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Daily Verse

Sunday~
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from you commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:9-11

Why do we try to conform God to our will? Live in His word and know true joy.

Monday~
"Make me to know your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old."
Psalm 25:4-6

God reveals the truth of our time and all time to us through Scripture.

Tuesday~
"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the tstimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple: the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."
Psalm 19:7-10

All the laws in all the books in all the libraries of the world are but a footnote to the law of God.

Wednesday~
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways ackowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6

To know and understand God comes not through our intellect, but through the wisdom given to us by the grace of God.

Thursday~
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart."
Proverbs 3:1-3

Don't measure success by society's standards. Use Christ as your measuring stick.

Friday~
"The the LORD answered Job our of the whirlwind and said: 'Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding, Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? Or who laid its cornerstond...?'"
Job 38:1, 4-6

When we measure God by our limited standards, we attempt to measure the elephant by weighing one strand of its hair.

Saturaday~
"Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so lon, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father?'"
John 14:8-9

Christ is God made flesh. If you want to know God, you must draw closer to Jesus.

J.E.N.E

Patch

12.14.03

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4.26.05

Anniversary

Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Princess

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Sunshine

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Cupcake

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Love Bug

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Ri-Bear

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

BoBo

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

NiNi

Lilypie Third Birthday tickers

20th Anniversary Trip to Disney

Daisypath Vacation tickers

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Children...

***Notice: I do not claim to be the parent that knows everything, has perfect children, or responds correctly to every circumstance that comes up throughout the day.  HOWEVER, I do try very hard to look to the future as to what is best for my children and then apply life lessons to the children God has blessed me with today, that will help prepare them for that future.  Also, this is not written with anyone in mind...it is a reminder to me ~as a parent~ the battle I am fighting daily for the Lord.

As I mentioned yesterday, "Children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Children are a gift from God, but so often times we forget that while they are blessings and they are precious and cute...they also need to grow up to be respectable hard working adults. That isn't going to happen by chance, parenting takes hard work...there is not a specific 'how to' manual...each child IS different. But God's Word is a good place to start! "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 Do we really think the child who is allowed -without repremand- to tell that man how fat he is, or to kick the nice lady at the doctors office, tell their own parents to shut up, or to throw food at the person sitting at the booth behind them at the restaurant, ect. is going to just stop after they exit the 'terrible twos' aweful threes or confusing tweens....um, NO. Their repulsive acts will just grow with their age. NOW, before you start throwing a fit (these are all things, and many more, I have personally witnessed) kids will be kids and we all know they like to 'test the waters.' But as we are clay in the Potters hands...so are children in their parents hands. Many a times my children have opened their mouth or done something that is not allowed or even for the first time trying something in public...BUT they do not get away with it. You know what needs to happen, the parent is to make a big dramatic scene and yell and scream at the child forcing them to say they are sorry and leave before any more embarassement happens....NO. Did you know a child will hear far better if you speak with kind quiet words rather than yell and put on a show?

Another thing that is good is to set up consequences in advance. If you have been having trouble in a particular area lately let them know before it starts what will happen if they act up and what will happen if they are good. For example...we have been having trouble with our two oldest being wild at church ( I know, I know...they are not that bad...BUT they are doing things that we do not allow as parents to our children) so, before we left for church we told them the struggles they have been having at church lately...they agreed. We told them what is expected of them while at church, again they agreed. We then ASKED them what a good consequence would be if they broke our rules while at church...we agreed it was a fair decision. I was unable to go because of sick babies...but Handsome again reminded them of the discussion once they were buckled in the Suburban. They broke our rules at church. Plain and simple...they disobeyed their Mommy and Daddy. When they loaded up in the Suburban after church Handsome asked them...so how do YOU think you did at church today? They both spoke in turn explaining that they were naughty and did not obey. Handsome they asked what we should do about it. Almost together they both responded by stating the consequence decided upon before church. And do you know what? They faced that consequence with no bad attitude, no tears, no trying to get out of it...they faced it and accepted it. In a sense they 'owned' their actions! Do you know how we got to this point in parenting? HARD WORK! Consistant teaching of obedience and the consequences of wrong doing from the time they were 6 months old!

Now the hardest thing that I am finding for me as a parent is having to try and teach your children to do what is right even when people around you will not back you up.  It is no secret we have higher or stricter expectations for our children than many people around us.  I am not saying this to put myself above anyone, please understand this, but my 5 year old children are to remain in control of themselves at all times.  Not acting wild and loud at inappropriate times or places etc. etc.  I get that, but if you know that my child is not suppose to be running in church (accourding to their parents rules) doing laugh at them and let them run by...stop them!  Remind them that is not something they are supposed to be doing!  Back a fellow parent up!  If you are at a play group and my child is the one hitting someone else's child with a toy...stop them!  As a fellow parent of more than one child you must know that one parent cannot be on top of all four children at all times.  This is a common problem in society today...people around are destroying the authority of the parent.  Sometimes purposefully and sometimes unknowingly.  Did you know that being told NO is not going to send my 5 year old into the depths of depression to the point that as a 37 year old they will not be able to stay in a relationship or hold a job because 32 years before their Mama told them they couldn't have the extra treat or that THIS weekend we are not going to go 'do something fun' we need to work on keeping the house.  Character...let us all go work on it, for ourselves and for our children.

So to sum it all up, raising children is not something that is just going to happen.  But with hard work and dedication you and your child will have a great relationship and you will have a responsible adult child that is a hard worker and actualy respects the authority God has placed in their life! 

Monday, February 27, 2012

A Valley

Dear ones, this is more for myself than anyone.  But feel free to read thoughts as they pertain to you...maybe someone can find something worthwhile in here...

Have you ever heard the phrase that goes something to the effect of, "if Satan is attacking you regularily and people are leaving your side often...you must be doing something right?"  I suppose that is supposed to mean that if we serve God we are all supposed to be lonely righteous people that just keep suffering in the name of Jesus? 

While there are seasons that it does seem this to be true, if you are walking the walk He has given you...you are not alone!  God is always there!  "I will never leave you for forsake you!"  What a comforting thought.  I know that God is with me and I also know what direction in life He wants me to go! 

Another amazing thing is that God as placed someone else on this earth for ME that has the same direction, the same Path God has placed him on!  Handsome is an amazing man all on his own...but the thing is he isn't all on his own.  He is an amazing man because he allows God to lead his life.  He allows God to be the one to direct us as a couple and as a family.  I have not met many, if any, other people in this short life I have lived that are as true to God as my husband.  Sure there are many that try to proclaim that they are...but seriously, you cannot speak that you are a believer and follower of Christ...your fruits will speak for you.  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto rightwousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  I am not saying that if you are saved that you can loose your salvation....because Romans 10:9&10 says right there that if you truly believe you are saved.  What I am saying is that there are many people that taken Gods mercy and grace a little too far when 'liveing for Him' and start living for themselves much more.  Sure, the things they are doing are not bad...they may even look good on the outside, but if it is for personal gain (money, reputation, status, etc.) it isn't for God.  God does want us to be successful in every thing we do, but for His glory...not our own.  "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Now another side to not being alone while walking in Christ is the beautiful family He has blessed us with!  5.5 years ago today we found out we were going to become parents THAT DAY!  Up to that point it looked rather bleak.  So the simple fact that we are parents to four beautiful precious children is something that is a reminder of Gods love for us!  We should not take a minute with our children for granted because they, in fact, are not ours...but Gods children! 

Friends, if you are fortunate enough to have A friend you can run to for encouragent and to lean on...or that you can uplift or encourage yourself you are blessed! 

What I am saying is that even when it seems you are in a valley, you are not alone...if you look around you God is there!  And I am blessed enough to have a godly husband to walk through this life as well!  Many times it seems that it is just the three of us..God, Handsome, and myself...but why could that not be enough?  God alone should be enough...

Again...just my thoughts...for me. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Back to reality...

I have to say how incredibly thankful I am for the opportunity to experience being pregnant.  From the minute I saw the positive on August 1st 2010 until she was born on March 19th 2011 I had the opportunity to experience what reality was like.  God gave me the biggest blessing He could ever have given...he gave me the opportunity to feel 'normal'!  And then again, when I started producing milk and until I finished pumping on January 4th 2012...normal!  It was a ton of work to keep milk flowing and we had a few bumps in the road but with time, research, and hard work the only thing my babies are still drinking is my milk.  Cupcake will be 11 months next week and Love Bug 6 months!  I was given the opportunity to produce milk for both of my babies...Cupcake will have enough to make it to a year and Love Bug will make it at least to 7 months..maybe a little longer. 

Why is this a big deal, I have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and had 4 miscarriages early in our marriage to get to the point of pre-menopause.  I know that is A LOT of information that some of you may wish they didn't know, but this one I'm throwing it all out there.  Women with PCOS often struggle with their weight, they cannot loose for ANYTHING in them.  Women with PCOS often struggle getting pregnant, and if they do get pregnant it is a fight from day one to keep that precious little once tucked so nice and cozy inside.  IF you are one of the bless women with PCOS that made it through all of those hoops and actually have a healthy baby you will most likely struggle with milk production.  I know women with PCOS who had not even one drop of milk come in to feed their baby.  Baby may be latching and sucking like a pro and NOTHING is coming....

So for 17 months I was able to feel like a 'normal' person...to temporarily forget occasionally that I have something that can become very serious if not kept in check.  While the pregnancy was not an easy one, and PCOS did play a role in how we proceeded with caution, I was still pregnant and that was a victory every single day I woke up bigger and bigger and HUGE!  But while I was pumping milk and freezing milk I also could feel normal...like PCOS had not gotten a complete victory over me.

Enter January 4th, 2012.  My last day to pump any milk for my girls...I had been clinging to pumping since September 19th.  Handsome and I agreed back in August that I would pump until Cupcake was 6 months old, but then something amazing happened.  Love Bug quickly entered into our lives and I knew she needed to get to 6 months also on breastmilk also.  November/December were difficult on us though.  The ugly PCOS monster was really starting to rear its nasty head for this Mama.  I was not happy, I was not well, I was not friendly, I was not kind.  I was not alive...and it was because I have PCOS.  All the time I was trying to eat right for the babies and eat what was needed to make sure my milk was good for the girls it was slowly doing me harm. I thought it was slow, but Handsome will report that it was a sudden attack.  One minute everything was good, the next minute PCOS had left only a disaster behind.  It was sometime in mid-December that after praying and crying out to God I decided it would be healthier for all of my children and my relationships and my marriage if Mama came back and started kicking PCOS out again.  So after a few calculations I knew with my milk I could get Love Bug to 6 months and Cupcake to a year on my milk...and then a very generous Patch Parent offering to give me some of her extra milk to keep Love Bug on breakmilk even longer....it was time.  Time to go back on my healthy for ME diet.  Now, I am getting all food groups and I am getting enough nutrients...but they are the right ones for a person with PCOS.  My girls are still drinking my milk and I am not the monster I had become! 

Did PCOS reclaim its place in my ability (or lack thereof) to become and stay pregnant?  Only time will tell.  But I can promise this one thing, PCOS is not taking my life.  PCOS is not going to take my precious moments of happiness away from my time with Handsome and my children!  I am going to win this victory once again! 

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Cupcake!

SO, my beautiful little 10 month old Cupcake decided to melt her Mama's heart tonight and say MAMA!  Clear as a bell and more than once! 

This is after mastering her fun little praying/clapping/army/inch worm crawl over the past week or so! 

Oh, how does one decide to stop having babies in the house?!?!?  How precious is this little one?  Keep on melting Mama's heart baby!