POLLUTION in the mind!

Religion that our God accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world"
James 1:27

I have read this verse countless times before and I must have checked out by the time I got to the last eight words. KEEP ONESELF FROM BEING POLLUTED BY THE WORLD! I realize that I don't have to go into any long speech about what is happening in our world, everyday I feel more disgusted when I turn on the tv, the radio, look at magazines in the checkout aisle...we are being pulled in every direction. I must admit, I love evening tv, a few reality shows, some sitcoms, I love some magazines that give some good celebrity gossip. The Lord has really been speaking to me about this. What am I teaching my kids? What am I putting in my mind? What am I filling my time with? I want this trash to be repulsive to me. I want to know what Christ meant when He said to be "in the world" but not "of this world" I am seeing how this stuff can be crushing to our spiritual development. In no way am I saying we all need to get rid of our tv's and never listen to anything that is "secular" again. I am saying MY heart has become immune to MUCH of this. Not even realizing what I am putting in my living room and into the ears of our children. We were all wired to think about something BIGGER and BETTER than ourselves. The world is not where we need to be looking.

I have got to bring my mind and heart into the presence of GOD, not just when I have time to sit down and focus, but ALL THE TIME! It is CONSTANT! I want an incredible life-giving relationship with our Creator. I want a mind that is focused on HIM daily, hourly and minute by minute.


2Timothy 3:1-5
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

My awesome brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law

treated Haley to a wonderful trip to Disneyland this past week.

I thought this was a precious picture of the three of them.

WE HAD A BLAST!!! ; )

I'm Going to....

DISNEYLAND!!!!!

Yes, we are headed to the magic kingdom!

Favorite Friday

I was so happy when OPI went from being sold only in salons to being sold in most drugstores. I found my latest color at Kmart. They are a little more pricey than the Wet-N-Wild bottle you can pick up for a couple bucks. But OPI lasts forever and I have never had a color dry out on me. OPI India Collection is my all time favorite OPI colors. Maybe it's just the names of the colors that keep drawing me back to these $8 bottles. The I'm India Mood for Love (hot pink) and Monsooner or Later (orange red)are the two colors I've had on this summer! I love these colors on tan feet. For my next pedicure, I am going to try Siberian Nights, a dark indigo color. Now, I need to get a side job to so I can get weekly pedicures ; )

My Thankful List.... Cont.

I am thankful for:


36. SUN, SUN, SUN

37. That I can trust God for the unknown

38. Our trampoline

39. Scrapbooking with Haley

40. Running with Molly

41. Safety and protection for my family while traveling

42. I'm going to Grandma's house

43. Our trip to LA coming up

44. HE knows our future

45. Summer

A Fun MEME

Found this meme at Lots of Scotts and had to join in.....

What were you doing ten years ago? I had a 6 year-old, 3 year-old and I was very pregnant with my last bambino. I was teaching third grade in southern California at a year-round school.


Favorite Snack: Nuts, chips, crackers, cheese, popcorn, etc ; )

To Do List: I make to do lists at work when I'm teaching but rarely use them at home. Darren makes a to do list for everything he does and I like to make fun of that ; )

Jobs I Have Had: Good ol Wendy's, homeschooled a friends kids, Mental Health Depart. Teacher,

Places I have lived: Arizona, Ohio, California, Oregon


Bad Habits:
1. I often procrastinate
2. I hate talking on the phone and usually don't call people back in a timely manner
3. I eat after 6:00pm
4. I eat more than my 5'1 frame should
5. I should turn my tv and computer off more than I do

5 Random Things People May Not Know;
1. I am a pretty lame cook
2. I don't go to bed with a messy house (very often) I said messy not CLEAN
3. I always have polish on my toes
4. I would NEVER fly in a small plane
5. I HATE my nose being pinched..so don't try it

CD's I would Want if I were Stranded on an Island; Any Third Day, Chris Tomlin, Misty Edwards, Hillsong, basically any worship song

What I'd Do if I were a Billionare: Pay off our debts, share with family, donate to the Ronald McDonald House, give to the church and missions, set my kids up for college, TRAVEL!!!



Your Turn!

What Happens...

This is what happens at our house when mom says

turn off the TV. I found them outside making music videos!

Doves Eyes

Thou hast 'doves' eyes' (Song of Solomon, 1:15).

I love Mondays! Monday are my Bible Study days and I just love going through the Song of Solomon. I can't begin to explain all that I have learned in this short time. I love this description of a conversation between Christ and his church and to us, individually. We have been focusing on the references this book gives to having dove's eyes; DOVE"S EYES THAT STAY FOCUSED ON ONE THING! Not distracted by things around them. no peripheral vision, just looking at one thing.

I know there is so much more symbolism when referring to doves, for example, purity, new beginning, etc. but lately I have been trying to focus on having "doves eyes" that only focus on one thing. THE KING! Unrestricted devotion for only HIM!

I wanted to end with a section of this article I read by Bob Sorge from the Oasis House Ministries. I have had to remind myself so often lately, that I will stand despite of but more importantly, I will stand BECAUSE OF...

Standing There by Bob Sorge

To stand, despite the warfare; to stand, despite the resistance; to stand, despite the hassles; to stand, despite weariness; to stand, despite distresses; to stand, despite the temptations; to stand, despite personal failure and collapse; to stand, despite the grief; to stand, despite the loneliness; to stand, even when chained; just to stand!

To stand, because of the cross; to stand, because of the Lamb; to stand, because of His affections; to stand, because of His acceptance; to stand, because of His mighty power within; to stand, because of fountains of living water flowing from the innermost being; to stand, because of His surpassing beauty and greatness; to stand, because of His eternal purpose; to stand, because of His everlasting mercies; to stand, because of love!

To Stand with Dove's Eyes!

Now pause the music on the sidebar and listen to Dove's Eyes

A little of our summer...so far

Favorite Friday

This could really be saved for a Wordless Wednesday but these are my FAVORITE guys ever and I just love this picture and I just love these guys! Darren and I are so blessed to have such a way cool, sweet son. He loves being with us and especially spending time with his dad. This picture was taken just a few days ago on a quick trip to Sunriver. It was an awesome get-away and we know that we don't have too many family vacations left with this teenager! They sort of look like brothers here.....which make my soon to be 40 year-old husband happy, I'm sure!
Oh and I'm not sure why Tim is sitting like that.....he could be doing a number of things..ha!

This summer we have really been encouraging the kids to read..(I know, I sound like a teacher) So, in June, I took them to the library and we stocked up on some summer reading material. I try not to push my passion onto my kids but Reading is not a Passion, it's a way of life!!!!
{Sidenote: I was so happy the other day when I came home from grocery shopping and my 16 year-old left me a note saying he took his sisters to the library!!!! Truth be told, they had no money to do anything else but check out free movies and books..; }


In June, I bought each of them a new devotional book and I did the whole mom speech about not spending the entire summer in front of the tv or computer and "carving" out time for devotions. Blah blah blah, is what I am sure they heard.


Last week, when Haley's bottom had actually taken root on the couch, I told her it was time to start the day, (since it was almost lunch time) and she needed to get dressed, maybe read her devotion book and head outside to play. She soon disappeared for a total of 4 minutes, came back to me said she was done reading and was going outside. When I questioned her about her super fast reading skills, the truth came out, she had decided to read one of her older Bible books, this what my nine year old was reading.



This is a cute book......if you are FIVE!! Of course, being who I am, I looked at this as a "teaching moment" and quickly gave her a "speech" on how she is ready for more "solid food" and not "milk" and needs to be reading more than just this little book.

She thought that analogy was the funniest thing she had ever heard and as she skipped off to play on the trampoline, I heard her say, "Mom, today I just want a little milk" Like all loving mom's would do, I yelled back, "Lazy whimp" I don't normally call my children such encouraging names but this situation called for some TRUTH!

I wonder how many times God says that to me when I am busy, in a hurry or want to take the easy way out.....I have often thought....Let's see, what verse can I read today to "hold me over" I know we serve a loving, compassionate, understanding God, but I do believe HE does give that spiritual kick, nudging, push, call it what you want...telling right from wrong.
Hebrews 5:14 (the message)

THANKS

I love this city

Taken while driving across a bridge....

all survived!

31. Berry Smoothies (I had today)

32. Bike rides

33. Pumpkin Scones (even in the summer)

34. Blueberries and vanilla ice cream

35. early summer mornings on the back deck

"Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name..."
~Ps. 105:1

A perfect Saturday:

*Breakfast with a friend I haven't seen in months

*Scrapbooking by myself

*Picking Blueberries with a family from church

*Meeting up with another friend

and taking a Saturday drive in my dad's porche....

(who is out of town and let me borrow it ; )

* Ending the day with a "homemade" meal from Subway with my family

Darren had a fishing tournament today and all three kids had plans...so what's a mom to do? Clean house, make dinner...catch up on life, nah! It was such a beautiful, sunny, 95 degree day. That's not super common in Oregon! We are now feasting on strawberries and fresh picked blueberries. I LOVE Saturdays!

Favorite Friday

LOVE SPELL

by Victoria Secret

My daughter Molly got me hooked on this lotion. She is not big into "smelly" lotions or perfumes and pretty much sticks to her Nivea, so when she came home with this a few weeks ago I HAD to borrow it.
It has such a clean, light, floral smell! I MUST have my own bottle. I'm sure she loves having a mom that "steals" her things but hey, I love her taste!
She has now worries about me stealing her clothes, I don't borrow her outfits.......I let her sister do that ; )

A Good Read and a Good Reminder.....

I don't have much time during the school year for fun, relaxing reading. I usually stick to my Bible and the latest study I am working through at that time. Between school, sports, church and life in general, I don't have the time to read anything else. But when summer comes I am always looking for something to "get lost" in and just recline on my swing and read the day away....ok, I don't have time even in the summer to read the day away...but almost ; ) My friend, Jocelyn loaned me a series by Terri Blackstock, called the Newpointe 911 series. I just finished the fifth and final book of the series. I have never been hooked on a series before. Usually, by the time I finish a book, I am ready to move on to a new author and different style..I get bored easy but this series is never ending when it comes to suspense and holding the reader's attention. You can check the books and a summary on each chapter here.

When I woke up thismorning, I noticed I had a voice message. It was from a dear, Godly friend, saying that she was thinking of me and had some scripture she wanted to read to me. The passage is a pinnacle verse in the Bible but such a great reminder of WHO holds our future.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.(NIV)


Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. (the message)


Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (new living translation)

God is so good! He constantly reminds me through precious friends that HE LOVE ME! What a sweet blessing that phone call was to me!

TRUST HIM

ALWAYS

SEEK HIM

EVERYDAY

ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

WITH CEASING

LISTEN FOR HIM

and HE WILL PAVE THE WAY!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

Molly "dancing" in the water.

It happened to be storming on and off the day

we were there but it did stop long enough

for the kids to play in the water for a little while

Back from Vaca!

We are back from a fun trip to San Antonio! I have so much to share but right now I am swamped in laundry, mail and a good book.....must go on back deck and read ; ) But for now here is picture of the riverwalk where we spent alot of time during our trip.

Oh, I can't forget to mention our LONG, LONG layover in San Jose and our great friend Eric picking us up and taking us to

IN-N-OUT...what a great way to end vacation!