Stop Circling the Mountain and Head North!

In so many areas of our lives we do the same thing over and over and some how expect a change...lots of us have been around the mountain again and again and have come away disappointed, frustrated and not knowing what to do next.  I have been in a Bible Study with my dear friend Mary.  The study, Made to Crave, by Lysa Terkeurst,  addressed this very thing with a quote from Ruth Graham.....

"Either we can be victimized and become victims, or we can be victimized and rise above it.  Often it is easier to play the victim than take off our masks and ask for help.  We get comfortable with our victim status.  It becomes our idenity and is hard to give up.  The Israelites often played the victim card, and I love what God finally tells them, "You have circled this mountain long enough.  Now turn north. (Deutermonomy 2:3)

Turn North?  It is time to move on!  Self-pity, fear, pride and negativity paralyze us.  Taking off our masks takes courage, but if we don't do it, we will remain in our victim status and end up stunted."

This visual of going around the mountain really helped me get a handle on some of the struggles I was having reaching my goal in weight loss.  But as I thought about this...I was able to apply it to so many other things where I felt I was circling the mountain.  I now look for the opportunity to turn north and God is showing the way!  It is so good to be under his lead rather than worrying what other people are thinking or judging or what ever.  He has promised if we acknowledge Him in all we do, He will make our paths straight!  That is a beautiful promise in the Word of God.

But, back to the reason I am writing about this mind picture...it helped me look for another way to get to my goal and I turned north and found a new path.  This past week after yo-yoing for months, I finally met my goal for Weight Watchers.  It was a good feeling to accomplish this and so many times I was frustrated and going no where fast on 'the plan'.  I actually stumbled on a different plan that a dear friend suggested and it has worked in helping me cross the finish line!  What an exciting thing and the best part of the whole deal??

My hubby is now on board with the new plan-THM (Trim Healthy Mama).  He keeps asking, am I suppose to eat this much...it is really good too! By planning his meals and eating together, we have kept each other accountable and enjoyed the great desserts on the new plan!  He has lost 14 pounds in a month and 1/2.  At a recent doctor's appointment, his blood pressure was doing so well on the new plan that his doctor cut his medicine in1/2 and is monitoring it to cut more if need be--very soon!  He is so excited about what he eats and the great results!  The doctor was so excited that his numbers for blood pressure and cholesterol were where they were suppose to be he took the name and authors of the book to share with his patients!

So God had me on a journey...a weight loss one where I lost 55 pounds!  After circling the mountain and turning North...I found a new healthier path and am finished at this goal BUT he has challenged me to not stop here.  I have a new goal and I can't wait to see where he has me going next!  The best part...I am not doing it alone.

Our Mother's Day

We headed off to church early this morning after an simple breakfast with our children. We had a great service and lots of fellowship and one huge miracle to be grateful for today...God showers so many blessings on us! It is even better to be given a front row seat! There are a few pictures of the boys having fun too.

We returned home and helped the boys prepare for their Alert backyard camp out. Joseph is so excited to be included with the big boys too! The girls joined them for franks, beans and s'mores! Yum! The boys were left to their camp out while I took the girls in for a bath and put Devon down for the night while they played in the tub. Thy are camping out in the living room...they are so excited...I excited for my own bed tonight.

Training

Jess, Kiara and I headed out to the barn today right after lunch...it was such a treat! We brushed the horses and Jess helped me work on some techniques with lunging...we had a few laughs when Spirit decided to challenge us and headed my way! I went running and told Jess she was my body guard...it was very funny and I learned to work through my mistakes...it was a great learning day for mom! Our horses are really lots of fun!

Sometimes it is the little things in life...

Sometimes it is the little thing that fill our days and being us joy...sharing a few of our little things ... Brandon cracking his first ever walnuts with a rock--he really wanted to do it and became resourceful! The next picture is an after picture of a fence I ripped out and then Darrell and I moved the water tanks and put them back to back for many reasons that just make sense. Like things and little joys of discovery...loving it!

The Mississippi Redneck

Jason's former foster parents, Ken and Maryann, travel in their very large trailer each winter all over the south.  They have many adventures and often share them with folks...we are so very fortunate to get pictures and stories of their adventures.  The kids love it and so do I.

 

This morning we woke up to their most recent post and I asked if we could share it here and they agreed...you are now blessed to read of their most recent adventure...and yes, it is an adventure!

 

I love stories like this because it is a reminder of the folks that are still out there in America...it makes us all so unique and despite all the troubles in our country their are good things and people still here helping us to remember what makes us who we are in America!  I love this and just wanted you to know about the Mississippi Redneck who you might just come across one of these days when you are on an adventure of your own!

 

Enjoy!

 

Hi

As we travel we are constantly looking through pamphlets, internet and travel catalogs for interesting places to visit. But every once in a while we run into people and sights that can not be planned.

On the Natchez Trace National Park highway we hit pay dirt. The road is a national scenic highway. It’s 450 miles long, 50 MPH limit, no stop signs, no traffic lights, no trucks, very few exits and three free campsites. It runs from Natchez Mississippi, north thru Alabama and ends in Nashville Tennessee. We met a bicyclist, Kelly, who’s only possessions are his bicycle and a pet cat. He carries the cat in a cage on his bike. He has no home and just travels around the country on his bike. He has been traveling for about 7 years. Before becoming a full time bicyclist he hiked by foot and once spent 4 months kayaking from New Orleans to Provincetown Ma. We talked for hours and invited him to our RV for lunch. He has been to almost every place we have visited. A very interesting person.

We met another bicyclist, Randy, from Minnesota. He is married with two grown daughters, recently retired, and decided to pedal to New Orleans. He occasionally stops at restaurants and motels but spends most of the time on the road camping. He will take a train back to Minnesota.

Then we met Robert E Lee Voyles, the Mississippi Redneck. He was born in Maine, was a cross country truck driver until he had medical issues in his 50’s. He now lives in Mississippi. He has suffered a stroke, partially blind in one eye, has a pacemaker and two years ago a friend accidently ran over his leg with a car. The surgeon wanted to amputate but Robert said no. He had surgery and they repaired his leg as best as possible. It is 4 inches shorter than his good leg and was told he would never walk again without crutches. Until 4 weeks ago he spent most of his time in a wheelchair. He is one of the nicest people we have ever met. Below are some photos of his homemade RV

He said it takes about 1.5 hours to get gas – everybody wants to talk about the RV. He never stays at a “pay” campground and whenever he parks at a Wal-Mart he attracts dozens of cars and people.

 

Love

Maryann and Ken

 

His modified 1985 Buick station wagon pulling his modified trailer.

 

His car is legal and passes inspection. He cut a hole in the rear door for more storage area.

 

 

A front view of his “car”. No hood, one of his 3 generators is mounted in the front.

The big tank on top is filled with water, with a hose running down to the outside of his radiator.

 When his car starts to overheat, he opens a valve and which allows water to drip onto his radiator and helps cool it down.

 

 

Another front view from the passenger side. Below the front storage carrier is a electric wench. He is prepared for everything.

 

The box like item attached to the front door is a 110 volt room air conditioner.

 

Here is the air conditioner on the inside of the door.

 

He sleeps inside the car when its hot. Three fans and the air conditioner to keep him cool.

He has “stuff” everywhere.

 

 

His trailer, with a sheet hanging over the doorway. It helps to keep the inside a little cooler on hot days.

His kitchen is attached to the side.

 

Ken and Robert.

 

 

Maryann is inspecting two horse shoes “brackets” welded to uprights.

He has no pets, the pet carrier on top is used to carry his milk gallon water jugs.

 

Maryann with the Mississippi Redneck. When she first met him she said “you are an artist”

 

He has numerous tool boxes and mail boxes for storage. The black unit in back is a large battery charger

 

 

A rear view of the trailer.

 

He has no bathroom or sewage tank in his trailer so he took a metal folding chair and toilet seat to build his bathroom.

He has a large poncho which he wears when he has to go when other people are in view.

 

I did not take a picture of the inside of his trailer because it reminded me of a “find Waldo” picture. I don’t know how he finds anything.

 

Ohhhh....what a fun treat!!

Yesterday afternoon we got a call offering our entire family free tickets to the Manchester Monarch's play off game tonight! It was a very exciting game and our family was featured many times on the video cam! We were right behind the goal too where we saw exciting plays...I think they were the best seats ever!

The coolest part was they win the game and are now advancing to the next game on Saturday night...oh such fun!

Benwinman --April

We started off with a chilly morning but ventured out to the Bennett's home for our monthly Benwinman event! The chill eventually burned off into a glorious sun shiny day! My children played games, played baseball, went swinging, played in the sand box, played tag, laughed and just ran their heads off...it was so good to see them enjoying the out doors and we are very grateful to Norm and Cindy to let us all invade their home...my kids are getting showered and ready for bed but are quite happy and tired from their day. They shared many happenings with dad at dinner and he was glad to hear of their adventures! Can't wait till next month!