Oh, my weekend!

I got the girls to music lessons, did the shopping & took Karra for her shoe fitting on Friday night (did up my receipts this morning & I had $21.56 in coupons!!!!!)  Saturday I ran her to ballet rehearsal, came home, woke up Joel & told him there was a farm implement auction at the fair grounds - back to town!!  We went to the auction, returned the dead tree & replaced it with a Fuji apple plus a black cherry.  Went to Walmart, went to McD's & picked up some nuggets for Karra.  Dropped off her lunch, saw Miss Patty to check her pointe shoe fit, found out I'd dropped her off an hour before she needed to be there!  We went to TSC & found the raspberries plants that we wanted and a red delicious apple tree!  Got back home to discover that Kristen & Kurt hadn't burned the house down (that's a joke, people), but they had moved their mess from the play area to the entertainment area instead of putting it away (my house doesn't have "rooms"  it just has designated areas).  I sent the kids out to help Joel plant trees & bushes & I did the dishes.  I sat down to do something & then had to go pick up Karra.  I was 15 minutes late.

Finally back home & too tired to want to do anything else, Kristen came downstairs & said that she still felt dizzy.  OK - Friday she did complain of a headache & Karra forked over her Tylenol that she keeps in her purse.  She said she felt dizzy Sat. morning, but felt better after she ate.  I told her if she still felt dizzy to go lay down again - she stayed up.  So, after yelling at her for NOT doing her chores & sending her outside, now she's dizzy again & kind of flushed.  Took her temp: 100.4.  Lovely.  Give her some Tylenol & she curls up on the couch in two blankets because she's cold.  I did cook dinner even though I was tired & took about 10 minutes to get myself ready for church.  We left the girl at home because Kristen didn't need to be alone & Karra volunteered to stay with her since she was really tired from her rehearsal (Kurt did offer to stay home with Kristen, but they had already proved their inability to be responsible).  We took Kurt with us.  Kristen was feeling a little better when we left & quizzing Karra on her vocabulary.  My parting instruction was "Don't forget to lock up the chickens."   I called after church & sure enough Karra had forgotten.  A few minutes later she called me back to tell me that she couldn't get the door shut.  I gave her precise, step-by-step instructions on how to lock the little chicken door.  It was shut when we got home, but just a little loose.  I had to fire Joel earlier in the week for forgetting to lock up the chickens.  I just don't know about the chicken sitters I've got.

Today we had 4-H & Joel & the kids are at church for Mpact & Royal Rangers.  I'm supposed to be looking at the next two weeks of school & sewing the ribbons & elastic on Karra's pointe shoes - but I'm not am I?

And that's what's happening on the homestead!

Well, the first day of spring has brought us, so far around 10 inches of snow and e are expecting more--some reports are saying we could get up to 14 inches!!--Friday it was 77 degrees--there is now snow on the ground--I have some pictures I will post when I find the USB cord for my camera--I am forever misplacing that thing--

Tommorow our temps will be back in the lower 50's and Tuesday close to 70!!--How true it is that if ya don't like the weather in Oklahoma, litterally wait 24 hours and it will change!!--Amazing, such strange weather this year--

~Kris

My friend over at Fenced in Family www.fencedinfamily.com/blog/ is doing a Song for Sunday meme on her blog. Every Sunday, participants post a non-secular song that has special meaning for them. Here's my special song for this week:

"You're Not Shaken" by Phil Stacey. This song has a very special meaning to me. It is a comfort during recent times. I like to belt this one out when I'm hurting the worst, or when I'm the most worried about my little T-Rex, in order to praise the Lord and trust Him in the midst of whatever I happen to be facing at the moment. Hope the words touch you as they have touched me.

I am sinking in the river that is raging

I am drowning

Will I ever rise to breathe again?

I wanna know why

I just wanna understand

Will I ever know why?

How could this be from Your hand?

Chorus

When every little thing that I have dreamed would be

Just slips away like water through my hands

And when it seems the walls of my beliefs are crashing down like they're all made of sand

I won't let go of You now, because I know, You're not shaken.

Verse 2

I am trembling in the darkness of my own fear

All the questions without answers

So grip me while I'm here

And I may never know why

Oh, I may not understand

But I will lift up my eyes

And trust this is Your plan

(Chorus)

To see what others' Songs for Sunday are, visit www.fencedinfamily.com/blog/. Have a blessed Sunday!

Sunday:

Philly cheesesteak,Fries, chocolate chip cookies

Monday:

Smothered Chicken, rice, corn, rolls

Tuesday:

Salmon patties, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Biscuits, Hershey Bar Pie

Wednesday:

Cheeseburger Soup, Hershey Bar Pie

Thursday:

Pizza Pasta, Salad, French Bread

Friday:

Burgers, Fries, Baked Beans

Saturday:

Out

Sunday:

Hot Sandwiches, Potato Skins, Lemon Bars

    Today we spent  the morning with Mathin competing in the District Pinewood Derby.  He had placed 2nd in his pack and today was the district race.  He finished 2nd place in the district!  He was so proud and we were excited for him.    Another little boy in our pack finished 1st.  It was a great day full of good fun and most importantly good sportsmanship!!

     This week was full of activities.  Tuesday Mathin had a birthday party to attend.  Wednesday we had violin and made a trip to the store.  Thursday Markham had an orthodonist appt and we finished up some errands and gift buying for the little kids while they were with their Nana.  Friday was skate day and today was the pinewood.  I have spent the remainder of the day trying to catch up  on laundry and I took a walk for some much needed exercise. 

     While we were out today the pastor of the church we have been visiting stopped by.  He left a card and DH called him this afternoon.  We were impressed that he actually took the time to call on us.  They have already asked DH if we are planning on joining the church.  We do not want to make a hasty decision so we are trying to take it slow.  DH is supposed to schedule a visit with the pastor tomorrow I think. 

      Plans for tomorrow include church and hopefully some rest.  Hope all is well with my HSB friends.

THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD
(Psalms 23 & 100)

BY MARK ROTH
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INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS TO CHEW

Just how obvious is it that the Lord is shepherding me?

How do I try to overcome my fears?

What is my cup doing right now?

Can people around me benefit from the goodness and mercy following me?

A whining complainer or a joyful noisemaker -- which will I be today?

Do I act like service is enough (and the gladness is optional)?

Does God miss my praise?

FEELING DOWN?

(originally written in early 2002)

The Psalmist knew about depression and discouragement. In Psalm 42:5 he wrote, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?" Depression and discouragement go beyond feelings, which are often fleeting. These Dreadful D's are a state of being, a condition of the soul.

When I think of my soul, I think of my mind; that is, my ability to think as well as the values that guide my life. I think of my will, which to me is my capability to exercise conscious control over myself. I also think of my emotions (and we all know what those are!).

Discouragement and depression exercise a downward, negative effect on our mind, will, and emotions. They warp our thoughts and values. They deprive us of our self-control. And they work ruin with our emotions. Left to run unrestrained, discouragement and depression will pull us in an ever downward spiral. With mind, will, and emotions so diminished, the victim is left with no apparent way out. He is doomed to worsen because his own self-help mechanisms are working against him.

Even so, he can have hope! Listen to David's assurance as expressed in the completeness of Psalm 42:5. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (Psalm 42:5). With David we can acknowledge the troubled, cast down state of our soul. With David we can affirm that our hope lies only with God and the help of His countenance.

I am deeply challenged at this time with the reminder that I can see God in His Word. Therefore, I should turn to the Bible in my low times.

"Yes," you might protest, "but I can't even exercise the self-discipline to do that. And I for sure don't feel like it." I understand. So here's a promise for us to claim: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). In other words, when I have neither the power nor the will to do what I ought, God will work them in me if I turn to Him. Isn't that great!

Here's one more promise from our generous, understanding, compassionate heavenly Father: "For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul" (Jeremiah 31:25). When our mind, will, and emotions are completely shot, run down, and depleted, He replenishes them! As David wrote, "He restoreth my soul" (Psalm 23:3).

**************************************************************

WHAT DOES OUR SHEPHERD DO?

Pity the sheep I see almost every day. They have no shepherd, at least not in the Middle Eastern sense and practice. The sheep I see generally fend for themselves; they have no idea of what it's like to have a real shepherd.

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." The sheep have walked a long way to reach the green pastures. They are so tired, but also so hungry. They want to get busy with the business of eating. But the shepherd knows it is better for them to rest first. Our Shepherd knows when we must slow down, lie down, and rest. If we don't do so on our own, He brings those circumstances which force us to rest.

"He leadeth me beside the still waters." The rushing mountain streams have such cool, refreshing water. But those streams are a threat to sheep for their wool acts like a sponge. So the shepherd dams the streams to
create still waters which the sheep may safely and fearlessly enter. How many times our Shepherd "dams the rushing streams" so that we might drink without danger or fear!

"He restoreth my soul." When a sheep has been frightened or injured, the shepherd speaks to it quietly, calmly, reassuringly. He might even sing to it or play on his harp. Eventually the sheep, thus restored, is ready to return to its rest, grazing, or playing. Our Shepherd loves to meet us in our time of fear, need, and disquiet to restore our souls.

"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Traversing the canyons, valleys, and ridges are many paths, often with danger yawning on one side or the other. The sheep are uncertain and
fearful, but not the shepherd. He knows the right way. Following him they are both safe and at peace. I don't know my own way through life, but my Shepherd both knows the way and *is* the Way.

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." No matter what wild animals may lurk and prowl through this region, the sheep know they are safe if they stay in the presence of the shepherd. Our Shepherd is with us also . . . if we don't wander from Him!

"Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." The sheep have seen the shepherd use his rod to beat off marauding beasts and pry loose big stones that have trapped sheep legs. They have seen (and felt) the staff gently lift a fallen sheep back to safety. Our Shepherd is well-equipped and well-able to protect and rescue us in our moments of need, hopelessness, and desperation.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." The high grazing lands have plenty of natural enemies of sheep: sharp stones, poisonous plants, beasts of prey, and other dangers. Before taking his sheep there, the shepherd scouts the place. He removes as many dangers as possible and prepares himself to deal with the others. Then he brings his sheep to eat. Even in the presence of danger and opposition, our Shepherd feeds us in safety.

"Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over" As they enter the sheepfold at night, the sheep are individually inspected by the shepherd. He pours medicinal oil in the cuts, scratches, and abrasions received during the day. Then he dips a bowl in a spring of fresh water, offering it to each sheep before it lies down to sleep. Does your Shepherd want to do that for you at day's end?

Pity many of the sheep I see every day. They have no Shepherd. They fend for themselves. So I say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Yesterday it was 77 degrees here--man it was awesome!--I had errands to run and just took my time and enjoyed the beautiful weather--

Today----not so much---we are under a winter storm warning--can you believe that???---Crazy, crazy weather we are having--I honestly do not think it will amount to much as the ground temps are so warm and its raining before the snow which sometimes helps with the melting process--but none the less the are calling for up to 6 inches of the white stuff on the 1st day of spring--*Sigh*--But by Tuesday we will be back up in the 60's--lol--Amazing!--I am hopeful that this is the last 'winter type' weather we have until next year--

Have I mentioned I am ready for spring

~Kris