Jesus is the Reason For the Season

My mother's family had their annual Christmas get together yesterday. We started at 3 pm and wound down around 8:30. It was good to see everyone again. Sometimes, this is the only way we see them for the year. It is a time filled with glad tidings and lots of noise and love and food. Jesus is the reason for this season and I thank him for all he had done for me and my family. I got to spend a lot of time with Autumn. She even cooed at me once or twice.
Carl had been invited to a Youth party at the Hayes house. Man, I thought I lived in the woods. Anyway, I took Carl and dropped him off there and returned to finish up my family's get together. They had fireworks again. That's kind of become a kind of tradition each year for the kids.
After that, I took Chris and Abby to pick up Carl and we wound up staying until 10 pm. What a wonderful time we all had. I got to fellowship with people from my church and it was so much fun. The kids had a great time. They played and danced and we all ate. It was fabulous. Thanks Hayes family for having us in your house.
As I was going to church this morning, I was happy to go. Excited to be almost there at God's house. And then the nagging in my mind began. "Better enjoy it while you can. You won't be here next year." I am resigned to following my husband to Ft. White and am determined to bloom where I'm planted. I just feel such a sadness at leaving all that we have established here. I know that God has a plan for us where we are going. At this point though, it is still painful for me to think about. Please be in prayer for Mrs. Ginnie's daddy. His pet scan showed that his bladder area is clear, but they found a spot on his lung.
I love all of you and will be blogging again soon.

Man, we had such a great time after church last night. Everyone got together (after eating of course) and decorated the sanctuary. We sang around the piano and the kids ran around with tinsel cheering 1,2,3, 4 Merry Christmas.. what a beautiful time of fellowship. Not that I was particularly helpful in the decorating department, but I sure enjoyed watching and laughing with everyone.
So, I revealed myself to my secret pal last night. I had Karen. She was easy to buy for, anything rooster. The only thing that could have made it any better would have been a purple rooster.
I hope everyone has a great week. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.

Whooooooosh

Can anyone believe it is already the 6th of December 2007. It seems like just yesterday I was having problems remembering to write 2007 on my checks. YIKES!!!! Time is flying by. I think I see the back of myself sometimes I am so busy going out and coming in.
It's hard not to get freaked out this time of year. I am trying so hard to focus on this one thing " Jesus is the reason for the Season". When my kids make me so mad I could scream asking for more, more, more. And all I want them to do is to look around at the children who are getting nothing. And I wonder have I failed as a mother to raise these little greedy children? It makes me frustrated with them and even more frustrated with myself. Anyone feeling my pain out there?
Let me hear from you.

How many days till Christmas?????

Hey everybody,

Yep, you're absolutely right, there are only26 days left until Christmas day. Can you believe another year has passed?
I have begun to look back and wonder, "what was I doing this time last year?" I can hardly remember. I remember going to my pastor's house because all the secret pals from my church were being revealed. I wasn't one of them yet because we kind of came into the church during the middle of the year, but it sure was fun. I can hardly wait until we do the big reveal. Does anyone know when that event is going to be?
And then I think that next year, I won't be a secret pal with the women that I have come to love so much........God has a plan, ladies. We just have to wait and see what that plan is.
I hope that everyone has had a wonderful week and I hope to see you all Sunday.

Hayrides and Haiti

Last night was a blast. My kids had a great time at the party at the church. The hayride was the highlight. They were so tired they just fell into bed. Hearing my son talk about going on his Haiti mission trip was wonderful. He and I are sick, but he wanted to go so he could tell people about it. We missed the birthday fellowship at church tonight. Sorry, guys. Happy birthday. But I'm sure you don't want his germs.

What A Day

What A Day we had yesterday. We had family come in to my mom's and it was one of the best Thanksgivings that I can remember. My brother, his wife, my niece Kim and her boyfriend and her daughter (my brand new grand niece Autumn), my Aunt Mary, Josh, Mama, Daddy, Robert and my kids. There was so much food and everyone just had such a great time together. After dinner and everyone had left but me and Robert and the kids, my mom and I went for a ride together and wound up in Sharron. Uncle Harris has gotten his headstone and it really is beautiful. There were flowers there from someone with the Seminoles theme and they were beautiful as well. Someone had already placed Christmas flowers there as well. He has his Dept. of Defense foot stone there as well. I had no idea that he served in Vietnam. There is a bench at his gravesite and it is so peaceful and quiet there. Now I know why he wanted to be buried so far away. Some days, I miss him so bad that tears still come to my eyes. But what I mostly think of is that I am so thankful that we got to be closer while he was sick.
I hope that everyone else had a great turkey day and took time to be thankful.

Praise God From Whom all blessings flow

Guess what? My boys are back home safely. I have to tell you, it has been a struggle not to worry while they were gone. Especially since I didn't hear from them until night before last. But God brought them safely through what He called them to do. My little Chris has grown while he has been gone and has a lot to tell me. Although, he needed to be with his Papa for a while first. Go figure!! Robert is truly a sight for sore eyes. And he said that even though part of the materials did not show up, they were still able to get a lot of necessary things taken care of. He was also reunited with several friends that he made last time he went on the mission to the orphanage. I am grateful that he has a heart for it. And Chris is so excited, he can hardly wait to go back. I told Robert that it truly was a blessed trip because we had no issues on this end while he was gone. Ain't God GREAT?????!!!!!!! Amen. Ah well, love to all of you. Talk to you soon.

My boys are gone

Hi Everyone,
Well, my boys are gone on their mission trip. I stayed up very late last night to see them off. And I have to admit (gasp) that as soon as they were both up and moving around, I jumped into the bed. I guess getting older will do that to you. Please continue to hold all four members of our mission team up in prayer, not only that they will be safe, but that the hearts of the people they will come in contact with will be receptive to the message of Jesus Christ.
Check out my tunes, I found some from a long time ago. It's great.

Who says Christians can't have fun

I had such a great time at Melissa and Eric's last night. We got together and had a fire with everyone making smores and drinking hot chocolate and apple cider and just enjoying ourselves. As usual, I was too loud and crazy, but I just love to be with other christian couples and talk and laugh and have so much fun. So, really, who says christian people can't have a good time?? I certainly did and from the looks of it, seems like a lot of other people did too. The kids had a great time playing and eating smores while we all just sat around a fire (great fire pit). I think all the men there were studying Eric's fire pit design so they can copycat it at their own houses. Hey, when something works and is aestetically ??? uh, not hard on the eyes, why reinvent the wheel.
I am so looking forward to the parade this year. The ladies came up with a fantastic idea for our float. Oh, Lord thank you for the fellowship of other christians.

Sigh

Hello everyone,
Have you ever come in contact with someone and thought what a neat person they are. And how this is really someone that you want to see in heaven? I have just had one of those experiences. I have been in physical therapy for three weeks now and have had four different therapists, but this one particular one just got to me. He is a young man here in Florida from Michigan. He is really good at his job. Today was my last time at therapy and I just had to know if he was a christian or not. And I have asked for the Lord to help me know this. Well, today when I got there, he looked so tired and frail that I asked him what was wrong. Without going into details and violating his trust, he has got some problems and they have been keeping him up at night. He spent a lot of time just talking to me about the things that are going on. And bingo, I got my chance. I asked him if he was a praying person. And he told me that no he was not. That he had had a bad experience as a youngster and that he didn't believe in that anymore. I mean, I know he has had some instruction because he knew some Bible stuff me and another woman were talking about last week. He just said that all that religion stuff was not for him. I was stunned. I didn't know what to say, so I told him that I would pray for him.
So later when I was doing my stretches we were talking about my family moving and how I didn't really want to go, but that because God wanted me to be a submissive wife, I was going with my husband. He said that was a load of cr**. Again, I was stunned. I told him that I was not a mindless ninny, that my husband and I talk things over and even though we disagree on some things, I believe that as long as I follow God's will that He would work things out. He kind of just pshawed me and we went on with my therapy. So, apparently something happened way back in his past at church.
Please, please pray for him that he will either come to know Jesus as his Savior, or that he will return to the Lord.
Okay, I'm jabbering. I took the kids to see my new grand-niece tonite. The boys were obviously in love with her. Especially Chris. Abby wanted to play with her like a doll I think.
Oh well, that's all for now. Talk to you all soon.

7 lbs 1 oz

Hey all,
My niece had her baby tonite around 6pm. A beautiful, precious, baby girl. 7 lbs 1 oz of pure sugar. She had the most beautiful hands and feet. And a nice healthy set of lungs. And the cutest little quiver in her bottom lip when she cries. My niece is doing well after her C-section. I am so thankful to God for both of their health and safety during the operation and beyond.
Sunday, I missed church because we were in Ft. White. And I missed tonight because I was at the hospital waiting for her to be born. It was a precious experience. I wish that I had gone to college to become a maternity nurse. My niece chose not to breastfeed and I can only be heartbroken for her because it was such a precious time for me and my babies. I think I want to learn how to be a lactation consultant. Then I think, I couldn't even pass basic math in high school how would I ever pass the courses required to do something like that. I have been a labor coach twice and it was the most rewarding experience (other than the birth of my own children). Oh well.........
We are going to look at modular homes tomorrow. Sherry says that they decided to go with modular and are pleased with it. I just wonder..... oh well. I love all of you and will be talking to you soon.

Exhausted

Hello Everyone,

I missed you all yesterday at church. We were, once again, in Fort White. His mom went to church with us.
We are not going to be able to build the house that was the original plan. So this Thursday, we are going to Plant City to look at modular homes.
I hate this feeling.
I hope that everyone is having a great week. Sorry that I haven't been keeping up much.
Love to all. Hope to see y'all soon. Hey, I finally figured out how to put music on my blog. I know I only started with three songs, but when I have more time, I'll swipe some from your playlists.

A Little Romantic Surprise

Hey everyone,

Yesterday was my 13th wedding anniversary. WOW!! I can hardly believe that we have been together that long. (I guess long is a relative term when you think that my parents have been married 44 years, huh?) Anyway, he reserved us a nice little room at a bed and breakfast in St. Augustine. He talked his mother into coming to our house and spending the night and keeping all of our kids at one time. He took me to a beautiful restaurant called the Columbia. The weather was horrible. It rained and the wind was blowing 40 mph. BUT, the window of our room looked right out into the bay at St. Augustine. There was a swing on the terrace right outside our door and we sat there and watched the big boats go up and down the bay. It was so nice just for the two of us to get away with no kids. We have not been anywhere overnight with out a child for 12 years. And I guess our marriage was kind of telling the news. I told him that we are not going to wait 13 years to do that again. I love my children, and would not trade them for anything, but they make me tired!!
Praise report. Christophers schoolmate has returned to school. He is not allowed to participate in any recess or PE and is taking a boatload of medications, but he is back at school.
I had an awesome day Sunday. God's presence was so at our Church on Sunday. The morning and the evening. It was wonderful to spend some time in His presence.
Love to all,
Michelle

Hello All

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to drop a line before I rush out the door. Please pray for a fellow student of Chris'. His name is Dyonta. He is in the cardiac care floor at Shands Gainesville. He is 11 years old. He has rhematic fever and it has left two of his heart valves leaking and they are trying to get it under control because his lungs keep filling up with fluid from the leaking valves.
It was great to be back at our church last night. I missed all of you very very much and was certainly glad to see you.
I can hardly wait until Sunday to get some much needed nourishment from the Lord.
You all have a great day and I will blog some later.
Love,
Michelle

Grand Day

My husband's grandmother, we call her Mamoo, celebrated her 90th birthday today. All of the family gathered at Aunt Martha's house and had dinner together. How amazing her life has been and continues to be. She is an incredible woman. I am so blessed that I and my children have had the opportunity in our lives to be around her, love her, and be loved by her.
The kids had a great time playing with all their little cousins. I guess that is something that they are definitely missing out on here.
We visited a church over there this morning and I really enjoyed the message and the pastor that delivered it. It was a good service.
I have just gotten home and have checked out everyone's blog from church. I saw some beautiful children feeding some calves. Cute guys.....
I missed the folks at our church today.

We got our plans back from the architect today. And we both like them. I guess it is time to get underway with this project. I'm torn and filled with lots of conflicting feelings about all that is going on.

Please continue to pray for my friend who is experiencing renal failure. She is doing her testing today as well. And has been contacted about being put on a transplant list, but has to do several more tests before that will actually happen. To coin a phrase that someone else blogged about, God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Love to all,
Michelle

Hello,

At Church today, I learned that the rummage sale raised over 6 hundred dollars. Not bad. Now only just over 14 hundred to go for the trip to be paid for. Please keep on praying. Great news about Bro. Jim's cancer. We will continue to pray for him and his family. Also, for Karen and her illness. It kind of hurts to see her so unwell. I missed Sherry and Hunter at church today and hope that all is well with them. I am so sorry for the family of the police officer that lost his life this weekend. I pray that they will be comforted.
I figured out how to put a picture on the blog page. Haven't figured out the music thing yet, but I'm working on it. I should call Melissa or Sherry.
The picture is of a storm that hubby took. My favorite shade of green is in that picture. It pops against the darkness of the storm clouds. Call me weird, but I like stormy weather (occasionally).
I was reading on a study Friday and I really felt conviction about it. I'm always getting upset because things aren't where I put them and people in my house don't do things the "correct" way. Which is to say, they don't do it like me. I have really been getting a message from God about OCD issues that I think I have. I am going to have to learn that no matter how well or how badly I think a job has been done, to say "It's good enough" and to say thank you and to make my family feel more valued and less judged on jobs that they do.
Anyone feeling that sometimes? Hope to hear from you soon.
Good night and God bless.

SanctuarySeeker

Hello All,

I am going to give this blogging thing a whirl. I'm not sure what I can say or how often, but I hope it's not addicting.
Today, I sat at a rummage sale held by my church to raise funds for a mission trip to Haiti. I really enjoyed my time sitting there gabbing with Mrs. Norma and Melissa. My kids were with my mom and I only had one at a time to worry about, so it was a really nice break. Unfortunately, after the bug spray smell got to me I got a splitting headache and had to leave. Then took sinus meds and passed out on the couch for a couple of hours. But I really enjoyed talking with those two ladies today.
I hope that they did well. I will find out when I go to Church in the morning. Good night and God bless all.