My Seventeen Year Old

Kyle turned 17 on the 23rd of February!  Crazy how much he has grown and changed!  Thursday we went out to dinner for his birthday at Buffalo Wild Wings.  His girlfriend Misty and his good friend Brandon joined us.

Karlee dared him to take a bite of the hottest, most spicy sauce on a blazin hot wing.....

Poor guy he looks like he is in pain....

He held his composure quite well but drank a ton of ice cold water waiting for the sting of the wing to subside.

This is Kyle with his girlfriend Misty.  She is very sweet and good to my boy.

Sara and her big brother!

We all had a great time celebrating Kyle's birthday!

Journals - My stories

The black covered journal was my last journal and I picked it with purpose.  I felt it was appropriate with all the changes that were going on in my life, with leaving Micah, starting over on my own, new job, grieving the loss of my dad.  I needed the Lord's strength in all that.  I have discovered that the last couple of journals I have written in have ended having a theme, like a chapter continued in my story.  It wasn't planned....at least by me but worked out that way.

This journal with the pink cover speaks volumes of where I'm at in my life right now and the best thing is that a very dear friend gave it to me.  She may have picked it with purpose or the Lord lead her to give me that journal as a Christmas gift but either way it was and is the next theme, or chapter in my life.  I don't know what is in store for myself and my family.  I know what I think needs to happen or would like to happen but really the Lord has the plan and really that is a blessing.

I haven't written here on my blog in awhile or in my journal for a while now.  I'm beginning to see that it is a sign of me trying to do life on my own instead of with Him and through His strength.  This week I'm going to be more intentional on sitting still in the presence of the Lord with his word in my hand and praying for his steps for my feet to take will be clear in each day with each moment. 

Old Friends & New recipes

Recently I have started to talk to an old friend. The one on the right, with glasses is Stephaine and we used to be best friends!  Her sister is on the left, Heather.  Heather is the one who has reconnected Steph and I.  Its been great getting to know Steph again.  Her life is so different than mine running a farm and all but I'm realizing we are still alike in some ways and we are mom's who loves our kids a ton!

A couple of weeks ago I decided to try to make some meals that we like eating out.  If I can fix them at home we don't have to pay the price of them when we treat ourselves out.  So I made Spicy Thai bowls and it was so good!  It was super easy and a hit with all of my kids!!  So I will put this on the repeat list of things to make for dinner.

It's been a while

Its been a long time since my last post.  I seem to just stay in my head when I have things going on that I'm dealing with or when I just get in not so exciting routine of life.  I'm trying to think of what all has been going......

I had failed the insurance test for the 3rd time.

I've been worried and stressed about money.

I've been listening to Satan's lies!!!!  Man he has done a number on me too!!!  I recognize it and I'm trying to battle against him but there for a while, a few weeks I sort of gave up and cave into going with the flow of lies in my head.  I had myself set up for defeat with that test before I even started taking it again.

I'm working hard at believing that I can and will pass this time.  I have some awesome friends around me supporting me and encouraging me.

But lately I still just feel so overwhelmed and tired.  Tired on all levels possible.....

Recently a friend of mine emailed me a devotional.  It was perfect!  It as as if I sat down and wrote it!

The main thing that stuck out and has been something I have been saying to myself lately is:
DO THE NEXT THING

Do it immediately;

Do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly,

casting all care;

Do it with reverence,

Tracing His Hand,

Who placed it before thee with

Earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence,

Safe 'neath His wing,

Leave all resultings,

DO THE NEXT THING.

That is a quote from an old Saxon poem written by Elisabeth Elliot.

I love it and I plan printing it out and hanging it somewhere in my home.