Put em' up!

I love my husband so stinkin’ much.  We got in a big fight this weekend.  Sam and I rarely…RARELY fight.  It is rare that we even disagree.  We both love and adore one another.  So what would two people who rarely disagree, who love and adore one another have to fight about?  Kids.

Toddlers are tough.  And not tough like strong or durable (they are that too), but tough like wanna pull your hair out!  They are so tough that Sam informed me the other day that he wasn’t sure we were cut out for more.  Yea, that didn’t go over so well.  We had always agreed that we wanted a big family.  We love having people over and we love our family, so four children is what we have discussed for the longest time.  Granted, having two toddlers 15 months apart and Kael with his Sensory Processing Disorder makes for a lot of work, not that it doesn’t come without its rewards.

Here is how our fight came about.  Sam called me and wanted to know if I cared if he went up to visit a friend in Kansas City for the day on Sunday.  He asked, he didn’t tell.  I hummed and hawed, wanting him to be able to go, but knowing that it meant I would be home all day by myself with the little boys.  I am home Saturday’s while Sam works all day by myself with them.  Two days in a row, by myself…UH!  That is a lot of work!  I explained this to him, that I didn’t love the idea of being home alone with the little boys two days in a row and that he wouldn’t want to be either.  Right then it was like a light bulb went off in his head.  If neither of us would want to be home all day with our boys by ourselves, maybe we shouldn’t have more.

No, no, no, no no!  How I wished I could have just said, “Sure honey, that is a great idea!  Go, be free, have FUN!  Enjoy!”  So instead, I got my future turned upside down…my future babies were being ripped from my future dreams and I became very upset.  I felt like on top of it Sam was telling me we were bad parents.  We have since worked it all out.  It turned out to be a very good discussion where we sat and talked about all that we desire for our children and our family.  What traditions we loved and valued in our upbringing.  And we also took stock of the importance of our time as individuals and as a couple independent of our children.

This argument was awesome.  It wasn’t awesome in the middle of it, but it stirred conversation that went past, “How was your day?” “Good, yours?” “Good.” “Good.”

It brought us back to our hopes and dreams and plans and desires and goals and vision…it encouraged us and spurred us to be better parents, better workers, better people, better for each other.

Sam still wants more kids.  YAY! It was a momentary realization for him that toddlers are very time consuming, energy consuming, mentally, physically, emotionally, financially, consuming.  He realized that we never fought until we had kids.  For him, it isn’t that he wouldn’t want kids, but that he does need some man time, and I know it!  Because I need some mom time.  And we need some us time.  We are going to slate out some Man time, Mom time, Us time, and kid time.  The kid time will be each of us spending a little bit of time with just one kid.  So it will be Daddy and Kael time and Mommy and Caleb time, and then switch.  Our boys are little individuals.  Caleb loves Diego, and Kael loves Thomas…and oh how they cry when they have to watch each other’s show.

I was married before…a lot of you might not know that.  I know that not all husbands are like Sam.  I know that not all husbands adore their wives.  This is just me talking about my specific situation.  It breaks my heart when I think about broken marriages where people are living in ugly situations.  I was in a really ugly marriage.  Today I was reading in Ephesians and I love where it talks about our marital responsibilities.  Wives respect your husbands…Husbands LOVE your wives.  It is talked about in Ephesians chapter 5 if you are curious.

I couldn’t do much right in my first marriage according to my husband.  I was very young.  As I look back I see where I personally went wrong.  I would cry out to God and was desperate to be out of that situation, but I don’t ever remember praying for John (my ex).  I don’t remember praying for him that God would change his heart.  I was a baby spiritually even though I was raised in church.  I may have and it may just be that my memory is really crummy.  It was such a dark time in my life, I see very little light in it.  So if you are in a situation like this I would like to pray for you.  I will be praying for you regardless...God knows.  So I will lift all the marriages up of anyone who actually reads this little blog, which I think may be down to my parents some days.

:-D Love ya Dad!  Love ya Mom!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I am so excited that I have a guest blogger tomorrow. A testimony came trickling in...Mindy Horr (Cliff and Casey Horr's daughter) sent her's into me just the other day.  It is awesome.

xoxo

Ronda

Do you pass the test?

Restoration, my salvation.  He redeemed me and he gives me new mercy every day…and every day I need it.

Kael bonked his noggin about a week ago.  Coffee tables, they are dangerous!  I have a scar in my eyebrow from a coffee table.  Kids in elementary school called me "bald eyebrow" a few times (really guys, that was the best you could come up with?)  I was kind of proud of my scar.  Lucky for me, I have photoshop!  So I edited out Kael's scar for many of the rest of these pictures.

Wallah!  Scar-be-gone! and Kid-be-happy! 

I have been on a journey with the Lord this past week as he leads me through Paul’s writings. I have gained such respect for that man and feel like I know him.  It has brought me tremendous joy and I have learned so much. At the end of 2^nd Corinthians in Chapter 13 verse 5 it says:

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—Unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

I finished 2nd Corinthians and made my way right on into Galations.  Not a very long book, but I see Paul handing out some spankin’s again as he has to correct them for accepting other people’s doctrine and not holding on to what they were taught and knew to be true.  At least that is what I gathered.

I flipped back to Paul’s charge to the church at Corinth to “examine yourselves,” and I read what he has to say to the church at Galatia, in it I see an opportunity to “test yourself.”  So, let’s test ourselves…before we wreck ourselves:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit,, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissentions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galations 5: 16-26

As I read through the list of the evidence of the works of the flesh, I was feeling pretty good until I got to jealousy, rivalries, dissentions, divisions, envy…it is so easy to fall into these traps.  I know it first hand. And then as I read the fruit of the Spirit characteristics, I questioned if I exhibited those in my life.  I mentioned a week ago that God was dealing with me in the area of Pride and that I cared what people thought of me.  At the same time, what people think of you...especially if more than one person agrees, can be an indicator of something in you that needs work.

If no one wants to drive with you because you are a huge road raging maniac and you don’t have an ounce of patience or grace for anyone else on the road…maybe everyone that drives on the road isn’t an awful driver, maybe you are just awful.  That maybe a little harsh, but I knew someone like this from my past.  I remember once driving with him and we slowed to 30 on the freeway so that he could cuss out a mom in a minivan.  Let me tell you she was just as pleased to slow down and dish it right back.

I was mortified.

God showed me this last week as I opened myself up to his examination that I can come across as harsh, pressing, and borderline judgmental (I like to say borderline, it makes me feel better).  I was genuinely shocked by this because to me I could brush it off as people are just easily offended.  I could maybe get away with saying this about one person, maybe two tops, but when there are three or four people that feel this way then I have to ask myself if maybe I am…maybe I am the one who needs the work! Ouch. My pride is already so black and blue from asking God to search me and know me.  It has been a ride, let me tell you.  But you had better believe that I am committing myself over to him to help me make the necessary changes...or all this self examination would be pointless without change.  I am lovin' Ephesians…in chapter 1, right off the bat, he is bringing me home.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1: 7-10

This is a good spot to pray I think.

Father, I am so sorry that I am guilty of judging people. I have cared more of what people thought of my physical appearance and in the process I have judged people and put them down.  I haven’t put others above myself.  In fact a lot of times I forget to think about others and the world revolves around my head.  My life becomes so important, daily tasks take over my agenda.  What you have been teaching me these past few days, weeks, months, years, is contrary to my nature and I find myself fighting my flesh constantly.  I am so grateful for that!  I am grateful that at least there is a fight taking place.  And in your word you are giving me the weapons to win.  You are showing me your desire.  I am so grateful that you are long suffering…Keep this fire burning bright.  You are my cornerstone.  My rock, my salvation, you are my foundation.  You are a skilled carpenter and I am under construction.

Today has been a delight.  Not much to it other than Kael continues to ROCK at potty training.  Caleb has been doing pretty good, not quite as awesome as Kael.

Here is Kael waiting for his M and M’s, his reward for rocking the potty.

Kael continues to develop leaps and bounds.  Thanks to Lisa, our nanny, Kael likes to shout 1-2-3 TEAMWORK!!  1-2-3 TEAMWORK!!  It is really cute.  I love it.  Here is Kael playing with some Play-doh.  He was a smiley boy which is a really nice change.  Normally it is really hard to get him to smile for pictures.

Keep praying for Kael that God will continue to catch him up in the areas of language and social/emotional.  He is doing SO well!  Love that little critter.

Isn't he adorable!  I know I am bias, but what a little hunk!

Look at those eye lashes!

Here he is like "Wait a minute Mom, don't forget about Caleb."  He actually calls Caleb, Kael.  He goes "OH NO, KAEL!" when Caleb is doing something naughty.  I love that Kael can tattle tale now.  It is actually a HUGE help!

And there is Caleb...absolutely two.  He is two too much these days.

Concentrating on coloring...and all is quite in the house for 2.5 seconds.  Until one of them steals the other one's marker and screams erupt.

This is my favorite part about potty training.  Adorable little graphic briefs covering squishy toddler bums while watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Xoxo

Ronda

All in a days work

These past few days have been a blur.  A whirlwind of rate locks, paper trails, phone calls, text messages, follow-up, follow-through, under the gun, time is of the essence… pure unadulterated craziness.

And so I pause to take a breath

{Big inhale, Big exhale} a little yawn got caught in the middle of that.

I have mentioned before that I am a Home Loan Lender.  If you want to buy a house, or if you own a house and want to lower your payment by refinancing to a lower rate, or take cash equity out of your home and get a lower rate in the process…I am your gal.

So why the craziness, why the INSANITY?  When a 30 year fixed interest rate dips below 4% craziness and insanity naturally follow, so I have learned.  Phones ringing, texts dinging, papers flying, my printer slapped ink on paper with a vengeance, and I printed incessantly like I hated trees and thought they were stupid.   I arrived at work Wednesday morning at 9am not knowing that I wouldn’t be leaving the bank, and barely my desk, for the next 11 hours.  I see you right now trying to do the math, let me help you out.  I left work at a little after 8pm.

It was a long day, but I wouldn’t have known it because when you are busy like that time flies by.

In my job, and a lot as of late with the tornado, I realize that there is a general cloud of mystery surrounding credit.  So, I thought I might help you out a little bit.  Especially those of you who think your credit might not be that hot, or you want to buy a house soon.

Credit is a reflection of your ability to manage and repay your debts or financial obligations.  There are three credit repositories or bureaus, as they are called, Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax.  The credit score range is from 300-850, but honestly I have never seen below 400 and I have never seen above an 830 score.  If your credit score falls into the range of 850-720 you have been doing a great job of managing your credit, keep up the good work!  If your score is between 720-660, it has taken a few hits, but you aren’t too bad off and you will still be able to obtain credit, but usually at a higher rate because of the perceived increase in risk to the lending institution.  If your credit score is between 600-660, your credit needs work and there are most likely outstanding items on your report that need to be addressed.  If your score is under 600 it needs a lot of work, doable, but you may be unable to obtain credit the lower your score and if you do obtain credit they will really stick you with the rates.  I am not able to do a home loan if your credit score is under 600.  If your credit score is between 600-620 and you have really good letter writing skills and the circumstances which caused your credit to be that low were temporary in nature (medical, layoff, baby, etc…) then on occasion I can get a credit waiver.

In summary, if you have glowing credit, keep it up.  If you have radioactive credit, let me tell you a few ways to fix that.

1.       Be a good communicator.  Best defense is a good offense.  Communicate with your creditors, utilities, cell phone companies…anyone who reports to credit if you are delinquent, communicate if you are not going to be able to make your payment.

You would be surprised how often they are willing to work with you. Sometimes they will split your bill with next month’s bill, or give you a grace period to get it in by.  Sometimes they will renegotiate terms if you are in a layoff situation, so communicate and call them before they call you.

2.       Don’t be late on anything that reports to credit.

You have 30 days from the due date before it hits your credit as late.  Try to never be late to anything that reports to credit as this is a heavily weighted part of the creditworthiness formula.  Think about it, if you can’t pay DishNetwork $95 for a service that they provided you regardless of the fact that it was a shared utility with a bump on the log loser of a roommate…why would I want to lend you $100,000 or $200,000 to buy a house?  Lenders, investors, everyone wants to know that they will get paid back, and that they can make a little money in the process.

3.       Manage your money.

Money management makes up the next biggest chunk of why your credit is good, or bad.  Let me give you an example.  If you have a credit card and that credit card is maxed out, even if you are never late on a payment your credit score will suffer.  You need to try and keep your balances under 50% that carry over from month to month and ideally under 35%.  So if you have $1000 line of credit you charge it up to $1000 one month, pay it down to under $500 at least.

Credit is really easy to wreck, it is really hard to build back up.  If you have a derogatory item on your credit report it will remain there for 7-10 years.   The more time that gets between you and that derogatory item the less it will impact you, but it will still be there.

If there are items on your credit report that shouldn’t be there you should first contact the reporting party and ask them to provide you something in writing.  You then write a letter to the bureaus briefly explaining the error and ask them to remove it.  I have a template letter that I use to clean up credit I can forward to you if you are interested.  Two weeks ago by writing letters I helped a lady increase her credit score 80 points.  That was awesome.  One day I couldn’t give her a loan and three weeks later I could.  She was a tornado victim too, so that made it even cooler.

If there are collections on your credit, pay them, settle for less than the amount due (also called a charge off), or your other option is to ignore them and wait for them to drop off.  As a lender I like to see them gone, paid off, charged off, or enough time and distance between them that they have little effect then they concern me less.

You may be wondering how to know what is on your credit.  You get 1 free credit report a year.  The only legit website is www.annualcreditreport.com anything else is a scam.  They will ask you a bunch of security questions, some of them are trick questions, but they use the information on your credit report to generate what to ask you.  They might say, at which of these addresses have you lived, and you never lived at any of them.  That sort of thing.  They want to make sure that it is you checking your credit.  This will allow you to get a copy of all three bureaus.  It will not contain your credit score unless you want to pay for it.

Another thing is credit inquiries.  I could go on and on, but why reinvent the wheel...here is an awesome little blog I found that talks about credit inquiries and what to know about them.

If you are thinking about buying a house I look at credit, collateral (downpayment), job history, income, and debt to income ratios.  There are still a few loans out there that you don't need a down payment.  There are loans out there where you could have had a few gaps in your employment.  There are loans out there for you even if you don't make that much money.  Biggest factors for me...credit, and debt to income.  Those will kill a deal.

I hoped this information helps you.  It is not a hole that is too big that you can't get out of it if your credit stinks.  And another thing...credit is not a reflection of you as a person.  You are so valuable.  Treasured by God so much that he sacrificed everything to cover our bad sinful credit as fleshly stinkers (spiritually speaking now), and robed us with rightous credit, that glows bright.

Lord, thank you so much for my job.  I love it.  Thank you that I am able to help people and that you have allowed me the opportunity to help a lot of people this week.  Thank you for keeping me strong and focused.  I love you so much.

Have a wonderful friday friends!

xoxo

Ronda Honda

Big Fat Heart

What a beautiful day; fresh and bright after yesterday which was filled with dark ominous clouds electrified with ripples of lightning that ignited the sky continuously for hours.

{Now that was a mouthful…It was so beautiful though that you almost have to word it just like that}

Colby, (Sam’s best friend who moved to Joplin two weeks before the tornado) said as the storm raged last night, that the magnificence of it was just a small glimpse of the power and majesty of God…and then he added, “it’s just God trimming his toenails.”  Thanks Colby, way to ruin a beautiful sentiment with toenail trimming metaphor.

Sam, Colby, and I turned off every light in the house, opened the patio door and sat tucked inside, out from the rain, playing guitar and singing praise songs to the Lord as we watched the show he was putting on for us in the sky.  It was amazing.

This morning I find myself back in 2^nd Corinthians, and as Paul is encouraging the Corinthians he is encouraging me, little Ronda Honda, 2000 years into the future.  Awesome.

There are so many “R” words in the scriptures that I LOVE: Redemption, Renewing, Rebuilding, Reconciliation, Revive, Revelation, Refreshed…I am sure I am missing some, can you name some more good ones?

Ah, I just thought of one more. Thank you Lord (he keeps me on track): Relationship.

And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2^nd Corinthians 5:15

You, who are alive, have a call on your life.  Jesus died and was raised (Resurrection).  At the end of 1^st Corinthians (Chapter 15) Paul caught wind that some people believed that Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead.  So Paul had to bring out his paddle (figuratively speaking).  He basically tells them that without Christ being raised from the dead Christianity is pointless.  And he adds that they would be guilty of lying about God, and that everyone would still be under the law (death).  BUT…he says in verse 20, But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…

If I say I follow him, I need to live for him. It was for my sake that he not only died, but that he was made alive again.  Does that blow your mind?  It blows my mind.  I live for myself all the time!  I am a real stinker in this regard.  It is so easy though.  It is so easy to get caught up in my own life that I forget to live for him.  Consider it.

Consider your life and the fruit of your life.  Really, if you are sitting there reading these words I hope you will take 2.5 seconds to pause and think…do I live for me?  Or do I live for Christ?  Do I have idols that I cherish?  Am I too busy?  Am I too angry?  Am I too good?  Am I too entertained with life?

I hope you know that I am asking myself these very questions.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him this way no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who though Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  {get ready for it} For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2^nd Corinthians 5:16-20

If you are in an active relationship with the living God…your life will reflect it {another R word}.  If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.

Can I keep going?  I love this so much, I know that you can open your Bible and read these words too, but I love em, so I want to share em.

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain {WARNING, WARNING, alarms and red flashy lights were going off in my head like on a submarine}.  For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,

And in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Let me rephrase:

Listen up!  NOW is the favorable time; Come on people, NOW is the day of salvation!

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise.  We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.  In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

We are supposed to be different, but not proud different like “Hey everybody, come see how righteous I am!”  But different because Christ is changing us from inside out.  There is no room for pride of life.  With humility I need to love everyone.  There are so many people I need to apologize to.  The best apology is a changed attitude.  Showing them the change and not just letting it be words.  Be kind and open.  Be welcoming and hospitable.  Be attractive, not in your outward appearance, but let your heart be attractive so that people will be drawn to you and you can share with them of the HOPE that lies within you.  He will do all the rest…in fact, he will even make the changes to your heart if you are ready and willing to be changed.  Let the Remodeling begin!

Lord, I give you my heart and I give you my soul.  That is a beautiful song and as the words come immediately to my memory I rejoice with a choir of your saints around the world in this day and in past days and future days combine.  A symphony of praise.  I pray that my life will be a beautiful melody found pleasing to your ears.  I pray that my life will be a sweet smelling fragrance…like fresh baked bread, pleasing to you.  I pray that I will bring you honor, and that I will never embarrass you.  I pray that everyday you remind me of the ultimate call on my life, to love.  Thank you for putting people in my life who love and support me.  Thank you for all your blessings, please let me be a good steward, never taking anything for granted.  Thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit to comfort us.  I don’t thank you enough and I am so sorry.  Widen my heart.  Stretch my heart.  Grow my heart.  Build my heart.  Remodel my heart; make it what you want…I love you so much.  You make me smile more and more everyday as I dig into your word.  I see you in everything good.  I praise your holy name.

If the scriptures I wrote here didn’t jump off the page and minister to your heart, try opening up your Bible and reading them.  God’s word is alive…like yogurt.  Eat some word, it’s good for you.

Xoxo

Ronda

Love Letters

The glory of the Lord is my strength and my song.  I met a woman yesterday who shared with me her story of God’s glory, and her face glowed.  She beamed with light as she shared of the miraculous way in which the Lord worked in her life.  Her story starts by my estimation around 13 years ago when her husband was sent to prison and she was left to raise her two children on her own.  He would be in prison for 5 years, and for 5 years she would be a single mother.  What he was guilty of is not of consequence to the story, but I can tell you he loves the Lord and it is evident in his life.

She started to tell me a story, but had to back up and expand it a little further.  She told me how she was in desperate need of a good car.  The car she had been left with was a smokin hot Mustang and she detested the attention it brought her.  She needed a mom car, a reliable mom car.  So she found a dealership that was owned by a Christian couple and they helped her find a car on their lot and gave her favorable terms for her trade and really did right by her.  Two weeks later the car broke down.  She went back to them and they gave her a car to drive in the meantime, but they quickly realized that the amount of money it would cost to fix her car (which they were willing to do) would be greater than just letting her pick between two other cars.  She selected one and they told her to drive it a week or so and make sure she really like it.  She loved it.

She had to go back in and fill out the papers for the new car.  That day she was a wreck.  She was broke.  She owed rent, and it was late, and she had another bill that was due.  Times were tough for this single mother of two who was working two jobs and going to school full time (she is a GO-GETTER).  So she woke up in the morning and started praising God in her crisis.  She gave him her bills and she said “God, I can’t do this.  This is what I owe, and you know what I have.  I know that today you are going to show me your glory and you are going to make a way.”  All day long she said these words, “you are going to show me your glory.”

The day went by and she kept saying it and praying it and praising God for the glory he would bring in her time of great need.  She knew she had to go sign the papers and so she drove to the dealership and as she finished signing them the owner handed her a check.  She looked up at him dumbfounded.  “What is this?” she asked.  “That is the difference between the price of the first car and the new car you have.”  She looked at the number on the check, and to the CENT it was the exact total of the two bills she needed to pay.

She was overwhelmed with joy and praised God and shared giddily with the owner of God’s glory.  What an awesome God that we serve!

As I sat reading this morning I began reading about the glory of God.  I just finished 1^st Corinthians *LOVE* that book.  I know it is a book of correction because the folks at Corinth needed lots of correcting, but the way I figure it, I need lots of correcting too.  So I drank it up!  I was thirsty.

Today I found myself in 2^nd Corinthians and 2^nd Corinthians is finding itself overrun with underlines and highlights just the same as 1^st Corinthians.  I came to chapter 4 and starting in verse 7 read:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…

{loves}

Now down to verse 15…

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.  So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Ohhhhhh, isn’t this amazing!

Let’s increase our thanksgiving!  In fact let’s thank him right now.

Jesus, THANK YOU.  Thank you so much for your word...a love letter to my soul. Thank you so much for taking the weight of my sin on your shoulders, despite my sin being detestable to you.  Forgive me for repeatedly getting caught up in myself and my little life and not giving you all the thanks and all the glory and all the honor due your precious name all the time.  I am not worthy of your love and I fall short of your glory.  I fall so far short of your glory that it wouldn’t even make sense to say that I fell short…our sin separated us from God.  Enter you, his perfect beloved son, willing to give it all to come here and live amongst us.  You took on an earthly perspective and you lived a sinless life.  Blemish free.  Then you bridged the gap and covered up our sins.  You bought us, you redeemed us, you reconciled us, and you made a way so that we could have a Father – son, or Father – daughter, relationship.  Without you we would be under the law.  Your word makes it clear that under the law we would be under death.  But by the Spirit we have been given life.  You are everything, and every good thing comes from you.  Thank you for bringing rain.  Thank you for bringing cooler temperatures.  Thank you for your mercy and thank you for your *LOVE*.  In Jesus precious name, Amen.

I want to thank Lisa for bringing me chocolate on Saturday when she heard of my 'Toddler gone crazy day', and she brought me lights for my new porch (Should the Lord will it be our porch).  What a blessing. 

I also want to thank Erin.  I got a package in the mail today.  In it was a jar of Anise, a love note that read:

I am so blessed.  I have wonderful friends.  Thank you Lord!  Now I get to make Manuel’s bread…YUM!

Xoxo

Ronda

Toddler Tantrums and Sharpie Shenanigans

I started writing this little post today and well, chaos ensued.  Caleb, who we dubbed “angel baby” as an infant, turned two the first week of June.  Today, he decided that he was going to throw a tantrum.  I have never been through a tantrum before.  I thought I had, but no, I can definitely tell you that I had never been through a tantrum.  Once I experienced an embarrassing Target + toddlers without naps = meltdown mayhem and indecent exposure incident.  But a full-blown tantrum…let me tell you, it was awful.  This is a story of survival.  This is a story of perseverance.  This is a story from the trenches of motherhood.  This…{dramatic pause} is my story.

Caleb and Kael were supposed to be napping.  All was quiet in the house and I sat down and typed out a lovely little blog.  I was just about finished when the boys graced me with their presence.  Each of them scribbled head to toe with Sharpie.  Black Sharpie.

They also were quite creative and scribbled much of my bedroom. Where did that Sharpie come from?  I have no idea.

I didn’t flip out; I decided what was done was done and that I would have to deal with it.  But for now, I was too tired from trying to get them down the first time that I would let them win this battle and postpone naptime.  Caleb however was SO emotional.  I knew I had to put him down.

The nice little thought that I would rock him to sleep popped into my mind.  He decided that was the worst idea ever.  He screamed and arched his back, and fought me tirelessly.  After about 15 minutes of non-stop toddler tantrum action I gave up and put him down.  He threw himself on the ground (bumping his head in the process), he wanted me to hold him, but as soon as I would pick him up he would begin fighting me again.  It went on like this for about 35 minutes and I had no idea what to do with this kid.  He told me several times to “Stop it Ronda!” or “Stop it Mommy!”

Out of desperation and exhaustion I called Sam.  He came home from work to save my day.  He tried to calm Caleb who was way past the realm of calm.  So he took him upstairs and calmly took off his clothes and put him in the tub and turned on the shower.  One minute later Caleb was calm and ready to talk.  Mind you, Caleb talk is pretty coherent but still Toddler-gaberwalkie.  He said that he was ready to be good and that he was all done being naughty.  Sam got called back to work, and Caleb rewound himself.  Hysterics.  I tried to remind him that he was ready to be good and that he was all done being naughty, but he seemed not to recall our recent agreement.

I put him in his toddler bed and snuggled up next to him and within 60 seconds he was fast asleep.  Victory.

All in all today was a rough day.  I am not going to lie.  The majority of the day I felt like I could do no right.  Before the Sharpie incident I had a surprise visit from my in-laws…SURPRISE!  Little boys were filthy of course, and the house was a mess (usually is right before nap time), and I was still in my Pajamas.

What do you say but, “Come on in.”  It was embarrassing.  Got me thinking a little later though, will I be ready when Jesus comes back?  Or just ready with a heap of excuses why I am not ready.  I will think on this more later when I don't feel like a walking sack of potatoes.

One thing good I did today was while the little boys played Play-doh, I made real dough, and from that real dough, I made some really awesome braided French bread.  Sent a loaf home with the Beres family.  This recipe makes 3 loaves!  It was easy, and it was amazing, and it made my house smell amazing.  I want a Scentsy that smells like fresh baked bread.

My day has wiped my energy.  I need a good night sleep and a sweet prayer to send me off.  You don't have to read my prayer if you don't want to.  You can say your own.

God, today has zapped a lot of my energy.  Please renew me as I sleep tonight so that I can be a light for you tomorrow.  Please send rain.  We could use some rain.  I am so grateful right now that I can stand on your word where it says that your mercies are new every morning.  That gives me great joy.  I pray for my little boys.  Today I was being so consistent, yet Caleb consistently, persistently disobeyed me.  Please help me to not lose heart.  Thank you for Kael, that today he was such a big helper and sweet mannered boy.  If they were both being awful I think I would have just sat in the corner and cried.  Thank you for your mercy!  Thank you for my husband and all the blessings that you have given us.  I see lightning flash in the sky.  What a marvelous world you created.  Sorry we messed stuff up.  I love you Lord.

Your daughter, Ronda.

Here are some pictures of the little boys eating bread after the Sharpie Incident, before the Tantrum Throwdown:

Caleb

Kael

Braided Italian Bread

3 cups warm water

2 packages (2 tablespoons) yeast

4 tablespoons sugar

9+ cups flour (9 for dough, + for kneading)

4 teaspoons salt

4 eggs

3 tablespoons oil

1 egg for glaze

Mix water, yeast and sugar.  Let it sit until all ingredients are dissolved.  With a wooden spoon, mix four, salt, eggs and oil with yeast mixture.  Mix well and turn out on floured surface.  Knead mixture until smooth and elastic.  Place dough in lightly greased bowl; turn to coat and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk.  Punch down and divide dough into 3 parts.  Divide each part into 3 sections.  Roll each section into a 12” rope.  Braid each group of 3, pinching the ends to seal.  On a lightly greased baking sheet, let rise until double in size.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Brush braided loaves with slightly beaten egg.  Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: 3 loaves.  Recipe from “No Mess Dough Board” recipe card that I found in my recipe folder.  It is a keeper. Enjoy!

xoxo

Something stinks in here!

The more I get in God’s word the more “Amen!”’s erupt from my mouth, the more grateful I become of his mercy and nature, and the more I find myself singing songs of praise in my heart.  I find myself in a very peaceful place.  As I am on this journey God is showing me the pride that coursed through my veins, he is transfusing me with new life.  ‘His agenda and not my own’ are no longer words said in vain, but with real meaning and desire.  I am finding that in obedience to God’s word, there is humility.  And that is exactly what he desires of us.  In our humble state, he can be glorified.  When we are humble, he can be lifted up.

This morning as I stood getting ready for work a few thoughts popped into my mind. I smiled and said to the Lord, let me find a pen and paper so that I can write them down and share them later if you want me to.  I opened up the bathroom drawer and there was a pen {not too completely surprising if you saw my bathroom drawer…it is a catch all} but I was very happy.  Then I looked around me, I had nothing to write on.  A slip of paper on the dryer caught my eye.  Perfect!  I wrote down three things.

Once upon a time about 15 years ago I remember a woman in our church in Machias, Washington, who was a seasoned smoker, quit smoking.  She only had a few days of no smoking under her belt, but she exclaimed to my mother (who greats everyone in the foyer) that she had just been around a smoker and they smelled awful!  She asked my mom, “Did I stink like that too?!?”  I don’t remember what my mom answered, but it was probably very polite and encouraging, because that is just the way she is.  Sadly this woman, not more then a few days after that, picked up her old habit again and went back on the chain.

God is working hard in my heart.  He is working tirelessly on me.  I don’t want to squander his good work.  It is very irritating when the little boys get dirty right after I give them a bath.  It is most days inevitable.  I want to, as a child of God, try and keep myself clean.  I want to make my heavenly father proud.  Oh Lord, let me know when I am getting stinky...I want to be sensitive to your Spirit.

I am finishing up reading in 1^st Corinthians and a verse froze my eyeballs.  I read it again.  And again.  And I got out my highlighter and I underlined it and I highlighted it.  Corinthians is Paul writing to the church at Corinth.  They were zealous for signs of the Spirit and the supernatural occurrence.  A lot like us today we go in the ditch, instead of living life in balance.  Paul says to them in Chapter 14 verse 12: So with  yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.   He was correcting them for puffing up themselves and putting on a ‘holy roller’ showcase.  Paul tells them (14:33) God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

Here is the frosty that froze my eye balls and caught my attention 1^st Corinthians 15:1-2:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you- unless you believed in vain. {Spirit Checker!}

Ronda’s paraphrase…I (Paul) preached the gospel to you, you received it (in all appearance), you stand in it (so you say), and by it you are being saved (that would be the natural progression), if you hold fast to the word preached (what needs to be done)…unless you believed in vain (unless you are a big faker).

I think I am understanding it right.

This is not a game for show.  God sees your heart, you aren’t fooling God.  You may be fooling a lot of other people.  And you may even be fooling yourself.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7

And he said to them (Jesus), “You are those who justify yourselves before men, gut God knows your hearts.  For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15

Ok, Gods word can bring a BIG paddle.  But I would rather be paddled by the word of God then puffed up with pride from the things of this world.  The king of this world {satan} wants you to be either numb to God and overly concerned with self, against God, or fast asleep.  Since satan himself was afflicted by pride and it was his downfall…it worked for him…it works for us.

God is God, we are man, his creation.  God loves the humble.  God loves the cheerful.  God loves those that love him, and love others.  I am but a vapor, a mist…so short is my time here on this earth, yet the manner in which I live my life, in truth or lie, will determine eternity.  And there is nothing hidden that won’t be brought to light. There is no time like the present to open up your heart to God and saying, ‘Renovate me.  Recreate me. Transfuse me. Use me. Whatever it takes, may you be glorified.’

Jesus, your name is precious.  I pray that you will let me never forget the stench of my prideful ways.  I pray that you will give me spirit checks if I am doing something I shouldn’t, saying something I shouldn’t, hearing something I shouldn’t, seeing something I shouldn’t.  I pray that you will give me foresight to RUN from evil.  I pray that you will expose evil to me for what it is so that I can flee from it..  If it is a song, if it is a TV show, if it is Facebook, if it is something that is taking me away from you, if it is an idol, make it detestable to me.  Thank you for convicting me daily.  Thank you for drawing me near.  I pray for anyone whose eyes read these words that it will minister to their hearts.  I pray that this weekend you will help me to be a good example of humility and love.  You are so gracious and I am so grateful. Amen.

I want to thank those of you who answered the question the other day about if you pray before you eat.  I want to especially thank Marie.  She wrote:

I thank Him for the food while I’m preparing it.

I thank Him for the lettuce as I chop it,

The animal that gave it’s life to sustain me,

The people I’m preparing it for,

The fuel to cook it,

The well water to wash it,

The pots and utensils to cook and serve it, spices, etc…

When I sit down to eat something that’s been prepared for me

I thank Him for that person and each item as I eat it.  It’s usually not out loud, unless requested,  but blossoms into praying without ceasing…

We have SO much to be thankful for!

Amen Marie, Amen!

Today was busy, but it was blessed.  I made a new friend and she blessed my day.  I love my job.

Here is the recipe for the tartlets and the quiche I posted yesterday.  Then it is off to the grocery store for me.  I love going grocery shopping…but tonight I am taking the little boys, which is usually a crazy deal.  So pray for me ok?  I really appreciate it!

Heat oven to 425 F.

Lightly grease 2 mini muffin tins (24 total tarts or quiche)

I used Hodgeson Mill whole Grain Insta-Bake Baking Mix.  I put 2 cup of mix in a bowl and mixed with about ½ cup almond milk.  You can use regular milk if you want.  1 tablespoon butter cut pea size mixed into dough. If your dough is too sticky add mix until the dough is only slightly sticky.  If your dough is too dry, add more milk; easy peasy!

Pinch off about a tablespoons worth of dough and use a floured rolling pin on a floured surface to roll out. Place each rolled dough into your muffin tins. Do this until all your tins are full.

If you are baking the tartlets you will want to bake shells for approximately 8-10 minutes.  They should be lightly browned and crunchy.  Cool on a baking rack and fill with preserves.  I used peach.  YUM!!!

If you are baking quiche you will need:

2 eggs

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

¼ cup milk

1 teaspoon steak seasoning

¼ cup cheese

Whisk all ingredients together and use a tablespoon to spoon mixture into UNCOOKED tartlet shells.  Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes.  Edges should be brown, egg should puff up but not jiggle.

Serve warm.

xoxo

Ronda