tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89866857038149387042024-03-05T19:50:20.059-05:00Hope and a Futuregideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.comBlogger544125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-88193801678916447092018-01-05T07:49:00.000-05:002018-01-05T07:49:01.560-05:00Here’s my Heartthankful for my family<br />
Everyone says I have great kids, and I do<br />
Kids that put away all my Christmas decorations yesterday before I got home from a bad visit.<br />
A visit I thought was going to be balm for my soul and ended up being salt.<br />
“<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;">I'm standing knee deep but I'm out where I've never been</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;">And I feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind”</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;">- In over my head by Bethel Music</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;">The tide keeps washing over my head and I want to make it about me...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">John-Thomas lived with my mom for 2 months to try and help her stay in her home longer and picked her up off the floor. Stewart, Emmett and Elise have gone to visit her when I needed thief help. And I’m so glad it was noticed by some.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Why is it in our nature to dismiss the good we see in others and say “but you can do more”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">I feel like God is also doing that. .... </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "programme" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">I need to just say here’s my heart Lord.</span></span></div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10799328805605696641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-58126791745486489082016-04-09T15:17:00.002-04:002016-04-09T15:17:36.058-04:00InstaxToday I ran across the blog :<a href="http://innerchildfun.com/">Inner Child Fun</a>.<br />
It had great tips about afterschool snacks and then I found a post about a cute photo tree craft. At the bottom it had a chance to win an <a href="http://innerchildfun.com/?s=instax">Instax Fuji Camera.</a><br />
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If I blogged about it I got an extra sweepstakes entry, and since I have no shame I thought I would.<br />
<br />
The camera looks neat and I know I would have fun with it, Elise would have fun with it, Josh would have fun with it. I could see it being very painful to buy additional film for it once the starter pack ran out but it would be great project to work on.<br />
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<a href="http://innerchildfun.com/2016/03/five-minute-photo-craft.html" title="Five Minute Photo Craft"><img alt="photocraft2" class="alignleft post-image entry-image" height="150" itemprop="image" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="http://innerchildfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/photocraft2-150x150.jpg" srcset="http://innerchildfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/photocraft2-150x150.jpg 150w, http://innerchildfun.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/photocraft2-144x144.jpg 144w" width="150" /></a>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10799328805605696641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-83067872096600932302015-02-02T12:26:00.002-05:002015-02-02T12:26:42.438-05:00And now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Dwelling on the faithfulness, the love and mercy of God is always safe, because He is the same yesterday, today and forever." Elisabeth Elliot</div>
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In my 42cnd year I went to the Czech Republic for my third time,<br />
started working full time,<br />
I officially exited the homeschooling world after 15 years,<br />
I sent my oldest off to college (in the same town)<br />
I left the only church two of my children have ever know to attend a new church,<br />
one of our cats died and we got two guinea pigs,<br />
I ran two half marathons, a 10 k and a 5k,<br />
I went to Universal Studios with my sister,<br />
I went to N,C. to visit my father and to Atlanta to visit his brother,<br />
I celebrated my twentieth anniversary on a cruise with my husband and best friend<br />
and now,<br />
and now I am walking through with my mom through the process of dealing with some unknown lesion on her temporal lobe that may or may not be cancer.<br />
I turn 43 in two months and I can not imagine what will happen before then. <br />
Ever since the hurricanes I have been constantly amazed at the fantastic turn of events that are beyond my imagination. <br />
I have been constantly amazed that God knew it all before the beginning of time and is not surprised in the least by any of it.<br />
"The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations."<br />
Psalm 33:11<br />
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<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-22313207060437646642014-07-11T08:11:00.002-04:002014-07-11T08:13:09.112-04:00Hope for my soul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three days ago I returned home from teaching English and my third mission trip to the Czech Republic.<br />
I posted some great pictures.<br />
But<br />
What do I say when asked how it went, certainly there is an expectation to hear about all the marvelous things that we did and saw. It's similar to someone asking how your day went...<br />
Do they really want to know, is it helpful?<br />
Yesterday I had a great opportunity to talk with a friend from church that had gone on the same type trip 5 years ago.<br />
She said it had been hard.<br />
It was out of her comfort zone, she said.<br />
The expectation to continuously reach out to people that do not speak English is daunting.<br />
However, she said, "Going to Ethiopia where I washed desks, walls and played with children and washed desks some more...<br />
...that was much easier."<br />
Every year the church in Celakovice has potluck for us and I have tried to help with the dish washing and cleaning up afterwards and they always get upset with me because I am a guest. <br />
But it's easier than trying to talk with them!<br />
So why do I go?<br />
There are a few people who have limited conversation abilities that I can share ideas or exchange personal experiences with that I am able to connect with. I am able to encourage these people that God is real and Jesus really did come to save them and the church is a good place to continue in community.<br />
But it isn't easy.<br />
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<i>"Everything that happens fits into a pattern for good, but that pattern and that purpose is to shape us to the likeness of His Son." Elisabeth Elliot</i></div>
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<i>"</i><b>For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son."</b></div>
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<b>Romans 8:29</b></div>
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The first year I went was all learning and observing and letting the experienced ones take the lead.</div>
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Last year I felt the leading and emboldening and peace of the Holy Spirit at every turn.</div>
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This year was a battle from the moment I stepped off the plane and threw up from motion sickness until we arrived home and our baggage didn't.</div>
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Everything and nothing went right.</div>
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It was all walking by faith in the one who is the author and finisher of my faith. (2 Cor.5:7) An anchor of Hope for my soul (Hebrews 6:18)</div>
I had impressed upon my heart that verse from Isaiah 6:8, "Here am I send me" when the urgent call for English camp teachers went out in the spring. And I can say with confidence that He did a great work through me but it wasn't easy. There isn't another English camp for two years. So we will continue to pray for those wonderful Czech people and wait and see with confident expectation that God will direct our steps.<br />
<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-50357014033939941732014-01-27T11:29:00.001-05:002014-01-27T11:29:18.207-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to play the ukulele.<br />
I want to understand sewing machine tension.<br />
I want to be able to bake incredible bread.<br />
I want to enjoy my children,<br />
I want to write a book<br />
I want be really good at something<br />
I want to want to exercise<br />
I want to be a speaker at women's conferences.<br />
I want to be a College English professor<br />
I want to run a store,<br />
I want to sit on the beach every morning<br />
I want to take singing lessons<br />
i want a clean house.<br />
<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-21318581426984044362014-01-27T11:07:00.000-05:002014-01-27T11:07:01.239-05:00What is Good?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I ended up reading almost two years of Alicia Paulson's blog this morning.<br />
<br />
I had to remind myself, when I stopped myself from frittering my time away on the computer, that everyone is given this same amount of time in a day.<br />
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It made me sad to realize this.<br />
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my blinds used to be clean, the sheets were changed regularly. I saw my friend Susan once a week, attended a women's bible study and I homeschooled three kids with a toddler in tow.<br />
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What happened.<br />
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I miss my friend Tiffany, I haven't talked to her in over a year. Reading Posey Gets Cosie I remembered how much Tiffany was like Alicia Paulson and it made me want to call her. I don't have another hour to spend. I have stuff to throw away and dinner to cook and a daughter to homeschool.<br />
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What does the Lord require of you, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.<br />
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Selah.gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-23666054391413846082014-01-13T10:19:00.001-05:002014-01-13T10:19:06.759-05:00A day in the life of an EmbroidererSome days I love my job. Like when I can make a burlap FSU banner or monogram my shirts. I really had fun the day I made the price tag...why that was big fun for me, I don't know. Some days I love and hate it all in the same day. Like when I sew a bible verse on a place mat as a personal gift and I was too lazy to measure the center point and I have to spend two days pulling the stitches out. But at least I could pull the stitches out, sometimes I try and end up putting a hole in the fabric...that's a really bad day. <br />
I like showing different fonts to the customers, and thread color choices. I like helping a customer who doesn't know what they want but it is also nice helping someone come in who knows exactly what they want....that's nice because I don't have to think about anything. I don't like helping a customer who can't make any decisions and they don't like my ideas. For the most part I really like the ladies I work with. I wish I could say that I am shedding some light into their life but since their recent comment about pulling me into their dark side I think that is more of what is happening. My boss is really a great lady. She bends over backwards for her customers. She really has the best customer service attitude ever. If a customer places an order signs off on the work we are going to do and gives us a name misspelled, she will fix it for them even though it was their mistake.<br />
I don't know why some days it is so hard to check to make sure everything is right before sewing it out:<br />
color, direction, right needle number, right item for the right name...and the list goes on for all the stuff I end up checking and rechecking 3 &4 times and still sometimes I miss something. And the crazy thing is that all of us do it. You'd think that one of us could get it all right but evidently not. The stitch remover has peggy written on the side of it. We are all friends with Peggy. For a while, Peggy didn't want to be my friend and I really didn't even try to spend much time with her but lately I have been more gentle with her and have not been afraid of her and she is been very nice to me.<br />
I am working only 4 days a week, and only about 4 hours each time so it's not like I'm putting in a lot of time there but it is what I'm doing to pay for a second vehicle and our second hand clothes...and some brand new items when a second hand item just can't be found.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="710" scrolling="no" src="//instagram.com/p/jAl-CFh1x3/embed/" width="612"></iframe>gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-37428702039166653312013-11-04T10:45:00.001-05:002013-11-04T10:45:54.984-05:00Home economics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the fall of 2012 I went to a coupon/frugal living conference called <a href="http://www.southernsavers.com/2013/07/becoming-2013-agenda-giveaway/">Becoming</a>, and it charged me up to work at couponing and cutting costs more diligently. I have "saved" over $600 this past year by shopping at CVS. I say "saved" because that is just what they say, but it isn't actually compared with my totals from last year so who knows. Before the conference I never shopped at CVS but my friend did and between her and the conference I started getting our toiletries and random stuff there.<br />
I still am not tracking my expenses like I should. <br />
Last year I also started a price notebook which really opened my eyes to the price differences at the stores I shop at. <br />
Our staples I get from Sam's club, meat, cheese, salad stuff, milk, eggs, yogurt, flour.<br />
Publix is right across the street so I used to get most of our can goods, pasta and bread from them.<br />
Sav-a-lot has the best prices on fruits and random sausage and turkey and cilantro so I will try to hit that every 10 days.<br />
Last week, my frugal friend that I went to the conference with told me that she has started shopping at Target and saving a bunch. I gathered all my coupons, got all the electronic deals lined up on my phone but I haven't been able to get over there and now some of my coupons have expired! AGGHH.<br />
Somehow I have got to get back to couponing.<br />
And Stewart informed me that I need to go get my hair colored for free from the chemist at Crew so I can bring home some free shampoo for him. Fortunately I haven't gotten around to coloring my hair and the colorist called me this morning to ask if I could come in? She is testing a dark blond and a dark brown this week. Hopefully I can do that Wednesday but it is early release week and John-Thomas asked me to take him to open a bank account that day.gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-68861019439091403172013-10-09T12:04:00.000-04:002013-10-09T12:04:15.899-04:00Comments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I received an email about people following my blog.<br />
<br />
Who follows my blog, I don't even write on my blog anymore!<br />
<br />
Do I still have a blog?<br />
<br />
Well of course I still have a blog, and turns out I had comments awaiting my approval.<br />
A while back, a long while back I changed the settings for comments on blog to be approved first because I was getting a lot of spam comments...only I forgot that I did that.<br />
Sorry<br />
I thought you had forgotten me.<br />
You hadn't.<br />
I miss our routine.<br />
I wish life was like it used to be. I would read your blog, comment and write my blog and we would encourage each other, spur one another on with good deeds and all that jazz.<br />
Now I pinterest and it just isn't the same, but I can do that on my phone and that is so much easier than fooling with a slow computer and trying to figure out how to get the pictures off my phone to put on my blog.<br />
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This is my favorite eyeliner right now...it is only a dollar!<br />
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Hopefully I will start this book with Susan and Tracy this week but I don't think Susan will order it in time to start. Tracy already has it because she is on the ball like that. Tracy celebrates her 40th birthday this Saturday.<br />
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For the last couple of months I've been spraying this on our clothes to get stains out....Last week I noticed it was carpet cleaner. It works great as a stain getter outer for clothes. I picked it up on clearance at Publix so I probably won't shell out full price for it now that I used the last of it up today. Thankful that Pinterest has taught me about Hydrogen peroxide and dawn. <br />
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Alright, I really should do my dishes, they won't wash themself. I don't mind starting my laundry,sorting and folding but all the rest of the household duties I really have to ramp myself up for. Maybe I'll get on pinterest for a minute. Have a great day!</div>
gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-38128334581814212052013-07-20T08:47:00.001-04:002013-07-20T08:47:04.765-04:00Czech Gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This English Camp this year was the largest the Brown's had put together in the Czech Republic and it had the smallest team from America. This is fitting because the Gideons were leading it. God took the smallest team so far and did great things. At the team meeting before camp Marshall gave us a pep talk and shared his excitement of the gospel and it's transforming power. He mentioned Romans 6:28, "The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus," and <span style="background-color: white; color: #663333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #663333; font-family: inherit;">“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8,9) He went on to make the word picture of being a gift and either opening it or leaving it. I remember him giving us this same pep talk two years ago on our last trip and I was excited to see what God would do this time.</span><br />
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The camp is made up of people from the Brethern Church in Celekovice and their neighbors, co-workers and people in the community. One of the first years that the Brown's were involved in putting on the camp they advertised in the village paper. From that advertisement there are a half dozen people that have come back for their third camp.<br />
"Why do you keep coming back?" they ask us.<br />
"Because we love you and want to share God's love with you," we say.<br />
"Why do you keep coming back?" we ask them.<br />
"We have a good time, the people are very nice and our family has a great time," they say.<br />
Throughout the year the church has a weekly English Club for kids. This is a great way to introduce the kids to the church. The translator for my class brought their neighbor's daughter to the kids club during the year and then invited the mom and daughter to the camp. She was an attorney and didn't really believe in God. She didn't feel comfortable saying who God was. You can imagine her discomfort level about going through the creation story and talking about sin. We knew that it was only the Spirit of God in her heart that would soften her heart and receive the message. By the end of the week we could see her softened heart and we were rejoicing in her desire to enter into conversations with us. My translator Jara and her husband as her neighbors will continue to reach out to this woman after I go home. <br />
I had the beginning/intermediate class so there were many conversations that I couldn't take part in because of their level of English vocabulary and my level of Czech. But I was told that my class was having those conversations with their Czech friends outside of class. During our last class there were a lot of doubts and disagreements shared and even the one lady in our class who is Catholic and I had previously thought was a believer said she doubted whether Jesus really died and was resurrected. And class time was up at that point...it was time for group class and I still had my class gifts to hand out. I set my translator gifts down at their feet (because they were still involved in their conversations...in the Czech language) and all of sudden the conversation stopped and they reached for thier gifts. I stopped handing out gifts and told them to wait.....<br />
"Are Jara and her husband excited about their gift," I asked my class? "If they open it and take it home they can use their gifts but if they leave them here unopened then they haven't received their gift. This is the same with God," I told them. "You can take this gift He is offering you and make it yours or you can leave it, it is up to you."<br />
After I gave the class their gifts, the sweet couple sitting on the couch next to me gave me a gift. I told them I would hang it next to my sink and would think of them all during the day while I did dishes. And it has been a great reminder to pray for them and that the Gift of God would grow in their hearts and minds.<br />
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gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-5470783142802997932013-06-13T14:36:00.003-04:002013-06-13T14:36:51.102-04:00Czech Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-30488493125271588382013-04-17T14:13:00.001-04:002013-04-17T14:13:41.877-04:00<a href="http://shabbyblogs.com/new" border="0" target="_blank"><img src="http://shabbyblogs.com/new/storage/old/ShabbyBlogsNice.jpg"/></a>gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-68601051543374490862012-12-03T09:53:00.000-05:002012-12-03T09:53:03.200-05:00Confidence<br />
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<i><span style="background: #FFFFEA; color: #7b3900; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The anointing you received from him remains
in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches
you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it
has taught you, remain in him.<o:p></o:p></span></i><i style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: #ffffea; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: 14pt;">1 John 2 : 27</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #7b3900; font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i>Yesterday was the second time this year that the pastor's sermon was expanded on thoughts I had durring the week.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7b3900; font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i>The first time , I had the image of a closed fist all week. I had been mulling over in my thoughts what that was in my life. Then the pastor did a sermon on giving. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7b3900; font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i>Yesterday his sermon was the first in a series of the gospel in the carols and the first carol was Charles Wesley's "Come thou long Expected Jesus."</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7b3900; font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i>I must say that I pay more attention during the sermon is about something God has already initiated during the week.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7b3900; font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i>It was with that affirmation that I read today's scripture from John2:27.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7b3900; font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i>What confidence He gives us that He is at work in us and will continue it.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #7b3900; font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><i>Fight on.</i></span></span></div>
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gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-10509742418521581382012-11-27T09:04:00.000-05:002012-11-27T09:04:31.367-05:00Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;"><xb><span style="font-size: x-small;">I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.</span></xb></i><br />
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">John 16 : 23-24 </span></i></div>
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;">I am long overdue to write. </i></div>
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;">I am long overdue on a lot of things.</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;">I was laying on the floor trying to do some longoverdue planks and non crunch crunches when I saw some longoverdue hairballs inbetween the loveseat and endtable.</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;">Reminds me of something/someone else that wasn't longoverdue but necessarily long expected.</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;">The reason for joy.</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; line-height: 18px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Come thou long-expected Jesus, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Born to set Thy people free; </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">From our fears and sins release us, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Let us find our rest in Thee. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Israel's strength and consolation, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Hope of all the earth Thou art; </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Dear Desire of every nation, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Joy of every longing heart. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Born Thy people to deliver, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Born a Child and yet a King. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Born to reign in us for ever, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Now Thy gracious kingdom bring. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">By Thine own eternal Spirit </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Rule in all our hearts alone; </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">By Thine all-sufficient merit </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #545559; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal;">Raise us to Thy glorious throne.</span></i></div>
gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-19712265340162877912012-10-24T14:19:00.002-04:002012-10-24T14:19:40.263-04:00Iron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c118.0.403.403/p403x403/542195_10151173831202748_313885776_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c118.0.403.403/p403x403/542195_10151173831202748_313885776_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Over the summer my family floated down the Itchetucknee on innertubes. The kids were in front, then the men and then Julie and I. She told me about this <a href="http://becomingconf.com/">conference </a>she wanted to go to at the end of September. It was being put on by Jenny at <a href="http://www.southernsavers.com/">Southern Savers</a> and Jennifer from <a href="http://beautyandbedlam.com/">Balancing Beauty and Bedlam</a> and it was going to be at Ridgecrest in N.C.<br />
Sign me up I said.<br />
Then we met up with our other friend that had gotten seperated from us and we invited her too. But really, our friend Anne should have been with us too but she had recently had knee surgery so we called her up and she said if she was strong enough by then.<br />
So we went.<br />
Anne was on crutches.<br />
Shanel I booked it to each conference room ahead of the mob of other attendees so we could save our dear friend a seat.<br />
All of us agreed the best session was from <a href="http://www.thenester.com/">the Nester</a>.<br />
She shared with us how different shades of whites are friends. <br />
That was freeing for me.<br />
I thought white was only friends with it's exact match. I have been afraid to paint anything white in living room because it wouldn't match my white pottery barn t.v. armoir.<br />
I know t.v. armoires are out,<br />
I'm okay with that.<br />
Anyway, besides myself she was the most frugal person I have ever heard...except she pulls it off well.<br />
Very Well.<br />
And she was gracious and unpretencious.<br />
She talked about getting rid of stuff.<br />
So what do I do?<br />
In my attempt to get rid of stuff I threw away Elise's spelling words for the week....not quite what was called for.....should've started in my room.<br />
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The rest of the <a href="http://becomingconf.com/agenda/">sessions </a>were encouraging because I am already saving money on our grocery budget, I am already cooking cheap. I am already spending next to nothing on clothes.<br />
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But I have relised that I need to work out of an envelope that has only our grocery cash for the week in it...and when it's gone, it's gone...and if there is extra then save it for a week when I need it.<br />
Another thing that I have not been doing is keeping a log of how much I spend on the items I buy regularly.<br />
How will I know if the sweet peppers are cheaper at Sam's or Publix...turns out there is only a 5 cent difference. <br />
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As we drove home from N.C. I suggested we take the info that we know and use regularly in our households and hold a living frugally seminar at our church for our ladies. In attempt to work toward that goal we are meeting to put together what we know. The first week we made crock pot lasagna together, tomorrow we are going to make stuffed shells together. We'll see what becomes of it.<br />
Maybe nothing.<br />
Maybe it is a good way for some iron to sharpen iron.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Prov-27-17" id="en-NKJV-17187" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">As iron sharpens iron,</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span class="text Prov-27-17" style="background-color: white; position: relative;">So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Prov-27-17" style="background-color: white; position: relative;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is another website to check out:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.funcheaporfree.com/2011/04/foodie-tuesday-recipes-bowtie-spinach.html#ixzz28Y9fQiBI">The Fun Cheap or Free Queen</a><br />
<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-48190226461319311412012-09-07T08:42:00.000-04:002012-09-07T09:14:09.123-04:00After All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="color: #274e13;">1 John 3:2 "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A year ago I spent one afternoon and only had a couple of exchanges with a 27 year old friend who was helping a family of 9 pack up their house to move across the country. He was a colleague of my friends and he spoke to me like we had been friends our whole life. In just a couple of conversations I knew he had a passion for Christ, for students living right and that he loved to be active. He was involved in the life of another family I am friends with and I have thought how much I would like to spend time with him. Well, <a href="http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2012-09-05/story/popular-teacher-sandalwood-high-dies-after-jacksonville-scooter-accident">he </a>died this week. Over 2,000 people have "liked" the prayers for James Belyea page. Josh never met him but after reading through the comments people were leaving he called me and was filled with emotion overflowing. He impacted everyone he met and even some that had only heard of him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">When I heard <u style="font-style: italic;">After All </u> this morning it resonated some initial thoughts I had when it first came out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">When Stephen died it was instrumental in my grieving process to know that he had started his eternity of praising God, of worshiping him in fullness. The face to face that we have sung about our whole lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">But right now I can only dream about that majesty, it isn't bright enough right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Our life right now can't contain all of his Glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">But He reigns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I can't comprehend it but </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">He is Holy</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJV-c1ttvh8VK_8-0Iss-LS20Hi8kzXo7fGsUyp8loSmaAzov6_uDS5s-e6e1yyqU0na-hFEVO7M9syIhwEypG4_IZOtzudfcF7r4OsiL4nsF8Bu38qeUoJeI0eSFj04pI2zYLttltW7A/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJV-c1ttvh8VK_8-0Iss-LS20Hi8kzXo7fGsUyp8loSmaAzov6_uDS5s-e6e1yyqU0na-hFEVO7M9syIhwEypG4_IZOtzudfcF7r4OsiL4nsF8Bu38qeUoJeI0eSFj04pI2zYLttltW7A/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After All</div>
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<i>I <span style="color: #0b5394;">can't comprehend your infinitely beautiful and perfect love</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh I've dreamed dreams of majesty as brilliant as a billion stars</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">But they're never bright enough after all</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">You are Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Holy, Holy, Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I will sing a song for you my God with everything I have in me</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">But it's never loud enough after all</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">You are Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Holy, Holy, Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory, glory</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">My soul it overflows full of your glory, your glory</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh blessed is he who reigns, full of your glory, your glory</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">My cup, it can't contain all of your glory, your glory</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Hosanna we are found after all you are</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Holy, Holy, Holy</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br style="border: 0px none; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></i>
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">I can't comprehend</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">You're infinitely beautiful</span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">by the David Crowder Band</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">Another one of my grieving songs that has come out recently is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=9jYLTn4fKYQ">Matt Redman's 10,000 Reasons</a></span></i><br />
<i>And another one that redirects me : <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=9PeWwnhmZ3A&NR=1">Stronger by Hillsong</a></i></div>
gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-66613662194519938562012-08-22T10:06:00.000-04:002012-08-22T10:06:27.915-04:00transformers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRw8qep1UY6TTtJ6jdBYOr6CwM3sop2TwMlAk2N7wx1buTgQIu9lI4kVAYsBokHmkGKXAJfOX4WXwvnAhssuVaIUqWHVwyqXT-7tmcUsY-WW-9KHVjEIm6LLWuYJ3LN5akYYPKKQhxSY/s1600/IMG_0829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRw8qep1UY6TTtJ6jdBYOr6CwM3sop2TwMlAk2N7wx1buTgQIu9lI4kVAYsBokHmkGKXAJfOX4WXwvnAhssuVaIUqWHVwyqXT-7tmcUsY-WW-9KHVjEIm6LLWuYJ3LN5akYYPKKQhxSY/s320/IMG_0829.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
4 weeks ago I went for my morning jog like usual. <br />
My back was a little achy during the day.<br />
That was the day I took the kids out to my aunt's and they jumped off the channel marker.<br />
It was uncomfortable to lay in lounge chair when I was trying to get some sun.<br />
The achiness in my lower back got worse.<br />
The next morning I almost couldn't get out of bed. <br />
I did not jog that day.<br />
The next day was worse.<br />
I took Josh's year old muscle relaxers and 4 ibuprofen every 6 hours.<br />
It didn't get better.<br />
I was in so much pain I had do something so I asked Josh to walk to the school and back.<br />
Part of me wondered if I would just collapse at some point on the walk, but no it helped and I was able to walk with more stability.<br />
I walked the next morning and the next.<br />
But for some reason I skipped a few days.<br />
Then the nerve pain hit.<br />
Sciatic nerve pain down my left leg and into my foot.<br />
Not much sleep at night.<br />
I used up all of one of his muscle relaxers and started on another one of his year old bottles and I made an appointment to see my Nurse Practioner.<br />
Over the weekend I hoped I would get better and be able to cancel the appointment but my calf and part of my foot and three toes went numb, my calf balled up in a knot.<br />
She gave me a round of oral steroids and Tylenol with codine.<br />
I started walking again.<br />
It took my breath away to put my shoes on.<br />
The back pain had mostly gone away but the nerve pain woke me up a hour before it was time to take more pain med.<br />
Had an MRI and went back for a followup.<br />
It is only a bulging disk on a nerve.<br />
I imagined I had Lou Gehrig disease, ms, had broken my back or had some other rare crazy disorder. WEBMD at 3 am is not a good idea, or maybe it is because I didn't have all the symptoms for the things I imagined I had.<br />
Nope, nothing like that.<br />
My ARNP gave me a prescription for something that is supposed to help with nerve pain.<br />
The first couple of days it kinda worked better and there were no side effects.<br />
This morning was the first day in 4 weeks that pain has not woken me up.<br />
Side effects are starting to worsen though.<br />
Mild dizziness...what I imagine taking recreational drugs might be like.<br />
And I just want to rest my head somewhere.<br />
Sunday morning I rested my head on Josh's shoulder in church and went to sleep...I never do that. His shoulder had never felt more comfortable.<br />
I asked John-Thomas to drive me home...I felt loopy.<br />
It hits about 3 hours after I've taken it.<br />
The house is a disaster and I should be picking up and all I want to do is lay down and sleep.<br />
There are no kids at home, it is supposed to be my time to get this house in order after a year and half of neglect, but no.<br />
I'm listening to Josh's pandora station and enjoying the mix.<br />
Jeremy Camp singing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqYd3dXY2M8">Give me Jesus</a>,<br />
One republic singing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoPJ3NL2ynE">Secrets</a><br />
Phillip Phillips singing <a href="http://www.lyrics007.com/Phillip%20Phillips%20Lyrics/Home%20Lyrics.html">Home</a><br />
Matt Maher singing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmOvRflPZCo">Rise Up</a><br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><xb>Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."</xb></i><br />
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<i style="background-color: #ffffea; color: #7b3900; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Isaiah 30 : 21</span></i></div>
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<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-26252701565809897642012-08-21T11:11:00.003-04:002012-08-21T11:14:20.580-04:00Prayer on the road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBjF_AnVVqKDBs8eL9pyKxVtbphicCzSeTRFzVAo8S5fcimnW9oerq666QS4y-6jaOLlgqth6eayijbmUUSDDi2yL8Qvrg25NwlobUuNUxTiIKjyipo4eO7V9Bayb_I47cuj8D2ibQ5Y/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBjF_AnVVqKDBs8eL9pyKxVtbphicCzSeTRFzVAo8S5fcimnW9oerq666QS4y-6jaOLlgqth6eayijbmUUSDDi2yL8Qvrg25NwlobUuNUxTiIKjyipo4eO7V9Bayb_I47cuj8D2ibQ5Y/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's back to school time.<br />
45 minutes of listening to Air 1...maybe if doesn't get staticky or the boys get really annoyed with a song and change it. <br />
After they have all been dropped off for the day it's me and the radio and time to pray.<br />
Pray for Stefani and her heart Cath today.<br />
Pray for the staff at Shands to have wisdom and to share their hope and faith with our family.<br />
Pray for Marcy and Tracy to be encouraged and make wise choices today.<br />
Pray for Tracy, Lajuan and Susan that God would prepare their hearts for husbands and He would bring them soon.<br />
Pray Stefani that she would trust God for the hard things she doesn't understand.<br />
Selah.<br />
<br />
That was Stephen's prayer a few months before he died and those words flowed from my thoughts so naturally into my prayer for Stefani. <br />
<br />
After Stephen died, two different people gave Cathron the book, <i><u>Choosing to See</u></i> by <a href="http://marybethchapman.com/">Mary Beth Chapman</a>. Cathron gave me one of the copies two years ago...I put in on the shelf. I wasn't ready to read through someone elses pain. I knew it would make my heart ache and I would cry. I started it during this season of nerve pain, it was a good time for that. It was funny and very honest through the first half of the book, I almost forgot how the ending was going to go and so while I waited for Stewart to be done with Youth Group, I plopped myself down in a comfy chair in the middle of the library. Wouldn't you know that the next chapter was where the dam breaks? I closed the book before I started sobbing. I waited to read it in the middle of the night when the nerve pain woke me up and the house was quiet and dark.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #741b47;">"So God confirmed this truth yet again; I can choose to SEE His story, or I can miss it. And I know-in the winter of our grieving and the frozen mourning of my plans that will never be and my dreams that have died--the reality is this; God's warm breath is on the move. New life is budding...and often where I expected it the least, like right inside of me."</span><br />
<br />
There were parts all over this book that are worth quoting but I did not underline or write them down. It was a good book. I recommend it, you should read this if you have suffered a loss, you should read this because at some point in your life you will suffer a loss. You should read this because you are women and have days when you feel overwhelmed. You should read this because you know someone who feels overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. </span></b></i><br />
1 Peter 5:10<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a33JLm-H5uQ?fs=1" width="459"></iframe>gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-33625926426979081592012-08-07T08:42:00.002-04:002012-08-07T08:55:43.528-04:00Glory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'French Script MT'; font-size: 48pt;">F</span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arabic Typesetting'; font-size: 26pt;">or our <b>present</b>
troubles are </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 26pt;">small</span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Arabic Typesetting'; font-size: 26pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Aparajita, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">and won't last very long</span></i><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Castellar, serif; font-size: 18pt;">Yet<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: 11pt;">they produce for us a</span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 6.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'French Script MT'; font-size: 24pt;">Glory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Tempus Sans ITC'; font-size: 14pt;">that <b><u>vastly </u></b> outweighs them
and will last </span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Castellar, serif; font-size: 14pt;">forever</span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-29889700148760102482012-08-02T09:40:00.000-04:002012-08-02T09:40:22.641-04:00If you give a mom a cup of coffee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/24467036dc9d11e1a94522000a1e8aaf_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://distilleryimage7.s3.amazonaws.com/24467036dc9d11e1a94522000a1e8aaf_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Chances are that if you finish a large cup of coffee</div>
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before your daughter breaks one of your grandmother's water glasses</div>
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you will ask son #3 to pull the stove out from the wall to sweep up the broken bits that shattered underneath it.</div>
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When you pull the stove from the wall you will then decide to clean the sides of the stove with some windex and you will enlist son #3 to help again.</div>
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After you clean the floor under the stove you will clean the wall behind the stove and the hood range.</div>
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While you are cleaning hood range, son will escape the ammonia fumes and run to his room to play the nintendo.</div>
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Once the stove is pushed back you will call son #1 to pull out the fridge to get the shattered pieces that have thrown them-self under there.</div>
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After the floor and walls behind and under the fridge are clean you will call daughter to come vacuum the kitchen and then you will ask her to vacuum the living room and then she will escape to play on the game system..</div>
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Once the kitchen is vacuumed you will want to put away the Windex and paper towels sitting on the washing machine but you notice that the back door needs to be wiped down as well as the sides of the washing machine. </div>
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And then you will notice that wash that was started yesterday is still in the washing machine and so you smell it to see if it is soured and decide that it isn't all that soured and one or two dryer sheets should do the trick. After the washing machine is emptied you will be able to put your husbands white work shirt that is has been sitting on top of the dryer with pinterest stain remover on it for a few days into the wash. All the other odd bits of white socks and work shirts will be gathered from around the house and a load of whites will be started with some homemade laundry soap and homemade fabric softener.</div>
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When the wash has been started you will walk by the coffee maker and see that there is one more cup of coffee left in the pot and so you will fix yourself another cup of coffee.</div>
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After you fix a cup of coffee you will remember that you took a picture of the broken bits that glass you used to drink out of at your grandmother's house and decide that it would make a great blog post.</div>
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<br /></div>gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-86274418263785912672012-07-24T08:26:00.000-04:002012-07-24T09:26:08.735-04:00Sweepstakes Silliness<br />
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This morning I ended up on the <a href="http://www.northerncottage.net/">Northern Cottage</a> blog. It has great fonts, witty words and the interior designs they feature are right up my alley.</div>
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Today, even though I originally went there because of one of their <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/207306389067113443/">pins</a>, I didn't find a great kitchen idea, I found a chance to win a $500 dollar Spafinder gift card!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Evidently, the Northern Cottage was one of 250 bloggers that was asked to try a new <a href="http://www.dove.us/Offers/Latest-Offers/PW-Visible-Care-Coupon.aspx?utm_source=blogher&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=pwiris2012">Dove VisibleCare product</a> by <a href="http://www.blogher.com/dove-visible-care-reviews-and-sweepstakes">BolgHer</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Not only is Northern Cottage exceptional at their font choices and picture taking but they write a great review and I may just be heading out to buy a bottle of this new Dove product as soon as I get done writing this post.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9SrMNhCMb8gfwxi-m0GZDM1q4pd9wXppWveGuKU2v7aV2YbO04zB7ATPaqelGW7Co5EGZyUoNlDypyK_xEDWbA7an-OE_K9pk5mfcs2qz6ARrQy_RKSudQaxfi0QXqAU44HjRp46Gjs/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9SrMNhCMb8gfwxi-m0GZDM1q4pd9wXppWveGuKU2v7aV2YbO04zB7ATPaqelGW7Co5EGZyUoNlDypyK_xEDWbA7an-OE_K9pk5mfcs2qz6ARrQy_RKSudQaxfi0QXqAU44HjRp46Gjs/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><i>Turns out you feel like you have just had a lovely day at a Caribbean island after you use this product. You may feel like you just relaxed in crystal clear water or sunned on quiet beach in the Bahamas...with or without your family depending or your definition of relaxation.</i></span></span></div>
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Visit <a class="external-link" href="http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://goo.gl/gy5mL" style="background-image: url(http://www.blogher.com/sites/all/modules/custom/elf/elf.png); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #516bb3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 12px 0px 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dove<sup style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><small style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">®</small></sup> VisibleCare<sup style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><small style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: verdana, arial; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">®</small></sup></a> to get a coupon for $1 off!</div>
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We invited 250 bloggers to try Dove VisibleCare Crème body washes. Check out links on the sidebar and see their results. You can also enter to win one of 2 $500 Spafinder gift cards!</div>
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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY</div>
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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:</div>
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a) Follow this <a class="external-link" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFV6aHh3S25MN2t4SEhQNzRiOHBHZ0E6MA" style="background-image: url(http://www.blogher.com/sites/all/modules/custom/elf/elf.png); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #516bb3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 12px 0px 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">link</a>, and provide your email address and your response to this question: How do you reinvigorate and refresh your skin for the summer months? (note: The blog you are entering from is BlogHer.com)</div>
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b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this<a class="external-link" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFV6aHh3S25MN2t4SEhQNzRiOHBHZ0E6MA" style="background-image: url(http://www.blogher.com/sites/all/modules/custom/elf/elf.png); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #516bb3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 12px 0px 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">link</a> to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.</div>
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c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this<a class="external-link" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFV6aHh3S25MN2t4SEhQNzRiOHBHZ0E6MA" style="background-image: url(http://www.blogher.com/sites/all/modules/custom/elf/elf.png); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #516bb3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 12px 0px 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">link</a> to provide your email address and the URL to that post.</div>
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Official Rules are available <a href="http://www.blogher.com/official-rules-dove-visible-care-sweepstakes" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #516bb3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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This sweepstakes runs from 7/18/2012 - 8/22/2012</div>
<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-50218337513537104162012-07-19T07:29:00.007-04:002012-07-19T07:31:10.628-04:00Outstanding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-exTG8kc-McvG2pSYrnvDt2UYRX-VZOzHjD_wtASVIAFRHQ5RrluNQ-xGVfkfOPX_PPdDyj5-EaQlboysA8KUOB5eyzYqJfBcT058TM6ePqU43JYEdcIIrsCg1VYw0Elfhig7L90hFk/s1600/IMG_20120714_075341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-exTG8kc-McvG2pSYrnvDt2UYRX-VZOzHjD_wtASVIAFRHQ5RrluNQ-xGVfkfOPX_PPdDyj5-EaQlboysA8KUOB5eyzYqJfBcT058TM6ePqU43JYEdcIIrsCg1VYw0Elfhig7L90hFk/s320/IMG_20120714_075341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The new normal<br />
When something traumatic happens, one way to talk yourself down from the ledge of insanity is to say "this is the new normal"<br />
Only, I feel like I'm saying that every couple of months and nothing traumatic is happening.<br />
Next year Stewart will join John-Thomas at Stanton High School and Emmett will go to Landon Middle.<br />
And Elise? I had planned on homeschooling her until she reached 6Th grade.<br />
Last year was a very bad year with the contracted home-school company provided by the county.<br />
I thought I was going to have to go it alone.<br />
But God<br />
don't you love it when pastors and teachers use the<br />
But God<br />
emphasis?<br />
Two weeks ago my dad asked me if he could pay for Elise to go to private school.<br />
Four months ago I wondered if my dad would pay for Elise to go to Harvest, the three day a week private/home-school hybrid.<br />
Last week we had a parent information appt. and Elise tested to see if she was qualified to enter their third grade.<br />
Last night we spent an hour filling out paperwork.<br />
Next Monday, God willing, we will drop off the paperwork and registration fee.<br />
<br />
Three different schools in the fall with start times all within 40 minutes of each other.<br />
Susan has graciously offered to take Emmett to school.<br />
Now I just have to go to two different schools, 40 minutes apart from each other.<br />
Four kids going to three outstanding schools.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Eph-2-4" id="en-ESV-29217"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"><b><u> </u></b></sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=ESV"><i><b>But God</b>, being <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29217I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup>rich in mercy, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29217J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup>because of the great love with which he loved us,</i><i> <span class="text Eph-2-5" id="en-ESV-29218"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup>even <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29218K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup>when we were dead in our trespasses, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29218L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>made us alive together with Christ— <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29218M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup>by grace you have been saved—</span> <span class="text Eph-2-6" id="en-ESV-29219"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>and raised us up with him and <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29219N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,</span> <span class="text Eph-2-7" id="en-ESV-29220"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">7 </sup>so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29220O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup>riches of his grace in <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29220P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup>kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.</span> <span class="text Eph-2-8" id="en-ESV-29221"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">8 </sup>For <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>by grace you have been saved <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup>through faith. And this is <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>not your own doing; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29221T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup>it is the gift of God,</span> <span class="text Eph-2-9" id="en-ESV-29222"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup> <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29222U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup>not a result of works, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29222V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup>so that no one may boast.</span> <span class="text Eph-2-10" id="en-ESV-29223"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>For <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29223W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup>we are his workmanship, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29223X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup>created in Christ Jesus <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29223Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup>for good works, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29223Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup>which God prepared beforehand, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-29223AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup>that we should walk in them.</span></i></a></span><br />
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Ephesians 2:4-10gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-26167968601777207062012-07-16T07:51:00.001-04:002012-07-16T07:51:43.693-04:00TalkingConversation with a friend yesterday went something like this.<br />
"I'm such an introvert but when I spend time with you and Anne I feel energized."<br />
my response was,"Why do I always feel so anxious about calling and setting something up?"<br />
she said, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way."<br />
"It's very comforting." I said.<br />
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Friendships take a lot of time and effort and when you have antisocial tendencies it makes it almost impossible.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFmTIqbmxVSGjLJIfm_WiGJQ9q0M52drARSjmlJhnYjsjmHkS0WXZkNBsOD7tSkJS986S6hiJkjoX3igDsC49VAtz5Ko11wE3LSs8-UokM-n5pZatBVOyX3iXrdCh5pGgprHuPIzKe0Q/s1600/IMG_20120704_104812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFmTIqbmxVSGjLJIfm_WiGJQ9q0M52drARSjmlJhnYjsjmHkS0WXZkNBsOD7tSkJS986S6hiJkjoX3igDsC49VAtz5Ko11wE3LSs8-UokM-n5pZatBVOyX3iXrdCh5pGgprHuPIzKe0Q/s320/IMG_20120704_104812.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan and I after our quick trip to the beach on the fourth....walking back to the car we were given free Jimmy Johns.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?” </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81466.A_A_Milne" style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">A.A. Milne</a><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1225592" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Winnie-the-Pooh</a></i>gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-22715836829404012422012-07-05T10:30:00.000-04:002012-07-05T10:32:16.496-04:00We'll see<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2H1KnIIwZgGmB0UTpKDhOF8SwPu6C0HNP0wvMIFH0LnDcujkS97u3oOgjQ6fK-bXttNSESVW4J8KvCyqQ8orFqVhCFVcRQ6CH0UGU7gCYfaRrQEE17jZ8gOk8S5I1TE-76w-kv5eFVo/s1600/HistSchoolRoomCropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2H1KnIIwZgGmB0UTpKDhOF8SwPu6C0HNP0wvMIFH0LnDcujkS97u3oOgjQ6fK-bXttNSESVW4J8KvCyqQ8orFqVhCFVcRQ6CH0UGU7gCYfaRrQEE17jZ8gOk8S5I1TE-76w-kv5eFVo/s1600/HistSchoolRoomCropped.jpg" /></a></div>
Why did we start homeschooling?<br />
John-Thomas was a sit still kind of toddler that would listen to books, do puzzles, play dough and color. What do you do with a child that is doing all those things at two?<br />
If you're me, you starting working on writing letters...<br />
then<br />
you start working on the sounds of letters...<br />
then<br />
you start blending sounds...<br />
And next thing you know your first born is starting to read before he starts kindergarten.<br />
Then what do you do?<br />
And if you start one and it is working, then the second and third and fourth also get homeschooled...<br />
at least until adolescence kicks in and you have a choice to loose your mind or let your kids go to the best middle school in Jacksonville that just happens to be in your neighborhood.<br />
There are other reasons too,<br />
character, discipline, loads of goof off time.<br />
I also signed up for the state funded virtual school about 10 years ago. <br />
We started with Calvert and at first I loved it but after 3 years I hated it and we switched to K12.<br />
Loved it until they started requiring loads of online class time that interfered with our enrichment art and pe times.<br />
About that time, Duval County decided to take a piece of the virtual student money pie and they required you to use Calvert.<br />
First year wasn't horrible, but this last year was insane.<br />
So....what to do this year?<br />
Hopefully they will pass Emmett. He did the work and passed the FCAT but Calvert kept losing the assessments we sent in so we are still waiting to here if they think he did enough to be promoted.<br />
I will not go through that madness again this next year with Elise.<br />
The thought crossed my mind that after 11 years of doing this I don't need no stinkin curriculum company.<br />
There is a mom that takes her daughter to the Main library for Drama and Art that has a homeschool group.<br />
I think that may be our answer.<br />
We'll see.<br />
<br />
<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8986685703814938704.post-62848985739212949342012-06-25T07:53:00.002-04:002012-06-25T07:53:45.650-04:00Portion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_6Y_r-APdkJm2O2dnGh46YW6bEyoYoWD7FEjnGdMXcoM3afDp-chJgrt_7iJKozj03LJs5SYtZtwYlfpaA4IR2Kz9pAUo2zbOPM5n99AvlDiTW-nxiYdpQOkrjH1QcILBd-4CyiPkqg/s1600/stef+recovering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_6Y_r-APdkJm2O2dnGh46YW6bEyoYoWD7FEjnGdMXcoM3afDp-chJgrt_7iJKozj03LJs5SYtZtwYlfpaA4IR2Kz9pAUo2zbOPM5n99AvlDiTW-nxiYdpQOkrjH1QcILBd-4CyiPkqg/s320/stef+recovering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Tomorrow</span> will mark a week since Stef had open heart surgery. <br />
I prepared myself for worst, it was okay.<br />
We had prayed together, cried together and she was resting in God's forgiveness and what Jesus had done for her at the cross.<br />
That's all any of us should be doing.<br />
or is it<br />
<br />
This picture was taken two days after her surgery and right before her surgeon came in and said in so many words that he really didn't expect her to make it through the surgery and was pleasantly surprised that she was sitting up.<br />
Yes, my concern was founded.<br />
Josh's dad said he knew she would make it through...she is too strong-willed.<br />
Stef has said Elise is just like her.<br />
I try not to think about that and what that is going to mean in the teen years.<br />
<br />
The surgeon said her valve was completely calcified...like bone with no apparent way for the blood to go through. She has a mechanical valve now.<br />
<br />
Josh's aunt from Ft. Pierce came up for the surgery in Gainsville, his aunt from Midway, Ga, his brother from Ft. Pierce and his wife and his mother in law and his two sons, Josh's dad, step-mom, me and John-Thomas waiting together for 6 hrs. There wasn't enough seats all together so I took the empty chair at the desk with the red phone. The red phone that rings when a doctor wants to talk to a family member. <br />
It rang.<br />
I picked it up.....<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">"Surgical</span> Waiting area", I said.<br />
"Doctor so and so here, is the family of Roland Smith there?"<br />
"Roland Smith family, Roland Smith family." I would shout out.<br />
The Roland Smith family would come to the desk and I would hand them the phone and then go back to my knitting.<br />
I finished a cowl in three days.<br />
I've never finished something so quick.<br />
<br />
A week before Stef's surgery, this verse came to me while I was walking the dogs at 5 am:<br />
"When my flesh and my heart fails, the Lord is the strength of my life and my portion forever."<br />
psalm 73:26<br />
Verses don't usually come to me.<br />
I prayed this with her.<br />
Am praying this for another dear friend.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />gideonmommasitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749861977718391731noreply@blogger.com2