What to Do....

I have been debating back and forth about whether or not to blog about this desicion that James and I are facing...but writing is a release for me...and today, I feel down about it...so here goes...maybe at the end of all my rambling...I will feel a little better....I do realize that in the light of the world's economy, the Swine flu outbreak, and all of the other horrible things going on in our world today, my little problem may seem trivial...But I do know, that no matter how small it is-God is listening....and He will be there for me...and help me to do the right thing...as long as I hand this ALL over to Him...which is what I have been trying to do...Sometimes, it is hard to completely give it over to Him...but I am working on it...


Well, here goes...As many of you know, Macey and I will be going to NYC this summer for 6 weeks...We are super excited about this opportunity...and this desicion has not been made lightly....A year ago in February, Macey auditioned for AMTC(Actors, Models, and Talent for Christ) and did really well....She ended up going to Orlando, Florida for a week last summer and recieved 3 callbacks...2 from NYC, and 1 from LA....So, to make a long story short...We visited NYC last October and Macey interviewed with 2 different agents, and they want her to come live in the city this summer for 6 weeks...

So...this is where the story gets a little more complicated.....I have a job...part time....night shift...that I DO like...It works for me and the family....I am a registered nurse in a call center....I have been speaking with my manager back and forth for a few months now via email(because I am a night shift girl) concerning our upcoming trip to NY....I asked to change my position status...I am part time now, and wanted to change to PRN (which simply means "as needed"-no set hours, and you get to pick when you can or can't work-perfect for my situation) First, I was told there was no PRN positions yet, but should be soon (last November), then I was advised maybe I should apply for a leave of absence...then yet again...no, why don't you drop to PRN status? ....and now...where I am now..."We can't grant your leave of absence NOR can we let you drop to PRN..." Seriously? Four weeks before I am supposed to go? I have been seriously bummed out about this one....I mean, James and I have prayed and prayed concerning Macey's trip...and one door after another, after another have been opened....I believe that God has this in Macey's life for a reason...and I trust Him in this....But now we are facing this setback....If I choose to go with her, (which is my plan) I will have to quit my job....Hmmm....I really have been burdened by this one...Many of my close friends are praying for us as we try to decide what to do....I think I know the answer, but sometimes going through that door of uncertainty is so scary...but I know all He wants is for to trust in Him....

This morning, I went walking at the park, and listened to some praise music on my ipod....and then I went down to the lake to pray...something that I have not done before....I told you, I am serious about getting God's guidance on this life of mine....=) and this was the song that was playing as I began to pray..... Take It All, by Third Day....

one of my favorite songs....but the words were from Him...my Heavenly Father...

"All the roads that lie before me, All the struggles I go through....Every second I'm reminded, that it all belongs to You....Now I'm ready, to let it go, to give it away....Take it All, because I can't take it any longer...All I have, I can't make it on my own...Take the first, take the last, take the good and take the rest....Here I am, all I have, take it all...."

I am trying to do the right thing...just pray for me as we try to follow God's will for our lives....He is good....All the time....

Fun in the Sun Weekend

We had a great weekend...watching the kids play soccer, and just spending lots of time outside!! We had beautiful weather...and we thoroughly enjoyed it...Here are a few pics from the weekend.....Macey's soccer game...

Cade's soccer game.....check out that face....so serious...We took the kids to the park too...Love this pic of James and his girl....=)Ian skipping rocks....this is an art, you know...Cade playing in the rocks....right after this, we saw a snake slithering through the grass...right next to us...Yuck!!Pretty....A duck...no, I am not a bird fan...but just doing some nature photos.... Had a wonderful weekend....God bless....

Miss California Stands up for her God

I just watched a clip on the Today Show concerning the Miss America pageant...and was just truly blessed by it....Miss California was asked a question by one of the judges concerning her opinion on same sex marriages....She is a Christian, and here is her answer....

"Carrie Prejean told FOXNews.com that she had "no regrets" and was happy with the answer she gave when a Miss USA judge, the gossip blogger Perez Hilton, asked about her stance on same-sex marriage.
"I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," she said on the live broadcast. "No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

Fox news asked her this am, how she felt about the whole thing...Here is her answer, "Honestly, happy. This happened for a reason. By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith. I'm glad I stayed true to myself."

I was talking to Macey about this...and she and I both agree that she won way more than a pageant...She didn't compromise her beliefs...and she shared God's love with the entire country.......Way to go Carrie!!! Standing up for our God, no matter the cost!!

Our Weekend

We had a fun weekend...lots of running...soccer games, baseball games, and yard work...but I did manage to get a few pics this weekend....James and Ian went to Christianburg, VA on Saturday by themselves, and Macey, Cade and I stayed back to go to soccer...plus I did some prom pictures for a friend....I was "on my own" on Saturday...so needless to say...I got to the soccer fields on time...but without my camera...so I just sat back and enjoyed the good ole' sun...After soccer, the kids and I had a picnic lunch, and came home and worked/played out in the yard ALL day...I got the yard mowed, and all of the weeds out of our flower bed...Here is one of my pics, I am very proud of...My butterfly...It was flying around our lilac bush...and I had to tell Cade to leave it alone, because I was trying to photograph it...and I finally Got it!!! Yay me! Then, thought I would photograph another of God's beautiful creations...still using the lilac bush...;) Thanks Miss Mace....Love the pigtails....

Then on Sunday, the kids and I went with James and Ian to the second day of the baseball tournament....Here are a few pics I took of Ian playing for the Kingport Tigers...They played AWESOME!! The last game was rainy, so the camera went up...but it was the game that had the most awesome plays...Oh well, will get some more action shots next time....Had a great weekend, and I am sad it is back to reality tomorrow...Swinging the bat...believe he fowled on this one... Playing second...I also did a photo session downtown for a friend of mine for Prom Night...I am still working on those...Will have those posted in the next day or so...For now, exhausted....Good night....

College Dream Contest

My friend, Kim Holdway, is participating in the College Dream contest on our local Christian Radio Station.....Be sure to check out this site to read her story...and support her as she tries to make her college dream come true!!! http://www.wcqr.org/pages/events/college-dream-voting.shtml

The Climb

I took Macey and Cade to see the new Hannah Montana movie tonight...I know, on a school night!! I am just c-r-a-z-y!!! =) But we had a great time...and who would have thought that it would have been such a meaningful movie to me...

God can speak to us in so many different ways...I have been praying about a lot of things in my life..and Macey's with our upcoming trip to NY....And have realized that God has a plan for us...Just trying to give it ALL over to Him...This song isn't a "christian song"...but the words to it...touched my heart...Even though we are struggling with things in life....decisions, dreams, stuggles, negative things all around us....if we make "The Climb" with Him by our side....it will be so much easier....because life IS an uphill battle.....If you have the time, listen to the words of this song...

He Still Speaks, If We Listen

This verse came to me the other day...Praying for answers....Listening for his still voice....Reading his word....

"18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

He still speaks to us, through His word...Thank you Lord....

Easter Sunday 2009

This post is pretty much just for the grandparents...Here are some pics of the kids in their Easter outfits...I worked last night, so we went to church, home, did some outside pictures, and then I went to sleep....

We had a blessed Easter weekend...Will post more pics later....He is ALIVE!!!

The kids, being silly, as usual....
James and me.....Everyone in their Sunday best....Cade loves his suit....=) Ian, my handsome young man....Macey, my beautiful little girl....Cade, my GQ model...Hee hee...A couple of family shots...beautiful weather....Love you guys...Happy Easter.....God bless....

Priceless

Motel cost for one night in Pigeon Forge-$70.oo

Breakfast at the Apple Barn-$30.00

The Memories that we made with good friends......PRICELESS......

My Opinion

I have been reading some blogs, ect. concerning Christian views on the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer....and yes...I have an opinion on this subject....For those of you who haven't read the books...go ahead and hit the "x" in the upper right corner of this blog...because this little bit of rambling I am getting ready to type...won't mean anything to you...=) Just a warning...I know that there are MANY opinions out there on these books along with many other fiction books that have been released in the past....and I get tired of hearing about it....so, here it is...my opinion....

I began reading Twilight at the suggestion of a friend...and I didn't think anything more about it...other than it being a vampire book....Yes, I am a Christian. I love my Lord. I know what the Bible says about some of the topics that are brought up in these books...and I still read them. All four of them....And after reading them...I am still a Christian. I STILL love my Lord...and I can say that I enjoyed the books...They are fiction...plain and simple...If you google, "Christian views on the Twilight Series"...you wouldn't believe the things that come up....Crazy...I may be opening a can of worms here...but it IS my blog...and that is where I can voice my opinion....right? right.

I think back to the days when I was a girl...and we watched a show on tv called the "Muntsers"...Vampires, werewolfs....entertainment...fiction..not reality...I don't think that me watching Herman Munster impacted my life...in a negative way...I know, Edward Cullen is an attractive young man...there is a difference...BUT he is a fictional character...which means...he isn't real...I feel like so many people in our society try to take things and make them something they are not....There are many fiction books, stories, movies, that we could "tear apart" and talk about the negative things in them...(I could name them-but I don't really want to go there...)

One thing that really stuck out in one of the blogs that I read was "...there really isn't such a thing as romantic love"...."Edward does everything for Bella-and young girls in our society today don't need to thing that this is the way love is...." Hmmm...Some women may not have that type of relationship with their spouse...but I do...James and I met in high school...and fell in love...even though everyone told us we were too young to fall in love...give it some time...We knew...James is such a gentleman...then...and now...He does so many things for me...from bring me home flowers...to helping with the laundry...and I, in turn, love to do things for him...We are doing a Sunday School study on marriage...and I do believe in "romantic love"....I DO believe in love that can last forever....We have been through a lot in our 15 years of marriage...but with God in the center...that is how we have made it this far....I love him...and he loves me...and after reading the Twilight books...there has been many times, I have told him he is my "Edward"...and to me...that is a good thing...(He is not a vampire though...ha ha ha)

Anyway, just felt the need to get that off my chest....Fiction is purely that...fiction...I have let Macey read the books...and she has loved them...We have talked about them...and she understands many of the things I have talked about here...We all have choices that we make in life...and I don't think we should condemn others for their "book choices"....=)

***not meaning to judge anyone for how they feel concerning this subject. we all have our opinions...Just felt the need to vent....I hope that everyone takes it thay way...as simply, "an opinion"....***