Got this book from Jen. I read the first chapter this morning. Enlightening.....Carole Lewis tells how gratitude brings hope and healing to our lives .... and she knows first hand. She lost her 39 yr. old daughter to a drunk driver, leaving 3 kids and her husband behind. Her comment at the end of the chapter is what I thought was interesting. "I am convinced today that we cannot become the people God wants us to become unless we learn to accept what we cannot change"......

Weekend recap.....

Vol. both services Sat. night. Tim brought 10 carloads of people from Lancaster city. Found out after they all got there that he had brought some gang members who were "armed".... that set security in action:) The girls who informed him didn't think they would try to harm anyone, they were more worried they might try to steal from the offering. Everything was fine. It will be interesting to see if they come back and just what God has planned in that situation.

Sunday we were challenged to step outside our "safe places and comfortable ciricles" and make a difference in some peoples lives. And then I get a text from a neighbor inviting us to their house for New Years eve. Not the neighbors we usually spend time with....... def. out of our comfort zone...... we're going.With high hopes of someday being priveldged to be part of their "story".....

Sunday night we went to see our Oma who didn't come for Christmas becasue of the impending ice prediction. As it turned out she could have come. unfotunate. I took her the calendar we had made for her. She loved it. Ashley fixed her computer for her. 96 and computer literate..... hows that? She is amazing. We love her to death!

I took off this week babysitting (only would have had Lita) except tomorrow when I'll have Bobby J... to spend some time with Ashley . She has off for a few days here so we're gonna do something FUN:) I have my most favorite appointment today with very good timing. I used a free 3 day pass to the gym yesterday and did things I'v e never done before...

Mark(ie) gave everyone a nice (not so) wake up call......

A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery. An upscaleart dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel. A gusty woman with a stubborn dream. A story so incredible no novelist would dare to dream it.

It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana.... and an East Texas honky- tonk.... and without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda..... an upscale New Your gallery..... a downtown dumpster... a Texas ranch.

Gritty with pain and betrayaland brutality, it also sines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

Found this book on a blog I read. They are going to read it for their book club starting Jan.1..... I finished it Sunday night. If you want to see a short video with the authors go over to Angies blog at http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

Mandies family came last night...... and loved it. Her  step-dad told me he hasn't been to church in 30 years .... and he thinks he will come back.....Little Bobbi J looked downright adorable in his little 3 piece suit! I am going to be  watching him every Tuesday now starting next week. The boys are so excited!

snow, snow ,snow..... kinda ruined the weekend. At least we have Mon. and Tues. to move the Christmas Eve services to.... so tonight it starts. All Mandies family are coming tonight. Neighbors tomorrow night. I have to go to school with Lilah today. Jess only saw the paper in her backpack last night that she needed a "parent" to be with her today..... so sure. I'llbe her parent:) I've been pretending that for years anyway:)

Ash and I went shopping on friday. She's a bad influence on me.....bought lots of cute stuff.....:) She kept telling me that I "had to have this or that". She says she needs to keep me up with the styles. I'm up now! All good deals, of course. It really was lots of fun. We met up with my Aunt Connie and Kelley for  a little break in the food court. When we parted ways we all hopped on the escalator- only it wasn't moving, so we had to walk. It was getting a little backed up and we realized that some poor old guy was just standing there, thinking we were moving because the other side was and it did kinda throw you off.... anyway, I gently told him that we wern't moving and that he's have to walk up, that was  a news flash to him.

Well, I  must get going.My list is loooong today, it's looonnnng all week. Lilah is serenading me with her rendidtion of the ABC song.... very interesting.

Tomorrow I will share a book with you that I read this past weekend.....

So many people have been asking so I thought I should do a quick update. She is doing remarkably well. Everyone is just amazed! She was back at church last week with crutches and this week without!!!.She had xrays last Friday which showed healing was taking place but not back to normal yet and probably won't be for  a year , they said. They said if she feels like she can walk without the crutches, then she can....

Devan is now wrestling with Mt. Calvarys free wrestling program. He practices 2x a week. He seems to like it. We are finishing up school this week, then off for awhile. I don't know who is more ready for a break, them or me.... I am reading  a GREAT book to them that was referred  t me by a bunch of different people. " The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. It really is good. A very easy read.

Had  a phone call last night from Jonnies parents (foster child we had for 3 years) They are such lost,poor souls.....it's a shame. I wish they were closer. They said they are going to come up for  a weekend in January. Jon is in a "school" for boys, has 4 or 5 diaognosis and is on as many meds. Not really doing that well. Paul and Deb had a court hearing in Oct. where they were told the goal for Jon had been changed to adoption because they don't hink Paul and Deb can handle him- and they are right, they can't. He should have been put to adoption right away when he went into care the very first time. Then maybe he would have had a chance.

Well, it's windy and COLD.... my favorite weather:) Got alot to do today before it's over.....

Had a couple people wondering why the lack of blogging this past week. Sometimes I feel like there isin't anything worthy of writing down. But it is nice to know that people are checking:)

This is how the weekend started at our house. Apparently working out in  the freezing cold on the roof of Reeces wasn't enough to wear the two of these guys out. This was quite  a scuffle.... Guess who won? and guess who wasn't really  too happy about losing????

I convinced Mark to let me have a little holiday gathering. I really wanted Mandies family to come over so we could get to know them a little better. I felt kinda bad that I hadn't really reached out to her Mom prior to the accident. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to get our attention. So, they came as well as a few others. It was a really nice evening- even Mark said so:) ( I told him he would, I know him better than he knows himself!) To top it all off, I was able to give out 16 tickets for the Christmas Eve services. Madies whole family, sblings and significant others all want to come..... all things work together, even accidents..... AND another neighbor whom I have been inviting for over a year now is also coming with her husband and kids... so......YEAH God! Found out Sunday that over 17,000 tickets have gone out. I cannot wait to vol. these services.

This punch was .......very good:)

Very small and simple.....

Saturday we spent running errands and getting last min. Christmas stuff done. Vol. both Sat. night. Incidentially, Tim had to leave 30 people standing on the streets of Lancaster city Sat. night....30 people.... He said he's willing to GIVE a 15 passenger van to anyone who will help  go get these people Sat. nights.....

Sunday was ......well, nervewracking. I was up at 5:15 am to fullfill a commitment. Was worried about the freezing rain we were to be getting. As it turned out, it was all dry driving  to my destination. THEN it began.... I was chomping at the bit to get going because of the weather and I wanted to get back to church for 2nd service. I made it, had to park 3 miles away. I think I missed the1st song. Came home and burnt the cresent rolls we were having with lunch, listened to alot of complaining that we weren't having the "regular" Sunday lunch, and decided to go back to bed! Got up a couple hours later to get ready for our lifegroup Christmas dinner. Mark asked what time it started, I looked at our schedule and it didn't have a time so I asssumed - WRONGLY- that it was our normal time.....At 5:20, while I was killing time before warming up the bread I was taking, Jeanette called and asked it we were coming....it had started at 5. Great. I HATE to be late. We were late, I had to warm the bread at Stacys. It all turned out ok.It was a fun night.

PS. Devan' s 56 group of kids shot hoops last weekend in hopes to raise $ 120,000 to build a school for the delet kids ....... how's $175,000? They now have enough to get busses, drivers, teachers and I think he said desks.....way to go kids!

• Oct. 3, 2007 - Great Article for anyone dealing with disappointments

Disappointments - we all have our fair share of them don't we? People let us down (sometimes the people we love the most). Finances get tight. The kids start grumbling. And then the appliances start breaking - or the car - or maybe both! I've learned over the years that homeschooling brings a very unique type of stress. To me it's like snowball stress. Since most of your life is focused around home, when things aren't going well at home, it feels like everything is out of whack. And then I don't know about you, but I feel guilty if I can't be Suzy Sunshine through it all. I mean, I KNOW the joy of the Lord is my strength. I KNOW He has a wonderful plan. He's proven Himself time and time again, but sometimes it's just a lot to handle. And then I struggle because I'm struggling. I just don't want God to be disappointed in how I'm handling things. A friend reminded me though of how Jesus wept with Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. He didn't ridicule them. He didn't question their faith. Our dear sweet Savior wept right alongside them. And then He did a miracle. (John 11) So if you're stuggling today or you're even struggling because you're stuggling, remember that God not only goes before us and behind us, but He also goes right through the trials with us. He weeps with us and He cheers for us. And while we may be disappointed with how things are going, we don't have to worry that He's going to leave us. In fact He may be planning something even bigger in our lives.

...... new series at church. This week was "The voice in my head". What we are choosing not to ignore this week is the voice of God.

In Psalm 119:97 David says that throughout the day Gods instructions come to mind and he thinks about them...... What  am I thinking about all day???

119:98- They (instructions) have so saturated  my mind that they come to mind when making decisions...

119:99 David talks about having insight to see the "big" picture when others simply see "dots".

119:100 - Obedience brings insight- on the other side of obedience, there is clarity.

119:101-102- David says it's like God himself is personally teaching him.     Amazing that the God of the universe would take th etime to personally teach me.......

119:103-104- As David read Gods instructions , it shaped his values.

119:105- God knows the circumstances of our lives, that's why he gives us a lamp and a light to shine on our path.

There are going to be times when we don't know what God is doing....If He told us up front where He wanted to take us, we would choose not to walk the road. He just says follow. Clarity will come....

Full Attention - Jeremy Riddle

May your voice be louder, May your voice be clearer...than all the others

May your face be dearer, May our words be sweeter... than all the others

May your light be brighter, May your love grow deeper... than all the others

In my life,please keep my eyes fixed on you... keep me abiding that I might bear fruit...

Devan shot hoops all afternoon yesterday for "Hoops of Hope".... I went shopping:)  The kids are DONE.And when I got home, my big pile of wash was all folded in VERY neat piles (I looked around for my mil.... ) I really should have taken a picture of it. So who was the laundry fairy? My hubby!!Thankyou:)

What a way to start the day......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FObjd5wrgZ8

Added to
Quicklist 7:57

Not enjoying this blustery weather we are having. Didn't get to walk yesterday due to rain, hopefully we can go today. It's been a relaxing week with school, reviewing and playing some good educational games. Now Dillan is home , so we'll be back at it today.

Chris (far left). Tommy, Dillan and Tyler. Chris got the coyote, Dillan was with him. I love this picture of the boys. What great memories they will have. A big thankyou to the Polous' and Groves for allowing him to be up there with all of you!!

Well, she's home.....took awhile to get in the the van, but we made it. Hopefully, at home she will  be able to rest better than in the hospital. She is in  a great deal of pain, but is thankful to have been spared.I'm anxious to see how her night went. We will be watching little Bobby J for them today. Dillan has already offered to "totally take care of him". He knows Dillan much better than me so thats good.... Lilah has a program today at her preschool that I would like to go to. I'll have to see how Dillan is doing with Bobby.  Gearing up for T-giving here with lots of family, a couple elderly folks , and at least one friend- young girl with a baby who would otherwise be alone. There is much to be thankful for. It will be interesting to see how we will do this with the new kitchen layout. I have a few ideas up my sleeve:)

What do you do when there's "nothing to do?" ... why you make pine needle people, of course.... Devan, Cade, and Sam had fun  doing this one day last week..... I wondered if you saw this, Jen..... you were doing a lesson at the time...

Derek was among 60 other people to get baptized this past weekend at lcbc. Once again, amazing stories of lives changed.....

My gr8! brothers.... one is always texting , the other never does:)

Mark and the unhappy spider pig....

Those are Nathan's hotdogs on the grill. If you've never tried them- you must.

Hope, Kim and Dawn....

Tim and Kim Funk, being greeted by Jena... These people are amazing. They take a 15 passenger van into Lancaster city (along with as many other drivers as he can get....)...they walk or drive the streets asking whoever is outside walking or on their porches if they want to go to church. He brings them, has15 large pizzas delivered at the church (after the service), then takes them all back home. He has been doing this for alittle over a year. He has about 50 repeats every week, anong with 20 or so brand new people. Sometimes they are lined up for a ride and because of room, he has to tell them "maybe next week"....he needs help! He doesn't want to do a bus because he is trying to build relationships with the people while they drive and a bus would be too  impersonal. I am so impressed by what he is doing and absolutly amazed that people just get in the van. He picked up a couple and a baby last week. He stopped and asked them if they wanted to go, they asked if there was room for  a stroller, he said" yup- throw it in the back" and they came! Don't tell me people are not seeking.....I already vol. both services Sat. night (while he's doing this pick-up)- I'm checking all these kids in as they come, but I would love to go with them sometime. I'd really love to take my boys!

So hats off to you guys, Tim and Kim! God Bless you!!!

Congrats Derek!!!!

Dillan was born 8:40 on  a Sunday morning. Adorable little guy he was,head full of dark hair and blue eyes. He is the comedian of the family - more so when he was younger -but every once in awhile that part of him still comes out. He is quiet around strangers, does NOT like to be put on the spot, and loves hanging out with his friends and is extremly independent much like his sister. He enjoys riding dirt bike, skateboarding, hunting, fishing and playing video games. We are so blessed to have Dillan in our family.

I'd love to hear any memories you have of Dillan growing up..... feel free to leave any comments. I'll be printing them and putting them with his birthday scrapbook page:)

Devan got a black eye in the two min. he was out playing football with the neighbor kids. He got kicked...

So, he found this eye patch to wear.....

It was a beautiful day - near 70, so we decided to go walk part of the trail we had never walked before. It was soo nice.

These last two were some of Eric's photograghy. It was interesting to see all the pics he took and what he thought was interesting. Alot of them were blurry  from zooming in too far but these 2 were ok....

This weekend at church was Family dedication. We had 63 families dedicating children . The children's pastor said that of the 52 weeks in a year, our attendance reports show that these kids will be at Lcbc 42 of those weeks- he poured 42 M&M's into a glass jar to represent the 42 hours we have to teach these kids about Jesus.However, then he went on to say that even those those 42 hours are great, parents have 2-3 thousand hours of influence on their kids from the time they get them up for school , then from when they get home, summers, weekends ect.So he poured 3,000 more M&M'sinto the jar. Of course I  had to double that time in my mind with homeschooling. Wow! thats alot of hours and alot of influence. Two of those M&M's came back to me by way of encouragement yesterday. I get Ashleys facebook status updates fwd to my phone.Yesterday she wrote out Jer.29:11......( Yup, He really does Ash:) and then last night, Dillan came in my room to talk to me about his plans for today, he left with an "I love you Mom"....... he'll be 17 on Sat.

I have one more thing to post but I need to take a pic first.....

I thought I better capture this on film so  I could actually look back on it from time to time:) 

Confessions of a homeschooling Mom-

It didn't feel very joyful yesterday when it seemed like a lion was left loose in my kitchen. All 3 boys were not being their cooperative selves- imagine that. Alot was going on and none of it was good.. and I??? lost it. For a split second it occured to me that for YEARS now I could have  been  having everyday free and all to myself while these rowdy boys would be someones elses problem. What was I thinking? I really didn't know. The split second didin't last long. I KNOW why I want them here. The time we have shared over the last 17 years hold many precious memories and I really am grateful for  all of them- even the not so good ones which lead me back to why I am doing this in the first place....So I asked them if they really wanted to be here, they all said yes. I told them  that actions speak louder than words and I would be able to tell. And everything suddenly changed. For the good.