But by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of GOD

Mathew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

One morning I was reading my Bible and began reading where Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. This one scripture jumped out at me like a ton of bricks. IT IS WRITTEN! Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Jesus himself said it. This is the word of the Lord. IT IS WRITTEN...This is the word of GOD himself. After all didn't God SPEAK things into being? Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. We go on to read in Genesis everything God said to exist and it did! God's word is so powerful and gives life. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. You see, God knew that man would have great need. We need food, shelter, water and clothing, basic needs of life for physical exixtance but he said this was not all man needed. We shouldn't just live with the basics of life but we should live by every word that proceeds out of HIS MOUTH. To each of us God has given us a gift to share for bringing others to know Christ to have relationship with God the Father, to exhort the body of Christ, to teach others how to live as Christ would have us to. Romans 12:3-6 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; I believe that God equips us for LIVING, not just for the physical but also for the spiritual. Our lives are not our own. When we try to live to exist on physical basic needs we are missing the Word of the Lord for our lives. The word that proceeds out of the very mouth of God to LIVE. You see, My family has come through a great and terrible battle. By no strength of our own did we survive. God has a purpose and plan for each of our lives and when we step out of that purpose and plan and try to do our own we are grasping for the FLESH needs and failing miserably. If we are living by GOD's WORD then we are being prepared to fight off the wards of Satan. Isn't it much better to live as God purposes us? If God could speak the world and everything into existance, then why do we have trouble believing that he has spoken a purpose and a plan for each of us? I am asking for myself. Our eyes and body are of the flesh and we see more fleshy wants and needs in this life that it is so easy to lose sight of God's purpose and plan. We get caught up in our troubles and forget where our strength and source is. I want to live the word that proceeds out of God's mouth for my life. I believe with all of my heart that because we trusted God during the biggest hurricane of our life through prayer, claiming God's word and just standing when we could do nothing else (because that is God's word to do these things!!!) that God in His mercy brought us through!. I am beginning to see such a huge turnaround. I want to continue in this. That means I have to set aside my human reasoning, understanding and not stand in the puny strength of my own hands. My life was not meant to be lived for existing. It was meant to be lived to accomplish God's will and purpose to bring glory unto him. This can only happen if I live my life by the Word which has proceedeth out of the mouth of God...Have you read your Bible today???

OH MY SHE IS 17!

My heart can't believe it! My baby girl is 17! It seems like time has snuck up on me. I sit here and remember from her birth to now. I remember going to the hospital. I wasn't sure that I was in labor or not. The night before, I felt this light pressure of my belly pushing out. Everytime it happened, I timed it. It would last for 30 seconds to a minute, 12 minutes apart. I was with my mom at her job. She took care of an elderly woman and it was her turn for night shift. I spent the night with her in the living room. I was so surprised when the contractions started but didn't say a word to my mom for fear of her worrying. I was worried myself. I had no pain. I decided that I would wait until morning to say anything. If I started to have pain in the night, I figured I would just wake her and then tell her. The night passed without a hitch. I was still having the contractions in the morning but there was no pain. We left when the second lady came in to take over. I remember going to Taco Cabana and picking up bacon so that we could go home and cook for my dad. It was Saturday! I told my mom about the contractions at the drive through window of Taco Cabana. She was anxious to go to the hospital. I told her that I wasn't sure it was even labor since there was no pain what so ever. I told her that I had heard that if it were real labor, walking would intensify the contractions. That was all she needed. My parents took me to the flea market after breakfast and made me walk and walk and walk. We then drove over to Clifton to drop off some tax papers to a guy that was doing my dad's taxes. We came back through McGregor and stopped for a snack. I had a cup of peach cobler. We drove back towards home and stopped at the Bellmead Sonic to get supper. It was about 5:30 that afternoon. I still had contractions about 5 to 3 minutes apart...again...no pain. After supper, my mom begged me to let her take me to the hospital. I finally gave in. We got to Hillcrest Hospital about 6:30. I walked up to the desk and said "I think I am in labor, but I am not sure". They had me change and hooked me up to a monitor. It seemed like ALL THE CONTRACTIONS just stopped! She said, let me know if you feel anything! The slightest pressure occurred and I said, "umm, I think I am having a contraction." SURE ENOUGH! We were settled in about 7:oo. I was dilated to a 3. Still no pain. The doctor came in an hour later and checked me. This time, I was at a 4. He decided we need to speed things up. He broke my water. Since I had no pain, I opted to do this without meds or epidural. Once my water was broken, no more than 10 minutes later, I was crying for the epidural. The nurse came in and put an IV bag of fluids in my arm. She said I had to run through this bag before an epidural could be administered. I was beside myself. I kept telling the nurse, I am going to be sick. She said, Your ok! I said...NO I AM SICK...I proceeded to throw up!(NEVER EAT A HAMBURGER IF YOU THINK YOU ARE IN LABOR. IT IS NEVER A PRETTY SIGHT NOR DO YOU FEEL VERY DIGNIFIED ONCE YOU HAVE SPEWED!). The nurse rushed over and apologized for not listening. After we changed my sheets, my gown and pulled my hair back, I was finally settled again. I was still begging for an Epidural. My dad was trying his best to take my mind off of the pain. He started telling jokes?! I told my mom to make him sit in the waiting room. Finally, the fluid bag was empty and they replaced it with a new one. About 15 minutes later I got my epidural, 5 minutes later, I was watching tv and talking on the phone. I even let my dad come back in for a while! At the time, I started running a high temp but was not aware of it. The nurse gave me my first clue when she constantly kept taking my temp and proceeded to shake her head. I was alarmed. I didn't know what was wrong. I finally dilated to a 10. It was about 1 am in the morning. The doctors said that I could start pushing. I pushed. I pushed and I pushed. 2 hours later, I was exhausted, Sick, and extremely panicked. The nurses however would not let me quit! I kept pushing! At 3:30am with and episiotomy, Ashley entered into this world. She got her first spanking by the doctor and wailed! I remember not being able to see her the next day at all. I was still very sick. I didn't know what was wrong and no one told me. fianlly about midnight the next night, a nurse brought Ashley to me to breast feed. That was our first encounter together. Now, I look at her and she is grown! She is beautiful. She is wonderful and precious. She is my sunshine! I see all the ups and downs, the good and bad times we've been through and I wouldn't trade it. I could not see my life as to ever have been without my sweet girl. Now, I have to start slowly preparing my heart to let her go. She will someday leave home and have a family of her own. My joy and confidence that I can trust and carry is that she is in the safety and the arms of the Lord. From the time she was in my womb, I prayed for her. I prayed for her through all her growing up years. I will continue to pray for her for the rest of my life. As she continues to get older, I will continue to love her and accept her for her. I will be here when she wants me and I will do my best to back off when she wants to try it herself. She is 17 and I see her maturing and growing in better choices and decisions. I see her wanting more for herself. There has been some downfalls that has made her life not so easy in her teen years. She has fallen off the merrigoround but has gotten back up, dusted off and climbed back on. She is an overcomer. What a privilege it is to have raised her, continue to raise her and watch the Lord move in her life. He has brought joy, healing and victory. She is 17!

Chase and the stomach bug...

Chase has had the stomach bug this past week. Poor little guy had high fever and was very fussy. No matter what, he was just unconfortable and seemed to whither with pain. He had minor vomiting and diarrhea. I think the worst of it was tummy cramps. After about 4 days, he finally was better! Last night, he finally slept through the night and I was thankful!

Moody Blues....

Some days you just have an off day...I call it the moody blues day! It is overcast, wet and cold. I don't know if the weather has anything really to do with it or not. I don't know what it is really all about other than it just happens on some days! There is really nothing wrong or off. All is well. SO WHY DO I FEEL YUCKY today? I guess it is one of those things that you just can't explain. Now, I have to focus to reorganize my thoughts. Yes, I know there are other people who have terrible issues and I should be grateful and thankful. I am. I just can't help the way I am feeling right now. I can however try to change the way I am feeling. I am going to go to bed and count my blessings. I am going to NAME THEM ONE BY ONE, then I am going to GIVE THANKS TO GOD. I am thankful for Jesus and salvation, first and foremost! I am thankful for my wonderful family! I am blessed with 2 beautiful children. I am blessed with a wonderful husband. I am blessed to have a job. I am blessed to have friends. I am blessed that both my parents are close by for the time being. I am blessed that I have a place called home. I am blessed that all our needs are met. I AM BLESSED. So I pray, in the name of Jesus, that my thoughts come captive unto the Lord and that joy would be restored to my heart tonight! I am blessed!

Ashley's run in with a Drum Cymbal..stapples involved!

Today, about 15 minutes before work was out, I receive this phone call from Zach, Ashley's boyfriend. Ashley has had an accident and we are headed to Providence Hospital. She fell and busted her head open! Ashley then gets on the phone, crying hysterically, I am bleeding and my head is cut. OK! So when do I not panic? It was a good thing that I had my deposits entered. All I needed to do from that point was print them. Well, I had 2 slips to print, I printed the same slip twice, realized I left a check out after shutting down my machine. I had to log back in print out a new slip to replace the duplicate slip and then do a whole new slip for the lone check! I ended up with 3 deposit slips. I called Chad because he was CLOSER to the hospital and he made it there before Ashley ever showed up! I felt much better that he was there. I called my mom to let her know that we would be late getting home since she takes care of Chase only to find out that he has cried all day and had been fussy. Chad tells me that Ashley is OK and to go home and pick up Chase. I do. (Ashley wanted me there) I get there. I find out that Ashley tripped over a part of Zach's drum set, grabbed the CYMBAL stand while going down and the Cymbal smashed her in the back of the head. It caused about an inch and a half long cut. It is wide also. (kind of like slicing a tomato thick with a dull knife, you can get deep enough but not quiet!) Chad and I decide that things are OK and one of us needs to go home with Chase. Chad and Chase leave. The nurse finally calls us back and they examine Ashley's head. Then we wait. The doctor comes in and cleans and numbs the cut. Ashley is very emotional at this point. She cried through the whole procedure. She now has 6 staples in her head...she will get them out in a week. POOR BABY. I feel sorry for her.

Arkansas Visit February 2009

Chad, I and Chase went to Arkansas to visit my inlaws. The drive was very pleasant. We had great weather and the temps started out just right. The farther we drove the cooler it became, but the sun was shining and we took several breaks along the way. Chase did very well in the car. I was grateful since most of our trips really don't go past 3 or 4 hours in the car. That is about all Chase usually takes before the crying begins! When Chase started to get the least bit fussy, we would find a rest stop, gas station or if it was near eating time, a place to stop and eat. This gave him ample time out of the car seat and when we were ready to leave, it was like almost starting over from the beginning! After 11 hours, We finally reached Arkansas. During the drive to Mountain View, Chad and I saw so much damage from the recent ice storm. There were so many power poles down, trees toppled (on power lines), trees on roofs and we saw one on a car too. We saw long rows of NEW power poles put up without any power lines on them. There were lots of people without power. We were listening to the radio and came across a emergency station that was reporting counties and cities, towns that still remained without power. They were listing places that were to be worked on and were asking people NOT to call in and report that power was still out as that it was slowing down repairs and power restoration.

We arrived at my inlaws around 6ish pm. We were all very excited to see each other. It had been nearly 9 months since we had been together. My mother-in-law went straight for the baby! And Chase just loved it all. We got the grand tour the new house and picked our bedrooms. We slept upstairs. We were the first to sleep up stairs! Chase and I slept in the right side bedroom (ON THE NEW BED TO BEAT THE BOOT!)and Chad in the left bedroom. We had the upstairs bathroom. AGAIN a first. we were the first to shower upstairs, I believe. The house was very lovely and homey. It had excellent views from every room and window. My favorite part of the house was the breakfast room. It was very dainty and quaint. We could watch the birds from the breakfast table. (although we didn't really ever eat breakfast there). The outside was very woodsy. There were lots of down trees. Chad and my father-in-law worked a couple of days outside pulling down trees. The second day they were going to cut them up but couldn't get the chain saw going. So we all went for a drive. We saw lots of places in town. We went to a place called Calico rock and saw an amazing view of the river and town.(in which my MIL found some history on the river! VERY INTERESTING). We also went to a little shop strip and I can't remember where but it was a historical place. We went in and looked around. There were some really cool and neat things in the shop. There were some old type toys that I played with as a little girl. This is where we got Chase's b'day gift from my inlaws. It was a Pixar Disney Cars rug. It is a pretty nice sized rug that Chase can play on the floor. The man who owned the shop also owned an ice cream parlor next door. Due to the ice storm, and lost power, I believe he lost about $600 worth of ice cream. It was sad because his insurance deductable was about $10,000.00. He said they went to a hill side and poured out all the sour ice cream. He was also handy in sewing things...after a long debate and persuasion, I had my favorite purse have it's broken strap sewn back on. I hope it will live another year! Around lunch or dinner I am not sure which, we stopped at a Mexican diner to eat. It was so nice. The hot sauce and chips were terriffic. I had eggs ranchero and had a very different experience as the ranchero sauce was none I've ever eaten before. It looked like a barbeque sauce type but still had the tomatoe taste. It was very good. We really had a nice time looking at all the tour spots for the Music places even though it was not in season. One day, my MIL took me to a Mennonite lady's home, Elsie. She was making a baby quilt for her soon coming grandbaby. It was still on the quilting frame and there was suppose to be a quilting get together but it had been cancelled due to the lack of power for some of the people. It was interesting to meet her and hear a little about how she came to be in Arkansas. I also met a lady named Mary. She was very nice and interesting as well. We also met a couple that were my inlaws friends. Their names were Carl and Jean. They were very nice and are very involved in many things. There was also another couple that we were able to meet, I can not remember their names but I believe the man helped my FIL work on the house. I feel good that my inlaws have friends there. I think they will have much to do for a long while. The woodsy land will be enough to keep them busy for a while.
While there, the weather seemed cold and windy. On one of those days, we went for another car drive just to see some scenery. We went down Meisenhiemer road and on to a farm. We saw a sow and her 15 piglets running openly. While driving, we also saw a HUGE pig. I have never quiet seen a pig so big before! We had supper at Pizza Inn and had great visits with each other. Chase made sure to leave fingerprints on windows and doors. Best of all, I GOT TO LISTEN TO A FEW DAYS OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC! Chad didn't complain ONCE while driving in the car home. It was great.

A year gone....A new one begins...

It only seems like yesterday that I gave birth to my sweet baby boy, Chase. It is hard to believe that Saturday, Feb 21st, He will be a year old. We have had so much joy in the passing of the first year and we look forward to many more joyful years. I have watched him grow and change. I have watched him triumph in rolling over, sitting up, crawling and now walking. He has learned several words, mimicks peoples faces and is ready to give kisses. It is amazing to me how I already miss his babyness(if that is a word). I have seen him change also in appetite. He loves his food. He isn't afraid to eat new things at all. I am so very proud. How dearly I love him.

Another year has passed for my daughter, Ashley, who will be 17 years in April. It is so very hard to believe that my beautiful daughter has become a beautiful young woman. She is so amazing. She has an amazing voice and sings wonderfully. She has made great strides in her school work and is doing well. She is triumphing over emotions and feelings that can so easily take over. I see her learning to deal with life and learning to make mature decisions. The future for her holds no bounds. What excellent opportunities await her. The hardest part for me will be letting go slowly. She has always been my angel baby. She and I have been through a lot together. She has been a sweet gift in helping me through! I love her so dearly and am very proud of her. I am proud of her every accomplishment. I am just proud.

Another year has passed for Chad and I. We have been married going on 16 years. It seems like only yesterday that we were married. I love him with all my heart. He has been a strength to me that only God himself has placed in my life for me. He has been and is an encourager to me. He supports me and makes me feel safe. He gives me comfort and tries to understand me. He shows me his love in so many simple ways that never go unnoticed. We have had such wonderful times. We have also had such hard trials and yet through God's grace, we have made it through. We love each other more and stronger. I am so very proud of Chad and I dearly love him. I thank God for him.

I trust God with my family. He has carried us through this past year. I trust that He will carry us through many more years to come. I will stand in awe of the Lord and give Him thanks and praise. Blessed be your name!

James 1:17 King James Version
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.