Our New Home...

I am still amazed at how God works in our lives in ways we NEVER dreamed.  He is so good!  I just can't praise Him enough for meeting our every need (and wants).  This past week was just a miraculous week for Charles and I.  We keep asking ourselves if this is for real or are we just dreaming.  LOL 

:) Our New Home! :)

This is our new (soon to be) home!  We plan to close on it by June 1.  We have to finish out our pastorate term here in Arkansas at the end of June.  As you can imagine, we are so anxious to get moved into it.  We plan to do some painting and other things before moving in and we are extremely excited!  The kiddos are anxious too and are very happy about having "an upstairs bedroom".  Our home has a "servant's quarter" with its own personal stairway that leads down to the kitchen. Landen has already decided that that will be his room.  I told him that if he is taking that room then he has to live up to the name of it and that we expect to be waited on hand and foot.  LOL  He didn't think that was such a good idea...

Fireplace in Dining Room

I didn't get many pics of the inside while we were there this past week, but I will have an opportunity to get more soon.  This pic of the fireplace is probably one of my favorite things about the house.  This house was built in 1903 and the owners have maintained most of all the original wood work throughout the house and recently remodeled the kitchen (it's amazing!).  Charles and I fell in love with this place as soon as we walked in!  We can't wait!  God knew exactly what we needed and the time we needed it.  Isn't HE Wonderful?  We just can't praise Him enough for everything He does for us! 

I will keep updated on any progress we make.  I have TONS of things to do around here (Arkansas) in the meantime, which will make time for us pass by very quickly (I hope). :) 

God Will Make a Way...

Just 24 hours after Charles and I announced to the church that we are moving away, a great opportunity came about. God is so amazing!!! To make a long story short...  four days after making our announcement God has miraculously provided a way for Charles and I to buy our very own home!!! We are super excited!!!!! It's the perfect home for our family! Pictures to come, hopefully soon. It's a two story, 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with a partial basement, an attic, a garage and beautiful wrap around porch! The song I have been singing lately goes, "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way..." HE has truly proven this to Charles and I this week! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Just had to share this with you all! :)

The Word is Officially Out...

Tonight was a difficult night for us.  We officially announced to our wonderful church family that we will be moving soon.  Arkansas has been home to us for almost 9 years.  During these years, we have built wonderful relationships and will miss our dear church family and friends so very much.  Of course, a lot of tears were shed and I think it came as a shock to many people.  It was not an easy decision for us to make, but Charles and I feel that it is time for us to close this chapter of our lives and begin a new one.  Leaving Arkansas will be difficult for us as we have grown to love this place so much. We are anxious, scared, nervous, excited among other emotions that change brings about.  We don't know what the future will hold for us and our family, but God is in control and we are trusting in His leading.  We do not plan to take on another pastorate at this time.  I know that many people will have a lot of questions concerning our "calling."  We were called into MINISTRY and God led us to the pastorate (just one ministry of many), but just because we are not pastoring does not mean we are giving up our calling to ministry.  My heart is fully in the ministry and I can't imagine not ministering in some way or other no matter where God leads me.  I know that a lot of questions go unanswered at this time, but I know that God has already worked out every little detail and will take care of our every need.  I am reminded of Abraham as he "went not knowing where he was going" (Charles and I know where we are going).  Abraham chose to follow God and He blessed him greatly because he simply put his trust in HIM.  Did God ever let him down?  No.  I know that we are uncertain at this time of all the details, but I also know our God will not let us down as we follow His plan for our lives.  I ask you, my dear friends and family to pray for us in the coming weeks as we prepare to move and please remember our dear church family that they will find a replacement soon.  Also, if anyone would like to come help me pack, I'd very much welcome your help! :) 

My "Other" Blog...

I have decided to create a more personal, spiritual blog, Perfect Peace, to record some of the things that God has shown/is showing me in my life.  I hope that it can be a place of encouragement for others who have struggled/are struggling with major spiritual strongholds in their life as I have.  Thankfully, with the help of the Lord, I have overcome many strongholds in my life and I want to share what I have learned to help others as well.  I hope that the things I share will be a blessing to you as they have for me.

Perfect Peace 

An Overdue Update...

Hi, fellow bloggers!  I have been extremely busy these days!  I have been swamped with homework for my college classes that I am taking among other things and it doesn't leave me with a lot of free time.  Since my last post, God has answered MANY prayers for our family.  I plan to share those with you all soon in the coming days.  God is so good!  Thank you to my dear friends and family who have prayed for us recently.  We have appreciated it so much!  (You know who you are!)

I have began a new endeavor the past couple weeks.  I am now homeschooling Landen this semester, which adds to the load I'm already carrying.  But, Charles and I strongly felt that there needed to be some changes in the direction that Landen has been going.  So far, the homeschooling is going pretty well.  He does his core curriculum online and then I work with him some on my own as well.  A big thank you to my fellow homeschooling mamas who have shared so much information with me!  I couldn't have done it without you!  I never thought that I would ever homeschool, but I am learning a lot these days to NEVER SAY NEVER!  I ask for continuing prayers for Landen.  I know God's got big plans for him!

I am also working now for 12 hours one day a week, caring for a precious elderly couple.  I love my job!  They are the sweetest people to work for and I thank God for providing this job for me.  God always knows what we need when we need it.  I am thankful for all He provides for Charles and I!

My Saby~Baby

The kiddos are doing well.  School work keeps them pretty busy and my three oldest kiddos will be starting soccer soon.  They are extremely excited about this.  Of course, they keep this mama pretty busy as well.  Sabryn is doing well in school and loves being around her friends.  She's a lot like her daddy in that she never meets a stranger.  She is blessed with a lot of her daddy's characteristics. 

Sabryn w/ her best friend, Lindsay

My Ry~Guy

Lately, my 5 year old boy has been fascinated with the idea of going to Heaven.  It has been a little bit of an uneasy feeling for me because for the past couple of months there has hardly been a day that he has not said something about heaven or asked about things in heaven.  But, I am thankful that he has the desire to go there.  Last summer, he asked Jesus in his heart and it was the most beautiful thing.  Rylan keeps us in stitches around here with his never ending questions and remarks.  I really should be recording all he says and does.  He's quite the humorous little guy.

Boys love playing on my iPad

 

Ian w/ one of his MANY hats

 Ian has been talking like crazy lately.  He's soon to be 3 in March.  It's like he just started talking overnight.  It's kind of a blessing and at the same time kind of sad that my baby is growing up so fast.  He has a fascination with hats and trains and usually has both (or many) of these items with him at all times.  He is such a mama's boy, which makes me feel pretty special.  I'm not sure how it makes Charles feel though. lol

Well, that's all that's been going on here in our little world.  Hope you all are having a blessed week!

DIY Cleaning Aids...

I have been trying different ways to live "frugally" lately (another New Year's Resolution).  I thought some of you might like to try out these cleaning aids for yourself.   I have been totally amazed at how they work and best of all they are saving me moolah! :-)

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT:
About a year ago, my father in law made me homemade laundry detergent to try out.  I have to say that I was pretty skeptical at first and had my doubts that it would work very well.  Most people who know me well, know that I am pretty picky about the way I do laundry and there is nothing better to me than putting on good smelling clothes and using good smelling towels.  I have been totally converted to making my own laundry detergent and have been doing so for about a year.  It works very well and it is much cheaper!  I still use good smelling fabric softener, which by saving so much $ on my laundry detergent makes me feel less guilty about spending the money on good fabric softener. For those of you who would like to try this out, this is what you need:

1 bar of Fels-Naptha bar soap (grated)
1 cup Borax
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Powder

This is for one batch.  I usually make about 6 batches at a time so I don't have to make it very often.  Hint: open your bar(s) of soap and let set out for 4 - 7 days to dry out.  It is suppose to make it easier to grate.  Or if you don't want to wait that long, my hubby has found if you put the soap in the microwave for just a little bit it makes it easier to grate as well.  Use 1 Tbs. for a regular load.

 +

=  HOMEMADE SUPER CLEANER:

(I found this online somewhere and recently tried it out for myself.  Pretty amazing stuff!)
 
12 oz. Vingar
12 oz. Blue Dawn Liquid Dish Soap
Spray Bottle

Heat the vinegar in the microwave until warm.  Pour into your spray bottle and then add the dish soap.  Shake it around a bit to mix.  Then use away.

I have used this to clean my shower, stools, and sinks.  It is amazing at how sparkly and clean my showers are now. :-)  I spray my shower and let it set overnight and then wash it off with a rag and I was totally surprised at how easy the soap scum disappeared. 

=  HOMEMADE DISHWASHER DETERGENT


1 box of Borax
1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
3 cups Epsom Salt
24 packets of Kool-Aid Lemonade

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.  Then just use 1 Tbs. per load.  I have found that you will need to use a rinsing agent with this soap such as Jet Dry (I just buy WM generic brand - and it works great)!  If you do not have a rinsing agent of some sort there will be hard water spots on your dishes.  This makes A LOT of soap and will last a very long time.

Just thought I'd share these few homemade cleaning aids that I have found to be very good and very cheap!

Happy Cleaning!