Chitwood is Home!

Yeah!! Amanda came home on Saturday after being @ Mayo for a month. You can read about her here also. Amanda and her mom Rhonda, learned so much about Amanda's pancreatis and how to manage her pain while they were there. Amanda met some amazing friends that will support and encourage her thru this process that are dealing with some of the same issues she is. I just want to give you all a big "thank you" for praying for Amanda & Rhonda while they were @ Mayo. Being gone from home that long was tough...but thru the prayers and support of many they were able to endure and make it thru their time there. I am truly blessed by each of you for holding someone you didn't know personally...but as a fellow follower of Christ...up in prayer. That's what it's truly all about!! WOW! God gets all the Glory!! Please continue to pray for Amanda as she continues to learn how to manage her pain and deal with having this disease on a daily basis and take what she learned and put into a daily practice. We had a little surprise party for her on Sunday after church. 

Tons of friends and family showed up to welcome her home! As Ty Pennington would say...cuz ya'll know he is my friend and all...LOL...yea..right! There's only one thing left to say...Welcome Home Amanda & Rhonda...Welcome home! 

In Christ Alone

In  Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

PLEASE PAUSE THE PLAYLIST BELOW BEFORE YOU WATCH THE VIDEO!

During this song this morning @FCC God spoke to my heart and gave me such a peace about a situation in my life right now. Jesus commands my destiny...no one else...though some may be against me...I have been bought by the precious blood of Christ...I have victory...no scheme of man can pluck me from His hand. As we prepare to celebrate our risen Savior (which we should do every day..not just at Easter) ...I pray that you know that you have the POWER of Christ in you. Someone might be waiting for your invitation to know Christ this week...more people will say YES to coming on Easter Sunday than any other day of the year. Be BOLD my friend in the Name of Christ. 

If I can pray for you in any situation you are struggling with...email me. 

Stand in the Power of Christ! 

Painting...DONE!

We finally go the walls painted! I put a base coat on first...it was kinda a warm yellow. Then I took a Mocha Glaze and brushed it on...and yes...my arm...elbow and shoulder were about to fall off! Whine whine whine!!  I was going for a Tuscan look. I like warm, cozy colors. I have to say...I LOVE IT!! I wish my bathroom looked like this actually. :) Matt found this fun light! The wall is curved up so we had to find something that would work for it. These pictures don't really give you the best color. It's really more brown than red. 

This is how we textured the walls...

We are going to start the tile tonight or tomorrow! That should be interesting...we have never attempted tile, but we have been assured we can do it. We will see!! 

Mother/Daughter Journaling

Several months ago I bought my girls a journal. The purpose of this journal was for them to write to me anything they wanted to say...ask...or simply express their feelings about. Something to get conversations started with that we can pass back in forth to each other. We had some serious issues with one of our daughters this week and I wish so bad I had already started this so we could use it during this time.  I had kinda forgot about the journals to be honest. But one of my friends asked me to help her with an assignment and I thought I would get your help. Give me some good conversation starters...questions...or ideas for this to help my friend and myself out as we begin doing this with our daughters. How precious those will be someday as they grow up!! Comment on here...Facebook or Email. Would love to hear what you have to say...Questions she could ask you and Questions you would ask her or just conversations starters...something you would like your daughter to know about you!! Thanks Keri for the idea!

More than just soup...it's a gift.

 My sweet neighbor Kristi Minton read that I wasn't feeling good yesterday and about 3:00 in the afternoon I get a text that she is bringing me homemade chicken noodle soup! Yummy! Now what you need to know about Kristi is...growing up she helped run her parents restaurant...LaCasita...so she is an excellent cook my friends! ( I am still trying to convince her to open it back up for one day and make everyone chicken enchiladas)  I was soo excited when she came over! And the soup felt so good on my throat and just warmed my whole body up!
But it did more than just warmed my body...it warmed my heart and soul that she took the time to make me this soup. I felt so loved by her! Kristi has the gift of hospitality and she uses it very well to serve the kingdom. She and her husband Dave get up early every Sunday and set up our cafe at church. They do it because they love too and it's their way of serving God. They stay late and make sure things get cleaned up after church. It's a huge blessing for many to have breakfast available at our church. I truly appreciate their servant hearts. You never know how welcome someone might feel by simply serving them a donut or coffee with a smile. So thank you Kristi and Dave for all you do...how you do it and why you do it every week. Our church is extremely blessed with how they use their gifts on Sunday...so this Sunday when you are @ FCC stop by and tell them how much you appreciate them!
I feel even more blessed that they are my neighbors! What a lucky gal I am!
We all have different gifts...are you using yours to Glorify the kingdom? It could all start by simply making a bowl of soup for someone and making them feel loved!

**I'm feeling soo much better today! Thanks for all the sweet comments and prayers! You are all a huge source of encouragement for me! ***

It's official...

I have my 4th sinus infection since November! Geez! It started last Thursday night and BAM... hit me like a train rollin down the tracks! I used to get them a lot...then I had kinda stopped for a couple of years...then all of the sudden I am getting them again. This time it's a little different because it has packed up and moved to my chest. I am coughing up some really nasty stuff! Sorry...:) I sound like an old lady who hangs out at the bar smokin a pack of cigarettes all day. COUGH COUGH...Hack Hack!! Every time I cough it hurts! Anyway...I broke down and went to the Doc today. I have a bad sinus infection and the drainage has went to my chest and caused the cough...and some infection in my chest. She gave me some an antibiotic...nasal steriod and something for my cough, so I should be better soon. I am not one to run to the Doc unless I really need it...maybe once a year if that! I just think once it gets into your chest you shouldn't mess around.  The copay...the pharmacy...the $$$....it all just annoys me really. But I know...I know...I should be thankful for insurance...I AM!! But who knows how that's going to go with the new health care bill that passed last night....not going to talk anymore about that.
I have to tell you something though girls...we have a breathing machine and some albuterol. Brooke needs it for her coughing asthma so we keep it on hand and if someone gets a bad cough I give them a treatment. Well...last night I decided to use it to see if it would clear my chest....girls...you would think I just took a hit of something or actually was at the bar...I was CrazY!! I was shaky..,and Sunday nights we do our family devo and I couldn't stop laughing...I would just bust out in laughter over nothing! I think Matt wanted to throw me out of the room. LOL!! I felt so bad...but I seriously could not control it!! Scary huh?!?!
So we have made tons of progress on the bathroom. I can't wait to show you the walls. I painted them a warm yellowish and then I am putting a Mocha glaze on them. It looks cool! I have to finish the ceiling today...just trying to get the energy to do it at this point. My bed still isn't made. The house is a disaster...ahh...but you know...it's ok. Momma needs some rest!
Well are you sick of my whining now? Not very exciting news today. Just need to sleep it off and get better. How about you guys? Anyone else had more sinus/allergy stuff this year too? I hope each of you know how much I enjoy your comments...thru facebook...here or email. It brightens my day when I find out you read my ramblings....just like Salem Martin...girl...I had no idea you keep up with me. Gave me a smile the other day...:)
Blessings...

Welcome Sean & Misty Algaier

Remember Sean from the Biggest Loser that spoke at church last month? I totally forgot to share some exciting news!!! Last week @FCC we announced that we are hiring Sean Algaier as our Tech guy. He will be working with Tim behind the scenes in our Tech department. Sean is going to be a huge help for Tim in so many ways. Tim has known Sean for a long time and so he will be a great fit for the job.  As our church grows so does the ministry opportunities for so many to jump in and help, especially with the launching of the new campus @ Stone Canyon. God is doing some amazing things in His kingdom work.  Sean will be an outstanding addition to the staff @ FCC. His wife Misty is a total sweet heart and I can't wait to get to to know their sweet little family. Help me Welcome them...they will be here in April!