Wonderful Weekend!

It was so great taking the kids to see Michael sing. The group is great, all 4 of them. They are truly annointed, esp on stage. Michael's granny was able to come to last night's show. She was so happy. She has been pretty sick, so she went down to the alter, and some of us prayed for her. That was a blessing to me as much as listening to the music. Being there and listening to the words, plus seeing my sweetie up there singing, really put me in a great frame of mind to start the week. I am determined to be kind in my kids corrections and to uplift them and encourage them to know Jesus, not just be good this week. I am going to try my hardest to not be uplifting to my husband too. This is such a change for him, and I know......whether he admits it or not.....he needs me to support him and uplift him. In all things! So, with all this on my plate, lets just say I will be praying a lot this week! Because I imagine Jesus is the only one who can do all these things, lol.

I hope you all have a great week. Remember, through the Lord, you can do everything!

So much in my head!

It is scary! I am so excited for tonight. The kids are also excited, which is great, since at least Holly is not a fan of Southern Gospel. But of course, she is going through a secular music phase, I am trying to get her out of it. It is kind of a top 40 thing, but the music is not appropriate for an 11 year old girl. Then, my 2 oldest sons are wanting to play and read all the war craft and those type games. I am also trying to get them out of it. I don't want to ban them from it, because then it is my decision. I want them, through prayer and God's word, to chose him and not chose the world. If it ever got to bad, of course I would put my foot down, but I am really trying to let it be there decision. I try to use certain scriptures and what not. The funny thing is, I use Harry Potter and the war type games as an example all the time, but it is has just recently hit me, Pokemon is just as bad. Now, if my boys had to give up there Pokemon games, they would be devastated. That being said, they need to chose God. To some Christians all the isn't a big deal, I am on the fence, in moderation I sometimes feel it is OK, because it isn't real people and such. But I also know that even in a cartoon form, they still are not doing God's will. lol Okay, I am rambling, this was just on my mind, so I figured I would try to type it out. Kind of like trouble shooting on the puter.

This weekend is going to be good!

My husband has recently joined a southern gospel quartet. Well, this weekend they have 2 performances, and both of them are close enough for me and the kids to go. We were talking last night, and he said that he was excited for this weekend, that he had felt the Lord moving in him in such a way this week. He was praying that someone could be saved and how that would make the whole thing perfect. My heart swells when I hear this. He is such a good man, and is finally letting his God given talents to share God's word. I love that man!!!!!

Anxiety........oh my!

You know, anxiety is such an evil thing. It strips us of the peace that Jesus puts in our hearts! There are so many Bible verses that tell us not to be anxious, that God will take care of us, but the human side of us will ignore that every time! Mine is not as much physical anxiety as it personal stuff. I worry about the things I do to affect others. Did my actions here hurt my children, did I ignore something important to my husband. I spend so much time worrying about how I treat others, I concentrate on that then I do just doing the things I should. I worry so much that I have made him mad, that I make him mad because of the way I act. I can usually turn the monetary things over to God pretty easily, the personal things, I keep taking back. So, that is anxiety for the day.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

If you can't say anything nice.............

don't say anything at all!

This is one of the hardest things to live by. When you say it to your kids, you are referring to name calling and "fussing" at each other. But how often do we as grown ups, not follow that. How often do we say things that tear down others without even realizing it. A very wise and dear lady told me the other day, if I can't say anything uplifting, to be quiet. Wow! That really is hard. And not just when hubby and I are arguing, which I realize we might not ever do if I followed this rule, but in general conversation. Mentioning an old friend who has cut off contact, or even a relative. Bringing up something that is long past. You don't, or I least I didn't, realize how much of my normal conversation with just my husband, was not uplifting to him. I almost feel like I am his worst enemy. He is trying so hard to get his life on track, and I keep disrupting it by my mouth. I won't even think about what I have probably done to my kids by not following this rule. So, that is yet another of my new life changing goals. I bet if, I can really stick to this, my household will change! I will try to keep you updated on how it works!

I am determined to make this a good week!

And everything is fighting against me. We are so very broke. I mean broker than I can make a joke about, lol. My birthday is tomorrow. I don't expect anything, but my hubby tends to always be in a bad mood on my birthday. I think it is because we seem to always be broke and he feels bad for not doing anything for me. But being nice would be the best present ever! Our 35 inch TV is busted. That seems to be my fault. I am still uncertain on why, but I am sure I contribute to it some how.

So, to stop the pity party...........life is good despite this. We have food, we have a roof, the kids are all healthy, and my husband is doing something wonderful. I feel guilty for feeling negative about anything.

It comes back to my favorite verse, Phil 4:13 "I shall do all things through Christ, whom strengthens me". Basically, I can't do this alone, so I am giving it to Jesus, now, if I can leave it there!

It's Saturday!

Michael has quartet practice this morning, , so we (minus Holly) are all up! It is a beautiful day today! I just gave it to God to help it stay that way. I am trying to do some self working, it isn't working real well, but I am not giving up. I know it is not my place to be the perfect housewife, and I know that no matter how much more perfect I get, there will be days when it isn't "enough". But I have got to find a happy medium between where I am now and where I need to be. I keep the visible house pretty clean. But in the cupboards and closets it is scary. Those are the types of things that start wearing on the people who live in the house. They see the clutter and disorderliness and so it disrupts the orderliness of the running of the house and the spirit of those who live here.

Now, my problem is........I am a half doer, I recognize this, and can't stand it. But, I have got to start doing better. Today, I think while Michael is at practice, I am going to do a jam up job on our closet. It is the closet, laundry room, and a walk through to Michael's Den, so I bet her would appreciate it being clean! Heck, I would appreciate it being clean.

So, that is my goal for today. Alone, I can never do it, but I am banking that Jesus is a clean "freak" so he will help! (That didn't sound right, did it?)

Life is good!! (Eternal life is better!!)

That is Luke's (4) favorite song. He walks around singing that, and "My God is an Awesome God" all the time. It makes my heart sing to hear him. No, he doesn't completely understand, but he is living in a home that mostly promotes it. I say mostly, because we are human........but God loves us despite of it. And through his love, we are all striving to live more through Him.

My husband, the light of my life , has just joined a southern gospel group, Perfect Grace. I am so very happy and thanking Jesus so much for this. I know that the evil one is going to try to tear all of this apart. But I will praise God each time he does, because that means we (Michael especially) is doing a good thing. I am thankful for the example that this will set for my children. God has truly gave me such wonderful children. There is something so special about each one of them that makes me just Praise God they are "mine" and scare me that He trusts me enough to be the guiding hand behind such wonderful people.

So that is the update I have for right now. I will keep things updated better, (maybe) But, I just want you all to know, that God is so good, All the time!!!!