The description from LifeWay is this:

Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent – Member Book by Beth Moore provides a personal study experience five days a week plus viewer guides for the group video sessions of this in-depth women’s Bible study of Psalms 120-134. Traveling pilgrims sang these psalms both on the way to the great festivals of the LORD and as key elements of the worship at those festivals. Just as a song or poem can express feelings of fear, doubt, hope, and joy, these 15 psalms model how we can voice our own petitions and praises to our God, who is always available and ready to hear us.

Explore the major feasts of Israel and journey with Beth through this 7-session study. Themes of unity, joy, gratitude, redemption, repentance, the power of blessings, facing ridicule, and more are explored in detail. Modern-day believers in Jesus Christ can learn much from these treasured Psalms in their journey toward greater intimacy with God.

Something that Beth said in our first session that struck me is “Mean what you sing…Sing what you mean”  How many times have you stepped into worship and just weren’t “feeling” it?  Did you just sing the songs from worship without any real thought behind what you were singing?  Wow, I had never realized that sometimes I do this.  Now I make a conscious effort into making sure the words I’m singing are words I mean…if they aren’t, I take time to pray that God would get me to that point of meaning those words.

“Songs move us and God fully intended it to” ~ Beth Moore

I am amazed at how God takes different bible studies and ties them all together.  I started reading a book a few weeks prior to our first bible study meeting called “Worshiper By Design: A Unique Look At Why We Were Created” By John W. Stevenson…some of the things that I’m learning in that book were confirmed in the bible study with Beth Moore!

God is Awesome!!!  I just love when He speaks to me and shows me new things that I need to know, things I need to learn, or just things I’ve never really thought about before!   I am forever being changed by God…and I love it!

So, I received this in the mail a few weeks ago.  It’s Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner.  I wasn’t sure how well this would work…I mean how can just spraying a toilet keep it clean without scrubbing?

First thing we had to decide is which of our 4 toilets that we would try this on…we decided that we would put it in the master bathroom…I mean, putting it in the boys’ bathroom may help with the cleaning, but the product would have been gone in a few days and I don’t use their toilet, so I won’t know how it works.

After opening the package, there was a bottle, a foot pedal and attached to it was a hose with a clip.  After looking at the picture directions (yes, they had words too, but who reads directions when they have pictures?), I was able to put the product onto the toilet…not problems.  It adjusts to fit the rim of the toilet.  After placing the product into the foot pedal, I decided to step on it to see how it worked.  The chemicals were sprayed into the toilet.  Seems easy enough.  The directions say to step on the pedal for a second or two and the spray will cover the whole bowl (360 degrees).

This has been on my toilet now for 2 weeks…so far, it’s working great!  My toilet is clean and I haven’t had to scrub it!!  I’m sure to step on the pedal a couple times a day.

So the question…would I recommend this product?  Absolutely!   I’m planning on getting one for each toilet in my house!!

The above is my opinion and I was not paid in any way for giving this opinion.  I’m a BuzzAgent and have signed up for this campaign.  Once I sign up for a campaign, they send me the product to try and give my honest opinion, then report back to them of any times I’ve recommended this product to others and their reactions.

Please know that I haven’t abandoned you.  I have many, many blog posts that are swirling around in my head, but I just haven’t been able to focus on any of those posts.

I will be back, someday…soon!

Until then…

On Monday, the tornado sirens were going off.  The storm moved through, but no tornado, just a lot of high winds.

Then on Wednesday night, we had tornado sirens going off again around 6 pm.  We have group at our house at 7 pm, so we were a bit worried, but watching the news stations, we saw that the storm moved to the North of us.  After group was over, I watched the news and saw that another line of storms were heading this way, so I went ahead and stayed up to watch the news.

As I was laying there, around 12:30 am, the newscaster stated that “the chance of a tornado is minimal”.  So I started to get comfortable in bed.  Just then, we heard this HORRIFIC noise and Kevin shot straight up out of bed…we went running up stairs to get the boys into the basement.  Once we finally got down there, we waited for Kevin to finally get the dog to go down.  He had peeked out the window before heading downstairs and told me that our table outside (that has 4 big tiles in it) was flipped over.

After the storm had died down, we sent the kids back up to their bedroom, Kevin and I headed outside to take a look at the damage.  Our grill had been flipped, our table flipped, chairs scattered all over, out front, we saw the news crew driving through, ambulances coming into the development, and some siding in our front yard.

The next morning, Kevin called to let me know our chair was across the street and we should go get it.  Here are some photos of what I saw once the sun was up!

Our Grill

Our Table

Our Neighbor’s play set with a gutter wrapped around it

Can’t see it well, but there’s a lot of debris over by the fence

The street near us.many trees down, lots of damage

A neighbor’s damaged roof

Another neighbor who had damage and people out fixing it

A flipped over car

Same debris that I tried to show you from my yard…it’s from the next photo’s house!

House lost most of the 2nd story!

The national weather service decided that a F1 tornado had hit our neighborhood.  Now why they didn’t sound the sirens during this storm, we have no idea.  Had this storm hit at a different spot, we could have lost so much.  All 4 of our boys were upstairs sleeping when this hit.  I just Thank God for our protection during this storm that came out of nowhere!

Since I’ve volunteered to help out with the hair and make-up, my schedule is jammed packed with dress rehearsals and running a child here and there.  We got a letter yesterday stating that Michael would need a tux shirt from Hobby Lobby…we forgot to go on Saturday, they are closed on Sundays, so that leaves me tomorrow after I drop Daniel and Andrew off at school.

Monday night is our first meeting for our Women’s Retreat planning.  And since I’m the one who will be leading that meeting, I guess I’ll have to attend that as well!

Wednesday is Daniel and Andrew’s Preschool Parade at the school.  I don’t think they understand what will be taking place, but once they figure it out, they will be excited.  And of course, the mom that I am, I will be there helping!

It’s funny, you schedule things in advance and it never fails that everyone falls in the same week!  I think I’m ready for this week to be over…we haven’t even hit Monday yet!!

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Things that make me happy:

My boys behaving and playing nicely together!

Book(s) I’m reading:

Just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  It’s a really good book!  Getting ready to read (for our Wednesday night group The Unshakable Truth By Josh and Sean McDowell…first impression…it seems like it’s going to be a good book…but it’s LONG and a lot of information!!  Also, our Tuesday night women’s group is starting Here and Now…There and Then By Beth Moore…so I’ll be doing a lot of reading!

What I’m enjoying on TV:

I usually don’t watch much on TV, I end up using Hulu to watch some shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and The Bachelor, but I do watch Wipeout on TV…it’s just too funny not to!!

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

None that I can think of right now…but I’m always open to suggestions!!

On the Menu for dinner:

Lasagna

On my To Do List:

• Find a Lactose Free Recipe to make for a family on Thursday
• A bunch of meetings this week
• Figure out carpooling
• Figure out a Menu for next week’s dinner (4 adults, 7 children…6 of which are boys)

In the Craft Basket:

Nothing right now…just haven’t had the time to do anything yet…I do have some old sweaters/sweatshirts that I would like to convert to something else…but I’m unsure what I want to do with them.  I have scrapbooks that I should be working on since I haven’t done anything with them in almost 6 years!!

Looking forward to this week:

Quarter Auction…it sounds like a lot of fun…and I hope to win something too!!

Tips and Tricks:

I use drive safe.ly on my blackberry.  It reads texts and emails to you so you aren’t tempted to pull your phone out while you are driving!  The downfall…if my hubby knows, he’s likely to send a text to embarrass me! LOL

No words needed (favorite picture, yours or others you want to share):

My favorite photo from our camping trip in Michigan a couple years ago

Lesson learned the past few days:

You can create folders on an iPad…I had no clue until hubby showed me!  If you slide 1 app on top of the other app, it will create a folder with those 2 apps!

On my Prayer list/things on my mind:

A few friends who need healing, my boys for their attitudes

Devotionals, scripture reading, key verses:

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalms 46:10

From: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

It took me a while to get into the groove of reading…just like any book, it takes me a couple chapters to get “into” the book.  Once I got past the first chapter and into the groove of how the author wrote the book, I couldn’t put it down.

The Help takes you into 1962 in the deep South of Jackson, Mississippi.  It puts you into the lives of 2 black maids and 1 young white aspiring writer who is trying to find her place in this small town.  There are the unspoken lines and laws that whites/blacks aren’t supposed to cross.  We see these lines begin to blur in this book.

I really liked this book.  Thanks Margaret for suggesting it!!

The weather in my neck of the woods:

COLD!!!  Snowy, windy, and a good day to stay in!

Things that make me happy:

Seeing other people smile!!

Book(s) I’m reading:

“The Case for Christmas” by Lee Strobel

What I’m enjoying on TV:

I’ve been watching a lot of Food Network…getting ideas for holiday cooking!

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies

On the Menu for dinner:

Pizza

On my To Do List:

Baking cookies!!

In the Craft Basket:

Hmmm…can’t say! 

Looking forward to this week:

Preschool Christmas Program on Wednesday

Tips and Tricks:

I use a calendar that lists out my 4 boys’ chores for each day of the week.  It’s listed on a weekly calendar, so if I want to change their jobs, I just rip off the current week and change their chores!

My favorite blog post this week (Mine or other):

Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies I’m so making these for the Preschool Christmas Program!!

Blog Hopping (A new discovered blog you would like to share with other readers)”:

?

No words needed (favorite picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:

My son will make it as a dad…someday!  He did a pretty good job at taking care of that “baby” from school!

On my Prayer list/things on my mind:

A few friends of friends who are sick/had surgery

Devotionals, scripture reading, key verses:

¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

(still trying to memorize this)

From: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

The weather in my neck of the woods:

COLD!!!  Currently 15 degrees…but if you factor in the Wind-chill, it’s 1 degree!!  And there are flurries!  The high is supposed to reach something like 23 degrees!

Things that make me happy:

This weekend spending time with family and watching all 4 of my boys in the Christmas program!  Michael had a reading part (narrator), Daniel and Andrew sang a Duet, and Noah had a solo!  My boys did a great job!

Book(s) I’m reading:

Besides the Bible…not sure.  I just finished my last book (Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis)…not sure what I’ll read next!

What I’m enjoying on TV:

Right now…nothing!  I have a quiet house…all the boys are in class, so I’m keeping it quiet!

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

Still haven’t tried any Truffles…want to do that soon.  I’m getting the itch to start making desserts/candies for Christmas, so we’ll see!

On the Menu for dinner:

Thinking Chicken Legs (they were on sale at the store this weekend), but I’m not quite sure how I’ll prepare them yet.  I usually grill them with BBQ sauce, but I’m not going to stand outside in this cold weather trying to do that!!

On my To Do List:

Preparation for Friday’s 31:30 meeting (31:30 is our Women’s Ministry name…it’s from Proverbs 31:30)

In the Craft Basket:

I have some things I need to make for Christmas…not going to say for fear those people will be reading this! LOL

Looking forward to this week:

Get together for our Tuesday Night Bible Study…our Wednesday Night Bible Study here at the house…and the 31:30 meeting on Friday!

Tips and Tricks:

Hmmm…not sure I have any this week!

My favorite blog post this week (Mine or other):

Nothing this week

Blog Hopping (A new discovered blog you would like to share with other readers)”:

Haven’t been reading much blogs lately

No words needed (favorite picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:

Never walk through the living room when Kevin and the dog are playing…that dog about took me out!! LOL

On my Prayer list/things on my mind:

Mom and her job…they’ve been laying off a lot of her friends from work.  And my niece Kierstin who has been sick.

Devotionals, scripture reading, key verses:

¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

From: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Cold this morning…about 32 degrees…this afternoon it was in the 50’s.

Things that make me happy:

Listening to my boys sing their Christmas songs and them praying

Book(s) I’m reading:

On my last couple of chapters of “Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis…Ones I have that I want to read are:  “So What’s the Difference?” by Fritz Ridenour and “The Help, a novel” by Kathryn Stockett…both were recommended by people from my church to read!

What I’m enjoying on TV:

News right now…not sure what will be on tonight!

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

On the Menu for dinner:

Spaghetti

On my To Do List:

Christmas Cards

In the Craft Basket:

Christmas gifts…I have to make a few!

Looking forward to this week:

Christmas Program my boys are in.

Tips and Tricks:

Something I did when I was a nursing mom.  Instead of buying those expensive nursing shirts, I would buy some cheap white t-shirts and cut slits in them (for easy access)…tucked in…then I would wear a normal sweater or shirt over it.  When it was time to nurse I would only have to lift up my outer shirt…and would still be covered by the t-shirt.

My favorite blog post this week (Mine or other):

Unsure

Blog Hopping (A new discovered blog you would like to share with other readers)”:

Unsure

No words needed (favorite picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:

Some people shouldn’t go out shopping on Black Friday…you have to have patience!!

On my Prayer list (things on my mind):

My prayer is that through the Christmas season, our family will be focused on Jesus and why there was a need for Him to give up His throne and come down to earth to save us!

Devotionals, scripture reading, key verses:

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

From: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom