A Godly Legacy...

Tomorrow is  Father's Day so I am gonna brag a little about my daddy. My daddy has been more than I ever could ask for. My sisters and I were extremely blessed to grow up in a Christian home. My dad took us to church, read the Bible to us and prayed with us. I remember my parents being very active in church. I always loved riding the church bus every Sunday morning with my dad, loved when he would "dress up" with all the other veterans at church on veterans day and loved when he preached. One of my favorite memories was our family devotional time in the evening. We would all gather in a circle on the floor and my dad would read the Bible to us and then he would pray. Man, could my dad pray! Some nights it would be simple and short and then there were those nights when I would fall asleep - haha!  My most treasured memory is sitting in the living room with my parents, kneeling down by the couch and asking Jesus into my heart. 

My sisters and I have grown up with a love for the Lord thanks to our parents. We all have a secure spot in heaven because of my daddy's determination to raise us girls for God! I am thankful for the time he spent with me. Time is perhaps the most important gift a child will ever receive. Yes, tangible gifts can be great, but when looking back, it is the time spent with my dad that I remember most... going to church, going to the air shows, playing baseball in the back yard, teaching me how to ride my bike, playing UNO, bike riding to the beach, sitting down as a family watching The Walton's and Little House on the Prairie. I am thankful that the Lord has allowed him to live close to us now. I am thankful for the example he is to my kids. I am thankful that he is investing in their lives and is leaving an imprint on each of their hearts that will stay forever.  

My dad is my hero. As a Vietnam Veteran he has given my country and my family alot to be thankful for. I am thankful for my dad who instilled in me the godly values that will stay with me my entire life. I am thankful he has always been there for me. I am blessed that he has loved me with an unconditional love. Most of all, I am thankful that my daddy is a man of integrity with a heart that follows after God...
What a legacy!

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely..."  Proverbs 10:9 

-"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Stress vs Faith

After a frustrating month or two preparing for our Vacation Bible School this summer, I am so totally convinced that the devil does not want it to be a success. I mean he has been at work. As I prepared for our teachers meeting yesterday everything that could go wrong, went wrong. I was so discouraged and upset. I just wanted to get through my meeting, go home and cry. I actually even thought of just quitting. I am thankful that in these moments of total confusion and utter frustration the Lord always sends me a message that He is right there. That message came in my devotion this morning as I was still upset about it all:

Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life. These problems are not random mistakes; they are hand-tailored blessings designed for your benefit and growth. Embrace all the circumstances that I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them. View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me. When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me. Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me and increasing intimacy between us. Although self-sufficiency is acclaimed in the world, reliance on Me produces abundant living in My kingdom. Thank Me for the difficulties in your life, since they provide protection from the idolatry of self-reliance.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

                                                                               

I am thankful for the friends God has put in my life who always seem to be there with a word of encouragement. I am thankful for God's love and truth. In every heartache and hardship I have been through, He has been there with me and has always brought me through it.  So, thank you Lord for the stress and letting it become a doorway to deep dependence on YOU!

Tea Anyone?

Yesterday, I surprised my Katiebug to a Tea Party. This is our favorite place to go together. We both love their Timeless Tea and most of all love the time together. I love to sit there and just let her talk. I think she gets that from her daddy! She looked at me yesterday and asked me if we will still come here when she is married -  Priceless moment! I have been so incredibly busy planning Vacation Bible School that a tea party is just what I needed. I so cherished our time together yesterday. hmm, I feel another Tea Party in my future.... very soon!

Soccer, Soccer and More Soccer

This past weekend James and Michaelah played in their first tournament of the Spring.. The weather?? Well, it felt more like Winter than Spring! Just thankful it didn't rain. We had a great weekend. Michaelah has two more tournaments: First weekend in May we will be in Chattanooga and the second weekend we will be celebrating Mother's Day in Kentucky! Our Katiebug also plays but I am unable to be in two places at one time so I am hoping to get some pictures of her playing this past weekend from my parents. So more pictures to come!  ~Enjoy ~

  Michaelah wants a header so bad... She'll get one before the season ends!

Big James!

Constant Cravings?

“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, 
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” 

Psalm 90:14

If I go to the grocery store while I’m hungry, my cart will usually contain extra food items I wouldn’t normally purchase. It seems like everything down every aisle looks good. My craving is usually not satisfied until I get at least one little bite of something. Well, this is also kind of like my spiritual walk. I wake up and get so caught up with the hustle and bustle of the morning that I forget to spend time with Him. It literally makes for a bad start to what could be a beautiful day. I can ask for God’s help all day long but I will not be fully satisfied until I am in His presence. We were designed in the image of God, for God. To know Him… Continually… Daily…and without ceasing.

In my devotion today I read this:

BEING SPIRITUALLY THIN IS SO NOT IN!

Look around! Spiritually hungry people are everywhere. Just turn on your television, pick up a magazine, or go to an online chat-room. People are desperately trying to fill their hunger hole…trying to find happiness and satisfaction in things, status, and people.

Now, if you dare, look even closer to home. Look at your PTA meetings, boardrooms, Little League fields, and malls. And, if you’re really brave, look in the mirror. Each one of us sees a hungry woman staring us in the face.

It is really important to turn to the Bread of Life at the first inkling of hunger pains. Go to Him with your needs and give Him your burdens. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He wants to meet you at the point of your need.God gave you an open invitation to come to Him:

“Come, all who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!”
(Isaiah 55:1a)

Each time we connect with God throughout the day, our souls are nourished. Sometimes we just need a small spiritual meal. Sometimes our needs are greater. In those moments, we are invited by our compassionate God to sit down to a great big dinner.  How are you handling your constant cravings?

Goodbye Facebook

Some of you might be my friend on facebook and have come searching for me wondering where I have gone. If that is you, I’m glad you found me. Facebook has been a great way to stay in touch with some of my very special friends and family. I love getting on facebook and seeing what my sisters are up to, seeing pictures of all my nephews and nieces...love being able to write to my best friend in Florida, love corresponding with my high school friend who is now a missionary...encouraging a wonderful friend and military wife in Colorado,  love that I am in contact with cousins I haven’t spoken to in  years... and as most of you know I love to debate politics. What I love the most are all the ENCOURAGING posts, status updates, Bible verses and quotes some share. However, I am not a fan of using facebook as a tool to hurt, judge, accuse or make assumptions. There are some posts, quotes that are just so obvious. So this past weekend I realized the best thing for me right now, as hard as it may be, is to take a break from facebook for these three reasons: 

Distraction - it's just not a wise use of my time. 
Drama - 80% of the people on Facebook are pretty normal people, but the other 20% really wear me out! 
Dissension - People airing their personal disputes or opinions of someone else on facebook just isn't the right place.

I decided this on my own accord because I know this is going to be the best for me right now... best for my spiritual walk, for my health and sanity! It will allow me to spend more time with God and my family. I will continue to blog about my family, continue to be that very, very busy soccer and homeschooling mom and continue to be a supportive and wonderful wife to my husband. Oh, and be politically active - find me on twitter! Most of you have my email so feel free to keep in touch. 

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; 

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

So Many Easter Blessings

Easter Sunday... As always, the kiddos couldn't wait to get dressed in their Easter outfits. We then took some pictures and headed to church. We had a fun time in our Sunday School class. We had the kids tell the Easter story to us this year. My favorite part of the morning was worship with our church family.  I am not sure about everyone else but when  I worship on Easter morning it is an experience like none other!

We then headed home and made some side dishes then headed over to my parents for a yummy lunch. Kids enjoyed hunting for eggs, especially the ones filled with money. We went outside to enjoy the beautiful day before heading in for some dessert and a few games of UNO then sang Happy Birthday to my sister Tricia in Colorado. Later that evening the kids enjoyed coloring eggs and then I cleaned up their mess :)

I am so thankful for my family and for another year of Easter memories...

ALIVE! ALIVE!

Look what Mercy's overcome

Death has lost and Love has won

ALIVE! ALIVE!

Hallelujah Risen Lord

The only One I fall before

I am His because He is Alive!

Emmanuel, the promised King the baby who made angels sing
Son of Man who walked with us, healing, breathing in our dust
The author of all history, the answer to all mysteries
The Lamb of God who rolled away, the stone in front of every grave.

ALIVE!