Complaining

It's too hot.
The a/c went out at the house.
No body talks to me.
They won't listen.
The a/c went out in the car.
The coffee's out.
The internet is down.
I hurt my toe.

Wah....wah...wah...wah..

I tend to complain a lot.  I've referred to myself as Eeyore at times.  My first reaction is usually No!  But I've been really focusing on not complaining these past weeks.  It's a verse that I taught my kids when they were little a  long ago.  Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining and arguing,"  But I just recently noticed the second part of that verse... " so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." 

I want to be a shining light in the world.

I'm not great at it yet.  I spent the better part of yesterday in a state blah.  But I am trying.

It is cooler this week.
The a/c guy came out quickly.
Some one cares.
I need to pray about that one.
Car was fixed.
I'll drink tea.
It's ok I have other things to do.
It'll be ok.

I am blessed.

Hooping!

I really need to blog more often!  I just noticed I haven't posted anything here since March!

I went to a new class last night and I'm so excited about it!  It's a hula hooping class!  I've always enjoyed hula hooping as a kid.  Well it turns out there's a new movement out there for adults!  It's called hooping!

It's a great exercise and fitness workout.  I was definitely sweating last night!  It's also a great avenue for people like me to get into exercise.  I say people like me because I was never a sports girl.  I didn't do sports in school.  I don't go running or do workout videos.  I don't do zumba.  I can't keep in sync with everyone!

This is just me and the hoop.  It's letting go in my own rhythm and dance.  It's not a competition.  Everyone can go and learn at their own pace.

I'm so excited to learn more moves and start taking my hoop with me to different places!  I love that I'm in my 40s and learning a whole new thing!  It's so exciting!

Stay tuned for more on this hooping adventure!

What I've been learning lately

I feel like the Lord has been showing me lately that He is faithful.  No matter the circumstance.  No matter how long we pray ...He is faithful.  I have had many unanswered prayers.  Many prayers that aren't answered the way I would have liked.  That doesn't change the fact that the Lord is faithful.  His love for us doesn't change.  He continues to uphold me with His mighty right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).

I went with Larry to Pennsylvania for a job 2 years ago.  It was a great time and I really enjoyed it.  I met some great people and knew the Lord brought me up there for a purpose.  But the Lord called me back 8 months ago.  I was thrilled to be back closer to my kids!  I knew this was a great opportunity and was very thankful for it!  So I came back and we prayed for Larry to find a job here soon.  I just knew that since the Lord brought me back to Texas that He would bring Larry back soon.  But we waited and we prayed.  We waited and prayed.  Finally, 8 months later.....Larry will be returning!  8 months doesn't seem that long to some.  I realize some people wait on God for years to answer their prayers.  I have waited for years for some things.  

The Lord is faithful regardless of how long we wait.  Our circumstances do not change the character of God.  He is faithful.  His Word is true.  I will trust in this. 

And I'll do the happy dance when my hubby returns!  C'mon...do it with me! :)

Psalm 89:8

O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.

Year in Review

The year in bullet points in no particular order:

• Val worked for a week at Chick-fil-A
• moved from Pittsburgh back to Texas
• went to 2 family weddings!
• Scott enjoyed working at a ranch in Wyoming
• Val returned to working at Arlington Resale!
• Larry started college classes online to finish his degree
• Larry changed his middle name to SECEDE!
• moved into one of our rent houses
• Val & Becky went to Barcelona, Spain!
• love our new home church
• Renee returns to Austin after a time in Colorado
• Sam finishes school and is searching for his calling in life
• Val had 2 surgeries about a month apart!  Thankfully all is well now!
• Sam broke his arm skiing 
• Renee is living in an EcoVillage
• Sam & Scott caught the biggest fish ever while visiting Renee & Kyle in Austin
• Val & Larry celebrated their 23rd Wedding anniversary
• Scott bought a Ford F350!

All in all it was a roller coaster year!  Lots of fun! The Lord is very good!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Changes

Does it seem like everything happens at once??  Seems like you are going along and everything's the same and then all of a sudden this happens and that happens and then another thing happens!  Well that's how it is right now for me!

Just a few of the things that are changing around here:

• Moved back to Texas
• Started working full time
• Will be the manager of a new store
• Moving to a new house
• family relationships being restored
• learning to be the mom of one kid left at home
• selling one of our rent houses
• learning to have a relationship with my adult children

So many things at once!  But I'm excited!  It's a lot of good stuff! I really feel like God is on the move these days.  I'm really feeling and sensing His presence and His direction.  He's doing some great big stuff and I love it!  So glad He lets me be a small part of it!

Isaiah 43:19

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁹ For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Facebook world

Facebook is an interesting phenomenon. I love getting online and checking out what everyone's up to and seeing everyone's pictures.  Most of the time I love being on fb.  But there's a flip side too.  A lot of people act differently on facebook than they would in real life.  They comment or say things on people's posts that they would never actually say to that person face to face.  I guess there's somewhat of an anonymity to typing something out on the computer verses actually speaking face to face with people.  Sometimes huge discussions break out and things are said and posts are made and ya gotta wonder...if this were a real life conversation between a group of people..would it be said this way?  And then if things get too rough and people's feelings get hurt (or their pride gets stepped on) they do the one thing they can control in a facebook world--unfriend you!  Delete!  Poof- you are magically gone from their daily news feed!  No longer do I have to worry about you commenting on my posts or saying something that might upset me.  You have been unfriended!  I no longer have to think about you!  Or reconcile, or figure out what you really meant, or understand your point, or apologize.  No that would be very inconvenient.

Don't you think we should be the same people in real life as we are on the computer?  Shouldn't we say and do things that wouldn't be any different than if you were sitting with me having coffee in the morning.  Would I be willing to say to your face what I've just typed?

I pray I am the same.  I want my character to be without question.  I want people to look at my facebook page and see the same Valerie that I am in real life.  I don't unfriend people.  I talk to people.  I have relationships.  I try to make a difficult situation better if possible.  If I have issue with you I will tell you.  If you have issue with me I expect the same.  Mutual respect.  Love one another.  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, and Self Control.  These are the things I strive for.

I will keep looking at facebook.  I like to keep in touch with people.  And if I see you in the mall or in Wal-mart- I will say hello and give you a hug and ask you to go for coffee with me.

Time....

When my kids were little I had no time to myself.  They are all 2 years apart and there were MANY years that were filled to the brim!  Just meeting their physical needs when they were little took up most of my time.  If I wasn't feeding or disciplining someone it was nap time or time for a diaper change.  I always had someone hanging on my legs or needing to be held.  I joked that our house only needed to be 5 square feet because that was where everyone was all the time!  I could barely go to the bathroom alone!  Then came homeschooling, again-no time to myself. Then as they got older there was a little time for an occasional girl's night out or date night.

Well things are completely different now.  With only one kid at home now- and he's practically grown (almost 16!) - I have so much time to myself!  I could have never imagine this!  Now if I want to go for a walk or watch tv or read a book or take a bath...I can!  and nobody interrupts me!

I don't want to sound like I'm bragging.  Because really it's bittersweet.  It's great..but I also miss my babies!  Even though it was a really tough time back then it was a lot of fun too!

It's also tough because I never had to think about who I was or how I spent my time before.  I was just raising babies and doing the best I could!  Now, I don't want to be idle or just waste my time.  I want to glorify God in the things I'm choosing to fill up my day!   All though just being lazy calls my name more days than not.

Moms of young kids---enjoy these days!  They are physically demanding.  The emotional days are yet to come.  But there will be a day you can rest!

Who knows what the future holds...but for now I'm just trying to enjoy my time and not be too lazy :)