tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57767018463828237502024-03-06T00:32:30.203-05:00Blessed with SixBlesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-68625976811699896482024-03-04T16:56:00.001-05:002024-03-04T17:01:15.782-05:00Take it - Easy<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> "Take it easy.." the chipper college age cashier said as he handed me the receipt at Ingles. I smiled back and left the store with that in mind. I have not heard that phrase in a while and I wondered if his parents raised him listening to the Eagles. It brought a smile to my face and made me want to adopt that phrase to everyone I see. Hey, take it easy!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Life isn't easy, is it? Every day has a new challenge along with what has lingered from the day or even the month before. It is not easy raising children, especially in this society. It is not easy running a small business or getting up for work each day to pay the bills so we can have a decent quality of life. It is not easy to go to school to better our education. It is not easy managing a health crisis or the uncertainty of relationships that seem so fragile. It certainly is not easy to lose weight or kick an addiction habit. Life is just not easy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We think of our English definition of Easy: causing or involving little difficulty or discomfort, or requiring or indicating little effort, thought or reflection. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Michael has a saying " If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." Life is difficult and working at something that will be worth it is challenging.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> But, can life be challenging and easy? I think it can.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am gently reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30. " Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The word for Easy in Greek in this passage is <span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">(χρηστὸς) chrestos: serviceable, good.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That gives us a whole new perspective of Easy, right?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jesus is asking us to surrender to him. His yoke is a service to you. Life is going to be difficult, but yoking our walk with him will relieve the burden of it. He wants us to find rest that only he can give. Surrendering to him is actually the most difficult part because it is not just a one time thing. I have to do it daily, if not, I get weary and want to quit. But once I have taken on him, it is easy to go to him when my soul is tired of life. I am not saying life is going to be smooth sailing once you surrender, I am saying that he wants to you come to him with every burden and rest in the fact that He loves you and will loosen the load on your soul. He is good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So if I say "Take it easy" when I pass you by, please know this is what I mean :) </span></p>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-37223188483889391332021-09-24T23:43:00.005-04:002021-09-25T00:09:49.185-04:00Legacy<p> </p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="text Col-3-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Col-3-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-29503" style="background-color: white;">Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Col-3-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-29504" style="background-color: white;">For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Col-3-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-29505" style="background-color: white;">When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4</span></span></i></p><p><span class="text Col-3-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Col-3-4" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This verse became more relevant to our family this week. My beloved father-in-law, Verlon, was called home to Jesus on Wednesday. The day he lived for arrived, and he stepped into Glory in one breath and blink of an eye. My husband, along with is mom and brother, were able to be by his side as he quietly entered into the Kingdom.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Col-3-4" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It has been difficult to put the events of this past week into words. There have been so many emotions. My six children were extremely close to their Pawpaw. Having to tell each of them what was about to happen was by far the most difficult task I have had to face as their mom. Seeing my grown children in pain still rips this momma's heart. Knowing that I can't take the pain away, but it is part of this world we live in.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Col-3-4" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But, Jesus.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Their Pawpaw was a great man of faith. He didn't preach the Gospel, he lived it. My youngest said it best, he was an accurate depiction of what a Christ follower should look like. He never met a stranger, and was one of the kindest men I knew. He would go out of his way to help those in need, and it was usually done quietly, when no one else knew. My husband has received countless messages from friends and <span id="yui_3_10_0_1_1632541815102_43" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">acquaintances</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #464e56; text-align: left;"> </span>of stories about the generosity and kindness of my father-in-law. How he had blessed them when they needed it. He definitely was a willing vessel of Christ.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I am forever grateful that he was part of my children's lives. He is part of the reason my Michael is the man, father and husband he is today. My husband has been such a rock this week in the midst of his pain. Loving his mom and children through these rough waters. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My fondest memory of Verlon was when Michael and I were going through the darkest time in our marriage. I went to my in-laws house to pick up Devyn and Daulton. I was anxious because of the issues Michael and I were having, which were of my own making. I didn't know what to expect when I got there. When I arrived, Verlon answered the door. As I walked in, he gave me the biggest hug. He didn't say anything, just a hug. It was exactly what I needed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Verlon loved his family and others well. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My children have had a difficult week, but nothing they can't get through. These are the trials that Peter speaks of in 1 Peter 1. These are the trials that solidify our faith and grow it. We have a hope that is greater than anything the world can offer. They are all believers, and had a grandfather that set that example to them. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we got home from spending time with their grandmother Wednesday, they all started to share stories about their Pawpaw. It warmed my heart to hear them laugh. We were going through pictures and sharing memories. He left them with so many. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While he was a simple man, he also left them his legacy. Bill High said it best, <i>"A legacy focuses on what will endure. it is about passing things of lasting value that will live on after us. Legacy involves being intentional and aiming to build the next generation."</i> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">All the riches of the world could not buy what he has passed on to them. My children all gathered together this week to support their dad, grandma and each other. To share love and serve each other. Colby told me he didn't realize how strong our family was. I am glad he realized it. They are strong because they had a pretty strong man of faith as their patriarch, and they can take his example and grow from it. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Proverbs 13:22 says <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. This isn't about wealth, but about the things that matter in this life. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">We are all one breath away from stepping into the presence of Jesus. Heaven just got a little bit closer this week. I pray that my children will see this life with a new perspective as they navigate the heartache. They are truly laying up treasures in heaven. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxC5mVkemDD4xBhuwkyMovcWIGv9mkX4cM4MR2uHFjWgZr_-6KJU5eeMthe3_ldMilSWo0ACBMi6as3kNETwqEQ2khJujeme7UXliV-P4TRb677XLSMzi592sve_dqJnOGq37MPxbnfGI/s767/verlon1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="767" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxC5mVkemDD4xBhuwkyMovcWIGv9mkX4cM4MR2uHFjWgZr_-6KJU5eeMthe3_ldMilSWo0ACBMi6as3kNETwqEQ2khJujeme7UXliV-P4TRb677XLSMzi592sve_dqJnOGq37MPxbnfGI/s320/verlon1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Col-3-4" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span class="text Col-3-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-2784341552247769452017-09-19T00:05:00.000-04:002017-09-19T10:07:27.056-04:00BlessedI could not think of another title for my post today other than BLESSED. <br />
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<br />
Here is the definition, I have highlighted what is relevant for me today:<br />
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Definition of <span class="vg-sm"><span style="font-size: large;">blessed</span></span><!--3. Entry level sls --> (from Merriam-Webster) <!--4. Entry level def --> <br />
<div class="vg">
<!--Entry level ins (if def is present)--> <br />
<div class="sb has-sn">
<span class="sb-0"></span><br />
<div class="sen">
<span class="sb-0"><span class="sn"><span class="num">1</span></span> <span class="sl"><i>religion</i></span> </span></div>
<span class="sb-0">
</span> <span class="sb-1"></span><br />
<div class="sense">
<span class="sb-1"><span class="sn"><b>a</b></span> <span class="dt "><strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong>held in reverence <strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong><a class="mw_t_sx" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venerated"><span style="color: #ae0015;">venerated</span></a> <span class="t">the <span class="mw_t_wi"><i>blessed</i></span> saints</span> </span></span></div>
<span class="sb-1">
</span> <span class="sb-2"></span><br />
<div class="sense">
<span class="sb-2"><span class="sn"><b>b</b></span> <span class="dt "><strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong>honored in worship <strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong><a class="mw_t_sx" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hallowed"><span style="color: #ae0015;">hallowed</span></a> <span class="t">the <span class="mw_t_wi"><i>blessed</i></span> Trinity</span> </span></span></div>
<span class="sb-2">
</span> <span class="sb-3"></span><div class="sense">
<span class="sb-3"><span class="sn"><b>c</b></span> <span class="dt "><strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong><a class="mw_t_sx" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beatific"><span style="color: #ae0015;">beatific</span></a> <span class="t">a <span class="mw_t_wi"><i>blessed</i></span> visitation</span></span></span></div>
<span class="sb-3">
<div class="sense">
<span class="dt "> </span></div>
</span> <br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn">
<span class="sb-0"></span><br />
<div class="sense">
<span class="sb-0"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="sn"><span class="num">2</span></span> </span><span class="dt hasSdSense"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong><span style="background-color: yellow;">of or enjoying happiness</span>; </span><span class="sdsense"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="sd"><i>specifically</i></span>, <span class="sl"><i>Christianity</i></span> </span><span class="dt "><span style="background-color: white;"><strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong><span style="background-color: yellow;">enjoying the bliss of heaven</span> </span><span class="uns"><span class="un"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="mdash">—</span>used as a title for a beatified person </span><span class="vis"><span class="vi"><span class="t">the <span class="mw_t_wi"><i>blessed</i></span> Virgin Mary</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="sb-0">
</span><br />
<div class="sense">
<span class="sb-0"><span class="dt hasSdSense"><span class="sdsense"><span class="dt "><span class="uns"><span class="un"></span> </span> </span> </span> </span></span></div>
<span class="sb-0">
</span> </div>
<span class="sb-0"></span><br />
<div class="sense">
<span class="sb-0"><span class="sn"><span class="num">3</span></span> <span class="dt "><strong class="mw_t_bc">:</strong>bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune </span><span class="dt "><span class="t">a <span class="mw_t_wi"><i>blessed</i></span> event</span></span></span></div>
<span class="sb-0">
<span class="dt "></span></span><br />
<div class="sb has-sn">
<span class="sb-0"><span class="dt "><span class="t"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span class="sb-0"><span class="dt ">
</span></span><br />
<span class="sb-0"><span class="dt "><span class="t">I am sharing this because I am completely overwhelmed of how the Lord has blessed me. </span><br />
</span></span><div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="sb-0"><span class="dt "><span class="t"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span class="sb-0"><span class="dt ">
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
Today Michael and I celebrate our 25th anniversary. A quarter of a century and over half of my life with him. This journey has been far from easy. Today I testify of my Lord. Not to sound cliche', but HE is the only reason we have made it this far.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
Twenty years ago we barely celebrated our 5th anniversary. I am serious when I tell you that a Category 5 storm came through and demolished everything in our marriage. I am not trying to be insensitive to those who have physically experienced this last week. I am talking about spiritual and emotional devastation. Which is real, and I believe Satan enjoys this type of turmoil the most. I allowed us to stay in a place where we would be a target. Literally every wall of our marriage fell down. We had to dig through the rubble to find what mattered most. One of the hardest times of my life. It was there that I met Jesus. It was in this brokenness I surrendered. We allowed Him to heal and rebuild us. We believed his promises. I am serious when I say this. Jesus built my marriage to what it is today. It was during this time that Michael and I allowed Him to lay the foundation, and slowly rebuild the walls to something stronger. It doesn't mean we don't face hard times, but we have a solid foundation to stand on when they do come.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
Luke 1:45 "You are blessed because you have believed the Lord would do what He said."<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
I believed and I am blessed. I know this is true for all of us who believe his promises. We surrendered, and He has been faithful.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
More of our story is here: <a href="https://blesdw6.blogspot.com/2013/09/">https://blesdw6.blogspot.com/2013/09/</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
Happy 25th to the love of my life, I pray he blesses us with many more.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
I am enjoying the bliss of heaven,<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
Pg</div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span></span><br />
<div class="sb has-sn" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="sb-0"><span class="dt "> </span></span> </div>
<span class="sb-0"></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div class="sb has-sn">
<br /></div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-33571244026944768582015-06-25T11:45:00.000-04:002017-09-18T15:45:55.797-04:00Out of Focus<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat in the Women’s Center lobby patiently waiting to get
called back by the technician for test results. The past two weeks had been
very stressful. I had just turned 40 the week before. Earlier this week I had
to see my doctor for a yearly visit which resulted in my first routine
mammogram. The results were back within 24 hours. He called me himself to let
me know I needed further testing as soon as possible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was not what I wanted to hear. It was bad enough that I
had just turned 40, a life event which I had fought for the past year. I held
onto my 30’s with white knuckled fist. I was just not ready to grow old. Forty
means so many changes, children growing up and moving on, our parents growing older,
things that I am just not ready for. Now my health was in question. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The two days that followed my doctor’s phone call I spent in
prayer. I would have my quiet time, but I was in a constant awareness of my
mortality. I tried to be brave, I was scared. I was not prepared for a battle.
This was not one I wanted to fight right now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you are faced with uncertainty you start reflecting.
Turning 40 really makes you reflect. The Lord has brought me so far. I didn’t
grow up in a Christian home. I was a rebellious teenager, a young wife and mother.
I met Christ at the age of 22. He continued to reveal himself to me. Through
challenges and blessings. Twenty three years of marriage and six children
later, I can still see His hand in my life. We are just here on this earth for
a short time, but spend eternity with him. When you put that into perspective
it is easier to face storms. He has brought me through so much; <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">he was going
to bring me through this.</a><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He led me to this scripture:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i> Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the
remnant of the house of Israel, </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i> Who have been upheld by Me from
birth,</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i> Who have been carried from the womb </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i> Even to
your old age, I am He,</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i> And even to gray
hairs I will carry you! </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i> I have ma</i><i>de, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you</i>. <i>(Isaiah 46:3-4 NKJV)</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His word gives us peace and calms our anxious hearts. This
scripture was just what I needed. Reminding me that He is my creator, he has
been with me since birth and will be with me as I am growing older. He was
carrying me now in this dark time, and I will be delivered, no matter the
outcome. I can fully rest in Him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was finally called back by the tech. After a diagnostic
mammogram and ultrasound, it was determined I had benign fluid cyst. Just
something to keep an eye on. All praise to the Father. While I am sure many
women experience the same diagnosis, this was new to me. Jesus wants us to come
with Him with everything. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes we get out of focus in life and circumstances
happen to make us turn back to what should be our focal point. We let daily
routines and challenges take our eyes off of the one who cares about the
smallest details of our lives. When we lose focus, it allows fear, doubt, and
insecurity.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> It doesn’t mean we will not have trials. They
are just so much easier to go through when we know that we are being carried by
our Lord through them!</div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-32827498239339886122014-12-10T16:23:00.000-05:002014-12-10T16:23:43.345-05:00Take a Deep Breath...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just do it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Inhale</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Exhale</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How does that feel?
Now do it again. Inhale. Exhale.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Isn’t that amazing? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The past couple of months I have been doing a lot of soul
searching. Praying. Deepening my walk with my Savior. What I am learning is this
life is anything but ordinary. We get caught up in the daily activities and we
do not even realize what is right in front of us. We are meant for so much more
than the rush we have in our lives. Our purpose in this life is to point toward
the Father. We live in a crumbling world, but He has overcome the world. The
more I study and pay attention, the more I see how BIG our God is. This
scripture jumped off the page at me:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life,
and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It gives me chills. Imagine the God of the universe, the God
that created all of nature, planets, the moon sun and the stars, spoke and
everything came to be, but he took the time to form man and then breathed into
him. He breathed into him so he came ALIVE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> As I am writing this
Amy Grant’s song “Breath of Heaven” is on.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your breath is from Heaven. Directly from God,<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let that sink in.
Mind blowing, isn’t it?</span></div>
Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-14566176927248731492014-09-26T16:27:00.001-04:002014-09-28T09:48:26.484-04:00The Change Up<div class="MsoNormal">
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This summer I devoted my mornings
to Beth Moore’s “Children of the Day” in depth Bible Study. It was wonderful.
The Lord has given her such a gift of delivering His message. I also asked Him
to allow me to see others as He does. The souls that He loves. I found myself
with an aching heart. </div>
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Life has been routine. Waking up,
getting ready for work and the kids for school, coming home, rushing to get
dinner done or kids to their sporting events, rushing home, showers, bedtime
devotionals and prayers, and we dive into bed anticipating a good night’s rest
only to start again in about 8 hours.</div>
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Here we are going about our
routine, swinging away at life. We are not created for this. God wants so much
more for us. Yet, things are very different than what they were a year ago. </div>
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We just passed the one year
anniversary of Daulton’s wreck. I am still learning truths from the Lord. What
friends, family and even myself did not realize, is that it had more of an
impact on Daulton than we knew. Here we were getting back into routine, and I
did not realize my son was slowly slipping away. He has had such a struggle
this past year. Going away to school, dealing with some most terrible roommates
anyone could ask for, surviving a terrible wreck and being without a vehicle
for five months (which when you live off
campus is humbling). He worked hard, but mentally baseball was gone. His
scholarship was not renewed and he moved back home. He did have his first year
of school paid for and left with a 3.25 GPA, which has allowed him to get the
HOPE scholarship this year. He set out
to be a walk on at Georgia Highlands this year, but three weeks ago informed
his father and I that he was done. It was very bittersweet. The doors were not opening. He had someone tell him that he just wasn’t serious enough about it.
Where that might be partly true, we have not walked in his shoes this past
year. I see him struggling, trying to figure out his life. My heart aches. In
my prayer time the Lord showed me this is what He feels like when He is
“jealous” for us.</div>
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2 Corinthians 11:2. He
wants so much for us. His heart aches when we go our own way and pay no
attention to His instruction or warnings. I see my son headed down these dark
paths and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it, but Pray. Parenting
the older children has been so much harder than parenting the younger ones.. Hard,
very hard. I am trying not to let my heart grow hard in the process. With my
desperate pleas for my son to have an authentic relationship with the Savior, I
also ask to keep my heart soft. This is Daulton’s journey and hopefully his
testimony. This is where I have to hand it over to the Lord.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>I can’t
help but to feel like a complete failure, as a mother, a witness, and a
disciple of Christ. I am sitting here on the edge of the desert and the valley.
The mountain is in the distance. How I long to be back to at least the foot of
the mountain. Reminds me of some lyrics from one of my favorite Christian
artist that the Lord has used to minister to my soul. </div>
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“This I Know” David Crowder Band<br />
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Up on the mountain</div>
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Where Your love captured me</div>
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Where finally I'm free</div>
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This I know</div>
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Up on the mountain</div>
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Where You taught my soul to sing</div>
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Amazing grace the sweetest thing</div>
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This I know</div>
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And then the storm rushing in</div>
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And here I am again</div>
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This I know</div>
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Take me up to where I was</div>
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When I never wanted more than You</div>
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Lift me up to feel your touch</div>
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It wouldn't be that much for You</div>
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This I know</div>
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<a href="http://crowdermusic.com/moving-pictures-and-photographs/videos/3z7jMNqe28w/">http://crowdermusic.com/moving-pictures-and-photographs/videos/3z7jMNqe28w/</a></div>
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I also know that no matter what,
I belong to Him. He sees the struggle and He knows how my heart hurts for those
that I love.</div>
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“Now it is God who makes both us
and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us,
and put His spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
2 Corinthians 1:21-22</div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-25713123976285451902014-07-11T17:04:00.001-04:002024-03-04T16:59:26.742-05:00Needle and Thread<div style="text-align: justify;">
If anyone knows me well, they would know that I love quilts. I love the possibility of making something out of materials that I have chosen and seeing it come together. This love was instilled on me by both of my grandmothers. My Granny Cain hand pieced each of the quilts that she made. The tiny stitches and care into each masterpiece. My Granny Smith sewed clothes on her sewing machine. I use to sit and watch her sew as a child. I loved to watch her. I received my first sewing machine for Christmas as a child, it was a battery operated Singer made just for children. It was awesome. I would take it with me to my Granny's house, she taught me the basics of sewing. I can stay in a fabric store for hours. The thought of creating something that could possibly be cherished and the look on the recipient's face is priceless. I find joy in that.</div>
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Now that I am older and my children aren't so dependent on me, I am able to put a little more time into the craft. I usually make about three baby quilts a year, these are flannel rag quilts that do not take long to make at all, but it usually depends on the needs of my family. I can quilt more in the winter than the summer. Here recently, though, I have started working on larger quilts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNHbGCUOyvCZx62vxYnNIhCRWrMZBS6BzzwZHkybW2Owt31yfCB8Ix-PwCYG6UF3BaBeIRY64KPWKC5NPPD-1C2sp0fGolGXO3YgseYpq_RU6KoZr2zERaVFRbOGYHkrcVYhpEaOSzbpN/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNHbGCUOyvCZx62vxYnNIhCRWrMZBS6BzzwZHkybW2Owt31yfCB8Ix-PwCYG6UF3BaBeIRY64KPWKC5NPPD-1C2sp0fGolGXO3YgseYpq_RU6KoZr2zERaVFRbOGYHkrcVYhpEaOSzbpN/s1600/photo+(14).JPG" /></a></div>
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This one is embroidered bandannas.(Patriot Quilt) This one is now on my daughter and son in laws bed. It was his graduation present from Basic and AIT training.</div>
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Yesterday I finished this one! </div>
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This one was not as easy as the Patriot Quilt. Trying to match the points was aggravating, I used the seam ripper on several occasions. Turning the squares and matching them up was very challenging</div>
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While I was piecing this quilt together, sewing, ironing, ripping seams and sewing again, I realized how the Lord works with us. He carefully pieces us together, choosing the fabric in our lives. When the seams don't add up he rips them out (what I mean by this is when we go our own way and we get in a mess, we face discipline and correction.) He does it with patience. Slowly stitching, piecing us together. Lovingly creating us into his masterpiece. If we would just let Him. We tend to get rebellious and want to go our own way. That is our free will. How our lives would be different if we just trust the Lord more and allow him to work in our lives. I dedicated this summer to allow the Lord to work. I have been rebellious for about 7 years now. Allowing obstacles in my way. I have been working on a new Bible study and the Lord has been revealing himself. It is time I let him take the seam ripper and the needle. I have been trying to be more aware of Christ in my life. If we were aware that Christ was in the same room with us, would it change the way we act? Would we say the things we say or do the things we do? In fact, he is in the same room we are, for the believer he is in us. When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, so we take Him everywhere we go and along for everything we do. Now let that sink in. My hope is that I continue to allow Him to keep working, and to not hinder Him. (Matthew 13:58)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The Master's Quilt</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Please take my tattered rags, my Lord.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The torn scraps of me.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Use my broken threads and all,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>because there is something else you see. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Piece me together by your grace, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>with delicate stitches of love.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Patiently make and straighten seems, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>clipping the ravels and strings above. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Rip the seams that are not even, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>add what you need for length.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Thread me with your spirit, Lord.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Please bind me with your strength.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I know it will take some time,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>for all of the pieces to fall into place.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I will patiently wait while you are working</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>but anxious to see your face. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>When you have knotted every stitch</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>and all of your labor is done.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You will proudly say "It is finished"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>and I will resemble your Son.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> -Paige</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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Will you give him your rags? He can make an heirloom, I promise.</div>
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<span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14</span></i></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i>-ph</i></span></div>
Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-42520986192690613172014-03-31T00:30:00.000-04:002014-03-31T00:33:53.830-04:00Love in an ElevatorNo, the title is not what you think. I know, Aerosmith is playing in your head right now, right?
This is just a little story about the sweet innocence of a child. The Faith of a child. The belief of a child.<br />
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I have had the privilege to work at the school that my little one attends. This is our last year together. It has been one of my joys! We come in together, I see her at lunch every day and sometimes we eat together. I get to go by her classroom for special events. We leave at the end of the day together. I will miss her so much when she moves to the intermediate school next year.
At our little school we have two floors, which allows for a small elevator. Granted it only goes two floors, but Addison loves it. She loves taking the elevator everyday upstairs to leave. I on the other hand would rather walk the stairs, it just seems faster. When we ride it I pretend that I can do magic and make the door open and close, Addison hates it when I do this. I love to aggravate her. The other day, thou, she decided that we will never ride the elevator again! We got stuck. This is another reason why I don't care for this particular elevator. I usually don't mind them, but this one does have a tendency to get stuck. Well at 4:30 in the afternoon was one of those times. We get in, Addie presses the '2" button and it goes up, but I didn't feel it catch to stop. The arrow keeps blinking. I look at Addie and I wait. Patiently I press the "DOOR OPEN" button. Nothing. Calmly I press it again. Nothing. VERY Calmly I press it again. NOTHING. Addison looks at me and says "why isn't the door opening?" I am trying not to panic. After all it is after hours. No one is in the front office. ASP is open (I am the director and it was time for me to leave for the day) but my cellphone is out of range in the elevator. I said , "Well Addison, I believe we are stuck" She looked scared. "Mommy I am scared" I told her it was okay, but I am starting to get a Little ill. "Addison, this is why I don't like taking the elevator!" but I am really getting worried. I was already suppose to be at the high school to get Brady. Addie says " there is a phone right there" I press the help button and it alerts the elevator operator. But it takes two tries to do this. Finally someone answers and she tells me that someone will be there soon. Addison says' Mommy I am so scared!!" I tell her it is okay , it will be okay. She then looks at me and says "Can we pray?" Yes I tell her, pray, you go ahead a pray" She closes her eyes and out loud with out hesitation she starts "Dear Lord, please help us get out of this elevator, we are stuck, please be with us an help get us out of here very.... " as she is praying the door opens. Jesus came right on time. I knew it would be okay, but I was so thankful for this small little lesson with my Little one. Jesus does answer prayers. They might not always be how we want them, but he does answer. She just looked at me and smiled. What a life lesson. When in doubt, or times of fear, pray, Pray loud, without ceasing. Pray, no holds barred. He will answer.
I let her know how proud I was of her faith. I also let her know that her prayers also will not always be answered that fast :)<br />
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<b><i> "Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After laying His hands on them, He departed from there. Matthew 19:13-15</i></b><br />
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<b><i>-paige</i></b>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-53920148614700620922014-02-17T23:31:00.000-05:002014-02-17T23:46:52.406-05:00Above the Clouds<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past week has been very emotional and challenging. I have had to rely on my Savior now more than ever. Since August I have had major changes in this house. It is all surreal. The Lord has been faithful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you all know by now, we moved Devyn out to Texas this past weekend so she could start her life with her new husband. I am so thrilled for her. She has a cute place that is really big for the two of them. They are starting to make memories and enjoying marriage as best friends. I pray for the Lord's blessings upon them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord has been revealing himself to me in so many ways. I have known for a while that she would be gone by March. He had given me the peace of that a time ago. He allowed her and I to have the four months that Joel was a Basic to spend together. Then He sent a winter storm two days before she left so we could spend the final days together without the stress of school and work. The Lord has a way of using Winter Storms in our life to carry out His will. I was so thankful for that time. I was prepared to let her go. It was time. Only the Lord can heal a mother's heart during this time. I had had my share of crying for the past couple of months, when no one knew but the Lord. It is different than when you send them off to college. It is almost final. The realization that their presence will no longer be in the home that you created around them. All the memories flood your heart and mind at once.You think, did I do enough? Give them enough? Love them enough?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord whispers, <i>yes...you did what I called you to do. She was mine to begin with. You did what I asked you to do. She can fly on her own now momma</i>. He has taught me so much more during this time other than about change. He has also taught me about unconditional love. His unconditional love. How our lives mimic God's love for us. You see the past couple of weeks have been emotional. There were times that her and I would not get along. I know it was her way of trying to break free. I just wanted her to realize she didn't have to struggle, I was releasing her to soar. All of this has been new to her. So she had so many emotions that she didn't want to deal with. Pushing me away was a lot easier than dealing with saying goodbye. Even all the way up to dropping us off at the air port, she didn't even want to hug us bye, like the last 20 years didn't matter. How many times do we do this to God. All He wants is to love us. All He wants is to have a relationship with us. How many times do we just push Him away over and over and over. How many times we hurt God, and He keeps on loving us and keeps on trying to have that relationship with us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Flight back the Lord really began speaking to me</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. When we were up in that plane, looking down at the clouds, the Lord reminded me that <u>He</u> is my pilot. He allows me to stand on the mountain, wander through the desert and walk through the valley. While I could not see where we were going. I had complete trust in the pilot to get me to our destination. So I must trust the Lord onward from here as our lives are changing. He gave me the greatest traveling partner on this journey. My Michael. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flying back with Michael was the highlight of our trip. I haven't flown in 18 years and he </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hadn't flown in 14. It was during this time that made me realize that I was falling in love with my husband all over again. He makes me laugh, he knows me all to well. He knows how to put me in my place, but he also knows the right words to say. He is definitely my soul mate. There are plenty of times that the Lord has used Michael to speak to me. Many of those times it is confirmation of what I have already prayed about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We arrived home around 9:45 pm. We got to my mother in laws and my youngest four children came running out, hugging us and were so glad we were home. It was one of the best feelings. It was another confirmation of scripture the Lord gave me about two weeks ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been doing a study on Gideon. The scripture he led me to was this one:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Judg-7-4" id="en-NIV-6699"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">" </span>But the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> said to Gideon, “There are still too many<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-6699H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></span> men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” </span><span class="text Judg-7-5" id="en-NIV-6700">So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.”</span> <span class="text Judg-7-6" id="en-NIV-6701">Three hundred of them <span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-6701I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></span>drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Judg-7-7" id="en-NIV-6702"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands.<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-6702J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></span> Let all the others go home.”<span class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-6702K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></span></span> <span class="text Judg-7-8" id="en-NIV-6703">So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. <b>Judges 7:4-8</b></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Judg-7-8">You might think this scripture is a little strange when it comes to my family, but let me explain what the Lord has spoken to me. You see, the Lord wanted Gideon to cut down the size of his army. He asked Gideon to take them down to drink water, those who lapped water like dogs were asked to go home. Those that cupped the water to drink were the ones that needed to stay. They were the alert ones. The Lord has been telling me it is time for my family to get smaller at home so I can be more alert to the ones I have left at home. This is not a bad thing. It is and has been in the Lord's plan. It is my youngest four's time. It is also their time to be the stars of my blog. Devyn has her own now, so you can follow her on her adventures. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text Judg-7-8">Being a mother is one of the hardest jobs a woman can ever accept. It will stretch your hearts to depths that you have never imagined. It also the Lord's way of building character in you that he sees. I can not imagine my life any different. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i>-paige</i></span></div>
Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-43784067945892679132014-01-20T22:32:00.000-05:002020-01-15T23:25:49.472-05:00For Such a Time as This...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My friends, if you read my blog you know my life has been a bit of a whirlwind since August. This has been the year of change for me and my family. This post is about recent events so it will be a long post. If you are willing, grab a cup of coffee, hot tea, coke or what ever your fancy, and join me as I shed some light on the path I am on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have taken a right turn on a road that I have never traveled on. I can't turn back now. I do not see a Uturn ahead. Its a little bumpy, but My Savior is driving, so I know I am safe on this ride. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While my oldest son, Daulton, has had this Momma's heart stretching, now my oldest daughter is spreading her wings. I knew that this day was coming. I actually knew this about four months ago. When Devyn starting dating Joel, I knew in my heart that he was going to be the one. I felt that the Lord had given me the four months with Devyn while he was at basic training to spend with her. I knew that she would be leaving soon. I had bathed this in prayer, and my prayers would be confirmed. The Lord has been preparing me for this. I am at peace with this. She will be moving to Fort Hood, Texas next month. What an exciting time for her! She will be experiencing things that her father and I have never experienced. What better a way to start on a journey than with the person that you love, and you can grow with. Devyn and Joel got married this past Friday, and it was a shock to several people. I do not feel that I owe it to anyone to explain the choices my daughter has made. But I will shed some light on them as the Lord has spoken to me this week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Devyn and Joel got engaged on Sunday, December 22 , 2013. They both thought June would be the time that they would get married. It would give them time to save money and their brothers would both be back home. (Joel's brother is in mission school in Hawaii and will not be home until April and Daulton will not be home until the end of May) He was only able to home for a week. They had not spend that much time together since August. They kept discussing dates. Everything seem to weigh on when he would be able to get leave and then they would have to apply and wait on housing. So they started thinking to move it up, because he would be deployed in October. Would that be fair to them? They would have to wait six months to be together and then only be able to live together as husband and wife for about 3 months before he was deployed for nine months? As they prayed and pondered they both started discusing Devyn flying out there in January, her break in February, for her birthday in March, then Spring Break in April. Then they realized, how are we going to save money if we are spending it seeing each other every month? Plus that would also create a temptation that as a Christian, does not need to be there. They were just going to keep on praying about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Devyn and I started looking at venues online and making a list of wedding plans. It was just hard to set a date. Venues fill up about a year in advance, so time really was not on their side. On January 6, Devyn was sending Joel venue links and he called her. He told her that he got four more days leave, that if he gets it approved, he is coming home and they are going to the court house. She was smiling when she told me. She came and talked to Michael and I about it. It wasn't set in stone, but a big possibility. Their thought was to get married at the courthouse so he could get the certified copy of the marriage certificate so he could apply for housing. Which could take a while. They are just ready to start their life together. I understand it, I also feel like they started to get a little stressed about all of it. I don't blame them. All the pressure and planning can take the focus on what the special day is all about. Devyn said she didn't want a big wedding, she would be okay going to the courthouse. After she left our bedroom, Michael looked at me and laughed. " that is Devyn, I would not expect anything different from her. The bus pulls up and she is gone" You see, when Devyn started Kindergarten her teacher told us it would be best if we put her on the bus the first day of school to make the transition better. So Mike and I take her to the bus stop that August morning. The bus pulls up, Devyn gets on. She doesn't look back, hug us, give us a kiss or even wave goodbye! I was heartbroken! This is typical Devyn!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, Joel got his leave approved, and he came home this past Friday. She picked him up from the airport and they went straight to the probate court in Cobb County to get their license. The magistrate court performs wedding ceremonies at 6 during the evenings. We met with his family at our church Fellowship Hall and decorated it for a small family reception after they exchanged vows. It was a sweet night. All the sweet meaningful traditions were performed. Cutting the cake, blessing the couple, and pictures. Daulton could not make it since he is in Alabama and he has baseball conditioning, and Joel had four siblings that could not make it due to prior commitments and then one is in Hawaii. Those that could make it showed up at the courthouse to be witnesses, and guess what, there were 20 of us there!! Joel's mom got Devyn this sweet bouquet of flowers. She had something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue! She had a new dress and some awesome new cowboy boots! (after all she is moving to Texas!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She knows whom her soul loves. I firmly believe that when you know, you know! Especially when you bathe it in prayer. This is where the Lord showed me something this week. Devyn had people say to her, "gosh that was fast". No, I don't believe it was. You see I have full trust in my Lord and Savior. I believe the scriptures. I believe that our plans are not His plans and that he has ordained all of our days. I knew this already, but our Sunday school lesson was on Psalm 139. The scripture that stood out to me was this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">" For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Pslam 139:13-16.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I do not believe this was quick. I believe it was in God's timing. I believe the Lord has placed this flame in their hearts. I believe that their days were written together in His book. After all, Eve was created. just for Adam. Devyn and Joel were created for each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I gained a son this week. He is a precious young man. I believe that the Lord is going to be glorified through them. I am excited about their journey. Please pray for them :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Devyn has started her own blog to track the events in their lives, especially since they will be in Texas. Here is the link to it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://georgiapearlsanddogtags.blogspot.com/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You especially need to listen to the song she shared on it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">May the Lord bless you my friends! God is sooo good, he is Alive and well!</span></div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-81808828700117131142014-01-09T19:11:00.004-05:002021-09-24T10:09:51.652-04:00What God has joined together...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:6-9 </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The past two weeks have been quite eventful for my family. We had a wonderful Christmas. It was great to have all of my children at home. I know that the times are changing, and this will become a rarity. Next Christmas could be very different. With Devyn being engaged to Joel, she will be moving to Fort Hood Texas very soon. While it does sadden me, I am thrilled for her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This young man is what we have prayed for. Since she was a toddler we have prayed over her. We prayed for her protection, guidance, health and for her future and her future husband. So I guess you can say we have been praying for Joel for a long time. We asked the Lord to give her someone that Loved Him. That would be the spiritual leader in the home and could pick up where as parents we could not take her any further. We prayed for someone to complete her and compliment her. She is very strong willed and determined. We prayed for someone that would bring out the best in her, be gentle and strong at the same time. Someone that would bring joy and laughter to her life. We knew this person was going to be extremely special, because if you know Devyn, this would be a challenge. I knew that the Lord would send this person in HIS timing. Little did I know it was already happening before my eyes. Michael always said, When the one comes along, it will happen quick. And boy did it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Devyn met Joel Summer of 2012, at a college Bible study. I remember the day she came home from it and I asked her how it went. She was telling me about it and about the young man she met that day. How quiet he was, but very handsome! haha She liked going to Bible study, she was learning a great deal and making new friends, but she looked forward to seeing Joel. I knew she had a huge crush on this young man. Long story short. The Lord planted the seed that has now grown into a full garden!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> So let me tell you what I have observed from a mother's perspective so far. He is everything that I asked the Lord and more for my daughter. He has been raised in a great family (he is #6 of ten children) So he is use to the chaos of a large family. He gets it. He is quiet, he observes his surroundings. He is polite, has great manners. ( he still will not call me Ms. Paige, it is Momma Hill so far) He is great with my younger kids. Colby thinks he hung the moon and Addison has a crush on him. He, from what I can tell, Loves the Lord. He is good to my daughter. He definitely brings out the best in her. When he is around she lights up. He is one of the most thoughtful young men I have ever met. He is a hard worker, he is good with his money and very frugal (which is a good thing) The one thing I noticed from the start is he is not jaded. So many young men his age are all about being cool and keeping up with the Jones' and worry about material things. Joel doesn't. He values relationships, chooses his friends carefully and doesn't make rash decisions. He thinks things out first and prays over them. He puts his family first. He cares deeply for his mother and his siblings. He puts value on the people that matter most to him. I could only hope that my boys turn out as good of a kid as he is. There is so much more to him than meets the eye, he is a very handsome young man. All I can say is, I am going to have some gorgeous grandchildren!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I look forward to welcoming him into my family. I do want to get to know him better. After all he is going to be my son! (Plus he has witnessed my momma bear side and he still stuck around.) I will love him like he is one of my own. I am amazed at my Lord.When we allow God to work in our lives, his blessings are abundant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Momma Hill</span>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-76913117756300501412013-12-31T19:58:00.000-05:002013-12-31T21:03:48.717-05:00Be still and Know that I am GOD...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today is the final day of 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a year it has been!! Every holiday I reflect on the years past and think about the years to come. How our lives can change dramatically in a second. This year was an adventure, and 2014 looks to be a continuation of it. If you read my blog on occasion then you know most of the highs and lows of this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get caught up in the business of life, I tend to get rebellious, and say words that I shouldn't. That is what happens when we allow the flesh to take over, but it does not change my Love for my Savior. His forgiveness makes me want to love Him more and repent and not do those things that I am in habit of doing. He wants me to put life in perspective. He has taught me so much this year. This has been a year of major changes in our family's life. So many more are coming. At first I was sad, my heart ached. Then the Lord reminded me that life is not about everything staying the same. As much as I want all my little birds in the nest, some of them are ready to fly and make nest of their own. It is in change that we grow. It is in the change of life that we grow closer with the Lord. I have had to trust Him more than ever this year and he has revealed himself in more ways than one. I am overwhelmed by His blessings this year. I am grateful for everyone of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This was a great year for the Hill clan. My youngest three made their profession of Faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and were baptized. Gracie in the fall and Colby and Addison on the 22nd of December. All of my children are saved. That doesn't mean that they won't have challenges. The Christian walk is about having a relationship with Christ and having him to help you through this life until we are called home. My soul is at peace knowing all of my children have professed the Lord. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Daulton graduated high school this year, and he missed receiving honors by 1/10th of a point! But he did receive a full scholarship to play baseball at a junior college. He will be going back on January 6th to start training for the Spring season. I am so excited for him and for what is in store for him. I am more excited that the Lord spared his life from that horrible wreck in my previous post. Daulton is still struggling, he won't talk about it. He knows as well as I do, that God has a mighty work for him to do here. There is no other explanation. He walked away from that accident with three stitches in his elbow. He is a walking miracle, but it is a lot to soak in. Please pray for Daulton, as he seeks the Lord and what his mission is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Brady started high school and played freshmen football for North Cobb. I admire is drive and determination. He is growing! His new pants are too short! Please pray for him as well. He has such a tender heart for the Lord, but he is also very high strung. Which is not a bad thing if it is used to honor the Lord. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last but certainly not the least of the Hill's blessings this year is Devyn. Has she had an amazing year. She took an a huge task with her sorority when the vice president of community service had to give it up and the beginning of the year. The title was given to her. The task she had was to plan their Shamrock event which is their yearly philanthropy fundraiser for Prevent Child abuse America. She had two months to pull it off. I can tell you she was extremely stressed, but she did it! She along with the committee under her organized the first 5K put on by students at KSU. She had everything from shirts, goody bags, timers, and sponsors. It ended up raining out, BUT... since it was for a charity they were able to keep all of the funds raised which was over $10,000 for their philanthropy! Her sorority ended up winning an award from the College Panhellenic council for the most money raised by a KSU greek Life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I am NOT a fan of the whole "greek life", I was proud of her for taking on such a huge task and accomplishing it. Devyn has always met every challenge that she has faced ready for the battle, and she has come out a winner every time. With that being said, we visited her Pediatric Neurosurgeon for the last time three weeks ago. This was bittersweet. Nearly 21 years ago I was a scared 18 year old mother not knowing what was going to happen with my girl and the Lord used this mans skills to save my baby and give her the opportunity to live her life to honor Him. Dr. Boydston is an incredible surgeon at Scottish Rite, and I will always be grateful to the man that saved my baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The biggest blessing that the Lord has poured onto her this year is her Fiance', Joel. I can not begin to express to ya'll how thrilled our family is to welcome him as part of ours. Ever since Devyn was little, Mike and I have prayed over her and whomever the Lord had as her soul mate. Now that the Lord has revealed who he is, I am really a loss for words. I can tell you that he is everything we have prayed over for our daughter, and more. When she first started falling for this young man, I could tell. I finally asked her one day, "You are falling in love with that boy, aren't you?" and with a HUGE smile on her face, she said yes. Of course as a mom I started praying. Lord, if this is of you please bless them. If not please end it, because I can't stand to see her hurt. The Lord would confirm the fleeces I threw and he gave me several scriptures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><i>"</i></span><span class="text Isa-30-21" id="en-NIV-18239" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i>Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18239D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span> behind you, saying, “This is the way;<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18239E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span> walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">“Do not be afraid,</span><span class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-25492A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He would give me these in several ways. I felt like He was telling me, "Momma I got this, I love your daughter more than you do, and I am going to pour my blessings out on her."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have watched this precious relationship, that I do believe honors God, grow. On December 22, Joel asked her to marry him. I am adding a boy to my clan.</span><br />
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S<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">o our next adventure is planning a WEDDING!!! Please pray that we don't kill each other before its over with, I am just kidding. I have watched to many of those bride shows on TLC. I do ask that you pray for the two of them. She will be moving to Fort Hood Texas. I will miss her, but I know that the Lord is with her and will watch over the two of them. He does has plans for them. When I think about my daughter getting married I can't help but to think of this line from one of my favorite movies </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord has been so good to us this year. His protection and love has been made real. That has been one of my prayers over my kids is that he would reveal himself to them. For HIM to become real in their lives. Little did I know how he would reveal his self. The scripture as my title has been what he keeps revealing to me." Be Still, know that I am GOD". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He has this crazy life of mine in His hands, He that is living in me is greater than he that lives in this world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I pray that 2014 is even better than 2013. I pray that my walk with the Lord will grow stronger. I pray that the Lord will bless you as well. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><strong style="text-align: start;">Psalm 67:1-2</strong><br style="text-align: start;" /><span style="text-align: start;">May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="text-align: start;">-Paige</span></i></span></div>
Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-80769246255012036972013-10-15T16:33:00.002-04:002013-10-15T20:22:51.541-04:00Beyond Belief<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is probably the most important post that I have made so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord is working in my life, but I am still trying to let it soak in. Like ripples on still water after a pebble has been thrown. So will the affects of the events from three weeks ago. I will continue to learn truths and lessons from this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The phone rang right before 7:30 am on Sunday September 22, 2013. “Hello” , Michael, said. “Yes, sir, this is he. Okay, okay. We will be there soon. Thank you so much.” My husband runs into the bedroom where I am up to start getting ready for church. “Daulton has been in a car accident and we need to go right now, they are taking him in an ambulance to Huntsville Hospital!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Immediately I burst into tears. This is a call that every parent dreads. Daulton, was headed back to college early this particular morning. He was 3 ½ hours away. My heart was just aching. The night before he left had not been so pleasant. He had come home for the weekend to attend his former high school’s Friday night football game. It was a big game and he wanted to see his friends. He stayed Friday night and left at 10:00 pm Saturday evening to head back to school. He was supposed to call us when he got back to his apartment. 1:00 am came and went. We had not heard from him. We had text and called no answer. I finally logged into my cell phone carrier website where I have the family locator feature. Dreading hitting the button to see where he was. The address showed he was still here locally, at a friend’s house. I didn’t think that there was no way he would have deceived us like that. I was so angry. I text the mother of the friend and within minutes he called his father. He made out he was at his apartment; finally my husband told him we knew where he was. He admitted that he had not left and was going to stay there until around 5:00 am and then make the journey back to his apartment. Sunday’s are game days at his school, and if they are home games all the players are required to go to church with the coach. He told us he was call us later once he got on the road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He text Michael at 5:30 that morning. Michael had gotten up for church around 7:30 am and saw the text, but decided he would call Daulton back after he got out of the shower. Instead we got the call from a stranger that our son had been in a terrible accident. They told us he was okay but the car was totaled. It was the longest 3 hours of my life. We finally received a call from him from the emergency room. I was able to get in contact with his baseball coach. He stayed at the hospital with him until we got there. He kept us updated on the entire test they were running. CT scans and x-rays. Everything was negative. We finally arrived. My heart broke when I saw him. I hugged him and didn’t want to let go. He busted out in tears, asking for forgiveness. He knew he had hurt us. We were so thankful that he was okay. He had stitches in his elbow that was it. The nurse asked us if we had seen the car yet. Of course we hadn’t since we just wanted to get to him. He pulled out his phone and showed us the picture the EMT sent him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My heart sank. That very moment I realized I had been in the midst of a storm, and the Lord had worked a miracle. My son should not be alive. The doctors, nurses and EMTs were all in amazement. The Lord had protected my son and spared him from death. Not only had he spared him. He also did not have any internal injuries, no broken bones. Not even a concussion. He walked out of the hospital with stitches in his pitching elbow. He had on hospital scrub pants and shirt from the lost and found. They had to cut his clothes off of him to run test because they were positive that he had some type of injuries. We went straight to the garage where the car was towed. All of his belongings were in it. My son did not realize how bad the wreck was. We just stood there in amazement. We could only try to soak in God’s miraculous power. We left there and went to the crash scene. Where we continued to be in awe of God’s grace. Pictures do not do it justice. Seeing it in person is overwhelming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Lord is still teaching me through all of this. I am sure I will continue to learn truths from this years from now. So far this is what I want to share:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1) Our children are going to disappoint us. It is how we handle it that matters. We disappoint the Lord all of the time, yet He still loves us. It grieves Him when we do this, just like we are grieved when our children act in a way other than how we raised them </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-51-10" id="en-NIV-14702" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">Create in me a pure heart,<span style="font-size: 0.65em;"><span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14702X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></span></span> O God, </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-51-10" style="position: relative;">and renew a steadfast spirit within me.</span></span></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span class="text Ps-51-11" id="en-NIV-14703" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">11 </span></span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="text Ps-51-11" id="en-NIV-14703" style="background-color: white; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><b style="background-color: transparent; text-align: justify;"><i><span class="text Ps-51-11" id="en-NIV-14703" style="position: relative; text-align: start;">Do not cast me<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14703Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></span> from your presence</span><span class="text Ps-51-11" style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="indent-1" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-51-11" style="position: relative;">or take your Holy Spirit<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14703AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></span> from me.</span></span></i></b></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-51-11" id="en-NIV-14703" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"></span><span class="text Ps-51-12" id="en-NIV-14704" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top;">12 </span></span></span></i></b><br />
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<b style="background-color: transparent; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-51-12" id="en-NIV-14704" style="position: relative; text-align: start;">Restore to me the joy of your salvation</span><span class="text Ps-51-12" style="line-height: 0px; position: relative; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="indent-1" style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-51-12" style="position: relative;">and grant me a willing spirit,<span class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14704AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></span> to sustain me." Psalm 51:10-12</span></span></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2) Forgiveness matters. The Lord allowed me to reconcile with my son, I had been so angry at him. I almost lost him. He allowed me to have a second chance at being his mother. Does He not forgive us when we come to Him burden and heavy hearted?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span></span><b><i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. </span><span class="highl" style="background-color: #fff4ec; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span class="text Ps-51-12" id="en-NIV-14704" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3) Love covers a multitude of sin. Love always wins, overcome evil with good. The moment I stepped into that emergency room and got to hold my son, nothing else mattered. Not how I had cried myself to sleep the night before and the pain he caused. Just that he was alive for me to hold mattered.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">"Above all, love each other deeply,</span><span class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; text-align: start; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30455K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4) We were bought at a price. God sacrificed His one and only son to save us from Hell. I was upset that my son could of died. I had almost lost my son because of his own carelessness. But didn't God's son die for me? He has also showed me his mighty power, and he has a work for my son to do. We need to honor HIM.</span><br />
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<span class="text 1Cor-6-19" id="en-NIV-28487" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">"</span><b><i><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Do you not know that your bodies are temples<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28487A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span> of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;</i></b></span><span class="text 1Cor-6-20" id="en-NIV-28488" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><b><i>you were bought at a price.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28488C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span> Therefore honor God with your bodies" 1 Corinthians 6:19-20</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5) I am to share this miracle with others. This was not something to be hidden. I am to share Christ message with everyone. CHRIST is REAL!!! My son is a walking testimony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light." Luke 11:33</span><span class="p" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is in moments like this that you realize how small we are and how BIG our God is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am still amazed by His mercy and power. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To God be all the GLORY!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Paige</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant." </span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">1 Samuel 7:21</span></b></i></span></div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-86681569788346810152013-09-19T01:19:00.000-04:002013-12-12T21:02:57.376-05:00This Love is Ours...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one's house for love, it would be utterly scorned." Song of Solomon 8:7</span><span class="p" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today Michael and I celebrate our 21 year wedding anniversary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">21 years. Wow. How time really does fly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There is a lot to reflect on today. So much that I have learned about the awesome man that I am married to, and about myself. This will be a lengthy post, it is just a glimpse of our testimony. Some may be shocked at our beginning. What I would say to that is we serve an Awesome God. He can use anyone's life to glorify HIM. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As of right now, we are trying our best to raise six children, pay a mortgage and serve our Lord. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">23 years ago, our lives were so much different. So I want to be real with you. I want you to understand how far the Lord has taken us, and how much further we have to go. We are not perfect, nor claim to be. I felt the need to share because this is OUR love story. This is the first several chapters of the story that God is writing with our lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I met Michael in February of 1990. I was 14 years old, a month away from turning 15. My cousin, Stacie, cheered for Sprayberry. North Cobb was playing Sprayberry at North Cobb this particulary weekend (in basketball) and her friend, David, was having a party that night. Stacie invited my friend and I to come by the party after the game. I really do not remember going to the game, all I remember is meeting THE Michael Hill at this party. See, Michael and I had a mutual friend. I had heard all kinds of stories about Michael. Crazy stories. He liked to party, get in fights and was just wild. He was a "legend" in his own right. This particular night he had a little too much to drink. He complimented me from head to toe. My hair (you know, the big teased bangs haha), my white sweater with the back cut out and my light washed ZCavaricchis with my white leather ankle boots. He was a HUGE flirt. I completley fell for him. Needless to say , I will never forget the first night I met him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I didn't see him again for about six months. I was working at Mountasia, with another mutual friend of ours. He came walking in one day with a bunch of his friends. We exchanged phone numbers and talked off and on. He came over for dinner a couple of times. Little did I know he still had a girl friend who was crazy, I might add. One time he was over for dinner and his friend Scott called him at my house (before cell phones of course) to tell him that she was looking for him. The story I was told was that his brother Ricky had a flat tire and was stranded on the side of the road and he had to go get him. We still laugh about it to this day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">He broke my heart twice. I was crazy about Michael Hill. But after getting your heart broken by this wild boy I wasn't going to fall for it a third time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A year past, we went our seperate ways. I had heard through the grapevine that a bouncer had gotten the best of Mikey at Green's. Needless to say he was sticking up for his friend, Scott, and they (5 of them) took it out on Michael. He suffered a broken nose and cheek bone. He was not able to work for several months and suffered from daily nose bleeds. During this time he started calling me again. We would talk off and on, but like I said, I wasn't going to fall for it this time. My guard was up. One day while he was out with David, they were driving down Barrett parkway and passed Mountasia. The story is Michael told David as they were passing Mountasia 'There is the one that got away" and David looked at him and "Well, Let's go get her". He turned the car around and came to Mountasia, and guess what, I was working that night!! He walked through the door and I had never been so happy to see someone in my life. We really started talking again and hanging out. Movies, dinner, parties. We were always together. We decided to only see each other. We did a lot of soul searching and confessing our true feelings. I had found my soul mate. He was the one that I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with. He had a wonderful family that showed so much love to me. I loved being around them. I just felt like I belonged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">December 14, 1991 Michael asked me to marry him. He was 19 and I was 16. We had talked about it for a while. I thought was to have a long engagement and get married once I was 18 and had graduated high school. We had picked out a ring and he put it on layway and was making payements on it. He had told me that they messed my ring up when they were sizing it, so I would have to wait to get it. Little did I know he had actually gotten off layway, took it by my parents house and had asked their permission to ask me. My daddy told him "Mickey, I just want her to finish high school first". So that night he picked me up from work and we went to dinner with some friends of ours at Cherokee Cattle Company and then went to the square to see the Christmas carolers and decorations. I have always loved the Marietta square. My grandparents met on the square and so did his parents. We were walking around and we got to the small gazebo and he got on one knee and asked me to marry him. One of the happiest days of my life. I was a junior in high school, but I knew I wanted the rest of my life to be with him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We had plans to get married on August 15, 1993. That would be the August after I graduated. Michael had a great job at Atlanta Beverage Company (the budweiser distributor and had awesome insurance) I was hoping to go to KSU. Our plans took a detour. Eight months after we got engaged I found out I was pregnant. I was scared to death. I was 17, Michael was 20. He was happy and scared all at the same time. We were going to have to fast forward our plans and grow up real quick! The problem was it was right before my senior year and some one had to tell my daddy!! Michael was the one to do it. He told him. Daddy said "Mickey, I don't think I am going to like this!" He didn't talk to us for two weeks. With the odds against us, we set out to the challenge. We set the date of September 19, 1992. We paid for the wedding ourselves. I wanted a church wedding and I wanted it to be perfect. Mike will tell you that I was a little bit of a bridezilla during that time. (t might of been the pregnancy hormones). I wanted to make sure that I had the wedding that I had dreamed of, and pictures for my children. I was determined I was not going to be a statistic! We loved each other, it wasn't like I had gotten pregnant by some guy I barely knew. We had plans for the future! They were just changing a little, okay a lot!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My OBGYN signed off for me to have hospital home bound with school, so I was able to take my classes at home and I had enough credits to graduate the first semester of my senior year. I held off and walked through with my class June 1993 for my parents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That was are beginning. Six month later Devyn was born, this is her story <a href="http://www.blesdw6.blogspot.com/2009/02/blues.html">http://www.blesdw6.blogspot.com/2009/02/blues.html</a> That was a VERY challenging time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It seems that the odds have always been against us. I was not saved during this season in our marriage. Michael was saved at 11, but didn't start living it until after Devyn was born. You know, God doesn't give up on us. I look back and see that He has been here with me the whole time. I was too blind to realize it and much to selfish. Four years into our marriage we had some very rough times. I was 21 and restless. It was a very dark time in our marriage for about a year. WE made it through, but with God's help. You see, you both have to want to work at it, it can't be a one way street. You have to put self aside. You have to want to do what is best for the two of you and not just you. You have to let go and let God work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You see, when the odds look like they are against you. You have to remember, with God, there are no odds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So today I celebrate 21 years with my best friend and the love of my life. I can not imagine going on this journey with out him. He is my rock. He is the one person that I can count on. He is honest with me, makes me laugh, he can make me cry. He has loved me when I was unlovable. He has seen me at my worst and at my best. He is my partner through this life. The one God made just for me. He is the father to my children, and I could not asked for anyone better to be the one to share in raising them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">23 years ago we never dreamed we would be the parents of six incredible kids. We have been blessed, not just with the kids, but with so many other things as well. Words can not express the love that I have for my husband, and our "little family". Words of advice if I can share. Never give up, humble yourself, try to see your spouse as God sees them, love God and learn to love yourself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;">"</span><i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And you'll say</span></i></span><i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Don't you worry your pretty little mind</span><br style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">People throw rocks at things that shine</span><br style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">And life makes love look hard</span><br style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The stakes are high, the water's rough</span><br style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">But this love is ours" _ Taylor Swift, This Love is Ours.</span></span></i></span><span style="background-color: #ccccdd; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ccccdd; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></i><i><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">-pg</span></span></i>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-45127912515845822192013-08-19T00:14:00.001-04:002013-08-19T12:22:29.145-04:00No eye has seen, no ear has heard...1 Corinthians 2:9 is one of my favorite verses,<br />
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"However, as it is written, no eye has seen, no hear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.."</div>
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We can not fathom what the Lord has in store for us once we get to Glory with Him. I also believe that he has great things in store for us here on earth while we are waiting. Things we can not even wrap our minds around. He loves us and wants to bless us and our children. Earlier I wrote about amazing things that the Lord is doing in the lives of my children. Daulton is at an exciting time in his life. Devyn is experiencing the same. </div>
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I know I write about her a lot. She is my oldest, so everything with her is a first for me. I want to share so maybe it can help another mother going through the same things. </div>
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Devyn is my strong willed girl. Focused on her studies and on her walk with the Lord. She has also never been one to fit in with a particular crowd. She would try her best to fit in with others, but God made her to be extraordinary, not ordinary. Dr Seuss says " Why fit in when you where born to stand out." Devyn has never been one to be boy crazy. Her father and I raised her to be independent. We have told her that if a boy did not treat her better than her daddy, then he wasn't worth her time. Those are some high standards to live up to since she is a daddy's girl. She has been very, very picky. Which is a good thing. She has waited patiently on the Lord. I always knew that the Lord had someone special for her (especially since she is so sassy and head strong). Wouldn't you know, right in the middle of her ordinary life, God has given her a fairy tale. Trust me, I am a sucker for fairy tales. I do believe in them. I think God wants the best for us, and when we allow him to write our stories, they are better than any fairy tales. </div>
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I could not of hand picked such a great young man for my daughter. I am overwhelmed with God's blessings on her. Not only is he a great kid, but he has a great family. I have the up most respect for them. This young man loves the Lord, is a gentleman, is genuine, cherishes his family and relationships, and the rest of my kids look up to him. He fits in with my crew like he is one of my own. My favorite thing about him, is the smile that he puts on my daughter's face.</div>
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Joel leaves for Basic Training for the Army tomorrow. As a mom, that brings tears to my eyes, especially since I just dropped my own son off at college. I am lifting his momma up in my prayers. I know that this will be difficult for her. I am also lifting him up daily in my prayers. He is going to do great. He has been preparing for this.The Lord works in mysterious ways. He allowed them to build a foundation of a sweet relationship for the last three months. He will be away for about 14 weeks. I know it will be a challenging time for Devyn, and she will be counting down the days to see him when he is through. I know that she will be one of his biggest supporter and encourages, and of course be praying for God's protection over him. God is at work.</div>
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There are two scripture that comes to my mind when I pray for Joel:</div>
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The first is a blessing: </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Numbers 6:24-26</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Num-6-25" style="position: relative;">and be gracious to you;</span></span><span class="text Num-6-26" id="en-NIV-3850" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> turn his face<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-3850AW" title="See cross-reference AW">AW</a>)"></span> toward you</span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Num-6-26" style="position: relative;">and give you peace.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-3850AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)"></span>”</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Num-6-26" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the second is a promise of God</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Deuteronomy 31:8</i></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The </span><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> himself goes before you and will be with you;</span><span class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5737A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> he will never leave you nor forsake you.</span><span class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-5737B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”</span></i></div>
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<b>May the Lord equip him to be successful, he is going to rock basic training.</b></div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-35116812699990408012013-08-17T20:05:00.001-04:002013-08-17T20:07:30.854-04:00It's Been a Hard Days NightMore like a hard days week. <br />
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I am not going to sugar coat it. This has been the hardest week in the 38 years that I have been alive on this earth. I know that I will have to face harder times in my life, but this one has pierced my soul.<br />
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I have been told by several people that have been through their child leaving for college about how hard it is. Nothing can describe it or prepare you for it until you actually go through it. For months before he left I was mentally preparing. I knew it was going to be hard. I was not prepared for watching my son in the review mirror watching us drive away with tears in his eyes. I was also not prepared for was his four younger siblings crying on the way home for about three hours. It never dawned on me that they would be upset. I guess because Daulton spent most of the summer with his girlfriend. So he wasn't around much. I couldn't cry on the way home because I needed to be strong for them. I need to let them know that this is part of life and a milestone to adulthood and one day they will be doing the same. I also was not prepared for my husband getting upset. He had picked at me for months and when it came down to it, once we got home, I saw my rock crack. That was hard. <br />
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This is just one of life's moments. A moment to stand in awe of God and his peace. A moment to praise and thank him for His blessings. Daulton is getting his first year of college paid for. Everything fell into place with this. Daulton is getting to play the game that he loves and live on his own and become a responsible young man. I still shed tears, but they are not of sorrow. My tears are mixed with some regret. I should of loved more, laughed more and hugged more. While the other tears are of thankfulness. That the Lord has his hands in all of this. This is a good thing. "Every good and perfect gift is from the Lord" James 1:17<br />
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Daulton has had a rough week, too. He has been adjusting to five roommates, from all walks of life. Temptations and personalities that he is not use to. I feel like I threw my son out among the wolves. <br />
He has also realized that college baseball is not a joke. They have been doing some major conditioning. Nothing like high school or travel ball. The first morning he was out there he threw up his breakfast. They are also doing crossfit and he is sore from head to toe. I will get to see him tomorrow, we have a mandatory parents meeting. Then it will probably be about three weeks before I see him again. <br />
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I went to the football field Wednesday to pick up Brady from practice. I was sitting there waiting. There was not a drop of rain around I look up and see this:<br />
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In the middle of my sad week, God sent me an I love you!</div>
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Like I said before, this has not been easy. My son has had it as rough as we have. I have peace through this because I know that this is good for us. It is times like this that we grow. God is doing some amazing things in our lives. Not only Daulton's, but Devyn's as well (that is another post for another day :)</div>
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We serve a mighty God, and what blessing he has on those who love HIM!!</div>
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"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you." Joshua 3:5</div>
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<br />Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-61549334701647826792013-07-29T22:42:00.001-04:002013-07-29T23:01:21.944-04:00Noises from my NestI feel like the fish in The Cat in the Hat. " I do not like it, not one little bit".<br />
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Less than two weeks we will be moving Daulton into an apartment in Huntsville, Alabama. He starts school on August 12th. He will be about 4 hours away. I am trying to wrap my mind around it. I can't believe it is almost here. I do not like this, not at all. I want to keep my little family all in my nest. But, there is nothing I can do about it. God does not keep us in our comfort zones. <br />
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It is time. It is time for me to let go just a little. He is ready to stretch those wings and soar. This is one of the hardest parts of motherhood. When you are pregnant they don't tell you about the day that they leave home. This is the worst feeling, but it is part of being a mom, which I will always be. <br />
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Part of why it is so hard, I feel like there just wasn't enough time. I didn't hug him enough. Tell him I love him enough. Play and be silly enough. Did I give him enough? I hope that this is also part of motherhood. <br />
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I know that he is struggling a little, too. He wants to continue to play baseball, but he also has a precious girlfriend that he is crazy about. He knows that she has to finish her schooling and he has to focus on his schooling. It doesn't mean that they can't be together. He is willing to work hard so that they can be together. If God has ordained it, there is nothing the two of them can do about it. If their relationship is blessed by God, everything will work out according to His plan. <br />
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When I get a little emotional, I just have to remember God's plan. <em>"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD"</em> Isaiah 55:8. All of this is part of His greater plan. He doesn't allow us to see the whole picture. We could not handle it if we saw it all at once. Plus he allows us to grow. If we saw it all at once, there would be no growth. I also have to TRUST Him! When I get distracted and take my eyes off of Him, I start to slip. In that still small voice he says to me. "don't worry momma, I got this". My God is bigger than all of my worries. <br />
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It is also time for me to put on my "big girl" panties and dry my eyes. The Lord is going to do amazing things among us! I know He has great things planned for my kids. The Lord is not going to allow us to stay in our comfort zones for long. Life is not about us being comfortable, but about us fulfilling our purpose in Christ. If it means my son going to college in Alabama, and even moving out there, then it is part of God's plan. I know my kids will not stay here for long. They are meant to grow up and move on. My love for them will NEVER change, and the Lord's love for me will never change. That is my hope and what keeps me going. The Lord trusted six awesome kids to me. They are His, not mine. He let me love them a raise them. One by one they will start lives of their own. I am blessed to be part of that. <br />
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<br />Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-76976488380244893772013-06-26T21:28:00.003-04:002013-06-26T21:28:54.506-04:00"It's almost time to pee on the fire and call in the dogs."<div style="text-align: justify;">
My title is a little different, it is a quote from my favorite show, Duck Dynasty. I love this show. I love this family. They are such a positive influence. I have also read their first book, and it is wonderful! I recommend it, highly. The main point of the show and the book, is Christ and Family.</div>
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I really needed this Duck Dynasty Marathon today. It has been a rough one. </div>
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Today Daulton and I traveled to Auburn University for a showcase that his travel team was hosting. It was one of those mornings where he woke up 45 minutes later than when I got him up and we ended up getting stuck in stand still traffic on 75 and had to take back roads to 285 in order to make it to his game. We got there 30 minutes before game time. I was furious. I think it was the maddest I have ever been at him. We got into this huge argument that led into this huge heart to heart, which led to us both crying and asking for forgiveness.</div>
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As I am sitting there in the stands watching him, my heart starts to break. Wait a minute, this is our last "travel" trip together. He only has three more tournaments. Two locally and one in Charleston and we are going as a family. This will be the last time it is just the two of us. And here I am in the stands trying not to loose it. Watching him, pitch three awesome innings. This is almost over. Its almost time to put out the fire. </div>
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I know it is going to be hard come August 10th. We will be moving him to Decatur, Alabama. Our life as we know it will change. I know life is about change. I am just not ready for my nest to start being empty. The Lord doesn't keep us in our comfort zones, and I know he is in control and will be with all of us during this "change".</div>
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The past week I have been doing a lot soul searching. Trying to not be overwhelmed with all of this. These 18 years have flown by. I was 20 when he was born. Wow, I look at Devyn and think "oh my goodness, I can 't believe I was her age and had two kids!" Of course I do not want that for my children. I want them to get their educations and when they are ready to marry the one God has brought to them, then I fully support them. If I could do my life over, I wouldn't. I do not regret having them so young. Like I said, I want them to wait, but I would not change my life. I thought that as my children got older I could go back to school and have a career, and then I am like, no way! Why would I do that. I have a home, a husband and my children. That is my career. This is my life and I would not change it. My goal now is to be a stay at home mom and sew and make quilts!</div>
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So, for the next six weeks, I am going to soak up every minute of time with my boy. While I regret our fuss, I don't want to regret the next six weeks. My heart is slowly breaking, but I know that it is part of God's plan. He is 18, right, it is time for him to fly out of the nest.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9</em></strong></span></div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-85450350091620574222013-02-09T23:49:00.000-05:002013-02-09T23:49:49.427-05:00Seventh Inning Stretch<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It has been almost a year since I have posted anything, this past year has been quite an adventure. My post today is about Daulton and his path for the past 14 years. This time last year I would have never dreamed we would be where we are with him right now. God is good, and I have to tell you, walking with Jesus is not boring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We are in the pre season of Daulton's last year of high school baseball. I have mixed emotions because that means my boy is about to graduate and leave home. Bittersweet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">From the moment I found out I was pregnant I knew that I was going to have a son and I wanted to name him Daulton. I was a Darren Daulton fan and loved how his name looked on the back of his baseball jersey. My son was going to play baseball and football. We all have those dreams for our kids, right? My husband is a huge sports fan and it just seemed fitting. Daulton arrived on Father's Day June 18, 1995 weighing 9lbs 110z and was 22 inches long. This child has loved this game since he could walk. I am NOT kidding. He started walking two days before he turned 9 months old and he would walk around with a small plastic baseball bat. I knew when he was two that he loved the game. His sister is 2 years older than him and at 4 she played softball. He would sit on the bleachers with me and cry because he could not go on the field and play. He would wear his little cleats and baseball cap and want to be out there so bad. When he turned four we signed him up at our local park. He couldn't wait to play. Poor kid cried the first time he got up to bat because the coach made him where a helmet to bat and he didn't want to, but once he got through that everything has been great. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">He has always loved it. We have never forced him and he has never wanted to quit. It was the only sport that he would even play for the longest until he was about 10 and he played basketball. He does like it, but baseball is more natural for him. He made 6 year old allstars at 5 and played allstars every summer until he was 11. Back then I don't remember baseball being so competitive with these little guys, but then again our park was a lot smaller. We felt it was best for him to not play travel baseball until he was 11. So many kids now start around 8 and kid pitch at that. We felt it was healthier for him to wait. Rec ball doesn't start kid pitch until they are 9, which gave Daulton two years to get use to it before travel ball began. He joined a travel team out of our park where he was coached by Randy for two years. He went to Cooperstown at 12 and had a blast. Daulton has a June birthday and during this time the dates changed for eligible players. It was moved from August 1st to May 1st. When Randy didn't take his travel team back Daulton wanted to go out to East Cobb and try out for a 12 year old team, this would mean that if he made one he would probably be one of the oldest players on the team and he would be able to go to Cooperstown for a second time. Daulton made the 12 year old East Cobb Longhorns. It was one of the best teams he had been on. He is still good friends with several of the boys from that team and three of the boys are on his high school team. This is where Daulton started to develop as a pitcher. He was fortunate enough to learn from Coach Paul. We were able to go to Cooperstown again, what a memorable experience! Daulton was pitching an awesome game and we were up by two when he got nailed in the head and had to be taken to the local hospital for an MRI. He did not suffer a concussion. His coach said he was throwing a strike but the boy hit it, Daulton went to duck and put his glove up to catch it and it hit him in the head. The ball hit off of his head and the center fielder caught it! When he got up from being knocked down he was in tears because they were making him get examined. He just looked at us and said " I just want to go back in and pitch!". He has always loved this GAME. He loves to field, but he really loves to pitch. After that season the Longhorns split up, we had several kids that had birthdays late like Daulton and they stayed back and played 12s again. From there he joined the Kennesaw Mustangs coached by Mike Slone. His pitching coach Paul was going to this team and that was where he wanted to go. We were blessed to be a part of another great team and made more life long friends. It is a funny thing, your kids make good friends and some of our best friends have been the parents of his friends. Any way, he was there for two years. He again was the oldest on his travel team, so he was the first to start high school ball. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That alone has been an experience. You see, when you are on the high school team you play from February to April or May and then travel ball goes until August. You can't play travel and high school at the same time. He had a great two years on JV. He started 95% of the games. His freshman year he was the starting pitcher for 9 of their games. After the mustangs split he just played summer ball with one of his best friends with a team called the Dirtbags. They turned out to be pretty good. Summers have always been about baseball at our house. I keep rambling on and on and I am almost to the meat of my story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Daulton could not wait to make Varsity. Last year he made it, normally juniors do. His excitement was quickly turning into disappointment when he didn't get to start like he had many times before. He pitches and plays first, but was put on the bench and was getting discouraged. I kept telling him to be patient, maybe God was wanting him to learn something. He would get a chance here and there to pitch a couple of innings when their senior pitchers would struggle. He was going to have to prove himself. We have always told him that, but this time he really needed to do it. So every time he got the chance he would make the best of it. </span>He seemed to be doing really well when he did make the most of it. The turning point for Daulton was when we where playing Kennesaw Mountain. They are a rival in our region, but we also has some dear friends on the team as well. Our starting senior pitcher was in and he started to struggle. Coach put Daulton in and we ended up winning the game and Daulton shut them down. It was so funny to see coach actually hug D and he told him that he had only given out two game balls as a coach and this was one of those times. I have never seen my son (who usually shows NO emotion) so excited and pumped up. The rest of the season was exciting! He continually had to prove himself. All along we have been telling him that he needed to thank his Savior for what he has done through him. We ended up placing second in our region and making it to the State playoffs. We made through the first round with no problem. Daulton got a win in the first round. Before playoffs he had 6 wins under his belt. He had and era of 1.41. It was exciting to see his name in the paper especially on Sundays in the MDJ and it would show the eras for the year. Our next playoff challenge was MILTON! They were ranked 4th in the state and boy, was that a tough crowd. We had to drive out to Alpharetta and experience some of the rudest students sections we have ever seen. We had a double header that night, we lost our first game. Dautlon pitched the second game and got his 8th win. When he goes in to pitch I get nervous and play games on my phone, I think that is the only reason I got an iphone. Mike thinks it is silly for me to get nervous, but here is the thing. I want him to succeed. I believe that he can do it, he had so much to prove this past year and I want him to prove people wrong. I also want him to give God all the glory. State playoff games are best two out of three. So we were tied with games. We had to go back the second night, where the Milton fans roped off the bleachers and didn't allow us to sit behind home plate, real classy. It was a tough game and so close. I really can't remember the details because it was so intense. I remember one of our senior pitchers struggling and the score being close. Usually a pitcher does not pitch two days in a row. They are usually given several days to rest their arm. I remember seeing Daulton warming up and our other pitcher from the first game. I thought, there is no way they would put him back in. And what do you know, Coach did! Talk about nerves, instant stress on my part. The batters would taunt him when they got up to plate, one boy would say "Tommy John Tommy John", but Daulton on the mound shows no emotion. (sometimes when he strikes people out or the infield will catch something and the innings are over I have seen him beat his chest lol) He did his thing and shut them down, even tipping his hat to the dug out. One of his good friends scored the run where we took the lead. We came back and Beat MILTON, to make it to the Elite Eight. One of the most exciting games I have witnessed. </div>
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The 13+ years of watching my son play, this was the peak moment. This boy was on cloud Nine after that game. We ended up losing to Grayson in the next round, but it was okay, our team had shut Milton down and that was all that mattered. Dautlon ended his high school season 8-1, his only loss was to Grayson. He was an All-Region honorable mention and he made First team All-County as a pitcher.</div>
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His summer season was not what he wanted it to be. He had already committed to play for the East Cobb Padres. After his high school season he had four teams that wanted him to come pitch for them. He wanted to switch teams but we told him that you have to honor your commitments. That is integrity. The good thing about that team is that he was able to not be just a pitcher only, he as able to field and hit as well. East Cobb Tryouts are in August, and he decided that he did not want to stay with the Padres. He contacted the ECBraves coach and asked him to take a look at him during tryouts. Daulton already had a spot on the East Cobb Longhorns, but he wanted to see if he could even make the Braves. And you know what, he did. The coach asked him to pitch for him in the summer but for him to play on the 18 year old Astros with Coach Crane in the fall. Our fall season was busier than our summer. We traveled all over. He even got the chance to play in Jupiter Florida for a huge scouting tournament and had an awesome game. </div>
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Daulton has really enjoyed being on the Astros. He has learned so much from Coach Crane. He decided to stay with the Astros this summer, which will probably be his last summer playing travel. He can play next summer because of his birthday, but that is up to him. Being on this team has had some challenges. I have been shocked at the way some people have treated him, and myself, because he is on this team. He set a goal and accomplished it. It has been a huge opportunity for him. We don't think we are better than others because of it. We have been overwhelmed by the opportunity and so grateful. I wish others can be supportive, but you find out who your friends are.</div>
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In November Daulton received a phone call from Coach Mike Burns from Calhoun Community College in Decatur Alabama. He was inviting Daulton out to look at the campus and talk to him about playing baseball for him next year. We visited the school the weekend before Thanksgiving. I was impressed. It was a beautiful campus, has very nice training facilities and a nice baseball field. He offered Daulton a full scholarship. Books, tuition and fees. They do not have on campus housing, he told Daulton that if they had it he would be getting that too. We were a little overwhelmed. What more could you ask for? A school is willing to pay for your first year of college just for you to play baseball! He gave Dautlon a month to decide. Daulton was quiet. He really struggled with the thought of being 3 1/2 hours away from home. In December Coach Crane took Daulton and some other players from his Astros team to Georgia Perimeter. They toured the campus and were offered a full scholarship even housing. Daulton decided to go there since it was closer, and he turned down Coach Burns in Alabama. He called the Perimeter coach and made a verbal commitment, but he didn't hear back. Daulton talked to coach Crane, who told him to let him find out what was going on. Little did we know the school was over budget last year and could not offer what they intended. Daulton had a choice to make. He learned a life lesson. He called coach Burns back on January 19. He told coach what happened and he asked if there was still an offer. He told D that he would let him know. The next day he called Dautlon back and he still had a scholarship for him and was his if he wanted it. God is so good. Two days later D got his Scholarship award and letter of intent.</div>
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He had 14 days to send it back . He was nervous. So much change, he has never been that far away from home for so long, much less moving out. Michael, Daulton and I sat down for a heart to heart. We asked him if he felt this was from God. To my surprise and relief he said yes, he said all the other doors were closed, he had two other offers fall through and another college that said that they wanted him, the coach was getting replaced. This was the door that was open ( or should I say reopened because Daulton was the one that closed it) It is amazing to see your son realize God's work in his life.I referred to Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the Talents. God has given him a gift and it is up to him to do something with it. He finally signed it and we mailed it back, but this past Wednesday was the nation wide National Signing Day. We made a copy for him to sign at it.</div>
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This has been a bittersweet last couple of weeks. Daulton starts his last season of high school baseball. He will graduate in May. There are so many emotions as a mother that I am experiencing right not that my husband thinks I am having a mid life crisis. I can not express the joy that I feel knowing that he has set goals and accomplished them. His goals aren't over yet. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for him. </div>
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This has been a long post, if you took the time to read it, thank you. I wanted to share my son's 14 year baseball journey, and it is still continuing and we are so blessed. I want others to know and realize not to get so caught up in the moments that you miss out or burn bridges. We know so many children that Daulton has played with that don't play the game any more because of burn out. We see so many parents living through their kids and acting like fools on the sidelines, even as young as 5. Take the time to enjoy it. If your child doesn't want to play, don't force them. Daulton has genuinely loved this game. It is his hearts desire. I believe that it is a God given desire. I believe that God can be glorified through anything. I believe He is the reason for Daulton's success. I am so thankful for the blessing of a scholarship and him being able to continue the Game. I also want others to know and see what God can do in a family. 15 years ago Mike and I almost divorced. Daulton was 2. God intervened and we listened and allowed him to heal our family. God is in the miracle business. I have witnessed it so many times in my own walk. This is a testament to him. Walking with the Lord is the greatest adventure. </div>
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<em><span style="color: purple;">"It is by grace that you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to go good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."</span></em> <span style="color: purple;">Ephesians 2:8-10</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em>-Paige</em></span></div>
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Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-42992531035107966792012-03-28T21:53:00.003-04:002012-03-28T21:59:34.188-04:00The LORD is with you, mighty warrior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love the Old Testament. There are so many great lessons to be learned. Don't get me wrong, the New Testament is wonderful, but there is something that I enjoy about the old. I know the entire Bible leads right back to Jesus. One of my favorite stories from the Old Testament is the story of Gideon. The Israelites had been invaded by the Midianites and Amalekites for a while, due to their evil in the sight of the Lord. For seven years this went on, and seemed to have lost hope. They had to hide in mountain clefts and hide food. They finally cried out to the Lord for help. The Angel of the Lord came to Gideon and told him "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior" Gideon could not understand this since his tribe was the least and he was the smallest in his tribe. But the Lord equipped him and told him that he would be with him, not to be afraid. Gideon defeated the Midianites and the Amalekites with a small army, with the Lords help.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">God can equip any of us. We have to be obedient. There is no telling what He can do through us if we just allow Him. Judges 6:12 I have adopted as one of our family verses. "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." My boys have grown up playing baseball at our local park. Our mascot is a Warrior. To me a warrior is someone that knows defeats and victories. They have the scars to prove their fight. I have read them to story of Gideon. My oldest use to write Judges 6:12 in the bill of his hat. Yes the verse doesn't literally mean our Acworth Warriors, but it reminds my boys that no matter what they do the Lord is with them. What ever battle they are fighting, a spiritual, physical or even just a competitive baseball game. He will equip and we need to acknowledge where our talent and ability comes from and give Him all the glory, no matter what we do.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Victory has already been won.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">pj</div>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-30093137629935266382012-03-05T12:36:00.000-05:002012-03-05T12:36:47.056-05:00Courageous<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I finally got to see the movie "Courageous" with my family this weekend. I highly recommend it. It is a very inspiring movie. I am amazed how God has worked through Sherwood Baptist Church to bring the Lord's message to the big screen. This movie really made me think. Really got my wheels turning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While the message in the movie is about father's standing up to be the leaders in their family, it also has a message</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for mothers. After seeing this movie my heart was drawn to</span> <br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Matthew 24:14-30. </span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Parable of the Three Servants. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"“</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What are we doing with the young lives that the Lord has bestowed upon us? What kind of investments are we making with their young impressionable lives? I am guilty of being careless with what I have. I am convicted to teach my children more about the Lord, more about who He is and not just sweet little Bible stories. I am a creature of influence and my children are watching me. What I say and do, how I act at church and at home. Does it coincide?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know how challenging it is to try to do all the things that we need to do as mothers. We worry about dinner, laundry, bills, schedules, just to name a few. I am in the same boat. But today I am going to strive better to be the mother and woman my Lord has called me to be. I encourage you to do the same. I promise you will not regret it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><em>" Be sure that you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds" Proverbs 27:23</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"></span>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-62931024780643349382012-03-02T16:08:00.002-05:002012-03-02T23:24:10.790-05:00Whatchamacallit<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The past month has been a literal roller coaster. Emotionally, spiritually, you name it everything else. I really can't explain my feelings right now. It isn't a storm, it is almost like that eerie feeling it is outside right before a storm comes, but sometimes it doesn't hit but it comes awfully close. You might experience a drop or two, but the climate outside is almost dangerous.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have learned so much this past month, about friends, family, faith, truth, and that people are just plain crazy. No joke, there is no other word to describe it. As I get older I realize more and more how sin sick we as humans are. God still initiates the relationship, he doesn't want us to live the lives we are living. So many people run from our Lord, when in doubt he is the only thing that can give us peace. I have failed him so many times. I keep going back to the saying, "I can't brag about my love for Christ, but I can brag about his love for me." I do love my Savior, I don't always show it, but he will never fail me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I say the above from experience. I have been there. I have ran from God. Knowing in my heart what is right, but continue to do wrong. I have been the betrayer. I have been paranoid, scared, guilty. Until one day the Lord got a hold of me. When He gets a hold of you, you have no choice but to surrender. One day I will share my story when God allows it. Right now I can tell you that I know what it feels like to be an outcast, to be ridiculed and to be a Judas. I can tell you, that Jesus is the reason I am who I am today. I have experience the greatest forgiveness, mercy and love. I can not go back to who I once was.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I will have several post here in a couple of days. So much going through my mind right now, I thought if I could just write it down it might help, I will let you know if it does. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I do know that my Jesus loves me, the victory has been won, and all of this is just temporary....</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17</span></strong>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-65939179161278445752012-01-22T20:55:00.000-05:002012-01-22T20:55:47.274-05:00Happy Birthday Addison!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDLyuFa1B-J7PPkogsPfSOvNg0GLXMp5FzVRw2sYbU-rZiiHyEQWoBy6jcIBvym7L30GTBcuebY4QUENijy7WawAr_B-TENqyXLPWi7YKytmmj3kc6cT8O7nlggPslFXHUf8ebwiZjsl7/s1600/Addison_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDLyuFa1B-J7PPkogsPfSOvNg0GLXMp5FzVRw2sYbU-rZiiHyEQWoBy6jcIBvym7L30GTBcuebY4QUENijy7WawAr_B-TENqyXLPWi7YKytmmj3kc6cT8O7nlggPslFXHUf8ebwiZjsl7/s320/Addison_001.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Tomorrow my youngest turns 5! She was the biggest surprise and the sweetest blessing, She brings joy to my life daily. I just can't believe how fast the past five years has gone. My prayer is that the Lord blesses her and protects her, I pray that she grows in the Lord and all of her dreams come true. I pray that she grows to be a smart and loving young lady who has a heart to serve the Him. I pray that she will have a little one that will fill her life with smiles and laughter like she has filled mine. </em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-mommy</span></em></div>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-81804819079757244542011-09-11T14:34:00.000-04:002011-09-12T09:41:04.722-04:00If I Die Young...<div style="text-align: justify;">I know the title is a little dramatic, but I couldn't think of a better one. Today as a nation we come together to remember the tragic events 10 years ago. Anyone over the age of 5 ( yes I am stretching it, my middle son was two and he doesn't remember) remembers how our time as Americans stood still. Everyone that remembers, remembers what they were doing at the exact moment that we found out our country was under attack. For me, I was at home with my youngest two children at the time. Devyn and Daulton were in school and I was in my living room feeding my baby ( Gracie was three weeks old) and Brady was watching Blues Clues. My mother in law called me and told me to turn it to the news, a plane had just flown into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. I sat there in shock as I watched the towers collapse, the eerie feeling of not knowing what else was to come. I remember thinking, " Wait, what about all of those people that are still inside?" My heart was heavy. I got cleaned up, and went and checked my kids out of school. Not that I was concerned for their safety, I just wanted my babies at home with me. There is just something about tragedy that makes you want your loved ones within arms reach, just to hold on tight. That evening was even more eerie, everything on television was about what was going on. The uncertainty of the future. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here we are ten years later, still feeling the after shocks. We are still at war with an unseen enemy. We have all learned something from that terrible day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I have learned that life is precious. We never know what tomorrow is going to hold. We don't know the war that is going on inside someones mind. Our families are important, even if the are a little strange, they are still part of us. I have learned that we have to be careful with who we trust. I have learned that friendship is just as precious as family. Loyalty and integrity matter. I have learned that God is faithful. He will never stop loving us. I have learned that I am so thankful for the fireman and policeman that have the calling to be who they are. It is not just a job, it is a passion. A passion for people and life. I have also realized how much I love being an American. I can worship in freedom. I have the freedom here that Christ describes. Americans just aren't survivors. A survivor is someone that overcomes a tragedy, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">person</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">who</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">continues</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">function</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">prosper</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">spite</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #0055bb; cursor: pointer;">opposition,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">hardship,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">setbacks.</span> Which is what we have, but I think we are more, I think we are Warriors. A Warrior is someone who has been in the battle, and comes out with the scars, and still has the courage to keep fighting. We fight daily. We have armed forces that fight for our freedom daily. We have public servants that fight for our rights and safety daily. We have mothers and fathers that fight for our well being daily. I am so blessed to be an American.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The title of my post is a song by The Band Perry. She describes what needs to happen if she dies young. I have had this song in my head all week. The chorus is stuck in my head, but the verse that I love the most is:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"and I will be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One day we will all be meeting Jesus in His kingdom. So many, ten years ago went to His kingdom. One day I will be grabbing his hand as I walk into His light. What a day that will be. This is the peace that I have when I think about the memories of 9/11, and other tragedies. I might not always talk about how much I love Jesus, because I am flawed. But I can certainly brag about how much He loves me. How much he loves all of us. We were worth his tragic death, his miraculous Resurrection, his Ascension to the Father, and his ultimate return. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thy Kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven....</div><div style="text-align: justify;">pg</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the link to The Band Perry's video "If I Die Young" <a href="http://youtu.be/7NJqUN9TClM">http://youtu.be/7NJqUN9TClM</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776701846382823750.post-8932202107907279242011-08-17T07:12:00.000-04:002011-08-17T08:02:59.503-04:00MilestonesThis week has been very challenging, and it is not even over yet! My middle four started back to school on Monday, today Devyn starts college and Friday Addie starts pre-k. I have done good so far to keep my emotions in check. Today and Friday will be the hardest, I am getting old.<br />
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Today, at 2:00 college official begins for Devyn, I am so excited for her! I did not experience the college life, I am thrilled that she is, and guess what , the whole semester is paid for! She got HOPE and the Pell grant, all she has to pay is about $200 in books, not to shabby :)<br />
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Last night in my quiet time I could not stop thinking about my oldest. I grew up with her, she has helped shape who I am. This is my tribute to her:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I See</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> When I look at you, </span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I see a fragile infant that made a dramatic debut, a fighter, who beat the odds.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I see a sassy toddler who had a question and answer for everything. Who loved</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> to learn and experience the world.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I see a determined five year old, ready for school, not looking back when she</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> stepped on the bus for the first day. Who also professed her faith and without </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> a </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>shadow of a doubt knew she needed to be saved. </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I see a bright first grader who made TARGET, one of only three children in the </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> school for the first grade class.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I see an eight year old running crazy fevers that had all of her doctors </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> confused, especially when she didn't flinch or cry having a spinal tap.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I see a strong willed pre-teen who was set out to start a Christian club at the </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> new middle school since one had not been established, knowing the </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> importance of sharing Christ.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> I see an excited teenager ready for the magnet program and all the challenges </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> of high school. Meeting her goals and graduating with honors.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> Today I see, </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> A confident young woman who trust her Lord to take her hand and guide her as </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> she sets out on this next journey.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> Today is the day you have been waiting for. God is going to do amazing things</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> among you, for He knows the plans that He has for you.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> Embrace it.</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b> Joshua 3:5; Jeremiah 29:11 -ph</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have had the privilege to be the mother of six of the most amazing kids in the world. They are my life. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it !</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ph</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><br />
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</div>Blesdw6http://www.blogger.com/profile/06462623364359274666noreply@blogger.com0