Something Wrong?

So, guess what song my internal jukebox has been playing? Aerosmith's "Living On The Edge."

"There's something wrong with the world today,
I don't know what it is.
Something's wrong with our eyes.
We're seeing things in a different way
And God knows it ain't His."

What is wrong with the world we live in, where "Christians" turn a blind eye to blatant sin? We have become so desensitized to it, that we have given "heed to seducing spirits" and our consciences have been "seared with a hot iron." One of the biggest issues I am looking at right now is adultery/fornication.

What tv show or movie can you watch that does not fling one, or both, of these in your face? How many people do you know who have been affected by them? But we are supposed to be "tolerant," because Christians have developed a reputation for being complacent. As long as you don't bother us, we won't bother you. But I don't think this is how God intended for us to be. Weren't we compared to soldiers? When we put on the armor of Christ, we have many defenses, but we also have a weapon. The sword of truth. We are to teach the erring, in love, that what they are doing is wrong. They need to repent. Not just be sorry we don't approve, but truly turn from what ever sin has hold of them. If we don't try to help them, we are just as guilty. Sometimes they will refuse to listen. That isn't our fault. Like in the parable of the sower, sometimes our words are going to fall on hearts of stone. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. In a loving way. Not a stern, "I'm better than you." But a loving "I care about you."

I don't have all the answers. I don't even claim to have some of the answers. But God does. And if we don't turn to Him, where are we going to end up? I have been married less than 10 years and I have too many peers who have already been divorced, remarried, some even remarried a second time. 4 of us got married the same summer I did....we are half and half on first and second marriages, and the other couple who are still together have had marital problems. Multiple friends of mine have had cheating spouses. I can't tell you how many have had children out of wedlock. People who call themselves Christians. I know we all sin. We each have different weaknesses, and that is definitely not one of mine, or Jeremy's, although we have others. But it is sad to me that actions like this have become so accepted in society. We have prenuptial agreements, which are plans to fail. We have people living together before they get married, "just to see if it is going to work." I have a sister-in-law right now who has a live in boyfriend that she is about to have a baby with, and as far as I know, no plans at all to marry. Do I love her any less? Of course not. Do I agree with how she is living her life? Again, of course not. She knows both of these facts. But at the same time, I can't force her to do any different.

Also, look at where our complacency with this issue has gotten us. Letting this sin run rampant has opened the doors for other sins to start pushing their way through, such as homosexuality. Where does it stop? How long until God looks at our country and decides enough is enough? Or has He already? He is being forced out of our schools, out of the workplace, out of our government. And He is giving us "over to a reprobate mind" (Romans 1:28), to a world where adultery is the norm, where homosexuality is blatant, and where other sins abound. Most of us are guilty of not having our priorities in order, if nothing else. I urge you to join me in prayer and conviction. The only way things will get better is if we bring God back. Back into our country, back into our lives, back to His rightful place as King over all.

Relay For Life 2012

I just love doing something that is both worthwhile and fun, don't you? Well, Friday was our local Relay For Life. This was my first year doing it as an adult, and actually working on a team to raise money. It was a lot of work, but so much fun. I am already looking forward to doing it again next year! The kids had a lot of fun, too. Tyler keeps talking about, "Remember we had so much fun on Friday?" He loves any time he gets to play with other kids. We didn't stay all night, as Katie (my team mate/captain) and I both have small children. It was right at 11 pm before we got out of there, though, so my kiddos were worn out! Audrey out-partied both of the boys! I know you are dying to see pictures, so, being the kindhearted person that I am, I will oblige. ;)

 Andy, on the far right, was who our team was formed for. He is Jeremy's friend from school, and his wife and I have become good friends, too. He overcame testicular cancer a few years ago. The other two are his parents, who both had skin cancers.

 My sweet baby girl. :)

 Our team name was Daddy's Warriors, and our tent theme was Napoleon Dynamite, which is one of Andy's favorite movies. (I have never seen it!)

 Ok, sorry it's sideways, but this was just a couple of posters of the people we sold luminaries to honor.

 Our booth fundraisers were face painting and selling homemade ice cream. Troy and Ty decided they wanted their arms painted instead of their faces.

 There was a big open area behind the tents where all the kids could run and play. Auston, the boy here with Troy and Audrey, goes to church with us. He is battling cancer right now, too. Their tent was set up next to ours.

 Troy takes care of his little sister. I think the football they were playing with either hit her, or got to close and scared her. He was picking her up to carry her back to me.

 Another shot of my beautiful sweetie pie!

 Jeremy's sister and her family came, to support us and Auston's team (our brother-in-law is a police officer with Auston's dad). One of the other booths was selling sky lanterns, and they bought one. Our pyromaniac children were very excited by this.

 "Up, up and away!"

 My sweet husband and our brother-in-law.

 Gotta love that grin!

 Brotherly lu-uv!

 The sky lantern Katie bought to honor Andy. She wrote "Daddy's Warriors" on the side.

 Kind of made me think of the movie Tangled. The sky lantern ceremony was very beautiful and touching.

 Katie and Andy watching the sky lanterns go up. I loved this shot of them. 

(and yes, there was crying.)

 Ty decided he'd had enough fun.

 My sweet freckle faced boy

Another sideways shot. Troy was trying so hard to stay awake, but his eyelids were winning. This is a kid up way past his bedtime. ;)

Ok, I know I have bored you enough with all my pictures. I need to get going anyway. Lots of schoolwork and housework to do today before time to buy groceries! Helloooooo, Monday!

This Is Me.

I know it has been a long time since I posted. I have been taking some time to "find myself" after a fashion. And, while I am still looking and fine tuning, I know who I want to be. And that is....

Me.

I have struggled with this blog, trying to make it like "everyone else's" until I look at it, and I'm not really sure whose it actually is. I was so worried about trying to get people to read it that I forgot that I was really writing it for me. It's a running theme in my life. I worry so much about who other people want me to be that I'm not really sure who I am sometimes. And while I may never get to the point where I can be "myself" around most other people, I want to make sure that I know who I am.

So, if you are looking for what's popular, you might want to just move on to another blog. Because here, it's just little ol' me.  You are welcome to stick around if you'd like. Laugh at my quirkiness (I'm very self-depreciating), fawn over my beautiful children (*wink wink*), swoon with jealousy over the man I married (ok, I really do think he is the most wonderful man ever, but you don't actually have to do that), and just make a new friend. :)

This is me.

 *the listener
 *the crazy
 *the Christian
 *the home-schooling mommy
 *the stay-at-home wife
 *the doing-the-best-i-can homemaker
 *the I'm-not-ready-to-grow-up-yet kid-at-heart
 *the wallflower
 *the one who can't say "no"
 *the one who wants to be involved in everything
 *the watcher
 *the peace keeper
 *the "smart" one
 *the goofy one
 *the music lover
 *the dreamer
 *the planner
 *the insecure
 *the quiet one
 *the loud one
 *the deep one
 *oh there's so much more to me than you know

Don't expect regularity. Don't expect constant insightfulness or funniness. Don't expect anything. Just enjoy and know....

This is me.

Troy's Pumpkin Patch Trip

Ok, yall. I promise I will eventually get my computer fixed asks do a real blog post. Until then, however, you will just have to bear with me and my droid posts.

A couple weeks ago, Troy's class went to the pumpkin patch and Audrey and I got to go with him. :) We all had a lot of fun! Petting bunnies, playing in corn, playing on the playground taking a hayride, and picking the perfect pumpkin! Then I got some pretty pictures of them in a cotton field. :)

Mommy's Helper

Audrey has such a good big brother! (well, she actually has two, of course, but this post is about one in particular.) Troy loves his sissy. Ty does, too, but he's not as into helping take care of her as Troy is. Just now he was trying to help me put a new outfit on her since she soaked the last one. He actually did a pretty good job for a 4 year old battling a reluctant 14 month old. :) I only had to help him get her still to pull it over her head and then do the buttons (he can actually fasten buttons, but she was trying to run away. Lol)

(and forgive the pictures being in reverse order. Lol)

Once Again...

I haven't forgotten about blogging, guys. I know you think I'm awful. I have several posts I have planned, but my phone has not been cooperating and my computer is still on the fritz. (Hopefully that will be remedied, as soon as I can come up with a little moolah.) We have been really busy with pumpkin patch visits, birthdays, halloween, school, unexpected surgery, and I don't even know what else! Look for some heavy catch-up blogging coming (hopefully) soon!

Trick or Treat!

We went trick or treating with Jeremy's sister and her kids, as usual. He only go to a handful of houses, all family. Look out for the monsters and the tricksters, like Pawpaw and Uncle Josh!