Not too much and not too little

Since I have been back from Africa my life has taken off and I have wanted to stand still. I have to be honest, even though I missed my family a great deal I really loved it there and miss the pace of life there. I miss how friendly everyone was and how simple life can be in the midst of poverty and dispare.

I have found myself being frustrated with little things and also being bored out of my mind with "nothing to do". That has me thinking though, God has given me the right amount of everything. He has given me the right amount of patience to deal with the frustrations in life, He has given me the right amount of children....because believe me if I had anymore I think I wouldn't have the right amount of hair! God gave me just enough to make me who I am and it works out all the way around for everything.

What I'm trying to say I guess is that I am truly amazed that God knew before we were born just what we needed. He knew the kinds of people we needed in our lives, the place where we live, the church that we go to....everything! How amazing is our Lord?!?!?!

I will live every day thanking my Lord and Savior for the right amount that He has given me. I hope you can do the same.

Slow gas pumps and God....what do they have in common???

Well I think I owe all an apology for not posting more often. Truth is I don't know how many people actually read this and what they think but I do know it makes me feel better to post or to write in general.

Speaking of writing, I kept a regular journal while I was in Africa and have kept up with it since I have been home. For those who don't know I had the awesome privilege to travel to Africa on a mission trip with 13 other Christ followers. It was truly amazing and the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. I hope to share more later on some life changing events that happened there. All in all we saw 313 people come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and countless seeds planted. It was awesome!

One thing I wrote recently in my journal was about how I believe that slow gas pumps are God's way of making you slow down. Let me explain....I woke up the other day just feeling like I was rushed all morning. I had one thing after another to do and one of those things was to fill up my van with gas. Not my favorite thing in the world to do. Well this particular morning I found the closest gas station because again I was in a hurry. I flung in there and got to the pump before anyone else could pull in. I got out, punched the codes in for my debit card and boom, I was pumping gas at 1 gallon per hour! No really I think I really found the slowest gas pump IN THE WORLD! I was so frustrated that I thought of actually stopping it 10 minutes in at 5 gallons. I sat in the car waiting and when I did I glanced down and saw my Bible.

I had left my Bible in there from service the day before. I never do that because I am always looking forward to my quiet time the next day. The quiet time I didn't have this particular morning. God was whispering "slow down Katrina". I couldn't slow down though...I had places I had to be, things I had to get done. I had to go go go! I set the Bible in the seat so I wouldn't forget it the next trip home. Well I got done pumping the gas and by this time the entire day was almost gone. I took off and headed down the road to the next thing I had to do. On my way I noticed that the fire truck and ambulance that passed by the gas station were stopped at the street where I needed to turn.

I'm sure you can put the story together here....you guessed it, there was a bad bad wreck between a van and a truck and a semi. My heart sank and I looked at the seat next to me where my Bible sat and I thanked God for that slow gas pump he drove me to that morning. God's timing is so perfect that we can't even begin to comprehend the plans he has for us. Every detail is so fine and worked out like the slow gas pump.

I'm writing this to encourage you that the next time you are in such a hurry that you forget to spend time with the one that matters the most, Our Lord, just stop. Stop and slow down. Nothing is more important than living life slow enough that you can live it to the fullest. This is a lesson I also learned in Zambia, Africa. The pace of life is so much slower in some ways than our life here. My prayers for myself as well as the rest of our world is that we take the time to not only smell the flowers but to appreciate the beauty of the flowers and who made them.

That's all I have for now....more to come!

Living like a child of The King of Kings

OK so today was a weird start to the day. Rain outside and my kids got up willingly to go to school. I went about as I normally do walking each girl to class and then hanging out in the hall to visit with the other moms I haven't seen for two weeks. I had already seen some people that have recently hurt me and I said a little "help me Lord" prayer to myself.
I went to leave the school and I held the door open for two little kiddos that were running late, what do you expect in the cold rain on the first day back after two weeks off? Anyhow, the mom/dad that was waiting in the car went to drive off as I was walking down the sidewalk back to my car and the not-so-nice person splashed me with cold gutter water! Again I said a little 'help me Lord" prayer and went on trying not to chase down the car and give them who to and what for speech.

It got me thinking of something I got from someone onetime (I know vague right). I got a letter that said "I Am a Child of the King" and it goes on to state all of the things that the Bible says about being a child of God and how you are accepted and not included and you are a citizen of heaven and a member of God's household and how we have access to Him anytime. My favorite sentence on there though is: I am forgiven - completely, totally and absolutely.

I AM FORGIVEN! That was enough to make me say enough is enough, I forgive ALL those who have hurt me or "done me wrong" or splashed me with cold gutter water. I forgive those in my past, I forgive those that are doing something right now, I forgive those that are going to do something. I am not saying that I wont be hurt by them BUT I am saying that God has forgiven me so who am I to hold onto something that someone has done to me?

When God's word tells me that I am forgiven then I must forgive others. I am God's creation, made perfect in His image and so therefore I must act as Christ in the flesh and forgive others.

So starting this new year out right I am choosing to live my life like the Child of THE KING I know I am and forgive. I am choosing to be a dwelling place in which God lives by His Spirit and is happy to be there! I Am a Child of the King and choose to live this day as one.

Being called and saying YES!

Ok so what do you do when you feel God calling you to do something really outside of your comfort zone?
Well for the past several years I have been saying "NO, Not right now". Recently I have prayed for God to use me in some way to further his kingdom. I want God to move me in a way that I can serve him and him alone. Not to long ago my pastor talked about whatever the question was that God was asking you put your yes on the table. Put it on there before he asks. Well I went down and prayed that prayer and told God that whatever the question was, my yes was on the table and that I would do whatever it takes to further his kingdom.
Long story short my friends, I have felt God calling me to go on a mission trip to Africa with my church. This is the exact same thing I have been saying no to! God has placed an unimaginable burn in my heart for Africa and the people there. I don't know what God has in store for me there nor do I plan to "figure it all out", I will simply submit to him and allow him to work in me.

I can tell you that my mom is not ready for this and I think my kids are on the fence but I couldn't ask for a more supportive husband. He is doing everything he can to help me to prepare for this....he is even shopping for clothes for me! He is so worried that I will get a bad sun burn.

So if you are reading this then I ask for you to do something for me. Please pray that God will protect us, guide us and prepare us that are going. Please pray that he will guide our path and present opportunities for us along the way to present the Gospel to others. That is the most precious thing that you can do for us. If you are wanting to help financially you are more than welcome to. The trip is about $3000.00 for each of us and every penny helps. Let me know and I will send you a letter on how you can help with that.

Thank you now for the prayers and I cant wait to see how God will work in your life!

A new phase of life....

It hit me today that my husband, Richard and I are entering into a new phase of life. It's not a bad phase but it's a different phase. My son, Colt, was sitting on the couch after school today eating a snack and watching tv. It hit me, we are dealing with a preteen hormonal child!

It feels like yesterday I was changing his diapers and rocking him to sleep. Today he fixed his own snack and put himself to bed. I will miss the things I use to do for him but I know now that I will be doing new and different things for him. I am enjoying getting to see the young man that he is growing into. I know God has big plans for Colt and I know Colt is allowing God to use him to further His kingdom here on earth.

I am reminded that the Bible tells us that our children are only ours for a little while and that they truly belong to God. I pray over each of my kids daily that God will use them while they are here with me and I pray that I make wise choices that will benefit His kingdom.

Lord, hear my prayers, answer my callings....Thank you for the young man you have blessed me with and thank you Lord for my girls. Please use us all in a way that will glorify you and your kingdom.

I guess I was writing this to remind myself that I am going into a new phase in life and more now than ever do I need the Lords hand on my child. Too many times we look at the headlines and we wonder where were those kids parents or what ever happened to that sweet kid we all knew....well I was fortunate that I had that realization here in my own home and not after my kid got too big to recognize....

Take the time NOW to love on your kids and pray over them. Don't wait till they are gone and you are in the last phase of your life!

Random thoughts.....

Do you ever have those times where random thoughts just enter your head???? I have had an entire day of those....I wish I had a pen and paper handy at times because since having kids my short term and long term memory has gone out of the window!
So here are some of the thoughts I had today:
1. How can someone be so sweet and then hurt you so badly?
2. Why don't people keep their dogs in the fence or house?
3. Why did I just pick that hat up? I thought I just did that.
4. How can someone think they are a good person and then treat children the way they do?
5. Why does your favorite teacher have to go and better themselves and leave the school (or prepare at some point to leave)?
6. Man I feel like crying and I don't know why.
7. I'm so glad that God brings friends back together or rather people that were thought to be friends back together and they end up being friends.
8. Why do I have so many darn animals?
9. Which one would I get rid of if I had to?
10. Why did I pick that same hat up again?
11. I sure do let people take advantage of me....
12. I miss them....
13. Appreciation, How can you truly appreciate someone?
14. What would it look like if my calendar didn't have anything written on it?
15. What would happen if I said no this time?
16. How many loads of clothes do I have left to do?
17. I wonder how much money I would have if I got paid for all that I do.
18. That stinkin hat!
19. I want my mom.....
20. Do people really think they are good parents? If so what makes them think that?
21. Am I a good parent?
22. Am I a good wife?
23. Am I a good friend?


Those are just a few of the thoughts that pass through this crazy mind of mine sometimes. So what do you do with those thoughts? Do you write them down and try to figure it out? I guess it would be a daunting task if you did. Me, I choose to pray about them. Some of them are easy no-brainers to figure out but some only God can tell you or help you through. As tears stroll down my face I pray over many of them because God has given me that type of heart. The heart to be compassionate towards others even when....The heart to want to do good for people....He has blessed me with this heart and all I can do is give it back to Him and ask Him to guide my path and my ways so that I can be of a blessing to Him and His kingdom.

Praising God in time of sorrow.....

I got a call this morning that a long time friend of the family passed away. It hit me hard because I thought of my dad and my mom and how they must be feeling. Then I thought of the man that we lost and how he used to be such a great person to us kids when we needed him.
I haven't seen Jim for a while now but the last time I did he hugged me and kissed me and told me I looked just like my mom and he was certain that I was going to be just as great as she was.
Jim had a stroke a while back and has not been able to care for himself since. He was confined to a wheelchair. I told him a long time ago that he would walk one day. Well I guess that day has come. I dreaded all day how I was going to break it to my son. We went to go to the store earlier and I talked to him because out of the blue Colt said something that Jim always used to say to us.
When he was trying to see if we were telling the truth or not he would make us look him in the eye and he would say "I bet you can't say buttermilk three times without smiling". Well you know us kids, we tried and each time we giggled and giggled. Well Colt said "Mom I did all my work today in class, I'm not lying!" "Buttermilk, buttermilk, buttermmmmiiiilllkkk!"

I busted out in tears so I had to tell him. He took it well but he said something that surprised me, he said Mom out of respect for Jim I want to go to his funeral. All I could say was OK.

My heart is breaking for many reasons but inside I know I am rejoicing. I am rejoicing for the fact that Jim isn't in a wheelchair anymore! PRAISE GOD! I am rejoicing for the fact the Jim doesn't have to wait around to be taken care of, God has taken care of every need! PRAISE GOD! I am rejoicing in the fact that Jim is healed and is waiting for us! PRAISE GOD!

I am reminded of the verse "To live is Christ but to die is gain". Jim has gained full life in heaven. He is living now at the feet of our Lord and Savior! He has heard every angel sing and seen the streets of gold! Instead of being broken hearted for our loss we should be rejoicing for the life that Jim has gained.

Thank you Lord for saving Jim and for bringing him home to you!