Time is running out....

My last Sunday at Faith Family (my church) is this Sunday. I am sad but excited! God has something in store for us, and we are stepping out in faith to see what it is. Many have asked where we are going. The answer: DON'T KNOW!! When in the last year have we had a chance to go anywhere else to visit? I've been leading worship the whole time. Em and I have prayed for a long time and this has not been a hasty decision. Much prayer has gone into this. So, we can now step out on faith knowing that God has a plan. We are not sure if he will lead us to a place where my skills can be used. I do love leading worship, but I can worship from my home or car. I don't mind taking a sabbatical for a little while though. It's been a very busy time for us these past years, and a rest would be greatly appreciated. (Not that you can really rest at home cleaning with 3 kids!)
We return to St. Jude at the end of June/First of July. Ivee is doing well. She wants to walk (of course with assistance) all the time. She ask often, and she is quite addicted to "i-cream" as she so affectionately calls it. Brittney and Ethan are finishing up school this week. They are doing well. Britt will be 13 this year. I will be the mom of a teenager...ahhhhh!
In September, Em and I will take a much needed and anticipated vacation...cruising to Mexico. (Via no hurricanes) The hard part of this will be leaving Ivee for 5 days with the grandparents. (I think Mommy will handle it fine, I'm worried about the daddy!)
My friend Deborah had her baby...finally. Congrats to her and Blayne. He is beauiful, and hopefully this one will look a little like Deb....maybe?!!!
My friend Matt and my brother-in-law Chris are still on deployment so I continue to pray for them. Say a prayer for my sis Sonia and my friend Ange and all the kids during this time when the dads are away.
Sonia had a birthday on Tuesday...we are now a year apart in age!!! She is getting old....lol!
And finally, my neice Whitney is going to stay with us for at least 1/2 of the summer. Once you have 3 kids, one more isn't so bad...unless they are bad...and she is not that bad!
Continue to remember Ivee in your prayers as we venture into the 2 1/2 year mark of this journey. I promise...once I'm not working I will update more and with Pics of the birthday party. God Bless!!!

Ivee did it...maybe not on purpose...but she did it

After Ivee woke up from her nap today, her "breaf" stank!!! So I took her to our bathroom. I just sat her on the potty and daddy gave her a toothbrush. I walked off and came back a few minutes later, and then we "smelt" it! She went poopy and tee-tee in the potty. We praised her and showed Ethan and Britt...and believe it or not..>YES< they came and looked. We all praised her, so hopefully this will be the beginning of a potty filled future!

Yes, Don't Faint!!!

Yes, I am updating my blog. Don't faint or anything. Ivee's 3rd birthday was this past weekend and I will post pics and more about that when I am updating from home. At the moment I am in the office. I was listening to a pastor on TV this morning and was struck by something he said. He was speaking on our "motives" in our "desire and prayers." He brought up the story of Paul and Silas in jail (Acts chapter 16) and how they had been beaten severely for their beliefs and preaching (probably a few times over). We, having the story in front of us, already know how the story will end, but they didn't have the "manuscript" in front of them knowing that God would free them from their chains. In the midst of their circumstance, you didn't hear them whining about the bruises or cuts. Saying, "Why won't you deliver us Lord? Oh, I could use some ointment for this cut. Does it look as bad as it feels?" And the like! No!! In verse 25 of chapter 16, "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." We know that suddenly a moment later there was a great earthquake and they were freed and able to escape with their lives to preach again. NO...they did not know what was going to happen to them. For all they knew, and what we can assume, is that soon they might be meeting their Savior face to face. They counted it joy to face their trials and circumstance. They were singing and praising their God!!
So, what did this bring to my mind as I pondered it...glad you asked. With the election of a new president and the governmental decline we have seen...well all I hear is a bunch of whining! Yes, I know we are concerned, and frankly we should be. But, where is the praying for the leadership? Where is the praising God in the midst of circumstances? Who is listening to our lamenting? In the midst of our circumstances all I here is...I already pay taxes for this and that...Nobodies taking my guns and such...Who is this idiot in office now...What about this...What about that... Oh, God please deliver us...O, God this...and O, God that.
Now to the matter at hand. Why are you calling on the name of God? What is your hearts condition in your asking? Let's give example.
You want to be out of debt, so you pray, "Oh, God, help me to be debt free!" Let us look at the facts. How long did it take you to get into debt? A year? Two years? Ten years? But yet you want God to get you out of debt today! Not that he can't do it, but he knows the motives of our heart. You are the one who got yourself into debt, don't' you think that God will make you work to get out of it! Now God does love us and desires for us to be "debt" free, but if in that moment he delivered you, would you still return to him? It is a matter of the heart.
Paul and Silas were lifting praises to God at that moment because their hearts were focused on Kingdom things. And the PRISONERS around them heard. Who do you think was touched by this? What do you think ran through their minds? Why would the prison guard in verse 30 want to know how to be saved? What do those around us here? Do they hear us saying that I shall not fear, or do they hear us whining and lamenting..."Woahest Me!" I think that we forget, "If God be for us, who then can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
So, I will seek the Lord in Spirit and in truth. I will watch my tongue, for from the mouth come the matters of the heart. And as I pray, I will praise the Lord and make my petitions known, but I will pray that the matters of my heart would line up with the purpose of his will.
I hope to post Ivee's pics soon, so the next blog will be more upbeat. Thanks for letting me share my heart with you. Have a blessed week, and may we seek the Lord with a glad heart!
P.S. Yes Emmett you can proof this and let me fix what I messed up cause I don't have time to proof it myself.