~Life~

Hey y'all

It has been much much too long since I have written. Not that I haven't had anything to write I have truly just been so busy about my home and spending time with dear friends that I haven't had the time. The Lord knows when things are to be done and I think that the season of not writing was honestly just a much needed break that I was suppose to take. I am sure some of my post would not have been edifying. It's been a wave of change these last few months and with me and change well lets just say the testing is long sometimes!

So on to reality we go. What's been going on with our little family. Well we started school back at the beginning of September. It's going much better than I thought and I really am so glad the Lord led me to the ACE curriculum this year! It has seemed a bit slow but I can tell it has really helped Faith sharpen some of her skills in a way I wouldn't have known what to do.I am so blessed to give my children a christian education at home.

Justice is very busy and almost 4 years old. She will celebrate her birthday in November. I have tried to keep her occupied while Faith does school. She participates in the Bible story time. I am slowly easing her into more activities at the same trying not to distract Faith's learning. She is enjoying her coloring and learning how to write some letters. Today I will be printing out more worksheets for her to practice the letters in her name. She is a little bundle of energy but very very intelligent.

Zane is pulling himself up on everything and scoots around the house everywhere! I know before I can blink he is going to be walking! His personality is showing through that he is going to be busy and happy. He is a very very good baby!!!

Scott has been taking it a bit easier since our pastor has come. It's been such a blessing to have a pastor here and Scott and I look forward to sitting under his ministry until the Lord leads us to do otherwise. He is a great preacher/teacher. It's been incredible having him here even for a short time. Scott is still working at the Yes House and the run for City Council came to an end and we believe it was the Lord's will both for Scott to run and also for Scott to not continue on. We trusted Him for everything concerning being elected. God has His perfect plan and I am thankful  for it!

As for myself I have been homemaking, homeschooling and recently started helping a friend with her China business. She sells China on EBay and has a successful business. I love helping her pack, ship, and unpack the China we receive. It's like Christmas!!! :) I am hoping we get more organized for the months to come. I think if we both had it our way I would live out there and work 24/7 until it was completely organized so our lives would be so much easier! I am really enjoying it and it's great because it doesn't interfere with homeschooling and I can work around the kids. Scott is getting more time with them. All the while the extra income I am making is going strait towards getting our finances in order so we are able to live completely debt free!!! A great desire of mine and Scott's a debt free life.  In May the plan is that she is going to England while I stay back and do the business for a month. We as a family will actually live at her home and take care of her springer spaniel  and I will continue on with the demands of EBay  while she and her husband are away. I am happy I can do this for her because she hasn't been back for 20 years and that is way to long to be away from family and the place you were raised. God is good all the time!!!

So this is the catch up and next time I might be able to just write for fun. Love you all and God Bless

Chelsie~

Run back to His arms!!

I have been beyond blessed with a gracious Heavenly Father! I would have given up on me by now. Honestly I truly would have. I have been so lukewarm in my walk with the Lord! I need his grace more than ever. Life doesn't slow down and it's so difficult to get still and quiet before the Lord. But you know what is amazing God is merciful and He cares so much more than He even has to! Like I said I have been very lukewarm and honestly not in the right spirit towards the Lord or my attitude of service to Him. I am so thankful that God doesn't give up on me and that He meets me right where I am and He ministers to me!

In this post I want to encourage you to cry out to the Lord if you are struggling in the christian life. Ask the Lord to give you a refreshed spirit and to help you to repentance. Yes friends I was honestly this far. I needed to cry out to my Lord and ask Him to have true repentance. I had become so complacent in myself that I wasn't even sure I would know where to start in renewing a right heart towards the Lord and service for Him. The Lord brought me right where I needed to go in His word and He ministered to me on things I wasn't even aware of! Oh my, may I honestly say; what a blessing!!! The Heavenly Father met with me right in that moment when I simply turned to him. All I had to do was open myself to Him and ask Him to meet me. I am so glad He loves me unconditionally! I praise Him for His provision and His never moving hand. Don't believe Satan's lie that you have strayed to far from God and that He won't forgive your sinful state! Remember He has already forgiven all you sins.

Jesus I praise you for renewing a right spirit with in me, ministering to me with your Word, and answering my prayers!

Run to the Heavenly Father His arms are always open! His way is perfect!

Summer Dysfunction!!! A little humor in it all!

I am laughing at my title right now as I sit with my bowl of Cheerios that will probably get soggy because of this post but haha such is life!! Ok so about this dysfunctional summer man oh man I can't tell you how behind and unorganized I am this summer! I can't seem to stay on top of it let alone ahead of it! It's like mass chaos has hit my house!!! This summer has been great but my house is suffering because of it. Notice I said my house not my home! My home is doing fine we are getting along just fine, the kids are taken care of and having a blast with the play dates with friends and outside activities!

On a side note Faith taught herself how to ride her bike two days ago! I am so thankful for it because that seemed about as enjoyable as potty training! I know how much it was scary for me! One of my first memories actually!

Faith is growing up so fast! She will be 6 this month and she is showing it too. She is tall and thin like her daddy and she is wanting to grow up so fast hence the self taught bike riding!!! LOL It says alot about her character tho she is going to be a go getter! I like that; it makes me excited to think my child will be independent enough to strive for what she wants in life! I want a confident independent daughter that cares about what the Lord thinks of her and not peoples opinions. My prayer is that that is the type of girl she will be as she grows. As long as I lead her in the way she ought to grow I can cling to God's promise that she will not depart from it!

Ok so I was just checking in and going to rant about my dysfunctional life haha! I guess so everyone out there can know that they are not alone! My car is a mess, my laundry undone, tons of errands to run before tomorrow, and clutter in nearly every corner! I wish Chuck Norris could come kick this houses booty because it really needs it! But you know what I highly doubt he will be heading this way so I better get to it! Have a great weekend folks!

Well OVERDUE in life!!! Reality Check!!!

You know how you get overdue books at the library well that's the way I have been feeling in life. That sense of needing to return life to normalcy yet I can't do it?! It's been overwhelming!  Do I have overdue books at the library you bet I do! Unfortunately it's one of those things that has been put on the back burner for well quite some time! 


I didn't announce my break from blogging to be honest I was pretty sure no one missed it except a few faithful friends from the good ole south :) 


So overwhelming, busy, hectic, and chaotic life...YUCK!!! Doesn't sound like a Spirit filled life now does it! I'm just gonna be real here! Life is tough you have days were you aren't perfect and honestly days when you don't even feel like getting out of your pj's! Yep that was me yesterday I stuck around the house all day yesterday in my jammies doing housework and letting my kids take a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! Summer is crazy!!! I know you hear me MAMAS!!! 


So let's reel it in here...Spirit filled life...? Am I walking in the Spirit when I am so busy I can't tell you what my next 30 minutes is going to look like?! No how can I be; honestly, if life is passing me by then I am wasting it! What am I really doing? Existing that's it!!! I know there are seasons for everything but I don't want to stay in a season of just existing!! I want to be making a positive difference in the lives of people that surround me daily!


My husband, am I really being the best encouragement to my husband when I am running life on a whim, NOPE. My kids don't seem to mind it that they can play outside all day and then come in to eat and then back out to play! But where is the quality time in that lifestyle! There isn't! What a shame, what a rut my life has really been in! With God's help not anymore!!! I am glad God helps me to take a deep look at my life to straighten me out! I NEED IT!!! 


So my life; first I need to seek the Lord more earnestly and then I need to attempt to organize this so called life I am living!!! So I don't waste it all. I am not saying I think I need to schedule every waking moment but I do need to at least have a structure to build upon!  Allow myself to walk in a Spirit filled life!


I won't write you my list of what I want my life to look like because it's personal but I am glad that I took the time to get real with myself and evaluate what is really going on in my everyday life! I am praying for a positive change in my life and the life of my church family. It's been extremely hard being without a pastor at our church but it's no excuse for my personal relationship with the Lord to suffer because of it! He is my Shepard. 


Be Blessed everyone I am going to spend some time in the Word and see what the Lord truly has for me today! 

Health Kick HAHA

Ok so about this time every year I get on a health kick! Yes I am laughing with you! I wish I could adopt this lifestyle in it's entirety but I have not found the temperance that comes along with that! This year I have a great excuse I just had a baby three months ago. He is a breastfed baby so what I eat he eats all the more reason to be conscience of what I am taking in; right!?

Ok so I was able to chat with a few nurses today and these ladies were such a blessing to me! The one gave me all sorts of tips to adopt this healthy lifestyle. One that I can completely tackle to if I take the time to prep for the following week! "I can do this!" So I dive right in making my egg white omelets stuffed with veggies. I boiled them in the bag so I can grab one out of the freezer and put it in the microwave and be able to eat something with nutrition instead of a bowl of cereal or better yet nothing! That's what I have been doing the last few weeks and I cannot do that and try to feed Zane. I feel like I am going to pass out! The other thing I am going to try to do is make my own granola bars...these will be healthier, easy, and more cost effective than buying a few in a box. I have to wait on making these because I am missing a few key ingredients that I would like in them. I will post the recipe after if they are successful.

Also while I was meal planning these next two week I incorporated three salads for the main dish! This is alot for my family we are not completely a meat and potato family by any means but we like to have a hefty dinner! I am going to try to change that this summer and make our heavier meals in the afternoon. Anyways I just thought I would share with ya'll. I have about 15-20lbs I would like to lose to feel better about myself and have the energy I need to keep up with these kiddos this summer! If you have any tips on how to kick it into high gear on this healthy lifestyle thingy I would appreciate it! Anything that makes it more simplistic but not boring would be great!

God Bless~
Chelsie

Investment....

You know so many things can take from the true investments that we ought to make! Debt is one of them that steals so much from us! My husband and I are working on being completely debt free! We are seeing small steps being accomplished and since then we are seeing bigger ones and it so encouraging! We will have a bigger debt paid off the end of this month and we are so excited about it! Then we will have even more money to throw at our bigger debts such as our vehicle payment! We paid off the van two months ago and what a weight lifted!!! So that is something new that has been going on. We are also planning a big family vacation to Walt Disney World in Flordia by the time Zane is old enough to remember...without accomplishment on paying off debt we would never even dream of it!

But what I really wanted to write about was the investment as a wife and mother! Oh the Joys and I say that with no sarcasm! Seriously what a joy it is to be a wife and mother when you have your life in order! I can't tell you the joy I have knowing I am able to make my family meals ever night, the laundry that is clean and put away everyday, the cloth diapers that I put on my sons tushie, the dresses I have sewn for my girls, knowing my husband is coming home to relaxation and not chaos, lighting a candle to give the fragrance of home and a welcoming for him, taking my children to the library, park, or on play dates! I seriously can't tell you how blessed I am in this moment as a wife and mother!

God has shown me the importance of investment in my family. Setting the tone for the day and making life not so complicated. I haven't gotten in to slowing down completely. That is difficult with all the priorities with the church and ministries we are involved in.  With that said it is all for God's glory so if those ministries are things He wants me involved in; then they are worth the time they take to do them!

So as I sit here today trying to catch you up on the life  of the Clems I tell you this....Invest in your husband, invest in your children, invest in your life that the Lord has blessed you another day with! I could tell you many ways I have invested in my family different than I did in the past but these few I will share with you.

Start your day with the Word of God and your husband if he is available.
Stay ahead of chaos by making sure the laundry is started in the morning.
Never leave dirty dishes for yourself in the morning: it's added stress to your day!
Take time for your children...listen to what they have to say its really important to them. (If you have a talker like I do then allow them the time to tell you whats going on thru their little mind)
Encourage your children to do their best in everything and praise them when they do a great job.
Read to your children. I just recently purchased a chapter book to read to Faith and Justice at night to get them excited about the adventure in stories.
Pick one day a week and tackle the time consuming things of the home but light the candle first and put on some quality christian music. Try not to spend more than two hours for your kiddos sake.
Put the kids to bed at a decent time so you can take quality time with your husband even if it is watching your favorite show together holding hands and eating popcorn :)

It's important to have a clean peaceful home but more importantly is the investment of time you take with your family! Be Blessed! Here are a few new pictures for you...this is what we have been up to!

There skirts made by mommy!

Drying Zane's diapers

Justice can peddle by herself this spring!

Picnic in the park just Mommy and the kids!

It was beautiful and smelled wonderful with the trees in bloom!

Feeding the squirrel.

Playing at Curious George!

Homemade Detergent!!!

As a stay at home mom I am always trying to find away to be more frugal with our finances...So my newest way that I thought I would try would be to take on cloth diapers I was given! Yes given Praise the Lord they can be very expensive to buy but a wonderful friend of mine gave them to me! I am hoping it goes as planned and I am able to use this set up at least until he is six months. Then I might be able to get some from my nurse at the pediatrician office! She and I were talking and she said she would give me hers! God is truly so good to us! Ok so my newest thing apart from using cloth diapers was to make my own laundry detergent! Yes you heard me right....the detergent you are told to buy for cloth diapers is soo expensive $17.00 for detergent I think not!!! So here it is: and below I listed the recipe for it if you choose to make it yourself!

So I am no expert I checked out other sites. Some say to use borax but I didn't Walmart was out and I heard baking soda does the same thing plus it is gentler on the skin. Since I am mainly using this for my cloth diapers here is what I did for my own soap I think you could tweak it any way you wanted just using these ingredients.

1/2 bar fels naptha soap (97 cents)

2 cups baking soda (around $2.50)

2 cups super washing soda (around $3.00)

Depending on how it cleans I might add more of the bar soap but I don't want to make it harsh on Zane's skin and since I am the one making it I figure I will make it more gentle the first go round. I will up date you!

Most sites that I found use this recipe:

1 bar Fels Naptha Soap

1/2 cup borax or baking soda

1 cup super washing soda

or

Equal parts of these three ingredients

Super Washing Soda

Borax or Baking Soda

Sun Oxi Clean Powder

Five Minute Friday: Balance



Balance is hard to accomplish but possible if we have our priorities strait.

Understanding the true value of time and not letting it slip away into regrets.

Rising early and finishing well in all that you have set your mind to for the days tasks.

Giving of yourself to the people the Lord has given in your life.

Not allowing things to get away from you such as laundry and dishes my two hated tasks! Catching up is harder to do than just staying on top of these tasks.

Taking time for your kids to spend quality time not necessarily a quantity of time: the quality matters.

Being faithful in your time with the Lord brings all things into a balance. I believe the Lord protects your balance of life if you keep Him first.

Lord help me not to rob myself of a healthy balance of life. Help me to be the wife, mother, and friend that I ought to be. Help me to rise early and take advantage of the time I am given.

Jealous Much!!!

At one point in your life we have all struggled with this harsh truth; we can be a very jealous people! This starts at a very young age believe me I know I already watch my 5 year old daughter and 3 year old daughter deal with this. They already compare dresses and hair bows at church with their friends. Unfortunately they have inherited with that sinful nature. It's one that they will struggle with their whole life but can be overcome through the Lord.

Jealousy let's babble for a few...I wish I had her hair it's so strait..I wish I had a husband like hers, he is so thoughtful...If only my children were that well behaved...Wouldn't it be nice to have a house like that one...Look at their new car if only we could have one like that...She has the best body I want it too...She always looks so good why can't I....I wish I had her character mine is so not what I want it to be I wish I was quiet and meek all the time....!!!! Do you see people where we go wrong?!?!

1. We are comparing ourselves to others. Be humble!

     II Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they that measure themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
    
     Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

2. We are struggling with these three things; The lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life! Keep your eyes on the Lord, do  not give into the fleshly desires, and again stay humble do not be proud we are nothing without Christ.

      I John 2:15-16
Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world , the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes,  and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.

3.  Be content with what you have and who you are in Christ Jesus. Remember that Jesus had no place to lay his head but still came to the Earth to endure the cross. That in Him we would become the sons and daughters the Almighty God.
     
     Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
     
      Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

      II Corinthians 6:18
And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

I pray you will let God minister to you with the words from the Bible the book of life! I only shared a few scriptures with you here but after this little study I am sure I could write a book on this very subject and take so much scripture with it. This was a blessing for me to search out in my own heart and I pray it will be a blessing to you as well.

A few thoughts to leave you with to ponder on...When you are thinking within yourself that this sin of jealousy might be puffing up within you cling to these words and write them upon your heart.

     II Corinthians 10:3-6
For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of out warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

I like that part obedience is fulfilled it paints the end of the picture; obedience: we as Christians should strive to have an obedient spirit and not one of rebellion. But we must realize our battle is spiritual and that if we take it to the Lord and not let our mind wander in its sinful state; we will get victory! I pray victory for  anyone reading this. Apply these scriptures to your life and I know the Lord will work in and through you to achieve victory in this area of your life.

God Bless

Chelsie

God's timing and will

I received the Lord Jesus into my heart at the age of six years old but didn't always live like it. I am thankful to the Lord for never giving up on me and drawing me back to Himself time and time again.

Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

From what I have observe since I surrendered my life to being faithful to the Lord back in 2004. The Lord's timing and will usually has a way about it that you might say within yourself "really Lord?" I know this is true in my own life. I know this was true about meeting my husband. I had just come out of an unhealthy relationship and within three weeks of that the Lord brought my husband before me. Out of no where here he was and the Lord made it so clear to me that Scott was the one He had for me. God has done this many many times in my life. A funny one I can think of is when I went to my pastor and told him there was a need for a nursery ministry within our church. He gave me the responsibility of doing it. That was more than 5 years ago now. I wasn't expecting that in expressing a need I would be the one given the opportunity to fill it. If any of you reading this have ever been involved in the nursery ministry you know why I found this one funny! Nursery ministry especially coordinating it can be very very trying...it is not an easy ministry to take on. But you grow through it and I know that is why the Lord pressed it upon my pastors heart to allow me that ministry. Like I had mentioned in a previous post I was anxious to be a pastor's wife and I was like this about other ministry opportunities. I so badly wanted to be given the opportunity to teach a Sunday school class. Well it wasn't until the Lord  had taken my Pastor and my Dad to heaven that I was given this opportunity. A short three weeks after my Dad had passed I was asked to fill in as the Sunday school teacher for a woman within our church who was very ill. She ended up passing and I inherited it full time. This was very unexpected to me but I knew the Lord was in it because He was preparing my heart for a lesson on the Lord being in the details of our life. He was working on me three days prior to my being called upon to filling that class teacher position. I felt overwhelmed that I needed to share it with someone and didn't know who until I was called that Sunday morning.

I am seeing a pattern in this three week thing...I just noticed it! I guess we might see if any other huge event change in my life will bring a new opportunity within 3 weeks LOL.....See always thinking ahead but no on a serious note; I am thankful to the Lord for allowing me the opportunities He has to serve Him but I am also happy that He hasn't allowed me anything until I was prepared and ready for it. I would have messed many things up if I were to rush into new opportunities! I am always full of new ideas to help the ladies ministries within our church but the Lord hasn't allowed yet so I will continue to wait on His perfect timing! He will make it a beautiful thing if He wills it!

I thank you Lord for your perfect will and your perfect timing! I also thank you that you work in this  body of clay and you are refining it for your perfect will. I surrender all!



1. All to Jesus I surrender;
   All to Him I freely give;
   I will ever love and trust Him,
   In His presence daily live.
   
   • Refrain:
     I surrender all,
     I surrender all;
     All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
     I surrender all.
2. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Humbly at His feet I bow,
   Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
   Take me, Jesus, take me now.
3. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
   Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
   Truly know that Thou art mine.
4. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Lord, I give myself to Thee;
   Fill me with Thy love and power;
   Let Thy blessing fall on me.
5. All to Jesus I surrender;
   Now I feel the sacred flame.
   Oh, the joy of full salvation!
   Glory, glory, to His Name!

Close to the heart

A blog title can define you as a person. If you are one of my readers you have noticed I changed my title. This is me...these two things define the greatest part of who I am. I wanted my title of my blog to be real and completely transparent. No doubting about what you are going to get from when you are reading on my page. I am hoping to get my page more organized and have topics under certain tabs so you are able to see what I have placed the topics under and click on them too see all the post under that topic. I would really love to turn this blog into a place where people can come and relate to me as a forgiven sinner, a wife, a homemaker, a homeschooling mother, and most of all just a real person with a real life. A real life with it's ups and downs. With real issues concerning marriage, child rearing, homeschooling, organizing and caring for your home, and most of all attempting to do this with christian integrity.

The Lord is using things in my life right now in such a way I feel the urge to share it. I hope that in sharing it it is a blessing to someone. My title A Preacher's Wife and a Homemaker was inspired of the Lord. God really laid it heavy on my heart the other day that even though my husband has not been yet called to pastor a church, he is a preacher. My husband has known for years that he is called to preach and has been given much opportunity to do so but has not been yet called to a church. Currently our church is without a "pastor". My husband has been filling the pulpit a lot since last February and along side of that he is in search for the man that God has called to be the pastor of our current church. My husband is filling the roll of the pulpit committee chairman and we know that is the reason the Lord still has us at our church.

The past year has been a huge growth period for myself. I could go on and on and tell you of much that I have learned but the one thing I can say without a shadow of a doubt I have learned is to not be eager to be a "pastor's wife". If I could only paint a picture to tell you how eager I have been knowing he has been called to be a pastor and that we were still stuck here! Haha or that is how it felt! I was always so ready to get out of here for anything...for college...just about anything that was somewhat exciting I was ready to go. Sign me up just get me on with this whole ministry thing already. LOL I was the furthest thing from ready for the ministry. My eagerness should have been the first sign of it. It wasn't until my husband was placed into the opportunity of full time ministry. I say opportunity because it was unexpected and a little unorganized in the way it came about. As I said before my husband was called to be the chairman of the pulpit committee well while he was called on to do that he was also asked by the pulpit committee to fill the roles that an interim pastor would do. So my husband took that on also and it has been a great way for the Lord to prepare us for our futures in the ministry. I know my husband has learned things and I also had my fair share of learning experiences.

Lesson #1 Don't be eager it's a lot of responsibility
Lesson#2 Trust in the Lord's timing and provision
Lesson #3 Pick your battles and keep a quiet tongue
Lesson# 4 Continue to be real with yourself and the people around you (even if you are the pastor's wife you are still human with faults and all; and no your children do not have to be perfect)
Lesson #5 Don't dwell on the people at church that try to break your spirit and yes there will be a few probably the ones you least expect. Go read Psalms and remember how God fought the battles for David many times.
Lesson#6 Don't share worries with your husband go to the Lord. He has enough to handle and doesn't need any distractions from doing God's perfect will. God will be faithful to you in this!
Lesson# 7 Ask for prayer from others outside of the church and take comfort in their fellowship.
Lesson # 8 Cling to the Word of God and allow Him to minister to you in all aspects of life be willing to forsake all and take things that come your way in faith.
Lesson# 9 Pray very fervently for your husband.
Lesson # 10 Pray for the church and love the people.

The last three of these are the most important. Without the Lord any ministry is impossible but with the Lord it is bearable and you can even find much joy in it seeing the Lord's faithfulness along the way!  This list will continue to grow throughout the years and I will continue to be thankful to the Lord for His patience with me and His guidance along the way!

I hope you are as excited about the future of this blog and the ministry that lies before us.

GOD BLESS

Chelsie

Lessons in being a preachers wife

Hey y'all

Sorry it's been so long been sifting through emotions and life in general. You all know how life gets overwhelming well I have been choosing to not let it define me. I choose to not let it have an effect on the peace of my home and well being of my children or my husband for that matter.

Anyone who knows me knows I am the typical woman with somewhat raging hormones. I am a cryer. I cry at the drop of a hat. I cry when I am sad, angry, concerned, or happy...You name it I when overcome with emotion (usually any type)I end up crying. Some say it can be a weekness but I know God made me this way and Pastor Bode told me to never lose my tears. I think as a pastor they were an encouragement to him. :) God still working in the heart of people.  In saying that it brings me to the reason I write in the few short minutes I have.

God is still working on me!.... Trials, changes, and trust they all come together in the end. Our faith has to be excercised Scott preached on this the other day. I praise the Lord that He is excercising my faith...even though it is difficult and much like excercise it is straining. God is using this straining in my life to mold me into the wife and mother that I need to be for my family! I have areas the Lord is specifically working on and I can pin point them quite clear thanks to the Lord revealing them to me.  I am to trust the Lord with my future concering my husband. I am to be calm and gentle when speaking to my children and show them love in action rather than just words. I am to forsake all for His cause. When saying this it means really giving it all over to Him. This includes my family immediate and extended, my desires, my body, material things, financial things, my children, homeschooling, praying for my husband like I ought to; you name it the list goes on and on. But I know daily I am to give it all over to the Lord and not take it back up in my hands.  When I think about the possible next steps in our life I am to give it to Him and ask Him for his perfect will. Also I must stop my thoughts so I can allow God to work in His way and that way I don't put my own thoughts into trying to have an effect on His perfect will.

God is showing me that He has alot of work to do on me as a future pastor's wife. I know as much as my husband is called to be a pastor to the church the Lord would give us in the future; I am to be the wife to my husband that a pastor needs. There will be many life lessons from here on out my prayer is to be obedient to the Lord and have open ears to hear His will.

....but not forgotten

It's difficult times in life that you wonder who really cares, who really understands, who is going to be there in this time of need because they truly just want to be a comfort to me. My heavenly Father does. Difficult times or trials we could call them are just a nasty distraction from Satan.  Ultimately as a christian you have to evaluate is this from God or from Satan. Has God been using me in any significant way?....Well yes He has and that is what Satan wants to pull me away from with these distractions. God has been using me in many ways to encourage others, to be a true friend to the people He has given me, to be the wife and mother I need to be for my family. Some of this may seem small but to the Lord I think they are quite important and that is why Satan was at such a work to get me off course. Well to God be the glory I will not waste another day! I will in His power bring glory to His name. I wasted yesterday but not today the time is short and there is much to do. There are many people who may not be clinging to the Lord and they need to see Jesus at work in my life so they have hope in their Saviour. My goodness to think I could continue on and be dishonour to my Lord what a shame. Thank you Jesus for speaking so clear during our quiet time! I thank you that you never leave me or forsake me. I thank you Jesus that you weren't concerned about your own self when you endured the cross for me. Lord help me to continue on help me to keep my eyes on you. Lord please give me the strength to be the wife and mother you would have me to be. Lord I praise you with all my heart for your goodness.

Fill my cup Lord

I lift it up Lord  

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul

Bread of heaven feed me till I want no more

Fill me up Fill me up and make me WHOLE

Broken

I continue to watch my life unravel...I have never felt more uncertain about my life or the life of the people I love that surround me. The last year by far has been one of my hardest battles in my life. I keep trying to let this roll off me and come to the conclusion that it will all be ok and I tell myself it's ok it's going to be fine when deep down I feel more hurt than I ever have before. I can't sleep at night and when I do the nights are so restless and it's not because the baby is waking me. It's the stress of life that is keeping me from rest. I thought I had seen the worst of my battle in life last year with the death of two very important love ones but I guess I was wrong. It's like the worst part is starting all over again and I am reliving that sorrow all over again but it is intensified times 100. I didn't think it could hurt so much but I guess I was wrong. It's not getting better grieving hasn't slowed down. If anything it's more at the surface now than ever. I can't fix this, I don't know how to continue on with a chin up everyday. I am beginning to think I really don't want to. Some days I feel nothing goes right and it's all I can do to just accomplish the basic tasks of life while all the while being deeply emotionally disconnected from it all. Its like I check out on the emotional side of it all and somewhat even try to slough off logic to make it seem like things are really ok. I feel like I am on the verge of a a breaking point in my life now more than ever. I think irrational thoughts that would have never entered my mind before. I am seeing myself slip away from what I know I should be, not because I want to but I think it's a way of coping with what is going on. I don't know how to face issues head on and have even become upset over little thing when I shouldn't. I can't fix this. God I really can't fix this and I don't know how to even ask for you to begin to work but I know I have an intercessor  and Jesus I need your help now more than ever because I feel hopeless. Please hear my cry.

Picture update

Bulldog bum!

Faith got my camera the following are her work!

The famous five! The girl's favorite stuffed animals!

A sweet picture of Madilynne that Faith took.

Happy swinging!

One Month photo!

Looking at daddy while he gets rocked in daddy's chair.

Justice's first haircut she is too adorable!

They love Grandma Jodie they all had to set on her! It was sweet!

6 weeks old already! Still fits in his coming home outfit but it is getting snug!

So precious those cheeks, lips, and bright eyes!

Let's do the cousin cuddle!

So precious sleeping on his belly!

This was to precious not to share!

So Saturday is one of my posting days so I will leave you with some pictures because I will be too busy on my getaway to care about posting a blog :) So hope you enjoyed!

Five Minute Friday: ~A Getaway~

A Getaway

Taking in a deep breath and exhaling to feel renewed in the greatest sense of your being.

Feeling as if you are on a beach out in the islands but really just being alone with yourself.

A peace that washes over your mind and soul to rest and let the worries roll of your chest.

A sense of freedom but not caring to go anywhere or be in a rush.

Taking time to really enjoy God's goodness.

Allowing yourself to reflect on your life and view it with fresh eyes.

Removing anxiety from your thoughts and casting them far far from you.

I think getaways are so necessary especially for mothers. Even if you can't actually getaway just take a drive look at a pretty sunset or stare off into the evening sky but allow yourself to imagine you are in your ideal environment and let your mind be free to release stress, anxiety, and troubling thoughts. You will come away refreshed and a better person if even for a little while.

Be Blessed~ Chelsie



Childhood

This morning I was reflecting on the few memories I have and cherish from my childhood. This may not be the best written blog post I have as I have many jumbled thoughts on my mind. I just feel within me so much that I want to get these thoughts out and on my screen.

So the first thing that got me thinking this morning was play phones, yes you know what I am talking about the string in the cans and going into a different room and whispering into the can so you sister or brother can hear you! My sister's and I did this a few times and then I remember being spoiled with a red phone that looked real and had the same concept my sister and I would play on it for hours! Playing in my bunk bed tent and then having my sister lean over the edge of the bed and playing with her hair when we were suppose to be sleeping!  Playing Barbies for hours on end, whether it was rock stage barbie, McDonald's barbie, driving in the pink convertible, or pool party barbie. Singing and dancing on the coffee table with friends while my mom taught us a dance to Third Rock from the Sun.  The excitement of getting to have sleepovers at friends houses. Playing on their swing sets and tree houses. Getting to ride horses, go out to the barn and milk the cows. Going out to the chicken coupe and collecting eggs made better than you ever had before because they are so fresh. Swimming in the horse's water tank. Riding four wheelers and eating big pickles at the Bruce's house.  Going out to the race track and watching the boys practice. Sitting in the broken down car pretending it was our own and we were cruising the town. Turning the huge slide into a water slide by running a water hose all the way up the to the top and being so excited about the first try down the slide.  Playing dolls for hours with friends and loving all the imagination that went along with it! Jumping on  the trampoline, riding bikes up and down the driveway or rollerblading for hours. Getting 50 cents and going to  the candy store and spending every last penny of it! Finding a secret hideout behind my parents house and making that my own space imagining it was my very own house all to myself. Playing my favorite song over and over again and singing it at the top of my lungs thinking I was just as the original artist if not better :) Going out to a set of cement stairs at our old trailer park and eating Popsicles and singing at the water spiket that was next to the stairs. Going to the public pool and seeing if I could hold my breath all the way to the bottom of the ten foot!!! Swimming until there was a break and then laying down on the warm cement to warm up. Sitting in my dad's shed for hours while he tinkered with things all the while I was just happy to be around him. Waiting for the church bus to come and pick my up was usually the highlight of the week. Going to church and sitting by Grandpa and Grandma Jones and having Grandpa give me werthers originals candies and sing In the Garden nearly every week on our way home! Having Mrs. Kraft take me to dinner at the local restaurant and spending quality time with just me.

I had a great childhood full of memories that were fun. I had friends that really made life exciting because it was different than just getting to sit at home playing with my sisters. Although I know I had a great time with my sisters too. Thankfully I had great childhood friends if any of you are reading this I am sure you are laughing as you have your own memories like me and I am sure you remember these ones too! Thank you Lord for blessing me with this childhood and the memories! I hope and pray my kids  have blessed memories like this! I think they will! Check out these fun pictures!

Update on Posts

For my readers I wanted to share with you that I will be writing on Wednesday's, Five minute Friday's, and Saturdays.

I am commiting to these days so that can stay up to date. On some given Saturday's I may just post some pictures but at least it will be something posted up.

A five minute Friday post will be only five minutes of writing on one word. Whatever comes to my heart and mind within those five minutes is all you will get. Feel free to add on comments of the way it might have moved your thinking.  These posts will be raw and very simple due to the time factor. I enjoy a friend of mine's so I have adopted it and decided to do my own five minute Friday posts.

Have a happy Friday y'all and God Bless your weekend!

Five Minute Friday: Marriage

MARRIAGE

God made Adam & Eve for a reason.
God never meant that marriage was to end in seperation let alone divorce.
God told Moses that it was because of the hardness of men & womans hearts that they would divorce.
God said that we should cleave unto our spouse.
God never said our spouse wouldn't disappoint us.
God also didn't give us the liberty to not forgive our spouse when they do disappoint us.
God can and will restore a marriage if our hearts are fixed on Him.
God meant for marriage to be forever and till death do us part.
Satan wants nothing more than to destroy marriages! If he seperates the marriage he seperates the home and then the children's whole life is effected by divorce. The home is designed to stay together.Especially today's generation needs an example of what God can do through two people whose hearts are fixed on Him.

I am so so burdened for the marriage relationship. It seems everywhere I turn people are calling it quits and I am talking about christian people too. For some reason in their heart they justify it. But let us remember the heart is desperately wicked who can know it. We can not and must not trust in our hearts and only trust in the Lord. Cleave unto the Word of God for you wisdom and the Word alone!

Hebrew 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.



My hearts desire: The Mother I want to be!

I often  spend time mulling over the person I want to be. I often beat myself up because I begin to see my short comings and then just look at myself as a failure. To be honest even though I know I fall short I know that the Lord doesn't want me to stay in that place of being discouraged. He can't fully work through me if I stay in that place within my heart. So as I was thinking today I thought why not write down the mother I want to be and then really pray over it. So here it goes here is my hearts desire of my life as a mother.

I want to be the mother who wakes up before her children prays for them, spends time with the Lord, and has breakfast prepared for them even if it is only a bowl of cereal.

I want to be the mother who really takes the time to encourage her children to cry out to God for their day right away in the morning. I want to share a devotion just for them while they eat their breakfast.

I want to be the mother that has their clothes laid out and makes the time to do their hair nicely everyday. Also all their other grooming needs met.

I want to be the mother that has a plan for the day. A plan specific to make something about the day be special just for them. Like taking them places, playing games with them, a special family night curled up cuddling reading books or watching a movie with popcorn and hot chocolate. (that is their favorite)

I want to be the mother who has a schedule to life that makes things run smoother. I know with a schedule kids are less irritated or disappointed because they know what is expected. They are less likely to rebel if they have a routine.

I want to be the mother that teaches my children in love, gentleness, and kind words. I want to build them into the women God would have them to be in the future.

I want to be the mother that takes the time to do a nightly routine with her children so at the end of the day they feel nurtured and love in such a way that just the routine of before bed feels like a huge loving hug!

I want to be the mother that  my children look back at their childhood and say that is the kind of mother I want to be! I want my children to have a spirit of genuine love towards their children.

I want to be the mother that teaches her children through love but also through discipline when they are disobedient or have an ungodly attitude. I want to shape them into respectful little people who obey when they are told and with a good attitude.


This is the mother that I want to be!
They are my children the last thing in life I want to do is disappoint them! If I try to do any of this in my own strength I will continue to fail. I do not want to fail in one of my most important duties in life! Again I have to allow God to work through my heart before I can be the mother I desire to be. I know if I honor God and keep Him first He will bring these things to pass and I will be the mother He truly wants me to be which is better than anything I can dream up.

I hope this an encouragement to anyone who might read it. We all have good ambitions but without the Lord involved in our ambitions we won't come to accomplish them. Even if we do without Him involved it will be failure because it will all be empty apart from Him.

God Bless Y'all

Changes are part of the BIG plan

I miss writing so I wanted to hop on here quickly and put some thoughts to words spoken. I don't really have much to say but had the desire to write. Writing is my outlet it is a release for me! I don't feel I am a very good writer even though I have had people tell me they enjoy reading my writing. I honestly don't write because I feel I have any talent whatsoever in coming across as even the least bit skilled. My sentences are always run on sentences and I have a really hard time making my thoughts flow onto the page. My thoughts are usually somewhat scattered and definitely come off that way. You know what; oh well! I just hope through my deeper writings that anyone reading can glean the true meaning behind it! When I have something serious to write about I just hope in the end it brings glory and honor to the Lord. I do know that I have a desire when writing to do that one thing alone. I first started out this blog in hopes to disconnect from the social networks but it became more than that which is awesome! I wish I could be more faithful and commit more time to it! But I am a wife, a mother to three, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and most importantly a  child of the Lord's. That being said my priorities must be in line and not as scattered as my thoughts haha :) I have tried to get on at least on Saturdays and do a quick update or just even some thoughts.  So here are my thoughts on this week:

Life with three kids is amazing! The blessing of new life helps me all the more to cherish my two little girls that came before my new son. It takes you back to remembering when they were babies before they disobeyed and had a mind and attitude of their very own! HAHA I love love love my little girls they really are very independent I am realizing! They have taken on a new, what would I call this.... a new...demeanour. Most things have changed about them or at least maybe now I am seeing them more clearly since I am doing a lot of observing while I tend to Zane's needs. Faith has taken on to the role of biggest sister quite strongly whereas Justice has decided she is going to push her limits with Mom just to see how much she can get away with. I knew there was going to be challenges with the addition of a new baby but I didn't know what they would be. Some of the challenges that I didn't expect was that Faith would be really desiring extra attention almost constantly. This can be very tiring as a mother but it has me concerned enough to be aware that she will take negative attention if she will not get positive attention just as long as it is attention :( This is difficult for me but I also know it is a growth thing for me as well because I need to give my kids more positive attention. I am too hard on my kids sometimes expecting way to much! They need to see love and gentleness within my spirit towards them. One thing I have learned about myself is that I need to allow myself time to adjust to big changes. I dont' need to have everything together next week just because Zane will be over a month old. I have been mentally beating myself up over my short coming but having a new baby and two other children is a huge adjustment! Did I mention everyone in the house apart from Scott is sick! Faith and Zane are on breathing treatments because they are so sick with RSV. It's been alot to take on the basics but to all be sick takes it's toll on you physical and mental condition for sure! I am just happy for this time to reflect on what the Lord is really doing in my life during this season though. He is refining me constantly this is another part of my refining process. I know to be thankful because in all things if you allow it God can do mighty things through you if you have a willing and obedient spirit.

Growing into changes

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intecession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

ROMANS 8:27-28

So this morning has been unorganized but productive! I have got myself and all the kids ready and that includes a bath! I feel ahead of the game. Well at least at the moment I do. I am sitting down with my fresh fruit and yogurt smoothie while the girls are tidying their room so they can come and enjoy their mini smoothies! There is something about fresh fruit rushing threw your body that just makes you feel so much better!

So onto what I wanted to talk about; growing into changes! I think we as people think we must accept change right away and that it can't be a gradual thing. I think we believe if we don't accept it right away we may as well shut the door to it and act as if it just simply does not exist. I now know and completely disagree with that thought process. In fact the Lord is showing me this more and more in my life recently! Who knows maybe this is part of the grieving process to. I am not really sure but one thing I am sure of is that it's ok to accept change gradually. The biggest obstacle is accepting it. I know this one thing; with God all things are possible!

This last year has been a complete year of change. I have had to accept the change of not having my pastor and my dad here to talk to. I have had to accept the roles that the Lord has put my husband into. Also the role that He has put me into being my husband's wife. The waves of change that happen when you are homeschooling mother. Having a newborn with two other children who need my attention also. Having neighbors move and getting new ones. Relationships changing whether it be drawing closer to some or restraining from relationships that were once close but weren't good for me as a christian. There are many things I am sure you can pinpoint in your own life. You should meditate on things that you possibly have put to the back burner that you might need to work on accepting that change.

The true secret to accepting change is giving it to the Lord and letting Him intercede on your behalf! He will be able to work things out for you better that you can in and of yourself. Just recently I had to face the fact that I couldn't accept the changes in my life because they were completely out of my control. You know what I am talking about those changes that effect you indirectly but they still effect you. I didn't know what to do and it honestly broke my heart that I could be the person I knew the Lord wanted  me to be. I couldn't control my emotions to even begin to handle this change. I really believe the Lord saw how broken my heart was over it and He interceded on my behalf in a way I couldn't do on my own. I can now say I know that I have accepted this change and have a positive outlook on the experiences that will come with it. I can cling to the fact that the Lord knew what was best for me when I didn't and He saw me through it for His glory! Also I believe He will help me with the challenges that will come with it because He has been with me from the very start with this specific change. We serve an amazing God!

So my challenge to you friend is examine your heart and see if you have really embraced the changes that have been placed in your life or changes that you need to make on your own if it's the Lord's will. Who knows the blessing we might be missing out on if we don't accept changes in our lives! Also in life some changes need to be made because it is best for us and they may be hard to face but if you do things in faith knowing it is the Lord's will you will be blessed and not hindered. If the Lord has revealed a change in your life that needs to be made don't hesitate it will be a blessing in the end and it will be for His glory! Amen!!??

Our last two weeks in pictures

Hope you enjoy and as you can tell I am really wanting to write and tell you all about the blessings we have been enjoying but I will try to let the pictures speak for themselves!

After our Zane's first morning at church

Too cute snoozing Zane loves his puppy that makes music and nature sounds.

The first picture with the girls holding Zane they had to wait until they weren't so sick.

Too cute so concerned over him

Full tummy!

Sleeping with Daddy!

Just adorable!!!

I love this one he looks like a little slugger already!

Sleeping smirk for ya mom!

Wide awake but not for long!

Precious hands!

The girls keeping him entertained and happy while mommy works a bit.

My precious children! All ready for our Wednesday night at church!

Taken today 2/8/2012

Super happy!

They always say "oh baby you're so cute!"

She was too adorable this morning I put Zane in her bed after their bath so I could help get them ready. While I was helping Faith Justice piled all her animals around him like he was one of her baby dolls!

Before this picture she says "I'm a big sister"

Faith is a pro at holding Zane and what a helper! She has such an obedient spirit. I ask her for help A LOT and she is always so willing and happy to help when it comes to her new brother! Today she held him while I changed some laundry out! It's amazing to have an extra pair of hands! I am so thankful that she is such an obedient kiddo.

She is a great big big sister and I know her and Zane will have a special bond because she is so caring for him just like she is with Justice. Doesn't mean they won't fight or disagree but they will definitely love each other!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and as soon as I can I will upload the other ones from my phone! Have a great Wednesday and God Bless!