Turkey Preparing

I went to the CLC on Monday night and help prepare 80 turkeys that the youth sold for fund raising for there trips... It was a cold and somewhat nasty thing to do but it was fun spending time w/ some of the kids... I didn't have my camera while doing it just go right when clean up was starting...

Ryan, Brandon and Andrew taking the boxes out to the trash

Bucky, Mandy and Abagail starting to clean up the trays and tables

All 80 turkeys season and ready to be deep fried.

Still cleaning the tables

Blake mopping the gym floor

Some of the youth cleaning the carts

Even Ryan cleaned up.. maybe he will clean his room now..lol

We got a turkey and I have to say it was the best, it was soooo yummy and delicious.. Next year instead of cooking one buy one from them... Thank you Bucky, Mandy, Blake, Wade and all the youth kids that did a great job and gave their time to make the fried turkey's...

Kimberly Sowell MB Retreat

Last weekend I went to Myrtle Beach with 16 other ladies from church to Kimberly Sowell Journey to Significant retreat. It was a great trip but very emotional to the point is drain me out. I learn on this trip that God does answers your prayers and sometimes he has a way to get to get to us but also that Satan is always right around that corner waiting to attack...

Friday- we left around 3 to head to the beach, had some good girl talk and dash cam pics...

We went straight to Ocean Reef where the conference was held and meet up with the other ladies and had our first topics for the weekend...

Here are the topics we cover:

The Princess & Golden Scepter- talking about fulling our Divine Destiny as a Daughter of the King. Ester 4:1-14 and it was just all about..

1. It requires God favor- 1 John 3:22- a gentle and quite humble spirit

2. It is hands on position- Matt 25:34-40- the only way to really do this is to let God be the hands of your life

3. It has to bless others- James 2:14-20- faith gets involved w/ our works

When you are in God's will he will equipped you to do the things you are called to do.

When you are in the center of your storms is when you will find God's will, no matter what is going on in your life look towards God.. and this is where God showed in my life this weekend..

From Committed to Surrendered

From Mary and Martha

Mary- was setting at Jesus feet which is a sign of surrender, humility, submission and acknowledgment of authority

Martha was distracted and she was drawn away from being at the feet of Jesus, fellowship w/ Jesus and his words and teaching

Martha was comfortable being busy and distracted but there are no substitute to being at the feet of Jesus, we need to be still in His present.

Now this is where my emotional drainage started cause I am a complete Martha and I have a hard time having just a part of Mary in me... but God's first call on our life is relationship, to have a journey w/ Jesus. Martha is committed (doing the works)yet Jesus is calling her to be surrendered (having a relationship with Jesus and sitting at his feet)... Now, take that sentence and take out Martha and put your own name... I am committed but Jesus is calling me to be surrendered.. As of today I am still struggling with this with work, kids, family, home, friends, I have a habit of staying busy so I don't focus on the real problems.. I am comfortable being busy but I get empty and I need a fill up.. I need Jesus to be the hands in my life and I need to sit still at his feet and completely surrender..

Here are all the ladies from the trip we took it Friday night before we headed to Denny's to get some supper and before going and checking into our hotel at Courtyard by Marriott at Broadway.. Sometimes it is really great working for a company that I can get Marriott and Hilton hotels a little cheaper...

A great group of ladies

Saturday morning we got up and went to MacDonald's for breakfast and went back to Ocean Reef for the morning section....

Joseph Taking the Scenic Route Gen 37:18-22

This was another one that got to me... No one can thwart God's will, circumstances can't destroy it, your enemies cannot thwart it, the good things in your life cannot drive God's will... I pray that God will help me believe and understand that he is in control of my life and not my enemies or everything or people around me. Lord is my helper so what can man do to me???

Gen 39:1-5 You can thrive in any environment, prosper go through wherever God plants you, don't settle for spiritual mediocrity when we settle we are only cheating our self, trying and dark time can be the vehicle of God . Are you willing to walk in the wilderness to get to the wonderland... Now are you getting why I was emotional drain.. It was a good one but it was a spiritual warfare going on inside of me at the time...

Glamour Girl or Humble Handmaid
Mary's learning curve- the birth of Jesus

She had a humble assignment it was not about her but it was about Jesus, it was his way to show the world that God placed Him on earth.
It was a public assignment she would be under a microscope all the time. It was not about us but about others seeing Christ inside of us.
It was a painful assignment Luke 2:34-35 not about us but that of hearts of Mary will pierce too you. Her journey began with faith building words... Luke 1:37 For w/ God nothing will be impossible...

After the morning session we all took off on our separate ways about 7 ladies went to a Christmas show that after hearing about it I wish I had gone, 4 other ladies went to the outlets and then me and my group went to Tomlinson a good place to shop and indoor flea Market a good place to skip nothing like the one in Surfside...While we were at Tomlinson look who we ran into...
That is Julie and Sandra Lloyd and Julie's I think great niece... She was on her girls shopping trip

Before we went to back for our night session we went to dinner to some Mexican restaurant can't remember the name of it but the chips were WONDERFUL and I ate so many that I couldn't eat my chicken quesidalles... afterwards we headed back to the conference and meet up w/ all the ladies again.. Before we got into the session they had a little round of some family feud games..


Our ladies won this game.. there were even a few that did some motions of the answers...


We had a short lesson on David during the night time session..
God is calling each one of us to be spiritual risk taker.
Will you be standing still or stepping out for the kingdom of God?
You are God's chosen one 1 Samuel 16:1-13, God sees a dwelling place in our heart for that alone is the reason for us to believe we are his chosen one.
There is an enemy in the camp 1 Samuel 17:29. what we criticize other people for is really what we don't like about our self. Are are motivates pure and hearts right?? He who is in us is greater than of the world.
There is a cause 1 Samuel 17:29 the cause of God it begins and ends w/ Him. He is not going to get in line for YOUR causes you have to get in line for HIS cause.

After the night session we were headed to Shoney's to eat and Teresa and I had been excited all day long for the desserts they have but as we got there they were close so we went to Carolina Roadhouse I was still full from our supper so I just order a bowl of ice cream... but the best part of the night was Ann's hotdog... boy if you ever go there unless you are starving don't order this thing it is HUGE... Also as much as I was drain the Harris ladies kept our end of the table rolling in laughter.. I don't think there was a minute we were not laughing.. I know the other end thought we were crazy.. I don't think I have laugh that much in a while, thank you Kathi, Angie and Peggy and Ann for ordering the hotdog... We have a rule what happens on these trips stay on these trips.. You should come one time, you will love it..

Can you guess who this is??? Maybe there is a reason why she is hiding her face..lol

On Sunday we got up and loaded up and headed back to the conference for our last hour which was on Daniel.
A Pivotal Moment in Time- How can you be in the lions den and have peace???
Notes about Daniel:
They could change his name but not the man he was..
Daniel name means God is my judge
Daniel was so connected to Jesus they could only trap him by going against God's will and when he found this out he just went home and prayed giving thanks to God, he did what was custom
The Pivotal moment was Daniel 1:8 he would not define himself...
Could we be like Daniel?? When you found out that somebody had trick you into signing a piece of paper could you go home and pray not about revenge on the people but to give thanks... So even though the weekend was great I really am praying to give all to God, let him be the hands, let others see Christ in me, quit standing still and go out and show and tell others who Jesus is and live my life to where I give thanks in everything no matter how bad things are... All in 2 days and I question why I was emotional drain.... I do give thanks that He woke me up, I still struggle esp with this busy time of year but why do we celebrate Christmas.. not about the gifts, food, parties, but it is about the birth of our wonderful Jesus. The one that gets me through the day and I pray to have a wonderful relationship with and just sit still with Him...

After we were done we we all said our goodbyes. Since Teresa car really held 4 comfortable I went and rode home w/ Lynn in her mini van w/ 5 other ladies that I had not been able to really get to spend time during the weekend. We stop at Lizard Thicket in Columbia and had dinner it was great as always... Do you see a routine in these ladies things... eat, conference, eat, conference, eat... We do eat alot but we have a great fellowship time , we even make new friends and we are growing over the weekend. It was worth everything.

Toby Mac

One of Stephen's favorite groups is Toby Mac and Family Force 5 so for his b'day I got tickets to go and see them together at the BI-LO Center. Since you know he is 14 now I knew he didn't want to go w/ mom alone so we got 5 tickets and then Mary Beth was taking some of her dance students which one Taylor happen to be the daughter of my friend Faye (see previous post about Fall Festival) so we all got tickets together and made it a big crowd and also had 2 other boys for Stephen. I have to say this was a wonderful concert all the groups are christian bands and they get you up on our feet and get you jumping.. I had a ball with all these young kids...

This is when all the 3 groups came on stay

All 10 of us that went

Happy Thanksgiving

So, my day already has been busy. I got up this morning got ready went to the store to get 1 pack of broccoli so I could make a casserole (I knew last night I should have gotten 2 but didn't), came back home and put together the casserole and left to take Ryan to Ft.Inn so he could go w/my sister to GA to see my other sister and her family. Then off to the church to pick up our turkey and then to Fingerville to pick up our ham and dressing from Scott Garland's place Big Daddy Hawg. I have to say it is worth the trip his dressing and ham is the BEST... All the while as I was gone my hubby was here making mac and cheese in the crock pot and mash potatoes. Oh yeah and I made my first banana pudding last night.. As soon all is done we are going to Eric's mom to have lunch and then Susan and I will plan out our Friday shopping.. Also, Eric and I have have always gone to K-Mart on Thanksgiving day so we are doing that later today on our way to get Ryan in Ft.Inn.. Once the day is all over with Susan and the kids are coming to spend the night so Eric and the boys can watch all the little ones (while they sleep) and we are headed to the Prime Outlets in Gaffney for our shopping to begin.. So, as I get a chance all day I will be taking short little naps so I will be wide awake all night and in the morning.. If you know me you know that I am truly excited about all of this.. I do love thanksgiving, some have football and other things I enjoy spending time w/ the family, eating and SHOPPING!!!

So, I want to wish all of you a wonderful, happy and bless Thanksgiving. In this past year God has given me so much to be thankful for or should I say open my eyes up...Here is an email that a co-worker sent to me yesterday and it is a great reminder of what we should be thankful for...

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings each morning, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes tightly closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you Lord, that I can see. There are many who are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the effort of rising, thank you, Lord that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when keys are lost, bagel is burned, and tempers are short, thank you, Lord for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord for the food we have. There’re many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for the gift of Life.

Even though we gets so caught up that we do not take the time to capture the moments, for all of the blessing that you have given us through out the year.

Lord, we asking that you give us a peace of mind this day, so that we can be thankful for your “Harvest Season”.

May you wake up everyday and realize all that we have to be thankful for...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Thankful Tuesday

You know from blogging you get to meet people or get to know people that you don't normally get to know at church and Stacy is one of those people. I did meet her once during Upward sign ups but I am so bad w/ names and who is who (must be the age) that I didn't remember her name until I went over to another friends blog and saw that she was on it... So I started following Stacy blogs and she has started doing a post on Tuesdays about what she is thankful for and I thought that was a neat idea. I wanted to start doing it so I could focus on the good stuff and not the bad... By the way, I also love the Not me Monday, I might get brave to do that one day..lol...

10 Thankful Things....

1. I am thankful that I am daughter of the most highest King and that He has a great plan for my life...

2. I am thankful for my boys.. Ryan challenges me on days to be a better person, Stephen and his sassy silly attitude gives me laughter when I need it.. Tyler keeps me young, I get to see things from his eyes and it is a happy place there... they all give me love and I thankful for each of them.

3. I am thankful for what God has bless me with being able to do for my kids and not have to really worry..

4. I am thankful for the youth group at church esp for the girls in my ss class.. I learn more from them each day about who our God is and I bless to watch each of them grow..

5. I am thankful for my friends in my life that know when I need them and prayer is needed. They just look at me and can tell and they encourage me and pray for me.

6. I am thankful for my husband he is a hard working man, provides for his family, and keeps me grounded..

7. Oh yeah, I am also thankful that he cleaned out his buildings and our laundry room.

8. I am thankful to have my sisters and their families back in my life.

9. I am thankful for a wonderful sister in law that I enjoy spending time with and I am thankful for my niece and nephew they are just a joy to be with..

10. I am thankful for my friends that are crazy as I am that will get up with me at 3am on Friday morning and go shopping...

Beach

Durning VBS this year my friend Kim told me about a house in Ocean Lakes that her friend mom owns and I have always wanted to go back there and I knew the boys would love it. So, I got on Ocean Lakes website and checked out all they have to offer and found that in Oct they were having a big halloween weekend. Now, I am not a big halloween person I think the kids going to trunk or treat is about enough but this weekend they were having a scavenger hunt, pumpkin finding contest, trick or treating, dog costume contest, pumpkin craving contest, carvinal, kids and adults costume contest and pumpkin eating contest and a hay ride so it sounded like alot of fun... I have to tell ya, if you have never been or if you like to go camping somewhere for halloween or they even have houses pretty cheap for rent you need to go one year we had a ball...

On Thursday after the kids got out of school my sister in law Susan and her kids Preston and Emily came here and we watch Eric loaded up her Excursion for the 7 of us (Ryan stayed home cause he had a concert to play in, the Dorman and Byrnes game he films for Dorman and then the church had a big musical day through the whole service and he had to play in both the church and the youth band "Ready To Rise" and sing that day... Susan handed the driving over to Eric and she has a GBS in her car and let me just say if get one for Christmas it will not be cause I ask for one.. My husband had a toy and he loved it, it was like a game to him we were kinda of worry if we make it down to the beach or not. We did make it there by 7 and stop and went to eat at TGIF by the way did anybody know they have change their menu??? I don't think I will be going back there the service was good but the food was not great... Anyway, we made it to Ocean Lakes got Susan checked in at the house she was staying at we went on to the one were staying at w/ the Davis and Horns. It was prettier than what Kim had posted on blog in September... They had a big kids room upstairs that had 2 bunk beds and I have to say all the boys 6 in total if you count Tyler and Preston LOVED it...

On Friday we got up with Ree making us all breakfast and then us girls including Emily and Lauren took off and went shopping. Ree took us to this mall like it like the shops on Woodruff road nice to look at but to rich for me and then she took us to a place call Thomason and let me tell ya that store will be a place I will go back over and over every time I go to the beach. It has everything and is in my price range. It is on hwy 17 beside the post office.. LOVED it... It was a chilly and rainy day so all the guys stayed at the house and the kids played in their room w/ the Xbox, Wii and movies and the older guys took their naps and watch TV. They deserve it will all the hard work they had been doing... That night we meet up our friend Ginger and her family and went to a place called Driftwood that is off the beaten path in a strip mall shopping center and let me tell ya they had the BEST devil crab you could tell how fresh it was and the butterfly shimp were just as good and combo dinner was only $12.99 that is cheap for the beach... Another place we will be going to again and again.. We had a great dinner and some fun socializing..

On Saturday we got up rented 2 golf carts so that all 15 of us could do the scavenger hunt. You could tell it was our first time ever doing it we didn't have the golf cart decorated, we had no clue where half the places were but there were TONS of people doing it and we had a blast. The rest of the day we all kinda of did our thing from sleeping, going and catching the dog costume contest, playing down at the beach and in the indoor pool. That night Susan and Eric took the kids that wanted to go trick or treating out and while we cooked out steaks and afterwards we all went back to see the pumpkins, the costume and to the carvinal which we did miss but we had a great time riding around on the golf carts checking out all the campers and let me tell ya this people know how to do it...

On Sunday none of us were in a hurry to leave so we chilled out, packed and loaded up the cars, clean the house, rode around on the golf carts and went back to the beach for some pictures. Then headed out to see what the grand strand looked like now with the rides gone.. All in all it was a great vacation. I was blessed to spend it with my family, Susan and the kids and friends.. Being in the house with 12 and then riding in a car there and back for 4 1/2 hrs w/ 7 was nothing I LOVED every mintue of it...

Yes, we are going back next year I think it will be a one of those family vacations that will happen every year until the kids think we aren't cool anymore.. I have stuff already to decorate the golf cart up next year...

Home away from home for the weekend

1/2 of the boys room and 1/2 of the boys

Waiting to start the scavenger hunt

My scavenger hunt crew before Stephen ditch for the older kids
Ree, Lauren and Allison waiting for the scavenger hunt too
My sis Susan we got the plan for next year..lol
Best friends and cousins Tyler and Preston

I not crazy, I not crazy, not crazy.. she says it so sweet and funny...

Tyler and Stephen being good brothers on the beach.. 2 of my 3

Sad thing is that I carried my camera everywhere but I forgot to take pics all the time.. The full things in on my facebook page..

Tyler sharing Jesus

Ok, I had to come to work today so I go just type the blog... No, not really I have a doc appt Monday morning to see if I have acid reflux or if is my gall bladder or what it wrong with me and then I am going to vote Tuesday so I came in to make up some time... anyway....

Have you ever been in the car w/ your kids and they are talking to other kids you really aren't listening but then you hear something so you turn down the radio w/out them noticing, you stop talking you are even scare to breathe cause you don't want to miss what they are saying.... Well we had a moment w/ Tyler the other night like that... He was talking to his cousin and asking him about songs he sings at his church and what Bible verses he knows and he went on to tell him the ones he knew....He asked him did he know what Easter was about what happen 3 days (this is the point we really started to listen).. Then he went on to tell him about Jesus dying on the cross to save us for our sins, do you know what sins are? well if disobey your mommy or do what you aren't suppose to do then that is a sin and God saved us from all those sins.. He loves, you and me enough to do that (Tyler's words)... at this point we arrive at Gigi house which I hated cause I would have loved to hear him finish it out... It was a proud mom's moment but also it was one of those moments that if a 6yr old can share their faith like that and with such passion and kindness then why can't I... Tyler loves to talk about Jesus, he loves to go to church, he loves to sing about God. Heck, when he does something wrong I just have to say that Jesus doesn't like that and 9 out of 10 times he never does it again. I pray to have the same love, passion and obedience he does...