God's Blessing in the Sky

I've been kind of crabby about the frigid air up here in ND. It's crazy cold up here and it's supposed to get worse. Temperatures are about to go below zero, it's miserable to be outside and we go to bed some nights with a heating pad turned up on high. I have to admitt I've been pretty growly about it.

Well, God decided He was going to help me get out of this funk. If I think about it,He always provides a way out if I choose to see His handywork. Well, His handywork was quite obvious this time.

On the way to work on Monday, Rob and I saw the strangest thing in the sky. I told Rob it looked like the sun was rising in two spots. For the next 15 minutes, while on the way to work, we tried to figure out what this strange image was. When I arrived at school I asked another teacher what this second, sunrise was all about. She said it must have been a "sundog". A what??? She told me it had something to do with ice crystals in the sky. The sun reflects on these ice crystals and makes an almost mirror image of the sun. She said these "sundogs" sometimes create rainbows in the sky as well. Oh, yeah they do!!!! On the way to work today we saw almost a full rainbow and what appeared to be, three sunrises. WOW!!!!!

God, thank you for your surprises and blessings when we are feeling low. Thank you for thawing my heart out and giving me a smile in the midst of this tundra. Thank you for being creative and helping me to find the positive in these icy conditions. Thank you for knowing just what I needed.

The Art of Authentic Praise

Tuesday night, at Bible study, I learned about David's Authentic Praise. Recently I've been feeling that my praise is being squeezed out of me. It's not flowing or gushing like it sometimes does. This is what Beth Moore has helped me to learn about Praise.

PRAISE requires focus. (Ps. 9:1)
PRAISE is not confined.
PRAISE in Hebrew
Yadhah- speak out, confess
Tehillah-hymn, a song
Zamar-to play an instrument or make music
Hala- to be bright, shine, to boast, to praise, the idea of radiance WOW!!!
PRAISE is a choice(Ps. 103:1-5)
PRAISE is to become a habit (Ps. 34:1)
PRAISE becomes compulsory when we experience true intamacy.(Ps. 63:1-4)
PRAISE is contaigous(Ps. 52:9)
PRAISE invites the audience of God (Ps. 22:3)


I so want to be obedient in Praise. I just recently met a family via cyberspace that has and is exhibiting this fine art of authentic Praise. Their Praise has been contaigous to many lives. I read their blog finding myself praising the Lord through tears and joy. They have invited the audience of God, have experienced true intamacy, made a choice and made that choice habit, spoke out, celebrated in song, and are radiant, shining and as bright as bright can be. I'm going to pass this contaigous praise on and you too I'm sure, will find yourself praising without being confined. The Art of Authentic Praise(People after God's own heart)...........................................
http://noahsteven.blogspot.com/

Snow or Shine

This is just really an excuse to use this cute, little picture of me and my hubby in our fun hats we received from mom and dad Phillips. No, not really. I just wanted to write about some of my observations of a ND winter. Snow or Shine, life goes on. YIKES!!!!!!

*We don't get rainy days here. We get snowy days.
*I rolled up to the Starbucks, drive through the other day and my window was frozen shut. I had to open my door to pay and get my coffee.
*We have recess in the snow. Every student brings snow boots and pants, coat, hat and mittens to school. Yesterday we played outside while it was snowing. We build snowmen, throw snowballs and have a great time.
*I have to start my car now and then just so it won't freeze up.
* People leave their cars running when they go in to shop at W-mart. Most people have automatic car starters.
*There are no snow-days here. Every day would be a snow -day. That's very disappointing to a teacher. :(
*Ice forms on the inside of windows.

To be continued........

Our First Christmas Together

(Our First Christmas Tree)

The cue was the sound of the golf ball bouncing on the floor. We asked my brother if he could wake us up when the boys awoke on Christmas morning. Rob and I wanted to see the little cuties open their Christmas presents. We couldn't wait to see the joy and excitement on Ezra's face. So as soon as we heard the golf ball bounce across the floor above us we jumped out of bed with our video camera ready. It's so fun watching youngens opening gifts. Ezra shows his excitement by flapping his wings and boy oh boy were his arms a-flappin.

We had a yummy brunch and then Rob and I made some of his Christmas favorites-Candy Cane Cookies. It was a fun morning but my heart was missing my parents. I guess this showed on my face because my brother said "It's different isn't it?" I had so much to be thankful for right there in front of me. I have a wonderful hubby, a brother and sister in-law that have taken us in, two cute little nephews, parents that love me........ The list goes on and I was still choosing to have a pity party.

In the middle of throwing my pity party for one ,I chose to have my quiet time. Why didn't I start my day off this way I don't know and I regret it. It went something like this.......

"There once was a Christmas card titled "If Christ Had Not Come". The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no stockings hung on the chimney, no Christmas tree, no wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us. He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward heaven.

The minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend's poor dying mother. He reached her home and as his friend sat and wept, he said "I have something here that will comfort you. " He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.

Finally he realized that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream."

Yep, no more pity party for me. I am glad and rejoice today, because He has come. "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11)

Do you see what I see? You can.....

If you would like to take a peek of what our eyes have been observing this Christmas season you must visit http://www.familyofblacks.com/

The video is a must see. Get your sugar cookies and egg nog and enjoy. This is just a few snippets of the fun that goes on in the Black house. We had the privilege of being a part of that fun this year.What a blessing it is to live in the Black home. Our favorite Christmas present this year.....a warm home provided by my brother and his family. Oh what fun it is to reside with a fun, filled family.

Through a child's eye

Rob and I have decided that God has us here for the time being because there have been no other opened doors. So, we are planting our roots here until the Lord directs us elsewhere.

One of my roots is planted at Sunny Side Elementary in a kindergarten class as a teacher's aide. I have been with these kindergartners for a week now and am loving it. I just love being with kids. Kids help my perspective of life and I was needing a new perspective.

Last week we took the students to a movie for a little Chistmas cheer. There's just something about watching a movie with a theater full of kids that makes it oh, so much better. Sitting next to me was a small, quiet boy whom I have only heard say one or two words. I noticed that he was not watching the movie. He would look at the floor then the ceiling and then get on his knees and look toward the back of the theater. I leaned over and asked him if he was ok. He just looked at me and smiled. I then asked him if he had ever been to a movie and he just shook his head no. I couldn't believe it. The little guy was so in awe of his surroundings because he had never been to a movie theater. He wanted to know where that movie was coming from and how in the world was it appearing on the big screen.

Now when I think of my circumstances and get the least bit sad or disappointed I think of that little boy and the sparkle in his eye. Am I caught in awe of my surroundings? Do people see a sparkle in my eye when I view my new circumstances? Oh, how I desire to be in awe of God's daily wonder for I know where that movie is coming from. I may not know the next scene but I know who's behind the projector.

Basement Dwellers

Well, Rob and I hit our 2 months of being married. What a crazy couple of two months but God is revealing His, new mercies everyday.

We have moved into the "family of blacks" house. WOWZERS, what a blessing they have been to us. My brother and another friend of his moved us out of our apartment last Thursday. We found out on Tuesday that we had to be out by Thursday. The carpet cleaners were actually helping us move so they could start their cleaning. Most of our stuff was moved to storage and the rest we have with us in the basement of my brother's house, where we are now calling our home. Yep, that's right "You, Me and Holly". :)

Blessings from living with the Black family........

*My brother went out on Saturday morning and bought a table top Christmas tree to surprise Rob and me. We were also surprised to find on the next day that it had been topped with a blue ribbon beer can. It is just perfect for our humble abode. We are grateful for our cute, little tree because our ghetto lamp was tossed in the move.

*It's been so fun for me to be around my brother and his family again or for the first time. Since Vince has been married we have had great distances between our homes. I am cherishing this time.

*What a treat to see my husband playing with our two little nephews. It's such good practice for us both. My nephews know me now and that makes me smile.

*What a beautiful picture of marriage we are seeing in my brother and sister in-law.