Praying is a must!

When you are going on about your life praying daily is a must!



You are traveling down a road and everything seems to be going great. Then you come to a fork in the road. You stop and take a look. Then you decide what road is for you. You begin traveling down what seems to be a great path..... then things start to happen and you get through them. Then more struggles creep in. Somedays it seems to hard to bear. You stop and think, What in the world. Then you realize that you chose that path and didn't stop to ask God what way he would have you go. So you stop and pray and realize that you should have taken the other path. God helps you along the road back to where you started. You are reminded of the things that have happened and you must once again deal with them. Just because you tell God your sorry doesn't mean that everything goes away. Sometimes their are consequences that you must endure. However, you make it back to that fork in the road. You pray to God and ask for forgiveness and pray that he will help you and guide you along the path that he has chosen for you.
You begin down this road and although it seems hard and sometimes you stumble remember to pray and to ask God to pick you up and dust you off. As you walk down this road if you talk to God he reminds you that its all worth it in the end!

Some days may seem to be a battle but if you talk to God daily he will help you through your struggles. Look to God.... Who made heaven and earth. (see one of my favorite scriptures posted to the right of this page)

The BIG 3

WOW! Our nephew turns three! What a BIG day for such a BIG boy! We miss him so much since they have moved. When we moved here Eric was so happy that he would get to spend time with Nathan, and then they moved! So we cherish each time we get to see him (and his mommy and daddy too)! We will make the trip to Eric parents house tomorrow to celebrate his BIG day! To see some wonderful pictures of his Birthday Breakfast take a look to the left and click on Leslie's blog!

Guess who is getting a new camera...

ME! We went to pick it out at lunch today and we are going back tonight to get it! YAY! Its one of those big ones that makes you feel like a professional.... ooohhhh lala! GO ME!

The screen moves up or down and it makes it easier to see as well as it has a live digital pic (that means that i can see the pic on the screen as i take it and i don't have to wait till after i take the pic to view it) Pretty cool huh?

Guess What?

I'm having a..............................A few of "the girls" are having a one of these things. lol I have never done one on my own but this week as I was moving furniture around, so I could paint, I decided that it was time to get rid of my unwanted things. I have a few dressers and some tvs that need a new home. Along with some clothes (that are way to small for me and the doc. says I will never be a size 4 again) and other odds and ends things. So a few of us are putting our things together and getting rid of them on my front lawn on Saturday. If you have things you want to add to the sale just let me know!

THIS IS MY SECOND POST FOR THE DAY SO KEEP ON READING TO CATCH UP ON WHATS HAPPENING! ;)

Thoughts....

Have you ever had so many thoughts in your head that you couldn't keep them all straight?

Well, thats me lately. I begin to think about one thing... and another just pops in my head. Or I will have a million thoughts in my head all at once.... and that is sometimes followed by a headache..... I know I have posted a few things about me being so busy and everything being hectic. I have just had a lot on my mind and I just don't think it will get much better any time soon..... Why you ask?

For the last few years I have had some unexplainable problems. I have gained a lot of weight even though I have tried to diet and work out and some other problems that only women would understand. I had went to my family doctor and she didn't know what was going on. The monthly fairy had not brought me my "gift" in quite some time... and Eric and I were getting worried. My family doc. decided I needed to see a specialist and that's just what I did.

On my first visit, I told the doc. about everything that had been going on. She said it can be one of two things. You are just abnormal (this was followed my a giggle and a smile) or you could have a disease and/or a form of cancer..... I thought to myself, "this is a cruel joke.... me no way... I guess I'm just not normal, I can handle that." Then she followed it with, "we will need to do an ultrasound to make sure." I went out to the car and I was shocked. I worried a little bit but Eric tried to comforted me and told me that my cycle may just be a little abnormal and they just need to rule out some things with the ultrasound. It will all be ok he said.

On my second visit, I had the ultrasound and I asked the nurse what she saw. She said it doesn't look all that good. She saw several cysts. I asked her what causes them. She says that She thought I had PCOD (poly cystic ovary disease, aka PCOS poly cystic ovary syndrome). Just the sound of this scared me. She said that she couldn't give a diagnosis and that the doc. would look at the ultrasound and a nurse would call me with the results. I left that day a train wreck! Eric had a lunch meeting but I called him anyways, hoping he had not gotten to their lunch destination yet. He answered and all I could do was cry.

You see I asked the nurse more ?'s about PCOD and she explained to me that people at the stage that I am have a hard time having kids, if they can at all. (side note- I watch the show Jon & Kate plus 8. Kate has PCOD and they could not get prego on their own. She had to have infertility treatments and now she has two sets of multiples.) Most all women have weight gain but some people gain more than others. I have gained a lot of weight in the past 3 years but the doc. says I am actually on the smaller side for someone with PCOD. If you don't try to control your weight you could get to a weight that is very unhealthy (another side note- I have lost about 9 lbs in 2 months) I can get cancer in my female organs a lot easier, I will be more prone to having a heart attack (but trying to stay healthy and loose the weight helps decrease that) Sometimes I can actually feel my ovaries hurt.... YUCK! When I eat something with sugar (ie- candy bar, a coke even some fruits that are high in sugar or breads and pasta) my body is incapable of handling the sugar (b/c of the disease) like a normal person can. This is the reason for the weight gain and the anemia type symptoms that I sometimes feel. If you are the kind of person that likes to read up about things you can Google PCOS and read more about it. Their are tons of other symptoms but like I said not everyone has all of them. Kids will more than likely be hard for us..... but the Lord will do as he sees fit. We will just have to wait and see when that time comes. I have a feeling that it will be an emotional roller coaster (Eric and I have already gotten on the ride sometime ago when we had something unexpected happen (at the time we had no idea about the disease but now looking back the disease explain it all)..... we got though it and now we are going down that huge hill in the beginning.... well we have almost made it down that hill and hopefully the other twist and turns, with this disease and with life, wont be so bad). I don't need sympathy I just needed to get it out their..... I began this post several times now and thanks to Jenny, who opened up her heart and feeling a few weeks ago when she and Brandon were thrown through a rough turn on the emotional roller coaster, I felt like I could just sit down and write it and get if off my chest.

Came & Gone

Eric came home from camp (his second week of camp) on June 28 and he left for the mission trip with the kids on July 5. Yep, he came home on a Saturday and he was gone the next Saturday. I can't wait for him to be home again. This is his last week long trip for the summer! YAY! Our next trip will be to six flags for the day with the kids. Eric planned this trip on a Tuesday so I would be able to go....(my off day at work is on Tuesdays). I can't wait! It has been a few years since I have been and I am looking forward to it. My brothers may be coming up here and going with us! :)
Ok, I know I need to stay on topic...... Eric is gone on a mission trip to NC with the kids. They are putting together a VBS for a church there and they will do a few service projects during the day! I wish I could go. I have such a drive to do things like this and to be with the kids but I have to stay home and hold down the fort...... which means I must stay and work all day and get some home improvement projects done at night. YUCK! I can't wait for the day that I get to stay home! That way I can go on all the trips with the Youth Group and I can help out more at Church (I really want to get involved with the food pantry at church). Their is so much that I want to do but with a job that requires me to be here from 7 am to 6 pm I don't really have time for the extras.... ONE DAY! I don't know when that day will be but it will come..... ONE DAY!

4th of July

Yeah, I know its a little late but this girlie has been busy. We have been busy with the youth group and I have been super busy at work. I guess better late then never! lol :)

We had the Young Adults over for a cookout at lunch time. We had hamburgers and hotdogs with all the fixins. After lunch we cooled off in the pool. It was a good day! Then later we went to the church for a cookout and to watch the fireworks. I LOVE FIREWORKS! So that was a GREAT end to a GREAT day! I hope to have pics soon.

I found this while I was blog-hopping......

Check out this website http://krishubick.blogspot.com/2008/06/art-giveaway-and-thank-you.html and enter to win an amazing piece of art!

I'm Back and Going Full Speed!

We have been so busy..... (i wrote about this in my last blog). Summer time is always crazy and sad (for me). Let me start from way back when (in April). (Please read all of this blog and then visiting our scrapbook blog to see all the great pictures). As of today, Wednesday, I dont have all the scrapbook pages done. I should have them on the scrapbook blog tonight, I'm just happy to complete this blog (I have been doing it little by little in my free time).


Junior Senior Banquet (aka Prom Alternative)


Last year Eric and I started a tradition. We wanted to have a Junior Senior Banquet for those of the group that don't go to their high school prom. It was a fun night and we had a blast. Our theme was "Hollywood- A Night on the Red Carpet"! We decorated the tables with popcorn buckets and movie reels (thanks katie for making those) and we even had a red carpet down the middle of the room. The group had a nice meal prepared and served to them along with strawberry shortcake for dessert. After the meal we had the "entertainment". I had a great idea to present each of the kids with a certificate and they would have to come up with an acceptance speech for their award. Eric came up with the award titles (most all of them had to do with something funny that they did during the past year). The speeches were so funny.... some more dramatised (sp?) than others. We had such a great time. After that we went bowling and we had even more fun! I can't wait till next year!

Graduation 2008


We had several graduate from high school this year. This will be their last summer in the youth group and they will be missed.


Eric also graduated this year! He is finally finished! He graduated on May 31, 2008 from Amridge University (formerly known as Southern Christian University). He has a Bachelors in Biblical Studies. He will be taking at least a year off before returning for his masters. During that time off I am hoping to go back to school (if I can find the time with our busy schedules).


CAMP!!!!!!!!


I could blog about this subject all day! I would be a summer camp junkie if I didn't work! We went to Gulf Coast Bible Camp the last week of May. Eric directs Montgomery/Baldwin county week for 3rd-12th grade (the last week of May). But it all started when we were in Gulf Shores and Eric was asked to direct a 6th-8th grade week (mostly for Baldwin, Mobile and the Pensacola area) in June. He was so happy that he was asked. This is a BIG deal to be asked to direct a whole week of camp. They must have a lot of FAITH in him. (He has only been in full time youth ministry for a little over three years and he has already accomplished so much...... can you tell that I'm a proud wife or what lol). Since last years 6-8 grade went so well he was asked if he would start another week from scratch (Montgomery/Baldwin week). He of course was overjoyed and said YES! (I was really happy for him but later I thought HOLY COW directing 2 weeks of camp! He asked Brian (of the Dalraida Church, click here to see his families blog http://smilingsmyfavorite-jal.blogspot.com/) and they began working...... the week went so well. We had about 100 (I think), with campers and staff. I got to spend the week with my Mom who was in charge of crafts and the kitchen. I was camp nurse (if my lovely husbands appoints me this next year, which I don't mind, Dalraida has to supply my band aids and pay a copay for each child that visits the nurse lol). I would have been rich this summer! We only had 2 broken bones (one fractured ankle and a broken thumb) the whole week. It was more than I wanted but still not bad for a week at camp with that many people. Mostly it was just scratches, tummy aches (homesickness and not drinking enough water) and a few wonderful and smart children who decided to go on a nature walk and swing from unknown branches (apparently poison oak/ivy). I also helped in the kitchen and assisted in crafts. WOW! Next year I'm only taking on two jobs..... Nurse and directors wife are enough! We got to see some of the kids in our "old" youth group who are also the kids that were our "first" youth group. That was fun. We also made new friends. The staff was so much fun. Tom and Tracy from the Summerdale Church are a hoot to be around! They can make you laugh in any situation.... and good ole' Mrs. Leslie just ags them on. The Gills did a great job feeding the army! The Dailraida women have such good hearts and "they" know what I mean! :) Doug (from Dalraida) had a great sense of humor (he had one of our homesick kids in his cabin). He was so wonderful to him and he tried in every way possible to help him. The Group from Forrest Park (in GA) were all great! I saw a few of their older boys taking care of the younger ones and it did my heart a lot of good! Brian (Dalraida) was the co-director and you would have never know that it was his first time to direct camp. Eric loved having him there and looks forward to many years to come with the Montgomery/Baldwin(/GA) week at camp! Gulf Coast Bible Camp (GCBC) has changed a lot over this last year. They tore down two girls cabins and replaced them with one large cabin with two different rooms on each side and a bathroom in the back. Now the girls wont have to go outside to the bath house to shower! And guess what they have A/C, not window units real a/c! The boys will get the new cabins next year! The Mess Hall was also extended! It was much needed (we had outgrown the smaller space provided to eat) and a front porch was added with picnic tables! All of the new amenities are due to one man (Byron) and the support he has raised from wonderful churches! He has worked (broke foot and all) year around to make camp a better place for the campers and staff! I was sad to leave camp and I cant wait for next year! Montgomery/Baldwin week is the best week of camp! (I'll update you about 6-8 grade when Eric gets through it!)

Devo with the Camp Crew
Tracy Moore, the minister in Sumemrdale, came to speak at Dalraida. He and the youth minister brought along some of their teens and parents that came to camp. So Dailraida, Summerdale and Prattville all got together Wednesday night after church at the Faulkner Multiplex. We had a great time seeing our new found friends (it had only been 2 weeks since we had seen them at camp) and we enjoyed the food and fellowship. We all piled into one one and sang. It was the most beautiful singing I had heard in a long time! And for those of you who went to camp with us I would like to let you know that my husband has a new motto..... "What would Tom do?" I'm still not sure if this is good or bad?!?

Bible Studies

On Thursdays, during the summer, we have a Bible Study in our home for the teenagers! Its a great time! They have a 30 min. lesson and then they talk, play Wii and fellowship with one another for about 45 min. We have fun and it's a great chance for them to bring their friends!

Renovations

We have completed the renovations in our guest bathroom and we are half way done with our master bathroom. We had to take a break due to camp and vbs. We will get back to it soon!


VBS

Wow! I love VBS but on the last night I'm glad we are done! Eric and I help another couple at church direct VBS. I am in charge of the 2 and 3 year olds (their classes, decorations, crafts and snacks). I also help with the decorations at the building as well as the odd and ends things for the Teen class, and some of the overall planning of VBS. It was such a blast and a success. I love seeing the young kids growing closer to God in that week!

Odd &Ends

Work is going great I'm just so darn busy! I took a week off to go to camp and it took me several days to catch back up when we got back. I feel like I am going non-stop between work, the youth group and being a wife with a home to take care of. uuuggggg...... need break....... need break! But its full steam ahead till the end of the summer. I am really wanting a break, just the two of us, after the summer. We have not had a vacation for just he and I since we were married 2 1/2 years ago. We have taken 2 vacays in 2 1/2 years. One was back home so we were with family the whole weekend and the other was with a few couples from the young adult group. These were both really fun but I am longing for a get-a-way for just the two of us. I think its much needed as busy as we are. We just dont have the time or the $$$$$$ (gas costs WAAAYYYYY TTTOOOOOOO MMMUUUUCCCCCHHHHHH)! And that gov. stimulus check... ha! That went to Lowes (all $600) for a shower and all to do-dads to hook it up and make it work! All-in-all we are alive and kicking! Sometimes I feel like I'm barely hanging on by a thread but just when I feel like I can't hang on any more God lifts me up to the top so I can start the ride all over again! I have said it before and I think its my motto by now...... Our life is hectic but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

I hope all of you have had a great summer thus far! If you know of anything I have forgotten just let me know! Check back tomorrow for pictures on my scrapbook blog!

I have been doing a lot of work....

As you can see I have done a lot of work to our blog. It has a new header and I have figued out how to make it a three column blog (all by myself). I also have a new scrapbook blog. Click the picture to the right and you can see what it looks like. It is almost 1:00 sunday morning and I really need to get to bed. I have a busy day tomorrow. I have been so excited about the changes that i wanted to get them just right before I blogged, just in case I lost all the info (while doing the good ole' trial and error method). lol Now that I have it like I want it the next step is to update you guys on what happening in our busy life right now! Sorry I have slacked in the last month but .like I said I have been working on my blog-look and we have been super busy. We have had a week of camp, them I was behind at work (b/c of the week at camp) and this week was VBS. Whew.... Im pooped. But I know I must make time for blog-land sometime tomorrow.