God Has Set His Love Upon Me

Entering into USAF Family

2011-10-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Whew, what an experience it has been the last 8 1/2 weeks.. Ryan left us on August 8th 2011 to enter into the USAF BMT in San Antonio TX. Alot of prayers were made during this time and God truly show me what it means to trust, have faith and answer prayers during this time not only was Ryan going through AF training more God was showing Himself more to me during this time and I think Ryan too. One of the happiest things for me is that he did share his faith with a wingbrother, he did stayed in chapel just pray he will continue this..... The 1st call we got from him we both broke down and the next was so much uplifting, then from there the moods were either happy, stress whatever it was I could start to see a change in his voice. I have never been a fan of snail mail I will buy cards and never send them but during this time I try my best to send him a letter a day and thankful that I did. We had some wonderful prayer partners, he got letters on a regular base from a sweet wonderful couple, a girl that I know my son thinks the world of and 2 of the greatest sisters.. He got letters from others too and he was thankful for each and every one.. We also have a wonderful group of friends that took some stress off of the total cost of trip between what we had saved up and what they all donated too was enough for our airfare, hotel, and rental car. I dont think they will ever know what that meant to my family and I and those that know me know I am not a receiver of gifts so I have to say it truly humble me and made me see more of what giving is. So, you see God was every so faithful in this process.. Our trip started out going to Atlanta to take a straight flight to San Antonio on Wednesday night it was Tyler 1st flight and he was a champ and mine since I was 16 everything was smooth getting there well except our one wrong turn to the park and ride parking lot it was the 1st of many.. We got to ride through the base on Wed night cause we had to get to one gate to the other to fix Stephen pass it was quite and peaceful and I was holding in the tears knowing Ryan was near.. We stayed at Hamptonn Inn downtown/Riverwalk it was close to the highway and downtown and riverwalk just wish I could have gotten one on the Riverwalk..lol... Thursday we had to be at the base by 7am for the briefing and then the Airman run by 8... We made it there by 6:30 we listen to the rules of the weekend and the schedule and then we made our way out to street to fine a spot to wait for Ryan to run by with his flight..He spotted us on his way back and we got a smile, then we went to the Coin Ceremony where he would be receiving his first coin from his TI this was a 2 hr wait and Stephen decided to stand up and was so glad he did he was the one to tap Ryan out and that hug was the sweetest hug I ever saw them do it warm my heart and show me the love between them, then Tyler jump in and got his, then my turn and we both crying but it was tears of happiness's and proudness.. After this we went to lunch on base with his friend Maynor and his family from down near the beach and listen to stories from their time, from there since we could just stay on base this day we went shopping at the BX got him a new garment bag and new backpack for his carry on, tour the model planes where he told us all about them (he was a walking book of knowledge), he taught Stephen & Tyler how to march and Tyler is still marching he says he is going into the AF too, we also chill out at the community center and the brothers played each other in Madden then we went to have dinner at Burger King near his dorm met a couple of other of his wingbrothers during the day.. Friday was the graduation parade that started at 9 and we got there at 7:30 and got GREAT seats we were the first of 20 there.. lol.The graduation in itself was surreal no words for it.. there was about 700 graduating getting there ribbons and stripes and to hear them take the creed, be sworn in, there marching in their blues the flags, the planes in the background it was all so real I am now a mom of Airman, I always protected him and now him and his wingbrothers will be protecting us.I realize then he is not my baby boy anymore he is a man and I am proud of the way he is starting his life as one.. After the picture taking we walk back to his dorm to see his stuff and where he had been living for the last 8 1/2 weeks and meet his TI, heard a couple of stories, even his TI didnt think he would make it and he told him he was proud of him.. But we know Ryan can have Shelton moments, well lets just say if you are ever hear make sure he goes back from final inspection before town pass.. He didnt, and supposedly the guys had to wait for 10 to 15 mins before they could leave some of the guys took it out on him by flipping his bed, stealing his flashlight, making him do EC duty double or even try triple shift for the 2nd night but his other wingbrothers came in took that 2nd night shift for him cause like they said yeah man you missed up, you took your yelling, paid your dues no need to take it out again another night.. You know the boy can have his moments but I am so proud how he handles himself in those moments esp when others are giving him a hard time.. Anyway, on Friday he went to spend the day with his dad chillin at the hotel after having all you can eat Chinese buffet..While he was there we walked downtown, riverwalk, went and meet Kim & Jacob Weunschel and their kids, it was great catching up with them and seeing the kids.. I do have to say I did cry alot this day, moody, didnt sleep and I prayed alot too cause I had no clue what Ryan TI was going to do about him coming to inspection so didn't know if we were going to get to see him or not the rest of the weekend but again God answer prayers he just got yelled at and we got to spend Saturday with him we took the Alamo Trolley tour we enjoyed it somewhat cause we got to go and see 2 of the missions out of downtown but we were rush it was not a trolley tour like we have done in Savannah or St Augustine I wouldn't do it again.. We walked through the Alamo, did the riverboat tour after this he was ready to go back and chill at the hotel which was fine w/ me since i had not slept I could nap too..lol.. It took him 45 mins to get back on base on Fri so we decided to leave by 5:30 and go on back base and eat at Godfather pizza then we went back to the BX to look for him some earbuds and laptop sleeve and he made it back without being rush.. Once we drop him off we just went and walked the riverwalk again and saw all the Saturday night crowd.. Sunday since Ryan flight won Warrior flight they had town pass from 9-6 but his chapel service was at 11 so we went and got him at 9 went to another BX that had a bigger food court in it for us to chill, the boys to play games got Ryan 2 1/2 gallon zip lock bags (they roll their clothes and put in these bags and take the air out that is how they pack) it was pouring rain (thankful they got some, ALOT of rain even heard a tornado hit close to the base early that morning) so we had to stay inside and drive around, then we went to his chapel service at 1100 it was something else to see the music before hand they are playing is very uplifting, the AB cant sit down until told us, the graduates and family fill in the back rows.. DJ should see this service all durning the service some of the guys in tech school security force they walk up and down the aisle making sure nobody is asleep and poking them if they are, there are sf at the doors too you have to let know why you are leaving and it was not the freedom you would think of.. Then after chapel Ryan went to eat with his dad and then we went by and got him and went to hang out at the hotel he taught me how to roll socks to show a butt and a smile and to roll shirts lets just say my sock is better than my shirt..lol... We packed him up with his new bags and took him back to base and watch him eat supper before saying our good-byes until Christmas or Feb..It was hard but knowing we can talk, text, FB him now it made it a little easier.. We went to Tower of America after we drop him off we saw the sunset and it was BEAUTIFUL seeing SA like that.. Afterwards if you look at the brochures or web site for SA and you see the restaurant on the riverwalk w/ all the different color umbrellas it is call Casa Rio (I think that is the name) but we ate their that night and then headed back to the room to pack up for our flight home... We had a WONDERFUL time watching my boys all of them including Eric laugh with each other, talk, just being around each other, we have not had a trip where the 5 of us have all gone in a long time and this one I just sat back and watch my guys enjoy each other and my heart was full.. Seem like everywhere we went people would say congratulation and thank you to him my heart would just be smiling and looking up to him in awe, the way he carried himself, the way he spoke to people I could not be more proud of him, watching him being a big brother to his younger brothers was something else too, I do have to say TYler is 1 lucky boy w/ 2 older brothers that are so good to him, he looks up to both of them so much. Still getting use to the fact he is not going to be walking through the door tonight.. He is off to NAS Pensacola FL with 9 other wingbrothers (this is a Navy base) to learn Aircraft Structural Maintenance hopefully in 2 wks we will hear his first base assignment he thinks it will be between Virgina Beach, Missouri, New Mexico or Alaska.. mom is hoping Virgina Beach.. Standing proud for our USAF Family.. Airman Ryan Shelton we love you..

Hold Fast

2011-07-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went to Charlotte to see Beth Moore and wow what experience it was and I wanted to share...First off there were 9400 ladies there and being an arena with those women and hearing Beth speak the word of God, singing praise music with Travis it is something unreal esp when the band and singers stop and it is just women sing I have to admit I had a time singing cause of the tears it was the sweetest most blessing thing to hear. She told us that she prays for each event for a word from God to be given to her and ours was Hold Fast and that instead of points to be given to us by 1,2,3,etc we were going to by HOLDFAST instead so here is what she taught us. Our main focus was in Deut 10:11-21 but you know Beth she likes to move around..

V 20- Hold fast to Him- cling to Him, hold onto, glue to be stuck together.. This is how we should hold onto our faith with God.

H- His affection is set upon me
O- Only He is your praise
L- Loving Him awaken your true heart
D- Doing His will does us good
F- Fleeing to him means fleeing with Him
A- An tighten embrace will also replace
S- Satan wants our faith
T- The Lord is your life

God chose me, He keeps His promise oath and brought me out, I am a treasure possession, I am loved with a faithful love, joy love, enduring love. God will never betray you but He will heal you...
Deut 7:6-10,1 Peter 2:9-10,Esp 1:37, Is 38:17,Deut 7:7. Is 53

Live as dearly loved children, loved by God of universal, He is your praise

He has set His love upon us, we are to love our Lord your God, He will bring everything and we should too. Life works when we show Him the same affection as He does us. You know don't know your heart until you truly love God.
Psalm 119:25, 2 Tim, Acts 20

Walk in obedience, He will lead us the right way. He has no darkness in Him, He doesn't lie. Everything we good through is what God is doing in us, he uses us to impact our community.
Deut 10:13, Romans 8:8,Ex 29

As a mother we are looking at our kids and asking "why do you do the things you do" God is like that with us too. The promise & the oath are 2 things that are unchangeable with God.Live as we are loved and forgiven, Flee that refuge onto the cross. Jesus is with you always.
1 King 1:5-6, 1 Kings 1:48-51, 1 King 2:28, Heb 6:18, Heb 13:20, Matt 28:20

What and who am I holding unto the tightest, you have to hold fast with both hands. Get in healthily relationship, we can't fight the battles only He can. There is only 1 God and we ain't it and neither is anybody else. Most people don't want you to be clingy to them but God does. Death to self, life to God. Stronghold is when we let go of God and hold onto something else beside God. We need Jesus.
2 Tim 3, Mark 7:8, 2 Tim, 1 Kings 11:12, Rev 3:11

Satan wants our FAITH more than he wants our marriage, our children , our health, he wants our faith... Now this is the one that really got me cause never thought about it that way. We have to hold onto God commandments so we may by strong enough to enter the promise land. We have to hold on tight to get in and hold on tight once we get in cause Satan will come at you when you are not holding on tight. Josh 23:6-8 Be very strong, hold fast to God.. Satan goes through our trash he uses it to take our treasures. In the cloudy mess when we are not holding onto we will not see God promise. Holy passion does not destroy only lust and pride does, protect our minds, hearts, be cleanse with the Holy Spirit, repent from what is keeping you from holding fast. Get rid of toxic relationships. If God is speaking to you obey do not let the dust settle.
Deut 11:8,Josh 22:5, Josh 23:6-8, 2 Sam 23:8, Esp 4, Deut 3:8, Jerm 29:11, Deut 30:19-20

Seek things above, Chris is my life, If you don't let God in your marriage, your parenting, your life He can't do His will, He lives where we allow Him to. Whatever hinders us from living a life with Christ we need to put aside. Love the Lord your God, obey Him, loyal to Him for He gives you life and enables you to live. Hold fast to God...
Col 3:1-4

Notice the bookends- His affection is set upon me-The Lord is your life...

draw a heart in the middle right Love the Lord your God and then on the outside of it around it write.. .walk his way, fear the Lord, Serve the Lord, be obedient

Say this chant over and over until you believe it...
H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me,H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me, H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me , H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T God has set His love upon me...

The sweet ladies I got to share it with.. Melissa Woo, Tanya Stewart, Susan Pruitt & Maya she is from China and this was her 1st time in US she had only been her for 5 days. I believe that God spoke to each of us this weekend..

Resume

2011-07-23T20:02:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about it for awhile (well since we got our computer back up and running) that I wanted to start blogging again but just have not yet. Alot has change since my last post a 1 1/2 ago from vacation esp the big one of the cruise (one day I need to add this to the blog), to having 1 child graduate, basketball & baseball with the kids to what God has been doing in my life. So as of today I am going to resume, start back up and start sharing. Maybe just for me to look back on or for you to come and glimpse into my life..

Happy 40th Eric

2010-01-11T09:19:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUBBY!!!!!!!!!!

On Wednesday Jan 6th my hubby finally caught up in the same age bracket as me.. He turn the BIG 40. Even though I am still 2 yrs older than him I feel like he can't call me old anymore cause he is not in the 30's and me in the 40's at least now we are both in the 40's.. His mom put his picture in the paper from 4 yr old and then one we have done several years ago it was sweet and glad people told me about it cause we would have never known.. He thinks it is just another day so he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. So we skip church and ran a couple of errands and then went to Bojangles with Kim & Scott Hewitt. We were going to do the cake there but Stephen didn't come, you couldn't light the candle so we left and went back to the house but not until the cashier came out there and look at his cake and them looked at him and said "Oh you forty" the way she said it was funny but she need turn around and said he looked good for 40 which I could have told ya that..lol... We went back to the house sang happy birthday, had Kim's cake she made and then I gave him his gift of a ticket to go go to Sprint All Star race in May and a hotel room to stay the night.. Kim got Scott his ticket for Christmas so we are sending them down there...Now all this was the day of....

Fast Foward to January 16th I wanted to make his 40th a good one so and make it a surprise I had plan a big surprise party but when we decided to go on the cruise and use extra money this year to pay for it and Stephen trip I knew that was out of the question so my plan was to go to Wild Wings his favorite resturant and invite all his friends and celebrate his big day and I was hoping that a band we like BlindVision would be out there. Well all of that fell through, Wild Wings didn't want to work with on a table and BlindVision was not playing there some other band was that I never heard of the groups they sounded like. So, after much talking about with others and getting advice I called Chief's and they were all but happy to help us make it a special day for him.. I invited all his friends, got decoratoin, Kim made him a "Life Begins AT 40" cake and with some help from Denise and Kim got things set up and had everybody there by 6 so we could come in and they would all be there. Afterwards a friend of ours is a DJ at the bowling alley so he had a table set up for us out there and we went out there and dance and listen to karokee. We had a great time and I hope now that he gets your 40th bday is not just another day. Thanks to all the people that came and celebrated his bday and help him bring in a new decade...

SURPRISE

All the Old Fart's Friends

Kim husband Scott was there too but I totally forgot to take a picture of them together after he got there.

The Old Fart

Some Birthday fun
His cake was made by Kim will all the things that are as yet to come

I had some more but I can't figure out how to turn the picture around before posting...but they are all on my Facebook.

Can't wait to celebrate his 50th!!!!!!

New Years Eve

2010-01-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

This year for News Years we went to Shannan and John house to celebrate the coming on 2010 together. I had all my besties there w/ their families except for Denise.. We all brought appetizers and Ree & Ginger brought sandwich trays. We ate, socialize and then played games of Catch Phrase and Apples to Apples. All the kids hung out in the bonus room watching tv, playing and listening to music. We watch the ball drop and wish each other Happy New Year. I could not ask to bring in the year with anybody but my family and my besties.. Great memories of 2009 were made and looking forward to more to be built in 2010.

Our Host Couple John & Shannan Manley
They were sweet to have all of crazy nuts over w/ our kids...

Tim & Ginger Darwin- wonder if they ever found the pickle?

Keith & Karen Bishop- aren't they sweet looking

Scott & Kim Hewitt- we missed bringing in the year w/ them.. they were the popular ones and had another party to go to...

The Davis- For Christmas next year I am getting them Catch Phrase

Me and my goofball hubby. We have had our ups and down but I think 2009 really put what is the important in our life and brought back that spark w/ us... love ya baby

Some of the best friends a girl could have... Thank you all for great memories of 2009 Can't wait to see what 2010 is going to be!!!

We had kids from 7 to 17 boys and girls but for the most part I think they all got alone and had fun.. Most have we heard a lot of playing around and screaming.. Not sure if that was good or not...

We also had a friendly game of Catch Phrase w/ the ladies vs men plus Kim since our hubbies didn't want to play. The men and Kim won I think John and Keith have played a time or 2 together cause they had there own codes it seem like...

HAPPY 2010 EVERYONE!!!!!!!

Reflection of 2009 & Hopes for 2010

2010-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

This is one thing I like about blogging I can go back and look and see what my resolutions for 2009 and reflect on those. Here is post from last year. Now did I achieve them well half and half...

1. I am still working on the weight lost but I didn't gain this year. I did lose and gain as of today I am the same or little under than what I weigh last year at this time.

2. This year I am more ready to move to Goucher than I was last year it could be cause of it might be a half to situation but I am prepare mentally for it. We did get Tyler room paint and somewhat of a room now. He has Eric's old bedroom set in his room now and our old entertainment center we still have a few things to do in it and I have my paint picked out for my living room. Still not organize.

3. I did send out few cards not birthday but just thinking of you cards. Maybe this year I will do more.

4. Being compassion and having a heart, I think I am doing it. I have it but acting on it pushes me out of my comfort zone alot of times. This year I will pray for this one.

5. All 5 of us did go camping with the Hewitt's so we did have a family vacation. Stephen, Tyler went with us on the mission trip to West Virginia and we went to the beach. Ryan is 17 and we are totally uncool people to him.. Eric and I did reconnect more this year than in years pass we finally went away over night first in February to Gatlinburg and then in July for our anniversary to Savannah and we had many date nights. We still do date nights maybe not every Friday night like we were doing but we do when we can and we are going to Savannah again in February and on our a cruise in September..

6. Didn't learn a new thing at all this year.

7. I think I have done this one pretty much. I try and see the silver lining in everything and I have learn when you do that you have more of a positive outlook on things.

8. I have had a blast to reconnecting with old friends and family. I get to keep up with nieces, 2nd cousins through Facebook, I have been blessed to have a second chance spending time with myside of family and thank God for it. I got to spend my aunts 80th bday with her, Christmas w/ my family, visiting with family memembers and getting to know them now. I went this summer to meet up with my best friends from middle school Cindy, Amy & Jamie and had lunch. I still have lunch with Jamie at least once a month if not more since we work down from each other. I also reconnected with my childhood best friend Robbie and to this day we are in contact we text, fb message each other at least once a week and meet up once a month, matter of fact I am having breakfast with her tomorrow. I love being on Facebook and keeping up with old friends.

9. This one I think I will be working on forever which is a good thing. I haven't done the devotions, the daily quite time, memorize scriptures but I am learning more and I have faith and trust in God and I know it is not about my timing but His.

So what is new for 2010?? Well I do want to get my house in shape and painted, I want to send more cards out and give more gifts, I am praying for the compassionate hearth, I want to spend more time doing family things and couple things with Eric, I pray for many more family get together with myside and memomries to be made and realtionships to be restore, I do want to learn to concrete I didn't have a clue last year what I wanted to learn but this year I do know what I want to learn and I want to continue to look at the positive side of everything. But this year I have 2 main goals...

1. I want to loose at least 60lbs by September for our cruise. You know it is like if you are sitting in church and you hear a good sermon and doing the invitation you are crying it is called conviction. I have felt it and I have finally responded to it. Well, now I sit watching (listening at work) to the Biggest Loser and hear these people reason to loose weight and I am in tears listening to them. Liz from this past year said so many things during on her interviews that got to me. I am coming to figure out why I am like I am I figuring out the emotinonal part and I am praying about them and dealing with them so this year I pray that with God's help I will achieve my goal. I can't do it alone and I pray for the support system to come and for God's help.

2. I pray this year to have a true relationship with Jesus to know him more and more, to honestly have that quite time and to memorize scripture and most important go to him every morning before I get out of bed pray for wisdom for that day and dress in His armour each day. I am going on Tuesday night to Southern Sisters Sweet and Coffee Shop from 7-8 to hear a praying, Godly lady Cheryl Cannon teach me what the bible says. She is down to earth and the way she teaches it I get it and I am learning so much out of Esp. I am on the Women2Women leadership board and I have many ladies on there that encourage me and are such wonderful mentor. SO this year I pray for that relationship to develop between me and God and for myself to KNOW his word and not just know it but speak it and live it.

I pray for a happy, healthy, many blessings, full of love, happiness, patience, family and friends memories for 2010.

Year of 2009 picture review from facebook

Christmas 2009

2009-12-31T12:56:00.000-08:00

Do you say every year you are going to be done with Christmas before December? Well, I do and I am out until the stores are closed on Christmas Eve and back at Walgreens with everybody else at 10-11pm.. This year I can say by Christmas Eve lunch I was DONE with everything but the stocking stuffers and they were done by 5:15. That is a record for me... The older boys only wanted an IPOD Touch so they got it along with some clothes and Tyler wanted DSI so he got that w/ 3 games a case, some movies and games. The boy has more toys than he knows what to do with and doesn't touch half of them so this year not only with the Eric work slack but also I didn't want to focus on all the presents we got them the big thing they wanted and a few other things. We didn't put one present under the tree until Christmas Eve night and Santa came and wrap all the gifts put them under the tree and place there stocking in front of there piles, ate his cookies and drank the milk and he left. The only disappointment we got was Tyler wanted My Sims Agent for the Wii not the DSI I thought they were the same game but he got over it as quick as he got on it..lol

I get up on Christmas take pictures of the boys opening gifts as Eric video tapes and then after all is open and they are off playing later on I cook french toast, bacon, grits and eggs for our breakfast it is one meal we all sit at the table w/the TV off and are like a real family..lol.. Well this year we didn't eat until 12:30 cause I went back to bed until 10 got up and started cooking, got the french toast, the bacon all done and started the eggs and the breaker for our stove blew it so we had to cook eggs on the indoor grill and it took a lot longer than we wanted it to. We still enjoy our meal just a little later and a little cold. Also, while all of this was going on the picture tube in the TV went out. Which has been kinda good as of today we still don't have fix but I have gone to bed w/ Eric everynight and I think he likes that so I am not sure if it will get fix..lol.. I can't get down about any of this cause I text my high school best friend Lorraine to wish her Merry Christmas and she called me right back to let me know she needed prayers. Her son Devin that 3 days younger than Stephen was buring trash for them and he had put an aersol can in the trash a couple of days before and forgot about it as he was poking at the fire it exploeded and caught his face, arms and hands on fire and they took him to the hospital which transfer him Augusta Burn Center. He has 3rd degree burns they let him come home for Christmas but he is back there now as of today and don't know if they get to come back tonight or have to wait a couple of weeks. He can't lay down so he has to sleepin the recliner, he can't get them wet or go out cause of the wounds. He was conditioning for baseball and don't know where he stands with that or school. Then to top it all off the day before it all happen she found our her niece that is husband sister daughter that is in her 30's with a child 7 and I think 5 is dying of ovarian cancer and only has 9 months to a year to live... So, after talking to her and then praying for her and her family I had to look around and my Christmas became my Thanksgiving and I am thankful that I have a healthly family and I focus on what Christmas was about, about Jesus being born and who He is to me.. I know that Lorraine is getting along cause she has Jesus walking beside her comforting her, giving her strength and He will be the healer for Devin and Crystal. He will be there to give her peace with whatever He plans become. So me being w/ out a TV or a stove my kids not having a living room full of Christmas gifts they won't touch after of them well it all didn't matter. God has blessed us with so many things and Him being born was the greatest gift of all...

By the way, I do plan to start my shopping even stocking stuffer early for 2010 maybe this year will be my year to have it all done by December 1st... and I plan to do better with pictures next year too... Hope you all had a Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!!

Christmas w/ Family and Friends

2009-12-30T15:35:00.000-08:00

After our day of spending time with my family that night we went and spent time at the Hewitt's for their Christmas party. It was great fun we had wonderful food, laughter, great friends, did a Christmas swap we got $10 gift card to Bronco's and Carolina koozie and some mulling spices. It was a great time all around and thank you Kim & Scott for having us all over. To see more and Kim side check out her blog

Kim & Lisa

Eric, Scott & Donnie hiding out while they are eating.

The teen boys guarding the food

Eric opening his gift

On Christmas Eve we go to Eric's mom for dinner. This year we missed having Susan and the kids there they were all home sick, it wasn't the same w/out them. We had enough food for at least 2 more families to come but that just means left overs for Eric. We swap gifts this is our Santa place we got our lugguage for our cruise and money.

Tyler with his Ben 10 stuff

Pappa and Gigi w/ our kids

Gigi took this picture.. Not sure what angle she was going for

After Santa elf went shopping for stocking stuffers and went home and made a cake Myself, Eric and Tyler went with the Darwin's to Ginger mom & dad for our annual Christmas Eve breakfast dinner. They have been super sweet to us and I just adore her family. About 3 or 4 years ago I think I made a comment once we are done at Eric's mom at lunch we are done with family. She gets to together with her parents and just does breakfast dinner and invited us and year after year they still invite us and I have learn you don't tell Marge Waters no..lol... They make the best breakfast real biscuts, country ham, grits and yest I have tired the red eye gravy it was good, eggs, bacon just the whole works. The Darwins/Waters family are wonderful..

Tim, Ginger, Caroline & Jake Darwin..
If Caroline gets her way and she marries Tyler me and Ginger won't have to make them decided where to have Christmas since we are spend Christmas Eve together we can just take turns and have them to come to our houses for Christmas Eve breakfast..

Ginger and her sweet mamma and wonderful cook daddy.

Her mom got us all "Find The Pickle" supposely you hid it on the tree on Christmas Eve and then in the morning whoever finds it gets an extra present...

Christmas night we hit our last friends gathering and went to the Hewitts for leftovers. They share what they had left over from Christmas with Scott family and we took our leftovers we had. After dinner we exchange gifts the boys got Hollister t-shirts that say Sweet, Tyler got Mexican Train cause Kim knows how much he loves that game and well she went above and beyond with mine and Eric's gift she got us tickets to see Rodney Carrington with them and them Monday's in January. It was discuss and since I am trying to not to do so much so we can save for a cruise I told them Eric and I were not going so instead she brought our tickets so we can. I am excited I think Rodney is funny and it is 2 days after my birthday.

The oil was part of Ryan's gag gift from Zack and we got Zack some Modern Warfare sleep pants which I think he liked..lol

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family and friends!!!!!!!!

Christmas w/ my family

2009-12-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

This was far the best in several years for gatherings at Christmas. I have not really spend Christmas with my whole family in many, many, many years and this year I went to my aunts in Piedmont to see cousins, their kids, aunts and uncles and I left there feeling sad and bless all at once. Sad cause I missed sooooo many of those gathering, I see my boys with my cousins kids and think about they are some what close in age and live nearly close enough that they could have all grown up together and share stories of growing up something that I feel bad for my kids for cause they really won't have memories of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparent like I do. They will have other memories but not family ones. But I feel blessed that we have a 2nd chance to make memories and we get to spend time with my family. The boys have a chance to get know my family and their 2nd cousins and they are still somewhat young enough that they can go from here.. My cousin Rita took her daddy's old home movies and Costco and had them put on DVD and we watch that and seeing my uncle Doyle, Jim and Mamma and Pappa in those videos brought back a sense of sweet memories of each one of these people from Doyle asking picking on me asking if I have plug the sun when I got up in the morning to asking me why my neck was so red, must be cause I was I redneck. I loved going on to the Chastin and spending time with them. My uncle Jim his pipes and his distinguish look he always reminded me of a dad from Leave It To Beaver. Then my wonderful sweetest grandparent John & Ethel Yates words can't explain the love they had for all of us. Papa would take us for walks and scare the dogs off with his cane, he would give us a $1 for chewing gum (this was when you could get it for .25 cents), his little jig he would do sometimes, Mamma and her banana pudding, "delaw", rings and necklace that she would let me play with when sitting on the couch together, Price Is Right, lunch at mamma and papa was a 12pm and if you were late well get in the back of the line, her doll beds made out of baskets. There are so many memories on Beattie St.. Then the memories of Daytona Beach 1st week of August that we would go. This was when you could go to Sea World and Disney World in a day, some restaurant we had to cross over a long bridge to get too and we got sherbet for dessert, Rita and her pageants and getting stung by a jellyfish. Andy and his stories and laughter I think GOd was right on when he called him to preach. Greg and the Yates boys talking about Monty Python sometimes there talks went right over my head. Johnny holding onto me as we were on the Swamp Fox at the beach so I would not fall out, him and Evelyn living in the apartment in Mauldin, the stories of him, Lisa & Lynn alot involved somebody laughing so hard they peed on theirselves. Of course Karen our summers we spend together for a week at her house for VBS and her our sandwiches w/ potato chips then we would go over to mamma and papa and spend the night and me, Karen and Mamma would all sleep together on her pulled out couch and how could I forget Ahchi Foxichi the monster that lived the closet. My aunts, Johnnie Ruth, Katheryn and Susan the example they have set before me of Godly Christian woman and their sweet quite, submissive wife's they were and are to their husbands they were some wonderful examples. Yes, I have many happy memories and I treasure each of them... I pray that 2010 will bring more family time together and new memories will be made. I have always love my cousin Rita and always thought the world of her and I believe that if distant was not the case we might would have stayed more connected. Her and John has raise 4 great young adults and she gave me the best advice that day.."I talk to much" not in general (sure some will say yes to that) but with my kids and I got what she was saying and took it to heart cause she too got the same advice from her mother. See these are the things I am glad to have back in my life... I thank my sisters Lisa and Lynn for making me come around the family and for inviting me. Whatever difference are there with any family members it is not worth losing a great group that came from the John & Ethel. So, yes this family gathering was a well blessed and cherish time. I can't wait until the next one...

My uncle Wallace, my daddy, cousin/Godfather Al, his beautiful daughter that just graduated w/ CJ Spillers Elizabeth and my mom

Tyler took this picture of most of us but not all.

Some of the Chastin/Shealy kids- James Shealy, Amy Chastin, Patrick Chastin and Melody Shealy- some great kids.

My cutie Tyler w/ my beautiful niece Olivia. They hit it off the 1st time he met her.

Funny, just another memory hit me was at the Chastin was all the golf balls and Eric took the kids across the street to the golf course to find some and I think there a couple in my car still rolling around... I do hate I didn't take more pictures next time I will..

Christmas Performances

2009-12-30T11:53:00.000-08:00

In one week we had 3 performances to go to for the boys to show us their singing and playing skills I have no idea who they get it from.

Our first performance was Ryan playing with our youth band Ready To Rise at Christmas with a Mission at the church. It was a great night of hearing people share about the missions trips they went on durning the year and what it meant to them, Kim & Michael Lord singing some great all time favorite Christmas songs and seeing all our Pastors do the Elf dance what a site seeing some of them getting down..lol.. Then Ready Rise help end the night and this group of young adults can play Carol Of Bells wonderful and since it was not a night of worship per say the boys really let loose on that song and then all the others that they were just about what this season is all about. It was a great night and I would love to have the DVD.. I do wish I had taken my camera but oh course Ryan doesn't tell me alot of what they doing when performing so I was not prepare..

Ryan in the burgany shirt playing bass

Jessie putting on a show durning Carol Of Bells

Ready TO Rise

Next up was our Flyin Nijina Turtle night sing for us. Tyler was in the children choir and then did a Christmas Shop Around the Corner the kids were great with the singing, the ones that had lines did a wonderful job, the adults were great, a BIG thank you goes out to Joye Hall and her group for all the time they put in with the kids and with all the props and customes. It was an awesome night...

Tyler the Flyin Nijina Turtle along w/ some of the 12 days of Christmas..

I love to watch his face when he is singing..lol

Our children choir and durning the performance

A couple of days later all in one day we had a school concerts. Started off with Tyler Christmas on Candy Cane Lane at school. We was a tree and had a small speaking part. After the concert we went back to his room to make candy houses.

The 1st graders- he is a the top on the left and his future wife that he says is on the bottom left at the end.

His big debut speaking part as a tree

Not only can Daddy build houses he can build Candy houses too and Gigi came to see all about it. The finish product

We left Tyler at school and Mr & Mrs. Santa went to Greenville to enjoy a day of shopping and having lunch together. That night we went to Stephen Dorman Singers Christmas Concert. I must say the boy cleans up pretty handsome.. They were all great.

One other thing we had this month was Tyler Breakfast w/ Santa. The school has breakfast for the kids and their family, they have crafts to do and they get to go and see Santa.. For some reason Tyler wasn't to much sitting on Santa lap but he was ok going and telling him what he would like...

Christmas Lights of 2009

2009-12-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

I love to look at Christmas lights and decorations and I think I have past it on to Tyler and Eric..

We started this year off making a night of it on a night that it was raining off and on so we didn't get to see all that we wanted too. We took Scott, Kim & Cassie Hewitt with us and started off at a house in Mauldin that we had heard about that you could get out and walk around the house. It was in a neighborhood off of Adams Mill Rd and was tucked away thank goodness for a GPS.. It was pretty neat..

After we left there we went to Mojo in Simpsonville and ate dinner, it was great and will be going back... Then on to Ft.Inn to see all the pretty lights and to see who won 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Sugarplum awards. It was raining so the carriage rides were not running. Then we went to Pelzer to see the mill hill and the light people. The good thing was the big house was decorate this year but the bad thing the light people were not out there, nor was the redneck house. And on top of it I didn't take pictures at either. On our way back from Pelzer Kim and Scott took us to Tiny Town in Easley. Now, I have heard about it for many years but never knew where it was and I am glad to say I finally experience it. These people put some work in all there displays and some things were VERY old...

Eric and I have not been in to McAndeville in about 10 yrs so we figure we would go Sunday night after the concert at church. The Hewitt went with us again and I think this trip over did Scott. We left at 6:30 and got back at 11:30 but we did stop and ate at the Waffle House and it is at least an hour drive there and back... The rest of the time was just waiting and going throught McAndeville. It was worth it to see all the changes done in 10 yrs, might add this to go my go back list.

I have not been to Roper Mtn since my teenagers were younger than Tyler and Eric had never been so we decided to go and we brought along the little girl that Tyler is in love with Macyi and her sister Abbey and Kim & Cassie.. Started off at McDonalds and then off to sit in line for about 30 mins to get in. I honestly have to say if they didn't have the Santaland I don't think it would be worth the going back. I would love to go back next year and have picture taken with that Santa and use as our Christmas cards. He reminded me of the Coke Santa and the background was very pretty. They also had these balloon guys that were doing balloons for kids for a donation and they were great, funny and sweet..

That was our outting of looking at lights of course as we are driving at night if we see lights we go and look. We didn't make our trip to Hollywild this year and we drove by Pacolet on Christmas Eve but they were off already. Ginger's parents told us about a place in York and we also have heard about James Island lights so next year we will add those to our stop...

Any that you like to go and look at that I did not mention.. It is about the lights but it is also about the small details of decorating the porches and yards that I love...

Dickens of Christmas

2009-12-02T18:55:00.001-08:00

I guess this is a year of new things. Eric and I took Tyler to Dickens of Christmas in downtown Spartanburg. We have heard about it but have never been so we decided this year to go and check it out. The store fronts had old time scenes in them with people acting out a story, carolers singing, victorian days people walking around, even Santa was there and they had carriage rides and lite the tree up at Dennys. We ran into Mark & Johanna Gregory and went and had dinner with them and their girls at Wild Wings afterwards. It was great time all around and glad we decided to go, I think we will be going for years to come.

He was all smiles and bright eye and couldn't take his eyes off of Santa.

THANKSgiving

2009-12-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving I sat back and thought of all things that I am thankful for...

1.My Lord & Savior.. My God, that loves me when I have been unloveable, that never leaves me, I can always turn to, forgives me like no one else can, died for me, comforts me and give me peace.

2. Eric, things might not be the fairly tale life but we made this commitment and through the good and bad of it we stick together. He accepts me for who I am and loves me anyway..lol. The spiritual growth that he has I know that God will lead our marriage. He is really such a great daddy and Tyler's best friend

3. My 3 boys, sometimes might feel like we have 2 families cause of having teens that don't want to do the family things and then having a 7yr old that loves to do things w/ mommy & daddy. I cherish the time we do spend together and sadden at the times they don't want to.. but I am thankful for each one of them from Ryan's musical talent and stubborness, Stephen's personality, Tyler it is always a new adventure with him. I thank God he entrusted me with them.

4. My family, I am thankful that for the past year I have been reconnected with cousins, unlces, aunts and have a relationship with my sisters. I thank God for answering that prayer.

5. My friends, I have some of the best friends and each one brings out a different part of me, I am encourage, humor, unwounded, share laughter, tears, give me Godly wisdom, trustworthy, from the new ones I have made to the best friend from childhood that is back in my life to the friends that are there everyday, to the ones that know when I need that prayer I am thankful for each and every one.

6. Health of my family, we have been truly blessed with a healthly family

7. My job, in today times there are so many people that are out of work I am thankful to be getting up everyday to go to work and get a pay check.

8. My church family I have the best pastors and church family that anyone could ask for.

9. I am thankful that Eric and I finally took the plunge and after 12yrs of talking about going on a cruise we are finally doing it next year with 8 other couples.

10. I am thankful for all that the Lord has bless me with. Don't worry about what you don't have but be thankful for what you do have. Play with the deck of cards that God deals you with.

For this thanksgiving we went over to have lunch with Eric's parents and then took the boys to their dads while we made our annual run to Kmart. Once we got home and went to bed so I could get up at 2:30 to get ready to go shopping at 3:30. Me, Denise my friend Beverly from work meet up at Waffle House then went onto Kohls, Target (which was the worst for me stood in line for 2 hrs but got what I wanted and got gift cards to go and spend), the mall which I was shock that Hollister was having a good sale, that is another I am thankful for.., on to Greer to Wal-Mart and back to Kmart to get my luggage that I am getting for Christmas, stopping to eat breakfast and lunch, stopping to talk to people I took Denise back to her car at 4pm, oh yeah Beverly left us after Kohls to go back to Toy R Us and the mall and home cause she had been out since 12am. Once I got home I was history and went to bed. That night and next morning I was hurting and wonder why I do it but its just a day that I look forward to and I have my crazy friend Denise that goes with me and whoever else we can talk into it that year. I am not a crazy shopper I love to watch the other people and I do like the deals.

Overall it was a great thanksgiving but I didn't take a picture at all so I was sad about that.

Oh yeah, I am thankful for1 more thing.. after 12 yrs of saving we are going to decorate Thanksgiving weekend we finally did.

Happy Birthday

2009-12-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to 2 of my best friends!

There is one thing that us girls like to do and that is to celebrate each other birthday's so November 21st we went and celebreated Shannan's (23rd) and Kim's (27th) bday. We went to see New Moon with the half of Spartanburg that didn't go see it at midnight the day before. Kim went the Saturday before and got all our tickets so we could get in all together and not fight the crowd. Our movie was at 4 but we got there at 3 so we get a row for all 8 of us. Now we are some savers we get 1 large popcorn and 1 large drink and ask for trays and cups and share and even get to go back for refills..lol

After the movie we went to Wild Wings to celebrate their bdays. It was funny and I do wish I had taken a picture of these girls but there was a group of 17-18 yr old seniors from Byrnes out there celebreating one of their friends bday and we were all laughing cuase we were thinking we were them in 20 yrs. They were nice young ladies they came and talked to us and even volunteer to sing Happy Birthday to Kim & Shannan. We had a great time together a night full of laughter, stories,great movie, good wings and good music.

Best girlfriends I girl could have
Shannan, Kim,Ginger,Ree,Denise

Denise, Kim & Wanda

Ree & Beverly

Kim & Ginger

All of us

Shannan with the Onesoles we got her

Kim with her steel toe boot box we got her..no, really we got her a pair of Dansko that we had to order

I love my besties.... they are all like sisters to me.

Halloween

2009-12-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

Normally, for halloween we go to church for the trunk or treat but our friends Kim & Scott Hewitt were going camping with his family up at Yogi Bear in NC and wanted to take Tyler with them and he wanted to go so he took off with them on Friday and Eric and I went down Saturday to hang out with them and bring him home that night (which by the way he didn't like that idea don't think he missed us). It was pretty cool there they had on Friday night planted magic pumpkin seeds and then went back and got there pumpkins that morning after breakfast with Yogi. We got up there when they were decorating time it just right Kim had just got done getting all the gup out..lol.. Tyler had 2stickers with differnt faces and he wanted them combine into 1 face so daddy did it for him.

After the pumpkins were done they had games up at the activity center that Tyler went up to try to put a pumpkin in a basket w/ his feet, wrap someboby up like a mummy and eat a donut from a string which I was shock my child didn't do better consider he can eat the heck up out a donut all the kids got a piece of candy for playing.

They also had a dog contest which Kim's dog were a fairy and bumblebee but the dog that got painted blue won.

The rest of the day we just hung out at the campsite talking, eating, playing games, keeping dry and warm. Until it was time to get ready to go trick or treating around the campground.

After we went and loaded up on candy and ate dinner we went up to activity center for the haunted house and dance. Now, all the way up there Tyler wanted to do the haunted house and a lot of kids were going through it so we didn't think it would be that scary so we took him in after the first little area he was scared so mommy and daddy had him stuck between us and as we would hit the didn't areas I was shaking my hand no and telling them to not scare him which I have to say they were great about. I was the one that scare like a booger... you come out of the haunted house (which is 1/2 of the activity center) into the dance area and just a normal looking guy jump out and said boo and let me just say over the music they heard me scream and I think I step all over Eric and Tyler but it was funny... At the dance they had the pumpkin contest which we didn't win and they had the adult custom contest which Kim enter as a Hippie. Now remember what I just said about Tyler being scared of the haunted house well the dance started off w/ the owners son dress up I guess as Michael Jackson or something and they did the dance to Thiller and they were actually great dancers esp him but lights were out, smoke screen was up and the majority of the haunted house people were dancing and he was up front on the floor with them watching and was in totally amazement, good thing he was not tramasize by them. Once they were done with that we all began to line dance even learn a couple of new ones.. Tyler was a dancing machine that night. I think we were the last to leave even got Eric out there for 1 slow dance.

We had a great time spending the day with the Hewitt's to hear her side of the story and you can check her blog out at http://hewittfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-halloween.html. Even though Tyler was mad cause he had to leave and couldn't stay another night he was asleep by the time we hit the main road. One of the days I am going to buy me a camper and do more things like this..

Oh by the way while we were having our fun in NC the boys were up in VA w/ the youth and this was there custom. This is my 2 boys, Kim's and Zach Riener better known as KISS. I have to say they look great..

Boo In The Zoo

2009-11-29T12:21:00.000-08:00

Eric and I took Tyler to Boo In The Zoo the Monday before Halloween in Columbia and I have to say that hour drive there was worth it. We have been to the one at Greenville but this one is so much better. They have candy, dancing, magic show,foam party, train ride, marshmellow roast, along w/ seeing all the animals it was really a fun night and worth the money. We will make the trip again next year...

Beach in October

2009-11-26T06:11:00.000-08:00

Since school gives the kids a Friday off in October for the second year in the roll we have gone to the beach with some dear friends. Last year all of us stay at Ocean Lakes while Ginger and her family stayed at Dunes Village so this year we decided to stay there.. It is the only motel in the area it was on Grand Stand but down where the houses are at. There are 3 building with 2 buildings having water parks inside of them and one even have a game room. The rooms are set up like apts where 2 or 4 familys can share a room.. We have an angle view of the beach and it was perfect.. The only down size to the trip is we opt for 2 rooms so my family and Ginger's family stayed in 1 room and floors below Ree and Allison's family share a room so I missed all the late night talks and early morning breakfast table talks like we had last year but over all the trip was great...

We left on Thursday and follow down w/ the Darwin's we got there about 8 that night once we got check in and decided who had what room we took off and walk around to see the hotel and play some ping pong (not sure who was worst me or Ginger),pool and shuffle board. After a relaxing evening we got up the next morning and went shopping at Tomlinson and couple of other places. I even came home w/2 Christmas presents. After shopping we just chill and got ready and went to Margaritaville for dnner. We had 17 of us trying to figure out where to go and hopefully get in and at least get 2tables near each other we were not sure if it would be done but we did and we all got to sit together. It was a cool place and had some of the best nachos that 2 if not 3 people could share. It was a cool place to go and food was good.. After dinner we just walked around Broadway let the kids get milkshakes and ice cream and then headed back to the hotel to call it a night..

On Saturday when we got up we could not believe that it was in the high 70's so we all got our bathing suits on and enjoy the pool and the beach for the day... .

After a found day of enjoying the weather we got ready and went to Gulf Shores in Garden City that had wonderful seafood and if you go between 4pm-6pm has the best prices... While waiting for our 2 tables we got pictures of our group thanks to a group of ladies that were there for a girls weekend.

My family minus Ryan (its dumb to go to the beach in Oct what does a 17 yr know..lol)

All of the couples... us, Brent & Allison Horne, Sean & Ree Davis and Tim & Ginger Darwin

All of our kids me minus 1 and Ree plus 1

All 17 of us

After a great dinner we went back to Broadway to watch the fireworks and walk around to the side we didn't the night before.. The kids love the candy store, Ginger found her a new man and I thought I saw it all until I saw KISS Coffee House..

Sunday was the day to come back home so after we packed up and check out and said bye to the Davis's and Horne's we went to Flea Market down in surfside and then went to Hamburger Joe's for lunch and put a $1 on the wall and for Tyler to say bye to one of his best friends that he had a ball with until she try to hug and kiss him..lol

We had a great weekend that was relaxing, filled w/ good food, great friends. I hate to miss it next year but we will be coming back from the cruise so that will be our beach in Oct trip but hope to do it again in 2011...

Kay Arthur

2009-11-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

I am back and trying to cath up so I had to cheat a little bit and go to my friend Kim's blog to help me out..

Kay Arthur came to Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Columbia the weekend of Oct 6 her topic was Discover Truth for Yourself. I was excited not only was I going w/ 2 of my best friends and some great ladies from church but also my sister Lisa and her friend TK were coming from Evans, GA to go with us too.. I could hardly wait..

We left Friday around 3 and went on down to Columbia and checked in at the Hyatt Place which was a very nice hotel and then we a group of us went to Chili's for dinner while the rest went to Cracker Barrell..

Me w/ my sister Lisa (in the middle) w/ her friend TK

Kim, Denise Monday and Angie Harris

Afterwards we went to the church to hear Kay and she was wonderful. I have to say I have not been a fan of Kay's but I did her last bible study w/ Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer and I really enjoy her so I thought she would be good. She taught that night for a couple of hours and I have to say when we left I truly had debated about going back cause she was talking about the president and how this world is turning it was pretty depressing for someone who lives in that bubble of a world.. But after a fun night of shopping on line, talking and laughing some of the ladies in Kathi room, hanging out w/ sister and her telling some embrassing stories, and keeping Kim awake w/ the TV on, getting up to a great breakfast and checking out I went on for round 2 and I am glad I did cause even though things might seem they are going down hill I remember that Mandisa song that I have as my ringer..."it's only the world I know the best is still yet to come".. I am so thankful of this only a temporary place and that I will be with my Lord and Savior for enterally. Isn't that great!!!

Ok, here is where I copy cause my notes are home and I am at work on my lunch..lol

8 Essential Things that We need to do:

1. Doing Business until He comes or until we die.
2. You must give priority to the Word of God- it must be first place!
3. Remember God has the Nations Under His Control...He is Sovereign.
4. You are to Fear God NOT Man!
5. You must build a strong community and invest your moneys in the work of God.
6. Pray--it helps others.
7. Learn how to Walk by the Spirit
8. Make Disciples!

She was very powerful and full of the spirit. If you ever have a change go and hear Kay speak please do so you won't regret it.

I was blessed to spend this time with my sister if you know anything about my past you understand this and knows how much it meant to me. I had a great time w/ ladies in our church that I don't normally spend time with and I also got to do it with 2 of my best friends. The funny thing in all of this is that on our way home Kim, Denise and I had made a plan to read the book of James and meet once a week and learn how to mark in our bible like Kay teaches you to. Well here it is a month and a week later and we haven't done it yet. I am going to make sure that in 2010 we do this..

Here are pictures of our weekend...

Us being teenage girls that we aren't..lol, checking out the beds, and Kim chillin on my bed.

Waiting on Kay at the church

2 of my Best Friends

3 ladies I just adore...Kathi Mumpower, her mamma Peggy Harris and sister Angie Harris

Donna Crockett, Ameila Dickerson, Kathi Mumpower

My favorite picture of all... us with Kay Arthur

She was signing people things they bought and since I had some of her books but not on me the one thing I wanted to buy was sold out so I had her sign my bible and she signed and reference Joshua 1:6-9 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."What great advice... Do not be terrified, do not be discourage, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go...

If you want scripture w/the 8 essential let me know and I will send to you what she reference.

Also check Kim's blog out too.. http://hewittfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/2009/10/kay-arthur.html

Happy Birthday Stephen

2009-10-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, this post is about 2 weeks late but the last 2 weeks have been BUSY so since Tyler is not feeling well today, the house is clean I have time to do it now...

My middle son Stephen Blake Shelton turn the big 15 on September 22. We did not do a big birthday we just had a cake that my dear friend Kim made for him (every need a cake or catering she is the lady to call big or small she can do it) and then we let him pick where to eat on Sunday after church to go eat. When we go to the beach in a couple of weeks he will get the shopping spree that he wanted for his birthday (never knew the day would come when he would want to go shopping at Hollister or American Eagle) and hopefully getting his permit tomorrow. I do feel bad for not having a friend thing but I ask him and he didn't want to do anything.. Next year will be a bigger blast..

Stephen's due date was September 9th a day before Ryan's bday and on the day we were having Ryan's 2nd bday party at Discovery Zone in Greenville but he was nice enough to let his brother has his birthday and a couple of weeks to be a only child. He was induce on Sept 22nd and made his entrance into the world about 3:25 weighing in 9lbs 13oz and yes 23 in long.. His delivery was great he was just a happy healthy boy and the second time around was alot easier. Ryan took to his little brother and USE to love playing w/him. We had gone in w/ names of Tyler, Blake and Austin but not sure which 2 we were going to use.. The nurse said that with a big boy like he was he needed a big name so we went through all the names and she said Stephen and I said that was on the original list we will go with that so instead of going with one of the original names Stephen Scott Shelton (cool initials..lol) we went w/ Blake (never knew I would have another one to use the name Tyler for).. I will have to say Stephen was the baby that need attention and was impatient he has grown out of the needs attention still a little impatient..lol. He has always had his blonde curly hair he loves it at times and sometimes he hates. When he was little he looked like one of those cherub up angels it was to precious and I hated to cut it..

I split up with their dad when he was 2 and he almost got hit by a car when he was 3 and I think between that and the guilt of splitting up w/ his dad and him needing attention oh and the stitches he has had I have spoil him and he is all about his momma he has always been a mommas boy so we have more behavior issues with him cause I let him get away with alot but as he has grown up even though he is still immature in alot of ways he is mature in alot of others.. He has a speech problem (he can't get his words out as quick as his brain is trying to get them out) he has not use as a handicap he has embrace it and use humor so that people would not make fun of him but be his friend and he has become our funny man of the family it is hard to disciple him sometimes cause he makes me crack up. He is atlectic and loves sports, he might look like his mom and be a momma boy the 1 thing he did get from his dad is sports.. He can tell you all about any player from baseball or football and other sports he loves to watch, read and play sports.. He is a reader he has had a book in his hand since before he could even read he is the kid that if they give you a goal of 200 books by a certain date he will have 400 by that date. He is the sound of reasoning sometimes between Ryan and us mean parents he has common sense and book sense and knows how to use them. He is the most annoying little brother but he is the best big brother he takes the middle child role serious..lol. He is the best babysitter he loves kids and playing with them so that the kids love him too. He love girls when he was in K5 he had twin girlfriends (any little girl that would play with him on the play ground was his girlfriend) and has been a friend of girls every since. We are going through that stay of trying to teach him how to talk to girls this age now. He has alot of potential in alot of areas he just needs to be encourage to bring it out. He is unsure of himself at times and he can close up and not let people in until he is ready.. I always say when he grows up and mature he is going awesome (well he is now but you know what I mean). He is a lover of God, family (esp Tyler), sports, chicken nuggets, mac/cheese,girls and reading.. Happy Birthday to my baby I love ya..

The 2 girls he looks scared of are his cousin it was the first time seeing them in 5 yrs him and Jessie the one w/ brown hair are way to much alike and Oliva is so close to his age is starting to embrace the cousin relationship with her..lol. I wish scanner work so I could younger and ball pictures.

Seeing you in my "Dreams"

2009-09-21T05:49:00.001-07:00

Well, we are locked in and finally are going to do it.. It is going to be alot of changes around here like staying home and eating at home and exercising for the next year but Eric and I are going on a cruise next September. I thought he had been on one and didn't want to go on another one and I have never been on one so I had plan to go with some girlfriends last year but then when I found out he had not gone on one and he was a little hurt about it I cancel on that trip so we could have this experience for the first time together. On September 4th we will board Carnival new ship Dream together we are going to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Isle Rochtan Belize for a 7 day cruise. All of this came out of the blue and sudden, Kim was looking at cruises and found this one and was telling us about it and was talking about canceling her spring break one to go on this one instead so with a meal out w/ our spouses we decided to make it a go. We are going with our friends the Monday's, Manley's and a girl I work with and her husband and a friend of Kim's that is also friends w/ Denise and then 2 couples from Maine that Kim knows. We will be leaving from Port Canvral and have our room at the Radission already for Friday night. Now the only thing left to do is to prepare finacially and body. With looking at the pictures of the boat and the seeing the confirmation that is the motivation I need to get back into my old summer clothes.. I am doing the biggest loser weight lost w/ 10 other people and who wins gets the $600 and that is a motivator too that is a good payment or our excursions. I can not wait to go and do this trip I have always "Dream" about. Last labor day I was sleeping in a tent in the woods at a lake with all the bugs and snakes next one I will be sleeping on a huge boat on the ocean with my door open listening to the sounds and smelling the the sea, eating all I want and seeing things I have never seen what a year make a difference..347 more days!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, did I mention that I also have 2 kids going to Greece next year.. Pray for us as we go in this saving plan. I am not a homebody but I am going to learn how to be.. We have a beach trip in a month, Savannah in Feb with Kim & Scott and girls trip to Charleston in April other than that we are doing nothing until the cruise..

Happy Birthday Ryan

2009-09-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

September 10th was my first born 17th birthday... I can't believe it sometimes that I have a child that old I still don't think it has hit me.... We celebrated his bday at Chief's with the his friend Zack Hewitt and his family and his friend Roger. We are sending him to the August Burn Red concert in Atlanta with 2 other boys in October giving him his ticket and spending money.

I was so excited when I found our I was pregnant was him. I had a great pregnancy expect for swollen beyond recognition feet and ankles and him being stubborn not wanting to come out.. His due date was September 4th but I was induced with him on September 10 he was 9lbs 3 oz and 21 1/2 in long. His name is Ryan Yates his dad and I could not come up w/ a boy name we both agree on and the girls names were Allison Yates or Samantha Ryan so we took the 2 middle names and named him. Yates is my mom maiden name and my grandmother died while I was pregnant with him so I wanted to honer her. Our first 4 weeks were heck and I wonder what was I doing but I found out he was starving my release glands did not work so he was never eating and I was hurting as soon as I gave him a bottle w/ formula in it he has slept through the night ever since... He was honestly the most perfect baby never cry unless something was wrong, he was always happy, would entertain himself for hours.From the time he could talk he was interested in cars and trucks when going down the highway he would say " biiiiiiiiig truck mommy" it would be in a deep low voice. He knew all the race car drivers by sponsors and # by the time he was 4 if it has anything to do w/ cars he can tell you about it for this reason I hate that we didn't name him the name I wanted to give to him Cam (a car part). He has try sports but by the end of elm school he realize that was not his calling. He is a wonderful artist well he can draw any kind of car or truck you want him to, he loves playingthe bass, acoustic guitar and wants to start I think it is called electric. He loves God and is not scare of dying cause he looks it as a win/win situation he dyes he gets to go home to his Savior, he can tell you anything you want to know about the bible. The kid is SMART but as most teenagers he does not apply himself he just gets by with what he can. I guess all those car games and his love has given him a need for speed and I pray for him every day when he is driving (I did this before he started driving alone).. He is not a big social kid, he doesn't care about the going ons of people around him. His thing if you are asking questions you are being nosey and it ain't your business. He is 17 now and I have to be honest our last 6 months have been the hardest on us. Me and Ryan have always been close but the last 6 months we have been at each other throats. I am praying it is a stage and maybe now he will grow out of it.. He will do anything for you and not complain, he can be the greatest friend an encourager. He has the world in his hands and my prayer is that God will use him to do work in His kingdom, he will put his all into his last 2 years of high school, he will continue to go on w/ his dreams even though they are not mine or what I would choose for him (he wants to go into automotive technology but I want him to go into Engineering (the kid has the brain to do it)). Right now he is taking automotive tech 1 and next year will be II then he will be certified to work in a shop. He goals for that is to work while he goes to NGU for Mass communications. He is taken a 12th grade Alg. If he will do after school classes for Spanish if they have it then next year he can leave school for his math and go to Wofford for college credits. He has always been a good kid never any partying, drinking, drugs or anything and he is NOT tempted to do those things and I stand up and applaud him for that, he know his Lord and he stands firm on his faith. I know that we will make it through this hard teenage years and one of these days we are going to laugh about everything. I just pray it soons... Happy Birthday to my first born baby boy Ryan Yates Shelton lover of God, youth group, Day6, Ready to Rise, hard core christian music, guitar, snickers, cars, video games, money, mission trips and food....

Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

This labor day weekend we went camping w/ our good friends Scott & Kim Hewitt and thier kids to lake Hartwell Coneross Campground. They in there big camper and us in our tents.. Scott & Eric left earlier on Friday than Kim and I with all the kids so by the time we got there they basically had our homes for the weekend set up. We had plan on all 5 of us sleeping in 1 tent but we took an extra one just in case and the one we thought was bigger enough wasn't so the 1st one was Ryan & Stephen and they slept on cots and the 2nd 1 was mine, Eric's & Tyler's and the 3 of us slept on a queen blow us matteress just like home..lol

Saturday we rented a boat from 11-7 so we got up and packed lunches and got everything together and spent the day out of the lake. We went out on a tour of the lake and in a boat that went like 10 miles an hour. I believe they had a governer on it or something. People were passing us left and right. But we had a blast and alot of laughs from the "slowness" of the boat, Scott trying to flood and then he conconvice the kids it would go faster if they all moved to the back w/ us, the spider over Kim's head esp when she has a "fetish" of spider (she meant fear), Ryan trying taking driving the boat so serious and like it was a speed boat, "Ryan, TYler could drive this boat" and Tyler makeing sure that the lake does not have a drought problem. The adults, the kids and Captain Scott

We stop after lunch and let the kids jump off and swim around and I don't pictures of this cause lake girl decided she was going to jump into and swim well this boat had a ladder but guess what just like the speed of the boat the ladder was broken too sooooooooo it took alot to get back onto the boat. Then we stop again at a loading dock and the kids jump off the boat the dock and had a good time swimming, Tyler finally got in and so did Kim.. I figure out how to climb back up using the dock and the boat but Kim swam to shore and walked back..

Stephen & Tyler jumping in, Kim after her walk back and "how do we get back up"

Clemson had a home game this is how you tailgate..

My sweet baby after a long day

On Sunday we invite Ree & Sean Davis and their kids and Ginger & Tim Darwin and their kids and Kim sister Denise & Doug down to cook out w/ us. They all got there around 1 and sat around and talk, the kids played some games, Austin fish, and we took the kids over to the beah part to go swimming. The day was filled w/ good friends and good food..

At night we played Mexican Trian which is Tyler favorite thing now, Rumbix Cube and just chilled out. The older boy's played Xbox in Kim's camper.

Kim thought this was funny... she can't decide if a redneck thing or a blonde thing.. But YES I did shave my legs via solo cup w/ help from Stephen rinising out and fillng back up.. The bathhouse I didn't feel like walking back up to and I didn't want to mess Kim's bathroom up so I did it like this..

Tyler and Eric sleeping. He fell asleep early on Sunday night so on Monday he was up by 7 but mommy wasn't ready so by 8 I told him he had to go back to bed and he finally did.

Don't see this often but the boys work together to take down their tent.

We had a great time and we even made it even though I heard there was a snake near our tent Saturday afternoon and while I was showering my husband and Scott were kiling it and then they killed a mamma scoprion and its babies so 2 thinks that freak me out I still slept out in the tent and would do it again.. But next year for labor day us adults we will be on cruise... It will be a long way from sleeping in a tent and walking up to a bathhouse to begin on a boat that with everything at your finger tips... Dream, I will see you in my dreams...............

Tyler Birthday Day

2009-08-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

On the day of Tyler's birthday we started off like him and his daddy also does... Quick backwards... Eric thinks Tyler bday should be a national holiday. On his bday he does not work and the day is devoted totally to him which has been ok but in 2 yrs it will be on a school day so I don't know what he will do then.. I have always work just a half day if I had to work so I have messed out on the morning stuff so this year I was thrill to join in. Back on to his day.... We started out at Krispy Kreme and YES the hot sign was on and they were great... Tyler order glazed, glazed w/ chocolate and glaze w/ chocolate w/ sprinkles.. YUMMY.. My idea of this since they are like glue sticking to your hips you have to have 2 to keep the hips even..lol...

After Krispy Kreme Tyler and Eric went to Lowes to build a school bus, while they were there and I wanted to give them a little daddy/son bonding time I went and had a pedi done.. They came and got me and we headed to Toy R Us to pick out his bday gift he got Mario Party for his DS and a pack of Stylus (think that is the name of of the pens for DS) he also got but that was suppose to be a surprise at his party but he has hawk ears and heard his daddy telling Mrs. Nancy at the karate place which numchuck he wanted and to hold until I got there. He heard so he got them on Friday. I have to teach my husband how to lie and tell him he was not getting them for him or he was just looking at them... Oh well, I guess it was a good thin not to get at his party cause he swings those things around.. After Toy R Us they went with me shopping to get his bday supplies. We had started out w/ a pirate theme but when I couldn't find stuff to decorate with we went to Spongebob so we got some goodies of Spongebob and stuff for goodie bags with Tyler help of what to put in them. After all that shopping we went to Ryan's after we sat down he made a comment it was not really Ryan's he wanted but Golden Carrol the one of the other side of WalMart.. Oh well sorry.. I wish I had took pictures through the day but I didn't...

We came back home intending for him to take a nap but he didn't but daddy did while I finish getting everything together and making goody bags and blogging.. Tyler played with his new game the whole time..

We left the house an hour before the party to go and get the pizza, cake, balloons and ice we decided to get the cake first.. We got to Sam's and after I had stood there on Thursday night and went over with the lady in the bakery how I wanted the cake and ask could it be done she said yes and even wrote exactly what we wanted. I get there and instead of blue cake it is a white cake, instead of Spongebob and 3 friends it is just the face of Spongebob, the border, the writing were 2 different colors and they didn't even match. The cake was UGLY... Tyler said he wanted a blue cake so he was getting a blue cake even if his bday was in 50mins.. I complain and let them know it was not about the money yes they wanted to give me that cake for half price but it was about what he wanted for his bday.. So Kim Hewitt one of my very bf came to the rescue and went back and picked up the right cake for me.. Now she did give me a hard time cause she makes cakes and they are BEAUTIFUL and DELICIOUS but we started out w/ a pirated no supplies and so we decided on a Spongebob and he had picked out what he wanted and we just went with it.. Yes, I should had gotten her to the $50 cake he wanted of Spongebob and like not getting the pictures all day this was another big regret... I have 2 more bday so I am going to her to make them a cake.. Here is the cake we wanted..

We had the birthday party at Stoneledge Park in Duncan we had never been there but had rode by and heard all about it. It is a very pretty park and I am sure we will be going back.. Then we move it over to Shipwreck Cove

Tyler w/ Macyi, you just say her name and you get the cutest smile

Tyler w/ Macyi and her sister Abby and then one of bf Caroline (couldn't get a pic to much of her brother Jake which he loves too cause he was keeping an eye on the waterpark..lol

His friends since he was 2 Sydney and Kaylen

His buddy Jonthan

His new buddy Andrew

His other new friends from church but got to know in WV Coleman & Charlee

and then it takes me an hour to warm up to you but you are my friend Katelyn

His big friend Cassie and his brother Ryan (Stephen was at 6 Flags w/ friends) were also there you might see them in background pictures. I had plan to get a group shot and and him w/ each guess but that didn't happen either. The kids played barely ate cause they were to excited to play and also were ready to go to the Shipwreck Cove Waterpark where the party was headed to next so after quickly eating pizza, ice-cream, cake and opening presents they headed over to go and play.. They all seem to love the water park it is nice small one that it kid gear.. The party in front of us was Addie Laney and all her friends came to the water park too so he got to play with the Martin and Cothran boys and The Stribling boys were there too so he had a great day and alot of good friends.

Thank you all that made his day special we love and thank you. I will have to say I a don't have ADD until it comes up event and then for some reason I do.. I was all over the place, trying to keep bees away, everybody happy, socializing, making sure all the kids have fun, and hoping I am not hurting anybody feeling for not talking to them so for now on I think we are back to the Chuckie Cheese places where they do all for you... Love the park and the water park and can't wait until next year to go back...

Happy Birthday Tyler!!!

2009-08-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

7 years ago on August 22nd we welcome into the world a sweet precious little boy that would complete our family. His due date was 8/30 but his brothers were 2 weeks over due and our doctor told us that there was a possibility that he would be too and since they were so big that he would probably be bigger (9lb 3oz on 1 and the other was 9lbs 13oz) So he suggested that we had induce him early and that we could pick when. All we knew we wanted it on a Thursday so Eric would not have to take off alot of time. We didn't tell anyone what we were doing but Eric's parents and that was only cause they were keeping the older 2 for us. So we headed off to the hospital at 6:30am and got set up in our room. Since this was my third I got put in front of others to have the good drugs to take away the pain everything going great. I had a great and easy delivery couple of pushes and he was out.. But he was not crying, they had to get the NICU in there to suck out all the junk out of his lungs. We had a great doctor that was smiling at us and telling us the whole time that he was ok. I could see the nervous look on Eric as I was trying to hold it together for him.. Within the hour he was all check out and he was healthy and was the sweetest spitty imagine of his daddy.. He came in weighing in at 8lbs 1oz and 19 1/2 inches long.. He was the smallest of the 3 but now he is the biggest of the 3 turning 7 year today and weighing 76 solid lbs. We had names picked out for a girl and if a boy we were going to name Jacob Levi but at the time Ryan play on a baseball team w/ 6 Jake or Jacob so the day we found out he was a he and not a she I cry cause I felt Eric wanted a girl and also cause I didn't want to name him Jake and Levi didn't sound right w/ the other 2 names.. So after assuring me having a boy was ok and we could change the name I was ok.lol... Tyler was actually a name I thought of for the other 2 but didn't and Eric thought it was a cool name so we were going to name him Tyler Jacob at first and call him TJ but we decided that him and his daddy needed the same middle name and we name him Tyler Eric Glover.

Tyler has been such a sweet spirited child in the beginning I wonder about that consider he would not sleep unless you were holding him or on his stomach which was a no-no, he stayed sicked w/ respiratory problems up until he was 2 which only 1 doctor out of our group said he would since we had that panic attack in the delivery room all the others said it was not related maybe that is why we only want to see her. He has had tube put in his ears his abnoize (?) taken out and believe it or not he still has his tonsils after all the strep thoart he has had. But since he was 2 1/2 he has been great w/ not much sickness at all.

I did get spend a year at home with him when he was 3 and I was truly thankful for that.I miss those Tyler mommy days now especially since he has grown into being a daddy boy through and through. He looks like his daddy and acts like him too... He is a very special little boys to us. His best friend beside his daddy is his brother Stephen which by the way didn't want him at first cause he was a boy and not a girl so he would not really have much to do with him but on most days his order is daddy and mommy and Stephen has to fight for 2nd. Ryan is also a good big brother to him but "Bo" gets down on his level plays with him. Stephen did tell me one time that he was going to make sure that Tyler was 10 worst than him and sometimes I think he is doing that, they have alot of similar esp an hour before bed him is his hyper time and then with in 10 mins he is out like a light, his humor, confidence, the ability to get under Ryan skin they are 2 peas in a pod sometimes... Watch out when they get together...

Tyler loves God/Jesus you can't say 1 without the other, his sweet thang that he just adores is Macyi he met last year in his K-5 class (which another thing we did hold him back a year cause of birthday being the week school started back one of the best things we ever did). If you want to see him really smile with the dimples and squint eyes just say Macyi, he loves karate, football and soccer and is excited to to play baseball next year, he is friends with everyone, but is shy until he gets his comfort level and once that happens he can be loud and all boy. His daddy says he takes after me w/ all the talking he does. He is solid when he was 1 his daycare nick name him Tank cause they would build blocks and he would knock them over, he is not scare of most things except for spiders, don't think he likes sheet on the bed cause he takes them off all the time, loves to build things w/ his daddy, playing basketball w/ Bo, play the playstation w/ Ryan and curl up w/ mommy. He didn't want a brother or sister until last year and now we don't want our kids to be 7 yrs apart again but he prays for a baby sister. He is smart and loves to learn, you might not think he is listening but he is, can be hardheaded (that his daddy) only gets ill if tired (another daddy thing). Funny, handsome,outgoing and caring.. We love you little man and you have made our family complete and entertaining for the last 7 year. Love you lil man!!!!!!!

Savannah

2009-08-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

July 14th 2001 I married the man of my dreams. We had a beautiful beach wedding and honeymoon in Charleston and that was our last vacation alone.. We had plan to go to Charleston the next year for our anniversary but I was pregnant with his little mini me. So for the last 8 years we have not been able to take another anniversary trip until this year. I booked the room back in January but with the economy the way it is Eric lost his job but in the same week he started helping out another guy then we went to WV and came back and he lost that but God is always good and the next week he was working again so up until the week before we didn't know if we were going to be able to go or not. Like I said, God is good!!!!!

My sister lives in Evans, GA which is about 2 1/2 hrs away and her and her family kept Tyler for us and the Ryan & Stephen went to their dads. So after work on Thursday we headed to Evans to drop Tyler off with the Wamack's.. We live in a house where I am the only female he was going to a house for at least a day he was the only male then my brother in law, great nephew and on of the girls boyfriend came and saved the day. I am sure he would have been ok being the only male though, he gets spoil there and he loves it. He got to watch what he wanted to, play his DS, go swimming, eat all he wanted, play with some of the funniest girls and plus Aunt Lisa spoils him. He had such a good time that every time we called him he told us we could call him back on Sunday but we couldn't come and get him until Monday. We picked him up at 4 on Sunday and he was MAD at us and didn't talk to us for an hour on the way home. I have to say he had a good time... Thank you Wamack's!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got to our hotel about 10:30 on Thursday night after riding some long dessert roads an wondering about gas and food we were ready to settle into our room and sleep that first night. I think that is the earliest I have gone to bed in a long time but I was sick with some stomach bug and he had been the day before. We had a great night sleep..

Friday we got up early and hurry to get ready to see could go and get in line for our reservations for Lady & Son. We finally headed out the door about 9:00, 30 mins later than I wanted to. We didn't know our way around, never been there our hotel was right when we came in so we didn't even know the area what so ever so we were blind leading the blind and we didn't listen great to the directions soooo needless to say we were headed in the wrong direction, headed back in the right to turn around and go back the wrong way until we finally ask somebody so we go to the line at 9:30 and not to many people came behind us so I was worry the whole time we would not get in that day.. We got one of the last 11:00 lunches and it was 10:15 when we got it so we had 30 mins to kill so we decided which trolley tour to take and look in a couple of stores right there. At 10:45 we were back out front like we were told to be and this lady comes out to let us know the food is ready and she bang on the pot yelling "Come and get it". The food was WONDERFUL Eric is still wanting more chicken and the ho cakes were great, the corn, the fish it was allll good... We came out stuff as pigs... For lunch it is like $11.95 for the buffet all you can eat and then a dessert and drink you can't eat that cheap around here for that really and the food be that good...

After lunch we went to take the trolley tour of the city. The guy told us they would send a shuttle bus to come and pick us up and about 5 mins later a white stretch limo pulled up.. That was our shuttle bus we felt high class and got to see the city in a fast way. If you are ever there and see a white limo trust me move out of the way.. The trolley tour was great we got to learn the history about the city, the squares, the didn't houses like Girl Scot and the one from Garden of Evil and the best part we learn where things were including River Street.. After that was over we did the River Boat part of it (we did a combo)and I have to say this was really just break to ride on the boat and here about the ports. I would do the trolley again but not the river boat but we had coupons for both. It was soooooooo HOT that after that was over with we went back to the room and shower and got re ready and headed to Spanky's on River Street to check out their chicken fingers and honey mustard everybody told us about. They lived up to what people said, I am wanting some more of that honey mustard it is more honey than mustard. It was a cool place to we got to seat in the room they were doing karaoke but Eric had a bad headache so we called it a night early again and left and went straight back to the hotel and he went to bed while I read my Twilight book..

Saturday we got up and walked around the Market to check it out and then we left and drove out to Tybee Island to eat at Crabshack and let me say that place had a great atmosphere we sat out on the patio by the water w/ trees growing up through the deck, cats roaming around, over looking the water and playing Jimmy Buffet music. Everything is boil or steam and they have these huge sampler platters with all kind of seafood on it but we just got shrimp and devil crab and it was great. On our way out we stop off at the alligator farm they had and check them out. With belly's full we took off to the beach. We had brought all of stuff with us to chill out for the rest of the afternoon but with taking our time at the restaurant, trying to find parking and storm look like it was coming in we just walked out to the pier and took in the people fishing and talked to some nice people and then we went for a walk on the beach.. The only draw back to this was I didn't research the lighthouse to much and we pass one coming over the bridge and I thought we had to take a boat tour to it. I didn't find out until we got home and saw Katie Mumpower pictures that you didn't have to take a boat tour it was right there at the other end of the beach that we pass coming in and out (yes, The Mumpowers were there in Savannah same time, same hotel, same floor, only 11 doors down and we NEVER saw each other.. We went a day early so when they were doing Savannah we were in Tybee and when they were in Tybee we were headed home.. I didn't want to intrude on their family time and they didn't want to intrude on our alone time but I do wish we could have met up for at least one meal or something) Anyway, we headed out of Tybee and decided to go to Uncle Bubba's but my GPS took us to some house so we couldn't find it. We went back to Savannah and went back and tour the squares we wanted to see up close after that we went back to the hotel rested and got re ready and went back to Spanky's and afterwards we went shopping at River Street and took in all the local street performers on the river. We were in a store and we kept hearing boom, boom we looked out and it was fireworks so we went out and enjoy them. I love to people watch and I love to be right there at the water so we sat there for a couple of hours and listen to the go playing the sax's while people walk by. He was playing all kind of theme songs from the wedding march, 3 Blind Mice and The Freaks Come Out At Night. It was fun to watch all the peoples reaction.

Sunday we got up and loaded the car and went to another part of Savannah to a place called Byrd Cookie Company that Deb Thompson told me about and said they were famous for their key lime cookies. I love that store with all the platters, gifts, spices, sauces and the best part cookies. They had them all out to taste, my favorite were red velvet and chocolate key lime.. After picking of goodies we headed to Evan's to get our boy and come home..

We had a great time all in all and have our reservations made for February. Can't wait to go back... This time we will see the Lighthouse and I am for sure we will eat at Lady & Sons, Spankey's and Crabshack and maybe this time we will find Uncle Bubba's or make it to Fannie's.. I will definitely be bringing back more cookies..

A little side note, my friend Johnna went the very next Friday to Lady & Son and while they were in line to get there reservations they notice another line and to come find out Paula Dean, Bubba and their boys were there doing a book signing.. She got pictures with them.. I wonder if she ask for the recipe for the chicken and ask where Bubba's restaurant was??

Day6-Youth Students

2009-07-25T07:05:00.000-07:00

Both of my boys are in the DAY6 student choir and I have to say this group of kids are amazing. From August until June they practice so much to go out on a choir tour to different places for a week and share their faith through worship, witnessing and working hard. I got the privilege to go a couple of years ago and it was a great trip and last year it seem really great with everything that happen in Washington but this year I was blown away with this group of kids and decidation and the fire I saw come back with them and the unity. They went this year to Cleveland TN to sleep on floors, eat bag lunches, paint houses or put new roofs on them and while they are doing that they are witnessing to the families and others around them, back to shower and eat dinner and then off to go sing at rescue mission places, retirement centers, Church's it is all day affair. Then back at the church at night they had student lead devotions and then they all had a chance to tell everybody what their God moment of the day was (trust me I couldn't get through these w/ out crying). Then when they got back I have been hearing all the kids talk about the trip, seeing their FB status messages and messages to each other, her girls in my Sunday school class saying they can't stand to sit at home and do nothing they want to go out and live that week everyday, seeing students changed by this trip it has been amazing.

We had a homecoming concert the Sunday they came back and they show pictures from the trip and I sat there with tears in my eyes seeing the glow on their faces and tell the hard work they were doing, the praying they were doing together and witnessing to where one group drew out an illustrations for a child to understand. Then when they sing they are just wonderful for youth choir, they bring the worship into a place. Sarabeth was honor for allher dedication to teaching this group of students. It was well deserve. Thanks go out to SB, Bucky and all the other leaders that help make Day6

Rachel one of the girls sum it all up and brought what it all meant.. Phil 2:1-5

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, If any comfort from His love, If any fellowship with the Spirit, If any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest , but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...

What if every day we look for God moments and we just jump into them. We don't have to go out of state or country we come in contact every day with people and there are people right under our eyes that need help... God uses this group of teenagers to teach me so often...

We have another group gone this week to Centrifuge at North Greenville College and the parents were invited come Thursday to share the Lord Supper with them and then after to hear about some of their God moments. Some that stood out to me was Stephanie Simon sharing the gospel when she was at a place they weren't suppose to afterwards hearing that about 8-9 of kids 9 and up coming up and wanting to know more. Also, another bible was giving away at this camp to a little boy that as soon as he got it he went and started reading it. Then kids telling what God is teaching them about their self about witnessing more, doing more, being more thankful, knowing we have a new sister in Christ that gave her life over on Tuesday night cause she wants Jesus in her life... Parents were able to share what we have been learning this summer and from hearing parents can't find their kids cause they are in their room doing a quiet time, off with the church somewhere and hearing former students say they know the works that this group can do, just on and on. Of course I didn't come out of there without tears.. NEVER stop praying, don't ever give up on a student or anybody cause in God's time He will bring all things to light for you and He will answer your prayers.

About the giving of the bible these are not only 2 trips that a bible was given away last year on choir tour another gave hers away, in WV last year at Powerplant another student did. On choir tour an adult gave her bible away that she had forever. Could you do that??? I hope that if that time ever came by that I will have no problem giving mine away. When you know these students are going on a trip if you want to get a pocket size bible and give to them to give away to somebody that doesn't have one, maybe even put a prayer in there for that person.

Get to know these kids and pray for them... By the way, they have been invited to come and sing at the ChoralFestival at First Baptist Spartanburg in August and SB has been ask to led a workshop for doing a student choir.. This is a great honor for both and speak volumes of what this group is..dedicated and ready to share their for the Lord.

Red White & Boom

2009-07-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, I just realize when I went to upload pictures for my 4th of July post I had missed to other post so now I am out of order... Oh well...

Eric and I had never been to Red White & Boom and our friends Kim & Scott invited us to go their style which is go up to the top of the parking deck and watch the fireworks so we took off and went w/ them... It was fun even though I didn't have a chair (yeah wait until you see my chair it will be the little cooler, my husband got everything out of the car for me). I was surprise at all the people up on top of the parking deck there was even one group that had claim a corner and had a picnic table and the whole tail gate style going on.. Need to remember that for next year. Before we went we met up at Monterrey's for dinner and The Darwin's came and met us too. Ginger was not feeling good so they didn't go out to Red White & Boom but we took Jake w/ us and so he could see the fireworks. On the way home Brewster was close and we forgot about DQ so we just ran by Wendy's and got frosty and call it night... Can't wait until next year.. Thanks for the invite Kim, we always have a blast...

July 4th Gaffney Style

2009-07-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Eric & I were trying to decided what to do for the 4th and my wonderful good friend Ginger invited us to her parnets house. Well, as we do every year at Christmas I told her that I didn't want to bust up in her family dinners and like every year at Christmas she reminds me if she didn't want us to be there and they would not invite us... But I was still unsure but my phone rang one night and the only reason why I answer it was cause the boys were at camp and I didn't know maybe they had borrow somebody phone to call home.. but no it was Mrs. Waters... Ginger's mamma... Inviting us to their 4th of July festives... I couldn't tell her no so we happily accept and went.. I even try to make 2 new reciepes Cornbread Salad and a Strawberry Shortcake dessert in a truffle bowl... We spent that morning over at my friend Kim house hanging out in her pool while they were at the beach and then that afternoon the Darwin's came and got us and we went to Gaffney... Now if you remember this is not the time to be around Gaffney cause they had a killer on the loose and Ginger's mom lives within 3 miles of all the kilings so at first I was uneasy but there was so many people there and cops around I didn't think he was coming to the Water's house.. We had tons of good food, great fellowship, lots of laugther (esp when Eric slip fell down the path to the zip line), good times w/ friends of all the ages.. We ate, some of the men played horse shoes, the kids rode around on the golf-cart (or as Tyler says go-cart) w/ Ginger cousin they went and saw the goats and feed them she let them "drive",then we headed to Ginger's brother that has pretty cool woods had a nice path to a zip line the kids went and rode on, then hung out his gargage and Ginger even got up on the stage and dance for us..lol, while some played air hockey. Then we went back to her moms and while we clean up the kids do the pop cap things out in the drive way... It was a fun time and we are glad that we went. We love the Darwin's and Water's family, they have became like family to us... Not sure if we will every get invited over for food again after the MOUNDS of food that Eric ate that night.. Maybe a visit but not sure about food..lol..

Whoa, my toes hurt BAD!!!!

2009-07-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Well, my devotion this morning really step all over my toes or should I say my whole feet and not just little baby steps but big elephant steps... After I read this I thought of myself and how true this was and but how much I want to be like in Nehemiah and read His word for a quarter of day and then worship Him for another quarter. Why, can't I? Well probably cause I am on Facebook, watching TV, reading my Karen Kingsbury books or smut magazine (yes, I am guilty I read InTouch, US Weekly and People BUT I am better than I use to be I use to buy all 3 every week and now I might get 1 every so often more so when I travel than anything else).. Our computer has been down for the past week (the reason for no posting of the West Virgina trip or July 4th)and I have read entire Karen Kingsbury book, cleaned the house and kept it clean (all except the bedrooms)and flip channel after channel cause there is only so much Micheal Jackson that you can watch (one hour was enough for me).. So instead of doing all of that this would be the perfect time to get into the habit of reading my Faithbook, I am sure there are alot of good postings in there. After you read this let me know if this also step all over your toes.. Maybe we could start reading our Faithbook and post on Facebook our favorite verse, what we learn, what we are reading, whatever jumps out or you want to share...I pray for my days to also include networking w/ God cause He is BFF. My post today will be going to read Psalm 119

Faith Book
8 Jul 2009
Susanne Scheppmann

"They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God." Nehemiah 9:3 (NIV)

A new addiction slipped into my life recently - Facebook. Internet social networking slid in quietly and unobtrusively. Each day I found myself reading and posting a bit more. I learned how to create my visual bookshelf, so my "friends" could check out what I was reading. I linked my blog. My time seeped into Facebook like grains of sand slide through the hourglass.

My addiction soon took a turn for the worst. I began to put off my personal quiet time with God until after I had Facebooked. Sadly, scripture seemed boring next to my friend s' postings. Strangely, the mundane posts intrigued me. I had fallen under the spell of social networking.

Then one day, I dragged myself away from my laptop. I had Bible study that night and needed to finish my lesson. The lesson pointed us to the book of Nehemiah. I read, "They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God." (Nehemiah 9:3, NIV).

Yikes! They read God's Word for a quarter of the day, then spent another quarter of the day in confession and worshiping? These words haunted me the rest of the afternoon. When was the last time I spent that much time with God? How much time did I spend on the Internet? I felt a deep conviction about my Facebook addiction.

I determined that day to read my Bible, my FaithBook, before I turned on my computer each day. I would network with God, before networking with my friends. When I made this decision, I saw scripture jump back to life. God's Word spoke to me with a freshness that seemed as if He had just posted it Himself.

The addiction stopped. Oh, I still enjoy Facebook and other social networks, but I have learned to keep them in proper perspective. Psalm 119:59-60 sums up my new intent: "I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands" (NLT).

Will you join me in the commitment to spending time in God's Word before time spent on Facebook?

Dear Lord, I recognize that I spend too much time on the computer. Forgive my inattention to Your Word. Help me each day to place You first in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Listen to Today's Radio Show for more about spending time with God.

Pierced by the Word by John Piper

Birds in My Mustard Tree: How to Grow Your Faith by Susanne Scheppmann

For more from Susanne, visit her blog as well as her resource page

Application Steps:
Today, take notice of how much time you spend on the computer for personal enjoyment. Decide to make your quiet time with God a priority. Read Psalm 119 and then ponder the benefits of time spent in God's Word.

Reflections:
Do I put off my quiet time with God in lieu of "social networking?"

Am I willing to commit more time to reading the Bible?

How can I begin to keep my life in a healthy balance?

Power Verses:
Exodus 24:7, "Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, 'We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.'" (NIV)

Romans 10:17, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is hear d through the word of Christ." (NIV)

Joshua 1:8, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." (NIV)

© 2009 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

Hidden Treasures

2009-06-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hidden Treasures
25 Jun 2009
Susanne Scheppmann

"And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name." Isaiah 45:3 (NLT)

Secrets. Riches. Mysteries. Treasures. These words bring spine-tingling excitement. Around the world, Pirates of the Caribbean became an unexpected blockbuster movie. The Indiana Jones DVD series, after over twenty years, sells consistently as a top gift item. Adventure novels prevail in the bestselling book lists. The hope of finding treasure enthralls us.

This applies to followers of Christ as well. We read in Matthew 13:44, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hi d it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field" (NLT). When I read this verse, it makes me ponder the last time I felt excitement over the kingdom of God. To be truthful, my excitement is usually based on the "performance" of God in answering my prayers.

However, the Lord doesn't promise to answer every one of our prayers as we expect. But He does promise to reveal treasures hidden in darkness. Sometimes our seemingly unanswered prayers are the secret riches that God wants to reveal to us. It reminds me of lines from the old Garth Brooks' song, Unanswered Prayers. "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers…Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."

Instead of acknowledging this truth about prayer, I find myself waiting and watching for the expected results of my prayers. What I should be doing is seeking God for who He is. God told the patriarch Abram, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very gre at reward" (Genesis 15:1, NIV, emphasis added). So God, Himself, is the great treasure that I need to unearth. He has promised we will find Him when we search for him with an intentional attitude. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV).

Today I desire to change my shallow-hearted expectations of God. I want to seek Him and His Kingdom as if I am an explorer on a treasure hunt. Right now, I choose to know God, seek Him, and treasure Him.

Dear Lord, teach me to search for the hidden riches of Your Kingdom. Help me to seek You with an excited heart. Remind me that the answers to my prayers are only the beginning of a relationship with You --You are the treasure! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann

The Character of God: Understanding His Heart for Us by Brian T. Anderson and Glynnis Whitwer

For more from Susanne, visit her blog as well as her resource page.

Application Steps:
Today when you pray, intentionally ask God to reveal Himself to you in a new way. Ask Him to reveal to you "treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches." Begin a journal of God's revelations of Himself to you.

Reflections:
Am I disappointed when my prayers are not answered in the way I expect?

How can I better search for the secrets and treasures of God's Kingdom?

Do I believe that the Lord is the greatest treasure?

Power Verses:
Colossians, 2:2-3, "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (NIV)

Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (NIV)

Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

© 2009 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.

Truly Blessed WV Style

2009-06-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

For the past 2 years Eric has gone to Montana with a group of men and ladies to help frame a church through CACB. The group is put together by Johnye Horton and another guy name Glenn and Scott Payne at our church has gather the men and women for the last 3 years to join these Alabama people. I have always wanted to go but have not been able to in the pass. So last year they said this year they were going to West Virginia and Eric invited us to go with him. I said yes from the get go but I have to admit as time got closer and rather or not he had a job or not I started thinking about not going. I could while he was gone redo our bedroom and surprise him when he got back but with my luck as it has happen in the last 2 years our AC would have gone out and I would be in a sauna (by the way I kidded him and told him that is why I wanted to go so I could have AC). Also, I question rather to go cause Scott & Allison were not going and there kids would not be there to hang out with my boys and there are such veterans of this I needed some kind of leadership of what to do from somebody I knew. But Shannan & Johnn were going so I had a friend with me and the boys could hang out with there kids even though they are opposite sex or not the same age they will adjust so I was like ok I will go... Then the big surprise was that Steve and Vickie West were coming too and spending until Thursday with us and I was excited to spend a half a week with them so I was game and we will let God work out the job thing. So last Saturday June 13th we take off to church to meet 4 other families to caravan. With a busy week of VBS and work I was totally surprise we were able to meet them at 8am. So with a stop for gas and then almost 1hr 1/2 stop at McDonald's (we had 10 kids under the age of 8 and they needed to play) through the 3 toll booths and the fancy tunnells we finally made it to our hotel about 4. Now remember I work for a company I get good discounts with Marriott and Hilton hotels so when we walk into Stone Lodge I was a little in awe for moment. It was clean but just old and out dated and at first they put us down on the first floor (the lobby and the main part of the hotel was on the 2nd). When we walked down the steps I felt like I was in a dungeon and our room was all the way down the hall with them remodeling, not the greatest smell and dark I just told Eric I can't stay down there for a week so requested to be moved up to the 2nd level and whatever old smell it had in it they cover up with some kind of orange air freshener and a lot of it. We met up with everybody else that had came and that night we went to Susannah Baptist Church in Ona West Virginia to hear DJ preach. It was an old church I think built back in 1893 and was different than our new church.. Julie & Frank sang for us that night and these people did not clap their hands like we do I don't think I even saw a head bobbing it was nothing like our worship service. DJ did a great job preaching as usual and we got to meet their preacher Tracy and he did a call to the altar to pray and almost all the people from their church went up and then preacher Tracy ask another guy to start off in prayer and another to end it well I thought just the 2 of them were going to pray boy was I wrong. I think they did what you called corporate prayer well that one starts and then everybody prays OUT LOUD and it goes on for like 10 mins and then the guy that ends it closes it all up. I have to admit I had a hard time praying cause it was new to me and I was distracted. I honestly thought at one moment maybe staying home and redoing our bedroom sounded good this is not Anderson Mill Road and this is not even Sunday service what is going to go on tomorrow. Afterwards we had a informational meeting and then my family along with the West and the Manely took off to Steak & Shake to eat supper along with half of the AL folks... We got back to the hotel and said our good nights and plan to meet in the lobby at 10:30 to go to church.

Sunday service was a HUGE turning point for me... There choir loft was full and as much as I love our choir those people had passion durning singing they just didn't raise a hand they said out loud Amen, not just grown women shedding tears but also grown men. The songs they were singing with passion was bringing to life the grace we have that our Jesus died on the cross for everyone of us, He died for our sins they brought to life the grace that we have. These were not like what we sing these were the old hymnals songs with just a piano and guitar. There was even a couple of them that gave testimony in between the songs. I don't know these people just meet them but let me tell ya I was crying and thanking God the whole time for who He is and what He did for a sinner like me. There time to shake hands they called it fellowship and the choir sang and there were several people that walked around and shook EVERYONE including the kids hands, there were smiles on there faces. I felt the presence of the Lord all in that church. It was truly amazing. DJ did a wonderful job as usual and he even told us that we would hear the same sermon the next Sunday but he brought to life the scripture for what fitted their church and he brought to what fit our church. I love our church but I got to experience a small faith, family church and it was amazing. I knew then why God brought me here... Sunday after church we went to Sonic to have lunch and catch up with Vickie and enjoy fellow shipping. We didn' have much time afterwards cause the church was hosting a picnic for us at park at 5... If you are ever in Barbarasville, West Virginia you have to go to the park. I think I would move just so I could go everyday.. It is down this road and off the beaten path there were ball fields, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts picnic shelters and the one we had had the most beautiful view of a lake w/ a fountain in the middle and the it surrounded by beautiful green mtns there was a walking trail around it, benches, swings it was soooooooo peaceful. On the other side was woods with trails for bike riding or walking we even saw a deer up in there (we saw alot on the side of the roads or up on train tracks). The park was just BEAUTIFUL and to see God creation in that beauty was amazing. The folks at the church pulled together and brought in all kind of side dishes and desserts, made hamburger and hotdogs they even had tubs of homemade ice cream and I have to say the banana was WONDERFUL! They all put it together, serve and clean it up and socialize with all of us. I just smile thinking of that day. We had a good time fellowship, the kids played, The Stribling, Nicholason and Lancaster families fish, Reed caught a turtle. I hate that it started raining cause I could have literally stayed there all day and night. We left and went back to the hotel and the kids swam in the rain and me, Shannan,Vickie went and hung out for a little bit in Julie and Peggy room as Asheton called it we were having a hen party but we were really deciding our day out for Monday and how we were getting to the church since Eric was taking my van and taking a load of men... We got it all settle and went to bed and ready for a busy work week...

What did we do for the week... The men frame the church, hung drywall built a porch, help with electrical all kind of things. Some were out of their element but they were on top of that hill serving the Lord and not complaining at all. Us women we cooked and clean the kitchen the whole week. We had to have lunch done by 12 and dinner by 5:30 every night and we took turns doing it. I learn how to make meatloaf and pinto beans and how to work a grill. We all pitch in even when it was not our turn. The ladies from AL they did our breakfast every morning so if you sign up for lunch you had lunch and dinner. These were not meals that were frozen, they are good homemade meals. I have to admit on my day of lunch they got feed at 12:30 instead of 12 cause of the great onion rings we made and the gas going out of the gas grill and had to wait for more.. Which leads me to Mr. BIlly FLoyd if you don't know him you need to get to know him. He is truly a wonderful man. He loves to tell strangers about God and he is the biggest help. He went walking and flag us down somebody with a gas grill so we could grill the hamburger. He was a great big help. Kitchen duty was great felt humble to be in there crying over onions, eyes burning cause of gas ovens, my feet hurting or should I say my dogs barking, I was way out of my element cooking for that many and cooking meals the way they wanted them but when those men and ladies came in there from being on top of that hill I was honor to serve them..

The kids everyday looked for roly polys, went on hikes, played outside, played DS and watch movies and then everyday April, Amber & Tammy took all the little kids and Stephen and whoever else wanted to swimming at the house that DJ parents were staying at. It was so nice of them also including Tyler and taking him with them even when they just want back to where DJ and Laurel were staying to just watch a movie and chill out. While the kids were off us ladies had a Bible study time with Julie leading it and it was great and she did a wonderful job of allowing God to speak through her. After that we went up the job site and saw the progress and past out Popsicles to the men and took pictures so that is why it looks like they are not working cause I took them at break time..

For night time fun we took the kids to the cold pool at the hotel while we sat around and caught up on the day, Us, the Manley's, the West and Richard went to Billybob's Wonderland one night to play arcade games, laser tag and ride go carts,the church invited the kids to come bowling one night (there youth is kids of all ages). We had a great time that night getting to know the people from the church and the kids. Of course we had another Steak and Shake night for shakes. The older kids met every night in the breakfast room and played Uno and cards. They were together from 8am until 11pm everyday different ages and sex but had fun together.

Thursday night the ladies of the church cook for us again and gave all of us ladies a night off. Of course it was wonderful food again (I would gain so much weight if I lived there). Then afterwards we went to the closing service with DJ dad Johnye preaching and he is good as DJ and the lady that DJ parents stayed with she is in a gospel bluegrass band and they came and played for us it was really good even though that is not the music I listen to alot they were great. After the service we had a moment to share and as much as I wanted to say something I couldn't cause I was crying and I couldn't stop so I knew that I wouldn't be able to say 2 words so I just shook my head yes alot. The guys work Friday until 12 and they got done what they wanted too and after we ate leftovers for the week us ladies stayed and help pack and clean up and getting our home away from home back in order.

So why did I called this truly blessed???

1. God made the way for me to go
2. I got to spend time w/ 2 of my boys and watch my husband do what he loves
3. The people there were so thankful that we were there but I was truly honor that they allow us to come into their world for a week. These people would give you the shirt off their back for you. So, I was the one that was blessed
4. I got to see what it means to say God, family come before everything else. This community loves the Lord ad they loved each other.
5. Julie bible study time
6. Really getting to know Tammy, April, Amber and Laurel feel like they are new friends.
7. Spending the week with Vickie & Steve and the rest of the ladies
8. Spending time and watching the kids play and seeing them laugh and getting to know them was great
9. Have I said that I was truly blessed to meet the folks in West Virgina and from AL
10. To see who God is and serving His people and the beautiful things that he created. Gods grace it amazing.
11. And lastly, what started out about me and turn into about Him and His people.

I will have to say me and Tyler would move to Huntington in a heartbeat and call Susannah Baptist church our church home but since we can't do that I think I have the itch in me move to the country (a little area called Goucher that is between Pacolet and Gaffney). I miss that small close knit group and helping out each other. Even if cell phones were non existence out there in Ona it was well worth not having service to all week except at night.

Continue to pray for the building process of Susannah Baptist and that it will be a building that will bring in lost people and come to know who Jesus is, that lost souls would be saved, for CACB and all the ladies and men that are associated with them. Pray that you will pray about rather to go next year and to be a part of this group, it doesn't matter if you can't build anyting or cook there is something we can find for you. Bring your kids with you and let them help out with building or cleaning up at the site or even in the kitchen. Let them see what it is to serve God. It was a great and awesome experience I can't wait to go next year...

Blog Marathon

2009-06-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

I have finally almost gotten caught up on my blogging. From here until Charleston is all new and the only thing left to really blog right now is our West Virgina trip and I will get it done this week. I am going to try and not get this behind again... Happy reading.

Coachwood Acres Girls

2009-06-22T19:13:00.001-07:00

Growing up I had a great group of friends and with FB we have all gotten back in touch with each other. So, we planned to meet up at Copper River a couple of Saturday ago to have lunch and catch up with each other and boy did we... We got there about 12:30 and didn't leave until about 4.. I can't wait to do it again, we laugh and talked and it was so good hanging with these girls.

Kim- I met her first when we were 4 yrs old she live on another street but she was some diagnoally across the street. We use to go to her house and play school, play in her playhouse, swim, play tennis, ride bikes and dirt bikes we even built a cool trail in her woods for our bikes... We were friends all the way up through high school. I still have great memories w/ the Skeltons and the high school days.. from her daddy's custom van, the snake in the dryer and another one in the storage room, her downstairs, Wade making fun of our "cookie and milk " parties at some teen club in Greenville, the time we about died in a car wreck trying to take country roads to her house one early morning so we would not pass her mom and dad, prom night, the night I "spent the night" at her house after she had Kaylee and was married... sad thing though she couldn't make it cause Wade and made plans for a day at the lake for them. Yeah, she married the guy that picked on us about our cookies and milk..lol. They are a cute couple. I have not seen her in about 20 something years or even talked to her until we got on FB about 3 or 4 months ago.

Tammy lived between all of us and I can not remember when I met her or how. Her and Kim were best friends and they were a year older than me. I remember a slumber party at her house where we played all those slumber party games. Tammy, was the one that went with me on my first date. We double dated and I was so glad she was there to help me out. I could not tell you when the last time I have seen her or talked to her I am thinking about 25 yrs but it has been great talking to her now and seeing what a sweet and great mother she has become she still looks the same as I remember her I don't think she has aged at all. She didn't get to come either cause of pior conmittments.

Kara lived near Tammy and don't remember how or where we met but I have some fun memories with her too. She had a go cart shape as a van and I thought that was the coolest, swimming at her house, going skating, her mom calling me Fer all the time, the greek people from Pete's hanging out with them, she was always so funny and full of life.. She was younger than me but I stilled like hanging out with her. She also didn't get to come cause of work and it had been about 20 something years too since I have seen her or talked to her.

Jennifer C- she lived right across the street from me and she was younger than us and she was the first one on FB that I hooked up with. She is beautiful as ever and have some great looking kids and married the guy that lived behind me that I thought the world of. She has reminded me of some many things she was even sweet enough to post a childhood pic of me. I remember playing baseball and kickball in her front yard, playing in the bus her brother drove, The Thing, the birds in the house, going to VBS school at her church with her, the weird guy that lived beside her, there is alot of memories with her too.. I have ran into about 8 yrs ago I think and caught up a little with her but it is great to see her and Carlos life on FB and catching up more. She also didn't get to come cause one the kids won in their sport and they had a playoff that day...

Cindy- Oh Cindy, I believe we were friends in elm school but I remember so much of middle school with her, she was my partner in crime and sometimes as much as I hate to admit it we were up to no good.. I remember her mom and dad always funny and sweet, her sign at her pool about P not being in her OOL, the boys oh the boys. We actually dated best friends in 7th or 8th grade and we both broke up with them and she winded up marrying the one I dated.. to funny... the walk from her house to my house and the things we would find sometimes, exlax in milk, all the good times we had in middle school and in 9th grade w/ the same group of friends, going to church with her, the talks we would have, I just smile when I think of her and some of the things she says or does...lol never a dull moment... I am so proud of her... We actually went to lunch for the first time a couple of months ago w/ twin sisters that we hung around with and we had lunch a couple of times since then and talked some.. She did get to come and I was happy to see her

Robbie and Ann they were sister and they lived beside Cindy. I met Robbie in the 4th grade cause her sister Ann told her to come and sit with me cause I looked so cute in my Winnie The Pooh dress and we found out we rode the same bus and live near each other. These girls were like my sisters and we even acted like it sometimes with the fights... I remember spendng the night at thier house or them at mine all the time, going to SHelby w/ them to see their daddy and grandma, going skatig, hanging out at the mall, crusin w/ Ann, playing mystery date and rook, watching Friday 13th in the den in the dark w/ Kim and Tammy too and getting scared to death, beach trips, the talks, getting ready in the morning in Ann's bathroom, parties when our parents were out of town, the wreck me, Robbie and Cindy were in on our way to school, hanging out at school w/ Robbie until she was done w/ cheerleading or track so we could ride together, her white car, and her little sport car, Ann's blue car and lets not forgot lunches her senior year and my freshmen year and skipping once she graduated. Me and Robbie marrying friends our first go around, and our second go around our husband working together. They are still my sister in my heart and always will be.. I have kept in touch with them Ann use to do my hair when I was in Greenville, Robbie got me into accoutanting by giving me my first job, calling each other when we see old high school people on the news. We might have not talked everyday or even every year but we are always there for each other. They are still my sisters. I have not seen Ann in 5 years and Robbie we have had a date night, talks, texting and fb in the last couple of months so like Cindy I love always spending time with these girls.

Hopefully we will plan another outing so we can see the others but I am thankful for FB and catching up with the girls (by the way Coachwood Acres is a the name of the country area we grew up in off of E. Georgia Rd in Simpsonville). I am proud of all the girls and the beautiful women and mothers they have become. I pray to never loose touch with them again and friendship to be continue to grow... Thank you all for a wonderful childhood..

Me, Cindy, Robbie & Ann

One Wrong Move

2009-06-22T19:03:00.001-07:00

So, I don't have a electronic mind but I really trying to get some great pictures of Tyler end of the year program and his friends and of Stephen graduation and his friends. I did get some great pictures but when I went to download them I only got a few of Tyler and NONE Of Stephen. So, I took pictures of Ryan's cd release concert at church and of Ginger 40th birthday party at Melting Pot. I went to download those and I still only got a few of Tyler and out of 60 of Ryan's I got about 30 and NONE AGAIN of Stephen and now this time of Ginger party. So, I went playing with my camera trying to figure it out. I looked in the book and found no answers. Well, there is a thing on my camera that says "format files" and I hit it and said Ok well what I didn't know it should have said DELETE cause I lost ALL my pictures off my camera (I had over 1,000). I didn't want to tell Eric cause he is a big picture book of Tyler just like his mom did for him. I was in tears but thankfully I have downloaded all that I could on the computer so now I just got to figure out to upload on the CD just in case our computer ever crashes.. It is working right now so I still have no clue what happen.. I can get Ryan concert from Mike cause he took pictures but there is no way to get what I got of Stephen and Tyler and of Ginger b'day. I hate that it happen and hopefully it never will again...

What I did get is on Facebook

End of the School Year

2009-06-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Wow, I am sooooooooo glad this school year is over with. It has been a stressful one but a little better than last year. I had 1 in elm, another in middle school and then one in high school so it was all different levels.

Ryan, was in 10th grade and I have to say it was better than 9th grade and he did great until the last semster. We even double block his math so maybe possibly his senior year he could go to Wofford and take his math and get a college credit. If you look at his grades this year you would not believe this but Ryan is SMART, he just does not apply himself and he is happy to just get bad. He slept in class, talked, texted and didn't do the class work but passed all the test. Just think what would have happen if he had done the class and homework... But we passed 10th grade and we are on our way to the 11th that he reall has to settle down and get focus. He helped out with the football team this year by doing something in the booth some kind of status thing and he really enjoyed it. He also blossom out and started hanging out with friends he has not done this much since we left Greer. I am making him do the summer reading and we have to go to school next week to figure out his schedule for next year. We just pray for a good 11th grade year.

Stephen, well he did so much better this year than he did last year. We still had some struggleing parts and some inmaturity and just like his brother he does not like classwork or homework so his grades are not where they should be either but he also passes his test cause just like Ryan he is SMART too but does not apply himself. Don't they understand if they did the class work and homework what great grades they would have. Stephen did get to go to City Range for free at the end of the year cause he reach the goal of how many books read by a certain time. The teacher even called to let me know that he had triple it. He is a reader he even got in trouble in other classes for reading instead of doing homework. We did have one teacher that about drove me and him crazy and I truly didn't get her but we survive and next year will be better hopefully. He did chorus all 3 years and made honors for next year (still will not let me hear him sing).. He didn't get to play any sports this year cause of bad choices last year but he is ready for high school and ready to try out for wrestling and whatever else he can. We pray for a great 9th grade year and hopefully some maturity will come but I do hope he will never loose his fun spririt...

Tyler, his first year in real school he was in K5 and I was worry cause we had held him back last year from letting him start school (his b'day is 8/22 and cutoff is 9/1). He had a great year and he blossom out and made great friends. We were truly blesse with a great teacher and would love to have her again next year. He fell in love with a little girl name Macyi and the stories he shared always crack us up. They couldn't tell their teacher they like each other cuase when they said they were bf and gf his teacher told them they were to young so he didn't want her to know.. He has learn to read, do math, he sounds. We are looking forward to a great 1st grade year.

Say a prayer for next year!!!!!!!!!!!

Memorial Day

2009-06-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

Memorial day weekend was a weekend of hanging out with friends. On Saturday we went and cooked out with Kim and Scott Hewitt and their family and Kim sister and her husband. It was a great night of food, fellowship and laughter. I guess they like us enough they invited us over again for Sunday supper of ribs and to watch the race that never happen that night. So, we had 2 great nights with our families. Believe it or not with both of blogging and facebook neither of us took a picture...lol

On Monday we went over to our friends Tammy & Dexter Wilson house and cooked out with them, their moms and another family. It was also good food, wonderful fellowship, some funny laughs, and a slow race..

We are truly blessed with some great friends and I love each one of them. I just can't wait to either move or update my house so we can start entertaining more... I love hanging out with them they are like family.

Upward Soccer

2009-06-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

For a third year in a row Eric has coach Tyler team in Upward soccer. This year they were Little Tornado's. He did great this year he even score a couple by kicking his left foot(which we can't figure out). The last game he did it and ran to his daddy for a high five hug it was precious. Tyler had a couple of kids he has played with before and a couple that he knew off the field on his team. They were such a great group of kids. New friends were made.

We spent about 6 Saturday's at Dawkin Middle School playing several games at one time. Tyler loves to play and Eric likes coaching him I am even thinking of helping out next year. This is probably one of the biggest opportunity we have to share the gospel and show the love of Jesus. We have had several families join AMRBC cause of Upward. When you see Ryanne, Gabe, Brian or anybody that you know that either ref, coach, or do the snacks tell them thank you cause this can not been done without everyone help.

Awana's

2009-06-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

Another year of Awana has gone and it was a great year. We ended it with a ceremony the Sunday that I came back from Charleston. The kids got rewards for their progress, they sang songs and told bible verses. We even played a game in the sanctuary and did the pledges.

This year Tyler was in Sparky's and he did awesome. He learn his bible verse, he finish his first book, he was excited every Wednesday night to go and learn more about God. I thank all the volunteers for ministering to my child and to all of the other kids.

We started I believe 4 years ago and I help out for 2 years in Sparky's and Eric helped out with the game time. I left about a year or 2 ago and have been hanging out with the youth on Wednesday nights now. Eric on the other hand is still doing games and he still enjoys it. He likes getting out and playing with the kids each week..

In a couple of months we will be back at with Eric and Tyler going to Awana's together and there will be some great people that will give up their Wednesday night to help a child get to know who Jesus is. What a great experience... Thank you all.

I still don't have my picture fix right so here is are the details in each picture...

1. Eric being recongize
2. Tyler singing his Sparky song, got to make sure everyone hears me
3. Tyler getting his certificate
4. The spark of my life

Father's Day

2009-06-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHER DAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND

Eric, came into a relationship w/ 2 little small boys 5 and 3 and he has been a great provider for them ever since then. He has learn over the years on how to be a father. He has taken care of sick little boys, got them to all their sport practices and games, shown them how to ride a wave and build sandcastle, as much as they have hated he has also discipline when they needed it. It has not been an easy road but he has done a wonderful job helping to raise 2 little boys into teenagers that have the respect and kindness at all the right times.

Then we had a our little man Tyler and he has been such a wonderful dad to him since the moment he was born. Tyler adores his daddy and is him made over. He is a a hard worker, provider, protector, helper, loving, caring, and Godly father and I am thankful that God brought him into all of our life. I pray every day for God to guide him and help lead him to the man that he plans for him to be... Happy Father day my love................

Our father day was alot less eventful than our mother day thank goodness..We went to church and then to his mom for lunch, we both took a nap while Gigi was playing w/ all her grand kids. After we left there we came home to do somethings and then went w/ the Hewitt's to eat at Copper River and to Bruster for ice-cream...I was a bad wife and didn't have a gift today but we have been together for the last 8 days so it was hard. I do know what I am getting him so his gift and dinner will be this week.

Thank you God for a wonderful man!!!!!!!!!!

Women of Joy-Charleston

2009-05-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago I was blessed to go to Charleston with some of my best friends and alot of other great ladies from church (there was 21 of us all together). We were going to see Kirk Cameron, Chondra Pierce, Angela Thomas and Charles Billingsley and just have a great time worshiping w/ 15000 other women and some have some great girl fun in one of my favorite places of Charleston...They offer tickets and room but everyone got their own room so I took advantage of my perk with where I work and got us a room at Hilton Garden Inn which was right beside the collisuem so we were able to walk back and forth every day. It was great...

So right after New Years me and my friend Ree decieded to go and she was bringing her beautiful daughter Lauren with her and we were going to ask around to our friends if they wanted to go too but with May being a BUSY month Ginger, Allison and Kim could not go but Shannan and Melissa could.. My friend Tammy that I always go to Extraordinary Women wanted to go and we had talked back and forth about it but things in her life was going on that she couldn't commit at the time so about a 3 weeks before the conference came up a lady that was going to stay with her family in Charleston had to back out so we had 1 extra ticket but no rooms left so I mention it to Tammy and I was THRILL beyond belief that she said she wanted to go and she could go..If Ginger and Kim had came too it would have been a complete weekend w/ my best girlfriends (I guess we will have to save that for our January trip)

On Friday morning me, Tammy and Shannan headed down to Charleston closer we got to Charleston the rain has kicked it but that is ok we were not going to let it damp our spirits. Our first stop was to the collisuem to get our tickets for the weekend and to check out where we wanted to sit at and see all the merchandise for sale and we even saw Charles Billingsly walking around and helping to set up his table. We did try to get Tammy to go over there and say hey to him and get a pic but I guess she was too shy. I joking told her she didn't come to spend time w/ me but to see Charles..lol Then we headed cross the street to Chilli's to eat lunch and while we were outside enjoying our meal a big strike of lighting and thunder scared us out our seats but we continue to sit outside on the metal chairs and table. I know now smart but it never did it again. After that me and Shannan didn't have time to get a pedi before we left so we went and got one and I have to say it wasn't the greatest but at least my toes are painted cute..lol... Then we headed to the outlets cross the street and went shopping while there we had a couple of groups meet out in the parking lot to get there tickets. We finally headed to our hotel meet up with the group that was staying there too and gave them there tickets and we went to freshen up and to go ahead and wait in line at our curtain. On Frida night we had Kirk Cameron and Charles Billingsly. We all sat together except Becky's group and they sat in the same area just a section over. Ree,Melissa, and Lauren made it before Kirk took the stage... After the conference we headed out for a snack and after Wendy's dining room being close we got in the car drove to MacDonald's to wait in line for 10 mins for them to tell us there computers were down so we went back to Wendy's to go through the drive thru. It was a funny adventureous time with Shannan, Tammy and Lauren (AKA Little Ree)... With our blow up matteress, chair and cot in all ready all our difference in how we sleep (did I mention Tammy only really knew Ree from high school and we all know each other but us 5 have never travel all togehter, I have w/ Ree and I have w/ Shannan but that was it) we finally got to sleep about midnight.. Oh yeah after we got the AC working right and not FREEZING us to death...

Saturday we got up and with 5 of us needing a shower and to get ready and I have to say we did it pretty good.. I was the last to shower since I am not a big breakfast eater and everybody else wanted to get down to breakfast to eat. Thanks to Rhonda for holding our seats cause we did get there a little after the conference started and but it was nice not to have to look for 6 seats.. We enjoyed the speakers that morning Chondra is ALWAYS a great laugh. After the conference along w/ thousand of other ladies we went to downtown Charleston to the Market area to have lunch at Gilligan's. Our reseverations were at 1 and they were so nice and friendly they were ok w/ holding them since we were just leaving North Charleston at 12:45...If you are ever in Charleston go check out Gilligan's it is on Market street down at the bottom.. Everybody from our group went but Jessic and her group and we really missed them...We all didn't get to sit together and get to know each other but we it was nice just having us all together... After lunch we went shopping in the Market believe it or not the only thing I brought was a Carolina Girl shirt and that was it.. We ran out of time so we didn't really get to do any site seeing but we did make our own little drive to show Tammy some of the Charleston. We went back to the hotel freshen up and then went to see Casting Crowns in concert they were WONDERFUL.. After the concert we walked over to Chilli's and had dinner (my favorite place 2 days in row) and by the time we got back we all passed out, Tammy and Shannann all snug up, LB and Ree snuggle up like mom and daugther, Melissa on the rollaway and me spread out all over the blow up matteress boy I slept good..

Sunday we got up and got ready and packed up and checked out and went back over to see one of my favorite speakers Angela Thomas she is such a hoot and she gets the message across to ya in her little way that keeps you up awake and listening.. After the conference me, Tammy and Shannan headed home with a stop at Cracker Brallel for some wonderful lunch. Got home about 4 and then had to get refreshen back up for the Awanna's award (hopefully to post about that soon)...

I had a wonderful weekend with some of best friends and enjoy a great relaxing conference... Ready to start planning the next years...

Mother's Day

2009-05-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

What an eventful day we had this mother's day.. First we went to church and enjoy a wonderful service and saw some precious little ones being dedicated. Then afterwards we headed over to Eric's parents for lunch. We had a great lunch of BBQ from Big Daddy Hawgs and after lunch Eric's dad wanted to get up and go to sit in the living room and when he got up his legs would not move and his blood pressure had drop to 50/70 or 70/50 so his mom called 911. While Eric took his mom to the hospital me and Susan clean everything up and then she took her kids and Tyler to Chuckie Cheese to celebrate Preston b'day and me and the older 2 came home. We were home for all of 10 mins and the power went out well I thought we had over loaded the breaker box or something so I went outside to flip breakers and still nothing work come to find out there had been a wreck near by. So I had a day of laying down and napping a little and reading the last of my Karen Kingsbury book. Eric called about 4 hours late and they were home and all was well still don't know what cause it. Power still out, Eric home and wanted to rest and go grocery shopping (yes, my hubby does the shopping by his choice) and with his encouragement I went to see Ghost of Girlfriends Past with Kim and Wanda... great little movie... Got home Eric, Tyler and Stephen were playing Shoot and Ladde by candle light I was home all of 15 mins and the power came home... Eric got me some Croc flip flops but they didn't fit so I took them back and still trying to find a pair to replace them, the older boys stop by on there way to Gigi & Papa house for lunch and got me a card first time in all of thier life they have ever bought me a card on their own so it was really special. It was eventful day, thank God Danny was ok and I am blessed w/ some great boys and husband... No picture cause of how the day was....

1st goal & Biggest Loser

2009-05-25T07:08:00.001-07:00

Well after all this time I finally made my first goal.. But I have no time to go to the tanning bed... I am going to try and work it in some how cause you know tan fat is better looking than white fat..lol... But it took me a while I am doing weight watchers not as strict as I should but I have been going to Curves for 3 days and since then I have been losing between a 1 to 2 lbs a weeks so I guess that is good.. By the way I did cheap when I went to Charleston and got my 10lb goal and got a pedicure but trust me it was not worth it and my feet are still not looking good so in about 3.5lb more pound I can get the girls that I go to and have it done and enjoy myself while doing it... We will see in a couple of weeks how well Curves is working for me... Maybe by the time we go to Savannah I will have at least 10lbs off and some inches too... Keep praying...

Here are mine kickoff pics from Spring Fling Biggest Loser 90 day Challenge

No Race, Race

2009-05-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago my friend Kim and her husband Scott invited us to go to Gaffney to the dirt track races so we loaded up and went. Now on our way it did sprinkle on us but we kept on going. We left early enough to start and eat and choose Sagebrush in Gaffney and all I can say is "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" cause that is what our poor little waitress told us constantly. We were in that restaurant for almost 2 hours people had came in and sat in other waitress sections and left before we could get our food, our ticket, our change but we had a good laugh about it... Anyway while we were there it POUR DOWN rain but then the sun came out so when we were finally ready to leave we headed on to the dirt track. Going in to get our tickets I ask the very personally lady if they were going to race and she said "yeah" so we got our ticket and for the next 2 to 3 hours we watch the water truck, 4 wheelers, 4wheel jeep, trucks and a few race cars that wanted to race take to the mud to pack it down and dry it up..Might not have been a race but it was fun to watch and boy I was wishing we had our 4 wheeler so we could go and help. Then they finally had a drivers meeting and decided not to race but hey all your great fans can come back next Saturday with your ticket and see it all again.. .

The next Saturday we load up again and head back to Gaffney but this time we stop at Bojangles since the men were wanting it the week before and we actually got to the race before it started. With dark clouds over us we got a little worried that we might have a repeat of the week before. But it only sprinkle for a minute and they race..Now, I have to say I know that I am good ole country redneck down deep inside of me cause I wanted to so bad go and get in one of those cars and drive or ride they looked like they were having a ball coming around those turns... They were going so fast that going down the stretch they would be going sideways. We saw alot of 1 car wrecks, one real good 2 car where one car went on top of another but everyone was ok just somebody that had came out of the fence area and was walking down behind a wall (where they were not suppose to be durning a race) got hit in the head with a rock or something and they had to stop the race and get the almbuance out there to tend to them. Why, would they had walk through there I don't know but during that time the dad's took the kids down to the fence to see the cars and the drivers since they were stop in front of us... The best race was one that 2 girls were racing and let me tell ya the girl that won she drove hard and hung on she started like 5th and passed all those guys and the last couple of laps her and the other girl were battling it out and Brandi I think won by a nose hair. It was awesome to watch... The announcer was the first to wish us Happy Mother Day since we were still there at 12am... Fun race but loooooooooong... Maybe next time we will hit Greenville/Pickens or go watch a friend of Eric's in NC.. .

Larry The Cable Guy

2009-05-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, I knew I forgot a post and my great friend Ginger reminded me of it, thanks Ginger...

I like to plan ahead for what I am going to get the guys in my life for birthday and Christmas presents and since Eric and I really don't do Christmas for each other I have alot of times think of his surprises for his Birthday which is like a week and half after Christmas. This year I had planned on getting him tickets to the Motley Crue concert but when I went on the site and saw that tickets were $70 at the lowest and we didn't know the other bands I decided against that but I did notice that Larry The Cable guy was coming to the BI-LO Center too and he had a special buy one get one free up until the end of the month in November so I jump to the chance and got his birthday gift..His surprise look from our b'day post

So April 18th comes after Ginger and I enjoy Kim's Thirty-One party the guys came and picked us up at Kim's house and we headed to Greenville to eat at Eric's favorite restaurant Wild Wings (thank goodness the one is opening here again) and we enjoy some great laughter... After that we took our time went to the BI-LO Center and waited for Larry to out..While waiting we saw my great friend Tammy and her hubby and people they came with.

I have to say that I enjoy the first guy I think his name was Josh Williams but don't hold me to it. I think I liked him cause he talked about teenagers and it was funny to me... Then Larry came out and all I can say is thank goodness we didn't bring the boys with us. He is sooooooo much cleaner and funnier on TV than he was in person. We have seen him already when they came to Furman about 6 yrs ago with the first Blue Collar Comedy Tour and we even have the second on DVD but I guess without Jeff Foxworthy he is a more vocal with his jokes and words.. Don't get me wrong he is not like Ron White no where near it he was just not as clean as he is on TV.

It was a great and fun night with some great friends!!!!!!

Ok, for some reason I can't downlownload pics without a bunch of letter, numbers and symbols coming up so this are the last pic to the first picture I wanted to show but you get the jif of it...

It's Just Time

2009-05-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am going to post this in a blog so MAYBE I will finally do it and quit saying it... I am ready to get these 50 to 60 heck I would like 70 pounds off of me. My honey is taking me to Savannah in July for our second honeymoon and though I know I can't weigh what I did on the first I really do pray to be half way there. I have started Weight Watchers and this work for me before and I hope it will again. I just have to get in that mind set again. But so far in 3 weeks I have only lost 2lbs but I gain one week cause off the curse of women monthly.. The second thing I am going to do is go to Spring Fling Sunday and listen to Amy and Phil Parham and join their 90 day challenge. I got the emails from there last one but I didn't ever read them all or even apply them so this time I pray to follow their ideas and encouragement. Then on Monday I am going to start back to Curves and do there 30 day Avon Challenge maybe that will be the kick in the butt to afterwards to use that WII Fit I wanted for soooooooooo long and have not use yet..Along with all of these things I would love to start walking everyday instead of just one day a week (life of 3 kids and not being able to say no only has lead me to 1 day). I do count hiking down Stone Mtn and walking as far as we did after that last Saturday a weeks worth so now I am on week 2..lol... Anyway, the most important thing I want to commit to do is pray everyday that God will give me the strength, the will power and the control to do this things. I can't do ANY of it with out Him. I pray to do all of these with the commitment so when my sweet good looking honey takes me to Savannah I will at least want to put on shorts maybe even a bathing suit. I want to look good for him and also be healthily... Pray for me..

Here are some of my personal goals I have set for each 5 I loose...

1- Join the tanning bed
2- Get a pedicure (need to hurry up on this one)
3- I am still trying to figure out the 15lb goal
4- Buy a new outfit..
5- Get another pedicure
6- Don't laugh about this but I told my husband that if he really wanted a tattoo that I would go with him and get a little one too and we would do it at my half way point... So, if you ever see either one of us with one then you know I am half way there..lol
Then I will set new 5lb goals at this point...

So after tomorrow hearing Phil and Amy there is NO more playing around time to get serious about this... Keep me in your prayers cause I need them to have the will power...

Here is a about what I want to get down too. The one with Tyler in it where I would b happy at.. The other 2 our are wedding and I would be EXCITED to be here again...

Fresh Faith

2009-04-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was our middle school youth kids spring camp and I went along. I will be honest with you I did not want to go at all.. I wanted a weekend without 2 kids in the house fighting over whose been on the Playstation longer (by the way I am about to sell that demon thing) I wanted a weekend with no smart mouth, I just wanted a weekend with Eric and Tyler the one that has not turn into a teenager yet. You know a peaceful restful weekend. Even up to the time we got there I was not wanting to go, getting on the bus I still didn't want too. I was struggling with it but I didn't want any of the kids see me feel that way cause these are a group of 30 great middle school kids. So, I took a deep breath and said a prayer. I didn't feel peace until we actually step in the church and our youth band Ready To Rise started playing at that moment I knew I was were God wanted me to be...

I was reminded what the theme was Fresh Faith, boy just seeing those words was something I knew right then I needed to be here cause I have been in a slump... We had a great speaker Chad and I think his last name was Irland but it might not have been.. anyway..He spoke from Hebrews 3:7 and basically told us that if we are 1 degree off with God our faith is going sour. If we are not engaging on a personal level with God and we are not encouraging each other then we will not be able to endure to the end... I could tell just from this night it was going to be a good weekend.

Saturday morning Stephen taught out of Psalm 42:1-5 and the basic of it was God tells us every day where to meet him but we ignore it and then our faith goes sour cause we are not spending time w/ God. We need to spend time w/ Him daily but doing devotions, journal, praying, and reading His word. We need to engage Him each day. He claims us as His friend and we say He is ours but when was the last night you spent time with Him like you would your best friend... ouch, toes are being stepped on...

Saturday night Chad came back and spoke to us again out of James 1:21-25 and this was on true reflections, God's truth is like a mirror and it reflects into our life. We need to examine our self and let God exam our heart, not to be just a hearer where we hear all of his truth but we don't do His work. We need to go out and explore ways to imply truth into our life. God puts you in places and puts people in front of you for a reason to be able to explore the truths. We are also to escape the things that keeps up putting off our faith and get rid of those things, tv shows, music, friends, places we go, on and on...

Then on Sunday Bucky closed it for us out and on this day boy tears c0me back.. He had us spread out for about 5 mins and for that time we were to sit there and sing whatever praise song we wanted to. Within a minute I could hear all these different songs being sung and I was just in ah with it hearing these 12-14 yr old kids singing praises out loud. It as truly a wonderful experience. Our goal should be to build our relationship with God. It needs to come from the inside out. We need to start with God, love Him, let Him come first, worship Him, be with people that share the same goal, encourage each other and strengthen each other. Our relationship with God should come above all else... Thank you Jesus, I pray to put you first and spend time with You each and every day...

You want to know what goes on these trips beside the spiritual which let me tell ya watching a group of teenagers sing,hugging each other, crying with each other, encourageing one another, praying, listen and watch God move in them you can't get no better than that. I am honor to be there. I learn so much from them each time I am around them. But here is all the other stuff.. We got on a bus and headed to Fayetville GA the girls were staying w/ Laura parents (have to be the nicest people ever, and just wonderful host) and the boys were staying w/ Stephen aunt and uncle and we were meeting up at Laura parents church that was in the middle.. So, after our worship session we get to the house and get our rooms and our kids in our room and no we didn't look first but me and Shannan got a room w/ a big comfy king size bed and a bathroom so we slept good. We had some great 8th grade ladies in our room and I swear being in a room w/ this group we felt like we were at a spend the night party w/ all the stories and laughter. After getting some rest on Friday night we got up Saturday went to the church for our morning session and then off to Stone Mountain we went. Now, we were told that we were hiking up the rock which I was not going to say a word but the girls in our room didn't bring hiking shoes w/ them they brought flip flops so I volunteer to take that group and we rode the tram up to the top.. WOW, glad I made it to the top it was beautiful looking at all God's creation. We did decided that we would hike down shouldn't take that long... WRONG!!!!!!!!!! We are not talking about walking down a path we are talking jumping from rock to rock, going down this big ole rock. Nor, did we know about the path that took you into Stone Mountain so we go all the way to the end then come out miles from where we are suppose to be meeting our group.. It took us another 50 mins to walk to where we were to meet. So, needless to say I got my walking in for a week in 1 day.. But boy, it was great to spend time w/ our group, spend time with one of my closet friends and God's glory.. We did meet up with the groups hiking up and I have to give them all hand. I honestly proud of my oldest cause he did it and I didn't think he could..Stephen my middle child hike up and down and winded up getting dehydrate and got sick several times on the way down.. Saturday night after dinner and worship the kids played some great games I got to be a 7th grade girl and help out some just didn't do the crawling. Sunday we got up loaded up and went to the boys place and had our last time together before heading off.. Did, I want to go? No.. Am I glad I went? I am truly blessed to be serving alongside great youth leaders and under Bucky and Stephen spending time with great group of kids... I was truly blessed, I love those kids!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait until the fall trip.

Daddy & Tyler time

2009-04-27T07:53:00.001-07:00

I finally remember what else we did Easter weekend that I couldn't remember to post about... That is ok, cause I think this deserve its own post...

Home Depot and Lowes's have kids workshop on Saturday mornings and it is free. You just show up and they give you the supplies and if you don't have an apron they give them one and after they have built bird houses, picture frames, jewelry box, cars and all other kinds of thing you get a badge and a certificate. Every time they have one Eric always makes it a priority to take Tyler it has always been something they enjoy doing together. I need to get some paint and let Tyler paint all that he has built and get a shelve put up to display them. He loves to go and build things like his daddy. The weekend of Easter I tagged along since we had to go to the egg hunt afterward, it was so sweet seeing them working together and what Tyler knows how to do and even the smallest project Eric takes so much time and care about. I did notice that the kids that come all the time had badges on their apron I need to get Tylers on his..

Easter

2009-04-22T18:26:00.001-07:00

I think I am behind again and skipping over one that needs go before this one but if so they will just have to be out of order cause I am lost right now... Anyway, here finally is my Easter post...

We started out with our Easter like alot of the rest of you we went to the wonderful egg hunt at church. I was really glad that we had one this year cause one I didn't want to take Tyler to Upstate for theirs I know that is bad but I have heard it is pack so coming to one that was smaller and his friends was so much better. Thank you for all that help out in this and made it such a wonderful day.

After the egg hunt I went shopping all over town for Easter basket stuff. I decided this year that I was not going to put alot in their baskets cause I wanted to really focus on what Easter meant and not just another day of getting a bunch of stuff. So they all got a little something and some candy. I was even good this year and got candy I didn't like since I am trying to stay out of it. The funniest thing of all of this is when we had gone to the circus Tyler wanted a lighted sword but they were all sold out and he has talked about that ever since. Well, I set out to find him one now mind you he already has a Light Sable so getting that was out of the question. After hitting everywhere I winded up at Toy R Us and found this cool Power Ranger gun that turn into a sword and it lite up, cool all the things he liked. So, I get it rush home and got refreshness up to go to a bridal shower and about that time my loving husband comes in the bedroom with this cool Power Ranger gun and I am like yeah it is something like that but it turns into a sword too well guess what, so did this one.. Santa brought him this for Christmas THIS year.. so after the shower we had to go back out to find something else. Now today my child keeps on taking about those Bakua (however you say and spell it) things and I had heard other kids talking about them and I even thought about getting him that and was like nah, he won't like that.. Guess I was wrong cause tonight that is all he has says that he wants. Should got it. But they all seem happy with their baskets that morning and they all know and understand what Easter is really about.

On Easter Sunday we got up and went to church and was able to sing Praise and worship our Lord, it was a beautiful service, the preschool choir was awesome, everybody was all dressed up. Which is another thing that I didn't do this year I didn't buy any of us anything new to wear. When you live w/ all boys they do not care to dress up and I buy these clothes and they never wear them again so we all just pulled out something from the closet. I will say that I did go and try and get a pair of new shoes so I could wear my skirt and a shirt I had bought a couple of weeks before but no luck on the shoes, still haven't..

After church we went to Eric's mom and ate lunch with his parents and sister in law and her kids. Of course there is always tons of food left over. After lunch and kitchen was clean we went outside and hunted eggs. Now, the first time Eric hid for the kids and then the boys Tyler and Preston wanted to hide the eggs first time was great we found all of them BUT the second time well it took alot longer cause they couldn't remember where the last 2 were thank goodness Eric found them one he stepped on as he reaching down to get the other they were side by side under the leaves. The kids loved hiding and having the adults hunt. It was a great spending time with the family..

Oh, we did dye eggs Saturday night and the one thing we missed out was getting a picture of Ryan with his basket. He left for church at 6:45 or ealier and then he came home and got into while we were still at Gigi & Papa and when we got home he was walkig out for band practice. I guess that what happens when you have teenagers. I did miss it though...

Tag Your It

2009-04-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

I saw this on Stacy's blog and decided to play along.

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. Women's retreat in Charleston in May
2. Savannah in July
3. West VA mission trip in June (crossing my fingers)
4. Beach in October
5. Summer get together
6. spending time with friends
7. This weekend trip to Atlanta w/ the middle school youth kids
8. Ginger's b'day celebrations

8 things I did yesterday
1. Cleaned most of the front of the house
2. Went to church for a meeting.
3. WEnt to DJ Sunday night class
4. Took a nap
5. Watch TV
6. Posted pic on Facebook
7. Ate
8. Talked on the phone to Kim

8 things I wish I could do
1. Loose Weight
2. Go on a cruise
3. Take a month off of work and get my house in order
4. Decorate and Organize my House
5. Take the summer off and travel to places we have not been and camp there and site see
6. Pray out loud in front of my peers
7. Take up a hobby
8. Learn how to make my blog all pretty

8 shows that I watch
1. Survivor
2. Real Housewives of....
3. One Tree Hill
4. Harpers Island/Southland (I flip back and forth)
5. American Idol
5. The Bachelor/Bachelorette when they are on
6. Reba
7. Jon and Kate plus 8
8. Still Standing

Tag 8 friends
I am tagging anyone that wants to do this. So have fun!

Have a New Kid By Friday

2009-04-17T20:15:00.000-07:00

I know a couple of weeks ago I said that I was reading this book called Excellent Wife and I would post about each chapter. Well, I got stuck on chapter 2 and got kinda lost in it. My friend Tammy said that I just to move on to chapter 3 cause it starts getting good.. Well, before I do that I picked up that book called How To Have New Kid By Friday, cause with 2 teenage boys and a 6 yrs old that is sweet most of the time but can develop an attitude I wanted to see if I could REALLY have a new kid by Friday...

I am only on Wednesday and I have really learn alot in this book. First his method is you tell your child 1 time to do something and if the don't do it you don't say anything else then when they come and want something a snack, go somewhere, you to buy them something whatever it may be you simply so NO, I ask you to pick up your socks and they are still there. Then you turn your back and walk away. Ok, the kid goes and pick up the sock and they want whatever it is you still say NO... Oh my my first mistake I would have said ok lets go. He basically says if you do this consistent enough (still learning that one too) then it will get to the point to where you say clean your room and they will do it after being told one time..

Another thing is the ABC which is Attitude, Behavior and Character. Guess what I learn here... IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH ME!!!!! My kids are not going to change unless I change my attitude, if I am fussing at them or telling them to do something over and over and they see the frustration they are NOT going to say, wow I really upset mom let me go and do this for her, instead they are going to do it unhappy and it will be another struggle next time. I am all the the time telling my kids that I want them to be somebody and I don't want them to have the hardships I had and I want people to respect them and say good things to them but that is just words cause they have tune me out already.I have to teach them now for who they will be when they are adults. If I do everything for them including that homework project (which I have to say I have never done, I am done w/ school it is there time now), if I let them rule the house and tell me what to do, if I am constantly yelling at them and not letting them make decisions then I am not doing them in favors. The book said you have to find a common ground between those 2 different parenting skills. Who we teach our kids to be today is who they will be when they are 30 years old... We are to let them learn from life reality. If they don't do that term paper then they let them face the teacher with it. I have t say Tuesday step ALL over my toes, cause I learn that I need to change my attitude for them to. I need to be more consistent with them, say it in a loving way instead of aaaahhhhh I am going crazy here way. I need to talk to them even about the smallest thing like their music (that is a hard one on Ryan cause I can't understand his) but basically if I talk about the small amount of things with them they will know I am there for the big things too.. I have been trying to put these things he said in our life and I see a little change but it won't happen overnight. Oh yeah, and with telling your kid something once is all cause if you say it over and over and over (yes, guilty) then you are implying that they are dumb and don't understand.

I can read any book out there but the main thing I know that I have to do everyday is to pray for my kids and release them to God cause they are really His. I pray for them to be surrounded w/ good Christine friends, to be respectful and obedient to not just us but to anybody in leadership of them and their classmates and friends, to want to share who Jesus is with other if not speaking but just the way they carry themselves that day, I pray that people will see Jesus in them and want to know Him better or at all. To give them the eyes, ears and heart of Jesus all through the day so they will see others around them and their needs, to speak kindly to everyone and for them to be protected and to protect the people that Ryan will be driving around today.Yes, I also pray for their future wife too and for their purity and staying strong in that commitment. If it means that God has to make them hit rock bottom before they feel any convictions that He will do it and give me the strength, guidance and comfort to continue to pray for them and love them along the way. I use to pray something like this every day and in the busy of life I just said a prayer to keep them safe and watch over them and I can tell it now, the difference have felt this week I believe is cause I have been on my knees praying specific things for each one of them cause there is a different prayer cause they are all different and have different things they need praying for.. Even though God knows our prayers before we ask or say them He still wants us to speak them. So, when there is a moment I want to pop their little heads off I just simply say Jesus, this is your child give me yours attitude and your words... I am not going to say we will be perfect cause you never know when God is breaking one down to bring him back up but I know through my faith and prayers we will be ok and they will become Godly husband, friend, men, fathers, sons, co-worker, coaches or wherever life may lead them. God put them in my hands for a reason and He will direct they way...

I will get back to Excellent Wife as soon as I am done with this book...

Phillip Briggs

2009-04-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

This is an email I got this morning from Ginger Darwin and I wanted to share w/ all you...If you want to keep up with Phillip and Amy story her blog is http://ourdailyblessinglife-amyb.blogspot.com/. She is also a McKMama follower of The Not Me Monday and little precious Stellan....

Good morning ladies. The email below is regarding Tim’s cousin in Florida that has a son, Philip, who suffers from a brain cyst. He has had many operations and had a stroke when he was 6 months old. He is now 19 and is getting ready to have a very serious operation. His mother, Amy, has cancer and is undergoing chemo right now. This family really needs our prayers. Also, they are having an online benefit party to help with some of the expenses of this operation. If you like candles, you may be interested in purchasing some.

Love you,

Ginger

Subject: A benefit party for Philip's operation...

I wish there was a way to have a real sit down party and spend some together. But since everyone is spread across the USA..I hope you still will take a minute to look...

As always prayers are what Philip and our family needs most.

Party to help Philip...
Most of you know that Philip is having a major operating in a few weeks. I posted the details HERE. Please take a minute to read the details of his surgery so you will know just how important prayers are right now for Philip.
A few weeks ago I met Brandy online and found out what a wonderful lady she is. She sent me a product that she sells to try out and I am hooked. It is my favorite thing in my house right now. It could become my new addiction.
Our family has been offered a very special opportunity by Brandy. Please read her message below for the details.
If any of my followers are lead to post this or link this on their blog I would appreciate it. As always thank you for praying for Philip and our family.
_______________________________________________________
In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18" I have been so blessed to have come across Amy in my blog readings. We have never met personally however, given that we are all children of a mighty God, I feel some closeness to her and her family. I pray daily for each and every one of them and their daily struggles. Amy and I have gotten together and are very excited about doing this SCENTSY benefit party for Phillip. Some of you may ask "What is Scentsy?"Well here is your answer - Scentsy Wickless Candles are highly scented bars of wax that melt at a very low temperature over a 25 watt light bulb in exclusive electric warmers. Because they use no open flame like a standard scented candle, they pose no danger to children, pets, or property when used properly. Scentsy candles are leadless, wickless, flameless, and smokeless, and are available in over 80 exclusive scents. Please see my website(www.scentsy.com/bpainter) for more details and to place an order. You can also find my email and cell phone number in case you have ANY questions at all. If you are interested in hosting a party yourself or becoming a consultant, I would love to talk to you!To place an order that will benefit the Briggs Family, visit my website (www.scentsy.com/bpainter) and click MY EVENT. You will then see Philip Briggs Benefit. Click on Philip's Name and your order will go toward this benefit. Once you have placed your order, you can pay with a credit card and have it shipped directly to you. Amy and I discussed setting this party up to end so the products should be delivered in time for Mother's day. I will be donating back all of my commissions on each and every sale for the run of this party.Please feel free to contact me for any questions/concerns!!! Thanks so much to you all and May God Bless You!!!Brandy Painter_________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am so excited to invite all of you to Philip's online Medical Fundraising Party. I wish we could all get together and hang out for a "real" party. Maybe one day.
I hope you will take a minute to go over and look at Brandy's site. I promise you not be disappointed.

And most important..what we need most is prayers.

Sorry, I don't know how to do the links that well so you will have to copy and paste.

Keep praying for Philip and Stellan and their families...

Judging People

2009-04-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

My cousin Andy share this on FB and blog today and I wanted to share for all of you. Click on his link and read his posting for today and watch the video, you will be truly bless and also make you stop before you judge somebody again.

http://andyfbcdenmark.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-are-in-no-shape-to-judge-people.html

Good Friday

2009-04-13T12:03:00.001-07:00

On Friday night we went to Popular Spring Baptist church to see there Easter play and I have to say on a day that we all know what Good Friday is but when you get to work you get busy and you might not remember or not know the whole story of Good Friday that church on a stormy Friday night brought it to life. I heard they had the sanctuary closed for 2 weeks getting ready for the play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. It was really great with all the acting, songs,sounds and lighting effects it was so real. When they were beating Jesus and nailing his hands to the cross I don't think the there was a dry eye in the place. They ended with the perfect song Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone... Isn't that so true, Jesus died for us to save us all from our sins and because of him we can live to face each and every day. I have been in a slump for a while lately but this past weekend it has really hit me and I pray to live out everyday God's love and His glory and grace. Cause my God is here and now and always forever will be... I am Daddy's baby girl and I thank Him for loving me so much.

This is a video a friend sent to me...

A Day at the Circus

2009-04-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday a co-worker of Eric's had 3 extra tickets to the Shrine circus at Timmons Arena at Furman and invited us to go. So, we took off to church just for Sunday school and then left so we could be in Greenville and have eaten by 1:30 to meet them to go in. This circus is great just cause what they are raising money for and right now with them talking about closing the Shrine Hospital for the children I am really glad we got to go and give a little money. I hope to never have to go there with one of my children but if something every did come up it would be nice to have somewhere like that close to home.. There is not alot of animals at this one just tigers, elephants, dogs and a snake but they have some talented people putting on shows.
It was nice to meet Eric's co-worker Mitch and his family and also to finally meet Carson (his son). They had came over one day to get fire wood and they played and I was not here and then Eric took him to his b'day party the day of the Grand Prix race and Day6 auction night while I stay to help set up the auction so since then I have heard Carson constantly. Tyler is a year older but they seem to get along great, hopefully we will be getting together some for them to play... The first half of the show they didn't really talk to each other but the second half they were having a ball together. Here is a slide show of the circus.. Now there is a couple of pics in here that it is a good thing that we went w/ Mitch cause Tyler has wimps for parents, when you see the pic you will know which one I am talking about.

Teenagers

2009-04-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have been reading everybody Lesson's From Mommyhood" and they are all sweet and I really wish I had done something like that when mine were little. But I have always said joking I need to do one a teenagers view... Don't get me wrong I do have some great boys and I am really bless they are healthy and they are not into drugs, drinking, I know where they are for the most part. They go to church without me pushing them to go and they love to go. They have given their life over to our Lord and Savior and can tell me about the bible. Yes, they are really good boys especially for other people but...................

With one you get laziness, yes all 16 yr old can be lazy but this is beyond laziness. When he is at home he rather play on the playstation or lay in his bed and watch tv. When you do get him to do some kind of activity you hear the complaining constantly that he is tired and his legs hurts. We ask him to do chores, yeah is that not just terrible I make my kids do chores how hateful can I be... but anyway when we ask him to do something he huffs, stomps and makes those sigh comments under his breath (yes, I use to do this too but not about chores that was a must in my house).. Now, you could call him up to do something and we would be right there to help you. He is a very smart, very talented and he learns things quick but our battle is to get him to apply himself and put an effort towards things. He could be an all A's & B's student but he rather not do homework and just pass w/ the test grades and some classwork to makes B or a C which is still good but if you can make an A it is really not that good. He is very self center just like most kids but his goes to the point that he doesn't put an effort toward reaching out to other people he just waits for you to come to him and he once you do he is the friend that always waits for you to come around... Now, I have been told I am to hard on him and yes I do agree with that at times but like this battle we are doing now...We bought him a car last year for his 16th b'day. He had always said he wanted a Mustang or a Honda Civic well I wast not getting Mustang for his first car and I really wanted him to have a truck or suv but at the last minute on the day we were out looking we found him a 96 Honda Civic that seem to be in good condition and we were for sure he would love it beside it was a stick shift so we took the money Eric and been saving up for a truck and we bought it straight out so I wouldn't have to make a car payment. Oh course when he got it there were things wrong w/ it that he pointed out.. color, wheels don't match, radio doesn't work, has a dent on the hood and he wanted some kind of light kit for it.. oh well at least it is not a 68 bug all orange inside and out w/ no place for a radio, runs only have the time and has a piece of plywood in the back floor board covering up the big hole.. yep my first car but it was a fun and memorable car..lol.. anyway, month after school started and he has had his restricted license he got pulled over going to FCA (oh all things) on morning for speeding and that ticket was $185 which he paid and took 4 points. Yes we continue to let him drive, I do pray everyday that he learn his lesson... Anyway, about a month ago the car broke down and we placed the transmissions, the clutch and rear oil seal so the money Eric had saved up again went back into Ryan's car to fix so he is still driving the brown truck that really needs to retire.. I know as parents these are our responsibility but I am also trying to teach him the value of the dollar and some responsibility. He had a job up until last Friday and he got fired for having his phone out again 4th time so the spending and gas money is not there anymore. We have told him ALL week he needed to put an effort into getting a job. 1st day excuse all the places were close and no gas but still had gas to drive to a friends house, bk back to the friends out and to another one and home by the way we live in the center of everything in westside, 2nd day everybody but 1 was on-line, 3rd I do remember I think he said he didn't have time and he forgot (spring break only 1-3 is he doing something) he did go finally after having to be force to went to 2 places, 4th day I have totally forgot what the excuse was and then finally on the last day he went to 3 places got applications, forgot to get one at another and another was online.. Now today he still has those apps here they are filled out but not turn in. My child is the one that wants the fun job and is to good for the first job for teenagers. Heck, I want a fun job too where I start at the top but I haven't found it yet. He wanted to go to Denny's to meet some friends and had no money and ask me for nope, is my answer gave him $20 Sunday and he spent it on 1 meal not getting anymore and he also got his last check and it is gone He does have an interview Monday so hopefully he will get his spending and gas money back... We pay his phone, his insurance so he can at least handle those too and we do help him w/ gas since he hauls the other around and Eric drives his car. Like I said he is a good kid and I love it when he people complaint me about him and my heart is bless and tears to come to my eyes when I see him up there on Wednesday with the youth and Sunday with the adults playing his heart out and singing for the Lord. By the way, the guitar was one of the things he picked up quickly and he does put the effort into it.

Now the other one he is just my rollercoaster kid..You are lovin life with him one week and then you hit that big dip and you are ready to loose your insanity... He is a sweet, funny, cute kid but he also likes to be the class clown, wants to see how far he can push you, calls you names but not in a mean cruel way just in a joking way but never knows when to turn it off.. He has always been momma's boy and I have spoiled him for so long cause we was only 2 when me and his daddy split, he has had a busted lip, almost got hit by a car can honestly say that was a day that I knew God was with us it could have been bad, he had a terrible first year of school due to a teacher (no I am not taking up for my kid even his 1st grade teacher told us this and other people, he had a teacher that best friend didn't care for me so she took it out on my son), he has a speak problem so I have always let things go with him when I told I should have been consistent on sticking to my punishments. Our battle with him is getting him out of middle school, I get a call or email weekly from one teacher about his behavior taking out in class, getting up and walking around when he shouldn't, not doing his work. He is making a high C in this class cause he pass the test but doesn't do the work. First she had him a lower math level for next year, I over rode that and wanted him to go up to the next level, then last week she told me he believes he needs to be in a higher level of math. The kid is bored in class and he is disturbing the rest of the class in the process so that is the reason for the emails and phone calls constantly. The other 3 teachers 1 has only email in the past 6 months cause of his grades (he doesn't like science but wants to be a rectional therapist go figure), one I have never heard from and the other was a call to tell me how proud of him she was she gave them so many books to read in a time and he had triple that amount. Yes, he LOVES to read and actually gets books taken away from him class cause he is reading instead of doing the work. This week has been good cause of spring break and I am hoping the rest of the year we will be riding up hill on that rollercoaster cause we had hit the BIG dip that takes your breath away, don't think I can do that again..He too is a great kid beside wearing the same socks almost everyday until I gag and make him wash them, he has to be force to take a shower, change clothes and brush his teeth. Don't laugh or gag cause one day you too will be doing this with your teenage boy almost all my friends with boys the same age are dealing with this problem. At least Ryan does shower daily. Stephen is the kid that tells me I am pretty, he loves me, hugs me, when I am sick he takes care of me, he helps me with Tyler, he doesn't back talk the chores heck he does the trash without you asking him too.. Just got to get him serious about school and also control the mouth..

Now, are you looking forward to teenagers??? All I want for is that boys are look at with respect, kindness, compassion that people see the love of the Lord in them. I want for them happiness, for them to succeed in life more than I ever have. I want the to have the things I didn't have (not material things). I want them when they have a family to be able to support there family and not have the heartaches I have endure. I have seen the life of the given of gifts, the life of where is our next meal coming from to the life of just getting by and I don't want my boys to every have to live like that again. I want them to be what they want to be, I want them to be hard workers and share their talents with others. So, I fuss and I am hard on them cause I want better for them. I do get frustrated cause some things are simple as 1,2,3 if you get in trouble for this you shouldn't do it again, if you are making bad grade just cause you don't do homework or class work then do it, and what you give to others is what you will get in return. They are good boys just typical teenagers and I am trying my best to figure this all out. A friend told me once that you are doing a good job when your child tells you they hate you and they want to move out so I guess I am doing something right, hate me now, love me later..I didn't have a real mom figure to go by so I am relaying on God, prayers and friends to get me through these years... By the time Tyler hits them maybe I will be better prepare..

Extraordinary Women

2009-03-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

I look so forward to women's conference and going and worshiping w/ thousands of other ladies. I really look forward to Extraordinary Women conference in Greenville cause I get to spend it with a special blessing of a friend Tammy. One of the perks is Tammy get the suite seats and it is free but I would still pay just to do this with her... . I really believe that we met for a reason. Our story is we started working at Guardian Building Products on the exact same day for the same job and we had to go through training that day. So at lunch time the ladies training us told us to be back in a hour and we were both walking out and one of us ask the other if we wanted to have lunch together. Well, me and Tammy are both talkers and we were telling each other who we were and she mention she had gone to Dorman and I told her that my husband had too, she stop and look at me and said Glover as in Eric Glover and I was yeah well come to find out her and Eric use to hang out alot and had been really good friends. The mystery girl in the pic had just came to life and after 5 years has became one of my special blessing of a friend. We now get together as family and hang out but this weekend of Extraordinary Women is our weekend that we go and worship together, we encourage each other, we are there for each other it is just a wonderful time and I love every minute of it...

On Friday night it was Chondra Pierce and if you have never seen her go see her any time she is around or if nothing else get her DVD she is FUNNY and her facial expression are just as funny. Then that night was the Newsong concert which they were really great. Of course they did Christmas Shoes and there was not a dry eye in that place. It was good to hear them and not have my teenager telling they are not good and this comes from a 16 yr old that you can't understand most of his music.lol

Also on Friday night Charles Billingsly lead the worship a he had some back up singers that he just said sister from Greenville. When the girls were on stage I notice one look like Kim Lord but was like nah, then they put the camera on her I was like wow if it ain't she got a twin so I ask Holly cause she was there and closer and she said yeah it was Kim and her sisters and they had a band called Sisters and I was like wow that is cool they get to sing back up for Charles. But the cool got cooler and was a WOW Kim and her sister's sang a couple of songs just them and Kim even talked and the last song they did 7,000 women (or more) stood to their feet was just clapping away. I felt so bless cause even though I don't know Kim personally it just warm my heart to see all of this. Saturday there were women asking Karen Kingsburg booth where the Sister booth was. I over heard people talking about how great they were and wondering if they were going to be back on Saturday. Sadly they weren't but be looking for Sister and go and see them...

Saturday we went back at 7:30am and we got to hear Charles again. He does a great job getting you and going that early. First up was Karen Kingsburg and she told some of the same stuff as she did on Thursday night, she opens up about her life and just is really great. Then Angela Thomas spoke and she is from Mt. Airy NC and she sounds it. She was truly my favorite and I don't think there was a dry eye when she was done. She had women standing up that have been through different trails and had the grace of God to bring them out of it. The presence of the Lord was truly in that place as she did her prayer and altar called. It was a great emotional release. Thank goodness after her it was a lunch time and we rode over to Olivia Garden w/ 2 girls Tammy works with they had VIP parking so we could leave and not have to pay to park again and we didn't have to fight the crowd for the expensive food. We got back and heard Michelle McKinny Hammond which I missed the first year and heard that she was great and after seeing her she was another favorite to me. Kathy Trocolli gave a mini concert and share some with us and then Stormie Omartian wrap up the day. Now I love all her Power of A Praying... books I have the wife, woman, parent, Prayer that Changes Everything but I have a hard time following her cause she is fast nervous talker but she has great things to say.

Now, what did I get out of the Free To Be Real weekend...
Chondra- We are all P-R-E-T-T-Y in God's eyes cause he created us.
Karen- God is the author of our life and everybody we come in contact is a charter in our novel that he place there. Roman 13:2 and John 10:10 time can be a thief in our life take captive of every moment. Sunshine is just beyond the clouds

Angela- we need to stop going through life with squity eyes. We need to have the veil lifted out so we can see clearly. God restore, he never ignores2 Corn 3:13-18. We are free to show the glory of God.. Matthew 5:14-15 Shine for the dark world. If we sit there all the time worrying about our disappointments we will never see the blessings being brought to us. He knows our hurts but we keep going to the wrong places to have them satisfied. God is the only one that can fill us up.

Michelle- Just be real with God cause guess what he already knows he is just waiting on you to tell him and give it to him. Free to be real w/ God those tears will come back to haunt you, expose yourself to God. When you are truly free you can not be broken unless God breaks you. We should go to church to give God the glory and praise him not what we are going to get out of it. Live a life of worship.. Esp 3:20

Stormie- nothing will change with out prayer and having an intimated relationship God. If you allow the Lord to change you he will use you. God wants to set us free. One way we can be in the presence of the Lord is through worship & praise and you can make those changes through prayer. Psalms 22:3.

It was a wonderful weekend and my prayer is that I will come to a free to real life and show the world the glory of God and praise and worship Him everyday.

Next trip Women of Joy

Ladies Night Out W/ Karen Kingsbury

2009-03-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday night I Christian Supply to see Karen Kingsbury with 2 great friends Ree and Holly. I personally love Karen Kingsbury to which point I want to move to Bloomington, ID and be Kari and Ashley friend and hang out with the Baxter and Flanigan. I know it is sad but if you have not read any of her books you need too. The first one of the Redemption Series is Redemption and that is where the Baxter's start then that takes you Firstborn series to the Sunrise series which is where I am at. You can go to www.karenkingsbury.com to get a complete book list. Another great book is Let Me Hold You Longer. It is about all our children's first but not really knowing when the last time they will do something. It is really great, I am going to try and remember it for my boys when they leave for college. She also has a book called Lets Go On a Mommy Date and then she has one coming out called Lets Go On A Daddy's date. For the night we went and stod in line, heard her speak, took pictures and got autographns. She is really a super sweet lady and loves to meet her readers and talking to them. Christian Supply did a great job of making it a wonderful ladies night out and gave all the ladies a goody bag and a rose. I just didn't win the spa day, oh well maybe next time..lol..In about a week you can check out Karen's and I think Christian Supply website for pictures too.

Interview by Tyler

2009-03-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

Stacy had this on her blog and I thought it was cute so I wanted to see what Tyler thought of his mom.

1. What is something your mom always says to you?
"That's easy... You love me"

2. What makes your mom happy?
Uh??? Me.... or when my brothers do the dishes.

3. What makes mom sad?
Um... when me, Ryan and Stephen make you frustrated

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
When you tickle me

5. What was your mom like as a child
I don't know, I wasn't here

6. How old is your mom?
41 or 42 yeah 41

7. How tall is your mom?
a little taller than the door...

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
watch tv...no,no, no cook, I meant love on me

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
watch tv or on the computer

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
doing nothing..no, no, no I think singing

11. What is your mom really good at?
working

12. What is your mom not very good at?
cook, no, no, no go to the grocery store

13. What does your mom do for a job?
getting money, don't you work at some abc place

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
chicken

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
being yourself

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Zelda

17. What do you and your mom do together?
sleep together

18.How are you and your mom the same?
our faces

19. How are you and your mom different?
our bodies

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
because you always love on me

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
nothing oh I meant you love him

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Red Lobster

I type exactly what he said. I love how he said the first thing that came to his mind and then corrected himself. By the way, what do I do I actually pay people and not at the abc place but it is called OTO and yes, Eric goes to the grocery store and cooks mostly but that is by his choice.. I know by his answers he knows he is loved by his mom and I am bless by that...

Words By Brandon

2009-03-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

This was in Brandon leaflet from the funeral and it was taken from his FB notes that he had wrote a couple of weeks ago while he was in India. If you have a FB page request to be his friend if it is set to private Brandon Scott McDaniel and read what has been written about him and his notes he had posted. Oh, I know they have blessed and challenge me..

India - Part 2.Share
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 2:58pm
God is working. God is moving. God is convicting. God is breaking. God is building. God is doing huge things and He is using the country of India to show me how real those things are. We serve a God that is active. We serve a God that convicts and changes lives all over the world in all types of cultures. He is passionate about His people and desires for them to know Him and to live their lives for Him. It is a beautiful thing.

Today, we had the opportunity to go to a training seminar called Tree of Life. It was for a church in this town of about 50 members. They met in a tiny building for the seminar and we were there to film and take pictures so that we could make a video for them to use to promote the program. Tree of Life is a training program that raises up disciples in specific areas so that they can be equipped to take the Gospel to the people in their community. This process is an incredible way to take the Gospel to the nations by training new believers in a specific community to lead others to Christ in their community. It is The Great Commission at its finest.

So in this training there were about 20 men that were being equipped to take the Gospel and the love of Christ to the people that were lost in their communities. The idea is to develop disciples, that will then make disciples, and those disciples will make other disciples, etc. It was great to experience and witness these brothers being trained and brought up in the knowledge of God and the Gospel. It was amazing to see the passion that was within them. The passion to take the truth and love of Christ to the ones that had yet to hear or had yet to receive. I could sense the urgency inside of them to get this truth out before it was too late. It began to convict me. I realized that I live my life without being as concerned about furthering the Gospel as I should be. I live my life as though I expect others to pick up the slack when I choose not to be urgent about the Gospel. I live my life as though God only suggested that we make disciples... and it's not just me. Most of you do it too. The thing is, we are commanded by God to make disciples.

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything I have commanded you."

The men in the training understood and committed to this commandment. They understood that a lost soul is an urgent matter and that there is no time to waste. As followers of Christ we have been blessed with life. Life has been spoken into us and we are all called to speak that life into others. The key word in The Great Commission is "GO." This is not a suggestion. This is not an option. This is not a "do this if you feel like it" kind of thing. It is a command. It is an order from the creator of life that has spoken life into us. I don't think we realize how severe this calling is.

We live our lives waiting on God to tell us to go when he has clearly already done so. Seeing the need in this country for more disciples that can share the love of God has opened my eyes to how important this is... how important it is to go. Without you, someone may go without hearing. Without YOU, someone may go without hearing of God's love! We cannot go day by day relying on and expecting others to take Christ to the world. We cannot continue to latch onto our comfort and our self-centered desires. We are clearly ordered and commanded to go. I believe that it is impossible to truly be a follower of Christ if this commandment is ignored because this is the main point in BEING a follower... to bring others to know HIM.

We have the life but we choose not to share it with those who need to hear. It is not a matter of how you can get there if it means distance for you. It is not a matter of why you should go because it is obvious. It is not a matter of whether or not you should because if there was ONE thing you should do and just one it would be to GO. It is a matter of where your heart is. Do you care enough to go? Is your heart for the world greater than your heart for yourself? Do you care enough to speak life into the lifeless? Hope into the hopeless? Healing into the broken? Love into the unloved? Someone cared enough to speak life into you.

It's very simple. Go. Make. Baptize. There is no excuse. We have been given all of the methods in doing so. Our heart will determine what we do with it. There is such a bigger picture than our safe and free America.

Go.

The lost is waiting.

The lifeless is eager to hear.

You have life.

What will you do with it?

Be precise in what you say and be BOLD in how you say it. It's time for the "followers" to be leaders and truly follow Christ. It's time to be urgent. It's time for disciples to be made. GO.

This was part of a comment someone had left:

its isaiah 50- the whole chapter. i particularly like verse 4 which says, "... Read Morethe lord god has given me a tongue of disciples, that i may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. he awakens me morning by morning, he awakens my ear to listen as a disciple."

i also really like verse 6 and verse 11. but i suggest that everyone just read the whole chapter. its really good. its one you can just study for a long time. :)

What will you do?

What A Week

2009-03-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

I posted earlier how the week was up until Wednesday and it was already an emotional draining one.. The end of it has been better. On Thursday night I went and had dinner with a very dear friend of mine Robbie (I believe I posted about her in FB post). We have been friends since 4th grade her and her sister Ann were my best friends and they were my sisters we did everything together. Since high school me and Robbie talk about once year 6 months on a good year and the rest at least 1 a year. We have gone on and on about meeting for lunch and dinner and w/ my 3 and her 4 little ones all under the age of 9 it has been hard getting together. We finally decided to go Thursday night to California Dreaming and all I can say is she is honestly my lifetime friend we just picked up right were we had always been. We were sat and talked about our families, growing up, our deepest secrets and just laugh and I felt a few tears. We have agree to do this at least once a month and to stay in contact w/ each other more now. Maybe for April we will just meet for dessert or something small since we talked more than ate, which I did tell her we needed to meet every day for 2 months so I could loose some weight..lol

Then on Friday we were suppose to go to Saskatoon for a friends birthday but they had to cancel so Eric asked me out on a date and he plan for us to go to downtown to eat wings and then go listen to jazz on main but we didn't communicate with each other so great so the plans were not exactly like he had plan and I felt bad... First I left work 25 mins late, then I had to come home and change and freshen up for my date, I didn't realize he had not gotten Tyler and he was waiting on me to come home so we could do all the stuff we had to do before we left. Then we had to go and get Ryan's car and I wanted to check out the consignment sale at church that 4 great ladies put on and I thought he was getting the boys dinner so I stayed and talk for a few mins when I got home he was home already and I thought that was quick and when we came out he ask me if I got them dinner and I hadn't cause I thought he had. So now at 6:30 we are heading out and getting the boys dinner and gas so we didn't even head to Greenville until 7 at the time he had hope we would have been eating. Then we get to Wild Wings and they say the wait is an hour. We leave our name and walk downtown looking for others place to eat and about 30 mins later we go back and I ask the lady about the wait and she ask if I had a pager and I told her no, she said come on and she sat us down I hope we didn't break in front of anyone. But I am glad she did cause I messed up his night and I wanted him to eat where he wanted too. He is so sweet he was ready to leave downtown and go to Chili's my favorite place but I had insisted going back to Wild Wings to check on the wait. Glad we did cause the wings and the big fries were good...

Today I am cleaning something I have been needing to do for a while and then we are going to dinner with the Benson's can't wait to see all of them.. Stephen is already excited to the max to see Josh and so is Tyler (he LOVES this family)... It will be a great night...

My mind was on Brandon's funeral all day and I got home and read the leaflet that Ryan brought home (we let him stay out of school to go with Bucky to the funeral). I have to say I wish I had gone. It was a celebration of life and I would have love to have been there. One of the girls had left on his FB page that even at his own funeral he was leading them in worship and I can honestly see that. One day when I have time I am going to post what he had wrote in his own words that put in the leaflet. It might be on his FB from India, is it a great challenge for all of us..

I am almost finish with chapter 2 of Excellent Wife it was a hard long week to really focus on it..

Hug Them A Little Tighter Tonight

2009-03-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

What a week it has been already. It is only Wednesday and my body feels like it is Friday, I am drain... You know I started off this week just upset Stephen all the dealing of parenting a teenager that is going through his change of life. Yeah, one day I need to do a lesson from mommyhood from a mom of teenagers. Anyway, my heart was so heavy and I was ready to throw my arms up and just send him to days or military school (still thinking on that one).. But on Tuesday morning I was at work and had snuck on Facebook and another mom that I know message me and ask me if I had heard about Brandon McDaniel and I told her no, last I heard he was in India on a mission trip and she said no he came back and he had died in a car wreck that morning. I couldn't believe it and she was still getting details from her daughter then we found it was true. I didn't know Brandon that well but I was a huge fan of his band McCalvary and our youth group had adopted all those kids into our group. Kelly, Brandon, Rob, Thumper and Ernesto are all great kids and my oldest loves to hang out with this group of kids and I have always encourage him to and when they were going out and he wanted to go I never gave him a curfew cause these are some great Godly kids that are just about making music but they were about truly worshiping Jesus and leading others to him. There were so many times I have seen them and I had truly felt the presents of the Lord there. I have been brought to a place of true worship just through God using these kids. Brandon had just came back from a mission trip in India and I have been reading the loving comments on FB from people that knew him and I wish I had gotten to know him better. The last time I saw Brandon was when Eric and I went to Gatlinburg McCalvary was up there playing for a youth retreat from Greer and we were suppose to go and see them but I had the wrong hotel and I looked all over that weekend to see one of the kids and Kelly's mom but never did until Saturday night and we ran into Kelly and Brandon and they were rushing back to hotel for sound check before the night concert but they stop for a minute and talked and I can still see his face he just had a smile on his face and his eyes were just so peaceful. I was picking on him about taking Kelly out to dinner for valentines. My one thing I wish now was that I had follow them back and had gone back to hear him play and sing again. Last night at church Bucky had a prayer service for Brandon and there were kids there that I had no clue who they were but my heart was breaking for these kids that had lost a close friend a brother in Christ and this one guy I just kept watching he was really breaking my heart and he began to pray and come to find out he had grown up with Brandon and even through his tears he was so at peace with losing his friend cause Brandon had told him he was not scare to died cause he couldn't wait to hang w/ Jesus that he was excited about it. At that moment I just felt a sense of peace and comfort. Boy, Brandon is worshiping at Jesus feet and seeing him face to face right now. He is sitting there with his Lord and Savior he has played or sang about. That is comforting to me but my prayer is for his mom and family and the band mates and their families and all his friends and fans esp for sweet little Kelly that just lost her first love. I pray that they will feel the love, support, comfort,strenght and peace that only our Savior can give them. The next days to come will be hard on them and I believe with their faith they are going to lean on God to get them through this and even in the darkest and lonest days they will still be singing praise to Him.

Then today we get the sad news of little William that went missing and then they found him in the river. Oh my heart broke again and I could not even imagine what his family is going through. I lost Tyler one time at a friends house when we were in Hartsville and that was the worst and most gut wrenching 10 mins I had about ever had. Thankfully he just wanted to go and see the neighbors dogs and I had a red jacket on him and saw him through the woods of pine trees. I hope that the family knew our Lord cause I couldn't imagine getting something like that without of Him. If nothing else with the sadness that has happen in the past 2 days and the Lord calling home 2 of His children I do pray that it will touch somebody life to come to know our Lord and Savior. My prayers go out tonight to William's family, friends, and all the people that help with the search.
I know alot of us that are moms and most of smaller children I wanted to share this song that somebody had posted on FB for all of Brandon's friends. After reading the lyric I am happy for Brandon and William and I can't wait to get to know these young men one day and to hear Brandon play his guitar and sing....

Wish You were Here - Mark Harris

I wanted to tell you how closely I've kept
The memories of you in my heart
And all of the lifetimes that we had to share
Live even though we're apart
But don't cry for me
'Cause I'm finally free
(Chorus)
To run with the angels
On streets made of gold
To listen to stories of saints new and old
To worship our Maker
That's where I'll be
When you finally find me

No don't you be weary cause waiting for you
Are wonders that you've never known
Just hold on to Jesus, reach out for his hands
And one day They'll welcome you home
And that's when you'll be
Finally free
Finally free

(Chorus)
I wish you were here, I wish you were here

And all of the dreams that you treasure
Will soon come together
And that's when your sorrow will find tomorrow
And you will rise again

(Chorus)

We'll run with the angels on streets made of gold
We'll listen to stories of saints new and old
We'll worship our maker that's where we'll be
When you finally find me

I wish you were here

I will hug my kids a little tighter tonight, I will look at the blessing of each of them and I will pray that God will help get me through these teenage years with a soft heart and wisdom and guidance. You never know life is short, he could call them home tomorrow. I think I will tuck those teenagers that put in the gray in my head into bed tonight... Give your kids a hug and kiss...

Devotional For Today

2009-03-17T05:12:00.000-07:00

A friend shares her devotional with an email group each day and this one was really good and worth sharing. All we have to do is call His name out and He will be there.

IT IS GOOD THAT YOU RECOGNIZE YOUR WEAKNESS. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength. Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me. Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mindset will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan.

Don't take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help. Focus on Me, and you will find Peace in My Presence.

Philippians 4:13 (AMP); Proverbs 17:22

A Race and Auction all in a Day

2009-03-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday our Awana's hosted their yearly Awana grand prix race and it was a great way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon. Last year Tyler won 1st place but this year he got 3rd in longest distance. I think these kids just love to go out and race their cars they made.Tyler just wanted to put wheels on his and color it w/ a marker. There were really great cars in the race and I think all the kids should have won the Christ like award. I am a terrible mom I did not charge my batteries before this so I don't have that many good pics nor did I get one of him w/ his car. Thankfully Stacy did get one of him w/ his award and a cute up close one of him and Kain.

That night our adult choir hosted a hotdog dinner and auction to raise money for our student choir Day6 to go on their mission trip in June. First I want to say a big thank you to Julie and Joye for getting this all together. I had the pleasure a couple of years ago going on the choir tour trip and I have to say at of all the youth trips I have been on this was actually my favorite. These kids really get out there and work with their hands and they don't complain what they are doing, there is unity in the group, they are truly blessed to be sharing the gospel. The sleep on church gym floors, they eat cold pop tarts for breakfast, have bag lunches for lunch and then for dinner it is not what they want each night but they are thankful for it all. They are ready to sing all week and you can see the love of the Lord on them all week. I would love to bottle that week up and have it everyday. The one that I went on I will always hold it in my heart cause how truly blessed I was. I have to say those teenagers and adults are amazing singers too... They put in alot of practice and the cost of there trip depends on how many practice they have been too so if my kids went to all practice they would go for free or almost nothing If they go to like half then we have to pay half the cost. That is a big reward for all the hard work and the seriousiness they take of this choir. Sarabeth has done a great job with the kids and teaching those wh didn't know how to sing to sing. For them to go on this trip they have to take a charter bus and it cost about $6000 for the week and then they have to rent 15 passengers vans when they get there to drive the kids to the sites all week (they will be going in dfferent directions). So, last night auction was truly a blessing. Now, this is my first auction ever and I had no idea how to do this. We had a silent and a live bidding auction. On the silent one there were several items (esp that BBQ set) that I really wanted and I did get outbidded on them and I was going to out bid whoever it was on the BBQ and on Kim's cake. But Kim and I decided that we were going to bid on the Gatlinburg cabin trip together and our 2 families go so we sat there and watch all these items go at a bidding war and the things I really wanted went for alot of money. So needless to say we lost out on the Gatlinburg trip cause it by pass both our limit. DJ, Kevin and Sam were fun to watch and they really got the money in. They even auction off Bucky and Stephen's goatee for $125 so they would be clean cut pastors. From all the generous loving people at AMRBC we raised $6900 in one night they will cover or about cover the transporation. Thank you all for coming out and giving your money for the kids to go on this trip, thank you to all put there time in putting this together and thank you to SaraBeth, Bucky and the other adults in the student choir for pouring your hearts and love into this group of kids. I have 2 kids in that group and I am truly honor and bless to be part of such a loving church that cares for the students... God is good!!!!

If you are on Facebook and are a friend of Mike Lancaster he has all the pics from the night, if you are not a friend request to be one he takes alot of pics for the church.

The Excellent Wife

2009-03-10T15:00:00.001-07:00

My friend Tammy email the other week and told me that she was doing a bible study called Excellent Wife and was telling me a little bit about it so I went online and read some excerpts on it and thought it would be something that I would like to read. While I was in Greenville I went by LifeWay and picked me up a copy of the book and the study guide and I have began reading it and I am going to try and blog about each chapter or things that really hit me in this book...

The Excellent Wife- by Martha Peace some quotes from the back cover- Not only does it explain what God requires of a Christian wife, but it explains clearly how to obey God's commandments in order to become that wife....Within its pages it is a detailed portrait of a godly wife...Not only is the standard high and holy but Martha demonstrates that by God's grace it is attainable

Chapter 1- Started out telling about her background and as I read her testimony I sat there and thought how there was times in my life I was just like her. We as women we put our kids, work, friends, our self, even church, errands and etc before our husband. Where God's will for every Christian wife is that her most important ministry be to her husband (Genesis 2:18). After her own personal relationship with Jesus. Here are some traits from Proverbs 31: 10-31 what an excellent wife is and she put it as.. As a beautiful flower in hte light of the moring sun reflects the glory of God's creation, an excellent wife reflects God's glory by her attitudes and actions.. Excellent Wife is trusted, kind,fears the Lord, blessed by her children,careful,praised,not afraid,worker w/ hands,wise, generous, good to her husband,of exceptional worth, respectful to her husband.. boy after reading all of those I got a lot of praying and work to do. But what got me is that she said A wife's responsibility is to learn to put her confidence in the faithfulness of God and His word- to do what He says. I can become what He wants me to become if I do what He wants me to do..

The end of chapter 1 talks about sin being the only thing that keeps us from becoming a godly wife. That our sin alot time is wanting to do things our way and not God's way. Sin is also thinking we can get by w/out God's help and that we presume that God will help even when we neglect His truth. But the great thing is that when we trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, he saves us from our sins and we are no longer slaves to sin. John 8:34-36 Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin..If, therefore, the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. So we have help with our struggles is that just not great... God has provided everything that we need.. In John 14:16-17 Jesus told His disciples not to worry because God the Father would send help. So we are w/out excuses cause our loving, merciful and holy God has truly provided everything we need to become a godly wife, to become the excellent wife.

She ask if you are ready to begin then we need to confess to God that we have not been the wife God wants us to be and to pray to ask for his grace to become the excellent wife He wants us to be.

Chapter 2 is about A Wife's Understanding Of God- God's Protective Authority

Lunch w/ Friends

2009-03-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I took off to Greenville to meet Cindy my best friend growing up so we could go into downtown Greenville to a place called Brick Street Cafe to meet twin sister Amy & Jamie that we were good friends with back in school. It was a great time of catching up and getting to know each other all over again. Jamie and I have been in contact since we work near each other we have had lunch together a couple of times and Cindy even came and meet us one day but this was the first time in 20 something years seeing Amy. I feel like I know who these ladies are just from pics, notes and all you can on Facebook.. I hope and pray that Saturday was just a start up of friendships that will continue on and we will be able to meet up every so often and stay in contact beside Facebook.

These girls will say things now and I am oh yeah I remember her, him or when that happen so they have been a great reminder to me...I can't remember when mine and Cindy friendship started we lived out in the country so you had to be friends with the kids around you cause that is all we had but even if she would have lived somewhere else she would have still been my friend... Cindy was always the friend that made me laugh and told me like it was at times, but she was silly and we always laugh together. She had a wonderful family and all her sisters had the initials CLG which I thought was great. Actually one of my most embarrassing moments in my whole life I was with Cindy. Back in the day we would go to the mall and hang out cause my mom work there and I think we were in the 7th or 8th grade and we were going out with 2 friends and we were all walking through the mall and I turn around to say something to Cindy and Jody and what to do I do I run smack into a pole, I mean it knock me back. Of course I was embarrass but I remember us laughing about it. Now, the guy I was with happens to be her husband now and they have been together I believe for 23yrs and have raised 2 wonderful young men. We went through great times with friends, we have gone through the girl drama time with each other rather it had been between us or other people. But as I had sat back and reflected on my life over the years Cindy was the one friend that I had that I truly missed. I missed out on knowing her boys, her knowing mine, b'day, celebration times and times of trouble, our husbands being friends, moves, jobs, laughter, tears, encouragement and sometime just being able to tell each other what we needed to hear. Through the years I have thought of her often and have felt lead to pray for her on occasions. I missed out on a friendship for the last 20 years and as I sat there yesterday on our way back from lunch us 39/41 moms riding back w/ the top down I realize that even though we have not been there for each other we were able to start right where we left off. I am so proud of her for the woman she has become and the mother and wife she is. She runs the a preschool at her church and just looking at her pics, and reading comments from her girls that work for her and the moms that bring there children there she is loved by all. Just what I knew would have happen w/ her life cause back in the day she was loved by all then too and was the one with the beautiful spirit and always with something funny to say and a smile on her face. My prayer now is that our friendship will grow more each day and we will never miss out of each other life's again.

Only In The South

2009-03-07T05:49:00.000-08:00

I am behind all the other posting about snow (I missed my computer up, still needs working on) and as I sit here posting about all the snow we got which was only 5/6 days ago today will be high 70something. Only in the south will that happen..lol

We heard all about the snow coming and oh course I didn't believe it cause we never get it but boy was I surprise to see coming down on Sunday night. I just thought at this moment it would just be enough to put everything on a 2hr delay boy was I wrong on that too.. I think Eric said we got 6" and it was beautiful. Eric prepare us by batteries, firewood, food, you know all the stuff just in case the power goes out. Which thank goodness we never lost power, I know some friends that lost it on Sunday and didn't get it back until Tuesday and I am totally surprise we didn't cause we always do. We did lose our satellite around 7pm and didn't get it back until 11:30. I was complaining about not getting to see the first night of Celebrity Apprentice but Eric reminded me I was warm and had light and could heat something up and there was people who couldn't so that was my one and only complaint... I still need to get DVR..

Ok, what did we do w/ no TV Sunday night?? Well, Eric had bought everything to make a cake and made a comment about the chocolate chips would be good in it. So, I made us a chocolate cake w/chocolate chips and chocolate frosting (I must have rub off on him w/ my chocolate love). I got it out before it burn (our oven is weird), I let it cool before I put it on the cake pan and frost it but for some reason it doesn't didn't do what I wanted to. By the way, I was told by Eric if I didn't post about this he would do it so I figure I would give myside of the story..lol

Now, do you think I need to go and get Kim to help me out. Her cakes are always so pretty. This might look bad but it is all gone and that is unusal in this house esp when I can't yeah you just read that right I CAN'T eat the cake not because of dieting which it help it out but since my surgery chocolate is one of those foods that I bothers me to eat and this cake really hurt my stomach so those 2 bites I had where good but not good for the pain it cause.

The other thing that happen during all of this was that Ryan had gone to Cumming, GA to play at a D Now weekend with our youth band Ready To Rise and on the way back they came up in the traffic, saw lots of wrecks, and wipers freezing up and not working so Bucky did a great thing and pulled off and got rooms at a hotel in Powdersville, they had to go to 2 but they were off the road and safe so I was able to sleep that night. I am sure those kids and Bucky and Julie have stories to tell. They finally made it back to Spartanburg about 1 Monday after a stop to Crackle Barrel and some play time on 85 while they were in stand still traffic.

We didn't prepare by having gloves, snow shoes or waterproof, getting the 4wheeler fix so we could go out and ride, checking out around us for hills and getting sleds so we didn't get to have all the fun that everybody else did but they men in my house did go out for a snow ball fight. Nobody wanted to build a snowman and with me still coughing and had been sick all Friday night and Saturday I just went out to take pics and came back in.. So, here is some of our snow day pics. Sorry I do in a slide but it takes like 5 min per pic to download and slide is easier to do cause I can do all at one time and while downloading I can go take a shower..lol