Your Whole Life - Week 10

This upcoming week’s challenge is about loving yourself and writing a list of ten things that are “good” about you. This can seem like a daunting, impossible task or a conceited task or that’s what I first though anyway. But when you look at who you are with Christ in your life it doesn’t seem daunting, impossible, or conceited. Because He is marvelous and amazing and perfect and He lives in me. He made me who I am, He grows and changes me every day when I am obedient to His calling and plan. It’s only gonna get better! So I challenge you to compile a list of ten “good” things about you.

Ten “Good” Things About Me
1. I am compassionate about people and their need for Jesus. I love people.
2. I am a good singer.
3. I am strong. (physically and spiritually)
4. I am a servant.
5. I feel beautiful, inside and out.
6. I help women with their spiritual growth and make them feel loved.
7. I am funny.
8. I am a hard worker.
9. I am not easily offended.
10. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

By the way, I feel great this week! I will weigh in tonight but I have lost almost 6 lbs and feel stronger and healthier.

Flea Market Finds

An odd bike.... and a carrot bowl???

Today, James and I stopped at a flea market in Springfield before we came home and found some very interesting items. Of course I had to take pics of some of the most bizarre.

This was my first find...a baby rattle in a package marked "Water Gun" for only 50 cents! I feel sorry for the little lad on a hot day that received this from a parent who inadvertantly snatched it up due to the packaging. This is also available in baby blue.

Next up,

Macrame!

Who wouldn't go for a Macrame owl in their living room or for carrying around a Macrame purse? I guess James wouldn't...

My mom used to make floor to ceiling Macrame planters!

Remember the "Brady Bunch" when Greg got his own groovy room complete with beaded curtain doorway? I saw it today!

And oh the assortment of animal-like things...

And Scary Dolls!!! Every other booth had a naked barbie or two but this doll really creeped me out...Chuckie!!!

Somehow this workout video doesn't get me motivated...even though Regis is probably 120 years old.

Well, in the end I found a picture of the fruits of the spirit for $4.95 that I bought.

Turkeys for turkeys!

Youth Turkey Season is here! Both of my boys went spring turkey hunting this year. This was Cameron's first year to go turkey hunting. In year's past Christian has went with James only to come home empty handed. I too have been hunting with James and have been unsuccessful. This is still a mystery, I don't want to lay blame on my husband but it is highly suspicious. I only know that my husband walks me all over creation, uses several different devices to call in 'Big Toms' (that's man turkey hunting talk for puffy adult male turkeys), and makes me be quiet and still for many long spans at a time. I haven't been on any sort of hunt in quite a long time, a few years I believe and I really have no desire to again. Huh? Well anyway, back to the children.
Since both of the boys wanted to hunt this year James got a friend from church (another macho man hunter and his name is James as well, funny) to take Christian hunting and James, my James, would take Cameron. James, ha, took Cameron to a huge piece of property to seek out the eluding turkey. James called in the big one and Cameron shot and missed, blamed his father and came home pitifully. Of course, their version of the story is much more vibrant with turkey sounding details and such.
Christian had a different experience. Christian has been hunting with James, dad James, for the past few years and yes, has been outsmarted by the birds or who knows maybe it just wasn't meant to be. This year, however, he hunted with James, the other James, and came home with a decent size Jake (that's man hunting turkey talk for adolescent male turkey and not quite so puffy). He was so proud that he finally had gotten his bird!


Isn't he adorable? Yes, Christian too.

Of course Cameron is now really bummed because he missed his turkey (still blaming dad) and his brother had gotten one. So the next morning, James and James, both take Cameron out to see if they together can call in something for Cameron to shoot. They have limited time due to it being Sunday morning and having to get ready for church, I on the other hand felt free to sleep in, a luxury I rarely have. I wake around 7:00 am (yes, this is sleeping in) and hear the front door open, I am asked to come see what the youngest boy of ours has accomplished in the early morn. I throw on my robe and slippers and head down the stairs and then think and say out loud "James is out there! I am a mess!" Yes, church friend James is outside. I walk to the door mumbling "I am so humble"... To make a long story longer, Cameron got a Jake as well, the beard was a little bigger (oh you know he rubbed it in) and all was well at the Hoagland house.

We all made it to church on time, early even, and looking marvelous...

Do you know what you find in your bathroom with a house full of hunters???

I Love Coffee!!!

I admit it...I am addicted to coffee, I love it! Although I can drink it black I prefer the yumminess of flavored creamer, Hazelnut, caramel, chocolate mint, the list goes on and on! I usually have two (big) cups every morning. Oh, there are those that say they love coffee but have they proven just how much? What would you do to savor the flavor of your declicious cup of joe? Here is my example: Since the weather has been so nice lately I decided to take my marvelous mug of joy to the small deck we have upstairs, it is a lovely setting to just sit and relax and enjoy God's creation and a good cup of coffee. I set my coffee mug on a small end table and dashed back inside to grab something, upon my return I noticed our cat with front paws on the end table standing on his hind legs taking a couple dainty sips or licks of my coffee! "SCAT CAT!" I yelled. But nevertheless, I was not about to waste a perfectly good, or slightly tainted, cup of coffee. It tasted fine to me. I haven't noticed anything weird. Not to mention, it tasted fine to me and I haven't nonticed anything weird. ;)

~Captivating Moments~

What would you love for God to say tenderly to you?

What a question…I wept trying to answer this question. This is how I answered it though I don’t think this quite sums up, there is so much more. I want God to say “I can use you, you are making a difference”. I want Him to say that I am okay, that I am loved, delighted in, adored.

What would you love God to restore to you?

This question was tough; I wanted it more for my mother, so I answered it this way. I want God to restore the joy of my mother’s salvation. How I long for a heartfelt Christian relationship with her. She used to love God so much, I remember her praising Him, serving Him, reaching out to others and really loving people.

Cultivate an adoring heart.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37

Thank you for this bible study Lord!