Where Have I Been....

Ok...I haven't blogged in quite a while.  I had actually forgotten that I had a blog, until now :-)  I am back.  This blog is mainly to keep our family updated on what is going on in our lives and encourage others who are going through things similar to us. 

Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God

I just finished reading this book by Sheila Walsh.  It was exactly what I needed.  I am continually amazed by how God sends just what I need, when I need it.  During the last week while having conversations with different people one of the principles below have been brought up in which I had just read.  I do not count these as coincidences but divine providence.  The principle theme throughout the book is TRUST, and obviously this is a message that God is sending directly to me. 

I am constantly wondering what other people think of me and I often doubt my abilities.  I feel that others can do things much better than I can, so why would I be the one chosen to complete the task.   Sheila spoke to my heart when she said,

“There will always be those who can do things better but God chooses each of us to show what He can do.”  Pg. xvi (introduction)

Satan loves to tell us that we are the only one dealing with something so we can’t tell anyone.  We feel ashamed, embarrassed, alone, however the Bible tells us that we all deal with the same temptations.  Sheila wrote below:

“One thing that continues to surprise me is the commonality of so many of our struggles.  I still tend to assume that if I am dealing with a very negative emotion, I am the only one who feels that way.  That’s just not true.”   Pg. 27

“God’s love for us shows up more powerfully in our failures than in any of our greatest successes.”

Throughout Chapter 12 Sheila talks about Abraham and how he had to rely on trust.  As Abraham is going up the mountain with Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice to God, I imagine how hard that must have been.  I have always wondered how he did it.  How did he trust God with Isaac?  Sheila describes it this way…

“By this point in his relationship with God, Abraham knew that even if he had to stick a dagger in his own son’s heart, God would bring him back from the dead because Isaac was the son of God’s promise, and God never breaks a promise.  There was not a second’s doubt that they would both come back.”  Pg. 217

WOW- eye opening!!!

“I spent so much of my life trying to be a “good” Christian.  That seems ridiculous to me now.  I have never once seen a single sheep- and I grew up surrounded by them- trying to be a good sheep.  The many sheep I’ve seen just go wherever their shepherd takes them.  If they fall into a creek, they wait for the shepherd to get them out.  If they’re afraid of a stalking wolf, they know the shepherd has a mighty rod and staff to win any fight.  They don’t worry about where their next meal is coming from- they eat the grass at their feet, and when it’s gone, the shepherd leads them to a new pasture. That’s how our Father wants us to live right now.  He has climbed the highest mountain to get to where he’s prepared a place for us; one day the new pasture will be home.” Pg 219

Why do I worry so much about tomorrow- what this situation or that situation will entail?  If God is in it, I need not fear.

          “It doesn’t matter what assignment we are given on this earth, what matters is our heart in the midst of the assignment.  Do you see how that changes everything.” Pg. 227

http://www.sheilawalsh.com/

Quote of the Day

“By living below our means and avoiding the tyranny of excessive consumer debt, we free ourselves to provide for the physical needs and keep our children from having to sense the helplessness of financial bondage”  ~ Dr. Tim Kimmel ~

The Great Outdoors

We took our first camping trip with the kids (outside of our backyard).  We went to Lake Myers in Mocksville, NC.  It was not crowded as we went on a Tuesday.  They have a lot to do there- swimming (2 Olympic size pools), bumper boats, paddle boating, canoeing, fishing, an arcade room and a water-slide.  Mike and the kids went down the water- slide at least 20 times while we were there.  The downside to camping in the middle of summer, besides the bugs of course, is the unexpected storms.  It started thundering and pouring rain around 6pm and it was one of the worst thunderstorms that we have experienced.  Which, it was the only storm that we have experienced while in a tent.  All together, we had a fantastic time.  It was relaxing ~ no phones, blackberries, email, etc…just a campfire where we cooked our hotdogs and fun with each other.  Surprisingly, the kids were not super scared of the storm- Emilee said that was because we were all there together.  This one will go down in history…Casto history that is.

Hanes Park

We had such a good time the other day @ Hanes Park in Winston Salem.  The kids ran around, climbed, swung, and all the things that you do at a park.  These are the times that I enjoy the most:)

A Sad Day

I found out yesterday afternoon that one of my friends had lost her 12 yr old son in a boating accident while they were on vacation.  Today, she posted on FB that her second son, who was 18, and also involved in the accident, died this morning.  I have been heartbroken for her and her family since the news broke.  I can’t imagine what they are going through and have just held my children closer.   
Michael was so comforting to me today through all of my sadness.  He took us out to eat and to see Cars 2.  Although it wasn’t the outing that was comforting, it was not being at home listening to complaints about what was for dinner, or so and so will not play with me…Which if I truly think about it, how great is it to hear those complaints at a time like this, because you know your children are still here.   
The upside to all of this tragedy is that my friend is a follower of Christ and she knows where her two boys are right now.  They are in Heaven with our Abba Father- God.  They have been welcomed into God’s arms and they are rejoicing with all those who have gone before them.  This is comforting to the family, but it will be a very long time of mourning and sadness.  Please pray for the Rowley Family through all of this.  Hold your family tight and thank God daily for all that He has provided for you.  That is what I am doing right now.  
Thank you God for Michael, the husband you knew that I needed.  Thank you for Jacob who is a sensitive person and is loving.  Thank you for Emilee who is spunky and full of life.  Thank you for all of the simple things.  I am going to be more thankful!!!!!!!

Jake & Emi

   Jake & Emi on the new swing that Mike made

          Jake & Emi @ Oak Hollow Lake Park

All Things Jake

    Here are pictures of Jacob or Jake as he likes to be called.  


This is at Oak Hollow Lake Park
 

 Jake on the swing that his daddy made for him and Emilee

Look at that smile...

    

Wow…he can be quiet~ when he is sleeping:)

       

       

Jake rock climbing @ Hanging Rock State Park

June 2011

       

Jake with the Giant Zucchini…Veggie Tales have nothing on us

All Things Emilee

                              Emilee’s New Haircut

Emilee & Gracie (The M&M) having a singing & dancing show

   Emilee on the new swing that her daddy made

Emilee with Beary sleeping

Pin the tail on the Emi ~ this game is so much fun!!!!