When your life is full of CLUTTER!

If you come to my house, it is free from clutter. That's because I am a stasher!

I always have been. I don't have clutter out in my rooms, but rather in my closet, and upstairs in the attic. This past weekend, in the midst of 4th of July we decided to throw in a yard sale.

To get rid of clutter.

My husband is so good at hosting yard sales. 

It feels so good to de-clutter our home, and our lives.

My theory is, if you haven't touched it in 6 months, it's going in the yard sale.

We don't need "stuff", to really make us happy. It is a temporary fix to go to the mall and buy, but really it becomes old and then it's clutter.

Getting rid of clutter in your house, is a good thing. 

Getting rid of clutter in your mind and heart, is an even better thing. 

I am working on both. 

I have held on to grudges for too long. I have held on to negative friendships for too long. I have prayed, and read, and thought about how to de-clutter my mind. I have the answer. 

Through Jesus Christ. 

Clutter in your mind comes from the outside world. It's something we can't get away from. 

Garbage in, Garbage OUT. 

But through prayer, and reading you can de-clutter. 

God's Timing

It's July. I'm so thankful it's July. 

June was not so great. Many unexpected things happened that I won't go into detail about, but know it was hard. Hard times do bring you closer as a family. 

God knows his timing. We do not, but he sure does. In the midst of bad events, God saw fit for this cat to come to our home. 

To bring us joy! To help create our servants heart. To create a lesson on love, care, and nurturing for our two boys. To give me something else to think about, rather than worry.

As silly as it sounds, God's timing with our "coal cat", was good timing. 

We all needed lifting. He is fun, adventurous, loveable, and truly just wants to have a family who loves him.

God's timing may not be to fix the problems we have right now, but to prepare our hearts on how to love better. 

Even if it means taking in a starving, hurt, cat. 

I am thankful.

For God's timing.

In July.

And in every other month. 

The church is not about the building...

This week has been a special one. Our church has been leading up to a move into a newly built church. We have been meeting in an old elementary building for the past 4 years. This Sunday was the first service in the new church.

There was still a lot to do, so this past Wednesday our small groups helped by cleaning, moving things, and finishing to build a few things. 

The boys played their hearts out with all of the kids, and then Karson wanted to help Kevin. He swept all of the saw dust and the guys kept making more and he just kept sweeping and sweeping. Serving The Lord! 

Kevin and another guy built this bar/table for the teen room. I know what your thinking, a bar in a church but it's just a place to sit and hang out for them. It turned out sooo good and they built it out of pallets. (Kevin's love language)

The new church is just beautiful! Every detail is just amazing. 

Today was just so special. I got choked up a few different times during the service. It was amazing and 8 people were baptized today. 

The kids rooms are amazing and were hand drawn by a member in the church. 

I taught the preschool class for the 11:00 service and we had a great group of 3-5 year olds. 

Both of my boys look up to this boy. He is the sweetest, kindest boy an just so happens to be the preachers son. My boys have nick named him "Butch" and they follow him around all over the church. 

I'm so thankful for a good church. It's really so important to have in your life. A new building is so nice, but the church is the people and not a new building. I am so thankful that Jesus saw this building through. Not just because it's new and nice, but because it will help others come closer to God.

If you'd like more info on our church go to www.aroundc3.com.

Have a great week!!!!!

Modest Dressing for The Lord

I have been really digging about what The Lord thinks about how a woman should dress and about modesty. It's been on my heart for sometime now.

I first began my digging when The Duggars began their TV show, and I wanted to know the reasoning behind their decisions. Now, I am digging more for myself rather than just curiosity about a particular family's decisions.

The Lord says we as women should not dress like men. As well as saying men should not dress as women. 

In 1 Timothy, the apostle Paul is writing about Instructions on Worship in Chapter 2. In verse 2:9 he says "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or even expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for woman who profess to worship God." 

No, this verse does not say you should wear a skirt or dress, but you should be modest and covered when you dress. I feel like it teaches us to dress like you would to worship God, and that doesn't mean just on Sundays.

After looking and digging on this subject, it really wouldn't be much of a change to switch it up to some dresses and skirts more than yoga pants. I already dress modestly by always being covered. How much harder would it be to dress more like a woman would if she were to meet Jesus?

I also found it interesting to find that God doesn't want us to wear expensive clothes, or gold & pearls. I have worn gold and pearls in my life, as well as many other women so I find this very interesting.

I think the reason God doesn't want us wearing expensive clothing is because we need to be good stewards of our money. Buying a $300 name brand jacket isn't being a good steward of your money.

Your finances are from God. He can take them at any time. I truly believe that. There was a time when my husband and I were blowing a lot of money on a home we were only renting right after being married. Soon after, Kevin was suspended for 12 days for barely touching the boat up to a barge. This is an act that happens all the time, but God saw fit that the boss would react this way and scare us with this incident. 

We soon set a budget, and stopped the silly spending. We started giving to our church, and soon after we were blessed with the opportunity of building our brand new dream home. 

So do your research. Should we be showing body parts to other people that only our husband should see?

Should we be dressing in baggy pants and sweatshirts that relate to something a man would wear? 

Should we be buying expensive clothes, to impress others? 

Just some points to ponder. 

I love these quotes I found on Pinterest. 

I love this quote below. If you were dressed with your top hanging out, and too short of shorts would you be happy if you husband looked at another woman wearing this? Chances are it would turn to jealousy, and even turn to a hurtful part of your marriage. 

In my younger days before kids, and a husband I am guilty of dressing poorly. What image was that setting myself up for? I was a young woman who showed her body to the world, for all men to ponder.

Thankfully, I have changed. Dressing modest is a beautiful thing. 

I encourage you to study and research this topic. There are a lot of blogs out there that help us as women know what is right, and what is wrong in God's eyes. 

childrenareablessing.org - A great blog on modesty. 

(All photos above are courtesy of Pinterest. You can view my boards HERE for their direct link)

Praying

I look at this picture of my babies and can't fathom the feelings that those parents have that lost their precious children in CT. Watching the news is like a train wreck. You want to watch, but it is heartbreaking to see the hearts broken.

 

 

But then there is hope for these families. Thankfully this is not our home here on earth!

But rather with our GOD, who is much more powerful than these horrible acts that we see time and time again.

 

Praying for all of the families involved.

Holiday TraditionsI

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner about how your family begins and continues holiday traditions. Because the boys are so young (3 & 2) we are starting new traditions each year.

 

This year we began:

 

Letting the boys pick out their own "real" tree for their toy room and decorating it however they want. It is mostly done in Disney ornaments and ones they picked out at Hobby Lobby.

 

Began the tradition of having our very own Elf on the Shelf named Bucky.

The boys have enjoyed him so much and look forward to him each morning.

 

Pulling out all of our Christmas books and having them by the tree to read.

The boys can pick 2 stories each night for me or Kevin to read out of the Christmas basket.

They really enjoy "new" to them books. Some I bought and some I rented from the library.

 

 

Pulling out our favorite Christmas clothes and mommy taking lots of pictures in front of the Christmas tree. :)

 

 

 

 

Driving around to see Christmas lights.

 

Listening and singing Christmas songs.

 

Learning new Christmas songs.

 

Christmas shopping together (grrrr)

 

Waiting in line for over 20 minutes to see this big guy in RED :)

 

We also started a new tradition this year where each boy gets to pick out a gift around $20 for each other. I had Kipton out one day and I decided this would be such a great lesson learned. Giving to each other and not being worried about the receiving end.

 

Kipton picked a Jake and the Neverland Pirate doll for Karson that talks. He also picked 3 characters that go with Jake for Karson.

 

Kevin had Karson out one day and he let Karson shop for Kipton. He came back with a playdoh machine that has a bulldozer to make different roads, and a fish tank. SERIOUSLY KEVIN!!!!

I about killed him.

 

So it looks like we will be getting a fish a few days before Christmas and trying to hide it for Kipton.

 

Most importantly, learning about Jesus Christ and the reason for Christmas Day.

 

Every night after dinner I quiz the boys questions about Jesus' birth. (the teacher in me) If they can answer at least 2 of the questions then they will get a small candy from the treasure box. They LOVE this and have learned alot from doing this each night.

 

Questions like:

 

What is Jesus mommy's name?

 

What is Jesus daddy's name?

 

Who brought the gifts to Jesus at the manger?

 

Where was Jesus born?

 

What is the guy called that takes care of the sheep?

 

Why didn't Jesus have a bed?

 

Who appeared in the sky telling everyone the good news?

 

The boys have really learned a lot and enjoy answering these questions. Kipton even went into the nursery this past Sunday and afterwards his teacher told me that he was telling her all about Jesus birth and who everyone was.

 

I finally found a "Little People" nativity set last night at the Christian Bookstore. Bucky the elf had it set up on our coffee table to remind the boys that it's about Christ. They have been playing with it all morning. So cute!! 

Perspective

I have kept up with many blogs since my blogging days began last year. I love reading along with other moms who are going through the same "season" of life that I am. I think it's so important to know that others are going through the same daily trials that come with raising kids.

 

One blog I have read along with is Julee's Blog. Julee lost her husband in a car wreck on Saturday night. She also has a 10 month old baby girl. Although I don't know her personally, sometimes it feels like you get to "know" someone when you read their daily blogs.

 

Since I read about this my heart has been breaking for her. Thinking about it several times throughout the day. It changes perspective for me, and I think sometimes we need that. It is easy to get caught up in the daily life of being a wife, a mom, running errands, and keeping up with the house.

 

 

I am so thankful for this guy! Sometimes I do take him for granted. Life would be SO incredible hard without my husband. Not just because he is the sole provider for our family, but because he fills that hole in our family that we need. He is our rock and such a wonderful husband and father to me and our boys. He is the hardest worker I know. No job is ever too big for Kevin.

 

 

 

 

Using these times to put things in perspective. It's really not about all of the little details in life. What clothes you wear, how much money you make, what kind of car you drive.

 

It's yours relationships that matter.

 

I've even realized here lately that friendship relationships will come and go. You can work and work for them, but sometimes they just aren't meant to be anymore. It's time to let go. It's hard but sometimes it's evident that it's what is supposed to be.

 

My family and my relationship with Jesus is really all that matters.

 

Please keep the Turner family in your prayers.