Monday, August 26, 2013

jury duty randomness


I am currently sitting in Superior Court of Arizona in downtown Phoenix ~ awaiting jury duty selection. I will be here for 8 long hours. But no worries, I came prepared. In fact, I resembled someone about to embark on a month-long cross-country back-packing trip. My bulging backpack got quite the looks going through security.
Just so you know, I have never done this before. I have either been pregnant or nursing or no babysitter, or my group just never had to appear when I called the day before. And I’ve got to be honest, I’ve been rather anxious about the whole ordeal. But now that I’m here, I’m ok. I mean think about it, I have a whole day to journal, blog, read, do whatever I want, and not feel guilty.
So, I’ll be posting random thoughts throughout the day to keep me entertained, and hopefully you too.
  • I ate most of the lunch I packed by 10am
  • I’m liking the private cubicles for us laptop-ers
  • A friend on Facebook posted about the new Pumpkin Spice M&Ms
  • I want them in the worst way
  • I reorganized my sewing room over the weekend
  • I downsized my wardrobe over the weekend
  • I feel pretty good about my weekend
  • Koda & I take walks every morning at 5:30
  • Koda's our dog and she misses Tyler terribly
  • So do I :(
  • Dumb vending machine... I pushed the wrong numbers and got a Baby Ruth instead of Peanut M&Ms
  • Ok, dumb me
  • Most everyone has left for lunch... but not me
  • I made a big pot of Ham & Split Peas soup last week
  • Perfect for our overcast, rainy weekend
  • I don't want to get picked for a trial
  • Cuz guess what? I'm starting a part-time job next week!
  • The (Fancy) Fry's @ Tatum & Shea hired me!
  • I will be working housewares- designing displays and end caps, ordering, stocking, inventory and customer service
  • SO excited to get started!
  • Hoping to work lots and lots of hours
  • We've been without a washing machine for the past 6 weeks
  • We were given one two weeks ago, though they weren't sure it worked
  • We replaced a few parts and it still wouldn't work
  • We're being given another one this week that works ~ yes!
  • Thank you Jesus!
  • Thankfully I wasn't picked to do the trial 
  • My Dad's So God Made a Farmer video reached over 40,000 views this week!

My son Tyler moved to Wisconsin 6 weeks ago.
He recently visited the farm where I grew up and climbed the 90' Harvester Silo.
And that's the house that built me.


Check it out! My sister-in-law took this photo of Tyler
while he was taking pics from the top of the silo. Yikes!


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

choosing to let go


  • so much has changed over these past two years
  • and it has pretty much rocked my world
  • you see my security was a savings account, jobs, etc.
  • and because God is a jealous God, He wants to be my rock
  • and while it has been a painful process...
  • I am choosing to let Him love me and meet my needs
  • I am choosing to trust Him for what I can't see
  • I am choosing to walk by faith 
  • I am choosing to praise Him and thank Him throughout the day
  • I am choosing to be strong and courageous instead of anxious and fearful
  • I am choosing to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer
  • I am choosing to take better care of my body, mind and soul
  • I am exercising ~ Randy & I are hiking South Mountain every morning
  • I am totally off caffeine and most sugars
  • reducing my anxiety and keeping my blood pressure down
  • I am choosing to depend on Jesus for everything
  • I am choosing to be content with little and with much
  • I am choosing to let go of my need to take control when everything is out of control
  • I am choosing to trust God with my husband 
  • I fail every day, choosing to turn from God and do things my way
  • but wake up the next day and choose God's grace 
  • but in all my pain and suffering I am coming to a deeper understanding of God's goodness, faithfulness and unconditional love for me as never before
  • thank you God for being my refuge and strength and my very present help in times of trouble

Randy took this iPhone photo just as the sun was rising this morning on top of South Mountain ~ the golden hour. It was cool and breezy as I marveled at the beauty of God's glorious creation.

Randy also wrote this song ~ I Choose To Live


Monday, August 05, 2013

Roadtrip to The Rim


The Mogollon Rim above Payson is one of my most favorite destinations in Arizona.
We're talking a two hour road trip, a 40 degree drop in temp and beauty beyond belief.


Randy & I sat for hours looking out over the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in the western hemisphere and marveling at God's creation.


We parked our van mere feet from the edge and took occasional naps in the back of the van on a memory foam, with the sliding doors wide open, letting in the cool mountain breezes.


Heaven on earth.


Of course it's always about the anticipation of a possible thunderstorm ~ with lots of rain!
But that was not the case this time.


O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountains majesties above the fruited plain.


America! America! God shed His grace on thee.


Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous
Do not be terrified.
Do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9