A Life of Gratitude

I haven't written as many blogs this month because honestly, I've just been so exhausted and drained. I've been struggling with Fibromyalgia symptoms (or whatever I have) so by the time the kids are in bed and I actually have time to write, I'm just too tired. But don't think for a moment that I haven't had plenty of things to be grateful for! I've seen God at work and felt His presence in so many wonderful ways. There's a song I really love called "Ever be" by Bethel Music. My favorite line says "You shoulder our weakness and Your strength becomes our own." These words are so true. I've experienced it time and time again. These past few weeks with my increased symptoms, I've felt God carry me and fill me with His strength. I honestly don't know what I would do without the strength He gives me. And because of this....His praise will "Ever Be" on my lips! Today I am grateful that God isn't ju

In January the back pain that I have dealt with for 7 years was miraculously healed! It was incredible. Even now, I do not suffer with that back pain any longer. (PRAISE GOD!) While I have been blown away by God's work in my life, I haven't been able to fully enjoy this miracle because of the all-over body pain, fatigue, and many other symptoms that I suffer with daily.  One of my doctors diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia about 6 months ago. Since then, I've researched and tried everything to help reduce these symptoms. There is really no rhyme or reason to this pain. I've been praying and seeking God's direction for months because some days, I can barely get out of the bed. Its really hard to be the mommy I need to be while feeling so horrible. I recently felt God instructing me to seek more help from doctors. I asked to have my thyroid checked because so many of my symptoms could be hormone related. While having an ultrasound, a thyroid nodule was found. Becaus

 "The righteous man walks in integrity; Blessed are his children after him." Proverbs 20:7 Today my boys and I celebrated the best Daddy we know!!! It was so much fun to watch the kids to their best to make the day special for their dad. They made gifts and cards, and wanted to whatever Bryan wanted. They had so much fun just being with the man they look up to the most!  Dylan, Bryan and Evan all about to hit the golf ball. Tyson is in the stroller! Bryan helping Evan with his golf swing How cute is this fella with his golf bag?? Today I am grateful that my three little boys have a father that desires to be involved in their lives. Bryan is always there for them, always loving on them, and always pointing them to Jesus. Men like that are hard to find these days, and I am so glad that Bryan is one of them! I am also thankful for the work our Heavenly Father has done in Bryan over the past 10 years or so.....God has been molding Bryan into the dad

I've always been a crafty person but I've never painted an actual picture of something on a canvas...until today! My friend, Maurie, and I went to the Mad Platter for an afternoon of fun! Today I am grateful for an afternoon of creativity and fun! I can't believe I've never done this before! It was a wonderful stress reliever for this Boymom! I am also thankful to have found a friend who enjoys being artsy, just like I do! This is definitely the first of many trips to the Mad Platter!

So what do you think happens when 4 moms, with 3 kids each, try to have a "Mommy Make-over" and playdate at the same time!?! Well, I'll tell you! Craziness.....that's what happens!  11 little boys and one little girl played and screamed while Valerie, Meghan, Sarah, and I got "pampered" by two Mary Kay Representatives. It was hysterical! I can't even tell you the number of times we got interrupted or one of us had to run out of the room to change a diaper or clean up a spill. Still, each of us enjoyed ourselves and ended up looking pretty darn good!  The Mary Kay gals that helped us with our makeovers were young and childless....I'm sure they were exhausted when left my house! There were times we couldn't even hear them speaking because of our loud littles! These girls were troopers though! They probably realize now that they want to wait many, many years before having a house full of kids, like we have! I haven't laughed so ha

I did something tonight that I thought I would never, ever do again! Since my back injury in 2009, I've been told by doctors that I would never ride a bicycle again. Well, in January God healed my back! I haven't had any of that old familiar back pain since then! It took me a while to work up the nerve to give a bike a try but tonight, I did it!  I never imagined that I would be this excited about riding a bike! My boys were running after me and cheering for me! We rode bikes all the way down the street and back. I have to say, I was nearly in tears thinking about God's goodness and faithfulness towards me! Bryan said that while I was riding the bike, the song "Born Again" by Third Day was playing on his phone. These were the words being sung at those exact moments.... It feels like I'm born again. If feels like I'm living For the very first time For the very first time In my life Feels like I'm breathing Feels like I

On this day, 12 years ago, I married my high school sweetheart. We had been dating for 8 years when we got hitched! So, we have officially been together for 20 years! I'll be honest, that doesn't even seem possible! Time really does fly! 12 years later we're living the life we used to daydream about when we were kids. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't praise God for carrying us through all the bad choices and crazy years so that we could end up here with 3 little boys, walking closely with our Savior.  I'm serious when I say that we shouldn't be here. We shouldn't be together. We shouldn't have the life we have. Our God is soooo good and His grace abounds! That He would allow us to stay together through all of life's ups and downs, and help us to grow into the people He created us to be, just blows my mind!  Today has been a special day, one of celebration. Not just celebrating the 12 years we've been married

My sweet, best friend, Valerie, had a Balloon Release Memorial this evening for the baby she recently lost due to miscarriage. She asked me to come and release balloons in memory of the two babies I have in Heaven. It was such a beautiful service and the perfect evening.  After 17 years of pretending my first baby didn't exist, honoring that child and the baby that I miscarried when I was 25, was incredibly meaningful to me. I didn't expect all the emotions that I felt and the many tears that fell but I know this experience is part of the healing that God has for me.  I am so incredibly grateful for the freedom and healing that God is blessing me with. I am also thankful for an amazing friend who would include me in this special service that was meant for her baby. I can't even express how hard and wonderful it was, all at the same time. My heart is so glad that God has given me friends to share my grief with, who understand the sadness I feel,

There's a song that I keep hearing lately that has become my prayer. It's called "Christ In Me" by Jeremy Camp.   Over the past couple weeks I've felt a new closeness with the Holy Spirit that I never knew was possible. I think that's why this song is one of my favorites.  Here's the chorus: So come and empty me  So that it's you I breathe I want my life to be   Only Christ in me  So I will fix my eyes 'Cause you're my source of life  I need the world to see That it's Christ in me I just want myself to be emptied and the Spirit to fill me! I want my life to be only Christ in me...that's WHO I want others to see! And if anyone ever wonders how or why, I want them to know that Christ is my source of life. I couldn't have written that song better myself! Today I am grateful for my relationship with the Holy Spirit. I am thankful that He will fill me and be my source of life! He will help me through every