So many exciting things...

We're still on the job in Oklahoma! Looks like it will be a few more weeks! The internet hasn't been the best, so I don't blog much. My daughter has since gotten interested in blogging, and she has her own which she created for her last assignment in her Discovery Girls magazine adventure. The magazine is now out on newsstands, she's been featured in our local newspaper, talked about on the radio and of course in front of our entire church when she took a trip back home for church camp!
To top it all off, at the Louisiana District United Pentecostal International Youth Camp in Tioga, LA, she was brought on stage! If I can figure out how to clip from the DVD I have, I will post it. I am sure she'll want it on her blog, too! They were so excited to share that there was this little Holy Ghost filled Apostolic / Pentecostal girl on the cover of a national magazine AND inside it, she was featured with Bible in hand!

We are so very proud of her! She is truly a blessings and this experience has been a blessing for her! She hopes other girls will see her and take interest in God and that Bible in her hand! Being a witness is what  life is supposed to be about!

Take a moment to check it out!

Below is a screen shot and link to the DG website where you can find a link to Emilee's blog!

or just go straight to Emilee's blog by clicking HERE!

Meet All 12 Discovery Girls and View Profiles Here

Link to Discovery Girls Behind the Scenes

Blessings,

News... u missed! I have a Bible packing DG girl!

Well, it's not really news u missed! It is more like news I failed to post while going offline for 2 months! My dd was chosen to be featured in Discovery Girls Magazine! Just days before heading to Oklahoma to our new home away from home we went to New Orleans for her photo shoot! It went great! She was photographed with 11 other girls chosen from Louisiana.  So look for her in the issue featuring girls from Louisiana (going out on the newsstands in May). This will be the June/July Issue! & well... I just can't wait! She'll be the long haired sweetheart holding her Bible in her profile shot!
It was sooo funny b/c she said they tried taking pictures of her without her Bible, and she was worried they would use a shot of her without it instead of with it, so she kept looking away with every snap when she didn't have her Bible in her hand! They may have just needed extra pictures for other reasons, but she wasn't taking any chances! That's my baby-girl! Be a witness! Show off The Word of God and be proud you are a Christian! :)

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,

Louisiana Saturday Night

"Fall back" b4 u hit the pillow tonight! Some states opt out of this of this practice, but not ours!! I sure wish I could, though; I always seem to need a week or more to adjust my internal clock! lol! 'n then I keep telling myself...it would have been this time, but instead it's this time! if that makes any sense! lol! maybe thats my ocd! ikd!
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,

Give to the community; they give back!

Saturday we had another outreach event dropping flyers at houses and on windshields. My kids just so happened to come across a house where a woman came out to give her lil pup a potty break! They were more than eager to run over to hand her a flyer! See it goes like this...if they see a puppy, they've got to pet it!!

Next thing you know we were walking up the street with a new puppy! The  pup spent the rest of the day riding in my husbands lap as he creeped along with our vehicle while we scurried from house to house handing out flyers! The lady lived on a corner lot, at an intersection, and was worried the pup was going to get ran over! She seemed a little sad, but told the kids that he really needed a good home! We were more than pleased! We had the perfect home in mind!

So...this lil feller is now the new best friend to my neighbor - my mother-in-law. She's been ever so lonely since the loss of husband, though we are over to visit everyday. I was so excited that she decided to take the lil pooch! I hope he brings her lots of joy!

Isn't he a cutie?! He's a dapple dachshund or as we here in Louisiana call it... a Catahoula Weenie Dog! lol!

Problem is... he doesn't have a name yet! We forgot to ask the lady what his name was, and now he's just DOG! So we're up for suggestions!

Blessings,

Fishing Friday & Family

Yay! Yay! It's fishing friday for our bunch! Oh... I better add this right up front... I know there is nothing like fishing for a good deal, but I'm talking real fishing!! So if you stopped in for that... I guess I could mail you some coupons for the grocery store! lol! I don't want you to be disappointed, but I am talking 'bout the  whole "you get a line and I get a pole" thing! We're heading off to the fishing hole!  Well, at least we were supposed to be heading off to go fishing as soon as my husband got off! but... :( now he's saying something about going to buy a  new alternator to put on his truck, so something tells me we may not be going fishing this evening. I'm a bit bummed.  Here are some pics from last weekends fishing expedition. We caught a few good sized ones on the yo-yo's, but we threw them back. The time before that my daughter caught a folding chair, and a few limbs, and my mom caught a perch. We're obviously not entering a bass tourney, but we have a lot of fun!

Anywayzzzz....My favorite pic first!!!

Check me out--- walking on water!!! so cool! of course not as cool as Jesus, b/c I cheated but how??? bahahahaa! 'n it is not photoshopped b/c if it was I wd have definitely tried to slim my self up a bit!! Remind me to NEVER!!! EVER!!! wear this outfit in public!

I thought ruching/gathered sides were supposed to make you look thinner, but I guess if you pull your shirt way down to be sure it doesn't slip up 'n show your tummy when you raise your arms while acting like an igmo pretending you are walking on water... this is the look ya get! I'm no fashionista anywho!!! but I will give u a tip... don't wear a layering tee under a ruched shirt! u'll burn up while ur fishing and u'll look a bit thicker in the mid ta boot! I definetly appear to have more girth than normal! trust me I don't need help there, the "hippy"mom I already am!! 5'2 has bennies... I don't have far to fall when I trip, but if I was another few inches taller, I wd be in that normal BMI zone! ha ha!

More pics...

this lil fisherman is always grinning! 

my daddy, my girly, her "bubba", 'n my hubby

whistle while you troll...da da da da da da da! 

[my hubby does not like to get his pic taken... notice the furrowed brow! lol!]

my boy 'n my momma <3 'em both like some kinda crazy!

God has definitely blessed me with an awesome family! I pray the same blessings for my readers! Hope you have a fabulous friday!

Blessings,

Wordless Wednesday - Rainbow (& the reflection on the lake)

P.E. Redneck Style

I am absolutely positively pooped, but I accomplished so much today...AND I'm sore as I'll get out! Early this morning I pitched in and helped the kids with their chores, did everything I normally do, and then swapped furniture around between two rooms... wanting to change things up a little bit.  We of course got all our studies in today, too...started on time, stayed with the schedule, and finished on time! That's a miracle! lol! I'm luv'n it! b/c... well, let's just say I'm a little OCD about things! I hardly get it all to work the way "I" want! Life with kids, ya know! :) It's interesting around here; that's for sure! Every single one of us are wired a little different...I didn't know there were so many different ways to be wired! rolf!

Anywayzzz... I was very excited that we got our music lessons in as well as were able to have some family fun and games outside for P.E. You would have cracked up watching me, a grown woman, roll a huge barrel down the driveway around a basketball goal and back in efforts to beat my kid's time! No mercy! rofl! I did it, but that barrel practically got away from me on the downhill!  My laugh for the day was when my 6 year old tried it and rolled right over with the barrel!!!! You're probably thinking how mean!!! but we're country...and that was just mighty funny! We couldn't help but crack up! His feet were straight up in the air in a handstand, his body keeping the barrel from rolling any further!! Um... how many people do you know use a deer feeder barrel to play P.E. games! Yep... we got a lil redneck in us!

Blessings,

Baby Blues...not talking hues

Today was a fun day. I had double duty today... double diaper duty that is! lol! Really... I was talking about homeschooling and baby-sitting, but the diaper thing came to mind.  My cousin needed a sitter for her darling two, today. Though the day was quite uneventful, it was definitely therapeutic!

You see, ever so often, one gets those baby blues. The feeling that comes on when your "babies" seem to think they are all grown up and don't necessarily think they need you as much as you know they do.

It's when you see your youngest inching ever so close to becoming Mr./Miss Independent you tear up a little. It happened with the other children, and you know it's inevitable! ...but the difference this time is that there is no one crawling across the floor to you, your not rocking anyone in that rocking chair, there will be no more little boo boos to kiss, no lil hand tugging at your shirt-tail, or silly as it might be... no one to hear your own special version of Goldilocks & The Three Bears!  um... btw i'm talking 'bout those bears who live in the south 'n trek through the swamp waiting for their Gumbo to cool! lol!

So, yep... that's what I'm going though. My youngest is 6. So far he is still cuddly, lovable, and enjoys being rocked (though he is physically much too big for rocking).... but... (sniff, boo hoo) the other day he yanked off his Thomas tank engine Bible cover that I so carefully & lovingly crafted for him and told me he didn't need it anymore.

I was flabbergasted... Thomas!!!... tossed on the floor! 

I mean, of course, I am ever so thankful it wasn't his Bible tossed into the floor, but I knew right then and there... that was some semblance of a metaphor for the innocence and wonder of his childhood... tossed away. He's growing up!!!! and (whine & stomp) I'm just not ready!!! What am I going to do?

And so... I said yes to keeping my cousin's 10month old daughter and 2 year old son. Never in my life did I have to deal with two kids in diapers at the same time.  I barely had to deal with bottles and sippy cups at the same time b/c my kids have some distance between  them (4 years between the oldest and middle  and 4 years between the middle and last).  I thought surely I'd be insane by the end of the day, but I wasn't. A wee bit tired, of course, but not miserable or insane!

So that didn't exactly cure my baby blues like everyone said it would. "Keep someone else's, you'll remember why you stopped at three!"... na' don't think so. I think I'd still want to have another BABY if I could. Key word there... BABY b/c It's not the baby thing that scares me!

What scares me is knowing that without a shadow of doubt that baby has to grow up and become a ... ahhh... oooooh... eeek!.... TEENAGER.... bahahahaha!

Yes! Yes! I know it's only a phase...but, that's when the job get's really hard! 'n that's when you really wonder... am I going to go totally insane?!! lol!

Of course there is something positive about it... your prayer life will increase exponentially when your kid hits the teen years! Cry out to Jesus... the words seem to have a whole new meaning, I'll tell ya!

Prayer changes things. I can definitely see a difference when I pray and when I don't... no doubt! A lot of it has more to do with me than it does my teenager, because most of the time I have to pray for God to keep my attitude in check when it comes to dealing with that boy! lol!

While other's are shelling out hundreds of dollars on professional therapy, I have vowed that I will get my therapy from the one we call Counselor...
I am so grateful--
I don't have to make an appointment!
I don't have to drive an hour away!
I don't have to wait in a stuffy room to take my turn!
God's always ready and wiling to listen!
...on my knees seeking HIS guidance, praying for strength HE can only give, and peace that passeth all understanding!

Now that's what I call Therapy!

Enjoying What God Created