My first 5k

Today I ran my first 5k, and got 3rd place for my age group (30-39yrs). The weather was beautiful, and running with other people made time go by much faster. My legs are sore, and my foot is hurting, but it was fun and I am excited to run another.











This is the group of runners/walkers~ Sheldon, Charity, me, Amanda, Isaac, Isabel, and Kati.
Isaac, by the way got 2nd in his age group, he was a natural runner. His time was something like 22:30, he was amazing!












Some pictures of Celina lake. The weather was perfect for running.





















































The beginning, and the end.

















For some reason this bird did not like us.













We found out why when we were on our way back to the van, if you look closely, you will see some eggs.

Ham 'n' Potato Casserole

I am wanting to share this recipe that I made last night. It was really good, the kids all liked it, and it would be great as a carry-in, or a dish to stick in the oven while you are at church. I do not make many casseroles, even though with a large family, it would be wise, but I have been looking at different recipes, in hopes of adding something new to the dinner table.

I used two separate medium roasting pans, so if you are half the size of our family, and most likely you are, you could just make one pan, or combine it all in a large roasting pan.

Ingredients per medium pan;
1~ (32oz) pkg Southern hash browns
1~ (12oz) pkg cheddar cheese
1~ (16oz) pkg of small diced ham
1~ diced onion
1/2 qt of milk

*mix all ingredients in pan, bake at 400, for 1 hour, stir 1-2 times while baking. Enjoy!

The universe declares the Glory of God !

Please take the time to watch these videos! You will be blessed! The first one will BLOW your mind! Our church played the first video a long time ago, but I could watch it over and over again, God is awesome!

How great is our God, by Louie Gilgio,
~there are 5 parts to watch.

Indescribable, by Louie Giglio
~there are 5 parts to watch.

Hope, When life hurts most, by Louie Giglio
~I could only find the first part, if you like it, you might have to buy the dvd, to watch the rest.

Fruitcake and Ice cream, by Louie Giglio
~there are 6 parts to watch.

Last night, we tried to go on a nice relaxing family walk, only to be attacked by millions of mosquitoes. The bug spray only made it about half better. We all got bitten, and we got off the trail as fast as possible, but Shiloh seems to have very strong reactions to bug bites than anyone I have ever seen. Last year, she was bitten by spiders (we think) and her eyes were sealed shut. When I talked to her pediatrician last year, he explained it in a way that I do not understand, all I know is that he did not seem to be concerned about it, even though it looks bad.
































The bites on her arm, have puss in them.

Looking out the kitchen window, I see...

A cat staring back at me!












Sheldon and Grace talked me into letting this cat in the house, but Cleyo did not like that idea, so now he is an outside cat, which he does not like, so he sits in the window meowing at me!



A kid tied to a tree!



















Elijah seemed to enjoy it.



















Daniel checking out the situation.



















Sheldon chasing Elijah with a stick.














Abby getting tied to a tree.



















Daniel getting in on the action, beating up Grace.














Have you noticed that Sheldon seems to be the mean one.
Sheldon was tied to a tree a few times, but every time I got my camera, he was off of it before I could take the picture. I wonder what the cars driving by thought?



















Cleyo thought I should take a picture when she was smiling, because she really was having fun with the kids. :}



















Priscilla getting picked on.















I added this one because I cannot believe how fast he is growing up!














Oh Lord, help me to enjoy every moment, even the crazy ones!

Can I say that ?

When someone asks, "How are you?", can I say "good", even if it is not always true?
I feel like I am 'doing well' because of God, but honestly, I am a mess. But at the same time, any peace that I have is from God, so to say that I am 'doing good', is only because of God.

I love how God supplies songs and verses for every situation. If you have not heard Jeremy Camp's song "My Fortress", you should look it up and listen to it, it is my theme song for life right now.

Psalm 73:28 "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,That I may tell of all Your works."

Where's my brain ?

The other day, Daniel came to me, in a mess of tears,
"Where's my brain? Help me find my brain?"
Touching the top of his head, I said "Honey your brain is inside your head."
Well, he did not like that answer at all!
He threw a fit for at least ten minutes, as we tried to explain where his brain is.
Then, suddenly, his brain appears before us......
his red lightning car......
















I have no idea why he calls it his brain, but this could give us a clue into his thinking process!

















He is are only child with attachment to things. He has been attached to his cars for several months. Before that, he was attached to a pink spatula, which he carried EVERYWHERE, (to church, to the bath, to bed, to Walmart), for at least six months, it never left his hand, or at least his sight.











Here he is with his favorite dog, his favorite car, and his pink spatula.

Hunting for Arrowheads....

A few days ago, the kids found arrowheads out in the field. So, today after church, Cleyo thought it would be fun to look for arrowheads.





















































Less than ten minutes into "the hunt", the complaining started.......
"This is stupid, what a waste of time, why would people want to do this,
grumble, grumble grumble!" (all me)
And then I found it! Laying wide open on the ground. I went from complaining to excitement, within 15 seconds.




























Priscilla found teeth, yes teeth. She believes that they are Indian teeth. We are not sure who or what they belong to.














This is Priscilla pouting because we would not let her keep the teeth. I am not sure where she gets a complaining attitude from. :}






































This is Cleyo, determined to find one, but only I, the crybaby, found one. ;}

Fun for the family--For Free

I want to pass this site along,
that a friend shared with me.........
KidsbowlforFREE
MC Bo's Bowling lanes, in Versailles, is participating.

20 Years later.......

Yesterday, I realized that is has been exactly twenty years since I was taken away from my mother. I have shared with many people some of my history, but Praise be to God for taking away certain memories, and the feelings of pain that comes with them. I am so thankful that my mind does not dwell in the past, although sometimes it can be a bad thing, like when a friend, maybe from high school, says "remember.......", and I have no memory of it. It is not that I did not enjoy and love my friends, but my mind just does not retain memories, and that has been for my good.
Pictures are one thing that will stir a lost memory, but there is no other thing that stirs a memory from my childhood like taking these Foster training classes.

Twenty years ago, I was 13, living with my mom and my sister, in Sacramento, Ca.
I can clearly remember that night, more than any other in my entire life. Writing this is not easy, I can not hold in the emotions that come from that night, but I want to share what the Lord has done, and soon, I hope to post more testimony of what God has saved me from, in my profile.

We were at the Sacramento River all day. Two things you must know, 1. we were homeless living in a car, 2. my mother is-was a drug/alcohol addict, with Schizophrenia.
I will try to shorten this story.
With the Schizophrenia, her mind was not in "reality". Her mind produced"stories", only there was NO fact to them. Some examples are~ the Government was after her because she witnessed a murder, she was Mary-mother of Jesus, I can remember several times being beat because I was a "clone" or that someone planted a listening device in me to track her......basically, I was beaten like I was her enemy. On this evening, that God would save me from certain death, and I am not exaggerating. I had survived many severe beatings, and this next part is very graphic, but it is the truth, she would take me behind grocery stores, with a butcher knife, and threaten to kill me and cut me into small pieces and throw me into the dumpster, how that never happened, I can only say that God wrapped His hands of protection around me.
Ok, I was trying to keep this short...that evening, her mind created a story that she blamed me for, and beat me to near death. She left, with my sister. It was dark, and I was scared. Being abandoned, in strange places, was becoming very common. I would usually hide in a tree, or in some bushes (fear that a stranger would take me, the crazy part is, that I would have probably been better off), and some time later she would come back for me.
After she left me, I hid in the bushes. Scared, crying and in pain. Around an hour later, a park ranger found me. How he found me? Only by God's guiding. It was a long walk downhill, and the area was thick with trees and bushes. He was in a vehicle, so the path must have been wide enough for his vehicle.
This was not the first time being taken away from my mother. I can remember, two times right before this, being taken into Children service agency, with obvious bruises all over my body, but they gave me back to my mom. Why? Because I lied, and told them that my mom did not do it. Why? Because, I loved my mom. I had a fear of leaving her. I had a fear that she would die if I left her. She would tell me that she could not live without me, and as a child, my love for my mom was unconditional.

Why share this?
Because I know that God has a plan and a purpose for me! God did not save my life, or my soul, that I should live for myself. My history, is "His-story".
I give Him ALL Praise,Honor and Glory, for giving me life, not just on this earth, but that He has given His Son as a one time sacrifice, that I may enter eternity, to enjoy Him forever..........

*BTW~ I did not plan on sharing this. I wanted to post about the foster training classes, that we took yesterday, and how convicted I am, that God wants us to keep our home open. Don't panic. I am not ready to take on any more right now, but I have battled selfish thoughts about my future. Our home may not be perfect, and we are not perfect parents, but these kids need a safe place to go, and a family that will not give up on them. I won't go into detail, but I am furious that the system protects and gives endless chances to birth parents, and these children are the ones suffering the consequences!

Happy 1st Birthday Emily !

Click on this~Miracle's baby girl
to see pictures of Emily.

Random Pictures...

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Your invitation......

Click on this~http://runtheracewithme.blogspot.com/
Read April 6, first.
The layout is a little crazy on the eyes, but it will have to do until I find something better.

"I surrender all"

I have been on the phone, with the SSI office many times the past two months, and during my "very long waiting times" for a live person, there is always ONE song that they constantly replay, "I surrender all". Does anybody else find this funny? I do! But it makes me wonder, is someone there, at this government office, sharing a belief to surrender all to Christ, or is it that this song will soothe your thoughts about surrendering your money to government?
I just wonder....................... "What is their message ?"

Speaking the Truth in Love.....

We love our pastor at Grace church, and we are always blessed by his messages. This past Sunday's message was very passionate, and worth the time to set aside and listen to......

http://www.greenvillegrace.org/Resources.html
~click on MP3, for Leviticus 12

Lifehouse's Everything Skit

Just wanting to share this awesome skit that a sweet and precious friend of mine shared with me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

Ethics, what Ethics ?

In order to maintain our Foster Care License, we have to complete 20 hours/year of training classes. Yesterday, we took a class titled "Ethics". Either the culture is changing faster than I would like to admit, or my view on ethics is twisted. At the beginning of the class, the trainer passes out a "quiz", we are to read the different situations, and then choose A, B, or C. The trainer was trying to teach us that we will make a choice based on our own ethics. I want to share one "situation" that I could not refuse to argue with............

Here it is;
One rainy evening I wandered into a shop, where I left my name brand umbrella in a basket near the door. When I was ready to leave, my umbrella was gone. There were several others in the basket. Should I have (A)taken a similar name brand umbrella, (B)taken a lesser quality model or (C)just gotten wet?

Now I realize that there are better things to debate, but one man's honest answer and the trainer's response, had my mind spinning, my heart beating, and prayers to God that He will allow me to be patient and speak wisely..........and for those that know me well, ok, maybe you don't even have to know me well, maybe you just got stuck being around me for more than five minutes, :] , I am under major construction when it comes to guarding the opening on the front of my face! LOL! Does anybody have an Amen? :] (God is working on me, please be patient)
Anyways, I did patiently wait, and thought through if it was worth throwing in my two cents.
After all, I was not in a room with like-minded people, and I would have to spend the rest of the day with a group of people that could hate me, for standing my ground.
So, back to the story, the man answered with honesty, he said that he would have taken a similar name brand. When questioned further about it, he said that he should not have to suffer, but someone else should have to go without, and that it is now someone else's problem. For about 15 minutes, I listened as the trainer threw in other details, like maybe the umbrella belonged to an old woman, who was sick and should not get wet. He stood his ground, someone took his, so he is going to take someone elses, and that is just "too bad" for that other person! At this point, all I could hear was; ("it is all about "me"(mentality), as long as I am not suffering, who cares about others around me!") The conversation about that "situation" was ending, and I was going to remain silent, until I heard the trainer say this......"There is no right or wrong answer".

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????? I waited until she was finished, and I decided to share............
My response went something like this..........................
"I have to disagree with you, there is a right and wrong response in this situation. Taking something that does not belong to you, is STEALING! If our child brought a toy to school, and lost his, but three other kids had the same one, we would not teach our children to take the toy from the other child, because they should not go without, (maybe this guy would). I will give the guy credit for being honest, he never did see anything wrong with taking something that belonged to someone else, and let me just say that through the course of the day, he showed himself, to be a VERY UN-trustworthy person.

It was a mind opening experience for me, and a reminder of what God has done in my heart and in my life. And to be totally honest, I stand guilty of lying, stealing, being judgemental, adultery (in my mind/heart), hate for others, not forgiving, and every sin that is possible to man. But, by the grace of God He has forgiven me, and has changed my heart and my mind. Do I still make wrong choices, daily! But, Christ paid them in full, and I want to live daily in the spirit.
1 Peter 3: 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

Almost Famous ?

This past October, I was blessed by being able to attend the first "True Woman" '08 conference in Chicago, with a group of women from our church. If you have not heard, or had a chance to check out the conference, here is the link~ http://www.truewoman.com/

And what a surprise to see me on the front of the monthly newsletter, with a "caught in the moment" look on my face.










I also thought I would add some pictures from the conference, thanks to friends who had their cameras.


Before we can even get out of the church parking lot, we have to jump-start Sherri's van.















This picture was actually taken by the professionals, and is posted on the True Woman photo gallery. I am all the way to the left, in the cute pink apron :} , and to the right, are some of the women from my church.













Most of the women from our church, we are missing a couple of them.














Me with Kelly.














The back of me (I volunteered as an Usher), which I absolutely loved!














Me with Tammy.














Tammy, me, and some crazy lady! (Sherri)





















The Getty's performed many wonderful songs.

One year ago....

We got a phone call that would change our lives forever.

There was a baby boy that needed a home. My response would be;
"When can I pick him up?"
"Unsure", would be my answer.
Little did we know, that it would be four weeks later.
(Even though, the day after the phone call,
I had everything out of the attic, washed and ready)

For the first two weeks, we were not allowed to touch him, we could only look...













It was hard, but at least twice a week, I would go to the hospital, and watch him sleep....













Eventually...big brother and sister were allowed to come watch him sleep....



















Finally...we got to hold him....













The nurses would tell us how fussy he was,













but he was always content when we were there...



















There was an instant bond...














And now, one year later, we could not imagine our lives without him...

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Blessed and Burdened at the same time....

My blessings are so abundant, and yet my heart is overwhelmed. I do not deserve all that has been given to me;
~Jesus Christ, my Savior, that died on a cross, for my sins, so that I could enjoy God forever.....
~My husband, who loves me more than any human could, who sacrifices much for his family, who is (which I will never understand) seriously attracted to me ;] , and the list goes on.....
~Healthy and Wonderful children, many of them........
~A large home, so large, that even though I could work diligently on it daily,
it would still never be clean.....
~Income to pay the bills.....
~Vehicles that are dependable......
~A church that loves God, and wants to see Him Glorified.....
~Friends and Family that keep me accountable, and still love me anyways.....
~An abundance of food......
~Being able to stay home, to raise and enjoy my children......

This list for me is never ending......there is sooooo much to be thankful for,
I do not deserve any of it!

And yet my heart is troubled.
As I look at those around me, as I go to Walmart and talk to my favorite cashiers, as I talk with strangers who pass me by, as I am given prayer requests, as I am talking to friends, as I am listening to the lives around me,
I think,
"Why me",
"why have I been so blessed?", (not that I have been trauma free),
"what can I do to bless those around me, that are suffering and having a hard time?"

Sometimes, when I feel so blessed, I question God with the "why's", and I am half afraid that He will give me burdens, because He thinks I am asking for them, (there is no truth in this, just fear taking over my thoughts).

Anyways, I am thankful for ALL the blessings around me, I pray that the Lord will use me to bless those around me, who are suffering, and struggling with issues in their lives.

Pushing Politics in public schools

Last night, Abby shared with me that this is "Going Green" week at school. Now, before I get into why I am bothered by it, I want to state that I am in agreement with recycling, and taking care of the earth that God created, but what is disturbing is that this is just another attempt to push politics onto children. This year, as been by far the worst! It seems that "some" teachers speak without facts, like after Obama had been president for only two weeks, Elijah comes home and shares, that his substitute teacher, tells the whole class that he is the best president we have ever had. What? He has not even had a chance to prove himself. Now, maybe, if after a year, or so, she could say that, based on evidence, but two weeks, what did he do to make himself the best president ever?
Ok, I better get back to my original thoughts!
Any ways, Abby hands me some printed material she has to read, along with a letter from the teacher, stating that this is "Going green" week at school, and for her evening reading, it has to be this material, or any article about "going green". Now, I grew up in ,California, and I remember being taught about recycling and conserving water, (at that time we were having a drought). So, again I am not disagreeing with teaching children about about these things. But, as I look through the material, some is about recycling and waste, but most of it is very political. Some of it Abby would not even be able to understand, and a lot of it was geared towards adults.
So, in my attempt to make sure Abby is being taught the facts, I decide to find "any articles", about environmental issues, if she is going to read about it, we want her to know the facts.
My purpose on posting this was not to complain about the school system or teachers, but that we, as parents can be proactive about teaching and talking to our children at home, do not assume that just because they "go to school", that they are being taught facts.

And to share with you a cool new website, (not political or environmental), that I came across, as I was trying to find articles for Abby.
As the website states:
Believing it. Defending it. Proclaiming it.

Global Warming in Perspective - Answers in Genesis

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Nap time for Parents

Last night, after dinner (around 7:00), I decided since our life group was canceled, to relax in my room and do some reading. After two pages, I fell asleep. Cleyo joined me in the reading time, and shortly after me, he fell asleep. Mentally and physically, it felt great! Except for the sudden screams from the backroom (mostly Priscilla). When I would wake for a moment, all I could think about is how wonderful it was to be in bed on a Tuesday evening, and getting some rest that my body was desperately needing.
Then at 9:20, Abby comes in and asks, "can we go to bed, I am really tired". So I respond, "sure, I will get up, and make sure everyone has their teeth brushed, and is ready for bed". As I come into the kitchen, the question from each kid was the same, "have you been in your room taking a nap"?
Yes, your parents are exhausted, and needed a nap.
And to my amazement, some had already got PJ's on, and brushed teeth. And as I was going to get Asher to get him ready for bed, Sheldon tells me that he already got him dressed, changed his diaper, and fed him a bottle.
WOW! What a blessing to have children willing to show their parents love, by behaving, taking care of each other, and having compassion for parents that needed some down time.
And after the nap, I was still able to go to sleep at 11:00.
Thank You Lord for naps.

I like to confuse you! Lol!

My "Ponderings" blog , has changed,
you can now find me @
http://4rtnow.blogspot.com/
HA HA HA !

Our First Born is now Our First Teenager.....

Well, back in October, but again because of uploading issues, I could not post this.
What can I say, other than I am strong-willed, and if I want to do something, it will get done, even if it is late. Anyways, I hope you enjoy going back in time with me.
I also want to say, that after going through these pictures, it has made appreciate what God has done in each one of the adults that are shown in the pictures. The Lord has truly blessed this family, and Praise God for who we are in Christ, and that He has done amazing things in each of our lives.

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