Who's the Boss?

I remember the day perfectly. I was at church camp. With a heavy heart.

I couldn't give up control.

For quite awhile, God had been dealing with me; He was calling me to give EVERYTHING to Him. I was so scared. What would He want from me? Where would He want me to go? I didn't want to go to China, or the Congo, or some other faraway place. Would He send me someplace like that if I gave Him control?? Those were some of the thoughts that weighed heavily on my heart.

Sure, I was His child. Saved by His grace at the age of 9. Somewhere along the way, though, I took control and decided to hold some things in my hands, afraid of what Jesus might do if He had them in His hands...how silly of me.

So, after the camp's evening service, my best friend and I walked away from the Tabernacle with a nice little church-girl facade. But who were we trying to fool? Obviously God knew we had some things to settle. The altar call wasn't over in His eyes. It didn't end when the band stopped playing and the speaker closed us in prayer. We still had an altar waiting for us outside. In fact, it ended up being a cement curb in front of some pine cone trees. Both Holly and I had some things to give back to God.

My issue? I'd always wanted to get married and have a family--but for some reason, I had this fear that God would want me to stay single and live on a remote Island as a missionary to some tribe. I didn't want that! I had fought the Lord over and over and pretended to give God everything...but He certainly knew I wasn't genuine when I told Him He could have everything.

He broke me this time, though. I WAS MISERABLE!! I literally couldn't take a step further until I talked to God...honestly this time, too. That's why the curb ended up being the altar.

So, I gave it up. I gave up my dream to Him. I FINALLY gave it up...and I was serious. I told Him that if He wanted me to stay single for the rest of my life and never experience being a wife and a mother, then that was just fine with me. If He wanted to send me to a remote village far away from my loved ones then I trusted Him. After all, He saved my soul. He created my life. He knows whats best for everyone whether we believe it or not.

WOW--relief flooded my soul! I finally felt free! Giving those dreams to God was scary, but I knew He would take care of me. He knew the desires of my heart.

Holly's altar ended up being the dusty wooden floor in the girls' cabin. But how beautiful an altar it was--she surrendered ALL to Christ kneeling on that floor. Even if that meant going to a "far away land" as a missionary (which she had always been scared to death to do), she was ready and willing.

So here's what happened. Here's what Christ did for us when we gave control over to HIM:

I met my husband 2 weeks later and we were married 10 months after that. Not only did Christ allow me to fulfill my dream of marrying my "prince charming", I'm also a mommy now to a sweet baby boy named Ethan! God is so faithful!!! He knows what's best. Why then is it so scary to give up control!?

Holly ended up spending several months in Swaziland, South Africa. SHE LOVED IT. Her eyes light up when she talks about her experience over there. God did great things in and thru her life while she was doing mission work in that "far away land" she was scared to death to be called to. A couple of years later, she married a wonderful missionary and they are also the parents of a precious baby boy a little more than a month older than Ethan!

I love to think back to that fateful day when two scared gals felt the freedom that Christ gives in a fully surrendered life.


Why then, have I tried to take back control of certain areas in my life? I'm so frustrating!! Yet, God is INCREDIBLY long-suffering. I think that is one of my favorite attributes about my Savior. How can He love me so much, when I can be so unfaithful? I'm definitely a work in progress.

So, I guess I said allllll that (sorry so long!) to say this:

JESUS CHRIST IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! He's given me so many blessings. I've got to share that--I just want to scream it on the roof tops! I LOVE YOU, LORD!! THANK YOU!!

In the girls' cabin.
The summer we surrendered all~

Holly is on the left,
our friend Cindy is in the middle
and I'm on the right.



Shortly after giving God control...

Holly in Swaziland, South Africa

Bob and myself while we were dating.

Our Wedding Days!!

Motherhood...how sweet it is!!

"Delight yourself in the LORD;
and He will give you the desires of your heart"
Psalm 37:4

They knew what they were talking about...

I grew up in a family that was very interested in politics; every get-together we had would always include some type of political talk amongst the men of the family. Because of that, I'm pretty interested in politics as well.

Obviously, this past election was HUGE in America's history. I've never watched so much news as I did during the election. I'm not happy with the outcome..at all..*oops, could that be labeled as a "radical right" statement? oh well..*

I'm trying to pray for our president; after all, he is our nation's elected leader and I know that the Bible commands us to pray for those in charge. WOW...it's hard. Especially lately. I often find myself wishing that our Founding Fathers were still around--they'd whip this nation into shape! I know they weren't perfect by any means, but I love to read about the strength and wisdom our Founding Fathers possessed; they knew what they were talking about!

Here's a video I came across that I thought was pretty neat. I LOVE America and I'm so thankful to live here. I just pray the Lord has mercy on us. We've certainly turned far, far away from Him.









"Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah". Psalm 9:20

I think I'm addicted...

Yep--I know I shouldn't have, but ever since Ethan's been born, I've become CrAzY addicted to Dr. Pepper!! I know I need to stay away from it--there's absolutely NO nutritional value to it whatsoever, and I'm beginning to feel the effects of all the junk that's in it...

Plus, we've pretty much been living off of fast food since he's been born..and what I eat, Ethan eats =( I know, that's horrible!! I've GOT to go to the grocery store. I miss cooking...and what real food tastes like.




This is pretty much how it has been around our house....

So, now I'm beginning to feel like this...

I need some intervention to get me off of this junk!

This is a scripture that I think is so interesting: Psalm 105:37b talks about the Israelites departing from Egypt and how "...there was not one feeble person among their tribes" Wow!! Can you imagine? All those people..literally millions..and not one person was sick or weak!
God had dietary laws for the Israelites, to set them apart from the other nations--I believe that's why they were so healthy--God knows what the body should and shouldn't consume. Now, I know we aren't under the law, but "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

All of God's Word is relevant to our lives--maybe we should take another look at the OT food laws and see what it was that kept the Israelites healthy..?? I don't think it would hurt anything--the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) sure isn't doing anything to promote health!!

I've always been interested in health and wellness. I was actually going to school to become a Dietitian. All the stuff that I've learned, though, I've kinda thrown out the window lately. So, I'm going to try to keep myself accountable and post every once in awhile about how I'm doing in the health area--I've gotta be healthy so that I can better serve the Lord and others!

Oh yeah, I'm so proud of my M.I.L. Carol for totally cutting out artificial sweeteners!! She sure loved her Diet Dr. Pepper but realized it was making her really achy and tired. Those fake sugars are bad news!!

Here is a blog that I really enjoy reading. This blogger mom is so great about making healthy meals from scratch. She has a lot of neat recipes/ideas. Check her out!

Alrighty, I'm done! I've gotta go drink a Dr. Pepper after all that typing...ahh..j/k!
I think a bottle of water sounds better! ;)

Have a great weekend!