Welcome Back ME!!!

Welcome back.....ME.....  

well at least for now.  

Who has time to blog anymore?....

NOT ME!

I noticed the last time I posted anything was about our June Vacation.  

Wow-weee!

Lots has happened since then....

One amazing thing is that we moved!

Yay!!

Back to our town and into our own home!

Yay!!

I finally have my own house!  I absolutely love to walk around my own house!  I love it!

There is no place like home...truly....your own place.

We found this great house in a wonderful neighborhood filled with nature parks, a playground and lots of trees. 

Our home is about 2400 square feet with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms!  I never had this before.

Actually two of the bedrooms are split by a half wall, so the older girls get to have their own "private" space....to decorate and fix up as they please.  They love it. 

I have a "computer room" or school room...whatever you want to call it.  This is where the books are shelved and the computer is currently stationed.  

I have a nice bright sun room or Florida room....whatever you want to call it. It is so nice to sit in there and watch the bird and squirrels outside my window.

baby squirrel we found in yard

I have a remodeled kitchen with granite counter tops!  Love it!  No need for a cutting board...seriously.

The neighborhood itself sits about 2 miles from the main campus of the University here in town.  I am right across the street from shops, a huge movie theatre (not that I frequent this at all...rather get netflix than pay $25 for a movie night), ice-cream shops, restaurants and a hop, skip, and jump from my favorite Grocery store, Publix.  

this room needs some decor badly

It is truly such a wonderful place to live.  My kids have made great friends and love it here so much.  We are nestled deep in this neighborhood on a dead end road with a trail that leads into the nature park.  So beautiful I must add!

Money has been super tight since we moved out of my in-laws.  It seems that I am handling it so much better living in my own house. 

Homeschooling is still ..... homeschooling.   I love doing it but I have my many moments when I say
"why am I doing this again?"

My babies are getting so big.  Sometimes I forget the fact that I have one son who will soon be in the Armed Forces, daughters who are teens, boys who are growing like weeds, and little toddlers who are still wetting beds and in diapers.  Wow!  

My days are full of laughter, 

crying, whining, love, hugs,

teen talks over cups of coffee, 

collecting leaves for our Autumn collage, 

dirty laundry, unfolded laundry, 

hand washing clothes when my washer is broke,

receiving a new washer from a sweet couple at church,

scribbles on my table, 

phone calls from kids' friends, 

neighbor kids hanging out where the action is (my house), 

walks on long nature paths,

throwing sticks to our old German Shepherd, 

cooking low budget meals, 

going to yard sales with my bestie and our teen daughters....

helping relatives get through a crisis

Life is never dull! 

In the midst of broken washers, hardly any money in our pockets,  and stresses in life I have to say 

Lord you know it all....and only YOU can take me through it with a joyful heart!

Peace to you all on this Thanksgiving Eve.

awww...cute

Happy Thanksgiving to all you lovely ladies who read my blog. 

June 2011: Our Vacation

Last month a dear friend blessed us with a 7 day stay at her vacation condo!!!  What a Blessing that was!!  We spent the whole time relaxing, taking walks, watching the setting sun daily, swimming, fishing, and so much more.  It was heavenly bliss!!  Here is my monthly slideshow with our vacation photos.   


 Click in the somewhere in the middle of the white box....I still don't know why it shows up white...it should have a picture on it with a Play button....

This free digital slideshow made with Smilebox

Honoring Caylee Marie Anthony

Living here in Florida makes it hard to ignore what just took place yesterday in Orlando, Florida.  After a long 3 year case and almost 50 day public trial, Casey Anthony (25 yrs old) was found NOT GUILTY  for the murder of her 2 yr old baby girl.

This was a case I had not followed until just a few weeks ago.  I remember back in 2008 hearing in the news of little 2 yr old boy Trenton Ducket  reported missing.  Being that I was pregnant and very hormonal, I didn't want to entertain myself with sad news.  Just within a few months of this child being reported missing, another Florida toddler turns up missing.  This news creates a media frenzy because now two children in the same state come up missing.  Again....I didn't pay much attention but prayed these babies are found. 

I later learned through online news that Trenton Duckett was never found and his mother, unfortunately commited suicide shortly after his disapperance.  Sources say due to all the pressure from police and media.  To this day this little boy is yet to be found.  I, on occasion will drive by a huge billboard and see his picture with words saying "Help find Trenton Duckett".  I do hope one day this baby is found. 

As months progressed, I continued to stay away from the media frenzy on the missing baby girl in Florida.  I was sad that the grandparents were being treated with such hate and had heard the little girl's mother was arrested.  I then thought...."Hmmm, I figured she was involved, very sad indeed".  I continued to not pay any attention to the case until just recently.

I with some curiousity wanted to know what the big deal was with this whole case.  I listened to some of the 911 calls and her intense police interview which was made public.  I couldn't believe my ears all the false information she was giving the police and continued to give the police.  I thought that maybe it was an accident and she was to scared to confess so she made it look like the nanny kidnapped the baby.  This was the "lie" she stuck with for months.  Police found enough evidence that Zanny the Nanny was a lie which she continued to say that it was true and they were able to track her whereabouts via cell phone towers (amazing).  When the baby's body was found in Dec of 2008 in the woods(swamp) behind her home,  it was to late to do an autopsy on her tissues.  All the police had was a bag of bones, literally. 

I then watched the opening statements from both sides: 

Prosectution had enough evidence to accuse her of murder via the chloroform searches done on her computer, the contents of chloroform found in the trunk and the duct tape found at the scene.  They clearly painted the picture that this was a premeditated murder via chloroform and duct tape (thus suffocating).  Also she drove with the decomposing body for a few days before dumping in the woods(swamp) behind her home.  She had even borrowed a shovel from the neighbor in thoughts of burying her daughter in the backyard...she never did and returned the shovel within an hour.

The defense opened saying Casey was raised in a dysfunctional home.  She was raised to lie and keep secrets and this is why she lied about the missing baby girl being with the Nanny.  Caylee "really drowned"  in the pool and Casey was scolded by her father who also witnessed the drowing.  He supposedly dumps the body in the woods and then makes it look like a "kidnapping" which would lead to pointing the finger back to Casey.  Casey then goes into some sort of denial and in within 24 hours and for a total of 31 days, she is partying with friends and spends her nights with her boyfriend, goes on a shopping sprees with stolen money, and never tells her mother because this is a "secret" that she can never tell.  This is a secret only to be kept between herself and her sexual abusive father. Who "supposedly" abused her when she was 8, but it is sort of a hazy recollection of this abuse.  The defense also claims that the the family was so dysfunctional that no one in her family knew she was pregnant until she was about 8 months along (at the age of 19)....big denial was part of the family dysfunction.

Yeah....ok...I can belive there was some dysfunction.  But from pictures and learning a bit about the family...this family loved their baby grand-daughter who was lavished with nice clothes, well taken care of by the grandparents. She was loved by the whole family...including her mother.  So how can a loved baby turn up murdered and dumped in a swamp?  I still thought that maybe this was an accident...I never felt completely settled that she was 100% guilty.  Thus, I can understand how the Jury found this woman NOT GUILTY.  This trial left you with some questions....that's if you ignore the media and look at the evidence.  Yes...you could have assumed her guilt but it could have been an accident.  Is she innocent...No...I don't think so.  Unfortunately, there are death threats on her life and the life of her family.  She is not adored by Americans today. 

I am not throwing stones at this woman.  Since the day I began following this story, I prayed that the truth be made known and if she is guilty then she should pay for the acts.  God's will be done in this Case and all we can say that it was.

I also had a chance to read some of her inmate letters that were made public (but never brought in as evidence) that she was a lover of God and had a Relationship with God.  Almost every page of these many letters to her inmate friend were words of Godly encouragement and her love and trust for God's deliverance in this "journey" she was on.  She repeatedly spoke of the miracle she will get one day (I'm assuming her aquittal) and that God was showing her the Light at the end of the tunnel.  She refers to God as Daddy and continued to speak of Jesus's blood running through hers.  She writes of her heart feeling at peace knowing Caylee was in heaven with Jesus.  She writes of her prayers for her family's salvation.  I couldn't believe what I was reading.  And of course the media is not going to share any of this with the public because almost every page talks of God as her Father and Jesus as her Savior.

 No, she never says anything about what happened to Caylee in her letters.  In some instances she talks of the "real Zanny" not being responsible.  Was she trying to protect her father all along but then she finally tells it all  before the trial?   Many believe Casey murdered her child....yes there is alot of the evidence that connects her to this but not enough to know exactly how Caylee died.  I don't think anyone would ever belive this young mother if she completely told the truth.  Unfortunately this is very, very sad.

Also, we can sit here and judge her heart and say she was LYING about her relationship with God but I will not do this.  I do hope that if she is a woman of God, she will be truthful and honest.  I pray she confesses.

My opinion on the verdict is that Casey should have gotten some sort of punishment for waiting to long to report her to law enforcement.  Eventually it was her own mother who reported Caylee missing.  Casey was found guilty on four counts for lying to law enforcement...but unfortunately she has served this time already these past 3 years.  The jail says she was an outstanding inmate, which means she will probably not have to serve another day.  Yep...she could be out by Friday!!  I hope the judge keeps her in a little bit longer and overrides the motion for allowing her to get off this weekend.  This is all for Casey's sake!!!  There are many out there who want to take her life.

As of now the parents are in hiding due to the many death threats they are receiving and I don't know how Casey will live a normal life here in this country.  My prayers do go out to this whole family including Casey the accused.

Please take time to sign the Caylee's Law petition on the side blog.   This makes it a felony for a parent or guardian to not notify law enforcement of a child going missing in a timely manner.  Do this to honor this sweet little girl Caylee Marie Anthony!!

May 2011: Friendship Smiles--Our month in review

Posting my monthly slideshow.  I had a really great month.  I just love putting this together.  It brings everything back into perspective and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Remember click somewhere in th middle of the box.

This free picture slideshow made with Smilebox

One Thousand Gifts

It has been quite sometime since I wrote anything truly from my heart. 

I feel I have avoided typing anything meaningful lately. 

Yes....

I do post my monthly slide-show but that's about it. 

Yes....

I have been busy keeping up with schooling,
 chasing the kids around,
keeping them on top of things...

or is it....

I am keeping myself on top of things....
hmmmm. 

I guess both. 

There are many days where I feel like life just moves....


When I am
doing,
going,
not really thinking.....


But then again,
I am....ALWAYS....thinking of life


I know....that....I am...

 Always in thought,
yet not always in serious prayer....
Thinking of what God is revealing in my heart.
the secret place of my heart.


I guess this is where I fail at times...
NOT
completely giving my heart in audible prayer.


So...
 does thoughtful,quiet prayer count in a Christian's life?


I am one who ponders on God and prays continually in heart and thoughts
 but many times these prayers don't come out of my
 mouth.


"I need to...."
I always tell myself...


"I just need to make the time and place to just let goooooo.....and....
 PRAY!"


BUT....
but
most of every.time.
they are thought-filled prayers..
prayers that are kept within the
secret chambers of my heart.


So, as I go about my days the thoughts that fill my mind
are thoughts of


"I'm waiting"

Waiting for what???  

That is what I don't know???

I guess life to 
"start..." 

But hasn't it already started...????

It started some odd years ago when I received Christ in my life...

making,
 letting 
Him BE
the Lord of and in my life. 

The Healer of my heart!!

The Hope of my dreams!!

Didn't it begin those many years ago with
a Love so
 new,
freeing,
yet mysterious. 

GOD....

JESUS...

What is He doing now...??

What is He showing me now...??


In that hidden place of my
Heart.
Mind...


Is it....

How much of an unthankful and pitiful woman I truly am???


How I feel like I haven't yet
mastered being this 
amazing woman,
wife,
mom,
daughter,
sister,
friend....
child of God?


Or is He knocking at the window of my soul.
my core. 
and speaking these words to me.


I LOVE YOU!!!

Could it be that I have never 
let Him 
LOVE ME as he needs to LOVE ME??


love me??


OH yes I know HE does...but have I let Him?

Soooo

In my search for more of
LIFE.LOVE.
COMMUNION with GOD...


a dear friend of mine happen to have
recommended a book written by a woman who has a heart for God and a heart to give thanks.


Oh.YES...
I need to give more thanks...


Thankfulness is truly a healing balm..
an anointing oil.
an elixir to complete enjoyment..
to the most beautiful,
peaceful,
phenomenal
parts of everyday life.
~~Gratitude~~

So I introduce you to
 (A Holy Experience) aholyexperience.com


(I even added some classical music to my blog since I fell in love with the peacefulness of hers)

If you haven't stumbled upon this blog before...
her writing is so beautiful and so encouraging in a way that it truly makes you weep in the awe and love of God.
She is a beautiful writer, with a beautiful heart.  

She has a book called
 "One Thousand Gifts".  

A beautiful, powerful book that reveals her journey into finding a more fulfilled life.  

Here is a glimpse in the type of book it is:  Click on the video to watch.  It takes only a few minutes....It will make you cry, smile, and love your family.....your life even the more!
(Don't forget to pause the music on this blog) 

After watching this short trailer for the book
I KNEW 
I had to order it.


I KNEW 
it was going to minister to my heart
and it has already.


It arrived yesterday.


I anxiously waited for this book to come in contact with my hands knowing that I was going to embrace every word and allow the Lord to minister to my heart
 through the writings of this lovely author.

"One Thousands Gifts"
 is already so beautiful in my heart...
I had to share with everyone of you.


I know
this book
will make me
ponder those moments of my day


Not to
take each and every moment as "just another day" of everyday humdrum


But another day 
Yes.
ANOTHER DAY
to embrace the gifts he has truly laid before my 
feet
eyes
nose
hands
...

These gifts can easily be overlooked


They can be seen as "nothingness"


In the reality of this life,
each and every moment,
gift,
 God brings
about in my life
 is to be
embraced.
not to be looked down at as
annoyance,
time wasters
or
simply
unimportant.


Each and every treasured moment is like
different colors being handed to me
for the painting of this mural
called: my life


But how...


How can I lay hold of each moment as
a piece of a puzzle waiting to come into connection
with the other pieces of this very
complex masterpiece??
How do I go figuring it out?


Could it be that I need to just....
slow down a bit
try not to "hurry up"...
and
 get this "day" over with?


Trying not to make things soooo
incredibly complicated
(aha...I tend to do this ALOT)
but looking 
to understand
that with each and every moment
 He is walking with me....
loving me

Captivated in April!!

Here is my monthly picture slideshow I put together to remember beautiful moments during the month.

April was a refreshing month where each and everyday I was captivated by the love of God and my family.

If you can't see the main screen of this slide show just find the center of the square....for some reason it shows "white" or blank....but if you click around the center area you can view it.

A picture slideshow by Smilebox

Month in Review-Crazy Normal Days in March

Sharing a bit of March!!

My Crazy Normal Days...

Personalize your own free digital slideshow

Turn that TV off!!

Finding time to blog has been a little tough lately.  I don't know why.  Maybe it's because I feel I don't have anything good to share but then again that would be totally out of character for me because I am one of those women who can talk your ear off for hours and share with you my life story.  Truly!  So.....not having anything to say is just a big excuse.....ok so maybe it is finding the time. 


As of late, I've been really, really striving to do the best I can in being a good steward over my time, children, and homemaking.  My heart's desire is to have an orderly home, orderly children, and a peaceful atmosphere. There are those days where I dream of being in a place where life is a bit simple....where I don't have modern technology like computers, tv, game systems trying to grab the attention of my children.  I don't know why this is so easy to "default" to when a "break" is needed or when I need some "alone time" or just to gravitate towards that "entertainment" for the children when they cry out "I'm bored". 

I gotta admit....I hate this about myself.  I grew up watching television and being entertained by the world's ways.  I don't want my children to desire these things but then again....I am allowing it!!  You see...it's my fault....I am letting them entertain themselves with these gadgets.  Now..... I am not saying that TV of itself is a bad thing.  I think it is fine in moderation and yes, maybe even some video games , but all the time.......is not good!  I'm sure many of you would agree.

The other day, I spent a wonderful time chatting to a wonderful friend of mine who I admire so much.  She is younger than I and has younger children but she seems so wise above her years.  I love chatting with her because I leave so encouraged.  She does such a great job mothering her children and devoting much time to their growth and development.  One thing she doesn't have or rarely does she let her children do is....watch tv or play video games.   She fills their time with wholesome activities such as knitting, drawing, creating, crafting.  Yes....all those lovely things many of us should do more of.  


So in our conversation, she said this which I would love to share with you all:

All to often I think people have kids as side objects or cute things, almost as if they were a hobby...they want to keep their fancy lifestyle with all the bells and whistles of corporate or singlehood and have pretty little kids on the side.... instead I look at them more as a career....something that you take on that requires the best that you have for the time that you have them. I feel like it is our duty to give them the very best of every thing you can (and I certainly do not mean material goods) but of yourself, knowledge and home....that being said we will have the ultimate evaluation from our Lord one day and that is enough to make me strive my hardest each and every day to do my very best at this "career" I've chosen....although I always feel I fall short and every day I wish I would have done something or said (and sometimes not said something) differently....but that's what so wonderful about our Lord is he knows our hearts and he forgives us when we are wrong...So i guess mainly that we should put a lot more thought into what we do with our kids, how and what we teach them, what they are exposed to, how much time we give them of ourselves.....

And she definitely puts a lot of thought into what she does as a mother.  I love this about my friend!  

I loved what she said on being accountable to the Lord one day on how we raised our children and how and what we imparted.  This should bring us all to our knees as we meditate and ponder on how our days are structured.  When I come face to face with my Lord, I want to Him to say that I did what He wanted me to do.  Meditating on this truth brings me to strive  more and more to be the best steward I can possibly be for my children's sake.  I have gifts that God has entrusted me with and I want to take good care of these little ones (no matter how big they are getting) to teach, train, and instruct them to become the best they can be in the eyes of God.  

So dear ones, be encouraged to do your best today.  If you mess up (and I do lots during the day...ha ha) God is so gentle as He leads us mothers.  Even when the desire to turn the tv is so strong, choose to turn them onto a productive activity that will build their character and grow their intelligence.   I have to remind myself this everyday.  And trust me, I am preaching more to myself than anyone else....ha ha!  

If you have anymore encouraging words as to how you manage without turning the tv on.  Let me know.  With the more children in the home, it sometimes can be an easy babysitter, especially when you are trying to get things done around the house or schooling the older kids.  What do you do to keep the little ones "entertained" during those times?  I would love to get some input and maybe do a post on it. 

Ok...gotta run and care for my tribe!  

PS...oh and I wanted to say remember there are seasons in your life where maybe you will do things you would have never thought you would dare do...but remember these are seasons.  I am one to flip-flop in seasons. God knows my heart..... even when my life seems so overwhelming.  Seasons are good and they teach us so, so much.  So about this post on TV watching....yeah, those seasons come and go.   There are seasons of NO tv and there are season where we watch to much PBS kids or Dora.  ha ha!

Blessings to you all...

Chris xoxo