We can all use a few more hands
Happy Valentine’s Day! Hope you all had a great day! Here’s our youngest. Can you believe how much he’s grown? He’s 5 months now!
After over 11 years of being a law enforcement wife, I find it encouraging to turn to God’s word during hard times instead of focusing on the “What If”.
In the past 7 days, 7 officers have been murdered in the United States. I have to admit that this saddens and scares me. During these times, I like to focus on Bible verses to encourage me as a deputy’s wife.
I encourage you to memorize some of these verses and pray for and with your husband using them. Teach them to your children as well. Know that we aren’t fighting this fight alone. I’m praying for you and your family daily.
This past year, I couldn’t decide what to get my mom for Christmas. Then I remember how she has always mentioned wanting to visit the Biltmore Estate at Christmastime. We have heard that the Biltmore at Christmas is something worth traveling to see.
My brother and I came up with a plan to surprise her and take our entire families (5 adults and NINE children) to fulfill her Christmas wish. Visiting Biltmore Estate with kids turned out to be much more fun than I expected.
With all of the children with ages from 12 all the way down to 3 months at that time, I was a little worried if it was going to be worth it. In the end, I’m very glad that we all went. Here are a few tips to hopefully make your trip to Biltmore Estate fun with children.
I think this will be a fairly slow and laid-back week for us. Very much needed. I’m hoping to get us caught up on school, hopefully clean and get a few things ready for a garage sale, and maybe do some organizing. Starting my week off right with the meal plan! Here’s what I plan to make this week:
Monday: Bean Soup, cornbread
Tuesday: Loaded Nachos
Wednesday: Sloppy Joes
Thursday: Ribs, rice, green beans
Friday: Black bean quesadillas
Saturday: Grilled Chicken and veggies
Sunday: BBQ Sandwiches
It’s Monday again! This week has just flown by! This upcoming week we are celebrating my youngest daughter’s 5th birthday! For those of you that have followed me since the beginning, you may remember her going to the NICU at birth. She’s now a very happy and healthy crazy girl and is turning FIVE! Can’t believe it!
With a busy week ahead, I love having my meals all planned out. Now I can head to the store with a list and get exactly what we need.
Monday: Mrs Criddle’s Chicken Enchiladas, salad
Tuesday: Lazy Lasagna
Wednesday: Cauliflower Chowder
Thursday: Dinner out!
Friday: Poppyseed Chicken
Saturday: Grilled cheese and soup
Sunday: Leftovers!
What are you making this week?
I have a confession to make. I’m not a fan of praying out loud or with other people. I’ve always been that way. Recently I was talking to a dear church friend, who I’ll refer to as LM. LM is a very wise friend that I talk to often when I’m struggling with something. She’s always been there without judgement or quick fixes. Throughout my struggles, she always points me right back to Jesus. I’ve always admired that about her and how she handles her children with such grace, also pointing them right to Jesus.
LM was over here as one of her girls had a doctor visit nearby and she didn’t want to take her entire crew with her. We got talking and I opened up about some struggles I have been having. After we chatted, she asked if she could pray with me, like she had done many times before. Of course that was fine.
After she prayed, we got talking again. I admitted that many times I feel weird praying out loud. She said she has also struggled with praying out loud with other people, but that the best way to get over it was to just do it! She challenged me that when someone came to talk with me or seek my advice to stop what I was doing and pray with them. Whether it is in person, over the phone, or through text.
Often we hear of people’s struggles and add the “I’ll pray for you” in response, but do we always remember to pray? I know I don’t! Sometimes I’ll get distracted and it won’t be until days later that I remember. If I stop what I’m doing right then and bring it before the Lord, I’m more likely to remember to pray again later.
James 5:16 says “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” You can find another reminder in Matthew 18:19-20 – “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Such sweet reminders of how we are to pray for and with each other throughout our daily lives. I want to challenge you to be bold and to just pray. Pray for your friends. With your friends. Pray out loud. Pray in the shower. Pray in the car. Pray while you fold the laundry. Pray with your kids. Pray with your spouse. Just pray.
How do you make time to pray each day?
What a great weekend we had! My youngest, Simon, was baptized at our church yesterday and it was such a joyous occasion! So wonderful to share it with our church family and friends. Even some of hubby’s coworkers came to witness. We are so grateful for all the support we had. 
Now that it’s Monday already, time to plan for the upcoming week! Here’s what I plan to make:
Monday: Lazy Lasagna
Tuesday: Cajun Crockpot Chicken
Wednesday: Taco Night!
Thursday: Cobb Salad
Friday: Meatloaf, veggies
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Breakfast for dinner!
Just a heads up that we will be providing you guys with a list of Atlanta Summer Camps for 2016! Many are already registering and even filling up! To be taken to the Atlanta Summer Camp Guide 2016 page, click the banner below:
I was recently asked to review the movie CAPTIVE for you guys. Based on a true and local story, I eagerly accepted! My local readers will most likely recognize the name Brian Nichols. He was an inmate who escaped from the Fulton County Courthouse in 2005 and killed a judge, court stenographer, deputy, and federal agent.
The movie CAPTIVE is based on a true story of the woman Brian Nichols held captive during his murderous escape. Fearing for her life and desperately hoping to see her daughter again, she turns to Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life for guidance. Ashley and her captor face a crossroads where they discover hope and light in the midst of despair.
My husband and I sat down and watched CAPTIVE together. We both think it was very well done and we will likely watch it again. I appreciated the fact that the faith aspect was very subtle and so it would be a great movie to share with non-believers without being overly “preachy”. I don’t want to tell too much, but it follows the real events as close as possible.
Interested in winning a copy? Fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance:
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Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
It’s Monday again! We had a pretty good weekend here and a refreshing day at church. My husband is getting closer and closer to having our rental home ready to be listed for sale. I’m so excited about that! For the week ahead, we will be celebrating my mom’s birthday, my nephew’s birthday, our youngest son’s baptism and of course the normal weekly chaos that surrounds being a homeschool mom of 5. Here’s what we are making this week:
Monday: Chili (never got a chance to make it last week)
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Salads
Wednesday: Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Thursday: Chicken Alfredo with broccoli
Friday: Burgers, veggies
Saturday: Dinner at my nephew’s party
Sunday: Leftovers!