Message Monday!

Yesterday's Sunday Message was so Awe-Inspiring I wish I could share every detail with you! Instead I'll just share what I took home... What are you holding back that God wants you to change? You know that one thing that When God tugs on your heart you know it needs to happen and yet you push it back one more time! That one issue you struggle to never deal with or only deal lwith in little bits at a time.
Yeah I have several of those and though I work on a few here and there I've never comitted to actually letting them go or changing them! Until now and however small a change it may be I am determined to change those things that I push aside the most!
Today has truly been a test of all those things I say I need to do and don't! I wanted to get up early and I slept till 9! I wanted chores to go smoothly and I am surprised they got done at all! School was a breeze, for the moments a child was not crying over frustration and I was able to actaully sit for 5 min without answering a question! I did manage to do school with Selah age 6 and Levi age 4, well not really true, John r. who is 11 helped Levi and I zoned out so as not to freak out!
So as you can see today was NOT perfect and yet we made it through! Even in the midst of all the chaos I am Listening for the small still voice that reassures me I am in His plan and in His will! That voice is what allows me to know I will make it through any storm, any tears, any frustration!
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH! PHIL 4:13

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY LEVI!

Today we celebrate the birth of our son Levi James! Four years ago I just finished a rough preganncy and was overjoyed at holding a fourth son in my arms! He has been a real blessing in our lives!
He is the son that has made me relaize what my mom went through having a girl then a boy then a girl..lol! He is a pure boy even though he can be caught dressing up from time to time and even being a daddy to a baby doll! He loves to cuddle and sleep late with his mommy.. I love this! He is adventurous and loves to explore everything!
He has just hit his independant stage where he wants to do everything himself and most of them time ends up asking for help anyway! In the past week alone I think we cleaned up at least one spill a day from him attempting to pour his own drink!
He loves "boy movies" as he calls them like toy story (1, 2 or 3), Cars or trains in them! He is quickly learning his ABC's and he is beggining to discover coloring is fun!
Hubby insisted on getting him a small cake so here it is...
He was more interested in the two rings in the cake than the actual cake I think... but it was fun seeing his eyes light up when he blew out the candles!
Though Micah was at a Friend's house and Ruth was napping we snapped a few pictures of him with siblings!

Being 4 brings back so many memores of when the other boys were little! All the discoveries he makes daily and the things I know will only last but for a minute! As a mom I am seeing him grow right before my eyes almost and it seems impossible!
Happy 4th Birthday Levi! I love you so much!!!

Busy Relaxing Saturday!

So we actually slept in this morning and did just about nothing till noon! That is a rare thing here but it felt so good!
We baked Levi a Birthday Cake for our Relate Group!

He Loves Orange so I added a non Sweetened Orange Koolaid Package to cream cheese icing and it tasted just like an orange creamscicle! YUM! He wanted to add the Green and the Mini Resses Cups... Looked just like a Harvest Cake! He Loved it and ate all of 2 bites! We are just not a cake family! I really should have just made a cookie cake and one day I will learn!
Relate Group was wonderful tonight and I think the youngest five are really enjoying meeting new friends, as are we!
Asking prayers for me from anyone reading.. I am experiencing a very weird pressure behind my eyes again.. (this is not new to me)! I am believeing it is NOT anything as the many times before only this time I will not experience any loss of sight! Mums the word to Hubby... he'll just think I'm nuts again and besides docotrs never really undersatnd me! However my Jesus does and He is my Ultimate Healer!
Tomorrow My baby boy will be 4 and I'm sure my post will be all about him, as I intend to do on every child birthday this year... so get ready for some stories!

A New Discovery!

Micah is now 13 and that alone has been hard for me to grasp...now he is going to his first DNOW weekend! I remember how much we packed into a weekend and how much I grew closer to God! I hope this is the same for him and and that he enjoys making new friends and learning!
Not sure what this weekend has in store.. turns out there is no Upwards game for the kids... not a bad thing! Levi does not really understand that his birthday is only one day.. guess that can be a good thing... so we will probably be squeezing in something for him!
There are so many things that we always need done or want done and yet they never seem to get accomplished and yet my life goes on! Funny how that works, huh! As messy as my house is or a few of things I get marked off my to do list my children still grow and learn... Those moments I can never get back! I'd rather sit on unfolded clothes om my bedroom floor and read a book to my 18 month old than push her off to fold them and spend countless hrs teaching her to read at the age of 8. This lesson I have learned all to well in real life experience!
My not so quiet moments of 3 or 4 kids in my bed after hubby's left for work remind me that in just a few short years they won't come anymore as the older ones have. Soon I will wish they did come and then it might be too late!
Lesson for today... Children grow, your house can wait, cherish every little moment for soon they turn into big ones with your 13 yr old going away for the weekend!

Unlimited?

Our internet company told us we had unlimited internet via our wireless card and when it bumped up to a faster speed I beagn to let the boys get on more and now we've discovered that it is NOT unlimited like they said!
This experience got me to thinking about how many things are really unlimited in our lives. Freedom to worship, Freedom to serve, The Love of Christ! More importantly the Power of God given to us in His Death and Resurrection! As Christians we are given Grace (God's Riches At Christ's Expense) and we each have a measure we never seem to reach! Daily I fail as a mom and still I am loved by my children... that is so much like the Love of Christ.. No matter how much we fail and try again God loves us the same..UNLIMITED! No lying here, no hidden or small print! His love will always remain the same!

Do We Really Know Him?

A good freind called me tonight and ask me this question... Do we Really know Jesus and the Power of the Resurection? I had already been questioning whether or not we truly can ever walk in complete Faith! Here's what I put on Facebook a few hours ago... What does it mean to live in total faith... in EVERY area of your life.. giving ALL control to GOD...ALL!!! Is it even Possible? I mean to control nothing... to trust Him for everything... to always ask and wait for the answer before deciding!On EVERYTHING!!!... I was not surprised that only one person even responded by saying Freedom!
In today's world we so often take for granted the true meaning of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and the power that it brings to us when we celebrate and remember it! The power over doing the right thing or doing nothing at all... like Stopping! The power to be patient... to Wait! The power to open our ears.. to Listen! The power to do what is right.. to Act!
My faith has been shaken greatly in the past few weeks and there are still some isssues to deal with personally for me! This Revelation has indeed made me aware of all the power given to us as children of God... Are we grasping every moment of it!
Do YOu Really Know the Power of God?

On the mend!

Wow that was a rough two days! We are on the mend! Everyone is back to being their personality in all it's glory, lol! I decided to push aside school maybe for the week and give everyone a little break since we had such a rough weekend!
I am tring to prepare for this very busy weekend ahead. We have Upwards on Friday night, Saturday is Relate group and Sunday is Levi's Birthday and a dinner at church that night!
Speaking of Levi's 4th Birthday... wow how my baby boy has grown! It seems so long since having a lil boy in the house... esp since Titus is almost 10. The discoveries he makes and the things he learns on a daily basis! He is extremely smart and can be a handful at times! Add to the mix that he is smack between two sisters and that makes for a very neat experience in raising a boy!
The gift of raising 7 children each with their own unique talents and personalities makes everday life a challenge I love to take on! I do say that I have the best children in the world and though they all have things they need to learn and grow in, they each bless me on a daily basis!
I too have so much to learn and grow on that I know for sure if I did not have each one of them I would not learn all I need to! I say this... whether you have 1 or 12 each child is a blessing in a wonderful way and everyday is to be cherished for everything you have!

Kids Bounce Back Faster

Well 24 hrs later i'm still in the bed... this stomach flu hit our family hard! As i stated in am earlier post Levi started the mess than 2 girls then Micah then the baby then the last 2 boys then us parents! Seems the kids bounced back so fast and the adults fight till the very end... i'm exhausted! The children have been so good today and taken very good care of me! Ruth has wanted mommy so bad i've just not had the energy! so when they say it's a 24hr bug they mean it! Poor John went to work and he's coming home tonight to go straight to bed... don't blame him at all! So after this long 48 hrs of not fun sickness we are on the mend!

Short and not so Sweet...

Fighting a stomach Flu... no so fun... least it will be over tomorrow!

Wondering?

I'ver been wondering all day if anyone has wondered if I was going to ever stop in today.. well here i am at last! Today was a very interesting day....


Let's see I was awoken at 7 to myh almost 4 yr old throwing up in my bed... yes I lovely start to the day! After an hr or so he was back to his hyper self and with just a lil more other tummy issues he seemed fine.

John made egg sandwiches for lunch and I left at 1 to go to a good friend's housewarming party!

After two hrs I headed to town to make a trip for a few groceries and our tax software to do this years taxes!

Upon arriving home, I discovered though Levi had no more tummy issues he was acting VERY puny and Ruth was running fever!

On top of all that my left shoulder is REALLY hurting I don't know why!

Needless to say this has been a very interesting day and a long one too!

John and I seem to be in a not so rough spot... still a few issues I know.. but what married couple agrees on everything all the time?!

So tomorrow is church... not sure what it will be for us though... praying for all to be well... we shall see!

Changing...

I am changing! Despite trying to hold on to the old me with every fiber.. I am forced to realize change is inevitable! Guess we all must change at some point and I feel like I have been changing for years and years! I can see how so many of the changes have been good and for the benefit of so many! 2 Cor.4:16-18 was just given to me by my pastor.. Truly it is what I needed! Go read it! If you are facing some issues of any kind this will put you in a different state of mind!
So many times I think I try to walk in my strength and that will just NOT work! Today I am going to take the next step to allowing God to guide me and not do it on my own... one moment at a time! More to come later...


As the day has progressed I am seeing more changes little and big, moment by moment! The children are amazing me at how well they are doing in their school work, that truly is an awesome change from past years! The house stays cleaner with everyone pitching in and I seem to even find a minute or two to myself from time to time! I have found myself longing for another baby today... not sure why just wondering when this feeling will pass. Ruth, my baby, is growing up so fast.. I guess another change I must face! Another upwards game tonight.. should be loads of fun! So, Off I go to get everything ready and prepare fora weekend of ????? who knows...

Upwards was fun! Kids did great and Titus went to a friends house for the night...Now I'm off to my bed ready for a new day untarnshed by any mistakes!

Can I Start Over?

I will not go into all the details but today is not a good day! John and I are to odds again and I am about fed up!
Last night was church and I did not go.. John made another small decision without me and I chose to step away! I think as a married couple you should choose to talk over anything that will affect the other... he does not feel the same!
Today the kids had a birthday party to go to and I made him take the kids, as of right now I cannot see myself doing things with him for awhile!
We need a break from each other I think... I need to evaluate where I need to change and where I need to step back!
I feel as if truly I am in the house now solely for the kids.. I'll be the mom and the teacher and the cook ..etc. John and I are having a VERY ROUGH PATCH!
The children know something is up but we are not arguing in front of them and keeping the peace for thier sake!
Praying is all I can do and walk in faith that tomorrow will be better!

Added note... Ruth and I have had a very peaceful day without kids and without John!
I have not gotten over my mistrust of all that has happened and all that needs to change! I will however learn and live as each moment goes by!

Wild Wednesdays....

It seems like every Wednesday that comes around I feel so tired and see so much to do! I will overcome today! I have my energy back to a certain degree and we've been busy with school daily! Today we will accomplish school and maybe a nap then church! I think the children are finally adjusting to our new church Relate! I am not hearing as many complaints lately and they seem happier!

You know thinking about it often we have so much on Wednedsay that it seems overwhelming! Like a dr's appt or a meeting or someone is fighting a sickness! I am going to take a stand! From Wild Wednesdays to Wonderful Wednesdays! To be able to see every little blessing, oh what a Joy! In my walk daily as a Christian I am learning to take each moment as it comes! I think about a Word that the Lord gave me years ago... Stop! Wait! Listen! Act! It is as if He was telling me that you know how to talk Sarah, so now learn to follow My steps and do more than just talk!

Today is a WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY! I will stand on God's word and walk in my faith!


Note: I failed drastically today! This was NOT a good wednedsay in the end!

Hubby's Home!!!!!!

So hubby came home today with instructions to eat healthier and exercise... what's new? We are all VERY happy to have him home though! Kidss are busy with school and I have been attempting to keep the little ones off daddy so he can take a nap for a few min!
This recent event has made me very thankful for all the times I have been in the hospital and thankful of how much my hubby has hadf to put up with! I say neither of us be in the hospital ever again!
Pastor Paul came up to visit John last night and that was a very blessed time! Our new and old friends were all out in full force praying for John! I could truly feel God's peace!
This year is going to be the best year of our lives!!!

Hubby in the Hospital!

Today John was feeling a weird feeling in his chest so he went to the E.R. per the Dr's request and after tests they said his heart was fluttering so he had to stay for obeservation and bloodwork every 3 hrs! I went to visit him for a few hrs and take him some clothes... beat him in two games of Phase 10...he was in a good mood when I left!

So then as I get almost home I realize I have his truck keys and then he texts me and says I may come home tonight! Anyway this means another trip to Jackson, in the dark of night! Well if he gets to come home!

Even with all the happenings today I managed to accomplish school! I am amazed at how well the kids are learning and all they know that I don't! Praise the Lord for all that He has given my family!

Good Friends

We spent last nigt and today in the presence of some good friends! Last night we went to our first Relate group and had a wonderful time in the fellowship of old and new friends! There was 9 adults and 15 children and you could feel the presence of God! Time to meet others and have fun is so important and we are going to love getting to know everyone! Church was awesome as we learned to Tune in and Hear God! For lunch we went to our long time friends the Strauts and ate hamburgers them played our usual Phase ten card game! Our every Sunday get together was put off with all the holidays and sickness so it felt really good to get back together again! Fellowship with Friends is Awesome and so needed!

Upwards!

Four of the kids had their first Upward game today and it was so neat to see them playing again! John Russell and Titus are playing basketball! Grace and Selah lard cheering! For them being homeschooled it is hard to find good sports and Upwards has been a true blessing for our family! Everytime they've played i've taken pictures and this morning i went to turn on my camera and it was broken:( I took a few pictures so let's hope they come out! Now were headed home to rest before Our first Relate group tonight! Should be interesting with my kids in the tow... more on that tomorrow. Amazing how my kids have grown from their first upwards experience! They truly are blessing my life every day as they grow!

I'm So Out Of The Loop...

We live in the the country... our town has no traffic lights and no police station...we drive for thirty min to get groceries or gas... i said all that to say i'm out of the loop! The majority of my time is spent at home with my kids and so often I feel left out of the goings on in life! I have felt lately that friends i had at my previous church are not there for us now because we left... and our new friends are just gettin to know us... guess we're alone on our island again.... or really still here since it's always been this way! Maybe moving to Utah is not such a bad idea after all! I know my whole life i've had just a small handful of friends and i'm happy with that... they understand, they love us regardless! Guess being out of the loop is not such a bad thing! I really enjoy my quiet time with just my children and my swee hubby when he gets home every evening! Having 7 children means i can keep busy and seeing them learn daily is beyond any blessing i could ever ask for! So maybe being i like being out of the loop!

Think Warm

My hubby has always wanted to move to the mountains of Utah and i've willingly said i will follow! Today our weather is at 30 degrees at noon and i'm thinking i might have to change my mind if i can't handle Mississippi weather how'd i survive.... lol! With this very cold weather in the south i'm actually thinking God might be preparing me! This week has been very unusual for me being that my energy is level is so low.... i've managed to get school done with the boys and kids have kept up with chores... i've cooked supper once and hubby has filled in the rest. It is so weird because i don't actually feel bad just very weak like i have been sick! I so don't like not being my normal self, even as lacking as that might have been. Yesterday John Russell had an ear dr app yesterday and dr said if he does not pop his ears ten times a day he will have to have major surgery to replaced the bone in his ear! What an unnecessary pressure to put on an 11 yr old boy, I'm praying God completely heals his ears! So off to rest and pray, something i can do with any amount of energy!

Searching for Answers

I went to bed at 9 last night which if you knew me is very unusual... my norm is midnight or later and i get up at 8 the next morning... this morning i am awake but i am feeling very drained again today! I said yesterday I feel like i've been sick for days and i'm recovering... only i haven't ... i've been healthy... this really is weird feeling like i have no strength! My spiritual side is staying strong for this fight... i will face whatever this is with all the strength God has... not my own! His blood took my sins and my burdens on the cross, I receive his grace daily as it was given! So though today my body may fight, my spirit will stand strong agains whatever comes my way!

One of those days...

Ever have one me those days when you just want to stay in bed and curl up with a good book? Well i do... I love being a mom and all it comes with there are just some days i want to check out and keep to myself! Well today i checked out for an hr or so and then i checked right back in:) Kids got up and got moving unlike me and are busy bees doing school... I'm moving slowly... least I'm moving! Ruth is down for her nap and Selah is putting on a play for me which was absolutely adorable! Those moments are what make being a mom worth every check out moment I could ever have! Today as you can tell is my rambling day... a usual day in the macoy house :)

Never the same...

Yesterday we ended up going to church, because the ice storm was not as bad as had been predicted. Though church was great, i for some reason struggled to keep my eyes open and even this morning i've been so tired.... i even went to be unusually early for me... this all leads me to say... we do not have a schedule in this house! We are all used to flying by the seat of our pants so to speak! Some mornings we get an early start on chores and school and other days we start at lunch... not sure this is a good thing ... just the way we are right now! Today is one of the very very slow days... i've slept in due to the excessive sleepiness i was mentioning... i like having energy and i've seemed to have lost mine... i'll keep that on chores the topic till it disappears! So begins another week of my life with a wonderful hubby and 7 unbelievable kids! School, chores and meals for ... times 7 make for a very busy schedule ... yet i seem to have time to just sit... guess that should tell you how great my kids are or how messy my house stays... lol... take it how you will i love my life and my family!

ICE! ICE BABY!

Not a word we use much in our neck of the woods... ice! Here we awoke to perfectly formed lil icicles hanging on our porch awning... beautiful but means church was a no go! Here when church is out for some reason we have family time ... games, movies, maybe even a nap! So as we embark on an ice journey today... we'll stay warm and enjoy the family!

The Quiet Moments

This morning waking in a plush hotel room with just the love of my life if one of those quiet moments in life you treasure! We had a wonderful meal, shopping and a movie last night ... being without kids makes for a very enjoyable time! Actually i'm missing them and wondering how Ruth slept or if Levi got up early:) Today is going to be exciting not sure what we're going to do because i huge winter weather storm is headed to our area and where as yesterday was in the sixties this morning we're in freezing temps... so where shall we go or shall we stay will be the question! I shall enjoy the time i can though and never forget each time we celebrate our love!

The Getaway

Today has arrived! this afternoon John and I are going away for 48 hrs and i'm beyond excited! A very dear Friend, Laurie Moore is coming to our house to keep the kids and that gives of me the most peace in going! Ruth, my baby, has been sleeping all night and nursing only in the mornings... leaving her is bittersweet! Seeing my baby grow up is not easy by any means being she's the last ... will i survive? Lol, of course i will just seems to be harder this time around since she's the baby... So much time and so little to do ... wait strike that reverse it ... so beings the day as i prepare the kids, the house, myself for the exciting weekend!

Oh What A Day!

Today is one of those days where my list of to do things is so long.... it will in reality never get done! Yet i being a perfectionist am determined to try and do my best! Tomorrow afternoon John and I are going away for the weekend and though it sounds wonderful the list of things to prepare has mad the task at game seem almost not worth the price... almost! A very dear friend of mine is coming to stay at the house for the weekend and i'd like it to be clean, really clean but prob won't happen! Oh well i'll reside my self to getting it mostly clean and straightened and live with it! Then there comes the grocery shopping for the weekend and for for the weeks ahead. Feeding 7 kids is a unique task and i'd like to buy to make it easier for the weekend which only adds to the shopping length... oh i could go on and on ... but i won't! could Today is one of those days where though my list is long i will stay positive and enjoy my 7 blessings!

What a headache!

So many things seem to give us a headache even if not physically.... like not getting train tickets for your anniversary weekend or really waking with a severe headache this morning! I'm so love to crawl back in bed yet i'm up changing diapers and motivating kids to get chores started! Our church family @ Relate is reading the New Testament one chapter a day and i'm loving it! To see the birth of Christ all over again and see all it's glory is amazing me once again! So as i begin today in full force I will remember that these struggles i face are taken from me because of the birth of our Savior so very long ago!

14 Years!

Fourteen years ago today i married a wonderful man and i am more in love now than i have ever been! Our journey has been tough at times and raising 7 kids has made it all the more interesting! Some ask why the kids? My response is God gave up each one! This past 14 years John and i both have learned so may lessons and we have so much more to learn that i'm excited to continue on this journey with him! I love you John Allen! Thank you for a wonderful 14 years and i look forward to at least forty more! God have me my soul mate when i met you and together we walk towards knowing each other better and more importantly God better! I love you!

New Year, New Changes

So the new year brings new changes... just a few for us are these... As a family we are challenging ourselves to not drink sodas for a whole year to join my hubby who's already been at it since mid 2009! Yesterday we took the kids to eat Chinese food and we all had tea or lemonade it was great! I think i may be t if one struggling the most with it though having the kids in on it is helping a lot! Another change we started last night was a staggered bedtime for school nights... Ruth in bed at 8, next thirty min later and so on. So by who's ten John and i have some quiet time and if he's awake we can talk:) Last night went great and Ruth slept all night { big grin } which was a huge added bonus! Alas the winter breakup has come to an end and we start school once again ... who's wishing one more week harder the kids or me? We shall press on and accomplish the week before a glorious weekend to come details later!

Oh my! Is she really...

As i wake earlier than usual today i can only think of my last child, my baby girl, Ruth Maryanna is 18 months today! Saying "last" is almost bittersweet because i know she must grow and i enjoy seeing all the changes yet everyone brings to mind it will be the last i see in my children! Ruth has made this process very challenging because she does everything so very very fast... her vocabulary is amazing! She is extremely smart and loves to say "shut it" anytime a door or a drawer or esp the fridge is open! :) So this post is to you my sweet girl! now a 1.5 yr old you are growing up into a toddler with all the wonder and discovery your tiny body can gather! I love you, Baby Ruth!

New Year New Things

My goal for this year would be to write something however little or big each day in this blog.... yeah big step of faith... yet I am taking on the challenge! Our new church Relate has been opening new doors and new ideas in my head! 2011 will be a new beginning for me as I continue to change as a mom of 7 who would love 12 and is searching for why it is I still want more when I have been so very blessed already! Questions questions! God is faithful and SOOO Good! Though I am pretty sure no one follows my blog I will use this as an avenue for my voice to get out of me and out of this little town in Mississippi!