Laurel Wreath’s Reflections

well because every Mother thinks her child is the best. Head on over to Pink Diary for more awesome costumes.

“Like the proud mother who is thrilled to receive a wilted bouquet of dandelions from her child, so God celebrates our feeble expressions of gratitude.”
~ Richard Foster~


Lately I feel like I could classify my actions easily as “feeble expressions of gratitude”. There is so much I know I am thankful for. I could sit down and fill a page front and back of what I know the Lord has blessed me with. Then why do I settle for the little “Thank you Lord” with my words, but my actions sometimes doesn’t show it.

This is me raw and honest. I even prayed yesterday, “Lord I am having trouble seeing everything I am grateful for”. Anything that comes my way where I can show God’s glory, God’s love, and God mercy I should be jumping up and down like a dog whose owner just came home. But instead I complain. Let me explain. My mood has been somewhat sour this week (there are some medical reasons for that, but mostly selfish ones). I have a Drs apt on Thursday, the office asked if I would be willing to pick up this sweet elderly lady who can no longer drive and bring her with me. I said, “sure” I mean how can you say no, and you really SHOULD not say no being the loving, giving Christian you are. But (I said this is real me, you want to run in fear that I may burst your imagine of me), but I have been complaining all week to “manly man” about it. I even went as far to say last night, “I know this is what God wants me to do, what he wants me to be, but dang it I am going to complain the whole way”. Now what a pitiful attitude! I am even embarrassed to type it.

The thing that grieves me even more is that my feeble expression of doing what is right even if I complain all the way through it makes God smile. Maybe He is even chuckling because he knows he is making me step out of my comfort zone.

Those of you who are parents I think can understand this one. So many times we teach our children to do the right thing to make the right decisions. Yesterday I had a son who did not turn in some homework; he informed me that I was going to be getting a call from the teacher. As he told me he turned his head to the window and had tears in his eyes because he knew he made some poor choices. So why am I smiling? Because past history would go something like, said child saying “everything is fine, I have no homework, I had a great day” even knowing I may get a call. Then said call comes in and I am hit blindsided, and said child lied to me. After many trials and go arounds, this child now gets in the car tells me the truth, tells me what is coming, and tells me “I messed up”. This to me is as sweet as him bringing me a bouquet of dandelions. He is learning and he is being stretched.

So my complaining and son’s failure to do the homework still has God smiling at our feeble attempts of being grateful. God knows we are trying, God knows we will be blessed in the end, and some day our dandelions won’t be wilted instead they will be beautiful and strong. And we will hear the words “well done good and faithful servant”.

PS – and during my sour mood day, can I just say that in the midst of it I got to speak to one blogger for the first time on the phone (she brightened my day), and I received such a sweet friendship email from another blogger. They did not know what I was going through, but the Lord brought them to cheer me up and tell me

I know, I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet but I wanted to make you aware of a new web site hosted by Lindsey at Enjoy The Journey. The new site will

Share ideas and tips for celebrating CHRIST in Christmas. Focusing on advent traditions, home and family traditions, great family recipes, cheap and THOUGHTFUL gift ideas. Also, creating memories and celebrating with family.
It all will center around Christ and family.

What is this new site? Advent for Evangelicals

When does it begin? November 1st.

One year ago today my sister and brother in law’s life was turned upside down. They were blessed with a blessing that we as a family have been praying for, for years.

Sweetie, it is a big world out there don’t be in to much of a hurry to get out that door. You have parents who love you so much it hurts, and an Auntie here that loves you very much (plus I am the one with all the fun stories of Mommy). We prayed and prayed for you and the day you were brought into our lives we could do nothing but drop to our knees and thank God for bringing such an awesome blessing into our lives.

I look forward to the many years we have together. See you in a couple of weeks, you have a bunch of boy cousins you need to keep in line.

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!

Tags: birthday, Family, neice

Well Jennifer is having a “Don’t You Just Love Contests?” contest…..and another known secret about me I am a sucker for stationary. There I said it, I feel better I have come out of hiding =)

Seriously head on over there while you are there check out her business called J Designs.

“Image building may begin with what is true but enhances that truth until it is a lie.” -Beth Moore

That sentence stuck out at me. We never start purposely telling a lie, I always start with the right foot forward. But then you receive applause, or recognition, so you take it even further. And then you receive more recognition, or praise. Until you puff yourself up to someone you really are not, now you have an image to live up to.

I am reading a book about Hezekiah right now. The same thing happens to him and it leads to his demise. After the Lord healed him from death, the Lord made the sun go backwards instead of forwards for Hezekiah as a sign, still Hezekiah went off on the wrong track. Hezekiah received praise for how well his kingdom was doing, how they were prosperous while all the kingdoms around him were suffering. When Hezekiah received this praise it was “I” did this, “I” have this, “I” built this. Hezekiah did not get praise to the one true God who blessed him with all the things around him. Pride. It is an ugly thing. Hezekiah built an image of himself, he did not allow God be the image people see.

I know I am guilty of this a few times in my life. It shames me. Because I know anything anyone sees in me that is good, is ALL God. I have already shown in my life I can make a royal mess of things. And occasionally I still do.

Pride sneaks in so smoothly, you are not even aware it is happening until you are “working” on maintaining the image you built. It becomes more and more difficult to maintain it.

So how do we obtain a sense of significance?

I Peter 5:6: Humble yourself.

Good thoughts to meditate on.

Head on over to Sting My heart for more wonderful posts.

Chilihead said “I would just love to see how you decorate for autumn in any way” so I give you my decorations:

Get Your Own! | View Slideshow

head on over to Don’t Try This At Home for more wonderful Halloween/Fall decorating.

I am sooo not good at this, but I told Theresa (who by the way put us all to shame with her talent) I would love post my terribly creative carved pumpkins.

This is one of the type of weeks I need to reflect on the positives, because I could get wrapped up on the negatives.

1. My oldest son was only 3 percentage points away from straight A’s.

2. I got a lot of cooking, cleaning, and reading done this week.

3. I leave for Baltimore on Friday (I am very excited).

4. One of my nieces turns her big ONE year old on Monday.

Head on over to Mommy of Two for more Weekend Reflections.

I made Barb’s Pumpkin Cookies and here is a picture to prove it.

They are yummy (according to my picky family) and they make your house smell WONDERFUL while cooking them. Go ahead make some of your own, won’t be disappointed.

The only problem is when I began cooking, I did not know where to stop. This is what happens when you have not been able to eat “normal” food and the cooking smell gets to you. Wanna come over and have a cup of coffee and help my boys eat all this food!

This is what a beautiful FALL day does to me =). And plus they say “the best way to man’s heart is through his stomach”. Well I say this is the best way to say “honey I am sorry I broke your computer monitor, is through these foods”.

(for the record I was just the last one to touch it before it decided not to work anymore, but sigh….that does not help that much).

The good news is, it was still under warranty and he is getting a new one in 3 to 5 days. YIPEE! But I think “manly man” will think he has died and gone to heaven when he sees this food.

Pensieve is hosting.