The Ants Go Marching One By One...Hurrah! Hurrah!

"Girls, it's time to pick out you clothes for church tonight!"  So we start gathering our things to prepare for showers then we move on to picking out our outfits.   Due to lack of closet space in the camper we have some clothes stored in wardrobe boxes outside, in our screened in room. Momma decides to pick something out for ELE first.   So she opens the box and reaches in to pull out a blouse.   As she lifts it up, she sees giant red ants everywhere.  She drops it in unbelief at how many ants covered the blouse.   As she looks back into the box only to see more...an unbelievable amount more, HME runs to the golf cart to get the ant spray.   Returning she begins to help momma as they brave this massacre together.   Momma trying to be brave but HME sees momma is not so strong in the battle at this point, as tears begin to fill mommas eyes.  HME says, "momma we got this".  This gives Momma the strength to press on a little farther.

Taking one garment at a time, shaking it as ants begin falling everywhere.  Stomping on them while trying to avoid being bit.   The inside of the box looked like the end of season gathering for the ant family....every brother, sister, cousin and neighbor must have been in attendance at this unforgetful event.  The main gathering was yet to be seen.  Its was as if there was a convention in town that day, Only to end for them in such tragedy.  Not even one ant was left to tell of this memorable gathering, a day forgotten in history for them....but to never be forgotten by us.

A day, an event, a moment in time can be life changing and end so differently for all parties involved.  What may seem as a victory for some may crush and defeat others.  The enemy may come in like a flood but as children of the most high God we have the tools, the weapons, the necessary equipment not only to fight the battle, but to come out victoriously!  I am  reminded of the children of Israel. Just at the brink of a miracle they would enter into the promise land.  Who would have ever dreamed that was going to be there way in.  They enemy came in like a flood, but yet they pressed forward.   We're they scared?  Of course.  Did they think there was no escape, no way out?   You better believe it.   Just in time the waters parted and they crossed, then the enemy was destroyed!   It pays to endure until the very end.  Even when it appears that the ants are over taking and someone could be in danger, press on, smash every ant that comes your way.  The ant spray was not working for momma that day.  She had to end up killing each ant individually as we may have to do in our spiritual battle.  In the end you can come out victorious just as the Children of Israel did and just as momma did.  

Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV

Be strong and of a good courage , fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

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Parenting 101....Could I Teach It? Never!

 Have I lived it? You better believe it!

For the past 16 years, 340 days I have lived it…than I guess we can add on the 9 months before preparing for the journey I was about to embark on! With all journeys in life we have many twists and turns, ups and down, good days and bad days, we learn from our mistakes and as I am doing today...we take pride in our accomplishments! When my kids mess up, I am the first to punish them. When they do good...they deserve praise as well. I have two daughters but today is about Haley!  It’s not her birthday or any special day. It’s a Saturday and I have chosen to praise my gal today! I AM SO PROUD OF HER. We need to give honor where honor is due so here goes. 

We have lived a lot of places in life. It has been tough for her as a preachers kid and military brat. Since she was born she has lived in 7 different cities/states. So you can do the math on the law of average. She has had to make new friends and start over more than the average bear and that can be tough. About the time she has found her fit…we have to move on. Well, it isn’t always easy to do that. If you have moved once and experienced how tough it is well multiply that by 7 and see how it might be. She has done great however and “excelled” in the area of making friends. She has learned that she has to try harder as most people already have their group of friends and don’t let outsiders in. She has learned to make it work. If she was timid and quiet, that would never work for her. We have taught her she has to be as outgoing as possible, which often times she gets blamed for being “forward”. We have taught her that sometimes you just have to overlook others who have never been in your shoes and just press on.

She is often as a gem that just sparkles in the rough. I have seen the joy she has shared to a young mother in need…who had no friends, who was unaccepted by other so called Christian youth, putting herself at risk of being shunned by the “Youth Group”. I have watched as she has made herself available, an ear to listen, to the homeless from the Mission, even though they may have reeked from not bathing for days. I have watched her as she walks down the streets inviting children to children’s church, of every race and color.

Recently, she experienced something she has never had to deal with before, but I have told her GOD IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL AND THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!! The storms began to blow when a battle began raging in her life, she pressed on in and got thru!!!

I am so thankful life put this battle(obstacle) in her path. Most of all i am proud that she found herself an alter and pressed thru the battle until she was filled with the Holy Ghost as we read about in the book of Acts. Because of this battle she has more power to help reach the lost and more of a Holy Boldness than ever before! Though battles may still rage at times, she can be like Moses.  He pressed on thru the red sea and God took care of the rest!

I am very proud of her and could write a book, but for now I will just sit back, smile and be thankful! We are excited to see how much this little gem will be worth someday. To her momma she is allready priceless! I am so thankful for the Blessing He bestows on us! I love my Haley Marie!!! You make your momma proud! If you are proud of your daughter take a moment and tell her...its ok to tell all of us too!!!

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