New Art FOR SALE!

I just finished these 2 pieces today. I am hoping to finish 2 more this weekend and have them all up for sale on Facebook by Monday!

My son eats 3 times his body weight...

Well, almost. Little Javen has literally been eating more than than I do for the past week. This is what was on the menu today:

Breakfast: A bowl of cereal, a whole container of yogurt, a whole banana

Snack: A big handful of dried fruit.

Lunch: Half of a peanut butter sandwich, a handful of chips, 2 cookies.

Dinner: A whole mini-can of ravioli

Bedtime snack: TWO whole containers of yogurt, and a granola bar.

Oh well, he has more than enough energy to burn it all off!

In Ten Days....

I will be HERE! Times Square, New York City. Justin and I are taking a long weekend and heading to NY. Justin has been a part of an Executive Pastors Coaching Network that is based out of a church in New York City. February 7th is the graduation/recognition ceremony for everyone who was involved in the network.

I'm so excited! I have never seen New York City! I can't wait to spend some quality time with my husband, do some great shopping, eat at some great restaurants, and do some sight-seeing.

I'm sure I will have another post with actual pics from our trip!

Anybody been to New York City??? If you have any traveling tips, let me know! 

My Photo Blog

I started doing this "Photo A Day" blog on the first of January. The goal is to take one picture every single day of the year, and post it to your photo blog. I am loving it! I was just looking back at all the photos I have posted, and I had already forgotten a few of the things that I did at the beginning of the month! What a great sort of "diary", a way to remember what you saw, experienced, and accomplished in 2009. It's not too late to start a photo blog! Here's mine: www.everyday09.blogspot.com

The Marrero Family

This blog is in dedication to one of my all-time favorite TV shows, Extreme Makeover Home Edition. To this day, I have never sat through an episode with  dry eyes.

This morning I was watching a re-run that was especially touching. It was about a single father who was raising his 5 teenage boys, after their mother walked out on them. They were living in the absolute ghetto of Camden New Jersey. Gang fights and gun-shots were something they saw and heard on a regular basis.

These 5 boys and their father literally had nothing but a shack of a rental property to live in.

No heat.

Rust-polluted water.

Empty refrigerator.

No beds.

They had been sleeping on the hardwood floor for 6 years. Many nights they would all sleep huddled together just to keep warm.

Their dad spent almost every night crying, wondering how he was going to care for his boys.

In the midst of all of these circumstances...I have NEVER witnessed such love within a family.

These boys were best friends and you could just tell they had each others backs, no matter what.

Their dad was constantly pouring out affection on his boys. Hugs and kisses and telling them how proud he was and how much he loved them.

In spite of his financial struggles, it was Mr. Marreros dream to start a foundation to help other single fathers living in Camden. He wanted a place for the fathers and children to come together, a place that would be warm and safe.

There are two separate reveals in this clip. One of the new "Single Fathers of Camden" support house, and one of the Marreros new home.

Watch this and remember how blessed you are. And I hope it encourages you to be a blessing to someone else today.

I so needed this...

For the past 3 weeks, I have been battling sickness. It started out with what seemed to be a flu-bug which had me vomiting and miserable for about 3 days. 2 days after the flu, I started getting a sore through which evolved into a nasty sinus issue...congestion, cough, stuffy nose, etc... Well now the congestion has cleared for the most part, but my sore throat has returned. After 3 whole weeks of not feeling like myself, I decided to go to the doctor this morning.

After I got home, a friend of mine gave me a sermon to listen to...and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

As I was driving to the doctor this morning, I was thinking to myself "WHY do I get so sick?I don't know any one else who gets completely wiped out for weeks at a time. Maybe it's because I haven't spent enough time reading the Bible or praying, and this is God's way of getting my attention. Or maybe I have a weak immune system and this is just something I have to live with."

Obviously these thoughts are based on fear and lack of faith.

The over all message of the sermon was about the power of communion and understanding the meaning of taking the bread and wine in remembrance of Him. It is SO powerful, I am actually considering taking communion myself here at my house tonight.

A couple of other things that really stuck out to me were: 

God trains and corrects us through His WORD, not through sickness and disease

If sickness and disease were from God, then He would be un-doing what Jesus did on the cross.

I suppose I have heard these things in one form or another over the years, but it was so good to be reminded of the power of Jesus' death on the cross.

He did it for me.

So I can be healed.

Muscle Bound

I have been going to the gym pretty consistently for the past month or so. But I was thinking, I should set a measurable goal for how I want my body to respond to my workouts. So I decided that the above photo would represent my goal body-type. 14" biceps, thighs like tree-trunks and veins popping out in all sorts of unnecessary places. That's hot.

Totally kidding

To each their own, but I just don't find this attractive. I do admire the discipline and perseverance that is required to shape your body this way though.

I haven't really set super specific goals, but I would like to be able to:

-Run a mile without feeling like I'm going to pass out (I am NOT a runner!)

-Develop more visible muscle tone in my arms and legs

-Improve my overall strength

Sorry Jus, no body-builder hottie for you.

Rise and Shine, it's 2009!

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

To sum up my New Years Resolutions in one word, it would be: Grow

I am so excited about this new year. I feel like God is drawing me closer to Him than I have ever been. I believe He is leading me away from my plans, and towards His. I can't wait to see what is in store for me and my family over these next 365 days. 

My Top 3 Resolutions:

-Train and mentor someone who will be capable of filling my shoes (when needed) for Sunday and Wednesday praise and worship services.

-Spend a minimum of 30 minutes a day reading, journaling, talking to, and listening to God.

-Read at least 1 book (fiction or non-fiction)  a month

And here's a few others:

-For Justin and I to be completely out of stinkin' debt! 

-Work out 2-4 times/week

-Spend a minimum of 20 minutes a day doing preschool lessons with Javen

-Create and sell at least 1 piece of artwork a month

-Take one picture of my life every single day this year to put together in a photo-journal of '09

-Get my 2nd tattoo

-To not sleep past 9:00am, except when absolutely necessary! (I love to sleep!)

There is sooo much more...

What about you???