Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

"Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do- blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on the streets corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."


"And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust can not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."



The following was written by my Bishop, Julian Gordy:

On this day we begin a spiritual pilgrimage. our destination is that place of self-knowledge that Jesus points us toward in the beatitudes: that place where we know that we are - on our own- not paragons of righteousness, but sinners dependent on God's mercy and love; that place where our good works come from some place deep within and not from our need to impress others with our goodness.



Over the years I have come to believe that the most important work of Lent is the humility. Humility is not a "woe-is-me, poor worm that I am" attitude. The word "humble" comes from the same root as the words human and humas and humor. It means "of the earth." To humble oneself is nothing more or less that to know yourself, your humanity, your needs, your shortcomings, and your gifts. It is to come to know who you are and who God is. It is to come to the place where you do not confuse the creature with the Creator, where you cease to be the center of the universe and recognize yourself as one very much beloved part of God's good creation.



That is where our Lenten journey could lead us: to self-awareness and to God-awareness. Undertaken in humility, our forty day pilgrimage could take us to that where we can be honest about our shortcomings while at the same time knowing that honesty will not run God off, but will be the occasion for God's affirming us as beloved children.



Lent reminds us that the way to righteousness lies through the desert of confronting our unrighteousness! Of knowing we are sinners greatly loved by god. That's the love we will see in Holy Week when we see the Incarnate God hanging on a cross out of love for us.



May God's blessing be yours as you undertake this journey of self-awareness, humility and grace.



Gracious god, As we begin our Lenten pilgrimage, help us to more clearly see you and ourselves. May we do justice, love mercy and humbly walk with you. Amen.

Bunny Toile!!!

Oh my...I am in love with my new Easter dishes. It is called bunny toile and is super cute!!! I have a new love for green I can not explain. I also created a new centerpiece for my table and a new wreath for my door. Here are some pictures...enjoy!

Shrove Tuesday

Today we celebrated Shrove Tuesday at church! We had a huge pancake dinner and great fellowship. It was so much fun. It was great to hear what everyone was "giving up". I am still undecided. The whole point is to give up something that pulls you away from God and to add in something that will make you closer. The ultimate thing for me to give up would be the computer...but I am not that crazy I need it for work purposes. Every year my church creates a Lenten Devotion. I will be sharing the daily devotions as I go through them.

I gave my camera to the twins, Noah and Drew, tonight and they had a blast until the battery died. This started a trend and they asked just about everyone for their camera phones. Here is the lovely photo shoot that they did....











Morgan and and I in our masks we made!

The culprits: Noah and Drew

Adoption

I wanted to share the journey that I believe God is leading me to. Artie and I have been trying to conceive for over a year. I realized a long time ago that it is all in His time and when it is right it will happen. Every night I say a prayer that (mostly reminds me) I fully trust him to give us a child when He is ready. But...
Recently I have also been praying an additional prayer.

I have felt for quite a while that I would like to adopt. I fully believe that God has laid that on my heart. I believe that is my purpose and what I am being directed to do. I (of course) have had a hard time accepting that...I would love more that anything to physically have children. Many of you who know me, know that I am a bit of a control freak. So as you can see, I often have a hard time letting go of my own agenda to let God take control.

I have been praying that God will help Artie come on board with the idea of adoption. He wants so badly to have HIS children, and I do to. I am just not sure it is in the cards for us. Artie would like for us to try some fertility options. I am just not sure I would like to put the money into it. If God is not giving us a child...there is a reason. The fertility options are quite expensive and not always guaranteed to produce a child. I would rather use that money to put towards an adoption. I am praying for clarity in this matter.

Please say a prayer that God will provide some guidance for myself and peace for my husband.

Laughing

A conversation between a 4 year old, a 5 year old and myself at church last night:

Noah: "Look at my sucker Miss Heather, it's a bullozer"

Mary Ann: "Nuh Uh! It's a cacter"

Noah: "No! This is lellow and bullozers are lellow"

Mary Ann: "No it's a cacter, ajsjhkdjshlakjsh (something un-recognizable), cacters can be lellow or geen"

Noah: "Huh Miss Heather, this is a bullozer!"

Me: " a what?"

Noah: "a bullozer"

Me: "you mean bull DOZIER?"

Noah: "yeah, a bullozer"

Me: "ok"

Laughter Lives Tuesday!

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.







Please continue to be a prayer warrior for this little girl and her wonderful family!
This week will be very hard for them as Abby has started another round of chemo.




Hehe...this is kinda funny.

I was trying to put the dogs in their kennels before church last Wednesday and things got a little crazy. They were being buttheads and running around so I was a bit frazzled. I grabbed piece of sliced cheese to help entice them downstairs. The dogs run downstairs ahead of me and so I follow. (note: I was wearing high heels) One of my heels catches in the carpet and I start falling down the stairs. My body's immediate reaction is to throw my hand against the wall...so I did. Not realizing until I came to a stop that it was the hand with the cheese. Ooopps....as you can guess, I most definitely have a huge spot a cheese squished on my wall. Here is a picture for your enjoyment!




Also...here is a clip of the Ellen show. It is so funny! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Hi/Lo Thursday

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts.



I thought this was a great idea so thanks Riggs Family! Please put Abby on your prayer list and join me in being a prayer warrior for this wonderful little girl.



High

3 Things-

1.Artie came home today for a few days before having to leave again. It is not much but I will take any days I can get! He will be gone the rest of the month for work...so say a prayer that he is safe traveling.

2. This week it snowed and covered the ground beautifully. It is so clean and pure. I love the way it silences all noise. I believe God acts in this quietness. I believe God works wonderful miracles of healing or deliverance, but not always. If we only look for God in those things, we may miss Him in the quiet, ordinary, unseen, gentle sounds in our life. I love the snow for this. It reminds me that God is at work even in the unseen ways of world.

3. I will be re-opening The Christmas Shop tomorrow! I am very excited about seeing my customers again. It has been a long month of preparing and I am ready to open the doors!!!


LOW

I started this week. I was actually a week late and really had my hopes up. Artie and I have been trying to conceive for over a year. I really thought this was the month.

During the beautiful snow this week I was stuck in the house and realized that I had dust bunnies the size of small children.