A time to laugh and a time to cry..

You never know what life is going to throw at ya next... We had no idea when planning for this Christmas season that we would instead be mourning the loss of a Dad/Dad N law/Papa... Steve's dad passed away on Dec 22@7:44 pm in Gallup New Mexico. We were there with most of the family when he passed... We are heading up to NM tomorrow and the Funeral is on Tuesday@11am.. I am thinking in a fog so I just posted the link to the right at the top... Please keep the family in your prayers, specially mama during this time... We have already been so overwhelmed with all the family and friends who have rallied around us during this time and lifted us up to the Throne of God!! THANK YOU!! WE do feel the PRAYERS!! God is good and has been very near to the family. Please also pray for safe traveling mercies for family that will be coming in from Indiana today through Monday. Appreciate you all so very much... One of the main reasons I did this blog was for family to keep up with us, Daddy told me on more than one occasion he enjoyed the pictures of us and keeping up with our life.. Now he is in a much better place and we ALL plan to meet him there very soon!!! We will miss you daddy, we loved you very much. Thank you for all your encouragement, advice, and jokes we shared through the years.. You raised me a good husband, full of character and strength.. I am proud of you Dad, and to be called your Daughter too!! Till we meet again daddy....

A few more pic's of shania's B-Day

Baby sister charlie all dressed up for the party!

The girls set the table! We had Ham, Mashed Potatoe's, Fried Green Beans, Salad, French Bread!

And here is Shania with the Birthday Cake Kelsey baked for her. We thought that was so sweet.... I love to see our girls show love for each other!! I told Kelsey I was very proud of her!! Even with the crooked candles...lol..

The girls being the girls... with daddy and a messy kitchen in the back ground..lol

Shania opening her present from Kaity and getting a birthday hug!

Kelsey smothering her big sister!

Shania with her gifts from her sister's

Shania and her Birthday Cake from Ms,Susie from church.. Susie made her a nice birthday dinner after church a few weeks ago.. Was very nice!

Another Birthday Party

Very Pretty Table..

I loved that lil tea set, the tea pot was missing in this pic..lol

Shania blowing out the candles of the cake Mrs,Nelson made for her

Mr.Howard

Kaity with the hat Isac plopped on her head... cute!

We were invited to Emily's Birthday Party and Mrs,Jennifer surprised shania with pink roses and a cake for her also!! Shania was so very excited to be thought of and included, was very sweet and gracious of them.. Also pink is her favorite color!! Thanks Nelsons!!

Do not have the recent pic's uploaded onto the computer yet, but we have been having good times and making lots of memories... Shania's birthday celebration was very nice.. we did not have a HUGE birthday bash with everyone over, no we had just US... See last year we were in Mo without Steve and Shania missed having her dad to help her celebrate her 12Th birthday. We also did not have him on thanksgiving.. so this year we have been somewhat selfish with our time... can not be helped :) We spent thanksgiving day down at Gospel Center camp and had such a good time helping in the kitchen and just being with great people. Juliana's mom is a BLASTTTTT to be around, such a sweet lady.. Camp ends this weekend and hope to make it back for the last few days of it... Monday we are going to start decorating for Christmas and I can not waittt* quietly squealing*lol.. Well I must run as it is WAY past my bed time... Had a very precious moment with Kaitlyn, not to tell all the details , something was really bothering her and she could not get to sleep nor stop crying, she was very upset. The end result was us praying together and talking out what was on her heart and lots of hugs and her saying"mama I feel so much better when I talk to you" ah love these moments, would gladly give up any amount of sleep for a moment like that.. Well goodnight all, trust your thanksgiving continues on throughout this Christmas season!

**********WARNING*** Teen years are aproaching at a high rate of speed!!

Ok so nothen long today, but just to say. ACKKKKKKKKKKKKKK... We will have a TEENAGER on the 21st of this month.. I am very excited for Shania, she is a good girl... Mom and Dad, not dealing so well.. rofl... Pray for this old mom that I will not blubber all over her this year.. I cry every year on all their Birthday's.. I know I am twisted.. I cry because they are not babies anymore, I cry because I am so happy they are entering a new phase of life, I cry because I am crying... ya I cry over everything... HA! and I dedicate a song to them each year... having a bit of a harder time this year... we shall see what it will be.. For sure will post the song AND pic's of our lil girl... Kaity will be right behind her in birthday's and THAT is going to really KILL ME.. no more single digit girls!!! Kelsey, That is a whole nother post.. ha! I love my girls!!! Have a great day everyone...

Thought I would share this from my Devotional Journal.

Alarm went off this morning, and I did not know exactly what was going on.. I was thrashing around hoping at some point to HIT whatever was making that SOUND.... than I GOT IT.. YES>. oops that was my BLACK BERRY.. ummm HELLOOO.. hahahaha... I am learning they are resilient, thank goodness.... Took me longer to get up but I finally did... Got the coffee made, picked out my favorite "set" to use this morning and dug into my devotions..



I have heard it said by many that they to fight the same battle I do, The devil wants to steal our joy!! Had such wonderful services Sunday, such a wonderful time in devotions yesterday morning, than I guess that was enough "joy" so Satan thought, and there he went, trying to snatch it this morning... I said "Devil I may only have one eye open, still need my coffee, and not fully alert... but you ARE NOT starting in on me now" SO I got up, got another cup of coffee and kept digging... Still felt like I was not "getting" what I was looking for, not fed enough, needed more.. I would stop and pray and ask The Lord to please help me to "HEAR" not just read His word... I am so thankful HE cares even about the little things... I opened up to the book of Matthew ( 17)where I had left off, and began reading where Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain. He was transfigured right before their very eyes, they also seen Moses, and Elijah.. and from what I was reading this took place within a week of Christ's prediction of His Crucifixion. (WOW) When they seen this, a cloud came and covered them and they heard GOD speak, " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, HEAR HIM" The disciples had heard God say this before(Mat 3:17) when Jesus was baptised, but not the part of "HEAR HIM" From what I was reading, they were confused at this vision, did not understand, all the pieces of the puzzle were not fitting together in their minds.. BUT they were committed to Jesus and so they believed. My Study bible said" The disciples were at the crucial point of commitment to Jesus, everything hinged on who HE was to them(Mat 16:15)Jesus was trying to prepare them for the challenge of would seem like defeat that was ahead, the Cross! They were instructed when they came down from the mountain to tell no one(Matt:17:9) Read on in that same chapter to when a man came kneeling before Jesus to have mercy on his son, he had taken his son to the disciples and they could not heal him. Jesus was what seemed to me to be frustration when he spoke to them about their lack of faith(Matt 17:17-21) SO Jesus rebuked them, and had the boy brought to him so He could do the work...

Lord help my lack of faith, Teach me, mold me, make me! If I could but really get a hold of that faith 24/7 what kind of revival would happen in my soul!!! I do have faith, I have seen mountains in our life moved, but it seems the enemy of my soul creeps in unawares, and I find myself once again facing that mountain of unbelief.. Teach me to discern the very SECOND the enemy tries to creep in... Lord YOU are on the throne, and in control of ALL.. Empty me, so I can be filled with you! I love you Jesus, you are the lover of my soul, I yearn for more of you, NOTHING is more dear to me than you and the gift you gave me of salvation . I refuse to give it up.. I will not give in.. I will not quit. This relationship I have with you is worth more than life itself and I realize I am in the fight of my life for it.. You fought for me that day on Calvary, so today I am fighting in my flesh for you.. I CHOOSE to believe, I Choose to have faith, because I KNOW FAITH WORKS... I Choose YOU Lord this day to serve, for as for me AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE YOU!!!

Hmmmm

Off to a busy and hopefully very productive week!!! How did we start this week off? lol by taking the DAY OFF... Went with a friend to go see a New/Old Friend(new for me) old for my friend.. :) Was such a beautiful day out today(did warm up this afternoonish) and time went by way to fast.. So thankful for good trustworthy, non judgmental, praying women!!! So refreshing!! I came home so encouraged, was such a wonderful day yesterday at church and today was an added blessing.. I (we) are so excited about the next several months... and no the #1 on the list is NOT the holiday season( however that is #2) :) I am looking forward to the camp meetings that will be taking place... To start things off GCC starts next Thursday, to follow by MC, and to end the winter season, WHCC!! Going into this wonderful season with an expectation of MORE OF GOD and less of me... Going to be good memories made with old and new friends alike!! Hope to see ya there :)

Just breath* no pun to Faith Hill*

We are slowly but surely going through the mountains of piles and boxes, plastic totes, so on so forth... Oh it is so much like Christmas around here.. Literally we have found things we FORGOT WE HAD and had not seen since 2006 when it was put into storage... Not much to write about it as I know everyone is like.. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?? Well all I can say to you is, if ya need to ask that question than obviously you were not around during the journey close enough to know, and that's OK!!!! You would just need to walk 4 years worth of miles in our shoes to understand.. SO thankful I say again to GOD and some very special people in our lives that helped make this happen... I could never express into words what we are feeling as a family and the wide range of different emotions... Funny story to share happened yesterday... Was making dinner and started *early* as I am use to cooking our meals ONE THING at a time due to lack of kitchen tools :) So I start with the pork chops, they bake, smell so good we are starving.. meanwhile I am working in the kitchen unpacking our 5 potato peeler's, 4 strainers, so on so forth you get the picture( Juliana I know this would drive you nuts :) ) They get done.. I leave them IN THE OVEN Move on to look for a plastic container to heat up the side dishes we wanted... I seen a glass bowl * gets excited* put the first side in and put it in the micro and waited til it was done.. looking for one more bowl for our second side.. *another squeal* found another glass bowl.. These look strange I FORGOT... It was while I was putting the baked beans into the dish, I burst ed out laughing, and kept laughing, and laughing.. Steve came into the kitchen with this bewildered look on his face "What is so funny?" I said WHY AM I COOKING IN SHIFTS IN OUR OWN KITCHEN WITH MOUNTAINS OF KITCHEN SUPPLIES AND IN THE MICROWAVE OF ALL THINGS??? He joined in and so did the kids... He said"Babe habit" That was so funny.. here I have our pots & pans & many other things to use and ......................... anyway thought I would share that humorous story. I want to hurry and get the house in order, for many reasons among wanting to start having everyone over... but I just can not help but sit and gently go through the boxes and take one thing out at a time and just THANK GOD for it and the memories that went and go along with it :) Trust everyone is having a GREAT week and remember... Keep praying for us, as we do you!! Love to all!!

Yipeee we are heading into fall(AZ style)

I do believe we are going to finally see some COOLER temp's.. this morning was so nice out... 56 degree's( not an exact measurement as I am sure my digital thermometer is on it's way from MO.. HA) I loveeeeeeeeeeeee this time of year no matter where we live( I do miss the color changes, but we can drive a few hours north to get that) This year is extremely special to us, it is a new chapter in this book we are writing called "life" Steve is as we speak heading into New Mexico with our belongings, as lil as they may be they are ours!!!! And we are thankful for them... This has been a busy month, and looks like the rest of the year will be busy, I just love that!!! It is busy with good things, happy times, the chance to make new memories( add them to the scrap book's) and it means camp time around here.. We have Gospel Center Camp coming up first, than our Mesa camp next, and Wesleyan Holiness's camp to follow up in Jan... Always a good time to see folks!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week, and feeling so encouraged in the Lord.. God is good... All the time... God is good!!!

No time to be sick!

Well I have bee able so far to fight off what everyone else has been dealing with. These nasty colds & whatever ya wanna call them. I started feeling crummy a few days ago and just feel... BlahH... I have no time for blahhhhh... To much going on for
Me to feel blah! :( My most fav time of the year and wonderful things are happening.. Such as Hubby going to get our storages, Womens Bible study starting once a month and
Thanksgiving, fellowship meetings, Mesa Camp, Christmas and a whole
Mess of birthdays & anniversary's!! Oh yes and GCC in there as well&WHCC.
Always means getting to see people that maybe havnt seen in several years or more &
friends as well.. Steve's Brother&family usually always come down and we always look fforward to that( if we are in town) hehehehehe!!! Thank the Lord we have finally foundwhere we are supposed to be.. And wouldn't ya just know it.. Was phx all along :). All jokes aside, we are so blessed beyond measure and just so full of thanks-giving in our hearts for God's grace&mercy HE bestows on us time and time again.oh yes the road has been long&hard&lonely.. But Jesus has been there every step of the way leading and guiding and giving strength along the way!!! When life seems to. Get a lil wearisome the song" where would I go but to the Lord" comes to mind... Mwell I had better get.. I have no idea how this is going to look as I am doing it frommy black berry.. Hope everyone has a Blessed Lord's day!! Keep praying for us, mas we are for you as well!!! Love to all!!

Praise God!!

I just had to log on and put out a word of praise today to my Saviour! Last night we were late for church and it seems sometimes no matter how hard we try it just happens that way. I felt a mess, no hair spray( all you ladies can understand) my buttons popping( don't ask) but with determination we set out with the prayerful expectation that SOMETHING good was about to happen, just knew GOD was going to encourage. Came in about 10 Min's late and it is like music(literally) to my years to walk up the side of the church and hear the beautiful sound of the saints of GOD still singing praises to heaven, I get a quickening in my spirit and my step to want to hurry in and not miss a thing. We were not disappointed. The presence of the Lord was surly in this place, and low and behold my soul started lifting. Roseanna was the first to let me know I was not alone on this journey and that was one more step up taken in my spirit. As the service went on Bryan & Clinton sang one of my most fav songs(in fact had been singing it often this week) I do not remember all the words " I need a wall of prayer surrounding me" God came in such a sweet way, ya just would of had to been there!! I just so appreciate our church, so thankful for God's mercy and Grace. Thank the Lord I am not the person I use to be.Thankful for sweet love and forgiveness that covers all... and all I can say is " Look how big my God is, he's bigger than my need.. I'll just look how big my God is and claim the victory"

**** Update****

My fan base is calling... rofl.. the 1 Fan I have.. hahahaa.. ok so ummm let's see.. I will save my intelectual factual theoraticly correct post for later.. Now will just post a few pic's and give brief descriptions .. lol.. Ruthie & I@ QT(she was passing thru phx) Bryan in our bedroom making ICE CREAM( he did not want to disturb Julie&I talking) ha crazy guy. A few pics of our crazy Wed night out with my sister&her family, Bryan&Juliana, and us. Was a blast!!! Than there are a few pic's of giving our new lil girl her first bath.

NO sleep!

The house is silent.. I am awake.. it is 3:18am.. have had another round with my back this past week or so and also a few other things.. Tonight it was very painful and well anyway .. I have a very high tolerance level and I was ready to go to the ER if that means anything to those of you who know me.. What would I ?! do without my family I do not know. Shania gave me a massage and Steve worked on my back and just took care of me.. Tried to lay down and well that does not work.. Praying we can find a reasonably priced recliner that is about the only way I can sleep when I get this way.. God is so good.. He touched me enough to not have the painful muscle spasms anymore.. We had a good day and wonderful evening than it hit harder... WOW.. ANYWAYYYY glad The Lord has his hand on me!!! I am sooooooooo excited how GOD is working in our life.. The Lord has been helping us in such a marvelous way this school year... We have taken a different path in our journey and the girls are THRILLED with the things added this year.. We are incorporating "A Thomas Jefferson Classical Education" to our home. I was pleasantly surprised at how many things we were already doing, but totally excited to see the endless possibilities.. We went to the library today after Park day and the girls each got their own card and picked out their own books.. among the many selections were a few great classics(Hamlet,Romeo&Juliet) Civil war, American History, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln & of course Thomas Jefferson.. Kelsey could not put the book down she read all evening up until time for family devotions. I just think that's great.. all three girls read..They love to read as it is, but history? Definitely was not my forte when I was their age..lol I love to see such a thirst for learning.. makes my job a lil better :) We will be doing Sign language again this year. So far shania is the only one who was interested in taking it. This year Kelsey & Kaitlyn want to join in.. that's exciting.. We will also be doing art classes as well.. This year Shania is finally old enough to be on the student council and I think she wants to do it but also is shy... We shall see how that goes.. Kelsey said she would do it..lol no doubts there :) We are also doing an in depth study on the Ten Commandments.. I know basic.. We are going through them one by one and discussing the consequences of our actions, and using examples from world events and why things seem to be the way they are and in looking closer you see where along the way wrong choices were made and how that still has an affect on our country years later..using examples from the Bible and bringing it down to home and applying it to our daily life.. It has been very interesting and insightful to say the least. We are just starting so I am sure there will be many interesting moments along the way.. Can you believe we are in September already? OH MY.. I better blow the dust off the ol Holiday planner and get busy.. will be here before you know it.. Shania's Birthday kicks the holiday season off for us she will be 13 this year... WOW... I loveeeee this time of the year.. Well I can stop randomly rambling and shut this thing down..lol.. have a good week everyone!

Growing

We tell our children that growing can be painful, in many ways. I have come to realize that it is true even for us grown ups. When we grow past .. well our past.. above our insecurities.. over the moutain of fear, self doubt.. past letting go of, hurts, lost love, misunderstandings, and situations we can not control.. I have found it is during this time of growth when I know somthen good will eventually take place... but wow ok GOD hello it kida hurts... Sometimes it is hard for me to admit my faults to well PUBLIC knowledge as I am sure it is for all of us.. Reason being you get tired of having the facts of your life mixed with peoples fiction in their heads of what they think you are.. Do we really have the right to control someone elses life when infact we have none over our own ultimitaly? I find this journy I am on towards heaven filled with so many wonderful things when I can keep my sole focus on The Master... It is when I get distracted, start looking around in child like curiosity, I seem to come to a sudden STOP in my emotions and get well stumped.. I will never understand why, sometimes.. I know it is not our place to know all the WHY's??!!! I admit I still ask.. I think one of THE MOST single painful experience of my adult life was in letting go and moving past peoples oppinions. That is hard, and I really doubt if you are honest, I am the only one. It happens when we least expect it. This can be caused by many rasons, new relationships( not knowing how the other person will take you) and I honestly believe if you list every reason it all boils down to one commen denomenator.. HURT.. Somewhere along the way you were wounded so badly it cut you to your soul.. That pain can sometimes be so hard to move past.. No not everyone will understand and this is no fault to them.. they were blessed to not endure such an experience.. To those of us who have.. you know what I am talking about....

I usually like to look at life with a silver lining NO MATTER WHAT the current situation is.. that is how GOD made me.. but it is a challange to keep that outlook when on almost every corner you turn there are *situations* that are there to break you... I never wanted to believe my husband or many other wise friends along the way who would tell me to just let go and back away from those things that could drag me down. That is hard for a *peace keeper* like me. Yes beleive it or not I HATE conflict... can I handle it? Sure and have had more than my share of it and never backed down.. I think because I am who I am... I have finally worn down... I now see where it would be wise of me to refrain from those relationships that cause more harm than good.. That is so hard for me to understand because.. well I am a christian.. are we not called to love everyone? even the hard to love? I came to the place where on the alter it went, left in the safe keeping and much

Beautiful Day!!

It is so nice today... It has been a very good productive day.. We accomplished much in school and cleaned house and now the girls are doing a 2 mile walking DVD..lol.. Guess I better join them.. if I can keep up.. hehee.. God is so good and I am so thankful for HIS ever watching hand on our life.. There are many things I do not understand but this I know.. As long as I have my hand in the Master's everything is good!!! To God be the Glory!!! Hope everyone is having a great wed!!!

A few of our Pre-move in pics!

Update!!!

Welllll alot has sure taken place since last I updated.. We are now in our beautiful new home.. No we did not buy it( not sure where that rumor came from) but none the less we are still just as THRILLED to death with it... and if you know us very well than you know why :) God has been so good to us and has been working in every area of our life it is so amazing... During the move our car broke down but with the help of the Lord and the blessing of an awesome Brother N Law's advice & some dear friends borrowing us their car a few days.. It all worked out and we are back on the road in our lil hoopthy... It has been so very nice to enjoy our time together as a family in a bit of a larger space once again.. We are taking our time putting things away( yes can you believe how much a motor home can store?) We are praying we go get our storage's VERY SOON!!! I am just so thrilled with what GOD is doing in our lives and how HE is working.. I am in AWWWWWW.. just so humbled.. I just have not ever felt this RIGHT before... So blessed to have a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful girls.. Wonderful family.. and soooo very blessed with a wonderful church and church family...

The girls have had a lil break since the move and we are kicken it back up in high gear this week in our very own SCHOOL ROOM.. whoo hoooo!!!! ANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD I get to scrapbook ANYTIME I WANT TO and not struggle to put it all back away I can walk away and come back and it will STILL BE THERE..*****squeeeeeels**** I will deff be posting more pictures of the house as soon as I get a chance to post.. as most of you know I am no longer on FB .. my blog missed me :):) Going to go enjoy a wonderful evening of drinking coffee and watching the stars tonight!! It is just simply beautiful out here.... Hope all is having a great week .. keep your chins up and remember GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE!!!!

Sat

SO it is Sat and I am being so lazy.. got all the cleaning done yesterday I thought but still need to tidy up a few things and get ready for tomorrow.. I am starting now so we will make it to church by Sunday School time.. lol.. PRAY FOR ME!!!! Went out last night and had a BLAST.. Nothen like good conversation over lots of coffee and food and brownies.. I am still stuffed.. rofl.. Got home was wayyy to wired to sleep so was up till 4am ish.. I think I will scrapbook this evening.. yea that sounds good.. Seeing as my ROAD DOGS will be having lots of fun without me :( Nah I hate that I missed it guys.. Next time for sure for sure!!! I am so excited for church tomorrow to see how GOD is going to move and help us!! Have a Blessed weekend everyone and KEEP GOD FIRST!! Love to all .. EVEN YOU!!