Christmas Day!

This is how we spent Christmas day!

In all honesty, this was the best Christmas we've ever had!

 We all just played in the snow...okay technically I didn't play in the snow......................................................

But I did sled down the hill!

That was the ONLY way I felt comfortable coming down!

Mark and the kids had  A BLAST!!!

It was PERFECT!

Philippians 2:12-18

12.  Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you.  And now that I am away, it is even more important.  Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
13.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14.  Do everything without complaining and arguing,
15.  so that no one can criticize you.  Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
16.  Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
17.  But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God.  And I want all of you to sare that joy.
18.  Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

I love these scriptures! 

This time next year...

This time next year, Steffan will be 18.  I thought about this Wednesday afternoon as I took to the nearest Steak-N-Shake to drop off an application.  I had to hold back tears as I parked to let him out, trying not to let him see that I was crying.  Learning to let go is probably going to be the toughest thing I'll ever have to do with my kids.

I've been doing a lot of praying that he will be okay when he gets out into the world.  Right now I'm worried because he is completely, and understandably wrapped up in his wonderful new girlfriend.  I did the same thing when I was dating Mark.  NOTHING ELSE MATTERED.    I TRY to remain silent (and don't do a very good job!) when he mentions how worried he is about spending time with his girlfriend once he does get a job.  I definitely remember those days.  Nothing else mattered.  I was completely wrapped up in spending time with Mark.  Honestly, it's the same way today...but not because I'm a love struck teenager.  It's because Mark is so busy working 2 jobs and being a faithful servant of God, that each time I get an opportunity to spend time with him, of COURSE I'm going to take it! 

Steffan and I discussed how he felt about turning 18 and getting out into the real world.  I was surprised to find that he is scared.  I wasn't expecting that answer from him.  When we discuss him making good grades, his reason for wanting to do so has been that he wants his license and that motivates him to work harder.  Since he wasn't stating the fact that it's because he knows he'll have a better future, I was terrified that he didn't realize what he had waiting for him outside our front door.

Whatever he does, I hope it's for the Glory of God.  And all I can do now is pray for him and work with his dad to guide him in the way that he should go.  Pray for us as we do this.....and pray I don't run out of tissues!

Renewing of my attitude!

I had a wonderful thing happen to me this morning!  My son forgot to put my sweats in the dryer for me! And, believe it or not...I'm not upset with him.  For the first time in a very long time I did NOT want to go in there to his room and wake him up before even the rooster crows, to tell him of the mistake he had made.   And let me tell you THAT WAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD! 

God has really woken me up and made my heart over to be kinder and gentler.  I am still working on it, but it is happening.  Recently I got upset with my husband over something silly and normally I would have been fuming, but this time, NOPE!  I was even trying to remember how I reacted before, and I couldn't....I know that sounds silly, but that's the power of God!

I love how God is transforming my heart into what it needs to be.  I only wish I had allowed him to do this YEARS ago.  But there's no point dwelling on the past!  I've got a whole lifetime ahead of me, and I am so thrilled at all the things he's going to do!

Teachable moment!

Last night as I was cooking dinner, Steffan came up to me and thanked me for always doing things for him.  At first I thought he just wanted something in return...after all, he is grounded.  But, he went on to explain that some kids that were sitting at a table he was at were trying to make him and his friend throw away their lunch trays.  He refused to do it, but God gave him some insight to how I feel when he won't do his own chores.  It's so nice to know that he is paying attention to the things his dad and I say. 

I also have a confession to make.  Last night he was talking to me on the ride home from play practice, and I recieved a phone call which I took.  As I was starting the conversation, I heard him mumble under his breath that he wished the phone wouldn't have rang.  I wish I wouldn't have taken that call at that particular moment.  I missed out on furthering a good conversation with him. 

Next time I'll know better!

When is the right time?

I just recently had a conversation with my 13 year old, Hunter, about whether or not God is calling him to be saved.  My preacher had preached on these things on Sunday, as to whether or not we are praying wholeheartedly over the people in our lives to become Christians.  I haven't "worried" about it too much because I felt like in God's time it would happen. 

But yesterday I decided to ask Hunter if God had been nudging him to do it, and he said that the thought had come up.  Hunter is the kind of person that doesn't like to be pressured to do something.  He'll do it when he's ready...not when PEOPLE tell him to do it.  And honestly, I don't want him to go to the alter JUST BECAUSE someone else wants him to.  I want it to be a calling from God.  I told him that when he feels that urge and need to get saved, to follow it.  NO MATTER WHERE HE IS!  If he wants me or his dad or anyone else to help him through it, than we'll definitely be there for him.  So, I've been praying that he'll get saved as soon as possible.

One thing that made me feel really good was today we were together and he was listening to a Christian radio station with me and singing along to it.  I'm so proud of him! 

They're actually listening!

I'm back!  It's been an awesome but busy day with this family!  Today my Haylie had a "Grandparents Day" celebration at her school.  Since my parents live so far away and Mark's parents were getting ready to go on vacation, a dear friend of ours stepped up to the plate and pretended to be Haylie's grandma.  So, today added to all the wonderful things going on this week!

Yesterday we had McTeacher night at Haylie's school, so Mark and I took the kids and Hunter's best friend to McDonald's and had dinner!  We had a really good time.  On the way home we were passing through some road construction (I'm loving the new roads) and I messed up and went down the wrong way.  I was soooo embarrased!  Steffan told me "There's nothing you can do about it, so don't worry about it.".  That's what I always tell him when he's going through something!  He's actually listening to me!!! 

These teenage years can be so crazy, and I always say I'm being paid back for all the goofy things Mark did because I didn't get a chance to be goofy.  My parents were super strict.....and it kept me out of trouble.  So now I know not to give up on giving the kids good instructions.  THEY ARE LISTENING!!!