Easter Weekend

Our eventfull weekend began when we took Faith out of school for their friend's Easter party.  The kids got loaded up with sugar for the ride to Victoria :)

They always take great pictures with Daddy

Ready to hunt some eggs

Annoyed I would ask to take a picture while hunting eggs :) lol (They all could only get 12 anyways...)

Our little speedy gonzales

Ms. Thang looking at her cool stuff from Nannie and Papa

So sweet! Faith and her Great-Grandpa--Papa!

Pretty Girls! Faith and her Great-Grandma--Nannie

Will and Papa

Will loved the card Nannie and Papa gave him

Our little rockstar LOVED her new goggles!

Faith and her other Great-Grandpa--Poppy

Daddy and Faith

Faith and her cousin--Ansilee

Faith, Ansilee and their new cousin Avery

Meme and her girls...Avery made #10 for great-grandchildren

Ready to hunt eggs at Nana and Pa's
A little sad...we were missing our other 4 kiddos! :(

Big kid hunt...can get a little vicious :) lol

Since there were only 2 little kids...they hunted with the big kids...

Bella and Faith ready to hunt eggs
...notice Will is not in the picture, he said, "I don't wanna hunt anymore eggs...I'm tired of running" lol

Love this picture! Daron and his brother Stevie with their kiddos
Will, Daron, Faith, Bella, and Stevie

Mimi got in the mix...precious!

Mi Familia

Like I said earlier...they always take great pictures with him :)

Me and my Big Sexy!
Looks like we're at a tropical location, but it's my in-laws beautiful pool

Never too early to make a splash

Decided they'd get a little sun...

yippeeeee!!!  Our little dare-devil...

My precious boys worshiping during Easter service and Northside Baptist Church, Victoria, TX

This was the video they showed in Church on Sunday and it was such an awesome way to hear about the Easter story.  I laughed until I was crying (not about the story, but the way it was presented).  I hope you can enjoy it as much as we did.

We had such a wonderful weekend full of family and LOTS of food! 

Hope you and your family enjoyed your Easter weekend!

FROG

Daron and I have a lot of decisions that we are having to make right now and we think we know what we want and how we are going to do it, but since most of our decisions include other people, just because what we want to happen doesn't mean that's what's going to happen.

Daron has this amazing ability to stay calm, even when stressed.  If he is concerned he doesn't really show it.  I, on the other hand, have this amazing ability to FREAK OUT about most everything.  I am fully aware that everything is in God's hands and if I prayerfully seek His will everything will work out just fine.

Well, the past few months has been a battle with my heart and faith vs my mind and the world...Then this verse always lingers in my head:

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Seriously, this verse has it ALL! If we just tell God what we need, thank Him for all He has done and is doing (whether it's what we had in mind or not) He WILL give us peace!  The funny thing is--I've experienced this time and time again, but I still get anxious.  In one of my Bible studies someone gave us this acronym to remember: FROG (Fully Rely On God) I love it and need to continually remind myself of this.

Will you please pray for our family in some up-coming, life-changing decisions?  We would greatly appreciate it!

Have a Good Friday, and don't forget how blessed we are that Christ died on the cross for our sins! 

Peaks and Valleys...

Why is it when life is going well, schedules are falling in to place...it's easy to worship, seek, and praise God?

Life as a follower definitely has its peaks and valleys and they seem frequent.  I could say a month ago that everything was going well, I was energetic, motivated, on top of my Bible studies, kids were good, schedules were good....and in a months time I feel it has all gone to crap.

I have gotten behind in studies, my calendar has become so full that when I open it I feel my anxiety levels sky-rocket...so of course my OCD/"fix it" personality has decided that I need to stop everything I'm doing...stop going to Bible studies, in turn quit doing the home-work, in turn not spend as much time with God, in turn life crumbling around me...

On Wednesday's I have two different Bible studies, one in the morning, one in the evening.  This morning I was telling my morning one that I was just probably not going to come back because I am too overwhelmed and I just need to cut some things out.  As my BOLD mentor immediately blurted out, "YOU ARE GOING TO REGRET IT!! DON'T DO IT!"  Honestly, my immediate internal response was to get annoyed, which made me want to quit all the more.  Then tonight I went to my night study and was telling that group the same thing...I think I'm just going to take a break, I have too much going on...

Well, on my drive home I was talking to a friend and she was saying that as Christians we go through phases and sometimes we just want a break...it made me feel really good to hear that.  Then after we got off the phone I began to think..."Bible study" or not I should still be spending time in the Word and living it out...so, when I got home I decided to pull out my Bible study book, which I must admit, I am weeks behind on (starting a study a week late was like already immediate failure in my mind...so hard to catch up), set my excuses aside and just start from the very beginning.  I'm pretty tired and by the time I got to "day 3" I went to look up scripture in Ephesians.  I began reading:

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hears tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.  Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; her took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.  Therefore, God elevated him to the place of the highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

After I was done reading this scripture I was more than convicted...I looked at where I started and the title was "Have the Attitude of Christ" I continued to read the questions from my study guide and it made no sense at all...as I tried to figure out why I then realized I had just read Philippians 2:1-10 instead of Ephesians 2:1-10...my point in sharing this is I truly believe that God revealed this scripture to me TONIGHT because this is what he wanted me to hear.  It's okay if can't finish all of my study...I don't have to impress anyone...I should not be doing these studies to impress others or for some kind of approval from another--I should do it because I want to spend more time with my Lord! And I should not feel so guilty and beat myself up and I fall a little behind...all that does is turn me away and causes me to take more steps back and not want to push forward.

I hope this post is not rambling to you...I am very tired, but I am grateful that I turned to the wrong chapter tonight.  God clearly wanted to show me the attitude of Christ...I pray I may be more like him and others will see Him through my actions.

Daron's 31st birthday

We celebrated Daron's 31st birthday March 27th. Daron and I went on a date the night before. Then Sunday I took the kids to Church so he could sleep in and have the morning to himself. The kids got him a cookie cake and made him nice gifts. It wasn't as eventful as his 30th, but hopefully as enjoyable...

 

Soccer-Spring

Spring Soccer 2011

Team Houston

Faith started out on a younger team that was not challenging enough and was moved to a 1st and 2nd grade level team...now she is plenty challenged.  The kids tower over her, but Coach told me Saturday that he loves the 'little ones' That Faith has tons of spunk and is aggressive "and that's what we need" lol...She has gotten close to making several goals but hasn't made one yet.  She has serious speed as a forward, but she prefers to play goalie or defender (full back). 

Team Salt Lake

Will has improved beyond explanation compared to the fall.  He's smoke'n hot now.  He LOVES soccer and is great at it! Last week he made 2 goals and this week he told us he wanted to make 4 1/2 this week...we kind of laughed it off, but he really did...he made 4 goals, then kicked the ball all the way to the goal and his team-mate kicked it in...so we counted that one as his 1/2 :)

Not as planned...

Faith wanted Will and me to eat lunch with her today, but I knew I was going to have to run. So, I put Will in a stroller and ran to her school, to kill two birds with one stone. We ate lunch and had recess with her as usual. Then put Will back in the stroller to run home. In my mind we were going to go home and rest, because I am so tired from waking up at 3:30 yesterday morning. Once we got back to our neighborhood I decided to take the ‘long’ way home, which I never do. As I got close to my house I realized one of my neighbors’ yards was really high.
 This family, the husband in his late 30’s, has been battling brain tumors for a few years now. I was over talking to them on Sunday and he told me he would be going for more chemo on Thursday of this week and how he was trying to get as much around the house done as he could. This man has always been in such high spirits and so positive that it encourages me.
 Anyways, back to my run home, as I went past my neighbor (couple houses down) I felt God was telling me to mow their yard. Keep in mind, “my plan” was to go home and nap…so as I walked up to my house I told Will, okay, Mommy’s going to change we’re going to mow Cassidy’s yard (one of their daughter’s). He said okay, got his lawn mower and we went to mow. When I went to do the backyard I noticed their dog run to the back corner, so I made sure to shut the gate. Well, luck would have it that the lawn mower ran out of gas, so I went to my house to get more. As I was walking I noticed that their dog was all the way at the end of our street. So, I started running to try to get him to come to me. I asked Will what it’s name was and he said, “I know it’s a girl, but I don’t remember it’s name.” LOL. When the dog noticed I was chasing it, it ran faster. I was literally sprinting, before I knew it I was at the front of the neighborhood and there was no signs of her turning around…I thought, Oh crap, I left Will…haha…


So, I went back, we got the car, drove around, couldn’t find her.


So, we went back home so I could finish mowing the back yard. Once I was done and cleaned up after myself, I told Will to get Swiper and get in the car. I thought if I took another dog, maybe it would lure the other dog. Well, as I was driving down our street there was a girl riding her bike, I asked her if she had seen a pug…she said, yes, to the right. So, we ended up finding it, I got out to get it and it ran off the opposite way, so I turned around at this point, I said, Will, how about you get out and see if it will come to you…nope, ran off further. At this point there was a lady walking her dog trying to corner him for us, he ran into a cul de sac, so I thought I was going to have him, I put swiper (my dog) in the passenger seat, hopped out and slapped the door to hear yelping…yep, the door hit my dog, he was crying and pissing everywhere…COME ON!! So by the time I get him back in the car the dumb pug was on the run again…We literally drive right behind him ALL over the neighborhood until he went down a dead end street and ran to the end. I pulled over, got out and cornered him…picked the heavy dog up, praying fervently that he wouldn’t bite me….(I know the family, not their dog…) got her home, locked her back in the back yard all before the kids got home for school.


YAY! I don’t have to tell them I mowed their lawn. Thank you Jean and Tanya for praying so hard for me! I love y’all!!


Today SO did not go as I had planned, but I sure pray that the lawn will bless this family.


Please pray for:
*This man to heal completely!
*For the wife to catch a break, as she works full time and is worn out between work and her husband’s health
*For their two daughter’s (7 and 5)
*My dog to not be too injured, debating on taking him to the vet :(


Have a great day!

7 Core Concepts for Connected Families By: Mimi Doe

1) Tolerance: Let the little things go.  You won't remember the weeds in the front yard ten years from now, but you might recall your nine-year-old daughter's laughter as you taught her how to throw a Frisbee--and she will too.  Tolerance is also understanding that those we love might have different pictures in their minds of how events should play out.

2) Time Together: This is what it's all about.  Get creative and harvest more of it for your family.  Place special time, grab an occasional moment, turn routine events into family participation, share your hobbies, take part in your children's interest.

3) Trial and Error: Never give up, continue to try new approaches for a deeper connection with your kids and your partner.  Adjust to your child's changing and interest.

4) Take It Out into the World: Practice compassion in action as a family.

5)Teach Less, Listen More: Honor each other's viewpoints and dreams--learn from your kids.

6) Tools for Living: Begin creating your  family's unique toolbox of beliefs.  Be specific about what beliefs and values make it into that box, why they are there and how your family can put them to use.

7) Total Love: You can't go wrong when you love deeply.  Never assume that your family knows how much you love them--show them often.

Ways Mothers Can Pray for Themselves

1) That I will be convicted of any personal hypocrisy lived out before my children, contradicting what I say by what I do, and, when appropriate, admit my sin to my children.

Matthew 7:3-6

And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend.  'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in  your own eye, then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.  Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. 

2) That  my words, looks, and actions will clearly reflect to my children that my husband is loved, honored and cherished. 

Proverbs 31:10-12

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.  Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.  She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.

Ephesians 5:33

So, again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

3) That I will never be too tired to angry or negligent to discipline my children wisely.

Proverbs 29:17

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.

4) That I will resist the enticement of popularity for my children and be willing for our family to be different from the world's standards.

I Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Psalm 37

Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.  For like grass, they soon fade away.  Like spring flowers, they soon wither.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.  Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart's desire.  Commit everything  you do to the Lord.  Trust him, and he will help you.  He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.  Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.  Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  Stop being angry!  Turn from you rage! Do not lose your temper it only leads to harm.  For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.  Soon the wicked will disappear.  Though you look for them, they will be gone.  The lowly will posses the land and will live in peace and prosperity.  The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.  But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgement coming.  The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.  But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their  bows will be broken.  It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.  For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.  Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.  They will not be disgraced in hard times even in famine they will have more than enough.  But the wicked will dies.  The Lord's enemies are like flowers in a field--they will disappear like smoke.  The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.  Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die.  The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.  Once I was young, and now I am old.  Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.  The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.  Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.  For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly.  He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.  The godly will possess the land and will live there forever.  The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.  They have made God's law their own, so they will never slip from his path.  The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.  But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.  Put your hope in the Lord.  Travel steadily along his path.  He will honor you by giving you the land.  You will see the wicked destroyed.  I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.  But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!  Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.  But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.  The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.  The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked.  He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

5) That I will know when to step in and take charge of a situation for my children and when to step back and let them learn for themselves.

Proverbs 16:9

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

6) That I will daily remember my own need to be taught by God's Word and filled with His Spirit so that I reflect the joy of the Lord before my children.

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence  and the pleasure of living with you forever.

7)That prayer will be my immediate response to family joys and crises alike.

Ephesians 6:18

Pray in the Spirit at all time and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.



8) That I will be able to shield my children against premature association with sexuality, sophistication in ideas and dress, and unnecessary knowledge of the world.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-17

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die.  A time to plant and a time to harvest.  A time to kill and a time to heal.  A time to tear down and a time to build up.  A time to cry and a time to laugh.  A time to grieve and a time to dance.  A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.  A time to embrace and a time to turn away.  A time to search and a time to quit searching.  A time to keep and a time to throw away.  A time to tear and a time to mend.  A time to be quiet and a time to speak.  A time to love and a time to hate.  A time for war and a time for peace.  What do people really get for all their hard work?  I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.  Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.  he has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.  So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.  And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.  And I know that whatever God does in final.  nothing can be added to it or taken away from it.  God's purpose is that people should fear him.  What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.  I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom.  Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! I said to myself, "In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds."

Last week at MOPS we talked about this (How as Mom's we can pray for ourselves) and wanted to share it.