One Day

As I think of everything that we have to get done, and all that HAS been accomplished already in this process of moving, I was encouraged and challenged this morning by what I read in Scripture. I want to share it with you because I can't say it any better, obviously... Psalm 37 "Trust in the LORD, and do good (vs 3a). Delight yourself in in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (v 4) Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him..." (v 7a) I've also been reading/praying through Beth Moore's Praying God's Word Day by Day . Today matched up what my other readings were saying. Here's what I read today: We tend to run to God for temporary relief. God is looking for people who will walk with him in steadfast belief. (Beth Moore) At this moment, Father, I am choosing the way of truth. I want to set my heart on Your las (Ps. 119:30). I want to choose the way of truth the rest of my days. Test me, O Lord, and try me. ...

I have been absent for a reason. We've had a lot going on. I've been afraid that if I blogged I would spill the beans and I couldn't do that until now. We have BIG news in our family!!!! We are moving!!!!! This is something that has been "brewing" now for a little over a year. We felt God was telling us it was time to move from our current ministry, but we had no idea when, or where, or doing what. And so, we waited. David was bombarded with requests from churches if he'd be interested in learning more about them. The process was long, there were MANY ups and downs. There has been a lot of uncertainty. We've been on our knees a LOT as we sought the Lord in what he wanted us to do. In the late summer/early fall David met with a church in Pennsylvania. We prayed and prayed some more. The more David talked with them and the few times we met with them in person the more we felt the Lord saying, "this is the place I have for you." Last weekend we ...

I'm a word-picture person. I always loved object lessons growing up, and I still tend to think of other ways to explain what I'm going through or a lesson I'm teaching/learning. I've mentioned before (a while ago!!) that David and I have embarked on a new diet plan. We have reached the point in our lives where we are sick and tired of being sick, tired and FAT! We knew we had to change. David has lost over 50 lbs since July, and I have lost almost 20 since Sept. The thing about it is I should be a lot less now. But, I have cheated,  haven't stuck to the plan, I've allowed the stresses of life to give me excuse that it's OK to eat whatever. It's not. It is NOT OK to eat whatever you want, especially if you're trying to change your life and the bad habits you've created. This got me thinking the other day. Changing the way I eat is a lot like pushing a baby out. Now, hear me out! I know you probably think I'm crazy right now, but I do have me...

Yes, I'm still alive. Yes, the Hardins are still living and doing life. That's probably the problem: we've been busy. Geesh! So much going on it's ridiculous! Here we are having had Halloween and Thanksgiving, and we're into the Advent season. I'm not going to even try to catch us all up on what all we've been doing, however, I'll give you a short list! We have been doing: school preschool church stuff parties with friends field trips visiting family playing outside (we've had a fantastically wonderful warm fall!) normal daily living stuff It's been a full 2+ months, and I don't see life slowing down any time soon! However, I do foresee more posts, more frequently...again... Until then, may your Advent season be blessed by our precious Savior! Hello from Olaf, Ninja Ben and Elsa!

I was having a discussion with my good friend about being on time. She said, "You are about my only friend who is always on time, or early. I just don't understand how you do that!" And, I gave her my ways, the things we do in our family to be on time. It was perplexing to me to think this was even something unfathomable to another person. I mean, it's just not hard. To me, anyway. That night I was thinking about it and realized she does something that I find unfathomable. She, and most of my other friends, can eat 1 or 2 pieces of chocolate, or 1 brownie (or a bite of brownie) and be fully satisfied. I. Can. Not. Do. This. I do not understand how a person does this! How can't your chocolate craving be satisfied until the bag of Hershey Kisses is gone, or the XL candy bar is devoured, or the pan of brownies is eaten? I do not understand. And, because of this not understanding, I am over 200 lbs and find myself needing to lose weight. I think this is why God ...

Babies are so precious, aren't they? They smell good, they're so soft, cuddly and well, it's rare to find a person who DOESN'T like a baby! Late last week my sister-in-law, David's step sister, had her first baby! We've been anxiously awaiting this little one's birth. Her parents decided not to find out if they were having a boy or girl, so we were all anxious to find out! Well, they had a GIRL--an adorable, precious, little girl!!! We were/are so excited for them! We decided to head down to their city (2 hrs away and same place my MIL and sister live) the day after she was born because we were just too excited! The kids were excited to have another cousin, and they ALL wanted to hold her! They had each picked out a little toy for her. Here's some pictures of our precious new niece/cousin! I apologize for how many there are...ok, no I don't!

Change. It's hard. It's uncomfortable. It can be painful. It's rarely fun or looked forward to. Sometimes change is unexpected (like a death), other times it's expected and you have time to prepare (such as a new job). But, what about the changes you KNOW you need to make and you keep putting off? Well, my husband and I have been putting off change for a long time. We are fat. We are overweight. We are miserable. We must change. There's no other way around it. If we want to live a healthier and better life we must lose weight. We can't keep living the way we are.  A friend of ours introduced us to a weight loss program back before Christmas, I think. July of this year came and my husband said, "If you don't mind, I think I'm going to do it." Mind? Of course not!!!!! I don't mind at all!!!! He ordered his food and began his process of change. He's lost 35 lbs since he started the end of July!!  On the left is David's before ...