Happy Fall Y'all!!

It is so beautiful outside in our backyard. The leaves are so colorful and the girls and I and Lil' Phil love to go to the ponds and do schoolwork. We also feed the ducks and the geese and go fishing. We have two fish that K and Z caught with a net in one of the ponds. I don't know what kind they are but they love eating goldfish food and they are still alive after a week.

My man has been gone a little over two months. The days seem to be flyin' by now. We still miss him though very much and pray for him daily. We talk about once a week and the girls have been really good about making letters and cards for him. We hope to send cookies soon...

Today we went to West Produce Farm. We went on a hay ride and picked out a pumpkin. We had a great time and the kids learned so much about farming and harvesting bees and about how to plant a peanut pumpkin and all kinds of things.

Here are some pics of our day today:













Well I will write more soon...until then enjoy the beauty of God's creation. He made it for our enjoyment...

Take care.

Disciplining our children for His glory

Today I was able to Walk in the Spirit, I'd say 60% of the time...my goal is of course 100%....

So I am really working on loving my children and....disciplining them. I know they go hand in hand. I can't love without showing, teaching, and training them in the ways of God. I have to have a right relationship with God throughout my day, otherwise my teaching and training will be useless.

It says in Scripture that if I spare the rod, I actually am hating my child. I have heard a mother say, "I love my child too much to spank them." Yet scripture speaks clearly that the rod of correction drives our children far from hell. God's word is very clear about one thing in discipling our children. It is the rod.

My rod is a Paula Dean wooden spatula...(I'm living in the south so I figure that the tool I'm using for correction should be made up of some southern hospitality!!!) So anyway, it doesn't matter what you use I've been told, but how I use it. I have to ask myself, am I spanking effectively and biblically that will put a stop to having my children become separated from God???

Spanking has become so controversial in our nation today. Yet it is the very thing that God specifically talks about (several times in Proverbs) to discipline our children.

Going to sleep...

Hello blog world...

It has been an interesting and tiring couple of weeks. I have been having my ups and downs with baby and sick kids and been walking in a fog the past couple of days with lack of sleep...

But tonight I know it is gonna be better. Baby is sleeping and all the kids are sleeping and I am about to go to bed...

So I will write more soon. God has been showing me so much and I want to write about it so I don't forget...

Hope all is well with ya'll...

God bless.

Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest...

Hello ya'll

Well since I can't go back to sleep and it is four o'clock right now in the am, just thought I would type a few words here...

I have been reflecting on the day that I had yesterday...another hard day, but a day to see God behind the circumstances as my devotion book tells me to do when faced with difficulties...

I realize now that I again let circumstances rule and did not let the Spirit of God rule in my heart...

I recently have written a few scriptures on notecards on doing God's will and obeying God's will. I have been correcting my children and praying and talking to them about doing His will instead of our own. God in turn has been correcting me by the circumstances I find myself in these days and showing me and teaching me to do His will because otherwise I find myself weary, frustrated, overly tired and so on....

I found myself that way today. The morning was wonderful and then as the afternoon wore on I started drifting away from His presence and into my own way of doing things. This showed me how just how desparate I am for Him and how badly I need Him in my life because I fail miserably without Him. I can do nothing without Him no matter how hard I try...

These are just some thoughts that are circulating in my brain right now as I am typing in black and not purple...oh how I miss typing in purple and want so badly to know why I can't change the color of the font??? (anybody know??) Such a small and silly concern right now, but just thought I'd ask...

I know Him

A rough day today....

no sleep for me or baby....cranky toddler....fighting and biting older kids....found out I missed a call from my hubby....missing broom and remote...messy house....sore breast...broke a ceramic dish....legs hurt from running....I could go on but I will stop...

To remember HIM.

Because He is all I need and I need him desperately. I don't want to appear like I need Him on just bad days but all day everyday on good days too.

I have been thinkin about joy...only Jesus can give us joy...yet, my circumstances a lot of times seem to zap my joy right out of me.

Joy commeth in the morning...the joy of the Lord is my strength...remember the joy of your salvation...these snippets of verses come to me as I type. Helping me to focus not on me but on Him...

A day like today wants to put me first...I keep thinking of myself and all my woes and sorrows...little things like why I can't type in purple anymore irritate me...!!

Yet I will rise and overcome me, myself and I because I know Him. He is my all and all...He has seen me through some awful times and He will see me through this day...

Let me fix my eyes upon Jesus for He came to overcome. And because of Him I am an overcomer. Why do I so easily forget who I am in Christ?

I am so so so looking forward to eternity right now. But God has given me another day and so I pray that I can make each moment count for eternity. I pray I can love, love, love on those around me as the Spirit inside works in me to do so. I pray that I can finish this race well because it will be so worth it when I hear, "well done my good and faithful servant." from a loving and mighty God.

Zaria's 7th Birthday

Yesterday we celebrated Zaria's birthday!!!

It was a lot of fun. We went to Chuck E. Cheese's and had a great time stuffing ourselves with pizza, salad, cake, and drinks. We also got a lot of tokens to play games...we were having soooo much fun we didn't realize how late it had gotten when we finally left the place....

With that being said, I am all birthday'd out for at least the next couple of months. Our next family birthday will be Anaya's and she will be three years old...

Before I go, let me tell you a little bit about our birthday girl:

-She loves to read chapter books.

-She likes climbing on things (like our couches, counter-tops, chairs, and even in her closet to sit on the very top shelf)

-She likes and has "boy" toys like matchbox and guns but she likes "girl" things too, like nail polish, make-up, and jewelry

-She is a great help with Anaya. She plays with her and (just recently) changed her diaper without Mama asking

-She likes to sleep with her older sister and she likes making cards and pictures for her.

We love you Zaria. Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Kamelah

Yesterday, my first born daughter turned 9 years old!!! We celebrated at Cici's Pizza with her friends.

We also got to see dadddy on the webcam. It was so great to see him and he was able to wish Kamelah a happy birthday. I love being able to talk to him and see him at the same time...being that he is many many miles away.

So let me tell you a little bit about Kamelah:
-She loves to do arts and crafts projects
-She helps out a lot with the younger ones
-She likes to cook and bake
-She asks lots and lots of questions everyday
-She is very creative
-She is maturing in her walk with the Lord that amazes me and puts me to shame
-I learn a lot from her about stopping and enjoying the little things in life
-And I have learned so much about loving unconditonally and I have seen the Father's love, goodness, and glory shine through her...

I am looking forward to celebrating many more birthday with you Kamelah. I know each day is a gift with you and each moment counts toward eternity. Daddy and I only have a few more years with you to train you up in the way you should go. I will not take the time for granted but continue to sow seeds and love unconditionally...for that is all that matters and what carries us into God's eternal glory.

Much love to my BIG nine year old.