New Bible Study – Breaking Free by Beth Moore

I started a new bible study this week at Church. It’s Breaking Free by Beth Moore. Our study includes video watching, scripture memorizing, and small group study.

We started with the first week’s video last night. This is my first Beth Moore study, and I am totally impressed. Her passion, her crazy zeal, the tone she uses when she says “Girlfriend….”. I feel like I have found a wonderful friend, who understands the tough stuff in my soul and knows how to help me see a new future in Christ.

A couple of things that really caught my hearts attention….
- “Freed up from our “Again” – I have made so many decisions to stop doing something that has put a void between myself and God, only to find myself in the weakness of the AGAIN. Lord, why are we dealing with this hurt and pain again?? Oh yeah because I made the decision to do this AGAIN…
- “Bathe your brain in the Word of God” – This is a saying she used a couple times. I ABSOLUTELY ADORE IT!! It’s such a wonderful word picture. I always picture my relationship with God as a heart thing. All the emotional gook of life, I had never pictured it filled with thought and skill.
- “The Fathers Glory bears much fruit” – I want to be “profoundly effective, and profoundly fruit bearing”.
- “These are the days of war – learn how to fight the good fight!” – Last night was the first time in close to 10 years that I had prayed out loud in a group of believers. All the emotion and nerves really helped me to connect to the necessity of an active walk with the Lord. Talk about Glorified Guilt trip!!
- “Nothing that we are holding on to is worth what we are giving up.”, “Anything that gets killed, needed to die.”, “Don’t be scared of what it will cost you. “ – I started this journey thinking that I wasn’t in bondage, that I was free from oppression, that I didn’t know what I would get out of this study. My eyes have been opened, and my heart is longing to be searched and purified.
I pray for a passion and vulnerability to what God is doing in my life, and in the lives of those around me.

Love ya Like Crazy
Bri

The Simple Womans Day Book - 5/11/10

FOR TODAY…May 11, 2010

Outside my window...Sunny and 68 Degrees!!! Glorious Southern California!!!

I am thinking...about plans to go to the Renaissance Faire for my Birthday in a couple weekends. Looking forward to all the shows, eating, a little drinking (when in Rome…) a glass of beer never hurt anyone… and play time with family and friends.

I am thankful for...the amazing weather we have had. I am praying for all of the people affected by the crazy weather in the south. Our family in Tennessee hasn’t been affected by the flooding, thank goodness.

From the kitchen... Lots of Juicing and Chicken. We got a juicer a few weeks ago and have really enjoying the added energy and other healthy side effects. We are also are cutting back on beef and eating more chicken.

I am wearing... A black and white top, black slacks, and black flats.

I am creating... A prayer shawl - crocheting it with this beautiful black, grey, and white variegated yarn. Love it!

I am going...to the Laundry mat tonight. Our dryer died….after a totally agonizing death….

I am reading...just finished the Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton. Great Book! Hoping to get back aligned with the Kindred Spirits Book Group and read May’s book Pearl Maiden.

I am hoping...to hear from a ministry opportunity I am trying to get involved with!

I am hearing...not much of anything…my IPod has taken a dump… I hate it when technology decides to take a vacation…

Around the house... Lots of on purpose picking up. We are in the midst of a couple crazy weeks. Both socially and Work wise we have been really busy!! Keeping picked up really keeps the stress level down.

One of my favorite things... My Dryer…RIP sweet dryer!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tomorrow is our 3 year Anniversary! We are celebrating it on Saturday. Friday I am going to Magic Mountain with my Dad, and Sunday is my Grand Nephew’s first birthday!

Special Thanks and Blessings to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this post.

Praying and Crocheting....

We are struggling…or I should restate that…I am struggling…

I had a plan…Married by 25, Babies by 30…

I met Mr. Right…got married…at 28...totally blessed by God!

I’m getting ready to celebrate my 31st birthday…and find myself wishing, hoping and praying for a little one to call our own.

In a recent moment of despair (my birthday and Mothers Day…just happen to be in the same month)…I found myself lying on my favorite pity pot..Which happens to be the size of our bed… feeling very sorry for myself. After much poking and prodding about what he could do to change my mood…Mr. Perfect finally got the answer he was looking for in the form of tears and blubbering. “GIVE ME A BABY”…as if there was anything he could do about it…

I’m the one who needs to lose weight, I’m the one who’s diabetic, and I’m the one who has polycystic ovarian disease.

Can you hear my fists pounding…and my feet stomping…

Somewhere between the last months of tests and doctors appointments my “think I can” turned into a “we never will”….Which has slowly been shaped into “we never could without God”….a wonderful fact that my husband reminded me of.

I started crocheting a prayer shawl…Every stitch is a prayer that God will give me the perseverance to change my eating habits and the energy to get into the gym. Every Chain is a prayer that in his perfect timing he will give us the baby we have been praying and wishing for.

In the mean time, I will continue to love this man that God gave me. He has never pressured me about having children. A wonderful blessing to me. If only I could take that pressure off myself. Maybe that’s something else I need to pray about.

Show Us Your Life - Baby Names.

Special Thanks and Blessings to Kelly who hosts Show us you’re Life (Click the button above to get there)

If and when we are blessed with sweet babies… here is what I would name them….I was trying to make it a we thing…but like my husband’s taste in t-shirts…the names he has thrown out…just aren’t quite right…ha!

Girl Name 1 – Emmalynn Margaret -
Emma – What can I say I will forever be a Jane Austen Girl!! It’s also the closest thing to Ella, which is my Mom’s name (Which she hates..lol)
Lynn – My Sweet Sister in Laws Middle Name, and I just love the country twang, after all my Mother’s side of the family was born and bred, in Arkansas and Louisiana... its in my genes!
Margaret – After my beloved Grandmother on my Father’s side of the family! She is part of the very essence of who I am. She is always loved, and always missed!
Her nickname will be EmmaMags….I can already hear it!

Girl Name 2 – Esme Raquel
Esme – I really don’t know where I heard it first or last but it’s something that sticks….Ryan hates it! Ha I think there is something soft and whimsical about it.
Raquel – It’s my niece’s middle name, and I just adore it. Is strong but feminine…something I would hope my daughter would be.

Boy Name 1 – Elliot Michael –
Elliot – My Nursery was decorated in a Pete’s Dragon Theme when I was a Baby. My dad painted a GIANT Elliot (Pete’s Dragon) on my wall and crib. We moved..I was devastated (needed counseling…still do..LOL)..Still wish I had that dragon painted on a wall! He was a great comfort.
Elliot is also the name of my favorite Detective on Law and Order SVU….What can I say…Im addicted! If you saw my husband re-in act the intro to the show every week…You would know why!!!
Michael – The Arch Angel and also my Brother in Laws Middle Name. Their son is name after my husband’s middle name…it’s kind of a family thing. I like it.

Boy Name 2 – Preston David –
Preston – Another I don’t know how or why…but I just love it. It just sits well with my heart.
David – Is a mighty hero in the bible, and a mighty hero in my heart. It’s my Daddy’s name…enough said!
His Nick Name will be “PDog”…I can hear my Dad calling him already!

Menu Plan Monday 4/26/10

Monday - Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwhiches

Tuesday- BBQ Ranch Chicken, Rice, Mixed Veggies

Wednesday - Chicken Fajitas & Beans

Thursday - Chicken Noodle Mix Up

Friday - Out - Date Night & a Movie

Saturday - Out - Day in Fallbrook with Family Friends

Sunday - Pot Roast, Twice Baked Potatoes, Corn, Rolls - Cookies for Dessert

These are the days of my Life....

Today's topic at Show us your life... What is a typical day like?

Wake up at 6:00am.

Morning Routing:
1. Take and record Blood Sugar,
2. Watch the News a bit, making sure the world hasn't exploded.
3. Shower, Dress, Paint the Barn, and Play with my Hair.
4. Wake the Hubby
5. Walk the Puppies
6. Make our Lunches and eat breakfast/medicine/vitamins
7. Feed the Fish
8. Set up the Kitchen for the Puppies, for their stay while we are at work
9. Kiss the Hubby Goodbye

Leave for Work 7:30am.

Listen to Pastor Rogers for morning devotionals on our local AM radio station.

Work from 8:00pm-5:00pm

Drive Home from Work

Evening Routine:
1. Change clothes
2. Walk the Puppies
3. 5 Minute Bedroom Fluff - Make the Bed, Clean off Night Stands, Clean up any mis-placed clothes.
4. 5 Minute Bathroom Sparkle - Wipe down the Bathroom (Sink, Mirror, Toilet) from the morning activities
5. 5 Minute Kitchen Scrub down - Unload Dishwasher, Put any dirty dishes in Dishwasher, wipe down counters/appliances/sink.
6. 5 Minute Living room/Dining room Scramble - Pick up and put away anything out of place, wipe down coffee table for crumbs, put remotes away.
7. Set Table for Dinner
8. Cook Dinner
9. Welcome Hubby Home with a Kiss
10. Eat Dinner
11. Hubby Does Dishes (Bless his heart)
12. Do any scheduled home keeping tasks (Laundry on Tuesday's, Wash the Dogs on Thursday's, I do a full house cleaning on Saturday Mornings before Hubby wakes up)
13. Rest, Sew, Watch TV (American Idol is filling most of our evenings right now)

Off to Bed between 10:00-11:00...

I'm trying to figure out how to add an hour at GYM to my day....I think something is going to have to give... There is also a weekly bible study that I would like to get back involved in...hmmm...

Day 2 - 30 Days of Elegance

For my second day of Elegance we visited a local Tea House in Orange, CA called Paris in a Cup


It was amazingly lovely!!!



A great afternoon with my Great Aunt Janet and Sister in Laws Becky and Krystal!!