An Update

Maudie is doing better-thank you.

Continue to pray especially for her 3 daughters who are on the front lines so to speak. Pray for some plans that are in the works that I don't feel write sharing here in the blog. But know that the family would really appreciate your prayers for the next direction to take.

Also praise God, Jeff and I have a date to meet back here at 5 tonight to start date night.

Sadly this has not been a regular occurrence in our house and I am bummed because we have no good excuse except to say, we don't make the time to do it.

Now if you will excuse me I have a certain 9 year old that I am picking up and taking to breakfast this morning and then we are headed to shop for her birthday present.

Lots of pictures coming soon, promise!

prayer request

Jeff's grandmother has been admitted to the hospital today with pneumonia. Please pray that the doctors can give her the right medications to clear it up. Also pray that medicare approves her to have an electric chair so she can get around when she gets out of the hospital.

And while you are at it, pray for Jeff and I the next few days are extremely busy for us. He is going here, I am going there and we already don't see each other during the week so it is very challenging for us to stay on the same page at times like this.

Why I Have A Routine

Last night, I decided that I would go one night without straightening our apartment.
I went to bed at 11:30 but was up between the hours of 3-5.
I think I suffer from insomnia.
I skipped my daily run with Jeff and slept in.
Around 10 this morning my phone started to ring off the wall.
I was still in bed.
I jumped up to answer it all business like "This Is Susan, how can I help you?"
It was one of my co-workers...they were coming over in an hour to pick up a few pictures for one of our stores.

CRAP!!!

In the middle of showering, brushing my teeth and throwing my apartment in some sort of order I realized this is why I try to stick to a night and morning routine.

It never fails, the day or night I slack off is the day that every single one of my co-workers has to drop by with hardly any notice.


Nightly Routine:
Clean Kitchen
Start Dishwasher
Clean off Desk, Couch and Pick up misc items around the living room.
Wipe down bathroom sink, put a load of dirty clothes in washer to start in morning.
Hang up clothes in bedroom and clear off any clutter spots.
Brush teeth, wash face, quiet time.

Morning Routine:
Workout
Eat Breakfast
Unload Dishwasher
Start Laundry
Shower and Dress (sometimes make up and hair, most days I go all natural)
Drink Cup of Coffee while reading email and blogs
Start work

By doing these few things at night and in the morning, it eliminates the running around trying to collect myself when co-workers stop by.

I guess it is what I can expect when my office is inside my living room a few feet from our kitchen.

Embrace It

I have a quote that I use in my bible as a bookmark. I wrote it many, many years ago. Isn't it funny how you can tell the time frame something was written just by the style of your handwriting?

Anyway, this quote I have embraced fully in the last few years. I guess more in the last year. God is doing some mighty things behind the scenes and I am humbled, exhilirated and at peace with all that God is doing. I pray this quote blesses you as well.

"God has more for you than plans; He also has a purpose. You do not have to fear getting on a sidetrack when God is setting your course. If He is speaking, listen. If He is guiding, follow. And when you arrive at the place He has chosen, let you heart be still. He not only knows where He has taken you, He also knows what He is doing with you while He has you there."


Today the following song has been playing in my head and enlight of all that has happened in the Chapman househould this week, I thought I would post it here.

Just another reminder that living in the moment is a beautiful thing! Even if it is like the 100th time I have mentioned in the song...or some number close to that.

It Seems Like Only Yesterday

Faith,

It seems like only yesterday that you were born. We were all waiting in the hospital lobby for the nurse to come and tell us you had arrived. I knew from day one that I was going to love being your Aunt. At the time you were born, I was in college at ACU. I had pictures of you posted all through out my room so I could see your sweet face anytime I wanted. This picture is one of my favorites because I am sitting next to my favorite Uncle, Uncle Miller. We had a great time talking about all your pretty little features that day. You were such a sweet baby.

My favorite time of year came at Thanksgiving because that was the time you and your family came to Texas to visit for a week. One Thanksgiving you stayed at my roommate and my apartment in Fort Worth. Oh how I loved having you stay with me. For weeks, we were finding traces of you in our kitchen from all the cabinets you cleared out. You always made me laugh with your funny antics. (Elijah reminds me of you at that age) One of my favorite memories was when I was living in the apartment next door to Lynnie (where I still live to this day) You would run from door to door saying, "Hello! I am here!" You stayed on the trundle bed in my room before Uncle Jeff and I were married and we would stay up late watching "Cinderelly." I thought this would help you sleep, how wrong my thinking was. I ended up having to turn it off but I would promise you we would finish in the morning. The first thing out of your mouth the next morning was, "Cinderelly please!"

One summer I came to visit you and your family in Florida. We had a great time playing house and dress up. The day that I was leaving to go to the airport you wheeled in your suitcase and said, "I go with Aunt Sue Sue!" I would have brought you home in a heartbeat if your parents would let me. I realized on this trip that you had a heart for prayer. When we tucked you in at night, you would mumble, mumble, mumble with your hands clasped and eyes closed and then at the very end would yell, "A-men!" and lift us your hands in celebration. You still have the same sweet spirit when it comes to praying and don't you ever lose it!

And then nine years later! Where has the time gone?!? I told Uncle Jeff yesterday that I can't believe it has been nine years since you came into my life. Time flies when you are having fun, I guess.

Faith, you amaze me daily! I love your heart for worship. I love the way that you look out for your little brother and even your sister, even though you don't want to admit that you do. I love your adventurous spirit and how you are willing to try new things. I love the fact that you love school. I still don't know where you get your math skills. I love the fact that you are not afraid of meeting new friends. These are all qualities that will take you far in life. I can't wait to see the plans God has for you. I pray that you never loose your love for Jesus and ministering to others in need.

As you get older, remember this...Uncle Jeff and I love you dearly. We are constantly praying for you that you will never doubt the Lord's presence in your life. We are also only a phone call away if you ever need us. We love you to pieces and I am so thankful that you are my niece.

Love

Aunt Sue-Sue

Something I Need to Document

You know when God speaks you should listen. My daily bible readings have me in the middle of Psalms and mmm, mmm, mmm, God is meeting me right where I am. This to me is proof that God is full of grace because I just finished reading May 10th last night and well, today is May 22nd.

Here are a few that have been good to me over the last few days.

Psalms 8:3
"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers-the moonlight and the stars, you set it place...what are mere mortals that you should care about them?"

Psalms 9:1-2
"I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you I will sing praises to your name, O most High."

Psalms 9:9-10
"The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed; a refuge in time of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you."

Psalms 16-the whole thing was good for me but here are two that I L-O-V-E

Psalms 16:2
"How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? ...Restore the sparkle in my eyes or I will die!"

(I like the restore the sparkle in my eyes bit because who doesn't love a chick whose eyes sparkle!)

Psalms 16:11
"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasure of living with you forever."

Psalms 17:6-7
"I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways."

And we skip ahead a few Psalms...

Psalms 37: 3-5, 7-8
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your hearts desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord, Trust Him and He will help you."

And the one that left me speechless

Psalms 37:23
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."

And I close with what I wrote in my journal, join me in my inner sanctum. Feel privileged friends, not many are able to read the words in these pages- but you caught me in a generous, over sharing, mood.

I wrote, "I cannot fathom the idea that you, O Lord delight in every detail of our lives yet time and time again I see it happening. I guess part of me is realizing that this waiting period is not in vain. You have blessed us in the waiting!"


The point of the story is this:

1. God is faithful to us even if we fall behind a few days in our reading.
2. Don't ever underestimate the power of a journaling what you read in the Bible.



Time in the Word never returns void.

That's all for me this week, I am taking the weekend to meet up with my DEER friends for hug and howdy time.

I Didn't Feel It? Did You?

Is is just me or was this season with DWTS a little boring?

Last night I was watching the results half-heartily. I didn't care who won, I mean I knew it would be Kristi. A few weeks I didn't even watch it an episode and that is really not like me. I tend to schedule my life around that show in seasons past. This season felt a little off balanced to me.

The freestyle rounds weren't even that good, if you ask me. I did like Kristi and Mark's performance but the rest left me thinking, "Who cares!" I hate Jason's performance to "Miami!" Maybe it is because I actually hate that song.

I miss the music that usually accompanies the different performances. This year the music was more of the traditional ballroom style and I couldn't really wrap myself around that style of music. I like the fast pace music with the flashy lights or the music that we all know and love. Remember Cheryl and Drew's Paso Doble danced to Thriller? Or Julianne and Helio's Jive?
Or Julianne and Apollo's Samba?

So all this to say, I missed good music and I miss Julianne.

Here is one of my favorite free-style performances of all the seasons.

I just finished this book late last night. If you have never read the Mitford Series then you are missing out on a sweet experience. You fall in love with Father Tim from the very first adventure in the little town of Mitford. I guarantee you these books will not disappoint you.

Home to Holly Springs is the first novel that follows up the Mitford set. I have been wanting to read this for over a year but could not get my hands on it at the library. I was on a waiting list a mile long and because I am super frugal I did not go out and buy it, instead I waited patiently for my turn. Something in me knew that when it became my turn that it would be well worth the wait.

Honestly, I think God used this book to speak directly to my heart. If you know me well, then you know that I have a hard time letting go and trusting God with my future. Over this past year, the lesson God has taught me more than anything is to rest in Him and enjoy life one day at a time. And by doing this, life has taken on a much sweeter aroma. I find great pleasure in the little things that happen in our life, I relish each new day and try to make the most of the season that God has placed before me.

Here is a quote that I had to stop and read to Jeff. To set the stage, Father Tim is talking to Jessica his childhood neighbor, they both are only children but longed to have a sibling.

"I remember you always wanted a brother, and I always wanted a sister." She was pensive for a moment. "But you know what?"

"What?"

"I think th' whole point of life is to know God, and be able to accept the way things turn out."

(Home to Holly Springs, page 121)

That dear friends, sums up the way that Jeff and I are learning to view life these days. We are happy, we are content and find joy with the path that God has laid out before us.

I believe it is because we have stopped rushing His plan and enjoying the life He has given us today, in this present moment, that we are able to find true, deep seeded joy.

I am blessed, so richly blessed.

How 'bout you?

My Weekend In a Nutshell

Walking 6 miles on Saturday
attending an Upwards soccer game
Garage sale browsing
Tomato and cheese sandwiches
Fell asleep during a rented movie
taking a long nap
catching up on laundry
Dinner with family celebrating MIL
Reading a good book
Sleeping late on Sunday
Enjoying Jeff's homemade pancakes
Singing at church
Eating yummy pot roast
Laughing with good friends
coming home from church with the sunroof open and windows down
stopping to get a cold beverage at the local gas station
reading more of my latest book
falling asleep for my weekly Sunday nap
waking up super late
eating at Spring Creek-shutting the place down
enjoying the cool spring night
falling asleep super late and waking up even later on Monday morning
Now I am enjoying my morning cup of coffee and reading all the blogs

Life is sweet when you live in the moment and go with the flow instead of against it.

Happy Monday to You!

Price Is Right

I have always been a huge fan of the Price is Right. When Jeff and I were planning our honeymoon, up the coast of California, I begged for him to let us spend one day at the Price is Right studios. Sadly, he said no because he couldn't understand why anyone would want to spend a day waiting in line for tickets when you were on your honeymoon.

Um, hello I would!

Anyhoo, now that we have been married for 5 years he has realized that I do love Price Is Right. What can I say, I am my grandmother's granddaughter and we all know how much she LOVES her game shows. But I must admit, I don't watch it every day, sometimes I even go months without watching it but for some reason this week has been a Price is Right week.

well...if you graduated from ACU or went to RHCC back in the day when the youth group was SUPER cool, then you may know what I am about to say.

Mark M. (guy on the left) was on the price is right!

Sadly, I only saw the last 30 seconds of the show with him on it, so I will have to find another way since I do not have TIVO or DVR. (frugal people, we are frugal!) But praise be to the frugal man's DVR, I found out from the great Google that I can watch the full episode online by clicking here. They won't probably have today's episode until tomorrow or later in the day but you can guarantee that I am going to watch it. A reliable source told me that she heard he was hilarious when his name was called so she set her DVR to watch it.

And to keep you on my blog a little longer, here is a video of a girl making a very dumb bid last week. When I saw this I thought to myself, "Are you an idiot?" She didn't know that she had screwed up so I forgave her and started to feel sorry for her. I don't think she ever made it to the stage. Poor girl.

It's Official...I'm a Freak

My in-laws have this wonderful box of pictures in thier dining room just waiting for me to take them home and organize them. Every week, I walk past this box and I swear it says, "Sort me, organize me and file me away in a pretty little box." One day we were cleaning out the garage for the big garage sale, I decided to take it upon myself to load them in my car and will bring them back all fully sorted, in matching boxes, with labels.

Why? Because I am a freak.

Organizational Freakiness set aside, they have some great pictures.

1) My in-laws were high school sweethearts so there is many pictures from thier days in high school. There is one black and white picture of my father in law with his buddies from school and I swear it looks like an Abercrombie and Fitch add before the adds became less about showing off the clothes and more about shcwing the models without the clothes.

2) Jeff had the cutest button nose as a child, I have enjoyed wondering what our child will look like one day. I hope they have his head of hair because I was bald until the age of 2. True story. And I hope they have his sweet little button nose.

3) I love seeing pictures of Hayley as a baby. I came into her world when she was 3 so I haven't seen too many pictures of sweet Hayley Bailey as a baby. She is precious.

And now you know what I have been up to at night while Jeff is at work.

I am in organizational heaven.

And The Winners Are...

I drew the names the old fashioned way.



And as you can see the winners are...



Please send me your address to my email blessedassurances@gmail.com, Jodi I have yours so your good.

Now if you didn't win, don't be sad. As my mom used to say, "You can get happy in the same pants you got mad in!"

Or something like that.

I will do this again when I come across something fun to share.

Thanks for playing!

Sara Groves: I Saw What I Saw

This song is on the CD that I am giving away, leave your comments here if you want to be entered. You have 2 days left to try and win.

Friends, come on where are you?!? You can win too! :)

A Giveaway!

Welcome to the first ever blog giveaway here at Blessed Assurances.

I have 3 copies of the new Sara Groves CD's ready to give out.

Leave a comment if you would like to be entered into the drawing.

I will draw on Wednesday so come back then to see who wins!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post saying, "Include me!"

Tonight I am Thankful

Today was a day. Not a bad day, not a great day...just a day.

Over the last few weeks, when I have a day like this, I make myself (yes I said make myself) write down something I am thankful for in that day. Thinking on other things, always makes me happy.

Here are a few of the moments and things that made me happy.

1). During one of my moods, I was on the verge of a big meltdown. Jeff cuts me off in mid-sentence and says, "We need to dance." He then goes and pulls out my Ricky Martin CD (yes, I own a Ricky CD) from back in the day and starts dancing to this song. I have never laughed so hard in my whole life. Let's just say that Jeff does a mean running man!

(The music is still playing in the background while I type...excuse me, I need to dance.)

2). On another day, where I was feeling yucky-there was a knock on my door. My co-workers sent me a dozen roses and a box of Godiva truffles with a note telling me that I was a real blessing to the team. I quickly hid the box from Jeff and stopped to smell the roses. You will never hear me complain about my job. I am blessed. (It was admin appreciation day, not some random day-or random gift out of the blue!)

3). I have a list of friends that are regular readers to the blog. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about feeling yuck. I received 3 calls and 4 emails from these friends telling me that they loved me and were praying for me. I love my friends.

4) Not too long ago I realized that I had a box of Godiva truffles hidden from Jeff. I sat on my bed and ate them while watching 27 Dresses. And since it was the weekend and Jeff was off work, I decided to share. One can never say that I am not a good wife!

That's all for now! Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Wednesday!

This is one of my favorite songs, I told you I like music, didn't I?!

How You Live by Point of Grace

Glory Revealed

Around this time last year, this CD found it's way into my music collection. It's not the first time that I have mentioned this CD to you all. I just can't tell you how much it has meant to me over the past year.

I was on my way to a women's retreat at church when I bought this CD. This was the first retreat without some of my sweet friends at church, I was sad because the absence was still very raw and I loved (and still love) these chicks. On top of that, my cousin's baby was in the hospital and all of us cousins were pouring out the prayers night and day for little Kanyon. No one in our family could stand to lose another baby since we had already lost Kanyon's twin sister, Jayde. My great-grandmother had recently went to be with the Lord after having her in my life for 29+ years, I felt so empty without her. Life was rough. Life was real and I was tired.

During the drive to the retreat, I started to pray. "LORD fill me with strength, fill me with joy, fill me with your love."

And then came the song. The song that soon became my anthem. The song that I have clinged to more than any song this past year. I told myself during the drive that one day, Lord willing, I would sing this song at church. At this point, I was not on the praise team but that didn't mean I had any less of a passion for singing. I worship God through song.

As you already know, this year has been rough for Jeff and I. As month after month has gone by without that sweet little plus sign, we continue to pray that God's glory be revealed. When M & M became pregnant before us, Jeff held me tight and said, "We must pray for God's glory to be revealed." When they lost the baby, we cried for God's glory to be revealed. A week ago, Meredith called and told me that she was pregnant again. She expressed her fears of losing another baby and I told her the same thing I was telling myself, "God's glory WILL be revealed." And I have prayed without ceasing that God's glory would be revealed in our life.

"Come Lord and come quickly! Do not hold out back any good thing from us."

And to God be the glory!

Praise God for Kanyon's health. Praise God for good report for the little niece or nephew growing in Meredith. And last but not least, praise God for Jeff's strength this past year-I could not have made it through month after month without him.

Praise God for His goodness, His faithfulness and His love that does not end. And praise God for His timing. You see this Sunday, on Mother's Day I will sing the song "Glory Revealed" at church. It will be a sweet time of singing the words, "Every valley will be raised, every mountain peak made low, and the ground it will be leveled and the rough places smooth....Then we will see, the Glory of the Lord, all lives will see the Glory of the Lord revealed, oh the glory of the Lord revealed!"

The only reason I mention it here in blogland is so that you will pray that I will sing without a quiver in my voice and tears choking up the words. I know it will be a blessing to many people on the same path as me this Mother's day so pray that God's glory be revealed in their lives as well.

5 Things: Websites

Welcome to the first 5 things post, where I post 5 things that I enjoy or use or read or listen to right now.

Today's Topic: 5 Websites I Love

1. Online Organizing- lots of great tips for anyone, young or old, looking to become more organized, creating a chaos free lifestyle

2. Birthday Alarm- never forget a birthday again. It's free and easy to use. You will receive a notice one week before that person's birthday letting you know that there birthday is coming soon, with just enough time to put a card in the mail if you choose.

3. Font Face- looking for the "Grease" font or maybe the "Gilligan's Island" font. All free, all great to use and easy to download. I use these for work, scrapbooking and our yearly Christmas letter.

4. Jane's Apron- this website is full of vintage inspiration, I just found it last week but have really enjoyed looking at all the pictures, aprons and decorating ideas.

5. Pottery Barn- I love this store as well as the website. I use this website for decorating inspiration. When I flip through the room views, if I see a picture I like, I save the picture to later print and put them in a folder that I have going for my decorating ideas-for you know, the day we buy a house.

Hip-Hip Hooray! My Links Are Updated

Yes, that's right I finally updated a few of my links.

I had a few errors on some and others I wanted to add, and a few got the boot since they are no longer in the blogging business. Sorry Mom, I still love you!

And if you didn't know I read your blog....SURPRISE, I have you on my links to prove it!

Let's just admit it friends and family, we ALL should join lurkers anonymous...I am so bad at commenting that I could be the President of the Lurkers club.

And let me just state my comment policy while I am at it. Comment if you want, drop a line a time or two but please don't feel obligated to say hi. I can't harp on something that even I don't even do.

Now if you are new to my blog and want to say hello then don't be scared, I love to meet new people. Or you can choose to remain a lurker, I'm fine with that.

Lurkers unite! (Just remember I am the President of the Lurker Anonymous when we charter that little diddy)

Philipians 4: 4-14

I love the way that the Message has translated Philipians 4: 4-14, may it bless you today too!

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.