Moving...

 I have decided to rename my blog and change the web address. So, if your looking for me, come on over to www.sharingherheart.blogspot.com and let's hang out.

I'll see you soon.

* Andrea *

Encouraging Words

Encouragement.  Isn’t that a great word? I love it. I love what it stands for and how it makes you feel. I love how it can change a person’s outlook with just a couple of words. I love how when you hear the word, your mood instantly goes more positive.

Well, encouragement is what I have been receiving lately and man do I feel good. I have been encouraged in small, subtle ways, with simple words. With words that are meant to encourage and lift up. It has been really nice to hear and be reminded, because I have let myself believe otherwise. I have been so tired and discouraged that I found it hard to believe that I am good and useful and that I am a blessing to my family and to those around me. But through kind words from my family, friends and my church family, I have been encouraged again.

The best encouragement came this morning as I was reading my devotions. I read Proverbs chapter 31, and God showed me through that passage how much like her I really am. I Love Proverbs 31 and I think every woman should read it. The first time I read it I was very intimidated, I thought “I can never be that good”, but then slowly, I’m starting to understand that passage and how God turns us regular, everyday women into women like that. When were willing, God changes us into noble women. Women who bring Him glory, women who are a blessing to our families, women who are praised by our husbands. Women who are strong in our faith and ready to do anything in the name of Christ.

Read Proverbs 31 again today, and be encouraged. For “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Prov. 31:30)

 

*Andrea*

More Excitement From My Mailbox!

  My mailbox sure has been exciting lately. I have been receiving mail from Compassion Canada on a regular basis. So, yesterday when I checked the mail, I was excited to receive an updated picture of Nsengimana.

    

He looks so grown up, doesn’t he?

He is now in grade 10 and his favourite activities are running, soccer and volleyball. He also attends youth group and camp regularly. He lives with his mother, where his duties include carrying water, washing clothes and cleaning.

Did You Know?

- Letters to your sponsored child have an incredible impact on his/her life

- Notes of encouragement are often a sponsored child’s most cherished possessions

 

Have you written lately?

*Andrea*

Shaun Groves and his ‘Third World Symphony’

    If you would have asked me a year ago “who is Shaun Groves?” I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. Now however, I can give you at least a partial answer. Shaun Groves is a gifted musician, and a powerful advocate for Compassion International. That is actually how I heard about him first. Not as a musician, but through all the work that he’s done with Compassion. He is a very inspiring and encouraging individual, and he’s given me ‘food for thought’ many times. I have never had the opportunity to meet him or even see him speak or sing, but I really believe in what he’s trying to accomplish through his music, blog, and Compassion.

On August 30th, Shaun will be releasing his newest album titled “Third World Symphony”. From my understanding, it will not be available in stores, online only. So to pre-order your very own copy for only $10 U.S. click here. If you want to listen first, click here. I really think you’ll enjoy it. I know I do.

Let me know what you think.

*Andrea*

What Can I Write About?

   On Tuesday a friend of mine came over for coffee. Somehow we got to talking about my sponsor boys (she probably saw the pictures on my fridge) and what kinds of things I send them and also what I write about. She is so confused because everyone she has talked to has told her what not to write about and what not to send. So, we got to talking and I shared with her what she can and should write about.

Some of the things that I shared with her are:

- Send a picture of her son in his football uniform and talk about our version of football and why he likes to play.

- Tell about something silly that her twin girls did that day and send a picture.

- Send lots of pictures, especially family ones.

- I told her to keep it simple, that he just wants to know more about them and their family.

I told her she can send all kinds of thin paper items (you will find more ideas on my page “letters to my boys”) to her sponsor child and anything that’s not in Compassion guidelines, they donate to the local charity. I also reminded her that if you only write after you have received a letter, you both will wait a long time. It takes roughly 3 months for a letter to go one way, so by the time he has received it and written back, it could be 6 months!

So for those of you who haven’t written in a while, it’s time. Time for you to write a short note with pictures attached, or a long letter about how your summer has been so far. It doesn’t matter how much you write. What does matter is that you do write. I think that we often overlook how very important our words of encouragement are to our sponsor children. Those words from us remind them that they are thought of, prayed for, cared about, and loved. Those are the most important words that everyone needs to hear.

*Andrea*

Changing…and Learning

   I guess some of you might be wondering where I’ve been lately. I have not been posting as much and when I do write, it’s not about my life or the work that Christ is doing in it. You see, I have been learning a lot lately and I’m just not sure how to put it all into words. I’m in the middle of a study with some other women and we’re studying the book “Lord, teach me to pray in 28 days.” This has been a challenging book for me. “How have I been challenged?” you ask, I don’t know. “What have I learnt?” I don’t know that either. I honestly can’t say. Not because I don’t want to, but because I don’t have the words. I am a person who needs time to absorb knowledge and with this busy summer so far, I have not yet given myself the time to let it all sink in. There is one thing that I know for sure though,

I feel different.

Maybe it’s the holy spirit moving in me and changing me?

I hope so.

I’m sooo ready for change.

But, like everything else, I will only know for sure after it’s happened. I can’t tell when the change is happening, I can only tell later on when my reactions and feelings change and are different than before. When I don’t react the way I did ‘before’. When people can see that I’m a follower of Christ just by my actions. That’s the kind of person that I want to be, and that’s what I’m striving for. So, I will continue to learn and study and read. To strengthen my relationship with the only one who really matters, the only one who can save my soul, the only one who gave up his son to save me when I was not worth saving. HE is the one that I want to be closer to.

 

How have you grown in your relationship with Christ lately?

 

* Andrea *

‘Fun Days’ of Summer

   This week were supposed to get really nice weather again, so I probably wont post much.

This past weekend we had ‘Fun Days’ in my town. There was all kinds of things to keep you busy. Friday evening was community slo-pitch, and a wiener roast after. Saturday was a free pancake breakfast, a slo-pitch tournament all day, bouncers for the kids, face painting, petting zoo, a flea market, a silent auction, evening entertainment, and so much more. It was a busy place to be!

In the morning, we went as a family for breakfast and then my husband went to go help a friend of his, so it was just me and the kids. I took them to the ‘Fun Days’ for lunch and we stayed for a few hours. It was very hot, and they needed naps so we came home and relaxed for the rest of the day.

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

We ate a lot of freezies,

and cotton candy,

got our faces painted,

and tried to find shade where ever we could!

It was a really great day! I love summer festivals, how about you? Have you been to one lately?

*Andrea*

Happy Birthday Niyomugabo!

  Wow! July has barely begun and I have had a lot to share about my ‘boys’ already. On July 8th Niyomugabo had his 19th birthday.

            

Happy Birthday, Niyomugabo. I hope that you have a wonderful day. I hope that today is a very special day for you and that God will continue to bless you and your family abundantly. You are very special to us and we love you very much!

Love: your family in Manitoba.

Have your sponsor kids had any birthdays lately? I would love to hear about them.

*Andrea*

A Super Happy Mail Day!

   Last night when I went to check my mail, there was nothing in it except these two envelopes:

So you can only imagine how excited I was!

It was even more exciting for me to open them up and see that they were both from Nsengimama!

I have not heard from him yet so I was very excited!

The first letter was just introducing us to him. This is what he said:

“Dear Andrea & Timothy Sawatzky, Nsengimana Claude greets you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. He is very glad to thank you very much for being his sponsor and may God bless you. Your child (meaning him) is now in senior 4 and studies are going well so he asks you to often pray for him to be clever and he wishes to proceed his studies at university after high school. Now in Rwanda it’s raining, what about over there? Your child requests you to send him your photo because he is eager to see you, may God continue to be with you.” 

In the second letter he said:

Dear Andrea & Timothy Sawatzky,  I first of all greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. How are you with your family? For me, I am very fine together with my family. God keeps on protecting us well. I was very much pleased with your letter. I am studying in S4 and my studies are going well. I was very much pleased with your familys picture with snow. The God who let me know you is very God. We are in very rainy season here in our Country, you told me it was very cold there at yours, how is it now? I still thank you very much for being my sponsor, may God keep protecting you with your family. May God keep protecting you.”

I just love his constant focus on God throughout the entire letter. It’s such a good reminder for us to keep our focus on him at all times and to praise him constantly. I’m so happy that he wants to go to university and I pray that he will be able to. It’s so great to see the ambition that he has to change his future. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to write to him and I look forward to getting to know this young man better, in the months and years to come. 

Have you heard from your sponsor child lately? I would love to hear about it.

 

Have a great weekend!

*Andrea*

It’s time to write again!

Well, It’s writing day again! I really love writing to ‘my boys’ and I have so much to say this time. I could probably write my next 3 letters to them with the thoughts that I have floating around my brain. I’m so thankful that the Canada post mail strike didn’t last too long. I don’t want ‘my boys’ to wonder why they have had to wait longer than usual to receive a letter from us. I did email some, but I prefer to hand write my letters. My hand writing could be neater, so it’s good practice for me when I hand write the letters and not just type them.

I can’t wait to tell them about the fair that we went to, Canada day, and the fair that we are going to this weekend. Summer time is so busy that it’s so easy to come up with writing ideas. I have also been taking lots of pictures. Now, I just need to develop them so that I can send some with my letters.

If it’s time to send a letter again for you and you don’t know what to write, go through your pictures, choose some favourites and write something for each picture. I’ve heard that they love to receive pictures.You don’t have to write a big long letter, just a note and picture is fine, they just need to have some kind of communication from you. And if the saying is true that “a picture says a thousand words” you should have lots to say.

I wonder what they will say when they see these pictures:

           

 

   

              

That’s just a sneak peek of what I’m sending to my sponsored boys.

What are you sending?

*Andrea*

Happy Birthday Alejandro!

Today, my little Alejandro turns 4!!

          

Happy Birthday Alejandro! I hope you have a wonderful day! I want you to know that I’m thinking of you a lot today and I’m praying for you as well. I hope that you enjoy your day and remember that God created today just for you.

I hope your day is extra special!

We love you!

Love: your family in Manitoba

A Lifeline For A Lifetime

   Can you imagine this is the water that you drink every day?

                          

This is reality for millions of children around the world.

I’m not telling you this to guilt you into something. I’m not good at that, nor do I like to be treated that way. So, I won’t do it to you. I will, however, share something that I recently heard with you, so that we are better educated about the conditions of the world and how we can help.

Compassion International started a program called “Water For Life” http://www.compassion.com/water-filters.htm which provides water filters to a child and their family for only $55 (U.S. funds) . It’s a one time donation that will change lives. This water filtration system cleans over 1 MILLION gallons of water.

                      

That is enough water for one family for their lifetime. That is enough clean water to help children who would otherwise get sick and possibly die from diseases like: Cholera and Typhoid. Diseases that are easily preventable. Diseases that you and I don’t ever worry or even think about, but they kill over 4,000 children everyday.

Right now, Compassion has filtration systems in Haiti, Rwanda, Guatemala & Ghana. Seeing as how my two correspondence boys live in Rwanda, I’m saving up to give the gift of clean water. Want to join me?

Let’s do this. Let’s give the gift of clean water to those who need it most. Let’s show them what love can do. Lets spread the word, tell your friends, neighbours, co-workers and let’s see how many filtration systems we can give by the end of summer. Summer is sooo hot, Wouldn’t a nice, cold glass of clean water be great?

Let me know when you donate a filtration system (or are part of a donation)  http://www.compassion.com/water-filters.htm. Leave me a comment and let’s see how many we can give!

*Andrea*

 

If anyone is interested in donating with me, you can click on the ChipIn widget on the side and donate securely through paypal. Any amount is greatly appreciated!

Where There is Mud…

…Speechless.

Messy.

But, oh so gooey.

 

*Andrea*

A Quest For Contentment

    I am beginning a quest. Care to join me? In this quest, I hope to find many things but most of all I hope to find contentment. You see, I currently am not content. Not even a little bit. I’m also needing peace. Peace and Quiet. The kind that you don’t get when your kids are small and your house is trashed. Yes, my house is a disaster. I just get it cleaned up, and then 5 minutes later you would never know that it took me an hour to clean it. Take last night for instance, I put my kids to bed and then I spent a good hour and vacuumed and washed my floors. I thought it was a brilliant idea, doing it after the kids were in bed. However, I forgot about the dog. My dog is as messy as my kids. She leaves her toys everywhere, and she also sheds so I have to keep on top of that too. So, this morning when I woke up, I vacuumed again.

Anyway, back to my quest for contentment. I have been feeling lately that I would like to do something (anything!) different. I’m not sure what though. I would love to move to the ocean, or buy a big old historical house somewhere in the country (it could even be in a different country) and maybe restore it or just enjoy it’s beauty, I would also love to go on a missions trip, or just go away for a weekend to do some shopping. I have thought and prayed about many things, but I have not been led to do any of them. So, I just have to wonder, what am I supposed to be doing? Where does God want me? Every time I ask that question, the only thing that comes to mind is ‘right here’. Here is where he wants me, right in the middle of my life, raising my kids, being a wife to my husband, and building my relationship with Christ. But ‘here’ is not where I want to be right now. I’ve been ‘here’ for so long with so little change that I’m getting bored/restless. So that makes ‘here’ a difficult place for me to be. Maybe that’s why I’m supposed to stay ‘here’, maybe that means that I’m growing and soon He will move me and use me in the way He (not I) has planned. Maybe I’m being tested to see if I can ‘keep the faith’. I don’t know. All I know is that I’m where (I think) he wants me to be and I need to accept it and do my best to be content. So, I will continue to be ‘here’ and keep bringing my discontent to Him cause only he knows what my future holds.

How have you been lately? Are you content with your place in life? I would love to hear from you.

Psalm 119:35 “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.”

*Andrea*

A Fun Summer Weekend…

We had a couple of things that we did this past weekend. First, Arielle had a baseball ‘jamboree’ on Friday, where they played a baseball game and also they did some different tests (?) to see who could throw the farthest, bat the farthest, run the fastest, etc. Afterwards, all of the kids received medals and t-shirts. It was a really fun time for her.

Also, on Saturday, there was a fair in a town nearby that we went to. It was a lot of fun. There was a little of everything…

                                              Clowns on Stilts…

                                               Face Painting…

                                                  

                                              Stick on tattoos…

                                              Crafts for the kids…

                                                      Musicians playing on the street corners…

And of course, we can’t forget…

                                      THE PETTING ZOO!!!!!  That was the favourite part for both of my kids. They really enjoyed seeing the different animals. (There was a whole lot more to see and do, I just thought I’d share with you what I had taken pictures of).

Daddy and Gabriel hanging out waiting for Arielle to get her face painted.

And, I would love to show you a picture of me doing something at the fair, however, I’m behind the camera so you’ll just have to imagine me in one of the pictures.

But here’s one of me at home after the fair…

Taken by my little photographer in training.

I hope you enjoyed the little stroll through my weekend. How was yours? Did you have some excitement as well? I would love to hear about it.

 

I hope you have a wonderful day!

*Andrea*

Fabulous Fours?

   Today I need to vent a little, So please bear with me.

Lately, I have been having some trouble with my four year old. She has that terrible-two attitude but more extreme. I thought that with her being four, we would be past some of her busy stages of life but they are only beginning again it seems. Every day, my biggest struggle with myself is keeping my frustration under control. She just does so many odd things! Things that don’t make any sense. She knows better, so why does she do them? I just don’t understand her right now, and that’s what frustrates me the most I think. I have to keep reminding myself that she’s testing the boundaries and she’s also learning a lot in this stage that were going through. So, as her mom, I need to try to be more understanding and hang on to every ounce of patience I have left! That’s what I will continue to do. I will also continue to thank God for blessing me with her, even when we go through these difficult times.

On the other hand when she is behaving, she is a very sweet girl who loves her brother so much and does a lot for him. She is also a big help around the house for me and she can be very kind. I would love for those days to happen more than the other days. So, I just need to keep those days in mind when I’m having a rough day with her.

But if anyone has any suggestions, I’m all ears! I would love to know if you went through this and what worked for you. 

Have a great day!!

*Andrea*

Mind My Manners

It just occurred to me. I can be a strict person when it comes to please and thank you and I don’t think I ever said thank you to those of you who read my blog. So… THANK YOU, VERY, VERY MUCH!! I’m so excited each day when I check the stats on my blog and I see that people have checked it out that day. I don’t have a Huge fan base, (not even really big, if you want to get technical) but I really appreciate each and every one of you that takes the time out of your busy day, to read what I have written that day.  It makes my day just knowing that some people find my blog interesting. Thank you again.

I received a very complimentary phone call today. A lady from Compassion Canada called me and she mentioned that she had received an email from head office regarding a question I had. In that email, the person had said very positive things about my blog. That was very exciting for me. I never in my dreams imagined someone from Compassion head office taking an interest in my blog. I’m nobody special, I have terrible grammar, and I’m just a ‘housewife’. What could I possibly have to say that’s really interesting? Nothing! However, It is often not for me (but sometimes it is) that I write, but for the one who sent me. He guides me in what he wants me to share that day, if anything at all. If the words that he’s guiding me to write are drawing people to my blog, that’s wonderful. He’s the one that I want to talk about the most.

Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on level ground.”

May God Bless You Abundantly!!

*Andrea*

Busy little daydreams

    I have had a busy week. Actually my daughter has been the busy in my week. I don’t know if she’s going through a phase or what, but she has not been herself lately and It’s been difficult. She has been very mischievous lately and getting into things that she doesn’t normally get into. Maybe it’s because I have been doing a bit more babysitting than normal. Yea, that could be it. Well let’s just add it to one more stage in this roller coaster ride called ‘parenting’.

I have been thinking back lately on life before my kids. You know, when the house would never get dirty and you wanted kids to come over so you had something to clean up. Or, Saturday mornings when my husband would sleep til noon and I was SOOOOOO bored. Oh How I wished for a kid to keep me occupied. I used to bang around and make lots of noise just hoping he would wake up! Or, when I would go shopping and there would be no one to say “mommy I have to pee” and you wouldn’t have to search for a bathroom, hoping to make it before she peed her pants! Ahhh… those were the days.

However, my daydreaming must end now, as I hear reality calling…

 

Andrea

Photo post

So, I was gonna write a nice long post today, but then I remembered that I had a bunch of cute pictures in my camera just waiting to be displayed. So, enjoy…

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn’t think of a cute saying for each picture, cause It would take me a long time. I’m just not witty like that. But, I hope you enjoyed the pics!

Have a great day!!

… Change Me, Lord

 I have had this prayer/verse in my mind a lot lately, so I thought I’d share it with you.

Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (vs.17-20)As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do;no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”

 

I am not who I want to be lord…

so please…

 Change me.

Still Undecided…

Yup, I’m changing the style of my blog again! I think I really like this one this time! I thought that of the last style too! Oh well! Just one of those days I guess. I like to keep things interesting, life is way too short to be boring!!

Have a great weekend!

*Andrea*

To Change a Life…

   I’m sure most of you who read my blog often know how I feel about Compassion international. So this week while the group is out in the Philippines, I have been following their blogs. I really enjoy reading them and learning about how people live out there. I love reading about how Compassion is working there and what they are doing to change lives. I love reading about the hope that sponsored children have. They are taught about Christ and the hope that he provides so graciously to us all. I love reading about how there is no self-pity out there. I just love reading about the experiences and the stories that they share. I’m so happy that we sponsor through Compassion and I’m encouraged to do more.

But then I read the sad stories. Not the ones about their living conditions (though they are sad), but the stories about the ‘sponsored’ children who have not received a letter from their sponsor, either in a long time or in some cases… Never.                                                                                        http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2011/06/the-power-of-a-letter.html      To sponsor a child isn’t just about sending $41.00 (can.) a month to help them out, It’s about showing them that you care and that they are loved. It’s about building a relationship with them and being another (in some cases the only) family for them. Sponsorship is so much more then I could ever imagine. I love building a relationship with ‘my boys’ and showing them how much they mean to me. I want them to do well in school so that they can overcome the poverty that has claimed their childhood. I want them to excel in life, so that they can be better husbands and fathers. One of the best ways for my to encourage them to be better, is to write. They need to hear from me that they are loved, that we care about their lives, they need to be encouraged, they need to know that their school marks are important to us. I want them to strive for above average marks, so that they have the options to become something more. I love those boys so much and I barely know them. But just knowing that Christ brought them into my life for a reason is enough for me.

So for those of you who have not written in a while, I DARE you to write to your child today. How about right now??  Then after you’ve written, let me know so I can share in your joy.

For those of you who have not yet sponsored. Check out the website: www.compassion.ca  or click on the compassion bloggers link on my blog and read the stories of what happens when you sponsor a child. Read about how their lives change. If you decide to sponsor a child, please share it with me, I would love to celebrate with you!!

I hope that you all have a wonderful day!!

Andrea

I Challenge You…

    Wow, where do I begin? I have just spent some time reading different blog posts from the Compassion bloggers who are currently in the Philippines. I have been touched and challenged in so many ways. I read about a girl named Denise and her family in a post found here: http://simplemom.net/the-opulent-ability-to-give/#more-13598 and I read about how Compassion uses the money from sponsors and how they keep track of EVERY penny here: http://shaungroves.com/2011/05/a-magic-trick-for-kristen/ and I also read about the child survival program and how it helps mothers and their babies start a new life here: http://jonesbones5.com/2011/05/31/the-prayer-of-a-mother/ 

I just love learning more about compassion and what they are doing in the world. I’m so glad that I am able to be a part of it, even if my part is small. If you have ever thought about sponsoring a child, but it all sounded a bit sceptical check out these 2 posts by Shaun Groves http://shaungroves.com/2011/05/a-magic-trick-for-kristen/ & http://shaungroves.com/2011/05/what-exactly-is-compassion-international/  He words things so clearly, he makes it very easy to understand what the organization does and why their different from the rest. So I challenge everyone to go to the compassion website www.compassion.ca and look into it. If you decide to sponsor a child, why not pick one that has been waiting a while? It would be a wonderful gift to a family in need and it will change your life as well.

I would love for you to share your sponsorship story with me! Leave me a comment or email me: candle_andrea@hotmail.com

God Bless!!

Andrea

Domestic Engineers

        Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a slump. You see, I’m just a stay-at-home mom and sometimes I just don’t feel that my job is all that important (at least according to what other women do for a living). But God has been reminding me how very important my job really is. So, I thought I’d share a bit of encouragement for those of you who are in the same spot as me.       

The other day I received a phone call from a telemarketer. When he asked what I did for a living I told him that I was a homemaker. He was from the United States and he said that down there they call them ‘Domestic Engineers’. I like the sound of that. In reality we don’t just ‘keep the home’, we keep our families.  Keeping the family is a big job and it’s not for the faint at heart. We are called to be teachers, nurses, housekeepers, head chefs, bakers, sales people, exterminators, gardeners, accountants, etc. We get to do, not just one specific job, but every job. We need to meet every need our homes and families have. It’s not an easy task, but God has made it so that it’s not too hard either. I love to read Proverbs 31:10-31. That is such an inspiring and encouraging passage, it really shows how much we women do for our families, and how important we are to our household. It also shows how our hard work pays off. We may sometimes feel that it goes unnoticed, but there is one who always knows how hard we work for our families and he will reward our hard work. Maybe not in this lifetime, but definitely in the next! 

So, lets remember that the work that we do is very important. Who knows, maybe your raising the next prime minister?

Proverbs 31:10 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies”

Have a Wonderful Day!!

 Andrea

Reminders…

Today as I was absently staring out my patio door (as I often do!), I watched the umbrella on my patio table blow wildly in the wind.

And I couldn’t help but notice that my mosquito coil holder (the orange circle at the base of the pole) did not move ( it’s quite light so I expected it to slide all over the table). Seeing that reminded me of the song “ I will not be shaken” and I was gently reminded (yet again) that we should not allow the conditions in our lives or of the world, to move us or shift us from our focus on Christ. Let the wind blow all around us cause “WE WILL NOT BE SHAKEN, WE WILL NOT BE MOVED!"

Just a thought that I wanted to share.

Have a great day!

Andrea

Not Perfect (not even close)

     Do you ever get tired of feeling like you never say or do the right thing at the right time? I sure do! I always think about what I should have said or done long after the moment is passed. The more I think about it the dumber I feel. “Why can’t I just ‘be’ like the other godly women I know?” “Why do I constantly mess up?” These are questions that battle my mind quite often. I just don’t ever feel like I have it together. Take Sunday morning for instance: my husband was ushering so I was in charge of both of our kids for the first little bit of church. No big deal right? It should be easy. I have 2 kids not 8, so there should be no worries. WRONG! My kids sure know how to pick the days that they are not gonna behave and Sunday was one of them. Here’s just a bit of my Sunday morning: as soon as I sat down my son started to whine (he has a whine like no one else, as my sister so lovingly put it) and he would not stop whining. His nose was running also, so I took him to the bathroom 3 or 4 times just to blow his nose. So my son is whining/crying and I’m trying to get him to quiet down and then my daughter (who’s wearing a dress), decides that church pews are not for sitting on (that’s optional) and she’s all over everything, not even close to sitting like a lady. So here I am trying to keep my cool (which has been tested a lot by now), and be a good mom and look like I have it all under control. Meanwhile, underneath my (hopefully) controlled expression I just want to break down and cry. I love my kids very, very much but sometimes they are too much to handle by myself. So needless to say, I’m sure that I lost my cool (I know I did, just a little) and looked a little less than close to godly. But, I have to remember and keep reminding myself; it’s not about me, it’s all about him.

Matthew 19:26 “ With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So, remembering that, it’s easy to deal with my imperfections because it’s impossible for me to be as perfect a mom as I would like to be. I will never be ‘put together’ as long as my kids are small that’s for sure! But as long as I keep remembering why I’m here and who I serve, it gives my life meaning.

Have a wonderful day!!

Andrea

Real Beauty

What makes a woman beautiful? Is it her hair? Her skin? Her clothes (or lack of)? Maybe it’s how much make up she has on that day. Or how much Jewellery she’s wearing?  Whatever the world thinks of beauty is the opposite of what God thinks. The world has made beauty out to be something totally fake. Plastic surgery, LOTS of cosmetics, extreme dieting, all those awful things that women do to themselves to be ‘perfect’(?). Really, what is perfection? There is nothing (and no one) on earth that is perfect. So we can stop trying. How about we just be Real instead? Let’s be ourselves, children of Christ, loving in our attitudes and actions and giving of our time to serving others in his name. In doing those things which he calls us to do, we will be Beautiful women, women with gentle and quiet spirits, blessings to our husbands and children, and a joy to meet. Let’s show this world exactly what the CREATOR defines beauty as. Purity, Gentleness, Self-control, Love, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Joy, Goodness, just to name a few.  In 1 Peter 3 Beauty is defined by: “Beauty is something internal that can’t be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious (vs.4).” No where in that passage does it say anything about the physical appearance. Huh, just goes to show how very unimportant our looks are to the one who made us. So let’s show him how beautiful we really are on the inside.

I want to dedicate this post to all the women in my life. You all are very beautiful!

“Labels”

  OK, so with the beautiful sunny weather that we’ve been having, I’ve been outside a lot enjoying it. So as you may have noticed, I haven’t been posting as much.

   I have been thinking lately though about what kind of person I am. I’m trying to ‘label’(?) myself and I think I found the one that fits. I would label myself as a ‘servant’. The reason I give myself this label is because I’m happiest when I can serve someone. I just think about the jobs that I had in my past and I have the fondest memories of jobs where I could help others. I really enjoyed being a cashier, but I had even more fun when I got to help a customer find something. When the item was found, it was so exciting for me. Also as a hairstylist, I really enjoy cutting and coloring hair to help people feel better about their appearance. My current (and most important) job right now is mom & wife. I get to serve people all the time! Sometimes however, when it comes to every day household chores, I need to remember that this is another way to serve and not just ‘housework’. And I’m not serving only my family, I’m also serving God. Everything that we do for one another in Christ, we are doing for Christ.

What about you? What’s your ‘label’?

Ephesians 6:7 “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.”

Have a great day!!

Sunshiny days are here again!!!

Summer is on it's way!! After our cloudy, rainy week last week it sure is good to see Mr. Sun again! We had a lot of nice weather last weekend so here's a couple of pictures to show you what we did!

The kids and I also went for a walk yesterday to watch my brother's baseball game. We only caught the last little bit, but it was a fun walk for us. I think we will probably walk to Arielle's baseball tonight as well.
  Also this weekend I sent letters to my 'boys' again. I was actually a week later than usual, so I made sure to have them in the mail by Friday. I'm still waiting for letters from my other two boys (Niyomugabo sent me 1 already!). I check my mailbox every day hoping for something!

Psalm 71:14 "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

Are you hoping for a letter as well? How long has it been since you last received one?



Have a blessed day!!

* Andrea *