Sick February 27, 2009

To fam and friends…

If you haven’t heard from me the latter part of this week it is because usually when I start to dial someone’s # one of the kiddos start screaming….they are really not liking being sick.  Gabriel also has an ear infection…again, as we cannot combat the gunk in his sinus’.  Went to Dr with him Tues afternon.  They all have runny/stuffy noses and coughs.   Hoping it does not last long.  Please feel free to call me.  You just may hear a cranky baby in the background.    Fun times!

Not So Crafty February 24, 2009

So today I was determined to at least start on the kidos letters for their name signs that I have been wanting in their room. I am not very crafty…..at all….don’t remember the last time I actually finished a project. HA! But this was for the kids so I think I felt a bit more motivated. I also felt that it has more heart seeing as I made them myself as opposed to just ordering them. They may not look professional, but it was my first time!

The More I Seek You February 19, 2009

This song just speaks to my heart in ways I cannot describe.  It’s just Powerful and makes my heart smile!  Heard it for the first time in our Life Group.  In our Life Group we have someone that has one of the most beautiful voices I have heard.  Wish I had a recording of her with her guitar, but don’t, so here are two other versions I found on YouTube(one piano, one guitar).  Hope this blesses your hearts as much as it has mine.  God Bless!!

Piano version (Kari Jobe – Gateway Worship)

Guitar version (Eric Vinson)

Words and Music

The More I Seek You

Written by Zach Neese

E B/D# C#m
The more I seek you
A
The more I find you
E B/D# C#m
The more I find you
A
The more I love you

E B/D#
I wanna sit at your feet
C#m
Drink from the cup in your hand
A
Lay back against you and breathe
Bsus B
Feel your heart beat
E B/D#
This love is so deep
C#m
It’s more than I can stand
A
I melt in your peace
Bsus B
It’s overwhelming

Starting my new MIX February 17, 2009

I have been searching everywhere today…..Borders.com, Target and WalMart.com, iLike and have found some new artists (not new as in just came out, but new to the likes of me ). Some are totally different from what I normally listen to which is very refreshing!!! Here are some of the artists I have found (some Christian, some folk, some pop, some soul, some rock)….

• India Arie
• Sara Groves
• Ray LaMontagne
• Keyshia Cole
• Hem
• Jason Mraz
• Adele
• Keane
• Patty Griffin
• Nickel Creek
• The Weepies
• Chris Brown
• Addison Road
• Jennifer Hudson
• Leona Lewis
• Paramore
• Jeff Buckley

Needing a new MIX February 16, 2009

Anyone have any suggestions for some good music? Been gettin’ kinda bored with what I have.

Makes me smile February 13, 2009

I know to some people this is old, it still makes me smile!  We don’t have cable, so when everyone started talking about this commercial, I had no idea (didn’t watch Super Bowl last year).  Well, a couple of the guys at work had the audio only.  OMGosh….I was rolling!!!!  I was also a couple weeks from going on LOA as I was preg with triplets.  They thought they were going to send me into labor.  My boss had it on his computer going, then across the wall another guy had it on his computer going, so it sounded like a stain war, HAAAAAAAAAAA!  Freakin’ hilarious!  I was thinking about that today, and thought I would put this on here as it makes me laugh, and never seems to get old.

With my last post in mind… February 8, 2009

The latest thing that God has me going all crazy on is finances.

As if those of you who have been reading other posts on here or my fasting log didn’t know that.  This started about 6 months ago after hearing an awesome sermon re the tithe.  I listened to PC’s sermon before attending our new church (Keypoint) and it totally turned on a HUGE light bulb (a convicting one).  Then during our fast it was really reiterated.  God not only kept teaching me more and more about the tithe and what I am giving to God, but also about debt.  And the fact that debt is bondage.  And let me tell you….it is.  Any of you out there who owe creditors, know what I mean.   So in light of this, a friend gave us the book Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.  I read the whole book and will be sharing it with the hubby once he is settled back home, and we will be starting our journey to financial freedom…wow, crazy concept for most!!!

If you are interested in keeping up with our progress or knowing how you can pray for us in this matter, I have posted a new page titled TMM.  I just hope that it can be a testimony of encouragement for others out there!  Especially our friends and family who may be thinking about doing this.  One thing to keep in mind is that this is not a quick process.  This page will go on for years if we are disciplined enough to finish.  I pray that we are.  “God give us the discipline and Your mighty strength!”

Who Me? February 7, 2009

So for those have known me for any substantial amount of time or who have read any good amount of either of my two blogs probably know that I am either one of two ways about things; either whole hog so to speak or lazy.  Why is this?  I couldn’t honestly tell you.  Maybe it’s the ADD, I honestly don’t know.  God just designed me this way.  I know many and most people have the whole in between mindset on some things, but not me.  Sometimes I am sure this can become quite annoying to those around me, unless you are like me in this or for some reason God has put you on the same path I am currently walking or running on.  The later is just amazing.  I love it when God puts people in my life that are going through what I am at the exact same time.  It’s like a little encouragement gift from HIM saying “you’re doing well and I wanted to put someone here to help encourage you along.”

So with this whole “WOO HOO” or “Whatever” mindset of mine I am constantly re-evaluating the things and people in my life.  What once (a week ago or two years ago) may have been on my heart may not be anymore.  This sometimes is hard for me to take.  There have been things that I love to do that God has said “let’s take a different road now, change the course.”  When I was younger (not that I’m old by anymeans…but you know what I mean…late teen and even very early twenties) I was under the impression that when God calls me to do something, that that is it.  That is my life’s goal, what I need to do forever.  But now I see this is not always the case.  There was a time when I would see people quit something that was a ministry or a service to God and glorifying Him that I would think they just couldn’t hack it or that they were giving up on God.  Which in some cases may have been true.  But I have now come to realize that there is another side.

This side is the obedient and humbling side of my Christian faith.  So many times I have been identified by what I do, or what I drove, or who my friends were.  Some examples….I did youth work since I graduated HS.  First as a Cell Group Leader for a church in our area, then as a Youth Leader in another…..so I was Desiree, the Youth Director.  Or maybe it’s with our band….Desiree, the drummer.  In HS the first car I had to drive was my mom’s corvette.  It was old, and honestly when she bought it the cheapest thing on the lot.  We did not have money for me to have a car of my own, so this is what I dove to school, with no complaint I might add….but there it came…Desiree, “corvette girl” as I was deemed from my peers. And even most recently, Desiree, the girl who had the triplets.

Are any of these things me? My answer after almost a whole year of contemplation on this is NO.  I am really none of these things.  I may be or have been these things, but these things are not me.  These at one point in my life….not that long ago I might add, gave me security; they made me feel important in one way or another.  They made me feel like a somebody.  But the truth is I am nobody without Jesus.  Even though I do things that glorify Him at the time, doesn’t make what I do mine.  If it wasn’t for Him I would have nothing, be nothing, and so on.

So what am I doing with My Jesus today?   Who am I really?

Well, the answer isn’t as fun or creative as the things you read above.  The truth is I am just a girl.  Just a girl in search of my ultimate place with HIM.  Just a girl who puts my heart and sole into what and who God lays on my heart.  I listen and obey.  Sometimes the obeying is hard, but it is a must.  I am humbled at who I am not, and blessed for who I am in HIM.

Nothing is usually permanent in life.  I know that many good things, things that I think are for HIS glory will come to an end.  This partially do to the way God made me.  When I am not gung ho, I tend to be blah or lazy.  God doesn’t want me working lazily for Him so He gives me new endeavors and adventures all the time.  New callings to answer.  Some do not understand this and may think that I just get on whims or am sometimes flaky.  Not true, I just like being on FIRE and excited about life.  If it’s boring or lazy or unproductive why keep doing the same thing….isn’t that true insanity….doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.  I may be a bit crazy, but I am not insane…there is a difference.

So will I ever do youth work again…probably in some form or another, when it is God’s timing for me to do so.  Youth will always be in my heart.  A first love if you will.  There is just something about being the one to help a lost or just mislead youth back to his/her God.  And realizing that they have potential and that God loves them beyond anything they could ever imagine.  That there is a God who loves them despite what their parents or peers think or say, dispite the sins they have committed, despite….He loves them and cares for them.  Truly amazing and I am so blessed that God gave me this calling and that He may continue it again.

Will I be a drummer forever?  Maybe in some form.  May not always be as part of a band.    But again, just depends on where the Lord decides to take me and where He puts my heart at this moment.  It is fun, but unless I am truly glorifying God with it and not just doing it because I decided to one day, there is no point.  Also cannot become lax or it will be a NO!

Will the friends I have always be my friends?  To some extent.  But some may move away or we may just grow apart.  No one is to blame for that.  Somehow and for some reason it is in God’s plan.   Truth is sometimes God places new people in our live so we can continue to grow closer to Him and His will.  I pray everyday for more friends and deeper relationships with those already in my life.  Friends have always been a tough thing for me.  Seems that whenever I think I have a great friend, they move or I find out they are a “fair weather friend”, or they don’t mind me being honest about stuff in my life but they fail to share becuase they are too prideful.  Sometimes I may not be the good friend I should be.  And sometimes I honestly just flat get annoyed with people.  I have grown apart from many friendships.  God calling me in one direction, and the friend(s) not being supportive.   Luckily my one true friend – Jesus, always supports me when I go towards His will.  And luckily He put on this earth a wonderful man in my life (my husband) that always supports me and who will always be my BFF!

Change is good.  Re-evaluating is good.  Truth is good.  Relearning daily who I am in Christ and Him alone is necessity, and humbling.

So if I tend to get all crazy with something new God has laid on my heart, I am not going to apologize.  It’s just who I am.  It’s when I’m lazy that you need to watch out, cus the ground is about to shake.  And most of the time I don’t even know where the pieces will fall.  But God is God and He always makes a beautiful mosaic out of the broken, scattered pieces.

So here’s to being excited about life and what God is planning on doing!  I think it may be time to shake up some soil!  I’m pumped!

Rollin’ In It! February 6, 2009

Alrighty, so just finished the Dave Ramsey book Total Money Makeover and here are some of my takeaways…

So right off the bat, reading the debt and money myths, I have to say part of me was like, “there are people out there that believe these?” But as I sat and thought of people we have known throughout our lifetime so far that always had advise to dish….I was no longer surprised. It’s funny how people who have no idea how to budget, save, tithe, spend wisely think they have any right to dish out advise or have the idea that we will take it…HAH. Anyway, enough about that. After the myth buster and hurdles the book really opened up. And also I do have to say that the point he makes at the very beginning of the book at the problem being with ME and looking ourselves in the mirror is dead on and I was so refreshed to be reading such an in your face true book. Moving right along..…

So the book is focused on 7 key must do’s….(Baby Steps)
1. Emergency Fund – Save $1000 fast - this at first was kinda hard for me as I was planning on just paying off debt, then starting an Emergency fund. But as I read I saw the grave importance of doing this step first, and as he reiterates throughout the book, you must do each step in order for success.

2.  The Debt Snowball - list all our debts (not counting mortgage) from smallest to largest.  The one thing that surprised me was that it didn’t matter how much interest anything was.  I had always thought to pay off the large interest debt first, then worry about the small(no interest) med bills and such, but this is not the case.  As you snowball, each debt you completely pay off you scratch off your list, and then use that extra money to put towards your next master in line.  Very simple.

3.  Finish the Emergency Fund - So to do this you have what you started with($1000), then you add to that 3-6mos of expenses, all depending on your situation.  As we are a new family of 5 and my husband is currently the only one working, it would be wise to do 6mos.  Now if by the time we reach this step I am working and bringing in a good amount from Personal Training, we may be able to do the 3mos.  Like I said, all depends on your situation.  Agian simple, but so smart.  We are never guaranteed our jobs or that we will be healthy or our cars will never need serious work, or  whatever else that is a TRUE Emergency…not “I really want that pair of Buckle Jeans or that cute Banana dress.”  Oh how I love me some shopping.  Huuuuuuu…..sorry, back on track.  The typical finished Emergency Fund will have aproximatly $5,000 – $25,000 in it.  WOW can you imagine just having that much in savings for an emergency…no more worrying about taking the kids to the dr and the crazy cost of rx’s that that brings….or if the old vehicle has issues or whatever as I said before.  Man, that would be a weight lifted doncha think?

4.  Retirement - Now that we are all debt free by this step, we will start contributing 15% of income into retirement.  This was an exciting chapter to read as my husband and I are serious amatures when it comes to investing.  We are seriously “ignorant” in this area.  What Dave says, actually made sense and wasn’t “over my head” with a bunch of mumbo jumbo talk.  The numbers he talks about are exciting too as he uses examples of the “average” income of $40,000 which is right where we are at the moment.

5.  College Fund for the Kidos – Pretty much the same as the retirement deal.  Wasn’t sure exactly what was out there as far as saving for this, just figured the sooner the better.  His advise is very helpful!

6.  Pay off the Mortgage – WOW!  This concept really is foriegn to most anyone.  I have honestly never heard of anyone even talking about doing something like this, yet hundreds of thousands of people have done it by doing the Total Money Makeover.  Crazy!  This would seriously be so FREAKIN’ exciting to be able to do!  At this point I am just envisioning, and hope that it will become our reality. Think Gazelle, think gazelle, think gazelle!!!!

7.  Build Wealth like Crazy - I call this the ROLLIN’ IN IT chapter!  Once we are TOTALLY debt free, home and all, have a full emergency fund, retirement savings, college for our kidos paid for we just simply ROLE IN IT!  And the way we do this is by having fun, investing, and of course GIVING!  Oh I’m excited about this one!  How awesome to not only not have to “worry” about money, but be able to help others out in a financial way without breaking the bank to do it!

Some of the things that really stood out to me and made the book….

• Dave is a Christian and lives by Christian principles and values which are displayed in the book
• He uses Bible verses throughout the book
• Real people examples
• The real life examples aren’t all….”this couple makes $90,000 or $200,000 a year and really succeeded”….the majority are average and some even below average incomes and one income families.  And many had more debt than Chris and I have currently.  So encouraging, let me tell ya!
• Not a “get rich quick” scheme – man are those annoying.  I cannot tell you how many times Chris has been “approached” by these sharks talking about a dot com or a work from home and get rich crapwholeo of a deal.  Pleeeeeeaaaase!  Of course, Chris being Chris, he is usually very nice and conversational and even takes their card just to through it away.

So all in all I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the hubby to get home so we can discus and read it TOGETHER and start our Total Money Makeover. In a word it was a refreshing book on financial freedom!  Each step seems so common sense.  But it will take each other, encouragement, courage, backbone, willpower, obedience, “gazelle”, and mostly the Power of God!

If you have been thinking about reading this book, do it.  It really is worth the read.  Not to mention it is fairly short and a fast read.  I hope this has helped you!

Growin’ like weeds! February 4, 2009

More baby updates….

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Trinity is a pro crawler (started @ 9mos)  and is also pulling herself up onto objects…check out pics on Babies Page

Asher is our first one to have a tooth!  Way to go bud!  And he has done the least amount of complaining….go figure!

Gabriel sings…and it’s beautiful!  I will have to record him once Chris get’s back with our little camera.  He is now crawling!! – as of yesterday (Sunday Feb 8th)

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Check out the new pics on our Babies Page!