Born Again...

God called me to church, a few months ago. I sat there week after week and felt like I was getting to know an old friend. I had accepted Jesus into my heart before, years ago. I thought myself as a Christian. Last Sunday as I sat in the pew, and heard the preacher talk, it was as if he was speaking directly to me. He was using the preachers words to work on me. I thought I knew him. I thought I was leading the life I should be. I sat there as the preacher asked if anyone needed to accept jesus into their hearts, needed to be forgiven, needed to be born again. My hand raised. My feet lead me to the altar and as I kneeled down, I felt a hand on my back. My husband had kneeled down beside me. Together the preacher prayed with us. We accepted Jesus. We were born again. *Together* It was the most emotional moment. I felt closer to my husband than I did on our wedding day. I am a new person. I feel so incredibly light. I have no doubt in my mind, God designed this man specifically for me and I for him.  God is so awesome. Jesus died for me and You. I am so happy I could share this moment with my husband. I want to shout it from the roof tops, because honestly, everyone should feel this!

Afterwards the entire congregation congratulated us. Welcomed us. I am so happy god lead us to this church. lead me back to him. Jesus is knocking.. you just have to let him in!

Oh Christmas Tree.

This year we decided to get our own real Christmas tree. This is a first for me, ever. My husband had them as a child growing up. I never once had a real one. We also had dad set up an artificial tree. Our entire relationship my husband asked me "can we get a real tree this year?" I was so hesitant about it. 1. I have allergies. 2. My husband has allergies. 3. Now our daughter has horrible allergies. 4. I always thought aren't those things messy? I don't want a mess. I don't need a mess. Not something else to keep up with. I have enough now. On the other hand the process of picking out your own tree and bringing it home seemed so magical and a wonderful experience to have as a family. After debating and debating I finally asked him this year "can we get a real tree?". The kids loved the idea. On the very first day our ELF ON THE SHELF came to visit us he brought a small tree and a note that told them we were headed to the tree farm that day.

 I have to say our experience was magical........ and muddy! We went after it had rained. to get to the "good trees" the ones we were after we had to drive around the dirt road to them. We were in our SUV, not the truck and we forgot rope. but it was a wonderful time. The kids loved literally running around finding that perfect tree and in the end I have to say it was the perfect tree. The boys loved cutting it down with daddy.

I'm happy to report- none of us had an allergy attack to the tree. lol. not even the slightest sneezes around it. The needles didn't just fall off all over the place like I thought they would, and the ones that did were easy as getting out the vacuum to clean up. We have decided our family needs to make this another Christmas tradition- trip to the tree farm.

 

 

2014 Goals

Angie
-practice crocheting and Knitting
- Read 12 books (again I think with my schedule this is a realistic goal)
- Participate in a book club
-Run a 5k Race
- Go Zip Lining
- bye bye 15 lbs
- Concealed Weapons Permit *carry class-DONE 3/8/13*
- Hunters safety course
- become more punctual
- Work on not cussing

Marriage
- Attend A weekend to remember with my husband
- Complete Love dare
- Take a trip just the 2 of us
- 10 date nights (with our busy schedules I think 10 is a realist goal) 1/10

Spiritual
-Become More involved in our church community
*- Buy New bible for me Done- 2/14/14
-Buy devotional book & use
- Read from bible
- Pray (the power of prayer is amazing)
- Get the kids involved in Youth group - Viv joined 3/12/14

Household
 *Buy trash bin for outside- DONE
-clean out sheds and paint them
-huge bon fire
-build new chicken coop DONE
- Grow 2014 Garden
-Grow herb garden
-Simplify
    (donate, throw away, and keep essentials)
-Organize entire house (that's one of "those" resolutions everyone makes.. but it needs done)
-Make Homemade Jam
-Menu Plan & more freezer meals
- Buy Dave Ramsey Total money make over- DONE
- baby step 1- DONE
- Baby Step 2- All debt done.. only thing left is student loans and car loans
-Make a survival Kit
-Paint hallway
-Re-do boys room and/or play room
-New Stove

Family
- Take a vacation
- Go Fishing
- Go camping
- day at the lake
- Ice Skating
- Potty train Quinton
- Host family dinner
-Host family cookout
-Ramp Digging
-date night with each of the kids alone

How Facebook brought us back to Church.

 

A few months ago Low on faith and feeling like our family had lost its way. We needed direction and I needed something(I wasn't sure what that something was, yet). How could we expect our children to live the life we knew was right, if we didn't set that example ourselves. Not that something was wrong with the way we were living, but something was missing. something told me that night to seek out t...o facebook and ask that question. I posted a simple question to facebook, "what times do the churches in our area start?" I had a response from someone at almost every church in our area! I called my husband up while he worked and told him my plan. He agreed our family needed this. We both grew up going to church and youth groups but our flame was barely a spark anymore. I listened to klove, we prayed before our meals, and we would go to church (you know those special occasions and holidays), and we would read the Christmas story at Christmas time. We were Christians right? that made us good parents didn't it?

The next morning we woke up, got our crew ready and got into the car. Chris behind the wheel said "ok. where?" I said "whichever one you want to go to" I listed the churches and the times that everyone had given me and he literally just started driving. we ended up pulling into the Church of Gods Parking lot that morning, not that we decided before hand that's where we were to go, more that someone took hold and guided us where to go. I am so happy the lord pointed us in that direction. We were welcomed almost immediately by everyone. We made to feel at home. More importantly the spark that was started, the flame I had been hiding and ignoring has suddenly become this flame. I never understood when they would say "set on fire for the lord" but I'm getting there. The simple act of going to church each week and spending an hour rejoicing in him has changed our family tremendously. We are closer than ever, we have invited him into our home and into our lives. And for the first time in a long while I feel his presence with me daily. We have a far journey to go in our path with the lord. But I am so grateful for that morning. For the invitation that Saturday night.

I always post things about my family and our daily lives to facebook. so facebook you want to know "what's on your mind?". That is on my mind and more importantly the lord is in my heart now and in our home.

Now I want to step out and I don't mean to preach or have anyone think we are perfect (our family is far far from it). If you don't have a church to call home or if you haven't been to one in a long time (like me) and just need a little gas added to your fire, or if you don't know what the heck I'm even talking about and need to see what the big deal is for yourself. Ask the question. "what time does the churches in our area start?" Ours is at 10am. Come sit by us. we have 3 lively children in our pew with us, we are easy to pick out of the crowd. Yes I have officially became one of "those" people. But a feeling like this I want to share. I want you to have this feeling. This relationship! I want it for you! God knocked on my heart and I am happy I answered. I just wanted to remind you he's knocking, take a peep through the peephole and see, he's waiting for you too.

 

Turtley Awesome Halloween

The husband and I decided to dress up this year. It was the first time we dressed up for Halloween in 5 years or more. Our boys are very into the TMNT at the moment and already decided that is what they wanted to be. We obliged and went as them ourselves. I must admit that, I love having boys. I have found this new love for super heroes and action figures I never knew exsisted in me until I had boys.

They gathered their candy, had loads of laughs, and our kids will definetly remember this year that mommy and daddy dressed up with them. I'm not sure how we will top this next year.

Vivianna wanted to be something "scary" this year, so she decided NOT to dress up with us (we asked her to be April). We searched for what seemed to be forever to find just the right costume for her. She played the part up very well.

Fall has made it arrival!

I adore fall. I love the leaves, foot ball season, pumpkins, Halloween, pumpkin flavored everything. I'm actually pretty obsessed.

I was lucky enough to have a gap of days off from work and it was the perfect time to go out and get some adventuring in. The leaves are at their peak in our area and its just perfection.

of course you have to add jumping in piles of leaves to the most do things for fall! :-)

 

Autumn in West Virginia is a breath taking thing.

 

We took the opportunity to go to a corn maze and hay ride. I was so happy when the kids grandparents came along. It was extra special having them with us.

 

 

The next evening we even was able to go to a different farm and pick out our pumpkins. We each chose our pumpkin that we will later carve to make our jack-o-lanterns.

(I'm sure they wont let me dress them alike for much longer. I'll enjoy it as much as I can for now)

 

October is a busy month for us and the is only the beginning.

 

 

 

Color Me Rad 5k

Color Me Rad is my second 5k race and I have to say "I'm hooked". My first was the 'dirty girl mud run' Both were amazing experiences.

There are a bunch of "color" races out there. This is the first one I have seen come to WV. I signed up and even talked my husband into signing up with me. My husbands boss even signed up and ran with us. I loved that it was family friendly (even though we didn't take the kids this time). Next year if they come back I have a feeling we will be completing this as a family.

They start you in heats so there is always someone "behind you" if your worried about coming in last. don't that of course is if you are not in the last heat. in fact don't worry at all because it is all about having fun! its not a timed course. I even forgot to time myself this time. I was so swept up in the excitement that I forgot to look at my watch before hand. set a goal to finish. I always feel a rush of adrenaline of "I did it". The atmosphere is very encouraging and everyone is up tempo and excited to be there and wants you to succeed. its one big party with a race.

You are asked to wear white because before during and after the race you are blasted with powder and wet coloring. at the end of the race you are this very sweaty colorful hot mess and you will love every minute of it.

Remember when signing up for a 5k the sooner you register the better chance you get of reserving your spot but also the cheaper it is. so SIGN UP EARLY.

Color me Rad gave a free pair of "rad" sunglasses and a temp tattoo that says "RAD" and a free tshirt for after the race. I love wearing my tshirt out and getting asked "did you run that? I heard it was a lot of fun"  They also had a photography group here taking pictures through out the race you could look your photos up later so you don't have to worry about taking your camera and getting it colored as well. I took mine and put it in a baggy. My husbands shorts had pockets which worked out well.

My official photo from Color me Rad.