Happy 2nd birthday!!

Here is story of our "wild man" Coop.

He just turned 2 a couple of weeks ago and he had a great blues clues birthday party. The ice cream cake turned out wonderful and went well with my paw print cupcakes.

I asked my hubby to be the one to help him open his gifts and I would take pictures. I am always the one taking pictures.

I was very glad to have my husband help Cooper with the presents because I knew that if it were me with that job then I would rush him through it. I am always in a hurry to get things done yesterday, to move on to the next thing, and I am constantly telling my kids to GO..Go..Go! I sound like a military sargeant. It really is ridiculous. Just another thing to work on, I guess. :)

Anyway, as it was, Kyle allowed him time to enjoy each gift after he opened it and that is just what he did. He had a ball!

After everyone was gone I started looking through the pictures on our digital camera and realized that there was not one of me with my son on his 2nd birthday. I was so sad.

I thought I'll just have Kyle take a couple of us real quick. Then it dawned on me that we had our p.j.'s on already. This put me further into my depession over the situation.

In 20 years Cooper is not going to care that there is no picture of him with me on his birthday. As for me, you better believe I need a picture. :)

It was about 5 days later and there were still 3 balloons floating. So, I got myself and Coop dressed in the same clothes we had on for his b-day and Justin took a couple of pictures of us.

AAAHHHH!! I feel better!

Regrets, anyone?

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
Eph. 5:17


This past Sunday morning, as we were getting ready for church, my husband Kyle asked me if there was anything in my life that I regret doing. I knew this was a loaded question, so I took a few minutes to think about it. My mind went to premarital sex almost instantly.

I want you to understand that I in no way, shape, or form condone premarital sex. It can lead to some very difficult circumstances, such as becoming a single parent. And that is a hard and lonely life. I know, because I lived it. Life would have been much different if I didn't have sex before marriage, but now I have this beautiful daughter and there is NO WAY I can look back and regret it. It was a choice I had made and my life is different because of that choice.

My answer to Kyle's question was this..." No, I don't regret anything, but I think hindsight is 20/20."

If I hadn't given birth to my daughter, then I never would have met my husband. If I hadn't met him, then I most likely wouldn't have come to know Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. And that was the most important day of my life.

Looking back now I can see God's hand in all of it--how He has worked things out for the better...even when I made the wrong choice. He was, and is, always waiting with His arms stretched out wide.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.
Rom. 8:28


This means that regardless of our circumstance, God is able to turn it around for our own good. My life is a perfect example of the mercy and faithfulness of God.

I am beginning to understand that if we ask God what His will is for our lives, and then patiently wait, he will answer us. He will lead us to the right choice.

So, regrets? Nope...none here, because God has turned my life around and I am now blessed beyond measure.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for that is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thes. 5:16-18

Lord, thank you so much for believing in me, for waiting patiently for me to turn to you, and because I chose to love you, you have shown me mercy. You are my Redeemer. I pray for those out there looking for truth. I pray that they will come to you and that they will know that all can and will be forgiven. In Jesus' name, Amen

Who? Me... Cinderella?

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Cor. 10:5

I got on my knees today. It didn't start out for the purpose of praying, but it quickly turned into the reason why.

I had allowed my son to go to the subdivision park with his older sister and her friend. I told them to be home at noon and sent them on their way. As time grew closer for them to get home, I decided I would go ahead and make their lunch so it would be nice and hot for them.

The girls walked in the door first, and then came Justin. I didn't catch him until he had walked through the door and up two flights of stairs...leaving mud in the wake behind him. I was furious to say the least. Not only because I had just vacuumed an hour earlier but because this is not the first time something like this has happened......

Not too long ago I had let him go to this same park with an older brother of one of his friends. They were gonna go fishing. After being gone for approximately 20 minutes he walks in the door dripping wet.... I guess I should say, soaking wet.... from head to toe! He had somehow managed to fall into the pond. I'm sure you're all laughing now, but at the time I was mad. Needless to say, after this latest incident, he will not be returning to the park anytime soon!

Anyway, I found myself on my hands and knees shampooing his tracks. Let me share a little of what I was saying in my head as I was fervently scrubbing away. It went something like this, "I can't believe I'm down on this floor like Cinderella. I am so unappreciated and NOBODY cares about all that I do around here. I am so sick and tired of this. Isn't there more to life than this? DOESN'T ANYBODY CARE?

Is there anyone else out there who thinks like this??

Then it hit me like a freight train. The next thought in my head was... you were born to serve.

It took me back to the scripture that says to hold every thought captive to Christ. I couldn't believe it...I had done it. I actually held a thought captive to Christ! YEEEEHAAAA!

Now, I know some of you might not think this is a big deal. But it is very hard for me to control those negative thoughts, because they come so instantaneously anymore. When you've thought and reacted in such negative ways for so long it becomes a bad habit.

It's something I've been praying about and the Lord is answering! So if you find yourself dealing with the same issue, just talk to God and ask Him to help. He is listening.

God and Football

The sluggard craves and gets nothing,

but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Prv. 13:4

My 7 year old son Justin is the type to put his head down and run like a bull. Some people call that stubbornness and some might call it diligence. I, as his mother, choose to call it stubbornness at this point in his life. :)

He played flag football this fall. It was the first time he ever played the game. He was the QB and he loved it! There was something special about this game for him. In all the other sports he's played, nothing has compared. I guess it's that certain something that only the player can feel....something that's deep in their soul that says this is the one. I know that may sound crazy-- talking about a 7 year old and football like that, but it is who he is. Justin loves to play football!

Now, as his mother, I can say that he really doesn't enjoy helping around the house. In fact, getting him to do anything is like trying to pull teeth. But when you got him out there on that field for practice he would give 110%. He'd put his head down and dig his feet in as if he had all the energy in the world. He trained hard and ran fast.

I stood on the sidelines at the games watching this boy of mine try to complete a pass. Time after time it didn't happen. He kept trying...he never gave up. There was a fierce determination and a hope in his eyes every time he threw that pass.

Then it happened. There I was on the sidelines. I saw him throw the pass. My hands went up and as the ball was flying through the air, I was pleading under my breath," Come on... Come on." I so badly wanted this to happen for him. And....the pass was complete for a touchdown! I started jumping up and down and yelled, " YES!!"

That hope that he had held on to for so long finally flourished. I knew his heart was singing.

It's the same thing that God tells us as Christians, to work hard doing what we are supposed to do and never lose sight of what lies ahead for us.

We want each of you to show the same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

Heb. 6:11

A Moment I Won't Forget

He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Ecc. 3:11

Whenever I hear this verse I am taken back to the far corners of my mind, to that place where all my memories lie.

We lived in Georgia and one of me and Kyle's favorite things to do was to go check out new houses. The Atlanta suburbs are full of new construction. The kids didn't like this much because we could spend all day out there on the open road, stopping at any new subdivisions we came across.

We found one that was spectacular. Of course, the realtor was right there when we were getting the information on the houses out of the mailbox. We talked for a bit and then he wanted to show us this house that was only studded at that point. We looked at the house with him and then headed back out towards the car. As we were walking we were talking to this realtor and the whole time this was going on I could hear Dallas (our daughter) saying, "Mom...Mom...look at this!"


At this point I am getting really annoyed because I'm thinking how rude is this girl. Here I am trying to have a conversation with this man and she just keeps saying, "Mom..Mom...look at this!" So, I finally jerked my head around and in total irritation, hollered--"WHAT!!"

She had her hands cupped and with this huge smile on her face said, "Watch this."

Dallas opened up her hands and out flew this beautiful butterfly. It just fluttered around our faces for a few seconds and then flew off. It was breathtaking. I knew God had given that moment to me and Dallas. Something special for the two of us to share.

God does that, you know. Gives us special moments. Most of the time( like me) we don't take the time to notice them. I am so very glad that Dallas was persistent. And, I am so thankful that she is the type of person that "stops and smells the roses."

I learned some things that day.

-God gives us children to teach us how simple life can be......if we let it
AND
-The Earth is filled with His glory!

I encourage all of you, myself included, to take a look around you and notice all the beauty that God has given us to enjoy....at our own free will. Take the time to breathe it in and take the time to tell Him thank you.

Looking for Restoration

Okay, I must confess....I AM A BACKSLIDER!

Here is the definition according to the web dictionary:

back·slide
–verb
1.
to relapse into bad habits, sinful behavior, or undesirable activities.

In order to fix the problem you have to first admit you have one, right? So, there we have it....it's all out in the open. I have sinned beyond measure. More than I could ever try to describe. It has left me lonely, out of breath, and feeling like I am worthless. I lost myself and who I am somewhere along my road.

I came to realize that my identity is in Christ. That I was made by Him...and for Him. I am on my way back to The One who saved me, which is where I will go every time I lose my way. How wonderful it is to know that God is waiting patiently.

Lord, I am claiming a verse today for myself so that I may feel the joy of your salvation again! If there is anyone out there who is feeling the same---open up those Bibles and read Psalms 51... and come back home.