WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS

Be who you are and say what you feel...
Because those who matter... don't mind...
And those who mind... don't matter....

I don't know who this quote comes from but I got it in a recent email and I LOVE IT!!! I was just speaking today to my daughter's teacher and we were discussing this very point. We as human's are so worried about what other people think.

I am struggling very much in my personal life right now. Pride and fear have prevented me from telling people because of what they might think. The above statement says it best.

Here is what is happening in our life right now. I need to give the testimony so when God comes in and gives everything abundantly more than I ever imagined, I can bear witness to the power of the Almighty.

I am the single mother of 2 small children. I lost them to the foster care system Christmas of 2006. They were not returned until February of 2008. During that time my children were sexually and physically abused by the foster parents. My daughter has just recently revealed to her counselor some of what happened. My heart aches for her. Now, I am faced with the same nightmare again. I have recently become unemployed. My rent is behind, electricity close to being shut off and the DHR worker let me know that they will step in if the situation becomes worse. Amazing that they will give funds to abusive foster parents rather than assist the actual parents in keeping their children. Poverty is no excuse for the government to step in and take your children, but that is what is happening right here in the good ol USA!!! Rather than help me they have funds to give foster families to support my children away from me! Lord, Lord I need you now more than ever!

I come before all of you for your prayers to our Most High. I need a job. I am willing to work. I know that our God is capable of mighty things. Lift us up ya'll and pray long and hard that God sends the help I need to keep my children. I can't bear losing them again to this dreadful, useless system.

Please keep us in your prayers!

Another Embarrassing Moment a la Siesta Summer Bible Study

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?????

THIS IS WHAT I WAS WEARING ALL DAY YESTERDAY!!! (Yep and I didn't put it on that way either!!)

That's right dearest Siesta's this is my summer bargain pair of pants that I bought at a consignment store for $1.00. I wore them once,sent them to the cleaners and put them on yesterday for Siesta Summer Bible Study day... Good thing I went solo (although if I hadn't someone MIGHT HAVE TOLD ME!!!). It never occurred to me that I was a poster child for Summer Bargain Clothing WARNINGS!!!

I still am in shock went the whole day like this and NO ONE TOLD ME...

I was howling in laughter listening to Beth and the Bargain caution. Leggings inside out, ruffled shirt nonsense, scotch taping stuff... little knowing I was sitting down on a GAPING HOLE (with stains no less)...that could have used some of that scotch tape (more like DUCT TAPE) thank you very much.

I am ashamed to say that I got home last night and told Beth's video story perfectly and then went in my room and go undressed and saw THAT!!!!

I literally went through my whole day in slow motion wondering how many people saw that and why oh why didn't someone say anything. Is this one of those cases where they were trying to be nice or cruel hoping more people were laughing at my expense.

One ray of shining hope was the fact that I had managed to put on white underwear instead of colored so that might have hidden this monstrous HOLE!!! To top it off what is with the STAINS??? No it couldn't just be a hole....stains had to come with it.






What have we learned from this???

1. Siestas, no matter what...always tell someone they have a gaping hole in their clothing.

2. Large people should realize that they don't feel drafts like skinny people (apparently).

3. At 40 it is much easier to deal with abject humiliation.

4. It is much easier to deal with abject humiliation WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU ALL THE TIME!!!

5. God is truly wonderful and His sense of Humor NEVER ceases to tickle me...because this kind of humbling is just so, so, HUMBLING!!!!

6. I never should have made the ME, ME, ME comments because God has a wonderful sense of humor and will quickly help me shed my desire for fame.

7. Laugh hardest at myself! (It is so much easier to deal with complete horror and embarrasment when you laugh about it.)

8. Tell others about it so they can enjoy LIFE'S MOST EMBARRASING MOMENTS!! (I have too many to count anymore, but hope you are all identifying).

9. This fits right in with the Siesta bible study conversations... many have been talking about self-image idol and how importat image is and how other people see us. I so identify and that is why these moments just go to show that we are all HUMAN and we should be more loving and understanding because this stuff happens to everyone (or maybe it really is just ME, ME, ME)!

10. I couldn't love a group of women more or want to share my embarrasments and laugh with any bunch more than you my dear Siestas!!!

Blessings to you all from the land of TROUSER TRAUMA!!!!!

ME ME ME OR HIM HIM HIM

I just got through typing on Beth's Blog for the Siesta Summer Bible Study. It hit me like a ton of bricks. As I listened to her name off some of the blogs she read and what struck her about them, all I could think of was will she talk about me me me!!! FAME!!!! A horrific idol. It never struck me before but I crave attention. I don't know why. I was adopted that supposedly plays a part in it for me. I was never liked as a kid even though I tried sooooooo hard to be cool and funny! I am certainly not popular as an adult either but OHHH how hard I try to be liked and favored. God is trying to tell me something... Ya THINK!!!

FAME is an idol because it is human attention I am craving and it should be God's!!! God has granted me the gift of song... I love to sing, but do I use it for His glory or mine. God has granted me a sense of humor (sarcastic at times but funny nonetheless). God has granted me the ability to write (grammar and spelling aside...) I love to write, but am I writing for His glory or mine. It is therapy for me, me, me, but I need to find how I can turn that into a help ministry. I have always wanted to use the trials in my life to help in some way. BELIEVE YOU ME I have been granted plenty of trials so I could help.

My desire is really to make a difference, but HOW! It sure isn't going to help having Me Me Me syndrome. So onward with Bible Study....onward toward defeating self and living for HIM HIM HIM!!!!

Love ya'll!!!

COLLEGE!!!!

Okay ya'll this is truly one of those times in life where I just have to say... THIS IS ALL GOD!!! I don't even know how it happened. One day I was in a Bible Study, my first ever, in fact. It happened to be Beth Moore's The Patriarchs. I FELL IN LOVE. God sent such a hunger into my very soul... I just can't describe it any other way. I just couldn't stop wanting to know more and more and more and more!!! Its like a lightbulb went off in my head and all of the sudden stuff clicked. What used to be arcaic language and Shakespearan lethargy.....is now fluid and concise. The how art thou's MADE SENSE. Am I talking to anybody. In fact, if it didn't make sense, I wanted to go look it up somewhere else and then somewhere else and then realized. I want an education on this stuff.

Before I knew it, I was online surfing under Bible Study Education and wound up filling out a form for online Christian Education. I didn't think anything of it, just figured I would get a brochure or e-mail with information. Instead I got a barrage of phone calls and emails from this real live person that said.....we can get this funded for you. The persistence of this young man had to come from God. Any other time, the persistence would have ticked me off. This time, I don't know any other way to explain....DOORS JUST KEPT OPENING. For those you that have experienced weird phenomenon you can identify with this!!! I did not plan on going back to college.

I am an accomplished and experienced Real Estate Paralegal. I am beginning a home business with Prepaid Legal Services and LOVING IT and all of the sudden I am back in school.... HUH??? I am still puzzled at how this happened but smile at the mystery of my precious Father. HOW GREAT THOU ART!!!!

I am beginning to realize that paralegaling might not always be my career. I am also feeling the pull from the Holy Spirit to focus on THE WORD!!! It is not only for myself, but I am guessing He is about to reveal a higher purpose for me. I might add to Him FINALLY!!!!!! (Just kidding Lord... a little humor only!)

Anyway... my dear siestas, readers, friends and family PRAY FOR ME! I am almost 41. A single mother of 2 small children, barely making a living (actually not at all) and entering College. YIKES!

Thank you dearest Father for granting me the prayer of Wisdom. Gaining wisdom comes through knowledge and experience and you are offering me a chance for both. How awesome you are.

College....good grief.

EDWARD'S BIRTHDAY

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The greatest days are the birthdays of my children. This is the day God blessed me with my son. I am so completely grateful to the Most High. Today is another reminder to me that... no matter how much is going wrong some things are VERY VERY RIGHT!!!!

PRAISE YOU LORD FOR MY PRECIOUS SON & DAUGHTER.

Dearest Heavenly Father, Today is the birthday of my youngest child. As a single mommy, there are so many things that concern me about raising this child. I ask that you bless him abundantly. I ask that where I fall short, you step in. Your care is unsurpassed and I know that you will provide for this your child and mine in great and wonderful ways. May he be a blessing to you and a servant. I pray that you instill a desire for you NOW TODAY. May his heart grow ever searching for You, Oh Lord. Bestow wisdom, kindness, gentleness, obedience, grace, health and wealth to him. Lord, we trust in you and worship you. Me and my house will serve you faithfully all the days of our lives til we meet our Savior in the clouds.

AMEN!!!

GOOD GRAVY WHAT HAPPENED TO DISCIPLINE

This gorgeous creature is my precious and precocious daughter Nena Marlene. She is 8. She is the family Attorney. Edward, the comedian, I introduced previously.

Ladies, Siestas a little help here. Encourgement please.

God blessed me greatly with 2 brilliant, beautiful and healthy children. Along with brilliance comes the following: they think they know more than you (and sometimes do which stinks); they always have an opinion (when no opinion was asked for); they will not take no for answer; bottom line they THINK!!!! How wonderful and how FRUSTRATING!!!! This child (diagnosed ADHD) runs me ragged and her brother as sweet and charming as he is is now turning 2!!! HELP!

I would just appreciate any advice or encouragement from those of you out there on DISCIPLINE. I am not opposed to spanking, in fact, I believe that is what is wrong with kids these days... the world has taught them that they have more rights than parents. If they don't like what mommy and daddy do to discipline, we will report them!!! Good grief..and the law wonders why more children are killing and being killed, more drugs, more teenage pregnancies, no respect for authority!!! The other day at a church function, I had a child litteraly refuse to acknowledge me when I said hello to her and in fact she rolled her eyes and humphed...My mother would have torn me up had I disrespected an adult in such a fashion... but kids these days think nothing of adults...no respect of authority! I am scared to death of their influence on my children. I for one still believe in yes ma'am and yes sir, when adults speak YOU DON'T, sit at the table, napkin in the lap, mind your manners in public and at all times be courteous to your elders....and peers! The snobbery of todays youth is out of control and where do they get it... THE PARENTS!!

Did I miss the memo?? When did manners and respect stop applying??? My daughter is so opinionated it takes everything I have not to just scream the roof off....

Be creative, send me your best stuff... what have ya'll done to discipline. What do you believe God wants us to do to raise our children to respect authority.

THE GREAT CHURCH DILEMMA UPDATE (EATING HUMBLE PIE AGAIN!!!!)

A few posts back, I wrote about some difficulties in Church. Well... God, the Stepping Up Bible Study and the Pastor's wife got ahold of me yesterday and these are the results.

God spoke to me directly last night and touched on a few things that are hard to swallow. I know that if He chastises me He loves me!!! BOY DOES HE LOVE ME!!!!

FIRST - I need to get over myself and toughen my skin before He can do anything.

SECOND - I need to get over myself and forgive all the wrongs. Yep they were wrongs...but
I am compounding the wrongs by talking about them and letting them fester.

THIRD - I need to get over myself and remember...I am one of the picked-on, laughed at and
talked about. As such I should be more understanding of others and not pick on, talk about or laugh at anyone.

FOURTH - I need get over myself and get back to Church for protection from Satan who is
really working on me these days... (I expect something awesome anytime now...gotta hang in there!) Still gonna look for new church home but in the meantime.... I'll be in a pew.

FIFTH - THE WORD, PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY, SIESTAS, FRIENDSHIP, LAUGHTER are
pieces of armor to protect myself from Satan and his forces. I need to use them more.

SIXTH - God has perfect timing.... my timing is WAYYYY OFF! Pray for patience.

SEVENTH - SEED ENCOURAGEMENT.....ENCOURAGE EVERYONE!!! I know I sure need it very much and maybe if I give more, I'll get more myself.

I appreciate all of you that wrote back to me. I appreciate friendship most of all. I wish I had giant rubber arms to reach around and squeeze each and every one of you that I am meeting and who are reading my blog and identifying with me. It is such a huge thing to be understood and for people to ENCOURAGE you!

Last night's meeting was inspirational. I also am involving myself in the Summer Bible Study via emails with new friends in RI and NC and that is going to be great fun, but sadly I won't be able to enjoy any of the recipes (my kids are PICKYYYYYY). Wash the sauce off spaghetti o's picky!!! Its tough to love to cook and have noone to cook for.

I checked out Kelly Minter's website. It's adorable. I would love someone to teach me how to build a website. I am a graphic designer (from the old days and can design things but don't know how to get them on a site...CSS, HTML, blah blah (its all geek to me)! Anyone out there want to help a Siesta out I sure would appreciate it.

Love Ya'll!!! MARANATHA