Answered Prayer

First, a little clarification:

When Matthew got saved in October he was driving a semi for a cattle hauling company. When we made the decision to get back together we also prayed about him quitting the trucking company because he was gone 5 days a week. When you're trying to put your home back together and get closer to God, that's not a good idea. So we prayed and told God that if we had to live on my income only that we would be willing to do it if He would only work a miracle in our lives. And that's exactly what God did for us. Matthew was making close to $1000 a week and it was a hard decision but it has been worth it to pinch pennies all this time.

So....all this time that Matthew's been back home we have been living off of my income only while we waited on God to send Matthew a job. When I've said we're praying for God to send Matthew a good job so that I can be home with the babies, it was a prayer for God to send him a job PERIOD. We're already living off of one income so we know it's possible for me to be at home if only God would send Matthew a job!

The good news is that Matthew got a job today!!! He had called about the job yesterday morning and the man told him that there was another guy that had taken the job but if something didn't work out he would call us. The same old story we have heard for almost 3 months. Then during Sunday school this morning the guy called and left a voice mail saying that the other guy didn't work out and would Matthew be interested in starting first thing Monday morning!

Uh, yeah??? Of course he was interested! The job isn't something we're sure we would want to depend on if I stayed home because part of the salary is commission-based. But the Lord is moving and I know He will continue to work everything out!

Thank you all for the encouraging words! God is faithful when we're in the center of God's will....and sometimes even when we veer off of the center, He's still faithful. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it!!

What Does God Say About It?

So, I've been thinking about God's will in some areas of my life. Sometimes when I'm praying about God's will, I have to be sure it's HIS will and not MY will. It's so easy to be so set on something that you miss God's will entirely because your will gets in His way.


All of you know that Matthew and I have really been praying for God to send Matthew a good job so that I can stay home with the babies. It's been my greatest desire since I found out I was expecting Kari.


Matthew and I were talking a few nights ago about the situation and I asked the question "What if it's not God's will for me to stay at home?" To which Matthew replied "The Bible says it is." I put my nose in the bible for a while before bedtime and I found some interesting things concerning God's will for wives and mothers.


Titus 2:4-5
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

God's desire for a wife and mother is that her attention and devotion be focused on her family. Her relationship with the Lord, her home, husband and children should be the center of her affection and world.

Heavens!! How can your home, husband and children be the center of your world when you have to be concerned with a stressful job and a career-driven atmosphere? It's not possible. There are days when I come home that my mind is so boggled from work that I can't truly give my attention and affection to my family. Within 3 hours of being home from work I'm ready to drop in the bed. That's definitely not God's will!

My study also said this:
Mothers who desire to fulfill the plan of God but because of economic hardship must seek employment away from home should commit their circumstances to the Lord while praying for Him to make a way for her to fulfill her God-given responsibilities.

Here's what it said about a woman's God-given responsibilities:

1. Caring for the children God has entrusted to her as a service for the Lord
2. Being a helper and faithful companion to her husband
3. Helping the father train the children in godly character and practical life skills

Proverbs 10:24
...the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

I hate to be calling myself righteous but I am a saved, blood-bought child of God. Therefore in God's eyes, I am righteous. I'm believing that He will give our family the desires of our hearts!!! He's already peformed one GREAT and AWESOME miracle for us and I know that He can surely perform another.


I hope everyone has a great weekend! We are being lazy around the house today and enjoying every minute of it! :)

The Babies Are Back

We had such a wonderful weekend! I'm sad that it's over but I was glad to have my babies home. Latasha came up for the week so I'm not sure if the kids were more excited to see her or me.

So, here's an update on some things in our life:

1. Matthew started school this past week. He's taking online classes to get a degree in Social and Criminal Justice. He's very excited and we're praying that God opens the door for a good job soon.


2. I've gained TEN STINKIN' POUNDS since Matthew has moved back home. He's such a good cook and I haven't been able to resist his cooking so far. HOWEVER.....we've both decided that it's time to get back on the ball. I started the week after Christmas back on the diet but haven't been able to lose very much due to lack of exercise. But I think Matthew has caught the fever for exercising and dieting as he's gained about 30 pounds since he got saved! He has agreed to start exercising and helping me cook healthy stuff. I'll certainly keep you updated on our progress.

3. Toshi Bug is here for a few days at least and I'm off work tomorrow! YEE HAW! I'm sooo glad to have the day at home. Actually, I'm praying that God opens the door soon for me to go part time at work or maybe even bless us enough so I can be at home full time. That's a frustrating subject right now so I'm not even going there.


4. This past week marked 2 months that our family has been back together. I can truly say that every week just gets better!! I know people in this world can't understand how something can be so hopeless and in only 2 months time be completely turned around. But, that's okay. They don't have to understand it. We're living proof that God does it!

:)

Our Weekend

Well, just let me brag for a minute. Actually, first let me complain and it will make the bragging better. :)

For 3 weeks now, everybody in our household has been sick with something. Most of you all know that Kari had a little spell on us last week where she passed completely out and scared us half to death. We're not sure why it happened but all we know is that God moved for that baby girl. We all seem to be on the mend and we're very thankful for that!!!

Soooo....with all that being said, it has been a stressful couple of weeks. My day at work today was a TAD bit stressful too and I needed to come home to clean my house and all that fun stuff to get caught up from the work week. My mom invited the kids to her house for the weekend so me and Hubs could have a few days together.

Around 3:00 at work today I received about 5 text messages from Hubs. They were all pictures of a CLEAN house. He had even cleaned the toy room. We have not seen the floor in that room for approximately 3 weeks.

THEN....if that wasn't sweet enough, he brought roses home to me and a sweet card.

I'm going to bed to have a good sleep(that's real good grammar) so we can get up early in the morning and start our weekend together! Do I feel bad for letting the kids go to Memaw's for the weekend? I miss them but no. I'm totally excited about getting to use the Chili's gift card we received for Christmas and spending the whole weekend with Matthew.

How can a person be this blessed??? :)

Sweet Brooklyn

Brooklyn Faith Durham October 12 1996-January 2 2009

Two years have passed since this precious princess made her way to heaven. I asked her mom, Tonya, if I could do a tribute to Brooklyn this week for the anniversary of her homecoming in heaven! It will be a pitiful one since nothing I can say can touch the sweetness of Brooklyn. She was precious to all who knew her and made an impact on so many lives. She has a legacy that will follow her from now on.



Her family.....Tonya, Kevin, Shawn and Hannah. I can't even fathom their loss but I know the peace that passes all understanding must visit their hearts daily.



Have you ever met a child who just captures your heart from the first word? When I first met Brooklyn, she was around 2 or 3 years old and the sweetest little thing you ever talked to!!! Even with all she went through, she was still one of the sweetest little girls and never lost her smile. And, boy, did she have a knack for fashion! She always had the cutest clothes and shoes and purses. Future holiness fashionista!

Have you ever seen a more radiant smile? This was her 12th birthday party and I think she was awfully proud to be the official princess for a day!

The last youth camp before she went to heaven, they named the youth camp choir "The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir" and Brooklyn led a song that rang true for her just a few short months later:

I wanna know how it feels
To make my way down the streets of gold
I wanna know how it feels
To have a talk with the saints of old
I wanna know what it's like
To rest my feet by the river of life
I've heard of heaven and I know it's real
I wanna know how it feels



Tonya, Kevin, Shawn and Hannah: I pray for you ALL often and I love you dearly!

Happy Anniversary in heaven, Princess!!! You are loved and missed but I know heaven sure is sweeter with you there!!

Starting Fresh

What a year 2010 was....shewweee!!! I'm so glad it's over with but I'm so thankful for how it ended. Matthew and I are so excited about what God has in store for 2011. We just came out of a mini-revival and the universal theme seemed to be victory for 2011. That makes me so excited!!

I feel like I have so much to share with everyone but I know that I would end up rambling so much that you all would grow weary of me quickly. So, I'll say a few things and then stop for tonight.

GOOD NEWS: We finally got the internet at home so now I can start blogging regularly. Well, as time will allow, of course. But instead of once a month, it will at least be once or twice a week hopefully.

On Christmas Eve Matthew read the Christmas story to me and the kids and prayed before we started opening gifts. By the time he got finished praying both of us were crying. He said this and I "amen-ed" it: "I have NEVER been so happy in my entire life." It's amazing what God has done for our little family in such a short period of time.



My camera is currently broken so you all will be getting all the pictures that I haven't posted for the past few months. Get ready because I have so much to talk about and update on. Before long, you all will be ready for my internet connection to be messed up for a few weeks! Ha ha!!

:)