Changing of the Season

As I look through the lace curtains that cover the big sliding glass door, I can see the huge pile of wood that my husband will cut this weekend to help keep us warm during the months to come. Today is the official start of the Autumn season. I am almost prepared.

For the first time in my life, I visited an Amish community this Summer. I was one happy girl. It has always been my dream to visit such a community. That is one thing that I can cross off my bucket list. While there, I stocked up on spices for the Fall baking season.

What I wasn't prepared for was the mixed emotions that this season brought upon me. It hit me one day that this will be the last Autumn season that I will began a new homeschool year. Our youngest daughter is a Senior in highschool.

Although I long for time to stop just for a moment so that I can cherish my baby girl just a little longer; however, I know that is not possible. So, here I sit gazing out the window preparing my heart for the changing of the season while reminding myself to make the most of each moment.

I say to my heart...
"Be still. Fret not. The changing of the season will bring crisp cool air and dead leaves to the ground, but you, my heart, will stay warm and enjoy the abundant life promised from my Savior."

My First Grandbaby Is Now 1 Years Old

I really wished someone had sat me down a year ago and explained to me how becoming a grandmother would change my life forever. 

I heard the cliches about being a grandmother; but what I'm experiencing can't be explained through mere words. 

Maybe that's why others couldn't express their feelings through words. 

The only word that I can use when describing what it's like to be a grandmother is phenomenal!

 This was right after he was born.

His first birthday party!

I feel beyond blessed. My first grandbaby will be a big brother next month.

Whenever he comes over, I always do something fun with him. 

Like silly glasses.

Teaching him how to jump up and down on the couch. 

Yes, my grandbabies can get away with that, but my children never could. 

You won't understand that unless you're a grandmother :)

Jill - Maternity Apron Give Away Winner

Back in November I had a maternity apron give away. You can go here to read about it. I just received an email from the beautiful mother Jill. She's wearing the apron. She gave me permission to share with my blogger readers.

Here's the wonderful email that I received!

Hello Sandra!

I was having a rather rough day a while ago (after not being able to sleep for the past week due to 'practice contractions'...so much fun!) and when I went to my mail box I found a beautiful apron inside!!!  Thank you so much!  It's lovely and I really appreciate it as I'm doing a massive baking spree on the weekend in order to get ready for baby (currently 34 weeks and the midwives think I'll go early!) and my current apron doesn't fit at all anymore. It's soooooo comfortable too!  I have to say, I love the length as well.  I'm very tall (6'0") and right now I can't stand anything near the tops of my legs and this skims beautifully. 

Thank you so much for your generosity, it's very much appreciated.  I plan on getting some action shots for you this weekend but please accept this one in the mean time of me at my Mum's house.

Hope all is well with your grandbaby-to-come!

Jill


*Let us remember to pray for Jill during this time as she prepares for her new blessing!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, 

the fruit of the womb is a reward."

-Psalm 127:3

The Radiator, Submission and an Unexpectant Blessing

What does a radiator and submission have in common? Nothing really. Unless, you consider the fact that through a broken radiator, I had to decide whether or not I was going to submit my will or His.

Early one morning my husband came home and informed me that something was wrong with the car. With a big heavy sigh, I asked him if he let the car warm up. Then I proceeded to tell him 101 reasons why he should have let the car warm up. 

During the night we had one of the coldest nights thus far. The last thing we needed was a car that was broken. We had just brought it. Things were perfect because I was just issued my driver's license after not driving for some time.

Why would this happen?

Surely, if I get up and go down there the car would start. Yes it started, but idled high and over heated right away.

Don and I talked about what we were going to do. We looked at the money we had in the "car" envelope and there wasn't much there. We didn't know what was wrong with it. He had an idea that it was the radiator. Sure enough, it was.

I asked him if he wanted to have it towed somewhere. He said that wouldn't be necessary because he was going to fix it if I would hold the flashlight.

I just stood there. Outside on a cold November morning watching everything encircle me as I played those words over and over again. My husband has never fixed a radiator, at least I didn't think so.

I opened my mouth to ask him if he had ever fixed a radiator, but before I could finish my sentence, he said, "Honey, because you tell me all the time that I can do anything, I believe I can fix this radiator."

*Side Note: Ladies, please tell your husbands how much you believe in them. Other people can tell him that, but what really matters to him is if you believe in him.

We ordered the radiator. The part came in the next day.

We spent the following morning taking the old radiator out. It was a grueling task. I took the word helpmeet to a whole new level. I did manage to keep my cute skirt clean in the midst of it all.


On the third day, we spent another cold morning installing the new radiator. Got it in but the car wouldn't start. By this time, I was cold, tired and frustrated. Surely he would have someone to come fix it or have it towed.....

We came in and talked about our next move. I had a solution to the car problem. The neighbor next door had just gotten her car fixed by the mechanic down the street. She raved about him. A sister from church highly recommended her mechanic. She really trust him.

I presented my solution to take it to either one of these mechanics. He said no because there's no more money left in the car envelope. That was fine because we could use credit. I don't know why he didn't think of that. If only he would really listen to me. Our car problem could be solved in one day.

My husband said no because he felt that wasn't the answer. That was a quick fix and would put us in debt.

At this point not only did God had to control my tongue. He had to control my neck too. I'm a sistah girl from the ghetto. I know how to roll my neck and tell somebody off. I was very good at it BC (Before Christ).

He asked me to trust him in this situation. I panicked on the inside. I did manage to control my tongue and my neck! My flesh hurt though because I wanted to give into it and usurp his authority as head of our home.

It's easy to submit when you agree. It's when you don't agree that shows what you're really made of. I had to decide if I was going to practice what I teach other women to do. Submit, even when you don't want to or when you feel your husband is wrong. During these times, what's in your heart is really exposed.

Was there something in me that needed to be exposed? I had to step back and pray.....

Day four: We went out there trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. I had to remind myself to not only watch what I said, but my body language. (Note: A whole lot can be said without a spoken word. The body language will say it all.)

Day five: We went out there trying to figure out what was wrong with the car. Car didn't start. I suggested that maybe we should have someone come here to look at it verses towing it to a shop.

He looked at me and said, "That's a great idea."

Our friend couldn't come for another 2 days.

He came. He couldn't figure out what was wrong.

I wanted to bring up having it towed again. I heard a still small voice say, "Shhh....."

Laid down that night later than usual. We all had to get up early and ride in my sons cars to church.

My silent prayer, "Lord you said that if we would be faithful, you would open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that we won't have room to receive. You said that men would give unto us. You said that I'm to reverence my husband and submit to him. I really don't understand, but I trust You."

I kept saying, "I trust You...."

I had to go back home. On my way back to church, Don called me and said a couple wanted to talk to us.

When I arrived at church, Don and I talked to the couple. They had just gotten a new car and wanted to give us their old one.

Our mouths dropped! Tears started to flow.....

They gave us a car! No strings attached. A nice car too.

Had I not come under the submission of my husband, even when I didn't agree with him, I would have missed out on what God was trying to teach me. He was teaching me to trust Him. Trust what the Scriptures say about my role as a wife.

Also, one can say that my husband should have just taken it to the shop. He decided to trust what God said in His word to owe no man nothing.

As a wife to my dear husband, I can trust him as head of our home because God is his head. There's safety in and submission. The rewards are great. Just look at my new car.

By the way, I named her Ginger because she's golden and very pretty!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the dealer where we brought our car from is sending their mechanic to our house to look at the broken car. I'll keep y'all updated ;)

History In the Making

Tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 pm history will take place. We, along with family and friends will watch Trae as he makes an entrance through those doors at the LCSC Activity Center and make history.

What so special about a graduation ceremony? This ceremony will have a significant impact on my extended family. Trae is the first male to graduate high school in my family. We are so thankful and honored that the Lord has chosen to use him to be a trailblazer and change the course in my family lineage.

Don and I have been really excited about this because he will be taking his next big step this Fall. Trae has decided to answer the call on his life and go into ministry. Trae is so talented. He could have chosen another profession and been very successful. As parents, we stand behind him and support him 100%. He will attend Portland Biblce College along with his sister Ruth.

Trae's Senior year has been a great year. He lead a ministry at the high school that he took over from Ruth called "Revolution" He taught his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ how to share their faith on the high school campus. Encourage & discipled new believers. He stood up like a strong tower for what he believed. He was popular for all the right reasons (Praise God). His class mates chose him to be Prom King and the staff chose him to receive the David Laird Award and be a Senior Representative based on his character and positive influence.

So tomorrow, will you rejoice with us as we celebrate this great acheivement.

I can't wait to see this in my son's hand!
As for now, he's asking momma to cook him some eggs.

Blestshe

I posted on my blog about how God made a way for my hospital bill which was over $11,000 was paid. Since blogging I've met a dear lady Civilla's Cyber Cafe . She was making a comment on my blog and had to do a word verification. Unbeknown to her, God used her and this word verification to speak to the entire King Family. Civilla could have just thought it was random letters that appear quite often during a word verification. Not Civilla. She knew that God had spoken and the word was for me. She took it a step farther and took a picture of it and emailed it to me. Thank Civilla ;)

I'm putting it here to share with you all because it's not just for me. Like me, many of you have been going through some major trials. My family and I have had our fair share during the last year. For those of you who don't know me, I need to let you know that at times I can be very transparent. For years I sat under the teaching of Pastor Paul & Denise Goulet (www.iclv.com). Transparency is their middle name. As I give you a glimpse into my life during the past year, hopefully it will inspire you to share and be transparent.

About a year ago my family felt as though the wind had been knocked out of our sail. One morning we woke up and realized, "What in the world have we done?" We moved to Idaho in Sept. of 06. Before moving to here we lived in Las Vegas. Don had a very good job with benefits. He made enough money for us to live good. I was able to be a stay at home mom & home school the kids. We lived in a single story ranch style house inside a gated community. We had new cars, went on cruises, etc. The only problem with his job is that it kept him away from the family.

We had this brainy of an idea one day to move to Lewiston, Idaho. Sure why not. We knew the Wilsons who had already moved there and loved it. We had a church because one of the pastors from ICLV was pastoring a church there. We prayed and were very specific about some things we needed to happen in order for this move to take place. We needed to sell our house, which we tried selling 3x before with no success. Even when the market was hot. Don needed to find a job in Lewiston.

We went to our leaders and told them our plans and ask them to pray with and for us. Put the house on the market. Took a vacation to Lewiston. Don got a job while we were here on vacation. Got back home and about 2 months late our house sold.

Back to the past year. Things were going okay. Some disappointments. We just continued to encourage each other every day. Things will get better, they always do. Don't they?

Spring of 2008, we experience some hurt. We have a motto in our family that we say to each other: "We will not give anyone the privilege of making us bitter. Because bitterness will only keep us away from our destiny." God told us to be still. That was hard for me to do because I don't have a problem with confronting. You know that old saying, "You can take the girl out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the girl." We decided to be still and know that He is God.

Summer of 2008, we found out our house was infested with bedbugs. Yikes! We were trying to figure out how we got them. Did we get them from staying in a hotel? Did they come in from all the teenagers that were hanging out at our house on a weekly basis? We talked to the landlord and they had someone to come and spray. It didn't work the 1st or 2nd time. We had to throw away most of our furniture. Which we couldn't replace. We had bites all over our bodies. We were exhausted from lack of sleep. Then I got a call one night that my 22 year old nephew had past away. Thank God for my pastor giving us a night at a hotel so that we can get some sleep. Only to get up the next morning and Don's truck wouldn't start. I just wanted to lay on the ground in the parking lot and cry. Finally got rid of the bedbugs on the 3rd try. They had to remove all oxygen from our house. Thank God for the youth pastor and his family for letting us camp out at their house.

Fall of 2008, out of no where I started to have seizures. At first my husband and I didn't tell anyone until the kids witnessed one. I knew then that I had to go to the emergency room. Since that night, I have seen my fair share of doctors and specialist. I've also had my fair share of seizures. Sometimes multiply seizures. We are still in the process of figuring out why the seizures occurred. We laugh when we hear people say what they think can be causing the seizures. They don't have a clue. We've been open in the past about going through this trial, but have now decided to keep the most recent discoveries private until further testing is doing and some things are confirmed. We told our kids that no matter what happens, God is good. We decided as a family that after every seizure, we would worship and praise our Lord. To come out of a seizure and hear the sound of my husband and children praising and worshipping the Lord is heavenly. As of today, I've been seizure free for 25 days. It's the longest time span I've had between the seizures. God used His people to show so much love to our family throughout this time. We will forever be thankful to our church family.

These past few weeks things have shifted so fast in our lives. Now we have so many doors that are opening for us. We are still in the mist of a major trial, but it's like God has come along and blew on our sail.

When the word verification said "blestshe" I knew it was for me. I'm blessed and so are you. I was reading Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and it confirmed the word verification. I have diligently obeyed the voice of the Lord my God. Blessings will come upon me and overtake me. No matter where I live, in the city or in the country, I will be blessed. I will be blessed going out and coming in. The people who rose up against me will defeated before my face. My storehouse is blessed. The fruit of my womb is blessed. My husband is blessed. You my friend are blessed.

*I would love to hear comments from you. In your comments, please don't diagnose my condition or give me your opinion about the cause(s) of my condition.