I am on a trip in New York City this weekend with some of the bestest friends you would ever want to have, Robin Harris and Fonda Goode!
Last night we went out to eat at a great restaurant and then to a play, "Love, Loss and What I Wore", it was very good and has given me a lot to think about from my past.
The play was basically 5 women recounting times about their past and what they were wearing. This started me thinking this morning, first of all I have some great memories of shopping with my mom, family, and friends. Buying outfits, shoes, accessories, all those sorts of things and what was going on when we were shopping and why.
Like the times my mom and I would shop before the first football game so that I could have a new sweater to wear for it or going with her to buy material and a pattern for my prom and winter formal dresses. Buying maternity jeans for my sister when she was pregnant with her son (I am big on jeans!), or going with my oldest to pick out her wedding dress. Times that I have shopped alone trying to find that perfect top for my youngest, hoping that she would just love it or surprising my son with a shirt from one of his favorite shows. Looking at shirts knowing that my husband would just look so much more handsome in it OR going to the rodeo and buying a shirt that I just had to have, because hey, it is the rodeo!!
But this morning I also started thinking about what blessings I have had throughout my life. Growing up in a small town and knowing almost everyone you went to high school with (that can be good and bad -lol), having my dad watch me cheer lead, run track and cross country. Meeting my husband in 1981; becoming great friends and then best friends before we were married in 1987. Moving to Texas meeting wonderful friends that have your back, you enjoy going out with and don't judge you. Having my sister and my cousin be such close and wonderful friends - it is great have family that can also be best friends! Having my children grow up to become wonderful adults that I enjoy being around and having the most awesome grandchildren (I think in the entire world)!
I also enjoy where I work and who I work with, the staff, volunteers and clients. So many blessings from my past that have brought me to this moment in time; this part of my journey. I know I have the strength and courage to go through what is ahead because of my past.
This past week I have had another door open, I think, that reveals my future. I am starting to see such a need to reach out to "at risk" and troubled teens. Seeing how affected my client is by her past makes me want to make me step in and help not only her but other youth not go down that same path or if they have, help them to heal and overcome so that they can have a wonderful and productive future.
This new open door also includes my horses. It takes a lot of trust to work with horses. You have to trust your horse and believe it or not, they have to trust you. So putting them with kids that need to work on trust issues would be awesome.
I feel the Lord bringing this together in my life, I am walking through this door to see where it might lead me. I am excited about this new journey and feel energized thinking about all the possibilities this open door could have for me.
Hmmmmmm, all of this from a play where women basically talked about clothes and feelings - how funny is that?!
I have some more exploring and research to do, I want to make sure this is an open door that I am supposed to walk through and that it will be productive and excellent. Also that this is all from the Lord.
Well, more about this after I have done more research! Thanks again for joining me on this journey! Stacy
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
A good General
So as I have been on my journey, the Lord has lead me to read "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Why you ask? Ah, I don't know, but I am reading it.
This is what I have learned so far - A good general knows his enemies, knows his soldiers, knows when to battle and when to rest his troops. A good general knows the battle field and how to director his troops through that field to victory. He knows ever piece and how to put it together and work it out so that he wins. I often imagine the board game Risk while I am reading this book - not that I really played that game, but that is what pops into my head.
To me, God is the good general. He knows me, knows how to put all the pieces of my life together and when I need to move forward and when I need to stay put.
He has already won the war, but I still have daily battles that I must go through. So, I need to listen to the General, move when He says to move and stay put when He says so.
Ah, so the word TRUST comes into play. If I know that He is a good general, that He has my back, that He knows me and only wants me to win each battle, then can I trust Him enough to move forward when He says and stay put when He says.
Ok, so now let's combine this with Sunday's sermon - ah the book of Nehemiah - no kidding - God is so amazing putting all of this together for me as I am on this journey! We are now studying this book and I must say, once again the subject of trust comes into play.
Nehemiah was on a journey as well, the journey to rebuild the wall. He had to trust God and move when God said to move. He had to listen to the good General as well.
Not sure if any of this makes sense, but this is where I am right now. Still waiting for God to reveal and move in my life. Which He is doing - I must say.
So the question is do I trust Him? Will I jump off the high dive into the deep end with Him? I think so! Not sure what it means, but I will move and go through the doors He has opened - I am excited to find out what it all means, actually!
He has been leading me to look up a couple of things online and to call the vet for the horses. So I need to do that - follow through with what He prompting me to do.
So, there will be more to this story. Aren't you glad you are along for the ride - lol! Until next time! Stacy
This is what I have learned so far - A good general knows his enemies, knows his soldiers, knows when to battle and when to rest his troops. A good general knows the battle field and how to director his troops through that field to victory. He knows ever piece and how to put it together and work it out so that he wins. I often imagine the board game Risk while I am reading this book - not that I really played that game, but that is what pops into my head.
To me, God is the good general. He knows me, knows how to put all the pieces of my life together and when I need to move forward and when I need to stay put.
He has already won the war, but I still have daily battles that I must go through. So, I need to listen to the General, move when He says to move and stay put when He says so.
Ah, so the word TRUST comes into play. If I know that He is a good general, that He has my back, that He knows me and only wants me to win each battle, then can I trust Him enough to move forward when He says and stay put when He says.
Ok, so now let's combine this with Sunday's sermon - ah the book of Nehemiah - no kidding - God is so amazing putting all of this together for me as I am on this journey! We are now studying this book and I must say, once again the subject of trust comes into play.
Nehemiah was on a journey as well, the journey to rebuild the wall. He had to trust God and move when God said to move. He had to listen to the good General as well.
Not sure if any of this makes sense, but this is where I am right now. Still waiting for God to reveal and move in my life. Which He is doing - I must say.
So the question is do I trust Him? Will I jump off the high dive into the deep end with Him? I think so! Not sure what it means, but I will move and go through the doors He has opened - I am excited to find out what it all means, actually!
He has been leading me to look up a couple of things online and to call the vet for the horses. So I need to do that - follow through with what He prompting me to do.
So, there will be more to this story. Aren't you glad you are along for the ride - lol! Until next time! Stacy
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Breathing - In and Out
My friend, Fonda, sent me a link to a blog that she thought I might like. I read this and was thinking about how we take so much in and how much we process every day.
I see what other women are doing and either feel guilty that I don't do the same thing or maybe what I do won't turn out the same. Silly things that rattle my brain and throw me off course.
In the blog it talks about all that we take in, but we also need to breathe out. We can't do all things, we actually are not created to be able to do all things. We are created for God's purpose and He created each of us individually and unique - like a snow flake.
I remember watching a commercial growing up for a perfume - it was talking about how as a woman we can "bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never let you forget your a man" - what did that message say? Woman can do it all! But are we supposed too?
I also found out at the conference that I attended that the Proverbs 31 woman is a collection of all women - not just one woman could do all these things. How God created us to do things within our talents and area of gifting.
So, then the question is - what is my talent and gift? Where does He want me to work? What is the path that He is leading me too?
This is what I am working towards. Knowing truly who I am and why I was created. Yes, I am a child of God, yes, I am a wife, yes, I am a mom and YES, I am a grandma - BUT what does that all mean? How do I fit into His big plan?
Ah, the journey continues! :) Below is the website for the blog...
Once again, thank you for letting me share! On to see what today holds for me and my journey!
I see what other women are doing and either feel guilty that I don't do the same thing or maybe what I do won't turn out the same. Silly things that rattle my brain and throw me off course.
In the blog it talks about all that we take in, but we also need to breathe out. We can't do all things, we actually are not created to be able to do all things. We are created for God's purpose and He created each of us individually and unique - like a snow flake.
I remember watching a commercial growing up for a perfume - it was talking about how as a woman we can "bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never let you forget your a man" - what did that message say? Woman can do it all! But are we supposed too?
I also found out at the conference that I attended that the Proverbs 31 woman is a collection of all women - not just one woman could do all these things. How God created us to do things within our talents and area of gifting.
So, then the question is - what is my talent and gift? Where does He want me to work? What is the path that He is leading me too?
This is what I am working towards. Knowing truly who I am and why I was created. Yes, I am a child of God, yes, I am a wife, yes, I am a mom and YES, I am a grandma - BUT what does that all mean? How do I fit into His big plan?
Ah, the journey continues! :) Below is the website for the blog...
www.incourage.me/2012/02/remember-to-breathe-out.html
Once again, thank you for letting me share! On to see what today holds for me and my journey!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Puzzle pieces coming together
It has been very interesting couple of weeks. Last week I was able to attend a conference in Dallas and before attending, we had to do homework. One of the books we had to read is called "Strengths Finders 2.0", and then take an online test. This book shows you what the strengths are for your personality and how to work in those strengths. We also took a Spiritual gifts test and a personality test.
In attending the conference, I learned that I really want to please people, even in a little silly game that had no right or wrong answers. I need to look deeper into that - why that feeling of not upsetting anyone or making anyone angry. At times it is almost a feeling that if I am not perfect then a person won't like me. This feeling can become very negative as well and I can shut down from people if I feel there is just no way in pleasing them. Yes, I have issues.
I believe my Spiritual gift is Teaching, which when taking this test before, that is what it said as well, but as I heard and read about what that gift involves, it just makes me so tired. So, here again, I need to investigate why I feel so tired about my life.
The personality test was interesting and I believe what it was saying about how God created me, but what it also showed was the strong part of your personality and the weakness and how we can do so many things, but some things we do, when we operate out of our weakness and that tires us out. We then don't perform as well and we can also become frustrated or do things we wouldn't normally do. When we operate in our strengths, it is almost like giving us energy and we are excited about what we are doing.
The sermon on Sunday was, once again, just what I needed. The pastor spoke on the doors that God opens and the doors that He closes. How we need to walk through those doors, even when we feel opposition from others. He related it to a "now" and "then" - if I would have known "then" what I know "now". Where we have felt the nudging of the Lord to go in one direction and yet for some reason we didn't do it. He has a special path for all of us and that is the path I want to be on - the one He has for me!
So, now, putting this all together - awwwwwww that is the question!
I have asked my hubby to give me 2 years with the horses, I feel a nudging from the Lord in a certain direction and I feel I have an open door. So, with that in mind, I am still praying and moving forward in that direction. I will talk more about that later.
I am not one that reads a lot (I need to read more actually), but I just wanted to share this book with you. If you ever have a chance, you should order the book. It has a special code in the back so that you can go online and take a test. So this is a book that you actually have to buy and can't borrow from someone else if you want to take this test. It was very interesting to learn that even though some of us at the conference had the same strengths, how we answered the questions and how we use our strengths was different - all very interesting. The book is "Strengths Finders 2.0" by Tom Rath.
I must admit I have homework from the conference that I still need to do for this book. So I am hoping to catch up on that and have even more information and confirmation about my journey.
Thank you for letting me share! Until next time! Stacy
In attending the conference, I learned that I really want to please people, even in a little silly game that had no right or wrong answers. I need to look deeper into that - why that feeling of not upsetting anyone or making anyone angry. At times it is almost a feeling that if I am not perfect then a person won't like me. This feeling can become very negative as well and I can shut down from people if I feel there is just no way in pleasing them. Yes, I have issues.
I believe my Spiritual gift is Teaching, which when taking this test before, that is what it said as well, but as I heard and read about what that gift involves, it just makes me so tired. So, here again, I need to investigate why I feel so tired about my life.
The personality test was interesting and I believe what it was saying about how God created me, but what it also showed was the strong part of your personality and the weakness and how we can do so many things, but some things we do, when we operate out of our weakness and that tires us out. We then don't perform as well and we can also become frustrated or do things we wouldn't normally do. When we operate in our strengths, it is almost like giving us energy and we are excited about what we are doing.
The sermon on Sunday was, once again, just what I needed. The pastor spoke on the doors that God opens and the doors that He closes. How we need to walk through those doors, even when we feel opposition from others. He related it to a "now" and "then" - if I would have known "then" what I know "now". Where we have felt the nudging of the Lord to go in one direction and yet for some reason we didn't do it. He has a special path for all of us and that is the path I want to be on - the one He has for me!
So, now, putting this all together - awwwwwww that is the question!
I have asked my hubby to give me 2 years with the horses, I feel a nudging from the Lord in a certain direction and I feel I have an open door. So, with that in mind, I am still praying and moving forward in that direction. I will talk more about that later.
I am not one that reads a lot (I need to read more actually), but I just wanted to share this book with you. If you ever have a chance, you should order the book. It has a special code in the back so that you can go online and take a test. So this is a book that you actually have to buy and can't borrow from someone else if you want to take this test. It was very interesting to learn that even though some of us at the conference had the same strengths, how we answered the questions and how we use our strengths was different - all very interesting. The book is "Strengths Finders 2.0" by Tom Rath.
I must admit I have homework from the conference that I still need to do for this book. So I am hoping to catch up on that and have even more information and confirmation about my journey.
Thank you for letting me share! Until next time! Stacy
Sunday, February 5, 2012
2012
I have basically used my blog to talk about my grandchildren, family and friends. Well, 2012 will have a different look for me as I blog. I have chosen this year to be the year of finding out who I am and what I am supposed to do for the 2nd half of my life (granted I have another 48 years to live).
Turning 48 years old this year brings up many unanswered questions in my life. My hubby and I are now empty nesters, we live on 5 acres, have 3 horses, 1 dog and I work for a crisis pregnancy center where I am the Development Director.
So, what all does this mean? What is the Lord's vision for my life? Where is He working and how do I come alongside to further His kingdom?
To me the easy answer is working at the Center, but truly is that what the next half of my life looks like? I just am not sure.
So, I am on a quest and if you want to follow along, you are more than welcome to do so!
I must confess, it is strange using my blog to talk about myself. My goal is to be open, honest and transparent as this year unfolds; to be able to share what the Lord has for me.
Thank you for joining me and allowing me to express myself, if not daily, at least weekly!
See you next time!
Turning 48 years old this year brings up many unanswered questions in my life. My hubby and I are now empty nesters, we live on 5 acres, have 3 horses, 1 dog and I work for a crisis pregnancy center where I am the Development Director.
So, what all does this mean? What is the Lord's vision for my life? Where is He working and how do I come alongside to further His kingdom?
To me the easy answer is working at the Center, but truly is that what the next half of my life looks like? I just am not sure.
So, I am on a quest and if you want to follow along, you are more than welcome to do so!
I must confess, it is strange using my blog to talk about myself. My goal is to be open, honest and transparent as this year unfolds; to be able to share what the Lord has for me.
Thank you for joining me and allowing me to express myself, if not daily, at least weekly!
See you next time!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
10 years ago
The 9/11 ceremonies have been on tv all day. I can not believe how quickly 10 years have past. I remember driving into work, talking on the phone when the first plane hit the North Tower and thinking - what type of pilot couldn't see a building. Then going to work and turning on the tv and seeing the horror of the 2nd plane hitting the South Tower and being in total shock!
I left work, went to try to get my kids out of school to be with them and keep them safe, but they wouldn't let them leave, then all I could do was go home, watch tv, and pace back and forth.
Later to find out that the Pentagon had been struck and then the plane crashing in PA was almost too much - what was going on - what was to become of America?
Not too much later I found out one of my friends (Otis) had been killed at the Pentagon - it was too wild to think of - too much to comprehend - this wonderful - cuddly, big teddy bear of a man (a Navy Officer - but to me a teddy bear) was gone!
He was not only a wonderful man, but a true gentleman and he left behind a wife and 3 children.
Still to this day it is hard for me to believe he is gone, it is hard to believe planes actually flew into buildings, but what is NOT hard to believe is how amazing America is! How we came together and still can come together - how we will survive!!
May God Bless America! May God be with Otis' family! And may God, please, remind of us how wonderful America is and how precious life is!
I left work, went to try to get my kids out of school to be with them and keep them safe, but they wouldn't let them leave, then all I could do was go home, watch tv, and pace back and forth.
Later to find out that the Pentagon had been struck and then the plane crashing in PA was almost too much - what was going on - what was to become of America?
Not too much later I found out one of my friends (Otis) had been killed at the Pentagon - it was too wild to think of - too much to comprehend - this wonderful - cuddly, big teddy bear of a man (a Navy Officer - but to me a teddy bear) was gone!
He was not only a wonderful man, but a true gentleman and he left behind a wife and 3 children.
Still to this day it is hard for me to believe he is gone, it is hard to believe planes actually flew into buildings, but what is NOT hard to believe is how amazing America is! How we came together and still can come together - how we will survive!!
May God Bless America! May God be with Otis' family! And may God, please, remind of us how wonderful America is and how precious life is!
Monday, September 5, 2011
It's Been a Long Time...
...since I have been riding - over a year! Well, today I feel it - that is for sure! Need to ride more, it is so good for me and for Princess!
Here are my girls! Princess and Baby and
here is the newest addition, Tejas. I call her Teja - she is so cute and full of personality! She has also been accepted by Princess and Baby - finally - so that is good - I like it when they all play nicely together!
My cousin, Tim's daughter, Lindsey, came for Labor Day weekend. She is going to Sam Houston and will be visiting us throughout the year. She loves to ride as well and she was a big help after wards washing the horses with me.
Tressa got on too! It was really a fun day and the horses behaved so well. I just need to make sure Tejas can be ridden and break Baby and then the 3 of us can each have a horse to ride!
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