I love fall. I love the colors changing, the cool crisp air. It's such a welcome relief from the hot summer we've had. And what a summer I've had! Parents house burnt, sold our house, moved twice in 5 weeks and then our house deal feel through. So not only are we living in a two bedroom apartment, we are also paying for an empty house that my husband doesn't want to move back into. Am I ok with that? Yes and I'll tell you why. For the first time I am standing still and letting God move. I am letting my husband lead. And if he doesn't want to move back, so be it. I am content to be, because my husband is leading. I want so much to be in God's will and I certainly can't do that if he is getting grief from me.
We are poor, but rich in God's love. We are committed to being the best parents to our children. God is good and worthy to be praised. He doesn't owe us anything, even though we secretly want to pitch a little fit like a toddler sometimes when things don't go our way. I've had a lot of things happen to me in the last few years that most people would say, what's the point in trying? Why not give up?
There are several reasons:
1. I have two little ones watching. If I give up, how do they learn to lean on God in hard times, to be thankful for everything? How can I give up when they so want to be like me and my husband.
2. I have loved ones who don't have a relationship with God. If I am truly to be the "salt" of this world and show them what loving Jesus is all about, how can I give up when times get hard?
3. God loves me and I don't deserve it. I deserve Hell, but He desires a relationship with me. Why would I give that up because life gets hard? This life is so short, so fleeting.
I want to walk up to God and one day hear these words: "Well done, my good and faithful child, enter in."
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
I never knew...
I'm having a rough week. Nothing major going on, just not a great week. We sold our house a month ago and moved to a rental trailer. We had two weeks to move when we closed (which was 5 days after we accepted a contract) So we had less than 3 weeks from the time we found out it sold to "see ya later house, it was nice living in you!" To begin to describe the stress I felt, well, I just can't. It was unbelievable. At the time of my move, all of my tomatoes came in my garden so I was packing, canning, packing, canning until I thought I would lose my mind. I will love my fresh spaghetti sauce and tomatoes this winter when I really need it, but right now I could care less if I ever can anything again. My uncle also passed away at the same time as our move. Another blow to our family, more stress.
So we've moved. I'm so thankful to the Lord for our house selling, for helping us get out of that financial burden and for providing a place. Here's the problem. Our house is 20 minutes from my parents. I know it's not far, but when you live 5-10 minutes away for years, this seems like an all day trip to just visit. I do not like living on another end of the county. I keep my sister's kids 2 days a week so she can work and her drive is much longer than before. Spontaneous trips to my folks doesn't happen now. I have to plan for them because now it's almost an hour round trip. Boy am I in a crummy mood or what? Since I am a stay at home mom, I guess maybe I've been getting too much home time. My husband and I haven't been out in over 2 months and I think it's starting to show.
I have struggled to like this house but I just don't. I know God wants me here for a reason. For one the view out the back is gorgeous. Nice big hills and a pond to feast your eyes on. That's it's one saving grace. The house is small. The kids are sharing a room and I have made the small bedroom an office/school room. I have yet to organize it. I just can't get motivated to even look at it right now. I think by not unpacking and organizing this one room I am internally rebelling against the change of another move (we've moved 8 times in 13 years by the way). Hmmmm, I think too much and I need a nap. Maybe my next post will be more positive!
On a brighter note here are some pictures of our camping trip we took last week. Enjoy!
God has blessed me and I am so thankful for all He gives me. I know the enemy is
attacking me today. That's why it's so necessary to "gird up thy loins." Put on that armor of God and fight back!
So we've moved. I'm so thankful to the Lord for our house selling, for helping us get out of that financial burden and for providing a place. Here's the problem. Our house is 20 minutes from my parents. I know it's not far, but when you live 5-10 minutes away for years, this seems like an all day trip to just visit. I do not like living on another end of the county. I keep my sister's kids 2 days a week so she can work and her drive is much longer than before. Spontaneous trips to my folks doesn't happen now. I have to plan for them because now it's almost an hour round trip. Boy am I in a crummy mood or what? Since I am a stay at home mom, I guess maybe I've been getting too much home time. My husband and I haven't been out in over 2 months and I think it's starting to show.
I have struggled to like this house but I just don't. I know God wants me here for a reason. For one the view out the back is gorgeous. Nice big hills and a pond to feast your eyes on. That's it's one saving grace. The house is small. The kids are sharing a room and I have made the small bedroom an office/school room. I have yet to organize it. I just can't get motivated to even look at it right now. I think by not unpacking and organizing this one room I am internally rebelling against the change of another move (we've moved 8 times in 13 years by the way). Hmmmm, I think too much and I need a nap. Maybe my next post will be more positive!
On a brighter note here are some pictures of our camping trip we took last week. Enjoy!
God has blessed me and I am so thankful for all He gives me. I know the enemy is
attacking me today. That's why it's so necessary to "gird up thy loins." Put on that armor of God and fight back!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Summer Fun
Slip-n-slide fun:)
Church camp
Working at mom and dad's smoke damaged house
Dress up Fun!
Tea is served!!!!
Sleeping in mommy's bed is so much better
Pool Time
Nature center exploration
Lake Winnie
July 4
Canning is hard work but so worth it!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Life's about changes...Nothing ever stays the same!
I used to love this song growing up. It's never been more true than right now in our lives. A month ago my parents house caught on fire and the kitchen was destroyed and the rest of the house was smoked up. We had to pull everything out and basically remodel the whole house. It was such a mess! We are slowly working on getting mom and dad back in their house. They have been living with us for a month. It has been a big change, but I have to say, it's not been a bad change. You really can live with your parents peacefully after you have grown up and moved away from home:) I always thought it would be awful because my teen years were so hard living with my dad. But it has been a wonderful blessing! God knows what He is doing and our family bond is so much stronger now because of this fire. My children have loved having their mammy and poppy with them. They have very willingly gave up their bedrooms and have loved "camping" out in our bedroom in their sleeping bags.
I have been canning a few things and working diligently in my garden. I have cucumbers and squash galore and in a few weeks I will have tomatoes coming out of my ears! I plan on making spaghetti sauce, tomato juice, diced tomatoes, squash relish, pickles, canned banana peppers, freezer corn, frozen berries, jams and anything else I can get my hands on to can. There is nothing better than opening up a jar of something you have grown with your hands and God's earth and eating it! My children love working in the garden. In fact, my son loves picking my cucumbers but he accidentally picked the whole vine, roots and all, and now I have dead cucumbers. He was quite upset when he realized he killed the cucumbers. He is more careful now! We are going to plant more seeds today.
I have been canning a few things and working diligently in my garden. I have cucumbers and squash galore and in a few weeks I will have tomatoes coming out of my ears! I plan on making spaghetti sauce, tomato juice, diced tomatoes, squash relish, pickles, canned banana peppers, freezer corn, frozen berries, jams and anything else I can get my hands on to can. There is nothing better than opening up a jar of something you have grown with your hands and God's earth and eating it! My children love working in the garden. In fact, my son loves picking my cucumbers but he accidentally picked the whole vine, roots and all, and now I have dead cucumbers. He was quite upset when he realized he killed the cucumbers. He is more careful now! We are going to plant more seeds today.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Summer is off with a bang!
We are a few weeks into our summer and we are having a blast! We went to church camp last week and had the time of our lives! It was such blessing to our family. We will definitely be going back next year. It took a few days to get over a week of sleep deprivation not to mention the 5 loads of laundry I have been doing as well. But it was worth it to have a week of fellowship and fun activities with other Christian children and adults.
We are still doing some light school this summer. Every few days we are doing some math or reading with some writing mingled in. I don't want to start back up in August with 2 whole months of no school at all this summer. But we are doing tons of different learning this summer. Gardening, bug observations, my dad's pond, flowers, nature walks, camping, summer reading at the library, crafts and backyard camp outs will keep us learning all summer!
At Fall Creek Falls for the first time! I was scared to death of the heights!
Monday, May 17, 2010
99 Things
I found this on another blog and thought it would be fun to see how many of these I have done. There are several things I want to do in the next 5-10 years and others that will have to wait until my kids are moved out and we save some money, lol!
The items I have done/experienced are in green...
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band (drummer in elementary,lol)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (does a single shooting star count?)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (God always gets His first!)
7. Been to Disneyland/world .... maybe someday
8. Climbed a mountain (probably more like a big hill, but hard nonetheless!)
9. Held a praying mantis .... ewwwww
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped...NO WAY!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child...best thing I ever did!
16. Had food poisoning...no, thank God!
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (too many people to walk up, but I was there!)
18. Grown your own vegetables (Every year!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon....(it's a dream)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (many!)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied...Money could never satisfy like my walk with God.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (many times!)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma...no but I've had it given to me many times!
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp...would like to gt up the courage to do that.
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible... still working on that one!
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby.... I wish!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
The items I have done/experienced are in green...
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band (drummer in elementary,lol)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (does a single shooting star count?)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (God always gets His first!)
7. Been to Disneyland/world .... maybe someday
8. Climbed a mountain (probably more like a big hill, but hard nonetheless!)
9. Held a praying mantis .... ewwwww
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped...NO WAY!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child...best thing I ever did!
16. Had food poisoning...no, thank God!
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (too many people to walk up, but I was there!)
18. Grown your own vegetables (Every year!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon....(it's a dream)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (many!)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied...Money could never satisfy like my walk with God.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (many times!)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma...no but I've had it given to me many times!
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp...would like to gt up the courage to do that.
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible... still working on that one!
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby.... I wish!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Thursday, May 13, 2010
My Anniversary is Fast Approaching!!!
13 years. I can't believe I've been married that long. Where does all the time go? So much has changed in our marriage since I was 19 standing on my front porch with a preacher, Frankie and my family watching. I was so young and didn't even realize. But I can honestly say that the relationship I have with my husband today is so much better and sweeter than 13 years ago. He is my true best friend and help mate. There's a lot of times I complete his thoughts and he completes mine and we just laugh. That verse in the bible about becoming one when you are married is so true because we are so much alike. I adore my husband. He is the love of my life. I couldn't ask for a better person to spend my life with. Has it always been this way? NO!!! I never understood the couples who say, "We never fight." I just don't get it. How can you not duke it out at least once a month, lol! It keeps you on your toes and builds a stronger relationship. But there are good ways and bad ways to fight, and I have done both.
When you fight the right way, you both recognize fault, seek to make the other feel better and always put God first. When we chose to fight the wrong way, things got a little crazy! Tires squealed, bags got packed, ugly words were said and not one mention of God was made. Nobody likes these fights except Satan. I'm thankful that as I get older I am learning how to fight better. God is also teaching me how to let Frankie lead and when I need to step back and let him do so.
As my anniversary approaches we have been planning a get away. We have debated and pondered on where to go, what to do, where to stay. Here's what I DO know: I have family keeping the kids for two nights. What we do after that doesn't matter because it will be just me and him, childfree for a glorious weekend!
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