Before and After…

BEFORE

AFTER

What We’ve Been Up To:

Learning to Read:

Reading a Proverb a day:

Learning about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit:

Getting more organized:

And we found several different workbooks at the Dollar Tree for just $1 each!

We’re all doing well.

Greetings!

I’ve missed you all!

While fasting the computer, I kept a journal.  Several entries consist of plans, struggles and mistakes.  Challenges beyond even my own understanding occurred.  I realized that my problem consisted more with distraction from real life – and the computer did just that.  Whenever I was bored, tired, cranky, stressed, and even hungry, I would desire to turn on the computer.  I longed to watch a movie/show… to do anything to take from the responsibilities around me that I had been avoiding for so long.

Laundry got tackled, reorganization occurred, relationships established, and most importantly I grew in Christ and spent time with Him.  I failed throughout most of the fast… but I did accomplish this – I saw where the problem lied.  I saw what my hindrance is and now I know what I must do.  Even with how hard it is.

I am committing myself to a partial fast.  I am trusting that though it will be difficult, God will help me through it as He did over the 40 days leading up to Easter.  I have found that I can’t do it for me or even my family.  It is only for Him that I was able to succeed.  I must do it for Him again.

I share this with all of you in hopes to be strengthened by the accountability and prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ.  In my weakness His strength is revealed!  I will not be on the computer except for Fridays.  I will continue to keep a journal and share with you my troubles, prayer requests, and praise reports.  I thank you all for your friendship and love!

I have several praises!  God is so good and I am blessed to have seen Him at work in my life.

After an awful and lonesome day about 11 or so days into my fast, I fell at the feet of Jesus.  He gave me a fresh start and showed me in the Word that though a righteous man may fall, he will rise (Proverbs 24:16).  Praise God!

My children and I spent time with one another and played, talked, learned, and enjoyed each other.  Though I fell many times… I kept rising in the name of Jesus! Praise God!

After coming to a place of repentance for secret sins in my life and confessing them to God and those who I’m closest with, I was forgiven!  I rose!  Praise God!

During my fast, after many prayers of friends who lived closer by who I could glean from in the way of which He has been leading us, I received a phone call from a woman who had moved to my area a year ago with her husband and two sons.  They found us on a fellowship directory that was established to help like-minded Christians find others who lived nearby.  They are an experienced homeschooling family who share our Christian faith, family values, marriage roles, child raising, and political views.  I look forward to getting to know them more!  Praise God!

Our new friends suggested and lent us the book “To Train Up a Child” by Debi and Michael Pearl and once I started it, I could not put it down.  I have since (though I’ve fallen, I’ve gotten back up!) seen many changes in the relationship of my children with my husband and I once we started implementing the training we got!  Praise God!

Another book suggested was “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” and we’ve begun teaching our girls to read.  They’ve enjoyed it and it’s been such an encouragement on this task of raising and educating our children as the Lord leads us to. Praise God!

Without sharing too personal of information, the Lord has brought back into my life several women who have fallen in the wayside over the last year and more!  It was after my decision to fast the computer that God used me to give scriptural strength to a woman against fear of the unknown, comfort and forgiveness to a mother who aborted her baby, as well as a new confidence and hope for a mother of three  in training her children, and who knows how else the Lord is moving/has moved!  I look forward to seeing what else He has in store for me! Praise God!

I am looking for every opportunity to share Jesus, something that I’ve not done as much as I should have been prior to my fast.  I want to speak only by the Lord’s leading and with only His words on my tongue.  Lord I pray that You would give me the words to speak!  In the authority of Jesus!

And so I leave you with the update of the past month and a half.  My prayer is that God would keep in my remembrance… and that I would purpose myself to remember… that I must smile always, speak softly, share the love of Jesus, and pray without ceasing!  In this, only His glory will shine forth!!

Praise God!

My Newest Baby Niece…

I just want to kiss her and touch her and cuddle with her!!!

My Sister Debbie is in Labor!!

DEBBIE’S WATER BROKE @ 12:15am CST!!! YAYAYAYAYA!!!

Contractions are all under 5 mins @ 2am CST!!!

I just received the phone call that @ 4:35am CST Amira Lee is here!  A baby GIRL!!  YAY!!

More info to come!

More Family!

Yesterday afternoon we went to visit with Nana.  Before lunch was served, Chris’s great aunt and great uncle stopped for a long awaited reunion.  What kind people!  They shared some pictures that they brought along, and I was shocked at how much Chris looked like Uncle Larry as a teenager when he was a teenager.  SHOCKED!  After they left we shared a delicious lunch of steak for the adults and hamburg for the kids, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans and flat bread.  It was wonderful.  For dessert we had homemade chocolate chip cookies (which were a huge hit despite Nana’s concern for adding too much milk, hehe) alongside some ice cream.  Then the people started to stroll in!

Everyone is so wonderful and kind and fun.  Fun and funny is a big UNDERSTATEMENT.  haha

So far we’ve met Nana, her daughters Kim and Kathy, sons Rick and Larry, and sister and brother in-law (Unfortunately I don’t remember their names!!).  Kim’s grand-daughters Alyssa (11) and Aliyah (4).  Kathy’s husband, Richard.  Rick’s son Percy.  And Larry’s wife Lisa, daughter Amanda (who’s pregnant with great-grandchild #17), and grandson, Cody.

I’m so thankful to be a part of such a funloving family!  I’ll keep you all posted with any new updates!