I Tried...

I tried. I really did. I tried to come up with something other than tiny-town to blog about...but I just can't. It's weighing so heavily on my heart today...


Ya'll know I love tiny town... I can't explain it, but I do.


After this post, I've been feeling really, really good about what God's gonna do. Even after some set backs, I've still found hope. And then, last night, someone mentioned that maybe FEMA would decide to declare tiny-town, "not a town." And at just the mention of it, my balloon of hope was popped.


And I realized that I was allowing the fear of man to overcome my hope and trust in what God is doing. Note to self: Quit forgetting that FEMA is NOT bigger than my God.


This morning my mom called and shared this article about tiny-town from the newspaper. I read it, and again, that sick feeling overwhelmed me...which brought me to my knees...to the only one who has any control over anything. I want His will. I want to trust Him, even when all the circumstances around me seem to go in another direction. I need His wisdom, comfort, and peace that passes all understanding. I want that unfailing faith, that even when absolutely everything indicates hopelessness, it's the faith that holds steady, unwavering.


I am still believing that He has mighty plans for tiny-town and for our little church...I feel it deep inside my spirit. But doubt so easily wants to creep in...it is a constant battle to replace the doubt with truth.


Today, again, I'm remembering where my help comes from...and praying for the opportunity to share with those in tiny-town who may not have that same hope...I so want them to know that they have a heavenly Father who wants to carry this huge burden for them, that they're not alone...

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Dumbness

I embarked on a series of dumb moves yesterday, regarding my blog. I got the wild idea to get a new free layout. Which is a fantastic idea, if you actually have the skills to accomplish it...I however, do not, and it ended up costing me hours of my life, just to get back my widgets (techi blog term) and same layout. In the process, I also deleted my cute header...but Shell saved the day (again)!



Since I had wasted so much time getting my old stuff back, I also decided to add some new stuff too...which I frankly have no idea how it works, but is doing a fantastic job of junkin' up my page ;) From now on, I'm leaving the blog layouts to the professionals. So, if you hear of any free blog layout giveaways, let me know...I'll totally register!

Oh yeah...this is what my 3 year old was cooking-up while his mommy was on the computer...
Gotta remember to hide that (tampon) box...it's not the first time he's opened them all up...you can bet I'm saving this one for just the right girl someday :)

My blog fiasco yesterday caused me to drink an (extra) excessive amount of caffeine. Last night I laid in bed (forever) trying to come up with some good post ideas...nothing. NOTHING?!? But I did start making a mental list of words that I overuse on my blog & comments...

• totally
• cute
• LOVE
• so
• adorable
• fantastic
• great
• ...
• :)

I think that about covers it. I know it's bad when I start to annoy myself with those words. My vocabulary standard is very, very low...and I'm still annoyed. I need some new phrases...new words of encouragement to share. I've got nothing.

I need your help. Need some new words. Help me.

In real life...I overuse words too. I say Good Grief! all the time...for everything. I'm also notorious for the phrases "It'll be fine" "It'll work out" "Good enough."

The phrases I use with my kids should be a post of its own...the last few days is has been

• turn the hose OFF!!!!
• go to your bed until I tell you to come down.
• stop touching each other...don't even look at each other.
• no you can't have a snack, you just ATE.
• Jake, you go get the diaper and leave Odie alone.

Can you tell we're adjusting to summer vacation!?! *smiles* OK, let me have it...what are you saying?

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The One Thing...

First: I am still alive. Running last night did not kill me...felt like it was...but I am still here. You should know, that after only a 1/2 mile, my lungs felt like they were actually on fire in my chest. How is it that my body can forget that it can run, so quickly!?! It really did feel good to get back out there though.


Also: I'm trying a new blogroll thing-a-ma-jig(that's the techi word for it). I tried to get everyone that was on my old blogroll onto this new one, if for some reason (not purposely) you didn't get on there please let me know so I can fix it.

On to the good stuff...

I have learned so, so much the past few weeks, but it all boils down to one concept.

Drum roll please.... The only thing in my life that NEVER changes is God.

Everything and everyone else is always changing. Nothing is a guarantee...only Him. It's something I have known for some time...but now...I get it...I so get it. And I'm so thankful for the peace that brings me...indescribable. And...I just so happen to have a song about it...imagine that :) It's been ministering to me in a new way... Enjoy!




It happens to be in karaoke style...so I expect ya'll to grab a hairbrush-microphone and sing your hearts out :) I know my friend Shell will... *wink*

Malachi 3:6 "I the Lord do not change..."

Psalm 136 (really ya gotta read the whole thing, but here's a start :)

v1 " Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, His love endures forever...

PS - Mama Belle told me what people say about ladies who wear red shoes *smiles* I was gonna post it, until my hubby got all pastoral and told me it may be inappropriate...so I'm gonna practice me some submission and just tell you if you email me *wink, wink*

I can assure you though, that what they say...so not true for me...I happen to like me some!

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Ummm

It's most definitely a random updates kinda day.

• We are at home with electricity and air conditioning, but there is still no gas in tiny-town, which for us means no stove/oven (let's face it I don't use the oven all that much anyways, except I do miss the frozen pizzas...) or warm water. Even when the gas is turned back on...I'm not sure our water heater is gonna wanna work after being submerged in 3 feet of water, but what do I know ;)


• The church, however, has an electric water heater, so this morning, I went over and washed my hair in the sink...all the while adding it to Pastors' wives list...more on that tomorrow.


• Basement: 1/2 dry, other half is 4 inches deep...not quite level down there :) We can't do all the fun bleach clean up until the water level goes down enough for it to stop seeping in through the walls...a fantastic bleach party is in the works though :)


• Thankfully, due to the the dehumidifier and 20 gallons of febreeze, my house is not too smelly...wish I could say the same for tiny-town.


• Tonight my friend Billie and I are going to start running again...we've taken a 3 week break due to tornado/flooding...I think I will die...if I do not post tomorrow, it is because I died on her gravel road from a heart attack.


• I always thought my house would stay cleaner if we just weren't in it so much...that was wrong...it's a total disaster.


• Better get cleaning...

• Oh, one last thing...yesterday, Noah was reading a Father's day card (he's just learning to read) anyways, he got to the word "FATHER" and sounded it out FAT-HER...that amused me for hours :)

Happy Monday Bloggy Friends!

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I Mean It...

I could go on and on about him...but ya'll, some of that stuff is private :) so I'm gonna sum it up in one statement:

I want our boys to grow up to be just like him.

He is one of the greatest blessings God has given me.


Happy Father's Day!

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Little Bit Crusty

I use the term "crusty" to describe myself when I've not showered or gotten ready for the day(s). Do ya'll use this word like that or is just me?!?






I turned 30 in December. No big deal, I was totally fine with it. Until today, that is. I walked by a picture that sits on a shelf in our living room and actually stopped to look at it.



It's a pic from the 4th of July...so I started to reminisce about that day the pic was taken...two years ago. All the while thinking to myself how YOUNG I looked...then it hit me! That pic is not from two years ago, it is from LAST 4th of July!!! What the heck happened to me this year?!?




OK, so I know what happened...but out of all the natural disasters, I'm gonna blame it on the fact that since I turned 30, I've probably washed my make-up off before bed, like 10 times. *gasp* (by the way, this is just between you and me...do NOT tell my Arbonne friend)

So bloggy friends, I'm off to wash my make-up off...wait...I didn't put any on today because it just doesn't go with the crustiness of my tiny-town right now...but I'll wash and moisturize anyways! And, if you happen to have a miracle in a bottle that is also inexpensive, I'm all ears!

Side note: My short hair this year...WAY BETTER...I'm not a long hair girl, doesn't fit my personality...at least that's my theory for now.

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It's a Trend...

First things first: Black rubber boots are now the staple fashion accessory in

tiny-town...and most of the rest of my state, for that matter. This is me and my little bro totally making the boots work for us before heading out to clean up sludgy stuff. Be glad that my vocabulary is so small, because I can't come up with words to describe to you the smell...give me time, it will come :)





The last time I drove into tiny-town I had a slight melt-down in my van. You know the kind...it involves hiccup-like stuff and lots of snot. (no need to thank me for the visual) BUT, tonight as I drove back in, I heard God speak to my heart.

It was clear.

He whispered, "I know it will never be how it was...watch me make it even better! I am the creator of everything, do you think restoring tiny-town to 1000 times greater is not within my power?!?"

And then I sobbed for a new reason...I heard Him. And I believe Him. He reminded me where my help comes from...and it's not FEMA...it's the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Period.

I knew, three years ago, when we began to hear His whisper directing us to tiny-town, that He had big stuff in store. Today, I can see some of it, and I am still looking with eager anticipation for what He has next.

I wanna Praise Him in this storm because He is with us. Someone left me the words to this song in my comments, and my friend Beth reminded me of it here. Go listen... and whatever your storm happens to be, run to Him.

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