Chose Wisdom & Victory

I am currently doing a bible study entitled, "When Wallflowers Dance". I am grateful that my neighbor invited me over for a Mary Kay makeover, which led to her mentioning this study that she was doing in church. Come to find out, she was also sharing this study with her MK team on Monday nights and said she wouldn't mind at all if I joined them! So here I am beginning week 5 of the study and I am loving it. I must say that it feels great to be involved in a bible study again, as I have really missed it! In McKinney I did some Priscilla Shrier and Beth Moore studies that were wonderful! Most of them under the leadership of my my favorite aunt, Elaine. I miss the fellowship of the women, but mostly the time of connecting with God and really diving into His word. With teaching, 2 kids, piano lessons, etc. sometimes life can get crazy, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is always with me and ready for conversation.

To kinda sum it up, this bible study by Angela Thomas teaches that we must allow God to lead our dance through life. In this blog I wanted to share some highlights that I found powerful on our study of choosing wisdom and victory. All are quoted from the study book.

Choosing Wisdom:
"Wisdom means removing foolishness from your life-choose wisdom and you will receive blessing, choose foolishness and suffer the consequences. As you begin to resist bitterness and choose wisdom, God promises His blessing and protection. Choosing wisdom often means making an everyday exchange in life. It means that you decide to choose differently, respond differently, or pursue different ideas or relationships. Consider areas in your life and consider whether or not wisdom would ask you to choose differently...pray for wisdom.

Choosing Victory:
As children of the Most High God, we have much to celebrate. One day every tear will be wiped away. You will understand the purpose for every trial you have faced and the suffering you have known. If we believed God and kept heaven in view, much that invites us to bitterness would fall away:
* You would not have to vie for position. You place with God is certain.
* You could lay aside your judgment. God is the final judge.
* You could look forward to new adventure instead of back at every failure.
* Getting even would mean nothing. Getting right with God would mean everything.
In view of eternity & the victory that is sure, we can choose to become grown-up Jesus women. We can hear the Holy Spirit call and choose to get up and face our battles with courage instead of a bitter heart."

How easy it is to let bitterness creep into our hearts due to trials involving co-workers, family members, and even our country's leaders. Bitterness can consume you....you can pack it in tight and harbor it for years or you can choose to be free with the love of Christ. Everything we do should glorify God. Our deeds are not experiences, yet examples of our faith. Let God's light shine through you!

"I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth" Psalm 121

MJ and More

While strolling the aisles of Wal-mart alone, a luxury I rarely ever get, I found myself just roaming around not necessarily having a plan as to what section I was headed for. (Something that can get you in trouble if you are on the Dave Ramsey plan!) Anyway, I ended up in the CD section and found that wal-mart had their "This Is It" Michael Jackson CD on sale for the low, low price of $10, so of course I had to purchase it. On the way home I popped it in my player and the minute I heard the first song, I instantly thought of my dad. Growing up my dad was always playing music in our den, loud enough for the whole house to enjoy or not enjoy in some cases. :) Aaron and Kim could relate to that one....although I must admit I usually enjoyed it because I got my love of classical music from my dad. He played every type of music you could think of. Irene Carey's "What a Feeling", Queen, Beethoven, you name it he played it...but Michael Jackson frequented the tape deck the most. I would make up crazy "Beat it" and "Thiller" dances. Dad even took the family (mom was pregnant with Kimberly) to the MJ Thiller concert and I remember it being wonderful! How many parents do you know that would take their 8 & 4 year old to a concert? He knew that we would love it and we did! I love it when music triggers a special memory, especially of him...

Speaking of Dad, my Madeline, or should I say Alan Jr., did some funny things this week. After my Wild Things program, the principal gave me some flowers, (along with my mom, Maddie and Landon) and the minute we got home Madeline had to be the florist. She found a vase, & I helped her trim the stems and she arranged them to her liking. She cleared off the table, put out the placemats, set the table with paper plates and a fork wrapped in a napkin and put the "center-piece" on the table. She said it looked wonderful, and it did! Then on Friday when I came home from school, she called me to her room to see what she had found on TV. She got bored watching a rerun of Phineus and Ferb, so she found Paula Deen on the food network. She was making chicken pot pie and she thought it looked so yummy, so she started writing down the recipe! It did look very tasty...I hope we can make it together soon! Pretty soon she is going to start watching "Design on a Dime" and then she really will be Alan Jr!!

Landon had a great week at school....all smiley faces!! We are going to celebrate at Chuck E cheese over spring break so that should be fun. (I think we will skip the pizza and just play the games) I caught Landon singing part of DMB song this week, and that made me smile!

I am ready for a week of Kim's wedding portrait shoot, shopping for shower dresses, going to a MUSE concert, staying at the Gaylord Texan, catching up on things around the house and spending time with family!!

The simple things in life are the best...have a blessed spring break!

Oh how I love birthdays!!

Let me start by saying I am the queen of stretching out a birthday...I think I get that from my Aunt Elaine! My birthday fun started with a surprise party at Papacitas with my wonderful family and friends. I walked in a didn't know what to think when mom was leading me to a table with a balloon! There I found that Aaron had driven in from Dallas, my grandparents were there, Kim and Philipp and of course my gang knew about it all along with my good friend Wendy and her daughter Emily. What a fun lunch we had...I got some really neat presents and some birthday money to go and treat myself to some new spring clothes or I may just save it for some fun on my summer cruise! Mrs. Diana made her scrumptious cookies using purple icing, my favorite color of all time. This all happened on a Saturday, and here my birthday is on a Thursday, so I have drawn this out for almost a week now! :)

So today was somewhat a stressful day with the first stage rehearsal of my 3rd grade program, but it ended up being a great day. My kids did great and I have a wonderful student teacher that is doing an incredible job of helping me out. She is awesome and I know I am going to hate to see her leave!! Anyway, Maddie and I went to the DQ for dinner and then went to the 1st grade program, so it was almost 7 when we got home. I was worn out and knew I would have to do some housecleaning, as we are having family come in tomorrow night. When I arrived home I found my house totally clean!!! To top it off, Justin had gotten me some more presents, including some new "Fancy Love" perfume and the box set of "Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King". As an extra bonus, he used my cricket to cut out the letters that spelled "Happy B-Day". I didn't even know he knew how to use that machine!! What a GREAT husband I have. Thank you Justin for being so amazing...I love you!!!

I cannot tell you how many text and facebook messages I received from friends and family today. Thank you so much friends!! I feel so incredibly loved. You are all a blessing!

I am going to end a wonderful birthday by doing my bible study, "When Wallflowers Dance" by Angela Thomas (a wonderful study...if you haven't done it, you should!) and getting some rest.

Lots of Love,
Alanna

I think I'll be an airplane pilot!

Madeline: So Daddy, does it cost alot of money to ride in a plane?
Justin: Yes, most of the time, it just depends on where you are flying..
Madeline: Okay, well in that case I am going to be an airplane pilot when I grow up so I can make alot of money!
Justin: Well that's exciting...your family would miss you while you are traveling around the world! Are you planning on being a mom, too?
Madeline: Yes...that is why I am going to be a pilot so I can make alot of money to buy a baby from the hospital!!

Sounds like a plan to me.... ;)