Mama I'm Scared of the Storm. Can I get in your bed ?

That is the words that I heard at 3:26 am this morning from my daughter Abigail. About 10 seconds earlier I had heard a clap of thunder and a saw a flash of lightening. I knew I would be hearing footsteps, I just wasn't sure how many sets of feet I would hear.
Abigail crawled up in between me and her Daddy (who never woke up). As soon as she settled in it thundered again and here comes Molly. She is my youngest but also 4 legged ! Molly is our dog.

Now granted she always sleeps at the foot of the bed but she was scared of the storm as well. Abigail grabbed one of my hands and Molly put her head in my other one. Molly is a rescue so we wish at times she could tell us of her adventures when she lived on her own. I wonder if that has anything to do with her fears but also with her unconditional love. She is very sweet....enough about Molly, back to the storm.
As I was laying there with Abigail and Molly seeking shelter and comfort with me I was reminded of Our Heavenly Father. I thought of the verse that talks about how He shelters us under His wings, how He gathers us close to Him. I picture a Mother Eagle in her nest with her hatchlings gathered up under her wings, safe, warm, sheltered.
It made me wonder....What if instead of standing in the middle of our life storms we immediately ran God and drew close to him ? Would the storm be over quicker, would we be able to rest in the assurance of His presence, would we be able to stay calm in spite of the raging storm around us ? Hmmmmmm, a lot to think about.
In case you are wondering, I did get back to sleep but it did take a little while as I pondered. Hopefully the next time I am faced with a storm, God will hear my footsteps as I run to Him, crawl up next to Him and hold His hand and maybe even lay my head in the other hand.
Praise You Father ! You are not only the Maker of the Storm, You also calm the storm !

Blessings,

Me and my kiddos gettin all ready, gettin all ready for school !

Perhaps some of you are familiar with the song "Me and my Teddy, gettin all ready, gettin all ready for school ! This song was made popular at our house by a large, purple dinosaur back when the kids were younger....much younger. Anyway, we started school here at Miller Family Academy on Friday. I have the kids start August 1st so they can be done by the first week of May.

The kids didn't fuss too much and they really do seem to be enjoying their new cirruculum. The girls have always used the Lifeway devotionals that are age appropriate for them. They love using them everyday and can't wait to get their new one each month. They are going to continue to use them this year but we are going to do something else as well. Our Pastor, also known as Daddy in our house, is offering a scripture memorization class at church. He wants our family to participate so we are going to. We are both excited and nervous, hiding God's Word in our hearts is a wonderful and necessary thing in the life of a Christian, however the act of actually memorizing it is a not such an easy task. It will be fun and challenging !
We have now completed 2 days of school only 178 left to go !!!!

Blessings ,

God Stop Friday and More

I just realized that I have not posted since July 1st. YIKES ! So not only will this be a God Stop Friday but an update of sorts.
Hubby has been on Vacation since July 14. My daughters made up a song about Daddy being on vacation and sang it to him as soon as church let out on Sunday night July 13. We have had a great time. I have had to work a few days but that is ok because I love my Merchandising Job !
On Thursday of last week we went to visit my BFF Patty and her crew. Thanks again go out to Jason for giving up his room for 3 nights ! Thanks Man for letting us invade your space !
Patty, Georgia and I went to the Christ Church Music Conference Concerts in Nashville and had a blast. Oh my goodness if you have never heard Christ Church Choir sing then you don't know what you are missing. They are awesome !
Another cool thing that happened was that I ran into a friend that I had not seen in years. In Nashville at the conference of all places. I was walking to get a refill on sweet tea for me and Patty and I heard this voice. I was thinking it sounded familiar, as I returned to my seat I heard the same voice say my name. I looked and it was my good friend Jan and her husband Michael. Michael is a Worship leader at a church in Ohio. They were attending the conference. We connected again on Friday after the conference and talked for a couple of hours. It is so good to reconnect with old friends and catch up. We could have talked for hours and hours more !
Our family attended church with Patty's crew on Sunday and had a wonderful time. It was their Pastor's 50th birthday celebration so we had cupcakes after service !! He brought a wonderful word from the WORD. It was a 2 parter and I so wanted to go back on Sunday night and hear the rest but we had to get on the road home. Someone (DH) missed his dog !
On Monday Tabitha and I traveled to the Tri-Cities to do some store visits. We also had to go to Wise, VA. I have been to Wise before but this time we went from Bristol to Wise instread of from Kingsport. Well 1st of all we discovered a Hardees that still serves Fried Chicken. It was a gift from God let me tell you. We were so hungry and it was soooooooo good. Oh and peach cobbler, mercy me it was gooooood ! We left the Hardees and continued on our way to Wise. I don't know if we took a wrong turn or what but we got lost. But God.....oh how I love those 2 words.....But God put 2 angels in our path in the form of road construction workers that placed us back on the right path. I was driving down the road and the 1st angel(construction worker) was waving us toward him and I mean he was cranking his arm he was waving so hard. I said to Tabitha, I think we need to go this way. So we did but then stopped and asked the 2nd guy how to get to Wise and he sent us up a ramp and on our way. We got there very shortly. When we were coming back that little construction area was gone ! I am telling you the truth. Now you can say it was in a place that we did not drive back by if you want but I know God put it there just so we could find our way !
Tuesday : We went to the Smoky Mountains for a picnic. We went to the Chimney's picnic area because there is a creek for George and the girls to play in. We had a great day, Abigail helped her Daddy grill hot dogs. They were scrumptious, mostly because Abigail told me that when she was helping Georgia grill that Georgia told her to pray over them before she cooked them. So she did. Ah, the power of prayer. We had Smores for dessert . Life is so much better when you add a little chocolate. After lunch George and the girls headed off down to the creek and Molly(the dog) and I stayed at the picnic area and took a nap. They played at the creek for a while and were getting ready to come back up to the picnic area and rest a while. Abigail and Lydia came running up and said "Mom, Daddy fell in the creek and hurt his arm, come quick !" He had fallen getting out when a rock that he was standing on shifted. He dislocated his shoulder. Off we went to the ER at St. Mary's Sevier County. We got there and they took him back really quickly because it was obvious how much pain he was in. They put him on a gurney in the hallway but he still got taken care of. A great big burly guy came and rolled him to X-ray. I could not go in so I called a few friends to let them know what was going on and to ask for prayer. He was in there a good 10 minutes and when they brought him out he said " Look honey I am healed ! " He was smiling and moving his arm. When he laid on the x ray table his shoulder went back into place. He does have to wear a shoulder stabilizer for several days but he is getting better every day.
The last 2 days we have been having a yard sale and have done pretty good. Vacation is almost over but it has been good. I love the refreshing of the LORD, when we take time to enjoy it.
Sorry for the lengthy post. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend !!!
Blessings,

(LATE)God Stop Friday and More !

I know this is 4 days late but I really wanted to share this. First of all last week was extremly busy. I worked at my merchandising dog/cat food job every day last week ! My wonderful hubby spent his day off Friday driving me around Chattanooga. Anyway back to the God Stop.
The major reason I wanted to post is this:
My youngest daughter Abigail (along with her sister Lydia) had earned some money by feeding a neighbor's cat while they were on vacation. Lydia is saving for an electric guitar and is about to get enough to buy one ! Abigail decided that she was going to buy herself a Fire Belly Toad. She went with me to one of my stores and bought one. She was also GIVEN a brand new 20 gallon aquarium to keep her frog in ! Does this girl have God's favor or what !!! We had to go to another store to buy crickets because the first store was out. So off we went and there she bought another Toad ! It is bright green and the first one was brown. We decided that she needed a container to keep the crickets in as well so later in the week I felt led to go into a thrift store, yes girls I was led by the Holy Spirit to go in this thrift store. Anyway we found a small plastic cage like you would keep hermit crabs in and it was very inexpensive, so now she has a cricket cage as well. We are really enjoying the toads. We put the cricket cage right beside the aquarium and when the toads are hungry they go stare through the glass at the crickets ! It is hilarious !

I also have a cute picture to post. On Saturday our church had Angel Food distribution. This is an awesome outreach ministry. If your church is not involved in it I urge you to check out the website and pray about being a host site. We have a great time of fellowship on distribution day. All of us bring our kids and they have a blast as well. Here is a picture of Baby Jay - Angel Food !!!

Drawn Butter Shots At Red Lobster

Patty and I had sooooooooo much fun at Red Lobster Thursday night. We had a blast taking pictures. I had eaten everything from 4 cheese biscuits to Fire grilled Lobster and Shrimp.The only thing left was the drawn butter. I looked at Patty and picked up my drawn butter cup and said "Hey Patty...look drawn butter shots ! " She immediately took the picture ! No I didn't really drink it but we laughed and laughed. I love God's gift of Fellowship, especially when it is with your BFF ! The time flew by and before we knew it Saturday was here and it was time to pack up and come home. We are already planning another trip down ! See you soon girlfriend !!BTW tell Jason that yes I will make his favorite pie next time. Heck we might even have to have that Thanksgiving in July thing !!! LOL

Blessings,

It's God Stop Friday Again!!

Ok so I know I have missed several God Stop Friday's. All I can say is that life has been crazy. So this week I have had so many God Stop's that I just had to share a few. Here we go.....

Monday: It's time to start gathering Homeschool books for the Fall. My oldest will be in 10th grade (YIKES) in the fall. She needs Algebra 2. We use Saxon Math and last year I got a bargain of "only" spending $25 for her Math. Well this year God decided to show out even more. Holli and I went to McKays Used Books on Monday. I felt God leading me there...I really did. So anyway told Holli that I was heading back to the Homeschool Book section. She said ok and proceeded to the Young Adult Fiction section. I was on my way and encountered a section I had never seen before.....It said "Math". I said ok and went to look. There on the bottom shelf was a Saxon Math Algebra 2 book, it looked brand new and guess what...it was $4 that's right $4. Oh and did I mention that I had $8 in book credit so I really didn't even pay anything for it !! Go God !!!!
Tuesday: I went to the Tri-Cities to work at my Petsmart stores. There is a Lifeway right next to the one in Johnson City. I needed to get my workbook for the Summer Siesta Bible Study. The shelf was empty ! I was a little dissappointed but God......I suddenly remembered there was a Lifeway in Kingsport which was my next stop on the Petsmart route. I found the book in Kingsport. Thank you Jesus !
Wednesday: This was business meeting night at our church. Let's just say the last several months have not been fun when it comes to business meeting. Well this business meeting was different. For the last few weeks there has been such a sweet spirit in the church. God is so good. At this business meeting we actually laughed and clapped and praised God. There was a motion made by one of our wonderful deacons to Re-Affirm our Homeschool Group and Mother's Day Out programs. Now there is a long story behind that which I will not go into but the whole group all 50-60 of them errupted in to applause when the motion was made. I was so blessed because I direct both of those programs and my husband ( our Pastor) oversees both programs. Needless to say the motion overwhelmingly passed. And yes there was applause again. God smiles on us when we choose to bless little children. Thank you Father for the love you have placed in the hearts of the people of Magna View for Children.
Thursday: Oh My Gosh Thursday !!! Satan tried so hard to steal the joy of the day from me but he failed miserably ! In your face satan, you are defeated ! Ok on with the post.... The big good event of the day was that my family and I got to come up to Murfreesboro to visit my BFF Patty. Yes I am sitting in her living room eating my scrambled eggs that my fav Greek gurl prepared.....thanks Georgia, as I post.
Last night we went to eat at Red Lobster with Patty and her family and Joy and Derrick (our former music minister that relocated to this area) and their beautiful new baby girl Tybee !
I started off the meal by eating 4 count 'em 4 cheese biscuits ! I continued the glorious meal with a Caeser salad and then had Fire Grilled Lobster and Shrimp...Girls I was in heaven. Patty took some pics and one or both of us will post those later.....get ready to laugh ! We had an awesome server named Maxx....she had it goin' on let me tol you. We decided not to have dessert at Red Lobster so............we went to the DQ Grill and Chill. I had the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Waffle Bowl Sundae ! Go have one you will not be dissappointed !
Today: I am chilaxin at Patty's....we may hit a few yard sales later, we may not. Either way we are having a good day. My Man and Barry (Patty's Brother) are golfing ! Life is gooooooood !
Be blessed my friends. I can't wait to see what God has done in everyone's life this week.

Blessings,

What A Blessing

Tonight at church we had a wonderful service ! We had a concert and it was awesome ! Kenna Turner West sang. Oh my goodness girls, she was great. I was told it was going to be Southern Gospel and I must honestly say I was not real excited about that. I am a contemporary music girl myself and I used to like some Southern gospel but got tired of it.
Our family arrived at the church early (of course we did, we are the Preacher's family), and Kenna was already there getting ready for tonight. Scott, the deacon in our church that had gotten Kenna booked , took me in to meet her. She and I immediately bonded. We only spoke for a couple of minutes. Did you ever meet someone who you felt like you had known forever and would love to just sit and chat with.......well that is Kenna. She just blessed your heart !
And have mercy the girl could sing. I loved every song that she sang. She had me laughing, praising God and yes even crying a time or 2. I know it was a miracle, I actually shed a few tears. She told a story and sang a song about her deceased Grandma who had battled Alzheimer's Disease. We had the tissues going, let me tell you.
After that song she sang one called "I'm A Mom". It was hilarious. It was sooooooo true and would be loved greatly by all you Mama's out there. I am going to try to figure out how to post it so you can hear it. Kenna said it was ok for me to do that.
Let me just tell you, if you ever have a need for someone to come sing at your church or event or retreat.....Kenna is the one. She certainly has the gift of encouragement and will just become your new best friend. She is precious.
She is the daughter of Ken Turner of the Blackwood Brothers and the daughter in law of the Late Dottie West. She lives in the Nashville area. Check out her website . You will be blessed.

Blessings,