Day 5 Away From Home

Yes... ppl! I know! It has been 2 months since I've posted! Posting on my blog has been the last thing on my mind. While dealing with the whole job loss/unemployment issues, I've been in no mood to blog! God and my family have been the only thing keeping me going.
DH now has a job but it has temporarily relocated us from Louisiana to Oklahoma! Big change for us! We're living out of a extended stay hotel... BTW it's no picnic...4 ppl! 1 room! 2 beds in the same room as the couch & kitchen! hence it's a lil crowded, but we are making it!
'n Actually there should be 5 of us here and not 4...tis what I am liking least of all -- my 14 year old stayed behind for a doc appt and my parents were supposed to bring him to us in a week. Now they are talking about keeping him till we come home for our cruise (the 1 we've had scheduled/pd for forever ago...way before dh losing his job)!
Well....that's 2 more weeks away still...3 weeks being away from my kid! I know he's in good hands, but he's still my baby (even a@ 14) 'n well... I want him w/me!!!! (stamping my feet) :( So of course I am not sleeping much!
As I get ready to settle in for my 5th night away from home, I'll be praying for some sleep! It's not just this unsettling feeling b/c my entire family isn't together-- it's the city! I am used to serenity and sounds of nature!  This temporary home of ours is nestled between a major hwy and the interstate. I hear the roaring of traffic all night long. Living out in the woods, we get the crickets chirping, the occasional rooster crowing from some late night disturbance, and the dog's doing the twilight bark thing.  Oh the sounds of home... much more peaceful than this. I never thought I'd appreciate those barking dogs of ours and our neighbors! lol! I miss 'em already! and I miss my chickens and roosters and fresh farm eggs which I had to give away before we left :( So even when we get home... no fresh farm eggs! No cuddly rabbits either btw! We gave our 4 rabbits away, too :(  The dogs are in the care of my MIL. She wanted the protection and companionship, so it worked out well for them and her!
Anywayz... Just wanted to let you know what's going on in our lives, but it's time to read the Bible before everyone falls asleep, so will cut this short! Hope your last few months have been filled with God's love and blessings! 'n yep...I know I focused on some negatives tonight, and I am sorry... I will do my best to share some positives of our experience as I know there will be some... of course one positive is that dh has a job so that's a blessing... :)  til tomorrow!  & yep... we are still homeschooling!

Blessings,

Scrooge or the Grinch that Stole Christmas?

I am trying so hard to bite my tongue! I really need gather up and utilize those "Fruits of the Spirit" right now something fierce!!! I will control myself, but I seriously want to write a letter to the editor of our local newspapers (both on & off post) to share a true "Scrooge" story of a company contracted to work for Fort Polk! Fort Polk-- a post known to go the extra mile putting families first as best as the United States Military can possibly do! I know this because I used to work as a Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA) on post and was most impressed by what Fort Polk had to offer for families and the lengths they went in order to reach out, support, and aide families in all facets of military life.

I just can't seem to comprehend how a company, affiliated with Fort Polk, could be so heartless as to let an employee go 10 days before Christmas over coding he overlooked because he wasn't trained to recognize such errors! I could see if it was malicious or benefited him somehow, but it did not! It was an honest mistake!  People who know my husband know he wouldn't dare purposefully do something to jeopardize his job, his reputation, or his family!

I am speaking of a hardworking father of 3, a Sunday school teacher to Pre-K & K students, an outreach leader who spends two weekends each month trying to reach lost souls by knocking doors, handing out tracts, & placing flyers on cars!! .... a church going, God fearing family man who has worked on and off post for several years, grew up living on Fort Polk as an army brat, and continued his life here in the Vernon Parish community even after his father retired both as a SGM & a civil service employee! Since that time, he laid his father to rest as an honored solider serving his country! With that being said, my husband only has the utmost respect for our nations military,  Fort Polk, and all those affiliated with ensuring the post's mission.

I just feel like he has truly been cheated! There were many a time he had to meet with human resources for this employee & that employee accused of misconduct on large and small scales (to include individuals not even showing up for work)!!! and only for what? a slap on the wrist or a transfer to another section/shop!! Verbal warnings, written warnings, and the like were given out, but oh... firing is a last resort!

There was no three strikes and your out for my dh! There was no written reprimand/warning, nor was there even a verbal reprimand/warning! Just bam... 10 days b4 Christmas... we're letting you go! Today! Not tomorrow! Not a week from now! Today! 10 days b4 Christmas! Turn in your cell phone & give us your CAC! & btw they were more than happy to walk out to my dh's vehicle and scrape off his post decal!

Come to think of it, how do we know what they did with his CAC ?! Could it have fallen into the wrong hands? Could someone use it to get unauthorized access to the computer that was assigned to him? What other things can be done with a CAC while out of ones possession? I believe he should have had the right to personally return his CAC to in/out processing on post w/out it being passed among hands! Anyway... I'm just thinking... 

I'm also thinking...How heartless!!! -- a company that doesn't care if this job is the sole source of support for a family of 5 where the wife home-schools the kids and doesn't work outside the home b/c that would be next to impossible to do while homeschooling 3 kids in 3 different grades!

Umm... I also can't figure out whether this should be a Scrooge or the Grinch that Stole Christmas story?  He was let go 10 days before Christmas!!! Does that sound like Merry Christmas?

And... would you call it fair to let an employee go with no warning or even counseling for a mistake when, like explained above, ... time and time again, my husband witnessed employees shuffled from one section/shop to another b/c firing was a last resort?!

Seems odd...Only one (1) person is let go after signing off on something the worker initially mis-coded and his two (2) supervisors signed off on! --- that's four (4) people who all made the same mistake!!!  & again... worth mentioning... no training for anyone in the coding/recognizing coding errors, but yet my dh should have caught it!?

'n I probably should mention he's been with this company for a while! they've been doing this the same way all along! If there was a mistake, don't you think the company should have caught it a bit sooner and made sure employees were properly trained?

Um... I think they are getting trained now but idk! rumor is there are signs on how to properly code being posted around the office but again I still don't know that for sure! Doesn't really help my dh though-- does it?

Well... just me ranting! Sometimes I feel completely at peace with things, and other times I get like I am right now and think... injustice!!! ugh!

I do have the satisfaction of knowing what goes around comes around! lol! jk! but really now... what keeps me from falling apart is the Lord! I've the faith in knowing that God will take care of our family and the surety that He has some divine plans in store! I am thankful for how He has always taken care of us! oh the blessings!! I know He will never leave us nor forsake us! We've got so much to thank Him for even in the hard times!! We can never forget that!!

Even still... I would greatly appreciate it if you wouldn't mind... keep us in your prayers! Thanks tremendously! Hoping you all have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Blessings,

Thank God!! It's Friday!

It's been a crazy week, but I thank God for all He's done in our lives! Our family has been so blessed! I could never begin to repay God for the all the good things in my life! That's not to say we haven't struggled at times, but you really have to struggle every now and again or you won't appreciate the blessings God sends your way!
Looking for some way to give back to Him, I began praying for God to use me! With a new pastor, new changes in our church, and new people, I was almost feeling like I was losing myself in it all!  We all want to feel like we belong somewhere, right?! I just wasn't sure where yet, even though this is the church I was married in over 16 years ago!
So, I found myself helping out cooking breakfast for the bus kids at my cousin Wendy's church (her hubby is a pastor), then I would leave there and go to our church just in time for Sunday School. I met lots of new people, enjoyed the fellowship with my beautiful, kind-hearted cousin, and really felt like I was doing something to please the Lord, but at the same time...I wanted to do something at our church!
My cousin's church elected some new youth leaders, and they moved in to the parsonage. For them this meant they had plenty of hands to help out for Sunday breakfasts, so I took this as a perfect opportunity to open myself up to do something at "home" so to speak.
My husband and I spoke to the Sunday School director and his wife and let them know that we would take a Sunday School class if one came available. We were willing and able provided the children were all potty trained. We taught for a year in the 2 year old class and well... we're so not ready to go back to diapers and pull ups!
Weeks went by! and then more weeks! I missed cooking at my cousin's church! I missed the kids! and of course... I miss my cousin!!! :)  I began praying a little harder every day "God use me for your service!" Of course, I was getting a bit discouraged! I think the devil was helping out with that, b/c I kept trying to search myself and see where I was messing up since God wasn't using me/us! I begin to pray that if things weren't right in my heart, then I needed God to help me change so that I may be worthy of doing service for His kingdom.

A few more weeks of praying and then...

One Sunday morning I'm pulled out of church by an usher! I was like...whaaaat is going on? He told me "You are needed in the Kindergarten class." I thought he was mistaken b/c my youngest is in first grade, but then it dawned on me that was my cousin's class. My cousin has two lil ones (10months and 2 yrs), so I figured it must have been one of her own she needed me for...nope...the next thing I know she is handing me a book 'n talking about my husband and I taking over the class! I was so excited!

As if I wasn't already excited enough...Monday, I was sent a text asking if I wanted to help out with Kid S.U.R.F. on Wednesday nights (children's church)! I was assured we'd be taking turns throughout the night, each having small parts of the lesson, so it wouldn't take a lot of prep or home time! And most all the helpers have a Sunday School class, so doing both is typically not a problem.

Now... call this a coincidence or not but come Friday, I receive a phone call...It was one of the elders in the church asking my husband and I to meet with him Saturday prior to outreach. We had a short conversation about what was in store, and Sunday morning... my husband and I were sitting in the pastor's office being prepped on our new role as outreach leaders!

I'm not sure how I feel right now... I am so excited but a tad bit overwhelmed! lol! I know God answers prayers, but...lol! He really did it this time! :)

Sunday was our 3rd week teaching our new kindergarten class! Wednesday was my 3rd night in Kid S.U.R.F.! Prior to church that night, my hubby and I attended our first director's meeting! And... this Saturday we will be doing our first church-wide outreach event! We're mostly looking toward the youth group showing up for this one this time, but we're going to push for more church involvement come next month! We love the youth for outreach! They are friendly, outgoing, and energetic! They "like to move it!, move it!" and face it... the older we get, the less get up and go we tend to have!

The downside to all of this...when you try to work for the Lord the devil tries to do everything he can to ruffle your feathers! Me and my crazy teen have knocked heads a few times this week...as have me and the hubby (over the teen)! So... I made an effort to pray a few extra times during the day...Not gonna let that devil get me down!! Just speaking His name-- JESUS!!! and... well... all the devil can do is flee! Love that wonderful name of Jesus!

Please say a quick prayer for us tomorrow as we will be kicking off at 10am tomorrow as we venture through the city putting door hangers on door knobs, leaving flyers on cars, and handing out tracts!

Blessings,

Louisiana Saturday Night

Well, the night's almost over, but we had us a good 'ol time! We headed out to the back yard, built us a fire, roasted some weenies, and then followed that with some toasted marshamallows and smores! Yum! Check out the pics...

and no the pooches didn't pee on that rock, so don't flip out!!! It's ok, really!!! They aren't allowed in that part of the yard! 'n besides...that rock was so hot it could have fried an egg... don't think any germs could have lived on it! It was the perfect place to start my chocolate a melt'n which made for the gooiest smore I've ever tasted!

toasting my marshmallow!

nice 'n toasty... placed atop my chocolate & graham cracker 

turned on the flash

mashed it down flat

going for the bite

ok... i took a couple of bites before this pick...couldn't resist
cheezing it up

going for the serious look

I <3 these guyz! God has truly blessed us!
'n btw...I never eat more than one smore, but ... um... don't tell anyone... but I had 3!!!! I have no idea what got into me, but smores done on a campfire are way better than the ones you can do in the microwave! oh... heavenly! I best be bike riding a lot next week to make up for tonight!

Blessings,

God Said No!!!

I asked God to take away my habit. 

God said, No.

It is not for me to take away, 
But for you to give it up. 









I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. 
God said, No. 

His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary. 


I asked God to grant me patience. 













God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; 
It isn't granted, it is learned. 



I asked God to give me happiness.. 










God said, No. 
I give you blessings; 
Happiness is up to you. 

I asked God to spare me pain. 

God said, No. 
Suffering draws you apart from 
Worldly cares and brings you closer to me. 

I asked God to make my spirit grow. 

God said, No.  


You must grow on your own, 
But I will prune you to make you fruitful. 



I asked God for all things 
That I might enjoy life.. 

God said, No.  I will give you life, 
So that you may enjoy all things. 



I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.

God said... Ahhhh, 
Finally you have the idea. 



'May the Lord Bless you and keep you, 
May the Lord Make his face shine upon you, 
And give you Peace....... Forever!

~ Author Unknown










My cousin sent this to me via email. I hope you enjoy it!



Blessings,