In Memory of My Daddy

I wondered if I should even blog this but felt like God is using the loss of my daddy to build my testimony. May 30, 2010 my sweet daddy went to be with Jesus. He was killed in a tragic boat accident. Words can not express my sorrow. It hurts so deep as I think about it right now. Although this is by far the hardest thing I have ever dealt with it is also the closest I have ever felt to God. All I can say is that His word is true...He is near to the broken-hearted (Psalm 34:18) My family has been so blessed by the tremendous support we have felt from our extended family and friends. God has used so many wonderful people to comfort and encourage us. My daddy had a quite and gentle spirit. He was a man of few words but when he did speak what he said always held importance. He was very honest, a man of his word. He was extremely dedicated and held the same job for 42 years, his first and only job. This coming July he would have been married to my precious momma for 40 years. He was a simple man who enjoyed being outdoors. His favorite thing to do was to camp at Pearl River, which is where he left this earth. Although I know I will never stop missing him, I find such peace in knowing that this life on earth is not the final chapter and some day when God calls me home I will see my daddy again.

Revival

Wow I have so many things going through my mind that I want to put to print... Our church is having revival this week with Life Action Ministries. It started on Sunday morning and will end on this Sunday morning. The pastor asked us the first morning to not pray about whether or not God wanted us to come to each night but rather pray if God wanted us to stay home....well God had already told me "you, Angie need to go every night" So today is Friday and we have gone every night. I am so thankful He told me to go every night because during these past few nights God has done an amazing work in my heart. He has opened my eyes to the sin I have in my life, one being my pride. I have also been able to attend the Ladie's Luncheons on Tuesday and Thursday and God has dealt with me there too. On Tuesday God showed me that I need to be joyful in all circumstances and not ask God "Why am I going through this or that" but to ask "God what are you trying to show me throught this" God actually has a purpose for our trials. Romans 5:3-4 says we can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us, they help us endure. And endurance develops strenght of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. I learned that God has an eternal purpose He is fulfilling in the midst of "my problems" and that He wants to use my problems as part of His sanctifying process in my life. I may not always understand God's way of doing things but HE DOES KNOW BEST! He has great plans for my life....Jer. 29:11. Well that was all on Tuesday. Then on Thursday came the real kicker for me. The pastors wife had 2 topics that day. The first one was on "How to be a Beautiful Women to Your Husband" She brought out points I had never even thought about. She taught from 1 Peter 3:1-5. She talked about our husbands greatest need is to be respected. I have always thought that I did respect Ben but she showed us things that I was doing that was not very respectful...things such as nagging, questioning his judgement, disagreeing, telling him to do things and not asking him to do things, and that even good nature teasing him in public was very disrespectful to him. God clearly tells us in scripture to respect our husbands. I had to confess all those things as sin. But I am so thankful I went because I do want to be the wife God commands me to be. The second topic was on "How to be a Beautiful Women to Your Children" Here God just really laid it out on me and showed me that I am an angry mother. I am easily fustrated and often take it our on my precious children. She asked us how we wanted our children to remember us, do we want them to feel comforted and at peace in our home. She told us that the mother sets the whole tone for her household and asked us what is the tone of your home. She taught us how to have a meek and quiet spirit and how to develop a relationship with our children that will be lasting. I want to leave a Godly legacy to Madelyn and Jackson and I pray often that God will help me to raise them in a way that when they are grown that they will have desire to still want to be around us and that they will feel comfort and peace when they come to visit. I want to build them up and help them to see themselves as the wonderful person God created them to be. I can't remember which night it was but one night the pastor gave us a pamplet that had "Put off...Put On" and it had a list of 78 sins printed on the left with scriptural insight in the middle and then on the right it had the opposite of that sin. He asked us to take it home and go through it and confess any of the sins we have committed and then to ask God to help us to do the opposite. This has been a painful yet wonderful experience for me as God has just really shown me how sinful I am. We are to be specific in confessing our sins. By being specific when confessing my sin I have just really felt the Lord giving me such peace. Well I could just go on and on but I am going to stop here. All this to say this has been a wonderful week and I can see the evidence of God working in my life and the life of my family through this revival.

A Beautiful Garbage Truck?????

Well the garbage truck just came by, which is a big event at our house. Jackson absolutely loves the garbage truck and has to see it when it comes. He will run to the front door and jerk open the blinds. Well he did the same thing today and when he saw the truck he said "oh mommy it is the beautiful garbage truck" It is funny how the simplest things in life delight children.

My 35th Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday inspite of getting one year older. Ben took the day off so we didn't do school. Ben and Jackson went and got donuts for breakfast and we just kind of had a lazy start to our day. Then we went to eat lunch at Newks (Madelyn's pick). That evening around 4pm my sweet friend Shawna came and got my kids and took them to her house so Ben and I could have a date. She had called Ben earlier in the week and worked up this surprise plan. She is so sweet! Ben and I went to Starbucks and got coffee, then went to both bookstores and then ate at Red Lobster. It was nice to actually get to talk to my husband for once. That morning Ben told me "well baby your halfway to 70" He thinks he is so funny. I am so thankful for the time, health, family and friends the Lord has blessed me with. The day before my birthday I meet some of my dearest friends at Ballard Park for lunch. We had a fun day enjoying being outside. My friend Jennifer made me the neatest door hanger with my last name on it. She is really talented. My friend Shawna brought cupcakes for the kids to eat. Then we went to see the new baby ducks and tried to fly a kite. It was a very good day!

I Need A Pick Up

Lately Jackson has been coming up to me and putting both arms around my legs and saying "I need a pick up" meaning he wants me to pick him up. He says the sweetest things.

An Afternoon Fishing With Daddy

Last Wednesday Ben got off at lunch and took the kids fishing. They went to one of his co-workers parent's pond and caught these 2 huge catfish. One of them actually pulled Ben's pole into the water and he had to get in a John boat and go get it back. Madelyn was so excited...look at those hands on her hips. (Where oh where does she get that attitude????) Jackson was not so into the fish as you can tell. Ben of course looks like he just won the lottery! I am so thankful for a husband that really enjoys spending time with his kids.

The Lord's Supper

I had to write this so that I can always remember it. We began each day of school with Bible study. Madelyn reads a story out of her Beginner's Bible and then I read the same story out of my Bible. This Monday our lesson was on the last supper. Madelyn had many questions and really got into this lesson. Today she came to me and said "mommy can I have a piece of bread and some fruit juice?" I said "baby it is too close to supper for a snack." Then she said "but mommy I want to eat the Lord's supper to please God." Also before I forget this, last week she was taking the SAT's at TCPS and the teacher had said that they could bring a book to read in case they finished early. So on Monday I sent Beverly Cleary's Henry and Rigsby with her. When I was packing her bag for Tuesday she said "Mommy I would rather take my Bible to read today." It has been such a blessing and encouragement to watch Madelyn grow in her love for the Lord. There have been many times lately when I have come into the living room and she will be on the couch with my Bible. It is amazing that God is using my little girl to encourage me in my walk with Him. Thank you God!

Decorating Easter Eggs

Madelyn was so proud to be able to color the eggs herself this year.
A very excited bunny!

One cool fellow!

A very happy bunny! I could eat him up!

Homeschool Easter Party 2010

Shelly Green, Clara's mother, hosted the Easter Party. She had such neat ideas. The day included Shelly reading the Resurrection story from the Bible, painting crosses, making hot cross buns, and having a parade to take witness bags to the neighbors. For lunch we had fried catfish and hushpuppies and grape juice.
Madelyn and Clara painting their crosses.

Getting ready for the parade. They had so much fun taking the witness packages to the neighbors. I am so thankful that Shelly had that idea and that Madelyn got to experience sharing Jesus.

Look at those sweet girls.

Here is Shelly reading the Bible. You could tell she really put a lot into preparing this lesson. I am so thankful for her.

Planting Our Seeds

In science we are studying plants. I found these cute little seed kits at Lowes. We have a pumpkin, sunflower and watermelon planter. Here is Madelyn with the sunflower one. Of course this picture was taken about a month ago so you should see our plants now. Madelyn loves to see how much they grow from week to week. I think she is really learning a lot and having fun. I know I am!

Easter Egg Hunt 2010

I took this picture before we left for the Easter egg hunt. Do you think they are excited?
This is the best picture I could get of them together. The sun was so bright it was hard for them to look up long.

The little kids hunted eggs on the kiddie playground. Jackson found an egg in this tricycle.

Madelyn was very serious about hunting eggs. Look at that expression on her face. She was looking for the prize egg.

Wearing Mommy's Shoes

Jackson loves to put on my shoes. Here he is sporting my black heels in his Elmo sleeper. I thought it was so funny! What a fashion statement!

Daddy's 34th Birthday

Madelyn helped me make Ben's favorite cake, butter recipe cake with chocolate icing. Ben's parents came up for the day to help us celebrate. Happy Birthday Daddy!

Just Family Pictures

A Warmer Day

We finally got to take the bike and tricycle outside to ride them. It has been too cold up until today. Madelyn was so excited to try out her new bike. Poor Jackson's feet don't quite reach the pedals so he just scooted along. Maybe by the summer he can learn to pedal.

Tupelo Snow January 2010

Our school day wasn't very productive today because guess what....It snowed! Hip Hip Hooray! It was extremely cold so we had to go out in 30 minute segments then go in and warm up for about 30 minutes and put clothes in the dryer to dry from rolling in the snow.

There was not really enough snow coverage to build a snow man but they still had so much fun!

Look at that sweet little face!

Madelyn's First Day at TCPS

This was Madelyn's first day at TCPS. They have a homeschooling program where you can attend one day a week and do art, music, computer, chapel, library, recess, show-n-tell, and PE. She goes every Tuesday from 8:00 - 1:30. She has really enjoyed getting to meet new friends and has the sweetest teacher.

Madelyn's Salvation

Madelyn asked Jesus into her heart on October 2, 2009. She had been asking questions for some time now. We were doing a bible lesson on the women at the well and the living water. She wanted to know how she could get this living water and I explained to her that Jesus was the living water the Bible was talking about. I told her that to have this living water the Bible was talking about she needed to ask Jesus into her heart. Of course to this she said "Jesus has always been in my heart" So we talked some more and called our pastor who told us some questions to ask Madelyn to make sure she understood everything. When Ben got home we talked some more and she kept insisting she was ready. So in the kitchen we all kneeled and she said her own prayer and asked Jesus into her heart. I will never forget my little girl crying as she asked Jesus into her heart and telling him how she needed Him to forgive her of her sins and that she wanted to be with Him forever. As she said Amen she looked up and said "I feel quiet different" What an awesome experience! Thank you Lord for allowing me to be there when my daughter came to know You! It gave me such a picture of what God means when he says we should all have the faith of a little child.

Christmas Morning 2009

We had such a wonderful Christmas morning. I made waffles for breakfast and the kids played all morning. Santa brought Madelyn some Breyer horse stables and a bike. He brought Jackson a train table and a tricycle. Someone needs to talk to Santa about spoiling my kids!!!

Gingerbread House 2009

Every year we decorate a gingerbread house. This year Madelyn did most of it herself. I thought she did an excellent job. Jackson was more interested in eating the candy.

Christmas Eve 2009

We always let the kids open up the presents from us on Christmas Eve. This was such a fun and special night for our family. After the kids opened presents we read the real Christmas story in the Bible. We have really tried to help Madelyn understand the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

Christmas Outfits 2009

Fall Paintings

One of my favorite things about homeschooling was Thursday pajama day. I let the kids do school in there pajamas during the winter since most of the time it was too cold or yucky to go out. Here are the kids doing our fall paintings. Madelyn painted Jackson a tree and I dipped his fingers in paint and helped him put leaves on his tree.
Madelyn getting ready to make her handprint turkey.

The finished project. What a happy face!

Dressed up for Church

I wish I could remember what had Jackson so tickled....

The Cow and the Monkey

Trick or Treat 2009

Homeschool Fall Party 2009

We have several homeschoolers at our church and we have sort of formed our own little group and decided to coordinate and each host a party for the year. I hosted the fall party at our house. The day consisted of making a pumpkin out of construction paper, making carmel apples, pumpkin bowling and pizza.
Madelyn and Clara waiting to dip there apples.

Jackson and Mommy dipping apples.

Pumpkin bowling! I think all the kids got a kick out of this. By the end we only had one pumpkin that survived. So funny!

All the kids, what a wonderful group!

Holly Farms Pumpkin Patch

We went to Holly Farms Pumpkin Patch with my friend Shawna and her children Carson and Emilia. It was so much fun. We got to go on a hayride, pick out our own pumpkin, play in the corn maze, play on the playground and pet the animals.
Here we are in the corn maze.

Oh yeah and we got to ride these. It is five gallon drums being pulled by a lawnmower.