Good Morning. 

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted.  Oh well I will try to do better.  Life has been crazy busy as usual. 

Monday I got to take my oldest daughter to a christian leadership camp in Hot Springs Arkansas called High Point.  It was  about a nine hour drive with our little stops added in.  It was great to get to spend time alone together. 

She is such an amazing young woman.  She totally has a heart for the LORD.  God is so cool!  She came to me a while back and asked about doing a leadership badge for Girl Scouts.  She is a senior scout.  I said sure.  She then asked about ways to become a christian leader.  I went to my favorite retreat in April ( Hettie's womens retreats at Brook Hill Ranch).  While I was there they told us about a teen christian leadershio camp that they were having this summer.  I was like wow Lord that is exactly what L is asking about.  Unfortunately it was kind of pricey and in Hot Springs so I did not think she could go.

  God being totally awesome changed all that.  She is only 14 and will be 15 at the end of the summer.  Campers were suppose to be at least 15.  We called and they said it was okay.  Her daddys job has not been paying well lately so I thought money would prevent her from going.  She has been volunteering a lot at our church lately.  Our pastor decided to give her a scholorship to cover the cost of camp.  Everything that looked like it was going to prevent her has changed.  God is so good. 

I have lots more to write but this has been really long so maybe later I will write more.

Katie

Hi again,

I am actually posting for the second time this week.  How weird is that? 

I did not get to mess with the pictures the other night so that remains on the to do list.  Instead I decided to repaint my kitchen.  My house is very much a work in progress.  It will be beautiful some day I just know it.  My husband was very leary of my painting but I just  jumped in before he could stop me.  I only painted around the kitchen window to try out the color.  It is called cafe au late'. Everyone seems to like it.  If everyone still likes it by the weekend I will get more paint and try to finish it. 

School is still going well.  All except getting everyone up at 7 am.  The boys have football practice and don't get home till after 9pm and then they have to eat so they are going to bed after 10pm.  Waking them up is not going well.  Got to work on that. 

I am teaching the youth group at church tonight.  My DH is the director but he has to be at football practice.  We tried to get the nights switched but to no avail.  It is only for 2 months .  We are focusing on missions on Wed nights.  Anyone have any great missions  information or ideas for mostly jr high age kids.  They are great kids but other than mine most don't know much about the Word.  We are going to start a program for them to get sponsers for them to read the Word and then the money they earn will go to a mission program of their choice. 

 Well I gotta run. 

Have a great evening!

Katie

Hi everyone,

  I can't believe how long it has been since I posted.  I think I mentioned before that I am bad about getting side tracked. 

  Things have been busy as usual around here.  Today we did a light day of school since it is Labor Day.  They did Bible, Language Arts and Math.  I am really happy with how school is going this year. 

  My DH is home from work today so we all enjoyed lunch together. 

  After lunch we had quiet time.  While the kids were quiet I started to sort through the tons of clothes we have for them to grow into.  With 6 kids and not knowing if we will be blessed with more it is hard for me to give clothes up.  I am trying to at least get them organized. 

  Then I painted some magnets.  www.makinglearningfun.com has some great print outs to use with colored magnets for preschoolers.  They look like mosaics.  I could not find the magnets that the site recommends so I am painting my own.  It sseems to be working okay so far. 

  I really want to learn to post pictures so maybe I will work on learning how this afternoon. 

Anyway I just wanted to say Hi !  I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day. 

Katie

Don't you love to go to the library?  I do.  My oldest and my youngest  and I got to go yesterday.  Going to the library is a big trip for us.  It is over a hour away.  It takes us the biggest part of the day.  Yesterday  Doodle got done quick.  I had just started.  Little Turtle has gotten very mobile lately so he wanted to get down and explore.  This makes the library very interesting.  To Doodles dismay she was put on Turtle watching duty.  I needed lots of books.  Buddy wanted military books.  Rabbit aka Ballerina girl needed Patricia Polacco books for her Author Fiesta  study and flower and plant books for a new lapbook / notebook she is starting.  Cheetah boy needed dinosaur books for his new lapbook.  Lady bug just likes picture books to read.  I got 1 book on lasagna gardening that someone had told me about.  We went over the libray max of 100 books and I had to put 12 back.  How did that happen.  We sorted them all this morning.  Now the real fun begins.  Slipping into the world of books. What adventure will they take us on today?

Katie

I have made an awesome discovery.  Cay Gibson has set up this awesome blog called Author Fiesta.  She chooses a new childrens authors every month for us to investigate with our little ones.  They have done Patricia Polacco for May and they are doing Mem Fox this month.  We are starting with Patricia Polacco because our little local library had more of her books available to check out.  This morning we read Babushka Baba Yaga.  It was a great story.  The Author Fiesta site has links to lots of cool stuff related to the athor.  We got to print a mini poster of the book, send an e-mail, take a little quiz and have a very cool discussion about judging someone we don't know.  If you want to join the fun check it out at www.caygibson.typepad.com/author_fiesta/ . Leave me a comment if you try it out. 

Sorry I havn't blogged more lately.  I was afraid nobody was reading this but I have decided to blog anyway.  We are having fun here starting to take school a little lighter.  Always busy as usual though. 

My sweetie teases me that I have been praying again.  I once prayed for rain and  we got a major flood.  I prayed for our finances and an unexpected check came in.  Yesterday, I was reading a blog that talked about turning the tv off and spending time together as a family in the evenings.  My family does not do this enough "according to me".  We are together but doing different things.  The tv is usually on.  my family enjoys watching American Idol together.  My husband had me start the grill early last night so we could finish eatting before it started.  We were doing good.  Then the power went out.  No Idol.  Instead we sat outside and talked and watched the kids play.  My Ladybug (3) put on her sister's super girl cape and ran around the yard making us laugh.  My Prayer Warrior(10) took pictures of everyone.  My Cheetah Boy (6) showed us how fast he could run.  My Worship Dancer (8) sang as a beautiful song.  My Jesus Freak (13) played piano for us.  My Little Turtle(10mon)  smiled and watched everyone.  We cooked dinner completely on the grill (even the mac and cheese).  It was wonderful.  I never prayed that the power would go out.  I guess God heard the prayer of my heart.  He is so Good. Now of course my prayers are no more effective thatn anyone elses but it sure is fun to watch God answer them. 

K 

I am the worst person about letting everything get me sidetracked.  I am so easily distracted.  Today I  did my bible study, straightened my room,  made fruit smoothies,  picked up trash in the back yard that the dog had scattered, cleaned the kids outside toys, made pizza,  fed the baby,  gave the baby his first cookie ( biter biscuit ), gave him a bath in the sink, and now I am eatting my lunch. 

No school done today.  I have to be better about prioritizing.  It still feels like a good day.  I better go do some school.

K

  My heart is sad this morning. 

  Our pastor retired yesterday.  He was a wonderful leader and truly was used by the Lord.  I will miss him very much. 

  Our associate pastor was nominated to take his place.  aAvote was taken last night to allow him to step in as interim pastor.  The vote came back no.  This really breaks my heart.

  My family is new to this church.  As this vote was coming closer many people came to us to try to influnce our vote one way or another.  It seemed some people held unforgiveness in their hearts for something that happened 4 years ago.  At first I ( in the flesh) could see some of thier points .  But as I went back and prayed about it, God asked me what about mercy and forgiveness.  The Apostle Paul came to mind repeatedly.

  Either way our church has now lost two great men of God.  We will be much poorer without them.  I know that God has a place for both of them to go and do his work.  I am just so sad that it had to happen this way.  I pray that through this our church will not become divided further .  Unfortunately all the signs are there.

  Please pray for us.  For unity again.  For the man God has to lead us.  For Satan not to gain a foothold through this having happened.  For these pastors and their families as they move on to where ever God is calling them. 

  Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.  I know I am not a great writer. I just wanted to write out my  thoughts as the Lord continues to teach me.  I love reading other peoples blogs.  Please leave a comment if you read mine so I will know someone is there. 

K

   Good Morning,

   This morning I have been reading God's promises of blessing and curses when we keep or break his covenant.  He asks us to choose life.  As I sit here, I can hear the birds outside singing.  I can hear the baby waking up.  I can see the new growth on the trees and the flowers poppping up everywhere.  I can hear him through out his creation saying " CHOOSE LIFE"  Thank you God for choosing to give me this gift.  May I consistently choose life and always walk in a way that pleases you. 

   Gotta run now the baby is choosing to get up and play now.

   K

Good morning,

   I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  Ours was busy but they almost always are.  My sweet little boy turned six.  That is amazing to me.  He was just born I am sure of it. 

   This morning as I was working on my bible study, it had us looking at the tabernacle that Moses built.  I was really struck by the alter of incence.

   God remimded me that my prayers are not perfect.  I forget things that I should say.  I never praise God enough.  I don't ask forgiveness for everything that I should.  Sometimes I just don't know what to say.  Jeseus is there.  He knows what I forget.  He knows my heart.  He sees my imperfections .  He loves me through it all.  He goes to the Father for me and asks for mercy for a foolish child that stumbles and messes up but always wants her fathers love and approval.   He brings me in and dusts me off and says Daddy please give her another chance she wants to do better. 

   How incredible is that.  The creator of all things, the God of the universe,  the Lord of lords and the King of kings takes the time to go to the Father and ask him to forgive me .  I am so humbled by this this morning.  I can just see him there standing at the door to the throne room in heaven waiting to take my hand and escort me to his father one more time.  He says it's all going to be okay, don't worry, I will go with you.  You don't have to be afraid.  How I love my Jesus. 

    Thank you Jesus for your sweet love and incredible mercy. 

   Have you met my friend Jesus?  He will walk with you too.  He wants you to come and meet his Daddy.

   K

Good Morning. 

I try to have a quiet time with the Lord in the morning before all my blessings get up and we start our day. 

I am curently doing a Kay Arthur precept study on Covenant.  It amazes me how the Lord can teach you something new out of something you have read over and over before.

Today I was reading about when God gave Moses the ten commandments.  I am struck by God's patience when we as people just like the Israelites continually do not give him the honor and respect that He so clearly deserves.  I know that as much as I would like it to be otherwise, I am guilty. 

I am so thankful for the blessings that God gives but when hard times come I do not always seek him first.  I am learning but not as quickly as I want to.  Thank you God for giving me another chance. 

I was really touched by something Mose said to God.  " Oh Lord, If I have found favor in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us.  Although this is a stiff necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance. "

I know I am stiff necked but I pray that God will forgive my wickness and sin and allow me to rest in his favor.  I pray that he will take my family as part of his inheritance.  I want to praise him again for his mercy and compassion.  He truly is an awesome God.

Have a blessed day as you walk with the Lord!

K

I decided last week to start a blog because my daughter is having so much fun on hers.  She helped me to set it up and was very excited that I was going to join her in this new adventure.  Since then I have not had time to write anything so here it sat.  This morning she told me she wrote on my blog because I never do.  I am going to start making time.  I don't have long now because my three youngest have a doctors appt to go to.  I just wanted to say "Hi".  Now I have to go.  Hope to chat soon.

K

Hello. My mom dosn't have time to write right now so I will for her. She dosn't know I'm doing this. Hehe.  Anyway shes dosn't have time because she has 6 kids to take care of. Yeah, right know shes getting ready to take my little brothers and sister to the doctor. Well I tell her to write.

                                                                                                  Jesusfreak13