Just a thought for today!

A good friend just sent this to me. And boy did it hit home. It is amazing how many "God Moments" I have had lately. He does speak to us in ways we never expect.

Have a great day everyone! Enjoy this little piece of reading:

Just for Today
I'll live in the Moment This concept has been weighing heavily on my mind lately so I'll take that as a sign that somebody out there needs to read it.

I've been watching my 20 year old daughter lately struggle with wanting to be anywhere but where she is right now. She reminds me so much of myself sometimes! It's only been in the past few months that I've really gotten a handle on truly being in the moment I am in right now. I've gone through stages of doing this but have never been consistent about it. I believe my propensity for goal setting has gotten in the way of enjoying the right now. It's been a blessing and a curse. Where I know lots of people that seemed to focused on the past, I have always been focused on the future. Let me give you a few examples and see if maybe you can see yourself in these scenarios:

*My kids would try to talk to me about school and I would listen for a little bit and then start thinking about what I needed to fix for dinner or what chores needed to get done before the night was over.

*I might get a promotion in my job and would savor the excitement for about 10 minutes before beginning to concentrate on what I was going to do to get my next promotion and what my goal was to make that happen.

*I would go for a walk or a bike ride and the entire time think about all the things I was going to accomplish in my life instead of enjoying the beauty all around me, the breeze through my hair, the flowers, the trees, the gifts that surrounded me.

*I have always wanted to be anywhere but where I am right now. And I thought that was necessary to accomplishing my goals. Isn't there a saying that contentment breeds complacency? I believed that wholeheartedly. Now I believe that is a lie. We only get this moment for this moment. We will never have this moment again. Why would we want to spend it being mentally somewhere else? Enjoy each moment you have in that moment. Enjoy this person right now. Enjoy where you are right this minute. Here is the interesting thing about this. I find myself being so much more appreciative of every moment I have. I notice more. I enjoy people more. I enjoy listening to others' ideas and lives. And I'm much more peaceful. The irony is that since I have started living in the moment, I find my goals are much easier to achieve. I'm not working so hard to be somewhere I'm not meant to be yet. I'm not trying to force things that aren't meant to be. And consequently everything seems to just work out peacefully and naturally. It's a very strange experience for me but I'm enjoying it!Just for today, try enjoying each and every moment as it comes, not wishing for tomorrow or next week or next year.

Mari Peck

Just For Today

Feeling a little overwhelmed!

I was just feeling a little over whelmed today, but after visiting my cousin Tara's website I read a great verse from the Bible, that put everything into perspective for me. I often forget that in these times I need to just turn it over to God and ask for his help and guidance. I know his love for me is greater than anything I am dealing with.

But yet I look around and think I don't have it so bad, so why do I feel so over whelmed. Then I feel selfish for feeling the way I feel. Torn and conflicted. There are times when I feel like things are rolling along fine and then I crash into a wall and sink back into this state. I don't like feeling like this and I am trying really hard to get over hitting that wall. Just not quite there yet.

I was looking at a pamphlet I have and found a verse that really made me think:

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34: 17-18

Sorry this post is so depressing, but I needed to let it out and this seemed like a good place to do it. Thanks for listening.

Love to all.

7 Random Things about me.

I got tagged by my cousin Tara, so I think I will tag, Robin, Darlene, Kristal, Nichole, Rachelle, Michelle and Jennifer.

#1. I am a perfectionist about certain things, especially if I am doing a project for someone else.

#2. I make my bed every morning, I was just trained growing up and it has stuck with me ever since.

#3. I am addicted to chocolate and Diet Coke, not that I need it by any means but I still like it and could have it everyday if I had it in the house. Curse that darn candy machine in the teachers lounge. :)

#4. When my laundry is done, it is always folded and put away, never left out or in the dryer until I can get to it. I dislike ironing so the faster I can get it out of the dryer the better.

#5 I am married to a wonderful man who would do anything for me or his children. He never wants to leave his kids with anyone, his feelings are we didn't have kids just so someone else could watch them.

#6 I love to sing in the car, especially to Marcus to keep him awake. I do a mean Wheels on the Bus and Itsy Bitsy Spider, as well as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I sometimes think I can sing better than I really can, that usually gets me in trouble. You know breaking glass, howling dogs, etc... :)

#7 I love my family & friends more than I can say, and sometimes I do not say it often enough. I tend to get lost in doing things for others and not for myself or my family. I am working on being a better wife to my husband and mother to my children, they need me too and I have to remember it is ok to say NO sometimes to outside things.

Ok, so there are my seven random things, kind of a random post but fun at the same time, Thanks Tara.

Love that wonderful weather

We have all been enjoying the wonderful spring weather. But none more than Marcus. He loves being outside. He screams bloody murder when we have to go in. He loves to chase bubbles, I bought a $8.99 bubble machine a Target 2 weeks ago. He loves it. He can turn it on and off and he runs around in circles and chases them all over the yard. I do have pictures of him, but I am not by my home computer to down load them on here.

The school year is slowly coming to a close. It is hard to believe that in about 6 weeks it will be summer break. I can hardly wait to just be at home and take walks and the kids to the park and hang out. Michaela will be playing softball again, so we will have that and she is doing a volleyball camp at school before the end of the year and a softball camp in June. Have to keep her busy.

Steve is keeping busy at ConAgra/Lincoln Snacks. They keep saying they are going 24/7 which means he will be working 12 hour shifts. Nice but, not at the same time. He will work, 3 days one week and 4 the next. I do not know what that is going to do for my daycare. I have been scared to ask, why I don't know. Marcus loves going there and I don't want to upset her, but at the same time if she would let us pay for only the time he is there, that would be much better. Save us a little money anyway.

Everyone get out an enjoy these next few days and chase a few bubbles and think of Marcus. Oh the life of a toddler, so carefree and fun.

Love to all,
Lisa

Happy Easter! A little late!

Ok with Easter coming so early, I just didn't have time to update this. But I wanted to put a few pictures from our weekend out there for you all to see. Marcus attended his first official Easter Egg Hunt at the Madden's Farm on Saturday. He liked walking in the field, but didn't like the tall grass and weeds he had to pick up eggs out of. Of course his favorite thing to pick up was the candy.

We cam home from the hunt to color eggs at Grandma Pat's house, Marcus liked it but thought they were balls and he should throw them. Typical boy! He wasn't too sure about getting his hands colored either.

On Sunday afternoon the kids had their hunt a Grandma Pat's, in the words of one of my Niece's or Nephew's-It looked like the Easter Bunny blew up in Grandma's back yard. There were plastic eggs everywhere. Thanks to my sister-in-law Michelle for stuffing and hiding. You are awesome!!!!!

We went to Steve's folks for awhile too. Marcus got close to his Cousin Garrett, actually he liked his phone. They were buddies as long as Marcus could have his phone. My Boy and Cell Phones, I don't know what I am going to do.

Jason and Carsyn loved taking turns with Marcus and his new bubble mower that the Easter bunny brought for him. That night Michaela and Marcus played some hoops in the basement. Steve and I got him that for Easter. The Bunny brought Michaela a High School Musical sing-a-long doll and we gave her a game for her DS and a High School Musical wipe off board.

So a busy and exciting weekend for us. We hope you all had a blessed and lovely Easter.

All our love,

Update on Marcus

Just wanted to let everyone know that Marcus is doing well. We took him to the Doctor on Thursday and he is now in a removable splint. He has gone all day today without it and is doing very well.



The Doctor didn't see a reason to re-X-Ray it and said he appeared to be moving it well and with some time he should get his strength back in it. If he has problems we are to call, but he really thought a couple of weeks in the removable splint, just like when he is outside or we can't watch him closely, should be great.



Otherwise, things are going well. We have been busy with work and church. Keep praying that Marcus continues to heal well and that we as a family grow stronger each day.



To each and everyone we want to say we love you and thanks for all your love and support.

Lisa Gets Mom of the Year Award!!!!!

Ok, not really, Marcus fell sometime last week and hurt his arm. I took him on Thursday and they checked it and said it wasn't his shoulder. So the poor little man went all weekend with it hurting and I took him back in on Monday. After 4 x-rays and 3 hours with our pediatrician, and then another 2 hours with the orthopedic doctor, he is the proud, ok not so proud, owner of a soft cast which we can not remove. Can you say makes bath time fun. We will see the Doctor again next week and have it re-X-rayed to check it out. I will let you all know what comes of this. You can tell by his pictures he isn't too excited about this. And finding clothes to go over it, has been really fun. Needless to say I have no idea what he did, so therefore, I get the Mom of the Year award.

Please pray for a quick healing and that nothing more than this lovely cast has to be done. The Doctors can not agree if his elbow is broke or not, so we are hoping the orthopedic doctor wins and it is not broken.

Everyone else is doing fine, Steve is working lots of hours at work, and enjoys his Sundays off. I have been busy with School and Sunday School and the kids. Michaela is loving Middle School and could pass for about 16 at times. NOT something her mom wants to see.

Thank you all for your prayers for Marcus and all of us.

Love you all!