Updates...

Well Facebook has really made it difficult for me to keep up with my blog. I originally started my blog for my mom who moved off to Hawaii. I wanted to be able to keep her updated on the family. Well I quickly learned how much fun blogging is. Now I've discovered Facebook and have drifted away from blogging. So this is me updating my neglected blog. Maybe I'll think of something interesting to write about again soon :p

And Still They Prayed.

Occasionally I try to write songs. This is my newest attempt. I am posting it here for all my friends and family who don't have facebook yet. I am posting the lyrics here as well. I hope you enjoy, I'm a little insecure sharing my songs because they're personal to me. I'm getting better though :)

"And Still They Prayed"

There's a time and place for everything. We never know what tomorrow brings.
So through the pain and suffering, she tried to be strong.
She told her children it would not be long. Before the Lord would call her home.
And not to fear her being alone. Jesus would be there, yes Jesus would be there.
Take care of Daddy for me please. I'm sorry that I have to leave. Trust in God.
Always believe. His word is true. Be strong.

And still they prayed. Every hour of every day. Lord please let her stay.
We trust in you to bring us through. To give us strength and faith.
But if there's any other way, please let her stay.

It was hard for him to see his wife. Struggle each day to stay alive.
He knew that he would pay any price. Just to end her pain.
He tried so hard to be strong. To comfort her and carry on.
Their love was a never ending bond. He knew would never die.
Their love would never die.

And still he prayed. Every hour of every day. Lord please let her stay.
I trust in you to bring me through. To give me strength and faith.
But if there's any other way, please let her stay.

Her hair had gone many months ago. But her faith in God continued to grow.
She left behind her family....

And still they pray. Every hour of every day. Even though she couldn't stay.
He gives them strength to face each day. Jesus brought them through.
Even though she couldn't stay, they still have faith.
They still have faith. They still have faith.

Memories...

When I was 16 years old my Dad owned a gas station. This provided me easy access to alcohol. I had a serious drinking problem. I didn't know it at the time but I used alcohol to numb myself. I could drink and not feel anything and that's how I spent my time. When my Dad padlocked the beer cooler I had to turn to hard liquor because it was harder to sneak the beer.

I would take what I could get my hands on and then find me a place to be alone and just drink. I didn't always drink alone. Sometimes I would hang out with people I called my friends and drink with them. I would try to get home before my Dad closed the store for the night so I could be in bed before he could see me. This didn't always work out and there were many times that my little sisters had to clean me up and put me to bed. Sometimes they didn't get the chance and I would wake up covered in the previous nights vomit. When I think back on it now I don't understand why I couldn't stop. But now I have something I didn't have back then that keeps me from falling victim to my old vices.

One specific memory I have that I don't ever want to forget, is a time I had hidden away in my memory that God used to show me something amazing. I was 16 and I had just gone through a huge fight with my Dad. I was in trouble for staying out too late and of course coming home drunk. Our fights usually ended up with hugs and me saying I was sorry and would do better. I always intended to do better, I truly wanted to.

After this fight with my Dad I found myself sneaking a tall can of beer. Yes I knew it was wrong. I just told him I was going to stop. I told myself I was going to stop. I promised and when I promised I intended to keep the promise. I took my can of beer out the back door and sat down behind a shed and cracked it open. I took my first sip and my Dad walked around the corner and sat down next to me. He just looked at me with this look in his eyes that I could not explain then. He was so disappointed yes, and I was ashamed. I cried I wanted to stop, I wanted him to love me and not be mad at me. But he didn't take the beer away. He just looked at me with his disappointed eyes and something else that I couldn't tell at the time. Then he got up and left me there, alone.

Twelve years later I know so much more about what was going on in my Dads eyes and my own soul. I am still tempted to drink but today I have something in me more powerful that this temptation. I have Gods Holy Spirit living in me and giving me strength to fight the temptations. The hole in my soul is filled and I don't have to turn to those things to numb the pain of my existence. I no longer have this pain because I am healed! Praise God I couldn't be who I am today if he wasn't part of me. He makes me who I am. I am a sinner, I would turn back to alcohol if he didn't keep me from it. I am thankful for my salvation that God freely gave, I just had to accept it.

My Dad looked at me that day with disappointment and abandon. He had given up on me right then because he didn't know how to help me. The only thing that could have helped me then was Jesus. If my Dad had the peace of God in his soul he could have offered this to me as well. He could have told me about Jesus, but he didn't know him so he had nothing to offer me. He loved me still and he wanted to help me but he had tried everything he knew to try and nothing worked.

There are so many parents today trying to save their children from the sins of this world and they are failing because the only cure is Jesus and they don't have him. You can't offer what you don't have. I praise God that I have the antidote to offer my children and any others God gives me the privilege to influence. You can give your children fancy clothes, toys and things but none of that matters. Give them Jesus, teach them every day about the savior who loves them and gave his life for them. Our children will face harder trials in the future and they can't hope to win the battles without Jesus. He is the only way.

It's been a while...

Over a month since my last blog post to be exact. Not much has been going on but things are starting to speed up around here. We are excited to be starting this new homeschool year. I love homeschooling so much!!! I am so thankful God directed us down this path because I couldn't imagine my family any other way.

We are trying to organize a homeschool co-op in our town and I will also be helping out with a class in another co-op AND I'm teaching a Sunday school class AND planning Wednesday night youth meetings at church!!! So YES I will be busy busy busy and I am really looking forward to it. The last one isn't really a big deal right now because we don't have much of a youth group on Wednesday nights. My job is to change that ;) So wish me luck and remember me in your prayers.

A Wonderful Sunday!

Just when I start getting in a slump God does something truly amazing to get my attention once again and show me that he is still working all around me. I was amazed this past Sunday at the outpouring of Gods Holy Spirit. We had ten people baptised! One of them was my nephew Devin!!! I've been praying for that little guy and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. I know there are so many more people who need salvation and I'm not trying to trivialize that fact by saying how blessed I am to see him saved but praise God I am so happy for him.

Another young boy who was baptised Sunday was saved the night before! God had special plans for this Sunday and he worked it all out and I am still feeling giddy from the huge blessing I got from being privileged to witness this event.

Part of the crowd gathered to witness the batptism.


The smile on Chloe's face is just beaming. I love this little girl!


Emily is super proud her cousin is soaking wet! She prayed hard for him. She really loves him.



Mother and son!

Mom's Back WHOO HOO!

My Mom and Ken (stepdad) finally made it back from Hawaii. They don't have any of their things shipped over yet but it should be soon. We went for a visit yesterday. It was the first time Chris had seen their house. I love that they are so close. Only 46.8 miles from my driveway LOL. It was a fun visit and I'm thankful to have them back.

Me and my Mom

Me and Jake

Me & Emily goofing off.

This is a whole nother subject... I have siamese twin squash... Isn't that the weirdest thing you ever seen? LOL I didn't know squash did that.

I Feel Blessed!

Sunday at church the preacher made a comment about how we should take time each day to be alone with God. I thought to myself that this is something I NEED to make priority. An average day for me began to play out in my head and I was mentally trying to think how I could fit this in somewhere. I thought about how I couldn't do it in the mornings because I have to be moving around for a good hour or so or I'll get all sleepy again. Then I thought about how I couldn't wait too long after I woke up to wake up the kids and blah blah blah. Finally I just prayed "God make me do this!" I knew I couldn't sit there and promise God I was going to do this because I knew better. I knew I would be too busy and things would be too hectic and I just wouldn't be able to be as strong as I need to be. So I just asked God to make me do it!

I know this is just the second day of the week LOL but God works that fast! Yesterday I told the kids I was going in my room to talk to God and I didn't want to be interrupted. I got a good ten minute chat in with my Lord and I can't tell you how big a difference that made in the rest of my day! I am once again amazed at how great God really is!

I started reading a book last night that I have been trying to read for like six months. Every time before that I've opened this book it just didn't mean ANYTHING to me but now I am reading this and am amazed that I didn't realize what it was saying before! It's called "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. I am so excited to be seeking God. I just wanted to share that and anyone reading this who doesn't have a personal relationship with Jesus should think seriously about getting to know him. He is the closest friend you can ever hope to have and he will never leave you no matter what. I'm thankful God is forever faithful and there when I seek him.

Now this is off topic but we harvested these from our garden this morning. Another blessing! ;) A yummy one too!