The Princess....

There are few times that a book, especially a child's book, affects my life in such a way that it's impact can be felt forever, every day, hopefully for generations to come.  The book I'm about to tell you about has done exactly that.  While the force of it's simple truth will forever be emblazoned upon my heart, it is yet to be determined whether it will filter down to my children's children and their children, etc.  This is my earnest prayer.

The book, "The Princess and the Kiss", by Jennie Bishop is a simple story.  A fairytale of sorts.  A fairytale that has more applicable truth than most non-fiction literature.  This tale is about a princess.  Surprise.  A princess that receives a gift.  The most precious gift she has ever been given.  It's hers to give away when she desires to.  This gift is her first kiss.  Her father cautions her to not give it to a stranger but to save it for the man who becomes her husband.

Many suitors attempt to win her heart.  Prince Peacock,  Prince Romance, Prince Treasurechest and many more show her a plethora of desirable things and multitudes of reasons to choose them.  However, she heeds her father's warning and searches the heart of every man and finds not one worthy of her gift.

Finally, despondent, she questions her mother if she will ever find someone special enough, her mother's answer is so profound. " 'Oh, yes, my dear.  I think God will bring a husband to you.  But, if He does not, the kiss will be yours to treasure forever.'  The princess took comfort in that thought, for she knew that God could be trusted, and she cherished the kiss with all that she was."

The next day a young man comes to the castle and requests an audience with the princess.  He had taken notice of her gentle beauty and her purity, that "sparkled like diamonds."  He claims no gold, no means to travel the earth, he's not as strong as many, but he does have one thing he can offer.  He kneels and presents a gift.  HIS kiss, to her, and asks for her hand in marriage.

This story isn't just for our daughters.  Our sons need to know that purity is one of the truest character traits to cherish and search for in a woman.  He needs to value it in his own life as well.  Without self-control and purity of heart in our sons, our daughters will struggle and likely succumb to the devastating loss of their own first kiss and possibly more.

Many of you may be thinking that I'm going a little overboard here.  Think about it.  It's about the heart.  Do we value such a gift as just that?  A gift?  Or is it something to be given freely to anyone that decides to spend a little money on us at the movies?  Is that REALLY what we want to teach our children?  That they aren't special, worth waiting for, worth trusting God for?  Not me.  I made that mistake with myself.  Many times.  Too many times.  That kiss became a "given" after a date.  Expected.  Why?  Was I not special?  Not worth waiting for?  Not worth what my Heavenly Father said I was worth?  Or had I believed a lie?

Can you imagine the passion that would be ignited in a marriage built off of such self-control and patience?  WOW!  I wish mine had been.  A kiss would never be just a "kiss".  It would be a passionate moment, shared forever, everyday.  God can restore, I fully believe that.  BUT!  It doesn't have to be this way.

If you have children, grandchildren, dogs, cats, whatever, READ this book.  It will cause your heart to desire more for the generations to come and hopefully cause you to intercede for them all.

New Year, New Life, New Challenges, New Joys

I have been quite absent.  Things have changed quite a bit since I've returned from our vacation (which still is yet to be blogged). :(  I have now taken on another child to homeschool.  My fabulous niece from New Mexico.  She is a complete joy but still added responsibility.  She came last week and we've been a little scattered getting prepared for her sudden arrival.

I FINALLY was able to upload my new photo editing program, Photoshop Elements 9 (as I will be shortening to PSE9) after needing to spend hours deleting old photos and files, moving old photos and files and generally pulling my hair out to make the necessary room on the drive I have to use.  I had another drive I thought would work but I guess PSE9 decided otherwise :O.  I also purchased a mega texture bundle and ALL the goodies for PSE from Paint the Moon Photography!  I LOVE Annie's work and have been dreaming of the day I would get to use them :D

As you also may know, as soon as I returned I was incredibly privileged to have a baby session with Karson :)  FUN!!!!!!  He was a tad older than would have been best so he didn't sleep as much as I would have liked and was quite the wiggle worm but a WONDERFULLY patient little guy and we had loads of fun.

I have been working diligently on his images and the goal is to have them blogged tonight.  I am finding that playing with the actions and textures is going to be sooooo rewarding!  I just have to pick and choose what images and what things I'll do this time.  Gotta get this done!  Not much time to play.

Here is a little sampling of some fun with the program and a few different textures.  Nope, not Paint the Moon but fun none-the-less :)  This is a quickie cell phone pic going down the highway at 60+ mph?  Not bad once you add a little UMPH to it, lol!!!!

Life lessons in a bowl of breakfast...

I am trying (italicize, bold and STAR this!) to change the way I do things.  I need to eat better, exercise, and de-stress (insert exasperated sigh here).  I decided to try some different grains (instead of bad carb loaded pasta) that I found from HEB.  One such package was bulgar wheat.  Hmmmm..... In my search for better breakfast ideas I thought I'd treat it like oatmeal and make it hot (we play with our food here :D).

I'm a sugar FREAK and therefore I'm also attempting to utilize other means of adding flavor and sweetness to things.  I had some canned plums a friend had given to me and I thought I'd make a plum sauce.  Add a little agave nectar for sweetness and I'd be set.

I opened the can and started to mash up the plums.  What in the world??????  PITS!  There were HUGE pits!  Every single plum had a massive pit in it.  I got so upset.  I didn't have time to deal with pits, grrrrr!  There were probably 15 plums in that can!  What had I gotten myself into?!?!?

I started muttering under my breath how stupid the canning people must be.  I mean really, who wants CANNED plums WITH the pits?!?!?  It's not like you'll be picking up the plums and nibbling around them.  The time it would have taken the factory to de-pit them would have been only seconds compared to how long it was taking me to slog around in the mushy plum mess to search for and eradicate them.  What goobers!  I shouldn't have to deal with pits!  I mean REALLY?!?!?!

 Awww dang :(   Life lesson moment.

Pits ARE the pits!  I hate them.  They cause me stress, they take up my time, they HURT if I'm not paying attention and I bite into one.  Plus, they are down right ugly and just a plan nuisance. Truth moment.  Who am I to think that life should never have any pits?  Even Christ said we would have pits.  In John 16:33 He says, 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

So, we have a choice.  We can stumble upon the pits.  Grumble and complain about them.  Try to find a way to avoid them, refuse them (good luck) and throw a MASSIVE pit-y party (teehee).... OR...  We can remember that they will happen.  Be on the look out for them.  Expect them and move through them.  We can embrace them knowing that He will grow us through them. We can look to Him not focusing on the pits in the bowl.  We can focus on the yummy result instead of the pain we have to go through to get there.

Bulgar wheat cereal with plum sauce was DEFINITELY worth the effort of dealing with the pits.  If I had given up and not bothered with the plums, I never would have experienced the joy of eating them :)

 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4

Artichoke hearts and a cute little pair of red shoes...

These two simple items may not drum up the word "hope" for you but for some, they are the pure essence of it.

My Friday's consist of several things.  Getting up at the crack of dawn, well, shortly there after  (this is a miracle for those that truly know me).  Getting two children dressed, fed, lunches made, books together, water bottles filled,  myself dressed, hopefully fed and out the door.  We are part of a home school group called "HEART Club", Home Educators Activities for Righteous Training.  It is full of wonderful women that love the Lord and allow Him to use them anyway He can.

HEART Club consists of multiple hours in which we have PE, two class hours and now an optional "outdoor" class, graciously offered by the place sponsoring us this year, Camp Peniel.  It's a wonderful Christian camp in a BEAUTIFUL location in the hill country.  It's farther away from home (meaning I have to rise and shine much earlier) but sooo worth it.  It was by God's design and purpose we had to change locations.  I complained inwardly at first, I mean let's be honest, who wants to get up that early?!?  But now.... NO complaints outta this momma!

One of the things that was introduced last year was a class for the moms :)  Normally we are in a room, either as the teacher or a helper.  Now during one of the class hours we get the chance to be edified and blessed.  This Friday was no exception.

It can get heavy sometimes.  We mom's carry many loads and  it's wonderful to have someone come along side you and offer aide.  This class is exactly that.  Individual women, same heart, sharing Jesus and carrying each others burdens.

This particular Friday was going to be a light-hearted time.  We played the "Un-game".  It's not a competition, just answering questions and learning about one another.  One of the ladies read her question and in thinking and hearing her response, I knew immediately I had to blog about this.  Her question read, "I know God loves me because_________________."  As she answered each woman around the circle was able to share as well.  One sweet friend mentioned something that I'm sure many of us have experienced but must continually be reminded of.

There was a time in this woman's life where things were so difficult that they couldn't afford groceries.  It's a hard place to be.  A very humbling place to be.  She loved artichoke hearts and spotted them on the grocery aisle shelf.  She was with her mother-in-law (who was lovingly purchasing groceries for them) when she stopped and made a profound statement.  "One day, my pantry will be full of those little jars."  We all know, when you can't buy milk, eggs and bread, you DON'T purchase luxury items like artichoke hearts.

The next day she came home to find a bag of groceries on the kitchen table.  Within the contents of that package, she discovered a jar of these delicacies.  She questioned her husband about the possibility of her mother-in-law having dropped them off.  He stated that someone from the church had brought the bag by and left it for them.  God gave her a glimpse of hope.  A moment in time where He reached down, put His arms around her and said, "I love you, and I care about you more than you know".  It's those moments when we realize that if He cares enough to give us a jar of artichoke hearts, why would He not care about the bigger things?

For some of us, it's artichoke hearts, for some it's the $5 you find at the bottom of an old purse.  For some, it's finding a pair of cute little red shoes that fit like a glove after searching and searching and not being able to find a single pair anywhere.  It's also when you find those cute little red shoes at a thrift store for only $2 and then remember that you have a credit at said store and they are yours... free of charge.

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 11:13