Snow.

Relaxing.

Chips.

Yesterday I had to work at Majestic's showroom for several hours while the sales persons had their monthly meeting. This would make it two days in a row I would have to get up before 6am and get ready and have Bailey out the door for either appts. or work. Needless to say my body has definitely adjusted to being a stay-at-home Mommy so this getting up early and going to bed late hasn't really worked out for me. Anyways, Mimi (my wonderful mother) kept Bailey yesterday while I worked. This is the longest I have actually left Bailey with anybody other than Bobby.

I finally leave the showroom at 2pm. I head over to Panera Bread at North Hills with the intentions of stopping by REI to pick up Bialey some ski pants for the possible snow we might get Friday night and early Saturday (a whole other story). I called Mom to see if she wanted anything from Panera and she didn't really talk when I answered. All she could say was "Bailey, you want to tell your mama what you've done?". Oh my goodness, I could only imagine.

Bailey loves Mimi and Pop's pantry. Especially all of the goodies that are on the bottom shelf. She is constantly going in there and touching all of the boxes and cans trying her best not to grab them or knock them off the shelf because she knows she will get in trouble. This time she took it to a whole new level (Mommy wasn't there to say "NO"). She got the bag of Trader Joe's corn chips and dumped them out in the floor along with grits and oatmeal. Them she sat in the middle of the construed mess and just started talking up a storm. Yes, my mom got all of this on video. Even the part where I called and was asking Bailey what she had done. Bailey was just shaking her head.

What a great memory!!! This is only aloud at Mimi and Pops! :) I will try and steal my mom's video camera so I can post the footage on here!!! Love you mom! Thanks for making memories with my daughter!!!

Quad.

For all of you who don't know, I am playing in a dodgeball league with my sister and several friends this year. Our second game was last night. We play every Sunday night for nine weeks and then have a tournament. Last night I was very excited because we had won our previous game and I didn't realize how much fun it was actually going to be. I mean really....I am a mommy now that seems to have lost all athleticism. When you begin play in dodgeball your starting position in on your stomach facing the balls in the middle of the court. The ref shouts "DODGEBALL" and you literally throw your body up and sprint towards the balls so your team can have the first throw and total domination. This is some people's weakness and some people's strength.

This happens to be my strength (the only strength I have in dodgeball). I get the ball every time we race to get the balls against the other team. Well, last night I did the same thing I did the previous game. However, I must have wanted that ball really bad! I have pulled my quadracep. I have never done this before. I have pulled a hamstring but never a quad. I continued to play despite the injury. Well let me tell you how I felt last night. I have a huge bulge on my thigh (great when you are trying to wear some skinny jeans the next day), I am walking like a pirate with a wooden leg and did I mention I have a fourteen month old that loves to sit in Mommy's lap to read books?!

Pulling a muscle seems so different these days than it did back in the athletic days of high school and college. It really makes me feel my age. I am one year from the BIG 3-0 and today am feeling every bit of it. So for now I will R-I-C-E my quad in hopes that it heals before next Sunday. Because if one thing is for sure, I haven't lost my competive dirve so I will be playing next Sunday. Maybe I just want go so hard for the balls.

Monkey.

End.

Ecclesiastes 12.

This last chapter is the most important chapter of this book for understanding all that you have read. Solomon has gone through the whole book telling us how to live our lives with enjoyment but to be weary to the world and seek God's face and wisdom. I love how he concludes this book. He says "fear God and keep His commandments.....for God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it be good or evil."

Solomon could have written these two verse and be done with it. However, I believe he felt he needed to place doubt in people about how awful this world is. How depressing your life will be without God. But Solomon did not say to walk around during this life moping until Jesus' return. He said be glorious and thankful for this life God has allowed you to live. ENJOY your life. But do it with God by your side. It will be a lot more enjoyable!

How sad that people spend their lives looking in the wrong places for the enjoyment that God gives freely, as a gift!!!!!

Beach.

I am getting really excited about spring and summer. Yes, me!! I have never been a warm weather person. I have always enjoyed the cold, snuggle weather. I have to admit having a fourteen month old running around the house makes me long for perfect spring days where we can be outside in the fresh air. I feel like there is so much to do outside. Even if it just consists of running through the yard.

Bailey has never been to the beach. I know she is still young, but she LOVES sand! My sister and I have been talking about planning a weekend trip for the family and heading down to the beach. Even though the plan is to go in February, I think it would be fun for Bailey to sit in the sand and see the ocean. And with this unpredictable weather, who knows, we might hit the jackpot and get beautiful weather!!!

My goal this year is to actually go to the beach for at least a week this summer! First we have to find a place to stay and book it. This seems to be the hardest part considering things seem to be so expensive these days. Once I can get that behind me I would love to spend countless hours in the ocean, pool, sand & doing fun beachy things with Bailey.

Involvement.

Ecclesiastes 11.

I am not very good about having my quiet time. In fact, I am praising the Lord for how he has ministered to me during this fast. I am thanking Him to opening my eyes to how IMPORTANT it is to pray for specific things each and everyday and to read His Word. This is vital for our flourishment on earth in the days that we have here.

In Ecclesiastes 11:4 Solomon writes "He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap."  This verse is a quick reminder of my human nature and the excuses I make for not wanting to dive in and serve my Lord. If we constantly strive for the PERFECT timing this will lead to inactivity. This is applied to our spiritual life also. If we think we can wait for a perfect time to read our Bible, it will never happen. If we are constantly LOOKING for the perfect church, we will never find it. If we are waiting to serve on the perfect ministry team, we will NEVER serve. Solomon clearly states that if we wait for conditions they may never exist. Which in turn we are doing what Solomon has wrote about in this whole book. We are "chasing after the wind". WE WILL NEVER CATCH THE WIND. No matter what you are doing today realize that where you are spiritually will outlast anything material on this earth. Let's "serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with thanksgiving." We need to give Him all we have. Spirit, soul & body. Let's stop watching and start doing!!!

Outdoors.

Skills.

Ecclesiastes 10.

Verse 10 says "If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength.  Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. Do you have a job that you feel like you could be much better at doing? Are you using a dull tool? This makes me think of my husband. He has been talking alot about helping to design a webpage for our company that is a useful tool for our customers. We all can talk but sometimes we need to dive in and show some effort and action. Bobby has never done this before. Even though he has the "smarts" he needs to become more wise about designing. A couple of days ago he went out and bought a few books to learn more about web design.  Instead of playing video games in the evening after Bailey and I go to bed, he has been reading and studying his books.  He is sharpening his skills and tools by through training and practice. In the end wisdom will overtake strength.

Do not do your job half-heartedly. God has given us this life as a blessing. We need to dive in and better ourselves in what we are doing. I definitely don't want to use a "dull axe" in parenting. I am constantly finding ways to sharpen my tools to be a better, more Godly and wise parent. Go to God today and ask Him for mental "strength" to help you want to be a better person at what you do.

Wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 9:10-18.

I can be sure that I get caught up in the outwarrd appearance sometimes. Isn't that what the world wants? Sad. Today the focus of an evil world seems to be on wealth, attractiveness and success. Our twisted and unfair (and ungodly) world allows the wise to go hungry and the intelligent unrewarded. Yet, Solomon states that WISDOM is above all strength. WISDOM is not always heard, but wisdom that comes from God will outlast any of the rich and attractive in this lifetime.

Be wise in the Lord. Seek His hand in everything you do. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus." Are you seeking Godly wisdom. I pray that God will allow me to seek Him and allow me to dwell on His word to become a woman of wisdom. For that far outweighs what the world around me is telling me!!! Thank you God for giving us the opportunity to draw close to you!

Park.

Friends. (continued)

Coloring.

Discipline.

Ecclesiastes 8.

There is alot going on in this chapter, but a couple of verses that jumped out and spoke to me as a parent. In verse 10 Solomon is talking about the evil. When one dies the evil he has done is quickly forgotten and praises are raised to him in the city. Verse 11 says that because the sentence against him was not executed quickly, that his sons are given fully to do evil.

This quickly reminded me of my parenting. Last night Bobby, Bailey and I were up in the bonus room playing and watching some football. Bailey is at the age now where she knows what "NO" means but might not quite comprehend the "WHY?" behind it.  I asked her not to play with the phone base or I would have to spank her (she knows what this means). She looked at me then looked at the phone and walked over and smacked the phone off the base. Immediately the sinner in me wanted to burst out laughing. But I told her what would happen and I needed to follow through with my action or she WILL do it again. I spanked her leg and she got upset and walked away from the phone shaking her head no.
As parents, it is our duty to discipline our children just as Christ disciplines us.

We are all sinners. And we will all be disciplined at some point by God. Just because we do not get "spanked" immediately for our actions doesn't mean we can continue to live our sinful lives. We should not think God doesn't care about what we are doing. He has a perfect time for everything and Judgement Day will come.

Growth.

Ecclesiastes 6.

At first as I read this passage I was confused. It seemed over my head. But once I read the applications and really went back and read the verses I began to understand. Wow....perfect passage for the new year!! (Once again)!

Solomon speaks about death. More specifically that all people die, rich and poor. Everything that you have tried to achieve on this earth is meaningless once you die. Rich and poor are both put in the grave. You cannot take anything with you. So what are you doing in this life to improve the next life you have once you die?

At the beginning of the year alot of people (including myself) made resolutions or set goals for 2010. You may want to be a better spouse, become financially free or get that body back into shape. Do you take precedence in these things over your relationship with God? Solomon says to focus on your spiritual relationship with God because that in the ONLY thing that will last after this life. That doesn't mean you can't better this life and set goals, it just means that we need to focus on our priorities!!!

Friends.

Today is bittersweet. Our friends, the Durfees will be moving St. George, Utah today. Wednesday we were able to visit one last time with them before they left. Lily, Kiera & Hyrum's daughter, is two and a half months younger than Bailey. However, she is walking and babbling so her and Bailey were definitely busy Wednesday. I have made a dear friend in Kiera and am going to miss her dearly! It was nice to have a girlfirend to be able to get together and have lunch with while the girls played. We might be making a trip out to Utah in the near future so we can see our wonderful, lifelong friends. We love you guys! Safe journey!!
(I will post pictures later....for some reason blogger will not let me right now!)

Contentment.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-20.

"The love of money is the root of all evil." Sometimes even I catch myself saying I wish I had more money so I could do this or go here or buy this. Our human nature tells us we need more in this life (material things) to satisfy our needs and make us happy. Our human nature is right! We do need more in this life. But the "more" is God.

Solomon talks about the man who loves money. We are not talking about rich people. There are alot of blessed people who actually seek God's face and are good stewards of what God has given them. It is men who love money and only money. He states that "the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep." Huh?! I believe Solomon is talking about contentment. No matter what this man does he will never be content. He will constantly be wanting to increase his riches. He thinks about only himself.

Solomon was a man of great riches. Yet in the later years of his life realized that the abundance of his riches amounted to nothing. "Exactly as a man is born, thus will he die." He realized there must be more to life than the unsatisfaction of never having enough. He found that through God.

God wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to eat and drink and enjoy ourselves in our work. This is the life that God has given us. Whether we be rich or not He has given us this life as a reward. Once we realize that this life is temporary and God has a greater place for us than we can be content with what we have because what we have is what God has given us and that is all we need!!

Promise.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-9.

Do you ever make promises or vows you don't intend to keep? Do you dictate to God what you want Him to do in your life? In this pasage Solomon talks about our attitudes towards God. He tells us to NOT come into the house of God giving demands or telling God how we want Him to do certain things in our lives. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His purpose." We quickly forget that!! I think this perfectly appropriate for fasting. Fasting properly requires not only giving up something but also reading God's word and praying specifically. This does not mean you have a list of needs you want God to meet and you expect Him to meet them because you are giving up something. We need to draw close to God. Not come to Him with expectations. Imagine in your marriage your spouse never contributing to the marriage at ALL! But always wanting you to give 110%. That's not right! It's especially not right to do this to the ONE who died for you to give you eternal life.

This passage also touches on promises. Verse 4 says "When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!" Sometimes we like to make commitments to God because we are caught up in the moment. Example: You are standing in church, the pastor calls the invitation to come and commit to giving to the building fund and everyone else seems to be filling out a sheet of paper. before you even go to God about giving you are already filling out a card and rushing up to altar. You don't even give a second thought later. Don't make a promise to God that you don't intend to keep. Solomon continues in verse 5.  "It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay."

Today, let's think about what we promise to God. Do you promise to be a better parent? To give more to His Kingdom? To draw closer to Him and be in the Word everyday? If so, honor those promises, those vows to God. Pay it to the Lord. He deserves more than we could ever give Him. But what we do give Him he cherishes.

Kitty.

I am sure those of you who actually read my blog noticed in the post "Cousins" there was a picture of Bailey and the new "kitty" Mimi bought her. Well, ever since then it has been "titty" this and "titty" that. This is how Bailey says it. Not politically correct for the blog but I am sure you all will understand this coming from a 13 month old. Anyways, she wants this kitty when she wakes up in the morning, when we get in the car and after every nap. I actually hide it before she goes down for naps or bedtime because I fear she might just want to play with kitty the whole time. She loves having kitty sit in her lap while she strokes kitty's whiskers. ADORABLE! Enjoy the pics!!!

Nap.

Today has been such a wonderful day. I love being able to go to church on Saturday nights so that Bobby, Bailey and I have all day on Sunday to hang out together.

Bailey is still taking two naps daily. Today, when she went down for her morning nap, she slept for a couple of hours. Usually when I put her down she will play for a while in her crib and then go to sleep, but not this morning. The minute I laid her down she curled up in a little ball and went to sleep. When she FINALLY got up not a blankie or book was touched. Daddy and Bailey must have played extra hard upstairs while I did my chores. I can't say the same about nap number two. She always goes down at 4:00pm but I actually waited thirty minutes because she had such a great morning nap. I breastfed her and put her down. She immediately sat up and grabbed a book to read. Bobby and I were upstairs in the bonus room. We were watching football while I clipped coupons. We kept hearing her just talking in the sweetest voice. ONE HOUR past and she was still talking in her crib. I went downstairs to look at the monitor video and low and behold she was just sitting in her crib talking to her blankies and animals. HOW PRECIOUS! She never ended up taking a nap. When I opened the door to her room she looked up at me and waved and then continued to play in her crib. What a sweet little girl. Usually I would want her to get a nap in but quiet time alone is just as good!!!

Time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-10

Sometimes my timing is just bad. At least I think it is. But Solomon says that God has a perfect time for everything.  Even when I think that the timing is not right, God has a specific purpose for why he chose that time.

Last night I was talking with a friend on the phone about timing (God is so amazing how he puts scripture right in front of us after we have had a deep conversation about this topic - timing). She was talking about the trials they have been through with trying to have a child. She proceeded to tell me that everything on both of their parts was fine but that she knew it was all in God's timing. She doesn't understand it but she knows that God has a perfect plan. Her and her husband are actually doing the twenty-one day fast at our church. She says she is hoping she can draw closer to God and accept His timing without being selfish and wondering why she isn't pregnant when she wants to be. AMAZING! What a testament. She wants to understand God's timing. She is not asking God to get her pregnant because she is fasting and giving up things she enjoys.

Are we trying to push events in our life to happen without consulting God or putting them in God's hands. "There is an appointed TIME for everything." God knows it. It's up to us to trust God and grow in Him. His TIMING is perfect!!!

Cousins.

Yesterday we went over to Mimi and Pop's house to play with Bailey's cousins. She had so much fun! She even got to see Uncle "D" and Uncle Adam. Mimi also bought her a toy kitten that purrs and moves its front paws and meows. Looks like the real thing. She played with the kitten all the way home and even last night. I think she has a new friend!

 

 

 

 

Toil.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26.

When I read this scripture this morning I though about my father. Solomon talks about the toils of work. In this economy my father, owning his own small business has been through some turmoil.  He has had to downsize in order to keep the business running. He started and created this business from the ground up! I can only imagine what he has had to go through to get where he is today. Also, not knowing what tomorrow holds because of our economy. Yet he keeps on keeping on. He rejoices amidst trial.

Solomon is trying to show us that all of our effort and all of our work is in vain if we can't rejoice in the Lord while we work. We work to survive. We have responsibilities to take care of those under us. But we must serve God in the process. I can't imagine not being a Christian in the work environment.  My earthly father has built a Godly environment for his family to work in. I couldn't imagine my father sitting around and thinking "When I die I everything that I have worked for and built will be left to those who have done nothing to earn it." I know that he wouldn't never think this because he is not a man of the world but a Godly man who seeks to put God first in his home, work and family.

Solomon also mentions that to a worldly man the only things he does is eat, drink and find satisfaction in his work. I am so thankful that I know there is more to life than eating and work!

Pray today that God will allow you to see purpose in everything you do. You can only do this by putting God first. This is my prayer. "True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God's guidelines for living." Amen!!!!!!

Dance.

Bailey's first dance class last night was a hit. Bailey loved romping around the studio room. The age starts at fourteen months but there wasn't a girl under two in the class except for Bailey who is not quite fourteen months yet. However, she did amazing! She loved when the lights went out and the disco ball starting spinning. That is when she became very vocal! She would run around the room with her hands up just chattering.  Usually around alot of people Bailey tends to want Mommy to hold her. That is why I was pleasantly surprised to see her so comfortable around so many "big people".  We will definitely be returning to this class. The only bad thing is it gives me an excuse to find even more cute things for Bailey to wear. Yes, I am talking about dance apparel. I can't wait!!!

Pleasure.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-16

In this passage Solomon touches on worldly pleasures. He, himself, with all of his wisdom built, accumulated & looked upon some of the greatest "worldly" pleasures of his time. He did everything in his will to try and find happiness and meaning in all of these things. But all of his attempts he sums up with one phrase, "chasing after the wind".

I can do all the good in the world. I can own nice things. I can listen to the coolest music. I can watch all of the great TV shows. What good does that do me without God? All of these worldly things will be ruined. If I have a relationship with God and truly want to follow him, when everything else gone, when I lose everything, I really haven't lost the most important One, God! Praise the Lord for that. I know that I am secure no matter what. Jobs, house, clothes, family.....as much as it might hurt in this life, God remains steadfast. It reminds me of a passage in Matthew where he says to store up your treasures in heaven.

I read this statement: "Security and self-worth are not found in these accomplishments on earth, but far beyond them in the love of God." Think about this. When you go to get homeowner's insurance you calculate meticulously the money you have invested in your house. You dot your I's and cross your T's because God forbid something happen to your home and you are left with less than what you had to show for. You show constant investment and care with things around your home so nothing happens. Shouldn't we take this much care of our relationship with our God? Shouldn't we meticulously dot our I's and cross our T's and invest our time in making sure we are cultivating our relationship with God? It's the same thing. Without Him we are NOTHING!

Thank you Jesus for dying for me. I know no matter what I attain in life doesn't matter. But I do know what I do will have a great impact on my eternal rewards in heaven! Help me to be your servant.

Knowledge.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18.

Is knowledge such a bad thing? Oh it can be. Solomon talks about human knowledge in this short passage. He is trying to explain in his sermon the more you know the more you will hurt if you don't have God in your life.  Solomon was the wisest King in all of Jerusalem. However he lacked one element. By lacking the one Element he was miserable. He was always trying to grasp more, become more wise. What he didn't realize was that God was wanting him to reach out and seek wisdom from Him. All of the knowledge and searching will be over. His questions would need no answer.  Verse 18 is a clear description of what happens with human knowledge, reasoning and philosophy. It says "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief."

My prayer is that I always seek the wisdom that comes from God and not the human reasoning.

Organization.

I finally purchased some cubbies for ALL of Bailey's toys. We needed some shelving for her bonus room and for her bedroom. Target had a great sale on the Closetmaid cubbies and bins for the new year. I couldn't pass up the offer. Now everything is neatly put away but within reach for her to play. What a great investment!!!