close to my heart

I want to share with you lovely readers something that is close to my heart.
Some of you may have heard of it before.
Reece's Rainbow.
The mission of Reece's Rainbow is to rescue orphans with Down syndrome through the gift of adoption, to raise awareness for all of the children who are waiting in 25 countries around the world, and to raise funds as adoption grants that help adoptive families afford the high cost of adopting these beautiful children.



Meet some of the little ones who have touched grabbed my heart.

Bogdan, my sweet gift of God, oh how I longed to hold your squishy arms in mine...has just found a home!

Nico, his red hair and those eyes.  He was the first one who really made a place in my heart.

Jimmy, what a stinking cutie!

Kory, melted my heart right away...has found a forever family.

Victoria, my oh my what a doll...has found a home!

Meredith, her eyes...ahh so sweet.

Claudia, I just want to squeeze those sweet cheeks.

Aren't they just the sweetest?  I have more on my list and in my heart.

Reece's Rainbow, unfortunately, has many more available children.  Some with only down syndrome.  Others with many things going on.  In some of these orphanages when the child turns 5-7, sometimes as young as 4 they are sent to an institution.  Which I can only imagine...  I also read that in one of the orphanages the children/babies were chided for smiling or saying hello to the visitors.  That breaks my heart. 

Many of these precious babies have holes in their hearts.  Literally.  I just read about one young boy who got adopted and on his way home his hole closed up!  Does that not move you?!

I am doing what I can.  I have donated.  I have just signed up to be a prayer warrior.  Four of whom have gotten adopted!  Glory to God. 

the presence of God

While in the midst of:
teenagers (no explanation needed)
striving to live more naturally
designing again
deep cleaning the house (is that ever done?)
life's big and small hurdles

God is faithful to meet me every time. 
We just got done with an amazing revival.  One that really can't be described or compared.  Thursday the presence of God came down like I've never seen/felt before and then again on Friday.  How do I describe it? 

The song I Can Only Imagine keeps coming to mind...the chorus.
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I
fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all

It was one of those services that you didn't want to end.  Our pastor didn't really know how to close the service, so he left it open for people to stay or go.  Most of us stayed for awhile praying, crying out to God. 
Being in the presence of God is humbling, comforting, restoring, etc.  I really am having a hard time finding the right words to describe it all.

One story I want to share is when I was younger I used to go to church camps.  One year in particular, I felt the presence of God.  We were praising God, really focusing on Him.  As my hands were raised I felt God's holding mine.  It was something that I never will forget.  Healing was brought by His hands.  Last night while praying at the alter, God reached down and held my hands again.  It was amazing.  I really needed that.  You know, we "know" that God is there with us, protecting us, keeping us.  However, to really feel Him is something all together.  God is so good.

all day shopping

Friday, the kids and I took off of school to do some much needed shopping.

All of the good stores are in the next city one hour away.

The day was cloudy and a bit blustery.

 Big city here we come.

 Trying on clothes at Ross.  Then Marshall.  Then Big 5.

Spinach Stromboli at the mall.  It was huge.  It was good.  Hubby had the rest for dinner.

In the mall we walked back and forth, from one end to the other trying to find a much talked about jewelery store.  Everything is a dollar.  We asked for help.  It is next to a lingerie store.  Which explains why we missed it.  We always look the other way at those stores.  After a long, club music headache later daughter and I had our little bags done.

Onto Hobby Lobby, then Old Navy.  Son and I were successful at finding a few items.  Daughter, not do lucky.  Poor girl is like me when it comes to clothes, especially me as a teen.

Finally we ended up doing a quick run to Sam's.  (EVERYTHING is out of town for us.)

The kids stayed in the car.  Their feet were killing them. 

We left the house at almost 10am and got home after 5pm.  Minus the hour drive one way, you have one long day!

a nice surprise

(sorry, i am catching up.)

Valetine's Day the UPS man brought me this.

UPS guys must feel life Santa, always delivering packages and goodies.

Hubby sent me beautiful tulilps.  He's not always the flower giving type, so this was a very nice surpise.

 taken on feb. 18th. 

looks like a few of the white ones turned pink.

From Blah to Awe

While this book was written for teenage girls, I found it to be inspiring and convicting.  In a nutshell, From Blah to Awe by Jenna Lucado Bishop is about why we as christian (mainly girls) are/get bored with God and our relationship with Him and how to waken up that joy and excitement.  I have to admit that I have been guilty of being bored, more often then I'd like to admit,  myself.  Guilty of letting sin, my own desires get in the way of having the relationship with God He intended.

Jenna, like her father, honestly covers the topics that many teen girls (more for church girls) struggle with.  Using real life stories, humor, personal hang ups and situations,  Jenna pulls the readers into her book with every chapter.  Her "sitting down to coffee" way of writing makes you feel like you know her and can trust her. 

Some of her examples where, to me, a little "cheesy", but then again I am not who her main audience is.  That being said, other then my pet peeve (not using mostly KJV when quoting the Bible), Jenna's book is a wonderful read.  It is encouraging to know that other people, other churches feel. preach, teach some of the same things that we do.  Encouraging that teen girls are challenged and encouraged to step it up, step out of their comfort zone, to really fall in love with Jesus.

On a closing note, I offered the book to my teenage daughter.  She declined, so I am going to offer it to another girl in our church who's face kept popping up as I read the book. 

some recent LOs

I seemed to have a color theme going on here.

credit for each of these can be found here.

the story of a celery stalk

it all started with a blog post i read somewhere.
the blogger took a bunch (don't really know what it's called) of celery and got it to regrow.

so, i took out celery end, soaked it.
planted it in the pot in the front.
our dog, dolly was watching the whole time.
i walked inside the house.
looked outside the window and dolly had taken the celery for herself.
she had it eaten in no time.
didn't know celery with dirt tastes so good.

love vs. respect

Happy Valentine's Day.

What better day to talk about somethings that I have just learned.

Hopefully, I can make sense of it all.

The other day Hubby had a really bad day...really bad.

This idea came as I was praying for him and ways to encourage him.

I sat down and wrote a BUNCH of little notes.

Notes of encouragement, things I love and appreciate about him.

Also, encouraging scriptures.

I "hide" one every day in his "chone" drawer.

Hopefully, it will make a difference.

Also, we just had a marriage dinner and we all got this book.

God has been putting it on my heart to respect my husband more.

I actually prayed for respect to be preached on...and it was.

Isn't God good.

Anyway, in a nutshell...women are wired to love.

Men are wired to respect.

Women need love.

Men need respect.

Men would rather be with a woman that doesn't love him, but respects him.

Women would rather be with a man that doesn't respect her, but loves her.

There was so much more and I have yet to read the book, but it was an eye opener.

The sermon and the book are based from the following scriptures.

Ephesians 5:22-33

King James Version (KJV)
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Sam I Am

This morning we get to watch a baby from our church.

He is a miracle baby, for sure.  His momma was not supposed to get pregnant.

 I forgot what it was like to read the Bible while holding a baby.

After making him smile, and talking to him for awhile, he was tired.

It only took maybe 3 minutes to get him to sleep.
I held him a bit longer, to photos and because who doesn't love holding a sleeping baby?

One more, for good measure.

inner beauty

Sunday night I sat down in church, in the prayer room, when one of the dear ladies tapped me on the shoulder to tell me that she and her daughters were talking about inner beauty and how it makes a lady look even more beautiful, no matter what she looks like.  Her girls said "Like Christine." right away.  I was both humbled and challenged.

First, I didn't realize they were really paying attention to me or that I had that quality.  I had been praying about having a sweet spirit for some time and asking God to cultivate that in me.  It has been a rough one and therefore really didn't think much had happened as far as "sweetness" goes.

Then I prayed, "God let it be so."  Their comment challenged me to want to work even harder for that inner beauty that lasts beyond the years.  To really strive for it.  Funny how a child's timely words can uplift, bring blessing and motivate us at the same time.

The girls mom, is one of those ladies whose inner beauty is seen by all.

LT “Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done.” Presents Curbside Chaos!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We have been having unseasonably warm weather, which has put me in the mood to get my garden ready. I am on top of the curve this year. Well, as far as getting a head start on our gardening goes. Yesterday I bought some seeds and two seed starters.

 

I also bought some more peony plants! My favorite.

 

I checked out a couple of web sites for wonderful inspiration. CurbsideChaos.com and DigDropDone.com

• Looking at the simple beauty of flower bulbs on CurbsideChaos and DigDropDone makes me want to plant right now!

• There is also a contest! “Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done.” - an educational effort designed to excite women about the surprisingly simple beauty of flower bulbs - is giving away a $5,000 yard makeover!
o All you need to do to enter is submit a photo of your yard at CurbsideChaos.com

• The lucky winner will not only receive a $5,000 yard makeover, but they will also receive a visit from Taniya Nayak (@TaniyaNayak on Twitter) – Taniya will go through and give you tips on the best way to update your yard! She will give you creative ideas for incorporating flower bulbs into your landscape.

• For every share on Twitter, "Bulbs. Dig, Drop, Done." will donate $1.00 to Rebuilding Together - the nation’s leading nonprofit, working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities.

• Be sure to try out the Garden Guru Tool located in the bottom left of the screen. This tool will help you figure out which bulb is perfect for your home depending upon where you live!
o Be sure to let you readers know how to use the tool:
Step 1 – Pick your Country
Step 2 – Pick your location within that Country
Step 3 – Choose the type of bulb you want to grow
Step 4 – Check out the Planting Guide that shows you how to plant your bulbs.

 

Here's what I came up with:

 

 

Crocus

Hyacinths

Daffodils

Chionodoxa

 

• I am sure you know that bulbs aren’t just for gardeners! Bulbs are extremely simple plants that can be used in a surprising number of ways. I remember one winter my sister-in-law gave me a small bowl with some bulbs. It was my first time ever getting anything like that. Boy, did I love it.

• Wouldn't they make great gifts? Hmm...I need to take my own advice.

 

http://www.digdropdone.com/ is a fun site with three funny ladies. I most relate to Marcy...while I am not over supermom, they are one of my main focuses. Who do you relate to?

 

Curbside Chaos

visit www.digdropdone.com to learn more

random

I am still here.  Just not much exciting has been going on.

Yesterday, I reopened a smell paper cut while going to the doctors.

Almost dribbled some blood on the sign in sheet.

However, I did get a cool band-aid from the Dr.'s office.

 We have been fighting a cold for what seems like forever.  Daughter hasn't been able to shake it.

hence the visit to the Dr.

Been plowing away at my "project life".  I have filled one album and getting the second filled rather quickly.  

This is where I do most of the photo organizing.

The mess changes all of the time.

I am waiting for more photo sheets to come.

Son and our two dogs were enjoying the weather together on the bench.  

See his smile.  He didn't know I had the camera.

Opps, now he knows.  Even the little dog got up and left after the photo.