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My 8 Year olds TESTIMONY- Making his faith HIS OWN

An amazing thing just happened. I just finished my devotion with my kids in Psalms and my 8 year old was late for the devotion because he wasn’t finished cleaning his room so he basically only caught the tail end of it. As usual we ended it with prayer and intercession. My kids are prayer warriors even my 3 year old, but my 8 year old really means business when he prays.
Photo:Tears of cleansing....

He prays with authority and confidence, boldly. Well tonight it was his turn to pray but it was different tonight. He didn’t pray only for others he also prayed for himself. He prayed something like, “God I’m so hungry for you, I’m so hungry, but I know what it takes but I haven’t given my time. I’m hungry for you God.”

I was taken back by this prayer. Just this week I realized that I know when my other two girls accepted Christ as their Savior, but he has never made a public declaration of accepting Christ or asked. He prays like he has and if it’s a corporate prayer going on he repeats it, but I’ve been wondering if he actually had accepted Christ as his Savior.

After he was done I and the other kids prayed for him. I sent them to their rooms and hung back with him. I asked him if he would like to talk and what was going on his heart. He was so tender and on the verge of just spilling tears at anytime. He said as he was crying heavily, “Mommy I’m reading my Bible in the morning and getting up to do my devotions, but I’ve been so distracted and I haven’t been serious about God lately. I feel like God is calling me to go deeper and into worship with Him, He wants me to worship. I feel like a fisherman lost at sea, mommy I’m lost, but I see the lighthouse beaming its light.”

I was taken back by his depth of understanding and his heart’s hunger. I anointed his head with oil and prayed blessings over Him to feel God’s presence and covering. I gave him a word and told him he has a Daniel calling on his life and just like Daniel he will have to go through trials but he will have God’s word and Law written on his heart and he will take it wherever he goes and no one will be able to take it away from him. I said, “Nile have you ever accepted Christ into your heart because I’ve never heard you proclaim it before?” He said, “I have before but I never changed, I tried to change but I just didn’t.” I told him, “It’s not about what you do or don’t do in your walk God is working with you, it’s a process.” He said, “I just feel so hungry for Him.” I said, “Maybe you have been going on our faith, your mommy’s and daddy’s faith. Maybe it’s time you make it your own and accept him for yourself as you own faith. Do you want to do that?” “Yes, mommy,” he said. “Go ahead son ask him.” After he prayed, I prayed over him. After I was done I said, “Do you feel like a new BOY this is your faith, not mine or daddy’s but your own faith?” He kind of motioned no, but then said something like, “I feel like a new renewed MAN and he had tears in his eyes and said I feel accepted, I’m accepted He accepts me into the inner courts and then he burst out crying tears of cleansing and relief.... He accepts me, I'm accepted.” How beautiful to be a witness such a beautiful moment in my son’s life. Thank you Lord for what you are doing in my son’s life. Bless him abundantly and use him mightily for your kingdom. I asked him to write in a journal I keep for him and I asked him if could share it when he was done and he said it was fine. Here it is: So precious….

11/08/09

In His Words 8 Years old
May the Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless my soul because tonight I accepted Christ and His word into my life and I feel great!

He was crying BIG deep tears almost the whole time I wish I could have done the moment justice and wrote all that he said. All I know is he kept saying God is calling Him to worship. Mommy I need to worship Him....

Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe

Ok Ok so I admit it, my friend calls me a germaphobe! I have to say it's true. After loosing two babies this year and being either pregnant sick and tired, miscarriage sick and tired, I'm TIRED of feeling like poop this last year. Now that I"m pregnant for the 3rd time this year I guard my health with MY LIFE!
I always disinfect shopping carts and as soon as I get into my truck all the kids use hand sanitizer, but I that makes me uneasy too since I'm into natural health care I know that stuff has alcohol and is killing good bacteria too. So, I went on a hunt to try and find a "Safe" alternative. Any that I found where very expensive and I wasn't too sure if they were really worth the money when I saw some other questionable ingredients. But I found my answer! It's cheap, effective and you can make it home! I've been us Nutribiotic GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) for about 2 years. I make nasal spray with it to fight sinus infections, I buy GSE dish soap, I make my own capsule with the GSE gel and take it when I want to prevent sickness or nip in the bud and NOW I will make my hand sanitizer with it with the full confidence that this stuff works great and it's natural! Here is the recipe that I found for GSE sanitizer here is one place to get Nutribotic GSE or get it at you local health store and here is an online store for the gel.
Tell me if you try it out! I will go to my health store and pick up a little plastic bottle with a flip top spout for the sanitizer. Voila!

A TRUE LOVE AFFAIR!!!

Today me and my completion are celebrating our 13 Anniversary! This is an excerpt from an article I placed in our local paper on our 10th Anniversary! Enjoy!
The first photo is from our first year together and the 2nd photo is from our trip to San Diego in 2005. Yes, my style has changed or should I say grown!

Click on it to ENLARGE :)
The blank spots are were I took our names out... in case you were wondering.

From a 3 year olds Perspective

This morning I asked my 3 year old, so why did you come to my bed last night?
He responds, "Because you didn't talk to my person."

"Person? What Person?" I respond.

"You know the person in my wall!" He says.

I turn to look at his other 3 siblings who all appear somewhat disturbed!! ha..ha..
I think we were all a little scared at this point, but my 3 year old was still as serious as could be. Luckily, I got saved by the phone ringing so the twilight zone moment ceased! ha..ha..
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Thingatizer... My 3 year old son's word for things that he has a hard describing. Daddy have you seen my truck, I put it in that thingatizer and it's gone! You get the picture :)

Love and Logic: Conflict Resolution for Kids

Just now I had my 8 yr old son come in with the usual complain....

"So and so is not letting me use her x,y,z and I need it for my project."

Mom
"Well that's too bad, I guess you should go back up there and figure out what to do."

Son
"But I would like you to talk to her."

Mom
"Son I would like to, but if I did that I would be robbing you of something VALUABLE."

Now I have his attention...
He looks at me unsure if I was serious.

Son
"Well what valuable lesson would that be?"

Mom
"CONFLICT RESOLUTION"

Son
"Conflict resolution what is that?"

So I type in the word group and come up with this CONFLICT RESOLUTION
I had him read the article with me and he was totally interested with a smile on his face I can tell that he got it. I gave him a few tips and he was off to resolve the conflict his self!

This is all a part of our NEW parenting style from the most helpful child training book I've EVER read and I've read a lot and yes I do have favorites, but this one has transformed our household.
Parenting with Love and Logic

The book talks about letting children work through their own problems. I capitalized on this moment and did just that. The result?

My son came back in less than 5 minutes CONFLICT RESOLVED and a solution in place along with a "Business deal" to borrow his sister's camera.
Voila! Problem solved! :)
What a disservice I would have done trying to solve his problem for him. Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of tattle tailing...
Before love and logic I would tell my kids if you keep tattling. I'm going to go out an buy a tail and pin it on you for the day and you will have to wear out in public! And when people ask you will tell them, "I'm a tattle tail."  I like this method much better :)

CALLS need to STOP Senate HEALTH BILL!!!

October 13, 2009

HSLDA: Calls Needed to Stop Senate Health Care Bill

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

Urgent calls are needed to members of the U.S. Senate's Finance
Committee to urge senators to oppose the health care bill.  The
Finance Committee plans on voting on their version of the bill today,
Tuesday, October 13.

There are many reasons to oppose the Finance Committee's health care
bill:

> It will create a government home visitation program, with federally
funded bureaucrats giving out parenting advice, and nothing in the
bill makes it clear that these programs must be voluntary;

> It will result in a hugely expensive federal government take-over of
health care decisions, currently made by families and doctors--and
taxpayers will foot the bill;

> No one knows what the bill actually says--the Senate Finance
Committee will merely vote on a summary bill, and the actual text of
the bill will be added at some later point.  Dangerous legislative
language could be added at a later time with no chance to read and
analyze it.

Please call your two U.S. senators immediately and urge them to vote
against the health care bill for the reasons listed above.  You can
reach your senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard at
202-224-3121.  This number is frequently busy, so put in your ZIP code
at HSLDA's legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find
the phone numbers of your two U.S. senators.

BACKGROUND

The Senate Finance Committee is the final committee to vote on health
care reform. Various versions of the bill have passed the Senate
Health Committee and three House committees.  If the bill passes the
Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, the bill will be merged with the
health care bill passed by the Senate Health Committee in September,
and sent to the Senate floor for a final vote.

Although only senators on the Senate Finance Committee will be voting
on the health care bill on Tuesday, we encourage you to call your two
U.S. senators, even if they are not on the Finance Committee.

To read HSLDA's detailed legislative analysis of this bill visit
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7072 .

Thank you for standing with us for liberty.

Sincerely,

Mike Smith
President, HSLDA

Peace, Prosperity... a mixed message?

A few of my thoughts....

Right now there is a teaching the sweeping the land.... God wants EVERYTHING to go right for you. He wants you to prosper, be in health etc...

Now I'm not saying those things aren't true, but these messages need to balanced with the whole Word, which says that Christians MUST suffer. It's about feeling God's blessings in the storm, about feeling like the richest man in the world when you have NOTHING, but Christ. It's about always hoping for tomorrow, even if it never comes. It's about treating your body like the Temple of a Living God and respecting it at so, always living and praying to be in health. And remember "Right" is a relative term. God's "Right" for us may be different than we expected but it's for our growth in Him. I got this from a friend today and LOVED it. Enjoy.

I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I had asked for, but everything that I had hoped for. Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered; I am, among all men, most richly blessed. An Unknown Confederate Soldier

If people can't serve Christ while it is so EASY to do so what is going to happen when things get rough and they are going to get rough. The timing is coming when Christianity will become outlawed and we will have to live like those abroad persecuted for Christ. Their mother's, brother's and sisters are murdered in front of them, or maybe their family is trying to murder them for their faith. They meet in a cave or an abandoned building knowing at anytime the mob can come and find them and kill them for their church meeting. This is when the sheep will be divided from the goats.

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him, Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separated the sheep from the goats. He will put the righteous people at this right and the others at his left. " One will be set apart for blessings and the other for a curse! Is your conversion real or is it false? Have you accepted Christ? If not there is no ceremony needed just talk to God like He is your friend. Tell Him you want to know about the salvation He gives through His son. and go here http://www.ficm.org/receivec.htm If you can't serve Him while it's good, you will not be able to serve Him when your life depends on it and your children will be ridiculed or tortured. Hide your life in Christ and remember Hebrews 11 is about the Father's of Faith: Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham etc.. Verse 13 These DIED IN FAITH, NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISE, BUT HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF WERE ASSURED BY THEM. If these great men didn't receive their promise but still lived their lives unto God daily shouldn't we do the same? We will get our promise on the Last Day.

For me to live is die and to die is gain.

Rights of Child or Render Parents Powerless? Do not support UNICEF

There is so much new legislation this year and so much more waiting to be voted on. Be sure to be informed on the Convention of the Rights of a Child and find out how this is really just a ploy to steal away parents rights to raise their children as they see fit. Government controlled households does not spell FREEDOM to me.

I found this article that was very informative on this subject. I hope you take the time to read it. ARTICLE HERE
Here is what UNICEF is stating about the subject. "With these rights comes the obligation on both governments and individuals not to infringe on the parallel rights of others."
These standards are both interdependent and indivisible; we cannot ensure some rights without—or at the expense of—other rights.
I have said time and time again UNICEF is not the friend of international adoption nor is the friend of parents who understand that raising their children should happen WITHOUT the government telling them how to do it.
I am all for the protection of children and against trafficking of any human, but as always there are going to be people out there who will hide under the guise of a "Good mission" only to steal and manipulate people's freedom! Let your voice be heard at every level. Watch out for the National Health Care plan also. My husband have traveled to places where National Health Care exist and it's a joke to think that our government wants to implement it hear. Then you have our "Wonderful" President trying to tack on clauses that mandate the American people to pay for abortions and if that is not awful enough they are creating legislation that will make Doctors perform abortions despite their God given convictions or loose their licenses. It's a sad day we live in. Pray for our President's salvation, pray for God fearing judges to be nominated into the Supreme court, the highest court in the land...

I found this interesting. You make your OWN choice, do you own research and come up with your own conclusion.

Leaving for Haiti

I'm finishing up packing today. I would appreciate your prayers for my pregnancy that I wouldn't get any illnesses.

Here are some items I'm bringing to the village. Remember it's not too late to donate funds for the Haiti trip to bless the children of Haiti. I still need to go buy Formula for the babies and there are MANY. See the post below to Donate.

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Mathew 25:45

I need your help!

Now is your opportunity to bless the children in Haiti! I leave 9/21 if you would like to contribute any funds this month SEPTEMBER it will go directly to purchase items to take to the children's village and creche (orphanage).

I will be shopping for baby formula to take to Haiti. Last time I arrived with 50lbs of mostly formula and when I got there they had maybe 3 cans left for a ton of babies! God's timing. It felt good to help out. I've bought as much I can with my own funds, but we can only do so much alone.

Will you consider even donating $5? A can of formula is around $11 a can.


Please don't forget to go to my site and learn about the Children of Haiti

Donated funds will not go towards any of our personal expenses, Thanks!

Getting to know me BETTER :)

The Homemaking Cottage has been so kind to feature me in a series on "Large Families", now is your chance to get to know me even better :) 

Check out the story Here.

Looking for Modest Swim Suits?

Check out this link for multiple vendors

Simply Modest Swim Wear was one of my favorite.

I hope I can afford some suits next year :)

Fun Food Guide

Where do you store BBQ sauce once it's open? That was the question I was trying to find an answer to when I stumbled upon a helpful little site.

If you ever asked...
How long will your food or beverage stay tasty?
Check out this site Still Tasty

I found the site very helpful. Enjoy!