Lent

So, Lent has begun for many. I am sure many of you have already chosen your "thing" to sacrifce. I have heard many ownderful ideas: Facebook, coffee, soda's, tv, work....just to name a few. Before I explain what I am giving up, I want to clear a few things up first.

Due to my personal veiws on certain things, I will not longer refer to it as Lent. I have decided to take this up as my own struggle and will be calling it "40 days with God". To me, calling it lent put too much attention on that fact that I have given up something for God...oh how wonderful I am. Also, I think that in order for me to fully do what needs to be done, I have to remind myself of what the purpose is. I am spending 40 days with God.

I do participate in Lent - like activities. I am not Catholic and do not support the Catholic church. I an a Christian but I do like the idea of sacrificing something for 40 days just as Christ did in the desert. .

In the past, I have given up tv, all drinks besides water, fast foods, music, coffee, desserts, pretty much the same things everyone gives up. Now, I am in no way implying that if you gave up any of those things then your sacrifice is no good. Those are great things to give up. Anything that takes up time that could be otherwise given to God is worth giving up. But for me, this year needs to be different.

It is easy to give up all drinks but water. I like water. So the sacrifice is there but minimul for me. I rarely watch tv and when I give it up, I don't use that time for Christ. So that just didn't work well for me. Giving up fast food isn't really a sacrifice since we don't eat it much. So this year I found myself at a loss. What could I give up? How do I spend my time? Well, I find a few minutes a week to blog, be on facebook, check email and such so that wouldn't be a sacrifice. Part of me wishes to give these things up so I could rest and not work so much. Which leads me to the other way I spend my time...work. Can't really give that up. I thought I had it when I decided to give up laundry and use the hours each day I normally spend washing and folding, rejoicing God that I didn't have to do it....but that wouldn't be a sacrifice. So what to do?????

Well, ar first I thought this was God's way of telling me I was good. There was no need to give up anything for Him. I mean, come on, this isn't a must do kind-a-thang. I am not Catholic. God hasn't given me any ideas so I must be in pretty good shape...right?

Well, not really. He had been laying something in my path for a while that He has deemed no good. it sin't something that I spend lots of time with. But the after effects do take up lots of time and mind power. There is somethng in my life that I don't necessarily put before God, but it takes up time that could be more wisely spent. It would be a hug deal to give it up. It will be hard. It will take almost an hour-by-hour sacrifice. Something that has already, this morning, proven it will take every bit of will I have in order to follow through... I have given up processed foods....yes people - I have gone insane and for 40 days and 40 nights I can't eat anything that tastes good. Some of you are out there screaming "NO!!!! DON'T DO IT!!!" - but I have already committed myself with a breakfast of raw carrots. Those of you who really love me have just thought about the fact that my birthday is coming on March 7th. What will I do?? I can't have the icecream cake I have been craving since last year. Will I survive?? I just don't know. Right now, on the table beside me is a pile of Valentine's candy that is calling my name. Perhaps just a taste won't hurt.....GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!!!!! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So I will be fine. I will be eating lots of Raw things. I will not be giving up milk...I just will not. I also will consider frozen vegies to be fine since freezing them actually helps the vitamins in them stay strong. So, until Sunday(apparently the day of the week you can have anything you want- someone explain why please??) I will be preservative free!!! And I will not cry and scream uncontrollably at meal times....I will thank God for the food and I will spend lots more time with Him than normal since I will have to rely on Him to get me through the cravings....
See you in April!!!!

Snow Beautiful

Last night, our power went out. As I lay on the sofa, staring out at, the brightness of the new fallen snow I could not help be become contemplative. I thought about how beautiful it was and how it must been even more so to God. I am sure He enjoyed looking down on us as we played yesterday and made tracks in the snow. I know He loved all of the prayers sent up by children of all ages, praising Him for His goodness. And then, as everyone piled into their homes to warm up and rest their bodies, He allowed the snow to continue, covering up all proof that we were ever outside. Fresh snow was all around. No footprints, no sled marks. Just a snow man remained. Pristine and untouched. I wondered what the Garden of Eden must have looked like. Surely it was a thousand times more beautiful. I thought about the flood that covered the earth and what it must have looked like from above. I wondered if for one moment, God looked down and smiled at how beautiful this world can be. I know I did.
And then the morning came. It was such a queit and beautiful morning. I walked around and took pictures of the landscape. I looked up into the snow filled trees and noticed they were already melting, ever so slowly. I thanked my Lord for the fact that I am washed white as snow and that my sins, ever the ones that still beat me down, have been forgiven. When Christ looks upon me, I am white as snow!!! And so I am beautiful in His eyes. How AWESOME is My GOD!!!! That He would take a being as dirty and defiled as me, and love me, call me to Him and wash me white as the beautiful snow He allowed to drift into our lives yesterday.
So, as I realized how precious I am to God, I took pictures that I wanted to share here.

My kids enjoyed the SNOW/ice.

Rachie didn't enjoy the outside so much!

But she enjoyed the inside.

Treacherous Driveway!

I always wanted a white christmas - guess I will have to settle for a snow covered tree from the year before.

I love how trees look with the snow or the ice on them. So majestic and beautiful. At the same time, they strike fear in my heart because they are so dangerous.

I love this!

Well- believe it or not....it is snowing in Macon!!!!! I know!!! We have been playing non-stop. We have made snow angels, snow balls, a snowman, had snowball fights(adults) and went tubing. It has been a wonderful day and I wish it would happen more often. I hate that it is dark and we can't play anymore.



Aunt Melanie and Lilly went on a Winter Wonderland Adventure in the back woods.


The were very still for the picture...almost frozen.

Ella Cate was the first to make the snow angel. Beside her is the sign we made for Fort Chastain.

Old Holton Road

This is great!! I think Rachel is a snow bunny for sure!!

Young love!!!

SNOW!!!

Uncle Ned - the best Brother-in-law ever!!!

Evil Grin!!

YAY for the SNOW!!!!!!

Daniel threw a snowball at Aunt Melanie. It was hard to get him to stand still for a moment!

This first picture is of the kids with out school calendar where we were finally able to use the snow for our weather spot!!! Next to that is Layne with a goofy grin.

It's been a long time

Oh my!!! I can't believe that is has been such a long time. I have just gotten busy with life and had so little time for anything else. So I guess I should update a bit.

Layne - still working all the time and working hard. He is working as a commercial tire salesman and he does lot sof the behind the scenes work at FEC. He is there 7 days a week, after he is done working his other job. He is amazing!! He comes home exhausted. I am blessed to have such a wonderful man.

Lilly-

Well, our struggle with school has calmed down for a bit. She was allowed to visit Veritas Academy, a local school for homeschool families and she enjoyed it. However, she quickly realized she has a lot to learn before she can return. So her hopes are that next year we will allow her to attend. Which we have decided to consider, but the ultimate decision is up to God. Lilly is currently reading fairly well and she excels in math. She is also playing basketball and enjoys her Wednesday night class; the only time she is away from her entire family!!

Ella Cate - Ella Cate is now five and she is WILD!! She has little fear but such a big heart. She wants to learn all the time and travel. She knows we can't go anywhere special so she has been begging people at church to let her go home with them. She loves animals and her bestest friend, Katie. Her imagination is flourishing and she is always willing to help me around the house. She is a cheerleader this year and finished her first year of soccer in the fall.

Daniel - Well, well, well.....I am just unsure of what to say. This boy is always on the go. He never stops! He loves to play and he loves when there are boys around to play with. His bestest friend is his Cam right now. He loves motorcycles and dinosaurs and anything boyish!! And he is learning his colors and shapes.

Rachel - Well, this kid is amazing. She has been attending physical therapy to help with her low muscle tone in her lower body. So, she has gone from crawling on her belly to standing alone in just a few weeks!!! AMAZING!!! She loves to stand and will walk if she has assistance. She is beautiful too, just like her sisters. I have finally been able to put her hair in bows and it is hillarious.

Me - Well, not much. I haven't really done anything noteworthy or special. Just the same ole run of the mill sort of stuff. I work and try to clean the house and cook. I teach. That is really it.

But I am posting pics of us all and the video of Rachie standing, if I can figure out how to. I will update againt tomorrow. We have a field trip for school and it is going to SNOW!!