I Will Overcome

The rambling thoughts of Karen...

So I had some thoughts that came to me this morning. Some of the thoughts I had were old but somehow they seemed new to me. Don't you love that? I was working out this morning (which I hardly do these days) and I was listening to a David Crowder song called Shine. It was really moving my heart and I almost lifted my hands in the air at the gym but I held back. :)

Chorus....
Shine Your light so I can see You
Pull me up, I need to be near You
Hold me, I need to feel loved
Can You overcome this heart that's overcome?

I really love the truth that Jesus Overcame. That is what our Easter celebration was all about. Jesus conquered the grave. What I love about the redemption story is that Jesus overcame with such grace and love. Jesus knew the cup that the Father had for him and accepted it with grace. He chose to be a servant all the way. So I was thinking as we walk through this life and go through trials we too can overcome. We too must walk in grace and be servants like Jesus. I don't have to walk in defeat. Jesus is my ultimate focus. So glad to know we serve an Awesome God!

Love to you,

Karen

I'm Still Here...

Time. I have needed more time lately. I can't seem to fit everything in lately . Even now as I type I can think of more things to do on my list. I have missed writing and keeping up on reading all the blogs I love.

We had a great Easter and I hope to post pictures and share more. I was so excited on the way up to St. Louis to see my family because God has been moving in my family a lot. I am grateful for the growth that is taking place.  We did encounter a storm on the way up to St. Louis that was pretty intense. I usually don't get scared in storms but I was holding my seat belt tight. 

The rain has been too much. I feel so bad for everyone who is experiencing flooding. We worked very quickly tonight trying to plant more of our garden. As we were finishing up it started to rain on us. I am so excited about our garden and as the rain fell I imagined the summer time and the sun shining. I know soon I will be picking my tomatoes!



Have a great week!

What a Week!

This week has been incredibly busy. We have had something going on every night this week. We loved all of our plans but yesterday afternoon and today I have been super tired because of it. I just got done planning out our weekly meals and cutting coupons. My laundry never got put up and my sink is full of dishes. These are times when I wish I could just take Mondays off. :) I am grateful though for all the fun things happening in life right now. God is at work and I am excited. I just know as a woman its hard to keep it all rolling sometimes....don't ya think? Sigh...I need some sleep right now.

I will end a week and start this new week with this strange thought I have been having. Bryan and I have lived in our house for over 4 years now. We take a lot of walks in our neighborhood and we walk the same path almost every time. It equals to be a mile or so and we usually walk in a big square. There are times when we venture off or take a different way..put for the most part its the same every time. There is part of the walk where there is no sidewalk. I have always felt kind of annoyed that the sidewalk ended and we had to walk through some grass and up a small hill to get back on to the connecting sidewalk. I always wondered why there was a big piece missing. I often thought in my head that maybe one day the pieces would be connected but it would be highly unlikely since no one probably cared. Well spring has come and our walks have increased and we are out and about and what do you know....the place where we once walked in the weeds and grass and up that small hill now has steps....and a sidewalk. :) There is no longer a missing piece but everything now connects and I am happy. I felt like God was telling me that HE is working out all the missing pieces in my life too. That HE is the builder and HE does care. He notices my climb and the places I have to walk through. HE sees that I long for everything to connect. He is faithful and one day I will turn a corner and see all the Great work He has been doing. Praise Him.

Have a great week!

My Dog Zeke

I think Zeke is very cute...

And sometimes he takes pictures that make him look like a story book character!

He will always be my puppy

I never knew I was an animal lover until I loved him. Zeke is just one of those small things in life that make life better. Even though he eats my socks and swallows them whole, barks at random people, and tries to convince me to give him my food...I still love him.

Wonderful Time

This sweet friend came into town last week and I got lucky enough that she came by my house for dinner. I was so blessed to see her and her family. I was excited and nervous to catch up with her and when she arrived we both talked a mile a minute. It was like we never missed a day. I felt like the Lord came down and gave me a big hug that evening. I already miss her and wished she lived right by me! Mandy and I go way back...we had first grade together and we had choir together all throughout high school. Mandy was better at music than me and I always made sure to sit by her to hear the correct notes! When I got saved Mandy was one of the first people to really become a good Christian friend to me. We became very close and I still consider her an amazing woman of God and friend. Thanks Mandy for all the memories and for this wonderful evening! God is good isn't He?

Mandy's sweet baby girl didn't make it all the way into the picture but she was such a doll!!! Her son Issac is four years old and just the cutest little guy!

Love to you,
Karen

BOOKS!

 I love a good book. I  recently cleaned my entire bookshelf and donated 70 books and still had a lot left. My bookshelf is still very full, so as you can imagine my shelf was overflowing with words! I then decided to tackle the area around my bed pictured above (ignore the cheezit box on my bed...I get hungry when I clean). You can't see them all but I had 24 books by my bed. Most of them were unread but I just had to have them close by in case I wanted them. Some were under my bed and others were just in plain sight waiting for me to read. I told myself that all but two had to go on the shelf until I finished the ones I was reading. :) Talk about a book clutter bug!

I have this dream of hosting a book club this summer and all of us wearing big hats and sipping tea together. Does anyone else have this type of a book obsession? Anyone want to share your favorite book? I am creating a must read list!

"My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read." Abraham Lincoln

Missing Home

Yesterday I struggled with missing home. My whole family got together for dinner and wanted to video chat with me but I somehow missed all of them. I didn't hesitate to cry on the phone with my sis Mary about missing dinner! Ha! I also had some dear friends over last Thursday (pictures to come!) that made me miss home even more. It was so fun talking with an old friend that goes back to First Grade! Got to love those!

As I was thinking of home, I smelled my mom's roast in the oven, and heard my dad's laughter, and heard the comfort of my sisters telling me that it's all going to be ok. I also realized that I am homesick to be with my Creator as well. I have failed to stay in the Word these last couple of weeks and failed to stay focused. I think its left my heart kinda heavy. So I am hopping off here to get some quiet time and to thank God for my family back home and for the amazing family God has truly blessed me with here. I am so thankful for all of them. :)