Contentment

I've been struggling lately to find peace.
Partly because I feel unsettled with some changes we are making.
Partly because some changes are happening that are not in my control.
Partly because last week I struggled hard to do my bible studies.
This week is somewhat better.
I am however still struggling with letting go.
Letting Him in fully.
Fighting for that control I know I really shouldn't have in the first place.

Than I stumbled across this old post I had wrote but never published and I thought how apt it is for what I need right now.
It's about how I find contentment in the middle of chaos.



Sometimes contentment can be a struggle.

Especially when you are looking for it in the wrong places.

Contentment for me means spending time with HIM!!
It means spending time with my handsome hubby and wonderful children.
Family, friends, pets, peace.

One thing I really noticed is the more I grew closer to the Lord, the more happier, contented and at peace I grew. Funny how those things go hand in hand. lol

Today I thought I would show you some of the places where I can find peace.

This kitty that loves to cuddle ALL THE TIME!! Wherever I am in the house she always wants to climb into my lap for a snuggle even when I am working.

My crazy sisters.

I have two more that aren't in this pic as they weren't there for the weekend. But love having the family time.

This sign that said above crazy sister gave us for house warming gift.

Pretty much sums us up. LOL

My girlie and her puppy.

Heading to the vet for the first time. There is a post soon to be up regarding that. 

This incredibly handsome man that I was fortunate enough to snag off of the market when we were virtually babies.

Here he is helping me add some color to our house. Also a post on that coming soon.

The ability to laugh at myself. To be myself and to love myself.

Love my elmo onsie that my handsome hubby gave me for Christmas.

How do you find contentment?
Do you ever struggle with this? Please tell me I am not the only one. :)
When you find yourself struggling do you know why??

Becoming a Mom

With Mother's Day this past Sunday I have been doing a lot of thinking not only on my own Mom but also on being a Mom.
23 years ago I celebrated Mother's Day for the first time. My handsome hubby and I had given birth to a beautiful baby boy 7 months before that and I was thrilled (although extremely exhausted and slightly stressed) to be his momma.

You see, I didn't become a mommy the way I thought I was going to. It didn't quite happen as planned. I met Rob (aka my handsome hubby) in March of 1990. We hit it off pretty much immediately and soon became inseparable. Two months later he moved 6+ hours away for work. We stayed in touch via phone calls (no cell phones WAY back then. LOL). We continued to grow closer and about 6 weeks later he proposed. I accepted. :) 6 weeks later I moved in with him.
Yep not quite what I had thought I would do growing up. I had assumed that I would remain 'pure' until after marriage. You know first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Sherri pushing a baby carriage. ha
Well it did kind of work that way but in a MUCH faster version.
In January I became pregnant with our son and our wedding plans sped WAY up. We were married May of 1991.
Our boy arrived in October of that same year.
That first year was crazy. Then I became pregnant with son #2 and crazy got amped up.
Five years later our beautiful daughter was born and I was a Mom to three busy young ones.

Now fast forward many many years. Our oldest is 22, our second is 20 and our baby just turned 16.
We have gone through so many seasons in life.

This past week it was said to me that it I basically thought it was a mistake that I became a Mom the way I did. You know since he was conceived out of marriage. Oh and I was 19. I actually was shocked. I never once ever did I think it was a mistake.
Unplanned...YES
Hard...YES
Exhausting...YES
Challenging...YES
Mistake...NO!!!!

Now I will quickly put this out there. I do not recommend this way of doing things to anyone. And in fact praying that my children will take a different path than we did.
However I love our 3 crazy, challenging, beautiful, talented, frustrating, complex children VERY VERY much.

I am also so thankful and grateful for a God that forgives.
That forgave me for sinning this way.
That has given me forgiveness.
That has shown me grace.
That has loved on me, my handsome hubby and our 3 kiddos so much.
That has been there when things were so rough I didn't know how I was going to put one foot in front of the other.
That has been there when my boys graduated high school.
That has been there through sickness, through dis pare, through joy, through tears, through toddler years, through teenage years.
Who has never left my side.
Who has helped my and my handsome hubby be the parents we are.

I am weak.
HE IS STRONG.

So although I would never in my wildest dream thought I would become a parent this way I am just so thankful that I am blessed with these kiddos who call me Mom!!
(At least when they want something. LOL)

Reflecting on the most world changing 3 days ever

I've been doing this bible study called The Story of Easter.

Yesterday I was asked to meditate on what 'broken and poured out' looks like. 

They used the communion... His body broken for us and His blood poured out for us. 

So what does it look like/mean for us to be this way???

As I was thinking about it I was wondering what does that look like? How can I be this way so that I may give glory to Him? 

I even posted it on my Facebook page asking for some input in what it looked like. 

My friend/fellow blogger Carla tweeted me this "the word 'surrendered' comes to mind".
Man I love that lady!!! 

I love that look on it. 

Then I started thinking about my take on it during my prayer. 

This is one line in my prayer last night...

"Lord help me, show me, use me, mould me, strengthen me, break me. All for You Lord"

As I reflected more on that I realized I need to be broken.

I need to be humbled. 

I need to let go and give it ALL up. 

ALL my control. 

ALL my weakness. 

EVERYTHING!! 

In order to give Him ANYTHING. 

I'm nothing if I still try to hold on to control. 

I need to let go of ALL things in order for Him to be EVERYTHING!! 

As Carla worded it I need to be surrendered. 

So today as I reflect on just exactly all that Jesus gave up for me I realize just exactly what I NEED to give up for Him. After all He gave me His Life!!!!!!!

Reviewing my week

Wow what a week it's been.

Monday found us saying good bye to hubby a day early. That is never fun, but knowing he is not gone for a long time helps.
I also thought I would try a new way to start my week. Hello Monday is about being thankful and welcoming the week ahead with all it's issues that might occur.

Monday also brought A new awakening. I talked about my journey and how I need to refresh.

Tuesday found me reflecting on My Niche. Trying to decide why I blog here and what I should be writing about.

Lent started and with that I started a new challenge. Since I am so not a morning person it has been an challenge alright.

Yesterday found me thankful again.
I'm learning that I need to be more thankful in the little things to be thankful period.

All that and I have been working hard on my 3 in 30 goals this week as well.

I also thought for something fun I would show you my instagram pics from the week.
For those that follow me on there these will be old news, but those of you don't well what are you waiting for? hahaha
Here is a teaser of what you will see. :)

My crazy kitty

Love, Love, Love this saying. I want to post it up in our living room,

Proof that I really did/am setting my alarm at that time. Ugh sleep I miss you.

More boxes unpacked. Love seeing this as much as I loved first seeing them packed. LOL

And that my friends is a quick review of my week. I hope you all enjoyed your visit here and I am so looking forward to many more. Have a great weekend!!!

"In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy Name." Psalm 33:21

A new awakening

Unlike yesterday's wake up call, today I'm talking about a different awakening.

Yesterday at church the speaker was talking about a circumcism of the heart.
To believe, to follow, to obey, to honor.

I found myself ashamed. I too often say I'm a Christian. I even attend a church, read my bible, pray, and follow the so called checklist. But do my actions really define me as a Christian?

Can a total stranger see me and can tell I have accepted Him into my heart, into my soul, into my life?
Forget a total stranger can a acquaintance? A friend? A close friend? What about my family members?

All to often I would have to hang my head in shame and say I don't believe they can.

So this month, this week, TODAY, I need must change that.
I must turn to Him faithfully so that He can be shown. He can be honored. All for His glory.

I'm starting fresh.
Does anyone else want to join me??

Let's give Him the glory!!!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

2 Corinthians 5:17

I am linking up today with Lisa. Come over and share some love.

Lent, a journey and keeping it real

As many of you know today is Ash Wednesday. The beginning of Lent. Lent as described in the dictionary
is: "The 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter observed by Christians as a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter."

Many observe Lent by typically giving up something. Facebook, chocolate, coffee, etc. I have done some of these in the past as well.
However this year I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted to not necessarily give up something but to work on something. I want to work on my walk. No not my physical walk. haha My spiritual walk.

So this year although I am still giving up something...sleep, I am mostly using this 40 days as a strengthening exercise.
So in preparation of the 40 days I was busy last night cleaning and making sure things were set right before I headed to bed.

I tidied up my kitchen. There really is nothing like waking up to a clean kitchen.

 I set up my coffee maker using my favorite coffee cup.

I set my alarm for WAY TO EARLY!!!!

For anyone that knows me well knows I am so NOT a morning person. However I really want to use this extra quiet time to just spend with HIM.

I have also decided that I want to start a study called SheReadsTruth: Prayer in the Bible.
My prayer life is in bad shape and I thought what better time to improve then to start now. :)

Anyone that wants to join me please do. I love company. :) I found this on the YouVersion app under devotionals.

So off to bed I went last night.

Well now in all fairness I need to share with you this morning.
It did not go quite as planned. Yes my alarm went off at that horrifying time, however I pressed snooze (a few times. :))
I didn't get up at 6:30 like I had planned on.
I didn't start off like I was wanting.


Now many of you might wonder why I am even adding this bit of information on here.
Well I am all about keeping it real.
I am not perfect.
You will notice I said things didn't go as "I planned".

The whole reason I am doing this is to grow in my journey.
I needed to remember that. I am not doing this for some sort of pat on the back. I am doing this for HIM.
I needed to remember to turn to Him. To put Him first in everything.
I needed to remember to let go of my control, and put HIM in control.

I did get up and have my breakfast and coffee and do my bible study earlier than I normally would get up. Just not as early as I had hoped.

So although it was not how I wanted to start Lent off, I still started it off with HIM first.

"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen"

My Niche

The last few months I have been trying to decide on this blog. I love to write, alright alright maybe not write, but I love to talk. I love to be able to come on here and share what is happening. Tell you all a funny story, or share with you my walk in Christ. Yet all to often I stop. I don't share, and then no post gets published. Time flies by and this little piece of blog world goes unnoticed.
I have thought about stopping. Yet I don't. I still think often in posts. So lately I've decided to contribute more time to this little haven of mine.
However what fun is it to talk if no one is listening? Oh wait isn't that parenthood??? Hahahahaha

So I've been trying to figure out what my niche is here in blog land.
Since I am having a real struggle with this, I figured I would share what I am not.

1. I am not an amazing photographer.
I love to take pictures. Pictures of my family, Pictures of the sunsets/sunrises. Pictures of the outdoors, Pictures of our pets. But I am in no way a professional. I am in no way able to give advice on how to use a camera. In fact since we moved (two months ago) I am unable to find my adapter to download the pics onto the computer. Oops.

2. I am in no mean organized.
Although I did make a comment to my handsome hubby the other day about the fact that this is the most organized I have ever been, I can honestly say that this is a major work in progress.
I have no real tips, unless of course you want to know what NOT to do. lol
I am continually try to organize our house, and our lives. Good thing there are well organized woman/individuals out there that blog and share so that I can learn a thing or two. Ha!

3. Yes I am a Christian, but I struggle. DAILY
I am a huge work in progress. I stumble, I fall, I crawl, I fight. I am a constant struggle.

4. Although I homeschool I am in no way an expert.
We've only homeschooled our daughter for the past 3 years. We pulled her out for the start of grade 8 and now she is doing grade 10. She is 99% on the computer so I actually do very little other than make sure she does her work and understands it.

5. Although we are adopting I know very little.
We are once again in the beginning stages of adoption. We had to start fresh when we moved and then we ended up switching countries as well. So now we are back waiting provincial approval. Ugh so much of this process is hurry up and wait.

This is what I do know about me.

1. I am a Christian, a struggling scrapping by, learning, a work in progress Christian.

2. I am a wife. One who has learned to never take my husband for granted. To always work on our marriage.

3. I am a Mom. To three wonderful children. To some that I have never even met, yet still love so much already.


I've learned that I am far from perfect. I struggle constantly with perfection and letting go.
I like to keep things real.
I'm stunned by how much I am in love with our future children and still have no idea who they are.

I've learned that although I have no real niche I am a niche. I am me. I am real, I am messy, I am imperfect.

I've learned that I want to blog about that in the faint hope that there are many others out here that I can connect with that are just exactly the same way.

I am linking up today with Angie and with Kris for their Top 10 Tuesday.

Why don't you hop over and share some love.

Can you say hot?

Wow was it hot today!! I love the heat but wow!!! It got me started thinking about fall and sweaters and cozying up by fireplaces ( really really really wish I had one, so sweetie if you are reading this, hint hint. ).

So every year at the local fair they do a church service the sunday after where all the churches in town participate. So in otherwords all the congregations from all over town meet at the fair grounds for one large service. This is the first year that I went and I must say I am SOOOO glad I did. I am saddened that I haven't gone in previous years. What a blessing it was to be able to see all those diverse people coming together to praise our one and only almighty saviour!! What a privilege. I most definately am going back next year.

Then off to golf with friends. Now this might sound amazing and it was lots of fun but oh the heat!! I do believe I had a touch of sunstroke.

Oh I forgot to add that I started to read my bible more intensely last night. I started in John, why I can't really say other than I have heard that if you are not familar with the bible to start there so I did. Plus I also read a chapter of Proverbs. Then this morning before church and things got crazy I read some more of John. I am really enjoying digging deeper into his word and learning more. I can't wait.

Well since it was so hot today looks like we are gonna get one killer storm tonight so I will sign off for now. Tomorrow I will post my 3 in 30 for August so tune back then.

Hope everyone had an amazing Sunday!

PS Storm hit earlier than expected and had a power outage so had was unable to post my blog until now.

Carving out more time for his word.

So spend a nice chunk of the day reading and finding new blogs. And I read something today that really struck a cord in my brain. This wonderful lady said that less than 10% of proclaimed Christians have read the entire bible. We find time to do many other things but not read the bible. This really struck me. As I have said before I have struggled with my path.

I feel like there is times when God is shaking his head and saying come on Sherri you know better than that. Or saying 'Look child I you can do this I have shown you the correct path'.

I mean I have time to blog, time to read blogs, time to watch tv, time to quad, sled, swim, suntan, clean the house but I am having struggles trying to find time to read my bible. Now this is partly because I don't know where to start and how to go about doing it. Do I start at Genisis and work my way through or what? And partly because I am a tiny wee bit of a control freak and I am petrified about giving free rein to God. However in saying that I know I need to and it will make me a much more fullfilled women, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

Sooooo.... That will be my first of 3 in 30 for August. Tomorrow I will do tons of researching and decide where to start and go from there. So stayed tuned not only to see how I have done but also what my other two items are.

If God came tomorrow would you be embarrased?

This was the question our pastor asked us at church today. For me that was a very hard hit, the realization that yes I would be. Although I am a Christian, I have fallen far off by the wayside. I want to walk closer with God but am having very deep struggles from within. I am working on improving my relationship with him.
Our Pastor also asked us if we were fellowshiping. That if we were not to look around us at our friends and see if all of our friends were Christian and if they were we needed to expand our network of friends and find some that needed salvation. When I thought about it I realized that most of my friends are non Christians. So then I thought am I spreading the word enough and sadly realized that I am not. Although I think it is fantastic to expand our network I also believe that we also need a good support system and although I very much rely on God, it is also nice to have friends that have common goals and interests. I guess now I realise the reason I have been so lonely.

Soooo how do I go about changing that???

I am very shy. Although people that know me well do not believe that statement. I have a terrible hard time talking to someone that I am not overly close with. On the computer yes, via text yes, but face to face no. I am terribly scared of rejection. I want people to like me and I am totally scared about throwing myself out there and seeing their reactions. I am trying hard to work on that as I believe that is essential to do but oh so very hard. If people come up and talk to me I am better but still have a hard time but working also on that. I use my husband and my children as crutches. This way they can talk to them and take the focus off of me.

Well I guess the first step is knowing that right? LOL