Welcome friends from the UBP!

Hi Fellow Moms! I'm so glad you stopped by! I'm looking forward to connecting and meeting more moms. I haven't been blogging very long, but have found that it's a great way to journal those special moments in life or even revelations from my King! Obviously I'm very much in love with my Heavenly Father and always desire to keep him first, even though being a wife and mother it can be hard at times. I homeshool my three beautiful boys and am truly blessed to have the opportunity! And when I'm not being pulled in three different directions with them I enjoy reading and catching up with friends. I'm new to the UBP so any helpful advice in how best to "Enjoy the Party" would be greatly appreciated. Now on with the picking of the prizes:

51 – $25 gift certificate to Oil of Gladness Candles online storeProvided by: Daily Essentials and DealsPrize details: Enjoy a fresh look for your home–potpourri, oil candles, engraved signs, candles, and country decor! You deserve it!

58 – Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand MixerProvided by: Moms Who ThinkPrize details: From Amish Friendship Bread to Decadent Cheesecake and all the meals in between dessert, Moms Who Think has recipes you’ll love. We would like to donate a Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer to help make one lucky winner’s home cooking even easier. (winner’s choice of color, $349.99 retail value)

87 –a 6-piece “Insider’s Beauty Collection” of Avon productsProvided by: callwhenyougetthere.comPrize details: This set includes a beauty bag, long-lasting lipstick, Kabuki face brush, mineral makeup (face powder), Anew eye cream, mascara. ($60 value)

5 — Core Fitness for Mom DVD from Moms into FitnessProvided by: Busy MommyPrize details: If you are frustrated with your tummy bulge this Core DVD provides innovative techniques so you lose the mom tummy!

Our Trip to the Insectarium

We took the kids to the Insectarium last week. This was our first visit. I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy looking at bugs and I did get the "hebbie jebbies" a few times, but I must say we ALL enjoyed it VERY much! It was quite interesting seeing so many bugs, many of which we've never seen and probably would never see. It blows my mind how colorful and BIG or small they can get. All I can say is we have one Creative God! The exhibit I enjoyed the most was the "Butterflies In Flight". A room filled with flowers where the butterflies are free to fly and roam as they please, even if that means flying by you or even landing on you. I can't even describe how beautiful and delicate each one is. But, it was very interesting to learn that once a butterfly hatches from it's chrysalis it only lives for about 2 weeks, this is because it cannot sustain long enough on the nectar (basically sugar water) it lives on. Which would lead one to think, then what is the purpose of the butterfly. I truly believe the butterfly is just another gift of beauty from God for us to enjoy. The Bible says, if we as parents love to give good gifts to our children how much more does our Father God love to give gifts to his. This will forever change the way I see a butterfly! Lastly, if you are able to take your children to the Insectarium, I highly recommend it!

My God and My Calling

About a week ago I posted a Blog titled, "God makes me special". I believe that this word goes along with it. I Praise my Father for bringing revelation to me through His Word!! I am overwhelmed by His Grace!

Korah and his fellow Levite followers had been given a special calling upon their lives, but instead of being humbled and grateful, they rose up in envy and pride. They begin to covet the calling of others.

“They went to Moses and Aaron and said, ‘You have gone too far! Everyone
in Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What
right do you have to act as though you are greater than anyone else among all
these people of the Lord?’” Numbers 16:3

They began to let their minds and hearts become focused on the lives and calling of others. They were disrespecting God’s plan for their lives and His set authority and, in this, they were disrespecting God.

“He has given this special ministry only to you and your fellow Levites, but now
you are demanding the priesthood as well! The one you are really revolting
against is the Lord!” Numbers 16:10-11

We must NOT go or even desire to go where we have been unauthorized to go! God has placed a specific calling on each of our lives and only we have been given the authority to walk in it. Our calling does not make us special or greater than anyone else. It is God who makes us Holy and special! We are nothing and can do nothing apart from Him! God gives to us out of His Goodness and Love, He owes us NOTHING! We owe Him EVERYTHING!

“And Moses said, ‘By this you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all
these things that I have done—for I have not done them on my own.’” Numbers
16:28

Korah and his followers lost their lives and were rejected by God because they had rejected Him and His plan for their lives. They were not considered Holy, but the incense burners they held when they died were dug out from among their ashes and considered Holy because they were used to serve as a warning to others not to make the same mistakes!

“This would warn the Israelites that no unauthorized man—no one who was not a
descendant of Aaron—should ever enter the Lord’s presence to burn incense [Why?
Because that was Aaron’s calling, no one else’s]. If anyone did, the same
thing would happen to him as happened to Korah and his followers.” Numbers
16:40

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “The grass always looks greener on the other side”. Keep yourself out of trouble. I say, don’t even look on the other side or allow your eyes the opportunity to lust for even one second! When you do you open the gate for the enemy and his lies. Just Praise and Thank God for the calling He’s placed on your life and know that it is up to you alone to fulfill it, no one else can, just like you cannot fulfill anyone else’s. Keep you mind and heart stayed upon Him and He will do great things through you for His Glory!

“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”
Galatians 6:4

Jade

Okay, I have to dedicate at least one post to my beloved girl, Jade. She is such a blessing and gift from God to me. Let me start from the beginning...Scott and I were talking a lot about getting a big dog, some of our faves were German Shepherd, Retriever, and Huskie. Scott had also shared this with his dad. I don't know wether God will bless us with anymore children or not, that's up to him, but my heart's desire is to have at least 1 more, so I have a habit of constantly thinking of cute baby names. One day, I told Scott I thought Jade would be a cute girl name, to which he rolled his eyes, for he is certain we are done having children. Well, about a week later, Scott's dad called us, he was at a Pet Smart in MS and they were doing a pet adoption day from the local shelter. He called to tell us there was a really sweet and pretty shepherd up for adoption and he would get her for us if we wanted her. We felt this was an opportunity we shouldn't pass up so we said, Yes! Before he got off the phone I asked what her name was and to my shock and delight her name was....(you guessed it!)...Jade! Right away, I knew, this was our dog! I couldn't have been more right! From the day we brought her into our home she has brought such joy to our lives. She has the sweetest and most gentle spirit about her. She's defintely a mommy's girl, she follows me everywhere and remains with me at all times. When I leave she lays by the window and waits for my return and greets me with a warm and loving welcome. She's very smart (as most shepherd's are) and seems to understand everything I say. She's also very protective (another good quality of shepherd's), we don't need an alarm system with her, she can fend off the bravest foes with her bark, but is gentle as a kitten with the boys.

I really believe by giving her to me God has filled a desire within me to love and be loved by someone that is completely devoted and dependent upon me, almost like the baby girl I so desire, my Jade. This may sound funny, because she is a dog, but to me she's more and that's okay. I pray God allows her to remain with us for many more years to come!

God makes me special

I love being a wife and a mother, and I realize how blessed I am to be able to stay home with my children. But, sometimes I come to points in my life where I wonder, if this is all I am supposed to be doing. Am I fulfilling my purpose, am I using the gifts and talents God has given me to the best of my ability. And then, what are my gifts and talents that I'm supposed to using? Sometimes, I can get caught up in looking at the calling on the lives of others and tend to feel I don't measure up. I think, What is it about me that makes me special, what is it about me that the world needs that someone else can't give?! The other night as I was reading God's Word I stopped for a minute and asked, "God, what makes me special?" And in an almost immediate respose He said, "I make you special". Wow!! Again, I am reminded how quickly you can get so focused on yourself and others and off of Jesus. I am nothing and can do nothing without Him! My calling and destiny isn't something that needs to be found or figured out, it's something that I'm living daily, no matter where I am or what I'm doing! I'm so thankful for God's unending paticence and grace. I am so thankful that He never tires from answering the questions of my heart. I am so grateful that all he calls me to do is keep my mind fixed upon Him and He will faithfully lead me the rest of the way.