How He Loves Us

As I was on my way home from school I was about to tears... I feel as though a lot of stress is on my shoulders. Even if it isn't real:

Be a good mother
Be fit
Lose weight
Get a teaching position, even though it seems impossible more and more as the year goes on..
Be a good wife
Be a good Christian to those around me
Be a good daughter and sister to my amazing family
The list can go on... but it feels like it's all coming down on me lately....

So I pick up Asher and I put him in the car. He is asleep... and as I pull into my garage the song "How He Loves Us" By David Crowder Band comes on the radio... and I love that song. It ALWAYS comes on when I'm getting out of the car. So I decided I was going to sit in my car and listen to this song and enjoy it (Asher is asleep and I can do this!). So I did... and I cried and cried as I sang these words.. not because I'm just so uncontrollably sad, but because even in the midst of times where I'm worn down... God proves his love for me over and over and over again! If you haven't heard the song.. get on it! Here are the words:


 How He Loves Us
By: David Crowder Band

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.


Maybe you're feeling like me... Know that the Lord Love you more than you can even imagine!

Amen

What we give up....

As I was pottying today.. with my son standing at my side.. I thought about the days when I could do my business alone. I could do a number 1 or 2 without worrying about stopping midstream to makes sure my baby doesn't hurt himself on one of the many drawers, cupboards, corners, or areas in the bathroom that he finds to investigate.

When you sign up for motherhood... isn't it funny how no one tells you these little stories.. No one mentions the group bathroom trip you take? When you're pregnant all you see are the happy babies. The ones sleeping. The ones playing so cute. Then, once the baby comes out.. all of a sudden you notice EVERYTHING you were missing (I think they are like beer goggle, but are named baby goggles). 

Oh the things we give up once we enter motherhood... Sleep, of course, is a big one. Sanity is another big one! For me... control... that was a hard one to give up... Still is, in fact. Concentration. Time. In fact writing this has taken many "time outs" to tend to the Basher moments at hand. You name it... you give it up to such a small package.

What you gain in return is beyond compare to those things though! His excitement when he sees you. His accomplishments along the way that give you just as much (if not more) joy! The ridiculous amount of love you feel. The instant bond with pretty much any other mom ever in the world. :) It's all amazing...

Really... it's a good thing they bring so much.. because the giving up is made easier by it! Thanks God! :)

IT just happened

Hey... yesterday.. I downed an entire dove chocolate bunny.. not the hollow ones.. but the pure chocolate ones...How gross is that?!??! How is what I eat the only area that I feel I just can NOT control!?!?!

It's time to gain control...

This is the Stuff
By: Francesca Battistelli

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
[ From : http://www.elyrics.net/read/f/francesca-battistelli-lyrics/this-is-the-stuff-lyrics.html ]
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use




SO, I've learned how to play this song on my guitar... so I constantly get this song in my head. Now, I truly love this song so I'm OK with it! BUT every time I sing it.. I think to myself... that is ALL that drives her crazy?!?!?! I can think of a MILLION more things that can drive me strait to craziness... Like if it was MY song... it would maybe go on for hours! :) haha...

So, I have composed some of my own lyrics to her song:

Granny Mae, turns in front of me
going 5, when I'm speeding my drive

OR

Explain the directions clearly
Then Billy Bob does what ever he pleases

OR

Basher naps for hours for dad
mommy's turn, we won't nap for the world


You get the point... there are many things that drive us CRAZY! :) Thought I would add my versions (try singing them to the song.. they KINDA work! :))

BUT, sadly the point of the song isn't to get off our chest what drives us crazy, but to realize that those things are what humbles us. Those are the things that God uses to make us just a little bit better (refined in the fire). So next time you stand in that line for an hour to do one SIMPLE thing, pray that God uses that hour to his glory! :)

What drives you crazy these days?!?! :)

an ipod is a great companion!

As I wait for my ipod to charge so I can go for a run... I realize how important it is in my life! :) I'm driven by music... It is rare to find me doing much of anything without out there being a soundtrack playing in the background (or in my head). Cleaning (I need pump up music to get me going). Reading (low and mellow as not to distract me from my actual reading). Car trips (pump up the jams with songs I can sing to preferably). Tone class (fun songs with a strong beat). Running (songs that have just the right beat so that I don't run too slow or too fast). Running Errands or driving around town (K-love... if they don't have the money-a-thon going on). Pulling weeds (anything.. put it on shuffle and let it go!). Tetris (MIX CD 3... haha....) About to go play soccer/ game day (pump me up and get my heart racing music)

I get thrills finding new songs that I love. I get bigger thrills passing those songs to others I know will ALSO enjoy the song!

With that said... please pass  on some songs you LOVE to listen to.... Things that fit the right time! Here are some of mine:


Running: This is the Stuff (Fancesca Battistelli), Club Can't Handle Me (Flo Rida), Bo OK (Ingrid Michaelson), &*CK You (CeeLo Green), Vampire Weekend
Cool Down: Hold Us Together (Matt Maher)
Driving in the Car (road trip): Rent Soundtrack, Beatles, Goldfinger, Kanye West
Hanging out: Frans Ferdinand, Coldplay, Outkast, The Strokes, The Beatles 

OK.. that's all I can think of right now! :) Give me some of yours! :) Pass on the LOVE!

positive polly

So, Paul took a little trip leaving Basher and I to fend for ourselves Monday night and most of the day Tuesday. This also meant that we had to have someone watch the Bash while I was working! So, a lady from church; CB; came and watched him.
Can I just say, she is one of the most positive and uplifting people I've ever met. Just spending a few minutes with her made my whole body smile. She is encouraging, fun, and so interesting. I accidentally went over my "lunch time" today because I got so busy talking with her. AND I'm 99% sure she swept my garage while I was gone haha...
This got me to thinking... I wish I was that positive. I wish I made people smile with their whole body after spending even just 5 minutes with me. What a blessing she is on so many people's life (and soon Basher's life, since she agreed to watch him next school  year!) I think about all the joy and love she must bring to those around her. What a wonderful woman! Then I think about that and try to compare it to the feelings I will have when I get to meet Jesus? Can you even fathom the amazingness (pretty sure that's a word) of that day?!?! CB is just a glimmer of the joy to come, but I'm sure glad she is around and giving me that glimmer. That is a new goal for me, to bring more positive joy to others around me, giving them a glimmer of the joy that is to come... there's enough negative surrounding us in every corner of or lives... Just call me the new and improved POSITIVE POLLY! :)


Think about someone that just makes you smile and feel SO wonderful after hanging out with them...AND SHARE! :) Who is that person for you?!?!