Journey With Jen

Confrontation is really hard for me. I shy away from it as much as possible actually. Yes, I know if you know how my week has gone ~ you wouldn't think so. The fact is most of the time through my younger years and especially my teen years, I let people walk all over me because confrontation scared me. I had several co-dependent relationships because of this. It is SO much easier just to let it go than to put yourself out there. What if it ruins a relationship? What if they think badly of you? What if they talk about you? What if...? It is easier for me to help behind the scenes. To be that person people say, "thanks" to as they walk into the spotlight themselves. But, I can't always be the person that I want to be. Sometimes, I have to be the person that God wants me to be. It isn't always easy. And sometimes honestly, I wish could hide my head or put cotton in my ears to pretend it isn't my job to do something. That some one else will do the job God ...

Luke was so proud to be sitting on my hospital bed holding Faith for the first time. Who knew looking at that adorable three year old face what struggles would come? I know that I didn't... but God did. And when in the mists of this mess... God provides a message to keep going ~ keep trying ~ don't give up through our message at church on Sunday . "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. " Psalm 69:1-3 No, that is not the message of hope that we went over! LOL Yet, I understand this passage. I am sure that each of you have been there as well at some point in your lives. What do you do when the water is about to take you down? You look up! That is where my hope is. Sitting on my knees at the altar asking for God's help and direction through this ~ having two wonderful Christian women praying with me ~ that is God's hand. I kn...

There are times when things happen that you can just roll off. No biggy. Plus, it's a lot easier to let things just roll off when they happen to you. But, when people mess with my kids ~ that is a different thing all together. Friday I was SO mad. If fact, the word 'mad' doesn't describe it. I was so angry that I knew I couldn't rationally call the school. All those words that don't come out of me ~ well, they were going through my head. I just wanted to sit these people down and YELL and SCREAM!! So, I didn't call at all. After several hours of trying to calm down and telling God how mad I was ~ I finally could calm down enough to compose a rational e-mail. You might be wondering what in the world happened on Friday. (If your not wondering, you might just want to stop reading now!) Friday, we picked Luke up from middle school. I'm asking the usual questions about how his day was and what he had for lunch. The normal stuff. He then tells me that ...

We all have our struggles. Some are daily from our job or our families. Some struggles might happen spiritually or even financially. All of those struggles cause us stress and frustration. Then ~ there are those big struggles. Those moments that happen that leave us changed. The difficulty could be anything. It might be bankruptcy. It could be a divorce. Or an autism diagnosis. Or a death. Or even cancer. Those are hard pills to swallow. Yet, all of us have been there ourselves or with a loved one. And ~ unless God calls us home ~ we will be going through it again. And when we get that phone call ~ it is easy to ask the question, "why?" Why today Lord? Why does it happen to me or my family? Why can't everything be back to normal? Why? Why? Why? " Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I...

Luke (3rd), Joey (4th), & Faith (Kindergarten) My baby girl starting Kindergarten :( Luke (7th), Joey (8th), & Faith (4th) Another school year has begun. It's good, right? They are growing and learning and becoming the individuals that God meant them to be. Yet, I can't help but be a little sad at it going by so fast. My oldest is in junior high and taking pre-ap classes! Geez! Luke is the only one in middles school now. Then, there is my baby...my baby is in fourth grade now. My last one in elementary school! This year started a little different. Usually, Faith picks out her clothes the day before. (The boys you might ask ~ they never cared what they wore! I'm the one who cares if they match! LOL) She would start with her headband and earrings all the way down to the color her toes are painted. She never really dressed up for the first day. Faith would usually pick out carpis or maybe a skort ~ something she can play in! This year: t-shirt, shorts, a po...

When I see a rainbow, I think of all of God's promises. I know, I know...not very original! :) Yet, it is true! We cannot have the beauty of a rainbow ~ without the storm first. It is not possible. Even in the midst of the storm, God is there in a very real way. What does God promise us? "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~ Matthew 11:28 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those that love him." ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9 "But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster." ~ Proverbs 1:33 "Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear." ~ Isaiah 65:24 God did not promise a life with only sunny days with puffy clouds floating in the sky. God did not promise health, nor wealth. God didn't say we'd be the popular ones with lots of friends. God didn't even promise that w...

Our Pastor raised the question. . . What are you passionate about? Your kids? Your family? What hobbies are you passionate about? Painting, reading, sewing, photography, or maybe knitting? So many things in this world to become passionate about. Do you have any passion left for Christ? Do you live daily for Him? Not just on Sunday mornings, but each and everyday? In the dictionary, passion is defined as a "powerful or compelling emotion or feeling." Does that describe your walk with Christ? Do you want to read more? Pray more? Draw closer to Him? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind and all your strength." ~ Mark 12:30 To love the Lord with everything. Not just the pices of us that is left after a busy day. That is a tall order. After all, in this life, we are busy, right? We go to work most of the day. Then, we have to take the kids to football or soccer. We have to squeeze in supper somewhere too. By t...

"God does not exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of Him. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's all about Him." ~ Max Lucado Isn't the Milky Way beautiful? When you look at that picture of our little galaxy, you cannot pick you our little home: earth. And if we cannot see earth, we cannot see North America and the states we call home. Did you realize that there are estimated 100 to 200 billion galaxies in the Universe? We are so small in what God has created. So very small. Yet, we can look at the ocean and feel close to God. Or walk through nature and see all that God has created. Or hold a newborn baby. God is there, yes. But, God is also found in each of us. We are here to give light. . . give love. . . show God through us. To give God glory. And to me honestly ~ that sounded really weird to me for years. I mean, I realize why we would want to give praise and glory but why does God want the glory? He doesn...

Love Sunflowers! Simple A-Line Dress What To Do With Halloween Material? Cut It Up And Sew It Together! These Are Kinda' Match-y For Faith And Abby Still More Material? Make A Ruffle Skirt Too! This Is Faith's Favorite And I Used One Of The Boy's Old T-Shirts For The Base! :) Thursday I realized that my alone time was almost at the end and I hadn't even dug out my sewing machine! I even got two new patterns at Hobby Lobby when they were half price. I realize that when it says "simple" ~ it might be simple, but I am need a sewing for dummies pattern before I can follow it!! :( So, I dug out some of Faith's clothes so I could figure out length and widths I could use and tried it free-hand. I had one dress that didn't fit. Pretty good odds considering I have no idea what I'm doing! Can you tell that I have some Halloween material?? LOL Yeah, I still have some left too. I have two tubs of different material that I have collected ...

Last Sunday, after church, we dropped the kids off at camp. This is their first year. They were a bit nervous. Mommy was a bit nervous. Joey went to band camp earlier this summer, but that was only one kid-o. This time I was leaving all three of them. It is a christian camp that has been around a while and several of the kids at church go every year. So, I wasn't too worried about their safety. Besides, they send you a link to the pictures they download everyday. For instance, today they put up over 450 pictures! So, I have spent several hours just going through all of the pictures they put on there just to tag my kid-o's and see what their doing. You can put them in a favorites folder and order them at the end of the week. Out of all of those photos, there has only been one photo of Luke taken with his cabin on the first day. I have been so worried. Just asking for one picture of my boy! Just one! Finally, today, Luke's pictures was the last one in a group of photos: #307....

Contentment is something that we all struggle with. It is something that I struggle with. There is so many things out there in this world. So many places that I have never seen. So many things that I have never done. It is sometimes hard to look around at what I've done, who I am, where I am and say ~ it is enough. When ever my mind starts drifting in that direction, I remind myself that there is a real reason that I am here. Something that doesn't have to do with the stuff of this world. Something bigger than me. "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:11-13 Yet, still being of the flesh, I must remind myself of this. For my husband...

Woo-hoo!! Congratulations to Darla Anderson! Thank you to everyone who entered. I hope that you guys enjoy your desserts as much as I enjoy making them for you! There will another contest soon....maybe pie? Or cinnamon rolls? Or scones? We will have to see! For now, I'm going to dig out my carrot cake recipe, start shredding some carrots, and make a run to the store for cream cheese (for frosting). Delish! Have a wonderful Wednesday my friends. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Have you hear about some restaurants banning children? I know ~ it sounds a bit severe, doesn't it? But, think of some the kids your children go to school with. . . maybe even neighbors. . . and, sad to say, even kids in your own church. Geez!! Once my kids are grown and I don't have to put up with them, would I want to?? It's not the ones that have had a hard life or being raised by single parents most of the the time. It's kids with both parents and no discipline. Yeah, I said the big " D " word!! DISCIPLINE !! So many parents, let their kids get away with everything. There is no respect towards their parents, so (of course!) there isn't any respect towards other adults. Many of the teenagers today are carrying around IPhones. They are driving around cars that we as a family could not afford. They do not understand what it means to work towards something. To value the gifts they have been given. The children (and some adults) are in a "me, me, me...