Today 12-30-10 Thursday

Okay so I couldn't come up with a title for this blog entry so the above will just have to do.  I've had my blogs open several times today and although I have a lot on my mind, the peace inside me is great, but I couldn't decide what to write. 

I have been thinking back about all the things that have happened this year and still can't quite get my head around some of it.  As I look towards the new year, I know several things I would like to accomplish.  A reader suggested I step out in faith and commit myself to God and He will fulfill my hearts desires and care for me.  I know this is true... but I have been thinking about that ever since I read it.  My hearts desires? 
Do I truly know what those are?  I'm not sure.  I've been doing a lot of research in the bible, talking to my pastor, an evangelist, and the pastor husband of one of my blogging friends.  Two have answered an email I sent and I am waiting for the response from the other, but I am pretty positive, that I will receive the same answer from Pastor Josh as I have from the others.  What am I going to do with the information?  Nothing.  It confirms my beliefs as a Baptist.  I am a Baptist because the doctrine of the Baptist follows closely to the New Testament Church it talks about in the Trail of Blood.  I am secure in what I believe.  Everyone is entitled to believe however they choose.  If you are a child of God, you believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin under the law, died for our sins and rose 3 days later and now sits on the right hand of the father.  I await His return with open arms and a heart full of love and the desire to do what He wants of me. 

There are many things I want to do, but most of all I just want to live one day at a time, worship God, teach others and live happily with my husband Norman.  I am going to sit and think about my heart's desires and I am going to right them down.  My husband and I have been discussing doing something to help churches and missions in the state of Texas to help others reach those that are lost.  I know that God will point us in the right direction.

Now for the human side of me, the mortal that I am, I realized this morning that I need to lose at least 30 pounds.  I gained 10 pounds when I met my husband and I was 10 pounds away from my goal weight.  I have gain another 10 pounds in the 5 years we have been together.  So one of my goals for this year and I mean the beginning of this year is to lose all that.  I would like to have that done prior to our Vow renewal ceremony on 4/2/11. 

I guess that is it for now.  May God Bless you all!  Thanks for reading and why not subscribe to one of my blogs.... I try to share the human side of me, the dog lover in me, the Christian me, and the writer me.  I think you will probably find something you like in one of them. 

Good night!

Renewing Our Vows

We have only been married 4 years, but our 5th wedding anniversary is March 31st, 2011.  Our lives have changed a lot during the last few years and we are going to renew our vows.  We have reserved the church for as close to our anniversary as possible, so the date is currently set for March 26th, 2011.  Our first ceremony was a western motif.  I didn't wear a wedding dress because I couldn't see spending an enormous amount of money for a dress I was going to wear once. I thought about wearing one this time, and I even tried my daughters on today, but think, I'm just going to buy a nice formal dress or outfit and have my husband wear a very nice suit.  I'm not going do a lot of decorating in the church but the other thing is we had the reception at the church and so there was no dancing when we got married.  I'm kind of thinking that I want some music and dancing this time. 

However, I'm not sure how or what else I want the ceremony to be.  I've been reading a lot of information from the Internet about writing our vows, having the same witnesses to stand up with us, etc...  I don't know that I need that much of a formal ceremony.  I want everyone to be invited from the church, that wants to attend.  There won't be any liquor because neither of us drink and we are Christians, and I don't think Christians should drink, even if it is only a glass of wine here or there. 

I guess what I'm getting at is does anyone have any suggestions.  I want it to be a family and friends affair, with music, fun, a cake, punch, coffee, soft drinks and tea and maybe some finger foods.  As for as the dancing part, we will have to rent either the Rose Community Center (not sure that is the right name) or a building on the fair grounds, because there is nothing bigger in town that would allow for dancing, and I don't want to have to drive anywhere else.   

If anyone has renewed their wedding vows, I'm looking for some ideas.  All help is appreciated.  Hope everyone has a God Filled day, and a blessed week.  Love, L.

Amazed

Sometimes I look at my life and I'm amazed and what it turned out like.... I have a wonderful husband, a super daughter, wonderful step children, and a family both by blood and by marriage that I love.  As we are growing up, we all have dreams of getting married, having a family, a house, and much, much more but as young girls and boys, you don't really understand what all that encompasses.  You don't think about the in laws that you get when you get married, or the additional sisters and brothers or if you marry someone that was or has been married before, you get step-children, and in some cases, step-grandchildren. 

Although my relationship with my step children is not anything like I had hoped, I am hoping that God will help us to heal the hurts and have a better relationship this year and the years to come.  My husband and I would both like to be a part of their lives.  I've been praying for healing in those relationships and maybe, hoping it will happen soon only God knows. 

Sometimes, it is very hard stepping in to a family where children are grown and have lives of their own.  For me, it was my first marriage and I guess I really expected more, and it didn't quite turn out that way, probably my fault but I am willing to fix the issues.  Some times our imaginations take over and then when things don't happen quite like we think, we get a little disappointed and I think that applies to both my husband and myself.

I know that God will help us heal any hurts that we may have caused with family.  I'm hoping that family will allow us to make those amends and have a relationship in the future.  God has done wonderful things in our lives over the last year and half.  I'm looking forward to what He has in store for us in the future, but right now I'm happy living one day at a time, doing His will, in His service, where ever that maybe doing whatever He wants us to do.  Have a God Filled Day!  May you be blessed Abundantly in all things you seek, when you seek His face, His guidance, His will and His wisdom.  Love, L.

Teacher and Everything Else

Okay so today was a Teacher's in service day and we were off premises, which is nice, because on the three days I don't teach, I still clean at the church.  Anyway, we went over curriculum, lesson plans, centers, PE, Music, Science, Story Time/Safety Lesson, and Bible Study.  I'm the only one not certified, but I don't have to be at the Day school.  I am hoping that God will use this time to show me if teaching is something I need to pursue or not and if it is, I want to be certified. 

I was so overwhelmed with things.  We are at school from 7:30 to 3:30 on Tuesday and Thursdays.  I'm excited, nervous, anxious, happy, scared... (I know it is 3 year olds...What do I have to be scared of???) Anyway, I will have eight little children that I get to teach how to write their names, count, learn all the pledges, the calendar, the alphabet... and the list goes on.  My husband says this is my practice for being a grandma.  He says I have so much love in my heart that I need to share it with all those little kids. 

I feel kind of like a fish out of water, but I know it will be okay, because God is going to be there every step of the way.  I love that I'm at a school where it's okay to talk about Jesus, God, The bible, and we even pray in the mornings, before snack and before lunch.

Thursday will be getting our rooms set up for the kids.  Monday night is open house, and then the first day of school is August 31st.  Whew Hoo!!!!!!  Tomorrow I get some one on one training and help with my lesson plan.  I'm having a difficult time getting the logistics but I know it will all come together. 

I hope that as a Christian I will be able to impact some of these peoples lives, as a mother and grandmother I get to share my love with the children while teaching them to write and count.  I can't wait!!!!

May you all be truly Blessed by God.  Impact a small person's life if you get the chance.  You may be the difference they need.

Finally Friday!!!

It's finally Friday and it has been an awesome week!  My mom came down on the 30th of July and stayed with my daughter until this morning.  BY THE WAY MOM....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

It has come to my attention that I haven't lost my temper but once this week.... That is a major accomplishment, and I haven't been angry but once this week... same day.  I know that is because I've given my life to GOD. 

GOD has answered two of my prayers this week, so if you doubt that GOD hears you, DON'T.  However you have to be willing to listen and to do what HE asks you to do, when you give your life to GOD.  I know this is a bunch of rambling, but my mind has been running 100mph today, even when I took a little nap, I dreamed in super fast speed.  HAHA!  Glad there wasn't any policemen in my dream... I might have a ticket!!  LOL.

Recovery meeting was awesome last night and my husband, Norman (For those who don't know his name) stood in front of the group again and shared, and made a joke, which I was part of... it was quite funny!  He told the group that anyone that needed to talk, could call the house and it didn't matter if it was 4 am.  He said, "My wife will answer the phone," and there was a 1000 laughs (okay so I exaggerate a little).  Then he said, "No really she always hears the phone and will answer and wake me up.  It's true.  I'm not a very deep sleeper. 

What prayers did GOD answer for me this week?  I will share one.  Since I quit working in corporate America, I haven't had any friends.  Oh I have email buddies, and people I talk to on Face book, but no one to call and say let's go to sonic, or want to go to the movies or anything like that.  So I've been praying that someone would come along.  Some one that was a christian, that shared the same beliefs, and that it would just seem inevitable that we were going to be friends.  Well it happened.  A young lady from church that I see almost every day asked me to become her prayer partner and we just hit it off!  We've been talking and sharing for awhile.  She is sooooo sweet!!!!!  Anyway, she was the answer to my prayer.  She is a great friend and I know we are going to be good friends for a long time. 

So let's see oh yeah, I was cleaning the auditorium today.  The baptistry has been filled going on three weeks now.  On Thursday, I went over and threw some bleach in it to kill anything growing (Just kidding), but we do have a cricket problem right now.  The little buggers are every where.  So today after I dusted the auditorium I went up into the baptistry to dip out crickets.  Well I got what I could reach by standing on the very top, no water.  However, some of the little buggers were in the middle.  So being a good Baptist, I took off my flip flips and walked down the first couple of steps.  Water just above my ankles and I was able to get a couple more.  However, the pump kicked on, and they started swirling out to the middle.  Now I wear shorts and a T-shirt to clean in, but I really didn't want to go swimming in the Baptistry.  So I took one more step down, water to my knees now and was able to get a couple more.  However, then I guess I swirled the water to much because on the filter, a couple that were stuck fell off. And went to the bottom.  As I stood there looking at the crickets, and the depth of the water, I realized that there was no way to get the rest without getting a little wet.  So I pulled my shorts up and took the next step down with my left foot.  The edge of my shorts still got wet.  I leaned over and now the left half of my shirt was wet, but I got 'em!!!  The little buggers did not get away.  SO I climbed out and looked and then I notice, one had swam to the other side.  I dried off, walk out of that side, went to the other side, unlocked the door, climbed the steps and he was floating towards the other side and was almost to the middle...... so back into the water I went...  LEANED WAY OUT!  Foot started to slide, but swiped him up in the net, and didn't get any wetter.... WHOA!!!!  Actually... it wasn't too bad, and I came home afterwards, but it was necessary since we are Baptizing 4 people on Sunday!!!!  I won't mind if I have to get a snorkel and wet suit and clean the baptistry for the rest of the year as long as God keeps leading new people to church and they keep accepting HIM as their Savior.  Can I get an AMEN???  AAAAAAMMMMMEEEENNNN!

A Life Update

During the last two weeks, my life has been what seemed like a whirlwind, with lots of dust swirling around. Things that I thought I needed to do, didn't get done, but that was okay. I'm an obsessive compulsive, and some times, it gets the better of me. I receive daily devotionals from a pastor named Alaistar Beggs. I use to love to listen to him on the radio. He always has a great message. It was one of these devotionals that made me realize that I miss the in depth studies I had for the one semester at Criswell Bible College. So since I read that passage, devotional, I have been studying. My husband has a great knowledge of the bible as well as his brother, his mother, stepfather, my sister in laws, my mother, and my sisters. I've learned something in the last two weeks, that even though I looked at them as being sinless, they aren't, and this includes my mother, father, sisters, my child, inlaws, outlaws, and everyone else related. No one is, even if we are Christians and strive to be sinless, there are still times that we sin or are sinners. Jesus saved me, a sinner when I wasn't but a new teenager. However, no one took me by the hand and said, "Now this is how you need to live and you need to learn God's word. You need to bring others to Jesus." My husband and I have not attended church since about September of 2008. Why? Well life got in the way, and I no longer felt God's presence in that church. Was that what really was happening? Or was I just consumed by my life happenings, that I couldn't feel God? I'm not sure I really know the answer to that question. I do know that God has opened my eyes about a lot of things. I was raised a Baptist. My grandfather was a deacon in Hilltop Baptist Church. My Aunt and Uncle were members there, that is where I first walked the aisle and made my public confession of faith. That is where I was baptized. I feel like I have finally found answers to questions that have plagued me for a long time. I thank God for that.... I know God will continue to drive me the direction I need to go. My husband and I are starting to talk about going back to church. I'm not sure where that will be physically, I do know that we are both Baptist and I'm not looking to give up my denomination and neither is he. May God bless each and every person that reads this. I'm going to share my testimony on my other blog. http://livingbythewordofgod.blogspot.com/. Blessings, L

Just A Note -

It seems I've been gone away on a long trip, and I am just now finding my way back. The month of July turned out different than I thought it would be, Thanks God. First, my daughter found my husband and I a rent house. It is quite affordable and as of 8/1/09 it was our place. We are still in the process of unpacking and sorting, sending a lot of stuff back to storage. I've been working for my husband since 7/7/09. I was quite scared that I wouldn't be able to handle the responsibilities and the work, but have found that I am a lot stronger than I thought. If you don't know, my husband and his brother James, do exterior remodeling and vinyl siding installation and repair as well as metal carports, decks, patio covers, and roofs, replacement windows and the list goes on. We just finished a six week job in Eustace which is at Mabank and Gun Barrel. The deck turned out awesome and I will add a picture on my blog. With me working for my husband, we have been able to catch up on a lot of our finances and been able to move. I'm not sure what finally convinced my husband that I could work with him, but I love it and so does he I think. Also, I've been contacted by the editor of an online newspaper that is local about doing some writing. No pay, but lots of exposure. Once we get settled and I get organized, I will begin posting at least once a week to my blogs. Please keep reading and letting our mutual friends know about my blogs. May God Bless you All.

Sunday June 6, 2009 - Parkerson Family Reunion

Today is the first Parkerson reunion that I will have attended. This is my mother in laws side of the family. I've been to several Farnsworth reunion since I married into the family. We are having this at Good Hope Baptist Church, where Momma Aliene is a member. Lunch is suppose to be at noon. I made a pasta/turkey, fresh tomatoes and onion salad, with Light House Italian dressing, black pepper and Parmesan cheese. It smells really good and the bad thing is that it is only 9:45am CST. I could eat it all right now. I'll probably post some more later today when we get home. Just wanted to say Good Morning. May God Bless you all.