Giving All Glory and Honor to God

YES!!!!!!!!!
I just sent in the last and final payment to our biggest school loan. I want to record this moment in time b/c I want to be able to look back and see what God has done. We (actually this loan was just from when I went to ACU) owed around $54,000 on this one school loan. The monthly payment was $500 and that is a huge chunk out of the budget. When you look at our finances on paper there is no way we should of been able to do this but God is faithful. We have worked hard trusting that God would bless it.

I know it is not proper to talk about money but that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about God. He says trust me and see if I don't throw open the flood gates of heaven and he has! Can I get an AMEN! Praise God we are no longer slave to that lender.

(We do still have another school loan and I can't wait to see God's faithfulness with that one also.=))

WOW! What a week!!

One of these days I hope to be able to write on my blog each day. But until then I will have to write a long blog to catch up on things.

This week began with one of the most difficult things I have had to do in a long time. I went to C's funeral at which I think I cried more than I did at my own son's funeral. Not that I knew C or know K and K very well but I do know that this will be the hardest thing they will ever go through. I know that it doesn't matter what anyone says, how much you know your baby is in heaven, or how many days pass you will always wonder why. But, I do have hope for them. It is the same hope that I have. It is in knowing that it is okay to wonder why, it is in knowing you will enjoy life again, and my treasures truly are stored up in heaven. I can't think about heaven w/o picturing Jesus holding the hand of my little Ethan. I know that it may seem like a long time from now but K and K (b/c they have the same faith I do) will see their life here on earth different and mostly they will see their son with the greatest of all Jesus.

This week also included the TAKS test. Which is an awful day in which we subject children to a stress I don't think they should deal with until later. It is also one of the most tiring days b/c I only had one student to test. As a teacher you are not allowed to do anything but actively monitor the student w/o looking at the test. Seriously, how hard is it to actively monitor one kid but I still can't do anything. So, it makes you so tired to do nothing all day long. Then there was the JBF sale which is overwhelming in itself b/c I try and get a good deal to help out the family financially. I enjoy getting a good deal on clothes for Noah but there is just so much stuff.

Later that night is when I found out that Brad had passed away and my heart just broke for Jenny and her family. We have been praying for Brad and Jenny for a very long time and will continue to lift that family up in prayer. I think Jenny is one of the most amazing women I have ever known. Her faith and strength have been a true testimony for me.

Wednesday we found out that we were going to attend the FWC Fundraising Dinner which I have not been to since I was in school there. It really was an enjoyable evening with good food and looking through old yearbooks. The funniest part of the evening was when they were giving away a Kindle 2. I would love to have a Kindle 2 (it is about the thickness of an ipod touch, the size of a book, and it holds 1500 books) and I was really really hoping I would win it. So, they began to announce the name "Brian and Sh". I so thought I was about to win it but they said Brian and Shirley. Even the people at my table thought I had won. Bummer=(

Saturday I went to the women's conference/retreat. It was really good and one statement stood out more than anything else I heard. She said "You have to decided how you feel about death so that you can live." AMEN TO THAT SISTER!!! That hit home with me b/c I have had to do that. After Ethan died I wanted to get pregnant but I did have to decided how I felt about death. I had to be okay that the next baby (Noah) might not make it so that I could live (by enjoy being pregnant no matter how long it lasted).

When I got home from the retreat I was looking forward to doing my BSF and enjoying my Dr. Pepper. After being home for 15 minutes Noah began throwing up. It lasted on and off until 3:00 am this morning. The saddest thing is now Noah is old enough to talk and tell us how he feels. At some point during the night I heard him say "I don't wanna throw up anymore." So sad =(.

Sorry for being so long winded but this week has been quite emotional and I needed to talk about it. Thanks for listening.

Inside Fun

I don't know about you but I am ready for the spring time weather. About this time every year I get the itch to just be outside. Unfortunately, I am a wimp when it comes to being cold. I hate it =). So, by Sunday after nap I was tired of being inside. We went up to the play scape at church but it was closed for childcare. I agreed to go to the park only after a quick trip to Starbucks but it was even too cold for B. We gave up and headed home. Then B had a great idea. (I saw Jodi doing this but I really did not think our living room would work.)

Yes, we set up the bounce house in the middle of the living room. We had to push our furniture as far as we could b/c our living room is not big at all. Thanks again B for the great idea it was so much fun.

Look out Siegfried and Roy!!

First of all folks/blog readers, this is Brian behind the keys. Please don't already hit the "escape" button.

If you're wondering what the title of this blog entry means...just hang on, I'll get there.

This past weekend, my dad, Noah, and I ventured out to the mountainous regions that are southcentral Oklahoma. We went up to Turner Falls for an "all boys" camping trip. For those that haven't been to this area, Turner Falls is located in the Arbuckle Mountains, roughly about 2 hours from DFW. It's a rather brief, but pretty setting to spend 1-2 days away from town.

Our plan was to wake up Sunday morning, arrive at Turner Falls around noon...and basically transform into Bear Gryllis (Man vs. Wild). Unfortunately, Noah awoke on Sunday morning with a low-grade fever/cough. We reconsidered doing this trip for a few seconds, but after he said "only boys camping trip", we figured "let's do it."

Turner Falls is a great little getaway for you camping folk. The 77ft waterfall is the largest in the state. And the natural swimming hole and creek are very popular in the summer. Below is Turner Falls, and the natural pool it creates:

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So we messed around this area for awhile, then set off for some hiking. There are some good trails from this area for hiking. The picture below, is from atop one of the peaks.

As evening rolled in, and forecasted temps were nearing 30-35 degrees, my Dad and I felt that a tent may not be the most suitable sleeping venue for a sick child; thus, we checked in to a local motel, as true mountain men would do.

We woke up Monday morning, with Arbuckle Wilderness on the agenda. This is a pretty neat attraction, where you drive your OWN vehicle through a 5.5 mile trail inside this "African-style" savannah (I guess). You pay for feed before entering, and after getting your 2 year old not to eat it, you proceed on your way. While in the park, you have the opportunity to feed: llamas, ostrichs, longhorns, donkeys, camels, bison, antelopes, giraffes, and a handful of other animals (but I don't know what exactly they were...but they looked weird). Some animals are contained in cages, and obviously you can pull up close to them, but you're out of harms way. These animals included: timberwolves, hyenas, zebras, rhinos, and the infamous white tiger. As we pulled up to the white tiger cage, Noah was stoked. He had been looking forward to seeing one of his favorite animals. Here was the experience:

The roar of the tiger on this video, does not give it justice. Both, my Dad and I, were pretty caught off guard. Noah only sees tigers at the Fort Worth Zoo, and they're typically snoozing the day away. I'm not sure if he's been premanently scarred, but it at least makes for a funny video.

We finished out Arbuckle Wilderness and Turner Falls with some fond memories, and headed back to FW to enjoy the rest of Monday. This is definitely a place I would like to return to with Chantelle, and any other friends/family that are up for a weekend camping getaway!

The crazy week

Why was last week a crazy week? Well, because it was the week of my birthday, Valentines day, Brian's Dad came into town, and then the boys went out of town. On top of all of that Brian has been picking up extra home health patients to help pay taxes. I thought last week was rough because of us all being sick but this week finally got so busy we will be doing Valentines next weekend.

Here are a few pics from my birthday "party."

These are my presents from my Mom and Brian. Yes, I did get Photoshop Elements and I love it. It is so great to be able to do online scrapbooking. I love the fact that when I go scrapbooking all I need is my laptop and my 6in external hard drive. If you ever saw me go scrapbooking before you know that is quite an improvement.

This is what Noah picked out for me all by himself. Apparently he thinks I love purple he got me this and then purple tulips the other day. This lavender smelling candle that doesn't have a wick but lights. I do actually like it a lot.

My mom took me out to my favorite restaurant.

This is also Noah's favorite place. He always eats all of his food and he loves the fire. He even says "We go eat at fire?"


The boys did go camping this weekend (so I get the wife of the year award) and I got to practice using Photoshop Elements. Stay tuned for Brian to post about the camping trip. It should be quite entertaining.

OBEDIENCE

Me: "Noah let's put your jacket on so we can go."
Noah: Walks away and plays at train table.
Me: "Noah please obey mommy, let's put on your jacket so we can go to BSF"
Noah: "One more time, play motorcycle."
Me: "Noah do you want to get a spanking? Lets put on you jacket now! We are going to be late. Why is it so hard for you to obey Mommy? Don't you want to obey Mommy? Just put on your jacket it is not that hard!!!"

Jacket is finally on and we are off to BSF.

Me (talking to other mom's at BSF): "Why is it so hard to just get out of the door? I have the hardest time with first time obedience."

Leviticus 26 (Title in the Bible) Reward for Obedience
v1-2. "Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.
v3 "If you follow my decrees and are careful to OBEY my commands. v4. I will ...
v14-39 (Title in the Bible) Punishment for Disobedience

God (talking to my heart during the BSF lecture): "I want you to come and spend time with me."
Me: "Not now it is too early, I have to go to work."
God: "Come spend time with me now"
Me: "Not now I just want to watch this one TV show."
God: "Now?"
Me: "I'll do it tomorrow, it is getting late."

Who is obeying who? Why do I expect Noah to obey me when I have a hard time obeying my Father? I am sure God is thinking the same things about me that I did about Noah. I have done this BSF study once before and I don't remember it being so much about obedience. I have learned that when something sticks out so blatantly that God is trying to teach me something.

(Sorry this is different from every other one of my posts but it was on my heart and I felt like I needed to write about it.)

Rewind Friday Funnies with Noah

Okay, I know it is well past Friday but this week has been a crazy one. Beginning early Saturday morning Noah began running a fever. He ran a fever all weekend but acted more normal on Sunday. He did okay on Monday but what I thought was worse than Sunday. I did not want to jump to any conclusions but after very little sleep on Monday night I took Noah to the doctor. He had an ear infection, upper respiratory infection, and bronchitis. Needless to say we did not have much funnies going on. So, I thought I would do a rewind funny. This picture is one of my favorites of all times. It always makes me laugh.