Limiting God

As many of you know, for weeks I have been looking for a washing machine.  In fact, some of you have been helping me and have grown just as frustrated with one dead end after after.

Yesterday, God showed me why He didn't want me to have another used washing machine!

He wanted me to have a brand spankin' new one!

Which got me thinkin' . . . . . how often do I limit God?

• by putting limits on my prayers, "Lord please help me find a washer on craigs list!"  (Isaiah 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." declares the Lord.  My prayers should have been, "Lord, please provide a washing machine, in your time and in your way."
• by doubting.  James 1:6 says, "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like the wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
• by being angry.  Ephesians 4:26 says, "In your anger, do not sin."  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.
• 
  

Those are just a few off the top of my head but there are so many more, but honestly, that is not where this is going.  At least I don't think it is.

Since I was washing the clothes in the tub, it was taking double the time to dry the clothes in the dryer and my heart was in panic mode for the power bill.  I had Chris put me up a few clothes lines so I could dry the clothes outside then finish up in the dryer if necessary.

Yes.  You can "red neck."  :)

This was actually taken after taking all the puppy sheets/blankets to the laundry mat;

but you get the picture, right?

Anyway, even though the Lord provided us with a washing machine, my heart was still tender towards the power bill.  It's getting harder and harder to make ends meet, so I have continued to use the clothes line.

This morning was no different.  

As I went to take a clip off the line, I saw this.

Anyone that knows me or has followed my blog for a while knows the Lord uses feathers to speak to me, encourage me, love on me, and to confirm the direction I'm walking in.

He did that this morning by sticking that feather in the exact spot that He knew I would see it . . . . reaching for a clothes pin to hang up the clothes.

Yeap.  One more confirmation that He has it covered and I'm doing the right thing.

Psalm 91:4, "He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge . . . . . . "

I just love Him!

"If God is your partner, have a bigger plan!"  D.L. Moody

Praise Him!

The Lord gave me this scripture at 5:30 a.m.; the morning of July 28, 2000 as I was driving across the 3 mile bridge heading to Gulf Breeze Hospital to say goodbye to my Granny. The sun had just started to peek, when He spoke, "Praise me." By the time I arrived, my Granny had already been ushered by angels into the presence of Jesus. 

Yet, He is to be praised. 

This morning, the Lord reminds 

me, "Praise Me."

Because He has shown Himself to me time and time again, trusting Him has become easier and easier. Taking Him for granted, oh no; but His faithfulness has proven His mightiness.

I am not sure what is bringing you down this morning my friend, but God has a plan.

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

I pray you will trust Him.

Thankful For Good Days

Several, several months ago, Christopher's psychiatrist wanted him hospitalized.  He refused to make any adjustments on his ADHD medication, even after several months of concern that his impulsion was once again, out of control.  He was endangering himself, and his sister, or anyone else he was around when his medication didn't work.

The side effect of two of the medications Christopher was taking (Abilify and Focalin) was aggression.  He said the only way we could know if the child, my child, was being aggressive because of his behavior, was to take him completely off one, and then the other.  Gradually.

Since I did not want my son hospitalized where I would not be able to be with him, I chose the long road of decreasing meds, using my oils when I could; but trying to make them last because we just could not afford to replenish them.

While Christopher is home schooled, because he was in the gifted program in Kindergarten, he was allowed to continue to be a part of the PATS program in 1st grade through Escambia County School District.  I just took him each week instead of him riding the bus.  No big deal.

By the last three months of school, his writing had become so poor it was no longer legible.  I could not get him to sit still and keeping his attention on the subjects was impossible.  Our daily schooling consisted of repetition . . . . mainly focusing on how we respond to people, emotions, how to process, "What do we do when we get angry, Christopher?"  etc.

Out of desperation I spoke to his therapist.  They were not working on his writing and abilities at the time, so she was shocked when I showed her this.

I then spoke with his PATS teacher, and yes, she was concerned as well as Christopher had been unable to complete ANY work in the last several weeks.

We suffered through the rest of the year and most of the summer.

A few months ago we had to put Christopher back on medications because we simply could not continue buying the oils and the impulsion was absolutely exhausting me and taking its toll on the rest of the family.

While one medication was working well, his ADHD medication was not working and the horrible side effect was not sleeping, up and down all night and hallucinations.  It was a rough few months of trial and error.  The hallucinations seem to be under control and I believe were medication related; however, he is now regularly having full body tics.  While we haven't "gotten there yet," and probably never will the way the body changes and metabolizes, it seems we are making progress in the attention and impulsion area.

We started back our 2012/2013 school year a few weeks ago, just a couple days a week to start getting in a routine.

We have had good and bad days since we started back; but today, my son thrived!

We worked from 9 a.m. to noon; broke for lunch and finished up lose ends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.  Last year we used a computer program and he loved it, but would HATE to write and fought me all day on it; and while he still does not like to write, he is doing so much better using things printed straight off the computer!  

Christopher has only written on the THICK lined Pre-K and Kindergarten writing paper.  His writing is HUGE and he often runs out of space.

Today, for writing, we talked about how to write dates correctly, margins, and proper spacing between words.  Yes, this is something he was taught in Kindergarten, but, as his home-school evaluator explained to me, Christopher will always be ahead in areas because of how smart he is, but he will also be behind in areas because of his disabilities.  It is my job to push him along and encourage him in the slow areas (reading, writing, and spelling) and challenge his brain in mechanical, mathematical, cultural, scientific areas.  (Yes, pray for me.  I hated school and passed by unknowns reasons.  Seriously.  Pray hard!)

My son will be 8 this month. With the months of regression he had earlier in the year, he couldn't take what was in his brain and put it on paper, couldn't complete a thought verbally without getting confused where he was or what he was even talking about, and writing his own name was impossible.

Today, for the first time EVER, he wrote on wide rule paper and writing WELL!  It takes him a LONG TIME to get the information from his brain to the paper, BUT HE IS DOING IT! 

He had one spelling error.  I wrote, "When I grow up . . . . . "  He traced that, but everything else he wrote himself. 

Very proud!

Our Three Day Old Fosters Go To Maine

We started out with six precious babies, and ended up with two.  

Nurturing and caring for newborns is so hard, but so rewarding.  From their first scoots across the floors on their bellies, to their whimpering whining for food or to be cuddled, to trying to walk with their little booties in the air rocking back and forth to their first steps . . . . . and watching their little ears unfold and ear canals develop, and their eyes . . . . oh I can't forget their precious eyes.  Each day a little more, and a little more and a little more, till finally; there they are.  Beautiful eyeballs! 

Then when you realize the recognize you by your smell and kiss you all over, then your voice, and then the sound of your walk and they come running out of a sleep just because they know it is you . . . . . the only mommy (or daddy) they have ever known. 

*Sigh*

Anyway, our precious babies have been picked by a Lab Puppy Rescue in Maine!

They are six weeks this Wednesday the 5th of September.  When they turn eight weeks old, they will begin their journey to Maine.

These are just a handful of pictures.  I have jumped from 3/4 days to 4 weeks to 6 weeks, mainly because each one is so similar.

 The puppy on the right is Chewie.  She was 3 days old.

Chewie after eating :) 

 This is Kitty.  We got the babies at 10:00 on a Friday night, so Kaitlyn had no idea we had them until she woke up Saturday morning.  This was her first time seeing them and loving on them.  Precious.  She has a gift with animals and says she wants to be a vet when she grows up!  We will see what God has in store for her!

 Kitty, nursing on her bottle!

 This is a friend of mine that came over to help.  She is feeding Chewie :)

I have several pictures in between 3 days old and this picture of 4 weeks, but they all look the same!  This is a picture of Kitty (black front) and Chewie (brown back) eating "mush" for the first time. 

 Chewie at 5 weeks old!

 Kitty at 5 weeks old chewing on my arm!  Maybe we named the wrong one the wrong name!  lol!  For the record, we started calling her Kitty because when she was tiny, she would cry like a baby kitten!  When we call her, "Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!"  all the cats come running as well as her!  Very funny!

 As Kitty has grown, she has developed a little white streak under her chin, very tiny!  Also, just above her paw, you will see a little discoloration, that is a TINY patch, OK, more like STRANDS of white hair that has grown in the last week!

 And this is an awful picture of me, but it is of my precious Kitty chewing on my finger and I just love it!  So, ignore the no make up, just woke up look and ooooh and aaaaaaw over that precious puppy!  lol

 Chewie at 5 weeks old.  Not sure if her eyes will stay blue or not.  Her sisters are a dark bluish black color.  I have no clue at what age puppies eye color become their permanent eyes color.

 Kitty, chewing and tugging on the camera!  

She is DEFINITELY much more active than Chewie!

 Chewie and Kitty pulled out the leashes from the "dog basket."  When Chewie got board with them, she started on my socks and toes.

 Kitty @ 5 weeks

 This is my husband with the two babies!  He has stayed up and gotten up countless nights to let me sleep and has tended to these angels!  You will notice that Kitty is chewing his finger and Chewie, is behaving like she does . . . and yes, we named her after Chewbacca!  She she shakes all over and fluffs her hair on the top of her head she looks JUST.  LIKE.  HIM!

 The dogs on the left are FireTrain (our dog, well, puppy.  He is only 8 months old :) and the one next to him is his sister Valentine.  Valentine will also be leaving for a rescue in Maine this month, but that is for another blog post!  Our friend Leah came over for a visit.  Valentine has been around the baby's lots, but this was FireTrain's first time getting to smell them.  This is Kitty they are loving on :)

 Precious Valentine (we sometimes call her V-V!) loving on Chewie!

 This is Nala.  Nala is one of ten that survived from a litter of babies.  We received nine of them when they were VERY sick with distemper.  Nala is the sole survivor and is a hoss of a puppy!  She is approximately 4 months old and already tips the scale at OVER 35lbs!  She is getting to meet Chewie for the fist time also.

 V-V giving kisses to Chewie!

 FireTrain and Valentine are the best two dogs I have ever been around in my life.  Breaks my heart to separate them.  Pray for them, as for us, as we have had them since they were 9 weeks old.

 More sniff sniff sniffin'!

 My baby girl gettin some lovin' from Kitty!

6 weeks old 9.5.2012

 Poor Christopher is having a bad morning of tics and none of the pictures with him turned out; BUT, this is a good one showing both puppies with both my babies!

 Squirmin to get down!

And then they cuddle!  

We have had the best time with these babies and will take more in the days to come before they leave.  

Please check out the puppy rescue link above and pray about your part in helping with the transport of these miracle babies!

When God Speaks

Have you ever had a moment when you know you heard from Heaven?

It's not usually something you can ignore; but we are still given that free will.

To obey, or not to obey.

It's that instant that you know you have to turn the car around and get to where you know God is telling you to go, but if you do you will be late for something else, or you know God is putting someone on your heart and you KNOW you should take the time to call or text or email, or even the worse . . . . . stop by unannounced (aaagghhh!) . . . . . but who does that anymore, right?  Why have we, as a society become so unpersonable?  

(On a side-note, if you ever stop by unannounced, REMEMBER, you are stopping by to see me, not the house or the yard cause it will likely be a mess.  If that bothers you, you are more than welcome to help me clean it!  ;)  

I had one of those moments today.

A complete WOW moment to the point where I couldn't wait to do what to the Lord was telling me to do.

A few months ago we started having regular car problems, to the point where we haven't had a car more than we have. 

Two weeks ago, our washing machine died that is less than two years old.  A friend helped us by process of elimination to determine what was going on, and he said it was the motor and it would cost more to repair than to buy a used one.  So, inbetween having no car and no washing me, I have been washing clothes in the bathtub.  I explain that because today we got the car back (I know, yippee!) so I loaded up two baskets of the sheets and towels we have been using for the puppies to take to the laundry mat.  

Christopher and I go pick up Kaitlyn from school and start on our way.  I thought I would get them a drink from McD's since we don't have air in the car and we would be at the laundry mat for a while . . . . but then I look at the clock and it is 2:08. 

Happy Hour at SONICS!  Half price drinks!  

In that split second, I get in the right lane instead of the left lane.

Then I see her.  

A middle aged black lady walking across the street, using the crosswalk at the West Florida Hospital light.  She was using a seeing eye cane . . . . one that a person with limited or no vision would use.  

As the bus in front of me pulled out, I was able to move up.  

I could see that she was physically trying to fight back her tears, but they continued to flow.

As soon as I made the turn, the Lord said, "go."  

My prayer instantly became, "Lord, if you want me to speak to her, then you have to let her be there when I get back there.  Lord, this is Davis Hwy, if you want me to speak to her, you have to give me a safe place to park so my children won't be in harms way and I don't cause an accident."

As I turned right on Johnson and took the first right past the fire station my kids started asking questions.  

"Where are you going?  What's wrong mom?  This isn't how you get to Sonic!"

All I had to tell them was that I think God wants me to go hug that lady that crying.

Christopher immediately knew who I speaking of.

As I turned right onto Olive, then back to Davis, my heart started pounding as we looked for her.

Then we saw her, and I knew.  

She was walking the sidewalk just pass the elementary school and towards the weekly hotel.  In front, is a HUGE blocked off area not intended for highway traffic or parking, but gave me plenty of room to pull off the road so my children would be safe and I could talk to her.

She must have some vision, as when I whipped the car in I scared her.

I got out of the car, told her I saw her crying at the other intersection and wanted to see if she was OK.

To that, she shook her head no and said, "I just feel like I'm invisible." and with that, the tears of pain began to flow uncontrollably.

I asked her if I could hug her and she said no.

With that response, I asked her if I could pray for her, and she said, "Yes." 

"May I hold your hand?" I asked. 

"Yes." she responded.

Within that moment, all worry about my kids disappeared and the sound  of traffic on Davis Hwy went away.  

It was just me.  Her.  And the Holy Spirit. 

While praying, the Holy Spirit told me to remind her that she is the apple of His eye.  That she is precious to Him and more valuable than she could imagine.  He told me to remind her that He knows the number of hairs on her head and that He is the healer of the brokenhearted.

Throughout the prayer, she pleaded, "Yes, Jesus." over and over as she wept.

After the prayer time I asked her if I could give her a ride anywhere.  She lives at the weekly hotel that she was in front of.  She has a guide dog that was in her room.

My assumption is she received some bad news from the hospital; or maybe she was looked over one time too many because of her disability.

I don't know the answer to the why's or what's wrong, but what I know is that today, God chose to use a wretch like me; a once drunk, hootchie, thief, liar, and God hater, to pray for a woman that felt invisible here on earth.

Oh what an honor.  

Do you know that you are that important to God too?

That He adores you!  That He will send strangers to you to encourage you because HE LOVES YOU THAT MUCH!

In Psalms 17, verses 8 & 9, the Bible says, "Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about."

YOU ARE THE APPLE OF HIS EYE!

In Luke 12:7, the Bible says, "But even the very hairs on your head are ALL numbered.  Fear not, therefore; YOU are more valuable than sparrows."

GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU!  YOU ARE MORE VALUABLE TO HIM THAN SPARROWS!

In Psalm 147:3, the Bible says, "He is the healer of the brokenhearted and He binds up their wounds."

GOD WANTS TO HEAL YOUR HURTS!

The scriptures tell us in Psalm 139:13 -16, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

YOU WERE KNIT TOGETHER PRECISELY THE WAY GOD WANTED YOU MADE!  GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES!

Oh friend, I don't know what you are toiling with today; but what I do know is there is a Father in Heaven that adores you.  He wants to have a relationship with you.  If you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you can know Him this very moment.

The scriptures say that by believing in your heart, and confessing Him as Lord publicly, you can be saved!  The scriptures also say that we are ALL sinners; that NONE of us are righteous.  We can not earn our way into heaven and we can not do good enough or earn our way in.  He is the only way.  I pray that if you are interested in knowing Jesus as Lord that you will email me at thepadens@cox.net or leave a comment below if you would like for me to contact you.

Maybe you know Jesus as Lord but have forgotten just Whose you are.  You are the Prince/Princess of a King!  King Jesus!  He is the forgiver of sins!  The sustainer of life!  The provider of all resources!  

AND . . . . .

HE. LOVES. YOU!

Pioneer Woman 101, HA!

I have to confess.  I am a whimp.

Yeap.  I thought I could handle it.  Thought it wouldn't be any big deal.  Man, was I stupid!

A friend sent me $100 to put towards a washing machine.  Had a couple lined up to go look at this week.

Then the car broke down.

Then this thing called, "Isaac" came into the gulf.

Car still not repaired.

Still no washing machine.

Family of four and puppies that poop.

Hmmmmm.

What's a gal to do?!

I know, I'll use the bath tub!  OH.  MY.  WORD!

These are my yard work clothes and the kids outside play clothes.  

Oh.  My.  Word!

I had already done all the sheets from the puppies.

My hands are stiff; red, achy.  My arm muscles . . . just holding my arms up to type make me tired and my shoulders; oh honey, we won't even go there.

Because I am hand ringing out each clothing, I decided it would be best to use a clothes line to help dry the clothes some before putting them in the dryer.

Oh.  My.  WORD!

How did they do it?

Seriously.  How did the women in the pioneer days do laundry every single day, cook meals from scratch, work in the barn and fields, sew clothes, and everything else they did. . . ?!

These women of olden days were tough women; and I don't mean tough minded either!

Hats of to the older generation that knew what hard work was all about!

I sure won't be taking my next washing machine for granted, I can assure you!  Whew!

Happy washin' :)