The sun has set and the work is...almost done!

Good job boys! Now as for the water slide......

Changes and very thankful for the men in my life!

Day 12...Thankful for the changes and all the hard work the men in our lives are doing today!

Big changes are being made at our little retreat in the middle of nowhere S.C.

Fences are coming down. Concrete is being poured. Father,son and life long friends are working together so that their families can create life long memories!  Do they call this male bonding? Just in case you didn't know...my hubby hates concrete work.  Oh the things he will do just to save money and make life a little easier! Good thing we like our neighbors...I sure hope they like us!

 I can't wait to see the changes! Thanks guys...now when are you going to build my water slide?

Come on summer so we can play!

Day 11 ...Are you a man or woman of your word?

I am thankful that my God is a man of His word! His word is always faithful and true. His word never changes. His word never fails. His word brings strength and healing. His word brings peace and life!

Whatever happened to ...My word is my bond? What happened to the days when a man or woman's word meant something? A promise is a promise doesn't mean anything anymore.  We get so busy and stay so  over committed to the point that we even forget what promises we have made. I often tell my kids...I don't flap my lips just to hear myself speak. But in reality...sometimes I do.  I often catch myself making promises to my kids whether it be a promise of correction or a promise of a reward...then when it comes time to "follow through" I hesitate. I must be a little more selective in my promises...especially when  correction is needed. Often the hesitation is because of my own laziness and inconsistent parenting. I'm learning. That's when God's word can be my guide and bring life to my parenting.

I use to think my days in high-school where memorization was my motivation for earning a trip out to lunch or privileges to have a little more freedom. Now as a mom of 9 there are many days I find it difficult to find time or quiet to dig into God's word and fill my soul with this breath of life. I realize now how important the task of memorization was. I wish now I had done more! Those memories are what I count on to sustain me until I am able to hear what my maker has to say.

 I know this time of raising little ones is slowly coming to an end. My quiet times will change and my walk will deepen and grow. God's word will never return void and I pray I will become a woman of His word as I take this journey.

Day 10 of my journey to a thankful heart

Not feeling very thankful today. Just a normal day for this mom of 9...who many days walks this road alone...well I'm never really alone! I could give you my list of daily complaints...but then I wouldn't be walking this journey of thankfulness would I?

There are days when I just want to throw my hands in the air and surrender...and I do. I surrender to the King of Kings. The one who fights my battles for me. The one who I call father. The one who keeps me in perfect peace when my heart is fully surrendered to Him. Tonight as I lay my burdens at His feet...I will choose to leave them there.

Today a friend of mine posted this to her Facebook wall...The value of your life is not determined by you. It was already established on Calvary. However it is your decision to value, your value. ~ Beckah Shae

Many stay at home moms struggle to find their value...often times walking a very lonely road. Our decision to stay at home with our children has come at a great price. Many have sacrificed education, bank accounts,relationships,things and stuff....so they could make a great contribution into the molding of the character of their children. The rewards far out weigh the sacrifice we have made. Our rewards are not grand plaques on the wall or bonuses that would  make you feel you won the lottery. Our rewards are watching our children grow,learn and laugh. The bonuses we receive are watching them connect with their maker and that goodnight kiss at night that says I love you mom. Learning to listen to their hearts and really having time to learn who they truly are is my greatest quest! I love my children very much. I may not always like them or the things they choose to do.I may not always be the best mom or have the most thankful heart. I have made many mistakes over the 25 years of my mothering. But the sacrifices that I have made are teaching me to strive to be a better mom, woman and wife! My value?  It's in Christ...the very best place for it to be!

This note was left for me. Written by my sweet daughter. I don't remember the offense...but I sure do remember the note! Yes...I cried when I found it!

I must add...Moms who work outside the home...My hats off to you. To juggle a job outside and at home ...is a job!

Whatever you do as a mom...work at home or work outside the home...or both...we as woman play a major role into molding the character of the next generation's leaders. So hang onto that sanity...tomorrow is a new day!

As of this moment I still have my sanity...well some of it. Tomorrow is a new day and a new heart of thankfulness will rise with the sun...for that I am thankful!

Today, I am thankful for the trials...For the keeper of my heart is near!

 

Day 9...This is really making me consider the condition of my heart!

Today I am embracing the times where my faith is tested...my heart is purged....my life is in total surrender to the King of Kings!

 

James 1:2-4 (New International Version)Scripture reference credit

Trials and Temptations
 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Trials...we've all been trough them and will continue to do so until our dying day! I have seen my fare share of them and honestly I just wish they would go away! However...God takes what the world sees as bad and uses it for our good!  It's all about surrender...surrendering the expectations,hopes,dreams and all those things that make us feel we are in control! Control Freak...I am a first born...it's in my nature! No one likes to surrender the control...me included!  But when we surrender it to our maker....Jesus...He can lead us through a time where we are totally blind to the road ahead. When I lead...I just mess things up. When I surrender...the journey is a peaceful ride to the thankful heart. So...as you are walking through the trials of this life...grasp onto the hem of Jesus. Let Him lead...Let him guide...Let Him capture your heart and fill you with thankfulness.

Oh Lord! Be the keeper of my heart and help me to rest in you!

30 days of Thankfulness...Potty Talk!

Day 8 and counting...

I love this book.....The first time I read it I was in Target with my mom awaiting the birth of one of my children. We laughed so hard I about had my baby in Target! Fun memories with my mom!

Photo credit

One thing a mother prides(This is a scary word for me) herself in is flying through the many stages of child rearing(pardon the pun) with flying colors. I myself am included in this game of mothering....each of us trying to out do the other. Setting records that should be entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. According to my experience... Kenzie should have come out of the womb wearing big girl panties with NO accidents ever occurring! I have in fact trained 8 other ones! Doesn't that count for something? You may laugh... but there is a child rearing book(Not the one pictured) that a friend of mine gave me 20 years ago that advocated potty training from infancy. There's nothing like holding a 6 month old over the toilet...I would never do that no matter how bad I wanted to get through this stage of child rearing! Did I say I hated potty training?

I started this first adventure 23 years ago with my first son....He's going to kill me! At the age of two we began and we didn't finish until the age four. That was nightmare number one and nightmare number two... The grand finale... is about to hit the fan the big screen! My first experience was due to back to back pregnancies and a move because of the economy. Poor little guy had a lot of changes going on in his life! But for the life of me(and she's doing a pretty good job of shortening mine) what is up with Kenzie? I wouldn't put it past her if this is a "Got your attention" kind of thing. Did I say I hated potty training ? I have promised her everything under the sun...Build a bear, skittles,sour patch kids...a bag to herself, a date with mommy to the mall...by herself. I guess all I can do is be patient and wait....and be thankful!

James 1:2-4 (New International Version)Scripture reference credit

Trials and Temptations
 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I am very thankful to have potty trained 8 1/2 kids( she has half of the traing down)  Yes... it's a lot of work and many many headaches. But when I no longer have to walk down that diaper isle... I know I will JUMP for JOY! cry my eyes out... for I will know that this stage in my life is finally over.

So... tonight as I'm pulling my hair out I will count it joy and know in the end (No pun either) I will be complete and lack nothing! I do see the light at the end of this long journey! Good thing I'm seeing the humour in this trial! Better to laugh than cry!

I am thankful for my other family...Calvary Chapel Gwinnett

Photo Credit

Day 7 of  a thankful heart...

Had you told me 27 years ago I would be typing this ...I would tell you that you were crazy! When my family left the church I had grown to love...I left kicking and screaming. The church my parents chose to take me to....Calvary Chapel Atlanta. Some would say it's a church full of those that never felt welcomed in any mainstream American church. Calvary Chapel began.... in Costa Mesa California....Pastor Chuck Smith... Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa history...click here . Since the beginning it has grown world wide. Calvary Chapels strive to give good solid biblical teaching...chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Just google it and see how many Calvarys there are!

While at Calvary Chapel Atlanta I met and married my husband...I am so glad my parents didn't give in to my kicking and screaming! After a few years of traveling an hour to church we felt it was time to start a new fellowship closer to home...Calvary Chapel Gwinnett...Pastor Mark Byrd....Calvary Chapel Gwinnett History....click here Since then I have seen many changes in our fellowship. What started as a few families in our friends basement is now a growing fellowship that strives to share the gospel  to the surrounding communities in the Gwinnett,Barrow,Hall and Jackson Counties. Here is a link to CCG homepage Calvary Chapel Gwinnett...click here. Click on the link and see what you might be missing! You can even see the service live via the internet.

I often here this ...If you find the perfect church don't go because you'll only mess it up! Calvary Chapel 
Gwinnett isn't perfect..but it's where God has called our family to be..so it's perfect for us. Our fellowship is filled with Spirit filled believers who's one goal is to please the Lord and grow in Him. We all have faults and mess up more times than we would like to count. As a family we love...we forgive...we encourage...we grow together towards the same goal....Jesus! Are you looking for a church family? Need a place to belong? I say ask God. Ask Him to show you where you should be. Ask Him to lead you to that perfect church fellowship where you can grow...love...forgive...be forgiven and encourage others to be more like Jesus!

I love my church family and all those that have loved and supported our family over the years.  I know at times I fail to say this..Calvary Chapel Gwinnett family...Thank you! Thank you for the love...forgiveness...encouragement you have shown our family for all these years.  I pray that as we all grow in the Lord that we will be able to show others how great it is to be a part of such a great big family!