So I’ve been 40 now for one month! 🙂

Can’t say I feel much different – still behind in pretty much every category – and still moving slower than I’d like, lol!

I don’t mind, though – I like keeping busy, and I hate rushing… 🙂

Mike made me a frame for one of our school maps out of scrap wood he had laying around. I love it! 🙂

From Michael, I got an ITunes gift card and he also joined in on Paul’s gift… Apparently, “the gift” for turning 40 is chocolate – namely, M&M’s… (Not sure if that’s because they were on sale the day they were shopping, or because we tend to bend our eating habits for special occasions and perhaps the birthday girl would share her loot, lol…)

I decided to try to see if I could get the candy to last as long as possible – after all, it’s not our habit to eat it often, so that shouldn’t be hard to do, right?

My 3 boys rolled their eyes when they saw what I did… 🙂

So how’s my “great idea” workin’ out???

COMPLETE – EPIC – FAIL!!!!! 😦

Every single one of those candies are gone, lol. Didn’t even last one month!! And sadly, I was the worst offender… 😦 This is EXACTLY why I don’t keep this stuff in the house… A terrible example of self-control, I was. 😦

[In my defense, I’d like to say it’s the Peanut M&Ms’ fault. If they didn’t taste the best, I wouldn’t have hunted so much for them and eaten the ones in my way, lol! I know, lame excuse. Uggg.]

We just finished memorizing the first book of James, and there are several verses that were very convicting to me… When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full‑grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15 NIV84) Yikes, Lord, such a simple, little thing – yet a perfect example of how weak I am when I rely on my own power to fight my battles. I guess I felt like I didn’t need Your help in this…that I could handle it with my “big talk” and “methodic system”. I know it wasn’t You tempting me… You were there with me the whole time, just waiting for me to ask You for help. Instead, I allowed desire to drag me away, and that led to sin – the sin of not practicing self-control. It’s easy to practice self-control when you don’t have something you desire in your kitchen cupboard. Strengthen me, Lord, to be better able to handle the next time I’m in a similar situation. How amazing that M&M’s can lead me to repentance, lol! I love Your sense of humor, Lord. Amen

Oh Lord, I pray over my day –
In my work, in my walk, and in my play.

You see no difference in what I do –
Because it can all be done to glorify YOU!

Hooray, hooray…
I gotta say!

‘Cause now I’m free,
To be the me –
YOU WANT ME TO BE!!

A poem inspired on 11-13-12 after our family prayed together for our day. I “accidentally” ended my prayer with the first stanza’s rhyme, and then felt an overwhelming desire to plunk out a quick poem. I haven’t done that in awhile, and it was fun. 🙂

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of words! Verses that come to mind are: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NIV84) and But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25 NIV84)

🙂

Sixteen years ago this morning, we were married at Bethel Lutheran Church, in Bath, Ohio.

(Our scanner doesn’t work, so I took some pictures of our pictures…)

It was a misty, rainy day…but cleared up enough for a few outside pictures.  Our reception was at Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, Ohio.

We drove to the Adirondack Mountains for our honeymoon – 9-29-96 thru 10-5-96.  Stopped & stayed at Seneca Lake – Belhurst Castle on the way out, and on the way back.  Visited Lake George – Alpine Village/Prospect Mountain, Lake Placid – Whiteface Mountain/sites of 1980 Olympics/High Falls Gorge, Fort Ticonderoga, Albany, Ithaca – Buttermilk Falls, and Watkins Glen – state park.

Father, it’s hard to look at these pictures from 16 years ago without feeling a “tinge of regret” – a regret for not recognizing the darkness we were walking in.  A regret for promoting a false illusion that we were “better than” we really were.  Thank you for allowing us to still feel that “tinge of regret” – may it keep us humble – may it continue to drive us to seek comfort in You, not one another – may our marriage bonds strengthen each day as we seek to serve You together – may it burden us to tell others of our journey, to tell of where Your Hand has been both then and now… BUT, may we not dwell on that “tinge” – remind us of Your Words in Romans 8:1-4 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.  How appropriate that the verse emailed & txted to us today from Ron Hutchcraft Ministries was Romans 4:7-8 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”  I look forward to each new day that You give me here to live.  There are not enough words for me to express the feelings of thanksgiving I have for my salvation, for my marriage, for our children, and for our journey.  May our worship be our walk, and may our walk increase Your Flock.  AMEN

Thought I’d end with sharing a favorite anniversary card I have in my “scrapbook”.  Shouldn’t be a surprise why I like this one, lol… 🙂