Esther Bible Study

Esther is hands down my favorite bible study ever!  A few years ago I did the Beth Moore bible study and LOVED IT!!! I did it on my own and purchased each of the videos, the notes i took from those videos are still on my tack board, the message oh so inspiring! 

So while I loved the Beth Moore study any time I get a chance to study Esther again I do.
Over at Love God Greatly.com they did a 8 week bible study on Esther this year. I am attaching all the weekly reading list, challanges so you can print them and follow along at your own pace. It is a closed bible study, so you will be following post from this summer.  If you click on the "Week" hyperlinks it will take you to that week of the bible study at Love God Greatly.com

Week 1

 Week 2

Week 3 

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Christmas Advent Bible Study

****2021 Update****

Google Drive changed the permissions on older documents in drive. This post has gained alot of traffic the past several days. Instead of the links opening the documents its been asking for permission. I've approved every request but I also updated the links below...they should work with out permission now. Sorry for the hassle! 

Here we are again at the busiest time of the year...Christmas. I try to make every occasion and party but I also try real hard this time of year to keep down time for my family too, we need to be together and enjoy it just us.


I also need to keep my heart right as well, its hard when the old lady gives you a dirty look as she runs you over at the store.  Rest assured God has a plan for all of this. 


Below is an advent bible study from Good Morning Girls.org, I found these pictures on not their website but from another fellow blogger who is doing the same. She shared them, so I am following suit. I am putting all 4 weeks in this one post so you may share and save them. If your like me, you look up one day and find your self a day behind!  Not to worry, God loves when we read the bible and spend time with him, so if your a day behind know that its not to late to catch up!

I am also attaching a generic SOAP page for you (original SOAP page was deleted) you can print, save HereFREE BOOK Can be printed HERE

Each Picture can be clicked on and saved, or printed. 

 

Thanksgiving Day 6-10

Talk about a busy week! We all 3 were sick most of the week and are finally getting back to our daily lives.  Here is the final week of the Thanksgiving bible study




Monday 1 Chronicles 29: 10-20
Tuesday 2 Corinthians 4: 13-18
Wednesday Philippians 4:4-9
Thursday Psalm 95
Friday 2 Corinthians 9:9-15


Scripture
Day 1 ¹¹ Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
¹² Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
¹³ Now, our God, we give you thanks,
    and praise your glorious name.
Day 2 ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Day 3⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Day 4 ¹ Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.
Day 5 ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.


Observation & Application
Its impossible to do an observation and application on each day at once. While reading through all these I can easily see that we are to not worry, give praise and thanksgiving. Give more than receive.


During this time of year with busy schedules and parties every weekend its hard to remember that we need to be thankful and give praise to God each and every day.




Prayer
Dear Lord,


I thank you for our family this week and this blessing growing inside me. I thank you for quick healing and I pray that we can remember to praise you each and every day and remember to be kind to everyone we meet. I pray for the my friends who are looking for jobs, thos who have troubles, are sick, lonely or just need you Lord.  Please be with them and I pray they know you are there.


Amen,

Thanksgiving Day 5

Hebrews 12:22-29


Scripture : Hebrews 12:28
²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.


Observation
While other things can be shaken, God and the Heavens cannot be shaken or removed.
God is like Fire, he is all consuming


Application
Everything can be changed in life, nothing is forever....Except God, Jesus and Heaven. His love, forgiveness is forever it can never be shaken.


Prayer


Dear Lord,
I thank you for your unwavering love, forgiveness, salvation.
I thank you for your Unshaken love, I thank you for all I have and who I have.
I pray you be with all who read this, for those who don't know you, those who need you and for my family.


Amen

Thanksgiving Day 4

Day 4


I am actually doing day 4 and 5 on a this Sunday. No excuse is good enough for putting off my bible study.


1 Thessalonians 5:12-18




S.O.A.P.


Scripture : 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.


Observation
The translation above is NIV, my personal bible is English Standard Version and I personally like the way it phrases verse 17 better.  Simply put it says, "Pray with out ceasing"


Application
All too often we try to fix things are selves and say  a little prayer that the situation will get better and when it don't we wonder why (Guilty!!) in reality we need to pray about the situation "without ceasing" and let God fix it.  We also need to rejoice always, when praying about a situation that may be taking our hole focus we must remember that there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for! We must rejoice and thank Him in our times of need.


Prayer


Dear Lord,


I thank you for this beautiful day and my family, I thank you for the life inside of me that's moving constantly while I do my bible study. I pray you keep him safe, alive and healthy with continuous growth. I pray you watch over my family Lord, keep us safe from harm.
I also still pray for my work situation, I feel better about some things others...not so much. I give it to you and I ask for peace in all situations. I also Thank you for the jobs we have.


Please be with my friends who need you Lord, those who don't know you I ask they find you.  I thank you for my friends Lord.


Amen,

Thanksgiving Bible Study Guides

Thanksgiving Bible Study

*2020 Edit* Lots of people ask me where week 3 & 4 are, this is a two week bible study only. Sorry for any confusion* This study was originally done by Good Morning Girls. org, I found the pictures on pinterest. I believe this was done in 2012 or 2013. For some reason GMG will leave the bible study info on the archives page but delete the actual guides. I don't know if this is intentional or accidental.  None the less there are numerous blogs out there with this exact same info on them all across the US so I figured why not retrieve it, laminate it and save it for years to come. I loved it the first time and now the second time around.

Below are the two week bible study plans, each week verses and SOAP samples to print out and follow.  You can click on each image to view them larger, upon doing that I suggest printing them out or saving them to your desk top for easy reference or retrieval.  The SOAP page pictured below is printable any more (original publisher closed the website) attached here is one i found free online and printable you can find it here . Additionally I found the GMG Color chart if you use that method (still new to me, but something I want to get into) you can get that here If you are looking for a Christmas Bible Study of similar set up you can find that post here (this one is 4 weeks), another can be found here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Bible Study Day 3

Today is the 3rd Day of the bible study, today also marks the 3rd year since my grandaddys passing.
In life there are those whos passing seems to never be forgotten. I know my grandaddy is in heaven, I know his passing was better than his suffering but becasue I am selfish I miss him terribly.

Colossians 3 12-17

Scripture Colossians 3:15-17

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3: 13
 ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you

Observation

We need to be peaceful in our dealings with each other, the peace of Christ should rule our hearts. We need to remember that when someone messes up or we do, let us be peaceful in our dealings.

It honestly reminds me of part of the FFA creed or FFA meeting closure, which states
" As we go let us be deligent in our labor, just in our dealings and above all honest and fair"

Application

It is really hard to be peaceful in the check out line at Walmart, espically durring the holiday season. Its really hard to be nice to that lady who was rude and took your parking spot, or dinged your car door. Its really hard to forgive the coworker who forgot you had an appt and didnt show up to work today.  In general some days its really hard to forgive and forget and be peaceful. We want forgiveness and we want a peaceful answer in return so as hard as it is. Say a quick prayer and bite your tongue.  Pray that God will give you what you need to say next.

Prayer
Dear Lord,

I ask that you grant us the ability to forgive those who have wronged us as you forgave us. I ask that you give us peace on the inside and peace in our dealings with others. I ask that you forgive us including me for our sins and help us keep our tempers in check this holiday season.  Be with those who are searching Lord, wether it be for you, a job or an answer.  Wrap your arms around them.

Be with little Charlie as he continues to grown, and help me be able to keep him in and keep him strong. I thank you for this gift you have given to us, and I pray you continue to bless us.

Amen

Thanksgiving Bible Study Day 2

Day 2, I am catching up as I am 3 days behind and I am thinking that catching up is what I was ment to do.  I needed to start this today to help me.


Psalm 100

Scripture Psalm 100: 4-5

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

 

Observations

 

Enter his gates with Thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give Thanks to Him! The Lord is Good!

 

Application

When i bow my head to pray or my thoughts dift to him I need to give Praise for what he has done and be thankful for what he will do.  Everything is on his time not ours and if we are waiting for that answer we must praise him and be thanksful to him. He is good, his love endures!!

 

Prayer

 

Dear Lord,

 

I praise you in good time and bad, I am thankful for all you have done and will continue to do.  Please be with all my friends today. Be with those who dont know you, and I pray that they do come to know you Lord.  I ask forgiveness for all my sins as they are many, and I pray that these negative thoughts and worries be gone for they are now given to you. I pray for a family Lord that is with out a paycheck this week, you know the ones and I pray that there faith in you stays strong.

 

Keep us safe Lord and this blessing from you in my tummy stays safe, warm and healthy.

 

Amen

Thanksgiving Bible Study - Day 1

This week started with tribulations and my pregnancy hormones are all over the place. I have been trying to convience my self that the issues are all in my head and this situation is not as bad as it seems.

Then I remember God is in control and it isnt as bad as it seems!

I started a two week Thanksgiving Bible Study, I am a few days behind on posting so bare with me as I catch up.

S.O.A.P.

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

Scripture 1 Chronicles 16:8-11

⁸ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
⁹ Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
¹¹ Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

 

Observation

 

Look to the Lord and his Strength! Seeks His face Always!!

 

Application

 

Even when I cant see past my own troubles I can look to the Lord, give it all to him and he will give me strength! I must seek him and his face! In all times always.

 

Prayer

 

Dear Lord,

 

I struggle with all the negative feelings about my self and my work situation. Coworkers tell me not to worry about it, all is well but deep down I do not feel all is well.  Maybe thats the devil trying to seperate me from you. Devil leave me alone! Lord I ask you to remove these feelings from me, restore me and make me like you.  I give this situation to you for you know better than I. You have a plan. Please give me peace in my self and at my work. I pray for my coworkers Lord and my boss. Ease their troubles and burdens, I also pray for this business to grow Lord.  Let us continue to grow and provide for the families that depend on it.  I also pray for Harmony between coworkers, smooth ruffled feathers, make our hearts soft and forgiving as we are all human who make mistakes.

 

I also pray Lord that you forgive me for my sin and misgivings. I pray Lord that you will lift me and mine up, keep us safe Lord and this baby boy in my tummy please let him grow and be healthy. As much as I long to see his face and hold him in my arms keep him in me as long as possible. 

 

Amen

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving, and not because I am a big girl and love to eat but because its always been my favorite holiday.  I also cant think about this holiday and not miss my granddaddy.  Its safe to say he's the reason I love this holiday so much. Sure he loved the food but he also loved the family and how we gathered as such with no presents or traditions it was just us and we were thankful to be there with each other.


In a world where this holiday if often over looked for Christmas I have to take a moment and hit the stop button.  No Christmas song, decorations, movies or even talking about it UNTIL Thanksgiving is over!! We need to slow down and learn to be thankful for what we have and not rush to think about what we are going to get. We already got the best gift possible! Jesus Christ and forgiveness for our sins!!!  So why rush Thanksgiving to be over with?? 


Lets slow down, spend time with friends and family over a meal and enjoy the now.  Instead of planning our black Friday assault (which I will not be doing ever) lets sit down and tell old stories and plan up coming get together. Swap recipes and just be thankful for those that are with us.


Christmas is important but even God says to enter his Courts with Thanksgiving.


Lets take a moment to hit the stop button, slow down and be Thankful!

Pasta Salad & Fruit Salad

Pregnancy has changed how to eat, I love poultry and since getting knocked up I havent been able to eat poultry. :(  I miss chicken! My grocery bill was cheaper, I enjoyed cooking and I didnt have to look far for receipes! Franks red hot isnt the same on beef or pork!

Well me and Pinterest havent beening seeing eye to eye either, they only want to show me chicken!  How ever I did stumble across a few really yummy recipes that are keepers and worth sharing.

Pasta Salad

1 Box Spiral Pasta cooked to Al Dente
1lb block of mozarrella cheese cut into bite size pieces
18 Cherry tomatos cut in half
Salami - Cut into bite size pieces, amount? To your taste!
Pepperoni - Cut into bite size pieces, amount? Again to your taste
1 Bottle of Kens Italian Dressing with aged Parm

Mix all the above to your own taste, I ened up using half a bottle of dressing.  This is best served cold and great for lunches!
I used less tomatos, more Salami and the pieces of cheese were smaller than most.



Fruit Salad

1 Container of Cool Whip
2 - 8oz Strawberry Yoguart (I used greek)
1 -3.5oz Jello Pudding Cheesecake (Instant)
3 Can Dole Fruit Cocktail
Juice of 1 can of fruit


Mix Cool Whip with yoguart & juice, fold in pudding mix dry
Mix in fruit

Serve Cold, Keep Cold
This recipe is quite easy to mix up, French Vanilla Pudding with Peach Yoguart and Tropical Fruit is really good too.


Enjoy!

We are growing...by Two Feet!

As much as I wanted another child, I never thought it would happen.  I mean in 11yrs its never happened so I just figured one is all we would ever have. SUPRISE! Never say never!!

We will welcome a baby Boy in Feb 2015!!

We are beyond thrilled, Chandler not so much :/

Grilled Chicken Cesar Flatbreads

Its Summer...in Texas.  So its HOT HOT HOT

Our house in small and our stove heats up the house, in the summer we try to grill and crock pot all meals.  Seriously we had frozen pizza at 1pm the house is hot still and its 7:00pm!!

A few years back I did a recipe binder, each recipe (once its a "keeper" ) goes into a protective sleeve...then gets rotated by season or request. While I always pick some from here I am adventurous and like to throw in a few new ones.

Grilled Chicken Cesar Pita/Flatbread

3 Chicken breast , bone less & skinless
1cup Cesar Dressing
2tbs Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 Juice of Lemons
Roman Lettace
Shredded parmigiano cheese  
Croutons ( optional)
Sliced Olives ( optional)
1 Gallon Ziplock Baggie
Pitas/Flat breads

Place chicken in baggie
Mix together Cesar, Worcestershire, Lemon juice, mix well
Pour mixture over chicken, close baggie, place in fridge for 2hrs (I did mine for 5)

Grill Chicken until done, allow to cool and slice diagonally, while chicken is cooling toast flat breads on grill (both sides)

Take Roman and place in bowl with chicken, cheese, olives, croutons
Pour over desired amount of dressing and mix well

Fill Flat bread or Pitas

Enjoy! We did...this recipe is a "keeper"

Books I want my daughter to read

(Before you get all shocked by this list...I want the majaority of these books to be read when shes OLDER...not right now!!)

We are currently doing the "Just between Us" book by Meredith & Sofie Jacobs...LOVE IT!!
If you have a daughter 8-18 you must do it, do not miss it!!

Buy here at Barnes & Noble or Here at Amazon

In the book are free pages, some days I dont know what to write...but today I was reading my book and inspiration struck me! I decided to make a list of the books I want my daughter to read and why.

1) Twilight Series - Because its nice to get lost in a good clean fantasy every now and then, its also important to wait until you are married for sex. In the book he talks about not wanting to risk her soul and being "Old Fashioned" ..so daughter take it from your mother who didnt wait and wait. Trust me when you marry it will mean that much more and you will one day regret not waiting if you dont.
I want you to know that even if two things dont belong together and if they are ment to be together they will find a way....that being said you dont have to give up who you are to fit...you both can be who you are.  If its God's will...there is always a way. Now dont turn into a vampire or anything ok?

2) Fifty Shades of Gray (Shocking I know)- But I want you daughter to know what a controlling relationship looks like. Yes he controlls her in the bedroom and in life, dont give up your self and your dreams to conform to a man.  The right man will support your dreams, help you achive them and not want to control your ever move. Also dont forget your friends and family because you fall in love, one day you will look up and miss them, further more money dont buy happiness. It may provide nice things but they wont feed your soul the way happiness can.  If you take anything way from this book...take way the fact that while you can never change a man (at the end of book...he still dont like to be touched and hes still  controlling) Love,when its the right love can change everything.  He may still fart in the car and lock the doors with you, but it will soften his heart to where he cares when your hurt, also take from this Ana's stand to keep and protect her baby. You are my baby and I will give, do anything to keep you safe. I will give of my own self to see you unharmed. Its a mother instint to protect her young...I love you and do not want a controlling relationship for you. You are a free spirit, who is head strong and you make your own path...the right man will walk beside you.

3) Montana Sky - Nora Roberts
Daughter you can do anything, nothing is out of your reach...besides pee standing up, the ability to scratch your...(lol you know!) and having to shave your face every morning...there is nothing a man can do that you cant. If you want to do it...DO IT!! Dont let the fact that you are a woman stand in your way.  These 3 women from different backgrounds learn to beat the odds as women in a mans world...they do it with the love and support of men but they do all the back breaking ranch work.  Also when your scared, dont run, pray and stand your ground.  Also learn to shoot...and shoot well, if you ever have to shoot to save your life I want you to know how to. I also want you to know that the right man, the man God created for you will love you just the way you are...when you find it or he finds you dont be like Willa...accept it and embace it.

4) Rizoli and Isles books by Tess Gerritsen
You my dear daughter have a strong since of right and wrong, you also have the desire to help right wrongs (the legal way). I see you in them, and I see you being them. Strong women..making a difference in the world and learning to love, survive and thrive in a mans world while having it all.

5) Womens Murder Club by James Patterson
I want you to know and learn the value of friendship, the right ones. I want you to have a group of girls who love and support you and help you and even have crazy times with. Family is not something you just born into...its what you make it. I also see you in some of these women.

6) The Bible by God
Because Knowing Christ and leaning on him, following God's path for your life will lead you to happiness.  Book of Esther is my fav...read it, do the Beth Moore Bible Study.

Life wont play out like fiction, there will be bad times, dead ends, failures and lost loves. You will experince death, love, life and hard times my darling girl...and while I want to protect you from all the bad in the world I know i cant. While books 1-5 are works of fiction they are good reads with life lessons in them.  Keep close to God, He will bring you through and keep you safe.

Skip the sex scenes...seriously skip 90% of Fifty Shades of Gray ok? Even if your 40 you will still be too young to read those parts. Cover you eyes and change the page.  Second thought I will high light all the parts from 50 shades that you are allowed to read, dont worry will only take you 10 mins to finish them all.


xoxo
love,
Mommy

Meme's Baked Tomatos

My meme made a cook book for me while I was growing up, she gave it to me when I got married. Every time she made an entry she would put the date on the inside cover along with how old I was or into.  In this cook book are recipes that she made, my family loved, and my fav part....recipes from my family. 


I detest tomato's in their raw form! I will eat them in recipes, hot sauce, pasta sauce and in this form. I have searched the internet for another version of this but I cant find one....so enjoy and please credit my meme Dorothy Delaney & Mary Galloway (my great great grandmother)


Baked Tomato's


Dorothy Delaney modern Version year 1940


1 28oz can whole peeled tomato's
5 hot dog buns
1 cup sugar ( I prefer 3/4 cup )
1 stick margarine


Chop tomato's fine, add sugar. Crumble the bread and add to tomato mixture...mix well.
Pour into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish
Top with margarine, bake at 350 for 1hour
Serve Warm


Mary Galloway Original Version year 1873


1 quart jar of canned tomato's
5 cold biscuits (pre cooked home made biscuit's)
1 cup sugar
8tbs butter


Chop tomato's and combine with sugar, cut biscuits into small pieces and add to mixture.
Pour into pan and top with butter
bake for 30mins to 1hr over fire




I personally use the modern version as I don't have a open fire to cook upon and I generally make this for my mother in law. It reminds her of a recipe her mom made during the depression as they had left over biscuits and tomatos from the garden. Sugar was rationed but she said they never lacked for any.

Living the Good Life

There is something to be said about the stock show life, those that havent ever lived it will never understand.  It has allowed me to show my girls the county, to make friends where they go and to do this as a family. We 4 do it together, we win together, we loose together, cry together, laugh together, freeze our butts off together, burn up together and our backs hurt together. We do it all....you guess it Together!

We dont do this for the check, fame or fortune, we do it....because we love it. Its in our blood, its our roots...its who we are, where we come from and some thing that teaches the kids the simple things in life. They earn not only respect from elders, but self respect, self esteem and to know that hard work really does pay off, and how to loose gracefully, showman ship, kindness to animals, responsibility, and that helping others is what its about.

We stand in the ring awaiting the judges decision, to be judged. Tho shall not judge right? Well We are not judging the person, but the animal against a standard and whats in the ring. More importantly its pride in our hard work, we may end up last place but we at least showed pride in our work, self respect in what we believe and tho know that our animals are to us the best.

We have two rules

1) Have Fun
2) Do our best

If we are not doing that, then we need to reevaluate this and see why we are not having fun or doing our best.

I am blessed to say that God has granted me and my hubby the ability not only financially (some days that tough!!) but physically and mentally the ability to do this. To give our girls an extraordinary life, one that many kids on experience and is a dying breed. Agriculture has our hearts, its what started this great nation, a gift from God...the ability to grow from the earth to self stain, to give back.

I want to take a moment to Thank God for the extraordinary life and the ability to wake up each day and live it.

Thank you,

National Daddy Daughter Date Night

As I write this post...I am crying. Crying because I married the most awesome man alive, I choose the most wonderful man to be my daughters father. I am crying because I am filled with joy, awe, happiness and again awe!

Tonight is National Daddy Daughter Date Night, a national chain restaurant is hosting a special. My hubs hates this restaurant and while he hates it, our daughter like me loves it. The place is shutting down from 5-8 to allow all daddies and daughters a date, tables had pink table clothes, flowers on table and given, special pics and photo frames were given and an hour and half of alone time for our girl to ramble on about all kinds of things. Durring this time with out saying a word he is teaching her what she has to say is important, how a man should act on a date. Holding the door open, letting her order first, not drinking, cell phones, new papers are put away and most importantly...she has his undivided attention.

I think its awesome! She has been so excited for this, and am happy to report...she is on cloud nine. She got precious time with him, that she didn't have to share with the world, she got to tell her about her day with out the phone ringing, livestock needing to be fed or dinner to get on the table. She got to discuss her crush (hopefully...she thinks daddy will be mad) and she will get to discuss anything on her mind. Shes adhd so that could be a wide range of topics!

God created our girl to glorify him, He also created my husband to raise her to feel loved, honored and cherished and how to pick a man who will Glorify God.

It may be daddy daughter night...but its also mommy catch up on her DVR, finish the past 3 pages of her book and chill night.

Until next time.....

Sundays in the South

Living south of the Mason Dixon Line and in the bible belt most Sundays are spent in church, I hate to say we played hookie today.

I love the Lord and get so much peace, inspiration and uplifting from a service, but I hate to say I haven't been in a while. We got into a pattern of "Church Shopping" and just quit going, and not attending became the norm I am sad to say. We haven't found the right one, but sleeping late and spending the day being lazy hasn't helped us find it either.

No Excuses we need to find one and get plug in again.

Well this Sunday in the south its 77 degrees, with winds at 35mph, in short its a beautiful day that the Lord has made and we are glad in it. All the windows are open letting that nice steady breeze blow through the house, the grill is cranked up and is about ready for the sweet and sour chicken that will soon be placed on it, the fajita meat is marinating and that will be dinner.

We are dwelling as a family today, tv is off, chores are being done and we are being still, thanking the good Lord for this beautiful day.

You cant spend a Sunday like today in the South and not see the beauty that the Lord has made, you cannot sit outside with a glass of tea (unsweet for me!) letting the wind blow your hair, the sun on your face(...its January and we are in flip flops and capris) and not feel his presence.

Dear Lord, 

Today is awesome! Its beautiful, 77 degrees and I just want to take a moment to Thank you. Today is a gift for us this January, most of my family is dealing with 30 degree or below temps, ice and snow. What hardship do I have today? None..you have blessed us with the beauty of awesome weather. Forgive our absence from church and know that are hearts belong to you Lord. Thank  you...today is awesome. 

Amen

All Over Again

I was 19 he was 28, we met in April 2002, though I told him I was 20 and he told me he was 25. From the day we met it was 1 week before we moved in together, 3 days before I love you's were told, 3 months from day one till day I do.

I was young, never had a really serious relationship before, he had, I was in love, totally in love.  Our youngest was born exactly 8 months later from the day we said i do (lol you do that math, she was also 3 weeks late).

This year we will have been married 12 years, not all of those years were peaceful, happy or something out of a romance novel. I was young, selfish and immature, he was older, sorta selfish and well immature.

Something happened 4yrs ago to shake us to our core, no, no one cheated or thought about it. A child poped up from a previous relationship of the hubs, well a presumed child. Jerry Springer was the show we felt like we were on when dealing with that family, here 4yrs later the kid isnt his but the mother still wants a relationship with my husband (long story, its all in her head though) and until we found out the kid isnt his...and went though all that drama she made our life awful. We almost split, I was the one thinking of splitting...he was begging me to stay. I stayed for a multitude of reasons but the main one was because I love him, he is the man God made for me, Hes the best father a child could ask for and most importantly...He loves me.  I stayed and it didnt go back to how it was before, we faught alot and i had a ton of resentment built up.

For the past year we have gotten to a place better than we have ever been, I been praying, I been working hard. It was me that drew from him, It was me that couldnt handle the drama of the paternity issues, it was me who built up walls and let the devil in when I should have been drawing closer to God.  I prayed for my relationship, I prayed for God to change my heart and to take the walls down. Remove all the walls that were built when our foundation was tested, make us strong again.

Our love isn't something out of twilight, fifty shades of gray or even the best romance novel out there, but its us. I am happy, I love this man more now than I ever have! Thinking back on it all, the little things he did for me that went unnoticed until my eyes were open. I didn't deserve him, dont get me wrong we still get snippy and frustrate each other...and heck when i close this lap top we could have a knock down drag out but now I know what I didnt know before.

I have been falling in love all over again with my husband for the past year, I feel grateful for the things he does do instead of griping about the things he dont do. Dont get me wrong...his shoes, clothes and bath towel are currently in the bathroom floor...but I look at those things and while I feel irritation growing, I may still nag him about it, but I am grateful he is here for me to pick up those things. Today i realized 12yrs ago he gave up the good parking spot at our home for me, I didnt ask him to...he just did. I noticed it because due to the trailer being hooked up my truck is not in the normal spot...but he is in my spot...he commented that he couldnt wait for the trailer to be put back so I can have my spot back. I dont walk in the mud, I have nice gravel and walkway, I dont worry about getting stuck because I have gravel under my tires, he dont.  I have the shelter of a tree to help keep the rain off me.  He did that for me, my comfort because he loves me. Simple and gone unnoticed for 12yrs. 

There are a ton of silly things, major things that I didnt notice until now. I pray God keeps up the good work, the devil keeps out of it and that I will always feel this way.  I may not feel it all day every day but every day. I praise God for the work he has done and continues to do.

I dont know the point of this post...but I am so filled with aww and love I just had to share.

Crossroad

At a crossroads here lately, dont know which route I should take and as of this moment there is no blinking clear sign thats saying "God wants you to go this way!" Man alive I wish there was.

I ask that for the next few days you pray for Gods decision and direction for my life to be made clear and for there not to be a question about my decision.

Thank you,

Carolyn 

Unglued

A friend of mine posted a picture of a book she was going to start reading called Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst.  Like normal i thought the cover looked good and a screenshot was taken on my phone to look up the book later, its now later and I am reading the book. Its not one you read quickly, it has to sink in and be absorbed and thought about! I have to say I find my self thinking about my actions when my emotions get the best of me and its helped me deal with a lot of things. I am an Exploder, I am Scottish with a quick temper and big mouth, I try hard to contain that but when stupidity and down right rudeness are received by strangers I get cranky quick.

I seriously suggest you give this book a try, it has helped me very much in dealing with my emotions and finding ways to show Gods love through my mouth than what it use to be.

I suggest you get a print edition as well, I am a huge fan of ebooks, I own a Kindle AND a Nook...but having this in print...well gives you...a little something more.

Book can be found at the below hyper links

Amazon
Barnes & Noble 
Lifeway Christian Stores
Walmart 

Also her website Proverbs 31 has monthly bible studys for FREE! All you have to do it join :) The next one starting Jan 17 (I believe thats the start date) is Crave...a must read! Join today for free and get the bible study that will help you grow!