My Kids

“How many kids do you have now?” The age old question people ask each other when they haven’t seen you for a while or when you first meet.
“Fifteen.” I reply with calm assurance and a polite smile while waiting for the initial shock to pass and reality to kick in.
“Surely, they can’t all be your kids?”
“Yes, yes they are.”

Brock, Justin, Xavier, Raquel, Michelle, Stacey, Andrew, Lauren, Jacque, Emily, Tyler, Alex, Kyle, Jessica, Adonis, and Allison. Sixteen if you count our dog Bella.
Their nicknames are Broccoli, Hulk, Scoop, Quel and Shelly (they are my “Twinkies”), Stace, Cuban, Laaaaren, My Girl, Emmie, Ty, Lazy and Newb. The other three have not been to camp yet and therefore have not been labeled.


I am constantly amazed at the level of “abuse” these kids receive at our hands, and yet, they consistently come back for more. We make fun of them, call them names, bop them on the head, and occasionally they even sustain injury; such as the black eye Emmie received after a wayward box of candy hit her. They’re rowdy, loud, weird, forgetful, always hungry, and sometimes smell bad. We have inside jokes (5th place ribbon) and stories that make us laugh until we cry every time we hear them.

Nothing warms this “Mommy” heart more than to see and be apart of the growth and excitement my kids experience. Joyfully serving the Lord, giving testimony of touched hearts and reaching out to bring others into the “family.”


I am by no means an expert on teenagers, as a matter of fact, every time I think I’ve got it figured out, they change on me! I raise my kids, and just when we’re starting to really get to know each other and bond, they graduate and leave for college and I am left with a whole new youth group.

“Oh wait, did I forget to mention, I’m a Youth-Mommy.”

We’re Moving!

Yes, you read the title right, Kenny and I are moving South… waaaaayyy down south… Near Miami, Florida to be exact! Kenny has taken an Assistant Pastor’s position at Bible Baptist Church in Pembroke Pines, FL and we are super excited to start a new work/ministry in the deep south and continue Our Life in the REAL Big City!

The Lord has blessed us SOOOO over abundantly more than we could ever ask or think while we were in the process of making this decision! We had some pretty specific prayer requests (besides the usual doctrine, standards, etc.) we wanted answered about where the Lord would have us go, like:

• The Pastor/Pastor’s Wife. When your going to be working closely with someone, like Kenny and I would be in the ministry, we wanted to have almost a family-like relationship. For me, especially, being so far away from my own family this was super important to have a couple who would not just be a boss but a friend. This was answered the moment we met with Pastor and Mrs. Brown, we fell easily into conversation and I felt they really cared about us as a couple and not just what we could do for them and their ministry.
• Travel expenses to visit the church. In case you haven’t noticed, traveling right now can be very expensive whether you drive or fly. Obviously, that was answered, we were able to fly down after Christmas and spend New Years in Florida with our new church family.
• Finding housing for $1000. a month or less. Under this prayer request I had some even more specific qualifications: I wanted a yard – it didn’t have to be big or fancy but something for Bella (our dog) to run around in. Also, I wanted to NOT have a neighbor right behind our home – there’s nothing more nerve racking to me than to be completely and totally surrounded by other houses. And lastly, a washer and dryer in the home. After Pastor Brown announced that Kenny had accepted the position at the church a couple came up to him and told him that they had a town house that they would rent to us for $1000. a month. We went to look at it the day before we left and it had everything I had been praying for: a small yard, the back yard has a lake behind it so no neighbors and a washer and dryer in the garage (the garage is something Kenny had been wanting). Also, if that wasn’t perfect enough, the couple were going to paint the inside and change the flooring before renting it out so they let us choose our colors for the wall and preference on flooring type! I can’t wait to see the finished product when we get back down there.
• The feeling of “Home.” I don’t know if you’ve ever felt out of place but let me tell you it is not fun. I have shed many tears over not feeling at “home.” I can’t even explain to you what home feels like but when you find it, its the most wonderful, fulfilling feeling there ever could be. Kenny and I were sitting in the Sunday Morning Service after having taught Sunday School and done the music for the Service when I leaned over to Kenny and asked him if he was home. His smile, when he asked me if I was, gave me my answer. I’m tearing up right now just thinking about how wonderful that moment was to know in my mind and heart that Bible Baptist Church is where God wanted us.

A lot of people have asked us how we are going to deal with living in Florida, the cultural differences, the language barrier we are bound to face at some point and just being so far away from our families. My answer is: when you’ve got specific answers to prayer like we have had, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is where God is leading you, all of those things don’t really matter in comparison!

So let the “Flor-idiot” jokes begin because this little family is headed South!

Thankful Friday – The Proverbs 31 Woman

I know its not Thursday but the internet at work was down so I couldn’t send it out. But I hope you get a blessing from it no matter what day its on :)

I was looking online for some new ideas of what I could do for my personal devotions, I like to have a guide or a book to follow to keep me on track, and I stumbled across Revive Our Hearts – The Counter Cultural Woman. I had seen this series before and thought it sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try.

Before I go on I have to say that I don’t particularly like that fact that she uses every version of the Bible under the blue moon but I do appreciate her heart for God and that she really wants to help encourage women to live a Godly, Christ-honoring life.

For my Bible reading I’m taking the 31 day challenge to read Proverbs 31 every day. Its been really neat to see the things I’ve found in my own reading of this passage but what I want to share with you all is what Nancy, Revive Our Heart’s speaker, had to say.

Today she was giving an over view of the Virtuous Woman. Yes, she sews, she cooks, she has her own business but the heart throb behind all of her “works” is her love for God and her desire to please Him above all others. I really had to question myself about the motives I have for doing things.

Am I wanting glory and honor for God or for myself?

(ouch) This was a real burn as I thought “Are the things I do so that Kenny will be proud and praise his new wifey? or because I want to please God whether Kenny, and others, notice or not?”

Going back to the Virtuous Woman, she received her husband and children’s praise at the end of the chapter but how much better to receive the praise of our heavenly Father for work well done that brought honor to His name.

Thankful Thursday - Church Family

Last night at church Kenny asked for prayer about my car situation and mentioned that I needed to find a replacement vehicle a.s.a.p. My parents have been taking me to and from work and graciously letting me borrow their car to run errands and go to church.

Well after the service, Adam, one of the men in our church came to me and asked if I wanted to borrow his wife’s car until I found another vehicle. (his wife, Ms. Joy, just had back surgery and won’t be driving for several weeks, pray for her recovery if you think about it, I’m sure she would appreciate that!) I was in shock…. Kenny said he felt like reaching over and closing my mouth when Adam asked if I wanted to borrow their car. :)

If I’m not able to find a car this weekend, I think we’re going to work something out for me to pick up the Tahoe from the Harmon’s on Sunday.

Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us…

This is something I’ve been praying a lot here recently, I didn’t expect the Harmon’s to offer their car for me to use but I am definitely glad for it because it gives me more time to car shop and I am thankful because it was something that God did. I didn’t ask for it or expect it, God laid it on their hearts and that makes it even more special to me!

Thanksgiving...On Monday

Ok, I know its not Thursday but I believe that we should be thankful all the time.

I Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.

I Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

To make a longing a story short my Dad thinks my car threw a rod. Now for all the ladies out there who, like me, don’t know what that means, it costs a lot to get it fixed! Anyways I’ll be honest and say that I’ve been a little bummed about it, not knowing what to do, should I try to get it fixed or put the money into a buying a different car? If I go for a different car, how much can I afford to spend? You know how it goes, a million and one questions are going through my mind.

The thankful part: I was reading some of the blogs I’m following this morning and came across Mrs. Lockhart’s blog A Home is a House Full of Love and read Monday's Manna. She did a little piece about following God’s leading. It just got me thinking about these verses in Psalms:

Psalms 139:1-10,14 –

1. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5. Thou has beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

14. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

I’m so glad that I am a Christian and that my Heavenly Father doesn’t forget about me, He knows where I am, He knows my problems, and verse 10 says that his hand will lead me and his right hand will hold me.

My 50th Blog Post

I just thought you all should know that I finally made it to 50 Posts! I am just going to be writing about random things today: Things I’m thankful for, favorite quotes, verses, and random thoughts. I hope you enjoy!

1. This is my Nephew Austin and my niece Mikaela.
2. The number one thing I am thankful for is my salvation but after that it is that I was able to grow up in a godly environment with Parents and Grandparents who encouraged me to serve the Lord with my life.
3. I have always wanted to work with teenagers in some way, I guess its a good thing that God brought me a Youth Pastor to marry.
4.  I dislike working in the church nursery, at the same time, my favorite age group for Sunday School is the 2~3 class. Some people think this is strange.
5.  If its going to be cold it should snow and if its not going to snow it should be 78~80 degrees, is that too much to ask?
6. My two best friends… pondering something important I’m sure!
7. Psalm 57:7 – My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
8. I have developed road rage since dating Kenny. Let me explain, southern drivers do things like stopping at yield signs, or pulling into a parking space that is on the opposite side of the road. I never paid attention to these things until Kenny pointed them out. Now I find myself yelling through the windshield at the idiot in front of me!
9. Peach is the best flavor for a sucker or slushy.
10. When Kenny and I first met we didn’t like each other at all! I thought he was hot on himself and he says that I was a spoiled teenager.
11. My Grandparents along with my mom, on the left and my aunt, on the right. It was my Grandparents 60 something wedding anniversary! (I do know the exact amount of years they’ve been married, I just can’t post it because they just don’t want anyone to know how old they are!)
12. Pastor Camp did a series on Ruth several years ago, after he read Ruth 1:17~18 he made the statement that those two verses would make great marriage vows. Ever since then I’ve wanted to say them to the man I was going to marry in my vows to him.
13. Romans 8:39 – Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
14. I love my job as a barber. When Dad had his hot dog stand he would ask people if they could figure out what I did for a living, I don't think anyone ever guessed right.
15. In my job, I run into people from all over the place, Ireland, London, Cuba, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida. Its quite an education!
16. My brother Stephen, I think he’s adopted. 
17. Bowl cuts look cute on little boys but when your 27 with one its not cute anymore. At the same time, Mohawks and mullets never look good on anyone!
18. Why is it we drive on a Parkway and park on a Driveway?
19. I don’t have a favorite color, only favorite patterns – polka~dots and certain plaids.
20. The name of my blog, “Life in the Big City,” is just a sarcastic way of saying that I live in a small town that tries to do big things. Sometimes they succeed: Hot Nights and Cool Rides is one of the largest car shows in the Southeast; however, sometimes they fail: Dairy Goat Festival and Parade…. what is that?!?!?!?
21. Kenny and Austin playing “Twister.”
22. Vanilla scented candles and a rainy day go hand in hand.
23. Random facts, quotes, and corny jokes are the greatest!
24. Esther is my favorite book of the Bible. God’s name is never mentioned but you can see Him working throughout the story. That idea reminds me of unsaved people, they may not have God in their life yet but you can see Him working so don’t give up!
25. “God grant me the serenity to accept the people I can not change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know its me.” ~Author unknown, variation of an excerpt from “The Serenity Prayer” by Reinhold Neibuhr

I hope you got some enjoyment out of my ramblings for today. Maybe I’ll have something exciting to post later this week.

Blessings from God’s Word

What I’d like to share today was from Mrs. Judy’s Sunday-school lesson yesterday.

I’ve been teaching 2-3 year olds for about 3 years now so it has been surprising to see how much I missed hearing from God’s Word from an older, more experienced, lady who can add her own life’s experiences to what she is teaching. It was a real blessing yesterday and I hope I can share adequately what it was that God gave me out of this.

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16, 23-24

1  O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2   Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3   Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4   For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5   Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6   Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

1. God Knows Me. vs.1-6

13   For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14   I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15   My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16   Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

2. God Made Me. vs 13-16

~Mrs. Judy talked about the word reins meaning the innermost part of a person, basically the organs. She then passed around a book showing all of the stages of pregnancy. So we could all see how God formed us. She pointed specifically to a picture of the baby at about 4 weeks, did you know that the heart has already formed at such an early stage? We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

~She talked about verse 15 and “the lowest part of the earth” meaning the woman’s womb. Even though the woman may not know that she is expecting yet God does from the moment we are conceived. He knows all about us “My substance was not hid from thee."

I thought of Andrea Hamilton during Sunday School and the little baby picture she has on her blog showing how her baby is growing and developing. That little baby even though he isn’t born yet is still a person in God’s sight and He knows everything about him already.

23   Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24   And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

3. Davids Prayer. vs. 23-24

This is a familiar part of scripture to most people, David wanted God to see every aspect of his life and lead him in the way he should go. Mrs Judy just asked each of us if we could honestly pray this prayer about our lives or if there were things in the way that we wouldn’t want God to see(which He does anyways as seen earlier). Its not an easy thing to pray that prayer and be willing to remove those “wicked ways.” I’m so glad that God, even though he sees all of our downfalls and failures He also loves us enough to show grace and mercy and gently tries to lead us “in the way everlasting.”

Well I don’t feel like I’ve done a good job at sharing this but hopefully you were able to see something from this Psalm in a different light than before. If you have anything to add about this or just  comment I’d love to hear what you have to say about this Psalm.

Thankful Thursday

 I decided to give some thanksgiving quotes for today. Some are funny and some are serious, I hope you enjoy.

 

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of Thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer

 

Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude. ~E.P. Powell

Thanksgiving was never ment to be shut up in one single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. ~Irv Kupcinet

 The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings ~Henry Ward Beecher

Let us remember that, as much as has been given to us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Thanksgiving is America’s national chow-down feast, the one occation each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty. ~Michael Dresser

Coexistence: What the farmer does with the turkey… until Thanksgiving. ~Mike Connoly

 God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart. ~Izaac Walton

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now. ~A.W. Tozer

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. ~Aesop

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you?   ~William A. Ward

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~Mark Twain

 

Thankful Thursday

It has just been happening by accident that I’ve posted a special blessing on Thursdays and today is no different. I don’t know that I’ll always post some thankfulness on Thursday but for today the title just seemed to fit.

This is the Top Seven things I am Thankful for at this moment in my life.

 

1. My Heavenly Father – He guides, protects, supplies, and corrects me and it is all done out of a love that I fail to understand and comprehend. Here recently my Dad has been in the hospital because of a serious infection in his foot. I know that the Lord is in total control, He hasn’t forgotten our family or what is going on in our lives. Because I have a Father in Heaven, I have comfort that everything will work out to the glory of God.
2. My Parents – They are not just my parents but also my best friends. I am thankful for the Godly heritage I have from them and I hope to raise my children to the glory of God as my parents have done.  There is a song that says it best “I may not have riches as some others may, but I have a mother who knows how to pray. And there may be some things I missed in my youth, but I have a Father who stands for the truth! I have a goodly heritage, I am blessed with things you can’t see. I have a goodly heritage, and that is worth far more to me."
3. My Family – I was raised in a Christian Family that encourages each other to serve the Lord whether in full time Christian service or as a layman in a church. My Aunt and Uncle started a church in Kansas and have been there for at least 20 years. My cousin Abby and her new hubby are proud supporters of her parents church in KS. Her brother Ben and his wife are at BJU studying the Bible (the last I heard) in order to be missionaries someday, they also are helping a church in Linville Falls. My older sister Missy and her husband are currently in Missions Training at NTBI in Canada with the hopes of someday going to Papua New Guinea to translate the Bible into tribal languages. My brother Stephen and his wife work with the music and youth at Calvary Baptist Church as well as working in the area. All of this stems from grandparents who brought up their children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to love and serve the Lord.
4. My Future Hubby – You didn’t really expect me to get too far without at least mentioning Kenny, did you? :) I have been praying about/for Kenny for almost 3 years now asking the Lord to bring him the right woman to be his helpmeet, even if that meant it wasn’t going to be me. But, as Dawn said a couple weeks ago; “God gets the glory and I get to glow” because I get to be the lucky girl who spends the rest of her life with Kenny Godby and I couldn’t be more excited about it!
5. My Job – How many people can say that God worked out the perfect job just for them? I can! During my last year of Cosmetology school I started getting bad headaches from the chemicals and thought maybe I wouldn’t be able to continue in that profession. About 2-3 weeks before graduation I started looking for a “haircuts only” position in a salon somewhere when a guy named Jeff called my school looking for someone getting ready to graduate who was looking for a “haircuts only” kind of job. (yes he said those exact words) I have been working for Jeff and Lisa for the past 4 1/2 years and I have loved (almost, wink wink) every minute of it! 
6. My Church – I really have 3 churches that I could at any moment call my home church. Maranatha Baptist, the church I grew up in, got saved and baptized in and will soon be getting married in. Glory Baptist, the church that helped me break out of my shell and learn to serve, they also taught me a lot about helping each other and praying for one another. And lastly but not least, Emmanuel Baptist, I’ve only been there a little over a month now but they have welcomed me into their church family and I have already learned a lot from each person.
7. Our Youth Group – Brock, Emily, Dakota, Elizabeth, Demi, Mason and Mikaela. (I don’t want to hear “Ms Becky why is Brock first on the list?” Because your names are not put in any order of importance.) With that said I think we have the best youth group around and I enjoy being with each one of them.

I could keep going but if I’m actually going to get this posted on Thursday I had better stop there. With Thanksgiving just around the corner (seriously its next week) What are you thankful for?

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Veterans Day!

 
I grew up in a household that was always proud to support our country and the men and women who gives their lives for our freedom. My Dad is a veteran and as a young girl I spent lots of time at the feet of other veterans who I have developed some treasured friendships. Because of this background Veterans Day just can not go un-noticed!

“But the freedom that they fought for,

and the country grand they wrought for,

is their monument to-day, and for aye!”

                  ~ Thomas Dunn English

“This nation will remain the land of the free

only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

~Elmer Davis

“Freedom is never free” ~Unknown

“I think there is one higher office than president,

and I would call that patriot.” ~Gary Hart

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms.

It means a strong desire to live

                                         taking the form of readiness to die.”

                                        ~G. K. Chesterton

“In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.” ~Mark Twain, The Notebook, 1935 

Thank a Veteran Today!

P.S. If you are a Veteran or Military Personnel living in/near Rutherford County stop by Spindale Barbershop, 111 West Main, Spindale, for a free haircut.

Thank you for your service to our country!

“God gets all the glory and I get to glow.”

I’ve got a little story to share about a couple I’ve been fortunate enough to meet at Emmanuel Baptist Church. I don’t know every detail to their story but I want to share what I do know.

About 3 weeks ago Todd and Dawn walked into the doors of Emmanuel on a Wednesday afternoon. They had just moved into the area from Florida. And as far as I know they had a deal on a house before they moved but when they got here the deal had fallen through. Around the same time they traded vehicles only to have the new one burn up on them.  This left them homeless and without a car. They started asking around for someone who could help them and eventually someone directed them to come to Emmanuel. The church put them up in a hotel if they came to church.

For the past three weeks the two of them have been helping out around the church. They have been such a blessing with their faithfulness to the church, and Todd seems to be a Jack-of-all-trades, fixing doors and painting in sometimes less than superb places (the rafters in the Burlison Building being one of them.) Recently Todd has found a job, I didn’t think to ask where, but he is still helping out with different projects around the church.

Last night at church Dawn called me over to her and said “did Kenny tell you the good news? We got an apartment!” She started to tear up just telling me about it. They had tried earlier in the week to get an apartment, that was just walls and carpet but for some reason it didn’t work out. She started telling me about the new one. “Its a fully furnished apartment right across the street from the church! God didn’t let the other one work out because He had something way better for us. And I have 3 job opportunities as well!” “Well when did you move in?” I asked, now I’m all excited too. “Today! We moved in today!”

After church Kenny and I along with Cindy and Brock went over to see the new apartment. Fully furnished, beautiful wood floors, washer/dryer, big kitchen. Dawn was so excited she kept touching things as she showed them to us. She said she was doing it because she wanted to make sure it was actually there and not just a dream.

As we were getting ready to leave Cindy commented that Dawn was so happy she was glowing. Dawn just replied, “God gets all the glory, and I get to glow.”

I am always amazed when we think something is hopeless, God provides more abundantly than we could have even thought to ask for.

Congratulations Todd and Dawn on the apartment!