too busy

I have been extremely busy with the women's ministry newsletter, home and work..... not to mention I don't feel very well. But the newsletter is done and hot off the press. I do believe it is the best one yet. I have been busy at work, one of the ladies that I fill in for has been sick since last week so I have been back and forth between 2 departments. I made a flying trip to Austin Sunday to get Dustin from his dad's. We have a lot going on with school and sports and work right now. But I am still alive. Praise the Lord!

wordless 2-6-08

Wordless Wednesday

My Chains are gone!

September 30, 2000 changed my life forever. That was the worse day of my life. My mother was coming to my house to go to Dustin’s peewee football game with us. However, she never made it to my house. She made the 45 minute drive to my road, but that was where her life ended. As she was stopped on the two lane highway waiting to turn on to my road, a 18 year old young man was in a hurry to work and recklessly slammed in to the back of her car going at least 70 mph. My mom never knew what hit her. She died instantly right there in her car by herself.
For the next 3 years I would fine myself spiraled down so far into depression. I had taken every antidepressant on the market, talk with therapist, psychologist but it was the Lord that would deliver me.
Chris told me that he wanted another child. He was so desperate to save me from depression that he thought having another baby would help me to be freed. With in the next 2 months I was pregnant. With raging hormones and changes in my body, I began to come out of depression. Lane Christopher was born June 3, 2003.
After he was born, Chris opened up to me and told me what his intensions were for having another child. I was absolutely furious with him. I took it, as he wanted Lane to replace my mother. However, it was not until September of 2006 that God showed me that it was His love to break my chains of depression. Chris and others prayed for me to get better. A child is a gift from God and it was that love he shared with me that freed me.
After the Lord had given me that, I was able to forgive Chris. Besides it was not him to begin with, it was God working through him. Praise God I have been out of that pit of depression ever since. My relationship with him is stronger than it ever has been. And through the gift of love to have another child I now have another piece of my mom in my family. Thank you Jesus, I praise you for what you have done in my life.

Wes got dunked, Praise God!

I had a great weekend. Friday night we went to Mardi Gras. I didn't have a great time there, but I dealt with it. A whole other story I would rather not go into. Saturday we had a few errands to do and then my sister came up with her family. We all went down to my SIL's house to cook out. That is when my fun began. I prayed this past week that the spirit to be so strong this weekend for Wes's Baptism that it would do a number on my sister.... Well Praise God it did. While we were at Sharon's (SIL) that evening she and I had a great time sharing with Colleen (my sis) the gospel and really witnessing to her. We must have talked for close to 2 hours. The best part about it was that she keep asking for more. After we got back to my house that night, I gave her some resources to take home with her.
Sunday we all got up for Church. Me, Colleen, Wes and my neice Shelby all went early for Sunday School and the hubsands and other boys came in time for the Baptism. My in-laws came up and Breck, Sharon and the kids came to watch Wes. I had 2 rows of Family there.
Here are the pictures of the "DUNK":

introducing Wes to the Congergation

Praying

Wes's said it looks like Bro. Randy was about to knock him in the back of the head







And there you go,
3 kids down 1 to go.
Praise The Lord.

Our shirts are ready

Our New Women's Ministry Shirts are ready. I placed the order Monday for 18 shirts for our women's ministry team members. The lady at the printer called me just before lunch and told me that the shirts were ready. They look so good. I was really excited to see the end product.
The Lord gave me the design and I put it to paper, but didn't realize how cute it would all tie together on a shirt. This is going to be a good promotional tool for our Ministry. It will also show how, as women we need to reach each other and also reach for the Lord.
The women ministry at my Church is excited about it and I know that the other ladies will be as well.

Wordless 1-29-08

Wordless Wednesday

weekend is upon us

Busy weekend ahead. Friday night we are going to Mardi Gras. Yeah fun. I am not looking forward to dealing with the drunks out there. It has been forever since I went. Saturday I have to get some errands done. Sunday is a big day. My Wes is getting Baptized before Church services at 10:30. I am so happy for him. He is exicted and anxious too. Then that evening we have a fellowship for our Women's Ministry to kick off the Spring Semester Bible Study. We are going to be doing a Lisa Whelchel Study. This is my Story. It is a scrapbooking study. I am ready to get involved in a good study. Also I will be promoting our new T-shirts. I placed an order yesterday for our women leaders and team members (18). That way we can wear our shirts there. Here is a picture of the design and it will be on a hot pink shirt.

and the chase is on

Look at what we have been dealing with the last 2 days. Boy am I tired.

Authorities in Jasper County have now caught three of five burglary suspects who broke into a pharmacy in Jasper and tried to break into a pharmacy in Kirbyville. They're still looking for two men, including Quincy Brooks. Police say a burglar alarm went off at around 11 o'clock Tuesday night at Gee Shipman Pharmacy on West Lamar Street in Jasper. Officers responded to a burglary alarm, but the men were gone by the time they arrived. At about 11:30 p.m. a Kirbyville police officer noticed a suspicious car near a pharmacy and began following it. The men drove away and the officer chased them. The men jumped out of the car and ran away. One suspect was arrested near MLK Street. Two more were caught on Highway 96 near Buna, trying to get a ride out of the area. Officers are looking for the two other men. They believe one is armed with a shotgun. Kirbyville ISD superintendent Dr. Joe Burns tells KFDM News the elementary, middle and high schools were plaed under lockdown, meaning doors were locked, students weren't allowed outside and anyone who wanted to come inside had to show an I.D. The elementary, middle and high schools in Buna were also under lockdown, as were Jasper ISD buildings and Evadale schools. Stay with KFDM news and kfdm.com for the latest on the search.

This is what the county officials is not wanting to happen.....


1/29/02 - Orange/Newton Counties
Suspect Caught in Deadly Southeast Texas Shooting Rampage

Shooting suspect, 42-year-old Perry Anthony Stevenson was captured Tuesday near Call, located in Newton County. Stevenson has been arraigned in Newton on a charge of aggravated robbery. Murder charges are expected to be added on Wednesday. Bond has been set at $500,000.
Authorities began looking for Stevenson on Monday after they say he went on a shooting rampage that spanned two counties. It began when Stevenson allegedly killed a woman in Orange, set fire to the house, then stole a car from a nearby home. That victim has been identified as 52-year-old Mirian McElroy, who'd been living with Stevenson. Department of Public Safety officials say Stevenson apparently then traveled to near Kirbyville, tried to break into another home where he exchanged gunfire with the occupants.
Police say Stevenson then drove to a home near Call, broke into the house, and shot three children and their mother. Sheriff's authorities identify the two sisters who were killed as 14-year-old April Pearson, and 10-year-old Ashley Pearson. Their mother, Gwen Pearson, is hospitalized in critical condition. Her 5-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, is hospitalized in good condition.
Officials are now trying to determine what sparked Monday's shooting spree. Officials do say Stevenson has a history of mental illness.

Just chatting

Chris started his new job a couple of weeks ago. He is loving it. It calls for some over time but it is not stressful or so fast paste. Hopefully we will be able to get some bills paid off and others caught up. Then we want to add on to our house. Which that will be a little while but I can finally see it happening now. I am glad that he will be working the overtime because it will allow me to pass some of mine up now. There will always be times when it will be mandatory for me with storms.


He worked 16 hours Friday and Wes was so bored with his daddy not being home on a Friday night. The kids are the ones that will have to get used to him working. It is me that always had to work over so it will be a change for them.


Our Spring bible study will be starting up soon and will that comes lots of promoting. Which means I will be busy with the flyers, sign ups, newsletter and we are also looking at having some tshirts made. I have come up with a design and if it is approved at our meeting Thursday I will post a picture of it. I have lots to get done in the next few weeks, so it is good that the kids are still out of sports as of now.
High School baseball starts up Friday and Little League sign ups are every weekend in February. Still not sure if Lane will be able to play T-ball yet because of his age. I am going to check when I sign up Wes.


Dustin has a return appt. with the ENT Dr. tomorrow. We should have the first round of allergy test back and decide what to do with his ears and nose (can breath well out of it). The meds he put him on 2 weeks ago haven't really made a difference with his breathing.



This is my 76th post. Wow I like the blogging world. There are several that I check each day. Lots of different ones out there, but I have found a few favorites that I like to keep up with. They are in my favorites on the right side under Blogs that Bless me. Check them out they might just do the same for you.

Good Bye Julian

I have been following a story of a little boy from Fort Worth who has touched the world. Although he was dying of brain cancer this little boy touched so many life's. You can visit his site at http://www.carepages.com/ and sign up (it is free) his page is Julian's world. This is the post from his mom from yesterday. Please keep this family in your prayers.

from Mimi:
"Time of Death ,11:22am ... Never thought I would ever hear these words about my 4 1/2 year old son. But this morning , those words got engraved in my mind and my heart forever.
Julian fought until the last painful breath. Again NOTHING peaceful about this process until , until he stopped gasping for air. Julian looked like a fish out of the water, trying so hard to fill those lungs, but nothing. You could see the normal breathing motions his body made, but nothing got past his throat. Finally he stopped fighting.
When he started having a hard time breathing I went to get Ken . He stood on one side of the bed and I was on it with Julian. We talked him thru his transition. We told him it would be ok. We told him we were proud of him. I told him to say Hi to Jesus for me. I told him that Cody and Jacob were waiting for him . I told him that we would be ok. I told him he wouldn't hurt anymore. I told him good night. I told him I loved him. I told him to play and run.
The nurse took his shirt off and told us to touch him, that he could feel us and we needed to feel him . I put my hand on his chest. I could feel his heart beat. Then it slowed down . Then I could not feel it anymore. I heard his first heartbeat and felt his last one. I was texting Debra right before, texted her Julian was gone, she called and got in her car and came. I got Mamie, she told Ju bye. And Papy. We got the boys and told them . Sam asked if we were sure he was gone. Then he said it was weird because he didnt feel like crying. Then he asked to hold him. I needed to clean and dress Ju first.
Debra got here, helped me a little, cried a lot... They are not supposed to get attached, how can you not get attached to Ju? I held Julian. Debra gave him a bed bath, as she had been doing for the past few weeks, put lotion all over him, loved and kissed on him. 1 month ago , she didn't even know him, now she is grieving just as we are. That is what Julian is all about. LOVE, unconditional love... He touched Debra, she touched my heart... Ken , Debra, Mamie, Sam, Gma and I held Julian. Maybe others did, I am not sure.
Dana and Jessi came. Pastor Kevin and Vicki, Zach and Sam.Diane came by, Pastor Blair and Pat. Vickie and Gerald. Nanny. It is now 6 something pm. Dana and her family are still here with us . I love those guys! Thank you ... Funeral home men came to get him this afternoon. Ken carried him to the van, with his blankie (his Christmas blankie he would share with every one) one of his mimis and one of his dinosaurs. We don't know any details on viewing and funeral yet. We will let you know, just make sure you have your YELLOW SHIRTS HANDY !!!!
FLY HIGH MUNCHKIN ... I love you all the way to China, you are the best, you know that? I love your smell too baby... Your mama ..."

Salvation

Last night in Awanas, our pastor Bro. Randy gave a devotion to the 3-6 grade boys and girls over Salvation. After it was over he had everyone bow their heads and anyone that was ready to except Christ as Savior to raise their hands and then exit into the hall way. We had a group of about 40 kids and out of that there was about 12 that went out into the hall way. At that time we split them into small groups and went with them into a private area. I took 3 of my girls from my class. I made sure that they understood what Bro. Randy had just spoke about and all 3 of them asked Jesus Christ to be there Lord and Savior. I was so happy. But the absolute best part of last night was after we got home.


See, Wes was in that same class but I didn't see him raise his hand. After we got home he was a little upset because he wanted to be saved but couldn't find me. Then he thought it was too late because he didn't do "it" at church. I made sure he understood everything and told him that he could be saved anywhere and at anytime. So I led him through a prayer of Salvation last night in his room.


He was pretty emotional and we explained that it was natural and how proud we were of him. This morning he was so excited to tell Dustin and Lauren his GREAT news and they were very happy for him. Dustin was saved years ago at about 10 years of age and Lauren was saved at 12.


We also told Wes that he had just made that most important decision of his life. More than College, finding a wife, a job, or even having children. I am so happy........ 3 kids saved and one to go.


I tell you there is nothing that blesses your heart more than to know that your child, no matter how old, has asked Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior and that you will spend eternity with them.


I pray for the Salvation of all my family and friends regularly. And I hope that you will answer when the Lord comes knocking. We are never promised tomorrow, so don't wait.


Love you all!

The greatest attribute of God is that He is a God of love. He loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, so that we might have new everlasting life (John 3:16). By His death and resurrection, Jesus paid for our salvation. He was raised from the dead by the Father and given life and authority over the powers of darkness. God now imparts that life and authority to all who come receiving His provision for their sin. God’s Word says that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. You can pray the following prayer right now to ask God to come into your heart so you can receive the new birth.

Old things pass away and all things become new in Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that according to your Word in John 3:3, I must be born again to see the kingdom of God. “Father I know I am a sinner. I believe Christ died for me. I believe that you shed your blood, died on the cross for me and rose again from the dead. I repent and turn from my sins. I need you Jesus. I no longer want to be in control of my life. Please come into my heart, forgive me of my sins and be my personal Lord & Savior from this day forward. Please give me the strength by your precious Holy Spirit to live for you. Please forgive me of my sins...I want to turn from my sins. Jesus, thank you for the gift of salvation... I promise to obey you with the help your Holy Spirit and to follow you all the days of my life.
In Jesus Name…. Amen”

Wordless

Wordless Wednesday

lazy weekend

Not alot going on lately. I did take the boys to Chucky E Cheese Friday night, along with Dustin's girlfriend, SIL Sharon and Colton and Christa. Was it fun? It was for the kids....... Stopped by Walmart on the way home to buy some video games and then headed home. Colton and Christa spent the night with us. The rest of the weekend was pretty much lazy..... I did manage to get some house work done Saturday and got my Christmas decor. put away. Lane was a little upset that I was taking down the tree. I made it to Sunday School and Church yesterday morning. It was good too. We are starting a new sermon series on Temptation. Whew! We all need a dose of it.
"I will not give the enemy an opportunity or foothold in my life." (Ephesians 4:27)

I am feeling better about dealing with Laura's death. I still think about it but try to start praying the moment I start. At work we have a prayer group that gets together at least once a week for prayer. I used to be involved in it a while back but had gotten out. I decided to rejoin them last week, as well as another employee. It is awesome to be allowed to pray at work. We join together with our prayer list and discuss all that are in need of prayer and join hands in a circle and pray one at a time. You don't have to pray out loud if you don't feel like it. I do though. That is actually the first group of people that I have prayed aloud in front of other than my family. This past week I praised God for leading me back to the group and thanked them all for always praying for my family.

Way to Go MOM!

This is good parenting of a teenager!

DES MOINES, Iowa - Jane Hambleton has dubbed herself the "meanest mom on the planet."

After finding alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.

The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer.
Call meanest mom on the planet."

And if you are wondering she did sell the car, and had received numberous amounts of phone calls giving her a "Way to go Mom!".

Missing Pages

I bought this CD when I found out that Colleen, my sister, was addicted to Prescription Drugs. I have hope for my family members that suffer with addiction. I pray continually for all of them, but I also pray for the generational curse stop with me.
Here are the words:
Missing Pages By: Seventh Day Slumber
On the outside all we see is clay
That hides the perfect light
But no one really knows the pain inside
I understand how much it hurts
To be the one who’s never seen
The missing pages in a magazine
No one knows you anymore
You’re lost inside the walls you’ve built
No one knows you anymore
A prison deep within your soul
There is One who sees it all
He’ll give you life you’ve never dreamed
He can see the pain underneath your skin
It’s hard to see you fading
Nothing that I do can bring you back
I pray to God that you don’t fade away
Your addiction is a symptom of a lost and dying soul
Without Jesus there’s no hope at all
There’s so much more this is not the end
It’s all in your hands don’t throw it away
A beautiful life with so much to give
The image of God underneath your skin

The beauty of God underneath your skin (3x)

Now the video is a little different than I expected but it is also a fact of life and Jesus loves them too......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccmT1jBwb5U

Wordless

Wordless Wednesday

The Lord's Favor

Today I got a gift from the Lord. $500. bucks to be exact! Praise God! I was in complete shock when I got the check. I called Stacy from Church to find out why they had giving me a check like that. She told me that everything that I have been going through that it was a Love Offering from the Church...... Hello? Thank God! Isn't it great how the Lord knows just when to give you favor. He is so good to me and my family. This week Chris started his new job and will be with out a paycheck this week. Being that the Lord already knew that and I was fretting on how I was going to get all my weekly bills paid, He made the way!

Psalm 116:12

How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?

A rough weekend

Monday again, Thank God I made it through the weekend. Friday after work a large group from work went to Laura's Visitation at her Church. It was unbelievable all the people that were there. I was alright until I saw her boys and her husband. I just feel so bad for them. I got to meet her parents and her brother for the first time. Great people. They miss her terribly. Saturday morning was the funeral. That was very difficult. There were so many people there. I am guessing about 2000. Their Church will seat about 1400 and there was loads in the balcony and standing room only. It was a very lifting service as well as a tribute to her life. It lasted over a hour and then majority of them went to the cemetery as well.


I woke up in the early hours of Saturday morning to use the restroom and realized I had an UTI. So I was uncomfortable during the services. But I made it home close to 2 p.m. I didn't do a thing all day. Chris had plans to take the kids and a group of their friends Bowling that evening. It worked out well with just Lane and I being at home. Since I have been having trouble sleeping we went to bed by 8 p.m.


Sunday morning I woke with pains from the UTI and also a terrible sinus headache. By late afternoon, I was able to kick my family in gear to help clean up the heaping piles of junk throughout my house. It was one hell of a week and I didn't do crap. As a result, it took all 6 of us to get it close to normal yesterday. I still didn't get my Christmas decorations put up, maybe this weekend.


Maybe this week we will be able to get back to normal routines at work. I have a call into my pastor to set up a time to meet with him. I just really need to get spiritual guidance through all this. I don't want to loose my grip with my faith and the enemy has really been doing a number with some unanswered questions and thoughts. I know I will never know "WHY" but I just need to talk with him.

In Memory Laura A Smith

We all need to call

On God’s holy power

When we’re in our deepest need

And in our saddest hour

God is never distant

He sheds a tear with you

He knows the pain your feeling

And what you’re going through

When you place your hope

In His undying love

You will know His peace

Like a mighty rushing flood.

© By M.S.Lowndes

Real Bad Meltdown

Last night was a rough one. For 3 nights in a row Lane didn't have his medication. I know it was my fault but New Years Eve we spent the night at SIL's house unexpected and then the next day we stayed there all day until evening and he was asleep when we got home. Wed. night he was already asleep when I got back from Austin. But it is a definite that his medicine has been working. I just didn't realize how well until his over an hour long melt down last night. I did notice that he was a bit more moodier that morning but I just figured he was tired and he has a little cough too. Yesterday evening he was in a bad mood when we got home and went into a complete meltdown when it was time for a bath. Chris figured since he needed a bath that he would do it then beings he was already in a bad mood. I ran to town to get a few things from the store and when I got back 20 mins later it was horrible. Screaming, crying, throwing things, knocking things down, hitting, kicking, name calling, etc. It is one of the worst rages he has been in, in a long time. It really tested Chris. I was pretty proud of him and how well he handled it. It is hard for him to keep his cool through all of that and he did good. But now he knows where I keep the medicine and he knows to give it to him every night even when I am not there to see that he gets it.
We still don't have a diagnosis and won't for a long time, but we (the doctor and us) are leaning towards Bipolar. It is so clear with him having so many of the symptoms. We have a long road ahead and I keep praying for the strength to deal with this. It is all new to me. None of my other kids have gone through something like this and it is very difficult to adapt too. But there is a plenty of resources and information for me to read up on. And that is just what I have been doing. But Prayer is my main source.

SHOCKING

I lost a good friend and coworker yesterday. I am in just complete shock over it. A 37 year old, good, loving, beautiful person, wife, mother of 2 beautiful boys, but all that doesn't compair I guess to the thoughts she had of herself. She took her own life early yesterday afternoon. She dropped her boys to her parent's house and was in a good mood, smiling, talked about meeting them for lunch at 11:30. But she never came to work. Instead she went up the highway a couple of miles and turned off on a county road. Went down about 1/2 a mile or so pulled up to a gate to a hay pasture and only she knows how long she sat there. But the call came into 911 at 1:26 pm.
I just wonder what all was going through her head, how long was this planned, was it from the years of depression and guilt from her twin sister's suicide about 18 years ago? All of us at work today are just numb, confused, lots of unanswered questions.
I guess you really don't know about people even though you think you know them... I just feel so bad for her family. Her boys, husband and her parents. They are reliving what they went through with her twin sister all those years ago.
Now we wait for the services and try to live life as well as we can. Try to get through the day with out driving ourselves crazy with all the questions and thoughts running through our heads.