Christmas Letter 2008

I am going to post my 2008 Christmas letter here for all of those that I don't have any other way to communicate with. Mainly online friends, but there might be a few relatives that I may have missed as well. (Totally unintentional)

Hello From Mississippi,

It has been and interesting year to say the least. Elizabeth is now 10 and Anthony is now I. It is hard to believe that I have been a mommy for 10 years!

In May, we rented a car and spent a weekend in a rented cabin in Gatlinburg, TN. We met up with a group of ladies that I met online from the site that I am a Global Moderator on. Online Christian Parents. It was really nice and the atmosphere was beautiful and we wee very blessed by the fellowship that we shared with the friends.

While there, w spent two days at Dollywood theme park. It was fun and the children had a blast!!! We went on some real wild rides that I don't think Elizabeth and Anthony would have gone on had they known what was in store. lol

In July, my job at Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation ended. The company had been purchased a few years earlier by a company from China and all of the operations were set to move overseas. I worked in the reconditioning department for five years. Since the majority of the plant was manufacturing, and that part of it was set to go to PRC (Peoples Republic of China) they chose to shut the whole plant down. My department moved to another town here in Mississippi but it would have been way too far for me to commute back and forth, so I took my severance and unemployment.

So now, I am a SAHM (Stay at Home Mom) and I am currently homeschooling my children, which is going well by the way. We are in our second year of this and in our hearts we know, that thi is God's will for us and for our children.

I am using a multi aged curriculum called My Father's World that I can teach both Elizabeth and Anthony from. They just have individual Math and English. Our main course of study this year is Geography. They are learning so very much about each continent. I am learning right along with them. It is all going very well.

Mike is still in the process of trying to get his disability. It is a long, drawn out process. The first part of the year, we went for several trips to Jackson for hi to get Faucet Injection shots in his lower back. Come to find out that they really don't help the problem, they pretty much just act like a band aid for a couple of weeks. We quit doing them. So he lives in constant pain with numbness and cramping in the back of his legs. Nothing else we can do. Our insurance runs out at the end of the year.

He also had a bout with serious depression at one time. The doctors wanted to hospitalize him for it, but we got hover the worst part of it. He tried medications for a time, but come to ind out, the meds were worse than the depression and he got off of those.

Elizabeth and Anthony are amazingly smart and we are so very proud of all their accomplishments. They are like any brother and sister though, each trying to out do the other. Sometimes it can way heavy on mom's nerves, but I suppose that is normal and to be expected.

We don't know what God has in store for us next year. But we have faith that He will carry us through and provide for our needs. He always has.

We pray that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!!

Love Mike, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Anthony!!!

My Mountian and God

What is my mountain? What my mountain is, God knows. But the issue that really needs attention concerning this, is am I going to have faith enough, and trust in God that He can and will remove this mountain from my life?

God has moved a huge mountian in my life before so I know first hand, that it can be done. But as of late, my faith has been weak. My trust level is not very high. My personal relationship with Him needs to be much closer than what it currently is. Pray for me that I can resolve these feelings inside of me so that I can once again see God move a particular mountian from my life.

Anxiety

I am not one much for anxiety. But here recently, I have been. Not too bad, but it just seems like I am struggling with Satan on a constant daily basis. There just seems to be so much uneasiness all around me. I am not looking forward to the next 36 hours that is for sure. There is nothing I can do about it except ride it out. I know it will be okay, DH says it will and I trust him. I just wish we didn't have to do this. Maybe it is immature on my part, but there has been so much tension in the past year concerning this, that I wish I could just not have to do this.

I know it sounds like I am babbling and not making any sense to those of you that might be reading this. But I really can't mention details. The Lord knows what is on my heart, as does my husband. That is all that matters. I sure could use some prayers to get me through the next two days. I will be much much better after that. I will for sure need a long uninterupted nap when this is all over with. That is for sure. DH says that this will be the last time. He said that before this came up too. We shall see. It is of course in God's hands and I must trust Him to ease my tension. It is another area that I am having a hard time with.

Thank you for letting me rant. I have much to be thankful for and that is what I need to concentrate on.

The Day After

I cried this morning when I saw the news. I hurt for the loser. I know it is all in God's plan and He is the judge, and He is in control. The final battle has of course already been won and that is the victory party that I plan on attending. But until that day, I must continue to pray that everyone will see the one choice that they truly need to make.

Pray for our country. Yes, one promise he made is true. Change is coming. On that, you can depend. Pray for our country.

Courting vs Dating

I found this article here:

http://christian.families.com/blog/courting-vs-dating

Courting vs. Dating
by Melissa J | More from this Blogger


Though I can't speak too much for generations before my time, there does appear to be more negative types of peer pressure on teens nowadays. There are pressures to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, to party, have sex, try illegal substances, dress in ways that bring unsafe attention to them...

What are some things we can do to help our children to grow up safe and pure? Though I won't claim to have all the answers, I've talked with some teens in the past and gathered some perspective in how to do this. Every teen is an individual. It isn't wise to assume that any teen is going to have an easier time avoiding temptation regardless of their grades, friends or upbringing.

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In dating, teens have an opportunity to go out one on one with the opposite sex and get to know each other. The problem I see with this is that teenager's hormones can get the better of them, leading them into temptations - especially when out alone! This is not a fair position for either the boy or the girl to be in. Often the moment can take over and regardless whether they have sex or not, they can still do or say something they might regret.

The idea behind courting is a bit different. Parents may have much more involvement in what their teens are doing, who they are with and where they are going. Often times, the parents will know their child's friend's parents as well. In some cases, the teen (typically the boy) go to the girl's parents and ask their permission to court their daughter.

Though courting today really varies, the idea behind it differs from dating in that dating, one isn't necessarily looking for a future spouse. The courting couples I've talked with usually get together in public places even with other couples or friends. It's an opportunity to get to know someone in a friendship-like setting without the pressures to commit, or doing anything physical with the other person.

When a person has courted another and realized they really want to be with just that person, they may start dating, continuing in the same public fashion they did before to resist temptation to do more, with the hopes they've found "the one".

Please check out my other Christian parenting blogs from this series:

Parenting Series: Intro

What to Pray For Our Children

We Are Our Kids' Role Models

Dedicating Children

Getting into Your Kid's Business

Discipline for Children

Honoring Your Mother and Father

To My Parents

Teaching Our Children Modesty

Teaching Our Children Self-Respect

I Finally Did It!!

I finally did it!!! I finally got all my pictures off of my computer and on to portable scan disks!! I have been wanting to get that done for the longest time!!! I also did something else today. I finally got Sid's Salvation video onto DVD!! I actually came across that by complete accident. I was in the process of getting all my files moved from my computer to these scan disks, when I came across the Sid's video that we taped last year when he and Susan came to host the "Lock Down" with the youth at our church.

The camcorder was new, and it was basically (I can't believe I just typed that) new, and we were trying it out pretty much on them. Well, I tried, and I tried to figure out how in the world I could get the content that we recorded onto DVD. I just couldn't for the life of me figure it out. So we gave up on the brand new camcorder and stuck it in a drawer. We haven't used it since. (I even thought of selling it just because I didn't know how to use it.)

Anyhow, I came across the DVD maker by accident today flipping through folders. It was then that I was able to put all 5 sections of video onto two different DVD's. Yay!!! Now I can get one more made for Sid and Susan. I told her that I would, but I have been stuck for a year!! Talk about being two steps back!!!

I can't wait to tell Mike. But I seriously doubt he will call again today. Tonight is the busiest out of the whole weekend. He comes home tomorrow night. Kalie is going to bring him to town and I just have to go and pick him up there. It isn't near as bad as having to drive to Grenada.

Conference Room

Mike called this morning. He told me that the Lord is blessing him abundatly this weekend. His dream is to play music for the Lord. He brought his guitar with him to Grenada because he usually helps out during the two times (don't want to be too specific incase someone that is reading this has never been on a "Walk to Emmaus" yet) that an extra guitar player is needed.

What he was told, is that he is going to be allowed to go in the conference room today while the pilgrims are there and play one of his own songs. (Letters to Dad) Praise the Lord!!! He is so very excited!!! He loves to play his songs for groups and for him to be able to do this is just such a blessing indeed.

Usually the whole weekend is very meticulously planned out and everyone has a specific job to do and a certian time and place to work and be etc. So this last minute change in plans is so totally God!!! I am so happy to hear of this wonderful blessing that has been given to Mike!! I can't wait to hear how it goes. I wish I could be sitting down in the prayer room listening to the whole thing.

It is a beautiful day today. The sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky. God is good. I plan on getting some things accomplished here around the house today. I don't want to spend it sitting here in front of the computer.

Fall Is In The Air

Fall is definatly in the air. It is quite cool outside. I feel sorry for the dogs. But they are not trained to come inside yet. I let them back in the carport because it rained most of the night last night and well into this morning. I was concerned that their wooden doghouse might have leaked. It hadn't, but I just have such a soft heart when it comes to animals. So I let them come into the carport to make sure thay are dry. I will probably take their blankets and warm them up in the dryer before we go to bed tonight, and let them sleep in the laundry room. At least they will be dry and warm.

The children are being good today. Of course, I have let them veg out in the living room this morning to watch SpongeBob and Jimmy Neutron. We will do some school work this afternoon. But I am veggin' in front of this computer. lol. I just feel so out of place when Mike is away. I can't wait til Sunday evening when he comes home.

Quiet Friday

It is peaceful this morning. That seems bad to say, but truly, it is not meant to be. I say thing because Mike is in Grenada working the Walk to Emmaus. (I can't think of what # it is.) This is his third walk to work. It was very short notice. We just got the phone call the day before yesterday to ask if he could work. He told Paula, (the committe coordinator for this walk) that he would have to talk to me and the Lord first. (Not necessarily in that order :)) But I knew in my heart that when he was on the phone with her, that his answer would be yes!!!

I am so thankful that he is there. This is his third time to work a walk. I have worked two walks. Both last year. When you walk onto the grounds of the camp, you honestly feel a peace. It has been said that the camp is holy ground. I believe it. You feel the love of Christ there. Not only when you first experience it as a pilgrim, but also as part of a team when you come back to work a walk. It is the most beautiful Christ filled place that I have ever known.

So when I say it is peaceful here this morning. I say it sounds bad, because usually I am getting dishes washed, getting Mike out of bed, getting breakfast and lunches planned and taken care of. But with all of that not such pressing issues this morning, it is just peaceful. Don't get me wrong, I miss my husband terribly when he isn't here. I just feel like God has given me a peace knowing that Mike is doing the Lord's work this weekend.

Unsocialable?

Someone greeted me at church the other night. When he shook my hand, he said, "Well hello "unsocialble"." I have pondered on that for several days now. I know that I am a lot more reserved than I used to be say, twenty years ago. I know that I tend to be standoffish to people too. But "unsocialable?" Maybe I am just being a quiet, submisive wife. One that doesn't gather in front of the church with the ladies just to gossip. I don't want to get in the men folks conversation. So I just go in and sit down. I don't know. Maybe I am. Well, if I am unsocialable, I honestly don't intend to be that way. :)

Very Helpful Article In my Email This Morning

I guess you would have to know the situation, but boy howdy, God is speaking to me here!!

Here is an article that came into my email this morning. I had to come post it here!!! This eases my mind. Thank you Lord.
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From the Editor ~ Dealing with Negative Family Members
Dear Sarah There seems to be in every extended family, someone who saps all your joy and drains all your energy. And that's when you're not even around them! Just the thought of that person makes you sigh with discouragement.

I just got a phone message yesterday from that someone trying to place unwarranted guilt on me once again. I began to come up with all the things I would say to that person, but stopped in the middle of my angry thoughts. What should I do? Rather than meditate and fume, I knew I needed to "do the Word."

In Matthew 5 we are told to pray for those who speak all manner of evil against us. That doesn't mean the kind of prayer that says, "I hope you change them before I blow up on them again!". It's the kind of prayer for their very souls; that God would draw them to himself; that God would give you wisdom in dealing with them; that God would open their eyes to see Him; that God would soften your heart towards them; that God's Word would reveal to them what your words have failed to reveal to them.

What I'm talking about here is a change of focus. Rather than focusing on how much they hurt you, or how much they don't understand you, or how wrong they are, the focus changes to God. How much He loves them, how much value He places on them. He places so much value on them that He died for them as well as you. He desires their change of heart ever more than you could begin to realize.

There's a reason we are admonished to "think on those things that are pure and lovely and of a good report." There is a reason we are told to "cast our cares" on Him. The reason is our freedom - freedom from the discouragement that could so easily swallow us up; freedom to praise God instead of ponder that other person's actions; freedom to pray for those whom no one else may be praying for; freedom to follow God's commands rather than our own emotions.

Yes, it's hard. But know this, you are not alone. We are in this together. And as the words of the song so succinctly say, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

* Words & Music: Helen H. LemmelLet's look to Him together,~Deborah

Senior Editor
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. To subscribe, http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/E_News/

The Crazyness of Today

Today, has been, like most days here recently, just absoultly crazy. At least we finally got the bank straightened out. WHEW what a stressful time that was. And we are going to be getting our music curriculum for free in all actuality because of all the headache that this order has caused. God is Good.

Mike goes to work a Walk tomorrow night. He is excited. But of course, satan is playing his little tricks to try to get Mike to stay home. It is always the case when we go to do work for the Lord, in one way or another, there is busy little satan whispering all the lies and making us feel like our plans are not going to follow through. But you know what? God is bigger and His work is going to prevail over satans trickery.

It is just about supper time. Chicken is on the menu tonight. Oh except for Anthony that is. He is getting Mac and Cheese. He doesn't want chicken. Who knows, I just might take a bite off his plate lol

Good Morning Sunshine!!

God Bless You to all who read this. It is another beautiful day that the Lord has made. Let us give praise and thanks to Him that created us and all things!!! Remember always that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He loves you.

Hopefully our day will be totally uneventful and Satan will take a long walk off a short peer. I am so weery from fighting the spiritual battles!!! But I know that I am strong in the Lord and each and every trial that comes my way, I will overcome, because I have the full armor of God to protect me. AMEN