After a busy weekend, Monday came around & though I went to bed at a decent time, the alarm clock seemed to ring before I was ready to get up.  Mine doesn't actually ring.  It plays some music that starts out quiet & then gets louder if I don't wake up to shut it off.

The kids were none to thrilled to wake up so early either. Gabby has always been a sleeper & she was extra hard to get out of bed this morning.  Thankfully she did & still had time to get ready all the way.  So after the older 3 were off to school, Sadie & I snuggled on the couch for a little bit but needed to get ready to help in the library at Morgan's school.  It's something I think we both look forward to on Mondays.  It's always nice to get to say hi to so many teachers & staff that we've come to love over the last several years that the kids have attended Lemmer.  They are like extended family, especially since having 3 kids attend there we've had several of the teachers.  Sadie is getting more headstrong in what she wants to do and it is becoming more challenging to keep her occupied & out of trouble while we're helping.  Today she walked around the Library with my cell phone and took pics of the kids. I forgot about it until now. I'm sure I'll have a good laugh when I see the pics she took. lol

I talked to a few people on the phone & then felt as though my goal today was to listen to some Biblical teachings.  I have found that when I take notes on what I'm listening to, I learn & retain far more of the information.  I was thankful for Sadie falling asleep for her nap so I could take notes but ended up with a few more phone calls that ate up some of my time.  And she awoke before I was able to get off the phone with the last call.  We had lunch & I attempted to listen and take notes a little more but that's not what Sadie's plans were so I put my podcast away & played with her in the playroom for awhile.  We laughed & enjoyed our time together. I thanked her for making me smile & thanked God for sending her to us because she has brought us so much joy.  I do believe He knew exactly what we needed when he blessed us with her.

Some angels blessed us with a delicious chicken noodle soup for dinner today which was nice since I ended up helping Gabby with some math homework & was still trying to listen to more of my podcast.  I have learned that I need to just listen when I can & not be upset when I am unable to listen to it entirely in one sitting.  That's the perfectionist in me.  The point is, I'm sure there are many of you that have some perfectionist tendencies and sometimes put things off because you just don't seem to have the time to do something all at once so you don't even start.  Well that's not helpful.  Start where you are & work from there.  Don't compare yourself to anyone else.  Do your best and don't worry about the rest.  Find a balance, not perfection.

As I was getting ready this morning a song came on.  I knew I should have written down more of the lyrics because I really wanted to share it with you.  (don't you dislike when that happens?)  It touched me and I'm sure it would have touched you but alas...I have forgotten for now which song it was.  The important thing to me is to keep my eyes focused on Christ and to fill my mind and spirit with Him.  That being said I will share something else.  I like words.  I am drawn to them.  To write them, speak them, sing them, read them....  My kids laugh at me because I really like a lot of word art whether in a subway form or not.  I even have a trash can that has word art on it.  Words appeal to me and I know that they are powerful.  Once said, you can't take them back. They can be used to build up or tear down.  I've probably said this on here before but it is worth sharing again.

Words are very powerful.  (Proverbs 18:21  21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
            And those who love it will eat its fruit.)   And because words are powerful we need to be careful what we say, what we listen to, what we read, watch, etc.  This is something I have told my children more than once and so I leave you with one of my favorite artists and songs.  Speak Life by TobyMac.  It is my prayer that the words that I share with you will speak life to you.  Please take the time to speak life into someone's life this week!

Speak Life

TobyMac

from the album Eye On It

Buy on Amazon | iTunes

 Play sample

Some days, life feels perfect.
Other days it just ain't workin.
The good, the bad, the right, the wrong
And everything in between.

Though it's crazy, amazing
We can turn a heart with the words we say.
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won't shine and you don't know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh)

Some days the tongue gets twisted;
Other days my thoughts just fall apart.
I do, I don't, I will, I won't,
It's like I'm drowning in the deep.

Well it's crazy to imagine,
Words from our lips as the arms of compassion,
Mountains crumble with every syllable.
Hope can live or die.

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won't shine and you don't know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh)

Lift your head a little higher,
Spread the love like fire,
Hope will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the words you say.

Raise your thoughts a little higher,
Use your words to inspire,
Joy will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the things you say.

Lift your head a little higher,
Spread the love like fire,
Hope will fall like rain,
When you speak life with the words you say.

So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won't shine and you don't know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh)

You speak Life, (oh oh oh oh oh oh) You speak Life. (oh oh oh oh oh oh)

Some days life feels perfect.

It's kinda quiet & dark

As I sit here typing I hear a soft voice talking to the computer from behind me.  The house is mostly quiet & dark.  Why?  Half of our family is missing....well, not really 'missing' but away and it feels strange.  There is a timer ticking on the game Morgan is playing and Sadie's day has been completely disrupted for getting her up early & out the door so her nap was early but after grocery shopping after picking Morgan up from school, she simply couldn't keep her eyes open and fell asleep on the way home.  Who could blame the sweet girl.  It's been quite an unusual day.  But she's tough & resilient. I'm just nervous that she'll stay up far too late & that means I will too & perhaps school will still be on if this storm doesn't really hit.


The wind is gusting outside and we are snug & warm tinkering away at the keyboards.  I am thankful that though it was a whirlwind to get Adam, Gabby, & Braly packed yesterday to leave for Kids Blast early this morning in order to miss driving through the storm that is supposed to hit, it was worth it. They arrived safely & will even have some extra time to spend in the water-park.  What fun!  I miss going.  I kinda wish I would have been able to go this year since I enjoy spending the time with not only my kids but the other kids from our church.  It's so neat to see them connect with God.  It's great to see about 2,000 people worshiping God together in song, giving, & learning from his Word.  The classes to choose from on Saturday are done in the fashion that most conferences are and it is a fabulous opportunity for kids of younger ages 3rd-6th grade to get to experience.

A few years ago there was a class about not being fearful that a certain girl attended.  She used to be quite fearful and after the class & much praying, the fear that seemed to grasp so hard at her subsided.  It still crops it's ugly head sometimes but all in all, that fear is in check.  There have been some great classes taught in the years past and it's neat that the kids get to form better friendships with other kids from our church.  I am thankful that our older two get to attend this special event & that Adam gets to attend it with them.  He's such an amazing dad & does a phenomenal job with the boys he helps with on the trip & he's a good safe driver!

Morgan was so bummed that she didn't get to go again this year.  It will be her chance sooner than she could ever imagine.  She got a small taste of it when she was younger & we brought her along as we helped out.  And now each year she asks if she can go again.  Not yet we tell her.  Soon.  She cried BIG tears this morning as they were climbing into the church van.  She just squeezed my leg and cried silently.  She still had to go to school for the day.  I walked her in since she brought Gabby's talking globe to share with the class as they learn about Africa & Tanzania, which is where their amazing teacher got to go this past summer.  They even get to Skype with some people she met on the trip & keeps in contact with.  It's a great way to introduce 1st graders to the world around them & show them that the Earth is a big place.  They've learned Swahili and Morgan just loves it.  As she walked down the hallway to the gym for me to pick her up today, she was telling everyone bye in Swahili.  So cute!  Mrs. M., you are an AMAZING teacher!  Simply PHENOMENAL!!!!

I am thankful for this special time with my two youngest, especially after having some time on Sunday with the older two alone.  God has blessed us so much!  He is faithful. Always faithful.

Let me leave you with my life verse.  This verse has ALWAYS been my favorite

since I was a little girl about 5 years old.  And the neat thing is, it keeps showing up in the book I've been reading and is such a personal & great reminder to me.

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Blessed with an Opportunity today

I'm very excited today to have the opportunity to spend the day with my favorite Gabby & my favorite Braly in the whole wide world.  We had signed up for the Drama Club trip at the start of school and had every intention to do the fundraiser to help with the cost of our tickets for the Musical we would watch but with other events taking place, the kids missed the fundraiser info and with the extra cost of medical stuff we had talked about it & told the teacher in charge that we'd be unable to go.  At Christmas, we were blessed with tickets to go anyway.  And so that's why I'm very excited to spend this time with my older two children.  They are growing up so quickly and regardless of everything going on, it's just really nice to be able to spend some special time like this with them.  We head to Appleton on a charter bus this morning to watch Wicked.  I really enjoy Musicals and I hope that this is no exception.  Time for me to finish getting ready for our adventure for the day!  And thank you very much to the people that made this happen.  You have blessed us with a wonderful opportunity and memories we get to share!  Pray for us as we endure 6 hours on one of these buses filled with excited kids. lol

Fun Family Evenings this week

This week seems to be flying by so quickly. Probably due to a few fun evenings this week.

Monday we had the opportunity to go to Morgan's school and make Valentine cards that are given at the local Assisted Living facilities.  We've attended this event each year since they started it a few years ago.  I think it is a great idea on how to show some love to others & is a great community service project for my kids to participate in.  So proud of our school for coming up with the idea and hosting it each year.  What I loved was watching the kids, not just mine, but all the kids create cards for these people they don't know.  And it wasn't even just the kids but pretty much all parents & grandparents that come end up making some too.  The kids make as many cards as they like and then they are all collected into a box & distributed to the people in the facilities.  Soooo sweet to tell them Happy Valentine's Day & hopefully they feel special receiving these cards.  Sadie even made one this year.  When the kids are done coloring, cutting, gluing, using stickers and such to make their cards, they get a sugar cookie with frosting and get to add some sprinkles if they want & then eat their sugary treat.  Thank you Lemmer for hosting this each year. Teaching our kids to think of others is so important.

It was great to bring my kids to a community service project like this & also get to see a lot of the teachers & talk with them.  Teachers from this year as well as the kids' previous years.  Nice time to catch up a little for me and the kids.  Everyone was so kind & said I look great.  Honestly, I feel pretty good too!  Praising God for removing the pain.  And that he has given me a peace that passes all understanding and I'm happy to hear that others see it as well.  It is not me, it is God within me that has brought me peace to keep moving forward.

Philippians 4:7

King James Version (KJV)

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Yesterday the kids didn't have school because some of the schools were without power & they weren't sure when they'd get power back so they canceled school after calling a 2 hour delay.  The kids enjoyed being home but then were upset when I had them do about 15-20 minutes of cleaning late in the afternoon.  You'd think that I asked them to do something dangerous & horrible the way they reacted. Lol.  Then we got to attend Italian Night at 'The U' for a fundraiser for Gabby & Braly's school.  They have spaghetti, desserts, pop, & some raffles.  We didn't win anything but I'm sure that the fundraiser was a great success.  A LOT of people showed up despite there having been no school.  Gabby was part of the Leadership Team that helped set up, wash tables, set place mats, & clean up after. I was proud of her for taking the initiative to call the school office to ask what time she needed to be at the school for set up since she was originally supposed to stay after school.

And since today is Wednesday, there was of course classes at church tonight.  Braly gets to start making his car for the Grand Prix race in a few months, so Adam took the kids tonight.  I stayed home with Sadie & after fighting the tiredness, she finally fell asleep.  Tomorrow I get my Thirty-One order and I'm so excited to get things more organized.  It brings me joy to organize.  Too bad it's so cold outside...I ordered a few things to organize the van a little more but I will not be messing out there to put them in.  Not until it warms up a little LOT more.

My new goal!

Last night I told Adam that I have tried several times to read through the entire Bible but I have never finished it.  There are books that I find for lack of a better word, boring.  I'll admit, some of it is quite confusing.  I have been a Christian for most of my life. I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 4 years old and even though I have heard & even read many of the verses in the Bible, I've never read it entirely and I've always wanted to.  Why?  Because I know that it will give me a better understanding of God and what he has called me to do and called me to be.

I subscribe to a blog that is called The MOB (mothers of boys) Society.  It has been a great resource for me over the last year or 2 that I have been reading it.  These moms personalize scripture to pray over your boy(s) and give practical & wise advise on how to address many situations.  When a tragedy happens, they often talk about how to discuss it with your children & usually use a biblical perspective.  I received an email titled:  Tips for Reading Through the Bible for the First Time BY JACQUE WATKINS.  You'll find a link below if you are interested in reading the blog post yourself.  Or like I said, you may be searching for help with how to raise your son. Check The MOB Society out for great resources.

Mob Society Tips for Reading Through the Bible

I found Jacque's tips to be helpful and I know that in my quest for seeking God, the manifestation of the healing he has for me, and sharing about God with others, this will help me be more focused and in tune with God and I'll finally achieve my goal of reading the entire Bible. I already printed the reading sheet in chronological order and plan to start at the beginning. I'm a month late in starting the way the plan is written up but that's okay. I will take it at the pace that is reasonable for me and I will let you know when I have reached my goal.

Nearly 2 weeks ago when Gabby was throwing up and I had to miss church for the 2nd week in a row, I used a sermon on cd to have church. It wasn't quite the same as being with the body of Christ but I was seeking God and he met me where I was. That Sunday, I watched Veggie Tales Esther and The Prince of Egypt with the kids. And then later that week we watched Joseph: King of Dreams. Even watching those made me crave to seek out more of God's word and find out what the Bible says exactly about the story of Joseph so I could explain to my children which parts the movie makers embellished in order to try to paint a full picture. I found myself reading chapter after chapter and that's when I had the thought that it was time for me to read through the whole Bible. And then I received the email from the blog on tips to help one read through the bible and now I have a new goal that I fully intend to accomplish.

 

On an update note, things are going good for us.  I am trying to get back into the swing of things now that the pain is gone.  I've been going through closets to take out too small of clothes and catching up on things that I had to let go for awhile.  We have been having family game time when we can.  We played  Hedbanz which was quite interesting.  Really made us think which was fun and good practice for all of us.  We played Pictionary Junior without teams since Adam wasn't home.  I was hoping we'd be able to play another game tonight but we've got a meeting for Gabby going into Junior High next year instead.  Perhaps after school tomorrow will work instead.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Prayer Warriors:

1. That the healing that I believe God has done, will fully manifest (with the tumor being completely gone, the bones, lymph nodes, and anything else that has been affected will be restored supernaturally, & that there won't be any lasting issues from the medications & procedures I have had done or will have done).

2. God's protection and blessing will be upon my family and me.

3. That God will continue using us to glorify His name & that we will be attentive to Him to lead and guide our every step.

4. That I will be consistent with my Bible reading goal.

January 28th, 2014

Woke up this morning feeling much better.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  A little tired since one of my Littles woke me up in the middle of the night & then I had a tickle in my throat & had a hard time falling back to sleep because I was coughing.  My friend came over to watch the kids since school was canceled again from the frigid temperatures but I still had to get my monthly shots and see the doctor today.  So I started the van in hopes that it would warm up even a little.  It really wasn't that bad in the van but walking to & from buildings was a bit cold.  And I had a hard time warming up once I got home.  Nothing a warm pair of jammie pants & slippers & a sweatshirt couldn't cure. :)

As expected from the virus, I had lost a little weight for lack of keeping things in me. Nothing to be concerned about.  Got the port accessed, blood drawn, and then the doctor came in to see me.  He asked me a few questions & then allowed me time to go over my list with him.  We talked about the tumor marker number and he said that he wasn't concerned that the number had not changed. He said that it can take some time for that to happen.  Everything is very S-L-O-W in this department when one doesn't go by way of Chemo. He asked how the pain level was & I said most days I have little or no pain. He reiterated how important that was and said that it is a better indication that things are moving in the right direction than anything else.  He seemed pleased with that.  We will talk about surgery probably in the summer.  He said that chemo reduces the tumor size in like 12 weeks but when hormone therapy is used, it takes longer. So this is normal and seem to be doing good.  Blood was drawn to measure my calcium, which is still normal but has gotten lower, so I'm to make sure I take my calcium all the time.  I actually decided to up it a little to see if that helps.  They also measured my estrogen. Not sure how quickly that one changes but our aim is to get that number to 0.  So prayer for those numbers to be good and get even better is appreciated.  I know some people ask me what they can pray for specifically and those are just a few things.  All in all, it was a pretty good report today and I am thanking God for that!  To Him be ALL the glory!

Proverbs 4:20-22

My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.

Proverbs 3:7–8

7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8 Then you will have healing for your body

and strength for your bones.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May each of you have a sweet sleep and a lovely tomorrow with a fresh new start.

~Jeannette :)

Under attack by the enemy

January 26, 2014

Have you ever felt like when things take a turn for the worse in your life, that it brings even more bad things?  It can be from people making choices that are out of your control, it can happen because of the fallen, sinful world that we live in, or it can happen, because the devil is attacking.  There are verses in the Bible that speak of this spiritual warfare that we battle as Christians.  These are not all of the verses the Bible contains about spiritual warfare but here are several to read & think about.

Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:13 - Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Hebrews 2:14 - Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

2 Corinthians 10:4 - (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2 Corinthians 10:3 - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

John 8:44 - Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Matthew 18:18-20 - ¹⁸ Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 6:13 - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Matthew 4:24 - And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Matthew 4:1-25 - ¹ Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

² And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

³ And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

⁴ But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

⁵ Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

⁶ And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

⁷ Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

⁸ Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

⁹ And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

¹⁰ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

¹¹ Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.



So what does all this have to do with what is going on?  Well, you all know how I've been trying to spend more time reading & learning from God's word to help me through this journey.  It has been rough this last week.  Morgan woke up early Sunday morning last week throwing up.  YUCK!!!!  I really dislike throw up.  She was finally all better by about 7 or 8 pm that night but I couldn't send her to school on Monday.  Then Wednesday, Braly went to school but I had to go pick him up, he got sick at school.  :(  I felt bad for him.  When I was about his age, I remember throwing up at school and it was awful.  Needless to say, he was fine later that day but then Sadie woke up at about 3am Thursday morning & threw up until about 5 or 5:30am. I had to sleep on the floor with her, right next to her because she was still half sleeping when she'd throw up & I was concerned that she's swallow it or something & get hurt.  I got the girls up for school & got them ready but as soon as they were out the door, I went to sleep on the couch & let Braly stay home & he helped watch Sadie.  Thankfully, she was completely normal the rest of the day and Friday the kids didn't have school so I slept in and then got up to get things ready for the day & for the Thirty-One party I was determined to have on Friday evening. 

A few friends gathered for my party & we had a fun time together.  Saturday was quiet & relaxing but Sunday morning, Gabby woke up throwing up around 6am. I really thought we were done with all of this.  I took care of her all day, missing church again, but determined that Satan would not win this battle. I turned on a cd of a sermon from a good friend & listened to the message.  It was GOOD and exactly what I needed to hear!  Made it through the day but around 10pm after getting Sadie to sleep, I started having trouble.  I spent the next few hours running to the bathroom and even passed out at some point in the bathroom from a stomach/intestinal virus.  I spent all of today (Monday) sleeping & resting.  I am feeling much better but I can say, holy moly, that devil is trying something hard to attack my family to get me to quit and I WILL NOT!!!!  Prayers to stop these attacks would be much appreciated. 



 The other night before bed, Braly started helping me look for a picture that we could print out of the Armor of God so we can put it on each day.  I'm not sure if we'll use the ones I've included in this message but wanted to share something with all of you.  I've read the whole book of Ephesians a few times in the last few days.  I'm looking forward to the devil giving up on us.  But we must be doing something right since he keeps attacking us so much in the last week.  Be blessed friends.  I need to get some more sleep so I can get my home put back together tomorrow.  Our kids have another canceled day of school because of the freezing temperatures and I've got an appointment so I'm off to bed to get some more sleep.  Oh, and I'm not sure what is up with the crazy colors of the fonts and I simply don't have time to try to fix them. Sorry.  Hope this post even makes sense. might need to make a note to myself not to write when I am exhausted. haha