New Strength Rising up........

Good Sunday afternoon friends!! I am sitting here in the kitchen listening to my children play together (I love that sound), my dishwasher going and my brain going a mile a minute!! I have so much on my heart and thought this would be the perfect time to sit down and put it all into words!!

A week ago a friend brought me something at church. It was a word that the Lord had given her for me. It said "there is a strength in me that God is bringing out. I have prayed for Him to take me to a new place in Him and He says Yes! But I must know it's by His strength in me, not my strength!" I loved this and thought wow, I'm really excited about it! The next day I received a phone call with another friend from church who had a dream that she felt she needed to share. In the dream she dreamed it was my wedding and I was at the reception cutting the cake. I was concerned that I wouldn't have enough cake for all my guests at the wedding, but she was helping me get all the things together. In the meantime, my husband, which is also my Father, was out buying me a gift....a brand new beautiful bedroom suite. She tried to help me focus on this beautiful gift that He had bought me instead of worrying about the cake. She then interpreted the dream for me. God is taking me to a new place of intimacy with Him, a place I have been desiring to go. I have a lot on my plate, but instead of focusing on how I am going to divide my time, energy, etc on the things on my plate, I need to rest in Him, in this new place of intimacy. WOW.....God is moving me into a new place of intimacy with Him and giving me a new strength.....thank you Jesus!! I am going to continue going from glory to glory!

Well, today I am experiencing some of that strength! If you know me, you know that the one thing that makes me feel good each day is my bed being made....I know, crazy, huh? When we woke up, Noah wasn't feeling too well(more about that in a moment!), so we decided to stay home. He wanted to go rest in my room alone, so I let him and went and loved on him and doctored him up some! I decided since we were home, I was going to make the best of it, and just be in a place of rest today, which is what we should on the 7th day. So I began playing with Hannah and Jonah and we were dr's and patients and just had fun! Then Noah joined us and we had a few broke legs that we had to "cast" up, etc. Then I just let the kids have at it and have fun! They ended up in my room, with my bed unmade, which is usually a big no-no! I don't let them play in my room, it's my place, I want it kept in order. But it didn't bother me, at all....wow, what is wrong with me? I walked in a few minutes ago to find toys on my bed, bed shuffled around, toys on the floor, and clothes/toys in my bathroom. I told them to have fun, just not mess with my stuff and stay out of the closet. I know this is a really long story for just a simple fact of......God is working on me and my heart and giving me a new strength! The little things that annoy me have no reason, I have to relax!!

Now here is my confession, but don't judge me. Last week was horrible. I guess PMSing and hormones (sorry if any guys are reading this!), but I had a real hard time enjoying my kids. I told Jarrod to pray for me b/c by Thursday I felt really bad about this. I love my children and will do anything in the world for them, I just didn't want to be around them! We went and did some things with friends and had fun, but at home, I wanted them to do their own thing and I wanted them to leave me alone! I am finally past that, woohoo!! I do think we all need breaks and time away! I am having to get used to being with them 24/7, I'm used to them being in preschool or with a sitter while I worked....this takes a lot of self sacrifice being a mommy all the time!! Sometimes I do envy the moms that go to work, although I wouldn't trade what God has me doing for the world!! I only have a wee bit of time to mold them into what God wants them to be molded into!! Training time is so important and I will grasp that with my very being!! So I hope I'm not completely abnormal and I didn't just turn any readers away!!

Now onto Noah Jack! He has been having this problem ever so often with his tonsil swelling up and getting a low grade fever. The doctors said if this continues he will have to see the ent and have his tonsils and adnoids removed. Now I know this is a very routine procedure and I have nothing against those that have done it....I don't have mine anymore, they were removed when I was 2! I just am not at peace about it. I'm not sure why God has me uneasy about it, but I am! So we are believing for a complete healing. Noah told me yesterday that God can make him better than any medicine can......oh the faith of a child. I do believe that he spoke his healing into existence!! A week ago I read the benefits of coconut oil, not only to cook with, but the many, numerous others! One of these being throat infections. I don't believe it was coincidental that I read this....so here we are trying this natural remedy!! We might also try the chiropractor too and see what might happen!! But we are believing for a complete healing!! All that said, we were joining a group from our church going to IHOP (International House of Prayer, not the pancakes!). I have been really excited about this, b/c I have yet to go and have really been looking forward to it for me, and for the children to participate in the children's activities! But I decided to not go and let Noah rest! He is much better now, but I don't need to push him. The thought crossed my mind to go and just keep trecking, but how selfish of me that would be! I think he needs to rest and the best place is here! So thank you Lord for helping me not be selfish and want to give to my child, more than my own wants and wishes!

Recently I had 2 friends, from completely different necks of the woods, one in Alabama and one in Georgia, mention Proverbs 14:4...."Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of the ox." Now we have no ox here, but I do have children and all I can say about this is "wow". I like that word alot, lol!! My children are little for only a season and it's okay if my house isn't featured on Clean House!! The Lord has set this time aside for us to be a family and "train" them in the things of the Lord! My prayer through homeschooling is that we will create a bond so tight in our family unit that nothing that the enemy tries to do will tear it apart. This family is one that the Lord orchestrated and we will play music unlike any other! I do believe in the power of prayer and the Lord being the foundation of the home. I pray that we will always live this way and that any idols will be set aside and layed down. I recently had to confess to the Lord that I have put the computer and tv above Him.....that's a hard pill to swallow, confessing that. So He is helping me overcome that and put Him back on top where He belongs!!

I want to encourage you today to rest in the Lord.....that's what this day is about. While I missed going to our church building, we still had church here! We are the church, what we go to is just a building. While it's good to have a corporate worship, don't get caught up in that. Be the church. I'll leave you with my favorite all time bible verse Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." Just trust......God will never let you down!!

Sorry if this was all over the place, just had some things on my heart!! Blessings to you today!! The pictures I left you with are Jonah playing in the pool, Hannah and her friend Katie at VBS, Noah playing in the back yard, and my silly "big kid" Jarrod playing at Water Day at church!!

Girls, girls, girls!

Hello again!! Just had one of my muffins and they are pretty good!! Not sure I used enough lemon zest, but there's always next time!! I enjoyed them, even if my family doesn't!! And they are all "clean" ingredients, which is a major plus!!

Ok, onto my girls title.....sheesh, why do we have the emotions that we do? I'm not sure if I'm alone in my feelings, but sometimes I feel like I am!! I am too sensitive at times, I have to "keep up" with others and have the latest things they do, or better yet one up them so I look like I have it more together than they do, we always want to get that last punch (I mean word) in there b/c we don't want to seem weak, feeling the need to defend ourselves, when our defender is truly God. We go running to each other about our life situtations and drama, only to have them help us hype it up more than it should be. We often times don't want to speak the truth into their lives b/c we don't want to step on toes.....good golly Miss Molly!! So many more emotions that I can't think of at the moment, only speaking current things in my life!!

The true one we should run to is God. I often find myself wanting to call and tell someone about something that happened instead of running to the one who ultimately has the answer. Prime example.....got my feelings hurt yesterday (a stupid thing), b/c my parenting was criticized by a close friend. This friend wasn't doing it in a mean way, and I am quite sure she didn't mean it the way I took it (PMS can mess with all of us at times), but I had to vent and get if off my chest and express my hurt feelings and get someone to justify my feelings. So I called mom and she always makes me feel better!! Then I had to tell Jarrod and another friend, you know I just had to let people know that I got my feelings hurt and I wouldn't do this to anyone else, hahaha! I mess up too!! What is wrong with me......why didn't I run to my Father, who heals all wounds, who would make me feel like I am loved, accepted and received (motto at my church!), but no, I need others to make me feel justified in my feelings. While yes, it's okay to have a "safe" person to talk to, there is no need to have lots of "safe" people, b/c then it just turns into gossip!  And people can't fix our problems, God can and will if we allow Him into our lives to do so! There are times where He puts someone on my heart to go to at that particular time, and I do b/c maybe the Lord has given them wisdom with a particular situation that I am going through. I will learn to run to the Father first and foremost......I am going to keep repeating this to myself and speak it into existence!!

Why do friendships as adults have to be so hard....expecially with girlfriends? What happened to the good ole days when friendship was just pure and simple, families got together and "hung" out and fellowshiped and built each other up......they were there for each other. This is so hard to find now a days.....at least in my world. I have many, many friends, many of which I can call on in a moments notice and they will be there for me, and I appreciate that more than words can express!! The family friends thing is where I struggle. How can I be so close to people, without it being a family thing. My family means so much to me, so why wouldn't I invite a friend and their family to become family friends, instead of just "Amy's" friends? I'm realizing that I am going to have to cut some of this out and although it might be a tough thing, I have to do what my heart is telling me! Does it mean I'll never have a girls night again, absolutely not! But I do want my family, as a family unit that God created, to have active family relationships with people that uplift us, encourage us, and are there for us. Isn't this what God created human beings for? We are to be there for one another. The thought keeps crossing my mind......it's not all about me.

I am entering a time in my life where my life will be my family, and while yes, I'm sure we'll get tired of each other at times, we are family! We are there for each other and we will surroud ourselves with likeminded friends!! Okay, off my soapbox.....just needed to get out some of these feelings and maybe others that are going through this can rest in this.......God is there for us, always, never a moment goes by that He doesn't think about us or want us to call on Him. I have to remind myself of this often and often I do forget! I don't want this blog to be about just venting, I want there to be a solid answer and uplifting thing to go along with it! God knows my desires and requests and I know He has a perfect plan for my family. My job is to sit in His presence and listen and follow and obey!! I hope I don't scare anyone off by being "real", I too struggle with many things in my life and it's only with God's grace can I get through them! Bless you all today!!

blah, blah, blah!

Good afternoon! Been meaning to write for a while, but haven't stopped long enough to do so!! So get ready, cause it might be a long one, lol!! As I am typing, I have lemon muffins in the oven! They are starting to smell good! It's my first time making them, so I'm hoping they turn out good!! The last ones I did were banana muffins and they were a huge hit around here!! Will definetly be doing those again!! Hannah is asleep and the boys are suppossed to be, but at the moment they are talking in their beds!! Sweet brotherly bonding I guess!!

I have a sad heart today. One of Jarrod's co-worker's lost her son on Saturday. He was 16 and when they went to tell him lunch was ready, he was slumped over. They did CPR until the ambulance got there, they worked on him for a bit, then the hospital tried for an hour to get him back, with no avail. After an autopsy, they found out he had a blood clot that ruptured in his brain. My heart just breaks, I can't imagine how this mom must feel, her only child is now gone. The really sad thing is that the mom and dad don't know the Lord. I'm not sure where the son stood, but I pray that he is in heaven. Jarrod and I were talking about this how we feel there is a purpose for this happening. God's hand is on everything. I pray that through this the mom and dad will see God's love for them in a way they never had before, that their spiritual eyes will be opened. This has been 2 young men recently that have left this earth so early in life, and I just can't wrap my brain around it. I don't question God as to why, there are reasons, whether it be from freedom of choice or possibly to bring light to someone else, or a million other reasons. But nonetheless, it's very saddening. I just look at my babies and just want to hold them even tighter!

Okay, on to something lighter!! I had plans this morning to do homeschool.....fail!! I slept a little later than I intended, the kids got to playing, had a couple of phone calls that I needed to make/take and here it is naptime!! I was watching my children as I was making my lunch (they had already eaten, you know they eat first, lol!), and they amazed me. I was watching as they played pretend mom and dad for about 2 hours, nicely I might add!! Jonah had "a wreck" and the dad had to take him to the hospital. The compassion that Noah had on Jonah was overwhelming. Children do what they see adults do. The most inspirational adults in their lives are their parents! When I saw my children doing the things they were doing playing together today, it made me feel a sense of pride (in a humble way!)! They are treating each other the way that they see us treating them!!

This makes my heart swell with joy, b/c I don't always feel like a "great" mom!! But I know that my children are soaking up the things that I am sowing into to them! One of the things that I wanted to do today was do Bible/art together, where we will make the fruits of the spirit and talk about them. I think when they wake up from naptime we will!! But here I am watching them walk in the fruit of the spirit, how amazing is that!! As I was watching and realizing how much I have been stressing homeschool, I realized that the things they are doing, is in a way homeschooling!! They were working together as a team to figure out problems and doing it loving manner!! Yes, I will be teaching them academically and they will be prepared for college or whatever path they choose, but most IMPORTANTLY, Jarrod and I are teaching them to walk with the Lord. This is my book is more important than anything else, and to see the fruit from it.......WOW, is all I can say!! Does it mean they are perfect, hahaha, no!! But they are getting it! After all, I'm not perfect either!!

I really am getting excited about homeschooling!! And I'm finding myself getting quite defensive of it if someone says negative things!! I not saying it's for everyone, every child is different and has different needs/learning styles. The thing that I don't like to hear people is say "I'm just can't homeschool my children". That's like saying you can't "parent" them. Whether parents like it or not, we are their primary teachers in life. Like I said, I'm not saying it's the answer to all, it's just what we feel God has for our family at the present time!! I just really get frustrated when people are closed minded to it.....I was there once myself, lol!! I remember saying that I will not be a homeschooler, but guess what, God had other plans for us!! I personally feel that it is so important to prepare the children spiritually at this time in their life, especially b/c they are like sponges soaking up everything.....good and bad. So yes, I feel the need to shelter them from the ugliness of the world, in order to prepare them with the TRUTH of God's word so when they step out in it on their own, I feel like I have prepared them, which is what training a child is all about. Okay, off my soapbox!! This is my place to vent, b/c I would never "attack" someone over what they believe. My parenting got somewhat "criticized" the other day, and it hurt my feelings, but I'm just going to shrug it off and move on! I know that I fail often times on my parenting, but I also know that I am getting things right and I have good children!

I had so much on my heart and now I am at a loss for words, I guess that means I can share more later!! I have a Noah Jack who doesn't seem to want to nap, so I guess I can go and snuggle and possibly get him to drift off to dreamland!! Blessings to you all today!! This picture is from Father's Day!! I love these guys and gal more than words could ever express!!