P.A.R.T.Y spells HELP!!!

Well, you really do not realize how old you are until you take five kids to a huge event. This happened to DH and I, in fact as I am blogging this, DH is still out cold with exhaustion. So last night my DH and I took our sweet sixteen year old son, our dearly daughter and some of our son's friends to the pizza place in Omaha called the 'Amazing Pizza Machine". First of all it is on the other side of Omaha closest to Fremont Nebraska, so the drive was long. And when we were three street lights away from it you could see it, it is a strip mall by itself. A large lump formed in my throat and I started praying "Lord give me strength." So all the kids piled out of the van and my DH and I are giving orders and rules as we are walking into this giant warehouse of fun. We hit the lobby and I proceed to go up to the counter to confirm our reservation, as I talked to this lady, she is looking for our sweet sixteen's name on the list and they can not find it. I decided I was not going to be testy or angry but know that God is in control here. So after about ten minutes they find our son's name and this young man who is our host shows up. Bubbly young man named Patrickvand the kids really liked him from the beginning. He took our DH and all the kids to the room that we reserved, while I talk to the young gal about squaring up the bill. So, she scans the paper that all of our information is on and the card number that I used to put down the deposit is now not working for her. So, I stand there determined not to blow a gas get and let God take this over. It took three people to figure out this promblem and I just stood there and kind of chuckled. So, they figure it out and I am finishing and about to find my party, when one of the people who was trying to figure out all these hang ups hand me a little credit card with twenty dollars stamp on it. I said "what is this for?" He replied " for being so patient with us and our mistake?" So I thanked Him. Now, the credit card is what helps you pay for all the games and rides. So, I payed for six cards of ten dollars a pieces and I got a twenty dollar one for free. I thanked the Lord for this wonderful gift. and proceeded down this hall, when I hear "Hay supermom." I turn around and there is Patrick, he tells me were our room is and all the things we can do. My DH and I decide we need to let the kids eat first. We walk down this hall and into this room that is filled with buffet style tables. You could have anything you wanted. They even had a Macaroni Pizza. The kids ate all their food and we gave them their cards and they were off. They rode the go carts, bumper cars, little roller coaster, bowled, they played all kinds of video games. My darling husband and I played air hockey, I realized I am not so good at the game. But, by the end of the night my DH and I were exhausted trying to keep up with all the kids. But in reality I was really starting to like the idea of all the children. I myself came from big families. My Dad came from a family of ten and my mother came from a family of thirteen. My step-mother called me on my cell phone and I was telling my mother that I liked all these children and I wanted some more of my own. My step-mother laughed and told me more grandchildren would be great. So if you get to Omaha, go to the Amazing Pizza Machine it is pricey, but it is worth it. It may even bring out the kid in you!!!!!!

"Sweet 16"

Well it is official, as of today I am the proud mother of a sixteen year old. I can not believe the time that has swiftly passed by me. So, I have to tell you, the other night my now sixteen year old was pondering a PlayStation 3, he was so engrossed in it and was telling his grandfather how he wanted one. So, DD pipes up and says, well if you would get a job, and a driving liescence you could get it yourself. So our sixteen year old with all the wisdom in his little world, pipes up and says, I have been looking, I have been beating the pavement. Ha, ha, my DH tells our son, sitting on the couch or playing video games does not count in job hunting. So, I ask you how much more challenging will this sixteen year old become. I am not sure but I am in deep prayer for him now and every second of every hour, and all day. He has gotten really bold with DH and I, which in some ways are good and bad. He has also shown some real grown up decisions, but not enough of them to support living on his own yet. I remember when I was sixteen, I wonder if my parents felt the same way about me or worse? All of you who have teenagers understand, one moment you look at them and remember how small they were and how much they clung to you like glue. Then in one fail move they become bold and stand offish. I guess this is why we not only need to equip our children with education but also with God, they will not survive without Him. Amen

openning my heart

I am amazed at how much the Lord is doing for me. My husband wanted to start a Home Church. At first I was not support with it. But, I prayed out to God, I looked up scriptures and God gave me peace about it. Now God has been blessing us through it. I can not tell you how many meetings we have had and I have walked away looking at God with wider eyes and amazement of His word. He is opening up our eyes. So, Monday night we laid hands upon my mother in law who was going into the hospital on Wednesday to have a total knee replacement. The peace rushed upon us and we knew that Jesus was going to be over her while she was going to have this procedure done. Yesterday we all sat at the Hospital for about eight hours, this is prep time for Mother, the surgery was actually only an hour an a half. When we were finally permitted to go up to the room where she was staying and we were able to see her, she looked good. I can not even explain this, it was God. She held my hand and I said, "Mom from the moment that you told me that you were going to have this done, I have felt peace." Mom looks at me and replies"It was God, I have had peace going in to it." God directed all of this, he sent the right doctor, the right hospital and the right day, mom only had two weeks notice of this. She will be getting out of bed today and walking. She is so excited about this, and this was because of God and his word. I feel blessed, oh I could just be saying it because I am a christian and I have to say it, but I do feel blessed, I am ready to die to my flesh and let God do with me that he wants. I am ready. I am tired of fighting. Tanya

Being Lead

I really believe that I am getting this being lead by God thing. I have been volunteering at the local Pregnancy Center. I have done some counciling and up until last night I have not felt very comfortable about this. I have been praying and reading God's word and trusting that this is where he has wanted me to be. But I still walked away each Tuesday alittle unsure. So, last night when a client came in, I felt that unsure feeling. But as I spent time with her, God gave me the words to speak to her and I really felt peace. I know now that this is where I am suppose to be and as long as I listen to the Lord, He is going to give me the words and the ways to connect with the people who walk into the center. This most important reality for me is to be in the word and in prayer always and forever. The moment that I do not do these things, I will fall back into old habits and not be lead by the Lord. I am really blessed to have a redemmer who loves me so much and he wants me to spread the word of Him to others. Thank you, Lord.

Gods direction

I do not have much time to share this, but this is grand. This weekend Jeff, the kids, the grandparents and I drove to Iowa City to celebrate Fall birthdays. Well the weekend was really good to begin with. But the most exciting moment was Sunday. All of us from Red oak, wanted to share with the Iowa City Folks about our home church. All of sat down together and started reading from Genesis 15. When we finished with one chapter mind you, questions started to rumble. We had a wonderful conversation about God. Then my niece shared somethings that she was really struggling with and she really felt some guilt. We talked to her about having authority over Satan and I suggested that we pray over her. As I prayed , Jeff and his mother prayed in the spirit. When we were done, there was not a dry eye in the place and we all felt something, because there were amens and hallelujahs all over. I tell you the spirit will meet you were you are. Read the word and pray for wisdom and knowledge. I believe God directed this family in a whole new way. Amen

Years go By fast

I was looking at my blog and I realized it had been a while since I made an entry. Time is going really fast, before I will know it Christmas and the New Year will be here. I started thinking about when I was a child. My mother loved Christmas. She was lighting candles and playing Christmas music in September. This was a great way to tease my sister and myself. We would ask over and over again how close Christmas was. Of course, it was three months away and it seemed like forever. Now, I look at September and panic if I have enough time to get everything done. Oh, those were the days. I remember them like they were yesterday. Well, now my kids ask "How long is it till Christmas?" And of course we count the days. But I am happy to say, I do not start Christmas music till after Thanksgiving. Tanya

Blessings

Well, I am reminded that today is Monday. Yesterday, Jeff and I celebrated our seventeenth wedding anniversary with Jeff's Parents. We were up pretty late and decided to go to Walmart. It was about one in the morning. So, I did not get up real early today. But, when I got up and around, I started panicking about everything. And, after having a complaining (on my part) conversation with a friend. I realized that I need to sit back and remind myself of the blessings from God. I think I rely to much on my friends and family to uplift me. I need to rely on God and let his word uplift me. I am blessed, I just celebrated seventeen years with one spouse. I have not had to experience divorce like my parents did. I have been blessed with my kids. I am a homeschooling mom, who does not have to work. I can give my children the teachings of the Lord in their schooling. I have freedoms that other mothers do not have. God protects me and loves me. I am blessed that I have such wonderful in-laws that love me and took me in, when my family would not. I really need to realize that I am blessed to live in a country where I am free to worship Jesus. I do not have to hide my bible or be afraid of who I talk to. I am blessed. Thank you God for You!!!!!

Be Careful What You Say?

I realize that in this day and age that Christians are an example of Christ's love. I believe that you should be a positive speaking person. But when your words have to be so positive that you can not speak out loud to God or speak what is on your heart, it has gone to far. God knows what is on our heart, and I do not believe that Christianity should be so hard and uncomfortable that our sister's or brother's in Christ are reprimanding us because of our verbs. I am a little concerned about this name it, claim it movement. This movement talks about naming what you want and it will be given unto you. Where is discipline and obedience? God says in His word "That he will provide all my needs, according to His riches" Phil 4:19. God's word if full of all kinds of promises and riches, but if you are going through something you should be able to talk to another Christian or talk to God. Not feel guilty because you feel that way or because your fellow christian is telling you that you may of caused it because of your speech. This to me is dangerous, does your words cause you to be poor, or does your words cause a car accident? I think this is giving Satan too much power. He is a defeated foe, he looses in the end, so why are we making fellow Christians feel guilty, because they feel this way? I realize that we should not focus on being poor, or health issues, we need to focus on Christ's love. Encourage each other, love each other as you would yourself (Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself) Matt 19:19. But do not make your friend in Christ feel bad because they are struggling with something. Take them to the word, pray over them and most of all encourage, not discourage. If we want to be positive with our words, lets start with each other. Lets look at this passage in Matthew 12:36-37 "But I say unto you, That every idle word that man shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by they words thou shalt be justified, and by they words thou shalt be condemned." I guess we as Christians have to ask ourselves, with our words are we turning other Christians away from God? If you are you will have to make an account to them. 1 Corinthians 11:28 says "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." So the next time you talk to a fellow christian examine your life and your speech to uplift and encourage your christian brother or sister in Christ.