It's Moving Day!

Home. Home is where my family is. We have called so many places home in our 20+ years of marriage, I have lost count. Actually I haven't but it seems like an abundance. We have moved a total of 13 times (counting this last time). Crazy, huh?  But this time, Lord willing, is our last.  We became homeowners last month and it is one of the most thrilling moments of our lives!  We have been doing an incredible amount of cleaning and slowing moving things to our new home, and today we complete our last and final load. Today is moving day.  Tonight we spend the first night in OUR home.  Words cannot express the feelings I have right now.  I'm a little nervous too... I keep expecting a big meteor to fall from the sky and crush my ecstatic emotions. This has been a long journey for our family, and one filled with some crazy outlandish tales.  But I wouldn't trade the ride for anything in all the world.  God has and always will be our rock and our fortress, and has and always will be there for us thru ever mountain and valley.  He has met our every need.  He has never failed us. Glory be to the LORD most high, for He alone is worthy of all praise! 

"I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.  Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." ~Psalm 116:1-2

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, I'm still here.  It's been a looong time, I know.  It has been hard trying to find time to just sit and write a post...I have thought about it though, does that count? 

I can't believe Thanksgiving is here already!  That only means one thing...well, maybe a few things, one: I've blacked-out over the last month because I don't know where it went, two; It's time to be thankful and eat a bunch of turkey, and three; CHRISTMAS is just a month away!  I'm going to pretend I didn't say that last one, and I'm not going to think about it till tomorrow, if that's ok with you. 

Anyway, it's good to be back.  We have so much to be thankful for, even if we aren't receiving the blessings that we think we should be getting. At least we're not receiving what we deserve.  God is so good to allow us the gift of life and breath.  We have a beautiful house, great kids, food on our table, and of course, shoes on our feet!  Remember to stop and give thanks for even those things we take for granted each and every day!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

My Heart Overlows...

Don't you just love those mornings where you actually get up before anyone else?  I know I do.  My day seems to run just a little smoother as well.

2 weeks until Christmas.  Actually less than.  Am I finished with my Christmas gifts?  I was supposed to be, BUT.... I'm not.  That's not to say I haven't been busy.  I feel like I'm becoming one with the sewing machine, I have been in front of it so much here lately :).  I do have to say though, I think I have more done now than I did last year at this time, if that is any consolation.  But that doesn't help me get done any faster....I was supposed to already BE done!  I really enjoy making things, it's just the stress of "am I going to have everything done in time" that stresses me....  :)

I have been finding ornaments on the Christmas tree in "clusters".  Liberty LOVES the tree and the ornaments, she's just not supposed to be touching them.  So it is amusing when I find ornaments clustered in groups of 3 or more on the same twig.  Her excitement puts a smile on my face.  I received a gift in the mail yesterday and I put it under the tree {the first gift under the tree} and Liberty laid on the floor on her belly with her head in her hands and kept looking at it.  She's only 16 months and even though she had her first Christmas last year, this one will be even more exciting!

I was reading over my girls' blogs {3 of our daughters have them} and it hit me real hard this morning how much they have grown.  I see it every day, 3 of them are as tall as me {one of them slightly taller....but I'm not going to admit it} but when it hit me this morning, it was a different feeling, one with mixed emotions like melancholy, sadness, I'm getting old, ... but also joy in seeing them become Godly young ladies.  They make me so proud.  I am so proud of all my children.  God has blessed me FAR more than I deserve.  When I was my oldest daughter's age, I said I didn't want ANY kids... in those words.  But God in His love and mercy changed my heart and gave me 8 beautiful children, I am so unworthy yet so thankful!  I am so thankful that God doesn't see me as me, but sees His son, Jesus Christ.  Where would I be today if not for His love.

Have a Blessed Lord's Day!

Ordinary thankfulness...

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day! Plenty of sunshine, NO humidity, and just the perfect temperature! I took the kids outside for some of their school today, and we sat and read for over an hour, (it went by surprisingly fast!) then we had a picnic lunch out under a shade tree. I am SO thankful I can have my kids home with me each and every day! Even on days that aren't so "good", I am still thankful for this blessing. After lunch they ran off some pent-up energy, while some of us mowed the grass. I won't mention the fact that I was wearing my capris and should have been wearing pants, and therefore something was thrown from the push mower while I was mowing and it hit me below my knee...needless to say, it hurt...and bled too. ☺ But, I'm fine, and I continued to mow. I am thankful for the blessings of ordinary days... more thankful than I can say.

What will become of the next generation?

"If we are traitors to the truth of God today, what will become of the next generation, and the next, and the next?" ~ Charles Spurgeon

We live in an ever changing world.  Some of it for good, and some for evil.  I am thankful that at this present time, we are able to educate our children at home, and I pray that it will always be so.  It is easy to get depressed and bogged down when reading or listening to the news.  Our government does not have our best interests in mind and their agenda is not one of truth and righteousness.  BUT we serve a God who is victorious!  A God who is ready and willing to stretch forth His hand and win the day!  Do we want Truth to prevail, or are we content to wallow around in the mire of decay and allow our children to become the victims of a traitorous government that wants nothing to do with the God of the universe?  I was telling my children the other day that they must learn all they can about our Christian heritage and  History, because there will come a day (if it's not already here) when children don't know our true history.  The children today are being programmed with socialistic propaganda, an agenda that forgets our Creator and focuses all attention on the creature... humanism.  It's not too late, for with Christ there is victory!   But it's not going to be handed to us on a silver platter.  2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Up from the grave He Arose!

We are being blessed today with a much needed rain..... not because we actually Need the rain mind you, but because we have an abundance of pollen!  It is everywhere, coating anything and everything with its yellowy self!  So, needless to say, I am thankful for the rain today.

  

I hope everyone enjoyed a fine Easter.  We had a beautiful day with a great service and a fine meal with family.  I don't know anything about the pine tree cross story, but it is told that the tassels on top of a pine tree resemble crosses when Easter is approaching.  But one aspect is true, they do look like crosses!  I took this picture of the pine trees in our back yard on Easter, and just the ones on top of the trees look like crosses.  It was neat seeing them up close when I zoomed in with my camera.  The trees are so tall it is hard to see the crosses without zooming in on them.  I am so thankful for Christ's atoning sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary and that He rose again, He defeated death and the grave!  Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

O the joys of spring!

I am so thankful for spring, and for beautiful sunny days to enjoy with family.  We have been spending a lot of time outside and it has been quite fun!  Before we know it, the weather will turn so hot that it's almost unbearable, so right now I am going to enjoy it as much as possible!  Liberty gets so excited when we go outside, it is such a joy to see her little face light up when we walk out the door!  And of course she enjoys the life of being pushed around in her stroller by some willing participant!  They are all growing up so fast, right before my very eyes!  I wish my mind was capable of holding onto every sweet memory of each of my children!   

Just the other day Clara came in the kitchen while I was cooking supper and said, "Mmmm, I smell the smell of the smell!"  I guess Reb has said it as well... where they come up with some of this stuff is beyond me!  One of the things I want to do, (to help my poor aging memory) is to post their funny little quirks and sayings so that I will always have them available.  Then maybe one day I will have my blog printed in book form.  So as a reminder to myself, enjoy each and every day... they flee away so fast!

A thankful prose...

It is often true that we don't realize how much we rely on certain things until we have to do without them.  That has been our situation this week.  Nothing major, just a little water problem.... that's all.  We have a well, and well, :)  the tank has been leaking and it has gotten to the place where it isn't just leaking anymore, it is spewing!  But not to worry, it is supposed to be fixed Saturday.  Till then, we are just turning it on when we have too, like in the morning and right before bed.  So needless to say, I am quite looking forward to Saturday!  The simple things like turning on a faucet for water have become major things.  To say the least, I am extremely thankful for modern technology.  I do not want to go back into the "olden" days as my girls like to say.  I am content with having running water at my fingertips, thank you.  But it does make for a nice little blog post, doesn't it?

Thankful rambling...

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
~ Galatians 2:20

I am so thankful to be a child of the King!  Yet it was because of MY sins that He was crucified!  That is such a humbling and sober thought.  My wicked depravity put Him on that cruel cross!  Yet I could do nothing to prevent it!  He was slain before the very foundation of the world!  And still more sobering... He loves me!  ♥ Who am I?  But it's not me, it's Him!  It's all about Him!  I am so glad it's all about HIM!
I came across this quote on Facebook tonight from Charles Spurgeon,

"I believe that nothing happens apart from divine determination and decree. We shall never be able to escape from the doctrine of divine predestination - the doctrine that God has foreordained certain people unto eternal life."

The weather is starting to look a lot like Spring!  I went outside the other day with the kids and we just enjoyed some much needed time outdoors.  And who but my favorite boy in all the world brought me flowers!  Isn't he just the cutest thing?  Just look at that sweet little boy smile!

And I want you to check out those eyelashes!! Wouldn't you love to have some like that? 

I am glad he brings me flowers.  I am thankful he is my son. ♥


I know this post seems a little unorganized, but hey, it is nearly 1:30 in the morning!  

Yep, I'm one of Them...at least I think I am...

Do you know that when you really set your mind to thinking....even if you have a mind like mine that wanders, and wanders... and still wanders some more; you know, it seems that the older I've gotten, (and I'm not like old, OLD...yet) that I can't seem to keep my mind focused on any one thing for more than a few minutes at a time (sometimes seconds) and it is just about to drive me bonkers!  I'm THAT woman.... you know, the one with ADD.  :)  Anyway, what was I saying?  Oh yeah, when you really concentrate on what your thinking about, then you will realize there is so much to be thankful for... yeah, even my fuzzy, wandering mind.  I guess I should still be thankful that I have a mind!  I could start typing right now, and still be typing next week about every seemingly insignificant thing that I have to be thankful for!  I live in America, in the great state of Georgia!  My belly is full, I just won't tell you that I have been sneaking into my chocolate stash... I am warm, I have children snoozing in their beds, I even have a husband who is so sweet that he brought me flowers today!  My point being in all this rambling drizzle is that we tend to over look so many things that we take for granted on a daily basis.  The fact that God sustains us with food, clothing, a roof over our heads, and the daily necessities of life that if we didn't have them, then where would we be?  I am also blessed with a mother and father who love me and brothers and sisters that are close to my heart.  I have seen the hand of God this week in lives and it amazes me still how much grace and mercy God gives to His children.  How much He cares for and uplifts those who rely on Him.  Only a true child of God can experience loss and yet see God's providential care and blessing on their lives!  I am so thankful for this life that God has allowed me to live at this place and this time in His-story.  His love is amazing, steady and unchanging; His love is a mountain, firm beneath my feet...

A Great Gang of Kids!

I am blessed.  Why?  I do not know.  But God is so good to me, even in the midst of all my failures, complaints, and ingratitude.  There is Nothing I deserve ...except Hell.  But GOD.... who is Rich in Mercy!  I am SO glad He is rich in Mercy!  But it doesn't stop right there.... He blesses me in so many ways!  And one of my most precious blessings are my children!  He has blessed me and my husband with 7 beautiful girls and 1 sweetheart of a son!  (he's mama's favorite boy in all the world, btw)  I couldn't be more thankful!  We are by no means, rich in money or material wealth.  And if you knew the half of it, you would probably wonder how in the world we get by....  But God has richly blessed us with our children.  No, we're not "skipping through the clouds eating bon-bons with smiles on our faces with nothing but kind things to say to each other" every day.  As a matter of fact, I don't ever recall doing that!!  We are normal people with sin natures, and we do have our battles.  But I am so thankful for my bunch of kiddos!  I love them very much!

 (Liberty isn't in this picture)

So here she is!

 

 

(click to see large)

He Means So Much to Me

My Dear Husband!  He is the World's greatest you know!  There aren't enough words to describe the joy I have in my heart for him!  I am so glad that I can say "he truly is my dearest friend".  We have been married for 17 years now, (half of my life!!) and we have had our share of  "good, bad, and ugly" times!  But God has sustained us and given to us a Love that I never dreamed possible!  So, for my Thankful Thursday post, I want to say how thankful I am that God has blessed me with a man that truly loves me "as Christ loves the Church".

My, how time does fly!

Liberty will be 6 months tomorrow!  Where DOES the time go?  She is such a wonderful blessing to our family.  The kids are always laughing at her little antics, and she happily obliges them.  She is rolling all over the place now, wherever she wants to go, she rolls.  She says "papa" too.....(at least that's what we say she say's), it could be anything; it just *sounds* like "papa" and it makes James happy :)  She is our sweetheart and we thank God for blessing us with her in our lives.  We love her very much!

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thanks to Rachel for taking the pictures

Thankful Thursday...

We all have so much to be thankful for...way more than we deserve.  That's a given.  I am going to use Thursdays to tell a little about what I'm thankful for.  Sometimes it will be the real things in life that we can't imagine living without, and other times it may be silly things that we often take for granted, but should be thankful for nonetheless.  And there may be times that I am positively off my rocker with specific things I am thankful for...but just GRIN and bear it!

 

But for today's post I will start with the MOST important...without HIM we would not have life.  I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father, the King of kings and Lord of lords, my Redeemer and Savior, my Rock and my Fortress.  He has given me a life for which to be thankful for.  He has REDEEMED me, SANCTIFIED me, and when He looks upon me, He sees His Perfect Son, Jesus Christ, not the wicked, depraved, sinful woman I am, but THE spotless Lamb of God who shed His Blood on Calvary!  I have much to be thankful for!!