Happy Birthday Michael!

Michael turned 8 years old today! I can't believe how fast they flew by! I was so excited that we had a girl and now our boy. I talked Mike into naming our little boy after him. When Michael was born he was to little for the name Michael so we called him Mikey until one day he announced that his name was Michael. And so he has been Micheal ever since. He is the one to make you laugh. He also likes to play games or outdoor sports. I am so proud of the young man you are turning into Michael. Remember to always keep God #1 in your life. He will always be there for you. I really think a lot of your earthly father too that is why I named you after him. He has good footsteps to follow after too. You will always be my #1 boy! I love you! Happy birthday buddy!!

Spending less

I am amazed at how God works things out! It really should be of no surprise to me since I know that He created everything.... but, He always amazes me! Let me back up a little.....Mike and I have gotten used to spending to much money on eating out. So our kids also are used to living like that for a few years on and off. In Jan. when we realized that we had to scale back on a lot of things so I would not have to go get a job (sometimes I would love to work a few hours out of the house but, that is for another day). So we canceled our cable tv service and made a few other adjustments financially to help offset our change in lifestyles. Back to our eating out. We knew that we could cut out a bit by eating out less and then we realized how much more we spent by ordering sodas and milk: at least $10 for our family. I used to be the one thinking that people who made their family order water out we just plain cheap. I am now that person. Now I realize that if we all order water that adds up to: 2 blockbuster movies, a pizza, ice cream cones or almost 3 gallons of gas. We now let our kids help us decide if they want soda or last night it was ice cream. They all ordered water and we all enjoyed the treat of ice cream! When we did the ice cream part we let them pick anything that they wanted! I loved that it was such a treat and not like it used to be, expected. I only wish that we had done this a long time ago! I want to help develop good spending habits in our children. God has blessed us with more than we could ever imagine! Our kids can drink some soda at home and all the milk they want. Just wanted you to know that they do not do without!

Baby girls!

Don't get worried they are not mine! A friend from church had a baby girl last week and I have a new niece! I am hoping to see both baby girls on Sunday and get some pictures to show here. I love babies...they bring out the best in people. They make the grumpiest people smile! God knew what he was doing when he created babies!

New friend!

God is just so cool! As I stated the other day my oldest daughter leaves for a mission trip to Guatemala on Sat. As of Monday we have a young man (Raule not sure yet on the spelling) staying at our house and guess where he is from? Guatemala!!! He has been in the states for I think 2 years now. He moved to our house from Conn. I just thought that it was funny how the timing worked out ( this was not something that was planned out..it just happened ). On second thought....God had it all planned out!!! Mike gave better details, if you are interested check out his blog at mikesilliman.blogspot.com. Those of you who know me know that I have no idea (yet) how to make it so you just click on the words. Yes, you have to type it in sorry:)

I don't like satan!

Mike (my wonderful husband) preached an awesome sermon at Elk Creek Church yesterday! I love that man with all my heart. He talked about forgiving myself for my past. Next week he will be talking about forgiving others who have hurt me. This is good stuff that everyone can learn from no matter where you are in life. With that all said.....satan has been busy...I don't think he liked Mike helping a lot of us out yesterday. I am not one to give satan credit often but, there have been things happening that are so evil they can only be from him. In 2Corinthians 10:3-4 it says " for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." Satan does not want people to have any type of healing from their past or from each other. I am so glad to know that in the end satan looses and God is victorious. Don't forget to pray often!

Packing!

This is a picture of Guatemala when we were there last year. I have been packing this past week for our oldest daughter Casey. She leaves Sat. to go back. I am so happy for her but sad for me. I loved it last year! I fell in love with the people. They taught me so much about life. The village we spent most of our week at had nothing. No running water, no electricity, no plumbing, despite all the things they did not have their smiles and laughter were priceless! We showed them God's love for the week we were there and I pray to see them in heaven one day. A few people from our Church are going back and my parents are taking Casey. So, I have been packing Casey's bags. Mike and I(and Caleb) will be traveling too. We have a confrence to go to. So, Michael and Abbey will be staying with my in-laws. If you don't mind say a prayer for all of us. It is going to be a crazy next 2 weeks. I will try to blog in between all of the packing this week.

When wrong seems right

I love these pictures of Abbey! Check out the sun glasses and shoes! They are both on wrong, but they feel or seem right to her. I found a Bible verse that goes along with this. It is found in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." I thought that death was a strong word so I pulled out 4 different translations of this verse and they all used the word death. Wow! Now don't get me wrong......Abbey wearing her sun glasses and shoes wrong will not end in death but, for some of us the path we are choosing in life will lead us to death. That breaks my heart. God has so many helpful tips for us in the Bible if we just read them and apply them to our lives. We can have eternal life not death! Romans 3:16 says " For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Does wrong seem right to you?

CBS!

Do you ever feel like God brings people into your life at just the right time? I am part of a Community Bible Study group and these women are very special to me. They are encouraging, funny and just great to study the Bible with! God has brought us together for each other at just the right time. We are studying Acts. I am seeing Paul in a different light. I never really thought about all the suffering Paul went through yet, he continued to obey God. He went where God told him to, when God told him to. He preached what God told him to, when God told him to. Not to mention that this was the same guy who was persecuting the Christians before he became a Christian himself. Tell me God does not use anyone!!! No one is to far gone that God can not use them if they allow Him to!!! Anyway....Paul used the same energy for God and His glory!!! Paul reached so many people for God because he obeyed. I hope the same will be said of me because I obeyed God's calling on my life.

Not my home!

I was thinking today....I know that is scary! I often miss my old home and my friends that I don't see to often. We were in a great neighborhood ( much like the one we are in now ). I loved our house and told everyone that I was not going to move until I was to old to go up and down the steps. I was done moving!!!!! At least I thought. Mike and I had moved a total of 7 times in our 14 years of marriage. We did a lot of work inside and out to make it ours. We added a sidewalk, we put tile in the kitchen and laundry room, most of the house was painted just the way we wanted it, and we added an in-ground pool. We were happy! Then God spoke......not out loud. He just gave us this feeling ( I don't know how to put it into words )....that we were to go plant a Church. No, my husband was not a pastor. He was a janitor. He had also worked his way up the corporate ladder to one of the presidents of the company. I was not on board at first with this Church planting thing.......remember I loved where I was in every way. But God kept working on me and before I knew it, our home did not feel like ours anymore. I knew we had to move. I was filled with emotions. Long story short 2 1/2 years later God has blessed us with a beautiful home and an in-ground pool, plus a hot tub ( that the kids love )! We have planted Elk Creek Church with God's help. God is doing amazing things at Church. People are going to heaven because we obeyed and God worked in peoples hearts! Heaven is my ultimate home I am just passing through! I learned through all of this that I can and will go any where God wants me to. Is God calling you to do or go somewhere? It feels awesome to obey!