Where are you going...

This summer has been a growing time for me. God has really opened the eyes of my heart and I am so thankful. He has shown me that He is in control. Matthew 6:33 says 'seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you.' It cannot get any clearer than that! The purpose of God's word is not to confuse us. Confusion is what Satan tries and often succeeds in doing. As a child of God, I am supposed to seek Him in everything that I do - how I spend the day, how I speak, what I listen to, what I spend money on, how I treat the relationships I have- after all, all that I have is God's so why would I not use it in a way that is pleasing to Him! It makes sense!

The past 4 Wednesday nights we have studied Sharing God Without Fear. It has shown me how to share God's wonderful love and eternal gift of life in a loving non-offensive way. God's commandment to His children is to go out and share the good news. Because God has delivered me from numerous situations and blessed me in countless ways, why would I not share? This study has also taught me about my relationship with God and how lazy I have been. One question from the study is 'if you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?' That is stout! That is the rest of my life! I don't know what tomorrow will bring but the Bible is clear -at some point I will die (Romans 3:23, 6:23). It is inevitable. Because of my sin, the only way that I can spend eternity in heaven is through Jesus - He paid my way (John 14:6). I am thankful for the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the death, burial, and resurection of Jesus Christ, and the grace and mercy of God that I am a blood bought born again believer. I will spend eternity in heaven (John 3:3). I made the commitment to live my life as a follower of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15). I love Jesus Christ - my Lord and Savior. This is where God has been working on me...

LOVE is an action word - when I say that I love someone, the only way for them to know it is by my actions. Because I love my family, I talk to them, listen to them, do what they ask, and so on. The only way for someone to know what I proclaim to be in my heart is by my actions. Also, when I commit myself to someone, such as my husband or children, it is a daily commitment. It is not something I turn on or off when I feel like it. Otherwise, the commitment would be broken.

It is impossible for me to understand God's love and mercy because I am human. I am not perfect and never will be. But even with all my faults God loves me! And because I love Him, my actions should reflect that love. Because I committed my life to Christ, I should commit myself daily-not just Sunday and Wednesday or when I feel like it. If I treated my earthly relationships like I treat my relationship with God, I would not have anyone! Thankfully, God's love and forgiveness is greater than any human's. All I have to do is accept it (Revelation 3:20)!

God, thank you for the gift of eternal life! Thank you for your Son and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for your UNCONDITIONAL LOVE! I love you!

We love our family

Some of my greatest memories as a kid are when I got to spend time with my family. This summer Dannah and Jameson have been blessed with the opportunity to spend lots of time with family.

We are so thankful Nannaw asked the kids and I to go to GA with her, Corey, and Tanner to surprise Ashton for her birthday. It was about an 8 hour drive but the kids were wonderful. The kids got to go to Vacation Bible School with Ashton, Aunt Lacy, and Uncle Steven, swim and play with their cousins and 'Sinny girl', and spend time with Nannaw. Nannaw and I got to spend time playing Sequence (lots of fun!) and we made the cutest dress for Dannah! Dannah and Jameson each got their turn to spend the night with Ashton. I don't think Uncle Steven will ever forget the night Dannah stayed... he ended up on the couch. Dannah resembles a helicopter when she is asleep! After 5 days in GA, we headed to God's Country with an extra bulldog in tow... a GA bulldog! Ashton got to make her first trip to MS without her parents; her Aunt Lynda tried her best to convert her. Nannaw and Lynda are extremely brave and patient women! They kept seven kids (ranging in age from 6 months to 11 years) for 3 days. And the kids had a blast!

The next week Lacy and Ashton made the trip to Flora. Wednesday night we took Ashton to church with us and then the kids had a slumber party with Aunt Lacy. They got to watch a movie, eat popcorn, and drink coke. They thought they were so big! Thursday I took Dannah to Dede's. She was so excited because she gets to spend 5 days with Dede all by herself - NO BOYS! Jameson left Friday with Lacy, Ashton, and Mammaw to go to Muh's for the night!

I am so grateful to ALL of our family for the time they spend with us and the love they show!

Now to find a way to see Jojo, Uncle Kenny, Carson, and Cooper... working on that one.

My sanity...

It was only 15 dollars but it is so much more valuable to me! And I don't know why I waited til half of the summer was over before I decided to get it. This little pool is big enough to entertain and wear my 2 kids out. We had lunch outside and several hours of fun followed by a much needed nap!

It also reminds me of my summers growing up. The grandkids would go to my grandparents house and my granddaddy would get a pool similar to this one out and fill it up. We thought we were something. We spent lots of time splashing around at Viv and Granddaddy's house.

Colorado in June: Day 5 & 6

Thursday:

While I took the kids to the park that morning, David

and Dede went on a 2 hour horse back ride.

When we got there, Dannah and Jameson got ride - they thought they were a real cowboy and cowgirl! The guides said they talked non-stop... imagine that! :)

After their ride and lunch, we took a wagon ride with two Belgian horses pulling. We saw a buffalo names Reject (his mother rejected him when he was a few days old which is why he is at the ranch) and prairie dogs.

Dannah took a picture of Jameson, David, and Dede

Our last night we went out to eat and then took the

kids ice skating at the rink in Beaver Creek.

David helping the kids

It didn't take Dannah long before she could do it all by herself... well, her and the rail. Finally she got brave enough to skate into the middle and Jameson soon followed.

When they want to they can be extremely sweet and loving!

Friday was spent packing and going to the airport.

It was a wonderful trip and lots

of wonderful memories were made!

The only thing that would have made it

better was if Nannaw could have come!

Colorado in June: Day 3 & 4

Tuesday:

We started the day off by taking the kids to the Beaver Creek Stables for pony rides.

Jameson is on Mr. T and Dannah is on Gonzo.

One of the most wonderful things about Vail is their beautiful parks. We took the kids to Bighorn park and had a picnic. I think we all had fun playing in the park!

Me and Jameson sliding

Dannah sliding

Dede, Dannah, and Jameson seesawing with David

The Knightons climbing together

After our park adventure, we rode to Leadville and to Turquoise Lake. It was amazing to see the beautiful lake surrounded by the mountains.

Wednesday:

We went to downtown Vail to eat lunch at a restaurant that looked over Pirateship Park.

Dannah's first reaction was "NOAH'S ARK!" The kids had so much fun 'walking the plank' - in fact, when we went to church last night, they constructed Noah's Ark and Jameson had to put a plank on it!

That afternoon my mom and I enjoyed a massage at the spa... it was wonderful!

That night David and I went out to eat while

Dede spent some time with the kids.

They played putt putt and did some arts and crafts at the condo.

Colorado in June: Day 1 & 2

For vacation this year we went to Colorado for a week. It was absolutely beautiful and the weather is gorgeous. We stayed in Beaver Creek which is just a few miles east of Vail.

Sunday: Our first day we took the ski lift that was right by the condo to the top of the mountain. There was restaurant and play area for the kids. It was absolutely beautiful to look out and see all that God had created! How glorious!

Monday: We went to Glenwood Caverns which is at the top of a mountain in Glenwood. The kids had a blast! There was a rollercoaster type ride that went 1/4 of the way down the mountain, bungee trampoline, giant sandbox, 4D movies, rock wall, and a huge swing that went over the edge of the mountain.