Lead me.

Yes, I am still alive and well. I know, it's unusual for me to take over a week off from blogging. I have had many thoughts and blog entries worth mentioning, but not really the energy it takes to sit and blog those thoughts out. However, as I have mentioned before, there are a lot of people I love that are hurting emotionally right now. I love listening to K-Love on the way to work early in the mornings because I think that is when God really gets my attention sometimes-- especially when I leave after fussing at Chad and Brennan and the dog and anyone else who catches me before my caffeine fully takes affect. There are times I wish I had someone sitting beside me to pen out all my thoughts that I have on the way to work at 7 a.m.

I wanted to share the lyrics of this song that many of you have heard. Every time I hear it, it just makes me want to weep. Chad knows how much this song means to me, and I think this song means a lot to him, too. Especially considering we have endured a lot in our short marriage and have come out the other side stronger for it.

Sanctus Real - “Lead Me”

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone



GREAT song. And the song itself and the meaning behind it is even more powerful.... Look up the song and listen to it yourself, and while you're at it, find the video that has him and his wife talk about the reason this song was written. You will be moved. I promise.

http://www.sanctusreal.com/

My boys and the pumpkin patch.

Every year the children's department of our church has a pumpkin patch. The proceeds go back into the department. We schedule field trips from different daycares and schools in the local area. It's always a big hit. Brennan was dying to pick out a pumpkin. So, that is what we did after church this morning.

Brennan and his lifelong friend of 6 years, Grayson.

Brennan is in deep thought about which pumpkin to choose.

And here is Ethan. This is what he did the entire time.

I love this pic of my mom and Brennan. Ethan wouldn't cooperate.

Big buddies. Austin, Grayson, and Brennan.

Chad trying to make Ethan stop all his fussing. He wanted nothing to do with those pumpkins. He was so over it.

After BOTH boys took a nap (Hallelujah!) they went outside to play. Ethan sure does loooove his "Bubba".

I think this is frame-able. They had their new "cell phones" that their MiMi gave them.

Heavy burdens.....

I am so glad it is Wednesday. It means that this week is halfway over! I am counting down the days until next week. No, nothing exciting is happening, but it just means the craziness of this week will be over and done.

Our week started off having to take our dog to the emergency vet clinic Sunday night. She was having an allergic reaction and starting to go into shock. Then I totally forgot to set my alarm Monday morning and woke up an hour late. I am in our church's dinner theater this weekend which is always so much fun, but it makes for a crazy schedule the week of. And then, Brennan had to go to the doctor last night in between supper and the crazy schedule. Then last but not least, our school fall festival is Saturday. Which means craziness mixed in with craziness.

I stay stressed out. It's my personality. I'm wound up tight and high strung. But at the same time, I have really listened to some things that God is trying to tell me. I deal with my day to day "ordeals"-- just the normal things that go along with trying to raise active boys and dealing with finances, and health concerns, and just those things that we call LIFE.

God has reminded me that I can fuss, complain, stress myself out, and stay nervous, but that's not really what He wants for me. This week has been sort of strange on top of all the normal things. I have made a great friendship with someone who right now, her and her husband are dealing with a very heavy burden in their lives. Sunday morning I tried to pray over her and I ended up weeping. I have a strong desire to take away people's pains and struggles. This week alone I have been told of someone getting diagnosed with breast cancer, a childhood friend having a baby several weeks early and the baby having to be rushed into heart surgery, and a couple of other situations that I won't mention. But, I hear so many stories of people having to deal with things in their lives that seem so out of control and out of their hands. I have really had some things put into perspective for me lately. Now, that 's not to say that I still don't have a hard time keeping my stress level in check, because I do. However, I am slowly starting to be able to sit back and analyze my situation--whatever it may be, whether dealing with my kids who bounce off the walls, or trying to manage our cash flow-- and realize I TRULY have nothing to complain about.

Just the situation with the Chilean miners trapped underground for all that time shows me how God can use negative situations for His good, His purpose and His glory. A couple of the miners who had not accepted Christ before the ordeal became saved while underground. One miner said there were not 33 of them underground all that time, but 34-- because God was with them. How many times does our media leave these things out? You never hear the full story and how in this situation they knew God was there and felt His presence.

To me, this situation could be used all over the world as proof that God can take care of us in any situation. However big or small I think my problem is, I should never have to worry about the outcome. And for others who's problems I want to take away from them but I can't, I know that I can at least pray for them. When prayer happens, supernatural things take place. Heaven moves in our favor if we are earnestly seeking what is desired of us from God. I wish I could take away pain and sickness and financial concerns and emotional hurt from others. But I can't do it. God knows the desires of our hearts before we speak them, but we are still instructed to earnestly pray.

I am surrounded my hurt this week. Different kinds of hurt and my heart seems heavy for people who are all around me. God is reminding me one friend at a time, that I am blessed. Not only am I blessed with things in my life, but I am blessed because I can consider it a privilege and an honor to earnestly be able to take some burden's off those I love by praying for them.

A Baby Shower....

Tonight my friend, Adrienne, who I was inseparable from between about 4th grade and 10th grade, threw a baby shower for her younger sister.

So much fun.

Yep, that's the spread, and the guest of honor feeding the other guest of honor.

Adrienne and Caroline. The two sisters.

A painting done especially for the nursery. (Covered in saran wrap to protect it, of course.)

The "thank you" treats that Adrienne handmade herself. (Chocolate!)

The diaper cake I made as a gift and as part of the decoration.

Adrienne and me. Total opposites, but we have always clicked and I would give my right arm for that girl. I'm pretty sure she would do the same for me. Love her.

Adrienne's dad and me. He refers to me as the "Mand-O". Don't ask me why. He's called me that since I was eight years old.

Snoozing.

Sort of.

Adrienne's hubby, David.

Had a great time at the shower. Now I'm waiting on Adrienne and David to have a little one so we can celebrate again.

Around my house, and other things.....

I discovered this great store in downtown Brandon. It's a consignment store and it has some great vintage things. And the prices are awesome. My mom and her cousin first stopped by this store and each purchased a baker's rack and my mom's cousin purchased a chair. I became a "fan" of the page on Facebook and started looking at the pictures that were posted each day. I fell in looooove with this drum table. I knew I had to have it. I didn't even know where I would put it and it really doesn't match anything in my living room, but I really liked it. So, I came home with it.

It looks great, if I do say so myself.

I also purchased this beautiful piece of pottery that matches my living room perfectly. It's a genuine, signed piece of pottery-- not one of those "Made in China" bowls. It was only $25.

Then I stopped by the "O How Cute" store that just opened in Pearl. (There is also one in downtown Brandon.) I bought this beautiful plaque with some of my "allowance" money. (I'll get to that in a minute.)

This store is also great. I bought a couple of Christmas presents yesterday from there. They have so many cute things I didn't want to leave. And if you're a fan of "Apple Annie's" gift shop, but are like me and never make the drive all the way out past that area in Brandon, this store carries "Apple Annie's" dip mixes, sauces, cookbooks, and all the other food items.

Mistletoe is coming up and that is when I stock up on "Apple Annie", but now that there is a store so close that carries it, I will be able to buy things more conveniently. The dip mixes I stock up with are so convenient for the holidays with all the parties and it's so easy to just use the mix and whip something tasty up at the last minute.

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the entire staircase.", Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is handmade in Mississippi. Beautiful stuff.

This is my other vintage table that I have posted a pic of before. I bought this at a local flea market for $25. Love it.

We bought this on clearance at Hobby Lobby. Brennan wanted it so bad because it was a church. Something else we didn't really have room for , or know where to put, but Brennan really wanted it. (My future southern Baptist preacher/music minister son.)

The handprints my boss made of the boy's hands last Christmas for Chad.

So, that is a look around my living room. If you live around this area, you should check out Forget-Me-Not in Brandon. Great stuff, great prices.

And back to my allowance--- this week has been a new challenge for us. Chad and I decided to try and refinance our home since the interest rates are so incredibly low. We didn't know how it would turn out because I still have things on my credit report that haven't been cleared since my identity was stolen. (It's just one of those things that is solely my fault. I still get emotional when I have to deal with the paperwork of getting my name cleared and I just haven't tied up the few final things remaining. I know, put on my big girl panties and deal with it, right?)

Anyway, Chad told them up front about my credit and we said a few prayers. Well, they were able to put it solely under Chad's name and credit, and we were able to lock in at an interest rate of 3.something %. (Can't remember the exact number.)

When we bought back in 2005, we got our house for around 5% interest. So, now that we have refinanced, we are able to save about $200 a month. Of course, we will have to stay here for a minimum of 5 years, but I feel we will be here for at least another 7 to 10 years.

And we also got strict about our cash flow. Chad paid our bills, made our donations, and then left the rest up to me. We now have a cash only system. I get to dole it out. I paid cash for groceries, and I gave us each an allowance. Which includes things like if one of us goes to lunch while we are at work. With a a possible baby in the future, we need to stay on track and stay motivated.

I cannot wait for Halloween. No, it's not my favorite holiday and I don't get into all the festivities and parties and what not, but now that I have kids, it's fun to dress them up. Brennan is old enough to choose what he wants to be. So, he wanted to be a police man. The outfit below is the exact costume I ordered. It is so cute and comes with the belt, hat, badge, and even handcuffs.

Oh yes, and we have ELVIS. This is Ethan's outfit. You can't see it very well and I don't think you can enlarge this picture, but it is the REAL DEAL. It came with the red scarf, and the bling-bling belt, and it has the giant eagle on the back. It does not come with the wig, and without thinking I chopped all of Ethan's hair off last week. He had the perfect Elvis hair that I was going to color black with temporary spray. But, I wasn't even thinking about that last week. Party City has some GREAT Elvis sunglasses, and I ordered the glitter microphone from the same company as the outfit.

Ethan loves Elvis. When I turn it on in the van he goes nuts--dancing and laughing. If I turn it off, he goes nuts-- as in throwing a fit.

I can't wait. Next to the real Elvis, he is going to be the best-looking Elvis to ever shake a hip.

Things I am loving and other random thoughts....

#1. I had a bogo (buy one get one) coupon for Yankee Candles. I really wanted a great autumn scent. I love burning candles that are appropriate for the seasons. Oh my, I am in love. My mom and I split the coupon so we each basically got a large Yankee Candle for $9 in the same scent.

So, let me tell you my favorite thing on this evening of October 4, 2010: Putting the boys to bed, lighting my delicious candle (so delicious I could probably eat it), cracking the windows to let the cool air in, and breathing in the cool, crisp autumn night. Chad is gone for a few hours so it's just me, my candle, and my laptop.

It's so hard to believe that just last week we were suffering from 90+ temps. It is so incredibly pleasant outside. Now, if only we could get just a few drops of rain.....


#2. On the weekend of October 15 and 16th our church is having a dinner theater. It is just clean, fun, family entertainment. I have participated in 2007 and 2009 and this year. I have also participated in our Christmas productions. It is so much fun. I know it is the last weekend of the fair, but I would urge you to buy a ticket. They are $15 and include a steak or chicken dinner and it's just clean entertainment for an evening. Besides, I am in it. What more could you ask for?

#3. Brennan is so bad, but he is so sweet. He came home on yellow (again) today for talking. And talking again. He gets it honestly. I was never a talker in school, but Chad was and still is. That's the worst trouble Chad ever got in at school, was talking. Now he has a son who takes after him.

And as we were saying our prayers tonight, he said, "Dear God, I know you make good things happen. I thank you for making good things happen. I mean, all you have to do is say it, and your powers can make it happen."

Seriously? How sweet is that?

#4. I had a great day at work today. I have a great day at work everyday. I am reminded constantly how lucky I am to have a job that I love, coworkers I love, and a boss who is not only grounded in faith in God, but who sincerely loves his patients. Not only are employers like that hard to find, but jobs like that are hard to find. I love all aspects of my job. Even if it seems to be a crummy day occasionally. Even if I didn't get paid to do what I do, I would still do it.

#5. I have realized the blessings I have found in my friends. My true friends. Friends who love me, and who encourage me, even when my problems are minute compared to many others. I have a circle of friends that I consider family. I had lunch with one of them today and it just made my day to know I could count on her for anything.

#6. Chad and I prayed, talked, and even went to the altar at church yesterday morning. God is in control of our situation. I am going to accept whatever it is that He wants in my life..... just as long as He takes care of my chronic pain. We have let Him take the wheel.

#7. And don't forget if you have been a reader and have not signed up to follow my blog, do so. It gives you a chance to win a painting. And every comment made under my posts counts extra.

Hope you all have a great week. I love this time of year. As I've said before, next to Christmas, autumn is my favorite time of the year.