It's not about me ...

God is good ... all the time.  Nothing is about me, but it's all about Him.  When you feel down and out and don't know where to turn, turn your eyes to Jesus.  If you are nervous and struggling with something, pray the prayer below.  I wrote it for my daughter and myself and would like to share it with you.  Praying back God's word is what I believe we are called to do, along with loving one another.  Seek the Lord with all your heart and you WILL find Him.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  Jesus loves you.  As you leave 2012 and enter into 2013 seek the Lord.  I promise you it will be the best decision of your life.  Happy New Year Friends !!!

Dear Father, I am asking you to do as Psalm 139:23 says,  “ Search me, oh God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts”.Lord help me to trust you and not worry about the “what if’s" of the day? Holy spirit please guide me and help me submit my day to you. I know that the bible tells me in 2 Tim.1:7 “ For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  Satan wants me to take my eyes off of you, but Jesus you are all powerful and you can give me victory in anything.  Thank you Jesus for being with me everywhere I go.   Thank you for helping me to trust that you love me more than any one.  You are here.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  We got this Lord J Thank you Jesus J

12/31/12

Wow, is it really the end of another year?  As I look back over 2012 I find myself with mixed emotions.  Let me hit the highlights.  In January 2012 Chris and I stepped out of our comfort zone and stood before our church and TV viewing audience to talk about being foster parents. That was the beginning of several speaking opportunities where we shared from our heart about our calling. In February Olivia brought home the 3rd place ribbon in her schools Science Fair. So proud of her. March brought "Little One" our first foster child, back into our home.  We took a family beach trip the first week of April, then on the 19th my baby girl turned 13.  In May I was bitten by our prodigal kitty.  After 18 doses of Sulfa for the bite, I broke out in an itchy rash and found out I was allergic to my fourth antibiotic.  Chris and I celebrated 16 happy years of marriage.  In June Olivia and I rode around and delivered fliers for Vacation Bible School at our church.  At the end of the month she and I volunteered to work with the second graders at VBS.  Little One was in our class and we all had a great week.  In July Chris and Olivia took an all day hunter safety training class.  Olivia and I also started Biblical christian counseling.  It was very eye opening and such a blessing.  Little One learned how to ride a big girl bike without training wheels.  August brought me a year older hubby and another beach trip with the girls and my mom.  It was so nice to have mom at the beach.   In September Olivia started voice lessons at school.  We finally went to court for Little One after the date being changed for months.  Chris went shrimping, but the shrimp were not there.  I lost hearing in my left ear and began a new journey in my life. September 30th Little One moved to another foster home. October was the month I spent in Dr. Butehorns office.  I had 3 steroid shots ($1300 each) in my ear ( one a week for 3 weeks).  Olivia went to the night corn maze with her classmates and had a great time.  My mom's side of the family had a family reunion at Lake Cooley.  Grandmother Quinn was able to attend along with her brother and all the family. It was a special day.  In November Chris and I went through an all day Foster parent mentoring program. Olivia and I put up the Christmas tree and decorated the gazebo for Christmas. I had a sleep study and my first ever brain MRI.  I found out that I didn't have sleep apnea or a tumor on my ear canal. Praise the Lord for His mercy.  December gave Chris a year older wife. We were able to spend the evening with Little One at the foster parent Christmas party and she is doing great !! Olivia had a good month singing with chorus and spending some fun times with her friends.  Whew ... and to think of all of the stuff I left out.  Health wise this hasn't been my best year, BUT I honestly believe that the Lord doesn't allow anything to happen without a purpose, SO I give Him all the glory and honor.  I may never know why I lost my hearing, I may never regain it, but I do know the One who allowed it and I trust Him completely.  So no matter what happened this year it was not in vain.  I will continue to seek and trust and hopefully learn and grow from these experiences.  The only thing that is important is that you have a relationship with Jesus.  If you don't, then make that your 2013 goal.  He is all you need.  Take it from someone who knows. 

Love to you all.

Go be a blessing ....

December

So much has happened since I last blogged in October.  I had a sleep study at North Grove Medical Park.  That was a night I won't soon forget. I was connected to 27 little wires and two large straps around my waist and chest.  I didn't feel like I slept at all, but the technician assured me that I did.  It wasn't the worse thing in the world, but I'm glad it's over.  I then had an MRI ( honestly I'd rather have another MRI than another sleep study).  I found out on the same day that the results of the sleep study showed no sleep apnea !!! That was a blessing.  The doctor went on to tell me that the MRI didn't show a tumor on my ear canal, another blessing !!! I think I floated out of his office on that Friday morning.  What a praise.  I don't go back to see him until February so it's nice to have a break from the testing for a while.  :-) We still don't know why I lost my hearing, but it could be a case of Bell's Palsy.  Instead of the palsy coming out through my face, it went back into my ear drum.  Or the doctor said it could have been viral.  We just don't know.  I am trusting the Lord as He is getting me adjusted to the "new" sounds I hear and don't hear.  I still don't enjoy music, but Charles Billingsley's concert was awesome.

Chris has killed a couple of deer and still enjoys the hunt.  He took Olivia hunting this evening.  They didn't see anything, but they had a good time.  I like to go with him to get the memory card from the deer cam.  We enjoy watching the video of the deer and other wildlife.  We've seen deer, raccoons, a fox, turkeys and even coyotes.  The woods are a very peaceful place.

Olivia is doing excellent in school.  I don't like to brag so I won't.  One of my pet peeves is when people post their kids grades on face book.  Seriously ... they are grades.  They will not make or break you in this life.  I'm not a numbers kind of mom.  I know she is brilliant; I live with her and have taught her. What makes me proud is when she comes home from helping with the special Olympics and she can't stop talking about the kids who touched her heart.  Last week her school chorus sang in a nursing home and she went on and on about a sweet man with a beard like Santa.  She hugged him.  I love that she sees people as people.  She is kind and compassionate. I couldn't be more proud of the young lady she is turning into. I pray for her daily ( moment by moment many times).  She is a blessing.

She and Chris take good care of me and I love them so much.  I am a thankful wife and mother.   God is good ... all the time.