A Glorious Day!

Faith Story:

My husband and I were both raised in similar faith-based homes, baptized/christened as babies and then confirmed (Methodist/UCC) and professed our faith in God somewhere around the age of 11 or 12. I personally strayed from God and from my faith for many years after that; during my teens and long into my 20's. Looking back, I see where there were many roadblocks over those years where God was asking me to make the decision to turn back towards Him, but I kept running. My life changed in a positive way at age 30 and moving to Iowa, 3 years ago, was yet another turning point. I have had an even newer awakening of the Spirit and things that I thought were not possible have been made known to me.

Yesterday, I was baptized (immersed) along with my husband, to symbolize being buried with Christ and rising to new life. It was a glorious day! Here is the public picture of the private work that God has done in me over the last few years and more on What Baptism Means.

I love the Lord. He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy

Because He turned His ear to me,

I will call on Him as long as I live.

Psalm 116:1-2

I want to thank those who have poured into me over the last three years since moving to Iowa. 

• Chris & LeAnn M. - former neighbors - John Deere friends - who lovingly pointed us to the church when we first arrived to Iowa, discipled us along the way and modeled for us what it means to follow Jesus.
• Angie D. - for pointing me to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) - This provided an opportunity for my faith to grow by allowing me to join in a community with other moms in "like" stages of life with young children.
• The other moms at MOPS group on Thursdays and the leadership there. I've watched these women lovingly meet to plan and pray for positive and uplifting change in our community.
• Sue H. - for being a loving picture of grace and acceptance as I joined in my first bible study ever; shortly after moving to Iowa. She's been a constant support, prayer warrior and a great cheerleader for me in times of self-doubt. I admire the person she is. 
• Heather E. - for recognizing that this southern girl was going to need some support in moving to this frozen tundra. (Maybe it was more her just feeling sorry for me). Either way, she has loved on me spiritually and in many practical ways over the last few years. God knew just what I needed.
• My small group friends who have helped hold me accountable during my walk with Christ and who have been there to walk with me through some tough times and who have also celebrated with me during times of joy.
• Chelsea A. and Lindsey P. - these girls lived with us, one for over a year. They've seen the good, the not-so-good, and even the mundane in our home. I thank them for their love, grace and mercy and being "plugged-in" to our family. They speak my love-language (Quality Time). To be so young, the two of them have taught me so much. I thank God everyday for these two. 
• Christina B. - for being that loving neighbor who accepted our family and has been a constant in our lives since Day 1 of moving to Iowa, helping out in so many ways. She has the gift of hospitality and has made our transition to Iowa so much easier. Never underestimate the role you play in someone else's life. Watching her grow in her faith brings me so much joy!
• The Church for it's influence and for allowing us opportunities to serve and take steps to go deeper in our faith (too many to name).
• There are countless others who have poured into our family since moving to Iowa. Those who have loved our children and modeled for us what it means to Love Thy Neighbor. Those who have prayed for us and with us.

I'm thankful for my husband who has been so faithful and committed to me and to our family and our growth - constant and unwavering. And finally, (most importantly) to God for all of the above. We praise Him and thank Him for using our hard times/suffering/brokenness and our joyous occasions for His glory.

I continue to grow. I'm a work in progress and thankful that God is not done with me yet. There are many things that I struggle with daily (grace, pride, forgiveness, bitterness, learning to be a responder and not a reactor). But, I know there is hope in Christ and I am confident that He will help me overcome.

What Love Is This

Some of you already read it several months ago. Here is a link to more on my faith story:

 Small Steps & Giant Leaps

Standing Tall In The Grove

Friends, I've been on my knees a lot over the past few weeks. It seems the storms have rolled in. Such a contrast to my last blog post three months ago in May. I see now that God has been preparing me. Now, I have to put my trust and faith into action. Not just say it, but do it. Fully trust. Isaiah 40:28-29

Several weeks ago, I found out that my closest friend here in Iowa is moving to a new city 570 miles away. Oh the initial sting and then the ache that started off as a slow throb has now started to pound, harder and harder, as moving day has gotten closer and closer. 

Tiffany

Our relationship has been so easy. She moved here to Iowa a year after I moved and we met on a playdate at the park with our boys. It turned out, she also lived in my neighborhood. We are the same age. She was the newbie and I could relate. She was new as a stay-at-home mom and I could relate. Navigating the change from the corporate world to being at home with a preschooler full time brings some challenges and I could relate. She was finding her way in a new town and I could relate. God knew I longed for a deeper connection and not just an on-the-surface type friendship. Over the last two years, our boys have gotten really close. We've helped each other out in so many ways and usually spend several days a week together. She has been the late night phone call when things have gotten messy in my life now and then. She always shows up with a smile and often a small gift to brighten up my day. She is so very thoughtful. She has the gift of service and hospitality and is always the life of the many themed parties she throws for every single holiday and occasion; so full of energy. Quite frankly, she is hard to keep up with. She is strong, fiercely vocal about injustice and an advocate for those who are unable to fight for themselves. She has a benevolent heart and submerges herself in cultures of all kinds. She always sees the good in others. Did I mention that she single handedly orchestrated a group of women from our neighborhood to get together and write out "happiness"notes to be hung throughout the trees in our neighborhood? We have similar parenting styles and so that has just made it even easier. I love her boys and she loves mine. She loves my other friends because I love them and I love hers because she loves them. Our families vacationed together. Our husbands have a mutual love of all things sports and we just simply have spent a lot of time doing life together over the last two years.  It all has just seemed to flow so perfectly.

Tiffany & Me

Two weeks ago, as I was anticipating her move and thinking about how different my life will be without her here, I was brought to my knees over a situation with one of my children. As a mother, it gripped me and I immediately called on my closest friends for support. I was desperate. Within 10 minutes or so, they were all at my house including Tiffany; in the middle of the day on a random Thursday. I have never in my life, felt so loved and cared for. I am overwhelmed by how much God loves me through the people that He has placed in my life. Again, little did I know how God had been preparing me for more storms ahead. That very day when Tiffany showed up with the others, she had just left the radiology/imaging center where she had had her first mammogram. Oh the joys of turning 40, we all joked. It happened to be one of the things on her list of things to do before leaving Iowa. Ever the optimist and lively person that she is, her jokes brought such laughter to the situation and we dried up our tears. It was just what we needed to break up the intensity of why we were all together at that moment on my back porch that day.

So flash forward two weeks. As Tiffany's friends started coming together, all with their special talents and mutual love for her, some helping out with the kids and the animals, others bringing gifts and scrambling for time to soak up the last bit of sunshine that is Tiffany; the movers showed up. And just like that, it became reality. She really is leaving. I was there at her house watching the movers carefully pack her belongings and having my very own pity party over her leaving, when Tiffany's phone rang. It was the doctor from radiology where after she had her initial mammogram, had also gone back in for a biopsy. But, Tiffany, anticipating only common calcifications had gone on about the planning of her move, busy just like a bee, buzzing around here and there, staying positive and smiling as usual. The moment the phone rang, it became silent and as she turned to look at me with the phone to her ear, I knew. A million things went through my head along with a range of emotions that I can't put into words. As another friend of Tiffany's showed up to hear the news, I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing. I wanted to be strong, but I wanted to cry, I wanted to hold her up and I was angry at myself because I wasn't on my A game. I had been partying in my own pity over her leaving and over the hardest days of parenting I have had with my daughter yet. Emotional me just wanted to fall to my knees. So... that's what I did. I prayed. I knew how to do this because I have watched some amazing women in my life here in Iowa pray for each other and for others during times of joy and thanksgiving and during times of profound loss and sadness. I knew, because just two weeks before, when I called on my closest friends during a dark moment, they came to my side and took the time to pray for me and with me. The calm that fell over me gave me a deep sense of well-being and I was reminded again that God's promises are true; that the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

God showed up BIG in other ways on Tiffany's moving day too. The other friend that showed up, she was the level-headed one. She immediately started asking questions, got on the phone with some of her resources and immediately brought calm to the situation. She is gifted in problem-solving and logic. My head was swimming with questions like, "Who will be there in this new city to walk through this with her? How will she make it through this gigantic move with this news added to it?" I was scared but I tried not to show it. I was so struck by the way this other friend of hers handled herself and I could see that in that moment, God had orchestrated her presence there that day as well.

Since the phone call, I've been thinking about just how much we are all intertwined together and how God has it all planned out that way; how He prepares each and every one of us for what's to come. I've watched hundreds of people comment on Tiffany's announcement on her Facebook page about this new fight. People from all of over the map who have walked with Tiffany in other tough seasons of her life. People whose lives Tiffany has also touched along the way. 

The coming together of these women/people to bring support and encouragement reminds me of the meaning of the word Grove that was described to me a few years ago while I was among a large group of women. 

Grove: a small orchard of fruit-bearing trees

We think of a grove as a place to gather together and grow; to evolve through the seasons of change. When the wind blows, we will stand together just like a grove of trees. Together we can protect each other. In protecting each other with God at the center, we will each grow stronger. When we are strong, we will then be able to bear fruit. There must be rain, for us to grow. John 15:5


The word I've been seeing over and over from others to describe Tiffany is STRONG. She is strong. She's full of hope and she's ready for the fight. She embodies the fruit of the Spirit. Who am I to be having a pity party? She is showing me just what Faith and Hope are all about. God has been preparing all of us. We need each other, friends. It's the way God meant it to be. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 God created us for a purpose; each with our own set of gifts and talents. John 15:13-17 I cannot describe how blessed I feel in receiving my own countless messages and phone calls from friends, some of whom don't even know Tiffany but they know me, they heard the news and they know how much I love her.

I am thankful for God's promises. I cling to His word for comfort. Romans 15:4  As I stood in the yard today with another friend, tearfully blowing kisses and waving goodbye, I couldn't help but think about this passage.

Joshua 1:19

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I have full trust that God will bring new friends to Tiffany in her new town, who will love and embrace her, just like each of us here in Iowa and all over the map have loved and embraced her. I choose to put my faith and hope in our Creator. The one who has gone before us. The one whose Mighty hand is strong enough to move mountains and the one who is always right on time. He will supply Tiffany with her needs Philippians 4:19 and the rest of us will be there to encourage her and lift her up along the way; standing together, like a grove of trees; protecting each other from the storm; uplifted by our Heavenly Father and pouring out the fruit of the Spirit just as we are called to do.

It's time to do it, not just say it. I fully trust you, Father God. You will not delay. You're my refuge and strength... always. Psalm 119:114 I know that You are going to stretch us and grow us during this season and I pray that we will bring honor to You, in what we say, how we act and what we think and through our deep desire to know You more. Psalm 86:12

Thank you for sprinkling sunshine in my life through this dear friend you brought to me with love.

I encourage you to check out Tiffany's blog here:
stilettos2slippers
I have no doubt she will encourage and uplift you with her "Fight Like A Girl" attitude and her
 "Little Bits of Happy".

Color Run 2013

Small Steps & Giant Leaps

Today was a crazy, snowy, wet and windy day in Iowa. I had been grumbling all morning about the gray skies and icky weather that had been preventing me from getting my Spring on, when it hit me! It has been 3 years since I moved up from the South.

Three years ago in May, I boarded a plane in Atlanta, Georgia along with my one-year-old, bound for Cedar Falls, Iowa. After chronicling (click here for a good laugh) my last days in Georgia in an extended-stay hotel, I set out for a new horizon with a nervous but hopeful sort of anxiety. My husband, Matt,  had just received a job promotion in a far off place (anywhere outside of Georgia and the Carolinas was a far off place to me). The housing market had crashed around us in the neighborhood where we had built our home in Georgia and we had taken a big financial loss. My daughter had just graduated from high school two days before and we were leaving her behind to start college in Georgia. Our hearts were heavy but indeed we had to let her find her own way for a while. When I arrived at the airport inbound from Georgia, I jumped in the car to make the drive to Cedar Falls. It was an unusually warm day for May (in the mid 80's) and the first thing I noticed was the great big sky. It was the bluest blue I had ever seen. The grass was lush and green and I knew I had arrived when I passed several haulers on the highway carrying John Deere tractors. There were red barns and farmers in the fields planting their Spring crops. It was windy. Like, really really windy. Is this heaven? What will this new place be like?

Ok, let's go back. To understand how I got to where I am today, I have to go back to where I came from. This story is not the prettiest story. But it is a story of redemption and it is my story...

It was 2003, 10 years ago in Georgia, after two failed marriages, two small children, another failed relationship and a life of sin that I got down on my knees one night and prayed, "Lord come quick!" I usually relied on Him in my darkest moments but never took the time to thank Him and spend time with Him on an intentional basis during the in-between times (total disobedience). I was clearly at my weakest. On my knees, I said, "God, I can't do this on my own anymore. I need to know You have a plan for my life." It wasn't until I fully and humbly submitted to Him that night, that my life finally started to change. I guess I had always thought that if I didn't acknowledge that there was an enemy, then it must mean he wasn't real. Oh, he is real alright. He had been preventing me from hearing God's voice. Three weeks later, Matt showed up!

Now, this man was younger than me (26 at the time - I was within weeks of turning 30), he was educated, he was successful, he owned his own house and he clearly valued his health and well-being; something I had been neglecting for years. What did I have to offer this man, I thought? The enemy had had a foothold in my life for so long that the urge to give in to his fate for me was still strong and the thought lingered around in every corner of my mind. In fact, I attempted many times to sabotage my new relationship with Matt just knowing that he would ultimately leave me disappointed too. I ran hard in the other direction for several months still thinking that I wasn't deserving of this life. Who wants to take on the baggage of two ex-husbands and become an instant dad at age 26? What will his family think of me? Surely, he deserves so much better; someone more like him. The decision to get  married and start a life together was a long and thoughtful one - three years, in fact. Could I really do this again? He wanted children. Could I really have another child and risk becoming a single mom of three children with three last names? The fear of being judged was gripping me. Let's be real. I would judge too. Doubters attacked us from every direction. Enter - Matt's story -  and a nudging from God to the both of us that this was indeed The Plan.

It was 100% a leap of faith.

Little did we know just how much our marriage would be tested over the years. We got pregnant the same year we were married and our family went from 4 to 5 the next year. 

The trials of having a blended family are many and not for the faint of heart. We still choose to be married every day; even in the valleys. We have moved less towards trying to control things our way (small steps) and more towards recognizing God's authority in our lives. We have realized that marriage is more than a device to suit our own needs but that it exists for a bigger purpose. We still struggle with finding time to make our marriage a priority but we try to stay focused on the bigger picture.

Flash forward to today, May 3rd, 2013. If you would have told me 10 years ago or even 3 and a half years ago that I would be living and raising my family in Iowa, I would have called you crazy for rambling such nonsense. To leave the only home I had ever known? No way. To trade in the ocean and mountains for the landlocked cornfields of Iowa? Nonsense. What I can tell you now, reflecting back, is it was all just another part of The Master Plan. It took a few small steps and a couple of giant leaps of faith to bring us to this point. There are days like this snowy, wet, windy day in May, that I wish I could be back by the ocean of the Carolinas. A day like today, stretches my faith again and I am reminded that I have to fully trust that He has us here for a reason. Matt and I have both recently acknowledged and verbally affirmed that we were not growing where we were in Georgia. Little did we know that by saying "yes" to Iowa, our marriage and our faith would be tested but yet blessed beyond belief. God is still molding us and refining us but I am so excited about what's in store for us. 

My joy and abundance have increased immeasurably year after year since moving to Iowa - and so has my sense of purpose. We have all three children living here with us and thriving. God has also sent many friends to bless us along the way and for that we are so very very thankful. He has blessed us with a wonderful church family and opportunities for us to grow together and to take more steps toward Him. Let me not forget to thank God daily for the life He has given me. I don't know how long He has us here but I know that I will trust His plan for us. I am thankful that the more communion I spend with God, the more clearly I am able to hear His voice. I know that trials will come. None of us are immune. But, He has brought me to a place of clarity. No more doing it my way. I am no longer afraid.

Today, I just wanted to share my story. There are so many new people in my life. Maybe you read my Facebook posts and wonder where my bold faith comes from. The truth is that light and dark cannot occupy the same space. This is a testimony that if you humbly and fully choose God, His light will drown out the darkness and good things will come. It is in full obedience to Him, that real change will happen. Everyone has a story. This is mine. 

Link to a blog entry from the Summer of 2010 - shortly after we moved in May of 2010.

This is good stuff and fun to go back and read. The images and thoughts that come to my mind today about Iowa still match up with what I recorded that very first summer. 

God Speaks!

Earlier this week I happened to have some down time with two full days at home buried under 12 inches of snow with icy roads and blizzard conditions. Gotta love Iowa in December! That being said, it gave me a chance to slow down and open up a good book. This was a book that was so thoughtfully given to me as a Christmas gift by two very special girls (college students/graduates) who are currently sharing my home for a season. The book is called The Heart of A Woman Who Prays by: Elizabeth George. It's about drawing near to the God who loves us. 

It's a beautiful book with so many good nuggets - quotes, scripture and a checklist on "how to" pray... including timing, posture and place - praying for specific needs and praying intercessory prayers on behalf of others. As I was reading this book, one of the checklist items for prayer was to memorize Psalm 23. I often think of this psalm as something that is only recited at funerals. I recall hearing it often but not really listening to the words. This time, I listened with a different set of ears. This time, I was reminded that by immersing myself in these sacred truths, my worries would be decreased. There are 12 very powerful, life-changing, worry reducing promises here:

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

I have been ministering lately to several people whom God has placed in my path, one being a mom with 2 year old triplets (one of whom was just diagnosed with brain cancer). I often ask myself on really tough days, "Am I really equipped to do this?" Then, God speaks to me in a gentle voice, 

"Precious daughter of mine, do not be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."  Isaiah 41:10  

How comforting it is to hear this. It soothes my soul and reminds me that I don't have to do this alone. We are called to obedience through His word  and in our obedience, we are free and blessed beyond measure. He equips us with everything we need. All we have to do is fall to our knees and ask. For He is the vine and we are the branches. Apart from Him, we are nothing.

*****************************************

Today, in church, God spoke to me again; this time through my pastor's words about of all things - The Good Shepherd. He included Psalm 23 in his message this morning. How divine! When you allow yourself to meditate on the word, God speaks! Clear your mind, open up the word and listen. God is who He says He is.

My notes from Pastor John Fuller's message

Sunday, December 23rd 2012
Prairie Lakes Church

You can't hear God when your ears are plugged because you are counting on your own will to control your life. You are not in control. You are not your own healer. You have to open up your heart and open up the word if you want to hear God speak. If there is an area in your life where you are not being obedient, then you are listening to other voices and letting other things speak into your life. Every time you take a step of obedience,  His voice gets clearer and the others get more faint. Jesus says, "I am the Good Shepherd and the sheep know Me by my voice." Jesus says, "I never run away when trouble comes." God didn't eliminate the wolf in the story about the sheep. The wolves will come. Trouble will be part of the equation. The reality is that we live in a fallen world - sin soaked, sin stained world. The world needs Jesus. Jesus is the only One who can take something evil and bad and bring peace to the situation. We the church, have been commissioned to gather together and to be the hands and feet of Jesus in dark places and to bring light to others. Amen? Quit following substitute shepherds (money, other relationships, pride, envy, self medication, gambling & other addictions etc). He says, "I've got you and I'll never let you go. I love you so much that I will lay down my life for you." Stop fighting this Jesus. He is ALL in. Are you?

For more on the current series at Prairie Lakes Church and to watch online, go here:

Current Message series called: I AM

I am - The Good Shepherd
I am - The Light of the World
I am - The Resurrection and the Life
I am - The Gate
I am - The Vine
I am - The Way, The Truth & The Life
I am - The Bread of Life

Out of FUEL

This is a deeply personal post for me and by writing it out, it gives me a release of energy that is healing to my spirit.

The devil came after me on Thursday and I let him get the best of me. This came in the morning, the day after I felt a nudge by the Holy Spirit to forgive someone. No sooner than I had forgiven a person that had been on my heart for over a year now, when BAM! The enemy attacked from a different angle. I know now, looking back, that I was out of fuel and I was not ready for the challenge of the attack. I let myself get run down earlier in the week with too many things that I was trying to manage and simply ran out of fuel. Instead of putting my trust in my Heavenly Father, I tried to handle it all on my own. 

There are 3 things that I am fiercely passionate about: 

1. My children and their well being.   
2. Injustice
3. And most important, my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

All three of these came under attack last Thursday and it took me from being a lamb to roaring like a lion in about 2 seconds. Instead of walking away, I engaged. I engaged with others who are non-believers. Those who are not Christians. Those who have some warped idea of who Christians really are. I was made fun of for "pretending" to be a Christian on Facebook. For being that "little Jesus girl". But, this is no joke. My God is not one to be "placed on a shelf" to be pulled out on Sunday. No way! I live for Him every day.

It made me question the way I portray my life outwardly to others. Do I portray my life as always full of rainbows and butterflies? It is not. I have so much joy in my life and I want to share it with others because there is nothing that brings greater joy than when you open up your heart and the Holy Spirit begins to show you the plan that God has for your life. At the same time, the road is not always easy. We are humans with beating hearts and when we start to follow Christ, sometimes the enemy strikes. Asking for forgiveness gives us the ability to let it go, like a helium balloon. It's important to remember, not to try to fight or engage with the enemy. God fights the fight for us when we put our trust in Him.

"Cast your cares on the LORD 

and he will sustain you; 

he will never let the righteous fall."
~ Psalm 55:22

There is some misconception from others that Christians are perfect people. But, we are still human. I am still human. I am me. I still get angry. I still have pain. I still hurt people. I say mean things and I fail Him every day. The difference is, that I am made whole again because I live in Him and He lives in me. 

I am standing in my truths today. Some days are harder than others. My truth on Thursday was not pretty. My truth today, is one of clarity, of joy and a profound knowledge of who I am in Christ and who He is in me.

A friend pointed me to this today from Proverbs 31 Ministries. She knew it was a perfect fit to help heal my heart and to remind me that I am seeking the approval of God and not the approval of other people.

"Today I will be a woman who quiets my heart & mind at the throne of God. Instead of replaying the words of others, I'll meditate on His Word. I'll follow God's instruction, despite how much it might go against my human desires. And I'll trust that He knows best."

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

~ Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Stay tuned for some ways to stay FUELED so that you are ready for what God has for you. 

Blessings,

Dana

Fun Upcycled Yard Sale & Thrift Shop Finds!

Found this grapevine wreath at a yard sale for 25 cents with some not so pretty 1982 ribbon. Ripped it off and added my own embellishments for $10.

Found this hanging wall basket for 25 cents at the same yard sale with some old and dusty ivy greenery. Pulled it out and added some sunflowers and berries for a fall wall decor for $9.

Here are some Mason jars I found at a local Goodwill for cheap. I saw this idea on Pinterest.

Directions:

1. Cut burlap strips and wrap them around the jars using spray adhesive.

2. Tie a bow around the jar with ribbon.

3. Use coated picture hanging wire to wrap around the rim of the jar to create a loop for hanging.

4. Add sand at the bottom and votive candles.

5. Light them up!

6.  Hang them in trees in your backyard for a cozy ambiance and elegant look!

This one is fun and practical! I bought this large canvas years ago thinking I was going to attempt to freehand paint a tree branch. Ha! I'm not a painter! Sooooo, I bought some fabric that I liked and used spray adhesive to lightly coat the canvas. Wrapped it and secured it with staples on the back. Voila! Change it out according to the season for a different look!

For another Christmas idea, I painted some wooden letters and secured them with ribbon (another Pinterest idea). Then, added it to the fabric canvas.

Then I took the spring ones that I had hanging over my sofa and added holiday fabric, some painted wooden letters and secured them with velcro. Tah! Dah!

Ok, this one was a fabulous find! I found this piece of fabric at a thrift shop for 75 cents. I'm NOT kidding! It was a longer piece and it seems as thought it may have been a custom made dust ruffle at some point. It already had red tubing trim around the bottom so I cut it to fit the window, added curtain rings and hung it in my bathroom.

Another thrifty idea for curtains - These are actually table cloths that I found for $6 each at Marshall's. LOVE Marshall's and TJMaxx! Trimmed the bottom, bought some curtain rings and hung these in my dining room. If you need extra weight on the bottom, try hemming a few pennies along the bottom to get them to hang the way you want.

8 Ways To Be A Happier Mom

8 Ways To Be A Happier Mom

Check out this link:

http://shine.yahoo.com/team-mom/8-ways-happier-mom-140600431.html

Celebration of Life & Vigilance for the Missing

Today is July 18th, 2012 and today we are celebrating our 4 year old, Ayden, who has brought so much joy and depth to our lives over the last 4 years. He all but came out smiling and has been smiling ever since. He is bright, spirited, entertaining and filled with love for his friends and family and always shows it with hugs and kisses. I can't imagine my life without him and feel so blessed that God allowed me to do this one more time. I cherish each new day and try not to take one single day with him for granted. 

At the same time I am writing this, there are two other families who are missing their little ones today and my heart aches for them to find a resolution to this mystery. I can't imagine what they must be feeling as today marks Day 6 of their intense searching. In a town way too close to our home here in Iowa, two little girls (cousins) are missing after taking an innocent summer bike ride last Friday, July 13th. Their bikes were found but no trace of the girls. I was there on the scene the next morning as only one of 200 initial volunteers searching cornfields and bean fields close to where the bikes were found. As I was driving into the small town from a major highway, I could see dark clouds. I turned down my radio and began to pray. I knew I was driving into a storm, literally and metaphorically. I can tell you that it is one of the most heart wrenching feelings to be trudging through a muddy cornfield with stalks taller than yourself and wondering what you might come upon as you walk.  After 2 full days of volunteer searches, the officials decided to drain a nearby lake turning up nothing. As I have watched this story transpire over the internet and national media, the one thing that amazes me above all, is the strength of the families through faith in God by their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Too many people have speculated about events of their past and slammed them for not being emotional "enough". Through all of it, they are not shaken. It breaks my heart to read these things but then I smile and think, THIS is the picture of what it means to turn it all over to God and to walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 

~1 Corinthians 2:5

Colossians 2:5

 2 Timothy 4

I'm praying that these children will be found and returned safely to their families and that God will wrap His arms around these families and comfort them through the worst of days and in the days to come.


I know that I'm squeezing my children a little tighter tonight. ~Dana

Are You Barely Hangin' On?

Is your head hurting? Are you so tired that you can barely keep your eyes open some days? Is the silence deafening? Or, is it just too loud and you can't turn it off? Faced with fear, do you go inside yourself? When you put out one fire do you then smell the smoke of yet another? Maybe life is requiring too much work and you’re slipping backward. Do you wish someone would just stop the ride so you can get off? Is the confidence you receive from your wordly support just not strong enough? Is there someone or something in your life that is sucking the life out of you? Well, let me tell you, I have been where you are. Maybe you’ve been hurt and you’re holding on to a grudge. Maybe you’re mad at God because you feel He has failed you in some way. Maybe you are pouting. Maybe you have a rebellious heart. Maybe you’re just plain stubborn. Maybe you rely on tangible or concrete evidence before you “buy”.

I know I’ve always hated being told what to do. I always want to do things MY way! Then I get fighting mad when it doesn’t work out and I look at the path of destruction that I’ve left behind me.

Friends, let me tell you, God answers prayers! Maybe you’ve heard all of this before but you haven’t heard it from me. I have watched Him do some amazing things in my life in 2011 and more specifically in the last two weeks. I know that the transformations that are happening all around me are only because I surrendered to Him and sought His direction. If you’re not quite comfortable yet, with turning it ALL over to Him, then let me pray for you. I know that there are times that I never could have faced the day without my dear friends and others lifting me up.

Maybe it’s been a long time or maybe you’ve never actually spoken to God. That's ok. As your friend, I want to see you prosper in the New Year. I want for you the clouds to be lifted so that you can see the Light and have clarity about the future that He has planned for you. How can I pray for you today?

Send me a personal message and let me know specifically how I can pray for you. This is my gift to you in the New Year.
dmoersfelder@yahoo.com

I’m not afraid of what some people will say. There are doubters and that’s ok. I'm not writing this blog to change their minds. But there are also those who need help and who are too afraid to ask or don’t know how to take the first step. Maybe you just need for God to soften your heart so you can feel His presence and hear His voice.

Here is a start if you want to pray on your own…

Meet me here today, Lord. Here in this moment. Heal me, Lord, from the inside out. My spirit is sick from worry and stress. Show me the way back. Wounds ignored for too long need Your healing touch. Mend my brokenness and remove my self doubt. Help me to release my worries to You as they take hold of me. These anxieties keep me from embracing the life that You have planned for me. Sometimes it is difficult for me to ask for help and to admit my weakness. I am empty now. You see the places of my heart and my life that I hold back from the world. My soul is weary, and I want to give my burdens over to You. You have plans for me to prosper and not to be harmed. Reveal to me my direction. I have run far from heaven's reach. I have pushed the boundaries and shoved away Your love. Lord, give me guidance and wisdom and help me to persevere even though there will still be dark days ahead. Give me confidence and security to replace my weaknesses. Help me to be quiet and listen for Your voice. Shine Your light on the way that I am to go. I am ready for a change. Transform me and teach me Your way. Examine my new paths so that they may be pleasing to You. When I lose sight of my goal, show me Your perspective and lead me to examine my heart at every turn. Free me from my past, Lord, and draw my attention back to the life in front of me. Show me how to be patient, willing and open. Help me to remember to return to You rather than wordly things for You are my ONLY refuge. I will watch for evidence of Your power in my life. I know that You love me. You are faithful and Your spirit soothes me. You are the King of kings and I put my faith and trust in You.

               Amen

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart

have multiplied; free me from my anguish.

Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

~ Psalm 25:16-18

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven;

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot...

a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance.

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-4