120/365 Happiness is...

You can't get happier than a puppy hanging it's head out the window to feel the breeze.  I'm just happy to have a nice day after all these rainy icky days.  April Showers bring May flowers.  Tomorrow is May so I'm hoping we finally get nice weather.  I think Gabrielle and Dallas are getting stir crazy.  I know I am. 

119/365 date night

Not a plug for Netflix!  I know I have blogged about this before but I can't stress enough that date nights for married people is important.  We are lucky to never need a sitter because Gabrielle goes to her dad's every other weekend.  I miss her the whole time she's gone, but I get to reconnect with my husband.  Our dates can be as simple as a lunch date or movie night.  We just need that time where we just turn off the Iphones and all computers.  We just relax with each other.  We have rules we can only talk about us, no medical crap, no court junk, no bills, nothing that's stressful.  We talk about hopes and dreams for each other and gabrielle.  It's an amazing time.  I know that I'm not an expert on marriage (with only 3 1/2 years under my belt) but I still know that date night strengths our marriage.  I suggest it to all married couples. 

118/365 MOM2MOM what a blessing

This was our craft at our end of the year program.  You can switch out the Bible verses.  This one speaks to me right now.  But I love the option of changing it from time to time.  Mom2Mom has been such a blessing.  I have learned so many tips on being a better mom and wife.  I have made new friends.  I just really love it.  I'm so glad that I joined.  The speaker yesterday had this wonderful idea about the summer.  She said pull out a calendar and each day put a lesson you want to teach your child about God.  It's never to early to teach about the Bible.  I think this is wonderful.  Gabrielle and I will be doing this. 

115/365 Oh the Places You'll Go!

I love this book.  It's such a positive uplifting book.  After a rough day at yet another doctor's appointment, I was pleasantly surprised when Gabrielle chose this as one of her night time stories.  It is real and talk about the rough patches in life and how they stink.  But it gives hope.  It knows the rough patches won't last.  My favorite part (hit home tonight) was the waiting game.  This last year I have done so much waiting that I could just scream!  But I refuse to give up.  The waiting will be over.  The doctors will find the answers or at least away to make me more comfortable, either way it will get better. 

113/365 Arran Ragon

We were walking into our church for prayer time.  In a small tree, Mike notice a yellow balloon with a note.  He thought it might be one of those balloons that schools send out and try to get people from other towns to contact them.  I pulled down the balloon with Mike's help.  It was a balloon remembering Arran Ragon who died on March 1,2007.  My best guess is they sent off the balloons on the anniversary of his death March 1st.  The balloon traveled all the way from Perry, MO, which I'm not sure exactly how far but that's still far to make it that long and over that time frame.  To find the balloon on our way into our church to pray was surely God's doing.  We prayed for his family.  His mom left her address and e-mail address. I sent her an e-mail letting her know how we found the balloon and that his family/friends are in our prayers.  I looked him up on-line.  He died in a car accident at the age of 21.  I have lost a ridiculous amount of friends in car accidents and way too early in life.  So it really hit home.  So please pray for Arran's family.
Update: His mom released the balloon on the 21st of April.  So it didn't take long to get us.  She released it a bereaved parents meeting.  Keep her and the entire family in your prayers.  

112/365 doesn't this say it all?

 

 Our church has been having 24/7 hour of prayer the week leading up to Easter.  The church is open and you come in to pray anytime.  There are different stations to pray for the different ministries like small groups or community outreach or global outreach.  By the cross in the main church, you can write down your personal prayers.  Then others can pray for you.  While Gabrielle and I were reading people's prayers, she asked to write her own.  This was her prayer. Brought tears to my eyes.  She gets it.  My prayer is that those needing to "get it" will soon.  I pray that I shine God's love always to lead others to Him. 

111/365 Christian parents must check this out

I was volunteering at church this even.  I help with the child care during the care groups.  I saw this and had to share.

The picture didn't turn out the best but these glass containers are filled with glass beads representing time. The paper in between the containers says: Towers of Hours
The large tower (on the left): 5,110 hours a year that parents are responsible for the child's spiritual development.
The small tower: 78 hours a year that Eastview (my church) is responsible for the child's spiritual development.
This really made me think.  Too often parents rely on the church to spiritual develop their children.  You have to do it at home.  Just like school learning needs to continue at home for the child to really get it.  We as parents need to continue the spiritual learning at home.  Look at those towers.  I take it very serious.  I hope you do too.