Moon over Alabama

Saturday cleaning.....

Today is a day of cleaning. You know how it is....through the week things are just kind of let go. So today is pick up day, and laundry day!

EAB (our six year old) and I already exercised. We have alot of errands, a few essentials from the grocery, library and then whatever else we can knock out today. Sunday's, I try to make that our total day of rest day, other than going to church.

So what do you do on your Saturday's?

Happy Anniversary to Me!!!

Well I was just sitting and studying my Bible when the UPS truck pulled up. I knew I hadn't ordered anything. Well I open it up and what do I see, but a brand new Kindle! My sweet husband had bought me a NOOK Color when we got our tax refund. Our six year old had wanted one, plus I had debated back and forth between the two. Well JTB bought the NOOK. Well not to complain, but I have really not liked it. There have been a couple of times when I had it on the charger all night and woke up to it dead. You have to be so particular how you put the charger in there.


Also, I love to sit out and read, but you just can't read it in the sun. It is great at night, but not during the day. I will say the downside to the Kindle is you can't read it at night without a light. I will live with that! 


So thank you JTB for blessing me so! I love you and can't imagine my life without you! It isn't because you bless me so, it is because of who you are. You love me so completely, you are my best friend, and the man who loves Jesus! I couldn't ask for more!!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Today is a traditionally devoted to eating and drinking. Even though I am not Irish, I still have taught my children the true meaning of Saint Patrick's Day. Like Christmas we tend to get away from the true meaning of the day.




From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day


 Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig) is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of thepatron saints of Ireland. It is observed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),^[1] the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutherans. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general.^[2]

The day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire (especially shamrocks), and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on fasting and drinking, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.^[3][4][5][6]

Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland,^[7] Northern Ireland,^[8] Newfoundland and Labrador and in Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora, especially in places such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.

St. Patrick's Day cake I made today.

So if you are out celebrating the carnal day, be safe and don't drink too much! If you are like my family and celebrating the life of the man who devoted his life to Christ and to proselytizing the Irish people then have fun! It is a great day to learn about a godly man and his people!

Glad to be home!

The drive from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to Birmingham, Alabama is a tough one. I remember when JTB was stationed in Rochester, NY. It was 1997 and that fall my dad died, so we (the kids and I ) were driving from Rochester to Indiana regularly. I was 28, I could make that drive with no problem. There are differences, then I was 28 and smoked, so that helped with the drive. Today I am a non-smoker and 41. Big difference. The drive will be in our lives a lot. 


I am grateful that I am able to make the drive to make it easier on JTB so he isn't burning up any leave time. Plus I get a mini-vacation out of the deal. Other than cooking and cleaning up the dishes, which NSB, our 14 year old, did most of the time for me, I pretty much got 10 days to read books and my bible and play on the computer. I took the kids to the library and to the park. We were able to attend church with JTB at Northwood Temple. So we had a great time. It went way to fast, but praise God we got to spend the time together.


So we patiently await until JTB either comes home or we go back to Bragg for a visit.

A lazy Sunday

Today is the day the kids and I pack up to go back to our house in Alabama. We leave early in the morning, JTB leaves in the morning as well.  A week of TDY (temporary duty) for him. So leaving won't be so hard. I know he has work to go do and he doesn't have to return to an empty apartment.

We have had a lot of fun the past 10 days. Doing the geographical bachelor thing has been hard on us all, but every time I come to Fort Bragg, it is reinforced that this post is just not for us. This is the first assignment where I have looked upon it and said this place is just too dangerous. Others do it, but I just can't. At least not right now.

We are looking forward to the day that we can all be together in Alabama, but then JTB would be out of the Army....so we have a double edged sword and {James 1:8 (KJV) ⁸ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.} It is difficult when you do want two things, but you know you can only have one. So you trust in God and know that He will direct your paths, even if it is down the one you aren't so sure of.

Beside Still Waters: Author Interview

Need a good book, then check out Tricia Goyer's "Beside Still Waters"!!

Fig Tree, Money Changers and Faith

Today's reading is from Mark 11:12-26. We start out as Jesus and his disciples are walking and Jesus was hungry. Wow, what a word. Jesus was hungry. Just a quick search, not an exhaustive search, I only found two times that Jesus was hungry. The first was Mark 11:12. Jesus and his disciples were leaving Bethany and the scripture said He was hungry. Let's back up and see what had Jesus been doing? One he had been in Jericho teaching and then walked to Jerusalem, which was not a short walk. It is about 17 miles from Jericho to Jerusalem. They would have arrived in the later afternoon. Jesus sent the disciples to get a donkey for Him to ride into Jerusalem on. So in one day Jesus walked 17 miles, then rode a donkey into Jerusalem, then after all that went into the temple complex, looked around to see what was going on, then He and the disciples walked to Bethany (bible says it was late) which is about two miles. So Jesus had a physically tiring day, He also had an emotionally tiring day.. Yet the scripture waits and says at the beginning of the day the next day, He was hungry. We know Jesus ate, but we don't really know the details. I do like that the times that the Bible talks about Jesus eating it says He was hungry. Gives us true direction on how to eat. Plus what to eat, He was going to eat a fig. Not ice cream, not chocolate, but a fig.


So it is the next morning and Jesus and the disciples are heading back into Jerusalem from Bethany. He walks past the fig tree, He was hungry, and there were no figs on the fig tree. This is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: 

THE BARREN FIG-TREE CURSED, THE TEMPLE CLEANSED. (11:12-18)

Christ looked to find some fruit, for the time of gathering figs, though it was near, was not yet come; but he found none. He made this fig-tree an example, not to the trees, but to the men of that generation. It was a figure of the doom upon the Jewish church, to which he came seeking fruit, but found none. Christ went to the temple, and began to reform the abuses in its courts, to show that when the Redeemer came to Zion, it was to turn away ungodliness from Jacob. The scribes and the chief priests sought, not how they might make their peace with him, but how they might destroy him. A desperate attempt, which they could not but fear was fighting against God.


So is Christ making an example of the tree and what will happen to us all who don't produce fruit? I'll have to let you decide that. We know Jesus was without sin, I had read a comment in YouVersion that lpakele had said that Jesus was upset one because of no figs, but  he also made the comment that Jesus had fasted for 40 days and nights and could  handle no food. Then he goes to the Temple expecting to see fruit from His people and found none.  So I just threw that in as food for thought.


Then we go to the last point. Jesus said, "Have faith in God". So simple, so true. I grew up with Kenneth Hagin talking about Mark 11:23.   I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.


So faith is having total trust in God. To know that if we do not doubt in our heart and believe that what God says he will perform it. It goes back to the word I felt God speak to me at the beginning of the year. Expect....Expect me to perform my Word. 


Are we expecting from God, are we being fruitful...let us not be like the fig tree, as Christ followers we are to have a fruit producing life, all the time! Go ye and produce!

Lent from a Charismatic view point.

I started the YouVersion.com bible reading, 40 Days of Lent. It follows the last week of Jesus' life. I cannot imagine what the women who were following Jesus thought. As a woman I know it would have been horrible. My emotions would have been all over the place. Emotional, moody....I can't believe that Mary Magdelene, Joanna, Susanna and the others who supported Jesus in His earthly ministry weren't affected by his upcoming death. (Luke 8:3)

Yet, God was merciful and gracious. He allowed the women who were with Him (Luke 24:10) to be the first to hear the good news. The women had been grieving Him, they had prepared Him for the tomb. He allowed them to know He was alive. What a wonderful God we serve. He knows our nature, He knows our pains and He allowed these precious women to be told the good news first, "He is not here, He is risen!" Wow, to be the first to hear these words.

Lent just started Wednesday, but my thoughts went to these courageous women of faith. To go 40 days watching Jesus fast, go through those days in anguish and to hear Him speak about what will happen. I have such admiration for these women. They sacrificed everything, their homes, marriages and finances to follow the Christ. They weren't concerned with what others would say, they only cared about Him.

To be more like them.....to be willing to sacrifice everything is my prayer today.

over a year ago

Boy, I am so very bad about posting. Life gets going and between the kids and the hubby, I don't seem to hit the blogging everyday.

What's new? Well tomorrow I get to head to Richmond, VA to see Beth Moore. Nine of us ladies from my church, Faith Fellowship Assembly of God, are leaving for 30+ hours of fun, fellowship and most of all Jesus!!

We have started school back up for the fall, not that we ever really stop, but you know how that is. The kids seem to be enjoying it and we are having a good time. I have a great support system in my husband and two of my lovely girlfriends from high school who also home school!!

I have been very involved in my church! So I am keeping super busy. My intent is to blog about homeschooling, church/God, family and just life. Oh and the Army Reserve!

God bless and maybe I'll see you again this afternoon!

A thought ....

I have a friend from high school who is a gay man, (came out a few years ago) who is also a pastor of a church, a charasmatic/penecostal church to be exact. (I attend an Assembly of God church so I believe in all the gifts of the Spirit.) My question that I have been wondering, is how he reconciles the Word with his lifestyle. God is very clear on homosexuality, yet he often talks on FB about how God moves mightily in their services.

I have read where people say God doesn't address that issue in the New Testament. It isn't mentioned as much. There is a scripture in I Corinthians 6:9 that addresses that issue.

1 Corinthians 6:9 (AMP)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, 1 Corinthians 6:10 (AMP)
10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.

Just for arguements sake I have added vs 10 which also clarifies who else won't see the kingdom of God. So if that includes most of the world. Unless we have asked God to forgive us all our sins and have accepted Christ.

So I guess my question to him would be is living your life as a gay man, true to the Word of God? I have had my share of gay and lesbian friends over my lifetime, but I don't agree with their choice. I just pray that God shows us all the way to live holy and blameless until the day of judgement.

A New Order...

Well we had let the children get lazy and they were not keeping up on things as they should. So this morning everyone was up by 6:30am and they have to have rooms picked up, beds made, clothes in dirty hamper ready to go to the laundry room. They also need to be dressed, teeth brushed and ready for school by 8am.

So today, this being the first day so far, we are at 100% compliance!

We are working on some remedial stuff and slowly getting into the new school year for them. It will be a little more difficult for them all, so this year I thought I would start them out a little earlier. One so they won't fall behind, another so their brains don't turn to mush over the summer.

Now if I can keep the four year old and the two year old occupied it will be a good day indeed!

If it ain't broke, it ain't ours!!

Well last night the 12 year old dropped the dvd/vcr recorder remote on the floor. We were hoping it was just the batteries, but no, sad to say it is not. It is the actual remote. Yes, it is going on four years old, but it still worked. So I google the model number and replacements for this remote run anywhere from $39.95 on eBay to $79.95 from a place on the internet. So I guess we will be going for the middle of the line universal remote.

My husband always tells me if it isn't broke it isn't ours, boy oh boy ain't that the truth.

Estate sales and pies

We decided to take the kids out to http://oldcountrybuffet.com for breakfast this morning . It is 12 year old son's favorite place for breakfast eating. He just loves their french toast sticks and then he adds cheese sauce, makes me want to gag, but hey he is only 12 and hasn't developed his palate yet (I hope).

We then ran into http://www.shoppersfood.com to pick up some stuff so I can make hubby another chocolate creme pie, since the 16 year old proceeded to dump the first one I made on the floor. It is always something.

Well then on our way home we ran into an estate sale. Over priced as it was, due to the fact it was in the "nice" home area. We found hubby a box of old Life and Time magazines for $20 then he got five Life magazines and one Look magazine for $23. So he is in heaven today. He will be reading and going through all of these all day today and maybe even tomorrow.

So today it is just magazines and pies, a very nice way to spend the day!

Today is the day!!!

My baby comes home from church camp this afternoon!! I am so excited. I want to hear all about his first experience of being away from home, with no other family members around. I want to hear how many friends he made, how much he loved the food, and activities, but most of all I can't wait to hear how God moved in my boy's life this week.

My son, is only 12, but what an old soul he is when it comes to the Lord. He loves to read the Word, he loves church and all things related to God. I pray that he continues the love affair until the day he dies and that he won't settle for anything but God's best for him.

So I patiently await for 2pm EDT to arrive so I can leave the house to get him, I am sure if you want to hear about it as well you can travel over to his blog and read all about it. I am sure he will have tons to write about and since one of his assignments for school this year is to blog daily, he will save stuff for the blog. http://www.nate-lifeofapre-teenchristiankid.blogspot.com/

God bless!!

School time is soon up on us...

Here it is 23 July already. The new school year will be upon us soon. As a homeschooling mom I have to start getting ready in the summer for the next year. I have changed curriculums this year so I have more planning to do which is a challenge for me, but also very exhilirating. I am challenging myself more as their teacher and tailoring more to their interests.

When we were in Alabama I went to an Abeka Curriculum Fair, it was interesting the man was a true sales man and unfortunately there were two women who were new or seemed to be new to the it all. You have to know the laws and learn for yourself what homeschooling is all about, or ask other mom's, but never go on the word of a curriculum salesperson.

I know I am all over the board today, just one of those days. I pray this year is a year of great expectations and great explorations for my children. I want them to stretch themselves and to know they are capable of more than what they think they are.

Our four year old is reading already, he started trying to read around December and is now reading the cc/subtitles on movies/tv shows. His two year old sister is wanting to be his little shadow, so that will be my biggest challenge this year.

I love seeing the spark in their eyes when they realize that they are learning something new or that they accomplished that one thing. So I look forward to the new year, not only for them, but me as well.

Half way done

Well today is Wednesday and my son will be home on Friday afternoon from church camp. I know he is having the time of his life, but I am missing him so! I guess that comes from being a homeschooling family.

My sister and I never went to church camp when we were young. Yet my husband spent his summers at church camp, his mother was the life guard. So our experiences are very different.

Our daughter got back from youth camp at the beginning of July. She had a wonderful time. She also got to experience six teenage girls sharing a room and bath. It was an interesting week for her from that stand point.

I am sure the rest of the week will go very fast, I hope! The other kids and I have been enjoying each others company. The two year old 99% done potty training! Yeah!! She is my last so we are leaving that "baby" stage. It is sad yet freeing in the same breath.

I have the best kids and husband in the whole world. Life is good!

Happy Birthday my love!!

Today is my man's 45th birthday!! Forty-five years ago the most precious baby boy was born. He has grown into quite the man!! He has been my hero for the past 14 years!! He is a man of integrity, honor and passion. Passion for life, for his work, but most of all for his Savior, Jesus Christ!

I am so very blessed to have been given this gift, even though today is his birthday, I am the one blessed enough to have been given the gift, him!

I love you babe! I pray all of God's blessings over you!

P.S. You are one sexy man!! ;)

Kids Camp

Today our twelve year old son has gone to camp. It is his first camp exeperience, and mine. He has stayed with family members or with a sitter when DH and I have traveled, but this is the first time he has been the one to go and leave us behind.

I am excited for him. He so loves God and His Word. He is such a sweet boy and I am so proud of him. He has his father's intelligence, he was reading by the age of three and his thought process scares me at times! (in a good way)

Nathaniel, I will miss you terribly, but know how very proud of you I am. I pray God's blessings over you this week and that He will show Himself mightily to you! Have fun, make lots of friends and most of all know how much we love you!

Just a normal Friday

Well this morning I got up and ran DH to the office early. The Army Birthday was June 15th, so they were having a 3 mile run at Ft. Myer. So it was off to the office at 5:20am.

I came home and was just doing normal housework, then the kids all started getting up. My son, is getting ready for a sleepover tonight after play practice at church. He is sitting with his two year old sister reading to her. My sixteen year old is getting herself around and my 4 yr old son has been up since 6am wanting to do it is a super website for pre/K phonics/reading.

I forget sometimes during all the mess of life that I am so blessed. I have a husband who loves me, children who are my life (even when they are naughty) and a Savior who loves me!

Life is good!

CaringBridge / godhealsme / Welcome

CaringBridge / godhealsme / Welcome

Shared via AddThis

My friend and sister in Christ, Marnie was diagnosed with breast cancer. The above link is for women with BC to journal their thoughts and journey. She is a very inspirational woman. Please be praying for her and her husband Dan.

I know, I know....

Time and obligations seem to creep in and if you are not a "serious" blogger like myself. I tend to let life ie...kids, husband, housework, church etc....from keeping up with by blog, not that I have tons of people reading it. Which is fine, it is more for myself than anyone really.

We just got back from our home that we own in Alabama, we were there for two glorious weeks. We didn't want to come back. Alabama is our safe place so to speak. It is the one place that we can truly reset and refresh and energize ourselves. DH still has four to six more years before retirement. Yet my heart yearns to go and live there. Unfortunately that then turns DH into a geographical bachelor, and the children into a situation we don't want. Our two year old is daddy's little princess and oh how she loves him. It would break her heart if she couldn't run to him coming through the door after work, or crawl into bed with us if she has a nightmare. Being together as a family is way more important than to live in a house that we love. These years until retirement will fly by so fast, the others already have!

So until that day when we say good bye to active duty it is pick ourselves up by the boot straps go to Alabama when finances and time allow and enjoy while we can and be grateful for the blessings and the life that God has given us.

STAR TREK

Happy First Date Anniversary, my love!

Fourteen years ago, I placed a personal ad in the Kosciusko County edition of The Paper . A very sweet and handsome man answered that ad, and today we are celebrating the anniversary of our first date.

We fell in love almost immediately and it was confirmed to me when I saw him with my daughters, especially Chanel. He was so good to us all.

He has worked hard over the past fourteen years to provide us with all the wordly goods, but he works even harder to show us his love. He is a man after God's own heart, and for that I am so very grateful.

God has blessed this woman more than she ever deserved. So Father God, thank you for the blessings you have bestowed upon your handmaiden.

Jim, I love you! I am looking forward to the future.

Graduation

This past weekend my husband graduated from Seton Hall University with a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership.

It has been a long road, not just for him, but for us all. There have been nights of late night studies, weekends of him having to work on school. Church services and activities that he has had to forgo to accomplish what he has. Has it been worth it. Yes, it has taught our children that with hard work and discipline you can accomplish whatever you have set your mind to.

I am very proud of my husband and I congratulate him on a job well done!