Psalm 32:8

I know I've said it before and I will probably end up saying it many times in my life, but God has surprisingly blessed me beyond my imaginations. 

These past few months have been filled with obstacles. My family and I have experienced heartache, confusion, and joy. 

More importantly though, we've all learned what it's like to completely fall in love with a family. It's unreal how God orchestrates and puts people into your life. You could be close to those people for years and not know exactly why they're are in your life and then all of a sudden in a matter of less than a year His plan explodes. 


While I believe and know that God is good, and His plan is always perfect, I find myself questioning Him. I recall times where I've just sat and cried, yelling at Him and asking Him how He could let things happen. 


Why does He let tragedies happen? That question raced through my mind so many times. It tore me apart and made me absolutely miserable. 

Instead of trusting Him, I worried myself to tears. What good does that do?


Have you ever had that moment where you stop and realize that you're an idiot? That all your worrying and frustration was just an attack of Satan and your own selfishness? That if you would have just given all your worthless burdens to our Heavenly Father He would have comforted you. 


I have. 


Bad things are going to happen. God is going to test us and put us through trials that we never thought would happen to us. As a kid whenever someone would die or get super ill, I always thought God did that cause we were bad & He was punishing us. 


But that's not the case at all. 


He's doing it because He loves us. Sometimes He wants to get our attention. And sometimes, He wants us to seek Him so that His glory can be shown.

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

I've learned that whenever I stop thinking of myself, when I stop thinking I can control things, and when I give up everything to my Creator...is when His glory shines. His flawless plan begins to reveal...


And the best part is, it isn't over.


I want to die knowing that I fulfilled my purpose on this earth, serving & living for my Savior. If I'm constantly thinking I know it all I won't be able to do that. 

I'm ready to start living, fighting, and giving everything to Christ. 

2 Timothy 1:11-12  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

~Hayley 

Wow times gone really fast Wednesday the 16th my sister got her permit and drove us home little scary she almost hit a mail box and guard rail . :o But where fine :) And but time fly's past i cant believe it . 

Natalie

 

   

I Need Some Help!

Last July my husband had the privilege to visit The Lakota Native Americans in South Dakota.  He has felt a stirring in his soul to help this group of people who are living right here in America in some of the most extreme impoverished conditions imaginable.

As a family, we have began to talk about what we can do as a family to show the love of Jesus to them. Of course, there are numerous ideas floating around and there are numerous needs.  As a mother, of course my heart is drawn to the children.  Children who are left to fend for themselves because their parents are addicted to alcohol.  Children who are used to living with 15-20 people in a Government Provided home that has one bathroom and 4 bedrooms.

A sign hanging in a Recreation Center that is open daily for children to attend.

I have heard the stories.  I have seen the pictures.  And now I want to see.  I want to feel. I want to experience what is truly going on in South Dakota. 

That is where my plead for help comes in.  I have never had to raise money for a trip before.  I have never had to ask for donations before.  But I guess there is a first time for everything!  In order for me to be able to experience The Lakota people in South Dakota I am going to have to come up with $1,200.  In a some what short period of time.  We are scheduled to leave July 21st, 2012. 

Can you help?  I also have the backing of an organization so that your donation can be tax deductible, if you are interested.

Thank you in advance!

Blessings!
Misti

 

Life Lessons LIVE & in progress....

Don't you just love when life throws you a situation when you can teach your children something that will stick with them for (what you desire) will be a lifetime.  We try to look for these frequently in our household and call them "teachable moments."  Sometimes the teachable moment is something little. Sometimes it is a bit larger.  I am usually always so happy when a situation like this arises.  However, moments like these aren't always so fun when YOU are actually the one learning the lesson right along with your children.

For the past 2 weeks I have really been trying to share with my children  how words are so powerful.  In fact, if you would ask my 12 year old, he would be able to tell you that he has heard, "Once you say a word you can NEVER get it back."  A few times the past few weeks.

Well, I am ashamed to admit that I became the object lesson for this "teachable moment".  Yesterday, I was in the middle of several things.  I was teaching, cleaning up the kitchen, checking my email on my iPad, and even attempting to communicate via text to someone.  I wasn't really in the moment of any one of the things I was doing.  And I certainly wasn't thinking about what was in my thoughts or what I have been trying to teach my children the past few weeks.  And that is when it happened.  In between a phonics lesson & helping another one of my children with a Literature question I popped onto my email (that I hadn't checked since morning) read an email and picked up my phone to share MY ridiculous feelings at that particular moment about someone, who is important in my life.  With another person.

How many wrong things can you see in this last paragraph?  First off, I needed to be more in the moment with my children (a few posts ago I talked about that and my conscious effort to look into the persons eyes I am communicating with.)  Second, was there anything that pressing at the time that I needed to find in my email?  NO!  Thirdly, Fourthly, Fifthly..... when I had a ridiculous thought pop into my head did I take the time to really think about what I was thinking or what I was really saying and SHARE WITH ANOTHER PERSON?  Did I take a few seconds to remember that once you say a word (or in my case words) that I will NEVER be able to get it back?  Another resounding NO!

So then it happened, I hit SEND.  And a little while later, when I checked my phone.  I had a text from the person I was thinking unkind things about asking me if they were supposed to have received the text I had sent.



OUCH!

Ouch, for me yes.  But a bigger OUCH for the innocent person who didn't do a single thing wrong.

I felt awful.  I felt awful before I sent what I sent because in the very last part of what I wrote I put...BOY, I have a bad attitude.  Well, then why in the world did I even justify sending what I sent.  Anyway, it is done.  It is over.  I have apologized multiple times.  And I have been told I am forgiven.  But it still doesn't change the fact that I will never get those words back.  It will never change that I hurt that person deeply with my senseless words.

I have asked for my forgiveness from whom I hurt.  I have asked for forgiveness from God.  And I have also asked for forgiveness from my precious children who watched me deal with this situation.

So there you have it, my not so fun teachable moment.  Life is full of ups and downs.  None of us are perfect and will make mistakes.  What makes a person who they are is if they learn from their mistakes.  I certainly have, and am so grateful for forgiveness from all involved.

  Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. 

~Proverbs 21: 23

 

Works Like Magic

For several months I have been reading about all sorts of natural cleaning techniques. I have pinned many on my Pinterest board. One of the reasons I was hesitant to get onto Pinterest was the fear of getting all these "great" ideas and never putting the to use. I am not on the site very often, and have been very cautious as to what I decide to pin because I want to pin items/ideas that I am going to use.  Anyway, enough about my personal Pinterest and onto why I decided to write this post anyway.

 The most recurring theme around all of the cleaning remedies is that baking soda and white vinegar can be used in most of your house hold cleaning. On Saturday, I went to the store to do my bi-weekly grocery shopping and I loaded up on Baking Soda and Vinegar.  How can you go wrong when a box of baking soda is .50?

On Monday I decided to give it a try.  I mean seriously, if I attempt to clean my tub & shower with baking soda and it doesn't work I'm out a whopping 50 cents.

I covered the surface area with warm water.
Opened a box of baking soda.
Dumped baking soda all over the shower & tub.
Walked away & did something else for about 15-20 minutes.
Took a wet rag warmed it with water and proceeded to wipe.

Now here is a small disclaimer:  I am embarrassed that my tub & shower have as much soap scum on it that it does.  Cleaning it on a weekly basis kind of got left by the way side this past winter.  I have since dug out my cleaning schedule and have started to get back on track.  Each week I have been laboring over my tub/shower trying to get this dumb stuff off.

When I started to wipe off the baking soda all of that soap scum that has been built up for several months just wiped off clean!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I sent my 6 year old to find my husband to show him how easy it was.

So there you have it...an overly long post on how baking soda removes soap scum and crud from your tub & shower.  I would encourage each of you to give this a try.  It is even safe for you to do.  No more breathing in toxic fumes and hours of scrubbing & scraping.

What have you tried to make your cleaning a little easier?