1st Thursday

Whew!  I made it!!  I made it through my first EVER full fast day : )  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  Every time I felt really hungry, I just took a drink of water and prayed for someone.  God sure filled me up when I thought I was on completely empty. 

Many good folks in my church are doing a full 21 day fast much like my Thursday (that is what the church calls for).  Some are doing the Daniel Fast (http://www.ultimatedanielfast.com/2009/08/foods-to-eat-on-daniel-fast.html).  Some are fasting from things that just hold too much control over them.  I truly admire what people are giving up for this Fast. 

The idea of this fast is to spend more time focusing on God and prayer and less time on earthly things that tie up too much of our time, energy, thought life, etc.

I am thankful that the Lord showed me I could get through a day without food!!  I am thankful for the time away from Facebook to lift loved ones up in prayer and consideration.

One major prayer I have is for my sister-in-law, Kinze.  You should read her blog.  She is an inspiration.  No matter what is going on in her life, she is always full of joy and good spirits.  She is truly admirable.  I don't think I have ever heard her complain about anything!


href="http://www.joshandkinze.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x334/schillingtimes/schillingbutton.jpg"/>

Read her blog and you will see.

Prayers and blessings,
M

2012...
I am looking forward to what this year will bring to me and my little family.  I didn't think I would be doing resolutions this year.  But...

Our church does a fast every January.  21 days of fasting and praying.  This fasting can be exactly as you think of it - no food.  Just juice and water for 21 days.  However, they stress really making it personal.  If you feel led to only do the Daniel Fast (fruits and veggies) that is cool, or only fast one meal a day, or fast only one day a week.  Or use it as a time to withhold from something that maybe has more control over you than God would like.  Which leads to things that take me away from God.

1.  Facebook.  I have vowed to stay off of Facebook for the rest of the month of January.  I spend way too much of my day browsing and posting.  I don't have that much to say of great importance.  And the time I spend on Facebook could be used to have time with God, work harder on my household duties, work harder for my business and husband, etc.  You get the point.

2.  Food/weight loss/etc.  I would say a good portion of my day is spent thinking about food, how many calories are in the food I eat, how much I will have to work out to work off what I ate.  I track what I eat online, and I look up food and the "nutrition" of it far too much.  So, I have decided to take Thursdays off from eating.  I will be full out fasting every Thurs. for the rest of January.  I don't know if I have ever gone without food, other than when having surgery or something like that.  I am going to use Thursday to pray extensively.  I pray everyday, but while fasting I will pray for more and in more depth.  One prayer will be for God to break that bond that food has over me.

I am excited to see where this will take me.  I am excited to see how this can be used to glorify God.
I sure hope I have enough faith to get through this.  It may seem simple to you, but it is extraordinarily difficult for me (especially the food front!)

Feeling blessed by God,
M

Merry Christmas - 2011

 Merry Christmas! 

 We wish you the happiest of holidays.

 May this Christmas be a wonderful time celebrating our Lord's birth.

 We hope wonderful memories are made with your families and friends.

This "Santa" was mad because he was supposed to be off work after our kiddos, but the store didn't stop the line from forming after us...needless to say, he was a "BAD SANTA!!"

God Bless!
Enjoying every blessing,
M

Where does the time go?

Today is my little Angel Girl's 4th birthday!

 

  4 years!  Where have they gone?  My heart is a little sad, thinking maybe I didn't appreciate each moment enough as it has happened. 

However, I am so overjoyed with the beautiful little girl we are raising.





Lexi is smart, too smart sometimes. 

She is funny, I mean crack-you-up funny.  She has a smile that makes everyone else smile, and wants everyone around her to be happy.

Lexi is a friend.  She always wants to help others, and be liked - and she genuinely likes people!!

I am so proud of my outgoing, friendly, chatty little mini-me.  I pray that the Lord always keeps her on His path and that she is filled with a heart for Him.

God bless you, baby girl - or should I say BIG girl? *sigh*

 Enjoying every giggle, whine, cuddle, sass, and kiss,
M

God's Gift

Earlier this week, I gave a brief summary of my testimony at a ladies group.  They wanted to know when God/Christ became REAL to me.  I will give a quick rundown here:

I was 23, living with a boyfriend, and feeling completely empty and lost.  I started going to church, something I had been doing on and off since moving out of my parents' home.  The pastor's sermon on this given Sunday was about the God shaped hole in my heart.  Boy was that right on!  She said the only way I could fill it was to seek God, rely on Christ and give myself over to the Holy Spirit.  WOW!

W/in the next 3 weeks I moved out of the house with my boyfriend, broke up with him, moved closer to home and work, joined a new church and joined a women's Bible study without knowing a single woman (well one of them was an acquaintance).  WHEW!  A couple of weeks after that I met my husband.

That is where the God's Gift title comes in.  I 100% believe that Kevin was a gift from God sent just for me...well, he is a gift to a lot of people, but he is my most special gift.  I love my husband so much, that as I am typing this I am tearing up.  He is AMAZING!  Let me tell you a bit about him:



He is FUNNY!  He can make me laugh all the time.  If I am down, he can always lift me up.

He is so good at forgiving.  He loves me even through all, and there are MANY, faults. 


He always makes me feel special, loved, and beautiful.

He is smart.  He doesn't think he is, but he really is.  I am constantly amazed at his mental abilities, and his wisdom.


He is a fantastic and loved daddy.  He adores his children, and they definitely adore him.

So, thank you, God.  For giving me this gift.  I know it is his birthday, but I am the one who gets the best present.


Loving my birthday boy,
M

Just "hangin'" around

While trying to take a picture of my new 'do, the kids and I got a little distracted.  This is what I am doing instead of working!  haha!  Better get back to it!

Loving my silly babes,
M

Everything you wanted to know an more...

I stole this from my sister-in-law's blog a while back and thought I would post it now.  It kind of made me laugh to re-read her answers as I filled in my own.  Enjoy knowing everything about me you ever (or never) wanted to know!!

1. What time did you get up this morning? WOKE up at 5:40 but got up at 6:20 a.m.

2. How do you like your steak? magically turned in to pork or chicken?


3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema: Bridesmaids


4. What is your favorite TV show? C.S.I. - Las Vegas


5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? London


6. What did you have for breakfast? Mini-biscuits and gravy and cherry/peach crisp


7. What is your favorite food? chicken fried rice


8. Foods you dislike? can't think of any.


9. Favorite place to eat? Chinese Buffet or Johnny's


10. Favorite dressing? Ranch or Blue Cheese

 

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Dodge Charger SRT8


12. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and cardigans


13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Somewhere in South America


14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full


15. Where would you want to retire? Somewhere warm and dry


16. Favorite time of day? naptime? haha!


17. Where were you born? Northeast IL


18. What is your favorite sport to watch? cheerleading

 
19. What is your favorite fragrance? Viva La Juicy and Pumpkin spice from Bath and Body.


20. What is your favorite face cream? Aveeno


21. Favorite baby/kids products? baby shoes and baby jeans

22. People watcher? Most Definitely.


23. Are you a morning or night person? Probably a afternoon/evening person?


24. Do you have any pets? We have a goldfish, Jax.

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Um, no.

 
26. What did you want to be when you were little? a singer/dancer and a boss. haha!


27. What is your favorite memory? The week of my honey moon, and any time my husband and my kids and I get to hang out together.


28. Are you a cat or dog person? dog person


29. Are you married? Oh, yes!


30. Always wear your seat belt? Buckle up, its the law.


31. Been in a car accident? unfortunately


32. Any pet peeves? Many:  top two are 1.  Liars  2.  People who only think of themselves.


33. Favorite pizza toppings? sausage & mushroom


34. Favorite flower? tulips


35. Favorite ice cream? chocolate always chocolate


36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Burger King


37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None - I was a pro. ha!


38. From whom did you get your last email? A woman in my Mom's group.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Bergner's/Carson Pirie Scott.


40. Do anything spontaneous lately? maybe ;)


41. Like your job? most of the time.


42. Broccoli? Love it.


43. What was your favorite vacation? My trip to Europe and my honeymoon to Nashville.


44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My handsome hubby, Kev

45. What are you listening to right now? My babies talking to each other.


46. What is your favorite color? coral - and varying other shades of red.


47. How many tattoos do you have? 2

48. coffee drinker? definitely


Praying for energy after this post,
M