Caution: Crazy Roads Ahead

Have you ever had one of those days where you just KNOW God is trying to teach you something? I'm having one of those. Or maybe a week. Or maybe a well, nevermind.
Anyway, I feel like since we got to Pennsylvania I've been praying over what the lesson is that God wants me to learn up here. I've written in my journal countless times that I want to learn it quickly so I can go about my merry way and head on back to Arkansas. But over the last week I've been faced with some somewhat annoying revelations...
Uno. God has to put me in timeout sometimes.
It's true. I feel like sometimes he almost quarantines me from others so that I finally get to a corner and sheepishly say, "Oh, are You trying to tell me something? Did you want to put some input up in here?" He's done this at least two other times in my life ... He keeps knocking and knocking on my door and finally gives me an attention getter that I can't ignore. I don't want to be like that. But fast forward and here I am in Sayre, Pennsylvania (practically distraction free). So clearly, I wasn't listening ... or at least responding. What's amazing is how when I finally get in that quiet spot ... He starts showing me things. One of my favorite lines from Addison Road's song "What Do I Know of Holy" talks about trying to hear from heaven, but then talking the whole time. Oops.
Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.
-Jeremiah 33:3 (HCSB)
Is that all we have to do? Call to Him and He'll start speaking His will over our life? He promises us that He has a purpose and a Plan for us (Jer. 29:11) But if we don't know the plan, how do we know if we're on track?
Recently I was journaling and I told Him that I feel like He's trying to put some blinders on me but that I keep telling Him they don't match my outfit. Because I kinda like the distractions, they're fun and they make me happy. I think. Anybody ... anybody??
Dos. Being kind of cast out of my every day life, and having my somewhat big world turned into an itty bitty one has made me realize how actually small my world was before. That perhaps some of the things that were/are important to me are a little bit narcissistic. It really doesn't matter what my kids have on. Or what I have on. Or if I wore it to bible study last week. What I want to matter is eternal purpose. What I want to hear is "Well done, good and faithful servant." I want to have fought the good fight WELL. Which if I'm searching for matching smocked outfits for Thanksgiving in April is probably not holding eternal value. Just a thought. (disclosure: this is totally me, and I'm totally working through this as I'm going through it, so no judgement for those cute mamas (aka BFFs) that love some cute kid clothes. I'm so with you. Duh)
I've started filling my day with purpose and it's changing me. I've been studying God's word in the morning and pouring out all the good, bad and ugly to Him. During my Arbonne days I remember people having breakouts sometimes when they first got on the skincare. I tried to encourage them to press forward because it was a detox and it was going to bring all the impurities to the surface before it could start cell turnover and renewal, etc. That's kind of where I am. God's bringing some yucky stuff to the surface. Some of the me, me, me stuff. And it's not pretty.
I've also spent my days listening to the audio mp3s for the Five Aspects of Womanhood study by Barbara Mouser. I put it on my headphones and listen to it while I'm cleaning the house or hiding from my kids. She is reading a textbook and it's kind of monotone, but if you get through that there is some major meat in those lessons. I listened to the last one yesterday and I'm going to restart them Monday. I could listen to one a day forever and always learn something new.
Lastly, I've been immersing myself in Christian literature. If I'm not cooking or cleaning, I'm reading one of four books that are so stinkin' profound I spend half the time crying over where my life is heading.
Tres. I could just plan my life away. Right now I could literally map out for the fam a grand life of suburban delight in which everything is just dandy. Perfect golf course house on a tree lined street with three well-dressed, bible-reciting kiddos and, and, and... And, honestly, that sounds dreamy.
But, maybe there's more.
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.
-Psalms 37:4 (NLT)
When I was younger I thought this meant that as long as I was doing all the christiany things I was supposed to then God would give me most of the stuff I wanted. Isn't God the best?
Then I realized that's not really what He's saying (Darn!). I think he means that as we pursue Him, as we call out to Him, He'll change the desires of His heart to things in His plan... Kinda feels like He's pulling a fast one. But I'm thinking that maybe if I put on those outdated blinders and look with fresh eyes I'll see things more clearly. That maybe His plans could be better than My plans. What a novel thought.
This living away thing is hard. It's totally stretching me in crazy, crazy ways. I don't think I realized how much I relied on the human strength of those around me until they were gone. Thank goodness for Facetime, Facebook, e-mail, text and cell phones with unlimited mobile-to-mobile. But, thank GOD for His precious word that is truly alive and active, and totally changing my views and desires ...
I feel a crazy ride ahead ... and I'm pumped.
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One Day at a Time

Apparently we've been here over a week now ... but, I'm kinda counting it from how many days my mom has been gone. I don't really think I noticed I was in a new town until she left.

We're adjusting ... it's a process. And it's fine. It truly, truly is. I honestly believe God is using this as a refining process, and refinement never feels good. I know that if I just started spouting off negatives about my new surroundings that would be all I would notice and I would quickly become depressed, therefore I'm not going to do that. So, I'll just leave it at that. ;)

The weather here hasn't been much different than Arkansas. We have had a couple snowy days, but MOST have been extremely mild. The last couple days have been high 60's and today we even bumped into the 70's ... which is starting to concern me. First because I got the kids lots of fun snow-wear and duhhhh we need to wear the cuteness. And secondly because they don't have air conditioning in these parts and this southern girl turns the air on once it reaches 68 degrees. Sooooooooo, I'll be hunting down some window units or SOMETHING lovely in the very near future.

I feel the need to just say loud and clear that WE'RE FINE. We really, really are. I have gotten SO many kind emails and calls and messages from people on facebook or blog readers I've never met that I'm pretty sure think I am looking down over the cliff or something. I KNEW we were supposed to do this with my whole, whole heart. I think that's why I originally threw such a big fit. As soon as Aaron said, "there's a job opportunity in Pennsylvania," I just felt my heart IMMEDIATELY preparing to go.

I've told this story to my small group and even at large group at Bloom
a couple weeks ago, but I thought I'd share it on here too. I'm pretty sure it would be incredibly hard to forget .... but just in case...

Right after Aaron started telling me about how much he wanted to do this job in Pennsylvania I was extremely shut off to it. I would just throw my hands up at the mention of it and all but stamp my foot ... okay, I did that too.
Anyway, I was on a rampage of manipulation to make SURE that if I had anything to do with it we chased down every lead of a new job for AB. I sent him monster.com leads, I questioned him at least 476 times a day if he'd called on this person or this person and I was driving myself into a nervous frenzy that may have required medication ... just keepin' it real.
One morning I was fixing Sawyer breakfast and I was at the stove as he kept going back to the trash can. I had chunked some goldfish earlier in the morning and now they were covered up by coffee grounds, boogie wipes, and other forms of general yuckiness that finds its way to the trash can. I kept going over to explain to him about how I was fixing him his breakfast and he just needed to chill the heck out. However, his fourteen month old self didn't really care what I said and kept going back to the trash. I told him at least three more times to quit that, that I had something better ON THE WAY ... still he was digging for growdy goldfish.
Finally, I went over there, got in his little face, and said, "Sawyer, quit digging through the trash, your breakfast is almost ready." At the moment I felt the Holy Spirit literally lift my head up and tell me, "Rebekah, you stop digging through the trash, quit thinking you know better than I do. I have something for you RIGHT here ... and it's good, and it's prepared especially for you."
That was the moment EVERYTHING changed. I changed my tune and was quickly filled with a peace over the whole situation. I've had a breakdown or two, but mainly I've been filled with the Spirit in a new way. I love that God has started showing me verses that I've read a hundred times in new light. Verses like Jeremiah 29:11 have totally refreshed my soul in a brand new way: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

A new verse he very clearly gave me was Isaiah 43:19 "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Sometimes I just read them over and over and over again. Another way He has been ministering to my heart is through song ... I have ALWAYS felt like music is a way to feel very close to the Presence of the Lord, but in times of "trouble" (and I use that term very lightly, I know that this is not a season of trouble, but it is a bit of an "uprooting" and a time where I'm seeking God with a new vengeance to say the least). However, I just have to jot down the lyrics of this song that Addison Road has out right now ... It is one I walk around my house singing all day long ... its ahhhh-mazing.

What Do I Know of Holy
Addison Road

I made You promises a thousand times
I tried to hear from Heaven
But I talked the whole time
I think I made You too small
I never feared You at all No
If You touched my face would I know You?
Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

(CHORUS)
What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out
I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about
How You were mighty to save
Those were only empty words on a page
Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be
The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame?
And a God who gave life "its" name?
What do I know of Holy?
Of the One who the angels praise?
All creation knows Your name
On earth and heaven above
What do I know of this love?

What do I know of You
Who spoke me into motion?
Where have I even stood
But the shore along Your ocean?
Are You fire? Are You fury?
Are You sacred? Are You beautiful?
What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?
What do I know of Holy?

Do yourself a favor and go watch the You Tube video or download it from iTunes... it's so good.

Sunday we were supposed to go try out a new church, but with a late night, plus the time change we didn't make it. ;/
HOWEVER, that meant I got to log into the Online Campus at FBC and watch Brandon's amazing sermon. I could barely take notes I was so enthralled with the message. It was in finding contentment regardless of circumstances. One quote I took away was "it's all about location: IN the Lord, IN God."

I'm thankful He's there to supply every need. I'm thankful He's enough.

Taking it one day at a time ...






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Location:Hillcrest Dr,Sayre,United States

Wednesday Loves

Happy June!! My favorite time of the year is here, and this June we have so many fun things coming up I can just barely stand it!
I'm doing some more Wednesday Loves again this week ... I think it's good for my soul to concentrate on silly happies every once in a while ...


MAGAZINES!!! I totally love finding magazines in the mailbox ... these are my four faves. Of course, I rarely find time to read them- but I actually have gotten through all these and they were lovely.

The Swap Shoppe OK, so as much as I act like The Swap Shoppe wears me out, I actually totally love it. I realized that this time I totally procrastinated and didn't do ANYTHING until like 3 days before my sale (which was responsible for most of my stress, duh.) and then threw it together. So really if I had just done a little here and there it would have been done. Lesson learned. Thankful for a way to make some extra moolah to support my silly love of cute kiddo clothes and eBay splurging that I doubt the hubs will ever understand. :)

Pool Dayysss!!! Have I already done this one? I don't even care. It just doesn't get old. I totally heart the pool and so do the kids. Did I mention I lovveee summer?!?!

Zzzzzz... Sawyer has been sleeping 12 hours a night over the last week ... and it's glorious. GLORIOUS!!! That means Avery, Dalton AND Sawyer all sleep until around 8' oclock every day giving me plenty of time to wake up, have some quiet time, a cup of coffee with a ridiculous amount of coffeemate and even pick up a little or do a load of never-ending laundry before they're up. Eek! Pinch me!

Streams in the Desert: by L.B. Cowman I forgot about this daily living book that I used to love and surpirse, surprise- I love it still. I've been reading through it most mornings and it brings in SO much perspective. I am so grateful for all of God's blessings and sad that I can let little things rock my world sometimes. I typically do pretty well with not letting things ruffle my feathers. But then, every once in a while a little thing can irk me for days: a comment from a friend, a huffy cashier, or a mean e-mail when I totally forgot to ship a Swap Shoppe purchase. Anyway, I love this book and the quotes in it totally quench my Spirit ... I can't quit thinking about this one from May 29th ...

"Speak thou to Him for He heareth,
And spirit with spirit will meet!
Nearer is He than breathing.
Nearer than hands and feet."

-Maltbie D. Babcock

Hope you have a loverly Wednesday!!

Sweetness

I am trying to blog every day. Even if it's just a pic. I love to go back and remember different happenings from days, weeks, months, and years ago.
I don't have anything to say today. I'm just mad. And sad. Upset.

Dalton woke up with chicken pox.






Here he is coloring in my bed this am. They are slowly covering more of his body. He's itchy and not feeling well. I forgot the illness comes with a little mini flu... Nausea, fever, body ache.

I was touched at the sweetness of the Lord when I read my Psalm chapter this morning ... These verses mean so much to me today. I am resting in Him. He is my Refuge. He hears my cries and calls us to come to Him for all kinds of healing.

He sifted this season through his hands and somehow has allowed us to go through all these illnesses for whatever reason. I'm so thankful for his faithfulness in hard times.









Praying and waiting EXPECTANTLY for healing!!!!!



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Philippians 1:3

I'm not a very good friend right now. I'm definitely not fun, or funny, and probably wouldn't be a very good listener. And for SOME reason I have the SWEETEST friends that have thought to make me dinner, send me messages, facebook emails, calls, sweet cards and even gift cards to get snacks at some of my favorite stops. I don't know why God cares about such little things, but apparently He does. Which is so amazing.
So, just wanted to say THANK YOU to my oh-so-sweet friends who have reached out to me over the last couple weeks. I can whole-heartedly say MARCH 2011 has been one of the hardest months of. my. life. For a gazillion different things that probably isn't appropriate for a general audience going out to who knows where. But, God has met so many needs in so many ways and I'm thankful that he cares, and that He's there and oh-so-thankful for friends.

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3

"Oh, I Love the Rainy Nights..."

It is just raining up a storm over here!
It rained and thundered all night long, and the thunder actually woke me up a couple times. Avery was playing in her room last night and every time it thundered she would come RUNNING out, "Mama, Dada" poor little thing. Other than that I kinda enjoyed the rainy night, and am really enjoying this rainy day. Avery and Dalton both slept in this morning, Dalton woke up at about 9 and Avery didn't wake up until 9:30. I actually slept in until 8! It was great! We are still in our jammies at almost noon, and I don't plan on changing any time soon.
When I turned on the news this morning there were school closings and our country road is blocked off as well, because the creek is running full force over the bridge! I'm under strict instructions to not get out in all this mess today, "yes sir," no problem with that! We're just having a lazy inside day, Dalton just laid down for a nap, and Avery is watching a little Noggin in our bed before she takes her nap in just a minute. Side note: Avery has started doing the funniest thing. Whenever we tell her "no," about something (which obviously rarely happens, ha!) she puts her little head down and pouts and walks off. It's comparable to a dog putting their tail in between their legs. For some reason, we find this terribly funny.
Moving on, I have decided that I want to learn this sew this summer. It is a major goal- not only to master how to do it, but to actually find time. I think I'm going to clear a spot in my closet as a workspace, so tiny hands won't mess up my work. My mother-in-law is an amazing seamstress and makes all kinds of things and after my sister came home with some goodies for Avery and Dalton that she had made I am bound and determined to learn how to sew myself.
Speaking of Avery and Dalton, here is my "parent's prayer" for today. I just love this little book because for some reason prayer does not come easily to me. I don't know what it is, but praying, especially aloud, is just awkward for me. (Have I talked about this before??) I find this pretty hard to admit, but I think the more I pray about it and get counsel on it, the easier it seems to be. Now journaling it very easy for me. I've have never been short on words and writing is almost therapeutic for me. But I don't really think that's the point. I think God wants us to pray out loud to Him. Praying scripture out loud is making me more comfortable with this, as well. Right now I'm reading the book of Daniel at night, and I'm really enjoying it. I started Beth Moore's bible study on the book last summer, but after I had Dalton, I had to drop out. I definitely want to try to do it again, because it was really good. It was comparing our culture to the days of Babylong and even though I only got to do about 6 weeks of it, it was just awesome, Anyway, here is a great prayer for our little ones ... for me this is one of the hardest prayers to pray.

Releasing My Child into God's Hands

Lord, I come to You in Jesus' name and give (your child's name) to You.

I'm convinced that You alone know what is best for him (her).

You alone know what he (she) needs. I release him (her) to You to care for

and protect, and I commit myself to pray for everything concerning him (her)

that I can think of or that You put upon my heart.

Teach me how to pray and guide me in what do pray about. Help me not

to impose my own will when I'm praying for him (her), but rather enable

me to pray that Your will be done in his (her) life. Thank You that I can partner with You in raising him (her) and that I don't have to do it alone.

"The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's

children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who

remember His commandments to do them."

Psalm 103:17-18

I just feel like I can trust God with just about every area of my life, but if something happened to my babies, I might just lose it. It's kinda my "I've got this," area. Even though without Him, I doubt I would be able to love them the way I do or understand in a deeper way His love for me. A couple weeks ago at Community Group we watched the crucifixion scene from the Passion and it was really heavy, heavier than I had remembered. I know I haven't ever watched since I have had children myself. I just kept thinking that's His perfect Son, His Dalton. But He had never sinned, only been a perfect lamb. Why would he love me so much to do that? Definitely gave me a spiritual buzz that I needed to step up to the plate to live for Him more. I can't imagine living this life thinking, this was it, how absolutely hopeless. Thank JESUS we have something so much better to look forward to. My sister-in-law said something funny the other day about how she wondered if Heaven was going to be like a neighborhood with all your favorite people as neighbors. For some reason I thought that was really cute and just thinking of all the "what if's" of heaven is so exciting to me. I think I'm going to put this video on here that is possibly one of my favorite YouTube videos of all time. It's wonderful, it's a young girl who paints and tells of what she thinks heaven is about ... Please watch.

align="left">I really don't have a segway from Salvation to Supper ... so I'm just going to fly into it .... here it is peeps,

What's for Dinner?????

Tonight I'm making one of Aaron's "Family Favorites," It's not anything special, but yummy! Anyway this was Aaron's grandfather, Pa Blue's favorite way to have burgers and it's pretty good. Pa Blue's burgers are burger pattys that you make up and then put a couple sliced onion rings and a little green pepper and a pat of butter on and then wrap up in aluminum foil and bake. They're pretty good and you lose the extra carbs of the bun. (This is my attempt at cooking low fat). I'm going to cook some baked beans and corn on the cob too ... maybe something else, we'll see. Well, there ya go!

Looks like the sun is actually coming out and it just might be a pretty day, after all! I guess I might have to get out of my jammies now!

This and That

My kids really had a milestone kind of week. Avery has really started saying all kinds of things. Last night she came in the living room with her blue ball saying "My Blue Ball!" It was so cute! What is NOT cute is her new climbing ability. She opens up the lazy susan, which I can't seem to find a child lock for and climbs up on to the counter... AGH! But she is also dressing herself and putting her own shoes on ... so that helps! :) On the not so much bright side, more like the brown side, I have changed more horrible diapers in the last 4-5 days than I can ever remember. A nasty stomach virus has weasled its way into the Boone house and let me just say, it's not pretty. Ew.
Dalton is getting better and better at walking. We practice every night and he walks in between Aaron and me. The only problem is that if you are the one he is walking TO, you are in danger. He just gets so excited that when he gets there he starts laughing and screaming and BITING! It hurts so bad! Then when you tell him "no," he rears his head back and screams more. It's truly terrifying.
With that said ... Here is my prayer for today for my little yay-hoots.

Becoming a Praying Parent

Lord, I submit myself to You. I realize that parenting a child in the way You

would have me to is beyond my human abilities. I know I need You

to help me. I want to partner with You and partake of Your gifts of wisdom,

discernment, revelation, and guidance. I also need Your strength and patience,

along with a generous portion of Your love flowing through me.

Teach me how to love the way You love. Where I need to be healed, delivered,

changed, matured, or made whole, I invite You to do that in me. Help me to

walk in righteousness and integrity before You.

Teach me your ways, enable me to obey Your commandments and only do

what is pleasing in Your sight.

"The righteous man walks in His integrity; his children are blessed after him." Prov. 20:7

I just think those are so good and such an easy way to pray for our children. Sometimes it's hard to know what to pray over my wee ones. MeLeah also gave us a calendar this year and on every day of the month it has a different thing to pray over your child: integrity, discernment, patience, kindness ... it's a great tool.

OK, People it's time for dun dun ta dun ....

WHAT'S FOR DINNER??

Tonight I'm going to make grilled pork chops, fried okra, and macaroni and cheese.

I'm not gonna lie, I have a lot of Paula Deen in me, and not so much of ... I don't even know the names of any "health food" cooks. I'm not good at that. I try to make balanced meals as far as a meat, a starch, and a veggie ... but I also really love butter and heavy whipping cream. I'm sure you can see my dilemma. I'm going to pray for a high metabolism for my kiddos and get them to drink more water. Plus my kids eat fruit all the livelong day.... I have no idea why I'm feeling the need to defend myself all of the sudden. Good gracious I've got some security issues. I better go.

Love, Rebekah

A Happy Day.

The last couple days have been pretty heavy around here. I am just so broken-hearted for my friend, Morgan. Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. was the visitation for her mom at their church in Sheridan. I have seriously never seen anything like it. There were people wrapped around the church in line to hug her family and pay their respects. We got there right at 6 and waited for over an hour ... Can you believe that? That is such a testimony to their family and how loved their mom was. When we left, at about 7:45 the line was even longer than when we had gotten into it, so I can't imagine how long Morgan and her family stayed up there. I can only imagine how exhausted they must have been.
Yesterday afternoon was the Memorial Service and it was truly beautiful. Morgan gave a tribute to her mom and she did such an amazing job. I know that God gives grace to those who are mourning and carries them, but she is just so strong. She said from the start that she wasn't going to cry, that she would just smile instead. She said that "today is a happy day for us." She gave tributes from all of Mrs. Carol's siblings with touching sentiments and funny tidbits like, "She thought every recipe could be improved by adding rotel." (My kind of lady!)
She told a little bit of her mom's history, how her parents met, fun stories about her childhood. She just did such a great job. She also gave a "cry" from their family, saying that people keep commenting on how strong their family is, and it's because they know where she is. She went on to say that they knew that many people had been touched by their faith and had come to Christ and if they were giving their mom to the Lord for them to come to Christ, she really hoped they would make that extra step and follow Him. It was very moving. Morgan's posts on the caringbridge were such a ministry. She had a message and I think it reached a lot of people. There have been over 30,000 hits to that site in only one month. One of the best challenges she gave was when she continually said, "I hope we are all listening to God during this time, and not just talking to Him." That is so good. It's so easy to just talk and talk and tell Him what we need, but it's so much more important to meet with Him and listen for what He has to tell you. And I don't think He tries to talk over us
She read this verse at the end too, which I just think is SO powerful. It was the last verse she wrote on the caringbridge website, the night Mrs. Carol died. I'm going to work on memorizing it.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."" Revelation 21:3-5

I think the thing that was the most touching, to me, was how she ended it. She said she had struggled to find how to close and all she could think of was the Little Mermaid and how many times she had watched all three of the movies. She said there was a part at the end of the first movie where Sebastion and King Tritan were sitting on that rock watching Ariel go off with the Prince and Sebastion said, "There, just one problem," and he asked what it was and he replied, "How much I'm going to miss her." And she said that was what was going to be hard, how much she was going to miss her. :(
I boo-hoo'ed.
I'm attaching her obituary, in case you would like to see it. Please keep this sweet family in your prayers.

Love, Rebekah

http://www.webfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=240596&fh_id=10392&s_id=10A61F6369C1BD87952B0AF3E695B3A2

What an Awesome God We Serve

Right now I am doing a bible study called "Discerning the Voice of God," by Priscilla Shirer. It is absolutely fantastic and I really feel like I am learning so much about God and how He speaks to us. Last night we were watching the video and she was speaking on how we are all looking for different things and she started talking about God and how throughout the Bible He reveals more and more about Himself and how He truly is EVERYTHING we need. As she started going through how every Book of the Bible revealed different amazing qualities of the Lord tears filled the eyes of all of us because it was so amazing to hear!! We all were in AWE of the power of God. My mom told me it was a song and so I searched it out on-line and found it. I sent it out to all my e-mail contacts, but loved it so much I thought I'd post it on here too... SO ENJOY!! It was so much better to actually HEAR the passion and strength that she recited this with... but reading it is pretty powerful too. I just thought it was AMAZING

In Genesis, He is the Breath of life.
In Exodus, our Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus, our Great High Priest.In Numbers, Fire by night.
In Deuteronomy He is Moses' voice.
In Joshua, Salvation's choice.
In Judges, He is the Law Giver.
In Ruth, our Kinsman Redeemer.
In 1 and 2 Samuel, He is the Trusted Prophet.
In 1 and 2 Kings and
1 and 2 Chronicles, the Sovereign One.
In Ezra, He is the True and Faithful Scribe.
In Nehemiah, the Rebuilder of broken walls and lives.
In Esther, He is our courage.
In Job, the Timeless Redeemer.
In Psalms, He is our Morning Song.
In Proverbs, Wisdom's Cry.
In Ecclesiastes, He is the Times and Seasons.
In Song of Solomon, the Lover's Dream.
In Isaiah, He is the Prince of Peace.
In Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet.
In Lamentations, He is the Cry for Israel.
In Ezekiel, the Call from sin.
In Daniel, He is the Stranger in the Fire.
In Hosea, He is Forever Faithful.
In Joel, He is the Spirit's Power.
In Amos, He is the Arms that carry us.
In Obadiah, our Lord and Saviour.
In Jonah, He is the Great Missionary.
In Micah, the Promise of peace.
In Nahum, He is our Strength and Shield.
In Habbakuk and Zephaniah, He is pleading for revival.
In Haggai, He restores our lost heritage.
In Zechariah, He is the Fountain.
In Malachi, the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing in His wings.
And that's just the OLD TESTAMENT!!!!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man and Messiah.
In Acts, He is the Fire from heaven.
In Romans, He is the Grace of God.
In Corinthians, the Power of Love.
In Galatians, He is Freedom from the curse of sin.
In Ephesians, He is our Glorious Treasure.
In Philippians, the Servant's Heart.
In Colossians, He is the Godhead Trinity.
In 1 and 2 Thessalonians, He is the Coming King.
In Timothy, Titus and Philemon, He is our Mediator and Faithful Pastor.
In Hebrews, the Everlasting Covenant.
In James, He is the One who heals the sick.
In Peter, He is the Shepherd.
In John and Jude, He is the Lover coming for His Bride.
In Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of lords.

He is the Prince of Peace, the Son of Man.The Lamb of God, the Great I Am.The Alpha and Omega, our God and Saviour.Jesus Christ the Lord.And when time is no more. . .He still is!

DID YOU KNOW?
There are 66 books in the Bible;There are 1,189 chapters;There are 31,373 verses;There are 773,692 words;There are 3,580,483 letters?
AND THAT YOU. . .
Can read the Bible in one year by reading three chapters on weekdays and five chapters on Sundays?
In the stillness of the morning,Before a busy day of care how sweet to be alone with God,Through His Holy Word and prayer.
God speaks to those who take the time to listen.

I hope this gave you even a little bit of the encouragement it gave me- How exciting it is to know what an AWESOME GOD we serve!!! Someone told me this is a song as well ... check it out!

A Sore Thumb

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

What is it with women and wanting to gossip? Seriously how does it happen and how do so many of us carry on with it or just let it slide. It can be so destructive. I really think this very thing butchered my community group.

This past week in my bible study, He Speaks To Me, by Priscilla Shirer, we have been talking about being Set Apart. She challenged us to be set apart in every area, to be sticking out like sore thumbs in our communities and groups of friends. To me, women who DON'T speak badly about others are set apart immediately in my mind. This morning at church our pastor challenged us to pick up our cross and carry it with us, not run back to it to ask for forgiveness after we sin. I thought about what areas of my life weren't completely in line with Christ, where I was confessing the most. Gossip hit me hard. I want to be someone that never speaks badly of others. That to me is one of the best qualities in others and that is something that I really want to embody. I chose my memory verse for March 1-15 to be Ephesians 4:29. I want to really dwell on this verse and pray that God will remind me of it daily, especially if anything "unwholesome" shows up in my conversation. So ladies, keep me accountable here! If you hear me saying anything in my convos or even on my blog, just throw out an "Eph. 4:29" my way ... I need it!

Catch-up, ketchup.

I guess I'm gonna R-r-r-rewind and tell you about our fun-filled weekend! :) Friday night I brought the kiddos over to Mom and Dad's (Aaron was hunting ... shocker!) and we made dinner and got to hang out with Rachel's new beau, John Marc. He couldn't be cuter and was so fun and I'm just super pumped that he and Rach are hanging out! :) Saturday morning we woke up and Aaron wanted omelets so we completely overtook the kitchen to make quite a mess and it was actually pretty fun! Then we watched Ratatouille and took some naps before Aaron's mom came to get the kiddos so we could have a much needed date night! We went to dinner and to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I have to give major props to! It was soooooo good! I loved it! Caution: It is about 3 hours long, but such a great story and amazing acting. I was shocked that Brad Pitt didn't sweep the Golden Globes. We slept in an embarassingly long time on Sunday Morning, missing both services of church and got fast food for lunch before I broke into my new venture .... coupon clipping. :) I saw an Oprah episode about all the money you can save cutting coupons and I think she maps this all out on couponmom.com, I think she claims there is an "art to this" which I hope so bc I barely found any coupons for things I actually buy.
Anywho then we got our babies back and had a pizza night. (So it wasn't the most nutritional weekend). Yesterday was a cleaning day and my guilty TV night of the Bachelor... fav.
I am THRILLED to say the least that Moms 'n More has started back today! I honestly think it is one of the highlights of my week. We started a new curriculum based strictly on marriage and I just think it does wonders for me to be encouraged by so many young women who are in the same season with same struggles, same stuff ... love it!
I also started off the new year with a new challenge from Beth Moore's blog. It's to memorize a new scripture every 2 weeks. That way by the end of the year we will have memorized at least 24 scriptures. I've really loved mine for this time. I chose

Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house it built, by understanding it is established,

by knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

I rather liked it! It was a pretty easy one to memorize too, and I loved looking it up in other translations and meditating on it. It just means to me that the only way to have a happy, functional home is if it is built on the Lord's principles.

It's almost time to find another one .... I'll let you know what I pick! It's not to late to sign up on Beth Moore's site to do the same! She tells you which verse she's memorizing and you can see all the people from all over doing it as well! It's really encouraging!

It's an easy way to stay in the word daily, and you just might surprise yourself at how quickly you memorize it!!

Have a great rest of the week!

RB

Skidda marinky dinky dink ...

Can I just say that half the reason I'm blogging right now is to distract me, because I've found myself WAY too interested in the "Britney Spears: For the Record" documentary ... I need to do something productive.

Well, I haven't posted in a couple weeks ... it's been crazy around here, however at the same time I'm sure I couldn't tell you 5 things that has happened! Oh well, such is my life!

Friday night we had a few couples over to the house for dinner. We made homemade pizza and played Apples to Apples, it was quite a grand time. However all day we had been having problems with our water heater (which we just bought less than a year ago). I guess the pilot light wouldn't stay lit or something. ANYWAY after Aaron and Ben (my bro-in-law) left to get Ben's stuff another guy there was in the guest bath and said he smelled gas ... so at about 11 p.m. we uprooted and drove to LR to bed down at Ben and Sarah Baker's- CRAZY!! It was SO crazy! But because they were up so late they stayed up, they slept until 10!! Amazing .....................

Here is our latest scoop ...

AVERY is saying more and more things everyday! She points out everything on your face "eye, nose, mouth, teeth, ear, hair," She is calling more people by name "Maw" (aaron's mom), "Dee" (my mom) and last night we were waving bye to Ben and she yelled out "Ben" We loved it!! She is also just so ... aware right now. Sarah Baker asked if she'd get her a diaper when she was changing Dalton's diaper. She went in to the other room, got in the diaper door and brought the diaper and wipes. She's brilliant.

This is a pic of her today after Emerson's basket-ball game. She is dead asleep with a ring pop in her mouth, no that is not a passy, it's a ring pop.

DALTON is just as happy as ever. I keep thinking that he's teething, but I can't feel any teeth in there. He rolls all over the place and is dying to sit up. I know he wants to so bad, but he's too dang big for his baby muscles to hold up. He is quite ticklish and LOVES Miss Avery. A couple days ago I was running errands with Mom and the babies and both of them fell asleep. I looked in the back and they were both asleep and HOLDING HANDS! Never have I ever, ....

Here is a pic of Bubba tonight. I think I scared him trying to get his attention for the pic. Hilarious

Final Thought ...

I was kinda reading through one of my old Beth Moore studies the other day called "Living Beyond Yourself" which is my favorite one of all time. It's on the fruit of the spirit. In there there is one part about telling you that when everything comes crashing down your Prince Charmng on a White Horse is coming ... and here's the verses that she gave with it. Goosebumps, seriously goosebumps.

Revelation 19:11-16

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful an True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

"I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm crazy"

The title of my blog this morning is how my week has gone!! If it hasn't been one thing, It's been another! Whew, I'm just glad it's Saturday! I have felt a lot of anxiety the last couple days and just can't seem to get it together!! Yesterday I was just praying God would give me a verse and my heart led me to Psalms, and my eyes found Psalm 37. Here are some of the verses that hit me the hardest.

Psalm 37:34

Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land;

Psalm 37:39-40

The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

and just because I love these verses oh-so-much I'm including it too.

Lamentations 3:21-26

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

I think I just have this mindset that it will be OK, because it has to be! I have been through tough weeks before and this week has just been frustrating, but it's over now and a new one is coming. I love the part of Lamentations 3 that says His mercies are new every morning. It is amazing to me how much better I feel every morning, no matter how crazy our night was the night before. Sometimes it seems like this season of life will only get crazier and never end but at the same time I love it to death!

SPEAKING OF WHICH ... This weekend is Dalton's baby dedication and I am pumped! I loved Avery's and I'm sure Dalton's will be just as precious!

Afterward, we're having a fried chicken dinner at our house for lunch ... just as every Sunday should be!! :)

Well, Sarah Baker is walking in and I have to give her hugs and kisses!!

"When God Commissions, He Empowers... AMEN"

So if anyone needs a new bible or just wants a short morning devotion I would highly reccomend the "Women's Devotional Bible-Classic Edition." Aaron got it for me a couple Christmas's ago and I truly love it ... Here is one of the devotions I read this week.

This verse, 1 John 5:4, has been a favorite of mine for years; but only lately have I come to realize that the verse is not so much about faith as it is about power. It's not an obvious power like that inherent in a seed, which causes a plant to pop out of the ground and burst into flower, or in the meaningful words that fly across the airwaves altering convictions and changing hearts for all eternity.

Power. Have you ever been so mad at a person that you wanted to walk out and never talk to him/her again, but decided instead to hang in there, communicate, and make it right? Or, have you felt tremendously inadequate for an assigned task, found a scripture of encouragement, and come out a winner? Have you invested love and conern into a person who was basically unlovable and witnessed a transformation in him/her behavior primarily because of your sensitivity and acceptance? That's the kind of power I am talking about.

This verse says that we, the children of God, acutally can overcome the world by faithfully believing that we have God's power to effect change. Doesn't that make you want to try it in every area of your life? It does me!

I want to quit worrying about money. I want to lose weight. I want to be a kinder, more gentle person. Iwant to be supportive, not envious. I want to sing more and gripe less. I want to look for the positive, not dwell on the negative. I want to reach out to those who need me, not wait for them to come to me. I want to relax and laugh. I want to live fully.

Shall I go on? You make your own list, remembering that by faith you've already overcome the world. Claim that. When God commissions, he empowers. That power is absolutely yours, by faith. Take it and head out. The victories are just beginning.

- Luci Swindoll

I just really love the thought that God truly has EMPOWERED me to be able to overcome each and every adversity that comes my way. He knows what's coming and I think my whole path to Him has equipped me for each new challenge. I am really having such a desire to follow Him whole heartedly. I don't know what it is about having kids, but it just PUSHES you to want to be the absolute BEST version of yourself. However I have found that without completely surrendering to His plan, I don't want to even be around myself (which is difficult). I really believe God is shaping me to BE something. I have all these plans and ideas about women's ministry ... but I have to remind myself ... "It's not the best time to tackle some of these!" However I am oh-so-excited to see how God wants to use me and I am so glad that He has filled me up with HIS POWER.

II Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Hallelujah for Mom's!

"Titus 2:3-5 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teach what is good. They they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

I honestly don't know how people have kids without family around ... I have been so blessed by my Mom and Mother-In-Law. We have INVADED their homes for the past two months and they just do and do and give and give endlessly. Titus 2 speaks about the older women leading the younger women- which is just what they do. They are constantly helping me in every way! Feeding, bathing, changing, playing with the babies and trying to SERVE me when I'm living in their houses!! They BOTH will come in in the mornings asking, "what should we make for dinner" ... "What do you need from the strore?" or "how can I help you?" I have never met such servants. It is my every aspiration to be like them when I grow up! They are SUCH blessings in my life. They give and give, just because they want to- which is good because I have no idea how I would ever repay them- They are PRICELESS!!

Thankyou LORD for such sweet women in my life, who lead quietly by example and provide such a ministry to me!

P.S. Avery has started doing the cutest thing- Now when I lay her down for naps or for the night she waves when I cover her all up her crib and say's "Nigh Nigh" ... um yes she is the sweetest thing! And here are a couple pics of her today in her sunglasses ... cutie!