Count your blessings, count them one by one!

When I stop to take the time to analyze my life, I realize that it is truly over-flowing with blessings, and I am very grateful for each and every one. First of all, I have been blessed with an amazing family that I try to not take for granted for one second. I cannot imagine my life without them and I am sad to think that there are those who do not know the love of a family! They are always there to lift me up when I am down, lend a listening ear, shoulder to cry on, and there to celebrate & have fun with....not only my husband and children, the entire family...from my aunt to my brother-in-law and everyone in between, I love being with them!

On Saturday, Nov. 20 we drove to Killeen for Thanksgiving with the Hodges family. We spent the day enjoying food prepared by my mother-in-law and some beautiful fall weather. Maddie & Landon loved playing outside with their cousin, Kyle. The older boys spent the day shooting & playing 42 and I enjoyed catching up with my sister-in-law, Leah. The next day we went to church and heard a wonderful message on the commandments about admitting and speaking the truth completely & consistently with love and the importance this plays on your relationships with others. A very powerful message that I needed to hear. Don't keep sweeping things under the rug. It is exhausting avoiding that white elephant in the room! "Speak only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" Eph 4:29 "but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." Eph 4:15

Sunday afternoon Justin and Landon went to Pa's place to feed the cows and go "deer hunting". They "shot" 2 buck with the video camera & Landon was so excited that he saw them in the deer stand. He was so cute, he called me on the cell phone, whispering as he told me the details...I could barely make them out! Of course another highlight for little man is opening/closing the gate & driving the truck. He LOVES to drive in the field. Maddie does to for that matter and she got her chance to do that today. Maddie and I went to Derek and Leah's so that she could play with Kyle and I went with Leah to take Jake to his dad's. We all met back up to the church for the evening service and Thanksgiving dinner. After church we came back home and enjoyed a family movie night of "Beezus and Ramona", a super cute movie. I love a good, wholesome, movie that is safe for my 6 year old. Kids see too much these days at such a young age and I think it is so sad.

Today we have enjoyed another liesure day of playing outside, spending time at the farm driving and deer hunting, and getting some Christmas shopping done in town. We heard from the realtor today and the termite inspection came back clear. We are well on our way to being homeowners in East Texas. I have faith that God's Will will be done in this process and I do not worry about it, I just put it all in His hands. We love the house that we have found, but there is alot of painting and updating that needs to be done, but we find it very exciting and can't wait to make it our own if everything goes through.

Tomorrow we are headed back to East TX to catch up on house details, laundry and then we are on our way to Dallas Wednesday morning to stay with Kimberly for shopping and visiting the arboretum. Thanksgiving day we are participating in the turkey trot with Kimberly and Philipp and then onto Aunt Elaine's for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. Friday the girls are having a scrapbook day that I am so excited about and Saturday we are going to see Disney Princess' on ice.

Our Thanksgiving break is filled with fun times and blessings. May God bless your week! Don't forget to count your many blessings and see what God has done!

Priorities in life

Two things are weighing heavy on my heart at the moment, so I will dive in....

1) Kids pick up on what parents like. If Daddy roots for the Rangers, then odds are kids will start cheering for them too. As a parent, what is it that you like that your kids witness day in and day out? Are Christian homes living spiritual lives? Some say they love the Lord, yet they don't utter His name in their house. It is not laziness, the busy-ness of life, or emotional exhaustion. It is simply the lack of righteous living. Quit with the excuses already! You can only give what you have. Just like in an airplane, they tell the parent to adjust your own mask before putting on your child's mask.....same goes with your relationship with God. Get things right with yourself and God so you can teach your children to walk in the light. There is no such thing as a spiritual evolution. Some say they have been going to church forever, so they know they are a Christian. Just because you sit in a garage it doesn't make you a car. It doesn't matter how long you went to church...is there a time in your life that you accepted Christ and had a spiritual rebirth? There shouldn't be a gray area to this, it's simply yes or no. We as parents have such an important role to play and if there is one thing I want my kids to know without a shadow of a doubt, it is that their momma loves Jesus. I want them to see me reading His word and praying to Him with my trials and praising Him through both the good times and bad. And as much as I want them to experience these things for themselves, it is not my choice, but theirs. I have prayed for friends and loved ones and their relationship with God and as much as I want to help them make the choice, there is nothing more I can do but to pray for them and set the best Christian example I know how. Sometimes I ask myself if it is enough, but I know God is at work and He has a plan.

This is great way to visualize and explain sharing the love of God with your family. As a parent, when the rain rolls in we get our umbrella and huddle up our sweet children under it to shield them from the storm. If they start to run away we try to follow them, trying our best to keep that shield of protection over them. But wouldn't it be better, as parents, for our children to have their own protection over them, so that when the day comes that they do wander away, they will still be protected? So many are walking around with our hand in the air with nothing protecting them. Don't give your kids things, don't give your kids 10 minutes of your time after work and think it is making a difference, and don't just give them church. Give Them Jesus.

2) A family friend decided to end his life by committing suicide. I can't imagine what could be going on in your life that would be so horrible for a person to turn to this. I am praying for his wife, & for his sons that not only have to deal with the loss of their father, but the fact that their father chose to leave them. My heart is hurting for this family.

The Night of Music Bliss

I thought the DMB concert would NEVER arrive, but sadly enough it has come and gone all too quickly! Excited does not even begin to describe the way I felt about this event. We bought our tickets in February and when I found out we had pit tickets I was so excited I almost lost all bodily functions! :) I seriously counted down the days and I am sad that I don't know their next concert date so I can get it on my calendar and have it to look forward to. Our wonderful DMB weekend started with meeting at Aaron's to prepare some of the food and then meeting up with our friends, David and Wendy at the Doubletree hotel. We were all so giddy, we didn't get to sleep until 2:30 that morning! On Saturday we started our tailgating activities at noon and boy was it hot, but that didn't stop our fun. Aaron made this dish called "bacon explosion" and it was one of the best things I have ever eaten! I can't wait to try it again. We literally ate all day....steak tacos, pork tenderloin, beef kabobs, brats wrapped in tortillas with gouda cheese (one of my faves), 7 layer dip, corn salsa, cheese stuffed jalapenos & reeses chocolate chip muffin cookies that were pretty tasty.



We played bean bags & bochi ball even though it felt like the surface of the sun. I wish I could say it was cool for the concert, but it wasn't. No one cared though! We found our place in the pit at 8 and the show was amazing. Here was his set list:

Last Stop
Shake Me Like a Monkey ***
Granny
Why I Am
#41
Big Eyed Fish
Seven
Can't Stop
Spaceman
Corn Bread (one of the best versions I have heard them do!)
Write a Song (never had heard it...)
Lie in Our Graves
Baby Blue
You and Me
Everyday
Jimi Thing (Boyd tore it up!)
Some Devil
Ants Marching



Seriously, I don't think I have ever been so excited. To be that close to Dave and to be able to watch them all was incredible. Rashawn, Carter,& Boyd kicked some booty that night. They are all awesome musicians...Dave of course being my favorite.

We had such a great time. The heat nor the rude guy in front of me that claimed Dave's pick that was thrown out into the audience that could've been mine could ruin my night...it truly was a night of bliss!!! I hope that next concert we are able to get pit tickets again and I will keep my fingers crossed for my favorite DMB song to be played, as soon as I figure out which one that is!

A labor-free labor day weekend!

We had such a great time this weekend spending time with family & relaxing. On Saturday Kimberly & Philipp threw a party for the family in their new apartment so that we could see all of their wedding goodies displayed in their new home. Everything looked so nice! It makes me want to go out and register at Bed, Bath & Beyond! :) We enjoyed sandwiches & dips and the kids + Matt/Philipp took a dip in the extremely cold pool! Needless to say, they did not swim for long. I just love weekends where the entire family gets together to reconnect....we have a very special bond and I do not take it for granted!! On Sunday we enjoyed church at Lover's Lane, lunch at BJ's (their root beer is the best) and swimming in the freezing pool again. Luckily I avoided the pool all weekend...not sure how I managed that! That night we drove to Rockwall and strolled the boardwalk area by Lake Ray Hubbard. It is just beautiful! We ate at Blue Canyon and had some wonderful blue cheese chips. We had waited as long as we could and we had to say bye to Kimberly & Philipp...we started driving back home at 9:30! We pulled into Marshall a little after midnight and poor Justin had to work today on Labor Day. But not me....I am spending the day doing laundry, blogging and relaxing with my kids. If only we had one more day like this....tomorrow it is back to reality!

Ready or not....

I seriously cannot believe that school is starting on Monday. It seems as though it just let out, but I am very thankful for the wonderful summer that we had! Spending time with the kids is the best. We have had fun just hanging out playing wii, playing outside, water fun, and our favorite summer past time has been frequent visits to "Chateau Snow", our local snow cone stand. I have made it my mission to get a new flavor everytime, but I still haven't come close to trying them all. Anything with sweetened condensed milk is a winner in my book. Maddie loves pineapple upside-down cake and Landon loves spiderman (blueberry & strawberry) I think it is the name that he really likes....it could be any flavors in there!

I am determined to be more organized this year in our daily routines, such as waking up in time to read my bible and exercise & get the kids breakfasts & lunches prepared. Justin usually is on kitchen duty and this week he has done an excellent job of making our lunches yummy! I pray for this school year to filled with positive attitudes and open minds, including my own. Sometimes it is hard to see why certain things happen & it is hard to see eye to eye, but I plan on keeping the lines of communication open (with each other and with God) and I won't let things fester up inside!

This week has been a challenging one, but I can say there have been praises through them all...One has been the praise of Justin and I being very devoted to our envelope system with the Dave Ramsey plan. We had $85 in the food envelope (grocery & eating out) and we finished the week with $10 left! That even included a snow cone run!! :) It has forced us to think about every purchase and made us question, "Now do we really need that?". God always takes care of us and sends reassurance when he knows we need it. For example, Justin took our change jar and cashed it in and he brought home $120!! The words "TRUST IN GOD" rang through my ears...

Besides becoming a first grader on Monday, Maddie has some exciting news. She begins violin lessons! We are so excited and can't wait to get fitted for her violin. We will be renting one until she grows up enough to have a full size, but plan on purchasing if she is still dedicated by that time. Madeline has been talking about playing violin since she was 3. Her time is finally here...

Well, I am off to make some lasanga to put in the freezer for a meal this week. May your week be filled with blessings!

Alanna

Summer Fun Flying By...

Two post by me in one day just may be a miracle! I thought I needed to write about some of the fun things we have been doing this summer & the crazy everyday happenings of my kids. The summer started off with a bang as Justin and I prepared for our anniversary cruise...11 years tomorrow! We had THE BEST time and cannot wait to go again. Although the whole time I was thinking how much the kids would have enjoyed what we were doing, it sure was nice to have a week to ourselves, to reconnect and rejuvenate! They enjoyed getting to spend some time in Killeen with Grannie Jeanne & Pa! One of the highlights for me besides the yummy food, was our snorkeling/kayak trip in Key West, where we saw 5 rays up close and personal and a nurse shark as we sailed away. Atlantis was incredible and the shows on board were amazing each night, my favorite being the magic show. Like I said, I can't wait to go on another one! Maddie and my mom leave on that exact same cruise on August 8th and I wish I could stow away in their luggage!





The kids had a great week at VBS. I taught 1-3 grade music and it seemed as though everyone really enjoyed the music and had fun learning about Jesus. They had a guy come in named Dennis Miller who brought in puppets that the kids loved. Landon cracked up the entire time during his shows in the opening and closing rally. I will have to see if I can order him one of those videos for his birthday coming up in September!

Speaking of birthdays, Madeline had a great one. She is now 6 years old...I can't believe she has now gone to the other hand! :) We went to Dallas and had plans of going to the natatorium there in Allen, but they called an hour before the party saying they were going to have to close due to a gas leak! So we scrambled to come up with plan B. The Hampton Inn had an indoor pool and if we got a room there we could swim there, so that is what we did! Justin's parents ended up staying there and it worked out great. Her friends were still able to come and Aunt Elaine saved the day by letting us have snacks and open presents at her house. Although it was stormy and nasty outside, we had a great time swimming inside! It was a great day. That weekend we enjoyed staying in Kim & Philipp's new apartment, going to a wedding, and 4th of July fun and fireworks with the family. I love fun-filled weekends like that!

Now we are in full swing getting ready for the Loyd/Rossbach wedding! Everything is going to be beautiful and the big day will be here before we know it. 2 weeks and counting....all I know is, I better start practicing my music and speech! :)

I have enjoyed getting to spend time with the kids this summer. They crack me up everyday! Landon is in a phase where he will only wear jeans and he loves to wear this particular jersey/muscle shirt. I couldn't peel it off of him for 3 days!!! But I think I have come to the conclusion that it is not just sleeveless shirts he likes, but shirts with numbers. Maybe it makes him think he is like Troy from high school musical, I don't know!! But it is crazy how obsessed he is with long pants. We have finally come up with a rule that if we are going outside to play he HAS to wear shorts otherwise he would burn up! The kids both LOVE playing Mario bros. Things I frequently hear are "Do your best Landon" and "Pop me Maddie!" as he is shaking away on the control. They love world 1. Maddie likes to stand with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth...I guess that helps her game! They also love playing outside. Maddie is a whiz on her bike now and they both have put 100+ miles on the gator! They will drive past the mister, which is their car wash and pretend they are getting gas, etc. They love playing together. Last night we had a wedding at our house and they were both dressed up so cute. Madeline said she found her prince!

Well, I guess that is all for now. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Do you have your armor on?

Devotional Thought from FBC Allen…

In the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians 6:13-17, he uses the picture of Roman armor to encourage believers in how to win in the battle of life. He correlates the following…

* The belt that keeps it all together is TRUTH
* The breastplate that protects our heart is RIGHTEOUS LIVING
* The shoes that keep us moving forward are READYNESS
* The shield that protects us from Satan’s attacks is FAITH
* The helmet that protects our mind and how to think is SALVATION
* The sword of the SPIRIT is the SCRIPTURES

I love the way the sword is described as the SWORD of the SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit takes the scriptures and makes them alive and active, sharper than any sword. Hebrews 4 tells us that the scriptures can pierce to the deepest of places, and this is because they are empowered by the Spirit. If you feel like life is a battle that you are losing, use today’s verse as a checklist. How sold out to truth, righteous living, being ready, faith, salvation and to knowing and letting the Spirit make the scriptures alive and active in you and those you talk to?