baby steps to righteousness

Giving Thanks #17

2008-11-20T09:52:00.002-06:00

First let me say i fear I have gotten wayyyy behind on my 30 days soooo with that said, I will be writing a giving thanks post each day until thanksgiving even if it is not 30 days :)

So today I am giving thanks for honest, true friendships! My friend Amanda is new in our lives. She has not lived in Pascagoula very long and I have only known her a couple of months (I think it has been that long :))At any rate. from the moment I met her I clicked with Amanda, I knew from the moment I met her that she was someone I wanted to be friends with. We have been talking alot and she has witnessed our life, our days, our evenings, our meals, nearly bedtime etc...Sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes to tell you what is not working in your life, what things you really need to "get in order" You know. Someone who hasn't seen you make 500 trips around the same mountain (that is code for dealing with the same issues over and over) So back to Amanda. Yesterday was a bad day. It was just rotten, started out good with the kids and I doing some volunteer work and then it just all went downhill. At anyrate, we had church and something happened that just broke the floodgate for me and no matter how hard I tried those tears were not staying in my head. So on the way home (we ride together) we were talking and she just asked "can I be honest, you probably wont like what I have to say but i feel like the Lord wants you to know somethings" and she began to speak words that I knew were straight from the LORD words that I needed to hear, words that while they were difficult to hear I know I needed them. We got the kids, came home and talked for another couple of hours and I knew in my spirit I had some actions to take but that all would be well. So that is it. How often are we afraid to tell the truth for fear of bringing offense to someone? How often do we get offended when someone tells us the truth that we needed to hear? Everything she said to me was not difficult. It was all productive and used to teach me somethings I just hadnt gotten to yet. One of the huge blessings she gave me was to show me my children through another set of eyes. I have great kids, really if you look at their peers they really are great, but they are NOT perfect (which I never thought) she gave me the gift of recognizing their great qualities and how I am called to help refine those and what I can do to make sure that happens and how God can use those qualities for HIS KINGDOM.

So thank God for good friends who are not afraid to speak the truth into our lives even at the risk of hurting our feelings. That conversation really could have gone a couple of different ways and I am just glad it went as well as it did.

How do you react to truth spoken in LOVE? Do you get defensive and "bow up" not wanting to hear what you have done wrong or do you gently accept it and make a plan ot seek God to find out how He would have you change it?

Many blessings and Much LOVE to you all
SB

Giving Thanks post#16

2008-11-18T12:12:00.004-06:00

Today I am giving thanks for MODERN DAY CONVENIENCES. I love the thought of being a pioneer woman ... I know crazy, but the whole making your own bread and churning your own butter really appeals to me, in thought that is :) Never mind the fear of something terrible happening to one of my children and no modern hospital to rely on. I love the IDEA of traveling by wagon train and staking claim on some land cultivating it, building our home and raising a family ... yadda, yadda, yadda ..... You will notice .... I love the IDEA of it all but not more than I love my bread machine, my butter from the grocery store and my stove on which to cook. I love the heater that warms my cold bones and the shower that i take each morning. Gotta love fresh running water. So today i am giving thanks for all those MODERN DAY CONVENIENCES which make my necessary, day to day chores easier!

Have you hugged your washing machine today?!

Peace and Blessings to you all
sb

Giving Thanks #15

2008-11-17T21:44:00.004-06:00

Ok, today i am breaking from all the sentiment to give thanks for ..... ice cream, that is right folks you read it correctly .... I am giving thanks for ICE CREAM - especially peppermint flavor

Because God's word says that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, i am convinced this yummy, creamy, sugary treat comes straight from heaven! It is my absolute favorite dessert/snack/breakfast/lunch/or dinner. I LOVE IT! I love any kind of ice cream really well with the exception of strawberry but my very favorite is peppermint and it is only out during Christmas season so it should go without saying there is alot of ice cream eating going on in our house during the months of Nov-January! So without hesitation lets all give a cheer for Ice Cream ... I scream, you scream, WE ALL scream for Ice Cream!!!!!

"mom's" work is hard stuff!

2008-11-17T08:49:00.003-06:00

As I write this ZC is in the living room, right off the office and she is supposed to be picking up the jar of pennies she unloaded on the floor. This has been an ongoing saga for 3 days. I refuse to pick them up, let her watch tv or even eat breakfast this morning before they are returned to their home. It is a battle of the wills and i feel like giving up. For 3 days she has said ... "I am so tired mommy, i will pick them up in the morning" "I promise I will pick them up when we get home" "Mommy, I am just a little girl i cant pick them all up"

GRRRRR! She is sooooo strong willed!

You know though just makes me think about how I behave and have become rebelious in my life, telling God "well, I know what you want me to do, I don't have time now, I will get to it later, I will do it when I feel like it, on my own terms." I am so grateful that He doesnt ever give me what I really deserve, yes I have been disciplined in my life but seriously I have never gotten what I deserve to get.

Parenting is tough stuff!

Giving Thanks Post #14

2008-11-16T22:16:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for the cooler weather! There is something about the crispness of the winter air. Here in the south where for the majority of the year temps are high 90's with close to 100% humidity, crisp cool air is a welcomed change. Winter always brings with it a kick to my step. The anticipation that something exciting is just around the corner causes me to take extra notice to my surroundings, be extra sensitive to what is going on in my home and how we can come together and have more fun. So today I am thankful that winter is on its way!

peace and blessings to you all!
sb

Giving Thanks Post #13

2008-11-15T00:14:00.004-06:00

Today I am thankful for prayer! Anyone who knows me (in person or on the web) knows that generally my first response to trouble, illness, sadness, grief, etc... is to pray. Prayer is such a beautiful gift. It is at its best a conversation with God a give and take, honest conversation, a sharing of my heart, of my dreams of my needs and a taking of His direction, His peace, His love. When I can get past my insessint need to talk and talk and talk for fear I might leave out just one part of my day, and just be in his presence I find rejuvenation for my often weary soul, I find healing - physical, emotional and spiritual, I find answers to questions, and so much more.

Angie over at "bring on the Rain' has come up with a wonderful idea. She has the most incredible blog. She and her family are experiencing the devastation of loosing a child. You can read her story in her blog but what is most memorable and truly inspirational is the grace she exhibits as she allows God to mold her and shape her while she walks through the aftermath of such a heart wrenching tragedy. I will be honest I did not think I would have much in common with her but oh my goodness I think her words speak to anyone who has experienced extreme disappointment and loss and continue to strive to live as God has called them to do.
Ok, back to her idea .... Praying for our/your children ... I know it is not a new idea but she has come up with a great "system" if you will of praying for them 7 times a day! So go check her out, you wont be disappointed! I promise. Just click on the link below!

Giving Thanks Post #12

2008-11-13T20:42:00.003-06:00

Today I am thankful for laughter ... 2 of my 3 kiddos are jokesters (is that even a word?), Ethan plots long and hard to play tricks on his sisters and myself and it seems ZC is coming up right behind him. Tonight I left the room for a moment and i came back to ZC giggling, She was trying so hard to hold her laughter in, almost biting her lip. I sat down, slipped my shoes on my feet and they were full of pennies and she yelled ... GOTCHA and started cracking up so hard she could hardely stand it! I love laughter, i love the sound of my children's laughter, I love the way laughter makes me feel. Laughter is the best medecine!

Hope you had a few good laughs today!

Beace and blessings
sb

Giving thanks post #11

2008-11-11T22:39:00.005-06:00

Today I am thankful for my mom. Without going into life stories here I will just say she has lived a life and had experiences that would cause most of us to throw up our hands and give up and yet she has plugged away determined to make life better for her children and grandchildren. She is one of the most giving persons i know and i adore her.

So mom, if you are reading this - I am thankful for you! Know you are appreciated!

peace and blessings
sb

Giving Thanks post #10

2008-11-10T21:16:00.004-06:00

I am trying to catch up so I am doubling up for a couple of days.
I am thankful for family night. It has turned into such a wonderful time to renew our bond and remember why we love one another, to laugh together and just have fun. It is a great time to just turn off the rest of the world and be together.

Giving Thanks #9

2008-11-10T11:35:00.007-06:00

Today I am thankful for God's Provision.
Last week, not this past Sunday but the one before it the kids and I walked out of our Pastor's house (I have a class there each Sunday) to find that the tire which had been giving us trouble ( a slow leak we were having to pump it up about every 3-4 days) had finally given out. It was flat as flat could be. Now I can change a tire but it is not very easy and I was thankful for the men around who were willing to change it for me. Not only were they willing to change it but they took it upon themselves to take the situation and make it a teaching moment for my son E. So there was my 10 year old learning how to change a tire. (we are still driving on the donut which is why dear Daphne I have not gotten with you to arrange a time to get together, I am not traveling much :)
Fast forward to this weekend ...
As I posted a few days ago, I left town to take E to a junior bible quiz competition. My friend Cindy and I in her van with 5 kids (4 girls + E) We were headed about 5.5 hours away. We were having a good ride, stopped for dinner and let the kids play and back on the road. We heard a klunk but the van was riding well, it was dark out and we were on the interstate so we didn't stop and then a little further down the road it was obvious something was amiss. After pulling over what we saw was a tire full of air but NO TREAD! it was crazy, the tread just came off (must have been what the klunk was) So my son, being the awesome kid that he is, immediatley says " I know how to change a tire, I can do this mom" So with minimal help my great son changed the tire on the van while we were on the interstate (thank God it was on the passengers side or I would never have allowed him to do it) It was awesome to see his joy in being able to do this for Mrs. Cindy and myself. He did it with ease and confidence. Cindy told me when we got back into the car that just minutes before we left her husband had gone and replaced the spare tire, which is a full size spare (they had had to replace a tire on a recent trip) We also didn't realize it at the time but we had missed our exit, had we taken the correct exit we would have been on a small country road with NO shoulder. It would have been impossible for us to change the tire and there would have been nothing around.
This is certainly NOT the first time God has made provision for us. Over and over again He has done things like this in our lives/my life. I was angry and frustrated with God over my tire last Sunday but now I see the path that was being prepared and the provision being made. I have NO doubt God will provide for my tire to be replaced soon but until then I will rest knowing
that what it says in the book of Mathew chapter 6 verse 8 - "Do not be like them (the pagans who pray with many words for the sake of praying) for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him"
Peace and blessings to you all

and Praise to the THE ALL knowing, ALL providing God!

sb

Thanksgiving post #8

2008-11-08T09:05:00.000-06:00

Today I am thankful that My sweet Savior Jesus Christ loves me
Recently my dear friend Amanda called to share this scripture with me.

12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."

14Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"

Luke 7:12-14

Cant you just hear him? He, the Lord of all, who could have immediately raised her son to life again ... wanted first to comfort her, to ease her pain, to stop the flow of tears. Can you hear His sweet tender voice? Feel His tender touch as He comforts her with the tender words - "don't cry" It makes me think of how we comfort our children when they scrape their knee and how our children comfort us even when they don't know why our tears flow. He didn't want to walk in and marvel everyone with is majestic power, the power bestowed upon Him by his Heavenly Father. He first wanted to quietly, tenderly touch her heart! So you there feeling down troddin', You who's life is not playing out the way you thought it would, you who have lost loved ones, and even you have fallin prey to satan's evil scheme. You who have let dreams die because you thought you couldn't accomplish them and you who feels like the world is against you, Your Savior sees you, He knows you by name, he knows your pain, your disappointment, He knows your loss and He even knows those dreams you let die, listen carefully as He tells you "Don't cry" Let Him comfort you quietly and then watch out cause you never know what He is going to do!

On the road again ...

2008-11-07T14:28:00.003-06:00

E and I are heading out of town in just a bit. He has a junior bible quiz competition tomorrow and we are traveling to Columbus with his team. Please pray for traveling mercies for uas as well as praying that the kids do well and enjoy this fun experience. They have put in alot of work and it is always great to see them experience some success!

thanks all
have a great weekend!
sb

Giving Thanks Post #7

2008-11-07T13:51:00.002-06:00

Today I am thankful for the rain. As I write this it is raining outside which has caused me to ponder ... (dangerous) Rain is often equaited with sorrow.There is no denying that it is an inconvenience and sometimes uncomfortable (especially in the winter months when it rains and you get wet which is undoubtedly followed by being cold) however, in the old testement God ofen made the skys open and the rain fall as a blessing to those who were obedient to him. Throughout the Old Testement I found several verses where God spoke through His prophets, telling the people to listen,to obey or He would close up the skys and rain would no longer fall, and crops would no longer grow. Even in the ot times He was trying to teach them what James writes in James 1: 2-4 "2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. "

RAIN, SORROW, TRIALS, ETC... THOSE THINGS ARE PRODUCTIVE - PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. THEY ARE USEFUL TO PRODUCE FAITH, PERSEVERANCE, AND MATURITY. ALL THESE THINGS WE NEED TO BE USEFUL TO GOD! ALL THESE THINGS WHICH ARE BEAUTIFUL TO SEE IN A PERSON.

SO TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR THE RAIN!
(Hey,will you all remind me of this post next time a trial hits ;)

Giving Thanks Post #6

2008-11-06T21:04:00.004-06:00

Today I am thankful for My Zoe Claire with curly hair and beautiful big brown eyes! Man I love that girl! ZC's arrival story is much different from my Miss M and E man! I was just finishing up my Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology. I was just a days away from graduation. The day ZC came "home" she was 2.5 months old, and none of us had any idea how significant her "visit" would be. The kids and I were living with some good friends while I finished up my degree. I had secured a job and a new house and as I said graduation was just a few days away. I had gone to the company's main location to go over the final job details and on the way home called my friend Susan to let her know I was finished. While we were talking I heard a baby cry int he background and when I asked who it was she gave me the story. Her first 2.5 months had been tough. Susan had agreed to help the family out until they could figure out what to do. Lot's of issues going on in the birth family's life and they were unable to care for her. I hung up the phone and cried the whole way home (1 hour) I told God over and over what dumb idea it was that there was no way I could have another child, there was just no way. Well, as you can guess God was right, I was wrong. All the doors flew wide open , God made it completely clear what His plan was and the red carpets laid out. ZC was created for our family and we were created for her. God is soooo amazing!
So today I am grateful for ZC and for her birthfamily who selflessly gave a piece of themselves up so that she could have the life she deserves. I am so blessed!

Giving Thanks post #5

2008-11-06T08:30:00.004-06:00

This morning I am thankful for comments! I woke up this morning to several comments to moderate and it warms my heart to know people are reading and thinking about what I am writing. It seems like such a small gesture but is so very meaningful. As a single mom sometimes it feels like no one around here listens to anything I say, sometimes it just gets lonely. Knowing you've paid me a little virtual visit warms my heart! Thank you ladies for caring and leaving me little notes to let me know you were here, you saw, you read, and my words provoked some thought ! :) I appreciate it more than you know!

I need to look at the calander to figure this out but I know i need to catch up on some days so there is likely to be another giving thanks post today :)

peace and blessings to you all!
sb

Giving Thanks post #4

2008-11-05T23:41:00.003-06:00

Today i am thankful for my son - E man THE man! As we like to say in the south ... Bless His little heart! He lives in a house full of girls. that means tons of Estrogen, moodiness, indecisiveness and yes sometimes they even gang up on him to make him watch chick flicks. Ethan was the first boy born to my family in 25 years... my brother was ecstatic when we learned he was a boy!

When I found out i was pg with E I was in the process of transferring schools (I went back to school at the age of 26) I attended 1 year at our local junior collage and decided it was time to transfer from a 2 year to a 4 year university and I had big big plans. I was already a single parent to Miss M and I was just coming out of a relationship I had no business being in in the first place and well the news that a baby was growing inside of me made me more than a bit nervous. I tweaked my plans just a bit, transferred to a different university and made the absolute best of it that I could. Life for E has not been easy. He has grown up without a father in our home to show him the ropes and stick up for him when he needs someone on his side. But the one thing that I do know is that He is one of the very best things that has happened to this family. He is smart and caring, sensitive and loving. He is funny, always trying to make me laugh and is more like me than I care to admit sometimes ;)

This is his first year homeschooling with us. He is so smart it sometimes he scares me that I won't be able to keep up with him! He has been gifted with the ability to read things and remember them easily. He learns things easily and without much effort. I am so greaful
for the relationship between he and his younger sister. I am grateful for his humor, for his sensitivity .. for everything that makes him ... him!

Potato Soup - YUMMY!

2008-11-05T14:03:00.000-06:00

My family LOVES potato soup. We can't get enough of it. Last year i figured out that instead of using real potatoes I would use the potato flakes and cut time and cost (I hate the peeling of the potatoes part) I had no problem getting the right consistency but I could not ever get the soup to have any real flavor. So I woke up Saturday morning with potato soup on the brain , It has been cool hear and I felt like it was great whether for soup. So I was going over and over in my head how to step up the flavor and here is what I came up with

1/2 onion diced
7-10 red potatoes cubed
mashed potato flakes (any brand)
butter (about a stick)
milk
water

melt 1/2 stick of butter in large sauce pan (you want to do it all in one pan to make it as flavorful as possible. Add onion and stir well. Saute the onion until it is transparent. Once onion is cooked at cubed potatoes and still well. Coat potatoes with butter (you many need to add a little more) Cook and stir, cook and stir until potatoes begin to soften just a bit. Add water to just over the potatoes. Bring potatoes to a boil. Cover the pot but remember to keep an eye that they don't stick and that the water doesn't boil down. Once potatoes are tender (how tender is a personal preference) then add more water and milk. I added 4 cups water and filled the rest of the pot with milk. Bring to boil and begin adding potato flakes to desired consistency. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes and serve garnished with bacon, cheese and sour cream. It was so yummy. It will become a regular dish I am sure.

I know this recipe lacks all things technical and I am sorry. I am very much a pinch of this and a dash of that kind of chef. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment here and I will get back to you as quickly as possible

Link to share

2008-11-05T09:48:00.000-06:00

I just found some really great ideas about how to help develop an attitude of thankfulness in our children. Enjoy!
Her Cup Overfloweth: Thankful and Blogging About It: 10 Ways to Encourage Thankfulness in Your Children

Giving Thanks post #3

2008-11-05T00:06:00.003-06:00

I had every intention today to write about my son, who I am also very grateful for ... that was until I got a phone call. I think very highly of my Pastors (Rick and Vickey) They are incredible people who love the Lord with all their hearts, souls and minds. They live their life for Him and it is very apparent. They make no apologies for serving God in all they do and say.
So not secret, I am a single mom who has 1 son who .. bless his heart... lives in a family full of girls. I mean the whole family, NOT just his immediate family. Ethan was the first boy born in 25 years in our family and then there was not another one until He was 6 years old. (More on all that later) So anyway, my son is such a boy! He lives to skateboard, loves to fish and would love to learn to hunt (among other things). So today Pastor Rick calls me and tells me there is going to be a youth hunting trip come up and wants to know if he can take Ethan. Here is a man who is very busy running a church, sheparding a congregation, working another job and he wants to take my son hunting. WOW! He has such a passion to pour into the lives of young men who need older Godly men to help them grow. How blessed we are to have such leadership. I believe this attitude also affects the attitudes of the other men in the body. Recently we were at a church event and one of the older gentlemen buddied up with Ethan. He took the time to teach Ethan about how to greet someone, to shake their had with a good firm grip and to look them in the eye. A group of men also had Ethan come out on a workday, taught him about doing some yard work on our new property and then showed him how to prepare to have a bonfire. They took time, they invested in his life and I know he is not the only one. These men see the value of pouring into - investing in the lives of young men who are being raised up to be our future. These men are playing an instrumental role in raising up a generation of fatherless children. Children who have been cast aside by the men whose DNA they share or like in Ethan's case who have not had a father in their life due to illness.

So today I am thankful for men willing to shape the lives of boys by investing their time and talent, their wisdom and knowledge into a young man without a father. Men who are willing to answer the call of desperation for single mom's who don't know how to teach their son's how to be a Godly man.

GO VOTE!

2008-11-04T09:01:00.002-06:00

NUFF SAID!

I am sure you will read it, hear it, say it, and write it a million times to day! Just make sure you

DO IT ONCE!

Giving Thanks post #2

2008-11-03T10:58:00.007-06:00

*** let me first say I am thankful for all of my children. I am just going to be thankful for each of them separately and in the order they were given to me :)

Today I am thankful for Miss M. Madison is by far the average 17 year old young woman. She has been with me the longest. She was born when I was just 19 years old ... She was born in Aug and I turned 20 in Oct. Her dad and I had been married just 5 months when we learned we should begin preparing for an addition to our family. I could not have been more excited! She arrived one month early after I had a car accident. Her first days were rocky, she spent a little time in the NICU nursery but nothing lasting. She has grown and developed into a healthy young woman. Despite the many challenges which have presented themselves in our lives Miss M continues to strive to be the best she can and though our life is not always what one would wish for Miss M takes it all in stride and does not mullygrub about it.
She has been called into ministry. God has called her to minister to young girls who like her have grown up without an earthly "daddy" in their lives. Her hearts desire is to help these girls know that they are not alone and that they are daughters of the king, the best daddy of all. God is going to use her in great ways and I for one cannot wait to see the effects of her faithfulness to HIM! She is going to be a world changer!
So today I am thankful for my dear sweet girl Miss M!

Miss M is on your left. She is going to kill me for posting this picture but I could not find a more recent one.

Giving Thanks

2008-11-02T21:46:00.004-06:00

Miranda over at Enjoying the Ride suggest that since we are now in November we blog about 1 thing we are grateful for each day. So I am getting a start on this a day late but that's okay. I'm going for it anyway.

***Disclaimer***
These are in no way ranked by order of entry. I am very grateful for every gift the Lord has given me.

Today I am grateful for ...
The gift of worship .. being allowed to worship and I don't mean sitting in a pew on Sunday morning attending church, not the freedom that the constitution gives us. I mean the gift of being able to open my heart wider than it has ever known, feeling the God I love through all my senses, taking Him in and just worshipping Him for who HE is. NOT anything He has done for me, or given me, not anything He has created but just because He exists, just because He is the great I AM! Sometime I become burdened with the reality of the fact that He must love me so very much to pour Himself into me so. He must think an awful lot of me to allow me in the throne room. What a loving God we serve.

YOU ARE INVITED!

2008-10-31T08:43:00.005-05:00

The Refuge is having its 4th anual Holy Ghost Weenie Roast come join us for Food, Fun, Fellowship and of coarse CANDY! We will have jumpies, entertainment a hay ride a dunking booth, games and if I heard correctly you can even PIE OUR PASTORS! You'll have to get in line behind me for that one (all in good fun right?)
You can be assured you will not encounter anything there to invoke fear in your little one, just tons of fun!!! So come on out, enjoy our new property (we are soooo excited about it!) Oh and I will be the one snapping pictures of everyone, that is always my job! So smile when you see me!
You can find us at : 2705 Guillotteville Rd, Gautier, MS 39553, Phone: 228-522-1980

Hope to see you there!
sb

Conversations with the 4 year old

2008-10-30T19:42:00.002-05:00

ZC witnessed someone throwing a beer bottle in our yard the other day. She was completely dismayed and has been obsessed with it for days. One of the older children told her (not sure what possessed them to do so but none the less they did) that the culprit was probably out getting drunk and had to throw the bottle out the window so they did not get in trouble.

FAST FORWARD TO TODAY ...

I hear the conversation from the other room ...

ZC - Bubba did you know somebody threw a beer bottle in our yard. You know in the backyard, they just threw it in the yard

E- (totally into the computer) Uh - huh

ZC - they were probably doin drunk

E - (still not willing to break from the computer) Yeah

ZC- bubba - whats doin drunk mean?

E - means you act stupid (how he came up with this definition I don't know either)

ZC- she is quite for a few seconds and says - well, your stupid sometimes.

OH MY WORD, It was all I could do not to laugh hysterically! OH she is soooo funny!

2008-10-30T19:16:00.003-05:00

*** GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENT ***

My intention was to have this done first thing this morning however, life took over before I had a chance to blink. So sorry.

This is by far a showcase of my fine photographic talent. :) Thanks everyone who left comments. Keep an eye out, there will be another in November.

So of coarse I relied on the most accurate randomization prize choosing methods :) Pen, Paper, scissors

an empty can and

and impartial party ... a non-reader at that :)

and the winner is ...

Mandy over at Adventures of a Millennium Mom. (Who by the way I just realized is not in my side links . Going to add her as soon as I publish this

Many email me you address and the initial you would like on your wrap and I will get you one made up and mailed of within the week! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Peace and Blessings!

We're going on a field trip, a field trip a field trip

2008-10-28T21:54:00.002-05:00

We're going on a field tip oh what fun it'll be. Cant wait to go to the exploreum tomorrow (Wed) in Mobile. I love that place and the traveling exhibit right now is about frogs. So much fun, I love frogs! It will be a blast. I am sure there will be pictures to post tomorrow, provided I remember the CF card this time!

Dont forget to enter the ***GIVEAWAY*** Just one more day left.

Check this out!

2008-10-28T11:36:00.002-05:00

***GIVEAWAY***
Just scroll down for the details! Don't miss it, the last day to enter is Wednesday.

Here is a link for you to check out! BABY STEALS is an awesome place to get some great deals! The post one a day so don't miss it!!!

Wishing you all a great day!
sb

Family Night #2 ... and other random thoughts ....

2008-10-27T21:27:00.003-05:00

#1 - The *** GIVEAWAY*** is off to a great start. Remember you have until Wed. Night to enter. Zoe Claire will be choosing a winner on Thursday morning. I do sell these. There are several colors to choose from and they are $20 + shipping. Anyone interested can email me at sbschultz@imagesbysarabeth.com .... put "WRAP" in the subject line for more information. I am hoping to eventually get an etsy store up and running before too long.

#2 - a different kind of family night. We decided this week that we wanted to include some of our dearest friends in family night. Our original plan was to go to my best friends housee and play with the kiddos while she got somethings accomplished but it was too cold to go outside and I was trying to help with a slideshow for a grant. So Miss M did bake cookies for everyone while we were over there and then played with some of the little ones. We also had plans to help distribute flyers about the "Holy Ghost Weinie Roast" and "prayer walk" some of surrounding neighborhoods. That was awesome!!! Amanda was with Miss M, ZC and myself while E partnered with an older gentleman in our church. Miss M really stepped out of her comfort zone and Randy reported that E did a great job talking with people and inviting them to come out and enjoy the free food and fun! Dear sweet Amanda decided to reward us all for our good attitudes :) and take us out for dinner. Isn't she a sweetie! So we had some yummy, yummy Chinease food. We got home and I heard Miss M reading to ZC and helping E through some disappointment he was experiencing. I am loving the new attitudes.

Miss Amanda has been so great for our family. I have told her over and over she was sent here just for us but I know God intends to use her in BIG BIG ways while He has her here in Pascagoula! She really really ministered to us as a family tonight in all her teaching, she just cant help herself!

#3 Sometimes life is just disappointing. ohhh trying to help children deal with that is so difficult. Most of you who are close to us know that My son E is dealing with the fact that his father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has held up pretty well. Tonight he was disappointed that when he tried to call his dad was already asleep. Miss M. helped him through that by pointing him to God's word and then later on he was on his knees praying for his dad. Man I love my kids. They teach me so much!

So all in all it was a good day. A day of learning and praying and serving a God we love so much!
Praying you had a great day as well!
Peace and Blessings
sb

GIVEAWAY

2008-10-25T20:46:00.002-05:00

With the holiday season approaching I thought it might be fun to host my first giveaway. This is one of my personalized handmade wraps. Wraps are great for when you get out of the swimming pool or the shower. They allow you to be fully covered while you blow dry your hair and apply makeup. The wrap will be personalized with the initial of your choice . So what do you have to do to win?

Leave a comment, that's it. You can receive 5 entries by letting me know you blogged about the giveaway. The winner will be chosen on Thursday.

Peace and Blessings,
sb

FALL = FAIR

2008-10-23T13:09:00.009-05:00

One of the many things I love about living in a small town is when the fair comes to town. The sounds, the lights, combined with the smells of cotton candy, shrimp gumbo and of coarse funnel cake all remind me that cooler whether is on its way and all over town people are talking about the fair. The older more seasoned fair goers are talking about those blue ribbon tomatoes while their grandchildren are planning which ride they will ride 100+ times. Moms and dads are busy trying to decide which booth they will get their gumbo from and how on earth they will get out of there without spending at least a weeks salary.

As the usually are around here the funds are tight. I talked very openly with the kids about how we could go to the fair an look at the animals and the crafts but we did not have the money to ride rides etc... So they started praying. They crack me up. It warms my heart to know that they know that God cares about if they have fun or not. So anyway with all their hearts they prayed. Within a couple of hours their nana (aka my mom) called with the news she wanted to bless us with a little extra money so we could go to the fair. God is so good! Truly HE amazes me. If I could even list the small prayers (the prayers I thought were insignificant) that He has answered in the past few days. He really amazes me.

At any rate. here is our trip in pics. I am thinking about a trip out there tonight to for some fine art images. We went during the day so nothing was lit up but I think I got some fun stuff.
Hope you enjoy!

WE STARTED IN THE BARN WITH THE BLUE RIBBON ANIMALS

Then to the Liberty AG booth for gumbo, this is while we were waiting, not sure why the girls are staring off into space.

and then we stood in line for ....

and then the rides.... oh we love the rides!

I told Madi this was good practice for her driving test ... haha

It's a bird.... It's a plane .....

...................................................................It's super Ethan

and we ended our trip with YUMMY TREATS of PURE sugar!

cotton candy

and funnel cake!

Needless to say we had a blast! Thanks Nana!
I hope to go back for some fine art images with the lights on.

Totally unrelated to the fair ... when did she learn to do that?
walk with her hands in her back pockets all "cool" like that
My baby is growing up .... waaahaaaaa

Peace and Blessings
SB

Giveaway at the "link to share" this morning

2008-10-22T08:47:00.002-05:00

Ok, I know southern girls love their monogrammed items. This place has it all!
The Monogram Chick is giving a way an awesome monogramed recipe box. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment and tell her I sent ya! While you are there don't forget to check out all of her great stuff!!!!!

Oh and be on the lookout for a giveaway here. I am not spilling the beans yet but I promise it will be worth your comment.

have a great day!
sb

Family Night Success!!!

2008-10-21T18:30:00.002-05:00

Let me encourage anyone out there who does not set aside a regular planned time for their family to do so. We had a blast, enjoyed each others company and learned a little too.

We really had a wonderful time and Ethan told me today "Mom thanks for giving up some of your time, I am going to give up some of my time now and clean my room like you like it ... Well blow me over!!!!" I know it seems like something so little but the boy HATES to clean his room! Also in Wallyworld today he was fussing about having to be there and he stopped himself and I even heard him utter the words "Mom, I'm sorry" I know this is God plain and simple honoring the commitment I have made to him to train up these children in the way they should go. So to Him I give great grattitude!

Link to share .... Balancing Beauty and Bedlum .... Jen writes from an honest heart about the beauty of raising her family and the Bedlum that sometimes comes with it. I enjoy reading about the lessons she is trying to impart on her children and what they end up teaching her.
So take a minute and enjoy her blog and dont forget to leave her some love! :)

Family Night is in the Making

2008-10-20T17:37:00.002-05:00

So just a quick post ... Tonight we start a family tradition ... Fun Family Evening. We hope to schedule it ever Monday and use it as a time to reconnect and bond with one another. My hope is that we will all gain a greater appreciation for one another and thus treat one another with more respect. So tonights plan ....

We will start with a song of praise to God (Miss M)
Then we will have a time for scripture (I have chosen Matthew 5 - the Beatitudes)
Then a little lesson on the beatitudes
Lastly we will have a treat and activity (Ethan decided on a movie -the game plan- while piled on my bed, the movie will be followed by a movie review discussion)
ZC and I made treats for the movie (sugar cookies - will share the recipe later tonight or tomorrow)

seems so much more simple than I have always tried to make things. Thanks to my some wonderful encouragers on the photographer's forum that I belong to for encouraging me to do this.

So thats it, if you read this on Monday night whisper a quick prayer that God would honor this time we have set aside for him and for each other.

Signing out until the kids are asleep .... if I dont fall asleep first!

Peace and Blessings -
SB

Beauty from Ashes ...

2008-10-18T20:09:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I feel like my life is in ashes, you know kind of a shambles, all fallen apart and not sure how to get it back on track. Sometimes I can't figure out how I got "HERE" in this place, single with 3 kids, mess after mess to clean up (physically and emotionally), small business owner, a past that is in many respects "shameful." At times it feels like there is nothing left of it to salvage. How will I ever redirect it and get it back on track? How will I use it to bring glory to my creator the one who has made me, fashioned me in His likeness, the creator who has the hairs on my head numbered. How will it ever be the beautiful life I dreamed of. You know the "American dream" house on a hill, white picket fence, dog named spot, minivan kind of dream? I was recently talking with a friend - I REALLY REALLY wish I could remember who it was who said this (and if you are reading this and you remember talking with me about it PLEASE speak up!) ONLY God can bring BEAUTY from the ASHES .... ahaaa moment it was my sweet new friend Amanda! ok, had to give credit where credit is due ... When something is just broken it is the same object in many pieces, Each broken piece maintains the same basic properties and thus it can be put back together and have the same basic properties. When something is burned, the properties are all broken down, the chemical makeup is changed and it can no longer be what it was - We as humans cannot take those ashes and fashion it into a useful object different from what it started it out as. ONLY God can take the ashes and give you something beautiful in return. I have been witness to these transformations before, the marriage that was "dead" because one or both of the partners made horrible decisions, the addict who had lived for 20 years clinging to his "drug of choice", the girl who was completely given over to an eating disorder and in turn was killing her body and spirit. God has worked over and over in all those situations to make Beautiful the Ashes left from the burning fire that breaks us down. He is doing that in my life. He is changing my dreams to line up with His will for my life, He is rebuilding something beautiful just for my little family so that we would bring HIM glory! Thank you God! Take the ashes which I have created myself in my own choices and decisions and create something BEAUTIFUL that it would glorify YOU!

What about you are you tired and worn? burned into ashes from trying to do it all on your own? Are you ready to handover your ashes and wait at His feet while he creates Beauty from what you once thought was destroyed? I would love the opportunity to pray with you as you wait. Please feel free to leave a comment below you can be as specific or general as you like. Or if you have a story of hope I would love to hear that as well.

Gotta LOVE Bible Gateway
Isaiah 61:3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor

Peace and Blessings
sb

beautiful saturday!

2008-10-18T12:47:00.004-05:00

It is a great day. God is leading me in some new directions. I cant wait until I can share them with you all but for now I need to sit on somethings, pray about some things and prepare some things .... so busy :)

I have another link for you to check out! The crafty crow is one of the most incredible resources I have found this far. It is chock full of pictures and links to wonderful craft ideas for family's and kids. I know the author has to work very hard to keep it up and she does such a great job! so head on over there and give it a try!

Also don't miss the giveaways over at SITS

It is truly a gorgeous day outside. Stunning, perfect weather, big puffy white clouds in the sky. As I said a beautiful day. So what are you doing inside? Get out there and enjoy the beautiful gift of today you have been given!

peace and blessings
sb

Random thoughts ...

2008-10-17T10:00:00.003-05:00

Well I will start this off with a link for today BABY LOVE LETTERS
BLL is a blog dedicated to helping parents record their thoughts and memories in written form for their children. Each Friday the blogs author suggests a question or topic for you to record your thoughts about. She has also written a book. As someone who finds great value in recording my thoughts I find this website essential and a much needed. Sometimes it is difficult to think of something to write about and author gives you a starting place.

HOUSEWORK: YIKES .... can I just say keeping a small house with 3 active children is not easy. We have WAY too much stuff. Anyone in the area with the gifting of organization and would like to barter their skill for some family portraits go ahead and speak up. My office area seems to suffer the most I just lack the ability to go through my own stuff and get rid of stuff and organize it.

FULL WEEKEND: I really do enjoy it when there is lots to be done. We have lots of fun activities on our books for the weekend and I am excited about it. It is good to keep your hands and minds busy. Some of what is planned is work but some is just for fun. Whatever it is ... Its a full few days!

Our weekly memory verse:
Psalm 1: 1-3 BLESSED IS HE MAN WHO DOES NOT WALK IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED OR STAND IN THE WA OF SINNERS OR SIT IN THE SEAT OF MOCKERS. BUT HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND ON HIS LAW HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT. HE IS LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY STREAMS OF WATER, WHICH YIELDS ITS FRUIT IN THE SEASON AND WHOSE LEAF DOES NOT WITHER.

CHRISTMAS PORTRAITS: Check out my Photography Blog for my "Coastal Christmas" Limited Edition session. I have added a bit to this set. A couple of chairs and some large packages wrapped in paper with the same theme. You can check out my photography blog by going to www.imagesbysarabeth.com/blog

I SAID IT WAS GONNA BE RANDOM. :) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Link of the day ...

2008-10-16T11:15:00.002-05:00

Ok so I have decided something fun to do might be to point you to other blogs I am finding as I explore blog land. Careful It is easy to get SUCKED in! I don't know that this will become a daily feature or not but thought it would be fun and well would make my blog exploring adventures worthwhile :)

Truth be told I JUST found this blog a few days ago and I LOVE THIS GIRL! I love her writing style the way she tells a story keeps me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I don't know much about her except what her profile says .. she is a fellow single mom, an interior designer, and an incredibly fun writer. So, hop on over to The Peterson's Go Public Tell Jennifer I sent you.

Have a great Thursday Everyone!!!

The Secrets in the Sauce

2008-10-15T09:54:00.002-05:00

AKA SITS is the coolest place and my newest find in the blog world! It is all about bringing bloggers together and helping its readers find blogs you may not find otherwise. I can not believe I have not found it before yesterday. It is awesome ... so what are you waiting for go check it out!!!!!

Fresh Yummy Goodness

2008-10-14T13:48:00.007-05:00

I love warm fresh baked bread. There is notihing better than fresh sliced bread, straight from the oven, dripping in butter. MMMMMM ! The kids have been begging me to make some and quite honestly with the invention of the bread maker it really is not all that difficult but I know once it comes out it is GONE! It takes 15 minutes to put the ingredients together, 3 hours to rise and bake and gone in a matter of 2 minutes. They Love it! Yeah me too! So anyway, while I was slicing it looked sooooo good I wanted ot share it with you all

mmmmmmm!!!!

I got the recipe off the White Lily bread flour sack and says to put ingrediant into bread machine as directed in the manual

1 1/2 lb loaf
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
3 cups flour
2 tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs butter or margarine
1 cup water

cook and enjoy!

Relationships .... do you form them?

2008-10-14T11:08:00.002-05:00

Recently I was in a class and the topic was about relationships. The class is one designed to build leaders in the church (it is AWESOME!!!) Anyway, the topic was relationships, about how that is how Jesus built the ministry the Father sent Him to build. Jesus formed lasting, strong relationships with people who believed in Him, in His message, in His ministry and those people loved him and became His "support" here on earth (He didnt necessarily need that support but in His humaness he wanted it, I believe he wanted to show us and teach us from those relationships) He sought out men who like Himself would be willing to give up all they were asked for the ministry ,mind you HE, Jesus, gave the ultimate sacrifice, but those men who He brought into His inner circle were men willing to give up their families, their own comfort, their jobs ... well, you get the picture, to follow the Mesiah! This is beginning to look like it could be two posts in one I will try to stay focused ...
The point in all this being He formed relationships with like minded men. Men who were willing to follow His lead while giving all they had to give to the ministry.

The point of the class discussion is do we form relationships with people who also have a similiar ministry vision, who are called to reach the lost however, God has called you (be it to single moms, young girls, young men, addicts who have been freed of addiction, wall street work-aholics ... are you getting the picture here?)

I can honestly with everything in me answer that question with a resounding "NO" and for the past several days now I am trying to get to the root of WHY I don't. Here is my list of excuses .... can you relate with any of them?

1. For as long as I can remember just about every man I cared about in my life has walked out - starting with my father, and ending with an ex-husband and a serious boyfriend. That is difficult to type, very difficult to type but if I am going to be truly transparent here I have to say it. Of coarse that makes me wonder .. what is it about me? The truth of the matter is that I just dont know how to "pick 'em"

2. As a single mom I feel needy so much of the time. The need is multi-level financial, emotional and spiritual. When I feel needy I have a difficult time believing I have anything to give to offer to anyone.

3. I dont want to burden anyone with all my need :)I dont want anyone to feel like they have to respond or supply the answers to everything we need. I hate that feeling the most and that is what keeps me from calling people to ask them over for dinner, or to hangout etc...

4. I think I am weird. It is the artist in me, I see things from a little different perspective than most and well, I think people will think I am weird.

5.I FEAR rejection This goes hand in hand with excuse #1

6. Relationships take work and time! I am not afraid of the work or time however, time is not something I have alot of and honestly I am not a very good steward of my time (yeah, I am trying to work on that too) I dont have one single childhood friend that I have held on to. Really not one! I do have one friend who has managed to stick with me for nearly 20 years now but I have no doubt she has had to work hard to do so. :) You know I love ya SC!

So why do I put all that out here? Accountability I suppose. I don't want to be that way. I want to win the world for Jesus and I know I cannot do that alone. I can think of an area of ministry I believe He has spoken to my heart about and well I am not at all sure how He will bring it together but I KNOW there will have to be others involved and that will require ... YOU GOT IT ... RELATIONSHIPS!

So there I am as see through as glass! How about you ... do you tend to stick to yourself trying to go it mostly alone or if you are great at forming and keeping some relationships why do you think that is? Can you give us some pointers?

Just Enough

2008-10-10T10:41:00.002-05:00

So recently my pastor (Pastor Rick from The Refuge) posed the question .... "What is wrong with God giving us just enough? Just enough money to make the bills, just enough gas to get where we need to go, just enough food for our next meal, JUST ENOUGH, not huge amounts, not great abundances at one time, but enough to live, to breathe, to be taken care of ... JUST ENOUGH.

As Americans, living in such a wealthy country we have become accustomed to having more than we need at one time - extra money in the bank, leftovers in the fridge, extravagant dinners out, extra unused bedrooms in our home, we often spend money on unnecessary items and buy more than we need and even more than we are likely to use. We purchase hundreds of dvd's which we will only watch once or twice, toys that our children are likely to only look at one or two times, and cook enough to feed an army.

So I ask what is wrong with having "just enough"? The most memorable lesson of God's daily provision I can think of is found in Exodus 16 where we find the Israelites who were wondering in the desert and God gave them just enough manna for each day. Each new morning they were to go out and collect just enough for their household for that day only and if they got stingy and tried to horde it the manna spoiled and they found maggots in it. The only exception was on the day before the Sabbath, they were to collect enough for both days so they could rest on the Lord's day. Isn't that just like God to teach us a lesson about how to rely on him. I have to say that in the last couple of years God has been working overtime trying to teach me this lesson and only in the last few weeks do I think I am really "getting it". The answer to all my problems has seemed to me to be the blessing of an abundance of money so I could buy a larger house,a more reliable car, great things for my kids, new clothes etc... but the truth of the matter is He has given us "enough"! Our tummies are full when we go to bed every night and most of the time I don't have to worry with leftovers in the fridge, the bills get paid and there is enough gas in the car to get us where we need to go. We have enough beds for everyone to sleep comfortably and toys to help our minds to grow. We have ENOUGH! And as it was true for the Israelites I am sure there are times it appears to me that my supply is running out, like I dont know what we will eat for breakfast in the morning, or have for dinner that night. There are times when that worry creeps back in, but then the morning comes and the ground is covered, the Manna is fresh and just like the day before we have enough to gather for the day. God has over and over, on a daily basis proven himself faithful!

As Miss ZC would say .... Hallelulal! God is sooo very good! HE is ENOUGH!

HEAR YE HEAR YE ...

2008-10-07T14:15:00.002-05:00

I have a follower :) Lets not confuse that with stalker but a follower. Look to the right and scroll down a bit you will see the lovely Daphne's pic (a.k.a. flip flops and pearls) she is watching my blog to see if I say anything important. HAHA! Just another fun tool blogger offers to keep up with all your friends/cyberspace buddies. So give it a try! Its as easy as 1.2.3.

Peace and Blessings
sb

They say the funniest things ....

2008-10-06T23:54:00.004-05:00

I just have to share what Miss ZC said to me this evening. Today was my birthday ... my 37th birthday. My birthdays have always been a big deal but they were a big deal because I considered them to be my day. The day God gave me. This year I really would have just prefered it slide on by. I can only guess it is because it I am only 3 very short years away from being the big 4-0. At anyrate, I think because I am a single parent my mother tries extra hard to make it nice for me and I really appreciate that she does that. Today she brought us lunch and just visited and on Thursday we will have a family dinner to celebrate with my brother, sil and my youngest sis, mom and dad. (side note we will miss you very much this year my sweet Meghan) Ok, so back to Miss ZC - she was angry because it was bed time and will all she could muster she marched her little self out here, arms across her chest and said (and by the way mommy, our birthday stinks anyway, you didn't have any cake, no cupcakes even and not any balloons either." Bless her little heart, I did make her french toast for breakfast, shouldn't that count for something? hehe. If I was not laughing so hard she would have gotten in a bit of trouble for the attitude, as it were I sent her to bed without even any cake or cupcakes. :) Hope everyone had a beautiful day!
peace and blessings
sb

Important Lessons

2008-10-01T08:38:00.002-05:00

This post is sparked by a not so nice comment I received on the blog today. Why is it that people who make ugly comments tend to hide behind “anonymous”. After much investigation I think I have found the commenter and it is just hurtful that she came from a forum I have grown to love because of the support that everyone shows for one another. Oh well. The comment was in relation to the fact that I misspelled righteousness in the name of this blog. I should have known to check the spelling but I got in a hurry and didn't take the time to do it. By the time I realized it it was too late to do anything about it. The commenter said “I hope God teaches your children how to spell the word righteousness correctly” and quite frankly so do I but in the big scheme of things I hope He teaches them so much more first.

*I pray they learn to hear Gods voice while they are still young.
*I pray they learn to obey God, his commands and to walk the path He has for each one of them.
*I pray they learn that charity starts at home.
*I pray they learn to love each other and the people in their lives unconditionally and without hesitation.
*I pray they learn that it is okay to express that love openly and honestly.
*I pray they learn to let down their guard and allow other people into their lives and to share the rea people God has created them to be, their thoughts, hopes, dreams and passions.
*I pray they learn how to learn independently.
*I pray they learn to love reading, for entertainment and educational purposes.
*I pray they learn to see the value of family especially the value in being close to your family
*I pray they learn the truth in the teachings of Jesus – the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
*I pray they learn the value of being a servant to their fellow man and that include
theirsiblings.
*I pray they learn to live life to its fullest and with no regrets.
*I pray they learn to step out of the crowd, to be leaders in their community and to make changes for the better of all even if it means giving up something they want.
*I pray they learn their own value in God, in the death of Christ and not in the worlds standards.

While I pray they learn soooo many important things, learning how to spell righteousness is not first on my list. It is honestly one of my most common spelling mistakes, no matter how many times I have made the mistake I just keep on making it over and over .... ugh .... However, I must say being an awful speller has not held me back in life. I earned a masters degree in speech language pathology and have managed to keep a multitude of other things going. My son could read the bible before he entered kindergarten and those were not memorized passages. In fact all of my children are very bright. Sometimes I get caught up in wondering if I am “good enough” to teach them and to that I say probably not but there is no one on this earth who could care more about their education then I. Thank you snippy poster for helping me to remember those lessons which are most important.

Peace and Blessings to you all.
sb

Blessed but not crushed

2008-09-23T23:36:00.003-05:00

persecuted not abandoned,struck down but not destroyed, I am blessed beyond the curse for His promise will endure and His joy will be my strength .... I wish I knew who wrote that song so I could credit them here. It is a praise and worship song and it often reminds me that though the enemy (satan) prowls around like a roaring lion, I am not his to take down! Trial will come as they may, they will serve to make me stronger, build me up, and strengthen my confidence in my Creator each time He delivers me from the enemy's snare but I will never be destroyed, never crushed ... ALWAYS BLESSED!

So I am still sick. I have confidence that this will only last for a season. It will not last forever, but for a season and through it God will teach me and show me more and more about His grace (unmerited favor), about His deliverance and about His mercy. I am His and He hides me in the shadow of the cleft. Thank you God!

So sorry I was not able to give reference to some of the quotes, the song a little bit of scripture. I will try to remember to look them up tomorrow.

Peace and Blessings,
sb

single parenting

2008-09-21T13:27:00.002-05:00

solo parenting, doing it alone, being mom and dad, bringing up children without one parent present, balancing it all, the only breadwinner, booboo kisser, chauffeur, teacher, financial analyzer, disciplinarian, life guide, maintenance ummm "person", laundry lady, menu planner, nurse, ... oh I suppose the list could go on and on and sometimes as a single parent it feels just that overwhelming. Add everything I have to be to my responsibilities outside our home, church member, involved in ministry, small business owner, friend, daughter and well it all just multiplies.

I have been pretty sick for 2 days now, it started with a cough, tight in my chest and then yesterday turned into a fever. I thought it was over when the fever broke last night but low and behold my temp went back up today so as I type this I am in the bed going from hot to cold to hot again. UGH... I hate being sick!

Being a overwhelming responsibilities if being a single parent hits me the hard when I am ill, when I feel like I can't physically do it all. When my body aches, and my head hurts, when my eyes are running and despite the fact that it is 75 degrees inside I have to wear a jacket and socks and my teeth still chatter. When my kiddos are wanting to be fed or they are expected to be somewhere and I feel like I cannot lift my head from the pillow. God uses all kinds of circumstances to teach us lessons. In those moments I feel alone, as if I am hiking uphill carrying a huge knapsack alone, no one to help distribute the weight between. Jeremiah 17:9 says "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?" My heart often tells me I am alone, I am by myself with no one to call on, no one to count on and what God is trying so hard to teach me is that is not true. For instance last night, help was just a text message away, my mother brought me meds and made sure my kids had dinner and that the older ones were taking care of Miss ZC. She did all this despite the fact that she herself has not been feeling well either. A church friend who lives close by also wanted to know what she could do to help. Yes there are things that only I can do for my children, and at times those decisions seem insurmountable but when I step back and allow my friends and family to step in and lend me a hand with the smaller things the knapsack is a little lighter.

Suggestions for finding people willing to make you Knapsack a little lighter on your single parenting travels:
1.Find a church family that will embrace you and your children.
Of coarse the most important aspect of a church is that it is grounded in the word of God, that it is teaching and disciplining it's members, and that it is reaching out beyond its own walls to draw people in to the Kingdom but one of the benefits in being involved with people who love God is that generally speaking people who love God want to serve God and His children. They are often willing to help with rides, a little babysitting from time to time and some general maintenance and upkeep.

2. local single parent support groups. You can look online and in the newspaper for local groups of interest. Sometimes it is helpful to get together with others who understand your own life. Unfortunately many times groups like this turn into "gripe sessions" and though occasionally we all need to get some stuff off our chest groups that only focus on the problems instead of how we can bond together and help one another only make you focus on the "bad" stuff instead of all your blessings
3. family and friends - never underestimate the willingness of your family and friends already in your life to help you out. To help make things easier on you talk to them asking them about their willingness to help out in certain situations on certain days of the week, or a set number of hours a week. You may be surprised.

So where do you find your support? Who do you know you could call to ask to lend an extra set of hands?So let me hear from you, any single moms out there who need and extra hand? Any other suggestions?

Don't you hate it when ...

2008-09-17T21:56:00.002-05:00

You try to make something better and only achieve in making it worse ... UGH! Ok, it all started when I wanted to improve the look of this blog. I wanted 3 columns instead of 2. I want to add some ad's and helpful information and I thought it would be more helpful if there were 2 side columns. So I started searching for a nice 3 column template. I found one and followed the instructions to install it. Well, I only managed to really mess it up. So stay tuned, I am trying to get it all back but it is a slow process. Good thing the blog is not very old. GRRRR OK little rant over, going to fix it all

Peace and Blessings
sb

Flying time!

2008-09-15T23:02:00.002-05:00

Today we started week 5 of the Schultz Family School 2008-2009 Year. I cannot believe how fast time is going. I am amazed. Now I know we have not really had a FULL week due to hurricane scares and necessary evacuations. Despite those unwanted interruptions I think this is the best start to a school year we have had yet. In addition to Madison, Ethan and Zoe Claire, we also have 2 sweeties with us. K and K are twins in the third grade. The girls fit into our family so very nicely. They all love to find similarities they have. I really think Miss M is enjoying having the company around. She has been in a classroom of 1 for so long. It has been great to have her there to encourage and assist with the younger ones. It has benefited her as well. I am a firm believer in what I believe to be fact is that sometimes our brains are just not ready to take in certain information. Sometimes it needs to grow, branch out and develop in other areas before it is ready to grasp other concepts and processes. I think this is especially true for math. For years Miss M has struggled with math. It has been difficult to understand. Many years in a row she hits a wall before the first week is even up. It has clicked with her this year. She just "got it" and she is so excited. Not to say it is easy at all but she is understanding it, the numbers and their process' are making sense.
So I am hoping you are all having a great year so far. Praying you are enjoying one another and the bond that homeschooling helps to create. Praying you are all also enjoying your school year so far!

Peace and blessings
sb

here we go again...

2008-09-06T22:46:00.002-05:00

Hurricane Ike is making his approach toward the gulf. Nothing is certain yet but they think it will go into the gulf and thus we will be threatened by yet another hurricane. This one looks bad. We will once again be heading up to Brewer, MS. Stay tuned.

Nana's birrthday rap

2008-09-04T13:49:00.001-05:00

The kids did this today for their nana. We were laughing so hard when we watched it. I just knew I had to share it!

Hurrican Gustav Blessings ...

2008-09-03T10:27:00.002-05:00

I am so happy to say we are home safe and sound. The small town of Pascagoula weathered the storm just fine. It is my understanding that we only briefly lost power and all else was well.

I have to share with you about our time in Brewer, Mississippi. It really was such a blessing. We arrived on Saturday to about a half dozen or more people who wanted to hug our necks and love on us. They jumped right in and helped us unload the kids and all of our bags. The group had so graciously prepared a wonderful dinner for us, a buffet of pizza, salad, chips, bbque sandwiches, drinks anything we could have wanted. They had gone to Sam's and loaded up on any kind of snack the kids could have wanted, breakfast cereal, fruit, etc.... They thought of everything. They had already set up the beds, stocked the bathroom with toiletires we could have forgotten when we packed and fresh towels. They had lined up groups of people to come cook each breakfast, lunch and dinner for us and to do our laundry while we were there. Their loving, giving attitude and actions took so much of the stress off of our shoulders. Even their youth came to hang out with our kids and even pitched in with the little ones. It was so obvious that everyone there was so very genuine and just wanted to be of service. They were truly the hands and feet of Christ. Before we left several people made sure to tell us in the event of another Hurricane we were expected to come and stay with them again.

I did a lot of thinking on the way home yesterday and you know this was the most pleasent evacuation I have ever experienced. Usually our time is spent, glued to the tv trying to watch what is going on at home while we wrangle with kids trying to keep them quiet and occupied so they dont disturb the other guests. Then there is the stress of all the money we are spending and the possible hurricane damage at home. So as you can imagine evacuations are stressful. This was just not the case in Brewer.

So to Brewer Baptist Church I say a great big THANK YOU! Thank you for your hospitality, for your prayers and for loving on us the way you did this week!

Peace and Blessings
SB

Today

2008-08-29T22:16:00.006-05:00

Ok, so our most important electrical/mechanical items in our house have decided to either fritz out or were messed up by our own hands. Our AC has been acting up for the last few weeks, our dryer is not drying very well, and now just today I slammed my phone in between the car and the trunk. My screen has a beautiful orange burst on it but I cannot see anythign else on there and no one can hear me when I call them. So ... there you have it. Of coarse this would all happen at the most inconvenient times .... and it is these times I quietly wish for someone to pass the buck to, for someone I could turn to and say here honey you handle this while I finish with the kids, for someone elses paycheck to be deposited into my checking account in addition to my own. It is in these moments I secretly wish prince charming was not some dreamed up fairy tale of a man but rather a true to life human who will show up on his whte hoarse to help me get through days,moments,times like this. I am still trying to think flexible here God I am trying I am really really trying.

So today it looks as if we will not be affected by hurricane Gustav. Of coarse at this point hurricane Katrina was still heading for Texas and we all know how that one ended up. I am not putting much stock into what the predictions are just yet, not until it is in the gulf but even then there are last minute shifts so it's really anyone's guess. There are no predictions that this will be anywhere near HK as I lovingly refer to her but I dont want to be around for any hurricane. The thought of loosing power, with 3 children here by myself is not appealing. Not at all. So as it stands we are heading for the hills. There is a rumor that if we are still in the cone there will be a mandatory evacuation and sure dont want to get caught in all that madness. I will update when possible to let everyone know how we are doing. Oh and all my numbers were saved to my phone and not my sim card so I lost all of them too. I dont memorize numbers much anymore so chances are if you werw someone I talk to often your number has been lost, please call me soon so I can add you back on the phone list.
stay safe
peace and blessings
sb

YUP its Hurricane Season ....

2008-08-27T08:04:00.003-05:00

So far in the last week we have had a tropical depression come through and are now starting the watch for Hurricane Gustav. Hurricane season is always full of unexpected excitement .... yes I am doing my best to see it in a positive light. I do try to figure out sometimes in these moments of wait and see what God is trying to teach me. He knows I struggle with unpredictability, can't stand much change at one time and I am not spontaneous, so sometimes I think He is trying to gently teach me to loosen up, take it as it comes and rely on Him more! I am doing my best to do that, I am so thankful He is so loving and gentle with such lessons.

So as it stands we do have a place to go out of the threat of wind and rain. Finding shelter within driving distance is sometimes difficult because hundreds of people are also running from the same storm, hotels are scarce and usually pretty costly. I feel so fortunate though that we will be allowed to stay in the Christian Life Center of a church in Brewer, MS. with my mom and younger sister and my dearest friends the Cunningham's. We will bring our school work and move forward, use the time to explore a new place and wait out the storm until we can return. Now we are in watch mode, using every bit of information we can to make important decisions.Pray for us, I dont know what I will do if there is another super storm to come through, emotionally, financially, just not sure what I would do.

YOU HAVE TO SEE!

2008-08-26T11:49:00.001-05:00

This is great! I love the creativity! Thanks ladies for the encouragement!

Why I Homeschool?

2008-08-25T14:16:00.003-05:00

I cannot begin to count how many times I have been asked that question. It seems so foreign to some while it comes so natural to me. I cannot tell you a time or day I decided I wanted to homeschool, teaching my children was a natural part of our existence, I have always sought out learning toys and activities that would assist in exercising and enhancing not only their play time but also their cognitive and physical development. My two older children have experienced the public school system, Madison finished the 2nd grade and Ethan went through the 4th grade (well, he also home schooled the second grade but that was right after Hurricane Katrina and it hardly counts) I have been so very blessed to be allowed to teach my children to pour into their lives and help them build a foundation that is strong and unshakable! What a privilege it is teach my children, to daily take responsibility over their education. I have come to the conclusion that no one in this world could care more about their education or know them as well as I do. So with all that said I will continue to "train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart" Proverbs 22:6 !

SB

Mama said....

2008-08-25T13:50:00.004-05:00

There'd be days like this .... whew! It has been CRAZY! We have completed on full glorious week of classes, we had a great week and then Monday came .... Well, it started last night with the AC freezing up. This is the 2nd time this month it has done this, both times on rainy days and Thank goodness it was somewhat cool outside ... well, cool for August in MS I wanted to attend a meeting today with a friend for her son with who is a wheel chair user. He uses a computer device to communicate and the rep was coming to teach us all how to use the device more efficiently and for his benefit. Those things that were different from my normal schedule in conjunction with all the rain from tropical storm Fay and I was a bit thrown off kilter. Oh and Miss M is at the orthodontist right now. So all that together helped me to practice my ability to be flexible ... grrrr, if you know me you know I need alot of work in that area :)

I am pleased to say we are still getting a school day in it is just happening differently than planned but what counts is that it is getting done.

How are your first days going? Have you started school yet or are you waiting until after labor day? What are your plans for the year. Is there anything you are really excited about? I would love to hear from you all.

SB

Welcome

2008-08-24T22:47:00.000-05:00

Let me first say WELCOME to all my visitors. I pray you will make yourself comfortable and enjoy a slice of our life as seen through my eyes. I needed a place to share and record our daily lives. The way we live it, my thoughts about it open and honest and I needed to separate it from my business blog which you can find here. I needed a place to share my heart, my thoughts my faith, a place all my own. So enjoy, kick up your feet and stay awhile, invite friends and family to join in our adventure, the more the merrier! Oh and don't forget to leave me some love from time to time, let me know what your thinking, feel free to share your own thoughts and dreams. I do have the comments set so that they have to be approved by the moderator (ME) as to avoid any talk/type that may be inappropriate. Thanks for stopping by!

SB