STRESSED OUT!

Apparently, I am majorly stressed out. Yesterday, at the dentist it finally came full circle. I have been grinding my teeth so much that they are becoming very sensitive along the gum line. $600 later and a new bite guard on the way; maybe I will be feeling some relief. My blood pressure has been elevated; and I have been having a lot of headaches too. So, I decided this morning to figure out what I need to do about it.

First, thing I will do that I read about is start putting my tongue between my teeth during the day to avoid clenching my teeth. I will do that right now.

Secondly,I need to figure out why I am so stressed. I have been going over that and there are few things on my list. Here are some things that I have put on my list: 7 month old baby, increased responsibility at church, 7 month old baby, financial issues, 7 month old baby, house in constant need of work, 7 month old baby. I think you get the idea. I took this stress test. I thought I was a little stressed until I saw the little bar go up and up and up until it was bright red. Okay, I need to accept it. Dr. Phil always says, "You can't change what you don't acknowledge"! I am acknowledging!

So, now what? Well, I also looked up what I can do to relieve this stress. I can't change it, so I need to better process it. Back to the internet again, here are some things I found on WebMD...

• Learn better ways to manage your time. You may get more done with less stress if you make a schedule. ( I hate living by a schedule)



• Find better ways to cope. Look at how you have been dealing with stress. Be honest about what works and what does not.



• Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest (will do now) Eat well (I have been doing really bad at that)



• Try out new ways of thinking. Learn to say no!



• Speak up! Not being able to talk about your needs and concerns creates stress.



• Ask for help. (I am learning this one)

I also found there...

• Exercise



• Write (Hey, yay I am doing that right now)



• Let your feelings out.



• Do something you enjoy



• Learn ways to relax you body: breathing exercises,massage, yoga, aromatherapy



• Focus on the present. meditate

Okay, right there is a lot of stuff I can work on today. But what does God say about my stress?

I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for he cares for you.

God is the one who is caring for me. I need to stop striving to care for others and myself. I need to give Him all my worries, all my anxieties, all my fears. I need to "Let GO" I need to let God do what He wants to do for me and that is care for me and my family. Here is what God say about me trying to control things on my own...

Matthew 6:25-27

25"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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26Look 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?

27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30If 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, O you of little faith?

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Lastly, God is calling me to seek Him with my issues, and they are many. But thanks be to God who is bigger than anything.

Philippians 4:6-8

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God,

(Oooohhhh I love the next part)

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Just as peacefully as my son sleeps and knows he is cared for)

(It just gets better from here and here is what I will do today!)

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble,

whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely,

whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things!

And with that friends we will absolutely, honest truly, 100% ...

GET JOY!

All the pictures (except the mouth guard & the birds nest '08) I took today! I decided to enjoy a hobby, taking pictures!

PHOTO SHOOT!

Day at the Park!

My Daughter's "Punky Brewster" Birthday Party!

Yep, That's right my daughter loves Punky Brewster ('80's show). Thanks to my sister and her friend Laura's season DVD set. So, she asked for a Punky birthday party! I wasn't so sure about it; but it turned out really cute. We asked the girls to come mixy-matchy. We decorated in rainbow colors. We watched a little Punky, made braclets and hairbows, hit a pinata and ate lots of pizza. It was a lot of fun and a bunch of little girls got introduced to PUNKY POWER!

Happy Birthday, my beautiful 9 year old!
GET JOY!

Free to Be Me!

This is a song by Francesca Battistelli, it has really been speaking to my heart lately. Pause the music on the side, thought I would share it with you....




At twenty years of age I'm still looking for a dream
A war's already waged for my destiny
But You've already won the battle
And You've got great plans for me
Though I can’t always see

(Chorus)
‘Cause I got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together
But perfection is my enemy
On my own I'm so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see
I'm free to be me

When I was just a girl I thought I had it figured out
My life would turn out right, and I'd make it here somehow
But things don't always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt

(Chorus)

And you’re free to be you

Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I've got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me
That I've got all You seek
And it’s easy to believe
Even though

LETTING GO!

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring,
it means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off,
it's the realization that I can't control another.

To let go is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness.
which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another
I can only change myself.

To let go is not to care for,
but to care about.

To let go is not to fix,
but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge,
but allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arrranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to effect their own outcomes.

To let go is not to be protective,
it is to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny,
but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes.

To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone,
but to try to become what dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more!
-Author Unknown

I am learning to let go and I am
GETTING JOY!

Little MissMatched

This is one of my new favorite Websites for girls, Little Missmatched. Check it out moms you will love it!

Sending You Some JOY!

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."

I Samuel 1: 27-28a

Easter At Our Home!

Having fun dying eggs and looking for them!


Easter Baskets!

All dressed up for church!

Oooo how my kids give me joy!

GET JOY!

He Lives!

I love Easter! It is one of my favorite times of year. I love going to God's House and worshiping all that He has done and all that He is doing. I sang this song for church today, "In Christ Alone". I have been practicing it so much that my girls have been singing it. There are no greater words that I would rather have them sing. I have the song being played on the side follow along with the words and let it minister to your soul...

In Christ alone my hope is found;

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My comforter, my all in all-

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

That first verse is so encouraging. Boy! did I need to hear every word of it last week. I love how words of songs get into your soul. Then God takes those tunes and reminds you of them just when you need them.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.

Till on that cross Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied;

for ev'ry sin on Him was laid-

Here in the death of Christ I live.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me. In your death I live, Praise God! I love you Lord for what you did even though I did not deserve it. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

This verse makes me want to jump up and down and yell, Praise You Jesus!

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain;

Then bursting forth in glorious day,

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory,

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me (Thank You Jesus)

For I am His and He is mine-

Bought with the precious blood of Christ!

Oh what a promise this last verse speaks of. I have freedom. I have power. I do not fear death. I have Christ the son of the living God living in me.

No guilt in life, no fear in death-

This is the pow'r of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

(Romans 8:38-38 one of my favorites)

Till He returns or calls me home-

Here in the power of Christ I stand.

I love Easter and all that it stands for. Today, I will...

GET JOY!