my brother Mark and Katey had their baby this morning. Her name is Elizabeth Ava.But I won't get to meet her till August :( My brothers and sisters have been aunts and uncles for 6 years! Now its my turn, yay!!!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
I'm an aunt!!!!!!
my brother Mark and Katey had their baby this morning. Her name is Elizabeth Ava.But I won't get to meet her till August :( My brothers and sisters have been aunts and uncles for 6 years! Now its my turn, yay!!!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
You're Gonna Marry Me.... lol
I was listening to my son Ryan, and my neighbor Marissa (both age 4) playing Barbies together (yes, my son plays Barbies, so what? At least he's "Ken" LOL). They are creating dialogue...
Marissa's Barbie snaps: "Are you in love with her?"
Ryan's Ken says in a nervous voice: "No, I'm in love with you." (yeah, real convincing, Ken!)
....then some random Barbie dialogue such as "I'm going to Vons", "I have to buy some new shoes", "let's sit in the chairs", etc
then Marissa takes her Barbie up the stairs a little, not sure what she's doing...
Ryan's Ken says "Come down here!"
Marissa's Barbie says "why?"
Ryan's Ken says "You're gonna marry me!"
Marissa's Barbie: "Oh. Okay."
Then, more importantly "Diego" comes on TV, so Barbie and Ken will have to get married some other time!
Marissa's Barbie snaps: "Are you in love with her?"
Ryan's Ken says in a nervous voice: "No, I'm in love with you." (yeah, real convincing, Ken!)
....then some random Barbie dialogue such as "I'm going to Vons", "I have to buy some new shoes", "let's sit in the chairs", etc
then Marissa takes her Barbie up the stairs a little, not sure what she's doing...
Ryan's Ken says "Come down here!"
Marissa's Barbie says "why?"
Ryan's Ken says "You're gonna marry me!"
Marissa's Barbie: "Oh. Okay."
Then, more importantly "Diego" comes on TV, so Barbie and Ken will have to get married some other time!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
The New Student Employment Adviser!
Romans 8:28 - "All things work together for good, for those who love God, and are called according to His purpose."
I got the job I was waiting for! It's at the college that I graduated from 4 years ago (the Art Institute of California). I am so excited. God, you rock, wow!! I was excited in the first place about this job when I heard it was Tuesdays and Fridays (and Saturdays) from 10 till 7 and I would have to find someone to pick the kids up from school. Then I find out that they were able to rearrange the hours for me, and I will be working Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9-2, so I can still be available for my kids!!! OMG I can't even believe it. I will still do my part-time Design-her Gals work, too. Oh yeah and I will have to work Saturdays from 9-2 also, so I need to figure out what to do with the kids. Something will work out! :)
PARTY TIME!!!!!!
I got the job I was waiting for! It's at the college that I graduated from 4 years ago (the Art Institute of California). I am so excited. God, you rock, wow!! I was excited in the first place about this job when I heard it was Tuesdays and Fridays (and Saturdays) from 10 till 7 and I would have to find someone to pick the kids up from school. Then I find out that they were able to rearrange the hours for me, and I will be working Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9-2, so I can still be available for my kids!!! OMG I can't even believe it. I will still do my part-time Design-her Gals work, too. Oh yeah and I will have to work Saturdays from 9-2 also, so I need to figure out what to do with the kids. Something will work out! :)
PARTY TIME!!!!!!
Okay, now a real, live, NON-copy/paste-old-one-from-my-myspace BLOG. lol
I guess this is the point I am in my life now, so a little background for whoever ends up reading these, so that future posts make sense :)
I was born at a very young age. It was a dark and stormy night... okay just kidding, I'll start with a little more recent! :)
Right before Christmas, it seemed my life was falling apart.
All within one week, I lost two things in my life that I loved. For each, I gave the best of myself, but it wasn't enough. And then looking back at how often this kind of thing happens in my life, I started to wonder if anyone would ever see that I'm worth holding onto. Why is it so easy for people to let go of me? During that week, I felt like I had nothing to grasp onto. In my head, I know that God has a plan for me, a good plan- but my heart couldn't accept it. What good could come out of this? All I could see was losing my house, not being able to take care of my family, and being alone for the rest of my life. This is it. This is my purpose: I am going to take my kids to school every day, sit in a hot bath and cry my eyes out.
But this is just how amazing God is. It's awesome to see how He arranges things to fit together for His purpose. I am starting to see it little by little. I can't see the whole picture yet, but one at a time, things are starting to make sense. And He HAD to do it all at once. If I lost one thing, I'd still have the other as my consolation. God knows I needed to be left with no choice but to fall on Him, so He wiped them both out. How could the timing of all this NOT be from Him?? He's a genius!!!
I thought this was my dream job. But God is showing me other opportunities now that look like they will end up much better. Why would He do that, when I completely lost hope, without a vision in sight? I have no idea. I'm amazed at how much He loves me.
I thought he would be the one I end up with. We were best friends. We tried to work it out for another month or so, but it wasn't what God wanted, and we had to face it. I miss him, and I miss the girls. They were so much a part of our lives, and it's hard to cold-turkey cut that out. God is NOT enough. I need a man too! .... And now I suppose that's why God had to take him away, lol. I can see now, how things like this come from HIM to give me a reality check. I feel now that I have been ignoring the fact that God has been calling me into a time of waiting, so that I can fill myself with Him and truly see that it's enough. He's been doing that for the last 2 years, and I didn't want to face that. I always tell myself I am being patient... but I'm not! Patient is being content and finding comfort in Him, and not always asking "when, when, when" and "who, who, who". I am going to now relax, get more into the Word than ever, and just go about my life. I hope that God will bring the perfect guy for me, and I wish it was soon, but I know it could be years, or it could be never. God didn't create me so that I could have everything I want. I was created to worship Him, and serve Him for HIS PURPOSE, not mine. I have been doing homeless ministry with the kids, and it's been awesome. I LOVE it!!! I love meeting the people and talking to them about life, and God. We try to make a lunch every day and bring it to someone. This city is FULL of people every day who are hungry, but it DOESN'T HAVE TO STAY THAT WAY! Why do we have to accept it? Things can change. Okay that was a little side track, lol.
So this is who I am, as of now. A single mom who has no idea what's going on in her career, or how she will be able to take care of her family, but hopefully will SOON, as things are coming together, and I realize it's God who provides all things. A single mom who wants more than anything to have a complete family, but I am choosing to be content in God's promises and perfect timing. Meanwhile, teaching my kids to be WORLD CHANGERS, by blessing others and spreading God's Word and love.
Jeremiah 29:11
I was born at a very young age. It was a dark and stormy night... okay just kidding, I'll start with a little more recent! :)
Right before Christmas, it seemed my life was falling apart.
All within one week, I lost two things in my life that I loved. For each, I gave the best of myself, but it wasn't enough. And then looking back at how often this kind of thing happens in my life, I started to wonder if anyone would ever see that I'm worth holding onto. Why is it so easy for people to let go of me? During that week, I felt like I had nothing to grasp onto. In my head, I know that God has a plan for me, a good plan- but my heart couldn't accept it. What good could come out of this? All I could see was losing my house, not being able to take care of my family, and being alone for the rest of my life. This is it. This is my purpose: I am going to take my kids to school every day, sit in a hot bath and cry my eyes out.
But this is just how amazing God is. It's awesome to see how He arranges things to fit together for His purpose. I am starting to see it little by little. I can't see the whole picture yet, but one at a time, things are starting to make sense. And He HAD to do it all at once. If I lost one thing, I'd still have the other as my consolation. God knows I needed to be left with no choice but to fall on Him, so He wiped them both out. How could the timing of all this NOT be from Him?? He's a genius!!!
I thought this was my dream job. But God is showing me other opportunities now that look like they will end up much better. Why would He do that, when I completely lost hope, without a vision in sight? I have no idea. I'm amazed at how much He loves me.
I thought he would be the one I end up with. We were best friends. We tried to work it out for another month or so, but it wasn't what God wanted, and we had to face it. I miss him, and I miss the girls. They were so much a part of our lives, and it's hard to cold-turkey cut that out. God is NOT enough. I need a man too! .... And now I suppose that's why God had to take him away, lol. I can see now, how things like this come from HIM to give me a reality check. I feel now that I have been ignoring the fact that God has been calling me into a time of waiting, so that I can fill myself with Him and truly see that it's enough. He's been doing that for the last 2 years, and I didn't want to face that. I always tell myself I am being patient... but I'm not! Patient is being content and finding comfort in Him, and not always asking "when, when, when" and "who, who, who". I am going to now relax, get more into the Word than ever, and just go about my life. I hope that God will bring the perfect guy for me, and I wish it was soon, but I know it could be years, or it could be never. God didn't create me so that I could have everything I want. I was created to worship Him, and serve Him for HIS PURPOSE, not mine. I have been doing homeless ministry with the kids, and it's been awesome. I LOVE it!!! I love meeting the people and talking to them about life, and God. We try to make a lunch every day and bring it to someone. This city is FULL of people every day who are hungry, but it DOESN'T HAVE TO STAY THAT WAY! Why do we have to accept it? Things can change. Okay that was a little side track, lol.
So this is who I am, as of now. A single mom who has no idea what's going on in her career, or how she will be able to take care of her family, but hopefully will SOON, as things are coming together, and I realize it's God who provides all things. A single mom who wants more than anything to have a complete family, but I am choosing to be content in God's promises and perfect timing. Meanwhile, teaching my kids to be WORLD CHANGERS, by blessing others and spreading God's Word and love.
Jeremiah 29:11
Another good one, by Kristin
(from my myspace blog, posted on Aug 26, 2007)
Driving along, the kids had their milkshakes in the backseat. I had to turn around every couple minutes and warn Kristin to stop dipping her fingers in hers, and just use her straw! Finally I said, "Okay Kristin, that's it. If I have to warn you one more time, I'm throwing your milkshake outside and giving it to the birds."
She made a know-it-all face (like, "duh, mom!") and said "Um, Mommy.... birds hate human diet."
Hahhaaha... where in the world did she hear that? I asked her and she just shrugged.
Driving along, the kids had their milkshakes in the backseat. I had to turn around every couple minutes and warn Kristin to stop dipping her fingers in hers, and just use her straw! Finally I said, "Okay Kristin, that's it. If I have to warn you one more time, I'm throwing your milkshake outside and giving it to the birds."
She made a know-it-all face (like, "duh, mom!") and said "Um, Mommy.... birds hate human diet."
Hahhaaha... where in the world did she hear that? I asked her and she just shrugged.
Even when we're unfaithful...
(from my myspace blog, posted on Sept 2, 2007)
Even when we’re unfaithful.... (if you need a miracle, read this!)
2 Timothy 2:13
"If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself."
Today my pastor talked about having faithfulness (in general-- to God, and other commitments/people in our lives, etc)... and gave this verse to remind that EVEN when we are unfaithful, God is STILL faithful to us. He never gives up on us.
So anyway it kind of made me think that maybe it's time I share this recent story of mine. I have told this to a few people, so some of you will already know (and if you go to my church you probably saw me nervously talk about it in front of the entire church, per my pastor's request, lol). Anyway, I just hope that this can be encouraging and a blessing to people. It's long, but if you need a miracle in your life, READ this :) There was an incident of lack of faith in my life, where God just proved His love for me anyway... which made me want to be all the more faithful to Him from then on.
So the past 2 yrs have been challenging-- me on my own taking care of the kids. It hasn't been horrible. I'm pretty easy going, and I don't really get stressed, but I can't say it's been a piece of cake being a single mom. However, as a single mom, I pretty much have it good. I have a great job-- It wasn't paying what it should, but I've been hanging in there because I love it. I was able to pay my bills fine, but some big things were coming up. For example- delinquent on property taxes, afraid I would lose my house, might have to take my son out of preschool, etc (not good because even though I work from home, its full time just like any other job, and I cant concentrate with him here and wouldn't be able to get it done).
I have never stopped giving my 10% to God, because I have always grown up believing that if you give to God to bless others, your life will be blessed too (you reap what you sow!). So through all this time, I just kept giving it, even though there were plenty of other important things I could have used it for instead. I couldn't neccessarily "afford" to tithe, but I had decided long ago that I would do it no matter what, and wanted to be faithful to that and see blessings.
A couple of months ago, one day I just kind of broke down, crying out to God... and I NEVER cry... but this day was just hard, reality was hitting me, and maybe I was PMSing or something HAha.. I dont know. But I was just crying out. Because after all this time, (the last two years especially) I have been working so hard to do everything I'm supposed to, I couldn't understand why, if I was tithing faithfully month after month after month, doing my part to bless others, why certain things weren't happening for me... didn't God realize I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing? Didn't God notice? Why would he just let me lose my house like this? God how can you let me lose my house? (I actually said that). Why would he give me a good job and then let me have to keep Ryan home so I can't even concentrate on the job? This wasn't fair!!!!!
Then I sorta felt like he was saying to me "liz just calm down. Of course I see... relax, I'm not gonna let you lose your house. I have infinite amount of blessings to hand out, and I haven't forgotten about you." As my heavenly Father, I knew He wasn't going to just forget about His child. He also pointed out ever so nicely, lol, that even in my lack of faith that day, He would STILL be faithful in His promise to me. WOW. If that's not humbling....
Oh and I have to say, for this to make sense- I specifically asked God for just $500 more per month. Then I could pay my property taxes, but I'd have to still take my son out of school. I'd settle for that. But actually God was not going to settle for only that. He was ready to cover it all. Hey, Abraham asked for a child, when God was ready to give him a whole nation. If you have a need or dream, ASK for it!!! (side note! lol)
So in this SAME DAY, a couple hours later I found out I was getting a raise of $500 per month!!!! I had asked for a raise a couple of times already, to no avail. I never imagined she would offer THAT amount!
So GREAT! I can pay my house taxes, but I have to take Ryan out of school. That's okay....
THEN... God proves His point even more, to get it through my thick head
TWO HOURS AFTER THAT I got an email from my neighbor, asking if she could pay me to take her kids to/from school every day. This would involve watching them for 2 hours before school which is fine cuz it wont interfere with my job and they are AWESOME kids (you may be reading this, Sarah, and I just love them to pieces!). She is going to be paying me $500 per month!! The funny thing is I didn't even realize this until we hashed out the details and figured out a fair weekly amount. I added it up and said "hey wait a second... that's $500 per month!" haha.
So God answered my prayer in complete DOUBLE ALL IN THE SAME DAY!!!
I still can't totally believe this happened. I should- it's only typical of God- haha. He is real and He takes care of us. I realized He doesn't need my money... He just wants to see the persistant faith in order to work in our lives. Persistent, persistent, persistent faith. Even in my LAPSE of faith that day, God humbled me by showing me that He would STILL be faithful to me anway. If I had held onto that tithe every month, I still wouldn't have had enough for what I needed... so ya might as well just give... bless others who need it more anyway, and then see it come back many times multiplied :)
Be blessed,
Liz
Even when we’re unfaithful.... (if you need a miracle, read this!)
2 Timothy 2:13
"If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself."
Today my pastor talked about having faithfulness (in general-- to God, and other commitments/people in our lives, etc)... and gave this verse to remind that EVEN when we are unfaithful, God is STILL faithful to us. He never gives up on us.
So anyway it kind of made me think that maybe it's time I share this recent story of mine. I have told this to a few people, so some of you will already know (and if you go to my church you probably saw me nervously talk about it in front of the entire church, per my pastor's request, lol). Anyway, I just hope that this can be encouraging and a blessing to people. It's long, but if you need a miracle in your life, READ this :) There was an incident of lack of faith in my life, where God just proved His love for me anyway... which made me want to be all the more faithful to Him from then on.
So the past 2 yrs have been challenging-- me on my own taking care of the kids. It hasn't been horrible. I'm pretty easy going, and I don't really get stressed, but I can't say it's been a piece of cake being a single mom. However, as a single mom, I pretty much have it good. I have a great job-- It wasn't paying what it should, but I've been hanging in there because I love it. I was able to pay my bills fine, but some big things were coming up. For example- delinquent on property taxes, afraid I would lose my house, might have to take my son out of preschool, etc (not good because even though I work from home, its full time just like any other job, and I cant concentrate with him here and wouldn't be able to get it done).
I have never stopped giving my 10% to God, because I have always grown up believing that if you give to God to bless others, your life will be blessed too (you reap what you sow!). So through all this time, I just kept giving it, even though there were plenty of other important things I could have used it for instead. I couldn't neccessarily "afford" to tithe, but I had decided long ago that I would do it no matter what, and wanted to be faithful to that and see blessings.
A couple of months ago, one day I just kind of broke down, crying out to God... and I NEVER cry... but this day was just hard, reality was hitting me, and maybe I was PMSing or something HAha.. I dont know. But I was just crying out. Because after all this time, (the last two years especially) I have been working so hard to do everything I'm supposed to, I couldn't understand why, if I was tithing faithfully month after month after month, doing my part to bless others, why certain things weren't happening for me... didn't God realize I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing? Didn't God notice? Why would he just let me lose my house like this? God how can you let me lose my house? (I actually said that). Why would he give me a good job and then let me have to keep Ryan home so I can't even concentrate on the job? This wasn't fair!!!!!
Then I sorta felt like he was saying to me "liz just calm down. Of course I see... relax, I'm not gonna let you lose your house. I have infinite amount of blessings to hand out, and I haven't forgotten about you." As my heavenly Father, I knew He wasn't going to just forget about His child. He also pointed out ever so nicely, lol, that even in my lack of faith that day, He would STILL be faithful in His promise to me. WOW. If that's not humbling....
Oh and I have to say, for this to make sense- I specifically asked God for just $500 more per month. Then I could pay my property taxes, but I'd have to still take my son out of school. I'd settle for that. But actually God was not going to settle for only that. He was ready to cover it all. Hey, Abraham asked for a child, when God was ready to give him a whole nation. If you have a need or dream, ASK for it!!! (side note! lol)
So in this SAME DAY, a couple hours later I found out I was getting a raise of $500 per month!!!! I had asked for a raise a couple of times already, to no avail. I never imagined she would offer THAT amount!
So GREAT! I can pay my house taxes, but I have to take Ryan out of school. That's okay....
THEN... God proves His point even more, to get it through my thick head
TWO HOURS AFTER THAT I got an email from my neighbor, asking if she could pay me to take her kids to/from school every day. This would involve watching them for 2 hours before school which is fine cuz it wont interfere with my job and they are AWESOME kids (you may be reading this, Sarah, and I just love them to pieces!). She is going to be paying me $500 per month!! The funny thing is I didn't even realize this until we hashed out the details and figured out a fair weekly amount. I added it up and said "hey wait a second... that's $500 per month!" haha.
So God answered my prayer in complete DOUBLE ALL IN THE SAME DAY!!!
I still can't totally believe this happened. I should- it's only typical of God- haha. He is real and He takes care of us. I realized He doesn't need my money... He just wants to see the persistant faith in order to work in our lives. Persistent, persistent, persistent faith. Even in my LAPSE of faith that day, God humbled me by showing me that He would STILL be faithful to me anway. If I had held onto that tithe every month, I still wouldn't have had enough for what I needed... so ya might as well just give... bless others who need it more anyway, and then see it come back many times multiplied :)
Be blessed,
Liz
This is what we're saved from
from my myspace blog, Nov. 14, 2007
I'm not one to push my beliefs on others :) But this is interesting, whether you believe it or not. Which I do. If God doesn't save us from any other trivial thing that happens in our natural life... the fact alone that He saved us from this is enough that I am eternally grateful and full of worship towards Him.
If you want to check out this guy's book, its really good- I read it all in one day cuz I couldn't put it down. "23 minutes in hell" by Bill Weise.
I'm not one to push my beliefs on others :) But this is interesting, whether you believe it or not. Which I do. If God doesn't save us from any other trivial thing that happens in our natural life... the fact alone that He saved us from this is enough that I am eternally grateful and full of worship towards Him.
If you want to check out this guy's book, its really good- I read it all in one day cuz I couldn't put it down. "23 minutes in hell" by Bill Weise.
Get up, and keep going.
(from my myspace blog, posted on Dec 7, 2007)
I want to share this because I know a lot of people can relate, and I am praying that it can be encouraging to those that are feeling the same way at times.
When there are things in my life that seem out of control
that I can't overcome
this is how I feel God is thinking:
"Why did I ever bother saving her? If she really appreciated it, she would change once and for all." And He turns His back on me in shame. Why would He want a relationship with me when I can't fully commit? "She just can't get it right. How many times does she expect me to pick her back up when she falls?"
But thankfully, God's grace is full of love and understanding. God knew the day He saved me, that I would never measure up- yet He still saved me. He knew that I would fall millions of times over again, and says "just keep trying your best. I know your heart. Keep trying your best. You will fall. Just get up and keep trying. Keep your heart after me. Aim for perfection, but know that only I complete you. If you think you'll ever be perfect, then the work I did on the cross was for nothing. What a shameful waste that would be."
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning,
new EVERY morning.
Great is thy faithfulness, oh Lord.
Great is thy faithfulness."
"I remember You are the faithful One
and You remember I'm so well intentioned
And your grace pours out over me again"
God, I'm so grateful for your faithfulness. Your forgiveness, even though I have to say I'm sorry a million times... and how each time I fail, You say more lovingly then I could say to my children when they fail: "you're still precious to me, and I don't regret the sacrifice I made for you. Get up and keep going."
All Things New for the New Year!
(from my myspace blog, posted on Jan. 12, 2008)
Revelation 21:5"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making all things new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
The End = New things coming. The end of 2007 brought the end of some good things for me in my life. :(
I am looking forward to what's NEW of which God has planned!!! :)
La la la la la
Howdy! Once in a while I do a blog on my myspace , but this is prettier. Haha!
In case anyone is wondering what the name means, "ammania" (actually spelled "amania", but I like it better with 2 Ms :) ) is Hebrew for "artist of God". It's the name of my new website - www.ammaniaart.com
Nobody knows it exists yet, besides friends and family, so.... yeah.... we'll see how that goes.
In case anyone is wondering what the name means, "ammania" (actually spelled "amania", but I like it better with 2 Ms :) ) is Hebrew for "artist of God". It's the name of my new website - www.ammaniaart.com
Nobody knows it exists yet, besides friends and family, so.... yeah.... we'll see how that goes.
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