Wish I were here.......

'cause I'm feeling like this...

Hee...Hee...

Have a good weekend Girls!!

One the Road to something Beautiful

The last couple weeks satan has taken a couple of blows
at me. Today is one of those days were it's been hard
to find the energy to get back up again. I was down for
the count today but a friend of mine wouldn't let me...
These were my words....
I know that the next step I take I'll still be on my butt again.
I just want one thing even if its small to keep me from falling
again.
To which she replied Jude 1:24,25 "TO him who is able to keep
you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence
without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be
glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our
Lord, before all ages, now and forever more!" Amen.

The song I have playing is by Charlie Hall. I've been playing it
the last week over and over again. What a perfect combo...
this scripture and song...

"On the Road to Beautiful"
I crumble at Your kiss and grace
I'm a weakling in the dust
Teach me how to cling to You
With all my life and all my love
Father come to me, hold me up 'cause I can barely stand
My strength is gone and my breath is shot, I can't reach out my hands
But my heart is set on a pilgrimage to heaven's own bright King
So in faltering or victory I will always sing
And on the road to beautifulMy seasons always change
But my life is spent on loving You
To know You in Your power and pain
You're my portion in this life
You're my strength now in my fight
And to You I pledge my heart
In the pain and in the dark I'll love
YouI'll love You, I'll love
YouI'll love You...

Lord, please help me/us keep putting one foot
in front of the other. Be our strength and energy this
day. I choose to continue to exchange this heaviness
for praise.

Relate...

Ok Girls, I'm not a speaker or writer. That is not my
calling and I know it. You give me a room full of teens
or kiddos and I'm in my element. I thought I would
share with you though a bit of the devotion I gave for
our Ladies last night. I had a really busy day so I didn't
get nervous until I got there. Once I got up there in front
of them I was no longer nervous and I could just feel Him take
charge. Here we go....

While we were working on last months theme “Relax”
my fears were made a reality- when Amanda “jokingly”
said don’t you want to do the devotion for next month.
To which I “jokingly” said sure. So here we are.

When I first heard the word “Relate” I automatically
thought of Beth Moore…at the times I’ve heard her say
“can anybody relate with me here”. I think for most of
us the events of last week caused the word “relate” to
bring on a more real meaning.

A couple of weeks ago some of my coworkers took me
out to eat for my birthday. God can inspire and speak in
some unexspected ways- my fortune cookie that day
read-
“The intent is not to see through people
it is to see people through”

We can relate in some time or other in victories, loss,
anger, confusion ect.
And there are times when we can’t relate with what is
going on for another in that time. For example I let
some friends of mine (um...those friends would be you
here in Blogland) last week know about everything that
happened with the school….here is one of their replies…
“My heart hurts for you. Who can understand your pain?
I can’t, but I will try to be a good friend. I will pray for
You tonight and ask that God immediately reveal his
wisdom to you in the matter. You are precious to him,
and to us….peace for your journey my friend. (thanks
Elaine....and ALL of you again for holding me up last
week)

If we can relate to one another or not but long to- what
are some things we can do for our Sisters?

- share their hurt or celebrate their joy
- let them know we are there and we care
- pray for them and let them know we are
- as my friend said be the best friend we know in the
moment how to be.

I had to be vulnerable enough to open up
And they were able to respond
I was able to receive….encouragement, support and love

Here I read to them a page out of Jennifer Rothschild's
book "Fingerprints of God".
"God can use unlikely hands to administer His care,
provision, and love. Interestingly enough, two of those
hands might reside at the end of your arms. If you desire
to be used and you're willing to be stretched, you might
become that unexpected, unlooked-for touch of blessing
in someone's life. You might say to yourself, How could I
ever make a difference in her life? Or how could God use
me to touch his life? You might be suprised! Just because
something isn't easy or natural for us doesn't mean it's
outside our calling. When we are willing to become God's
hands, we initiate a marvelous cycle of ministry and
worship."

What’s the motivation to relate or want to relate?
A common bond--- Jesus Christ. To try our best in
acting out God's love to others

Normally I start off any lesson or such with a scripture and
then work a lesson around it as I pray God is speaking it to
me. This time I came home from work with still no
scripture. As I was driving home I was praying God I really
need that scripture. I had to stop by the local Christian
book store to get some gift cards for door prizes. The girl
working there was new and didn't know how to but the cards
in the computer and I was feeling a little stressed because it
felt like I was running late to get things done before the
night began. I looked at some little book markers there by
the cash register and ......my scipture was there...so like God.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have
love you, so you must love one another." John 13:34

I went on to tell a little about Ruth and Naomi. Also, talked
about Mary going to be with Elizabeth when they were both
with child in such amazing ways. How Mary knew that
Elizabeth could relate.
Let’s be a Ruth to one in a time of Naomi .
Be an Elizabeth to a frightened Mary.


My friends, I truly don't know what I would have done last
week had God not crossed our paths. Your showing of His
love carried me through and helped me from going back to
some old patterns. Thank once again for being here....
Love to you all!!!

He's here...

Hey. I thought I would stick my head out a bit and say hello.
I've been tucked in doing a little mending. I've also been
praying and listening alot because I have a mini devotion
to give at our Ladies Night Out on Friday. After everything
that happened last week I almost decided to step down and
ask someone else to do it. I know He is here...I can still
feel His presence so I will try my best to be a willing heart.
I also wanted you to read this email devotion I received a
couple days ago....talk a balm to a hurting and wondering
soul....

Gaining Direction Through a Lack of ProvisionTGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman07-21-2008
"You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there" (1 Kings 17:4).
The prophet Elijah pronounced a drought upon the land because of the sin of Ahab and the nation of Israel. There was only one problem. Elijah had to live in the same land as Ahab.
"Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.' Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 'Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there'" (1 Kings 17:1-4).
God provided for Elijah in a supernatural way. The ravens brought bread in the morning and meat in the evening. His water came from the brook.
God often uses money to confirm direction for our lives. Many times God uses a lack of provision to move us into new directions. It is a catalyst to encourage new ideas and strategies. Many times a loss of job becomes the greatest blessing to our lives because it provides the catalyst to do things we simply would never do without taking the step to get out of our comfort zone.
Friend, if you are fully following the Lord in your life and seeking direction from Him and you have no un-confessed sin in your life, there is no way He will allow you to miss His provision for you. He has a thousand ways to get the provision you need at the time you need it. Provision follows obedience.

My obedience right now it to trust Him. I know He has been and
still is guiding me to something more than I could ever dream up
on my own. He could not have been more vocal than what He was
to me in this devotion. Every line of that last paragraph was said
for me...it's right where I am. There are so many things that I'll
go to bed with again tonight that I don't understand. That's okay
though because even in my thoughts of uncertianties I feel a
sense of peace. His is our Provision.....

Looking Ahead...

I sit here with eyes brimmed in tears as I say to all of you
Thank You!! Thank you so much for your sweet
encouraging words. I feel your warm hearts of love as if
you were sitting in my living room right beside me.

Ok, I'm going to try to give details as much as I can...my
mind is still so tired from thinking and talking. All the
details don't really matter anyway because what has been
done has been done. I've been trying to....well we (a whole
community) has been trying to stand back up- dust
ourselves off and decide what needs to be done about a
school year about to begin. We found out on Tuesday
evening that our school had been yet again denied. For
several days you could feel a sense of a community in
mourning.
As for me it all started yesterday when things began to
click. Thank you Leslie for your reply to my email. I
had started researching homeschooling because that is
the decision that my sister has made concerning my
nephew. See, they closed our public school in our
community three years ago. Some of the parents sent
their children to private schools. While others chose to
homeschool and the rest of the kids ended up going to
the public school in the next town. Those kids that had
to go to public are the ones I worry over. I'm a graduate
of that school and it was getting bad then I can only
imagine 20 years later what it is like.
As some of you know I felt God call me at the end of last
year to go back to my home church. Now, I was very
very upset about this because I LOVED where I was!
Now, I may see some of the reason why God asked me
to. The whole time I'm talking to God about this move
back to home church I kept hearing one word over and
over...Community.
Leslie gave me the correct term for what I was
seeking the otherday. Homeschool Co-ops! Wow!!
I've been researching it all day. This home church God
called me back to yeah it's big enough to handle the idea
of a Co-op. Our paster's wife has been trying for months
to find a way for our church to reach out to the
COMMUNITY...hmmmm think God may be putting a
puzzle together here?!?!? For today I choose to believe
He is!! In the future I hope to see that He did.

As for me, I'm still not sure. I've been checking into the
possibility of going back to school. I have been for awhile
and as I asked you guys to help me pray the otherday
about the right person to talk to about it....well, I have
finally started getting some answers from the university.
I'm thinking about a fast pace program they offer that
allows you to be in the school teaching while you attend
classes. It only takes one year to complete and at the
end you have a Master's degree in teaching. I am going
to choose the field of Special Ed. The major thing for me
is going to be the three major tests that stand in the way
of requirements to meet. If I pass them I'll know it's
God's go ahead!
I do still have my current job....I'm not happy about
staying but at least I have a job. I am going to probably
work only part-time. This will allow me time for school
(if God has that direction in mind for me) and to help
with the homeschooling (even if it is just nephew).

You guys will never know how much you mean to me.
I never dreamed in a million years to be in this....
Community called Blogland!! You have become a sense of
accountability, encouragement, support and love that
I have longed for. Thank you so much again! Know that
the feeling and acts of love are returned to you from the
bottom of my heart!!! Love you!

shattered dreams

Ladies, it's with a very very heavy heart I have something
I need to share with my friends and prayer warriors.
Our new school were my new job was to be.....was at the
final step and the judge denied us. My arms have been
numb for hours. I'm still walking around in total shock.
The kids that were to attend this new school was on their
way to freedom from a very dark place that they are now
having to attend. There are parents and teachers walking
around tonight in total disbelief. And sweet sisters, I'm
having such trouble tonight understanding my God.....
If you knew me a little more.....you would know why I say
this....It like every time something good comes my way
He "jerks" it away. I'm sorry but I'm hurting so bad
right now and this are just my raw emotions. I just don't
want to dream or even hope anymore....
I'm so tired of talking tonight about the details but I
promise to come back a bit later and talk about it.
I love you all and treasure you beyond measure.....

V.B.S.

Hey Guys! I am helping out with VBS at my former
church....so I'm probably not going to get a chance
to post till later in the week. I hope to be out and
about visiting though! Hope you all had a
wonderful weekend! We sure did here!
Heading out to work so see you soon.....

The Birthday Boy

Five years ago I was holding out hope to share my

Birthday with a very special person! He was a bit

hard headed and arrived two days late.

So who was the lucky fellow?

My nephew!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY B-MAN!!!!!

Your Aunt M- Loves you more!!!

They are on vacation this week. On the Fourth of July he

went to the Dallas Zoo and found him a fishing hole!!

He met Fireman Rick in Subway and was invite to stop

by the Fire Station the next day! He doesn't meet a stranger

and can quickly steal your heart!!

It's probably a good thing he wasn't born on my birthday....

I'd drive him crazy about it after a few years!

Happy Friggin Birthday...to me

***Okay...special news update....

I am soooo blessed and happy to

celebrate this birthday! I am so

happy to be alive! Okay, below

I mentioned a nice quiet dinner

with my folks....well....It was a

quiet dinner but the ride home

was NOT!!! About halfway home

an eighteen wheeler "threw" a

rock the size of your hand into the

front drivers side window of my

car!!!! It missed me by two inches!

Glass went over every inch of that

car! It took me and my Dad a hour

and a half to clean up the glass. My

hands are honestly still shaking. If

it had come through the windshield!!

I'm so thankful to Jesus the kids are

out of town they would have been

sitting in that car seat that is full of

glass!! Thank you Jesus for your

protective hand and this wonderful

life you have given me!! Praise you...

We interrupt this day for a quick Birthday update...

First of all- thank you all for your Birthday Wishes!!

I wish I could hug all your necks!

Both of my sisters are out of town this week so that is kind

of a bummer. However, one sister took me out to eat last

week before she left. And she gave me a Louie Giglio DVD.

If you have not seen or heard him....oh...you need to!!!

When I checked my emails this morning a really sweet

friend had three e-cards waiting on me (hey, girl I'll count

the one you sent last night as being on time ;). One card

for the changing mood shifts of the day!! You know me too

well! At work they gave me a gift card for Chinese. Haha

and we only get a thirty minute lunch break so not sure

when she intends me use it. Anyway, it's the thought.

I opened my drawer at work to get my stuff for the day

and there was this gift bag in it. The bag had an old man

on it and it said, "Happy Friggin' Birthday". I laughed

my head off!! My sweet coworker and friend, Kate,

gave me a print workshop program for my laptop and

a really sweet card! Both my sisters and the kiddos

have sent me text message vidoes throughout the

day...Love and miss them kiddos!!

Tonight my parents are taking me out to eat.

All my friends have kids and I've had (no offense here)

enough of other peoples kids noise level today =)

So my parents and I are going to have a quiet "supper".

Plus, they bought me a cake and since it's ALL mine and

I don't have to share...I've already had me a big ol slice!!!

I have to admit I had a bit of a pity party last night

over this being an OLD and single chick still. I'm glad it was

last night so I could wake up and enjoy today.

Love you guys!! Thanks for being a big part of my

Special day!

p.s. I don't know what the heck happened with the

spacing at the top....I think it may have occured

during a very important phone call I had to stop and

take! ;) Sorry I don't have the time to figure it

out...fried catfish await....=)

The Birthday Girl.....

Well, it's that time of the year again...

Time to celebrate another Birthday...

Tomorrow (Tues.) is the big day...

I have to admit there are a lot of shoulda, coulda, woulda

thoughts going on in my head.

My plans are to hold tight to Psalm 139:14

"I praise you because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made; your works

are wonderful, I know that full well."

Sooooo I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with a

full report on the day...

Endless energy, boundless strength...

I'm not sure why the picture

is so small...but it's kind of fitting for my mood

today. I've got some major thoughts going on

the last couple of days. It's okay though

because my God was prepared to handle them today. The song

that starts off playing is a clip of Chris Tomlin's song "Glory in

the Highest". I was given a DVD that had a bonus CD included

and this song is on it. I have had it playing for two days with

the repeat button on!! So these thoughts bouncing around

with this song added then as if the song was not enough God

loved on me a little more and gave me this scripture...

"That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the

Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the

Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you- every

time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I

do more than thank. I ask- ask the God of our Master,

Jesus Christ, the God of glory- to make you intelligent

and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes

focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it

is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this

glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the

utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him-

endless energy, boundless strength!" Eph 1:15-19

I have to admit many things here...

I can say that all of you fit into this scripture as

the prayer of my heart for you. Right now- I am also

having to change the -I pray for you- to I have to pray

this one for me tonight.

First of all, how solid right now is my "solid trust" in

Him?! I've been very tempted this past week to pull

a Sarai and rush up things and get my dreams ahead

of God's timing. I've been trying all day to get my

mind and emotions at the feet of my God.

I pray this moment and ask that God help me get my

thoughts back parallel with His. That He might give

me the discernment I need to step ahead- I need the

clear and focused eyes. I need eyes focused on Him.

I long for the "endless energy, boundless strenght!".

I also have to walk in tomorrow and give an official

"two week" notice and someone is not going to

react very well. My boss will give me a hard time of

it tomorrow. I've given her more than extra from me

this summer...now it's time for me to have a break...

I just pray she will say okay and we can go about a

peaceful day.

Love you all~

Happy 4th of July

I can't believe it's already July!!

I love to celebrate the 4th of July!

It reminds us of the freedom we have and the price that was paid for it.

I love that in VBS we still say the pledge to the American flag, Christian flag

and the Bible. They are all reminders to us of the freedom we have.

My friend Linda at Gotta Grow with It is having a

4th of July Carnival. I thought I would join along and

just share with you the events of our day.

I'm on a Church softball team again this year. We

have had 3 rain outs already so we have to play on

the 4th. We have only lost one game so far!! The

best part I haven't been sore the next day...yet!!

Since we will be in town for the softball game I hope

we can see the fireworks. We normally just hang

out around the house so we don't usually get to see

them. I have a friend that I work with that is coming

over on the 4th so I think it would be a fun outing.

We will be doing the Grilling action on the 4th...

which is by far my favorite part!

Dad grill ribs, chicken and BURGERS-

he's almost gotten them as good as my Grandaddy's were.

The family BBQ sauce here is simple...

Vinger, butter and pepper.

Uh no, there is no measurements to this mixture.

I thought that I would include Mom's recipe for home made ice cream...

4 large eggs

3 cans of pet milk

3 cups of sugar

3 tablespoons flavoring

Finish filling container with milk

I hope and pray you all have a wonderful- fun-

and safe holiday!!

Remember those that are working and fighting today

to continue to give us this freedom we celebrate.

I have two friends that in the last couple months

their sons have joined the military and are at

bootcamp. Pray for these moms as they watch there

boys march into their future. And pray for these young men

that God will protect them where ever He takes them.

God Bless~