After about a year we had saved up some money and decided to start looking for our own place.  We had heard about some mobile homes for sale in a nearby town  so we went to look at them.  We only looked at a couple before we found one that I fell in love with and shortly thereafter we moved into our first ‘home’.

It was just a little single wide trailer in a mobile home park down in Grand Rapids, but it as ‘home’ to us and we loved it.  We decorated it just so and it was all we needed.  A few years later we actually moved it up to the town we now live in and put it on a piece of property Buster’s dad bought for us.

We have since sold it and moved on, but I will never forget that first ‘home’ we moved into with out little family so many years ago when we first got married.

This last October Buster and I celebrated 18 years of marriage and I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone better! I am so blessed!

Normally I don’t have to have such warnings on my posts, but some times, ya gotta do what ya gotta do, ya know what I’m sayin’?

I think you do. Today I wanted to talk about How to spice up your marriage a lil’ bit.  Some times we get in a rut.  Life gets busy with the job and kids and church and just life in general.  Some times we just need a little something to to spice things up.

I found just the thing!! These  fishnet panties ought to do the trick, don’t ya think?? Wowza!! I know they would get my hubby droolin’ for sure!   TeeHee…lots of cute stuff over there, no??

Have fun, but not too much…

^^^^^^^^ yeah, that one up there    ^^^^^^

It’s all about “The Plan Of Salvation”.  What? You don’t know that is? Well, I will tell you!

We all are born and we all die right?  Easy question….

Most of us wonder what is going to happen to us when we die, right?  Another easy question…

Well, the answer to that question is this, we either go to heaven or hell…those are the options, according to the bible.

Heaven = pleasant, happy, fun, blessings, family, food, sunshine, Jesus, God

Hell= unpleasant, sad, no blessings, loneliness, deprivation, satan, evil

Both are for ETERNITY one you are there folks, there are no second chances, once you die, the choice has been made, there is no going back…

This is the thing.  You must know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior in order to go to heaven! Plain and simple.

You have to realize you are a sinner (we all are Romans 3:10)…

You have to realize that there is a penalty for that sin (sin always has consequences Romans 6:23)…

You have to accept that Jesus paid that penalty for you (when He died on the cross Romans 5:8-9)…

You have to realize that He is your only way to heaven (you can’t do anything to get yourself there Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-11 )…

It’s as simple as that.

Most people say a simple prayer, something like: “Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  Please forgive of my sins and save me from hell. Take me to heaven some day when I die.  Thank You Jesus for what you have done for me. Amen.”  Or something along those lines.

The important thing isn’t “what” you say, it’s that you mean it and believe it in your heart, because “saying” a prayer isn’t going to get you to heaven!! You must believe!!!

That, my friends is “The Plan Of Salvation”

Has there been a time in your life that you accepted Christ as your personal Savior?  I would urge you not to wait! We aren’t guaranteed another day friends.

Hugs and Prayers

Seven years ago today my life turned inside out.

Seven years ago today my worst nightmare came true.

Seven years ago today I had to say good bye to my ten year old son forever (worldly speaking, that is).

Seven years ago today God took that precious boy home to live with Him and forever changed me.  I wish I could say it was for the better, but I just don’t know that I can.  Maybe some day…

I know God has a reason for everything he does.  Things don’t just randomly happen, I know that deep down, I do!! But I just feel so broken sometimes.  Sometimes I just feel like there is nothing that can fix this, ya know?

But God can…

He won’t bring Eli back, it’s not that He can’t, but He won’t.  There is a reason.  We don’t know why, but it’s for our own good that we suffer.  I know it sounds strange, but there MUST be something good that comes from this or it wouldn’t be happening.

I know that’s how God works.  I feel God working in my life.  Most times I feel the energy He puts off like I can reach out and touch it! It’s awesome and I love it.  I love to tell others about Jesus and what He’s done for them!!

Other times I feel like it’s this crazy roller coaster and I just wanna get off for a while cause it’s making me dizzy and sick! Like it’s all just too much.  I think that is the devil just wanting me to give up!

Well, I just want to tell the devil, you can’t have me…I am on the winning side!  I have Jesus and so did my son!

So for all those out there who have lost those you love or who are suffering in some way, please, don’t suffer alone.  God loves you and He sent His son to show you that!  Please see My Romans Road page for more information!!

As of yesterday I have been married to the same person for 18 years.  By many standards that is a long time.  Considering half the people that get married this day and age end up getting divorce, I would say that is a long time.  Of course, I don’t know how long the average marriage lasts.  Hang on I will look that up….

OK, according to Google, the average marriage in the United States lasts 8 years.  So The hubs and I have “out wed” the average marriage by ten years.  Not bad, not bad at all.

Marriage is hard people.  It’s not all candy and roses all up in here every day (or pretty much any day for that matter).  It’s ugly and hard.  It takes a lot of  “I’m sorrys” and “I’ll do better next times”.  We have called names and yelled and I think even thrown things.  I can’t be sure, but I think so.  I mean, for goodness sake, you can’t live with someone almost 20 years and not chuck something at his head at least once, right? Right?!?!

Marriage is about committing to your life, body and soul to someone forever “til death do us part”.  People forget that part when it gets hard.  I have forgotten that part sometimes.  I have wanted to throw in the towel when it has gotten hard and I’m sure my husband has.  Lord knows I have given him plenty of reasons to! He has definitely had it harder than me in this marriage, I will tell you that!

I am not perfect and neither is he, but we are perfect for each other! God has made that clear to us.  And even if we weren’t,  we became perfect for each other when we made our vows and become man and wife before God and everyone at our wedding.

But I believe God made my husband for me and me for my husband.  Buster is the most patient man I know.  He is so patient with me with all I have been through in my life and with my Bipolar and Borderline Pers0nality Disorder and other challenges I have.  He has been patient with me with the issues I have had with my adoptive parents.  He has been the best father our kids could ever ask for! I love that about him.

Now…

Where has the time gone? Doesn’t seem possible that 18 years have come and gone…

So, if you have someone who knows all about your pain-in-the-butt-ed-ness and still wants to call you his, hang onto him.  And if you’ve got someone who’s worth fighting for, hang onto ‘em and fight for ‘em! Cause these days, they are hard to come by, someone who will stand by you and stick with you through the hard times…

I found mine more than 20 years ago and somehow, by the grace of God, he’s still here…

Til next time friends,

Some of you probably thought I was some kind of nut for posting it! Come on, I know you did.  It’s okay, you can admit it, I’m comfortable with that! 

We all are born and we all die right? Easy question….

Most of us wonder what is going to happen to us when we die, right?  Another easy question…

Well, the answer to that question is this, we either go to heaven or hell…those are the options, according to the bible.

This is the thing.  You must know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior in order to go to heaven! Plain and simple.

You have to realize you are a sinner (we all are)…

You have to realize that there is a penalty for that sin (sin always has consequences)…

You have to accept that Jesus paid that penalty for you (when He died on the cross)…

You have to realize that He is your only way to heaven (you can’t do anything to get yourself there)…

It’s as simple as that.

That (in a nut shell) is the plan of salvation and if you wanted me to , I could show you bible verses to back those points up.  In fact, if you visit my “Romans Road” page, you will find those exact verses!!  

Have questions?? Leave them in the comments!! I’ll be happy to help in any way I can, if I don’t have the answers, I’ll gladly pass your questions on to my pastor and have him help you! 

I thought I was going to be there for a while.  I really did.  But I started praying more and getting into my bible more and I think it really helped.  Ya wanna know why?  Because I serve a mighty God, that’s why!!

I truly believe that! If we are faithful to ask God to help us, He is faithful to do so!!  And some times, even when we are too stubborn to do so, He is still faithful to take care of us!! I have often been to stubborn or just too clueless to reach out and ask for God’s help and yet, He has been right there beside me all the way…

It’s not rocket science folks.  If you are in need, go to the ONE who can meet your need!  People are going to let you down.  Parents, friends, spouses, siblings, etc.  They are human, just like you.  No matter how good they are, they are flawed,  just like you!   The one “person” you can always count on, without fail, is God.  He will never let you down.

Now, I’m not saying you will always get your way and you’ll never have problems, but He will never leave you or forsake you.  He loves you and He will meet your needs and take care of you!

As Christians we are called to love one another as Christ loves us.  Did you know that? It’s something I think we all forget.  Even the best of Christians forget this.  We get so caught up in the “rules” and “regulations” that we want to impose on each other that we forget to love one another.  I touched on this yesterday, but wanted to expand on it today.

The evangelist we had at our church Sunday made a comment while preaching that stuck with me.  He said, “Your church will only be as great as the love you show others”.  Wow!! That statement is so simple and yet so profound and the same time! And it makes so much sense!

Let me stress something to you friends.  We are never going to grow our churches IF.WE.DON’T.LOVE.PEOPLE. and we can’t love people if we are CONSTANTLY.JUDGING.THEM. for every little thing that we don’t agree with.  Get out of your own way and allow yourself to see others the way God sees them! Allow yourself to love people the way God loves them…unconditionally, wholly, without condemnation, the way He loves YOU!

I don’t understand why the difference, but I know this. Those tears that eventually come, they cleanse my soul.  They clean me out.  It’s like the pain and sadness just build and build until they can’t be contained and then they just break loose.

I am so thankful that God gives His grace to those that ask for it and depend on Him for it.  I am also thankful for friends and family that love me and support me. THANK YOU! GOD BLESS YOU!!

They had lots of help, though.  They had two adult couples in charge of the kitchen and then like 3 or 4 other adults helping, plus some kids that were in and out helping with dishes and wiping tables and sweeping.

The next few camps I will be cooking for and I will be the only adult in charge of the kitchen.  This coming week I will have my daughter for sure in the kitchen helping me, but I’m not sure how many others I will have.  I have been trying to recruit some helpers.  The following week, I will have a lot of help.  The next camp I will also have lots of help with.

It’s gonna be a great summer, I can just feel it.  I cannot tell you the joy I get from serving God here at Fort Faith Baptist Camp.  I never knew I could be so happy.  I guess that comes from being smack dab in the middle of God’s will for your life!! Praise God!!  

Anyone wanna come out and help me in the kitchen next week?? You are more than welcome!!!  Can’t come everyday?? Can’t come all day?? Just come out when you can for as long as you can, any help would be greatly appreciated!!  I’ll probably be in the kitchen getting things started between 10:00-10:30 AM Monday morning…come join the fun!!!

She has always been a good child and always wanted to please her dad and I, but lately, she has wanted to do her own thing and didn’t really care what we had to say about it.  It was really kind of exasperating.  She felt like we were being unfair and refused to see our point of view about a situation.

My husband prayed with her and had her do some praying and extra bible reading and I really think she is coming around now.  I am thankful that she does have a tender heart and that she has a heart for God and want to do right.

Although My husband and I are far from perfect parents, we have raised our daughter right and she knows what she is supposed to be doing and not supposed to be doing and I just have to trust that if we lovingly but firmly guide her back when she begins to stray that God will keep her where she needs to be.  So far so good, I will continue to pray for her and guide her the best I can and leave the rest up to God…

]]> http://blog-diggidy.com/index.php/2011/06/shes-not-my-little-girl-anymore/feed/ 0 http://blog-diggidy.com/index.php/2011/06/question-for-you/ http://blog-diggidy.com/index.php/2011/06/question-for-you/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:36:32 +0000 Jo http://blog-diggidy.com/?p=4101 Question:

A friend of your child’s  is encouraging him/her to do things he/she AND this friend know are against the rules you have set for your child (and are also against the rules his/her parents have set, by the way).

Do you let them continue to be friends?

How long do you allow them to be friends?

What I mean is how long do you allow your child to be friends with someone who continually does and says things to encourage your child to disobey and disrespect you and your rules?

This child is, by the way, the ONLY child that your child has these kinds of behavior issues with.  All his/her other friendships are healthy, normal relationships that do not push or break  any boundaries or rules set by parents…

Thanks for your insight…