Travel Tips

I recently had the privilege of flying down to see my sister for her birthday. The flight was only about an hour and a half, so the trip itself was pretty quick. For someone who hadn't flown on an airplane for nearly 20 years, the whole process made me a bit nervous! However, it all went well and I enjoyed my time with family down south.

In an effort to help others who don't travel often, I have put together a hit list of travel tips that I hope you will find useful.

Travel Tips (When Flying
• Do you really need that laptop? Leave it at home - it's heavy!
  
• Wear a thin belt - they didn't make me take mine off.
  
• Yes, slip on shoes are convenient for the security checkpoint, but unless you have really supportive shoes for walking miles across an airport, go ahead and wear your comfy running shoes.
  
• When your sister tells you to take the tram to baggage claim, do it! (unless you enjoy hiking for what seems like miles)
  
• Just because you have a carry on bag doesn't mean they might not check it for you. My bag was checked as I walked onto the plane because there was no more room. Your luggage is not always right there when you walk off the plane, so be sure to ask the stewardess if you'll need to visit baggage claim. Ask for your ticket!
  
• Pack snacks in your bag - the food at the airport is either too greasy, too fatty, and/or just plain expensive. You will have to purchase drinks on the other side of security unless you can wait until free beverages (pop, water, juice) are served on the airplane.
  
• You're told that you can take 3-oz liquid containers as long as they are contained inside a one-quart size zipped baggie. Just buy the trial sizes to get you to your destination instead of buying a bunch of 3-oz plastic containers. They don't all fit (believe me, I tried).
  
• Cell phones must be turned off on the plane during the entire flight. Imagine my surprise when I realized I couldn't listen to my music that's on my cell phone! Take a good book along.
  
• Roll your clothes - you can fit a lot more in that suitcase than you ever dreamed!
  
• Bath salts may or may not be permitted through security...depends on whether you're lucky like me and get a security guard who thinks bath salts are "the best!".
  

These may seem simplistic, but perhaps these will be helpful to you if you are thinking of traveling for the first time in a long time. Was the trip worth it? Absolutely! I had a great time with family once I arrived at my destination. I also have a brand new respect for men and women who have to travel on a regular basis for their jobs. That is a rough life...very tiring and physically draining. If your husband or wife travels to provide for you and your family, give him/her a hug and say "thanks!". All my best to you,

Coffee Granules...

Have you ever had your coffee pot literally "spit up" everywhere? I mean, coffee granules all over the counter, covering the coffee pot, and splattered on the adjacent microwave? It was the oddest thing this morning...I came out at 5:55 and turned the coffee pot on to brew. I went about a few other tasks only to return and find coffee granules all over the place with very little coffee in the pot! My first thought in my still-very-groggy state was, "ah, c'mon!" But then I seemed to go into automatic mode and began cleaning it up. It was as if the coffee granules were multiplying before my eyes - there were more and more of them. (Mental note - check under the microwave when everyone gets up - there's probably some lurking under there.)

What happened to make the coffee "explode" or "hiccup" like that? I am sure there is a technical explanation for it, but at this hour of the morning I am not inclined to figure it out. I simply cleaned up the mess and brewed a new pot of coffee. Pretty simple, right?

I began to think about how we go through life sometimes and things are as smooth as silk. We're humming along with nary a thought to adversity or heartache. And then, one day, there is a "hiccup"...and sometimes there is what seems to be an "explosion" of heartache and adversity. It's as though we look around and wonder, what happened? How did I get here? Lord, where are you?

I can recall one time like that in my life when I felt as though things were so bad that all I could do was sob and cry out to my Lord. I had broken my leg after just finding out that we were 5 weeks pregnant with our second daughter. (Thankfully, she was ok!) I was in more pain than I could have imagined, but the Lord was faithful. My mother-in-law was in the hospital at the very same time and barely a week following my fall, she went home to be with the Lord. My husband was so broken and moving through his days on auto pilot I think...but the Lord gave him a strength and resolve that only He can give. I couldn't be there with him at the nursing home to say goodbye to my mother-in-law who was so wonderful to me. It was so sad that I couldn't be there for my husband to comfort him. But I know the Lord was with him.

My parents were so faithful to us by being here and taking care of me and Julie. My Momma stayed for three weeks caring for all of us and my Daddy traveled back and forth several times taking care of their place and animals at home while taking care of us while he was here. I don't know what we would have done without them!

Our church family was faithful to bring us meals and sit and talk with us, pray with us, cry with us, and laugh with us. We had many friends do the same - they were all such a blessing!

Oddly enough (but no coincidence), that was a time in my life that I remember feeling the closest to my Lord and Saviour. I had to sleep on the couch sitting up with my leg elevated up above my heart for several weeks. Sleep was fleeting at best, so I had a lot of time to think, pray, and cry. It's true - when we are at our lowest point, the Lord is there. When we think we cannot go on anymore, the Lord is there. When we think we'd like to just give it all up, He is there. In the midst of my pain and all that was going on in our family at that time, we had a sense of peace that only the Lord can give.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." My friends, this is so true. He is with us during the days when we feel as though we can stand on top of a mountain and praise Him! But most importantly, He is with us in the valley when we can barely lift our head to lift our eyes to Him. He is carrying us when we need carried. He comforts us in our darkest hours. Reach out to Him...talk to Him...cry in front of Him...He already knows your heart, but trust me when I say that you'll feel His peace when you share it with Him.

You're probably wondering...what do coffee granules exploding everywhere have to do with crying out to the Lord? It may be a challenge to clean up coffee granules, but it can be done. However, when things aren't going as we hoped they would in our life, it's not always easy to "clean it up". But the Lord is with us and He is able to clean up our lives and to help us through the process of doing so. That's not to say that everything will turn out exactly as we hope it will, but we can be assured that the Lord will walk right beside us as we go through the "messes" in life.

There are so many people walking through the valley today...and feeling like they're not sure what today will bring. Perhaps it's you...wondering what happened when you weren't looking...wondering where the Lord is in all the heartbreak and chaos...My heartfelt prayer is that the Lord will comfort you and that you will feel the inexplicable peace in your heart and mind that only the Lord can give. Lean on Him...He is strong enough to take it.

My blessings to you,

New Blog Design

Good Morning,
As promised, here is my new blog design. I have been remiss in writing every day, but will do my best to get back to it once I return from my trip to see my sis for her birthday.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Great blogs

I've just figured out how to add links to my blog, so I've added two of my favorites: The Cottage Chick and WAHM Confessions. These two ladies are amazing Christian women who are working from home and raising a family too. Please, stop by their blogs and be encouraged. Thank you!

Grocery shopping

How many of you moms take your children with you to the grocery store? Honestly, I usually don't take our girls because we are trying to keep them out of "germs" way, especially during the winter months. However, that means that I am going out at night after my husband returns home from work and typically by the time I return home, it's close to bedtime for the girls. It gets tiring going out at night, so today the three of us ventured out to do a big shop for the month. It was interesting!

We had a great time and I learned that they can be excellent helpers when they put their minds and hearts to doing so. My oldest daughter held the coupons and pulled each one for me once the item was in the cart. My youngest loves loading up the cart, so she pulled stuff from the shelf. Both of them bagged all the groceries for me while I was checking out. We did three stores in 3 1/2 hours, which I thought was pretty good.

They learned today why it takes Mom so long to do the shopping. For that reason and that reason alone it was a good experience (not the only thing of course, but a good reason!). They understand now why I plan meals, clip coupons, and check the sale prices at three or four different stores (ours are all within 5 or so minutes from each other). They understand that just because you have a coupon for an item, it has to be the right brand, size, and type of item in order for the coupon to be valid. I am thankful that they saw a bit more into "my world" and hopefully understand a bit better now why I'm gone for a few evening hours now and then to do grocery shopping.

I learned something new today too. You know the "catalina" coupons that print out as you check out at stores like Meijer and Kroger? Those are technically manufacturer's coupons and should be accepted at any store, not just the store that issues them. However, I learned today that Kroger will not accept these coupons that were printed at Meijer. However, Meijer will accept them from any other store. Guess where I'll be using those? One advantage to Kroger (other than sale items) is that they do give you credit for each reusable bag you bring into the store. I think it's 3 cents or something. Hey, money is money.

Not sure of my exact point for writing this tonight other than to express my thankfulness for my daughters and the productive day we had together learning more about each other. Lots of hugs too!

Cobwebs?

I know it's time to do a deep clean of the house when I look up and see cobwebs surrounding my dining room chandelier. Oh, c'mon, you've had them too at some point, so don't gasp so...(wink)

Here in the Midwest, winter days are commonly dreary and overcast, so much of the dust around here isn't seen until the sun actually shines through the window. (If you live in an area of the country where the winter days are similar, you are nodding your head right now in agreement, right?) A few days ago, the sun did actually shine through the dining room window and I was mortified to see that an industrious spider had wound a web around the entire chandelier! Ok, so I've been a little busy around here...and I just can't bring myself to hire someone to come and clean for me. Seriously, I'd clean before they got here anyway! (Go ahead, it's ok to agree with me.)

The sunshine streaming into the house also reminded me that the windows need washed and the dusting detail has gone by the wayside. But, I also began thinking about why the dust seems to get ahead of me and why a spider was permitted to languish long enough to spin a web in my house. What have I been doing that has prevented me from cleaning industriously?

Let's see...home educating our two daughters, writing for clients, baking, trying to get my website off of the ground, trying to be a good wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend and everything that goes with that. So, I guess I have been spending my time wisely...? Well, I have to stop and think about that sometimes because I tend to be one of those people who goes and goes and then burns out because I haven't taken the time to rest.

Are you like that? I want so much to do the right things and be everything I think others want me to be that I can sometimes miss the mark entirely. The Lord has been showing me some things in that area of my life. I feel like He is "shining the sun" on those areas of my life that need more attention or less attention. He is lovingly showing me that the people in my life are more important than work...more important than serving myself...more important than dust and a few crumbs on the carpet. I'm trying to listen to His gentle voice...and when I do take the time to hear Him, I am blessed!

Yesterday, the girls completed their school work for the day and then in the afternoon, we baked together. We baked and baked and baked. It was so much fun! We thoroughly enjoyed each others' company and laughed together. I realized how adept my girls are becoming in the kitchen despite the number of things I feel I still need to teach them. They'll be grown up before I know it and a part of me is sad about that. However, another part of me was so proud of them!

Wow, I started with cobwebs and ended up with baking...interesting.

The moral? Let the cobwebs go (at least for a time) and enjoy life. Enjoy your loved ones and enjoy doing those things that bring you and others around you joy. The cobwebs will always be there...but our children and loved ones will not.

My best to you!

The Voice of Truth

There is a song called "The Voice of Truth" sung by the musical group Casting Crowns that has been making me think quite a bit lately on the messages we hear every day. Everywhere we go, we are bombarded with messages that the world wants us to hear and believe. We don't really even have to leave our homes to hear the world's view (television, Internet).

The world tells us we must be something other than what we are most of the time. If we're not beautiful, well, we should be. If we're not successful by society's standards, then we should strive to get there. If we're overweight or not just perfect by society's standards, we need to change everything about ourselves to meet that standard and be "acceptable". There is media everywhere telling us how we should live, what we should look like, what we should believe, how we are to raise our children, and so much more. The 'world' tells us many, many lies, plain and simple. It can become very discouraging if we allow society to dictate to us how we are to live our lives. But...

This question keeps running through my mind, "who are you listening to?" I have a choice to read and "listen" to God's Word and the promises He gives me. His words are words of truth, love, grace, forgiveness, patience, kindness, and righteousness. He will never leave me, nor turn his back on me. He is always waiting for me to turn my face to Him and share my heart openly and without reservation. The Lord will never hurt me. His love for me is not contingent upon my appearance, my likes or dislikes, my family, my laugh, or anything else that is temporary. He wants my heart! He gave everything for me so that I could have eternal life. Why would I not want to listen to His voice instead of the world's voice? I have a choice and so do you.

It's a new year. January is the month each and every year when millions of people determine that they are going to make changes in their lives. I used to make those resolutions too - lose weight, be a better mom, wife, friend, daughter, niece, etc. I would set the bar so far up there that it never seemed achievable. I really believe it was because I was listening to the world's messages over what God's Word tells me is true.

My 2010 resolution is to listen to Him and to His Word; to better understand who He is and why He loves me. He cares about every little detail of my life (and yours!).

What voice are you going to listen to today? The voice of lies? Or, His voice of Truth?