The Boy is Home for Spring Break. . .

It is so hard to believe that I have one finishing his first year of college thirteen hours away and one finishing his sophomore year of high school.  I am too young for this.  Look at this sweet face below, I just loved those chunky cheeks and that big ole smile.  Sprat was a very happy little boy and seems to be a very happy young man.  I was so happy to see him when he got off that plane, you would not have believed he had only been gone a few short weeks.  It seems like a year since I last saw him, all those gushy mom feelings came flooding over me. 

Is this not the sweetest face ever???

I got a few hours with him last night and then he was off making his rounds to see his buddies that were also home on break.  He even took Big T with him to make the rounds.  I got to hear all about Boston and his possible new school.  Lots of things pending right now so I do not want to share anything until we are 100% sure but things are looking great for this guy.  We are very excited for him, lots of changes and great new opportunities opening up for him.  It is very true that when God closes one door or college in this case, he opens another better door and guides you through.  This has been a wonderful teaching moment and learning experience for us all.   It would be very easy to be bitter and ugly about all of this and it has had Sprat down a little bit but I keep pointing out that God took him there for a reason and we need to embrace this as what it is, a wonderful opportunity for him to continue his education. 

Stay tuned as we figure all of this out and sort through the mire that is College transfer. . . 

A Little Hiccup in the Plans We Make. . .

I have said many times that God puts us where we are suppose to be.  I especially felt this when Sprat was first talking about going to Boston to college.  We prayed a great deal about this move and we talked about it at length with each other.  There were those that thought we were crazy to let our son go off to Boston by himself not knowing anyone and not having any family near by.   The hubbs and I put our faith in God and His plan for our son and we were at peace with this decision.
We found out just after Christmas that the school will be closing due to financial reasons.  They are not in any academic trouble.  To add to the trouble they are not going to have enough kids coming back to have a lacrosse season.  This is very sad for the kids like Sprat that came a long way to play lacrosse.  Several of the kids are not coming back for the Spring semester due to the school closing.  Sprat is going back to finish his freshman year.  He wants to continue his education in Boston so, we are looking now at other small colleges in and around Boston that have a men's lacrosse team.  I am very proud of Sprat and his first semester away at school he finished strong and I have great confidence he will finish as strong if not stronger in the Spring.
The college has several other colleges in the area that are going to help the kids finish their education, one in particular has reached out to Sprat and he is going to tour their campus when he returns for Spring semester.  He knows some of the students that attend this other college through working with them at the Boston College football games. 
Sprat was very sad to learn his school was closing, he loved the small campus with big city atmosphere just a few minutes away.  He also really enjoyed his classes and his instructors. We know that God has a plan and that he would not have taken my sweet boy to Boston to leave him hanging so, we continue to pray for discernment in this process.  Stay tuned as we are on that college hunt once more due to unforeseen circumstances.

Rough Week. . .Random Thoughts. . .

I am a child of God, I struggle daily with the devil and his minions.  This week has been particularly difficult, my children are being tested/tempted by the devil and I am very worried for them.  We know that the devil is everywhere and that he is good at what he does, which is to tempt and tease us into doing things that we would not normally even think about doing.  His prime time to try and take hold in our lives is in our youth and this is what I am talking about with regard to my children.
I will not go into detail but I ask for prayers for both of my boys especially Sprat in Boston.  I ask for prayers for safety, peace, guidance, comfort, and healing.
When your kids are young you can protect them from most all things designed to do them harm, as they get older your ability protect gets less and less effective. It is not a fault of yours it is just the design of life, your kids get older and must make their own decisions.  All you can do and the most difficult job of my parenting adventure thus far is to let go and just keep praying.  I never realized how much of a control freak I was unit this year when Sprat went to Boston to college.  This week has tested my patience and my religion.  Sprat's concussion is getting some better and that is good and I am relieved and very thankful.  There are other things going on that I really cannot write about other than he is having a difficult time and so is mama.  Some days I miss those early mornings when the boys would come in the bedroom and crawl in bed with me and cuddle.  I even miss those wee morning hours when they would have bad dreams and I would crawl in their bed and hold them till they went back to sleep. 
This week has left me feeling very out of sorts, and we have a couple people out at work with various sickness and surgery so the extra work will come in handy for both my pocketbook and my sanity. 
I ask for prayers for both boys especially Sprat as we make our way to Thanksgiving and I get to see my boy for the first time since September. 

Update on Our Clan. . . Bring on 2018. . .

I have been away for a bit, life happens and we must continue.  Some days are more difficult than others with regard to my work.  It is quite sad sometimes the situations I must hear about.  My sister keeps reminding me I am where I am for a reason and that God has put me in this job with  a purpose.  I still cry some days as I am making my way home and I will call my hubby on the way and cry to him about my day. He is my rock and my cheerleader on those days that are so difficult (grateful moment).   It is hard to believe I have been with this company for over a year now.  I kept thinking they were going to fire me for the first 9 months I worked there, you know the old dog new tricks.  I had my PCI review last night, I worked night shift last night.  I  had a good review and they are pleased with my performance and for that I am truly grateful, this job came at a time when my family needed the income and I needed to be able to help my family.  My very sweet hubby carried our family for fourteen years and I would not take that back for anything, I was there for my kids when they most needed their mom.   My schedule is pretty flexible so, I am still able to be there for my boys if they need me. (another grateful moment). 
The hubbs had a banner year with his job and we have made great strides in paying our house off and saving for college.  We are thrilled Sprat will be going to his number one pick college in August with a merit scholarship, it will not cover everything but it is a nice start (grateful moment).  Big T has soared this year in his new school, I never know what he is going to come home with.   Big T is learning how to interact with local business members of our community.  He has made presentations for the business leaders and for the various eighth grade classes in the County. Big T took a test that is given to seniors right before they graduate to see where they will be placed in college classes and did really well and does not have to take that test again (grateful moment). 
Yes, I am bragging just a little but we had a rough go of it last year and I am just extremely grateful for the blessings we have been given this year.   I have said many times that God will bring us to our knees so that He can lift us back up again.   We have been lifted and I am humbled by his grace. 
We are struggling these last few months with family troubles with extended family, so I ask for prayers, God knows what our families need.   I am praying for peace, comfort, and strength for our families.  I probably will not be back until after the New Year, lots going on with work and family.
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year. 

New Week, Trying to be Positive. . .

Hard week last week, the hubbs did not get the job that we thought he would get and we go back to the drawing board this week.  I know that God has a plan for us and that he is moving us in the path that he wants us to follow.  It is just very hard to watch the person that you love go through such a difficult time.  I pray every day for peace for him and I have asked my family to pray also, for some reason we have only told a few friends and I do not know why.  It is so frustrating to know how truly talented and passionate someone is and nobody else sees their value.  I guess this week is going to be hard too.
Why is it that employers see that someone has been with the same company for almost twenty-four years and they assume they  are old and all used up?   My husband was loyal to his company, and for what?   He did not take any vacation after he had fallen and hurt his knee and had to be out for so long on disability.  He said he felt guilty for even asking to take vacation after all of that.  His company has not felt any guilt when they  told him he did not have a job anymore.  These employers need to wise up and realize that this age group are the very ones that have an intense work ethic.  These are the people that can teach the younger generation about hard work.  So many people today are trying to do as little as they can and still get paid.  Not many have the work ethic of my hubby's generation.

Our sermon at Church yesterday was fabulous.  It was about God calling Moses to be his messenger. Moses did not think he was the right person to be God's messenger.  God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.  Those are not my words but I am not sure who actually said them.   Most Sunday's I feel like our preacher is speaking directly to my heart.  Yesterday was no different.

I am feeling very scattered today so please forgive the random babble.

Be Prepared for the Storm. . .Life Lessons. . .

I have debated and debated on whether to write about something going on in our lives.   You may or may not know that we are a single income family, I have written numerous times about how much I love Dave Ramsey and how his plan helped us get out of debt.  I have also written about my faith in God and how he works in our lives.   We are by no means a perfect family but, I know that God loves us and that he is constantly at work in our lives. I am writing this today to inspire and encourage others that may be facing similar circumstances.
My husband was a pharmaceutical sales representative with the same company for 23 years, I say was because he was just recently downsized.   Now we are a no income family of four.  We have not shared this with anyone but our family thus far.  We are a prime example of why you should use Dave Ramsey's plan to get out of debt.   To use Dave Ramsey's words, you never know when it is going to rain so, you better be prepared.   I always talk about how God works through our lives and this is a huge example.  I was able to take the Dave Ramsey class in 2012 and we had just bought a new car. Before taking his class I had dabbled in the envelope system but only got serious after taking the class.  Dave's class showed me that we had to get out of debt and how debt is bad.  In 2012 we started following a budget and using the envelope system to curb our spending and save for special things that we wanted to do.  I know that it was God that pointed us in that direction because he knew his plan for us.    I was able to pay our car off and get out of debt, except for the house, in two years.  Since our only debt is the house we have been working like crazy to get it paid off too.
I said earlier I do not want anyone to pity us because I know this is God's plan and because he got us on the Dave Ramsey road to financial peace, we are at peace financially.  If you have not checked Dave Ramsey out I encourage you to do so.  Dave Ramsey has a plan that anyone can work if they want, you have to want to get out of debt though and you have to be serious about it.  I am not being compensated in any way for this post.  This is just something that I am very passionate about and a plan that I believe in and that is working for my family.
This is a shining example of why everyone, even those professionals that think it could never happen to me, need to be preparing for the rain.   I am so thankful that God pointed us in the direction of Dave Ramsey because otherwise we would not have been prepared for this storm.   Not that anyone can be prepared for something like this but I feel we are better prepared than we were five years ago.  We had our six months worth of expenses emergency fund in place and no debt other than the house and our house payment is manageable.  As our storm rages there are so many emotions; there is anger, frustration, sadness, shame, and yes guilt.
This is why you have been seeing so many garden and recipe posts from me.  I have not really known how to talk about this but I feel like I need to talk about it because it is happening all over the country these days.  I have put my classes on hold for the time being, the hubbs did get a severance package and that is a huge blessing and we used my tuition money to buy him a new laptop.  His laptop was company property so it went back to the company.
I know this is God's plan and I do feel blessed that he is working in our lives.  He has blessed us with a bountiful garden this year and I am truly thankful.  The hubbs and I could live out of our garden and have been these last few months but the kiddos want meat and well, I cannot bring myself to raise anything to butcher just yet.
Stay tuned this and the garden will by my focus these next few months.

"There is hope in your future."  Jeremiah 31:17

More Hotcakes. . .

I love my new devotional book "Hotcakes and Hallelujahs"  today I was reading the part about a new beginning.  The verse that begins this sections is 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are new."  This is so appropriate at the beginning of a new year.  You take stock in your life, what things you would like to change or stop doing all together.  There may even be things that you would like to do more of, like growing your relationship with God.  Spending more time in prayerful conversation with God.
I have to share this with you about my Ethics class I am taking for school.  We were talking about what ethical system drives you.  I picked religion, because that is the basis of my life.  I had a young man question how I could blindly follow something I could not see or touch.  He was attacking my faith, but I did not get offended, he obviously did not know any better and was repeating what ever he had heard from someone else.  Again, I was not offended, I took this as an opportunity to witness to this young man that was obviously confused.  He thought it was insane for someone to "claim" to walk and talk with God.   I shared with him the fact that I carried my two boys in my body and gave birth to them was all the proof I needed to know that God was real and that he was working in my life.  I see God in my everyday life, I journal my prayers for my family and when I go back and look at them I can see exactly where God stepped in and moved us along.  We had an interesting discussion on this subject of religion.  I do not know if I made a difference or not with this fella but he has been added to my prayer list.  I know that God puts people in your life for a reason, whether to teach you a lesson or for you to teach them.  I feel like this fella is the later.
How would you feel if someone said these things to  you?  Would you be offended or would you take the opportunity to witness?  Let me know what you are thinking.

Update on My Challenge to Me. . .

At the beginning of October I set a challenge to me, to pray for all of my Facebook friends everyday.  I am proud to say I did pretty good.  I think I only missed a few days. 
Now,  I am sure you are asking how could I pray for all of my friends specifically?   Well,  this is how I did it.  I pray each morning after my crew has gone to school and work.  That is my quiet time to talk with God about what is going on in my life.   I called each persons name in my friends list and asked God to watch over that person and their family.   I lifted each person to Him for His grace.  I know, I don't know their troubles or pain but He does. 
When you pray for others, putting yourself aside, you are also blessed.   I do feel blessed because of this challenge.  It made me aware that I should think of others and always be praying for those in need whether I know them or not.  
I am not a holyer than thow kinda person.   I just have a passion for God in my life and I want to share that with everyone.   My family and I have been so blessed by God's grace and I just want everyone to know how great He is.   I am not perfect and the great thing about that is,  God does not care.   He wants us, in all our imperfect ways, and for that I am grateful. 

My Dad and My Heavenly Father

Those that know me, may know this story but it needs repeating.  This may help you understand who I am and why, I am the way I am.  In early 1996 my hubby and I had just celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary and I had gone home to celebrate my Dad's birthday.  It was early March and the weather was trying to warm up.  My dad is not someone that can stay couped up inside when the weather is nice.  Dad and mom went to the barn, dad was determined to work on the barn roof.  They had been gone maybe a couple of hours when I got the call from mom.  Dad had fallen through the roof of the barn, around 20 some feet to a hard dirt floor.   Mom could not get 911 on her cell.  I hung up and frantically called for her.  I grew up in a small town where everyone knows everyone else so when that call went out over the scanners everyone knew it was daddy.  I raced to the barn and when I got there, there were 4 fire trucks and at least 2  ambulances.   They had dad on a stretcher wheeling him to the ambulance.   He was alert and talking which is a miracle in its self.  In the ER dad was talking and trying to make jokes to sooth mom.  He had to have surgery on his arm, it was crushed and that is all they knew.  He was in surgery for 5 1/2 hours.  We were all terrified  about what else they might find.  He did well and would have to stay in ICU for at least 3 days.  These three days turned into 3 weeks due to complications.   I stayed with mom the whole time, otherwise she would have never left the  hospital.  This is where my relationship with God was made stronger than it has ever been.   I spent many hours a day in prayer for my daddy and my mom.  I felt like I was on a first name basis with Him when all was said and done.   Dad had fractured his pelvis in several places, lacerated his liver, and of course crushed his arm.  They gave him 18 units of blood during that 3 weeks in ICU.   He was on a respirator for over two weeks and in traction for his pelvis for 6 weeks.  He turned 64 in ICU.  There were many scares during those trying weeks of ICU and they were not sure if he would walk again and a couple of  times they didn't know if he would live.   This is why I believe in the power of prayer and why I pray all the time.   I don't always get the answer I want but I know He is giving me what he wants for me. 
Mom and I saw a lot of sadness while we sat in that ICU waiting room.   I learned a great deal about myself while waiting to see if my dad would live or not.   I am glad to say we all weathered that storm and since, my dad has weathered yet another storm with regard to skin cancer and losing his ear.  Years after this incident my dad pulled me aside, he talked to me about being in ICU.  He told me at one point he was at peace and ready to let go.  He said I could have just gone to sleep but, God had a plan for me.  God was not done with me, so I faught back.  My dad is 82 now and still works and he and my mom work out at the gym several mornings a week.   This is why I pray all the time, miracles do happen but you will never know the true love and power of the Lord if you do not talk to him.   I am not a "holy roller"  I just know how truly blessed I am and I want everyone to know they can have the same.   

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,  with thanksgiving , let your requests be nade known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,  will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 4:6-7.

God knows what we need. . .

God truly  does know what we need when we need it.  I have been feeling kinda disconnected the last few days.   Feeling like there is nobody in my court.   I think I may be having a mid-life crisis.  No I don't want a Mercedes convertible or have an affair.   Although if anyone had a  convertible and wanted to give it away I would not say no. 
I think the reality that my babies, that are not really babies,  are growing up and I cannot stop it or slow it down.  I have been talking about having only four years left with my oldest and how I feel like I still have so much to teach him.  All the talk has sunk in and now I am panicking.  
I have also been feeling like when my kids are all grown and don't need me, who am I then?   I have always been Sprats' or Big T's mom.  So who am I when they are gone?   I know I will always be their mom but when they don't need me 24/7  who am I? 
So back to my title, God knows  what I need.  I got a call from my sister today and there is just something about talking with that person that makes you feel like it will all be ok.  We did not talk about any of this but just hearing her voice and knowing she thinks about me makes me feel better.   Sometimes it is just knowing that no matter what kind of mistake you may make or how bad you feel that she will always be there for you.
My dear sister called today to talk about nothing in particular but, I believe God sent her to me today because of how I have been feeling these past few days.  I needed to hear from her.   This is not to say my dear hubby is not there for me because he is.  Sometimes though it is a sister you need more than anything.    So to my sis, love you so much and thank you for calling and thank you God for sending her this day.

Facebook drama. . .

So I posted a thing about the Pledge of Allegiance on my facebook page and how we used to recite it at school.  I think it is a good thing, it teaches children respect for our country.  One of my "friends" on facebook came back at me about it and how it is brain washing to teach our kids this and how our country was not founded by Christians.  I did not post anything back to her because I think it is silly to argue on facebook and I believe it would have been futile to argue with her.  Our country was founded by people looking for religious freedoms.  I cannot attest that they had indeed taken the Lord Jesus as their Savior but I do believe there were some Christians in the mix of our leaders.  I think her whole hang up about the Pledge is that it says, "One Nation under God. . ."
I am a Christian and I do not say this to say I am perfect, I am far from it.  I am a Christian because I have asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart and to forgive me of my sins.  I am a sinner, I will never be completely free from sin, but God loves me just the same.
What do you say to someone that does not believe in God?  I cannot imagine not believing in God.  All I have to do is look at my beautiful children, my life, or walk outside and look at the sky and know that there is a God that loves us all.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion and again I will not argue with people on facebook, it is silly.    I was just blown away by her comments, I would never post anything like that on someones' facebook page.
This may be God at work in my life telling me I need to minister more to those that don't believe.   I will be praying about this.   If you have ministered to someone that did not believe in God I would love to hear from you, just click comment and tell me how you did it.  You can do it anonymously, I don't mind.  If you have a different opinion that is fine too, I will not argue though.  I just want to hear what everyone has to say.

What makes a man, a Father? ? ? ?

I don't usually write gushy stuff about my husband but, sometimes he just brings that out in me.  The other night I was trying to get the kids up for devotions and Bible reading and that is a HUGE task.  Some nights they just don't want to go to bed, go figure, they're boys.  I had a pretty tiresome day and was sitting on the couch and dear hubby had his Ipad out and I asked him to pull up Keys for Kids.  That is the online site we get our devotions from.  I was feeling too lazy to get up and get the hamster running in my computer and pull it up.  I have told you about my husband praying over our garden in other posts.  You know he is a spiritual man.  I expected him to pull up the site and hand me the ipad to read it for the kids.  Instead, he read the devotion that night.  I was a little shocked, since he normally lets me do all the reading unless I have a sore throat or something.  I was so excited, some days I feel like what I do does not matter and then he does something like this and it makes me realize he does appreciate what I am trying to do and it does matter.  When both Mom and Dad work together to build that spiritual bond in their relationship it bleeds over into the family relationship too.   I feel so blessed.   It is a real man and Father that will read devotions and the Bible to his kids.  I know that God is working in our lives and I am so thankful for all of his blessings.

New Bible Study. . . .

I have joined a new Bible study based on a book, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God."  We read and do work in the book and post online our thoughts and such.  As you know we do nightly devotions as a family.  We read a devotion "Keys for Kids" it is an online site that does great devotions for kids and we read the Bible.  We have read all of Proverbs and are almost through with Psalms.  I was not in a good mood last night and feeling kinda blah and I was only going to read out of the Bible and not do the online devotion.  Big T came up first and sat beside me on the couch and while we were waiting for hubby and Sprat, Big T said can we please do the online devotion.  I reluctantly agreed, I was just really tired.  I pulled my computer out, got my hamsters running and finally got to the website.  The devotion was about how Satan can goad you into doing things that go against God's commandments.  The little boy was getting bullied on the bus from school.  His mom told him he needed to try and find a way to deal with his frustration with this bully without fighting.  The next day he came home and was very happy.  He had sat at the front of the bus and avoided the bully all together.  His mom got to thinking about how her son had changed his circumstances and avoided the bully by moving closer to someone in authority.  His mom said maybe she should move closer to Jesus and try to have a closer relationship with him to keep Satan away from her.
I felt like this mom in the devotion.  Big T made me read this devotion and it just reinforces my need to be in my new Bible study.  I always laugh when God just comes right out and says this is where you are supposed to be.  Last night I thanked my sweet Big T for getting me to read the devotion, it was Gods' plan all along.  I said yes, and got  a lesson for myself.   So thankful!!!!!

Holy Week. . .

Dear hubby and I are usually readers during Holy Week for our Church services but this year we are not reading.  The kidos have a lot going on this week with school and baseball.  I decided I didn't want them to miss out on what we normally hear at Church so I have been reading out of our Holy Week Reader instead of doing our normal devotions.  Our Reader goes day by day during the week leading up to the Resurrection.  Most people know the story of how Jesus was crucified but to actually read it or hear it read is a very emotional experience.  I cry every time, I know, that is no big shock.  
This is our last week of Lent and I am using this as a week of reflection on my relationship with the Lord.  I know I have fallen way short of his expectations of me.  I have been reading a lot on forgiveness and I think that is where he is leading me.  I think forgiveness is probably one of the hardest things.   It is important to remember that when you forgive you are not telling that person what they did was ok.  You are releasing them to God.  He is our final judge.  You also release yourself from the ill feelings and hatred that can eat away at you.  Just remember that God forgives all, you need only ask.

What a wonderful crazy week. . .

Received news of a wonderful blessing, a windfall actually.   God is good!  I made a 98 on my computer exam and I am so happy for that.  I turned in my rough draft for my term paper in my Ethics class and feel good about it.  I am getting ready for two wonderful weeks with my boys out of school.  I get only one week so they will get to visit with Memaw  while I have class two days.  We are still working our way through Dave Ramseys' program to be debt FREE with great progress.  Everyday we get a little closer. I finished my third book with my new book club.  On a side note, I am not buying these books I am getting them from my local Library.  This month we read, "Wicked, the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Greggory Maguire.  This was by far my favorite book so far.  I have a new respect for the Wicked Witch of the West.  Great book, I would highly recommend it.  We start our new book, "Submerged" by Cheryl Kaye Terdif.   Today is the beginning  of Holy Week and we had a great service today and the Childrens' Choir sang "Hosana"  one of my favorite Hymns.  So proud of our Choir.   I must add that  I just watched Kansas beat UNC !!!!  yipeeee!!!  I am an ABC fan, Anybody But Carolina.   But I digress, God is good and he does watch out for those in need and those praying for help and guidance.  He proves this to me daily and I am so thankful.

Thankful thoughts. . .

I saw on facebook this month that everyone is posting thankful thoughts, I have not.  I am very thankful but, I do not see the need to post something everyday just because everybody else is doing it.  That to me is adult peer pressure.  I will not fall to that, however, I am going to post some things here and talk about how thankful I am.
I am thankful for my family and that my parents have been able to see their grandchildren grow up.   My grandparents all passed away before I was born except my grandmother on my Mothers' side.  She passed away when I was in elementary school.  I do remember going to her house and playing and seeing her on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I remember  her house and playing in the apple trees in her yard and this huge weeping willow tree.  The willow had the best branches for climbing and swinging.   I also remember how much I loved her dressing she served on Thanksgiving. 
Thomas and Jack are very lucky, as am I that they have their grandparents to spend time with.  When we go to Moms' they go to the barn with Poppy and Gee and help feed the horses and kitties and play with them.  They also get to see the goats at my sisters' house.   This year Thomas was sitting at the table having lunch with my mom and he saw three deer run through her back yard.   We usually see some deer, turkeys, raccoons, foxes and an albino skunk all while sitting at the kitchen table.  
I am very thankful for my family.  I am also thankful for how the Lord is working in our lives.  So many little things that have happened and I see the Lords' hand in all of them.  I am thankful for the great conversations that dear hubby and I have had with our kids about the Bible and God.  I love to see these things through my kids' eyes.  They see things that we as adults do not and in different ways too.   I learn something new every night as we read devotions and the Bible.  Some nights after reading we just have great conversations about their day and what happened at school. 
For all of this and so much more I am truly thankful!!

Election is over. . .

I am so glad this election is over.  I really hate all of the mud slinging on both sides.  I voted and did my duty and I am sad my guy did not win.  I do know however, that God has a plan.  We are not privy to that plan yet but when he is ready we  will know.  I have faith that God is in control and that he will guide and protect my family and others that have that same faith.  Last night before bed I prayed and gave it all over to Him once again.   It is hard to see our great country in such turmoil and to have to read it all over Facebook.  I do know that God will bring us to our knees to remind us that we still need him and maybe this is the case this year.  We have forgotten, as a country, that there is only one in charge and he is in Heaven waiting for us to wake up.
I have seen a lot of posts on Facebook about freedom of speech and freedom of expression ect. . .   Yet these same people want to crucify the President of one fast food chain for his freedom of expression.   Why is it ok for them to express their feelings and beliefs and yet it is not ok for him?   One side has become overly tolerant and the other side has become intolerant.  Where do we go from here?
I will be spending a great deal of time on my knees in prayer.  I am not only praying for my family but everyone including the President.  I hope that he will take the next four years and actually do something to bring our country back to the Great Nation it once was.

Praying Parent. . . .

I joined a Moms' prayer group a couple of months ago.  We meet once a month and pray for our Elementary school, it's staff, kids, ect. . .  We met last about two weeks ago and one of the Moms brought up a book she was reading called, "The Power of the Praying Parent."  We decided that not only would we meet to pray for the school but we would add a Bible study in too.  How cool is that?  There is nothing a group of Moms cannot do when we put our minds to it.  I have always been a big believer in prayer and it's power.  The month of March 1996 proved to me the power of prayer.  March of 1996 my world was turned upside down when my Dad (my hero) fell through the roof of our barn (between 17-23 feet) and was in the hospital for almost 2 months.  He was in ICU for 41/2 weeks and on a respirator for 4 of those weeks.  We honestly did not know if he would make it.  During this time God and I came to know each other on a first name basis.  I prayed every day sometimes for hours at a time.   My Dad is a walking miracle, and those are not my words those are the doctors words.  He has problems with his balance at times and his right arm gives him a bit of a fit too but he is 79 years old.  He turned 64 in ICU.  Dad had a crushed right arm which took  a 51/2 hour surgery to repair and a fractured hip and lacerated kidney. 
During this time I learned the power of prayer.  I prayed for so many things during Dad's time in the hospital.  I mostly prayed that God would let my Daddy come home to his family.
Months after Dad had come home he pulled me aside and told me that there was a time while he was in the hospital that he was at peace with his life and with God and he could have let go.  Then he said he thought about Mom and he could not let go just yet.  He said that God had saved him for a reason and there was more he had to do on this earth.  I am so glad that the good Lord saw fit to save him. I have learned so much from him and I am so thankful for every day.   My Dad and Mom have taught me a lot about God and prayer.  I am very thankful that I had praying parents and I want to give that same thing to my kids.
The book I mentioned in the beginning talks about being a praying parent.  It talks about how you have to pray for every aspect of your child's life.  I am so excited about this book, I have read part of the first chapter and I highly recommend it to any parent.  I cannot wait to get together with our other Moms and discuss it.

The loss of a pet?

As an adult you would think I could handle this better.  I think because I am older it is harder.  I know that animals don't live forever.  I know that God has been at work in my life this week because I have had two substitute teaching jobs.  I say that is God at work because I don't think I could have been at home alone these past two days.  I really believe if I had been at home I would have driven myself crazy.  Every where I look I see my little Frito.  Her toys, her little sweater she wore when it was cold, and every time I look at the couch where she used to lay.   There is a big empty feeling in this house since she is no longer with us.  I thank God for getting me out of the house these past two days.  I also thank the teacher that called me.  I know I will get over this and some may say I am being silly.   I just feel like there is this giant hole where my little angel used to be.   I still catch myself reaching for her during the night in the bed, looking for her on the couch, and looking for her in her little bed.   I am an adult.  Why is this so darn hard?   Why can I not just get over it?  
When Mark and I were first married and we would have an argument of course I would get upset and cry and pout.  Frito would find me and want to lick the tears from my face.  That was the only time I would let her lick my face.  She would always help me to get over my mad spell.  She loved her toys.  When she was little we would have to hide her toys so she would go to sleep.    Usually that would take some time because every time we hid one she would go and find another somewhere in the house.  Her favorite treat was peanutbutter.  She only got a little but that was all she needed.    She hated riding in the car, but she would rather ride in the car with us than stay in the garage without us.