Well what can I say it has been ummm months since I have posted anything. Life in MS is good, just busy like everyone else in the world.
What have we been up to:
Started the MOM'S Club (slow and steady growth)
Went to the zoo
Attempted to grow a garden (note to self- need to work in it everyday to get good results)
Summer Preschool
Learning how to swim
Mommy involved in Home of Hope for Children Auction (which was a huge success)
Made lots of cinnamon rolls
Baked cakes
Cooked yummy food
We bought the Ellisville Exit office (http://www.exitrealtyextremeteam.com/ ) (because we have nothing else to do haha)
Preschool started August 17th (Yippee!)
Josh Started school at William Carey (Degree will be religion) He wants to do Missions
Josh had his first meeting for his non-profit Mercy Aviation (http://www.mercyaviation.org/)
Celebrated 5 years of marriage just last week! (9-2-2010)
Started a new blog (http://www.praisetotheking.wordpress.com/) about songs and their meanings.
I know, I say it every time. It has been almost 2 months since I have posted something. It feels like a whirlwind these days. I am so very grateful to have family that we can live with but we are ready to have our own home. Don't get me wrong. We have very blessed to have this opportunity to spend time with Mimi & Pop. But what breaks my heart is when my sweet pea and Dragonfly say "I am ready for my own home. I want to live with you and daddy." Boy does that just break your heart.
On another note though, God is growing our faith and our trust in him daily. I am getting very involved at church. If you don't know I had the opportunity to speak at a women's ministry event, where I gave my testimony along with 3 other women. It was such an incredible night. I then gave my testimony again in our Sunday school class a few weeks ago. I have enjoyed getting to know more women in our church that have a heart for God. Also, mark your calendar now and make plans to head to Hattiesburg, MS to participate in the Going Beyond event with Priscilla Shirer (http://www.lifeway.com/event/179/) Exciting! My honey has been busy getting involved in the men's ministry, disaster relief ministry and getting Mercy Aviation (www.mercyaivation.org) going. He went to Nashville to help with the flood victims back in May. Wow, to have a Man After God Own heart as the leader of your home is wonderful.
Well I know this is short but that is all for now. Trusting God Daily!
These are pictures from their last day of preschool.
This title of this first chapter says it all. My question to myself and to others is: are you mad enough to change? Change what you may ask. Well change your circumstances, your job, your financial situation, your weight, your attitude, the mess inside your home/car/yard, anything that makes you mad that it is still the way it is after all these years. Well some of you may want to change things that are out of your control but we are being realistic here and changing things that we can change without causing harm to others.
I asked myself this question: what word tells others that I am mad. Is it ticked, really peeved, or irritated. Your word may be something a little more, should I say harsh, blunt, in your face, unspeakable. Whatever your word is YOU ARE MAD. Still my question is and Beth's question is are you mad enough to change?
I hope that I am not alone in this but sometimes I am so mad and I don't even know what I am mad about or who I am mad at. Crazy right. I feel like that sometimes. Like I am crazy, like I am all alone with these strange feelings. You know Eve had to be feeling these same feelings, right? I mean she was the first woman, the first one to cause all this pain that we as women are enduring today. Really, way to go Eve. But there is lots we can learn from her and so many other women in the Bible. I am sure Eve thought at some point during the whole apple incident; "boy do I need help! Here we go I have gone and eaten this apple and look at the mess I am in now." Do you ever feel like Eve? Like you need help and I mean more than what you are already getting. Beth Moore talks about this on page 2. PAGE 2 (already, we are just getting started in this book and she has hit the nail on the head early). I NEED HELP!
I will be quoting a lot from Beth's book so pardon me if I don't do it by the book. As Beth says: "Several days ago I sat in a tearoom across the table from a gorgeous woman I love dearly. She had been married for three months, and they did all the right things leading up to that sacred ceremony, heightening the anticipation considerably. After an hour or so of musing over marriage, she said to me, "Last weekend he seemed disinterested in me. I'll be honest with you. It kind of shook me up. I wanted to ask him, ' So, are you over me now? That quick? That's it?'" I'm pretty certain her husband will perk back up, but what a tragedy that she feels like she possesses the shelf life of a video game." This spoke to me just like it spoke to Beth when she was meeting with her friend. Beth goes onto say that she is sad that her friend can't feel desirable as herself. Well at this very moment, I don't feel desirable. Babies do things to your body, life seems to get in the way, weight seems to creep on you and then you wake up one day and you look in the mirror and say who's that lady?
Is something wrong with us? Beth says "something is wrong with us for us to value ourselves so little." Truth be known I guess I don't value myself like Christ values the church. Sometimes I think if I did then I wouldn't have let myself get into such a mess. With guilt, not feeling beautiful, my weight, my anger getting the best of me, my lack of being anywhere close to being a proverbs 31 woman, oh and so many more things. There I go again just putting the expectations up there but I know my potential, I know what I am like when I am happy with myself, with my looks, my weight...to me everything else falls into place. Or does it? IF we put of value at the foot of the cross then we are right where we should be: on our knees, face down. Humbling ourselves before the Lord with all our insecurities exposed for the Great Physician to fix. No human person can do what only One Godly Man can do: Forgive, Clease Us, & Love Us Unconditionally!
We can not place the blame of our in securities on one person or one gender. There are so many things that add up to our insecurities and for each of us the list will be different but with a lot of similarities. "Men are not our problems; it's what we are trying to get from them that messes us up." We should not use men as a mirror to see if we are beautiful, desirable, worthy of being noticed. Men are to be our partner, companions, friends. Men have their own problems and insecurities that they are dealing with as well. "Men's insecurities take different shapes, but make no mistake; they've got them." We can not put all our trust in men to be our everything. When that friend turns her back , your fired from your job, your children are driving you up the tree....they can't handle an emotional basket case. They want us to be strong. Here is a song that really talks to me:
Three in the morning, and I’m still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I’d say
If we were face to face
I’d tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths
Be strong in the Lord And never give up hope You’re gonna do great things I already know God’s got His hand on You So don’t live life in fear Forgive and forget But don’t forget why you’re here Take your time and pray These are the words I would say
Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
That love will find you where you are
I know cause I’ve already been there
So please hear
these simple truths
Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got His hand on You
So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say
from one simple life to another
I will say…
come find peace in the Father
Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got His hand on You
So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here...
Take your time and pray
And thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say
May we find comfort in these words and realize that we need to have a place where we can go to let go, cry, scream, be sad, lonely, needy, just want to be held but we can't put it all in one basket. Go to your spouse, boyfriend, friend, parent but most importantly take it to your Heavenly Father. He knows what you need, how you need it, why you need it. He already knows! Love in Christ fellow Chickie's!
This is a book by Beth Moore that I believe men and women alike should read. I have not read the whole book and must admit I just started and would love to have you on this journey with me as I dive into each chapter of So Long, Insecurity you've been a bad friend to us.
I know I have so many issues that I have dealt with through the years and continue to deal with that I just want to throw up. I was once told by my cousin that there is light at the end of this tunnel. Well, I am so ready to be at the end of the tunnel when it comes to my insecurities, my anxiety, my anger, my whatever. Yes I am having issues these days and I am sure through this journey that all the world will know what I am struggling with. So join me and dive into discovery what your insecurities are and be ready to hand them all over to our Lord daily!
You may be asking where have I been lately? I feel like I have fallen off the face of the earth for a while. I can't believe it has been 19 days since my last post. Well where do I begin?
Preschool started.....they love it!
Going into the office on Tues., Wed. and Thurs.....I love getting back into the routine of real estate :-)
Still unpacking....not loving that ;-(
Laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping....normalcy
Back to Clarksville to get rest of things.....missing friends!
Waiting for license to come in....patiently waiting.
Waiting for MOMs Club info to come in the mail....excited about this new opportunity
Ready to go to church tomorrow....rejoicing!
that I worked out this morning; that I have already had 26 ounces of water today;
that we have unpacked more boxes; that my honey and I continue to grow in our communication skills (rather I continue to grow);
that we have not gone nuts with this move (no comments please); that Sweet Pea slept through the night;
that we had a fairly smooth day.
Are like me when you listen to songs? Some days I really pay attention to the words and other days when I am just listening to the music and the words don't even break the brain barrier. Well today was one of those days where the words not just broke the barrier they hit me in the heart. As I was working out this morning and listening to my mp3 player, a song by Keith Urban came on and I was just in awe by the words.
God Made Woman by Keith Urban
It never ceases to blow my mind
It does it to me everytime
Standing here looking at you
It makes me wonder what he was up to
Was he thinking about me
When he thought about you
When God made woman
He must've been proud
He must've been crying aloud
Or laughing out loud
Must've felt like the first time
Getting kissed by the sun
When God made woman
It must've been the most beautiful day
Looking down on all creation
He took a river that winds and turns
He took a fire that breathes and burns
And put it all in place
In the most perfect way
When God made woman
He must've been proud
He must've been crying aloud
Or laughing out loud
Must've felt like the first time
Getting kissed by the sun
When God made woman
When God made woman
He must've been proud
He must've been crying aloud
Or laughing out loud
Must've felt like the first time
Getting kissed by the sun
When God made woman
When Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, and Steve McEwan wrote this song I cannot imagine what was going through their mind but what a beautiful tribute to us as women and what God created. Thank you, God for creating me. I am truly grateful that I am a woman. I know we all have days where we may say "calgon take me away" but think about all the joys that come with being a woman. Let me help you: falling in love (I mean really falling in love for the first time); feelings you get from your first kiss; having that "Cinderella" wedding; having a husband who treats you like Christ treats the church; being pregnant and feeling life growing inside of you; the joys of motherhood; watching your children grow; growing more in love with your spouse everyday; and oh so many more things so again I agree with Keith's song When God Made Woman.
It was a long night...sweet pea came in our room sometime in the night crying. She was warm and complaining about her stomach and her head. Amazing what a mother’s love can cure in the night. She curled up beside me and drifted off to sleep. Well not too long after dragonfly came in for some mommy time as well. My question to you is why they always seem to come to my side of the bed. Don't get me wrong I love to cuddle with them but sometimes I am so tired and to be awakened out of a deep sleep just makes for a long night. Well I put sweet pea back in her bed and dragonfly in his and you guessed it, that didn't last very long before they were back in our room and on my side of the bed. We tried this one more time until they both were fighting over cuddling with mommy.
Again I found myself laying on their floor all three of us under a big comforter. Not sure if this is a good thing but at least all of us get a good night's sleep. As long as you don't count the sore shoulders or back from lying on the floor.
Well, this morning was the same with Sweet Pea saying she wanted to go to her home and she wanted to play with "the girls." It breaks my heart to hear this from her because she doesn't quite understand. But I am delighted to hear that my BFF is going to be moving to Ft. Polk this summer. It is still 4-5 hours away but it is better than 8-9 hours away. I keep telling her that she will end up here in MS to start our own "christianway farm" so we can minister to this community. God still works in mysterious ways and still performs miracles daily.
Today we will go to cousin H birthday party at chuck e cheese. This is exciting because we have never been here for her birthday. This is one of the great things about living near family - to enjoy time with family on their birthdays. Happy Birthday H.
That is all for now, I hope that you have a great day and make new memories.
In the midst of life I stopped to have some QT with sweet pea. Well I guess I should say that since she woke up from a nap before Dragonfly we were given some QT together. We watched cartoons, laughed, cuddled and learned some new words. It was some much needed mommy/daughter time.
We have all had to make some big adjustments in this new chapter of our lives, especially the kids. Sweet Pea has asked several times about going to "her house". It just breaks my heart that she doesn't quite understand that this is "our home". She was so use to going out the front door and being able to play with her BFF, "Princess Alana".
I can now say that I have found all their clothes and shoes! What a relief! Sorry I got sidetracked! Anyway, Sweet Pea and I had more QT last night before bed. She wanted to draw pictures or rather mommy draw pictures while she instructed me as to what color to use. It was cute. She would tell me what color to make their faces, nose, eyes, and hair. We went through everyone in the family. We probably spent about an hour doing this.
Just like spending time with family, God wants us to spend quality time with him. My best time to do this is in the mornings. I just feel like my day goes so much smoother when I begin my day with God. I like to get in my father-in-laws recliner, have my cup of coffee and usually have Sweet Pea sitting right beside me (watching cartoons). This is my time to do my study and bring my day to God.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
When is the best time for you to spend QT with Jesus? Where is your favorite spot to do this?
This is what my sweet pea said yesterday, "I want more boxes mommy." Well we are in the process of trying to get ourselves settled into our newhome next sleeping spot. We are staying with my inlaws for umm I don't know how long but am very grateful that they are welcoming us home.
I don't want anymore boxes but I do want to find some much needed things like sweet pea and dragonfly's clothes, some paperwork and my shoes. What is stopping us from finding these things? The cold! Our things are stored in the top of the barn and it is cold to be out there for a long time. It muct be done and I need to do it today.
We do have the kids room almost to the point it needs to be to make them feel like this is home. The sad thing is Sweet Pea said yesterday that she wanted to go to the girls house :( This is hard to watch your 3 year old try and understand why she can't just walk next door and see her very best friend.
Well I will do my best to keep this updated on a daily basis and like my friend Lynne said "I am not sure who will read this" but I will continue to write on.
I am sure that you have heard many times from people, "you deserve that." One day I will blog about my testimony and maybe some of you would say I deserve ___________. But the truth is we don't deserve anything but death. Oh did I type say that out loud. Yes I did! The only thing that we all deserve in this life is death but guess what as Beth Moore says "the creator promised death and delivered life! " Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
In Romans 8:31-32, it says, "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God loved us so much that he did not spare his ONLY Son! Could you imagine taking the life of your ONLY child for the world? For this world that we live in today! Just think what Abraham must have been thinking when God asked him to take his son, Isaac, and sacrifice him. God was testing Abraham at this moment and boy how I wish I could have the discipline, obedience, faith and unconditional love that Abraham showed that day. (Genesis 22:1-19) Don't you know if it was you or I being asked to do this, at least I can speak for myself, that I would be thinking okay Lord I am trusting that I really am not going to have to go through with this request you have asked of me. Thank the Lord he is not asking us to do that today but we are asked to make sacrifices each and every day.
Think about the title of this blog, "What do you deserve?" What would your response be if I met you today and asked you this question? Would you be honest with me and yourself about what you truly deserve? Would you tell me you deserve a new car; the latest gadget; a shopping spree; to be debt free; what would it be? I don't deserve anything that I have but you can bet that I am truly grateful for everything that has come in and out of my life. I really don't even deserve God's forgiveness but He sent His ONLY Son to die on the cross; to die a horrible death for MY SINS and He still loves me. That just blows my mind that we serve such an awesome, loving, forgiving, gracious, merciful, wonderful, unconditional Father.
If we go back a few more verses from what we just looked at it states in Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." In my bible it says in the sidelines: "Let's be crystal clear here. God works everything in believers' lives for their "good." This doesn't mean that everything works for pleasant lifestyles, enjoyable futures and happiness. The "good" here, though it isn't defined or specified, is to be understood as a spiritual and eternal "good." God uses everything in believers' lives – and often the difficult things in their lives – to remake them, to transform them into the likeness of his Son. Everything that happens to us – the easy, the difficult, the grief, the pain, the joy – has one purpose to make us more like Jesus."
So again I ask the question today: What do you deserve? I would love to hear from each of you and what you are struggling with in your personal walk.
Our family has been called to be full-time missionaries in Nicaragua. We have twins who love to play, eat ice cream and pancakes (but not together), watch movies and spend time with mommy and daddy. God continues to mold me into the vessel He wants me to be everyday. I love being a wife and mommy to. Life is crazy and hectic most days....but life is good and God has blessed me us much. My passion in life (of course after God, my husband and children) is sharing God's love with others and baking.
