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Another Beginning

In the early morning hours I sit here thanking the Lord for His sweet provisions. For the birds singing His praises as dawn breaks and overcomes darkness once again. For the brisk breeze sweeping away the last whisper of summer and ushering in autumn and the beauty of the colors of the falling leaves. For the quiet house and sweet sleeping faces still tucked in tight , safe and dreaming away, waiting for the first rays to dance upon their faces. For the blessing of another season to love, play, and worship. For breath, health, family, and friends. But mostly for a Savior who is present with me, reminding me that the day is new and so are His mercies. That yesterdays failures are todays testimonies. Another day, another chance, another beginning.

What are you thankful for today? I would love to know.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Categories Faith, Family

We Will Never Forget

11 Sep

We all have our stories. Stories, that with time, our children will ask about. Where we were, who we were with, and how we heard about it. Stories that regardless of how much time passes will remain freshly etched in our minds and freshly felt in our hearts.

We all saw the horrific images and stayed glued to our TV’s for days. We remember how eerily quiet the skies were and how we let our differences go to become united as a country. In one day we saw the very worst and the very best of humanity. We saw what one human being was willing to give up to save another human being, we saw heroism and bravery on a scale we might never actually get to witness again, and we were brought together as a country, even for just a moment, like we may never experience again.
For the brave men and women on the flights, for the first responders, for our firemen, police officers, for those who stayed back to make sure everyone got out, for those who left last, for those who went back in, for those who never came out, for the doctors, nurses, medical professionals, good Samaritans, clergymen, our brave soldiers, and all those who shed tears for the loved ones they lost-WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

God Bless the USA!!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

*Photo credit Google images

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Categories Faith, Family

My 13th first Day of School

5 Sep

Well, we made it through another summer vacation. We had a lazy uneventful but fun summer. I’ll admit, I am very sad to see it end. I am gearing up for my 13th first day of school….YIKES!

I was sitting here thinking back 13 (that flew by) years ago, Labor Day. My oldest, Alison, was a precious itty bitty five year old with pink glasses. She was anxious for her first day of kindergarten-I was not! Tuesday came. Even though we could of slept in a bit (because she had the afternoon class), Alison was up early-ready to make it official. Sporting a new outfit, her name tag, and her new pink backpack, that was almost bigger than her-we headed out on a beautiful Colorado day, on our short walk to school. The classroom was buzzing with excitement as the kiddos explored their classroom and made new friends. The teacher gave parents a few minutes to take pictures and give extra hugs. One by one parents started to trickle out until it was just me. I was thinking “They expect me to leave this precious child who hasn’t left my side for more than 5 minutes for almost 6 years, here alone-without her mama?”. I made up my mind right then, that she needed me too much to leave. I was gonna stay. Of course, the kindly teacher assured me that she would be OK and that I would see her in a few hours. I left that classroom and cried my heart out all the way home. Sad, because life as I knew it had changed forever and it changed so suddenly in just one day. No more leisurely afternoon Hundred Acre Wood picnics, no more late night blanket fort sleepovers, and no more little shadow all the time. She was a big girl doing big girl things- without me! Time passed slowly that first day. Time eventually passed and I made my way to pick her up. I remember thinking how upset she must of been all day and how glad she will be when she sees me. I envisioned her plowing through the crowd and jumping into my open arms begging to never go back. When she saw me she was in tears, but not for the reasons I thought…the girl didn’t want to leave school. She really burst my bubble. She had a blast-without me! Here I was mourning and she was having the time of her life. Life did change that day but certainly not for the worse. We just moved into a different season of life and it was still wonderful. Even if she is a high school senior!

Brouke came along and I went through it all again. Now I am sitting in the same place as I was 13 years ago except this time, my baby-my last born, my only son will be starting his journey as a first grader. Yes, I will cry and have a moment but I will look on with joy as I watch my boy learn and grow and I’ll be reminded how very blessed I am.

I know many are here with me. My prayer for you is that God will be near to each of you as you kiss the sweet faces of your babies as you send them out into the world. May he comfort you as you adjust to a new season. For all our babies, may God watch over each of them as they begin a new school year. I pray for safety and protection over each of them. May God Bless each of you!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

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Categories Faith, Family, Homeschool

Customizing Jesus

30 Aug

I heard someone say recently “My Jesus isn’t________!” (it was obscene, so I’ll leave out the actual words) I was floored. Not only was it shocking but completely Biblically unfounded.

Now, this just might of been a random person ranting and looking for validation for his lifestyle but I see and hear it more and more, people customizing Jesus.

How easy it would be to shop for a Jesus that embraces our sins and condones our lifestyles. Accepting that is doing favors for no one and actually it is depriving them of a real true Savior.

You can’t try on several Jesus’ until you find one that fits you just right. He is one size fits all.

He is loving and merciful but He is also holy and hates sin. Not just the “big sins” but all sin, it separates us from Him.

I know our society is quick to remind us that we should be seeking what makes us happy, because God is love, therefore He would want us to be happy. So, as long as we are happy God is happy. Happiness, though, is so conditional and momentary. That is not what God has in mind for you. Being a true follower of Christ will give you so much more than that. Really seeking the true heart of the Lord will find you seeking righteousness and that will lead you to joy. Joy brings you peace and contentment because you’re in God’s abiding presence.

Jesus is for everyone. He came to give you everlasting life. It is a free gift to all who accept it, but it is on His terms not yours.

Seek the Lord the creator of the heavens and earth, the lover of your soul and not the Jesus created by man.

To keep this from getting long winded, if you are wanting to know more about who God is click here for more information.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Let’s be Pinterest friends!

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, burdened, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christianity, compassion, death, easy, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, everlasting life, faith, family, forgiveness, God, God's love, gratitude, happy, Heaven, holy, Holy Spirit, homemaker, homemaking, housewife, hppiness, husband, Jesus, Joy, joyful, life, lifestyle, Lord, love, media, mercy, motherhood, parenting, prayer, righteousness, salvation, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, sin, soul, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, Woman, Word of God, wrath

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Categories Faith, Family

Good Intentions

24 Aug

“We are a culture trained to be a great starter but not a finisher”

-Beth Moore, A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place. Video session 9.

I am a gal filled with good intentions. I daydream and plan loads of things, good things, and helpful things. The problem is, is that they usually don’t come to pass. I have purchased supplies to create beautiful things, and ingredients to cook delicious things to just have them collect dust and turn rotten. I am by no means a mass collector of stuff, (I actually loathe clutter, even the secret kind) I am just a do it tomorrow person.

When watching the above mentioned video, my heart was deeply convicted. Out of all I have learned and studied the past 10 weeks in this Bible study God decided this is where he wants me to focus a little more intently and seriously.

I seriously made the exasperated sigh generally reserved for teenage parental annoyance. Seriously, of all things to call me out on You are choosing to call out my good intentions?

It brought me to a place that had me looking and praying long and hard as to why God was calling out this seemingly, insignificant part of my life. Here is what I learned. God wants me to make the most of my gifts and abilities. By not following through I am falling prey to laziness. Not just to my good intentions but to the most important parts of my life such as prayer, worship, wife, mother, homemaker, homeschooler, etc… I’ve looked over my life lately and see where my laziness as crept into every facet of my life. Several verses came to mind but the one that really stuck to me was Proverbs 14:23, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

So all my talk and good intentions is stealing my full potential of what God has in store for me. It never ceases to amaze me that God longs for us to strive for righteousness and He uses, sometimes, interesting outlets to bring forth change in us.

I am always a work in progress but I am sure glad to know that God sees the value in me and puts forth the love and time to help me to be all He has created me to be. What an awesome God we serve.

Has the Lord convicted you of anything recently? I would love to know how God is working in your life.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Let’s be Pinterest friends!

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Categories Faith, Family

He Sees You

19 Aug

As you begin a new week and you’re feeling the days are mundane and daunting remember…..

To the tired mama’s who watched the sun rise trying to rock a baby back to sleep-He sees you.

To the husband who works tirelessly to support his family but feels unappreciated at home-He sees you.

For the toilet, tub, and floor that need to be cleaned again-He sees you.

For the person sitting in the exam room wondering how they are going to handle this diagnosis-He sees you.

To the teen mom who is watching all her friends pack and leave for college-He sees you.

For the weary parents who are praying for a miracle-He sees you.

For weary children struggling, caring for their aging parents while caring for their own children-he sees you.

For the single moms wondering how to make your paycheck stretch even further-He sees you.

To those who feel weary, tired, and broken-He sees you.

Our Heavenly Father sees and loves His children. You’re not alone, Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”. God is there, with you. The enemy’s whispers will fill you with doubt and his lies will make you feel like a failure but stay strong and courageous. The Lord is your peace (John 14:27) ,stronghold (Psalm 27:1), and your comforter (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Categories Faith, Family

Can you Relate?

13 Aug

For much of my life my weight determined my quality of life. What I mean by that is, the heavier I was the less social I became. I would whole myself up hoping to just become a name without a face. I would slowly draw away from the circle so it would slowly swallow up my gap. I would become a whisper and a wonder. I truly felt my self worth was wrapped up to what the number on the scale dictated. With curtains drawn tight I spiraled into a pit of self loathing.

I have spent my whole life in a death spiral of one crash diet after another. Those consuming diets that steal all your thoughts and leave you watching the hands on the clock tick, tick, tick, ever so slowly waiting for the miserable days to pass. When a diet would finally stick, slowly the sun would begin to shine and I would again emerge vibrant much like a caterpillar breaking free from its cocoon. Life was mine to enjoy once again. I would seize every opportunity until it was time to repeat the cycle again.

I really needed proper perspective in order to reclaim my life and find joy regardless to what the scale said. Psalm 139:4 says, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful. If God’s works are wonderful than so must I be. I am God’s workman, created to do good works, which Christ prepared in advance for me (Eph. 2:10). How am I to follow Christ if I am unable to allow His will on my life? I must recognize the voice of the enemy when he is whispering his sweet lies in my ear and remind him that I don’t walk of the flesh but of the spirit (Romans 8:1). For God has plans for me to prosper (Jeremiah 29:11). Do you see, there are no conditions to that. He doesn’t say I will prosper when I am 110 pounds, He says I will prosper because He says so! I just have to be a willing vessel for His love and goodness.

Being at a place right now where I would normally hide, I am pushing myself to keep letting the sun shine on my face. Letting God work through me for His glory. I am grateful that God’s grace is given to me in abundance. I pray for victory!

Can you relate? I would love to hear from you!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Categories Faith, Family

Homemade Pizza

11 Aug

I know, I know- 5 dollar pizza and a slew of other pizza joints are just a phone call away-but why buy it when you can make it?! My family loves making their own little personal pizzas. I like to gather a lot of toppings and watch them create their own masterpieces! We did this recently and had ourselves a carpet picnic while watching Elf and the kiddos can’t wait to do it again! I promise yeast isn’t as scary as it sounds;) I hope you enjoy!

This is all you need to make dough: 3/1/2-4 C of flour (bread flour will
give you a crispier crust, all purpose will give you a chewier crust). 1 Pkg.
dry yeast, 1 tsp of sugar, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 2 TBSP olive oil, 1 1/2 C really warm water
110 degrees (run water on wrist water should be just shy of hot feeling).

You gotta wake your yeast up! I used 1/2 of my warm water, the sugar,
and the package of yeast. Give it a quick stir and let in proof for about 10
minutes. This is what it should look like. Bubbling over with happiness.

Add 3 1/2 C of your flour, salt, oil, remaining warm water, and yeast mixture to a large bowl
or in my case my stand mixer. If you don’t have a stand mixer, mix all ingredients
well in large bowl and then turn out dough on a well floured surface and knead
until smooth like a baby’s tushie and elastic-when you stretch it long it
shrinks back quickly to its previous size. Takes about 5-10 minutes. If you have a stand mixer-just throw
all ingredients in bowl and using your dough hook mix about 5 minutes. The results should be the same
as with the hand kneading technique.
Oil a large bowl and place the dough in it and brush the top of the dough lightly with oil.
Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and it will need to nap for about 1 hour or until
doubled in size.
*If dough is too sticky knead in the remaining 1/2 C flour.

                                          Punch down your dough, literally, and turn out on a flat surface.
                                                  Divide dough accordingly to your family. The kids’ pizza dough was
                                                  measured about baseball size (2 of those) and hubby and I split the
                                                  remaining dough in half. Work the dough into whatever shape and
                                                  thickness you want.
                                                  *Preheat oven to 500 and if you have one preheat your pizza
                                                    stone. Baking pan works fine too!

Lay out your ingredients and let your family have fun creating thier
own pizza.

Getting ready to bake!

About 15-20 minutes later-it’s ready! See, happy faces and sweet memories!

Ta da! Easy Peasy!

I hope you enjoy!

Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Tags: baking, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, children, christ, Christian, christianity, comfort, cooking, cooking with kids, dinner, dough, easy, easy dinner, easy meal, eat, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, food, fun, fun with kidsm family fun, God, gratitude, homemade, homemade piza, homemaker, husband, Jesus, Joy, kitchen, learning, Lord, love, marriage, media, motherhood, new, parenting, party, pepperoni, pizza, pizza party, recipe, sausage, serving, teaching, Woman, yeast

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Categories Family, Food

Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Grocery Store

9 Aug

I found myself alone in the car today. I was feeling a little sorry for myself-Stressed at the first week chaos of homeschooling and all the little things that come up in life. I won’t lie, there were tears. Oh poor me tears. Self consuming tears. Selfish, life isn’t fair tears. But then, something funny happened. God showed up in a song and it changed my heart. A song I’ve heard a hundred times, but today the words came to life.

It got me thinking about how very blessed we are to live in a country where we are free (for now) to share our thoughts and opinions, to disagree, to think freely, to dress as we please, to go where we please, to eat what we please and to worship our God freely and openly without fear. This is normal life to us. We don’t really appreciate these freedoms until we are reminded that life isn’t so everywhere else.

I know many friends who came here seeking a safe place to lay their heads. Coming from places so volatile that all they can mutter about it is that they are blessed to be here. Perspective is the greatest humbler. So I will shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 100:1) and I will do it without fear, for I am a blessed American woman! Here is the song that changed my attitude http://youtu.be/_MbcYyOsF50
A prayer for you:
Thank you God for blessing me with being a woman, wife, and mother here in America. Thank you for the blessing of clean water, abundant food, education, and medicine regardless of money. Thank you God for the freedom to worship you wherever and whenever we choose- free from persecution. Lord, I pray for the people who live oppressed persecuted lives. For the people who live in fear and without hope. Lord, somehow someway touch them and deliver them from the bondage. With praise and thanksgiving to you, my mighty, loving King.

How is God working in your life? I would love to know.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

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Tags: American, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, bondage, burdened, children, christ, Christian, christian music, christianity, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, forgiveness, God, gratitude, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, homeschooling, housewife, humble, humbler, husband, Jesus, Joy, Lord, love, media, mother, motherhood, music, parenting, perspective, praise, prayer, scripture, Servant, serving, sin, songs, stress, stressed, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, Woman

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Categories Faith, Family

Giving Up on Perfection

5 Aug

In the age of Pinterest and similar social media, It is easy to feel the inadequacies of others seemingly perfect lives. I know that there are moments in my day that I hope nobody stops by for an impromptu visit. I will admit that I have heard a knock at the door at a time my house wasn’t looking so hot. Scooping my children to the floor and giving them the “look” that would make an angry bear stand still. Have you been there? It’s OK to not live in perfection and it’s OK to invite others to be a part of your imperfections. To most, it would probably be a sigh of relief. I will say that I don’t think it is OK to live in filth and utter chaos but crumbs on the floor from lunch and toys strewn about the living room shows that their is life and a family in that home, and they are living life and enjoying it and hopefully willing to welcome others into it.

Go ahead and share about the meltdown your child had in the busy grocery store, or that you fell asleep and missed the bus dropping off your 4 year old child and you didn’t hear them trying to call you for over an hour,(sorry Alison), or fill in your own blank. You just might make a difference, a connection, and a friend.

I think it’sur vulnerability and imperfections that allows others to see God’s work in our lives. Isn’t that the point? To see God where you least expect Him-in the imperfections and ugliness of life. That no matter what, “He’s not finished with me yet!” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=typAqPJ-Zn8)

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

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Tags: beautiful, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, burdened, chaos, children, christ, Christian, christianity, crumbs, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, facebook, faith, family, giving up perfection, God, God's work, heart, home, homemaking, house, imperfect, imperfections, Jesus, Joy, Lord, love, media, meltdown, mess, message, motherhood, mothers, parenting, perfection, Pinterest, prayer, real, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, share, sharing, social media, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, ugliness, ugly, vulnerable, weary, welcome, Woman, women

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Categories Faith, Family

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…..and a sprinkle of love

Another Beginning

We Will Never Forget

My 13th first Day of School

Customizing Jesus

Good Intentions

He Sees You

Can you Relate?

Homemade Pizza

Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Grocery Store

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