Missed Me?

I can't believe how much time has gone by since I last posted... or how much has happened during that time!

I guess the biggest news is that Nick has his drivers permit! OMG!!!!! Ya'll need to seriously pray for my patience and my sanity. I am trying so hard not to be critical when he's behind the wheel. I know it takes a long time to get used to driving and get the feel for distances and stuff but I am white knuckled as he drives so far to the right! I just know he's going to clip some mailboxes before he gets used to driving. He's nervous about hitting oncoming cars so he stays too far to the right to avoid going over the line in the center of the road. I'm pretty sure hitting oncoming traffic will NOT be an issue. It's the poor mailboxes that need to fear for their lives!

Here's Nick "striking a pose" with his permit and the car keys before our first venture on the open road:


Also on the news front... I again celebrated the anniversary of my 29th birthday! I must say that this was probably one of my best birthdays as I was loved on abundantly!

My mother sent flowers and a power screwdriver! (I guess this means that I truly am a Proverbs 31 woman!)

My sweet sisters at P31 showered me with gifts, notes, gift cards, chocolate, emails, monkey mails and so much more. They surprised me with not one but TWO parties! I am still overwhelmed by how much they love me. I feel very blessed!

Vickie took me out for a birthday dinner where we each had a margarita and shared a vat of lard (also known as queso) at Chili's. Now... we knew that we would suffer for our poor choices later in the evening but the vat of lard was calling our names so we consumed it anyway. Just as expected... my stomach was screaming at me all night! When will I learn?

About a week later, Rhonda's sweet husband, Chris, took Rhonda, me and Greg to Red Lobster for our annual birthday celebration. All of our birthdays are within a week of each other so we have fun celebrating together every year. I made Jackie a little photo album. (I know it's not her birthday but I can't resist spoiling her.) I made a cover that says, "Jackie's Peeps" and filled the album with photos of people she loves. We all got quite a kick out of her reaction to this photo of me and Greg:


(Aren't I attractive?) I don't like having my picture taken so I tend to make goofy faces. Jackie thought it was pretty funny. She would hardly let us look at any of the other photos. The next morning at church she ran up to me and requested that I make "the face" for her little friends. I may live to regret including the photo but... her reaction sure did provide us with lots of laughs!

This will have to be enough news for now. I just returned from a P31 event in Houston and I have over 300 emails in my inbox that I need to go through. I was only gone for three days!

Love and Blessings!
LeAnn

New Year - New Verse

Each year I choose a new life verse for myself. However, I felt in my heart that God still had much to teach me through the verse I chose for 2007 so I held onto it for another year. The verse is from Isaiah 46:11b, "What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do."

I'm sure that I must have read this verse at some point prior to 2007 but it didn't "sink in" until that time. You see... just like most people, I try to control my life as much as possible. Hah! What a joke. If I had any control at all, my husband would not have died, I would not be a single mom, I would live in a larger home (with a garage and more storage space), I would never get sick, my son would be deliriously happy (and well-mannered) all the time, my cat would not be so moody, etc.

Reading the verse from Isaiah hit me like one of those "light bulb" moments. What I read was that God was in control. What He promises in scripture is exactly what is going to happen. I can try to control things but His plan is so much greater than anything I could ever imagine so I need to LET GO and LET GOD! How liberating this was!

Being a woman... I didn't learn this lesson easily. That's why I needed to hold onto the verse through 2008! I still try to control things that I should let go of but... I'm making some headway in this area and it's time to move on.

This year, as I was reading in the book of Hebrews (13:5-6), a verse struck my heart and I am claiming it for 2009. I love the version in The Message,

"Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, 'I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,' we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I'm fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?"

More freedom! God is in control and He will never let us down, never leave us, and He is always there to help and protect us. I need to stop worrying about money and the fact that I don't have a garage! HE WILL NEVER WALK OFF AND LEAVE ME! Is there anything material that is worth more than His love? NOT!

I am embracing Hebrews 13: 5-6 in 2009. I will pray this verse daily and ask God to help me live it! I encourage you, my friends, to ask God to point you to the verse He has for you this year.

My prayers for a wonderful new year filled with His presence, His provision, and His promises!

Sweet Blessings,
LeAnn