Psalm 33

"The Lord looks from heaven;

He sees all the sons of men.

From the place of His dwelling He looks

On all the inhabitants of the earth;

He fashions their hearts individually;

He considers all their works."

Psalm 33: 13-15

FASHIONS THEIR HEARTS INDIVIDUALLY...

As soon as I read that this morning that Caedmon's Call song came to mind, "Hands of the potter" or that song we always sung at camp, "the potters hand". What an amazing thought for my day today. My strong and mighty God intimately knows my heart and is fashioning it!

I'll admit - the last few days I've been feeling a little frustrated with life. We found out this past weekend that the house we are renting temporarily has sold and we have til the end of this month to get out. Thankfully we hadn't unpacked all of our belongings and they are still neatly stacked in the basement ready for another move...but, still.

It's easy for me sometimes to think that God is so busy with everyone else that he isn't too concerned about my life. Which is silly. God has brought us here to Iowa, He has provided in every way...He does care about every detail. The reminder for me this morning that God truly is on high watching and caring is refreshing. Deep down I love the fact that I know God is using all of these transitions to His glory - and we can come out purified if we are willing, well, even if we aren't... I'm relieved to know that God knows the whole story and sees the whole picture. I'm in awe of the fact that I am just a lump of clay being pulled and molded and sometimes broken, melted and reused when my potter sees it necessary.

So, while I wait to see what will happen - I can rest that God knows. And thats enough for me. Since I dont' know how to post videos yet, I will give you the link...take a minute and let yourself be reminded of just exactly who you are and who God is. It's so refreshing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kn6PIQvF-A

A good cup of coffee

This day has started off GREAT! Ava and I took Brad to work so we could make our way over to West Des Moines to visit with a new friend. Our final destination was Friedrichs Coffee http://www.friedrichscoffee.com/Main.html over off of 22nd?! (still learning my way around) The website is almost as fun as the actual shop, so check it out if you get a chance.

What is it about those cozy little coffee shops that just make you feel a little more warm inside...a little more wiser...a little less lonely? I dunno. Anyway, I had a great time getting to know a new friend, Laura, and adored the warm cup of coffee in my hands. I believe we were drinking "snickerdoodle" of which I promptly bought a 1/2lb of my own to take home. Yes, it was that good! As a treat I got a 1/2lb of dark Italian Roast for the hubs - he loves that really rich, dark stuff. An added bonus to this mornings adventure was that our cups of coffee were FREE! From 9-10 today Friedrichs gave away free cups of the lovely liquid! What a treat! Thank you to Laura for the invite and the sweet fellowship this morning... what a delight to get to sit in a nice shop like that to start off my day. :)

After the coffee was gone Ava and I headed across the street to Babies R Us. Oh dear... I admit, I love that place, but my frugle side somehow disappears and all of the sudden I feel like Ava NEEDS everything in that store. Good grief! Thank goodness we don't have a lot of money and that the Holy Spirit convicts me when I start to pile outfit after outfit into that blessed purple cart. whew! However, we did come away with some good buys - actual needs. :) Two adorable bath towels (she for some reason no longer fits into the newborn ones)... a new footed pajama, swimming diapers, a bathing suit (I waited til end of the season so I could the $20 suit for $6) and some new Nuby bottles - that Ava doesn't know how to work. Ugh. My favorite purchase is the new brown and pink mini-diaper bag I picked up for $9! I've been using my Vera Bradley tote since Ava was born...but, I miss it and want it back. This new little bag is perfect for our needs and comes a great price. :)

Overall, great day so far... now its onto the housecleaning portion. Not as much fun, but, I do enjoy tidying up a bit! And since that excellent flavored caffeine is still doing its job... let's go!

When did my baby grow up?

Yesterday we were at a rehearsal dinner for Brad's cousin, Will and his soon to be lovely wife. What a fun time of family, food and fellowship - in that order. :) I always enjoy those massive family gatherings - sometimes I tend to sink into the background and just people watch. So many different personalities and "people types" mixed into one blood. Wow, just amazing. I credit our Heavenly Father for putting this mess together in a great way.
Anyway, it was a great afternoon and after all of the pictures, eating and socializing we all kind of retreated to the picnic table area where small talk started. I especially enjoy those times...getting intimate with family, hearing their heart speak, learning new facts and old stories, getting baby advice from all those who have done it before.
In the midst of all of this...I look down only to realize Ava is clapping. Clapping! When did my baby girl grow up?!

The significance of...NOT ME

Here is a journal entry of mine from July 7th -something that came back to mind today so I thought rather then re-journal it again for myself I could share what I already thought, and maybe encourage someone else, too....

July 7, 2009 -
"Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mt. of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some Pharisees called to Him - "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" But He answered them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:37-40

What a wonder to me it is that God CHOOSES to use us...whiny, fickle humans for His glory. Sometimes I make myself too important - what a great reminder this morning that God doesn't need me or my praise (though He is constantly deserving!!!)...He is God, He is good. He is ruler over all creation. My God can use stones to worship should He speak the word. Wow. Today I want to live in praise for my risen King. Let the stones envy my ability to praise! Thank you God for life, for love, my family and your creation. Thank you for choosing me to follow you.

Cornell Street

Here I sit. It's 1:30 in the afternoon...the baby is asleep for the lovely mid-day nap and I should be scrubbing this house top to bottom. But, here I sit. The last few days my motivation level has been at -49 and my care about the level is even lower. Oh dear. I kind of see myself as an Eeyore. Not in the worrying, negative sense, but in the slow, slug-like movement sense. Here I sit and it's now 1:31.

Bradley loaded up two vans full of teens this morning and headed to IRBC for the week. So, Ava and I kissed him goodbye and then began our week of adventure together by...feeding her breakfast. Wooo hooo! :) She has been in such an amazing mood today and I've just so enjoyed being with her. She dances when there is no music, loves to do this loud whisper talk to her toys and just giggles at everything. It's hilarious watching her grow up and learn. I feel like, and this probably sounds weird seeing how she's all of 7 months old, but, I feel like we have gotten so much closer as she grows up. When she's playing sometimes she'll stop and look up at me like, "hey mom, glad to have you here" then goes back to chewing the life out of a board book or something. I adore the fact that she is a morning cuddler now...and only wants me when she's constipated. :) Another weird thing to read, I'm sure. I just love how she grips onto me for dear life at times and has that trust in me.


Anyway, I guess I should get to the housework...
The house is being shown today and it needs some TLC prior to that. Cornell Street....where the party is at today.

Technology and my level of frustration

Blogger friends...
If only you could have watched me this last HOUR trying to figure out how to get the new blog background...you would have had a great laugh. But, Alas! It's up....what do you think?! Thank you Amy and Kristi for being good example and having a great link to a cool website that has FREE backgrounds, banners, etc. check it out - its at the top left of my blog. :)

Anyone know how I change my Blog title box to a different color? The green just WON'T go away!

up with the dawn

The last few days I've been camping out on my parents couch...I'm not complaining - the new furniture is soft and made with that fuzzy material, so it's nice. They get up to head to work around 5ish and since my temporary bed is in the living room, I've been getting up around that time too. (Not good at sleeping when lights are on and people are moving around me) Usually I would just fall back to sleep after they walked out the door and the morning's calmness returned...but this morning I just woke up feeling motivated and couldn't fall back to sleep. I'm on "vacation" so I have no reason or task to feel motivated about, but, nonetheless couldn't get back to sleep. So, I poured a glass of heavy pulp OJ (personal fave) and enjoyed watching the sun make its slow climb to the skyline. The house is calm and quiet...baby still asleep, dog asleep... air conditioner taking a break from its humming. The stillness is wonderful.

Lastnight as I was falling asleep I kept thinking about my personal salvation testimony. Weird. I was thinking about the fact that we (I) seem to get so familiar and used to telling our testimony that we streamline it and probably leave out lots of the "little parts", parts that happened because they need telling about. The last few months I think I've shared my experience 15 times as we went through different experiences, job interviews, etc. And each time I shared I noticed that I was trimming and skimming details to make it quicker for the hearer... hmmm...not intentionally "Dissing" my story - but, making it listener friendly, cutting out the details that I thought maybe weren't important enough?! IMPORTANT ENOUGH? So yes, as I was drifting asleep I kind of challenged myself to maybe write out my salvation experience once and for all - every detail I can remember. It is that important. With those thoughts... I realized that, yes, though I was only 5 when my "transformation" started... (wasn't saved at that point) it was the beginning of my journey to faith. Lately I just quickly state, "I thought I was saved when I was 5 years old..." and then get on to the "good stuff". However, this morning it seems to me in my state of mind that those 5 year old memories are good and fresh and maybe just the most important memories as they sent me on my way to getting to know God. Though it took an additional 8 years for me to actually SEE and UNDERSTAND my need, wow, what an age of understanding. So, I'm hoping for some down time today where I can sit before this keyboard and just type out every memory I have about my experience with meeting with my God from the first time up to this morning.

My daughter just made her first morning babbles through the baby monitor. She is my reminder of God's goodness in my life... Lord, thank you for her! Thank you for her life!