Thankfully, my daughter took some pics at the concert the other night, they came out pretty good! The first one is of the the fellow that they have come out during two of the songs and do a painting (kind of a modern chalk drawing). It was amazing!!!







The next one is Mark Hall, "as far as the east is from the west". Psalm 103 has always been a very important and meaningful psalm to me, so I really love and appreciate this song. I once memorized the whole song and the Holy Spirit often brings it to my remembrance.






The next one is the band praying for us and with us. It was an awesome time of prayer. One of the things that really got me was when one of the women prayed that women would come to understand what it means to be a submissive wife and that husbands would love their wives the way the Bible teaches. Another member prayed for those struggling with addiction and I was convicted about the food thing. It's something that I need victory over.










The Band.

Last night was amazing!! We went to the Casting Crowns concert and spent the evening in worship! We sang, we prayed, we heard a powerful message. My children worshiped side by side with their hands to the heavens, it was glorious.

I cried, I laughed, I let myself be poured out and I was filled by God's loving Spirit. The mercy that I felt about the storm I've been in recently was so sweet. I know that I can trust Him through this storm, I can trust Him with my friend, and I know that someday, she and I will raise our hands to heaven and worship in spirit and in truth, side by side.

A decision was finally made. My heart is broken, a trust is betrayed, but I'm praying that a life has been saved. Something had to be done, the authorities have been called in, and I can only hope that the help that is needed is given and accepted.

Psalms 31:1-24 (NIV)
¹ In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
² Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
³ Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
⁴ Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
⁵ Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
⁶ I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
⁸ You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
⁹ Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.
¹⁰ My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
¹¹ Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends-- those who see me on the street flee from me.
¹² I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
¹³ For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.
¹⁴ But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
¹⁵ My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
¹⁶ Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
¹⁷ Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave.
¹⁸ Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
¹⁹ How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
²⁰ In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.
²¹ Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.
²² In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
²³ Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.
²⁴ Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

My new baby niece, Baby I. She was born late Thursday evening and is absolutely adorable!

Today was spent at our district Republican convention. It lasted longer than any I had been to before and was quite interesting. It was very affirming to hear others speak about their committments to life, marriage, and morality. I'm tired of feeling like I have to apologize for my beliefs when I know without a shadow of a doubt that God's way is best as described by the Bible.

I'm hoping for a peaceful day tomorrow to get some R&R. I've been trying to stay off Ravelry for extended periods so that I can keep up with the things that I need to get done. I'd like to get some knitting done, especially Baby I's and my niece's wedding stole.

It's the 2nd day of rain! Lots of it. Thankfully, the work hubby and friend did on Sunday seems to be keeping the basement from getting wet. I really could use about 7 days of sunshine and warm temps, although I have discovered that I have allergies.

I just have to say this. I'm tired of my faith being trashed by people who refuse to look at themselves and see the big honkin' plank in their own eye. Heck, they won't even acknowledge that they have sinned, not will they acknowledge that God could allow someone to go to Hell. The thing is, He doesn't send them their, they CHOOSE that path. Why is that so hard to understand? Probably because they are being convicted in their spirit and they are kicking against it so hard that it is easier to speak out and deceive others than deal with their own hearts.

I know how hard that is, but it is necessary in the lives of those who think they are believers.

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
²¹ "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
²² Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
²³ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Luke 3:16-17 (NIV)
¹⁶ John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Yesterday was beautiful!! Liberty is enjoying being able to get out in the yard and relax in the sun! I felt (and still feel) like I'm on the verge of a cold--just feel icky, kind of have a sore throat, tiny-grade headache. Not enough to put me in bed, but enough to make me feel just a bit miserable.

The other pictures are scenes from Sunday night. Our little L, enjoyed watching Disney's Peter Pan. He found several adorable poses (which he would hold for quite some time) as he watched.

I've tried to avoid thinking much about the FLDS compound that was raided and all the children and moms were taken away. It's one of the "religious freedom" vs. law things and it's hard to wrap my brain around. Well, this morning, watching the Today show, I've thinking a bit more of the subject.

I totally agree that what those men have been doing is abuse, I see the state perpetrating more abuse on the wives and children by keeping them separate. From the news report, they have been separate for about a week. The children, who have only lived sheltered lives, are being subjected to examinations and questions, not to mention culture shock. The wives, some not much older than most of the children, are fearful and worried that they won't get their children back. While I don't agree with their religious practices, they know nothing different. Yes, one young woman was able to recognize what was going on and make that call, and yes, this should have been made public and the men should face prosecution, but, I don't think many of the women even understand that life can be different. This is all they have ever known.

Dr. Phil--is he nuts? He bonded out the ring leader of the cheerleaders that beat up the other girl in Florida and then put it on the internet.

We had a fairly quiet weekend. S and I spent Saturday dinking around, watching Godfather 2, and then the evening was spent at Great-Grandmas. Hubby fixed her sewing machine table so that it would fit her new machine.

Yesterday, Hubby and our friend started working on the basement. This could come together more quickly than I thought.

I get to relax again today, well, at least take my time doing what I need to get done. I definitely want to start my niece's bridal stole.

More snow!!! This is what we woke up to this morning. Thankfully, the ground is pretty warm and the temps are coming up a bit, so it's melting. I'm trying to remain positive, but there is this nagging fear that we will never feel warmth again! (It will probably turn into one of the hottest summers on record or something!)

Last night was spent at home improvement stores. We're starting to remodel the basement. We brought home a lot of pvc, a new shower and faucet for the shower and two new windows for our bedroom. We've got cement to pour, lots of pipe work to do, walls to put up, etc., etc.. I'm looking forward to the finished project, but not the remodeling. The disarray tends to raise my anxiety a bit, but if I come into it prepared, hopefully it won't be so bad.

Things went much better yesterday. Things were a lot mellower and we were able to discuss some of her issues. She's beginning to see her need to "get into the boat" so to speak. She's been struggling to understand why God hasn't just healed her. I think it's finally sinking in that she needs to be a willing participant in that healing. One of her biggest concerns is being able to have me involved. She really needs an advocate, someone who knows her well, understands her illness, and will protect her from further trauma. We're looking into how to accomplish that.

Things have been wild on Ravelry. I'm often saddened by the horrible treatment some people seem justified in doling out. Just because someone's presentation may not be as sensitive (which is such an objective concept and some people are just bound and determined to be offended) doesn't give others the right to verbally abuse and malign that person.

I finally got my yarn to start my niece's wedding stole. I just need to get it wound off and get it started. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that I need to/should be doing.

I'm longing for wisdom with the difficult situation I'm facing today. My stomach is churning, my anxiety is high, but I'm not real sure what is fueling it. I really feel that it is time for something to change.

Our pickup just got stolen (and has been returned)!!!! I was sitting in the living room playing Spider Solitaire and watching CSI New York and I heard S yell at J to come into her room. I just assumed that something was wrong with her computer and I didn't pay a whole lot of attention. I could hear voices, but I thought it was the kids and the next thing I knew they were flying down the stairs and they crash through the door and tell me that the pickup had just been stolen!!

They were absolutely positive so I called 911 while J woke hubby up. When J got back in the living room he looked out the window and saw that they had left a white van in our field gate. I told this to the 911 operator and he said that they had a report of a stolen white van in town. My anxiety went through the roof! The sheriff showed up and checked out the van and then came and took our statement. He went down to see if he could find the keys to the van and then all of a sudden he was flying up the road. About 15 minutes later the sheriff's department called and said that we could come and get the pickup, they had the boys in custody, and didn't want us to have to pay a tow fee. They only had the pickup for about 30-45 minutes, but they ran a quarter of a tank of gas out of it, threw out all the trash and the ashtray (makes me wonder if there wasn't a little illegal drug activity) and make it smell like a cigarette factory. They were only 15 and now face 2 counts of grand theft auto, each. The sheriff said that they were on their way to the juvenile home.

They deserve their punishment. What bugs me most about this whole thing though is...where are their parents? Are these kids so bored that they have to resort to criminal activity to get a thrill or are they seeking attention, any kind of attention?

The more I look at this sad world, the more I long for Jesus' return. And, yet, there is so much work to be done and these kids need something to live for, purpose, hope. Obama can never truly give hope, only Jesus Christ can do that.

Oh, Lord, stir in the hearts of your people to reach out to the lost. Give us boldness in sharing Your Word, Your mercy, Your grace. Grant us wisdom to face the challenges that lie in this godless society that we live in. Lord, pour out your Spirit on all believers and supply their needs in order that they may lead others to Your Son and the great salvation that He died to give to all.

Ah, someday I'll find the template that suits me. I'm really liking this one!

I'm trying to rest this week. Of course, it's helps that my back and legs are aching from, well-you know, female things... Anyway, I've been getting some rest this week and am feeling a bit rejuvenated.

2 Timothy 3:1-9 (NIV)
¹ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--
⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,
⁷ always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.
⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.