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!

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. 

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

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. 

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!

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

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.

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!