Who I'm Meant to Be...

P52...Week Three

2012-01-23T21:31:00.007-05:00

So the theme for this week was "I Dreamed a Dream" in honor of Martin Luther King Day. I really struggled with this, but after a few days of thinking about it, I came up with this...

I bought this wood carving when I went on a missions trip to West Africa in 2010. It was an experience I will never forget and I have dreamt of going back ever since. If all goes well I will be returning this summer.

P52...Week Two

2012-01-14T18:25:00.001-05:00

This week's theme..."Made With Love." This is my 15 year old son and I took this picture this morning. Becoming a man but still very much a boy...

P52...Week One

2012-01-14T18:14:00.002-05:00

I really want to become a better photographer. I got a new camera (DSLR, my first) and I am trying to figure out how to use it. I stumbled upon this blog and a 52 week photo challenge. Since I only found it last night I am already a week behind. The theme for the week ending 1/6 was resolution. We can be as creative as we want (or not). Here is my picture for the week...

I read Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts" in 2011 and in 2012 I have resolved to write down 1000 gifts. And now I have resolved to post one picture a week!

happy new year

2012-01-01T22:52:00.000-05:00

I can't believe 2012 is here, but I guess we say that every year. So much to look forward to this year and I just want to savor all of it as it comes.

merry christmas

2011-12-24T22:58:00.002-05:00

[finally finished...]

2011-12-06T21:23:00.002-05:00

Olivia and I have been working on an advent calendar that I saw here. It took us a while but we finished it!

[1000 gifts]

2011-11-27T15:16:00.001-05:00

I am currently reading Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts." I started writing those gifts on Thanksgiving Day. I don't know how long it will take to get to 1000 but I will keep writing until I get there. There are so many things to be thankful for...big things but so many more little things that I just need to take the time to listen and look for. Won't you join me?

[weekend to remember]

2011-11-18T10:22:00.002-05:00

The hubby and I are headed to Family Life's "Weekend to Remember" for the weekend. Click here to check it out and see if there is a weekend near you.

[busy, busy...]

2011-09-19T23:05:00.011-04:00

Incredibly busy weekend, but overall really good. Friday night my husband and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We had a great time but I was wiped out from a pretty stressful week at work. It was nice to go home and relax and watch a movie just the two of us.

Saturday morning my daughter and I hit the road to buy new jazz and tap shoes. Our goal is to make it from September to May (recital) without having to buy new ones. At the rate she is growing I hope we can make it. We then treated ourselves to manicures and pedicures. And finished up with Target and Kohls before heading to a birthday party. Spent the evening cleaning out my office...no easy feat and it is going to take another day to finish it.

Sunday was spent worshiping the Lord and getting our kids room ready for our new Word of Life club to begin. My good friend Lisa helped me clean out our room and closet. We just about filled up the dumpster. We are ready to tackle the year and help these children learn about God and grow spiritually.

I mentioned in an earlier post that September is my new year so I am starting it off with a couple of Bible studies and new routines. Last Thursday I began a new program called "Maximize Your Mornings." It is about starting your day right by getting up early and spending time with God. I am not a morning person but I have gotten up early and completed my quiet time everyday since Thursday. Saturday was the hardest but so far so good. I have found that my days are going better and I am praying for resolve to see this through.

I joined an online book club that started on Friday called "The Resolution Revolution" based on the book "Resolution for Women" written by Priscilla Shirer. It is based on the new movie "Courageous" coming out on September 30th. My Sunday school class is going to see it and I can't wait.

Tuesday night starts a 6 week study by Priscilla on Jonah. I love women's Bible studies, especially those done in someone's home. Learning about God's Word with other women over coffee and yummy goodies strengthens me spiritually.

Add in time with hubby and kids, homework, dinner, laundry, housework, etc., and the days are full.

My memory verse this week is 1 Samuel 12:16 - Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!

[end of summer...new beginning]

2011-09-02T10:17:00.002-04:00

Has the summer flown by or what? Seems like just yesterday the kids were having their last day of school and in 4 days they start a brand new year. September 1st is more of a "new year" to me than January 1st. It is a time where some sort of structure comes back into the house (at least our version of structure), my kids are back home more than one day at a time (having spent the majority of their summer with their grandparents), and our last mini-vacation of the year. We are headed out this afternoon to Nags Head, North Carolina. Not sure exactly what we will see with all of the damage from Hurricane Irene last weekend but we will have a relaxing, fun-filled weekend anyway as a family.

I plan to spend some time in God's Word as I look at one of His most special creations to me (outside of my children, of course), the ocean. The sound and the feel bring about a peace in my heart...I plan to take some video on my phone so that I can relive it until next summer.

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!

[spring break 2011]

2011-07-16T18:53:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure I will get the hang of this blogging thing. So much goes through my mind but getting it down in words isn't as easy as I thought it would be and of course making it interesting for the reader is a definite.

Back in April we traveled to California to visit my mom's family and to drive the Pacific Coast from Carmel to San Francisco. Here is our trip in pictures...

1st plane ride

My Nana...

Family

Yosemite National Park

San Francisco

We took over 1100 pictures so this doesn't even come close to everything we did but you get the picture (no pun intended).

[spring...maybe]

2011-04-02T12:41:00.004-04:00

April is upon us and Spring is here according to the calendar. The weather hasn't gotten the word yet, but I know it will be here and I need to be patient. There are many areas in my life that I need to be patient about...my spiritual journey, my family and myself. To wait upon the Lord and allow Him to do a good work in me.

Philippians 1:6 - "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

[long weekend]

2011-01-17T17:49:00.000-05:00

I am finishing up a 4 day weekend. Back to work and school tomorrow. I did manage to get all the Christmas decorations put up (with a little help from the hubby). This is the latest we have ever had them up but time just seemed to get away from me. The first half of January has been a blur and as I look at my calendar it appears the second half will be the same. So much to do and so little time...

[happy new year]

2011-01-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

So back in January 2010 one of my goals was to read more and to NOT buy any new books until I had read all the other books I currently own but haven't read. I did ok but there were some I just had to buy and they are going on my 2011 list. So how did I do? Well I did finish some on my list and actually finished some not on my list.

Simplify Your Time - Ramsland - check
The Worn Out Woman - Stephens & Gray - check
Give God A Year - Lewis - check
So Long Insecurity - Moore - check

I was able to add to the list and finish...

Surprised By Worship - Travis Cottrell
On Christmas Eve - Thomas Kincaid
On Strike for Christmas - Sheila Roberts
Foreign to Familiar - Sarah Lanier
I Danced in Africa - Elizabeth Marshall - twice

On tap for 2011...

Crazy Love - Frances Chan
Radical - David Platt

...and some from the 2010 list.

[and now it's august]

2010-08-01T16:35:00.001-04:00

Time just seems to get away from me...it seems like only yesterday since my last post but it's been almost two months. I keep telling myself I am going to get better at this blogging thing.

June was made up of dance recital (see my last post), piano recital and Word of Life Camp. For the last three summers, George and Daniel and I head to upstate New York to the Adirondack Mountains to attend WOL camp. It is a Christian camp for 6 year to 18 year olds. Of course since the trip is 12 hours one way the adults have to stay the week. There is just as much to do for the adults as the kids. We have such a blast. Bible study multiple times a day, all of our meals are provided, hanging out with the most awesome friends and spending some time together as a couple. It is sad to leave Daniel & Olivia for a week but it won't be long before they will be attending with us.

July brought in Vacation Bible School. This is my favorite event at uor church. VBS goes from infant to adult. There is a place for everyone and so many decisions were made this year by kids and adults. It is awesome to be a part of.

July brought with it sadness as George's mom went home to be with the Lord on July 28th. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just 3 weeks ago. They told us it would progress quickly but I don't think we expected it to be quite this fast. George and I were there when she passed and it was a very humbling experience but knowing that she is in Heaven brings us comfort. We had the visitation on Friday night and a graveside service yesterday. Our awesome church family provided a luncheon for family and friends. We are so blessed to be a part of Unity Baptist Church. We were able to see some family that we have not seen in a really long time.

So today is the first day of August...I do plan to get better at this blogging thing.

[what a week]

2010-06-06T21:30:00.006-04:00

Wow, what a busy week we've had in the Ellis household...dance recital for Olivia from Wednesday through Saturday. She did great.

Daniel had piano recital yesterday. We are very proud of him and hope that he will continue with it next year.

Had our end of the year celebration for our church kids program this afternoon...a pool party. A good time was had by all and the rain held out. Thanks God!

Back to work tomorrow...and only 2 1/2 days left of school. Woohoo!

[so long, insecurity]

2010-05-28T13:47:00.002-04:00

Woohoo! Another one down...on to the next. Great book...I highly recommend it even if you don't think you have an insecurity issue.

[spring has sprung]

2010-05-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

Wow...Spring is in full bloom and I can't believe it has been so long since I last blogged. One of my resolutions for 2010 was to blog more but I have been in a slump. There is tons going on in my head but I haven't been able to get it out on paper (so to speak). Life continues to be busy as we wind down the school year. Saying goodbye to 1st grade, 3rd grade and 7th grade. Dance recital, piano recital, Word of Life award celebration, end of gymnastics, finished up an awesome Bible study tonight...and the list goes on.

Hopefully the summer will be somewhat relaxing and we will have wonderful family time along with some time spent reflecting, preparing to go on to New York to WOL camp and a missions trip to West Africa.

Life continues on...

[spring is almost here]

2010-03-13T16:16:00.001-05:00

Well February came and went...I thought March was the whirlwind month. It looks like Spring may actually be on the way after 3 snow storms this Winter. The time changes tonight and I am so looking forward to having more daylight in the evenings. I am looking forward to all the trees and flowers blossoming and the smell of Spring. As I write this I am looking out my living room window and the daffodils are already blooming a beautiful bright yellow and the grass is getting green. The kids actually played outside today. I am working through my reading list...slowly it seems. My baby girl turned 7 and had her first sleepover.

I am attending a bible study at my friend Becky's church and loving meeting new people and studying God's Word. Bible study is such an important part of my life and I feel like something in my life is missing if I am not in a study. There is nothing like being in a group of Sisters in Christ talking about how God is working in our lives.

So here we are in the middle of March...2010 is already flying by!

[end of January]

2010-01-31T15:23:00.001-05:00

I have decided that I am going to treat the last day of each month like January 1st. I will take a look at the previous month while it is still fresh on my mind and I will look toward the next month and set some goals. So, at the end of January I accomplished a few things. I organized my kitchen desk drawers (see this), I developed my reading list for 2010. I will finish my first book today from that list...The Worn Out Woman (When Life is Full and Your Spirit is Empty) - Stephens & Gray. One down, many more to go. I have started on reading the Bible in one year with two of my bestest friends. I finished a Bible study (Begin with Christ) that started in November 2009. Along with all of the other everyday stuff that must get done. So on to February...I will post more about it later this week.

[enough snow]

2010-01-30T17:46:00.002-05:00

The Ellis household is ready for Spring. The 4 or so inches of snow in December was great and just enough. The 12 inches we received today is too much. We went with our church to Acquire the Fire in Richmond last night, left this morning about 7 am and traveled I-95. Whew, what a mess. They ended up ending ATF early so by the time we left around 11 am the roads were a mess. We were so excited to get home. As of right now my kids have not asked once to go outside which is fine by me!

[relaxin]

2010-01-16T16:56:00.001-05:00

I have not done much today...which I am trying to convince myself is a good thing. I have a four day weekend that began yesterday. I spent most of Friday working on church stuff...updating websites, making posters for upcoming events, sending emails about upcoming events, etc. I also cleaned up my email...I deleted almost 300 emails and got my inbox down to 19 emails. So it was a pretty productive day. I am spending my Saturday catching up on my QT, my Bible study and reading the first of the many books I listed in a previous post. I cleaned the kitchen but haven't gotten the motivation to fold the many, many loads of clothes that are in my bedroom floor. I had also planned to work on taxes today but that will have to wait for another day. So me and my little girl are going to watch a movie while the "boys" are out doing something (going to the hobby shop I think). I love Saturdays.

[catching up]

2010-01-10T14:12:00.001-05:00

Here we are deep into week 2 of the new year. Spending this weekend catching up on everything that needs to be done. So much of my life is "catching up." Catching up on laundry, housework, agendas for meetings, paperwork for bills, church, work, Bible study, Quiet Time (should I have to catch up on QT, doesn't seem right does it?). I still struggle with getting it all done and not allowing the urgent to overtake the important. But even the important has to be prioritized.

I'm not kidding myself into believing that it will all get caught up today but the things that HAVE to be done today will get done. Of course that doesn't mean the IMPORTANT will get done today. I still have so far to go in getting it all together while trying to simplify my life..hhmmm.

[reading list]

2010-01-02T22:29:00.001-05:00

I love to read...as a child I read all the time. When I graduated from college it seemed like I stopped reading. Maybe 5 years of reading text books did me in for a while. Then came infants and toddlers and finding the time to read was almost impossible. But in 2009 my love for reading came alive again. So I spent some time this past week looking at all the books I have in my mini-library. And yes it is a mini-library. I have to box alot of them up because I don't have enough room for them. Right now there are two stacks of books on my bedroom floor. As a side note...when we finally finish our basement I want to have built in bookshelves so that I will have plenty of room for them all.

As promised, here is my reading list for 2010 (not in any particular order)...and I already own everyone of them with the exception of "So Long Insecurity". It releases on February 2nd but I have already ordered it. A few of them I have read before, but most of them I have not. They have been sitting on my shelf, some for years. So I have decided that I am not buying any new books in 2010 because I have plenty to read. I just have to check them out.

Five Love Languages of Children - Chapman
Have a New Kid by Friday - Leman
90 Minutes in Heaven - Piper
What Every Christian Ought to Know - Rogers
Simplify Your Life - Ramsland
Simplify Your Time - Ramsland
Master Leaders - Barna
The Messies Manual - Felton
Organizing for Life - Felton
Organizing Your Day - Felton
Organizing Magic - Felton
Breathe - Kent
The Worn Out Woman (When Life is Full and Your Spirit is Empty) - Stephens & Gray
Give God A Year - Lewis
So Long Insecurity - Moore
The One Year Bible for Women (NLT)

Check back in December to see how far I get...if I get half way through this list I will be happy!

[happy new year's resolutions]

2010-01-01T17:02:00.001-05:00

2010 - another year (and decade) is upon us. One of my resolutions is to blog more...I still have our family blog but this blog is about the changes that I am trying to make, with God's help, with me. The changes I am working on in 2010 center around spiritual, emotional, mental and physical. I will be focusing on my role as a Christian, a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an employee...

My list of resolutions is very long as it is each year but I am planning to document them throughout 2010. I won't be able to start them all today and I wouldn't even begin to try but I will keep the list in front of me everyday so that I can focus on what God would have me do that specific day. So here goes...

The first resolution is to organize my house (a better term is probably declutter) which is no easy feat for me. I am not by nature a domestic diva, far from it actually. I am a perfectionist and so it is easier for me to not do something that to do it half-way. I chose for my first project my desk in the kitchen.

Here are the before pictures...

And the after...

Don't ask me where all that stuff went...some did go in the trash (yeah!!) but some went in a box in my basement. In about 6 months I will go through that box and if I haven't needed or used any of it by then, then it has to go.

The next resolution is to read more (with a lot less TV)...I will share my reading list tomorrow.

[happy new year 2010]

2010-01-01T14:09:00.010-05:00

I don't have the heart to take down the Christmas decorations today so it will have to wait until tomorrow. As I looked at the kids' tree yesterday I reflected on the many wonderful Christmas' we have had already and the many more to come. Each year, since my kids each were born they have received a Hallmark dated ornament. Last year we had accumulated so many that they we needed a new tree just to hold them all. Their first 5 Christmas' were a series and then after that I pick a special one for each of them. As Daniel gets older it gets harder but it's still fun to shop for them. I took pictures of their very first ornaments and then the ones they received this year.

Daniel 1996/2010

Dalton 2000/2010

Olivia 2003/2010

[merry christmas]

2009-12-24T14:02:00.004-05:00

[let it snow let it snow, let it snow]

2009-12-19T11:57:00.008-05:00

Snow in Virginia...

[getting ready]

2009-12-10T21:29:00.006-05:00

We are slowly getting ready for Christmas. Normally we are completely decorated the Friday after Thanksgiving but we ended up going to the beach for the long weekend and we are still trying to catch up. So we finished up the kids tree late last week and we finished up our main tree tonight while watching "White Christmas." Finished up Christmas cards this week as well.

Now to start shopping...

[new addition]

2009-11-14T22:54:00.007-05:00

Here is the newest addition to our family...Henry. He showed up at our church a week ago Wednesday. By Sunday he was still there so it didn't appear he was going anywhere anytime soon. So we took him home, fed him and cleaned him up. On Monday I called Animal Control and the local vet but no one had reported a missing cat. We wouldn't let the kids name him until we knew he would become a part of our family.

This past Wednesday I took him to the vet to be "checked out." Poor thing had a pretty bad cut on his forehead and an abcess on his back near his tail. They said they would need to sedate him to get in and figure out what was going on. They were concerned because he had a fever and that his wounds might be infected. So I had to make a quick decision as to whether to go ahead and get him neutered and declawed, thus only having to sedate him one time. I struggled with spending all that money and then someone calling to claim him in the next few days.

So I took the plunge and had it all done. We picked him up last night. He ended up with stitches in his forehead and in his hind end (along with a drain tube), not to mention that he went from being a "he" to an "it." He got all his shots while he was there too. And due to the stitches he has to wear this lovely "lampshade" for a week.

Right now he is asleep in the floor and appears to love his new home...so he is now ours and we love him already.

[beach]

2009-09-07T22:13:00.006-04:00

We spent four days at the beach (Nags Head) for Labor Day weekend. Had a great timeof fun and relaxation.

[washington dc]

2009-07-26T19:05:00.011-04:00

We spent the day in Washington DC yesterday after visiting the Lego Store in Potomac Mills (for Dalton's birthday shopping). It was a nice day but hot! Fun family day.

[wol camp 2009]

2009-07-05T17:56:00.007-04:00

Spent the last week in Schroon Lake New York taking Daniel to Word of Life Camp. This is his second year and was much better for him this year. He had great counselors and cabin mates. George and I spent our days going back and forth between the Island (teens), the Ranch (1st-6th graders) and the Inn (where we stayed). We would get up and have breakfast with Chris J and Chris P. Then we would head to the Island for their morning bible hour with Mike Calhoun. We then went to the Ranch for Daniel's bible hour with Ric Garland. We would eat lunch at the Ranch and then spend the afternoons at the Inn and having dinner there. The weather wasn't great...cloudy, rainy and chilly but we still had a good time. Now it's back to reality tomorrow.

[easter]

2009-04-12T19:13:00.004-04:00

We had a wonderful day today. Started it off with a sunrise service at our church...beautiful but very cold. I sat there thinking how terribly uncomfortable it was until I looked at the Cross in front of me and realized there was no comparison to what Jesus did for us. Spent the afternoon with the Hess clan at our house for dinner. Resting now, thankful that we get to sleep in tomorrow morning.

[saturdays]

2009-01-17T14:57:00.012-05:00

I just love Saturdays when the hustle and bustle of work and school are gone and we don't have to leave the house unless we want to. Not much gets accomplished and I am ok with that. These are the days my kids will remember the most. I guess that goes for me too.

Watching her play with her Polly Pockets for hours...

Looking for everything he can find on Lego Trains...

Searching the woods in our backyard looking for treasures...

Reading a book (fiction no less) and sipping on my cup of green tea...

[routine]

2009-01-04T22:42:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow starts the beginning of getting back to the routine...the routine of getting up early, packing lunches and backpacks. The routine of rushing out the door to make it to school and work on time. The routine of dinner, homework, baths and bedtime, only to do it all over again the next day. I love the routine (I wish there was more structure) and this season of my life. It will be gone in the blink of an eye.

[christmas 2008]

2009-01-02T17:36:00.002-05:00