Our family picture

Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 12:48 PM

Here's another Christmas photo of our family.  What a challenge to get everyone looking at the camera!  We had the camera on a timer, so we told the kids to look at the flashing yellow light and say "cheese".  I don't think we did too bad.  Everyone's smiling anyway.

It's a good thing my husband knows more than me about computers.  He had to help me get these pictures on here.  I was having a hard time not knowing how to resize them.  Hopefully, I'll get the hang of it, and you'll be able to see more of our family adventures.

Blessings,

Angela

Our kids Christmas 2008

Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 12:01 PM

Here are our babies...Joshua, Josie, Caleb, Christina, and Bethany.

What a challenge to get everyone smiling and looking at the camera at the same time!  We saved a lot of money by taking Christmas pictures here in our home, and then going to the local grocery store, and having them printed in the sizes we wanted.  We were able to send several pictures off in our Christmas cards this year.

Blessing,

Angela

Mom's Birthday

Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 05:42 AM

Yesterday was my mom's birthday, and I took her out to eat.  We don't get out together very much, so this was a nice treat.  I took her Cracker Barrel.  This was her second time there, and my third.  We loved looking at the gift shop.  Many or their items were 50 -70 percent off.  I purchased three Gooseberry Patch Christmas ornaments that were 70% off.  I got them for just a little over a $1.  My friend and I are fans of the Gooseberry Patch products, so this was a great deal .  My mom also found candy  she loved eating as a little girl.  So, I bought her a couple of those just before we left.  They're called Valomilk cups.  They look like peanut butter cups, only they have like a marshmallow cream inside.  Mom said they were her favorite growing up, and she always got them at a candy store near her home.   It sure is fun finding things that remind us of our childhood.  I'm glad I was able to get the Valomilks for her.  She seemed to light up when she saw them, and ate one right away after getting into the truck.  It was fun spending time with her last night. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Have a wonderful day.

Angela

The Grocery Game

Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 05:17 AM

I saw someone had this on here a few days ago.  I've checked it out twice now, and it seems to good to be true.  Is anyone doing this, and is it working for you?  I would love to be able to save more on our grocery bill.  We're receiving two paychecks at the moment, but when the second one is gone in five months,  I'm wondering how we're going to make it.  My husband has taken a pay cut with his new job.  So, I'm really looking at ways to cut costs.  Also, the grocery store my family has used the most does not take internet printed coupons.  So, I'm wondering how many stores actually do accept them?

My mom used to get the Sunday newspaper every week, but has gotten frustrated that many of the coupons now say "save 50 cents on two items".  So, you have to buy two of the items when you only want one or can only afford one.  Alot of times I've found that generic brands are cheaper even with the coupons for more expensive brands.  So, I guess I'm wondering if anyone is having success with the Grocery Game?

Here are some things I've done so far...

1. learned how to make my own laundry soap

2. Stay home more

3. learned/learning how to make my own bread

4. Cloth diapering baby

5. using wash cloths rather than paper towels

6. using wash cloths instead of diaper wipes

7. using regular plates, rather than paper plates

8. buy generic when possible

9.  Use vinegar more in my cleaning, instead of expensive cleaners

I'd like to add more to this list, so if anyone has other ideas let me know.

Thanks for the help.  Always willing to learn.

Blessings,

Angela

In My Home Lately

Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 08:55 AM

Snow, is on it's way!  We're supposed to get 7-12 inches tonight, and more accumulations Saturday into Sunday.  I think it will be time to break out the snow blower!  We've had some accumulations before of about three inches, but easy enough to just use shovels to take care of the driveway and sidewalk.  My husband has had to go to classes early in the morning for his job, but tomorrow he'll be back on his regular shift in the afternoon.  Hopefully the roads will be plowed before he has to go into work.  Our roads out here are private, and they seem to be the last ones plowed and sanded.

We made Christmas cookies this week.  I made quite a bit, and let the kids decorate a few yesterday, and I was saving the rest for decorating and giving to neighbors.  I've done this for a few years now, and the neighbors seem to enjoy it.  This year I'm going to expand out to a couple different neighbors, and give Christmas cards with a Christmas track, cookies, and a fresh baked loaf of bread.

Last Sunday was my birthday.  I had a really good day, despite my husband coming down sick, and having to stay home from all the activities.  I took the kids to church, and then later in the afternoon our church had a Christmas festival for the kids.  They decorated the church to look like a Christmas village.  Some rooms had crafts, another had Christmas trivia, and Christmas bingo with M&M's.  They had snacks with hot chocolate or hot cider, and popcorn.  I had so much fun with my kids that afternoon.  My husband kept the baby at home with him, so I could be free to help my 5 & 6 year olds, which was so nice.  The highlight of the afternoon was a make shift ice skating rink.  Someone thought up putting plywood down with a bluish colored plastic tarp over the wood.  Then they sprayed it with shaving cream, and let the kids take turns sliding around on this with their bare feet.  They had cotton batting all around it to make it look like a ice skating pond.  The kids had a blast!  I was hoping and praying no one would get hurt though.  If I figure out how to put pictures on here, I'll show you.

After the Chrismas Festival, I had to rush home and get to my Bible studay group.  I was running late, so I had my husband call my parents and have them go on ahead of me to group.  They decided to wait for me, cause they had brought up birthday gifts for me.  They bought a new sewing machine, and case for me!  They didn't know I got one at Goodwill for $7.  I told them that it was ok to have the two, then any one of the children and I can be working at the same time.  We are all new to sewing, so it will be an experience, but hopefully, I'll be able to teach the kids a little bit as I learn.

My daughter Christina(5) asked "'Mom, you gonna have a birthday cake?"  I said "No, I don't think so."  She said "NO, birthday cake!"  Poor girl couldn't understand the concept.  Birthdays always have a birthday cake around here most of the time.  Well, I went to my Bible study and my mom had sneaked in a birthday cake, but when my husband called the host and hostess for our Bible study group, the host ran out and got another cake to have at the Bible study.  So, I had two birthday cakes.  I was able to bring one home, and have it with the kids, so Christina was able to have birthday cake.My brother and sister in law took the rest of the other cake to their kids after Bible study.

Speaking of Bible study.  We are doing the "Truth Project".  Has anyone else gone through this?  It is really good and makes you think.  Del Tacket does an excellent job taking us through many tours.  These tours have to do with God and His design for everything...family, church, government, etc.  Philosophy, sociology, science, and history play a part in all this too.  I can really see God's design in all of it.  For instance, one of the tours talked about God's design for unity.  Unity seems to happen in threes.  For example, God is Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Family is husband, wife, children, Church is Christ, leaders, flock, Our world has three realms...physical, spiritual, and social.  This study really make you look at what you really believe.  Del Tackets question "Do you really believe, that what you really believe is real?"  Do we really believe God is omnipresent?  Then why do we say or do things as if He's not here?  Really some good things this Bible study is bringing out, and making me think.  I highly recommend going through it if you're given the opportunity.

My daughter Josie is at the age where she is very in tuned to her body, and is afraid of every little ache or pain.  She was in tears earlier this week, because she was afraid she was going to die.  I spent some time with her this week praying, and reading our Bibles together, and listening to music.  I also called her doctors nurse, and she said it is typical of this age for her to have fears, because she is beginning to understand things, and she may need reassurance.  The prayer time and Bible reading has seemed to help the most, but I think I'm going to try to get her into the eye doctor for a complete eye exam, cause she has complained twice now of seeing flashing lines in her vision that stay in the same spot when she looks a different direction.  It seems to have a headache accompanied with it, or this time it came after.  She has already had a physical, and blood testing and everything came out fine, so I do hope if there are serious issues that we'd find the problem, but if not, I pray for God's peace on her.  If you have a moment, please lift her in prayer that she will not be bound in fear.

We are thanking God for good health.  Apart from mild stomach issues my husband had, we've been healthy and we're so thankful for that.

God bless.  Have a great Thursday!  Time to make some pancakes.

In Him,

Angela

My Daughter

Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 03:33 PM

After last nights emotional downers, I had a good cry and went to bed.   She spent most of the evening in her room.  I let her out to eat if she wanted, but then told her she needed to go back to her room.  She and I loved on each other this morning, and it seems she is doing better today.   She complained about her jaw, and her neck, but she seems in better spirits than she was yesterday.  Again, I massaged her neck, and offered medicine, and heating pad.  We're coming to the conclusion that some molars are coming in and may be causing some pain, so I told her if her mouth hurts I'd give her some tylenol or ibeuprofen.  We go to the dentist tomorrow for cleanings, and so I'll make sure they check her well, and see if the molars are causing the discomfort in her jaw. 

She made chocolate chip cookies today, and my son Josh made some too.  I gave them full reign in the kitchen over this project, and only helped when needed.  Aside from having a few burned ones, because of not paying attention to the time they were in the oven, we have a few good ones to have.  Josh decided to make one BIG cookie on my baking stone, and it looks like it came out ok.  He wants to decorate it with frosting.  Another project for this evening.

I have a few stamps and stamp pads and got those out this afternoon for more fun.  It didn't last too long, but it gave me some time to snuggle with my 16 month old girl to get her ready for a nap.  That little stinker I chase quite a bit.  She knows how to climb on chairs and get on our table!

Thanks to those who have prayed for me and my daughter, and for the suggestions offered.

Blessings,

Angela

Negativity in Our Home

Posted on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 07:27 PM

I am having a real hard time lately with my ten year old daughter.  In the last month she has complained about all this.....

my stomach hurts

my eye hurts, feel like there's something in it (found mild eye infection, corrected with medication)

my throat hurts

my ear hurts

my eyes are seeing lines, all sorts of lines (this was yesterday)(It went away after a bit, but only after crying over it several times fearing she was going to go blind)  Also complained of a headache

my heart's racing (took her to urgent care, and was told it was part of a virus she was coming down with)

my neck hurts, it feels tight (I massaged, and gave a heating pad, and ibeuprofen)

my jaw bothers me, I can't eat because my jaw bothers me.  Jaw doesn't hurt but feels tight ( I offered soft foods for her to eat...she refused

My stomach hurts because I'm hungry, but she refuses any ideas I give her.  She doesn't want to eat because of her jaw.

In tears, because of a pinch in her butt.  It has happened twice now, and I don't know about this, but maybe a nerve issue.

Honestly, I'm at my whits end!  Each time she mopes, and follows me around, cries, and is afraid she going to have to have surgery, go blind or die! 

She went for her physical last month at the first onset of issues, and follow up to the incident with her heart.  They did blood work, and monitored her heart, checked her vision and everything was fine.  I don't know what to make of all this, and I'm stressed!  We can't run to the doctor for every little thing!  We don't have the money for it!

Tonight, I can only think her neck and jaw are related.  She goes to the dentist on Thursday, and I will have her x-rayed to make sure there is nothing more going on.  If this doesn't help maybe the chiropractor, but I'm losing my patience, and I don't know what more to do! 

I tried to have her write a Bible verse tonight five times...she refused...I sent her to her room for the night, and I'm thinking she thinks I'm sending her to her room, cause her jaw hurts.  I just can't handle the moping around, and complaining anymore!  I tried to tell her if she thinks negatively all the time she is GOING to make herself sick.

Oh Lord, help us!  I don't know how much more of this I can take.  I want my happy Josie back!  It seems she has been filled with worry, and fears, and I've tried to reassure her, but many times she responds back with more negativity, and I just don't know anymore what to do, but pray.  Several times we've prayed over her and her issues, but it seems if it's not one thing it's another.  This has spanded over the last two months.  Issues that have come and gone, and now there is more.

Angela

Snow, Ice, Snow

Posted on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at 11:10 AM

It's snowing, and snowing.  We also had some sleet last night that really slicked things up here in Wisconsin.  I have some ice on my sliding glass doors in our dining room.  Most, if not all the schools here are closed, and I'm so glad  I'm a stay at home mom, and the kids are homeschooled.  I don't have to  drive in this stuff.  I pray for family and friends that have to, including my husband.  We have a Suburban, which seems to handle pretty good in the snow, but when there is ice, well, I'm not sure anything handles well on ice. 

Well, hubby did go to work and he said the roads were ok.  Our roads where we live are private roads and so they seem to be the last ones plowed out here.  My husband put a call to our association out here, and they told us that the person who plows doesn't get payed to plow, yet we pay our yearly dues to the association for road maintenance.  It doesn't make sense to me.  My parents live on a hill in our subdivision, and they couldn't get into their driveway without snow blowing their driveway and half their road.  What a challenge.  Hope the association makes some decisions concerning winter weather plowing.

Angela

Hubby's New Job

Posted on Friday, December 5, 2008 at 08:58 PM

Despite my previous blog, there are good things happening here.

My husband, Barry, started his new job last week, and suprisingly received his first paycheck already.  We're so thankful, because his paycheck from GM doesn't go in until the 15th.  Sometimes it's hard projecting the money needed to sustain us for two weeks.  It seems we're just eeking by until the next paycheck. 

Anyway, he says he feels like he went from the outhouse to the penthouse as far as the facility goes.  GM was an older facility and rather dreary with him sharing his office with three other people.  This place he has his own cubicle with a view.

I look at this job as such an answer to prayer.  Not, just for the fact that he has a job, but many times when I pray for him, I pray that God would bless him for his hard work, that he would find favor with his co-workers, and that he would be seen as a man with integrity.  GM was stressful, especially this past year, and I could see it wore on him.  He even turned back to smoking.  Something he hadn't done in a long time, but the stresses of work pushed him to that.  I worried about him at times, and could really only pray him through, and give him space needed to deal with the stress.  I feel this job has placed him in a less stressful environment.  Not that he'll never have to deal with a stressful night of breakdowns, but that the whole environment is different.  I thank the Lord for this.

I pray the Lord will be able to draw him closer to Himself.  I pray that my husband will be able to have a closer walk with the Lord in this new invironment. 

Blessings,

Angela

My Cousin Update

Posted on Friday, December 5, 2008 at 08:43 PM

Thanks to all who have prayed or are praying for her.  She is back home with her family.  She called me on Thanksgiving to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving.  She didn't seem her cheerful self, so I know there are things going on we don't know about.  She told me the morning she took off she had had a fight with her teenage son about going to school.  She told me she took eight sleeping pills that morning.  She said she remembers getting in her car to drive, thought she was driving to Colorado, ended up in Iowa, and only remembers stopping at a rest stop and sleeping for about eight hours in her car, and waking up freezing.  She doesn't remember how she even got home.  I told her "the Lord was watching over you that's how you got home".

The only other information she shared was that she has not felt very well, and that she is going to be seeing a counselor.  She accepted Christ awhile back, but she is going through a difficult time right now.

Thank you for the prayers.

In Christ,

Angela

A Seven Dollar Sewing machine

Posted on Friday, December 5, 2008 at 12:59 PM

Last weekend Barry and I went to Goodwill, and looked around for treasure.  I was looking more for some clothes for my little one, and maybe some cheap linens, but I found a sewing machine.  Now, I don't sew at all, nor have I even been trained on one.  My parents have an older one they use for hemming pants, but it hasn't been used for much more than that.  With the different sewing ideas I've seen on this blog site, I thought maybe I could attempt some easy projects, but I don't want to pay fifty dollars for a sewing machine either.  So, when I saw this thing on the top shelf I thought I'd check it out.  Well, no sooner did I have it in my hands someone behind me was looking at it too with her husband.  Well, I know that saying "if you snooze you loose", so I put it in my cart and went to show it to my husband.  It was $6.99.  Now that was my kind of price!  Well, we got it home, and Barry, being the mister fix it that he is, decides to play around with it when we got home.  It wasn't working right.  The needle would go down, but not up, and so thankfully the thing had two viles of lubricating oil for it, plus all kinds of other goodies that went along with it and an instruction book.  So, my Barry spent a good fifteen, twenty minutes working with it, and finally it started to work!  He said all that he knows about sewing machines was from what he knew from his mom's growing up.  It's a good thing he knows, because I don't.  Well, the next day I gathered some of the kid's comforters that were ripping along the outside, and we were able to get them all sewed back together.   The brand is called "White", and it has a dial for making different stitches.  I found that it was originally purchased by someone in 1995.  Not a bad deal for $7.

Blessings,

Angela

Thanksgiving Blessings...A Little Late

Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 10:13 PM

 Preparations for Thanksgiving went really well.  We had so much food that we had plenty for leftovers. 

I cooked our turkey in a rotissouri for the first time, and it turned out really well.  I thought maybe the skin on the outside would get too dark, but it turned out really good. 

We celebrated my Grandma's 87th birthday.  She enjoys a turkey leg on Thanksgiving.  It's kind of a tradition with her.  "Save Grandma a turkey leg".  Well, she had her turkey leg, and it took her awhile to finish it, and when my mom went to check on her to see if she was finished eating, she couldn't help but chuckle when seeing Grandma's turkey leg.  She had completely eaten it clean.    I'm so glad she enjoyed her turkey leg!  It was great having her with us.  She is living in long term care in our local hospital, and to have her in our home was a blessing.  She tires quickly, but I know she enjoyed her time here.

My dear husband helped a great deal with the meal for Thanksgiving, and helped get the kids motivated to help with any cleaning.  I was so blessed to have his help.  He helped with some dishes, cleaning counters, peeling potatoes, and carving the turkey.  What a great guy!  I made sure to give him hugs and kisses and thanked him for helping me.  I am so blessed with a man who is willing to help.

While my little one was napping, I was able to get a couple card games started with my parents and my oldest daughter.  We tried to teach Josie how to play Dutch Blitz.  Has anyone played that game?  It really is a fun game I liked to play when I was younger, and it's fast pace.  It is not sold in regular stores, but it's found in Christian books stores or online Christian bookstore like Christianbook.com.  Anyway, we played that for a little bit, and then she preferred a slower paced game of Racko.

I'm so thankful for Jesus,  for our Heavenly Father, for the Holy Spirit, for my children, my husband, my home, for my dog, Rascal, for beds to sleep in, food to eat,  for vehicles to get us where we want to go, for my dishwasher, for my washer and dryer, for friends and family who have touched our lives and have prayed for us, for my husband's new job, for my relationship with my step sons,  for our church,  for awesome praise and worship music,  for opportunities to give,  for our freedoms here in America,  for sweet and peaceful rest, and the list can go on and on and on.  There is so much to be thankful for.

Barry's mom and Grandma drove all the way from Iowa for a suprise visit.  I knew they were coming, but Barry didn't.  It was a great suprise, and he was so happy to see them.  The visit was cut shorter than planned due to a snow storm that was on it's way.  They left Saturday afternoon, and still ran into snow in Iowa.  They ended up spending the night in a hotel, and making it home safely Sunday afternoon.  His Grandma is 91 years old!  I can't believe how well she gets around at her age with no walker, or cane.  She complains her legs get tired when walking or standing too much, and her eyes aren't the best, but for the most part she is doing really well for her age.  She brought all kinds of goodies for everyone.  She brought brownies, fudge, and her homemade rye bread.  I had her give me the recipe, and she wrote it down from memory on a piece of paper.  I have a little piece of history in my recipe book now.

I know I'm late getting this out about Thanksgiving.  I don't always get the time to sit here and type, but I do enjoy reading and learning from others.

God Bless,

Angela 

Thanksgiving Suprise

Posted on Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 06:54 AM

Thanksgiving is being hosted in our home today.  Barry's twins are here visiting.  It's great to see them again and all our younger children love having them here.  His twins are 19 and are attending college.  Great boys, and I've always had a good relationship with them.  God has blessed me in this area, for I know, I know I could have been considedered "wicked stepmother".  Not so, with them.  I've enjoyed watching them grow and praying for them.  I've known them since they were three.  We are not able to be with them often and so I pray the Lord will place other Christians in their path, and my latest prayers have been for Christian young women to be their spouces in the future.  Ones that truly love the Lord and have had good sound Biblical teaching, so they can influence them to be part of a church on a regular basis, and in doing so grow closer to God.

Anyway, back to my title "Thanksgiving Suprise".  My mother in law and Barry's Grandma, who is in her 90's by the way, are traveling here today.  They will be staying in a near by hotel and they are going to suprise Barry tomorrow morning.  I'm so excited to see his face!  They live in Iowa, and we haven't been able to get back there due to finances, so I'm so excited that they are coming.  I do pray for safe travel for them.  They will head back home on Sunday.

Well, I had better get started on my preperations.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  There is so much to be thankful for.

God Bless,

Angela

Protecting our Children

Posted on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 08:20 AM

In the mid to late 1980's I used to go to our local community center to go roller skating.  I loved roller skating and I would hope mom would be back from grocery shopping early enough so I could go.  You see, roller skating was a big part of me.  Mom and Dad used to go when they were teens, in fact, they met while they were roller skating.  The roller rink they went to was called "Tangle Foots".  Appropriate name, don't you think?  It has since been torn down.  The building was old and falling apart.  Anyway, mom and dad used to take me when I was young to "Tangle Foots" and I would skate with my cousins.  So, when I found out the local community center offered rolling skating I was excited and wanted to go.   This was more so around late elementary, and middle school age.  I don't remember any horrible experiences except for maybe some name calling or issues with couple skating, because someone was skating with the wrong person.  Other then that we skated or visited in the snack area.

Welllllll, this past weekend my daughter's friend wanted my Josie to go roller skating at the community center with her.  With reservation my husband and I let her go.  After all, I went when I was a kid.  When she and her friend returned she told me she was knocked over three times by the same boy and nothing was ever done to him.  She also said some kids were saying the "f" word.  Now, I was getting angry!  No longer can my kids just go and have fun.  They have to watch out for themselves and cover their ears!  I'm so disappointed that many children do not have respect for others, and their mouths are filled with filth!

I have comments from family members in my head that say "well, you can't protect them forever", and "you can't keep them away from everything".   Well, I may not be able to protect them forever, but I can keep them away from things that may harm them at this age.  They are so impressionable at this age, and I want them to not experience the harshness of the world yet, until they have been well grounded in the teachings of the Lord.  I am now realizing that the whole point of us protecting them at this age is so God can do a work in them, so they are set apart for His purpose.  It is so hard to be in the world, but not of it.

I think we'll try to save money to be able to take the kids to the family skate night sponsored by our local christian radio station.  It costs more, and is farther to travel, but hopefully, safer for my children to enjoy a nice night of skating.

Pray for me.  I've been so easily influenced by other people's opinions before.  Other people's comments make it hard to do what's right sometimes, especially if it's family members.

In Him,

Angela 

If You Have A Moment

Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 12:23 AM

If you have a moment please pray for my cousin, Natasha.  I was informed this evening she is missing.  She has a husband and four children, two of which live with her and her husband, and the other two maybe living with her ex.  I don't know all the details, but she didn't show up for work this morning, which is not normal, and she left her cell phone in her car.  Police department have been trying to talk with anyone who may have had recent contact with her.  Pray for her safe return.

Thanks,

Angie

Dishpan Hands

Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11:56 PM

Well, today, I think I've spent most of my time in the kitchen!  I spend a lot of my time there anyway making meals, getting drinks for little ones, and just when I think I'm done someone else wants somethin!  I did a lot of dishes.  A lot of dishes!  I do have a dishwasher, but for some reason it is leaving residual on my dishes, and well, I might as well wash them until we can figure out what's wrong with it.  I know I have a rinse aid in there, so there is something else going on.  I don't mind it too much, my daughter Josie gave me a hand at drying them and putting them away, so it was kind of nice having her there working with me. 

The weather is much colder outside and I can already see the need for a humidifier in our home, and my hands are already feeling the need for some extra tlc...hand lotion.  I also have a burn from my crock pot on my hand that is not healing the best with all the activity of my hands in and out of the water.   I finally decided to put a bandaid on it with some neosporin.  I hope it helps.

A little funny story tonight with my kids.  All four of them are bunking in the one room for the time being, and it's at one corner of our house.  A corner that has been making a lot of noise.  This corner has our American flag hanging from it outside, and well, the kids were freaking out about squeaking noises in the wall.  Big time squeaking noises that they thought an animal could be stuck inside our wall.  I had fun with them for a little bit, and then finally told them the secret.  The wind is blowing the flag that's hanging from our house right where their room is located:o)  We'll probably have to take it down for awhile, so their sleep isn't interrupted and I have crabby kids in the morning.

Better  head to be now...

Blessings,

Angie

Yeah!!!! Hubby Was Offered A New Job!

Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 09:34 PM

I shared that GM is closing where we are and we were offered Arlington, TX for our only moving option, or take a mutual seperation package.  We chose to stay here, and take the mutual seperation package.  We really felt the Lord wanted us to stay here than to stay with GM.  God was so faithful and provided my husband, Barry, a job.  We are so thankful.  I cried and prayed, cried and prayed in gratitude for His provision.  Barry's mutual seperation package is to take effect December 1st, and my husband was asked to start his new job December 1st.  We are hoping and praying to eliminate a lot of debt during these next six months while we are receiving two incomes.  I'd like to have a fresh new start, and God has answered our prayers for a new job to move in that direction.  We can't thank Him enough.

Another answer to prayer was his salary.  He will be making near the same amount he made at GM when he first started working there nine years ago.  It's still a salary cut, but it is still good money we are thankful for.

Thanks to you ladies who have taken the time in your busy day to pray for our family.  We are so blessed.  We have had our church family, and friends praying, and this was truly an answer to prayer.

In Christ,

Angela

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Posted on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 04:32 AM

We are still waiting for a job for my husband.  Hopefully it will be soon.  This Thursday is his last day at GM.  They asked him to stay longer, but we were concerned if he did, that it would tie him up if he were offered another job some where else.  We are hopeful about a company he has had two interviews with, and they called wanting two references, and his current salary.  Oh, I'm just praying he will be called soon!  There would be such a sigh of relief for me.  We've been waiting since June, not knowing where we were going to be, or where we would end up.  I told my husband I would breathe a sigh of relief, and he agreed, but he on the other hand feels the stress of having to prove himself again to a new company.  I see his concern.  I try to encourage him.  I know he will do well.  He's so smart at what he does, and it seems God has given him so many different abilities.  I'm amazed!

I realize that maybe God was seeing us as being too comfortable in our current position, and He wanted to shake things up a bit, to help us learn to trust Him.  At the start of it all I prayed "Lord, I sure wish I knew what you're doing!"  His resonse "A good work."  I believe that, and I'm so grateful He's in control.  I have to admit, at the start of all this, I was a basket of nerves, and did a lot of crying, but for the past couple months I've had peace, sweet peace. 

I've done more reading than writing here on this blog site.  I've enjoyed reading many different blogs from some of you ladies, and have learned some things.  I did try to make 3-D snowflakes with my children, and we have four of them hanging from our ceiling.  They don't look as good as the one in the picture, but they still turned out alright.

Normally, at this time, I'm usually sleeping, but my dd ,whose 15 months old, is waking a couple times in the night lately, and won't go back to sleep unless I rock her.  Sometimes it's an hour before my hubby gets up, so I decide to stay up rather than be woke by his obnoxious alarm clock.  I just helped him get his lunch packed for work, and he'll be heading out the door here soon.  He's not feeling well.  So, I think I'm going to have to pray him through his day. 

Well, I'm going to try to get some more rest, before my children awake.  I've been up since 3 am.  Hope you all have a good day in the Lord.

God Bless,

Angela

Eventful Morning

Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 11:53 AM

My daughter hasn't been feeling well these last couple days, but showed no signs of fever.  I noticed she'd been tired more than normal, and wasn't eating as much either.  She complained of her stomach feeling icky, but didn't do any throwing up until early this morning.  I awoke to her telling me her heart was racing, and that it had been racing since last night after I had done night time prayers with all of them.  She didn't want to come and tell me cause she didn't want to wake me.  I said "Josie, if it's something serious and worrysome for you, you need to tell me!"  Well, I ended up taking her to Urgent Care right away this morning.  Her heart rate was around 145, and normal is supposed to be under 100.  They hooked her up to the machine to monitor her heart, checked her blood count, and tested her throat for strep.  While we were there she said she was worried she was going to have to have surgery.  I'm sure that didn't help her heart rate any with the worrying she had been doing since last night.  My poor baby! Well, strep came out negative, blood count was ok, and blood pressure was ok.  The doctor told me she has a virus.  I didn't know a virus could cause the heart to race like that.  What a scary thing to go through with a child.  By the time, we were finished at Urgent Care her heart was returning back to normal.  Her heart rate went back to around 98.  When we got home she didn't make it to far out of the truck, before she started to throw up again.  She was saying she was hungry and I was going to get her toast, but after that she said "I don't think my stomach can handle it".  I had her lay in our bed to rest and watch tv, but she later came out and told me her heart was racing again.  She asked if I'd pray with her and that's what I did.  She said just now that her heart seems to have gone back to normal or at least not pumping as fast.  She decided she didn't want to hang out in our bed any more.  She said it's lonely, so she's out with us in the living room snuggled with her pillows and blanket.

While all this was going on my oldest son stayed home with our younger two, and I had Josie and our 15 month old with me.  Thankfully, Daddy showed up to help with the paper work, and insurance, and he eventually took baby home not knowing how long it would take to have Josie checked out.  When we got home he made sure there was something to eat for everyone for lunch, so I didn't have to worry about it, and then he rushed off back to work.  Wheewww!

I hope the doctor was right about her heart, that it's just a virus.  I will be keeping a good watch over her throughout the day, and maybe go around with a bottle of Clorox sanatizer hoping to keep the others from getting this. 

Blessings,

Angela

Look At This Circulating Email

Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 08:35 AM

I received this last night from my Dad.  He was very encouraged by it and so was I.   The email is to long to share in this blog, but I will give a short version of it, and leave a web site for you to visit for further info.

Pastor Mark Arnold in Lebanon, Ohio wrote an account of something the Lord wanted him to do.  He believed God wanted him to give Sarah Palin, and John McCain a message.  A message to let them know he was praying for them, but to let Sarah Palin know that she is a present day Esther.

The Lord allowed this pastor to go to the rally that was in Lebanon, OH to give Sarah Palin, and John McCain a personal message from Him.    God placed Pastor Mark in just the right position, and God told him to "Open up your mouth and I will fill it".  Here's what came out to Sarah Palin.

"God wants you to know that you are a present day Esther!

(She immediately began to cry)!

God wants to tell you that you are Chosen for such a time as this!  You are called, and chosen to be a leader.

Don't lose heart and don't fear man.

The news, and naysayers and criticizers are going to be very hateful toward you, and in the days ahead they are going to turn up the heat...but do not fear.

You are a present day Esther.

You are an Esther.

You are an Esther!

Keep your eyes on God and know that He has chosen you to reign!  Stay strong.   Be strong.   Don't tire.  Don't be weary in well-doing.  Be strong."

There is much more to this story, and I hope you all would be able to take the time to read it, cause it certainly gives me hope.  The media seems all onesided, and it's really been disappointing, but this lifts my spirit and gives hope.  Here's the web site for further reading.  www.agreeinprayer.com

Pastor Mark has been inundated with so many emails and phone calls, that this web site was created to help capture the response.

There has been so much hate directed toward President Bush as well, and I can remember watching a Christian television show where they had interviewed a man who wrote a book about him.  The hosts asked him what stuck out most about President George Bush as he was writing the book.  He shared that in months before being elected president,  he felt God was preparing him for something big.  He said "I'm going to have to lead the country through something big."  "I don't know what it is, and I'm not sure I want to do it".  Little did he know he would have to lead the nation after 9/11.  I'm so glad to hear that God prepares our hearts for events in our lives, even our leaders.

Let us AWAKE, and continue to pray that God's "Chosen" are placed where He wants them to be.

Blessings,

Angela