Snow Day II

I took these photos this afternoon after I finally ventured out to get some batteries for my camera!

This is the front of our house. The drive is clear thanks to my sweet hubby! (((Jim))) The street... not sure who in the neighborhood has a friend that clears snow, but 3 pickup trucks w/ snowblades came through and plowed yesterday afternoon. That NEVER happens here. Normally after a snow the street is full of ice ruts!


We hadn't taken the wreath off of the barn... so it looks Christmasy!

Yard Stick measuring the 12.5 inches of snow!

The evergreen in our neighbor's yard

Something was definitely peaking Jet's interest in the woodpile!

Jet wants to go back out and play!

After I ventured out and took a few photos of the Winter Wonderland... I was in desperate need of this:

Nothing like holding a warm cup of coffee between my hands on a cold winter day!

Oh... and I have rented some movies! So tonight after we work-out at the Y we will cozy up to a fire, pop some popcorn and watch a movie! Ahhhh... the splendor of a winter night at home!

Snow Day!

Remember when you were a kid and you would sit patiently (or not so patiently) near the radio to hear if your school was closed due to snow? I loved those days! Still do. Even though I don't have kids I still watch all those delays and closings on the television. When I see that my nieces and nephews don't have school I get so excited for them! My brother in law called and said Isaac was out playing in it a 8am. So much for sleeping in. Of course my teenage nieces, he said, are still snoozing away.

Today is one of those days! (I am trying to find some batteries around the house for my camera so I can take pics) We got a foot of snow in Indy and I am so loving it! The benefit of self-employment is the ability to stay home on a snow day! Right now... I am typing this in my favorite chair in front of a crackling fire. The dog is snoozing on his pillow in front of the fireplace and the cat is curled up on the couch. Jim, well Jim is out plowing the neighborhood! He loves it! I have a pot of coffee on for him (and for me) and I think I might just make some cinnamon rolls today! A pot of soup is a must as well. I did go out and shovel the walk out front, and also a path on the back patio for the dog. That's my contribution to the snow removal! :)

For those who have to go out in the snow I pray they are safe... I am thankful for the city employees who work tirelessly to try and keep up w/ the snow by plowing the streets and laying down salt. I am thankful for my warm house and for my husband who not only plows our drive, but the majority of the folks on our street. (we have a lot of elderly neighbors). And I am also thanking God because I had to go out last night to show a home. We wrote and offer and it was accepted as well! I am so excited for my clients, because this home is absolutely the perfect home for them! God heard my prayers! I wanted a good snowstorm... got one! I asked the Lord to direct me on my professional path... what should I do... He answered! Praising Him!

Once I am able to take pics... I will post them!
Have a wonderful day my friends!
Love,
~ K

Footprints...and Prayer

Early last week I was walking out to the mailbox in front of our house. I had to smile because I noticed so many different footprints in the frontyard snow. The footprints of our neighbor's cat, the unmistakable prints of a bunny rabbit, birds, squirrels, more than likely a racoon and a possum or two... prints all over the place. Some left during the day - squirrels playing and foraging for those nuts they buried in the fall. Birds nibbling on seed scattered on the ground, and the cat scurrying across the yard a dinnertime! I thought about those prints because many of them were made while I was not looking. I was totally unaware of those night-time critters making their way through my yard, the only evidence being their tiny footprints in the snow. I thought about the footprints I might leave in someone's life, on someone's heart. Footprints I might not be aware I am leaving for someone else to reflect on... are those footprints I leave making someone smile, or do they make them cry. Have I left a mark of joy or hurtfulness? As I am walking this walk of faith... I want to be conscious of the footprints I leave. I want them to be prints of a faithful follower of Christ.

You my blogging friends have left footprints on my life. You bring me great joy and I am so thankful that God has provided an outlet for Christians all over to gather together and share His grace and mercy!

My time posting in blogland might be sporadic over the next 6 weeks. I pray I will have time to visit all of you often, but will check in when I can. I a little over a week I will begin leading our small group in Maxie Dunnam's "The Workbook of Living Prayer". Our church has been spending over a year focusing and emphasizing prayer. This study is going to require a lot of time, not only as a facilitator, but as a fellow sojourner as we study, pray and grow. I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I begin to facilitate another study.

One thing I would like to do over the next 6 weeks is this: On Monday's I will put out a blog post. I will ask for you to post any specific prayer requests you would like our group, our church etc to pray for. We have a prayer wall in place in the narthex, as well as a literal prayer chain. Each one of us will be using strips of paper to write prayer requests on, they will be prayed over, and then linked together. These chains will be hung throughout the sanctuary as a visual image of how many requests are being prayed over. I will not use names, unless you specifically ask for your name to be mentioned. I will simply write down the request. You may also post anonymously if that would make you feel more comfortable. I am excited that prayers will be said for you, your family, friends, or anyone that you know needs prayer. You will be prayed for by people in our congregation you have never met! How awesome is God!

Finally, I ask that you pray for my Church, and all the members participating, as well as those not participating in this small group study on prayer. May this study and our prayers leave footprints on the hearts of many!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
~ Phillipians 4:6-7

Time Out

"OK, you go sit in time out"! Have you ever said that to your kids? Have you ever wanted to say that to your husband? ha ha! Time Out in the past few years has taken on a negative connection. Time Out is punishment. You get in trouble you go sit in time out.

I started thinking about Time-outs. You know the type of time out taken in a ball game. (after all I am a huge football and basketball fan)I found this definition of Time-out on About.com: Football

Definition of Time-out: A break in action requested by either team or one of the officials.

My definition: A time to re-group, re-organize and start a bit fresh. Time out to talk to God, study His Word, time out to pray, time out to ask for prayer from those who I know will pray for me.

Do you ever need a time out? Does God ever provide you with a time out even when you don't realize you need one? Caught up in everyday activities, putting God on the backburner. I started to think about my real estate business and that it's a bit slow right now. Perhaps this is a time-out God knew I needed. A bit of a break from the busy-ness of my job. If I embrace it this way, I won't feel as anxious about staying home on days that I don't need to be in the office. Embrace the opportunity and luxuary of working from home. Mind you, I won't sit idle... I will continue to work my profession... but I believe God is revealing a way for me to work it in a different way. One that will satisfy me professionally as well as personally. After all... home is my favorite place to be.

So with that... I will embrace my time-out. Re-set the clock and put on a new game face! Spend time with Him... He will guide me in the troubled times we live in.

Friends, if any of you are feeling the crunch of tough economic times, I lift you up in prayer. If any of your family or friends are feeling the crunch I am lifting them up too! When I complete this post, I will bend a knee, bow my head and ask for His guidance, help and peace for all who are afraid, who are suffering, anxious and feeling the crunch.

Much love to all of you in Jesus Awesome Name!!!

OK Gotta Brag...

As a former gymnast myself you can only imagine how proud I am of my niece's Kimberly (15) and Sarah (13). Both have followed in their Auntie's footsteps and are gymnasts.

The first video is Kimberly who is a Level 10. (I will post Sarah's video later) My sister is starting to learn how to upload these videos,because soon college recruits will be looking at them. Her dance was a bit sloppy on Saturday... ususally she is much more crisp. My sis said Kimberly was nervous. She added a triple twist as her opening tumbling pass. As the competition season progresses that will be better. I will apologize for the quality of the video. This was Jennifer's first attempt at uploading to youtube. When watching from her acct. I can click watch in high quality... I will embed the clip and also give you the link. (copy and paste the link to watch the better quality version) The link possibly will let you click the option of watching in better quality. (bottom right corner of video)

Kimberly's opening tumbling pass is a triple full twist. (you can hear my BIL - her dad yelling when she hit's it) ha ha. She twists so clean and fast, the judges thought it was a double and she got a deduction. She will eventually work it into a 3.5 twist.

Her opening pass is a triple twist as I said, 2nd pass handspring, front full.5, backhandspring, back layout stepout. Last pass Roundoff whip back double twist. Can you tell I am proud. I get chocked up everytime I watch them... they are so talented! Kimberly and Sarah's coach is the daughter of my former coach! They have a God given talent and they work so hard! Kimberly is a straight A student, was on the National Junior Honor Society last year. (not sure when you can be inducted when you are in HS)

Hope you enjoy!!!!

Oh and I forgot to add when I first posted... Kimberly finished 3rd All Around in that meet. (it was Saturday night) As she said to me... I hit all 4 routines!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdPfWbwiMUg

Thank You

I have to thank all of you for your prayers this last week! Believe me... they were felt! God is so good and spoke so clearly to me the latter part of the week! Yes sisters! I'M BELIEVING GOD!

Had a wonderful, restful weekend and got a lot done. The halls are completely un-decked and the Christmas deocrations are tucked away until next season. I am always a bit sad when I put everything away. Fortunately as Christians we keep Christmas alive in our hearts all year round! But it's nice to get the house back in order. I still have 2 lovely poinsettias - and I am going to do my best to keep them alive. I found a website that gave info on how to get them to re-bloom. OK, so it's going to take some work, but we like to garden! I am at least going to give it a try!

Now that the decorations are securely put away, I can now focus on the house! Cabinets, closets, drawers! All need cleaned out and re-organized! I am also going to paint our bedroom and one of the guest bedrooms in the next few months. They need it. Other painting projects will wait until spring when I can have the windows open! Ah spring... I am dreaming! But I sure wish we would get one good snowstorm! We have had a pretty pathetic winter as far as snow goes. Not much at all. I am of the opinion "if it's winter, it might as well snow". At least you can play in the snow. Rain and 36 degrees doesn't give one much opportunity to enjoy winter weather! But God has his reasons... We are also going to get a new light fixture in the kitchen and re-do the ceiling. I want beadborad!

So, what plans do you have for your homes this winter? Any projects? I'd love to hear about them!

Love,

What a difference a few days can make. Let me tell you, the enemy has been working overtime on me these last few days and I have found myself walking in a bit of a dark spot. Monday found me back into my routine. Heading back to the office, fresh new daytimer in my brief case. Words of encouragement written in the margins. Ready to hit the ground running in 09.

My husband and I are both full-time real estate agents. Needless to say 2008 ended up being quite a challenge in our industry. Fortunately, Indiana doesn't have the extreme highs and lows as seen in other states, however business was down. Clinging to the truth that God will provide for us, and lead us as long as we seek Him and His will for us got us through. (fortunately we are savers as well and know that we have to put our nuts away for the winters). Business still remains a bit down... which has brought me down. What a difference from Monday.

5 years ago God led me to this place. We prayed for over a year about me leaving my job and joining Jim in a real estate career. When the time was right, God told us, and we responded. I have to remember that when I get down. I have to tell you anxiety, fear and the downright urge to quit has flooded over me the past two days. Even Jim said "Don't let Satan do this to you". So, I get home today and our health insurance premium was in the mail. Being self-insured is quite costly and the dedcutable is extremley high. Arrggghhh... just another thing to add to the stress. But then I happened to click on Angie's blog and the words I prayed this morning were the theme of her January 8th post. No coincidence here... God knew what I needed after I opened that bill.

Satan knows what gets my anxiety going. And there is no way I am going to let him win! God has always done what He said He would do... so why do I fear.? Oh Lord forgive my unbelief!

Your prayers would be much appreciated right now. I know the healing that powerful prayer brings to an aching heart!

God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do...
I am who God says I am. **
I can do all things through Christ. **
God's Word is alive and active in me.

I'M BELIEVING GOD!!!!

"I am a this not a that."
~by Beth Moore in Believing God.

Love you all!

Thanksgiving and Praise...

For my friend Paula and her family! About 6 months ago, a decision was made to add to their family through adoption. (You can read about that here ) Obviously with adoption comes a lot of paperwork, waiting and emotion. Well, in December they were matched w/ TWINS! Paula and I have been friends, well forever!

I have added some info from one of Paula's posts after the match!

"First, I got a phone call from a very nice Ethiopian lady on one of the Yahoo boards who helped me with the girls' names. Selam is easy to say, pretty much just the way it looks. Fikir is hard for us English speaking Americans. It's almost like one syllable and a little guttaral. We are going to keep the Ethiopian names for their middle names, so the twins will be Candace Selam and Sarah Fikir. Candace is a biblical name for the queen of Ethiopia and Selam means "peace". Sarah is a Hebrew name that is also sometimes used in Ethiopia and means "princess", while Fikir means "love".

Secondly, we found out today that the twins are currently living in an orphanage compound in the city of Nazret in Ethiopia. This city is also known as Adama. It is a large city with a university and is located at a major crossroads of Ethiopia about 62 miles southeast of Addis Ababa. It is the capital of the Oromia region of Ethiopia."

For the New Year the Spears family got wonderful news! They have a court date! Another step closer to those sweet girls coming home!!! Please join me with prayers and praises of Thanksgiving for Paula and her family!

Lord, you are so awesome. It is not by chance, but by Your choice that these sweet little girls who live in an orphanage in Africa, will be placed into the loving arms of the Spears family in Nebraska. You have blessed this process, ordained it! It is with praise that I thank you today for Paula and her family being one step closer to those little girl's homecoming. There will be ups and downs, but you will be right there, guiding the way. Hold each one of the Spears - Tom, Paula, Kenneth, Emily, Anna, Candace and Sarah in Your loving arms. Grant them patience to wait, safety when it's time to travel and fill their home with love and grace that only You can provide. In Jesus' Mighty Name!!! Amen!!!

(You can read Paula's adoption timeline on the main page of her blog)