:)

Not much really going on but I just felt like I wanted to sit here and write something.

Helped a friend pack yesterday,

we talked about how cleansing it is to move- going through and throwing away, weeding out and boxing up.

Then you spend a week or two without-

and life works.

How you think about not ever opening those boxes again; but then reality hits and you realize pots and pans make cooking easier and you really miss looking at the cute little such and such you bought when you were at that someplace special.

So the boxes get opened and you unpack.

I thought about how nice it is to start over.

A new room,

a clear shelf,

starting fresh with wall hangings and even friendships.

Sometimes I think I'd like to start fresh again.

The I thought about God.

How He looks at me that way when I go to Him after really screwing up.

A clean slate, a fresh start; the old is gone and the new is here.

A clean slate, a fresh start, a life of forgiveness.

So what about me? When someone comes to me after hurting me and seeks forgiveness do I give them a clean slate and fresh start? or do I unpack all the old crap and place it back on the clean shelf eventually clogging the relationship.

I don't wanna be that way.

Currently I have a person in my life who I don't wanna forgive, I don't wanna like, I don't wanna be kind to.

But somehow, because of the Holy Spirit living in me I am doing it.

I don't want to, my mind goes places and thinks things I don't want it to go or think.

The hurt is deep, but it's healing; I can feel it- the peace in me over the situation can only come from God.

It takes work, I have to make the effort to take every thought captive, to think of good things.

So not much going on in my life, except there really is.

Besides all this learning to love people I must take on the task at hand for me today: to clean one of Steve's clients homes.

A huge home sitting on the ocean a busy day before getting kids from school.

Have a blessed one!

Trust is Not As Easy As One Would Hope

I took this picture sitting at a light in a town near Orlando.

I am always amazed by God's creation. The sun rays of color in this picture take my breath away.

The clouds, the colors, they wow me like nothing man can paint or sing or write.

I love this picture right down to the frost on the inside of my car windshield- it reminds me of the closeness of God even though His finger brushes an amazing skyscape over a grungy city street.

I'm learning to trust this massive God.

I'm learning to step each day into the lighted page of this part of my journey.

All too often I fight negative thoughts of worthlessness, insecurity and the overall thought that I do not matter to those around me or even to the God of this universe.

But I'm reminded to believe the truth and shut out the lies.

I'm learning to trust.

I'm learning to look to the One who helps me, who protects me and never sleeps or forgets what step on the page I am on. Psalm 121 helps my brain with this

On to other things... Steve had the chance to head to NH for a few days. While I missed him tremendously I also loved it!

I loved that he got to spend time with his mom and step-dad, see friends and other family and just relax from his day to day grind of being a small business owner.

I also enjoyed a quiet room when I laid my head down and just the aloneness that comes with a spouse being gone.

But he's home now,and he brought Village pizza with him so all is well in this place called home.

In other news I cleaned up the floor area in front of my washer and dryer. Not a small feat because it just seems to be the holding spot for all things lost.

This week I am thinking of participating in a Tackle it Tuesday project and going to tackle the clean up and out my sewing areas. Thinking of some major changes in this part of my life-- and with my extreme brain that sways from getting rid of it all to having it take over the dining room..... guess you'll have to wait for an update on that later this week.

May you have a happy day today, may your perspective be on the Creator of the Universe and may you not only see God work in those around you but may you be Jesus to those around you.

Peace out-

Cozi.com Website Review

Cozi.com - thanks to my friend Jamie for sending me this link this past spring.
I started using the Cozi system at the beginning of the summer but it wasn't until I got my smartphone that I really started to use it.

What I love best is the fact that I can put all our work schedules, dr. appointments and extra-curricular activities into Cozi and then access it from anywhere!
My home PC, my phone, my friends PC...
I also have text reminders that go out to all people involved in an activity. I can set the lead time for the text reminder to go out.; sometimes it's 30 minutes, sometimes 24 hours.

I also keep running lists going,
grocery, Home Depot, Wal-mart, Sam's Club.
That way I can stop in on the fly or if Steve happens to be at Sam's or Home Depot the list can be pulled up easily and items checked off- again in one central place for us all to access.

This past week I entered all our bill due dates into Cozi with text reminders going out to Steve and I.
Love it!
One central place to handle all our growing families activities.
Check it out- you'll be happy you did!

People Working and My Hair

Random stuff:
Here's my friend Mary who just got a job! One day we'll all go to concerts that she has organized, until then: let us all eat chicken.
Here's the best looking kid at Chick-fil-A

Here's my head partially taken out of cornrows.

I really do love this style for me!!

This is Somewhat Random

Working in youth ministry I often find myself pretending to be someone I'm not hanging out with students I sometimes barely know.
But eventually those strange students become my friends even after they discover the real me.

Wait, wait let me explain.

See about 4 years ago I found myself driving home from a conference in a rental car with 4 teenagers I barely knew. We cranked up KJ52 and before I knew it I was labeled MS52. So now to some students, OK to just one, I am known as MS52 Hip-Hop Rapper Extraordinaire! And to that student: well they're my Hype Man!

Fast forward to today.
Today, the actual date of to-day: my Hype Man, who was riding shotty on that trip and who also happens to be a girl, came over today and straight-ironed my hair.
I look good.
Really good.

Just sayin'.

Now I am ready for our weekly and oh so exciting Monday Night at the Span Ranch.
See, Mondays are the night when we watch the TV show Heroes as a family, we have for years.
Only Justin doesn't watch it anymore
and nowdays Vaughan is usually on the phone, in his room.
Then of course there's the fact that the shows time slot moved from 8pm to 9pm so Steve and I have replaced our awake time with Chuck and usually fall asleep before the first Heroes commercial comes on.
Oh well,
at least I have good hair!
and let's face it, good hair is really all that matters.

I Am Still Saying the Word Cute Over These

These are the cutest dishes. I love my Fiestaware but if I were getting married today this would be on my gift registry.
Called: Chirp
Super cute cake made to match these dishes, check it out here.

Friday Randomness

We had a fun week this week, mainly because we went bowling!
I've been busy sewing and cleaning and am now designating today laundry day!
Steve is feeling much better and back at it,.
Here are some pics form bowling:

See all the strikes I got! And they were all on a real lane, not one with bumpers!

Then I woke one morning this week to find this:

Please tell me, how does this happen? How does an electrical outlet get totally destroyed and no one know how? I can't even find the outlet plate? I can blame a lot of my sewing "issues" on the cat but this one?? I don't think the cat could have managed.

I hope you all have a blessed weekend, look for the silver lining, and oh yeah if you've read this far check out the new faces of Thus Far.

You'll see I've added links to all my blogs (I am ADHD on blogging), I hope you are inspired to sew, dig your hands in some dirt and I really hope you'll share some of your recipes with me.

Because These Things Are Important

Because I think the public should be informed.
Look at the Old School style of Betty Crocker I just bought.
Compare to this:

I'm betting still yummy and oh so yucky for oyu!

-Michelle