Be encouraged

Every Tuesday I look forward to reading the Titus 2 Tuesday at happyascanb. She honors the amazing women in her life each week and I think it's so awesome! We spend too much time tearing each other down instead of building our sisters up. This week she asked any who want to participate to share about the women that encourage us and the women that teach us Godly lessons.

I am so encouraged by each of the women in my life in different ways and I couldn't do it without any of them. You see, I need the person who will let me whine ENDLESSLY and never tell me to snap out of it. Who will ask if I want advice or just to vent and then do whichever I choose. The person who will not only join me, but will throw one heck of a pity party for me at the drop of a hat. Who will inflate my ego and tell me 1000 times how wonderful I am for no reason.

If she was the only person though, I would be so much harder to live with than I already am! I also need the person who will let me whine when it's justified, but tell me when I'm harping too long and need to move on. Who will prayerfully and in love, get in my face and tell me that I need to clean up my act, stop being an idiot, and get right with Jesus. The person who I ask when I need a brutally honest, don't-hold-anything-back, opinion because I know that she will tell me EXACTLY what she thinks. You know, in the nicest way possible.

I need the person who will sit quietly and hold my hand, transfering all her love and strength to me in the silence. Who knows me so well that no words are needed to convey exactly what she's thinking.

I need the woman who knows my past, loves me in the present, and looks forward to being a part of my future.

I need the woman who has struggled with the same things that I am struggling with so that she knows exactly how to pray for me.

I need the woman who knows my deepest, darkest secrets and still refuses to pass judgement.

I could go on forever because each woman in my life plays a different, vital role but this post is getting long already. So tonight, I thank ALL of the women in my life for the unique blessings that they bring to my life. I wouldn't be who I am without your influence!

Unspoken

I am usually specific in my prayer requests, but tonight I ask you to lift up someone without knowing who or why. Lift up the person that is walking a dark and scary road tonight. Pray without ceasing for strength and courage. For wisdom in all decision making. That our Abba Father will wrap loving arms around this person and pour out His love. For the peace that passes all understanding. Please stop what you are doing and get on your knees now.


Romans 8:26: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Thank you so very much,

Stephanie

I'm a little all over the place

I'm a little scattered tonight so I'm posting bulletin-style instead of trying to write something cohesive.

~My Christmas tree is finally up and decorated. The rest of the house is on it's way but not quite done yet. I figured about the time we finish, it will be time to take it all down again.

~Alaina has a cold and a double ear infection. She has not been a super happy baby this weekend for good reason. On the upside, she seems to like the way her antibiotic tastes so we're not having to fight her to get it down.

~I'm a little over drama and the people who thrive on it. I know that we can't always avoid drama in our lives (hello!) but there are people who just love to be in the middle of it all. It's like they can't function unless all the attention is focused on them. You know exactly the kind of people I am talking about. You probably know at least one.

~Football is a beautiful thing unless you're watching your team self-destruct. It is then the most frustrating thing in the world. This was the case in my house on Saturday night and I would like some credit for not throwing the remote control.

~Sometimes I wish that no one knew that *I* was the one writing this blog. And then I could write exactly what I feel or think without the worry of upsetting someone that I might wish to write about.

~It's so cold here and I love it. I really, really wish that we would get snow again this year. Preferably on a weekend so I can really enjoy it.

~I have only purchased 2 Christmas presents so far. I am WAY behind and instead of being stressed about it I am very zen. I plan on shopping like a man this year and finishing the rest of it on the 23rd and 24th.

~I have to stop posting random things and go put together bottles to send with Alaina tomorrow. Aren't you glad that there is finally an end to this nonsense???

New trick

It takes her a full minute or so to get warmed up but she is LOUD after that!

$100 buys a lot of chocolate

Big Mama and the fabulous people at Hershey's have sponsored a $100 giveaway! I don't know about you, but after all the holiday crazy, I could use a little extra spending money. All you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite family tradition during the holidays. Head on over here and enter for your chance to win!

There are so many things that I love about Christmas. Listening to Christmas music alone is enough to make a rotten day instantly better. Something about the way the house glows with lights makes me all warm and fuzzy. The smells of the tree mingle with baking cookies and cinnamon candles. Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch all snuggled up with my honey on the couch. Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee.

My favorite tradition though (silly as it may seem), is laying underneath the tree and looking up at the lights. When all I can see is the glitter of the ornaments hanging on green branches and the tiny white lights, all is right with the world. Time stands still and for just a moment everything else fades away. I am looking forward to crawling under there with Alaina this year and can only hope that she is as mesmerized at the lights as I am.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Fortune Cookies

One of my silly guilty pleasures is fortune cookies. I don't always think that they're accurate but I love to open them up and read the tiny paper. I even have a box where I keep all of them so I can look back later and laugh at them. Lately there have been a few that have stared at, jaw on the floor, because they've been so unbelievably perfect.

So, last night I took a break from all the cooking I usually do (ha!) and we ordered Chinese. When the food arrived, I opened my fortune first because it's my fortune and I am not known for my patience. It was:

"An unexpected event will soon make your life more exciting."

Hmmm...I can definitely think of a few unexpected things that would make my life MUCH more exciting! Winning the lottery is somewhere near the top of that list...though I'm pretty sure I have to play the lottery before I can win the lottery. Details.

Scotlon's fortune was just as good:

"You will soon be picked for a promotion."

Wouldn't that be great?!? He would love to move up and I've already started dreaming about/spending the extra money in my head.

Because if the fortune cookie says it, it must be true, right?

Santa Baby

Me Ma and Pa Pa brought Alaina this super cute Santa hat to sport this Christmas. Of course we had to try it on her immediately! She was (of course) adorable and thought her hat was great. I am so, so glad that she loves wearing hats. It's going to make this winter much easier!

How can anyone resist that face???