20 days to Christmas... Feeling Blessed!

Yesterday, I saw God work in our lives...

Day started out like a normal Sunday. Matt drinking coffee and starting to wake kids, me grabbing a shower and frantically going over in my head what each child will wear and what needs to be packed in the diaper bag.
I hear Matt in the living room with a very irrational and whining Vance. I came down briefly to see if I could help, but ended up putting him back in bed to fuss til he worked it out. I went in a little bit later and began to dress him. Finally had the brace and jeans and short on, only to have him begin another fit about something, so laid him in his bed, only to have him kids sit up and gag and throw up.... Arg!! Puke! My worse nightmare. I immediately begin stripping him of all the clothes and shoes and brace, thinking we will all have to stay home and I'll be probably doing this for the next 2 weeks (big family problems... They all seem to get it one after the other... Never all at once) but he did not appear to be sick really, other than indicating that his throat hurt a little.
Let me interject here that we had PLANS! Plans to attend a Newcomers meeting at our new church to learn about them and learn how to get involved... This would mess with THE PLAN! 😬
I kept my cool, explained the situation to Matt and he wisely suggested that the girls and I go and he would stay at the house until his mom got there (the plan was for then to come after church and watch kids) and then he would, if van was doing ok, come to church in time for the meeting. So plan changed to now I was driving to a church that is fairly new, alone, wondering if I was making the right decision. Church was great, afterwards a her excited Kitkat told me all about her time and meeting a new girl.
The Newcomers meeting was at 12:30... But now Matt wasn't sure if he would come or not... I texted several times suggesting maybe he should and still could (this was my insecurities talking... Sitting there alone just felt weird) and really wanted him to hear things first hand. Its never alms good when I try to explain it.
The pastor saw that my girls had nothing to do, so suggested if they wanted to go to another room and watch a movie on Netflix... He started the Secret Life of Pets and they were thrilled! This little thing was so helpful to me!
So the first half of the meeting was each of us sharing our story of what brought us to LCBC Berks... I learned that the couple next to me was devout Catholic and had had their kids in the Catholic school... But something caused some great hurt and the left both the church and the school and were seeking. They share that LCBC was VERY different than the Catholic church! So they were a bit in shock I think. They have two kids, a boy age 12 and a girl age 10. He asked if those kids and a few others wanted to join mine in the other room. I checked on them once and found that kitkat and the other girl were chatting away. How awesome!
Meanwhile, I was still waiting for Matt. To arrive, afraid he was going to miss all of it... He arrived just after the person testimonies were done, but just before they began to share the vision on the church! Ended up being perfect timing! It was the part that spoke to him the most. Their moto of how they want to run their church, reminded me very much of Matt's moto for running his business! Very much "excellence in everything" and "stay relevant" & preach God's word... I was very excited to think about becoming involved.
Afterwords, I approached the pastor and asked if I could have the words to one line (fill in the blanks... And I had missed one line... OCD side of me needed it filled in!) Matt came over then and was introduced since he had missed that at the beginning. I explained that he had been home with one of our boys who wasn't well and he asked their ages... After telling him, he shared that he and his wife have boys of similar age and wondered if we would like to join a life group that he will be heading up in January! My heart nearly jumped! I had specifically been praying that God would help us find the right group to get connected with to meet people. And I was so glad that Matt was there when he asked, because it is so much more awkward to have to try to explain it later and not feel like you are talking them into something. So hopefully in January we will start attending that! 😀
As we walked out, the Catholic couple walked out at the same time, and the lady snagged me and said we would probably see then next week... That her kids were already begging to come back. What a praise. Kitkat was so excited too... She had met two different girls and was very excited to continue getting to know them. My heart was happy! ❤
If we had gone "according to plan" KitKat and Cede would not have been there, I may not have had that unique opportunity to introduce Matt at the end and get invited to the life group... Who knows... But I definitely felt as this God was telling me "chill! I got this".
Happy to report that Van has shown no more signs of sickness. He ate and drank and played the rest of the day!
Thank you God.

25 days to Christmas!

This year I'm more sentimental toward family then past years I think. I'm not sure why... But I just feel so blessed to be surrounded by such a Godly group of people that are my family! Kitkat has been working on her family tree for a school project... And the more I learn, the more overwhelming blessed I feel. I'm blessed to have godly parents and grandparents. I an also married to a guy with godly parents and some godly grandparents as well. I know so many with broken families or estranged siblings or just heartache in general... And I'm realizing how extremely blessed I am with a large family, who love each other, and who help each other, and love God. 
The days with my five crazies are long and exhausting, but my prayers is that I would raise them to love God & love others.
Happy December everyone!

Political Rant... Again...

This is truly a rant...
I'm getting super sick of hearing that I've settled for "the lesser of two evils" and that is ridiculous to say the least... Trump is not evil. He has said some awful things... Yes. But he has apologized for them!
Was David "evil" b/c he had a man killed after sleeping with the mans wife? No... Was what he did evil? Yes.
Was Abraham evil cuz twice he lied about his wife being only his sister...to save his own butt... No, but was what he did wrong? Absolutely. I can point to a million times in the Bible where someone did something that was evil or wrong, but it was not their nature to be evil!
Same goes for Trump... He has done some awful stuff... But if you dig into my past you will find crap. If you dig into my heart, you will find more. Does that mean I'm an evil person? No! (Saved by GRACE)

Lets contrast this with the "other evil"... Time and again, and again, and again it has been proven that Hillary has an agenda... To do Evil! That is what I would call Evil... Purposefully corrupt, repeated offenses, and unrepentant at what she has done... This is what her nature has proven to be. Proven.

2nd part of the rant... Voting 3rd party... I believe it is good to stand up for what you believe in. And I believe that Donald Trump will do so much good for this nation and for the unborn babies, the middle and low class, the business owners... And by voting 3rd party, and "making your statement" you will increase the chances of allowing Hillary to get into office and TAKE AWAY THOSE RIGHTS.... come on people... Do you not see this?!!! By exercising your right to "free speech" to not vote for a man who has promised to appoint PRO-LIFE people and Judges that will HONOR THE 2ND AMENDMENT.... You are taking us scarily close to voting a woman into office that will TAKE AWAY THOSE RIGHTS! She plans to appoint pro-choice (i.e. pro-death) judges, and your precious FREE SPEECH will also be in jeopardy... How do you not see the seriousness of the situation?!!!

I'm vexed in my soul! It's like you are too scared or too blind to see that real change... Good change could happen! To the generations older than me, I say... Vote for change! What you have been voting for throughout your life... Has not been working well! Look at the debt we (my generation) have been handed! To the generation younger than me... I say... Get off your butt and get involved! You do not realize, (probably because you were not properly taught)... That we are at a cross-roads... The USA is in danger. I was born here, raised here, and I unashamedly LOVE THE USA!

God has not given us a spirit of fear... Let's fight for our nation and our freedom! Trump has been traveling and is listening to the people! Isn't that what the president is supposed to do?! Listen to the people! He is not trying to dictate... He is saying what we are saying! We need a strong person to carry out what we the people are saying!
#TrumpPence2016
#MAGA
#GodBlessTheUSA

Election Time!...Why can't we just get along??

The short answer to this question... we are sinners.

I know that I have many Christian friends who want to avoid "the politics" for "fear of losing friends"... But do we use this same method when talking about Christ?  Aren't we (speaking to my Christian friends) put here to be a light?! To spread the Word of God?  I believe that is our highest priority!...

That being said... I believe God uses many people and many ways to do this! The missionary who goes... that is awesome... but I believe that often times, the ones who send them get forgotten!  Who do you think God uses to fund you??!!  I will answer that question... Business owners!! (yes, I know God can get money from trees if he wanted too... but the method I'm describing is usually how it happens these days... so bear with me and don't get side-tracked...)

To be more specific... Christian Business Owners!!  How do I know this? I'm married to one! And not only am I married to one, I know that he has friends of the same... I have seen my husband give... when I (yes, lacking faith) would not have given... I have seen him give Big, and give Often... I do not say this to bring attention to our business... or even to praise my husband... I say this to make a point...

Business owners... we are struggling!  This economy in the USA is hurting and I believe that is the only reason Trump is running.  Trump gets business... Trump loves people....

Trump... (ugg you think... why you gotta bring him up? I just wanna ignore and hopefully they will all go away...) Sorry folks... but I gotta rant just slightly... I cancelled my 12 year old subscription to World Magazine... I was so frustrated by a huge cover story comparing Trump to Bill Clinton... Clinton has been *PROVEN* to abuse and take advantage of woman... Trump *TALKED CRUDELY in private* and has apologized for it... Hillary has been *PROVEN* to break the law concerning her e-mails, not to mention when she allowed our men to die in Benghazi... but where, on World Magazine did they plaster her face and call for her to GO TO JAIL OR STEP DOWN?!!! (end rant...for now)

Fellow Christians... I too like to avoid conflict... but I (for the first time really) am passionate about this election!  Businesses like ours will NOT THRIVE under a Clinton administration! We *might* (my personal opinion is that we will not) survive... but to quote a song I love "we were made to more than just survive... we were made to THRIVE (Casting Crowns)"  I believe this carries into all of life. God did not call us to be weak or wimps... but to be leaders and helpers. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

We employ people... as do so many other small business owners.... Help us save our businesses!
Vote Trump on November 8th!

*If I have offended you (i.e. hurt your feelings) with anything said here... I've come to realize... I'm ok with that... I care more about my children's future, then hurting feelings or skirting around what I believe to be truth. (by all means... if I have said something terribly un-biblical, I always encourage others to call me out on it!... I'm strong enough to take it and *I pray* humble enough to apologize)

I challenge you, STAND UP for what YOU believe is Truth!

God Bless the USA!

Attaining Peace & Joy...?

As soon as the summer is over and fall starts I can feel my entire being... Begin to grouch. I hate being cold, bundling up, cold rain, wind, school, dreary days! So I keep asking myself... How do I find joy when the weather gives me the blues?
Yes... I choose Joy! But I don't feel joy. Is there a way to truly experience joy even when one doesn't feel like it?

Be patient...

This morning I was annoyed... My hubby does a lot off the grocery shopping so I don't have to with our 5 kids in tow... But this morning when I went to grab a granola bar I realized they were all peanut or peanut butter (I can hack them sometimes... But not my favorite and our 5 yr old... The only one who eats granola bars... Hates peanut butter)... So I immediately typed out a cute, but cutting type text to point out his "stupid mistake"... But did not hit send... I was suddenly nervous that it would ruin his day... Make him grouchy, and in turn make me grouchy... So I deleted the text and instead asked how he was doing... He was very busy and tired (good call me! On not texting that last text).
So I made an egg sandwich instead and as I sat down to eat it and read my Bible... I quickly open it, trying to get to John... But over-shot accidentally and hit Ephesians... Where Ephesians 4:2 jumped off the page and grabbed me by the ear and said "listen!"...
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.

Love her to pieces... But still so annoyed!

Wow... My 12 year old is so sweet and I am constantly humbled and proud to be her mom... But sometimes she can boil my blood! Amazing how the negativity and sass of a child can change the mood of the day! I know I'm always telling my kids not to let your surroundings or the people you are with determine your happiness... But do I really have the strength to stay joyful when my 12 year old is mouthing off?! I'm so agitated I literally feel like kicking the dog... (To be fair... The dog was also whining at me cuz I refused to let her wander the grounds however she pleased).

Ask... Lord... I ask for patience and wisdom!
Seek... Proverbs... I think I need to read a little from there today.
Knock... Not sure how to apply this here... (Any suggestions?)

My current favorite song is "Breathe" by Jonny Diaz. (If you feel like you are running all day and can't catch your breath... It's a song you should look up.)

I'm up in my room right now... Cuz I stormed off from getting annoyed at listening to her complain about life... Real mature right?

Guess I gotta go back down..  I hear thumps and crashes (boys gone wild)...

Say a prayer and wish me luck! That I will survive this wonderfully crazy preteen time! That I will enjoy the pleasant times and be a good example and have much patience in the other times.

Am I a Role model?

This week I had an acquaintance from church over. Having never interacted with her outside of church, I found myself getting very nervous... Would she look around at my clutter piles and be disgusted? I mean, I'm still "unpacking from the move" and "in transition"... But that really isn't a good excuse for a pile of misc. crap in my dining room... I feel like my time is so limited! These weekends just fly by and in the evenings, I'm utterly exhausted ever night! ... So I feel like my life is a fast moving, crazy train where I'm lucky if myself and my kids survive....
Now, don't get me wrong, I do fun things too... But the majority of my life right now feels like it's stuck on survival mode!
I certainly don't have the time or expertise to help others! Definitely not enough experience (or snarts) to be a role model!
But as she walked into my house, into the basement (the most cluttered room in the house) she gasped and said " wow, you are so organized!"... As she walked around seeing me house, she must have exclaimed half a dozen times how I was her "role model"... Me, the Homeschooling, mom of five... Who feels like I'm doing it all wrong, was receiving a compliment, and I honestly didn't know how to respond!... But it got me thinking... Am I a role model? Should I be one? Do I have anything to share? Isn't that for the " older" woman?!... I'm kinda in the middle I think... But I realized, I am older! Maybe not old (even tho I feel old some days), but I am older... And I HAVE learned a few things over the years... Realized after she left, that I am probably 10-12 years older than her! I certainly have learned a few things over the last 10-12 years... And I was so blessed to have an older sister, and mom and a few other "role models" in my life that have helped me tho so much!!

So, with all of that said... I pray, that I can be a Godly role model to all the younger moms at my church and wherever I meet them! I pray that I would not allow the devil to convince me that I have nothing to share, or that I'm not smart enough.

So, whatever stage of life you are in... Remember, there is someone younger that is looking at you, and you are a role model to them!!! Do not think it is a thing to do when you are old... It is a choice and a responsibility!

Be a Godly role model!!

April Showers...

The question is always... will it really bring May flowers? Do we need all this icky rain?

Since moving to the country, my kids have gotten to experience a lot more nature! I love it... but with it comes a lot more mud. Vance and Erik LOVE it! The girls and Dustin like it on the nice days. :)  I think they'll come around tho. I know when my parents moved to their current house, I was just turning 12, and I HATED it! I had no friends, and there was a 7 year cicada (like a locust) problem! We lived in a woods filled with bugs!! How awful!! :)  But I eventually came to love the woods and would not change that for the world.
Our new house is on a hill. We have a beautiful view... but very limited internet. the road is not super busy, but we get our fair share of traffic. I think it will be a highly desirable place... as long as we can get someone to hook up internet. :) Everything runs on Wi-fi these days! Didn't realize how much I rely on it until we moved. I'm adjusting and adapting... but paying bills and keeping up with things like blogging and Shutterfly have had a take a back seat. I'm currently sitting in a Panera trying to create a Shutterfly book from our trip to SeaWorld, and download updates, and write this blog... I'm overloading their system! :) Ha!

Ok, and now I'm going to touch on a very touchy subject.. the Election! I hate this time of year... it causes such controversy! I have been waiting anxiously for the year when we can get Obama out of office... but now that it's here... It's just been filled with turmoil!  For the first time in my life, I'm fired up and ready for change... Matt has been researching it like crazy! He has been digging into all the candidates trying desperately to figure out who would be our "best bet"... This has caused such discussions and controversy on social media and even in person. I try to avoid this for the most part... but the other day I entered into quite the "discussion" with my mom over who is the most qualified candidate for this job.  I'm not going to name who I voted for... for some odd reason... as long as I simply "be suggestive about who" it gives people the needed out to not think bad about me... but I feel, that this country is in a serious bad state... and not a single politician seems to be able to do anything about it, because they are bought and paid for... by whoever voted for them, or who donated to their campaign... speaking of which, side rant... why the heck do they spend so very much money on trying to convince us that they would be the best man for the job? Why can't they use that money, to pay down the horrible debt that they have been helping create for my generation and the generation of my children? I feel as if we have been "screwed over" by previous generations and the answer is to hire more people, exactly the same... and expect new results? This un-named candidate is not your typical guy. He is self-funding, and therefore has not been blowing tons of "our" money on ads and campaign stuff. You may not like his business, but he is legit and he loves the USA. He loves his family and I believe he wants to save the USA for HIS kids! Not for political fame, but for the future of his family. He has a vested interest in the USA... for both his family and his business... and as the wife of a business (ok, multiple businesses) owner... NO ONE cares more about their company, than the owner. NO ONE!  So, if you have a business (i.e. your entire empire) that will crumble if the economy collapses... who has the most motivation and desire to save it???!!! Certainly not JoeSchmo who works for a paycheck.  I AM NOT busting on those who simply "work for the man"!  I am one of those kinds a people... I love the idea of punching in and punching out!  There is a great freedom in being that kind of person!  But being married to an owner has given me an entirely new perspective on the world, and on money and business, and people... etc.
I get that there are a lot of other crappy issues... the government funds so much crap! Would I love to see some changes there? Absolutely! Do I expect everything to become rosy and beautiful with this guy? No way. Do I hope and pray that he will make the needed changes to save the USA? Yes, for sure!!  I, and my kids are praying to for candidates! I would LOVE to see this nation turn back God!  But I believe it starts with us, and with teaching our children!  I homeschool, as most of you know, and I do this because I want to be able to teach my children things from a Godly, and moral perspective! I believe change needs to happen with us... teaching our children RIGHT and WRONG!  I do not believe that we can do this if there is no USA to call home... I recently heard this statement at a church we were visiting... "stop avoiding short-term pain at the expense of long-term progress"...  Having a larger family "hurts my ability" to do all the service projects... but only short-term... eventually I will have a small army... homeschoooling right now "hurts my ability" to keep a clean house... but only short-term, because I'm trying to raise a family of children to help, and learn, and do!  Eventually, my team, will be able to do much more than if I had stopped having kids... so that I could do stuff... I have learned this by watching how I was raised, vs. what is the norm!

I'm not sure if I should or will publish this... But as long as I'm on a roll... I might as well keep going with my rant...
With this election, I've seen the older generation get more cynical and depressed... they say "we used to think we could change the world, but now we've seen so much bad, that we realize it's impossible"...  And it suddenly struck me why so many old people get cranky! They used to dream, but when dreams aren't realized...and more and more bad stuff happens... they lose hope!  I've always been scared about getting old, because I didn't wanna turn into an old, crabby, cynical person... and now I know why they are that way! So here is what I'm curious about, did they never see God's hand? Did they simply forget them, or did they truly never see any miracles? I know even in my (insert age) years... I've begun to see lots of crap, and the more kids I have, the more I become a germ-a-phobe, but I have also seen miracles! God is still working! Yes, the World is going downhill (it says in the Bible that that is what it has to do) but God IS STILL WORKING!  He is still in control, and He STILL cares about the little things!!  I have seen Him change my marriage. I have seen Him save my children. I have seen Him answer little prayers. I have seen Him work... I have seen Him heal, I have seen Him work!  Why do we forget? Why do we forget how quickly this life is going, and the only thing that matters is what we do for Him?  I am striving (tho I fail every single day, over, and over, and over!) to teach this to my children. So if, by God's grace, the USA is saved... they will have a place here to live for Him. But if God chooses to allow this Country to fail... I pray that my kids will take on the challenge to live for Him.

I believe that regardless of who gets into office, and no matter how bad the world gets... God is sovereign and will do His will. So trying to keep an eternal perspective... in the midst of the crap that has been handed to us. Lord Save the USA.... but more importantly.. Save these people!
~Anna

Difference...

Last night Matt and I watched "The Intern" with Anne Hathaway and Robert DeNiro... Cute movie... but I noticed something... in the end, it left me frustrated, unsettled, void internally. I kept trying to "fix the problems" in my head... I believe it was intended to leave me happy that things "worked out in the end", but to me, it felt hollow and unsatisfying. After pondering for a while, I realized that it was a much different feeling than after I had watched "War Room".  After that movie, I felt convicted, motivated and eager to do right and get right with God. Purpose... there is purpose in God!

As Easter approaches, I'm reminded that God has a very specific purpose in mind. He has a plan.

His plan doesn't always (ok, almost never) make sense to me... but I'm convinced He is right, and just and caring... and of course He loves us. 

And now, I need to remember to keep this in mind... as I care for my five adorable crazies today.

The mind of a mom with 5 kids...

6am... What?
Why is the baby up?
I'm tired!
Is he sick?
Will he go back to sleep?
I'm tired!
OK... He went back to sleep!
Do I go back to sleep?
Should I get something done?
I'm tired!
So much to do!... But, sleep wins.
8:30, day starts again...
I'm still tired.
Yay! Baby is still sleeping!
I need food.
Coffee...need coffee
Will I have time to make it and eat it?
Should I wake up the other kids?
Should I let them sleep?
Sleep keeps them healthier.
But school... How far behind are we?
School, I need to check on that.
Check on things? Bills! Need to pay bills.
Bills... Paying bills... How did I miss these?
I need to keep better records.
I need to buy a filing box.
Boxes... Ugg, the basement is full of boxes to be unpacked.
But it's cold in the basement.
Coffee, where did I put my coffee?
Oh, it's cold.
Cold... I'm cold, where is my sweatshirt?
All my sweatshirts have baby slobber.
I need to do laundry.