Mia Bella's Gourmet Giveaway

Mia Bella's Gourmet Products have an amazing scent and quality that is hard to find elsewhere. You can smell these candles even before you open the box!

Karma and Luck- Not to the Rescue

Most people would say that I am lucky. I have won lots of games and prizes! I won a $200 food processor that I love and use a lot. I won a $250 gas card last summer, a $900 golf club for Matt, $200 gift card to a awesome kids boutique that I bought Christmas gifts with last year and then lots of little things also. Candy bars are easy wins and so are $5- $20 gift cards to Starbucks and Subway. Sounds pretty lucky to you, huh? But I am not lucky nor is karma on my side. Luck has nothing to do with my winnings. Statical odds and the fact that I enter lots of contest are the two main factors. Matthew 5:45 says, "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Scripture tells us right there that good, even great things happen to very bad people as well as a lot of us know, very terrible things happen to the best people. Karma is not real and honestly if you are waiting on it you have some bitterness in your heart that is going to trap you from growing in the Lord. People all around the world wish people luck and even I say it out of habit but know in your heart, that the only reason things work out is for the glory of the One who made us all. He has a plan and the bad things you might be going through right now will allow you to persevere and allow your true character to be reviled to you. Hope and trust in the Lord and don't allow luck or lottery to become your idol. Let me end with a quote from a man who I know puts his trust in Jesus:
 You’re more likely to be hit by lightning five times and survive than you are to win the lottery. Five times! How many people do you know who have been hit once by lightning and survived, much less five times? -Dave Ramsey

Tropical Traditions Giveaway WINNER

First I want to say a huge THANKS to Tropical Traditions for hosting this giveaway. I now know that giveaways are not something that I will be focusing on my blog since most subscribers do not seem interested in entering. I enjoy product review and would love to do them but the giveaway entries are not what I feel like the company that I do review for would prefer and I personally would like to give them as much support as possible! That said, Congrats Jodi B. our winner! She has been notified by email. Please be sure to check out their specials listed here!
I have lots of blog ideas I am working on now so be watching for my next post to hopefully encourage, challenge and motive you as it does me with my daily walk with Christ!

Tropical Traditions Giveaway!!!

First, I apologise, tomorrow became almost a week. Life got busy and I go lazy! That said, YEA! for a giveaway!!! Tropical Traditions has generously offered to let me try their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. This is what you are going to want to know about if you are starting to embark on a healthier lifestyle for you and your family! I have a few pictures, some recipes and even a video you can watch to find out more about coconut oil. Click here to find out a wide variety of ways to use coconut oil in the kitchen like I'll show you here. I use my for baking/cooking mostly and here a two of my favorite ways:

I took a basic organic chicken I got at a local Amish farm and covered it is coconut oil and my favorite seasoning salt. (Obviously I need to per-fect my photography skills!) I turned on my crock pot for 8 hours on low and had an amazing dinner of protein from my chicken and added fiber from the coconut oil without it feeling greasy! Dinner is great, but dessert is always my favorite so make sure your check out all the amazing recipes they have videos of here and this video here! My newest favorite is Healthier Peanut Butter Balls. You simply must click on this link to find out how to make a mouth watering treat that isn't going to make you feel guilty all week long. Be sure to check out video on Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. 
So now for the fun part for you! You can win your very own quart of  Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.

New Beginnings

Things have started to change in my heart and in my life. Right now I am looking for direction on where the Lord is leading our life but I know He has BIG plans for my life right now. I am at a time of listening and trying to glean spiritual guidance from His Word. I am not sure where all He is leading and what He is calling our family to do or where go, but I know I am ready. Turning my life over to the Lord is always new, exciting and scary. This adventure so far has lead me to decide to home school Big next year. I am looking at learning aids everyday trying to make sure I make the right choices. My darling husband has been humbled and has committed to stepping up and being the spiritual leader Christ has called him to be. I couldn't be more happy about the few changes already happening. The Lord has really given me some big inspirations about what to write about on here and I pray that as He leads me, it encourages us both!
Tomorrow, I will be writing a fun post with a giveaway that I love so be looking out for the post!!!

No Matter What, They'll Find You

I guess it is more of an it. Your past will find you. No matter if you run and hide, move across the country or just like me, the next state over. I made monumental mistakes while I lived my life in Joplin so after 25 years, lots of broke hearts and hoping for a fresh start on life I moved to Oklahoma. Well, within the first few months I ran into my past. People who I had hurt were still popping in my life. Believe it or not, we moved again and after telling the Lord, "No! I didn't want to go to the Christian church in town!" We decided to go. Sure enough, I ran into three people from college and my ex-husband's family. I think as I sat down I started to cry and laugh to myself. Shocked is an understatement of my feelings at the exact moment in my life. All I had wanted to move on and act as if my old life and the people who's hearts I crushed didn't exist anymore. God always has another plan for us when we run. I'm sure if you have heard of Jonah you know what I am talking. I don't think God really minded that I moved to Oklahoma, but I know He knew I needed to deal with my heart issues. Guilt and shame, forgiving myself and seeking forgiveness from others. Which brings me to this coming Friday, I start my first counseling session. Most people keep the fact that they might need help sorting issues from their past in the dark and never are able to heal. That is not what the Lord wants in our life. He wants us to live life to the fullest and know that we are completely forgiven. Pray with me as I take this next step in facing my past and no longer running from the demons who have haunted me for so long.

Birds on the Brain

I totally broke my promise to myself, I downloaded Angry Birds! I swore that I would not waste any braincells on a video game. I know of hundreds of other things that I could spend my time on! I could do the laundry, dishes, sort clothes the kids have grown out of, enter contests online and win something but I did not want to find myself thinking about how to knock the darn monkey off its post. I have only had it for a few weeks but it is really cutting into my sleep time since the first thing my brain goes to when I can't sleep is Angry Birds Rio (I don't care for regular Angry Birds). Hmmm, the first thing my brain goes? A video game? I am usually not a great steward with my time and if you checked my bedroom you might suggest me for Hoarders but I know there are things that deserve my time way more than a game. In The New Living Translation Paul  says, "We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."2 (Corinthians 10:5) Don't get my wrong, we all need down time, but if your first thought is putting the kids to bed so you can play a game, maybe it is time to start taking our thoughts captive again. I know I will be in making sure I am in charge of my thoughts. "Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable." Philippians 4:8 God's Word Translation.