Same blog new location come check it out! www.lifelovegreen.com

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Do something "green"

Well its been a while since I've posted something "green" so here you go!
I've kind of been in a rut with all of the traveling I do and the fact that I share my house with a roommate, I haven't really started doing anything new. I slacked off on using cloth bags for shopping for a while but I'm back in full swing now. The only thing that annoys me about it is Wal-Mart their little spinney bag stations are not cloth bag friendly. I've also had a hard time with buying healthy local foods hear. The good places to shop are all downtown and I'm too busy/lazy to go there.
However here are some things I am doing well. I buy most everything in the outer edges of the grocery store. This means its all meats and produce with little to no packaging. I've also started making my own noodles and have been very happy with the results. I'm looking forward to making a batch of spinach noodles tonight! They are sooo yummy and use a lot less flour. I'm also succeeding at my goal to use up what I have. I've purchased NO body soap over the last few months just trying to use up my supply and I've only purchased one face soap (because what I have stopped working on my skin.) Unfortunately I've not gone through many of those bottles yet (which proves I have WAY too many!) I have however gone through a few bottles of lotion (and still have more) this has been one dry winter!
Well there you have an update on my green ways many more to come especially after I move back up to the cities!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The power of perfection

Ok so lets start right out by saying I'm not perfect, I know this to be true. However that does not stop me from trying to be. The question is asked, why? Why do I feel the need to be perfect? I don't have a good answer honestly its self imposed. I know my parents never expected it they just wanted me to try my best. Ryan is well aware that I'm not perfect and has also never expected it from me. Its purely something that I've decided to strive for, not a wise decision, and something I'm working on.

So here is what I read today in my Beth Moore study on Esther that got me thinking:
" God has opened my eyes to the stronghold of perfectionism through loved ones who share their struggle. It's not only painful. It can be debilitating . After all, what would have happened if Esther had waited to go to the king until her hands stopped shaking and her heart stopped pounding?"

What fun things in life have I missed out on because of my strive for perfection? I know very well that the other day I was frustrating Ryan when he was trying to teach me how to stop on hockey skates. I didn't want him to watch until I had it figured out and he wanted to watch so he could help me. What other things in life have I overcomplicated?

I think a lot of the pressure I place on myself was when Mark was sick, I wanted to be the 'perfect wife' always strong and always caring for him. It just became a habit so this next paragraph from the study was very encouraging:
"Sometimes just surviving certain tasks with out falling apart IS out best and in those times God is not ashamed of our performance. He's proud of us for fighting overwhelming human emotions to do His will. God isn't interested in our stellar performance but in our hearts. He loves our willingness and obedience despite our insecurities."

Yea! So here is my question, how do I get beyond this?

Friday, February 20, 2009

Say Something Wise...

I want to say something wise. I want to have a blog that people are interested in reading, not just gibberish. Problem is I don't always have something wise to say.


But guess what today I do!

Last night was a great night for my Bible Study. It dealt head on with a problem that most women have (fear) and one that I deal with a lot. We were reading the part of Esther where she goes to talk to the King even though she wasn't called into his presence. The penalty for that was death UNLESS the King reached out his golden scepter and granted a pardon.(Esther 4:11) She was scared of death, so scared that she almost missed her calling. This really hit home for me and luckily for me Beth Moore had the same revelation so she shared some in sites that really hit home. One of her thoughts that she was challanged with a while ago was this; what I.F. (I Fear. ) What is your worst fear? Mine is that I won't be able to have children naturaly and there is something 'wrong' with me (based on some past issues.) So then what happens....we go through infertility treatments, then we may or maynot get pregnant. Then what? If we get pregnant great, if not I cry A LOT. Then what? I go through a period of greiving. Then what? God picks me up off the ground and showes me that once again life goes on, Ryan and I have already talked about he possibility of adoption. Many of our friends are going through the process right now. God will provide! We just don't always know how or why.

I love this quote from Beth "If________ then God." The other thing that was pointed out to me last night was that God never says trust me to prevent that fear from happening, He simply says "Trust Me."

Think of your worst fear, walk through all the things that would happen, in the end you will notice the same thing I did, God will take care of you.

In HIS Grip,
Amber

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Good Job North Dakota!

North Dakota has a new law on the books check this out:

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7014129912

A busy time of life

I'm extremely busy these days and its not going to slow down till...well a while anyway.

I've got house hunting, wedding planning, bridal showers for other people, musicals, speaking events, a wedding in Cal, Bible Studies, and in between all of that I'm working....Yikes

Please pray that I would be able to stay balanced and keep my priorities right. I was doing great with my prep work for my Bible Studies until this week. I'm 4 days behind and the study is tomorrow!

Sorry I haven't been updating much now you know why...ttyl

Amber, always in HIS grip.

Wordless Wednesday
















Friday, February 13, 2009

LIfe in general.

Well life has been pretty crazy around here, but then again looking for a house, planning a wedding and driving up to MN about every other weekend will do that to you. I'm looking forward to Mid-May when I move back up and things should settle down a little, then again that is when summer starts....huh. I do have a few things that I'm looking forward to though. March 14th one of my cousins is getting married out in CA and I'm going for a long weekend! This weekend Ryan and I are beginning our house! In Feb I'm going to see "Legally Blond" and in March "The Color Purple" with my family. Well hope that catches you up a little I'll write more about what I'm learning later, when I'm not so tired.

In HIS Grip,
Amber

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Wordless Wednesday



(This is not my knee its just a represintation)