Precious Little Zane (and his family!)

Just the dark before the morning!

Last Saturday morning I felt like the Lord was wanting me to share from my heart some of the things He's been teaching me about trusting Him. It was a busy day with no time to write anything so I waited. Well, by the end of the day the enemy had attacked and had me feeling discouraged and alone! The days that followed were more of the same. I was believing my emotions and not truth!

Well, at this point, I felt to share what God has been teaching me about trust would be hypocritical. So, I waited.

Well, last night a dear friend shared with me that when we have come through this difficult season of our lives and see what God has brought us to, we won't even think twice about the things we've endured! Then, today I heard the song "Before the Morning.

Before the Morning by Josh Wilson

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you
If there’s a God who loves you where is He now

Maybe there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending

Someday somehow you’ll see you’ll see

Would you dare would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

My friend you know how this all ends
You know where you’re going
You just don’t know how you’ll get there
So say a prayer

And hold on cause there’s good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time but you’ll see the bigger picture

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory

It’s just the hurt before the healing
Oh the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

Funny that often when God is trying to tell us something, He will tell us in more than one way from more than one source! God is good! He holds my life in His hands! He sees the bigger picture and I just have to trust Him!

For any of you who may also be walking through difficult things right now, I encourage you to trust the One who does see the bigger picture! He loves you and He sees the better ending! Unfortunately, all we get to see is the chapter that we are in! Keep fighting the good fight! He will bring you through! He loves you!

Learn to Coupon Series!

For all of you who have been wanting to learn more about couponing, check out this couponing series at For The Mommas! The series is going to be a 30 day series in June! This is one of my favorite blogs for finding good deals and weekly lists for each store! I'm sure this series on couponing will be great! I will definitely be checking it out!

Free Homeschool Tips Ebook

Download this free ebook Homeschool Tips From a Homeschool Veteran at www.smockityfrocks.com.

Free Brunch eCookbook

You can go to Mr. Food to download this free Best Brunch Recipes ecookbook!

Light Bulb Moment

Several years ago, the Lord began to speak to me through a specific passage of Scripture and a particular song. At first I had no idea what He was asking of me or us. So, I prayed and I had other people praying, seeking God for what it was He was calling me/us to!

After months of pressing in, I thought I had a break through, and heard what God was calling us to! We did a lot of praying and background work etc, and were excited at first, but as we tried to move forward, we just didn't really feel a peace or the ability to move in that direction at that time!

My thoughts were either I misunderstood God or the timing wasn't now! So, we continued with life, but it has always still kind of been there hanging over my head! Sometimes I would doubt my ability to hear God's voice because I must've heard wrong! Other times, I'd feel guilty because what if I had heard right, I didn't feel like we were doing anything to prepare ourselves for this calling! But, I always just kept coming back to, God, I don't understand but You do! Show me in your timing!

Well, yesterday, someone was talking about the song that God had been speaking to me through and it was like a light bulb went on! I now believe that what God had spoken to me , I had taken in a physical sense, but He had meant it in a spiritual sense in regards to something that wasn't even a thought in someone's mind yet back then! But, God had called me to pray for His work even then! How awesome is God?!!!

How much less stressed would I have been had I just taken the call to pray and allowed God to reveal the "how" in His timing instead of asking Him to show me "how" and worrying whether or not I was missing it! He's got it under control! He can get my attention when He needs to!

$1.00 Movies at Valley Mall This Summer!

Thanks to For the Mommas for sharing this great deal! Go here to see the movies being shown this summer and Regal Cinema locations!

Pocketful of Posies: Free Play Dough Recipes E-Book

Thought this looked like it might be a neat free download! Thought I would pass it on!

Click on the link below.

Pocketful of Posies: Free Play Dough Recipes E-Book

Sweet Rest!

I had one of those days today! Started out with getting the kids into the car to leave for work, only to find that our cat got trapped in our car overnight and had pooped! Oh joy!

Got to work and the day just seemed to continue to hold its negative course that it had set out on that morning! Things weren't going great with work, I was having issues with kids, etc., etc.!

After supper I was doing the dishes and I thought, "I just feel weary!" Immediately, the Lord brought, "Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest!" to my mind! My response was actually, "How do I do that?"

I realized that I have known this verse and believed it was true my whole life, but I don't totally know how to live it!

I prayed, Lord how do I actually find sweet rest? So, I read Matthew 11:28-30.

Matthew 11:28-30 (New International Version, ©2011)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I felt like I was to read it in The Message. I've never read this passage in The Message before and was interested to see what it said!

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Am I tired? Yes! Am I worn out? Yes! What's His answer? Come to Him, get away with Him! Then, He'll show me how to take a real rest! I need to walk and work along side Him, to watch and see how He does it!

So....I am on a mission to pursue the sweet rest that Jesus has for me! I am going to do my best to watch how He does it and pattern my life after His! To let Him carry my burdens!

FREE Download – Adventures in Odyssey: The Meaning of Sacrifice

Here's a free download for all of you whose kids like Adventure in Odyssey! Go here for more details.

Free Ebook: A Praying Life

Right now you can download a free copy of A Praying Life by Paul Miller for your Kindle for free at Amazon. If you do not have a Kindle, you can download free Kindle apps for your computer and many phones.

I have not read this book, but it's free at right now, so I thought it would be worth reading!

Adobe Photoshop Elements only $39.99

Right now you can get Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 for only $39.99 after Rebate! This is a great deal! Normally $99.99! So, if you've been thinking about buying Photoshop Elements, now is the time to do it!

Found this on Saving Cents with Sense. I think this may only be good for today.

Was also informed they have great deals on this at LA Cameras right now. There is an Elements version with PrintShop and Scrapbook Creator Plus also included for only $39.95.

I need help!

Okay, so I desperately need some help! Can anyone give me some advice on how to help my kids keep their rooms neat???

I feel like I am constantly nagging them about picking up their rooms! They'll "clean up" their room (which will take forever) and I go in and it looks like they haven't done anything. So I go in with them and we work on it together and get it looking acceptable and by the next morning, or later the same day, it looks like a tornado went through again!

You have to understand, I'm not even an overly particular housekeeper! So, it's not like I'm asking for perfection, just presentable! I'm tired of the ongoing battle!

Do any of you have any suggestions of what works to help them keep it from getting such a mess and to remove the frustration? I feel like I'm constantly on their case and that's frustrating for them and me!