A Lesson On Paying Attention

So Sam's Club is my new favorite happy place. Is that weird? Whatever...

This trip started out great!

Something like this...

and this...

I'm pretty sure this is what heaven looks like even though I can't back that up with scripture.

We made it, all is well...

Then it started to go like this...

So of course I just wanted to get out of there before they had to call security.

I was in such a rush that I signed my bill and didn't notice this...

I am almost positive I didn't walk out with 10 25lb bags of dog food and 10 bags of chicken nuggets. I could be mistaken... but I'm sure the 90 year old woman with the blinged out glasses checking my cart at the door would have noticed. Maybe the bling got in the way. She was the cutest thing I ever did see.

So after loading up the car, and the kids and driving away {did I forget to mention I didn't look at my receipt until I was on my way home?}, I got to turn around, unload the kids and go talk to the manager.  She was very kind, especially considering my kids were completely wigging out by this point.

And here was my refund, drum roll please...

Wow, still not sure how I missed that, I'll blame it on the kids.

It all worked out in the end and I didn't even have a nervous breakdown. And for that I rewarded myself with a tuna sandwich, topped with red onions and potato chips.

Happy weekend everybody!

A Prayer

"Lord, I pray that Hubby will find his identity in You. Help him to understand his worth through Your eyes and by Your standards. May he recognize the unique qualities You've placed in him and be able to appreciate them. Enable him to see himself the way You see him, understanding that "You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet" (Psalm 8:4-6). Quiet the voices that tell him otherwise and give him ears to hear Your voice telling him that it will not be his perfection that gets him through life successfully, it will be Yours.
Reveal to him that "he is the image and glory of God" (1 Corinthians 11:7), and he is "complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power"(Colossians 2:10) Give him the peace and security of knowing that he is accepted, not rejected, by You. Free him from the self-focus and self-conciousness that can imprison his soul. Help him to see who You really are so he'll know who he really is. May his true self-image be the image of Christ stamped upon his soul."

The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

I read this book years ago and it completely changed how I thought about praying for Hubby.  I dusted this book off today because we need to be prayer warriors for our husbands and I needed a reminder. This is my prayer for him today.

"we encourage" - Step Out

Can I encourage you to step out?

To step out of your comfort zone?

To not miss what God may have for you?

I stepped out this weekend and God blessed me in more ways than I could have hoped for.
If you visit my blog regularly you know I attended blog sugar this weekend.
It was amazing. Actually I'm still processing it all. I'm still trying to process the blessing of spending time with women who's words have made me laugh and cry. Women who inspire me creatively by making beautiful things, taking beautiful pictures and writing words that lift me up.

My Blog Sugar post will be coming, but today...I want to know what your "Blog Sugar" is. What opportunity is God putting in your path? What are you saying to talk yourself out of it?
Can I challenge you to set aside your nerves or insecurities and prayerfully consider taking a risk?

I could have stayed home. It would have been safer. Maybe these women are nothing like I imagine. Maybe I'll have a horrible time. Maybe I'll be too self conscious.

You know what I forgot?

How big God is. He showed up in a huge way. I drove down south all by myself {the fact that I didn't get lost and break out into a cold sweat or tears is a huge accomplishment}, I strengthened some wonderful new  friendships with amazing women. We shared our hearts, we laughed, we discussed our faith, and of course, we shopped. I was encouraged by the speakers to tell my story, because it's mine, and somebody might need to hear it.

I'm grateful the Lord put this opportunity in front of me... I'm grateful I listened.

Crock Pot Lasagna

Well I'm probably still sound asleep from all the Blog Sugar excitement! Of course there will be posts on that to come this week but until then...here is a lovely recipe for you.

My dear friend Kristen sends me lots of great crock pot recipes and this is one of my favorites.

These are the amounts I use but of course you can adjust anything you want.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 lb sweet italian sausage

1/4 c onions

11/2 jars of your favorite Marinara sauce

1 16oz container ricotta cheese

1 1/4c shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 c grated parmesan cheese

lasagna noodles {uncooked}

Brown onions, ground beef and sausage in a large skillet. Mix with marinara sauce.

In a separate bowl combine all the cheese {sometimes I add spinach or fresh basil}. Keep 1/4 of the mozzarella cheese to add on top at the end.

Then simply layer into your crock pot...meat and sauce mixture,uncooked noodles {you can break them to fit},cheese and repeat.

This picture is just to show you the layers. spread the cheese out in the pot.

Cook on low for 5 hours. 10 minutes before serving add the 1/4c mozzarella on top to melt.

By the way...all that grease you see? Low fat. Just thought you'd like to know. You're welcome.

Our Adopted Children

These are our adopted children. And the Lord has been speaking to me about them this week.
We have sponsored 2 children through World Vision for years and more recently sponsored 2 children through Compassion.

What the Lord has been showing me this week is we haven't been doing enough.

I am grateful to these organizations for making it easy for us to send money and take care of the needs of these kids. The needs my family takes for granted. Food, clean water, shelter, medicine, etc.

These kids also need to feel loved. REALLY LOVED. God loves them the same way He loves my own children...but how will they know it we don't help show them?


We have sent letters back and forth over the years but not regularly enough. I admit feeling as though I just didn't have the time to do more. It's a shameful admission. I don't want these kids to have one day when they feel forgotten.

So we are changing some things...
The older kids and I will write at least one letter a month for each of our children. We recently sent updated pictures of our family because I know they treasure things like that. I will keep little things like stickers and colored pencils that we can send to them to let them know we are thinking of them.

And we will pray. Pray for their health and safety. Pray for their families, and pray for God to keep them in the forefront of our minds.

I am thankful for the gift of them and I will make sure they know it!

The Best Planner That Ever Happened to Me

It is important to know that I don't like electronics. This extends to many areas of my life. What I mean to say is that...
I still love a handwritten note better than an e-mail
I'd rather look up a number in my old school address book than in my phone contacts
I tithe by writing a check, yes a check
and I still use paper planners and calendars,

This last part has proved troublesome because I have never found one that really worked well for me. That is until now!

Have you heard of  Much Ado About You?

You must get over there...like now. Look how cute this is!

And of course I got the matching notepad because, well, it's a notepad. Need I say more?

The inside is sooooo perfect! It has a monthly and daily organizer. Hello! I cannot possibly be unorganized with this. I've already started filling it out. The best part is you can order to start with any month you want so you can start using it right away.

It has a great space for notes with the greatest little pictures I ever did see.

And to inspire me, little things like this.

So there you go. I'm in love! My brain feels less frazzled already.

Here is where you can find one of these beauties {in lots of different styles}
etsy
blog
website

"We Encourage" with Amanda

Happy Tuesday friends!

I want to say a quick "thank you" to all of you who have sent me beautiful e-mails describing how "we encourage" has lifted you up and inspired you. That was my heart behind this idea and I'm amazed every week at the amazing women God brings together. You ALL encourage me!

This week I'm so happy to have a guest post from the lovely and talented Amanda. You must go read her story. It will bless you in ways I can't describe. When I think of a woman "chosen for such a time as this" Amanda comes to mind. 

She also has an amazing design business. Click on "Royal Daughter Designs" on the Sponsor sidebar.

Please go show Amanda some love!

Hey y’all!

I would like to start off by saying what an honor it is to be guest posting here at Call Me Blessed. And even more so because today is my favorite day in blogland: We Encourage! Thank you, Jamie, for asking me to be here today.

I’ve recently been thinking a lot about faith. You see, my husband and I are about to take a big, nay, a monumental leap of faith. Tomorrow we will become first time “parents” to three boys whom we’ve known for about 7 years. The boys, ages 10, 11, and 15, have been on our hearts for about seven months, and when a need arose for us to step up and bring them into our home, we knew that is was what God was calling us to do. God asked, and we answered.

That takes faith, you know?

Over the last three months I’ve thought a lot about faith.

And prayed that He will increase my faith.

But you know what, friends. I’m learning that this journey of faith that we’re on, it’s not about how much faith we have. It’s not about how strong our faith is. It’s not even about how well we live out our faith.

It’s about the object of our faith.

The object of my faith is…

all powerful. {the strength of my faith is insufficient}
all knowing. {the amount of faith I have is insignificant}
is merciful. {He forgives me when my faith fails}
the Almighty {I want to dwell in His shadow}
the Most High {I want to live under His protection}
steadfast {even when my faith is weak}
the author and finisher of my faith {I must let Him write and complete the story of my faith}

Friends, let me encourage you: take your eyes off of your faith. And focus your heart and affections on the object of your faith. Our faith will always be imperfect. But the object of our faith is perfect.

I’d love for you to visit me at my personal blog to follow our story. And you can share with me what’s been strengthening your faith recently.

Grab a button and link up!

Look What Hubby Made!

Are you all sick of looking at my new bedroom yet? Well, too bad because I have one more thing to show you...

We had an old door that was on my kids bathroom before and  just couldn't let it go.

We also have a huge wall in our bedroom that I never know how to fill. Problem solved!
I got some supplies, told Hubby what I was lookin for and look what he made me!

It goes perfectly with the wreath I bought from Sugar Money for my girls' room only to discover it went too perfectly in my room so I took it!  Hey, it's every woman for herself around here.

I was going to write a bible verse or something on the chalkboard but I can't bring myself to erase the little message Hubby wrote to me. Aaawwwww, I think I'll keep him.

All this project took was some aqua spray paint, chalkboard paint, wire and some mini clothespins.
I love it!

Insta-Friday - This is What Happens

This is what happens when you leave your phone sitting around. I'm constantly finding pictures like this and I love it!

This is what happens when you have an awesome Mom who drops  a new Bible on your doorstep while you are out!

This is what happens when she is about to get a frappuccino! Pure joy!

This is what happens when you start getting random catalogs in the mail with things you don't need. It does keep me entertained in the school pick up line.

This is what happens when one of your favorite people sends you a beautiful piece from her shop just because.

necklace from Splendor

Happy weekend friends!