LBY Week 9

First of all can I just say that the first week when Beth said that this was the right time for this study, boy was she ever right. It has come at such a crucial time for me that I can without a doubt say that, I NEEDED this study NOW. That also gives me some pause to think 'what is going to happen that I need it twice?' since I am also starting over and going through it again with some of the W@H girls.

Okay when I started, I am thinking Gentleness. I can handle this one. What is so hard about that? The homework starts out with three aspects of gentleness. Day one Submission. Hey I have been working on that one! After all arent' we getting ready to go to seminary? Aren't I staying home and not working? Yep got that one pretty much covered. Then Beth hits with the words "Is your life a tangled mess....for too long?" ummmm...... you mean not letting go and really living now? "Rest in His faithful care....... Allow Hime to comb out the tangles until you are free...... Submit." Okay you have got me there God. I will work on this submission part.

Day two Humility. Okay I know I have that one covered. I am pretty much sure that most people I know are better off or can do it better than me. Putting others first, being humble. Then Beth translates the greek word - it meand "modesty toward self and piety toward God." Hey wait a minute my definiton of humility didn't include God, I better look further. Beth continues "It results from emptying ourselves of self" Sounds alot like the pouring out, she talked of earlier. Or as she explained " a correct estimation of ourselves which results from a correct estimation of our God" In other words, God is God and I am Not. I didn't want my hubby to do his run like he did on Wednesday, but you know what. If he hadn't done them like that I wouldn't be making my insurance payment tomorrow.

Days three, four and five Teachability. Okay, I am not going to be arrogant and say I have this covered after all just look what I learned the first 2 days. The first Word, she brings us to today is James 1 :21, which tells us to accept God's Word. And when I don't accept it, He will use what he can to get it across to me, even a donkey as in Numbers 22, or His judgement as with David in 1 Chronicles 13. And then showed us the Ultimate Teacher, and His commands to us to make disciples and teach them, which isn't the same as preach to them, to preach is to evangalize, to 'get them saved'. To teach is to continue their education.

That is a lot, gentleness involves submission, humilty and teachability. What more is there? And then I get to the video. Gentleness bows, both at the realization that times to come will be a trial, as Christ bowed and came to earth, and after the trials are through, as Job did in in his discussions after Satan's dealings with him.

1. It is more than our words and attitudes. -- we don't just talk the talk we gotta live it!
2. There are things that WILL be difficult -- pain is often what we fear the most
3. There will probably be some deep wounding -- don't dispair God hears you when you cry out, but in His answer the greater YES comes AFTER the earlier no.
4. But after the wounding, He is there to bind. But binding takes time. We must choose to stop and let Him tend to the wounds
5. And the scars that develop from the wounds that were healed are marks of grace and trust. -- See I have been there, I know what you are going through. Touch my hands. Touch my side. I have been there.


Gentleness bows.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

True Memorial

I just sat here and bawled through this entire video

Summer Reading Program

As if I need another thing to do this summer. My kids are going to be a part of the summer reading program at the library. So I decided to to the same thing. I am joinging The Summer Reading Program. over at Amanda's. Actually I followed Leann, I am going to set up a TV/Computer free time every day where we all read. My personal goal is a new book a week. That is a book I haven't read before, but from the state of finances it will either be a library book or one of the many on my shelves that I haven't read yet. I also have the goal of getting on schedule and keeping up with the Great Books Reading Partnership. That doesn't include finishing LBY and starting it again with W@H well going through it all again anyway. Yes I will be busy but I love it! This is the first summer in a long time that I have productive plans that I have actually thought out.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I am officially kidless for the weekend. I met my mom and she picked up my kids and they will bring them home Monday night. I am looking forward toward a relaxing weekend. Where I can clean up and clean out my bedroom. I hope this accomplishes two things.

1. get things sorted out for a yard sale in a week from now.
2. actually have a hideout or sorts for hubby and me.

So I won't be having a cook out or having people over but I have major plans for this weekend for our home.

LBY week 8

Faith Fights!!

We studied the quality of faithfulness last week. Many of us know Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." NIV. A very simple definition. However, as often the case with Bible verses, there is alot more to it than meets the eye. We learned that the faithfulness of God is rooted in His steadines, steadfastness, honesty, and certianty. In other words His faithfulness is His Believability. We can believe everything He says, because He is faithful in everything he does. We can know.

Many times our faith is increased going through trials. God could deliver us out of it, but in His Infinite Wisdom, He chooses to walk us through it so that we can see His faithfulness and witness His beliveability (Deu 31:6, Jos 1:5, Heb 13:5) When asking why, I am often reminded that He doesn't think like I do (Is 55:8). Sometimes He lets the ship run aground But He alsway has a destination in mind for us. (Acts 27:28 - 28:10)

I have seen this in my own life recently. This time last year we had two incomes and found if difficult to make ends meet. We were always waiting on that next paycheck to pay a bill or do something. We were trusting that to come. However, when I chose to stay at home that, voluntarily cut out one of those sure paychecks. We still had something to rely on, though, Hubby's paycheck, my Pampered Chef, even some stored away in savings. Little by little however those things we relied on have drifted away. Hubby lost his job, our savings dwindled, I quit working hard with my Pampered Chef, etc. It is through this that God has taught me that Every thing I have comes from Him. It is Him I have to rely on to provide for me and my family. And what is more He knows what I NEED better than I do. I tend to confuse wants with needs. And as for our destination. A year ago, we were still looking at seminary as being something out there, off in the distance of our future. We didn't know when or how we could get things taken care of so that we would actually get there, a calling both of us know and have known for a long time. But through these hard times He has shown us way to make that calling a real part of our lives. We are now waiting on our psycological evaluation so that we can take those steps. All in God's time. Who know where I will be this time next year, God does. And I am relying on Him to order my steps to get there.

Further in our study we learned what part faith takes in our own Spiritual armor. It is the shield that quenches the flaming arrows of the enemy. It is put out there to stop everything our enemy throws at us. I loved Beth's statement that the enemy was mostly just mouth. Satan is described as a lion roaming about seeking whom to devour. We need to take our example from Daniel whose faith shut the mouths of the lions. Think about it, with his mouth shut Satan can not only not devour us but can't he say anything either!

How many times in the last few weeks has Satan reminded me of the bills that are due, or the gas I need for my van or how much I'd like to take a break from cooking and go out to eat. It is those times I need to get down on my knees and lift my shield of faith to quench those arrows.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

I guess I should clean off my desk more often

Remember this post. Well today, 22 days later, I found my keys. You know the saying, "If it would have been a snake, it would have bitten me."? Well that was more than the truth. I mean, if they were breathing, I would have heard them breathing. You see they were right on my computer desk! Not a foot from my mouse hand!! They were just under the piles of paper on the desk. And what is worse, if it hadn't of been for my middle child playing with things he wasn't supposed to I wouldn't have found them. He knocked something off of my desk and had to put it back. When I went back to 'rearrange' his handiwork, in other words, ordering my piles, there they lay.

A note to those of you watching and waiting. Hopefully LBY is coming tonight. I also have another post in draft stage, on self education. But for now I must take care of bedtime for three little kids!

Works For Me Wednesday

I love, love, LOVE cookbooks. I especially love the ones that are put together by organizations, usually for fundraisers, like the W@H cookbook, these often have tried and true recipes for regular people like me. I also subsribe to Taste of Home, not to mention numerous Pampered Chef cookbooks. However, I always have had the problem of storing them and finding the recipe that I wanted at any given time ~ Yes I really do use many of these cookbooks ~ well this Christmas I hit upon the perfect thing. The Campbell's Recipe Keeper. (I tried to find a pic online and couldn't) It has been the best thing. It is full sized (81/2 by 11 inches) three ring (1 inch) binder. It has pages on which to copy recipes. It also has dividers that have pockets in them for those recipes that you get out of newspapers, or recipe cards you are given. I am slowly transfering my classic recipes that I use often to this binder so that I can have them all in one place.

The next step is books for each of my children, yes the boys too. But that will come, that will come. I am even looking into scrapping those someday........

For more What Works for Me tips see Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer.

So far this week......

I have deep cleaned the kitchen, including the floor, which was a major project. I have cleaned the living room. I have cleaned off the boy's floor, sorting and putting away the toys, clothes and shoes.

What it more the kitchen is cleaned again, after 3 meals today, and the living room is still basically clean. The kids and I will do a 15 minute tidy before the night is out and they head for bed. We are getting ready and learning new routines over the summer so that when we start school full swing in August they will already be in place and second nature.

We are ..........

.........off to the zoo this morning! We will be meeting LesleysWife and her daughter, for a picnic lunch followed by a couple of hours at the zoo.

Counting the chickens

I have slacked off in posting on my quest. There are a couple of reasons for that, one I got off schedule while I was gone and never got back on schedule. Two, I felt I was rehashing the same thing over and over, and boring ya'll. ~ Yes, I am from the South, I typed ya'll. ~ But then I realized that I was rehashing the same thing over and over, well because God was doing the same thing with me.

You see I am a planner, I 'need' the security of a plan. I need a back-up, a plan B.....and C.... and D..... you get the picture. Not that I always follow that plan, but it has to be there for me to feel secure. Last week I was telling God "we need $X this week to get by" If DH could do 2 railroad runs we would have it. I had it all planned out. By the time Wednesday and Thursday got here time was running out, and I was getting worried, anxious, crabby, all of the above. I cried out to God, "You SAID You had it covered". I was trying to fit God into my mold. Ever tried that...... It.doesn't. work. What I needed to do and finally surrendered to doing was to simply trust Him. Saying, "Okay, You said You had it covered, I don't know how, You are going to do it but I am trusting You to do it somehow." And you know what He did. I listed those ways in my praises the other night. But I realized that though those, we are ahead of where we would be if God had worked according to my plans. Kind of makes me glad that "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. " Isaiah 55:9 This week has been much better for me. Every time I start to plan things out for God to follow, I have been able to stop and give it over to God right then. And you know what God has been blessing that.

Works For Me Wednesday

Okay, I thought I didn't have something for today, but as I was commenting on another blog I realized it was 'what works for me' So here goes.

My youngest son started climbing out of the crib at about 19 months. I wasn't ready to move him to the bed yet, but for saftey's sake we did. However, there was another safety problem, how do I keep him in the room instead of wandering the house at night when the rest of us are asleep. Yes he has been known to be up for an hour or more in the middle of the night. So now I put the baby gate up in his doorway when he lays down. Many times he doesn't stay in bed, in fact the last few nights I have picked up the sleeping child from the floor and put him in bed when I went to bed, but he doesn't wander in the hallway or worse the kitchen while we sleep.

Apologies, Ammends, Praises and Lessons

My LBY post for this week was very short. Honestly there was a lot to say I just didn't have anything together coherently to say it. I was convicted by reading others' posts that I didn't give it or God the time they deserved. I will take my time and compose the post that should have been there tonight and in the morning and post it tommorrow.

I believe I again, have fallen into the cycle of not really living the Life God called me to live but just playing at it again. And that will end once again. There is so much I want to DO and so much I want to learn. I CANNOT be playing at life and still accomplish all God has for me.

So I will start RIGHT NOW! He deserves the Glory and the praise for several things that have happened in the last few days in our household. They are, in no particular order, other than that is how God called them to my mind.

• My MIL gave us gas money so that we could make the trip to see her this weekend. It also was enough to pay for the birthday dinner that we had Saturday night for hubby, and helped him to buy gas today for his runs.
• A dear church friend also gave us some money for our trip.
• Hubby was guided at the end of last week to approach his runs in a different manner, tis gave us more money this week to put into the bank for some bills looming near.
• I opened the bill for our vehicle payment today, to get the phone number to call and work out arrangements on the past due portion of it, only to find WE ARE NOT PAST DUE! I have not made our last payement, at least I can find no record of it, and there is no past due balance. The amount due only shows our current month and the due date which is still in the future.
  
• So that leaves the money in the account for our current mortgage payment, which I though I couldn't start on until the vehicle payment was paid.
  
• All of our family that gave us gifts for our birthdays (his was Sat, mine was Mon) gave us cash and we were able to apply that to necessary things.
  

God is Good. He is working His goodness in out through others in our lives. I am now concentrating listening for God's direction to spend myself in the act of DOing good for someone else.

One other thing, I am slowly learning that I needn't be the planner I thought I should be. God does all the planning. I just need to trust him. I keep saying God we need xx amount this week to pay this or that. He keeps saying, I will give you what you truly need if you just trust me. I didn't get the x amount for what I wanted paid last week, but now I am ahead of where I thought I would be at this time.

Hubby is also taking an active role in playing out the lessons he has learned. Last week he started taking out his tithe immediatly on reciving his payment for his runs. Before setting aside money for his expenses, which he has to do before he can give me any money at all. And God is honoring that. I am learning from that as well and will be taking out my tithe from any money I get before putting the rest in the bank or using it.

LBY week 7

I am FINALLY getting to post on this, and it will be short and sweet. I had decided not to post until after I had seen the video because many times Beth's commentary cements the whole idea for me, and I was so blessed by the video tonight.

So many things went through my mind as I watched and listened to her teaching on spending ourselves. Such is a timely message for me. I want to whole up and say I can't do anything because I can't afford to do anything right now. When really how can I afford NOT to do anything. Goodness DOES! I am only to go forward and do. He will reap the harvest. It is for His glory.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

My Frapper Map

I started this last year and thought I'd mention it again since I have moved my blog and have new readers.

I have a Frapper Map. Just click on the link (or the one in my side bar) and add your name and zip code and it will place your pin on the map. I like to see where my readers are.

Day 4

It has been a tough day. Not so much for me as for my hubby. He had a very bad day at work, working many, many hours for virtually nothing really. That has him very, very frustrated. We talked on the phone several times today and it was very surreal. From the worlds' perspective I should have been very worried and upset. But I had a peace about it all and it was preventing me from worrying. Later the more I dwelt on it I started to get that depression but even then it wasn't as bad as it has been in the past. For that I am thankful, truly thankful.


Another today, actually it is from yesterday, I didn't put down.

Reading Cathie Jo's blog, I discovered that God does have a purpose for even these low spots. I mean I always knew that in my head, after all my life verse is Romans 8:28. But really experiencing this has taught my heart this concept as well. One of the reasons I am glad that I am keeping this journal, an boring you guys in the process, is this documentation of my feelings and emotions through it all. I will have some sort of testimony when we get to the other side. And can honestly say to someone else, I HAVE lived it I KNOW what you are going through. It is easier to relate to some one who really understands where you are.

Contest

Sagerats is having a contest to help promote The HSB County Fair where you can sell and buy used curriculum, EVEN teacher edition's/guide's/answer key's, with no host percentage fees!

Day 3

Today has been a much better day. Even after a call to/from the mortgage company. Hubby and I had a long prayer time as well as some good couple time last night.k Of course the hours from 1 am to 6 am were riddled with wind and storms. Normally storms don't bother me much, but last night the wind, straight line, was so bad it really scared me. For awhile I was so petrified I couldn't even pray. After awhile I settled down. I had another long prayer session about the fear. But God was so Good, He restored my comfort. Praise Him!!

A couple of things have stood out for me in the last 24 hours.

1. God convicted me of my envy. At first that one blew me away, because it wasn't of material things exactly. It was of testimonies. I wanted God to act in a mighty way so that I could testify to it and give Him the Glory. I was fooling myself by saying it was for God's glory, when it really was for my own. So I confessed and handed it all over to Him and work not to try to do His planning for Him.

2. Leann spoke of she and her hubby relating to each other as both as first born children. They are able to understand each other easier because of this. I, to am a first born. However, my husband isn't, he's fourth born, first of his own father, but fourth nonetheless. These children are typically more laid back, from what I understand. This info helps me understand and relate to my husband differently.

3. Schedules and routines are wonderful. Even though I slept in because I was up a lot for the storms last night. I still accomplished a lot and feel good about what I have done. My home isn't perfect but I am okay with it. I am working slowly and steadily on it. Another few days of decent moods and good routines and I will be on track.

I am still looking for God's plan, seeking it out step by step.

Works For Me Wednesday

The Sock Basket

I hate to match socks from the dryer. For years I have solved this problem with a sock basket. When folding clothes any socks go straight into the sock basket. When a person needs socks that person, or me, goes to the sock basket and rummages around until a match is found. If you come across a match that doesn't belong to you, you have to take a second to match them and fold over the tops, that match can be dropped back into the basket. Occasionally my daughter will offer to match all the socks. For this she gets paid -- one penny for each pair of correctly matched socks. If she decided to sort and put them away she then gets a dime for each person's socks she sorts and puts away.


See Shannon at Rocks in my Dryer for other Works For Me Wednesday participants.

Day 2

This letting go is hard. I am still worried about income. And not seeing a clear answer as to when more is coming in, I worry. I know worry is not from God. My head knows this, at least. Every time I bring up the subject to Steven, he gets more frustrated because he doesn't have any pat answer either. That is what I want, what my flesh needs, pat answers. Unfortunately for my flesh, God doesn't opporate that way. That is where I need more and more of His Spirit. That goes back to a point back earlier in the Beth Moore studey. I need to pour out my self so that He can pour in His Spirit.

Quest Day 1

Stacey types hers in the morning -- I believe that I am going to have to type mine in the evening. That is just the way my body works. I am a night owl and so me and mornings do not get along.

I went to my mom and dad's this weekend. I talked about that last night. The trip did me a lot of good. I got to see friends that I haven't seen in a LONG time. Yeah I talked about that too. It was good to see them, to hear about their kids and grandkids. But it made me realize something. I am not the person that I set out to be all those years ago. Some time ago back on my other blog I wrote a series entitled "A Girl with a Dream" That was a story of how I met me husband. It was a long jorunery from a young girl that wanted to grow up and marry someone from her hometown ( I had my heart set on the eldest son of one of those couples I saw at my parents ) , settle down right there, teach and raise a family in the same place I grew up. In just a few short years that dream changed as I met and later married my husband. But it didn't change all that much, basically the location and the guy changed. I stil wanted to teach and raise my family. But God changed that. I now stay home, teach and raise my family.

He had other things to teach me as well. Through a series of steps some would call bad luck and others, including some very close to me IRL, would call bad judgement, but I call Divine Intervention, I don't have the security of knowing when the money is coming in to pay our next bill, I must totally rely on God to provide those things. As some of you know this has been a severe stuggle of faith for me. It may get worse before it gets better. I don't know, I certianly hope not! I do have the promise, straight from Him that He 'has it covered'. So however He choses He WILL care for me.

I am a long way from that girl with a dream. I am also a long way away from where several in my family thought I should be. They don't say it outright but I can hear it in their tones and the wording of the questions they ask. Beth Moore talks about how she never had her mother's blessing for her ministry. I believe I know how she feels. I have always been the homebody daughter that does what is expected. Now I am having to force myself to break out of that mold and search for MY path the one God called ME to and not the one that some in my family think I should take.

There are things on the horizion for me which I have glimpsed for a long time. They are coming nearer and nearer. I am just about ready to let go of my safety net, that path I 'should' be on and step out onto the path MADE FOR ME!

For today that meant not worrying about finances and resting in the assurences that God will provide. In the days to come it will mean answering the naysayers with the confidence that God Will Provide, even if I don't know how at that moment in time. It will also mean speaking out boldly about my faith with confidence I don't yet have in myself.

LBY -- week 6

Patience --

Well to tell you the truth I didn't get a real grasp on Patience until watching the video last night. I am glad I waited to post until after I watched it. It really hit me when Beth started talking about the Lord's patience with respect for ME. He has waited almost 32 years for me to let got and really live for him. I am not there yet, no where near there yet. I am just starting to let go. And having Him convict me every step of the way.

Then she starts talking about point three the end result. God uses those that frustrate us the most to bring out the bad in us so that He can deal with it. There is a blog that I read earlier that talks about the actions of the refiner. A refiner has to watch constantly as the silver is heated to make sure the temprature doesn't ruin the silver. He takes the impurities off as they rise up and knows when his work is complete when the reflection is pure. So it is with God. He watches us constantly to make sure that we aren't ruined. We can take comfort in that fact. He doesn't want to ruin us only purify us. He deals with the impurities as they rise to the surface. and His work will be finished when His refection is Perfect in us.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

My Quest

As I said earlier -- I started a quest, similar to my friend Stacey. Then life got in the way. But really I believe that was God designed, too. Let me explain a little bit. I was enthralled with Stacey's idea and at the point I am in my life I felt some big changes coming about. I wanted to document the changes and feelings etc. Sooooooo, I decided to start an account of my own. Reading hers, I realized she had some goals, fine I need goals too. What am I going to put down, where do I want to go with this, what am I going to write about. See a pattern here I, I, I, . That is right I wasn't letting God in on it. I was directing it. That should have been my first clue something was wrong. Did I listen???? NO. Friday I had a meltdown of sorts trying to get things ready to go, deal with things here. It just wan't happening. Hubby came home and made me take a nap before I left. I am thankful he did. Then, later that night I get online at mom's ( I hate dial-up) and discovered encouragement that my W@H girls had just for me. Wrapped in that love I went on about the day yesterday. After I got home, I was lamenting my housekeeping skills. It really wasn't intended as a step into another pity party. However, the ensuing discussion my husband and I had was rather rough in spots. But it all boiled down to one fact, both of us feel we are 'playing' at life and not living it to it's fullest. We get caught up in going through the motions, trying to plan, appease the world, but not releasing to God everything and living for Him. I never truly understood wanting life more abundantly. I thought I did, but I realize now that I didn't, don't, haven't. I want that, I want to give it all over to God and be released to live His dreams. I don't want to take another step that isn't ordained and in His Will.

So as a result of my weekend, I now have a God ordained focus for my quest. I will document it on my journey. Letting Go and Living for God.

In which I reminiss

I posted about starting my quest back on Thursday and never really went any further with it. I have an excuse life got in the way. More specifically I had a horrible day Friday, that was mostly self inflicted, and spent yesterday preparing for and celebrating my mom and dad's open house. I got to visit with two couples from the town where I grew up. This was the highlight of my trip, well one of them. I spent time with four people who watched me grow up, and learned about the current happenings of their children, with whom I grew up. And discovered, to my delight, that they have as much problems with their kids that I tend to have with my own. My sister is now planning a get together with the origianal three couples, my parents and the other two couples, all 7 of us kids, 6 spouses and all 12 grandchildren ranging in age from 15 to just over 1. That will be a lot of fun, if it ever happens. Knowing my sister however, it will.

I will be back later to post on LBY and some on my discussion with hubby last night, a more direct post to my quest.

Okay Here We Go

I have thought about this off and on all day -- and the way my day has gone is it has been more off than on. I have been stuggling with exactly where my place in this family is. No that doesn't sound right. I know I am the wife, mother, teacher, and homemaker. I have no issues with that AT ALL! My questions lie in the finer aspects of these issues. How amd I supposed to go about these things. Not routine/schedule wise, but just being. What am I supposed to do, what are my duties? How do I go about it. What are my reponsibilities and how far do they extend?

I guess I have some pretty spcific questions, right now a big one being, should I continue with Pampered Chef. Should I ask my husband to arrange his schedule around my needs in doing this. It isn't something I can take my children with me to do most of the time and days he has a long run he isn't home to take care of the kids. Now his schedule is such that he doesn't have to take those long runs on days that I need him home. However, it is these long runs that actually make us money and we can't depend on having them popping up when we want them to.

A Quest

My dear friend Stacey, who is amazing in her own right, she just doesn't believe it .......yet, has started on a 40 day quest. In reading her first posts, on which I haven't commented, but still read, I have discovered something about myself. Or prehaps rediscovered, she and I are alot alike. At least in our insecurities. But as I typed out the words 'alot alike' I realized that if I identify with her in the insecurities, I must try to idenify with her in the positives about myself as well. So I too will make a daily quest. I intitally wanted to say it too would be 40 days, but I don't know. I guess I do need a goal or I won't know when I get there. So lets say this -- I will spend the next 40 days reaching beyond myself even more and daily recording what I find. At the end I will look back at where I started and set a new goal.

Be back later with some goals and directions I want this to take. I want to take some time off today to listen to God and His plan for me during thistime.

Okay so maybe last night's post was a little rash -- but I DID lose my keys and still haven't found them yet. Haven't done laundry today either. But tomorrow is a new day, right? On good notes the kitchen is clean again and my family for the most part enjoyed tonights dinner.

I have some paperwork to do and get in the mail tomorrow, beauracracy gotta love it. Other than that it is a home day with lots of work to do.

Read This

What a tribute!
The nineteen year old she mentions at the end is not only her grandson but also my nephew. I have always supported our personel but it just got a lot closer to home!

Works For Me Wednesday

I have decided to participate in Works For Me Wednesday - started by Rocks in My Dryer.

Heres my tip for today. I actually picked this tip up from one of the WAH girls, but I love it. I found I was always needing bread crumbs for something or another and didn't have any, and sure wasn't going to pay for bread crumbs at the store, so I do this now. I keep a large freezer bag in my freezer when I have ends of bread or buns that don't get used, I store them in that bag. Every so often or when I need crumbs for something I take out that bag and run the bread through my mini food processor. I then store the crumbs in a smaller freezer bag. I always have bread crumbs ready to go or bread ready to make into crumbs.

I must say it

I am a first rate bonafide loser. I have lost my van and house key. I got set to leave for church tonight and couldn't find them. I now have to borrow hubbys and pray that I don't lose them too. The first place I am going is to get a duplicate van key made. After that I will head home, to clean up the house that was clean once today, not that you can tell it now. Do 4 more loads of laundry, in addition to the one that still sits in the washing machine because I have neither the drive nor the inclination to fold what is already in the dryer and move the wet load to the dryer. It has probably already soured anyway. Then I must plan for what I am doing for mom's open house this weekend.

Well it is Monday, Yeah it is Monday. I was up early to get to a 9:15 appointment that I had to wait over an hour for once I got there. But thankfully I thought far enough ahead to bring school work, which Alli finished while we were waiting. All three of the kids were fairly well behaved for the time. I was proud of them.

I have been on my phone alot with my mom this week arraging things for her open house this weekend. Every time she calls she wants me to bring something else. LOL I love her, and this is going to be so much fun, she planned and arranged both of our wedding receptions and it is fun for my sister and I to work together for something for her. I will try to take pictures for everyone.

Noah

I think I am beginning to find out how Noah felt. It has rained almost ALL DAY. Switching from light gentle rains to terrific downpours. At times my street has looked like a river and there are now more puddles than yard out there.

Edited to add: We have had 8 inches of rain this month -- 4 of which have come in the last 24 hours.

Lazy Saturday

The kids and I are having a lazy Saturday. Daddy left for some early runs before his class in the middle of the day. I was joined in bed around 7 by Eli, who slept soundly by my side until around 9. Alli got up shortly after, while I caught up on the computer they watched TV. I decided to cook a big breadfast/lunch, I guess that'd be brunch. So around 11 we ate pancakes, bacon, and eggs. The kids then decided to watch Apollo 13, why is it that I ALWAYS cry at the end of that movie? I worked on a Prayer Shawl and helped Alli with her very first cross stitch project. Now the boys are watching PBSKids and Alli is playing in her room. Nobody is dressed, yet and I want a nap, even though I haven't done anything of much effort. A typical lazy Saturday.

LBY - week 5

How can it be we are already half way through this study?

This week we studied peace. I have to admit I was luke warm on the studies of love and joy. I don't know why. There were very good points made by Beth and the others, some of which hit home home with me. But nothing has stuck me has hard as the study on Peace.

We, as a couple, have made and been forced to make some pretty radical decisions in the last 18, or so, months for our family. Some have been filled with peace, some have not. We have gone from two, full time working adults to no working adults, to one full time working adult, with a couple of stints of with part-time working in there. Some by choice, some by force, some by necessity. Through it all, when I concentrate on God, as Peter focused on Jesus, I have had peace. When I looked around at my circumstances, as when Peter looked at the wind and waves, I began to worry, panic, fear, and cry out. Last week I cried out to God and He answered in a very real way. I was really worrying about our bills etc, I was praying. As I was praying my eyes fell on an open notebook laying by my bed, This was a total God thing, because unless I am writing, my eyes are usually closed. Anyway, I felt God telling me to list my bills. I didn't write them down, but listed them out loud, well wispering because Steven was sleeping beside me, I felt Him say "I have it covered" after I listed each one. Then later at the end of the week, circumstances looked as bad as they have ever looked. I sent out pleas for prayer to three groups of people very dear to me. Each group pledged to pray for me, my family, and the situations. Through all of those prayers, mine and those of the others, I have seen the hand of God move this week. First of all, during the day, when I'd get to thinking about this bill or that one, a song would come to my heart and I'd start singing out loud.

My God is so BIG, so Strong and so Mighty, there is nothing my God can not do!
My God is so BIG, so Strong and so Mighty, there is nothing my God can not do!
The moutains are His,
The rivers are His,
The stars are His handiwork, too.
My God is so BIG, so Strong and so Mighty, there is nothing my God can not do!

Sometimes my kids and I would sing this several times until I was filled with that peace once more. Then Thursday morning I was awakened by a phone call with great news from my husband. Imeediately I had another song on my heart. This one I only recall a couple of lines of but they are the most important "My God is so Good, (sing with me now) My God is so Good" Things are starting to look up and we are trusting God to bring us up once again.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

This is worth your time

I got this from Lissa at the Bonny Glenn

no comprehension of Japanese required.

How to put on a Band Aid so it stay on all day

It almost 10 PM and I still have 3 children that are awake. Ugh Tomorrow is not going to be pretty.

What can I take to work that will keep 3 children ages 7, 4 and 2 entertained for 3 hours so I can actually get some work done? We were going to let them watch a video but the TV/VCR that once was up there is not there any more, and I can't beg borrow or steal another one, and at the moment paying for one is out of the question. I am so thankful that Cathey and Michelle are allowing me to bring my children in a few hours a week so I can do paperwork and help out around there. But if I can't control them any better, they won't let me keep doing this. UGH......

LBY - week 4

Joy -- Joy we have because our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Joy in the middle of the Grace we have recieved. In fact in the Greek Joy = chara and Grace = charis. Or as Beth "Joy is literally written into grace!" This joy is the bedrock of our faith.

Through it we can and do experince other aspects of joy. One is the joy of discovery, most impoertantly the discovery of the perfect treasure - Christ Jesus. It is this joy that caused Paul and Silas, bound in chains to rejoice. It is also this joy that allows me to rejoice in the small wonders of life, even in the midst of dismal circumstances. And even at times rejoice in those circumestances. Corrie ten Boom, praised God for the fleas in the concentration camp and it turns out it was those very fleas that kept the gurads at bay and allowed them to share their faith.

Another aspect is the joy of restoration. God can and will take miseries He allows and turn them into ministries, if we allow God to restore us. How many times have I heard, "I have been there." and then the speaker has offered support, a listening ear, a word of correction, or wisdom from heart felt love.

These qualities of joy are the ones that resonated in my soul. In these times in my life here are times that I struggle hard to find things in which to rejoice . I just want to be on the other side of all this mess. But in my head I know that there is a Will behind it and more and more my heart knows it too.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

quiz time

You Are Dr. Bunsen Honeydew

You take the title "mad scientist" to the extreme -with very scary things coming out of your lab. And you've invented some pretty cool things, from a banana sharpener to a robot politician. But while you're busy turning gold into cottage cheese, you need to watch out for poor little Beaker! "Oh, that's very naughty, Beaker! Now you eat these paper clips this minute."

The Muppet Personality Test

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Jason Bateman

Who's Your 80's Heartthrob?

Your Gemstone is Topaz

Comforting, considerate, and stable. You are down to earth and grounded.

What Gemstone Are You?

You are a Brainy Girl!

Whether you're an official student or a casual learner, you enjoy hitting the books. You know a little bit about everything, and you're always dying to know more. For a guy to win your heart, he's got to share some of your intellectual interests. A awesome book collection of his own doesn't hurt either!

What Kind of Girl Are You?

Still no LBY post

I know, I know, I KNOW. I haven't posted a LBY post in over a week. But just as joy, The post cometh, but later. I will do my best to get one up in the next day or so. But right now it is after 10pm and I STILL have kids awake! So it will have to wait.

Off the cuff and probably will be revised later but.......

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

These verses spoke to me today after a hard few days and a lot of worry on my part, I sat down to read my bible today. I didn't have any direction to turn, because I had finished up my LBY homework yesterday and will watch the nect video tomorrow. So I just opened my Bible. I am not normally one to do this. Open at random and expect God to speak. But today, I just read where it opened. It was in Matthew chaper six. The middle of the sermon on the mount. As I read I came across, the passages of the lilies in the field. I started calming down. God used those scriptures to speak to me, as I was nearing the end of the school year last year and wondering if I had made the right decision to stay home. I knew then that He would provide. But I wasn't calm enough yet. I had just typed the words "I don't want great riches, just enough to pay my bills and eat" Then I came to verse 31 and 32. Wowzers. He was speaking directly to me! He knows what we need. I don't mean that ingerenal terms. I mean that spicifically. He knows I need to buy butter. He knows hubby needs a fire extinquisher and first aid kit for his cab. He knows. He knows.

why is it that I never see sunrise then??? and I WAS a history magor at one time

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Your Scholastic Strength Is Deep Thinking

You aren't afraid to delve head first into a difficult subject, with mastery as your goal. You are talented at adapting, motivating others, managing resources, and analyzing risk. You should major in: Philosophy Music Theology Art History Foreign language

What Should You Major In?

The interview is today

Hubby's job interview is today at 1:30 CST! Please Pray!

Edit --

We won't know anything until Friday. In the meantime we are making some other changes in our life. Will keep you up dated.

I have been tagged

Well I have been tagged by Janice. I now have to do the 5 wierd things about me post.

Here are the rules of this tag:

1. Go write weird facts/things/etc. about yourself in my comment box and on your blog, then tag six more people!
2. Then leave a comment that says “You are tagged” in their comments telling them to read your blog. ENJOY!



~~~~~~~~~~~

I will play along

1.) I have to have a glass of milk with my ice cream- It just doesn't taste good any other way.
2.) I can't stand to have my face wet -- I keep a towel handy over the shower door just to wipe my face off every other minute or so
3.) I am right handed but it is almost impossible for me to drink with my right hand - I will always grab the glass, cup, can whatever with my left hand - 9 times out of 10 grabbing with my right hand will cause me to spill it.
4.) I also carry most things, books, bags, kids, etc with my left hand/arm/shoulder or on my left hip.
5.) I am the only female in my family (that is my side of the family) that has never colored her hair in any fashion. With females on both sides of my family ( my mom and both grandmothers) going grey pre-maturally this says a lot. I don't have any grey yet.......and don't know what highlights I'd do if I wanted to.

oh yeah -- I am going to tag anyone who wants to do this! It has been around for awhile and I don't remember who has and who hasn't done it. So if you haven't and want to consider yourself tagged.

Oh I forgot the real news of the day...

This weekend I discovered my old first year cornet/trumpet book. It has been 20 years since my first year in band. My first band concert was May 15, 1986 (relax I only remember the date because it was my birthday) Ironically my last band concert was also on a birthday, my hubby's though I didn't know him at the time. May 13th, this time in 1992. Anyway I digress.

When I discovered that book and realized how long it has been since those first days in band, I began to recall my directors. I wondered what they were doing now. I wondered if my Jr. High director was still there or not. He had been there for several years before I started band and was there the last time I knew anything about it. I had a so/so relationship with the high school director. He and I never got along real well, I only tolerated him because I was fiercely loyal to the band, and my friends there. He only tolerated me because my parents did so much work for the band boosters. He has since gone on to other things. But I loved my Jr High director. He actually shared the duties of beginning and intermediate band with the high school director but basically he did most of the work for all three of those bands. He could work wonders with anything he touched, both literally and fugitively. He fixed my horn more times that I care to remember, never complaining or even asking me "just how did you flatten the bell of the cornet?" (another story for another time) He made the skirt for our drum majorette my first year in marching band. He repaired many uniforms over the years. And most of all he was the quiet support for many of us frustrated by actions of the Sri High director. I believe that our band program would not have been as strong as it was without the support of J. Ron Pratt.

I received a forwarded email today from a fellow alumni and fellow graduate of the class of '92, who by the way is NOW a Junior High band director at the same school, that stated that Mr. Pratt is retiring at the end of this year. This fellow alumni is trying to get in touch with as many band alumni that he can to let them know the news. He is also collecting cards to present to Mr. Pratt at the spring concert, (which is incidentally NOT on mine or my hubby's birthdays ;-) ) and inviting all those that can to come to the concert to share in the special tribute and reception afterwards.

I will be sending my card with a heartfelt letter of appreciation, and if it is at all possible I will be going to that concert!

Daily bits. . . . . . . .

I need to post - I know - Life has caught up with me once again.

Last Friday I met my sister halfway and she picked up my kids, taking them away for the weekend. Hubby and I had the house to ourselves. Well actually the dog had the house to herself, we were both working. Saturday afternoon, we joined the rest of my family at my parents house and spent the night and Easter morning with them. It was great and we actually made it out of the house in time for Sunday School.

Upon returning home yesterday, I spent the time cleaning my kitchen agian..... do they ever stay clean??? And starting laundry.

Today I have spent the day schooling, cleaning the kitchen, picking up the living room, and doing - that is washing, drying, folding and putting away -- four, yes FOUR loads of laundry. In addition I worked for 3 hours.

Pray for us - Tomorrow is Hubby's job interview. We really need to see clearly here.

This about sums it up!

You Are a Learning Cook

You've got the makings of an excellent cook, and the desire to be one. But right now, you're just lacking the experience. You couldn't be a top chef yet, but you could be an apprentice.

Are You A Good Cook?

Job Interview

I can't post the news at W@H right now but I will here!

Steven has a job interview Tuesday, now it is only part-time but it will be better than what he is doing now. And who knows maybe it could turn into something better. We will know more next week, for now please pray for peace and clarity.

LBY extra

I had several comments that liked my glass of water analogy, in relation to pouring out so that the Holy Spirit could pour in. Yesterday in chuch, He seemed to be working overtime and extended the analogy for me. I wanted to share it with you.

I stated "No matter how hard I try I can not put any milk into a glass that is already full of water." I got to thinking that statement is more correct if I add the phrase "without making a big mess." Have you ever tried to pour something out of a glass or cup and have the liquid go everywhere but where you are trying to pour it? Big mess right? Quite often it is the same with me when I start to pour out my confessions and concerns, espeically my confessions. A big mess. It usually isn't pretty, especially when I have held onto them for a while. But as the glass or cup must be emptied of its contents for what ever reason, I too must be emptied of myself, so that the Holy Spirit can fill me up.

I also got to thinking of the "experiements" both of my sons have done at one time or another. They each have tried to pour one liquid into a container already full or almost full with another liquid. Another big mess even bigger this time, however. However you will notice, or at least I did, that some of the liquid being poured will end up in the almost full glass. Keep pouring and eventually more of the liquid from the cup will be displaced allowing more of the liquid being poured to take up residence. The original liquid will probably never be completly replaced. I believe that the concept works the same way with the Holy Spirit. I am not saying He forces his way in but, the more that I pour out the more He will pour in. Again usually a big mess occurs, this time bigger than if I had 'done it right in the first place'. At the very least it is a longer process. The part of me that remains is working against the Holy Spirit causing war and fatique in my soul, ususally manifesting itself in stress, short temperedness, and even physical ailments, headaches and the like.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

Books To Read Before I Die

Okay I have seen several of these lists, made up by different people, in the last few months. There are always some books that I say WHY?? and others that I wonder WHERE ARE THEY?

So I am asking you,

What books would you put on the list? and WHY?

The obvious first one would be the Bible, but what is next.

Again!

I did it again. I am feeling the need to defend myself and I haven't been accused. So instead of that I will be doing a study on a certian passage of scripture, to discover what it really says and means and asking God to speak to me through it. Please bear with me.

Silly quiz time

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

And Ann I did this without pencil and paper

More Prayers

The van will probably need a new Transmission ~ that is what the guy said over the phone. He will look at it on Monday. Still praying for a miracle that it is less than that though.

Praise the Lord we seem to have found a very reputable place to do the work and each one we have talked to said he is the most reasonable on prices as well.

Keep praying for the financing - we will have to borrow money to have it done - but as it is the only vehicle large enough for the family it is a necessity.

And on top of all of this my middle child has gotten sick. He is running a fever and has a bad cough and sore throat. He is the one who had croup so bad when he was 19 mos. so I don't want a repeat of that.

LBY - week 2

This week the studies centered on who the Holy Spirit is and what He does. We established that the Holy Spirit is definitely God, a member of the Trinity. As God, He exisited before time and had a hand in creation. We established that He is working now through seven different tasks or ministries that He performs. He convicts, regenerates, baptizes, indwells, seals, fills us as believers and restrains evil. Of these, the first five occur at the moment we recieve Christ as Savior. The sixth, filling, requires us to allow ourselves to be filled, relinquishing control over to Him. And I am so thankful for the last, the restraining of evil. Yes there is evil in the world, a lot of it. I don't deny that but I am so thankful that there is a limit set by God as to what Satan is allowed. Of course if it were up to me I'd set the limits a lot stricter, but God didnt' ask me.

The ministry of filling the believer is the one that requires continual action on our part. In order to fill something, that something must be emptied. No matter how hard I try I can not put any milk into a glass that is already full of water. It is the same with the Spirit. If we are to be filled with Him, we must first be emptied. We must pour out our confessions and concerns, be broken and humble before our God before He can pour Himself into us through the Holy Spirit.

The natrual man, the sinful man will get in the way of this work every time. Paul calls these men spiritual babies. They have the first five ministires of the Holy Spirit, but have not grown past that. It takes a person walking with the Spirit to understand spiritual things.

In looking back at all of this, while doing the homework for the last day, I realized something. We are looking for many ways, any way to seek out and save those that are lost. We are dispairing at a sin sick world wondering why God doesn't move to change things? Why can't we change the minds of these people?

We can't expect a fallen world to be moral, to be spiritual. It should not surprise us that it is out there. Sin sick souls do not understand, they can't. It is the Spirit who teaches and insturcts us, makes it so we understand. If one has not the Spirit, there is no understanding of things Spiritual. If revival is to happen, it must come from those who do understand. It must come from US. In order for revival to happen within us we must be filled with the Spirit. We must humble ourselves, pour out ourselves and let the Spirit fill us. We must seek it or it will not happen. If we, as believers, are yielded to the Spirit others will know and seek out what we have. We will know the actions to take, what sin sick soul needs our touch. Only those filled with the Spirit, or Spiritually mature, can love the sinner and hate the sin. Only Spiritually mature person can minister without condemning a person. Only a Spiritually mature person can put what they want, even if it is good, just and holy, aside to help a person or to pray for a person for what God wants. How can we become Spiritually mature, by pouring out ourselves and allowing the Spirit to pour in. Then we can pour forth in work and service.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm - Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

Prayers please

My van won't go, at least in drive. It will go in reverse but not drive. I was starting to pull out in traffic on a trip to the store and something went clunk and now it won't go......

Prayers for a quick and inexpensive recovery.

Oh and a praise. Our state has a health insurance program for kids in low income families. I FINALLY sent the paperwork off last week to enroll our kids..... I know, I know, it only took me 3 months since losing our coverage to do it, but any way. Well I got a call from DHS today saying my oldest two were already enrolled (from the last time hubby was without ins). It was never deactivated when we enrolled on hubby's new ins. So all I had to do was add the youngest and have new cards sent out for the oldest two.

Media At It Again

Those of you how know me well, know I am a big NASCAR fan. Maybe sometime I will get my blinkies over here. . . . . Any way I was at NASCAR.com looking for news on this weekend's race and came across these:

NASCAR Fans Didn't Take the Bait and this NASCAR Rebukes NBC for Dateline Tactics.

Apparently NBC tried to incite Anti-Muslim sentiment by planting two Arab looking men, complete with beards and head gear at the track. However, they were duped by the NASCAR fans who didn't react at all. I personally think the whole stunt was outrageous and am proud of the fans that didn't take the bait.

The real reason he doesn't fly. . . . ....

Eli is into and I mean INTO super heros right now. Tonight as we were walking into the resturant he goes.

"I can fly, I am just not because if I do, then everyone will know I am a super hero and my secert identity will be lost"

Daily bits. . . . . . . .

Okay so my list didn't get done today. I started out well, folded two loads of laundry, washed one and dried another one - these two loads, however, are still sitting in their respective machines . . . . . . . . . not good must get the wet one dry before bedtime. I also got a load of dishes washed. And even made a trip to the store for a few necessities, and to the bank to deposit the money to pay for said necessities.

However, it went down hill from there. Another headache crept up on me and to add insult to injury cramps came in fast and hard. I was religated to the couch for the duration, after downing the obligatory Tylenol and iced tea. I let the kids watch a movie again. This time it was The Easter Carol. You know we've owned this movie since it came out and I have never watched it. It is a good little movie.

Back to the headache. Several people have mentioned migranes. I have never considered what I have a migrane. From what I have heard other people describe, my pain isn't anywhere as intense. It is usually around my eyes and/or around the back of my head in that same general area. Other times it is up my neck. I have always considered these sinuses related and/or tension/stress headaches. Usually one, sometimes two rounds of Tylenol take care of them, especially if I take it at the onset, like I did today, and not wait 3 or 4 hours, like I did last night. If I wait, then sometimes, I get sick feeling, like last night. I also have discovered than they are worse around the time my period hits. Worse as in more frequent, not more painful. They are just as painful each time. So I figure hormones are playing a role here as well. May be when I get health insurance again I will have all of this checked out.

In other news, God has been talking to me lately, about my desires and His desires. I haven't got it completly thought through but there is something going on here. Prehaps I need to be working on my LBY post early again. . . . . . . . .

I have been nursing a headache all afternoon and evening. Finally after Tylenol, popcorn and 2 large glasses of tea, it is almost gone. I am going to try to lay low tonight though and then get up early in the morning and hit everything hard and fast tommorrow. I have laundry piling up, dishes piling up and a boxes to find to pack up things I cleaned out of my pantry today.

I didn't get the whole thing done but I did get the four shelves (two on each side) that hold the majority of the food cleaned off and rearranged. Now what's left are the top two shelves - the ones that hold the junk - and the floor. Hopefully I can get those and the lower cabinets in the kitchen done. Those actually shouldn't be that bad.

• One set holds my PC stuff, it basically just needs organizing.
  
• Another set holds my plastic ware and my daily use PC, agian it mostly need is organization and some minor purging from the back.
  
• The single cabinet next to the diswasher holds my electric appliances, waffel iron, sandwhich maker, Foreman grill etc. - just organizing there too.
  
• The set by the stove holds cookware and bakeware, again more orgaizine than anything else.
  
• It is the set under the sink that will take the most work.
  

Of course if I am concentrating on the area under the cabinet I guess I must think about the drawers too. Now that is scarey. But at least I can take them out and sit down to do those. Tomorrow expect a report on what I did. Not because you are intrested but because I need you to hold me accountable.

Spring Fling

The W@H girls are doing a Spring Fling this month, purging out the old, getting rid of winter's clutter and getting ready for spring. They did this last year but I didn't participate. This year I am going to. It fits in wonderfully. My mom, sister and I are planning a garage sale for the first weekend in May, so this works perfectly for me. With others to motivate and keep me on topic I should have no problem, right??? Well, we will see.

Anyway, my major goals are broken down into the four weeks.

1. Kitchen
2. Living Room (this includes the 'office' area)
3. Kids' rooms (the BIG thing here is clothes, toys and books - but then again there isn't much else in thier rooms)
4. MY room (That is the biggest challenge!)

And for the Kitchen this week I have the following goals

• Pantry - Tuesday
• Freezer and Fridge - Wedensday - not that I will put any of this in the sale
• Lower cabinets - Thursday
• Upper cabinets - Friday
• Box and label everything - Saturday

Home Again

Well my talented husband made what is normally a two hour trip int a four hour trip. What talent does that take? A lot since he wasn't even on the trip at all. But we made it up to mom and dad's and back, the trip home only taking two hours ;) The kids came home with 3 pair of new shoes, 1 new dress, 2 new haircuts, and as the owners of new toys (the said toys stay at grandmommie's and granddaddy's). I came home with more gas than I got there with (thanks to the extra 2 hours on the roads) and a new garden hose, but without the books I went up there for. And so thankful for parents who really love and care for me and my family. We are planning a trip for Easter, this time with the hubby so that we all can see Poppy (aka my grandfather) who will be making the trip down for the Holiday.