Pom Poms and Paul.

I was studying for the Wednesday Night Teen lesson titled The Amazing Race. Isn't this race we are running amazing! The teens needed a lesson on encouragement because let's face it, everyone, every now and again (ok, MWF, for me, I won't lie!) needs a cheerleader.  Once the lesson was penned, I applied it to my race.  We need cheer.  Paul was THE Cheer Captain I tell you. NCA girls got nothin' on him. He cheered on Timothy and cheered on Timothy.  Keep on keeping on Timmy! Get it done! You got this! God's got you. In the dark moments from dark places, Paul cheered. It wasn't like he was sitting on some park bench enjoying the view, texting Tim, while sipping from his favorite Red Straw.  He had crises.  He had responsibilities; and all the while he was running too.  BUT HE CHEERED. Let's face it, it's not like I have shed any blood in this race like my Creator. I cry out and believe the race is over when my favorite shirt is on clearance and in every size except mine!  (Isn't that annoying!) I merely, for a second, ok, maybe several minutes, remove my eyes from the Creator and trip over my own two sinful feet. BAM. Pavement. And yes, there always seem to be witnesses. (You know the ones, NOT CHEERING!!!)  It seems like I never lick the dirt in the privacy of my own track.  But then I hear, Jenny, you got this! Keep on keeping on! Get it done!  You got this!  God's got you. It's my race friends. The team. Cheering. Encouraging. Supporting. Picking out the pieces of gravel from my nostril, helping me wipe off my behind - you get the point, I don't fall graceful folks.  So, I guess all in all I am glad I don't lick the dirt on a track alone.  Who would be physically there to cheer?  You see, we ALL need cheerleaders. And cheerleaders NEED cheer captains. Good ole' Tim, he had the best, Captain Paul of God's Cheer Team. In your race, who is your cheerleader(s) and who is their cheer captain?  Take a moment today to review your race and those that have cheered you along this far. The race is amazing. Amazingly hard, fast, rocky, curvy, and steep, but bigger and louder are those cheerleaders urging you to "keep on keeping on". As you pass by your cheering section, recognize the faces, pray for their continued support and be thankful for their Fight Song!        

Shhh....

Not having a sister, I love watching my two girls interact with another. I have a brother.  A great one, but brothers don't share secrets, and well, really could care less about most secrets their sisters may have hidden away in their sparkly little hearts.  I guess you could say I am living this portion out with my girls.  It's fun. It's annoying. It causes fights. But, it's fun.  There is nothing more frustrating for one if the other slips up and let's a secret escape. However, they keep sharing with each other.  Over and over. They enjoy allowing the other to know things about themselves.   It's bonding.  Most of the time, it's pillow talk between the two and my motherly heart delights in their sisterhood.  Little girls are not the only ones that love secrets.  Adults do, too. What is it about something hidden away that we can't wait to discover. You know like that Skinny Cow ice cream bar that you placed deep in the depths of the freezer behind the purple hull peas in order to keep anyone from touching.  Yeah, that secret!  Secrets are not always as simple as the ice cream behind the peas. It seems like the more dangerous the secret the more we, as adults, marvel in them.  It's a shame really. Secrets have destroyed many a people. The Mr. has always said that in my family, there are NO secrets.  I know this ideal is shared with some of the other men in the Tugwell/Freeland families.  However, I declare that it's simply not true! (But secretly, shhh, it is!)

The Mrs.'s Top 10 Secrets.  

10.  I use the Mr.'s razor and deny it in an adamant nature.  

  9.  Yes, it's me that has an ice cream bar hidden in the freezer.  

  8.  I have gained double digits in weight over the last year.  See No. 9. 

  7.  I have trouble buying the right size underwear. (Is it just me?)

  6.  I am addicted to Candy Crush 

  5.  I bought a life on Candy Crush.  (Ok, twice, see No. 6.)  SMH

  4.  I put the toilet paper on upside down in order to cause chaos. 

  3.  I smell the backs and posts of earrings.  

  2.  My product labels must face to the front always.  

  1.  Often when mowing the yard, I do the one hand over nostril and blow thing. (Gahhh, I shared.)    

Wow, that feels good.  No secrets.  You all now know that I am a lady who picks at her incorrectly sized  underwear while playing Candy Crush and eating the hidden ice cream bar. Now, please don't avoid contact in WalMart because you know my secrets, it's ok, we've all got them!  Happy Thursday all.   

Better than you...all churchy and stuff.

I can't believe I going here, but here it goes - deep breath, I am prepared to get many an eye roll! For me and for any one else that attends church on a regular basis, how often do you hear a derogatory tone about "church going" or a sarcastic tone about "ohhhh YOU go to church?" or an air quote "she's a Christian" or "so and so thinks she/he is SO much better than _____ (feel free to insert a name here) because they GO to that church." and the list goes on and on. You know it and I know it.  As for my sinning self, I attend church because I desire too - DESIRE too, in case you missed it. I rely on my Savior at each moment of the day. I can do Bible studies, I can study my lessons, I can read my Bible, and I pray. BUT, I NEED my church, NEED, in case you missed it. I giggle at the thought of impressing someone by attending church and belly laugh, almost to the point of a snort, at the thought of me thinking I impress someone by attending church. Sundays can be a struggle; same as Monday through Saturday. Oh and Wednesday, whew, we've slid sideways on the parking lot just to make it in time! (I'm almost serious!!) The Circus, we're often late; over sleep and miss a service; run back into the house for a bathroom trip; may have forgotten to study the lesson; break the speed limit to make it on time; sometimes forget a Bible; and ... wait for it...snap at each other on the way to church!  GASP. Yep, I know you're surprised, right!  What church going people actually fight in the car!?!?!  You see, I am a sinner saved by grace. I don't get that grace from attending church. I don't get that grace from impressing anyone or receiving stars on an attendance chart. I receive that grace from my Savior. I attend church to worship and praise Him for all that He does or yes, can I get an amen, for all that He has not done! AMEN!  When I tell you that I am glad to see you at church, or invite you to church or even let you know that you have been missed at church, it's not because I am trying to impress you or make you believe that you must have an invitation or by all means, that my sins are prettier than yours, but simply, that it's a good great place to meet your Savior and build relationships with others that walk the same path. Oh and yes, I have struggles. Sundays and pews don't fix struggles! It allows me to deal with them better! And hold up, not BETTER THAN YOU, just better than me alone!  Now, knock off the derogatory remarks will you, because ain't nobody got time for that!  

Here I go again

Who has time to blog, right?  Most moms I know are a wife, a mom, an employee, a taxi driver, a teacher, a cheerleader, and an exhausted individual.  But lately, I find myself with many thoughts that I need to distribute outside my clogged brain.  I have no other place to put them and as most females, they run rampant through my mind right about the time it's "lights out" for the evening.  In an attempt to rid my mind and give myself a recount, I will attempt to blog again.  It's for me. If you want to read, hey, the more the merrier.  

For some reason this week, I have failed to place Satan behind me upon awakening.  And yes, he has been on my back all week.  Today is no different.  It seems that I have been a front seat viewer of the "Jenny. Lifetime of Failures" preview. It's been a steady highlight reel of the fallen, the broken, the what-ifs, the could have been betters, the... well you get the picture. And if I am honest with myself, I have put him behind me several times already this week, but when will I stop turning my head to look behind to see what he is up to? Enough already. 

2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, 

he is a new creature: 

old things are passed away; 

behold, all things are become new.

I am in Christ, a new creature.  The old are passed away.  I don't have to watch the failures highlighted in the movie reel. It's a new day.  Now, let me get to it and focus head! 

Need you moments

Tonight was our monthly Jr. Girls Auxiliary Meeting at MMBC.  I really look forward to meeting with the girls.  They are such a breath of fresh air.  It is my prayer that they become gals after God's heart.  Some already are, some are on their way! PTL for those gals! That age just feels like it was yesterday... oh but trust me when I realize it wasn't!  This particular lesson, I studied and prayed, studied and prayed, studied and prayed some more.  It was heavy on my heart for the girls.  In the moment of getting to class, the circus literally meet each other on the carport.  It was a brief, how was your day, love you, kiss on the forehead and we went our separate ways.  Not thinking much about it, it's normal.  It's how we roll, right.  Oh, but God had a lesson for ME.  I must not forget... I have girls watching and learning... little eyes taking it all in-learning from mom.  I hadn't been in long when I make the bedtime announcement! I rush them into their rooms, pull back the bed sheets, concerned about getting the throw pillows off the floor, my typical OCD mess, because you know, us moms have STUFF to do.  I hear Josie say... Mom, I need you.  For some reason, tonight the NEED you stopped my heart.  We were in slow motion.  I  NEEEEEED you. It's a small moment. But a big moment.  I crawled into her bed and asked what she needed.  Her reply, just you. She needed ME.  Her mom.  Thank you GOD for that moment on my path; may I not take it for granted and forget who needs me most.  May I not bundle my children up in a "busy-life" package because that's just how we roll; may I take the time for them because it's what they deserve! May God bless me with more NEED you moments!

We're nuts.

Summer time is here! Extreme couponing is about us... I know right.  I love it.  I can't do it. But I love it. Hello. My name is Jenny. I'm addicting to wanting to be extreme.  Purchased 2 movie tickets for $9 last week and I was HOOKED.  Now, today, I'm excited about  attempting to get free hot dogs. HA. Yes, it's nuts.

Now summer time is here take II.  Flies. Everywhere.  I hate flies. What gives people?  Where did they all come from.  Did they have a breeding session this winter? I don't know, but something has to give here. 

Summer time take III.   The house door opens. closes. opens. closes. opens. closes. opens. closes.  Yes, I've actually said "were you born in a barn." Which take III leaves lots of room for take II! Open. close. fly. fly. fly. open. close. fly. fly.

Summer time take IV... stay tuned.  How knows, I might write it while eating a free hotdog! :)

June 2 "Like"

Thursday. June 2. "Like".  Ok, this is a bit diff from normal so hang with me.  God just delivered an answered prayer. YAY God!  You Go God. You are SO good.  We are SO blessed.  I wish I could blog a feeling... but this is the best I can do.  I feel like the little boy with the fish and bread.  God took the little I had, and I mean little, and blessed it, and blessed it, and blessed it, and I am relating (somewhat) to the boy with the fish and bread.  There I stood, my mouth open, and in awe, absolute awe, and what God can do and DOES.  I'm not even going to stop at this point and say... Girl, why ARE you surprised. After all, HE IS GOD.  I'm going to skip that for now.  I'll deal with that later.  But for right now, me and that little boy... I can relate, not about fish and bread, but about having a little bit of something and asking God for the blessing and watching, almost literal here, watching it become bigger and better, bigger and better!! Have I mentioned, GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD!?!?!?! One day, I will run to that boy and ask him if his mouth was wide open in amazement too.  Or who knows... children are so smart, maybe he wasn't shocked. Maybe he trusted God more than I. Maybe this is a lesson of loving and believing like a child. Maybe. But for sure, God is SO good and He has blessed my family more than we will or have ever deserved!