Archive for May, 2010

Overwhelmed

Published May 27, 2010 Faith , Friends , God Lessons 6 Comments

(I tried to think of a photo that depicts stress, and I remembered the day Caleb had his first hair cut. I think this is the only picture I have of either of my children crying. I didn’t want a bunch of pictures reminding me of unhappy moments. I’m thankful mental pictures fade over time.)

Last week I started to feel overwhelmed. A lot of things were piling up. One of my children has been dealing with much anxiety. The death of a friend. Lots of extra activities and volunteering at school. Feeling chronically behind in all my chores and to-do tasks because of our sick April. Trying to be all things to all people. And a few other things.

God reminded me that I can handle all these things. Not because I’m Wonder Woman. But because His grace and power enables me to deal with everything that comes my way, IF I give them to Him and stop trying to solve problems by myself. Did I listen to Him? Yes. Did I allow His gentle reminder to sink into my heart? No. I just kept plugging along, pretending I was fine, and WHAM, I had a meltdown on Tuesday.

I prayed. I sent a message to a friend, and I asked her to pray. I thought I was going to be okay. But then more stress was dumped on me, and I felt helpless. I talked to Kevin after the kids went to bed, and I just cried everything out. Nothing like a good cry to relieve stress.

The next day? I was a different person. Happy, calm, secure. The only explanation is God. I didn’t come up with some grand solution to all my problems. I just knew everything was going to be okay. I knew God has all the answers, and little by little, He will give me the guidance I need to deal with all the unexpected circumstances that pop up.

Thank you to Kevin and TZ for praying for me. I was in the place where the only thing I could think to say was, “Help me, Jesus.” So I know your words moved the heart of God. Thank you for speaking to Him for me.

“Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

“weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:15

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” John 16:33 (AMP)

Winners!! (and tidbits)

Published May 21, 2010 Blogging , Books , Friends , Giveaways 2 Comments

Thank you to everyone who celebrated my blog’s two-year milestone with me this week! I had fun doing the giveaway! I sent your names to random.org last night, and they chose Rachel and Jessica as the winners! Congrats, friends!

Rachel, I’ll email the Barnes & Noble gift certificate to you. Jessica, please send me your address, and I’ll mail the book to you. Happy reading, ladies!

This has been a busy week with some challenges, but God is good, and He continues to lead and guide us. He made a promise to his children to hold their right hand and walk with them through everything, and He has kept His promise to me. (Isaiah 41:13)

Before I go, I wanted to share a few tidbits about my blog since this week is all about my baby. If you haven’t read the history of my blog, it’s right here. In the first year, I only wrote 31 posts. In the last 12 months, I posted 85 times. I would love to post every day, but I’m still learning how to keep everything balanced in my life. It’s been a good learning experience!

Thanks again for joining me on this journey…have a great weekend!

Second Blogiversary and First Giveaway

Published May 18, 2010 Blogging , Books , Friends , Giveaways 13 Comments

My blog was born two years ago today!

Until about a month ago, I had never heard of blogiversaries. I was hopping around the blogosphere, and I noticed some blogs had countdowns to their blogiversaries. When you spend a lot of time on your blog, it does become like a baby to you, so why not celebrate its birthday?! It’s always fun to find new reasons to celebrate.

So I’m having my own little blogiversary party this week! Several of you have spoken to me and commented and sent encouraging messages and emails about my blog adventure, and you have blessed me! Thank you! I have had a blast with this thing!

To celebrate and to say thank you and to share the love, I’m doing my first giveaway!

Because I love books, I’m giving away…

A $20 online gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.com

and

Daisy Chain by Mary E. DeMuth (scroll down to read a description of the book)

To enter, post a message about the party on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, or email. You could write something like, “Check out my friend Lisa’s blog at www.fulfillingmypurpose.com. She’s doing a cool Barnes and Noble giveaway this week!”

Then come back here, and leave a comment, telling me you posted a message to a bunch of your friends.

On Thursday night, www.random.org will choose two winners, and I’ll let you know who wins on Friday. :-)

I received this book last year as a gift from Zondervan at a writer’s conference. (I attended a session by the author.) Since I rarely read fiction, and it has been sitting on my dresser, I would love to give it to someone who enjoys fiction.

Here’s the back cover copy:

“A picture-perfect small town hides more secrets than the curved petals of a blood red rose. In the summer of 1977, innocent young Daisy Chance goes missing. Fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault.

“As Jed follows the trail of clues Daisy left behind, he traces the path of pain hidden in his own family as well. When Jed’s carefully constructed world comes crashing down, will he dare to find hope? Or will his guilt crush him forever? Haunted by Daisy’s memory and pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis, this achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story brings to life God’s sometimes confusing but always present redemption.

“Mary DeMuth loves to write about turning trials to triumph. Her debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs, was a Christy Award finalist. Both it and its sequel, Wishing On Dandelions, were finalists for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year. Mary’s nonfiction books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God, Building the Christian Family You Never Had, and Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture. Mary recently moved back to Texas with her husband, Patrick, and their three children, after spending two and a half years planting a church in southern France.”

Saying Good-bye

Published May 15, 2010 Faith , Friends Leave a Comment

A good friend of mine from high school passed away on Wednesday. Kenny was 34 years old. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I am praying for them.

I’m disappointed I won’t be able to make the 800-mile trip for the funeral, but I’m thankful I was able to re-connect with Kenny through Facebook over the last several months.

This difficult situation reminds me how life is fleeting. None of us is promised tomorrow.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

I’m grateful there is hope beyond this life. To all who receive Christ and believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) …if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good-bye, Kenny. Thank you for being a true friend. See ya on the other side.

Giddyup

Published May 14, 2010 Family , POTD Leave a Comment

Big day for Chel-Chel. She had her first school field trip–a horse farm. First time brushing a horse and petting a horse and riding a horse. She also fed goats and chickens–good times! She voiced her opinions about the delightful smells that chickens and horses produce, but other than that she did great!

To My Mom

Published May 9, 2010 Family , POTD 1 Comment

Mom,

Thank you for working so I could go to college.

Thank you for spending hundreds of hours on the phone listening to me talk (and blubber) about my problems.

Thank you for not holding on to me tightly. You let me fly away and pursue my dreams far from home.

Thank you for being (very) patient with me as God refines my character.

Thank you for modeling perseverance and faithfulness in difficult situations.

Thank you for being the wonderful and amazing Gramma V to Caleb and Chelsea.

Thank you for introducing me to Jesus and telling me how I could be His friend. Without Him, I would be on a path to eternal darkness. With Him, I have the only thing that matters in life.

Thank you for being my Mom.

With a heart full of love,
Lisa

My Heart is Melting

Published May 7, 2010 Family , POTD 3 Comments

I know it is Mother’s Day weekend, but I snapped this picture last night, and my heart melted into a puddle on the floor.

The man I love, holding a precious jewel. There’s just something about daddies and their little girls.

Our baby isn’t a baby anymore. I can’t even pick her up and hold her like this anymore. Well, I can, but then I can’t walk for three days!

Chelsea’s trip to the ER a couple of weeks ago gave me a much-needed jolt out of complacency. I have cherished every moment with her since.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

Fluoride-free Toothpaste

Published May 6, 2010 Family , Health , Natural Living 14 Comments

A few weeks ago I was thinking about our toothpaste and all the chemicals in it. I have made the switch to plant-based, natural shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lipstick, and lotion, and I thought I better start looking for a natural toothpaste.

Then my friend Carra wrote two posts (here and here) about natural toothpaste and the dangers of fluoride. I started doing some research on fluoride, and I was shocked! Did you know it is actually poison (some is derived from hazardous industrial waste)? Ever notice how your toothpaste label says to call the Poison Control Center if you swallow some?

I checked my local water system website, and my city fluoridates our water. There’s fluoride in our toothpaste. Our kids’ flossers have fluoride on them. Some bottled water has fluoride in it. And then there’s the fluoride that our dentist paints on my kids’ teeth every six months. Yikes! Fluoride overload! Not good.

Based on my research, evidence does not support the proposed benefits of fluoridated water. It obviously hasn’t helped us much–Caleb has already had four cavities!

I need to do a bit more research, but I am leaning toward using a fluoride-free toothpaste. Carra uses Xyliwhite. If anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know.

Here are some links I found interesting:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/fluoride-facts.htm

http://atlaschiro.com/great_stuff/fluoride_research/

http://www.mercola.com/article/links/fluoride_links.htm

And while I am on the natural topic, I am also researching natural sunblock at www.ewg.org. If anyone has found a natural sunblock that works well (other than long-sleeved shirts and pants), please leave a comment and let me know.

Have a great Thursday!

I Heart Flowers

Published May 3, 2010 Nature , POTD 1 Comment

Our Encore Azaleas bloomed a couple of weeks ago. (Do you like the new blog header?) They bloom a few weeks after regular azaleas, but they bloom three times a year, so it’s a welcome trade-off.

I took a few more pictures of my pansies because they won’t last much longer. Pansies make me happy.

Twin sisters.

My grandmother was a wonderful gardener. I’m sure I inherited my love of flowers from her.

Eating Less Meat

Published May 1, 2010 Food , Health , POTD , Recipes 7 Comments

I cook every night because I like to eat real food (food that is free of artificial colors, flavors, additives, and preservatives). The more I learn about the meat industry, the more skeptical I am of meat. I like to know where my meat is coming from, and when you go out to eat you don’t know where that meat came from or what’s in it.

Becoming a vegetarian is not my goal, but I am trying to serve more meatless dinners to my family. Eating less meat will make your grocery budget (and your body) happy.

Right now, we eat 1-2 meatless dinners each week. I’d like to increase that to 2-3 each week. Here’s what my typical meal plan looks like for the week:

  • We eat beef once a week. [edit: Grass-fed beef is better for you. See the comments.]
  • We try to eat fish once a week.
  • Our meatless dinners are either a soup, a pasta dish, or a cheese (and mushroom) pizza.
  • The rest of the week we eat chicken and ground turkey (about once a month we will have pork).

This is one of our new favorite salads. (Sorry for the blurry picture.) The beans and pasta make it hearty enough for a dinner. Sometimes I serve it with rice or couscous and rolls.

Greek Pasta Salad

1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans (white kidney beans), drained and rinsed
1 small pack of grape tomatoes (about a pint)
2 cups cooked penne pasta
bunch of romaine lettuce (about 9 oz.), shredded
1/2 cup reduced-fat olive oil vinaigrette (or reduced-fat italian dressing)

Adapted from Cooking Light 5 Ingredient 15 Minute Cookbook

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