Now onto 1st, 5th, and 7th...Wow how time flys!!!

Well we have offically finished our first school year at Hamilton Elementary and Hamilton Middle School. I now have two in middle school, one in 1st grade, and one at home. They are growing up so fast! Ethan did awesome in Kindergarten...He mastered every skill and is so smart...now if we can just get past the stage of him being a smarty pants lol. The girls both did good. Brianna is excited to be a 7th grader and Kara is excited(somewhat, she's not much for change) for middle school. Its hard to believe that we have been in Hamilton for almost 1 whole year. I am a very proud mommy and wife. Along with super blessed!!! (no pics of Kara bc she will not let me take one, shes not camera happy right now...lol)

CLASS OF 2010 KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE

GETTING HIS DIPLOMA

NO LONGER A 6TH GRADER!!!

JAXSON~JUST A BIG BOY!!Jeremiah 29: 11-13 (NLT)
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me."

Last weekend in April!!! Wow God is amazing!!

(from the weekend of April 23-25th)
I have just realized that this weekend has a lot of meaning. Two years ago, April Ramp 08, was our first trip to the Ramp. We came with our youth group from BSOP. It was incredible. For the first time in a long time, I felt the freedom to worship. Needless to say, we were wrecked when we left, both Jeremy and I, and the youth group. (At this meeting, Jeremy began to feel the pull to Hamilton. But I didn’t.) We attended the Kids Ramp 08 with our kids and then also the Summer Ramp. Last year, this same weekend, Jeremy, the kids, and I came up for the first time on a Sunday night. It was the Sunday night after April Ramp 09. During the service, I began to feel the tug to Hamilton. On our way home from that service, Jeremy and I realized that God was calling us here. Three months later, we came! So much has happened in a year. I have learned a lot and am still learning.

What Have I learned that in a year? A lot can happen in a year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days… One year ago, if you had told me that we as family were about to go though a layoff, a major move, and incredible experiences…I just would have laughed. A year ago, I believed we would be at US Steel for the rest of our lives, live in Morris, AL til we died, and work with the youth at BSOP forever. (The only part of that that I dreaded was the US Steel part.) Feb of 2009, Jeremy was laid off for 2 weeks and then back to work. Ok, this wont last long. Cool! March, we were laid off…whole month, then came April, May, June, July. Really didn’t expect all that. We went from making great money to next to nothing. What was God up to, we begin to ask in April. At the end of April, we made a trip to the Ramp for a Sunday night service. Damon preached an awesome word. That night on the way home, I told Jeremy I was feeling the same as he had been for over a year to move there. We began deep prayer and searching for what God really wanted us to do. The next three months from then would be trying and difficult. What would our family think, would we find a house or even a job, would our kids be ok, was this truly what we needed to do? Every time we came to Hamilton, the Lord reassured us that we were making the right move. I began to lean on God and to trust Him like never before. I began to realize for the first time in all my saved years, that He could and would have complete control and I would have NO worries. He’s God and with Him all things are possible. I learned to let go and let God. He holds this whole world in His hands and despite my questions and things I don’t know or understand, He knows what He is doing!!

In a year, I have seen a change in my kids. I have watched my daughter go to a new level with the Lord. Brianna is so in love with God. She gives Him her all. She has come to know a freedom in her worship. She likes to get up at 5am to read her Bible. And has recently started a bible study at school!!! I have watched Kara grow in knowing who God is to her. I have seen her come out of her shell when it comes to God. Just a few weeks ago, I watched her get on her knees and seek God during worship. Last week, she went up the front and worshiped. Not like her at all, she’s not a “everyone look at me kind of girl.” Even at 5 yrs old (now 6), I watched Ethan grow in the Lord. He loves worship and now gets to play his guitar on the stage. The ministry team here, along with Damon and Mrs. Karen have become who they want to model themselves after. Each day, I see them grow more and more than they ever have. I watch Jaxson as he becomes completely captivated by God. When worship begins, he focuses, he sings, he raises his hands. The songs he sings at home are those that bring glory to the Lord. Being here at the Ramp is more than a Sunday school lesson or a youth group for my kids. Its real life to them. It has become their Normal! The people they look up to now aren’t Miley Cyrus, Icarly, or Spiderman, although they still like them. They have a new focus. Their 1st focus is the Lord! They look up to those who lay down their lives daily to live for the Lord. My girls aren’t focused on boys and having a boyfriend. Because they know that God has someone special for them. They still like boys but they just know that there are things more important. If this move does nothing else than cause my children to love God more and seek after Him more, then it was and is so worth it. I am raising up little John the Baptist. They don’t want to play church or even fake it til they make it. We as a family have past the “normal Christian” attitude that a lot of people have.

But this experience with God has been so much more than just for kids. I myself have grown so much in the Lord. I have gotten an increased hunger for His word. I read it now and its not like Chinese. I think about God all the time. I know He will always take care of us. I have seen Him come through so many times since we have been here. He is just so amazing. I have seen God strip things away from my family that we thought were important. I have seen the enemy try to attack us and LOOSE!!! I have watched my husband grow and let God take him to new levels. Being in God’s will is so much more important that trying to keep up with those around you. It has taught us that to truly seek Him means getting out of the box. Although getting out of the box isn’t comfortable, its well worth it. God doesn’t work in the box, he doesn’t heal in the box, he doesn’t dream in the box and why should we. I don’t want to be a box thinking Christian because the God I live my everyday life for is so much bigger than that. He is GOD ALL BY HIMSELF!!! Even when I don’t understand everything that happens, or can even see what in the world is going to happen, or how it will all work out, I know who He is and that He is in control. And that’s trust I know that will never be broken, misused or forgotten.

We look forward to the new levels that God is going to take our family as well as each of us individually. The Glory of the Lord is so worth this all. Even when others can’t see it or feel like our actions are nothing but mistakes, I look around at my family and see what God has done, is doing, and I am excited for what is next…and I am so thankful just to be where He has called us.

Prayer Request Update

Baby Grayson is doing awesome!!! He is almost 2mths old and taking a bottle now. Mom and Dad(Tracy and Stephen Whitlock) are just patiently waiting the day they can take him home! But he is growing fast, now weighs 3.8lbs and is almost 16inches long! Here is a picture of him with his wonderful mommy and daddy! Keep them in your prayers!!!

Prayer request

Please pray for Grayson Eli Whitlock. He is 2 weeks old and was born at 26 weeks. He is doing good but needs prayer for his lungs so he can come off the ventilator. He weights 2lbs and as you can see his feet are the size of your car key! His parents have prayed for him for a long time and he an answered prayer and gift from God! Please lift him and his parents, Stephen and Tracy Whitlock, up in your prayers! I will keep you posted on how he is! Thanks!

tiny toes

The Cross

I once read a story that now stays with me everyday.
There were these two boys, Jake and Matt, who were best friends all their lives. Jake grew up in a Godly home and was saved. Matt had a terrible home life and lived ungodly. But Jake and Matt always hung out. They played ball together, went fishing together, turned 16 together. One night, Matt was out partying with some other friends and on their home, the car crashed and Matt died. Jake knew he wasn't saved. And he knew he never shared with him. One day Jake received a letter. As he opened it and began to read it, he realized it was from Matt...
Dear Jake,
As I sit here, I get madder and madder by the minute. We spent our whole lives with each other and not once did you ever tell me about this horrible place. Not once did you tell me about Hell! Its terrible here! Why didnt you tell me? Why didnt you tell me that all I had to do was give my life to the Lord and I could missed this place. I could have went to heaven. Why?
Your friend,
Matt

Wow! Everyday we have the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us and we don't. I am guilty of this. Its that fear that maybe they will be mad, or they will think I am crazy. But over the past few months, this has really been an issue on my heart to make sure that people know. We, as children of God, cant live our lives everyday the best we can and hope that just by that, people will get saved! We have to reach out to those around us and make sure that when that time comes, they have made the right choice or at least had the opportunity to.

Today, I am reminded of what my Savior did over 2000 yrs ago.

JOHN 19
16...So they took Jesus away. ¹⁷ Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). ¹⁸ There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹ And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

²¹ Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’”

²² Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. ²⁴ So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did.

²⁵ Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸ Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. ³⁰ When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

³¹ It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. ³³ But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. ³⁴ One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ³⁵ (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.) ³⁶ These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” ³⁷ and “They will look on the one they pierced.”

He gave His life for me! He died a horrible death just for me. His blood, on that day, covered every sin that you and I could ever commit. It doesn't matter what we have done, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness.

John 3: 16-17~16"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."

The great and wonderful news is that Jesus rose from the dead!

So today I am asking you...ARE YOU SAVED? You may think, well what exactly does it mean to be saved. To become a child of God, means to realize that God made a way for you to escape the horribleness of Hell. Why? Because He loves you that much!!! He made way through His son who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. The blood that He shed for us washes away every sin ever committed "if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) After becoming a child of God, you then live your life through the Word, The Bible. Once you make the decision to truly change your life, you strive live a life that is sinless.

God is God of Love. He loves each and every one of us and desires to have a relationship with us. But He will never force us to make that decision. Its up to us. We have to want it. We have to want to go to heaven, to have a life of peace and joy. Becoming a child of God doesn't mean that your life will instantly becoming problems free, but it does mean having Him fight your battles. And with Him by my side, all things are possible. And even in the hardest time, I have the faith to know that He is working things out on my behalf.

I love you all! I hope this weekend is the best of your life!
Are you saved? If you died in 5 mins, would go to heaven or would you go to hell!

Brianna is 12!!!

I can not believe Brianna turned 12 yesterday! It just doesnt seem right. Seems like just yesterday she was my 3 yr old little girl!!! But wow the beautiful, Godly, young lady she has become is awesome and I am so proud of her. I love her very much! Here are some pics from her family bday party!Brianna was so excited to get her purse!!Ethan and NoahMe and Maddie

Ready for whats next...

So I have been in this slump all week...no energy, extra tired, cranky at times for no reason, stressed, frustrated, and overwhelmed, feeling like I am at a road block in lots of areas. Wow after typing all that, I feel sorry for my family this past week.

As I logged in onto Facebook last night, Mrs. Karen says she can feel its going to be a great weekend(along with lots of others). Next was Creflo Dollar status, "God promises to come through in your life in a way that will work for you and satisfy you. When your path appears blocked, God sees a way." I've had moments this week when I have realized that God is up to something big because the enemy has been on my back, kinda like those nagging people on the back commercials. I have comlete faith in the Lord and I KNOW He has my every situation in His hand. Athough I hate times when I feel like this, I have a great anticipation and excitement with what the future holds. God's plan is always bigger and better than the enemy's and even with my uncertianty of how it will all work out, I know that it will. God can see ahead of me. So even with all this heaviness on me, I can see the beauty coming. I can feel it. I know there will be breakthrough. I just have to keep the praise coming and lifting up His name. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were in jail, beaten and chained up, they still praised the name of the Lord. Around midnight, there was an earthquake and their chains were broken. Through their praise and faith, God made a way. And so I will know I just have to keep my head held high and know that He is God! (By the way, God is so funny. He knows what we need when we need it...this morning my devotion was "Praise your way to a Breakthrough!" Haha, I love how He works!
Sometimes the heaviness is there so that we can be truly grateful when its lifted. The gathering this weekend is going to be amazing. In my heart, I have been excited about it. Rick Pino is supposed to be here, on top of all the other great people who are with this ministry!

Jeremiah 29:11 " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.' " So if today you are feeling the same thing or going through something that you just cant see the end of, remember that as long as God is in control, that it will only last for moment and that it will all work out. Because He has great plans for us. He knows the future and as long as we stay on His path, His will, and let Him guide us, Everything will be ok.

Have a great day and enjoy this beautiful picture God gave me yesterday after a hail storm here at the house. :)