2011?

I have to laugh looking back on my attempt to start my blog. Four posts or so and a year has now gone by and so much has happened. I guess I dropped the blog about the time I tried to drop playing internet games. I have been fairly successful with that, meaning that I don't spend all my spare time here anymore.

Not really wanting to recap a year tonight but just talk about current stuff. We have started attending a church up in Spokane and are really enjoying the fellowship, Sunday School and Services. The only drawback that I see is not being able to make it to Wednesday meetings. Really missing that by Tuesday nights.

The kids and I have started a new Bible study first thing in the mornings and we are all enjoying it immensely. It will take us four years to read and study the whole Bible but the best part is that there are only a few questions if you feel you really need them daily. The majority of our work has been finding discoveries about God, discoveries about man, commands, possible lists, and find it on the map. They are learning at the age of 7 and 9 what I am just learning now at 43, what is God showing me today in this bite sized piece of scripture? This is really exciting for us.

The curriculum we are using is called "Through the Bible with My Child" and is avaliable at www.anchorcross.org. It is free from their website just a simple pdf download. Best thing this Mom has done for her little learning center.



Both kids got their first pair of glasses over the CHRISTmas break. G is reading non stop and every piece of paper she can get her hands on. D never has liked to show what he can do but I can tell his reading skills are definately improving. Praise you God! Here is a picture of G (on the right) and her cousin in their new outfits just having a blast. D won't let me take a picture with the glasses of course and definately not put it on the net. That's ok, they will become a part of him before you know it.



Spent Christmas at home for the first time in 9 years and it was so wonderful. Pop and Mom put up with our invasion of their home for a couple nights and we had a terrific CHRISTmas Day with them, both my sisters and their families. My kids always look forward to time with cousins. I think the best part for me though was getting to do advent with Mom and Pop. I haven't done that and sure do miss it. The kids enjoyed having Nana read to them too, a nice treat from dad and I all the time.

I know there is a lot more going on but I will save some for another night. Now lets see if I remember how to post this. LOL

Level 50

"Level 50! Wow, that took way too long... Now that I am here I have to go. My wonderful neighbors, thank you so much for being such great neighbors. I'm sorry I have to sell the farm, but I have always dreamed of retiring. I now have time for my real time kids and awesome hubby. I'm sad to go but real life lies ahead. Miss you all already. Good night."

This was my post last night after six long months, day in and day out playing a game on Facebook. Now honestly, I felt that I needed to end the game in December of last year. And in my defense, I did end the other two games I was playing. But that didn't seem to help much, because with all the new found time, I spent it on building my farm.

I tried hiding the posts for all the "free" goodies that are intended to enhance my farming pleasure. But you see, I had added so many "friends" for the sole purpose of being my "farm neighbors" I felt obligated to continue to "help" them in their farming endeavours. I mean, they had been sending me gifts, of farm animals, fruit and nut trees, supplies to help build my stable. At a moments notice ten of my neighbors would drop all they were doing and help with my "barn raising". How could I not help them?

So, after only a week or two, right back at it I went. But this time I had my resolve. I knew I could end it. I set my sights on the goal. "Level 50", for me I had only one neighbor that had ever gotten that far. Most had dropped off around 40 or so and slowed way down. But I kept plugging on, with the OK I had given myself to spend as much time as needed so I could end this thing. A month went on, but I was almost there, collection after collection of silly items found in the dirt and up in trees.

That brings us up to yesterday, when I could have been done farming first thing in the morning but.... I had neighbors farms to tend for the last time, and acquired farming monies to spend on my favorite neighbor, and gifts I had received that needed to be used. Finally, the last silly things were taken care of in my mind and I sent out my farewell post, the one you read a few moments ago. I bit the bullet and deleted the farm. A bit of sadness but also relieved that it was done.

Here we are today, catching up with "computer stuff" that had been neglected for so long. The last thing to catch up in my email were the devotional ones that I had subscribed to for the beginning of the year. Like most of us I kept up through January (but remember that I had hid the game posts from myself in order to even get that far). So here I am this morning and afternoon doing catch up on my time with God, reading my devotionals... Here we go, here's my verse for today...

Colossians 3:1-4 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (New Living Translation)

Talk about a slap in the face. Where have my sights been set for the last six months? Not only were my sights set on the things of this earth, I had absolutely nothing to show for it. Nothing, a deleted virtual farm that gave me nothing. I have learned a lot today. And I do not say that so loftily as to think that I won't slip up again, but I am asking my Lord and Savior for the help and direction I need from the Holy Spirit to set my sights on Him anew every morning for the rest of my life.

God, I do love you with all my heart. Please forgive me for all the time I have waisted. Time that you created for me and that I squandered away, uselessly. Only with your help will I do better from here on out.

Amen

In God's Presence

I had the most incredible day yesterday at church. Wow, the Holy Spirit is really moving... working. To even be a tiny part in it is an awesome thing to witness. We have little missionaries in our Hands up Gang (an after school program for elementary age kids). We have been steadily increasing in numbers, and I have to say nothing that any of us adults have done has anything at all to do with this. The kids just keep inviting and more keep coming. That is just the tip of the iceberg!



We started a shared meal on Thursday nights and last night was our third one. Just three weeks in and the Lord brought us 8 new people to share with. They are coming back next week. I watched as God doubled our food, I am not kidding here, he doubled it. I wish I had a picture to explain how little we had to start with, he fed us all! I brought home extra rice... and there was extra desert! Our God is an awesome God!!



Myself and a friend watched in amazed wonder at my 8 year old son as he witnessed to one of the new children about our pastor's children's sermon the beginning of the month. He was so into it and the other boy listening and interested. Then as we were to leave my dear 6 year old daughter offered to say our closing prayer, we have never had the kids close before and she was so happy to offer. What a wonderful night.

First Rambling

Well here goes nothing, my first rambling. I know that is what a blog is for but I thought a little more purpose was in order. Not the case from what I am finding out.

I got the About Me up, wow was that hard. Typed up about 1600 words and to my chagrin it will only accept 1200. You know, when I was in school 1200 words was impossible to come up with. Every ummm..., well...., and descriptive word in the book was used to come up with enough words to come close to passing without the teacher counting to make sure I had enough words. Now that I'm older ya just can't shut me up.

Came up with the cool background and flower a couple of days ago. That took some intensive internet searching. But oh so worth it, such a pretty flower. God is so good.

Hopefully I will have some homelearning posts coming up. We are back to work after Jesus birthday break. Reading is coming right along. You can't get anything past my baby girl anymore. Got in the van just today and she picked up a reciept and said "this says Jack in the Box", "Who went to Jack in the Box?" Keepin' me on my toes.

Ok, enough for today, ramble more later.

Obey, 10,000 years is just the beginning.

Obey, it all starts with obey. Even if you aren't where you want to be in your walk with Jesus. Even if you don't hear his voice, it doesn't matter. Obey. Tell Him, yell at Him that I am trying to obey, I want to obey, help me to obey.

Right here, right now, my pain or suffering will not change and make it all better. Crying out that it's not fair is not going to make it all better. Just obey. What is happening in our lives is exactly as God planned it. Going exactly as planned so stop the worry, there is no worry when you know it is exactly in God's perfect plan, going EXACTLY as He wants it to. It doesn't matter how bad it is in our eyes, it is His exact plan. I don't have to know the plan, the outcome, and I certainly don't need to be told how it helped after the fact. It's His plan. Will it help me grow? Will I be a witness for others? Will I screw it all up, make it worse? Doesn't matter, it's His.

Knowing that I will probably live another 40 years seems so long, I have already lived 42 and 42 more is forever in my own experience. Well, my experience is so tiny, it is nothing, not even a drop in a bucket. Amazing Grace tells us that "In 10,000 years there will be no less time that when I had first begun. If 10,000 years is just the starting line then 42 years struggling is NOTHING, nothing!

Psalms 118:5-6 "In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Crystals from God

I looked outside this morning at the beauty of the world covered in an inch or more of frost. Frost that has been forming for a week now because of freezing fog. What I really saw was the loving arms of my Savior and Lord, protecting and comforting me.

At times this world can be a very harsh place to be. The extreme cold can cause winter kill to so many living things caught outside in it. Then in comes God, even though we do not see His presence in the fog, He is covering, surrounding, and protecting us with His love. Causing the most beautiful blanket of crystals to form around us, buffering us from the harsh world around us. Keeping us safe for the work He has for us tomorrow.

Thank You my dearest Heavenly Father for always watching over me, protecting and comforting. Help me to do all the things You have planned in advance for me to do. Lead me in Your paths. In Jesus precious name, Amen.