The Momma Papparazzi

 

 

 

 

 A picture is worth a thousand words,

 but the memories are priceless.

 

 

Our little momma cat had kittens about two weeks ago.

 

Sadly, only one of them survived.

 

She has become very protective over the little guy that she has left.

 

I often try and take pictures of them together,

because, well,

they are just too cute.

 

The momma cat literally hugs her kitten. All the time.
She holds him between her two arms and cups her paws around him.

 

It is just sooooo adorable!

 

I did get one picture of them together,

but it wasn't easy.

 

You see...she hates my iPhone.

 

Seems crazy right?

 

Each time I go to take a picture of them together as they are hugging and snuggling,

she literally reaches her paw out in front of me to block the camera,

 and then covers up the kitten with her body while hiding her face from me.

 

As to say,

"No pictures. This is our moment. Leave us alone."

Maybe she knows that she will only have her little guy in her arms for so long,
before he gets big enough to leave her side. 

Maybe this momma cat has it all figured out.

 

Maybe the little personal and special moments need to be just that...

personal and special.

 

I often think of this,
 and wonder...
 am I taking for granted those special moments with my kids and my family?

 

A while back we were at Lowe's looking for some stuff my husband needed

to complete a job around the house.

 

We had our two youngest with us and they were acting a little silly.

The older one was pushing the younger one in one of those race car buggies.

 

Their faces were priceless and full of joy,

so of course...

I whipped out my iPhone and said,

"Yah look here, let me get a picture."

 

My son, nine years old at the time, snaps back quickly and says,

"Why? So you can put it on Facebook? We're trying to have fun here, Mom."

 

Out of the mouth of babes, right?

Man! Did that response hit me right in the kisser.

 

I hadn't realized how much my social media hobby was affecting them.

 

It's like he was saying,

"No pictures. This is our moment. Leave us alone."

 

Since then,

I have done my best to back off posting so much of

our personal and special moments on Facebook or Instagram.

 

I do share some, from time to time,

but I try not to make their moments with me my main focus.

 

I want to definitely respect their privacy and keep those personal and special moments,

which are apparently very important to them as well,

to a minimum.

I want to do just as our momma cat does with her little one,
 protect them and their memories. 

It can't be easy for my (our) kids.

 

They live in an era of social media bombardment.

 

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google, Youtube...

not to mention their mom has her own blog.

 

Even though I want this blog to be a document of our journey as a family,

I have to remember...

that it's my document.

 

It's my choice to write about our journey, not theirs.

 

It makes me wonder sometimes, are we so busy trying to capture the moments of our lives,

that we don't really get to experience them?

Do we simply miss out on them trying to catch them?


Jim Elliot has a quote that says...

Wherever you are, be all there.

"Be" means to occupy a place or to exist.


How can we be all there, existing in the moment, if we are in our purse fumbling for our iPhone to capture the next exciting moment to share on Facebook?

Don't we actually end up missing the moment all together?
Or only getting part of it?

I have to be honest...
I've even made my kids reinact something they've done just so I can get it on my camera because I missed it the first time they did it.

Seriously?

And another thing...

what ever happened to the good old photo album?

 

I went through a few photo albums the other day as I was reminiscing on my husband's 40th birthday.

 

I really enjoyed looking at the old photos and it brought me back in time to special places we've experienced as a family.

My heart felt so full.

I have to say...
I do enjoy Facebook and all of my Instagram photos,
but they can't match up to those photo albums that sit on my shelf.

Do you know that I have an entire purse in my closet filled with film that was never developed?
Yeh...actual camera film. Not a disc, or a jump drive, but actual film!

I also have over 600 pictures on my iPhone that I'm proscrastinating to develop.
One wrong move or technical glitch on my phone and they could all get deleted!

Shame on me. Shame, shame, shame!

Those pictures could be safely tucked in a photo album somewhere.
I have vowed to myself to develop those pictures.
I've vowed to take more camera shots of my family
and then actually develop them and place them in new photo albums.

So when they want to look at pictures of our personal and special moments...
they will be just that.

They won't have to visit my Facebook or Instagram to see those moments.
They'll be right in front of them, in the privacy of our home.

Very personal and very special.

Who knows what the future may hold?

Who knows if social media will even exist in a few years?

But our memories,
our special moments together as a family,
the ones tucked away in my heart,
those will last forever.


I'm not saying that I am against social media all together,
or that I will never take another picture on my iPhone and share it.

I'm just going to find that healthy balance
 and take my family's feelings into consideration when I do.

I'm going to be more mindful.

I'm going to LIVE in the moments more,
instead of trying to capture them with my camera.

I'm only going to have my kids so close, for so long,
before they are old enough to leave home.

I want to be all there with them.

All there.
 

So,
you'll have to take my word for it on how stinkin' cute our new kitten is.

His hair stands up on his head like a little rock star.

Uuughhhh! So cute!

 

  

Tell me...
what are your feelings about social media?

Do we depend on it too much to capture and keep life's moments?

Please share your thoughts and opinion.

I'd love to know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



New Year's Extravaganza! Goodbye 2012!

 

 

Welcome to my New Year's Extravaganza!

I'm saying "So long, it's been swell" to 2012,
and "Well hello there beautiful" to 2013!

 

It has been yet another great year and there is so much I am thankful for.
So much!
2012 was filled with many firsts for me and I am so blessed to be on the
 journey God has set out for my life.
It's quite the adventure.
  It truly is unbelievable how much He loves me.

He has totally rocked my world this past year,
but in the best of ways.

One of the biggest things that happened is that
I turned 40.

Yep, the big 4-0.

You're probably saying to yourself...
"You, 40? No way. You can't be a day over 38 1/2."

I know right. Unbelievable.

I believe my 40s are going to be A-MA-ZA-ZING!

2012 was also filled with many new friendships.

You can't ever, ever, ever have too many friends.
They are like gold!
Like. Gold.
Treasure them, all of them.

Some of my new friends I actually met here on my blog.
They are either readers or fellow bloggers.

They are the sweetest of ladies and I am so blessed by their friendship!

The other ladies that I have grown close to this year are through our
Joli Women's Ministry at my church.
These women have truly blessed my socks off and I am blessed to work alongside them throughout the year.
(You know who you are.)

It has been an honor to be a part of what God is doing in the hearts of women and I am in great expectation of what He is going to do in 2013.

I thought I would recap 2012 with naming some of my favorite things about this year.
I could probably name 100 things, but seriously...
who has time for that?

So, I narrowed it down to ten.

 

Hold on to your seats ladies and gents!

It's going to be great!

 

Drum roll please...

 

 

1. My favorite book of 2012-

 

Life of Pi

A fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel

 

 

2. My favorite movie of 2012-

 

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

or

Life of Pi

 

 

3. Favorite television show of 2012-

 

Parenthood

 (Seasons 1, 2, 3 & now 4)

 

4. My favorite song of 2012-

 

Angel by Your Side

by Francesca Battistelli

 

 

5. My favorite restaurant of 2012-

 

The Melting Pot

(A fondue paradise!)

 

 

6. My favorite adventure of 2012-

(I have two.)
 

Flying for the first time.

 or
Sharing part of my testimony with hundreds of women at my church.
 

 

7. My favorite moment of 2012-

 

Watching my son be water baptized and declaring his love for Jesus.

 

 

8. My favorite quote of 2012
(I have two)
 

Hate is easy; love takes courage.
~~unknown
 

If my life is fruitless, it doesn't matter who praises me.

And if my life is fruitful, it doesn't matter who criticizes me.

~~John Bunyan

 

9. My favorite scripture verse of 2012-

 (Again, I have two.)

Ephesians 1:7
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom
with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
 

Psalm 34:18

If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;

If you're kicked in the gut, He'll help you catch your breath.

 

 

10. My favorite food or beverage discovery of 2012-

 

New Orleans Old Fashioned Eggnog used as coffee creamer.

(Oh man, it tastes like heaven!)

 

 

 

I also thought I would share my top ten most viewed blog posts for 2012.

 

Thank you for making 2012 such a great year for

Finding the SONlight!

 

I so much enjoy sharing my life and heart here with all of you!
If you have time, recap the list of blogs below.

My personal favorite is The man that walks the streets.
 

 (Just click the title and it will take you to that particular post)

 

1. I'm over it.

 

2. Do it afraid.

 

3. The man that walks the streets.

 

4. Across the ocean blue.

 

5. Dying to live.

 

6. Full circle.

 

7. The perfect friend.

 

8. Even when my heart is in Romania.

 

9. You lead and I'll do my best to keep up.

 

10.  The gift of gathering.

 

There you have it...

some of my favorite things and the most viewed

blog posts of 2012!

 

 And now...
for the BIG finale!

I did my first GIVEAWAY over the past few weeks,
and although I didn't get the response I was hoping for...I do have a winner!

The winner of this giveaway gets a new copy of
Francine Rivers'
Redeeming Love

The winner is Rondah S!!

Congratulations to YOU!!


I believe that 2013 will be even better than 2012.

I am ready for whatever comes my way.

Thanks again for making this blog worth writing!

 

What about you?

 

What made 2012 so wonderful for you?

 

I'd love to know!

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

 





Refreshed!

 

 

 

 

I've been taking a break from writing...

well at least that's what I've been telling myself.

 

I think others refer to it as "writer's block".

 

I don't care much for it...this writer's block.

 

It makes me worry and questions come into play as I try to figure all of this out.

 

I blame it on being "busy" lately and having things to do other than peck at my keyboard.

I say that the ideas that pop in and out of my head are lame or boring or they don't have enough substance.

I search for the words, but they don't come.

 

Thoughts used to rush into my head and I had to stop all that I was doing to write them down before my aging brain forgot them.

 

Now...they just don't come as often.

 

So I ask the questions

 brewing inside my inner most thoughts...

 

"Are you done with me God?"

"Am I all washed up?"

"Is there nothing left to share of myself?"

"Is this it?"

 

 

And then I read this scripture...

 

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.

 

So, I take this scripture and run to God and express to Him my heart's desire to continue writing.

To share my heart and myself and His love and His greatness within my life to others.

I plead this to Him with a willing heart to go where He goes.

 

 

And the word refresh is whispered into my spirit.

 

Refresh.

Replenish.

Renovate.

Revive.

Update.

Restore.

Renew.

 

This word,

 it seeps into my heart and it whispers life into my spirit

 and I feel Him speaking directly to me.

 

 

I will refresh you.

 

And I see the answer to all of my doubt and questions within

the small space of that four word sentence.

 

I rejoice in my weakness as I see His strength...

 

I-He

Will-is

Refresh-restoring

You-me.

 

He is restoring me.

 

I realize that I have been way too dependent on myself

lately for my writing and not dependent enough on Him.

I've worried about my own inabilites and haven't been focused on His ability.

 

I've taken my eye off of what really matters, why I began writing in the first place.

 

It's somehow become about numbers,

and followers,

 and impressing people,

and the fear of offending others,

and the lack of pretty words,

and other stuff that doesn't matter.

 

What matters, is that I write because He put it on my heart to do so.

Because He is the pen that puts my thoughts into motion.

Because He has a story that He is writing through me.
Because I want to leave His legacy with my children.
Because I want to share Him with others, even if it's just one.
Because I want to help bring a smile to someone's face and hope into their life.
Because it's who He created me to be.

Because I feel closer to Him when I do.
Because it's where my soul finds rest.

Because He has been so good to me and His grace flows through me.

 

I write...because He is.

 

 

I read an excerpt this morning from my beautiful writer friend Holley Gerth.

She poignantly describes in her latest blog post a writer's heart...

 

~~~~~~~~~

I write to find my way home.

I write to reconnect with Love.

I write to know I’m not alone.

~~~~~~~~~

 

I write to find my way home to Him.

I write to connect with His Love.

I write to know that I'm not alone, that He is with me in this journey of life.

 

He is the pen that writes my story.

 

I am refreshed in Him.

 

Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

 

 

 



My year of Being Still.

Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."



At the beginning of the year, I was challenged by a friend to Name my Year.

I was to name my year something that I wanted to see come to pass in my life, something I needed to declare for myself.


Now, I've been challenged to write about my year and explain how naming it has, or hasn't, made a difference, and if I allowed the name of my year to take life within my heart.

I named my year,

The year of...

Being Still

(You may click the link above to read the blog on naming my year)



I prayed a quiet prayer and asked God to help me to be still.
 To sit in the moments that come and go, and NOT try so hard to "do", or to "fix" things.

I prayed that I not miss Him,
in the little things.
Those things that kept me so busy that I didn't take time to notice Him.

I prayed that my spirit would find Him in all things,
that I would let Him take full reign in my heart and in my worry.

I prayed for the ability to be still in Him.

The faith to be still in those moments in which I can't see.

The faith to trust without seeing the next moment ahead.

Faith.

Blind faith in the stillness.

I sat. 
Still.  Watching. Waiting.



Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.



In February,
He spoke one word to me,

"Move."

That was all.
It resonated within me.
I marinated on it, day and night.
I went round and round, trying to figure out the meaning of this word and what He was asking of me.

Again...not being very still.

Trying to work things out on my own.

I thought, if I could only crack open the puzzle that is "Move", I will surely know what to do, how to fix,  how to piddle, how to conquer.
Then maybe, I will see what He wants me to see.

I thought, in my smarty pants mind, that I had figured it all out.
I thought He meant move in the physical sense for a long while.

He was moving our lives physically, so I just assumed that I had found the answer.


Again...not being very still.



I see now, after an entire year has passed,
that He simply wanted me to move out of His way.


To move...only to be still.


It was His way of gently nudging me aside, so that He could stand broad shouldered, in His majesty in front of me, so that I could finally fully see Him.


It was as if He whispered,

"Move aside a bit, so you can see Me closely.  So you can see Me in all of My Glory."



See Him, in all of His goodness.

See Him, in all things.
In everything.


For me to be still, and watch Him move.

To. See. Him.


This year proved to be a year of Being Still,
 and watching my Father take the mess, that was our lives, and turn it into something beautiful.



Throughout the year,


I watched in the stillness, as my husband and I both became jobless within one month of each other.

I watched in the stillness, as we lost our house and had to uproot our family into a much smaller house.

I watched in the stillness, as we sold half of our life, to fit inside that much smaller house.

I watched in the stillness, as we all cried trying to adjust to our new life.

I watched  in the stillness, as we struggled with the idea of homeschooling our kids.

I watched in the stillness, as my heart broke moving my first born off to college.

I watched in the stillness, as we struggled financially.

I watched in the stillness, as my husband had a stroke.

I watched in the stillness, as my husband, once again, became unemployed due to his stroke.

I watched in the stillness, as we had no income coming into our home.


I watched in the stillness, on trembling legs, as it felt as though walls were crashing down all around us.

I watched and waited, in the stillness of it all.

Knowing, that He was in control.

Not always understanding,
but knowing Him.



Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."



In the last few months,

I've seen...my husband flourish in a new job.

I've seen...our smaller house become a peaceful home.

I've seen...our children laughing and playing and enjoying their new life.

I've seen...my children learning and growing confident as we homeschool.

I've seen... my oldest happy and flourishing as she grows in the Lord and discipleship at college.

I've seen...God provide for us according to His riches and Glory.

I've seen...my husband hand his heart and life over to God, being completely transformed and filled with Life flowing peace.

I've seen...God continue to heal his body to full restoration and strength.

I've seen... God provide all of our needs, and even some of our wants.


I've seen...as God strengthened our legs to stand firmly in Him, while He has continued to rebuild our lives within the rubble of those fallen walls.


I've seen...mercy and grace fall on us as a cleansing rain.


I've seen... Him take us, and rearrange our lives and our hearts to fulfill His perfect will in us.


I've seen... our mess become a message.


I've seen...deliverance.


I've seen...the hand of God.


I. Have. Seen.


I've seen Him move on my behalf.


In being still...I have seen the Lion of Judah.




John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Fabulous FUNNY Blog Friday!! Sensitive bladders...you may want to pass this one up!

I am super excited to introduce this week's Fabulous Blog choice!!

This week belongs to the one and only Mrs. Jodie Dardeau at Velour blog.

I met Jodie a year or so ago, after I stalked her.

It wasn't at all the way it sounds...

ugghhh, okay...wait, no... yes it was.

I  found her blog, stalked her blog, then stalked her, God allowed this stalker to meet her stalkee...in a totally public and safe environment, we found eachother to be incredibly hilarious, lovers of words and then wammo! pahdoww!

We became great friends!!

See there...a wonderful happy ending.

There really is an innocence in blog-stalking with us bloggers, it's perfectly normal.
(Just thought I'd clear that up.)

Here is a picture of us when we met.

Yes...I took pictures.

That's not wierd at all.

We are the two on the right of the picture.

(The other two on the left are my dear friends. They Rock!)

Okay...I just realized that this has kinda become about Moi...I'm sorry,
ehemm...moving on.

Jodie is amazingly talented with words.

There aren't even words to describe her wordiness genius-ness...

there really isn't.

She is a wife, a mom, a writer, a great listener,a lover of all things old, a Goodwill hunter, a crafter and very wise beyond her years.
Her heart is unbelievably big!
She brings to my life such sweet delight!

Velour

Smooth like velvet, only stretchier.

Jodie

Please enjoy her very funny post:

my unbucket list



Come back here next week to read my unbucket list.


I'm writing today at Joli Blog for our Redeeming Love book discussion.
Go on over if you have a chance and join the discussion.


Have a blessed weekend!

Perfectly simple.

Did you know that we Americans live in three times the amount of space that we did fifty years ago?

That's 3 times the space!!

Americans in the 50s had one bathroom, which they all shared.

Wow.  Sharing.
There's a new concept.

Kids even shared bedrooms!

The average family size hasn't changed much.
In fact, it's less than it was back then.
In the 50s it was 3.67 children.
(Not sure where the rest of that "almost" fourth kid went.)

Today,
houses have 2.5 bathrooms, kids don't dare share a room together, and the average family is 2.6 children.
(Again, where is the rest of that kid?)

The average house size is 2,359 square feet.

If you do the math, the average house in the 50s was only 786.3 square feet!

And you know what else?
The bigger the house, the bigger the debt.

Today's average family is in a total household debt for at least $100,000.00!

(If you haven't noticed...our country is in a little bit of a debt crisis here.)

Why am I throwing out all of this information?

I'll tell you.

I've been following a blog called Jumping Tandem for the past few weeks.

The author, Mrs. Deidra Griggs, is writing a 31 day blogging series on smaller living.

I couldn't help but be intrigued by her series, since I too have begun to live smaller.

Much smaller.

Our income...decreased by half.

Our house...dropped in size by 1220 square feet.

We went from 2400 square feet to 1280 square feet!

We went from 2 1/2 baths, 4 bedrooms, 2 dining rooms, a huge linen closet and an office, to 1 1/2 baths, 3 bedrooms, 1/2 dining room/kitchen combo and...well, there is no linen closet or office.

When the decision was made to move into our smaller house that we had for sale, I thought I might lose my mind.

I had so much stuff, and no where to put it.

So, we had to begin saling alot of things that we thought we couldn't live without.
We had to let go of part of our life.

We sold furniture, clothes, bedding, you name it...we put a price tag on it.
Our garage looked like a flea market for about six weeks straight!

We did whatever we had to do to downsize, to be able to fit comfortably in our new smaller house.

I remember many days of crying, watching as person after person, pulled out of the driveway with our stuff loaded in the back of their truck.

Oh yeah, speaking of truck, we even sold my husband's truck to downsize to a more fuel efficient one.

We had to do what was needed to adjust to our new way of life...simple smaller living.

We had to edit some things out.
Get rid of the less important, to keep the most important.

And you know what?

We are better for it!

I don't miss any of those things that were so hard to let go of at the time.

And believe it or not,
my stress level is way down!

My husband,
hasn't had high blood pressure since we moved!

Things just seem to flow easier now.

We've found a freedom that we haven't had in a long time.
There is peace in our home again.

Was it an adjustment?
Of course it was.

But, as a family, we worked together.
  I am so proud to say that my three kids never complained once about sharing one, shower-operating bathroom.

Not even my teenage daughters!

I remember standing at the doorway of my empty office, the day that we moved, with tears streaming down my face thinking I was losing a part of myself.
I had just gotten my office redone for my birthday just a few months before.
My family worked for three days straight painting, putting in new floors and redecorating it for me.
Just for me.
It was my special little haven.
My Mom cave!
A place for me to write in peace.
Think in solitude.
A place for me to sit in my comfy rocker recliner and read, pray and have my quiet time with the Lord.
It was hard letting go of it.
I even had to sale my comfy rocker recliner!
I was heartbroken.

But then,
we moved to our new smaller simpler living space.

I found my peace.
It's actually right in the middle of the busiest part of the house.

The living room.

It's at 6:30 every morning, when the kids are asleep and my husband has already left for work.
There is nothing like reading and praying in the light of the glowing, morning sun as it welcomes the new day.
It's in a new cozy rocker recliner that was given to me by someone very special right after we moved.
It's in the solitude of a warm cup of coffee embraced within my two hands as I breathe in the peaceful morning.
It's in the quiet of a moment, just me and God.

It wasn't at all about the space I needed.
It was about making the most of the moments I was given.

It was about realizing that the peace I longed for so much, wasn't in a room, or a certain area. 
It was within me.
Within my heart.
 Within relationship and dependance on my Father.

And even though I had that big office, perfectly decorated just for me, I rarely got to use it.
I rarely made time to find that peace within.

Being at home again, in our smaller simpler space, I have found more time for those moments.
I read more.  I pray more.  I write more.  I live more.

My husband made a comment the other day that has stuck with me ever since.
We had just lit our fire place for the first time, and he was helping the kids make some hot cocoa at the stove.

He took a deep breath in and said,
"Ya know, I don't miss our other place at all.  We may not have all that space, but we are all closer together now.  There is a warm feeling here in this little space.  It's peaceful and cozy. This is the way it's supposed to be. Perfectly simple."

Perfectly simple.


Mrs. Deidra Griggs, author of Jumping Tandem wrote this a couple of weeks ago about "editing" our lives for smaller living.


"It's not always easy.

Editing means giving up something. Letting it go. Leaving it on the cutting room floor. Hitting the delete button. And then hitting it again. Sometimes, someone else has to do it for you. It can be tough. But the end result can be stunning. It can reveal details that were missed when we only used a wide angle lens."



Our decision to down size was not all of our idea.
God gets all of the praise for it!
It was a tough move, but the end result has been stunning!
God had to make the decision for us and I am thankful that He did.
We had begun to worship the "stuff" we had.
We had begun to worship our works, instead of God's.
We were only seeing our lives through that wide angle lens.
We were missing the little things, the most important things.
We were missing God.
God saw all of it, and He didn't want us to miss out on anything, especially Him!
God had been moving us in many different ways, adjusting our lives to further fit His purpose within it.
In our obedience to Him, we have never once gone without!

Sometimes, He will call us to lose something, to gain much more.
He will ask us to let go, to become free.

And that we have.

That we have!



What is it that you might need to edit from your life or let go of, to find that freedom in smaller living?

Please take a moment to watch a video about the significance of smaller living.
Click on name below to watch the video in the post Room for the Good Stuff.
Graham Hill


If you'd like to visit Deidra at her blog and check out her 31 days of Living Smaller, just click on the picture below.


Phillippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Fabulous Blog Friday! Week 2

This week's Fabulous Blog post is written by one of my favorite blog writers.

Oh! Who am I kidding?

They are all my favorite!!

I've just grown so attached to these wonderful people who welcome me into their life each day.

They may not know that we're friends,

but they touch my heart on most days.

Sometimes making me giggle.

Sometimes making me cry.

Sometimes making me evaluate my heart and my intentions.

Sometimes absolutely leaving me speechless.

They are teachers, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, speakers, authors and even world travelers.

They share, teach, encourage and inspire.

They are friends.

So without furthur ado...

this week's Fabulous Blog is by:

Sarah Markley

The Best Days of My Life

Don't Be Embarassed of You.

(click link above picture to read her blog post)

Please take time to read her personal story that is located to the left of the page.

Her story is one of tragedy, redemption and healing.

It is an amazing and inspiring story of God's unending grace!

You won't be disappointed.

Oh yeh, I almost forgot!

The guy that I blogged about on Fabulous Blog Friday last week, Tyler Tarver,

blogged about me this week!

Well, kinda sorta...he shared my link about his blog, on his blog.

You follow?

Any way...

I'm #12 on his 13 Thoughts blog post.

And...I really didn't lie about him.

He's a really talented guy!

Go check it out!

Enjoy!

Have a blessed weekend!!

See you next week!

Choosing to see the Joy!

I've been trying my best to wean myself off of the internet a bit.

It seems as though, I can spend hours and hours at a time just looking, reading, and stalking.

Don't get me wrong, I love, love, LOVE the internet!!

It brings me such delight!

So much so, that I decided to write a poem about it titled:

 

 

Oh, How I Love the Internet...Let Me Count The Ways.

1.facebook

2. blogging

3. Pinterest

4. reading blogs

5. Yahoo news

6. Pinterest

7. Youtube music videos

and finally,

8. Pinterest!

You see?

I think I may have a bit of a problem here.

I began to realize that I was missing a whole lot of good things during those many hours on the internet.

Even though I think the internet is a great place, an excellent source of information, a great way to reach out to those you love, and a wonderful way to be ministered to and minister to others,

I was choosing the wrong Joy.

I learned a long time ago, the difference between "happiness" and "Joy".

Happiness is momentary.

Joy is everlasting!


We can either choose bits of happiness here and there, that only last for a little while, leaving an unfulfilled empty spot, or we can Choose Joy and let it last forever within our hearts.

The internet, and all it's wonder, just makes me happy.

There isn't anything wrong with feeling happy, but I needed to break away a bit and notice there was so much more I could be doing with the time I was spending on the internet.

I began to realize that there was so much Joy around me, that needed my attention more than the momentary happy feelings I was getting from the internet.

I needed to remove my hands from the keys, step back from my laptop, and wipe my cyber cloudy eyes.
(At least for a little while.)

I needed to open my eyes and really choose to see the Joy that was around me, within my arm's reach.

When I did that, I saw the things I had chosen to miss out on.

I realized,
that there was a whole lotta Joy!

So, I decided to write another poem titled:

Oh, How I Love My Life...Let Me Count The Joy!

* Being home with my kids everyday after four years of full time working and missing way too much of them.

* Watching their minds grow and stretch as we homeschool.

* Quiet mornings with just me and my Savior, welcoming the day with His Word and prayer, and not having to rush out the door carousing the children to school and myself to work.

* The one hundred "I Love Yous" I get to hear all day long from my little guy.

* The available time to clean out an overstuffed closet here and there.

* Not having extra money in the bank after paying bills, but never doing without what is needed to survive.

* Depending solely on my Father's works and not my own.

* Appreciating my warm, cozy little house more and more, as the weather turns cooler.

* Smelling my $1 Spiced Pumpkin candles burning all day.

 * Welcoming my husband home in the afternoon with a sweet kiss, a homecooked meal and a smile on my heart.

* Being deeply in love with him after 22 years together, in spite of the obstacles we have faced, and only because of God's unending Grace.

* Reading a book.
( I'm reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett at the moment.)

* Passing up the overflowing basket of dirty laundry to play kickball outside with the kids.


* Collecting pine cones with the kids to make some fall crafts.


* Noticing how the sun beams in through my kitchen window lighting up the fall flowers on my table.

* Listening to the birds sing praises to the new day.

* Verbal communication with a friend on the phone.

* Knowing without a shadow of a doubt that I am right where God wants me for now, and NOT having a clue of what He has in store for me tomorrow.

* Being able to live a redeemed life with conviction and praise because of the Cross, and not a life of condemnation and regret because of sin.

* Sitting on the couch watching Transformers: Dark of the Moon for the fifth time, in two days, with my little guy.

* Looking out my kitchen window, while washing a sink full of dirty dishes, and seeing the gorgeous green grass of our one acre of land, that will be completely paid off and all ours, in five short glorious months!

* Arguing with my teenage daughter to do her schoolwork, knowing that it will be worth it at the end of the school year.

* Hearing the swooshing of the trees, as the first real cold front of the year blows in, welcoming  the Fall season.

* Watching the kids run through the yard while our little dogs chase them.


* Making our first mug of cocoa, whip cream and chocolate sprinkles of the season.

* Baking goodies with the kids.


*Actually applying some of the great ideas I found on Pinterest to my home.


* Planting orange and yellow Mums all over the back yard.

* Having coffee with my sister early Sunday morning.


* Sitting with my little guy as he reads his book to me.


* Standing in the yard and visiting with my neighbor.

* Hugging my kids throughout the day.


* Garage saling at 6:15 on a cool Saturday morning, with my coffee mug in hand, and a dear friend by my side.

* You.

Psalm 4:7
You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

What Joy do you choose to see today?

Please share in the comments below!

Be blessed today!!

Choose Joy!

Fabulous Blog Friday!!

(This monkey has nothing to do with this post, it was just a cute attraction to get you here.)

I'm working on creating a tag for Fabulous Blog Fridays, so please bare with me while I tweek up the place a bit.

I'm glad you are here!

Welcome!

As promised, today is Fabulous Blog Friday!

It's where I showcase my most-favorite blog of the week.

Well, it's your lucky day, because I chose two for this week!

I normally like to stick to the routine,

but I am trying to live outside of the box a bit, and I just couldn't help myself!

Once you read on...you'll just KNOW that it was meant to be for me to have TWO blogs shared this week.

#1.

My first Fabulous Blog choice for this week is Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience.

I began following Ann quite a few months back, and she has never been a disappointment.
It's one of the first blogs I read every morning and it fills my heart with delight.

She speaks soft and gentle wisdom from a Savior loving heart.

She is a farmer's wife, a mother, a teacher to her six homeschooled children, a writer, an editor and a speaker.

Her words have left me with tears running down my cheeks, a grin smiling to my ears, and a melody of grace on my heart.

My children even know the sound of the melody that plays when you arrive on her blog.
I thought I might keep her all to myself, and not share her blog, but again...He offers grace in every area.

(Plus she has 4,750 other followers who probably feel the same way as I do.)

This week's choice post is titled Slowing To See the Fullness of Life.

Won't you click the link below and meet Ann.

Take a moment to slow down a bit in your own life, to see it's Fullness unveiled.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/10/slowing-to-see-the-fullness-of-life/

One of my favorite past times is laughter.
God's Word speaks of laughter as "good for the heart", and a "good medicine".

His Word holds all truth...

because laughter is the best thing ever!


I believe we should do it often, and do it well.

#2.

My second Fabulous Blog choice is written by probably, one of the funniest people my giggle-box has ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I found him, well...I don't really remember how I found him, but I am SO GLAD that I did.

His name is Tyler Tarver.

He is a beautiful mixture of all things fabulous!

He exumes comedic greatness!!

If you appreciate crazy unstoppable idiotic comedy...then you will appreciate his gift of humor.

 

That's him right there in the Star Wars get up.

He's hilarious!
I love, love, love this dude!


(Not in a wierd, freakish-stalkish kind of way...I mean, come on, that's just nuts! right?)

He is a writer, a teacher, a comedian, a short- film producer, a husband, a father,  a photographer and a lover of Jesus.

I just so happened to check out his blog yesterday, as I was trying to make this week's choice for Fabulous Blog Friday, when I came across a little piece of heaven!

In that I mean...

the Heavens actually opened up, it's bright light shined down, angels began singing and this video clip fell into my lap.

AKA "a little piece of heaven".

If you read my blog from yesterday,

 you know that I am in the midst of the Great Algebra Depression of 2011, doing my best to teach my daughter Algebraic wisdom after 20 Algebra-free years.

(I'm slowly, but surely finding the Joy in that.)

Anywho...

This guy, this most wonderful guy,

IS AN ALGEBRA TEACHER!!

Hello!!!!

It's Christmas in October!!

He even has these great videos on his site, where he teaches Algebra.

That's right.
He. Teaches. Algebra.

Laughter and Algebra!!!
Together!
As one!

That's almost as good as the great food duo of Chocolate and Peanut Butter...but it's not, so let's move on.

Where was I?
Oh yeah...

It's like God Himself handed me a gift wrapped up in...http://www.tylertarver.com/ 

I posted one of his Algebra videos just in case, you too are a homeschooling mom, in the wrestling rink, in a choke hold, with math at the moment.

If not, keep his link for future use.
We plan on watching today!

During Algebra!

Hope you enjoy this week's selections!  Please share with a friend.
(See there, I'm learning to share more and more.)

Have a super blessed weekend!

Don't forget to Choose Joy!

You don't want to miss this!

I wrote last week that there would be some changes coming to Finding The SONlight.

If you are reading this, I want to THANK YOU from the bottom of my wee little heart for sticking around!

Props to you my friend!!

When I started this blog a year and a half ago, I prayed to find the right title for it.

I had been praying for a few days, when my husband walked in and said,

"Your life has been about finding God in different places, why don't you call it Finding The SONlight."

It was as simple as that.

I didn't realize that through writing the blog, I would find Him, and see Him for what He truly is, and has been, for me.

He was right in front of me, living and breathing with me, and through me.

My quest to Find the SONlight, had only just begun.

I've been blessed, as we all are, to have been held in The Father's hands my entire life.

My.  Entire.  Life.

That's before conception and into eternity.

Before time and throughout!

THAT entire life!

That's a long time...and a whole lot of Love.

I wanted to begin to share my life into detail, so I began to write a book several different times, but each time something happened and either I lost what I wrote, or it just didn't go as planned.

I sunk in defeat thinking,

"I'll never write a book.  It's just not going to happen. I know there is a book inside me Lord.  I know you wrote it in me for a reason."

Then God reminded me that I have an opportunity to write each and every day...

on this blog.

I was too busy looking for the later, and didn't notice the now.

Now is the time...now.

Here.

And if it turns into a book later, then so be it.

(I would so love that!)

So, on that note,
 here is change #1:

I will begin sharing my testimony here, once a week, at Finding The SONlight.

Yes, I have shared bits and pieces of it here, and some of you may be bored by now,  but I have held back on sharing so many things that I know God wants someone to read.

And it just might be YOU.

We overcome by the word of our testimony.

My testimony is not just one story of salvation, and let that not be downsized either...because that is the One most important moment in my life!

He is the best choice I ever made!

My testimony involves a lifetime of saving...

He is the Savior...because He keeps on saving.

Oh, how He has saved me!

I also would like it if You would share Your testimony here.

We all have a story.

All of us.

No matter how big or small.

The enemy would want you to keep yours all to yourself, so not to bless someone else, so not to build up God's Kingdom,  but he is a liar, a loser, and we don't have time to listen to his petty little falsefied whispers.

Stand up, kick that devil in the face!!

Stand out!!

Let God be glorified through your life story!!

Share with us!!

If you would like to share your testimony here, please email me at tammy.stelly@yahoo.com.

If you would like to remain anonymous, then I will be sure to use as much discretion as needed.

Okay, so on to change #2:

Sharing other blogs.

I have come across some pretty amazing blogs this past year and a half.
 I have met some great people and have begun to nourish some pretty sweet new friendships...all because of blogging.

Some of the writers of these blogs are just fantastic!

I love them...I really do.

As much as I love chocolate covered peanut butter...and we all know how much I love that!!

They write words that grab my heart, bring me to my knees, make me think, cause me to dry-heave laugh and simply mess me up...but in a good way.

I thought that I could keep them all to myself,

sort of like, how I thought I could keep God all to myself, trying to stick Him in a box labeled,

"Just for Tammy."

But, as He is growing me up, I realized that He cannot be boxed in...at all, and He is teaching me, at the age of 39...how to share.

 And apparently these blogs need to be shared with someone!

Plus...ya know, cuz of this whole "global internet" thingy-doo, it's sort of impossible for me to keep them all to myself.

Whatever...

so, once a week, I will share my most favorite blogposts from my friend bloggers.

I want to share what has blessed me so much!!

Stay tuned for that, you DO NOT want to miss the wisdom and wit from some of these blogging geniuses!

There you have it!

The new changes.

I hope I did not disappoint and I hope you stay a while,

so together we may...Find the SONlight.

*If you were looking forward to a blog about something more meaty and soul satifsying today, check out yesterday's blog titled:

The Builder builds.

Click link or,
just scroll down the page to the next post.


Be blessed and thanks for stopping by!

Better than sleep!



I'm a sleeper.

It's one of my best qualities.

I'm not much of a napper,

but give me the nighttime, and the moonlight, and I will sleep like the best of em'.

I'd like to call myself a pro even.

I normally hit the sack around 9:30 or 10:00.

I'm up by 6:30,

every day.

Weekend or weekday.

Every.  Day.

(emphasis on every day!)

But, those hours between 9:30 and 6:30 are the best.

If I perhaps, ehemmm... do not get those hours,

those divine 8 hours at the least,

I become...

how shall I say this?

A monster!!

Something happens and it is unexplainable.

I try not to be so monsterly, but without my sleep...

it just happens.

The monster is revealed.

And she aint purty.

But, give me my 8 hours, and I am up, smiling and running the entire day.

HappyGoLucky

and quite delightful to be around.

And believe me...you would much rather see me that way.

Well,  I didn't get them last night.

I pity the world in front of me today,

I will pray hard.

I wil do my best to smile and greet those innocent bystanders in the midst of my sleepless rage.

On my defense,

I went to bed a little past 9:00.

My normal routine.

I had my book and my booklight, and I was going to read a few minutes until my eyes slowly drifted down, bringing me to Sleepy Paradise.

But,

before I knew it...

it was midnight!!

That's MIDNIGHT people!

Mid-to-the-night!!

MIDNIGHT!

I totally blame it on Francine Rivers.

We started a new book series at the Joli Blog.

We read a few chapters of a book, and once a week we have a discussion about it.

Inbetween the discussion on the book,

you can enjoy all kinds of topics discussed with our blog writers.

It's quite entertaining and enlightening.

The topics range from recipes, to marriage, to "how my husband acts like prince charming for our two little girls who are princesses", to overcoming struggles and insecurities, to the coolest fall trends and fashions.

It's a great place to visit and stay a while, if you have some free time in your day.

Oh yeh...

back to Mrs. Rivers.

Her book titled, Redeeming Love, is mind blowing!

Absolutely mindblowing!!

It is a fictional story based on the book of Hosea in the Bible.

It depicts God's unending love and Grace for us.

Let me tell you, this woman is talented!!

The book is amazing!

A-MA-ZA-ZING with a capital Zing!

And as I sit here, trying to figure out how I am going to get this cup of coffee directly into my veins,

I can't wait to pick the book back up and read some more!

I don't even care, that I'm tired to the point of not feeling like brushing my hair today,

I WILL read some more tonight!

Who needs sleep anyway?!

This book...

is better than sleep!

It's not too late to join in on the discussion.

Believe me, once you pick it up and begin to read, you will catch up in no time.

Get the book and join us!!

You won't regret it!!

Hosea 1:2-3

  When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son

Time to celebrate!!

I reached a big milestone with my blog yesterday...

well, at least I think it's pretty big!!

I reached 7,000 pageviews on my blog!!

Wooohooooooooo!!

Why is this so great?

Why is the number 7,000 so significant?

I don't rightly know...

but, it seemed like a nice number to celebrate!

I hadn't really been keeping up with the "numbers" per-say, until I found a little widget to put on my home page that counted my pageviews. That was a week or so ago.

(If your a blogger, it's probably not new to you, but I tend to be a little slow with all the latest gadgets on Blogger.)

I thought that the number 7,000 was a nice round number to celebrate...plus the fact that the number 7 is my favorite number.

What makes it my favorite?

I don't rightly know that either.

It just is.

Go with it.

I thought that a neat way to celebrate my FABULOUS blog milestone, would be to give yah some interesting facts about the number 7,000.

(Okay, well I find them interesting.)

Again, go with it.

Interesting facts about the number 7,000:

There are 7,000 new species of insects discovered each year.

(I think I need to buy some more Raid.)

****************************

The number 7,000 was used 11 times in the Bible.

(I've challenged myself to find them all.)

*****************************

In July of 2010, 7,000 children in Gaza dribbled balls for five straight minutes to create a world record.

(How do you get 7,000 kids to listen to you? I've been challenged with only three!)

*********************************

A woman in Scotland won a world record with her 7,000 body piercings.

(Ouch! That's a whole lot of infection waitin' to happen.)

**********************

One ton of paper made from completely recycled scrap saves 7,000 gallons of water.

(7,000 gallons of water!!)

***************************

Women speak an average of 7,000 words a day. The average man, just over 2,000.

(I'm finally speechless.)

*****************************

Santa Fe, New Mexico is the highest capital city in the United States at 7,000 feet above sea level.

(Wow.)

***********************

During the American Civil War in the Battle Of Cold Harbor at Virginia, it is estimated that nearly 7,000 men died in a span of just 20 minutes.

(Oh, what our military has given up for us.)

**********************

An Argentine farmer named Pedro Martin Ureta, 70 embedded a giant guitar design into his farm as a tribute to his late wife who died in 1977, at age 25. The giant guitar was landscaped out of 7,000 cypress and eucalyptus trees.

(Now that's romance.)

************************

The Philippines is home to over 7,000 islands, housing thousands upon thousands of beaches.

(And I just wanna visit one...just one.)

*************************

There are 7,000 different languages spoken in the world today.

(I only have 6,999 more to learn.)

****************************

And there you have it...some quirky facts about the number 7,000.

Thanks for taking a moment to visit my little celebration!

I'm going to go eat some celebratory pizza now, which will be about 7,000 calories!

Hope to see you 7,000 more pageviews from now.

Au revoir!

(Woohoo! Only 6,998 more to go!)