Perseverance..He's not done with me yet.

My Sister called today and told me I needed to get with it and post something new on my blog, I have had some issues with my computer lately and to be honest I have had writers block...kinda.

I have lots of things that I want to post about, lots of things that God has really spoken to my heart over the past few weeks one is about perseverance.

Let me start from the beginning.

I by no means am a perfect person, my life has been a road of many turns, hills, and valleys. Some of those turns, hills and valleys were out of my control and some many were from my own choices....From time to time I think about how different my life would be if I had made the "right" choices, but how different it would be if I hadn't made the choices I made (have I lost you yet?)
When I was 19 yrs old I found my self as a single Mother working at a job that I started at 16 that I had no intentions on staying at forever but after a failed marriage and a son to provide for I felt "stuck" so then and there I decided to pursue a career in Cosmetology.....

Perseverance....

(I never said this story would be pretty, decorated with happily ever after...I'm just being honest and real with you)

I won't get into all the Choices I made for the sake of other people involved, but for every trial came the question, "Do I give up? Or do I hang on?"

I can remember many, many nights praying God would just change things....After all he's God, he could make the road straight, make the baby quit crying, stretch the dollar for one more bill, because I didn't think I could work one more hour because I was so exhausted...he could do that for me right..?

In the midst of all my poor choices, valleys, sufferings, and trials he was shaping me, stretching, molding.

Romans 5:3-5
Not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trail, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

I'm sure I would not be the person I am today had I not been through some of the trials...with each valley God shaped my character...he used those trials to strengthen me.

I recently read that when a potter bakes a clay pot he checks to see it's solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it "sings" it's ready. If it "thuds" it's placed back in the oven. The character of a person is also checked by thumping...Been thumped lately?
Children under foot, grumpy spouse, deadlines, lots of bills with little money, sick family members...Thump, Thump, Thump...
So how do we respond?

Do we sing or do we thump?

2 Corinthians 4:8
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.

Reread that verse notice the BUT NOT'S...

Perseverance, Character...Molding and Shaping...Singing and Thumping.

"If you have the Shepherd, you have GRACE for every sin, DIRECTION for every turn, a CANDLE for every corner, and an ANCHOR for every storm."
(Max Lucado)

Blessings.

M

Untitled

My computer has been on the blink the past week or so. I just got it back tonight, now I seem to have a touch of writers block...so I thought I would post this video tonight. Blessings! (Pause the music at he bottom of my blog before you start the video)

M

Catching Up..

I have not run away...I'm just trying to adjust to the whole School, the kids have to be on the bus by 6:20am thing I'm not a morning person but I'm working on that.

My oldest nephew Alex is leaving tonight for Florida he's

Cut'n the cord..

Fly'n the coop..

Move'n out...

Gonna get lost.. (just kid'n Sister..Thank you Lord for GPS)

I went by Sister's house tonight to say my goodbye's and let the kids tell him bye, he's moving to Fort Myers with one of his buddies. Although I hate to see him go so far away, I understand there's not alot here in this area as far as jobs, he's young and wants to experience life...We've all been there (and later wish we were back home with Mom (grin))
Anywho Sister ask if I would make a cake for his going away get together and you know me (even though it was last min.) I can't do simple...I MUST do something different like this....






I teased Alex and told him he wouldn't have room for all his shoes (he has MANY, MANY, shoes) so I had shirts, boxers, and his famous Jordan filpflops falling out the trunk of the car (told you I have to go all out)
They all thought it was funny with him and D.J. hanging out the windows...Alex liked the cake and even posted pictures of it on Facebook...

I'm gonna miss him lots, hard to believe he's old enough to be on his own, guess that's what time does, they grow up and we get old..









Love you Alex,

M

Reunion

We had a family reunion over the weekend. I'm including a few pictures and a few video clips of my Aunt Carol's daughters singing (Aunt Carol passed away last year, she fought ovarian cancer for 2 years..her birthday was on this day also) take a min. to listen to her girls..you'll be blessed. M
***NOTE***Please pause music at the bottom of my blog before playing video

Reunion

Back in School

Today was the first day of school here...I must admit this was one of the hardest "back to school days" for me...My oldest Son Chad Allen started High School...

And it's not that I feel old....

It's that I can't believe he's in High School..

I could cry just thinking about it, time really does go by soooo fast.

Chase is in 7th grade and Cassie Marie is in 4th...which means I have one in High School one in Middle School and one in Elementary school...WHEW!

I was so excited to hear all about they're day when I saw them get off the bus this afternoon..

Except no one seem to have had a "wonderful" day.

Cassie said no one would talk to her (what is it with this age? Are all girls this age sooo dramatic?)

Chase Say's he wants to quit band (NOT, I REPEAT NOT GONNA HAPPEN! I told him he should have thought of that $450.00 ago after he HAD to join band and HAD to have a trumpet..ahem)

And Chad, well..he had a place on his arm that appeared to be some sort of bite..we noticed it about four days ago, and it has gotten worse everyday..
When he came in he said..."Mom your gonna freak out when you see my arm."

Well... he was right I did...and off to the Doctors office we went (great...first day of school and we are already going to the Doctors office.)

They put him on antibiotics and said if it didn't start healing up in the next few days after taking his meds or if he started running a fever he may have to be put in the hospital for IV meds (great...)
He has felt really bad all night...and for the first time in months he had a really bad headache so we had to give him Maxalt, which is medication his neurologist prescribed for migraines..I'm not sure if it's from his arm or the stress of the day or both...I checked his temp a few hours ago and he is running a low grade temp...This is NOT how I envisioned the first day of School..not at all..Please pray that his arm heals quickly with no complications.

Sooo this has been the events of the day! Blessings!

M

My First Award

I wanted to send out a thank you to my new friend COUNTRY MOM..She gave me my very first Award, For being a loyal friend and visitor. Funny, that in the blog world you meet new friends...(but you never really meet) I started my blog a little over a year ago, and I love reading other blogs...I guess you could say it's my "calgon" in life, my outlet...I have gained five whole followers since I started my blog (grin) but I feel a bond with each one and I thank them for there friendship..So thanks again Country Mom I will pass this award on to others! Blessings!

M

Focus...Matthew 14:22-36

The rain fall was heavy...

The boat rocks back and forth...

The wind blows, and the waves crash..

In the distance they see something walking on the water, and they were afraid and they cry out in fear...

Sound familiar?

Matthew 14:29--30
Jesus said "Come!"
And Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But when Peter saw the wind and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He shouted "Lord, save me!"

I think we all have been Peter...

We step out of the boat in faith focusing on Jesus, but the harder the wind blows the more the waves crash, the louder the kids scream, the longer the lonely nights get, the more we worry, the more the mountain of bills grow......

We loose focus... and begin to sink.

We sink in thoughts of:

What if?

Why now?

Faith and Focus..

It moves us from the boat to the water faith picks our feet up to take the step towards the one who will reach out his hand and catch us when we begin to look at the waves that crash from every side...the rain may blur our vision, the wind may take our breath...

But Faith and Focus will keep us afloat.

Never loose focus of the one who will carry you through your storm.

He will guide you, protect you, fill you when you are empty, comfort you when you are hurt...and most importantly...

He will save you when you are sinking...Just focus on him.Blessings,
M

Birthdays and Baptism's

Well I haven't run away...

But I have had the thought enter my mind a few times in the last week (grin)

We have had a overload of activity since last week...

Cassie Marie turned 9...

Sean my Nephew got baptized Sunday at church..

And School starts back next Monday here which means we have been shopping for school supplies...every year the list grows....I'm not talking about school cloths either..I'm talking about:

-3 plastic folders with pockets and clasps (green, blue, red)
-2 packages of #2 pencils
-2 packages of loose leaf paper
-white school glue (do they make any other color???)
-scissors..Fiskars preferably (I don't care what brand they are...they still cut hair I see it everyday)
-24 pack of crayons
-1 package of erasers
-markers and/or coloring pencils
-1 box of tissues
-small container to hold supplies (with zipper if possible)
-clear or mesh backpack
-$5.00 for agenda
-disinfecting wipes
-germ-x
-baby wipes
-plain white paper plates (do they eat in the classroom now??)
-Styrofoam cups (guess so...)

Sooooo....
This is ONE list and we have FOUR children in school...
Our two older boys will both go to High school this year so the list isn't as bad as the two younger ones but just in case you were wondering where I have been now you know...

I have been wandering aimlessly in the aisles of Wal-Mart looking for all this stuff thinking I may need to get a second job just to pay for it..AHEM...
Blessings!

I'm including pictures of Sean my Nephew getting baptized Sunday...My Dad (his Pa)baptized him.

M