Goodbye for a while

For those of you who occassionally read my blog, you might have noticed it's been almost a month since I blogged last. I was so good there for a while, but lately I just haven't kept up..... and I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back to it enough to actually post a blog more than once a month, so until then a goodbye.

I'll leave you with some of the things I missed blogging about....


We went to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis and the boys had a blast...









We went back to Missouri to visit with our family and went swimming at Grandma Janet's house...









Jonathan got his first haircut! What was so special about this is the barber is the same barber that cut mike's first haircut, michael's, joseph's and samuel's. It was only fitting that he should cut Jonathan's hair the first time as well. He didn't get upset, not even once, such a big boy!










And most recently my firstborn.... Joseph... turned 6!!!! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by.... and now he is starting school in just 2 weeks! To start 2 pictures from when he was littler... one from when he was a baby... and then one from his 4th birthday party with me holding him.... how I wish I could freeze time some times.. :-) But I think all mommies wish that once in a while.....













As you can see I missed a lot of opportunities to blog :-) Thanks for all who have read up until now, and if you want to know when I start blogging again please leave a message so I can let you know...

God bless!

Never talk to strangers?

Last night before I went to bed as I was checking my facebook, I saw an amber alert. My heart sank as I read about a little 4 year old girl abducted from her front yard while playing with her older brother..... I thought about two of my own boys... the same age as this brother and sister that had been playing outside. It started to make me think about if I have truly prepared my children how to act when a stranger approaches them.

But then I also recalled an episode of Criminal Minds. One of the characters said that, if I remember right, only 1% of abductions are from strangers, that most are neighbors, family or friends ( i could have remembered that statistic wrong, but I know it was very much the minority). He said that we have prepared our children for one type of abduction and left them vulnerable to all the others.

It's a subject that most of us have probably mentioned to our kids, however have we we really prepared them as much as we can? I know for myself sometimes I hesitate in mentioning it as often as I should because I don't want them to fear the world. However I am learning that if they are prepared, and have an action plan they will be less likely to be so afraid. Hopefully they will feel empowered knowing they know what to do in the situation.

So today I sat down with my two older boys and went through some scenarios and although they answered every question right, it still makes me wonder what they would really do if they were put into that situation.

I remember when I was younger and watched some talk shows, how they would have parents on a "stranger" show and the parents would talk about how much they had prepared their young children to stay away from danger, and how they were confident their child would not fall for a trap. However when the show had an undercover police officer approach their kids on hidden camera, almost every single child fell for the scam and went with the stranger, much to their parents dismay.

I know I can't spend my life in worry.... I have to trust God... and know that no matter what he is in control. However I also know my job is to teach and prepare my children and to keep them as protected as I know how, and to give them as many tools as I can to help them if and when they are ever put into these types of situations.

Here are some links to websites that help you get those conversations started with your child and some helpful hints. I know that I will be reviewing them myself and having many talks with my boys.

I am praying for this little girl and I ask that you all pray with me too. Her name is Alisa Maier and she was abducted from Louisiana, MO. Please pray she comes home safely to her mom and dad... as well as all the other missing children out there....



http://www.ehow.com/how_2302152_help-kids-identify-dangerous-strangers.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4880462_protect-kids-child-abduction.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2301634_help-keep-kids-safe-from.html

Please read these and go over them with your children.

My movie... today!!

I never do my movie monday on monday ... :-) maybe i just need to change it to "My movie day".. :-)

I heard a song today that touched me so much.... a cry from a wife and children to their husband/father..... it's by sanctus real....

So please share this with your husbands.... share this with your fathers..... it's an amazing song!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAKBXBXz1fo&feature=email

I apologize for not having the video up on my blog, but my computer is having some issues and youtube looks really funky on my computer... Just copy and paste the link.. :-)

But please take a second to listen/watch the video... and let me know if it speaks to you or the man you share it with!

My sammy is 4!!!!!!!!

Man... it never gets easier.... watching your kids grow up... become more indpendant.... On the 22nd of June... my samuel turned 4!!! He was so excited.... he kept showing us his muscles and showing us how big and strong he was getting.... I of course saw pictures of him in my mind as a little baby...







and now he is a big boy!!






My how time flies!!!

Father's Day...

Yes I know that Father's day was this past sunday... however I was so busy I didn't have time to stop in and blog... so I am playing catch-up today.

For those of you who don't know me personally, my father passed away when I was 9 years old. I don't think I really understood what that meant as a child. As I grew up it began to hurt more, not less. As I saw other girls with their fathers.... saw movies about wedding day's..... and just knowing a part of me was missing....


Fortunately I had a great Heavenly Father who I was able to cling too..... and God provided so many wonderful men on earth for me to look to as a Father Figure...

One that really sticks out is Bill Vogt. My band instructor from middle school through the 9th grade when I moved. I remember I didn't think much of myself... and I was just learning the trumpet. We had a test one day and I was moved to first chair. As I was leaving that day someone walked in.. i can't remember who and as I was on my way out he told them "there is my star trumpet player"... I remember feeling so proud.... and it helped jump start my self-esteem... He saw potential in me and made me feel soooo good about myself that he claimed a special place in my heart! Later in life after I had moved, I could count on him to be in the room at contest to hear me play my solos. It always made me feel a boost of confidence as I saw him sitting in the room. His daughter Chrissy and I became friends as adults... then best friends.... and their entire family holds a special place in my heart. Thank you bill for always being there... with a smile... a hug... a word of encouragment... it meant more to me than you'll ever know!

I also was blessed with many music ministers and pastors that stepped in and let me ask dating advice.... advice on life.... to name a few.... Ken Parker.... who took me under his wing as a young adult and was always there for me and I knew his door was always open for me.... Mike Wright who after a horrible car accident with my mother... came to the hospital to be with me and my family as my mom was in intensive care.... he was a very strong influence in my life as well..... Ky Bishop as my youth pastor.... what a great man of God he is and he impacted my life as well...

I was blessed with men my mother knew.... men at church.... another one that really sticks out.. his name was Curt Meyers. He had two kids that were in youth group with me at a church I attended. I remember specifically on one mission trip, we were at a water park.... and he spent the whole day with me.... i'm sure it was hard on his kids, but I was so thankful that he did that. I took to him as a father figure in my life.... he was always there for me.... I learned not too long ago that he passed away.... and my stomach sank.... and I felt the tears come to my eyes and sting.... and i haven't even seen him in 10+ years.... what an incredible man of God... and what a difference he made in my life! He was always there to give me a hug... ask me how I was doing... I knew that he really cared about me... and that was so important for me at that time in my life....

As an adult I have an incredible father-in-law in my life that helps with that role.

I know there are men I'm forgetting.... I mean God has provided so many men in times of my life where I desperately needed that earthly father figure.... and as I continue to think and remember them... I will try to add them onto this post... as I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting at this moment...

Since being married... and having kids of my own... Father's day takes on new meaning.... I now focus on my husband too..... the father of our kids. He is such an amazing Father and man..... God has really blessed me and our kids to have such a great father....



Father's day means so many different things to me..... but most of all I am thankful for my Heavenly Father.... and how as my father he provided so many father figures in my life just when I needed them... since my earthly father was with him.... He never failed me in knowing what I needed and making sure there was a Godly man to fill that in my life.


I hope you all had a very blessed Father's Day!!!! Don't forget to thank the men in your life if they have had an impact on you.... and to all the Godly men out there who take people under your wing.... God bless you!!!!

Seriously???!!! Deisgner Diapers!!!!

I was watching t.v the other day and I saw this commercial... and I thought to myself "this must be a joke" so I went online and to my disbelief... it was not a joke..... but I do think it might be a little crazy and kind of cute!:-) Check it out.... Huggies new Designer Diaper for babies!

I might have to grab a box for myself..... if I ever seen them in the store.. ;-)

Hey Everyone!!!

Well sorry I have not been able to blog for a while. We were in the process of moving and was without internet for about 2 weeks..... it was horrible! :-)

Truthfully it taught me something.... I had time for stuff I didn't know I had time for until I didn't have the internet calling my name! :-) It also made me thankful for the internet and being able to stay in touch with friends and family via e-mail or facebook when talking on the phone is sometimes very difficult with 3 little ones, and the distance being an issue in having a face to face conversation.

I'm learning in all things moderation...

I'm also counting my blessings and thanking God for his many blessings to me... even though I don't deserve it..... He has blessed me with a great Christian Godly Husband, beautiful awesome kids who are learning what it means to live for Jesus, and now a new beautiful home in our new state of Indiana!! Don't get me wrong... i'm not only counting my blessings when things are going great.... He has always been awesome.... through the lay off times when we were struggling financially.... through health issues in our families..... family turmoil..... rocky patches in our marriage.... the things that come with raising kids...... God is truly awesome.... and I'm so thankful for everything.... He has shown up in a major way no matter what the circumstance.... telling me each day how much he loves me.... it's amazing that you can have nothing... or a lot... but when you have God... you are blessed... I don't know what I would do without him....

Remember to count your blessings!!!Hope you all have a blessed day and hopefully i'll blog again really soon!!!!

Conviction.....

Ok something I am learning........ I am not always right....... lol....... oh what... you already knew that??? :-)

Seriously though I have been a person who is always very concerned with if I am making "wrong" or "right" decisions. To me there is no middle ground, I am either wrong or I am right, but lately God has been showing me a lot.

You see it used to be that when I was convicted of something I assumed it was for all christians, not just me. I thought that when I felt that something was wrong for me, or right for me, that it should be that way for everyone else, but it just isn't so. Unless something is black and white in scripture sometimes people have different convictions.

For example, I know people who choose to stop having kids, I know others who say that decision is up to God and they have as many as God blesses them with (duggars!). I know some who homeschool but others feel that their kids should be in public school. As I was asking around at my new church about how different people felt about all kinds of issues.... christian vs public school..... having more kids vs stopping.... birth control vs none..... I got the same answer from every single person.... "You need to pray and see where God is leading you and go with what HE tells you to do and how he convicts you"..... it was truly an eye opener. They didn't tell me THEIR opinion, they didn't tell me about the latest article they have read, or the statistics... they simply told me to SEEK GOD.... PRAY.... and OBEY..... WOW!!! At first I was upset.. I mean I wanted them to tell me if what I was thinking was right or wrong... lol... but they gave me the best advice ever... and it really made an impact on me...


God has been laying on my heart to do the same for others..... when others ask me why I am going to do something... why I am making a particular decision... I am going to say "this is what God wants for me right now".... and then simply tell them if they are struggling with a decision of their own to "seek God and then obey".

I must say though, if someone is making a decision that is contrary to scripture and they say "God is telling me to do this"... then they are being deceived. God never goes against his word... EVER... His "will" is never contrary to his "word", but I am learning there are a lot of issues that the bible simply doesn't come out and say "this is right" or "this is wrong". In those moments we need to stop debating... ..stop 'defending' our answers...... and simply pray.... and when we feel God's peace and leading, we obey him.

I still feel that I can share what God is convicting me of... what I am learning and feeling, but I am going to try to not make it to where people feel I am telling them it's my way or the highway..... the truth is it's GOD'S way or the highway....

It's hard not to want to be someone else's Holy Spirit... sometimes we think we know best... but God works in each heart in HIS time.... and maybe I am "right" about certain things..... but my job is to seek God with my whole heart and obey him, and through that he will reveal to me his will... then it's my job to obey. If others come to me... I want to share with them the same great advice I have been given.

Sometimes when we are seeking God.....there are articles.... statistics... and other things that God can use to help us determine his leading..... those things aren't bad. God has gifted some people with the wisdom and experience to help us learn, it's when we use those things to try and convince someone else that "we are right" and "they are wrong"... that it can turn us into trying to become their Holy Spirit....

Right now I am praying through many things..... and I'm going to stop asking other's opinions... and start seeking what God wants me to do..... please pray with me as I do this.

awwww.. Mother's Day!!!

You know as a kid I loved mother's day. It always made me feel sooo good to give my mom a card and see her face light up... and then open my gift... and with her big smile she always made me feel like i had just given her a million dollars... now I get to give that joy to my own children..... I love seeing their little faces light up when they give me something they have drawn, or helped pick out.... and I love just knowing that I am so loved.... and I am so amazed at how God has blessed me....

For all of you mother's out there.... I hope you had an incredible day today... and remember these moments...... the ones that I am sure you had today... when the kids are fighting... or screaming..... or looking at you with that "whatever" look on their face..... and hopefully it will bring a smile to your face as you remember their little faces saying "I love you mommy".... "Happy mother's day".....

Also don't forget to thank God for how you are blessed!!!

Here are some pictures from my mother's day.... (well mother's day eve... they couldn't wait until sunday to give me their cards and presents!)

The Largest Church in the World....

Today I was blessed by being able to talk to a former pastor of mine. I went to his present church's website and listened to the very beggining of a sermon.... a video..... it haunted me in a way, and you are about to see why.

This might get controversial, but I promised this year to be open on here.... open about my struggles... and now I'm going to be very open about my beliefs.

You see it is dangerous to allow just "anything" into our home. We may think that it's ok because we "know" the truth and we "know" we wont be deceived. However many christians as they allow certain things into their minds..... are deceived.... slowly! Little by little..... right... seems to be wrong.... and wrong... doesn't seem so bad anymore.... soon black and white.... becomes ... grey.....

I'm soooo not perfect in this area.... infact these convictions I speak of... I am speaking to myself as well..... there are so many gifted speakers... comedians... singers.... and I find myself rationalizing and trying to justify how I can still enjoy them...... I think "I am strong"..... "I was brought up in the truth"...."why can't I just enjoy listening even if I don't agree with their lifestyle/choices"... I understand that.. I do.. because not everyone as they are on their shows... or singing their songs...... do they talk openly against God or scripture.... but as you will see in the video below.... maybe one of those shows will.... and it is one where maybe not only you are watching but your children as well....

I think about the scripture where it says Romans 14:21 "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." Well I put my children into that category. What are we allowing them to hear as their values... morals... character..... are developing.... we may "know" the truth... but they are just learning...and easily swayed....and we are their role models... they take their cues from us....

It's not about "supporting" someone who doesn't believe what I believe... it's more about allowing something into my mind... that could lead me astray.... the bible is clear. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."Phillipians 4:8

As we turn on certain TV shows.... as we listen to certain music... does it enhance our relationship with God.... or does it cause questions.... and doubts on what he tells us is right and wrong? Does it make us see sin as "not that bad"....

Believe me... I am thinking to the answer to this question right along with hopefully anyone who reads this... I have some shows I watch right now... that I really need to pray and seek God's heart on whether I should be or not....

I know we can't bubble ourselves or our kids. Real life will hit them with more than they might even seen on T.V. or hear on the radio. I guess I feel that as much as we can guard our hearts and minds... the better..... personally as my children go to pre-school, school... outside events.. I know they are going to be bombarded with all kinds of things... so right now I am trying to give them the truth.... and limit their exposure to things that will not help them develop those character traits.... morals... and values.... and not only them.... but I still need to guard my own heart and mind.... to help me stay focused..... help me stay on the straight and narrow path as well....

Here's the video that inspired this blog..... I hope I don't sound "preachy" all the time... it's just as God speaks to me... I want to share that with others.. I know that not everyone believes the same as me, and the great thing about God is he gives us a choice. I am not going to shove my beliefs down anyone's throat... however I will share what I believe.... and I will respect other people.... as hopefully I will be respected...... please watch the video... and spend some time soul searching for yourself.....

Movie Monday

I know I haven't been consistent on my Movie Mondays... Sorry! Life can get hectic with three little boys and a husband!!

I know I shared a comedian Ken Davis with you all this past week, so this time I am going to share something a little deeper. Hope you all are inspired and encouraged. We need to remember always... Blessed be the name of the Lord! Watch it.. I promise you it will touch you!

When you feel God's leading....

Ever felt God tell you something... but it's something you didn't really want to do.... or you kept asking yourself... "Does God really want me to do this... is he really speaking to me"....

Sometimes when we feel God speaking to us and telling us to do something or say something it's not always easy. Sometimes it is..... but what I always tell myself is when you listen to God... follow his leading... even though the result is not what you are hoping for... trust that you obeyed his direction. Then you leave it in his capable hands... We wont' always know what the result of our God directed action will be, but we can always trust that when we obey God.... we can trust that he is taking care of it.... then we have to let it go......

There have been times where I did not listen to God..... his nudging at my heart... for one big reason.... fear.... fear of rejection.....what if I say the wrong thing.... what if it doesn't help.... but I am coming to realize..... it's not my job to know the answers all the time... or the outcomes.... my job... is to trust and obey.... no matther how hard it is sometimes..... no matter if rejection comes.... or acceptance...no matter if someone receives God's voice... or turns away from it....

"I trust you Jesus..... and I trust that as I hear your voice.... and try to do as you ask..... that I can have peace in that.... even when things don't go my way... or how I think they should....."

Uplifting moment for the day....

We could all use a pick me up sometimes, and today I was feeling like trying to find something that would give us a laugh and encourage us at the same time....

God is the author of joy... and sometimes to keep from feeling defeated.. we need to remember God gave us humor..... :-)

Hope you enjoy this.... His name is Ken Davis...... and he is a gifted comedian... He has been around since I was a kid.... Just a few short skits.... hopefully to bring a smile to your face today as they did me...

Feeling defeated......

Today I was sitting in church..... and I was thinking about my own struggle with sin... and how this world can make us feel defeated sometimes...... and my pastor was talking about how if we want to be on God's Team... the WINNING team... then we need to get serious about him. He asked the question to us... Are we more like Christ today than we were last week??... if not we need to get serious!!!

He talked about how he went shopping for potato chips.... and he thinks he's getting a full bag of chips but when he opens it up... he looks in to see mostly air... and very little of what looked so appealing on the outside.... he said sometimes we are "Potato Chip Christians"..... we make it look real good on the outside..... but if you open us up... it's a lot of air... and not much of a real relationship with Jesus Christ....

Then after leaving church I heard some very disheartening news.... I began to feel defeated..... I looked around and thought "this world... is SO far from God's law..... myself included sometimes..." but then something else the pastor said came to my mind...... we ARE on the WINNING team!!!! Yes we will struggle.... yes the world will obey their own law instead of God's..... and try to get others to believe that God's will is contradicting his word (which NEVER happens)....... yes we will fail sometimes..... yes others we trust and believe in will fail us....... but GOD NEVER WILL! and this is the best part..... we may lose the battles but GOD has already won the WAR!!! God has won!!!!!... HE is still on the throne......!!!! GOD is in control!!!

So I got on my knees.... and said "thank you God.... thank you that I can rest in knowing you have already won! " I prayed for those being deceived..... and I prayed that I keep my eyes open to the truth so that I wont' be deceived..... and I left my room feeling peace..... Please know that I know I'm not perfect!!!!.... and I hope I never pretend to be...... sometimes I am a potato chip christian.....and sometimes I need someone to look at me and say "it's time to get serious"..... today was that day... and I'm so thankful that God laid it on my pastor's heart to preach that sermon today.... not just tickle our ears and tell us what's easy.... but to really confront us... make us think.... and make us look up to our heavenly father..... and get serious about him!

They grow up sooo fast....

I remember when I had my first child Joseph..... and when I would tell someone that he was up all night crying...... or how happy I was he was crawling or walking.... people would tell me... "don't rush it away"..... "before you know it he'll be in school"...... and as I see my children growing I can see how right they are.... in the blink of an eye..... they change.... they grow..... what made me think of this is my 3rd son Jonathan turns 1 today.... Last year ..... April 12, 2009... Easter Morning.... I went into labor.... 5:30am we decided we need to go to the hospital.... and by that afternoon... I had a baby boy in my arms...... now as I look into his sweet little face..... he's already changed sooo much.... he's walking now.... talking some.... feeding himself some foods......














I look at my sammy..... he is almost 4 .. and sometimes he just acts so grown up..... and joseph.... he will be 6 this summer and will head off to kindergarten..... WOW....

















and michael!!! He's almost 13!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!!








I am going to try and heed all that advice I got a while back..... "cherish this time!"..... and I also got another great bit of advice from a great friend.... She told me... "when i'm up in the middle of the night... I don't get upset... I just realize.... this is what's happening right now... I accept it.... get through it... and realize that soon this will pass"...... and you know what.... pretty soon.... jonathan won't be up during the middle of the night.... (hopefully) ...... and another new phase of life will start..... the biggest thing I am learning is to be excited about "right now" and not try and rush them to the next thing..... children are amazing... they will learn..... they will grow.... we need not rush them.... or one day we will look back.... and wish we had slowed down a bit.....






So to all the people out there who have told me... "slow down"..... "this will pass".... "enjoy them.. it goes by to quickly"..... I am going to try and listen more to you.... :-)

In the living years.....

We traveled back to missouri for the Easter weekend and on the way home as I was searching the radio for something to listen too.... a familiar song came on.... and I just had to stop and listen. It's called "In The Living Years".... thoughts flooded my mind and I realized this was something I needed to blog about....

You see each day we get wrapped up in so much stuff...... and sometimes we forget to enjoy the things that are most important to us...

I lost my father when I was 9 years old..... had he known he only had 9 years with me I wondered what he would have done different... if anything.... if I had known I only had a short time with him... what would I have done different..... then I look around me... I see people lose people suddenly all the time....




The songs lyrics talk about how he had disagreements and instead of just admitting they didn't see eye to eye... they let bitterness get between them.... I see those around me doing that as well... and sometimes myself...... until one day.. they lose that person......



I think it's a daily struggle for us to stop.... take a breath... and really cherish the things most dear and precious to us..... to let things go that have hurt us.... or to realize not everyone is going to see it our way.... and to not let that get the best of us...

So take a listen.... then go and hug the people closest to you and let them know how much you love them... or maybe the dreaded words "i'm sorry" or "i forgive you"...... so that we won't have to say ... " I wish I could have told them... in the Living Years.....