Because He Lives

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Alan Jackson

Arise My Love by Newsong

New Again Brad Paisley & Sara Evans

Chris Rice, Go Light Your World

The Least, The Last, and The Lost Lyric Video

A White Christmas

I Have Been Blessed

Flying a Kite on a Windy Day!

My brother, Ricky, really can fly a kite! He was about ten and I was around five! He had a classic, yellow Diamond shaped kite. He would get it high up in the sky! So high you could barely just see it! He would help me get my Holly Hobbie kite up in the air. We would stand there and watch them soar in the wind for hours! Ricky was my hero and he still is! He always played all the games well and caught all the fish. I wanted to be just like him!Thank you Ricky for playing games with your little sister, teaching me how to fish and fly a kite. thank you for letting me tag along! What great brothers and sisters I have!

Happiness, Old Man Winter and Snow!

It was fairly warm here the other day. Saturday night it rained, then all of a sudden, the wind began to blow and the bottom fell out of the thermometer! It snowed some here but not real deep. We mostly got a dusting but the roads were pretty icy for awhile. My oldest daughter took her Nursing final. She was real nervous about it! I am so happy that she passed nursing with a B! Praise God for this! This morning I awoke to realize the power was off! It was 14 degrees! Thankfully, we have a kerosene heater which we used. It had been a couple of years since we had to use the heater. You never know when the power will go out. It is better to have supplies and be prepared. The power finally came back on and we didn't freeze to death! My FIL brought me some coffee! Always can count on him! They are calling for ice tomorrow night. I pray the power doesn't go off!

He Made Away In A Manger

Santa, gold coins and a Shimmering tree!

We had a big, silver Christmas tree when I was a little girl. I loved to watch the pretty lights as they shimmered on the tree! It was magical! My Mama Dot also had a silver Christmas tree but hers was a table top. We still have the table top tree. We put it up almost every year! I have my Daddy's Christmas stocking. It is very old! I remember my brother, Bubba, giving me gold coins for Christmas! They were chocolate! I remember one year I heard a knock at the door! It was Santa Claus! He had a bag full of toys! I couldn't believe Santa actually came to my house! I later found out that Santa was actually my Daddy dressed up!

The Best Christmas!

When I was about Six years old, I wanted a special doll for Christmas! On Christmas morning my dreams came true! Some how Santa managed to get that Dolly for me! My Daddy made me a beautiful, wooden cradle for my doll! My Mama Dot lovingly sewed the baby bed cushion, soft and silky! I would have rather had that Hand made Christmas present then all the store bought ones money could buy! My Daddy built that cradle with love and that was the best Christmas of all! At that time, my Daddy had never been saved, but he always taught me Christmas wasn't really about the presents or the tree. It was the Birth of Jesus! My Daddy did get saved before he died. My brother, Ricky helped lead him to the Lord. My Daddy is gone now but his love will live on. The cradle in this picture is similar to the one my Daddy crafted with love so many years ago. My cradle was red though.

Food Family and Football!

Well, we went to Our Friends and families houses on Thursday. We ate all the food and visited and had a great time. We watched Alabama and Auburn play yesterday. At first it looked like all Alabama ! Then, after the first half, it was like Alabama gave up. The final score was 28 to 27, Auburn won. A very sad day in our house. But after all, it is just a game. Thank God there is more to life then just football or I would be very depressed.

The Day Before Thanksgiving

It is the day before Thanksgiving. Everyone is rushing to and fro. They have to get all the ingredients for the perfect dish that everyone wants. We are going shopping later today. I am dreading going because of the hustle and bustle. Some people thrive on that, not me. I wouldn't be caught dead at the Mall at 3 am Friday! I hope to be tucked in warm in my bed! I love going to my family's houses on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am always tired when I get home but it is worth it. I wish I got to see my family more. Most of the time it is just on special occasions. You would think they lived 400 miles away. Well, it is time to relax for a little while before hubby gets home. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving isn't here yet and so many are ready for Christmas. Some how Thanksgiving gets overlooked. As a Christian, every day should be thanksgiving. Are You truly thankful? Each day we awake is a gift from God. Another chance to live for Him. Each breath we take is a gift. Our loved ones are a gift. Are we thankful? Do we cherish them?

Tunnel Hill

Today we took a little field trip to the tunnels in Tunnel Hill. This is just right down the road from us. I love the History of the Civil War! We have been through the tunnels but it has been awhile. Hopefully The children and their Daddy and I can go back. I will be posting some history about Tunnel Hill here.

Blue Moon

Tonight the moon is big and pretty! I love a full moon!

Christmas Is Coming!

We are decorating the tree! I am so excited!

Peppy

I had a special pet named Peppy. I got him when I was 6 years old. Peppy was a terrier shepherd mix. He used to love to sit in my lap. He used to race me in the back yard. He loved to do that! He was very protective of us. One time we were watching a horror movie and a woman screamed. Peppy tried to break the door down because he thought we were hurt. One day, Peppy got hit by a car. He lived but it broke his pelvis. Mom and dad decided not to put Peppy to sleep but nurse him back to health. So, the long healing process began. One day, as Mom and Dad were coming in the door with the groceries, Peppy bolted out the door and down the street. Peppy was not completely healed, though. Whenever he had to go to the bathroom, it hurt him very bad. After a couple of years, my Mama couldn't stand to see him suffer any longer. She had him put to sleep.

Whenever I would call i would always ask about him. My mama said,'' I wish you hadn't ask that question!'' She told me they had put Peppy to sleep that day. I squalled my eyes out! I was 16 but I cried like a little girl! Peppy will always hold a special place in my heart! One day, I will see him again! The dog in this picture is not Peppy but it looks similar to him. I will try to find a picture of Pepsi Cola 7 Up Dog.

Homeschooling

I have been homeschooling on and off for 17 years. The children basically teach themselves once they get to a certain point. they crave the knowledge. My sons have learning disabilities. I catch myself worrying that they are getting enough school. I need to trust God about their education just like I do everything else. If I put my children's education in God's hands, they will learn everything they need to know! Homeschooling is a journey. God burdened my heart to home school so I must follow His leadership. Some days I just want to give up and send them to school. God never gives up on me! We have are good days. But there are days I want to scream. When you give them the material and they just don't try! that is when it is really frustrating. Some children will do that more than others. You just have to keep the faith and keep trudging onward! My oldest daughter is very studious. She is in college and made the Dean's List. Is it easy for her? No. But she is a hard worker. My youngest daughter has learning disabilities. She hates school. But we have made it to 12th grade. She wants to go to college to become a nurse. My sons are 8 and 10. they have a ways to go. One of my sons has Dyslexia. I was told by a Doctor that my youngest son would not function in a classroom atmosphere. He loves home school! His biggest problem is he does everything way too fast. He needs to slow down so his work will be neat. So, we will continue our journey, one day at a time, with God's help!

Seasons of Our Lives!

Thought I would post. I have been so busy during the Summer! I have had a lot of fun this Summer swimming in our above ground pool. I carried the kids to the park a few times. I have been writing Bible Studies. I may start posting them on here. What is your favorite season? I love something about every season! I love the beautiful sunshine and swimming in the summer! I love the way God paints the world in the Fall! I love the beautiful white snow in The winter! I thank God that He washes our hearts white as snow with Jesus precious blood! I love the Spring because it reminds me that Jesus Rose again on the third day! How in the winter everything dies but in the Spring, it comes back to life, just like Jesus did when He rose again!

Walking With Him

Each morning I go outside and walk. While I walk, I talk to God and meditate on Him. I love to go outside early in the morning while the dew is still on the roses. I love to hear the birds chirp that He has created. I love to feel His cool breeze blowing across my face. I feel so close to God when i am outside. When do you feel close to God?

Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord

Psalm 98:4

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise"
How do I make a joyful noise unto the Lord? I can sing, I can pray, I can tell others about Jesus. I can Praise Him for everything He does! I can speak kind words to others. How do you make a joyful noise?

Summer Time!

My daughter is healing well! Thank You for the prayers! The kids are out of school! I love the long, lazy days of Summer! Nothing like some cool lemonade on a hot summer day! I love swimming in my pool. So peaceful out there away from everything! I like watching good family movies and playing games with my kids. In the Summer time I try to get up early and walk while it is still cool. I love to go to the Ocean in the Summer but do not always get to go. I love to camp but we don't do that much any more. I like to stand on the banks of a lake and gaze at the sun shining on the water.

Surgery

My oldest daughter will be having surgery Monday, May 10th to remove a fistula. The fistula is a complication of her Crohn's Disease. She takes Remicade every 8 weeks to control her disease. Remicade can have very dangerous side effects, including cancer. We carried her to Doctor after doctor but none of them knew what she had. One day I felt God speak to me in a small, still voice. He told me that Virginia had a stomach problem. So, finally I made an appt. with a Gastrointestinal Doctor in Chattanooga. Withing five minutes of examining my daughter, he told me she had Crohn's. Her disease was so bad that she had to be put on several medicines. When they did not work, the Dr. decided to try Remicade. The Remicade was supposed to close the fistula up. It has some but not completely. I got so upset when I first found out about her sickness. I couldn't understand why God would let my little girl be sick. He has a plan even though we do not understand

The National Day of Prayer

I have heard Rumors that Obama wants to end the national day of prayer! He will never do that! As long as there are Christians, we will pray! It is time we as Christians stand up for what we believe in! On May the 6th, Let all the Christians rally together and show Obama that we will not falter, we will not waver, we will not fail!

The Joys of Springtime!

Well, the flowers are blooming and the trees are budding! I thank God for the way He Paints the World! No one can do what He does! My allergies have been horrible and I developed a cough. Thank God I finally got some new medicine that allowed me to be able to sleep! I know there are lots of people much sicker and in the hospital. So, my allergies are small. Today, my oldest daughter is going to have some moles removed from under her arm at 3:15 Eastern. Pray that goes well. Well, have a great day! Remember God loves you and so do I!

Shopping!

We went to the Outlet mall today! We had fun and shopped til we dropped! Finally found some clothes at a decent price! We ate at Chick Fil A and had ice cream! We really had a great time! I love days like that!

The Birds Are Chirping!

It's Easter Morning and I am happy! I love listening to the birds chirping! They are happy because Jesus rose from the tomb and He is alive and well! I went to bed early last night. I was very tired and my legs have been hurting. My allergies woke me up early this morning. I was sneezing. Oh Joy. I have pretty bad allergies from now through October. My daughter's allergies are even worse than mine. Well, today we are going to church. Then, to my sister in law's for Easter Dinner. Hopefully I will squeeze a nap in today. Yes, life is good.

A Message From Michelle Dugger

A Message To Mothers From Michelle Duggar

It was 1:00 AM in the morning as I stood folding laundry with tears streaming down my cheeks. Feelings of being overwhelmed flooded my mind. I cried aloud, "LORD I NEED YOUR HELP, I can't do it all! I feel so inadequate! Diapers, dishes, laundry, meals, cleanup, school lessons, baths, hugs, kisses, correction..." My list seemed to go on and on.

Then it was as if a still small voice said, "Michelle, it's easy to praise ME when things are going good, but are you willing to praise ME now?" Immediately the scripture that says, "Offer up a sacrifice of praise", came to mind.

I said, "OK Lord, I will praise you even now! It really is a sacrifice!" So through the tears I began to sing, "The joy of the Lord is my strength". In my heart there was a release as if a burden had been lifted. I finished the laundry at 2 AM and went to bed.

Days later, I was at our piano teacher's home (at 7 AM) trying to catch up on paperwork while the children were taking their lessons. Instead, I kept drifting off to sleep! The teacher noticed and asked, "Are you OK?" I replied, "I'm fine, I'm just tired. I was up late finishing laundry."

As we talked more she said that she actually enjoyed doing laundry and that she would be glad to come and help me! That weekend when she arrived we had mountains of dirty laundry, and when she left we had nice, neat, orderly stacks of clean laundry! For 12 years now, our piano teacher, whom we consider a part of our family and loving call "NaNa" has faithfully come (now twice a week) to help us with laundry! GOD sent "An angel" in answer to my cry for help.

He is faithful to hear the humble cries of his children. "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." God lifted my burden (literally mountains of laundry!) and freed me to meet the more urgent needs of my family. "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory..."

Remember mothers, where God guides He provides!

With Love,

Michelle

Cleaning and Easter Egg Hunt!

Today I have been cleaning house, dusting, vacuuming and mopping. Propping my left ankle up to keep the swelling down. We are eating lunch now and then the kids are gonna have an Easter Egg hunt. Hubby got off work early today and has been doing some work around the house.

He Has Risen

Somewhere in the distance I heard a hammer ring as they drove the nails in His hands and in His feet. As the crowd gathered round saying away with Him. Jesus knew down in His heart that He would live again! He has risen He has risen that old tomb is empty now. All that remains are grave clothes and bloodstains that old tomb that old tomb is empty now.
As He lay there in the tomb the soldiers camped around God was making plans to send His angels down. They hurried down from Heaven and didn't make a sound. But when the spirit spoke to Him, He got up and walked around.

He has risen He has risen that old tomb is empty now. All that remains are grave clothes and bloodstains that old tomb that old tomb is empty now.

He's in the Midst

As you travel down life's road.
He is with you every day.
With every step you take He's walked ahead of you.
And every night as you lay down
Angels are camping all around.
I'll never be alone for He is in the midst.

Into the prison they were thrown.
Paul and Silas weren't alone.
They knew their God was there
And He would see them through.
So when the walls began to shake
And all their chains just fell away.
They cried behold Our God for He is in the midst.

He's In The Midst
He's in the midst of our storm.
He's in the valley we walk through.
Where two or three are gathered in His name
...He'll be there too.
When you feel so all alone,
He is standing next to you.
He's with us now
...our Lord, He's in the midst.

Tornado!

We had a tornado here today. It didn't touch down but scared the stew out of us. We were in a store and our kids were home. The emergency Broadcast System came on over the radio and said that a tornado was on the ground in Tunnel Hill. I called my daughter and told her to get the kids in the hall because there was a tornado . So we got home as fast as we could. The tornado touched down 2 miles from my house! We drove through golf ball size hail. By the time we got home, the tornado had passed and the kids were fine. Thank God for His protection.

Going on a Date

Hubby likes to carry me out on dates when we can afford it. Sometimes it is just out to get a bite to eat. I love doing this! I also love to go out with my family! God has blessed us so much! We are going to be able to get our van fixed. After six months of sitting in my back yard, she is gonna come back to life!

Quotes

When the world says,
"Give up,"
Hope whispers,
"Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

Hope is that thing with
feathers that perches
in the soul and sings the tune
without the words and
never stops... at all.
~Emily Dickinson

Hope is grief's
best music.
~Author Unknown

You Make me Smile!

I love this song!

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There is A God

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What relaxes You?

I am sitting here taking a short break from house work. I am listening to a spiritual relaxation cd. It plays Christian music and ocean waves. Very relaxing. I like to listen to music or pray or sometimes write to relax. There is nothing like the sound of the ocean waves splashing against the sand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50_p7H-OYlk

Homeschooling

I home school my kids. It is a journey, a learning process. I am learning to be more patient with my children and not expect them to learn everything over night. Teaching can be frustrating when your child struggles to learn. You feel like they are not learning anything but they are. You just have to take a deep breath and keep trying, keep trudging on and never give up. One day your child will master that skill and turn around and smile at you because you taught them and never gave up!

Spring

I love Spring! I love watching the trees and flowers come to life! I love hearing the birds chirping in the early morning! I love to look outside my window and see the hummingbirds hovering need the feeder. I love listening to the laughter of my children as they play in the yard. Even the Spring showers bring me joy!

The Blizzard of 1993

Today is the 17 year anniversary of the Blizzard of 1993. I was 7 months pregnant. It was like 70 degrees that day and no one really believed the forecasters. At 8 pm the bottom fell out of the thermometer and the snow began to fall. My husband said it wasn't going to snow that much. I said I hope it snows on your head! We woke up at around 1 am and it was snowing on my husband's head! We had lost power. It started to get cold in our trailer. The only heat we had was electric. The next morning, we decided to go to our neighbor's house who had a kerosene heater. It was so hard to walk in the snow that was up to my belly, remember I was 7 months pregnant. My husband went back down to our trailer and brought a bunch of food up to our neighbor's house. He also helped our other elderly neighbors walk up there. The man fell several times before he made it to the house. They finally restored power to our trailer three days later but we still didn't have phone service. So, my father-in-law came to get us and carried us to his house. About three days later, they finally got our phone turned back on. We came home to busted water pipes. Luckily, a friend of ours helped us fix that. My husband had to draw unemployment because the roof collapsed on his plant. It made us very thankful for the simple things in life. We will never forget this as long as we live.
http://wdef.com/blog/from_the_archiv..._of_93/03/2010

Virginia has Crohn's disease

Since I posted this I have discovered that Virginia has Crohn's Disease. that is what was making her so sick. She takes Remicade and is doing much better now.