Almost heaven....WV

Well, not quite. I mean, I know those words are true for some and don't get me wrong it is just beautiful here but almost heaven......I don't think so! If so, we're in a lot of trouble friends!! hahaha Just kiddin'! It's a great place to visit but I wouldn't wanna.......well, I'd better not finish that sentence.

I love coming here and hangin' out with my family and visiting old friends, but I must admit that I'M 'BOUT DONE!!!! I'm ready to get home. I miss my family there. I miss my friends. I miss my church. Isn't it crazy that I've only missed one week and it feels like I haven't been there in MONTHS?!! That's how home is, I guess.

It really has been a good visit and we've got a BIG weekend coming - my in-law's family reunion - and that is usually a GREAT time. I must admit that my intro into my in-law's family wasn't really a good one. The first time I met MOST of them was at my (what would be future) Father-in-law's funeral. Jimmy's dad passed away about 2 months after we met. We had just started to get serious about one another when it happened and a lot of his family hadn't even heard about me so they were kinda like "Who's that?" (where they didn't think I could hear them) and some even were quite vocal in their opinions at how inappropriate it was for me to be there. Yeah. Special. Rocky start, don't ya think?

However, God being the Restorer that He is, healed hearts (especially mine), mended fences and taught me to love my "enemies" (that was exactly what they felt like to me). So this weekend truly is a celebration!! Not just of family coming from all over - making it a point to carve out a weekend together once a year - but of the Father bringing family together to show His love, to show His heart! I really am VERY excited about it. While the enemy does his best to distract me with his usual attacks on my insecurities this weekend, I know the Father will be faithful to remind me who I am, what He's done, and what He's gonna do thru our time together. So, with that in mind, I anticipate a blessing!!! I look forward to watching Him work!!! I can't wait to tell you guys what He did!!! Just you wait and see......

OH YEAH - My man is coming tonight too!!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOOO! I miss him SOOO much!!!! I love you, Baby!!!!!

What a day....

WHEW!!! I'm completely worn out but what an amazing day we've had. The wedding was quite possibly one of the most special days I've had in a LONG time. Everything went off without a hitch. The bride was just glowing, the groom was stary-eyed, the kids were.....well happy, but nervous as they blend their families, and the Lord's Spirit was felt in the room as Regina and Dewayne said their vows. I wish you could've seen my sister. She has never looked more beautiful - and for those who know her that's saying something, she's ALWAYS beautiful!

There was a moment about 2 hours before the ceremony started when my niece and nephew started thinkin' about their dad - and I'm sure Regina was too - but the 3 of them just had their moment together, prayed thru and went on. That's the funny thing about life....it goes on. When your world gets turned upside down, things go on. When you think you can't face another day, you wake up to another sunrise. So as the pastor spoke about God starting a new work and that love was a choice you make each day, all I could do was silently pray that each day the Lord would rain down fresh manna on the two of them - new every morning - His faithfulness truly is great!!

I'm gonna try to post some pics at some point, but we're gonna be doin' a little "playing" after church tomorrow so I'm not sure when that will happen. Just wanted to keep y'all up to date, and if any of you have tried to email me - the computer at home has had another TIA and Jimmy is diligently working on the problem - BLESS HIS PRECIOUS HEART!!! Thanks so much for your prayers. They were heard and answered!!

BY THE WAY - Jimmy started his new job Friday and though it was mostly paper work and the like, he really thinks he's gonna be happy there. In fact, they told him he was overdressed in his khaki's and button-down and sent him home for lunch to change into some jeans and a t-shirt!! OH YEAH, you know my redneck man was LOVIN' that!!! hahaha Thanks for those prayers as well guys! GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME - AND ALL THE TIME - GOD IS GOOD!!!!

"Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married"

I'm leaving in a few hours heading to WV to go to my sister's wedding. I'm so happy for her. She has had such an amazingly difficult few years with her husband's death and then meeting someone new and falling in love and teenage kids...UGH. Most of you know the whole story but suffice it to say that it's not something I think I could handle - it would certainly be in the Lord's strength alone. Anyway, the wedding is Saturday but they're not leaving on their honeymoon til the following Saturday so I'm gonna hang out up there all next week. Plus, my hubby's family reunion is next Saturday so it seemed like a good time to get away.

Not sure how much I'll get to blog up there, but here's something I'd like to leave with you. How often do you read the Word and shake your head in - well, basically judgement - of people? For example, the Israelites, they had all those miracles - walked across the DRY sea floor for Pete's sake - and still they wandered for 40 years. Then there's Rachel and Leah, especially Leah, knowing her hubby was in love with Rachel but willing to settle for a crumb of affection here and there. Let's don't even start with the disciples. I mean Jesus was right in front of them! How in the world could they NOT get it? Lately the Lord's been having me turn that judgement a bit inward so I'm hoping to share some of that. Think about it. It's so easy in our air conditioned, beautifully decorated, concession stand churches and look down on them, but do you think they're looking down at us now shaking their heads not in judgement but in pity?

Anyway, I hope to talk to ya soon about how the Lord is really cleanin' my kitchen lately only to give Him the glory for doin' the work!! He's so awesome y'all!! Take care.

Blessed Be His Name!!!

HALLELUJAH You're worthy to be praised!!
Hallelujah You're worthy to be praised!

Oh, y'all can't tell that I'm singing the Brooklyn Tab song can ya?! haha Well believe me people, I have a reason to sing this morning!! MY MAN GOT A JOB!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
YAY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He'll be working for a company that sells automotive software to dealerships nationwide for their service departments. Something he's quite familiar with. WOOOHOOOOO!! Y'all, here's the truly funny thing. I had (for the most part) been at peace about this whole situation but I think the reason for my "freak out" yesterday was because in my mind I was saying "Lord please give him a job by the 15th. I won't start losing it til the 15th. Please Lord the 15th. So since yesterday was the 14th and there were some things out there "in the works" but no definite answers - I admit I started to waiver. So what happens, 4:00pm the call comes. Job offer!!!!!! On time, every time kinda God!!!!!

So girlfriends, thank you so very much for your prayers. They have meant the world to us. This has seemed like the longest 15 days of my life!!!! God is so good, y'all!! Turn on some P&W and join me in dancin' for Jesus!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS - Don't you know my spellcheker is goin' crazy with all the woooohooooooooooo'S!!!! hahaha

Another week of grace!

**UPDATE**
Ok, so after posting about my emotions gettin' the best of me today, I went in to color with the princess and turned our favorite channel on TV, The Food Network. Oh yeah, me and the girl LOVE to watch some cooking shows. So anyway, don't you know that the Lord spoke to me thru a cooking show. He can use anything I tell ya! This guy - not a clue who he was - was making something - don't remember what - and he was sauteing garlic. He goes "You want to heat the garlic just enough to release it's aroma - the breath of the garlic". I just froze. I sat there going "Lord, that's exactly what you're doing in me. You're heating me up some - just enough - to release your aroma - your very Breath in me." Then immediately Isa 43 came to my mind.
"When you pass through the water, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED; THE FLAMES WILL NOT SET YOU ABLAZE. For I am the Lord, your God." (emph mine) Y'all, God's Word is alive and active. It's relevant. It's not just a book of stories and myths mixed with a little encouragement here and there. It's life. It's bread. It's water. Open it up and get you some!!!





Hey everyone. I know that the blogging world lends itself to "fronts" or masks. Unfortunate, but it's the truth. Well if you spend more than five minutes with me you'll quickly learn that I'm as transparent as they come. Ask me just about anything and you'll get a "story". I'm one of those "have a story for everything" kinda people. Can be annoying, I know, but can be funny too - at least sometimes.

So, we're starting week 3 of grace around here and I have to admit that it's been a tough couple of days. Jimmy's last check from Wachovia comes tomorrow and then....well the Lord has been so faithful to us that I know for sure He will again...but still. I'm being as open and honest as I can here people. It's difficult to fight worry. It's difficult to fight fear. It's especially difficult for me to fight anger and bitterness. That's all too familiar territory for me.

I've been blessed with such amazing friends who send me an email just about every day that is filled with Scripture and an "I love you" and that truly has made all the difference. Truly. They will never know how the Lord has reassured me over and over thru their efforts. Thanks to all of you...but still. It's a battle that I need some prayer for. If you think of it, please pray that the Lord will show Himself in a MIGHTY way to me. That He'll open doors for Jimmy and more than anything He'll calm my heart.

We had such an amazing day of worship at church yesterday - at least it was for me - and I found myself QUITE emotional as I stood there singing "Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise, when the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord...Blessed be your name when the road's marked with suffering, though there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name." Now I know there are many of you whose suffering is SO MUCH greater than mine...but still. I hope I don't offend anyone, but each of our situations are ours alone. Difficult for us individually.

Sorry, this isn't something funny or inspiring, but I'm feeling myself start to slip into that pit of worry and unbelief and I need "a little help from my friends"! haha Thanks for being so faithful to pray for me and I'm sorry for being a draining friend (Leigh - haha).

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things." Ps 103 1:5a

Father God I pray that you'll redeem me from this pit of worry and unbelief. I do trust your word and your plan. I'm sorry for doubting - even for a minute. Lord forgive me. I ask that you strengthen me with your mighty right hand and I ask that you show yourself strong to me. Thank you for loving me and for the way you have provided for us day after day. I trust that you are doing a good thing in my family and I ask you to settle my heart and fill me with your peace. Thank you Lord. In the name of Jesus, who died that I might have life to the full thru Him I ask these things. Amen...

CHECK THIS OUT!!

I can't say that I know anything about this speaker - yet, but I can say that this video took my breath away. Watch and see if it does the same for you.....

Another hopeful day....

Well here we are standing in week 2 of the Lord's provision and He is faithful!! No, there's still no job news, but you know what....it's ok. God can. God will. I just know it.

My sweet friend Terry has been sending me devotionals every day and they are just speaking straight to my soul. The Lord is faithful y'all! Check this out...
"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7. Don't you love that? Watch in hope! That's exactly what I'm doing!! Hoping!!
Then "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isa 64:4. Land sakes, Praise be the Ancient of Days!!!! The Word is alive and active y'all! FOR REAL!!!

Gotta go get ready for church and I pray you have a great evening!!!!

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto the Ancient of Days.
From every nation, all of creation, sing unto the Ancient of Days.
Every tongue in heaven and earth shall declare Your glory,
Every knee will bow at Your throne in worship,
You will be exalted, oh God, and Your kingdom shall not pass away,
O Ancient of Days!!!!