Pastorette's Progress

How about those cute boots!! Well, it is the Sunday before Christmas and I am staying with my mom who had her fifth chemo treatment Friday. My family just stopped by in their Christmas best - they are beautiful. As I am sitting here reflecting on how much my life has changed during the past year, it is mindbloggling . The most changes, however, have occurred with Bailey. We almost wear the same size (I did lose about 15 pounds this year!!...and she found them - mostly in her boobs!!!). We wear the same size shoes now and at first, I didn't handle it too well when every time I looked down (or went to look for MY shoes) there they were... on her feet. I would be furious, but as of late, I have decided to embrace this time and enjoy it - share my shoes, my sweaters, MY PANTYHOSE that she can only wear ONCE without ripping. I have to learn to enjoy my teenager. When I do, things are so much better. And really, how much do pant...

14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Why is that?? This verse sums up where I have been these last couple of weeks. Doing what I KNOW I shouldn't and not doing what I should. And believe me, I am reaping what I am sowing. I know the importance of my morning quiet time; I know the importance of reading God's Word; I know the importance of my prayer journal, but yet night after night I stay up too late watching T.V. Why do I care so much about The Biggest Loser and NCIS???? (Even though Gibbs and Tony are precious!!!!) I'll tell you why - MY FLESH and SINFULLNESS!!!!!! Lord, help me not to just realize my sinful choices, help me to change. Help me to remember how it feels to be close to you. Help me remember the importance of my personal relationship with you. Help me remember how much I need Your stre...

1 CORINTHIANS 13 – - A CHRISTMAS VERSION - By an unknown author If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I’m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I’m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child.Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the wa...

God never ceases to amaze me. For the longest time, I have always written my prayers - mostly in a list fashion. But in the last couple of weeks, the Lord has allowed me to read two books that have completely changed my perspective on a "prayer journal." The first began in a Christian fiction book, The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. In the story, the main character is reading a distant relatives journal - her heartaches, concerns, her coming to Christ, etc., and throughout the story you see how the two lives parallel as well as see the hand of God in this woman's life. It got me to thinking how much I would love my kids, my grand kids, to read about MY walk with Christ - the good, the bad, and the ugly and the hand of God in it all. I want my kids to know how much I prayed for them. I want them to know that God was with me even through the tough times. I want them to know that I relied on Christ every single day. I want them to understand God's grace and mercy a...

FOR TODAY Monday, November 30, 2009 Outside my window ... it is storming!!! I am hearing ... the kids at my school practice for their Christmas program. I am praying for ... direction and guidance for next, healing of Alec's autism, and self-control for Bailey I am remembering ...how much easier it was when I didn't have to get the kids out of the house in the morning everyday for school. I am wearing ... black pants that make me look very skinny and a pink sweater and black dressy flip flops!! I am going ... to Lowe's and maybe Target after school - depending on the weather I am hoping ...to beat my record in the Reindeer run on Friday night!!! On my mind ... my relationship with Christ, making my home a haven, my kids relationship with each other, my church, my friends who are struggling with the same things I am struggling with, my mom's cancer, money... Noticing that ...God's grace is sufficient every single day, He is Sovereign, and He is the Peace that passe...

I am just beginning to realize why in my old age I am becoming so much more somber. A pleasant way to say it would be sober minded!!! It is because I have two children in middle school and our lives are forever changed. Changed, first and foremost, because my daughter will never again be a little girl. She is now a teenager and we can never go back. All the missed opportunities are just that...missed. Her desires are changing, her attitude HAS changed, and all I can do is hope and pray that the Lord draws her to Himself sooner than later, and that she wholeheartedly gives her life to Christ. For my son Alec, things are a little more complicated. His autism shows up so much more now that he is in middle school. In changing classes, in fitting in, in sports, etc. He will never be the cute little non--verbal kid that acts a little quirky. Now he is a 12 year old boy who truly stands out as being different, that people have to more tolerate, than try to understand. The world is a whol...

I am reading this book by a fellow blogger, Joanne Heim , and I am trying desperately to apply these principles to my life. This sections is pretty easy because God has blessed me with so many godly friends!!! Believing Friends - This section is talking about being "unequally yoked" in regards to friendships. A "simple" friendship begins with a believing friend. Proverbs 27:17 "...Iron sharpens iron..." I want believing friends who will sharpen me, who will challenge me and gently help me to see those things in myself that need to be changed. I want friends who will challenge me to continue to grow in Christ. I want friends who are walking down the same path, not pulling me in another direction. I want friends whom I aspire to be like. And as importantly, I want friends that Bailey will admire and emulate. I know the day is coming...I mean really, the day is here, when Bailey (my daughter) will seek advice from other people. I know that Bailey will not alw...