Bold?

Lately, my heart has been so grieved by the burdens of others. Maybe sensitive from the pregnancy, or maybe the Lord is showing me that my little problems are so small. So small. As I was listening to this song, Cry Out to JESUS, I was flooded by what I have seen in the last month. Going to the grocery store, and some very saddened parents buying so much alcohol with their baby with them. Being in an office and seeing this single mom who is tired and her child begins to cry, to punch him in the side to get him to stop. My son's teacher's brother commits suicide because it's just not worth living anymore, evening for you children. I can go on with this, in just one month. Why Lord, have you made me see all this. Perhaps there is so much praying and a need for them to you know Lord. See, I'm not a very bold person. Actually opposite. I'm super shy and have lost so many, too many opportunities to tell people about a hope that I know changed my life! I know how those kids feel, I know what it is to be brought up in a home full of anger and no hope. So, my prayer is the courage to be BOLD, to be sensitive of all the hurt and pain. This is only a glimpse. Jesus sees all the pain, even when we hide. He not only sees, He loves and cares far beyond any drug or alcohol or sex or anything. My prayer is that we are all willing to ask someone, how are you really doing! Take time to talk to someone. He is our only hope. So during this beautiful Christmas season, I'm going to smile more, ask strangers how are they and not make it about me and what am I going to buy for my kids! I'm not saying that's wrong, I'm just saying for me, I want to focus on the hurt others are going through right now. Merry Christmas and that you Jesus for leaving your throne to serve others and die for us.

Thanks-Giving

Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
October 3, 1863

It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father Who dwelleth in the heavens.

It's A.... for reals this time!

My last post was a tease, I admit. I prayed about opening that envelope (and about every decision on I ever make, big or small) and just felt that I wouldn't be bummed about not having this baby a surprise. On October 24th my mom calls me up and says dad wants to have a BBQ. I say, cool and the light bulb went on! Watching the Duggars I remembered how Josh and Anna found out. It's 12:25pm and I call our local bakery, okay Tim called because I'm a chicken. He told them we would like to have a cake made by 5pm with the color of the gender in the filling. She said well, we stop taking orders at noon but we'll do it! Thank you Lord. Little did they know they'd be the FIRST to know! So I rushed and took the sealed envelope to them. Picked up that special cake and come dessert I told my parents I brought dessert. They had no idea. They really had no idea that at this point no one still knew, boy or girl! I cut the cake, took about 10 minutes because I was so giddy, nervous, scared, excited. And, after all this writing........man I have some great photos and don't know how to put them on! STILL. Okay, still not working so it's a
GIRL!!!!! I was so excited! Girls won! That makes 2 boys and 3 girls. We are so blessed. God knew I had all the stuff. It's been 7 years for a boy, so all that stuff is mostly gone. Now we're thinking of names. Hopefully it won't be too long to get back here. I love it! And now I'm aware of mean bloggers, didn't know people could be so cruel to you if you love Jesus! Okay that's a whole nother (did i mention I'm not a perfect speller?)entry. God bless you!

We're having A.....

We went to our ultrasound appointment and everything looks great! Due date was right on, March 3rd. This will be our 3rd March baby!! I'm praying I'll go in before and not have to be induced. As I walked back I still was unsettled if we should find out or not. Keeping the last two a surprise was so much fun. So, Mrs. technician (sp) said why don't I take a picture and put it in an envelope. Okay, sounds great. That was yesterday, and we STILL haven't opened it! It hurts you more than me. I just can't. I feel, if I know I'll be this crazy planner and if I don't know I'll be this dotudodo (try humming it)kinda mom. I like that. lol For now I'll praise the Lord for a healthy baby!!
Now off to the rest of October with Austin's 11th birthday and Claires 2nd birthday. And to find a new book I can take to my long awaited Dr. Visits.

late update

Before my baby wakes up and gets me on my toes.....

I know I'm late but I still haven't found a good time to get on here. So, the summer was not as planned. I had movies and beach and zoo and all kinds of stuff butttt, the Lord had other plans for us. We are expecting for the fifth time and I was super sick. Actually it's just now going away (I'm 19 weeks) so my kids spent their summer helping mommy.
Got the boys off to school. Austin is in 5th grade and Tyler is in 2nd. Just had their conferences today and my boys ROCK! I'm still praying about homeschooling especially with some issues going on. I'm thankful that the school they do go to has only about 500 students and is small enough to somewhat control drama (i know sad at elementry)
We have our ultrasound next week and will keep it a surprise, again! I love it. And I just want to go with the flow. If I know what it is, I might stress;) Why, because then I will feel like I have to get everything ready. Crazy right?
God has been faithful and has shown us so much. With Tim being in construction, it's been one day at a time. I love it though because it just puts us were we should be everyday, trusting Him. Is that it? Geez I can talk. Our life is so different that some may think it's for the worst, Tim making half of what he use to, smaller house, more kids.....but this is the most joy and peace we've had! Okay, think I'm gonna go google how to put pictures on here! haha

Friends

With busy lives, we tend to put our friendships on the back burner. Being involved in the Brunch Ministry at church has really opened my eyes of the importance of friends, godly friends. Being pregnant really really reminds me of that. I was reading this awesome book, and the two letters I read where about those kind of friendships. Here's what one of those letters say and I pray we take time to maybe have some tea or lunch or just some much needed girl talk with our friends!

His Princess
A Love Letter from Your King
by Sheri Rose Shepherd


My Princess....
Let me build a true friendship
I want you to look for a true friend-not just any friend. Find someone who brings out the best in you-a girlfriend who is a gift from Me. My love, it takes time to build a strong foundation with a true friend, so choose your tools wisely. The first tool you'll need is transparency...the ability to see within each others heart-your strengths and weaknesses. The next tool is truth. I am the way, the truth, and the life for you. You will discover the rewards of real friendships when you speak truth and bring refreshing words of encouragement to each other. Finally, your friendship will need to be sealed in love, girded with trust, and encircled with prayer. Remember, My princess, you must become the kind of friend you desire to have.

Love, Your King and True Friend
Proverbs 18:24

When in doubt

I think these are times that everyone is going through something. And when everyone is going through something, who do you go to? In times of uncertainty, sorrow or maybe just the mood because everyone else is, I am so thankful for God's promise. James 1:12 says it:
"blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."
I love that! What a peace when we go through "stuff", because in the big picture that's all it is, "stuff".
I'm still trying to figure out this whole blog thing. But I just quickly wanted to encourage us to keep going. So at the end when we see Jesus we can hear those words...."well done my good and faithful servant!"

Lots going on so I will post later. Hopefully not too later.

Where we really came from

This morning as I was spending some time with Jesus, I really started thinking about our nation (don't know why) and how so far we've come. Not a good thing. How truly rich and deep these christian roots were. I love Abraham Lincoln and our founding fathers. So I started googling things that he said. Focus on the Family even mentioned Mr. Abe. Here are some really good ones that I just love and pray that our government would remember!
(why won't this thing let me paste!)

Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for that is the only safeguard of our liberties.

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation , conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.


I could go on and on but I won't. It's just so crazy to read all of this and the truth just to have our present President say we are not a Christian founded country! Did he miss this. Does this now make me smarter than him?:)
Change, change, change....that's what they say. Thank you Lord that you NEVER change!!

Summer Beauty Tips

from the inside out that is. I went to a Moments with the Master at church Tuesday night and took a Summer beauty tips class. Well, it was exactly what I needed. Of course, the Lord just doesn't put us anywhere.
Okay so here are the tips that were shared with us:

The verse for the class was Psalm 90:17
LET the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. (keyword is Let)

1. Let God restore you and give you rest
a) lay all our "stuff" at His feet
b) realize your not alone

2. Let your physical body operate to it's optimal
a) take care of your body and get yearly check ups
b) don't deliberately hurt your body
c) start an exercise, any
d) get a new summer fragrance 2 Corinthians 2:15-16
e) smile, laugh ~ the joy of the Lord is our strength
f) meditate and live out the fruit of the spirit

3. Let your light shine before men
a) be yourself, the way God made you
b) dress with modestly, decency and propriety 1Timothy 2:9
1Peter 3:3

So that's the tips for this summer. If we feel beautiful on the inside (joy of the Lord) we feel great on the outside, not matter what size, shape we are. I pray this summer that I would beautify my insides (sounds weird) and that all you hundreds of followers I have would too...lol God bless you and good night!

and the Summer begins

With that, always comes the "I'm so bored mom". So, I've been trying to plan a few things a week. Can't be gone everyday, although they think so. Free movies start this week and with fourth of July coming I thought we'd get reading on this awesome book about the TRUTH of our nation and it's christian foundations.

Yes, it's written by Toby Mac and Michael Tait from DC Talk. My boys are excited to start reading this. So, we'll do the beach, San Diego Zoo and pool.

Oh yeah, I thought I'd be alittle wild and crazy and pray about getting a boxer puppy! Not sure yet, about the puppy stage, but we do want a boxer. Any thoughts on that, I would love. Okay, who knows the next I'll be on here. Still learning this:)

craziness

Okay, I'm still trying to figure this thing out, find the time to get on here and wondering if this is for me. I love that I can just come on and write what's on my mind, although I'm talking to myself right now...but that's okay because I actually get to talk, well write.

So far this year has been one of finding where we belong, why God wants us to stay put and accepting that He wants us to stay put, for now. We have been looking to buy a house. With four kids and a 1200sq ft. home, it gets alittle cramped. But we have hit road block after road block. Some our own consequences. So, we are here and the Lord is giving me more peace. Not so much my hubby.

The school year is almost over for the boys, so summer planning here I come! Free movies, beach, swimming and the zoo. I love the summer having everyone home which made me think and start praying about homeschooling. So, that is what I'll be doing the rest of this year; praying that God would work in my heart peace, patience and wisdom to home school Austin's junior high years. Those are some scary years and if I can have those years to just pour into him, then that's what I want. Wow, I can talk. Now the next thing is figuring out how to put cute pictures up and fix this blog:)

Super Nanny anyone?

Is this normal...after 2 hours of sleep because someone is sick, my three year old wakes up, demands milk, 7 year old spills cereal while you go get your protein shake just to open your freezer and the whole thing explodes all by 7:15 am? I always knew I wanted four kids, not four monkeys. But okay, I'll take it. My children, Austin 10, Tyler 7, Ava 3 and Claire 18mths. are gifts from a God who loves me and has a sense of humor obviously. It has been one crazy few months. I didn't know that kids could push you beyond limits you could ever imagine yourself going. My boys were and still are good boys. Now, my girls, oh my girls. Let's just say the energizer bunny is scared. My thought for today and tomorrow and the rest of my life....take it one minute at a time. Now, you may want to sit down for this....no, we're not done, God willing! I know, I wonder myself how I could even think that since the last time I slept was 4 years ago. Maybe that's it, I've simply lost my mind. Actually, I love being pregnant and nursing and giving birth and most of all just being a mommy. I decided to do this blog so I can get away and put my thoughts to use. Plus, my three year old Ava doesn't want to hear it anymore.