Mug O'Comfort Swap

A SWAP you say? A swap that could very well involve COFFEE, you say? Could it be true?! Yippee! It's been a hot minute since I've done a swap, but I am so in the need for some fun mail and some love so this is perfect timing. Thanks to the Chaotic Goddess Swaps for setting this up!

Check it out: http://cgswaps.blogspot.com/2014/02/mug-o-comfort-swap-signups.html

 

Positive and Encouraging

You never know the impact you have on someone, so always be positive and encouraging. I am thankful that my daughter remembered that in a post she made on Facebook, as it resulted in her saving a life.

Cutest Couple- Please Vote!

Please click on the Widget to the left and vote for #25!

Happy 14th Birthday T-Nic

TylerNicole-
I cannot believe you are already 14. Where has the time gone? You have turned into quite the beauty. You are sweet, but oh so sassy. You love Jesus with all your heart. You are athletic. You are friendly. You are caring. You are tenderhearted, although it's something you hide from most. You are mature beyond your years. You have an amazing relationship with your grandparents that reminds me of how I was with mine and what a blessing that is. You are stubborn. You are loved.

I thank You, Lord, for this amazing daughter. Protect her heart while showing her how to love like You love. Guard her thoughts that she may always think the best about others. Put a hedge of protection around her body that she may stay safe and healthy. Let Your goodness shine through her for others to see. In Jesus's mighty name, Amen.

Wanted- Dara Mclean

Lisa, Dara Mclean, and Ty in Vegas at WinterJam 2014

This song speaks to me.I could listen to it over and over again. You can hear it here: http://www.onlylyrics.com/dara-maclean-lyrics-1114760.php

 From when I was little I was told that I was NOT wanted by certain people, that in our culture a girl as a first born wasn't acceptable. I have been through a lot in my life because of those feelings. A few weeks ago we were in Vegas the same time that WinterJam 2013 was going on. We stood in line for a few hours to get our GA seats and Dara Mclean stopped right by where we were standing and sang this song for us. Goosebumps and tears, let me tell you!  After she was done singing my daughter and I went over to meet her. What an awesome experience. I hope this song touches you as much as it does me. God bless!

From the day you were born 
And took your first breath 
You opened your eyes and in came the light 
He was watching you 
But all of your life you couldn't shake the lies in your head 
Saying you're a mistake 
Oh but you were made 
By a God who knows your name 
He doesn't make mistakes 

CHORUS 
You are wanted 
To every broken heart, He stands with open arms 
You are wanted 
To every searching soul, look to the rising sun 
If you're lonely, hurting, gone too far 
To the outcast you come as you are 
For you, you are wanted, you, you are wanted 
You, you are wanted, you, you are wanted 

Let this be the day that joy takes the place 
Of all of the years that shame tried to steal away 
He is calling you 
Lift your eyes to see His face 
Come run into the arms of grace 

CHORUS 

You, you have been marked 
You're set apart 
And He calls you His 
So you don't have to search 
Don't have to look for where you belong 

You are wanted 

CHORUS

Friday Confessional 11/01/13

I Confess: It's been months since I've had my last confession. I Confess: A lot has taken place in that time... a short term missions trip to the DR with my family, a new job, my 5 year anniversary, and contact with my "real" dad. I Confess: I am going to attempt to do better at confessing. I Confess: I am going to Vegas next week. I am so stinking excited! I Confess: I am scared to have teenage kids... we had another teenage death in our community, a suicide. Blows my mind that these kids are taking permanent measures to temporary problems. I pray that with the wisdom I've instilled in my kids and Jesus in their heart, we'll never have to go through that personally, but you never know and it's scary. My heart breaks for the parents and siblings and my prayers go out to them and our community for the loss of a child.

Father vs Dad

Back in July, before we went to the DR on our short term missions trip; I got a Facebook friend request from someone with a familiar last name, but I didn't know who it was as the profile picture was of a dog. This last name is my maiden name… a name I haven’t associated with for a long time. A name that broke my heart over and over again in the past twenty years; however I was curious. I wanted to see who it was, what they wanted, and why they were friending me.

I accepted the friend request with the idea that I could unfriend them as easily as I friended them. I was poking around and figured out my father had remarried and this was his current (4^th?!) wife. They currently live in NV and have been married for almost 8 years. Considering that I haven’t talked to him in 11, this was news to me.

She private messaged me… told me about herself, her life, my father, etc. Told me how he’s changed, he’s repented and now follows Christ. She “liked” just about every picture I posted. Seemed like a nice lady, but I was still on edge, which I felt like I had a right to be.

Fast forward until last week…  I got a friend request from a very familiar name, my father. I sat on it for a few days without replying. I wasn't sure that I wanted to open that can of worms. As I've mentioned, my past has a lot of heart ache that was caused by him. I've come along way with the help of Jesus in terms of forgiving; however I don’t feel that I could forget. I've freed myself in forgiveness, but I am not going to stupidly put myself into that situation again to relive it. So a few days went on… and he private messages me. I replied back with a nice, but blunt email. I laid it all out on the line, what did I have to lose? I didn't sugarcoat anything about how I felt; however told him I would be willing  to try to have a relationship with him, to be his friend.

Within a few hours I got a reply and he went off the handle. Basically telling me to take a hike and I could take baby-steps to his grave. Exact same behavior from the last time I talked to him… or rather, he talked to my answering machine… screaming at me, calling me names, and saying he was moving out of state.

Why would I subject myself to that? Why would I allow him to come into my live and get to know my kids when things really haven’t changed and subject them to that? He questioned my Christianity, which really pissed me off. Don’t throw bible verses at me about forgiveness when you act this way when things don’t go your way. I thought allowing him to be my friend was a good step b/c he can’t just jump back in my life and be my dad. It doesn't work that way. You've got to earn trust.

It’s been a rough road… I've felt abandoned, neglected, hurt. I think I hide it well most of the time, but looking back I see that some of my past with men I've acted poorly b/c of that. The one thing I am thankful for is my step-dad who stepped up when my daughter was born and has really filled the shoes of a father figure and grandpa. I can’t imagine my life without him in it, although it’s taken a lot to get us where we are today. Now he is one of my best friends… a father to my husband as well. He has taken such good care of my mom with everything she’s gone through. He is what a dad is supposed to be.

So for now… I unfriended them both. I don’t want to deal with that drama. I know I am good person; I love Jesus, and I know that none of this is my fault. We’ll see how the future plays out, but for now I am good with where I am in my life. I am loved by God, the ultimate father/dad, and that's all that really matters anyway.