Keeping my word...

Okay, so yesterday I put up a picture of my BEAUTIFUL baby,

 (because I'm nice like that)...

... in hopes that you would come back for more pictures of

our wonderful day at the lake! 

SO because I am a woman of my word, here they are!  Just sit back and pretend you are there! 

I will warn you, don't relax to much because the heat index was 105! 

Think of a nice cool breeze and pretend your feet are dangeling in the water!  That should help keep you cool while you enjoy a day at the beach with us...

 Waiting anxiously (NOT) for the boat...

 The boat arrives

 The pitter patter of feet running to catch a ride

 looking for the "okay" from dad to go

 just plain sweetness enjoying her day in at the lake

 Keeping cool the ONLY way

 Scooping...

 hanging...

 dumping...

 filling...

 floating...

 being boys!

 Dad watching

 looking for the boat to return

 Waiting for the boat to come back and pick up the tuber!

 Safely back!

 Just enjoying the ride with daddy!

 Doesn't he just make you smile!

 Big brother and little brother

 Getting sleepy!

 Getting ready for the ride!

 And they're off!

 A last dip in the lake...

 Oh what a day at the lake!

Now for some down time!

More to come!

We went to the lake today and I have some GREAT pics to show you

However...

I had to entice you a touch by this picture of our little one enjoying her first day out on the beach!

Stay tuned for more...

What we have been up to...

I have given up some things and blogging has been one of them, if you have not noticed!  Really I have not GIVEN it up, just put it on the "back burner" for the summer!  But I thought I would share some things we have been up to lately:

 Holding rabbits...

 Holding baby sister...

 Holding head up now...

 Even tried, for a couple days, holding food down!

 Poking eyes out...(not intentionally)

 Going out to a 'Bright Lights' conference with many girls...

 Girls playing games in a hotel room...

 Listening to other girls play music and living pure lives for Christ...

 Watching and listening to God's plan on how to give your young life to Christ and live in purity...

 And looking and this little example of purity...

 Babies holding baby bunnies...

 Daddy pushing his 3 yr old down a waterslide...

 Keeping cool...(not real easy right now!)

 But enjoying it at the water park...

 Even stopping for mom so she can get a picture...

And last but not least...

Celebrating MANY summer Birthday's! 

Hope you are enjoying the summer and staying cool!

Yes, if you know anything about me,

I am ready for winter! :)

Used not use!

Have you ever had times where your spirit just wept! 

God has sent our family to spiritual "boot camp" and WOW has it been rough on our flesh!  We have kept moving forward and muddled through, however!  We had some issues that kept rearing it's ugly head and my husband began to realize that we had to get rid of it once and for ALL!  It started way before our revival week at church and then God used that week to encourage us and give us wisdom.  The past couple of weeks have been an adjustment to all that we have taken in!  Things have changed SO much in our home.  They are not perfect by any means!  We have 14 people under the same roof with all kinds of attitudes and personalities but the joy and love that the enemy was trying to zap us from is back!  Really it is not BACK, it is THERE!  It is different!  More genuine, from within!  The kind that only God can give! 

So back to my first sentence!  Earlier this week, I had a day where I just had a mourning in my heart.  The kind I could not explain.  I sobbed, prayed, read my bible to get through the intensity.   Not PMS, not the "woman" kind of crying.  Something from deep within!  I have had it before but not this intense.  I began to ask God what He was trying to tell me and show me.  I can say that I am still not totally sure but something He did make clear was that His heart hurts deeply for His children! They wander around with confusion and pain!  He wants USE his children, not be USED by them.  So I began to examine MY heart!  Do I go to Him when I need something and then leave and do my own thing when I do or don't get my way?  Or am I there right along side Him constantly even when I don't like what is going on around me?  Do I live for today as His word says or am I living with the questions daily, "What if I...? Or "If only I..."  God revealed to me, if I am being His hands and His feet everyday, then I don't need to look ahead or think back!  He has something for me and all of His children for TODAY!  A simple smile to give, a kiss on a cheek to my child, a choice of giving grace instead of what somebody deserves!  That is how we can be USED by Him!  So I have been asking A LOT lately how I can be used so that I will be HIS hands and HIS feet! 

I don't want to ever USE or abuse the grace and mercy He has given so freely!  I desire so much for my children to understand that!  I pray they see Him in me and that they know God is their Abba Father!  (Daddy!)  There is nothing He desires more than to care for us soak up His love!  Let Him do that for you TODAY!  He wants to take away the confusion and pain!  He has that ability!  Just let Him in and call upon Him!  He cares for you!

Happy 4th of July!

Jesus on the 4th of July

We gather ‘round to celebrate
On Independence Day
Pay homage to our country
As the children run and play.

With barbecues and picnics
And fireworks in the air
The flag we own is proudly flown
To show how much we care.

The stars and stripes spell freedom
She waves upon the breeze
While bursts of colors can be seen
Above the towering trees.

This is all quite wonderful
We revel in delight
But God above in divine love
Has brought this day to light.

With just a stroke of liberty
A touch of His great hand
He gave democracy to us
And helped this country stand.

The stripes upon our stately flag
Were touched by His sweet grace
Each star of white that shines so bright
Reflects His loving face.

So as you turn to face the flag
For battles that were fought
Be filled with pride for those who died
And freedoms that were bought.

But don’t forget to thank the One
That gives the bright display
The reason why we paint the sky
On Independence Day

Copyright © Marilyn Ferguson 2003

3 months ago...

From this 3 months ago...

Just as sweet as ever and the easiest baby                                                   To this now!
I have EVER had!  God knew what I needed I guess! :)


Wonder what God has in store for her life!  So fun to watch them grow!

What a revival does!

This past week we have been attending an old fashioned camp-meeting revival!  We have had real encounters with the Holy Spirit and are soooooo thankful for the timing!  The late nights have been a stretch for us but it is ALL worth it!

Our family has been under attack lately.  It started out very subtly!  Talking back, then lying and on to stealing from siblings and then flat out rebellion.  God began to speak to me in my heart after WEEKS of enduring, that we were under attack.  The Word says, "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities of the darkness of the air..."  Our children's hearts have been attacked and the enemy had blinded us as parents thinking it's just life, it is just a stage we are going thorugh, it will be okay!  You see I have learned that the enemy IS the author of lies HOWEVER he will also deceive us into believing something that MAY be true!  It was true, it has been rough the past few months with no job, unreliable schedules, little income, etc!  BUT that is no excuse for us to give up and accept chaos and bad behavior as the norm!   Our children (and us!) are up against sooooo very much in this world!   Media, peers, and the reality of this sin-filled world are only a few things that our children face!  If not careful, they and we can become numb to the world's ways and suffer greatly from it in all area's of their/our lives!   I told my oldest kids the other day, that I used to say "mommy" prayers but now God is calling me to say "MOTHER" prayers on their behalf!  If the enemy can get to our kids, then He can shake the whole family and destroy everything that God has built up! 

Last night my husband went to the alter and lifted up our family.  I stood behind him and we rebuked the enemy from our family and vowed to fight fervently for our children's hearts!  The enemy can attack hard but does not stand a chance when we are walking in the spirit and have God as our commander!  Many things happened last night and I can't wait to see what He has for us tonight.  God has a plan for all of us and we are important to His kingdom!  Begin to ask God what your family needs.  He hears you and knows them better than you!  We have been changed and it is SO evident in our home today!  We cannot wait to see what He has for us in the future!  We need, as parents, to fight for our children's souls.  It has eternal value!  Don't let the enemy tell you any different! 

Turn those essential, wonderful, precious "mommy" prayers, into life changing, powerful, fighting enemy "MOTHER" prayers!  Your family is depending on it! 

Oh Father, the enemy has a target and it is our children hearts!  I am crying out to you to show me the ways that my children struggle that I can go to battle for them and TEACH them to wear your armor and eventually be able to fight themselves!  Our family is yours and we live for you!  We know that if You are for us, than nobody can be against us!  We have power in your name to speak and you hear us!  Help me to cultivate a heart of worship to You so my children will also walk in your spirit.  Thank you for helping me on this journey of motherhood and helping me realize that you have given me the tools to fight for my family!  Revive what the enemy has tried to steal from us!  Amen!

And that is what a revival can do! :)

This is love!

This is pretty much what is going on in our house when the baby is awake!

The newness of her little life has NOT yet worn off after 3 months!

Her brothers are in awe of her "adorableness!"

She gets love-cheek pinches...(Sometimes too many!)

She has brought out an inner soft-side from within that her many brothers and those around her are enjoying!

And LOTS of love-cheek kisses are the proof of it!

Never to many of those!

(well, maybe when somebody is covered with food all over thier lips!)