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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

8.20.04

1.20.05

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

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

3 years...

About this time 3 years ago we got a fun phone call from Family to Family Adoptions Inc in Texas.....they had news for us...a baby girl due September 6....We already had Princess (4), Sunshine (4) and Cupcake (4.5 months) and we were going to be a growing family!!!
 I don't remember the exact date they called...but the call itself...I will never forget!
My mind instantly went to this....having my arms full and my heart overflowing!


 She was tiny and beautiful...


And she was ours...well not until the end of August was she born...and then in March we finalized her adoption....but how she has changed this family for good!  We laugh more because of her...we smile more because of her....we fight more (as in fight for each other and the needs of our kids/family)...we are stronger because of her...we face the day differently because of her....she is our LoveBug...and this is the song I have chosen for her:

So Far To Find You
by Casting Crowns

You were broken, abandoned
And crying all alone
We were waiting and praying 
And longing to bring you home
And then we saw your face
In a moment you were wrapped up in our hearts
We took a step of faith
And now here we are

Will you let me hold you in my arms tonight
I have come so far to find you
So far to find you
Will you take my love and give up the fight
I have come so far to find you
So far to find you

From a world away, I journeyed
Just to hold your hand
You will never be alone again
I've come so far to find you
So far to find you

You were fighting and fearful
You were hiding your heart away
But I was trying so hard to show you
'Cause there were no words that I could say
If you could see my heart
You would know that all I want to do
Is care for you

Will you let me hold you in my arms tonight
I have come so far to find you
So far to find you
Will you take my love and give up the fight
I have come so far to find you
So far to find you

Here in your eyes I see
Reflections of myself
How I"m the child that's really running
But I can hear a voice that's whispering my name
Saying come to me, don't run from me
I'm all you need and I am calling

Will you let me hold you in my arms tonight
(I have come so far)
Will you take my love and give up the fight
(I have come so far)

Will you let me hold you in my arms tonight
I have come so far to find you
So far to find you
Will you take my love and give up the fight
I have come so far to find you
So far to find you

From Heaven's throne
Down to a rugged cross I came
It was My love for you that brought Me all the way
So far to find you
So far to find you

You were broken, abandoned
And crying all alone

~~~~

It is an amazing song...Our LoveBug was 6 lbs 1 oz when she was born addicted to crack cocaine.  She was tiny and frail, she needed someone who could fight for her.  It was a difficult road.  She was so stiff should wouldn't latch on to nurse (I was already nursing my 5 month old) she cried for hours on end.  While I was pumping/attending to Cupcake my Handsome would hold this little tiny baby in the wee hours of the night/morning and sing to her, quote scripture to her and hold her tight/close skin to skin.  There were 5 months of withdrawals.  She stayed in preemie diapers until she was 3 months and only because of quantity of fluids we then put her into Newborn diapers which leaked almost as bad because her tiny little legs were too small for the diaper to fit tightly around.  She was in Newborn diapers until she was 8 months old.  She couldn't grow...she cried...we cried...she doctored.  But there was a miracle in this child....she had a desire to live....a will to fight...far greater than anyone could ever imagine.  She also had an amazing smile and an awesome giggle! This girl came to us broken...I mean her body was in tact and every finger and toe was in place...but inside she was struggling with an addiction she didn't choose.  We thought we were there for her, but let me tell you something...she is here for us!  This girl is still so cute, funny, smilie, full of laughter and just adorable!





To say that this girl has my heart...an understatement.  She was meant to be in this family...she was meant to be my daughter...I was meant to be her Mama!

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Growth

What would you think if you saw a person from high school that was exactly the same as the day you met them?  They looked the same, weighed the same, were wearing the same clothes, driving the same car, using the same slang,  they were doing the exact some job...living in the exact same home...partaking in the same hobbies....I am telling you NOTHING had changed about this person.  It is understandable that some are closer to this time frame of life than others....buy my mind instantly thinks of Ross, Rachael, Monica, Chandler, Pheobee, and Joey.  Can you imagine if those 6 iconic characters were to just stay in 1995 mind set until 2050?  They would be thought of is pretty silly.  

Can you imagine your 12 year old self being married for 20+ years, having grown children and grandchild, a job, a house and all of the responsibilities that come with those things...yet only be able to function with what knowledge/capabilities you had when you were 12?
 Growth is natural, from the minute we are conceived we grow.  Each second that passes is one we will never get back.  
 Our parents, aunts & uncles, teachers, pastors and others around us work at keeping us healthy and equipping us with the needed 'tools' to get from the very beginning of our lives through all the way to the end.
 There comes a time in our lives where we have to choose to take the reigns of our own 'growth' and continue down that path.   Depending on what exactly we are talking about makes a difference at what stage of our life we take over.  One wouldn't really expect a parent to brush their teeth if they were 18, but at the same time a parent really shouldn't be physically dressing a 16 year old either.  (I know in some circumstances this point isn't valid.)  I find it interesting that in many ways a child from the point of mobilization (crawling, walking, talking) is trying to become independent from their parents. 
~ I frequently hear "I big, I do it" from my 3 year old.  ~  
 But yet as adults, whether married or not, schooled or not, working or not we are looking for ways to blame our lack of growth in areas on others.  Maybe it is someone that doesn't 'own' their responsibilities at work, or someone else that hates life to the point they need to take others around them down so they don't feel so badly about themselves.  Maybe it is the fresh out of college employee that feels angry because s/he isn't making as much as the veteran employee that has been there for 39 years.  I do not completely understand why as humans we have this self destruct button, but it is damaging.  It breaks relationships, it brings depression, it really makes chaos in all areas of life.
I have some things that I am not proud of, some of my biggest 'self destruct' tenancies come from a variety of things in my life...but ultimately it is my choice if I will allow them to swallow what could be happiness and health, laughter and progress.

*I like food, knowing that there are certain things that my body doesn't handle well...I still eat them because they taste good.  Which causes medical issues, mood swings, and just a crumby feeling after eating the 'bad' foods....hence why I am constantly on a quest for a healthier life.  in 2010 I tackled that trouble and was able to have victory...enter Cupcake and the pregnancy that came with her...and at the end I was blessed with a healthy baby girl....but my body was back (literally) in the exact place it started...maybe a few more stretch marks.  I cannot blame anyone other than myself for defeat in this area....I CAN try, but the truth is that it is MY FAULT that I am where I am.  

Anyway, I guess this is a rambling of my mind....I read something today that just sparked my mental state into needing to plead with mankind to take responsibility.  I believe 100% that we all have a purpose on this life and that purpose IS NOT to cause brokenness and sorrow.  

Do something positive today...negative is naturally going to come our way.  What are we going to do with it???  Be someone positive today....you just never know who you might touch!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Music gets to me...

As I have stated on more than one occasion, music can really get me thinking.  I can hear a song and it can completely change my thought process for the moment or it can change my mood....music gets to me.

For example, on Sunday morning I had on Pan.dor.a and the song "Precious Memories" comes on...my mind is immediately taken back almost 12 years to my newlywed days when Handsome was providing pulpit supply for area churches when there was a need.  One of our little churches was between pastors and so for 4-5 months we would get in our old black Mercury and drive to this little town while listening to the Gospel Hour on a local country station...almost every week they would play Precious Memories and now every time I hear the song I can smell Curve cologne, see my Handsome in a suit and tie and almost feel the plush burgundy seats of the old car!!!  It is crazy!

But last night I had another song come up, "I Could Not Ask For More" by Ed.win...Mcc.ain.  Now I realize this song was written for a couple, but while I was hearing the words I couldn't help but think of my kids.

"Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smiling just to see the smile upon your face
These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
Looking in your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are is everything to me
These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
These are the moments I know all I need is this
I have all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me
These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've got all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me
I could not ask for more than the love you give me 'Cause it's all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
I could not ask for more"

The entire song really makes me think of my children.  Knowing from the age of 13 the odds of me carrying a healthy pregnancy to term were slim to none, becoming a mother was one of two things I really ever wanted....getting married and being a mom!  When I met Handsome and told him that I probably could never give him children and he responded by telling me that we could just adopt!!!  I knew he was my man!  

"Smiling just to see the smile on your face"
-I do this often, there is nothing better than a dimple cheek, toothless smile of one of my kids!  I love how their personalities come through in their cheesy little grins!!!

"These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive"
-Seriously, what else is there in this world than loving your children?!?!?  Or at least for me...when I have my Handsome and my kiddos I am a happy lady.  Just the other night all 6 of the kids were playing Ring Around The Rosie and when they would All.Fall.Down they would laugh and laugh and laugh...get up and do it again.  Our Cupcake would tackle anyone that thought they could get away with not falling and then more giggles would happen.  It was fabulous!
..."These are the moments I'll remember all my life"

"Looking in your eyes, seeing all I need"
-The fastest way to bring my attitude around (other than music) is being able to have a little sweet time with one of my kids.  When I look into any of their eyes and connect with them on that level it really is an amazing form of contentment that comes over me!  I love my kids!  I love that God allowed me to be their mother!

"I could not ask for more than this time together, I could not ask for more than this time with you"
-I honestly have a hard time committing to anything that is going to take me away from my kids regularly!  When I first was invited to my bi-weekly Bible Study that was one of my biggest concerns...but I will be missing putting them to bed, feeding them supper, jammies, Bible story time....my Handsome had to remind me that 13 nights out of 14 I would still be doing those things and it was okay to be away from it.  But, "Right here in this moment is where I'm meant to be, here with you here with me!"

"Every prayer has been answered, every dream I have's come true"
-One honestly could not know how many prayers went up before my babies came home!!!  I prayed for children before I was married (though I wanted to wait until after marriage), my Handsome and I prayed for children almost immediately after marriage, and we asked many friends and family to pray with us knowing the battle we had ahead of us...and then the miscarriages...there was many prayers!!  But the prayers have been answered (even though I am still praying for another baby) and my dreams have been realized in the fact that I have 4 amazing children that are all mine...and two on loan for the moment!!! ;)

Anyway, I know this post is a little cheesy, who am I kidding...most of my posts are!?!?  But it is a glimpse of how my brain works when a song comes on.  Each and every line I dissect to get the deep down meaning of what is being said/sung!!!  This song just so happened to be singing from my heart about my kids!  

Have I mentioned that I love my kids???  "I could not as for more..."