Let the dancing and games begin...

We had quite the restful day at home. Micah was feeling a little under the weather and Dakota is still cutting that tooth and fighting a bad diaper rash. It is always good to have a day like this every now and then. I think I played every child's game that we own with Micah... more than once. He loves games. The funny thing is that he always seems to win. Maybe thats why he loves them so much.

Caitlyn spent her typical day playing dress up. She loves to put on "shows" and today she wanted to make sure we captured her "dancing show" with the camera. I love how she will line up all the little kids chairs in a row for all of us to watch her. Lately she has been saying she wants to be a ballerina when she gows up.

She also spent a great amount of time reading today. She even read a couple of her short reading books to her sisters.

These kiddos sure know how to have fun!

Growing pains~

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. "

2Corinthians 4:8

I was remembering today how stretched I felt when I only had 3 kids. I remember the days that I would think to myself..."I can't do this! God help me!" He stretched me little by little. Then, I found out I was pregnant with sweet Dakota. I honestly struggled with the thought of having another one. I often found myself at church of all places "fighting" with God and wondering how in the world I was going to do it! I struggled throughout the entire pregnancy fighting pregnancy related sickness but even more so sickness of the heart. Doubt crept in and consumed me and I found myself crying out to the Lord over and over again. Why is it that I always have to learn the same lesson over and over? I can't do anything in my own strength. Every day I fight the very sinful nature I have that says..."I can do all things." Yeah right!

This morning has seen many challenges...definitely feeling hard pressed and perplexed at how to handle a very strong-willed little 3-year old boy, a fussy teething baby and a 2 year who is out to do anything to annoy her older brother.

Thank goodness that "His mercies are new every morning." I am needing an extra dose today.

I also can't imagine our family without precious little Dakota. God has definitely used her little life to stretch me more and rely on His grace. The stretching and growing is painful at times but at the same time very much of a blessing.

I wouldn't trade where God has placed me for anything in the whole world.

Even on days like this.

I can truly say that I love my pastor and I love my church. He spoke of something today that most of us don't want to think about: human trafficking.
It made me realize that I can no longer be content with just sitting by and doing nothing.
I have to pray.
I have to give.
I am blessed to have my children healthy and strong living in a safe environment
surrounded by love and peace.
I am blessed... and I don't know why~
but there are many out there who have lost their children,
children hurting, tortured, abused...in every way imaginable...sold as slaves.
What can I do?
Go to http://www.ijm.org/

Heading Home~

I just wanted to take some time to gather my thoughts and share about our experience in Tennessee. What a journey it has been to get to this point in our lives and in our marriage... I think that is why the trip was so meaningful and enjoyable. As a husband and father searching for a change in career I saw an excitement in Greg that got me excited.
Greg has always been a computer guy...quite the smart man I must say:) Everyone comes to him with computer questions or needs but deep down he has always known that he wants to do more... I know he does enjoy the challenge of working through a computer problem every now and then, but the day-to-day wears on him.
This trip opened a door for him. He learned a wealth of information and it set off an excitement in him for something that I believe he was made for. You see I have always seen Greg to be an amazing teacher. The first day we walked into the class on the front of his notebook read, "Counselor Training...for those with a heart of a teacher." I read this and knew that very description was a perfect match for my husband. I have always know him to be wise and as I said earlier I have always seen him to be a teacher. He has taught me numerous things and taught me well (now I am not saying that I am great at these things but his instruction was great). He has taught me how to snow ski, water ski, play tennis, use a camera, use a computer better, snorkel, slalom, clean a deer (OK so I have never cleaned one myself but he has shown me step by step), how to use a gun, how to manage money and stick to a budget, how to invest money, not to mention...how to not talk so much and listen more AND how to talk nicely of others without gossipping. He is great at calling me on that.
I also watch him work with Caitlyn and he can teach her almost when it comes to learning something in her schoolwork...that is definitely a time when I see his patience come out.
He has always proven to be an excellent teacher.
He has also always been a numbers and math guy and I believe the Lord has truly blessed him with wisdom beyond his years when it comes to finances and managing money...actually I think He has blessed with great wisdom period.
All this to say that the wisodm and information he has walked away with from this training is exciting. And i truly see him fitting into the role of a financial coach. I felt like we walked through a new door and he received an exciting opportunity to serve others. AND I know that my husband is going to do an amazing job.
Dave Ramsey's company, The Lampo Group is AMAZING. I have honestly never meet a more friendlier group of people. They each showed me personally a true servant's heart. The light of Christ beams from each one of them...literally. I didn't even go through the classes obviously but I feel like I can say that I don't think I have ever seen another group of people that on fire for Christ and changing the lives of people. They are excited and it is contagious. You can sense the excitment when you walk in the door. Thinking on the way home I wondered what makes them so different from many other groups and one word quickly came to mind: unity. They are each striving for the same goal and loving it.
I praise the Lord for our trip and the opportunity that Greg had to go through this training. We have truly been blessed. I pray now and will continue to pray that the Lord will use what Greg has learned to bless the lives of many others...that in everything His Name would be praised.

I did it!

So I got the courage to shoot a few pics of Dave Ramsey. It really is fun watching him do the radio show. He was smiling and waving...you can tell he really loves his job. I was taking pictures with a friend I met up here and we decided it would be a great idea to get our husbands out of the class to get some quick pics together. Just as we were discussing our "plan" the head organizer of the training walked out and we asked him if it was OK if we got our hubbies out of class for a minute. He went in to get them both and took the pictures for us. They quickly got back to the training and we stood talking to the leader for a few minutes. All of a sudden he quickly left and said, "stay here, I'll be right back." He came out of the main office and said, "follow me." Then he proceeded to take us into the Dave Ramsey show...he was on a commercial break so we got to say a quick hello of introductions and where we were from and telling him how much we appreciated what he does... and he just loved little Dakota, she was all smiles for him. After I told him how much I appreciated his work and the passion and vision he has I asked him if he was ever bothered by people like us who stand outside the show taking pictures...his response was funny, "It doesn't bother me, but I guess I just don't understand why people want to take pictures of this old bear in his cage."

Anyways, I must say that it was quite fun meeting him and I am glad that I got some pics!

Unidentified Flying Object...

As you can imagine I have had tons of quiet time here and I am loving it. I know I will go home feeling refreshed. Last night was a late one for Greg in training...he came back after 9pm and I found myself watching Larry King. Now, I don't usually watch him but there was absolutely nothing on and I just wanted something to keep my eyes open until Greg came back. Interestingly enough the show was on the UFO sighting in Texas and Larry King was interviewing several people who claim to have seen UFO's in their lifetime. I know you are wondering where I am going with this...I promise I have a point. It really got me thinking, perhaps mainly because one man on the show mentioned the spiritual world...a world obviously unfamiliar to us. Now, I am not saying that I believed the claims on the show or support the idea of aliens from strange planets...I support the truth...written in the Word of God. After the interviews on Larry King I found myself searching a website that was mentioned during the show about UFO's. I found a wealth of ideas of people believing in a man (it was capitalized like he was the true God) that would come from another world and take over the ruining of this world. People claimed that he would come and heal us and do all kinds of wonders...but he could not come until we were ready to receive him. All pronouns describing him were capitalized and he had various names but was always described in the same way. He is claimed to be the leader of all religions so no matter what background one comes from (Muslim, Catholic, Hindu) he is the ultimate god over all religion.
I was amazed at the blindness I saw and found myself reading in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, knowing that the WORD, the TRUTH, also describes this very same man, but in a very different way:
"Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day (the day of the LORD) will not come until the rebellion occurs, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple proclaiming himself to be God."
"For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed..."
"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love the truth and be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed in the TRUTH but have delighted in wickedness."
Reading this chapter brought back memories of my New Testament class at Letournea. My professor spent an entire class on this one chapter. He taught that the word in the original text for delusion is so great and overwhelming that it will test the elect, those chosen by Christ. Not forcing them to fall away obviously but force them to fall on their knees seeking the truth of the Word of God. Pushing them to a great limit.
I felt my heart pressing...wanting to know the WORD more and wanting to know my Savior more. I don't read His Word enough.
All this to say I truly feel we are close to the end of this world and I know the day will come when the whole world sees an "unidentified flying object" an object, a man that will bring a great delusion to this world. I also think too often I neglect the spiritual world and put off in my mind the battle that is being waged all around me in this dark world.
My favorite verse in the whole chapter is verse 8. When describing the lawless one it says "the one whom the LORD JESUS will overthrow with the BREATH of HIS MOUTH and destroy by the SPLENDOR of HIS coming." How effortless is HIS power.
I find myself wanting, desiring for that day to come and PRAYING that my children, my family, those that I love dearly will be by my side as we worship our KING.
I don't think there is any greater desire for me at this point in my life than knowing that my children have received the Word of Truth and in their hearts desire to worship their Maker and King.
So, I went from barely keeping my eyes open to falling on my knees in prayer for my children and those I know who are on a path of destruction... being reminded of the end times and the evil that it coming... AND being reminded to daily dig into the WORD, not JUST read it but hide the TRUTH in my heart...all from watching 10 minutes of Larry King. Its amazing what happens when you just listen. It is amazing that my Savior uses something like this to tug at my heart. It is amazing that my Savior loves me.

A little bit of history...

Baby is down for the night and Greg is still in classes...I can't wait

to hear about his day but for now I thought I would write

a little about mine.

Dakota endured her first historical guided tour,

and I must say she did really well.

I felt a little out of place with most people being in their 70's

but I dragged along another girl I met here who's husband is also in the training.

This is not something I would usually sign up for...

the funniest part about the whole thing was the fact

that our guide was a complete NERD.

The history behind the house was interesting...

a Civil War battle taking place there

and it later became a hospital site during the war.
There were quite a few original items in the house and the floor

had several blood stains from surgeries that took place there.

Anyways, I am not usually one who loves history but I found this very interesting.

I guess what draws me into to places like this is the incredible architecture.

It was a beautiful house inside and out and it was sitting on an amazing

piece of property.