MoRe RaNdoM ThiNKinG

Only 3 nights left until my boys come back! I miss them so much. I miss their smiles. I miss their laughter. I miss our random dancing break-outs. I miss their big hugs. I miss our secret handshake. I miss our prayer times together. I miss the random funny things they say. I miss tucking them in. I miss our wrestling matches. I miss our cuddle time. I miss watching Man VS. Wild with them. I just can't wait until they get back. I am just so blessed to have them in my life :)

OK...so here are some more things spinning around my cooky cranium.

1. Why can talking not count as exercise??? I would finally be able to shop in the stick figure people section!! LOL....I mean, you do use muscles to use your mouth...seriously, should count for an entire body workout!

2. Who in the world do they use to make the average length for petite pants? NBA players?? Because it is not your average short person!! Yes...it is pretty bad when you shop in the petite section, and they are still too long :(


3. "I got a pocket, got a pocket full of SUNSHINE!!"
OK, so it is all about our attitude. Mind over matter. I truly am a very blessed child of God who has many reasons to smile, to be confident, to praise God, to be at peace, to be full of joy....so I need to knock off the pity parties, the sour-puss attitudes, the worrying...and just SHINE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. :) My circumstances do not dictate my mood...my Savior (my SONSHINE) brings joy to my life regardless of my surroundings and situations that I have to face in life...because with Him...I can do all things!

4. Originally my plan has been: if I get remarried that man will have to take me to Italy on our honeymoon...new plan: just go to Italy on my own and find a hot Italian to marry so he can speak that beautiful language to me all the time...now that is something I would actually shut up for!!! LOL

5. Still no maid?! Seriously...anyone want the job? I pay with Oreo Bon Bons!!


6.
I'm all about the heat...just sayin'. Now, in the books and the first movie I am very much team Edward, but...in New Moon, my alliance suddenly shifted in the first shirtless scene, and continued to grow during the rain scene as I was left drooling over the dogs! LOL...see now living here in NC, whenever I hear "GO PACK" I don't think NC State, I think, "Where? Where's Jacob?!" That was for Twilight fans only, sorry...LOL

7. I so want to be a fighter jet pilot. "I feel the need, the need for speed."

8. I just realized that Disney Channel has not been on all week!!! I am starting to have Suite Life sorrows, missing magic from Waverly Place Wizards, and my days have been cloudy without Sonny...JK...although some of those shows are cute...Mommy shows are nicer!!! I am officially caught up on Grey's, and may actually stay up to watch it tonight! :)

9. Can you tell I am bored? LOL...Although I have no reason to be sitting here playing around on a computer because of #5 alone, but....there is always tomorrow for that! LOL.

10. Now, let's all practice being positive, repeat after me, "I am blessed and highly favored, saved by the grace of a mighty Savior." And try this, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalms 139:14. Keep going you're doing great, now say, "All things work together for the good for those who love God" Romans 8:28. And add, "In Christ Jesus, we ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS!" Love that one...because I am all about the winnin' and conquerin'! :) Now...just stay focused on the Father and it's all good :)

HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND!

RaNdoM WeekLY ThOuGhTs

Ok...not sure how helpful or "spiritual" these are going to be...but...this is just what you get when you leave a lonely ADHD blonde alone in her apartment for 10 days with no kids....LOL. And...this is just day 2...so there may be more to come! Scary, I know! I miss my boys!

1. OK, when the cute guy behind the counter ask if you need help out with your groceries...YOU SAY YES YOU IDIOT! YES!

2. Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you feel like a nut...OK, I know how the jingle actually goes, but I just always feel like a nut.

3. Activities that are not suited for people with ADHD: hunting...although the idea of shooting a gun seems cool, especially if the target looks like my ex-husband...guess we would have to be hunting donkeys though...ok...sorry you are right that was not nice. sorry. anyways, hunting...it is my understanding that you have to sit there quietly....SCRATCH THAT OFF MY ACTIVITY LIST!
Also, taking a bubble bath, everyone says while the boys are gone, relax, take a nice hot bubble bath...I just find that I do not sit well...and the bubbles only keep you entertained for so long...

4. Oh...wait. THAT'S right....I DON'T have a maid...oh man!!!!

5. Activities for the lonely NOT to do: watch romance and/or sappy, crappy movies!!! Why do I torture myself?! I forgot how dramatic that Nick Sparks guy can be!!

6. PUT THE OREOS DOWN!!!

7. Dancing and laughter are the best stress relievers so do them often! "Shake your groove thing! Shake your groove thing...ya, ya. Show me how to do it now. Get up and shake it! Get up and shake it!"

8. I want to learn how to play the drums!!! I loved listening to the drums at the ECU football game. Maybe that will also help me take out some frustrations....hmmmm...I might go through a lot of drum sets...

9.








10. Even if you're single...YOU MUST REMEMBER TO SHAVE THOSE LEGS! OK, yes this is embarrassing to say, but...I am that great of a friend that I will just put it all out there and bare the humiliation if it saves someone else from the same mistake; because you don't want your BFF to call and say hey lets go get a pedicure since neither of us have our boys. Then get there only to remember that you have to pull up your pant legs to stick those legs in the tub, and THEN get stuck with a male doing the pedicure, and THEN remember they also do the massage on not only the feet but also the LEGS! Yes...yes it was very embarrassing!!! But hey...we all had a good laugh...especially the lady rubbing my friends legs who just kept saying..."Oh, how nice and smooth." while laughing at the poor guy who got stuck with GORILLA GIRL!!! LOL.
(and yes...I really do shave...that was a just very rainy week) Hmmmm....last thought...I share way too much information....hmmmm maybe that is why I'm still singe.
BUT...I say if you can't laugh in life, especially at yourself...then you are the one with the issues :)

From Within

"If we all cut off the parts we don't like, we'd have nothing left." - a quote from a women in the television show Grey's anatomy talking to her son about plastic surgery.

Confidence comes from within. And from within we find Christ living in us.

He created us in His image...that is a pretty powerful image to be formed after. He created us wonderful. He says so in His word. Why then do we let so many outside opinions/standards determine what/who we are when the answer is found within.

I am a child of God. That's it. Period. And I am confident in who I am.

Are you? You should be. Because Jesus loves you UNCONDITIONALLY. So...accept His love and walk in confidence, and let NOTHING from the outside SHAKE that confidence.

"You created the deepest parts of my being.
You put me together inside my mother's body.
How you made me is amazing and wonderful."
Psalm 139:13-14

"Seriously Christina...Do you get it yet?"

Here are some questions that must be running through the mind of God when He thinks of me...

"Seriously Christina...do you get it yet?" "Has in sunk into that thick skull of yours?" "When are you just going to let go and trust me completely? After all the times I have come through for you, why do you still doubt?"

Thankfully He is a persistent God full of love and grace that just keeps coming--forever pushing through the tough terrains of my brain trying to get me to hear His voice above the chaos.

My God has always come through for me. I could give you all the examples, but I would be typing until my fingers fall off because He has always been there for me. He has proven time and time and time again that He has my back, and His perfect plan in being worked out in my life daily as He uses all things to draw me closer to Him....so why do I still go through those times of doubt and worry? Why do I allow my mind to be filled with anxieties and insecurities?

Today, once again God has brought me closer to Him, pulled me through a rough patch, picked me up and dusted me off, encouraged me in many ways, and given me reason to continue to praise Him.

"Christina...I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING....Let go, and let me do My job...your only job...is to just believe and walk by faith." This is the message He is lovingly whispering to my heart...(although sometimes I believe He may just have to bust out the mallet and pound into my head...LOL) I get it God...and Thank you!

Hebrews 11:1 "1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see."

The important thing to remember is that no matter what is going on in your life, God is in control, and He has a perfect plan that we just need to trust in. Praising Him and serving Him in not something that should be circumstantial....well, God life is going good so You are good, and I will praise you now....THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS! We are to always, always, always continue to seek after Him with our whole heart, and praise Him for He is worthy to be praised. That's it. Period.

Mountain top - praise Him. Valley - praise Him. Drowning in an ocean - praise Him. Trapped in a pit - praise Him. Soaring above like and eagle - praise Him.

Like Nike says: Just Do It! Well....JUST PRAISE HIM!

This is a song that my sister once shared with me, a friend has just shared with me, and I just heard it on a friends blog...good song by Mercy Me called "Bring the Rain"

"I can count a million times people asking me how I can praise You with all that I've gone through. The question just amazes me can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You. Maybe since my life was changed long before these rainy days It's never really ever crossed my mind to turn my back on you, oh Lord My only shelter from the storm, but instead I draw closer through these times. So I pray...bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free, bring me anything that brings YOU glory. And I know they'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise YOU, Jesus bring the rain."

GOD HAS A PERFECT PLAN AND PERFECT TIMING...TRUST HIM!

CAN'T BACK DOWN

Now...I am a competitive person...a fun competitive person though, at least I think so. I like to talk a lot of junk. I have a big mouth, I guess you could say...LOL. I love to joke about my massive muscles and how strong I am! (I think it is to make up for the short stature)

But I have seem to forgotten about my strength...

We are in a spiritual battle and the battle is in our minds. I have written about this a lot lately because this is what I am facing: anxiety attacks, doubt, fears, insecurities, and listening to the lies loudly pounding in my mind. This is a fight and it is not the time to be weak!

I have forgotten that I love a good competitive battle; so it is time to stand firm and start kickin' some butt!

Through Christ I am strong enough to handle all things! (Philippians 4:13)

WE CAN'T BACK DOWN! The devil is no match for a child of God! He is nothing, and through Christ we are more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37)

I am a strong, confident, victorious woman of God!

And He has given me with promises of His word and power of His Spirit to take the stand against the lies terrorizing my mind and replace them with peace and freedom!

Lesson Learned

My Mother came to this realization very quickly...she made the connection for me...she helped open my eyes...Mom's rock like that!

I was telling her about this after school program that I am now a coach of. It is a program that challenges higher leveled kids with problem solving skills, and creative thinking. I was excited to join this team because creativity is my strong point. They also have to perform a skit; acting is my strong point...lol...well I do love to be up in front of an audience (I hope to be a motivational speaker someday along with my writing career). Anyways, I was excited and thought it would be a great thing to embark upon. However, I have found out that as a couch, basically I can do nothing. My hands are tied behind my back and my mouth is closed....now for those of you that know me...you can already see where I am going with this...my mom did quickly.

I have to keep my mouth shut????!!!! I don't understand that. That does not compute with my brain. I can not give them any ideas, touch anything, or help in any way. It has to be all the kids work. I have no control...

So my mom says with a chuckle, "Maybe God is trying to teach you something through this."

Learning to keep my mouth shut and relinquish control is hard for me...

A great friend has also shared this same advice with me earlier this week...so yes, apparently God is trying to teach me something. I was telling him how overwhelmed I was, and how I had a lot on my mind. He said tell me what's wrong maybe I can help. I said pick a topic and then typed out the very long list of things bothering me. His response was this:

Just put God first....you are trying to control too much when God is the one who makes the decisions.

Well said.

I need to just let it all go. Lay it in the hands of the Father...they are big enough to hold it all. And His ways are perfect and His timing is perfect so I need to stop trying to control everything. Just relax in His peace. Lesson Learned.

TRAPS!

The following are some definitions of TRAP on the Web:

*a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
*something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
*to hold fast or prevent from moving
*ambush: the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise
*something by which one is caught or stopped unawares

The boys and I have been watching a lot of Man Vs. Wild online...we love that show (although we love the show for different reasons, but....let's just say all three of us love the show...and if you have ever seen Bear Grylls, then you can imagine why Mommy loves the show...anyways...). The other day he was setting traps to catch food; so now the boys are all about "setting some traps" around the house, and talking all about traps, and carrying around materials to set traps. It got me thinking about the traps set by our enemy to lour us away from the path of God and eventually destroy our lives.

The Devil sets his traps up in our minds. He knows the perfect bait to use. He knows our weaknesses: insecurity, fears, addictions, anxiety, negativism, depression, worry, loneliness...he is an enemy who studies his prey and strongly seeks after their soul; therefore he sets up the perfect trap and before you know it...SNAP! You're caught.

The battlefield is in our minds. The enemy whispers those lies the triggers the trap and we begin to weaken and fall into a dangerous, dark place. BUT....I am here to tell you, I understand, I have been there...AND THERE IS HOPE! DO NOT GIVE UP! Let me give you the survival tips you need to get out of the trap!

1. Remember, if you fall...THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST! WALK IN HIS GRACE WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH. One of his main pieces of bait is the idea that once you fall, make a mistake, screw up...you are a failure and unloved by a God who is ashamed of you. THIS IS A LIE. Christ died on a cross so that you can live under His grace. Accept it daily and know that God is always there loving you.

2. Know that Christ is your strength! He lives in you and you have the power in you to fight back! Have the promises of God (His word) written upon your heart and use it against the enemy who is powerless in the presence of our Almighty God. Use verses such as: "You will keep him in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast because he trust in You." Isaiah 26:3. Also, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7. Search His word for His promises and speak them...in the name of Jesus - the devil has to flee.

3. When caught in the snare - SING HIS PRAISE and receive His strength, accept His peace, and be released from bondage in order to soar above every circumstance in your life!

4. PRAY! Cry out to Him...He will faithfully answer.

You need to be aware of the traps the the devil sets, BUT WALK CONFIDENTLY IN CHRIST! Know that He will faithfully guide you and always offer His strength, peace, joy, grace, and love.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, BRINGING EVERY THOUGHT INTO CAPTIVITY TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

Pray for God to help you fight the war that rages in your mind, and to avoid the traps,and bring those thoughts captive, lay them at His feet and replace them with peace!


Photography by: Mary Goin