Happy New Years

As I start this, it is 11:39, on Dec 31, 2010.  We're sitting in the sun room, watching cheesy late night,  wait on the new year to roll around.  It's funny, Barrett and I stay up past midnight every night, but I honestly could've gone to bed at 9:00.  LOL!  We have had a very low key day and I LOVED IT!!!  Had pizzas, watched movie, played WII ~Donky Kong and have just chilled.  I've been playing with my new BFF ~ my "Anti-Kid" laptop.  I discovered 2 great web sites.  www.cozi.com  and another one which I'll to post later, but it was a site that lets you read the bible in a year.  I'm excited about the site. And the Cozi site is a free online calendar and organizer  It coordinated my calendar with the kids' school calendar.  It allows to use color to coordinate everyone.    I really want to get organize this year, I know I'm constantly saying this.  My Mama always said that what you do on Jan 1, you do all year.  So, my plan is to spend the day cleaning, doing laundry, loving my family and writing

What would I tell a 16 year old version of myself

So, Midday Connection asked the question the other day on the radio:  What would you say to a 16 year old you?  Now that's I loaded question if there ever was one  I turned 16 on November 29,  1989.  Two very determining factors that would alter my life forever happened within two weeks of my sixteenth birthday.  First, my Daddy was in a horrific accident that  nearly killed him.  He was hunting in Sherwood and feel out of a tree stand.  I'm ashamed to say I don't remember a lot  about the accident.  I honestly don't know if I have just blocked it out of my memory, or if I was just a selfish girl at heart who thought of nothing or no one but herself.  Sadly and with deep regret, I fear it was the latter one.
     The other thing that happen was I attended a retreat called SEARCH where I fell totally in love with God.  I had been a Christian.  My family had started going to church when I was 7.  I always loved church and God,  but that weekend at SEARCH was when I started to understand that God loved me and wanted a personal relationship with me.  I wasn't suppose to be at SEARCH that weekend.  It was reserved for Juniors  and Seniors i n high school.  Even though I was sixteen, I was a lowly freshmen - I have a late birthday, plus I went to a preschool for disabled students until 7 and my parent wanted me to go into to the first grade   Needless to say, I'm older than many of my friends.  But it never fails to amaze me how God's way are greater than my ways; And He always knows exactly what we need exactly when we need it.  I can't tell you anything specific that happen that weekend that changed my life  It was what the future would bring that would change my life.  God used a weekend retreat to strengthen my life forever.
     My Daddy was never quite the same after the accident.  I really think he suffer brain damage,  He changed.  It is not my desire to bash my Daddy here.   I loved him.  He made some choices, that I prayer I'll never make, but I respect his choices because I do  believe that they were part of the path of his life.    Some of the choices he made impaired the rest of the family.  It was through what I learned through SEARCH that allowed me to survive that difficult change in my life.  I had to learn to be depend on God, no matter what!
     That seams like such a long time ago.  I guess if I could anything to that young girl now it would be to hold on to faith and to love the peopled around you, especially your daddy.  I loved my daddy, always did and always will.  I spent many years angry at  him and withdrawn from him.  I felt the need, regrettable to keep my children from him.  I thought, and still do in some part believe, that I was acting in the best interest of my children.  I've always struggled with this decision and always will.  I pray that God and my Daddy forgive me. We lost Daddy five and a half years ago, and although I made amends with him a few days before he died, I can not get back the time I lost with him.

New Lap

A - Z SURVEY

A - Animal
dog

B - Best Friend
Jeanne

C - Crush
Barrett

D - Dad's Name
Jim

E - Easiest Person To Talk To
Michelle

F - Favorite Band
Eagles

G - Gummy Bears Or Worms
Bears

H - Hometown
Nashville

I - Instrument
piano

J - Job
mommy/wife

K - Kids
2

L - Longest Car Ride
to Arizona

M - Milk Flavor
Chacolae

N - Number Of Siblings
7

O - One Wish
for peace

P - Phobias
being burried alive

Q - Favorite Quote
"every time a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings" - It's A Wonderful Life

R - Reason To Smile
MY FAMILY

S - Song You Last Heard
???

T - Time You Woke Up
12

U - Unknown Fact About Me
???

V - Vegetable
carrot

W - Worst Habits
???
 
X - X-Rays You've Had
hip,hand, finger, heard, foot, stoamc`

Y - Your Favorite Food
pizza

Z - Zodiac Sign
Sag.

No Broken Bones

      So, today as I was sitting in the truck while the kids and Barrett went in Shoe Carnival, I took out my bible and turned to Psalm.  I ran across PS. 34: 19-21 which says; 

      "The righteous person may have many troubles,
   but the LORD delivers him from them all;
²⁰ he protects all his bones,
   not one of them will be broken.

 ²¹ Evil will slay the wicked;
   the foes of the righteous will be condemned."

     

     I was in total awe when I read this; especially verse 20!  Out of all my years of walking (and falling)  I've never broken a bone.  I did crack my pinkie finger when I was a kid.  I've had to get stitches  a couple of time; I still get dizzy at times from my infamous concussion last year; and I have many scares and bruises that decorate my body buy no broken bones to claim.  This is truly a miracle.  When I read this passage it just truly made me think; "Man God is so good!"  He Has protected me from physically injuries many, many times, And He's protected more times than against all the spiritual blunders I've had.  I know that I could fall tonight and seriously  hurt myself tonight, it wouldn't mean that I'm in any less way protected by God.  If He see fit to let me have a broken bone He'll give me what I'll need to deal with it, just as he allowed Jesus to die for the forgiveness of my sins so that I could live with him in Heaven.  This concept of no broken bones is quite interesting  because Jesus at the time of the crucifixion  which fulfills phropecy.  

Jn 19:31-37 tells us 

"Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[a] 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”[b]

   A biblical sacrifice had to be presented with out any blemishes  Leviticus 1:3 says:

 ³ “‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD."

Not only Has God always protected my bones, He first protected Christ's bones so that He would remain the prefect, unblemished sacrifice for my sin.

 

My Hero- My Behind the Scenes Mama

     If  you had asked me growing up who my biggest supporter was I would have said my Daddy.  My Daddy was a great daddy!  He was the more vocal voice.  When I was born they basically told my parents to go home, leave me at the hospital and forget they every  had a daughter.  I wasn't expected to live, and even if I did live I was expected to be a vegetable and have all sorts of health issues; including mental retardation.  My Daddy told them ; No, that I was going to live and that I was going to have a "normal" life.  My parents both fought for me, but I guess I remember Daddy being my "vocal" about.it.  My Daddy had a very strong and domineering personality about him; the kind that simply demanded respect.  My Mama was/is more of a behind the scenes type of person.  Looking back I can say it was Mama who was the true super hero in my life:  She took me to all my doctors and speech appointments.  She's the one who helped me do leg exercises every night.  It was Mama who drove me back and forth to school for ten years just so I could go to one of the best schools in Nashville in order to receive a good education.  I loved my mom, but I didn't give her the respect she deserved.  I was jealous of her:.  She was "normal" and "perfect" and I would never be.  I blamed her for my disability.  I had came out of her body.  I expected her to always take care of me, according to my standards which were set way to high.  She was a stay-at-home-mom and I just thought that was so uncool.  All my friends' mom worked and I saw them as what  I wanted to be.  When she started nursing school my freshmen year of high school, I was elated. I seriously thought she wanted a career beyond being a wife and mother, she didn't.  She was doing what she had to in order to take care of her family.
      I've learned so much about my mom by becoming a mom.  I can still hear her saying, "I hope  you have a kid just like you!"  I see myself in Dalton constantly, especially as we tread through these preteen years. Bobbye Sue however, is just like.  I sometimes wonder if God placed me in the middle of those three simply for his own amusement.  Mama has taught me many things; to be patient, to love unconditionally; to forgive willing and to always follow.  Mama and I are very different people in many ways.  She's gone through things that I can't even fathom.  She's a lot stronger person than I though she was.  Like I said earlier she was/is a very behind the scenes person.  And now as I'm a wife and a mother that what I want to be.  This is very biblical.  No one on earth loved Jesus more than Mary did, however she too was very much a behind the scenes person.  She was there when He needed her; to support, but she knew that much of Jesus' life was going to a solo journey.  As I think about the relationship I have with my kids and reflect on the relationship I have with Mama, I think of John 3:30 where John the Baptist tells his disciples; "He must increase, but I must decrees."  (HCSB)  We have to let our kids grow up and be who God wants them to be.  My mom gave me everything she and then some in order to take care of me;  She did it willing and without expectation in return.  I'm sure in many ways, her and my family's could have been less complicated had they chosen to deal with my disability, but they chose to take the high road and do what was best for me.  As a Mama, I too am called to prepare my kids and then step back and watch them  soar.  This can be difficult in so many ways: First, it's natural to worry about them. and then I think; "Well, that's not how I would have done it; how I told them them to do it!"  Self keeps reaping back  in, trying to steel the spotlight and it isn't even my scene!   How can I expect them to live a good and godly life when I am constantly trying to run in and still the glory  I am proud to confess that when I grow up I want to be just like my Mama.  She's strong, kind, loving...I don't know if I'll make it but that's my aim.

This One Thing I Do"

Ch 5 in  Becoming a Woman Of Simplicity

This lesson was very timely for me. I needed that boost to get my mind back on the ONE THING that I should be focused on at all times. Are you focused on the One Thing?

Colossians 1:9-10 tells us that to know God is to Walk worthy of the Lord, to please Him, to bear fruit in good works, and to grow in my knowledge of Him.

In what ways were Martha and Mary different? In my mind, Marthe must be the “BIG” sister. She's the one who's been told by their mother to make sure the house, that everyone has enough to eat and everything they need. Mary must be the “LITTLE” sister. She was told to help the “BIG” sister, but soon became bored and wandered off to spy on the stranger in the living room. (LOL1, You can't tell I'm a “BIG” sister!?!?)

Would you be in the kitchen with Martha or would you be sitting with Mary? I'd probably be sitting with Mary, although feeling guilty because I wasn't helping Martha. I'd be wondering “Does Jesus think I'm a awful person because I'm not helping my “BIG” sister? But I want to be with Him.” Yeah, I constantly have thought wars with myself!
Do you spend undistracted time alone with Jesus? I try, at times I do better than others

Define the word, abide. To “live” in

According to 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, how can you improve the way you are running the race? I am to run to win. I have to discipline myself thru prayer, study, and nurturing my relationship with God in order to be properly trained,
Discuss the quote in the book by Tozer, and how you think it might apply to you, which said, "Yet for all God's good will toward us, He is unable to grant us our heat's desires till all our desires have been reduced to one.'' We can't not truly receive ate the blessing that God has in store for us until we make Him our #1 priority.

Talk about any other ideas and understandings you gained from this chapter. I think through this chapter that I really have to stay close to god and live in Him. Usually when my life gets chaotic and out or control, I can ALWAYS look and see that I've let my relationship with God slide and I'm not as close to Him as I need to be.

Dalton's Mommy

I wrote this when my son was about 3 months old. Hope to get it published as a children's book one day.

Dalton’s Mommy
Hello, my name is Dalton Keith and I want to tell you about my mommy. She has a disability called Cerebral Palsy, CP for short. CP affects how Mommy walks and talks and everything else she does. Before I was born Mommy had to be extra careful not to fall and hurt me in her tummy. When I was a baby Mommy pushed me in my stroller, even in the house, so she wouldn’t fall while she was carrying me. Daddy said I was Supper Baby because as rough as Mommy was with me, I never got hurt. Mommy walk funny. She told me that one time a little girl asked her why she had two broken legs. I laughed. Her legs aren’t broken; they’re just crooked. When we go shopping, my mommy drives a scooter so she won’t get so tired. Sometimes I ride in her lap, but sometimes I hold Daddy’s hand and walk like a big boy. We also get to park in the blue parking places. Mommy talks funny too. My friends will ask me what she said, but I know what she says. Mommy makes messes, but she cleans them up. She gets made if I don’t clean up my messes. Sometimes people laugh at my mommy and call her names. This makes me sad. Daddy said it is because they don’t know how special Mommy is. Mommy and Daddy and I laugh a lot too and this makes me happy. Some people think my mommy isn’t smart but before I was born she went to college. That is where she met Daddy. Sometimes I wish Mommy didn’t have Cerebral Palsy. Mommy said she wished I wouldn’t chase our dog Princess around and try to ride her. Mommy takes good care of me and Daddy and my little sister. I love my Mommy.

Unshakable Simplicity

In this chapter we learn that Jesus has overcome the world (Matthew 7:24-27) and that we can take heart even when we are in the middle of hard times. Most Christian women though seem to respond to hard times in a fleshly way.  Why do you think that is? I think it is natural in times of trails and stress to go back to our sinful nature and react to things in fear and sometimes not such a lady-like way.
Is Christ Jesus a reality to you in the way that that Oswald Chambers described on page 43 of our book? Yes

What is your favorite verse for helping you respond to hard times and troubles? MMMMMMMMM. I've got several... The two coming to mind right now are Psalm 23 an Philippians 4:13 ~ which I have chosen as my life verse.

Do you believe God is faithful?  Try to phrase your answer without using a "but" or "however". I know God because the life. My parents were told at the time of my birth that I wouldn't live, and if I did live I would be a vegetable; I was expected to just special ed system in school, I have a BSW. My dreams of a husband and were mocked. On November 7, Barrett and I will celebrate our 12^th anniversary. We have two great kids. None of this do I deserve or have I earned on my own. When Bobbye Sue was 2 I had a hip replacement. My right hip haddn't formed right. It didn't bother me until after I had Dalton and after I had Bobbye Sue I couldn't walk at all. I know God kept this hidden because had I had my hip replacement any earlier, I would not have had my babies. Theses are just a few examples of God's faithfulness in my life.

Why does God allow adversity and calamity to come into our lives?  Why doesn't He just protect us from all disappointment? James 1:1-3 tells us the testing of our faith develops perseverance. It strengthens who we are. God could protect us from disappointment, but He wants us to choose to love Him; in good times and bad. God created the perfect world but it was over taken by sin. He wants us to have total ralaince on Him

What did you learn in this chapter that you would like to share here? A couple of weeks ago I got this strange urge to pray for God to shake up my life. And then not long after that I had the feel that some was coming and that I need to start praying for God to give me guidence and peace during this time. It has sorta died don in my soul but I still believe that something is coming. There's a saying that we're all always in one of three areas: we're in the midst of a trail, we're just coming out of a trail or we're fixing to got into a trail. I think this chapter enhance my belief that no matter what life throws me, that if I rely on God He'll see me through.

Reflect on the Bible verses you studied with this chapter. What kind of perspective do you believe you must develop so that you can respond to adversity with wisdom and maturity? I've got to trust God and turn to Him in good times and bad.

"The World is Not Enought

This goes with chapter 3 of "Becoming a Woman of Simplicity",


How are you personally too connected to this world?  Probably just by trying to conform to the image of what the world says a wife is to look like.  I want what's "best" for my family and sometimes look at the worldly culture to provide for these needs instead of God.

When God provides what you NEED but you don't seem to have what Matthew Henry calls the 'dainties' of life .... those extra, non-essential things, do you feel like God has not provided enough for you?  YES!!!
but selfishly I sometime want more and forget the blessings I already have.

Let's talk about this concept of enough .... what is enough? What are necessities? Does God ever give more than enough? Explain.  Necessities are the basic things that we need to survive: food, clothes, shelter, etc.  God definitely gives more than we need.  He blesses me and instructs me to share with others.

According to the author, what is crucial to living profoundly and simply? I really like the quote in the book by A. W. Tozer; "We Christians mus simplify our lives or lose untold treasure on earth and in eternity."  If I don't simplify my life and redirect my focus on God and His agenda for my life, I'm go to miss out blessings and relationships.

Homekeeper's Journal - Long Suffering

This week, over at christianhomekeeper.org we are writing about long suffering.

In the Bible there are two words that are used in the New Testament which talk about Patience.
There is, of course, patience. And then there is Long-suffering. We don’t like that word much because our very nature seems to be repulsed by it… Long-suffering

.

Suffering … Long.

Suffering a lonnnnnnng time.

But it isn’t just any kind of suffering Long-suffering is talking about. Patience is what we seek when we have a trying situation to go through. Long-Suffering is what we need when we are dealing with people.

Long-suffering means that we have patience with people.

God expects that we will have difficult people in our lives and He knows that it will sometimes be painful. So He calls us to suffer a long time with people, be patient with them, while He is working out His plan in our lives and in their lives.

How can we refuse to be Long-suffering with others when we know how long God has suffered with our own foolishness?

This week’s Homekeeper’s Journal is all about Long-suffering ….

God has worked in my life regarding patience and long-suffering in these ways ………… God allowed me to be born with a disability. It's been a blessing, although I don't always see it as one. It has made me cultivate a deeper relationship with God. I don't even know if I'd be a Christian if I didn't have Cerebral Palsy. I've had opportunities through dealing with my disability to meet people and do things that I may not have gotten to do if I weren't. I think God has allowed me to have a different view on the world through my disability. I have patience and strength that I know can only come from God.

The hardest part of showing long-suffering is ………When others don't understand and may not be showing patience and/or expecting me to do or be something I can't. OR when people try to overdo or help. It is hard sometimes to let people help.

The most rewarding part of showing long-suffering is ………..Making connections with people and realizing that they are getting a glimpse of God working through you.

The one kind situation that I have the most trouble showing long-suffering in is ………Living with physical pain. That's sound a little contradictory to talk about pain and long suffering, but when I'm in more pain it's harder to be patience and it's harder to provide the love and care I need to. I don't want my problems to effect their lives, but, of course they do. Then I feel guilty and have angry, which usually stresses my body and causes more pain, and also causes stress within the relationship.

I see how kindness goes hand in hand with long-suffering because ………. When you see someone helping someone out in total peace and kindness. The don't make them feel stress or like they're a burden. They have a willing spirit and a joyful heart.

I want others to show long-suffering to me when ………I cannot repay their kindness. When I'm stressed to the max.

God shows long-suffering to me in these ways ………..He gives me grace and forgiveness. He loves me unconditionally and carries me when I can't go on any further.

Ephesians 4:1-4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Ephesians 4
Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ
 1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, (A) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility (B) and gentleness, with patience, (C) accepting (D) [a] one another in love,(E) 3 diligently keeping the unity (F) of the Spirit (G) with the peace(H) that binds [us]. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, (I) just as you were called to one hope (J) [b] at your calling;

This week I will begin to ask God to ……….. to give me patience with others especially Barrett and the kids and to show me the thing that are really importaint in my life.

Gracious Acceptance

This is from chapter 2 of the "Becoming a Woman Simplicity" bible study:
1. Are you saved by anything good you have done or will ever do? No I am saved by grace alone. My salvation leads me to want to do good works, not in order to earn or keep salvation, but to honor and serve God who saved me.

2. What does Ephesians 2:10 tell us about good works? We are created by God in Christ to do good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. We were created to bo the goods work of God.

3. Are you certain of God's acceptance of you? Why or why not? This is a tough one. I know what the bible says; so yes I am accepted by God and saved by His Grace. However, I too often forget and rely on my own "feelings". When life gets hectic and I'm trying to do a million things at once (and failing at all of the them) my first reaction is to think...if only I was a better wife, mother, etc."

4. How can taking Christs yoke enable you to do the good things God has planned for you? (Matthew 11:28-30)I It teaches me to be gentle and humble in heart and I'm able to begin to see things the way He sees things.

5. f you respond to Christ's call and His yoke, how will your life be different? I think my life would be more peaceful. I"d be able to concentrate more on people and the important things in my life, I'd quiet and listen to God more.

6. Is there any "good thing" that you are doing that is taking your concentration OFF of Jesus? Is there some area where you are worshiping your work? This is an interest question. Of course there are always thing that I'm trying to do apart from God: clean my house, be a good wife and mama. etc. Even before I started this bible study I felt like God had started me on this journey of simplifying and redirecting my life. Everything from this study, to what I heard on the radio, to what we learn in Sunday School and in church, to what I experience in day to day living is telling me to slow down and rely more on God. I think my biggest problem with this is that I feel like I'm so far behind of what a "normal" wife and mother, that I have to spend all my time trying to catch up.

Take time this week after you have completed all the reading and answered the study questions for chapter 2, to get alone with God and allow Him to speak to you about how you serve Him and whether or not you have accepted His acceptance of you.

Homekeeper's Journal: Difficuliteis

This week’s Journal is about … difficulties ….. You’ll need a bible to complete this Journal entry.
You can find one online at  Blue Letter Bible.


You know what difficulties are … those things that make your life harder, more complicated. Perhaps your biggest difficulty is a person. Perhaps difficulties come in groups and threaten to overwhelm you. Lets talk about your difficulties……
Sometimes I feel a bit of resentment when I ……….. Can't put into words (physical words) how I feel or what I'm thinking.  My mind is constantly going, but making that transition to speak it can be frustrating.  People try to complete my sentences.  Also when people "misread" my body language or emotions; Because of the CP I can always control them. 
Why is it so difficult for me to ………..  Be satisfied with what I decide;  I keep 2nd guessing things, wondering is this right or good enough???
1 Chronicles 16:11 tells me to …… "Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek his face always."
1 Peter 5:8 warns me ……..  "Be sober!  Be alert!  Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour."
I am going to pray and ask for strength to ………….do everything:  Mainly to just be the best wife, mama and homemaker I can be.
The difficult thing that seems to constantly catch me off guard is ………I want to act before I think.
James 1:12 says ….."Blessed it a man who endures trails, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.
I am determined to …….Follow the Lord and keep going.

Profound Simplicty

I am going through the bible study "Becoming a Woman of Simplicity" by Cynthia Heald with an online group.  Hear are my thoughts from chapter 1.
I just got the Book yesterday.  It was funny because I was starting that I was going to get behind with the study, LOL!  And almost immediately, the  running theme of the book to was to stop comparing my self to others!  As a disabled women, I feel I spend the majority of my time trying not so much to compete with "normal" woman but to live up to the "standard" set by the society.  it seams like such a simple standard, yet one I constantly miss the mark because it's not the standard God has chosen for me.  I love the very first definition of simplicity in the book; "A life where time is considered to be a gift from a benevolent king and not a burden from a harsh taskmaster." (Preface)  My life is a gift from God, my husband and my children are a gift from God.  I did not earn them, nor do I have to work to keep these gifts.  I do have to love and care for them, but this shouldn't b e work for me.  It should be a joy.  God will give me what I need to provide for them.  Too often I feel guilty because I'm resting or spending time with Barrett when I should be doing something else.  Now, yes I do have an obligation to keep a reasonably clean house and such, but when  I let that over take my primary goal of loving God and caring for my family, then I have done it in vain and it will produce no fruit.

It's Fall Y'all

The start of school brings the hope of fall.  This is bittersweet for me.I'm ready for the kids to go back to school, but at the same time feel guilty and will miss them.  This is something I really struggle with, especially this year  I have to switch gears from being total full force mama to figuring out what God wants me to do with my days.  Fall brings football!!!  My husband is a radio announcer and he announcer a game every Friday night  He also hosts a Monday night sports show and a Saturday morning show.  Our kids stay with my father-in-law every night.  They leave after supper.  He takes them to school and picks them up for me.   So, I spend a lot of time alone.  Don't get me wrong and love my life; I'm able to stay home, my kids don't have to ride the bus to school and  I know they're a blessing to their grandfather, but sometime I feel lonely and like a poor mother.   Anyway.  enough rantings  These are a few of my thoughts on fall as prompted in the Home keeper's Journal.   http://christianhomekeeper.org/files/2010/06/homekeepers-journal1.jpg
Autumn in my kitchen means...I truly believe in most houses the kitchen is the heart of home.  Soups and stews.  Pre-holiday baking.
Autumn in my house brings...Football, fall cleaning
I bring autumn inside...by fall decorations and pumpkin spice/fall scents.
A favorite autumn family activity...our fall cookout/hay ride at church.
Favorite fall recipe...Papa's Cow Tail Soup!
This autumn I would to...have 2 other family over one Sunday.

What's simple

http://christianhomekeeper.org/files/2010/06/homekeepers-journal1.jpg

What is simplicity?  Webster's says it's: 1. the state of being simple; 2. freedom from complexity; 3. plainness; 4. freedom from guilt, 5. lack of mental acuteness.  PEACE!!!  I think simplicity is a very individual thing.  What I may see as simple may not make sense to you.  The idea of a simple life may change from day to day to me.  Most days I think I do live a simple life.  We have a really nice home, I don't have to work, Barrett has a great job, our bellies our full...Life doesn't get much sweeter than this.  But there are other days where it may be all I can physically to get up and make breakfast. There are also where I would consider my life simple if I could just drive!  But, this isn’t my plot in life.   I know many, many people who would love to live out in the country on a farm.  This would be beautiful. I'm sure I'd love to come visit.  But to live this kind of life sounds anything but PEACEFUL to me.  It seams physical hard.  I know people are rolling their eyes saying; “So you’re afraid of little hard work???”   No, I’m just trying to be realistic.  I know my limitations.  If my life is not as simple as I want it to be ,  9 out of 10 times when I look back at it, it is I who have made my live complex.  I also think that one of the biggest keys to living a simple is to be content.  I love what Philippians 4:11-13 says; “...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am.  I know how to have a little and I know how to have a lot.  In any and all circumstances,  I have learned the secret of being content - whether well feed or hungry, weather in abundance or in need.   I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  It doesn’t matter what I have, if I’m not content with my Lord, my life is going to be chaos, which to me is the total opposite of simplicity.  That being said, I’m going to share a few simple thoughts as prompted by the Homekeeper’s Journal.

I could probably simplify my kitchen by ….We were fortunate about 2 years ago to be able to total redo our kitchen.  It’s much more accessible for me.  One thing I need to work one is keeping clutter out of the kitchen and cleaning as I go. 

My life needs simplifying in these areas ….I need to be more realistic with people, especially my kids.  I need to let them be kids and not expect them to be all grown up.  I truly want them to stay simple and innocent as long as possible,

I tend to go overboard with .. or, I can’t seem to find a balance with... I overreact to stuff and I sometimes put myself in a situation that has nothing to do me.  This not only conflicts my life but others.

My favorite simple dinner is …  Anything that Barrett cooks, LOL!  He can grill up some mean hot dog and veggies.

My spiritual life needs simplifying especially in this area ….I need to take advantage of my alone time with God and not be constantly looking at ways to fill my time up.

Hope

Hope- what an awesome topic!  I've really struggled with this this week.  This was the first full week of school and I'm totally lost-  They've both been going to school for 4 years 0r longer, but ever year I have to readjust.  As I'm listening to you show today ( Midday Connection on Moody Radio) I realize it's the story of my life.  I've bee physically disable all my life ~ I'm  36.  It is a progressive (In my opinion) condition.  They're are so many things I want to do but can't.  I do believe that God can and may heal me, but I also believe my disability is a big part of my ministry.  I don't think God caused me to be disabled, but he allowed me to be disabled.  How I deal with it glorifies Him.  It is a daily choice.  Do I graciously accept the life I have and live it too the fullest or do I grumble and complained.  Growing up I actually knew of two adults with Cerebral Palsy.  One was a professor at Vanderbilt and the other had spent her entire life in a state nursing home!. What a contrast!  It was very scary.  I was very fortunate to be raised in a family that believed I could be and do anything.   I always knew I wanted to be a wife and mama.  My mama is totally awesome and I wanted to be just like her.    But her story is not my story.  But that's why God is so great.  We all have our own unique story and no one can fulfill my story but me.    Please God, continue to strengthen and grow me.

Where does God want Me???

OK, so today's the 4th full day of school and I'm wondering what to do with myself.  There's so much stuff I want to and need to do, but I just feel lost and lazy with my kids.  I'm lonely.  I long for interaction with others.We serve this awesome God and I know He has a purpose for me... but am I ignoring it?  I get so caught up in the things that I physically can't do, that I don't concentrate and do what I can.  I know after 30 + years I should be able to accept my limitations.  But we live in such a fast pace society now days.  If you're not constantly on the move. you unproductive.  This is Satan trying to still my joy!  No one can pray for, love or serve Barrett and my kids better than I can..  I know if I continue to seek and serve Him, that God will use me in incredible ways. In fact, when I'm living in self and feel disheartened.  I can't truly glorify God, which is what he created me to do above anything else.  Lord, please help me to be the wife and mama you ordered me to be!!!

A New Star

A New Start

Hey, I've started many blogs before, but hopefully this one will take. The start of school is as my new year. A fresh start. It's a time to redicate my time and energies to my husband, my kids and my home. This summer has flown by! We've VBS, camp, vacation, swim lesson, another week of VBS, a week at grandma's, a week of video camp for Dalton plus Doctor and Dentist appointment. At some point we have to go buy school close. As the kids have been at Grandma's this week, I have been deep cleaning my house and trying to plan my fall. I an currently listening to "Created to be His Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl on CD. I'm learning so much about being a good wife and am also learning that I have a lot to learn!!! I want to finish up by tomorrow when we pick up the kids. I also want to set up the play/school room and starighten their rooms. Will post more later/