Encouragement for the Spiritual Head of the Home

I know that many women struggle with feeling like their husband is not being the "spiritual head of the home" that they desire him to be. They wonder how they can fix it, or make him take on that roll. The fact is, that you can't MAKE him fill that role the way YOU want him to. God must change your husband from within, and you must remember that all men were created with different personalities and characteristics. Just because your husband doesn't do the things that "so and so" does, doesn't mean he's not spiritual. How would you like to be compared to someone else's wife? The last thing I want is for my husband to dwell all day about how I don't cook, clean, dress, act, etc., like "so and so's" wife. God gave you to each other....remember to pray for one another, love and accept one another for who God created you to be, not for who you think they ought to be.

With that being said, I read a great post lately that has tips on how you can ENCOURAGE your husband to be the spiritual leader in your home. There is nothing un-biblical about encouraging one another. I highly suggest you go check it out. Traci is a wonderful, godly woman with many encouraging things to share. Read her post *here*!

Move It Monday

Monday came too soon for me this week...I am soooo sleepy! :) Never-the-less, it is here, and things must go on! So, I will start the coffee pot and see if we can get a little kick start to the day.

I have been getting more boxes packed in the last few days. The laundry is done, dishes are done, most of the cleaning and organizing is done as well. It took so much time to do all that, and didn't seem like we were making any progress in getting packed. With only 12 days left, I'm hoping this week will show some real visual progress! It should, as most of the wall decor is packed now, a lot of the fragile items, many kitchen dishes as well. Today I will start with our photo albums and books, and when those bookshelves are empty, it will be noticeable! We are really missing daddy now, so I'm hoping the busyness of the week will help us to not dwell on that too much.

My pelvic ultrasound and brain MRI are tomorrow, so pray with me about those. One of my kids is sick, so I am also praying that they will be better by tomorrow, and the others won't get sick. I can't miss these tests. It's my last chance to get them before we move. They will take all afternoon, so I really need to get a lot accomplished today, tired or not! I guess I had better make an egg and sausage breakfast sandwich too. It will give me energy, and make me happy too...yummm!!

You all have a great Monday, and a great week! If you have any shopping left to do, hit those websites...they have some GREAT deals on this Cyber Monday! I love a good deal, and even though I don't have money for gifts this year, I've still been checking those deals out. There are some great ones! JC Penny's has a leather sofa on sale today.....regularly $1799, on sale through their website today for $799! What a deal!

A little of this and that~11/26/10

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was such a special day, and I can't thank the Lord enough for it! The kids had a great day, I had a great day, it was G-R-E-A-T!! The kid's little Christmas trees look so nice, even though we didn't put very much on them. I didn't want to have to take all the ornaments back off them in two weeks, just to put them up again when we get to Kansas! lol! What a wonderful time of year...I look forward to it each and every year, and it never lasts long enough! I am so excited that it looks like we will be able to move and get settled before Christmas! Hubby has been gone for 15 days, and we have 15 more days to go, until he will fly here to help us load the moving truck! (and drive it...I wouldn't even attempt it!) It looks like he found us a rental house and it's in walking distance from his work! YAY! It will be temporary, but I'm happy. We will be together as a family again, and I will be able to be there for the process of finding a more permanent home...VERY IMPORTANT!! Hehe! =)

For those of you who have access to our family blog, I have all the pictures of Thanksgiving up, go check them out!!!!

Move It Monday

Well, once again, I am LATE getting my post up! I am pleased to say that it is because I have been moving it today, and it's not because I have been lazy! =)

First thing this morning, I had to get everyone breakfast and get them ready to head out the door. We went to the clinic to get my lab slip and check on my test results from the last round of blood work. My thyroid tests came back normal, so now they want to do a pelvic ultrasound to try and figure out why I have issues with regularity and frequency of cycles.

All my inflammation tests were really elevated, so they are repeating the CRP test, and also testing specifically for RA and one other test, that I can't remember the name of. So much going on, but after 3 years of no doctors, weird health issues, and no where to turn, I am just so, so thankful to be getting all this done! I was so blessed to get a hold of the PA, and she took the time to go over my chart with me. She brought me back into a room, and discussed all the tests I've already had done, what their results mean, what further testing they want to do, and why. She also got me scheduled for a brain MRI next Tuesday. I am SOOOOOO thankful for this. My mom and I just weren't comfortable not having one. With her having MS, I have a 50/50 chance of having it too. We weren't comfortable with just labeling my symptoms as being from fibroymyalgia, and not having an MRI to check for MS. This test should bring us some peace, no matter what the results are! Please continue to pray with me about all this! Many symptoms have been greatly helped by the fibromyalgia medicine I've been on for over a month now, but there are still many that haven't improved.

So, for the rest of today, I am going through the last of the 30 loads of clothes I washed. I got rid of soooo many things, and it felt incredible! Now, we are packing up what we don't need right now, and deciding if there's any thing else we can get rid of. Soon, I will have my table back for Thanksgiving dinner!

I have decided to cook for just me and the kids. I am going to make it special for them, even though it will just be us. We were invited to eat with several different families, but I felt it should just be us. We have so much that our family is going through right now, and God has given us so much to be thankful for in the midst of all of it. I want the kids and I to have a special time to reflect on all that! We will also pull out the little Christmas tree, and decorate it after we eat! I just can't break the tradition, I just can't! =) We'll leave the big tree for Kansas, Lord willing, and for Daddy to do it with us! But the kids need their little tree!

Have a great week everyone, and thanks again for visiting me on this wonderful Monday! :-)

Thanksgiving Play

The kids put on an excellent Thanksgiving play tonight! I am so, very proud of them! For all of you with access to my private blog, go check out the pictures! They are super cute!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for Jesus! Of course I am every day, but today I read something that renewed my thankfulness for Him, and one of the many reasons why. I want to share with you what I posted today on my bible reading blog....

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." John 7: 37

This was one of the first verses I was shown when being convicted by the Holy Spirit about salvation. What's so neat, is that today, it means something completely different. I am already saved, I already have that living water, Praise God! But there are so many times that I still thirst. I thirst for peace when I am troubled. I thirst for understanding when I'm lost and confused. I search for grace when I am broken. I search for mercy when I am convicted and burdened with sin. This verse speaks to me, and shows me exactly where I can go, no matter what I am thirsting for. I can come to Jesus, and drink and gain all these things that I search for. He is my best friend, my comforter, my intercessor. Praise God for giving us His Son, and the constant living well, that I have to draw from!

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What are you thankful for today? To read more Thankful Thursday post, or link up one of your own, head over to "Women Taking A Stand!"

A Psalm of David

Praise For Answered Prayer

"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which though hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered......
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
Be pleased O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it: let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." Psalm 40

The Simple Woman's Daybook~11/16/10

To read more daybook posts, or link up on of your own, go over to Peggy's blog, "The Simple Woman's Daybook!"

For Today~ November 16th, 2010

Outside my window~ The fall colors are at their peak! Because of the weird weather, we lost a lot of leaves before we reached this point, but what's left is just beautiful! It's kind of neat though, because it makes the ground just as colorful as the trees, with all those brightly colored leaves on the ground.

On my mind~ my hubby. Today is his first day of work on the new job. I pray he has a good one!

I am wearing~ you guessed it, pj's! The colder it gets outside, the harder it is to want to put daytime clothes on!

I am going~ hopefully no where today. We have a busy week this week, and today is the ONLY day that I don't have something scheduled. Definitely hoping to take advantage of that and stay home.

I am thankful for~ all the food we bought yesterday. The kids are so happy to have yogurt, cookies, fruit and cereal again! Thank you Lord!

I am hoping~ that the kids keep sleeping in this morning. It's been so nice having quiet time so far today! I love my little blessings, but with no hubby now to relieve me for a while, my nerves are on edge. :)

I am praying~ that God will find us a house in Kansas soon. I am also praying that we will find another wonderful piano teacher for my oldest son. She and I cried last night at his last practice. What a blessing that God gave us such a wonderful teacher for my son!

From the learning rooms~ we have un-enrolled my oldest from his online school, and I will have him continue with his Switched On Schoolhouse that he started at the beginning of the year. Mr. Pure at Heart is plugging away at his ACE paces.

From the kitchen~ I think hot dogs and beans for lunch, and I'm still debating about dinner. Probably going to let the kids vote!

Around the house~ more laundry, dishes, and packing, packing, packing!

A few plans for the rest of the week~ we have church tomorrow night, dress rehearsal on Thursday night, and then the actual Thanksgiving play in Friday night. I am really looking forward to that! Otherwise, we will be....you guessed it...packing!

From my picture journal~

This is my Kousa Dogwood in the front yard. It's a lot bigger than it looks in this picture. I'm standing way up on the front deck and our yard sloped down. Man, I wish I could take it with me!

This is the view out my front door. I'm so thankful the Lord let me see all these colors one more time before we move!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Move It Monday

Monday Monday,

So good to me.

Monday Monday,

It was all, I thought it would be!

I don't know why that song came in my head this morning, but it did! I don't even know the whole song. Our high school music teacher had us sing it in choir. We thought he was such a strange fellow. He had us do a whole concert once, of nothing but oldies songs. I guess he though the parents would like it?? I don't know...what I do know, is that we all thought it was ridiculous! But, here we are 13 years later, and I still have the song pop up in my head! lol!

This Monday is so good to me though...hubby got the job in Kansas! He starts work tomorrow! So, I now have the task of packing up this whole house. Needless to say, it will be move it Monday, and Tuesday and Wednesday, and so on for me! We are very excited though, because we really felt that this was the Lord's will. It is an excellent family orientated company that I think will suit our needs perfectly! I am also excited to have my kids back in a safe community where they can ride their bikes down the street, without me having to worry about their safety! I will cry when we leave Georgia. I love it here, I really do. It's so beautiful and will always have a very special place in my heart. But, I know from experience, that when you follow the Lord's will, it always brings ultimate peace and happiness!

So, my goal for today is to come up with a packing plan. I'll need to make sure that I pack things we won't need right away separate from those things that we will need. Just in case we have to move to a temporary rental house or apartment. We want to get the kids and myself there as soon as we can, and if that means moving again when we find our home, home..that's what we'll do. I'm going to organize and pack things that I need to pack, first. That way, if someone does offer to come help me, they can pack the things that I don't need to go through first! Pray for me, as this will be quite a job for me! I better get moving now!

Thank You Lord

Make sure you scroll down and pause my music player at the bottom of the page. This song is so touching to me, especially right now. I am thankful for God's voice, His comfort, and His leading! Hubby is already in Illinois and Lord willing, will be in Kansas late tonight! Thank you for your prayers for my family and I!

The Simple Woman's Daybook~11/9/10

To read more Daybook posts, or link up one of your own, go over to Peggy's Blog!

For Today~November 9th, 2010

Outside my window~ the sun is shinning brightly again. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful not to be freezing, but this 90 degrees, 35 degrees, 70 degrees thing is driving me crazy! Make up your mind weather! lol!

On my mind~ my brother. It's his 22nd birthday today! He is so special to me. He was just a precious little brother, the best any sis could ever have. Now as he grows in maturity, he's only neater, and more dear to my heart. I do pray that we can be closer in distance one day, so that I can see him more. I'm so proud of him for what he's accomplished and overcome in his life so far. He's got such a pure heart, and it shows in everything he does! Happy birthday little brother!

I am going~ to church tonight. The kids are putting on a Thanksgiving play, and tonight is their first "official" rehearsal. I'm hoping hubby will be able to watch, since he will most likely miss the play.

I am thankful for~ you know it would take me all day to rattle off this list! God is so good, I just don't have the words! I will so though, that today I am especially thankful that He gave us the means to get our Suburban running finally! I just can't believe it's fixed. I want to climb up on top of a mountain and shout praises to my Heavenly Father!

I am hoping~ that hubby passes all 4 sections of his EPA exam this morning. I'm also hoping (and praying) that the Suburban stays running well. It will make me feel better about him driving it across the country this week!

I am wearing~ my pj's still. It is cold enough though, that I have my soft, pink zip up robe on as well.

From the learning rooms~ major decisions have to be made here in the next few days. Please pray with us for God's wisdom!

From the kitchen~ Chicken or Steak?...I haven't decided yet. We've been so blessed with people giving us food over the last few weeks, we have not gone without!

Around the house~ laundry, laundry and more laundry! I have pulled out every piece of clothing we have in the house. I'm washing it all, going through it, deciding what to get rid of, what to pack, and what to keep in the closets for a while. It's such an overwhelming task, but we need to get it done!

A few plans for the rest of the week~ I'll be packing hubby's bags today. He plans on leaving Thursday. We'll have to pack him enough stuff to stay for a month, in case he does get this job. He'll be going through his tools, and deciding what to take with him. I need to think if there's anything else I need him to do for me before he leaves. Once he's gone, we'll be cleaning and organizing. I am hoping he will be able to tell me by Saturday if he got the job or not, and then if he does get it, we'll be packing, packing, packing!

From my picture journal~

Words cannot express how much I will miss Georgia if we have to leave. I love this place, and it will always be in my heart!

Move It Monday

I woke up at 6:30 this morning, with energy and a sense of urgency. That almost never happens, so I decided I'd better take advantage of it! I made coffee for both hubby and myself, got a load going in the dishwasher, and cleaned up the kitchen a bit, right off the bat. I've folded the laundry I washed this weekend, and put it away. Got another load going in the washer right now. I've given up on helping hubby with the Suburban. He's just getting mad now! I've got too much in the house that I'm behind on. He has a good friend from church that has offered to come help him later today, if he needs it. Between the two of them, I'm praying they can get it going. He's got his EPA test to take tomorrow, and he hopes to leave for Kansas, maybe Thursday. While my energy levels are high, I plan to:

*Finish cleaning the living room-DONE

*Wash the rest of the dishes

*Sweep and mop the kitchen floor

*Wash 4 more loads of laundry-DONE

*Pack the books in the dinning room-decided spending time with hubby was more important!

*Clean the dinning room-DONE

If I can manage to get anything else done, I'll list it too. We'll see what unexpected things pop up as the day goes on! I hope you all have a fantastic Monday and get lots accomplished!

Thankful Thursday

This month, Thankful Thursday's are being hosted by, Laurie, at Women Taking A Stand!

What a wonderful day today! I am certainly in a thankful mood, there's no way I couldn't be. The love, compassion and kindness that we have be shown in the last 3 weeks is just amazing! I have been brought to tears several times in the last few weeks, from the willingness to give by the people around us. We have had gift cards given to us, food, money, prayers, cards, compassion. We've had strangers stop what they were doing when they heard our recent story, and try all they could do to find jobs, or think of something they could offer to help us. You just don't find that anywhere you go. People who have little for themselves, have given to us, to help. You can't help but be humbled by God's grace and provision, and the love that many people have. I am so thankful for them, and I pray that I will be faithful enough to pay it forward when God allows that opportunity!

What God has done in such a short amount of time for us, is just amazing. We were in such a dark, confusing place, with no answers of any kind...just many, many questions. God has taught us patience, trust, humility, thankfulness, love, and how to be completely surrendered to His will and timing. From the moment hubby lost his job, I have been amazed at how well he has handled it, and how quickly he turned the situation over to God. It's just not his personality type AT ALL! He prays, and he seeks God's will, but he's so quick to take blame and responsibility and try to fix things in his own strength. I am truly blown away by how fast he handed this situation over to God, and well he's done at leaving it in God's hands, and not tried to manipulate things. I have done my best to do the same thing, and God is really showing us His infinite capabilities to handle anything and everything in perfect order!

All of our needs have been met. Our hearts have been touched like never before. Our spirits are soaring and we are definitely closer to the Lord. God has moved in ways that are truly above our ways and understanding. He has revealed His plans for us in His timing, and opened doors that He wants us to walk through. He has kept doors closed that He doesn't want us to walk through! I just can't even put into words how beautifully and perfectly He has timed each detail of our lives in the last 3 weeks. Money is certainly in tight order, and it's very important that what money we do have, is spent in the right place. God has seen to it, that we didn't have any money until we knew where He wanted us to spend it. He has not allowed us to waste a single dollar!

I am so thankful today and I look forward to the rest of this journey. I know it won't be easy, but I know we are safe in God's hands! Pray with us today, as we get the parts to fix the motor in our Suburban. I pray that what God has provided us with, is exactly what it takes to fix it!

The Simple Woman's Daybook~11/2/10

Visit Peggy's blog to read more daybook posts, or link up one of your own!

For Today~ November 2nd, 2010

Outside my window~ more leaves are falling to the ground. There's a breeze today, and it's quite cool for Georgia in November. I think our high today is only in the 50's. My boys are playing badminton with the neighbor boy from next door. It's a nice moment to watch!

On my mind~ oh, it would take me all day to tell you everything that's on my mind. My mind is currently on Kansas though, and I keep thinking about what it would be like to live there again.

I am hoping~ that hubby will have his final interview tonight with the company in Kansas, and we will get some much awaited answers about the near future!

I am wearing~ hubby's navy blue sweatpants, and my favorite winter top. It's navy blue, baby blue and white striped, with a navy blue hood on it. I don't ever use the hood, but it sure makes the shirt warmer! I'd be doing even better if I'd get some socks on my feet...my toes are frozen!

I am going~ nowhere today! I am finally starting to feel better. I've been coughing up all this junk out of my lungs and going out in the cold would be a horrible idea!

I am creating~ ideas. At this point, that's all I can create! lol! My house is a mess, and we are not starting any projects until we know which state we are going to live in!

From the learning rooms~ we are kind of on hold right now. I've been so sick, we haven't done any schoolwork with the younger one's. My oldest is doing about half of his work, but if we are going to move, we will have to change his curriculum again. Poor guy. Good thing we've kept the curriculum he started with this year. He likes it, and he can pick right back up where he left off a month ago!

I am praying~ that I will get completely over the flu, so I can get the other two blood draws that the doctor wants. No more answers on that front, until they get done and the results come in.

From the kitchen~ lots of deer! We've had deer steaks, deer sloppy joes, deer burgers, on an on! I'm so thankful that hubby has gotten two deer already, and we are able to use that meat when money is so scarce right now!

One of my favorite things~ hot chocolate, a warm blanket and a great football game! I love Sunday's in November! Our favorite NFL teams are doing really good this year too...makes it even better!

Around the house~ it's pretty quiet today with the boys outside and the girls watching cartoons. Lunch is about ready, and then we'll focus on laundry!

A few plans for the rest of the week~ haha. I don't have any now. I thought I did, but the Lord showed me that He truly holds tomorrow in His hands! lol! After the rescheduled interview last night, this is the first verse I read in my bible today...

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1

I just had to laugh. I've never read that verse before, and I couldn't believe that's what God lead me to first thing today! :-) He certainly was precise wasn't He?! I hope we will have answers tonight, but I am truly surrendered to the Lord on this matter now, and I will take things one day at a time..doing what I can each day.

From my picture journal~

My mother made me this beautiful jewlrey set. There's earings, a bracelet and two necklaces. I absolutely love them! Thanks Mom!

Move It Monday

Here we are, Monday already! What I'm still trying to wrap my mind around, is that it's November 1st! Where did this year go?! Next time I go into Walmart, they'll probably already have the Christmas decorations up, and items on the shelves. Thanksgiving is so near! I don't think my life has ever been more unstable around the Holiday's than it is right now. I don't know how people do it without God. I would be a wreck without Him to turn to and lean on! Even though I have no idea where my family will be, or what we will be doing on Thanksgiving, I am still looking forward to it!

Today will be another busy day. I got lots of rest yesterday, and I think it really helped me. Even though I'm up at 5 o'clock this morning, which never happens, I feel pretty good. For those of you who don't know, I have been VERY sick for the last week, and am really hoping I am coming out of it now. We managed to pull off the garage sale on Saturday, and made some money while getting rid of stuff we really need to get out of here! I am now going to focus on getting all this laundry done and getting rid of any clothes we don't need. I am NOT going to take all these clothes to whatever house we move to! I am going to do myself a favor, and get rid of as much as I can. I'll probably make a trip to a couple stores today too, and try to find some boxes. I'm dreading the thought of having to pack up this house. Moving is NOT something I enjoy doing. I love to unpack and decorate a new home, but packing up the old one is torture for me.

Please pray with us today, we have one more big decision we will need to make this evening! I'll try to keep you better updated this week. I hope you all have a fantastic Monday!