The Inaugural Playing of Winter Snow for the Season!

This is probably one of my favorite *winter* {if I say winter, does that make it less harmful than saying I'm playing Christmas songs already?} songs. There's a chance of snow today {seriously!?}, so we're going to welcome it appropriately. 

Winter Snow by Audrey Assad

Could've come like a mighty storm 
With all the strength of a hurricane 
You could've come like a forest fire 
With the power of heaven in Your flame 

But You came like a winter snow 
Quiet and soft and slow 
Falling from the sky in the night 
To the earth below 

You could've swept in like a tidal wave 
Or an ocean to ravish our hearts 
You could have come through like a roaring flood 
To wipe away the things we've scarred 

But You came like a winter snow 
(Yes, You did) 
You were quiet 
You were soft and slow 
Falling from the sky in the night 
To the earth below 

Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning 
No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind 
It was still 
It was small 
It was hidden 

You came like a winter snow 
Quiet and soft and slow 
Falling from the sky in the night 
To the earth below 

Falling 
(Oh, yeah) 
To the earth below 
You came falling 
From the sky in the night 
To the earth below

Fall For Fun

Found these from 2008...

New, New, New!

New blog design...
     ...New daughter!...
          ...New & refreshed me!

I haven't blogged in FOREVER. Well, except for earlier today ;). But I'm back. Consider that a warning ;).

What's new that you'll find, other than brighter colors and an updated picture? You'll find a glimpse inside. I'm stepping out and making a point to make my life healthier. I'm working out, eating right, and trying to be a better mommy and wife {ok, so all of that is in backwards order}. I'm trying to do a better job of PLAYING with my kids, TALKING with my hubby and trying to be an encourager to him. Spell check doesn't like my word encourager and is telling me it's not correct, but I know it is because it's what I'm trying to be.

As for the exercising part...I hope to be at least a little transparent here in order for you, my (2?) readers to help hold me accountable. I NEED accountability like none other on this!!! I'll fill in more later, but let's just say that I've set some high goals that I desperately hope to accomplish, and I'm willing to be open if it means it'll help at least one other person who struggles with the same things I do.

And on top of all of that, I'm trying, deeply, to be a better daughter of the King. I slack. I disobey. I neglect. I run the other direction than He wants. I cave. I fail.

I need. I desire. I thirst.

I'm ready for HIM to transform me, from the inside out.

A New Found Love

I stumbled across this new blog.

Ok, I lied. I kinda stumbled across it. I won't go into detail here just how, but let's just say God works everything to the good of those who love Him.


Here's the site: www.incourage.me

Real name is (in)courage. Don'tcha love that name?

Anyway, it is a site/blog for women who love the Lord to come and share, be encouraged (hello Captain Obvious!), and to grow in friendships, relationships, and more importantly in the Lord. Check it out:

They also have a new fall Book Club book by Angie Smith (wife of Todd Smith from Selah). I haven't started following this yet, or gotten the book yet, but am hoping to soon. You can find more on this at this link http://vimeo.com/28911850

Trail of a Toddler

I gave up chasing him today. I let him play with whatever he wanted. My floor is now covered in:

1 raisin fallen from the high chair

2 sticker books

3 random stickers stuck to the linoleum floor

2 stocking caps

2 pair of mittens

1 pair of mommy's flip flops he tried wearing

1 winter coat

1 rain coat (it was raining outside, so he insisted he needed to wear it inside)

1 sippy cup

1 play kitchen

1 play cupcake thingy

3 books

2 pieces of play fence from play farm

1 can of corn

2 large containers of oats

1 container of hot chocolate

1 jar of gravy

1 pkg honey grahams

1 pair size 7 toddler sandals

1 pair of daddy's shoes size 13

1 wooden train

1 play laptop

2 jars of spaghetti sauce (thankful he didn't drop them)

1 pkg wheat flour unopened (thankfully)

numerous random coffee filters

1 'fit the object in its shape' game

1 old Gerber baby food jar

1 box lasagna noodles

1 can black beans

...it might not sound like much, except that we live in a small duplex, and ALL of this is just in the front room and kitchen, and I keep tripping over everything, but don't have the energy (or room) to keep bending over this baby belly to pick stuff up! Good thing he's learned to put his toys away at night :). He made me tired just watching him play...

Love Came For Me

I've been on a Shannon Wexelberg kick lately. I first heard her at the National Worship Leader Conference last year, and have LOVED her music ever since. So peaceful, so vivid with lyrics.

Now granted, this one is on her Christmas album, but it is one to listen to and reflect on all year.

Reflect on these lyrics:

Love Came for Me 

Words & music by Shannon J. Wexelberg 

If You had not come 

Tender baby King 

And humbly left Your throne 

To reach someone like me 

If You had not walked 

Upon this broken ground 

Where on earth would I be now? 

If You had not come 

If You had not come 

To seek the sick and lame 

To set the captive free 

To break the prisoners chains 

I’d still be in the dark 

Grappling for the door 

Longing for some way, somehow (but…) 

   

Love came for me 

 Love rescued me 

 Love called my name 

 Love took my place 

 Sweet Lamb of God 

 I’m bowing down 

 My eyes have seen 

 I’m finally free 

 Love came for me  

If You had not come 

Willing, spotless Lamb 

My sin would be too much 

For You to take me as I am 

But, oh, the blood of Christ 

That washes over me 

Flowing from Your hands and feet 

Don’t have to worry where I’d be        

Love came for me 

 Love rescued me 

 Love called my name 

 Love took my place 

 Sweet Lamb of God 

 I’m bowing down 

 My eyes have seen 

 I’m finally free 

 Love came for me 

 This manger King 

 My everything 

 Love came for me  

©/2010 Shanny Banny Music / BMI  

who are You? and who am i?

The song 'Who Is Like You' by Starfield came to mind tonight as I was praying. Here are the lyrics:

The Lord is my strength and my song
He has become my salvation
He is my God and I will praise Him,
I will lift him up.

Who is like You, Majestic in holiness
Awesome in glory, Working wonders?
Who is like You, Majestic in holiness
Awesome in glory, Working wonders?

In Your unfailing love
You will lead the people there You Redeemed
And in your strength, You will guide them
to Your holy place

Who among the gods is like You,
who in all the heavens?
Who among the gods is like You?

This song reminds me to put things into perspective: Who is like Him? He is everything. Why do I rely so much on the world and its wisdom, on the thoughts of others instead of His thoughts about me, why do I spend so much of my time on worldly things instead of focusing my attention to Him?

I'm reminded also in the song 'Who Am I?' of the same thoughts:

Who am I? 
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I? 
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.
...
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
...
Who am I? 
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I? 
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.


...these questions are my questions. Even when I know full well that He is God, He is the Great I Am, that no one is like Him in majesty and glory, I still doubt {in my sinner way} that He surely can't love me for who I am, the things I've done, the mistakes I've made. I love the chorus of this song though-

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are.

-and it reminds me-He reminds me-that He loves me for me. Not because of who I am, or anything I've done, but because of what He came to do for me. 

"As for God, His way is perfect;

the word of the Lord is flawless.

He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?"

~Psalm 18:30-31