Welcome........

Well..I'm not sure why I have started to blog....I'm not even sure what I hope to accomplish.  I just know that there are times when I just need to lay it out there...and hear what my sisters have to say, the insight that they may be able to share.  So here we go....  I hope you like it......and I hope you feel free to share with whoever decides to log on's opinions and thoughts.......  So maybe I should start with telling you a little about me....

I am the mother of two amazing children, Terra Lynn who is turning 8, and Bradley Jeremiah who will turn 5 in September.  My husband is the Pastor of Young Adult Minstries at Circleville First Church, and he also teaches Bible to 5th -8th grades at New Hope Christian School.  Both our kids attend Ross County Christian Academy.  I can say there are alot of things in my past that I am not really proud of.......and there are alot of decisions I wish I hadn't made.  But I can also tell you that by the Grace of God, I am forgiven.  I haven't published my past, but I am accountable for it and to it.  I believe that everything can be used for God's glory, and when asked, I answer questions, but I never give my past priority.  I can tell you that just because my husband is a Pastor doesn't mean I've always been a good person, the best mom, or the best wife.  But I can tell you that I live my life everyday now to be!  I still fail and fall short sometimes, but I just pick myself up and give it my best......AGAIN! =)

The past two weeks have been a horrible struggle for me.... most of you know my friend Michelle Conley, and the fact that her daughter is having a tumor like mass removed from her brain on Friday morning.  I have to tell you, I am struggling...I am hurting.... Our families are very close and this feels like one of my children are having this surgery.  I feel selfish at night when I kiss my babies good night cause I know that, there is nothing jeapordizing how many nights I have to kiss them. I pray that God can use me, but I am struggling each day a little more just to be able to hold it together!  Please pray for Michelle, and Matt, and pray for Sydney, pray for her siblings Jordan, Elijah and Neveah. I never dreamed and you could have never convinced me I would have the friendship that I have with her with anyone.....I am so blessed..

God blessed me with having the friendship of my best college friend Charity back when we came to minister at First Church.  Charity has one austic daughter and a younger son.  I never dreamed that one of my friends would be the parent who doesn't get to do alot of the "activities" typical parents would because they have a child with special needs.  As often as my heart breaks for her, my entire being is challenged by her.  I want to be the mom, that puts my babies first no matter how much I wanna do something else.... I wanna be the woman who is excited to bring my kids no matter what they may do to church and be ready to worship!  I wanna believe in my kids the way she does her little Grace.  I wanna be the kind of wife that stands by my marriage when everyone else questions why........I wanna be the kind of friend to her I should have been all those years ago... I've learned enough that you rarely get the same opportunity twice... but I am thankful God brought us back together....for a second go round!

I had the opportunity to go to Nipgen Jr. Camp with 7 of the girls from First Church one being my daughter as they camped at Nipgen this week. On Monday night, I sat in the back of the tabernacle and was overcome with emotion as I watched those girls lead a worship song in front of the camp.  I was so happy for my daughter to have young ladies to be with this week, and I was thankful for each of the families those little girls came from.  Watching them serve through music at the ages of 7-11, and serve together was such an answered prayer to me.

Finally I leave you with this...what is it that satan tries to use to defeat you?  When we were at the church in Richmond Dale, I felt as though I could do nothing right......that I was under constant criticism.....so I just quit trying.  Then when we came to First Church I was given a Women's Bible Study to lead.....again, satan tries to convince me that I am not effective with Bible Study, and that my past prevents me from being used... feeling inadequate is the worse feeling in the world........ what about you?