updates and such

Outside my window... Sunny and VERY breezy!

I am thinking... about really getting my bottom in gear and get fit... its so hard now though... finding the time, budgeting the healthy foods in and encouraging myself to keep at it :(

From the learning room... Verses! Each week for the past 3 weeks. I have been teaching my son a new verse. He has done so well :)
I am thankful for... my husband and son. I need them and thank the Lord for them! also for the undeserved blessings that I so often take for granted... my cozy, comfortable home... we are so blessed as a fairly newly married couple to have the home we have... it is perfect for us and holds so many memories.

Also the privilege of staying home with my son everyday. There are kind of boring days and trying days but I am so thankful for this time I get to spend with him. <3

I am also SO thankful for my husband. He works so hard for us, he loves me and wants to spend time with me... what more could I ask for really? Unfortunately there are times I can be hard to live with because I am a selfish sinner saved only by grace, but God cared for me so much not only did he save me by His grace but gave me a patient, loving husband. Truly an answer to prayer.

From the kitchen... Nothing lately, sadly... but will be cooking this weekend - cinnamon rolls for Fathers day before-church-breakfast, and breakfast pizza for Saturday ( early fathers day breakfast)

I am wearing... gray leggings and a big comfy blue ralph lauren t shirt ( my mommy wardrobe ha!)

I am reading... Reshaping it all ( when I get the chance) in devotions- 1 John

I am hoping... I can be the wife and mom my family needs and the Lord has called me to be. - also to take a small, weekend trip somewhere this summer with my family :)

I am creating... ideas in my head for a master bedroom redo!! also Fathers day plans :D

I am hearing... my little boy watching something on the ipad and the wind blowing outside

Around the house... beds to make, floors to sweep and mop

One of my favorite things... Free Saturdays with my family doing whatever we want, whenever we want, planning and decorating for holidays, quiet moments alone in the morning

A few plans for the rest of the week... mud and paint and touch up a few walls, touch up trim and doors, plant flowers near feeders out back, work on fundraising plans and upcoming activities for church.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

April Fools!

For April Fools today I made this cake for the teen Sunday School class. It was so very easy ( all box mixes and pre made frosting, it's more for looks then showing off culinary skills but tasted fantastic!)

1 Box of German Chocolate Cake Mix ( wanted a chocolate but light in color)

1 Can of Coconut Pecan frosting (again wanted a darkness to come through and why not use this... HELLO?! coconut and pecans!!! win win

A Small Pkg. of Vanilla Sandwich Cookies ( I bought a large package and didn't even come close to using it all.)

Brownie Mix

mix brownies according to box directions and bake.

mix cake according to box directions and bake

-once cooled form brownies into turd shapes

-frost cake with frosting

-food process cookies until in a fine consistancy and pour over cake/ frosting

-roll "turds" in cookie mix and place anywhere

serve with a ( new and clean of course) litter scooper

The Teens LOVED it and some were even too grossed out to dry haha

This weeks plans

Oh what a busy week coming up! Here is what I have planned...

Spring Cleaning- yup that's right, this week I prepare my home for the warmer months. I live in an apartment and have only one child, so my home stays fairly clean. But there are a few things like clothes to go through and pillows to sew, the oven to clean and under my fridge yuck!

There is this blog called " a virtuous woman" and every year they have a big spring cleaning challenge, with bible studies to go along with each day, I know right! fun! here is the link if you want to join...http://avirtuouswoman.org/2012/03/22/4th-annual-spring-clean-challenge/

Church cleaning/ decorating- this past Saturday our church had it's spring cleaning day but because there is a remodel going on in the kitchen with saw dust and all that flying around I want to go over sometime this week and dust and wash the insides of the windows ( preparing for warm weather that I HOPE comes soon!

I also am making a " He is risen" sign to hang for our Easter breakfast along with other crafts :)

We have a fun fellowship Friday for youth group this Friday so I will be making a dessert pizza as well as maybe a breakfast pizza.

I signed up for making donuts and dinner rolls/ biscuits for our church's Easter morning breakfast.

I am going to make a commitment to wake up early this week. I am SO NOT a morning person and love the peace and quiet laying in bed. But to better serve my family I need to start rising 6:30/ 7 am!! pray for me please. Doing this spring cleaning challenge this week and wanting to make sure I start my day with devotions instead of it getting push until later ( which always makes the day harder!) I want to start my day in His word and get the spring cleaning and hopefully most of my daily cleaning finished before my little boy wakes up. I feel God has been laying this on my heart for some time but shamefully I have ignored it because of my own laziness.

So this is what my week looks like... what's your plans?

My thoughts on Christian and Secular concerts

Can you tell me which is Secular and which is Christian?

Should Christians attend concerts? Here is my simple answer... no.

Why you might ask, well here is why...

Secular concerts- As a Christian exposing yourself to what goes on at secular concerts will effect you, whether you think it will or not. If we were strong enough why would the Bible tell us to be not of the world? The things of this world is not of God, so as a child of God why would we want to participate in what the world has to offer? As Christians we are still sinners, sinners saved by grace but still sinners none the less. I believe we should not be filling our minds with the lyrics of secular songs. By reading them you will see that they will talk about adultery, drinking, sleeping around etc. Doesn't the Bible teach us to NOT do these things? Do you agree a Christian SHOULD do these things? So why sing the words to something you know is wrong?

Secular singers are all about themselves. They sing because they want to glorify themselves. By screaming their name, asking for their autograph are we helping to glorify them? The Bible teaches we CAN'T serve God and man... we need to choose.

Another reason I believe secular concerts are NOT for Christians is because of the drinking, smoking ( if it's an outdoor concert) swearing and immodest attire or unmoral dancing that happens.

It is sad to see pictures of Christians new or old on face book for example at a secular concert, dressed very immodestly. How will the world know we are a child of light when we look as dark as the world?

The devil is smart he knows how to make evil and sin look fun and interesting... that's why we need to stand up and fight. I've heard people say " oh it's just a concert, It's just one singer who I enjoy"

But once you let your guard down even just a little the Devil will take advantage of that!

Following God can be tough, friends may laugh at you, you may think your missing out on what you see others doing but we were NOT promised it would be easy but we ARE promised it will be well worth it. SO worth it!

So that's my thoughts on secular.

So what about Christian concerts, those are better right?

Well, not really...

Christian Concerts- You see, all the time you hear a Christian artist say " I use my talents to praise God, to write songs to help encourage others" and so on and so forth. That's great, praise God... So why the need for concerts with flashy lights, intros that request cheers and standing O's? Why the meet and greets? Well, for the same reason the secular artists do, to please themselves, and to glorify themselves.

Christian singers should be singing to encourage others and to minister to the lost through the way of music, for example like someone would do singing a special in church, but sadly with most this ISN'T the case.

Christian artists nowadays are even leaving the names God and Jesus out of their songs, they are too afraid to even put the gospel message boldly in their songs, because they might offend.

I love music, I believe it can be a wonderful form of worship but ONLY if it is truly done with worship.

This is why I choose NOT to listen to contemporary Christian music. Some of their songs do have wonderful lyrics but if you can't hear them through the music played what is the point?

I am not writing this to judge but to share my thoughts and maybe it will encourage someone...

Here are some verses I encourage you to look into, that back up my beliefs on this topic.

I Peter 5:8

Romans 12:2

John 17:14

John 18:36

I John 2:15-17

a Daybook entry

Got this idea from a ladies blog at joyfulmomofmany.

Outside my window... dreary... in the 30's a "take a nap, read a book or watch an old movie type of day.

I am thinking... about upcoming spring plans. Gardening, making some crafts for Logans bedroom...

From the learning room... nothing at the moment. Haven't started up toddler school since the end of last year. Have been planning and thinking up lessons and activities though :)

I am thankful for... my family. I need them. My heart feels like it will burst with happiness. I am so thankful for them!

From the kitchen... Nothing lately, sadly... have plans for jelly bars and maybe some banana bread soon.

I am wearing... a brown shirt with way-to-big-for-me blue jeans ( that's a good thing they are getting big eh?)

I am reading... in devotions- Ephesians, book (when I get the chance)- Reshaping it all

I am hoping... I can be the wife and mom my family needs and the Lord has called me to be.

I am creating... ideas for Logans Mickey/Toy Story room, including a bookshelf window seat :)

I am hearing... my little boy watching Princess and the frog ( a new favorite)

Around the house... housework to finish, couple of loads of laundry to do

One of my favorite things... organizing and decorating and pinterest. Oh and Saturdays with my family. Not in that order.

A few plans for the rest of the week... working at the church, church tonight, church clean up Saturday. Catching up on Missionary books

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Aren't little toddler hands ADORABLE! <3

"There Is Hope" Evangelistic Tool - Bible Baptist Church

Gardening Plans

I contemplated container gardening but my little area to work with is... well, little. I don't really want to dig into the ground... so what did I do?... searched pinterest of course! Found this unique and very cool way to garden. Pallets! Add a little garden tarp to the bottom, fill with dirt and ta da! So So Cool :)

Isn't this the coolest?! My choices for veggies include: tomatoes of course, carrots ( sons fave ) Lettuce for salads, cucumbers ( maybe ) onions, green and red peppers, beans ( maybe ) and zucchini ( hoping )

For my flower boxes. I heard this type of flower keeps mosquitoes away. Worth giving a try right? And they are so pretty and cheerful!

Herbs: love how this is displayed and plan on doing it just like this on my front porch/ deck/ itty bitty space on my stairs. Just because it's small doesn't mean you can't make it purdy, am I right? :)

So what do you think?