Better In Time - By Leona Lewis

Click HERE for video.

It's been the longest winter without you
I didn't know where to turn to
See, somehow I can't forget you
After all that we've been through

Going, coming
Thought I heard a knock
Who's there? No one
Thinking that I deserved it
Now I realize that I really didn't know
If you didn't notice, you mean everything
Quickly I'm learning, to love again
All I know is, Imma be okay

Thought I couldnt live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too (oh yeah)
It'll all get better in time
Even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile 'cause I deserve to (ooh ooh)
It'll all get better in time

I couldn't turn on the TV
without something there to remind me
It wasn't all that easy
to just put aside your feelings

If I'm dreaming
Don't wanna laugh, hurt my feelings
But that's the path, I believe in
And I know that, time will heal it
If you didn't notice, boy you mean everything
Quickly I'm learning, to love again
All I know is, I'm gon' be okay

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too (oh yeah)
It'll all get better in time
Even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile 'cause I deserve to (ooh ooh)
It'll all get better in time

Since there's no more you and me (no more you and me)
It's time I let you go so I can be free
And live my life how it should be
No matter how hard it is, I'll be fine without you
Yes, I will

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too (oh oh oh)
It'll all get better in time (oh oh ooh)
Even though I really love you (you)
I'm gonna smile 'cause I deserve to (yes, I do)
It'll all get better in time (oh oh yeah)

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too (yeah ah yeah)
It'll all get better in time (ooh ooh oh)
Even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile 'cause I deserve to (ooh ooh, yes)
It'll all get better in time.

The Love Dare

I DARE you to go see Fireproof with your spouse or fiance. Even if you are divorced or going through a divorce, this movie can turn it all around! It was the best investment we have made in a long time. We took the kids to see it with us, and we all really enjoyed it. It made Stanley and I cry because we could see ourselves in this movie. I will definitely buy the movie when it comes out!

Ater watching Fireproof, I decided to buy the book that Caleb uses in the movie. I cannot wait to get it! The Love Dare is a book of things that you do to your spouse everyday to show love, and strengthen your marriage. I also suggest buying the book!

On The Issues

I love >THIS< website. It is the only place I have found where you can see what each candidate has voted on and their explanation for that vote.

Here is Obama's record on abortion. It is interesting that he votes for $100M for education programs to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and therefore preventing abortions.

CLICK HERE FOR OBAMA'S RECORD ON ABORTION

A Yes vote would:

Increase funding and access to family planning services
Funds legislation that requires equitable prescription coverage for contraceptives under health plans
Funds legislation that would create and expand teen pregnancy prevention programs and education programs concerning emergency contraceptives.

Mc Cain voted no on that issue. But voted to ban partial-birth abortions.

CLICK HERE FOR MCCAIN'S RECORD ON ABORTION

You can look at Biden and Palin's records on this website as well, and on all the issues, not just abortion.

James Dobson is against McCain, I did not know that. I cannot believe the president of the AFA would be against McCain.

All I know is that I am not happy with either of these candidates. I don't want to vote. If I vote my conscious, I guarantee it won't be McCain that I vote for.

You can CLICK HERE and HERE to see a few interesting posts over at my sister's blog.

Fireproof Your Marriage

If your married or thinking about getting married, or if you are getting a divorce or thinking about getting a divorce ... YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!! I have my tickets! I just wish it would have come out sooner, it might have helped some of my friends!

STRESS

I have a HUGE test on Monday. It is EIGHT (8) CHAPTERS LONG!!! I am studying a little everyday, but today I am really studying, and will study all the rest of the week and weekend. I just had to take a break long enough to eat and clear my brain. GEESH! I just keep telling myself "ONE MORE YEAR!"

Clinicals - Day 3

Yesterday I was in the ER for clinicals, it was really interesting. I performed a quick cath for a sterile urine sample, and I removed 2 IV's and discontinued the IV line from an IID. I could have put in an IV, but I was nervous about the veins of the person being so small, and the RN I was with all day missed twice and that shot my confidence down. I need to just jump in there and not worry about it I suppose, but I don't want to hurt anyone if I can keep from it :)

Sweet Sixteen

Today my oldest son turned 16! I cannot even believe he is now old enough to drive ... time has really flown by! I think he has had a pretty good day, he has his x-box 360, and that is really all he cares about. A few friends and family came by to wish him a happy birthday.

I remember when I turned 16, it was really cool, but I wanted to get my permit and be able to drive ASAP, Austen doesn't seem to really care about getting his license ... I guess I will thank God for that!

New Look - Feeling Blessed

Well I kind of got bored with the solid blue and decided to change things up a bit. I like it but I don't, so I will give it a few days before I change it and see if it grows on me. I hope it is pleasing to your eyes.

I am feeling very blessed today. I have a nice size house, it may need a little cosmetic work done, but it is big enough and structurally sound, so that is good. I have 4 great kids - we joke sometimes about having 4 "terrors" but they are really good kids. They are very open and "mouthy" at times, and that gets them in trouble, but I love it that they all feel like they can tell me how they feel. I also love it that my son who will be 16 years old tomorrow, is more concerned with an x-box 360 than cars and girls. I also love it that my kids are sensitive and willing to help others.

I have a wonderful husband who always thinks of the kids and I before himself. He works hard everyday to provide for us, and he tells us and shows us how much he loves us all the time. I have a great family that I adore and love.

I am able to go to school and follow my dream and God's calling on my life. I am blessed with the best friends anyone could ask for. I know I could call several of them day or night and they would help me in any way that they could.

I just feel really blessed today!

My Day

Today I got to give a TB skin test, change the dressing on a central line, and give another sub-q injection. I was going to do an IV push through an IID (Intermittent Infusion Device - or IV with no tubes attached to it) but the AdminRx had problems with it so I wasn't able to give it, but I did flush the IID with saline.

I have studied for my IV competency test that is tomorrow at 1:15 PM. I will have a little more time to study before the comp. I have been working on organizing and printing things I need to study for my next exam. It is sure hard to study in a house with 4 kids ... I'm thinking the library needs to stay open 24/7 just so I can study in quiet. I don't see that happening though.

I talked to 3 of my friends in text messages today. I don't know what I would do without my friends, besides my husband, they are my biggest support and source of encouragement!

I hope you have a great, glorious, and blessed week!

God Is Up To Something

God really worked on me last night. I have been trying very hard to make time to read my Bible before I go to bed, and when I do that, I can hear the voice of God so much better. He wanted me to reach out to some of my friends today, and so I did. I just pray that they will have an open mind, and a soft heart, and really listen to what God is saying, not what I said, but what HE said.

Please God I beg you to work in this situation. I know you have tried over and over again, and I praise you for that, and I know that they keep getting in your way. Lord I pray that they will get out of your way so that you can do your will in their lives. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Oh Crappy Day

Today was a bad day for me. Today I said all the wrong things, did all the wrong things, and seemed to make everybody mad. I did not intend to do this, but I did it none the less. Seems like I just have those days where I open my mouth and insert my foot. It takes a lot of water to get that foot down too, let me tell ya.

I did somehow manage to squeeze in some homework and take an online test in Medical Terminology and make a 98 on it ... YAY ME! But I am feeling really bad that I hurt a friend. I apologized, but I'm not sure it did any good.

An Interesting Day

Today in clinical I had a blast ... no really, I was so scared but my teacher was there to help me with everything, and when I went to another department, the nurse there walked us through everything we did.

I gave two sub-Q shots in the belly. I de-accessed two central venous ports, and flushed one with normal saline and heparinized saline. I stopped an IV pump, I took two blood pressures, and I documented it all using the Admin RX system and the computer.

I watched people getting their chemotherapy, and that was the two ports I de-accessed. I watched a new needle and tubing get put into a central venous port. I had a really good day!

Then as I was coming home, my husband informed me that my son's glucose monitor was stolen at school, along with his books and homework, and he spent half the day looking for it and trying to get a new monitor. I just pray that the boy that broke his nose did have anything to do with its disappearance, because he was close by when it went missing. I can't believe anyone would be so mean as to steal a diabetics monitor, that is his lifeline literally, it had all of his insulin in it that he needs everyday. Now I am out a bottle of insulin. That stuff isn't cheap!

I just pray that whoever got it, got it by accident and will return it. He was able to get a new monitor, but still, I hope someone did not deliberately take it to cause my son harm.

WOW!

Tonight we heard a service about complaining. It was REALLY good. I know I needed to hear it. Not sure who has been complaining about their Sunday school class ... My Sunday school class is AWESOME, and we have awesome Deacons, Teachers, and Ministers at my church.

I know I drink the Cherry Limeade a lot ... (It was in the sermon ... had to be there). And sometimes we get tired of drinking the cherry limeade and are human and complain about it. Luckily we have forgiveness from our Father in Heaven, and hopefully from our Brothers and Sisters in Christ too.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed evening!

Blog Soup

Tonight's service was awesome, we got into small groups and prayed for our church leaders and for our government leaders. I love prayer services, I am very big on praying for others. I believe that is when God moves the most is when we are praying for people other than ourselves.

I got to thinking ... Ever notice how we all like to point out other people's sins and somehow try to say they are worse than our own? For example, say someone commits adultery, you will hear people gasp and oooh and awww and say how bad that is, but then they totally dismiss their own sins as though they are "better" because it wasn't adultery ... and I'm just using that as an example. It could be lying or judging another, or any sin for that matter.


I don't know why we do that, I suppose due to the guilt of our own sins, we have to find someone "worse" than ourselves to make us feel better. This is one area I am going to try and work on in myself because God says if we break one commandment, we break them all, and all sin is detestable to him regardless if it is murder, adultery, or stealing a dime from your momma'a purse. We need to remember that we are all saved from the same blood of Jesus Christ. He died for my sins just like he died for yours.

I have been having a lot on my heart and mind lately. I have friends that have gone through a lot and in need of prayer and support. Another couple we are friends with are about to be seperated beyond their control and will need lots of prayer and support. I feel like as a church family we need to stay on top of the needs of our people and give them as much love and support as we can because each person is part of the body of Christ, and each person is important.

God is moving and I want to be where HE is doing HIS work. I pray that you will have a great, glorious, and blessed week.

Find Out Who Your Friends Are

This is one of my favorite songs. Matter of fact, it is the ringtone for when my best friend calls me because even if it is just a text message, I know she is there and I know she would help me any way she could. You can think you have a lot of friends, but you figure out real quick who is a friend and who isn't just by going through some hard times. This song says it all.

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie

{Chorus}You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?'
or it's way too far'
They just show on up with their big old heart
You find out who your friends are

Everybody wants to slap your back
wants to shake your hand
when you're up on top of that mountain
But let one of those rocks give way
then you slide back down look up and see who's around then
This ain't where the road comes to an end
This ain't where the bandwagon stops
This is just one of those times when
A lot of folks jump off

{Chorus}

When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?

{Chorus}

You find out who your friends are(yeah, yeah)You find out who your friends are

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
(Well man, I've been there)
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
(Man, I've been there)Man, I've been there
Oooh yeah.

Praise The Lord

After a couple of years worrying about my multi-nodular goiter, my ultrasound shows that the nodules have gotten smaller, so for now I have escaped having to have a biopsy ... Praise God!

So Far So Good

God has already answered two of my prayers this week, both on Monday. I released everything to him and now that I am out of the way, he is working on it. I may have a third answered prayer by the end of the week!!!!

I am still waiting to hear about my thyroid ultrasound. I am really not wanting to have a needle stuck in my neck ... haven't you heard that nurses and doctors make the worse patients? Yeah, that's me, a nurse in training and I am the WORST patient. I want vercet if they do the biopsy, that's the only way to go ... to Lala land, Ha ha!

I am busy-busy-busy this week with school. We are learning how to do IV's very first thing ... It's exciting but a bit scary at the same time. I have had bad experiences with IV's myself, and you have to "practice" in order to get good, but I don't want to practice on a real person :-(

I probably won't post as often as I did over the summer due to my busy schedule, but I will update as soon as God moves my mountain! Have a great, glorious, and blessed week!

Prayer Requests

• I am having a thyroid ultrasound this afternoon to check on the multi-nodular goiter that I have. I am asking for prayer because if any part of that goiter is over 1.5 cm then I have to have a biopsy guided by another ultrasound.
• We may have to uproot our family to another town, to another church, and my husband may have to get another job to escape what we are dealing with. Please pray that God will lead us where he wants us, or heal the situation so that we can stay where we are.
• Today is my first day back to college. Please pray that I can hold on to the information I read and hear, and that I won't be overly stressed.
• Please pray that I can keep my eyes on God during this trying time, and not let Satan destroy my faith.

Thank you so much, and have a great, glorious, and blessed day.

For Your Information (Update)

This is my blog. It is like an online prayer journal. I can go back and look and see how God got me through the things that happen in my life, and yes, so can any body else. It may bother some that I am very honest on my blog, but all I can say is that if it bothers you more what I put on here, then it does for what someone is actually doing to hurt me and my family, then you probably have your priorities all messed up.

Those that are lost need to know that Christians are not perfect either. Even though we are saved, we make mistakes everyday. Deleting my blog would be like erasing my testimony, and I refuse to do that.

Our Battle With Satan

We always hear that we cannot argue with the Bible. If it is in the Bible, we must believe it. You cannot believe part of the Bible, you must believe the WHOLE Bible. So therfore ...

The Bible tells us in Matthew 18:15-17

A Brother Who Sins Against You

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

So for those that disagree with us, I am sorry, but it is in black and white right there in your Bible.

Discouragement Has Set In

It has been 4 days since my son got beat up by the majors nephew, and the boy is still not charged with anything. If it had been the other way around, my son would have already been picked up ... yeah I know how it is around here. The ----- family gets away with EVERYTHING!!!!

I can tell you now that if something is not done, my husband and I will be finding some way to get something done about this. If that means we have to call the news and make a big fuss, we will. I am TIRED of this family harassing us and NO ONE will help us. We have begged and pleaded for someone to help us with this family, and everyone turns their back and tells us this isn't their problem. So they better stay out of it when matters are taken into our own hands.

I'm Still Looking Up

Yesterday I sent an email to the principal at school that was with my son at the middle school last year. I sent him a picture of Austen's face and told him what happened. He called me and asked me where it happened, and why, and then told me to pursue charges. When I told him that the boy's uncle was major and that I had filed a report with the City Police, but I was afraid they would sweep it under a rug (so to speak), he told me that a week was too long for them to arrest the boy, and that he would work on it for me and try to get something done about it today.

He loves Austen, and has been very good to us. But he said since it started at school and then they fought in Calvert, that the school could handle it. PRAISE GOD!!! I just hope God is smiling down on us for dealing with this the right way, and that this boy stops getting away with things just because of his family name.

He gets into fights all the time, and his dad brags about it. The boy boxes, there is video of him boxing on Facebook. I seen it last night right before I removed him from my son's friends list.

I went to the Church about some of the things this family has done to us, but they felt it wasn't a church problem. I disagreed, but what can I do? Now it has resolved to fighting ... so hopefully God will deal with it, even if no one else wants to.

Just please pray for our family at this time. Once the boy is charged, I have a bad feeling things will get worse as far as harassment from this family goes. It says in the Bible not to sue a brother, but everyone has left us no choice.

When It Rains, It Pours!

My son got beat up pretty bad yesterday. He had hernia surgery about 3 weeks ago, and did not need to be fighting. The boy that beat him up knew he had just had surgery ... we know the boy and his father. Both of them have harrassed our family for a long time now.

The boy kicked him where he had surgery, and then grabbed his head and slammed my son's face into his knee and broke his nose. It looks pretty bad. He also has a chipped a tooth. All I have to say is that I hope they are ready for some doctor bills. We had the ER visit with a cat scan, he has to go see the ENT to make sure his nose doesn't need surgical correction, he has to see a dentist, and he will have to be checked out by the surgeon that did his hernia repair to make sure it didn't mess it up.

The boy is being charged (we hope). The boy is related to the major here, so we may request the case be moved to county, the Sheriff told us we could if we feel it isn't handled appropriately. This family tends to get away with everything, so we may request the move. Austen asked him to stop several times and he kept on going, and then Austen even turned his back and the boy kept hitting him. My husband works with the boys father, and my son rides the same bus as this boy does, so things are probably going to get ugly. I am praying that everyone keeps their cool and that God handles this for us.

I had to keep my son home from school today, he is still in a lot of pain.

What To Do?

God has been dealing with me over many things lately. Some of them are things I do, and some are what others do. I have been really having a hard time dealing with things that are going on at church lately that I totally disagree with. I have actually thought about changing churches, but that won't help what is going on, but it don't do a bit of good to talk to anyone about it either. Besides, I love so many people at my church!

I keep praying, and then someone else tells me things that have been said or have been done, and it just gets me upset all over again. I'm thinking God wants us to try to help, but I don't know where to begin. I'm gonna keep praying because I know God will deal with all of it in HIS time.

To My Loving Husband - Happy Anniversary Baby!

Dear Stanley,

I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed the 17 years we've been together! I know we have been through some tough times, we've made a lot of mistakes, and we've broken each others hearts ... but I would not trade it for anything in the world. Matter of fact, I would do it all again because I am so happy and so in love with you!

I know we have many songs ... but this is a song that is a great description of how I feel about you.

No One
By Alicia Keys

I just want you close
Where you can stay forever
You can be sure
That it will only get better
You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cuz
Everythings gonna be alright
People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright

No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
You you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

When the rain is pouring down
And my heart is hurting
You will always be around
This I know for certain
You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry cause
Everythings gonna be alright
People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
You you
Can get in the way of what I feel

I know some people search the world
To find something like what we have
I know people will try
Try to divide
Something so real
So till the end of time
I'm telling you there is no one
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
Oh oh oh...

You can watch the video or just listen to the song by clicking HERE

I love you baby, and I'm sorry I have to work tonight, but tomorrow is my last day, and so tomorrow night I am looking forward to just us going out and celebrating our many years together ... It gets better every year!

All my love,
Cindy

I Am Blessed!

As my wedding anniversary approaches, I am thinking about how far Stanley and I have come, and how much in love with him I still am after 17 years together. We still hold hands, sit by each other on the couch and snuggle (or as Noah Short says, "nuggle"). We hold hands when we pray, we say "I love you" all the time, we kiss each other everyday, everynight, and several times in bewteen. We truly love each other and WORK at our marriage. I often PRAISE GOD for the husband I have. I KNOW FOR A FACT that he is the man GOD intended me to be with. I am so fortunate to have a husband who loves the LORD, his family, and works so hard to provide for us.

If I were to give marriage advice, this is what I would say.

1. PUT GOD FIRST, then your SPOUSE, then your kids, then your extended family, and then your friends. IT WILL NOT WORK IF YOU PUT ANYONE EXCEPT GOD BEFORE YOUR SPOUSE!!!!

2. "Date" your spouse as often as you can. Flirt with your spouse everyday!

3. TALK about your problems calmly and as soon as they arrise (a lesson it took me a long time to learn), letting it stir is bad and no one wants to talk to someone who is yelling!

4. ADMIT WHEN YOUR WRONG, and APOLOGIZE!!!!

5. Don't criticize or call names, just explain what is wrong and ask that they stop.

6. Last but not LEAST -- Pray for your marriage! Pray for God to strengthen it and draw you closer to each other. Pray for your spouse and for yourself too!

It is sad when people start having problems in their marriage, and they turn away from God instead of toward God. It is more sad when Church family turns their back on couples who need spiritual guidance and support!!!! We should not be judgmental, we should reach out and offer help! I am praying for several couples who need the church, and have tried to help in any way I could ... but like our guest preacher said Sunday ... divorce affects everyone, not just the couple. I don't want to see the people I love seperate, not just for my sake, but for their kids and family's sake. And because I know that GOD IS AGAINST DIVORCE!

Well I am off to think about my loving husband, and to brainstorm a great place for us to go out to eat this Saturday (anniversary is on Friday, but have to work :( ) ... we want to start a tradition so I want it to be a good place, but I also like my favorite place (LOS AMIGOS)! Any suggestions?

Questions

Why do we as Christians say the most horrible things in front of lost people?

Why do people like drugs? Are they an escape from God? Why do people want to do drugs?

Have you ever had someone look at you in a way that you knew they were judging you or thinking that they were so much better than you? Me too, I wonder what makes people do that? I may not agree with some people, but I don't think I'm better than they are. Sometimes I just want to say "What, am I not good enough to be in your presence?"

Have you ever wondered why pizza comes in a square box? Doesn't a round box make more sense, or how about a square pizza?

Why do people wonder what beggars do with the money you give them? Doesn't God just require us to help others? Do you think he's setting up in Heaven saying "Now make sure they buy food and not beer." ? I mean really, we worry way to much about what others do and don't pay near enough attention to what we, ourselves, do. Do they some how think that if that person buys beer or cigarettes that they will have to suffer the consequences or pay for another person's sin????

Why do you only hear crickets at night?

Please answer any of these that you may know the answers to.

This & That

I am finding that I grow closer to God by helping others. Doing something for someone, even if it is just praying for them, makes me feel really good, and I learn and grow in Christ at the same time.

I am feeling really good about some things that have been going on. Some friends of mine are having a hard time, and I have prayed for them for a long time, and during this long time I have seen God working, but now HE is really working, and I am praising HIM for it!

I have decided that there should be a law that says that if you are responsible for a diabetic child in any way, form, or fashion, that you should have to go through training. I am really getting tired of people around my son keeping sugary foods around him, or have them included in every "group" event, but expect him not to eat it, and stay on his case about it. Looks to me if they were truly concerned about him eating it, they wouldn't make it available to him, or have events that are centered around sugar. But what do I know?

If I pull him out of the "group" every time there is sugary foods available, he would not get to be with this "group" much at all. He has already been banned from overnight trips with the group because his blood sugar tends to go really high while with this "group" (probably because of all the sugar they keep around him), but I guess it's easier to expect him not to eat it then it is for them not to have it around him. Yeah, that's being responsible ... But they expect him to be responsible. I just don't get it, please God help me get it!

I love my blog, it is a place I can vent and get things off my chest without hurting others feelings. I have found that talking to people does not always work, so this and praying is how I deal with it

I'm Tired

Tired because I've been sleeping over at the lady's house I take care of for the past three days, and I don't sleep well when I'm not with Stanley and in my own bed.

Tired just thinking about school starting back up. I need three more months of relaxation!

Tired of my boys eating all of the food in the house ... I will be glad when my grocery bill goes back down!

Tired of the same ole' daily BS!

Tired of people freaking out when we are not at church. We are more faithful about going to church than many of the SS teachers and Deacons!

Tired of not seeing my husband much this week, but I am off today and tomorrow so we will catch up!

I am tired, but I could have it a lot worse, so I'm gonna be thankful for the few complaints I have :)

I hope that you have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

To My Friends

I'll Stand By You (Carrie Underwood)

[Originally performed by The Pretenders]

Oh why you look so sad
The tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don’t be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I’ve seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Won’t let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you

So if you're mad get mad
Don’t hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide
I get angry too
Well I’m a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Won’t let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I’ll never desert you
I’ll stand by you

And when, when the night falls on you, baby
You feeling all alone
You won't be on your own

I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you
Won’t let nobody hurt you
I’ll stand by you
Take me in into you darkest hour
And I’ll never desert you
I’ll stand by you

Oh I’ll stand by you
I’ll stand by you

I love my friends, I will fight for them, and I will tell them when they are wrong, but I will always love my friends, and be there for them!

Feeling Helpless

I have friends that are in serious need of prayer. I am the type of friend that truly cares for my friends, and I truly care what happens to them. I am praying for God to intervene because I don't know what to do to help them, but be there for them, pray for them, and encourage them. They are really going through some things and in need of God's direction.

Satan has really been working overtime lately to pull God's people away from Church. I am trusting God to take back control and work in these people's lives so that they can get back on the right path. Please join me in praying for them. You don't have to know their names, God knows who they are. Thank you, and have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

God Has Been Talking To Me

I have slowly but surely drifted out of a close relationship with God the past few months. I don't know how it happened, but it did. I think I got caught up in life and dealing with issues that I forgot to let God have the wheel of my life, and because of that, I went the wrong way.

My friends are very important to me, but some of my friends are not as close to God as I WAS, and so I think I just let myself slide, telling myself it was ok. I want to be closer to God, I want to be there for my friends, and I want to pray for my friends, and even my enemies. It is NOT ok to put God anywhere but FIRST in your life. I pray that I start doing that again!

Gunner Gillespie Fundraiser - Please Help!

I received this in email, if you follow Gunner's story, please consider sending your pennies to help pay for his treatment! Thank you and may God bless you for your kindness!

Hello Faithful Gunner’s Magic Train Riders,

Gunner has completed 20 treatments and he has begun a second round of another 20
treatments. We have had many curves and cracks in G’s Magic Train Ride. However,
we have seen some wonderful improvements in the last few days. We still have a
long way to go and since they would like to do another round of treatments at
Envita it is costing WAY more then we had anticipating paying.

Please, remember since this alternative, insurance will not pay for any of the
treatments or supplements. We have had many helping us in the fundraising area.
We thank each and every one of you. WE could not have gotten this far without
your help, suggestions, ideas, and hard work. One family at Envita is doing
something similar to this as to try and raise more money and they are having
quite the success. So I thought we would give it a new twist and try it as well.
We NEED your help. I am asking that you send this email out to everyone you
know, asking everyone to forward this to everyone they know etc... Asking
EVERYONE to do this little thing to help Gunner Gillespie (Brain tumor patient –
Diffused Intrinsic Pontine Glioma).

"See a Penny pick it up
Send it
to Gunner
With a prayer
For Good luck!"

If EVERYONE sends a
penny and a prayer to the bank account that the friends of Gunner Gillespie has
set up to help pay for medical expenses, we think it could help put a dent in
the medical bills.

Donations can be made payable to
The Gillespie
Family and sent to the special account set up for them at Community Financial
Services Bank (CFSB) PO Box 467 Benton, KY 42025 You may send more if you like
but most people throw pennies away, let them collect in a pile on the dresser,
and etc. A penny will not break anyone, but can help tremendously more then you
could ever know. One of Gunner’s favorite things to do is look for money on the
ground. I think he was given this passion genetically. If I remember correctly,
that is how my dad got his nickname, Hawk Eye, which was later shortened to Hawk
because he could spot coins on the ground anywhere. So this is what has given me
the idea of sending a penny. Besides the fact that Gunner’s favorite president
is Abraham Lincoln. I thought if each and every one of you would say a prayer
before sending that penny then he not only gains a penny to help pay for
treatment but he gains a prayer too. We cannot have enough pennies or enough
prayers.

A penny saved is a penny earned and a prayer allows us to be
united together as brothers and sisters. "Prayer of the righteous is powerful
and effective." James 5:16 NRSV
Just think about it....if every person from
all the cities that are listed on Gunner’s buddy map was to send only one penny
and a prayer....how much money do you think that could be? How many lines of
communication would be opened to our Lord?

We need ALL your help and all
your prayers! We truly believe in the treatment that Gunner is receiving. We
believe that what we are doing is helping to save Gunner’s life as well as give
him quality of life. Gunner’s little life is depending on all of these little
things we are doing and what YOU are doing with us. As of right now there is no
cure just options that help buy time if they are effective. We want to find a
cure so badly but it takes time, energy, resources, HOPE and FAITH.

Please, EVERYONE get involved in saving this child's life. Remember the
old saying it takes a village to raise a child. Well, we need the village to
help. We need the village to pray and to toss your pennies Gunner’s way instead
of on the ground or on your dresser.

"Bear one another’s burdens, and in
this way you will fulfill the Law of
Christ." Galatians 6:2 NRSV

What if this was your child or grand child? How far would you go and how
many people would you want to help?

If we all do this one little thing,
by sending Gunner one of your pennies you could be giving him enough money to
pay for his 20 treatments and helping to pay for supplements that he is to take
for the for the next 2 years that INSURANCE does not pay a thing for. We realize
that a penny is not a lot of money but I did not want to put a financial burden
on any one person. We don’t want anyone to feel obligated or worry that they
cannot help. Just look around on the ground, in your couch cushions, at the
bottom of your purse. I guarantee you will find a penny that you did not know
you had so it won’t hurt to send it on to Gunner. The one thing that I ask
though is that you say a prayer before sending it on to Gunner. If you want
write your prayer down on paper. We would love to hear them and read them. I
know that a penny may not be enough for all the treatments. However, it is a
start and when you are trying to come up with this much money, every penny
counts.

We had planned for the first round of treatment but the second
round came as a complete surprise. No matter what happens, we will find a way to
pay for treatment it just would be nice to have one less thing to worry about.
Living the life of a terminally ill child brings many ups and downs, many curves
and cracks in Gunner’s tracks of his Magic Train Ride. I am asking you to join
us on his journey in moving his mountain. I know that this may seem bold and
extreme. However, I have learned in life that if you don’t ask then people don’t
know how to help. This is something everyone can do.

I even actually
thought that you could make a game or contest out of it. If you challenge your
friends, family members, and co-workers to a contest, you could see who could
collect the most pennies. You could have penny wars with pictures of your
co-workers. The one with the most pennies could have a pie in the face or have
to treat everyone to a treat or something. It could be an opportunity for
churches, businesses, organizations to come together have some fun and make a
difference in a special little boy’s life. You could get the news involved to
spot light your place of business or organization to help spread the word of
humanity and the awareness of this awful disease that is effecting 200 children
a year (and what seems to be a low figure).

The planning and raising of
funds is time consuming, overwhelming, and exhausting for people. We don’t want
to have to ask people to give up their time and energy and so we thought a penny
and a prayer would be something that would not wear anyone out and it would be
so easy to do. We feel guilty even having to ask people to help. WE want to be
able to do this on our own but I have realized that this is what God wants. God
wants us to be good people and he wants to see people doing good things. He
wants us to be humble and he wants us to have humanity. He wants us to make a
difference in this world and sometimes all it takes is one small step. I know
with weddings, graduations, and the price of gas that money is a big issue for a
person right now which is why we chose the penny. I know you can find one
somewhere and you won’t miss it by sending it to Gunner and please don’t forget
the prayer. It is what is the most important and if you can’t send a penny then
please just say a prayer for Gunner.

So PLEASE..... all join together
and help us help the G-Man.

He has taught me so much in life and I have
to do what I can to save him. He has so much to offer our world.

If you
will participate with us and help save a life, this is what I need you to do.
1. YOU and Everyone YOU know.....Send a penny and a prayer, {more if you
wish – many families have asked for a dollar – we are only asking for a penny}
to The Gillespie Family’s special account set up for them at Community Financial
Services Bank (CFSB)PO Box 467 Benton, KY 42025 As soon as you can get it out...
the sooner we will know where we stand but we realize if you have made it a
contest you will need to have time to make a challenge.
2. EVERYONE forward
this to EVERYONE you know, with a little note from you saying something like,
how you know Gunner, how he has touched your life and/or the person who sent it
to you, and ask that they also help with this cause to save his life.

If
anyone wants to Check out the Story on Gunner and make sure it is not a scam I
have some places you can call, or go to, to see for your self this is real, and
if this child needs ALL OUR HELP!
You can call, or go to these sites....
..................
Donations can be made payable to
The Gillespie
Family and sent to the special account set up for them at Community Financial
Services Bank (CFSB)PO Box 467 Benton, KY 42025 Call us at 270-527-4600 or
888-226-5669 or contact us by location or at contactus@cfsvcs.com

Just call the bank and ask them if they are collecting money for Gunner Gillespie and if they know this little boy.................... He needs your help!

When Life Throws You Lemons

You make lemonade right?

Lately things have not gone the way I'd like for them to go. We've had issues with our teenage boys, which, by the way, seems to have gotten better. We've had issues with co-workers, and now I am having issues with my mother. But I am praising God because I know that somewhere there is a lesson for me to learn.

Please continue to pray for us! Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Pondering

As I was driving my kids to summer school this morning, I started thinking about everything that is going on in our home. Satan has definitely figured out how to get to us, and I know it's him because my oldest son hasn't been sitting through a church service in a long time, he ends up leaving a service for high blood sugar, or stomach hurting, or something. We seem to NEVER have any time to get in our Bible's everyday. That is Satan! Satan DOES NOT want us to hear the word of God. He does not want us to get closer to God. Satan will try his best to break up a family, and believe me when I say he is well on his way in my family.

I have handed it over to God. I have asked for help from our church like I always hear we should, and now I just have to trust that God does not want Satan to be doing this to us, and if we turn to God, and put HIM back in first position in our lives, HE will handle this for us.

I pray for healing for my family, I pray that my boys will seek God and put HIM first so that they can have a close relationship with HIM. I pray that God will show us all the error of our ways and help us to change the things that are ungodly in our lives. I pray that Stanley and I will recognize that this is Satan, and we WILL NOT let him steal our joy and our peace. I pray that we lead by example, and stop being busy for God and start being close to God. Please pray for these things as well. We need all the prayer we can get!

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Facing Crisis

We are facing a crisis in the Stevenson home. Satan has found a way to steal our peace and I was thinking about how I need to turn to God more for guidance, I was led to a website that was sent to me in email by a friend. God's YellowPages is a great place to find scriptures relating to your problems.

Please pray for God to guide all of our actions during this time, and to bind Satan from further attacks.

Thankful Thursday - God's Word

I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God's Holy Word, I will make it a lamp
unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart that I
might not sin against God.

As I was at VBS last night saying this pledge, I realized how thankful I am for God's word. Without God's word we would not know how to handle everyday life situations. We would not know how to act, and we would not know the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

I am so very thankful to God for HIS word and I am going to remind myself of this pledge so that I will get in HIS word more and hide HIS word in my heart so that I can have a better walk with HIM.

What Do You Think?

I had a disagreement with someone over how to take care of a child who is diabetic/not responsible. I told the person we would just have to agree to disagree because I will not ever believe the way they do, and it's doubtful they will believe the way I do.

It was about my son who is diabetic, and does not think he has to keep his blood sugar under control. He does not show responsibility in taking care of his blood sugar, and therefore eats sugary foods without getting shots for them.

The disagreement came from the fact that this person keeps sweets, junk food, regular sodas, and that kind of stuff around my son when he is in his care, but then expects him not to eat it. He also says he is not responsible for my son while I am in the same building. To me that is backing out of his responsibility, and so how does he expect my son to be responsible if he can't even take the responsibility of taking care of my son while in his care?

His feeling is that since my son can go to the gas station nearby and buy junk food while away from me, that I should not worry about keeping it in his face, and around the house, that I should expect him to be responsible not to eat it. I feel like then maybe I need to buy alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and while I am at it. a loaded gun, and I will keep that in the house and expect all of my children not to get in any of it, drink it, smoke it, or use it. Come on, we are talking about a teenager, not an adult. Everyone knows that teenagers lose their brains and can't make good decisions over 60% of the time.

Adults are called adults, and kids are called kids for a reason. If I keep a loaded gun around my house and my child accidentally shoots someone, guess what? I go to jail ...WHY? Because I am supposed to be the responsible one. So the same can be said about keeping concentrated sweets, drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous things in the house. If I keep it, and my son goes into a coma, who do you think the doctor is going to blame?

Would you leave an unresponsible child home alone over and over to make them more responsible? You really can't do that. So you don't keep the concentrated sweets in front of an unresponsible diabetic and expect he will eventually become responsible. The adult has to step up and be responsible in this situation. And to me, the responsible thing to do would be to keep concentrated sweets away from a child who does not need it. It is the same with children with allergies. No responsible adult keeps foods their children are allergic to in their face. It is too dangerous.

That's my opinion, what's yours?

Today's Thought

A CLEAR CONSCIOUS makes a SOFT PILLOW.

Today's Thought

It is IMPOSSIBLE to have NOTHING TO DO with JESUS CHRIST!

Thankful Thursday

• I'm thankful to God above for equipping me with the ability to be a mom, a wife, and a student. Going to nursing school is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm thankful that God has led me, guided me, and stayed with me through this journey.
• I'm thankful that I am a member of a great church that loves the Lord and each other.
• I'm thankful for my health, and the health of the ones I love.
• I'm thankful that JL and BL are our friends, and have tried so very hard to make their marriage work!
• I'm thankful that another couple have decided to work things out and not let Satan split them up.
• I'm thankful for a loving husband whom I absolutely adore.
• And finally, I'm thankful for for every single day that God gives me on this earth with the people I love.

GREAT NEWS

For those of you who want to take GOD out of EVERYTHING, He won't be in HELL either!

Great Times

This past weekend we had a big get-together with some of our closest friends. There were two couples plus my sister and her husband and kids, and then my best friend for over 20 years came with her girls. We invited JL & BL but BL was sick so they were not able to come :( We had a big time! We cooked lots of food, and had a bon-fire in the backyard. It was a great day! Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and Stanley and I enjoyed everyone being here!

It was originally supposed to be my best friend and her girls staying the night with us, but then Stanley started inviting everyone over to celebrate me being out of school, and my birthday is the 14th, so I think he was wanting to do something he knew I would enjoy. I love having friends over!

I am hoping soon to be able to host a Sunday School get-together. I would love that as well because I really like all of the people in our Sunday School class. they are good friends too. I would have invited all of them last weekend, but my house is half painted inside and half not painted, so I would rather wait until we finish things up. My closest friends know how I am so I don't worry if my house isn't clean when they come over, but I wouldn't want my Sunday School class to see that.

Oh and my favorite things with the weekend? My sister brought her baby, and my best friend brought me a birthday gift that she said she only paid a dollar for, but it is priceless to me!

I pray that you are as blessed as I am with good friends!

Praise The Lord

I am finished with school for this semester, and I passed all of my classes! I am totally amazed at how God gets you through when HE puts you in places you never thought you'd be! I feel so blessed to be where he has put me, but it is very hard, so I know I can't do it without HIM!

I hope your feeling blessed today and are praising the Lord with me!

Did We Fail Them?

I have two great friends whom I adore. They have been going through a rough time the past couple of months. Satan has tried very hard to drive them apart. Stanley and I have prayed for them and supported them 100%, trying to help them in any way we know how.

They told me yesterday that are switching churches, and this really broke my heart. I can't help but wonder if maybe as a church we failed them. Maybe we didn't show enough love and support to them. Maybe too many people were whispering and taking sides, and they felt like they needed to be somewhere where people wouldn't judge them??? I don't know, but I know that as Christians, we should NEVER advocate for, encourage, or push for anyone to get a divorce. God created marriage, Satan created divorce.

I just pray that they both do whatever it takes to keep their marriage together. They must put their marriage under God, and before anyone else in their family. And I pray that God heals everything, and that their marriage will be stronger for all that they are enduring now. Please pray for this couple. You don't have to know their names because God knows who they are. pray that God will bind Satan and keep him from tearing them apart, and that they won't worry about what other people think, that they will fight for their marriage with everything they've got! Thank you, and God bless you!

Looking Around

Since this is technically the last week of school for me (a test and meeting next week), I thought I would relieve some stress and look at nursing shirts. I found some that I absolutely love and will buy before nursing school is over.

I definately want this one ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_10/id_17279531/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
Then I really like this one too ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_2/id_17980817/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
And this one ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_2/id_21361861/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
And this one ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_1/id_18543601/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
And this one ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_3/id_13801099/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
And this one ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_4/id_18860484/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
And this one ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_7/id_3528341/opt_/fpt_/c_666/
And my husband needs this one ... http://www.cafepress.com/buy/nursing/-/pv_design_details/pg_7/id_16517175/opt_/fpt_/c_666/

I Can See The Light ...

... At the end of the tunnel, for this semester anyway! My last day of actual classes is May 2nd. That is also when my nursing 101 final is. My A & P 2 final is May 5th, and May 6th I have to go back to nursing class for a mandatory meeting, I am assuming it is to get us ready for nursing 202.

These next two and a half weeks are going to be hectic. Tomorrow I have an Acid/Base Balance quiz, Monday is a nursing test, Tuesday is my last lab exam for A & P 2, then we have the last bit of content for this semester in nursing. The 24th is a physical assessment competency, then the 25th is catheterization check-off, then the 29th is the catheterization competency, then the 30th is our last exam in nursing before the final. YES I'M STRESSED!

I am vowing to do nothing on the weekends from now until this semester is over, (except work-out). I am looking forward to summer vacation, do you blame me?

By the way, I've lost 8 pounds working out at the gym for the past three weeks. I am feeling better and stronger!

Some Questions I Have

I have had a bad week. Things have not gone right for me and things have happened that have left me so confused.

I have never understood why it is that when your kids act bad, no one tells you until they don't know what else to do. They just talk about it with other people and then quite some time later you find out about it. Wouldn't it make more sense to tell the parents about the kids in the beginning so that they can help get them under control?

We have been having problems with our boys for quite some time now, but apparently so have other people, but they didn't tell us about it until recently. We found out that people were complaining about our kids who see us a lot, and never said a word to us. I just feel like that is wrong. That is like talking about someone behind their back.

I know my kids are acting bad, I deal with it too. We have tried everything, and nothing seems to really work. I have even thought about sending them some where that can do something with them, but I don't want them to feel unloved. Praying is all I know to do right now.

I'm just going to keep looking to God for answers.

Another Slap In The Face

I feel like crying, I really do. I've spent over a year being friends with a couple that I truly care about, and trying my hardest (without pushing them away) to win them to Christ. Another Christian couple came along and may have undone everything I worked so hard to accomplish, by partying with them. I'm sorry but that really ticked me off! Satan is working double time lately! Back to drawing board I suppose.

A Heavy Heart

I am in mourning yet no one died, but I am because the soul of someone I love is destined to go hell because she does not believe in the same God I believe in, and she doesn't believe in Heaven or Hell, or that Satan can make us do bad things.

Please pray for this person. Pray that she will seek truth, find it, and make a decision for Christ before it is too late.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

A Lot On My Heart

I have been super busy with my studies, and haven't had much time for anything. I have also been dealing with some serious issues and personal problems, so I've been a bit depressed and out of sorts lately.

I'm blessed that I have a loving and forgiving savior! After years of dealing with some things that were not pleasant, after years of praying that God would do something about it, I believe he is working on it now. I praise him for that! It is really hard to be a Christian when someone is constantly doing you wrong, and especially when they are hypocritical about it.

I am starting to feel like I can breathe now, just knowing that God is dealing with this situation. Maybe that was my biggest lesson, instead of trying to find someone to help me deal with it, and give me answers on what I could do, I should have just trusted that God would deal with it in his time.

There is one more thing that is bothering me that I am praying he will fix. I am going to do my best to trust that he will and not talk to anyone about it, and see what God does with it. It too is painful, but I am trusting God.

Satan is on a surge, and he is attacking the best people. I have been so emotional these past two weeks because I feel so heartbroken about a particular couple that Satan, has for now, torn apart. I would have never thought that this could happen to this couple, but I am praying daily that God will intervene and heal this family. I love them so much!

Another great couple that God has put in our path, have been a true blessing! I think they are going to join our church tomorrow! I praise God for great Christian people! And the neat thing about it, is that a lost couple is good friends with the four of us (Stanley & I, and this new couple), so hopefully God will use all of us to reach them, and we can be good influences on them and encourage them and show them love.

So even though in some ways I'm suffering with some issues, I am also praising God for what he is allowing me to go through (to teach me), and for working on some things I have been praying about.

I pray that God is working in your life!

Confused & Not Feeling Well

Well the situation below has calmed down a bit - I don't feel like screaming as loudly anymore, but I do think we should talk to him and tell him that what he is doing is sin and he needs to stop causing us so much grief and harrassment. Stanley feels like if we say anything it can cause more problems, so I don't know what to do.

Last night I started feeling bad. I am praying it isn't the flu, because it has been going around like crazy! I have to go to school at 2PM today and then everyday for the rest of the week, I will have to go sick because I cannot miss one day of nursing.

Have a great day!

Ready-Aim-Fire

I am about to explode, no really! One person is constantly causing my husband or my family trouble and I am tired of it, and am about to make a total complete fool of myself telling him exactly what I think! I need prayers, and lots of them.

Waiting To Exhale

I have been so busy that I haven't had much time for anything but school. Thursday was my first day off from school since the semester started, and I sure enjoyed it, though I was studying for an A&P 2 test. (I made a "B" on that test).

Today I don't go to school until 2PM and that may change due to the weather situation. Thursday is my first clinical experience, and I'm excited! Things should slow down a little bit now that clinicals have started, and I should be able to breathe a little bit easier too.

I have a big A&P 2 lab test coming up, and a few quizzes in Nursing, but overall, I think I'm doing pretty good and enjoying school so far! I'm really looking forward to when this is all over and I am a registered nurse!

I hope you have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Too Busy To Post

I haven't had time to post lately, I have been swamped with reading and studying. The nursing program is definitely living up to it's reputation of being "tough". It also requires a lot of critical thinking skills that I'm not sure I have enough of just yet. I am hoping that those skills will come easier as I learn more.

Please pray for me! I know this is where I belong, and Satan has sent a lot of people to me who are trying to discourage me from this profession. As hard as this program is it would be easy to give up if discouraged enough. Please pray that God will send encouragement my way to counteract Satan. I don't think I will give up, I just think that it will hurt my confidence.

I hope you have time to "be" with your family. You take for granted the time you spend with them until you don't get that time anymore!!!!

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Prayer Requests

I have a few prayer requests: Someone I love dearly doesn't have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. There may be an opportunity for this person to go to church where they can hear God's word. Please pray that this happens and that this person will be saved!

Also pray for a dear friend who is having heart and kidney problems. He has been battling this problem for over a year and he is getting worse. Please pray that he doesn't suffer but live out the time he has left with his family.

And finally, we have some fairly new friends that live in our neighborhood who are searching for another church home. They are going through some things and I know in my heart that the people in my church can show them the love and respect and that "family feeling" that they are looking for and need. They are good people and it would be really great to have them in our church. They came last night and then we went out to eat together and talked about our church. It was a great time of fellowship! I think they may come back Wednesday!

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

God Worked It Out

I shouldn't be amazed, but I am. Something I had been worrying about and praying about, God took care of just like that. Isn't God wonderfully amazing?

First Day of Nursing School

Well all I can say is so far, so good. I was given a lot of information in one day, but they say they are taking things slow for us the first few weeks, so I'm happy about that. I do have homework for tomorrow though :( I have to be at school every day at 8AM until we start clinicals. Once I start clinicals I will have one day that I won't have to be in class until 2:00 PM.

Anatomy 2 was interesting, we have already started in there as well and I have to start reading the chapter over the endocrine system for Wednesday. I also had to go buy even more stuff for nursing and Anatomy. I had to purchase an online course that we need in nursing for $126, then I had to purchase a lab coat (used at Wagoner's) and goggles and gloves for dissecting a cat. I have to buy the cat next week at another $85 but if I get a lab partner or two, we can split that cost. After it's all said and done, I will only get back around $600 in 6 weeks when they hand out FA checks, and I will need that for gas money. I had over $1500 in financial aid, but that is all I will have left.

I'm going to have to borrow $200 from somebody for uniforms. It's crazy ... I don't know how people can afford school without financial aid ... It's expensive! I just thank God for financial aid!!!

God - Hello - It's Me Again

Stanley and I are still recovering from that awful cold/flu/bug (whatever it is), and now the kids are starting to get it. That really stinks too because I start school on Monday so they don't have much time to feel bad and get over it.

That's bad I know, as a parent I know my kids should come after Stanley, but in nursing school you can't miss any class time, and especially the first week. Now don't get me wrong, if one of them was really bad (emergency situation), I would miss in a heart beat, but a cold? No sorry, they will have to be shipped to grandpa's house instead.

I truly believe God called me to be a nurse. So I have to give my all and get it done. I remember this time last year I had sinus surgery and the day after surgery I was in class. People couldn't believe it. God made sure I was able, I didn't have any pain, and even though I was tired and wanted to sleep, he gave me the energy to get through nurse aide training - which I have to have in order to start the nursing program.

God has just paved the way for me to be a nurse! I prayed about it and prayed about it before I signed up for classes, and I even argued with him a little bit because I wasn't sure after all these years of baby talk and raising kids if I was smart enough to get in. Then after a prayer and listening to Charles Stanley, I decided to take a nap, and that is when God spoke to me. He told me the verse ASK-SEEK-KNOCK, and so I prayed again and told Him that I was going to step out on faith and trust Him that if I was to be a nurse, He would open all the doors, and HE HAS!

I took the entrance exam and then signed up for classes on the same day. Two classes I dreaded and was most scared of, I passed with A's. I had the opportunity (along with my Eng 101 professor) to share my faith with someone who was lost and needed some direction and love in her life. I haven't seen her since my first semester, but I pray that she is doing better than she was, and hopefully has found Jesus.

I was scared to apply for the nursing program because so many people don't make it in. I prayed that if it was God's will for me to be a nurse, that I would get in, and I did. See if we put our trust in Him, He will see us through things that we never dreamed we would get through.

I have to keep that faith now. The nursing program is tough. I will not see my family that much starting Monday. I won't be able to watch TV most times, because I will need to be studying. But that's OK. I know God will take care of everything. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it!

I will be making more than Stanley does after I graduate. The first year I could make up to $15,000-$20,000 more than he does. Believe me, that will help us a lot. We will be able to buy everything we need and tithe too!

I don't need to be rich, I have never been rich, and to be honest, I thank God for that. Being rich changes people. I see people now who aren't rich, but think that they have to have the best of everything, fancy houses, fancy clothes, lots of jewelry. Charging to credit cards, getting in debt. I'm not big on those things. I like to look nice, but I won't spend a lot of money doing it. I pray that never changes about me.

I have blathered on and on ... Please pray for my kids to feel better and not get as bad as Stanley and I got. None of us need to miss school/work! Stanley had to take two vacation days last week because he was so sick.

Have a great,glorious, and blessed day!

Making Changes

I know, everyone tries to make a resolution to change something in the new year. I suppose I'm no different. I have started a diet with the help of Slim Fast. I'm not necessarily using the diet the way they recommend (just yet), but I have lowered my calories to 1700 based on their suggestion, and right now I'm trying to lose 22 lbs, also by their suggestion. Once I reach that goal I will work toward losing more.

Their website has all the tools you need to keep track of the food you eat, how much water you drink, and there is a weekly weigh in so you have to hold yourself accountable. Next week I will actually start drinking the shakes since I will be at school early in the mornings and won't have time to eat beforehand.

We have also been having family devotionals. We have had 5 devotionals out of the 10 days so far this year. We don't do them on Wednesday or Sunday though, since we hear the word at church anyway. So we haven't really missed that much, mainly over the weekend when we were feeling really bad.

Pray for us and these changes. Pray that we continue to do family devotionals and that I can lose some weight (for health and confidence). Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

It's My Blog - I'll Cry If I Want To

I think I'm getting better, and then I start feeling worse ... Will this cold/flu/bug ever go away?

One minute I want Barack to win the primary, the next I want Hillary ... I'm torn between the two. George W. Bush has ruined any respect I had for Republican politicians. John MC Cain doesn't seem to be that bad, but that's what we thought about George W. Bush too.

My best friend said she was going to buy me a shirt that reads: "Who would Jesus bomb?" She asked me if I would wear it, I said of course I would.

I know I'm supposed to love everyone, and honestly I do, but some people really get on my nerves, and some more than others. I'm sure I get on people's nerves as well, so I guess it all works out eh?

Out of my four kids, one brought home straight A's, two brought home several F's, and the other brought home D's. Mom is the homework "go-to" person, and mom hasn't had time because she has had her own, but they should be able to do better than that. Needless to say, three are grounded until they show me proof of C's or above. I took cell phones, mp3 players, TV, and their PlayStation. They can't have company and they can't go anywhere. Mom is UPSET!

I'm tired of being broke all the time. Living paycheck to paycheck really stinks! I would post our income and bills, but you would FREAK out! Let's just say one income (and a small income at that) and 6 people in the home = close to poverty line. We have had so much money going out this past couple of months, that I haven't been able to get my uniforms for school which only cost about $200. I just pray that income taxes come in before I need them, or God intervenes and works a miracle.

A friend of mine sent me an email this morning about Hot chocolate which I loved. I shared it with others because it really spoke to me with how broke we are right now, and how I have been feeling about myself lately. I seem to go up and down like a yo-yo with my weight. I lose 5-10lbs then gain 15-20lbs right back. It is driving me insane. But I know that for the most part, I am a really sweet person who would do anything for anybody. I don't seem to make friends as easy as I did in school, I think because I am more blunt about certain things than I use to be (a trait I have slowly inherited from my deceased father), but you can ask all of my friends how good of a friend I am ... I give my all in my relationships, often times getting hurt, stabbed in the back, and heartbroken in the process.

Well I'm done whining and crying for now ... have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

I'm Sick Of The Lies

Spreading through email are several claims that Barack Obama won't say the Pledge Of Allegiance, that he was sworn into office by placing his hand on the Koran/Quran instead of the Bible, and that he is a Muslim pretending to be Church of Christ.

LINKS ARE WORKING PROPERLY NOW!

>>Snopes.com - Pledge of Allegiance Claim

>>Snopes.com - Quran/Koran Claim -read the whole page, a case of mistaken identity

>>Snopes.com - Hand Over Heart Claim - watch senate videos at the bottom<<

>>Snopes.com -Trinity/Church Of Christ Claim<<

I said several years ago that Barack would run for President, and everyone thought I was crazy. I also said that I wasn't sure Hillary could win. I'm not sure if I like the fact that what I said seems to happening before my very eyes. I like Barack Obama and I like Hillary. John Edwards supports the whole gay marriage thing, so he is out of the question (IMHO). I do not like it though, that people can stoop so low as to lie about someone being Muslim and say they are "a terrorist trying to be president". Especially with September 11th forever in our minds.

Attack someones views, what they stand for, but don't stoop so low as to scare people into thinking they would be voting for the anti-Christ OK? That just upsets me. Besides, if any of our presidential nominees are the "anti-Christ", there is nothing we can do about it anyway, God is the one in control and it is all written down in the BIBLE!

My wish is that whether Barack or Hillary wins the primary, the other one will end up as VP...now that would be cool!

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

More This & That

Stanley has been sick for a while now, I started getting it on Wednesday, sniffling and such. Over the weekend I started feeling pretty bad. We missed church Sunday morning because we felt so bad. We had the alarm set, but we must have turned it off and slept longer because we didn't get out of bed until after 1PM and then we laid around on the couch. We would have missed last night but I needed to get my paper for TeamKid. Ended up, it wasn't there, but that's ok.

I have no energy, all I want to do is sleep. I feel like I have a tad of motion sickness, and my head feels like it's going to explode. Generic mucinex is helping with sinus and congestion. I just pray I get over this soon. I start nursing school in exactly one week and what's left of freedom and relaxation will be spent nursing whatever it is I have.

I have got to force myself to clean out my van this week. The carpet needs to be cleaned. the windows need to be cleaned. It has been neglected and I want it cleaned out and ready for a new semester of school. Though with gas prices rising, I may have to buy a tiny gas saving car since I will be going to school 5 days a week for the next 4 months-2 years. Gas was costing me $60-$80 a week only going to school two days a week, so I'm scared of what it will cost going 5 days.

Have a great. glorious, and blessed day!

Sticker Shock

I went to school today to get my nursing books ... OH MY GOODNESS! ***$715.72*** for 9 nursing books!!! That's just the half of it though, these books weigh 45 lbs. If you add the Anatomy book, I have 50 lbs of books to carry!!! Put it all in my rolling backpack and it is over 60 lbs. I also got my stethoscope and bag of medical supplies that I will need to practice with. I will need back surgery by the end of nursing school, it's ridiculous!

I am excited though I have to say! I used to love playing doctor/nurse when I was a kid, now I get to do for real and I think that is so cool! God is amazing, he has gotten me through three semesters of prerequisite classes, and on January 14th, I will start my first day of nursing classes! Thank you God for seeing me through this far, and I pray that you will be with me, guiding me, and helping me during the next two years.

Words To Live By

30 Life Principles By Charles Stanley

Our intimacy with God – His highest priority for our lives – determines the impact of our lives.

Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.

God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.

The awareness of God’s presence energizes us for our work.

God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.

You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow.

The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.

Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time.

Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.

If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will.

God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.

Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God.

Listening to God is essential to walking with God.

God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.

Whatever you acquire outside of God’s will eventually turns to ashes.

We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.

As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.

Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose.

Disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice.

Obedience always brings blessing.

To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit.

You can never out give God.

To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us.

God blesses us so that we might bless others.

Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.

Prayer is life’s greatest time saver.

No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith.

We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops.

An eager anticipation of the Lord’s return keeps us living productively.

Awesome Day At Church Yesterday

Yesterday at church was AWESOME! Our youth pastor brought the message and it was a good one. It was about faithfulness, service, tithing, and how we should be in the word daily. I know God was speaking to me and Stanley. We have said I don't know how many times, that we are going to get a daily devotional started, but we never do.

We also used to tithe like we were supposed to, and when we did. everything worked out like it was supposed to, but something happened and it got to be an every now and then thing and now things aren't working so good. I don't know how we tithed to begin with because there is never enough money to pay all the bills, much less tithe, but God works it out when your faithful and obedient to him. We have to get back to tithing like we are supposed to, but it will take total trust in God because money is so incredibly tight right now.

Last night we watched The Climb during the evening servive at church. That is a real good movie. I see nothing wrong with showing a movie at church as long as it is about God. Of course, someone always has to complain about it, and sure enough, one did.

Discussion

I accidently deleted this post when I meant to update it. We ( my family and I) had been having a discussion about preachers/ministers/pastors, on whether or not they had to be ordained or licensed to preach or marry people. Well apparently in KY you don't have to be licensed to preach or marry.

This is scary ... So basically anyone can perform marriages now. Anyone can claim they are a preacher, and they can preach. That would be like me saying I am a nurse an insert an IV in someones arm without training and without a license. That is WRONG in so many ways.

Luckily, I think most churches would require ordainment and seminary before hiring a person as a pastor.

A Great Christmas

The Stevenson family had a great Christmas this year. Stanley's parents came bright and early to watch the kids open gifts. The kids all got an mp3 player, a bicycle, three outfits a piece, shoes, socks and underwear, and another PS2. Austen got two PS2 games, Tanner got a CD player and a skateboard, Coty got a PS2 game, a skateboard, and a coat. Brianna got a karaoke machine and a karaoke Hannah Montana CD, and a coat. They got gift cards and other gifts from grandparents.

I cooked a big meal, bigger than planned. We had a ham that was to die for, a juicy turkey, wonderful chicken & dressing, Au-gratin potatoes, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni and tomatoes, green bean casserole, rolls that you have to let rise before you bake, and regular rolls too, and then my sister made two chess pies and a pumpkin pie. My sister and her family, my mom, and my best friend and her new boyfriend all came to eat and visit. It was great having them all here. Stanley's mom and dad was supposed to come and eat later in the evening, but they didn't.

I feel very blessed to have had most of my family with me at Christmas. I know many people are without their loved ones during the holidays.

Have a great, glorious, and blessed day!

Getting Things Ready

Tomorrow is a big day for several reasons. First we have church, then we have to get stuff together that we are taking to a very deserving family for Christmas. Then we have to go back to church; the choir is putting on a Christmas Cantata that I am a small part of. Then I have to start getting things ready for Christmas dinner.

I am cooking a small Christmas dinner compared to past ones. I am cooking:

Turkey
Ham
Chicken & Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Rolls

My sister and her family are bringing a pumpkin pie and two chess pies. My mother is bringing drinks. My nephew may come with his girlfriend, but he probably will come only with a hefty appetite.

I wish all of my family could be here together, but unfortunately there are people in my family who cause so much "hell" for others that they don't want to be around them at all.

I am looking forward to the food and having my nieces and nephews here ... my nieces are the clowns in the family that keep us all laughing with their jokes and little skits they do. I can't wait.

But most of all I'm looking forward to celebrating my savior's birth and looking back over the year, counting all my blessings and thanking my heavenly father above for all of the gifts he has given me and my family.

I pray that you have a wonderful Christmas filled with all of God's blessings! Merry Christmas!

I'm Thinking ...

#1.
I have drowned in self-pity long enough, it is time for me to raise my head and think about the good in my life, and not dwell on what really stinks. Satan was showing me EVERYTHING that is wrong in my life, trying to convince me that I don't have anyone to turn to, and I started thinking "Why am I even here?" - He may make me feel bad for a little while, but he can't steal my joy because I have hope in Jesus Christ, and I can turn to HIM in times of pain and need.

#2.
If I had known raising teenage boys was going to be so hard, I would have petitioned for a puppy instead. I love my kids, I really do, but sometimes I just want to put them to sleep until their 20. You know what I'm talking about. I mean really, I know what my parents would have done to me if I said and did the things my kids say and do.

#3.
Our biggest problem (Stanley's and mine), is that we can't agree on discipline, and we go about it all wrong. I sometimes wonder why God even gave us kids because we really STINK at being parents. There are so many people in this world who can't have kids, who would raise godly children, but God gave us kids ... I'm beginning to question God's sense of humor.

#4.
My last post made my church look bad. My church is awesome! I love my church, I just think it is so big that the only people the pastor has time for is the people who work in or help run the church. There are a few people that have made it clear that they wouldn't spit on me if I was on fire, but hey, that's life. I don't worry about it, and leave it for God to deal with. - I do have several people I could turn to in the church, I'm just not so sure if that is a good idea. I think if anything, we need general counseling to help us raise these kids in a godly fashion.

#5.
When you don't raise your kids in church from birth, you really MESS UP! See I was basically taken out of the church I'm in now - I'm thinking at age 10 or 11, (because my mom had issues). I visited a few churches with friends as I grew older, but nothing regular. I just got so far away from God that it took over 20 years for me to come back. It's pretty sad when you've been a member of a church for 25 years, but only attended for three or four years (at the most). I can't make up for time lost, but I can do my best to raise my kids right from now on. Something that is proving to be very challenging.

#6.
I am no longer volunteering for anything while I am active in school, except for Revive. The only reason I will for Revive is because God called me to do that and it is something I am very passionate about and believe in. God has really pulled me into that ministry, I do a lot more than coordinate two walks, but God is in control; HE is doing it all. I am just allowing HIM to do it through me, though I have argued with HIM about it a few times :)

#7.
I was just way to busy with stuff at church this semester and ended up with a 2.692 GPA for the semester. Luckily God was on my side and my cumulative GPA is still "OK" with a 3.065. Thank you God! I have to keep my GPA up for the nursing program. I believe God called me to be a nurse, so I need to make sure I don't spread myself out too thin and ruin my chance.

Well that is all I have been thinking about lately. I will one day look back on this and think "Wow, God got me through it all" ... I can't wait. I am praising HIM already because I know HE will see me through all of my issues.

Frustrating

I was asking for prayer from my SS teacher when I came to realize that I don't feel accepted or worthy enough to ask for help from my church right now. That's really sad you know? When you feel like people don't have time to mess with your needs, something is really wrong.

My sister tells me how she talks with her pastor and how close she is to the people in her church. I am envious of that because I don't have that kind of relationship with my church. I have tried, Lord knows I have tried. But for some reason I can't get to that point.

I'm just going to give it to God, go read my bible, and see what HE says.

Prayer Request

I am asking for prayer for my family. We put on a big smile a lot of the time when actually things are pretty bad. Satan is playing a sick game with us and he is slowly tearing our family a part. Only God can fix it. Please pray for God's healing hand to intervene and fix this problem. Otherwise, I'm not sure how long it can hold together.

Revive Prayer Walks In Your Local Schools

Have you heard of Revive? If not than your in for a treat. Revive is a Christian ministry that goes around praying for local schools. This is a legal event because the prayer walk takes place when school is not in session and the school isn't the one who organizes it.

Watch the YouTube Video:



Many schools are involved, but if your school isn't involved, and you would like to get one started, please go to http://www.reviveprayerwalk.com/find/ and add your school. All it takes is to contact the school or school board, ask for permission, set a date, get someone to unlock the doors (if possible), and then get the word out!

God is moving in these schools and it is amazing to watch and be a part of. Go on and get one started in your schools ------> http://www.reviveprayerwalk.com/find/

See you on the battlefield!

God Bless You!

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God(Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker. (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1:5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted As God's child (Eph1:5)
I belong to God

'The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward youand give you peace.' Numbers 6:24-26

Thank God It's Over!

I am done with school until next semester! I still have to take my A & P final exam on the 13th, but now that I know that I can make a 68 and still keep my "B" in the class, I'm not stressing over it. I am stressing over my psychology grade though. I am hoping to get a "B", but it looks like I will probably get a high "C" instead. It's all good though, I am just thrilled that it is over!