The Dellinger's Doings

Someday

2012-02-18T00:26:00.001-07:00

Someday, My Love..

We won't have to worry about what the next step is for our lives

We won't have to make hard choices about the ones we love

We won't take shifts sleeping, but we'll both sleep the whole night through

We will look back and know that this time in our lives made us stronger as a couple, stronger as individuals, and most importantly.. Stronger as followers of Christ

Someday...

A Day For Love

2012-02-14T11:00:00.001-07:00

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could.
Barbara de Angelis

Take time to cherish the ones that you love... let the stresses of life wait for another day.

Happy Valentine's Day, Y'all.

Words

2012-02-03T22:57:00.001-07:00

Words I would love to hear: "Hi Aim.. it's me, Mom." I miss conversations with my mom. I think back and wish that I had asked her more questions about her childhood, about what she still hoped for and dreamed about in life, about how to be a good wife and mother... so many questions.

If your mom is alive and you can communicate.. don't take that privilege lightly. If you aren't communicating, start. If the relationship is strained or broken.. fix it.

I have faith that my mom will regain her speech.. I will be able to ask those questions. For now, I just pray and I cherish every moment that I have with her... You should do the same.

Now It's Your Turn

2012-01-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

I saw this 2011 Year End Recap on Amanda's Blog over at Baby Bangs and I thought it was a great idea...

So here is my year in a nutshell.. in case you're interested, or maybe you're not. But in any case...read below.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

Ran a 5K.. on Thanksgiving Day, The Gruene Turkey Trot

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I really didn't make any resolutions last year... I was just focused on keeping my sanity!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My sister-in-law, Erin gave birth to a sweet baby boy, Logan.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My husband had two older men, that have been long, time friends and mentors pass away this year, unexpectedly. The best part is that he was able to share Jesus with them in the time close to their deaths.

5. What countries did you visit?

I didn't have the chance to travel internationally this year.. I did visit Minnesota and Ohio for the first time. Does that count?

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

Stability in our home... 2011 was a year of major transition and trust in God for each step and breath. Also, I am fervently praying for peace in a relationship that affects our home.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 4th.. We finally got to see our boys after a long separation.

8. What was your biggest achievement for the year?

I would have to say that implementing running into my life was a BIG achievement for me... I'm not as fast as I'd like to be, but I'm farther along this year than I was last year!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Becoming disheartened and losing faith that God is still at work in our lives and the restoration of my mom's health.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

None at all! Thank you, Jesus!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I bought a collage frame and framed the pictures from our trip to Ohio

12. Where did most of your money go?

We were very frugal this year.. We did take a few trips.

13. What did you get really excited about?

My Mom and Dad came for a visit and for Rock the Range in Denver... great two weeks!

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?

"Great I Am" by Jared Anderson

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
-Happier or sadder?

Happier!

-Thinner or fatter?

My goal for 2012 is to find balance here. I was at different times thinner and fatter than I needed to be in 2011.

-Richer or poorer?

Not richer.. but that will change in 2012

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Kept in touch with friends.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Worry.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

We had Dan's family here for Christmas and I really wanted to make some memories with them. It snowed on the 22nd.. about a foot and a half! The snow began the night before and we all took a long walk in the snow and went Christmas caroling to our neighbors. Since we are kind of spread out around here, the neighbors were so shocked that we'd walked in the snow. But it was beautiful and definitely one for the memory books.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

Revenge.... Dan and I have both become quick fans and always try to watch together!

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

21. What was your favorite music this year?

New Life Worship, Adele, and Bruno Mars

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

The Help and Courageous

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 36 on August 20th.. My mom and dad were here and we just spent time together and went to dinner and a movie, The Help.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Less Worry and More Faith.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Hhhmmmmm.... somewhere between Anthroplogie meets Banana Republic meets thrift store chic??

26. What kept you sane?

Prayer

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

That although the road may be rocky right now.. God promised to never leave us, nor forsake us. I learned that the hard times are sharpening me, making me wiser, and softening my heart for those that are struggling. I also learned that hard times don't just come to those who have sown bad seed.. they come those who will continue to trust in Him and will not give up. Always remember.. God is a Good God and the devil is bad (he is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy)

Checking In..

2012-01-12T21:56:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a good week. We are on day five of our fast and it's been good. We feel less weighted down (no pun intended) and are seeing God at work on our behalf. I'm not gonna lie, though.. I am missing the Coke Zero. Still reminding myself, I am in charge of my body, not the other way around!

I've done ok with fitness. Three short runs and lots and lots of physical labor. My husband and I cleaned out an old storage building on a farm and I think that they just threw every little piece of scrap metal and wood and even some appliances. Good lord.. I sorted, lifted, threw, and shoveled. I told my hardworking husband more than once.."I never thought I would be doing what we're doing today!" Poor guy...I know that he just wanted to be finished so that I would stop complaining!

I have been keeping a journal of my food and exercise and you would not believe the amount of calories that hard labor can burn! The Lose It app on my iPhone is a great resource.... it is amazing what accountability can do for your eating habits.

Alrighty friends... Hope you're all doing well with your goals and changes. I'd love to hear from you on your progress!

Ready, Set, Lose

2012-01-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

Habakkuk 2:2 gives us the best advice when it comes to achieving our goals...

Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.

I am working on my goals for this year, not be be mistaken for a resolution. I've made those, hundreds of times. Year after year... so this year, I know I have to take a different approach. Lifestyle changes...Long term changes

We are starting this year off by joining Jentezen Franklin's fast for the next 21 days. We are participating by doing a Daniel Fast. We are seeking God for direction and wisdom for this new year and know that fasting is a great tool that helps us to be more sensitive to His voice. The hardest thing for me to give up will be Coke Zero...pray for ME! Also, I'm really trying to remind myself that this fast is not about the food that I'm not eating, it's about training my body to remember that I am in charge of it, it is not in charge of me. And believe me.. I was telling my body who is the boss of who all day. Especially when I was eating that RAW bar that I picked up at Starbucks. Seriously, I almost went back and told them that they overcharged me for the cardboard block that was mis-packaged as a snack!

My next goal is to really step into running and races. Dan and I ran our first 5k on Thanksgiving Day and we LOVED it!

I can't wait to get back into my routine and back to running on a regular basis... Dan and I are planning to run a few 5k's, 10k's and a half-marathon by the end of this year. I started walking and running on my road because it's 35 minutes to the nearest gym and I simply couldn't afford a membership plus gas. Now, I almost can't imagine going back to working out in a gym. Well, I could be persuaded if it offered fabulous spinning classes! I miss those!

I am looking for inspiration and health/running/eating tips and partners to keep me motivated .... so if you are on the same journey that I am on, email me, message me, or contact me on Facebook ( amydellinger) or Twitter (@AmyDellinger)!

Here are a few other bloggers who are inspiring me and keeping me laughing while they are on a similar journey -

SkinnyRunner - this chickadee seriously logs the miles, every stinkin' day! She's also hilarious and gorgeous!

MckMama - Jennifer is inspiring in so many ways. She makes her own yogurt...What the heck! She's also on a journey to find her fit self and I am cheering her on all of the way. I'm also taking notes on how she's moving forward in health and fitness.

Big Mama - Melanie had me cracking up while reading her last post on grocery shopping while trying to eat healthier!

I've read so many FB and blog posts about becoming a healthier, better you.. I think so many of us are just tired of being tired and want to feel the best that we can. I live in such a rural area and don't have the option of a gym membership right now... so it's long distance friendships and training. I am commiting to eating healthier, counting calories, and exercising consistenly. Join me, won't you? Who knows, I might get brave and post before and after pictures someday!

Farewell 2011

2011-12-31T22:19:00.001-07:00

I am not sad to see this year end... too much heartache, too many questions.

A year that began with tears, ends in laughter.

A year that began in chaos, ends with a vision.

A year that broke our hearts, ends with compassion for those who have walked the same road.

A year that changed our lives, brought perspective.

Although this was a hard and trying year.... I say Goodbye to it know that
although I don't have all of the answers that I've been waiting for.. God has proven Himself faithful, as His word says He will!

Always Here...

2011-12-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...

I never leave Your hands - Your Hand by JJ Heller

I remember sitting in my mom's hospital room and my dad was telling me about a song that he'd heard on the radio. It turned out to be this song, Your Hands, by JJ Heller. Since the first time that I heard these lyrics.. They have moved my heart and renewed my faith.

This coming Friday marks two years since my Mom suffered a massive stroke. We have rejoiced as we've watched her make marvelous strides and cried out to God when we she has struggled. This journey has not been easy or quick... there have been mountaintops and valleys.. times that I have thanked God for His Goodness and times when I have asked Him where He was in the midst of her pain. Through it all, I know that He has never left us or forsaken us. He was been right here... all along.

Season's Greetings

2011-12-27T23:46:00.004-07:00

Wishing you and your family a very Merry(and belated) Christmas and New Year full of blessings and miracles ...

From The Dellingers

My Turkey Trotting, Thanksgiving Meal Cooking Update

2011-11-25T22:36:00.001-07:00

Dan and I traveled to San Antonio this week to spend Thanksgiving with Mom and Dad.

On Thursday, we ran our first 5k, the Gruene Turkey Trot. I wasn't nervous at all.. mostly. The gun shot and we all took off. It was so great to do this first race with my Man! He's the best. We actually kept a decent pace for ourselves. I spotted a couple about our ages that were ahead of us and suggested that we keep up with them. About three minutes later, Dan said, " Ok, let's back it off babe." I was secretly glad, they were scootin' right along! Clearly, they were younger and
more fit than we are! The last few yards were the best part of the whole race. Two seconds before the finish line, Dan says, "let's blast it out!" It turns out that his blast is faster than mine. He finished at 32:21 and I finished at 32:26. We were happy that we finished and weren't last!

After regaining our composure and beginning to breath again at a normal rate (as in able to breath and talk at the same time).. We rushed home to get Thanksgiving dinner ready. I'd prepped some dishes on Wednesday, but still needed to warm several and
make a few. No pressure on my first solo Thanksgiving... Girls, if you are still able to glean cooking wisdom from your Mom, Do It! Don't take her suggestions for granted. My sweet momma helped me as much as she could, but I needed some major help with this meal! A few dishes were too dry and I learned that adding Splenda to your cranberry sauce, in place of sugar, will make it bitter/sour/gross. I guess all in all it turned out well.. What I mean is... No one got sick.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all! Shop 'til you drop!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-20T23:31:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I feel the need to cry everyday...

Sometimes I feel like the storm that we are enduring will never end...

Sometimes I feel weary and weak, like I can't endure one more battle...

Sometimes I wonder what I could have done to deserve my current circumstances...

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever walk in the purpose that God has created for me...

Sometimes I wonder if He knows my name, knows my heartache, knows that I want to throw in the towel and lose faith...

Then I remember that He has given me promises like these:

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."

Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."

Psalms 71: 21 - "You will restore me to even greater honor and even comfort me once again."

Then, I step back and look at the good in my life and the many blessings that God has given me. I am not going without when it comes to my daily needs. HE has provided.

My family took part in an outreach yesterday. We served our community with our church and helped to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to families in need. We were so overcome with blessing by being a blessing to others. We wanted to keep going and delivering, even after we had completed our assignments. There is such healing in reaching out to another family in need.

Happy Thanksgiving Week! Give thanks for all that you have been blessed with, even if all you have is your next breath.

Observations From The Scrapyard

2011-11-16T10:01:00.001-07:00

As I type this, I'm sitting at the scrapyard, watching what used to be very useful and very expensive objects be discarded like they never had a purpose.

There are cars, furniture, parts of equipment.. All things that were once used on a daily basis, but now sit broken and discarded. It makes me a little sad. But then I remember that all is this "junk" will be recycled and put back together and have a purpose once more.

I feel like our lives sometime parallel this experience... We are thriving and productive, moving through life. Then along comes a trial that knocks us out of productive life and we are broken and feel like we might never have a purpose again.
This verse came to mind:

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5 NIV)

So when it seems like our life has become nothing more than junk and pieces that no longer fit together, remember, He promises to make us new again.

You Win Some, You Lose Some

2011-11-15T20:57:00.001-07:00

Well.. I made it for 13 days. I blogged every day for 13 straight days, until yesterday. I just didn't have one extra second to post anything. So I guess I am out of the running in the NaBloPoMo.

Life is VERY busy for me these days. Too busy. I am having to work at prioritizing and not really succeeding at that like I need to. It seems so difficult to cut anything out because my obligations are all important.

I haven't been communicating with those close to me as well as I should be...
My home isn't as clean or organized as I'd like...
I missed blogging yesterday...
I haven't run in almost a week...
I only have about 10% of my Christmas shopping done...
I am in charge of Thanksgiving dinner next week and I don't have any of my recipes printed...
I still don't know what I am wearing for our family pictures and they are THIS SATURDAY...

I feel like I'm failing to meet the goals and expectations that I set for myself. But some days I feel like I am running from one task to the next with NO rest or break. Then I fall into bed and remember all of the things that I didn't accomplish that day. I know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this .. But some days it does seem daunting and OVER whelming.

I wonder if anyone else out there is struggling and what you do to get things in order?? Help.. Please!

What's In Your Dryer

2011-11-13T22:23:00.001-07:00

Don't ya just love the treasures that you find when you do laundry? This weekend, I collected five one dollar bills and some change.. a pinecone.. a handful of candy wrappers.. AND a bouncey ball..

What's in your dryer?

No Regrets

2011-11-12T22:19:00.001-07:00

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Friday's Frenzy

2011-11-11T20:40:00.001-07:00

These days I feel like life is going at warp speed... Friday is almost always my busiest day of the week.

9am - leave the house and drive to Colorado Springs

10am - drop off one of the boys at a weekly appointment

10-11:30 - run errands (which include buying birthday and baby gifts @ Recess, one of the best children's stores in Colorado Springs )

11:30am - pick up from my sweet boy

12pm - grab quick lunch date with my sweet boy

12:30pm - shop for snow pants and boots for the boys

1pm - swing by Hobby Lobby for gift wrap and craft supplies

1:30 - drive back up the mountain with stops to get gas and pick up dry cleaning

3pm - finally back home

6pm - birthday party for our sweet neighbor who turned 6 years old today

8:30pm - drop off boys back to their mom : (

I always used to wonder what life would be like as a stay ~~on the go~~ at home wife and mom. I think I might have envisioned long days that I would have to work hard to fill with activity. These days, I long for days of minimal activity.. with no plans or duties. I have become the hermit who is completely at peace with pizza and a good movie on a Friday night. Living so far away from town, every trip in is an effort, so we have to get everything checked off of our lists when we're in town. Fridays are so full for me, but I love that I get the one on one time with one of the boys. It's special and I try to make it count. These are the days that we have our "deep" talks and he shares his heart with me. I listen and only give advice when he asks for it.. he needs me to hear what he's saying and he wants to know that he's going to have the bubble of that time with me and that what is said in the car stays in the car. I know that one day, he'll remember our weekly journey to town and I hope that it will be a bright moment in his memory.. because it certainly is in mine.

I Never Imagined

2011-11-10T21:15:00.001-07:00

I never imagined that I would live in Colorado...on a mountain

I never imagined that I would drive thirty minutes, one way, to go to the grocery store..

I never imagined that I would wear winter clothes for ~~all year~~ nine months out of the year...

I never imagined that I would warm my home with only firewood, or that I would be really good at starting fires on a daily basis..

I never imagined that I would marry a man that really loves me, just the way that I am, no matter what...

I never imagined that I would love this man more today than the day that I married him...

Our love and commitment to one another, no matter the challenges, is why I am happy in a place that I NEVER imagined that I would call home...

And finally, I never imagined that I would love this life more than I would have ever loved the life that I imagined I would have.. Never limit your dreams, God always gives you more than you deserve.

Keep Going

2011-11-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had a conversation with one of the men in my life. We were discussing how hard it is to keep going when something gets really hard... His issue was math, mine was running. He was telling me that he just wanted to give up when he wasn't able figure something out.. but someone encouraged him to dig in, take a deep breath, and how this showed him that if he just didn't give up, he could catch on.

I told him that I really understood that process... for years, I always admired those who called themselves runners. When I was younger, I could never keep up when we ran in PE. But about a year ago, I decided to attempt running.. I'd give it a try... I've been slowly working at increasing my speed and distance. I'm still not going very fast or as far as I'd like. But I keep lacing up my shoes and getting out there, as often as I can.

I shared this with my little man and I told him.. I never thought I'd be running at this point in my life. I asked him if he knew what had changed in me.. He said no. I told him that I used to think that I just wasn't a runner. It was too hard to catch my breath and too hard to keep going. But now, many years later, when I'm now much older.. I've learned that if I just keep breathing and keep going.. then eventually I will reach my goal.

So whether it's math, running, or whatever your challenge is.. just keep going.

Pressed, Not Crushed

2011-11-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was struggling with some issues in my life. They are issues that just seem be to resurfacing over and over, each time with more intensity... and I try to stand strong in my faith, but some days, I just feel weary.

As I was driving down the road, this passage came to mind, I Corinthians 4:8-9,

Verse 8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed andunable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;

Verse 9 We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;

I was instantly overwhelmed with God's goodness and that while I am questioning why He isn't working as fast as I think I need Him to.. He shows His love for me by reminding me that the trials I am enduring won't be the end of me. Don't you love how the end of verse 9 says NEVER STRUCK OUT AND DESTROYED! I know that I can withstand this time in my life because God will never leave me orforsake me. He will carry me through.

'Tis The Beginning Of The Season

2011-11-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

Ahhh.. it's Monday. A new week full of tasks to accomplish and goals to achieve. Due to my schedule for the last few months and for the weeks coming up, I am determined to get my Christmas decor up and to attempt to make or recreate some of my Pinterest, holiday pins. I do have my tree up..yes, I know that it's a tiny bit early, but hey, my honey has been playing Christmas music since July. He's crazy like that.

How lucky am I??

Plus, we've got snow on the ground with more on the way.. so I think it's just appropriate. Don't you??

We love the holidays at our house.. I got it honest, from my Dad, he LOVES Santa. Isn't that the greatest.. I love everything about this time of year. Well, I don't like that we live so far from our family. Mine in 16 hours away in Texas and his even farther away in South Carolina. Distance does make the holidays a little bittersweet, but we are doing our best to make any time we spend with family, EXTRA SPECIAL.

So Happy Monday everyone.. that's right, Happy Monday. We're alive and we are entering the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

More to Come

2011-11-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

After being out of town for almost a month, I feel like I have been going non-stop all day long. This is the first time today that I've been able to stop and write. I am already struggling a little with my NaBloPoMo challenge (posting daily for 30 days and I still have 24 days to go!).. But I am determined to stick with it.

I promise to be back with a much better post tomorrow.. bear with me friends!

Take Time to Listen

2011-11-05T23:09:00.000-06:00

Sometimes we think that the ones we love need so much from us.. we suppose that need quality time, home-cooked meals, a sparkling house, empty laundry baskets... the list could go on and on.

Tonight I spent time listening to one of the three men in my life. He said something very interesting "I just want to know that I can talk and that someone important to me will listen." Such a simple statement. He loved just sitting on the bed and sharing his heart. He just wants to be heard.. isn't that what we all want?

It made me step back and think about all how much I pile on my plate,trying to keep my home clean, pantry stocked, and bellies full. Those are all very important and vital ingredients in a strong family.. but really if I can't take the time to stop and listen to my family, then how much of a difference will the other things that I do matter?

What Day Is It?

2011-11-04T21:33:00.002-06:00

After being in Texas for a little over three weeks, I am trying to adjust to being home. Today was a full one for me..

Drove one of my boys down to Colorado Springs (an hour drive) for a tutoring session.

Ran to a couple of thrift stores.. it's my guilty pleasure and I scored a pair of J Brand Jeans for $5.99. Thank you to the lovely girl who donated them for her tax write-off. Keep 'em coming girl!

Went to Hobby Lobby looking for wall hooks and some wooden/cardboard letters (thank you Pinterest). I realized that my beloved Hobby Lobby has cut back on the discounts. The last two times I've been, there haven't been as many 50% off deals. What happened? I am bargain shopper.. I need big discounts!

Quick lunch date with my boy.. love that bonding time!

Ran my car through the car wash to get the 4 inches of mud off. It is supposed to snow tomorrow and I wanted it to be fresh and clean.

Drove halfway back home and stopped at the grocery store.. Apparently my menfolk survived on Eggos, Cereal, and Nutella while I was away. We had almost nothing in our pantry and fridge.

Got home and hit the pavement to get my run in for the day. I didn't really have the energy, but if it snows tomorrow I will not be venturing outside! Plus, I'm signing up to do a 5k in Texas on Thanksgiving. Pray for me.. pray hard.

Finally, made dinner and cleaned up... DONE!

I love my life.. love my boys.. it takes a lot of energy and it's sometimes thankless. But this is the life that I prayed for and I will do my best to see even the challenges as a blessing. The right man is worth the wait, girls, remember that. It isn't always a fairy tale, but it will be your love story. Make it exciting, romantic, amazing and also be okay with the boring, ordinary, same 'ole routine days that you cherish.

Blog Swap, NaBloPoMo.. and other ramblings

2011-11-03T21:44:00.000-06:00

I participated in a Blog Swap this Fall.. it was such a very, fun experience and I really enjoyed getting to know some new friends. Check out my all of the great gifts that my new friend,Noelle, sent to me. The swap was so much fun.. the idea was to send your person gifts that represented the letters F-A-L-L. Thanks girls, for letting me be a part of it. Check out my post over at Blogger's Swap. Maybe some of my Texas friends might like to be a part of the next one??

Also, I signed up to be a part of NaBloPoMo, that's short for National Blog Posting Month. The idea being that you post on your blog everyday in the month of November. I don't know what the heck I was thinking, because I have had the busiest year and the past six weeks have been hectic. But what the hay (or hey), whatever.. Here I am, on day 3. Please show your love and try to check back to see if I've written anything creative or astounding. Kidding, I'm kidding.. but I am posting for 30 days straight.

Alrighty, y'all.. I'm off to watch the end of Private Practice and then get some much needed rest. Adjusting to the altitude is not for the weak and it makes me very sleepy. Night.

Home

2011-11-02T21:53:00.001-06:00

Home. Husband. Happy. I'm finally home and all tuckered out from my day of travel. I'll be a good blogger and post a good blog tomorrow! Night all!

Prayers, Please..

2011-11-01T19:21:00.002-06:00

I have been in Texas for three weeks now... I spent a few days working in Amarillo and seeing friends and then I came to San Antonio to spend time with Mom and Dad. Dad has had to be out of town for work. Mom and I like to watch movies, window shop, and just sit together, doing nothing at all. I am so blessed to be able to spend this time with her.

Tomorrow, I will head back to Colorado. I've been told that a cold front is moving in there and that I'd better be ready to bundle up (it's currently 70 here in Schertz and the predicted high tomorrow in Lake George is 31, EEEKKK!) I'm ready to see my husband.. he's truly a saint for letting me stay gone for so long. I am really looking forward to seeing him!!

I'd like ask that you pray with us.. My mom has been experiencing some pretty intense pain on her post stroke, affected side. I've done some research and most articles point in the direction of nerve pain, it's common after you've experienced a stroke. There really isn't rhyme or reason for what triggers the intensity or location. Tomorrow she will see a chiropractor and we are hoping for some relief. We NEED to see relief. The pain has be almost constant for the last two weeks. We continue to trust God and have faith in His healing power..

Thank you friends.

Happy Birthday To Our Fearless Cy

2011-10-06T21:36:00.001-06:00

Our Sweet Cy turned the big 8 today!

We celebrated with his favorites.. Pizza and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Yum! Then he opened his presents which included a special delivery from Grandma and Grandpa Castillo.

Here's the Birthday Boy with his cookie cake... My dad commented that it looks like the whole cake is on fire. Funny Dad, real funny. But really, it does distract from my sandwich bag, piped, Nutella frosting, don't ya think?

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy.. you are a breath of fresh air and you find 101 reasons to make me smile every day! Love you, my Cy.

Being Late To Church And It's Benefits

2011-10-05T08:52:00.001-06:00

This past Sunday morning, we were running late for the first service at church ~~because I was having a fat day and changed three times~~. We arrived just in time for the offering. I listened to the verse being read, but I really didn't listen to the words. After the service ended, we were visiting with friends and before we knew it, the second service was starting.. so we stayed (since we'd missed part of the first).

The same young man came back up to read the verse for the offering.. this time I heard the words. He read this passage:

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord.t
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.

2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.

6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.

This next one really jumped out at me-

7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their hornt will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

At this point, I was sobbing on the front row.... God knew that I needed to hear this, right then. It was such a gracious reminder to my troubled, doubting heart of His guidance and protection. He knew that we would be facing challenges this week and He helped my heart to be settled and secure in His timing and His will. He understands our concerns and all that He asks is that we trust Him. How easy and pain free is that??

Lessons From A Road Trip

2011-10-02T23:11:00.000-06:00

Today we took a short trip up to the high country (yes, even higher than where we live) to see the changing foliage. It was gorgeous!

On our way, we stopped to eat lunch at small town restaurant. It was delicious! As we got ready to pay for our meal, we realized that we had mis-communicated and that instead of putting our debit card in the purse that I had brought with me, it was left in the purse that was at home.. sitting on the bed. We had not one penny with us. Not good, not good at all. We went to the register and started to explain our situation and the waitress immediately told us that we could call when we got home with our credit card number. Woo Hoo! Thank God for small town businesses!!!

In the midst of this little episode.. I thought, "Here we go again, why must our lives have a hiccup every day!! God do you even care about what happens in my daily life?" As we got to our bike, a gentleman from inside came out and said, "Here, we overheard your conversation and we want to make sure that you have at least a little cash on hand to get home." At first, we refused it, but he insisted and wanted to be sure that it was enough for us. I was in AWE! I knew in my heart that God had sent this man to renew my hope and faith.

The rest of our afternoon was blissful.. lots of gorgeous scenery. I'll share a few pictures:

Gorgeous Views

I'm so blessed to live in this

If he loves it, I'll try it..

I'm so in Love with this man!

Yes, folks.. we were above 12,000ft

See this storm we were trying to outrun!! Yikes!!

Why Run When You Can Eat?

2011-09-16T17:43:00.000-06:00

Darn this cold weather.. it makes me want to stay inside and eat yummy, comfort food. I dare you to ask me when is the last time I've run.. let's just say, it's been a little bitty while (~~more than a month~~). Praise the Lord for stretchy leggings!!

Back to comfort food... I did make a pot of homemade and very healthy chicken noodle soup tonight. BUT for dessert, I made something that I found over at my new obsession, Pinterest. It's these irresistible Reese's Stuffed Crescent Rolls. You will crave them.. I have for a week and today, with all of this cool weather, I gave in and made them. The boys are all drooling and begging for them now. Click on this link, Reese' s Stuffed Crescent Rolls, and you can find the step by step directions. Happy Fall and Happy Eating.

Be Kind

2011-09-07T14:38:00.002-06:00

I recently found this great quote...

I was reminded that I'm not the only one pushing through, doing all that I can to stand. It's hard to see outside of your circumstances when the trials seem to last and hope is a distant light. Seriously, I have been so weary in the journey that I don't really want to keep going. THERE.. I SAID IT. I've thought, "Lord, really, REALLY?? What are you doing? When will you intervene? Do you see my pain?" I feel like I'm trusting God and waiting for so many miracles to change things, but I have not experienced the reality of that hope. Then it dawned on me.. "Hello.. that's right where He wants me."

When I finally crawl out of my foxhole (that's how I refer to my mountain villa)... and begin to look beyond my needs and trials, I see the smoke around me, coming from other households. Almost everyone that we come in contact with is fighting a battle and I'm reminded that grace is a necessary character trait. A friend called last night and told me about a dream that she'd had that about my family. She said the resounding words that she kept hearing were, "stay the course..stay the course" She said that she say in the dream that we did not yet have the change that we've been praying for, but that we did have joy and peace. WOW.. so true, God tells us that He will never leave us or forsake us. NEVER. BUT we must rely on Him and find our peace in Him, no matter what. So if the battle is still raging, keep fighting, keep trusting, never give up.

Goodbye Summer

2011-09-05T00:04:00.000-06:00

Mom and Dad came to visit and to celebrate my birthday. We went to a dinner and movie..two of my favorite things!

Our good friends, the Bennetts came up for a day.. and the menfolk did what ~~some~~ crazy menfolk do. They shot guns and went scouting for wildlife.

We girls chose to stay at the house and relax.. with coffee and leftover birthday cheesecake.

Before they left, Donnie and Rhonda took time to pray for my sweet Momma... what a blessing.

I don't have many childhood memories that don't include these four adults... remember "Train up a child..." They did and we have not departed from it.

Mom and I enjoyed the warm temperatures on the deck... love her so much.

On the weekend, we headed up to Denver for Rock the Range. Dad had to work, but we checked in periodically.

Finally.. it was back to country life. We just enjoyed every single minute together and I can't wait until they come back!

Come back soon... I miss you so much already!

Dear Mom

2011-07-28T00:20:00.000-06:00

Dear Mom,

Not a minute goes by that I don't thank God that you are alive and celebrating another year of life. For as long as I can remember, you have been my best friend, the one that I have always been able to talk to and you always listen with an open heart. This is still true today.

Our ability to converse as we used to has faced some changes over the last year and half.. but it hasn't changed our relationship. Words may not come easy for us, but it's the touch of your hand, your understanding smile, the way that you cry with me when I cry, and the way that you look me in the eye and speak volumes when the words simply do not come. We both understand that this season that we are living in is just that.. a season. I have NO DOUBT that your speech will be restored...that your complete health will be restored. It's a promise from God and HIS word never returns void. He said in Jeremiah 30:17,that He will restore your health and heal your wounds. We know that God is able. I have heard you tell others that very thing when they were fighting a battle for their healing.

You are such a blessing to all of us around you. There is a compassion that you have for anyone that you see hurting. I love to hear you pray, it's so powerful. But that is the way that you've always been!

I love you more than words can ever say.. you chose to be my mom and you forever changed my life. Happy Birthday Momma.. I can't wait to see what God has in store for your life this year.

To the One I Love

2011-07-12T11:36:00.000-06:00

To my Dan...
From the moment I first met you... it was evident that you were the one that I had waited so long to find. For years and years, I prayed, cried, waited, and prayed some more.. hoping that God would bring the man that I had dreamed of, into my life.

our first date .. ignore the date on the picture

The way that we found one another was not "traditional" (~~match.com,~~ what????) and although the ones that knew and loved us weren't sure that we were doing the right thing.. we knew that God had a plan for us.

Now here we are three years later.. Circumstances and trials have not been kind to us. The enemy has tried his best (~~which is never good enough~~) to tear us apart with legal battles, financial pressure, and much time apart. When I hear the statistics for marriages, I think to myself, wow, I have a husband that has been through the storm, is going through more, and he still has a heart after God and chooses to serve him and lead our home in that direction. You are the love of my life, the one I hoped and dreamed of for so many years.. Thank you for loving me and choosing me! I will spend the rest of my years on this earth honoring and loving you with my whole heart. Happy Birthday, My Honey.. and Happy 3rd Anniversary!

I love you...

Knock Your Socks Off Good..

2011-07-07T11:25:00.000-06:00

I recently posted a picture on my Facebook page of a fabulous pizza that I made for dinner. A couple of friends asked for my recipe, so I thought that I would share it with you! It's super easy.. it has to be easy for me because I am sometimes (ok, very often) challenged in the kitchen!

Here ya go:

1 Pizza Crust ( I prefer Boboli or Freschetta Whole Wheat)
1 16 oz. Bag of Pre-Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 clove of garlic
1 jalapeno
10-15 large shrimp
olive oil
Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
Salt
Pepper

Preheat your oven to 400. Drizzle olive oil in a bowl and then finely chop your garlic and add it to your olive oil. I let it sit and allow the garlic to infuse the oil while I prepare the rest of my ingredients. I then rinse my shrimp and add them to a hot skillet. I cook them in a tiny bit of olive oil, season them with salt, pepper, and Tony Chachere's. Next, I spread the olive oil and garlic mixture onto my crust, add a layer of cheese, then the cooked shrimp and thinly sliced jalapeno. I add one more layer of mozzarella and sometimes I shave some parmigiano reggiano for some extra added flavor! Place it in your oven for around 15-25 minutes or until the cheese starts bubbly!

You will crave this pizza regularly! It's so easy and unspeakably delicious! By the way.. I had this pizza at Bella Panini in Palmer Lake. They used crawfish and that one was DELISH, too!

Enjoy!

I Lift My Eyes

2011-03-29T19:59:00.000-06:00

Letting go of so many things that you hold dear is very HARD.

Trusting God and holding fast to your Faith is where you learn if you're really WALKING THE WALK or just TALKING THE TALK... Especially when things seem to get worse ~~than you could have ever imagined~~ instead of better.

I am determined to make it through this season of our lives with a SMILE on my face and JOY in my heart. I know that God knows the plans that He has for us and He will bring us through this journey that has seemed so hopeless and so very, very painful.

I know that when I think that we cannot endure one more trial, one more test, one more day without seeing a change in our situation.. I have to remind myself that HE endured a death that HE did not deserve for me.

And then I am reminded that this life if fleeting, that I am called to be the LIGHT during my time on this earth. Then I take a deep breath and put my head up, and keep pressing on in my journey.

Billy Graham said, “In my travels I have found that those who keep Heaven in view remain serene and cheerful in the darkest day. If the glories of Heaven were more real to us, if we lived less for material things and more for things eternal and spiritual, we would be less easily disturbed by this present life.”

Amen and Amen

You Can Take A Girl Out Of The South.. (you know the rest)

2011-03-18T19:46:00.000-06:00

I will rarely, ~~if ever again~~, post a recipe on this blog... I'm not great in the kitchen and I don't love spending hours on end working on recipes. Crazy thing is.. I love Food Network, Paula Deen, Giada (even though Dan makes fun of her big head the whole time), Rachel Ray (Dan calls me Amy Ray, when I take time to cook), and any other type of cooking show. But to get in there and break out the spices and fresh ingredients.. well, I am NOT your girl. The heart of the matter is I love good food, but I would just rather eat it at someone else's house or at a restaurant!

Having said all that...
My three boys told me that tonight I made a great dinner. It was super-duper easy! So I thought I'd pass it along to y'all!

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
You will need a crock pot, then add
4-6 Frozen Chicken Breasts
1 bottle of any BBQ Sauce
1 cup of water
Turn on HIGH and cook for 6 hours and then down to low for 2 more hours.
They were so good! We ate them on Hawaiian Bread Buns along with sweet potato fries (manna from heaven). Listen, if I can do this and get rave reviews from my younger, ~~very~~ somewhat picky, younger boys.. anyone can!

They Chose Me

2011-03-14T23:55:00.000-06:00

Thirty five years ago... my parents, Junior and Juanita Castillo, made a life-changing decision. They knew a baby girl that needed a home, she needed a mom and a dad that were committed to her and all that she would need to grow into the woman that God created her to be. When they were faced with the choice of adopting, they never wavered, never thought twice.. they only saw a little girl that needed them and they changed the direction that they were going and they committed to make only choices that would bring her closer to her Heavenly Father.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the many sacrifices that you made for me. You forever changed the course of my life by your obedience and willingness to give up the life that you knew to create an new life with me. Our tradition of celebrating our family anniversary means so much to me...oh, the love that I have for you both!

Over It!

2011-02-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am officially over winter, snow, sub-zero temperatures, turtlenecks (that says a lot, because I love wearing those things), and anything that is remotely related to winter!!

And to prove that I am done with this season and ready to move onto the next one.. I cashed in my GROUPON to Tan Your Hide.. the one that I'd purchased way back in October. Yes Ma'am, I did. I tanned my hide last night, for the first time in many months. Tonight, to step it up a notch, I added this to the mix.

I am sure that my efforts are being wasted.. as it doesn't seem to warm up enough around here for shorts and sun-dresses until the end of May. But at least I'll know that under my layers, I am working on that bronze glow and the bronze glow means that summer in just around the corner!

A Crazy Little Thing Called Love

2011-02-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

It was only a few short years ago that I approached Valentine's Day with great dread in my heart... you see, I'd never had a Valentine (the lovey, dovey kind), EVER. I can hear the sighs and ooohhh, you poor thing...believe me, that pretty much sums up how I felt about February 14, years 198?-2008.

I would do the, "heck no", I am not going to dwell on what I don't have. Then I'd just try to ignore the ~~stupid~~ day!! Or the next year, I'd go for the "who needs a man??" I had single friends and we'd all go to dinner and a movie. But let me just be honest. For some years, many years.. I just let myself cry, wallow in the sadness of not having found love and the loneliness that no one can understand unless they have spent MANY years as a single person.

I have to brag on my amazing parents, though... They knew how hard it was for me to want someone in my life for so long and how I "loved" love and wanted that. My sweet Mom and Dad would always send me flowers or buy me some sweet gift. They always reminded me of their love for me and never let me be alone.

Then of course.. after many years of waiting..many years of waiting and praying...

My sweet Dan came along. He was the ONE that I had prayed for and he is now and forever will be

My Valentine.

It was love at first sight..

Love For A Lifetime

So if you're out there and you are alone.. keep praying for that special person that will change your life. If you've already found that someone and the dream hasn't been all that you hoped for..Ask God to remind you of what drew you to your spouse and made you fall in love with then. Remember that there is a True Love that comes from God. He gave His own Son for us.

John 3:16 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

A Family Again

2011-02-10T23:19:00.000-07:00

Tonight I lay my head down with so many blessings to consider

On this day, God has brought my sweet family back together

So many, many prayers were prayed

Countless friends stood in the gap for us

And tonight as I lay my head down...

I won't worry about the mess,

fret over our dinner of cookies and milk

No.. you see-

I am loving the survival camp set up in my living room

And I am going to bed with peace in my heart..

The two sweetest boys are snug in their beds in the room next door

And their amazing daddy is laying next to me.

We are proof that God answers the prayers of those who diligently seek Him.

Because You Must

2011-02-10T00:35:00.002-07:00

I have become an avid reader of many amazing blogs... Seriously, I have time set apart in my day (most days, anyway), to read and catch up with some wonderfully, witty writers.

Here are a few that are changing my world..

Teaching Tuck and Ty - This one stirs my soul and reminds me to cherish each moment.

From The Nato's - Jaime is witty, and outright hilarious.. she's also amazingly crafty and deeply insightful on many different topics!

Kingdom Twindom - Sarah is a mother of five (including two sets of twins). She has an amazing marriage testimony and is currently trusting that the God who began a good work in that union, will be faithful to complete it.

Jaime the Very Worst Missionary - Jaime and her family are missionaries to Costa Rica. I love her sense of humor and way of "telling it like it is"!!

Stilettos & Grace - Angela inspires me with her passion for God and her love for her family! She's also got some fabulous fashion sense!

There are more.. but it's late and I'm getting very, very sleepy. Pop on over and follow these great bloggers. They inspire me and make me laugh, sometimes cry, but always draw me closer to Jesus.

How to Endure the Battle

2011-01-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

EPHESIANS 6: 9-20

9 You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.

A Fight to the Finish

10 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong.

11 So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

12 This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

13 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.

14 Truth, righteousness,

15 peace,

16 faith,

17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.

18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

19 And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I,

20 jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

Breathe, Think, then... Post

2011-01-25T12:43:00.001-07:00

I love Facebook and Twitter... Lord knows that my husband thinks so (ok, yes, I do!).

With Twitter, you can see a glimpse of someone's heart, but with Facebook, you can see the whole, gosh-darned, wide open thing. Having said that.. and not commenting on OHHH SOO many status posts, lately... I would like to share this:

“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict,

God’s job to judge,

and my job to love.”

--Billy Graham

The Here and NOW

2011-01-20T12:39:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite pastimes is reading blogs... I follow several other bloggers, but I will admit that there a few blogs that are an everyday read for me. One is written by my friend, Jaime (well, I like to think of her as my friend). She blogged yesterday about the weird world of blogging. She spoke about how we monitor ourselves sometimes or have concerns of sharing to much about the reality of our homes, daily family life, and how we respond to what life brings along. She was absolutely right.. I find myself wanting to share something, but then wondering if it's too "real a~~nd ugly~~" to put out there and have others actually see my struggles, not just my epiphanies and times of rejoicing.

Sooooo..... here it goes-
My husband and I are in the middle of a storm. A Hurricane Katrina sized storm... We are enduring the most trying times that either of us have ever faced. Now let me just say this, our marriage is the one thing that has not only grown stronger, but has developed deep roots of commitment and satisfaction. The past eighteen months have brought struggles in health, finances, being physically separated because I needed to be in Texas, and a few other situations that I cannot share at this time. As I write this today, we are DEPENDING on the Lord to not only provide for each day and make things right, but also intervene on behalf and work miracles. We are standing on His Word.. acting in Faith.. and praying without CEASING.

I have no doubt that my Father in Heaven will make a way where there seems to be NO WAY. During this time, our hearts have been broken, we have cried many tears, spent much time on our knees, and even asked the question, "Why us? Why all of this at once?" My husband and I listen to the Casting Crowns song, Praise You In This Storm, over and over again. We know we have one another and we have our families and friends that are continually lifting us in prayer, but we have to make a daily choice to praise God and worship, no matter what reality appears to look like.

I have chosen to share our life with you because I know that we are not alone. It seems as though everyday we hear of someone else who is going through a struggle and my heart always breaks for them. As Christians, we are called to encourage one another and do what we can to meet the need in others lives. I hope that reading this helps you to reach out and share your needs with others. I read a Facebook post today from my friend, Lee Roy, it stated:

The easiest way to get discouraged: get alone and think only about yourself. Reaching out is good for you.

So here I am friends.. reaching out. I am here for you. Email me, call me, send me a comment. I want to pray for you, encourage you, and do anything that I can to help you through whatever you are facing right now. And remember, there is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother Proverbs 18:24.

First Things First

2011-01-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

I've been going back and forth ... Should I make a list of resolutions? Or should I just be resolute in my decisions? Wait just a second.. that's the same thing, isn't it? After all of the trials that 2010 brought along, I am ~~sooooo~~ ready for a new beginning, a new day. Let the pain stay in the past and I will press toward the what God has in store!

Well, I've been mulling over the things that I'd like to do differently this year.. the things I want to be purposeful in doing... So here it goes: (once it's in print, it adds much more to the commitment, right)

One- I am going to follow through and keep up with my Bible Reading Plan (for goodness sake, I have it on my ~~ever present~~ iPhone! How hard should this be.. close the Facebook app, open up the Bible app, and READ!)

Two- I will work at letting words come out of my mouth that build others and myself up, encourage, and show the faith that I claim to have.. I will not let my words tear others down.

Three- I will let the light of Jesus shine in me and through me. I will not be a stumbling block to others, but rather a stepping stone in other's journey.

Four- I am purposing to be the wife, mother, daughter, and friend that shows forth God's love to the ones that I hold dear. I will pray for them and encourage them. I will be my husband's biggest cheerleader, not his worst critic.

Five- I am going to get this bootie moving, get healthy and get fit! So that in the months to come, I will have energy and strength. I've been way too tired this year and I want to finish what I began in 2010.

Six- I am going to give of my time (although I don't have much free time these days, but if it's not a sacrifice, it's not as worthwhile, right?)! Let me make a difference in someones life.. please, Lord, use me.

I'm sure there are more.. I am also certain that there will be days that I'll have to come back to this post and remind myself of the things that I wanted to be purposeful in doing.. but I pray that when December 31, 2011 comes around, I will have accomplished more than I let fall by the wayside. Won't you join me in making a difference in the lives around you.. in becoming more of what God has called for you to be?

Merry Christmas From The Dellingers

2010-12-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

Make your own picture slideshow

Don't Give In...Don't Give Up

2010-11-18T08:40:00.001-07:00

It seems as though everyone that know is going through some sort of trial or attack. Whether it be physical, financial, emotional, people are hurting and feeling alone. Life-altering moments can either make you or break you. I have said many times this year that I don't know how you can get through hard times without faith. In the midst of many trying situations this year, I knew that the faith that I thought was strong in me was no where near the strength that I needed to make it through. I am not ashamed to say that I uttered the words, "why us" many times this year and wondered how we (my husband, parents) were going to make it through... then I remember this verse-

I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world. John 16:33 MSG

My dad always says, "It will all be okay because WE WIN!" He's right, we do win because Jesus conquered the world. Sometimes though, I have struggled and wondered if we'd see the end of these trials. I have cried out to God, broken and shattered. It has been excruciating to see my mom struggle with the smallest tasks and even worse to witness her frustration in what was so simple before, now takes every bit of effort in her. I have watched my dad weary and hurting...wanting to make everything okay for her. Oh the love between them... what a priceless lesson in true love. In my home, we have endured attack after attack since the clock switched from 2009 to 2010. We have had to choose to rise above our circumstances, turn the other cheek, and work at loving others when they are unlovable.

In all of this, one thing that I have learned is that faith really is believing when you don't see. We have to believe that my mom will walk, talk, and function in completeness, even when the statistics tell us that too much time has gone by. This week, almost 11 months since she suffered the stroke, we saw a breakthrough. Even her doctors are surprised!
Dan and I have learned on our lives this year, that you MUST stand for what you believe and risk being called a radical. We have learned that God is our Provider and that He knows every need before we do. There have been days that seem so dark and hopeless, BUT GOD. God sees our struggle and He hears our cries. He knows when we are pressing through and asking for hope. Encouragement comes to us through God's Word and through the many vessels that allow themselves to be used by Him. I was encouraged this morning after reading the post from Stilettos & Grace and watching the video by Amy Grant.

Rick Renner says, “Faith is the spark that ignites the impossible and causes it to become possible. When a person’s faith is activated, it sets in motion supernatural power that enables that person to do what he normally would never be able to do!”

If you are struggling with faith and wondering if God really moves, if He really hears you?? Then take a look at these pictures and know that He really does answer our prayers. He still heals and restores and He will make all things right for those who love and trust Him.

February 2010

November 2010

35.. me, seriously??

2010-08-30T01:31:00.000-06:00

I turned the big 35 last week.. I still haven't wrapped my mind around the fact that I'm in my mid-30's now. Honestly, I feel like I must be 25, but there have been recent moments when my body is telling me different. Now, I'm rambling, must come with the territory.. right?

Dan and I were in San Antonio to celebrate with my family..

Grandma and Mom.. aren't they pretty?

Dan and Uncle Sonny

Frank and Vicki Lynn

Mom and Dad

I am so blessed, my cup runs over!

Saved by Grace

2010-07-21T09:50:00.000-06:00

I remember asking Jesus into my heart when I was five years old.. I remember the church, Praise Temple, in Littlefield, Texas. When I think back, I can recall standing outside of the church, telling my parents and their joy. From that day forward, I have not lived with out sinning, but I have lived a life pressing forward and trying to honor God.

We are all born into this world with what the Bible calls a sin nature, but when we make the decision to follow Christ, to repent of our sins, then we are called the righteous, this does not mean that we are without sin, but rather we are called to live a life that turns from sin. There is not one person that has made the decision to follow Christ that has not been tempted to sin or given into sin. Living for Christ is a daily choice! Being a Christian isn't just a label, you are not a Christian just because you go to church, ~~belong to an denomination~~, or know the Bible. NO, we are Christians because we follow the life that Christ lived in the 33 years here on this earth and because we have acknowledged his sacrifice and repented of our sins. He died for our sins. When we repent of our sins, we are forgiven and made righteous or made in right standing with Him. Can we stand with Him if we are sinners?

Romans 10:9-11(New King James Version) says,

9 Thatif you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

If we are still "sinners" we should be ashamed, but if we've been forgiven and we believe what the Bible says, we should not be ashamed. Webster's Dictionary defines salvation as: deliverance from the power and effects of sin. We are forgiven only by grace, only by the blood that Jesus shed at the Cross.

I am certain that I, just like anyone else, will sin again before the end of my time on this earth. We all make the choice to live by how the Bible instructs us to live or to live a life that opposes that instruction. We fail, maybe even over and over, but when we come to God and repent (Webster's dictionary: to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life), then we are forgiven.

Romans 3:23-27(New Living Translation) says:

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.

24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

My hope is that if you look at my life, you will see someone that is working at building a relationship with Christ, a girl just trying to live a life that honors God. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be perfect on this earth. Heaven is the only place without sin.. and until I get there, I'm going to look at the example that Christ set for me, be grateful for His sacrifice for my sin, and live a victorious, righteous life because that is what He desires for me!

For My Dad

2010-06-30T06:59:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Dad, for seeing a baby girl who needed a family and not thinking twice before you brought me home.

Thank you, Dad, for wanting to be the best you could be for me and making the decision to follow God with your whole heart.

Thank you, Dad, for making sacrifices, sometimes working two or three jobs to give me a Christian School Education, where a firm spiritual foundation was laid.

Thank you, Dad, for the time you spent with me...playing with Barbies, reading to me, taking me shopping.

Thank you, Dad, for encouraging me to go to Bible School, a choice that would solidify and focus my relationship with Jesus.

Thank you, Dad, for praying me through so many years of being a single young woman. You were my spiritual covering and your prayers and love protected me.

Thank you, Dad, for giving me the most beautiful wedding that a girl could ask for.. you really did make all my dreams come true.

Thank you, Dad, for being such a man of Faith and Grace. This journey that we've been on since January, has tested us far beyond the limits we thought we had. I am blessed to watch you care and love Mom.

I love you more than words can say...

Lay It Down

2010-06-13T18:44:00.000-06:00

How long have I been so focused on my own dreams that I didn't have

room for The Destiny and Purpose designed for me? The sad thing is.. I

haven't realized before that I've been thinking like this.

I had a conversation with my husband recently... At the end of it, I

clearly heard God tell me to lay down MY dreams and with it the burden

that I've been DRAGGING. In that moment, I felt peace. But immediately

following that peace, the enemy tried to bring heartbreak, fear, even

resentment over my laid-down dreams. I had to make a choice in that

moment, to trust that the plans that God has for me are much greater

than the ones that I've had a death grip on for as long as I can

remember. If My Lord asks of me, I have no other desire than to honor

HIM.

Yes, for moment, I felt like Abraham sacrificing Issac. If I remember

correctly, God only asked for the willingness to obey, not the actual

sacrifice. But the Bible has many stories that required some sort of

sacrifice, laying down desires that were not just a test, but a command.

My prayer is that as I trust the

Lord to lead me in my journey, that He will use this broken vessel and

mold me, shape me, use me, and that I will ultimately bring honor and

glory to His Name.

2010-04-10T10:42:00.003-06:00

I had a fabulous weekend with my friend.. we ate, shopped, and caught up on each other's lives!

Forgivness, Friends, and Real Housewives

2010-04-09T10:33:00.003-06:00

My husband likes to tease me about the reality shows that I watch..before you gasp--- I'll just admit to you the shows that I watch: all of the Bravo Real Housewives shows, Guiliana and Bill, Tori and Dean.. I'm reality show junkie. I think it's the fact that I am a people watcher. Seriously, give me a cup of coffee and a good seat, and I'll sit and watch people forever. It's interesting to see how people interact, to wonder what people are really like. I know that these shows are a bit campy, but to me, it's like being a fly on the wall. Of course, my hubby thinks they are all absurd! I know that some of you out there know exactly what shows I'm talking about because you watch them, too!

For the last several weeks, I've been watching the Real Housewives of NYC.. and oh goodness, I have been bothered. There are two friends, that in previous seasons, were the best of best friends. During this past year, they had a major falling out and seemingly didn't address the issues, until one of them thought they were past the point of no return. I've watched this feeling like I know them (one of the reasons that my sweet hubby thinks I'm a little silly for watching), but come on, friends out there- Do you ever put your self in these situations? How many of us have disagreed with a close friend and wondered if forgiveness was an option. The TRUTH is written here- Mark 11:25-26 "If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

You see, when we are wronged, and we ALL have been at some point, we dwell on the hurt, the misunderstanding, the pain caused by someone we've trusted. What we forget in these times, is that at some point we have probably inflicted the same hurt or pain on someone else. The hurt usually seems so one-sided that we think we have the choice to not forgive what has been done to us. The Bible clearly says that we don't have that choice. We MUST forgive to have the Father forgive our sins. If you're like me, you are glad to know that there is grace for my missteps, my SIN. Let's face it... we are all in need of GRACE, the Son of God, and we should never take for granted all that we have been forgiven!

I recently had a friend come back into my life, after a time where I will admit that I held on to a grudge. I can't really tell you where she was with her process of forgiveness, but I know that I held onto my end for way too long. We reconnected and I was so blessed by her friendship. It was good to remember what made us friends, initially and to recount the great times that we had shared. The forgiveness helped us move forward and opened the door for us to rebuild a great friendship.

Always remember what brought you together, what made you friends.. it was something special. Measure someone else by the same measure that you'd hope to be measured. We must remember that we're all human, we all hurt others at some point, and we ALL need to be forgiven at some point. Most of all remember that Jesus died to forgive us and we hadn't even sinned yet. Yet, He made to ultimate sacrifice and cleared the slate.

PS.. in my wildest dreams, maybe those two NYC Housewives will read this and rethink their friendship. A girl can hope, can't she?!

Deep Thoughts On A Snowy Day

2010-03-24T13:58:00.001-06:00

I'm sitting here at my desk with a fresh cup of coffee.. honestly, I should be doing something a little more productive. Have you ever had so much on your mind that you really couldn't focus on all those things on your list? Believe me, right now, there is so much to be done that I don't know where to begin. Dan and I have some big decisions ahead of us, but I've talked to lots of my friends and it seems as though many people are in that same boat right now. Along with decisions, there seems to come the struggle with keeping peace, joy, and grace in our outlook. Yesterday, I had the thought.."Too bad you can't buy the fruit of the Spirit at Target." (Target has everything else, doesn't it) Silly, I know, but I wish it were that easy. Reality is that you just can't find love, joy, peace, patience and all of those other qualities on Aisle 3 at Target.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMP Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. So my realization was that peace really is that easy, it's reaching up, and accepting what God has already given us. What I need to do is simply set aside my cares, fears, and needs..then just let the peace of God fill my heart. One of the most amazing things that I have discovered is that when you start walking in just one of these gifts, when you accept what is already provided by our Heavenly Father.. then all of the other things come right along. His Word tell us that He has given us HIS peace at all times for all circumstances. So I remind myself that He sees my needs, He knows what I need, He knows every single care in my life.. AND, God has every answer. Waiting can be the hard part, but choosing to stay at peace, not fretting that God won't hear my prayers.. but rather trusting and remembering that Numbers 23:19 says- God is not man, one given to lies, and not a son of man, changing his mind. Does he speak and not do what he says? Does he promise and not come through? Yes, He will come through .. and until then, I'm off to tackle that list!!

Words Like Honey

2010-02-26T08:48:00.003-07:00

My morning devotions spoke straight to my heart this morning. As I was reading, this verse jumped off the page to me.. Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body." WOW.. how did the Lord know that I've been struggling with words coming out of my mouth that aren't.. um, so much like honey and more like vinegar?? You see, lately, I have been overwhelmed by the circumstances in my life. I know that God is bigger than my circumstances, but I have allowed myself to let the circumstances weigh on my heart and the result has not been pretty. Someone very close to me asked me a few nights ago, "Have you heard yourself lately? You're complaining about everything?" Ouch! Thing sad thing was, that yes, I did realize that I had been letting any and everything get to me and I WAS complaining about all of it!!

I had already made the decision to consider everything that I spoke.. but how gentle and gracious our Heavenly Father is to us. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb...yes, they are! Today, I will choose to let my words be sweet and words that bless, encourage, and I choose to be grateful. This is an act of faith, because you see, my circumstances haven't changed, but the attitude of my heart has!

Faith

2010-02-03T08:24:00.003-07:00

The year 2009 came to an very unexpected end for my family. We were not mentally prepared for the attack that came, we didn't see it coming... but one thing was certain- We were SPIRITUALLY prepared. You see, as a child, my parents made decision to "Train me up in the way I should go". I was blessed with the opportunity to attend Christian school and we were a part of a great church. Church and school were not the only two places where the foundation of my faith was laid. My mom and dad lived a life of faith, morality, and walked a close walk with God. They showed me how to not just say I was a Christian, but rather they built a relationship with Christ. We've all heard- You don't just need religion, you need a relationship. The difference to me between these two is that religion can just be words, but a relationship with Christ requires effort, communion, and interaction. All of that said... Mom and Dad taught and showed me how to have faith. Faith.. the hope/belief of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 says- The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

The last 35 days have been a true test of that faith. We have watched my mom struggle to recover from a vicious attack on her body. The enemy was underhanded and attacked her brain. My thought is that he knew her mind held so much of the Word of God, so much that she had studied.. but what the enemy didn't know was that MY MOM didn't just store the Word in her head, she stored it in her heart, in her spirit. Although the last month has been a struggle for her to recovery, it is very evident that her faith is still there, still strong, and pushing her through.

A month before all of these events, I was praying and asked the Lord to meet a certain need. He told me.. "I will meet this need, but you must remember to have faith that I will do what I say that I will and leave NO room for doubt." I thought.. that sounds simple enough. Faithful to His Word, God answered that initial prayer that I had prayed. Then when my dad called to say that my mom had been taken to the hospital, the phrase-Leave no room for doubt, came back to me. So many of our family and friends have stood so graciously with us, praying and believing that God would restore Mom's health and heal her wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). But I want to say, it's not just this promise that has held my faith.. there are teachers, children's church workers, pastors and of course, my parents that took the time to teach me that God is faithful to what His Word says. He will make this crooked path straight.. He hears my prayers and He WILL heal my mom.

So remember, whether you're a parent or teacher, or whatever door opportunity to plant a seed of faith in a child's heart.. you might not see that flower bloom today, but knows when they'll need it and your labor is not in vain! Lay a strong foundation of faith for your family because you never know when that faith will seemingly rise up and carry you ALL through.

2009-11-20T15:12:00.003-07:00

Today, I am thankful for the three men in my life and the joy that they bring. And by joy, I mean hilarious, unexpected outbursts of laughter, and sometimes, just a plain 'ole smile!

A Lesson in Thankfulness

2009-11-20T11:53:00.002-07:00

At the beginning of November, someone on Facebook challenged others to use their status update to give thanks for blessings in their lives, daily. As I began each day, I would contemplate and think of all of the blessings in my life that I am thankful for. My family, my health, my freedom... the list goes on and on. But what this challenge helped me to remember, was that, although I have these blessings, others sometimes don't. These reflections also helped me to put into perspective how often I take all that I've been given so for granted.

I was single for so long and prayed for a family of my own. So now, on the days when I have mountains of laundry, piles of dirt, dirty dishes, and NO ENERGY.. I remind myself that I waited for Dan, Christopher, and Cy, I prayed for them to come into my life. So now, I wouldn't trade them for a moment of peace or a perfect house. This has also reminded me to pray and believe for my friends, who are still patiently waiting and praying for God to bring them a Godly husband and sweet babies!

My family is also healthy... how often do we forget to be thankful for that blessing?! Sometimes it's a headline or overheard conversation about a sick child or someone's relative... I am so grateful for the health that we have been blessed with. This blessing reminded me that there are families that will celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years' in a hospital ... the gift they'll be hoping and praying for is that their loved one will make it just a little longer.

What I hope to accomplish during the upcoming holidays, is that we become a blessing to others who might not have a family, health, or much to be thankful for. Dan and I are planning on taking the boys to our local rescue mission. We've challenged the boys to pick out a toy of their own that they will donate to the missions. We're also going to plan a day to serve at a Ronald McDonald house. My prayer is that these small act of kindness will open our eyes to all that we've been blessed with and open our hearts to become an even bigger blessing to others. I have a feeling that at the end of those moments of serving, God will have planted even more of a desire to become a servant to all.

Happy Thanksgiving... take time to remember your blessings and challenge yourself and your family to find an area of need. Someone out there is praying that you will be obedient!

Time Changes Things

2009-09-21T13:37:00.002-06:00

Most people who know my Dad, know that he loves all things football. He loves the little guys just starting out, the Jr. High teams, High School football (especially in Texas), also, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but most of all.. He LOVES the Dallas Cowboys.

This weekend, there were two important games. Texas Tech played Texas and the Cowboys played the Giants. While I was growing up, I clearly remember that from around September until the Super Bowl, our television at home would be tuned to any games being aired. This of course was not my favorite time of the year. You see, I was a girly girl and football was of no interest to me. My poor dad, I was his only child and he really wanted me to like it. He even asked me to try out for the boys team a couple of times. He thought I could do some damage on the field! I was not interested and rarely sat down to watch a game with him. What a silly girl I was!

For the last year, I've been a married woman, living far away from my dad. Although I love being married and have a wonderful life here, living far from my family has not been an easy adjustment. This last weekend, I knew that these games were coming up and I also knew that my Dad would be watching. So for the first time in my life, I sat and watched most of the games, just to feel a little closer to my Dad.

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

2009-08-12T06:48:00.003-06:00

Most of the people who read my posts are close family and friends. I guess that's why I feel safe talking about my good days and also the bad ones. I've been struggling with my emotions this week. It began after a conversation and then before I knew it, it was a snowball effect and I was so overtaken that I didn't know how to recover.

One thing that I've realized is that once you open the door to let your emotions control you, it's a battle to close it again. This morning, staring at the computer screen, a verse came to mind, John 12:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I was reminded that when I take my weaknesses, fears, or struggles to God, He always has a remedy. My heart was instantly soothed and the source of this struggle seemed so small. We have been given the Word of God, not just for correction, but also for comfort. In the still of the morning, He was waiting for me. The God who made the heavens and the earth wanted to remind ME that HE had given me His peace and all I have to do is remember that what Jesus did on the cross for me.

What a powerful revelation to me ... I hope that if you read this, you're reminded of God's love for you today and that His answer for your situation is always one verse away.

Cy's Salvation

2009-08-04T11:47:00.003-06:00

Yesterday marked a memorable day in our family's history. Last night, Dan and Cy were talking quietly in the boys' room. I wondered what they were doing because those two together are never "quiet" ... I didn't get too curious because Christopher and I were engrossed in something on the computer. A few minutes later, Dan called me and I went into the boys' room where he and Cy were sitting on the floor. Dan said, "We just wanted to tell you that Cy just asked Jesus to come into his heart!" Whoo Hooo!! This has been an answer to prayer. Many of you know that our boys are in an non-Christian household when they are not with us and we are always believing that God protects them from things that they should not see or hear. Christopher asked Jesus to come into his heart four years ago and his spiritual compass is always on! We've been believing that Cy's heart would be open and hungry for the things of God. This was a true answer to prayer... God is so good and continues to show us His faithfulness!

Celebrated Our First Anniversary

2009-08-04T11:46:00.000-06:00

It's the Simple Things

2009-07-01T10:03:00.002-06:00

We spent this past weekend visiting our friends that live in Denver. We had so much fun! On Saturday, we took a walk to the park and let the kids play in the fountain. Who knew they'd love it so much?

It was just a reminder to me.. Quality time with family doesn't have to be about spending money. The important thing is being together and enjoying the time that we never get back.

The Daily Routine

2009-05-17T16:36:00.003-06:00

When I married Dan last year, I not only became a wife, but also an instant step-mom to Christopher and Cy. While I thought that my many years as an "old maid" had given me time to prepare for life within the walls of a home, I quickly found out how "unprepared" I actually was! Don't get me wrong.. cooking, cleaning, laundry,organizing.. I could do all of that with my eyes closed. It's the small things that knock you off your feet!

Over the last few months, I have worked at building a relationship with the boys. I didn't want to come on too strong or make them feel as though I was trying to replace their mom. This isn't a competition. Kids don't need parents or guardians competing for their love or attention. I made a conscious effort to give them alone time with their dad, but I have also planned family activities that would hopefully bond us. During this time, I would stand back, let them play and then interact here and there. Honestly, I believed I was doing a pretty good job with all of this! Then, two weeks ago at dinner, Christopher wanted to pray for us, he began thanking God for our food, then the pets, then his Dad, for working so hard to provide, then his brother that he always has to play with, and then me, for whom he thanked God cleaned so well. It stopped me dead in my tracks.. HE'S THANKFUL FOR MY CLEANING!!! That moment began a work in my heart.. we all probably remember a time when we wanted our parents (or step-parents) to just stop what they "needed to be doing" and just play with us. It wasn't the that Christopher couldn't see that I was trying to make a good home for him, his Dad, and Cy. He just observed that I spent the bulk of my time doing busy work. From that day, I really purpose to sit down and do something that they want to do... and believe me, I don't have much experience with boys! Nope, I wasn't a tomboy either. I was pretty much a "play with Barbies, play house, an ohhh, don't get me dirty kinda girl! But when I see how they love that time with me and how quickly those moments bond us...I remind myself that dirt washes off and the laundry can wait!

Dan riding up this VERY steep hill!

2009-05-12T14:48:00.000-06:00

Beautiful view in Grand Junction

2009-05-12T14:46:00.000-06:00

My Honey

2009-05-11T15:32:00.000-06:00

Time of My Life

2009-05-11T14:27:00.000-06:00

Most people who know me remember how long I waited to be get married. I waited many years for my prince. Now that time is here and I love every minute of it! Dan and I spent the weekend together in Grand Junction, Colorado. It's about 30 degrees warmer there that where we live.. I was in Heaven!

We spent Saturday downtown at their annual Art and Jazz Festival. I'm always amazed at the creativity that some people have! I was inspired and am now hoping to "create" something great soon! The rest of the evening, we spent out in the desert with our friends. Late that night, we did something I'd never done before! We rolled tires off of the ridge, after they were lit on fire! A little redneck, I'll admit, but it was a blast! Sunday was spent four-wheeling and exploring! I have a nice sunburn and sore body to prove it!

My life isn't anything like I would have imagined... it's so much more. My husband encourages me to try things I would have never tried on my own and I help him slow down to enjoy things that he wouldn't have otherwise.

We hope our family and friends will make time to come visit soon.... Meanwhile, I'll post pictures and tell you about my amazing life!