November 26,2008
Thanksgiving is fast approaching and I have been thanking God each day for all my blessings. We did not get to attend the Thanksgiving service on Tuesday night due to sickness in my family. Rachael has the head cold "crud" and so does Jimmy. I have been battling what I thought was a 24 hour stomach virus that has now lasted for 3 days. We did not want to spread our love to anyone else so we decided it was best to stay home. Rachael stayed home from school and slept most of the day. She ate very little but watched a little television with us last night. Jimmy sounds as though he has a frog in his throat. He woke up this morning and said he thinks he might be trying to get better but just cannot get this stuff out of his head. I went on to my weigh in this morning even though my body did not feel like doing so. I ended up with a 5 lb weight loss. I truly did not expect to lose 5 lbs but I told Susan that I was battling a stomach virus and had not eat well for 3 days. My total weight loss is now 23 lbs. I really did not do a good job of monitoring my points this past week just because my stomach has "churned" for days but I did maintain control over things I was eating. We are spending Thanksgiving at our house tomorrow and Jimmy's family, my mother, niece, and a dear friend and her boys will be there. There will be approximately 23 of us giving thanks and eating dinner tomorrow. I have so many things to be thankful for and tomorrow we will give everyone an opportunity to tell what they are thankful for. I do tell the Lord each morning how thankful I am for my family, home, job, health, and protection that he provides to us each day. I pray that I do not ever take for granted how much the Lord has blessed me and my family. My sister and her family have gone to their place at the beach and my brother and his wife will stay in Florida. We will miss the ones that do not come but will enjoy the time we have with the ones that do come. I am not counting points tomorrow. I am just going to be in control of my plate and portions. If I am not feeling any better tomorrow, I don't think I will have to worry about eating too much. Kelli is home and staying with us through the weekend. Nick and Melissa will be at the house tomorrow too. I plan to take some pictures because we don't get together as much as we used to. Everyone stays so busy and involved in their own lives. I pray that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and I will be praying for safe travel for those of you on the road. God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Jesus does care!!
November 19, 2008
I know you are probably wondering why I titled this particular day of blogging, "Jesus does care!" Well, I will tell you, it has been one rough week for me. I have dealt with some physical issues that were brought on by my new lifestyle change (eating habits) and exercising. I tried for the last week to press through these things and not let them get me discouraged. However, by Sunday night, I will admit, I was deeply discouraged. I was not exercising anymore because of my pain and by Monday night I was in tears. I told Jimmy that I just could not understand that if I were doing something to better my health and to show the Lord that my body was his temple in every aspect, then why was I facing such difficulty. I was in a great deal of pain and had just given up. I even told myself at one point, "why bother?" "You will only gain it all back." I was in a pit. In my tears, I cried out to God. I asked him to help me because I could not do this on my own. I needed him to alleviate some pain but also to give me the strength and endurance that I needed to continue my journey of weight loss. I know there are people who are struggling with much bigger issues than weight loss but when you are faced with discouragement, in my opinion, there is no competition on who takes first place. I was so discouraged that by last night I was convinced that I would not even weigh in today. I thought, "what is the use?" "I have not been able to exercise and I know I have not been as committed this week." This morning, Jesus showed me how much he does care. First, he alleviated some of the pain I have been dealing with. I woke up feeling somewhat better this morning. He then gave me an encouraging phone call. My husband called me this morning and told me that he loved me and was proud of me. He also told me that if I had not lost any weight, that it was okay and that I would press forward with a new week and Jesus was with me. I was ready to tell him that I was not going to weigh in when the Lord used another person to encourage me. My friend, Wanda came to me and said, "are you ready to go to weigh in?" She attends weight watchers with me and is a big encouragement to me as well. She came to me in just the right timing. God's timing. I told Jimmy that I would call him back and I left to go to the meeting with Wanda. I told her my concerns on the way and she encouraged me to weigh in and no matter the outcome, to stay focused on the journey. Jesus knows how much this journey means to me and he knows my heart. He was good to me. I was still being the big pessimistic when I stepped on the scales and was astounded when Susan advised me that I had lost another 1.6 lbs for a total weight loss of 18 lbs. I just stood on the scale and praised my God for being so faithful. Even when we get discouraged and give up, he still cares. My mind immediately went to Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Again, I know this may seem a small matter to many, but to me, it showed how mighty my God is. Nothing is impossible for him.
I know you are probably wondering why I titled this particular day of blogging, "Jesus does care!" Well, I will tell you, it has been one rough week for me. I have dealt with some physical issues that were brought on by my new lifestyle change (eating habits) and exercising. I tried for the last week to press through these things and not let them get me discouraged. However, by Sunday night, I will admit, I was deeply discouraged. I was not exercising anymore because of my pain and by Monday night I was in tears. I told Jimmy that I just could not understand that if I were doing something to better my health and to show the Lord that my body was his temple in every aspect, then why was I facing such difficulty. I was in a great deal of pain and had just given up. I even told myself at one point, "why bother?" "You will only gain it all back." I was in a pit. In my tears, I cried out to God. I asked him to help me because I could not do this on my own. I needed him to alleviate some pain but also to give me the strength and endurance that I needed to continue my journey of weight loss. I know there are people who are struggling with much bigger issues than weight loss but when you are faced with discouragement, in my opinion, there is no competition on who takes first place. I was so discouraged that by last night I was convinced that I would not even weigh in today. I thought, "what is the use?" "I have not been able to exercise and I know I have not been as committed this week." This morning, Jesus showed me how much he does care. First, he alleviated some of the pain I have been dealing with. I woke up feeling somewhat better this morning. He then gave me an encouraging phone call. My husband called me this morning and told me that he loved me and was proud of me. He also told me that if I had not lost any weight, that it was okay and that I would press forward with a new week and Jesus was with me. I was ready to tell him that I was not going to weigh in when the Lord used another person to encourage me. My friend, Wanda came to me and said, "are you ready to go to weigh in?" She attends weight watchers with me and is a big encouragement to me as well. She came to me in just the right timing. God's timing. I told Jimmy that I would call him back and I left to go to the meeting with Wanda. I told her my concerns on the way and she encouraged me to weigh in and no matter the outcome, to stay focused on the journey. Jesus knows how much this journey means to me and he knows my heart. He was good to me. I was still being the big pessimistic when I stepped on the scales and was astounded when Susan advised me that I had lost another 1.6 lbs for a total weight loss of 18 lbs. I just stood on the scale and praised my God for being so faithful. Even when we get discouraged and give up, he still cares. My mind immediately went to Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Again, I know this may seem a small matter to many, but to me, it showed how mighty my God is. Nothing is impossible for him.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
CELEBRATION DAY!
November 12, 2008
Today is one of my friends special day. Today is Yuri's birthday. Happy Birthday Yuri! I am so glad the Lord placed her family in our lives. I will always remember how Yuri and I met. I started attending Union Grove Baptist Church in October of 2001 and started coming on Wednesday nights. I always felt a little uncomfortable coming into the church by myself and sad that my husband was not with me. Rachael would be in the Wednesday night clubs which left me trying to find a seat where I felt comfortable by myself. It wasn't that people were not friendly. There we a lot of people who made me feel welcome but I just had not made that personal connection because it was still early in my attendance at the church and I was still meeting people. One particular Wednesday night I came in and was looking for a seat. I was walking down through the center aisle of the church and I heard a lady say, "you can sit with me if you like". That would be the start of a wonderful friendship and light that my husband would see that would ultimately assist in him giving his life to the LORD. We began to sit together in every Wednesday night service. Yuri's husband, Jon was working in the Wednesday night clubs so that left her upstairs alone as well. We soon became good friends and she started inviting me out to events with her. She soon invited me on a "girls" only trip to the beach and her and I left on a Friday and returned on a Sunday. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and grew closer as friends. I looked to Yuri for guidance in a lot of areas of my life during a time of deep struggle. I had accepted Christ as my savior and was trying to live the Christian life but was in a deep struggle at home with my husband who was not saved. Yuri was there to encourage me and to listen to me. She would let me sit and talk for hours sometimes even through my tears, she continued to encourage me. She made me laugh and made me realize that God was still in control and knew every request that I prayed. Jimmy said he will never forget the first time Jon and Yuri came to our house and how Yuri made him feel comfortable around "Christians". You have to understand, Jimmy was still unsaved and other "Christians" made him feel uncomfortable. Jon had come over to help Jimmy with something one evening. Jon and Jimmy had went into one of the bedrooms and started looking at some electronic camera stuff and Jimmy said he remembered how Yuri came into the bedroom, jumped on the bed, and proceeded to just start talking away as though she had known him for years. Jimmy said in that moment he knew that they were just "real people" who were the "real stuff". They never pressured Jimmy about the Lord and Jimmy said they never had to say a word. He saw Christ in their lives in every way. He fell in love with their family and through them, he saw Jesus. They were many prayers, people and situations that God used to bring Jimmy to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He placed the Browns in our lives in his timing. Yuri has been taking Rachael home with her every Wednesday since around 1st grade. Rachael has grown up knowing the love of 3 other boys whom she considers to be her brothers. She calls Yuri her second mom and I know there are things that she feels more comfortable talking with Yuri about than she does with me. That's okay. I always want her to have a Christian woman mentor that she can go to and talk about anything. Sometimes parents are not the ones that kids talk to and I am thankful that Yuri is in Rachael's life and that Rachael feels comfortable talking with her. I pray that God will continue to use Yuri in Rachael's life. I am thankful for all the friends that God has brought our way and what they mean to us. There are many friendships we have formed and I'm sure through future blogs you will hear more about them. I went to weigh in today and lost another 3.6 lbs. Yeah!!! I have lost a total of 16.4 lbs now and still seeking God's strength in all of it. I had another chance today to be a witness to my weight watchers group and God opened a door for me to tell them about RU and my church. God is so Good! I had one lady to ask me what verse I had quoted in the meeting which was James 4:6&7. I told the group that I had to meditate on this verse and realize that in order to lose this weight I have to submit myself to God each and every day. If not I will eat for all the wrong reasons. We have a Grove Girls event today and I am looking forward to it. We are baking bread and taking it to the shut ins. I know smelling home baked bread will be a temptation that I will need prayer for so I have started praying this morning and making sure I have a satisfied stomach before I go. I have to get going and get busy. Lots more to do today before I can leave.
Today is one of my friends special day. Today is Yuri's birthday. Happy Birthday Yuri! I am so glad the Lord placed her family in our lives. I will always remember how Yuri and I met. I started attending Union Grove Baptist Church in October of 2001 and started coming on Wednesday nights. I always felt a little uncomfortable coming into the church by myself and sad that my husband was not with me. Rachael would be in the Wednesday night clubs which left me trying to find a seat where I felt comfortable by myself. It wasn't that people were not friendly. There we a lot of people who made me feel welcome but I just had not made that personal connection because it was still early in my attendance at the church and I was still meeting people. One particular Wednesday night I came in and was looking for a seat. I was walking down through the center aisle of the church and I heard a lady say, "you can sit with me if you like". That would be the start of a wonderful friendship and light that my husband would see that would ultimately assist in him giving his life to the LORD. We began to sit together in every Wednesday night service. Yuri's husband, Jon was working in the Wednesday night clubs so that left her upstairs alone as well. We soon became good friends and she started inviting me out to events with her. She soon invited me on a "girls" only trip to the beach and her and I left on a Friday and returned on a Sunday. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and grew closer as friends. I looked to Yuri for guidance in a lot of areas of my life during a time of deep struggle. I had accepted Christ as my savior and was trying to live the Christian life but was in a deep struggle at home with my husband who was not saved. Yuri was there to encourage me and to listen to me. She would let me sit and talk for hours sometimes even through my tears, she continued to encourage me. She made me laugh and made me realize that God was still in control and knew every request that I prayed. Jimmy said he will never forget the first time Jon and Yuri came to our house and how Yuri made him feel comfortable around "Christians". You have to understand, Jimmy was still unsaved and other "Christians" made him feel uncomfortable. Jon had come over to help Jimmy with something one evening. Jon and Jimmy had went into one of the bedrooms and started looking at some electronic camera stuff and Jimmy said he remembered how Yuri came into the bedroom, jumped on the bed, and proceeded to just start talking away as though she had known him for years. Jimmy said in that moment he knew that they were just "real people" who were the "real stuff". They never pressured Jimmy about the Lord and Jimmy said they never had to say a word. He saw Christ in their lives in every way. He fell in love with their family and through them, he saw Jesus. They were many prayers, people and situations that God used to bring Jimmy to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He placed the Browns in our lives in his timing. Yuri has been taking Rachael home with her every Wednesday since around 1st grade. Rachael has grown up knowing the love of 3 other boys whom she considers to be her brothers. She calls Yuri her second mom and I know there are things that she feels more comfortable talking with Yuri about than she does with me. That's okay. I always want her to have a Christian woman mentor that she can go to and talk about anything. Sometimes parents are not the ones that kids talk to and I am thankful that Yuri is in Rachael's life and that Rachael feels comfortable talking with her. I pray that God will continue to use Yuri in Rachael's life. I am thankful for all the friends that God has brought our way and what they mean to us. There are many friendships we have formed and I'm sure through future blogs you will hear more about them. I went to weigh in today and lost another 3.6 lbs. Yeah!!! I have lost a total of 16.4 lbs now and still seeking God's strength in all of it. I had another chance today to be a witness to my weight watchers group and God opened a door for me to tell them about RU and my church. God is so Good! I had one lady to ask me what verse I had quoted in the meeting which was James 4:6&7. I told the group that I had to meditate on this verse and realize that in order to lose this weight I have to submit myself to God each and every day. If not I will eat for all the wrong reasons. We have a Grove Girls event today and I am looking forward to it. We are baking bread and taking it to the shut ins. I know smelling home baked bread will be a temptation that I will need prayer for so I have started praying this morning and making sure I have a satisfied stomach before I go. I have to get going and get busy. Lots more to do today before I can leave.
Friday, November 7, 2008
A New Day!
November 7, 2008
Its Friday! Yeah. Its has been a long week and a busy one. I weighed in on Wednesday and lost another 1.4 lbs. This brings my total to 12.8 lbs. I am very thankful because I struggled over the Halloween weekend. I really ate more than my share at the hayride activity we had for Sunday school. But that is in the past and my journey continues. Jimmy has lost over 25 lbs now (yes, I would like to choke him sometimes because men can lose more quicker), but instead I like to hug him now. I can actually stand against him instead of our belly's hitting each other. Hahaha. He has been so supportive of me during this journey and we have been supportive of each other. We are learning new things about food each day and making good choices. Rachael has even requested prayers and "bragged on her parents" at school. I so thankful she sees us trying to set the right examples for her. I pray that she knows how hard we try to set good examples in front of her. I went shopping on my lunch hour and found her a couple of Christmas presents. I get so excited about Christmas because one of my spiritual gifts is of "giving." I love to give! Even if it is a kind word, a meal, a small token, a card, a hug, or just prayer. I think that giving is one of the most important qualities we can have as Christians. Jimmy is a giver. He would give you the shirt off his back. The one thing that "tears" me up every time is that when we sit down to eat a meal, Jimmy will let everyone else get all they want. He will eat just a little and he will offer the last of everything to everyone else. If there is anything left over and everyone has gone, he will ask me if he can have something else. That's how big his heart is. He will take his last dime out of his pocket at the ballgames and he will give or buy something for the other kids before he will buy for himself. I love that about him. I remember after he was saved and R.U. started at the church, there was a young gentleman that was coming to RU that started coming to the church. He did not have a lot of clothes and wanted to dress nice. Jimmy came to me and asked if he could give the brand new black suit that Rachael and I had bought him for Christmas to this young man. I went upstairs and spoke with Rachael and told her what her dad wanted to do and how much it meant to him and we both agreed that we were blessed enough to eventually get him another one. I remember seeing that young man come to church the first time in that suit and how tears welled up in my eyes because I saw the love of Christ in my husband. I have to reign him in at times because I honestly think he would give all we had away. His heart is that big! But as my Pastor has said more than once, you can never out give God. Tonight is BBQ night at RU. I will be very careful about my portion and what I eat. I walked this morning before work and will walk tonight when I get home from the daycare. Rachael is going to Confluence tonight on a youth activity and to a birthday sleepover. She has a busier social life than her parents. (we are just old and tired). She has been sick with a head cold but seems to be getting better (I pray). I have no idea what we are doing for her birthday. I thought I might just have a small birthday celebration at the house with some of her close friends. Last year we did a sleep over for her 13th birthday and there over 19 teenage girls in my home. I don't think I am mentally ready to handle that one again so soon. She talks about taking driver's education school now and how next year she will be eligible. I don't even want to think about her driving. It is so scary to think that she is going to be driving in 2 years. Time flies! I told Jimmy last night that we built this bigger house and now have no children to fill it with since Rachael is growing up and the other 2 are gone. I told him we should just adopt. He went silent. I don't think he is ready for the baby stage again. He keeps talking about the retirement age and how he wants to take weekend trips with me. That's so sweet! He is looking forward to the time that we spend together and so am I. Of course, I'll probably beg Rachael to live with us forever. I will be the mother who on the day Rachael leaves for college, I will be an emotional wreck. She mentioned the other day that she wanted to look at several colleges and they were all hours away. I mentioned Piedmont Baptist College (yes, I have an agenda) and she said, "that means I would live at home." Duh...that's what your mother wants. She is so not ready to be around her mother 24-7, at least during this time in her life. She was so sweet last night. We ate dinner at a friends house and she had made a pumpkin spice cake. Rachael told her that it was her favorite cake and that she just had to take "ninny" a piece or he would be upset. "Ninny" is McKinley Brown. Rachael has called him "ninny" forever and they have grown up together since K-4 in the same class. They are so much like brother and sister around each other and just the fact that Rachael thought of him was so sweet. She took him some pumpkin spice cake today for lunch. She loves the Brown boys and they are the closest brothers she has next to her own big brother who is significantly older than her. I have things I need to get done this weekend and really no big plans. I spoke with a dear friend last night who is having a difficult time and my heart goes out to her. I know the importance of praying for someone when you tell them you will pray. If we say we are going to pray for someone, then we should follow up and pray. I prayed for them last night and prayed for them this morning. I know that my God is Mighty and he can do Anything! He knows their needs and he knows our desire to see their prayers answered. I hurt when others hurt and I worry when others worry. I cry when others cry and my heart desires to fix it all but I know there is only one that can fix it and that is Jesus Christ. Proverbs: 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Its Friday! Yeah. Its has been a long week and a busy one. I weighed in on Wednesday and lost another 1.4 lbs. This brings my total to 12.8 lbs. I am very thankful because I struggled over the Halloween weekend. I really ate more than my share at the hayride activity we had for Sunday school. But that is in the past and my journey continues. Jimmy has lost over 25 lbs now (yes, I would like to choke him sometimes because men can lose more quicker), but instead I like to hug him now. I can actually stand against him instead of our belly's hitting each other. Hahaha. He has been so supportive of me during this journey and we have been supportive of each other. We are learning new things about food each day and making good choices. Rachael has even requested prayers and "bragged on her parents" at school. I so thankful she sees us trying to set the right examples for her. I pray that she knows how hard we try to set good examples in front of her. I went shopping on my lunch hour and found her a couple of Christmas presents. I get so excited about Christmas because one of my spiritual gifts is of "giving." I love to give! Even if it is a kind word, a meal, a small token, a card, a hug, or just prayer. I think that giving is one of the most important qualities we can have as Christians. Jimmy is a giver. He would give you the shirt off his back. The one thing that "tears" me up every time is that when we sit down to eat a meal, Jimmy will let everyone else get all they want. He will eat just a little and he will offer the last of everything to everyone else. If there is anything left over and everyone has gone, he will ask me if he can have something else. That's how big his heart is. He will take his last dime out of his pocket at the ballgames and he will give or buy something for the other kids before he will buy for himself. I love that about him. I remember after he was saved and R.U. started at the church, there was a young gentleman that was coming to RU that started coming to the church. He did not have a lot of clothes and wanted to dress nice. Jimmy came to me and asked if he could give the brand new black suit that Rachael and I had bought him for Christmas to this young man. I went upstairs and spoke with Rachael and told her what her dad wanted to do and how much it meant to him and we both agreed that we were blessed enough to eventually get him another one. I remember seeing that young man come to church the first time in that suit and how tears welled up in my eyes because I saw the love of Christ in my husband. I have to reign him in at times because I honestly think he would give all we had away. His heart is that big! But as my Pastor has said more than once, you can never out give God. Tonight is BBQ night at RU. I will be very careful about my portion and what I eat. I walked this morning before work and will walk tonight when I get home from the daycare. Rachael is going to Confluence tonight on a youth activity and to a birthday sleepover. She has a busier social life than her parents. (we are just old and tired). She has been sick with a head cold but seems to be getting better (I pray). I have no idea what we are doing for her birthday. I thought I might just have a small birthday celebration at the house with some of her close friends. Last year we did a sleep over for her 13th birthday and there over 19 teenage girls in my home. I don't think I am mentally ready to handle that one again so soon. She talks about taking driver's education school now and how next year she will be eligible. I don't even want to think about her driving. It is so scary to think that she is going to be driving in 2 years. Time flies! I told Jimmy last night that we built this bigger house and now have no children to fill it with since Rachael is growing up and the other 2 are gone. I told him we should just adopt. He went silent. I don't think he is ready for the baby stage again. He keeps talking about the retirement age and how he wants to take weekend trips with me. That's so sweet! He is looking forward to the time that we spend together and so am I. Of course, I'll probably beg Rachael to live with us forever. I will be the mother who on the day Rachael leaves for college, I will be an emotional wreck. She mentioned the other day that she wanted to look at several colleges and they were all hours away. I mentioned Piedmont Baptist College (yes, I have an agenda) and she said, "that means I would live at home." Duh...that's what your mother wants. She is so not ready to be around her mother 24-7, at least during this time in her life. She was so sweet last night. We ate dinner at a friends house and she had made a pumpkin spice cake. Rachael told her that it was her favorite cake and that she just had to take "ninny" a piece or he would be upset. "Ninny" is McKinley Brown. Rachael has called him "ninny" forever and they have grown up together since K-4 in the same class. They are so much like brother and sister around each other and just the fact that Rachael thought of him was so sweet. She took him some pumpkin spice cake today for lunch. She loves the Brown boys and they are the closest brothers she has next to her own big brother who is significantly older than her. I have things I need to get done this weekend and really no big plans. I spoke with a dear friend last night who is having a difficult time and my heart goes out to her. I know the importance of praying for someone when you tell them you will pray. If we say we are going to pray for someone, then we should follow up and pray. I prayed for them last night and prayed for them this morning. I know that my God is Mighty and he can do Anything! He knows their needs and he knows our desire to see their prayers answered. I hurt when others hurt and I worry when others worry. I cry when others cry and my heart desires to fix it all but I know there is only one that can fix it and that is Jesus Christ. Proverbs: 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A Call to Vote
November 4, 2008
If you have not already voted, please let me encourage you to do so. I cast my vote today at lunch and did not have to wait in line. I went straight through and to my voting booth. I am not ashamed to say that I voted McCain/Palin. I will say that this time around I struggled with a vote. Not that I would have voted for Obama but that I would have liked to have seen a Godly man who stands Boldly for Christ. Sadly, I see our country in a direction where there is more world centered views than God centered views. As Christians we need to pray that our country will turn back to God. I pray that the results will be better than someone of us might expect. I had to go to court this morning and let me tell you, "It never fails to amaze me of the disrespect that I see in the courtrooms today." People dress as though they are going to work in a machine shop, they slouch in their seats, and they respond with an astounding "huh" when their name is called out. I am not bragging by any means but I was the nicest dressed person in the courtroom other than the lawyers and judge. Now you are wondering, what was I in court for? I was subpoenaed along with my mother. You see, back in May after my father died, we were visiting his place to do more packing and cleaning. When we arrived, I noticed a car pulled way back off the driveway and in behind his place. I blocked his vehicle in with my vehicle and told my mother to wait by the car. I called the police and told them I thought someone was in my dad's place. I then blew the horn (don't really know why) and a guy came running out the back door and went around to the front. He met me and my mom in the driveway and I recognized him as "Scott". I'll just say that Scott is a person that has a bad intentions and was one of the reason that there were boundaries placed on my relationship with my father. Scott got in his car and I moved mine (out of fear he would hit it) and he sped off. I picked him out of a photo line-up and today was the court date. He is charged with Felony B&E. He had pretty much destroyed all the packing that my mother and I had done in my father's place and it was heartbreaking to know that someone could be so cruel in a time of such sorrow. I don't make apologies for my relationship with my father. He was my father and I chose to love him regardless of his sins. God tells us to have compassion and to love the sinner not the sin. They should see Christ in us not matter what and that is what I chose to do. I did set boundaries and there were rough times in the relationship. Sometimes I had to make hard choices but in the end all that matter was that I loved him and wanted the best for him. Anyway, Scott did not show up for court and neither did his attorney so the court is supposed to notify us when they pick him up. I left court around 10:00 am and was able to go by and vote and then come to work. Jimmy called and he is going to try and leave a little earlier today and cast his vote before the lines get too long. Its been a busy few days and the weekend was full also. Friday night we went over to some friends house and enjoyed the evening with them. Yuri and I took the boys, Rachael and Jessica out trick or treating in a nearby neighborhood. I saw people that we have not seen in a while that used to come to Union Grove and I invited them back to church. I don't think they are going anywhere now and it is heartbreaking to know that they are out of church. We walked quite a bit and I got some good exercise in for the day. We went back to Kim's and hung out and ate some really good food. We stayed up rather late and we had to go to Charlotte the next morning to pick up Kelli. Kelli wrecked her vehicle 3 weeks ago and we went to look at a Jeep Grand Cherokee that she had found. She ended up buying the vehicle and she came back to Lexington with us to spend the weekend. She went to our Sunday School class "hayride" outing on Saturday evening and we had a really good time. She seemed to enjoy herself a lot and said she would like to come to church the next time she is home. I pray that God continues to open her eyes to the beauty of his love and that she will see he is everything that she needs and longs for! I know that Kelli is saved because we have asked her and she has assured us that she knows she is saved. She is struggling though, and I pray that she continues to see Christ through the love that her dad and I show her. Children can disappoint you, no doubt, but you can never stop loving them. Every time I saw the smile on her face this weekend, the laughter in her voice, and the love she showed, I knew that the love I have for her will always be more than the disappointments. She could never do anything that would change the love I have for her. That's why God sent his son to die for us. He loves us that much. No matter the mistakes we make, he still loves us. How could we not love each other? Church on Sunday was awesome. Our Sunday school message and the 11:00 message was great! I loved the music on Sunday morning. Our choir does such an awesome job. We fixed lunch at the house and Kelli ate with us. We visited a while and took her back to Charlotte. I hope she comes home again soon and comes to church with us. Rachael is practicing basketball now and made the JV and Varsity Team. It is hard wen they play both teams because they practice twice and get home later. They go to both games and this puts them to the test to get their homework done and to keep their grades up. I challenge Rachael a lot on this. Sometimes, I think I can be too hard on her but I know that she is so capable of doing more than she thinks she can. She can get lazy. Rachael has to be pushed. Some kids are self-motivated, others have to be encouraged. Rachael has to be encouraged but when she gives her all, she can do anything. She is growing into her own little adult and its scary but thrilling to watch her. I can't believe how much time has gone by and that she will soon turn 14 on the 28th of this month. She told me the other day that she just wants money for her birthday. With a teenager, that is no surprise. She wants money to take with her on the Gatlinberg trip that the youth is going on in December. I told her I would spread the word. Jimmy and I are still devoted to our weight watchers and tomorrow is weigh in day. I indulged a little on Satuday night with Mexican cornbread and dessert but I also walked an extra mile on the treadmill. Hopefully I walked the "binge" off. We will find out tomorrow.
If you have not already voted, please let me encourage you to do so. I cast my vote today at lunch and did not have to wait in line. I went straight through and to my voting booth. I am not ashamed to say that I voted McCain/Palin. I will say that this time around I struggled with a vote. Not that I would have voted for Obama but that I would have liked to have seen a Godly man who stands Boldly for Christ. Sadly, I see our country in a direction where there is more world centered views than God centered views. As Christians we need to pray that our country will turn back to God. I pray that the results will be better than someone of us might expect. I had to go to court this morning and let me tell you, "It never fails to amaze me of the disrespect that I see in the courtrooms today." People dress as though they are going to work in a machine shop, they slouch in their seats, and they respond with an astounding "huh" when their name is called out. I am not bragging by any means but I was the nicest dressed person in the courtroom other than the lawyers and judge. Now you are wondering, what was I in court for? I was subpoenaed along with my mother. You see, back in May after my father died, we were visiting his place to do more packing and cleaning. When we arrived, I noticed a car pulled way back off the driveway and in behind his place. I blocked his vehicle in with my vehicle and told my mother to wait by the car. I called the police and told them I thought someone was in my dad's place. I then blew the horn (don't really know why) and a guy came running out the back door and went around to the front. He met me and my mom in the driveway and I recognized him as "Scott". I'll just say that Scott is a person that has a bad intentions and was one of the reason that there were boundaries placed on my relationship with my father. Scott got in his car and I moved mine (out of fear he would hit it) and he sped off. I picked him out of a photo line-up and today was the court date. He is charged with Felony B&E. He had pretty much destroyed all the packing that my mother and I had done in my father's place and it was heartbreaking to know that someone could be so cruel in a time of such sorrow. I don't make apologies for my relationship with my father. He was my father and I chose to love him regardless of his sins. God tells us to have compassion and to love the sinner not the sin. They should see Christ in us not matter what and that is what I chose to do. I did set boundaries and there were rough times in the relationship. Sometimes I had to make hard choices but in the end all that matter was that I loved him and wanted the best for him. Anyway, Scott did not show up for court and neither did his attorney so the court is supposed to notify us when they pick him up. I left court around 10:00 am and was able to go by and vote and then come to work. Jimmy called and he is going to try and leave a little earlier today and cast his vote before the lines get too long. Its been a busy few days and the weekend was full also. Friday night we went over to some friends house and enjoyed the evening with them. Yuri and I took the boys, Rachael and Jessica out trick or treating in a nearby neighborhood. I saw people that we have not seen in a while that used to come to Union Grove and I invited them back to church. I don't think they are going anywhere now and it is heartbreaking to know that they are out of church. We walked quite a bit and I got some good exercise in for the day. We went back to Kim's and hung out and ate some really good food. We stayed up rather late and we had to go to Charlotte the next morning to pick up Kelli. Kelli wrecked her vehicle 3 weeks ago and we went to look at a Jeep Grand Cherokee that she had found. She ended up buying the vehicle and she came back to Lexington with us to spend the weekend. She went to our Sunday School class "hayride" outing on Saturday evening and we had a really good time. She seemed to enjoy herself a lot and said she would like to come to church the next time she is home. I pray that God continues to open her eyes to the beauty of his love and that she will see he is everything that she needs and longs for! I know that Kelli is saved because we have asked her and she has assured us that she knows she is saved. She is struggling though, and I pray that she continues to see Christ through the love that her dad and I show her. Children can disappoint you, no doubt, but you can never stop loving them. Every time I saw the smile on her face this weekend, the laughter in her voice, and the love she showed, I knew that the love I have for her will always be more than the disappointments. She could never do anything that would change the love I have for her. That's why God sent his son to die for us. He loves us that much. No matter the mistakes we make, he still loves us. How could we not love each other? Church on Sunday was awesome. Our Sunday school message and the 11:00 message was great! I loved the music on Sunday morning. Our choir does such an awesome job. We fixed lunch at the house and Kelli ate with us. We visited a while and took her back to Charlotte. I hope she comes home again soon and comes to church with us. Rachael is practicing basketball now and made the JV and Varsity Team. It is hard wen they play both teams because they practice twice and get home later. They go to both games and this puts them to the test to get their homework done and to keep their grades up. I challenge Rachael a lot on this. Sometimes, I think I can be too hard on her but I know that she is so capable of doing more than she thinks she can. She can get lazy. Rachael has to be pushed. Some kids are self-motivated, others have to be encouraged. Rachael has to be encouraged but when she gives her all, she can do anything. She is growing into her own little adult and its scary but thrilling to watch her. I can't believe how much time has gone by and that she will soon turn 14 on the 28th of this month. She told me the other day that she just wants money for her birthday. With a teenager, that is no surprise. She wants money to take with her on the Gatlinberg trip that the youth is going on in December. I told her I would spread the word. Jimmy and I are still devoted to our weight watchers and tomorrow is weigh in day. I indulged a little on Satuday night with Mexican cornbread and dessert but I also walked an extra mile on the treadmill. Hopefully I walked the "binge" off. We will find out tomorrow.
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