Meadow~My Pioneer Girl

Here is a picture I took of Meadow today wearing the new outfits I had a lady make her. The top picture is the raw photo. The picture under it in black and white is edited with Picasa. What do you think? Which one is your favorite?

Blogging With A Purpose!

My sweet cyberspace friend Karen over at Surviving Motherhood has once again gifted me with an award. Karen spends her life honoring the Lord and allowing Him to teach her and she shares that wisdom with us! There have been many times that I have simply felt like throwing in the towel and I'd pop over to Karen's to find she was experiencing similar struggles. She shares her experiences...the good, the bad, the ugly....she doesn't sugar coat life. I love this about her...that she isn't afraid of what anyone might think, she isn't afraid of the flaws. She looks to the Father in all things and then she shares those VICTORIES with us giving us hope and encouragement all while glorifying the Lord. That's purpose!

For Karen to pass this award along to me.....well.....it just touches my soul. It is my hearts desire to glorify my Lord, my King Jesus in all that I say and all that I do and in doing so I too want to help edify-lift up- encourage others. I want to be a light in the darkness, truth for those blinded by the lie, hope for those in despair and even a laugh for the saddened here and there. All while showing my Abba Daddy is my strength, He is my hope, He is the truth and the only way to real life-eternal life. I want people to see Christ in me.

I fall, I fail, I struggle, I'm up, I'm down, I'm many things but Jesus..He is my steady, He is my calm, He is my peace. And all of this is why this award means so much to me. Thank-you Karen!

The rules for this award are as follows:
1. Awarded parties must nominate five people who have not received the award.
2. The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.
3. In their post about the award they need to link back to this entry.
4. Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site. The banner must remain linked to the above site.

I am very excited to pass this award along to other sister bloggers who also share in this purpose. They are.......

1. Iris at Sting My Heart

2. Sheri at Purely His

3. Bobbi at Great Adventures

4. Leigh Ann at Living to learn & Learning to Live

&

5. Mum2Brady at Brady's Bunch

Thanks to each of you who happen by my blog. Whether you lurk or comment I pray that I bless you in some small way!

A Clinique Day

I felt better today than I have in a very long time. I felt good! Praise the Lord I felt GOOD! I'm so glad. I can't believe how incredibly great it feels to feel good! I had to take Sky to the orthodontist today and after that visit we headed to the mall. I was needing cleanser and make-up so I went in and had a facial and purchased some goodies for me. The last time I done this was two years ago! My consultant Lois was still there and still had my file. I have to say I was impressed. I spent a bundle but hey I'm worth it! Right?! Tee hee That is was my hubby keeps telling me anyway!

Do the rest of you moms struggle as hard as I did spending money on yourselves and not the kiddos? Man I can't believe how hard that is! Sky even told me..she said, "Mom it makes us so happy to see you get something for yourself because you are always buying for us." Awww......how sweet she is.

So here is a picture of my goodies.

Last night was youth night at our church and my girls are in drama. I have some great pictures coming up with more details later this week. God Bless you all!

My Father's World 1st (Update 2)

These are the next three illustrations in Meadow's My Father's World Notebook. Hee hee look at those big eyes. She was being silly.

This picture is titled "The Story of Noah"

We studied the colors of the rainbow and the promise of God to never flood the world again. We researched the measurements of the ark and determined it was huge! :) Meadow made a boat out of aluminum foil and dropped pennies in it until it sank. So much fun!

This one is titled "Tower of Babel" We discussed different nationalities, languages and how to communicate. We looked into how God created us all different and how we are each very unique.
Meadow memorized Psalms 30:5 Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

And this one is titled "A Son for Abraham" We discussed faith and patience. How God's timing is perfect and we must seek His will and not our own. We learned that we are not to doubt God but are to stand firm on His word.

Meadow memorized Psalms 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. What a delightful word from the Lord!

Here Meadow is doing some seat work in the kitchen for her daddy. I love the way she concentrates so hard on writing neatly.
This day was a great home school day. Just look at this smile!

The last few weeks have been tough. It must be the confinement from the cold outside. There was a lot of bickering in the home but now we are on the other end and things are picking up again. We kept moving and I'm so glad we did. Some days can be so hard that I second guess myself. I ask the Lord, " Is this really what you want me doing?" Its after the storm that I can look back and see the progress and things learned from the trial. Home schooling for us is like a long race. If you stop in the middle you don't finish. Its not winning that is most important its finishing the race. That is when we will see the results of what the Lord has called us to do. I must be faithful, slow and steady. I must trust Him and be patient. And that smile keeps me going!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day at our house was super special this year. It was simple and yet so very meaningful. Meadow was so happy with her Frog Balloon. Look at her BIG smile!

And then there was Roxy. My hubby took us the Saturday before Valentine's and picked her out for us, name and all. Roxy fit her perfectly. Roxy is a Shih Tzu and she is a spoiled rotten mess!

Just look at the face? How could you NOT love her? Is that a perfect Valentine's Day present or what?!!

So needless to say I was not expecting anything on Valentine's Day. Besides Tony would be on the road on Thursday and I understood.....

Well Thursday morning came and Roxy woke me way too early. I stumbled through the house to get something to drink with all intentions of going back to bed when I seen this.....

At first I thought it was a neat card that the girls had made me until I read
YOU ARE HERE......
Huh?
Yep that arrow was pointing to my hometown and my hometown had a red heart on it.....

And then I began to read the words and as I did the tears started to flow...
I read....

They say home is where the heart is
And as you can clearly see
This map marks the spot
That is so dear to me.
The heart is an organ
That gives this body life,
And the heart that I'm so fond of
Is my heart, It is my wife.
This map if full of many roads
Which my works calls me to
BUT the road I want to travel most
Would bring me home to you.
You spend this day without me there
To hold the hand I love
The hand that was given to me
From our Father up above.
Happy Valentine's Day
I love you....

Tony always reaches so deep within to show his love for me. He never ceases to amaze me. As I stood there in the kitchen alone so early in the morning reading these words he'd carefully written and realizing how he had taken the time to plan so precisely so that I would wake up to his surprise I longed for him. I longed to have him home and to have his arms around me. It wasn't expensive or designer it was from his heart. The ache inside of me was enormous and yet at the same time I was so consumed with his love and this overwhelming joy filled me inside and out. I was not bitter that we couldn't be together....I was grateful that we had each other. While I desire to have him home with me very soon, I'm appreciative that our heavenly Father has given us the opportunity to miss one another, the opportunity to grow in new ways, the opportunity to love just a little bit deeper......

I pray that your Valentine's Day was just as special as ours!!!

Is there a Catfish in Your Tank?

Is There a Catfish in Your Tank?

"Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:13)
I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were having problems shipping codfish from the East Coast. By the time the fish reached the West coast, they were spoiled. They froze them, but by the time the fish arrived, they were mushy. They decided to send them alive. But the fish arrived dead so they tried sending the fish alive again, but with one difference. They included a catfish in each tank. You see, the catfish is the natural enemy of the codfish. By the time the codfish arrived, they were alive and well, because they had spent their trip fleeing the catfish.

This is my point. Maybe God has put a catfish in your tank to keep you alive and well spiritually. It's called persecution. Maybe there's a person at work who always has eight hard questions for you every Monday morning regarding spiritual things. Maybe it is that neighbor who is giving you a hard time for your faith in Jesus. Maybe it is a spouse or family member who doesn't believe. You are wondering why this is happening. It is like that catfish. That person is keeping you on your toes.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19).

God will allow persecution in the life of the believer. If you're experiencing persecution, here are two things to remember:
Persecution confirms that you are a child of God.
Persecution causes you to cling closer to Jesus.

When you are suffering persecution for your faith, remember that this world is not your home. ~~~~~

This came in my e-mail the other day and it touched me so. I just love it when the Lord gives me revelation. He used this to speak so plainly to me. I just want to shine for my Jesus. I want to surrender all of me to Him. I want this flesh to cease so that I can reflect my Abba Daddy. I love you Jesus!!! I am so glad this world is not my home!! Halellujah!

Seven Good Reasons To Praise Jesus as Lord

"Seven Good Reasons to Praise Jesus as Lord"

1. Because of Jesus, I am forgiven.
" Whom God set forth as a propitation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness,
because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins
that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the
present time His righteousness, that He might be just
and the just and the justifier of the one who has faith
in Jesus."~Romans 3:25-26~

2. Because of Jesus, I have peace with God.
" Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."~Romans 5:1~

3. Because of Jesus, I don't have to live with guilt or condemnation.
"There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who
do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."~Romans 8:1~

4. Because of Jesus, I have a great inheritance.
"If children, then heirs-heirs of God & joint heirs
with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we
may also be glorified together."~Romans 8:17~

5. Because of Jesus, I always have someone
interceding for me.
"Who is he who condemns?
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also
makes intercession for us."~Romans 8:34~

6. Because of Jesus, I have eternal life with Him.
"If Christ is in you, the body is dead because
of sin, but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in
you, He who raised Christ from the
dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies through His Spirit who
dwells in you."~Romans 8:10-11~

7. Be cause of Jesus, I can have more life
in this life.
"The thief does not come except to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy. I have
come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly."
~John 10:10~