Simply Sundy - My Thoughts on Marriage

 Today I'm thankful that God has blessed me with a wonderful husband who loves me regardless of my many faults.  I am so undeserving.  Now, while my spiritual hearts knows this to be true too often my humanity tries to take over and gets in the way.  I start to thinking that Barrett "owes" me.  That he's the one who should be thankful because I'm so good to him.  I want him to think this way.  As little girls we grow up with this idea that we're going to meet, fall in love with and marry someone who thinks that we're just the sweetest, prettiest woman in the world and that we could do no wrong, even if we tried.
     Much I hate admit it; while I'll always think of Barrett as my Prince Charming, I am no princess.  I am not the perfect wife.  I fail him in every way.  Thankfully, he loves me anyway. It doesn't depend on how clean my house is or how delicious my meals are. Why I do want to try to keep a clean house and all that.  The bible says that God knows our heart.  We are very fortunate that God looks beyonds the actions to the heart.  If  our heart our right in trusting Him, then our actions - i.e. sins - are drenched in Jesus' blood and made as white as snow. 
        Marriage is the closet relationship that people can have this side of heaven; in fact marriage is the picture of Jesus and His church in the New Testament.  If God cared enough to place man and women in such a relationship with each other that it reflects His relationship with His people, how much does He think of it?  It really makes me stop and go; "WOW!"
        We live in a society that doesn't put much stock in marriage anymore.  It's no longer seen as a necessity.  I must admit that Barrett and I did live together for about six months before we got married; I think we both had our own reasons for doing so.  I think Barrett was unsure about marring someone with a disability, while I was more afraid that if I said "no", he'd leave me and go find someone else.  I was so immature!  He fell in love with me.  I didn't make him and he didn't choose it.  God gave us to each other.   Just as I didn't choose to follow God; He chose me to follow Him.
      Marriage is a honor;  not a curse, something I deserved or even something that I even have the right to want.  I do believe that it and motherhood are 2 of the highest callings that a woman can have.  It is truly a call to service. 

Simply Sundy - My 2nd New Year Begins

As most Mamas, I have 2 celebration of New Year's.  The first comes on January 1st - as it does for everyone.

The 2nd comes at the start of August, know as "Back To School" time.  For a mom this 2nd New Year is more prevalent than the first , because it means new schedules and routines.  This year is a bit different because Dalton starts middle school and will be riding the bus.  Today I worked my 'new' schedule.  We did a lot of work on  the this summer, and I really need to focus my attention on keeping the house clean and being more on top of things.

Simple Sunday & a Trip to a Pet Resor

It has been a Simple Sunday. We had aa greeat day at church. We ar in the process of going through the book of Jude; learning about how everyone's salvation is the same and different. Then we came home and just hung out. We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow for our summer vacation. in the Smokies. I'm very excited but there's a LOT to do. We are going to kennel our Westie (Maggie Sue) this time. Big Fat Cat can fend for himself! So, I'd call about this one place and we went to check it out. We took the kids. BIG MITAKE!!! We get there and to the place. So, Barrett and I are looking for the basic feed & board deal. The lady starts talking about the different packages they have; spa treatments, boot camp, TVs tuned to Disney in their cages; thee whole 9 yards. So Bobbye Sue hears all this and she's so excited. It broke her heart to learn that we weren't doing any special. We're leaving on a Monday and we'll be back on Friday - I think the dog will survive. It is a nice kennel. Needless to say, I will have to call tomorrow and make arangements where little ears can't hear and influence thee choice of the package I choose.

Simple Sunday - Exciting Times!

  Today was an awesome day at church.  We voted to open up the building fund to maybe start building in June.  We attend the church where Barrett went until he was 8 and his mama died.  We started going nine years ago,  Dalton was 3 and Bobbye Sue was 6 months old.  It became our home the day we walked in.  A lady told me later that everyone was watching us, asking; "Is  that our little Bryan?"  When we started, there were only about 30 members.  There's about 100 now.  It's and old church.  The sanctuary is fine.  Our biggest need it class  room and fellowship space, bathrooms and handicapped entrances.  


Well, about a week and a half ago Barrett found a web site that matches churches with volunteers that can help in building.  Well, he called and the woman who answered the phone asked if he was married to Heather.  She was my big sister in the service sorority that I was in college.  God is awesome!!!

Simple Sunday - Spending Time with The Fam

 Today was another great Simply Sunday at the Barretts!  It started out hectic.  Everyone was grumpy and tired from losing an hour of sleep.  Sunday School was awesome; we're studying  Phillip-ans.  I love our class and I love sitting under the teaching of my husband.  In Church we learned about working out our own salvation. After church, Barrett stopped by Publix and got stuff to make subs for lunch.  The afternoon, we rode with Barreett over to look at a trailer with some other people from church.  Dalton didn't want to go; said he didn't want to "waste" his only day.  He threw a fit, so we went more or less to prove a point.  I wanted to go  and be all together.  Because I can't drive, I sometime go Sunday to Sunday without living my house, so if  I get the chance to "go" I usually take it!  But we also went because Dalton sometimes has an issue with obeying Mama.  So we went and he played til he got bored.   Well, then he said he didn't feel good.  So, we  come home and and he said he threw up- I think he spilt shampoo- wouldn't be the first time.  So, I feel bad when I don't believe - but also trust my    instincts.  He's already missed 6 days of school since January.   I do, and want to trust my  kids and I do feel deeply for them in times of need, however they do take advantage of this...Especially Dalton.  i feel like a bad Mama, but 9 time out of 10 I can tell when he's trying to  play me.  I did learn a few things from having 5 brothers!  Of course I want him to feel loved, safe and cherished; but I also want him to  be accountable and all.  Dalton is the  type of kid my mom WISHED that I would have -JUST LIKE ME!!!  So to stay that we butt heads is an understatement.  I think that may be why I'm so hard on him  -   because he is so like me!   HEHEHEHA!  How do you find the balance of how to be a good mother;   both loving   and structured...Ahhh, yes.  Just another Simple Sunday at the Barrett's!!!!!!

Simple Sunday

It was a very simple Sunday for the Barretts - my favorite kind!  Church was awesome.  The kids were suppose to go to the nursing home(s) to minister,  but didn't because of flu outbreaks.   Our associate pastor delivered the sermon today on the Beatitudes, mainly meekness.  Uhm... interesting that The HomeKeeper's Journal from http://christianhomekeeper.org/ this week was on being gentle and then I'm also listening to the audio version of Created To Be His Helpmeet, Debi Pearl is talking about being meek and gentle. God must be talking to me!!!  Need to pray and study on this subject this week.

Simple Sunday

OK, so it's Sunday night and I've just watching TV, blogging and catching up on computer stuff.     I really plan to get up and start the week running.  With the holiday, sick days and snow days last week & the week before, I've really gotten of track with the house and laundry and such.  More snow is in the forecast,  so I really need to take advantage of my "alone day" tomorrow to get caught up with things.  I want to focus on several things this week;  I want to work on  my menu planner, my prayer journal.  I want to go through my closet. I really want to finish up a  chapter of  a story I'm wrighting and I need to do a better time with just having alone time with God.  I'm thinking maybe Coffee time with God.  Does this sound  lame?