Another Family Moment With The Lord

Today at breakfast we had another great moment when we collaborated as a unit with the Lord. I have been praying for the boys that they would have dreams and encounters with the Lord in the night. For the past three weeks now they each have had many dreams with powerful meanings. This morning Shaggy shared with me and Rocker and DK that he had a strange dream last night and wanted to know what it meant.

I asked him if he could share with us at breakfaast and he agreed. This was his dream..."We were at a toy store, I think looking for a toy for me. There were two isles. One bad and one good (I asked him to explain why they were distinctly bad and good). He said one was filled with K'nex toys and some kind of magnetic toys and the other was filled with witchcraft toys, ghosts and stuff. Rocker and he crept on the floor and went over to the bad isle were they saw a box with a skeleton raising someone back to life. They didn't touch it or pick it up but then ran over to the good isle, picked out a K'nex box and took it home to play with. It was a K'nex roller coaster."

So this is where my Knight and I have learned to not interpret or hear from the Lord for our  children but to encourage them to hear and listen for themselves. It's way more powerful when they receive the revelation from God and you can encourage them that they are hearing correctly. So I ask the Lord (out loud) "What do you want Shaggy to know about this dream?" Some things started to come to me immediately but I just bookmarked them and waited on Shaggy. Rocker and DK said they heard too and I asked them kindly to hold on to it until Shaggy gets something.

Shaggy said he heard the Lord tell him that the K'nex side was God's side and the witchcraft side was satan's side. Even though he went over there to look he did not pick up anything on satan's side and came back to God's side. I just kept asking God questions out loud to Shaggy and waiting for a response from him. Then when the Lord seemed to be done with Shaggy I let Rocker share. He heard the Lord saying that it was a warning to be careful to guard ourselves. That was right on too. I heard the Lord say it immediately when Shaggy started to share. DK said satan and his stuff is bad (very cool revelation for a 6 year old!).

So we each continued to talk and build on revelation upon revelation with what the Lord was sharing with each of us. No one person was the interpreter but each of us heard clearly from the Lord and I would just affirm their hearts. In the end the Lord showed us that the K'nex represented the gifts and things of His Kingdom He wanted us to have and that the enemy is right next to us always trying to show us a counterfeit. Our spirits as a family are naturally drawn into the supernatural and we have to guard ourselves from being curious of satan's power. I shared a little of my personal testimony with the boys and seeing satan's power first hand and how it can draw you if you let it. As an encouraging thought I shared that the Lord showed Shaggy he and Rocker just looked at the package, they didn't touch it or buy it and then went back to the other isle. I felt strongly that the Lord was showing them they will not fall into that stuff. Of course then they were able to see they got a better toy or should I say gift. They got the K'nex roller coaster. Talk about God taking them for a awesome ride in their life.

Well, a long and wordy post about how we roll in the spirit. Next time your kids ask you about a question regarding the Lord ask the Lord out loud the question and direct it back to them. Encourage them to listen for the answer. Help when they need some guidance but allow them to hear the voice of God. It is an amazing thing to witness. 

I am sure there is more to this dream. I will probably pray about this some more and talk to my Knight about it but for now the Lord revealed what He wanted to, to Shaggy. God is good!

The Joys Of Christmas Found in the Most Unusual Places

1. Taking our Elderly Neighbor Miss Hope to the boys Christmas concert at School. She was thrilled.
2. Handing out homemade fudge to our neighbors and seeing smiles replace the worries and cares of the holiday season.
3. Hearing my sons say their excitement isn't about the presents this year but having "family" over on Christmas.
4. Hanging out with a dear friend yesterday on an impromptu outing.
5. Wrapping Miss Hopes Christmas gifts for her because it hurts her hands to wrap now a days.
6. Knowing that tomorrow will be filled with excitement and relaxation. We can just be ourselves.
7. Spending a quiet evening with my Knight tonight. The kids will go to bed on time( I wore them out today) and we wrapped all our gifts weeks ago. So we can sit looking at the Christmas lights enjoying each others company.

This Christmas has been a healing journey for me and I know I have over come my angst about the Christmas season. We kept it low key and relaxed and I was able to see the simple pleasures of this season. God is good and his love endures forever!!!

Calling All Bloggy Friends in Central Pa...

If you have jeans, old, tattered, ripped, that don't fit any more don't throw them out!!! Please let me know. I am planning on weaving a denim rug and I need some old jeans. My Knight just donated a good pair to me after he ripped them in church service last weekend but they don't have to be good they can be well worn.

Any color too. White, faded, dark I need them all, about 46 to be exact. I plan on going to Salvation Army to get some but just wanted to send out a call for free ones somebody might want to pitch. So collect and call me and I will pick em' up!!

Thanks you guys!!!

My Knight and I Thought It Was Hilarious!

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Things I Like About Christmas...

I thought I needed a little bit lighter post since the last one. So here is one of my favorite things about Christmas. See if you can guess...

The best part is eating them. I love that at Christmas time you can gorge your self on goodies and blame it all on the Holiday's. Yummmm!!

The Part Of Christmas I Hate!!!

Christmas is not my favorite holiday. From childhood memories I have come to hate Christmas at times. I have gotten better about this but I feel it creeping back upon me again.

I love celebrating the birth of our saviour and coming together with family and friends but I hate the commercialization of it all. I hate that instead of the years gone by when you gave because you truly wanted to you now are just expected to. For many it may not be so but for us who live on such a tight budget Christmas is filled with anxiety. I know, I know I need healing in this area but there are valid reasons why.

Just this week my husband had to chip in and buy each of his coworkers a gift from the Management team. Then he had to chip in for some gifts for his managers. Unexpected monies taken from an already depleted budget. Then I get the letters from teachers about gift exchanges at school, donations for party supplies and the list goes on. I even tried my best to skirt around this by volunteering to come up with games for the  school parties. Unbeknown to me the person who volunteers for the games then supplies all the needed items. It honestly makes me not want to give any more because I am expected to give.

I am really struggling today with Christmas. I have some dear friends I would like to bless but with the demands of the holidays they get put on the back burner. I don't want this any more. My husband and I are also trying very hard to get out of debt but try explaining that to your boss or child's teacher when they are hounding you for more money. Churches do it too and so do many organizations. "Let's have a gift exchange at our party. Only a ten dollar limit." What they don't understand is for those families out there that are scrimping to get by ten dollars might cut into their food budget or gas funds.

When can we get back to the simplicity of Christmas? The homemade gifts, the joy of just being with one another. I am sorry for this depressing post right before Christmas but this has been weighing heavily on my mind and I just feel the weight of it on my shoulders. I want to enjoy Christmas this year and not worry about how much will have to go on the credit card because we just can't afford to do everything, everyone expects us to do this holiday season. I just honestly want to enjoy Christmas for once in my life.

More Embarrassing Moments At the Livin' Household

Just trying to exist in an all male household can be difficult at times but for some reason God placed these three amazing young men in my life to make life exciting and very humbling. Today a dear bloggy & in real life friend stopped by to drop of goodies and a christmas card. I was in the shower at the time while Shaggy was home from school (he was actually sick today).

She must have knocked on the door and Shaggy went to see who it was. All I know of what happened next is from the retelling of Shaggy so here goes...

"Mom some lady I think I remember but don't remember her name dropped these off for you while you were in the shower (he hands me the card and goodies). Because I couldn't remember her too well I didn't open the door just cranked out the window and she handed them through."

It was our broken window too so I asked how he shut the window afterwards. He told me he watched until she drove away ran outside and pushed the window closed and then ran back inside. Sheesh! I just laughed and called her up to leave a message  letting her know how sorry I was that she had to participate in our walk up window delivery system. I am so sorry.

Then later that day the delivery guy shows up to give us our new dryer. Not ready for this event I left my bra's and things hanging downstairs. I chase Shaggy down to grab them off the line  while I tried to keep them busy upstairs so he could get them down and hide them so they wouldn't have to see my under-thingy's. To my dismay by the time I get to the basement with the delivery men my wonderful son turns to us with bra's and panties in hand asking "Are these what you want me to hide?" (I have to explain that one of those undergarments so boldly displayed by my son had "All eyes on me" written across them) I turned every shade of red while I ripped them out of his hands and flung them into a corner of our basement and thanked Shaggy for his help a little sarcastically. The guys just laughed.

Oh my, nothing is personal in our house. Being the only woman is just so darn hard.

99 Things....

I saw this on Beautiful Grace's blog and TCC's blog. I counted 50 things plus added some of my own. It was fun to think of all the crazy things I have done and I am still up for more!!!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars 
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed/hiked a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (does wanting too count)
16. Had food poisoning 
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (in China)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping 

27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Witnessed a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise -

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (does a documentary count)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching 
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (totally want too)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades -
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone - 
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox 
89. Saved someone’s life
91. Met someone famous( Bruce Willis when he returned to his home in NJ for a visit)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - 
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

*****

100. Participated in the Mummers Parade in Philly

101. Rode in the Rodeo

102. Water skied

103. Made my on clothes

104. Was on the 700Club

105. Saved way ward Possums as a kid and then set them free.

106. Skinned a sheep

107. Milked sheep, goats and cows

Trying To Change

I was trying to change my template for the blog today and for some reason it comes up with an error. Not sure why. I probably need someone with more computer knowledge than me so for right now it will be plain white until the issue is resolved.

Maybe by Friday I can get it to work.

Switchfoot: This is Home - Music Video from Prince Caspian

One of my favorite groups singing for one of my favorite movies/books. I heard the Lord speak over me through this about my family. I am glad the Lord helped me to find my home!

The Story Behind The Weaving

I made a hand woven table runner for our Mom's group at church to give away at their annual Christmas Coffee House next week. It was something I was looking forward to do for a long time now. With the kids off at school for a few hours I could work child-free in the morning.

It's funny how the Lord speaks to me. Not through fire or thunder but the small still voice and weaving. This project was supposed to be easy peasy but it turned out to be my most difficult. Not in ability or design but in problems.

I faced more problems with this project than any other I have ever done before and I have done larger, harder projects than this. I was struggling to get going on this. From the beginning I was running into the kids tangling the warp and threading problems with the heddles. At times I was ready to give up and throw in the towel but this is what the Lord spoke to me during the whole project...

"I don't give up. People are just like your project. I have chosen just the right design and pattern. I hand picked the yarn that would be perfect for each person. Each gifting, each talent and each purpose was chosen by Me. I had a great purpose and design from the beginning. Like your project life will change and situations will begin to tangle my design. People will hurt you and your threads may come unraveled. This was not my plan just as these things were not in your plan for your project but I keep going because I see the final project. As the Master Weaver I can fix each situation just as you have been doing. You untangle the thread with care. Gently without damaging the warp. You repair broken threads and rethread the heddles that come undone. Keep in mind the final project. Some may say they are too difficult for Me to make into something beautiful but I say no way. I can make beauty out of ashes. I take what others give up on and create a master piece. My people will be beautiful works of art even in the midst of problems. No one is too difficult or unworthy for Me. I love them all and love weaving each of them together."

With each word I  God spoke to me I kept going and pressing on. With each difficulty I faced the Lord continued to speak to me more and more about His undying love. I believe He was speaking to me directly and to others. Especially the beautiful woman this project will go to on Tue. I have had difficultly but the end result was beautiful. This project spoke to me in so many ways I hope it speaks to you also. We are worth it. We are created to be beautiful creations of the Father. He can take every circumstance in our life and weave it into the ultimate design.

Father I pray that who ever gets this project Tue. night will be blessed. That they would be filled with the knowledge of how wonderfully and fearfully they are made. That they would see that all they have been through is being woven into something beautiful by the Father Himself. May they hear these words and see the project and know how much you love and cherish them.

Amen.

Just a little of what's been going on today with the project. I will have the unveiling tomorrow!

Working, working, working...

I am trying really hard to finish up the weaving project for MIA next week. To my horror I had the wrong date on my calendar. I thought it was dec 16th and it's really next Tue. Oh, My!!! I have got to move it. I am also trying to sew a dress for that evening to wear to the Christmas Coffee House. It's looking a little bit like I might not make it now with the date moved up on me. I was hoping to bring in the table runner, while wearing a new dress (made by me) and some hand-made jewelry( also made by me). :(

Oh, well maybe by the Christmas Celebration at church. Anyway can't talk must work. If I get on this computer any time the rest of this week you have my permission to leave me a comment and tell me to get off and get back to work. The next time I post I want to have pictures of the final project. Ok,  I am getting back to work people!!!!

Things We've Been Up Too...

We made our Christmas Stockings.

As you can tell the boys love their teams.

I grabbed some polar fleece and fun fur and

sewed up some fun stockings for them.

3 feet of snow over Thanksgiving in NY. Even 

in the difficulty of the visit it was neat to see

God's beauty in nature.

Our enormous snowman in NY.

That's Aunt Crystal standing by our creation 

to give you an idea about how tall it was. I

think they measured it to be 6 & 1/2 ft.

Rocker learning to crochet.

So far he loves making chains and rounds. We 

made a little mouse.

Star Wars Lego Creations

The boys had a great time setting up this display.

They were in the their bedroom working so hard.

Apple Fritter Making Day!

The boys are hard at work. They had to roll them

to coat the outside of the fritters. I think it was

one for the container and one for me.

Yummmmm!!!

In the midst of the craziness we have been having some fun. An update on the dryer...

someone has blessed us with a brand new one. It was a completely amazing blessing 

and we are just so thankful!!!