My World

My world...who is it about? Who lives there? Do you pick and choose or is it only you? Can you see the realities of what is truly going on or do you close your eyes until it all passes away? What is in your world?

Matthew West has a new song out called "My Own Little World." It is a beautiful song about how we get so caught up in our own little worlds that we fail to see the bigger world. Society has deemed the concepts: get yourself ahead and don't worry about anyone else but yourself. But is that what God has called us to do or be?

Sometimes I think that our pride, integrity, and being accepted get in the way of what God has called us to do. I said "our" because I am included in this. Our job may be more important that what God wants us to do. The song also talks about how sometimes we give just enough time or tithes to God to make "us" feel happy. What about making God feel happy?

Do you live in your own little world? GO TO YOUTUBE and CHECK OUT MATTHEW WEST'S NEW SONG: MY OWN LITTLE WORLD.

Lead or Follow

Once again, I'm posting about a song....haha. Sanctus Real has a new song out that I absolutely adore. It's called Lead Me. The song is written by the lead singer who had a long talk with his wife. Basically his wife said that she needed him to lead the family.

This is something that Jason and I learned about during our pre-marital counseling. We were asked to answer a series of questions in a booklet. One section of questions was who's role is it to wash dishes, do laundry, lead the family...and so on.

The lyrics of the song go, "Lead me with strong hands, stand up when I can't, don't leave me hungry for more, chasing dreams, but what about us? Show me your willing to fight, that I'm still the love of your life, I know we call this our home, but I still feel alone."

Pretty powerful words. I thought that there are many men out there that might need to hear this song and let the lyrics really sink in. Are you leading your wife and family down a Christian road or a worldly road? But on the flip side of that, women, are we (and I am including myself in this) willing to follow?

I think that we are in a independent world sometimes that we forget that we must too be willing to follow....food for thought!

Grace

I took an undergraduate course called Religion and Psychology. It was a very interesting class. During class we talked about grace and different takes on grace. My teacher stated that she read somewhere an article about grace and this is the gist of it all...

Think about sitting at God's table in Heaven. While you are sitting there the person to your left is the person who has had to forgive you the most or the biggest. They are someone that you have hurt. Now look at the person to your right. They are the person who you have had to forgive the most or someone that has hurt you.

The person to your left may be the same person to your right. While sitting there you are sitting between receiving grace from the person to your left and giving grace to the person to your right. It's kind of deep.

However, if you really stop and think about it...the person at the head of the table is the person you have sinned against the most, disappointed the most, and hurt the most. However, that person still allows you to sit with them at their table. God is just amazing isn't he?

Best Friends

Over the 4th of July holiday my best friend and I went to Eastern, KY to spend time with my dad and step family. Boy what a trip! During the trip Courtney and I had some real bonding experiences.

My favorite day with her had to be Saturday. We went to my step mother's Christian Bookstore in Ashland. (check it out sometime...its called Shield of Faith) Then we headed over to the mall, did some shopping, ate lunch, took pictures in the photo booth, got pedicures, and just enjoyed the time we had together. Small things like spending time with your best friend are what really matters and counts in life.

Here's our pedicures!

I found a quote that basically sums up my thoughts on friends..."A friend is someone who understands your past believes in your future and accepts you just the way you are."

That is what Courtney is to me. She know who I am, know my thoughts and faults, she knows my strengths and still supports me. She's someone I can always trust to be there for me. We have been through a lot. We roomed together all throughout college and left no secrets untold.

No Chocolate Success

Well I did it. No chocolate for 20 some odd LONG days. I did not replase but did have it late the first night that I could have it. YUMM. I'm on a new journey...a new HEALTHY journey. I'm going to give up soft drinks and then progress to no sweet tea or lemonade. This will probably be a true test for me. I'm on day 3 right now and I've only had water and lemonade. Nothing beat a good lemonade on a hot day.

I'm going to bring my stubbornness out...I'm going to succeed. I'm hoping to make small steps in my healthy diet. Like Lance Armstrong stated, "One small step for man, one giant leap for man kind." This is my one small step in my diet....one giant leap to a healthy and skinnier life (so I hope).

Still No Chocolate....

So its been just about 2 weeks without chocolate. I was doing pretty good with not having cravings for a while. Things seemed to be pretty easy. That was until Friday came along and I went to the grocery.

Friday at work I decided that I would eat later in the day. 2pm rolled around and I started to get hungry. Well silly me forgot to pack a lunch and my work day was about to end. We had some granola bars and I figured I would just eat one to hold me over until I got home. Well bad news...all of the granola bars had chocolate in them. Agghhh!!

Later that night, Jason and I decided to eat first (which is usually good b/c you don't tend to buy as much food when you are full) before going to the grocery. So as we are going through the grocery I thought that I would get some Slim Rite drinks. (They are so yummy!) Well I picked up a case and put it in the buggy...looked down and said, "I can't get these." They were chocolate.

At this point...my no chocolate for 20+ day's was getting old. I thought...I could just relapse once and be done. But I am just about half-way through my no chocolate I hate to ruin it now. I wanted to get some diet/protein bars but just about all of them had chocolate in them. I was annoyed. I wasn't so much craving chocolate...I was just frustrated that the foods I wanted to buy had chocolate in them. Vanilla Slim Rites just didn't sound as good.

Not having the cravings has really surprised me. But I understand how some addicts can relapse because their addiction is all around them. OR the thing that they can't have but desire to have is in the front of their mind and it seems to be all around them. Shopping on friday night proved this concept to me. I would be fine with no chocolate if chocolate wasn't around me so much. Can I totally avoid contact (seeing, hearing, smelling chocolate) all of the time? No.

13 days without chocolate...little support from Jason (well he supports me but will rub the fact that he gets to eat chocolate in my face...my thoughts...NOT SUPPORTIVE). This exercise for class is to help me understand what addicts go through. Share what you think...

Updates on No Chocolate

So its officially been 5 days without chocolate. I am surviving! It's actually not been all that difficult. I don't really miss the chocolate cravings until I think that I haven't had chocolate for a while. Throughout all of this...I am happy that I have had no chocolate. I just lean on other sweets...haha!

Maybe if I give up chocolate then I can learn to be more self-discipline and can give up other things...like soft drinks. MAYBE...just maybe!

If you are joining me in the challenge...how are you doing? Are you finding it to be come challenging that you thought? Let me know!

Addictions

Wondering about the title (if you didn't read it, I'm sure you just did!).

Right now just started another course for my masters in social work. I am enrolled in a course about addictions. I just started the course last night. We were challenged to give up one thing for the rest of the class. It could be anything, sugar, coffee, soft drinks, facebook, chocolate, etc. In giving up this item/concept for 20+ days, we are to be thinking about how it would feel to have an addiction.

So for the next 20+ days, I am giving up....CHOCOLATE.

My hopes are to blog about this experience. Starting at midnight last night...I have not had any chocolate today. This is going to be hard for me...I think a difficult struggle at first. This is prime wedding time...no chocolate wedding cake for me. No quit sugar or chocolate fix with a Hersey kiss.

Anyone else want to join in giving up something for the rest of June?

Hope you all (the 2 or 3 that follow) will encourage me and continue to follow.

Winning the Race

So it has been a while since I have posted anything. To those individuals who actually read my post, I'm sorry. Nothing new has been going on in life. Still trying to keep up with school work. Hoping to one day graduated...but nerves about what will come next.

Verse of the day...

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I am not an soccer player anymore...but I know that God desires me to be in my faith. Well not so much a soccer player but an athlete. He wants me to have the discipline, the courage, the adrenaline, and the dedication to win the race of Christianity. I don't want to settle for second place, but lately I have been. My run has been come a slow walk...my courage has become fear...my discipline has become weak...and my dedication has been lost.

I pray today that I can begin to show Jesus Christ that I want to win this race. I pray that I can throw on my old shoes, take of the high heels of society and run! I want to have the courage and discipline that I use to have. However, I'm going to need my friends and family to encourage me and push me forward.

Are you winning the race? Has your run become a walk? What do you need to have the faith to run the race again? Pray now, let go & LET GOD!

The Art of Love

OK...let me first begin with the title. I did not develop this creative thinking...sorry to disappoint many of you. It is a song sung by Jordin Sparks and Guy Sebastian. If you haven't been able to notice yet, I love songs. I love the message, the creativeness, the dedication, and the soul that is put into each and every lyric that is composed.

The song, one that I recommend you listen to, talks about how we are still learning about love. For me, that is true. I don't want marriage to become a habit. I want it to be a new beginning everyday, and new experience. I don't want to forget how to love in the basic form, to forget the simplest joys in life. I don't want to take for granted the way that Jason brushes the hair out of my face, holds me when I'm scared, or will do silly things to just make me laugh. OH, and his favorite, "cute grin".

I want to remember all of these moments. But there are going to be times when I mess up, I know this. There are going to be times when I don't appreciate all of the hard work and the little notes that I receive.

I'm still trying to learn the art of love. Even after being together for over 3 1/2 years, I have a lot of learning and loving to do. But I know that I have an amazing Heavenly Father that has given me the tools to love. HE has been the greatest influence in my life, and has been the one to demonstrate what love really means. After all of my mess ups and mistakes, God still loves me.

This is the type of love I want to demonstrate to Jason. I know I'm not the easiest person to love, however, Jason is still by my side. I am truly blessed and honored to have a Christian husband.

Beautiful Blessings

This week I was reflected on the blessings that God has graciously given me. I by no means have deserved any of the blessing, however, God knew what I needed in life. I call all of my blessings beautiful, yet in the moment, I might not always seem them that way.

I love the song that my sister and I use to sing during children's choir, its called "Count your Blessings". The song goes, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings see what God has done, Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings see what God has done."

Today, I am counting my blessings...

1. I am blessed to have a Christian family...a family that has instilled in me strong morals and values, and a love for God.

2. I am blessed to have a Christ-driven husband. Not many wives can say that their husbands love the Lord and strive to give God glory daily.

3. I am blessed with a new family. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 10 months now (wow...where has the time gone?), and gained his family as my own now too. I have wonderful and beautiful in-laws.

4. I am blessed with a sister. I have a sister who I admire for her faith in Christ. She is a beautiful woman.

5. I am blessed and have been blessed with wonderful grandparents. My grandparents are a prime example of how I want to live my life. They are always doing for others and demonstrate Christian characteristics all the time.

6. I am blessed to have such amazing friends. Within the last several years, I have gained a stronger understanding of what a friend is and how I should become a better friend. I have met new people and and glad to be able to call them friends.

7. I am blessed with a new church family. When I got married, I moved my membership from my home church to my husbands church. In joining a new church I have been blessed by the welcomes, the passion, and the fellowship that HBC has to offer.

8. I am blessed to have good health. I often take this for granted. I do not always take the best care of myself either.

9. I am blessed with a nephew, 2 step-nieces, and 2 step-nephews.

I have many other blessings in life. But what are your blessings? God gives us each different blessing. He knows what we need and blesses us each daily by fulfilling those needs. Give God praise and thank Him today for your blessings.

Stopping to Smell the flowers

Flowers from our honeymoon in Jamica.

Sometimes in life I get to busy. It would appear that my life is planned out daily in my calendar...when I have to work, what homework assignments are due and when do I have to do them, when I have class. Even on our fridge we have a menu planned out for the month. (We loosely go by this, but it helps us budget our money and grocery shopping.)

When Jason and I were on our honeymoon, I remember laying out and telling him....we need to savor this moment. Because when we step off the plane in KY, our lives are going back to routine and chaos.

When my life seems so busy (and kids are not even in the equation...gosh I can't imagine how crazy life will be when we have kids) I have to remind myself to stop and smell the flowers. I have to take a moment and soak in all of God's creation and beauty. I need to be mindful of what is going on in the moment and not worry about the next.

Spring has ARRIVED!

These are the cherry blooms on our trees!

Spring time has arrived in Kentucky. This has to be one of my favorite seasons, minus all of the storms. We just recently celebrated Easter and the day that Christ was resurrected. Spring time brings rebirth into the world. Spring brings about new birth. All of the pretty flowers and trees are in bloom.

A few of my favorite things about spring....

1. Warm weather

2. Trees & flowers begin to bloom

3. Opening up the windows in the house

4. Grilling and the aroma's that are associated with grilling

5. Walking the the grass barefooted (yes you can do this other seasons but it marks warmer weather!)

6. Sun and brighter skies

7. Birds chirping

Safety in God

My dad and step mom gave me a book for Christmas called His Princess: Love Letters from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd. Each day I read a new letter and the verse that it is based on. Today I thought it was really neat.

The verse: "You are my hiding place, you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7 NIV

In the letter it talks about how we are shielded everyday by God. He is here, He has been here, and He will always be here for us. In the times when we feel all alone, God is there. At times, God will lead us to a safer place, other times we must go with God to the front lines and go to battle.

This was eye opening to me. I think that many of us, myself included, have become lazy in our faith. We want God to do all of the work and when it comes time to battle, we run scared. Everyday I must wake up, put on the Armor of God. Some days I have to wake up, put on the Armor of God, and stand beside Him in battle.

But just like the verse says, God will always protect us. He's there now, He has been there, and He will always be there for us.

Valentine's Day & Life

Jason and I became Aunt's & Uncle's on Valentine's day. We got the call from Jennifer and Jerry on Feb. 14th at 1:15am that Jennifer's water broke. We decided to head to the hospital to be with her and arrived around 2:00am.

2:50pm Bryce William Broderick came into the world. He had a head full of black hair and the prettiest blue eyes. Don't think we haven't been spoiling him already because we have.

Jason had planned for us to go to Malone's that night but since Bryce came so late in the afternoon we decided to postpone the Valentine's day events. When we got home there was a bouquet of white lilies (my favorite) sitting on the kitchen table for me.

Girls I gotta say....I got a keeper!

Our Story

Our story begins back in 2006. In October the bank Jason's works at was hosting a dinner. There at the dinner I told my mother that I thought Jason was cute and wondered if he was dating anyone. My mom, friends of the owner of the bank at the time, mentioned something to the owner. The owner mentioned something to Jason about dating me. He was interested and set up a myspace account to find me and start talking to me through myspace.

We went on our first date in December. The end of March I ended things between us because of stress from school and life in general. However, we still communicated and found out by the following May (2007) that God wanted us to be together.

October 2008 came and I got proposed to. (We'll save that story for another posting!)

On July 18, 200, Jason made me the happiest women by marrying me.