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.....