Thoughtful Thursday--Because I'm happy...not.

I'm sure most of you have heard the song "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. It was featured in Despicable Me 2 and had spread like wild fire ever since. 

It has spread around the world. In fact, youths in Iran were arrested for making a video with them dancing to the song. 

It's a catchy little number that makes you want to "clap along."

But apparently I am the only person in the whole world who has any issues with the song. (The Iranians were arrested for the women dancing in public and with their heads uncovered, not because of the song.)

I mentioned to mija that there was one little phrase that bothered me. She wanted to know which one it was, but I didn't tell her. I wanted to see if she could figure it out.

She came back to me about a week laterand said, "I think I know the phrase. I think it's...

Yup, that's it. 

Happiness is NOT the truth. Jesus told us, "Thy (God) word is truth" (John 17:17). 

That may seem like a little thing, but we also know from Scripture, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Gal. 5:9). It only takes a little thought to corrupt a whole belief system.

I'm proud of mija putting her critical thinking skill to the test and figuring out what I didn't like and why. She's still not sure that it's that important, but that part will come with maturity. 

So, what popular song irks you?

Thoughtful Thursday--UGH! My daughter is growing up!!

This is basically a cathartic piece with some hope of encouraging comments from those of you who are going through or have gone through this before.

My daughter is getting older and I'm not sure if I like it (or ready for it, for that matter!). I will present the evidence.

First, she's starting to smell. I remember being a classroom teacher and having those fourth, fifth, or sixth graders come back from recess. Ooowee. Smelly little bodies.
Well, that is starting to be mija. Sometimes she will come up and throw herself around me in a hug and there it is. A big whiff of BO.

Being me and always trying to keep her prepared for the upcoming changes in her body, I mentioned that deodorant will be in her future.
Well, that future was Sunday morning! She asked to put on deodorant before church. {sigh}

Second, she's having dreams about boys. I woke her up the other day and she said, "I want to finish my dream." Well, turns out the dream was about "Jack", a character on a TV show she watches. Well, at least he is a nice looking kid, so she's got some taste, but really? Dreaming about a boy?

Third, she keeps looking for a reason to wear a beginner bra. Her cousin passes on clothes to mija and the last batch contained some beginner bras. Now to tell you the truth, I know they are coming. I had the occasion to rub some essential oils on her chest and I could feel a different texture in the chest area, but definitely nothing "developing" as it were. She's diligent in looking however.

You know I go harness free as much as possible, so putting a bra on her is going to wait as long as possible.

Fourth, she wants to start her period. You read that right. Even after living her whole life with a mom with "lady issues" she wants to start. I can't remember what had proceeded the comment, but last week she sat in the middle of the floor and said, "I wish I would start my period, so I could be a woman." This statement was accentuated by a flourish of curvy arm movements demonstrating a woman's shape. Really?

I'm thankful that she understands what a period is and is not afraid of it. HOWEVER, I had to comment that while a period might mean you body was turning into a woman, the heart and mind had to develop a lot more before you could become a godly woman.

Do you see what I mean? This is crazy stuff. And I haven't even mentioned the attitude!

Here, I'm posting some pictures back when she was young and innocent.


 
There, I feel better now.

Any advice or consolation you can leave, would be wonderful!

Thoughtful Thursday--Miley Cyrus and a Mother: What They Have in Common

My friends definitely questioned my topic. Miley Cyrus? Should we really compare ourselves to Miley Cyrus? Sure there are others who would be better to emulate. 

Of course!

I did not say we should strive to be like Miley Cyrus. It is just, unfortunately, there are things we sometimes have in common with her. See if you agree:

T—Tongue. Miley has become known for sticking out her tongue. We moms may not stick out tongues out, but we moms definitely sometimes use it to say things that are not as loving as it could be. (Proverbs 31:26)

W—Wrecking Ball. Miley sure has taken a wrecking ball to her once bright future. Sometimes we take a wrecking ball to our children with our words and actions. This is especially true when are frustrated or down right angry. (Romans 15:1-2)

E—Entertainment. Miley grew up in the entertainment industry ever since her dad had an “achy-breaky heart” back in the 90s. Sometimes we allow entertainment to become a way of life. Because of our choices (or lack of choices) we find our children quoting Harry Potter more than the Scripture. They may spend more time beating their high score than working on their AWANA verses. How hours are spent on Doctor Who instead of listening to Christian music or a recorded message? (Philippians 4:8)

R—Religious. Yup, Miley is a Christian supposedly. She was baptized, attending church regularly, wore a purity ring, et al ad nauseum. Now look at her. There is no evidence of spiritual fruit. Most of us say we are Christians; that we have a relationship with Christ. While we may not go to the extremes Miley has, sometimes we find ourselves leaving behind our spiritual relationship for a religious facade which provides no support for our children or ourselves. (Ephesians 4:17-24)

K—Kid. Miley is still a kid. There is nothing mature in her actions or attitudes. Having a major focus on only oneself and one’s desire is just like a kid, and Miley does it big time. The difference is her selfish emphasis are all based in, well, very base things. Moms may not go Miley’s extreme, but sometimes we can be pretty self-focused like a kid. Whether it is our “right to a full night’s sleep” or our “need for me time,” we sometimes focus on ourselves more than we should. (I Corinthians 14:20)

Okay, so it is only sometimes mothers are like Miley Cyrus…thankfully. I told you we definitely do not strive to be like her, but when we do not strive to be like Jesus, we sometimes end up acting like her. 

Let’s keep striving for the real goal, moms! Not that of pop icon but a follower of the Rock! 

Thoughtful Thursday--I like making and saving money when I shop

The stereotypical woman loves to shop or at least window-shop. I am not a stereotypical woman. I dislike shopping. Get in, get what I need, and get out...that's my motto. The only reason I walk around a mall is to get exercise. 

And the only reason I spend any length of time in a grocery aisle is to get the best deal.

And to get the best deals, I use couponing, rewards cards, and more. 


One of my main go-to saving sources is CVS. When you match the Extra Care Bucks deals with coupons, you do a great job saving and making money. (If it's actually something you need that is!)

For instance one week, I purchased $67.86 worth of items for $27.90. Doesn't sound that great except that I then received $20.00 in ECB back which means in the end I only paid $7.90 which is an 89% savings.

The following week I purchased $60.28 in stuff. I paid $3.15 out of pocket after coupons and that $20 in ECB from the previous week. Then I received $16 in ECB back which means CVS paid me $12.85 to take $60 of stuff home. Over 100% in savings!

Now I have $16 to spend next time.

Fairly recently, however, I've learned a few more ways to make money on things I purchased. Come back on Monday to find out more details on that!

Thoughtful Thursday---Handling Moving Hurdles

(Warning: this is an extremely long post. If your short on time, read the beginning, skim the bullet points and jump to the end!)

We have needed to move for awhile. We knew Christmas would be the Rubicon. Once it was passed, we needed to seriously start looking for a new place to live.

Well, God provided a great 2-bedroom apartment for us. It was the first place we looked at, in fact. It’s part of an old elementary school building that has been revamped. What makes it’s really cool is that at one point, it was the elementary school for the Christian high school from which I graduated. 

But getting here has not been an easy process.

 We were supposed to be move in on the 18th, but between a creditor putting a hold on the checking account, a garnishment on my husband’s paycheck AND an error on his paycheck all in the same week, we had to put it off until Feb. 1.

 Another paycheck error with the continued hold and garnishment put the move in jeopardy again. God provided this time. 

 A winter storm brought about 3 inches of sleet postponing the move about 5 hours in hopes of better road conditions.

 Because it was postponed, we couldn't use the free moving van we had planned on, and ended up having to rent a moving van. Of course, we hadn't planned that expense.

 We get the moving truck back to the house only to get stuck in the ice/mud! Took about an hour, kitty litter, and a tow from a friend’s truck to get it out of the yard.

 My husband falls off the ramp of the truck messing up his left side and muddying up our mattress.

 We woke up Sunday morning and have to take the moving van back. Started our car to find the cold and ice had gotten into the door that triggered the car alarm—which we didn’t know we had! Not a great introduction to the new neighbors. 

 Because we had to work on the car alarm issue for an hour in the single digits, we didn’t get a chance to gas up the moving van before returning which resulted in astronomical additional charges.

 Did I mention that except for the day of the move, my husband continued to work 12-hour shifts throughout this process? The only reason he didn’t work on Saturday was because he was so sore from falling off the ramp!

 As a result of sleepiness and soreness, and a small car, we were unable to totally finish up on Sunday and Monday. I mention the small car because we still had a lot of small things left to move. 

 We were unable to finish up Tuesday or Wednesday thanks to the 10 INCHES OF SNOW that fell on Tuesday.

We obviously live on an Emergency Snow Route! ;-)

So, here we are almost a week after the move preparing to deal with snow covered streets, in the midst of hubby’s 12 hour shift, on a day when the high will be a single digit, we will return to the house one last time to finish moving and cleaning and hoping that our few remaining belongings are not out on the curb.
(For extra credit, have your child diagram the previous sentence!) ;-)

Needless to say, all those bullet points can lead one to question and even doubt the move.

I asked my hubby why he thought we were dealing with so many hurdles.

He said he thought it was because God had great plans for us at our new place. God was allowing the enemy to challenge and test us.

That was reassuring. 

It’s one thing to face hurdle after hurdle not knowing why. It’s totally another thing to accept hurdles knowing it a promise of great things to come!

(Sorry there weren’t many humorous highlights in this post. You don’t always see the humor in a hurdle until it is history…and sometimes not even then!)

Thoughtful Thursday---From Glory to Glory

Thought I would be thoughtful today.

I was listening to a Contemporary Christian Music station while running some errands today. I am very picky and sometimes critical about CCM. I often find it shallow and sometimes downright unbiblical. Once in awhile though...

In fact, this time was a time which made me think. Some of the words of the song mentioned "Where would I be without You?" In a plethora of songs stating how worthy I am for God to love me, it was refreshing to hear a song recognize that I would be nothing and nowhere apart from God working in my life.

I know that a lot of times, I make the wrong choices. I don't even mean big things. It is most often the simple things like choosing the wrong attitude or words when speaking to my family. Choosing to be on the internet instead of on top of my laundry. Choosing to watch TV instead of my Bible.  

Thankfully, there are times I consider God and His will in my choices. At least I try to do so!

I could have been negative and focused on all the time I fail God, but instead, I thought about how even those few times I have been found faithful to Him, and how through those times He has grown, used, and directed me to where I am today.

Sure, God would have me a lot further along if I chose correctly all the time, but I CHOSE to praise Him for bringing me to where I am thanks to His faithfulness not mine.

Thankfully, each and every little action I let Him lead me in grows me from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18). 

So, where would I be without God? I don't even want to make a guess. I do know that with God, however, I am being changed slowly to the glory of Christ. From glory to glory with each tidbit or life I choose to surrender to His will.

Maybe I choose to be thoughtful more often. :-)