The Word that Chose Me in 2013

Disclaimer: I write this post as I think of many of us who may not have had a completely fun year.  This post is not intended to be a “woe is me”piece, but more of my thoughts about how God carries us through unexpected seasons.

Do you reflect on your life as a new year begins?  Perhaps you might even choose a word to describe your new year.  I started out last year with a great energy and excitement, goals, structure – ready to take on anything.  Bring it on, 2013!!  Here's my Caton crew last New Year's Eve!

Within the first two weeks, I became very ill with a chronic health issue that led to many painful and nauseous days lying on the couch for over three months.  So much for big energy and tackling a big to-do list!

Around the same time over the holidays, my family was faced with a huge “bomb” of info that would forever change the course of what our “normal” looked like.

You know those “bomb” moments, we all have them. 

There were no easy answers, no formula, no resource book or doctor to fix things.  There were many nights when no one in the house was sleeping; nights when my (incredible) husband and I could only cry out to God for help because there were no words.  Like laying-face-down-on-the-ground cries to God.  I found myself taking on very heavy burdens of others, including my children’s burdens (as we mothers are so capable of doing).  Not to sound over-dramatic, but our little family was literally fighting through darkness.  There were days where I could only find strength to focus on getting through the morning, then the afternoon, then the evening, then through the night.  Through those first several months, I received wisdom from professional counseling, had precious friends literally praying over me and my family, and I kept hearing the word “REST.”  Rest… Really?  I mean, I’m not a morning person, but I can barely sit through a whole movie without getting up.  Rest = Boring, in my mind.

In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary, 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.”  

I started praying and speaking the above verse daily.  As a family, we learned that we needed to work on resting our minds.  There are many ways to try to rest our minds.  We’ve adapted a tangible practice of holding out our hands with our “burdens” and literally lifting them up to Jesus to take from us.  In exchange, we ask for the REST and peace, which He promises, and we bring our hands back down to our hearts or heads.  It sounds completely cheesy and weird.  But I don’t care.  It’s working.  I’m sharing in case it might work for you.  It’s been a wonderful practice, especially before bedtime, as we can physically envision how we give away our burdens and receive REST for our minds and hearts.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

REST. It was the “word” for my 2013, whether I liked it or not.  So I chose to accept it.

REST, as I had to trust God to heal brokenness that I could not fix. (imagine that! ha)

REST, as I read a wonderful book in the summer called “Desperate,” together with other moms who were also looking for permission and ways to find rest and peace.

REST, as I had shoulder surgery in late summer and faced more complications that have delayed my recovery. 

REST, as I could not drive for 8 weeks, did not have a lot of energy and had to be home more than usual.

REST, as sometimes I could not live up to MY expectations as a mom, wife and friend.

REST, even when it disappointed others when I had to say no. 

REST, and give others and myself much grace that it’s OK if things don’t go as originally planned. 

REST, and humbly accept meals, help and love from my family, friends and community.

REST, and enjoy special times with my loved ones with a grateful heart.

REST, and see all those unexpected joys, even in the darkest of times.  Because the joys ARE there!

I look back at 2013 with much thankfulness, as I see so much healing through the pain. I see AMAZING, good times we had in the midst of chaos.  Jesus has brought so much restoration and peace to my family.  We still ask God daily to give our minds rest and peace as a family.  We are in such a different place than a year ago.  I enter 2014 with excitement again.  I feel refreshed and renewed, looking forward to new things and new communities we have recently joined.  I already know REST is still involved as my shoulder is still immobile.  

Do I want to go back to January 2013?  Not a chance!  

Am I thankful for the growth and lessons learned?  More than I can ever imagine.

Pic describes our year - clinging to one another and to our God! :)

Maybe 2013 was horrible for you, or 2014 is not looking pretty so far.  Remember that Jesus is completely capable and willing to take your burdens.  It’s worth the time to try to learn what that means.  I’ve been spending most of 2013 trying to learn, and I feel that promised "peace" even as I still have so far to go.  My heart just wants to shout to anyone who can relate, “Don’t try to face it alone!”  

Happy New Year, my friends!


What's the word that describes your 2013?  

Asking for Guidance

Being a parent is hard.  Being a human is hard.  I try to make plans to do things the right way -- the best way.  But if I try to do everything on my own (my favorite way to do things, btw), my plans may fail many times over -- I know this from experience!

God promises to guide me through his Spirit.  I have his Spirit inside me, helping me.  Jesus talked about this spirit for his followers before he left earth.  John 16:13,"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."  

God's spirit, alive in me!  What a refreshing thought for this mama who...

*doesn't always have the right words

*is not always sure how to guide

*will fall flat on her face if she tries to do it alone.

And so I ask for guidance today, God, 

and I remember You promise to help me.  

Isaiah 58:11

And the Lord will guide you continually

    and satisfy your desire in scorched places

    and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

    like a spring of water,

    whose waters do not fail.

And I sing this song to you, "Take my dry bones and breath life into this skin. Oh Jesus, Alive in Me!"

You hear my prayers and you give me peace.

I love you, God.

Reflections of a School Year

I’m a teary-eyed momma today.   

Today is our last day of school.  

I look at my children and see the growth.  

I reflect on the memories.  

I remember hard days and amazing days.  

I smile at the silliness.  

I think of the challenges my family faced this year, 

and I understand the beautiful story 

of how and WHY God asked me to keep them home for now.  

I remember many teachable and tough conversations that had to happen in order to grow.  

I am in awe how God taught ME through my children.  

There are no regrets.  My heart is full.

Summer Break, here we come!

Mom, Are We Poor?

In the car as we do errands, my daughter asks:

9yo:  Mom, are we poor?  Sometimes I feel like we are.

Me:  Well, there are certainly people who have a lot more than us, but there are many more people in this world who have much LESS than us.  We have so much.

9yo:  Really?

Me:  Yes.  Do you have food and water every day?

9yo:  Yes.

Me:  Do you have a roof over your head every night and a bed to sleep in?

9yo:  Yes.

Me:  Do you have clothes to wear?

9yo:  Yes.

Me:  Then you are NOT poor.  God promises to always take care of our needs. 

9yo:  You're right, Mom.

That night, after tucking in the kids, I pray:

Me:  God, I have so many needs!

Answer:  Tell me more.  

Me:  Well, I need (blank), (blank) and I REALLY need (blank).  And it sure would be nice to have (blank) because I'm going crazy.

Answer:  Do you have food and water every day?

Me:  Yes.

Answer:  Do you have a roof over your head every night and a bed to sleep in?

Me:  Yes.

Answer:  Do you have clothes to wear?

Me:  Yes.

Answer:  And aren't you surrounded by a very loving family and huge supportive network of friends?  

Me:  Well, yes I am.

Answer:  I have already blessed you and you know I've got this covered, right?

Me:  Yes.... I love you, God!

Answer:  You know I love you always, and Amy, don't forget about my children who do not have what you have.

From the Bible:  the book of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 24-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?"

A Special Gift from My Mom

During my childhood, my mother gave me a very special gift.  It was not something I could hold in my hands, but something I could carry with me the rest of my life. 

She invested in my self-worth.

I think back and I really can’t remember a time when I heard my mother complain about her physical body.  Is my mother beautiful?  Yes, she’s gorgeous.  Was she always happy with her body?  If she is a living, breathing woman, I’m guessing she wasn’t always happy with it.  Her body has gone through changes just like any other woman’s, as she has given birth to three beautiful and amazing children.  (Do you like how I threw that beautiful/amazing children part in there? Ha.)  Did she think she was perfect?  Of course not. But... There were no “pity parties” about her body to her daughters.  If she did complain, I don’t remember it.  WOW, if you are a woman, you know that takes some inner strength.

Me as a 5-year-old flower girl

Just as amazing, I STILL remember what Mom would tell me when I started to complain about my own body.  I was super-skinny as a young lady and NOT in a “cool” way.  My lanky, long arms nearly touched my knees without me reaching!  One person called me “spaghetti arms” and it was stuck in my brain forever.  I complained about my nose, my arms, my pasty white skin that wouldn’t tan even with baby oil (oh, the 80s!), my lack of “curves” and much more. 

Any time my mom heard me complaining about any body part, she’d say, “HEY!  I worked hard giving birth to those arms!  Don’t you dare complain, I don’t want to hear it.” Well, who can complain to a woman who bore horrible pains giving birth to you and considers you as their “beautiful” child?  It would always make me shut up.

My mom helping me with my wedding dress

So here I am, a mother of two beautiful daughters.  I’ve certainly had many times where I am not happy with my physical body.  Weight fluctuations, body changes, and I still have that pasty white skin that refuses to turn even a dark peach.  I want to whine about it, BUT I know my daughters will hear it even if I’m not talking directly to them.  So as a gift to my daughters, I have sworn to intentionally eliminate the “self-image pity party,” and I smile as I use those spaghetti arms to reach that bowl on the top shelf.

Thank you, Mom, for all the gifts of love you have shown me.  I love you forever.  And after writing this post, I realize we need more pictures of the two of us together - usually one of us is holding the camera!

Happy Mother’s Day!

My mom and my daughter

Thankful Turkey Feathers

Each year, at least one of my girls comes home with a Thanksgiving Turkey craft where they write something they are thankful for on each colorful turkey feather.  What would I write on my turkey feathers this year?

1.  My marriage.  It has been nearly 11 years since we said our "I do's" and I would rank this past year as one of the best.  We have faced life challenges that could have knocked us down hard but we chose to stick together as a team -- we have weathered the storms together.  I can not express enough how thankful I am for my husband, his friendship and his love.

2.  A Warm House and Food on My Table.  When my husband changed careers 11 months ago, we knew we would take a hit financially, as he was starting over from scratch in a new industry.  And yet, God has taken care of our needs literally one day at a time.  There is not enough time to write every provision, but I am in AWE of how God cares about every little detail.  Thank you, God!

3.  New Jobs.  Speaking of my hubby's career change, I am so thankful for his new career path.  I see the fulfillment he gets from helping people with their financial plans, and I love the heart of the company he works for.  I love their mission to honor God and love people, while still working in the financial industry.  I didn't know such a company existed!

AND there is my new job as a Thirty-One Consultant.  I started a couple months ago, and I LOVE the flexibility, the fun, practical products as well as girls nights out :)  What a special blessing Thirty-One has been so far!  I'll blog more about it soon.

4.  My Daughters.  I've never know two people to give me so much joy.  It is amazing to watch a child grow before your eyes - physically, socially, academically and spiritually.  I know God uses my girls to keep me humble, to remind me what is really important, make me laugh uncontrollably and to keep my faith strong.  I'm so proud of my little chickadees!

5.  Music.  Sigh... I love music.  Listening to music, singing and more.  I have loved the opportunity to continue to sing with a full, live band all year with Momentum Christian Church.  Two of my favorite things about singing in the band:  1) I love, love, love singing harmonies with others. 2)  I love worshipping God through music and having the energy of a full band is just awesome!

There's so much more to list:  family, my church, my wonderful friends, living in Cleveland and more.  It's a good thing that turkeys have a lot of feathers!

Happy Thanksgiving!  What would you put on your Turkey Feathers?

Chicken Pot Pie

This chicken pot pie recipe is AWESOME.  I'm grateful to a friend for sharing it with me a couple years ago.  It's changed my life. :)  A few things to note:

-It does take some time to chop all the veggies, sometimes I do it the day before to spread out my time. (I also use my Pamp Chef food chopper - so fast!)
-I usually add some extra veggies/potatoes to make 3 pot pies instead of two.
-Sometimes the day before or that morning, I'll put chicken breasts in the crock pot for several hours on LOW with a little bit of water or chicken broth.  Then the chicken is nice & tender, pulls apart easily and I can put it right into the recipe. (saves time!!)
-I use refrigerated pie crust on bottom and top, but that's just because I love crust :)
-I usually make three pot pies, and give one of them away.  It's always fun to think about who in your life needs a chicken pot pie that week :)  I highly recommend this -- a chicken pot pie can brighten someone's day!


Aunt Kathy's Chicken Pot Pies

1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrot
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1/3 cup melted butter
2 cups chicken broth
½ cup flour
1 cup half and half
4 cups cooked chicken (see crockpot tip above)
1 cup frozen tiny peas
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
Pastry
pie plates

Saute first 4 ingredients in butter in a skillet over
medium heat until tender.  Add flour; stir until
smooth.  Add chicken broth and half and half and cook
until thickened and bubbly.  Stir in chicken, peas,
salt, and pepper.

Put chicken mixture into two pie pans.  Cover each
with pastry.  Cut some slits for steam to escape.

Label and cover to freeze at this point OR

Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 50 minutes or
until crust is golden brown.  (cook longer if frozen)

Every Person Has a Story

It's Sunday morning, and I am in a dark, large movie theater.  I'm at Momentum Church and it's near the beginning of service. I'm standing in the very bottom front under the screen on the stage with a full band.  Because the spotlights & lighting are shining on the stage, I'm basically blinded.  I can't see all the audience but I can see a few nearby faces and if I look hard, I can see silhouettes and "gray shades" of people all the way up to the top of the theater.  Momentum isn't a huge church but it's still large enough where I don't know everyone - plus, new people visit all the time.

Random pic from a 2010 Momentum Sunday

Something comes to mind that someone once told me to remember when you are in a band that helps lead people in worship:


Every person in this audience has a story.


The music starts and it's one of my favorite rockin' songs, "Salvation Is Here."  It talks about the freedom that Jesus can give me, that God is on my side, that His promises in the Bible are true, that the world can't knock me down.  I look out at the audience while singing with them.

I see someone I know who has struggled with addiction.
I see someone who takes care of her ailing husband.
I see someone who welcomed a new baby into his home this year.

We sing "Momentum of Love" which describes how God's love can change things in incredible ways.

I see a young woman who just got engaged.
I see someone who decided to follow Jesus last year, and she strives to keep the faith through very trying times. 
I see a friend who doesn't know what's next, but knows something has to change.


We sing "Never Let Go" with phrases like "You never let go -- through the calm and through the storm, You never let go of me" and "for the heart that holds on, there will be an end to these troubles, but until that day comes... Still I will praise You...."

I see a 20-something woman who lost her father this year.
I see someone who is just checking this "God stuff" out & is probably glad the theater is dark so she doesn't have to be noticed.
I see a middle-aged man who has fought the unemployment battle for at least 2 years.
I see a mom who works so hard and has to be exhausted today.
I see a family that has been willing to serve sacrificially to help love others.


And I see a theater full of people who are remembering the horrific events of September 11, 2001.  And they are singing their hearts out!

I feel like I have the most beautiful view in the theater.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There were so many stories in that theater this morning.  People of different ages, races, economic classes and different places in their spiritual journey -- taking moments to honor God or simply observe.

They sang praise
to the One who gives us freedom,
to the One who allows us to see incredible things because of His love,
to the One who Never Lets Go.

Tooth Fairy vs. The "Red Stuff"

She lost her first tooth!  It was extremely wobbly and practically horizontal (aka TIME TO COME OUT)  She asked me to take turns with her at attempting to pull it out.  She would pull it, then I would pull it, then back to her, then me.  Finally, I pulled it out.  She had mixed emotions - she was ELATED that it came out, but NOT AT ALL happy about the blood (which I had warned her about in preceding days).  Fortunately, the excitement exceeded the panic about the b-l-o-o-d so it was a great evening.

The next morning, we saw that the Tooth Fairy had left four quarters - so exciting!  However, the happy bubble was burst when she decidedly announced several times that she was NOT happy with me for pulling her tooth out.  I reminded her that we had decided to take turns trying to pull it, remember????  It didn't seem to matter.  Apparently, the thought of the "red stuff" won out over the excitement on day #2.

I have a feeling I won't be asked to pull another tooth.  But I still can't help but smile & even giggle when she flashes that "missing tooth smile" at me.  Adorable. :-D

Latest Memory Verse

So I slacked for the first time and skipped the July 1st memory verse (referring to my New Year's resolution to memorize something from the Bible twice a month all year).  But I'm back in the game here in mid-July with a topic that has been on my mind all week.

Proverbs 16:24, NIV
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Ah, so true and so good to remember every time I open my mouth to speak. :)

Rest & Relaxation

Ah, the summer break is in full effect.  And I feel that truly I have had some restful moments.  I resonated with a blog I read the other day called Ways to Find Personal Rest, which offers great ideas on how to relax and take some moments for yourself during the summer.

Besides a little traveling to see some family, a few of my favorite ways to chill out this summer include:

- Making time to read some good books.  Less TV & computer, more reading = relaxation!  So far, I have read "Scarlet Nights" by Jude Deveraux (mystery/romance) and "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven" by Kevin Malarkey (LOVED this book).  I registered for the local library's summer reading program along with my kids, and I've already won a prize!  I won a book (surprise, surprise) but hey...I'm a winner! :)  Maybe I'll win the grand prize of having my birthday party at the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame!  Yes, prizes motivate me.  And yes, I really am 35 yrs old & not a 2nd grader.

- Eating dinner with the family/friends outside on the patio.  I love summers in Cleveland.  The temperature feels just right in the evening & the sky looks amazing as the sun begins to set.  The kids usually end up playing in the backyard after eating.  I have loved those "after dinner" conversations with my husband while we relax on the patio with the kids playing nearby.  Sometimes we take walks too.  Even though there's nothing fancy, nothing planned, these evenings are some of my favorite family memories.

- Borrowing some cookbooks from the library to get some new ideas (even if I don't cook them, I like to drool over the recipes - I'm weird).  I've been looking at a few vegetarian cookbooks, which has been fun and different.  At the moment, I'm going through Gwyneth Paltrow's new book called "My Father's Daughter."  If I find a recipe that looks easy enough, I actually enjoy the whole process of creating deliciousness :)  We tried a Greek Tortellini recipe last week - a perfect, easy dish for summer. YUM.

- Rest from Facebook.  I miss Facebook, but it has been a good break.  I plan to log back in at some point, but it's been a good two months of rest and quiet for my mind.


How have you relaxed this summer?

A Day in the Country

The girls and I are on a little adventure visiting my parents in Pennsylvania.  I forget that I don't see mountains very often until I drive from Cleveland back to my parents' home in south central PA.  The majestic mountainous views complemented by the clear blue skies are breath-taking!

Today was filled with adventure.  We drove through winding back roads (my girls yelling WEEE!), past wheat fields being harvested, orchards and dairy farms.  We arrived at our destination, a little pond filled with bluegills & large-mouth bass just waiting to be caught by some girls and their grandfather!

Yes, my five-year-old caught a 17 1/2 inch bass!

This one just makes me laugh!  Don't get too close to the flopping fish, big sis...

We stopped by a farm that makes and sells cheese, appropriately called the "Cheese Haus."  We got a quick impromptu tour and saw how they were making 600 lbs of baby Swiss!

I splurged on an Italian Cheddar block and had to get some Colby Jack for my little one.  Delicious!

A great day in the country for three city girls!

Chopped It Off

Yep, I did it.  Chopped it all off.  And it feels great! 

Yes, my locks were so long that my hairstylist made sure I wasn't going to punch him after he cut it all off.  haha  I'm not sentimental about my hair, so it's not hard for me to get it cut.  However, I am lazy about fixing my hair, so it must be easy to maintain.  I will say that my neck muscles are feeling weird because my hair was so heavy before the cut!

Shout out to 1st Grade!

Somehow this week, my blog management system emailed out some old posts I wrote last summer about homeschooling.  I have no idea why, except that I was playing around with settings and probably pushed a button.  I'm SO not a blog expert!

But it was fun to reread what I wrote, and reminded me that I'd love to give a last shout out to this past year of school! 

First -- I am very thankful for Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA).  It was truly a blessing to have everything planned out for me, and yet still allowed me some flexibility with my child as she reached her learning objectives.  OHVA uses K12 curriculum, which is highly-rated and intuitive.  The curriculum uses textbooks, workbooks, interactive online lessons & materials for hands-on projects.  The 1st grade curriculum covered Math, Language Arts, Phonics, History, Science, Music and Art.  I also logged hours towards Health, Physical Education and Technology lessons, but I could supplement those with whatever curriculum/topics I preferred (a lot easier than I thought). 

One of my favorite things about OHVA was having a teacher accessible to me throughout the year.  I viewed her as my coach.  She was constantly encouraging me AND my daughter, giving me ideas and helping me throughout the year. We had a conference every couple of months, but I could contact her anytime if needed.  She offered online classes once a week, where the students could get together online and learn as a group.  These online classes were fun & a nice change up from the normal day.  My daughter loved it.

Speaking of my daughter, I have to give her the BIGGEST SHOUT OUT of all!  My 7yo is a happy-go-lucky girl who gets excited about anything and everything.  She is a very motivated learner, so she made my job easy!  Not that every day was perfect -- there were certainly days FULL of challenge -- but her positivity and joy for learning helped me stay positive too.  (Shouldn't it be the other way around? haha, I hope it was)  We both worked really hard to reach our goals, and it was so fun to celebrate how much we accomplished by the end of the school year. Our celebration included the Cleveland Museum of Art, a stop by a bakery in Little Italy & the Big Dipper with whole family that evening.  Fun times!

Congratulations, sweet pea!  I'm so proud of you :)

Reading Blogs

Different blog posts come through my Inbox, and I read some of them when I have time.  Do you ever have those times when you know you needed to hear something?  That's the way I felt when I read this blog below.  I don't even know the author, but it was worth the read. 

 Turn Your No into God's Yes -- Dare to Jump In  by Bonnie Gray

My Baby, Growing Up

You came into this world, ready to cuddle in my arms.  You loved being swaddled with warm blankets that December and within three months, you found your special "silky" blanket and thumb to comfort yourself. You weren't so sure about strangers, but you felt safe in your Mommy and Daddy's arms. By the time you were one year old, you already knew how to play tricks on your sister and make everyone laugh.  You didn't even try to walk until you knew how to do it perfectly, so you waited until almost 15 months and then walked flawlessly.  And we all celebrated! (and nibbled/kissed your irresistible chubby cheeks!)

You are more comfortable being quiet in public, but we are not fooled.  You have a lot to say. 

You notice everything -- from who is in the room to what kind of door handles are on the vehicle driving by.
You are a great listener... you don't miss a beat! 
When I lose something, I ask YOU where it is because you will know.
You love music, singing and dancing. 
You love your sister and your friends.
You light up when Daddy comes in the room.
And let's not forget the lip gloss, fashionable boots and leggings.
You know exactly what you want, without a doubt! You are very persistent -- a quality that keeps me on my toes but I know will help take you where you want to go in life.
I can see the pride in your eyes when you accomplish something that requires you to be very BRAVE.
You have the best smile in the world.

There are so many things I love about you, my baby girl... I could go on and on.  But today, I take a moment to tell you how PROUD I am of you. Congratulations on graduating from preschool.  I can't wait to see what's in store for you in Kindergarten. :)

A Cure for Cysitc Fibrosis

Hey friends - My family is walking this weekend in the Great Strides walk to help raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Our 9-yr-old friend, Mylee, has CF.  She is a rockstar & one of the most amazing kids I know.  We've seen firsthand how much she and her family have gone through to battle this disease.  We've heard how CF docs have been progressing with their research and they are getting closer and closer to finding a cure.  We want to WIPE OUT CF!!  Will you help us?

We are joining this walk late in the game, so we're way behind on our fundraising goal.  A donation of any size will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks for considering & while you're at it, please say a prayer for Mylee and others who face this disease every day.  Also, pray that a cure comes quickly - it is possible! 

Here is the link if you would like to donate:  http://www.cff.org/great_strides/AmyCaton

Thanks, friends!

New Year's Resolution - in May!

In January, I posted a New Year's resolution.  I wanted to memorize two Bible verses a month.  I joined a blog community to help me with this journey, along with some friends.

Here's how it goes:  I have a little index card sized flip notebook.  Each time I learn a new verse, I add it in my notebook.  So as of today, I've learned 10 verses this year.  I can flip and practice them anytime.  I also have my 7yo write the verses out as part of her handwriting practice & both of my daughters help me memorize them.  Nothing like a little one making sure I know my verses! :)

I've wanted to give up on this resolution several times already, but I've pushed through so far.  Why learn these verses?  Memorizing verses from the Bible has had a huge impact on my every day life.  Reciting verses can calm me down, give me peace, encourage me, challenge me and make me feel loved.  I believe that the Bible is truly inspired by God. I don't know how else to explain it other than God's word in the Bible is powerful. 

So, I'm going to practice my verses now by typing them out.  I'm not perfect at remembering WHERE these verses are located in the Bible, so I'm working on that.  (Also a note to those who are interested: websites like www.biblegateway.com are helpful with viewing different verses and versions quickly.)

Psalm 65:11, NLT
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest.  Even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.  

Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
"For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Romans 12:12, ESV
Rejoice in hope,
Be patient in tribulation, 
Be constant in prayer.

James 1:19, NIV
Dear brothers, take note of this: be QUICK to listen, SLOW to speak and SLOW to become angry.

Judges 5:21b
March on, my soul;  be strong!

Proverbs 16:3, NIRV
Commit to the Lord everything you do.  Then your plans will succeed.

Philippians 4:13, NLT
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Psalm 121:1-3
I lift my eyes to the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

Jeremiah 32:27, NIV
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?

and the one I just added today........

Psalm 27:14, NET
Rely on the Lord!  Be strong and confident!  Rely on the Lord!

Thank You, Moms!

Did anyone catch the Mother's Day episode of "The Middle" sitcom last week?  It was all too real and so funny.  The mom of three was given the gift of a full day of alone time.  She was thrilled!  However, instead of relaxing on the couch with her TV remote and stack of magazines like she intended, she spent the day doing chores and dirty, nitty-gritty jobs around the house.  By the time she sat down on the couch in the evening with her magazines, the family returned home -- telling her about all their wonderful adventures that she missed out on.  She was devastated, angry at her husband & ended up getting a "do-over" Mother's Day the next weekend (which turned out just as bad).

If you are a mom or a woman who invests her time into building up and encouraging other people, I hope you were celebrated yesterday.  The quote below landed in my Inbox this morning.  I hope it encourages all you Moms out there.

“Children do not accidentally become righteous leaders or emotionally healthy and productive adults – any more than seeds thrown randomly to the wind grow to be part of a thriving, beautiful garden.

Someone needs to take responsibility for their nurture, protection, nourishment, intellectual development, manners, recreation, personal needs, and spiritual development. Someone needs to commit time and energy into staying close to them as they grow, encouraging, loving, correcting and teaching.

God designed mothers with a capacity to call forth all that is great, excellent, true, pure and righteous in a child’s heart and to cast a vision for their children to bring these virtues about in their own lives, and in their generation. When a woman embraces her design and call by God, there will always be hope for each generation."  
- Sally Clarkson

Thank you, Moms, for all your hard work and investing into the lives of our children to make the world a better place.

Happy (day after) Mother's Day!

Goodbye, Facebook

Hey everyone - I'm deleting my Facebook account.  I know it sounds extreme but I've been wanting to take a break for a while. Why?

#1 - I spend a ridiculous amount of time on Facebook.  A couple years ago, I remember my daughter excitedly showing me a picture she drew.  She said, "Mommy, I drew a picture of you and your best friend!" I was curious whom she considered my best friend.  Would it be my husband?  Or one of my close girlfriends?  I looked the picture and the only thing I saw was ME... holding my iPod Touch!  Hilarious and horrifying.  I do not want my kids' main mental image of their mother as someone "staring at a screen" throughout their childhood.  Since I'm home with the kids, FB is accessible to me all the time.  It sounds stupid, but it's truly difficult for me not to check it.  Just a habit!

#2 - Do you ever have those times when you need to clear your head? Facebook isn't physically loud (well, that depends, I guess - ha), but it is a lot of voices and a lot of thoughts filling my head all day, every day. (Told you I was on FB a lot!) A lot of chatter.  Not all bad chatter, just a lot of chatter. Information overload!  I need to eliminate some of that noise, and I think this is a great way to help make that happen for me. (You mean I won't know what sale Kohl's is having today?!)

All of that said, I do not believe Facebook, the Internet or other technologies are evil.  I love keeping in touch with people in a unique way through FB.  I will miss that part the most.  Especially venting about  things like Celebrity Apprentice & American Idol.  Matt may have to do the dirty work for me!

The great news is that I am still alive in the technology world!  If you still want to connect with me online, you can sign up on the upper right side of this screen to receive my blogs in your Inbox or you can become a follower, if you'd like.  I look forward to keeping up with events and pictures of my life through this blog.  And of course, I will have email too.

I'm also alive in the REAL world!  I'm not trying to isolate myself.  I love my friends & family.  Just trying to create some new habits & fill my time in new ways. :)

I may come back to FB someday, but for now, I'm looking forward to the change!

Farewell, Facebook....