Recently, a co-worker sent this video to me. I had seen it before, but it was a wonderful reminder of God's love for us. The love that the father has for his son in this video is only an INKLING of the love that our Heavenly Father has for us! Watch this video and enjoy:
My Redeemer Lives- Team Hoyt
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Bounty
I went to Publix yesterday and saved a TON. Thanks to my friend Angel's Faithful and Frugal class, I learned how to use coupons and save a bundle on groceries! Yesterday I spent $67.46 and SAVED $98.28! Woop Woop! Here's what I got...
8 6-packs Mott's applesauce cups
8 6-packs Mott's applesauce cups 8 4-packs Dole fruit cups
10 packages Green Giant vegies
4 4-packs Yoplait Plus yogurts
5 4-packs Yoplait Fiber-One yogurts
2 Smart Balance spreads
1 Smart Balance sticks
6 packages Knorr pasta and rice sides
6 bottles All Small & Mighty detergent
1 8-roll package Sparkle paper towels
1 roll Publix paper towels (the penny item for the day)
4 sweet potatoes
2 packages grape tomatoes
1 head broccoli
1 package strawberries
1/2 gallon chocolate milk
1 package Peppridge Farms stuffing mix
I LOVE saving money!!! :)
Happy Birthday, Sydney Lynne!
Well, our "baby" turned 2 last week. Sooooo hard to believe! We had two birthday celebrations (two for turning 2!). First, we had a Hello Kitty birthday party with friends on the 14th. Here are some pics of the festivities!
The sweet birthday girl.
The sweet birthday girl.
There were lots of Hello Kitty balloons and decorations!
Enjoying some pizza with birthday friends!
The gifts begin...
The BIG hit of the party- the wagon from Grammy and Granddaddy!!
You can never have too much birthday cake!
For Sydney Lynne's actual birthday on the 19th, we got brave and went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time! Needless to say, it was a CELEBRATION! Some pics of the fun!
Happy Birthday, Peeps! Mommy and Daddy love you more than ANYTHING, and we thank God every day for giving you to us!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
I Love You
Tonight my precious angel, Sydney Lynne, said "I love you, Mommy" for the first time! It was SUCH SWEET MUSIC to my ears! Apparently, Todd had been "working" with Sydney to get her to say, "I love you." I guess he was successful!
Earlier this afternoon, I was changing Sydney's diaper, and she was on her phone (the play one) pretending to call Daddy. I said, "Do you want to call Daddy on the real phone?" to which she replied, "Yes!" So, we proceeded to call Todd, and while on the phone I said to Sydney, "Say 'I miss you, Daddy'" which she did! I then said, "Say 'I love you, Daddy,'" and she did that, too! I was amazed (because I didn't know Todd had been trying to get her to say "I love you")!! After we got off the phone with Daddy, we called Ga Ga (my daddy, Granddaddy, Ga Ga for short). Sydney told him she missed him and loved him, too! He was thrilled!! We could hear the excitement in his voice! We tried to call Grammy, but she didn't answer the phone. We talked to her and to Todd's dad later in the evening, and Sydney told them she missed and loved them, too! Everyone was so excited to hear those sweet words from our daughter's mouth!!
When I was rocking Sydney before bed tonight, I told her I loved her (like I do a million times a day- I ALWAYS want her to know her mommy loves her!). She smiled, and I asked, "Can you say 'I love you, Mommy'"? She smiled again and said, "I LOVE YOU, MOMMY!!" My heart just about burst! What a special moment!! I intend to treasure it forever!! I look forward to the day when Sydney can say "I love you" without being asked, but for now I will take it however I can get it!! :)
Earlier this afternoon, I was changing Sydney's diaper, and she was on her phone (the play one) pretending to call Daddy. I said, "Do you want to call Daddy on the real phone?" to which she replied, "Yes!" So, we proceeded to call Todd, and while on the phone I said to Sydney, "Say 'I miss you, Daddy'" which she did! I then said, "Say 'I love you, Daddy,'" and she did that, too! I was amazed (because I didn't know Todd had been trying to get her to say "I love you")!! After we got off the phone with Daddy, we called Ga Ga (my daddy, Granddaddy, Ga Ga for short). Sydney told him she missed him and loved him, too! He was thrilled!! We could hear the excitement in his voice! We tried to call Grammy, but she didn't answer the phone. We talked to her and to Todd's dad later in the evening, and Sydney told them she missed and loved them, too! Everyone was so excited to hear those sweet words from our daughter's mouth!!
When I was rocking Sydney before bed tonight, I told her I loved her (like I do a million times a day- I ALWAYS want her to know her mommy loves her!). She smiled, and I asked, "Can you say 'I love you, Mommy'"? She smiled again and said, "I LOVE YOU, MOMMY!!" My heart just about burst! What a special moment!! I intend to treasure it forever!! I look forward to the day when Sydney can say "I love you" without being asked, but for now I will take it however I can get it!! :)
Friday, March 13, 2009
WOW!
Wow! What an "Aha!" moment I had this morning! Todd and I were out all day yesterday and didn't get the mail in until late last night. This morning I was going through the mail when I saw a card from my sweet friend Natasha who used to work with me at DMA. She and her husband are now out in Las Vegas spreading God's Word to hurting kids all around the country through a Christian ministry called Turning Point. Natasha is one of few people I know who takes the time to send notes of love and encouragement to others. She loves to write notes to people, and you always know that when you receive something from her in the mail, it's going to be special! Today was one of those times when I received something very special from Natasha (I hope you don't mind me sharing this with others!).
Inside Natasha's card there was a sticky note attached to it that said this: "Michelle, I don't know what you'll think about the msg in this card cause I don't know what to think, ha. I wrote the 1st sentence one week ago and after a week of prayer, the Holy Spirit led me as best as I could understand & hear as I wrote & finished this card. May it bless you & speak right to your heart. Love, Natasha."
Well, of course that peaked my curiosity! As I then read the card, this is what it said (the front of the card had these beautiful flowers and the message "You add sweetness to my life"): "Michelle, YOU add sweetness to my life. I was sitting here thinking about you and all the positive qualities you have, but instead of listing them and smothering you in praises, I asked God what He would have me say to you... 'Michelle, you are my daughter whom I love. I hand picked you, chose you and call you by name. There have been trials and hard times in your life and walk with me, but you have persevered, and I am a proud Papa. You are my delight and bring me much joy. There are days that I miss your attention and long for you. Yes, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day, and therefore my yearning grows because I AM a Jealous Lover. It is my desire to speak to you daily, my dear. My love is overwhelming and blankets your home and family, won't you please acknowledge me more? I have much blessing for you- in the Secret Place. It is in our intimacy that I will reveal great and unsearchable things to you. I am pursuing you relentlessly, my bride, won't you please come and meet with me? Daddy God.'"
WOW. Amazing. It's hard to describe how I felt when I read those words. It was like God himself had written that note, and I guess He had since Natasha had listened to the Holy Spirit, and He had given her the words to write. I can't tell you how many times in the past few months, and maybe even years, that I have told myself that I needed to spend more time with God. I get so busy and distracted with my life that I don't take the time to STOP and give God the time that He DESERVES. I will have things on my mind, and I will say to myself, "You know, you could probably figure this out a lot easier if you just stopped, talked to God, and listened to what He has to say to you." Most of the time I continue on my merry way and don't do what I KNOW is the right thing to do. The card from Natasha was just what I needed to remind me of God's love and His desire to spend time with me. May I not take that lightly, and may I give him the attention that He DESERVES.
Inside Natasha's card there was a sticky note attached to it that said this: "Michelle, I don't know what you'll think about the msg in this card cause I don't know what to think, ha. I wrote the 1st sentence one week ago and after a week of prayer, the Holy Spirit led me as best as I could understand & hear as I wrote & finished this card. May it bless you & speak right to your heart. Love, Natasha."
Well, of course that peaked my curiosity! As I then read the card, this is what it said (the front of the card had these beautiful flowers and the message "You add sweetness to my life"): "Michelle, YOU add sweetness to my life. I was sitting here thinking about you and all the positive qualities you have, but instead of listing them and smothering you in praises, I asked God what He would have me say to you... 'Michelle, you are my daughter whom I love. I hand picked you, chose you and call you by name. There have been trials and hard times in your life and walk with me, but you have persevered, and I am a proud Papa. You are my delight and bring me much joy. There are days that I miss your attention and long for you. Yes, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day, and therefore my yearning grows because I AM a Jealous Lover. It is my desire to speak to you daily, my dear. My love is overwhelming and blankets your home and family, won't you please acknowledge me more? I have much blessing for you- in the Secret Place. It is in our intimacy that I will reveal great and unsearchable things to you. I am pursuing you relentlessly, my bride, won't you please come and meet with me? Daddy God.'"
WOW. Amazing. It's hard to describe how I felt when I read those words. It was like God himself had written that note, and I guess He had since Natasha had listened to the Holy Spirit, and He had given her the words to write. I can't tell you how many times in the past few months, and maybe even years, that I have told myself that I needed to spend more time with God. I get so busy and distracted with my life that I don't take the time to STOP and give God the time that He DESERVES. I will have things on my mind, and I will say to myself, "You know, you could probably figure this out a lot easier if you just stopped, talked to God, and listened to what He has to say to you." Most of the time I continue on my merry way and don't do what I KNOW is the right thing to do. The card from Natasha was just what I needed to remind me of God's love and His desire to spend time with me. May I not take that lightly, and may I give him the attention that He DESERVES.
Friday, February 20, 2009
My Dear Friend, Mountain Dew
So, Lent is coming up, and while I am not Catholic, I am thinking about giving up something very precious to me for the Lent season. I think my dear friend, Mountain Dew, needs to leave my body for a while, along with most other sugar. I am waaaaaay too dependent on sugar in my diet, mostly as an energy booster (I know, I know, it's good for a quick high but then you come down hard and fast. I KNOW!!). I don't need the unnecessary calories, and sugar packs pounds on me quicker than anything.
I have always had a major sweet tooth. However, when I was pregnant, I had to give up most sugar, and carbs in general, because I had gestational diabetes. Believe it or not, it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I think that's because I knew it was good for Sydney as well as for myself. I worked with a diabetes specialist who really kept me on track, and Sydney was born as a healthy baby on March 19th, 2007 (almost 2 years ago- YIKES!!).
Just after I gave birth to Sydney, I asked Todd to bring me a Mountain Dew. Mistake #1!! I should have NEVER taken that first sip because now I have a Mountain Dew almost every day. UGH!!! Shortly after I came home from the hospital, Wheat Thins (along with Mountain Dew, of course!) became my choice of snack. Mistake #2!! I lost my baby weight very quickly, but as I started introducing more sugar and carbs into my diet, my weight began to creep back up (I have blogged about this before!!). Now, almost two years later, I have an unhealthy dependance on sugar and carbs, and especially on Mountain Dew (not so much on Wheat Thins, though).
I figure that Lent provides a great opportunity for me to try and give up sugar, and more specifically Mountain Dew, in my diet. I'm not fooling myself into thinking it will be easy because it's "only for 40 days." Believe me, it will only be by blood, sweat, and tears that I will be able to do this!! Maybe if I blog about it along the way I will be held more accountable. If I am successful at the whole Lent thing, then maybe I will give up Mountain Dew, and most other sugars and carbs, for good. We will have to wait and see!!
Have you ever give up anything for Lent? If so, how did you do it? Did you stick with it once Lent was over??
I have always had a major sweet tooth. However, when I was pregnant, I had to give up most sugar, and carbs in general, because I had gestational diabetes. Believe it or not, it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I think that's because I knew it was good for Sydney as well as for myself. I worked with a diabetes specialist who really kept me on track, and Sydney was born as a healthy baby on March 19th, 2007 (almost 2 years ago- YIKES!!).
Just after I gave birth to Sydney, I asked Todd to bring me a Mountain Dew. Mistake #1!! I should have NEVER taken that first sip because now I have a Mountain Dew almost every day. UGH!!! Shortly after I came home from the hospital, Wheat Thins (along with Mountain Dew, of course!) became my choice of snack. Mistake #2!! I lost my baby weight very quickly, but as I started introducing more sugar and carbs into my diet, my weight began to creep back up (I have blogged about this before!!). Now, almost two years later, I have an unhealthy dependance on sugar and carbs, and especially on Mountain Dew (not so much on Wheat Thins, though).
I figure that Lent provides a great opportunity for me to try and give up sugar, and more specifically Mountain Dew, in my diet. I'm not fooling myself into thinking it will be easy because it's "only for 40 days." Believe me, it will only be by blood, sweat, and tears that I will be able to do this!! Maybe if I blog about it along the way I will be held more accountable. If I am successful at the whole Lent thing, then maybe I will give up Mountain Dew, and most other sugars and carbs, for good. We will have to wait and see!!
Have you ever give up anything for Lent? If so, how did you do it? Did you stick with it once Lent was over??
Monday, February 16, 2009
Goose Bumps
Do you ever have experiences with your children that give you goose bumps? I had an experience like that with Sydney tonight. We were riding in the car listening to my new Avalon CD. Avalon is one of my all-time favorite Christian groups, and their new CD is of their Greatest Hits. Each song gives me chills, and I loooooove listening to Avalon for their lyrical and musical talents!
Tonight as Sydney and I were riding in the car listening to Avalon, I had the radio cranked up LOUD. I was singing my heart out as my daughter was clapping, singing, and head banging in the back seat (she likes to do that!). Each time a song would end, Sydney would say, "More, more!" and I would tell her that another song was about to begin. She and I were having such a great time singing and worshiping together!
On Avalon's new Greatest Hits CD, there is one new release called Still My God. When I heard this song, the lyrics spoke VOLUMES to my heart. Here is what the song said:
Up and down
Like the tide is moving in and out
We're in motion
And the ocean pulls us under
And even there You're found
You never change
So I will say
If I'm standing on the mountain
Or drowning in the sea
If I am filled with hope or crying out for mercy
If I'm singing hallelujah
Or scared to make a sound
When I am learning how to walk or when I'm falling down
I'm saying
You are still my God
Jesus, you are still my God
In a world
Where so much seems uncertain
You remain both for the strong and broken
No matter where we are
You are never far
And nothing changes who You are
You were
You are
You will be forever
As I heard this song and began to sing along in praise to God, I looked in the back seat, and Sydney was doing the same. She was clapping and singing louder than I was!! It was such a precious and heart-felt moment for me. To share my love for God with my child who means the world to me, to show her God's love as she grows into the person He desires her to be, is the MOST IMPORTANT thing I can do as her mother. I am by noooo means a perfect mom, and I get a lot of things wrong. BUT if I can demonstrate my love for God to my daughter, and if she can grow to love Him as her Savior, then I have done my job as her mother. There is NO greater thing I can do for her.
My prayer for Sydney is that she will have a child-like faith in God that will deepen throughout her life. May she always know how much God loves her through the ups and downs of life, and may He always be Still My God to her!
Tonight as Sydney and I were riding in the car listening to Avalon, I had the radio cranked up LOUD. I was singing my heart out as my daughter was clapping, singing, and head banging in the back seat (she likes to do that!). Each time a song would end, Sydney would say, "More, more!" and I would tell her that another song was about to begin. She and I were having such a great time singing and worshiping together!
On Avalon's new Greatest Hits CD, there is one new release called Still My God. When I heard this song, the lyrics spoke VOLUMES to my heart. Here is what the song said:
Up and down
Like the tide is moving in and out
We're in motion
And the ocean pulls us under
And even there You're found
You never change
So I will say
If I'm standing on the mountain
Or drowning in the sea
If I am filled with hope or crying out for mercy
If I'm singing hallelujah
Or scared to make a sound
When I am learning how to walk or when I'm falling down
I'm saying
You are still my God
Jesus, you are still my God
In a world
Where so much seems uncertain
You remain both for the strong and broken
No matter where we are
You are never far
And nothing changes who You are
You were
You are
You will be forever
As I heard this song and began to sing along in praise to God, I looked in the back seat, and Sydney was doing the same. She was clapping and singing louder than I was!! It was such a precious and heart-felt moment for me. To share my love for God with my child who means the world to me, to show her God's love as she grows into the person He desires her to be, is the MOST IMPORTANT thing I can do as her mother. I am by noooo means a perfect mom, and I get a lot of things wrong. BUT if I can demonstrate my love for God to my daughter, and if she can grow to love Him as her Savior, then I have done my job as her mother. There is NO greater thing I can do for her.
My prayer for Sydney is that she will have a child-like faith in God that will deepen throughout her life. May she always know how much God loves her through the ups and downs of life, and may He always be Still My God to her!
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