Friday's CUP

I read something this morning that was very encouraging to me.....

Oswald Chambers wrote about Discernment of Faith from the verse in Matthew "Faith as a grain of mustard seed....". "We have the idea that God rewards us for our faith. It may be so in the initial stages, but we do not earn anything by faith; faith brings us into right relationship with God and gives God His opportunity. God has frequently to knock the bottom board out of your experience if you are a saint in order to get you into contact with Himself. God wants you to understand that it is a life of faith, not a life of sentimental enjoyment of His blessings. Your earlier life of faith was narrow and intense, settled around a little sun-spot of experience that had as much of sense as of faith in it, full or light and sweetness; then God withdrew His conscious blessing in order to teach you to walk by faith. You are worth far more to Him now than you were in your days of conscious delight and thrilling testimony."

Walking by Faith is so hard at times but I was reminded this morning that I'd much rather be in a place of living by Faith than in a place where I'm full of worldly joys and gifts, as pleasing as they sometimes are and as much we desire them...they still leave us empty once the initial pleasing has worn off. Worldly joys aren't in and of themselves bad, but when they are what makes us content and happy and full of joy, we are gravely mislead.

Happy Friday! Cheers!

The TOO Busy CUP

Do you ever get so wrapped up in your to dos and what's going on around you that you find yourself at that too familiar "overwhelmed point" and you just want to shut off? I'm embarrassed to say that I find myself in this place way too often. One thing in particular happens to me when I get in this place and want to "shut off" - I don't want to answer the phone or return phone calls that I know I need to - or I'll answer but I'm only partly "there" in the conversation. It's so bad but I get in administrative mode so email, text or a quick phone call is better but all that's doing is checking someone off the list and it's so impersonal. By doing this, I'm robbing myself of the chance to allow God to use them to touch my life or perhaps God wants to use me to touch theirs......

Last night I was faced with that very choice......I got a call from a dear friend who's been in Africa for months. I was busy working in my office at home on some stationery deadlines but knew in my heart I needed to take this call and am so thankful I did. We talked for over an hour and I can't tell you enough how much she blessed me during that conversation. We are soul sisters at heart and God gave us a sweet time together to catch up (talk about her upcoming wedding in 8 weeks..YEAH!), to encourage one another and to connect on a deep level because she's one of those dear friends who "gets" me. I hung up with my CUP definitely overflowing and was still able to meet my deadlines.

Funny how that happens when you "think" you have so much to do and you allow yourself to get so overwhelmed....but in reality if you just focus and get things done it's never as bad as the "thought" of what you had to do. Sure I went to bed a little later than I would have hoped but sacrificing a little sleep to bless and encourage someone else is sometimes the very thing we need!

Happy Monday....Cheers!

CUP of Sushi

This is not a stock photo from the internet - I took this on my kitchen table...no really!!!

Today has been an extra fun day already......Jodi got sushi supplies for her birthday from Kailey Gray so she decided to give it a try today for lunch. She went on the internet and looked up some recipes and off she went.....let me tell ya it was soooooooo yummy! Thanks for sharing Jodi - can't wait to make it again! I think we're on to another budget saving fun thing to do!!!

Friday's CUP

This sweet picture I took of my niece was a reminder to me this morning to live in today and not worry about tomorrow!!

This week has been another eye opener for me (I'm sooooo still growing up) as God graciously showed me what it means to truly live in today and not tomorrow. I didn't realize I wasn't living like this until it was made clear to me Sunday night as I cried with my best pal about all that's been going on around me and some daunting things that lie ahead.

We all know we're to "not be anxious about tomorrow for today has enough troubles of it's own"....but do you really truly embrace what that means? Here I am 40 and still learning this truth....God really opened my eyes this week to what that means and I have NOT been living like this. I challenge you to really take it to heart if you don't already.

Today I need to keep today's priorities in check, today I need to make wise choices that I will face today (not worry about tomorrow's decisions), today I need to be a good steward of what God's given me, today I need to be diligent at work and not worry about all that's pressing, today I need to be a loving friend to those I cross paths with and am reminded of today.....what a huge weight has been lifted from me this week when I truly sat down and embraced all that it meant to live in today. It sounds so easy and something we've always known but I'll admit - it's not how I have been living. Earlier this week I truly put this into practice daily and what a difference it has made in my life - I feel more at peace than I have in quite some time!! AMEN!!

I hope you're encouraged today to live in today and be the person God intended you to be today - tomorrow is just that - tomorrow!

Cheers!

Belated Birthday CUP

I can't believe I completely forgot about my dear friend Jodi's birthday this past Monday!! She's the best!! A friend from college and a friend for life! Thank you Jodi for your friendship, kindness, love all these years! Miss you and I can't wait for our next Westmont girls weekend!! xoxo

Birthday CUP

Today is my friend Debbie's birthday. We work together and I absolutely adore her and all of our little chats when she sits on my sofa and we solve the problems of the world :). She's a great encouragement to me. Hope you're having a great day Debbie (especially since you took the day off from work)!! Hugs, A.

My weekend CUP

I spent the weekend with Marcus and Sophia so my sis and Rodney could celebrate their 5th Anniversary. I made the mistake earlier this year of giving my nephew some pirate jewelry....now he never wants to take it off.....lol.

Marcus said "Auntie AA take a "cool" picture of me".....this is his cool pose...not sure who taught him this but can anyone say....Rico Suave?

Love this little one....it only took 20 pictures to get one where she wasn't frowning!

Auntie took them to the Pumpkin Patch.....we didn't buy a $20 Newport Beach pumpkin though...we just sat on them :).

Yes I was honestly the photographer in these 2 pictures standing in the petting zoo....once I realized I was inside the fence and animals all around me.....I snapped a few shots and got out of there :). The things I'll do for my niece and nephew.....

CUP of Love

Happy 5th Anniversary Sis and Rod!!! I love you guys!

Friday's CUP

We've all been faced with choices to do or not do something (in my case purchase something) and then the conviction starts in, then you have the "justification jargon" with yourself trying to see if it's still "okay". Well I had a victory in this particular choice this week, thankfully, and I didn't go through with the purchase. But afterwards, on the thoughts went...I did the right thing I know I did...yes it was right...thank you Lord for giving me pause and allowing the time for a choice. But then came part B.....I came to realize that I was frustrated with my decision - I think more frustrated that it was the "right" decision and why did it have to be right. As I pondered and prayed through my attitude this week, I realized that I was feeling as if I was owed something because I made the right decision instead of just being relieved and happy with the fact "I did the right thing". I truly was in a place of....I did the right thing so blessing, preferably a tangible blessing, will no doubt follow. It didn't instead I turned a good decision into a struggle...hmmmmm will I ever grow up and be better at these things...perhaps someday...still a work in progress! Happy Friday...Cheers!

CUP of gas

So I finally got my new prius last week.....I feel like a brat not being happy about it....like my best pal Jodi said "most people are thrilled when they get a new car...." but getting a new car means I'm having to sell my absolute favorite car :( but I know it's something I need to do to be a good steward and lower my monthly spend. Needless to say I felt horrible about my stinky attitude. Last week I chose to start focusing on all the cool features (of which I will say there are MANY)...what a difference that made in my attitude. Mind you I feel selfish and a brat even having to go through this emotional process when I know people are losing their cars, homes, jobs, etc. We are so rich in so many things but yet we focus on such trivial ones....I'm in process for sure!

I'm very thankful to the kind people at Keyes Toyota - they gave me a smokin deal so I can't complain (it pays to know people in high places - thanks JoJo!). Then came my first gas up.......$30.57 to fill it with 8.8 gallons of gas. The GPS computer gadget thingy boper tracks your average MPG so on my first tank I got 45 MPG......now how I can keep boo hooing especially given the financial state of our country. My flesh still wants to pout about needing to sell my Sequoia but I'm working on my tude and I'm letting go......Cheers!

Kiddie CUP

I love these 2 little ones so very much. My sister finally crossed over to the other side and created a facebook account last night (it kept her up until after midnight so I know I'm going to be blamed today for her being so tired) well this was her profile pic so I just had to steal it. I wish these precious babies lived closer...they definitely light up my life whenever I hear them laugh or see them running towards me. Sophia talked to me on the phone for the first time last week - well okay so her talking to me was just her saying "hi hi..aasjlxmlkxmlajdrfal.....hi hi hi" but at least we had a nice chat. Happy Wednesday.....cheers!

Just one CUP at a time.....

Post numero uno........

Well here I am finally getting my blog started (yes even though I created the account over a year ago). I guess I kept putting it off because I would read so many others and think how witty and funny you all are, how much great stuff you have going on in your life that you can share, and then there's the fact that I'm no Holla girl (this cups for you Jenny and Hollie....). Anyhooo here I go......maybe I'm finally doing this because I turned 40 and think I've somehow empowered myself (should that even be possible) so now I feel certain that you all will think I'm witty and funny and interesting....noooo I know you will!!

Well here's hoping you enjoy my blog and sharing my CUP........cheers!!

The test CUP

Marcus my little love......

Not sure Sophia thinks I'm her little love in this pic but she's mine!!!

P.S. The pictures were a test and what better way to test than with my nephew and one of my nieces!!