Camp Livingston

Last weekend
we had some friends over for an evening of
fellowship, and a camp-over.























Sorry ! Now, some of you cannot deny me as your friend!
I have proof !
HA ! HA!

















I hope all of you enjoyed it as much as I did.

















The fellowship was as refreshing as the crisp, cool
Autumn air.
The weather was perfect, the friends are a blessing, and the food was great !
























The next morning, was the best part. Sitting by the fire, drinking coffee, waking up to good conversation, and eating a really good breakfast casserole.

Will I make this annual event? Maybe? I guess that depends if people liked it as much as I did!

Daniel's Surgery

On wednesday, September 24, Daniel went to Children's hospital, to have a Hydrocele/Hernia operation. This is before the sleepy meds were given to him.

This is after surgery. Although he looks peaceful in these pictures,this was, the calm before the storm.

After we returned home, I expected to be by his side the rest of the day. Holding him, comforting him, loving him, praising God for him, and praising God for the health that He has blessed our children with.

Dr. Christian gives me a list of no-no's for two weeks; no riding toys! no jumping! no wrestling! no climbing! no playing rough!

I'm already thinking, "Okay! How am I going to manage this"? This is who Daniel is! A rough- housing, wrestling, head butting (literally, he likes to ram his head into your butt, and at times, it does hurt), kind of boy.

Little did I know, the drugs they gave him, would make him act like a psycho-manic!

I'm not sure which was more frustrating; trying to follow the doctor's instructions with a child who acts like he is on speed, or watching Daniel appear to be in fast-forward mode, running circles around me, falling numerous times, not being able to get his mental attention, and fearing he would hurt himself.

Thank God, the medicine has worn off!

Eight kids, no problem! One psycho-manic child, was almost unbearable for me!

I praise God that the surgery was successful.

One day at Children's, is a reminder, to be thankful for what God has given me. And a reminder, that the challenges I face on a daily basis, are nothing compared to what these mothers, and children at this hospital face.

The affect/effect of a HUG

Yesterday, I was given the sweetest, most cherished compliment I will ever receive. A compliment that forever will be "suntereo", in my heart. Suntereo is a Greek word, that means "to preserve", it is the idea of keeping treasure preserved or safe by holding it close.

Some of you have met Dick & Maxine Ayers at our church. And if you had the privilege to know them personally, you are blessed. I first met them in our Tuesday night life group, about six years ago. I shared with the group that I was having a hard time accepting and giving love. How uncomfortable it was to be hugged, and how it would make me feel tense. (I believe it is the effect/result of a child growing up without love being given to them).
The response I received was overwhelming. I was only asking for their prayers. But what I got instead was hugged! Did they hear me? I said I did not like to be hugged!
Words can not express how that melted my soul. How it caused me to feel love, receive love and give love.

Maxine went home to be with the Lord within this past year. But, Dick still searches me out every Sunday he is at church.
Yesterday, as I was passing through the narthex. I stopped, to wait for Dick to finish talking to someone else. I turned to his daughter, and I told her, "I better wait here, because I know Dick will search me out if I don't".

Gayle says: "I need a hug to", so I hugged her. And this is where the greatest compliment was given to me;
With tears in her eyes;
she says, "hugging you is like hugging my mom". I then told her how precious it was that she said that.

I could not wait to share with Cleyo how these words blessed me. Before I could tell him, he shares with me, that Gayle said the same thing to him, (about me) and how blessed he was to have me. (In more words than this, but I do not want to come across that I am bragging about myself, because that is not the case. I am only wanting to reveal the power of a hug).

I know the ultimate compliment I could hear from someone is that they see Jesus in me. So, I aim to be more like Jesus, in the way I show love.

To be completely honest. I tend to wear my emotions. If I am not happy, I do not want to smile, or pretend to be nice to anyone. But, God has been working on my heart. I am having a sin issue when I am behaving like that.And I need to deal with it, whether it is pride, holding a grudge, or maybe not giving mercy and grace to someone.
God has shown me mercy and grace more times than I could possibly try to count, when I have not deserved it.

Ephesians 2:3-9 says it clearly;
3.Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5. even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6. and raised up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7. so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9. not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.


Hebrews 4:16
16. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


Romans 5:8
8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.


1 John 4:11
11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.



Now, I know that the people who read this blog are highly intelligent, but I want to write the definition of affect and effect. So that you may consider the affect/effect you might have on those around you.

Affect~ to have an effect on; influence; produce a change in; to move or stir the emotions of; an emotion or feeling attached to an idea, in general, emotion or emotional response
Effect~ to accomplish; the power or ability to bring about results; influence or action on something; the impression produced on the mind of the observer or hearer;

How old am I ?

Last night, as I was hurdling a box, (that I placed in the laundry room), to quickly get to the washing machine, I caught my little toe on a fan. As I moaned out loud, from the pain of stubbing a toe, I looked down and realized that my little toe was not in the same direction as the other toes, there was at least 1/2 of an inch between them. So, I yelled for Cleyo, not knowing what I should do, and a little freaked out about the new form of my toe. Thinking back to when my cousin got his nose broke in a fight, and the doctor had to break it again to put it back in place, I thought this is what the hospital will do, so I will save myself a trip. Well, that didn't work. I just caused myself more pain! (I know, I am dumb! Well, just wait, I have more on my lack of brain power). So, as the pain is getting worse, Cleyo is telling me to just go the hospital, and have it looked at. So in fear of always having a funny looking foot, I decide, that I will go. Now, this is where my brain leaves me, and has before!
A male nurse is checking me in, checking my vitals, and asking information about myself. He asks," how old are you"? I say, "32", "wait, maybe I'm 33, I can't remember", he seems to find this very funny, and says, " are you serious"? So, I explain that I often forget how old I am, and I have to ask my husband at least once a year. I think the only year that I didn't question my age was when I was 30, because I was so excited about being 30. He then goes thru a few questions about my relationship at home. My thought on these questions were for woman who are in an abusive relationship, and maybe this is their chance to get help. He asks, "do you feel safe in your home", I answer, "yes". But I am laughing on the inside, because I would have loved to answer like this, " No, my house is a disaster! This is the reason I am hurt"!
The x-rays come back, the bone is broke, and the reason that I can't break it into place, (other than the fact that it is probably not the way they fix it in the first place), is because, it was not broken across like this _, it was broken like this /, right down the middle.
The doctor asks me if I work, and I say no, I just stay home with the kids. So, he tells me to stay off my feet, and walk as little as possible, until I see the foot doctor. So, in my mind I think, "yeah, right"! And anybody who knows me, sitting is not something I do very well.
I praise God that this is the first broken bone I have ever had.

He's a man now

Kids say the funniest things. Oh, how I wish I kept a log of the things my kids have said over the years.

Last night, as Elijah was getting a bath, I entered the bathroom, and noticed his underwear needed to be trashed. I said, " Elijah, your underwear need to be thrown away, they have too many holes in them". Then, Elijah agrees with me, saying; " I need to get some boxers". Then I say," why do you need boxers"? Elijah very firmly and seriously says, " Because, I am a man now. And men wear boxers".

Thank You Lord, for all the little men & women in my home.

POP ! There goes my brain !

I t has been one of those days ! A brain can only take so much, before it EXPLODES !

I love having Sheldon & Grace home and home schooled. But, when you spend most of the day going in circles, the website that is critical to your schoolwork getting done is not available, and all three babies want to take turns throwing screaming fits/tantrums/and all of the above. It makes you wonder if it is easier to send them on a bus and let someone else teach them. YES!!!!!! It would be easier! And I knew that going into this!
But, at the same time, when I can catch a deep breath and ask myself, what is best for them, why did I do this in the first place, and has it made a positive difference? My answers to these lead me to the conclusion that I am doing the right thing, and I would not do it any different.
Praise God for days like these. It reminds me to be thankful for the days that go smoothly. And, what a reminder of sins that are out of control. (like the mouth) Lord, I ask for your forgiveness.

Also, if you have not noticed yet, my about me info has changed. You see, after I finally calmed down and realized the world did not come to an end, and decided to let go of the fact that "my to-do list" , for the day, would not even get 1/2 accomplished. Sheldon tells me he wants to start a blog. So I think okay, I can do this! I'll set him up, let him do the rest, and I can make dinner.
Now, my info is lost, and it will stay that way for a while, because I do not have the time to fill it out.

Oh, well !!!