on that one day when all is lost)

Just one soul? If I could save just one soul than all my time is not wasted.... if I can impact and help shape the characters of our youth, build their courage and confidence... yup that's worth it not crazy....

God is going to bless me... As I continue to pursuit Him and put Him first through my days and continue to love like the perfect example Jesus Christ showed us, then God is going to bless me. Maybe not in the ways some would like.. but He is going to bless me by letting me witness transformation in our youth...

I love my swimmers and my daisies... I love their little personalities, I love with my back turned out of all 50-60 of those kids I can tell you who said what at the sound and volume of their voice. I love watching them GROW... in skill, courage, confidence, and socially. I love watching girls that at the beginning of the Fall season wouldn't do a sitting dive into the pool now do a start off the starting blocks... I love watching kids who say I can't do that! do it... and amaze themselves in the process. I love watching those shy Daisies blossom into girls who stand boldly in front of 40-50 people and give a presentation they thought of all by themselves. I love watching our youth accept Christ into their hearts and lives... I love getting to hear their stories and drama and I love just being a friend to them.

If you ask me... I'm already reaping! and yes I may be short of energy on some days. I may feel a little ragged or like the world is spinning so quickly around me that if I don't sit down for one moment I might fall..... but those days are few and far between.. the reward is totally worth it.

My kids love our busy lifestyle- they are given the choice to participate in whatever they want to participate in because I want to give them a chance to find their place in this world.

Another Happy Birthday :)

Emery... she is how old what?! What?! yah... 6... CRAAAAZY

Check out her post here: Back when she was turning FOUR! http://homewiththebrewers.blogspot.com/2010/01/4-years-what-happy-birthday-emery.html

We had a ton of little girls over to my parents for a movie party... they wore pajamas... watched a movie... and ate a TON of junk food... :)

Love you my crazy fashionista full of attitude!

Happy Birthday!

Joe turned 28th!!! And to celebrate the day- he went to work... like a 28 year old.... and stayed up 25 hours total!!!! WOW... We laughed because this is probably the only time besides when deployed.... that he has done that and NOT been partying! He went to work and got off at 11 and went back in at 7 pm until 7 am!!! Plowing the roads... my hero ;)

Anyway Happy Birthday honey... you are downstairs sleeping as I type this! I'll try to keep the crazy Ollie monster away as long as possible :) hehe...

Joyful Noises

sitting at my computer in the dining room...

I can hear...
birds tweeting over the bird food outside while the snow is falling and they are all fighting for a peck
Y is for Yo-Yo, Y Y Y... Z is for Zebra, Z Z Z... Ollie is playing with a toy in the living room
The muffled sound of Charley's breathing/snoring... she is asleep in the playpen behind me.
The annoying meow of my cat Sebastien as he tries to talk to me...

I do not hear...
my own bird tweeting... during the middle of the night, our canary died. It may have been too chilly?? I'm not sure.. but it is kind of sad... I guess I will look into get another one or pair this spring... and try to find a place that is warmer for the winter! RIP Garfunkle... aka Funky Fresh

Their Bundle, Our Joy

http://theirbundleourjoy.blogspot.com/

Check it out- newest blog.... :) I'll be updating the journey through there!

Waiting.....

Waiting.....
"MO.... MO....... MOOOOORE"
- Ollie is frantically throwing her hands together yelling MO!!! and then rubbing her chest in a circle -
She is trying to say More and sign More please. This has been a long time coming... we waited and waited for her to talk. She wouldn't speak... Now she is speaking some, but doing it loudly!
We waited and waited and now we wonder... why?! haha..

She has may leaps and bounds of improvement since her speech and development testing. She has been going to speech therapy twice a week and can officially say OR sign: more, please, sorry, thank you, blue, purple, bubble, wow, whoa, Dada, mama... and lots of animal sounds.

Charley just turned 1 and the day before her birthday she started saying bye- bye.... which is a lot sooner than Ollie spoke. Everyone has their own timing.

In life we spend so much time waiting. It starts from the beginning, some people wait for the "right one". We wait for our wedding day.... when that perfect woman or man becomes yours forever!!!!

or we wait for the miracle of life to occur (others, like us have no problem with that!). Then you wait 9 long months for the bundle of joy to arrive. Or you wait for the ultrasound to find out if it's a girl or a boy.

Or like a little kid waiting for SANTA to visit!!!!

Or faithful pups waiting for their Master to come home!

I've waited those 9 months to become a mom... I waited as a newlywed for my husband to come home from Iraq seven long months... I waited as a mom of two for my husband to return again! I waited yet AGAIN a year for my husband to return... I'm pretty sure I have this waiting thing down... yet again our family is waiting on something...... drum roll please!

We've been praying and working and waiting on something for awhile now... and I'm going to announce it here for those who don't know.... we've been waiting on confirmation of plans to become surrogates. Yes, after being pregnant four times already... I'm willing to farm out my body so another couple can experience parenthood.... so they can experience that miracle of life we talked about earlier. It's something we've toyed around with for awhile... it came back into our life almost right after Charley was born... the process has been a longer one. I thought for sure it wasn't in the plans for us but things have worked out in God's perfect timing. We began the process back in the Fall by a phone interview. We had to locate all of the medical records needed (3 different hospitals... lol). With Joe's insurance and new job we were waiting on what insurance I would be covered by.... and now with Joe starting work on the 17th a phone call today from the agency was just what I needed to confirm where we are at. In the next few weeks I have to go in to Chicago for a few tests.. it's making it more real in our minds!

For those of you new to the surrogacy progress.. I would carry someone elses fertilized embryo in my body... we have specific people we are looking for, just like there are prospective parents out there searching for a specific surrogate. Each side has a say in who they want carrying for them or who they want to carry for. How many they want to carry, etc.... Right now we are just beginning the process.... that hurry up and wait process!!!

We are used to that, military life and all. All it is... is Hurry up and Wait!!!

My body is a temple... my body is not my own. If it is not my own than I want to worship God with my body... I want to volunteer it in any way I can! I want to let someone else experience the wonderful years I have had as a parent. If tomorrow isn't guaranteed, then I want to do everything I can do today to help someone else out!

Just asking for prayers in this waiting process.... whatever it looks like and God's perfect timing!

Crazy...

Today marks the first day of Girl Scout Cookie Sales... it is a crazy time of my life. Between order taking for my own kids... and then the orders of 20 OTHER little Daisies... keeping money straight, inputting them in the computer to make whole boxes, our gift of caring project for the Children's Hospital. We also have a powderpuff pinewood derby this month for Girl Scouts, and will be doing cookie booths at the end of February and March. Along with that, for swimming, we have another day of stroke clinics for swimming, and a few more swim meets to train for. BayLeigh's basketball season started a few weeks ago, so she has practices and gets to play a few games for that. Joe begins his NEW job (Praise the LORD!) this week/next week! Both older girls begin dance again this month after a month off.

YUP welcome to the silly silo... Some days I feel like I am swirling and whirling around and the floor drops out from under me.... good thing I am sucked to the walls!

God Grant me the Serenity...

Most of us know the Serenity prayer, or at least bits and parts of it.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change; courage
to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

I had a great heart to heart with Emery, my five year old, soon to be six. Her good friend Alanna just moved away today, and her heart was kind of hurting. During the goodbyes she stayed mainly silent, gave a few hugs and said goodbye. Alanna cried and showed her emotions, but Emery acted, well sort of embarrassed by it all. I watched her the rest of the day and evening and at bed time she came downstairs into my bed and crawled in it. She, you see, is a lot like her momma. We put on that strong front around people we feel are vulnerable, or need someone to stay strong in their life. When we are alone, we are left to struggle with our emotions. She started to ask questions, and let me know what was on her heart.





Let me tell you, I am NO expert on explaining change to a five year old, nor to a fifty-five year old! I most definatly struggled for words at time during our conversation. But, it made me realize a few things and heal my own heart in a way.





I reflected on my life, and where I would be if I didn't accept the changes in my life. If I held on to the past, and not the future. I have had some pretty monumental changes in my life. My life changed after I moved from my parents house out on my own. My life changed after I got pregnant with BayLeigh. My life changed when I married a deploying Marine. Mly life changed when I had a baby while my husband was in Iraq. My life changed when I uprooted everything I knew and moved to California. Life changed again when he came back and this small family of two was now three, and I had another parent to rely on for our daughter. My life changed when three became four and we were struggling financially. My life changed when Joe deployed again, and I had two to take care of. My life changed when we moved on base housing and I met a whole new circle of friends. My life changed when my friend and neighbor lost her husband to the War on Terror. My life changed when we said our goodbyes, and left the gates of Twentynine Palms one last time, no longer Marine and Marine Corps wife, but former. *Pause*





I took that moment. That painful yet exciting, gutwrenching, heart beating quickly, moment in my life. I tried to explain it to her. I explained how God brings change into our life to make us who we are. One day she'll remember this day, this feeling, this experience and be able to either help another through it, or she'll see why it needed to happen to make her who she is. I explained how moving effected our family, allowing growth, and new experiences and opportunities. We had to say goodbye to so many friends who became the family we didn't have out there. Friends who we shared SO many memories and holidays with. Friends who became so close it still brings me to tears writing this post. We said goodbye, and let go... and now I see what it made room for. All the things that came from that move back here. We are in an amazing church now, all because of the daycare our children started to attend HERE. We have great relationships with our family, because we are HERE. We have wonderful friendships that wouldn't have occured if we were still there. We have so many things that came with this fork in the road, this option, this change that we have so much to be thankful for in the wake of sadness. God might close a door on something in life. He may say no, or not yet because He has something better in store. God loves us each individually. We are His children! I love my child, and hurt for her through this, but I know God is smiling down and saying there is so much more that will come from this!


Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

The Crab life

I was reading an article discussing the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosake. In his book he told about Hawaiian black crabs, he isn't the only one who has talked about crab mentality but it reminded me of a few things.

If you go down to the beach early in the morning you can find black crabs. You can gather them in a bucket and continue down the beach for more. Now those crabs start thinking "We are bumping around in this little bucket and not going anywhere." Eventually one crab will look up and think "There's a whole new world up there. There has got to be more than this. If I can just get my foot over the edge I can get out and get my freedom and see the world as it is." So he stretches up reaches a little and sure enough he is right there on the edge, but just as he is about to tip the balance and make the plunge towards freedom a crab from the bottom of the bucket reaches up and pulls him back down. Instead of encouraging him and helping each other to freedom, they pull anyone attempting back down into
the bucket that leads them to death.

Corinthians 15:33 says that "Bad company corrupts good character"

Unfortunately, the crab story is all too common in our world. There are black crabs out there who can't see the bigger picture, who are inside the box thinkers (or in this case, bucket). Those who are ready to ridicule or shoot down any idea that would change things. Those that believe in themselves not in an almighty God.

I have been reflecting on the last few years. Our lives and circles have changed dramatically. All for the better, I believe. We are now surrounded by peers who love us for US. Who encourage us, reassure us, love us, and want to grow with us. It doesn't mean you have to cross people off your list and not talk to them again... but be that positive light and don't let anyone pull you back down from what you can potentially be. I have to remind myself that every day.

Potential

In the wake of the morning after Christmas (madness and MESS) , I was cleaning up the aftermath and realized a few things.... thought I would share them with you.

I shared last night with family that I am a gift bag, tissue paper Nazi. I admit it, if I see gift bags getting ready to be pitched... I save them. If I see good tissue paper going to waste, I hoard it! The way I see it, I am the hero in this situation... I am merely a treasure hunter. Do you REALIZE how much gift bags and tissue paper cost now a days??? Apparently my husband does not!!!

I took a few pictures of Santa's Workshop- this is a room in the corner of our basement. I don't think the girls even know about this room. You have to go through our bedroom, through the laundry room, into the boiler room, into the cat litter room, and then into the workshop. During November and December, Santa resides here with his elves. But during the remainder of the year it is my gift room. (Well Christmas decorations also stay in this room :)) I have it organized by celebration; Birthdays (girl birthdays and then a unisex section), New Babies, Valentines Day, I even have a few Easter things. The next thing I want to add to this room is an endless supply of gift cards! I also have a few random presents that we can give at the next occasion. I honestly think it's quite ingenious, Joseph believes it is not (Scrooge)!

So, as I was bringing things out to the curb for the poor garbage men to take (see above), I saw a few treasures that Joe thought he could get away with killing... Does he not REALIZE the Potential of these bags?! Here is just ONE of the many things I rescued and that are now taking refuge in my workshop.

potential- adj

1po·ten·tial adj \pə-ˈten(t)-shəl\Definition of POTENTIAL1: existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality 2: expressing possibility; specifically: of, relating to, or constituting a verb phrase expressing possibility, liberty, or power by the use of an auxiliary with the infinitive of the verb (as in “it may rain”) — po·ten·tial·ly \

potential -noun

1 a: something that can develop or become actual

2 2 a: any of various functions from which the intensity or the velocity at any point in a field may be readily calculated b: the work required to move a unit positive charge from a reference point (as at infinity) to a point in question

In Exodus we meet Moses... he was a baby that was saved by a princess. Later, God appeared to him as a burning bush and when he realized it was the Lord he covered his face in fear. (Ex 3:6) God chose him to lead his people. Moses went from fearing God, to complaining, protesting, and making excuses as to why he wasn't a good choice. Moses doubted not only himself, but God! He asked God to show him signs, to give him abilities to show the people. He lacked faith. God even allowed his brother to help him in this amazingly honorable journey. During their exodus, Moses became an amazing man of God. He grew more faithful and more obedient to God's word and demands. But Moses was human, and when the people complained about being thirsty (when didn't they complain really?(Numbers 20)) He and his brother Aaron went before God and God instructed them to gather the people and speak over a rock, God would then make water stream from the rock. Whether it was lack of faith or lack of obedience Moses only half obeyed. He gathered the people, but instead of speaking over the rock he used the staff God gave him and struck it. This disobedience led to his mark- not reaching is FULL potential! God intended for Moses to lead his people into the promise land. But due to his lack of faith and disobedience God spoke to them and said "Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!" Numbers 20:12 Yes! The SAME man who delivered the Ten Commandments, who spoke and said You must love the Lord your God, with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut 6:5 Hand picked by God himself, and he still sinned, still faltered, still fell a little bit short. I am not pointing this out to say it's hopeless that we are all doomed. I am pointing this out because his story is one we need to learn from. We need to have endless FAITH, we need to be obedient. Here comes that POTENTIAL word again- because in Deut 34 God says to Moses "This is the land I promised... LATER in verse 7 we read: Moses was 120 years old when he died (yes very old... but read the next part careful) yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. That's not sad because he died , I mean he was a pretty ripe old age, it's sad because he never reached his true -potential. He died with spunk and spark still in him, he was almost to the finish line but his disobedience and lack of faith kept him from his POTENTIAL! Instead, Joshua got to swoop in and lead the people in. Joshua who's name was barely mentioned before he got his own book in the bible. Moses went from hiding his face in fear of God as the burning bush to lacking that fear. We are meant to fear yet love God. We are made for a purpose and the only way to fulfill that purpose and reach our true potential is to LOVE God faithfully and obediently!

Did you know that you can iron out the wrinkles in tissue paper??? You can with a little help from a damp kitchen towel.... ;) amazing! Now I'm not as crazy as you think I am... or did I just prove to be crazier??!

Now as for the true potential of my wrapping papers, well I can see myself using them for years! Find ways to maximize YOUR potential :)

Disinfect

..... the flu bug has wreaked it's havoc among the Brewcrew...

it has traveled from Joe to BayLeigh last week... then to Ollie on Monday, Charley on Tuesday and Emery on Wednesday... and it's Thursday.... I'm holding strong still!!!

I am a momma armed with some disinfectant, scrubbing wipes, and constant hand washing.

The flu in a way reminds me of SIN...

The flu or sin, left unchecked... can wreak havoc in your life. Effecting not only YOU, but your friends and family. It spreads like a wildfire hurting everyone in it's path.

It is up to us to disinfect, wash hands, and take all precautions to prevent it from happening to us! We're not all perfect and not all precautions can keep the flu bug away, but we can try to stop it's spread the best way we possibly can.

Like a simple wound- we need to clean, disinfect, and prevent infection or spreading.

When we sin- we have done wrong, we need to get our life cleaned up right away. We need to repent (disinfect) and turn away from our sin, focus on God and healing, protect yourself by getting in God's word and in relationship with Him. Otherwise, our sin will spread and infect our whole body, our group of friends, our family.

The flu/sins happens to all of us! We are NOT perfect... and no matter what we do sometimes that thought... that bug... gets to us. The only thing we can do is our part at preventing the spread... turn away and repent! Because He is a loving God full of mercy and grace.

In 1 John 1:9 it says

But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all wickedness.

Needless to say we are doing a LOT of disinfecting in the Brewer house...

Last years Christmas was spent with Joe deployed, myself VERY pregnant, and the three girls and I super duper sick with the flu bug... that will NOT be happening this year! Hope you all are fairing better then we are and stay away until the bugs leave our home :) Merry Christmas all!!! 3 days left!

Our Snowbuddy

The Elf on the Shelf book was gifted to us by my mother in law Pam a couple weeks ago... let me tell you a little bit about our Elf...

According to the book, the Elf is a guest in our home watching over the children and noting any good or bad behavior that Santa might need in making his list. The Elf magicly flies back to the North Pole every night to report to Santa, returning in the morning and finding another location to perch on. The kids are not allowed to touch the elf because his magic may rub off. The elf will not speak to the children but will listen, it can speak to adults though. You are to promptly name your elf- in this case ours is

SNOW BUDDY

Here are some of his adventures so far!

Snow Buddy apparently missed the snow of the North Pole and pretended it was here in our kitchen...





He looks pretty guilty to me!!!

The girls absolutely thought it was crazy that our elf was naughty!!

More naughty Snow Buddy Tricks!

Riding the donkey!

Took down all the stockings and replaced them with underwear!!! Eww! At least they were clean ones!

Oh Snow Buddy What's next?!

Wow...

Starting fresh again-

I have done a HORRIBLE job at this blogging thing... but that's it! I am starting fresh..... I am getting a second chance... because let's face it, everyone is entitled to one or two or twelve!

Thanks all.. I will try harder at this :)