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I had a discussion with a friend recently. It was after I had to deal with yet another situation in which I felt I was being taken advantage of. The question was raised, “Why do we seem to deal with this issue so often in our lives?” Why do “friends” and even family take advantage of us or use us? Is it because we are loving, forgiving, and caring? Are we too nice? Well, I am tired of being taken advantage of. Taking advantage of other people is so wrong and very hurtful.

When I realize I am being taken advantage of, I am afraid to speak up. I don’t want to make anyone mad or hurt anyone’s feelings.  I don’t want to seem like I am being mean. The confrontation is definitely not easy, but sometimes it’s necessary. I’d like to figure out how to avoid being taken advantage of all together. Maybe that’s not possible, but it would be nice.

Sometimes we can be taken advantage of by others and never know that person has alterier motives. Then we are shocked when we realize we are being used. For example, I realized recently that someone I thought  was my friend, was actually not my friend at all. I was being used. The relationship for this person was solely based on what I could do for them. That’s it. The “friendship” was a put on. It wasn’t real. Well, it was for me. I cared very much for this person the their family. It’s a total shame the way the relationship ended. I had to confront the situation head on even though it was difficult. I have dealt with a lot of tough stuff over the past couple years which included being taken advantage of for a long time. I made the decision that I am not going to let anyone take advantage of me or take me for granted anymore. I am very sad at the loss of the relationship with this whole family, but I have faith that God will help heal us all and use this somehow for the greater good.

I want to be here for my husband, our wonderful children, our family and friends. I can do that without being taken advantage of. I want God to use me in my life and in the lives of others. I don’t want to be cynical of everyone’s intentions with me. I do believe that we are here on this earth to bring glory to God by serving each other; by loving each other.  My prayer is for us to learn how to love each other. To learn to put others needs and even wants before our own. If we’d all learn to think of others before ourselves, the world would be such a better place.

God, I Need to Talk to You about My Bad Temper By Dan Carr / Concordia Publishing House Delightfully illustrated, these stories deal with concerns youngsters encounter in their daily lives. Each book points out the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness, while the supporting Scripture verse emphasizes the point of each story. Recommended for ages 2 to 7.

Tags: anger, bad temper, book, children, forgiveness, God, God's love, kids

An Easter Carol, VeggieTales DVD By Word Entertainment Inc Ebenezer Nezzer is out of control! Filling London with plastic Easter eggs, he’s on a rampage to make Easter “bigger than ever!” But just how hard can his mechanical chickens work before they’re, well, fried? In just one unforgettable day and night, Cavis and Millward (Bob and Larry) and a music box angel named Hope (voiced by Rebecca St. James) must convince Nezzer that Easter is about more than just candy and eggs.Inspired by Dickens’ Christmas classic, this very special VeggieTales film explains why millions of Christians around the world celebrate Easter past, present and future. DVD Features: Dolby Digital 5.1 Animated Shorts: “Larryboy: The Cartoon Adventures” and “3-2-1 Penguins!” How to Draw Hope and the Mechanical Chickens Stained glass documentary, Easter Carol animation progression reel DVD ROM fun Behind the Scenes: The Making of An Easter Carol Family Fun Activity Audio commentary by Phil Vischer and Tim Hodge (director) Veggie Karaoke An Easter Carol, Star of Christmas interactive storybooks Character bios Easter Egg Hunt, Trivia, Maze game Hidden Easter eggs!

Tags: children, Christian DVD, dvd, Easter, easter video, eggs, kids, Veggie Tales, videos

I am looking for great Christian story books for our kids to read. I would love to start building a list of great books for our home schooling family. Our childrens ages range from 8 months to 12 years old. I would love to get anyone’s opinion who’d like to share their favorite book titles.

Blessings!

Tags: book, children's books, christian books, home school, kids books, reading

Took the kids sledding today. It was so much fun. This is one great thing about homeschooling. We get these wonderful days together during the week. It was a great time playing together and bonding with each other. We get snow days afterall. =0)

Tags: family, fun, kids, sledding, snow

Click here to watch Ethan Dancing  Enjoy! =0)

Tags: dancing, kids, robot

There is  so much pain in this world full of sin. Pain comes in so many different shapes and sizes. It comes in varying degrees. It often comes and slaps us right up side the head when we least expect it. Pain can be caused by something we have personally done or from what someone else does to us. A combination of both or unavoidable situations in life that are hard to deal with but never-the-less come our way. Pain can result from many things and for many different reasons. One thing I believe, based on my own experience, is that it is personal. It is something that only God can heal. Whatever the situation causing the pain, it is personal to me. I have to walk through the fire. No one can take that walk for me. Jesus has already taken my place on the cross. But, when it comes to trials, no other person can “fix” my problems. It is a wonderful blessing when God has strategically placed friends and family in your life to help you. To cry with, laugh with, mourn with, be comforted by and to comfort. Ultimately, with any situation, with any trial that comes my way, I have a choice to make. The choice that everyone has to make on their own. To run into our Heavenly Father’s open arms or run the other way. It’s a choice that no one else can make for you. I can choose to trust that no matter what, God, the Creator of all life, has my back or choose to rely on myself or others and fail miserably. I recently decided that screaming at the top of my lungs and banging on the door was a good idea. It may have helped me release a little bit of built up stress and anger, but it was avoidable. Had I been letting the Lord heal me, and work in my life like He wants to, I would not have had so much built up anger. If I would lay my pain at the feet of Jesus and quit picking it up, maybe I would heal at the rate God has in mind for me. I think because I keep taking my pain back from Him, I am dragging out the grieving process for myself. Along with the healing of my heart. I have good days, and I have bad days. I know God is with me through thick and thin; good or bad. All I have to do is open my Bible and be encouraged by the Holy Scriptures. To talk to Him. Then, be quiet and listen.

The first thing we have to do before we can heal from being hurt is to forgive. Forgive even when the person who hurt you hasn’t asked you for forgiveness and may never ask for it. Even if you you don’t think that person deserves your forgiveness. I don’t think one can really move on without this very important step. You can choose to forgive. It is a choice. It is not an emotion. It is a loving act. Unforgiving is a poison we can avoid. I am to forgive just as Christ forgives me.   We don’t deserve it, but he forgives us anyway because God loves us. Forgiveness is a gift we can give others with God’s healing power.

There is a grieving process that we go through when we have lost something or someone. When I say, “something”, I don’t necessarily mean a material possession. I am thinking more along the lines of trust, love, a bond in a friendship, ect. Sometimes I think, “Why do I feel so bad, there are other people who are going through much worse.” This may be true and can help put a few things into a better perspective, but your pain and your trial should not be diminished. It should not be looked at as dumb, meaningless and unimportant. Everything about us and everything we go through no matter how small it may seem to us is very important to our merciful God. So I grieve. I cry. I yell. I hit my knees. I lay prostrate on the floor crying out to God for help; for strength, for love, for understanding. Sometimes I cry until my eyes are swollen and I can’t cry anymore.  As I lay there taking a deep calming breath, God reaches down and lifts me up off the floor. He gives me a tender kiss on my heart and a gentle kiss on my soul. Then, He gives me the warmest, most comforting hug a daddy can give his little girl and says ” It’s all gonna be okay. I am here with you. Believe in me and have faith in me. It will all me okay.”

-Melanie

To learn of God’s great love and plan of salvation please visit http://www.calvaryaurora.org/how-to-know-god/

Tags: forgiveness, God, grief, pain

Tags: chili, Christmas Trees, Chrsitmas, cocoa, cookies, friends, mountains, trees

It’s been a while since I have been able to sit down and write (type). It feels good. Got everyone down for bed at a reasonable hour. The house is picked up. I’m in pj’s and ready to relax at the computer. The last month has been busy for our family. As I am sure it has been for everyone.

December was bustling with activity, gift gathering, enjoying the blessing of family and friends and rejoicing in the celebration of Christ’s birth. We spent our Christmas with family in New Mexico. It was terrific getting spend time with Pat’s parents, brother, aunts, uncle and oodles of cousins. The kids loved having a bunch of cousins to play with.

We spent New Years weekend with Pat’s cousin Krista and her family. I had a fabulous weekend scrapbooking and spending time with their family. We truly enjoy our time with them and were blessed by their generosity. Pat, Jeff and the older boys went goose hunting in the mornings and afternoons. It’s my understanding they had a fantastic time together cooking breakfast, making coffee and hunting in the goose pit.

We started school after our break this week. So far, so good. We have had a couple of fairly smooth running days. Pat is home during the morning because of his new job schedule. It is a blessing having him here with us. It is such a huge help to me and we have home schooled together as a family. It’s great. He taught history yesterday and science today. They learned about electricity and their experiment produced a teeny tiny glow of light from a small bulb with copper wire, nails and oranges. Amazing! The kids have had blast with him here. We have all had a little more fun. How awesome is it that we are able to learn together and grow closer in our personal relationships with each other? Pat’s isn’t home in the evening, but he’s here when I need him most. And, we get to spend more quality time with him than we would if he were home at night. God’s timing is perfect. He knows what we need, just when we need it. Thank you, Lord.

I hope you are having a remarkable start to a new year. I pray your year is filled with an abundance of His blessings.

Tags: celebration, Christmas, December, family, goose hunting, homeschool, new year, relax, scrpbooking, writing

We had a great Thanksgiving. I hope everyone who reads this did too. We spent the day together playing, talking and of course cooking. Everyone helped me prepare and cook our meal. It was wonderful. I don’t ever want to forget these wonderful days with our children. The big boys even helped Papa fix a table for me and hooked up the tv, dvd player and the Wii. I made the Turkey and gravy. Zachary made the sweet potato casserole and the chocolate pie. Papa’s favorite. Cameron made rice krispie treats and green bean casserole. Noah made the jello for Ethan, the mashed potatoes and sliced the cranberry sauce. Papa peeled and boiled the potatoes. We also had pumpkin pie (of course) and cherry cheese cake. I was going to make it from scratch, but cheated instead. I’ll try Grandma’s recipe next year for the cheese cake. It’s my favorite dessert. Our friend Amber stopped by for dinner and made delicious sweet iced tea. Even though we forgot the dressing, we had a very enjoyable day. I am so thankful for our family and friends. I am thankful for God’s Love and forgiveness. I am thankful for the Grace He gives me each day. I give thanks to God for restoration and for carrying us through this life. I hope you enjoy the pictures from our day.

Many Blessings!

Tags: dinner, family, meal, thanksgiving