Another weekend... another set of swollen feet...

I sat down last night and looked at my feet. They looked a lot like giant marshmallows with red tips. I didn't sit down much yesterday. Today it will be different. I was back at the doctor on Friday for my glucose test and a check up after the fluid retention, and while they said I looked less puffy, they told me I still need to stay off my feet as much as possible. I normally would probably just blow off the idea, but truthfully, I feel like I NEED to stay off my feet more!

Being down in the children's department every Sunday morning, I don't often get a chance to get involved with the praise and worship in our main services. This is hard for me - the only really difficult thing about being at 'the other end' on Sunday mornings. Praise and worship at our church isn't just 'singing....' it's so much more... and honestly, I just NEED it. I've always said the times I've felt and heard God most clearly was during praise and worship. It's when I get the most creative ideas. When I get the most revelation. When I finally FEEL better... just to thank God for who he is.

Sunday night is the one service I get to be involved with the adult praise and worship... and it's hard because we don't have kids' programs on Sunday night, so I'm constantly watching the kids to be sure they're okay (though, Sophia's quite the little worshipper herself these days...) but last night - we sang this really old song. At first I was like, 'oh this song again...' and then my brother in law came over to me. I wish you knew my brother in law. I wish everyone knew him. He is just such an amazing person.

I think he knew I was feeling the stress of the house sale... and he reminded me that we've sown for this... and now it's up to ME to step into it. God's already SOLD our house... can I line myself up with God's Word to see it done? This whole time I've known I need to SPEAK positively about the sale of our house... but what about the thoughts I'm thinking? Aren't those just as important?

Throughout the service, I kept thinking about all the miraculous things God's done... given me TWO (soon to be THREE) HEALTHY children... healed people of cancer and depression... sent finances through at JUST the right time (can't tell you how many times he's done that for us!)... protected us from injuries we didn't even know we could have... how easy it is for HIM to do these things... when we just give it over to him.

About ten minutes later, during the chorus of a song that goes "THERE'S NOTHING MY GOD CANNOT DO..." a friend of mine walked over to me and said, "I'm supposed to pray for you about your house because it's already sold. You just have to believe it now. It's done." Then she reminded me... "You know I'm not the type of person to just walk up and pray with people, but this song is for you guys."

And this morning, I woke up thinking about the people God's placed in my life. Another miracle in and of itself. People who build me up when I need to be built. People who obey God and put themselves on the line to come tell me something that most certainly is going to bring me to tears because I KNOW it in my head and haven't been able to get it in my heart (until now.) People I wouldn't want to be without. He just knows what I need.

Anyway, I didn't intend to write all of that. I guess this whole house selling thing is a growing and stretching project... and it's definitely been a huge learning experience - more spiritually than anything else.

I know God is in control. I know everything is going to be okay. I love these reminders... even though they are sometimes painful... but I'm done worrying about it.

I have other things to take care of. :)

Here are my goals for once we move... (I have this whole list of things I want to implement, but with us moving, it's been hard to get any kind of normal schedule... so I've decided once we move:)

• I'm going to learn to cook. I'm not going to be afraid to mess up food. It's just food. I've always looked at cooking as this mundane task I HAVE to do... but for whatever reason now I'm looking at it as a way to take care of my family (big revelation there)... not a chore. I can't wait to learn more!
• We're going to have Family Fridays. Adam's off on Friday, and after we pick Sophia up from school, we're going to do something as a family - and it's not necessarily going to be something that costs money. Just something fun. Maybe making pizza together or watching a movie. Something simple. We just don't have a night for just us... and we're going to.
• I am going to make our house the kind of place kids want to hang out. Sophia has started getting lots of 'play date' invites - last week, it was just after school for a couple of hours. I want our house to be one where she can invite her friends... and I don't want to care if it gets messy.
• I am going to get very familiar with our floors. It's time to get down and play. Ethan's sooo into Cars - he's collecting them. Now he has a race track and some other cool toys... all on the floor. we're going to play. I'm going to play. I just don't do enough of that now.
• Oh, and I'm going to have another baby. :) I am officially 29 weeks. Just 11 weeks left unless he comes early or they decide to induce me early given the fact that I birth big babies.

He's growing lots and kicking lots! :)

Now if only we could think of a name....

Comments

[Cyndi Hoehn]

Your list sounds great! I have wanted to have family day for about two years now. It is my own fault - if I would just insist it would happen! My kids are 12, 10 and 8 and we just get busier and busier each year. I keep telling my husband I want to be a family that goes to the grocery store together on Sunday afternoons (We attend Sat. evening mass at our Catholic church). We could do this, but it would require saying "NO" to alot of little things. Like the outside influences of other family and friends. Not that they are always bad =), but they tend to fill our "us" time.

The "hang-out" house and "floor time" are great goals, too.

Good Luck staying off your feet!

[Bridgette Mehlig]

You're amazing ! I love your list !! It's awesome. I love to have family nights. We do the same thing nothing big but just something that everyone likes to do. It's a lot of fun ! You looked so happy and pretty on Sunday. I just love you soooo much Courtney ! Have a great week !

[melissa]

I was the frozen food Queen, but my bestfriend(Denise) spoken these words of wisdom to me,"Their your family, you are suppose to experiment on them;)" So that's what I've done, though Nate has lost weigh on my cooking not sure thats say much for it,lol. Congrats. on the sale of your house we are standing in agreement with you and Jesus on that one...I love watching mircles in motion!!

[julie]

so i really want to start making cards. the only problem is i don't know how. any way possible that you can give lessons...long distance. i don't know any better person to learn from.

love you court!

[Colleen Stearns]

I know what you mean about learning to cook. I am taking a teaching sabbatical in January, and learning to cook is on the list of things I need to do. :)

[Angela Moore]

Hi Courtney...
I found your blog because I bought your book on Scrapbooking Your Faith (which is wonderful!) and I've seen some of your layouts using Chatterbox (my tried and true favorite sb-ing product line).
Hang in there with the cooking thing...God has really gifted me in this area and I have oodles of recipes on my blog. I'm not too fancy shmancy, but I love to cook most stuff from scratch, using the freshest ingredients possible. I also suggest checking out foodnetwork.com specifically 30 minute meals, semi-homemade cooking with Sandra Lee, and Paula's Home Cooking...these gals have great simple ideas and their food is quite tasty.

Enjoy your weekend...