There's a Storm a brewing....

1. Allow thyself to complain of nothing, not even of the weather.


For today I set a challenge before myself and the kids that we would not complain about ANYTHING....

There seems to be a bug going around my home.

No it's not a virus per-se, at least not the kind I can treat with tylenol. This I believe can only be treated with Gods help..
My kids seem rather grumpy and complaining alot about chores and brothers and sisters etc...
I went through a drive thru the other day and one of my precious grateful children said "do we have to eat here, can't we eat at Wendy's?"
It hit me like a brick..The ungratefulness of that statement/attitude ... being taken out to eat, when 10 mins earlier this same child was about to "pass out" from starvation.
What is that?
When I started examining my house-hold I realized that the thread of complaining had settled deep into my older children.
It had settled into the heart of my younger children as well. ( Their complaints come in the form of crying and whining.)

Most of our complaining is directed toward others, what someone did, or said or didn't say...
Complaining about what others choose to do or don't do.

Our peace and harmony is not found "in Others." It should be found in Christ.
We will always have something to complain about but I'm tired of complaining.
I want to live a quiet life.
I want to find joy in the small things.
I don't want to always look at others and either they are making me happy or mad or sad.
People are always going to let us down.

Why is it we feel justified in complaining about others yet feel rejected when others don't agree with us.

I believe it always comes back to self...I know in my case it does. I didn't get MY way or it wasn't done MY way etc.........
One of Scott's favorite verses he always lends to me when I'm complaining is " Love covers a multitude of sins."
If we are busy loving someone it's hard to complain...because you do choose to not see their faults...(most of the time).......

I wonder what Christ thinks when our kids complain about what they have to eat when there are kids in Africa who don't have food.

I wonder what Christ thinks when we complain about not having enough money to do something when there are people living on the streets everywhere across the United States>

I wonder what Christ thinks about us complaining about having to do chores when there are kids that have become prostitutes to earn enough money to eat?

Why is it so easy to lose our perspective in this life?
Why do we get wrapped up in our self so easily?
Why do we feel like our way is the BEST way?

hmmmmmmmm PRIDE maybe?

Well doesn't God HATE pride?....
My house-hold needs some refinement in this area.
My way is not the best way,

God's way is.

My world has been a little cloudy lately but I'm supposed to be grateful in All things not just when all things go my way. I don't do this very well...

With the Lord's help:
I will choose not to complain today not even about the weather.

My best girl friends...

Taylor turns 15 in a few days and I can hardly believe she is growing into such a incredible lady.
I have loved the path that we have journeyed down together to get to this point in her sweet life. She is a remarkable daughter and a wonderful loving friend. She is so devoted to me and I guess I take that for granted thinking ALL 15 years old are this devoted but I know they're not. She is so protective of me and would fight anyone for my honor and I have to laugh when she takes up my burdens because that's what I'm supposed to be doing for her. She is so caring and gentle yet there is a side to her that I like to refer to as the

"Nana side."

She is so much like my mom.
Growing up if someone (anyone) would do something to hurt me she would come in with all guns blazing and not have a gentle and quiet spirit about it....
My mom is the most loyal person you would ever meet. She is always thinking of others and she always brings gifts when she goes shopping because she couldn't leave without buying everyone just a little something.
I love my mom and I'm so thankful that she is around to laugh with me and cry with me as I go through this stage of my life.
As I get older I realize how fragile life is and it really makes you stop and think about those around you

I know I will never be ready to let my mom go....

Channie-Mae is two, and boy she keeps me on my toes. She is hardly what I would call sweet..She is tough minded and strong spirited kinda like a mustang horse. She is nurturing though and for that I see STRONG possibilities..Scott laughs alot because he says that "she is a little Robin". I do see myself in her and I will start praying now for her future husband....lol
So these are the little women in my life whom I adore and devote myself to....

I would not trade it for anything in the world..........




Thanks Sara for the great pic...

We all have "our" prisons

Prisons in Bible times were miserable places, devoid of even the most basic comforts.It was in such a place that "Paul and Silas were...singing praises to God....When a strong earthquake shook the jail...The doors opened,and the chains fell from all the prisoners"Ac 16:25-26. And it can happen for you and me too. If we want to shake things up, see doors open and chains break, begin to praise God "IN SPITE OF." In spite of your hardships, In spite of the way things go your way or don't go your way. In spite of the way your co-workers act. In spite of how much money you have or don't have. In spite of...... The secret they say to soaring above your circumstances is approaching God on the wings of praise. David said, "Those who have learned to acclaim {praise, applaud,honor,pay tribute to } you...walk in .....your presence...Lord."Praise isn't simply a reaction to coming into God's presence;it creates a channel through which He enters to go to work on your problem.
It's not a matter of emotion; it's a matter of faith. It's not something that comes naturally; it's something you choose to do. Whether you're in the wilderness or the Promised Land, when you "rejoice, and sing praises" things start to happen; as your praises go up, God's blessings come down. Nehemiah says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (ne 8:10)

During this time of losing our baby I chose to praise God. I played scripture music and praise music all the time. I read my bible and kept reminding myself who God is.Faithful .At times I want to get down and feel sorry for myself but what purpose would that serve? Who would that serve not my Lord and saviour. He is the author and I don't know the ending to His book for my life but I will trust it will be a great ending...
So Let the Joy of the Lord be my strength today and always..

Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction,your teachers will be hidden no more;with your own eyes you will see them.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, yours ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way;walk in it."Isaiah 30:20-21

I was doing bible with the kids this morning and our verse for the day was
Psalms 1-4.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

The verse that stuck out to me is the part where it says He shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season.

I feel like this is the season where I'm supposed to be producing some fruit.
I don't like it tho. It hurts and it's not what I want to be doing.
I keep singing that song I need the every hour. I feel like I take it literally hour by hour. I can be doing great one minute and the next I'm crying.I'm so tierd yet I didn't want to take a nap today because I have been taking naps for the past 18 weeks and I don't want to do anything that I was doing before..
Scott went back to work and the house slowed way down and I had so much more time to
feel my feelings and to let it sink in.Gosh it feels as though someone kicked me in the stomach when I wasn't looking and than just ran off and left you standing there
wondering why..

At the end of your day good or bad is God still enough?

When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
…
But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever His soul desires, that He does.
For He performs what is appointed for me,
And many such things are with Him.”
…
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”(thanks Denise and Greg)

~ Job 23:9-10, 13-14; 13:15b

If all of my days are bad days and no rainbow I see
is God still enough for me?
I have to rest in the knowledge that God is enough.
I keep saying it over and over again. It's not about my
happiness it's about him..Will I trust him? Will I believe
him? Will I rest in him?

Weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

I awoke to a new day.

Losing a baby is very hard as most of you can imagine. It's hard emotionally and physically and mentally. It's not something you can ever prepare yourself for.
The night we lost our baby was very traumatic. I had what they call a placenta abruption.
It is very rare ,so if you're expecting, this is not a common thing to happen..but we had done all the right things. I had started spotting on Sunday and stayed in bed all day.
Scott and I went to the Dr. on Monday morning and heard our precious one's heart beat and we were told that everything was fine. We laughed and were so thankful to the Lord. On Monday night I awoke to alot of blood. It was terrifying to say the least. Our dear sweet neighbor came within two mins and we were out the door. Our Dr's office is an hour and ahalf away and I knew we couldn't make it that far. We stopped at our local hospital and they stabilized me and I was rushed by ambulance to brookwood. I couldn't see Scott but he called back to me "Robin I'm here" I knew he was but it was the words themselves that I remember. "Robin I'm here" I am not leaving I will not let you go through this alone. If our husbands are supposed to love us as Christ's loves the church then my husband is a walking example of Christ.(not a perfect example) but his love for me is extraordinary. His devotion to me is unwavering and his example of a Godly christian husband and father is a good one. He stood over me in those wee hours of the morning comforting me and being my rock. He will miss our little baby but he is so grateful that the Lord spared my life. I'm not sure where another day will lead our family,but I know that as Scott as my protector and the absolute love of my life I will follow him and try to be a better wife as he tries to lead our family down the road that the Lord as set before us. Not all of our roads are going to be easy but I pray they will draw us closer to each other and mostly draw us closer to The Lord...

The Valley of Vision

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox,
that the way down is up,
that to be low is high,
that the broken heart is a healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit ,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is a place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.~

In the grieving of our baby, I will praise You.

Sick Babies!

The throwing up started at 9.oo last night. My sheets were stripped and a fresh new set put on baths were given and Scott and I took bets on who would get it next. You see when you have 6 kids it's a sure bet it doesn't stop with just one.
Little Joseph our tough Liberian threw up so bad but he was so tough..The only thing is Scott happened to be wrestling with all the boys and little Channie on our bed.
All I heard was "hurry get off the bed get in the shower it was a frantic kinda cry from Scott. I went into a MESS.... We take care of everything and get Jo settled and
I was holding him and singing to him on our bed and BAM! He threw up again.....All over our bed and me.At this point no clean sheets and poor Joesph was sick.Our sweet daughter Taylor felt so sorry for her little Hersey kiss and she played with him on his pallet by our bed and sang to him and made him feel comfortable. She could not and would not leave him until he was fast sleep. In the middle of the night we hear "mom Channie is throwing up" oh boy here we go..This morning Tucker grabs Channie and rocks her and comforts her while I'm doing other things. I didn't have to tell them to do this they just did it.God has given both of them such a heart for their siblings. I feel so blessed to have them helping me raise this little mob I call my family...