No Master Chef here

It is official!!!  I am NOT the cook in our house!!  Thank Goodness Ryan likes to cook and is Good at it!!  Not that I can't cook but he seems to be better at it.  More times than not, his food turns out good!!  There are certain things that we like to eat that he would prefer me to cook, and I do!  (cause I am a good wife ).  I have really been wanting Chicken and Rice for the last week, so I decided we would eat it for supper last night!  So I decided I'd try it.  I have made it in the past and it didn't turn out good.  But I couldn't let it defeat me again! So I boiled the chicken, started the rice and then I combined them and finished cooking them in the oven!  I was excited, thinking that I would get it right this time!!!  NO, I did not!!  Ryan and I ate it because we knew if we made a big deal out of it the boys wouldn't eat it, and then when I someone else cooks it the right way, they wouldn't want to eat it either!  My sweet boys said it was great and they ate all of theirs!  I love those boys!  So, the next time I want chicken and rice, I am thinking I will just be the spoiled rotten responsible adult that I am, and call Grandma and ask her to cook it for us one night! After all, nothing is better than Grandma's cooking right?? 

So from now on, I think I will stick to letting my sweet, handsome, loving, great cooking husband cook for us!!

I can't do this alone

"Lead Me" is a song by Sanctus Real.  I LOVE this song and it touches me every time I hear it.  I blogged about it not long ago, you can check it out here. I was looking at Sanctus Real's website last week, and I found this devotional that was an inspiration for the song and I wanted to share.

"Lead Me"

Lead me, Father:

• Lead me that I might lead these children whose lives and hearts you have entrusted me to me for a season
• Lead me daily to the well of grace, that as I nurture and instruct my children I would find my own weakness, selfishness, and pettiness replaced by Your abundant strength, generosity and kindness.
• Lead me to listen and consider the thoughts and emotions of my children before I speak.  Give me unusual insight into their hearts and lives. Guide me that I might guide them in th emidst of the decisions and storms they will face.  Supply me with wisdom to prepare them to live as agents of grace, redemption and mercy in a fallen and broken world.
• Lead me into a great love for your word and truth, and into a greater hunger for you, so that my children might grow up in a home where your presence is known, learning by example what it means to seek you with all of their hearts.
• Lead me in the wisdom and sensitivity I need to be a nurturing steward of the gifts you have placed in my children.  Let me see beyond the paths of my own life, that I might be open to the unique purposes and plans you have for them.  Lead me to release my agenda for thier lives, and to embrace and facilitate Your dreams for them instead.
• Lead me to diligence, discipline, and creativity in my work, that through the labor of my mind and hands your provision for the physical needs of my family would flow.  And in seasons of sickness or unemployment, give me yet an unwavering faith in You as this family's Provider and Protector. 
• Lead me to live each day with eternity in view, so that the ways in which I invest the time, talents and treasures you have loaned me will be an ongoing witness of Your infinite worth before the watchful eyes of my children.

Above all, lead me to the cross, the place where I might receive the grace required to humbly model for my family what it means to follow in the footsteps of Christ, loving and serving them as Christ loves and serves his church.
I bow my heart before you in recognition of my utter dependence.  Leading this family requires more wisdom, selflessness and strength than I possess.  But as you lead me, I now that you will show me the way to lead them.
It is in this hope and this promise that I expectantly pray.  Lead me, Father. Amen.


Man, this touched me just as much now as I was typing as it did the first time I read it.  It really reminds me that I can't do anything without God leading me and directing me!  Praise God that he loves me perfectly.  I love my children with all my heart, and my prayer everyday is that I am guiding them in the right direction, so that they would be God Fearing, God Loving, God Serving Men of God!!

Nothing More and Nothing Less

I get emails from Proverbs 31 Ministries and this is today's.  It really spoke to me. 

Nothing More and Nothing Less

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matthew 5:5 (MSG)

Lord, how can I become content with just who I am, nothing more and nothing less?

I'm certainly prone to want to be more, or less, than I am. To be smarter, prettier, funnier, fitter. To be more productive, perky and high energy. And then also to be lower key, calmer, more level-headed and focused.

I want to have better self-awareness, and yet I want to be less concerned about what others think of me.

I want to be a better cook, to sing beautifully and to keep th e house neat without so much perceived effort. And did I mention fuller, thicker hair would be nice too? I want to be a better writer – one that's both highly creative and meticulously organized. And I want fewer propensities to run late, slack off or procrastinate.

Yes, I want to be both more and less of me.

Jesus shushes my endless listing of the things I want to change about myself – to improve about myself so I can have what I'm sure would be a better life. He asks me instead to humbly make peace with it all. To lay down my notions of a better woman and a better life by letting Him be the judge of that. To simply take what I'm given and offer it back to Him, in service and surrender. Willingly assuming that I am enough – I have what it takes to live a great life. One that pleases God, others and self.

Today's key verse is among several in the Bible that fuels a core convi ction I hold: When I stop striving to create a life for myself, I find the life God creates for me. This, my friend, is a powerful truth, a divine secret. His life for me begins precisely where mine ends. My life ends in my sin and striving and begins again in God's grace and power. His empowering indwelling affords me everything I truly need and nothing I truly don't.

Do you too long to be content with just who you are in Christ – nothing more and nothing less? Jesus addresses us both in Matthew 23:11-12, ""Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." (MSG)

Amazingly, God's grace humbles a woman without degrading her, and His favor lifts her up without inflating her. The life she finds in Him makes her the proud owner of everything money can't buy – a life of contentment.

Dear Lord, help me to quiet my critical, striving spirit today and gratefully accept who I am and where I'm at in this moment. For You are here, ready to invisibly empower my life to count for plenty right where I am. Help me also to seek and hold your definition of "plenty" – nothing more and nothing less. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What A Day!

This week has been a stressful week.  Ryan is working 72 hrs straight and then on Thursday he is taking a general knowledge test and a PT test to get back on full time with Reservoir Fire Dept so I can go back to school.  I had an A & P test Monday night that I was stressing over and on Tuesday I had the ACT to take.  I'm not sure how the A & P test went, seeing that half of the stuff on the test we DIDN'T go over in class.  And of course I have to wait until next Monday night to see how I did on the test. Praying for a great test! The ACT was yesterday.  I started out my day by going to the dr. and finding out some not so great news, but it will be ok, I am trusting in God to take care of me and to Heal me!  I BELIEVE he will! My friend Stephanie was with me to help me cram last minute for the math part of the test.  The math part is the score that I had to pull up so that I could even apply for Nursing School.  (Dang carefree attitude in high school is catching up with me). I had to take Steph home before going to the test.  We were getting ready to leave the house and I had locked the door and got in the truck.. Low and Behold, I had left my keys inside! GREAT! There was no way to get in the house, so I had to call Ryan.  Ryan was at lunch and it would have taken longer for him to leave the restaurant, go back to the station and then come to the house, time I didn't have! So Mrs. Carolyn, the FD secretary was a sweetheart and brought me Ryan's keys. So finally I was off to drop Steph off and head to Raymond.  I had decided that on my drive to Raymond I would not think about the test at all.  Instead, I would turn up my Crossgates Live CD and worship while I was driving to Raymond.  That was the BEST thing ever!  I was so calm and at peace when I went in to take the test!  I took the Hinds Residual ACT, which is only good for Hinds, so they were able to grade the tests after the test.  I had to wait 45 min after the test to find out the results but it was well worth it.  I ran to Sonic and got something to drink and just chatted on the phone.  I was a little nervous when they called my name to give me my scores.  I needed to pull my math subscore up by 3 points to be eligible to apply for nursing school.  And the moment arrived that I got my scores:

Science Reasoning: 22 (pulled up by 2 points)

Reading 22 (same as first time I took it

but higher than the second time)

English 26 (pulled up by 6 points)

MATH 20 (pulled up by 5 points) 

PRAISE GOD!

I was so excited.. I immediately called Ryan to tell him, he is my biggest fan and supporter!  I couldn't do any of this without him! Of course I couldn't do it without my family and friends support either!  Man I would be lost with them!! So after calling Ryan, I made several other calls sharing the great news!! I thank God for giving me the calm spirit and peace of mind to get me through the test!  I thank him for always being with me every step of the way through everything!  He called me into Nursing School, and I know that he will provide every step of the way, so that I can fulfill his calling in my life!

To everyone that has given me support, love, encouragement and distractions to keep me from going cray, Thank You so much!  It means the world to me.  I have a long way to go before I am finished but I know I can do it!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Phil 4:13

It's a "W" for the Rebels

 Ole Miss 27 - Tulane 13

 We can't say that it was a pretty Win for the Rebels Saturday night in the Super Dome, but after the opening game against Jacksonville State, a Win is a Win!  We still have lots to work on.. When you see a beautiful pass from Masoli to M. Summers it makes you smile.

M. Summers running for a TD after catching a BEAUTIFUL pass from Masoli

The play below.. wasn't so pretty! Well at least for the Rebels! This just added to the awful time we were having in the 3rd quarter!  Masoli threw this pass and somehow the Tulane guy caught it. Hard to explain unless you could actually see the play!  It was a great catch regardless!

We got lots of work on the defense, as well as the Offense, but you win some you lose some. (OH how Ryan would NOT be happy with me for saying that --Love you baby)
We aren't fair weather fans, so good or bad, we'll still be Rebel Fans till the end!!

HOTTY TODDY!

We'll Never Forget!

I still remember what I was doing when I found out about the World Trade Center.  I was working for the Brandon Police Department and I was driving to work on I-20 when it was announced over the radio.  I will never forget the feelings that I felt.  I had recently found out I was pregnant with Colton, and I remember thinking to myself.. I will never get to meet my unborn child.  I know that was very extreme, since we don't live anywhere near ground zero but that was the thought that kept going through my head all day!

I got to work, and within a few minutes, one of my bosses was hollering for me to come here.  So I went to his office, only to see the second plane hit the second tower!  What an awful feeling! We listened to the radio and had the news on all that day.  It felt like it was all a dream!

After listening to all the information on the radio and TV I really started to get worried.  My brother, Clay, is in the military and I knew that they would be activated and I was concerned for his safety.  Even the little sister worries about her big brother!  Clay has served 2 terms overseas in IRAQ, and for that Clay, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.  You have sacrificed so much to make sure that our country is safe and that we have our freedoms! We Love you!  Thank you to all of our soldiers that have scarified so much and so many have sacrificed their lives for our country!!

To my Sweet Husband, Ryan. Thank you for what you do!  Not just anyone can run into a burning building to save lives and to put out a fire!  The boys and I appreciate everything that you do for us and what you stand for as a Fireman!!  343 fireman lost their lives that day! 

Let this Country NEVER FORGET!!

So many innocent people lost their lives that day!

God Bless!  We have so much to be thankful for!

Random Thoughts

So much is going on.. yet at the same time.. nothing worth really talking about, besides the things that go on in every day life, day in and day out.. So I thought I would just post on some random thoughts.

• I'm still disgusted that Ole Miss lost to Jacksonville State last weekend, 49-48
• I am looking forward to the rest of football season even though the opening weekend wasn't what I was hoping for..
• I'll always be an OLE MISS REBEL even in the bad years! 
• My husband has turned me into a complete Football Fanatic  :)  Love you baby!! (and truth be known I wouldn't have it any other way)
• My sweet boys melt my heart more and more everyday!
• I am still trying to find a way to stop the boys from growing up so fast.. its going WAY TOO FAST!
• I am enjoying school.. I guess I would be considered a "Nerd" or whatever.. I couldn't be a professional student if I had the money (gasp for those that know me and how my grades were in high school.  I could have cared less about school)
• I am loving the fact that the weather is, slowly but surely, starting to cool off.
• With cooler weather comes the fair, which I love! 
• Ryan, the boys and I enjoy curling up in the bed together at night and watching America's Got Talent and Minute to Win it!  Melts my heart!
• I am still trying to figure out what I did with my USB cord for my digital photo frame, the pictures I have on there now are from last winter.. OH MY.. time to update
• By looking at my desk, you'd never know that I heart my boys (all 3 of them)..:)
• Can't believe that there are 15 weeks until Christmas (yea.. your reaction is probably the same as mine was.. SERIOUSLY???)
• I read 2 chapters in my Sociology book before I realized that I had the wrong book, gotta love those kind of moments.
• I am feverishly trying to cram my brain for the ACT that I am taking next week.. Man its been a LONG time since I have done algebra! 
• Is realizing that I am slacking in the picture taking department.. The problem with this is.. the boys (Ryan included) have decided that they don't like pictures, therefore give me a hard time about pictures.  I informed them last weekend, that they would have to get over it.. cause Momma's gotta have her pictures!  
• Anyone else curious if the Saints will have another Great year like last year?  Only time will tell!
• Has the best family a girl could ask for!

What a Powerful Song!