A Good Day

Well, today was a good day, after a shaky start ended up a good day. God came through and worked out what could have been a disaster in our lives and made it all OK. Then we got a letter from CPS, they dismissed all charges ("someone" turned Teresa in on a bunch of phony charges) said there was no sign at all of anything. They will not be out again unless you-know-who decides to be a butt again. The thanksgiving dinner at church went good. We served 150ish people in under 30 minutes. That isn't bad. It was so much fun, we made new friends and got to know others better. I was pleased with the way it all went. Renewed that little dream I used to have of having a event planning service. Sigh, but is the sore muscles worth it?? LOL.

Thanksgiving was awesome!!! Just our little group at Chantry's place. Mom, Dad, Nanny, Teresa, Katy, Chantry, Tiffany, Gavin, Allyson, Landon and me. I went early and spent the whole day, we had a good time cooking and laughing. The kiddos "helped" me out with buttering the pans for the rolls and all. Then we shared a whole jar of marschino cherries!!! Then the kids drank the juice. We had a laugh at Gavin when at 8pm Chantry gave him a glass of Pepsi and Gavin goes "I like Thanksgiving it's a good day". He liked staying up late drinking all you can drink soda's and desserts. LOL. Tiffany and I played American Idol, Guitar Hero and Beatles Band on the Wii, while the guys watched football, BORING... Stephanie and Robert came out late evening. Then we played Beatles with Chantry, hooked up both guitars, drums and all 3 mics and had a great time. Didn't leave until after 1am. I have to agree with Gavin, it was a good day.

Yesterday we shopped preparing for Christmas parties. Today was another good day. I spent most of the day holed up in my room, I scrubbed every inch of the bathroom, did laundry and then organized my books and DVD's. Everything looks so nice and smells good. Got Spooch outside on the end of the house, Hayleigh and Delaynie are locked in the backyard now all the time!!! Can I say it again? It's been a good day.

I had my iPod going with my favorite tunes and I felt so much happiness and peace. Awesome!!!

It's Thanksgiving Time!!!

So I don't write often anymore. Lots going on and I seem to write better when I've got worry and stress inside. Got worrisome news tonight, even as the fear of the unknown washed over me I felt the peace of God and a calm settled over me. Now an hour after going to bed, I'm wide awake, not really because I'm so scared. I am a analytical person so I'm struggling with the desire to sit down and make a plan to work it all out. I guess there is fear inside because I've walked this road before and I don't know if we can do it again and survive. They say the hardships you go through build strength.

What a way to start Thanksgiving week, huh? I have much to be thankful for... An awesome church and church family and Pastor & Family. I have friends who love me and family all around. We have been super busy planning and preparing for the All Church Thanksgiving Meal!!! It's coming along and I think it will be good. I've gotten involved in so many things, God has been so good to me. I know He will protect me and keep me through everything I must go through. God has never led me through anything that looking back I can't see His hand in it all. I have to trust that He will never leave me. I know that this could very possibly change our world but He knows my name, He knows the way I feel, He feels my hurts and sees my pain.

It's Been Awhile

So it's been awhile  since I sat down and took time to write. WOW!!! All the stuff that  has gone on has been amazing and fun.

Katy's custody battle, Health Matters and so much more.

Sunday Morning was my first time up with the Praise Team. I was terrified and had nightmares but it wasn't as bad as my nightmares so I guess it was OK. I actually enjoyed it... I know I messed up some but hey, it was my first time to sing in front of 700+ people so I think I did ok, hopefully. LOL.

Health Matters went good, I think. I learned sooooo much about health and eating and healthy living. Can't wait until next year.

So much still to come this year. I'm so excited in 2 weeks is the Ministry Expo and they've asked Mom to setup a table for Prison Ministry. We are praying that soon DFC will be reaching out to Dallas County!!!

Sunday Morning Bro. Darrell Bennett preached and his title was "When God Doesn't Want Your Best". It was an awesome message about how we always come to God with our best. We put on our fake smiles and say everything is OK, when sometimes God wants us to come and give Him our worst... Awesome awesome message!!! Recently I've had several conversations with numerous people that have caused me to realize how thankful I am that I made the decisions I've made in the last year. It saddens me to see my "friends" so confused and uncertain. They pose their questions to me and I want to scream the answers but I can't people have to find their own way just as I did. I've prayed for a way to help them along without swaying their opinions and it's hard, my heart breaks to hear them talk. I know and understand their confusion because I was in their shoes a year or so ago and had to find my way to where I could grow. Then Sunday morning Bro Bennett said something that made me really take note of and that was this... You can have a good preacher and a good church but you have to ask yourself "When I leave am I changed? Am I closer to God than when I arrived?" To me that is all I need to know for myself and I can say that yes, when I leave each service I'm a little closer than I was when I arrived. So I continue to pray that everyone can find the happiness I have. I believe it's the End Times, the Bible says that everything that can be shaken will be shaken and I believe I'm seeing that.

Well, I need to get some sleep, tonight I had choir practice and praise team practice, tomorrow night is a ladies meeting, wednesday night is church and Thursday night starts Unveiled so it's going to be a really busy week and I joined a gym with Mom, Nanny, Stephanie, Sis A Davis, Alyssa and we are so excited because Michelle is going to be joining us. YAY!!! So lots to do and after 2 months I still have this allergy/cold whatever it is and it's rough and will not go away. PRAY!!! I'm going crazy with this horrible cough. I need rest, sleep and healing. LOL.

Oh and had AWESOME news a dear friend of mine is turning his heart back to God, doesn't get any better than that!!!

Night all!!!

In The Quiet

So here I sit listening, wondering and wishing. I’m not quite sure why it won’t go away, the dreams the plans, it’s past and over yet somewhere inside it just doesn’t quite wondering ‘what if’.

I know I made the right decisions but it doesn’t make it easier or the regrets less. I’ve learned in this life that you can know without a doubt you made the right decision yet regret hang so heavy in your mind.

I hope someday someone will come along and make me forget your promises. I can’t help wondering if the bright lights make you forget that call? Can you really turn your back and walk away from God?

Someday…

Time To Ponder

So I get 2-3 emails, more or less a week from an awesome lady of faith. These emails encourage and strengthen me and they make me stop and think, ponder something in my life.

I’m in a period of my life where I feel like I am where I am supposed to be and God has led me into some awesome ministries that are challenging me as a lady, as a daughter, relative and friend and most of all in my walk with God.

The email I received yesterday was about geese. This is what it said.

"Look at the birds in the sky!..." - Matthew 6:26

In the world of geese, the aged, very young, and infirm are kept protected in the rear of the formation. But they aren't isolated, discounted or considered useless; in fact they fulfill a vital role. They become the honking section and cheer for the leaders. Inevitably, bad weather threatens the mission. The going gets tough and the tough are struggling. From the rear of the formation a lone honk sounds, initiating a geese chorus honking encouragement to the point goose. Many a servant of Christ has crossed their deepest valley on a wing, a prayer and a honk from some old battle-scarred, battle-hardened, straggle-feathered, half-bald honker of encouragement who was too stubborn to let a brother or sister quit on their watch! Occasionally, a strident, out-of-tune goose complains loudly and irritatingly. Within moments the honking section kicks in, drowning out the grumbler, restoring order and unity. The church's problem isn't too many people speaking negatively; it's too few speaking positively! When someone cries, 'defeat', honk back, 'victory' When they cry, 'fear', honk back,
'faith'. A few words of encouragement can overpower a storm of complaints. So join the honking section and be known like Barnabas, whose name means 'Son of Encouragement' (Acts 4:36)

I was so encouraged by this email. Help me to be like a goose and when I’m too battle scarred and wounded to lead, that I can be the one honking saying keep going, you can do this.

He Saw The Best In Me..

He saw the best in me, when everyone else around could only see the worst in me…

How awesome and true is that? When other people have seen a shy, backward, overweight girl with little self esteem. God looked down and saw what I could be/can be. He sees the good in me!!

I love it that my life isn’t dependent on what others think or believe for me. My life is directed by God and He sees the very best in me, He sees things that I myself can’t even think or imagine for myself.

I’m having the time of my life right now. I feel like for the first time in years I’m totally in God’s Will. There have been times in the last bit that He led me through places in life that I didn’t understand but now looking back I can see His touch on my life all along. Every stop along the way, He was leading and directing and teaching me so many things.

Just thought I might say Thank You God!!!!

Just My Thoughts Today

I’m not a wise spiritual person that just has all the answers and words to encourage others. A friend I write just breaks my heart, asking for answers. They are going through a process and I wish it was easier or that I had answers but I don’t. They recently asked me to be real and they gave examples of things that have recently upset them. They have NO control over any of it but the bitterness and anger that spilled out of that letter made me sad. This person was a mentor of sorts to me for many years growing up and today the tables have turned and I’m trying to life their spirits and encourage them while they walk through the darkest trial of their life. I don’t understand it all because I wasn’t there and I try to be funny and make them smile for just a minute but it’s hard.

So this letter I was “real” as they asked. I talked about getting over bitterness and forgiveness for even those that did you wrong and family hurts, etc. I just wrote and then before I rethought it I mailed it then I told my Mom and she disagreed with my words and having mailed the letter but I did it from the heart. I was open and honest with my own life experiences and told stories of things that have happened to me. Yes, a much smaller scale than what this person has experienced but they were my dark days and the pain was intense at that time. I’ve not heard back and I’ve sent another letter I just hope I didn’t offend them to much, they asked me to be honest and I was. I had prayed about it so I can only believe that God was there.

Life is so strange with it’s twists and turns. As people we let the hurt that others throw our way shape us and influence us. We have to learn to accept it, and continue to love them through it all. One of the most important things I’ve learned in my 32 years is that my life is happier and healthier when I let it all go. I let the hurt and anger and bitterness go. I have to let it roll off like water on a ducks back. It’s not easy and sometimes I would LOVE to hold on to it and just have a BIG pity party and invite my friends, but all that does is hurt me. So I’ve learned you have to stand tall and strong even when you are attacked and you are innocent, stand tall and hold my head high and let God fight. It’s amazing how when you just move forward and let it all go, instead of you getting drug down those that are trying to drag you down end up on the down side because your life and example convict their spirits.

So life will roll on and we will continue to learn, love and live.