Saturday, July 9, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Independence ='s God-Dependence
I love celebrating the 4th of July. For me, though, it is more than the celebration of our Nation's Birthday, it's also a celebration from the release from the bondange I lived in for many years involving drugs and alcohol and other self destructive behavoirs.
July 7th I will celebrate 13 years of sobriety. The first 90 days were horrible as I tried to do it on my own. I kept trying to "fix" myself and regularly kept telling the Lord (which I knew he was wooing me), "just let me get this 'fixed' and I'll surrender Lord." Over and over I continued on an upward battle going nowhere.
I found myself in a place of desperation one day and ended up at "A Place Called Olive." It was there I met a young lady named Paige who introduced me the Most Excellent Way Meeting. It was then I had the privlege of meeting Eddie Echarri.
After realizing I couldn't do this thing called life on my own, in a gold 1970's chair I had in my one bedroom apartment, on October 19, 1998, I surrendered my will and my life to Jesus Christ.
When I look at the last 13 years and the people the Lord has brought into my life I stand amazed at how He orchestrated it all. Then I look at my own life and the many events He has brought me through in those 13 years.
In recent months specifically, He has continued to bring Isaiah 43:18 & 19 to the forefront of my Bible Studies. It reads, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." What promise for a future of provions, prosperity and nurishment! He has used that scripture to show me He is taking me on a new journey; that as I am growing in my walk with the Lord, so is the testimony He is giving me. How cool is that!
Then, more recently on June 22, the Lord used a friend to share with me Joshua 3:3-5. "3~When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move from your positions and follow it. 4~Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. . . . . . " 5~Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." This scripture has confirmed, once again, in my personal walk that new journey's are coming my way, I will have a choice, follow in obedience and know He is guiding me, or walk in disobedience and walk in the consequences. (I'm not saying He won't be with me should I choose the latter, I'm simply stating there is a choice and both have consequences.)
I stand amazed as He has taken a heart that has been cold and hardened for the last two years and has begun to soften it and woo it all over again. Over the last few months of rereading journal entries, seeing how my prayers were, "change/fix it" and now resonate, "Oh God, forgive me and change me, teach me and show me, help me God." I see now more than ever the spiritual warfare that exists, especially in my own home, and see the importance of reading scripture, memorizing it, claiming it and walking in that victory.
Wow! Now that makes me smile!
Father I thank you and praise you for newness of life. I thank you for bringing me through the valley's and thank you for mountaintop experiences that bring hope and encouragement. I pray for those struggling with addictions right now; for the parents, or children or spouses having to live through it. Bring them to know you, and Lord if they know you, I pray you reveal yourself to them in such a way they experience victory over bondage! I bring my family to you today, heal us all. Diminish my pride I pray. Thank your for 13 years of sobriety and for giving me the strength to make it this far. Thank you for the new journey's that are yet to come. Thank you for pulling me out of the pit of filth. Thank you for friends that have become family and love and encourage. Use me this day I pray and believe. So be it, Amen.
July 7th I will celebrate 13 years of sobriety. The first 90 days were horrible as I tried to do it on my own. I kept trying to "fix" myself and regularly kept telling the Lord (which I knew he was wooing me), "just let me get this 'fixed' and I'll surrender Lord." Over and over I continued on an upward battle going nowhere.
I found myself in a place of desperation one day and ended up at "A Place Called Olive." It was there I met a young lady named Paige who introduced me the Most Excellent Way Meeting. It was then I had the privlege of meeting Eddie Echarri.
After realizing I couldn't do this thing called life on my own, in a gold 1970's chair I had in my one bedroom apartment, on October 19, 1998, I surrendered my will and my life to Jesus Christ.
When I look at the last 13 years and the people the Lord has brought into my life I stand amazed at how He orchestrated it all. Then I look at my own life and the many events He has brought me through in those 13 years.
In recent months specifically, He has continued to bring Isaiah 43:18 & 19 to the forefront of my Bible Studies. It reads, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." What promise for a future of provions, prosperity and nurishment! He has used that scripture to show me He is taking me on a new journey; that as I am growing in my walk with the Lord, so is the testimony He is giving me. How cool is that!
Then, more recently on June 22, the Lord used a friend to share with me Joshua 3:3-5. "3~When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move from your positions and follow it. 4~Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. . . . . . " 5~Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." This scripture has confirmed, once again, in my personal walk that new journey's are coming my way, I will have a choice, follow in obedience and know He is guiding me, or walk in disobedience and walk in the consequences. (I'm not saying He won't be with me should I choose the latter, I'm simply stating there is a choice and both have consequences.)
I stand amazed as He has taken a heart that has been cold and hardened for the last two years and has begun to soften it and woo it all over again. Over the last few months of rereading journal entries, seeing how my prayers were, "change/fix it" and now resonate, "Oh God, forgive me and change me, teach me and show me, help me God." I see now more than ever the spiritual warfare that exists, especially in my own home, and see the importance of reading scripture, memorizing it, claiming it and walking in that victory.
Wow! Now that makes me smile!
Father I thank you and praise you for newness of life. I thank you for bringing me through the valley's and thank you for mountaintop experiences that bring hope and encouragement. I pray for those struggling with addictions right now; for the parents, or children or spouses having to live through it. Bring them to know you, and Lord if they know you, I pray you reveal yourself to them in such a way they experience victory over bondage! I bring my family to you today, heal us all. Diminish my pride I pray. Thank your for 13 years of sobriety and for giving me the strength to make it this far. Thank you for the new journey's that are yet to come. Thank you for pulling me out of the pit of filth. Thank you for friends that have become family and love and encourage. Use me this day I pray and believe. So be it, Amen.
Psalm 91:4
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Kid's Wall Art
The kids picked some items out of the yard with different textures; then picked out some paint colors and made their own piece of art! Kayla helped with Kaitlyn and I helped Christopher. We had a great time doing this!
Kayla and Kaitlyn
so cool!
Hmmmm. . . . what should I do next?
This was a great project to do for Christopher's sensory problems!
He would only use his finger but by the time we finished, his hands were covered!
The underneath side of the leaves gave better prints.
Their masterpiece! Kaitlyn's is on the left and Christopher's, the right.
Christopher's!
Kaitlyn's!
Kaitlyn's completed with her hand prints!
Christopher with his hand prints!
We had a great time doing it and will make more art!Fourth of July 2011
Took pics of the kids putting out our flags this morning. Usually I ruin the moment by making them put them in the EXACT spot and spacing them perfectly. (Yes, it's called OCD. I like balance. What can I say?) Anyway, this morning, I said, "here are your flags. spread them out so they aren't all together." That's it.
Sunday afternoon, Michelle and her youngins and mom are coming over. We are making (well, the kids are making) 4th of July t-shirts. I'll add those pictures to these as well.
Love making memories!
God gave Kaitlyn a feather this morning :)
Sunday afternoon, Michelle and her youngins and mom are coming over. We are making (well, the kids are making) 4th of July t-shirts. I'll add those pictures to these as well.
Love making memories!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Fourth of July Fruit Pizza
Several years ago, (when I ran the kitchen at Olive), a friend of mine made a fruit dessert that wowed me. It's been MANY years, and I made a tweak or two to make it my own, but here it is.
This is my rendition of a Fruit Pizza!
What you need:
1 mission 96% fat free flour tortilla
pam oven spray
brown sugar
3/4 c fresh strawberries
4 tablespoons fresh blueberries
chocolate syrup
powder sugar
Cut the flour tortilla in fourths. Lightly spray each flour tortilla with oven spray. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of brown sugar on each triangle. Place in toaster oven and toast until golden brown/crispy. Once cool, divide strawberries into fourths; 1 tablespoon of blueberries on each triangle, drizzle LIGHTLY with chocolate syrup and sprinkle LIGHTLY with powder sugar.
Pick it up and eat it! Yes, some of the blueberries will roll off, just lean over the plate! lol!
My friend used blackberries along with the blueberries and strawberries, and a fat free cool whip on top of hers and then drizzled with the syrup. I opted for the powder sugar because that is what I had on hand. That's the good thing about recipes, you can make them your own!
Enjoy!
Stacey
Nutritional information (based on how I made it, not with whip cream):
This is my rendition of a Fruit Pizza!
What you need:
1 mission 96% fat free flour tortilla
pam oven spray
brown sugar
3/4 c fresh strawberries
4 tablespoons fresh blueberries
chocolate syrup
powder sugar
Cut the flour tortilla in fourths. Lightly spray each flour tortilla with oven spray. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of brown sugar on each triangle. Place in toaster oven and toast until golden brown/crispy. Once cool, divide strawberries into fourths; 1 tablespoon of blueberries on each triangle, drizzle LIGHTLY with chocolate syrup and sprinkle LIGHTLY with powder sugar.
Pick it up and eat it! Yes, some of the blueberries will roll off, just lean over the plate! lol!
My friend used blackberries along with the blueberries and strawberries, and a fat free cool whip on top of hers and then drizzled with the syrup. I opted for the powder sugar because that is what I had on hand. That's the good thing about recipes, you can make them your own!
Enjoy!
Stacey
Nutritional information (based on how I made it, not with whip cream):
| Calories: | 70 Carbs: 18 | Fat: 1 | Protein: 2 | Fiber: 2 | Sodium: 84 |
Friday's Weigh In
I was a little unsure about today's weigh in. I found myself eating when I wasn't hungry. Now, what I was eating wasn't all that bad, it's the fact I was eating for comfort. Regardless of what I am eating, if I am eating to gorge, there is a problem. When my anxiety is high, I should call upon the name of the Lord, not the fridge!
Still reading Made to Crave. I re-read Chapter's 6 and 7 because I needed to make sure I was ready for 8. If I can't remember what I read, I go back and re-read. My journey for weight loss is more than the scales decreasing, buy my heart increasing.
When I stepped on the scales, I was prepared for it either way. Last week I had to weigh in on Wednesday instead of Friday. It had been 10 days since my last weigh in.
When the scales registered a 7 POUND LOSS I did the happy dance! Yes! I DID! It was not a pretty sight, but I still DID!
Along with the thrill of the weight loss, I was given spiritual insight that put an extra skip in my step.
In the last 19 hours the Lord has given me the number 7 to symbolize and confirm an area that satan is waring against us (I won't get into that at this point, but will soon). Seven days, Seven pounds, Seven books. The three together mean nothing, but combined, shows me the sovereignty of God. That right there means more than the weight loss (of course the weight loss is wonderful, but seeing the hand of God in my life just comforted this girls heart beyond words.)
So, today, I am thankful for where I am; looking forward to where He is taking, and Resting in His faithfulness.
Walking in Victory,
Stacey
I John 3:1
Still reading Made to Crave. I re-read Chapter's 6 and 7 because I needed to make sure I was ready for 8. If I can't remember what I read, I go back and re-read. My journey for weight loss is more than the scales decreasing, buy my heart increasing.
When I stepped on the scales, I was prepared for it either way. Last week I had to weigh in on Wednesday instead of Friday. It had been 10 days since my last weigh in.
When the scales registered a 7 POUND LOSS I did the happy dance! Yes! I DID! It was not a pretty sight, but I still DID!
Along with the thrill of the weight loss, I was given spiritual insight that put an extra skip in my step.
In the last 19 hours the Lord has given me the number 7 to symbolize and confirm an area that satan is waring against us (I won't get into that at this point, but will soon). Seven days, Seven pounds, Seven books. The three together mean nothing, but combined, shows me the sovereignty of God. That right there means more than the weight loss (of course the weight loss is wonderful, but seeing the hand of God in my life just comforted this girls heart beyond words.)
So, today, I am thankful for where I am; looking forward to where He is taking, and Resting in His faithfulness.
Walking in Victory,
Stacey
I John 3:1
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