Out with the old and in with the new

I think this is my last post for this blog.  Since this blog was about our Great Adventures on the road and hopefully that has come to an end, I would like to move on to a new blog called, 'Where We Belong'.  (also a song by Steven Curtis Chapman)

I loved our time on the road, but I'm glad it's over and that we are home.  I'm thankful for the insight and journey GOD put us on and in our path, but it's time to move on. So with that, thank you for reading my blog for the past several years. 

If you would like to continue to follow me, please leave a comment and a way to contact you, so I can direct you to the new blog.  :)

This is the stuff that drives me crazy!!!!

I heard this song for the first time yesterday while driving.  I actually teared up, because I can SO relate!  I love Francesca Battistelli.  She is such an inspiring, young (as in literal age), energetic Christian!  She is real and I LOVE THAT!  Please take a moment or few to listen to this tune! 
Blessings!!!!

Catch up post

We are leaving for our surprise 25th anniversary getaway on Saturday.  I still don't know where we're going.  I've been trying to figure it out, but dh won't reveal. 

My sister is going to stay with my kids for the weekend.  I'm relieved.  DH wanted to leave them with some friends, but I wasn't keen on that idea.  Not only do they have 4 boys, but one of the boys is very mean to my youngest and the boys have friends in and out all night.  I don't think DH remembered that when he asked them.  I don't want to expose my 14yr old dd around that or have my 15 yr old ds around it either.  I know DH was trying to plan something nice, and make all the arrangements to surprise me, but he's so busy, I don't think he thought that one through. 

Prayers for DH and work would be appreciated.  We might not be staying in Houston afterall.  Long story, will let you know if we are leaving asap. 

My oldest was extremely blessed.  She asked me not to give out details, but it was a huge blessing and answer to prayer! 

Saw Captain America over the weekend.  Not my genre of movie, but it was decent.  My guys sure did love it!

Can't think of anything else for now.

Blessings until next time! 

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!

A Reminder to Self....

How often I need reminders of things, when I'm feeling down. I have a friend feeling down and while I was trying to encourage her, (notice I said trying, encouragement is definitely not my gift) this came to me:

Satan tries to take our focus off God, it's up to us to put it back on God.

 

Okay, so NOT a new concept or something I didn't know!  But, I needed the reminder probably more than my friend does.  It's easy to become discouraged when things aren't going right, our way, whatever.  Our natural tendency is to focus on fixing the problem, focusing on the problem, worrying about the problem, etc.  When we do that we are focusing on EXACTLY what Satan wants us to focus on!  EVERYTHING OTHER THAN GOD!!!! 

How do we begin to focus back on GOD?  hmmm....
Good question.  I tried to think of all the things GOD has done for me.  How HE's got me out of this or that, carried me through, made me victorious!  (Actually it was HIM being Victorious, I was just the receiver) 

I tried to pray for others  more that are going through similar circumstances .  Somehow taking the focus off me and my problem. 

I find verses in the Bible reminding me of GOD's promises for the situation and I try to memorize them or at least read them. 


Yep, so sometimes I just need to remind myself stuff. 

Blessings until next time!

God Morning, etc

Part of my lack of blogging was because I was/maybe still am angry with GOD. I didn't want to post negative things, even though I'm struggling with my faith and life in general.  I can't explain all of it, but I know I'm getting pretty tired of living in an RV and never knowing what's next.  I know I should just accept the fact that that's the way my life is, but I want a "normal life".  Yeah, I know, "what is normal?"  Normal to me would be, living in a house, having a daily routine, hubby going to work and coming home.  Living on the road is sometimes like that.  Sometimes it's not.


I really would appreciate prayers and encouragement here on my blog if you stop by to read.  Life isn't always peaches and cream.  I, too, need encouragement. 


A friend of mine on FB posted God Morning....I wonder if she meant God Morning or Good Morning?  I thought it was interesting.  It made me think, It is a GOD morning.  Every morning is.  I wonder how many times I think that though?  Do I wake up every morning thinking, "This is a GOD morning!"  I'll have to admit I don't.  I really don't wake up all happy and joyful in the morning, usually.  I kinda wish I could sleep all day most days.  It usually takes me awhile to wake up.  I don't drink coffee, either.  Once I'm finally up, if I don't have anything to do, I usually just drag. Somedays, I read the WORD, other days I don't.  (hey always trying to keep it real, here) 


GOD morning reminds me of the day is what you make of it. 

Blessings for now!

The Stars at Night are Big and Bright, Deep in the Heart of Texas!

After over a year, we went to Texas this weekend, to say goodbye to my sister-in-law and her family.  They are moving to England.  Her Dh is in the air force.  They are suppose to be there 4 years.  Currently, they live outside of Wichita Falls. 

We also drove down to Frisco, a suburb of Dallas.  My oldest daughter has a friend that plays ball for the Frisco Rough Riders.  He and his wife our friends of her's on facebook and when she told them we were coming down, they left us tickets to the game.  They are a very sweet and loving young couple!  We were truly blessed.

Sunday, we spent the day just chillin' and eating.  Dh and the bil, both fixed their versions of hot wings, and dh  also grilled some ribs.  We had beans, coleslaw, and corn.  We also had homemade brownies that Bella and her aunt made with ice cream and we topped the day off with buttered popcorn. YUM!

It was so great to be in our home state again. There something that comes over me everytime we get back to the stateline, I can't explain it.  I do know the stars are bigger and brighter in Texas.  :D  (Actually, we saw the most magnificent shooting star on the way back to my sil's Saturday night from the ball game) I miss it so, but I know for know KS is where the LORD wants us.

Blessings until next time!

Sliced Bread, Barrels of Kraut, and Star Gazing...

Other than GOD created them, what do these 3 have in common?  Not a thing that I can think of other than that was my yesterday...

I made corn beef on Wednesday in the crockpot so we could have ruben sandwiches.  I told dh we needed kraut, cheese, and bread.  He wanted to come home for lunch, so he picked up two huge jars!  I called him later and asked him if he still had the receipt for the barrels of kraut...LOL  I said, "We don't even go through a can, it would take us forever to get through just one jar!" 

So then, I went to get the bread, because Wally world didn't have rye...imagine that, with all the bread they do have, no rye?  So I went to the grocery store.  I was looking in the bread section.  I see sliced bread...I see dark rye and jewish rye...they want a ridiculous price for hardly any bread.  I see the bakery...I think to myself, "Hmmm, maybe they have some over there."  I walk over and see whole loaves of rye-dark and jewish rye...not sliced though...go over to the counter.  Now this might seem like a stupid question, but seriously I didn't know.  I ask the gal, "Do you slice bread?  You know if it's a full loaf?"  She replies, "Yes, we do."  I go get the loaves....then as she is slicing them I see a self slicer right in front of me...boy do I feel like an idiot...I mention something about that, and she says, "Don't worry about it."  :D 

Last night there was suppose to be a meteor shower.  Dh and Ds went out to gaze at it.  They were out for awhile, but I didn't know that's what they were doing, so I went out to find out what they were doing.  I see them both in lounge chairs gazing up.  I decide to stay out too.  I ended up staying out there for over an hour.  I wonder why I don't do that more often.  I love to look up at the stars and think of GOD's creation.  So peaceful and quiet, a nice gentle breeze was blowing-it was perfect for gazing at the stars!

A book...

For years I've thought about writing a book.  I've had people tell me I should write a book about our travels.  I've prayed about it often.  I even had dh buy me my first laptop so I could start one...um that was about 10 years ago...lol. 


Yesterday, I woke up with the very words to start the book.  I thought it would be more of short stories or autobiography kind of book.  So far it's turning out to be more of a novel.  :D  Kind of like the "Love Comes Softly" books, only more modern and about my life. 


It's an exciting adventure...I wonder if I'll get published?  Maybe they'll make a movie?  LOL...well all things ARE possible with GOD...who knows?  :D  (I do have many family members that are in Hollywood-producers, directors, actors, cameramen, etc.)


Blessings until next time.

Lost Art...

Haven't felt much like blogging...for that matter being on my computer lately.  I've taken up reading books again-almost a lost art...lol. 

Currently, I'm reading "The Love Softly" Series again.  I read them about 10 years ago.  I love these books.  Very encouraging and reminds me how blessed we are today to have all the modern conveniences. 

Last week we had a cousin visiting.  She is Bella's age-13.  We had fun hanging out and running around town discovering more of it. 

Two weeks ago, I got to meet my url friend Angela.  She lives in MO, near KC.  She and her daughters met us at Barnes and Nobles and we had a Starbucks. :D    I met Angela on the Homeschool Lounge and we've kept in touch on FB too.  She's a beautiful lady on the outside-model beautiful!  But she is even more beautiful on the inside.  Her heart is to serve the LORD!  I hope we get to meet up with her again soon!

The BBQ pit is coming along nicely.  I have news to share about that...maybe later this week.  :D

A few prayer requests:
Josh-my cousin's finance's son.  He was severely injured in Afghanistan.  He is now in the US, but still in serious condition.

Josh and Drew-some young men we've met here in the park.  (I'll share later how, etc)  job and finances

Angie-complete healing in her body.

Christy-going through some major life transitions.

I know GOD will richly reward you for praying!  :D  I can't thank you all enough.


Not much else new.  Blessings until next time!

Hey for all you people that think I'm nuts...

LOL!  For all you people that think I'm nuts for living in an RV, check this out:
http://vitality.yahoo.com/video-second-act-jay-shafer-20910192
I think it's a great concept, and everyone should give it a try!  :)

27 Years ago and other stuff...

Twenty-seven years ago my mom past away.  As I've stated every year on this day, It seems I miss her more and more instead of less and less.  Miss you and love you, Mom!

Dh is almost done with the BBQ concessions/pit.  Soon we will be up and running for business.  What an exciting adventure!  He's still working at the company that hired him, but we don't know for how much longer.  A few weeks ago they only had another couple weeks of work, and then found another project to put him on.  PTL!  Hopefully there will be enough work for him until he is finished and we can get started selling beef!  :D

I'm enjoying working at the front gate, although somedays are a bit of a challenge.  LOL  For example, yesterday...Some guy came through and said he wanted to buy a day pass for his friend.  Mind you, at the time I thought he said friend, but then later....

Nevertheless, I took the money, asked him what make and color of the car...while he was zooming away.
He said, "Oh some kind of PT Crusier type...goldish."

A little bit later a gal with a little kid comes by, in a goldish PT Crusier type car.  Says, "My husband came and paid for an annual permit for me."  I said, "No, just a day pass."  She said, "Oh well he was going to get a annual."  I said, "Well if he did, just bring this back."

A few minutes later, a gal in a SILVER PT CRUSIER comes through and says, "My friend paid for a day pass for me."  sigh...I gave the pass to the wrong gal! 

It ended up working out...the first gal's dh did indeed buy an annual earlier and I did indeed sell it to him.  BUT on my behalf...He never said his wife was coming out later to retrieve it.  lol 
(thank goodness he did, and she returned the ticket, otherwise I would have had to buy the ticket, not too expensive, but I don't like making those kinds of mistakes, and would rather not have to spend $4.20)

How weird that would happen!  LOL

I've really been cutting back on computer time, so I probably will only be posting 2-3 times a week at the most here, until I feel led to post more. 

Blessings until next time!

Movie Reviews and Convictions

Thought I'd give a post of some recent movies we've seen at the theater and on DVD.

Last night we saw "Toy Story 3" at the theater in 3D.  It was bittersweet.  I cried most of my mascara off.  I had heard it was better than both the first and second ones.  I'm not sure I agree.  It's basically the same story.  The toys have to make their way back to Andy, except this time Andy is on his way off to college.  I don't want to give too much of the movie away.  It's a great family movie, but bring lots of tissues if you're sensitive to your kids growing up.  ;)

We rented "The Spy Next Door" with Jackie Chan from Redbox.  I really enjoyed this movie.  Family friendly, adventure, laughs.  If you enjoyed "The Pacifier", you'll enjoy this one!

We got rid of our Dish satelite so we've joined Netflix again.  We've been renting some older movies that we haven't seen in awhile.  We rented  "The Out of Towners" with Jack Lemmon and also "The Trouble with Angels"  with Hayley Mills.  I would not recommend these for younger impressionable kids.  Now that my kids are older they enjoyed both. 

I know every family is different on what they allow or don't allow in their home.  We are fairly liberal with our movie selections and usually talk about why or why not something in a movie is appropriate to GOD's WORD or not.  I've learned over the years, we all have different convictions, and what maybe one family's convictions may not be our family's convictions, and not to judge those that have different convictions than our family.  It's all a matter of growing in GOD's grace. 

Thought I'd add this after writing that last paragraph.

This is from my old blog...but I consider it note worthy, so I thought I'd post it again...



I know a dear, sweet, precious lady. Everytime I'm around her I leave thinking, "I need to be more like her"...


While I was cleaning the kid's bathroom...I started thinking about this...


Other people's convictions may not be YOUR convictions from GOD. When we allow other people's convictions become our own we could actually be putting ourselves in bondage and become legalist and religious. All things JESUS came to set us free from. I'm not saying that someone's conviction is wrong for them-if GOD told them to do/not do something. But it is wrong for me to assume that that conviction should become my conviction, unless GOD tells me do/not do something.


It's taken me a long time to understand this. I would hear preachers, pastors, etc. and I then thought well I need to do this or that...I would get so upset...I would allow his conviction to become my conviction and I would become miserable! I would become depressed and angry and in turn I was putting myself into bondage. Who was I angry with? GOD? He never told me to let that become my conviction. MYSELF? Was I angry because it was something I didn't want to give up? If I were really suppose to give it up why was it so hard? GOD's WORD says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." OTHERS? Was I angry at others because they made me feel condemned? There is no condemation for those that are in CHRIST JESUS. What was I doing? I was actually being condemned by the devil is what was taking place and then I would fall into sin because I was angry and depressed.


I'm still learning, but over the years I'm beginning to slowly grow and understand. What a great feeling not to be bound. We are free in JESUS! We are not bound by other people's convictions, only those GOD lays on our heart! What a blessing!

Blessings until next time!

A Servant Heart...

 I have trouble serving people when they want to be served, however, I do not have a problem serving them on my own time and terms.  The problem with this is, I'm not serving with a servant's heart, when someone is needing to be served.  :( 

Does that make sense?  For example, my dear husband needs me to do something-like bring him something or assist him with a project....often I get annoyed or I'm busy and get stressed over it.  This is not a servant's heart.  Somehow, because of this, I have past this on to my children.  (big moan....)

I was convicted of this this morning.  I started thinking about how my kids complain when they have to help their dad.  Ugh, I've taught them this.  sigh...The LORD reminded me that them (or me) serving their earthly dad (for that matter, my earthly dad) is preparation for serving their HEAVENLY FATHER.

So, I guess the first thing we must do, is ask for forgiveness, after discussing it.  Hopefully, we will move forward in the right direction.  Prayer would be appreciated.  It's not always easy changing and growing. 

Blessings until next time.

Updates and other stuff...

Last week the awning broke. DH called the insurance agent.  He said the awning wasn't covered.  DH called the adjuster anyhow.  The adjuster said, "Who told you that?  We cover awnings."  PTL!

The day before dh forgot to pull the tailgate down, disconnected the RV after taking it to the dump station. :(  Now we need a new tailgate. 

The day after the awning broke, I broke a taillight on the RV, trying to throw the bottom of the doghouse up on the back.  (We have a rack back there that holds our freezer up there and other stuff)

Doodles misplaced or lost her paycheck.  sigh...she already instant deposited it, so we might have mailed it already, but I really don't remember doing that. We all were very tired this weekend, and really don't remember.  We need to find the check or have it show up at the bank. 

Last week dh had an uncle, on his dad's side, pass away on Tuesday (?)  and then another uncle, on his mom's side, pass away, on Saturday.  Dh and ds left Sunday to go to the second funeral.  He was very close to that Uncle.  Please pray for their safety.  The funeral is today, and then I think they are leaving to head back up this way.

Also, my cousin, Jackie, is engaged to a guy name Rob.  Rob's son was serving in Afganistan and was severely injuried.  He went through surgery and is now on life support.  Please keep the son and families in your prayers.

Blessings until next time!

not such a good day :(

It was raining when I woke up this morning.  The ceiling had water dripping from the roof.  Somehow it comes through a speaker.  We've had problems with it before. 

I wake up the kids.  I need Joe Bug to help me unscrew the speaker and stuff a towel inbetween the ceiling and the roof.  We take care of that.

The awning was also out.  It was collecting water.  I tried to close it.  I couldn't get it closed.  Somehow it snapped and bent the whole frame up.  :( 

Even though it was not such a good day, I try to remember it could always be worse. 

LORD, thank YOU for this day. Thank YOU that YOU will compensate what the enemy meant for evil. 

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!

Lots of right and wrongs...

Apparently, there are right and wrong ways to do all kinds of stuff.  Today, I found out there is a right and many wrong ways to make cinnamon toast!  who da think it?  LOL
I knew there was a right and wrong way to make grilled cheese, my friend Marian's way-the wrong way and my way-the right way...lol, but cinnamon toast? 
Go to the Pioneer Woman's blog and find out for yourself!

BTW I was out of town this weekend...we went to Fargo one last time to gather the rest of our stuff.  I didn't feel the need to cry tears of saddness as I left-lol-only tears of joy!  LOL 

We left Thursday night around 8 pm, drove to Iowa City, and stopped for the night.  We ended up dwaldling the rest of the drive and got up to Fargo around 6:30. Worked until about 10:30...the rest of the weekend is a blur...we got up Saturday morning at 6:30 and worked and worked and worked until around 1:30 am when we finally left.  Then we drove and stopped and drove and stopped a few times until I was rested enough to drive most of Sunday. We got in around 7 pm, showered and plopped ourselves in bed!

Now we just have to go down to Arkansas and gather the stuff from there and put it all together in one storage unit...work, work, work!  I told DH, if we don't have a house in a year, we are getting rid of it all, and living in the RV from here on out.  It's too much work and money to gather up stuff and move it from storage to storage!

Blessings until next time!

Oh the drama!

After yesterday, I wonder, am I the only one that has drama in my life?  It just seems like I have more dramatic things happen than most people?  Is it me?  or is it the enemy trying to come against me? 

Tuesday, dh got an advance on pay.  The vp (dh's boss) understood that we were going through some financial situations and advanced dh pay.  I used the instant deposit online for our credit union.  Now mind you, we haven't had a lot of money, so some things have had to wait to be paid.  One of them was one of our vehicles.  We have a loan with this particular vehicle at the credit union.  Apparently, they are at liberty to take the money out of our account, without our knowledge, to pay their loan.  Unfortunately, that was going to go to our house payment.  That's okay...dh got paid on Wednesday a full pay check.  The VP said he would have payroll deduct the advance over the following two pay checks. 

Because I already made a deposit online, I couldn't deposit the other check online.  You're only allowed to deposit a certain amount of money per number of services you use with the credit union. 

So yesterday, because I couldn't deposit the money online, and we needed to get our house payment made, we first tried to open an account at a local credit union.  That didn't work...didn't understand the whole situation, but nevertheless, it didn't.

We go to where the paycheck is drawn from.  We were going to open an account.  That didn't work...we don't have a local address, other than a mail box (even though it's a street address, because remember I got an $80 mail box through UPS? LOL)

So we go back to the credit union, because on their site it said they have shared branching.  Shared branching is so you can use their services as if they were your credit union.  Well guess what?  It's only for their members.(don't ask...it didn't make sense to me either!)

The saga continues...
We go back to the bank that the check was drawn on, and decide to get it cashed.  The girl that told us we couldn't open an account because of the address situation, was hesitant to cash the check.  I could see dh's face beginning to boil...he was going to explode if she hadn't cashed that check. Fortunately, she cashed it.

I finally was able to get a cashier's check and mail the house payment.  Praise GOD! 

So seriously, am I the only one with this much daily drama?  Please tell me no.

Blessings for your weekend!

Miscellaneous...

I thought I'd give an update...

• Insurance-got an extention (well I had already shared that)
• DISH network-turns out dh and I did remember we leased the first receiver, so we apologized for the confusion and will be sending it to them.
• UPS store-went for a refund, they won't grant one, contacted my bank since I used Visa debit, (my dh said I should) they can't refund, but suggested I contact UPS headquarters (which I planned on doing before contacting the bank), so I'm in the process of doing that.

I really am enjoying being here in KS.  It really is lovely.  Not what I would picture KS to be like.  Hilly, green...I've always expected it to be flat and lots of wheat fields.  I guess, from what I've been told, the west side of the state is like that, but the east side by MO is what we are seeing.  The temps have been lovely too...mid 70's!  So nice, after our negative temps this past winter in ND.  :D

The past couple of days I've had some very thought provoking devotions...maybe spirit provoking would be a better word?  Anyhow, yesterday's was on pleading the blood.  There was a discussion about this about a year ago on a homeschool site I visit. I searched to find the discussion and thought about bringing it back up, but then I sometimes think, Why bother?  Most people don't have spiritual ears of understanding anyhow.

Oh, back to the devotion...Kenneth Copeland  was saying when he first became a christian he didn't understand what pleading the blood was about, but when he finally realized....(this is where the woe, watch out part comes in-lol)

"The devil has to respect the blood. When you say, 'I plead the blood of Jesus in this situation,' that's the blood by which the covenant was ratified, and the devil can't touch it. There's protection in the blood. There's deliverance in the blood.

When you plead the blood, you have laid down your case and put your entire confidence on and oath that is coventant-sworn by Amighty God. 

When Jesus took the Communion cup in the upper room, He said, 'Take this and drink it. This is the New Covenant in My blood, ratified for you.'

That blood guarantees certain things.  It guarantees that every word in the written Word of God is a blood-sworn oath.  That blood-sworn oath is an anchor to your soul. It become an inner strength on the inside of you.  God is your Father and Jesus is your blood brother. Everything that's His is yours and everything that's yours is His.

To be afraid to act or speak before you can see or feel something is to doubt God's sworn oath, the name of Jesus, and the blood of the Lamb.

Jesus' blood shed for you obliterate your sin on the cross.  When you received Jesus as your Lord, you took your place in your part of the New Covenant and you activated your freedom.  And every time you repent of sin, it is destroyed forever and you are cleansed of its effect. That's why you can walk free of condemnation. 

If the devil acuses you, don't walk in guilt. Guilt isn't yours. You've been given freedom.  When you feel like you're in front of a judge and he asks, 'How do you plead?' say, ' I plead the bood!  I'm innocent of that.'

'Case dismissed--lack of evidence!'" ~Kenneth Copeland, Pursuit of His Presence

I thought, you know, I'm not sure I knew why we pleaded the blood, I knew it was power, but I think reading this answers many questions that I had and now I know how to answer those when people ask.  (Also, for further reading to understand more, Hebrews 9:11- 10:23 was recommended.  I recommend it too. It helps to explain and gives more understanding.)

Today's devotion is Live a Holy Life.  I really needed to hear this one today.  I've been struggling lately with remembering my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit!  I'll try to share this one tomorrow, since this post is getting too long!

Blessings until next time!