What's Next?!

Whew. It has already been an insane week and it is only Tuesday night!

I did get to start class last night and it was amazing! For 2 hours our teacher was an actual medical doctor and it was so interesting. I got a cup of coffee about 8:30 and was energized and ready to go. I could have stayed until midnight. Well, maybe not really midnight, but later than 9:20! It was just that good. Can't wait until next week. One day this week, when I am not so tired, I want to post about some random thoughts from class. God is working in so many great ways . . .

Hence . . ALL THIS WARFARE! Y'all- it has been crazy! I was sick last week. Sunday night @ Awana (similar to Bible school) I got overwhelmed. My friend and I have the 3 and 4 year old class. When I came home I told Jason that we would not be having children because after Sunday night, I just didn't think I was cut out for the job! I got a queasy feeling all over again and just felt . . defeated. Monday evening before it was time to leave for class, I wanted to run by and get my car washed at one of those automated car washes really quick. The car has not been washed since before our big snow. So, I select the most expensive car was and pull on in. Apparently, there was a malfunction with the wax stuff because it left my car covered in puddles of wax stuff and a film all over my windows. I had to take it to another place to get it washed just so I would be able to see to drive home later that night. Of course we were late leaving for class. Today, I decided I was going to be a good wife and have a hot, home cooked meal waiting on my husband when he got home from work. I rushed to the grocery store and got all the ingredients for cubed steak (which I have never made until tonight), green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. I talked to mom last night on the way home and she walked me through how to make the cubed steak- her style. I was feeling pretty confident. Lets just say it did not end well. In fact, it ended with the meat in the trash and Jase and I enjoying a lovely vegetable only dinner. It's ok- vegetables are still good, but man I was hoping I could master cubed steak.

I think it's just best that I go to bed at this point. I am going to have my quiet time and make my way there shortly. I hope tomorrow is UNEVENTFUL! :)

Longest Week Ever

This may have been the longest week ever!

It began on Monday when I was supposed to start my Monday night counseling certification class back up. We got an email on Sunday that we would be postponed another week- we were originally to start January 10. The circumstances around each of these postponing-s was totally unexpected and unforeseen. I am ready to get back tomorrow night!

On Tuesday night I had a Jr. Women's Club meeting. That afternoon, after a day of feeling great I might add, my stomach started to hurt. Like painful. I dismissed it and went on about my day. That night after the meeting, I got home and ate supper and about 2 hours later . . . you guessed it. Stomach virus. Ew. When I was younger I NEVER got the stomach virus. Step throat- yes, every year. Sometimes twice. I have gotten the stomach virus the last 2 years. I can't stand it! Anyway, after being up all night on Tuesday, I stayed home from work on Wednesday to recover and was accompanied by this sweet face:



haha.

Tuesday night when I was up, I knew there was more going on than just sickness. I felt spiritual warfare. I had began to discount that until I read several other blogs this week about looming sicknesses in their households and they too are attributing it to warfare. It has to be. I am convinced, anyway. We have to remain firm, rooted in God's word. That's exactly what the enemy strives to keep us from.

Finally I began to feel the most like myself yesterday. I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband. He is so calm and understanding and keeps his distance when I am not well (I don't like anyone near me when I am sick. Just a thing of mine). But, goes the extra mile to make sure I am comfortable. He has been great this week!

I got the house good and clean (and disinfected for the second time this week!) yesterday afternoon after I had lunch with some great friends. Last night, Jason and I had some of our dear friends over to just hang out and catch up. This morning church was awesome! I had Sunday school and the kids were great. They are learning and growing in their faith and it excites me so much. I feel blessed that God has allowed me the opportunity to serve Him and witness His work. It is all God and there is NOTHING on this earth that is more satisfying. Pastor Terry's message was also great. Right now, Grace and I are resting on the couch while Jase and my brother clean out our garage. It needs it too. Jason says he is excited because now when he raises the garage door he won't be so embarrassed!

Happy Sunday!

Memory Verse

Romans 10:9(NKJV)

"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved."

Rainy Day Reminder

This post may seem random. But, you know how sometimes God will lay something on your heart that he wants you to tuck away for a rainy day and remember? This post is for that reason entirely.

Lately, it seems that any news I hear is bad. I know it just isn't in my on little world, because much of it is national, and some even in blogland. It's hard. It serves as an ever-present reminder that life is hard and that circumstances are not always pleasant and ideal. So many of us are struggling in so many different ways. Sickness, infertility, deployments, job losses- just to name a small few. All of those dynamics working as we attempt to lead everyday, "normal" lives can sure challenge the believer, can't it? Just look back at the happenings in Arizona. I remember back two summers ago when our small town in upstate South Carolina served as the hunting ground for a serial killer. His victims included an older gentleman, a mother and her daughter, and a father and his daughter. Still unthinkable-unbelievable even. In my profession, I am around contractors daily. I have seen first hand what this economy has done to their businesses. Those who are still lucky enough to be employed, who have somehow managed to see it through this far, are among the few. I could go on and on. Couldn't you?

And because we are human, we overhear others and sometimes wonder ourselves . .

How could God let this happen? Just not real clear here, Lord, on what you are up to-can you stop and explain so that we can be ok..... assured.....certain. Just bring us in the loop!

Does that sound familiar? It does to me, I am afraid. At times when things seem to be spiraling more and more out of our control . . out of our grasp, we go to that place. You know that place, because I know you have been there before too.

God continually whispers sovereignty to me. As I prayed with God this morning, just person after person after person rolling out of my mouth- each dead in the midst of their own battle- He brought it to me, again. He removed the blinders, that constantly seem to be in the way, and allowed me a glimpse of His glory and His provision for us. Even when it makes no sense.

We would mess it up- anything and everything we could manipulate to our advantage. We can't help it, we are human. Our humanity is made up of our sin nature and that sin nature is a part of everything we do. It just is. We are so small minded that we so often believe that we have information God doesn't and our way is the best way.

"But Lord, if we could just maybe go this way things would work out alot better, people would be spared, no sadness, no worry . . ." on and on.

The problem is that though we think we know best, we absolutely don't. What makes sense to us is so small on the spectrum in comparison to what God has laid out for us. Our God is a BIG God. Don't lessen Him! He continually reminds me that he works all things for our good and his glory and that no mind has conceived what He has prepared for those who love Him.

There will be things we never fully understand and grasp. And, that's ok. As long as we understand His love for us, what else is there?

And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.
Ephesians 3: 17-18

Real World

Now that this is over . . .



We are ready for . . .



Yes! Sunshine and sand. . HEAT, and lots of it. I told my very soon to be SIL today to remind me this summer when we are lounging by the shore, gulping down frozen lemonade and on the verge of flaming up of winter days like today and I promise I won't complain about the heat.

Back to work tomorrow! I need schedule. I am defiantly not complaining about 2 days off from work. I have loved every second of spending time with my family and playing. But, it's like my daddy always says, these endless days can't last forever. Have to get back to the "real world". So, real world it is tomorrow. Gloomy faces around these parts tonight. It is always sad to me to see beautiful white snow driven and totally run through. It is perfect when it first falls and lays- totally undisturbed. There is something so final about the aftermath. I was trying to explain that to Jason earlier, and he just didn't get it. I think I am thinking more on terms of it melting and having to go back to that real world stuff again.

Oh well.

Well. . . It Happened!

This is what was waiting on me this morning when I got up . . .





A beautiful scene! I can't remember a time when we got this much snow. I did wait up last night. The first flakes started to fall around 2AM and by the time I went to bed at 4:45, I am sure we had 3 inches. I guess the gamble paid off. We were off work today and are tomorrow as well. I am not sure what our final total here was, but I think somewhere around 6.5-7 inches. It was absolutely perfect snow. We got to my mom's house alittle after lunch and jumped on the 4 wheeler and headed just up the road to my grandma's where other friends had gathered. Lots of 4 wheelers, sleds and ropes to enjoy a big, empty, snow covered field. We had the best time! It was freezing though. Jason got some really funny video that I am going to try to upload tomorrow or Wednesday. We are settled in for the night watching Oregon and Auburn with my brother and soon to be SIL. I was glad to get a hot shower and get on some warm, dry clothes.

Today was a great day for memories. I love my memories of snow days with my family. God has blessed us in so many ways, especially with family. I think alot to myself and out loud in prayer, "Lord, you know, you could have put me with any people all over the face of this earth and you BLESSED me with my people. Thank You, God." God is gracious. God is merciful. God is good.



One more day to play!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I am hoping it does a whole lot of this tomorrow. . .



So that we can do a whole lot of this. . .





And of course . .



this!

I am so confident of the winter storm, Jase and I are staying up to watch the first flakes fall from the sky. This is a gamble, though, as I am banking on work being called off tomorrow as well! You know how crazy us southerners go over a few inches of snow! :)

Wordless Wednesday

TidBits

I have nothing really news worthy to share today, so this post will be totally random. As I type, we are waiting on the cable man to bring us a new box. Yes, it is currently 8:16 PM and we are waiting. At the end of last week, and possibly against our better judgement, we decided to switch from Direct to Charter. Basically, long story short, same price/month with many more amenities. For example, high speed internet :) Also, DVR- that I am super pumped about. We have had some channel malfunctions since installation, and I think they forgot about us until Jase just made a call about an hour ago. Cable installer man is on his way. We have no cable service in our family room currently. Very interesting conversation happening our way at the moment. Actually, no conversation happening. Gracie is pouting in her kennel. She has a hard time with strangers in her house. We are in sad shape!

Cable man just called. Looks like we have another 20 minute wait. Perfect. Husband getting madder by the second- there is football on people!!!!! Didn't the cable company get the memo?

Oh well, enough of the play by play of our night. The real reason I wanted to talk tonight was because I am loving the current Bible study I am doing during my quiet time and I wanted to pass along some treasure for you too! A friend of mine was telling me about this series of 3 books she was in the process of reading and about how absolutely wonderful the story was. I am not much on series books for a couple of reasons, but mainly because I usually end up neglecting my family and quiet time in a major push to get finished. I get excited and want to get to the end as quickly as possible so that life can resume. One word- Twilight. I read all 4 books in record time. Lost sleep, lost blessing and who knows what else because I couldn't put those books down. When she was telling me about this series my first reaction was one of total turnoff because I just didn't want to get hung up. But, as I continued to listen to her tell me basically what happened in the whole first book, I became intrigued. I am not going to go in any detail, because I want you to read for yourself, but the series is called Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers. This is her website where you can read descriptions of her books. I can in no way do her books justice by my synopsis. If your looking to be blessed and blessed and blessed some more-read them! I am currently reading Lineage of Grace, which tells about the women mentioned in Chapter 1 of Matthew who are in Jesus lineage- Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary. This is one big book complied of the 5 different stories of these women. At the end of each book, she provides a study for digging deeper into God's word so that you don't become tempted to just rely on her words alone. At first, I wasn't going to do them. (Remember my need to be finished!) But, I ended up diving in and I am so glad I did. I am going so deep in scripture, like to the nuts and bolts of THE Word and God is so faithful to show me so much of Himself. I don't know what else I can say about this lady, but her books are life changing. I encourage you to get started on 1 . . or 3 :)

The cable man just left a bit ago. New box works perfect. Everyone is happy again in my house.

Need more practice on my memory verse, so here it goes:
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Judah and Tamar are calling my name . .

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

It has been over 2 months since I last posted. When I began this blog, I had such high expectations of myself. I thought that blogging would be something I really enjoyed and a neat way to look back on the happenings of our life at this time. The truth is, I do enjoy blogging! But often I become convinced that what I write, or want to write, is stupid or pointless because it doesn't involve our children yet or because we might seem boring or because I am alittle self conscious. Silly, I know. But it has been some of the barriers between me and this for the last few months.

A new year brings an opportunity for new beginnings! I have come to realize this blog is for us- a way to look back and laugh . . reflect. . remember. That's why I want to do this!

So, here we go . . again :)

Jase, Gracie and I have done as little as possible this rainy new years day and it has been the best. I think we have watched 3 movies- one of which we are watching now. (The Box and it is so weird. Jason is going to have to explain it to me when it is over. I am lost.) There has also been alot of football on, so we have had to compromise on football/movie times. I have loved every minute of today- no where to go, absolutely nothing to do. I will be ready to be up and going tomorrow though. One day of nothingness is enough. I think my man is about ready to call it a night. I am too.

I am excited about what God has in store for us in 2011. I am participating in the Siesta Scripture Memory Team this year via Beth Moore's blog. Check it out if you are interested in memorizing lots of scripture this year and growing in new and exciting ways with God! I am so pumped! I am going to close with my first memorization of 2011 -

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for ALL people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11, NASB

So much for Jase explaining this crazy, really bad movie. He's out like a light.