Letter from Jesus...

There are so many things I've wanted to write about but when I read this earlier today I knew it was a must to re-post on the blog and let it speak for itself :-) 

 

 

 Letter from Jesus about Christmas:

 

 "It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember"

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

I'm back :-)

I apologize for not blogging in months!! Life has been great here in the Hastie household. We had a wonderful summer and fall filled with spending time with family, friends and creating memories that will last forever!

Sept came and was filled with some craziness. You know how that goes, orientations and open house for the pre-schooler, then getting the elementary school child back in the groove of homework, going to sleep early and getting ready on time. It is all fabulous but I feel like after September we could all use a vacation, lol. The end of October brought lots of excitement. My mom got married and it happened to occur on the only snow storm of the season so far! Definitely a wedding we will all never forget :-)

Here we are now, December and so excited for Christmas. My kids are having so much fun this year celebrating all aspects of this season. From decorating the tree, house, singing Christmas songs, playing with their Little People's Nativity set, and telling everyone about baby Jesus. My son was going around his room this morning looking for this one toy car that he just received for Christmas from family this past weekend. He said he wanted to give it to one of his friends at school. My reply was "Joshua, why are you doing that, you just got it." And shame on me b/c his response was "Mom this is what Christmas is all about. Giving to others and telling them about Jesus' birthday." His heart amazes me every single day. He might be one of the most energetic 6 year old's I know but his heart is so pure and his actions are so sweet. I think this time of year is amazing if we take the time to enjoy it and not run around all the time. Sometimes it takes a child to bring it all back into perspective for us. It is about loving others, spending time with people and celebrating the birth of Christ! I'm excited to bake a cake with my kids this weekend for Jesus' birthday. Every year when we wake up Christmas morning we come down to the kitchen, light the candles and sing Happy Birthday, Jesus! We have been doing it since Joshua was born and he looks forward to it every year. He gets that it's not about presents (although, don't get me wrong he loves receiving them) eating candy canes, or even Santa. Often we forget what it's really about. This past Sunday Joshua sang with some of the children in our church and every time I hear the words I get tears in my eyes. Here is part of it

"He made a way in a manger a way through the Son. Messiah the promised before time had begun. For God so loved this world, though He knew what love would cost. He made a way in a manger, to make a way to the cross.."

Such sacrifice and love! What a blessing that God made a way for you and me to the cross...I know I don't deserve the forgiveness and grace that I get every single day from Him. As I think about the hard times I have faced whether in the last year or in life in general nothing will ever compare to what Jesus went through on that cross for me!

So whatever you are doing or celebrating this season, take the time to look around you, enjoy the moment and if the one gift you wanted to buy hasn't been don't worry..time spent with the ones you love means more then any gift you could possibly buy in a store! If you don't think so just ask any 30 year old what they got for Christmas when they were 8...most likely won't remember but they will remember if Mommy or Daddy (or whoever was their guardian) was spending time with them while they were growing up!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Love and prayers,
Darea

Jealousy...A reality we all deal with in one way or another

"Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you. There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them." ~Jennifer James

It always surprises me how people assume things or judge you when they aren't even your friend. If people looked within themselves then maybe they could stop making assumptions about other people's lives. Sad really...if all they want to do is talk (without having an ounce of factual information) then I actually feel sorry for them! Once again..all you can do is pray for people like that. This quote explains a lot about what I was going to talk about so I figured I'd just leave it at that! Again, so glad the only approval in life I need is from my Heavenly Father :-)



Love and Prayers,
Darea

Not a competition..

Almost six years ago I began a journey no one could have prepared me for...Being a mom! A wonderful but hard job that I would never give up! God has blessed me with two wonderful children who right now are 2 1/2 and almost 6. Not the easiest of ages but I really am enjoying watching them grow and explore life. I have to say though I would not be the mom I am without all of my other mommy friends out there to turn to. Not just the moms who are my age..mom's that I turn to of all ages who either have little ones themselves right now or those who have raised them and they are now living on their own.

What I love about my friends is that we all love and are there for each other no matter what. Through the smiles and the tears b/c lets face it parenting is not just all about the joy. We might not all parent the same or even live life the same but we all have our kids best interest at heart. I have friends who were able to breastfeed and did so till they were comfortable, I have friends who could not or were not comfortable. I have some friends that let their children "cry it out" and others who chose not to. I have friends who put their kids in nursery school starting at 2 1/2 and I have others that waited till a year before Kindergarten and friends that home-school. Guess what, NO ONE has all the answers and no one does everything the same way. We are our OWN child's parent and as long as you are comfortable doing what you do it is not up to anyone else to make us feel guilty or as though our parenting style is wrong. If you want to put your child in time out or take away toys as a form of discipline then guess what, you do what works for your child. None of us are made a like so what makes us think our children would be. I have two kids, a boy and a girl and they couldn't be more different. They have very strong personalities but they respond to discipline differently. My daughter understands time out while my son has to get something he loves taken away. This is just what works for us. I only answer to God, not anyone else.

I'm thankful for the other mommy's/friends in my life that I correspond with and get wisdom from. There are many of you and you know who you are ;-) We don't have to go through the tough moments alone. Only we understand "Mommy brain" or the exhaustion that comes from bringing home a newborn, or dealing with the terrible 2's & 3's .

I also find that sometimes people think life is a competition between their children. One thing I will never announce is my child's grades. I will simply state they did well or that I'm happy with their report cards (if that) but publicly that is all you will get. If they do great they will know I'm proud and if they try their hardest and don't do so well then I will still let them know I'm proud. There is so much pressure on kids today that the last thing they need is for us to add to it. I'm not talking about encouraging our child to do their best, I'm talking about making them feel like they aren't good enough for not getting A's. I've seen all too well what can come of parents that do that. Even when I was in H.S. I saw what those pressures did to people around me. If you think about it, when was the last time someone asked you your GPA in high school or college (and I don't mean those who are applying to schools) No one cares that I got B's in high school. I tried my best and had a great time in high school/college. I have a lot of fond memories that can never be taken away. You cannot get those days back. My mom never once made me feel bad for bring home a B. If I needed extra help in a subject she made sure I got it but never ever made me feel bad for not getting straight A's. Thank you mom for that..means more then you ever realized!!

I simply write this b/c it doesn't matter if your child walks before mine, or if yours talks before mine, or if yours can hit a home run before mine. I will be excited for such accomplishments no matter who does it when. I LOVE the support I have all around me. I don't even have all my close friends in the same state as me but they are a quick, call, email or FB chat away. I love that I don't get judged but rather given great advice when I'm not sure what to do. Parenting is hard enough without others making it harder. No child is perfect..some people might think theirs are but the reality is, there is no such thing! I hope if you are a parent reading this that you have a great support around you and if not I'd love to get to know you more. Life is so short, enjoy the moments you have with your children and know there is someone out there if you need to talk :-)

Love and prayers to you all,
Darea ...One Blessed Mommy!

Two gifts in my life...

I have always loved the saying "We might not have it all together but together we have it all." This couldn't be more true about my sisters and I. The three of us are so different but yet are as close as can be. I will always remember riding on the bus to camp every summer together for over 8 years, enjoying our Saturday morning bagel time, swimming in our pool until it was dark outside..(as we got older, Joy kicking us out so she could hang with friends, lol), Jodi singing under my door when she knew she hurt my feelings..could never stay upset after that, and of course getting ourselves through some of the hard times we faced together as well. In life there are always highs and lows. However, it was in those hard times that the three of us grew the most and then became the closest.
As we grew up my mom always said to us "If you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything, or it's not what you say but how you say it." That certainly came out a lot through our teenage years ;-) Despite how we were towards each other you knew that if someone else spoke badly about another we had each others back. You can say whatever you want about me but when you say something about one of them expect me not to keep my mouth quiet. I get so tired of people feeling it is their duty to judge other people, or think they know what they are talking about when they speak about anther persons, life, relationships, finances, parenting styles, jobs, vacation destinations, what one chooses to eat. I'm so not kidding either. Do people just have nothing else better going on in their own lives? I have come to the conclusion that if people want to talk about others in such ways it is because they are jealous or that they have issues of their own they are not secure with. So now my sisters and I just pray for those that "talk behind our backs." Its funny how they talk behind our backs but yet somehow we still know they are..not very good about keeping it behind our backs ;-) You can look us up and down and put whatever judgements you want on us..we know who we are and we know that we only answer to God!! If you are friends with any of us you know we are real, honest and what you see is what you get. There is no show here.
God definitely made us sisters but love made us friends. I love the two of them more then words can express. I know we have been through some tough times and even when we didn't realize it God had a plan all along. People often tell us, "For children who have come from divorced parents, you and your sisters really have adjusted well." I personally never accepted that stereotype that if your parents are divorced or you come from a "broken home", which don't get me started on that phrase, that we would end up with problems. Sure we each have our own insecurities or downfalls but guess what, who doesn't? We are all responsible for our own actions regardless of where we have come from. Divorced parents or not I think my sisters and I should be proud of who we are. More importantly we should be proud of our mom for raising us the way she did. None of us are perfect and we never pretend to be. In fact if you spend any amount of time with all of us you will definitely find us picking on or making fun of each other for those things..all in love of course. I know my sisters have my back and I hope they know I will ALWAYS have theirs.
God made no mistakes by putting the three of us in the family we are in. I wouldn't trade anything we have gone through to be in another family. We are all stronger, wiser and have more of an appreciation for each other b/c of what we have been through. God has been so good to us. I thank him every day for putting me in the middle of my very smart organized older sister and my very free spirited, sarcastic younger sister. I'd like to think I'm the balance of the two ;-) Love you both!!

Project Experience....Reflection time.

"Project Experience, a guided walk-through exhibit showing the many issues our missionaries encounter on the field, as well as the ministries we support both globally and locally. It will provide a hands-on connection to our local and world-wide partnerships."

I have heard about Project Experience from some of our staff, volunteers and teens b/c it was set up at a Life conference last Summer for our Youth. I never imagined it was going to be what it was. As I started I was handed a passport, fake of course but the start of my journey through Project Experience. I remember so clearly the first area we came to. A bunch of 40lb water jugs set up on one end of the floor..as I looked around I saw pictures of little kids, I'm talking under 8 years old pulling, carrying, doing whatever they could to bring clean water back to their families. I was told by our tour guide to try lifting and walking with one. They were heavy and honestly I could not even imagine walking a 100 ft with it let alone miles. I could not fathom Joshua (my 5 year old) having to walk miles and miles to bring me back clean water. Forget going to school b/c such a task would take these kids all day. This is why 1 in 6 people do not have clean water. When I saw the glasses of water lined up with the 1 not clean my heart sank..then I looked over and saw the 1 of 6 baby bottles filled with dirty water and tears started to fill in my eyes. I never had to worry about not being able to give my kids food let alone clean water to drink. This is a daily struggle for people in Africa.

Then I moved on to the next room which had an 8x8 square on the ground with sand at the bottom. This was to show us the size of the houses people lived in. I was not prepared for the tears that came with this one. These people's houses are the size of my bed..MY BED! I just stood there thinking..how do they walk? where to they sleep,? how do 6 or more live in there? We have so much here and I find myself saying things on a daily basis that now make my stomach sick. We are so blessed..not only do we have our needs we even have our wants.

My next stop was a table filled with food that we in America typically eat in a given week..and you know that some of that even ends up in the trash. As I looked at the table and saw all the food we consume and then looked over to the little (and i mean little) bowl of rice these people get for one week. That deeply saddened me. We throw around the phrase, "I'm starving, or I'm famished." We do not even have a clue as to what that really means. Our stomachs begin to growl and we get up and get some food. They do not have that option. "It would only cost 195 billion dollars to end world hunger. 30 billion was spent on ice cream last year." Crazy and gives you a little more perspective. Of course it goes beyond one person giving up on that but the numbers don't lie and it has to start with us to help. 1 child dies every 5 SECONDS from starvation!! Just think of how many kids have died in just the time it has taken you to read to this point.

"11,000,000 die every year of preventable diseases. That = Haiti x 40" I saw a cot with all medical supplies to show me that although people think starvation is number one cause of death in Africa it not. It is in fact diarrhea. Something that here in the U.S. can be easily treated and you move on with your day. Something they are not able to do. Another thing we take for granted.

I would have to say that the next stop for me broke my heart more then words can express but I will try. This would be what goes in in Tailand..Our tour guide asked us (pretending we were parents) if she would promise we would never go hungry again, or that our kids would never have to work so hard would we be willing to give them over to them to help in their restaurants and such. They could work serving, cleaning floors, dishes ect..Of course they would say yes, after all parents only want the best for their kids..well then I walked through to what was really the truth behind that promise. Human trafficking!! They say they will be working at restaurants when in reality these young kids..not even teens, kids as young as 6 are being tricked and forced into sex trade industry. This broke my heart and disgusted me at the same time. I cannot even imagine the fear these little kids must feel. I looked over and saw this little cot with a little girls red shoes on the floor to give me an idea of the set up that goes on. I just kept thinking..its so not fair. My son is going to be 6 in June, thoughts of him having to go through this makes my stomach turn and my eyes fill with water. Or my little girl who would one day maybe follow...all too much for my mind and heart to comprehend. I can cry and feel for these people but I really have no idea what in fact they actually go through. Can you imagine the fear they must feel??

I then came into a room that looked like a typical bedroom here...had a bed, a desk with a computer set up ect. It was in this room that our tour guide gave me a fact I will never forget. Americans' addiction to pornography feeds the sex trade industry. I was appalled to find out the pornography industry was a 12 billion dollar a year industry. That is more money then the MLB, NHL,NFL bring in combined..salaries, ticket sales, everything that is made or paid out. Doesn't that just blow your mind?? Again with putting things in perspective. It is crazy. Our tour guide also pointed out that there are stores and companies here in the U.S. that support pornography and that when we purchase from them we support it. I am currently trying to gather a list of those stores and places and will post it when I have it done. I definitely do not want to shop anywhere that supports this in any way shape or form. I know this is an addiction but like any addiction I do not want to be someone feeding into it or helping others get to it.

After this we walked into a room with a big wooden cross laying on the floor with papers nailed into it..people who had previously taken the tour had left things they had burden for or issues with at the cross. I didn't want this journey to end b/c I was learning so much and my perspective on life has taken a different turn. After I wrote down on the paper what I wanted to leave with Jesus, because after all, He died for me and my sins, I prayed, nailed the paper to the cross and got up. As I looked forward (not back at that cross) I came to this spot where there were facts and pictures of everything we had previously seen or were taught about. We were given a few minutes to pray about all of it. I did not even have to move a lot, I had specific visuals of all I had just seen and the facts that were right in front of me. I knew that action needed to be taken and prayer was definitely the start to what I could do next.

Before entering our last area we saw a video of how Christian Missionary Alliance churches have been helping in providing support for the water wells in Africa. Not only was I able to see that I also saw visuals of other ways our church and other supporting churches have helped missionaries all over the world. The CMA also supports the ministry that teaches women to make scarves so that they can bring in some income to their home. They are also involved in the building of a trade school in Senegal to train the homeless boys and young men a trade. Through all this they teach them about Christ. Hope is given not only for their physical needs but for their spiritual needs as well. I was also able to see a model of one of the (many) homes our church has been involved in building in Ensenada, Mexico. Our church goes on at least one missions trip a year to this area of Mexico. My heart was tugged on with this. I came home that night and said to my husband..we need to pray but I really feel like Summer 2012 is our time to go on that weekly missions trip. This is definitely an action we can take in the direction of "doing something more."

Lastly, our tour ended in a room that had paper lined up on tables that we could write down anything we wanted, reflection, prayer, thoughts ect. I remember grabbing a red marker, looking down, writing "Please God, never let me forget the things I have heard and seen today. Keep my heart broken, show me ways that I can help and serve you more." You see all along my heart was sad and broken for the things these people did not have. One of the biggest things they do not have is hope. Now this is a NEED..they need to know their is hope that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus and giving them hope is showing them they will have eternity away from the pain they are facing here on earth.

Again, I do not think my writing can even give justice to this whole experience but hopefully for those who could not go it gave you a glimpse. Its not about what you wear, or the size house you have, the food you eat, the music you listen to, its about knowing Jesus Christ. I'm thankful that over 10 years ago I had an Aunt share with me that the heartache in life is not all there is.

With a heart forever changed,
Darea

Giveaway: Zumba Fitness for Wii

Who wouldn't want to win Zumba Fitness for Wii..what an awesome giveaway!!! Click on link below :-)


Giveaway: Zumba Fitness for Wii

He said it best...Jeremy Camp - There Will Be A Day - Video Devotional

As I sat here thinking of the many things I wanted to write about I began to go through some songs and this video said it best so I decided to share it. I hope if you are going through a hard time or searching for the light at the end of the tunnel you find comfort in God's word which Jeremy Camp reads. We live in a very tough world and I am thankful I know I will spend eternity in Heaven, a place that is not filled with all the sadness, heartache and uncertainty that we face here on earth. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." As always..please let me know if I can pray for you or if you have any questions!
In Christ's Love,
Darea

Loving one another....

It always amazes me how much kids really do hear what we are saying. My daughter threw a bowl at my son the other day and before I could approach to tell her what she did was wrong I overheard my son saying "Gianna I love you, but I do not like your behavior." Part of me wanted to bust out laughing because I was shocked he said it and the other part of me wanted to cry because he actually knew what he was saying. All those times he has done something wrong and I expressed how much I loved him but that I did not like what he did he was able to articulate in the situation with his sister. Isn't that how God looks at us..He loves us no matter what but sometimes isn't so happy with the way we act. We are so quick to look down on people, judge them or just simply not open our arms to them. Sometimes people just need to be loved. I learned this summer that "hurt people, hurt people." Every time someone hurts me or I hear of someone else being hurt I try to remember that the person doing the hurt has other stuff going on in their life (or in their past) causing them to be the way they are. My anger or frustration quickly turns to feeling bad for the person.
I'm guilty of doing my share of hurting others as well..not intentionally but it has happened. Looking back as to why I said what I did or what was behind it, I've realized my anger came out to someone that was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. They got the brunt of my emotions when they were never even part of the real issues behind it. In 1 John 4:11 it simply says " Dear friend, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." There is no reason to make others feel bad..especially when its in effort to just make ourselves feel better. One thing that bothers me the most is how much people talk behind others backs. If you have something to say I'd prefer you say it to my face. I'm not speaking about a specific situation I'm just saying in general and I'm sure most if not all people would feel the same way. Life is not always easy and until you are in a persons shoes you have no right or reason to say a word about what another person is going through or the life they are leading.
God did not put us on earth to hurt each other..just seems to be what happens. We all just need to make more of a conscious effort to love those around us even when they hurt us. I know this is not an easy task but it is the right thing and will make you feel better in the end. I have found that when someone hurts me if I turn around and pray for the person God helps my heart to heal from what they said or did. We are not here to please everyone else but rather to make sure we are doing what God has called us to do.... Simply love one another <3

Chili Recipe

With all this snow and Super Bowl approaching I wanted to share with you a Chili recipe!!

This makes 4 servings so if you have more mouths to feed just double or triple the recipe (which I always do) Great for leftovers :-)

1 pd. 90% lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup of salsa
1 can of Hormel Chili (or container of fresh made chili from grocery store)
1 tablespoon of chili powder
I also add in some hot sauce..no exact amount just to add a kick (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste
shredded cheese (for topping, optional)
1/4 cup of diced onions (topping, optional)
sliced black olives (topping, optional)
Sour cream (topping optional, put as much as individual desires)

Cook and stir beef and onion in large skillet at medium-high heat until beef is browned and onion is tender. Drain and discard fat.

Place beef mixture, tomatoes with juice, beans, salsa chili powder and hot sauce into a big pot (you could also do this in a crock pot) Keep on low heat on stove top for one hour. If in a crock pot keep on low for 5 hours. In the last half hour on stove top add in the can of chili or chili from the store..stir in and put lid back on for another half hour.
* I have made this on stove and in crock pot and prefer the stove top cooking better (as do those who eat mine)
Once finished you can serve with shredded cheese, onions, sour cream, olives or anything else you desire. Also..don't forget the bag of tortilla chips or scoops for dipping ;-) Another great side if you do not want chips is Corn bread!!
Stay warm and enjoy!!! Oh and Go JETS! (Normally a Giants fan but they are next best ;-)

"Seasons"

It's funny how a "snow day" means something different to everyone. For parents it means coming up with fun activities to do inside and/or bundling the kids up to play outside. A little out of the ordinary of "normal routine" but fun none the less. For kids it means a break from school work and a day to have fun! For teachers it means an unexpected break. I can see the appeal ;-) We are on our second snow day of the season but 4th snowfall all together. It has ranged from over 12 inches, to as little as a couple inches with an added layer of freezing rain. That is the case today..very dangerous out there.
While the kids and I are all cozy inside I think about all those people that got up and either went to plow or headed to their every day jobs that were not off. I give them all so much credit and have prayed for safety when driving. Last year at this time my husband was unemployed..tough times but I remember loving snow days because he was able to be home with us. He is always the one to bundle up and play outside with the kids for hours. They would make the biggest snowman! I of course had half my body inside the door while poking my head out to take pictures, haha. Had to have memories of the occasion. This year I am thankful he has a job but have found myself thinking "I wish Andy was home today" because in reality I do but last year all I remembered saying was "I wish Andy could get a job." Of course he was doing all he could last year to find one but you know..its the wife's job to worry ;-) Although last winter season and this winter are different, I'm thankful for what has been and become. I'm grateful to have had that extra time as a family last year and this year blessed that Andy has such a great job with an amazing boss. As times and seasons change in our lives it is important to take time to look back, reflect and see just how far you have come. If you are reading this and on the other side of the job situation, meaning right now you are without one, let me encourage you to stay positive. It is very hard, I know, but God has a purpose and plan. If you work hard at looking for something and apply everywhere, something will come in His perfect time. It is in the toughest times that we draw close to Him and have to rely heavily on Him for strength. We do not know why we go through certain "seasons" of life but looking back and reflecting I know last year there was a purpose for what we went through.
So whether you are home under a blanket, playing games with your kids on the floor, or off at work today enjoy whatever it is you are doing b/c we never know what tomorrow will bring. Lastly, I just want to add, If you need prayer for anything at all please let me know! That is one of the reasons I'm here :-)
Blessings,
Darea

New to this Scene

Hi Everyone!
I'm finally up and running. I am looking forward to giving you a glimpse into my crazy but awesome life that God has blessed me with. I will be posting encouraging thoughts, reality checks, recipes, fun ways to work out without feeling like you "have to"..coupons/sales and encouragement to walk away when you do not NEED something ;-) A challenge I still am learning to deal with, haha! Oh and of course freebies too!
This will be a blog that includes a little bit of everything. I love the Lord more than anyone or anything which is hard to comprehend when I have a husband, children and amazing family. If you stick with me I will be able to share with you just how much walking with God, holding His hand and having that personal relationship with Him has gotten me through the toughest times in my life so far. Both the good and hard times have made me the person I am today. Can't get stronger without being pushed and challenged...so here we go :-)
Lots of Love,
Darea