With a new year

 Every year, we set "resolutions" and we fail to meet them. Now, please don't take that as me being judgemental, I'm not. I'm simply stating what tends to happen. We are all excited about the new year and set all these unrealistic goals. We might be good for a few weeks, but as the year goes on, we stop doing our new habits and then we get right back in the slump of the previous year saying "I'll start on Monday" or "I'll start on such and such date" but that time never comes. 

This year, instead of setting myself up for failure, I have decided to take a different approach. I'm trying out the idea of a bullet journal. You see, I have always kept lists and lists of things and then I lose my lists. What my hope is is that I will be able to have all of my lists in one location and by keeping the journal in my purse so that wherever I go, it is with me to jot down whatever I need to jot down. Will it work, I don't know. But what I do know is that if I fail to try, I will fail anyway. 

I found the idea of the bullet journal a few years ago and have tried various types of planners, but they all failed for one reason or another. My friend, Teri, sent me one along with everything I needed to get started as a reward for a giveaway she had going on. It was the perfect excuse for spending intentional time working on getting organized going into the new year. I don't know that I'm doing it right and the next one will likely have a little different look, but the important thing is that I'm making an effort to get us on track going into 2022. 

Speaking of getting on track for the new year, here are our dinners for the next few days: 

• Tortellini Soup
• Pepperoni Pizza casserole
• Chicken pot pie bubble up bake
• Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
• Flat out pizzas
• Instant pot beef stroganoff
• Philly cheesesteak stuffed peppers

One of my goals is to transition us to more gluten free meals so while there are glutens in most of our meals, I am really limiting us to fewer glutens and introducing 1 meal a week that is gluten free. Then in February, we will be at 2 meals per week gluten free, and so on. By the time next year, I hope to have my family completely gluten free. It will be a huge step toward our health, and I can't thank my sister-in-love (Amanda) and her daughters for being the inspiration behind this step. 

If you'd like any of the recipes listed above, stay tuned. I'll post one every day this week for you! If you need the recipe quicker than that, please comment on this post and I will reach out to you to get you what you need. 

Many wishes for a blessed new year! 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

As we prepare to spend time with our families, let us all pause a moment to think about the ultimate gift God gave us: his son. We wish you all the Merriest of Christmases and Happiest of New Years. Keep reading if you'd like a glimpse into our day today and tomorrow: 

• baking cookies with the girls
• wrapping gifts after they go to bed
• playing santa 
• attending Candle light Christmas Service
• Making a new casserole
• Making overnight sticky cinnamon rolls for tomorrow morning. 

Our Christmas morning looks like this: 

• mom wakes up and makes sure everything is just right
• mom makes a cup of coffee. 
• kids wake up and yell from there room to make sure dad is awake before coming out. 
• they find what Santa left them and we do stockings. 
• it's break time and we bake our breakfast and eat. 
• then it's all the wrapped gifts and playing with all our new and fun things! 

We have a very casual day planned, but it's how we've done it for years and yes, cinnamon rolls is a must for us. We do that every. single. year. 

Much love and many blessings to you and yours! 

Christmas is a coming

 As I sit here, we are just 2 more sleeps away from Christmas eve. As I sit here, I am pondering all that has transpired over the last year. Some of it is great and some of it really sucked. As I ponder, I think about how thankful I am for the things that happened. Then realization hits me that the sucky parts are outnumbered by the really great parts and I remember that without Jesus coming to save me, none of this would have been possible. We've been through working from home because of COVID, schooling at home, challenges with cars, car accidents that total our only car, graduations, learning new things, spending time with our loved ones, seeing Grandma, and the list goes on. With all of those things come many feelings, some sad, some angry, some thankful, and some super proud. What remains steady is that love is what got us through them all. 

As we look to the new year, we do not know where life will take us, but we know that Jesus Christ will be our cornerstone as we walk the path. We know that despite appropriate measures, the woman who hit Ryan is trying to sue us for all we are worth, but Jesus. We know that we will be okay. We are thankful that everyone is perfectly fine from the accident and that cars are repairable or replaced. We are thankful that we were blessed and could get a replacement super quick and a second car not long after. We are thankful that our children were raised to take care of one another in emergencies and to seek help when they need it. 

See as we go into the new year, our prayer for you is that you are able to see the good and be thankful IN the moment. 

Ups and downs

 My closest friends and family know what a struggle it's been for me to loose and keep weight off. Over the years, the one thing that remains constant is knowing that I MUST get the weight off. Not because I am being vain, but because my health and future depends upon it. I come from a family with a deep history of cancers and diabetes. I have taken the stance of fighting with all I've got to prevent that from hitting me. In the last year, I have: 

• established regular care with a primary provider
• gone to see an allergist
• gone to see a gastroenterologist
• had labs done

With all of that, what we found was: 

1. I have a fatty liver
2. I am prediabetic
3. I have irritable bowel syndrome type D
4. I have a lower than desired Vitamin D level

So, the decision had to be made for what to do about my diagnoses. You see, I went to see the GI doctor because of the IBS and my pre-existing gastroesophageal reflux disease. What he asked was that I try the FODMAP diet to identify my triggers and to try to limit those triggers. I went to the allergist at the request of my primary to determine if the IBS symptoms were being caused by any food sensitivities. They were not. While at the GI, they pulled a celiac panel on me to make sure I didn't suffer from celiac disease. Additionally, the GI doctor wanted a liver ultrasound because my liver enzymes came back a bit higher than they'd like to have seen. 

In the time since then, I've done about 6 weeks on FODMAP and found that onions are particularly bothersome for me. I try to eliminate them as much as possible. I have dropped about 15 pounds this year as a result of some of my other steps to getting healthier. 

Fatty liver - 

To work on this, I am working to lose weight and to decrease the amount of fat in my diet. This means that I need to consume healthy fats like avocado and limit processed fats like mayonnaise and vegetable oil. Additionally, I am increasing my fresh green foods like salads and decreasing the fried foods by opting to bake them or put them in the air fryer so they are fried but without any oil. 

Prediabetes - 

This was the hardest pill to swallow for me. I knew it was possible that I was getting to the point of needing treatment. I was diagnosed as gestational diabetic when I was pregnant with Maddie. Although they didn't do the 4 hour screen after the 1 hour came back high, there was still a risk I would develop the disease later in life. While I was one tenth of a point away from Diabetes type 2, I decided I would work my rear off to trend in the other direction. I came off of sugar (for the most part) and really started working to clean up my diet. In doing this, I lost 4 tenths of a point. This was just the inspiration I needed to keep going. 

IBS-D - 

As noted above, for this one I am really working to track my foods and identify when I have an issue. Then I can look at what I ate and not repeat that activity. This has worked very well and it is super rare that I need to take my "tummy" pill. I am on a pill that slows digestion down as needed. At first, I was needing to take it every 4 hours. Now I might need 1 or 2 a week depending on what I have chosen to eat. 

Vitamin D - 

For this, the treatment is a little more simple: take a supplement and spend at least 10 minutes a day out in the sun. While the latter has been a bit harder because I do not enjoy being out in the dead heat of the summer, I am hopeful that I can train myself to get out there more. I am hoping that soon I can go out and start hiking every weekend. We shall see how that goes. 

I tell you all of this to say that despite odds stacked against us, WE can do it. If you need someone in your corner that is fighting the good fight, I will be that person.  

The importance of connections

 Many times, we don't take the opportunity in life to think about connections. Much like the way legos connect to erect the building or vehicle you are trying to create, without connecting pieces, our lives would fall apart. It's not often that we take time to reflect on those connections in meaningful ways. If I am honest, when we moved from Indiana back to Florida, we didn't appreciate the connections we had and so as I look back I wonder what life would have been like if we'd not only appreciated those connections, but supported them in meaningful ways. 

Since moving to Greenville, not only have we made connections, but we've made it a part of life to connect with those people we've met that have become more like family than friends. We took the time to find a church that really believes in connecting with their people and not in a way that makes the patrons of the church feel like they are just a player in the game of chess and that player's job is to be used and abused to the point of walking away from the church. 

Just a couple nights ago, Maddie came with me for Sisterhood. It's an event that the women in our church put on to love on each other and those who want to go with them. While there wasn't Nothing Bundt Cakes this time, we'd made some connections and so she was blessed to be loved on by Pastor Brittani, Crimson, Makailey and so many more women. The picture you see below is one of my favorites. Not because Maddie is in it, but because of the memories I have of when it went down. You see, there was a "selfie" station set up with a wonderful ring light. Maddie leaned over to me at our table as we were having snacks and listening to Christmas music and: 

Maddie: Hey Mom, do you think I could get a picture over there (and points to the selfie station). 

Me: Sure! And I bet if you ask the lady in the ivory sweater, she would even take it for you. Her name is Makailey. 

Maddie: (grabs my phone) MAKAILEY!!!!! (and runs off to ask for a photo). 

When she returned to the table, she not only had her picture, but 3 of them and a huge smile on her face. The one act of loving kindness because of a connection I'd made during my Wednesday night small group was all it took. When we got home from dinner after going to the event, I messaged Makailey to thank her for the picture and to say that it had made Maddie's night and received a kind response that only a servant of our Lord and Savior could give. 

As the night went on, we sang carols (and forgot some words with Pastor Will) and heard the Christmas Story, and even got to surprise Makailey as the woman we recognized (yes, she even filmed her own honoring moment and didn't know it). We shopped a little afterward and then headed out to get dinner with Ryan and Mackenzie. 

The moral of this little story is that because we have connected with people here, we feel loved on. We feel included. We feel home. Pastor Brittani and Pastor Josh have been amazing in opening their arms to welcome a couple of people and their teenage children into their little family. You see, there's a HUGE sign hanging on the outside of the church that says "You belong here" and I feel like that sign was MEANT FOR US. We were struggling to find where we belong and now that we have connected, I feel like we aren't crumbling like we were when we lived in Ocala. Since connecting at GFC, we have: 

• joined small groups
• gotten involved in the youth group
• participated in reach day 
• knocked down walls
• helped to reach the homeless
• made friends
• welcomed new babies (Crimson and another lady in my small group)
• laughed with Pastor Will when we forgot the words to Mary Did You Know
• learned many new and fresh praise and worship songs
• been introduced to MANY new people
• attended youth conference

My most favorite theme in all of this is that we have connected and these connections are leaving impressions on our hearts and lives. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for the coming year. We already know that the girls have a retreat in February to go to. Looking forward to not only being loved on, but loving on others as well. 

Girls giving back

 "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." Galations 5:13

As we continue on the path to the holidays, we are finding more and more ways to give back to our community. Giving can be simple, as you saw in my last post.  Today I bring you the next installment of Grils giving back. 

Last night, Maddie and Mack had the opportunity to further their footprint on humanity. They took a case of water and 40 packs of cheese/peanutbutter crackers to youth group and proceeded to fill two LONG tables full of bags they had helped stuff for the homeless in our area. While what they did won't last for long, it will help those in need even if for just a moment. 

Furthermore, Mack is signed up to go volunteer with Operation Christmas Child in Charlotte again this year. She will be helping to fill boxes for children in need. 

We are fostering a heart for serving our community and pray that our little steps toward humbly giving back will help someone see that it's our attitude of giving and loving on others that will change the world one moment and one person at a time. 

Reach Day

 Everyday, we are faced with decisions. We must decide to get up each morning. We must decide what we will eat and what we will wear. In all of our mundane daily decisions, we often times enter a mindset of what do I need, where will I go, what do I want to do, etc. How often do we intentionally decide to do something to help someone else? If we take stock, I think we would each be surprised by our decisions on a regular basis. So if we were to think about it, would it surprise you that helping someone can be super simple: 

• buy someone a coffee
• let someone else go in front of you at the grocery store
• make dinner for a lonely neighbor
• offer to sit with a grieving person

While those are just a few ways you can help other people, it's meant to just get you thinking. You can help in big or small ways. Many people feel like helping is their mission in life. As you might imagine, we automatically morph to missions as being abroad. Did you know, though, that missions starts at home. We have to serve our families and our cities before we can serve countries abroad. Yes, some people are called to be missionaries in other countries, but what about those of us who aren't going into the villages in third world countries and building churches? What can we do to fulfill our missions? Well, we can: 

1. Get involved in our local churches
2. Bring a friend to church with us
3. Serve our neighborhoods in whatever way they need it

Beyond that though, we can adopt a mindset of "Our city, Our Mission" as my family has done with our local church. Below you will see a few photos from our day out with our church. As a church, we chose to leave the building and go BE THE CHURCH in an area of our city that really needed to be loved on. We went to Poe Mill and blessed six different locations within that small area of the city. Some were washing cars for a recreation center, others were helping to build up a children's program, while still others were out cleaning out buildings and knocking down walls (legitimately). 

Our day began by meeting at our church for a quick debrief, praise, and prayer. We picked up our t-shirts and off we went to bless the people of Poe Mill. My family went to Griggs Church and were told about how their need came to be. The small church had acquired 2 buildings and the former owner left them quite a mess. Our job was to save 2 baby items for the church to use and get rid of the rest. We had both buildings cleaned out within a couple hours and then it was time to knock down some walls. One of the buildings needed to be gutted as the contractor would be coming in and renovating. This saved the church some demo costs as well as allowed us to bless them more. 

We cleaned out the building behind us and the one you can't see on this shot. We were exhausted, but felt super humbled to have had the opportunity to go out into our community and do the work that this small church wasn't able to do. As we left the site, a couple was getting in their car from having attended church while we were working and took a moment to thank us for coming out of the way to help their church out. They were more than thankful for our group of about 20 or so on site doing what their little church family hadn't been able to do. 

When we made it home, we were full of dirt and grime, but we were also full of thanks for the opportunity the Lord gave us in blessing others. You see, one of the lessons we learned was simple: By blessing others, the Lord was blessing us. We were serving others, but we were literally being the hands and feet of Jesus - which is exactly what we are called to do in this life. We may not know it right now, but  there comes a time in our lives when we realize just how much the simple kind act will impact the lives of others.

After the buildings were all cleaned out, it was time to get to work on the walls. Not only were the teenagers (and younger children) happy to be able to tear something down, but they did a great job! Each of them took the hammer and knocked down at least one wall. I don't think they realized while they were doing it just how much they were learning about physical work and how much their work was blessing other children and adults. What they were doing is taking an old run down house and breathing new life into it. They were the beginning of a wonderful transformation from the old into a new usable building for the purpose of sharing the love of Christ with the people in Poe Mill. Furthermore, they were learning life skills that they will be able to use throughout their lives. To the left, we have Mackenzie learning to pry the drywall away from the slats enough to get her hand in side and then pull the drywall away. She was amazing! 

To the left here, we have Madison working with Ava to remove the walls around the closets. Soon after this shot the "big kids" aka the men came in and had this room completely gutted in a matter of minutes. Madison learned how to swing a hammer and to do it safely. She said the best part of the day was helping others to bless this church. 

Finally, on the left, we have the big kid working on one of the interior walls. This was when they discovered that this house was put together using the old slats and plaster method. While it presented a challenge, we came equipped with the tools and manpower to get the job done. 

After we were done, we looked at what we had done and we were all overcome with emotion. We came in and cleaned the place up and then made a mess of it again, but that mess came as part of the reason we were there. We spoke with the contractor who asked that if we could gut the building, his team would clean up the mess as we didn't have room in the dumpster to put anything else after having cleaned the 2 buildings up prior to demo. 

One of the most amazing parts of the day was that our little Mackenzie (not so little anymore) had been going to a church about 30 minutes away with a friend of hers. She wasn't super thrilled to be getting up and going with us yesterday, but that changed really quickly when Starbucks gave someone the wrong coffee and they blessed her with it. She then realized how other churches can be just as blessing as the one she's been going to. In the car on the way to the site, she asked if she could start getting connected with the Youth at GFC and going to different things at our church. You see, we had been allowing her to choose which church she went to. The Holy Spirit spoke to her during our short praise and prayer. That is all it could be. She's now looking forward to going to Wednesday night youth with her sister and becomming a connected part of the church. 

Mountains were moved as we were moving things out of those buildings and even before we got to the site and I could not be more pleased with how we all came away feeling blessed for having the opportunity to bless others. 

The posture of Thanksgiving

Have we ever really thought about what it means to give thanks? Why do we do it? How do we do it? When should we do it? If you're like me, I think about giving thanks after something has been given or on one day a year when we sit around the table and say one thing we are thankful for. However, that's not what we are called to do. We are called to give thanks to the Lord while we are IN it. I am on day 5 of a bible study with the Sisterhood group and it's focus is 21 days of giving thanks. Today I'm chosing to write about day 3. Day 3 talks about the posture we should have when we are giving thanks to the Lord. As you listen to this song, think through what you have that you can be thankful for. Not as a response, but as in this moment something the Lord is doing in your life that you can thank Him for through it. 

 Now, we are going to do an activity that I've recently learned. While at Sisterhood this week, I was taught how to SOAP the bible. Now, for those of you in medical, this is going to be a little tougher than you might think because SOAP is an acronym used in documentation of medical notes too. Lets try and not get caught up in what we know by being open to a new process. 

As we do this, we will concentrate on the following scriptures. Just pick one and follow the steps above. I'll do one as well so you can see my way. 

Verses: 

• 2 Chronicles 6:13-14
• Psalm 100: 1-5
• Lamentations 3:22-23
• 1 Timothy 4:4-5
• Philippians 2: 1-11

Scripture: For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4

Observation: For me what stood out is "For everything created by God is good." If I think on this for a moment, I am reminded that everything I am is good. Everything I have is good. Everything touched by the Lord is a good thing if we receive it with thankfulness in our hearts. 

Application: I can apply this passage by applying a mindset of thanksgiving in my life. Rather than grumbling when something doesn't go the way I want it to, thanking the Lord for waht is going on in my life will get me to where Jesus wants me to be. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be more thankful in my everyday life. 

I hope you have enjoyed this little exercise and I hope you will do this with me on a regular basis. 

Quick trip

 Occasionally, we need a quick trip to disconnect and really get back to a status quo. It had been almost a year since our last trip to the beach. We needed a trip more than you would imagine. So far, this year has dealt us many blows, and I will not dwell on them. As you know, I believe that dwelling on the negative and things in the past doesn't do us any good. What does help is thinking through the positive and uplifting moments in life. The image to the left exemplifies exactly that - positive and uplifting. 

We got to the beach and immediately Mads asked to go walk. We'd driven for 4 hours, but this kiddo NEEDED to get her feet in the surf. She did not care that her jeans would be soaked or that her slides would rub red marks on her skin as we walked back to the hotel and dinner. She just needed to be grounded. 

In case you didn't realize, when your feet are in the ocean, it speaks to your body. It heals all the stress and anxiety. It enables you to disconnect from all the negativity impacting your life and to focus just on that one moment. This was what we all needed. The salty sea air. The pidgeons trying to grab our hot dogs. The puppies deciding Mack was a dog magnet. The chasing of volley balls that had come flying at us out of the beach volley ball courts as other families played a sport in the beautiful sun and sea breeze. The swoosh of the waves as they came on shore. The walking thousands of steps to get under a pier for a photo. The falling in a hole as she approached the perfect spot to stand. The walking back to the hotel soaked to her thighs. 

We didn't tell many people about our up-coming trip because we needed that disconnect. We needed to reconnect as a familal unit and we did: 

• Mads and I walked the beach multiple times per day each day we were there. 
• Mack and Ry sat outside of the hotel at night to listen to the live music over at the bar (they couldn't go because Mack isn't 21 yet and so they wouldn't let her in). 
• All 4 of us watched football and couldn't believe the 9 OT periods! Crazy - woohoo Illini! Way to go!
• Ry and I got away for an hour to have a mini date. 
• We ate at our favorite hot dog place at the beach. 
• We found a great pizza place and enjoyed a pizza to share among the 4 of us. 

Why would we be impressed by these mundane things, you might ask. Well, it's all a part of the reset. Our pastoral staff preached a series recently about having a reset: 

1. Slow down

2. Rest in the Lord

3. Simplify your life

IN this fast-paced life many of us live, we don't take the time to slow down or rest, but we have also lost the sense of simplifying in all we do. This doesn't have to mean depriving yourself of the things you need, but just concentrating on the small things. Rather than going to Six Flags for a weekend of fast paced fun with roller coasters and all the things that come with a trip to Atlanta, we chose to slow it down a bit. It took longer to drive to Myrtle Beach, yes, but after we got there, the car was parked. We simplified by walking everywhere. We simplified by not spending money on entertainment when we could find free things to do. We walked because it was an opportunity to connect with nature and with God. We spent quality time together. We rested. 

Now, you may not realize this, but when the Lord rested on the 7th day, he didn't do so to recover from what he had already done, but to prepare for what was coming. This is what we are called to do. Rest so we are prepared for the week ahead. 

Before I close, I have a question for you: How are you preparing for what is to come? 

Tests, they come...

In our lives, we are tested. These tests come in many forms. As you may have read the last time I posted, we have had our fair share of tests. Well, this past week was more of the same. Not only was it a long and stressful week at work, but I had a doctors appointment, I wanted to go to small group on Wednesday, and I wanted to buy a jellyroll for quilting... Not always did I get what I wanted. 

• Work has been insane. Yes, I know I already said this, but until you really understand how insane it was, I'm going to say it again. For the first time since starting with the company over 5 years ago, I was WAY over my 40 hours, but not because I wanted to be. It was because we are a very small team. I am the only person who can get overtime because I am the one hourly employee. Therefore, to prevent others from working for free, I over scheduled myself. Everything that absolutely had to get done, got done. Even with my boss on a cruise ship, hopefully having the time of her life. 
• Wednesday was the first small group back since I'd been exposed to COVID. It was great to be back with my ladies and I'm so sad I had to miss out on so much, but I have my bible study to do here at home to keep on top. Madison even went to youth group this week and came out asking to go back! 
• Thursday, I had a doctor's visit. You see, in April I was diagnosed with prediabetes. As a result, I have been on a mission to reduce added sugars in my diet. Not only have I gone to sugar free, but I'm cleaning up the diet in general and trying to get more exercise in. When I was diagnosed, my hbA1c was at 6.4. That is just 0.10 away from being Type 2 diabetic. I was not going to allow a diagnosis to dictate my life. As a result, I have been very intentional about what I eat. I am doing carbs in the morning and a few at lunch and then going with very few carbs at dinner time. I have transitioned from soda all the time to water 90% of the time. If I have soda, it's a diet just once a day. Coffee or tea with splenda or stevia. You name it, I've changed it. It has been paying off! I'm 12 pounds lighter and my hbA1c is down to 6.1! Amazing considering I am doing this without the help of metformin!!! 
• I wanted to finish two fall quilting projects this week, but haven't gotten anything done. I couldn't even find a jelly roll to save my life and Joanne and Hobby Lobby both got sassy with me telling me to go drive an hour each way to get what I needed if I didn't like what they had in store. Needless to say, I came home empty handed. 

Even with all of this, I am being tested. I hit every red light. Was cut off multiple times. Sassed by full-grown adults. The list goes on. And I hear that Brittani preached a sermon about slowing down this week. Slowing down is exactly what God was doing with me today as I went all over creation to try and get what I needed. 

I came home and have meal prepped breakfast for all week and am on to the snacks/desserts now. After that, I am going to spend the day reading my Elijah study and my 90 day bible plan (yep, started this too this week). 

As you are tested, take the time to slow down and see what God is saying to you because if it's important enough for him to test you, it's a lesson you need to learn. 

A week off

 Yes, I know, I took a week off. I had only just got back to blogging, but to say that my life has been crazy in the last week is an understatement: 

• One of my neighbors was diagnosed with COVID just about a week ago, so we have been very much watching for our own symptoms and staying away from people as much as possible. She is on the mend and none of us have had symptoms
• Fall allergy season is among us. We've seen a few of the sneezies, but other than that doing well. 
• Work has picked up with me leading one of the largest enablement series we've ever had consisting of more than 40 sessions to schedule, facilitate, package, and communicate out to about 2 thousand employees. 
• Because I am limiting my contact with the outside world until this Thursday, I have been doing all of my Elijah study at home during what would normally be my blogging time. 
• Spirit week is about to start for the kiddo, so we are prepping for that. 
• The Ford had the check engine light come on so we have an appointment for it to go have the thermostat replaced this week (thankful it was only the thermostat)
• Tuning in to church via online is a bit harder because sometimes technology fails us, but I'm doing as well as I possibly can and can't wait to get back on campus. 

Even with all of that, I am still here and working my best to get back on track. One thing I didn't share is that I picked up my first ever quilt from the quilt shop and OMG it turned out beautiful! I can't believe that I took some strips of fabric and ended up with a beautiful keepsake to pass down to generations to come. After that, I was outside for a little bit yesterday and got overheated. My doctor in the spring said that when I have coughing fits to use my rescue inhaler. This was the first time in several months that I've had to do that, but I feel much better today after having used it. 

Let's see, what else - the bible study is really working through 1 Kings 17 where Elijah proclaims that there will be no water to the area for some years and the Lord hides him near Kerith for some time promising that Elijah would drink from the brook. God is saying he will provide. That is something we could all use as a reminder. The Lord provides all our needs. We only need to have faith in Him that he can and will follow through on his promises. 

Finally, Mack introduced me to a new a capella group called Home Free. We are truly enjoying listening to their music together. It's certainly a lot different than her Korean pop she loves so much. 

Until next time, we love you all! 

Do you need rest?

Do you know when you need rest? Sometimes as humans, we try to be like an energizer bunny in the sense that we have very long lists of things to be done, so we don't want to take the time to give our bodies rest. This is not how we were made. We were made to labor, of course, but we were also made to rest and to rest in the Lord. 

 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, or your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns." - Exodus 20: 8-10

This week, I've been laboring so much by fulfilling my commitments at work, with the kids, the house, etc. that I needed rest. I wasn't willing to accept the need for rest, but it was there. Let me tell you, when the need is there, you will find yourself at a point that you aren't going to be able to keep going much longer. 

For me, I typically have very long days that start with a 5 am alarm and end with a 12:30 or 1 am falling asleep. This week was no different until yesterday. I'd started the day like usual, only it was Ryan's day off, so my first alarm was 6:30. Even with that extra rest, I was finding myself running like crazy. Get the kids to the bus. Start work. Stop at noon, take a longer lunch because it was my hair appointment day. Rush through a drive through for some lunch because I was starving. Work another 3 hours. Dinner with the family. We get home and I go to play a few games on my phone before the next task... 

The next task never came. I was so tired, I was asleep before 9 pm. Now, if you haven't figured it out by now, this does not happen for me. EVER. Ryan said this morning, I just knocked out. I hadn't even put my phone on the charger. I slept so hard and for so long, I didn't wake up for 12 hours. 

Today, I feel amazing having had rest. This morning we've already gone grocery shopping, done lunch, and put away the groceries. Next on the list is making a wreath and bible study. So for me, the question becomes "why do we do this to ourselves?" Why do we run until we can't run any longer? Why do we not just rest? All it takes is following a few key words: 

• dedicate time in the presence of God
• devote our talents and treasures for His use and purpose
• prioritize what the world mocks and minimizes
• sacrifice our own selfish desires and ambitions
• feel marginalized and excluded
• break off unhealthy relationships
• uphold our daily spiritual disciplines
• dare to risk bold allegiance to His Word
• resist lifestyles of legalistic, condemning perfectionism
• receive a continuous stream of God's grace
• refuse political correctness over righteousness
• reach out to the weak and disenfranchised
• believe God for more
• pray bold prayers to prove it

All of these things enable us to not only rest in the Lord but to be witnesses to all the world of his love, mercy, and grace. 

Long day

 It's been a crazy long day, but productive one at the same time. 

• Was able to move meetings and get back about 2 hours of my day. That was huge! 
• Got a text from Mack saying she'd had to dissect an earthworm today in marine science. 
• Got tons of prep work done on some projects that are quickly approaching. 

In all these things, I focused on whatever would keep me going because it was a long day. A tiring day. A day when I could have fallen asleep during lunch break and just napped the day away. But I didn't because I have responsibilities and I will not shirk them. Here soon, I'll be leaving with the girls to meet Ryan for dinner and to do some quick grocery shopping. 

The days just never seem to end here lately. The kids have school. The adults have work. We all have life to attend to. There are chores. There are boo boos. There are sicknesses. And the list goes on. Today someone dear to us was laid to rest and we couldn't be there for the service. It broke our hearts, but we couldn't do anything about it. We pray that everyone is doing well and that we will see them all soon. It's hard to be an adult and not be able to go and say our final good byes when our loved ones go to meet Jesus on the streets of Gold, but we have to believe that there's a reason and a plan for us not having been able to go to Florida this time. 

Tonight I have a short post for you because I just need to rest, but I didn't want to not leave you hanging. Because God makes beautiful things and my beautiful friends, we need to lean on one another when we need to. 

Days, they come and they go

 As you are well aware, days may come and days may go, but the important thing is that we follow through on our promises. Just as the Lord follows through on His promises, we must also. This is why it is 9:31 pm and I am just getting to chat with you a little bit. It's been a busy week and and even busier day. However, I am not going to sit here and allow the fact that I am a busy working mom prevent me from entering a journal (blog) entry. So, how did my day go? 

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

My day started like no other, it started the night before as I lay in bed trying to calm my nerves. I used to be active in my church. I volunteered on a regular basis. I went to church every Sunday and served on Thursdays (our mid-week service at that church). There came a time when I felt like my generosity was being taken advantage of and after moving out of Florida in 2015, I didn't really settle on another church. God had other plans in mind for me though. 

Since moving to Greenville, SC in April of 2019, the Lord has been guiding me to Greenville First Assembly. At first, I resisted because I was afraid that I would have another situation where I would feel like I was being taken advantage of. Then it was that we only had one car and so getting to church on a regular basis would be a challenge. Next, I allowed the idea that I was in college to dictate what I would and wouldn't do. All of these things culminated in COVID-19 shutting the state down last year. I had watched online here and there. Even when I missed a service, I'd go to the app on my phone and watch the service. Slowly, I was realizing that not only was the Lord calling me, but he was softening my heart to becoming part of a new church family. 

I continued to interact online with the church community. Sunday, I watched live and participated in the tailgate events by submitting a picture of Mack in her Eastside shirt for the team picture giveaway they were hosting. I had made up my mind that I was going to join the Wednesday women's group on a study and see how I liked the church. 

So now that you're up to speed, I can tell you about what I was feeling last night. I was all but trembling with fear about going to the church today. I was worried about my outward appearance. How would I be accepted when I am overweight and I wear sketchers sandals (literally everywhere). I don't drive a BMW (a ton of people do here, because we have a plant here that manufactures them), instead I drive a 2016 Chevy Equinox. I don't have brand name, brand new clothes. As I went to bed, I was worrying, but the Lord brought me to Isaiah 41:10. He wouldn't stop saying it until I had read the verse. It reminded me of those t-shirts we all wore when I was in high school (yes, I'm about to give my age away). They said fear not on the front and had a positive something on the back. I remember mine like it was yesterday. It was like a slate gray. I wore that thing til it fell apart. I want my no fear shirt back. 

I fall asleep finally and at 4 am, I hear something and wake up to find Mack standing in our doorway crying. She was trembling in fear because a nasty round of thunderstorms had woken her. She's still terrified of storms and so it was one of them nights. Ryan left the bed and she crawled in. She grasped my hand like nothing I've ever felt before and fell asleep in bed with her momma. Ryan went off to work and as I got the kids and I up at 7, again, I hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit saying to focus on Isaiah 41:10 today because everything was going to be okay. 

Kids are off to school now and I make my coffee, listen to my daily devotional through the bible app, and read Isaiah 41:10 yet again. Off to work I go and I declare that today is going to be a good day and BAM - tree people come and take down a tree that falls within just a few feet of my car and my downstairs neighbor's car. I go running down to move the Chevy as she moves her Seltos to the farthest spots in our parking pad that we could. Our cars were safe. I go back to work and one of my coworkers asks me what I have planned. I confess that I'm questioning going to women's group because I've been worried about going on site because I literally know not one woman in the church. I hadn't connected with anyone that goes there. 

Work is done. Maddie is taking her daily nap (seriously, what 15-year-old takes a nap daily???) and Kenzie is having some decompress time as she's only been home from school for about 15 minutes at this point. I find what I'm going to wear. I'm stepping out in faith that the Lord is going to connect me with a great group of women. I leave at about 10 after 6. After all, we are less than a mile from the church. I get there and open my email to look at the leader's directions for finding the room. She thought it would have a sign out there, it didn't. But, around the corner comes my answer. I recognize her from seeing her preaching. It's the lead pastor's wife. I ask her where Sisterhood is meeting and she introduces herself and takes me to the door I'd passed by. She is seriously the cutest and sweetest gift God could have given. 

I sit in the room waiting for it to begin and she and I chat a little. She said she thought she recognized me. I said "maybe online" and then we go through introductions when the group gets here. It turns out I'm not the first new person in the group tonight. There was a young woman whose parents had died and she took custody of her two younger siblings, she was new to the church and area. Women from all walks were in the room and introducing themselves. I felt like I could maybe grow to love these women. At the end of the lesson as Brittani is about to dismiss, she said if anyone wanted the week's homework printed, she'd be happy to. Before I could even go up to her and tell her I think I know how she "knows" me, she approached and asked if I wanted an extra book she had. Someone had bought an extra and asked her to donate it to one of the women tonight. This was totally God's timing. You see, I was going to order one on payday, tomorrow. 

The morale of my story is that life happens. Storms come in all shapes and sizes. However, with the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Another wonderful woman once told me to step out bold. To do it afraid. Although I hadn't stepped foot in a women's group in well over 5 years and I was really worried about going, I was obedient to the Lord and I went. I was blessed for it. I was loved on. And I came home realizing that every time I passed that church and every time I watched a sermon online was an opportunity for me to connect with these wonderful people. 

Whatever it is in your life you are struggling with, pray over it (as I have for more than 2 years) and then take the first step. God is calling you to whatever plan he has for you. You just have to step out boldly and walk with Him. 

Yesterday....Today....Tomorrow

 "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. but one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

As I think about this passage, I am reminded that we are all on a pathway or road. What we choose to do with that road is ultimately up to us, but we should be cautious as it is never good to dwell on the things of the past. We will not forget them, but the things that happened to and around us in our past is what has molded and made us into who we are today. If your life has been full of plenty, maybe life made you unprepared for a season of famine. However, if you grew up like I did, there were seasons of famine a plenty and that has enabled me to endure more seasons of famine as I grew into adulthood. While I recall these seasons, I don't dwell on them because it will do me no good. Remember the story of Lot's wife. She looked back as they were fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah. As a result of disobeying the Lord's command, she was turned to a pillar of salt. This visualization alone tells me that it is never a good idea to dwell on the yesterdays when there is so much yet to learn about today and the tomorrows that are yet to come. 

Today, I thank God for all I have because just a year ago, we had but one car. We were just coming back from a time when my husband was furloughed because of COVID-19. I was making significantly less than I am now. But... God. God had a plan. He always has a plan. That plan was written long before we drew breath. I do not know his plan, but I know he has one and I have to trust that he will reveal it in His timing, not mine. 

As we look to tomorrow, we are holding our heads up and hoping for the best. We know that things aren't always easy, but we also know that without God's presence in our lives, we wouldn't be where we are today. We look to the tomorrows that are yet to come and know that we must keep growing in the Lord in order to experience all he has to offer. 

In closing, I pray that if you are stuck in a pattern of worry and frustration over what has happened in the past that the Lord will soften your heart and allow you the ability to no longer fret over times that have passed. To live and love in the moment and to look to the future. After all, the future is where we have the most opportunity for growth in our lives. 

God's calling part 2

 As I went through the day, I wanted to provide some additional verses that may speak to my readers more than the one I posted earlier may have. Here's a collection of verses that just may do the trick for someone: 

• Ephesians 2:10
• John 6:28
• Ecclesiastes 3:10
• Acts 2:37
• Acts 16:30
• Acts 22:10
• Matthew 9:16
• Mark 10:17
• Luke 10:25
• Luke 18:18
• Matthew 7:24
• 1 Samuel 10:7
• 2 Samuel 7:3
• Haggai 2:4
• Zechariah 8:16
• Matthew 7:21
• Matthew 7:12
• Matthew 7:26
• Luke 6:31
• John 6:29
• Luke 24:19
• John 4:34
• John 5:36
• John 9:4
• John 10:32
• John 10:37
• John 15:24
• John 17:4
• Acts 2:22
• 1 Corinthians 16:10
• Revelation 2:26

As you read through these, my prayer for you is that God would reveal ways in your life that you can be living his calling. 

Lord, as we all rediscover what you have called us to do, I pray that you would give us the ability to discern exactly what it is you want us doing in that very moment. I pray that no matter what season we are in, you reveal what we should be doing in that season. Amen. 

A calling

 

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Have you ever stopped dead in your tracks and wondered, "what on earth am I doing with my life? what is it that God wants for my life? how do I know I'm on the right path to doing God's work?" I know I have. At some point in all of our lives, we have to wonder if we are doing what he's planned for us. The answer is a very intimate one and one that only you and God can answer, but we can discuss how to arrive at that answer pretty quickly. To do so, let's ponder a few more questions: 

1. What does your daily life look like? Is your life filled with praising the Lord, prayer, and blessings? Are you giving to others or are you being selfish? Are you seeking the Lord daily? Are you in the word being fed? All of these questions will help you discern if you are truly walking with the Lord or if you are just going through the motions of daily life. 
2. Are you plugged in with like-minded people? I'm not saying you have to be in church every time the doors open, but it has been found that we behave in the same way that others around us behave. If we are hanging out with people who do drugs and curse like a sailor, chances are, we are going to repeat that behavior. 
3. When things go wrong, and they will, are you freaking out and giving up, or are you saying "God, I give this to you"? The reaction we have to unplanned circumstances has a major part to play in how we are walking. 

Let's take some recent things in our lives and think through them. Not many know that in February just before we'd had our Honda CR-V for a year, we refinanced to get a lower interest rate. The day after doing so, Ryan was in a car accident which resulted in the car being totaled. He was doing the good thing - taking our neighbor's daughter to her school while her mom was working so she could pick up something she needed. I got the phone call no one ever wants to get. The teenager was hyperventilating and telling me to get her mom and to get down to the scene that there had been an accident. I immediately went into "oh crap" mode. However, not once did I freak out and give up. Instead I started praising God and praying that they were okay. I got to the scene and Ryan was okay. He was hurt but okay. Both airbags had deployed, I thanked God again. The car was totaled - that's okay, God, you spared their lives. We were without a car - That's okay, the Lord provides (and He did - not only did he have a ride to work everyday, but we had rides to go and find a new car). There are medical bills - praise you, Lord for providing a job that gave us the ability to get good health insurance. The other driver might sue - so what, the Lord has this - and this is why we have car insurance. 

As you can see, every attack that hit us that day, and the days to come, were meant to bring us down. We didn't let it. Our mindset was in the right place during a very difficult time. I can say we were very much blessed that not only have we been able to get the car replaced, but the Lord blessed us in a life-changing way and we've been able to pick up a second vehicle since the crash. Now, we are paying a pretty penny for it, and we now have two car payments. This is tough, but through the use of biblical principles, prayer, and planning, we are making it work. Do we go out on the town all the time, nope. We work God's plan and he blesses us. 

So what's next for us? We believe we may have found a new church family, finally, and will be getting plugged in during the weeks to come. But what about the blog? At this time, we are going to keep it right where it is and continue (or get back to) documenting our thoughts and the adventures we go on (because y'all have missed too many of those). Will the blog always be here? I can't make promises, but I will say that it will go where the Lord leads. 

Much love and many blessings, 

The Cox Family. 

Coming soon

 Although I've been hit or miss, I have loads of new content and ideas coming soon.  The blog is getting a face-lift and I'll post more about the changes later. In the meantime happy Sunday!