Elijah & Ethan

I always worry that our boys will resent Randy & I because we are fostering. Last night my kids so wonderfully reassured me that they enjoy(for the most part) fostering and what it means to our family.
The boys were upstairs playing with the oldest(51/2) and they came downstairs so excited and having such a good time. Ethan said this is so cool. I like being a big brother. Fostering is pretty cool.
When we have bad days and think we just can't do it any more God brings a good thought or an encouraging word or deed that gives us the strength to go on.

Sing with me Elmo should be outlawed!

Sing with me Elmo has some problems. we were so sick of hearing him that I stashed it in my bedroom. This morning at 2AM Randy and I were awakened with "A,B,C,1,2,3, sing with Elmo"
It scared us half to death. Randy was grumbling if it wasn't the kids now it is stupid Elmo! I grabbed my scissors off the dresser and was ready to cut the battery pack out of Elmo and be done with it. Randy had a bit cooler head and got his toolman and just removed the batteries.
Elmo will not be getting his batteries put back in any time soon!

silence is golden

Ahhh! the sound of nothing. Never knew it could be so beautiful. Nap-time is a wonderful thing!
having extra's in the house has really made me rely totally on God and it has made me see a few things in a different light.
One thing I have learned is how gifted my husband is at counseling. Our new boys need a lot of help and Randy has been so good at talking with them and they are doing so much better. I am amazed at the wisdom God gives him as he talks to these little guys.
I can really see how Randy and I fit as a team. My gifts and strenghts are not even close to his, but we compliment each other and it works.
I'll up-date as I can. One thing I can give praise to God about is the fact that we are getting sleep. Now that is a beautiful thing!

5 Boys

We now are a family of 5 boys. We increased our family by 3 Friday night. Everything is going pretty well, but we could always use lots of prayer.
This is a more difficult situation and Randy & I are needing a lot of wisdom from God.
We already are seeing the effects of prayer.

The first night the youngest 2 (ages 3 & almost 4) were very scared of going to bed. They have seen way too much and were scard of boogey men, clowns and the bad man under the bed. They said they always have bad , scary dreams. We read stories and then we prayed. The next morning they said they had a good night and had good dreams about God. The middle boy said he talked to God all night and every time he takes a nap or goes to bed he says He is going to have a good dream about God.
That is so powerful to me. God is comforting them in this difficult time. he is being real to them and they are feeling His Presence. No matter what comes up God is fully able to handle it and He is helpimng these boys. He is so good!

My Beekepers

The Mighty Beekeepers

It is a beautiful thing to see a Dad teach his children. What a gift to teach something, to hand it down to the next generation. Beekeeping is a connector in our family. It keeps Randy connected to his Dad. It gives them a point of interest that they can spend time together and enjoy the same thing. Now it is a teaching and learning experience between Randy and his boys. It is a beautiful thing!

Report

I did not die nor did I vomit from nervousness ( althought I wanted to)
I obeyed and the feeling of relief is overwhelming. God is good and I know His purpose will be accomplished with me doing a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny part.

Another thing on Obedience

I have been in a bit of a mood lately. I feel as though I am spinning my wheels and doing nothing for God. I thought that after we got our foster liscense we would be busy with kids and I would feel as though I as "doing" something productive. Last week as I was praying (whyning) to God about this. I disctinctly heard Him say" If you aren't going to do this one thing for me why am I going to trust you with more?" today I am going to do this one thing even if I puke from nervousness! I know God will be with me and it will be o.k.

Obedience is better than Sacrifice

God asked me to do something a few months ago. I put it on my to-do list and then forgot it. But in my heart I can't for get it, so today is the day.
God's request will only take 5 minuts, tops, out of my day. It isn't even the time involved, it's the fact that what He is asking will stretch me out of my comfort zone. I really am terrified, but I think now I am more terrified of not obeying God.
So I'm going to step out and obey. It is ridiculous how scared I am to do this. If you knew what I was so afraid of you would laugh ( that's why I'm not telling).
So today I will obey. If the results are Earth-shattering I will post them. If not I will just know that I made one more step closer to being fully obedient to God. Sometimes it is the small things that are so hard to do!

Samson & Delilah

Samson was a man set apart by God before his birth. His Momma had special instructions for him. He was a miracle. I am sure he was told all this numerous times during his childhood. Judges 13-16 talks of his life and all the things God did for him and how Samson was a tool in God's great plan. One thing that stuck out to me was the interaction between Samson & Delilah.
The Bible says Samson was in love with her, so he probably wasn't thinking too clearly about making wise decisions when he was with her. I know that she might have loved him, but not enough to refuse 1100 shekels from Samson's enemies, the philistines, for his capture.
This is the part of the story that in reading it you think Samson was an idiot. Delilah gets Samson alone and she gets all cuddly with him and says ," Oh Samy won't you tell me the secret of your strength?". So Samson makes up some bogus amswer and She does exactly what Samson said would subdue his strength and then yells out" O.k. Boys I got him! Come out and take your prisoner." And out jumps all these Philistines to pounce on Samson and take him captive. Samson beats them all up and then Delilah boo-hoos that Samson does not love her. This scenario goes on more than once. Each time there are Philistines in hiding waiting to capture Samson. What makes me think he just wasn't too bright was the fact that the last time he actually tells Delilah the secret of his strength. Seriously what does he think is going to happen now? The Philistines just wanted to sing lullabies to him? They want to capture him and make him their prisoner. And that is exactly what they did.
God got ahold of my heart while reading this because many times I, like Samson, am an absolute idiot. I know exactly what the outcome for my sin will be yet I still play with fire. after the first time Delilah pulled her little stunt, he should have run screaming from the room. But no, just like me I sometimes play with fire. How close to sin can I come without getting burnt? Before I know it I am consumed and I don't even know how.

Glad you are part of my family!

Is there anyone that you are blessed beyond measure to be part of thier family?
I feel that way about a lot of people, but this week I am especially blessed to know Randy's Grandmother. She lives up North and we don't spend as much time with her as we would like, but she is such a sweetheart. She has been writing poetry for God since she was young and never tires of telling others about Jesus' love. Over the last year Randy and I have had the privelege of compling her "book of poems". We have been typing them out and want to get her book finished for Christmas. I have been touched by God every time I sit down to work on this project. Here is one that really made me stop and think.

A Giant

By Ethel C. Kauffman

Be a giant in God's kingdom

Looking to Jesus for our freedom

Rise up in warfare for He watches nearby

Never letting Satan spit in your eye

Rebuke him in all he tries to do

Tell him that Jesus is your mighty tool

For Jesus is my armor and my shield

So leave me alone for I will not yield!

Reading these poems has made me realize what a gift God has given me in the Grandmothers I have and how I was blessed with this wonderful woman when I joined Randy's family. I need to seek the wisdom of Her and my own Grandmother before it is too late. They are a precious jewel that needs to be displayed and admired. Thier wisdom could save me a lot of trials and errors if I would stop to ask and listen. They are truely a gift from God that is often times overlooked.

Feeding the Fat

I sit, every Sunday, and listen and absorb wonderful teaching about God and His Word and how to live a holy life. I ponder it a few days and try to get it into my heart and then I complain that I forgot to tape Survivor and now I don't know who was voted off last week.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

I complain because I do not fit. I don't have a purpose. I use friends and families time and energy to console and pamper me when I am down.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

I sit everyday at a table with a loving husband, healthy kids and full plates of food. Everyday we leave that table with empty plates and full bellies. We thank the Lord for His Goodness to us and leave the table and continue with what we want to do.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

Every week I enjoy a wonderful Bible Study taught by a Godly man who teaches God's truths with a passion. I eat a dinner prepared by awesome cooks who love to make people feel welcome and loved. I enjoy love and fellowship. I feel safe. Who have I invited that needs God's truth? Who needs to feel safe? Who needs to have a meal to fill an empty belly?
I am FEEDING the FAT!

I have so many good teachings, words from the Lord, blessing from friends, love and safety of my family. I am wallowing in goodness. Goodness from God is only good when it is accepted and released. Taken and then given.
I am FEEDING the FAT!

Change, it is coming. It might be uncomfortable, but so necessary.

WHY!?!?

Have you ever noticed how much WHY? sounds like waaaaaa?
Or what the beginning sound of whining (whyning) is?
I had this revelation on my way to work whenI was doing the aforementioned whyning and asking why.
No more WHY!? and waaa and worry. I have to trust God.
My God is a BIG GOD!!

Road Closed

I have concluded that the English words, ROAD CLOSED, when used together on a huge sign in the middle of the road mysteriously changes meaning to a small percentage of my fellow hoosiers.
It some how configures in their brain in the following manner. ROAD CLOSED= speed up as fast as humanly possible, swerve around large sign, continue driving on closed road and try as hard as possible to hit the woman in the middle of the road wearing pink hat.

Attack of the Killer Bees

Most of you have heard my childhood story of getting wasps stuck in my hair and getting repeatedly stung in the back of my head. After that incident I have had a horrible phobia of anything flying around my head. Most of you also know that Randy is a bee keeper so I have had to deal with my phobia head-on the last few years. I really was doing much better. I could even walk out by the bee hives and not break out into a cold sweat. That was until yesterday.
I was out mowing, minding my own business and Wham! the side of my head felt like it was on fire. I started to panic and felt around in my hair. I felt something crawling on my head and the pain just kepy intensifying. I really panicked and was yelling and trying to get whatever it was out of my hair while putting the mower into high gear and racing to the house. By the time I got to the house I had gotten the mystery stinging creature out of my hair and was trying to keep my composure enough to get in the house and get the stinger out of my head. At each pulse of blood went through my head the pain just kept getting worse. I finally had to have Ethan remove the stinger, I just couldn't function because the pain was so bad. He was so sweet and after he made sure I was o.k. He said"Can I finish my game now?" Oh, well I will take what sympathy I can get!
By the time Randy got home I was still hurting and wanting sympathy, but as the evening wore on the pain really got much better. Randy defended his sweet, docile, little honey making machines and said with the pain I was in it had to be a bumble bee or some other flying stinging menace. His kind italian bees would not inflict that kind of pain.
This morning I woke up with a horrible pain at the base of my neck. Right at my hairline at the back of my neck is swollen and it hurts to move my head. I was just thinking of the chances of getting stung in my head twice. And then the opportunity for God to teach me arose. In the worst of circumstances are the best lessons. When we are hurting the most is when we can recieve the best, if we are willing.
I was lulled into a false sense of sucurity in thinking I had overcome my fear. When I overcome a fear or get victory over an area in my life where I sin I cannot let my guard down. I can't get cocky amd think I have overcome this sin with the blood of Jesus and now I cannot be defeated by this again. I was starting to overcome this huge fear in my life and then WHAM! My fear was back full force whenI least expected it. Now I have a choice to make, I can go right back into being scared or I can say this is life, things happen and I won't fall into that pit again. I won't let fear rule over me.

Help Wanted

Job Title : Servant

No experience needed. Previous church title, job, or position not necessary.
On the job training provided.
Only Prerequisite: A humble heart and willingness to listen and obey God in all things.

The most effective people for the job are willing to be anonymous, work hard and expect recognition from no one.
Earthly wage: empty wallet, sore feet, heavy heart and fatigue.

Heavenly wage: Eternity with Jesus

Matthew 20:26-28 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."





Most of my heroes are servants. My family, friends and church are full of my heroes. There are qualities in servants that should make them everyone's heroes.

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Ethan will be 8 on Saturday.
Isn't he the orneriest, cutest kid ever?
Ethan is a tough nut to crack. He is a lot like me, so in some ways I feel horrible for the things I have passed on to him. He is painfully shy. It takes him forever to warm up to someone, but watch out when he does. He is such a clown sometimes I think he is 2 different kids. He loves to joke and tease and just have a good laugh. He has a temper and is so stubborn it drives me crazy. I tell him so many times to use his powers for good and not evil. Randy & I have said since Ethan was just a small baby that his stubbornness will be used for God. Once he gets it in his head he will do something, you had better watch out because nothing will stop him. He is also our little cuddle bug. Not so much now that he is a little older, but he will still give me lots of hugs and kisses throughout the day. He is afraid to try new things , but can excel at most if he would just give it a shot. He loves soccer and refuses to play any other sport. ( we think he is pretty awesome at it,too) As long as no one is watching he will praise God and dance with a passion, but as soon as someone notices him he will stop and almost cry out of embarrassment.
He is such a blessing to our family and we don't know what we would do without our litttle "Sugar Bear' ( I'm not supposed to call him that anymore, but I'm the Mom, I've earned the right!) oh and he has the best fashion sense. For a kid that doesn't want to be noticed he sure knows how to attract attention with his striped shirts, camo shorts and boots!

Hillbilly?

This should, without a doubt, confirm that Randy & I are 100%, all-American, hillbillies!
The picture speaks for itself, but if you are unsure, yes that is a walnut tree growing through the back bumper of our truck.
We laughed so hard when we saw this. Sometimes it is difficult making a go of it out here on our little piece of heaven, but for the most part we have so much fun!

Poor,Poor Zoe

Poor Zoe

Zoe got into a skunk Sunday night. If you were at church I am sure you smelled the pleasing aroma wafting over from our woods. She already had an appt. Monday morning to be groomed, but she still reeked so bad all her hair was removed. Poor baby doesn't know what to do. She won't lay on the floor anymore. She has to be on a rug or her blankie. It is probably too cold. She has this depressed look all the time. Maybe we have a vain dog and she will be depressed until her gorgeous locks grow back in.