Peace that surpasses all understanding....

Christopher and Emma Grace before the Valentine's Dance

It has been I while since I posted so here is a catch up post... the new year has come and gone and it is March! Hard to believe... All I can say is God is good. I am so blessed and thankful for where I am and what I am learning. I have been blessed with a new job as case manager for MotherBaby/CBU/Pediatrics at East Alabama Medical Center  This is the area I started out in when I graduated from nursing school and it is good to be back in familiar territory.
There has been a lot of pruning going on here but I can say as I see the flowers in my yard with buds and on the verge of blooming, I can relate. God is sovereign and in control.  It  is in Him I put my trust. There is no better place to be than in God's hands.   It doesn't matter what is going on your life, God has a plan that is good for those that put their trust in Him. I am holding on to, claiming, and believing that. He wants to bless you with peace that surpasses all understanding even when the waters seem rough in your life.  I am holding on to the promises of His Word and the truth of  His character.  I am certain of one thing and that is God's word is true... it is alive and active in the lives of those who take hold of it.  Here are just a few of the truths found in God's word that I am holding on to.

The Spirit indwells me; therefore I am the temple of the living God. 2 Corinthians 6:16

I have not been given the spirit of the world; rather, I have the Spirit of God that I might know the will of God for me.1 Corinthians 2:12 

In Christ, God has chosen me as His own and made me strong, He has placed His mark on me. He has placed His Spirit in my heart as a guarantee for all He has promised. 2 Corinthians1:21-22

He will never leave me or forsake me. Hebrews 13:5

The Lord is by my side. I will not fear what man can do to me. Psalm 118:6


I am not a stranger to God. I am a citizen of God's kingdom and a member of His household. Ephesians1:13-14 

The Lord is in my midst, and He sings over me with joy. Zephaniah 3:17

I do not look with disdain upon my weaknesses. I see them as opportunities for God to display His powerful strength and grace through me. 2 Cor 12:10

My priority is to seek first the kingdom and God's righteousness, and I expect all needed, secondary things to be added unto me. Matthew 6:33

I extend mercy to others, and I will in turn receive mercy Matthew7:7

I trust completely in the Lord; therefore I will be like a fruit bearing tree that continually finds nourishment despite dry parched weather. Jeremiah 17:7-8

I will be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving I will let my requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind  in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

 I have been given victory in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians15:57

I have to ask myself at times... do I really believe this? and if I do, do I live like it?
How exciting... If God's word is really true, living, active, and sharper than any double edged sword then we can stand on His word and His promises. We can be bold and sure of what we believe.  We can live without fear and we can rest in His peace that surpasses all understanding.  I can put my anxious thoughts in God's hands and live worry free!
 I have to remind myself of this daily... if I don't, my flesh takes over and I forfeit that peace that God so wants to give me.
I have recently started a bible study at Trinity Methodist Church in Opelika.  We are reading and discussing "A Quiet Place of Rest" by Nancy Lee DeMoss. If you struggle with your quiet time or time alone with God... this is the book for you.  I am also reading "The Revolution for Women" (which parallels with the movie Courageous that is geared more towards men.) By the way, if you haven't seen the movie, it is life changing. Both are challenging me to grow and put my faith to work. I recommend them if you are looking for a good read.

I leave you with pictures of the recent Sweetheart Dance hosted by the Opelika Sportsplex.

Emma Grace and her date, Trent

Christopher and his date, Landon

Kate and her date, her daddy

Fall Celebrations

Fall has had us so busy!!!We have attended festivals, gone trick or treating, enjoyed some beautiful football Saturdays, and celebrated my birthday.  I think I have decided fall is my favorite time of the year.  It is so refreshing and everywhere you look the colors are bold and beautiful. God is so creative!
I have included some pictures of the fall festival at Trinity Methodist called Orangefest which was a community outreach hosted by Trinity and Greater Peace Baptist church.  There were @2500 people there and was so much fun.  Kate helped with face painting,  EG worked at the children's crafts table and Christopher assisted with the hayride. It was so neat seeing the body of Christ coming together to love and serve those in our community.  It reminds me as Christians, we are the hands and feet of Christ and how we need to be always looking for ways we can serve in our church and community.  I am reminded of the greatest commandment which is in Mark 12:29.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

Wow that is pretty clear. I am trying to remind myself and my kids of this verse and I am taking on the challenge for our lives to reflect that.

EG helping with children's crafts

face painting at Orangefest

The Auburn University cheeleaders visited Orangefest

Family kickball at GG's

Girl's team

Boy's team

I am really 37 but I will be 36 for another year...:)

Georgia and EG

We love those Auburn Tigers!

Trick or treating with good friends....  Abby and Emily

Trick or treating with the Cannons

Hard to get a picture of Christopher... he was running with the boys

my little Pink Lady

Opelika Parks and Rec fall festival

I had to get a picture... we stood in line forever for this

My best friend from high school, Tara Viars and her husband Micheal are missionaries in Pakistan/India. They recently made a trip home unexpectedly because Windle their third oldest has been diagnosed with Wilms tumor. It is a tumor originating in the kidney in children.  Windle is getting excellent treatment at Scottish Rite in Atlanta. He will receive chemotherapy and then have the kidney removed if all goes as planned. Please add him to your prayer list as they covet the prayers of all who will lift him up to our Lord Jesus who is the ultimate Healer. If you would like to follow his progress you can by going to his caringbridge site www.caringbridge.org/visit/windle.  We had a chance to visit with them this week and it was so good to see the whole family.

Kate and Miriam had fun at Kate's soccer game

Emma Grace and Hannah enjoying some taco soup

Windle and Christopher enjoying a little basketball

Havah Grace was too cute!

Miriam, Kate, Havah, and Martha

Newest little Viars... James

The County Fair and Our New Pet

Emma Grace and Kate

The girls and I recently went to the Lee County Fair with a good friend, Christie Woodall and her little girl, Carson.  Christopher was dropped with my dad for a boys weekend.  He recently purchased a 20g shot gun with his own money after saving from birthdays and doing jobs here and there to get paid.  He and dad had a great time and since there was no one there to photograph all the fun, I have no pictures.  I can only imagine from the stories I heard and knowing they had a four wheeler, a shot gun, some skeet, and not to mention Christopher's best bud Chase went, I know they had fun.   Now about the fair... the girls had so much fun!  There is something about the fall air, funnel cakes, and fun rides that makes the fair one of those things you must do this time of the year. Emma Grace met some of her friends there and got braver as the night went on riding things she wouldn't dare get on at the beginning of the night. Kate and her friends rode a few rides and then got interested in playing the games to win a stuffed animal or.... a real bunny!!! My only suggestion is if you don't want a new pet... don't play the game to win a bunny and think to yourself she won't actually win. They were all so cute!  I  NEVER thought Kate would win but... she did!  It looked impossible... she had to land a ping pong ball into a certain bowl among many floating in a pool of water. She is my animal lover and when she won, I couldn't tell her she wasn't allowed to keep her prize.  So now we have a sweet little bunny named Ginger.  Belle, our maltese is still trying to figure her out.  Never a dull moment!  Happy Fall!

Kate, Carson, and Sara Grace

Kate after she won

Busy Beginnings

We have been very busy as we have begun the new school year. Emma Grace is running cross country with practice everyday after school and out of town meets on the weekend... Christopher is playing football with practice everyday after school and Kate is practicing and singing with East Alabama Children's Choir, taking piano lessons and playing soccer.  It is so hard to simplify when there is so much to do... I am trying to find the balance in it all. There is also school, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking dinner etc...  wow, I am tired just thinking about it all. Where is the balance? Does anybody know?

Go Kate!

The Sols

Emma Grace and Adrianna

First meet at Oak Mountain 

I am so proud of all 3 of them and count each day a blessing in the midst of all the busyness. I have to remember where my strength comes from. It is not from me... but from the One that is not overwhelmed by it all.  Keeping it all in perspective with the lens of God's Word is the only answer I can come up with. I pray that God is glorified in my life and the lives of my kids each day.
Thank you Jesus for the grace to get through each day and week and for the peace in all there is to do.  Help me to keep it all in perspective. Thank you for my children that bring me joy everyday.
More pictures of Christopher to come...
In the mean time... Go Sols... Go Bronco's... and Go Dawgs!

Opelika Nationals at State Tournament

Opening Ceremony

Christopher and Tyquel after their first win

Dug out pic

Some of Christopher's biggest fans

Cliff and Tyquel dancing... this cracked us all up

Retreiving their district flag... this brought tears to my eyes!

Receiving their runner's up trophy!

Me with my buddy!  One proud mama!

The Opelika Dixie Youth State Tournament was such an awesome experience for Christopher.  He had such a good time growing as a baseball player and cultivating some neat friendships with his team.... these are guys he will more than likely be playing with through middle and high school.  Great group of boys!  They did really well, staying in the winners bracket most of the tournament.  They ended up as runners up to being State Champs in the 9-10 yr old league which is further than we ever thought we would go and further than any other 9-10 yr old team from Opelika has ever been.  They had nothing to hang their head about.  Christopher was the first baseman for the team and did a superb job, making very few errors.  It has been so neat to watch him mature and see him get better since he started the year.  He really hustles after a pop fly and gives 100% every play.  Great effort by the whole team.  I  spent the majority of the week in Athens  coming home once to go to work but drove back that same night.  It was so hard being away from those guys and missing 2 games...one of those being their first loss.  We as parents all became very close and really got to know each other.  The hotel we all stayed at  had a common area with a pool, pool table, ping pong, and video games so the boys were in heaven when we weren't playing baseball.  We all became like family. Good times and memories that will stay with us forever!

EG Is home from Camp!!

Emma Grace with her counselors

Getting ready for the zip line

Kate on the zip line

EG showing us how it is done

Christopher getting ready

Being silly!

We recently picked Emma Grace up from camp after 4 weeks! We were so happy to see her and hear all about it!  She had a blast and could not stop talking about it on the way home.  So different than when I dropped her off.  On the ride up there she was so nervous and would have turned around and gone home if I had agreed. After the first couple of days at camp, that quickly changed into I never want to go home!  She made so many neat friends from all over Alabama and the United States!  The memories made while there were so fun to hear her tell and the person she has become being a part of such a unique place is priceless!  She has grown up sooo much and I am so proud of her.   I was pulled away while there to tell my story about Emma Grace and her experience with camp and I couldn't be more excited to share.  It was so worth any sacrifice I had to make to send her and have a feeling we will be going back next year.  There is something to be said for getting kids away from their cell phone, the computer, and all the expectations that are placed on them and just letting them be kids.
 While we were there Christopher and Kate (who went to the 2wk term last year) were able to participate in some of the activities that are offered during the 4 week term.  It was so fun to have all my kids back to together.  We have had a busy summer with the three of them going in totally different directions most of the time, but I guess that is what summers are for.  So glad to have all my babies home and back together! 
So,  now  with a 7th grader, a 6th grader, and a 4th grader we start a new chapter! Wow!! They grow up fast!  Hard to believe! We are thankful for the fun times had this summer and the opportunities to grow in each experience given.  I always tell my kids to make the most out of every opportunity and I think that is exactly what they did this summer!