Delayed post: My baby is going to be 13!

Hee Hee, I had written this a while back, well actually 2 years ago, thought I would go ahead and post it now 7/09 Well she is not the baby of the family, she is my oldest. But nonetheless just as special as my other 2! This child is the leader, is very smart, and a pleasure to hang out with. Yes, she is hitting those much feared years by many parents. The teenage years. Woahhaaaa haaa! But really for her its a breeze. It may cause a bit more emotions than we are used to but we are taking it one step at a time. This child has so many wonderful qualities. She is my friend and my daughter, and I am so proud to have her at my side. God really knew what He was doing when He gave her to me first. Being the oldest child is not the easiest job, I understand, but she does it so well. By being the oldest you are held responsible for 99.9% of everything that goes wrong while mom and dad are not in the room. The finger always gets pointed to the oldest. The oldest will be asked to do more. The oldest is asked to do stuff when noone else wants too. The oldest is responsible for keeping the other two quiet when mom or dad are in a "mood". Alot weighs on the oldest child. Yet, the trust that the parents have for the oldest can not be taken lightly either. The oldest is expected to be more responsible because they have been around slightly longer than the other children. They are expected to be the example of the younger ones. My daughter has helped me through alot of trials in life, just by being my daughter. She has made me not want to give up when I really wanted to. All I had to do was look down at her and have her look up to me and that can give any parent enough strength to carry on. She means the world to me, and I just want her to know how proud I am of her. No matter what she does in life, she will succeed. God is in her life so strong, and a mom can want nothing more than that. As long as she keeps a close relationship with God, she will not go wrong. It is difficult to watch my baby grow. To remember no so long ago, her taking the first step, saying "Momma" and "Appy" (happy). To hear her giggle for the first time. To sing her first song, lose her first tooth. Ride her bike, go to preschool, kindergarten. All the firsts, are so memorable. Now, as she grows she is starting to become accountable to her own decisions. I hope and pray that I have taught her all that she needs to know, and God feels in the gaps! Farewell childhood, and welcome Teenage years I know you will do alright!

Bible quizzing practice #1

Wow! I am on an emotional high right now. It is Tuesday morning, the day after our very first Bible quiz practice. I am so proud that these children are learning the word of God and can quote scripture. I am happy that God has used my husband and myself to kickoff Bible quizzing in FAC. He has supplied us with people that have similar burdens and children that are willing to put their best foot forward. I am overjoyed right now. God has really blessed us with this one! Words can not express what I feel inside, hey, thats a song...I think. Seriously though, to try to put into words right now what I feel seems impossible. I do believe that Bible quizzing is the best thing that I have ever been involved in. I am now completely and utterly hooked. I am by no means a leader but somehow God is working through us to bring this huge task to completion. God is so good, God IS GOOD! Its what He is, not the things He does, HE just is GOOD!. If you dont have a local Bible quiz team, start one! If you need help, ask around. Find a local church that is willing to help you and get it started. You will be blessed and in turn you will secure the life of a young person living their life in God's will. I am amazed with God. I am in shock that this is actually happening! Thank you God for placing this in our care. Thank you!!! And, I have to gloat for a second...our children were awesome! To personally watch them struggle to learn verses and then get up their and buzz in and answer ...all I can say is WOW!!! To watch their hardwork pay off and put into action...WOW!!! I am proud of any child that gets up their and just tries!

My recent blessing

It has been quite a while since I have posted. Its not that God has not laid anything on my heart its that God has filled up my life! Its unbelievable the blessings God has been arranging in my life these past couple of months. I am no longer weary and tired from trials and tribulations, I am tired in a good way. We went from not doing a whole lot for the church to becoming Sunday School teachers to 9-11 yr olds. Dan began working as the Men's leader and we are both directing and coaching Bible quizzing. Sunday school is exceedingly rewarding. These kids are eager to learn and they participate wholeheartedly. I enjoy every single one of them. Its very rewarding. If you have never taught Sunday School before and you are feeling that your life is not going anywhere and that everything is at a standstill...Go teach Sunday School! While at Camp meeting we were talking to a local pastor and suddenly the burden of Bible quizzing was laid on my heart. It had been on my husbands heart apparently already, but now it was on both of us. From that moment I purposed in my heart that this would go forward. While at Camp meeting we asked around and got feedback and approval to go for it! Everyone I talked to said the same thing " Its a lot of hard work!." But through God all things are possible. Of course, they were all right. It is a lot of work. But....when the kids were so excited about it, it renews your energy. When they run up to you quoting scripture, it reignites the fire inside. When you hear these 7-8 yr olds discussing how hard a verse was and how they memorized it....the burden gets lighter! When I did not think there was anyone that was going to give us a hand and that we would figure this out all alone, God provided. He gave us a local pastor that stretched out and is coaching us along with a great spirit! Its amazing to see God work in your life. When you really dont think there is much to do, God pours down His will and His sustenance to do His will. We have been busy doing fundraising and have been able to order material. The kids actual start day is today with memorization. We have a practice in 2 weeks for the first time. I believe that will help encourage the kids of how much fun this is going to be. My son asked me how can someone do all that we are doing right now...he said you cant do all that. But with God....you can! I am so thankful that God has put this into my life. From where I came from...to where I am now is not by my doing, its God's. If I were to look back when I was...say 13...you would not have thought this was possible in my life. If you were to look back from the age of 15 or 16 or even 3 years ago...you would have said there was no hope. And now, God has blessed this family more than I could have ever dreamed! I had to let go of several things so God could place this in my hands. When I finally said, I am done, God said, Okay, here you go! When I was ready to let go of all the past struggles and the lack of self worth and trust God, He turned around and gave me a gift. Its hard to let go of things, its because we maybe dont fully trust God. If you don't trust someone you are not going to give them something to hold onto for you. Its difficult to let go of things because we have held onto them for so long. Our hands are clasped so tight. But, if you let go, there are blessings abundantly waiting for you. Blessings that you can't contain. I did not come from a line of Pentecostals. I was a bus kid. Every Sunday I rode the bus to Sunday school....who would have thought a bus kid would now be directing Bible quizzing!? Another reason I am not qualified according to this world...I have absolutely no experience in quizzing. I have never quizzed. I have never coached a quizzer. My kids have never quizzed until now. I have never seen an actual quiz. So it has been a lot of added work just learning about it so I can coach the coaches and parents and quizzers. We do have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am so excited about it. We are already successful, because almost all of the quizzers now know Exodus 24:12! And we have not even begun. Let go and Let GOD!!!