What a Gift

Freedom

2009-06-13T19:19:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited today I have to see if I have pictures to post I'm not sure but I do have the best news. WE HAVE BEEN FREED OF MUCH CLUTTER!!!!!!!! don't you wish you where the one typing that. I've been Married to the best man ever for almost 11 years and never once have we had a garage sale. I was never ambitious enough to get it all together and have one, not to mention our first house was in the country I was afraid no one would come and our second house was in an area that I was ashamed to have one ( I know tisk,tisk,tisk,). I was afraid the people around us wouldn't like us.....(no need to comment on this I know the error in my thinking.) So since we have just moved into the new house one night when I opened my door to a flyer closed in the storm door I said honey we are going to do this and immediately called the neighborhood organizer to say we are in.
At this point my hubby groans in anticipation of 2 long week, that would end with little change.
How I love it when he is pleasantly surprised, because we have started with a full house over flowing garage and went to house needing some organization and decluttering (which I have 3 books on in my book shelve, so no I don't need a book to read about that process, as my hubby would say we need to stop reading about what we need to do and just start doing it.) to a house that's unpack mostly with all my hubbies tools in the new shed and lots of room in the garage. We haven't park our cars in the garage, but if it were snowing we could get one in so we are well on our way to our goal of getting both cars in by winter. I have to add the beautiful shed Mark and I built together, I worked hard on it also, with help from a neighbor and another friend.

Every day we are getting closer to freedom, free from clutter, free from things (we don't use or need) free from stress mess creates stress, free to spend more time as a family and less time cleaning, which will free us up to get that family picture done that we have been wanting and been asked about several times and haven't done it. No offense to the asker, I'm honored that someone out there love us all enough to want a mug of us four.

Don't mean to get on a soap box or preachy, but I was just thinking of "Chains" that Mandisa sings. Jesus loves us all enough that he wants to see us, and not as just a perfectly cute little family which is totally what we are:-) but really see us as the free from the world children we are to him we are like the Israelites he free from there captors, but wondered around for years not knowing how to be free. God send Jesus to free us once again and sometimes we wonder around trying to figure out how to be free, hey just give it up man, just give it all away.

Girls Night at the Bandixen's

2009-05-30T23:36:00.003-05:00

The boys wanted to go and see Star Trek the movie that just came out at the Drive Inn. I didn't want to go and Elexis would have gone because she wants to be with Jacob, so I decided to have a girls night. She has been wanting to try the new little girl press on nail and I have been saying no for a while, well tonight we went shopping and got some press on nails for her they come off with warm water, and a movie to watch, I let her pick out a new 2 piece bathing suit with the long top that covers most of her stomach for modesty. She got to choice what she wanted for dinner, an a drink. We had a great time. It was so much fun and then she fell asleep around 9:30-10:00. It was great here is some pictures of her nail.

I took them as she was asleep, you never know how long they will last. She did say after having them on for about half an hour, I feel sad for people with long nails it hard to grab anything, I can't do anything then she spilt her drink all over the living room table trying to pick it up. Maybe the fake nails wont be so appealing after this experience.

Big Weekend

2009-05-20T07:55:00.002-05:00

I'm off work this weekend which is great I get to spend time with my family. My wonderful hubby has a fun work weekend planned for us, which is O.K. He's going to work on building his shed this weekend. So we will all be helping out with that as much as we can, I'm not much help other then muscle, I'm not a builder but I am good at helping out with stuff. I'll make sure to take picture so we can show off the fruits of our labors this weekend.

Zoo Fun

2009-05-16T19:25:00.002-05:00

Today was a Pretty o.k day at the Zoo, where I work not many people due to other area activitys, but the weather was great and the animals were out enjoying it. The Penguins love this cool but warm weather, and y can tell because they come out and go swimming and just hang out where people have enjoy them so for a saturday away from my family at work it was very enjoyable to see the Penguins and other animals out. I'm not a huge animal lover, but I'm findng a new found joy just from being around the Zoo animals and Poeple. I think weather wise tomorrow is suppose to be like today, I may take the kids to the Zoo and we can see it the animals are out they would love it. I post pictures if I get any that are good.

Life

2009-04-29T12:23:00.002-05:00

As a mother I've always found that as the childre grew my excitement grew with them, I couldn't wait for my babies to walk and then talk, make sentences, ask questions, learn there ABC's, tie there shoes, read, I remember my son sat down one day intending to just look at a Dr. Seuss Book, and all of a sudden I heard him exclaim, I can read this!!!!!!!, Mom I can read this and then he continued by reading the book to me. I was so proud of him wow!!! I have to say my husband was the opposite he would have loved for the children to stay at that total dependent, cuddling, I need you daddy stage. He would feed them, and cuddle with them, get up with them in the middle of the night. Just love on them until they fell a sleep. When our son was born he had a hard time sleeping at night still does Nine years later, but my husband would sing to him, it got to the point that he could only go to sleep if dad was singing to him, so we made a recording of my dear husband singing so that we could get him to sleep. As he grew and got older we didn't need the CD anymore, but my husband still sings to both of the children Jacob who is 9 and Elexis who is 6, there is just more of a variety of songs they sing, even when they are sleeping at a friends house they call and want dad to sing to them. I have to say Jacob is going into Middle School 4th grade and I'm having a hard time with it, I would love for him to stay where he is right now forever. I see things coming that I'm not ready for, Attitude, peer pressure, boundary pushing going on everywhere. It scares me a little I just pray and pray that God will open our eyes wide and give us the insight we need to have a healthy communication with him as life continues on and gets harder and harder for him and us. He is a great kid and listens well, he tells us stuff even when he knows he may get into trouble, I just pray that he will be able to continue to stand up for what he believe in right.

House Pictures

2009-04-24T16:15:00.003-05:00

The first Picture is my daughter Elexis dancing around in the office/ family room
This is the eat in part of the Kitchen the tile floor is wonderful so far anyway.
We never thought we would buy a house with a fire place, we just aren't fireplace people but I love the fireplace the first time we set it going it was so nice and peaceful.
This is the kitchen there is so much pantry shape.

2009-04-09T08:09:00.002-05:00

Today I have so much to be thankful for I'm just not even sure which on to write about. I will Highlight several but talk about on in particular. We had a great day for our move weather wise I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, the muscle we had was awesome, the creativity used to fit everything into our now much smaller house and garage was a God send. We couldn't have picked a better group of friends if we tried not to mention all the great help I've had unpacking has been great.
But the one thing that really hit me like a lead balloon this morning as I was at the bus stop with my kids waiting for the bus to come and pick them up was one of the children on there bus who is at there bus stop is so devoted to God it just oozes out of his pores. When we first met him he let us know what church he went to right away, he talks about God and his church just about every morning. The thing that but a smile on my face this morning was this kid who is in the 4th grade was all worked up about part of President Obama's speech he heard on the news last night. I love to see people especially young people get excited about politics, because this is the only country we have and if we can't make a stand for what we believe in who knows what is going to happen in the future. Today I learned of One individual from the next generation will be fighting for the rights of other Christians. I walked home after taking the kids to the stop with a smile on my face and a little chuckle in my heart. What a great start to a great day.

Moved

2009-04-06T15:51:00.002-05:00

Wow, What a weekend, we are moved. I'm amazed excited and overwhelmed and a little stressed and emotional. Which I think is normal when you move yourself and don't use a moving company, but it's done. We are going go to bed early for about 2 weeks and unpack at a relaxed pace for a while until we aren't exhausted anymore. Our goal is to park the cars in the garage next winter, for those of you who have seen our garage since we moved you know what a big job that is. Wish us luck, and lift up a short prayer for us if you think about it.

Thankful Thursday

2009-04-01T23:07:00.002-05:00

I'm thankful for my friends, and family but this blog is going to be about my friends. We are moving if you haven't noticed the count down on my blog, but we have had so many wonderful people, friends, offer to help us move. I was a little concerned that we would have enough help because it's a big job if it were only myself and my husband. We don't have any blood relatives closer then 3 hrs. away, but the family we've meet in our church and community has embraced us with a love we could never have imagined. At last count we have 15 people including ourselves helping us move, one great lady making lunch for everyone and bringing it to us and another friend of mine who offered to keep our kids for the day or make us a meal. I'm just floored by Gods love and provisions, I shouldn't be I know, I should have known all along that God had it all planned out. He always does, and it couldn't have been at a better time. When God told us it was time to sell the house, I thought O.K. but you do realize that I'm going through all this medical stuff, with the vision problems and constant doctor appointments, I'm going to be overwhelmed (that is the human part of me)I had hoped the house wouldn't sell for a while so I could get the medical stuff under control then work on the house. Notice I said I could get it under control. God told me in no uncertain terms that he was going to be in control of the house and the medical stuff and that there wasn't a thing I could do about it. I'm thankful that he has been there when I needed him most and put people in my path when I needed them most. Although I'm still suffering with headaches, vision problems and all that, I couldn't have accomplished everything I've accomplished without God and the friends he has brought into my life.

3

2009-04-01T22:54:00.002-05:00

we have 3 days until the move, wow I can't hardly believe it. It's amazing. I have pictures to post but I'm not sure how to get them off my camera phone. I'm gong to figure it out tomorrow or probably ask my hubby how to do it because he is brillant, and knows everything.. Well 3 and Counting.

6,5,4

2009-03-31T10:33:00.003-05:00

Sunday Monday and Tuesday, I'm a little overwhelmed with packing and all I have left to do. I have to tell you my daughter is so excited she is 6 years old, and when she woke up this morning she said to me I'm so excited we only have 5 days, then tomorrow it's 4, then 3, then 2 then 1 day and we move, I can't wait. Her saying it of course is much better then me saying it. She is so into change it's amazing, she doesn't shy away from change at all, where as my son who is 9, is embracing the move well but not with the enthusiasm his sister is. He understands that we are being obedient to God and that he will provide for us. Which he has and we are so blessed and thankful. All thought last week I pick the kids up from School and we drove over to the new house and checked out the neighbor hood and saw the bus they would be riding, as well as were it will pick up and drop them off and they got to see some other kids that were around there ages who lived close by. Anyway we are at 4 and counting.

9,8,7

2009-03-28T22:32:00.002-05:00

I'm behind on my count down, I missed Thursday,and wasn't up and about on Friday. Today I was busy packing with my hubby, so here we are at 7. Wow. Is it time to do the surface sweep yet, no not yet but soon. If anyone out there doesn't know what the surface sweep is ask and I'll fill you in.

Thankful Thursday

2009-03-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Right now I'm stressed and worried (or trying not to worry)Which is making it hard for me to be thankful in a happy loving way. There is so much to be thankful for, but for me that emotion isn't there right now.

I'm thankful that I can be thankful for the many blessings in my life even when I don't feel it overwhelmingly at that exact moment. Sometimes in life other emotions are so overpowering that we don't always feel the good ones. I've learned a while back when I went through the Post Partum Depression with my kids that feelings can't be trusted unless they are backed by our faith and fact. So I know that even though I'm not feeling thankfulness right now because of other things that are weighing me down, my faith and the facts tell me without an ounce of doubt that I'm thankful deep down where it really matters.

10

2009-03-25T16:04:00.002-05:00

Wow 10 days until we move. Will we have it all done. I thinks so. We are so excited to start this new adventure in our life. It's going to be a learning curve for us and a stretch space wise, but good. We are use to haveing a place for just about everything and plenty of room for more. At the new house we will have to really search our hearts and needs hard and deep to determine what we can do without, right down to how many sheet set we have storage room for per bed. I'm going to have to dig deep looking for that organized person I know I can be but haven't embrassed. I'm ready for the challenge, I hope my family is also. If not they will have to be soon.

11

2009-03-24T07:45:00.001-05:00

Counting down.
I can't figure out how to make the numbers look better so it is what it is.

Gifts

2009-03-23T22:44:00.000-05:00

I wrote this post about a year ago, I'm not sure why I didn't post it, but today as I noticed it in my drafts I thought I should post it even thought it's almost a year old I hope you enjoy it.

I was reminded just now or even a little yesterday, that it's so easy to totally miss the blessing that God has given us day in and day out. I started my blog with the what a Gift Name for a specific reason to remind myself of the many blessings that God has given me and continues to give me. I think I have lost sight of acknowledging Gods gifts in my life especially in my blog. It's funny today as my children were looking for Easter eggs I had to keep telling my 8 year old to look high and leave the low ones for my 5 year old, but he continued to gravitate to the low eggs, so I kept on reminding him. I was thinking that is how we sometimes are as Christians but in reverse we are always looking for the high/big/out of this world miracle from God and we forget to look low and see the everyday miracles he has given us. It's so easy to think that we succeeded on our own abilities, or that we didn't spend enough time letting God help us so we must have done it ourselves. The reality of the situation is that even the littlest things that we think we did ourselves were done by God we just don't take the time to acknowledge it and thank him for it. I believe that nothing happens in this world that God hasn't placed into motion so for me to say I did this or that is essentially not giving credit where credit is due. I want to say to God at this time, Thank you for everything, one thing in particular I've lost sight of for so long and just recently have with your leading and provisions saw again is the gift of art that you've given me and helped me to see again. It's been so long that I didn't know if I could even draw or paint again, I asked for your help and guiding and you allowed me to see it again. I rediscovered what was always there. Thanks,

12

2009-03-23T07:44:00.000-05:00

Counting down

Counting Down

2009-03-22T20:54:00.002-05:00

This is going to be a short post because I promised my wonderful hubby I would fall asleep as we watch a movie together tonight, HA HA!!!!!! If you know me you know that is so true it's not even funny I think as soon as I sit after a long week, day, life, it's so quick I just can't help myself and I fall a sleep. There are time when I hear him say Melissa did you see that, well know not with my eye lids over my eye!!! (she says dripping in SARCASM )
Anyway I thought I would find another way to stress myself out since I have very little stress right now ( another joke) by setting up a count down until the BIG MOVE!!!!

13

Tomorrow my number will be bigger and better.

Spring Break

2009-03-20T15:14:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure about most of the country, but in our house Spring Break consisted of fevers, sleeping, television, headaches, and stomach aches. Despite all that we were able to have one great day of no illnesses and leave the house. The kids decided they wanted to go to the Zoo. Elexis told me yesterday that her favorite animal was an elephant because there first 3 letters are the same, and wonted to know when the Henson Robinson Zoo would get an Elephant. I told her I didn't think they would because it was to big but she could as Jackie when we went next. So today she asked her and was very shy which isn't like her, but found out that there just wasn't room for an elephant to live at the Zoo, but we had a good time anyway. I've posted some picture of our fun day. I'm surprised how much the kids really just love the animals and visiting the Zoo.

Cloud

2009-03-18T12:57:00.002-05:00

I'm to wordy for wordless Wednesday but I wanted to post pictures of my wonderful laundry room that I'm leaving. My mom and I spend 3days painting the laundry room in stages and putting the clouds on the walls. Two of the Clouds I put my wonderful kid's names in and then I hung up the special clothing I had saved over the year. Like there first swim suits and clothes we brought them home from the hospital in Spider man costume and princess gown, as well as the first pair of big kid underwear. Now we are moving which we are very excited about, we are following Gods lead and can't wait. I have to say I'm going to miss walking into my laundry room and remembering the wonderful help my mom was to me in decorating it, and how excited I was to put my kids names on the wall. It's always hard to leave memory behind, but we know there is a lot more to be made at the new house.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-18T12:53:00.002-05:00

Bucket Post

2009-03-12T10:19:00.002-05:00

I just read a great Post about buckets fillers and bucket dippers at this website http://sandrahersey.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/bucket-filler-or-dipper-which-are-you/ I don't' know how to link so I just copied and pasted the address above. I was so encouraged when I read this. One thing I thought about was how in my everyday life I tend to fill buckets on a daily bases outside of my own home. You know friends, extended family, co-workers, acquaintances, but are we filling bucket of the people who live in our own house. This morning my precious daughter who hates to get up in the morning for school yells every time you turn the light on. Can't I go to school later why does it have to start so early, the sun isn't up yet you get the idea right. Well this morning we let her sleep an extra 10 minutes which is a lot for a 6 year old who doesn't really understand time yet. Like how long is 5 mins really, we had three minutes until she had to head out to catch the bus, and she was fiddling with her socks and shoes because they didn't feel right, I could have filled her bucket by going and fixing her socks for her and helping her along, but I didn't I was feeling the pressure of those extra 10 minutes of sleep and told her to just get her shoes on and get moving because the bus was going to be here soon. She busted out into tears, I felt terrible because I could have done more to be more ready myself which in turn would help her to be more ready. To make a long story come to an end I guess what I'm saying is don't neglect filling the buckets of the people closest to you, they will love you forever no matter what because your mom,dad, aunt,or even the grandparents, but don't we all want more then that, we want to be loved because we loved, especially those closest to us.

Thankful Thursday

2009-03-12T09:42:00.002-05:00

Today I'm going to post a very simple Thankful Thursday, It's funny how sometimes we try to be so deep and encouraging that we make somethings way harder then they need to be. So today I'm going to be very simple and hopefully to the point. I have a friend who God has made our paths cross a lot in the last 3 years but we just really never connected, like really connected. Resently we have really started to connect more and I being my help everyone else self thought that maybe God wanted me to do something for her, so I started contacting her more started taking her meal once in a while mostly because I like to cook for other and take people food that I think if tasty, but also becasue she was weak and not feeling well. Little did I know that she would help me out more then I could have ever helped her out. I struggle with Anxiety and depression mostly with health issues concerning myself and my family, and she has been a person that has been able to help me to be at peace and calm through out the whole process of the health issues I've been going through. So today I'm thankful for my friend who has blessed me through Gods love when I thought I was suppose to bless her.

Thankfull Thursday

2009-03-05T07:55:00.004-06:00

There is a two new host for Thankful Thursday, this month it hosted at Spiritually Unequal Marriage her web address follows http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com/. I wasn't sure what to be thankful for today our blessing have somewhat ran together for the last couple of weeks and I didn't want to sound redundant, so I thought I would check the host blog out to get a little inspiration.

I'm thankful that the blog sphere is full of people who live there live in a real way which helps to inspire those of us who need a little encouragement and inspiration.
I'm thankful for Lynn's mom for calling her this morning with this verse Proverbs 9:10a "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" because it inspired me to think about fear in relationship to God. We all have fears of some kind or another, but this is a different kind of fear. I'm thankful that God is patient, he waits for us to understand what it means to respect him and humble ourselves enough to learn what he has to teach us and that is what that verse means to me.

Bitter Sweet

2009-03-04T07:56:00.002-06:00

It's something when your so blessed you can't get off your knees, but to also be so heart broken you can't get off you knees either. I've been blessed in so many ways, it's like God has decided to pour out a life time of love on me in just one simple moment, WOW!!!! Sometimes there is that one thing, that you want more then anything and the only way he can bless you is to be there to hold your hand and love on you as your going through it because for some reason that you don't know you have to go through it. My friend and I have talked about the struggles of live and she is awesome, she's like bring it on God I want to be refined in your fire. I'm like I've been there I just want to sit out this time and maybe the next too. Maybe that makes me a wimp and maybe that shows a lack of faith I don't know for sure the only thing I know for sure is God doesn't let me sit out because he knows what is best for me, he knows I need refined in the fire, to be stronger and more in love with him. Our Pastor this last week did a great sermon that you could listen to at the following website it you wonted to: http://www.wschurch.org/ In short about waisted time. He talked about how many Saturdays he had until his 16 year old left home and how many had passed by already. It made me think about my own life with my children and my own passions and desires. God has given all of us gifts, and talents to use for his kingdom, and I've spent a lot of Saturdays putting off the work that God has put in my heart. I've done a lot of what God has asked me and I've spent a lot of time with my wonderful family which I would never change. As I'm going through this struggle with my eyes and my vision getting worse and worse, I've begun to think about all the times God has given me images in my heart and mind and said paint this for me, make this for me and I tucked it away in my mind or my sketch book and said some day when life is not so crazy I'll do it. I believe God is going to take care of this problem and not let me go blind, but in the mean time I'm going to do my very best to fulfill my God given purpose as I see it and follow through on the promises I've made.

Sold

2009-02-25T22:20:00.003-06:00

It's so amazing when life is altered unexpectedly, no! no! no! not unexpectedly but more like when you expect it but maybe not so quickly. We have a great God it just floors me to think how amazing God has worked in my life, my families life and even my friends lives. God gave me the best husband in the world, seriously the best when we meet it was unreal only God could have done that (I'll blog our story someday), Then we had two great children, my husband has had 2 great Jobs the whole time we have been married, not to mention a huge move with movers that we didn't have to pay for, and that is only the highlights.

Today the thing I'm so thankful for that I could burst is that we sold our house and in the process of buying a new one. God has been telling us for almost exactly 1 year that he wants us to sell the house, sometimes we are like children we need to know somethings in advance and be reminded enough in order to let change sink in and be comfortable with it. So around the end of January we talked with a Realtor and decided that we need one in order to get our self's moving and set the Date to put the sign out and the MLS to have our house on the Internet. Feb 16th was the day, we had two people look at the house that very same day and one of them offered us full asking price and we pay closing cost that evening. Everything was set with signatures by the 18th. When God says he is going to sell the house he is going to sell the house. Now we have to find a good house in our price range which is very low for our area, God had it all picked out for us the 2nd house we looked at was the one and now we are buying a house. In 10 days God sold our house and gave us a new one. How amazing is that especially in this day and age. The bible says he has a plan for us he knows where we will be and what we will be doing, it's true he does and I'm so thankful for a God that cares enough to know what I don't.

So Today I'm Thankful to be starting a new chapter in my life that I can see Gods hand all over.

2009-01-16T15:11:00.002-06:00

I'm having a good day today which is not been the norm here lately. I was surfing for something new and exciting to read today and stumbled across and great post from Angela at this website http://www.5minutesformom.com/faithlifts/2009/01/14/waking-up-in-someone-elses-dream/
It's funny how dreams and desires can lead us to success, to God, to confusion, I don't think its bad to have dreams and desires, just make sure they are yours and Gods. We get ourselves into so much trouble trying to be something we aren't whether it's for ourselves like we think we would be a better person if only, or if it's for someone else. I have to say I've had a lot of dreams and desires, but the ones that mean the most have come true the others are still on the list waiting to be fulfilled or discarded. It's hard to discard of those dreams that we thought where the ones that were going to make us successful, we have to ask ourselves whose eyes are we trying to be successful? I was going to do great things like be an artist who created book covers for a publishing company, they would call me when they needed something which would be all the time, right. God had bigger and better plans for me I married the man of my dreams and had two great children who I get to spend lots of time with. I'm home when they need me and get to do my art on the side which I don't do much of, (I'm working on that). I don't think I would be as happy as I am right now if my plans had been fulfilled, I'm so glad that God knows best and leads us in the direction that he knows will make us happy.

Measuring Love

2009-01-13T12:52:00.002-06:00

I was just writing my Husband an e-mail at work. I didn't want to interrupt him but I was thinking of him and wonted him to know how much I love him. When I think of love I often think wow that is hard to describe different degrees of love, I tell my friend love ya, which to me is a sisterly love, I tell my sister who I don't get to see very much, I love you because I want here to know that I love her so much my heart aches when I think of her and think of how much I miss her. When I tell my children I love them it's a love that only a mother can know and understand it's a love that has no words or explanation. My compassionate and loving daughter came to me one day and said "Mom don't tell anyone (so forgive me for telling) but I love my brother so much I just can't stand it". I had to chuckle since she was born I often prayed and thought OH God Please let them love each other and be friends, the older they've gotten and the more they fight and pick at each other, the more I find myself praying that they would grow up to be sister and brother who really love each other. I think God has answered my prays. Back to my husband I just had to tell him in the e-mail I Love you so much I just can't stand it.... is there really any other way to describe the love we have for our spouses or even the love we have for God. God I love you so much I just can't stand it and more then that.
????LOVE??????

Thankful Thursday

2009-01-08T08:27:00.002-06:00

I'm thankful to be blogging again,
I'm thankful for my family,
I'm thankful for a God who gives us peace. The thing about Gods peace is that it is a free gift he offers us all the time, it's the times that we accept it that we feel it the most and are thankful for it.

Wii Fit contest

2009-01-06T13:12:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited 5minutes for Mom is sponsoring a contest where you could win a Wii Fit among other things. I'm mostly interested in the Wii Fit so I can't remember what else was being given away. It's very simple to enter there is a link to there page on my sidebar if your interested. One of the things you have to do to enter is sign up on Weightview.com and they have all the information about that. Basically what you do is take a picture of yourself and enter some info about yourself and tell them how much weight you would like to lose up to 50lbs. At that point with computer graphic help they create a virtual picture of you x amount of lbs. lighter. The coolest part is you get to decide after you've seen the picture if you will allow them to show it or not. If your interested in a Wii Fit or finding out what the other prizes are go to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Room Round up- I Love It

2009-01-06T12:35:00.003-06:00

I'm so excited, it's been a great January so far. One of my favorite blogs is www.orgjunkie.com, She does this wonderful Monthly round up each month you organize different things to help de-clutter or just make life a little easier. This year she is doing smaller projects each month instead of entire rooms like last year. January is filing Cabinets. I'm a little uncertain about what I'm going to do but when I figure it out I'll post pictures. I'm afraid that in order to organize my filing cabinet I may have to enlist my dear hubby and tackle the entire office.
Stay Tuned!!!

Approval

2009-01-03T18:41:00.000-06:00

This is a post that was in my archives since last spring I thought it was a well written post and decided to share it with whoever may read it even if I'm the only one reading it.
Isn't it funny that we all in one way or another seek out approval from others. I know there are some of us out there who would say I don't care what others think ( I tend to be one of them) but in all reality can we say that 100%, I can't. It's funny to me how this needing approval thing starts so early in age. My son who is sporting his fohawk (his words) (---A Fohawk is a Mohawk were the sides are a little longer then peers think a Mohawk should be.---) has come to me in the mornings and said very sadly I think I will leave it down today. No one likes it. I have to say do you like it -well yes he will reply--I say that is all that matters. He will say excited but nervous OK I want it pointed. I wonder out loud how is it that we can't bring ourselves to be excited for others simple because they are excited about something. Especially about things that don't really matter, like hair, most cloth, there are so many things that are very trivial in the grand scheme of things, why is it we can't just say to a 7yr old that hair cut is so cool. You look great. Even when we don't like the mohawk or fohawk? Is it better for us to build up a child's self esteem so they can make good choices when it really matters. Today he went to school with it down, It was funny he said to me I just want to be myself.

I was just looking at this post that I wrote last spring wondering why I didn't post it I just saved it as a draft in my archive. It's a insightful post which should provoke some thoughts I would think but why didn't I post it. Could it be that I was wrestling with the very thing I was writing about the approval and acceptance of others.

Wow

2009-01-03T18:11:00.002-06:00

Today is January 3, 2009 it's funny I sat down at my computer and thought what am I going to do on the computer who's blog will I look at and here I am at my own blog that I haven't posted anything for 8 months. I decided 8 months ago to take a 40 day siesta from blogging I was become addicted to writing and reading a lot of others I was finding my mornings disappear as I focus on the computer screen. I was reading my last blog and thought wow why did I stop. My original goal for blogging was to have a place where my family and my husbands family could go to catch up on what is going on with us as well as to be able to write down all the uncontrollable thoughts that run through my head on a nonstop basis it seems sometimes. One of many goals I have for this year is to start blogging again, and not for anyone in particular but just for me I enjoy it very much. I hope every ones Christmas was great and the New Year as well.
It's kinda funny as I was previewing my blog post I notice that I titles this new post, this new beginning the same as my very first post ever wrote( if I'm remembering correctly) how ironic is that.

Children and summer

2008-03-17T09:51:00.002-05:00

I'm going to tell you a real life sinario, as it plays out in my own home. Picture this last day of school children get on the school bus, only to go to school get there report cards say one last goodbye to there friends and teachers get back on the bus and start back home. They leave at 7:25, and return at 9:25. My son gets off the bus runs to the house with a grocery sack full of pencils, papers,broken crayons and color pencils, half bottles of dried up glue and markers as well as hard eraser that all gets dropped into the entry way. First thing said is can tommy come over to play (insert name of you choice) when you say not today I get I'm hungry is it lunch time yet. As the day continues on I hear I'm bored a dozen or more times, fighting between him and his sister which ends with "when will he go back to school" from the mouth of babes. And that is only the first half day of summer break. I've told my husband that school is like a double edged sword you want them to go make friends, learn, become more independent, and that happens but with that comes attiude, mouthiness, rolling of the eyes, and the inability to entertain themselves, the need to have 10 to 12 children around them at all times to play with. How do we do it. As summer break is fast approaching I've got to figure out a way to mantain my sanity and make summer enjoyable for my children which doesn't include 20 hours a day of t.v., video game and computer. So here is my goals for summer, I'm going to start the super summer Challenge Think up a great number of things my children can do to earn points but keep them learning, and having fun. When they earn a certain number of pionts they will receive a reward. The activities will be a variety of things like reading writing scrapebooking playing outside, riding your bike, playing catch taking the dog for a walk, raking leaves, scooping poop (someone has to do it) cleaning your bedroom, writing a letter to a relative. writing a story, writing book reports, reading to your little sister. With every point earned, they will get a marble and get to keep all the marbles they earn at the end of the summer. Or for my older child I may use like poker chips where he can use them to work on his math, white chip is worth 1 pt, red is 3 pts, blue is 10, green is 15 or 20 whatever we decide to make them, then he can sort them and add them up as he summer goes to see if he is getting close to earning his prize. That is what I'm going to try to do this summer I will keep everyone posted as to how it is going. It's knda like my list that I made last year about things to accomplish over the summer.

Son's and Purity

2008-03-17T09:20:00.003-05:00

I have to say that if you have never heard of Hearts at Home It's wonderful. I just got home from there national conference Saturday and I had a great time. I will blog about some of the stuff I learned later. I spend 2 days with my sister who I don't get to see very often just a couple of times a year as well as over a 1000 other women. We were entertained my Ken Davis who is a Christian Comedian and he is wonderful. This is the second time he has been at Hearts at Home. I thought it was the sweetest thing He said I love being here, to hear a whole auditorium of women laugh is like the wind blowing through a chandelier. That was so nice, I think. My hubby and I have already implemented some of the things I learned in the seminars. There is one seminar or workshop that I went to that I wasn't signed up for, that I'm so glad I went to. It was about teaching our son purity, and that particular thing has been laying heavy on my heart lately so I went to the seminar. My son is only 8 but the world today isn't like it was when I was in school. Things start to happen and be talked about by peers way earlier then when I was a child. I try not to be a mother who thinks that's not going to effect my son like negatively. In reality men were created differently from the beginning starting with God creating Adam and Eve and what right do I have to think my son will be different and in a world that has capitalized on sexuality and the visual, I as a mother can't hide my head in the sand. So my hubby and I talked about it and decide that we needed (especially hubby) start a open communication with him so that when he starts having question about bigger things he will be comfortable coming to us to talk about it. My hubby and son had there first Man to Man talk, I just can't believe my baby is growing up so fast. I'm not certain what all they talked about, but my husband said it went well and he even opened up and asked my hubby about some words that he had heard on the bus or in school to find out if they were bad words and why. That makes me so happy, we want both of our children to feel like they can come to us in any situation and talk to us without us being upset. I hate to say it but 8,9, 10 isn't to young to start with the basics, especially in a world when statically some children are starting to have relations with one another as early as 11years old. If we talk with them and educate them maybe they wont feel the need to experiment so early, and wait until they are married. I not believe that it's enough even as christian to simply say to our child God says you have to wait until marriage we have to go deeper.

Mailboxes

2008-03-10T14:53:00.006-05:00

Who would have known that giving children there own mailboxes would be so amazing. If you what to reward your children for anything or want to think of something fun for easter maybe get something you can put there name on and call it a mailbox you will be amazed at what it brings out in them. They have come up with the idea that if the wire handle with the ribbon on it is up that they have mail, like a flag on the real mailbox. So when they put pictures or any mail in the others box they put there handle up. Elexis she yells "Mail Call". It's so cute they've spend literally hours and hours creating mail for on another.

We put together this little wall for both of our children it has there Picture at the top a Daily chore chart in a glass picture frame under the picture and then the new mailbox at the bottom.

The chore chart is great also they can mark off the items as they finish and at the end of the day we wipe it clean and it's ready for the next day. The great thing is as they get older and can do more or different chores you can change the list.

The mailbox, It's amazing the House Fairy came to check out the new mailboxes and left a note for each of the children telling them that she was so proud of the work they had done on there bedrooms and if they asked there mom to help them find places for the stuff that wasn't tiddy and clean she would come back and bring them a present for a clean and tidy room. They were so excited that they went right to there rooms and started to tidy them up. I learned about the House Fairy from Flylady.com I love it so check it out. I think it may help motivate my children to keep there rooms clean. The first question they ask my hubby and me is where our mailbox was and so I will have to make up a wall for us. We have a wall for our daughter, but my camera battery has just died and I don't have pictures of hers. I will post some later especially since the chore chart frames she decorated herself, is beyond words. She is 5yrs old and definitly has a style all her own and we let her. We feel like as long as what she wears or puts up isn't inappropriate it's ok. Sometimes she doesn't match well, or something trivial like that and that is o.k with me, as long as she likes it and knows that she is beautiful no matter what.
enough of that. Enjoy the mailboxes.

To Know and Tell

2008-03-07T11:35:00.003-06:00

I have been blogging for a year this month, so my question is what made you start your blog?
I started my blog a little bit after you. I had been thinking about for a while a year or longer. I just didn't take the time to learn it, then when my great friend started and was telling me how much fun it was and easy I thought I'm going to do it. My main focus was to give my family who live in all directions a way to see what we were doing over the miles and to be a vessel that God could us.
Question 2
Do you speak another language? If so, why or how did you learn it? I so wish I did. I took Spanish in High School, and a semester in College I remember only a few Spanish words... I can read it better then I can speak it and I don't necessarily know what the words mean, but because I have learned the alphabet in Spanish I can usually say the words!!! Isn't that weird my son thinks I'm the bomb because I can read the words even if I don't know what it's saying. That's love!!!
Question 3
Morning person, or night owl (or somewhere in between)? If I had to pick I would have to say that since my children started school I've become a morning person, all be it a cranky morning person sometimes. When you have lunches to pack and children to get dress to catch the bus by 7:20 you get to the point that even when you could and would love to sleep in you just can't. On Saturdays my hubby and I find ourselves whispering to each other at early morning hours because we can't sleep and we don't want the kids to know we are awake. You know as soon as they hear the littlest noise from moms room your sleeping in morning is over.
Question 4
Do you exercise on a regular basis? I hate to sweat ever, but I know that is the what I need to do to get healthy so I've been sweating (walking on the treadmill) regularly 3 to 4 days a week for 5 to6 weeks. It's only the beginning I'll be doing it for the rest of my life because that is what is good for me and it's good for my children to see it and how important it is.

Bonus Questions
Question 5
If money were not an object what is one thing you would like to do for another person? What my hearts desire is to do for People you can't buy, I want to lift up the people in the world who have been over looked through education or just plain opportunity. There are those who just need to be given a chance in life to prove they have what it takes, so many times we feel the need to just label them with our little label makers and toss them in the trash heap. If money wasn't an object I would do whatever it took to help them prove to themselves and others they have what it takes to make a difference in this world. I would love to buy my mother a house also. She has sacrificed her whole life for all of her children, and she doesn't really have a nice home of her own.
Question 6
What is one of your favorite attributes of our Lord God? His Love we are taught a multitude of things through Gods love for us and if the world could clear away the fog in front of there eyes I think they would be in aw of him.
Have you ever thought about adoption or foster care? I often think of adoption I feel Like my hubby and I have so much love to give that maybe be should adopt.

Birthdays

2008-03-06T07:27:00.003-06:00

I'm so excited our oldest son turned 8 on Friday Febuary 29th, what an exciting day for him. He is so funny he got his fathers funny Jeans, but he was telling everyone he was 2 on Friday it was kinda funny.
I still remember when I was pregnaunt for him and the Doctor told us his due date was March 1st or 3rd I can't remember that so much the part I remember is when my hubby said almost immidiately "wouldn't it be cool if he was born on leap day" I tease my hubby often about that saying "from your lips to Gods ears" becasue sure enough he was born on the 29th Leap day 2000. Back to my point I'm going to post some pictures of his party.

Know and Tell Friday

2008-02-15T08:11:00.003-06:00

I have to say I'm not going to reread this and my spell check isn't working for forgive me if there is any spelling errors.
Question 1
Did you eat candy this Valentine's Day? Yes I had one reese peanut butter cup.
Question 2
What is something you do to relax? I use to go to the kitchen an eat something that always seemed to calm me. Now I do a number of things crochet, scrapebook, paint or draw that relaxes me. In the nicer weather I like to sit in the sunroom and read or pray spend time alone.
Question 3
(From Poole's book) What is the best approach for resolving conflict? Conflict handled properly should be a freeing thing for people. I don't min conflict one thing for sure I try to always take time to think and gain rational thoughts about the situation. I try not to approach anyone when I'm tired or its late at night, when your tired you aren't alway thinking clearly, we tend to say things we will regret and or take offense to what the other person is saying weither its valid or not. I try really hard to remember that everyone has there own way of communicating and we don't always use the the same words that others would use, so if something is said that offends me I ask them what do you mean by that I don't completely understand, or I'm slittly offended by that I think maybe I miss understood what you said. I find that if I'm polite they wont get upset because I took them wrong or it I didn't take them wrong they will try to restate what they sid in a more loving way. The true stinks sometimes so we need to handle that true with care. Always give others the bennefit of the dought.
Question 4
(Poole's book again) How would you define "freedom"? (this could probably be a bonus question)
Peace is freedom to me. Jesus gives us peace, and peace to me is knowing that everything is working as it should. Having my house in order is freeing knowing that I could have people over at a moments notice and let them inside the house is a sense of freedom. I think haveing peace is freeing in so many ways.
Question 5
(Poole's book) On a scale of 1-10, how happy do you usually feel? Explain. This is kind of hard to answer, I would have to say on a good day I could be a 8-9, and average day 7-8, On days when I struggle with anxiety it could be anywhere from a 2-5 depending. Most days I would have to say I'm a 7-8, sometimes in our lives where we are today in our happiness is could neve compare to what it was like before so how could we not be a 9-10. Jesus is our ultimate source of happiness so when we are low on the happiness thing spend sometime thinking about the blessings that Jesus has given us and that should lift our spirits.
Bonus Questions
Question 6
If you could choose one "SIN" that you would never have to struggle with for the rest of your life what would it be? Pride would be the one. Pride holds me back because I worry what people will think and if I search deep I'm sure it's a pride thing.
Question 7
What is one thing that breaks your heart? It breaks my heart to think about how my children are missing out on seeing the family bonds from having relatives close by. I grew up very close to most of my aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents, everyone, and it makes me sad to not provide that for my children. It breaks my heart sometimes thinking about how distance and conflict as changed my sister and my relationship from bestfriends who loved eachother more then life, to just loving eachother.

Wordles Wednesday

2008-02-13T12:59:00.002-06:00

A friend of mine and I made this afaghan for another friend who was moving it wasn't completely finished but now it is and it is beautiful. Have you ever done a project that you thought I don't know about this well this was one of those and let me say it turned out beautiful. The love alone put into it was all it needed.

It's been forever

2008-02-13T12:44:00.002-06:00

I don't even know how many people who use to check my blog still do since it has been between 1 and a half to two months since I've blogged. I've had to get a few other things taken care of before I started bloging again. Anyway that isn't the reason I'm blogging today. I was reading some thing on flylady who I love if you haven't experienced her check out flylady.com it's great we love her website. Our house hold hasn't master it but we are learning how to work together as a family. Anyway, I'm like sidetracked city today. I was reading a e-mail I got from flylady about this months mission which is to declutter for 15 minutes a day the whole month which I haven't done, I've read all the e-mail but not done the assignment which is another post, being the ultimate procrastinator out there I actually thought " I should go excersise fo r30 minutes instead of decluttering for 15 min" Is that not the craziest thing I would think of first to get out of decluttering. I could have thought I don't have time, General Hospital is going to be on ( I Love General Hospital it's an addition), I could have said I'll do it later, but no I said to myself I should endure physical excertion for twice the amount of time just so I have a good excuse for not decluttering. I thought that was funny so I'm sharing.

I hope you found this a little humorous.

To Know and Tell

2008-02-02T09:13:00.001-06:00

Question 1
1. Who do you wish you could meet?
2. Best food comes from which country? Pizza and Hamburgers are my favorite both of which I try not to eat often
3. If you are familiar with the movie/musical "Grease", what girl character would you be (let's apply this lightly...I know some of the behaviors of the girls was not too nice). This is a hard Question I would have to say maybe Frenchy only because she is somewhat quiet and trys things to find something she would like to do in her life. I'm not realy sure.
4. Would you be more likely to toilet paper someone's house, or would you be the one that has their house toilet papered? I want to say I would be the brave one and toilet paper someone's house in good, clean fun. I wouldn't get Toilet papered I can just sense when somthing is going on and I usually catch the toilet paper-ers in the act.
5. Do you like small talk, or deep conversations? Everyone loves deep conversation, but they aren't alway appropriate, so we tend to do more small talk. I think sometimes we all need to just set still and take the time to have deep conversations. I'm sure in this fast pace society we miss out on a lot of deep conversations.
Bonus Questions
6.Who do you most want to encourage this year? My husband and my Mother
7.If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it? We all have strongholds in our lives, and stuggles recognizing them is half the battle, the other half is surrendering your life to God and letting him lead you in the right direction. If your focus is on God then his Focus will be on helping you over come your struggles.

Know &Tell

2008-01-18T12:49:00.000-06:00

Question 1
Which is worse? Being gossipped about or being lied to? Gossip I think for a couple of reasons, your kinda being lied to by a lot of people who don't have the courage to tell you face to face what is being said about you, but they'll tell someone else, and people treat you differently when they have heard or spread things abut you sometimes without even seeing it.
Question 2
I see that a lot of ladies out there in blogville are "Starbucks" gals... What is your favorite "Starbucks" drink? I've never been to Starbucks.
Question 3
Name an embarrassing moment (Make it good).I have moments that I really should be embarrassed but I either stuff it and forget it or think everyone makes mistakes oh well. One time I remember and still think that was horrible I was interviewing for a job at a Soda Fountain/Gift shop. The lady asked me if I new how to make lattes and just a few days earlier I had followed a recipe on making a coffee drink Al a Mode so I continued to tell her how I made my latte which wasn't a latte but I was confused and she never said anything to point out my error and still hired me. I think about it and laugh now as I'm think I was so luck that she hired me.
Question 4
I figure that most of us ladies out there are bargain shoppers and that we find ways to save money, but what is one thing that you don't mind spending your bucks on? I try to buy everything on sale or bargain shop it especially with prices going up. Grocery's are the hardest to bargain shop I buy the sales as much as possible but I don't really use a lot of name brands so coupons don't really help me. I would have to say Groceries
Bonus Questions
Question 5
Is it hard for you to ask some to forgive you when you have wronged them? yes
Question 6
Give one of your best parenting tips...something that you have learned through experience... Consistence is the Key it's the hardest thing to do especially when they are crying or begging every child have there own technique to try to get what they want, but if we make the rule, stick with it, and follow throw with the consequences they learn quickly. Which also goes with Consistent Schedules for adults it make us less grumpy and happier parents to live with. I know that when I am overwhelmed with house work or stuff like that that I haven't consistently stuck with I'm quicker to yell and get grumpy with my children and hubby. So consistency with my chores and schedule helps me to be a happier person for everyone to be around.

To Know and Tell Friday

2007-12-21T10:44:00.001-06:00

Question 1 In the spirit of Christmas... Artificial or Real Christmas Tree? I like both, but for myself I like the ease of an Artificial tree, We have a 3 step Tree with lights already on it. I know that takes some of the fun out of the tree experience. I promise we make up for it in other fun experiences threw out the session.
Question 2 If your life was a TV show...what would the title be?
Are We There Yet?? (because we are always traveling)
Question 3 When you go to the movies what do you get from the Concession Stand?
Nothing I'm to cheap I've already spent all my money just to get myself and my dear husband in. (because we only really go on his birthday because he loves it. That doesn't count the drive inn we go all the time.)
Question 4 Cosmetic that you cannot live without? I bought myself a redness reducer from the Clinque counter at Marshall Field for my birthday probably 4years ago and I love it, I use it sparingly because that was the first and last time I've every been in that store or spend that much money for any make up product. Oh was it worth it and when I run out I will be going to get myself another present.
Bonus Question (gotta think about this one...)
If you could go back in time to a pivotal point in your young life and give yourself one word of advice, and it would be guaranteed that you would follow the advice... What would you tell yourself... ( It is OK if you tell more than one thing :) I wasn't really into playing sports when I was younger, I could have been very good at it I'm coordinated and good at thinking on my feet, I have that competitive drive that a person needs to really give it all they got. I never felt comfortable drawing attention to myself so the advice I would give myself it go for it don't worry about the others they will see soon enough what a great asses you are to the team and to life. I think if someone would have told me that If would have redirected several area of my life, in a good way.
Blessings to all my blogging friends...Merry Christmas!!!!

Thankful Thursday

2007-12-20T12:14:00.000-06:00

I have a very simple Thankful Thursday, I'm Thankful that I don't have a broken Ankle. I fell getting my daughter off the bus on Tuesday. My Dear Husband does a great job clearing everything. There was one step that our gutter was dripping on that we didn't notice, and it had a little piece of ice where it was dripping and of course I looked at the steps and didn't see it, so when I stepped on it that was all she wrote. I have to crawl up to the front door open it and pull myself up before the bus got to the house. I couldn't go inside untill the bus got here because they have to see you to let her off (she is in Pre-K). I'm also thankful that it was feeling better yesterday so we could still host our Christmas party, although I did to much and I'm paying for it today. We had a great time and and I'm glad we were able to host it. So that is what I'm thankful for.

Advent Week 4

2007-12-19T10:41:00.000-06:00

This week you should light all four of your candle sticks.

Week4 Advent

Week one we celebrated Promises
What promises did you make to your family?
Have you fulfilled it yet? If not what is stopping you?
Week two we celebrated Angels
How do angels help us, and protect us?
Week three the candle represents Rejoicing.
How can we Rejoice everyday?
Week four we celebrate the Shepherd Candle.
The last Purple or Blue candle should be added to the lighting..

Scripture Reading
Luke 2:8-20
John 10:2-5, 11
Jeremiah 31;3, John 5:16-17
Isiah 40:11
Isiah 53:6-7, John1:29
Homework
Have a Birthday Party for Jesus. This Christmas as you give out your gifts say to each person “because God gave us the gift of Jesus I give this gift to you with love.”
Sing your children to sleep with carols.

Scripture to look at
Can you be like the shepherds, sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth with others? Luke2:18
How are we like sheep? Luke 15:3-7
In what ways do sheep depend on the shepherds?
What is an everlasting love? Romans 8:38-39
How do we know that God loves us with an everlasting love? John 3:16

I was going to give out candy canes and tell the story of the candy cane:
Along time ago, a candy maker wanted to give the people in his town a Christmas gift that would remind them of God’s love. He worked long and hard in his candy shop, fashioning a red and white peppermint stick into a shepherd’s rod.
How does the hooked end of a shepherd’s rod help the sheep? It is used to rescue the sheep when they are in danger—perhaps to pull them from a rocky ledge or out of a stream.
How can the straight end be of use? It is used as a weapon to protect eh sheep, scaring away predators who could try to hurt the sheep.
Why would the candy maker use the color white? White reminds us that Jesus was pure and without sin. Even though He came to earth as a man. He was also true God and he had no sin.
Why would the candy maker use the color red? The color red reminds us that Jesus shed His blood for our sin. Jesus took our punishment. He paid the price for each and Evey sin.
In what other ways does the candy remind you of Jesus? The candy is hard. This reminds us that Jesus is the rock of our faith If you hold the candy cane upside down. It will look like the letter J which stands for Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

Advent Week 3

2007-12-19T10:34:00.000-06:00

This week you will light your pink candle or 3rd blue candle

Advent Week 3

Week one we celebrated Promises
What promises did you make to your family?
Have you fulfilled it yet? If not what is stopping you?
Week two we celebrated Angels
How do angels help us, and protect us?
Week three the candle represents Rejoicing.
Which Candle should we light?

Scripture Reading
John 3:16-18, James 1:17 –
Luke 2:1-8
Psalms 46:10-11, Revelations 3:20- Are we as preoccupied as the towns people in Bethlehem
Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew5:14-16
Homework
Take advantage of the Christmas light this season to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. (Visit Henson Robinson Zoo’s Christmas Lights) If anyone knows of a Christmas walk, Angel Tree, Go experience what it might have been in Bethlehem at that time. Look at how other cultures celebrate Christmas. Invite someone to spend the holiday with your family if you know of someone who may be alone.

Scripture to look at
What is a Sacrificial gift? (Luke 21:1-4)
What did it cost God the Father to give us His gift? (Philippians 2:6-11)

Jesus calls His believers the Light of the world. Why is that important? (Matthew 5:14-16)
What are some ways your light has shone to others this Christmas season? What ways can it still shine? (Matthew 25:40, Matthew 7:12)

Know and Tell Friday

2007-12-14T00:00:00.001-06:00

Question 1
(More of a fill in the blank..) I wish my hair__________. I wish my hair would fix itself, sometimes as a mother it would be nice if puff it looked nice all by itself.
Question 2
Someone you miss? I have no family close really my mom has been here with us for a little while so I don't miss her, I miss everyone else. My family and my husbands family is so far away that we miss them but we still get to see them the ones I miss most are my niece Colleen and my husbands mother mostly because there is so much I never got to know about them before the Lord took them home. Our greatest losses in life aren't always the ones we spent alot of time with because we have the memories to fall back on, but the ones we think about who don't send a flood gate of memories into our heart, the ones who we long to know more about.
Question 3
What's your favorite comfort food? I've been asked this question before and I honestly have to say I can think of any food that gives me comfort or warm fuzzes. There are foods I like and eat when I'm craving it. Nothing I would call a Comfort Food.

Bonus Questions
Question 4
In your opinion what are some of the qualities that make a person a "best" friend?
I could probably fill up a whole page, but I will name a few. A best friend is someone that you can literally share everything with (not that you always will), but that you could, and she will still love you!!! A best friend is someone that you can show your goofy side to, and she thinks it is just adorable. Last, a best friend will always want what is best for you (spiritually speaking too), even if that could cause her sadness or pain. I agree with my friends answer entirely I'll add just one thing. A friend is someone who has been planted in your heart when you least expected it and you didn't even know it. Sometimes it's the person who you would never have picked but God picked them for you and your glad you didn't have a choice (because you know they wouldn't have made the cut).
Question 5
What is one area that you struggle with in the wife arena? Just one... Can we say air your dirty laundry please. I struggle with assuming my hubby understands me and knows what I mean, sometimes I will use pleasantries with others as to not upset or offend people but I don't always with my husband, assuming he understands what I meant, which he probably does but it's not a good reason to not use my best manners when asking him to do something.

Thankful Thursday

2007-12-13T11:32:00.000-06:00

There are times where my mind is just rolling with thoughts, today was one of those days. I was in my car thinking and talking to myself and thought I should blog that, today is Thankful Thursday perfect timing so here it goes. I have to say it may be long.
My husband and I meet on the Internet. I was in college and chat rooms were starting to become popular and I had never used a computer before really I used one to type a paper or two for class but nothing much we mostly used pencil and paper (does anyone remember what that is. HA, Ha) and my sister had a brothers word processor. So that is what we used. Anyway I decided to learn about this computer thing with chat rooms and stuff I was in between semesters, a couple of friends showed me the ropes and then told me about a website call Christian Matchmakers, so I thought well I check it out I would learn how to use the Internet and maybe make a friend. I didn't really think I would meet someone I could spend the rest of my life with. Long story short I meet my hubby and we hit it off, so I wrote him a letter that stated my expectation of a mate and how I wouldn't accept anything less, and if he had a problem with my expectations to let me know now because I didn't want to waste either of our time pursuing a relationship. He wrote me back and the only part I remember was when he said I can live up to all of your expectations and then some, and he has lived up to all of them and then some.

I'm thankful for a few things one is a great man who doesn't scare off easily and lives up to his commitments.
Another thing I'm thankful for is a God who loves us so much that it breaks his heart when we lower our (realistic) expectation for a mate. So often we especially women, men some to, begin to believe the lies that the Satan, and the world sometimes tells us about our self. That we aren't good enough or we better take what we can get because it may not come around again. You can't take care of yourself so you have to put up with the disrespect.

I'm thankful for individual in my past who took the time to teach me that I deserved to be happy and have someone who loved me like Christ love the church. If they hadn't loved me with Christ love I may have settled for someone who didn't love me as much as my hubby and almost as much as Christ loves me.

Know and Tell Friday

2007-12-07T11:01:00.000-06:00

Question 1
What makes you cry? I'm not a crier, I Know that is not normal for a women, but some really good eye opener movies make me cry and by cry I mean tear up. Thinking about my children makes me cry. Memories of things from the past, Or thinking about things going on now with them. As well as thinking about what there future may hold, makes me cry tears of joy mostly. When I think of my hubby and how lucky I am to have someone who loves me so completely. He is so good to me, I cry thinking about how meeting him made my life so much better then it might have been then if I had not meet him. That makes me Cry tears of joy.
Question 2 (Hopefully this question will bring a little comic relief your way)
I am assuming everyone goes to their gyno for their regular checkups.... What do you do when you are getting you pap smear done? I don't know if I can answer this I don't like to even think about it let alone talk about it, the thought of it makes me want to cry, Ha Ha!! I concentrate on breathing and relaxing that all.
Question 3 (If you have recovered from question 2)
Dream Job (Being a wife and a mother is probably the number one answer, so for this question name an occupation or ministry that you would like to work in)
I have a couple dream jobs, One is to be a speaker I love to teach women and speak, I presently fell selfconcise being up in front of people. But I love to speak in front of people, I often have thought about writing a book but what would I write about. I've always wanted to be an art director for a book company. Someone who would hire private artist to illustrate book covers, or children's books and approved the work or asked for changes who would tell the artist what we wanted it to look at. Those are my two dream jobs.
Bonus Question (Going Deeper...)
What is one thing that you struggle with presently, or struggled with in the past that you hope does not get passed down to your children? I have so many struggles, one would be not making healthy choices, we have changed that recently, with the exception of pizza. I don't exercises like I should and I would like to change that because I want to teach my children that exercises is important and good for us. I one I struggle with is pride I don't like to apologize, or point out my errors even when I recognize them. But I know that it is important for all relationships in life to be able to openly to recognize your mistakes as well as apologize for how it may have effected the people around you. I don't want my children to think it's o.k not to apologize. I think people can be apologetic and feel remorseful with out have to say anything, but I also believe that people need to hear that your sorry an how your going to try to be better before they sometime will be able to forgive. I want my children to not feel shame in openly recognizing there mistakes. Well I hope that answers the questions.

Advent Week Two

2007-12-06T10:46:00.001-06:00

In preparation for Week 2 get a christmas ornament for each member in your family wrap it and set it by your advent wreath. This will help us to think about How Mary must have felt knowing that she was going to have a baby put she couldn't see it or touch it. Everyone will be anticipating the gift that is for them at the table the same way that Mary was anticipating the gift God had given her. You could tell your children how much you looked forward to meeting them in person for the first time, and how it felt to see them and hold them for the first time. Then let everyone open there gifts. Maybe tell them why you choose that ornament for them and what they mean to you today.

Week 2 Advent

Week one we celebrated Promises
What promises did you make to your family?
Have you fulfilled it yet? If not what is stopping you?
Week two we celebrate Angels
(light two blue or two purple representing Promises and Angels)
**Matthew 18:10
Hebrew 1:14
Luke 1:28-38
Matthew 1:18-25
Matthew 2:13-15
Matthew 7:7-8
John 5:24
Luke 2:14-19

Continue setting up the nativity by place several angles around one with Mary and Joseph and talk about how then angel came to them to give them messages from God. Then hang an angle over the stable or by the stable to remind us that God sends his angels to us so we would know that he has and is settting everything in place. Starting with Jesus and even today in our own lives.

Homework
Additional scripture to look at
Isaiah 6:1-4, God’s angels are spiritual beings created to serve him. What dose this mean?
Zechariah 1:10-11, How do angels serve God? What other ways not mentioned in this scripture?
2Samual 14:17, According to the Bible, angels are wise and know the difference between good and evil, Can you name some bible verse about angels?
Matthew 18:10,
Psalms 34:7
Psalms 91:11
Hebrew 1:14,-- Above 4 scripture, How does it feel to know that God has angels that are always watching out for you?
James 1:17, What are some of the wonderful thins God has done for us? What happens when we listen to God? What do we have to do to receive God’s gifts? What are some specific gifts God has given Your Family this Christmas season?

Getting ready for Advent

2007-12-06T10:32:00.000-06:00

Please forgive me for being last in starting our advent session on the Internet. You still can start just maybe try to push two weeks into one. You could talk about week one the next couple of days and then week Two is actually on Sunday the 9th of December.

You will need one round surface that holds candles for the advent. You could use a Styrofoam circle and push the candles into it, or a evergreen wreath that is a complete circle and candle holders this greenery reminds us that God's love is ever lasting without beginning or end. Decorate what ever you use with evergreen pieces. Next you will need four candle sticks, you would need either 3 purple and one pink, or 4 blue, this represents the royalty of Christ as king. These four are placed around your circle. Then you will need a white pillar candle to place inside your circle, representing that Jesus was pure and without sin.

Advent Week One

2007-12-06T08:11:00.000-06:00

Oh, my please forgive me I forgot to post our Advent week one Thursday so today I'm going to post our Advent Week one which was Sunday Dec 1st, and week 2 which will be Dec. 9th. I hope you enjoy!!!!

Week 1 Advent

Advent Means- Coming, We celebrate Jesus coming as a babe and his coming into our hearts as our savior, and his coming again as king.
Advent Wreath- shape is a circle with no beginning or end. This reminds us that God's love for us will never end. The evergreens in the wreath also remind us of God's everlasting Love. They do not turn colors and fall off like other leaves; instead they stay green and remind us that God's love will never fail. Light the promise Candle (one of the for blue, or one of the 3 purple)
Week one theme Promises
Read- Hebrew 6:12-19
Genesis 2:21-25
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
John 8:12
1John 1:5-10, (1:9)
John 14:1-6, 27

To set up your nativity this week, Set out your stable, you can put some animals around it. Put Mary and Joseph somewhere away from the stable, also put the wise men out far way from the stable, as well as the Shepperd's. This shows us that everyone had to travel to get to the stable and they came from different places.
Also find a ring of some kind to place at the stable to remind us of the promise God made to send a savior in the form of a baby.

Homework
Bring a wrapped ornament next week; bring some People to represent town’s people for Nativity, (mostly for Children)
Make a promise to the members of your family
(Something you can keep and fulfill it soon)
Scripture to look at
Psalm 89:3-4, Luke 1:687-80, Hebrew 9:11-28, These verses talk about how important promises are to God, and his ever lasting covenant with us which means his promises will last forever.
Isaiah 9:6-7, Have you ever had to wait for a promise to come true, was is worth it?
Genesis 9:11-14, Galatians 4:4-7, John 17:2-3, Matthew 28:20, What is your favorite promise form God, what makes it special to you?
Isaiah 42:6-7, God calls Jesus a Covenant. In the bible times they would exchange something of value to make a commitment or covenant with each other, like a cloak, a staff, or a ring. Can you think of ways that shows peoples commitments today? (rings, handshake, signing a paper)
John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:3, How is Jesus the covenant pledge to God’s promise?
John 8:12, Who is the light of the world, What does that mean?
1John 1:9, How do we know that God will forgive the wrong things that we have done?
Revelations 21:3-4, What did Jesus promise? Do we have to do anything to earn the peace that Jesus promises us? What will heaven be like?
Revelations 22:5, Who is our light and will be in heaven?

To Know and Tell Friday

2007-11-30T07:49:00.000-06:00

1.What scares you? I have a lot of anxiety issues they started after I had children. It's funny how as women without children we do things we wouldn't dream of after we have children. Things as simple as speeding or passing in a no passing zone. Staying up all night and then going to work the next day. I don't know about anyone else but I need my sleep. My biggest fear is that my children and hubby would not know how much I love them if anything were to happen to me. I know that is weird, but that is what I'm afraid of.
2. Coke or Pepsi (Diet counts)? Pepsi all the way, I love the new diet Pepsi max, only because it taste like regular Pepsi I think and I have a very hard time drinking diet pop, but it has not calories and some say better for you, not everyone I know so please don't e-mail me and tell me how bad Diet Pepsi is for me. I also know the extra caffeine in the Max is not good for me either.
3. I would love to try...public speaking, as well as learning the two step. I think it's awesome when your somewhere and a couple gets up and starts to dance the two step to some country music, how fun. My brother gets married next September maybe I'll talk my hubby into learning the two step for he wedding.
4. Spiritually speaking, do you have a Quiet Time? If so, where, when, and how long have you had one? If not, what is stopping you from having a Quiet time? (Quiet time is defined as time alone with God. It can consist of praying, reading God's word, and worship among many other things) My Quiet time isn't regular, I've had a regular one at different times but at this time in my life I haven't kept a regular consistent quiet time. It seems that I allow other things to get the best of me in a lot of areas and that is the first thing to be moved or left out for the day. I know there are definite things in my life that if I don't get done first thing in the day I'm less likely to get done, but I still leave them go. Like QT, Exercise, Dinner planning.
To know and Tell there is my answers, good questions.

2007-11-28T15:22:00.000-06:00

I've been working on my Closet tackle today, I'm so behind, wow!! As I was clearing shelves I came across "The Box" you know the one that you keep all the Love letters in from when you and your husband were dating and/or the first year of Marriage, I've kept that down to a shoe box size box which I think is great. I have kept more in it then just stuff from my hubby, there is letters from my sister that I got after I was married and move away as well as some cards from her and other, like for our anniversary, and a few other things that were important to me. Like the brochure from "Josephs techni-color Dream Coat staring Donny Osmond that I went to see in College. Shakespeare festival stuff from my sister who went and shared the stuff with me. Anyway I'm sure you would like me to get to the point, you don't need to know everything that was in the box. Well there was one sheet that was given to me by someone it was a quote I'm going to share it with you then tell you who wrote it:

The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them-words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important things lie to close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or say you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That's the worst, I think when the secret stays locked within not for want of a teller but for want of an understanding ear.

Isn't that a great quote by Stephen King. I wonder often if I open myself up enough to be the understanding ear that maybe someone else needs.

Just thought I would share that little bit of wisdom with everyone as I'm procrastinating on finishing the closet.
Ha, Ha!!!!!!

In other Words

2007-11-27T10:15:00.000-06:00

This week, Sarah is hosting "In 'Other' Words" at her site, To Motherhood and Beyond. Sarah has chosen a quote by Elisabeth Elliott. With the busy holiday season upon us, this quote is timely...

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."

~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

I have to believe that this quote was meant for the bigger things in life like dwelling on regrets, or hurts from yesterday, as well as maybe worring about things we may regret or people we may hurt tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 says "Therefore do not worry about tommorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
The second part of this quote I would take to heart in all areas of life. I think that if we feel like we are burning the candle at both end we have to come to the realization that one end of the candle we are burning for ourselves not for God. If we were working entirly in Gods leading and guidence, our busyness wouldn't be overwhelming to the point where we feel like we are burning the candle at both ends. That doesnt mean we shouldn't do anything for ourselves because Gods will is for us to do for ourselves and our family. But maybe there are things that God hasn't necessarily blessed that your doing for yourselve or your family. I know that in our house we have rules about the number of organized activities our 7yr old can be involved with. We want him to be involved with sports but not at the expense of the family and his mothers sanity Ha,Ha!!! I'm not say that a mother should stop doing laundry for her family because it's causing her undo worry, but I have to say that maybe what God wants is for her to figure out some boundries and schedules to help her not to have undo stress. For one thing if your children are old enough teach them how to do there laundry, or put it away, fold it, we started with our toddlers teaching them how to sort by color groups. We had enough laundry that we would work on learning our colors and help mom sort clothes all the pink went into one pile, blue in another, yellow in another and green in anohter, etc. etc. Then when I washed I could put together blue and green if I wanted or yellow and tan/brown and I saved time not haveing to sort myself. There are ways we can have a full and busy life and not be overwhelmed and I think that is in Gods plan.
I have been at points in my life that I've overextended myselves helping at church, and I do think that some of that was my desire to serve and do something not always Gods desire to use me where he was at. I definitly encourage everyone to pray for God to use them where he is at, sometimes that will be where you are at and sometimes that wont be where your at so you'll have to adjust where you are to meet him. I've fallen into the trap of teaching sunday school or do some little job simple because no one else would do it so I did, that's usually the job that made me feel overwhelmed. I know that if I'm talking with someone, it takes me an extra long time to work up the courage to sometimes share from my heart and if the pause isn't long enough sometimes I never actually share, I think that is sometimes what we do in churches we volunteer to quickly for things we don't necessarily want to do just because we didn't want it not to get done, that we don't pause long enough to let God work up the Courage in someone else to volunteer. So I guess what I'm saying is to be busy isn't bad as long as your not feeling overwhelmed and if you are pray for God to show you where he wants you. Maybe pause a little longer in all areas of your decision making.

Advent Series

2007-11-26T08:51:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited to let everyone in on this little holiday celebration we do, Advent is a way for us to Celebrate Jesus Birth with our children, and to teach them about the Christmas story. We started this about 2 or 3 years ago with our family and this year we are sharing it with a group of friends and there children. So I thought why not share it with our blogging family as well. We purchased a book when we started and it is great because we are able to adapt the information to the level that our children can understand for there age groups, as they grow so does the amount of information we give them. We started this with viewing the Movie The Nativity Story. We enjoyed it greatly, so I will post what we study once a week and all you need is my post four candle sticks either 3 purple and one Pink or 4 blue, and one white pillar candle, and some greens. As we go through the series we will be putting together the nativity scene. Advent is meant to start 4 Sundays before Christmas, so I will post my stuff my the 30th of November because December 2 would be our first Sunday and I will post by Friday every week so you have it for Sunday. I will try to put picture on line as well. Have a great Christmas Season!!!!

To Know Him MeMe

2007-11-26T08:34:00.000-06:00

My friend what a great gal she is has started a MeMe which consist of some random questions for all of us to get to know each other better. So I'm going to attempt to answer them.
Question 1
1. What makes you crazy? So many things make me crazy, crooked things make me crazy like a striped table cloth and the stripes are crooked, or my dinning room table is on a rug that has a pattern of squares I like the table to be in the middle if it is off I have to move it and symmetrical things make me crazy isn't that funny because the two are the same sometimes I like odd numbers so if I'm going to hang something on the wall it has to be asymmetrical and/or an odd number of item, or it will drive me crazy.

2. Best brand of jeans? I don't have a favorite brand of Jeans I like put I do know that for my shape the low rise jeans are great because I have a short waist to hip and the regular cut are a bit saggy in the bottom.

3. What do you do on rainy days? We my first choice is to scrapbook but since my area isn't organized or cleared I would probably opt for a good 80's Movie.
The answers in bold are mine (I am sure you figured that out already :) PLEASE PARTICIPATE if you would like.

Blessings to you all!!!

Tackle Tuesday

2007-11-20T08:12:00.000-06:00

Today I'm tackling Poncho's I've decided last spring to crochet eight poncho's one for each of my eight nieces for christmas. I have five totally completed and three more started but not finished. To be honest I may redo one of them becasue I used yellows and blues and I think I may redo that one with pinks so if time allows I will actually be crocheting nine poncho's well today I would like to at least two out of my three started but not finished poncho's then I will be almost done with the poncho's.

Update

2007-11-16T07:47:00.000-06:00

I have to say that the closet isn't as easy as I had hoped it would be. I'm going to push along. My problems started when I was cleaning the closet I needed to get to the cider chest that I kept my sheets and blankets in, but it had gotten buried in the bedroom so I had to clean the bedroom to rediscover the ceder chest, I wish I would have taken before pictures of that then I would be able to add it as part of the challenge. Not to mention in the middle of this challenge my hubby and I decided it would be a good Idea to move the kids play room into the basement and make the play room my daughters bedroom again so that my son and daughter wouldn't be sharing a room. She just turned 5 and they needed there own space. So we spend an entire day moving rooms around and separating closet space as well as moving all the toys to the basement and cleaned the carpets on that side of the house. I also wish I would have taken before pictures of that so I could enter it as well. It is unbelievable we have almost an entire room of toys we are getting rid of. O.K. lets recap
To Do List: clean and organize walk in closet
Accomplishments: organized 2 full bedrooms and purged a 3rd bedroom
cleaned the carpet in 2 bedrooms and the hall way (none of which is the room we started with.
Purged a room full of toys, took little to no pictures of any of it.

Now to work on the closet. I will finish it if I'm up to midnight on the 29th. I do have to say that my dear hubby contributed to the closet purge a little he went through all his cloth in the closet and took all the ones he doesn't wear or can't wear or that have holes and been wore to long already off the hangers and made another pile in the closet. What a good helper. Ha! Ha!

WOW!!!!

2007-11-15T22:11:00.000-06:00

One of my very first post I talked about my friend who did the WOW thing check it out if you haven't read it. I like to every once in a while share my own WOW moments. It's always a WOW moment for me but also can be I can't believe I didn't pick up on that before. Well this experience is a little of both. As far back as I can remember of my church going days I've been taught lesson on Running the Race!!!!Once again I was doing my bible study this week what a wonderful bible study I must say which was about Running the Race. What exactly does that me? Oddly enough I had to sit down and ponder how I've always defined that statement and if my thoughts were accurate or not. To begin with I had to dig way back to when I've heard the term used in biblical teaching. Iguess I've always thought if I was working hard to be a Christian or a Christ follower then I was running the race to win. Win what I had to ask myself, the title of A Good Christian. What is that? Is it someone who goes to church every Sunday Christmas and Easter, someone who volunteers, Someone who does what is right, doesn't lie steal (except maybe the occasional pen at the doctors office accidentally Ha, Ha!!) Seriously what is the definition of a Good Christian who is Running the Race to Win? I believe that in the past Running the Race meant working for my Salvation and what God revealed to me this week was that Running the Race has very little if anything to do with Salvation I already have that as soon as I excepted Christ free gift of salvation I didn't have to earn it through my works or better I couldn't earn it through works. So what am I Running the Race for? For the one thing that God wants from all of us and it should be the one thing we want to give to God A RELATIONSHIP, A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!!! Our pastor did a great sermon about when we get to heaven who would we want at our table. God wants us all to be at his table but that means we have to Run the Race!!!!!!!! The Race, The Relationship Race! Where are you in the Race, are you winning or losing?? Why don't you ask yourself and God that Question? I have a great friend who has a wonderful post on her Blog about the sermon our pastor did if you want to check it out. You may have to Scroll down to November 12 I think. toknowhimjesus.blogspot.com Have a great day!!!

13 Photos of Halloween Past and Present for Thursday Thirteen

2007-11-08T07:26:00.000-06:00

Thirteen Pictures of Halloween Past and Present
1. thur 3. Elexis, Jacob, and a friend of Jacobs decorating a pumpkin! (2007)

4.thur 7. Halloween 2007 A Pink Lady and A T Bird took over the neighborhood.

We used just tape and letter stickers on the back of there jackets/sweaters
Elexis decided that her pink sparkley shoes worked much better then saddle shoe which is o.k with me becasue she would wear them more then saddle shoes.

8. Jacob and Elexis dresses up as Snowwhite and Inspecter Gadget 2005

9. The same year Jacobs Kindergarten class went to a pumpkin patch

10. Last but not least that brings up to Halloween of 2006 we spent time picking out pumpkins at a great apple orchid close to where we live.

11. thur 13. Our family carving pumpkins in 2006
First picture is My mom, Mark my hubby, and the kids Jacob and Elexis

This Picture is of Jacob and I after we finished drawing our pumpkin face.

The last Picture for today is of teh kids with there finished art work.

2007-11-06T08:43:00.000-06:00

THE ANT AND THE CONTACT LENS

A true story by Josh and Karen Zarandona
Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go
rock climbing. Although she was very scared, she
went with her group to a tremendous granite
cliff. In spite of her fear, she put on the
gear, took hold of the rope, and started up
the face of that rock.
Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a
breather. As she was hanging on there, the
safety rope snapped against Brenda's eye and
knocked out her contact lens.
Well, here she is, on a rock ledge, with
hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet
above her. Of course, she looked and looked
and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge,
but it just wasn't there.
Here she was, far from home, her sight now
blurry. She was desperate and began to get
upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her to
find it.
When she got to the top, a friend examined her
eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was
no contact lens to be found. She sat down,
despondent, with the rest of the party, waiting
for the rest of them to make it up the face of
the cliff.
She looked out across range after range of
mountains, thinking of that verse that says, 'The
eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the
whole earth.' She thought, 'Lord, You can see
all these mountains. You know every stone and
leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens
is. Please help me.'
Finally, they walked down the trail to the
bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of
climbers just starting up the face of the cliff.
One of them shouted out, 'Hey, you guys! Anybody
lose a contact lens?'
Well, that would be startling enough, but you
know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving
slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it
on it's back.
Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist.
When she told him the incredible story of the
ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew
a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens
with the words, 'Lord, I don't know why You want
me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and
it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You
want me to do, I'll carry it for You.'
I think it would probably do some of us good to
occasionally say, 'God, I don't know why you
want me to carry this load. I can see no good
in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want
me to carry it, I will.'
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the
called. Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of
existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning
each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing,
but with Him...I can do all things through
Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

I'm sure you've heard this story before I have but I received it as an e-mail today and thought wow how easy is it for us to forget who is in control of our lives and how we wouldn't want it any other way. I know that in area of my life I need to surrender to God, and there will be plenty more area in the future will I learn to let God have control and do what he asks me to do or will I make the same mistake over and over again. What will you do?
I think it would probably do some of us good to
occasionally say, 'God, I don't know why you
want me to carry this load. I can see no good
in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if you want
me to carry it, I will.'

30 Day Organizing Challenge

2007-11-01T07:28:00.000-05:00

It pains me to post these pictures but here it goes. When we moved into our new house about 2.5 years ago we did really well with the unpacking we only had a handful of boxes that didn't get fully unpacked and guess were they ended up. Yes the master bedroom closet and when ever we run across something we aren't sure where to put over the last 2.5 years it also went in the closet so my tackle for Novembers Challenge is that Closet. Maybe if I'm lucky a few more rooms with get tackled in order to make room for the belonging in that area.

When we first moved in I thought that closet was way to big and I told my hubby that I was going to put a cushy chair and lamp in there to make it my private reading room(hiding place) as well as a closet. Now I've wished it was bigger. Not any more It will be my roomy closet again.

Wordless Wednesday

2007-10-31T11:17:00.001-05:00

Two years ago we had Snow White and Inspector Gadget. Last year they were Batman and a unicorn. Which I never did get any pictures of, this year I will be sure to post a picture they are dressing up as T Bird and a Pink Lady, from Grease. I'm excited it took me a long time to get Jacob excited about it put he is really excited about it now. Come check out the new pictures later this week.

Casting Crown Concert + Stuff

2007-10-30T07:45:00.000-05:00

What a great Concert!!! I'm waiting for my Friend who took Pictures to send me some so that I can show them to all of you. But if you don't what to wait to see that great Pictures Check out her Blog. toknowhimjesus.blogspot.com she would love to have you visit to check out the pic's. We had a great weekend, my sister got married and we spent time with the family. I have to say that traveling is no piece of cake for me anymore. We drove 500 miles one way and it down poured most of the way and when it wasn't raining it was foggy. At times we couldn't even see 2 car lengths in front of us. I was a nervous wreck all the way there. I did great on the way home, but the weather was beautiful. We are planning another trip right before the new year, after Christmas before the new year. I hope the weather is good I'm putting my order in for no snowstorms or anything like that. The bible says we shouldn't be worried or anxious about anything because the Lord will talk care of us. I remind myself of that everyday, but some days it is easier said then done. I wonder all the times you read in the bible that an angle of the Lord came to this person or that person and said don't be afraid, where they thinking that is easier said then done. I'm not sure. I just had a song pop into my head, for those of you who know me and my singing ability you know that a song popping into my head is a lot better then out of my mouth!!!!:) :) "It is well" was the song. Life is a constant fight to remind ourselves who we are living for and how what we do and say is a reflection of Christ. I've over the years filled my mind and my heart with positive thoughts and tried my hardest to hold to them. I was not always successful sometimes I let things bother me that shouldn't and I say thing I shouldn't I sometimes let myself get caught up in gossip, but the Lord always forgives me I just have to work harder not to be pulled into those traps. What traps are you repeatedly being pulled into and what are you going to do today to stop. Make a plan and know it inside and out. The peace and satisfaction will be worth it in the long run.

On the road again

2007-10-26T07:53:00.000-05:00

I'm not a country music fan but as I began to write this blog that song On The Road Again popped into my head. We have been crazy busy getting ready to go to my sisters wedding in Michigan we leave today after school. It has been a frenzy of planning and packing and all that involves here. Although I certainly did take several hours out of the frenzy to treat myself to a great evening with my friend at a Casting Crowns concert. We had planned to go and one of my friends said she would get the tickets, so I asked her as nice as I could to not get floor tickets because I didn't want to try to see around people who sat in front of us so maybe the first ring of seats would be great. So she called about a week later to let us know that she did get floor seats but they were front row center, and free!!!!!! So what a blessed evening we had the three of us in our front row center free Casting Crowns seat. Yeah!!!!!! The only thing that could have made it better is back stage passes but that is getting a little greed. No it was fabulous I will post picture when I get them from my friend who went with us. I wish I could stay here all day but I have to return to my frenzy. I also wanted to give a shout out to orgjunkie.blogspot.com who is hosting a room organizing Challenge starting Nov. 1, so check her blog out if your interested I know that everyone has a room that we hide from guess, my problem is which one with I share with all of blog sphere?????
Have a great weekend.

Bad Stuff

2007-10-19T08:28:00.001-05:00

I had a WOW moment yesterday, our family was driving to walmart and my daughter who just turned 5 had some very difficult question for me as we were talking. It started out very easy she asked "why god mad kids, moms, dads, Grandmas,Grandpas, Great Great Great grandpas", making sure not to exclude any one person from the creation line. I thought I can answer that and so I told her that "he wanted someone to talk to and spend time with and that is why we pray and talk to God and spend time with him he just wants us to love him and to love us back and take care of us." Then she went on to say "if God created everything then he made the bad stuff too." I looked at my husband at this point and said your turn, your daughter whats to know why God created the bad stuff. We tried to explain to her that God didn't create bad stuff that people are able to choose what they do and sometimes they choose bad stuff and that is how come there are bad things in the world. My husband also told her "a long time ago there was an angle who didn't want to do things the way God wanted to do things so he decided to do bad stuff and talk other angels into doing bad stuff and God had to punish him."
My daughter said "So God put him in Jail" "Yes it is kinda like jail but he still talks people into making bad chooses and into doing bad things"
"He wants people to be in Jail with him" "yes"

What a mind our children have, is life really that cut and dry, black and white. I would have never thought that my 5 yr old would ask the same questions that millions of believers and non believers alike struggle with day in and day out. How could a loving and merciful God allow bad thing to happen? Even as a Christian Women myself I have at times struggled with that question personally, when my almost 2 year old niece died it was hard not to say how could God allow this bad thing to happpen. Then to have my sister and her husband who did't know Christ personally ask how could a God who is good take our child away. If only we had the eyes of our children maybe we would be able to see the true as cut and dry, black and white as they do. God doesn't hurt us but he is there to hold us when we are hurting.

2007-10-17T13:06:00.000-05:00

Tackle it Tuesday
Yesterday I tackled one of my many hot spot. Actually one of the smaller ones, my Breakfast bar that actually got used as a Breakfast Bar this morning. It tends to collect all the I don't know what to do with this papers stuff. I cleaned it off and threw away a lot of stuff. it looks great but I didn't take any before or after pictures.

2007-10-11T08:09:00.001-05:00

Wow this is a fun personality quiz check it out if you have time.
Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy

2007-10-08T23:15:00.000-05:00

I hate to say it but, my life has been crazy this week and last. I'm going to sit down and post something real so pleas check back in a couple of days. I write soon with some pictures I hope.

Family Fun

2007-10-03T15:19:00.000-05:00

Jacob was so excited that his cousins where coming to visit especially the oldest. They are only 2 months apart and have been hanging out since they were almost 2yr old that is before we move to Springfield. They don't get to see each other as much so Jacob was very excited.

I have to say we had the best time with Mark sister and her family this past weekend. They came to Springfield to watch Jacob play football and we had a little Birthday Party for Elexis while they were here. The only thing that would have made it better is if both of his sisters could have come. We missed her a lot but she had to work. Next time maybe she will be able to come as well. I've put a few picture on the blog to show off our fun time. Most of my pictures were on the film camera not the digital so this is what we have.
Enjoy!!!!!

Homecoming

2007-09-28T07:44:00.000-05:00

Today is Homecoming here the kid are excited because they get out of school early, have a parade and get candy. The teens are excited because they get to have a energetic pep rally, great football game that hopefully they will win, and a dance with handsome boys, and beautifully girls. Two of whom will be crowned King and Queen. What a wonderful memories for all of them. I was struck with the thought of a Homecoming yet to come, someday we will all have a great pep rally, handsome men and women meeting the King, do you think there will be a parade. I certainly look forward to meeting the King. Everyone have a great weekend and I will hopefully have some pictures next week.

Tackle it Tuesday

2007-09-25T11:04:00.000-05:00

Before

Both of these are after shots

I'm so excited I've tackled part of our office, the desk and computer desk which equals about 1/3 of the office, the rest will follow.
Our office seems to be the place were almost everything goes when we don't know where to put it or don't want to take time to put it away. So I'm slowly one step at a time tackling the dumping ground.

The View

2007-09-24T10:56:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted lately we've been very busy I would post football pictures except we have been useing the 35mm if anyone remembers what those cameras are, Ha!!!!Ha!!!! Anyway I have to tell everyone that I an really enjoying The View it comes on at 10:00 in the morning where I am, and they have gotten 2 new co-host the first on is Whoopi and then the second one is Sheri Shepherd not to be confused with Sheri Rose Shepherd who has written several christian books and speaks. She wrote 7 Ways to a Better You. This Sheri Shepherd is an African American actress she spoke at the women of faith conference in 2006 when I went. Anyway I love it, it seems that she isn't afraid to talk about her faith and what she beleives. I look forward to watching it so I can see what she is going to say. She quotes Scripture from heart and talks freely about God and blessings. It was funny today they were talking about covetting and she said that she was up for a walk on role that was going to be a regular add on character on Everyone Loves Raymond, if you watched that she was the cop his brothers partner at the end of the seris. They wanted Queen Latiffa?? ( I'm sure I didn't spell her name right) so she went home and prayed that God would bless Queen L with something better so that she could get this job. Come to find out Queen L was doing a movie and couldn't do the spot and Sheri was choosen for the spot. That makes you think more about why God tells us to pray for our enemies ( I use the word enemies loosly as maybe an obsticle) if we ask God to bless others he will bless us. It seems that in my life I've done more covetting then I reallize or wanted to realize. There has been several Jobs I've wanted and not got, why? I would ask God and try my hardest not to have hard feeling toward the person who did get it. It's a humbling thing to have to realize and admit that God has something else in mind and I need to be patient and wait for him to tell me what it is. I'm still waiting but with a better attitude and more understanding these days. I tell myself all the time the blessing the Lord has given me and will bless me with in the future has and will out weigh any blessing I would have choosen for myself. Think about what the word covet really means an how much it encompasses. May God Bless eveyone who reads this Blog. I'll see you tomorrow with a tackled project I hope.

Tackling it

2007-09-21T17:08:00.000-05:00

I've decided to tackle my Office/Scrap room I'm not posting pictures just yet. I've been overwhelmed a for a long time by that room and I'm not even scrapping because I'm so overwhelmed so it is time come check it out on tuesday. I'm sure only part of it will be done but it will be a start. I have a great organizing system Ijust have to put things away.
Stay Tuned

Tackle It Tuesday

2007-09-19T10:56:00.000-05:00

Check back here next Tuesday to see what I tackled this week. ????

Wordless Wednesday

2007-09-19T10:29:00.000-05:00

The Printer is Here

2007-09-18T13:27:00.000-05:00

For those of you who don't know I won a photo printer from HP, for those of you who do know it arrived today at my door. I'm setting it up and will post how wonderful it is later.

You makes a Difference!!!

2007-09-17T10:58:00.000-05:00

I Received this through my e-mail and wanted to display it through my blog and I'm going to give this blue ribbon to a friend who started me into blogging. She has inspired me to push through and keep blogging even when I didn't know if I wanted to keep blogging. I love blogging even if I'm the only one who checks my blog. Ha, Ha!!! I'm just kidding I'm grateful to all who read my blog and I hope that everyone who reads it enjoys it as much as I enjoy putting it together. Thanks Kim. I have to say there are so many people if my life who has made a difference in a small way and some in a not so small way I owe them a debt of gratitude. I will be giving a few more of these out in the future.

"YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE"
A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by
telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student
to the front of the class, one at a time.
First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the
class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with
gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."
Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of
impact recognition would have on a Community. She gave each of the students
three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this
acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the
results, see who honored whom, and report to the class in about a week.
One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby Company,
and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a
blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt.Then he gave him two extra ribbons and
said, "We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to
go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the
extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person, to keep this
acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me
what happened."
Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been
noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down,
and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The
boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would
accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put
it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took
the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart.
As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extra
ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first
gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want to keep this
recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."
That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son, and sat him down. He
said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office,
and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me, and
gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I am
a creative genius! Then he put a blue ribbon that says, "Who I Am Makes a
Difference", on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and
asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I
started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought
about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home, I
do not pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not
getting good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess.
Somehow, tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know
that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the
most important person in my life, and I love you.
The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he could not stop crying His
whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears,
"Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom,
explaining why I had took my life, and I asked you to forgive me I just did
not think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I
need it after all."
His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and
pain. The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch,
but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference.
The junior executive helped other young people with career planning, and
never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life...one
being the boss' son. In addition, the young boy and his classmates learned
a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make a difference".

Isn't this a wonderful story? I'm passing the blue ribbon to you, for WHO
YOU ARE does make a difference, too. You're # 1 in my Book!
May GOD BLESS YOU Have an awesome day, and know that someone has thought
about you today!
A prayer for today: Lord, Thank you for my friends and family who really do
make a difference to me. AMEN

Thankful Thursday

2007-09-13T20:25:00.000-05:00

It's kinda funny but today I'm thankful for waking up next to my hubby, and thinking WOW!!! I sure do love him. There are mornings where as I sleep I dreamt that we got into this horrible fight and I actually wake up mad at him. After a feel minutes my sleepiness wears off and I have to laugh because I realize it was a dream and I'm not really mad at him. Those day are almost never, but today I just looked over and new that the best thing that ever happened to me beside finding Jesus was waking up next to him each and every day. Man, do I love him.

We love the Wii

2007-09-12T15:15:00.000-05:00

Last night was so much fun we host a small group in our home, and the month of september is a fun time for us as we wait to start our 6 week study. So we decided to check the Wii out from the church to learn how to Wii bowl. Our group had so much fun. The Adults played then we invited the children to come in and play as well. It was a great night.

I would encourage any one who had a chance to play this gaming system to give it a try it's easy and fun. Wii had a great time.

Wordless Wednesday

2007-09-11T22:05:00.001-05:00

Time Travel Tuesday

2007-09-11T07:49:00.000-05:00

Time to share your first job experience...
What was your first job experience?
Do you remember the first paycheck, starting salary?
Do you remember your first boss, coworkers?
What was your favorite task/least favorite task?
How did that job end?

I really had to think about this one. My first really job besides babysitting was a summer job. I worked at a local park summer kids day camp thing. I worked there for about 3 summers and always had 2nd or 3rd grade I have a foggy memory. It was a very fun job I spent all day playing with the kids. I don't ever remember not wanting to go to work, I made minimum wage I'm sure and played all day. They ended the program and thus the job was over for me. The boss was a lady her name isn't coming to me... but she was the mother of a friend. I don't remember getting along with her very well but she didn't hang out at the park with us. The kid's favorite game was jump the creek you use two jump ropes and lay them on the ground and slowly move them a part and if the jumpers don't make it across they are out. We played that so much I was sick of it.
Well that is my first really job.

More Pictures

2007-09-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

I new it had been a while since we had a family picture done but I thought surely we are all in a picture together even if it's not a traditional family picture. So here is what I found and I have to say these were all taken at least 3 years ago. I think it is time for a new picture.

Thankful Thursday

2007-09-06T08:38:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for a great way to communicate with my extended family and share the great milestones in our lives. Blogs are such a great way to help families and friend stay close especially when miles pull us apart. So today I'm thankful for everyone who reads my blog and the family and friends I'm able to stay in touch with through this blog.

2007-09-06T08:25:00.000-05:00

What a wonderful day for me, and Lexy. Today she started Pre-K, she was so excited as was I. The morning went smooth as can be she left he house in the first outfit she put on, which happens to be the one she picked out last week to wear that first day. She said to me after breakfast mom I'm a little sleepy still, bless her heart. I think that worked to my advantage in making the morning go smoothly. She was obviously to tired to be headstrong. :)

This is her on the bus with her friend, who also is our front door neighbor, they will be in the same class.
I can't wait till she gets home so I can hear all about school, she will be talking non stop. Unlike her brother we don't hear about things for weeks if at all.
Have a great day.

Wordless Wednesday

2007-09-05T09:13:00.000-05:00

I'm not really good at not talking especially on my blog. So wordless wednesday is going to be a little wordy.

This Picture is of Jacob and Elexis on Jacobs First day of school Elexis doesn't start until tommorrow.

This is a picture of Jacob at his 2nd Football game. His team calls him Blue Shoe becasue he has Blue shoes on which is really nice for us because we can tell which one on the field is him. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Five Minutes for Mom Give Away

2007-09-01T04:53:00.001-05:00

Hello! Wanna win one of these: an HP A626 Compact Photo Printer? Go to Five Minutes for Mom for the drawing info.
What a gift to give a way wow!!!
http://www.5minutesformom.com/2203/photosmart/#comment-371897

Children: Priceless?

2007-08-31T11:32:00.000-05:00

The Price of Children
This is just too good not to pass on to all. Something
absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of
the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the
rewards listed this way. It's nice.
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a
child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family.
Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It
translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is
don't have children if you want to be "rich."
Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for
your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm
cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or
chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what
the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under
refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,
hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters
for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a
baseball tea that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream or pizza
regardless.
You get a front row seat to history, to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to
your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary
called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in
psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality
that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under
God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under
the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever,
and love them without limits. So, one day they will, like you, love without
counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!!!!!!!

Time Travel Tuesday

2007-08-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

I have to say this is not my picture it is one that was on Time Travel Tuesday, when I saw it I thought wow!!!!!! That's amazing.
How did you find out you were pregnant, how did you share the news with your hubby... how did you tell your family?

Come travel back to the day you found out you were pregnant and share it with the group!

Our First baby was kind of a surprise, We had decided to start trying to have a baby, but with my unpredictable ovulation cycle we didn't expect it to be very quick we thought 3 maybe 6 month it would take for us to get pregnant, so I quick birth control in June and thought maybe around October give or take we may be pregnant. We went to Michigan for the 4th of July and spend time in Mackinaw City with my family and the whole time I wasn't feeling well and didn't think anything of it and when we traveled home from our vacation It was almost like a tone of bricks hit me and I looked at my hubby and said you don't think I could be pregnant do you. So we got a test and took it and sure enough I was. We weren't sure what to do about telling family because we live in IL, my family lived in MI, and his family lived in IA, and being the first time we didn't want anyone to feel let out. So we sent out Cards that read something like Congratulation there is a Bun in the oven and inside had a picture of and open oven door with a bun on the rack and we thought we could send them out and everyone would get the new when they get the card. But we couldn't wait the 2-4 day for the Mail delivery so we went to my hubbies work and used there conference calling system and call his family and my family and told everyone at the same time. That was our first baby. Our second one was similar, my hubby and I found out at the same time, but we told our families at my sons 2nd birthday, my family was here and his family was here so we made up a t-shirt transfer and wrote Being a Big Brother is Cool or something like that. We made Jacob a T-shirt and wrapped it up when he opened it we had him put it on and everyone began to read the shirt it was like the wave at the ball park going around the room. First the faces were in shock, like what does that say I don't get it and then the light bulbs came on and everyone started to get excited. It was fun.
Well that was my long belated story.

Visitors

2007-08-28T07:59:00.000-05:00

I had hoped when I started this blog that it would be a way for me to keep in touch with family we don't get to see very offen and I had a little bit of a rocky start, letting people know that we had the blog set up, and knowing what to put on it. I hope that all my visitors are enjoying it. If you have a minute and you checked out our blog leave a short hello just so we know. We would especially love to know what family members have checked it out.
Thanks

Saddness

2007-08-28T07:51:00.000-05:00

I'm so blue I was looking at my blog today and noticed that I had written so much that my wonderful sons baptism pictures had been pushed off to the archives. That makes me sad to not see that I may re-post it. I'm not sure but if you want to see it please take a peak in the archives.

First Day of School

2007-08-27T09:10:00.001-05:00

What a great first day! Jacobs pride and Joy this year is his football lunch box. We almost didn't find it this morning, it was almost a tragedy.

This is a picture of him and the front door nieghbor getting on the bus together. It's so nice having neighbors with children almost the same age as our children. Jacob calls them our front door neighbors because you can see there house from our front door.

Fairground Fun

2007-08-23T18:25:00.000-05:00

How great!!!! We don't really do the fair thing and rides very often. Although I love it. Some of my fondest memories of my childhood was of the carnival and fair time. We spent a lot of time together when we went to the fair. My dear hubby and I decided to spend some time in Michigan with family when the county fair was going on. The children had a great time they got to ride rides an stay in a camper at the fair with grandma. My oldest got to show a bull cafe at the fair as well they had a great time. I've only picked out a few picture to show.

2007-08-22T22:42:00.000-05:00

How wonderful we just got back from Vacation!! Vacation for us is trips to Michigan. I haven't seen my Dad and other relatives since Christmas. It just seems as life runs on and children start school, we moved to Springfield for my hubbies job we haven't had as much free time to visit family. My dear sister is getting married at the end of October, life is so funny it's like feast or famine we spend a lot of time with my family or no time. I find it hard to go home sometimes things are so different, but yet I still feel like an outsider. I've not keep in touch with people I knew, I sometimes wish I had because they meant so much to me, but that just wasn't the path I choose or God choose for me. Isn't it hard to know, at least until we are able to step back and check things out. Anyway blah,blah,blah. I'm going to try to set up a cool slide show with my vacation pictures and hopefully get them posted tomorrow. I was thinking it would be cool to do the wordless Wednesday that my friend does but as you can tell I have to many words to go wordless. I have so much to do since we just got back from vacation. Have a great day, night what ever.

Thankful Thursday

2007-08-09T21:25:00.000-05:00

I'm Thankful for many things in my life, most of which I had nothing to do with. For that reason alone today I'm thankful for a God who guides me and leads me, a God who speaks to me through his Holy Spirit, situation, Church family, and Scripture. I've had so many thing in my life that I can see this, that, and the other that lead up to where I am today and if the first set of circumstances didn't take place what blessing would I have missed out on. WOW!!!! Life is so simple yet so complicated. I know that if I had choose not to take student loans for college and attended where I did I wouldn't have meet my wonderful husband and had 2 amazing children with him. I so see God's divine hand leading and guiding me in that situation and more. It's amazing when we trust in God, have faith that he will lead us to where he wants us to go the gifts he will bestow upon us. It's funny sometimes in life thing don't work out as we have planned, but they work out like God has planned which is a way better plan. It's funny sometimes our best friends(besides our hubbies they should be #1) aren't the one that we spend a lot of time one on one with aren't the ones that we spend time with on the phone everyday, sometimes they aren't even who we think they are?! They are sometimes the friend who sneak into our lives and take up residency and we didn't even realize it until we search our heart and listened to God's leading and there they were. I have made a friend who when we first meet she told me "I not looking to make friends I have friends back home" I thought wow I guess I shouldn't invest to much into that relationship, but God told me no that is the person I'm sending to you, the one you asked me for, press on and I will show you what I have in store. I'm so glad that I listened to God and pressed on because she is someone who has helped me to grow and to see myself more clearly and she has shown me how to step out when I need to step out and how to step back when I need to step back. Later we talked about that first conversation and what she meant was not what I heard, God new that and that is why he told me not to give up. My friend is moving and I have to say that God new that was going to happen and that is o.k. I'll miss her and I will see her I hope. Sometimes our friendships are meant for a season, and when that season ends we have to remember that we have been blessed to have had that season and not waisted it. So I am thankful this Thursday to have a God who leads and guides me and has a plan way better then the one I have for myself.

A Day at The Beach in Wisconsin

2007-08-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

(Elexis) Lex and her cousins went to the Jelly Belly factory in Wisconsin and had a great time. Jacob was home with me and unable to go. Poor guy, he was starting Football Practice I'll post Pictures when I get some.

This Picture was when they first got to the water before the temptation to become fully submerged takes over. It was Elexis's first time in Lake Michigan, she loves the waves. I'm glad I wasn't there she went with her grandma and aunt, I would have been a nervous wreck.

The girls at lake Michigan, Its funny that they are suppose to be only going in up to there knees and yet there whole body is wet, with waves so wonderful and plentiful who can resist.

Mandisa

2007-08-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

Wow, I'm way behind with the Mandisa praise. I will have to say honestly that until a few weeks ago I had no idea who Mandisa was. I didn't watch American Idol or anything like that, I had no idea she was on the praise team with Travis, Beth Moores Worship leader. A friend let me borrow her new book called Idoleyes. I've only begun reading it, but I have to say I see so much of my self in her that I want to shout out who should I be getting the royalties from for my life story minus the singing part because I can't sing for nothing. My friend who let me borrow her copy talked about how she goes over her food addiction and thing related with that, but as I read it I think how am I suppose to give this book back especially since I could highlight every word in it. I am struggling to not write in my Friends book, and actually considering why not write in the book and buy my friend a new one. I've been struggling with my job situation and why I am where I am. Her book has really helped me to remember that even with our struggles God has a plan and we just need to listen and be true to what he is telling us. So my recommendation is to buy the book, read, write,highlight in the book, and pray over it and for Mandisa that she will continue to maintain the relationship that we are all so desperately seeking for. I can't wait until I can see her performing person soon I hope. I have to say I'm not sure where the eating addiction comes into the book because what I've been getting from the book is all about the relationship we have with Jesus.

Women Blog

2007-08-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

A fellow blogger wrote a blog asking these 3 question and asking others to give there input so I decided that it would be a great post.
1. Why are we (women) hard on each other? Why can we fall into judging or criticizing other women? It's funny but sometimes I think that with women its all about control and who has it. How many of us be honest go into the kitchen and talk over when our hubby's are cooking or our children, or anyone for that matter. How many women have you heard say well I just do it myself because you quessed it I know it will get done write. We want to mantain control over life situation and sometimes we will resort to criticizium and judgement in order to do it. Sometimes I wonder if we hold other women to a standard that we wish we could hold ourselves to but we fail everytime.
2. Why do we wear the masks with each other? Why don't we open up and share our struggles? Feeling are our worst down fall in a way because we measure a lot of life on how it makes us feel mostly like less the average, not able to measure up, how much we smile, how many people like us, how many playdate calls we get, aren't women suppose to superhero's? Moms have eyes in the back of there heads can't we see and hear everything with in 3 states right, WRONG we just say that to scare our children in to behaving. We wear the mask because we are to busy trying to one up each other in the area of greatness to see that everyone has a mask on, if we would stop trying to be superhero's we could open up and share our struggles with each other. Have you ever fought with your spouse and he says something and you start to say something realizing that your not even sure what he just said because your were to busy trying to think of something good to say back. That is how women are with each other a lot of times which makes it really hard to be human.
3. What attributes describe a true/good friend? Do you have one (or more) of these friends?> I would say that the friend of mine that I have the most respect and love for is my friend who is an open book we can say anything to each other and I know that even if she gets upset or I get upset it doesn't last at long. I think that it is refreshing to be around her because I don't have to be someone else to be around her. I know that she excepts me for who I am and what I look like. I know that she will always be honest with me about everything and I can be honest with her about everything. It is so freeing to be able to be yourself it takes so much work to pretend to be someone your not. Its nice to be able to say what you want when you want and how you want with out having to be proper all the time now don't get me wrong my friend with certainly tell me when I need to do some examining of myself. But what she see's isn't going to change our friendship and most times anything she says to me has an I remember when story about her own life. That is what a true friendship looks like.