Garrison

Garrison's profile

This little boy has been on my heart for a couple of weeks now. I haven't had the chance to raise any funds yet, but I have remained faithful in prayer for him. He is missing both feet and one hand, but otherwise shows no problems! Look at that sweet face!

My heart just breaks for him and the other children at Reece's Rainbow that are waiting for families. They are cast aside in their countries as lower class because of their disabilities. Some of these kids are living in adult mental institutions as young children!


I know not everyone is able to adopt. I know we are not in a position to do it again anytime soon. If you aren't able to adopt, please give to help someone who can. November is national adoption month. Please do something to give to children in need of a family!

 

 

If you would like to help this little boy, please click on Garrison's link above and you can donate right through Reece's Rainbow. I will be collecting for him in the next few weeks as well.

Talent Required?

Being a church planter's wife sure stretches you! I am being used in ways I never would have thought. Anyone that has known me for any length of time would be shocked to hear what I am doing now!

I am now the worship leader! (While our worship leader recovers from giving birth to her new son, a.k.a. my adorable nephew.) I have never been known as a great singer. In fact I was quite the opposite growing up. Thank God that when there is a need He provides the talent where it was lacking! I have improved so much and can actually carry a tune. Believe it or not, a few people have even said I have a beautiful voice! Praise God he provides!

It makes me wonder...is talent required? Or does God honor you stepping out in faith, trusting that He will make it work? I'm really not sure. Maybe it's a little bit of both.

There is so much to learn on the church planting adventure! I can't believe all the things that I never even thought about! In the beginning stages, there's not a whole lot of people besides your family. I knew that in my head, but the reality still hits hard.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

At times it can seem discouraging and overwhelming! But can not loose heart! Remember God's call for your city! Meditate on the promise he has given you! He will provide if we stay faithful!



I had to add a picture of my new nephew Saxon!

My New Obsession



Yellow Squash

Doughnut

I have discovered a new and productive hobby, at least if you have a little girl. I have been making play food out of felt! It is pretty easy and fun. I have been sitting in the chair at night and sewing play food while watching t.v. Most of the stitching is done by hand.



Lemon slice

I have found resources all over Pinterest . Some of the foods are freehand and a few I found tips and patterns for.  I really love all the tutorials that are on Helping Little Hands Blog. 


My favorite- Bag of Chips! I love how this turned out!

Cupcake- could use some tweaking.

Ice Cream Cone



Strawberries

Fried Egg



Know Your Worth- The World Is Waiting

Do you ever struggle with feeling worthy? I know I do. There are those mental breakdown days that you feel like a bad mother and that your children deserve a better mother. Or is that just me? There is so much on our plates as women and sometimes we just don't feel we can do it all, or that we are worthy of it all.

God doesn't call you un-worthy for every mistake you make. He loves you and calls you worthy despite it! He sees the whole picture! He sees what you will become!

In Genesis 17 and 18 God changed Sarai's name to Sarah. The name Sarah means princess.  God changed her name despite the fact that she took matters into her own hands to have a child by her maidservant and then treated her cruelly. He named her despite the fact that she laughed when God told her she would have a son at over 90 years old. Even though she did all that, God still called her princess before she ever earned the name.

Have you believed the negative? What has Satan placed in front of you to pull you from your worth in God? What pressures, mistakes, and lies have paralyzed and prevented you from living as the amazing woman God calls you to be?

You are a masterpiece! God created you with over 200 bones, thousands of hairs, thighs stronger than concrete, you replace millions of blood cells per second, etc. You are not a mistake! God put a lot of time and thought in creating the human system and so much more into your soul!

When you are down, remind yourself of God's truth.
    
 "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who has called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

Psalm 45:11 says, "The King is enthralled by your beauty, honor Him for He is your Lord."

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast the sum of them! Were I count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand." Psalm 139:17-18

Do you see how God sees you? You are royalty, you are beautiful, and he is always thinking about you! And that's just three verses!

It can't stop there! Once you realize your worth, you are free to live out your purpose! There is a world out there that needs you!

God has put you here, at this time, where you are, at this exact moment for a purpose!

"From one man he made ever nation of men...he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:26-28

Can you look in the mirror and see yourself as God made you; as a person of infinite worth? Can you look at your life as something meaningful, something unique with a world changing purpose?

You are called to impact this world as only you can! Your life was meant to be an adventure for God! Erwin Raphael McManus said "Jesus is transforming lives, writing history, creating the future, and unleashing the kingdom of God. If you plan to keep step with Jesus the Pioneer, you better expect some changes!" in his book The Barbarian Way.

What changes is God calling you to make to get in step with Him?

Candy Choc-o-latte Cookies

My boys came up with a new creation they call Candy Choc-o-latte Cookies. They really wanted to make chocolate chip cookies, but we were all out of chocolate chips. We raided all the candy stashes and came up with tons of different fun size chocolate and carmel candies. I chopped them up into little pieces and added them to the batter in place of chocolate chips. They were delicious!

Candy Choc-o-latte Cookies

• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 vanilla extract
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons of hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• approximately 2 cups of chopped up chocolate and carmel candies

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter, shortening, and white and brown sugars until they are creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each egg is added. Then mix in the vanilla. Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water and add it in. Next add the salt. Then stir in the flour gradually. When it is all mixed together, you add the candy pieces. Make tablespoon size balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.

Mom's Monkey Bread

I have recieved a request for the Monkey Bread I served at my sister-in-law's baby shower. I thought I'd post it here. The recipe is from my mom!

Monkey Bread

• 4 packages of refrigerated biscuits
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Start the glaze heating while you are completing this stage. Mix sugar, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a bowl. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and toss in the mixture. Do them in stages or they will stick together. Toss them into a greased bunt pan. Continue until they are all gone.

Glaze

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 sticks of butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Melt together in a saucepan until smooth. (Mine never got smooth after 45 minutes, but mom says hers does. Either way it's good) Pour over the biscuits in the bunt pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes then turn over on a plate.

My Sister-in-law's Baby Shower

This weekend I hosted my sister-in-law's baby shower for my nephew Saxon that is due next month.
I have pinterest to thank for most of the ideas! Here are some photos.

This recipe was from pinterest, it tasted awesome and super cute! Found it here.

Here is the cake I made.

Here's the diaper cake I made for Saxon!

The beautiful mom-to-be holding one of the babies that was at the shower.

And us together...

By the way, those pom poms above our head were pinterest too..Here's the link!

Here are some of the ladies that attended. Thank you all for all the beautiful gifts and friendship!

Here is a blanket I knitted for the baby.



Not Alone

This morning as I was reading the Bible these verses stuck out to me.

“I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

It made me so grateful for all the people God has placed in my life at this time! I am so thankful for the team God has given us for Salt Church! I am blessed by all of my home school mom friends that serve the Lord as they teach their children! I am excited about all the new ministry ladies I am meeting and connecting with!

I know I need these ladies in my life. I need people to encourage me when I feel weak. To pray with me when I have to make the second trip to the ER in a week. (Everyone is fine now.) I need to hear their stories and know that they struggle like I do.

I know that there is no way that I could sustain this church plant adventure with out knowing there are others partnering with me across the country. At times you can feel like you're all alone. You feel lost in this church pioneering venture. It's difficult to navigate the uncharted waters.

I find such comfort in the words of the verse "..pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel.."  I am in partnership with the body of Christ. I am not alone in this adventure!

It is such a blessing to have church planters across the country as a part of that support! Last spring I was a part of a VCG (Virtual Community Group) through Leading and Loving It . This fall I am blessed to lead a new community of planters' wives with them. It so so amazing to share with others that are going through the same things you are going through.

I know that God has a plan for my church! I know that He will see it through. (Now if only I could remember that in the midst of the zeros in my checking account and the car troubles.) Paul says "be confident of this, that he who began a good work...will carry it on to completion"! Sometimes it's hard to be confident but I must trust in my calling! He who has called me will carry me through!

Lessons on Worry

The past few weeks have been quite hard financially for this little church planting family! I had become quite worried about how we going to afford to live. My cupboards are getting very bare! I was concerned and started to think about job possibilities. This church planting business is hard stuff, especially on your finances! However; hard things are worth doing!

God spoke to me today through my kids devotional. I honestly wanted to skip it today because I just wanted to get their school work finished so I could move on to other pressing household issues. (Not to mention, this homeschooling mama is ready for summer!) We opened up their Keys for Kids book and it was based on Luke 12:22-31. My heart was opened as my sweet Liam began reading...

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens; They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." Luke 12:22-31

There is something so eye opening about hearing God's word read by your child. Through his voice God was speaking to me so clearly! He knows that we need food. He knows that I am stressed! I need to turn it over to him and seek his kingdom first! He will provide if I serve his kingdom! Then, God gave me an opportunity....

There is a man that frequently comes by our house looking for the my husband. He found out he was a pastor about a year ago. He comes by to ask for prayer and to talk things out, but mostly for financial help. We're not always able to give him money, but we usually send him with some food. Today he knocked on my door. In the past, I haven't opened if my husband wasn't home. I opened it today and just that was a blessing to him. He said it made him feel human. So many people, including myself, have ignored his knocking. He needed $12.86 to finish paying for his son's graduation clothes. I told him things were so tight right now. I said my pantry is just about bare and I don't think I really have anything. God spoke to my heart and I told him to wait. I told him I would go check and see if I had any cash (I thought I had maybe $4). I went to my wallet and I had $13 to give him! I told him God was looking out for both of us today! I prayed that God would multiply both of our finances. I shared the about devotional with him.

In providing for that man I was being God's hands and doing the work of his kingdom! God provides. Later today we checked our bank and someone had donated $400 into our account! God is faithful!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" Philippians 4:6

God hears our prayers and worries. My boys and I now know what to do when we are worried. Thank God for what we do have, voice our worries and fears to God, then let go and let him take it! He wants what's best and he will see us through!

Gluesticks: PVC Framed Canopy Bed

Gluesticks: PVC Framed Canopy Bed:  While browsing Toys R Us & Babies R Us last weekend, we came across a cute Tinkerbell canopy bed that Kaylee just loved. She already had a ...

Church Planting Whirlwind

Well, it's been too long since I wrote. My life has been in the whirlwind of church planting! What an adventure we are going to have with Salt Church!

I never realized all the legal stuff you have to deal with. We have been getting insurance, filling for non-profit status, incorporating, waiting on approval from the Assemblies of God -which we just recieved (our church fellowship), and so much more! We are learning so much!

We have started having our core team meetings for Salt in our living room (which means a lot more cleaning!).  It has been going well and by the grace of God our team has been growing. We are still awaiting God to send us a childrens' director and someone with pastoral experience!

I have been learning to stretch our dollars even more! I am already an extreme couponer wanna be, but now it is a necessity. I have learned to be much more creative with our meals. We have been eating a lot more soups because of their meat stretching abilities!

We are about to enter into the adventure of fundraising! In our fellowship, there is a 30,000 dollar matching grant that we could desperately use to make this church a success! We are in the midst of building a website, writing support letters, and planning fundraisers! God has blessed us with many talented people around us that have been helping us pull everything together.

All this, plus homeschooling my children, makes for little time to myself! I have not had time to blog. I hope to get to it more often!