Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Halloween Craft: Pumpkin Patch


Here's a quick and easy craft that you can do at a school Halloween party.
  1. Have child write his name on back of paper.
  2. Paint child's knuckles with orange paint.
  3. Press knuckles on paper to make pumpkins.
  4. Dip child's index finger in green paint.
  5. Press finger on paper to make stems and leaves.
  6. Let paint dry.
  7. Decorate.
Happy Halloween! 

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Monday, October 22, 2012

New Format & A Fun Bonus


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After much prayer and contemplation, I have decided to continue blogging, but change the format up a bit. Here’s what you can expect:
  • I’m NOT going to even attempt to maintain the daily updates. Trying to write a new post every day is unreasonable during this season of my life. So I am releasing myself from the pressure of feeling the need to do it. So no more Day#... posts. But please know that doing Something Uncomfortable every day has become a part of who I am. I’m living outside my comfort one and growing all the time. I’m amazed at what God is doing in and through me!
  • I AM going to write new posts as I feel led. They will include highlights from particularly uncomfortable accomplishments. They will also include deeper thought provoking topics. And I’m sure we will see some rambling from time to time.
  • And for those who like a daily dose of Heatherisms… make sure you like the Something Uncomfortable Facebook page. I will run Daily Reruns on days that I do not have a new post. I will also continue to share little nuggets of inspiration and/or fun as I find them. I am going to attempt to streamline my communication through that page so please be sure to like it if you want to stay connected.
I am continually humbled by the fact that anyone reads this. So thank you for thinking what I have to say is worth your time. God is good and He uses any of us that are willing to let Him.

As a bonus I thought I would share this:

I feel like this is a What's different in these pictures? page in a Highlights magazine.

The pic on the left was taken by Amy when she was a high school leader at Sugar Creek Camp with Adam & me roughly 12 years ago. She took the pic on the right at 8:00 Saturday morning. Crazy right? Oh how we have changed!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

New Thoughts on Anxiety




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If you haven’t already, let me invite you to read today’s devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:
October 17

Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me. So the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me. When you turn your thoughts toward Me, you can think much more positively. Remember to listen, as well as to speak, making your thoughts a dialogue with Me.

If you must consider upcoming events, follow these rules: 1) Do not linger in the future, because anxieties sprout up like mushrooms when you wander there. 2) Remember the promise of My continual Presence; include Me in any imagery that comes to mind. This mental discipline does not come easily, because you are accustomed to being god of your fantasies. However, the reality of My Presence with you, now and forevermore, outshines any fantasy you could ever imagine.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
—Luke 12:22–26

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
—Ephesians 3:20–21 -
http://bit.ly/eF5kSq
Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me.” Let that sink in for a moment…

If that statement is true… and it certainly seems to be… then I think we can make the following conclusion: My anxiety is a pride issue because it is a result of me trying to do life alone and NOT relying on God to help me.

Wow!

Now before you get upset with yourself or me, let me also say that anxiety is very REAL. And for many of us, it is a physical/mental response to our circumstances, not merely a spiritual response. But I think the problem starts when we succumb to the anxiety. When we let it take us over and rule our lives, it becomes a god and replaces the real God.

So what do we do? Pray. And ask God to guide you to some practical ways to cope with and potentially overcome your anxiety. For some that might mean counseling or accountability with a safe person. For others it may mean seeking medical help. I personally have found great success with homeopathic remedies.

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. If we were, we wouldn’t need Him. But He does want us to be constantly seeking Him. I think this is just a great reminder of how much we truly need Him.

Who are you envisioning the future with?

Monday, October 15, 2012

Help, please…



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I have really been struggling lately. I have so much going on and I’m so overwhelmed that I’m having a hard time managing what I have to do: kindergarten & all that goes with it, volunteering at school, soccer, doing the books for our construction company, exercising (today was the first time in a month that I have time to workout), blogging and maintaining Something Uncomfortable, preparing for & pulling off birthdays and holidays in Schneiderland, being an engaged and present mom, being an engaged and present wife, being an engaged and present follower of Christ…

I mean, Friends, we have gotten to the point where my kids are begging me to play with them. That’s just NOT alright.

So I keep wondering and asking God, what can I get rid of? Honestly, I was thinking this whole blog and Something Uncomfortable thing was going to have to come to an end. Because, let’s face it, I can’t stop being a mom or wife or any of the other things on the list. And then on Saturday, I went to my nephew’s birthday party and met this wonderful woman who was excited to meet me because she heard me on the radio. For real? It was probably THE most flattering thing that has ever happened to me. And of course makes me think I’m supposed to keep this up.

So I decided to make time to exercise this morning – because it makes me feel better and I think more clearly. And I decided to humbly ask for help. Here’s what I need:

  • Please pray that God would give me clarity of mind, strength and direction.
  • Please give me some feedback. Are you benefiting from the blog posts? If so, which ones? Do you prefer the Something Uncomfortable daily updates? Deep thought posts? Daily re-runs? Etc? I need to evaluate what is most important and I need to know what you think so I can do that.
  • If you haven’t already, please connect with me on Facebook. Click this link and like the page. This one is totally selfish… My top love language is Words of Affirmation. I’m totally baring my soul to the world here and a simple “like” on Facebook would do a world of good for me. So if I have ever said something that has helped you or you think might be helpful to others, please like the page. (And by the way, admitting that is my something uncomfortable for the day.)

Life is good and so is God. And I’m exciting about regrouping and forging ahead. I hope you will continue on this journey with me!