Wednesday, December 4, 2013

A Day (or two or three) Behind!

Im always a day behind writing my blog. Usually after a busy day I am too tired to type up a blog and post pics and what not or I write one in the middle of the day and then do fun stuff after that I post the next day. Quite crazy.Now Iit's gonna be a few days in between my posts unless I can muster up some spare time this weekend from visiting family and post a blog or two if I'm lucky. Either way I hope everyone has a safe and blessed weekend.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Family Days

Sitting in the car line waiting on my new buddy to get outta school I'm reflecting on so many things. Listening to my daughter and nephew ramble on and on about sweet things that make absolutely no sense lol. Either way I love Mondays and Tuesdays. Those are family days and days we do things with everyone and have all day to do it. Today grocery shopping the. To find the perfect tree. =) Already stopped by the mall to have my wedding ring taken care of and even a little visit with Santa. .....




-Break-
Okay well now its the evening chill time and Im having a nice warm cup of coffee. Looking forward to decorating our beautiful tree! Its HUGE! 11 feet tall!! Oh yeah!! This family knows how to do it up right. Not to mention it helps to have a house with high ceilings to do it with. Let me say finding the "perfect" tree was not easy. We are all very picky and particular about certain things about the tree. Needs to be tall, full to the bottom, straight, green, smells good, ya know things like that. 








-Break again-
Haha so a blog I started yesterday afternoon is finally getting finished. Too funny! Anyway got the tree up its about 11 feet tall! So excited! Now we just have to start decorating. Will post pics when it is complete. Hope everyone had a great weekend!!!! =)


Saturday, November 30, 2013

Corner Office!

I bet you are wondering how 5 adults, 5 children, 4 dogs, 1 cat and some fish fit into a house together. Well, we do and for the most part we fit well. Which brings me to the "office". One of my favorite parts of the house. Where we are all together but sometimes doing our own things. I have a cute "corner" office set up with my new desk I recently got and hubbs inherited my old one so now he has a desk as opposed to a table he had his computer stuff sitting on. Anyways, I love this room.




My "office" is the one all the way to the left, then hubbs is next to mine, sis in laws is straight across, my little brothers is in the right corner and my big brothers is all the way to the right. NEAT huh! Im surprised the govt does not come and arrest us lol. Here is a close up of my work area!




Again, I love my new desk in the corner. Kind of opens up the room some more. So in my boredom in between school, household duties, family time, reading, gaming and watching movies my older brother has turned me on to coloring. NO, I can not color like him. He has such a creative imagination and quite talented I might add. But I have started coloring too I know sounds immature too. But I throw on some music (my fav is Celtic Music for Reading and color away. Has a way of clearing you mind even for a moment. Here are a few of the ones I have done that my older brother has not took off to his room to keep for himself. =D




This last one is my work in progress. Anyway. Nothing huge. Just coloring Tinks friends! I have yet to color one with Tink actually in it. lol. Just a lil something extra as a time filler... like I do not have enough to do. Got some Christmas shopping done. Got a couple things for the kiddos even got my hubby a lil something. one of the great things about the area I live in is we went to wal-mart Thursday night about 11pm and it was just like it was any other day. Actually less busy in my opinion. So it was nice not to have to deal with the crowd. Biggest crowd was at Ulta and Old Navy and still it was not even that bad. SO my Black Friday in itself was fun. Even got to spend some extra time with some great friends we have met down here! =) Anyways, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a safe Black Friday, enjoy the rest of your weekend! =)

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving


1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Today is Thanksgiving for most. We had ours a couple of days early due to hubbs job and where his days off fall. Its very chilly here. Definitely not what I expected from these parts of the country. But its ok I have my nice warm cup of coffee to sip on and my sis in law has a delicious pot of chili slow cooking on the stove, which might I add smells delicious. So since I do not have to slave over an oven or a stove all day I get to sit back and reflect on the many things I can and am thankful for. So because I didn't do the each day what I am thankful for this month I am going to do it here. So, here goes, in no particular order!



25 Things I am Thankful For:

1. God
2. Jesus
3. My salvation
4. My family
5. My home
6. My husbands job
7. Homeschool
8. Cofee
9. Makeup
10. Clothes
11. Family Days
12. Soldiers
13. Forgiveness
14. My friends
15. Cell phones
16. Books
17. My Church
18. Womens Bible Study
19. Harleys
20. Awanas
21. The Internet
22. My fur babies
23. My health
24. My happiness
25. Time

There. That just about all the big things. Of course I am thankful for so much more but that is at least 25 of them. I am actually going to Black Friday shop. Yes I know I am so crazy my first time ever. Once again Hubbs and I have agreed not to get each other anything but we will see how that goes. Usually one or both of us break down and break the agreement. We want to take care of our kids and others gifts first. Sigh... Gonna be a fun but busy busy Christmas! Have a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Remember those who can not be home with their families. 


Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Life as we Know It!

Things have been going wonderful here in Florida. Hubbs loves his job and I love the family I am with. Though I am missing quite a few terribly the ones I have here fill in most of the gaps. I was very nervous about finding a church group that I would love as much as I do the ones from back home but God blesses doesn't he? I have found a wonderful group of women here and I just adore each and every one of them. They make me smile and laugh and make me think. They are the epitome of what a Godly woman should look like, act like and love like. I was truly blessed. =) I am really enjoying living with my brother and his family. We have our hiccups as any close siblings do but we manage to work through them and move on from it. Its a choice that the hubbs and I have made. We choose to stay here and live with my brother and his family we don't have to. We figured with the holidays coming up so soon we would be together all the time anyways might as well continue to live together you know. Much easier than spending the whole day together till late at night and having to drive home with 3 oh so tired children. Never the less we are ultimately happy with our decision. Another plus is with my older brother being here I have had an opportunity to get to know him better. We did not spend much time together as children, of course it was just the circumstances that life presented but now I am glad to have the chance. We both have so much to learn and talk about with each other. Most is we agree to disagree but its great either way. With the holiday break from Bible Study is in full swing I have been debating on doing one on my own. My sister in law and I want to start one together and we have chosen one I have just been lacking in the motivation. Sigh. Isn't it wonderful that God does not lack in his motivation when it comes to his precious children. Makes you feel even worse when he does so much for you but you can not seem to muster up 15 mins to devote to him in prayer and reading his word. I have to admit I am guilty of this quite frequently. I was however blessed with a precious gift of tickets to going to Living Proof Live and see Beth Moore speak. What a phenomenal woman. A love for the Lord. Her worship team was a whole other blessing in itself. I bought the CD to prove it. So in one year I have had the opportunity to see Anne Graham Lotz and Beth Moore. Still... the fire in my heart is not burning as it used to. I struggle with that. As I am sure many Christian women do. What do I need to do to get revival in my own heart? Where do I begin? I sit here pondering looking at the stack of books I purchased at LPL trying to figure out which one to begin with. >.< There are so many things I am STILL struggling with, anger, resentment, jealousy you know silly things like that. I have had hints about the next bible studies to come and if they are what I am hoping they are I am REALLY gonna need them. Funny when you look forward to getting a spiritual spanking. We have no plans on going "home" for the holidays. Not because we do not want to, we just cant. My parents are joining us for Christmas. I always look forward to seeing them. Homeschooling has been going O.K. I have envisioned me being on top of everything every day and my children loving school and me loving it as well. Some days.... not so much. Its a struggle. Especially with kids of 3 different grades and 3 different mentalities. But in my heart I still feel like it is the best choice for my children and our family. So now that I have thrown you back and forth and to and fro with my extremely scattered update I am hoping AGAIN to stay on top of my blogging. I hope you all have a blessed and safe holiday season!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Changes

So many things are going on right now I rarely have time to blog.  Not to mention sometimes I suffer from terrible writers block.  Note the huge gaps in my blog posts before. Of course I have been slacking in a lot of areas.  Unfortunately.  My mind has been going in about five million directions.  Sometimes life just gets so crazy sometimes.  But I promise I will try and muster up some time to update my blog for all my dedicated readers.  I have considered moving my blog to WordPress but I'm not sure yet.  Guess we will see.  I do know I don't want to pay for it lol.  Anyways so that's all for now.  Thanks for keeping up with my madness.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Not So Happy Memorial Day

Rest In Peace SSG Harley and SGT Rabun!


I read a blog earlier from a fellow Army wife and we both feel the same on this point. HAPPY Memorial Day! Thank a Veteran for their service. You know.. If you think about it, its almost an insult to wish them a Happy Memorial Day and then Thank them for their service. Today is Memorial Day. Though I am sure they think of their fellow brothers and sisters in arms who have lost their lives EVERY day but today is especially set aside for us civilians to REMEMBER them. (We civis need reminding every now and again the cost and the things our soldiers do, yeah sad I know) So how is it an insult. Many soldiers feel the same. A "It should have been me" mentality. Normal for a soldier. They all go over there willing to sacrifice their life. So put yourself in their shoes. Go up to a soldier on MEMORIAL day and they are thinking of those who died. Watching everyone enjoy swimming and cooking out laughing and smiling but in the back of their minds they are thinking of the ones who are not able to enjoy their family. Thinking how selfish of us. Ok sure no one wants to walk around all depressed all day but I can tell you from dealing with a soldier Its ALWAYS in the back of their mind. They do great with puttin a smile on their face and pretending their heart is not heavy for the lost ones. SO when you go up to a soldier and tell them Thank you for your service on Memorial day. Its like saying Thank You for serving and not being dead. A little harsh? Sure. Did I wish my Veteran a Happy Memorial Day. No. I did not. I told him It is Memorial Day. He said I know so quietly. We paused for a moment in silence and I could see in his eyes his first thought was of the two soldier in his unit that were killed, I could see the HURT. Wishing it was him but in the same moment guilty because he is glad it was not him. Thinking of their precious families who are empty without them. So is today a Happy day. Yeah for those of you who have an extra day off to relax because your work week is so taxing that you need a whole extra day to recoup, or a free day to spend at the lake enjoying your family smiling and laughing. Feeling selfish yet? Yeah... I know I am. So what can you do on Memorial Day for those who paid the ultimate price for you. Dedicate the day to the fallen soldiers and their family. EVERY time you see your son/daughter playing, or hugging a brother/sister or watching your spouse hug their children remember there are parents who cant play with their children, spouses who are alone today, brothers and sisters who can not hug. Send a prayer up for the families of the fallen ones that this day be a reminder to be PROUD of their service member. That the burden and heart that they feel today is eased by the presence of a merciful and loving God that their pain be eased in the assurance that one day they may see their loved ones again.

"To all the service members who gave up all of their tomorrows, so I could have mine. THANK YOU"

Thursday, May 23, 2013

No More Fireworks.. And Thats Ok.

So I have thought about writing on this for a week now.. just been patiently waiting for my thoughts to get right. As I have wrote about before hubbs was diagnosed with PTSD. Its not as severe as some cases but its something we as a family are working and learning from. His senses are heightened in situations, hearing, listening and smelling.  We had an Armed Forces Day celebration recently and we went. First thing when we walked in husbands unit was there showing the MRAP vehicles that are used by the military. He had not seen these guys for a while as he is on a no Drill Status because of his injuries sustained while in Afghanistan. He misses them a lot. They are his brothers and they went through some unimaginable situations that you and I will probably never come across. While we were there they tested some fireworks randomly and that really does not help. Not only a soldier with PTSD but any soldier who has been trained for war and been off to war. You hear a pop or a boom instinct will tell you to get down. I mean, It scared me and I have never been in any kind of situation like soldiers are. Hubby did well, He pushed on. All he could say the whole time was "There are SO many people here". He would not let me see his eyes because he knew any inkling that there was something wrong we would make like a banana and split. So we drove on and enjoyed the rest of our day. Then it got dark and the fireworks started. He jumped at every loud boom and the ones that sound like hundreds of pops at one time did not sit well with him. It started sprinkling and the smoke and ash were getting all over us and the kids so we decided to leave before the finale. Made it all the way to the parking lot and the finale. Hubby suddenly stopped and closed his eyes and I could see the distress in his face. He had enough. It was not just the fireworks and I know that. I am sure it was the combination of the heat, keeping up with 4 kids, seeing his battle buddies he had not seen in so long, the thousands of people in an uncontrolled environment, the loud noises that resembled what he was trained to be aware of and stay away from all piling on him at once. An overload of senses the entire day. It had to release and it did. The kids and hubs mom were there this time. It was scary for them. Seeing him in a way that they had never seen him before. He stopped and you could see the hurt and stress in his eyes and his face. I have learned the difference when I need to just leave him alone and let him sort out his thoughts and when I need to step in and intervene. This was one of the situations where I needed to step in. Unless you are a soldiers wife you probably do not understand but they were trained and drilled and lived one way for a year and it takes a moment for their mind to go right back to that situation, to that place. Hubbs and I have something that works and its what we do. I get him to focus on me and feel that he is here with me and our children and that he is safe. Its like immediate immanent danger protection mode that they go into, when they do not have their trucks or their gear they feel helpless and for a soldier even for a man that is stressful. Kind of like when your driving down the road and you hear an old song or smell and old smell and immediately you think of when you were younger when and where you heard that old song first or smelled that smell first. Soldiers are different in the way they go into protective/soldier mode. I do not quite understand it but I am not a soldier I wont. Every soldier comes home with some form of PTSD. Whether is jumping at loud noises or being overly aware of their environment. Its not something to play around with or joke around about. Most can get a handle on it and some can not. Either way if there is a soldier in your life that has PTSD let them know that no matter what you love them, and if they need help that its OK to ask for help. Be there for them and be open minded and understanding. I pushed my hubby to get help but in his own time he has opened up to me about things that happened to him and bother him. I probably know more about what happened during his deployment than most wives know. He knows that no matter what he tells me that I am simple grateful for his safe return home and for him to know that he can talk to me without me pushing him away and telling him I do not want to hear it helps him. So after our day we decided that no more fireworks. He of course feels awful about the kids possibly missing out on it but I assured him that it is ok. We do not have to have fireworks to celebrate days as a family. I would rather the kids see their father happy and enjoying his time and not have fireworks than them see him miserable. When they grow up and they are old enough to understand we will explain it to them. Someone having PTSD does not make them weird or crazy. Just means they have some extra stuff going on in their heads. Each person deals with it differently. Sometimes its scary, stressful, hurtful but if you LOVE that person Do anything and everything you can to help them and be their support system. Too many times soldiers come home with nothing and no one. If there is a soldier in your life, husband, wife, brother, sister, mother,father, son, or daughter. Love them, support them, encourage them. Whether you think so or whether they make you think they don't. They NEED you.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Mothers Day and a Whoopin

My mothers day  was wonderful. My husband was off and home this year for it. I know that does not make sense but My husband is a big part of why I am the mother that I am. I went to church Sunday. That was such a blessing as it always is. I tell you what, I sure am gonna miss that church. Its my home away from home. They had parent-child dedication. Not like a Christening but a public covenant with God that you will raise them up in a Christian home and teach them about God. After that, after the Happy time came the whoopin. Boy if you go to church and NEVER get whooped something is really wrong. Our pastor went on to explain the importance of a mother and her role and the impact she has on her children and especially their spiritual lives. As I have said before hubby and I have grown up in two different types of homes. My house was God says Do and Do Not and in his home it was live and learn and common sense. I am not going to get into comparing moms but they are very very different when it comes to how we were raised and the spiritual environment we grew up in. Of course it would be this way they are two DIFFERENT people. None the less you grow up and you learn what to do and what not to do, what you want out of life and a spouse and your children and what you do not want out of life, a spouse and your children. What do I want my children to see in me and learn from me. I want them to learn to love God and trust in him and fear him. To want to live a life that glorifies him. I want them to see a loving mother that does all of those things and portrays it in her life as well. I want them to KNOW I prayed for them. I want them to KNOW that being a Christian is NOT easy but trusting in God is more important than an easy life. If life was easy it would not be called life it would be called Heaven, but it is hard so it is called LIFE. Being a wife who loves the Lord is easier when you have a husband that loves him just as much if not more. I am so blessed to have a husband who loves God, who wants to please him, who wants to raise his children to do the same. Men like that are very hard to find. My husband and I were in different chapters in our lives when we met and got married. God was not number one but I am grateful that our books have been put together and now our chapters are being written together and God is the binding of our book and HE is what holds us together. My goal and you may call it old fashioned but in Gods word he writes the epitome of a Godly woman and mother.

A Woman Who Fears the Lord
Proverbs 31:10-31

10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

I am also including part of a post that I had not published before because the time was not appropriate but of course this is my blog and these are MY thoughts and feelings. It has a lot to do with teaching your children about God and doing right and wrong and why...

My husband was told growing up that it was a "little voice" telling him if he should or should not do anything. But how does that voice know what to tell you to do unless you educate it. When you let your child go to a friends house and they are bombarded with peer pressure to do something how do you KNOW they will make the right decision. As our guest pastor said last night if you brought your child up to love the Lord and fear the Lord then you know that your precious child knows they are ALWAYS being watched. That God the all seeing and the all knowing is watching them and they check themselves and say God is watching me... I know what I need to do, and do the right thing. Many of us adults are that way as well. I am by no means perfect and if I remember ALL the time that God is watching I probably would not slip as much as I do. If you are truly saved and sincerely meant when you accepted Jesus into your heart he IS there. You will have a guilty conscience when you do wrong. Most of the time you will leave church feeling like God whooped you up and down. I have to admit... I do not go to church for the same reason a lot of folks do not go. I have done wrong and I know it. I do not want to go to a place where I am reminded and convicted of it. No one wants to be told that something they are doing is wrong or that something that they ENJOY doing is wrong. I went a year without touching alcohol, maybe a little longer. I slipped. I messed up. That is the wonderful thing about our precious Redeemer. He is forgiving and merciful. He is in my heart, I know I messed up. I can ask him to forgive me and he does. Let me say this, the Holy Spirit does not convict everyone the same. Some are convicted more about certain things than others. Either way if you are saved you will be convicted if you are doing something that God does not approve of. Well how do you know? Read and Study Gods word, Pray and He will tell you! Trust me. 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

My Birthday 2013!

Revival is this week at my church and I must say, though I missed Sunday morning and Sunday evening I attended Monday night and last night. Can I say blessed. Well, let me begin at the beginning of my day yesterday. It was my birthday. I woke up to already 20+ Happy Birthday posts on my facebook. =) Then it was time to haul the kiddos off to Bible Study. What a precious group of women I attend church with. The sweet lady who does the announcements had everyone sing to me Happy Birthday. The facilitator for this particular Bible Study did a wonderful job. She made me laugh, cry, smile and most of all be proud that I am a Christian woman and that no matter what I have done in my past with God... This girls still got it. So if you ever have a chance pick up "The Girls Still Got It: Take a walk with Ruth and the God who Rocked Her World" with Liz Curtis Higgs. (I will probably do a post on my thoughts of that particular study later). But before we parted yesterday my mom had these precious women who she knows I hold very near and dear to my heart gather around and pray for me and over me. If everything works out I will be leaving my current church and moving to another area. For those of you who really know me, aside from parting with friends and family here leaving this church will by far be the hardest thing I have to do. I have thread so much of that blessed church and these women into my life and into my children's life. All of their prayers I will always remember. I hold each and every person whose lives have touched mine near to my heart. I have bonds with my friends but there is something special about a bond with a fellow Christian who loves the Lord. Anyways, that is NOT what intended this post to be about. I will probably do a "farewell" post another day. (By the way I should probably write the tentative posts down so I do not forget). None the less I went to revival last night and something stood out to me more than anything. It is the PARENTS job to instill the love and fear of God into their hearts. How will your child ever know when they are doing something wrong if you do not instill right and wrong in their hearts. Pastor said something about homeschooling that made me pleased with my decision to do so. I know not everyone feels the same about homeschooling but he made me proud of my decision last night. Pastor Said "My wife and I have very strong convictions about the education and rearing of our children." Someone told him Pastor your kids are gonna grow up weird and un-socialized. He said "Do you mean if we keep our children in Christian education and try to rear them in the nurturing admonition of the Lord that they are NOT gonna be like all the other 14 and 15 year olds (in the majority of society now)? Before you say that it is a bad thing that my children are not gonna act like that you have to CONVINCE me that it is a bad thing" AMEN!! I can not reiterate enough that whoever your child spends the most time with will have the most impact on your children's life. At school 8 hours a day around strange children and strange teachers that you probably have only seen maybe once or twice for brief moments and you see them maybe two or three hours when you get them home to hurry through homework, dinner, baths and then off to bed. Where is the time spent with them. You only have a very short time to make an impact in your child's life and you are busy doing other things.  I am blessed to be able to stay home and home school. Sacrifices have been made but we are still able to do it. I understand that not everyone can. If you don't make sure you are taking the time to spend QUALITY time with your children. Not in front of the TV but sitting down with them. Teaching them right from wrong, because remember your rights and wrongs might not be the same as the teacher who spends 8 hours a day with them not to mention it is NOT a teachers job to RAISE your children its their job to EDUCATE them. My hats off to teachers that is for sure. I have to try and educate and raise three children. They have 100+. I get paid in love and hugs they get paid a stinky salary. Of course that is another post for another day. It just really hit home when the Pastor said that and they prayers that were spoken over me and my family and my children. As parents we play a VERY important role in our children's life. That is our legacy. What our children pass down to their children and so on. What legacy are you leaving your grand children?

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Hesitant?

Another gorgeous morning I sit here at my desk drinking my coffee and eating a donut that was special delivered warm by my wonderful mama! Today's devotion was just as precious as yesterdays and the days before. Its amazing that each day of the year God can teach you and tell you something different and in a different way tell you how much he loves you! Wonderful isn't it? The closer and closer it gets to this weekend the more anxious and nervous I get. Something big on Monday. Like I said before this could be a branch off of our current path through life or it could be a continuance on the one we are already on now. My prayer its the path that GOD chooses and that I appreciate it as such. Monday is also mine and James anniversary. Married for 6 years. WOW! In todays society thats pretty good. Most young couples make it through one year of semi tough marriage. We have made it through 6 years of marriage, a deployment, a lot of time apart with military and training for jobs, three children and we are more in love now than ever. God being involved in our lives has much to do with it. Granted we have had some tough times but one thing has not changed and that is our love for the Lord, for each other and for our children. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful man as my husband and daddy to my precious little ones. Getting to see my brothers and sister tomorrow and for the weekend. SUPER excited! I always love spending time with them. So if you do not see a blog post from me this weekend then that is why! Anyways, that is all for this morning. Just keep our family in your prayers that God puts us on the path that he desires and the one we can serve him the most. Many Blessings your way!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

What I Must Remember!

I woke up much earlier than I planned this morning. Like 2 hours before I had my alarm set. Most days I would be annoyed and lay in the bed until I fell asleep probably only lucky enough to catch about a 30 min nap. I struggle to fall asleep so it takes me a while to unwind my mind and get to sleep once it gets going. However, this morning I got up and got a shower and did a small devotional out of a book called Jesus Calling. I got it from Wal-Mart. It is small so I can carry it in my purse but it was sitting on my computer desk. The past couple of weeks have been hectic. My beloved grandfather passed away 2 weeks ago. It was expected/unexpected if that makes any sense. His health had been dwindling but then it took a turn for the better and then for the worst. My husband and I took a trip to Wisconsin along with my two brothers and my sister in law to pay our respects and see our Grandmother. I was lucky enough that my grandfather got to meet my children and play with them before his passing. My brother was planning on visiting this summer so he would have been able to see them. Unfortunately that is not what God had in store. I seen a lot of family I had not seen in MANY years. Everyone has basically stayed the same. The "grown-ups" spent their time in the kitchen and living room and the "kids" were downstairs playing on grampas pool table. One of our fondest memories of our grandfather. He taught us all how to play pool. I have so many memories in my childhood that have him and my grandmother in them. I could relive them but I would be here for a while.  Though maybe in a later blog post. All I can say was how blessed I am to have such wonderful grandparents who love me. They had been married for 54 years and never divorced. I admire that as my parents have been married and divorced several times. I always told my husband I wanted to be like my grandparents. I am sure they had tough times but they stuck it out! Again, I admire that in them. My grandmother is a strong woman. The loss of a spouse is something I pray to never have to experience. I know the terror of it being a strong possibility being a wife of a soldier who is deployed but I know nothing of the heartache of actually losing them. I can not even begin to imagine what my grandmother is going through. But she seems to be pulling through this beautifully. There is a big event coming up in my little families life. It could send our family into a completely new journey or keep us on the path we are on now. Either way I MUST remember that whatever it may be that it is the plan that GOD has for us and be THANKFUL with whatever path God chooses. It may not be the one I think it should be but it is the one that God knows it should be. I pray that God keeps this on my heart and I remember this if things do not go my way. 

Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you"



Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Obama and Same Sex Marriage


I found this blog http://www.onthemount.blogspot.com/ that best replies to Obamas outlandish use of the Sermon on the Mount by JESUS himself to justify legalizing same sex marriage. This would be my response as well. 
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Barack Obama - on The Sermon on the Mount:


"If people find [civil unions] controversial, then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans."
Those are the words of the smooth talking Barack Obama. What does the Sermon on the Mount have to do with homosexuality or gay marriage /civil unions? NOTHING. Though I do not disagree with all that he says about this issue, I do disagree with him calling certain scriptures "obscure". What follows are the... “obscure” scriptures that Obama was referring to - and these verses DO directly address homosexuality.
Romans 1:24-28
24. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.25. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.26. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.27. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.28. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.


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The word of God for the people of God... thanks be to God. To persons that read their Bibles and are honest about the words, the passage quoted above is not obscure. It is simple and plain. Obama is guilty of what many do. They let politics guide their Christian beliefs, rather than having Christian beliefs guide their politics. Obama picks the parts of the faith he likes and dismisses what does not suit his thinking - and this is the ONLY way he can continue to be pro-abortion. 
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I think many people do this. They nit pick parts of the Bible that best suite their situation. Its appalling that that is done that way. I also find it disgraceful that people use the Sermon on the Mount as a reason to not honor the Ten Commandments. Jesus did not give the Sermon on the Mount to abolish the Ten Commandments. If you read it He says in Matthew 5:17-20 that Jesus has come to fulfill the law of the Prophets (AKA The Ten Commandments). With all of this I will say again not EVERYONE is perfect. We all fall, even the most devout Christians. With that we all must know that God loves ALL of us equally. Not one more than the other. And one Christian is not more forgivable that the other. We all must get to Heaven the same way and that is through believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. With all of this pro gay marriage stuff going on a lot of friends and family members will disagree and that should NOT be. Both sides preach tolerance and Jesus preaches for us to be compassionate towards others no matter what they believe. Let who is without Sin cast the first stone. Right. I read a quote today that makes so much sense. "You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate." You don't have to compromise what you believe to love another. You can still believe the way you do and love them just as Jesus loved everyone even those who betrayed him and scorned him. I am by no means perfect but I think we should all strive to love as Jesus did and be as compassionate as him.  I am guilty of it and judging those who don't do what I think they should be doing but none the less I should love them still. 


Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Trip to Florida

Well we went back to Florida for an early spring vacation. We had tickets to go to the Florida Gatornationals. For all of you that don't know that is NHRA Drag racing, not the actual Florida Gators. That is a place you will NEVER find us. Seeing as how my hubs is a true Georgia fan. Anyways, it was so wonderful to spend time with my brother(s) and my sister in law and my niece and nephew. I really missed Florida. While hubby was deployed I was down there once a month. At least. I think one time I was down there for a whole month. If I were homeschooling I probably would have just moved down there for the year. We are still praying for a job opportunity down there but we will just take things day by day and wait for Gods timing. And God has his own timing for things. I have not blogged since before the women's retreat. It went well. My mother in law and sister in law went. It was nice to spend time with them. My women's Bible study started yesterday but we were unable to make it home on Monday so I missed it. Next Tuesday I will definitely be there so I don't miss any more. Its a Bible study on Ruth. I am still struggling with some things in my faith, but I am working on it. I am assured that everyone goes through lukewarm times in their faith and that is okay. Just as long as I don't move in there and STAY there. Anyways so I went to Florida. Took hardly any pictures.. I was just enjoying my time spent down there. =) It was so nice. I really had a great time. The leaving part was a killer. Anyways, well I am off here. Got some unpacking to do and things to get done. Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Monday, March 4, 2013

Busy Month and "The Bible"

As I sit here and stare at my March calendar I can not help but to think how busy I am going to be this month. Its crazy. Have an out of town trip planned to visit my brother and a retreat this weekend and some Thirty-One parties lined up not to mention some super fun events with my church that I am definitely looking forward to. None the less I feel like it is going to be a great month. We have taken our taxes and done what we had planned with them and I am so excited to say that we have no more credit cards and we actually have a nice sum of money in our savings account! CHA CHING! Can not beat that. Had a wonderful day at church. I always get my socks blessed off when I go.



Came home and watched the new mini series on the History channel called "The Bible".Bear in mind these are my thoughts and opinions. If you have not seen it yet or read the Bible there are spoilers. I am pleased to say that I think it went well. Other than a little nit picky things it seemed to stay on scripture. Many complained that it was not word for word by the Bible but if they did that I mean how long do you think this mini series would take. Probably as long as it took to actually happen, thousands of years maybe? I seen someone complain that Noah had an Irish accent, and one of the angels was an Asian ninja, silly things like that. There were a few inaccuracies like the lamb showing up when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac instead of the ram, Moses did not remove his sandals when he stepped on Holy Ground, Many folks were looking for Charlton Heston (He played in the Ten Commandments) to show up when they showed the parts about the Exodus. We all have to remember that these are another persons point of view of these events and they may or may not coincide with what we may have "thought" it was like. The only way to really know what it was like and what happened is to read the actual book first. The Bible. That I can assure you is accurate within every minute detail and you even find out what happens at the end of the story. Might I say the ending is the best part. =) I am however, like many, curious to see how the Gospel is presented. I am looking forward and praying it will be presented just like it is in the Bible. What I was impressed with was Abrahams faith in God, willing to sacrifice his own son. God is so wonderful. No one has had to actually sacrifice their own son in place of our sins except God himself. He sacrificed his OWN son in place of ours. Blessed Redeemer! I am looking forward to the episodes to come. So I will leave you with my favorite rendition and collaboration of this song! I get goosebumps each time I watch it. I pray that this mini series is a blessing to each and every one of us who have read the actual script/book and encourage those who have not to read it themselves. Let me tell you it is worth it. And P.S. The Victor in the end.. well I am pleased to say I am on the winning team! God Bless

Saturday, March 2, 2013

My "Classroom"

SO since I am homeschooling I thought I would give you a photo tour of my "classroom". Since I am unable to dedicate an entire room to my classroom its kind of my kitchen/classroom. I have been told when you walk into the kitchen it feels more like a classroom than a kitchen! Thats ok with me. =D

This is part of our Calendar time area!

The other part of our Calendar time! 


Teachers Corner with classroom rules and discipline charts!
Shapes and drawers for completed work
Kids Corner with books to read and colors!
I know it is not fancy but hey, it works for us right now. I use various different homeschool blogs to get my ideas but my favorite that I always go back to is Confessions of a Homeschooler . She has so many great ideas and is so organized. Do not even get me started on her beautiful classroom. I literally die when I look at her site! I just love it. I got the chore chart printouts and the idea from her site as well. But we do not have our own special little room so we do what we can and it works for us. =) As far as what curriculum I use. I do not have a specific one I use. I get it from here and there. I got a 2nd grace book from Wal-Mart and use that as a guide and go from there. I add printouts to it as I see fit and for Bible Study I was reading the story and writing my own questions to it but I found some good ones online that are children friendly. Can not remember the site but if you Google Bible study for children you can find so many great FREE ones for children. I would read over them and see if what the lesson is about is what you want your child to get from it. As far as a schedule, that is the luxury of homescool you kind of can do it whenever. We usually wake up, eat breakfast, catch a lil morning cartoons then we get started on school work. Simple. I really can not see why all stay at home moms do not homeschool but I know some folks are not cut out to be teachers.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Mornin!

Gooooood Mornin ya'll. Sitting here sippin my cup of coffee grateful that  today is supposed to be semi nice. The sun will be shining and it will be in the mid 60's. Unfortunately this weekend its gonna be back in the low 50's again. Welcome to the South folks. Hopefully the sun will be shining either way. Went to Bible study yesterday and had a nice heart to heart with a wonderful woman from there and I am feeling much better about things. Im selling Thirty-One bags now! So excited. Im so close to my first goal I can taste it! We are now debt free. All besides our truck. I could not be more excited. First step. We took a Dave Ramsey class a while back with a dear friend of mine and we were not confident that we could be successful so we did not apply what we learned. Now, we can be sure that we will be able to do this. So here we go! Financial Freedom here we come! I love the sound of that. Freedom.. In this country nowadays that word is hard to come by. Slowly but surely this is turning into some kind of crazy dictatorship. President not going through Congress to submit laws and simply signing executive orders to put things in place. Should not surprise me. His father is rumored to be strong into dictatorship. Anyways that is enough about that. I finally downloaded my curriculum for preschool and kindergarten! Yay! I got it from Confessions of a Homeschooler . I am really looking forward to getting started on it next year. I am still in search of a good curriculum for my biggest Babygirl. I am very picky about what my children are taught and how they are taught. I want to be able to incorporate religion into science and history because whether we like it or not, they are a part of each other. I do not mind doing my own curriculum but I need something that is credible to schools and colleges. Because like any other parent that is ultimately my goal is to send my child to college. I am looking forward to this weekend for only one reason. After many years of trials and a weekend full of hard work my husband, our son, his dad and his uncle have gotten his truck running. One step closer to his dream truck.(One of the many he has...) This weekend its supposed to be coming home. So FINALLY it will be out of his uncles woods scaring away the animals and in our driveway where it BELONGS. Nice to know that it was not too difficult to get the tree that was growing out of the big hole where the engine was. LOL. I look at the clock and its only 9:30am... WOW! I must have gotten up really early this morning. I see a nap today... maybe. That is all that has been going on. Glad to find time to write in my blog. I am trying to make it a point to find time for the important things. Bible study, devotion, my husband, my kids, sleep, and writing in my blog. I am hoping to keep it up! I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Never Gonna Get It Right!

Seems I am never gonna be able to write blog posts on a regular basis. Sad as it is. Yep, stay at home mom and all the time in the world right!! HAHA. Course I am busy with so many other things. School and what not. Either way. There is a boat load of things on my mind. Hubby has been working hard to get his truck running so we have a second vehicle. I have been struggling with my faith and where I am as far as within my family. Often times I feel resented by certain family members. Of course I feel like it has stemmed from things that happened before it was any of my control. However I should not feel that way. I love all of my family whether they think I do or not. As far as my faith... In some ways I feel I have drifted away from God. I was doing wonderful before staying on top of my Bible Studies and things. Nowadays... I struggle to find time. It should not be that way. God would not have to struggle to find time for me. He would be there as soon as I opened my mouth. Sigh and that is what is making my life difficult now  I am going to have to sit down and do some serious soul searching, talking with the Lord and getting my life back on track. As for my church... its wonderful church and I love it. I have this internal struggle to "fit in". I am by no means a girly girl and do not do much shop talk and I am not into the latest fashions nor am I any size to be "into" them but I try and to no avail I still find myself drifting away from them and into my husbands conversations with the men about sports, guns, cars and things. Its not the women at the church. They are wonderful and friendly and welcoming. Its me! I am glad however that there is one thing that MOST of us have in common and that is we all love the Lord and we are moms. Snot, poop, pee, barf, boogers, giggles, holding little ones hands, chasing them in the church parking lot, the whole nine. We can definitely all relate to that and I love them all the more for that. Unfortunately feeling the way I do causes me to distance myself from people. I have tried most of my life to try and fit in with my own family members and been rejected that it is difficult for me to attempt to do that with strangers for fear or rejection. I cannot say that SOME of my family does not have a reason to not be my biggest fan however I feel as though I have apologized about many things I KNOW I have done and asked for forgiveness. Of course in hopes that it would come and it does not. I used to be a HUGE confrontational person and these days I am not so much unless there is some blatant reason for me to open my mouth and step in. Okay so that is my soap box today. I am hoping there are more uplifting posts in the near future. The weather is changing and hopefully for the duration to more spring weather and I usually am in better spirits when the weather is nicer. I am sure most folks can relate. So to end on a better note. I love my life and my family. God has blessed me with a wonderful life full of wonderful people.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Behind..... Again!

Is anyone else having a hard time sticking to something right now?? Sigh... maybe its just me. Anyways, I really have no excuse. I have not been too busy and I have not had a lot of things going on that are outside my head. (Trust me you do not want to know what all goes on up there) I have been such a terrible slacker lately and I am really really wanting to change that... now, question is can I? I can... but... there is always a but right? Somewhere I always say but. Homeschooling is going good, Bible study is going good, finally got the kick back to go back to Church after recovering from sicknesses and holidays and what not. So, no excuses right. I am dying to start working out again, eating right and just all around feeling physically better. How am I gonna do that I have no idea. I have p90x and zumba dvds so theres really no excuse there. Not to mention the kids love doing Zumba with me. They are soo cute and they sure do not look as silly as I do. They make Zumba look good. Thats neither here nor there. I have been lukewarm in a lot of areas of my life to include spiritual life but just like your mental and physical state your spiritual state needs to be worked out too and I have slacked in that. But here I am, again trying to make you believe I will be back for good. SO we shall see! Anyone want to hold me accountable? Anyone? Ok! Great! Well I  hope everyone has a blessed day! =D

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Welcome 2013!

I have been working on another blog post for quite some time now. Crazy I cant seem to find the time to slow down and do it. So I will be doing it bit by bit between housework and running after the children! Should be fun and a long blog post. This New Years was much like last year. Full off family time. New Years eve spent at the park with the kiddos and then home in the bed snuggled with my husband. He was tired and had to work the next day so he slept. Thank goodness too. Neighbors were shooting off fireworks. Since Afghanistan he has not dealt with them very well of course unless he is the one firing them off. He went to work New Years day and I went to my moms had a scrumptious lunch and hung out with the kids some MORE. Yesterday evening a couple of our bestists came over and we had dinner and shot off fireworks till we were cordially asked to stop came inside and just hung out together. Its what we 4 do best. Talk and just hang out. Resolutions this year? Well I said to my self I was not going to make any because you can change your life and better it at any point during the year. Naturally a NEW year means a chance to start again. So I am asking you my readers/ friends and family to be supportive and encourage me to stick with what I say I am going to do. I will be posting my resolutions in the margin of my blog for the year so we can keep track of it. Hows that? They are small things but things that should be done. I really want to thank everyone who reads my blog. It means a whole lot to me that you guys like keeping up with my life. Not that its Kim Kardashian style but its my style. I am really looking forward to this year. I welcome it with open arms. Hubby and I have some fun plans this year including time spent seeing family who live WAY out of town. I cannot wait to see all of them. Its been years. So that is all for today. I hope each one of you readers had a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year and that God brings many many blessings into your life this year!