It was one of those days. My mother in law was over watching the boys while I worked online.

As usual Zane was trying to play us against each other. Obviously the rules are not as strict when Mommy isn’t at home, but that is another story.

I can be thankful my MIL is great about making sure my word is the last when I am home.

Back to the story.

Zane was crying because I had told him no. And with tears in his eyes he turned around and walked straight into the corner of the counter right into his eye.

Both my MIL and I went straight to him. I held him and cooed at him. My MIL went straight to praying for his booboo.

I felt convicted. I was just at a parents conference and I had even written in my notes to pray for the boys scraps and bruises with them no matter how small and big.

I knew this was a small reminder to me. God’s way of whispering this is important.

What has God whispered to you recently? What has God taught you through your children?

I’ve just started the current bible study from church, Anointed Transformed Redeemed. Within the first few pages of the study I came upon an exercise that really made an impression on my heart.

On day one we are looking at the verse, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” John 15:16 (HCSB).

As you look at this verse, just as I did, you may have heard it many times and it may have touched you. But the next step is so important and yet I think we miss this part often.

Considering the people who have rejected us in our lives the study has you write the initials of these people down on a piece of paper. Now cross out these initials as you consider that God has chosen you and that it is not your friend, spouse, parent or child’s responsibility or even in their ability to make us always feel “wanted and needed”.

If you choose to put your faith, hope and love in people you will soon be disappointed and hurt. The truth is that no person is perfect and everyone will make mistakes and disappoint you at some point in your life.

To put your trust in a person and not God will only lead in disappointment. God is there with us through good and bad. He is perfect. If you lean on Him He will not fail you.

I have many people in my life that I love and adore yet when I forget about putting God before them I soon am reminded that only He can be there for me through all things.

This summer I’m participating in a great project over at Mommy’s Piggy Tales. It is all about recording your youth in 15 posts or like me 15 vlogs. This is about 9th grade, boys, more about youthgroup and I totally forgot about mentioning that I got baptized this year. Below the video you

But this was a blessing in disguise. I notice my Zune was filled with praise music. Which I was loving aa chance to just listen and enjoy.

As the anxiety of the first flight by myself started to fill me I then got to enjoy the amazing glory of God through the beauty of the scenery and music. It was wonderful to just enjoy the beautiful land that God had created and the music just filled me with even more awe.

Wow what a blessing to just bask in His glory and majesty.

I’ve never been one to eliminate the supposed anti-christian things of holidays. Don’t know if this deals with how I was raised. Or that I feel if you know the true reason for the holiday and don’t get lost in the fun aspects of it then there is no harm done.  I don’t blame those who feel that they need to take those things out of their lives to focus on the true meanings and I think there are some great arguments to do this. But for us we enjoy the holidays in many fun and wonderful ways. And now I will step off my soapbox.

I love bunnies, hey we even have one living in our house! And it’s always been a tradition to color Easter eggs as long as I remember. So this week we are celebrating Easter with Super Sunday Surfing and all the great Easter posts out there!

• Peeptastic – What a fun activity to do with your kids and a great way to get rid of those zillion peeps that come in each package. I could maybe eat one but twelve!
• the quick little bunny tutorial – Cutest things ever! I’m seriously running upstairs right now to raid my misc lost sock basket!
• Spring Captured – This may be a good use for some of those knick knacks you found in your Easter basket this morning.
• Bunny Love – A paper standing bunny, who could ask for more. Oh you can make it out of any of your scrapbooking paper too. Match your decor! Gotta love it!!
• Build a Bunny Printable - You may want to print this out today and do with your little ones, what fun!
• The Peace Child – I have heard this story before, but it’s a good one. Hope you enjoy too.
• My Biggest Debt Paid – So True!
• Empty Tomb Marshmellow Bites – Make something with your kids today and help them learn more about this special day!

The bible we bought him is The Jesus Storybook Bible. It is written so beautifully shining with the love of God.The illustrations are just as lovely and Zane likes to look at them as we read.

Tonight was our first night of reading. I read the introduction to him. One of my favorite lines was:

“It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne – everything – to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairytales that has come true in real life! You see, the best thing about this story is – it’s true.”

I enjoyed reading it to him so much that I read him the next story also. This one was about how God created the light and dark, the world, the animals, and us. I love how they wrote “‘You’re good’ God said.” You can see how a child would relate to being told they were good.

This year I hope to read a story from this Bible every night Zane gets his story. That way we can make a journey together that I hope will teach him the love that God has for him.

This January I have made a resolution to work on growing in my faith and spending more time with the Lord. I have always attempted to read my Bible and stay in the Word, but I struggle to make time. Even though I know that God gives back the time that I spend with him. It’s hard for me to stop and make a point of reading and praying. To have a time devoted just to that and nothing else.

I have taken an hour out of my day and even blocked it out on my calendar for time to spend reading and praying. I have placed it right after I put the boys down for bed. This time is usually a quiet time and a time without the boys and a time before I start working on things that need to get done.

Yet I still struggled with getting to my Bible and to know what to read and pray about.  After talking to a friend about how she also was struggling with this I told her that we should stay accountable to each other.  We live on opposite time schedules, so we made a Facebook group page just for us. So we could discuss our devotional time and check in with each other at least once a week.

We have chosen a devtional to read together: The Sacred Romance. This book starts out so fittingly:

“…a voice speaks to us in the midst of all we are doing. There is something missing in all of this, it suggests. There is something more.“

I had a new baby boy and who can describe the joys of a new child in your life. It is amazing, he is amazing.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

We had a family crisis this year and that’s all I will say on it. But the second most challenging thing was my mother’s illness.

I have never been separated from my family before. We have always lived close by. And then as my mother got to her new home across the country she became gravely ill. It was such a struggle for me, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t just fly across the country with my two little ones during the flu season. So I made the choice to stay home and correspond with my aunt. This was such a hard choice.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Finding a new church home has been a great blessing this year. We have become members of the church. I have started making close friendships at the church. And I have even gotten to enjoy helping out in the children’s area.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Being demoted at work to part-time has been a true obstacle but it turned into a blessing. The lack of money has been hard but having the extra time with my boys has been wonderful. And on top of that because I’m part-time my schedule has become more steady which is so much easier on both me and the boys.

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.

Faith, Love, Joy

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

Boys, struggle, Faith

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking).

Struggle, Faith, Boys

8. What were the best books you read this year?

The Bone Series, Wheel of Time: Knife of Dreams, The Ordinary Princess, The Jesus Storybook Bible

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

TJ, Wendi (my SIL), Andrea (my BF)

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

I’m not pregnant anymore, that’s pretty big. But on a serious note I’ve been working on my relationship with the Lord and have been growing closer to Him.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

I have made a point to take better care of myself. To not rely so much on others for my happiness.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

We have become members of a church, I have been going to Bible study regularly, and have been volunteering at church. I have also been trying to take time each day to read my Bible and pray, to have a quiet time with the Lord.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

Just last month I have started a new diet and have scheduled exercise into my week.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

I have made some great new friendships at church. Which was one of my goals this year. I have been wanting to gain some new christian friends.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?

Lesson time with Zane this year was one of my absolute favorite things this year. Though I don’t if you would count that as home management.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?

All of home management but most of all housekeeping and laundry.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

Probably surfing online and Facebook.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

Spending time with my boys and TJ. We made a point this year to spend more time together and to have more family time. This was one of the greatest things about this year.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?

To put God first in your life and all things after.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.

God is faithful.

Survey found a (In)Courage.