Day 5

I am thankful that I am free to worship the One True King.

 

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, and who the Son sets free, is free indeed!!!

 

I am honored to be able to go to the Lord's house, and worship with His people.

I have served in many jobs at our Church....well, it's not ours, it's His. I mean at the place we worship, and I have been humbled and honored to do so. Please don't recognize me, or give me any "pats on the back" because I would rather be rewarded by my Savior one day instead!!!

 

Please watch a Sunday morning service (which we stream live on the Internet, as well as our Tuesday night services) here.

 

Lots of countries do not allow people to worship freely, and lots of churches right here in the USA frown upon that also. Our pastor was an evangelist for 17 years, full time, and he said one time he was broken hearted when a church turned him down for a revival. He prayed and said, "God they won't let me in," and God spoke to him and said, "Don't worry, they won't let me in either!!!"

 

I'll tell ya what, Greater things than these will I do, through Christ Jesus. I let God use me, however He sees fit, and He does, and for that, I am thankful.

Day 4

I am thankful for seasons.

 

Each season serves it's purpose, and usually arrives right on time.

 

A couple of years ago, God really showed me different things about each season.

The natural seasons went hand in hand with the spiritual seasons of my life. God never ceases to show up and show out for those who seek Him. He said if we'd search for Him with our whole heart, we would find Him. Also, David said he had never seen the righteous forsaken. I don't know if I'd consider myself "righteous" but I can definitely say that He's never forsaken me, no matter what season I was in, and I have always been able to find Him. Seasons come, serve their purpose, and then change, and for that, I am thankful.

 

Fall

Winter

Spring

Summer

Day 3

I am thankful for flowers!!!

 

Something about them makes me smile.....whether they are in my yard, or not, I just enjoy looking at them!!!

 

I had some more pictures, but simply did not have time to throw it together!

 

 

 

I also have a favorite song about flowers....it really reminds me of my Aunt Ruby a lot.....enjoy!

 

Flowers are pretty, and make me smile, and for that......I am thankful!

Day 2

I am thankful for grocery day!!!



There is more in the fridge, and more on the counter top, and I should have arranged this better, but you get the idea! I had been grocery shopping!!!

I know there are so many people around the world, shoot, some are even around the corner, who cannot afford the things we can. I've never heard one of my children say, "I am hungry," and not been able to go to the kitchen to get something.....most of the time, something that's been requested even. I do know that sometimes, these families who don't appear to have much also do not try, and that is pitiful. The reason I am thankful for grocery day, is because I am thankful that my husband gets up daily, and works until it's quitting time, and never, EVER, has "made me work" outside of our home. We are not rich by any means, but we've never gone hungry, or done without, and for that, I am thankful.

30 days of Thanks: Day 1

So, November, here we are!!! I'm not sure where the past 10 months have gone, but nonetheless, we are here! And, I have had the blogging idea to post each day (the last time I said that, it came not so true!) something I am thankful for. I have way more than 30 things to be thankful for, but I just thought it'd be fun to do this. I did something similar to this in February of 2010, where I did something I loved each day. This, may be similar, as they go hand in hand, but still, I thought I'd give it a shot, so the 4 of you reading this will have something to look forward to!!! hahaha!!!! They will be in no particular order. I am taking and writing down 30 thankful thoughts, then randomly picking one out of a bag, and that's what I'll blog about.

Today's thankful thought:
I'm thankful to be a 90s kid!!!!

I probably would've liked to have been a kid from any previous generation really, but certainly not this one! Having a 2nd grade son has me realizing that being a child today is actually hard. Most kids have it easy so far as life goes, but keeping up with pressures and demands is tiring. There are only a couple of things I worried about as a child.....am I gonna watch Mr. Rogers or Sesame Street...oh the choices?!?! Or, should I swing on the tire swing, or ride my bike??? As hard as it is, we try not to teach Noah to keep up with the "Joneses" but it is just that.....hard! This post may step on toes (including mine!!!), but it's not intended to, it's simply my opinion. And, opinions are like noses, everyone has one.......

This past summer, I was talking with someone who had a very different childhood from most children today. They got up early, did chores, fed animals, went to chapel, then school, came home, did chores, and didn't have TV, radio, or video games. His mom told me her children missed all of the 80s. They worked and had lots of family time, not in front of an electronic. That person knows how to cook, clean, do laundry, repair things, build things, and obviously from the lack of entertainment, read!! haha. Then he says kids now a days say they are bored!!! That moment made me realize that he is right. I have already been teaching Noah how to cook, for fear that he will marry someone who can't, and I don't want him to starve one day! He also makes his bed, and sets the table, and cleans up after he eats. He has always kept his room tidy. He has TV, and video games, but he can only play his video games on the weekend, and if he gets all G's in conduct for the week. Really, he doesn't fuss much about any of it, and on certain days, when all else is done, we may let him play his games or whatever. But most children today feel that rewards aren't earned, and that chores are punishment. As much as I hate doing "chores" myself, it's just a part of life!!! And I do want my children to know that!!! I certainly do not want my children to work so much that they miss childhood, nor do I not want them to have the things they want. I simply want them to have a balance, and to know that there are more important "things" in life, than "things!"

Another example of how different this generation is....my husband used to be a PE teacher. Here a few months back, we were talking at the dinner table (where we eat!) and Noah mentioned that in PE that day, they danced. They don't dance with each other, it's an independent thing, and I think it's really more of a warm-up activity. Any who, Derrick mentioned that he did not miss trying to teach "dance" in PE, as he feels "dance" isn't a sport! He taught jumping jacks and push-ups, you know, physical fitness. Noah asked Derrick did he teach dance to the kids, and Derrick said, "No way! We played exercised and played games at PE!" Noah excitedly replied, "Y'all had video games?!?" That's what he associates playing games with!!! Derrick assured him by "games" he meant baseball, basketball, volleyball, kickball, tether ball, bouncy ball.....anything with "ball" involved!!! How sad it was that our child's first thought that went with "game" was "video game!" We were disappointed. I am disappointed when our PE dept teaches dance also!!! That's another story, but I guess you could say I am also thankful for the teachers of my generation!!!

So, I feel that one thing I most certainly can be thankful for is being a 90s kid!!! Not everyone got a trophy, you had to win to do that! Not everyone went to every birthday party, or every event, those days were more special. I didn't have to be entertained, I pretended. We didn't eat fast food all of the time, not only am I pretty much healthy, but when we did go out to eat, it was a treat!!! My parents may not have done everything right, but I can say I had a great, worry free, childhood!!! And for that, I am thankful!!!

 

 

 

Eight is great....

...just ask Noah!!! I can hardly believe that my firstborn is already 8 years old, but he was born on October 22, 2004, and then I blinked, and here we are 8 years later!!! He had quite the celebrations this year.....

 

 

Cupcakes at school

These are his best friends here with him. It was also bandanna day for Red Ribbon Week, because our school is going to "band" against drugs!!!

 Then cupcakes with the team after practice

Still in shock that the candle is an "8"

Happy Birthday to You!

Then Saturday, we partied at the house!!! Unfortunately, I did not get lots of pictures from this party, simply because I was living in the moment, but here are a few high points.

The birthday boy with dad and mom!

His Miami Heat Birthday Cake!

 Noah had lots of fun with lots of family and friends at his party. We are so thankful for the wonderful people who are all a part of our lives. He also got several nice gifts, including a Wii....which he has wanted for years now!!! While gifts aren't everything, it's pretty much the only thing we got pictures of!!!! A friend ran in and grabbed my camera, and here are a few we caught in snapshots...

A football signed by Donte Hightower (he played for Bama last year) and the ball reads, "Happy 8th Birthday Noah!"

A Miami Heat Championship T-shirt......and yes, we let that kid in the orange and blue come.......after a slight hesitation!

His Julio Jones jersey.....you know we love our Foley boys!!! We watched him all throughout high school when my in-laws worked for the Alabama Sheriff's Boys Ranch, and had a child in their home who was the quarterback then. Also, the hubs used to work with Julio's dad, so we go way back......otherwise, it's Black and Gold all the way!!!

A couple of Wii games to accompany his new favorite past-time!

And like so many good things, this day had to come to an end also......but, what a wonderful 8 years I have had as the mom of Noah, and cannot wait to see him grow up, and serve the Lord in his calling. Sweet Noah, Mama wishes you many, many more!!!!

10-14-12

October 14 is known around here as D-Day......Derrick's Birthday that is!!!

 

He is a whopping 42 years old, and doesn't mind sharing it, he's just so proud to have survived another trip around the sun.

 

This year however, we added another reason to celebrate 10-14. It's also the date that my niece and nephew were baptized, and I was given the privilege of being my niece's godmother.

 



Derrick, just a toddler here!!!

 

 

We started off our festivities with a little cinnamon roll breakfast!!!

Noah was so stinkin' excited. D would probably not let me live to see 28 if he ever sees this is online! His morning hair do is nothing to brag about!!! Nonetheless, I am sharing it!

Here is Father Pat with Felicity and Cameron.

Here's my bro (the Godfather!) and my sweet girl, along with yours truly.

The kids with their godparents and Father Pat.

We are very proud of these two!!!



Next, we headed out to one of D's favorite local restaurants for lunch.....Noah was all grins when it came banana pudding time! Oh yeah, and D's mom and dad made the trip down late last week to celebrate with their "baby!"

Nicholas enjoyed himself too!!!

The birthday boy!!!

Next, we went to D's folks' house for one of his mom's famous cakes. She does something different for everyone, every year, and D said he couldn't be happier that his mom is still around to do this for him!!!

And I wish him many more!!!