Thankful Thursday

Today's "TT" is being written right after an emotional ordeal with my oldest son... I feel drained, partly because of his reaction, and partly because of my own... I know I didn't handle myself the way I wanted too. Being a parent is hard work, but thank goodness I have God to guide and direct me... Thank you God for being the Rock of our family...help my family to remember that You are the Rock...not just in hard times, but in the best of times too. Well, I guess I already started my list :)-I am thankful for the Duggar's new book. You know the family on the TLC channel that have 18 children. I was always curious about what they believed as I have heard them talk about God before...In their new book they share what they believe and how God has worked in their lives...It is a wonderful story, and a very encouraging book as well. -I am thankful that "Moose" will turn 10 on Friday... I can't believe I have a 10 year old :)-I am thankful for the opportunity to use what at least I believe to be my "spiritual gifts" this past week in a couple of situations... When I let God lead me in this area it is beautiful, but when I try to operate in my own strength in this area I fall way short.-Some good friends of ours sold their house in one day, and then a couple days later they bought a house. We are all still in amazement at what God has done.-I continue to be thankful for my husband's hard work at his job, and then when he gets home he works hard at being the godly leader of our home. -Sickness has been circling this house of mine, but seems to have missed all of us here so far...oh, I hope this continues..-Recently I have met someone that is what I would say passionate about the Lord... I could just tell there was something different about her, and I approached her to tell her how I was so encouraged by her, and then once I got to hear some more of her story I just was even more encouraged... I just love meeting people who are sold out for the Lord...not perfect, but sold out... It is contagious :)Well, I have just been summoned by my hubby, so I will close for today. Also, feel free to participate in the post below... I ask a question that I would love to get your feedback on...feel free to comment on that post if you have time :)Blessings All...

What if???

(This post was taken from my "Cafe Chat" question for this coming Saturday, but I would really like the readers of this blog, or anyone who stops by to answer these questions)

Today’s question was once again inspired by what I feel the Lord is teaching me in this season of my life.

Fill in the Blank. My biggest struggle/stronghold is _____________.

Sadly, I have more than one answer to fill in this blank, but if I had to choose just one answer the blank would be filled in with the word, FEAR.

The fill in the blank part is just the first part of our question today. Now answer this question with your own fill in the blank answer.

How would my life look if I no longer struggled with _______? What if I was completely free from ______ through Christ’s power…(Put your struggle/stronghold in the blank) *Try to give some very specific ways your life would be different if you no longer struggled with your above named stronghold*

Before you answer, give this question some deep thought. Honestly, if “Fear” were not a part of my life anymore, or at least if it was not ruling over me I don’t really think I would recognize myself. I will try to give my answer to this question over at my blog this week in more detail.

This week we will only focus on answering how would life look without your struggle, and then next week we will focus on how we can make steps toward freedom in Christ with our struggles.

We were created to be free in Christ, let’s work toward that goal together. All things are possible through Jesus!!!

Happy Birthday Fwend!!!

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday Dear Fwend.. Happy Birthday to you...

I love you girl!!! I am working on a special video for you... I had hoped I could post it today, but this week has been crazy :)

Hope you are enjoying your new "Slanket"... Kimmy

Women Drivers :)

I am posting a video that made me laugh. Although I'm sure there are great women drivers I am not one of them! Be sure to look at the woman trying to back in the parking space and look at the time clock in the bottom left corner...that would totally be me! Hope you enjoy :)

Thankful Thursday

I have some little ones (they aren't really little ones anymore :( that will need tucked in their beds very soon, so I will get going with my list :) -First, on this past Monday night at Bible Study I believe I had an encounter with the Lord that He has had planned for me since the beginning of time. It was as if the question I was asking that very day was answered in the lesson for the night... I hope to talk about this in more detail soon, but I have some work to do with the Lord before I can really write about it. I was in utter amazement at our wonderful God.-I take it for granted so many times that the Lord has blessed me with my 3 children. Parenting is hard work, but the pay offs are immeasurable. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a mom to the 3 little boys that look a lot like me and a little like their dad :) -I am thankful for a conversation I had with my sister this week. She shared some stories with me that almost made me cry... She has such a heart for others, and the injustices of the world. -I am thankful that I didn't give into the temptation to quit my "First Place 4 Health" program this week... I so wanted too, but I am not free yet, so I need to press on toward the goal...-I am thankful for my husband that has said things in prayer lately like, "Lord I love you more than anyone, and I love your Word". Those are precious words for a wife to hear :)-I am thankful that my kids really love veggies... I am blown away lately at how much they are enjoying the veggies...we are trying to eat more healthy. I could go on and on, but the children need me... I hope to get around to your blogs this week.Blessings

Spinning Plates?

Hey All... I was going through the pile of papers on my desk, no I mean my dining room table that has turned into a desk :) I came across my sister's Christmas letter and I called her and asked her if I could share a paragraph from her letter. I remember when I read it originally that I was struck by what she said.

"My heart is so full of love and joy! I love being a wife and a mom. It is a challenge to get everything done. As evidenced by this late Christmas card/letter, I dropped a plate. I have heard it said before that you can not do everything. It is like a clown at the circus spinning plates on sticks. He does OK at first. All plates are spinning. Then, watch out the first plate starts to wobble, so, he quickly spins it again. It is a constant spinning of plates. I gladly let go. I am learning to give myself and others grace. The world will not end because I did not hand make my Christmas cards or get them out prior to Christmas. God is teaching me so much."

My sister goes onto say some other things that I just loved, but are more personal, but I thought that many of us out there could relate to her paragraph above.

Do you feel like that clown spinning plates?

Why don't you pray to God and ask him what plate you can just let go of today... I think there might be a little freedom waiting on the other side of that broken plate :) Be encouraged today!!!

Thankful Thursday

Hey "TT" community...You gals (I don't think I have had a man visit on TT) are some of the sweetest and most encouraging around, and I hope I can visit you more often in the future...

-First, I am thankful that I have been having some success with early morning "Quiet Times"... I am no morning person, and getting up early is so hard for me. I discovered that although I can have my "QT's" at anytime in the day, that I needed some kind of "QT" in the morning before daily life hits me in the face :) Sometimes, I don't even make it out of the bed before an issue arises (my 3 boys fighting :).

- This point kind of goes with the first... 10 years ago a "Quiet Time" would have been nothing more than something to check off a spiritual checklist, and today although I am far from where I want to be with my daily time with the Lord, it is more of a desire to be with the Lord... A need... I need Jesus!!!

-I am about a month into my "First Place 4 Health" (a biblical approach to weight loss) group, and although I have lost a tiny bit of weight I am learning how to attack this struggle with the Lord. Again, like so many things I have a long way to go, but I am trying to make small changes and have the Lord help me, so when this journey comes to an end (well some sort of end) I will be free in this area.

-I am thankful for movies like "Fireproof" (Flywheel and Facing the Giants too) as I have been able to use them as a tool to (kind of) witness and encourage and strengthen fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope more come soon :)

-So thankful for the Esther study too...Beth Moore has been given a gift to teach from God's Word, and this week I learned some really awesome things I have never seen before, or at least didn't take notice of when reading the book before.

-I am thankful for my husband as he has been putting in long hours at work in a very difficult working environment. Keep pressing on honey :)

-I am thankful that a friend of ours (hubby and me) has come through his second bone marrow transplant and seems to be doing pretty well as of now :)

Ok, I think I will stop here because I know you have many more blogs to visit today. Be Blessed!

Wordless Wednesday

Wedding picture (duh...) and a picture from our honeymoon in the Poconos... Oh yes, we did stay in a room with a champagne glass whirlpool tub :)

My hubby was updating his Facebook profile with some pictures from our early days... He scanned them, and so I thought I would post a couple...

For My Favorite Couple...

This post is for my Fwend and her wonderful husband... I hope it makes you smile :) My kids just love you guys so much that they want to play with your Mii's all the time... The video is a little blurry at times, but hopefully you guys will get to see yourself in a band playing instruments with "Snake"...

A Tough Question

Hey blogville... I am posting below something I wrote for this week's meme at the "Internet Cafe", but I know some of you who read my blog might not participate at the Cafe, so I wanted to get your thoughts on the story below... Please comment, you all have so much to say...


( Taken from this week's Cafe Chat question)
This week’s question is going to be a tough one…Rather than answer the question; we will probably talk about more how the question makes us feel. I was reading a page from David Jeremiah’s (I like him) book, “Captured by Grace”, and the story I was reading had a question that got my full attention. So this week, I would like to see what emotions this question will evoke in you all.

I will give the quick version of the story. The story is about Helen Roseveare a British medical missionary in the Congo. Helen stayed in the country in 1964 when many others fled; she believed that she would be willing to make any sacrifice for her Savior Jesus. Someone tried to poison her once, her house was looted and she lost every item in it, and around her many female missionaries and medical personnel were raped be rebel armies. David Jeremiah mentions that Helen was fearful often, but she wanted to concentrate more on learning to trust God.

There is more to the story, but to shorten it for this week, on August 15, 1964 Helen was beaten, humiliated, and raped by a truckload of brutal soldiers. She barely survived and had to be taken from the Congo. During her very painful recovery she found herself closer to God than ever before, and she even longed to go back to the Congo more than ever. (Up to this point I have paraphrased what David Jeremiah has written, and now I will take up with direct quotes to finish up the story).

“There was no bitterness within her, though Helen had experienced terrible, mindless evil. It would have been so easy to demand of God why He allowed these atrocities, when she had been so faithful to His service. But in her heart of hearts, she felt that God’s question would be, “Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?”

That question stopped me in my tracks, and for today’s Chat I would like to hear your thoughts about this question...Of course this is the question that Helen felt like God was asking her, but I think it is a good question for all of us to ponder.

Thank you so much for sticking with me today. I know this is not an easy topic, but I think these kinds of questions can help us to grow closer to Christ. I so appreciate all of you, and I hope that many will participate in today’s meme.

First Real Snow of the Year Pics..

Terminate's Snow Angel....

Snake in the Snow...

What a pose, Snake...

The "Terminator"...

Check out his face...

We found that if we put the jackets under the Snow pants/suit it kept them a bit warmer...They look a little Michelin Mannish (I know mannish is not a word), but it kept them warm.

Thankful Thursday

Last week I did a video post that told a remarkable story about how our God is just amazing (check it out if you want to see it)... This week I will get back to my normal posting with my little list of thankfuls... -First, I am thankful that my little one is feeling better...He had strep throat :( I am also thankful that his brothers and my hubby and I didn't get strep either.-I am thankful that my Esther Bible Study is going well, and I am keeping up with the homework...for the last several Bible Studies I have fallen severely behind with my homework...there is nothing like piling 5 days of homework into 1 day :)-I am also thankful for my "First Place 4 Health" Group...I am enjoying getting to know ladies that share the same struggle I do... We are really supporting each other :)-I am thankful for the study we are doing on marriage in my Sunday School class... It is by Andy Stanley, and is called "I Marriage". He is truly a gifted pastor and communicator.-I am thankful for what I would call "spiritual growth"... I had a situation arise last week at work that would have normally thrown me into a bad pattern, but with God's help I was able to maneuver my way through, and it actually turned out really well...-I am thankful for my husband and 3 kiddos... I have been blessed by having them in my life... I am a better person spiritually (although I have a long way to go) because of them. Blessings all, and make sure to check out the post below...I have a funny picture of my third child posted...

The Third Child (my baby)

Guess what is in "Terminator's" mouth.....

A Mouthful of fresh Green Celery...that stuff is hard to chew... (I have so much fun with this little booger)...