You ARE My One And Only...This Holy Week

One And Only by Adele

You've been on my mind,
I grow fonder every day,
Lose myself in time,
Just thinking of your face,
God only knows why it's taken me
So long to let my doubts go,
You're the only one that I want,

I don't know why I'm scared,
I've been here before,
Every feeling, every word,
I've imagined it all,
You'll never know if you never try,
To forget your past and simply be mine,

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only,
I promise I'm worthy,
To hold in your arms,
So come on and give me the chance,
To prove I am the one who can walk that mile,
Until the end starts,

If I've been on your mind,
You hang on every word I say,
Lose yourself in time,
At the mention of my name,
Will I ever know how it feels to hold you close,
And have you tell me
Whichever road I choose, you'll go?

I don't know why I'm scared,
'Cause I've been here before,
Every feeling, every word,
I've imagined it all,
You'll never know if you never try,
To forget your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only,
I promise I'm worthy, mm,
To hold in your arms,
So come on and give me the chance,
To prove I am the one who can walk that mile,
Until the end starts,

I know it ain't easy giving up your heart,
I know it ain't easy giving up your heart,
Nobody's perfect,
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart),
Trust me I've learned it,
Nobody's perfect,
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart),
Trust me I've learned it,
Nobody's perfect,
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart),
Trust me I've learned it,
Nobody's perfect,
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart),
Trust me I've learned it,

So I dare you to let me be your, your one and only,
I promise I'm worthy,
To hold in your arms,
So come on and give me the chance,
To prove that I am the, one who can walk that mile,
Until the end starts,

Come on and give me the chance,
To prove that I am the one who can, walk that mile,
Until the end starts.


God, I hope and pray someone reading this post will take the risk and trust You and Your Promises. Thank You for knowing what is in our hearts and thinking about us, even when we doubt you can handle ____. Thank You for loving us. You are on our mind more this week than ever. I surrender my life to You again today.
In Your Holy Name,
A.

Palm Sunday

I pray this week our lives are invaded by what He did for each of us personally.

I'm so grateful that our Pastor taught us the real meaning of Palm Sunday. The palms and cloaks are the red carpet, laid down ahead, as Jesus comes riding into town humbly on a donkey. Just 5 days later, those who treated Him like royalty betrayed Him in the worst possible way. I know the story, but it's hard to imagine how He must Have felt.

We want the God we want,
not the God who is.

The purpose of Palm Sunday is...

The God who is, is the God we need.

I love you, too.

Blog-worthy Thursday

55-I love having a blog where I'm the only visitor besides you. :)

56-I'm hoping the beautiful, white snow flakes I saw falling today were some of the last I'll see this Spring!

57- "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." ~Psalm 51:7

So we may have made one of the biggest mistakes since we bought our cute little cottage. We learned so many lessons last year, like almost sinking our wave-runner, losing our umbrella way out in the lake, sucking up a ski rope in the wave-runner. Hmmm... I know there are a lot more, but I can't remember them now. Anyway, my husband and I have been known to make some shaky decisions that are not practical. I'm hoping we don't regret our latest decision, but there is no going back now. Would anyone in their right mind get a white couch at a lake house where there will be a lot of wet bathing suits and maybe even some kids with dirty little hands? Probably not. I'm pretty sure every single person I ran this by prior to buying it warned us:  DO. NOT. GET. A. WHITE. COUCH! Did we listen? Nope!

This morning as I was on the treadmill thinking about what I am most thankful for today, I couldn't help think about the sweet, white couch. Did I mention that I absolutely love it? I am so thankful we were able to get it since it really lightened up a dark area; it's a sleeper-sofa; and it looks so cottage-y!

But it's white and white gets dirty.

I was thinking about the color white. It always looks perfect... in the beginning. The only thing I know that stays white and perfect (without blemish) is God. He is perfect and Holy. I believe when I gave my life to Christ and had a new beginning I had a clean slate. I thought about how easy it is to see a stain on the color white. It is SO noticeable. I thought about how Christians are seen as thinking they are perfect and better than others. If we make one mistake they see the stains and quickly learn that we are not perfect. They may even call us hypocrites. They are watching closely and at times it feels stressful. I believe some people give up following Christ because they can't live up to God's standards. It's almost easier to quit than risk making another mistake.

I'm here to tell you that I will be protecting my white couch. I will shield it from stains and cover it with a towel or sheet. It's easy to protect myself from the darkness of others, but I must be grounded in my faith by staying in His Word and be aware of Satan's temptations. Nobody, especially Satan, will convince me that we made a mistake by getting the new white couch. When I notice the first stain on it I will welcome it because honestly, I don't care if the whole world knows that I'm not perfect and it will be my own little reminder that I am still loved and not judged. I hope my husband will feel the same. (You won't waste a prayer on me before it happens thank-you-very-much!) :)

58-I'm forgiven again and I don't have to be perfect.

** Take a Vacation **

54-I'm so grateful Mom and Dad were able to take so many vacations.

They always took time away from the daily frustrations of life and focused on the bigger picture and most importantly, enjoyed each other's company without any distractions. It was a gift that I didn't appreciate until now, all of these years later. The greatest gift we can give our children is to love each other and take time away to nurture ourselves and each other... and remember why we fell in love in the first place. It sounds simple, yet so many of us don't do it. I don't believe good marriages just happen; I believe we must be intentional.

Is it time to plan a vacation? If you can't get away, at least listen to this song; maybe get some suntan lotion and make a drink with an umbrella?



White Sandy Beach by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole

I saw you in my dreams
We were walking hand in hand
On a white, sandy beach of Hawaii
We were playing in the sun
We were having so much fun
on a white, sandy beach of Hawaii

The sound of the ocean
soothes my restless soul
The sound of the ocean
rocks me all night long

Those hot long summer days
Lying there in the sun
on a white, sandy beach of Hawaii

The sound of the ocean
soothes my restless soul
The sound of the ocean
rocks me all night long

Last night in my dreams
I saw your face again
We were there in the sun
on a white, sandy beach of Hawaii

Finding my way back Home

Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Our church (Kensington Community Church) was finishing up a series on "The Journey Home" today. I hadn't been to any of the other services, so I had a crash course while watching the video recap. At the end of the service they had open-mic, where many people spoke about where God took them during the past 6 weeks. It was amazing to hear how God invaded so many of their lives. I fought the tears most of the service. I hadn't realized how much I missed our church since I had been going to a different one since the first of the year. I'm so happy! It was very comforting to be back "Home."

42-enjoying life with our Euchre group
43-girlfriend time with the "bunco babes"
44-lazy Sundays followed up with family dinners
45-true friends who are with you during the good times as well as the not-so-good times
46-snow that melts quickly
47-college basketball
48-Hawaiian music
49-anticipation, especially for Summer when I'm getting sick of the cold
50-that there is no letter "I" in team
51-people who mentor my children
52-I'm going to say the last one again... people who mentor my children
53-my health

*This list is almost embarrassing. I am so very grateful for my life as it is today. I have absolutely nothing but good in my life and I can't believe I'm having such a hard time listing all of the many blessings!

30-music that stirs up memories (happy & sad)
31-sporting events
32-being able to experience triplets
33-snowy almost Spring mornings
34-time for another cup of coffee
35-Hope
36-a church that isn't Catholic, yet prays for the new Pope Francis
37-my Vitamix
38-green vegetables
39-pomegranates
40-ice
41-the ability to send quick text messages

2013 Scripture Memory Verse #6

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

I love His invitation to come to Him.

I can rest in knowing... that His plans are good.
I can rest in knowing... I am not in charge of my loved ones.
I can rest in knowing... where I am going at the end of this life.
I can rest in knowing... I can be myself and don't need the approval of others.
I can rest in knowing... His Word and His promises never change.
I can rest in knowing... I share a yoke with someone who is kind, gentle and humble.

Shalom,
Angie

Wordless Wednesday from my phone... :)

a few more

23-soaking in the wisdom of friends old & young
24-rain on a workday
25-latte's with almond milk
26-grilled cheese & tomato soup
27-travel books
28-coffee shops
29-happy kids

You Praise first...

7-Mondays... the beginning of a new week
8-learning that obedience is the key
9-kind people
10-patient people
11-spaghetti dinners
12-family time
13-job satisfaction
14-children coming home
15-children moving home
16-the color white
17-life-long relationships
18-knowing in the depth of my soul that God's love never changes
19-the anticipation of a new season
20-daylight savings and longer days
21-answered prayers
22-broken hearts being healed in His perfect timing

Why not set the goal at 10,000?

Okay, I've tried it MY way. Today I am making it my goal to list 10,000 ways He shows me the many ways He loves me. I made it to 1000 a couple of years ago, so I'm really starting at 2000 this year. My list continues because I am convinced that if I Praise first I will feel it later.

2013 Scripture Memory Verse #5

I have a lot of work ahead of me. As of now I haven't memorized any of my verses. Ouch! I don't know how to describe the season I'm in right now, but I know one thing for sure; my problem has a lot to do with social media. I make myself dizzy with it all and it really must stop. When I was in Florida visiting my dad's cousin (89 years old and totally doesn't get it all), I was trying to respect her, so I didn't take my iPad or laptop. I actually went to the book store and bought a book with real live pages; it was awesome! I plan to finish it this weekend... and get another one! I even read magazines with pages and when I returned home, subscribed to a couple. Such freedom! I did have my smart phone (which I had on "silent," but didn't touch when I was in her presence) and when I went on my very long walks daily, I listened to my great music and a few podcasts. In one of them I heard this verse described in a way I hadn't heard before and I knew right then it would be my next memory verse. I better get going!

"Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will
not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6 AMP)

This verse is about embracing our children's personality types by encouraging them to find their own way, even when it looks different than what we hoped for them; or what we expect them to do with their "degree." I want more than anything for my kids to be happy and content with their lives, and especially with their work. I want to affirm their uniqueness because they have their own unique gifts and their work is their ministry whether they realize it or not. If they are not true to themselves they will not be satisfied and will burn out quickly or perhaps have a midlife crisis and hurt a lot of people along the way. I want them to love their job and not just look forward to weekends... and retirement!

I am SO thankful that I still love my job as a dental hygienist after all of these years. I am very fortunate!


xoxo