speaking truth

It is so hard to accept criticism. I think by nature we naturally get really defensive when anyone questions anything we are doing! But, I am so thankful for friends who are still willing to speak truth to me!

Today I was talking to one of my best friends and she mentioned to me that she was reading "Created to Be His Helpmeet" again. She was talking about how it is so hard to be a wife sometimes but we need to look at it as an honor and a blessing given to us by God! She mentioned the importance of being a happy wife and oh my it hit home with me. I told her I had a tendency to be a grump around my husband and she totally called me on it! I was sick today and having a rough time with Max (gotta love the terrible 2's!!) and I was just in such a foul mood. I was totally prepared to totally vent to Nick as soon as he walked through the door. But, thank goodness for our conversation! When Nick walked through the door I was able to greet him with a smile and a kiss! I later told him about my rough day but we went on to have an amazing and fun evening together!

I totally want to be a helper to my husband! I want him to want to come home to me! I am so grateful to my friend for being so honest with me. It is so easy when we admit to something we are doing for our friends to just say, "that's okay, it happens" but what a blessing it is when instead they say, "well you need to stop doing that!!"

Lord, help me to speak truth to my friends and to receive truth with an open heart!

The sweetest eyes

I just had to post this picture! I think my little girl has the sweeteset beautiful blue eyes!

It's 2009

Wow, I can't believe it is 2009 already. 2008 was such a big year with our new baby, move, Nick's new job.... Wow. Part of me hopes this year is calmer! But, what I really want this year to be more than anything is all about God! As I glanced back over my blog I realized how much I talk about everything God is doing for me. I think this is a great thing to talk about. God definetly deserves the glory! But, I was thinking today about how God is good all the time. God answers prayer all the time, even when the answer is no. And with all the good and yes' I have gotten lately I have forgotten that God and His amazingness stand alone! He doesn't need me to show how amazing He is. He doesn't need any of us!

So, my goal for 2009 is to focus less on myself and more on my Creator! My goal is to change the way I think and the way I talk.

My husband had a "come to Jesus" with me (I love that phrase and it is certainly fitting here) a few weeks ago and it has just totally changed my thought life. I was feeling really down and depressed and just at the end of my rope in a lot of ways. I was feeling so bad about everything and so negative. Nick said, "you have got to stop thinking like this" to which I got angry and responded, "I can't control the way I think! What am I supposed to think about?" And then he hit me with a ton of bricks (by bricks I mean truth!) and he said, "think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable..."

So, Sisters, here I am. Standing at the beginning of 2009 ready to make a change. I am called to take every thought captive and think about that which is true, noble, right... And let's be honest, almost all of what is true and right and... is about Jesus Christ Himself and not about me!

Please be in prayer with me as I work to change my thoughtlife! And let me know if I start talking about myself too much! This is an uphill battle to be sure but I am ready for the challenge!

With that in mind I have chosen for my first scripture memory verse of '09 (I am memorizing scripture with Beth Moore and the Siestas through her blog, http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com)

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things

Phillipians 4:8

The search might be back on again!

I am so disheartened! I am afraid that our search to find a church in our new town might be back on again! Nick and I were really enjoying the Baptist Church in Wentzville but I just don't think it is going to work for our entire family. Max is having such a rough time in the nursery we haven't been able to stay for a whole church service in like 2 months. And honestly, I don't really blame him. I went in and sat with him a few weeks ago after they paged me to come get him because he was freaking out and honestly, it was a total mess. I was sitting there and kids were just running around like crazy people. The two teachers in the room spent the entire time talking to each other and totally ignoring the kids. Several kids came up to Max while I was holding him and tried to take his cup or his book and the teachers just totally ignored it. There was no structure whatsoever. I asked the nursery coordinator about it and she didn't seem too concerned. So, I am afraid we might have to start looking again.

We just can't go to a church that isn't good for our kids. And, since we never get to even sit through a whole service because Max freaks out it really just won't work! It is just so hard to look for a church. Nick and I desperately want to find a church that we can call home and start building relationships. So, please pray for us as our journey continues!

Woo hoo!

So, I have to have a little celebration here. I just bought a pair if size 10 jeans! I haven't worn a 10 since like, high school! I am so excited! Although, to be fair, I haven't done any exercising or dieting. It is all from breastfeeding my little miss. Because, to be honest, I eat horribly and don't exercise at all! Since we live with my grandma there are always delicious sweets around. So, I have desert after every meal and a late night snack of some sweet treat. I know, it is terrible! But, I do feel more encouraged to exercise and eat right now. Because, if I can make this much progress eating like a horse I can probably do even better on a more sensible meal plan. And, since I won't be breastfeeding forever I should probably get back in the habit of eating well again! But, even though I didn't really "earn" this weightloss... it still feels good:-)

"I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said..." Luke 1:38

Every year around Christmas time I read this verse and am always left speachless for a few minutes just pondering Mary's amazing faith. An angel came to her when she was engaged and told her she was pregnant with God's son! And she says, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said." I think back to when I found out I was pregnant with Max... a human baby that was conceived... well, you know, the normal way;-) And my reaction was nothing like Mary's even though I shouldn't have been very suprised at all! I remember thinking God was crazy and what would I do and what would people think (even though I was a married woman!). And yet, Mary, a young, virgin girl accepts God's plan for her with a humble open spirit. She had to have immediately thought, "what will people think?" "what will my parents think?" "will Joseph stay with me" "how will I raise God himself!?"

I have learned so much from this single verse in the Bible. And today I am still praying that in all circumstances I will accept God's will openly and humbly just like Mary did.

Father, help me to be more like Mary. Help me to accept what you have for me with an open and willing heart. Help me to be humble and understand that I do not know what is best. You do! And you want your best for me and my life! Thank you for choosing Mary to give birth to your precious son. Thank you for using her to teach all of us women how to respond to every task you call us to. I love you and am so grateful for all that you do for me and continue to do for me and my family. Amen.

We're Debt Free!

So, I have been wanting to write this post for the past few days but hadn't gotten the chance yet! This is the biggest news to hit the Ramsey house since Sophie Nichole was born almost 4 months ago. So, here it goes...

WE'RE DEBT FREE!!!! WOO HOO!!! Nick and I are so excited we can hardly contain ourselves. It has been on our heart to become debt free for the past few years. We had started reading Dave Ramsey and really exploring the Bible on this issue and came to strongly feel convicted to get out of debt and stay out of debt. I am not saying Nick and I got ourselves out of debt though. God got us out of debt! We followed his leading and made some sacrafices and He provided for us in amazing ways!

It was actually a pretty amazing journey and I see now why God didn't pull us out of debt right away. He had a lot to teach us in the process and we are so much stronger and closer to Him for it. In the beginning when we were trying to get out of debt I know my whole heart wasn't there. I so desperately wanted to believe that we could get out of debt and I could still do everything I wanted to do. I could still go out to eat every week (multiple times a week), still have Target shopping sprees, etc. And, honestly, I started to believe that it would take us forever to get out of debt and that we would never get ahead. But, then something changed. I was praying about our situation and God seemed to let me know that if I was willing to do my part and put my whole heart into this, He would cover the rest. HOLY MOLY DID GOD COVER THE REST!!! He provided lump sum gifts from bonuses or gifts that helped us to really get started. Then He provided Nick with the opportunity to significantly increase his income and He provided me with the opportunity to make a bit of an income. And voila, we are debt free! Which is why I can't take any of the credit! God made this happen and I am so grateful!

I'm not writing this entry to brag in any way. I have NOTHING to brag about. I am only writing this to give God the glory He always deserves. And also to encourage any of you with a desire to get out of debt. Pray to God about your desires and He will provide in ways that you never expected. Everyones journey to get out of debt is and will be different and He will always do things in His own perfect timing. But, don't let yourself think you have to do it on your own. Our Heavenly Father wants to be actively involved in this and every other endeavor in our lives!