Enjoyable time with my parents.

Mom and dad came out last Wednesday and stayed on through Sunday afternoon. I got home late Wednesday due to having praise team practice and when we got in, Richard had made a fire in our pit outside and we roasted hot dogs and marshmellows. Thursday we drove over to Woodford Reserve. That was a really terrific place. The bourbon making process is very fascinating. Once finished there we took mom and dad to the Liquor Barn, a place they were very intrigued with. From there we went to Malone's. Everyone had a great dinner but me. My steak was so undercooked, but my meal was free. I've never gone in there and spent less than fifty bucks. Dad and Richard decided to order the chocolate cake. Little did they know it would be so big. It was incredibly funny, but so disgusting all at the same time. Friday we took some back roads up to Owenton to go to Elk's Creek Winery. Wow, it's so beautiful up there! They also have a B&B up there that Richard wants to spend a night at. I do have to say it's gorgeous. After that we headed into Frankfort and ate at La Fiesta Grande. Yummy! I was really impressed. Saturday morning, after having eaten a lot of food that my body has not been used to eating for quite some time, I wasn't feeling so hot, but I was singing that evening and life does go on. Things went okay Saturday night, but Sunday morning second service, for me personally, was very uplifting and I really needed it. The last month has been pretty rough from a spiritual perspective. We sang a song called God of the City. At one point Dwayne (a guy I sing with) wanted us to stop singing and just let the congregation sing. I love that. It was very moving and very worshipful. Then the next song was a song I was leading, called the More I Seek You, another terrific song in which I proceeded to sing while crying. It happens:) There is not much that is more wonderful to see than the spirit moving through people with music. There are those that want to get on the praise teams or knock Nell Anne because it's a "production" and not really praise and worship music, but you know what? We are packing the church, people are giving their lives to Christ and being baptized. I don't for one moment claim that that is because of the music, but I do say it is a part of it and I'm so happy to serve in that capacity. And I'm so thankful to those that are willing to give of their time and put so much hard work into, because it is a lot of hard work and dedication. I for one felt the Lord's presence yesterday morning and it was just wonderful:)

Mexico trip

I've spent the last two weeks in turmoil over whether or not to allow Isabella to go to Mexico for a missions trip. I mean, it's a MISSIONS trip, I should have faith and let her go. But tonight, I just lost it. I've not been sleeping, I've been angry at God for not giving me a diffinitive answer and I need to remind myself that He never does:) But tonight I saw a story done on tv talking about spring breakers and how they should not go and I just broke down. Believe me, I know this isn't the typical spring break trip, that wasnt it. I guess what was talked about just reiterated what I already knew. I'm not a crier but tonight, wow. I think I sobbed for a good fifteen minutes. And now at 2 in the morning, I'm exhausted, yet feel like I've gotten my answer. I had decided that Richard, Isabella and I would go to the Sunday meeting and I don't think I will. I need to call Andrew and talk with him. I've spent the last two weeks worried about what everyone would think of my decision, regardless of what it was. My family would be angry with me for allowing her to go, Andrew would think I wasn't having enough faith... but you know, what they all think does not matter. The Lord gave me this precious child to care for. She's my responsibility. I may home school her, but I'm not so strict that I don't allow her to do things. She goes on her trips, Summer in the Sun... There are 5 adults going and 30 kids, I believe. I went to Arizona with the same number and there wasn't risk like going to Mexico and I was scared to death. I remember not being able to find a couple of girls in my group that I was responsible for and I just about freaked out. Even though they were a few feet from me:) All I know is, that it hit me tonight that this child is mine. If I choose to not let her go, that is my decision and I just have this feeling she isn't supposed to go. That does not mean anything bad is going to happen to those that do go. I will undoubtedly pray a blood covering over all that are going and pray for an amazing growth period, especially for those that think they are going on a vacation:) There are many! I want to be proven wrong that nothing will go wrong, because I have many that are going on this trip that mean so much to me and that I love dearly. I'm also praying that during that time that Isabella is home, that the Lord will use her in an amazing way. It's actually exciting to see what He has in store:)

My magnolia

We've lived in Kentucky for almost twelve years now. I've found that to be intriguing because both of my grandparents were from here. Well, southern Kentucky. Grew up in tobacco farming families. Once WWII ended, they moved up to Indiana to find work. Times were very hard. So that's where they lived and still (my grandmother) are. As loyal as I am to Indiana, my heart is in Kentucky. I grew up coming here to visit aunts and uncles and had always loved it. So I've felt I brought the family back home to it's roots:) When we moved here into our home, it was new. We were the first owners so that being said, there was nothing but clay and rock for a yard. Richard swears that he's dug up 3 tons of rock in the eleven years we've been here:) So we've done a great deal of planting, especially trees. One tree in particular is my Magnolia. My mother talked me into getting it. I had heard of a magnolia, had no idea it was a tree, just thought it was a flower. So I got it, and over the next three years or so it didn't do much. I planted it in the summer of 98, but in June of 2001 it did something magical. At least it was to me. I was pregnant with our fourth child, Katie, and had been to a checkup with the doctor. Richard was home watching our other three and when I got in he told me to come outside quick. He took me out to our magnolia and pointed. At the top of this tree, was a beautiful white bloom. At this point the tree was a good 8 ft. He pulled down the branch for me to smell the bloom and to me it was like smelling a piece of Heaven. That was the only bloom we had and didn't have another for the next two years or so. Then in 2003 the ice storm hit and it was devastating. Ice fell from the sky all night. The next morning I woke to find my tree had broken in half. The whole top portion of the tree, laid on the ground. I stood staring, heartbroken. That following spring though, I decided to fertilize it. Wouldn't you know it, that summer it had a fullness to it that it had never had and there were a couple of blooms on it. Again, more pieces of Heaven. Over the next five years I continued to fertilize it and sometimes I had blooms and sometimes not, but this past summer that tree was full of them. I think the Lord gave me a gift because He knew what was coming. Two weeks ago another big ice storm hit and again, the top portion of my tree broke off. When I woke on Wednesday morning and looked out and saw it, it took everything in me not to cry. I still have a hard time looking at it. That tree has grown with my children. I have other trees; pears, a maple, and a crape myrtle, but this tree has been through so much. Should I just go ahead and cut it down? Or should I give it a chance. I had thought it was a goner in 03, but it surprised me and grew to be even more beautiful and full. So I may just sit back, be patient and give it a chance to grow, become fuller and blossom with blooms. The Lord is patient with us when so many times we've fallen and broken in half. He's given us the chance to blossom and bloom, shouldn't I let a simple Magnolia do the same?

And I wanted snow because?

I guess this winter has applied to that old saying of "be careful what you pray for?" Nicky has spent the last month praying for a snowstorm and he certainly got his prayers answered. I grew up only wanting snow so I could get out of school and in northern Indiana that just didn't happen much. Flat roads, and the capability of being able to keep them pretty clear, well, school was usually in session. Then living in upstate New York for five years, well, same thing only much, much more snow. Ridiculously so. But oh well. It will be gone before we know it and it's been nice. Easy for me to say since we never lost power. Unlike half a million people in the state of Kentucky. It's been a mess here. Then to add salt on the wound we had almost another 4" yesterday with ridiculous cold and wind, which caused blowing and drifting. Richard didn't take my Outlook which was a mistake, since he got the car stuck at the bottom of the hill which is where it remains. They've decided to go ahead and have Journey tonight which I'm not real crazy about. Only because I was at church all day Monday helping Nell Anne and Richard with some stuff. I cleaned, Richard took things apart and Nag worked on some curtains. But at that time the back lot was an absolute mess, which I'm sure is worse now. No one plows it back there. More than likely if I drive Richard's car, it would get stuck. Mainly because his tires have no traction:) Fortunately, the kids and I have continued to school. We will be done mid May. I feel so bad for these kids in public school. Not only have they taken away their summers, but they are going to have to make up these snow days. They now make these kids begin the second week of August and aren't done until the end of May/first week of June. It makes no sense. Like a longer school year is going to make them smarter? SC building another high school and being able to have smaller classes would make them smarter. More one on one interaction would be nice. The stories I've heard...
Now to vent a bit on politics. OMG!!!!!!! Who in their right minds vote for Democrats?! Richard sent me a link today to CSPAN showing Pelosi saying that every day this stimulus does not get passed 500 million people will lose their jobs. How do you do that when there are only 303 million people in the U.S.? That woman is a nightmare. If people cannot see that they are leading this nation, to becoming socialist, I just don't know what they are hearing. Anyone, whom thinks this idea of spreading the wealth is a good idea, has a guilt complex. I REFUSE to feel guilty for what my husband makes. He worked hard to get what he is making and it's because of that, that we are able to tithe our gross pay. Money that is given to our church and then distributed towards missions, outreach in our community. I'm pretty certain these Democrats that like to preach on giving to the poor, more than likely are giving nothing. Heck, they aren't even paying their taxes, hence Dashle, Geithner, etc... Should I go on? To me, when you feel guilty or make others feel guilty, you are blasting the blessings the Lord has given you back into His face. Yes, I believe people should be more compassionate and giving. If people aren't willing though, to better themselves and we are going to start handing people things on silver platters what good is that doing them and how fair is it to people like my husband that worked incredibly hard to get where he is? Four years of undergrad (we paid over $20,000 for that) then he went on to get his Masters. Yet, someone that might have just a high school diploma is entitled to what my husband makes? No way. It's not fair. Everyone should have the same opportunities. That I say yes too. But if you aren't going to work for it, you don't deserve it. I've had my rant for the day.

I can't believe I'm doing this!

Writing a blog...hmm, well I'm going to give it a shot. I had been reading others blog for quite awhile and thought to myself, "these people have too much stinkin time!" However, I do have a lot to say, no surprise to those of you that know me well:) So I thought I'd give this a shot. Especially right now. I'm at a place in life where my children do not need my undivided attention and they actually do allow me some privacy. Writing about the challenges of being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, daughter in law in themselves is enough, but maybe using this to try and keep my focus on my relationship with Christ. I've struggled with that for the last year. I'm not talking losing my faith, I'm saying devoting time to Him. I spend soooo much time doing everything else, that I put Jesus on the backburner. To me He's just always there, loving me regardless of if I've said "Hello" to Him, or thanked Him. I mean, he's Jesus, He knows what I'm thinking... So maybe in a small way, I can use this as some prayerful, devotional time too.

As of writing this, I'm sitting in my bed (which has been my home for just a bit over a week, since having pulled a muscle in my back, just lovely) watching this winter storm outside and I did have the news on. Last week that's all I could do, but when it came to the inauguration, I could watch very little. I tried watching it, but I found it too incredibly disturbing, so disturbing it actually gave me the chills and made me a little fearful. I for one, couldn't have been more pleased that this nation finally has an African-American as President. (I would have preferred it to have been JC Watts, but oh well) I also personally like to refer to President Obama as an "American" since that is what he is. His skin just happens to be black. But after watching it for just a bit, watching the people watch him, I found it all so incredibly unsettling. It's like he's the second coming, the Messiah. So, I had to turn it off. I did watch on Fox News, since it was the only one showing it, the speech President Bush gave once he got back to Texas. Watching him, you just knew the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders. This man, is not perfect, he didn't always make the right calls, but I CANNOT even fathom what would have happened to this nation if there had been anyone else in office during the time he was in office. No President has had to confront what all he had to. I watched a show this weekend where Gary Sinise went to Iraq, as he's done many times, showing what he does, what our troops have done... and he showed some of the places Saddam had built. One in particular that didn't get done fast enough and the torture and the murders of these men working for him because they weren't working fast enough. That man killed tens of thousands. At this point, I do not care if the intelligence was wrong. The fact that we went in and I pray, have helped them establish a democratic life and a freedom like they've never known, makes it all worth it. If these were bad decisions, God will judge those. I cannot imagine living in fear such as that. I could go on and on about the politics that are going on right now, but I'll save that for another day. I'm sure there will be many and trust me I do have a lot to say on the issue:) But as for now, I need to get something to eat and more coffee:) Also, going to see what this evening brings weatherwise. So far been a bit nasty with snow and ice and more to come! Only good though if you get stuck inside and can't go anywhere:)