We interrupt for this nostalgic moment...

Less than two weeks...less than two weeks I will be seeing these people...I am so excited!! I have been a HUGE Journey fan since I heard their song "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" back in (dare I say it) 1978. I was in 7th or 8th grade at the time...since then I pretty much bought all their albums...wore their cassettes out and had to buy new, and just have always adored this band. Hubby bought us tickets (not too bad of seats either) for my anniversary present...gotta love that man! And bless his heart he's going with me...and he's not much of a concert goer...he just doesn't get it...why would anyone want to stand for two hours sandwiched with other people and listen to music you can hear in the comfort of your own home? Maybe I can change his perception somehow....I wish I could have gotten more tickets though....so many people have told me that they'd love to go...but just hubby and me...loving that! We haven't had much alone time lately...need this time so much.

So on this note....tell me...what music reminds you of those high school days?? What music, song or band, takes you back every time you hear it?? Is their a certain memory that makes you laugh or cry?? Please share!

OK God I hear you...

Irony...

gotta love irony...

If you've read my last post, you'll understand...if you haven't read it you may want to...

Our Pastor preached on Malachi 2:10-17...about breaking faith with each other...how we need to be faithful to each other and not hold grudges amongst each other...

Have you ever sit in a church service and feel like the sermon was spoken directly to you? Ever felt yourself squirm in church?? Ever felt like people were looking at you?? Not that there is anyone in my church (other than my hubby) that knows the feelings I had towards this person it sure made me think...and I wonder why I feel like my prayers are hitting the ceiling???

Under immense conviction right now and feeling pretty lousy, even though this person probably has no idea how I feel...since I felt it in my heart and have allowed it to take a foothold, I know I've done wrong and need to rememdy it. Please pray...I can't approach this without prayer I know.

Thank God that He's a loving and forgiving God...always hurts though to let Him down...I don't deserve all that He gives me...Thankful and grateful for what an awesome God He is.

Thank God for honest friends

I guess...Was talking to a friend today...a very honest friend who will tell me the truth...not just what they think they want me to hear...I am dealing with an issue with someone and honestly asked my friend their opinion...and bless her heart she was honest. Though I love honesty sometimes it's hard to swallow isn't it?? I knew in the back of my mind that the person in question was someone I most likely would have to approach and air my feelings to, which is just not me...but I knew because of the issues I was having that it was the truth. It's hard though...I always feel like the bad guy in these situations. Thing is this situation has affected my spiritual walk...and I know Satan loves that...and that I've allowed it...and now I have to confront it...but it is so hard for me, cause the person I'm confronting has a very strong personality and can be very defensive. As my friend said though...God will never give you more than you can handle...not only that He will give you the strength and words to get through it...if I earnestly pray about it. So true...and I know I need to do it...just not sure how or when...man I hate that when I think my feelings are justified, that I know in my heart I'm just hurting myself.....lessons in life...gotta love 'em. I know my attitude has been negative in many ways lately too...this needs to be addressed...not without lots of prayer and thought first of course...God grant me the strength, words and right timing to make things right in your eyes and in my heart. And I do thank you for placing honest friends in my life.

Thanks for listening.

First Day Of School...all the way around ;-)

Well believe it or not summer is officially over for us...today started another school year. Went last night to the school Open House to get the boys's desks set up, meet their teachers and all...God answered our prayers as far as teachers went...thanks LORD!! Only glitch we ran into was that they put Austin and his cousin next to each other which we knew would never work...the poor teacher would never get any teaching done so we remedied that real quick and so far everything seems good. Austin and Brennan came home in a good mood, got their homework done quickly...no barking from me (another praise Jesus there) and they are off playing their Gameboys. Austin even said his first day was GREAT...a huge relief to hear since he really wasn't looking forward to going back. Brennan also is opening up so well and blossoming so much...last night he went right up to his teacher and said hi...before he would have hidden behind my legs and held on for dear life...I was so very proud of him. I think they were ready to go back.

My twin girls started preschool at the Christian School in town yesterday...man everyone is growing up too quickly...

I decided to keep Colton at home and teach him myself instead of doing the preschool thing. Today was our first day and surprisingly it went really well...We started after the boys left for school, started with some Art (coloring) then moved on to learning about the letter "I"...then onto learning about the color Red...then reviewing our numbers 1-5...he can count to fourteen, but I wanted to help him with recognizing which number is what. I even packed him a lunchbox like the boys and we and the neighbors ate our lunches outside...it was cute with Colton and the twins with their little lunchboxes. We then had Gym class outside (jumping on the trampoline and running) and then had Recess too...it was a good day. I think Colton enjoyed learning like a big boy. It's so hard to watch how fast time flies...way too fast.

So here are a few more pics from our first day back into the ole' routine. Hope you had a blessed day!

Lyrics I want to share

Even though I could waste your time telling you about my day, today I thought I'd change things a bit and share some lyrics...it's actually to the song I'm playing on my blog right now...it's by Jessica Andrews and you may recognize it from (I believe) the Prince of Egypt soundtrack. Though this is not a recent song...not even a spititual song (not that I think a song has to be sung by Christian artists to be spiritual to me) and (ACK!) a country tune to boot...I love the lyrics to this song...It reminds me of not just those people in my life who are there for me, but most of all My God who is always there for me...even when I seem to lose faith...even through the hard times He's always been there...and with all I have and with all I am I promise HIM all my life. Though I may screw things up, though I may stumble, though I may not make Him smile and let Him down...He's always there for me. Always listening, always holding me in His hand, always there. Hope these lyrics touch you the same way...

I Will Be There For You

When I lost faith

You believed in me

When I stumbled

You were right there

For every act of love you've done

I owe you one

There were hard times

I know I survived

Just because you stayed by my side

With all I have, with all I am

I promise you all my life

Whenever the road is too long

Whenever the wind is too strong

Wherever the journey may lead to

I will be there for you

I will be there for you

Through sorrow

Or the darkest night

When there's heartache

Deep down inside

Just like a prayer, you will be there

And I promise you all my life

Whenever the road is too long

Whenever the wind is too strong

Wherever the journey may lead to

I will be there for you

I will be there for you

Whenever the road is too long

Whenever the wind is too strong

Wherever the journey may lead to

I will be there for you

I will be there for you

I'll always be there

Hope your evening is a blessed one!

Happy 4th Birthday Colton!!!

Hard to believe that my little boy turned four today....Happy 4th Birthday Colton James Allen!!

Even though you are ornery as all get out...probably have given me more gray hairs than your brothers combined...even though you push the boundaries every second...I love you with all of my heart and soul...you are an amazing young boy and I'm proud to call you mine!

Hugs and kisses!

God blesses those who do His work...

I just have to say it for the thousandth time today....I am so proud of my son Austin!!!! Of course as most of you know we had Vacation Bible School this week. Well they had a challenge for the kids that the top three people who brought the most friends with them to Bible School would win a cool prize...and cool prizes they were this year...a 13" flat screen TV, a neat CD player and a water slide...well my Austin was pumped and determined to bring kids to Bible School so he started asking his friends in the neighborhood and his cousins. When he found out later in the week that he was "in the running" to win a prize...he worked even harder...calling kids from school (himself!) and asking them to Bible School...though ever person he called...all 13 of them were either not home or couldn't/wouldn't come. He was so discouraged. Then the only friend that he thought he had lined up to come the last day bailed on him at the last minute...he (and I) were a bit discouraged Friday, though he was pretty proud of the people he brought anyway. We pretty much thought there was no way that he would get a prize. Well this morning they announced the winners (who had to be present to win) and needless to say he did it...he won 3rd place!! I was so proud of him...they let the other two pick what prize they want and what was left was what Austin got...which is exactly what he wanted...can you guess what it was??? I am so thankful...so proud...so in awe that God blesses those who make an effort for His kingdom...God is so GOOD! I'm so happy for Austin and he's in seventh heaven right now.

We had Colton's b-day party Saturday...(yes it has been quite a weekend!!). Can you guess what the theme was??? Colton was so excited...he so loved the Cars movie...his bed currently is sporting Cars sheets & Comforter, he pretty much got most of the Cars things...he was so happy too. It's hard to believe that my little baby turns 4 tomorrow...where does the time go?? He's so stinkin' rotten (and cute...which is his saving grace let me tell ya)!

Well needless to say I skipped church tonight to play and rest with the boys since this past week was dedicated to VBS...I'm officially pooped! I should sleep good tonight!

Hope you all had a great weekend! Only 10 more days until school....not sure whether to be happy or sad...well later peeps!

Still busy...

Another night of VBS...I'm going to be shot by the end of the week. So here what has been happening as of late...

Phone call from my ex-Pastor's wife Rachel this morning...so nice to talk to her!

Watched Dawson's Creek ( I know....I'm so lame)

My boys were beasts this afternoon..we went outside to play...today was perfect...not too hot. Like I said in the last post...I can tell that they have finally had enough of each other...must be time for school ;-)

Had an awesome late lunch with my cool neighbors...chicken chipotle tortillas....so spicy, but oh so tasty!

VBS...cool crafts...bead necklaces and pails made out of plastic cups.

Came home to upload my Dare page onto the Two Peas In A Bucket Site. The Dares are having a contest called The Last Scrapper Standing...and though I wanted to do it I wasn't sure with VBS that I'd be able to pull it off, but I did (lost a bit of sleep maybe but got er done)...here it is: I thought it turned out pretty nice...I worked really hard on this one. I most love the message on the photo...go here to read the journaling. Not that I expect to win anything, but I just enjoy challenging myself.

Tonight...Project Runway! I don't watch much TV in the evenings anymore, but tonight is my night!

Colton's Birthday party is on Saturday...not even close to being ready for it...what was I thinking planning his party right after VBS?!?!? Can you believe that he's going to be 4 on Monday?!?!

Well tomorrow is another day...may have to watch my nieces tomorrow.

Hope all is going well in your neck of the woods...

VBS and other craziness...

Well this is VBS week for me and I tell ya it's CRAZINESS!!! I'm in charge of crafts this year instead of teaching a class and though it's been different...and a LOT more work, it's been FUN! The kids are great and they seem to like the crafts they create...which tickles me. It's a beautiful thing watching a child create...and enjoy doing it. The night goes pretty quickly getting four classes of kids through...so that's nice too. We are doing an island theme this year and the kids LOVE it! Really has them interested. Even if only 1 child finds Jesus it'll be worth it.

After doing crafts this year I began to think maybe I should have become an art teacher. Not that I think I'm that great at teaching, but I enjoy watching kids use their minds to create stuff. I guess that's why Austin (my oldest) tickles me so cause he is so craetive and loves art and crafts.

On other things...boys have 15 days until school...honestly after this week I'm ready...boys have been BEARS this week..pickin' on each other and just getting on each other's nerves...as well as Mommy's. But it saddens me too cause it means it's back to routines, early mornings, fights with homework and tears over school...not looking forwards to Brennan starting 2nd grade. At their school there really isn't a great 2nd grade teacher...I pray for him that this year goes fast and smoothly...Please keep him in your prayers too if you could...he's my sensitive one and I'm just praying that he makes it through with as few tears as possible.

That also means that Colton will be home alone with Mommy...only for a little while. I'll be watching the twins again 3 days a week beginning Sept 7th cause their Mommy is going back to school to be a teacher. So Colton will at least have someones to play with and I'll have a little extra $$ which is nice.

Well sorry for the long post...can you tell I had coffee tonight??? Have a great week folks!

Warning...May be TMI...

For some this post may be TMI (too much information) but for those who have been tracking my health...here goes...

Went to the doctor today...says that my urine is too neutral...thus the reason for the kidney infections. He want me to take 1000mg of Vitamin C twice a day and Cranberry tablets to make my urine more acidic...then I'll see him in a month and see how I'm doing. So...that's it...I know TMI...but I just praise God that it isn't something at this point much more serious, which is what I was worried about.

God has been so good to me...in more ways than I can say, and I feel like in so many ways that I've let Him down and that I don't deserve all that He gives me, but I am most grateful and thankful that He obviously loves me the way He does. God is good...all the time...all the time...God is good.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers...they mean so much.

On another note...we may be going to COSI tomorrow (it's a science museum)...they have a Star Wars exhibit going on right now and I think the boys will have a blast...on last summer hurrah before school starts...Hopefully plans work out that we can go.

Have a great day!

A Simple Post...

Just a simple post...a simple Bible verse...that speaks enormeous volumes...

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Phillipians 4:6–7 – The Message)

Enough said...

I'll praise you anyhow...

Yesterday I went to church...felt like I'd been away forever since I missed last Sunday...I went to the altar to pray...pray for my situation with my health...and one of our church elders whom I dearly love prayed with me...and I just laid my burdens on that altar...I finally told God...I know it's in your hands...whatever happens happens...You are in control and I'm trusting you. I don't know why I'm going through all this but you do...it's my prayer that You may heal me, but even if you don't Lord I'm still going to praise You anyway.

I thank God for my church family...without them I'd be lost. They've fed me, watched my kids and most of all prayed for me while I was sick. Praise God for them...

Doctor's appts. tomorrow and Thursday. God is in control...He knows the plan for me. I put myself in His hands. Thanks for your prayers for me...the strength it gives me blesses me more than you know.

Happy Monday to all!