simple prayer

VBS is coming soon and we are already well into the planning stages of it. We are going to try something different this year with crafts. Normally the teacher is responsible for doing a craft with their own students each night. This year we are going to have a craft teacher who is responsible for doing crafts with everyone. That person would be me!!

I wanted to think of things that would not go home and go in the trash, never to be seen or thought of again. When I very first started thinking of things I could do (with the help of pinterest) I realized some of the projects I would love to do will be expensive for our small church (like ty-dying t shirts). I just began to pray that God would show me what was best for us to do and help me get everything worked out. Nothing major, I think I was in the car or something and had it on my mind and was just talking to God as if He was beside me.

I decided I would just keep my eye open for the next few months for any kind of deal I could find on anything in large quantities.

So there I was in Kmart, a few weeks later....I know where they "hide" all their clearance racks and I make frequent trips there to check just them. I had found a few things for the kids and was making my way to the check out lane when a big 4 for $1 sign caught my eye. Now you know I had to check that out! They had 9 tubs full of individual things that had come in packages (socks, underwear, T SHIRTS) but had been opened for whatever reason. That night I bought I bought 16 plain white t shirts for only $4!!!

I came home and told Brad God had answered a prayer of mine that evening. When I told him about what, he said, "That was a prayer request of yours?" I said yes, even the small things are worth being prayed about!

Well, fast forward about a month to today. Ryan had soccer, the girls stayed home with grandma next door. Ryan had to use the bathroom bad when we left the field so we stopped in Kmart so he could go and I could check the clearance racks while I didn't have the 2 year old. Not only do they have their winter clothes on clearance for $1.99, I found more of those 4 for $1 tubs! Guess what I bought?! 12 more white t shirts for a total of $3!! So I paid $7 for 28 shirts. God really does answer prayer! I guess that means we will be able to tie die those shirts after all! Thank you Lord for caring about the small things in my life! =)

new perspective

I have always said I would love to homeschool and I go through phases where I wish I was, especially after Hannah's ADD issues last year. I just never have had the support from the one I need it from most-my husband. Then I have times where I say I am so glad I don't homeschool. You know how it is with anything, the grass is always greener on the other side; so you think.

Just a few minutes ago I was reading a post on fb from Family Talk with Dr. Dobson. It was about homeschooling and how great it is. Yes, it is great, when that is what you are called to. Then I got to feeling like I am doing my kids a disservice by not homeschooling. I scrolled down thru the comments and one jumped out that said something like this: God needs good Christian teachers and strong Christian students in public school.

Imagine a world where there where no Christian teachers or students in the public school system. These days it may not seem like they make a big difference but showing just one student or friend the love of Jesus is a big enough difference!

I am so encouraged by that! No, I will never homeschool but I can still raise my kids to have just as high of values and just as much God in their lives as those who do.

I'm praying I will never feel down in the dumps about sending my kids off to school again! And now I am on an even bigger mission to teach them that they need to be salt and light in a terribly wicked world.

Celebration

It was 14 years ago today that my friend called me and asked if I would go out with Brad. I knew Brad because he had been trying to get me to go out with his best friend. I kept saying no and eventually the friend that called me said she would date Brad's best friend. A few weeks later I was washing dishes on a Wed night after church when she called me, asked me if I wanted to go out with Brad and gave me his number. Seems weird now but that's how it started for us! I will be forever grateful for that friend, altho I haven't talked to her since high school. God has a way of making things happen.



Yesterday we celebrated the birth of this little firecracker.

I always think of the dr's words to me when I was just 7 weeks pregnant. "You are probably going to miscarry." Then I think of all the people I know who have experienced this pain, and even more pain when it actually happens. I had to go back in 4 days after that devastating apt for them to check one more time for a heartbeat. I was heartbroken and those were the longest 4 days of my life but God had other plans for Brad and I and that little baby who became Abigail. I wondered how it was possible to love that little blob so much in just a week or two.

Now that little blob is the best little sister and baby of the family that anyone could ever ask for. I know, I'm biased. =)

And tomorrow is Brad's birthday. We both turn the big 3-0 this year. I just can't believe it. How did that happen?! I remember being that giddy little school girl, so head over heels in love with a boy that I didn't want to think or do anything else.

Today and every day, I'm so thankful for the life that GOd has blessed me with. I am so undeserving , yet He choses to bless me anyway.