A different kind of New Years Eve

This is the first New Years eve in a lot of years that we haven't been surronded by lots of people, or teens or both. It's an odd feeling, we almost went to Roseville to see Pastor Joey preach and be around a bunch of teenagers, but we are both just tired. It seems that we have had no time to unpack properly, and get our house together, I mean I know it may look like that if you came in, but you haven't seen the garage. So we did a bit of that tonight, made an amazing ham, and had family time. It's been really nice actually, the wii has been so good for us too, Selah has been running all day long on it, Aslan has been working on his co-ordination with this step game, I worked out til it "made " me take a break ( yes it makes you take a break after 45 minutes, also I am still unlocking new yoga positions etc., and daddy well he's been sick so he just gets to watch and cheer us on! So here's to a different kind of New Year, and although I love being around lots of teens and young adults, this year it's exactly what the doctor ordered! So Happy New's years Eve to all!

Wii Fit rocks!

So I think I said yesterday that my mom let me borrow her Wii fit. I stinkin love it. I never knew I was so good at yoga, in two days I'm a master on some of the exercises ( a master according to their rating) which might I add is not easy , just ask anyone who has played it, it would rather insult you then give you props, but I actually got applause today. I always knew I was flexible but my core is stronger than most people of my ...um weight ....hehe. So anyway I worked out for half hour last night and over an hour tonight but the best part is the kids love it too! It's the best of both worlds, exercise and a video game all in one. Selah was kickin booty on it tonight I was so proud of her. She really enjoys the balance games and the running, who knows maybe she will do track someday. But here is an infamous quote to got down in the record books of bloggerdom. When she had been exercising with us for over an hour and finished a long distance run, finally I told her she had to take a shower, and get ready for bed. Her response was in all of Selah dramatics and flare, " I better do that because under my arms is filled with sweat"
and if you know Selah just picture her doing that! LOL too funny it was! But seriously Wii fit is amazing, did I mention that?

Thank God for Lisa!!

So life is good, like I said yesterday, I'm happy here, love it love it! The job will be great, it's a tad stressful right now. I consider myself a quick learner and an intelligent person, but how do you cram six years of info into one week. Luckily Lisa is the best trainer in the world, but I am so super hard on myself. I need to stop that, I like to be told once and get it right the second time, I hate making mistakes! Don't get me wrong I didn't even make any big mistakes , just little things that I caught and fixed, so what's my problem....hmmm I know it's cause I'm a control freak I want to know all there is to know right away...haha not gonna happen here folks...thanks for coming but it ain't happening. So thank God (literally ) for Lisa she is the bestest!
In other news, I did the Wii fit today( i borrowed it from my mom to see if I liked it) I worked out for 30 minutes and it rocked! It was fun, and has a combination of activities to keep it interesting. I highly recommend it, that and Sparkpeople.com, it's really very amazing and I love it! My dad has lost a ton of weight using the program and a friend has lost some too, and best of all it's all free! I tried running a few months ago, then it made my body worse due to the condition I have, so the doctor told me no running aloud, so it was discouraging then I moved and now I don't walk around all day I sit on my rump in an office, so I need everyones help to keep it up, I really want to , I really really do! Anyway nuff about that, you should check it out!

Here's to a new year coming.

We went to church this morning in our new church and the kids absolutley loved kids church.(there was none last week due to Christmas) So yeah it was good. The normal worship leader was not there so it was a bit different but the pastor did a great job. He talked about change, and a lot about Joey and Jen coming and all they have to offer. It was very well done and a great service. I'm excited about things to come, I'm truly happy here. I feel at peace, I love our home and I see a bright future ahead.
In other news, a little girl approached us when we were getting out of the car yesterday after going to the store and she asked if she could play with Selah. I guess her friends lived here before us and when she visits her grama down the street she would come here and play. So she ended up playing with Selah, she is a nice girl who 10 and Selah has played with her yesterday and now today. It's weird though because I know you can trust us, but how does her grama know we are not crazy's, maybe I'm way to overprotective but my kids don't leave my site unless I really know the people. But God is good he has given Selah a friend, she has been a bit difficult lately with her attitude. She has had the hardest time with the move so we are trying to cut her a little slack but it seems like she just keeps tugging that rope. Today we were eating lunch, and my mom and dad are still visiting and Selah said something about the restaurant, so I turned and talked to her about what she said, that maybe she could phrase it differently, and she says, " Mom, do you always have to talk to me about everything I do, " I looked at her and before I could open my mouth she said, " Yup here it comes again" My dad who was sitting at the table had to get up so he wouldn't burst out laughing right then and there. It really was funny but of course I had to "talk to her " about saying that. lol. Oh to be young again.

"We are the Hartmans, we live next door and I got Lego Batman for Christmas!"

No lie, word for word and then , Aslan added, " I was born in 99" Rewind a bit .... So today we are finally back home in our house in Stockton , in our sweet quiet little neighborhood, and I'm in the kitchen and I see a kid ride by on a bike,
"Kid " I say, " there's a kid" ( let me preface this by saying , in our old house the kids had two neighbor boys they were very close too and have been a bit lonely since the move. ( Although Selah hasn't stopped talking about when little Joei was here, and already planning their next play time)
Aslan was like "really?", and got excited then went back to lego batman. Having played a little too much lego batman for any human being in a 24 hour period
I said, " Aslan go outside and see if you can meet him"
"Ahh come on mom"
"Get a sweatshirt on, you need to go get fresh air anyway,"
So then I told Selah who got all excited and they went outside. So no sign of kid on bike, but I guess someone was down the street a bit on the scooter and since they can't leave the front yard they won't meet him today.
Soooooo, Then Selah comes in about 10 minutes later and says, " There's a sweet girl next door"
"Really?" I say , " Did you meet her?"
"No , she just offered me candy and I said "No thank you."
"You didn't introduce yourself? "
" No I'm shy.." Selah shy ?, yeah right, but I guess with some people she doesn't know she can be a bit shy. So she goes and gets Aslan, and says, " You can do it Aslan your my big brother , You'll know what to say" So Aslan puffs up his chest and looks all proud and says ok come on. And off they went to the front yard. I went back to what I was doing and about 5 minutes later they come back inside.
"How did it go?" the nosy mom asked
"It went great!" Aslan said
"So you met the girl?"
"Yeah she was standing behind the guy, "
"What ....." I say " Come again"
"Well when we knocked on the door ...."
"YOU DID WHAT?....."
" We knocked on the door she had gone inside..."
I went through both shock worry and oh my... all in one moment , but seeing them standing there in one safe piece I listened on..
"Yeah mom, we met her dad he was nice and she was being shy , hiding behind him, and I said We are the Hartmans we live next door, I got lego batman for Christmas and I was born in 99"
Now my mom and dad are visiting seeing our new house so they can attest to the fact that we were all cracking up , at this statement, it was so matter of fact and so funny! My dad even said "ok, whose blogging that one?"
Too funny, now I went over it with the kids that we do not leave the yard , we don't go to people's houses, mommy is extremley protective about these things. But that was too funny I don't care who you are! lol

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, and have a blessed new year!

Shake of the dust folks... Im back!

Feels like it has been forever since I posted. We have had no internet, it's funny how you don't realize how often you use it until you lose it.( I know I'm a poet and didn't know it hehe). I know you missed all my corny lame jokes, but no more fretting I'm back.
Well mucho has changed since I last blogged, we both started our new jobs, Bill got the perfect Monday thru Friday job, it doesn't pay a bundle but the family time is well worth it. I love my new job, there is just so much information! Part of me feels like I will never know it all! I am the type of person who likes to know everything about everything right away but at this job that is not even possible, not even a little bit possible. So anyway it's awesome though, with all sorts of great benefits!
Well I will get more into things later but for now I must go! I hope everyone is having a very Merry (couple days before) Christmas!

It's a waiting game...

So a few more days of work, before we move! It's weird though I don't think it's hit any of the people I work with, we still talk about " in the future or stuff. Too funny! I think it's because I still put my whole heart into work. I am up making sure every customer gets great service, and that all employees are doing what they should. I guarentee you I will be doing that until Wednesday , my last day!
So It's all a waiting game right now, we are in limbo, I hurt my back so work has been tough but I will still miss parts of it, but not a lot lol. Can't wait to start my new job, my new city, I know I keep saying that but man, it's time isn't it? I know one thing for sure, next Sunday we will be in our new church coming from our new home.

The other night when we were in our new home eating dinner with the kids, We were talking about how much God has blessed us, with our home etc. Selah said , yes of course, because you guys have been youth pastors and you always let people live with us. To which Aslan added , "and it's cause you love people"
Wow...through the mouth of babes.

Hey and do me a favor, when you have to wait in a long line at a store, or it's busy or it's not ringing up right, try to make the cashier smile and let them know, you know it's not their fault and wish them a Merry Christmas...I have been up line monitoring for days and it still amazes me how some people act. But also they have a hard time grumbling to my cheerful smile and positive disposition!!

Say a prayer...

Not too much to say, hmmm work was good went by fast, it's very late! I can't wait to be in my home, in my new city. But I would like to dedicate this blog to a few prayer requests!

Lily-that everything in her little body would be just perfect!
My friend from work's mom who is battling cancer-she is a fighter though!
Aslan and Selah-that God would give them the perfect teachers and friends at their new school!

why worry!

So last night if you noticed I did in fact, sound a bit stressed and worried, it's hard when you think your husband is unemployed and you have Christmas coming and rent due , and utilities etc. But it all worked out today, from the beginning we told his work that he wanted to stay on , on an on call basis, but instead his boss took him off the books, which made him get paid for vacation, which is sweet, and now he has turned around and re-enstated him, he only did it so Bill could get the vacation pay. That was great!! And now he's got a guard card and some hours so we are not sunk lol! I have no doubt he is going to be on with a new company soon, and it will all be awesome. It's a whole new world for us with rent and utilities, so please bear with if I am not always worry free. But I can honestly tell you God has guided us every step of the way on this move, and he has been more than faithful to us. I feel so undeserving of all the great doors that have opened, all the needs that have been met for us.
Also you never realize the impact you have had on people until you are leaving, it's very touching to see the reactions of people, telling me how much I will be missed or how I've touched their lives. I will miss them as well, it's always nice to know you are making a difference, and now I get to do that on a whole new level.

P.S.
My assistant store manager told me I would forever be known as "WG" world's greatest 1-2, 1-2 is my title, she said I was the best she has had and will probably ever have..ahh And my store manager told me that the form I made to evaluate, the cashiers he is going to send to the district because he thinks it's that good. Wow those things would look good in my file , (considering I'm leaving the company, that won't matter lol) but it feels good none the less.

Only a minute

So I only have a minute to catch up , We had an absolutley fabulous time in our new home for the two days we got to be there, Selah actually said of Monday night by the fire with hot cocoa and prince Caspian and after decorating our tree, was "the best night of her life" It really was great, our new home is beautiful, and the kids keep saying that over and over , that they love it etc. We had a little water incident Tuesday night but came away unscathed and it's fixed now, which it was just a faulty part on the washer connection. So we are very blessed, please pray for us though, we still need Bill's perfect job, he has applied everywhere, for security up there he needs a guard card, which I guess we are going to go ahead and pay the money for, so he has it, so that will probably work out, but it's hard for me to not micro-manage and stress about it. I'm really trying, I mean I know that God has worked every other detail out, so I know he will work this one out!
Also we met a neighbor he is a pastor and a cool guy. Our neighborhood is very quiet . I love it!

Schedule

So it's been crazy times, but we are moved in, well sorta, our stuff is there, we are not, so I guess "moved in" is not the correct term. But the kids and Bill are going to our new home tommorrow afternoon and I 'm going there after work at like , late past late. But we will be there Monday Tuesday and part of Wednesday, then not sure , we are coming and going until the 17th. After the 17th we will be there for good , (except Bill commuting, until we find him the perfect job.) He is going to pound the pavement while we are up there the next few days, so please kick the prayers into overdrive, I really don't want him commuting with all this fog, and the crazy hours, we need a miracle, but everything else has been a miracle so I expect one.
In other news , Cindy said she got us a great tree, that was so sweet of her and I can't wait to decorate my new house, I'm like a kid when it comes to Christmas.
So more updates later, and right now I'm realizing I'm so not going to miss retail!

Soon and very soon.....

I'm so exhausted, packing all day then working 9 hours til 1am, and tomorrow same story. Tomorrow we will be packing up the uhaul , then Bill will be driving it down on Saturday with some boys to help him unpack, while I work 11-7:30 (I'm hoping they will let me off early, that would be rad) Then it's down to the house for Saturday night and Sunday until 2pm when I have to go work until 1am again, come back and stay on Monday and Tuesday in Stockton. Crazy yeah? I know it is , I'm just so excited about getting there and getting settled, i really want to decorate for Christmas , and build a fire, and drink coffee and chill, I 'm so so so so excited, the only thing not do-able in that is the 'chill' part, I won't be doing that for quite a while. I am so not the type that will have boxes still packed after a month, they will be gone and done as quickly as possible. I'm also doubly blessed cause Cindy M. text me today and asked if we needed a Christmas tree, and I asked " Yeah , Do you have one, lol?" and she said, " I could get you one, and I said that would be amazing!" What a kind beautiful person she is , how considerate is that? So once again I 'm so blessed to have all these beautiful people around me.
Also could you all pray for a little angel named Lily, she has been having some sickness going on and we want complete healing. She's already proven to be a miracle and a fighter so we are not worried but all the pray we can get is great!!!

The new house!!

So we got up this morning and drove down to Stockton to drop off some pictures and mirrors, so they wouldn't get broken in the move, and also so I could see the house. So as soon as I exited off the freeway I was impressed. The area is Weston Ranch and it's only been there for like 10 years, so on each side of the road that goes through is the walls to protect the neighboorhoods, with grass and a walking/bike path and benchs along the way. I kept expecting to see a rough area in the middle or something, ( because if you know Stockton you know that , a lot of areas go from really nice to rough in .2 houses ) Anyway so we turn down our street and all the houses look good then we pull up to ours. There are rose bushes in the front and a nice path , tile entryway and a cute outside light, it also has a window next to the door and on the top,it looks cute!! So I go inside and I was so thrilled , it looked better than the pictures. You will all just have to see it to understand. It's perfect for us. My closet is huge, and I have a nice round bathtub!! The two things I really wanted, oh yeah and a fire place! The only things I noticed that weren't perfect is that you can tell a man cleaned it, cause it needs some tlc, and I won't have a lot of time for that right now , but I will have to make due, and the other is inside the cabinets in the kitchen need some tlc, the kitchen is my favorite part of the house so it's funny that inside them needs some work, but we can handle that, it's a great amazing house, I love love love it!!! I just need some area rugs very badly since there is no carpet, so if anyone has a few lying around let me know, LOL!

Breaking up is hard to do..

So I gave my two weeks notice today, it was tough cause I don't want to let people down, I'm so weird like that, I even considered telling him I would come back for some key days like Dec 26 and 31st and 1st but I didn't, I guess I just realized they will manage , and I can enjoy my Christmas and New Years. So my store manager was not there or my supervisor so I had to break up in email (lol) So I hope he understands......but...... having said all that I will say that I am so so excited about my new job!!!! Not only the hours and family time but the job itself, I was already dreaming last night and talking to my sister about getting Radical Reality to her neck of the woods! hehe I am stoked! God is so very good.
Now it is very late ( I didn't get off until 12:30am) So I should probably go to bed, I get to see my new house tomorrow I'm super de duper excited, I will report back soon.

Wow squared

So just another thing falling into place... I just got off the phone with Donnie and Cindy Moore and they offered me the job at Radical Reality!!!! Wowie wow wow, I'm so excited, It will mean way more family time, more ministry potential on a grander scale, and a chance to support a ministry that has been a huge part of the person I am today. I was actually called to ministry at a youth convention in Sacramento California where Donnie Moore was speaking, the following summer God changed my life at the Donnie Moore camp and haven't missed many since that year when I was 17... wow what an honor to work under this man and woman of God, and of course the rest of the amazing team (which includes one of my favorite preachers Joey Steelman). So I stand once again in awe of the awesomeness of God , that he would reach down to work out these details for us, every little detail...wow.
In other news....one of our teenagers posted a bulletin on myspace titled, " To Pb and Charity"
I only post it here so I will have it forever as a memory, since someday I will print these blogs out and scrapbook them or something... but I'm honored to be a part of this amazing young lady's life, she is truly one of the best girls I've had the privelage to know and I love her dearly.... this is what she wrote

"thank you for everything that you guys have done. i can't even express how much i will miss you guys because of your being here in the little town of biggs i've grown so much as a christian. i know u guys will be doing great things in Stockton and God will continue to use your family for greatness. to pb: thanks for always being crazy/fun/energetic. you really opened my eyes and you've shown me a new way to look at Christianity. you are always looking for improvement and God will bless you for that. to Charity: ok you already held me in a hug yesterday when i was bawling:) you have always been there for me. like a 2nd mother. you have not only encouraged me in my walk with God but also in my art. and you better keep up your artwork too. you both are very talented and i can't wait to see what God's gonna do in Stockton and even here in Biggs and Gridley. ok i better stop. im crying. ok but the point is that i love you both and i want you to know that you will be missed. And i want you to get excited about the future cuz God has great things in store.:)"

Now you see why this is so hard...

Goodbye's are never easy.....but "God told us to!"

Well I think I'm out of tears...literally...emotionally exhausted ...but in a peaceful joyful way. Today was so hard. Saying goodbye to people who are family, who have embraced us,

and loved us for 5 1/2 years, and the best pastor we have ever had...not an easy day. It was my last day leading worship for our church and I could hardly get through each song, due to all the memories flooding back, and all good memories.When you leave somewhere in peace all you remember is the good! Pastor honored us today in so many many ways. The church honored us today, and there was so much love all around. People are truly excited for us and we are truly blessed to have known all of these wonderful people, and we can't wait to see what God does here in Gridley, because I know He is getting ready to do some great stuff.

Even though there is great sadness in our home (kids too) there is much anticipation for the new chapter. I have so much faith, like never before because God has worked every detail of this move out more than I've ever seen happen before, it's amazing, I know I've talked about it but wow! So here starts a new chapter in our lives...I know God has amazing things in

store for us, "Though the vision tarry....wait for it"

Today at lunch when Bill's grama (mana) asked Aslan

"So Aslan what do you think about moving to Stockton?"

Aslan said matter of factly , "Well God told us to" and went back to eating his food. It was so special and priceless, not only does Aslan have such a sweet spirit , but an understanding

of spiritual things, he is so very amazing ( of course I know I'm biased but oh well!)

So now comes a week of a lot of packing and a lot of moving, I wish I could skip over this part but , it is a neccessary evil, lol So I will try to blog this week , by the way do you know if you subscribe to blogs, when they post it shows up on the dashboard so you can know who posted since the last time you were on. It's kinda cool!

Is it over or has it just begun??

So Black Friday was long and exhausting but it went very quickly.
I got to bed around 7:30pm woke up at 11pm couldn't get back to sleep,
but laid there until 1am when the alarm went off, got to work at 2:30am
and then worked until 2:30pm. On my end of things it went very smooth,
I did my job so well that it went off with out a hitch,
(my store manager told me so!) It still amazes me though how people
will fight (literally fight) through those lines to save 10 dollars or so .
Literally a few girls in the line about an hour , had two toys, they retailed
at about 10 dollars and they were on sale for 3.99 each , and thats all they
bought. A line that long for that!!! I can almost understand the blenders the
microwaves, the pots and pans cause you save a lot , but two little toys, wow.
I think for some people it's nostalgia, they just like the rush of it all. Most
people were being civil human beings which was nice, but there are always
those exceptions. When we opened the doors at 4am the line went all the way
around the building outside and we had over 500 people walk in the door I was in
utter shock!! Anyway though today I got up at 4am got there at 6am and it was the
opposite, it got busier later but Im super exhausted, and I have to pack and move
on Friday!!
So I'm not at all sad about that, even though I couldn't do the walkthrough
with Bill today, the kids love the house and the back yard and their rooms,
and Bill loves it too of course, We just need to get some Big area rugs
(since it's all tile) So if anyone just happens to have some of those laying
around let me know (lol) I will post some pics of the inside of the house tommorrow
but if you want to read a tear jerker concerning "the hartman's journey"
check out my mom's blog , it's an honor to us and a tear jerker for sure! I have the best mom!
http://katladyspawsandscrap.blogspot.com/

I stand in Awe of God...

Wow.... pretty much sums it up....wow and wow.

We got the beautiful home with all the things

we could ever imagine wanting, and we sign the lease tomorrow.

God is so good, a few weeks ago when all this happened

I never would have imagined that every step would be so clear and easy.

A few weeks ago we didn't know how we would get the deposit,

where we would live, or work, etc. but now it's all fallen into place,

( the only detail left is the perfect job for Bill) I have been told that

I am pretty much getting the perfect job, monday through Friday,

evening weekends and holidays off, and a constant hands on ministry

( I will tell you more when I get the for sure for sure from my new boss's)

As tears fill my eyes for the hundreth time today, and I pinch myself not

believing it could all be this smooth, and the fact that the plans we

had for a house , God was like oh no I have something better,

every detail you wanted that you didn't even think to ask,

a great neighborhood and a great school district, wow and wow.

I had an amazing lunch with my current Pastor's wife the other day and

That was another awe situation, she was so supportive and excited for us

She said we have so many giftings, and talents that she can't wait to see how

God uses them. We wept together and bonded like we hadn't done in awhile .

It could not have gone better. God you are so very very good, and you do

order the steps of a righteous man

So maybe this will encourage someone today, you feel like your in a desert or in

the fire, take heart, stay faithful, and trust in God and he will bless you , "above what
you could ask or think, pressed down , shaken together and running over."

WOWWWWWWWWW!!!

Thank you Jesus!

(By the way these are the kids new haircuts)

Happy Thankful Day

So I figured I should post now because I am going to try my best to

go to bed by 7pm, since I have to get up at 1am to get ready for work,

Yes I said 1am, I have to be at Kohls' (30 minutes away) at 2:45am.

In-stinkin-sane I know. But anyway I am thankful for my job,

I got a text from someone I've been ministering to at work,

a college kid who needed encouragement and he said he was

thankful for me, for caring and helping, it touched me, cause

to me it's just how I roll, I listen I help when I can and I

encourage, but it meant a lot to him and that feels good.

God has given me such vast opportunities to minister in my job ,

I will truly miss that, but I know I will have even more

in the future!

So Jen asked what people were thankful for in her blog

and this was my response, (forgive the copy and paste but I didn't

want to have to type again!

I am so very thankful for so many many things, I too had a very tough

childhood and very often I sit and say, Wow God I don't deserve all of

this, all these blessings and the perfect family, etc. I'm so grateful that

even when I've questioned the call or felt like giving up , God has held

me right there on the edge not letting me fall over. I'm thankful that

he has sustained the house we are living in and thankful that he has

something better for us. I thank God that he has given us the opportunity

to open a new chapter in our lives, with people we love more than they will

ever know. The people who , when we were going through our hardest stage

of ministry took the time to send us a card saying they believed in us, and

who would've that that the bond that begin there would end up here. I'm

so so thankful, for the opportunity he has given me to minister at my work

and to truely touch lives there, and now a greater opportunity in my job to

touch even more lives. I'm thankful most of all that no matter what the future

holds for us that we are in God's hands and nothing will change that!

If what you think you want to work out doesn't...

I tell young people all the time, if what you think you really really want to

work out doesn't , there is a reason for it and God has something better for you.

So it happened that way today. Now I admit when the landlord from Hacienda court

called us to say that he decided to go with an older retired couple with no pets, my

heart sank, I was at work and I'm not gonna lie, I kinda felt the wind knocked

out of me a bit. I know I seem extra anxious, but if you only knew the extent of where

we live at this time and I really want to get settled to decorate for Christmas,

and convince the kids that a new house is all the gift they need from us ...lol etc. etc.

Anyway, so I got home and resumed my search for the perfect house.

Well when we visited Stockton awhile back we drove

through this area called Weston Ranch, it is really really nice, and there

schools are highly rated , it's a bit further from the church than we want but a really

it appealed to us. Anyway we called on it and left a message not expecting to

hear back from the guy right away, well he called

us right back and he and Bill really hit it off, and etc. so he sent u s pics of the inside

and my mouth hit the floor, these are recent pics he just took, and so we sent off our

application, and Bill is going to go see it Saturday, the guy said if our info checks out

then the house is ours, so pray that he gets all the info he needs and if this is God's

will that it will all work out, it is beautiful as you can see but I only want God's will!

But in case God wants my opinion, those granite countertops, tile floor and

walk in closet in the bedroom are looking pretty good....lol

Emotional day....

Alas, a very emotional day. Next Sunday is our last Sunday

at our church. Bill is preaching , and we are leaving on the best of

terms, but it's still very hard. They are our family, and of course ,

there is my real family, it's not easy. But I do know God is up to

something big, even Bill's grama came down today and said some

surprising things about this move, I thought she would be negative

about it , but she wasn't at all, she was very encouraging , so it was

good. Now more of the unknown, not my personality to leap so far with

so few guarentee's but that is where God always comes in, when we get

to the end of ourselves and our ability to control situations is when he

does his best work. So keep us in your prayers, perfect job for Bill,

perfect home(hopefully on Hacienda court lol) etc. I had an interview

for the most perfect job the other day , I feel good about it, and I really

pray I will get it. So I can't wait to share all the miracles with you as

they come! Thanks for all your support, you guys are the best!!!

What a day...

Well aunt Faith is here with here two kids Allie and Tyler, they usually stay

with us but I feel so bad cause this time they can't , for so many reasons, first one

being we had not two but three boys sleeping here last night, and we are packing,

and we are down one room. So thank God my Parents had a place for them, we stayed

up late talking which was good, it's always good when she comes, we have great talks

and great fun. We had a very long day and I'm exhausted, then I came home and

packed a bit cause we still have quite a bit to do and it's easier to tackle it in little bits

at this point, and now it's 12:15 am and we have church tomorrow so it's night night

time for me!

Believe with us!

This is the one we want! It has the seal of approval of Pastor (bishop rofl)

Joey Steelman, and most important Jen Steelman. So believe with us, the landlord

said we were at the top of the list, so here's to the perfect house. Check it out! http://stockton.craigslist.org/apa/916773465.html

Just another miracle...

Well last night I found out that the two houses I really really liked, from the same

owner, we got approved for. They are in a great neighborhood by a golf course

(not that I play golf, although I can aim for the little windmills pretty good).

It's near a few elementary schools , that are well rated. So we are on our way!

We are going there tommorrow to choose our home. So pray for us, the deposit is

covered, but we need all the moving costs which I'm not worried about I just want to

get in there soon, so we can decorate for Christmas and get settled to start this new

chapter in our lives!!!

There's always lumps..but sometimes it adds to the flavor

Even in the best of plans and scenarios I guess you gotta take a few lumps.

I called home tonight and Selah was bawling her eyes out, she said she just missed

me so so so much, and I know that is true because I 've closed for a few nights in

a row, (which is why I woke her up early to lay with me this morning before school),

but she was just inconsolable tonight. She is having the hardest time with the move,

she has lots of friends she is going to miss,and her teacher etc. It ripped my heart out

tonight, but I know God's got her in his hands and I will just pray for a better schedule

so I can be there to distract her lots til she can make new friends which she totally will,

but please pray for my princess, that she will make friends quickly and will not have as

hard of a time.
But if those are all the lumps then we are on a good God road, we get to see

two houses on Friday and we have a good feeling about one of them in particular,

I've been in communication with the guy quite a bit, so please pray for us in this situation,

It's a nice house in a great neighborhood. I'm so very excited at the possibility!

God is so good!
Oh and one more thing, I have two possibilities for jobs already, my position in Stockton

will be open in January which is exactly when I am quitting my store, kinda odd, but I

also have another possibility to look into so things are good. Let's now pray for Bill's

perfect job, cause anyone would be lucky to have him!

Where God Guides....He Provides...

I can't stinkin believe it, I'm in total shock right now.

It's taken me two days to be able to blog, and I'm still in utter shock and awe of God.

So last post we were talking about house vs. Apartment, well as it turns out having a

dog and an apartment isn't the greatest mix although we have two options, funny

thing is they are the same price as houses, which we have two solid options on those

as well, so it's a little crazy how this has all progressed, in a way that can only be God.

We told the church on Sunday and it was amazing, they gave us a standing ovation which reduced me to hysterical bawling, what a honor it has been to serve this church and this

man of God, who I know they are going toward bigger and better things. So Sunday on

my way to work I am on the phone (don't worry I used my headset..being a good girl for

CA law) and telling her about everything all the exciting stuff, and she has walked with

me through all the struggles of late so I don't have to tell her my fears of getting a deposit

etc. So we hang up. She calls back five minutes later and informs me that her and her

husband want to pay our deposit, not lend or loan but pay......I stood there in shock,

" Come again...what are you saying to me?" She said they believe in us so much and

(by the way her daughters got saved in our youth ministry) that they didn't want us

to have to worry about it." Wow guys that can only be God... there is no other way

around that, Where God guides he provides....Im still in shock and awe.....

So this morning as I'm trying to not step on one college age kid on my floor and not

to wake the teenage boy on my couch, and after Going to Walmart at 11pm last night

to get milk , yet again for these milk lovin' boys, I felt like God said to me...I want you

to have a house....pure and simple. Now I am pretty sure it was God, although I ate late

last night it could have been indigestion lol... but we will see, cause even though utilities

will be more in a house , I believe God will provide, but we will still check out the two

possibilities that accept pets and are decent, just so we can follow the peace. Gotta go

now or I will be late for work....!

Hmmmmmmm.....

So everyone needs to read Bill's blog , he is all sad because, "No One reads my blog"

yada yada it's hamboneflippy.blogspot anywho, things around here are moving right

along. We have one house that is a real possibility, or we just have decided to look at

apartments, which are actually about the same price but , with utilities included they

can be much cheaper, plus you get the pool , fitness center , etc. etc. So we are going to

go down Friday to check some stuff out. There are some really nice apartments that are

1500 a month, you can get a 4/2 nice house for that much, So we are looking at the middle

of the line ones, they seem nice but we will have to see. What do you all think? Should we

just go the apartment route, to make it easy and be done with it, give us a year to find a

house, although the one house that is a possibility is nice, in a beautiful court, where there

is no through street at all near it, it is a turn off a road with lots of courts and no through

street which is nice. So I think we will look at it as well, we still aren't quite sure where

people get deposit's from, rofl, that's a lot of scrilla, which we may have had if Bill wasn't

off work for so many months. Oh well it will happen.

So in other news , my sister posted about Black Friday, and whether you should

all go shopping and spend your money, this was my response.
"From a retail manager who has to be in my store at 2:30am on Black Friday,

(which for me since I live half hour away it means getting 'up ' at 12:30am,

hmmmm getting up?) and working a minumum 12 hour shift , but it will probably be

like 16 hours, means you all will be crazy spending money and fighting over things and

I will be making bank, and calming you down,while I tell you Im sorry there is no way

I can just pull that item , or an extra cart out of my behind, if I could I would , but I

just can't!, Thank you , have a nice day and "expect great things"

My little evangelist...

So tonight at dinner we were talking to the kids , as always, and they were being amazing as ever, (after the stint in the store where they were both being the opposite of angels for some reason, maybe because they are kids lol) anywho Aslan said out of the blue, Beer is bad it has drugs in it... and people drink it all the time at parties and stuff. " So we asked, " Well Aslan where did you hear that, and it 's not drugs it's just alcohol, " and he said, he had heard it different places, etc. and almost none of the kids at Wilson school love Jesus, but at least my teachers do, " he said. " How do you know? " Because I ask them , "Do you love Jesus", he is such a little evangelist , he always says things like that and is concerned with people's salvation, and people saying "OMG" he considers that a cuss word which we have told him shows disrespect to God. But anyway we then had a blast telling silly stories , the ones we grew up with and stuff, too funny.

So today was exhausting but it was fun, we felt the feel of Stockton, got familar with some areas and found a few possibilities for houses, it was a good day , Stockton is so much more intricate then anyone would think from first glance, the church is beautiful and has so much potential it's amazing! It's tough when I think about coming up with the deposit and jobs but when God guides God provides. So keep praying for us and guidance and now I'm off to snag a job and google. lol Love you all!

Doors part 2

So tommorrow we are going to test a door...lol not really it's a pretty amazing opportunity for us, and nothing we planned or even saw coming, yet the most amazing opportunity we could have asked for...so pray for us, it's going to require a few miracles but God is in that business...lol

funny story of the day: Aslan loves to talk with his hands, he comes by it honestly, since if I sit on my hands I'm silent because I forget how to utter words. So he is describing something tonight and he is counting on his fingers and for some reason he always uses the middle first, so he is sitting on one forever just flipping us all off, not of course realizing what he is doing he is just trying to remember his number two point , /bill and I turn our heads and are cracking up, cause it's just so innocent, he's so amazing an cute and innocent, I wouldn't change that about him for the world....our little zilla gorilla....

Does this count?

I hope this counts , in the challenge I accepted to blog everyday from my sis. I didn't get to yesterday, work was insane with Mervyns closing we have even more customers than before, then dinner with the best family ever , then some "im "conversations and some googling (lol some people know what I mean) Now I am off to go back to the rat race, although I love this season for so many reasons , the fact that it's so busy makes the days go by so so fast. Not to mention the fact that our future is filled with even more hope than ever, God 's got some plans for us I just know it, now I'm just waiting for it to all fall into place cause I know it will! Oh and I'll blog again tonight just to make sure!

Mommy, no more buying stuff .....

So we have told the kids recently that we will be moving, We told them that we weren't sure where yet but that we would be leaving this house. Selah has been saying things for awhile about wanting a different house, and now she cannot sleep in her room because of the moisture against one wall in her room, reaking havoc. I hope when I talk about these things people don't think we are lousy housekeepers, cause the ones who know me know I am a clean person, I actually get a little crazy about messes. But the things I'm mentioning are the things beyond our control. Anyway so Selah and I were hanging out yesterday and she said, "Mommy , No more buying stuff, it takes a lot of money to buy a new house, maybe like 1,000 dollars and we have to save." Mind you I am aware of the cost of things, I had not bought anything recently to bring this conversation on, just little Selah putting in her two cents.She is too funny she is always acting like a grown up in certain situations, and then like a wonderful 7 year old in other situations it's great!
Last night she came into my room and I was reading the bible, I was feeling an attack from the enemy,( he was trying to make me go back to the 'worry wart ' personality I tend to cling to at times),So I was doing my little 'trick' of asking God to show me the scripture that I needed to hear, so I had this bible, one I don't usually use, it's not broken in, and I kept turning to Job. hmmmm not exactly the answer I wanted, "God why have you deserted me, left me in this place....lol" ok so I am convinced at this point it's just the way that bible falls , or else I'm in big trouble lol . So I get my John Maxwell leadership bible, which I adore , and I open it straight to, my favorite scripture of all time, Jeremiah 29:11, " For I know the thoughts I think toward you says the Lord, Plans to prosper you not to harm you, and plans to give you a future of hope" Wow that was so amazing, it's like in one minute I was transformed, from my old man creeping out trying to rear it's nasty ol head, to a peace like a river, There is so much power in the word of God! So back to Selah she comes in and I told her what I was doing so she wanted to join me, and she started opening the bible and reading out of it, the first scripture was in numbers where ashem begot adem begot shessalameccela jones etc. etc. So she said that is just a warm up I guess, then as she turned to the next and the next it was all so pertinent, one even going as far as to state, 'Pack up your belongings and leave this place' kinda odd. Then she sat on my lap and we watched Ed Young together and fell asleep. I would rather be with my family than anyone in this whole world, I have the greatest kids and family on the planet and I thank God so much for them, let's not neglect these moments with our kids, they can be a time where God chooses to speak very clearly to us, or our kids decide to reprimand us about spending money, either way they are precious!

Doors

So yesterday's post the word i made up didn't work, not one hit on google or yahoo, not sure why, I wonder what it takes to get on google or yahoo, too funny, then I tried googling my name, and my maiden name , it turns out there is a Charity Hartman who graduated one year before me in Iowa, even though my name then was Pitts it's rather interesting. But a bit disturbing was in fact the people finder thing that said there was a Charity Hartman living in Gridley and if I paid I could find out more.... a little unnerving actually but luckily God has our protection in his hands.
Speaking of God's hands, we are always in his, recently God has done some big things in Bill and I's heart. To start at the beginning of the beginning, we have been in Gridley for 5 1/2 years and we love it here, our pastor is like a father to us, and our church is our extended family, which those things will never change. I know your waiting for the but... there is always a but... in a blog like this, you know what they say about but's lol...anyway I digress.... So in the last year our house has gotten really bad as far as the natural side of things breaking, leaks, holes, dry rot, not fun stuff at all. We have put band-aids on all these things, but in the last six months they have gotten out of control, some conditions becoming unhealthy, so I have been very discouraged and frustrated. Honestly I haven't blamed anyone etc, it's just hard to live like this. I know Pastors desire is to fix it but the church finances don't allow that at this time. So here we are faced with a dilemma, we are constantly praying about it, and even with Bill and I working full time each we cannot quite afford to get a house on our own (specially one where our live in teenager Ryan can have some room) So as the scripture says, God will keep in perfect peace those who's eyes are set on him. We just have been waiting it out , seeing what God was gonna do. So Bill and I have been really praying for direction in our lives with where we should live etc. and neither of us are sure how it happened but we both have felt a release, like it's time for us to move on. In our natural minds we don't want to leave Gridley , we love our Pastor and our church, my family is here, the kids have friends etc. But in our hearts we see the doors in front of us including the door that is shutting. We don't understand why this is happening this way, but if you know us you know we are faithful people, we are not hireling's we have never gone anywhere or left anywhere for the money or power or position involved. But God has His plan and His way , and when you just have that peace that just 'knows' you can't fight it. So with sorrow but anticipation we have decided to move on. We have some doors open to us, but honestly we have no idea where we will go. (that's girl scout's honor God's honest truth) We have met with our Pastor and he has been so supportive of us and our decision, he is an amazing man of God. He knows we still believe in His vision and the vision of the church 100% and are so grateful for the opportunity he has given us, but we must follow the will of God in our lives. So please if you think of it, say a prayer for us, that the right doors will open and we will continually follow His will. Thank you all for your prayers and support!

Kings rule!

So I got to do an event tonight at the kings game! At half time we handed out shirts to the craziest hyper fan, then in third quarter to even crazier fans. It amazing how much people cheer for their favorite team. We have all heard it said that if we would just give an ounce of that devotion to God, what a difference we could make, and boy is that true! Or an ounce of the money people spend at these games, fries $6 water $4 beer 6 or 8 I'm not sure and yet so many people had so many of these things (especially beer and alcohol). If you look at it in that perspective , it's funny how much time and money we put into our hobbies, yet when it comes to the house of God, it is lacking. Intersting thought anyway.
But the game was fun, we were on camera a few times and I looked awful on camera, but oh well I'm not trying to get a movie career anytime soon. :)

doodlepoodle
I typed that cause I'm curious if I type that then google it will my blog come up, it's a burning question for me I'm so curious , I will let you know next time how that turns out.
Sorry my blogs have been so serious, it's a result of some major changes that require seeking God that much more in this season of our lives, but I promise I will try to be funny next time!


Ok that's odd I googled that word and there were a ton of hits, and I thought I made it up so I must try another hmmmm.....
doodlybeary

Jesus bless us indeed....

Jesus bless us indeed
Enlarge our territory
That your hand be upon us
And you would keep us from evil
Help us to have sweet and happy dreams
In Jesus name, Amen

YOu may recognize the pray of Jabez (except the last line we added ourselves, actually Selah made it up when she was 2 and half) Anyway we have prayed that prayer with our kids since before they could talk. Now it is said in our home , every single night without fail, If they are being watched by someone they pray it together, although that doesn't happen often. So this morning I was having my coffee and thinking about everything going on in my life right now, the way that God works, and I realize how God sets things up. I don't feel worthy of God's blessing in my life, I feel more worthy of the bad stuff that happens and Ithink that it is God punishing us for some unknown reason sometimes. Then my sane mind takes over and I realize everything is in a season, and God says if you are faithful with little he will give you much.
Sometimes he also closes one door and opens another, it's not for us to understand why, just to know that when God's in it he has every person involved in his hand, every situation that comes up. It's taken some serious faith to even explore any new doors lately, and a lot of prayer, but God pretty much has set up some "that's not odd it 's God" situations lately. I have more peace then I have had in months , even in the midst of the unknown, because there is a few things I know for sure and that is , My family's steps are ordered of God, God wants to bless us indeed, enlarge our territory, His hand will always be upon us and he will keep us from evil. Thank you Jesus.

Hand to the homeless, heart for the lost

My kids say all the time how they really want to help the homeless, I know they handed out sandwiches in Colorado when they went to visit there and we have taught them quite a few times how to react to homeless, we've showed them what it means to have compassion. So there isn't a lot of homeless people in Gridley for some odd reason but Friday night on the way to Sacramento there was a homeless guy with a sign , and we were able to give him a few dollars, actually Aslan was able to hand it to him, and it was the best thing in the world for him, better than any toy we could have given him. My kids have an honest heart for the homeless and I have always had one, that is why when all the homeless people were coming to our church I was so thrilled, then when they stopped coming I was upset, (but that is a whole other story). It is odd to me how some people can excuse their lack of compassion for the homeless by saying they deserve it, they've earned it etc. which may be true. But how many of us get what we deserve, are we without sin, do we deserve God's grace and mercy on our lives? I know I don't! I have been going through such a time lately of just feeling like I just want to be able to reach more , do more, etc. We were at a friends church last night, this church has numerous outreaches to the poor, and the pastor was talking about, the call, the harvest being plenty laborers are few and he said that the ambassador of Christ is 1.appointed and sent, 2.he travels light, (meaning to we own stuff or does stuff own us?) 3. Understands the urgency of his message. I think some times it is just too easy to keep on keeping on instead of really exploring what God may have for us, because time is short and the message is urgent, maybe we are being used but maybe God has even more if we just ask him, and if we ask , seek and knock He will answer and open the door.

I live with superman!

Ok that sounds so generic cause I can't compete with Bill's post today you can read it at www.hamboneflippy.blogspot.com . You won't be surprised to hear it may me bawl like a baby and no one can ever compete with that blog in my eyes. I guess there is a reason why after all these 13 1/2 years together he is still my best friend. God knew what he was doing, we have had our rough times in life and with each other but never even uttered the big "d" word or even considered it. Times are a little unstable right now, a storm at every corner, but he is my safety in the storm, covering me with his amazing strength and buff arms. My cheerleader and the spiritual head of my house... thank you God for my superman.

Auditors are Satan's spawn!

So today we had a corporate audit, not cool at all! I didn't get one break or lunch in a 10 hour day icky icky. So auditors aren't really satan's spawn, it just feels like it sometimes! One auditor was on a power trip , witch hunt because she is from a different district and wants to make sure she finds everything we are doing wrong, so she can prove how great her district is. The corporate auditor was actually pretty cool for an auditor that is. But the worst part is my boss was not there , she didn't even come in when they told her they were there, so I get paid less that half what she does and I had to deal with all the pressures, but I'm not bitter no not bitter at all nope not me , no way , no how, not bitter at all. Did I mention I wasn't bitter!
LOL jk actually I learned a lot from them even the one who was on a witch hunt lol! But anyway what a day what a day!
When I got home I got to cuddle with my amazing children and Bill told me a sweet story about our amazing son. I know I talk about them all the time but they are my life , of course! So Selah was at breakfast, saying she was cold, shivering , (not being dramatic at all of course) so Aslan gets up, and Bill says, "Aslan sit back down and eat your breakfast", Aslan says, " I 'll be right back" , then my sweet little angel goes and gets his sister a blanket and wraps it around her shoulders and sits right back down. He is such a sweet little guy with the biggest heart! Ahhhhh I love my children!

Seek and you will find

I want to share something in this post, but you have to know my heart in this, I am not by one ounce of anything wanted to get a pat on the back, or a well done from anyone, and I waited to share this cause I didn't want to even sound close to that, Does that make sense? But I want to encourage everyone in something cause I feel so blessed right now!

So the other morning getting ready for work, Joyce was talking about looking for opportunities to bless people, just by open our eyes and talking to people and asking God for an opportunity to bless. i would like to think I try to do that, I love to give little gifts , and bless people. Its purely selfish though I'm sure because I feel so good if I can bless someone.

That being said, I went ahead and asked God to give me an opportunity that day to bless someone even in a small way. So I went to work and things were just kinda normal. Nothing special. Well we have this gentlemen who does the housekeeping for the store at night. We have talked before, he even once brought me homemade enchiladas that his wife made, he is full Hispanic so let me tell you those enchiladas were out of this world!, Any who I digress..... he seemed kinda down that night, and I asked him how he was doing, he began to tell me about running out of gas on his way to work from his other job, not having money so he had to walk, so he didn't get to go home to get food, so he didn't eat all night. Now this is a family man, he has never complained, never talked about money, so he was not looking for a handout. So I felt really bad for him, but I definitely didn't have any money to give him so I felt helpless, then I remembered I had some frozen meals in the freezer, so I asked if he was hungry, and I was able to give him one, but he had mentioned his kids, so I asked how old they were and he said, 22, 20 and the other will be 15 tomorrow, so we talked a bit about it, and he said he would make a big deal for her 16 cause they didn't have money to get her anything this year, So something occurred to me, earlier that night I had bought a few things with something we call Kohl's cash, it's like free money to use in the store, so I asked him if I could give him something to give to her. And I returned the stuff and bought a gift card with the Kohl's cash and gave it to him to give to his daughter . It was only 25 dollars but that way he would have something to give his daughter on his birthday. It just goes to show that if we open our eyes there are opportunities every day to bless someone, even if you don't have money , or resources, there will always be a way if we ask God for the opportunity.

I hope you all know my heart and know I didn't tell this story to bring glory to anyone but God, because he gives us every blessing we have anyway, and wants to use those things to bless others.

"You've got to be kidding me" and Chilloween

I don't know which is funnier or which to talk about first I think the potty story wins then you can have the other.

Disclaimer: If you you are offended by "potty stories" you probably should stop reading now, maybe even stop reading my blog in general because no subject is sacred on this blog

So for some random reason, unknown to our family, Every time Selah goes "#2 " in our bathroom the toilet gets clogged. I don't know why, Bill doesn't know why, Selah doesn't know why even sweet Aslan has no clue why. Of course we have pulled out our CSI kits many a times to try to get to the bottom of the mystery, (not literallly of course cause that would be gross) We've checked on using too much toilet paper, the size of bodily excretions is a possibility but that doesn't seem to be a factor since the toilet has probably seen much worse ( I know ewww!) But without fail it happens, one of life's great mysteries that I will have to ask God in heaven some day.
So tonight, Selah was getting ready to get in the shower and decided to use the bathroom first , and I turned to turn on the shower, and look back and she flushes and wham the water starts to come up, not much in there either so I have no idea why this happened. So I am now frantically searching for the plunger can't find it
"Selah go get the plunger"
"But I'm naked"
"Go get it anyway no one else is here" ( but the front screen was open oops!)
So Selah screams, ahh drawing attention if anyone was in fact outside, and I move the hamper and there is the plunger so I say, " Selah I found it" and she comes running back in naked,
"you've got to be kidding me" so I try to plunge the the toilet and it's not working, uh oh bill's not here, and it is just not working. So now I'm frantically moving things off the floor, (cause this toilet loves to overflow) and trying again. Selah says, "mommy let me try I have mucho experience in this" exact words
So I let her try and she puts heart and soul into it's not working, then I try again and again and finally selah says, "Lets both try" So here we are both of us with our hands on the plunger in the toilet and finally the water goes down ordeal over. Selah ends it with, " I don't know what it is it's weird I guess your toilet's hole is just too small for me"

Wow that was so so funny!!!! Potty stories to the max around here!

Ok here goes the second one, We were sitting at the dinner table (which is where the best stories come from and
Aslan says, "Too bad tommorrow is not Chilloween"
I said, "What is that"
Selah says so matter of factly, "You know Chilloween it's August 21st, " and keeps eating.
Ummm ok I thought , "What is Chilloween?"
"it's just a day where you sit and do nothing and chill, " she says hand motions and cool as a cumcumber.
"So Selah where did you get this holiday, I heard the word on a show but I made up the rest!"
So then Aslan says, " I wish tommorrow was Chilloween,"
to which Selah says, "NO Aslan it's on August 21st you can't just change the date of a holiday" (which mind you is only a holiday to my two amazing children lol)
So remember next year in August 21 don't forget to celebrate Chilloween

You just never know

So there is a girl at work that I have had a bit of mixed feelings about in the past, she is super fakey sweet sometimes, and then she will say something to try to hurt me or insult me just out of nowhere, she does it to everyone as well as being someone who takes advantage whenever possible.
So I continually am forgiving her in my own spirit , knowing she is just lost and intends no harm in what she does, cause I always want to keep my spirit right, and my witness! So last night at work we were closing and she told me that she thought I was an amazing person and so strong, and she looked up to me. It's like everything she has done has been a test , will I still accept her, will I lash out or gossip about her,and none of those things have happened. So I'm not sure how it happened but wow it threw me off for her to say that.... I guess you just never know do ya?
Then today someone else who has been hurtful in the past opened up to me , and we had a definite "moment" and she said it was nice talking to me.
It would have been so very easy in either situation to react badly to people who hurt you with no reason except their own gain, to harbor unforgivness , develop an attitude, plot revenge etc. but I made a choice that I would rise above it, for my own sake really. And now look what God has done with it. Maybe that helps someone, maybe it was just for me... You just never know!

Compromise

That was the theme of today's message... Compromise... I forgot to tell you all to pray for me , I spoke at New Life's chapel today, I could've used the prayers since I only got 3 1/2 hours of sleep after closing last night at work!

Anyway I think I've mentioned before how God uses Joyce Meyer very specifically in my life, well yesterday before I went to work , I was getting ready and I always put Joyce on in the background (thank God for Tivo) so I get out of the shower, a nice hot one in which I was thinking about my message etc. I wrap my head in a towel and push play on Joyce. I kid you not, If I'm lying I'm frying, her first words were, "And compromise is going a little below what you think is right." God has a sense of humor that is fo sho! It cracks me up when he does these things to me, I just lift my finger to God and go, " Alright you got me again." and even funnier is the fact that I was looking up the definiton in the dictionary only a little before I saw her and I was able to add that definition and the story to my message today, too funny, too funny!

Speaking of funny, my kids are hilarious, of course I'm their mom so I'm completley biased, but the other day Selah says, "So mom did you know that the kids get to vote on who becomes president we get to chooose on nickelodeon," I was like oh really Selah and who are you voting for? Her response" Well I don't know, who has lower gas prices" it was just too cute lol!

And in "Aslan is so funny" news:

Aslan who was chilling with us, proceeded to call me his queen, and he said he was King-farts-a -lot, (cause he tooted) and Selah was Princess tiny toot, and I will not disclose my name as it could incriminate me.

Not sure if that made sense, just two unrelated stories that were cute and it's almost midnight and I'm exhausted so forgive me if I am not making sense!

Ode to a great friend

I have a great friend, she has been my friend for 5 years now, I met her because her daughter got saved in our youth group. Well this weekend we went to Sacramento overnight as her gift to me for my birthday, it was so so fun. We took her daughter and her friend so we were shopping for dresses for the girls for a fall ball . We looked around and had fun everywhere looking at makeup etc.

(This is us in Torrid being silly by the way! )

We just had fun being together and hanging out, she is a great friend she always makes me feel very special and loved. Thank God for friends like her and of course , the amazing red and pink glasses, those are definetly a godsend!

Personal days?

So today I found out I have three personal days available for work! Yay exciting I can take a day off and get paid, joy of all joy's the elation, the grandeur.....errr ummm one problem, it's well kinda sorta , a little bit, completely black out months for the next two months......elation ended. Bummer ..... but I guess they will, be waiting after these two crazy months are through.

I've also decided that making costumes for a living will probably end up making me a million dollars , I bet I would be richer than Bill Gates, because they are so very expensive so you must make bucks on them.... so my evil plan to take over the world begins....hmmm now to learn to sew, find time and get a passion for it...hmmm probably not going to happen... oh well evil plan number one is a failure, I'll let you know when Pinky and I formulate plan #2!

The Bridge

Wow , someone just emailed me the most touching video I've seen in awhile. I encourage you to watch it, even if you think you know the store and want to spare yourself some emotion don't it is so well done if you just watch til the end!
http://www.maximumreferrals.com/videos/bridge/bridge.html

Anyway, I'm an emotional wreck now from the video, and reeling from a tough week with a lot of hours worked. Welcome to the holidays in retail! The problem is, this is the first week Bill and I's schedules have directly conflicting most of the days of the week ... and let me let you know picking up two sleeping kids from mom's at 1130pm at night is not an easy task, but it could be worse! Thank you Jesus for our jobs!

So funny story of the day, a lady came into the store today, I'm talking grown woman, and she grabbed a stroller cart and proceeded to buckle a doll into the cart and push it around the store, when I saw her later she was checking on the "baby" making sure it was strapped in ok. There was no one else with her, wow the things I see......

Our emotions betray us...

Ever notice that? Sometimes we can tell ourselves over and over again the things we need to hear and the things we know to be true, but then those stinky emotions try to sneak in and change all that. Oh how life would be without so many emotions, but then we would miss out on all the good ones so I guess it all evens out in the end. What emotions betray you? For me lately it's discouragement, I fight and fight it and most of the time it's a winning battle but we all have those moments I guess. What's a true blog if you can't be honest ?
I was talking to a girl online who has been messaging me since I met her at Radical Reality camp, this girl has had one tough road, she 's had a lot of bad happen to her, so we talk A LOT, and last night when I was talking to her I had an amazing revelation. She was talking about the hands we were dealt and I told her a little about my tough childhood, before my dad came into the picture. And she was floored she had no idea that I didn't have a perfect upbringing white picket fence and all. Anyway I said I used to always wonder why I was dealt the hand I was dealt, now I wonder the same thing in the opposite way, How did I get so blessed as to have a husband that is the best person in the world for me, and the most amazing kids. Cause I really have wondered that, I see me, and all my shortcomings and attitudes and think I , what did I ever do to deserve this? Whereas 20 years ago I wondered it all in the opposite direction, So I explained to her that it's not about deserving it's about doing the best with what we have where we are at and know that some day God will use it to His glory if we trust him and do not lose heart.
That was therapeutic for me to type out, so maybe it helped one of you? Who knows , I do know there is a reason for everything.

What's your word?

That's what my message was called. Everything in the world tried to keep me from going, but that made me even more determined that it would be a good day, and it was. God showed up, he used my mouth I guess but it was all him. It's funny every time I speak I get nervous that for some reason he won't be there, like I didn't study enough or I should've prayed more etc. but somehow he always shows up, in spite of me. ( Not to make it seem like I don't pray and prepare, it just never feels like quite enough) But each time i speak I feel more and more at ease and more and more like what is God gonna do with this? I wish God would use me in this area all the time, although it's getting more frequent. I'm just thankful he uses me in other ways, but this one is just so fun! LOL I say that now because it's over last night my tune was a little different lol!
The conference itself was so well done and put together those girls are blessed to have that quality of a conference made available to them. They are the ones who worked hardest in this scenario, Lord bless them.

We are rich!

No we have not won the lottery, ( that is a bit hard to do when you don't play it) No we didn't win a million dollars but according to Selah "WE ARE RICH" Here is the conversation that led into that. We were eating dinner, Mahi mahi and couscous salad (yummers!!!) and yes my kids eat real fish and whole wheat couscous, score! Anyway I was talking about food being "rich" and Selah was like, " oh i know what that means you have lots of money etc., " and I said that is one version of the word rich but I'm talking about food, then she continues, (cause she loves to talk , I have no clue where the girl gets it) ,"We are very rich , because we have a great family and friends and many blessings in our lives" (I couldn't make this stuff up folks, Selah talks like she is a teenagers , she loves big words. ) But it was just such an amazing moment.
Then she went on to tell us how much protein was in couscous, since she looked at the box 15 minutes before and still somehow remembered the exact number (???) She has the memory of an elephant! Then Aslan explained more to us about our planets, and later when Selah gave me my "birthday gift" which was hour long massages whenever I wanted, (and by an hour she means 2 minutes max) she explained to me where my vertabrate were spelling it and all, no wonder she got best speller wow!!! So that was a nice big jumble of stuff, but I just love and adore my family and I'm amazed by my children everyday.

If you think about it tommorrow keep me in your prayers around 2pm my time, actually not me, but the girls I will be speaking to, that there hearts and minds will be open to the message.

Funny it doesn't feel any diffrent...

Another year old doesn't feel any diffrent I feel a lot diffrent from 2 years ago though, before surgery's and all that, I am an old woman compared to that young 30 year old. But I have no regrets , I have an amazing family , the best actually, they are all a little crazy and can be dysfunctional at times but amazing to the core!
So today I had to lead a training class at work, 3 hours long, tommorrow another 3 hour class then a three hour orientation for new employees. The funny thing is , every time I do one I realize how much I love public speaking! People who have been with the company much much longer than I were actually learning from insights I had for customer service. It's a great feeling , like you can actually teach someone something. So even though I get nervous about speaking engagements like the one on Saturday, I always enjoy it, specially when I feel like people 'get it' , God puts those desires in our hearts , before we ever realize they are a dream of ours or even a desire. He prepares us with circumstances etc. You can be somewhere writing on rocks what seems like an impossible dream , then all of the sudden a few years down the line and your are full force into the dream and vision...that's not odd it's God!
So an encouragement, no matter how crazy the dream may be, no matter how outlandish it may seem now, if it's a deep desire of your heart and it's a God given desire, it will come to pass if we are faithful to pursue it.

P.S .
My sister is amazing, she dedicated her whole blog to my birthday how sweet is that!

Already a great Birthday!

So I had to work another late night! Got home around 1:50am! To back up a bit, there is a sweet young pregnant girl at my work who I have been trying to be a witness to, her birthday is the same day as mine, so tonight I gave her a little gift. I love to give little gifts, it makes me happy so it's actually a selfish thing I'm sure! Anyway you would have thought I gave her a million dollars, she cried and was so grateful it made my night. It was such a little gesture but it meant a lot to this sweet young single soon to be mama. Makes me even more aware of all the little things I "feel" like doing or saying and don't , how many could lift someones day or be a little Jesus to them.
The second wonderful thing is that at exactly 12am I got a video message from my best friend, boyfriend for life, singing happy birthday , it made me cry, and I came home to a clean house. He may not have money to get me gifts but I can say with 100% truth as God is my witness , these things meant so much more than any gift. My man is the best and after all this time together I think he finally figured out how to give me the perfect gift!!!

Oh to imagine again.

So I have always loved drama! Making up human videos, plays etc. I love it love it! I haven't had time to do it for a long while, they say when your super busy creativity is the first thing to go, but anyway! We were in the car with the kids the other day and we had gotten a new cd, It's the new group one crew song lets see if I can find a link for it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X54m3AAYyKE Ok but WAIT! listen to this so Aslan listens to the song, then he asks to hear it again, which I immediatley loved it so I had no problem with that, so after the second time through he says "mom and dad you know what I see , I see the angels taking the keys from the demons. They fight and there are arrows but none of the angels die only the demons, and of course Jesus wins. The song is called "keys to the Kingdom" and he said more details etc. but it was so neat, his little imagination came up with it all in his head, like he could just see it, it was so very cool. Now you can listen to the song and picture the scene just as Aslan imagined it. And by the way he informed me he now wants us to pronounce his name like they do in the movie instead of (Os-lon) the correct pronunciation, he wants the one that the movies all use (As-laan) who knows how long that will last?

The wonderful world of retail!

So the last night I got off at 1:30am then drove home which put me home at 2am! We were supposed to have "a corporate visit" so we called in all the troops and busted our rumps to get the store perfect, but even at 1:30 there were flaws so I had nightmares about getting a call from the store manager saying it wasn't good enough etc., woke up with a stomach ache because of it, then got a text saying they weren't coming! I was like are you kidding me, cause they are coming next week which means this will yet again be reapeated , this whole process, and we already blew our payroll on this night , and payroll is a huge deal. So for us this means , cutting hours everywhere, which means understaffed on the floor, and upset customers and unrealistic expectations of the store manager as to why the store doesn't look as good as it should, when we have no staff. Talk about a catch twenty two! Not to mention when I took over as Customer Service manager, our customer service score was 49.2 and not it is 89.1 (which is the highest in our district ever! for weeks running) but when we are understaffed it hurts that number a lot!
Well anyway big rant that was and now I'm through cause I have to go back to work tonight and I won't be home until minimum 12am cause we are open until 11pm. Sorry I bored you with all that!

God's promises on pebbles

So today I had an actual day off where I didn't have to go anywhere, So I cleaned under my bed, my closet and cleaned out my drawer, boy was it fun!!! In the meantime I was listening to Joyce Meyer, Ed YOung and Hillsong in the background. First Joyce talking about our attitude toward change, then Ed talking about change and then Hillsong talking about how we deal with the seasons in our lives, like when it feels like things are stacking up against you etc. Very interesting how the 'theme thing' always happens to me, God loves to talk to me like that. So in the midst of all of this, and the drawer cleaning I came across a little mesh back with some smooth stones in it. I remember very well what those were but haven't looked at them in years. At a womens retreat shortly after Selah was born a speaker handed out the stones and asked us to ask God what dreams and visions he may have for us, and then write them down. I remember thinking at the time that the things I wrote on the stones were pretty out there, maybe even fleshlly, because 3 out of 5 were a stretch. But today looking at them, it was definetly a 'God-moment'
1. Aslan-the prophecy over him that he would have a "moses spirit" ( that's a story for another time if you have not heard it, but in brief it came from 4 totally unrelated sources, from the time I was pregnant to when he was born ill, that he would have a moses spirit- and Moses is the only one who spoke face to face with God) anyway 2. Selah would be a woman of God- So these were the two softballs, what every mother desires for their children, no surprise there. then comes #3 That I would speak to women/girls someday- weird thing was at the time, I had never preached a sermon , (except once in high school) and that seemed like a huge stretch for me, but in case you guys don't know I have now been speaking at camps and conferences for almost 3 years, wow how God knows when we have no clue.
4.That we would have a youth ministry that people would pattern theres after- This actually happened when we first moved to Gridley- 3 seperate youth pastors that came and started using the ideas to bring back to their church. So odd
5. (Now this one confused me, it wasn't neccessarily a dream or vision so I'm not sure why I wrote it) but the weirdest thing is that today it was exactly what I needed to hear, it so amazes me how God works , I shouldn't be surprised but it surprises me everytime. I know you want to know what it said but Im not going to tell you! :p
Ok ok just kidding 5. Though the vision tarry wait for it....
This may mean nothing to you, but the life and times Bill and I are in it means everything so in case you are questioning, or wondering maybe this will encourage you too or maybe try to put something on paper and see what God may do with it in a few years or maybe try some stones in a little mesh bag with a sharpie, it worked for me ....