The Jeep and Prayers

Well today started off well. I did some school with the boys then we went to Create and Play (MOMS Club event) and had fun making Styrofoam snowmen and then we came home. Then we spent some time with hubby (dad) and then we had dinner.

Then hubby calls from work and the jeep is acting up. He thinks it has something to do with the caliper. We are hoping it's an easy enough fix (please pray for it to be!) because tomorrow he has a plant tour at the place he may start work at and then right after that he has to go to his job now.

Thankfully my mom is letting us borrow her truck while hubby tries to figure what's going on with the Jeep. I really do hope it's nothing too serious. We really can't afford it. Granted I know my mom would help if we needed it but it's not something we like to do you know?

So if you are thinking of us please pray for hubby to find that this new job is a good start and pray that the Jeep is an easy fix. I am just trusting God to get us through since He's gotten us through a lot of things before and I am sure He will get us through this. Extra prayers are always helpful though :).

More About Me and MOMS Club®

Here is another little update about me. I have been a part of MOMS Club® for almost six years now(in June) and I have been Secretary two of those times. This past year I decided that I would run (we have an election every year) for President and lo' and behold I was elected! It was between the founder of the club and I. I heard it was a close race but it was a secret ballot so I don't know how close it really was.

It is something I never would have thought about doing before. When I first joined I was just a member and planned to stay that way. But then I had a friend within the club that pushes me (nicely pushed) into being a  coordinator for Create & Play. Even though I didn't think I could do it (because me crafty? no way!) I tried it anyway and found I loved it. I also got to know someone within the club that at first didn't particularly care for and soon we became best of friends! (Let me tell you it was a God thing for sure :) )

After a while I got in the groove of things and thought ok I can do this but I would never be on the board! Well about four years later I had another friend (my now best friend) really (again nicely) pushed me into going for Secretary. Well no one ran against me so I got it! I realized I really liked doing it! Never thought I would like to take notes (hated to in school) and being organized (in my real life I am so not an organized person though I wish I was.).

So I ran again the next year but this time I didn't get it. I was ok with that though. After all I should give other's a chance to do it. Well a few monthly later the person who got it had to return to work so she had to step down. No, one else was volunteering for it so I took it over once again. Again I loved it.

That term was running out and then this time all on my own I decided I would run for President. I decided that I've had people push me into things and I ended up liking it and hey it was time for me to step out of my box without having to have someone push me into it. So I ran and was elected! My term will be over June 30th but so far, even though there has been some bumps in the road, I have enjoyed it.

I really believe God has put me in these situations to help me grow and go outside my comfort zone. Sure it was uncomfortable and hard at times but I am not doing things I never would have thought about doing. I don't know what He has prepared for me but I am willing to follow where ever He takes me.

Next year I don't plan on running for anything and just be a member for a while (maybe a coordinator) but who knows maybe God will have other things planned. I just have to wait and see.

Updates on Life and Homeschooling

Wow it's been a long time since I posted anything. The last post I see was back in March of 2009 and now it's almost the end of 2010. I doubt anyone will read this but that's ok I'll still post LOL.

Hubby just got a full time job recently. It has been over two and half years since his last employment let everyone go. This new job isn't the best job and it does pay less than his unemployment did but we are very thankful for it! Today his insurance will kick in. God I know has a plan for us and just like always we will get through!

Homeschooling, we are now in our sixth year of homeschooling. It's been a long road and a lot of learning. Both for the boys and myself. We are still learning as we go. I can't believe it's been this long already. We've had our ups and downs and I am sure that will continue but it's all been worth it.

My oldest is now ten years old! He will actually be eleven in March. The boys are growing up to be individuals of their own. My oldest is a lot like me and sometimes that makes us argue more LOL. He isn't a bad kid he just likes to think he's always right just like his mama used to (and sometimes still thinks) when she was a kid. He is very smart and very much a visual and auditory learner (also like me) he likes to try and be as independent as he can be. He does a lot of his school work on his own and only comes to me for help or to check his work. But there are times he still wants to just hang out with mom (and dad too LOL). He plays guitar and loves video games and Lego's!

My baby boy (though he isn't a baby any more LOL) will soon be nine years old (in Jan.). He is my little clown. He loves to make people smile and will do anything to get a laugh out of people. He doesn't care if you are laughing at him or what he just wants to get you to smile. He is proving to be very artistic too. He loves to draw and plays bass guitar, and guitar. He is so amazing that when hubby shows him how to play something he can pick it up almost immediately. He is a very hands on and visual learner (like his dad). He likes to see something done and then do it. He still loves to be cuddled and likes mom and dad to be around. In school he likes me to be right there with him over his shoulder. It isn't that he can't do something but likes to make sure it's right. He is learning to do more on his own though.

I have an amazing family and we are doing well. We might not have a lot but we really do have a lot of love and blessings in our lives. I could go on and on but I think I have posted enough for now. I hope to blog more again soon. I really miss it. So until next time..... :)

Very Cold and Future

Thought I should change my layout a bit.  This is what it seems like it is here in Michigan LOL.  Granted there is no mountains here but it is very cold and snowy here. This year has been a lot of snow.  I haven't seen this much snow here in a long time. 

All though the snow is pretty.  Especially when it's fresh untouched snow I still don't like the cold!  It's really cold!  If I could I would just hibernate till Spring LOL.

With the weather being cold we haven't been outside too much unless we have too.  Poor boys.  I know they want to go out and play in all that snow but it is just too bitterly cold.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder!  With the wind chills it's supposed to be like 25 degrees below freezing!

Hubby is getting into a routine of going to school now.  He is feeling a lot better about things but please keep him in your prayers.  Pray for all of us that he can find a job after the schooling.

He's going to get the State certificate to be a diesel mechanic.  From what we have heard from a few people it's an in demand job.  So hopefully after a year it will still be in demand and hubby can find a job.  It's been a long year of him being without work. 

While it's been nice having him home the uncertainty of things can be a bit stressful.   Granted we know God provides and has through these time it is still a bit scary.

With hubby going to school and his schedule  and homeschooling the boys it is about impossible for me to even think of even getting a part-time job. 

Even with all that though I am thinking positive.  After all God had really provided for us thus far.  Every time I don't know how we are going to get through I pray and we get through it.  Some way or another we get through.  So even though I am uncertain of what the future holds and am a little scared I know we will some how get through it all.  Not sure how or what way it will lead us but I do know we will get through.

Well I guess I have babbled on long enough.  Thanks for reading this far if you got this far LOL.  I hope everyone is having a good week and a great start to your new year!

A Fishing Story and Blessings

We had a pretty good weekend.  Saturday we didn't do much of anything but Sunday was Church and then afterwards we went to my mom's so her and her fiance' could take the boys fishing :).  We all went (even Hubby who is not really into fishing LOL).  I pretty much just helped the boys fish.  Hubby I think just enjoyed watching us LOL.  Chord caught his first two fish ever and Jarod also caught two!  They were just small little blue gills but boy did it make Chord excited LOL!!

He was casting his rod like an old pro and hooked those two fish with his own skill LOL.  I will have to get the pics scanned or have my mom (she took the pics with her camera. I forgot mine ugh) email them to me to share on here.  Chord thought fishing was the best thing ever LOL.  He had a blast!!

Jarod on the other hand got a little board.  He doesn't sit still for long so he was off doing his own thing most of the time.  He did enjoy giving me the worms to put on the hooks though LOL.  It's so funny because just last year he wouldn't touch any bug or creepy crawly with a ten foot pole LOL.  Just a year later and he's held many of bugs and creepy crawlies (except spiders LOL) and thinks it's fun!!  Go figure.  Chord on the other hand still doesn't like to touch them LOL.  I don't think he's really scared of them.  I think it's just he doesn't want to feel them crawling on him LOL.  All in all the fishing trip was a blast!!!

Anyway today one of our Pastors had his wife call and invite us all out for dinner.  So hubby, the boys and I went and met our Pastor and his wife at Church and then we drove to a Pizza Parlor.  It was a nice time.  I love talking with them and hanging out.  Anyway they know of hubby not having a job right now and how well it's been really tough on us financially.  I know I don't talk much about it here but it has been rough.  (I know God will get us through so it's not something I try and dwell on).  Anyway (Sorry got off track) out of their own personal money gave us some money to help us along!

This wasn't church money but from them personally!!  I am in tears just typing this because I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful Church family that one of our Pastor's and his family would do that for us!!  It was so unexpected. 

See our Church is a pretty big Church but yet it's still such a close church! Our Pastor's know everyone by name and manage to talk to everyone!  They invite people out to lunch or dinner or whatever just to fellowship with people!    I have never been to a church that was like this before!  Especially one so big!! 

I just have to say our family is so blessed!!  I know we are going through a hard time with the unknowing if and when Harlow will get a job.  Granted Harlow will be starting school in Jan. but he has to go full time (in order for Michigan Works to pay for it all) so he won't be working and we will be living off  of unemployment(Well TRA which is like unemployment after the unemployment) for at least a year. Which is a struggle (Sorry veered off again LOL) but we have been so blessed from family, our Church.  I tell you I know we couldn't get through this with out God working His miracles with us!!  Every time we start to wonder what we are going to do something happens and we make it through.  We are truly blessed!!

Well I guess I have babbled on long enough.  Once again a post got longer than what I was intending LOL.  I hope everyone had a great weekend!!! 

Today was a good day. We went to Church and had a good service! Talking about how when God wants us to do something we can't go by our history but our destiny that God has for us. We might not be able to do something but God can and will get us through. So it was a good service since we are going through our own tribulation with hubby not having a job. Helps us keep leaning on God. I know we will be ok. I have that much faith that we will pull through this tough time.

After Church today we went to Harlow's cousins house to pick-up some movies he borrowed from the boys (Clone Wars, an animated Star Wars thing). They live just down the road from our Church. It was a nice visit.

After we got home a few hours later Harlow and I made dinner. See yesterday we took some pork chops out and marinated them in apple pie filling. Harlow learned from a friend of his about this so we thought we would try it out. It was really good!! The boys even ate it all up LOL. I made some mashed potato's with some garlic in it and we also had a salad (fresh veggies except the lettuce was store bought) . I love trying something new and everyone liking it LOL. So I will have to make it again sometime.

Other than that not much going on. Tomorrow not much planned either other than doing school work with the boys. Trying not to use too much gas. All though I do have to say it's been a little lower than it has been. Still too much though LOL. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

This and That

Today the boy's got to spend more of the money they got from Grandpa today. They also made some Thank You cards to send to Grandpa in Arizona. They loved making them. Jarod even wrote in (with me helping him spell the words since he is only five and still learning to read) his card. I know my dad will love them!

Tomorrow I am going to meet up at a coffee shop with some of the MOMS Club members and just talk about raising kids and what not. Should be interesting. I'd like to see how other's deal with things. Never know I might learn something new LOL.

Well I still haven't figured out my computer problem. I still can't seem to download the Adobe Flash Player no matter what I do. I have tried all th suggestions but to no avail. Hubby is going to try to see if he can do something. He probably can't (I can pray though right? LOL) but he said he would try.

Sunday, is the boy's play they are going to be in at church. It's supposed to be a snow storm though so we shall see if they will cancle Church or not. They have once before when it was really bad out but hopefully it won't be that bad.

I don't really have a lot to post about today. I think I am just tired from this busy week LOL. That's ok though because sometimes it's good to be busy and I have been keeping God as my focus now too so that helps. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Being Busy and What God told me today

It's been a busy week LOL. Tuesday I babysat my niece and Wednesday was very much on the go. First with going to the Laundromat, dropping hubby off at work and then went shopping with the boy's. They got money from my dad (their grandpa) for Christmas so we went shopping. Next we came back home for a few and then get ready to go to church for the boy's final practice at 7 p.m. After their practice it was off to the store to buy some milk and then off to pick-up hubby at work at 9:30 p.m. Got home just after 10 p.m. So I was exhausted by the time we got home.

Today was Create and Play with the MOMS Club. Me and another mom made a bunch of little crafts for the kids to do. We had five different Christmas crafts for the kids to do. It was a lot of work but so much fun too! The boy's had a great time too.

Now on to what I really want to talk about LOL. This morning after getting up and drinking my coffee, waking up and having the boy's get all up and ready for the day I had God tell me something LOL. I had been getting ready to start some schooling with the boy's when it just hit me. I felt him telling me that no matter "how busy" we are we still need to take time with Him (God)! I began to realize with all the business of the "holiday's" and the hussel and bussel of everyday we have forgotten to give our best time with God.

So instead of doing "school work" we worked on our "Spiritual Work." We talk about God, what Jesus did for us. Just how much he went through to save us all and of course of his birth (that's what we are celebrating). We read some of the Bible and even played a video game called the Bible Game (not something we use all the time seeing it is a game but it was nice just the same.) We also prayed through out the day when we felt the spirit lead us in that direction. Between all that we did go and do Create and Play but most of our day was focused on God. We even sang Christmas song's about Jesus.

So no "formal schooling" was done today but I still feel like we did a lot of good work today! During this time we are going to make sure to give our best time to God and worry about other things after. We learned today that it really isn't about us and what we do but about God and what he does. I so love it when I learn something along the way of our homeschool journey even if it isn't academic.

Hard Time to Blessings

I am going to tell you a story about what has happened to our family. I am not telling it to make anyone feel sorry for us but it's a story of a miracle I believe so that is why I am telling it. That and you learn a little bit more about me.

In February of 2004 we moved into an apartment complex. We had been in a really small duplex before then and really needed a little extra room. So we moved to a new town into an apartment on the second floor. We have always rented but this was the first time we decided to get renters insurance (I tell you the Lord was with us.). About a month later March 13, 2004 Hubby and I decided to go see the movie "The Passion of Christ". So my mom babysat for us while we went to see the movie along with hubby's sister. On our way home I was talking to my sister-in-law about different things and I had said we really need to get a fire proof box for pictures and things because you never know. Also on the way home I told hubby let's take my mom out to eat since she babysat for us. So at the last minute we decided to do that (again the Lord was with us).

So we took my mom to Applebee's along with the boy's of course and ate a nice dinner. We go back to our apartment and are just talking. Boy's took their shoes off as did hubby. My mom still had her coat and shoes on because she was going to leave soon. I hadn't taken my shoes off either because I was talking to my mom. Nothing like the TV or radio was on (Yet again God was with us). All of a sudden I hear a smoke alarm go off from the hallway below us. I remember thinking someone must have burnt their dinner or something. But I open our door and see smoke starting to come up the stairwell. Then I hear someone yell, "Someone call 911!". My mom grabs Jarod and his shoes and coat and I grab Chord and his shoes and coat. My husband runs out without his shoes or coat and I still had my shoes on but no coat and my mom still had everything on her. Hubby had grabbed our cordless phone on our way out and called 911.

We get outside and I remember feeling calm at first. I think I was just in shock and in a mode to just get out with our family. I run to the side of the building and I see the neighbor just below us window break open from the fire. It then went directly to what was my boy's bedroom window and broke into that. That's when I lost it. I kept thinking that's my boy's room! What if they were in there? I had many what if questions in my mind like what if it was at night time? What if we hadn't heard the alarm?! I remember just crying with all these thoughts going through my mind. Then what made matters worse we heard three explosions coming from that downstairs apartment.

Later we found out that the elderly lady below us was on oxygen and had left it on and a cigarette lit when she went to the bathroom and it caught her bed on fire. The neighbor across from her had to get her to leave her apartment because she was trying to put out the fire herself. So glad everyone made it out of the apartment complex alive and unhurt. All though the neighbor next to us had to climb down their balcony as did their kids. But Thanks the good Lord everyone was safe and unhurt.

We lost pretty much everything in the fire but it was ok because we were all alive. People had asked us if we would sue the elderly lady or if we were angry with her but honestly what good does it do to be angry and suing her we wouldn't get what we lost out of it. Besides that she was an elderly woman and probably on Medicaid or something like that so it wasn't worth it anyway. (not that we would have). We just knew we were blessed to make it out there alive.

The story doesn't end there though. We got all our money from our renters insurance without any problems. We had people give us money, furniture, clothing and even toy's for the boy's! Someone from Hubby's work even gave us some bunk beds that they weren't going to be using. A friend of hubby's also gave us a TV. The place I worked at before I became a SAHM even raised money to give us. It was all such a blessing.

One woman that my mom was working with at the time gave her $20 dollars to give us. That was probably the one I remember most. I cry every time I think or talk about it. See this woman didn't have much. She had fought cancer twice and was taking care of her husband who had Alzheimer's. No one would have said a word to her if she didn't give us anything but she went up to my mom and said. "I don't have much but I wanted to give your daughter something." She then handed my mom the $20 dollars. See even just writing that I teared up. That is the best, most loving $20 dollars we have ever received.

I even had people from an online group I was in send us some money and other things too! I had chatted with a lot of these people for years but it still amazed me that even people I had never met in real life was giving to us. It was the most humble and loving experience I have ever had. People from all over those who knew us and those who didn't help us out in some way or another.

We stayed with my mom for about a month before we found the place where we live now. We were able to fill the house (we rent) with things and not worry about where the boy's would sleep or what we would eat because of the many people that blessed us! With the money we received from people and money we got from our insurance we were able to replace the things we needed and even a little of what we wanted.

It's so true that what Satan means for your harm God means for your good. We could have been bitter about the fire. We could have been unforgiving but because we relied on God and let him lead us to where we should be and just let God he blessed us ten times over. So even though we lost somethings we can't replace like the boy's first hair cut clippings and pictures we got so much more! I don't think I ever or have since felt as blessed as I did during that time! I could go on and tell you other stories about this time but I think this post has gotten long enough LOL. I just wanted to share that part of our lives with you.

Talk About Busy and Some News

I know I haven't blogged since last Wednesday but I have been so busy and continue to be so. I feel so tired out but just no time to relax. That's the holidays for you LOL. Thursday, we went to my mom's for Thanksgiving dinner and didn't get home till after nine p.m. and then we went to Harlow's brothers for another Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. Saturday my mom took the boy's and me shopping to get the boys some shoes. It's something she wanted to do. Then Sunday was church of course but also I had to go do grocery shopping since I didn't get a chance to do it on Saturday like I usually do. Today was a MOMS club meeting so not only did I have to start school with the boy's this week after a week off but had to run to the meeting LOL. Tomorrow is laundry day so it's off to the Laundromat plus I have to stop by the store and pick-up a few things afterwards. Then Wednesday I am taking the boy's to Church because they have to rehearse their lines for something they are going to do just before Christmas. The only thing wrong with that is that we only have one car and hubby works afternoons so if I use the car then I have to keep the boy's up to go pick him up at 11:30 p.m. We will see how that works out. So you see just how busy I am LOL. Hopefully I will be able to keep blogging for the next few busy days.

On to some good news. Well it was good news to me LOL. I know this one lady that is in the MOMS Club with me. She isn't a Christian and I know she has been hurt by some so called Christians. She has been on my mind a lot lately so I thought I would personally invite her for the Bible Study we have in our MOMS Club. I let her know that I wasn't trying to push her or convert her to be a Christian or anything but that she had been on my mind and that I thought she could get something out of it. She has been going through some rough times and I just felt God telling me to invite her. Well she is going to come to it!! She actually thanked me for inviting her and she was really touched about me asking her. I was nervous in the beginning because I didn't know how she would take me as we don't really talk a lot. Now I am not blogging about this to boast or anything but I wanted to ask those who read my blog to pray for this woman. Not necessarily to be saved (all though that would be awesome and you can pray for that too LOL) but that she gets the healing she needs from this and maybe continue to come to the Bible Study. I just feel really strongly that God is wanting me to be there for this woman in some way and would love prayer for her and for me too. Thanks!!!

Bible Study

Today I went to a Bible Study with some of the mom's from MOMS Club®. We usually get together once a month to do a Bible Study. Lately we have been studying from a Christian writer. His name is Charles Stanley and the book we are reading and studying (Biblically based of course) is Becoming Emotionally Whole. We read and studied lesson five in the book which is called Seven Keys to Emotional Wholeness. In this chapter he says, that "There are at least seven major aspects of wholeness involved in seeking God's best for your emotional life." He also said these things are in no particular order but "Rather, they are like having a ring of keys-all of which need to be inserted and turned simultaneously." I won't go into great detail about everything that is in the chapter but the seven keys are 1. Give Your Heart to Christ. 2. Saturate Yourself with Scripture. 3. Secure God's Healing for Your Faults. 4. Stop Bartering with God. 5. Share Yourself with Others. 6. Stop Dwelling on Your Past Failures and 7. Ask the Holy Spirit for Help. He gives some Scriptures to read to back up what he is saying and also gives you scriptural advice on how to deal with these things. It would be one long post if I put in a lot of what he deals with in this one chapter so I won't bore you with that.

It's a very interesting book. I am learning a lot not only about myself and how I deal with my emotions but I can see how my family deals with differently with their emotions. I see it mostly with my husband. He is slowly learning to deal with his emotions but he's had a hard life and I see how hard it is for him. The book really makes me understand his view and how he feels. I look forward to reading the next chapter and the next Bible Study to discuss what I have learned.

It's really nice to get together with other women of God and Study the word. What's really remarkable to me about this particular group is that it's a mixed group of not only different backgrounds but of different denominations. For instance I am coming from a non-denominational church and there is one from a Southern Baptist church and another that is from a Lutheran church. Yet we all share the love of God and know Jesus our Savior. I just love how honest and loving we are to one another and how there is no judgment between us. It's wonderful what God can do when we all come together under His love.