about the movie "Fireproof".
It still fills my thoughts.
It's THAT good.

There are so many facets to this movie.

A relationship between a man and wife.
A relationship between a grown son and his parents.
Relationships with friends and coworkers.
Relationships with believers and non-believers.
All of them growing and changing.
Each person adding something to this man's thoughts and therefore his marriage and his walk.

I love the little things like the salt and pepper shaker analogy.
I think Kirk Cameron did an AMAZING job...I've never seen a scene with a man struggling with his emotions..done so well! So believable! When he was crying...OOOOHHHH!
I love the comparison of your relationship to your spouse as studying..and earning a high school diploma, college degree, masters, and ultimately a PhD!
I love that she made her doubts and fears so genuine and her reactions to his good deeds a reflection of those feelings.
I loved all of the advice he got from so many people...
I loved it all!

The whole thing was just SO believable.
If you know me IRL, you'll know how VERY believable all of it is for me.
EXACT same discussions. EXACT same feelings. EXACT same scenarios.
Obviously when a movie is made depicting these things, I'm not the only one in the world having experienced them. That's good to know.

It was such a great reminder of SO many things. The biggest one for me:
To do for your spouse...GENUINELY. If you're doing things because you feel like you should, well, it doesn't go far.
I need to be reminded that I am not to only be my husband's helpmate but I am to do so WITH JOY.

If Christ was coming over to my house what would I do?
I'd CLEAN!
I'd COOK!
AND I'D ENJOY DOING IT!
Why?
Because I would be doing it FOR HIM.
I would be excited...smiling even...while I mopped, prepared a meal, ETC. because I would be so pumped about doing it for the Lord...having the opportunity to serve Him.

I need to remember that taking care of my home and family, helping my husband, being a submissive wife...is just that...it is SERVING THE LORD.
When I am doing those things, I am being given the opportunity to serve Him. And He wants me to do it all with joy in my heart.
And knowing that I am doing it for Him helps me enjoy it more.

now....I know that every time I dust I won't be thrilled to be doing so. BUT at least some of the times I will be.

To remember that it's not always easy or perfectly clear what I can do to serve Him... to please Him....sometimes I'm left thinking "How can I glorify you Lord? How can I show you my love?"

I know that he wants me to care for my home, my family, my husband, myself, my relationship with Him.... and working on those things is a way to show Him my love, my obedience, and my desire to please Him.
YEA!
It's nice when the guesswork can be taken away...at least for a little while. ;0)

If you've seen the movie, share your thoughts.
Share some of your favorite lines, analogies, scenes... don't give away too much though...because if you haven't seen it..HURRY AND GO! You won't regret it!
:0)

Went to church this morning and REALLY enjoyed the sermon. Funny, I can't come up with the exact message off the top of my head BUT I liked it.
I learned.
God spoke to my heart.
I listened.
I do remember our pastor saying that ALL of us are created in His image.
ALL OF US.
Nobody was created better than anyone else, worse than anyone else.
As the message continued I enjoyed myself more and more.
I looked around at other people there. I looked around at men there and saw husbands that seem to have it all together. (mine didn't go to church with me today)

Godly husbands.

Loving husbands.

Perfect husbands.

I found myself thinking "If only mine could be like that. How awesome that must be."

Yes, I did.

I then let myself think "Hmmm...they probably aren't as great as they seem. Looks can be deceiving. The one leading hymns could be horribly mean. A man that seems all perfect COULD be the opposite."

And then it hit me...
God made ALL OF US in His image.
Including my husband.
I was letting myself think worse of other guys in order to feel better about mine.

How horrible!

Instead I am to think better of mine!!!!
HE is made in His image. He is not any less than any other. Others weren't made better than him! He was wonderfully and perfectly made.
Instead of pushing others down, I am to lift HIM up!

My eyes were opened.
My heart was filled.

I have prayed for years "God help me to love him the way you love him. Help me to see him through your eyes."
But I haven't been truly doing that. I think down on him. I emotionally look down at him.
And those thoughts, those feelings manifest in my actions and attitude.

I am to LIFT HIM UP!

I smiled. I prayed. I thanked the Lord for showing me my errors. That while I've always said "we all have things to work on, nobody is perfect", that I still held anger in my heart for my husband not being what I think is perfect. Shame on me.

And then God showed me a glimpse that He truly can work within us. Both of us.
I asked my hubby to go see a movie with me tonight.
Not just any movie.
"Fireproof".

He said yes.

We did.
It was amazing.
AMAZING!
I cried (a lot!) and even my hubby came close to tears.

I prayed before the movie, I prayed after...and I will pray each day.
That He works in ME and in our marriage.
For ALL MARRIAGES can use more of Him in them.

If you haven't seen the movie...I HIGHLY recommend it.
Absolutely amazing.

What a wonderful wonderful day.

~robin

Thank you Lord for this day. Thank you for being patient with me, for guiding me, for loving me. Forgive me for not lifting up my husband. Take away any anger, bitterness, and selfishness that is hindering my marriage from becoming more of a marriage for You. Fill me with your gentleness, joy, and patience. Help me focus on the many wonderful things about my husband. Help me focus on what I need to change in me to better glorify You.
Amen

I did it!

I SERIOUSLY cleaned out my pantry.
I cleaned it.
I organized it.
I even bought AND labeled baskets for it! (glad Michael's is currently having a 50% off of baskets..at already good prices..they were CHEAP!)
I wish I had before photos. At the time I was NOT interested in taking any. It was a HUGE mess.
Seriously.
Things were SHOVED in there. Right side up. Sideways. However I could get the boxes in there. Things started out in designated places...veggies here, cereals there, side dishes here...but it didn't stay that way. Not even close.
See, we have a LITTLE pantry. For all of you with huge walk in pantries, just imagine. Mine is smaller than any closet in my house.
ANY closet. Ok...well, maybe it's the size of my small hall linen closet.
It's TINY.

It was really bad.
I couldn't find anything.
I didn't know what I had or what I didn't have.
I had boxes that were even empty but I didn't know it.

Even the floor was FULL of stuff. It was at least one layer deep, if not two.
The actual floor itself was disgustingly filthy. YUCK!

Now that I have to use my pantry more often and more quickly (making lunches for all of us in the morning before school), I knew I needed to figure out the mess and fix it.

I did!
I couldn't be happier.
It's beautiful!



This top shelf is for breakfast items, party goods, and the cookies. The basket is labeled "party". Filled with all of those extra cups, plates, and even a gallon ziplock with all of the extra variously colored napkins! Cookies are up there so little hands can't reach them. :0)

Second shelf is for prepacked sides, soups, canned goods. (Syrup is already out of place I see!) First basket is labeled "sides". Second basket is labeled "bags" and has all of my ziplock bags so I can grab it easily in the morning while packing lunches. Canned veggies and canned fruits.

Third shelf is containers of rice and pasta. First basket is "spices" and it's all my envelopes of stuff (they were always falling through the cracks of the shelves before and I found most of them on the floor!) Second basket is the most important (and therefore biggest), it's "snacks". All of these snacks took up an entire shelf before! Seriously, boxes that had 2 things in them yet took up so much room. This basket is all sorts of snacks for school snacks and lunches. I LOOOOVE it! Then hot school foods. Then the last basket is "baking".

Bottom shelf is all of my extras (when you buy at Costco you always have the extras for later) and my snacks (kids don't care about my tomato and basil wheat thins) :0)


TADAAAA!


the floor has room waiting for my other trashcan I'm buying for recycling. The bin I was using just isn't big enough...

adorable huh?
I really love my pantry.
And I truly think it will last because IT WORKS! It's made life so much easier. (shopping too!)

:0)

Ok..here are a few other photos that I just wanted to share.
It's Georgia and Caleb's latest favorite way to watch tv when relaxing after school.
:0)


later friends!
:0)

Today is my Mom's birthday.
Nope, she's not here for me to call and sing Happy Birthday to.
I can't meet her for dinner to give her a huge hug and gift.
September 24th has become that day on the calendar that is a memory.
If I mark it on my calendar I wonder "do people find that really odd?"
It's the only day out of the year that was just for her.

I miss her terribly.
She was one of my best friends.
She was my rock.
She was the reason that I KNEW no matter what, I would never be alone.
If all else failed me, she never would.
She NEVER had.

She still hasn't.

But it sure will be a long time before I can hug her again.
Before I can lay across her lap and have her scratch my back.

I miss her terribly.

check out my Sis's blog for a great post of my mom .... with photos! :0)

Ok.
So I've been super busy.
Tired.
ETC.
AND AND AND
I haven't had internet on my computer for a month...almost. I can access internet from Brandon's but then don't have my photos or photo software for that computer.
So, I haven't posted.

Now I am going to attempt to just go crazy posting photos from our past month.

Because, who knows when my internet will go out on my computer again!
(it does it OFTEN.)

:0)














Ok...WHILE typing this post, my INTERNET WENT OUT AGAIN!
I had more photos to post and such but alas, no luck. So NOW I am on Brandon's computer. What a pain in the rear!

PTL that Blogger automatically saves and I could access this since I hadn't yet published.

Ok...see you...well...sometime!
:0)

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. It's just been really busy around here and when I do have time to relax, I'm not usually in the mood to post really, just chill.
The big news is...
I've rejoined the work force.

Yep, after 5 years of being a SAHM, I've rejoined the masses.
And I'm not real happy about it.

I knew it would be tough. Although it is the best possibility (imo) because it is only part time AND my kids are right down the hall from me.
I'm a 3 year old preschool teacher.
Mon-Thurs. 8:15-2:15.
Having Caleb in preschool doesn't bother me. I would have anyway and I like that it is 4 days a week for him...to prepare him for Kinder next year.
But it breaks my heart to have Georgia in a program or any facility really.
She's only 2 1/2.
She's still a baby!
So for me, I'd rather her at home.
With me.
Every day.
But...God had other plans.

Yes, HE did.
I know this because I really did spend A LOT of time in prayer and conversation with our Lord about it.
He truly did make it clear.
Any time I hesitated or threw out other options, he shot them down.
Quickly.
Clearly.

That is my saving grace...KNOWING that HE wants this.
That it is His will and good will come of it for Him.
I'm good with that. :0)

I was worried though about how my baby girl would react.
I imagined all sorts of crying.
Turned out, the only one who cried the first day...
was me.

I know Georgia will have fun.
She'll discover all sorts of things that I wouldn't have made available for her.
It's a phenomenal program...play and center based with no behavior charts, no strict rules (other than obvious ones), no having to sit at tables and do worksheets, no product based learning at all, and no cookie-cutter-everyone-makes-the-same-thing activities. So she'll investigate fun stuff that I wouldn't have done for her.
That's nice.
BUT...I still feel like I'm letting her down.
I don't like that when they're older they'll hear so much of what kids hear and younger ones can't quite understand... you know what I mean...the "I stayed home 5 years for your older brother but you were only 2 1/2."
Just doesn't seem fair does it?

Alas...I've been busy.
Busy 2 weeks ago trying to fit in all sorts of fun things while I could.
Busy this past week with work starting.
I'll be busy this next week when the students/kids start too. (last week was teacher's work week).

It's been a long time since I prepared a classroom, made calendars and newsletters for parents, lesson plans, ETC.
Sorta' like riding a bike though.
:0)

Hopefully things will fall into place.
A routine will emerge and we'll all adjust.
And I'll be able to post more often.

For now, I leave you with this...
my baby girl looking so grown up brushing her teeth all on her own.
:0)