Be Anxious for Nothing

Wow I can’t believe March is almost over, this year is zooming by for sure! Lately I have just had this “restlessness” in my soul. I think a huge part of it is being in “limbo” about knowing we are moving and ready to get it over with yet having time constraints on the actual move. I’ve always been a make up your mind and get it done sort of person. I don’t have a lot of patience as my family can attest. That is probably why I often don’t see the long term, it would drive me crazy seeing it and not being able to do it NOW! lol :) God usually only shows me things as I need to know. Isn’t it interesting how He deals with each of us in our own unique way? I love that about Him.
Here is the dictionary definition of restless

World English Dictionary


restless (ˈrɛstlɪs) — adj

1. unable to stay still or quiet

2. ceaselessly active or moving: the restless wind

3. worried; anxious; uneasy

4. not restful; without repose: a restless night


'restlessly — adv

'restlessness— n

Here is God's answer to restless, anxiety, worry etc.

Philippians 4:6-9 (American Standard Version)

6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

So this is my prayer for today and especially this season of my life.  Father God please calm my heart and help me to "BE Still and know you are God" lead me and guide me into all peace and rest.

Blessed beyond measure

Wow, what a year! I’m so excited to see what comes next. Of course I am heartbroken over the events in other parts of the world, and I am praying daily for the people affected by all the tragedy and war. I must say things in our little world are very good and I feel so blessed. Jeff’s youngest daughter Rachel is graduating from High School in two and a half months! I am getting very excited about moving back to Arlington. The closer that comes the more peace I feel about the whole thing. I found out on Friday that the house in Burleson we wanted to buy went under contract 2 days after we decided we were just going to move back to Arlington. It was like God sending me confirmation we are taking the right steps.


On another note, tomorrow my daughter is turning 40! I can’t believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was this scared 17 year old girl about to give birth. Bless her heart we basically grew up together. I was not always the best Mother I’m sure but then who really is? I know I loved her the minute I saw her and still do more than words can say. There is nothing I would not do for her. So for today life is good and I am beyond blessed and truly enjoying all that spring has to offer.

Spring is in the Air

Today while walking on campus I saw a daffodil opening up.  I just love when that happens, it’s always a sign that new life is happening and a new season is coming.   Before you know it the highways in Texas will be covered with bluebonnets!  I love flowers and the beauty they bring by just being there.  What a journey this thing called life is!  Hope you are enjoying it as much as I am today.

Roller Coaster Life

Well so far 2011 has been an interesting year.  It’s been a good one but not exactly like I envisioned.  We have our rent house on the market in Arlington, and I thought it would sell fast, it was my house when we got married and I think it is adorable.  The location is not the greatest but it never bothered me.  It’s very close to the freeway so if you commute it’s awesome.  At any rate, it’s been on the market since October and only 8 people have looked at it and no real offers.  One lady made a ridiculous verbal offer but I said don’t even waste time writing that up.  Our renters moved out in November and we moved the utilities over to our name.  In January we got our first electric bill which was way high.  I have been fighting with the electric company ever since.  But because of that bill I drove over to the house at lunch one day to make sure no one had turned the thermostat way up or something.  In doing that I realized it only took me 5 minutes longer to get to work from there than the house we currently live in 6 miles from my office!  How crazy is that, remember I said it was a great location for commuting?  Well that got me thinking.  You see we only owe about $45,000 on that house.  It could be paid off in a couple of years and then we would be debt free!  Very appealing, hmmm.  That has started this whole tug of war in my heart and mind.  You see what started this whole sell both houses and move to the country thing was this property we found in Burleson with a pond, pool, on a hill with a peaceful setting.  (Heaven in my mind)  I must also interject at this point of the story that we have been getting our house we live in ready to sell as well.  In December a friend asked me if we were serious about selling and I said yes.  So about the middle of January I contacted her and to make a long story short, they loved the house and are going to buy it but their lease doesn’t end till June so we get to live here till June (Rachel graduates in June) and we don’t have to go through the whole hassle of living in a house on the market!  Is that a huge blessing from God or what! Makes me get chills even thinking about it.  So one house sold, easy peasy thank you God but what about the other one?  Most of our equity (down payment for new house) is tied up in the Arlington house.  We can’t make it all work without that house selling.  Soooo what’s up God?  Jeff is all for moving back to Arlington and getting out of debt (one of his big dreams).  I’m all for that too except my big dream is to live in a place where I can walk out my back door and hear nothing but birds and not see my neighbors.  I will say Jeff wants that too but he is way more practical than me and I’m older than him and thinking but wait “what about me?”  When do my dreams come true?  So I have gone through the whole woe is me, nobody loves me everybody hates me and I don’t ever get what I want pity party.  I’m finally at a place where I’m ok to move back to my little house in Arlington and get out of debt and just be happy where I’m planted.  I know He knows the end from the beginning and His love for me is never failing and I trust Him to work it all out however He sees fit.  But I still hope someday I can have that place in the country that is full of peace, but I’m willing to wait for a while to get it.  Worse case I have a mansion waiting for me in heaven that I know is on a hill overlooking a sea of flowers. Life is all about compromise, sometimes it's easier than others.  But it's always worth it.

New Year New direction I hope!

This sunrise greeted me on the way to work this morning and it was like God saying look at all I have waiting for you.  The possibilities are limitless!

What an interesting year.  It has been busy for sure.  Hope it slows down a bit, but then I have been hoping that for a few years now and it just seems to speed up! Lol  I have been spending a lot of time in prayer and asking about what is next.  One thing I am clearly hearing is lay aside all expectations.  Keep focused only on Him.  I had a dream the other night about my Grandma Sockwell.  I won’t go into all the details of the dream but it was interesting and when I woke up I remembered this little plaque she had hanging in her bathroom.  It had the scripture passage “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path.”  That sign was there for all my childhood and every time I went to the bathroom I read it.  As I thought about that more during the day I came to the realization that she above all other people impacted my life and influenced who I am today in so many ways.  She was always laughing and taught me to have fun.  She loved her family fiercely and truly had the gift of hospitality.  She did not have an easy life by any means but you would have never known it.  I never heard her complain about it.  She always took us to Sunday school when we were there.  I KNEW she loved me, not by what she said but by what she did and how she responded to me.  My Papa was the same way.  So I am asking myself who am I influencing? And the people I have effect on is it for good or bad?  I want to reflect the love of God to all who meet me.  I have a long way to go, so I am asking for His grace and His heart this year. 

Thanksgiving 2010 - But God!

As I sit here this morning thinking of all the things to be thankful for I am simply amazed at the goodness of God. There are some things that have happened recently that could cause me to become angry, depressed and bitter. Truthfully my natural inclination is to do just that, but God! When I think on those things above and not beneath how could I possibly stay angry, bitter and depressed? He has done so much for me and those I hold dear (and some not so dear lol) His nature does not change, He is patient and longsuffering for us. Just thinking about it makes me want to shout from the rooftops His goodness to us.


We planned to pay off the last credit card this month, but God! Instead Sarah has had to have a lot of dental work and car repairs. But God! We didn’t have to use a credit card and we still have some money in savings, thank you for provision. Hopefully the credit card will get paid off next month.

There are a couple of people that have frustrated me and I’m sure I’ve frustrated them. But God! He is helping me to draw healthy boundaries and hopefully lead us all to patient understanding and acceptance of Him first and then each other.

2 of my children and 3 of my grandchildren are not going to be with us today. But God! For someone that wants all her family together in one place that is very hard to take. But thanking God that they are all healthy and celebrating in their own way and again I am just learning more how to let go and let each of them find their own way in this world. Hoping that they come to know Him and love Him as much as I do.

For the past couple of years He has been teaching me to “be” and not “do”. WOW, for a person that wants to “fix” everything and have everything all neat and tidy and wrapped with a pretty little bow beyond hard and frustrating. But God! So today I am focusing on all the positive things He has done in my world and truly rejoicing that He has my best interest at heart and praying that I will reflect His love and mercy as much as I can. Praying that everyone have a joyful and thankful day. Thanking God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me, even the ones that hurt.

Just a little change

Look how different just rearranging how you put the blocks together make it look.  Totally different feel!  Just like our perspective on events of our lives, step back take another look try a few different angles, whole new look and feel.  Amazing.