Just Be Held

When I went to the Casting Crowns Concert I heard this song (I actually had heard it once before on you tube).  One thing I got for my birthday was the new CC CD.  When I actually listened to this song I realized how awesome the song really was.  They dedicated this song to the drummers little boy who needed a heart transplant.  I love the part of "your worlds not falling apart its falling into place" and "if your eyes are on the storm you'll wonder if I love you still, but if your eyes are on the cross you know I always have and always will" .  I also liked "and not a tear is wasted, in time you'll understand, I'm painting beauty with the ashes, you're life is in my hand.

Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you'll find Me
And where you are, I'll hold your heart
I'll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who wont let go

What's been going on.....

I realized it's been over a week since my last post.  I try to post on Wednesdays, but I didn't get to it this week.  Last weekend I enjoyed time away at the beach with some great ladies.  I roomed with one of my dear friends and we stayed up until 2 am talking!!  love her!!  What great memories and what much needed time.  I came back very tired, and excited to see my family, but with a renewed spirit.  I'd love to go away again, but by my last post you know how hard it is for me to get away!!

I'm back in the routine of watching kids.  I have next week left and then we are headed for a week of spring break.  I can see the end in sight!!

And that brings us to next year.  Anxious to see what God has in store for me.  Right now I have no kids to watch.  I have a friend that works at a preschool and she needs an assistant, so there is a possibility of that.  I will be doing early morning care once again, but that doesn't pay a lot of money.  If I got the preschool job it would be T/W/Th.  If I don't get anything, I will probably just stay home and homeschool Josh, mainly because of no extra money and the fact that I can't sit at home and twiddle my thumbs.  My house can only be so clean, so I do not want to sit around eating bon bons and watching soap operas.:)!!   I choose Josh because I think he could use the extra help, and the kid can make friends with a light pole!!  He is gifted in that area, and I know he would do fine.  He has so many friends in youth group.  Jenna could stay home because she is always on Pastor's list, but she has no one at church her age.  She has one friend at church, and I dread the day when she moves up and Jenna stays behind (because she is a year older).  Jacob is a B student and could stay home, but in general, I think he needs to go.   I know I could easily find a part time job, however it is still necessary for me to take the kids to school and pick them up so the hours would have to fall in between that.  My kids can stay home alone now, but I also don't want a job where I would have to work every day of the summer because once again, I want time with them.  They are growing so fast that I can't get this time back!!  My Josh is a teen already and Jenna hits double didgets next week!!  I'm at peace with whatever happens and I can actually say I don't care what happens and I am not in the least bit stressed about it.

How I feel....

A friend of mine posted this on face book and it is exactly how I feel.  Jack is blessed to have a friend that he has been friends with since high school that he goes to out with twice a month.  I am so happy that he has a friend like that, but this is exactly how I feel.  For me to go out (which by the way rarely happens) it almost is like an act of congress to make happen.  You can imagine how much thought and planning is going into me going on the ladies retreat this weekend.  I'm so thankful that I can go and get away and I hope that it all comes together before I can go.

After the Storm

There is something about going through a trial.  Sometimes it gets the best of you, sometimes it makes you stronger.  I'm thankful that through the recent "storm" we came out stronger, closer and learned valuable lessons (especially me).

This week we don't really have a "theme" week.  Last week we did St. Patricks week for St. Patricks Day which was Monday.  We also did leprechauns on Monday so the rest of the week we are just doing "whatever".  Today we did kites and I think Friday might just be a "movie day".

Casting Crowns/Laura Story

Saturday night was family night....and we went to Casting Crowns and Laura Story.  They also had For King and Country there.  I am never disappointed by Casting Crowns.  Concert started at 7 and we didn't leave until 10:30.  King and Country started, sang about 4 songs then Casting Crowns came out.  After intermission, Laura came out and then Casting Crowns came back.  I love their ministry.  They are all youth workers in their churches.  I love to hear the meanings behind the songs they wrote.  I love to hear him talk and praise His Savior.  I always leave blessed. (tired, but blessed).  Even though I knew Laura's story, I couldn't help but be touched to hear her tell it personally and to see her baby girl and husband come on stage.  As I was downloading these pictures I noticed that I had taken a picture of "Praise you in this Storm".....this has definatley been one of those weeks.  Someone has really tried this week to rip me apart; to rip my family apart.  I may be a little discouraged and down, but they didn't get the best of me or my family:).

Science Fair

SCS science fair is Thursday.  Due date for everything is Wednesday, except for Joshua who had a due date last week for his log book and paper.  I am so thankful that we finished on Saturday.  Three poster boards, three log books and three papers is enough to make this mom very tired!!  What a burden lifted to have this done, even though they do most of it, a lot of the burden falls on me.  So Joshua did "Does Aspirin Help Plants Grow?", Jacob did "Which battery lasts the longest?" and Jenna did "Does Nail Polish Slow the Growth of Nails.
  And on a side note, we are doing Dr. Suess week this week in honor of his birthday on Sunday.  Here is what we did today.

Catching up

Seems like a long time since my last post.  We were "snowed in " last week and then on top of that Jake woke up Tuesday morning throwing up.  By noon he was better and by dinner he was eating Moe's with the rest of us.  He told me he thought it was all the pizza and junk food he ate from the night before at church.  I thought so too as quickly as he was over it, but low and behold Josh started about 8 pm on Wednesday and Jenna started about 30 minutes after him.  So thankful we were out of school so they didn't miss any additional work.  I woke up Thursday sick, but not throwing up, and then about 8 am I did throw up.  I was out all day Thursday sleeping.  I slept so much I thought it was impossible for me to sleep the entire night, but I did until 4 am when Jack started.  He never threw up but he was sick.  Hope that is the last of that bug!!  Seems to be the one bug we catch!!
   We are working on science fair projects and hope to have pictures for you in a few days.  All that is left is the display boards.
    I snapped these pictures of Josh today...hoping to remind him that just as he looks at the big kids in youth group, the little ones are watching him!!  And little Jack was sick today but Kara and I made a Micah 6;8 craft.