Prayer Request

I feel a serious burden right now... I dont know if its my longing or if its the Lord calling me to it, but I really wanted to share something with you all as well as have a written reminder of it in the coming years.
Let me start by explaining something. I have had all of my kids names picked out for years. I knew their names in the order I would use them. So far I have not gotten to use any of them. About a year before we found out about Jonathan God gave me his name. I told my husband if we have a baby boy anytime I think a good name would be Jonathan David. When we found out that we were going to be getting a baby boy I tried to use two or three of the different names I had picked out so long ago, but I kept coming back to Jonathan David. So now, I have my Jonathan David. A few months ago I was really praying hard about having a baby. I so want more kids and I pray that one day I will have more. During my prayer time I caught a name. I shrugged it off until later when I remembered getting Jonathan's name the same way. Then I started to think about it. I went to hubby and asked for his discernment. He was not sure but he has always thought God would give us our own baby.
I dont know when or even how, but one day I will have a baby named Nathaniel Gideon. I believe that with my whole heart. It could be months or years. He could come from my womb or through adoption.
My prayer request is this, please remember us in the coming months/years. I have felt so burdened today to share this with others and to pray about it. I want this baby so badly. Its weird but I feel the same way I felt right before Jonathan was born. I was excited but apprehensive. I did not want to get my hopes up, but I could not keep them down either. I am praying about it constantly today. I finally told God that I thought this was a promise He'd given me and that I would believe on it, but that only time would tell. I dont know why Nathaniel has been on my heart and mind so much today. I dont know if its just the longing I feel or if its truly God reaching down and placing the burden on my heart.
Just so you know, I never even thought of the name Nathaniel Gideon when I was naming all of my imaginary children.
I fail so much as a mom everyday. I cant believe that God would actually entrust another one of his precious little people to me. I dont know why He would. I see the improvements in my life and I know I am growing and changing and one day I may be at a place in my life where my children will rise up and call me blessed, but I am no where near that now. I yell at my children, I discipline in anger, Im too controlling, I dont smile and play with them enough, we dont have a routine, I get too busy for them.... see how much I stink?
This was really hard to share. I told Roy and my mom and one or two other people my thoughts but did not want to advertise the promise because I was not, still am not, 100% sure about it. Does that make sense? Its one of those things you want to hide and then when/if it happens you tell everyone about it. Maybe God has laid it on my heart to share with complete strangers so that His glory will be revealed when it happens? I wish I was stronger in my faith.
Please pray for me when you think about it.

Be Blessed!

Do you hear what I hear?

Ok Im back. I cant download pictures right now because of my dumb camara, so you cant see my kitchen. Probably a good thing since I have only done the minimal in it this past week.
So, lets jump right to the praise and worship/contemporary music post, promised last week.
I have read with interest articles and blogs that argue against this heathen music. Something about the beat and vain repitition. I pondered it in my heart and repeatedly asked the Lord, if any of it was true. Here is what I finally came to for my life.
To hear my children march around the house singing "Yes, Lord! Yes, Lord! Yes, Yes, Lord, Amen!" warms my heart. Some call it vain repitition I call it fun practice for the real thing. There will come a day when the Lord will call them to something and they can just remember the song and sing their answer. By the way here are all the words to that song,

Trading My Sorrows
I'm trading my sorrow
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord
Chorus:And we say yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord
Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Amen
I'm pressed but not crushed
persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

Repeat

Then I started thinking about the words to some of my favorite CCM songs. They are so Biblical and they remind me of what the Lord has done. They help me to worship. Here are the words to some of my favorites.

By His Wounds - Glory Revealed
Genre/Lang. : Christian
(Feat. Mac Powell, Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman and Brian Littrell)
Isaiah 53:5
He was pierced for our transgressions He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
He was pierced for our transgressions He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved We are saved
He was pierced for our transgressions And crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved We are saved
He was pierced for our transgressions He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed
And by His wounds, by His wounds..... What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Hmmm... straight from the Bible, anyone want to argue?

Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms
I was sure by now,
that You would have reached down and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands for
You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You and as the thunder rolls I barely hear
You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away
Chorus
I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth
Chorus

This song meant a lot to me these past few months as hubby has struggled at work. Looking back I remember a friend of mine from church who said it was helping her deal with struggles she faced with the church split last year.

Blessed Be Your Nameby Matt Redman- - -

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will sayBlessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be
'Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will sayBlessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to sayLord, blessed be Your name

I just love the meaning in this song. Praise the Lord in the good times and the bad!!


I never set out to convince anyone that Im right about this. If this posts helps people to understand that God can use the CCM music as well as Classical music and hymns then YAY!
I love hymns. I dont enjoy classical music. I have tried and tried. I even had to give up a couple of blogs because they had music I could not turn off. Classical music makes my head hurt. Sorry. :) Im so greatful for the music that God give us. I wish I could post all of the songs that I love right now. Im going to try to post some lyrics every week just so those not familiar with these songs can at least read the words. Sometimes Christians get so caught up in what they think is right they forget to ask God what He thinks. Hubby and I searched scriptures to find out if we were polluting our minds with this music. We found nothing.
Im looking forward to reading your thoughts on the subject. Now, I really must go. We are going for a walk and it looks like rain.

Be Blessed!!

Postponed

Unfortunatly blogging will be postponed for a day or two. I very stupidly burned my hand yesterday and typing is not easy. Im ok, just mad at myself. I stuck my hand in the dishwasher after it was done washing to check and see if there was any water left standing. I thought my hand had cleared the metal part on the bottom. NOPE. But I will live. Its a not serious second degree burn. :) Give me a day or two and I will be back.

A Tale of Two Books

I went to bed early last night and did not get a chance to post this. But here we go. These are two of the best books I have read. I have a huge stack of books Im reading through right now and as I come across books that are must haves I will let you know.







I picked up this book through our inter library loan system. It came in about a week after I ordered it and I rushed to the library to pick it up. I'd heard great things about this book as I was searching for some way to raise up my oldest daughter to be more ladylike. The book was actually written towards young ladies, with discussion questions at the end of each chapter. There is much encouragement to read the book with your mother and discuss with her the questions. I did not get to finish the book, but I know I will buy it probably in the next two years. It talked a lot about turning your heart towards home, honoring your father, helping your mother. It was the exact opposite of what the world and even the church is trying hard to teach our daughters. It built on charachter traits that a godly woman should posses. My goal is to train my daughters to embrace Biblical womanhood. This book will help to reinforce that training.




This is the book Im reading right now during my devotional time in the morning. I cant say enough good things about it. Mrs. George gives practical everyday advice on how to train your children up in the Lord. She says to immerse them in Christian influence. Christian books, CDs, videos.... all of it. Here are a couple of applications I have taken from this book.
My kids and I are reading through the gospel of Matthew. We read one story every morning. After reading I tell the children to illustrate the story we just read. When we are done I will put each child's pages together and they will have their very own Jesus book.
We have decided to replace most of our kids books and movies with Christian themed books and movies. My kids can quote The Princess Bride to you left and right. I thought how great if we showed them Bible stories and other moral movies for them to quote and act out. Also, they love to read books over and over so we decided to build our library more in the direction of things we want to make sure our children remember and understand. I spent a good chunk of money at Lifeway last week. We are doing a book basket for Easter this year. I am going to get a big basket and stuff it with books, CDS, videos and audio books for the kids.
I think every Christian mother should have a copy of this book in her library. It has truly changed the way I relate to my kids. I also am so greatful for the ideas she gave me. She is a mother of two grown daughters who have children of their own and she talks a lot about how those daughters are raising their children to love the Lord. Thats enough proof for me. She obviously has a tried and true method. :) Moms, if you only buy one book this year, make it this one!!

March 10, 2000

I was in the midst of planning my wedding. In almost 9 months I was going to be wed to Mr. Wonderful. I thought ok, marriage, a couple of years later kids, a house..... yada, yada, yada. Somwhere in the north part of our nation a beautiful baby girl was being born. My wedding came and went. We waited and waited and waited. No babies came. We decided to go out looking for them since they were not coming to us. In October of 2004 we found a couple of them. One was our blond haired, blue eyed Kelsie. The first picture is her first Easter with us. I guess that would be Easter of 2005. I love how chubby she looks. She has slimmed up so much. She is growing from my baby to my little girl. One day soon she will be my young lady and then my young woman and then she will be the mother of my grandbabies.
I have her husband picked out already. They will be perfect together because while all the other girls at church fawn over him she wont give him the time of day. Perfect. LOL. She likes to be the princess, sometimes to the point daddy and I have to bring her back down to earth. She prays with her eyes closed tight and her face turned up. Her whole face scrunches up as she prays for everyone around her sometimes including the homeless people. She ends with I love everyone so so so so much! She always wants to be with her baby brother. She has the most patience with him. She never gets dirty. She loves being a girl. She wears dresses or skirts most of the time. She can entertain herself. She prefers to be by herself more than my other children. When she does something outright disobedient it always shocks me, because she usually does exactly what we tell her. She cant memorize to save her life. We both get frustrated when she tries to recite poetry or remember addition facts. She can stategize enough to win at Sorry every time. She has hair a color that people would pay money for. I love her more than I thought you could love anyone. She is on the edge of becoming a Christian.
Happy Birthday darling. I love you!! Kelsie Ann!

The Repairman and other boring news

Im trying to get back on track and blog every evening. Tonight is full of nothing, but I have blogs planned for the next few days.
Tuesday I will be recommending some books and sharing some changes taking place in our family.
Wednesday I will take pictures of our kitchen and share some of what I have been doing in there.
Thursday I want to talk about praise and worship music a little bit.
Friday is up in the air a bit. I have three things in my draft folder Im working on and I hope to post one of them. Im leaning more towards whats been working for our family in the last few weeks.
I also want to post some more homeschooling quotes. It was fun reading reactions to some of them.
I have been reading past blog posts and love seeing where I was a few years ago when I started blogging and where I am now.
It definatly makes me want to keep blogging if for no reason other than I get to see myself mature. :)

Today we had the dishwasher repair man out. He was supposed to be here between 8 and 12. We thought we could go to the zoo this afternoon since hubby was off. He got here at 3pm. No zoo today. He was really nice, but he did not have the part to fix it. He had some suggestions that would help us maybe not even need the part. We are going to try those and see. He also said if we wanted to purchase the part and do it ourselves. The part is $13 saving us over $100. That made me laugh. I think we are in the wrong business.
A friend of mine lost her dad to a brain tumor last week. Tonight was the viewing and tomorrow is the funeral. I never knew the man but the funeral home tonight was packed and everyone talked about how he influenced their lives. Apparently he had a saying when people asked how he was, he would answer, "Blessed by the Best!". When he was diagnosed with the tumor he told someone he would win either way. God would heal him and he would win or God would take him home and he would win. What an awesome testimony.
I scheduled portfolio reiviews for my two girls for next month. Their portfolios are a little disorganized right now so hubby and I will work on them throughout the week. One thing I forgot to do was keep a list of what we were reading. Now, I have to go through and figure it out to make the reading list at least presentable. *Sigh*.
Well I need to go to bed.
Night Night
Be Blessed!

How Great Is Our God???

We just recently went to see the How Great Is Our God Tour with Christ Tomlin, Matt Redmon and Louie Giglio. It was awesome, but my favorite part had to be when Lou was talking about the wonder that is the human body. Lou then proceeded to talk about laminin. Laminin, to put it simply, is the glue that holds our cells together. I have searched on this subject and cant quiet understand it myself . Anyways, here is a picture of laminin. The molecule that holds our cells together looks like this:






Awed? Impressed? I sure was.