be still and rest....

The past couple of weeks have been very busy for me. Why does it always seem to get so busy this time of year, especially this one in particular. I have been staying busy helping my husband move his business to a new location, making plans for our trip to California, shopping for Christmas gifts, making sure my Christmas cards get sent out on time and just making sure I stay on top of my normal activities and household duties. In the meantime where is my focus???? Is it on Him the One who was born to save me or is it on these other things. Well I am sure you can tell with how busy I have been my focus has not completely been on Him. No wonder I wasn't getting into the Christmas Spirit this year, I feel like I have been on the go the past few weeks not being able to slow down. Well last night God decided to take some action in my life, He slowed it down for me. As I was running errands last night around 6pm driving on Garden Valley I noticed some bright lights behind me, yes it was a police car. I pulled over in a shopping center thinking to myself what did I do??? My brain has been on overload that I didn't even realize if I did something wrong. The police officer walked up to my car and said I forgot to turn on my headlights, then he wanted to see my insurance. Oh no where is my insurance I found my insurance card holder but the one that was in there was expired as I kept on looking around I finally found the one that wasn't....thank God! I ended up not getting a ticket, just a warning. As I drove and parked in the parking lot at the shopping center I decided to call my mom in California, she always helps me calm down. Since the kids were zonked out in the back seat I decided to stop for a little and chat with my mom on my cell phone which was about to die. About 30 minutes later my phone died, so I decided it was time to get some groceries. I went to start my van and it would not start. At this point I realized God was trying to show me something as I sat in my van that would not start with no cell phone in the cold pouring rain. Eventually I had to wake the kids go into the nearby store and get a hold of Robert. he told me to go to my van and wait until he gets there. As I was waiting for him I now realized that God was trying to get me to slow down and rest in Him, to focus on Him, to lean on Him. That's all I could do. I had nowhere to go, no one to call and nothing to do but to be still and rest in my God.

Thank you Father God that throughout my business you show yourself to me and regain my focus on what is really important which is You.

1Chronicles 22:9
Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon,* for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
Isaiah 30:15
For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

To be thankful.............

It is a few days past Thanksgiving and there is so much to be thankful for. This year we decided to spend Thanksgiving at the coast. We went to Bandon and it was absolutely beautiful. I didn't want our trip to the coast to take away the meaning of Thanksgiving so I started to explain to the kids that we have so much to be thankful for. I explained to them that in other places in the world there are children that don't have homes to live in , clothes to wear, food to eat, toys to play with, bathrooms, water that is drinkable and that we are so blessed that we get to make a decision of what restaurant we want to go to, or what toy they would like to pick out at the store. I don't ever want to take for granted the blessings I have in my life and I want to be an example to our children so they can learn that they are so blessed to have what they have. I know that everything I have comes from the Lord and I am most thankful to have Him in my life.

Psalm 100:4-5

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

You hold me by my right hand.

This evening I was feeling a little discouraged and afraid. I just felt like there is so much going on in our world right now that is effecting so many different people. Friends and family going through financial difficulties and busy lives. Everyone seems to be hit hard by the economic problems our nation is going through. Even us. As I was feeling the tension creep up on me, I looked outside and saw the lighted up cross on the hill. I just looked at that cross and it reminded me that I have hope. Not in this world but in my Savior, my Lord, my Father God! It was then that I got up from sitting on the couch feeling discouraged and went to my computer to read Our Daily Bread. I know God was trying to get my attention because what I read was exactly what I needed for what I was feeling at the time. It mentioned that even though we go through difficult times in life God is always there holding our hand, He is always right beside us and that the wicked does not prosper. I just need to remember that just because there are so many bad things going on right now in the world, I don't need to worry or be afraid because as long as I am walking with God, in the end (our pastor said last Sunday) we win! Thank you Father for making it possible to have everlasting life in paradise with You. In Jesus mighty name, Amen!

Psalm 73:23-24
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

And they keep on growing

A few of my favorite photos of Thomas & Katelyn when they were younger.

The other day I received an email from my mother in law about Thomas and Katelyn. She commented on how grown up the kids look from some photos I previously sent her. She also commented that they are big 8 1/2 year olds now. That's when it hit me! Oh my I am thinking to myself that means they will be 9 in almost 6 months. How could this be, where have the years gone. It just seems like yesterday they were so tiny only weighing a little over 4 pounds that they fit in the palms of my hands and now I can barely pick them up anymore. They used to be so dependent on Robert and I for everything. From changing their diapers, to feeding them, rocking them to sleep and calming them down when they cried. Now it almost seems like they know more than us ( like that show Are You Smarter Than a 5Th Grader). I remember when they were babies I thought I would be changing diapers forever, especially with twins. Now I would go back in a heartbeat......yes in a way I miss those diapers. Well we can 't stop them from growing, so as they grow we just do all we can to guide them and direct them in the way of the Lord. We need to pray for them continuously and make sure we are being the parents God called us to be.

Pro 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

"but I chose you"

John 15:9-17
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Wow, every time I read this I think to myself how blessed am I that God chose me. Why me I am not anybody special, I didn’t even grow up as a Christian. 1996 was the year, the year that I accepted the Lord in my life and I knew there was no turning back. He filled me so much that as I type this tears are falling down my face. I was so on fire for Him. All I wanted to do was please Him and serve Him. I really want to be on fire again. Somewhere in the last 8 years I lost that fire. I think it’s because I am trying to be a mom, wife and housekeeper first. What I need to do is get back to that place like I was in 1996. I need to put Him first all the time, every day. I know if I do this I will be on fire again. Even though I thought I was no one special back then, I do know now that He thinks I am special and all He wants is to spend intimate time with me. That's all He wants from all of us!!!

This where I accepted the Lord , 2 years before we were married. This week it has been 12 years since the day I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I will never forget it because it was a Wednesday night service and the eve of Thanksgiving. It was an awesome service there was a husband and wife that did their ministry about the Potter and the clay. This is when my heart started to beat so fast and I just felt Gods presence surround me. I could not deny Him no more, I fell to my knees and accepted the Lord.

Blessed

Last night Thomas & Katelyn had their very first music recital. It was such a special night, the kids looked dashing and their tummies were filled with butterflies. They practiced many hours this past week to make sure they didn't make a mistake. Poor Katelyn kept on asking me "mom what happens if I mess up on stage, do you think anyone has ever messed up before?" I explained to her that we all mess up once in awhile and as long as she goes up there and plays for God then that's all that matters. Well I am happy to say both Thomas and Katelyn sounded great no mess up. Kristin (the kids teacher) does such a great job teaching them and all her students that everyone sounded so great. As I watched Thomas & Katelyn on stage I got such an overwhelming feeling of joy. The two kids I see up there were like to big beautiful gifts, precious gifts from God that is. I just feel so blessed that God chose me to be their mom. I just hope that I always remember this moment so the next time I feel like I am about to lose my patience I can come back to this moment. God entrusted Thomas and Katelyn to me and I just hope and pray that I can be the mom they deserve and that when they see me that they will see a mom who loves and wants to serve Christ.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psa 127:3

On a side note I also have to share the experience I had finding the outfits Thomas and Katelyn were going to where for this special occasion. Well as I'm sure everybody can understand I had to make sure I was going to buy something on sale and get something that they can wear more than one time. I really wanted to get Thomas a cute little suit but Robert and I looked at the prices which were not that bad $45.00-$65.00 for a suit, but we couldn't spend that much on something he would only wear more than maybe 2 times. As we were looking in the mall we ran across $10.00 & under clearance sign in sears. There hanging was this 4 piece outfit which included pants, shirt, vest & tie, I grabbed it right away being it was the only one. I tried it on Thomas and my eyes lit up as I was looking at my handsome boy. This outfit was a perfect fit and the price was unbeatable. Now I have a much different story when it comes to Katelyn. I wanted to get her something that she could wear for the recital, Christmas & the father daughter dance, that way she would get use out of what ever I buy. Every dress I looked at for her either had to be dry cleaned or hand washed & hung to dry. As a mom if it can't be thrown in the wash & dryer I am not buying it. Well I went to Fred Meyer & found a dress cute white & black velvet, machine washable. I bought it even though it wasn't my favorite. Brought it home, washed it, pulled it our of the dryer to find the black velvet ran all over the white so I took it back to the store. I then bought another dress from Freddies it had sequins all over, but it did say it can go in the wash. I washed it like it said and the sequins came off. This dress was then returned. Then I remembered there was a dress at Macys that I was not to fond of but it was 25.00 on sale about the same price as the other dresses and it could go in the washer. I brought it home and saw that there was a tear in the seam that I did not have time to sew so I had to go back to Macys. At this point I am thinking to myself it is just not meant to be for her to get a new dress especially with the recital being a day away. I just couldn't believe how delicate the last three dresses were. Then as I was passing by the dresses at Macy's I saw the most beautiful dress hanging up high and thought I bet that dress can't go in the wash, but I asked the sales clerk if she could get the dress down for me and what do you know it can go in the washer & dryer. I tried it on Katelyn & I got that same feeling that I got when I saw Thomas try on his suit except I was looking at how beautiful my daughter is. Uh oh......then I looked at the tag $66.00 I couldn't spend that much on something she will wear a few times. The sales clerk told me it was 60% off plus I had a $10.00 off coupon on top of that. This most beautiful dress which turned out to be the best of the rest came to only $16.00. Wow thank you God. I felt my hope was lost but God had this dress waiting for me. I love how God works, even in the smallest things I still see & know with all my heart Gods plans are greater than mine. I love you so much Father God. You are always opening my eyes even when it comes down to a dress for my daughter. Thank you God for your perfect timing, your perfect plan, your perfect way!!!

My first post

Here it is my first blog, my first post. What to type about, I am not exactly sure but after reading other blogs I have been deeply moved and blessed. So I am hoping that God can use this to bless others as others have blessed me. I think this is a neat way to share testimonies, our thoughts and feelings, lessons we have learned, special moments but most of all Gods Word and what our Heavenly Father is doing in each of our lives. When it comes down to it we are here for only one reason and it is to be His servants. My hope and prayer is that this blog will be about God and what He is doing in my life and that it will Glorify Him.

that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Phm 1:6