Today Ciera began laying her head on Eli and Carmen's shoulder as they were carrying her around.  They were ecstatic.  They felt so loved and like such big brothers and sisters!
As I looked on in these very precious moments the thought came to me of how Jesus must feel when we finally come to Him and just lay our heads on His shoulder.
For some you may think, "How can you lay your head on someone's shoulder that you can't even see?"  Well, let me tell you my friend so that you may be comforted today.
When you lay your head on someone's shoulder you:

Trust them with your joys your pains.  There may be tears of joy or tears of pain that have trickled down one's arm as you've rested your head upon their shoulder. 
Psalm 30 :11 says, "You changed my sorrow into dancing.  You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness." (NCV)  why not rest your head on the One who will exchange your sorrow for joy and dancing?

Depend on them for support.    Maybe you are exhausted...ready to give up.  Maybe you feel as though this race called life will never end and when it does...to what avail?
Hebrews 12:1-3 "...So let us run the race that is before us and never give up.  We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.  Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect.  He suffered death on the cross.  But He accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before Him.  And now He is sitting at the right side of God's throne. Think about Jesus' example.  He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him.  so do not get tired and stop trying!"  (NCV)
I can assure you that I have had many a day wondering if I could even lift my head from my pillow and yet I have never even remotely endured what my Savior did for me on the cross.  Jesus promises that when we are weak, He is strong, so rest your weary head my friend!

Rely on them to handle you with care.  Ciera knows that her big brother and sister are going to hold her with tender loving care.  She snuggles up in their arms and casts her every care on them.  She is comfortable and very peaceful.  This blesses not only her, but if you could see the smiles on Eli and Carmen's faces as they are holding her, you would see that they are blessed even more!

This is just how our precious Lord is with us.  When we love Him enough to place all of our trust, dependence and reliance on Him, He feels us resting our heads on His shoulder and I can assure you that His big ol' cheese grin is just as big as Eli and Carmen's!  Let your Saviour love on you today...."cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you!!!"

I tried to start a new trend the other day.  Derrick and I and the two little ones left the house to go run some errands and after getting about 10 minutes away from home I looked down at my feet.  I immediately shouted, "Derrick we have to go home!"  He of course thought something was terribly wrong. (You would think after being together almost 20 years he would know that I over-react sometimes!)  In my  distress I threw my feet up in the air so he could see the major problem without having a wreck.  He laughed and said, "Absolutely not!"  Fortunately our first stop was to the large Goodwill store off of US1.  I made a bee-line for the shoes and would you believe they had two great, almost brand new, pairs of shoes for me that day!  God is so good!

Looking at the picture, you can tell I probably needed some new shoes anyway.  These were my oldies but goodies.  So comfy...I didn't want to give them up!  God works in mysterious ways!  Even to get us out of our comfort zone! 
I don't think a trend will transpire from my mishap, but I was reassured that when God is prodding you to give up the safe and familiar, He will always have something better in store!  Notice I said they had TWO almost brand new pairs of shoes.  He could have just provided one pair for me to have for that day so that I would not make a fool of myself, but He provided a replacement pair for each of my oldy but goodies! 
Don't be afraid to let go and move on!  God wants to bless your socks off!!!

I can't believe I've gotten so behind on blogging!  It got quite crazy before Christmas with all of us getting sick, shopping, getting ready for company, celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior and then leaving town for a week.  I hope everyone had a wonderfull Christmas season and that you are enjoying your new year so far.  I had a wonderful time getting to experience a 90th birthday party for my Nana!  Our family got together with all of my mom's family and had a blast in an 8000 sq.ft home right on the beach for 3 days!  My Nana is one wonderful woman, definitely worth the celebration!  She has given our family so many treasured memories and we look foward to many more!  Thank you Nana for dedicating your life to your family!
I finally got our Chirstmas stuff down yesterday.  I don't think I've ever left it up so long, but I figured my kids needed some clean clothes first, so that was my first task after getting home last week.  Things take even longer now that my Ciera is crawling everywhere! 
After unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping,taking down decorations, and getting kids back in school, my first mission is to get my 3 1/2 year old potty trained!!!  Thank You Jesus, Jesse has used the potty all day today!!!!  What a great way to start the new year!  :)
My next mission is to get busy planning for the infertility support group that I feel the Lord wants me to start.  Please pray that God will open doors to a facility (Our church is selling our property since we have outgrown it, so we are portable meeting in an elementary school.  That leaves us with no place to meet throughout the week.  I am going to look for a quaint place that hurting women that might not step foot in a church would go.  Maybe an apartment club house or something like that.  If anyone has any ideas please let me know!  Also pray that God will continue to give me vision for this and use this ministry for His glory!
I am looking foward to this year of 2010 to see what God has in store!  Be willing and available for Jesus and He can do great things with your life!
Happy New Year!

At this moment I am listening to my three year old cry as he sits on the potty because he would rather wear diapers his whole life, and my 5 month old is crying any time I get out of her sight.   I truly want to join them (in crying - not sitting on the potty)!  The past couple of weeks have been somewhat trying.  In comparison to most, I know I have NOTHING to complain about, but I think we all have our moments.
As a pastor's wife, people tend to put us up on a pedastal at times thinking we have the perfect life with no strife.  As tears stream down my face I can tell you that is far from the truth.  I am just a normal, down to earth gal who hurts, gets mad, feels lonely at times and I can throw myself a kickin' pity part too.  I think, as scripture says, there is a time for everything (Ecc. 3:1).  God does not expect us to have a plastic smile on our face when we are crying on the inside.  Remember He knows our every thought anyway (I John 3:20).  What He does want us to do is turn to Him in our times of sorrow, frustration or exhaustion.  He promises that when we are weak, He is strong (II Cor. 13:9)!  He promises to turn our mourning into gladness (Jer. 31:3).  He promises to make all things turn out for good when you love Him.
So as I'm keeping it real this morning and have caused you to join my pity party, I am so thankful for friends that allow me the opportunity to be real and love me anyway.  I am also eternally grateful to a loving Savior and friend who allows me the opportunity to crawl up in His lap and let Him wrap His arms around me as He assures me that He is in control and everything is going to be o.k.
Rest in God's promises today and let's have a kickin dance party instead!  :)

For those of you who know me well, you know that I have always been the naive type, very unaware of my surroundings and just walk around whistling dixie in my fantasy land.  I never watched the news growing up, or really even until the last few years.  Who wanted to hear all that bad/sad news anyway?  Fortunately I have a husband that has wisened me up a bit and has literally sat me down in front of the news to see that there really is evil in the world.  As I have "grown up" and sip my coffee in the mornings while I watch the news, my heart just weeps to hear of one more financial guru that has committed suicide because of our economy and the state that it's in.  It sickens me to hear of just one more political leader that has been unfaithful to his wife.  When I hear of another kidnapping, I want to just grab all my children and all live in a bubble.  It baffles me to hear of yet another shooting rampage as I try to figure out what this world has come to.
So yes, now I am aware of my surroundings.  I am even more aware that there is a lost and dying world out there that needs a Savior.  I wrote a poem about a year ago that I would love to share.


I Want More
Hear I am watching the majesty of your handiwork.
Watching the waves crash in the ocean and seeing the
grains of sand that are too many to count.
In this moment, I long to hear your voice, to know you’re here,
and to see a glimpse of you.
Help me to understand the madness that surrounds my life.
I don’t have to know all the answers, just bring some peace to the strife.
What am I to learn from all of this?  What do you want me to do?
Please purify me all over and make my life new.
I desire the best for my family and I know that you do to, so please
protect us and help us to live only through you.
Open doors wide to things I never knew existed.
To a world where you’re all that matters in our feeble existence.
Show me things I’ve never seen before…big,
WOW things that show that you are God.
You said in your word that with your holy spirit we would be
able to do even more than you did in your time here on earth…
Why has no one’s faith taken your word for what it’s worth?
I want to be the one.  The one to show your greatness.
Use me Lord to do what none has done before.
I’m so tired of religion, politics and procedures…
the formality of what people think church is for.
Lord, I don’t want to do that anymore.
I want my life to matter for your kingdom. 
 To see your handiwork now through life change and freedom.
 Nothing brings more joy than to see your creation
When for the first time they receive your mercy and hope…What elation!
This is what I desire from you Lord.  Put us in a place where we see this more.
In a place where people hunger for your goodness, your mercy and your truth.
God this is what I want for my life!  I want your handiwork to come to know you!
Give me the boldness for a new work ahead.
Give me the anointing so they see, not me, but you instead.
Give me the wisdom to tread where none have trod.
Give me the peace to rest in you, God.
I love you, I need you, I lay my life at your feet.
Now use me sweet Jesus and let none defeat!

So lets definitely all be aware of our surroundings, but keep in mind that "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world!"  If only we could have a revival of people who WANT MORE and come with boldness to do all that we can do through the power of the Holy Spirit!  We are the light that should surround the darkness.  Or better yet should smother it!!!!  Let's wake up people and do what Christ intends.  Wake up!  Speak up!  Let's embrace these lost and dying and escort them to the throne of our Heavenly Father where there is SALVATION, FREEDOM AND HOPE!

My birthday is tomorrow and I'm sitting here quietly (I know, it's a rare moment among my household!) wondering if the past 38 years mattered?  Who am I? 

I began as a daughter.  A long awaited for daughter.  My parents had prayed for 8 years to have another child, and after two miscarriages, my mom finally had me.  I know I have brought many smiles to their faces and many tears to their  eyes, but I hope that the smiles outweigh the tears!

I then became a child of my precious Savior.  As I think back, it's funny because I know He waited for me a long time too as I shifted through my own way of realizing He was all I needed!  Since I was "born" into His family, I, again, have brought smiles to His face and tears to His eyes, but my daily prayer is to place a big smile on my Heavenly Father's face.  I know I let Him down time and time again, but I'm hoping that the smiles outweigh the tears!

23 years later I became a wife.  Perfect in all my ways!!!! :)  What's up?  Derrick waited for me too!  He turned 30 the day after we were married.  Doesn't the Bible say something about good things come to those who wait????  I'm learning something new about myself through my own blogging!  :)  Anyway, I can definitely say that I try very hard to be a good wife; however, I know I fall short many times!  Thankfully, Derrick and I have a wonderful, healthy marriage and again...I hope the smiles outweigh the tears!

30 years after I was born I became a Mama.  I love this title!  I prayed so long and hard to hear little voices calling me "Mama!"  I do have my days where I have to remind myself of this!  You know one of those days that if you hear "Mama" called one more time you would like to escape to one of those Calgon commercials!  People ask me how I do it with five little ones....I wouldn't have it any other way!  They are my most precious little blessings and I thank my faithful Jesus for them each and every day!  I do pray for patience at times, but I hope that as I rock them to sleep or kiss their bo-bo's or cheer them on that their smiles will outweigh their tears!

I am also a sister, a sis-in-law, a grand-daughter, a niece, an aunt, a cousin, a pastor's wife and a friend.  I thank each of you for allowing me a place in your life whether you had a choice in the matter or not.  I have mentioned before that my life's prayer has been for God to use my life in a MIGHTY way.  I also have another life's prayer...that in some way my life has brought a smile to your face!  If it has been over the last 38 years or if our paths have just crossed, I hope I have a part in making your smiles far outweigh your tears!!!!

The kids, for some reason, were talking about the 6th child that we are going to have.  I very quickly let them know that I didn't think there was going to be a number six and Eli said, "But Mama, Daddy said that you always prayed for 10 kids!"  Isaiah quickly responded, "Wait a minute!  You prayed for 10 kids?  Well, 5 more are on the way!"

Isaiah has a new found passion for telling people about God!  Every time we go to the park he meets a new friend and has to tell them about Jesus.  He has always been our deep thinking theologian, asking questions like..."Is rain God peeing?" or "So why did God create lightning anyway?  Did He just want to strike us dead?"  or "So how does God come into your heart?  God, please come live in my heart....Nope!  Don't feel Him in there!"  These are just a few examples.  I'm not sharing the ones I didn't know how to answer!  :) 
Lately we have been talking about how it is important to love God more than anything or anyone.  This has laid heavy on Isaiah because He makes it a point every day to let us know that he loves God so much, even more than me and his daddy.  Well, we were at the park a few evenings ago and Isaiah met a little boy named Michael.  Michael was like the shy, quiet boy on the movie Polar Express that sat on the back of the train.  Isaiah proceeded to ask him if he knew who God was.  Michael sheepishly replied that he didn't know.  Isaiah then tells him that he HAS to know God if he wants to go "up there", as he points to the sky, because he definitely doesn't want to go "down there", as he points to the ground.  Isaiah then says, "O.K., Do you love me?"  Michael said, "Yea, I guess so." 
Isaiah - "Do you love me more than God?" 
Michael - "Yea." 
Isaiah - " No, no, no! You have to love God more than me!"
They then run over to Derrick....
Isaiah - "Dad, Micheal thinks he loves me more than God, what do I tell him?" (As Michael stands right there.)
Derrick - "You just tell him that God loves him very much and gave His life for him."
The boys run away for a while and Isaiah runs back over to Derrick a little while later.
"Everything's o.k. Dad!  I got it covered!  Michael knows now that he loves God more than me and he told his mom that she needs to love God too!"

Wow!  I love his enthusiasm!  It has inspired me and reminded me that this is what we are on this earth for...to tell people about God's love!  Isaiah says he is going to have three jobs when he grows up and that he is going to make lots of $$$.  He wants to be a veternarian, a scientist and a comedian.  Derrick hasn't had the heart to tell him that it looks as though he's going to be an evangelist! 

There is something about fall that always takes me back!  I'm sure many have already experienced fall this year, but today is our first cool day.  With the coolness in the air, the wind blowing through the trees and the sound of children playing outside I remember those fun days of running around in the neighborhood with my friends.  I loved playing football with the guys in the front yard or playing "house" with my 10 baby dolls and girlfriends.  It also reminds me of wonderful family times out at my grandparents farm in Louisiana.  We spent every Thanksgiving there with my mom's brothers and their families.  My cousins and I had great times together down at the pond, in the barn, taking over the upstairs of the house by building forts, playing cards and how could I ever forget the wonderful night of Snipe hunting???  Not only did we have a blast together, the eating was mmm-mmm good!!!  So many wonderful memories! 
Now, it's my children that are outside playing football, jumping on the trampoline and spending time with all the kids in the neighborhood.  And now it's up to me and Derrick to create wonderful memories for our children just as our parents did for us.
As I recall today the great memories of my childhood and enjoy my moment of nostalgia, I would like to thank everyone involved in making those memories worth remembering! 
I have many friends that were not as fortunate as me to have good memories to think back on, and as much as I would like to change that, I know I can't.  What I can do is encourage them to choose to make wonderful memories with those around them now and hopefully I can be a part of their good memories from here on out!
Thank You God for lavishing Your love on me.  Thank You for the wonderful friends and family that You have given me!  Thank You for the wonderful memories I have of the life you've given me and thank You for  the breath of life You have breathed into me today that allows me to make more!