In The Masters Hands

Its Been A Long Time

2009-12-10T08:09:00.009-06:00

Let me just begin by saying that it has been a long time since I updated this and I am sorry. I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day to get it all done and blogging has been the last thing on my to do list. So you might ask what have you been up to since July, well its been quite a bit, I can tell you that...

After my last post we went for a trip to the beach, that was a lot of fun and now it seems like forever ago, here's a pic of us all, My mom and sister and her 2 wonderful boys went with us this year. This a picture of my mom and the kiddos.
We have also hauled more hay this year than I can ever remember hauling in my life and we've hauled a lot hay in my life... Only this year we had a few new drivers and they did a great job, overcame some fears and gave the boys a run for their money...

They don't realize this, but in a few years this will be work and not play...
Future Drivers...

I'm sure they were cooking up a new plan... discussing how they might be able to secure this job for their hay hauling career instead of being the ones doing the heavy work...
Mud, was also something we had a lot of this summer and fall, A LOT of MUD, my laundry room still hasn't recovered, not that it was in good shape to begin with...
check out the socks... This was the "little mud man" as his brother and sister came to call him.

We've had lots of good times with our "bosom friends" ( Anne of green gables became a favorite with our girls).

Made lots and lots of great memories...

Ate lots of great food... sorry about the table mess in the picture, we was having fun with Mu for her birthday, no time to cleanup before pictures!

Made new friends, and a great one she is, an angel for sure. ( sorry again for the mop and cleaner bottle in the pic, that's a part of the everyday life around here)

Worked so hard, we fell asleep just about anywhere... I left him here just long enough to take the picture and then put to bed for a nice long well deserved nap...

And you know what, I am sitting here right now about to freeze to death... It cold out there, and looking back at all the things we did this summer has warmed me up just a bit.
I think that finally we are beginning to settle in at our new home, its been a trying time, a learning time, but a wonderful time, I'm just sorry that I didn't get to share it all with you guys in blog land. What a year... I can't believe that its almost over.
Well hopefully I'll see you soon!! Leave me a note and let me know how you guys have been and what your favorite memory from summer is.

Happy Happy Birthday Baby!!!!

2009-07-06T07:22:00.008-05:00

It seems like such a short time ago that my little boy was my little baby, time has a way of going by so fast that if we're not careful to grab every moment we'll miss so much. Here are just a few of the memories I've collected over the past three years.

When you first started sucking your thumb!

And those big blue eyes...

You always were a messy eater, you still are too!

Getting ready for your first haircut,

Your getting into something I'm sure and that ain't changed either, you still have that same sneaky little look,

Here, your trying to figure out just exactly how those peas work,

Now look how big you've grown, and you still love that thumb,
and you do get to play with the big boys a little more often now.

I sure do have a lot of fun with you, E-pie and I know you don't like to hear it, but to me you'll always be my Baby Boy!!! Happy Birthday:)

Its Monday!

2009-06-29T07:40:00.005-05:00

Good morning ya'll, are you having a good Monday morning?

I woke up kind of late this morning and so I didn't get to the garden but I did get down to check on my chickens and I a have a few sick ones. Isn't it funny how every thing seems to be going fine until you are gone for a day and then something always seems to happen. For instance, every time my mom and dad leave to go somewhere, His cows always find a place to get out, most of the time this happens when only my day is gone and my mom is home alone, its like they know hes leaving and they decide to party. Anyways, I have no idea what is wrong with my chickens, I think it's the heat, but I am sure they'll be fine.

Now back to the real reason for this post, Yesterday, I was blessed to be able to be in church with some of the most lovely people in the world, they are truly a wonderful cloud of witness that God has allowed to be in my life. Even though we only get to be in church with them a few times a year, When I pull up in their parking lot its like coming home, They are family, truly brothers and sisters in Christ.

Also, My sister and I had decided to use Sonlight curriculum this year for our homeschool, so we placed our order and it was delivered on Friday, we were so excited, It was like Christmas in June. It was a little overwhelming at first but I believe that we will get it all figured out, That is one reason we ordered it so early, we wanted to have a month or two to get familiar with it.

So if any of you have any suggestions or helpful advice on this subject please feel free to leave a comment. We would greatly appreciate it.

This post seems a little jumpy today, I guess I just have alot to tell you about,

One day last week Joy helped me put up a closet organizer kit in the boys bedroom,

(please, don't kill me for posting this picture Joy, I'll never do it again,

I promise , I just thought they needed to see how well you worked that screwdriver)

We are not carpenters, we did however get it up and it works very well, And while we were working we got to hearing little voices in the kitchen, saying, "you want some calldee" very sweetly, and that got us to investigating what our precious innocent littlest ones were up to and this is what we found.....

Aren't they just lovely:) We, of course had a good laugh and then put them in the tub, when they got out, the tub was full of chocolate water! You just can't leave those two alone for a minute, not even a second, they just can't stay out of stuff!!

Hope you guys have a great Monday!

FINALLY!!!!

2009-06-21T14:18:00.000-05:00

Well I am finally back on track, here in blog land. It has been an incredibly busy spring and summer for us here, as I'm sure it has been for all of you guys. We have finally gotten somewhat settled into our new house, we are still fixing some things and finishing up with the decorating, hanging up pics, shelves and whatnot. You know how it is when you move, it takes a good 6 months before it really starts to feel like home, but I can tell you this, my kids are loving it, they are having a wonderful time living on the farm here and being so close to their grandparents, cousins and especially their horses.

Now on to what really matters, here is a few pics of our garden, this is what has been taking up much of my time, I love to garden and with one the size of ours you have to be in it every day for at least an hour just to stay on top of the weeds, bugs and to keep everything gathered up. Our garden this year is for 4 different families and I am not the only one working in it, my grandmother is the boss of the operation and I am simply a willing worker, but you know it takes all hands to get the work done and this fall when all I have to do is walk out to the pantry or open the freezer instead of my wallet I will be so very thankful to have worked hard, and to the Lord who has blessed our garden so.

Now our garden has gotten bigger since I took these pictures, off to the left in the picture on top is 6 more row of October beans, a row of strawberries, and 2 rows of sweet potatoes. This bottom picture is of our green beans and 3 rows of tomatoes, and boy am I looking forward to that first red tomato, I'll have to get up awful early to beat my grandpa and my dad to the garden so that they won't get it first.

We also have a couple of new additions to our family, this little fellow was ds#2 birthday present, and then we also got our daughter one. Buddy is the red Australian shepherd and Sissy is the blue one, I was hoping to name them Biscuit and Jelly, or Peanut and Butter, or Mutt and Jeff, but the kiddos didn't like my names.

I just thought this was a sweet picture, This is my grandpa and my youngest son, whose favorite book is the poky little puppy, when you can get him to sit still long enough, but this day he was tired and ready for a book and Papa was a willing reader.

Well I am glad to be back online and I hope to have some before and after pics up of the new house here in a few days, just to show you what we've been doing. Also I have come across some great little recipes for keeping the aphids off your tomatoes, and its all made of household ingredients, not some chemical pesticides. I'll be back in a day or two, You guys have great Sunday. Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there.

It sure has been awhile!!

2009-05-04T14:34:00.000-05:00

I don't have pics to show you this time of all the neat things we've been doing. I have been way to busy, but I do have quite a few things to tell you about.
Well you all know we sold our house and we are now counting down the last three weeks of being here. We have bought a new house and we are waiting to put that one together so that we can paint and put down new flooring, Alot of work to be accomplished in just 3 short weeks. I think we can do it though, we'll have to work hard but that never did hurt anybody.
We have just about made it through our first year of homeschooling !!!! We have about 2 weeks worth of school work to be done and then we will be able to rest for a little while. I also know that next year I do not plan on using the same curriculum that I used this year. I get to start home school with my ds#1 this coming fall and I am very excited and thankful for that.
I have also decided on using a more Charlotte Mason home school approach this coming year, I feel like my dd and ds will both respond better to this type of schooling then they would a workbook type curricula. God has really been answering my prayers in this and I am very thankful for all that He has done in my heart and in the heart of my husband. I am able to more than I ever thought possible with homeschooling and I know that it was all God and Him working in my husbands heart that it possible. It just goes to show that nothing is impossible with God!!
And now on to my garden, Since we are moving and where we are moving to is across the road from my grandparents, we have all decided to put our garden out together, so far we have out 7 rows of potatoes, 7 rows of tomatoes, 6 rows of green beans, 7 rows of October beans, 3 rows of onions, 2 rows of squash and cucumbers, and a few other things. That sounds like a whole lot of stuff, but we plan to can a whole lot of stuff. We have had a lot of rain here this spring and that has made gardening a little tricky but it has been so enjoyable for me to work with my grandparents and my dad in the garden, I have learned so much from them in my life, and I hope to glean even more wisdom from them this gardening season.
Well that is a little bit about all that is going on around here, I hate that i haven't been around for a while but things are pretty crazy with us packing up to move and all. I'll be sure and put up a post when we get moved into our new home, pictures and all. Keep us in your prayers and I will (see) you soon.

What little boys are made of!

2009-04-01T07:34:00.000-05:00

Hammers and nails and puppy dog tails, that is what I have always heard that little boys were made of but in this case I do believe that it is hammers and snails and puppy dog tails!!

My ds#1 found this snail a few days ago and brought it home in this cup and it was the neatest thing, ds#2 just loved to watch it move. He was facsinated with it.

My sister Joy stopped by and he just had to show her the snail, They had the best time playing with that thing. Thanks Aunt Joy for showing my baby that much love and attention.

I just love his expressions,you can read every little thought that goes through his mind.

We kept that snail for about 2 weeks, ds#1 took it to school with him to show it to all his buddies there, We finally let him go on Monday, I am sure that he was glad to get back to all his friends, Oh and by the way his name, Sticky Slimy Snail !!

What cool creatures have you found to play with lately, I saw this huge turtle on the road the other day and almost stopped to get him but I thought he might have been a snapping turtle and I didn't wnat none of that, Anyways, I just love finding neat interesting things in nature and now that spring weather is here I am sure there will be a lot more discoveries.

Spring!!!

2009-03-18T23:29:00.000-05:00

Well, it looks as if Spring is here for at least the next 2 weeks, i hope it is here for a while and that winter is long gone. It has been such a long winter, at least it feels that way for me, I'm telling you, Spring, I hope you are here to stay.

What have you guys been up to the last two weeks, Probably as much as I have, things have been crazy around here, we run all day and then just fall into bed exhausted, and you know I don't even know what it is that we've been doing. I feel like I have been cleaning house for years and not getting anywhere, It all still looks the same the next morning. Oh and one thing I forgot to mention, is that we sold our house, It was such an answered prayer and I am so very thankful that it has sold, this has been something that has been on my dh and my minds for awhile and was something that we just didn't really know what to do with, so anyways this really sweet young couple comes in the place where my husband works about 2 weeks ago and mentioned that they were looking for a house and my dh mentioned that we were wanting to sell ours, so they said they wanted to come and look, sooooo we spent the next few days cleaning everything up really well and when they came, they said they wanted it, didn't even argue about the price, Isn't it just amazing how God works, we prayed about selling our house, that if it was the Good Lords will for the house to sell that He would work that out and He did, now we just have find some where to live:) But you want me to let you in on something, We ain't worried about that either, because we trusted Him to do what was best with this house, we'll trust Him to find us a new one, No doubts about it, My Lord takes care of me!!

So how about that,

Now, for a little confessing, I have really let down in the bible study department girls and I am so very sorry to you guys, Ya'll know who I'm talking to, We have go to get back into the swing of things and not let this crazy life we live take something so precious away from us, and that goes for everyone out there in blog land, Bible study, I'm talking about opening up the KJV bible, Gods Holy words and reading it, Studying what the Lord has given to us, NOTHING can substitute for the Bible, No other book ever written can take the place or give us anymore help than Gods word can. I believe that with all my heart, now I will say that sometimes other books written by men of God who study and read the true written word of God can offer wonderful insight to the Bible, but nothing can replace it or the study of it, in a Christians life. So to every one out there who, like me, has let that slide for a few days, get back at it, before those fiery darts the devil likes to wing at us, hits us because we've let our defenses down. Can We Do It? Yes We Can!!!

See why I'm glad spring is here, I am going stir crazy sitting in this house, One can only watch so much Bob the Builder, or Fox and the Hound before one really starts to lose touch with reality!!!

I guess I got off on a little rabbit trail, Now back to the topic at hand, Spring!

Today was an absolutely beautiful spring day, The kids and I spent the majority of the day out in the wild blue and green yonder, but you know what I forgot, MY CAMERA!! Now don't that beat all, The creek was up and the kids were having a ball playing in it, My dd was looking so pretty on her pony and my ds#1 was driving the gator all by himself and I didn't get one single picture of it, but Tomorrow we plan on doing it all over again and this time I will be armed, with my camera of course.
So enough of my crazy ramblings for one night, I'll keep ya'll updated on the search for our new home, but for tonight I will leave you with a few pictures I took while still at home today(before we left to go exploring).....

I just threw this one in because I thought it was cute, He was trying to pretend he didn't see me with the camera trying to get a good picture of him. He's so silly;)

The new header picture was taken today, its jsut a few of the Bradford Pear trees that are blooming in my yard. I think that they are just so pretty, but not quite as pretty as the Dogwoods that will be blooming soon:)

Under the Weather?

2009-02-27T11:16:00.001-06:00

Why is it that whenever you've been sick, they say you've been under the weather, I've never quite understood that saying. But that is exactly what we have been around here this week, everyone has been a little puny. My dd has had a cold and just felt rotten all week and, then I just haven't felt like myself, this week, just been under the weather, I reckon.

You know what else is true about that statement, this week we have had some weird weather, I mean ever since I was a kid I could never understand, how that one day it could be snowing to beat the band and the next day it would be warm and spring like. Our weather down here in the south is wild, Sunday we canceled church because of snow, and then yesterday it was 67 degrees, then this weekend they are calling for snow again, I really wish that the weather would make up its mind. I am soooooo ready for spring!!!

I just have to think, though that all the ups and down in the weather could be the reason for all of us being a little under the weather;) I hope that all of you guys are feeling well, Y'all have a great weekend.

While I've been away....

2009-02-19T19:06:00.000-06:00

I guess you could say that I have been taking some much needed rest from the computer, I have just been to tied down to other things lately, and the computer, not being a nessecity was put aside. Now I do have some pictures of some things that have been going on around our house lately, and I hope you enjoy them....

We played piano with cousins,

We watched it snow, (which didn't last very long, but was very pretty)

We ate soup from bread bowls, or did we just eat the bowl..., (great way to get kids to eat soup by the way, Thanks to Donna over at Moms Frugal)

Got a new big boy bed and He was so excited,( and let me tell you trundle beds are they way to go, especially if you don't have much space)
Just look at how happy he is!!!My beautiful chickens have started laying again, My kids go egg hunting everyday!

We shot Bows with our friends, with a little help from Dead Eye Stephens ( thats what the boys called the big boy who was helping them out, although I don't recall anyone being a dead eye that day, but it was so very warm and pretty)

Even with the homemade bow, my boy is getting to be a pretty good shot, if I do say so myself;)
Ate some wonderful Israeli Doughnuts, made from another wonderful recipe at Moms Frugal, and boy, were they finger licking good!!
We spent a wonderfully warm Friday burning brush and hiking along the creek with Pa and Papa, making many memories.

And I got to do a little gardening, My dad and I dug up some of my favorite flowers, Buttercups, and I hope to get them replanted soon. Always the first flowers to pop out of the ground, so eager they are for spring to arrive , they almost always get snowed on, and this year I hope to add a few more to my yard.

Yep, Spring is in the air around here and I for one am looking forward to it. We have had many busy days, but they have been blessed days, We've rode horses and played outside til we were just worn out and now that its back to being cold, for a few days that is, at least we know what we've got to look forward to in just a few more weeks.

Tag!

2009-01-25T16:12:00.000-06:00

I was tagged by Leann a few days ago, so here it is, My fourth photo from my fourth folder!

This picture was taken this time last year and E-pie is doing what he does best, making a mess!!! But he sure is cute:)

Quote of the Week!!

2009-01-21T08:39:00.000-06:00

Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910):

“In such a world as this, with such hearts as ours, weakness is wickedness in the long run. Whoever lets himself be shaped and guided by any thing lower than an inflexible will, fixed in obedience to God, will in the end be shaped into a deformity, and guided to wreck and ruin.”

I read this quote yesterday as I was browsing around on the computer and was just wowed!!! I mean how true it is. "weakness is wickedness in the long run." I have a weakness when it comes to reading, I mean I can sit down with a book and read all day, or till I finish the book and most of the time that don't take all day, it can be a really bad habit, I have often found myself picking up the book I'm reading instead of doing my housework, cooking supper, or even listening to my kids, how terrible is that, but I am doing better, I guess what I'm trying to say is that my weakness for reading a good book, became something bad because it got in front of all the other things I needed to be doing.

How often have we let what others say or do affect the way we think or do things, My dad is a preacher, He is very well versed in the bible and I could just sit and listen to him all day, I mean I have learned alot from him over the years, but at some point I had to start learning things on my own, If all the bible I got was from him than would I be able to get from Gods word what He wanted me to have. Learning from my dad, our pastor, or Sunday school teacher is not a bad thing, not at all, but, we don' t need to let them form our thoughts for us. My sister and a few others I know, love to make lists and think that is the only way to get things done and while I agree that it works for them well it just ain' t for me and I shouldn't let those things shape me. Simple little things really, The way I choose to educate my children, we choose to homeschool because we felt it was Gods will for us to, we choose not to allow our children to watch certain things on t.v., not because we are spastic but because we are choosing rather to follow the Lord. I guess what i'm tryin to say is that it should be more important to me to please the Lord than to please man, and I was just really amazed at the simple way this man put it in this quote.

I saw read this and thought how guilty I am of doing those things, letting weaknesses become the norm, let what others say or do affect me and mine. God and His will for me should be the only thing guiding my life. I should live each day doing MY best for Him. What a peaceful life it it to live in His Grace.

Nine things:

2009-01-13T16:17:00.000-06:00

Here are nine things I love about being at home with my children:

A Big brother who tell his own version of a story to his little brother and cousin, and getting to be there to hear it. A rip roaring story it was to!!

Getting to see my daughter learn patience with her baby brother, and his love for her hair, You see, he can not have that thumb in His mouth unless hes playing with someones hair, Its like a reflex for him, thumb goes in, hand grabs hair, it just come natural, Now I know she don't look to happy in this picture and it took her a while to get used to the idea that when he couldn't have my hair to play with he wanted hers but now I think she enjoys loving on him and spoiling him rotten almost as much as I do.

Teamwork. The team work of a family is just wonderful to watch, The caring and the love between siblings that shows up just in the nick of time (if you know what I mean) It took them awhile but they finally worked together so that both of them could get on that pony, I am thankful that Mr. Toby was patient with them, it must of been one of his rare good days, he can be a might cantankerous.
Watching little boys learn new skills, and seeing the joy in his face, ,because hes doing something big, and with his own knife, a major milestone in my boy eyes.

Being the very first one to hear about how he pulled his first tooth all by himself.

I love hearing my baby talk, about how hes helping daddy, "cause I big ", so he says, he'll always be my baby.

Seeing her confidence go from this...

...to this. Man, how she has grown in the past year, Still so little, but becoming a wonderful young lady, I'm thankful I get to see it.

The quiet times when they think no one is watching. To me, these are the most precious.

Mischievous grins, Makes me wonder what hes going to do next, as if climbing to the top of the piano(the very same one I fell off of when I was three, and cracked my head on, which ended up needing stitches) , wasn't enough to give me heart attack already.

Everyday is new and exciting in this world of mothering, even those that are trying are special, That's why I love being a mom. You never really have a dull moment, either you are on the brink of pulling your hair out with them or you want to squeeze'em extra tight, either way you just love them with all you got, because without them life just wouldn't be as fun.

Thats just what Moms do!!

2009-01-09T10:20:00.000-06:00

If someone had of told me 10 years ago that I would be a stay at home, homeschooling, mother of 3 then I would have laugh till I popped. You see I had these big dreams of becoming an environmentalist not because I want to save trees or anything but because I love agriculture and the land, and nature in all its undisturbed beauty, I almost made it to, I had a government job as a soil conservationist and I was well on my way to fulfilling my dream and then I had kids.

Now I have a task that's way more important than conserving the environment, I am conserving my children, and their future. Oh it sure don't seem that way today as I listen to my nephew (3) and my son(2) scream at each other over a stuffed dog, or while I changed the diaper of my 2 yr old because He refuses to be potty trained, or during the fights I have with my nine year about doing her school work, because we all know that you don't need to learn math when you have more pressing matters to attend to such as barbies. Getting my five year to put on clean clothes is like getting my nine year old to do school, almost impossible. Oh yea and you can't be a cowboy unless you have on a long sleeve buttoned down shirt and if the only one you have is the one you've wore for the last three days well thats just fine He's a cowboy remember. I wonder sometimes if this is what I'm really meant to do, because these days I feel like such a failure at all things. I mean my house is a mess, and when I say mess that is exactly what I mean, like oatmeal stuck in the table, two full baskets of laundry that need folding, more that need putting away and even more that need washing, we won't even discuss my refrigerator, and toys everywhere, and just when I think I am starting to get ahead, someone hits somebody else and the whole shebang goes up in flames, where is the peace thats supposed to be in my home. I think it ran away, really I do, and I don't blame it some times I want to run away to, I'm just being honest here, I think that a some point all moms feel this way, some just aren' t honest enough to admit it.
And then I go sit in my room and cry, because of the lost peace and the disheartening feelings of being an abysmal failure, and just when I think I can't handle it any more, I feel His peace surround me and I remember that I ain't in this battle alone, And lets face it folks sometimes life at home is a battle, but its one that we already have victory over. I take a few deep breaths and call on Him to come to my rescue and to the rescue of my children. I am ready now to face the day, yes it will try my patience, but patience has her perfect work right, the we may be perfect, entire, wanting nothing James 1:3-4, My faith in my ability to mother is made stronger in Him and being a failure, is not an option. So I leave my room and go and find each of my children and I give them a big hug and kiss, because as I take a look around at all that needs doing, I realize that in the great big scheme of things its not alot, so I just sit for a few minutes and listen to all they have to tell me and I realize that I am so glad I'm not an environmentalist, I'm a mom and nothing could be more precious then my children. We just keep going and doing what needs doing, even in the mist of chaos because thats just what moms do!! With a whole heap of help from above, I wouldn't even want to attempt this monumental task without Him!!!!!

My 3 children with their dad(who's halfway asleep).

A Brand New Year!!

2009-01-02T07:57:00.000-06:00

There is always some excitement with the beginning of a New Year, it may just be that we can put behind us all the things that happened in the past year, that we can make a new start, try to be better in our work as parents, spouses, friends. I for one don't do any kind of new year resolutions, I'm afraid that I will fail and then that would make me feel bad. But I do like to start new things and do my best to improve on the ones that need fixing.
I have this list in my mind of the things that I know need work and I have made plans to improve on them with the Lords help.
1. My Prayer life. I love to spend time in prayer with the Lord each day, but sometimes that time gets pushed aside or shortened because of to many things going on around me. Shame on me:(
2. Listening. I have this bad habit at times of not really paying attention to what someone is saying to me because I am either working on something, thinking about something else and that is so not good, and it really bugs me.
3. My home. It seems to me that this past year I have let my house become very unorganized and chaotic and that is something that I am already in the process of changing. I know that my Lord is a Lord of order and not of chaos and for this very reason I believe that my home should be the same way, Peace can't be found in chaos and I most definitely want peace in my home, for my children and my husband.
These are just a few of the things that I know I need to improve on and there is no better time to
get started then at the beginning of a brand New Year!!!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

CATCHING UP!

2008-12-28T17:41:00.000-06:00

I thought I would do a little catching up today since we are at home this Sunday night, instead of at Church. I don't usually have time to look at a computer on Sundays but this one was a little different.
Christmas this year seemed a little busy, I felt like I was running everywhere and getting nowhere all at once ya know, It all started for me on Tuesday night.
Tuesday night we had Christmas supper at my moms with all of my sisters and brother and boy did we have fun!! We played games and ate lots of food and just had a great time being together, We missed my mom who was feeling a bit down that night and went home early, It just didn't seem right Her not being there, I hope that she is feeling better now.
Wednesday night we went to my grandparents and had a fine time with all my extended family, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends of cousins, in-laws and out-laws(for real), Anyways it was a good to see everybody for the second time this year, You see, some of the ones who come for Christmas Eve supper at papas we don't see but twice a year, once at thanksgiving and the other at Christmas. (They say absence makes the heart grow fonder but its at these times of the year that I wonder if that's really true.)
The food was great as usual, my mama is a wonderful cook and she always overdoes herself for these dinners but we sure do appreciate her for it.
Then Christmas day was spent at home, after getting up at 4:00 that morning we left and went to see my nephew be surprised with his first horse for Christmas and than he and Abs went riding for a little while, and my mom and sis made a great breakfast for everyone, and than we came home and just enjoyed the being at here.
On Friday we left and went with my husbands family to a house we rented down on the lake to enjoy the weekend with all of his brothers, sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews, We had a wonderful time and as usual we all had way to much to eat. The Kids were so good, and they all got a long great. They even put on a little skit for us, It really was a good time of fellowship with his family, whom we don't get to see near as often as we should.
Now finally we are at home again after a busy weekend and I am trying to get my house put back together for the time being, I plan on just sitting around and being restful for the rest of the evening, Because tomorrow will be a brand new day and I sure don't want to miss a minute of it.
My camera is still giving me fits, but I will try to have some pics up in the next day or two.

Luke 2:11

2008-12-25T10:13:00.000-06:00

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

Merry Christmas Ya'll !!!

Why Jesus is Better than Santa!!

2008-12-19T10:37:00.000-06:00

I found this little poem sometime last year during Christmas and I had forgotten about it until today and the Beautiful post written over at Prairie Chicks(go visit, it really is great) reminded me of it, I'm not sure who wrote it but I thought that is was very cute and very True.

Santa lives at the North Pole ...

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh ...

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year ...

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ...

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap ...

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?" ...

JESUS knew our name before we were born...Not only does He know our name,He knows our address too.He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" ...

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys ...

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,repairs broken homes and builds mansions. Santa may make you chuckle but ...

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...

JESUS became our gift and died on a tree....The cross.

Put Christ Back In Christmas...

Jesus Is Still The Reason For The Season!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

(I am in no way trying to dog anyone who believes in santa, I am simply using this poem to describe how I feel about him.)

Mary

2008-12-18T13:47:00.000-06:00

I was thinking today about Christmas, you know its only one week away( can you believe it, where did this year go)

I was thinking about that special day coming up in a week and my mind went to Mary, how was she feeling right about now, Was she feeling like I did a week away from delivery, tired, scared(with the first one), anxious, joyful. I know this may not make sense to anyone else but some days this is how my mind works, I try to imagine how life was for people in different times, I think that's I why I love to read historic books, I love getting a glimpse into what lives might have been like for other people in other ages of time. But back to my subject, How do you think Mary was feeling?

I think she must have some of the same feelings I did about the whole labor and delivery bit, But I would think she would have felt a greater responsibility, I mean she was bringing the Son of God into this world, the Greatest gift given to mankind, Surely that would have brought with it, its own bit of anxiety. I believe that Mary had all faith in God and in what was taking place, I'm just wondering how she felt is all, what was going through her mind, What did her days look like? And Joesph what was he thinking, and feeling? We know that from reading in the scripture that Mary was scared when the angel first appeared to her, he told her to fear not, and we also know that she didn't really understand at first what was taking place, but after listening to what the angel had to say She was totally obedient to what God wanted for her. I also read that Mary rejoiced in God, for this great thing, I have to believe that she was excited and happy. After Jesus birth, Verse 19 in Like ch.2 Says " But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. " Just makes me wonder what she was feeling.

I know I probably think to much sometimes, I have been told this before, but I can't help but wonder at these things. It is so marvelous to me this time year, just what all Christs coming meant, How did the people feel and react, We have several accounts in the bible of peoples reactions and how that some were exceedingly happy, while others wanted Him dead, but I'm talking about those exact moments, days, a week before His birth, what did it feel like to be a part of something so magnificent. I know that for me even today, I feel like my cup runneth over with Joy at this great miracle of Christmas, How that God sent His only Son to be my Saviour, My Redeemer, My Lord, What a gift to receive!!!! How that all things, from the beginning of time worked up to this moment, every minuet detail fell into place, every little thing... I am probably just rambling on, and for this I apologize, I wish I could put into words exactly how I feel this Christmas. I just feel so filled with Joy and Anticipation, for a coming Saviour, much like I think Mary felt, only I'm not looking in a manger for a baby I'm looking to the skys, for a coming King!!

Drop me a line and let me know your feeling on this, I would really like to know how you think Mary felt at this same time so many years ago.

We've been busy!

2008-12-09T14:20:00.000-06:00

My family and I have been very busy lately. You know I think that December is one of the busiest months of the year, at least it is for us. We've had employee dinners, winter manager meetings and all kinds of dentist and orthodontist appointments, in the last week. I hope though now that at least two of those dinners are out of the way that we can begin to settle down and focus on the real reason Christmas is so wonderful.
I have some really great video and pictures from our weekend trip, but my computer is giving me trouble downloading them, May be I can have this worked out with in the week, so that I can share them with you all.
My daughter has also took up a new hobby, Knitting, and she really likes it. So do I for that matter and I keep taking it away from her, Here Abs I'll do that for you, or I'll just finish this one than you can start a new later, things like that, You know, you can get hooked on this knitting stuff. (ha ha) It is really alot of fun, and oh so relaxing, almost as relaxing as a cup of hot chocolate, and a good book. Almost but not quite. Anyways, She is doing a good job at this knitting business, I do have some pictures of that for you, but again my camera won't let me download them.
Well I just thought I would let you guys know that I haven't gotten swallowed up in my housework, that I am still around (and so is my housework), I do hope to be back on track now, and I also hope that my camera will get over its bad spell so that I can show ya'll some pics,( is just might be time for a new camera, you know Christmas is just right around the corner;)
So drop me a line and let me know how ya'll are dealing with all the crazyness this time of year brings.

The Ride!

2008-11-29T13:15:00.001-06:00

...And then they were gone.

Happy ThanksGiving

2008-11-27T10:41:00.000-06:00

I am thankful today for my Saviour, that he lifted me up out of the miry pit of sin as an eight year old little girl, that Wednesday night my grandpa was preaching. I am amazed that He would see in me something worthy of His redemption. I have failed many times and at times I have even doubted but, He never left me in all that time, never, since that day have I been without Him and His mercy and grace. There have been times that I chose to try this walk of life with out his directing me and every time I have realized that it just doesn't work, that I am not my own, my steps are not mine but belong to Him, who is my redeemer.

Over the years of my short life I have seen His hand protecting me, holding me and making me into the vessel that I am today, while not yet perfect, I am still clay, and He is still my potter. He has blessed my life with people who walk in Him who have been down this road before and He has placed them here for me to learn from, He gifted me with children so that I might learn patience I think and with a husband so that I might learn temperance and to be longsuffering. Really though I do believe that every road I have been on has had a purpose in my life for Him .

So on this wonderful day of Thanks, I am thankful for Jesus, as I stated in my previous post. My heart is just overflowing with praise for Him and all that He has done for me. And I am not sorry if I sound redundant because, I am so full of Joy and peace today I had to tell someone(again), what He has done for me. I hope that each and every one of you have a wonderful good Thanksgiving!!

Question???

2008-11-26T17:13:00.000-06:00

Okay, I have a question that I would ask all of you to answer, In the spirit of Thanksgiving.

If you could only name 1 and only 1 person, place or thing that you were thankful for what would it be and why? (that 2 questions really but humor me please)

I know that this may seem silly but I was just wondering(having a silly moment I guess;)
My answer to that question would be Jesus Christ, for with out Him there would'nt have been salvation, no way to get redemption, no way to have fellowship with God, no life, no truth, no purpose.
I am so very thankful tonight and every night, but on this eve of Thanksgiving that I know who Jesus is. I hope each and every one of you will have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Holiday.

Home

2008-11-25T20:35:00.000-06:00

Isn't it funny that no matter how long you may have been gone from this place, or how long you might have had your own home, the place where you grew up will always be home. I love the place where I grew up and I have many, many fond memories of me and my siblings here. Like the time I shut my brother in the cattle chute for quite awhile, or how my sister and I would dance in the barn while we were mucking out stalls, or how we would spend hours riding through the fields, or in the barn stripping tobacco listening to my grandpa tell stories of the good old days, man, what a blessed child I was to grow up here. I also have a few memories that I would like to forget, but hey we won't go there. The front porch is the coolest place around, on the hottest day of the year it will still be nice and cool on the front porch, I can remember sitting there and resting after lunch before we would have to head back out to the tobacco patch or the barn to finish whatever chore we were doing. ( all the while we would be looking for a way to get out of the work, my sister Joy always seemed to get a belly ache, Sometimes it worked most times it did not;)

Anywho, I was going through my pics today and found this picture of my old home place, the place where my parents still live and I just had to put it on here. I took this picture about 2 weeks ago for my mom, and her yard looked so pretty, it was completely covered with leaves, not a speck of grass anywhere. Of course it looks like this every fall, and I think it is one of the prettiest places in the county. A most wonderful place to grow up! A place filled with Gods love. Home

P.S. I hope that my children have as many fond memories of their homeplace as I have of mine

Burrrrrrrr!!!

2008-11-21T20:55:00.000-06:00

It is sooooo cold here in my little corner of the world. I don't know if I ever told you guys this but I really don't like the cold, As a matter of fact I can't stand the cold. So here's my favorite thing in the whole wide world to do when it gets to cold to go outside, after all the kids are snug and warm in their beds or not, sometimes I let them join me in my little cold weather ritual.

First I go and put on my warmest worn out pair of jogging pants, my favorite t-shirt, and an extra big sweatshirt, and thick socks and then I pick out a book, a really good book it might even be one I have read before, an old favorite, or maybe a new one that I just found at the book store, which ever way it will most definitely be good, after that I go and find my favorite mug, its a blue and gray little pottery mug, I am going to fill it up with wonderful hot chocolate and marshmallows( Ya'll thought I was going to say coffee, but actually I don't like coffee, I really don't, I know its just wrong not to like it but please don't hate me for it), Then I will settle down on the couch or in my recliner with this really thick, soft , blanket, get all snug and warm, and relax and read. Nothing Better!!

To me, there is no better way to spend the winter months. I miss my horses and riding and gardening and just being outside all the time like I am in the warm months, ( and I do still get to ride some and I have to feed every day, so missing my horses ain't all that bad, I just don't get to spend as much time with them as I like, I guess that's what I miss about them) I was rambling again sorry, Anyways as I was saying, I miss all those things but I do enjoy the rest that winter brings.

So how do you enjoy the cold winter weather, Drop me a line and let me know, But for now I am going to get my book, blanket, hot steaming cup of rich chocolate and snuggle up next to my hubby on the couch and read, Its to darn cold to do anything else.

Picture was taken last year about this time by my dh.

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-20T15:02:00.000-06:00

I have so much to be grateful for, these are just a few of this weeks most memorable:

1. Long, hot, uninterrupted showers!!!!!! As a mother of 3 young children is isn't often that I get a shower without being interrupted at least 2-3 times and when I do I am so very thankful.

My big sis, and very close friend!! When we were young I would never have imagined a day would come when we would be such good friends but I am ever so grateful for her and our friendship.

Zorro and Bob the Builder, This is not their halloween costumes, they just like to dress up anytime. I am thankful that God saw fit to bless me with 2 very independent and rowdy little boys.(one of which is my nephew)They make me laugh at some point everyday, they also make cry and want to go hide at some point every day, but they always make me smile.

I am so very thankful for the joy I feel in my heart everyday in being a wife and mother. I thank God for His saving grace and leadership in my life. I thank Him for my church family, and for the wonderful Godly friends in my life. Join me in giving thanks to God today for all things gifts Hes given you!

Thankful for Gods Word.

2008-11-19T09:25:00.000-06:00

It seems to me these days that there is alot of heartache in peoples lives all around me. I know that it has been that way since the beginning of time and maybe its just because I'm getting older(not really, I'm 30 and holding) anyways, bu tit does seem to me that my family and others around me are really going through the fire right now. So with these thoughts in mind, I have a few verses of scripture that I thought I would share with you all.

Job 14:1 Man that is born of woman is of a few days and full of trouble.
Now I sure am glad that God didn't just leave us with this verse and I am Thankful for its warning. But I am so very thankful for all the places in His word that He tells us of His peace, joy and comfort, that He gives us when we lay down all of our burdens at His feet.
One of my most favorite verses in all the Bible is John 16:33
These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
I love this verse and take great comfort in the fact the Jesus Christ has overcome this world and all of its troubles.
I heard a great message this past Sunday at church and it was a great blessing to me, and real help too. The title was How to make it through the fire!!!
The scripture was from Daniel 3. I'll try to give you the outline and hope that my notes on it will be a great help to any of you guys. 1: You need to understand what the fire is. The fire does not destroy the child of God it purifies them. Whatever the fire maybe in our lives it is not there to harm us but to make a better child of God of us. We should also understand that no matter what our need may be it is not near as great as the need of a lost person, Ours hearts should be broken more over the need of seeing souls saved, then over our own needs. 2. Who's in charge of the fire? We should always remember that God is in control of this fire and that it might just be that this fire is to get rid of the things that are binding us from being what God wants us to be, (the kind of godly wife, or mother in my case that I should be). Example here was the 3 Hebrew children and that when they were in the fire nothing was burnt away from them except for the rope that held them bound. 3. The purpose of the fire. To exalt the God we serve!! It is the purpose of the fire to bring glory to God. Example: Joesph. His life was on full of many fires, but look at what he did through everyone of them, he gave glory to God and was blessed for it, he was made more pure and Christ like through every one of his trials.
This message was so much more than I could write down, I was to busy listening, but the main point was, Don't fight the fire, let God use it to our purification, so that we will be able to better serve God. I don't know if I am making any sense out of this , I certainly hope that I am.
What this message meant for me was that I am not in this alone that God is in this with me and that if I lean on his understanding and not my own that I will be better for it. Jeremiah 29:11 say this " For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. I believe with all my heart that troubles and trials are not something to bring evil on us but it is for our betterment.
So I guess to sum it all up, these trouble some times don't just happen, they all have a purpose, and We can take great comfort in knowing that Christ has overcome this world and that because of that we can become more like Him through each and every one of our fires. And right now you may not be going through any fires,but someday down the road you most definitely will, my hope is that when that time comes you will remember this simple post and more importantly Gods Holy word and know that no matter what your fire may be, God is still God. And if right now you are going through the flames I hope that you too will take comfort in Gods word.
When I started my blog I had no intentions of focusing on anything painful or negative, such as the things in my last few posts, but I have really felt the need here lately to be an encouragement to those, who like me, may be walking through the fire. Thank You to all of you guys who have been praying for me, I know that prayer changes things and I am so thankful to know that I have such wonderful friends who keep me in their prayers, as I do you.

Please Pray!!!

2008-11-14T14:34:00.000-06:00

If you know the power of prayer and I'm sure you all do, than I ask that each one that visits this blog will pray for these following request:
1. The Carter family of Kentucky, A wife and mother of 5 was lost in a car accident yesterday afternoon. 2 of the children were seriously hurt, but they are all suffering from the loss of their mother, and I am sure that Mr. Carter is suffering equally so from the loss of his wife. Please pray that they will each receive comfort from the Lord in this tragic time and that God will give them the Grace to face each day.
2. My sister, My older sis is going through things in her life that she never thought she would have to face. How does one deal with the fact that your spouse is not who he says he is, In all honesty I would say that dealing with this is almost worse than it would be if her spouse had died. Now that may sound ugly but I certainly do not mean it that way, my meaning is that now she is having to fight for her children, fight to keep her home, fight for every thing that was a part of their lives, all because of sin, and what it does to people when they walk away from God. This is not what my sister wanted, she never dreamed that this is the way her life would play out, never thought that this was something that she would one day have to face, she is broken, she is hurting in a way that I can only imagine. But I know that God knows each and everything that is taking place, that only He can mend her broken heart and heal her wounds, I ask that we pray for this , to pray that God will uphold her and strengthen her during this time, That He will give her peace to know that He is still in control.
3 Now this is the hardest request of all,(deep breath) My brother-in-law. It is hard to put flesh aside and pray for the one that hurts us or our loved ones, only in love for my nephews can I ask this. My prayer is that God will move in my b-i-l's heart and show him the error of his ways and draw him back to God. This is my prayer, that he would come back to the Lord. I know that God never leaves us or forsakes us , but we can certainly walk away from Him and allow things of this world to over take our lives and then before we know it we are consumed by sin and all its consequences. I truly believe that my b-i-l had no plans for this to happen but once it did, I guess he felt he couldn't go back, so instead of turning around, he just kept on in what he was doing. He really and truly needs our prayers.
4. This week at our church a young man died quite suddenly of a heart attack. His death was completely unexpected, and his family is in shock, Mark is his name and I can remember times of his testimonies about how much he Loved his Saviour, so I ask that you all remember his family as well. I know that Mark is in that wonderful glory land called heaven and that he is singing praises to the Lamb of God right now but for those that are left here we mourn his leaving, so please pray for this as well.
It seems like so much has come our way this week in the way of tragedy and loss, I think I will be able to look back on this week in the months to come and see that God was holding my hand the entire time, no, really He was carrying me and my family through all of these times.
This post seems a little heavy to me and I am sorry if I have offended anyone with my honesty about things.
When things get tough I do the only thing I know to do and that is to pray, to cry out to God above, knowing that He hears my pleas.
Please join me in pray for these families. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Brandie

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-13T15:18:00.000-06:00

Today I am thankful for:

My mom, she is always willing to help even when she has her own work to do, She'll never know exactly how much she is appreciated.

My daughter, who was a very big help to me this morning, she is a very thoughtful girl and I am so thankful that the Lord gave me such a precious gem.

Explorers, and the farm they love to explore. I am very thankful for this place in which we live and raise our children.

I am also thankful for the brief time I had to know a very special lady, whom I called Ms. Maggie, She went home to be with her HeavenlyFather this past Tuesday, she was ninety one years old and was one of the most precious souls on all the earth. She will be missed, but Oh how I bet she is shouting over in the glory land.

What or, Who are you thankful for today? Drop me a line to let me know. Have a wonderful thankful Thursday!

Yea, though I walk through the valley ( my ramblings)

2008-11-11T16:23:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been walking around my house as if I'm in a trance, just barely getting done what needs to be done, having school with Abs but not really giving it my all, dealing with E-pie and Tans fusses but just not being involved, you know. I feel like I'm on the outside looking in.

I can honestly say I feel like I'm walking through a valley, low and deep and I can't see the tops of the mountains, all around me. I don't really know what to make of myself lately, these kinds for feelings are new to me, I have always been one who was never really down and out, I have always liked to be up on top, all I know is that right now I'm down.

But I can still feel His presence, asking me to draw nigh unto Him, telling me to rest in His knowing the valley I'm in. I'm just to wound up to sit still, I want to jump and run like a frightened rabbit, to get as far outta here as possible, but could it be that I'm here because this is where He needs me. That this valley is the safest place for me right now. That Hes telling me slow down, to stop and look around at where I am in my walk with Him, my walk with my husband and kids. Could it be that I have been rushing these days that He has blessed me with, that I have failed to take the time to acknowledge Him as often as I should. Could it be that these troubling times in my heart and mind be from Him?

Does God really do that to His children? Does He allow us to walk through troubled times so that we can grow in Him, so that we can know more of Him?

You know that every time during a storm that it lightnings it puts nitrogen back into our soil which in turns helps our grass and veggies to grow, Now I know that nitrogen can be added by us as well, but the point I'm trying to get across is this: Maybe just maybe God is allowing storms in my life today so that He can add much needed nutrition to the soil of my heart, so that I can grow more in Him, so that I can bloom in the places where he puts me. Places like being a mom to three very different, precious children, wife and friend( I think this sometimes gets over looked) to my husband, confidant to my sisters, daughter to my parents, granddaughter to my grandparents, I think you guys get the point. I need to blossom into just exactly the kind of vine, that the Husbandman wants me to be. And in order for me to do that I need to slow down and soak up more of Him.

I don't always understand the reasoning for the things we sometimes have to deal with, but I do always know that there is a reason. Times in life don't just happen, as the wind blows, God didn't just set in this world into orbit and then just turn around and forget it, No, He guides this world on a path that He already has mapped out, of this we can be assured. Its the same way with our lives, He just didn't give us life and then forget us, not at all, He set our feet on a path of righteousness and gave us a lamp to light our way. I may not always be able to see that God is working in my best interest but I know that I have a hope that is out of this world, hope in one who controls this thing called life. I know that when I lay down at night and I feel like I have no control, that I know the one who does, That this valley I'm in right now is one of His choosing and that when I make it out and I'm standing on the mountain I will be able to look back and say that God was with me the whole way, that He was leading me. I was where I needed to be to get the nourishment I must have to grow. I will be able to say that this valley is for me!!

Father, guide me as I walk in this valley, help me to rest in you, give me the grace to face each gully and the strength to get up and keep on going, Help me to seek you in every facet of my day, that I may become a vessel of honor to you.

Thankful Thursdays

2008-11-06T07:37:00.000-06:00

Gods hand holding mine as I walk down this road of life that is sometimes filled with sorrow, sometimes full of happiness, but always filled with Grace!!

I am thankful that I don't know what the future holds but I know WHO holds the future!

Gods provisions, and His never ending ability to meet all my needs and more!

Peace, sweet, Sweet Peace. Peace that only God can give, for He is the one who created it.

2 Thess. 3:16 Now the Lord of Peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

What are you thankful for today and everyday? Please join me in giving thanks to our Lord today.

Surrounded By His Glory

2008-11-05T14:11:00.000-06:00

Yesterday My husband and I took the kids hiking at a place called Savage Gulf, It is actually a state natural area, and one of my husband favorite places. Now being there and seeing it in all Gods Glory I have to say that it is one of mine too.

You see those bluffs, the next few pictures were taken from there.

This picture here was taken looking down as I crossed over onto that big bluff in the pic above, it was more than a little nerve wracking, I thought I was going to cry there for a minute but then I soon forgot my discomfort as I looked upon the wonderful view, that and knowing that I wasn't about to let my kids out do me. Those are just the tops of the trees you see, I can't begin to describe how high this bluff really is. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

This is a place on the hike that is called Stone Door, the reason: this is the only way, besides repelling, that you can get to the forest floor. It is about 100+ft to the bottom, in between rock. That doesn't actually get you all the way to the valley floor but it does get you down off the bluffs.

This is taken about 1/4 of the way down, I turned around to look back and it was just to beautiful to describe with words alone.

We finally made it to the bottom! Whew was I thankful, but I was not necessarily looking forward to the hike back up!!

I have so many pictures to share and I can't wait to show them all to you guys, Oh, my header pic was also taken at one of the bluffs.
The fall color was beautiful, I was awe struck at the beauty all around where ever we looked. Gods creation down here is wonderful, I can not even begin to imagine what beauty's we'll behold when we get to heaven!!

The children and I had a great time and was of course ready for a nap when we got home, but these guys didn't wait till we got home, Eli took his nap while still on the trail!!, Abbie and Tanner was asleep before we even left the parking lot. The poor puppy took a nap every time we stopped to take a picture, to say the least he was exhausted.

This little trip was also a great way to take my mind off the election, while I am not particularly happy about the out come, I know that, no matter what , our Almighty God is in control and nothing can take away the victory and peace I have in Him. "...Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev.22:20

Saturdays

2008-11-01T13:29:00.000-05:00

I remember as a child that Saturdays were awesome! We could sleep late and then get up and watch cartoons all morning long. My mom would be at home and that was her major cleaning day, she would fix something good for breakfast, ya know like chocolate gravy and biscuits, or sausage and biscuits anything but cereal, sometimes we had to eat that but more often than not she would cook for us. My sister and I and sometimes our little brother would always find something to get into. I have other memories to about Saturdays, if it was a rodeo weekend than we would be up and at'em bright and early to get every thing loaded and on the trailer. If not than we would often be asked to help work, stripping tobacco,chopping tobacco, cutting tobacco, hauling hay, working cows, anything my dad or mom wanted us to do,( you noticed I didn't mention any house work, that because as a young'un I despised house work and would do anything I could to run away from it!) I know you must be wondering where I am going with this and well my point is: What happened to Saturday?
Around my house any more we are rushing off in to one thing or another, never just staying at home, but always having something to do. It seems like all week long we rush to get to the weekend only to have the weekend be busier than the week. To be honest I am tired of the never ending rush!!! I am so ready to just sit, be still and do nothing for a change.
So that is exactly what we are doing today. My family and I(all but my husband, he had to work) slept in and than got up, had muffins for breakfast and the kids played while I caught up on my housework, and boy does it feel nice to not have to rush around today. Tonight dh and I are going to eat somewhere special and spend some time together, while the kids play at Nana's. This don't happen often and I surely don't want to rush it. I just want to sit back and enjoy the day that my wonderful Lord has made. Gods been so good to me!!
Well thats my ramblings for today. What are you doing today? Drop me a line and let me know, whatever it is, don't rush, Have fun and enjoy all the good things Gods given you! Have a great weekend.

Thankful Thursday and everyday!

2008-10-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

Today I am thankful for:

1. Simple pleasures such as hot bowls of potato soup on cold autumn nights. YUMMMMM!!

2. Two year old boy, who can't seem to keep his feet on the ground. I feel such a gladness and a sadness all at the same time whenever I think of him growing up so big and ever so quickly. It seems like only yesterday that he was learning to walk !

3. Brothers, cousins and books.

4. Riding out in the pasture and seeing these little guys, running and jumping, feeling good in this nice cool weather. Brand new baby calves being born this autumn, this one was born with an attitude "Watch you lookin at"

Its the little things in life that make me thankful, I am thankful for the big things to, but, its those small wonders that never seem to get old that I find myself increasingly fond of. What are the simple gifts God has blest you with today? I would love to read them:)

Fun, Fun, Fun

2008-10-29T18:25:00.000-05:00

Down here in the south we do this thing called rollin yards, you know, you take toilet paper, lots of it, and throw it up into the trees, in an unsuspecting person yard. Its kind of like joke, only it

makes a really big mess. Well this past week my husband and I hosted a wonderful group of young ladies, part of a visiting youth group down from KY. They usually stay with me every year and I would claim each and every one of them as my own if their parents would let me.

Anyways, back to the yard rollin, This year the girls had a big idea to go roll yards so I, being a wonderful role model to them, suggested we go roll my mom and dads yard. Now in all my 30 years I had never been rollin, but my hubby had, so he assisted the girls in their dastardly deed and I got to set back and watch, quietly, cause you know you don't want anyone to know you are there rollin their yard it is supposed to be a big surprise when they wake up in the morning , to make a long story short, we got caught, but thankfully my parents weren't upset they actually thought it was pretty funny and ,boy, they got their yard very very well!!!! I was so proud!!

Here is a pic before we left, the girls are all painted up and ready for their covert operation.

At 12:00am;)

Here they are the next morning, for some reason they look a little tired, I mean they got in the bed rather early, you know about 4:00 am, we got back from rollin @ 1:30am, I don' t know what they could possibly be tired from.

Oh I just had to show this pic, I thought it was so darlin, they're a group of gangsters. And you should here their british accents:) Really these girls are so funny! Check out my young'un I didn't even know she knew how to make those signs HA HA

Now on the serious side, this group of young people know how to have fun, but they also LOVE, the LORD and they are not afraid to share this with the world! I am always blest so very much by they way they sing with all their heart to the Saviour and how they worship Him in open adoration, What a wonderful example they have set for my children. I wish I had a tape of their singing , I have cds from the night the entire group of them sang at the church, but what I am talking about is how they sang to the Lord, to me and to any body else in the van the whole time back and forth to church. I was honored to get to be a part of their lives once again during their brief trip to TN and I hope and pray that they remember much more about me than just the part about me taking them yard rollin for the very first time. I hope that I let my light shine for the Lord just as bright for them as they did for me.

Teenagers are just the most fun, I just love their excuberance for life! Sometimes I would much rather be around a group of young'uns than a group of grown ups:)

WOW, What a WEEK!!!!

2008-10-25T10:09:00.000-05:00

As ya'll know from my previous post , this was youth revival week at our church and boy has it been a blessing of a week. We had some of the most wonderful services this week that I could remember. Especially last night, I think everyone was tired and so not ready for the week to end but looking forward to a little rest, (I for one would have loved for it to go on another week.)

Back to the revival, we had a visiting youth group to sing every night along with the youth of our church, and if you have never experienced youth singing together for the glory of the Lord well you don't know what you are missing. Now I love to listen to groups that love God sing and all, but nothing really compares to a group of young people who will stand together in front of a big congregation and sing their hearts out for the Lord and no one else, I mean its not about talent with these guys it is all about heart and their hearts are turned toward heaven.
Not to mention the preaching, straight from the Lord and straight to my heart, I needed to hear the messages God sent my way this week and I hope to look back on them and grow from them for a long time.
My prayer will be that my church, myself and most importantly the young people of my church will take the things they have seen God do this week and run with it, for the glory of the Lord, That they will remember that Its Not About You, or Me or Anyone else, Its All ABOUT HIM!!! When I say run with it I mean, I want to see this revival become something that will continue on in our church from now on and that our youth will grow from it and that the sayings this week that were planted in their hearts and souls will take hold and grow, that they,as well as me,will not grow weary in their growth for the Lord, and that we will allow God to mold us into what He wants us to be.
Whats something you want to see God do in your life, what are some areas that need work, or just plain need cleaning out? Drop me a line and let me know something that I can help you pray about this week, I know that they are several areas in my life that need prayer and I would like for all of you to help me pray that I will be the Sunday School teacher that I need to be and that I would be an example to the many young men and women in my church, that I will be exactly who God wants me to be, that I would wholly and completely place my life in His hands for Him to mold.

Thorns

2008-10-21T15:50:00.001-05:00

Last night, at our youth revival we have going on at church this week, the visiting preacher (A really wonderful man of God) Brought a message about preparing our self to answer the call God has for us. The first point he made, and the one that has stuck with me even today as I went about my housework and schooling, is this, Thorns. Now this wasn't the title of his first point but it was the jist of it. Jeremiah 4:3 talks about breaking up fallow ground and sow not among the thorns, Matthew 13 talks about the parable of the sower and how that some seeds fall among the thorns, Well what exactly are thorns? The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches.
He went on to say that many people(christians mainly) today have their lives entangled with thorns. How many times have the cares of this present world kept me from living a victory filled life? How often do I let troubles shake the faith I have in God? How many times do I sell Him, and His ability to work even in the midst of those troubles, short, and thus rob me of a blessing from Him? I often forget that God works best when He doesn't have to work around my messes.
How many times have I sat in church and allowed thorns to keep me from hearing what God has for me that day, in that message? How many times have thorns kept me from praying for someone who needs salvation, or for someone who is sick or hurting? How many times have thorns kept me from doing the work that He has set before me? How often do I allow thorns to keep me from putting my complete trust and belief in Him and in the plan that He has for me?
Thorns! They will choke the life out of us if we let them.
1 Peter 5:7 says, Cast all your cares upon Him; for He careth for you.
So what thorns are you battling today? No matter what they are, Our heavenly father wants us to cast all our cares upon Him, so give them to God today and begin anew in ground free from clutter and debrie.

Please remember our youth revival this week that God will move in the lives of people young and old alike and that we will have revival in our hearts and in our church long after this week is over.

What we've been up to!!

2008-10-17T13:48:00.000-05:00

Well we have been hard at work !

And we have been hard at play!

And we have also finished up this little project: A few weeks ago I was browsing all the homeschool post over on the Pioneer womans blog and I came across a post she had wrote about chores and the nifty little chore chart she used to help motivate her young'uns, So I decided that instead of buying one I would make one along the same lines, cause I really liked the way the chore chart she used clearly identified what she wanted each of children to do, sometimes I get a little to chore minded and before I know it I have told my children 500 things I want them to do and they are a little overwhelmed and extremely unhappy about having 500 hundred things to do, if you know what I mean Anyways here is our creations:

I stared out by letting them each make their own charts, we used file folders, both blue because my children love the color blue. My mother-in-law has this wonderful little die-cut thingy and cut us out some farm animals to use as our makers(places where we will velcro our chores that need doing). The littles had a great time coloring their farm animals, I on the other hand was having a hard time not interfering, because have you ever seen a red horse with a blue mane, but I didn't say a word, I just let him use his own creativity.

Yes that is the glue cap in his mouth but I removed it as soon as I got done with taking this picture, that little dude puts every thing in his mouth.

Here are the finished charts, I put a piece of velcro on or beside each animal, 5 in all, the number of chores they need to finish in one day. Come on 5 chores ain't nothing to the stuff I had to do as a child and I am of the firm belief that children need to be taught the responsibility of work, and that as a family we all work together to make things easier on everyone:) I also made a pocket and clued it to the file folder to store the chores as they finish each one and remove it from the chart.

For the chore cards, I along with the help of my m-i-l , printed off some really neat clip art of house hold chores. I cut them out and pasted them onto index cards and wrote what each chore was and what was expected to be done, I think I have 11 chore cards in all right now but I am still working on them and will be adding more so that they don't get bored with the same old chore. You know they will thank me when they are older for making them do all sorts for different things, but right now I believe they just think me crazy.

Now I ran these little buggers through the nifty little cold laminator (that my m-i-l also gave me), to make them last longer. My children appreciated that ya know! I also stuck velcro on the backs of the cards so that they would attach to the chart.

And after all was glued and stuck , this is what we have.

I will hang these nifty( I like that word can you tell) little guys on the wall in our school corner and every day as is the norm with chores I will put 5 chores on each child's chart and they will have time during our morning or afternoon clean up times to finish each chore, as it is completed they will remove that card and put it in the pocket. Pretty cool huh!

Now I know that not all moms have to use chore charts but for my children this is the best thing. My kids now know what they have to do and when it has to be done, that works well for them. I no longer have to nag at them or tell them 1000000000 times what chores they are responsible for on any given day. I also have a reward system that I use to go along with this. Now I don't agree with paying my kids money to do their chores, they should want to do them out of service and love for their family, and that is the attitude I try to get them to recognize, but I do think that a little incentive for getting them all done everyday is important.

Running the rat race and losing!!!

2008-10-15T17:52:00.000-05:00

Ive been feeling a little decorative for a while and since I don't have the funds to redo my house, I thought I could redo my blog. I have always had a habit of rearranging things just when they start to feel comfortable. My husband sometimes don't like this very well but he puts up with me.

By the way is it me or does it seem like time is flying by all to fast here lately, I feel like I have been running a marathon and right now I am coming in dead last. I can't seem to get caught up on any thing and although I work all day at this house nothing ever seems to get done. This is really wearing me out. I am sorry if it seems like I am complaining, really I am not, I am just really tired!!! You guys ever feel that way? Anyways I hope to get to the bottom of this by the end of the week so if you can please remember me in your prayers, I could really use them.

Thankful Friday

2008-10-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

I know it is supposed to be Thankful Thursdays but I just did not have one spare minute yesterday to sit down at the computer. So I thought I would be thankful today.

1. I am thankful for times that try me. What?, You ask, can you mean by that, Well this is what I mean: " Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience. but let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2,3. I believe that these trials are times of refining and polishing, so that i may learn to stand fast in my Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what satan throws my way. I should really count as these times of joy and rejoicing. I need to learn to turn these adversary times into times of opportunity, Opportunity to learn more about Jesus and what He wants done in my life for Him.

2. Fall, The changing of leaves and all the beauty God shares with us. I hate to see summer go but I love to see fall come, because with it comes a new and beautiful palate of Gods colors.

3. I am thankful for friends who come to visit at just the right time. Just when I need her the most, God makes a way for her to come and visit with me. I am talking about my dear friend Cassie who gets to come a spend the whole weekend with me. I am so blessed!!!

There is so much more that I have to be thankful for but time would fail me to list them all. these were just the few that was in the forefront of my mind today, and I wanted to share them with you all. Have a great weekend!!!

Wonderful Wednesdays

2008-10-08T15:08:00.000-05:00

We(Joy And I) took the kids to the park last week and here are some of the pics. Now that fall weather has come, the leaves are starting to change and this picture would now look totally different, but just as beautiful. I just love going to this park, it is actually just right down the road from where I live and it is a state park and so it is always kept so nice and clean. This was the first time our children had ever hiked to the falls and I wish I had pictures of their faces to show you their awe. Along the way we stopped to take pictures of all Gods beautiful creation, below is a picture of the little falls, To me it is almost prettier than the big falls.

And you know it just wouldn't have been a fun hike if I hadn't stopped to get pictures of the kids enjoying it. And no, don't worry she is not trying to throw her cousin off the cliff, they were just being silly, but little Em does look a little scared doesn't she! I would have posted a better picture of the kids, but this was the best one I got, You know how it is when you try to take their pictures they never want to just look natural they have to always be doing something silly, at least mine do!!

Oh! and we also saw a snake, not a very big snake, but a snake all the same. And it was so cool, I wish I had a recording of all the reactions this little guy got from the kids.

When we finally got to the big falls little C had done went to sleep, Don't she just look so comfy. I always get a little nervous, standing to close to the railing, but my E-pie doesn't look the least bit leery does he.

Now here is a picture of the big falls, and I am telling you, It is so much more beautiful in person, and just standing up there on the lookout , I get chill bumps, when I think that the same God who created this beauty, created me, and blessed me with the opportunity to live in a place as wonderful as this .

Messy Mondays

2008-10-06T09:02:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning and much to my surprise, I found a mess, that was my house in disguise!!!

And I mean that, I woke up this morning and I could not believe that in 2 short days my house could get this messy!!! And really, Tell me how that a family of 5 could have so much dirty laundry, I just don't understand, If I believed in fairies I would say that they must have come in over the weekend and had a party in my house, but I don't, so I guess I'll just have to blame it on my kids,(because it would never be that I took 2 days off from house work, enjoyed the fall weather and refused to come inside to do my housework, no it could not possibly be because of that,) It had to be my kids!! ( how about that for a run on sentence)
Anyways to make a long story short, or a short story long in this instance I am off to Clean. I would rather be riding my horse, but thats another story.

So heres to all us moms out there today that are cleaning house!!! I hope and pray that you all have a, oh, whats the word I'm looking for here, I can't think of it, Its a big word (maybe to big for my brain this Monday morning) anyways like I was saying have a great day:)
p.s. if you can think a word that would fit let me know cause I'll probably be trying to figure it out all day.

Hay!!!

2008-10-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

Its that time of year again! Hay Hauling Time!!

And the children love it. Not the hauling part, mind you, they love the climbing part .

Its like a gigantic jungle gym, and nothing was more fun when I was a kid than climbing up in the barn on hay bales. Of course, our hay wasn't always kept in the barn, but then it was fun jumping from one bale to the next, except when you didn't make it to the other bale and then well lets just say that did not make for a pretty picture! Anyways here are some pics of the kiddos playing in the hay as we unload it.

Don't they look like they are having the best time. Thats what I call making memories:)

Wonderful Wednesdays

2008-10-01T15:22:00.001-05:00

A Fall picnic is always so much fun!!

Tuesdays Thoughts

2008-09-30T14:37:00.000-05:00

I was reading a chapter out of the book Little House in the Big Woods, by Garth Williams, last night, when we got to the end of the chapter, Pa said "There is a good reason for what I tell you to do, and if you'll as your told no harm will come to you."
All day today this thought has been going through my mind and I finally realized that this must be what our heavenly Father thinks about us. Why do we fight what he wants us to do, why can't we just do what He tells us to. We tell our children all the time to "Listen to me ", "why can't you mind me." I mean, we are all guilty of saying these things, and a few others I'm sure, to our kids aren't we? But I get the feeling that at times my heavenly Father is saying the same things to me. "If you would just do what I tell you to," I can imagine that this is what He says about me all the time. I mean no disrespect with this, I know that the bible say that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways, But I think you know what I'm getting at.

Why is it so hard for us as Christian's to just live our lives as His Word tells us to, why must we constantly be trying to do things our own way. I think the answer to that is found in Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not:for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do.
v.16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.v.17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.v.18 For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh,)dwelleth no good thing:for to will is present with me;but how to perform that which is good I find not.v.19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Skipping down to verses 22-25 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I love the part"O wretched man that I am!" O how I need to realize more often that I am a wretched person with out the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I believe that the previous verse are talking about a war between two natures, our nature that wants to love and obey God and our nature which wants to serve the world and sin. My dad often tells the story of a little boy who says that he feels like he has two big dogs down on the inside of him fighting all the time and when ask which one wins the little boy replys " which ever one I say sic 'em to the most".

So how do we overcome this war within ourselves? Verses 2-4 of Romans chapter 8 sum it all up for me; For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, that is how we can overcome the battles we have in the flesh that might would cause our Heavenly Father to look down and say That brandie whatever am I going to with her, If she would just listen to me and do what I say, ( I can just picture Him shaking His head at me sometimes)...
Well this is my thoughts for the day. My prayer is that I would strengthen the nature that God placed within me to be more like Him and less, much less, like a disobedient child. (Not that any of my children would disobey:) not ever(yea right)
Drop me a line and let me know your thoughts for the day!

Stress!!!

2008-09-29T15:51:00.000-05:00

Stress, we all deal with it don't we? I have had my share of stress this past week and I am here to tell you, I don' t think I handled it very well at all. Have you ever noticed that when you get stressed and you don't handle it very well, the first people you take it out on is your family. And how that most of the time you are the one bringing all the stress on yourself. I have noticed these things about myself here lately and I don't like it. So I have written down a few things that I hope will help me to get rid of the stress in my life.

1. Make time for myself!!!!! This my sound a little selfish but I have found that if I don't make a little time for myself everyday that I will get really bummed out. I can't be every bodies everything, every minute of everyday!

2. Choose my battles! I am usually pretty good at doing this but here lately I don't seem to be doing a very good job at it. If my daughter wants to wear her boots with shorts when we go to town then that's okay, its just her style, and if my son insists on wearing his co-op shirt everyday, as long as its clean than that's okay to. Choose my battles, some things really aren't worth fussing about with your kids, They are kids by the way and they all have to find their own way, with some good directions, of course.

3. Housework will get done!!! I have to tell myself this at least 100 times a day. It will get done, someday my house will be clean again. I have discovered that when you homeschool, that there are a few things that get put on the back burner and at my house anyways housework is one of those things, and laundry, and the yard, and the van, and well you get the picture. Anyways, why stress out about it when teaching your children and spending time with your husband is so much better than washing dishes .

4. Organization!!! This is one thing that I constantly have to work on. I am more of a fly by the seat of your pants kind of gal, but I am realizing that life with children requires a bit more organization.

5. Last but definitely not least, Is spending time with my Lord each and everyday. The best medicine for a stressed out day is to spend time in the Word. To stop in the mist of the chaos and go to His Word and let Him fill me with His peace.

Well this is just a few ways that I reduce and deal with the stress that sometimes trys to overcome me.
So tell me, do y'all ever deal with stress? If so drop me a line and let me know how you reduce the stress if your life.

Happy Birthday To The Sweetest Little Cowgirl I know

2008-09-20T06:58:00.000-05:00

Nine years ago today The Lord blessed me with a precious little girl.

She loves with her whole heart and treats everyone she meets with kindness. Her brothers adore her.She loves her Pony(Toby ) to distraction and takes in all kinds of animals who need help. Her love of life is contagious and her joy is overflowing. She is passionate about everything she does and wants to make sure she does her best(almost to the point of being a perfectionist). I love this daughter of mine, and I am so thankful my Lord and King gave me such a precious jewel. Happy Birthday Abigail!!!

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-17T13:58:00.001-05:00

When He walks among us, All that He does

All of His mercy and All of His Love

If the pen of a writer could write everyday

even this world could never contain

Just how I've been blessed

Warmth in the winter, Flowers in Spring

The laughter of Summer, The changing of leaves

Food on my table, A good place to sleep

Clothes on back and shoes on my feet

Oh I have been blessed

Arms that will raise, A voice that can talk

Hands that can touch and legs that can walk

Ears that can listen, Eyes that can see

Oh I've got to praise Him as long I breathe

For I have been blessed

A Father and Mother who nurtured and raised

My sisters and brother and memories made

Our pastor to lead us, this alter to pray

Stripes that can heal and a Blood that can save

Oh I have been blessed

We live in a country, the greatest on earth

Her flag stand for freedom and all that it worth

She stands in the harbor Miss Liberty calls

All have gave some, But some have gave all

For me to be blessed

He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down

That rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed

That place where He hides me under His wings

Its not just a song He's the reason I sing

Oh I have been blessed

Gods so good to me

Precious are His thoughts of you and me

No way I could count them, theres not enough time

So I'll just thank Him for being so kind

God has been good, So good

I have been blessed

Sometimes a song can say things so much better.

How has God blessed you today? Drop me a line and let me know.

Lipstick Baby

2008-09-16T14:30:00.000-05:00

Today I sat down at the computer and was catching up on some of favorite blogs, only partially paying attention to what my baby and his cousin was into. Well I got to hearing a few giggles and when I turned around this is what I saw:

CHEEESE!!!That is what he said.

Now you might be wandering what that is on his precious little face and I am ashamed to say that it is lipstick. My boy loves the stuff, If my daughter leaves her lipgloss laying around with-in his reach he will find it and have it all over him before we know!! I should probably be worried, but I ain't. I think that right now he is having a good time painting with it and thats alright with me. Ain't he just the cutest thing!! The little monkey.

Shall we gather at the River!!

2008-09-11T13:47:00.000-05:00

This is the river that runs through my grandpa farm, and as he would say we own to the middle of it(that is how all old deeds read and he thinks that is just the neatest thing)

But besides that, Saturday afternoon my mom and dad planned a fishing trip to the river and we were so happy to go! Here are a few pics to show you all our fun.

Cob(my nephew) caught the first fish of the night, he was a little feller.

Here is my dear sweet daughter, who caught her very first fish ever!!

Tan, here caught several fish that night. Just look at that hat pulled so low over his ears. I hope his ears don't stick that way cause he always insist on wearing it like that. Oh well, If they do He'll still be my cutie pie.

Now this little guy did not catch any fish, but he was very successful at scaring alot of them away!

This is my big sis Chris and she was the winner of the night with the most fish caught! I think she bagged 7 .

Now, no trip to the river would be complete without a bonfire and hot dogs.

Oh and marshmallows, I almost forgot about the marshmallows. I just love ooey, gooey roasted marshmallows!!!

Well thats a little summary of what goes on around here on Saturday nights. I think I'll go hunt me up some marshmallows and make some more smores (ha ha), those things were good!!!

We Made It!

2008-09-09T15:46:00.001-05:00

Well we made through our first month of homeschooling, with A's in every subject!!
Abbie took her last test(math) today and she made a 96!!

The program that we are using for our homeschooling is a satellite program through an umbrella school here in our community. The satellite program is basically a private school at home. We have four subjects that is provide through the school and are given to us one unit at a time, when we finish a unit we go to the school and take a test over that subject. The umbrella school keeps up with the grades made on the test and workbooks. So that is my confusing explanation of this years homeschooling curriculum.

While this is not the ideal situation for me, I would love to have had alittle more freedom to choose what I wanted to teach, and the ways to teach it, this is the ideal way for us this year. My husband, you see, was more than a little skeptical of homeschooling and wanted to make sure that our daughter was going to learn every thing she needed to. I on the other hand was completely confident that she would learn everything and then some, So we had to meet in the middle and the satellite program was the middle.

Now I have hope that next year will be different and that I will get to have that little bit of extra freedom that I want. But for now I am very, very thankful that i am getting to homeschool. And I am getting to at least teach my way and all of our curriculum is christian based.

And I am very happy to report that even though Abbie and I have had our battles, we have also had a great deal of fun and excitement, I mean come on in what other school would your p.e. teacher let you chase the chickens that are constantly getting out.

Little more about me!

2008-09-06T13:57:00.000-05:00

It seems like here lately my post have been few and far between and I have used this blog more for a place to vent than to share the love of God and for that I am sorry.

So today I am going to tell you a few things about myself. I don' t think I have ever posted a pic of myself, so here you go, this a pic of my family and I (I don't know what kind of faces dh and ds is making, maybe the sun was in their eyes, who knows) This pic was taken while we were on vacation earlier in the summer.

1. I was saved at the age of 8 years old, on a Wednesday night at a church named Copelands Chapel, my grandpa was preaching a revival there, now the time and place ain't as important as the work that Jesus Christ done in my heart, and I praise God everyday for bringing me up out of the mirery clay and setting my feet on the solid rock, for giving me a foundation sure and true, in His Salvation.

2. I absolutely love chocolate, any thing chocolate, My husband absolutely hates chocolate, ( he must have been dropped on his head as an infant)

3. I am the second child in a family of four children, And my brother and sisters and I are all still really good friends.

4. I love to work with my dad on his farm, I have always been a daddy's girl ( this has always been a sore spot with my mom) But I can honestly say I like nothing more than helping him work cows or do just about anything on the farm. I don't get to help as much as I once did, for now I have 3 small children but I help as often as possible and I make sure my kids get in on it to.

5. I tolerate house work, I do it because I have to, but I would much rather be outside, Don't get me wrong, I love a clean house and because of that my house stays relatively clean most days, but I really hate being stuck inside having to clean it, Being outside is way more enjoyable. But hey no use complaining about it, I am thankful I have a house to clean.

So there are 5 more things that you now know about me. Drop me a line and tell me a little more about yourself. Have great day!

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-04T13:03:00.000-05:00

Today, (and everyday) I am thankful for:

Quiet Times
Peaceful Times
Nap Times
Resting Times
Okay, Okay I think you get the point:)

My Husbands new found fondness for doing laundry
(either that or he was tired of looking at all of it, or he was afraid he was gonna have to wear dirty drawers, it don't matter to me what spurred him to action I'm just thankful hes doing it.)

On a more serious note:
Thank You Lord for:

Your promise of grace to meet each need
Mercy, that you give every time I fail
Love, unconditional Love, unmerited Love

What have you got to be thankful for today? Drop me a line and let me know. Happy Thankful Thursday!

Thoughtful Tuesday

2008-09-03T15:17:00.000-05:00

Have you every just sat down and wondered what would happen if you just decided to quit? Well I have, especially during these last few weeks, and you know what really kills me, people that you think would be encouraging to you are the ones who keep knocking you right back down. I just really don't get that!! Aren't christian brothers and sisters supposed to uplift one another, I thought so, But it seems like the ones I know only talk to you so they can tell you what you are doing wrong and how to fix it, and while I sometimes need that, sometimes it would be really great to just hear someone say something encouraging. I am just a little disheartened lately by these things. Ever since I began homeschooling its like everyone thinks they have the right to tell that they don't think I am doing a good enough job, or since I'm not doing this way or that way, that I am doing it wrong. Well you know what I didn't ask for their opinions, I didn't even ask for their advice I didn't ask for any thing but for some reason they just feel compelled to give it. I guess I'm just using this blog to vent today, because I am really tired of opinionated people who don't even take their own advice, who just rant and rave about what everybody else is doing, and heaven forbid if somebody tries to tell them something that would benefit them, NOOOOOOO, they sure won't listen to that because they know everything and need no help.
I truly hope that I am not one of those people!! I hope that I am an encouraging person, someone who tries to see good in everybody and everything, Someone who understands that we all need help, can always use well-placed advice. I want to be more Christ like, gentle, caring, slow to anger, and quick to forgiveness.
Lord, I know I fail miserably at these things most of the time, please help me to be more like you. I want people to see You in me every day. I don't want to ever get so full of myself that I drown You, I want to be full of Your love, kindness and grace, and Lord I can't do that by myself, So please help me to die to self and to be raised in your likeness.

Only He Knows

2008-08-29T14:11:00.000-05:00

The past few months of my life have been rather revealing. At times I just have to sit down and shake my head at the wonder of it all. Sometimes I don't really understand why things happen the way they do or why they even have to happen at all. Today I was talking with someone and they ask me the question " Who says we don't have to go through hurts and troubles? No One ever told us that we wouldn't have to deal with the things that we have seen hurt other people so bad."
Yesterday I watched my closest friend cry tears of rejection and loss, Tears that one should never have to cry.
I hurt for my friend, My heart breaks at the thought of what she must be feeling, I sit and try to figure out what to say, what to do, and as I sat here wondering, my mind racing, I hear a still small voice that says "I know what to do, I know whats going on and I am still in control."
I am reminded of the tears of rejection Jesus cries every time someone turns Him away. I can picture in my mind, Him standing there with arms outstretched just waiting for me to turn to Him, waiting for me to rest in His arms, waiting...
He knows how it feels to be rejected, He knows how it feels to want to be loved, and to have those He loves turn away from Him. I stand up and all around me I feel peace, That this loving, merciful and gracious Saviour knows,(beyond what I can even comprehend) how to help my friend. So I do the one thing that I know will be the absolute best thing, I pray. I pray to my Father above, I pour out all my hurt and sadness and ask Him to help.
Only He knows what tomorrow will bring, Only He knows.

Wonderful Wednesday!

2008-08-27T10:12:00.001-05:00

Here are a few shots, I want to share with you guys, of some the wonderful little cowboys and cowgirls in my life. They make me smile with their enthusiasm and genuine love each other and their ponies!

The Quiet Time just before the big race to settle the nerves. ( She is settling her nerves anyway, He on the other hand is planning his revenge)

The huddle before the big run!

Obviously, these boys are having a great time on our new and improved jungle gym!

And these, well lets just say that this, is the ZOO Crew!

These little guys, are the up and comers, Buddies, All 3 of them

"I am Wind in Hair" ( dances with wolves)

Miniature Horse Whisperer! And he does a great job!!

Em and m&m;) Quite a Team!

And last but not least

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Ponies!!!

I couldn't decide which I liked better, so I just put

them both on here!!

These are just a few of my favorite things! So let me know what are some of your favorite things!! Have a great day!

Thoughtful Tuesday

2008-08-26T10:34:00.000-05:00

Well its raining here today and we are very excited about that! I was out with the kids the other day and we went down to the creek at my grandpas and he said that if we didn't get some rain soon that the creek would be dry in about 2 weeks. Well I don't guess it will be going dry now.

Do you ever feel that way in your christian life, Do you ever go through droughts? I have, and then it seems like I'll go through times when I have floods of trials. Or at least that is what it seems like lately. James 1:2 says My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations: v.3 knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience.v.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. I really do love these verses of scripture, but boy they sure can be hard to live by sometimes.

Around my house lately patience is so hard to come by, The word perseverance comes to mind today, It sounds like such an ugly word, but in parenting its a word that I need to use more often, to keep me focused on the latter end, because to give in just once is to lose a battle, that more than likely you will have to fight again.

So today I am choosing to smile in the downpour of trials, to find those raindrops of patience, and to persevere through all the puddles of whines and complaints. To let the Joy of the Lord flood my soul, and fill me with His goodness. In other words I am going to laugh in the face of laundry, let dirty dishes lie in wait and enjoy the rainy day with my kids whether they like it or not! I hope you have a great day in the Lord!!

Thankful Thursday

2008-08-21T11:36:00.001-05:00

Today I am thankful for:

Summer Sunsets with cooler evenings!

My pretty (new to me) canister set, my mom found for me!!

Golden, Warm, Fresh from my oven, loaves of bread!!

Little Cowboys and Cowgirls, All of whom are great friends!

Mr. Potato Head, (Ain't He cute:)

Watermelon! I may have mention this before, but hey this country girl loves watermelon, and so do these country boys!! On a hot summer day you just can't beat a big ole slice of cold watermelon, Notice the salt, in the bottom picture, you just gotta have a little salt, or at least my littlest one thinks so.

For these things and many more I am thankful today. How about you what are you thankful for today? Drop me a line and let me know. Have a great Thankful Thursday.

Wednesdays Cry for Help

2008-08-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

Okay, So I love the Homeschooling, everything is going great, BUT,(such a big little word ain't it), How do I possibly keep everything accomplished? Can anyone answer that question for me? I know that it is still summer and that I still have had alot of canning to do and that always leaves my kitchen in such a mess and the rest of the house well, it just ain't much better and I am trying, really I am, To keep it all done but then I fall into bed at night absolutely worn out and I'm sure my husband is tired of hearing how tired I am every time he asks about my day. Now I am not complaining, not at all, I don't mind the messy house or being tired BUT I would rather get more done in a day except for schooling. I feel bad for my hubby and kids, for having to deal with a tired out mom and a messy house, Anyone out there know what I mean??

So this is my cry for help, if anyone has helpful tips or knows about helpful websites or books then please let me know. I would greatly appreciate any and all advice.

Also, So sorry about the gap in my blogging, We have had a wonderful crop of tomatoes this year and so I have been busy putting up spaghetti sauce, tomato juice and whole tomato's. I hope to be finished in about 2 days with all my tomato canning and then I can use my early morning tomato picking time to write more exciting blogs, well I hope to anyways.

Thankful Thursday

2008-08-14T11:17:00.001-05:00

Today I am so Thankful for:

An older sisters support and encouragement even amidst our differing opinions
You'll never know what that means to means me big Sis.

A younger sister who makes me laugh with her competitive nature, You bring Joy to my life.
(Ha, Ha )

A husband who understands me, and lets me have time with my horses(therapy really;)even when it interferes with his time. You are the best;)

My three precious children, sometimes I think I am going to pull my hair out if I have to listen to you guys fight anymore, but then you go and show me how much you love each other by helping one another when you need it and playing together with Eli and I realize that you are going to be alright, and that my hair can stay where it is for today!

Grandparents who understands a child's need for watermelon! They know just how to make my kids smile on a hot summer day:)

Great Grandparents who are always so excited to see great grandchildren pull into the driveway everyday.

Most of all I am thankful to my Heaven Father who blest me with a caring and loving family to make this journey downhere so much more enjoyable. For His mercy and grace that brought me up out of a horrible pit and set my feet on the solid Rock, who has never left my side, even when I move away from His, and then gently draws me back to Him, whos chastening hand lets me know that I am His, whos love never fails, His plans are always right and He is always Good!!!

These are just a few of the people that I am Thankful for Today, Who has blest your life lately? Go tell someone your thankful for them today.

Hello

2008-08-12T14:11:00.000-05:00

Well I guess you guys thought that my housework swallowed me whole HUH? It almost did, I kid you not!! Boy have i had an exciting few days! I don't have time to tell you all about it right now, but I will try to over the next few days.
I do need to say, Thank You to every one who prayed for me and my family and our debate over Homeschooling. My husband and I both agree that this is what is best for our children! Yep I said it right MY Husband and I agree on this. PRAISE THE LORD FOR ANSWERING THIS PRAYER!!! He is so good to me!!
So this is about all I have time for today, I hope to have more time in the next few days to chat with you guys!! Tell me What has the Lord done for you lately, leave me a comment and let me know!

Mondays Mess

2008-08-04T12:10:00.000-05:00

Is it just me or do the weekends wreck havoc on every ones houses. My house is a great big mess again today, but I have a plan. I have a to do list for the things I want to accomplish today. Maybe my writing them on here will miraculously help me get them done, You think!
So here they are:

My laundry, I want to get all my laundry put away.

My kitchen, I would just love to have my kitchen perfectly clean for at least 15 minutes today. Don't know if that will happen, as everyone lives in the kitchen around here these days, My kids are always hungry or thirsty.

My floors, I hope I can get my floors mopped today before they start growing something. I am just ashamed at how messy they are.

And so there it is, not to much to accomplish for a Monday. Of course there is more to be done but these are my main ones for today. Well I'm off to get to work. Hope you all have a blessed day.

Fridays Ramblings

2008-08-01T07:40:00.000-05:00

TRUST
Such a big word sometimes, ain't it. I don't always have the trust thing down pat. Oh I have trusted the Lord for my salvation and I trust in Him to do what He says He will do, and to keep me in His hands. I trust in His Word and I trust that He will answer my prayers. Or do I?
Do you ever have those moments that you wonder if you really are trusting Him for all things? Maybe I'm the only one who does this type of thinking but I really do have to take a long hard look at myself and ask Am I truly trusting that God knows best, that His Will will prevail and that He will keep His promises? Then I have to go and pray and ask God to forgive me for not trusting, for not having the faith of a mustard seed, for asking but not believing. Is it only me that does this? It doesn't really matter if it is, I was just wandering. I trust in the Lord to keep His Holy Word, in that I have no doubts. But when it comes down to the things in my life, thats where I sometimes lose confidence, Not in the Lord, mind you, but in myself, Am I praying right, am I right with God, or do I have things that need to be cleaned out, am I so far down that He can't hear my prayers, these are the things that I am dealing with this morning.

This week Prairie Chick has began doing a bible study on her blog and it has been very enjoyable, and I have really needed it . The one thing that I saw in the first 2 chapters(Gen.38, and Judges 14) read this week is that God has a plan and a will, that He is going to accomplish, and that He will fulfill His plan even through our failures. He knows our imperfections, He knows our wrongs and He knows that we will fall, But he can use me in spite of that. Now He doesn't use my sins, He uses me, through His righteousness, because in Him I am made righteous. This has been a big help to me to see this again, this week has been a particularly trying week, and I have been plagued with thoughts about my many, many, many ( you get the point) misgivings and shortcomings, and I needed that reminder from Gods word that I can trust in Him. His will reigns supreme and I am not trusting that everything will work the way I want it to, just because I have prayed it, But I am trusting in what Gods Will is in my life!! I have no doubts whatsoever, that Gods Will will be fulfilled, when we are trusting and obeying Him in our lives.

Now when it comes to the day to day things, I begin to have this little trust battle all over again. I am sure that at some point in your life you have dealt with this too. Do we truly trust God with those things. I have a deep desire to homeschool my three kids, a desire that I believe God has given me, but you see my husband is NOT of the same frame of mind. Now he will agree that a christian education would be better, but not enough to let go of his worries about whether or not I'll be able to do it well enough, if I will get everything else done that needs to be done everyday, you see where I'm going with this. Well this summer we agreed that we would pray about this, and let God show us His Will. Well, I have been praying and I have seen things that I believe only God would be able to do, We haven't argued about it, and my mother-in-law( who is not a homeschooling supporter) actually talked to me about it this week and she agreed that it would be a great education for the kids, she had no discouraging words to say to me about it. Now if that ain't God doing a work!!! I believe that it is. But even with that my husband still won't give in. This has caused a ripple effect if you can imagine, it makes me feel like I'm waiting on his permission and I don't like that at all, but ain't that just what the enemy wants, to cause division, to get me and him to be at odds on this. You might be wanting to know where I am going with this, so let me say Can I trust God to work this out? Yes I believe that I can, I know without a doubt that this is right, that homeschooling our children is want He would have us to do., But I do have a problem trusting my husband to make the right decision, (did I just say that out loud) Well anyways, I guess this is a major part of the problem. I can trust God with many many things, why can't I trust Him with my husband? Just being Frank today!! This is something that I have been praying about, for help with this. I know that I can trust God in all things and with all things, I just need help with this more often then with other things.
I maybe the only one who ever deals with these type of issues and maybe I am wrong for writing about them, but i don't think so. I know that it is helpful to me to be reminded that I can trust my Heavenly Father with every thing in my life, I can even trust Him to help me overcome the battles that I face with my flesh(my husband, I really mean no disrespect). I know that this has been some weird ramblings but I hope that this has been encouraging to some one else to.

Trust- confidence, faith, hope. I have confidence, faith, hope and trust in the Lord today. I know that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.(eph.3:20) Unto Him be all glory !!!! Thank You Lord for hearing the prayers of this child of yours, Thank You that I can put all my trust in You for all things, even things that to others may seem small, to You they are special. I am so grateful for You unfailing Love. You are worthy of all Praise, Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Thankful Thursday

2008-07-31T08:11:00.000-05:00

Today I am thankful for:

Gods Holy Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Prayer, I am thankful for prayer, I am thankful for a Living God who hears and answers prayers

For silly little monkeys

And even sillier little girls

For sweet little children

and all the Joy they bring.

Join me today in giving thanks to the Lord!!!

Praise for my Family

2008-07-30T07:46:00.000-05:00

I just love this little guy. He is so energetic and bouncy, always looking for something to explore. He is always ready for a hug and kiss (especially for me, He is a mommas boy) I love the way you wake up ready to tackle the world, or rather tackle a big bowl of oatmeal and a sippy cup of chocolate milk, but you always wake up on the go, and want so much to do everything your big brother and sister do. I Thank my Heavenly Father that He sent you into my life, you are such a joy everyday and you are are growing so fast that I can hardly keep up. Oh and your many many faces, they make me smile just thinking about them.

Where did time go? You have grown up so fast and turned into an amazing little boy. I just love the way you think Pa, Pawpaw and Daddy hung the moon. You absolutely love to farm, and those overalls, you wore them all day yesterday and just came and asked if you could wear them again. I think you are pretty special. You are a quiet boy, not always at the front of pack, but you never miss a thing, and have such a great memory. You amaze me with your willingness to work, and you do such a good job at whatever you tackle. You wake early everyday with a desire to work, more often than not you are up before I am, waiting on me to get up so that we can go to the garden together and bring in all the veggies. Oh and how could I not mention how brave you are, You just love to ride those sheep at the rodeo and boy, are you a good hand with that rope, You sure are a great little cowboy!! How blessed I am that God sent you down to be my little boy!!!!

My lovely daughter, you are such a confident little girl on the back of that pony, especially when hes bucking with you, even more so when he is running 90 miles an hour around those barrels. I just love to watch you ride, you are getting better with every run. But you know what I love more than that, is your desire to listen to Friendships youth choir CD and sing at the top of little lungs right along with them. For all the confidence you have on a horse, you are sometimes unsure of yourself, but you don't let that stop you from making new friends or trying new things. You just love the camera I gave you ,and like your headphones, it is never far from your reach and you do such a good job taking pictures. I just love talking to you, You are full of thousands of questions and you have to study everything out down to the tiniest detail. You love your brothers very much, you just sometimes don't like to show it, but I can see how much you care by the way you are always taking care of them and letting them do things with you. Eli just loves to snuggle up in the chair with you and play with your hair and you love to let him do it. I am looking forward to seeing the young lady that you will be. I will never forget the day you were born and how thankful I am that God gave me such a precious gem.

My husband! What can I say, sometimes I could smack you, but I will always love you!!! You are a wonderful provider and a great father to our children. You support me in our rodeo adventure even though its not your cup of tea and you definitely support and encourage our kids. We have our bad days, days when it don't seem like we'll make it, but I couldn't imagine my life without you in it. I love you!!My crazy gang!!! I love you guys!!

Gods been good, In my life!!!

Thoughtful Tuesday

2008-07-29T16:52:00.000-05:00

Today I have spent alot of time thinking about how good God is to me and how I can see His hand moving in the things I have been praying about. I am so full of rejoicing that I do believe I could shout to the world that I serve an amazing and powerful God.

However I do still have a few prayer request that I would love for all of you to remember:

My sister and her family

That the Lord would continue to move in my husbands heart about homeschooling our children( I have already seen God move so much in this and I can't wait to see the end result)

My family trading in our van, that the Lord would provide us with the vehicle that he wants us to have.

My church and the young people that attend there.

My best friends brother and his new baby girl

I have a few of these that have wayed heavy on my heart for several days and I still believe in the power of prayer and the ability I have as a child of God to go to Him, with all of my needs. So please join me in prayer today and let me know if you have any prayer request, I would love to help pray for your needs to.

Mondays Mess

2008-07-28T12:31:00.000-05:00

You ever have those days (or weeks in my case), that absolutely nothing gets done. And I am talking about housework here. Well for the last two weeks I haven't been able to get anything done around here, really nothing done!! MY laundry is outrageous and my floors are a mess. Most of the time I am okay with a few things being left undone, so that I can do things with my kids, but I woke up this morning, took one look at my house and decided that something had to give, Man was I behind on my work. So I called my mother-in -law and asked her to watch the kids for awhile and what do I do when I get back home, I sit down at the computer and catch up on all my favorite bloggers:) Well then my husband calls and says "Hey, why don't you get the van cleaned up, and while the kids are at moms we will go and trade the van in" Now don't that beat all!! I am trying real hard not to let it get to me, the work will get done and life will go on!! I only hope that the work gets done and soon or I think I may go crazy, maybe I already have! (some would probably say that was true).
Anyways, I don't guess this blog really has a point today, I was just needing to vent, and what better place to vent than on the world wide web, where everyone can read about your misgivings as a housekeeper.
So I think that I will go now, I will let you know how much work I get done, and Hey if you get the chance stop over at prairie prologues blog and join in at the well I think that you will find it a real blessing, I know I did. And if you get the chance say a prayer for me!! Have a great day in the Lord.

Thankful Friday :)

2008-07-25T08:16:00.001-05:00

Friends

I am thankful my daughter has such wonderful friends!

Little Feet!! I just love the feet of precious little boys.

Friends!! I know I already said it, but this time I am thankful for this wonderful friend of mine.

Sand Boys! He had so much fun letting his sister bury him in the sand, I do believe it was the highlight of his entire trip.

I missed thankful Thursday this week, so I decided to have a thankful Friday instead. I am so thankful for the people that God has allowed me to have in my life. They truly are wonderful!!!

Wednesdays Wisdom

2008-07-23T10:52:00.000-05:00

But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22

How often have I read this verse and thought about what it says, And then just went on about my business. Well today this verse has been on my mind very much and I thought that I would say a few things about what it means to me.
It seems like the more I listen(or Read) to people talk about their walk with the Lord, I hear them say things like, I need to be more aware of the wrongs in my life, or I need to find more time for the things of God in my life, or How do I make more time for bible study or quiet time in my day, and even talk about what to study and how. And you know while all of these things are good and we do need to be more aware of them there comes a point and time when we need to "Just Do It". I am always saying "I really need to get my laundry caught up, or I need to clean out my storage building, but things don't get done on good intentions.
To me this verse of scripture is saying, do the things you read about, don't just hear them. I think we sometimes think that hearing them is enough and that in hearing them we are doing them, but I feel like it is then that we are deceiving our own selves. Hearing Gods word just isn't enough, we Have to do Gods word.
I spend so much time planing out my day and things I need to do that they never get done, I just hear myself talk about doing them. I waste more time trying to figure what I should do that I never get anything accomplished. I plan on planning, and I study about studying. Than it will finally get to the point that I will be so stressed out that I am no good to anyone.
So today I determine that I will be a doer and not just a hearer. Oh I agree that there are times that we need to be still and hear the things that God is trying to tell us, so I'm not saying to just run around like a chicken with its head cut off with no direction just so that we can say that we are doing something for the Lord, but I am saying that it is time we start to do the things we spend so much time talking about doing. If you need more quiet time with the Lord than just stop putting it off with the excuse that you have to much to get done and just do it, If you have things in your life that you need to get out of it , because you know they are hindering your fellowship with the Lord and you have just put off getting rid them because of your own selfish pleasure than today should be the day that you just get rid of it. There may not be anyone out there in blogland that needed this post today, but I can tell you that I sure did. It is time that I be about my Fathers business and I can't possibly be the mother, friend, or witness that I should be if I am only a hearer of Gods word. My prayer is that this post will help someone else today in the way that it has helped me.

What a Trip!!!

2008-07-21T10:18:00.000-05:00

So glad to be back, My family and I had a wonderful time while we were away, but it is always wonderful to come home.

I always stand in awe of the greatness of God when we visit the ocean. I stand on the beach and feel like I am standing on the edge of the earth, I am reminded that God is the creator of all this beauty, When I watch the constant rolling in of waves and the tides I am reminded that God is a God of order and not of chaos and confusion, ( which is so often a part of my day). I remember that He holds the plans to all of this world and I feel a peace that passes all understanding.

I am still amazed that the One who laid down the foundations of this whole wide world, created me, knowing how often I would fall and He would have to pick me up, knowing that I would take for granted sometimes His goodness and mercy, how that I wouldn't always be an obedient child, He still loved me so much that He sent His only begotten Son to give His life for me.
I love you Lord, and I am so thankful for Your salvation and for Your Hands that hold me close, for the times that You let me see and learn more of You through Your awesome creation. Thank You, Lord for You blessings on me.
It is great to be back, I missed my blogland friends and hope to catch up with all of ya'll very soon. Have a great and blessed day!!!

2008-07-12T01:48:00.000-05:00

Gone to the Beach! See you guys in week!!

Funny Friday

2008-07-11T08:03:00.000-05:00

Today I am packing up my family for our trip to the beach next week and things around here are pretty chaotic at times. So I thought I would lighten things up a little with a few funny things my children, neices and nephews have said or done.

Out of the Mouths of babes.....

"Mom, does the bible say if he buggeth you, you CAN buggeth him!!!"
dear daughter at age 5

Sunday School Prayer Request " pray for my nana, she had a heart attack, but it didn't killer."
when asked what happened, He replied, "when Emmy fell off her pony my nana said she liked to had a heart attack" nephew Bry age 4

My neice Emmy told her pa, whom she had never seen ride a horse, but who can ride, as he was saddling up a horse to go round up a wild cow " Boy we gonna see a rodeo now, Pa I love you, but you gonna die, cause that horse is gonna kill you!!" Niece Emmy age 4

"Mom, don't the bible say that if you believe in Jesus and love Him that you will have everlasting life" "Yes ",I answered, " it sure does." "Well, she said, than I guess Papa must love Jesus cause he sure has lasted forever." ( he is 81 years old) dear daughter age 8

I hope that these little words have made you smile today, they sure have made me laugh in the mist of my chaos. I would love to hear from you about the funny things your kids have said. Have a great day .

Thankful Thursdays

2008-07-10T14:13:00.000-05:00

Helpful Little Two Year old Boy

Perfectly content five year old boy

Sweet precious eight year old daughter

I am thankful for three little lives that the Lord has entrusted into my care. I am thankful for every thing they bring my way, when they empty shampoo bottles on my couch, I am thankful that it wasn't my floor, when they run through my house with muddy feet, I am thankful that I have a mop, when they chop down perfectly good squash plants, I am thankful that they were trying to help, when they ask me ,why? a thousand times in a row, I am thankful that they are wanting to learn something more. But most of all I am thankful that I get to spend each and everyday with them, no matter what that day holds.

Wednesdays Wisdom

2008-07-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

I had so much fun with the old sayings from last week that I thought I would see if I could come up with up a few more this week.

I was talking to a good friend this past week and we were discussing a storm she has been walking through, and she made the statement " sometimes the matter is so big you can't get your mind around it" and that is the truth, the storms of this life do sometimes seem so big that we can't seem to wrap our minds around them .

So my saying for the week " Instead of looking at the problem, Look to the Problem Solver" I think this little tidbit puts everything in perspective, don't it. We often get so caught up in the howling winds of our storms that we forget that we have the ultimate problem solver. And the best part is, that when He calms the storms of this life, we can always trust that He will do what is best for us and our lives!!
Westie-Girls wonderful momma reminded me of this great saying this week and I just had to let all ya'll know. So now I want to hear from you guys, what are the little tidbits that ya'll love to hear. Drop me a line and let me know!!

A Tuesday full of Thoughts

2008-07-08T09:17:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had one of those moments when the Lord says Hey straighten up!!, and you realize that you had fallen into some habits that didn't set a good, strong godly example to others. Well I must confess that I had recently fallen into some not so good habits, and I thought to share some of my thoughts to all ya'll here in blogland today on the habits I found myself in.

I read in the bible about Abraham, a righteous man and Lot, his nephew, who was more worldly minded. Now Lot followed Abraham until there was a fuss that came up and they decided to split. Now Abraham gave Lot the choice of which part of the land he wanted and the bible says that Lot cast his eyes toward Sodom. And while at first that might not have been bad, it didn't take long until Lot took his eyes off God, and we all know what happen after that. Things just got worse and worse for Lot and his family. You might be wandering where I am going with these thoughts and I am about to tell you, We all at times take our eyes off of God and our true purpose for being here on this earth, while we might not get as far away as Lot did, we are still far enough away for the devil to have an opening into our lives, and that my friend is dangerous.

I realized this week that I was slowly allowing things into my life ( changing my radio station to country instead of gospel, reading a book, that while it was a christian novel, it wasn't my bible,) that didn't strengthen my walk with the Lord but rather, it was weakening it. I cry as I sit here and write this because I am ashamed that I let such seemingly small things make a wedge in my fellowship with the Lord. Now I realize why God sent this message about Abraham and Lot to my pastor Sunday morning because He knew that I needed it. I am thankful that I realized what I was doing before I let these things get to strong of a hold. I Love the gentle way God brought me back to Him(before I had to take a real whooping).
There will always be a refining process to this christian life and that's OK with me, because that is what brings me closer to the one who gave His life for wretched old sinner like me.

I love the verses of scripture in Luke chapter 9, verses 23 and 24 that says "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. "
Matthew 16:26 says " For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Nothing in this world is worth losing the fellowship I have with God. I don't want to ever cast my eyes toward Sodom(the world) and lose sight of the Lord Jesus Christ just for a few worldly pleasures. Jesus gave so much for that I should be willing to give my life to Him. I know that this post is a little raw, but I just needed to share with these thoughts. I hope and pray that this will be a help to someone else out there in blogland today. Be sure to join me next Tuesday when I tell you my thoughts on Sunday nights message, It was just as revealing as this one!!

Wow, What a Weekend

2008-07-07T16:36:00.000-05:00

Wow, What a Weekend!!! I had a wonderful weekend full of family, friends and lots and lots of fun!! Thursday we celebrated Independace Day and my baby's 2nd birthday with my family. Boy did we have fun!!
MY baby boy and his cousin N are having fun getting into the cake! It must taste better when you sneak a few bites,(But now I wouldn't know anything about that)

T-man and his cousin bubba were having lots of fun going down this big hill on the tricycle , and then T-mans big sister gave them a little advice, I'm not sure what it was but I don't know that they will listen to her anymore...

Things were going along just snappy for a few minutes and then there was trouble... (lets just say things went downhill from here)
They were making it look so fun that I wanted to try it for myself until.......

Now it wasn't as bad as it looks and there were no serious injuries(although I do think a few mommas yelled) But just look at Callbell she don't have a clue that a major crash just took place( I think thats because she just spotted a trike that was open, and she was gonna get it)

This is the precious little Callbell who was trying her best to get this bike back up the hill so she could have a turn going down the hill.
We only had a few family feuds this year as well!! (I know how you feel Callbell I really wanted to go down that hill to)

I am very blessed with a wonderful christian family, with a father and mother who nutured and raised us in the things of God, with sisters and my brother and all the memories we made! I am so thankful,Lord, for this Family. Oh and I almost forgot, T-man wanted me to show the picture of his HUGE fish he caught this weekend,(it almost pulled him in the water). He is such a serious fisherman, but he sure was proud of this fine catch.

What a great weekend we had! I hope yours was just as fun. Drop me a line and let me know.

Thankful Thursdays

2008-07-03T14:03:00.000-05:00

I am thankful for birthdays, this week especially, Tuesday was my 30th birthday and Sunday will be my baby boys 2nd birthday (where does the days go)

I am thankful for Prayer, for I truly believe that prayer changes things

I am thankful for my bountiful garden

I am thankful for my papa, who even now at the age of 80, is the greatest grandpa a girl could ever want. He is one of those clouds of witness that my gracious heavenly Father has allowed me to have here on this earth.

I am thankful that I am redeemed, that I can stand before the Lord and not be ashamed, for when He looks at me He sees His Son.

So what are you thankful for? Drop me a line and let me know.

Wednesdays Wisdom

2008-07-02T18:27:00.000-05:00

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I spent the day yesterday breaking beans with my dad and my grandpa, and we spent alot of the time reminiscing about all the old sayings that my papa has been known to say. Growing up in the south on a big ole farm there is always plenty of work to be done and as a child one of those jobs was chopping out tobacco patches, boy were we ever glad to see the end of every row. More often than not my grandpa (or papa as we call him) was always right there beside us and if we slowed down or took to long to get a drink of water, He would always say "We're burnin daylight,lets get after it." Oh how I hated hearing those words as a kid!! My family has always grown a big garden too and we can all of our vegetables, I can remember working in the garden, planting beans, diggin taters,(eatin maters when no one was lookin) and using that dreaded gooseneck hoe again, He would often say "You don't work you don't eat". That would always stop my complaining,(cause i love to eat). The point I'm trying to make is that when I was little these saying never really made much since, but now as an adult I can see that they really are wise words to live by. (And by the way I love my garden now and my old gooseneck hoe)

That is my dad and my papa along with two of my children and they are getting to learn first hand what it means to "Work all summer so you can eat all winter" (another famous quote) I can only pray that when they are grown that they will look back and see what papa was teaching them with all the wisdom of his old sayings. Now these are just a few of them, cause let me tell you I could type alot more, but then that would make this post really long. Think back to when you were a kid and see if you remember any old saying that you used to hear and then let me know what they are. Can't wait to read them!!

Am I a Mary or Am I a Martha

2008-07-01T21:35:00.000-05:00

Today i read a favorite blog of mine and was asked this question, Am I a Mary or a Martha. To be honest I am a little ashamed to answer. I would have to say that i am, more often that not, a Martha. The bible says that Martha was so busy doing things that she didn't take the time to sit and learn at Jesus's feet. And you know I get so caught up in what I am doing and what I have to do, that I don't stop near enough and just learn more about my Lord. I want to change that! Luke 10:42 Jesus is speaking and says " But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part,which shall not be taken away from her." I don't want to constantly be doing. And even when things are chaotic or my beds haven't been made yet, or dinner dishes haven't been put away, and my whole day seems crazy I need to remember the one thing that is needful, that is that the Lord and His word are the most important part of my day. I would definitly say that Mary had a closer walk with the Lord because she had her priorities right, God First, and then I think that every thing else will fall into the right places. You know I really want to see the lessons that God is teaching me in every situation that comes my way during the day, I would really like to be a Mary all day long, learn from the Lord while doing that which is pleasing to Him. I really think that it is a choice that we have to make, we each have alittle of both in us, part of us(or me) has the gotta do, gotta do, please everyone , rush around and get it done to perfection attitude, while at the same time trying to learn from the Lord and more often than not we miss out on Gods lessons. I hope this is making sense. So today I choose to do that which is needful and good, to be more like Mary and learn from Him, because I think that, that will make me a better Martha in my home.

New Beginnings

2008-06-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

Well this is my first post on my new blog page and I have to say that I am very excited about it. I Hope and pray that this blog will be an encouragement to every one who reads it and that I will also be able to glorify the Lord in all that I write.
To tell you a little about me , I am saved by grace through faith because of the finished work of calvary by the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a peace that passeth all understanding, joy unspeakable and an ever present help in my time of troubles . Every day that I spend with Jesus just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter. I am so thankful that He looked down upon a lost world and sent His son to be our saviour. If you are reading this post and you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your saviour, then i hope that something you read here will encourage you come to a saving knowledge of Him. The bible tells me that salvation is for all who will believe on Jesus, Its not about all you've done but about what He done for you.
Now let me tell you about the family and friends that God has blessed me with.
My dear husband is a hardworking man, who is a great provider for his family and I love him dearly.
I have three precious children a dear daughter age 8, a dear son age 5, and another dear son age 2(will be on july 6, hes saying cheeeese in the picture:). I have learned alot about myself since having children, mainly that I don't have as much patience as I once thought I had, that a full size bed can hold five people comfortably, that life isn't as serious as we think it is and that laundry hampers make great boats, but most important thing I've learned is that I wouldn't dream of raising my children without the help of an almighty God. I also have some of the greatest friends in the world, My older sister, who always helps me to see things from the other side even when I don't want to, My younger sister, who, even though we fuss sometimes, will defend me to the end of the earth, and the very best friend in all the world, we live about 2 hours away from each other and don't always talk every day and we don't see each other near as often as I would like to but we can always pick up right where we left off and I know that she is praying for me every day. God has been so good to me, I don't deserve any of what He has given me but I am so thankful for it.

Well now that I have told you about the people who make my life interesting, I will tell you about what keeps me busy( besides the piles of laundry, dirty dishes, sticky floors and wonderful children) I love horses, everything that has to do with horses, the brushing,the mucking stalls and especially the riding. Just this past year my daughter started running barrels and poles with our local junior rodeo assoc., and my dear son #1 loves to ride his pony at home but at the rodeos he rides sheep and ropes, and dear son #2 is a rodeo all by himself. I have a beautiful gray mare that has a colt who will be 3 months old tomorrow, My husband gave her to me last year for my birthday, I wonder what he'll do this year? Anyways, this just one of things that keeps me busy everyday.
I think that i could really get into this bloggin thang its pretty fun. My hope is that every one who reads my posts will walk away from their computers with a smile and be encouraged to tell some else about the good things that God has done for them. see ya'll tommorrow