Fridays have become my favorite day of the week.

Last fall, Elle and I were invited to a prayer group at a neighbors house on Friday mornings.  To be honest, I really didn't like going.  Not because I didn't like the people, they are great.  There is playroom for Elle and several other kids there.  I didn't like going because I have a terrible fear of praying out loud and in public.  My mind goes completely blank, I stumble over words and feel everything that I say sounds stupid.  A few weeks ago, I saw one of the ladies while Elle and I were out shopping one day.  (This day had been particularly noisy at our house and I had to escape for some retail therapy.)  So, I talked to this woman and was completely honest with her about being so uncomfortable coming to this group.  She understood and  I made the commitment to keep coming, I was justgoing to be quiet and that was just fine.  So, that's what we do on Friday mornings, and I'm really starting to enjoy it because the pressure has been lifted.  So, being honest has paid off, imagine that!

Matthew 18:20

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

I'm still working on being able to fit in to my summer clothes and have made some progress this week.  For me, progress equals encouragement.  About a year ago, the gym I had been going to closed and re-branded with new management.  I didn't go back, due to the location, lack of child care and the times of their fitness classes.  So, with all that combined with the holidays I had gained a little weight.  I'm really excited for the warmer weather, we took a walk around the neighborhood last night, Remy was really excited and he got to meet 2 new friends while we were out.  Scooby and Velma are Great Danes that live on the next street over.  They belong to our friends and I was really nervous about Remy meeting these two larger dogs, but everyone seemed to get along well and Remy even cried for Velma when we walked away.  Maybe they can come over to play some day, which would probably total over 300 lbs of dog in my house, but their just so sweet.     

Strange Places We Find Jesus: The Bad Investment

Five years ago I would never have attempted to write anything publicly that had to do with religion.  Our Pastor, Cris, started a sermon series on the strange places we find Jesus.  Last week was finding Jesus in a bad investment.  We consider our home a bad investment.  We bought our house in 2005, shortly after we were married.  I was working close to home, M was still searching for the right job, so the location was great since we didn't know where he would end up.  Fast forward to 2010, the city approves a metal recycling facility to be in operation behind our subdivision. They have a car shredder, or an optimizer, as it is sometimes called.  This thing is extremely loud, disruptive and annoying.  Some days, the smell is nauseating.  There have been confirmed explosions.  So, yeah, the house is a terrible investment.  I stay home with our 2 year old, so I get to hear the noise all day.  I don't let our daughter play outside due to the smell.  Last spring, my dad was replacing some of our privacy fence and we had to yell at each other to be able to hear over the noise.  We have been working on fixing this issue since November of 2011.  Some days are tolerable around here, other days are a total nightmare.  In November if 2012, my husband ran for City Council, in hopes to improve not only our subdivision, but also repair the reputation of our city.  He's a sharp guy and has extremely high ethics and standards.  Last Christmas, the Historic Museum had a Christmas party open house, complete with a band and singing in the town gazebo.  I was almost like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, and seriously charming, and I completely believe potential is there for this to be a fantastic town.


I have learned a great deal about politics in the past few months.  Mainly, what is legal, might not be ethical.  My husband sent me this quote last week:

More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying them.

~Harold J. Smith

Denial is running rampant in our small town.  I'm ready for this to be over.  So, how are we finding Jesus in this?  I'm still looking, I know He's here.  Maybe we're here for M to be on city council because he's so intelligent and God will work through him.  Maybe it's because I'm refusing to be forced out of my home because of someone's ignorance.  In the past year and half, I have made some great friends in my neighborhood.  I have two women who I can count of for anything.  I have another neighbor who holds a prayer group every Friday, she even has a playroom set up for the kids to play in while we are there.  We have a great POA and most home in our subdivision are well kept and very cute.  So, we are seriously blessed.  I believe that this is our test.  How will we handle this?  I'm an only child and also a scorpio, so I mean business when it comes to getting my way.  M is much for cautious and logical, which is a good complement to me.  

John 16:33

New International Version (NIV)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

To see Pastor Cris' sermon watch on YouTube, click here.