It's my birthDAY!

It's my birthDAY!!!!  Happy birthDAY to me!  I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to celebrate my birthDAY with!  Thank YOU LORD for all the blessings YOU bestow upon me, when I am so unworthy to receive them except and because of YOUR great love for me, for grace and mercy, I am SO blessed!!!!

OY! August already!

My apologies for not posting sooner.  Life.....ya know?!

Got Doodles in an apartment-old, but appears safe.  Found her a nice stainless steel pots and pans set with some utensils, etc on clearance.  They were like $120 and I got them for $55. Also, found a cute bistro table with saddle back stools on clearance for $90. 

Made it back safely to TX, and been busy with all kinds of things since. 

Doodles found out the day after I left, that school was almost completely paid for.  She got $1000 scholarship at the beginning of the year and had paid in almost $1000.   She thought she was going to have a student loan.  When she went to turn her scholarship check and financial aid papers in, Ms. Elaine, the school's financial person, told her she was eligible for a Pell Grant, and she would only owe $311!  PTL!  Doodles had been praying and trusting the LORD would provide.  She has some great friends that were in agreement with her.  She is elated.  (so is mom)

Last week I found out DH is taking us on a 25 year anniversary surprise get away.  I'm not suppose to know where we are going, but I have my suspicions.  ;)  We leave on the 19th and get back on the 24th.  I have to leave my kids.  sigh~  LOL....I know they will be in good hands with our friends.  (I do hate leaving them still)

I got a few new dresses and had my hair....well it was suppose to be highlighted, but I think the gal went crazy with the coloring!  That's what I get for not going to my favorite person in Austin.  (she's booked til after I get back from the surprise getaway)   I still have some more shopping to do though.  Have to find some shoes, and maybe some cute tops.  :)

That's the latest and greatest....oh DH got offered his old position in KC.  DH and I think we are suppose to stay here in TX for now.  (the kids are happy about that too)   It is good to be back home. 

Can't think of anything else too exciting.
Blessings!

Whole....

So apparently, when DH and I thought all the big dishes dropped and busted all over the floor, it turned out it was only a couple.  The large bowl was shattered and some of the small and middle plates.  I really never used the small ones. Boy!  did they ever leave a mess though. 
I was so happy when DS looked in the cabinent and saw the big plates and said, "Mom, there's a bunch of big plates in here!"  I made him count them.  LOL  There was like 6 or 8.  I was elated!  :)


In other news, on our way to Freeport Sunday, dh got a call from a friend offering him a better job in Houston.  After praying and weighing the options, we decided to take that job.  The pay is a little less, but there were more pluses.

• Dh wouldn't have to work in the office and the field (in a chemical plant)
• We would be even closer to family and friends
• We aren't on the immediate gulf coast (always a plus during hurricane season)
• Lots of overtime
• Direct hire with benefits
• Long term
• Gets to work with a group of Christian men!!!

GOD is SO good!  When our economy is the way it is, DH had a job in Amarillo, got another offer which we were going to take in Freeport, and still got a better job in Houston!  I think that's proof of serving a GOOD GOD, and a testimony of if you abide in HIM.  ;)

We drove to League City on Sunday instead of Freeport, so DH could go in and talk to his friend on Monday.  After he for sure got the job, we stayed there until yesterday, visiting some of our favorite friends.  Yesterday, we moved the RV to a super nice RV Resort.  We have all kinds of nifty amendities.

• exercise room
• wifi
• cable
• our dog can be outside during the day, as long as we are here at the RV
• swimming pool
• spa
• dog runs
• dog wash
• trash pick up
• propane refills-yeah, they come over and pick up your bottle!
• store
• next door to a park with a fishing pond
• full hook ups
• level concrete pad with picnic table
• Nice, clean laundry facilities
• Clean restrooms and showers (not that we would use them often)

Might not be a big deal to some people, but after you live in an RV for a long time, you appreciate some parks more than others.  Just ask the boy!  LOL

Still need an apartment for Doodles by Friday morning.  That's a little stressful, but I know GOD will figure it out.  (wish I would let it go, and not worry about it)
Have to go up to KS and help her move and be a hand model for her on Saturday.  I'm leaving tonight, driving as far as I can before I get tired, and finish up tomorrow. 
Prayers would very much be appreciated.

Blessings!

Here's my friend receiving her makeover check!

WINNER

And the nomination goes to....

A week or so ago, I saw on FB that my credit union was giving away a $3000 home makeover.  I didn't do anything about it.  When I went to the website, I saw it again, and thought I'll check it out.  I went back to FB and it said to click and nominate someone and why. It took me over to the credit union's FB page.  I didn't need to think about who I wanted to nominate.  I knew right away who it would be.  This is what I said:

 I want to nominate my friend Christy and her husband who is a police officer for the city of Austin.  They are awesome and bless me in so many ways.  They both work hard for their community, church, family and friends.  I know they would really appreciate a makeover.
Their FB reply was:
Thank you!  We love those that serve our city!

Monday, as I was getting ready to leave KS, I got a FB pm.  It said,  

Hi, I work for Amplify Credit Union and would like to talk to you about your nomination. Can you please email me at **********or ******@*******.com

I responded by email explaining I would be on the road all day.  Got another email that said to call on Tuesday.  To make a long story short,  I emailed them Tuesday, explaining more about my friend and that my phone service stinks where I am at, but they could try to call me or ask me more questions via email.   I got this reply:

Bobbi - thank you! Can you provide me with their contact info? Phone and or email? We want to notify them that they won :)     

My response:

 OH MY GOD!!!!! oh yes!!!! Thank you!!!!!!! OH YES!!!!

Christy's number is 512-***-****

OH MY GOD!!! THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH!!!!

To say I was EXCITED was a MAJOR  UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!  LOL

WHAT A BLESSING to be a BLESSING with a very SMALL act. 

Thank YOU LORD for blessing my friends.  They have blessed me in SO MANY ways and I am so thankful YOU are faithful to hear and answer and bless those that are a blessing.  YOU have blessed me again by blessing them.  I am so thankful, and I know they are too. 

Blessings to all of you today!

PS  I really hate to leave this on a somewhat sad note, but could you all please lift up my friend, Rosemary and her family, today and the next few days?  She lost her mom unexpectedly yesterday. This is what she posted on her FB page:

My mom passed away unexpectedly this afternoon. She was talking with family, then took a few deep breathes, then just stopped breathing. A nice, quiet way to go. Now she is in heaven with my dad and the angels.

Sounds very bittersweet.
Thanks friends and blessings to you all!

 

No Troubles big or small

I have a friend going through a major deal in her life.  When I found out, I was ashamed of myself for whining about having to move again.  I apologized to my friend.  My friend replied with something so elegant and graceful:

Bobbi, hard for anyone is "tailored" to each of us. Your hard is no less important, no less painful, no less of a struggle than my version of hard.

 Your sharing your hurt and stress is actually a blessing. It gives me a chance to be there for you, if I can. Gets me out of my own little world a little bit, and I am grateful for distraction at this point, let me tell you!

 By the way, I think anyone who minimizes someone else's "hard" is out of touch with their own...or has "issues" when it comes to "hard." ;'D     

I am so blessed to call this person a friend!  She's validated my hurts, and blessed me with her kindness.  Thank you my friend. I love you and I'm praying for you.

I hope each one of you have a special friend like this.

Blessings until next time!

"Meet me in St. Louie, Louie"

Last week we met my sister in St. Louis.  She had flown to NY to visit some of our family and then flew down to St. Louis to meet up with us and so we all could meet some friends that we've known since 1972(?). 

Of course the trip started off adventurous, needless to say.  First we needed to get new license plates for the camper.  That in itself is a story.  sigh~ 

In KS, you have to have your RV inspected before you can get a plate.  (they have to make sure it's the same vin number.  It's not the kind of inspection to make sure the lights are working, etc)

So the day we were off to do the inspection, DH went to connect the 5th wheel to the truck.  The front stands to the 5th wheel somehow gave, and the camper came crashing down on the bed sides of the truck, leaving huge dents on both sides of the bed of the truck and messing up some of the RV. 

We got down to the inspection place in the nick of time, then had to go to the courthouse to get the plates.  Of course the people at the courthouse didn't give me all the information I needed and the drama continues.
So after an all day affair on and off at the courthouse we had our plates.  (I'll save you the drama)


We stayed in the RV in a KOA.  Dh bought tickets to a Cardinals game and season passes to Six Flags ($10 more for a season pass than a one day pass, and good at all the Six Flag parks).


My sister flew in on Thursday, her birthday, the second.  We picked her up at the airport, went out for breakfast, went back to the RV for a nap, then off to the ball game. 


When we got to downtown STL, I was driving, DH was telling me where to park.  He'd already purchased tickets for the game and parking online.  So we are hunting for the parking lot we are suppose to park in.  We went to three different parking lots, and none of them were correct.  Somehow my sister asked for the receipt from DH.  She looked at the receipt and said, "Um, this parking is for the first, not tonight.  So are these tickets."  My heart sank.  DH looked at the recipt, printed off the internet.  His heart sank.  He covered his face with his hands and said, "I can't believe I put the wrong date in."  Oldest DD said, "Daddy, go to the front office and explain what happened. Maybe they can fix it."  Of course the receipt said, "NO REFUNDS. NO EXCHANGES."  DH said, "Yeah, I'll go talk to them, maybe they can do something."  DD said, "Let's pray first"  So we prayed and asked GOD to work something out.  We dropped DH off and we drove around, waiting. 

While we were driving, all I could think about was the $200+ that would be wasted.  I prayed, asking the LORD to work it out somehow.  I was literally sick to my stomach. I sent out a prayer request to my friends on Facebook, saying something like, "Prayers for supernatural favor needed now."

After about 10 minutes, DH called and said, "You'll never believe this. I explained the situation and they gave us field box tickets. These are better than what we paid for.  Come and park near the first parking spot we went to. I'll tell you all about it when you guys get here. Call me then."

My heart leaped.  I whispered and prayer of thanksgiving to the LORD and explained the situation to everyone and we all were thankful.

We parked and called DH.  When we got to him, he had such a joyful look on his face.  He looked like a little boy.  It was so very cute.  ;)

He said he explained to the lady that we came in for the ballgame for tonight and somehow he accidently ordered the tickets for the first.  (and we still truly don't know how he did that.)  He explained we drove in to meet my sister from KC, KS, who flew in from out of town, to see the game for her birthday, and how it was a lot of money that was going to be wasted, was there anything she could do.  She said, "Let me go speak to my manager, I'll be back in a few minutes sir."  When she came back, probably after looking to see if we used our tickets for the previous night, and checking with her manager, she said, "My manager said to give you 6 tickets in a good section. We can't give you your same spot from last night, but we can find something." DH said, "No ma'am, I understand.  Just something, even blechers seat will be fine.  It was my mistake."  They ended up giving us Field box tickets which costs $77 each!  The tickets we paid for were like $18 each.  What a MAJOR BLESSING!!!!

Although I'm not a Giants fan or a Cardinals fan, we cheered on the Cardinals that night, because they were so very kind to us.  They lost 12-7.  :( 

What a great story of GOD's faithfulness, even though I've been so distant to Him. 
Thank YOU again, LORD.  :)

Surprises!!!

Thursday night, the kids and I went shopping to find dh a gift for his birthday.  When we drove back to the park, we were amazed to see a great horned owl.  As we came into the park, Doodles asked, "What is that?"  It was hard to see...it was dark, I was about to respond, "It looks like a cat"  As we got closer and the headlights shined towards the figure, it turned his head towards us and looked at us.  We saw his big eyes, and then he spread his winds and took off.  His wing span was as wide as Doodles' car!  It was truly amazing and beautiful. 

Friday, my sister surprised dh and Bella for their birthdays.  She drove in from TX.  It was wonderful to see her!  We had a short, sweet visit.  Dh and I had to work on Saturday afternoon, and again on Sunday morning at the front gate, but the kids got to spend time with her.  Bella was so happy.  She thought her birthday was going to be lousy and turnout she had a huge surprise.  :D

A friend of my sister's and ours came in, also.  He wants to go into business with us.  He gave dh money as a "good faith gesture towards the business".  Dh now has enough money to finish the BBQ pit.  It was GOD's provision again.  We didn't expect the money at all.  It is totally a GOD thing.  Amazing....truly amazing the way GOD is working this whole thing out. 

Blessings until next time!

Birthdays and BBQ

Well you can probably tell we are celebrating birthdays this weekend!  Dh's bday is tomorrow.  I have no idea what to get him!  

My baby, Belle, will celebrate her birthday on Sunday.  Yikes! she'll be 13! 

Belle loves cupcakes, and baking for that matter, and wants to be a famous baker like Duff Goldman someday!  Hence the background.  =) 

Here's a picture we took together a couple weeks ago:

Dh's bbq is coming along, nicely.  He's quite excited about making it and the endless possiblities.  He really feels lead that this will make some money.  I see that possibility too.  :) 
Monday, dh wasn't feeling so good, so he took the day off.  He had a bit of an upset stomach and also had a severe crick in his neck.  :(  The next day the crick got worse.  He found a chiropractor to go to.  He went and got an adjustment.  His neck and shoulder were out of line.  The doctor told him to come back yesterday, because he still had some adjusting to do.  Apparently he and the doctor had a conversation of the bbq pit. Yesterday the doctor made mention to dh that he could tell that dh was a Christian and that it was very apparent from dh's radiance and contenance.  (don't you love that?) and the Dr is a Christian too.  The Dr. told dh that once he gets his pit made and is ready to start selling bbq, that dh can use his parking lot on Saturdays to sell bbq and that he knows we will make money at it, because we have the favor of GOD. How awesome is that?  What a MIGHTY GOD we serve! 

Here's some pictures of the bbq pit being constructed:

Blessings until next time!

So Honored

Back on my birthday in December, we volunteered for a National Guard Christmas party for families who had loved one's deployed.  It was part of Soldier Angels, which we participated in last year.  Since then my soldier has returned to the US, and I haven't asked for another soldier because I've just been too busy with moving all over the place.  :D  (Hopefully when things settle down) 

At the Christmas party, there really wasn't a lot for us to do, most of the work had been done, but we tried to help where we could. One of my children mentioned to someone that it was my birthday.  (I think it was my youngest)  I was wished Happy Birthday and thank you for coming out, etc. 

There was a guardsman video taping the event.  He was walking around and asking volunteers why they were helping, etc.  He video taped our family. 

Later in the evening, the major general of the base, had a presentation for the loved ones to show them what their soldiers have been doing where they were stationed etc. We were invited to see the presentation also.  I was still in the other room when  my family walked into the auditorium.  When I walked in everyone started singing happy birthday to me!  I was so shocked, and even embarrassed (which doesn't happen much anymore!)  The major general even asked me how old I was!  LOL!  I told him, "I'm 45, and not ashamed to say, because people tell me I look younger."  LOL 

Monday I received an email from the gal who organized the event.  Here's what it said:

Hi Bobbi,

I hope you are doing well this morning! I just received a DVD of the Season
of Sharing event in Fargo last December that was aired on First Air Force Now
news on 30 Dec 09. Your family is on the video and we would like you to have
it. If you could email me your mailing address, I would greatly appreciate
it. Also, Major General Sprynzynatyk, Adjutant General of ND, sent out a
thank you throughout the ND National Guard thanking volunteers for the
volunteerism during National Volunteer Week. Attached is the thank you letter
he sent, in which he mentioned your family.
Have a great day, talk to you soon!
Jessi

Here's the attached letter from the Adjutant General:

Good evening everyone,



April 18-24 is National Volunteer Week, where we take the time to publicly
recognize our volunteers who dedicate themselves time and again to ensure the
success of our North Dakota National Guard and our Families. We would not be
able to accomplish all that we do without the unwavering dedication and
selfless contributions put forth every day by our volunteers. We have so
many volunteers to name each one, but I will highlight two examples.


The first is Bobbi Santana and her family from Fargo. This past year, the
Santana's volunteered to help out with a National Guard Christmas Event for
our deployed family members. Not only did they take time out of their busy
schedule to volunteer, but it was also on the evening of Bobbi's birthday.
Bobbi later wrote to Family Support conveying how thankful and grateful the
was for the opportunity to volunteer.


Another family that exemplifies volunteerism is the Haugen Family from
Dickinson. A member of the 816th Engineer Company, SFC Richard Haugen, his wife Tess and their three children recently were awarded the North Dakota Family of the Year. But their volunteerism was not just recognized at thestate level, they were selected from over 50 families nationwide to beawarded the 2010 Army National Guard Family of the Year. Their care, concern, devotion and training exemplify what it means to be a volunteer.

It is high caliber volunteers like the Santana's and Haugen's who make a
difference in our organization every day; selflessly putting others before
themselves. As volunteers, they serve as role models for our communities and
families; they demonstrate the power of individuals to effect remarkable
change and you promote volunteer commitment in your community.


We greatly appreciate their generosity, their leadership and cannot thank
them and all our great volunteers enough for their invaluable contributions
as volunteers. Please take a moment to publicly thank our volunteers and
families that make an incredible impact within our organization.


Spry

WOW!  I feel so incredibly honored!  What a blessing!  This made my day. 
Blessings until next time!

Receiving Part II

This is the comment I left Susan on her blog the other day:

"A good reminder that Pastor Hallam has always taught us when someone wants to give is...'Don't deny your brother/sister of a blessing.' :) It's easier to receive when we know we are blessing them too!

Great post, Susan!"

This is true, our Pastor has always taught us this.  How often we forget that maybe, and most likely, GOD placed it on the giver's heart to give to us.  If we say no, who are we really saying no to?  Ultimately, it's GOD!  Why would we deny GOD the opportunity to bless us?  There are only a few reasons I can think of.  We are prideful or we think we are undeserving. Either is not the right mind set!  We must get to the point that we KNOW that we have the mind of CHRIST!  Therefore, we must have the mindset of CHRIST!

Also, when we deny our brother/sister of a blessing we might be taking away something GOD is trying to teach them about giving.  We don't know what GOD is doing in the lives of our brethren.  We need to learn to be sensitive to the HOLY SPIRIT, and listen and obey in all things.  I don't want to get in GOD's way!  I want my brothers and sisters to receive all GOD has for them.  If I'm to be the tool that is used by GOD to help my brother or sister, why would I say no to a blessing?  (For that matter, why would I say no to GOD?)

Just something to thing about the next time we are about to say no...

Blessings until next time!

Receiving

Please go read my friend, Susan's blog before reading this. She wrote a great post about receiving on her blog yesterday.  She and a group of people are doing a Bible study on  Kenneth E. Hagin's book, "The Holy Spirit and His Gifts". 
"The main point of the chapter last night was 'receiving' what God has made available to us."~Susan

I know we've been taught "It's more blessed to give than to receive".  We as humans usually can receive quite easily.  We like getting material gifts.  When we become Christians, our perspective changes.  We realize the world doesn't center around us anymore, it centers around the ONE that created us, and because of that we want to give freely as HE has given freely.  In that though, we often forget that HE gave to us, and in order for us to get that understanding, we must receive first.  But receiving is more than salvation, GOD has so much to give us.  We must learn how to receive.

It's been very humbling to my husband and I to learn how to receive.  I believe it's a process.  :)  I also believe it doesn't come easy for givers.  :)  (My husband is, and always has been as long as I've known him, a giver.  He would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it.  That's the way he is.  I love him for it!  But on the otherhand, I was not as much a giver, and learning took time.  Once I learned, which is also a process, :D  then it was time to learn to receive.  I think giving was an easier lesson.  :D)

GOD put us in a position to receive.  (Have you ever had GOD position you?  It can be very humbling...) Here is just one example of GOD putting us in a position to receive.

Dh had been unemployed.  It was Christmas time.  We didn't have money for gifts.  We had given our bonus (that we were going to use for gifts) to GOD for a church in Nicaragua.  We felt led to do it from the LORD so we know it was the right decision.  On the otherhand, I was upset with the LORD, because HE knew that that was our Christmas money and our living expenses until dh got another job.  I didn't want to put up the tree!  I did not want to celebrate Christmas!  The LORD told me to put up the tree, and every time I walked by to confess, "This will be our best Christmas ever".  I didn't want to do that, but I obeyed.  I put up the tree, Every time I walked by the tree, I confessed, "This will be our best Christmas ever."  My dh told me to make a list of all the things I was planning on buying the kids for Christmas.  I did. 

We went to church the Sunday before Christmas.  An usher walked up to dh and told him after church he would need his help getting packages to he car.  After church dh asked the usher, "Where do these packages go?"  The usher replied, " Brother, they go to your car.  Someone left them for your family."  Apparently dh had misunderstood earlier.  To make a long story short, all the items on the list I made were either provided for from those packages from someone at the church or our family and friends provided them for our children.  GOD is SO faithful.  We need to learn to listen to position ourselves to receive all HE has for us.

I think I might continue this tomorrow.  I'll have to ponder on it some more. 
Blessings until next time!

Are you sure???

I was asking my youngest dd, Belle, that at 11:30pm last night...Belle went to spend the night at a friend from our home church. At 11:30, just when we finally walked in the door of the rv, I'm in the bathroom taking off makeup, brushing my teeth...the phone rings...It was Belle. She was crying all upset...wanted to come home...are you sure???? (I'm thinking to myself, all I want to do is go to sleep...this will be my first early night to bed....) So dh and I get in the car, I drive the hour back and get Belle...and dh drive the hour back to the rv....so we got to bed at 1:30 am...we planned on going to church this morning, but I think we all need to rest for awhile...


This week has been a tremendous blessing with Perry Stone at our home church. He has a tremendous understanding of the Holy Land, OT & NT prophesy, and explains things like I've never heard before. I know lots of people would disagree with his teaching or not understand...but I feel in my heart this man is sent from GOD to get the word out that JESUS' return is soon. After hearing Perry Stone, I've come to the conclusion, mind you this is MY opinion, that if Obama gets elected, he will play a key role in the second coming of JESUS. So as much as I don't like Obama...blech...I know if he gets elected...it's all part of GOD's plan for HIS SON'S return! Mind you I'm still going to do all I can to get people to vote against him...does that mean I'm going against GOD's plan? :P
BTW...I got one of those bumper stickers that reads..."VOTE THE BIBLE" I think I'll put it on the RIGHT side of my van. ;p