So I've just been praising God for numerous things. One which I am very eager about is that we have been blessed with a remarkable home that we will be renting for a pretty remarkable price. Living with people had advantages. Well living with grandma and grandpa had advantages! Like, leaving the kids while Zack and I went out and enjoyed time with each other. Not to mention they got to catch up on the missed years they lost with our kids. But there have been tough moments as any experience living with others. I have learned things while sharing a roof like, cooking for a bigger crowd, organizing things better, blessing others by taking the burden of washing dishes and cleaning off their shoulders. On the other hand there have been a few things I have yet to learn. Like how to handle my frustrations when those who are sick come over and contaminate the healthy. This has been a complete pet peeve for me since having kids. And maybe a mother protecting her kids isn't what the big fuss is about. It was my attitude and bitterness that had me unpleasant in eyes of my GOD. I wasn't making JESUS look very good through my attitude and that's never a good thing when you lose your witness opportunity. I don't know, it never is too late to change. Its been hard going through the things that bother you most. I shouldn't lose sight though. I should keep the bigger picture in mind and that is that GOD is a GOD of peace and love and if I want to be Christ-like I must "put on Christ". I very much appreciate the prayers of those whom I, on a regular basis, fussed and complained to in my situations. I definitely thank the LORD for his abounding grace and mercy.

fear and hope all wrapped together

There is a point in a mothers life when your child is harmed. There will be many of these. Some will cause us to freak out more then others. I've had maybe three in the years of being a mom of four. One recently, had me to the point of begging God not to take any of my kids so soon because that would be one thing, I'm certain, I could not withstand. My kids or the one whom I love, my husband. The storms that we think we can't survive are the ones the LORD puts us in. If it's only to assure and remind us that GOD is big and faithful that there's nothing we can't withstand if we only put our trust in Him. So easy to remember but so often we forget. We're surrounded by a corrupt world where people are telling others, "You can't." " It's not enough." "It can't be done." Those are people who put God in a box and refuse to allow Him to change their lives.

Nevertheless, my son is fine. Banged up to say the least. Sometimes we just learn the hard things the hard way. I bet you couldn't get him to repeat the same incident for a bucketful of ice cream with candy on it. I am so blessed with having much. My magnificent husband. Beautiful kids. Loving people in my life, who without them, I would miss out on experiencing love, agape love. Although, not forgetting that Jesus always pursues this type of love towards me. I can't imagine living life without experiencing it from my brothers and sisters whom my heart is captured by.

We're in a place in our lives where we're deciding on being homeowners or renters. We are have our eyes on a particular home in a town we always knew God would lead us to. It seems rather perfect. But I do try and remind myself not to be too anxious. As Philippians 4:6 says ""Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God..." I have no doubts that the LORD has His good and perfect will for us. As a matter of fact, that is my and my husbands desire, is to be in His will.

I look ahead towards the things of God. Some days are better then others. Whether or not I have complete quiet time with the LORD various day by day. But, within my soul there's always a prayer to to prayed, blessings to be thankful for, sin to confess, and most importantly, His name always being professed as my Lord and Savior.