I HAVE TO vs I GET TO...

NOVEMBER 16, 2009

I have to vs I get to…

The more I thought about what I get to do, the less I realized I had to do. It was just a shift, just a new perspective, just a new and more grateful method for labeling the things in my life. Think about it—if you stopped yourself every single time you were about to say, “I have to” and changed it to “I get to,” it might change your entire experience. – Kristin Armstrong

A friend posted this on facebook this morning. In my quest for ways to change my negatives to positives, I need all the help I can get. Frankie my counselor told me to change my “I can’t” to “I want to” and that has been very eye opening. It always makes me smile, because that little girl in there says I can’t a lot and rebels when I try to change it to “I want to”.  That little switch is like a light to show me the truth of my thinking.

 “I just can’t handle this” turns into “I want to handle this” and somehow clarifies what “this” is… or pulls me up short, reminding me that I am putting everything into one big pile again.  Just like a pile of leaves, you can’t bag them all at once. But certainly you can bag them an armload/ rake load at a time, and eventually you will get them all, at least until more fall from the tree.  What I am looking for, I realize, is a Magic Wand or a Magic Nose (think, “Bewitched”) that will make it all go away without any effort.

So today I get to clean the kitchen. Hey, I have a kitchen! I have dishes, and food to eat, God has blessed me abundantly! And I get to do laundry. I have a washing machine and a dryer. I am not going down to the river to rub the clothes on the rocks and spread them on the bushes to dry, or heating a big pot of water in the back yard– or even running them through the ringer!  I get to clean the carpet. I can use a vacuum cleaner! I have a carpet– a house! Lord You have indeed provided for me in amazing ways. Forgive me for looking at things through a negative filter. This morning you have given me so many reasons to rejoice.

And the main reason to rejoice is that  YOU, the Creator of the Universe, love me. You loved a sinner like David and called him a man after your own heart. You have taken a negative, whiny, self centered sinner like me and DIED to pay the penalty for my sins. Amazing. Humbling. Incredible.

another another year older...

NOVEMBER 14, 2009

another year older…

another one of my precious ones is another year older. Joel’s name means “Jehovah is the Lord”. He is named after so many– my grandfather’s name was Joel, and his father’s brother is Joel, and his great-uncle is Joel. I loved naming Joel after my father and grandfather (Joel Thomas) and having all those other “named afters” fit in so nicely.

Happy birthday, wonderful son, I am glad you were born, and glad you are my son. 😉

creative adventure with Liv

Liv and I got to spend the day playing with alcohol inks. Fun! I bought some gloss paper, supposedly made for use with the inks, but not very satisfied with the results. My favorite project of the day was tile. Paul gave me some that have 9 tiles together, so that's what we used. We also glued aluminum foil to card stock, and ran it through the cuttlebug. I think that's going to have some very good possibilities.

There have been too many things going on in my life to make creating possible. But I also know that I NEED those times of creativity and better get them scheduled in. I've been looking over all the blogs I have found for inspiration, and the juices are starting to flow again. I added a few to the my list as well.

My next project has to be the camera.

an olive tree...

NOVEMBER 9, 2009

like an olive tree in the House of the Lord!

Today is my precious daughter’s birthday. She was named after her grandmother, Olivia. I love the name, it is such a pretty and musical name. Her middle name is Grace after the Grace of the Lord.

My first two were given names with very special meanings. My first son’s name means “gift of God”. My second son was named after 2 great men, the apostle Paul and one of the great theologians. I looked up the name “Olivia” and it said “olive tree” and then I thought, well it’s a pretty name, and it’s after her grandma…

But years later,  the Lord showed me how her name is straight from the Bible too. Here is the scripture He gave me for her…

It is Psalm 52:8-9

 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;

         I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

 9 I will praise You forever,

         Because You have done it;

         And in the presence of Your saints

         I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

And I love Matthew Henry’s commentary on these verses…

52:6-9 Those wretchedly deceive themselves, who think to support themselves in power and wealth without God… Those who by faith and love dwell in the house of God, shall be like green olive-trees there. And that we may be as green olive-trees, we must live a life of faith and holy confidence in God and his grace. It adds much to the beauty of our profession, and to fruitfulness in every grace, to be much in praising God; and we never can want matter for praise. His name alone can be our refuge and strong tower. It is very good for us to wait on that saving name; there is nothing better to calm and quiet our spirits, when disturbed, and to keep us in the way of duty, when tempted to use any crooked courses for our relief, than to hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. None ever followed his guidance but it ended well.

Happy birthday, wonderful daughter!!