Happy Birthday...

... to me!

Yes today is my birthday. I'm ok with it, for at least two more years. Then I will have some negotiating conversations with God. I don't know why He would make me turn 30.

I have already received lots of birthday love. SL is planning on taking me shopping later for new camera stuff. I'm excited.

Here are a few of the lovely messages I've heard this weekend.

"After 30, a body has a mind of its own." (Good thing I have 2 more years)

"Last week the candle factory burned down. Everyone just stood around and sang, ‘Happy Birthday’."

"Like many women my age, I am 28 years old" (Wait, I am!"

"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."

Thanks for all the Birthday Love!

What Is My Dog Thinking

My mom showed this to me a few weeks ago, and I thought it was so hilarious.

I couldn't resist sharing it with you.

If you go to their YouTube page you can see the other talking animals they have.

We'll Be Ok

God doesn't give explanations

He gives promises.

I cling to those promises.

Under a Rock

I've been living under a rock for a few months now. I wanted to write this post in hopes that if I can get all of this out I maybe able to come out from under this rock. My rock is very comfy. There is only enough room for me under here.

An old pic, before we painted the Youth room.

If you aren't immediate family than you probably don't know what had been going on with us lately. My husband is a youth minister. He is an amazing youth minister (I may be biased). He has a way of talking to teenagers that can get past their entitlement, their self grandeur, and self esteem (whether high or low). 

We had been at our church for 2 years when the church said they could no longer afford to keep him Full time. So he went look for a second job.

We were doing just fine with our two jobs, but when he became part time at the church we knew he would need another job. God amazingly took care of it and SL found a job at Sears very quickly. God  has truly blessed SL at Sears. He went from seasonal to Full time Head Cashier in one year.

A year a half after the church put SL as part time, they have now decided to hire a Full Time Music Minister/Youth Minister. SL can't sing or play a musical instrument. Guess what that means.  We're Out.

Our initial reactions was hurt, anger, bitterness. As we have had time to absorb this, we realize God was answering our prayers. We have been praying that God would show us if it was time to leave or stay since SL was put on part time.  God was telling us, It's time to go.  We are still a little hurt, it's hard to not be. But we have a lot of sadness for our youth. We have always stayed for them. Even when we have struggled financially, we kept thinking we are doing this for these teenagers who desperately need a positive influence in their lives.

So now we are looking for a new church or whatever God has in store for us. We don't know what is going to happen, how long we can stay in our house before we can no longer afford it. But we put all our trust in God. He has got us through everything put in front of us and we know He will get us through this too. 

So if you think about us anytime, say a prayer for me, SL, and Bubba.  We sure need it. I will continue to pray for you. Email me your prayer requests.

p.s. say a prayer for Julie also. You can hear about her story here  Another Chance Ranch

Day Late Wordless Wednesday

Was supposed to post this yesterday, but I entered the date wrong on the auto post.

Signs of Life

This past week has been a crazy one. SL and I got some discouraging news last week. However, we have realized that is God giving us the answers we have been praying for.

We have had almost no rain since November. No rain means very dry grass. Very dry grass means fire food. Friday when massive storms where going through our northwest we had very High winds. Like 60 mph. Now it gets windy in these parts around spring, but nothing like this. So we had many fires in our surrounds because of this. Some were large fires, some were small, some are still burning 5 days later and destroyed dozens of homes and thousands of miles of land.

When you don't have rain for several months it can get warm. Something about the ground no absorbing heat, or the opposite. I don't know, the meteorologist explained it better. So all that to say, we have been very warm lately. No, not warm, HOT! Like 103 degrees! And it's not even Easter yet.

These are all pics of my mom's flowers at her house. I thought with the crazy heat, fires, and no rain it was nice to see some cool purple colored flowers.

I think I finally have the smell of smoke out of my house. Or my nose has just grown immune to it.

Now I'm dealing with a cough I assume is from all ths smoke and dust in the air.

Please say a prayer for all the people who have lost their homes, their land, their pets, their treasured things. It is a tough beginning for them.