Saturday, February 26, 2011

A Mother's Prayer

My last post was crazy! I'll be surprised if anyone ever reads anything I write again. Everything I wrote was
me processing that dream, and I do believe it was all a warning from God. Satan is out there looking to steal everything we have.

I seen this prayer on another blog, and just thought I would share:

A MOTHER'S PRAYER


Dear Lord Jesus,



As I go about my housework

Let me see each job I do,

As a service for my King

And a way of loving You.



Let me wash away my judgments

Of others right or wrong,

As I wash up the dishes

Place within my heart a song.



As I clean up little fingerprints

And lots of muddy shoes,

May I remember how you cleaned the feet

Of the loved ones you did choose.



As I mend up torn pajamas

And sew a button on,

Show me where I need to mend a breech

That’s gone on far too long.



Let me tidy up my thoughts

As I tidy up the toys,

Let me sweep away my fears

Like the dirt from little boys.



May I be just as quick with my forgiveness

As I am with mop and broom,

Sweeping up the clutter

In my heart and living room.



May I rinse out pride and ego

As I rinse the bathtub out,

And while we are at it Lord

Let’s take care of anger, hate and doubt.



Please remind me often Lord

That the way I’m called to serve,

Is an honor given me

And not below what I deserve.



You know Lord, as I look

At all the work we need to do,

I think we’d better house clean

At least each day or two.


 
Author Unknown

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Bad Dreams

Often when Derreck is gone to work for his two weeks, I don't sleep well. Sometimes I do, but mostly I don't. This time seems a little worse than normal though. I am a very light sleeper. I hear almost everything. Before the kids came our dogs would sleep in front of our bedroom window. If for some reason I sleep in living room, they would sleep in front of the living room windows. But since the kids are here, the dogs could care less about me! They are now sleeping at the front of the house (when they sleep) by the kids windows. These dogs give me comfort in knowing that they are going to give me a heads up on anything that comes into our yard, especially at night.

I know if something is going to happen there is nothing that I can do except PRAY. I can't change my future, only God can. HE has a plan for the things that happen in my life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." He knows what He is doing! HE's been doing it since the beginning of time!

Last night I had a dream. I weird dream. We had some people over who were mostly family. Everyone was going and coming inside the house, but for some reason I never went outside. I was cleaning and minding my own business. Well, I went to go put up some laundry in our bedroom and I could hear everyone talking.

I heard my brother teaching all the kids how to sacrifice animals correctly and that they had to make sure they did it to Satan or they would be punished. He also told them that it needed to be done in our yard until we joined them. Well then! I couldn't get out side to stop him. Derreck was outside but not paying attention.

Now don't get me wrong. My brother (as far as I know) is not a Satan worshipper. I know he believes in God, but I also know he hasn't fully committed his life TO God yet. Would he teach his kids something like that?  Some parents do, and I would be stupid to believe that he absolutely wouldn't. I love his kids like they were  my own. I don't want them to be taught anything but the whole truth of Jesus. Deuteronomy 6:7 says "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

We have to teach our kids about Jesus. Everything that we do should be about Jesus. We have to show them that we fear God, and His mighty power. It broke my heart to know that my brother was trying to teach all the kids about these things, and the fact that it was my brother and not a stranger hurt even worse.

Another part of my dream was that "S" had came inside and found me and started pushing yelling at me. Now then! I absolutely will not tolerate a child ruling over their parents (in any way)! So I grabbed her by her arm, pulled her to her room, and pushed her in. I also slammed the door.

I don't want "S" to be this way. I pray that she learns how to have the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists them: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." I also know that I have to model these on front of her and her brothers, in order for them to learn about them.

The worst part of my dream was what I saw when I got back to our room. The curtains were wide open, so I could see everything going on outside. Derreck was outside hanging out with a woman whom I had never seen before. Very inappropriately hanging out with her. It was horrible. I just stood there and looked with tears pouring down my face.

I have never once doubted my husband when it comes to faithfulness. I am not in any way doubting him now. When you have a relationship where one person is gone for 1/2 the year, either you trust them or it's not going to work out. Even when my husband wasn't walking with the Lord I still trusted him, so I am not saying that he is cheating on me or anything like that.

Women who are looking to find good men are out there. They envy a marriage that is happy, so they will do anything to seek and destroy it. Proverbs 5:3 says, "For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:". I as a wife need to realize that and pay attention to my husbands needs and his desires. The less I do these things the more likely he would be willing to seek out someone else to fulfill them.

Now I am not a dream reader or anything like that. But I do know that this dream wasn't to tell me that this is things that these people are doing. It's things that I need to protect our house from. I need to pray without ceasing and I need to teach the truth according to the Bible. Satan is real! He wants control over everything in our lives. He wants our marriages, he wants our children now and in the future, and he wants us. I have been seeing this verse every where but it has real meaning to me now.

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"
1 Peter 5:7-8


Thank you God for the wake up call!


Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sometimes It's Good to be Invisible, Sometimes Not

My husband once sent me an email with this story in it. It's been awhile since I seen it and I don't even know if I saved it or not, but I seen it on another lady's blog. (Her names Ginger too by the way.)

The reason he sent it to me was because not long before that, we had a conversation about me feeling like I just blended in and no one could see or even hear me. I think this conversation took place after a youth trip that we had went on with like 15 youth and 3 adults, one of whom was deaf, so she couldn't hear anything that was going on. I was just so aggravated because it seemed that I was constantly having to raise my voice and actually shout just to be heard over all of the noise. By the time everyone heard me I was just being seen as the lady that was rude and yelled all the time. 

I also know that the lady that they are seeing and hearing isn't a very Godly lady. Now that we have kids in the house, I find myself having to do the same thing just to be heard. The first two times Derreck was gone for work I even lost my voice. I know that I am not invisible, but sometimes it just feels like it. I want to have that quiet and meek spirit that most older Godly women that I know have. I want to be able to calmly discipline the kids, and them actually hear me.

I have been praying about this almost non stop for a couple of weeks, and it does seem to be a tad bit better. I haven't lost my voice yet! I will continue to pray about this!!!

******************

It started to happen gradually. One day I was walking my son Jake to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, 'Who is that with you, young fella?' 'Nobody,' he shrugged. Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son is only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, 'Oh my goodness, nobody?'
I would walk into a room and no one would notice. I would say something to my family - like 'Turn the TV down, please' - and nothing would happen. Nobody would get up, or even make a move for the remote. I would stand there for a minute, and then I would say again, a little louder, 'Would someone turn the TV down?' Nothing.
Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there for about three hours and I was ready to leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, 'I'm ready to go when you are.' He just kept right on talking.

That's when I started to put all the pieces together. I don't think he can see me. I don't think anyone can see me.

I'm invisible. It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She's going... she's going... she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.'
That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
As a mother of four, I've experienced the feeling of being an invisible mom at times. When I look at my children though, my treasured gifts from God, it all is SO worth it!
God sees the invisbile mom!
1 Peter 3:4 tells us: "but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."
Whether we're a mom or not. There is something to be said about being invisible.
In Matthew 6:3-4, Jesus says: "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
We are to be invisible; for we follow His example.
Colossians 1:3 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
1 Timothy 1:17 "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Remember this story the next time you feel invisible and unappreciated and be encouraged!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Spreading the Love



Saturday, we had some of our nieces and nephews over to bake Valentine cookies. We usually do Ginger Bread Cookies before Christmas, but everyone was sick. So when Joshlyn and Lyrica informed me that we still hadn't made cookies, we improvised and through this together! (Uncle Derreck had to leave in the middle of all the fun, so I'm sure we could have had even more fun if he would have been able to stay!)


Cheyanne and Addyson
Addy kept swatting Chy's hand and telling her "No-No, that's mine!" Too funny.
You have to watch them Drake girls, they are pushy.


Brad getting started on decorating his cookies.


This is "I". Maybe one day you will be able to see his face. Him and Brad have became good friends and are almost like twins. "I" is the city version and Brad is the country version.


Silly Kody! I don't know why he smiled all crazy like that, you never know what you are going to get with him!


Little "M" where do I start. Lets just say you have to keep your eye on this one.


I think Addy is starting to want to be like the big girls! I see her first sleep over with all the other girls at Gin-Gin's in the near future!


Joshlyn was taking crazy pictures too. (She got her apron for her birthday from Yours Truly!)


Lyrica is another one you have to watch. We think she really should have been ours, instead of Shelly's but we won't take her to court. Lyrica is a drama queen with lots of attitude! (She has an apron on that she got for her birthday, but I didn't make it.)


Shaley getting her decorating on. Her cookies were covered with icing! She's always messy though!


"S" did a great job at decorating her cookies. She also has attitude but she's big enough now, that it isn't cute anymore.


All of them together. Some were already eating their cookies by this time! (Brad!!!!)


The girls (see Addy!)


Kody taking pictures. (Shaley's being nosey in the back!)


The boys and Chy rode with me over to the nursing home.


All of the other girls rode with Shelly.


Here is all of the big ones outside the nursing home. Shelly's husband and mother-in-law work here and so does my mother-in-law. See Lyrica stealing the show! She's too funny.

We really had fun and I love to see how well our kids are getting along with all the others. (Except for a small little mishap that included four of the above kids throwing sticks at one of the other. You win some and you loose some!)

I hope to get us all together soon and do something else. It's always fun when you have a house full of kids!


Monday, February 14, 2011

Anniversary!!!

Nine Years ago today, I married a wonderful man. Someone that, within the first couple of hours of meeting, I knew I wanted to be his wife. Six months later, I became just that. When we first got married we were madly in love lust. Seriously we thought we loved each other, but these few years later I (we) have learned that we didn't even have a clue what love was back then.

Lust quickly fades away after that honeymoon period. After all the excitement goes away and reality sets in. Love on the other hand continues to grow. (If given the right medium to grow in!) Love is still there when you have a disagreement, lust isn't. Today I can honestly say that Derreck is my absolute best friend!

Here is a list of 9 things that I absolutely love about my husband:
1. He puts God first and allows the Holy Spirit to guide him in everything. He is a man after God's heart!
2. He is a great provider. Never once have I ever went without anything I needed or even wanted.
3. He is a great protector. Even though he is gone half the year, he makes sure that I know how to take care of my self.
4. He is so funny. He wanted to be a comedian, but everyone just laughed at him! (I could be his side kick except I stole this from him! 99% of the funny things I say come from him!)
5. He is a leader. He is the leader of our house even when he is gone. Today it is rare to find a man that is willing to step up to this position, and he does Biblically.
6. He is a good friend. The best a girl could ask for!
7. He is very thoughtful. When most girls get disappointed in their husbands for one thing or another, I am getting surprised, by many different things that Derreck has done for me. (Even if it's just warming my side of the bed up, while I am in the shower.)
8. He is a great Mister. I have called him this since the night we met, and I mean it more and more every day. Sarah called Abraham her lord, and I call Derreck my Mister. (I didn't start out doing this to be Biblical, but I do realize now that I should respect my husband enough for him to be lord over me. Not Lord but lord!)
9. He is a great father! I can finally add this!!!!! He knows how to play with the kids, but yet he still knows how is discipline them too!


Aren't these flowers pretty! Derreck ordered them for me, who knows when. They were delivered the night before he left which would have been Friday night, and they bloomed completely today! Talk about perfect timing! (I told you he was good, didn't I?)

Happy Anniversary Derreck!


"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."  Genesis 2:24

Friday, February 11, 2011

Week Four of The Valentine Challenge


We are on week four of the Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge that Cortney from Women Living Well issued! This weeks challenge is to make Valentines ALL about our husbands. To not worry about what he can do for you, but what you can do for him!

 A lot of women get their hopes up for something amazing that they want their husbands to do for them. What is crazy though, is that, they don't even tell their husbands what they want, and get mad and disappointed when their dream doesn't come true. I don't know about you and your spouse, but I know my husband and I are definately NOT mind readers!!

If I don't tell my husband what is wrong, or what I want, then he doesn't know. The same goes for him! I cannot get mad at him for not being able to read my mind. Some people think it's crazy because, then it's not a surprise anymore. I do like surprises, but it's also very nice to get something that you have been needing for awhile, over something that you just want.

Anyways the whole point of this weeks challenge is to put him first and not worry about what you are going to get.

  • Do something special for him. Cook his favortire meal, or dessert.
  • Let him relax for awhile.
  • Do something for him that you know he doesn't enjoy doing.
  • Make him feel like he is your 2nd priority. (Your first should be God of course!)
It's been a rough week month and a half for me. With the kids here, something is constantly on my mind, and needing attention. I feel like I have been pulled in a hundred different directions, and everyone still wants more. So with all of this extra things going on, I am sad to say that I haven't put my husband and his needs in the position that they need to be. Honestly I haven't even been that nice to him either. He's getting what is left over and I know that that isn't right.

It's not biblical either. I was created to be his "help-mate" not him mine. I know that it is hard for him to be gone from the house for 2 weeks, working a job that isn't always smooth and breezy on a drilling rig. I need to learn to encourage him, pray for him, help him, love him, and most importantly, cherish him.


"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."   Philippians 2:3,4

Friday, February 4, 2011

Valentines Challenge



We are well in to Week 3 of Courtney's Valentine Challenge. This week we are to romance our husbands. I sure am glad that Derreck is home during this week, it's hard to romance over the phone! LOL. Everything below was taken from Courtney's blog about the challenge!

So this week's challenge is:
Pursue intimacy and place the intimate needs of your spouse above your own. Give him a foot or back massage, shower together, be creative!
Seek to "kiss him like you mean it" every single day this week! Solomon 5:16 says "His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely." Look at your husband through the eyes of his fiance...do you remember those butterflies and your longing for him. Renew that passion.


Paula Rinehart says that for many men, "S*x is like a silent cheer."


Our men feel stronger, more capable, and built up when we respond to their advances with a smile.


"Be available, agreeable and interested.(~Linda Dillow, Intimate Issues)


"When you touch your husband's deepest need something good almost always happens!"~ Dr. Emerson Eggerich

So I challenge you today to not just show your husband you love him but show him that you LIKE him!