I Need to Try a Little Harder...

Wow...where does the time go??? It is July 3rd already...today J did not have to work so we took a family day to the mountains. Before leaving AG said that she wanted to see a bear...so we just kept saying keep your eyes open and keep looking...you might see one. All along J and I are thinking...that won't happen...AND just as she drifts off to sleep....we see a huge bear on side of the road...when it saw us it ran back into the woods...needless to say we woke her with saying bear but she still missed it. When we got to the top of Mt. Mitchell....she did see a bear in the museum (not alive of course)....that would do for her...thank the Lord!!! Anyway, it was muched needed with the craziness of our schedule lately.

Little update...Grand-Dad did come through his surgery well...no trace of cancer...but he is having a rough recovery...keep him in your prayers! It is been a long couple of months. We are praying for FULL RECOVERY!!!

I am just amazed at how time flies...AG will be 3 in August and I just can't figure out how that is happening soooo soon. She is growing up and saying some of the funniest things...she acts grown!!! She talks non-stop and tries to be funny all the time..I am not sure where she would get that from!!! HEHE! Anyway, we were running errands yesturday and she said, "Mama, let's go get our toes done!" WHAT?!? I just had to laugh...I really could not believe my ears. When we got in the car to run errands...she said this is fun mama!! Well, I do love that she can express herself and starting to tell us fun things...but she does share what she doesn't like as well!

She is constantly saying she wants to go to school and see her friends...boy is that a long ways off...for her anyway! I do believe we have a reader on our hands...she wants to read constantly and really reads her favorite books from memory. I have really prayed and prayed and read and read to her hoping she would love it. It was so hard when I taught 2nd grade to work with a child who hated reading or struggled. Thank you Jesus!! She loves to sing also...she makes us her own songs as well...I love it...her newest one is " I am so happy because Jesus lives in my heart!" THe first time I heard her sing it; I about cried....I thought all this prayer time...Bible study with her has made a difference. She loves to pray and has the attention span of 30 minutes on good days for prayer!!!! That amazes me! She already knows the entire Psalm 23 by heart, The Lord's Prayer, Ps. 47:1, Genesis 1:1, a couple of verses in 2 Chronicles....and sings all the worships songs from church. I think she is destined to share Jesus!! I did not name her Anna for nothing...Anna in the Bible did sit at the feet of Jesus and just bask in His presence...that has been my prayer for her!! Don't worry...we still have our struggles...but we work through them. After correcting her we talk about what God's Word says and have a prayer time...some days...lots of God's Word and LOTS OF PRAYING..if you know what I mean!
OK....I will stop going on about AG...I just am amazed and pray that God constantly gives J and I the wisdom we need to be a light for HIM in all we do!!!

Most of you already know that Sturkie Baby #2 is on the way....praying for this child and for the destiny that God has for HIM/HER!! I go back to the Dr. Monday for my checkup and another ultrasound...all is well just had a hard time with the first one. We should know boy or girl August 30th! We don't care..just a healthy baby and whatever God sees best in the expansion of our family!!!
I promise I will try to do better on posting!

Big Day...

Ok...I know I have not posted in a while...we were on vacation the last week in April and then returned to sheer craziness. Isn't that the way it always turns out? Vacation was extremely relaxing and much needed. We went to Hilton Head and there were not many vacationers there with school not being out yet. Good choice!

Anyway...we returned and shortly thereafter found out that GrandDad (Jason's dad) has stomach cancer. This was Friday. So...tomorrow he is having surgery. They will remove his entire stomach. Jason's dad is 70ish in age. So...please please pray that the cancer is there in just that one spot and that it will all be gotten. Also...for a full recovery. This has had us all in shock and pretty emotional. We do not know what we are looking at tomorrow...but I do know that God is in control....For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. Pray that God would prove Himself mighty through all of this!!! Thanks for all of your many prayers!!

Today....

Ok...I am in a huge hurry...but I wanted to beat Amy to the punch!! HAHAHA! We had one wonderful day...Today Kathy Littleton got married and made one beautiful bride!! It was beautiful and a really fun day. We had pedicures at the best place ever...lunch at Olive Garden with Rhonda...then off to the wedding...then a quick dinner with Josh and LeeAnne Sargent. Sooo good to see people and catch up!! I am only doing this Amy...because you got on to me about updating my blog and I must say I think I must be doing good!! Then...to hit reality once again...I came home to AG having a fever of 103.1..not 99.1...so we're good for now...and last minute preps for Sundays hectic schedule....now with AG sick...I have come home to figure out who will fill Jason's Sunday duties...Oh well...back to reality I suppose!

Forever...and Children...

Ok...it has been a while..but we are doing great! I am staying extremely busy with church stuff..children...kids drama....they ministered in the service last week and AG got up there for the first time...she has dressed to do it before but got too scared on us. This time she actually stood there and did a few moves out of the entire song. I am amazed at her...I am sure the next time she will actually do it...she know the entire song without me doing it with her and can clap and move on beat. I am not surprised because I spend a great deal of time learning new dramas, coming up with them, and teaching them...she is always there to watch and knows most of them. I have even been subbing at AG's school even when she is not there and she is able to go with me. I do not mind doing it because it is fun and a little extra spending money...but I am not able to get ahead while she is gone. So lately...we have been crazy...
God is doing mighty things in our church right now...I recently started some ministry courses that I have to write papers and after I have completed I will get a certificate...I know..when do I have time? But I felt it was a must and I am learning a great deal. I love to study God's Word and ways to improve the ministries that I am heading up. I feel that God wants us to seek Him and do the best that we can do for Him! Many times that requires extra studying and PRAYER more than anything along with TIME IN HIS WORD!! How can I give to others if I have not received from the Father myself? The people I am leading can go no further than I am...So I have to constantly seek the Father...We are all called to share HIM. Are you seeking the Father and being all you can be for HIM? Are you setting the right example? Parents..your children are watching you...what kind of an example are you to them? They will do the things they see you doing. I encourage you...read the Word to your children daily....Model before them...do not do your QT after they have been to bed...let them see you pull out your Bible and read it...Let them join you for your prayer time...they can do it....AG does her devotions with me...and prayer time...sometimes our prayer time is 30 minutes ....sometimes I turn on a prayer CD to keep us focused as we're doing things. It is up to you..Parents to create the atmosphere for your children...they do not know unless you teach them. Teach them that JESUS is important in all situations. Used to when AG was sick...I would talk and try to figure it out and sometimes run for the medicine...but you know I started to feel convicted by that. I was not modeling faith to her...now when she complains...I ask what is wrong...why she thinks it is hurting...etc. then we pray...Didn't God heal people in the Bible? He can heal my child...THEN if we need medicine I go and get it...before I was teaching her to have faith in the medicine. I know crazy but true. Now she says PRAY MAMA...
Something I wanted to share...Parents..do not take for granted what your little can do now for God...Let me share some eye opening research to you on why it is important to teach and train your children (the church can only do so much..they are an extension of you and there to back up what you are doing at home...they should not hear it for the first time at church..but from you!)....

By age 3: the child has already developed their own personality
By age 5: they have the brain of an adult, have learned 85% of what they will learn in their entire life, they have the foundation of their belief system established...everything is filtered through that beleif system! (WOW!)
By age 7: child is a miniture version of what they will be like as an adult
By age 9: His moral ANCHOR is in place, his fundamental perspective on truth, integrity, morality, justice, and ethics is formed
By age 10: many refine their views but with little change
By 12/13: this is who they are going to be...whatever he believes...he will die beleiving the same things
By 18: very little change
***Of course this is research and God can save and change...but why take the chance? Train your child now!! There is no time to wait.
We have had some battles with AG lately...but we are praying through them...it is not always easy BUT YOU ARE THE PARENT!!YOU ARE THE AUTHORITY JESUS GIFTED THESE CHIDLREN WITH...USE WHAT WAS GIVEN TO YOU! DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN DOWN. YOU ARE LOVING THEM WHEN YOU MAKE THEM DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO! Lately we have had to change some thing because AG will not run this house, she will submit to authority...etc. in order to make these things happen...we have to not do some of the thing we want to do at this stage and work through it. It is getting better, but I would rather deal now at 2 rather than 16!! If she can not learn to listen to my voice and submit..how in the world will she be able to listen and obey the Father's Voice?
Not meaning to preach..but these things have been on my heart and mind lately and I wanted to share them! Love you all!!

Excited!!

Ok...it doesn't take a whole lot to make me excited. But...if you are a verizon customer...everybody probably already knew this but me...anyway...I got my bill via text and wondered why it was sooo much this time..I checked my account online and i had went over my minutes. When I checked; part of it was to Jason...he no longer has verizon...the firm pays for his phone....and my neighbor...she had a new baby the first of Jan. and I could not go over there due to my sickness...so when we would talk on her landline...I got charged for one conversation...$15.80. I was a little ripped up...On my account I did not know that I could put 5 nonverizon people's number on my account that I could talk unlimited to!!!! What...that is wonderful...so now when I talk to my neighbor...Jason....Amy...Beth...guess what I can talk however long and I am not charged. Now you have to be on the 900 min. Nationwide plan or more!!!! Just thought I would share...I was pretty pumped. I usually do not go over my minutes...but we do not have a landline...so everything I do is on my cell....which is great because we never used the landline. It was a total waste...but obviously last month I was pretty busy...I do have a lot of church calls to make and such....anyway give it try if you are verizon!

JESUS.....You are in control!!!

OK....some of you know and some of you don't...that I have been sick for 4 wks. I am not sure what is going on. I am fine...just wanting to feel better. I woke up the Sunday before Christmas with the normal cold...running nose, sneezing, sore throught, etc. Well, I was sick with all of that during that week. Then, I THOUGHT I was better...but not really. The congestion never really went away and I felt like I had no energy at all...so finally I go to the Dr. He gives me the Z Pack....that doesn't work so he gives me something else and it doesn't work. So back this past Tuesday I go...my cough is worse and worse and NO ENERGY! Well, he tells me the last time, which was 2 wks. earlier I had bronchitis (which they never told me) and suspected I could have had pneumonia...which they never told me...so here I am just a walking around thinking I have a common cold and I will be better quick. Well, I still have bronchitus and on more meds. (3 at the present time...so I am a little loopy!) They wanted chest x-rays and all was clear. So...I am not sure what the deal is...just that they want me to go to an allergist and I do not have allergies. My sister in law works with Drs. who do the test and she doesn't see that I have the symptoms nor do I!! But I am asking you to PRAY PRAY PRAY!!! I am just wanting to do the right thing. I feel good for a while and then all of sudden I feel like I cannot move and there is tightness in my chest. It is even a strain to talk and do things. But I have found out this is common for Bronchitus. The Dr. also mentioned mono...I am just not sure. I am praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and if there is anything I can do that I will know to do it!

I also believe the Lord is trying to get me to prioritize my life better, say no, and to stop doing so much. So needless to say...AG and I have dropped several things off of our weekly to do list. I felt it was a must. I have had more time at home...thinking, praying, organizing and reorganizing our lives. I want to declutter (not just things in my house, but things in my life that consume my time that lead to nowhere!) I am on a journey and I had better make the most of it or I may never get to where God wants me. I have to pick and choose what I feel is important and leads to the destiny that God has marked for me and my family. Think about Moses and the children of Israel...they were detoured and Moses never made it to The Promised Land, but that was because of His own choices. God has the ultimate plan in place and I just have to obey each LITTLE step of the way if I am going to get there. In our Church Mission Statement...it says..."the journey is just as important as the destination we seek to reach!" That is soooo true. It is not just the end that has the rewards, but all the little choices I make in between!

What is my House Built Upon?

Today AG played hookie from school (taking after her mother and Ms. ARhonda) and J played hookie from work. He had actually planned to take the day off as well as tomorrow because he was not able to take the full two weeks he usually gets at Christmas. Soo...we decided to chase snow...
We drove and we found snow up past Asheville...the closer we got to the Tennessee line the thicker it got and the harder it fell to the ground....then all of a sudden it was just barely coming down and there were just patches on the ground. This was not cool after we had been in about 4 inches worth of snow. It was sooo much fun and AG just loved it...we stopped and let her play for a few minutes..but it did not last long since we have all been sick and I am still battling this old stuff.
I was thinking...we were sooo excited to get to the snow and it was GREAT...but it really did nothing for me. It had no eternal value...it was just amazing to see GOd's beautiful creation....I began to think about how often I chase after everything, but God for satisfaction.....
What is it that we daily RUN for because we cannot wait to see it, get it, buy it, talk to it, etc.? What is it that drives us? Is it things or people around us? What gets us all crazy and we will do silly things for it? For me, one thing that drives me is a GOOD DEAL...I love to buy something for nearly nothing...and I usually succeed. It really gets my adrenaline kicking...I must say that Amy did beat me out with a dirt cheap sportscoat for Todd and she called to brag!!! But....these things are well and good....but what happens when something crazy comes along? We cannot go running to that GOOD DEAL or CHASING SNOW to give us the hope that we need. We have to run to Jesus. How do we respond in uncertain times, when our faith is being shaken? Are we really running to Jesus or are we depending on others to pull us through?
I remember a few years ago...I came home from work on a Friday afternoon...I was not married and still living at home...no one was home, which was very strange with a 6 person house. Well, I was bored...I had made no plans and I thought I had to have something to do (there's always something to do with that many people in a house, I did not know what to do with myself)...well, I went through my entire cell phone contact list and called anyone I could to talk to....most everyone did not answer or could not talk long. I remember I was on and off within 15 minutes TOTAL! I finally realized that I was feeling the need to talk to someone...I was feeling lonely...but that was only God drawing me to Him. He longed to spend time with me and I was searching in all the wrong places. Where are we looking for that encouraging word, that laugh, that compliment? God is all we need! Why keep searching?
I encourage you....as Matthew 7:24 talks about..build your house upon the rock...the SOLID ROCK OF JESUS CHRIST and you will lack no more...you will not move when the storms come your way...you will remain strong. But if you build your house on the sand...you will crumble and fall. OH...just a thought...for me it is my expectations that get in the way. What I expect of myself and others..Do all you can today to build that solid foundation in your life and for you family!!! Instill that value into your children and know that they watch each and every move you make...even more than you realize!!

God Never Lets us Down...

I was thinking tonight as I was cutting out the Shepherd's staffs and some characteristics of God for Children's Church in the morning...(a little behind with the holidays, so working last minute on a Sat. night, not so fun!)....

I know in the last few weeks I have let sooo many people down. I am human and I cannot be all things to all people at all times. That is sooo hard because I am a fixer and a doer...I have so many people surrounding me who are facing many issues. I have to realize that I am not the source of everyone's strenght, guidance, healing, comfort, guide, etc. I am only a channel through which the Loving Father flows. It is He who decides the outcome and at which time that should take place. I have to accept that no matter how compelled I feel to help the outcome ...Anyway, as I was cutting out the Shepherd's staffs for in the morning (the children are going to paste things that God are to them....the idea was for them to come up with them but since there are a large number of younger children this was a better option.) I was reflecting all that God had been to me...He has been my Alpha and Omega, my Redeemer, my Savior, Healer, Protector, Guide, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, on and on and on..... I was amazed.
No matter what you may be facing at this current moment..reflect back and look at all the things the Lord has blessed you with and what all He has done for you...You are the apple of His eye...Just think..He loved us enough to lay down HIS LIFE for us...are we willing to lay down OUR LIVES for Him? Are we willing to give up some things to make more room for Him? To follow what God has called you to do? I know that in the upcoming year I need to lay aside some things so that I can focus more on what the Father has called me to!! I hope and pray that each one of us can look back this time a year from now and say that we are closer now that we were before...our relationship with the Most High has grown by leaps and bounds. The choice is ours...sometimes we wonder how in the world can God show us anything else..but it amazes me...He is forever revealing Himself to me and making our relationship fresh and new all over again and taking me to new heights and levels in which I did not even know was possible!! WOW! What a God!