There is Therefore Now No Condemnation. . .

Alright! Week number one of my very first week of Grad School is almost officially over, and I have already learned something. Here we go: Whatever you do, good or bad, mistake or on purpose, sure or unsure, you can't look back: you can only look forward or you will not make it to the end of your goal. No man puts his hand to the plow and looks back. You make a decision and go with it. You finish the job and get it done even when you know what you're up against. You don't make excuses, you persevere and you don't hesitate when the command is clear. You have to trust. . .

 I know this is just week one, but I have figured out early that you don't really change that much from your old habits, circumstances, issues, quirks and personalities. You are who you are and you do what you do. You can only recognize who and where you are and ask for strength to finish what you start, see where you really need help and to be honest about it. I am a very impulsive person and I tend to be hasty with my words. Does that make me bad? No, just more likely to put my foot in my mouth. Now that I know this I can say, Lord, you know me and my mouth. Help me (just before I say something I shouldn't) to hear you and just pause long enough to, you know, maybe abort mission before it's too late? Or at least give me the humility to apologize. . .LOL! 

No, I haven't offended anyone (yet), but it's coming (this is online school, you know). I'm also pretty forgetful and I tend to feel prideful and defensive when I think someone is trying to tell me what to do or how to do it best. No names, just some guy I'm married to does that. . . Anyway, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that it's okay to know yourself and it's even better to know yourself and trust God with the stuff you can't change about yourself and be willing to be humble enough to ask for help when you need it. We do and we will make mistakes, we won't always make the deadlines, we won't always meet every standard (ours or others) and we will be misunderstood, OFTEN: it is the inevitable part of being human, but we should understand that not every "sin" is unto death. We may fall flat on our faces, but the challenge is to get back up. "Talitha Cumi (Little girl, arise)" is God's word to us.  If our hearts condemn us, God is (so much) greater than our hearts (our feelings like guilt and shame/condemnation). I hope no one allows themselves to be detained (more like distracted) in the field of fear or lost in the desert or despair because they got bogged down by their own hearts.

God Bless you guys this week along with every other week ;0) Hit me back if you have a question or comment. I do get my comments in the MomWearsTheHats@gmail address, but I have to figure out how to add an "e-mail me" function to my page.  I know, I'm doing a Masters program in Technology, you would think. . . .

Introducing Remembering Our Vows: To Pray and Stay

Well, I'm back and betta than eva! I am officially a grad student, I got my MacBook Pro, and I don't quite know what to do with myself for the excitement of it all! Occasionally, I am seriously planning to start posting vlogs and personal photos so you can see what's up with me on a regular :0)

Today, I'd like to introduce you to our South Carolina blogger Stephanie Hamilton Brown. Her ministry is for marriage: Remembering our Vows: To Pray and Stay. I first found Stephanie on Facebook when she submitted an amazing story for husbands and wives to ponder on how sometimes wanting out of a marriage is about perspective rather than actual faults or flaws.

We know all the statistics for marriage especially in this country, and for those of us who are married and happily/tolerably so, we recognize that marriage is about real work and commitment (and prayer, much, much, MUCH, prayer) because fuzzy feelings are not enough. Stephanie's mission above all things is to help get that 50% divorce rate statistic down through prayer, fasting, and working directly with people through open conference calls. There are many marriages that can be preserved and even improved if people had the right tools and the resolve to do what it takes to get where they want to be. I didn't say every marriage will be saved, because there are some matches made in hell and many people who are not willing to recognize or accept what real marriage entails (the remembering our vows part).

I have seen several marriages break up as a result of  couples seeing what it really means to be married and one or both persons saying: I want no part of this marriage. I want no part of him/her: I gotta "do me." Marriage is one of those relationships that is the most highly romanticized but that is also the most victimized by human nature and it took me about 10 years to figure that out (I've been married 11 years in December). That's also the reason they put those comical but true lines like: "for richer or poorer", "for better or worse," "till DEATH (hear the creepy gothic voice) do us part." I think that's so that occasionally someone contemplating running for the hills would remember them and say, "Oh, that's what that meant. . .darn it!" I remember when I had that epiphany.

If you get a moment check out Stephanie's Facebook page, or blog and give her a follow if you like what you see. I hope everyone is having a terrific autumn day and does anyone know when we have that glorious "fall back" hour?

Where's Waldo. . .

OK, wow. It's been a few weeks since I've been online (and blogging) and I don't know what happened except maybe life took over (she shrugs). I did the giveaway and at first I thought maybe I had been taken over by some post-partum giveaway depression or some sort of giveaway "letdown". Has that happened to anyone else? I don't know. Actually, I DO know. I had to take a moment to pause. I just had to put a little comma right here (,) in the sentence of my life and edit some things and breathe so that I could get a little oxygen moving around and a little more focus in my brain. I'm going back to school to get my Masters. I am about to embark on a 12 month journey with Full Sail University in November for a degree in Education Media and Technology (I am a teacher by profession). It wasn't a light decision really. It's just a long put away desire and now a brand new opportunity that has presented itself at this time in my life. My book progress (crickets chirping)? Uh, yeah. Well, I haven't not worked on  the book, but I haven't really worked on the book either (LOL!). That was my honest confession to those who secretly said "Good luck with that. . ." when I made my book finishing announcement here. I am writing the book though. I do know that for the next 12 months I am going to be the busiest I've been in 12 or so years since college. Has it really been that long? My goodness! The good thing is though, I'm not alone, I do have the support of my family (wink, hint) and my Father who keeps encouraging me to live my life to better the lives of those in my circle of influence. So, as I learn cool and helpful "edu-techie" things in school and as I get creative I will post some of my crowning acts of gloriousness around here and maybe even on youtube  :-D Holla in the comments if you missed me!

P.S. Click on the title for a little online brain candy! Love you guys. . .